Northamptonshire firefighters have been presented with an award for their roles in dealing with the aftermath of a collision in which eight people died.

Chief Fire Officer Jason Thelwell, from Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service (BFRS), visited the county this week to make the presentation to Red Watch Mereway crew members and Group Manager Barry Mullan who formed the Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) attendance on the day of the crash.

The three-vehicle collision, which involved two lorries and a minibus, happened shortly before 3.15am on Saturday, August 26, 2017, close to Newport Pagnell, near junction 14 of the M1. Eight people died in the incident and a further four were seriously injured.

Thames Valley Police, Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service and Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service were among the multiple different services to assist at the tragic scene.

Chief Fire Officer Thelwell said: “This was one of the most harrowing events and was described by the trial judge as the most serious collision in the UK for 26 years. The actions carried out by the fire and rescue staff on the day were exemplary. The crews witnessed and worked in extreme conditions and I salute them all for their dedication.”

GM Mullan said: “This was a very challenging and distressing scene. Looking back, Red Watch Mereway crew and I were proud to be part of the larger emergency response from Fire, Police and medical services. Between us all we saved the lives of four people and provided as much dignity and respect to those who died as possible. That is recognition enough.”

In addition to the commendation from Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, NFRS Chief Fire Officer Darren Dovey also used the opportunity to present a commendation to the crew on behalf of the High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire. This was originally presented to the service recently at an event at Aylesbury Crown Court.

CFO Dovey said: “Sadly our firefighters at NFRS attend road traffic collisions regularly so it is very much part of our usual work, but this collision on the M1 was among the most serious we have ever encountered.

“All of the NFRS staff who attended this incident deserve this commendation, which recognises the teamwork that went into carrying out a harrowing, seven hour rescue operation.

“We always hope never to have to encounter this type of scene, but I am so proud that, even in the most demanding circumstances, our crews carried out their professional duties with such a high level of calm, dedication and compassion.

“Our hearts go out to all those who lost loved ones and family members in the collision that day.”

Northamptonshire's drivers fear there will be "more accidents, more slips and more jams" this winter after the county council axed almost 500 roads from its main gritting routes.

In a move to save some £475,000, the county council will no longer grit a huge list of roads during anything less than "adverse" weather - which typically means accumulating snow on roads.

But drivers and bus companies across the county have slammed the cuts and say it will cause chaos on the roads.

One reader, Luke Badharee, wrote on Facebook: "This is a very risky policy. Expect more accident more strain on the NHS [and] people slipping over on the pavement or possibly being run over... Hope the council are prepared to take responsibility for all this."

A county council spokesman says the cuts were "a tough decision" brought on by the council’s ongoing financial difficulties and that the roads will still be gritted when snow conditions are declared.

But bus company Stagecoach is also concerned how its services will be hit this winter.

A spokesman said: "During the last bout of snow, our team managed to keep our buses running through extreme conditions. This was in part due to the fact that key roads were gritted.

"We are therefore extremely disappointed [and] will need to evaluate our services at the time to assess the safety of running them during icy weather but would urge the council to reconsider."

Parents have pointed out that many of the axed routes are near primary schools and nurseries and will cause "chaos" on the school run.

Reader Emma-Jane Hartley wrote: "Let's just hope we don't have a big freeze. If the weather is bad, the repercussions will end up costing the council far more than they're looking to save."

The precautionary [priority] network - which the 497 roads have been removed from - will be gritted whenever there is a forecast temperature of 0.5C over a 24-hour period.

The complete adverse network will be gritted ahead of a high chance of snow or if temperatures are not expected to rise above zero for 48 hours.

Families are invited to pack some popcorn in their picnic to enjoy free family films on the big screen at Daventry Country Park this summer.

The park will host the eighth annual Family Cinema Day on July 21.

It is being organised by Daventry District Council and sponsored by Crest Nicholson.

Paddington 2 and Disney Pixar’s Coco (both PG) are on the billboard for this year’s event, with each movie being screened twice during the day.

The first screening will begin with Paddington 2 at 10.30am, followed by Coco at about 12.30pm.

The later screening starts with Coco at 3pm, followed by Paddington 2 at about 5pm.

To ensure as many people as possible get an opportunity to enjoy the films, people will be given coloured wristbands on arrival to their chosen screening, allowing them free entry to that screening only.

People are welcome to bring picnics and refreshments with them, though the park’s Reservoir Café will be manning a stall offering jacket potatoes, drinks and ice creams, while Peckish Festival Food will selling a variety of chicken burgers, chicken strips and fries.

There will also be a sweet trailer offering candy floss and popcorn, as well as children’s entertainment from Crazy Horses including bouncy castles and face painting.

The car park will be open as normal but is expected to fill quickly and people are encouraged to walk to the park where possible, or make use of the free car park near the Council offices in Lodge Road.

Visit www.daventrydc.gov.uk/countrypark

Brits may have been basking in the tropical sunshine over the past few weeks, but the downside to the balmy weather is that painful bites by bloodsucking insects have soared.

Calls to the NHS helpline 111 about bites from insects are nearly double the average for this time of year, and senior doctors are reporting incidents of patients being treated in hospital for infected horsefly bites.

Despite the warm weather, experts say standing water – such as garden paddling pools – where insects thrive should be removed.

Dr Nick Scriven, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “We wouldn’t normally see anyone coming to hospital for a bite, but we have seen a few recently needing treatment with antibiotics, which is very unusual.

“A couple of these were infected bites from horseflies. They actually give one of the nastier bites, because they take a chunk out of you.

“They can be very painful, and can take a while to heal, and as a result can get infected and need antibiotics. In the worst-case scenario, they can cause cellulitis, an infection of the skin.”

Blister pain Horsefly bites can result in horrible, painful blisters. “A bite from a horsefly can be very painful and the bitten area of skin will usually be red and raised,”

NHS Choices says. “Horsefly bites can take a while to heal and can become infected. See your GP if you have symptoms of an infection, such as pus or increasing pain, redness and swelling.”

According to the NHS, symptoms of horsefly bites include a larger red, raised rash, dizziness, weakness and wheezing. A part of the body may also become puffy and swollen.

In rare occasions, an allergic reaction to the fly can prove fatal and in 2013 a father of four died suddenly after being bitten by the fly. If you’re bitten by a horsefly, keep the wound clean and apply ice to minimise the itching.

If you’ve ever imagined yourself living in a quintessentially English thatched cottage, then Ivy Cottage in Flitton may well be your dream property.

Tucked away towards the end of a no through lane, this gorgeous Grade II listed family home has been thoughtfully renovated throughout, retaining many period features such as exposed oak flooring, beams and timbers and antique style radiators.

On the ground floor, the sitting room and dining room are both dual aspect with views of the driveway to the front and the garden and flagstone terrace area at the rear, perfect for summertime alfresco dining.

Benefitting from four bedrooms and two bathrooms, the property also has generous ceiling heights, unusual in a country cottage, and a well-equipped kitchen/breakfast room with light grey Shaker style units and a ceramic Belfast sink.

Outside, just under an acre of gardens surround the property and include a greenhouse, summerhouse and paddock area with a stable block, tack room and hay store.

Used by the present owners as a gym, a further detached space could easily be converted into a home office.

Another added bonus is the gravel driveway with parking for up to eight cars.

Named after the river Flit which flows close by, the village of Flitton is around two miles from the small Bedfordshire town of Flitwick which has plenty of amenities and crucially for commuters, a mainline railway station.

London St Pancras will feel a million miles away when you close your front door and head to the station, but once on the train you can be in the city in about 47 minutes.

The property is available for £825,000 through Michael Graham Estate Agents’ Bedford Office (01234 220000).

Visit michaelgraham.co.uk/property/rps_mig-BED180290 for more information.

An ‘improvement board’ has been created to help with Northamptonshire County Council’s recovery plans.

It will be chaired by Steve Freer who, among other roles, was chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy for 13 years.

The Improvement Board will work alongside the council and the two Government-appointed commissioners to “support and challenge” the council’s plans for improvement, with a particular focus on its financial arrangements.

Council leader Cllr Matthew Golby said: “I am delighted to welcome Steve as our independent Improvement Board chairman.

“His appointment is a really important step in the recovery of the council and our communities going forward.

“Steve’s experience will be invaluable to us and the board in ensuring we focus on the right things, particularly in the challenges we face on our finances.”

Mr Freer said: “I am very pleased to take on this important role. The challenges facing Northamptonshire are well documented.

“I am looking forward to working with the council to support its recovery and help place its finances and its services in the best possible position ahead of the expected transition to a unitary local government structure in Northamptonshire.”

Mr Freer has held a range of senior roles in the public, private and charitable sectors.

He is a very experienced chief executive with a national and international reputation and network.

Since stepping down as the chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy in September 2013, he has taken on a number of new non-executive roles including the Chairmanship of Public Sector Audit Appointments Ltd, the body which is responsible for appointing auditors to local government and police bodies.

As temperatures reached the exotic heights of 31C across the country this week, sunbathers could be in for more than a tan as horse flies appear to be terrorising the nation.

Horseflies, or clegs as they are commonly known, are bloodsucking insects commonly found in Britain and can grow up to 1-1/4 inches in length.

Peak time for the insect in the UK is between May and September and one Wildlife Trust warned that this year the UK is seeing populations more like you would expect in the Mediterranean, due to the warmer weather.

Bloodsucking females

Whilst the male horsefly feeds off nectar, the female horsefly feeds off animals, including humans, by sucking their blood so she can produce eggs.

The female will lay around 25 to 1,000 eggs in damp wetland areas and also in grassy woodland areas.

It’s their jagged, razor sharp teeth that cause the damage though – and even just one bite from the bloody thirsty bug could leave unsuspecting victims in a great deal of pain.

Painful, infected bites

“A bite from a horsefly can be very painful and the bitten area of skin will usually be red and raised,” NHS Choices says.

“Horsefly bites can take a while to heal and can become infected. See your GP if you have symptoms of an infection, such as pus or increasing pain, redness and swelling.”

According to the NHS symptoms of horsefly bites include a larger red, raised rash, dizziness, weakness and wheezing. A part of the body may also become puffy and swollen.

In rare occasions an allergic reaction to the fly can prove fatal and in 2013 a father of four died suddenly after being bitten by the fly.

If you’re bitten by a horsefly, keep the wound clean and apply ice to minimise the itching.

The voluntary groups bidding to take over the 20-plus Northamptonshire libraries threatened with closure will meet the council leader this week.

After weeks of confusion and misunderstanding, Conservative county council leader Matt Golby will sit down with the groups on Wednesday (July 18) and explain to them what is happening.

A council report published two weeks ago and then pulled from consideration caused much upset when it said that all of the 21 libraries would close their doors temporarily on September 30.

The county authority wants to close the libraries in an attempt to cut running costs and reduce its outgoings as it is struggling to stay within its financial budget.

An email sent to the independent library bidders last Thursday (July 12) says:  “The Leader of Northamptonshire County Council and Deputy Leader of the Council/Portfolio Holder for Public Health and Wellbeing would like to invite you to a meeting on Wednesday 18th July 2018, in the Carnegie Room, Central Library, Northampton at 1pm- 2.30pm.

“Due to the number of interested parties and key stakeholders we will be holding two separate meetings, one for libraries from the north and one for libraries from the south.

“As the application process is still ongoing, we will not be able to discuss individual applications and discussion will be limited to explaining the decision-making process around library services, the process of closing the libraries, and moving towards an Independent Library model.”

The leaders from the county’s seven districts and borough councils as well as the county councillors who represent the wards of the threatened libraries have also been invited to attend.

The meeting is ahead of a panel board meeting on August 1 when the individual bidders will put forward their case for taking over the libraries.

A judicial review about the legality of the closures is also being heard by the high court at the end of  this month.

The high court judge listening to the case could decide to make NCC look again at its decision to close the doors on the libraries.

Not all of the independent library bidders can make this Wednesday’s meeting.

Clerk from Irchester Parish Council Nikki Daft said the invitation was too last-minute and that the council was already committed to attending another meeting.

Irchester library is in a unique situation as it is a Carnegie library and was built for the parish on gifted land. The county council acquired the library free of charge in the 1960s when it took over its running, but now wants to charge the parish £195,000 to regain ownership. The parish council says it would have to go into debt and take out a public works board loan to buy the library.

All of the libraries have been given different options by the county council with some being asked to buy the building and others being gifted a rental option. The authority owns 12 of the 21 threatened libraries and could stand to make £3.25m if all are sold.

Sarah Ward

Local Democracy Reporter

A Northamptonshire community is pulling together to help refurbish a Brixworth woman's home after a neighbour discovered it was unfit for her to live in.

Julie Wykes, a 47-year-old Brixworth resident of 25 years, is leading the DIY SOS project.

She met Shelley Burchtt Balding, 46, before going on holiday when she was looking for someone to care for her dogs while she went away.

Shelley, who suffers from seizures and who is in a wheelchair, offered to help but when Julie brought her dogs round to her house she was appaled at the conditions the 46-year-old was living in.

"It's the moment I walked into her house and I saw her in tears and the way she was living," said Julie, recalling when she decided to do something about Shelley's situation.

"She wanted to help me so I wanted to do something for her.

"I'm quite determined when I get something in my head."

Julie thought the house could do with a makeover, especially considering Shelley's wheelchair couldn't fit through the doorframe of the toilet.

This meant she was having to hoist herself out of her chair every time.

An appeal was swiftly put on the local area Facebook page to see if anyone could contribute to the DIY SOS project, and tradesmen duly came forward offering to give hours for free.

"The response was amazing," said Julie.

Work on site has been done by Brixworth-based AMC Electrical, Elite Plumbing, and TMT Kitchens and Bathrooms

Nic Haysey designed the home, LB Contracts are doing the painting and decorating, building work is being carried out by Darren Wood and JB Builders, JML Plastering and Darren Walmsley will handle the plastering, Conor Haldenby is doing the plumbing and Jon Noble has helped with courier services.

Donations from local companies have helped the project move forward with many giving tiles, a sink, a shower and other key ingredients.

The project began at the end of June and looks set to last for two-and-a-half months.

The new look home will allow Shelley to move around freely.

The 46-year-old bought the house because of its views of the Northamptonshire countryside.

Julie is hopeful of finding someone to lay decking and a ramp outside so that Shelly can make the most of the vistas.

"We still need decking, a shed, wood for a ramp, a back door with 920mm opening size, wood for storage and some soft furnishings to finish," said Julie.

Travellers who have parked on a Northamptonshire cricket club will be issued a notice to leave say the county council.

Barby Cricket Club tweeted earlier this afternoon warning other not to "suffer the same" and keep sites well secured.

"Local clubs please be aware," the tweet states.

"Travellers have broken into our ground and parked on our pitch.

"Make sure you don’t suffer the same, make sure your site is well secured."

A spokesman for Northamptonshire County Council said: “The Countywide Traveller Unit is currently preparing paperwork to issue a notice for the encampment to vacate the site.”

Two people have been arrested after a man was assaulted in Daventry last night.

Just before 9pm on Sunday, July 15, in Wordsworth Road, near The Headlands, the man was attacked by a number of people who then fled the scene.

A police spokeswoman said: "The victim was taken to hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries."

Police are yet to confirm whether a weapon or blade was used in the attack.

Officers would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed this incident or who may have any information regarding it.

Witnesses or anyone with information about this incident can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Two people have been arrested in connection with this incident and remain in police custody at this time.

Hundreds of people descened on the village of Crick at the weekend for the annual scarecrow and music festival which was bigger and better than ever before.

This year’s event saw a record-breaking 67 entries for inclusion on the Scarecrow map, and for a chance to scoop the £100 prize on offer.

Now volunteers are busy counting the masses of votes made for the best scarecrow award.

Angela Stock, one of the committee members, said: “It was a delight to see such a variety of people walking around Crick in the glorious sunshine to view the scarecrows, to enjoy the free music and arts performances and to visit the plethora of attractions, amusements, stalls and food vendors we had on offer.”

She added: “The considerable number of programmes and raffle tickets that were sold, paired with the scarcity of remaining cake in Crick would suggest that we are very likely to exceed last year’s charitable total raised, which was more than £18,000 across the whole village.”

Organisers said they wish to thank all of the volunteers, traders, entertainers, local sponsors and every visitor for helping to create a wonderful family atmosphere.

The charities set to benefit from this year’s fundraising include: The Air Ambulance, Hibbs Lupus Trust, Breast Cancer Care, Alzheimer’s Society, The Campbell Foundation, PAWS animal rescue and many organisations in Crick.

The winner of the best scarecrow award will be announced this Sunday, July 22, at a prize giving ceremony and grand raffle draw which takes place at the Royal Oak, Church Street, Crick at 7pm.

Details of the total raised, the winner of best scarecrow prize and the results of the raffle will be posted on the Crick Scarecrow Festival’s Facebook page.

See www.facebook.com/crickscarecrowfestival/

The game will be played at Brixworth Cricket Club and will feature former Steelback and England fast bowler Devon Malcolm, with the Help for Heroes team made up of wounded, injured and sick serving personnel and veterans in various stages of their recovery.

More sports stars from the Northampton area will be confirmed later this week.

The money raised during the event on July 22 will go to the charity and its recovery centres.

The day will see two matches played during which there will be flypasts by a BBMF Hurricane and the Blades Aerobatic Team (made up of ex-Red Arrow pilots) who are based at Sywell.

Other activities include a cricket stumps competition, target tennis and golf putting. There will be display by Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers who will be bringing a recovery unit.

Entertainment is being provided by the Grafton Scout Marching Band and Penny Diamond, the Blondie tribute act who appeared on Stars in their Eyes.

There will be a bar, a barbecue and homemade cakes on sale while admission and parking are free.

Each year, referees are selected from the NFA CORE (Centre of Refereeing Excellence) group, based on their potential and performances throughout the season.

The Iber Cup, one of the largest and most international youth football tournaments in the world, offers a development opportunity to the selected referees, with real-time coaching available via a communications kit, before video debriefs are delivered in the evenings.

This year six Northamptonshire FA affiliated referees and three coaches were chosen to attend the tournament in Portugal, held from in the first week of July.

They were business manager Gary Biddulph, referee development officer Luke Scott, coaches Chris Knowles, Ian Rathbone and Rob Evans, and referees Tom Beeton, Seth Galia, Sam Lee, Cameron Smith, Harry Price and Callum Czajkowski.

The refs took charge of 16 quarter-finals, four semi-finals and two appointments in the final.

Speaking after the tournament, Luke Scott said: “We have been attending the Iber Cup in Estoril for four years now, and the development opportunity this tournament provides to the referees selected is second to none.

“We were delighted to have our most successful year in terms of final appointments, and the work now continues into next season and beyond for these referees.

"We look forward to seeing their improvements after implementing the points identified by the coaching team throughout the week.”

Gary Biddulph added: "After seeing such great success in previous seasons from referees who attended the Iber Cup, I was delighted to accompany a group of six referees, three coaches and our referee development officer to Portugal to see first-hand the work that takes place.

“To witness such dedication, skill and support from the coaching team to our referees leaves me in no doubt that success will follow from this group in the coming season. This was an outstanding effort to develop our best referees in the county."

Men living in deprived areas of Northamptonshire are dying nine years earlier than those in affluent areas, according to a newly published report.

The life expectancy figures are revealed in the 2017/18 annual public health report written by the county council’s director of public health Lucy Wightman.

The report also records that those living in more deprived areas of the county spend 13 fewer years in good health than those in richer areas.

The average life expectancy for a Northamptonshire woman is 83 years and 79 years for a man.

This is in line with the national average.

The report says: “Against national comparisons, Northamptonshire’s outcomes are varied.

“Life expectancy is similar to the national average, however in deprived areas of the county the difference in life expectancy is substantial.

“For example, a boy born today in the poorer parts of the county has a life expectancy 9.4 years lower than one in the most affluent parts of the county, while a girl’s life expectancy is 6.1 years lower.

“Additionally, both males and females living in the most deprived areas of the county can expect to spend around 13 fewer years in good health compared to those in the most affluent areas.”

According to the report there are 120,000 residents living in deprivation, which equates to 16 per cent of the Northants population.

All of the county’s different districts have deprived areas within them but there are more areas of deprivation in urban centres such as Northampton, Corby, Wellingborough and Kettering.

The report says: “These areas are also more likely to see higher rates of unhealthy behaviours, such as smoking, unhealthy diets and excessive alcohol consumption which then lead to poorer health and well-being outcomes.

“Almost half of the gap in life expectancy between the most and least deprived areas of the county is due to excess deaths from heart disease, stroke and cancer, much of which is caused by lifestyle choices.

“These are also the diseases that make up a large proportion of the burden of premature death in the county and England.”

County councillor Eileen Hales, who represents the Windmill ward in Kettering, said the figures were shocking.

She said: “It is appalling to have such a difference within a single county.

“There is a case for more resources but I think this is about education.

“And we do need to know what the root causes are.

“There needs to be some serious research and analysis so that we can get to the bottom of this and develop some strategies.”

The councillor also criticised the report and said it did not have an overview of what projects have been undertaken in the past 12 months and their results.

The role of the director of public health is to inform and advise the public and various agencies such as health organisations and the police to increase the health and well-being of Northamptonshire residents.

Last year, before Lucy Wightman was in the director role, the county authority mis-spent £8m of the £35m it was given by the Public Health authority.

Rather than spending on projects that led to specified public health outcomes, the £8m was spent within the adult social care.

The authority, which is in severe financial trouble and is being overseen by two government appointed commissioners, now has to repay these funds and add them back into public health.

The Euston shutdown will impact all services on the West Coast mainline including trains serving Milton Keynes, St Albans, Northampton, Watford, Hemel Hempstead, Leighton Buzzard, Bletchley, Wolverton and Berkhampsted.

As part of Britain’s Railway Upgrade Plan, Network Rail is replacing North Wembley junction - a major intersection on Europe’s busiest mixed-use railway.

Doing this vital job requires shutting the line and the least disruptive time to do this work, jointly agreed by rail industry partners, is over three weekends: August 18-19, August 25-27 (bank holiday weekend) and September 1-2.

Martin Frobisher, managing director for Network Rail’s London North Western route said:“There is never an ideal time to shut the railway but these three weekends are the least disruptive times to do it.

“We have worked together for the past three years with train operators to carefully plan this closure of the railway in a way that minimises the impact on customers.

“It’s vital the track at north Wembley is replaced to continue to safely meet the huge demand of passenger and freight rail services on the West Coast main line. This work will result in better, more reliable journeys in the future.”

Train passengers are advised to plan their journeys in advance at www.nationalrail.co.uk/westcoastand using information on their train operators’ websites.

If customers cannot avoid travelling on these weekends and plan to attend cultural or sporting events, they are advised to expect very different journeys to normal - busier trains and longer, diverted routes.

The advice is to ‘check before you travel’ at www.nationalrail.co.uk

Andrew Conroy, customer experience director for London Northwestern Railway said: “Our aim is to keep people moving if they have to travel on these dates.

"Improvement works are never convenient for anyone, but we have a tried and tested plan for operating buses to connect with alternative routes to and from London when Euston is closed. We still advise customers to travel on alternative days as these options will take significantly longer.”

Euston’s shops and access to London Underground will remain available throughout the three weekends.

All customers are urged to check www.nationalrail.co.uk/westcoast for the very latest travel information.

Anne Pember has presided over the county’s inquests for 23 years and recalls a number of cases where post-traumatic stress was a factor in a person’s death.

“It features especially in mental health cases,” she said.

“By that, I mean people who have been sectioned at St Andrews or Berrywood Hospital.

“Sometimes we get cases where people have suffered from flashbacks from their PTSD, which can lead to all kinds of complications.”

But the coroner, like many others across the country - cannot put a firm figure on the number of suicides that related to former military personnel - even though the difficulties of suffering from trauma can manifest themselves in dangerous ways.

The officials, who operate outside of the judiciary and cannot be subject to Freedom of Information requests, are simply not required to log whether an individual has served in the armed forces - even though many case files come with a complete employment history of an individual.

Personal statements given by family members at inquests will also often mention a veteran’s service history.

“Sleeping rough, addiction to alcohol, drugs, total dysfunction and domestic disharmony are common,” Mrs Pember said - in reference to the symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

“If this is a significant problem then those in authority should be aware of it.

“It will help them to offer counselling, advice, support.

“What do people get when they leave the service?

“If they have served their country they deserve to be supported following the horrendous things that they have seen.

“It can lead to a total breakdown.”

Mrs Pember said that, over the past year, she was not aware of any cases of ex-service personnel committing suicide.

Coroners have the power to write letters to organisations under regulation 28 of the Coroners’ Regulations if they believe it can prevent further deaths.

Mrs Pember added that she would consider writing such a report if, in future, there was a link between a person’s death and their military background in a significant number of cases.

In stark contrast to allies such as the United States and Canada who monitor their ex-military personnel for life, the United Kingdom has no reliable system in place to track suicides among the nation’s 2.6 million veterans despite evidence that thousands struggle with serious mental health problems, including PTSD.

JP Investigations wrote to the 98 coroners in England and Wales, along with their equivalents in Scotland and Northern Ireland, to ask for records over the last three years on the number of suicides committed by people who had served in the armed forces.

Just one was able to provide the data while 25 others replied saying no such information was kept or could not be searched for. Several coroners backed calls for such data to be kept in a readily-accessible format.

In response to a request made under the Freedom of Information Act, the Ministry of Defence told JP Investigations that it “does not hold information on the causes of death of all UK Armed Forces veterans”.

A senior NHS executive acknowledged earlier this month that “we can do better” on collecting data on veterans taking their own lives.

Suicide remains rare among military veterans and the last comprehensive study, completed in 2009, found the overall rate was comparable to the general population. Separate studies conducted among veterans of the Falklands War and the Gulf War found risk of suicide was lower than for the population as a whole.

But, despite the yawning gap in official records, there is evidence that a disturbing number of ex-soldiers - in particular among those who fought in the most recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan - are taking their own lives or attempting to do so.

Johnston Press has established that at least 16 veterans are feared to have committed suicide since January, of whom at least seven are known to have fought in Afghanistan and Iraq. At least two of the deaths involved individuals who were also part of British special forces while five were former members of the Royal Marines.

Among the former soldiers to have taken their lives this year are 29-year-old Kevin Williams, who was the youngest British soldier to fight in Iraq when he was deployed on his 18th birthday. He took his own life at his home in Basildon in March after being diagnosed with PTSD and failing to keep appointments for treatment. His comrade and friend, John Paul Finnigan, 34, who served alongside him during some of the toughest fighting in Iraq, also killed himself 12 weeks later.

Our figures mean that ex-soldiers and sailors are killing themselves at a rate of one every 11 days. During the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan between 2001 and 2014 the rate of British fatalities due to enemy action was one death every 14 days.

The Government last week confirmed to JP Investigations that it has no suicide data relating to veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan but insisted it is “committed to undertaking this work”.

Campaigner Rose Gentle, whose son Gordon was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq in 2004 and who has since become a leading voice on the treatment of veterans, strongly backed the investigation’s findings. She said: “The Government is embarrassed in case the true figures come out. It’s wrong that the information on veteran suicides is not available.

“The situation for boys leaving the services is just as bad as it ever was. They come out of the services and many are struggling. They have lots flashbacks, they’re so depressed and just can’t handle it. A lot of them are lost, a lot don’t know where to turn.”

Figures from a published study by Combat Stress, the oldest and largest veterans mental health charity, are that 19 per cent of veterans it currently treats have moderate to severe suicidal thoughts.

Relatives, campaigners and professionals - including two coroners - told our investigation that they believed official figures for the number of suicides were vital to understanding the extent of serious mental health problems among veterans and focusing resources designed to assist former personnel experiencing a mental health crisis and prevent them from taking their own lives.

After years of criticism, the Government has begun to put significant resources into mental health provision for both serving personnel and veterans, amounting to £22m a year for the next decade. Among measures launched in the last 18 months is an online “Veterans’ Gateway” to streamline access to help and a tailored NHS service to help personnel leaving the armed services. A Veterans’ ID card to allow ex-servicemen and women identify themselves and access services is also in the pipeline.

But a large number of those interviewed by JP Investigations were sharply critical of the absence of reliable data, arguing that such information would be straightforward to collect from inquest proceedings or NHS records.

In America, where the death records of every veteran are collected by a dedicated Washington department, the suicide rate increased by 35 per cent between 2001 and 2016. A study by the Department for Veteran Affairs found that in 2015 the suicide rate was 2.1 times higher among US former military personnel compared with the civilian population.

In Australia, an official report in January this year found the suicide rate from 2002–2015 was 14 per cent higher among male veterans than all Australian men, after adjusting for age.

A Canadian government study based on records from 1976 to 2012 found that its veterans were at a “significantly higher risk of death by suicide” compared to civilians. The age-adjusted suicide rate for male veterans was 40 per cent higher compared to civilians and for female veterans the figure was 80 per cent.

There is no such equivalent information for the United Kingdom.

A leading clinician at Combat Stress, which is currently treating more than 3,000 veterans, said reliable suicide data was vital to understand whether Britain was experiencing a similar sharp increase to its allies and the lack of this data is a “red light” for those working with ex-servicemen and women.

Dr Dominic Murphy told JP Investigations: “We don’t actually know those rates. From the mid-noughties onwards there has been a higher rate of suicide among American, Canadian and Australian veterans and some of our European allies and we just don’t know [the situation] in the UK because the last study was in 2009.

“One could argue that it might coincide with the end of… the active war fighting phase in Iraq and Afghanistan. These are still low prevalence rates but any increase is very worrying, it is a very negative outcome. For me it is a red light that we need to actually fill this gap with data.”

A former head of the Royal Navy expressed his surprise at the lack of suicide records. Admiral Lord West, who is now a Labour peer, said: “Not to have the statistics of what’s actually happening, it would be very silly. Otherwise how could you take any action if it’s necessary?

“I’m very surprised there’s no kind of record of [suicide from] mental illness that stems from their time in the military. I think it would make absolute sense to do that.”

Northern Ireland MP Jeffrey Donaldson, a veteran and former member of the House of Commons Defence Select Committee, told JP Investigations that his own contacts with veteran groups led him to believe that the number of suicides among ex-services personnel is increasing and called for an “urgent review” by the MoD of record keeping practices.

He said: “Whilst there will be varying circumstances in each of these suicides, the current trend is very worrying and the deaths of these brave people is an indictment of a system that is failing to provide many veterans with adequate support and treatment.

The Government need to undertake an urgent review of their record keeping to ensure that the MOD are continuously monitoring the levels of suicide amongst veterans. Having access to such statistics won’t resolve the issues linked to suicide amongst veterans but it will help identify the scale of it and thus assist with targeting resources where they are most needed.”

A veteran turned psychologist, who has set up a pioneering service to treat ex-military personnel which has the backing of senior generals, told JP Investigations that the failure to collect data from inquests or NHS mental health trusts made it appear that the Government was deliberately ignoring the extent of the problem.

Simon Maryan, a former Royal Marine who jointly heads Veterans United Against Suicide UK, said he had he seen a rise in suicides and suicide attempts since the beginning of 2017.

He told JP Investigations: “When you leave the forces in the UK the Ministry of Defence essentially washes its hands of you - you become the responsibility of the civilian sector.

“It is unforgivable that we have no proper way of recording whether a suicide involves a veteran. It should be a mandatory requirement for the Ministry of Defence and coroners to ask if someone who has committed suicide had been in the services. It is not a difficult thing to do - it's a tick box.

“Not recording these figures makes it very easy for the MoD to turn a blind eye. How they can they tackle a problem if they don’t know its scale and nature. If it is possible to record these figures in America or Australia, why not in the UK? It is a derogation of duty of care - bluntly, they have screwed these guys up, they should fix them.”

The statistics currently available on suicide rates among veterans rely on so-called “cohort studies” focused specifically on veterans from the Falklands War and the Gulf War, and information held by mental health trusts treating veterans.

Two coroners told JP Investigations they believed a systematic approach would be beneficial.

Dewi Prichard Jones, Coroner for North West Wales, said his own experience indicated that young maladjusted male veterans with short service records were at highest risk of suicide - a finding confirmed by other studies.

But he said a more comprehensive system was needed: “It would probably help to tackle this as is done in the US and Australia but it will be a matter of resources and priorities. Suicide is a favoured topic of public discussion at present. If they could track veterans and do something on suicide that would be very helpful.”

The MoD told JP Investigations that provision of veterans’ mental healthcare is “primarily” the responsibility of the NHS and devolved administrations. It added that it had “no ability” to direct coroners or the Procurator Fiscal in Scotland.

A MoD spokesperson said: “While rates of suicide are significantly lower in the Armed Forces than the general population, any suicide is a tragedy for the individual, their family, friends and colleagues and we take each case extremely seriously.

“The reasons people take their lives can vary and are not necessarily linked to their service. Help is available for serving personnel, their families and veterans, including through the two 24-hour mental health helplines provided by Combat Stress.”

Dr Dominic Murphy, a senior clinical lecturer at Combat Stress, says that the lack of data on the issue is a “red light” for those concerned about veterans’ welfare.

His research of the charity’s mushrooming client base has reflected what is already known - that young men from unstable backgrounds who leave the services after a short period are most at risk from suicide.

What he does not know is whether the rapid increase in demand for the charity’s mental health services might also suggest a rise in suicides among the UK’s veterans.

'WE DON’T KNOW THOSE RATES'

“We don’t actually know those rates. From the mid-noughties onwards there has been a higher rate of suicide among American and Canadian and Australian veterans and some of our European allies and we just don’t know [the situation] in the UK because the last study was in 2009.”

Although suicide is “not very common” the rises among UK allies have been “significant”.

The rises among UK allies have been over a similar time frame.

“One could argue it might coincide with the end of the wars, the active war-fighting phase in Iraq and Afghanistan. These are still low prevalence rates but any increase is very worrying, it is a very negative outcome.”

He adds: “For me it is a red light that we need to actually fill this gap with data.”

His understanding is that UK coroners don’t routinely ask if the deceased was a veteran when they do kill themselves.

The Johnston Press Investigations Team wrote to coroners across the UK and those who replied confirmed that they had no means to record that someone was a veteran after an inquest.

“The fact that you wrote to all the corners and could not collect any data just shows that we don’t really know what is going on.”

By contrast the health care systems of Canada, American, Australia have a veterans affairs agency which tracks them on a national database and allows access to different health provision, he says.

HIS STUDY

He has just completed a study of 400 of the 3185 clients currently being treated by Combat Stress, looking at how often they have suicidal thoughts or ‘suicidal ideation’.

The results have been accepted for publication in the Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corp.

“Our data suggests that 19% of our [client] population currently experience moderate to severe suicidal ideation”.

Some of the risk factors for suicidal thoughts he found among his client base are being a young single male, an early service leaver ( less than four years of continuous service), unemployed and having had more difficult childhood experiences.

Such veterans often grow up without adult role models who can regulate their emotions well.

“It just means people get really stressed and can’t calm down.”

This finding confirms research by other academics.

RED FLAGS

It is a “red flag” if his clients have made any actual plans or attempted to take their life or self-harmed in the past.

“Protective factors” that mitigate against suicide are whether they have loved ones and whether they have more positive thoughts to balance out the negative ones.

“Often this is friends, family, children, pets - if people don’t have those again that is very concerning. So you can see why people who aren’t in employment or relationships is kind of worrying.”

He adds: “For such people, they cannot see a future where they are not suffering from mental health problems.”

“When you are in the military you have quite a high status, you have a job you are quite respected, you have got peers around you. You then leave the armed forces and you may not be working, you may not have any friends, social support around you. That loss of status can be very difficult for people, as it would be for anyone; loss of meaning and loss of direction.”

Combat Stress has three treatment centres in Great Britain. Veterans in Northern Ireland may receive community-based treatment or attend a centre in Great Britain.

There has been a sharp rise in the number of 15 to 19-year-olds being admitted to Northamptonshire hospitals due to self harming.

Latest figures revealed in the county’s annual public health report show that 485 young people were admitted to a hospital after harming themselves in 2016/17.

The number of hospital admissions has almost doubled in the past five years.

Exam stress, social media pressure, bullying and confidence issues have been identified as some of the reasons why more and more of the county’s 15 to 19-year-olds are hurting themselves.

Claudia Slabon, chief executive of Wellingborough-based charity Service Six, said the issue was being made worse by funding reductions to organisations that tackle the issues that may lead to self harming.

She said: “There have been cuts to services and that has made a difference.

“A lot of the  early help and prevention work is no longer funded and this has made an impact.”

Service Six runs the Opal project which works with young people, parents, schools and other agencies to offer support and guidance.

The countywide scheme has going for a number of years after being founded by two teenagers from Brackley and in April this year received a three-year £94,000 funding grant from Children in Need.

Funding was pulled by Northamptonshire County Council in 2014 and from then the charity has funded the work itself through grant bids and integrating into other services.

The focus areas are Corby, Wellingborough and Northampton, although it will offer assistance to any county teenager.

Service Six is currently working with 55 young people who self harm.

Claudia said: “There is a lot of pressures put on teenagers by social media.

“They feel that they have to be popular and have a certain number of likes on their posts.

“If they don’t have this it can lead to low self-confidence and a feeling that they don’t like themselves

“There is also pressure from the schools and some teenagers are made to feel that if they don’t do well in exams then they will not do well in life.

“I think changes need to be made to the education system to cater for all abilities and talents.

“There is always an underlying reason why someone is self harming and what we aim to do is to get to the bottom of the problem and then help the young people develop other tools of coping rather than harming themselves.”

Claudia said that as well as cutting, young people can harm themselves by burning their bodies or banging their heads off walls.

She said: “If a parent suspects or discovers their child is self harming it can be a huge shock and very upsetting.

“But I would advise to stay calm, try and talk to your child and seek some professional help.”

Teenagers can self refer and Service Six also receives referrals from parents, schools, doctors and other agencies involved with young people.

The Opal project has two dedicated staff who offer one-to-one sessions plus group workshops and in-school sessions.

According to Public Health England statistics there were 421 teenagers admitted to Northamptonshire hospitals because of self harm in 2015/16, 397 were treated in 2014/15, 351 in 2013/14 and 261 in 2012/13.

Advice for parents is available at www.servicesix.co.uk or call 01933 277520.