Tickets have gone on sale for a new community lottery which will support good causes in the Daventry district.

Daventry District Council has entered into partnership with lottery organisers Gatherwell for the Local Lotto, a weekly online lottery which will redistribute half of its ticket sales to local community groups.

Anyone who buys a £1 ticket from www.local-lotto.co.uk will be able to elect for 40p of the money to go to the community group of their choice – provided they are eligible and have signed up to the Lotto.

An additional 10p from every ticket sold will go into the community pot – a general fund that will be distributed to other local good causes.

Of the remaining 50p from each ticket sale, 30p goes into the prize fund, 17p goes to the operator Gatherwell, and the remaining 3p is the VAT on the operator’s charge, which is recovered by the council and used to cover their costs for running the scheme.

Six numbers will be drawn each week, with a jackpot of £25,000 for anyone who matches all six in sequence.

Five numbers in sequence wins £2,500 and there are prizes for matching four numbers (£250), three numbers (£25) and two numbers (£5).

Anyone who buys tickets ahead of the first draw on Saturday, April 21, will also be entered into a draw for a chance to win an iPad as well as a draw for a spa day for two at Fawsley Hall.

Cllr Alan Hills, community, culture and leisure portfolio holder, said: “The Local Lotto is a great way for local groups to generate a regular income while offering their members and supporters a chance to win some great cash prizes.

“We’ve had a fantastic response to the Lotto so far, with more than 40 local good causes signed up.

“The scheme really is a win-win for everyone involved, so we hope residents will get behind it too.

“And if you go to buy a ticket and your favourite local group or club hasn’t joined the scheme yet, please tell them to get in touch and sign up so they can benefit.”

Find out more at www.local-lotto.co.uk.

Easter is fast approaching, the kids are excited and there is chocolate everywhere.

With a double bank holiday and a two-week school break ahead of us, there’s plenty of fun for all the family to be had across Northamptonshire.

We have picked the best of events and family days out in and around the county to keep you all busy.

Click here to see our guide to 38 family days out in and around Northamptonshire this Easter.

The acting leader of Northamptonshire County Council has unveiled a new-look cabinet in a bid to rebuild the authority in the wake of the damning inspection report.

Councillor Matt Golby who was elected as Conservative group leader on Saturday, is expected to be voted as council leader at an extraordinary full council meeting on April 12.

Today, the former cabinet member for education has unveiled a new-look cabinet, with some first-time additions to the front bench.

Councillor Bill Parker, who has served in the cabinet from the mid-2000s including a stint as the member for finance, has been replaced by Councillor Andy Mercer (Con, Rushden South) in his role overseeing local government reform.

Andre Gonzalez De Savage (Con, East Hunsbury and Shelfeys) who stated he would be willing to mount a leadership bid of the Conservative group with enough support, is also out. his post has been rolled into the portfolio for highways.

Councillor Golby said: “As we await the decision from the Secretary of State following the publication of the Best Value Inspection report, I felt it was important to appoint a new Cabinet team as we move into a new period of transformation at Northamptonshire County Council.

“This is a team which combines some experienced Cabinet members with some new talent from within the Conservative group and I look forward to them all starting work in their new areas with immediate effect.”

While newcomer Councillor Victoria Perry (Con, ISE) has been named as cabinet member for children, the new cabinet also sees the return of Councillor Michael Clarke.

Councillor Clarke, who first launched his export services business in 1979, has been given the job of balancing the council's books as cabinet member for finance.

The full cabinet list:

Deputy leader and cabinet member for public health – Cllr Cecile Irving-Swift

Cabinet member for finance – Cllr Michael Clarke

Cabinet member for children, families and education – Cllr Victoria Perry

Cabinet member for adult social care – Cllr Elizabeth Bowen

Cabinet member for performance, transformation and local government reform – Cllr Andrew Mercer

Cabinet member for transport, highways, environment and public protection – Cllr Ian Morris

The primary school, set in the Monksmoor estate, is in the heart of the Monksmoor development for 315 pupils aged 4-11 - with a 30-place nursery on site.

Upon completion the estate will eventually have 1,000 homes, a small local centre with a community building, retail units and office space, new children’s play areas, a range of public open spaces and an extension to Daventry Country Park and reservoir.

Back in 2015 Daventry District Council told of setbacks on the opening of the new primary school on The Monksmoor estate due to its "development programme and consequent site availability."

The Monksmoor estate has been built in five separate phases and one of these phases will see the primary school built.

Andrew Dobson managing director at Crest Nicholson strategic projects division said: “We’re looking forward to unveiling the new primary school onsite at Monksmoor Park this year, which will provide much-needed additional school places for the Daventry area."

"The extension of Daventry Country Park will also benefit residents at Monksmoor Park and the rest of the town alike, opening up this area of outstanding natural beauty for the new community of Monksmoor to enjoy.”

Developer Crest Nicholson has also provided an extension to Daventry County Park, with canalside landscaping ahead of the warmer months.

As part of this work, Crest Nicholson has also revealed it will open up a significant amount of pedestrian and cycle paths linking the development and country park, for the benefit of residents at the development and the wider community.

Crest Nicholson has a range of homes available at its Monksmoor Park development in Daventry, offering a mix of both traditional and contemporary-styled homes across its two current phases, Meadowside and Waterside.

David Hnyda, Sales and Marketing Director at Crest Nicholson Chiltern, said: “We’re pleased to be seeing a thriving community develop at Monksmoor Park.

"The development is proving popular with a range of buyers due to the varied blend of homes on offer – from those looking to get their feet onto the property ladder, to larger detached houses that are perfect for families looking for extra space. We look forward to seeing the community flourish at this development throughout 2018.”

Yesterday, transport secretary Chris Grayling announced that local councils across the UK would receive a share of a £100 million roads repair fund.

This money, he said, would help fix almost two million potholes and help protect the roads from any future severe weather.

This is on top of the £75 million in government funding already given to councils from the Pothole Action Fund this year.

Northamptonshire County Council is set to receive £1.63 million from the latest money.

But an authority spokesman told this newspaper it would need all of the £100 million to repair the dangerous roads in the county.

“All money from Government to help pay for highways is very welcome and we’re using what money we have to repair the roads as best we can," said the spokesman.

“However we estimate we would need about £100 million to bring the network up to a good standard.”

A BBC Data Unit study last week found that all the roads classified as being dangerous in the county would stretch from Northampton town centre to Liverpool if placed end-to-end.

But Mr Grayling said the emergency fund would be a boost for local councils after the long, hard winter.

“People rely on good roads to get to work and to see friends or family," he said.

“We have seen an unusually prolonged spell of freezing weather which has caused damage to our local roads.

“We are giving councils even more funding to help repair their roads all road users can enjoy their journeys without having to dodge potholes."

However, Northamptonshire faired poorly in terms of emergency funding compared to like-sized authorities.

Lincolnshire, for example, received double the amount here in the county, £3.45 million.

Already, £2.5 million has been allocated to Devon County Council to quickly repair the A379 which was badly damaged by Storm Emma.

Blackpool Council has been given £100,000 to lead on a digital inspector scheme with eight councils. This will see high definition cameras mounted on vehicles to collect data on road and path conditions, which is then analysed by computers to highlight where roads are deteriorating.

The City of York will also get £72,000 to use a similar system to build on its pothole spotter trial.

Transport for the West Midlands, West Sussex County Council, Buckinghamshire County Council, Croydon Council and Southampton City Council have also been awarded funding for road condition monitoring innovations.

Swindon Borough Council will trial the use of smartphone sensors to collate road conditions and Essex County Council will work with Daimler to use information collected by its cars. Derby City Council and Oxfordshire County Council will use connected vehicles to collect data on the condition of road signs.

A go-karting charity event is to be held near Daventry in memory of Paul Lee-Davis, a karting fanatic who died from a rare form of leukaemia.

Paul’s friend Dan Underhill is running the event for the seventh year in a row.

Dan and Paul both used to race together at Club100, where the event is being held.

Paul died of T-cell prolymphocytic leukaemia (T-PLL) in 2011.

He was a familiar face at Club100, and was known to many as a larger-than-life, hilarious and fun-loving friend.

Dan and Paul’s other racing friends honour his memory each year by coming together to do what Paul loved most and raise money to help fund research into his extremely rare and aggressive cancer.

The event will be held at Club100 in Whilton Mill on Sunday, March 31.

Entry is free to watch the event and there will be a food wagon and auction with some fantastic prizes such as two VIP tickets to the west end show Fastlove.

Dan Underhill, who is organising the go-karting event to raise funds for The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said: “Paul was such a fantastic friend.

“We raced together for many years.

“The response we receive every year is amazing, I’m so grateful for everyone that supports the race day.

“So many of the racers on the day knew Paul and remember him fondly.

“It’s so nice to come together like this and support the ICR in researching this rare cancer.”

Janet Lee, Paul’s mother, said: “I didn’t know anyone who didn’t like Paul. He was so funny.

“He loved nothing more than being with his mates, just being silly and having a laugh.

“He was honest to a fault and looked after his friends.

“After his fiancée Stacy, it’s fair to say karting was the love of Paul’s life.

“It is great to be part of this event and celebrate Paul’s life with his friends, doing what he loved most.”

Charlotte Orrell-Jones, head of events at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said: “We’re enormously grateful for the support from Dan and Paul’s family who have generously run this incredible event over the last seven years.

“It is amazing to see such a fantastic response to the day and the money they donate makes a huge difference in researching this extremely rare disease.”

The go karting event raises funds for research into T-PLL at The Institute of Cancer Research, London. Researchers are working to improve the outcomes for patients like Paul in the future.

Over the past six years the event has raised an amazing £26,000 for The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR).

The racers buy tickets to take part, with proceeds going to the ICR.

Tickets to race have already sold out so the organisers expect this year’s event to be just as successful as the last.

When Paul was 37 years old he began getting pain in his legs.

After a few months of tests he was diagnosed with T-PLL.

After 18 months of treatment across Wolverhampton and Birmingham, including a bone marrow transplant, Paul died.

T-cell prolymphocytic leukaemia is extremely rare and only accounts for two per cent of all small lymphocytic leukaemias in adults.

T-PLL is an aggressive form of leukaemia with an average survival time, after diagnosis, of just seven and a half months.

The ICR has been carrying out world-leading research into the causes of cancer, and how it might be treated or prevented, for more than 100 years.

Today, it is a world leader at discovering new targeted drugs for personalised cancer treatment, identifying cancer-related genes and developing new high-precision forms of radiotherapy.

To support the Paul Lee-Davis 2018 Charity Event and donate to the ICR, visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/pld2018.

Daventry swimmers took the plunge to help raise money for Sport Relief 2018.

Members of Daventry Dolphins took a challenge to ‘Swim the Channel’ at Daventry Leisure Centre. The challenge involved children aged eight - 11 years.

They were Isabella and Oliver Dunnett, Ciaran Long, Alice Berrill, Grace Grindrod, Danielle and Nicole Hall, Kobi Covill, Ben Martindale, Iolo and Cara Roberts, Abigail Laidlaw, Orla and Faye Eyton-Jones, Carys and Megan Thomas, Scarlett Saunders, Anna and Rachel Coates, Kian and Keely Saville, Emma Becker, Tia Bonsor and Harriett Gibbs.

Organiser Katrina Dunnett said the children’s challenge was to swim 22 miles, the equivalent of England to France, or 1,416 lengths of the Daventry Pool.

The centre donated two lanes of the pool for the challenge, which took place on March 18.

Katrina said: “It was well supported by parents and well wishers encouraging the children to smash their target, swimming to France, back and beyond, completing a massive 3,216 lengths, a total of 50 miles in three hours.”

The children averaged two miles each.

Katrina added: “They were truly brilliant taking on this challenge with total commitment and enthusiasm.”

Donate at https://my.sportrelief.com/sponsor/DaventryDolphinsChannelSwim2018

Katrina added: “Proceeds will go to Sport Relief to help vulnerable people across the UK and the world to live happier, healthier and safer lives.”

Northamptonshire County Council plans to wring an extra £300,000 from motorists in Northampton through on-street parking by shrinking free periods and raising charges.

The county council will wring an extra £300,000 from motorists in Northampton through on-street parking by shrinking free periods and raising charges.

An emergency budget approved on Wednesday shows that the authority hopes to not only double the cash it earns from parking in the town’s streets, but to begin charging in the county’s other towns.

Currently, the county council is responsible for – and makes around £350,000 a year from – on-street parking in Northampton.

But this does not extend to other Northamptonshire towns, where on-street parking is managed by borough and district councils.

Now, the county council want to use Northampton’s on-street parking to generate up to £650,000 a year by increasing the hours during which people have to pay to park on streets, raising charges and introducing new parking charges where there aren’t any already.

However, taking the reins for parking in other towns would need extensive talks and consultations with borough and district councils.

The council has also acknowledged the proposal “may not be achieved” if in-year budgets are not managed properly.

The budget report reads: “The potential to provide on-street car parking in towns other than Northampton would require extensive dialogue with borough and district councils. There is obviously a risk this may not be achieved although clearly this would be a budget monitoring action.”

A study by the Chron found the most lucrative street for fines in Northampton was Cliftonville, which netted £330,000 over five years.

More on the emergency budget:

- County Council revised budget savings threaten closure of 21 small libraries, to remove all bus subsidies, reduce Trading Standards’ budget by almost half and freeze staff pay.

- Slashed bus subsidies will take us back to the ‘Stone Age’ fears Northamptonshire villager.

Slow traffic is being reported on a major 'A' road in Northamptonshire as emergency services clear debris from the highway

The accident happened on the A5 at about 1pm, with four vehicles involved. The road was been closed both ways between the B4036 and B5385.

This is affecting traffic travelling between Weedon Bec and Kilsby.

Police and firefighters are awaiting recovery of the vehicles.

On March 12, firefighters from Mereway fire station in Northampton were called to a collision close to Watford Gap southbound services, within the stretch of smart motorway where the hard shoulder has become a fourth driving lane.

Arrows were displayed on overhead signs to move traffic from the outside lane before it was closed with red Xs to create an emergency access lane, but many drivers failed to move over, reducing the fire engine’s progress to a crawl as it approached the scene.

Rob Green watch manager of Mereway’s Red Watch said: “Drivers were waiting until the last moment before moving out of lane four, which slowed us right down.

“We no longer have a hard shoulder to travel down this stretch of smart motorway, and it’s really important that people move over as soon as they see arrows or red Xs so we have an emergency access lane to get to where we’re needed as quickly as possible.”

Travelling in the front passenger seat, watch manager (WM) Green shot a video showing how difficult it was to get through the queuing vehicles.

Upon their arrival, the crew made the scene safe and handed the incident over to police and highways. An elderly passenger in one of the cars suffered minor leg injuries but refused hospital treatment.

WM Green added: “The initial call indicated people could be trapped, which thankfully wasn’t the case. If it had been, the delay could have had serious consequences for any casualties.

“If you’re on a smart motorway and see arrows or red Xs displayed above a lane, please move out of it immediately.

"Even if you can’t see a reason for it yet, that lane has been closed for good reason and you doing the right thing could make the difference between life and death for someone.”

How the M1 smart motorway works:

Between junctions 16 and 19 of the M1, the hard shoulder has become a fourth driving lane, increasing the number of vehicles, which can use the road.

A regional traffic control centre monitors what is happening and responds to incidents, setting lane control and speed limits, and deploying resources to manage incidents.

Lanes can be closed, indicated by a red X on the overhead signs, for a number of reasons – there may be an accident or breakdown ahead, or the lane may be needed by the emergency services.

Tips for smart motorway driving:

- Never drive in a lane closed by a red X. If you see a red X closing a lane, move out of that lane promptly. If you don’t, you may receive a fine

- Keep to the speed limit shown on the gantries. A speed limit displayed inside a red circle is legally enforceable

- A solid white line indicates the hard shoulder - don’t drive in it unless directed

- A broken white line indicates a normal running lane

- If your vehicle experiences difficulties, exit the smart motorway immediately if possible

- Use the regularly spaced refuge areas for emergencies if there’s no hard shoulder

- Put your hazard lights on if you break down

Passengers were warned that trains in and out of London Euston may be cancelled or delayed as a result of the ongoing incident this afternoon.

Virgin Trains tweeted at 3.15pm: "Due to the police dealing with an incident at London Euston, train services running to and from this station may be cancelled or delayed."

Passengers have taken to Twitter to complain.

One rail user said: "Please can you let me know why the trains out if Euston have been cancelled?"

Another said: "What on earth is the issue here with ‘platforms’ at Euston."

@VirginTrains replied: "This is due to police dealing with an incident at Euston. Therefore platforms between 12 and 15 are currently closed."

When asked if it was a serious incident, @VirginTrains said: "We don't have any more info other than what has been paged out at the moment."

Just before 4pm Virgin advised that the incident had ended.

A spokesman said: "The disruption caused by the police dealing with an incident at London Euston has now ended. Services are no longer affected by this problem."

Sophie Cross, 16, from Lang Farm, Daventry, will be brought on board as part of a 20-man crew for the Clipper Round The World Yacht Race and will embark on her voyage in August 2019.

The 6th former signed on for the journey after undertaking a three-day yacht trip off the south of England last year - but is now prepared to take on the 11-month expedition.

Sophie, who has been a keen dinghy sailor since she was 10, said: "I'm just really excited. I think it's only just hit me what I'm actually doing.

"It's going to be a great chance to meet new people and see the world. I hope it will inspire other young people to do something with their life too."

Sophie and her crew will now face weeks of training over the next two years so she can learn the ropes of steering, sailing and navigating.

The yacht will stop in eight ports in its journary across the planet, including New York, Australia and China.

But it won't be plain sailing once she's aboard and Sophie will also have to help cook, clean and maintain the yacht throughout the voyage.

In the meantime, Sophie needs to raise some £50,000 for charity to take part in the race, in which she will compete against 11 other crews in identical 70ft-long skipper yachts.

But when she crosses the finish line, Sophie will be the youngest woman to ever take on Clipper challenge and one of the youngest people ever to sail around the world.

She said: "I still want to go to uni afterwards to study medicine. I just want to develop myself as a person and get some life experience."

Sophie's donation drive can be found on her GoFundMe page.

The Year of Northamptonshire Churches has been launched by Earl Spencer and Reverend Richard Coles to drive more ​visitors and increase the recruitment of church volunteers.

The campaign is the brainchild of ​the ‘​Northamptonshire​:​ Britain’s Best Surprise​‘​ campaign, an initiative launched in 2017 to promote the county​.

The tourism drive, which hopes to put the county’s top 100 churches on the map, was launched yesterday (Tuesday, March 27) at St Mary’s Church in Great Brington.

Lord Spencer told the Chronicle & Echo that he is always passionate about getting behind Northamptonshire. “It’s very important to me that people know about this place because there are so many people that just drift through Northamptonshire, whether it’s on the motorway or by train, but we have so much to offer to people when they come and visit here. It really is at the heart of England and it’s got so many things.

“Particularly,​ today we are celebrating churches and I didn’t know before this campaign started quite how many fantastic churches we have - those with stories, with great architecture contain great pieces of art. These are village meeting points, you know, but they’re worth much more than that.

“They are a part of our collective memory as a county and I think it’s wonderful that they are being shared more openly with the public.”

Bosses behind the campaign, who also include Deputy Lieutenants, James Lowther and James Miller, hope to create a lasting legacy and have created a website containing an online treasury of descriptions for 100 churches as well as visitor information, details of worship and services - and it is hoped that more volunteers will be recruited to help care for the county’s churches over the longer term.

Upon asking whether the church has always played in ​his life, Lord Spencer said: “I’m not an intensely religious person but I believe the church is fundamental to every community really and they still matter enormously emotionally, I think, to people who live around them.

“Each village knows it’s own church whether it’s just from the outside, but we are trying to do with this campaign is open them up so people can appreciate the county of Northamptonshire through it’s most historic buildings.

Its Year of Churches builds on last year’s focus on historic houses, which attracted increased visitor numbers to historic houses countywide against a backdrop of declining numbers elsewhere in the country.

He said communities should try and save them from disrepair. “I think a lot of churches have disappeared, in fact in the next door village here in Little Brington the church has gone, there’s just a spire left.

“And now, I think every community has a duty to try and preserve these churches because they’ve meant so much to past generations for hundreds of years.”

Speakers on the day talked highly of county churches boasting an array of architectural styles, including gothic, baroque, renaissance and Victorian.

Reverend Richard Coles vicar of Finedon said: “Northamptonshire, traditionally the county of squires and spires, may be low on squires nowadays (though there are a few), but its spires endure, the finest in England, from the showpieces of Kings Sutton and Higham Ferrers to the solid broaches of Ringstead and Broughton.

“The towers aren’t bad either, think of Earls Barton’s Saxon strapwork and Titchmarsh’s perpendicular splendour. And the churches they dignify are stuffed with treasures, from the Greene tombs at Lowick to the soaring neo-Gothic of Comper at Wellingborough.

“As the temporary custodian of one of the county’s finest churches I commend them all, in their variety and loveliness.”

For more information, visit: www.northamptonshiresurprise.com

A woman who worked in the pub and food industry for most of her adult life says she feels great after losing almost four stone.

Jackie Kittler, of Daventry, weighed more than 15 stone before, in her 60s, deciding she had better do something about her weight before it became too late.

She said: “While visiting the leisure centre in Daventry I was offered a weight loss program by Wellbeing for Health.

“I was 15st 4lb at the time.

“When I eventually had my appointment, I was very pleased to know it was linked to Weight Watchers.

“I thought ‘this is my time to begin looking after myself’.

“So, on June 6, 2016, I joined the class at Daventry Leisure centre.”

Not knowing anyone, Jackie was quite nervous about attending. But she says being on so much medication and the pain in her knees was the wake-up call she needed to push passed her nerves.

She said: “I soon made friends with other slimmers who were there for the same reason I was.

“When we had group food quizzes we started helping each other out and soon we all became friends.

“Having friends was an important part of my journey as it encouraged me when I went through times when losing weight seemed harder.”

Jackie stuck to the plan and with the support of her coach and other members took only 11 months to reach her goal weight.

She said: “Over the 11 months it took me to reach my gold status I had lots of temptations from the outside.”

Over Christmas, Jackie only gained one pound and knew for the first time that she had changed her relationship with food and could now enjoy festive treats without the massive weight gain.

She said: “I have recently been away on holiday and when I got back, I had maintained my goal weight. I have now maintained that weight for nine months.

“I look and feel great! I can go into shops or order clothes on line without worrying if they will fit.

“I can walk without losing my breath and my doctor is reviewing my medication.

“Don’t ever think it is too late!”

Jackie’s current weight is 11st 6lb.

This April marks a new chapter for Kelmarsh Hall as they open the doors to a previously unseen below stairs area.

Following a generous £1.3 million Heritage Lottery Fund grant, and funding from the Daventry District Council grant scheme, the ‘Tunnelling through the Past’ project has seen the successful conservation of the servant’s quarters, old laundry and former stable yard.

This new area brings an ‘upstairs, downstairs’ experience to Kelmarsh Hall, allowing visitors to explore both the basement and fine rooms.

The project uses modern technologies to provide visitors with an interactive approach to the objects and settings. Bosses say augmented reality and tablet devices bring the rooms to life, with period characters appearing to tell their stories of what life was like to work and live below stairs at Kelmarsh.

A new app has also been developed, which visitors can download before their visit, including maps, interactive games and a timeline of those who lived at Kelmarsh Hall.

Visitors also receive a full sensory experience, adding life to the rooms, with sounds of maids chattering, smells of fresh bread baking in the bake house, and lye soap in the old laundry.

Visitors can also get involved with servant’s work, such as brushing the riding boots and polishing the silver in the butler’s pantry.

The new project has also transformed the former coach house into a dedicated learning facility. This allows for new programmes for school visits, learning events and activities for all ages.

This summer, a number of activities shall be held within the coach house learning suite, including evening lectures, pop-up talks, a craft café, storytelling and living history days.

The grand opening is launching from the 1st – 4th April, open from 11am - 5pm each day.

Kelmarsh Hall shall then remain open until the 31st October, with the Hall, gardens and basement open on Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday, and gardens only on Thursdays.

Schools in Northamptonshire were among hundreds across the country to be targeted in a mass bomb hoax threat today (Wednesday, March 28).

Northamptonshire Police have confirmed this afternoon that eight schools in the county received the threat.

A National Police Chiefs’ Council spokesperson said: “Police forces are aware of a series of malicious hoax communications to schools across the country.

"Enquiries continue to establish the facts and forces are working together to investigate who is responsible.

“Police take hoaxes extremely seriously. They divert police resources and cause disruption and alarm to the public."

If you have information call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

A task force has been set up to review the proposed sale of 32 council-owned properties in Daventry.

The proposed sale was delayed at a district council meeting last month after a number of residents expressed fears over losing their homes.

Now a cross-party group of councillors headed by Cllr Adam Brown has been set up to review the sale.

Its aims will be to consider steps the council could take to alleviate the difficulties tenants face as a result of the decision to sell their homes, and whether the marketing of the houses, with references to ‘Houses for Life’, gave many tenants a false impression that their tenancies would be long term.

The councillors will also investigate whether it is appropriate to the plans for house sales on hold, and allow a longer period for tenants to decide whether they wish to express an interest in buying their homes and to consider their options, including that of shared ownership.

Also to be considered will be suspending the sale of homes of people who suffer from disabilities or serious health problems, and only selling the houses to buyers prepared to buy to let.

Council documents say the task panel will produce a comprehensive final report by June 2018.

An 18-year-old man has been arrested after eight schools in Northamptonshire were put on alert when staff reported that they had been sent "threatening" emails.

An 18-year-old Hertfordshire man was arrested yesterday evening (Wednesday) on suspicion of making malicious communications relating to the threatening emails received by a large number of schools and colleges throughout the UK, including Northamptonshire.

A National Crime Agency (NCA) spokesman said: “We understand these threats have caused considerable concern but we do not assess there to be an increased risk to the public.

“We believe this incident is linked to the hoax bomb threat that closed hundreds of UK schools last week. As this is a live investigation we are unable to comment further.”

Police confirmed that forces across the country reported similar incidents.

The emails informed schools that they will be targeted in an attack.

A National Police Chiefs’ Council spokesperson said: “Police forces are aware of a series of malicious hoax communications to schools across the country.

"Enquiries continue to establish the facts and forces are working together to investigate who is responsible.

“Police take hoaxes extremely seriously. They divert police resources and cause disruption and alarm to the public."

The emails said that at 3.15pm a car would drive into as many students as possible as they try to leave.

The emails read: “If you try and evacuate them the driver will get out and shoot any student leaving.

“You have a choice here, you can ignore this email and risk the lives of the students you say you care for, or you can listen to what we are telling you.

“The only way out is to go out with a BANG.”

The email is signed off: “From your team PI3x13t.”

Paul Nichols, 38, of no fixed abode, was jailed at Peterborough Crown Court yesterday (March 28) after previously pleading guilty to death by dangerous driving and causing death while uninsured.

Nichols was driving a white Suzuki Vitara along the A605 near Peterborough in June last year when he attempted to overtake a black Peugeot 208.

He collided into the side of the Peugeot, before flipping his vehicle into the path of a white Peugeot Partner.

The driver of the Peugeot Partner, 51-year-old Paul Cooper of Long Buckby, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The 38-year-old driver of the Peugeot 208 and his four passengers - aged 27, seven, five and two - were all slightly injured.

Nichols was taken to hospital for treatment for a number of fractures and a pulmonary embolism.

Forensic scientists say that Nichols was likely to be 3.2 times over the legal limit at the time of the collision.

He was jailed for nine years, given a 15-year disqualification from driving and ordered to sit an extended re-test.

PC James Thorne, a collision investigator, said: “The sentence does not reflect the value that we place on a life, but I hope that it serves as a stark reminder to those people who believe it acceptable to drink and drive.

“Nichols took the life of a perfectly innocent man going about his lawful business because of his selfish and deplorable attitude.

“I would urge people to report others who they may suspect of drink driving.

“It could ultimately save a great deal of heart ache and even a life.”

Anyone who suspects someone of drink driving can contact police via their confidential drink drive hotline on 0800 032 0845.

And the authority has revealed it will postpone the sale and lease back of its headquarters, One Angel Square, while it seeks further financial and legal advice about how the money from any sale could be used.

Acting council leader Councillor Matthew Golby said: “The current financial climate facing Northamptonshire County Council is exceptionally difficult. Government funding reductions since 2010, the cap on increasing council tax and the increasing cost and demand for social care services mean our financial challenge has never been greater.

“Since 2010 we have worked hard to find savings of £376 million and a further £105 million will be needed between now and 2022. The Section 114 notice spending controls relating to all but safeguarding and statutory services remain in place, but the pressures in adult social care in particular mean delivering a balanced budget is becoming extremely challenging."

Without the reserves shoring up its finances this year, the county council would face an overspend of £16.7 million. As it has £12 million in its general reserves and £4.9 million in its earmarked reserves - money which is set aside for capital projects - its 'rainy-day fund' would be all but depleted.

The reserves would need to be replenished in 2018/19 and so further savings will need to be found during the new financial year.

Councillor Golby said: “This would effectively exhaust our reserves and as such really is a last resort option. It is now the only option available to us. We have communicated directly to government about this as part of our ongoing discussions about our situation.”

Councillor Golby said postponing the sale of One Angel Square was as a result of the Best Value Inspection report and the Secretary of State’s ‘minded-to’ decision this week.

As things stand, it is likely the delay will be for a matter of weeks. It is understood leaders are waiting to see if any intervention funds will be forthcoming from Government before they take what would be an important, long-term decision.

Councillor Golby added: "Following ongoing discussions with our auditors, we are also keen to seek further clarity around the flexible use of capital receipts."

Cabinet will discuss the latest quarterly revenue finance report next month.