Soldiers from Northamptonshire have spent the last month in the sweltering heat of the African desert where they've been 'fighting' alongside Egyptian troops.

The 2nd Battalion of the Royal Anglian Regiment are in north Africa not on special, covert or full-blown military operations but on exercise alongside Egypt's 112 Infantry Brigade.

The 'Poachers' are taking part in the month-long assignment - called Ahmose 1 - which involves more than 150 British military personnel.

The exercise is taking place south-west of Alexandria and is putting soldiers through their paces in a variety of scenarios including urban operations, close quarter battle and live firing.

In pictures: Royal Anglian Regiment take part in desert training exercise alongside Egyptian troops
Northamptonshire Privates Jack Barrett and Harry Dennis are in the Egyptian desert with their regiment.

"We have been going through urban operations showing how we would fight through a town, buildings and rooms, and showing them different drills," explained 21-year-old Private Barrett, who hails from Duston and now lives in Pitsford.

"Harry and I didn’t know each other before but we clicked when he first arrived."

"Being from Northamptonshire, it was something to talk about," said Private Dennis, who grew up in Brixworth.

"He knew a few people who I knew."

The Northamptonshire privates were back home last Christmas, but as the Poachers are usually based in Dhekelia in Cyprus they have spent months at a time away from their friends and families.

"I miss the little things that Cyprus doesn’t have," said Private Dennis, 19.

"Obviously I miss my family and my friends but also the pubs and - it sounds silly - but things like the currency and even English roads.

"When I next get home I’ll have a Chinese and go to the pub."

The exercise will culminate in a company live fire attack, involving over 100 infantry soldiers supported by mortars, machine guns and snipers.

As a sharpshooter, Private Barrett has been training with his opposite numbers in the Egyptian Army, as has Private Dennis, who is a rifleman.

Once the exercise is over, the troops will get some R&R time during which they'll visit the Pyramids and some of the historic battlefields won by the British Army in years gone.

The broaching of the subject of history provided an opportunity to ask how the Armed Forces have changed over time.

"What people think the Army is is very different," said Private Barrett.

"There have been news articles about how it works and what goes on but it’s much more accepting than people think.

"It’s not just violence and screaming.

"The Army is working hard to be inclusive. Females are allowed to join the infantry and there’s an LGBT rep in each battalion.

"There’s also a battalion champion who we can all go to with various issues.”

The battalion has been in Cyprus since August 2017 and will return to Cottesmore in August 2019.

Administrators have announced redundancies at the Daventry distribution centre of a UK office supplier.

A total of 106 staff lost their jobs at Office Outlet's Daventry site and its head office.

A Deloitte spokesman said: "The joint administrators to SUK Retail Limited t/a Office Outlet are announcing 106 redundancies today at the company’s head office and distribution centre in Daventry."

"The stores will keep trading whilst a buyer is sought as the business is still being marketed for sale."

On April 2, administrators Deloitte announced 16 store closures across the country.

Nine stores will close on April 7, and a further seven on April 10, resulting in 161 redundancies.

At the time of Deloitte's appointment on March 18, Office Outlet had over 90 stores nationwide, and around 1,200 employees.

Richard Hawes, joint administrator, said: "While we are still open to a sale of the business in part or in whole, we cannot continue trading all the stores indefinitely in an administration process.

"Regrettably, therefore, we are announcing store closures that will result in a number of redundancies. We will be keeping staff informed of further developments in the coming weeks in what is a difficult time for all those involved."

This means that Sally Hodges, who took up post in February, will be paid £286,000 as an annual salary, which is £90,957 more per year than the council’s chief executive Theresa Grant.

It is also considerably more than the two commissioners Brian Roberts and Tony McArdle, who were sent in to oversee the council by central government in May after the Conservative run authority was heavily criticised by an inspector.

The post is temporary and for 2019.

Northampton councillor Julie Davenport is critical of the amount the council pays in big salaries to officers at a time when the authority is making cuts to budgets.

She said: “I don’t think anybody is worth that salary. If people want to earn that sort of money they should work for a profit-making corporation, not in public service.”

Sally Hodges has been director of children’s services at councils in Solihull and Staffordshire and has worked for Ofsted as a safeguarding adviser. Her department has a number of issues including underpayments to early years providers and trying to recruit permanent social workers.

When she joined the authority she said: “The needs of children are paramount and at the centre of my focus and I’ll be working hard to improve the service and make sure children and young people in Northamptonshire are safe and well looked after.

“Although Northamptonshire has been subject to critical inspections, there is a real spirit of change and everyone is very committed to the task so I am confident that the necessary improvements can be made.”

After a damning Ofsted inspection in October – before Sally Hodges took up her post – the department is also being overseen by children’s commissioner Malcolm Newsam who has sent a report to government about his findings in Northamptonshire. This has not as yet been made public.

A spokesman for Northamptonshire County Council said: “Sally is one of the UK’s leading children’s services professionals and has a wealth of experience, including extensive work with Ofsted and councils across the UK.

“Sally has represented authorities and agencies on a number of national bodies and has managed many different services for children including fostering, adoption, youth offending, child protection, residential care and has a salary to reflect this.

“Employed on a year-long contract, Sally is responsible for a workforce of over 1,200 and oversees projects which are crucial to keeping the county’s most vulnerable children safe, including leading the Children’s Improvement Plan and working directly with the government appointed Children’s Commissioner.

“A detailed market assessment was carried out to ensure the salary is aligned to market rates for experienced children’s services professionals.”

Cyclists from Daventry have been set a keep fit challenge - to raise their heart rate and raise funds for a boy with severe disabilities.

By digging out the Lycra, hopping into the saddle and cycling, volunteers can get fit and help Daventry boy Harry Charlesworth.

On Sunday, July 7, Daventry Breeze Rides instructor Saffron Small is leading a 40-mile cycle across some of the most beautiful areas of Northamptonshire to raise essential funds for this little boy.

Four-year-old Harry has quadriplegic cerebral palsy, is tube fed and sleeps hooked up to an oxygen tank - a series of strokes left him severely physically and mentally disabled.

The Helping Harry Trust was founded to help fund vital treatment, care and equipment.

Saffron said: “I’m so excited to be able to use my passion for cycling and joy of the outdoors to help raise money for such an amazing little boy.

“Harry is such a happy little soul, but he faces so many challenges, as do Hayley and Andy, his parents.

“Being able to bring so many people together to raise money to support this incredible family is a genuine honour and pleasure.”

On the day, entrants will be split into three groups (novice, intermediate and experienced) led by professional cycling instructors - so all abilities can enter, but entrants must be prepared for some hills.

Registration is £25 with riders making a commitment to raise an additional £75.

Cyclists will all receive a medal to mark their achievement and will be welcomed back with some well earned refreshments.

To find out more about the ride, email thehelpingharrytrust@gmail.com and for more information about the charity go to www.thehelpingharrytrust.com

Mark Wells-Pestell, 49, was in his Nissan ambulance when alerted to an incident ahead of him on the M1 southbound between junctions 18 and 17 in May last year.

That stretch of the road is a smart motorway with a variable speed limit and as he raced to attend the scene he was clocked at 66mph in what was at the time a 40mph zone because of the crash up ahead.

He had been alerted to the accident by his GPS and drivers on the other side of the M1 who were flashing their lights and gesturing in the direction of the incident.

When Mr Wells-Pestell, from Stevenage, arrived he found a car in lane three which had been damaged by a metal object which had fallen off a trailer.

A trained paramedic, blue light driver and former Army medic, Mr Wells-Pestell was able to briefly close the carriageway to help get the vehicle to the hard shoulder and treated the driver who was described as "a bit shook up".

Wearing his paramedic uniform, Mr Wells-Pestell represented himself at Northampton Crown Court on Thursday where he was able to overturn the decision to endorse his licence with six points for speeding.

Those points would have prevented him from continuing his work as a medic in an area where there is a shortage of paramedics.

"If I hadn't attended the incident I would have failed my duty of care to the public," Mr Wells-Pestell told the court.

"If a member of the public needs my help I am duty-bound to help them."

"I thought I was doing the right thing," he added.

Mr Wells-Pestell told Judge Rebecca Crane he had been unable to work because of the points on his licence and said that after 32 years he was facing unemployment.

After retiring to consider her verdict with two magistrates, Judge Crane said: "We accept his evidence that he was in a marked vehicle that was properly registered, that he is a trained paramedic and he genuinely believed there was an accident on the M1.

"It was his duty to attend that incident."

Unions representing staff at Northamptonshire County Council have hit out at the pay of new children’s director as ‘obscene and unjustified’.

Yesterday it was revealed that Sally Hodges, who was appointed to the post in February, is taking home a wage of £1,100 a day which adds up to an annual salary of £258,000.

The unions who represent staff at the authority, who this year have not been given a pay rise, say the pay level is unacceptable and that such huge salaries in public authorities need to stop.

The pay level makes Sally Hodges the highest paid senior officer in the council and is more than is earned by her boss, chief executive Theresa Grant.

Branch secretary of the Unison Northamptonshire Kev Standishday said: “This obscene salary cannot be justified in any way and harks back to the days when NCC paid outrageous sums of money to consultants and agency staff across social care which then contributed to the county going broke.

“How can the political leadership boast about balancing the budget whilst knowing this had been agreed?

“Staff are facing a real terms pay cut, increased parking charges, probable increases in child care due to the nursery funding cuts and a five per cent council tax rise.”

GMB branch secretary Rachelle Wilkins said: “I’m deeply concerned about this. With everything that has gone on within the council in the past 18 months there needs to be a degree of sensibility about things. This sends the wrong message to people that have worked for the council without a pay rise. It is like the council is creating a two-tier system in its workforce.”

The unions have been told that there could be a pay rise in June for all staff, with pay backdated to April. But there is nothing definite as yet.

The council has announced recently that this year it should balance its books, after going £40m over budget last financial year. To do so it has had to impose emergency spending, make cuts to services and has been given a special dispensation by the Government to use the funds from its sale of headquarters One Angel Square to pay off the deficit.

The children’s services department at NCC has been in turmoil for some time and after a damning Ofsted inspection the Government sent in a children’s commissioner to report back an assessment of the department and suggest a way forward.

Before joining NCC Sally Hodges has been a children’s director at a number of other councils and has advised Ofsted.

The authority said ‘a detailed market assessment was carried out to ensure the salary is aligned to market rates for experienced children’s services professionals.’

The hunt is on to find the county’s school superstars!

We are looking to honour talented teachers and perfect pupils in our annual Northamptonshire Education Awards.

Visit the nomination page here
Launched today by the Northampton Chronicle & Echo, the Northants Telegraph and the Daventry Express, the awards are the original and the best.

Back by popular demand for the 11th time they are open to every primary, secondary, nursery and special school in the county.

But be quick as the closing date for entries is May 24.

There is a wide variety of categories that recognise the dedication and commitment of pupils, teaching staff and education supporters.

Winners will be crowned at a gala event at the stunning Deco Theatre on June 27 in what promises once more to be the highlight of the education calendar.

Editorial director David Summers says: “Our county has some incredibly talented pupils, teachers and education professionals and it is a pleasure to again be recognising their efforts in our highly regarded and long established awards.

“We look forward to sharing that proud moment when the winners are crowned on stage at the Deco in June.”

Among the supporters already on board are title sponsors Veolia and category sponsors Kip McGrath Education Centres, Rock Up, The Qube and The Staffroom.

The benefits of sponsoring an awards category include free tickets to the ceremony, the chance to present your prize on stage, and access to event photography for marketing purposes.

Your company and logo will be mentioned in substantial pre-event publicity across all three titles and their websites.

For details of the full sponsor package please get in touch at linda.pritchard@jpimedia.co.uk

Awards categories

- Primary School Pupil of the Year (sponsor - Kip McGrath)

- Secondary School Pupil of the Year

- Inspirational Teacher Award

- Young Scientist/Engineer Award

- Sports Achievement Award (sponsor - Qube Modular Buildings)

- Creative Arts Award

- Changemaker Award

- School Trips Award

- Health & Wellbeing Award

- Career Aspiration Award

- Unsung Hero Award (sponsor - Veolia UK)

- Primary School of the Year (sponsor - Rock Up climbing centre)

- Secondary School of the Year

Click here for the official nomination page

The district council explored the idea in response to the growing number of approaches it receives for emergency accommodation, and the costly fees it is paying for bed and breakfasts.

Before April 2017, the authority had roughly 200 homeless approaches each year, but between April and December 2018 the number rose to 416.

Speaking on Tuesday (April 2) at a scrutiny committee meeting, portfolio holder Councillor Richard Auger said: “Bed and breakfast is unsettling for clients, so it’s not the ideal option. So the demand is for a flexible hostel, and we’ve had many discussions on the feasibility of this.

“There’s a will to progress this but it would take 18 to 24 months to provide it on current estimates, and there are challenges finding housing association partners to manage it. We would also need to find and adapt a building suitable enough.”

The committee was told that the council had ‘run out of time’ to explore the idea. Daventry District Council is set to be abolished, along with South Northamptonshire district, Northampton borough and Northamptonshire county councils to make way for a new unitary West Northamptonshire Council where services would be merged in April 2020.

Councillor Auger said: “We would not be able to deliver this before unitary, but it’s probably something for the shadow body that will come into force in 12 months to begin to look at.

“This idea isn’t off the table, but we simply don’t have the time to do it. I would not want to start a project that could not be fulfilled.”

But with the Government yet to make a decision on the unitary proposals, and with more parliamentary time being dedicated to Brexit, there are genuine fears the process could be delayed by a year.

Scrutiny committee member Cllr Ken Ritchie said: “We don’t know whether this reorganisation will happen, but we have known about this uncertainty for some time. Are our teams not working closely with the other teams in the county on these issues at the moment?

“I would have thought that even if we weren’t considering a reorganisation, that there was still a case for some kind of joined-up approach. Should we be putting this on hold for what could be another full year?”

But Maria Taylor, executive director for the community, said there were ‘many shifting circumstances’ which meant she could not put a business case forward at the moment.

The increase in demand for emergency accommodation had been ‘expected’ as a result of the new Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, which forced local councils to adopt a much wider duty of care for homeless people than they had before.

Prior to the new legislation, there had been nine people in temporary accommodation, whereas now there were 32, of which 24 are in bed and breakfasts.

She said: “If things settle back to how they were then there wouldn’t be a case, because I’d be spending less than £100,000 a year on bed and breakfasts, compared to the current spend which is £400,000.

“I have to make a case that stands up to scrutiny. It’s too risky to make that leap.”

The following people were sentenced at Northampton Magistrates’ Court:

JANUARY 30

Gary Varnsverry, aged 46, of Obelisk Rise, Northampton, failed to identify a driver; fined £720, surcharge £72, costs £85, banned from driving for six months.

Caroline Bailey, aged 44, of Cranford Road, Northampton, no insurance; fined £315, surcharge £31, costs £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Sandra Bowen, aged 43, of West Paddock Court, Northampton, driving at 47mph in a 40mph; fined £220, surcharge £30, costs £85, banned from driving for six months.

Benjamin Fountain, aged 47, of Park Avenue South, Northampton, driving at 105mph in a 70mph; fined £1,719, surcharge £170, costs £85, licence endorsed with six points.

David Ottaway, aged 42, of Nansen Close, Daventry, failed to identify a driver; fined £660, surcharge £66, costs £85, licence endorsed with six points.

John Lewis, aged 32, of Wakehurst Drive, Northampton, breach of a court order; community order made, surcharge £85, costs £85.

Steven Morris, aged 54, of Alchester Court, Towcester, breach of a court order; fined £500, surcharge £50, costs £85.

JANUARY 31

Sergejs Puzanovskis, aged 46, of Adams Avenue, Northampton, had a lock knife in a public place; jailed for 12 weeks, surcharge £115.

Abdi Abdulaziz, aged 48, of Castle Street, Northampton, driving using a mobile phone; fined £100, surcharge £30, costs £400, licence endorsed with six points.

Alison Hoyland, aged 56, of Grasscroft, Long Buckby, failed to identify a driver; fined £623, surcharge £62, costs £300, licence endorsed with six points.

Victoria Hysko, aged 35, of Brickwell Court, Northampton, failed to identify a driver; fined £660, surcharge £66, costs £300, licence endorsed with six points.

Gavin Morgan, aged 41, of Newnham Road, Northampton, no insurance; fined £60, surcharge £30.

FEBRUARY 1

Glen Crouch, aged 25, of no fixed abode, assault; community order made, compensation £100. Damaged a car; community order made to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.

Jason Dart, aged 27, of no fixed abode, used threatening or insulting words or behaviour; community order made.

FEBRUARY 4

Roman Florea, aged 24, of Spencer Street, Northampton, drink-driving; community order made to carry out 160 hours of unpaid work, surcharge £85, costs £85, banned from driving for 20 months.

Oana Lingurar, aged 29, of Junction Road, Northampton, driving while banned; fined £265, surcharge £30, costs £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Clive Goody, aged 37, of Carey Street, Northampton, broke into a business; jailed for 15 weeks suspended for 18 months, compensation £250.

Perrie Benstead, aged 27, of Redland Drive, Northampton, assault; community order made to carry out 60 hours of unpaid work, surcharge £85, costs £300.

Myles Winfarrah, aged 20, of Midfield Court, Northampton, resisted arrest; community order made, surcharge £85, costs £85. Assaulted a police officer; community order made.

Andrew Bradshaw, aged 57, of Glade Close, Northampton, breach of the Fisheries Act; fined £103, surcharge £30, costs £127.47.

Matthew Hayes, aged 25, of Penrhyn Road, Northampton, breach of the Fisheries Act; fined £150, surcharge £30, costs £127.47.

Diane Brown, of The Causeway, Great Billing, failed to identify a driver; fined £220, surcharge £30, costs £150.

Officers are appealing for witnesses following the theft of a distinctive lawn mower from Long Buckby.

It was taken between 9.30pm and 10.10pm on Tuesday, April 2, from a barn.

The yellow Cub Cadet Z5 sit-on lawn mower is similar to the one pictured.

Witnesses, or anyone with information, should call Northamptonshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Daventry MP Chris Heaton-Harris has cut the ribbon on Brixworth’s new primary care centre – marking the official opening of a new surgery building.

It is designed to care for 7,000 patients in modern consultation and treatment rooms, replacing the previous Brixworth Surgery site in Northampton Road.

Chris said: “When I’m in Parliament, it’s genuinely nice to say actually this stuff does work if you let local people take responsibility - they will deliver some of the best facilities you will see, and this is a remarkable facility.”

Dr Julia Railson, GP partner at Saxon Spires Practice, said: “We are all delighted with our new surgery, which gives us a larger modern facility to cater to the needs of the growing local population.”

A 58-mile stretch of the Grand Union Canal, which links London to Birmingham, runs through Northamptonshire. To celebrate, the Canal & River Trust has put together a list of the Top 10 canal destinations in Northamptonshire. To celebrate, the Canal and River Trust has put together a list of the Top 10 canal destinations in the county ahead of the Easter break this month.

Nineteen employees were paid more than £100,000 by Northamptonshire County Council in a financial year where it effectively declared itself bankrupt.

The latest ‘Town Hall Rich List’ from the TaxPayers’ Alliance showed that the 19 employees were paid a whopping £2.8million between them in 2017/18.

This was the same financial year which included the departure of the then chief executive Dr Paul Blantern and culminated in the council effectively declaring itself bankrupt with a section 114 notice that banned new expenditure. It was the first notice of its kind in the UK for two decades.

The report from the TaxPayers' Alliance shows that Dr Blantern earned £277,000 for the financial year, making him the 19th highest paid council employee in the entire country. He was also the top earner in the East Midlands region.

Dr Blantern left the authority in October 2017, with his ‘Next Generation’ model of outsourcing services heavily criticised for playing its part in orchestrating the council’s financial crisis. Later that year the council’s then chief finance officer Mark McLaughlin said the authority ‘knowingly adopted unachievable savings’ in 2017-18. It was recently determined by the county council's auditors that the final deficit for 2017/18 stood at £41.5million, which was brought into the following financial year.

At the time of his resignation, it was reported at that Dr Blantern had left with a £95,000 pay off, but the latest figures from the ‘Rich List’ indicate that he was given £142,000 as ‘compensation’ in the financial year. The county council confirmed that the £142,000 figure included the £95,000 settlement, and the remainder of the sum was made up of his notice period entitlement. This was then added to his £117,000 basic salary and £18,000 pension contribution, to make a total of £277,000.

In 2017/18, the county council had the highest number of employees who were paid over £100,000 in the East Midlands region, with 19 recipients getting the generous salary.

Among them was an undisclosed individual earning £262,500. Ten other individuals did not have their identity, or job title, disclosed during the research, although current salaries for 2018/19 are openly listed for officers on the council's website.

Job titles that were revealed in the high earner table for 17/18 included the executive director for children, families and education, who took home a £138,000 salary, £3,000 in expenses and £23,000 in pension contributions for an overall total of £164,000.

And the executive director for adults, community and wellbeing took home an overall sum of £161,000, while the chief fire officer received £141,000 in total.

There was, however, a decrease in the number of employees receiving north of £100,000, falling from 23 to 19.
A spokesman for Northamptonshire County Council said: “Staff salaries reflect responsibilities associated with the posts, many of which require highly-qualified, professional staff, while being mindful of the necessity of providing value for money.

“Salaries included in the research also include a number of posts with LGSS, our shared services operation, with salaries shared with Cambridgeshire and Milton Keynes councils.

“We are open about what our senior officers are paid and this information is easily available on our website.”

The council also pointed out that when comparing to other areas in the East Midlands, Northamptonshire was the only county which also didn’t contain a separate unitary authority for the town or city, such as Leicester and Nottingham.

Although the figures are for a financial period of two years ago, it will still leave a bitter taste in the mouths of some council employees, who were told this year that the council would have to wait until it could ‘afford’ to give them a pay rise.

And this week it was revealed that the new director of children’s services, Sally Hodges, was being paid £1,100 a day with an annual salary of £258,000, which is £63,457 more per year than the council’s new chief executive Theresa Grant.

John O'Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “The average council tax bill has gone up by more than £900 over the last twenty years and spending has gone through the roof.

“Disappointingly, many local authorities are now responding to financial reality through further tax rises and reducing services rather than scaling back top pay. Despite many in the public sector facing a much-needed pay freeze to help bring the public finances under control, many town hall bosses are continuing to pocket huge remuneration packages, with staggering pay-outs for those leaving their jobs.

"There are talented people in the public sector who are trying to deliver more for less, but the sheer scale of these packages raise serious questions about efficiency and priorities."

The district council is responsible for setting the hackney carriage tariff within the area, and the tariff has not been increased since 2007. It is now being reconsidered due to increased running costs for cabbies.

Under the new proposals, the current standard rates would increase from £3.20 to £3.60 for up to one mile. The figures would increase by 40p for each of the next stages, at £5.60 for two miles, £11.60 for five miles, £21.60 for ten miles and £31.60 for 15 miles.

And double time rates would rise by 80p, up from £6.40 for up to a mile to £7.20, and from £62.40 to £63.20 for 15 miles.

Drivers are also calling for an increase in the maximum fine they can dish out for cleaning when their taxi is damaged or soiled, up from £50 to £70.

The fare tariff is only applicable to licensed hackney carriages that pick up from taxi ranks or on the streets when hailed by customers. It does not affect private hire vehicles, which are only permitted to carry out pre-booked journeys.

The hackney carriage tariff sets the maximum fare that may be charged, but drivers say that increased running costs mean the prices need to be upped more than a decade after the last change.

A number of drivers in the area were balloted, and out of the 33 that voted on the new proposals, only one did not support increasing the tariff.

A report by the council's executive director for the community, Maria Taylor, states: “To give context to the proposed changes, Private Hire and Taxi Monthly - a publication for the trade - publishes a league table comparing taxi fares from 363 licensing authorities in the United Kingdom.

“In the February 2019 issue of this publication Daventry District Council is 322nd in the table for the comparator two mile fare. Daventry District Council’s fare is currently £5.20, which is the same as in South Northamptonshire but lower than the national average, which currently stands at £5.87.”

This Thursday (April 11), Daventry District Council's strategy group will debate whether to agree to a 14-day consultation period with the public on the price changes.

If any objections are received these would be included in a report to the licensing committee for consideration ahead of any change to the tariff. If no objections are received the new rates would take effect from the closure of the consultation period.

Maria Taylor added: “When compared to the national averages, the proposal supported by the majority of taxi operators appears reasonable. Clearly, the public consultation exercise will highlight any objections to the proposal prior to a decision being made on setting of the tariff by the council.”

A 'police incident' has forced the closure of the road in both directions stretching along the bypass from Weedon to the M1 junction 16.

Highways England, who are supporting police at the scene, tweeted: "#A45 between #WeedonBec and #M1 now closed both directions due to a @NorthantsPolice incident. Please plan your journey around this."

The road was originally closed westbound following the incident at 6.30am. A full closure is now in place.

There is congestion on surrounding routes including the A5 and through the villages of Flore and Upper Heyford.

Here’s the latest Daventry Express column from Robina Wilson.

Robina is a highly-qualified sports massage therapist and yoga teacher, as well as being a wellbeing advocate and enthusiastic blogger.

She owns and runs Daventry-based Body Equilbrium.

As I write this month’s article, those pesky April showers are certainly making an appearance. The abundant blossom and spring flowers may have fooled us into thinking we could pack away the warm clothes, but it appears not just yet. Never mind; grab yourself a cup of tea whilst I tell you about an interesting collaboration lined up for next month…

A few months ago, I wrote an article about the role animals can have in helping us to create and maintain a sense of happiness and wellbeing. If you don’t remember reading it, it discussed how having pets and companion animals in our lives was good for our overall sense of wellbeing, and how they can instil a sense of companionship and ease feelings of loneliness.

When we consider spending time with companion animals, we generally think of domestic pets such as cats, dogs, rabbits, or horses. However, have you ever considered the wellbeing benefits from spending time with an alpaca? Alpacas are South America camelids, which have been domesticated for thousands of years. Aside from their quirky appearance, they are highly social and intelligent animals who live in family group herds and communicate with one another through a wide range of sounds, including humming, and even clucking like chickens!

Last year, I was given an alpaca walking experience at Great Ground Farm in Woodford Halse for my birthday. It was something I had always wanted to do, and I was not disappointed. I would defy anyone who spends time with the alpacas not to be entranced by their engaging mannerisms and expressions. Yes, they can have a certain stubborn quality about them but it’s all part of their cheeky charm. It was particular endearing to hear the male alpacas (these are the ones usually used for walking), ‘singing’ at the female alpacas in the next field to get their attention. Sadly, the ladies were more interested in eating their hay than the serenading of their hopeful beaus.

Having spent the day in the tranquil countryside surrounded by these amazing animals, it got me thinking that maybe we could offer a day where we combined the relaxing qualities of spending time with these beautiful animals with yoga and meditation. To my delight, Drew who owns the alpacas, agreed straight away. On Sunday 26th May, we are co-hosting our very first yoga and alpaca walking day. The day will comprise of meditation and yoga in the field next door to the alpacas, a talk on the historical and social history of alpacas, an alpaca walking experience and lunch. Spaces are extremely limited, so if you’d like to book one, please head over to www.bookwhen.com/bodyeq or contact me directly on info@bodyeq.co.uk to find out more.

The following people were sentenced at Northampton Magistrates’ Court:

FEBRUARY 4

Kieran Freeth, aged 21, of Arnull Crescent, Daventry, no insurance; fined £220, costs £85, banned from driving for 24 months.

Vasile Gheorghe, aged 30, of Station Road, Great Billing, no insurance; fined £660, surcharge £66, costs £85, licence endorsed with eight points.

Mohamed Hussein, aged 24, of Chestnut Terrace, Northampton, no insurance; fined £230, surcharge £30, costs £85, banned from driving for six months.

Craig Lloyd, aged 26, of Marburg Street, Northampton, driving at 72mph in a 40mph zone; fined £660, surcharge £66, banned from driving for six months.

Nicolae Postica, aged 27, of Gold Street, Northampton, driving using a mobile phone; fined £660, surcharge £66, costs £85, banned from driving for six months.

Gediminas Radavicius, aged 26, of Austin Street, Northampton, not displaying L plates; fined £220, surcharge £30, costs £85, banned from driving for six months.

Krzyszdof Baczynski, aged 35, of no fixed abode, stole a quantity of food from Asda; jailed for four weeks. Had a knife in a public place; jailed for 20 weeks.

Arthur McDonagh, aged 51, of Flaxwell Court, Northampton, obstructed a police officer; conditional discharge for 12 months, surcharge £15, costs £85.

Mary McDonagh, aged 46, of Flaxwell Court, Northampton, obstructed a police officer; conditional discharge for 12 months, surcharge £15, costs £85.

Adam Hare, aged 29, of Barnet Close, Northampton, assault; fined £810, surcharge £81, costs £300.

Natalia Sofie, of Victoria Road, Northampton, dropped a cigarette in the town centre; fined £220, surcharge £30, costs £125.

FEBRUARY 5

David Cooke, aged 40, of Hardy Drive, Northampton, failed to comply with a supervision order; fined £40, costs £60.

Derrick Gordon, aged 53, of Kingsley Road, Northampton, failed to comply with a community order; fined £117, costs £60.

Robert Hall, aged 52, of Rothersthorpe Road, Northampton, failed to comply with a community order; jailed for 10 days.

Ghenadie Bivol, aged 25, of Collyweston Road, Northampton, drink-driving; fined £400, surcharge £40, costs £85, banned from driving for 15 months.

James Shelton, aged 28, of Hervey Street, Northampton, used threatening words or behaviour; fined £250, surcharge £30, costs £85.

Jelena Stojkovic, aged 41, of no fixed abode, used threatening words or behaviour; community order made to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work. Assaulted a police officer; community order made, compensation £100, surcharge £85, costs £85.

Cameron Biddescombe, aged 25, of Grey Street, Northampton, used threatening or abusive words or behaviour; community order made to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work, surcharge £85, costs £300.

Jonathan Stein, aged 30, of Towcester Road, Greens Norton, made threats to another person; fined £85, surcharge £30, cost £85.

Geoff Bateman, aged 63, drink-driving; fined £124, surcharge £30, costs £85, banned from driving for 12 months.

Colum Ward, aged 21, of Mounts Court, Northampton, assault; community order made to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work, surcharge £85, costs £85.

Anthony Hunter, aged 39, of Gifford Court, Duston, failed to comply with a community order; costs £60.

Edmond Moldovan, aged 36, of Symington Street, Northampton, drink-driving; fined £480, surcharge £48, costs £85, banned from driving for 18 months.

Michael Bushnell, aged 23, of Fraser Close, Daventry, possession of cannabis; fined £200, surcharge £30, costs £85.

Serge Tchatchoua, aged 34, of Humber Close, Northampton, damaged a car; fined £300, compensation £200, surcharge £30, costs £420.

William Grant-Salmon, aged 33, of Oaklands Drive, Northampton, driving at 35mph in a 30mph zone; fined £230, surcharge £30, costs £85, licence endorsed with three points.

Christina Dovkants, aged 30, of Hanemill Court, Bellinge, no insurance; fined £650, surcharge £65, costs £85, banned from driving for 14 days.

Joseph Glew, aged 20, of Swann Dale, Daventry, driving without due care and attention; fined £440, surcharge £44, costs £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Jack McCabe, aged 31, of Palmerston Road, Northampton, driving while using a mobile phone; fined £220, surcharge £30, costs £85, banned from driving for six months.

Domatas Mazvila, aged 25, of Cowper Street, Northampton, assault; compensation £200, surcharge £115, costs £85.

FEBRUARY 7

Stefan Tanase, aged 35, of Church Green, Northampton, stole six laptops; jailed for 26 weeks suspended for 12 months, ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work, compensation £11,868.

Jamie Owens, aged 30, of Sandhurst Close, Northampton, damaged pint glasses at a bar; jailed for 12 weeks suspended for 18 months, surcharge £115, costs £85.

Alan Smith-White, aged 43, of Beckets View, Northampton, stole a ladies watch worth £349 belonging to Michael Jones Jewellers; jailed for four weeks, compensation £349.

Benjamin Hallam, aged 27, of Duke Street, Northampton, possession of a class B drug; fined £80, surcharge £30, costs £85.

Christopher Mundin, aged 35, of Guildhall Road, Northampton, used threatening or insulting words or behaviour; fined £150, surcharge £30, costs £85.

Christopher Panter, aged 27, of Berkeley House, Northampton, used threatening or abusive words or behaviour; conditional discharge for 12 months, surcharge £20, costs £85.

Niketa Reeve, aged 28, of Grafton Road, Roade, assault; conditional discharge for 12 months, surcharge £20, costs £260.

FEBRUARY 8

Joel Davis, aged 25, c/o The Roundway, Daventry, possession of cannabis; conditional discharge for 12 months, surcharge £20, costs £85.

Andrew Bluck, aged 35, of Baring Road, Northampton, making off without paying for fuel; fined £313, compensation £50, surcharge £31, costs £85.

Aaron McDougal, aged 18, of Kingsley Road, Northampton, damaged a car; community order made, fined £71, compensation £150, surcharge £85, costs £85.

Lukasz Kasberuk, aged 35, of Campbell Street, Northampton, assault; community order made to carry out 50 hours of unpaid work, compensation £30.

The A45 Flore Bypass between Weedon and the M1 for Northampton was closed in both directions this morning (Tuesday) following a 'police incident' at around 6.30am.

It is understood there was a crash involving up to three cars and lorry and at least one person has been seriously injured.

Highways confirmed that police reopned the road just after midday.

Opposition councillors say that Northamptonshire County Council needs to think about the message it is sending to its workers when they are denied a pay rise while senior officers are earning high salaries.

It was revealed this morning that 19 employees were earning more than £100,000 at the county council in 2017/18, the highest in the East Midlands region and the joint 10th highest in the country.

The figures, compiled by the TaxPayers’ Alliance, come from the same financial year in which the council ended with a £41.5million deficit, paid off its chief executive £142,000 and became the first authority in two decades to issue a section 114 notice banning all non-essential spending.

But Labour’s finance spokesman, Councillor Mick Scrimshaw, doesn’t feel like lessons have been learned in the resulting months.

It was revealed this week that the new children’s director Sally Hodges was earning £1,100 a day, working out at an annual salary of £258,000.

Councillor Scrimshaw said: “We had 19 employees earning more than £2million between them in 2017/18. I’m sorry, but there are some big figures in that and I would question whether the public sector should be paying those kinds of figures.

“I understand we have to get good quality people but I don’t think people in the public sector should be earning that kind of money. If they want that kind of salary then go and work in banks or finance. Their motivation surely should be providing public services.

“I’m very worried that NCC, which is financially having to tighten its belt, is paying these kinds of sums. Since then we have the new chief executive and new director of children’s services, who is earning an absolute fortune.

“Then we’re seeing £18,000 pension contributions to some individuals when some people don’t even earn that as a salary.

“The lessons are not being learned. We are supposed to be tightening our belt, and even following the lifting of the section 114 notice recently, every little bit of expenditure has to be signed off. But we are still paying these massive salaries, and that can’t be right.

“It’s something that’s happening across all councils, so that when NCC has to look for a new officer or executive, they have to fight against those kinds of salaries elsewhere and their argument is that it’s the going rate for the best.

“There’s a systematic culture issue across local government. This is public money and it’s at a time when children’s social workers can’t be recruited because of the pay and conditions.

“What sort of message does it send from the people at the top of the organisation to the workers that they rely on below them. It’s the wrong message. The whole system seems to be crazy.”

Liberal Democrat leader Councillor Chris Stanbra agreed that the county had to think about the message it was sending to staff, who were recently told that the authority would give them a rise but only if they could ‘afford it’.

He said: “It’s certainly unsustainable for councils to pay out these sums, and you question why they need so many people to earn these kinds of salaries. The council has to compete in the marketplace for these kind of people, but I think that the number of people earning it is more than is needed in lots of cases. Northamptonshire should be looking at its senior management structure.

“There’s a big challenge for the head of children’s services to show that she is worth the money she is being paid, and I wish her luck in that.

“But it sends completely the wrong message. It says that it’s one rule for the staff, and another for the senior officers. It’s completely wrong, it’s been badly handled by the management and political leadership, and they need to think about that message they are sending.”

The figures from 2017/18 showed that the then chief executive Dr Paul Blantern, who left half way through the financial year in October 2017, pocketed more than £277,000 from the authority - making him the 19th highest paid council employee in the country at the time.

It was also revealed that he received £142,000 as a farewell payment, which included a £95,000 settlement that was revealed just two months after his departure through a Freedom of Information request.

But Dr Blantern’s legacy has been criticised, with his ‘Next Generation’ model of outsourcing services being attributed as a contributory factor for the county council sliding towards financial oblivion.

Councillor Scrimshaw added: “The £95,000 settlement was the secret handshake that we weren’t supposed to know about, but was uncovered through an FoI.

“If we go back to when Dr Blantern was in that post, I can clearly remember the then leader Jim Harker saying how innovative Northamptonshire was being and that they were leading the way with the Next Generation model.

“They couldn’t understand why other councils weren’t doing it, and I think we’ve found out why. Clearly he should not have been one of the top paid people in the country, because his answer to the financial predicament was a wrong answer.”

The county council has said that staff salaries ‘reflect responsibilities associated with the posts’, many of which require ‘highly-qualified, professional staff’.

We are looking to honour talented teachers and perfect pupils in our annual Northamptonshire Education Awards.

Visit the nomination page here

Launched today by the Northampton Chronicle & Echo, the Northants Telegraph and the Daventry Express, the awards are the original and the best.

Back by popular demand for the 11th time they are open to every primary, secondary, nursery and special school in the county.

But be quick as the closing date for entries is May 24.

There is a wide variety of categories that recognise the dedication and commitment of pupils, teaching staff and education supporters.

Winners will be crowned at a gala event at the stunning Deco Theatre on June 27 in what promises once more to be the highlight of the education calendar.

Editorial director David Summers says: “Our county has some incredibly talented pupils, teachers and education professionals and it is a pleasure to again be recognising their efforts in our highly regarded and long established awards.

“We look forward to sharing that proud moment when the winners are crowned on stage at the Deco in June.”

Among the supporters already on board are title sponsors Veolia and category sponsors Kip McGrath Education Centres, Rock Up, The Qube, The Staffroom and Baldwins.

The benefits of sponsoring an awards category include free tickets to the ceremony, the chance to present your prize on stage, and access to event photography for marketing purposes.

Your company and logo will be mentioned in substantial pre-event publicity across all three titles and their websites.

For details of the full sponsor package please get in touch at linda.pritchard@jpimedia.co.uk

Awards categories

- Primary School Pupil of the Year (sponsor - Kip McGrath)

- Secondary School Pupil of the Year

- Inspirational Teacher Award

- Young Scientist/Engineer Award

- Sports Achievement Award (sponsor - Qube Modular Buildings)

- Creative Arts Award

- Changemaker Award

- School Trips Award

- Health & Wellbeing Award

- Career Aspiration Award

- Unsung Hero Award (sponsor - Veolia UK)

- Primary School of the Year (sponsor - Rock Up climbing centre)

- Secondary School of the Year

Click here for the official nomination page