Leighton Buzzard’s beach is coming back to Parson’s Close Recreation Ground on Wednesday, May 20.

Following the success of last year, the beach will be returning alongside the Splash and Play and will be open to the public from 10am till 5pm, seven days a week.

The Town Mayor will be opening the beach on Wednesday at 2pm.

A report by Ian Haynes, head of grounds and environmental services at Leighton Linslade Town Council, states: “From last year’s experiences and the feedback received from visitors, improvements are to be made to this year’s facility.

“This year the beach will be 20m by 20m, with sand at least 200mm deep. The beach will be surrounded by treated decking, to create a proven sand retaining wall that collects sand and acts as a practical walkway and viewing area around the beach.

“Surrounding the beach will be a 1.8m high roll top open mesh fencing system with gates, this will enhance visibility to the benefit of the users and their guardians who may decide to sit outside of the beach.”

Compared to the 2014 beach, the new facility is considered to be more robust, extending the life of the beach and allowing it to be left for up to two years.

Councillor Amanda Dodwell said: “Due to the unprecedented success of last year’s beach, the Town Council will be opening a new and improved facility down at Parson’s Close Recreation Ground.

“We hope that the beach will continue to provide a fun distraction for the whole family and we would encourage you all to come down and enjoy the beach, the park and the other attractions it has to offer.

“Please do remember to bring your bucket and spade as well as your sun screen. Wishing you all a very happy summer and look forward to seeing you at the beach!”

Leighton Buzzard Cricket Club picked up their first win of the season in a low-scoring affair at Wolverton on Saturday.

The narrow victory saw Leighton sneak over the line with one wicket to spare, as they hunted down what initially appeared to be a fairly meagre 118.

Town’s Jack Kempster continued his impressive start to the season with an excellent spell of hostile swing bowling at the top of Wolverton’s order.

With batsmen playing and missing Leighton set an early attacking field with four slips and a gully in place.

This proved a successful tactic as wicketkeeper Tim O’Leary took two early catches and Antony Francis took another as the visitors gained the upper hand.

Wolverton seemed intent on playing limited over style cricket as they wanted to hit every ball for a boundary. Lampard (23) and Potter (20) tried to steady the innings.

Sam Roberts, bowling straight and a good length achieved two leg before wicket decisions as the visitors continued to buzz around the field.

Spinner Lee Selfe tempted batsmen into playing rash shots and picked up three quick wickets courtesy of two catches by Dan Scott and a stumping by O’Leary.

Fellow spinner Tom Light took a wicket with his first ball and apart from some late fireworks from Butt (20 not out) Wolverton’s innings was over after 26 overs for 118 runs.

For Leighton Kempster 4-17, Sam Roberts 2-33, Selfe 3-19 and Light 1-21 were the successful bowlers.

Town now had 74 overs in which to achieve their target. Leighton’s batsmen now faced a similar challenge from Wolverton’s opening bowlers.

And the opening spell didn’t bode well for Leighton.

Chris Thompson(0) played on and Light (2) skied one off the edge of the bat and was caught at cover.

Francis (14) and skipper Phillip Whatmore (31) took the score on to 34 before the former was bowled. Culley was out first ball and Town were 34-4 with fast bowler Khan claiming all of them. This brought Dave Roberts to the wicket. He scored a vital half century last week and a similar effort was needed again. Leighton reached the tea interval at 58-4 .

Opening bowler Butt returned to the bowling attack and took three more wickets as Town slumped to 79-7. Selfe followed 10 runs later leaving Leighton needing 30 runs to win with two wickets in hand.

Dave Roberts stood firm whilst the chaos occurred at the other end. He was joined by No 10 Sam Roberts who played some excellent defensive cricket which allowed Dave Roberts to continue to play some aggressive shots.

They gradually and patiently began to take the initiative away from Wolverton.

With their partnership worth 28 runs from 9 overs and with just two runs needed for victory Dave Roberts pulled a full toss straight at mid wicket and was caught for an excellent 54. It was now down to the last wicket pair of O’Leary (1 no) and Sam Roberts (7 no) to see Leighton over the line on 119-9.

For the home side Khan 4-34, Butt 4-37 and Ramandanpulle 1-27 were the successful bowlers. Leighton get 25 points with Wolverton taking 10.

Great Brickhill’s good start to the season continued on Saturday with a 68 run home win over Cumnor.

The hosts posted 273-7, thanks in large part to Anton De Beer’s 82, and 50 from Mark Nelson. Cumnor’s response was hindered though by a brilliant spell from George Humphries, who though proved expensive, took 5-94 as the visitors were reduced for 205.

In Division 3, Cublington 1st made it two from two on Saturday with a hard fought victory at far away Shipton-under-Wychwood.

An early breakthrough from Cubs’ Andy Lane had Bates back in the shed, bowled for 4, but Hemming and Hayes then made steady progress to 25 overs.

Cublington only had themselves to blame, with three dropped catches.

The 29th over saw the effective Shipton partnership broken, as fifth change bowler Steve Godfrey bowled Hemming for 27, with Shipton 97-2.

Hayes continued to take advantage of his many lives before being well caught behind off Jenkins for 60.

The return of Andy Lane for an impressive second spell, supported by opening partner Ollie Fairhurst (3-36), saw wickets fall steadily, as Shipton progressed to 183 all out in the 53rd over.

Cublington started badly with the loss of Steve Godfrey and Greg Jenkins in the third and fourth overs, bringing Pip Webb to the crease to join Sam George. With some devastating hitting the pair moved Cubs over 100, before George attempted one to many bludgeoning drives and was bowled by Cockcroft for 60.

After losing Nick Talbot Webb, however, changed his approach, batting sensibly in the knowledge that Cublington’s victory most likely depended on him seeing it through to the close.

Despite more wickets falling, Cubs made it home on 186-8.

An elderly woman had to be treated for inhaling smoke after a “complicated” fire which left two semi-detached cottages severely damaged.

When the first fire appliance from Ampthill arrived at the properties in Witts End, Eversholt at 10.07pm on Friday, crews found the roof of the cottages well alight and called for three more pumps to support them from Ampthill and Toddington and the Luton aerial platform and a water carrier from Toddington.

Firefighters fought the fire in the roof space from both the ground and the aerial platform pouring water into the burning building. At one point firefighters wearing breathing apparatus were withdrawn from the working inside the buildings due to concerns about a potential unstable chimney stack and the safety of the first floor ceiling.

They continued to use the aerial platform to fight the blaze, removing a number of roof tiles to gain better access to the roof space.

By the early hours of the morning of Saturday (May 16), the fire was under control and extinguished.

The cottages suffered 100% damage to the roof and damage to the first floor and first floor ceilings, the ground floor also suffered from water damage due to burst water main pipes.

An elderly woman was treated by ambulance crews for smoke inhalation. The Red Cross Fire Victim Support was called in to assist in the care of those affected by the fire.

The origin of the initial blaze was a wood burner causing the roof to catch fire.

The fire service was due to re-inspect the scene at 8am Saturday but received a call from a homeowner at 6.30am that the fire appeared to have re-ignited.

Two fire engines, the aerial platform and Operational Support Unit were sent to the scene. A small area of the roof was extinguished by the crews, who remained on scene assist the owner in the removal and recovery of valuables and to clear further areas of the roof that could be accessed in daylight conditions.

Station Commander Jason Tai said: “All crews who attended the incident worked extremely hard in bringing the initial blaze quickly under control and prevent further spread to the floors below and neighbouring buildings.

“Neither property had a smoke alarm and the owners were only alerted by smelling smoke. A little while later and they could have been asleep.

“Even though the property is severely damaged, the crew’s efforts certainly limited this to the roof area in terms of fire spread, unfortunately subsequent collapse of internal ceilings caused further damage.

“The surrounding community and neighbours rallied together to look after the residents and assisted the fire service with removal of valuables.

“This type of fire is complicated because access was extremely limited by the fire’s location in the roof, the risk of collapse of the remaining roof structure, and any of the four chimney stacks, and by nature of old buildings’ construction, which left voids that can hide the spread of fire from view.

“Firefighters had to remove the tiles to gain access to the fire initially and had to fight it externally to begin with. But after risk assessment made a decision to fight internally once clear.”

Former Spice Girls singer, Geri Halliwell, tied the knot at a star-packed ceremony in Woburn on Friday, May 15.

The singer married the Red Bull Formula One team boss, Christian Horner, at St Mary’s Church.

She wore a custom-made floor length white lace gown, designed by Phillipa Lepley, as she entered the church, and carried a bouquet of blush peonies and roses.

Wedding guests included Geri’s former Spice Girls bandmate Emma Bunton, Myleene Klass, Dawn French, Amanda Holden and Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo.

The rest of the group were unable to attend the ceremony.

After the nuptials, the newlyweds took the wedding party to Woburn Abbey.

She wrote on her Twitter page, @GeriHalliwell: “Most amazing day of our lives. Thank you to everyone who made it so special.”

The couple dated for just over a year before tying the knot.

The venue has become popular with celebrities, Saturday’s singer Frankie married Wayne Bridge there last year.

Ever held a tarantula or been nose to nose with a chameleon? Stroked a royal python or listened to a hissing cockroach?

Mead Open Farm is offering visitors a chance to do it all at their Reptile Week event this May half term.

Children and parents are invited to go along and learn more about reptiles and in-sects and get close to these fascinating creatures with the Reptile Week special guest: reptile expert and enthusiast, Safari Stu.

With his years of experience in caring for and breeding unusual reptiles and insects, Stu will provide an educational and fun experience in which visitors will be able to learn about, see and even hold a variety of animals, including a chameleon, snakes, giant cockroaches, a tarantula and bright green stick insects!

Stu said: “I have loved reptiles and tropical insects since I was a small boy when my mum finally let me have a snake.

“They are just so different from normal pets, really interesting to look after and learn about.”

This is a rare opportunity to get up close to some wonderful exotic animals. Reptile Week will run from May 24 until May 24 and is all included in the admission price, alongside the regular play and animal activities that Mead Open Farm is famous for.

Based in Billington, near Leighton Buzzard, Mead Open Farm is open daily from 10am until 6.30pm. For more information and prices, see www.meadopen-farm.co.uk

A brilliant century from James Flecknell helped Eaton Bray cruise to victory over New Bradwell in Division 1.

After a top order collapse, Flecknell, coming in at five, hit 101 as Eaton Bray rescued their innings to post 211 all out.

But they needn’t have worried as New Bradwell suffered a collapse of their own, skittled for just 112.

In Division 2, Eggington Foresters were undone by some fine batting down the order for North Crawley 2nds as they lost by 58 runs.

Despite having the hosts 60-4, North Crawley rescued their innings by setting 264-6.

In response, wickets fell regularly, despite Suhail Ahmad’s 62 and Rizwan Khan’s 68 as Eggs were all out for 206.

James Bailey’s 69 for Milton Bryan(175) couldn’t help them to victory over Old Bradwell (178-4).

In Division 3, Ivinghoe & Pitstone (81) were crushed by Printers (189).

Eggington Foresters 2nds came up agonisingly short of a draw against Westcroft 2nds in Division 4.

Chasing 244-8, Eggington were bowled out on the penultimate ball for 131.

Wing with Wingrave (220-8) drew with Drayton Parslow (188-8), while Milton Bryan 2nds (97) were beaten by Whitchurch (98-1).

Great Brickhill 3rds (166) bowled brilliantly to beat North Crawley 3rds (70) in Division 5, while Eaton Bray 2nds (120-9) held on to draw with New Bradwell 2nds (180-9).

In Division 7, Leighton Buzzard 3rds secured a thumping victory against Wilden 2nds by 231 runs.

The home side won the toss and an opening stand of 127 set the pattern for the innings. Brad Gates( 59) was the first casualty and was soon followed by Matt Gurney (4) Ben Turley(16) and Callum Kidney(0).

However opening bat Alex Brown was in superb form. He batted throughout Leighton’s innings and ended on 136 not out which included 20 boundary fours and a six.

Jacob Turley (43 not out) was also in good form with 7 fours and a six as 68 runs were added from the last 6 overs. Town totalled 271-4 from their allotted 44 overs.

The visitors were then bowled out for just 40 runs, and half of those were the extras.

Elsewhere, Wing with Wingrave 2nds (76) lost to Aspley Guise 3rds (78-8).

Silverware was dished out thre local clubs over the weekend as Leighton Town U13s, U15s and Woodside U15s all picked up trophies.

The U13s were 5-2 winners over Eaton Bray Lions to lift the Bedfordshire Youth Saturday League Shield.

In a tense final played at Ampthill FC last week Woodside U15s became the first team from Leighton Buzzard to win a Beds League Cup, beating Brickhill 2-1.

Woodside started brightly with two goals in the 1st 10 mins from top goal scorer Kelsey Wilkes.

The Drama continued when Woodside gave away a penalty only for the keeper Stephen Hunt to save and keep Woodside’s dreams alive.

The second half saw Brickhill came back at Woodside and dominated the play which was rewarded in a goal close to full time to set up a nail biting last five minutes but Woodside defended magnificently and see the game out at 2-1 winners.

Woodside manager Chris Williams said: “I have always believed in my team and the spirit and fight we showed tonight was incredible.

“The lads have worked very hard preparing for this final after coming back from a post season tour in Great Yarmouth at the weekend.

This will carry us forward into next season where we will be going the league title.”

It was an emotional day for Leighton Town U15s as they got their hands on the Bedfordshire Youth Saturday League Shield, beating Maulden Magpies 2-1.

Trailing 1-0 after 10 minutes, goals from Nathan Turney and Luke Mills won it for Leighton.

A year ago, manager Chris Richmond unexpectedly died. A year on, the club hosted a tournament in Chris’ honour.

This attracted nine teams, some travelling as far as Northampton. Most of the teams knew of Chris in the footballing world and wanted to pay their respects and remember him in the way Chris would have wanted.

In the morning of the 10th May, the U15’s and U11’s played in seperate football tournements. Chris’s former side (Leighton Town Sunday team) won the U15’s tournament and Flitwick Eagles won the U11s.

During the afternoon 40 plus men, all who knew Chris, mostly from the Friday night Vets League played at Vandyke Upper School where Chris played for many years got together and had an afternoon of chraity matches, eventually won by team name ‘Richmond United’ who were presented with a shield from Tasha Richmond at the end of the day.

This event is going to be an annual event in hounor of Chris Richmond.

All funds raised from this event has been split between Leighton Town U11’s and U15’s and the Heart Foundation.

A Second World War mine sweeper from Billington was one of the stars at Westminster Abbey as war veterans were honoured at VE Day.

Oliver Lucas-Hodge, 93, attended the VE Day commemoration along with a few of the remaining Second World War veterans.

And the retired navy officer was thrilled to meet the highest dignitaries in the land, including Prince Charles, the PM David Cameron and UKIP leader Nigel Farage.

His daughter Susan Roscoe told the Observer: “It was absolutely wonderful. He just couldn’t believe it, crowds of people waved and thanked him.”

Oliver’s grandson Mark Roscoe took him to the cenotaph on Friday, May 8 and later to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for a buffet.

Then, on Sunday, May 10 they attended the service at Westminster Abbey with many of the Royal Family present. Oliver shook hands with Prince Charles as he went through the parade.

Afterwards he attended a royal buffet at St James Park, attended by many important dignitaries, including the Prime Minister.

Susan said: “He came across to my father and had a conversation with him.”

And then afterwards, Mr Lucas-Hodge enjoyed a conversation with Mr Farage, who seemed to be in good spirits after his election defeat.

Susan added: “He chatted to him for a while. He was a lovely character, and very warm and friendly.

“One of the most amazing things, as I said to Nigel Farage, was I’d never seen my father’s medals until we had them mounted.”

Mr Lucas-Hodge served on the HMS Seaham from 1942 to 1945, clearing mines from European waters. In 1943, it took 62 survivors from the German blockade ship Alsterufer after it was sunk by the RAF.

Four men have been arrested on suspicion of immigration offences after an incident on the M1 after being tracked down by Beds police dog unit.

At 7am today, police were called to the Toddington service station off the northbound carriageway of the M1 following a report that a group of people had jumped from the back of a parked lorry.

A group of people fled the scene as officers arrived and an officer and dog from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire (BCH) Dog Unit were deployed to assist, as well as the police helicopter.

Police Dog Kane, who is the unit’s oldest dog at eight and a half years old, was used and was soon tracking.

He led his handler, PC Graham Ashby, from the forecourt of the service station and into a nearby field.

The pair then crossed a small river, entered a second field and went through bushes before reaching the bank of another river.

Kane tracked along the riverbank and located three men. A fourth person ran, entered the river and crossed to the other side.

After the detained men were taken back to other officers, PD Kane and PC Ashby returned to the waist-deep river and waded across.

The police helicopter was overhead at this stage and directed the pair towards dense undergrowth where the person was last seen.

Kane again started tracking and quickly located the person who was also then detained.

PC Ashby from the BCH Dog Unit said: “It’s an absolute pleasure to work with Kane and, although he is our oldest dog, he still has an excellent nose and brilliant agility. We work together extremely well and we’re always happy to assist other policing teams at various different incidents.

“You can now follow our team’s work on Twitter by visiting www.twitter.com/dogpoliceBCH. Here you’ll find the latest news about, and photos of, the team and our partners on four paws.”

A Pitstone garden design company are out in force at the Chelsea Flower Show this week.

One team from Bowles and Wyer have built a garden and another team have designed one.

Managing director Dan Riddleston is in charge of the 12 strong team that built the Brewin Dolphin Garden.

Owner John Wyer designed The Gaze Burvill Garden, which will be located on Main Avenue, alongside the major show gardens.

Dan Riddleston has been designing gardens for thirty years he said: “The team are really enthused about the quality of the hard landscaping materials that we are working with on the Brewin Dolphin Garden.

“The floating platforms are quite something to behold and rather complex feats of engineering both above and beneath the ground, so it is not without the challenges but one that we will relish. We wanted to do a combination of a roof garden with an ordinary garden.

“It is really exciting seeing it all come together and emerge from a design to a garden, it is not like a building, it is always changing and growing.”

One of the designers, Darren Hawkes, was interested in the way a company finds new ways to reach out to potential customers without alienating the traditional client base.

They use traditional materials and familiar plants within the garden combined with the slate monoliths.

Visitors must engage with the garden as they step from one level to another crossing over plants and leaning out over the water.

The public have access to a paved section of the garden that allows them to look across the space.

Designer John Wyer worked with Simon Burvill to deliver the roof garden with an outdoor kitchen that reflects the Gaze Burvill ethos of craftsmanship combined with design and integrity.

The garden has an oak tree, to reflect the raw material of Gaze Burvill’s products, the Splash Lounge Collection and a Broadwalk Tree Seat showing its different stages of making.

The Chelsea Flower Show allows the team to meet their customers, and visitors get the chance to come onto the garden and view the Splash Lounge Collection, which has a contemporary feel.

A six-strong team of teenage golfers from Leighton Buzzard’s Plantation Road club have beaten four other clubs in the final of a regional inter-club competition for young players.

Leighton’s squad of Josh and Ollie Banwell, Ben Proud, Shin Bateman, Callum Campbell and Freya Daniels qualified for the five-regional team final by finishing champions of the local Vale League last season and they emerged victors by a 10-point margin, receiving the Bert Yates Trophy last won by young Leighton golfers in 1977, after clocking up 177 points at Sonning Golf Club.

With the top five scores counting, skipper Josh saw his creditable 33 points discounted as brother Ollie, Callum and Ben each scored 35 points, Shin 36 points and Freya 37 points as the young Buzzards soared to victory.

Runners-up defending champions Beaconsfield with 167 points while East Berkshire took third place with 166 points.

It’s the latest in a run of successes for the Leighton juniors, with Callum having recently been crowned Bedfordshire schools handicap champion and Ben, Freya and Ollie – all pupils at the Cedars Upper school – winning the County schools team handicap trophy.

They will represent their county in matches against Herts, Middlesex and Essex for the George McPartlin trophy in July.

Leighton’s juniors have also beaten Abbey Hill, Mentmore and Aspley Guise in the Vale league this year and are favourites to retain their title and qualify to defend the Bert Yates Trophy next year.

Ben was a junior stableford winner earlier in the year which so far has seen his handicap reduce from 17 to 10; Callum has seen five shots pruned from his handicap while Adam Cobb has been cut from 50 to 29.

Other club junior competitions have been won by Andres Valentine, George Stephenson and Teddie Jones.

Junior Organiser Gavin Samuels said: “We owe a huge thanks to Rapid Platforms who have supplied the team with golf ball sponsorship for the year and to Quarters Estate Agents and Fleetline Paint and Body for sponsorship which has enabled us to buy new team kit.”

Police boss Olly Martins has described the current referendum rules as “an affront to democracy” following the ‘no’ vote to increase the police precept in the county.

He is calling on the Electoral Commission to conduct an urgent review of the regulations he had to follow when residents were asked to vote ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ to an increase in the amount they pay towards policing on May 7.

He believes the referendum question and the information he was allowed to provide to taxpayers were inadequate to the task.

The Police and Crime Commissioner was “deeply disappointed but acceptant” of the outcome which saw most voters saying ‘No’ to his proposed 15.8% increase - an annual rise that amounted to £24.80 extra for a Band D property.

Condemning the unfairness of a process which he believes did not allow people to make an informed decision, he said: “The question set by the government on the ballot papers failed to mention what the cash amount of the increase was. Furthermore, it created the misleading impression that the percentage rise was on the whole of the council tax.”

He also believes that the Bedfordshire referendum, held on the same day as the General Election, “established beyond doubt that the heavily restricted amount of information and promotional activity allowed for by the regulations is insufficient to allow people to make an informed decision. This has all since led to frustrated residents expressing to me their dismay at the wording, and saying they would have voted ‘Yes’ if they had understood what they were being asked”.

Mr Martins had triggered the referendum by setting a rise in the police precept that was greater than 2%.

With Chief Constable Colette Paul advising that 300 more officers are needed to bring the force’s resource level up to the average, Mr Martins concludes: “I will continue to press for fairer funding for Bedfordshire Police, as county representatives have for at least the last 10 years, but I will also press the point that in the light of our experience the government should now review the regulations so that they support rather than stifle democratic debate.”

Two friends will be attempting to beat the Guinness World Record for the London Underground Challenge.

Matt Dyer, 20, of Gemini Close, and Sam Cropper, 20, will be attempting to beat the fastest time to visit all 270 London tube stations, the record currently stands at 16 hours, 14 minutes and 10 seconds.

The pair will also be fundraising for Cancer Research UK and Mind, the mental health charity.

When they take on the challenge on Monday, June 29, it will be Matt’s sixth attempt, it has become a personal challenge for him.

He said: “I have quite an interest in the railways and the underground and how they work, this is something I am good at.

“The challenge is not just about sitting on the tubes, you have to be physically fit to run between the platforms, you are on the go from 5am till about 9pm, it is mentally and physically draining.

“This year I will be raising money for two charities, I have been raising money for Cancer Research UK every year since I started and will continue to do so. The work they do is fantastic

“It is something that almost everyone will go through personally or they will know someone that has been affected by cancer.

“We will also be raising money for Mind because it is a charity that has helped me personally.”

Matt is raising money for the mental health charity in memory of his uncle who passed away last year after having a mental breakdown.

He said: “I urge anybody who has a mental illness to talk to somebody, there are always people who will listen, whether it is a friend, a family member or a charity like Mind.

“I was diagnosed with a mental health issue last year and for the first three months I did not tell anyone in my own family, instead I spoke only to my manager at work and kept the rest bottled up, it did not do me any good.”

The 20-year-old wants to raise awareness of the charities that help people dealing with mental illnesses.

They are hoping to raise £4000, to donate to the charities, visit: www.justgiving.com/teams/LUCA7 and choose which charity you would like to donate to.

Poor Hazel Turner from Stoke Hammond has got all the luck when it comes to holidays...

A whirlwind trip to Bermuda proved just that as a hurricane struck the island.

While a holiday to Sicily was only mildly disturbed by a volcanic eruption.

And lets not forget a recent adventure to New Zealand – which happened just as Christchurch experienced disastrous floods.

Hazel laughed as she told the LBO: “My daughter Victoria said, ‘We can’t let you go anywhere Mum!’”

On Saturday, May 16, the Ben-my-Chree ferry travelling from the Isle of Man to Heysham caught fire.

And you’ll never guess who was on it.

Hazel said: “A fire broke out and the captain cut all engines and passengers had to go to Muster Stations for most of the journey.

“The crew initially thought it was a practice! However there was no panic and the crew were tremendous.  The drifting was not very pleasant though.

“The RNLI were called but weren’t needed thankfully as the crew managed to put the fire out. There was a fire engine waiting at Heysham for the boat.”

In spite of the fire drama, Hazel recommended the Isle of Man as a holiday destination.

She said: “It really is a stunning place to visit – and there are no pot holes on any of the roads!”

The Greensand Railway Museum Trust needs to raise £10,000 in the next three months to ensure an iconic wartime locomotive is fully overhauled and back in action for crucial 100th anniversaries in 2016.

Baldwin 4-6-0T War Department Light Railway No.778, currently the only operational Class 10-12-D Baldwin in Britain, has to be withdrawn soon for overhaul – and it is imperative this work is completed in time for No.778 to return to operation for the main 2016 season.

Returned to steam in 2007 following restoration from near-derelict condition, it is based at Leighton Buzzard Railway and enthusiasts say it is a crucially important in telling the story of the contribution of narrow gauge railways during the First World War. The train is itself a war veteran having served in France on the War Department Light Railways battlefield lines.

No. 778’s initial boiler ticket expired in March, hence a couple of ‘last runs’ were made during Leighton Buzzard Railway’s Santa season.

Following discussion and a change of boiler insurance company an extension to its boiler ticket until October 2015 has enabled it to continue running for a few more months.

It has to be withdrawn around summer/autumn and sent to contractors for the necessary work to be undertaken with sufficient time to ensure No. 778 is back in action for the start of the 2016 season.

Thanks to steaming fees and other income earned since 2007 including a £1,000 donation by model railway manufacturer Bachmann Europe, the Trust has built up funds towards the forthcoming overhaul– but not sufficient to cover all required work.

Cash is available to send No.778 to be stripped, have the boiler lifted and sent to a specialist for overhaul, have the boiler refitted with a modified ashpan (essential to provide proper access for future boiler inspections), steam tested and returned to Page’s Park.

However, there are insufficient funds in hand to cover mechanical works to the motion . To commission the required work the Trust needs an additional £10,000 on top of the cash already in hand.

“As things stand, we can finance the boiler works needed to secure a new ticket and return No.778 to operation, but that would simply be storing up a potential problem for a few years hence,” said Trust chairman, Cliff Thomas.

If the mechanical work is not done while the boiler is receiving attention there is a real possibility this popular and high-profile locomotive could have to be withdrawn prematurely within a couple of years, wasting part of its new boiler ticket. This, in turn, would result in even greater costs involving transport and a further boiler lift, with questions as to whether such work could be afforded.

“Opportunities for the locomotive to earn income are limited and the trustees are not wealthy individuals able to finance shortfalls in the cost of required work,” observed Cliff Thomas. “We really need to be able to do a full and proper job over the coming winter - it would be dreadful if No. 778 was unable to celebrate its 100th birthday by hauling a celebratory train!”

Donations can be sent to The Greensand Railway Museum Trust,c/o Page’s Park Station, Billington Road, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire LU7 4TN. Gift Aid enabling tax to be reclaimed would boost the value of the donation by 25%.

For every donation of £100 or more the donor will be offered a footplate ride around the loop at Page’s Park. For every donation of £500 or more donors can travel on the footplate over the length of the LBR line to Stonehenge Works!

NO.778 is representative of a design which was crucial to the 1914-1918 allied war effort and, post-war, a number of which were employed on British narrow gauge railways throughout the country. The last working example in Britain was scrapped in 1951 and the locomotive is considered an icon of British narrow gauge railway history.

Since restoration to steam in 2007, No.778 has run at its home base, the Leighton Buzzard Railway and been made available to be seen by as many people over a wide-ranging geographic area. Visits undertaken have included the Froissy-Cappy-Dompierre line on the Somme battlefield in France, Welsh Highland Heritage Railway, Apedale Valley Light Railway and the Golden Valley Light Railway – where it worked with an ex-Ashover Railway coach and wagon.

Artists from across the county have united to stage what may be the biggest celebration of local art ever held in Bedfordshire.

Artists Network Bedfordshire is holding its first spring exhibition at Parkside Hall in Ampthill this weekend.

It features the diverse work of some 50 artists, including woodwork master Tom Frost from Houghton Regis, and Bedford artist Anne-Marie Stijelja – whose mosaics are made entirely out of stamps.

Tom, who is one of the event’s organisers, said: “The idea came from a push to think a little bigger in our attempts to bring unique and interesting pieces of art to the people of Bedfordshire.

“Making art is a hard and sometimes lonely business, but selling it is much more effective when artists collaborate.”

Metal-work maestro Jim Francis from Willingtonwill also be showing at the exhibition.Francis is known for his metal statues (a metal hedgehog certainly made an impression on this reporter) and wall hangings.

Jennifer Steele, of Artists Network Bedfordshire, said: “It’s the largest group show ever organised by the ANB, with many artists in order to have as varied a show as possible. All the places in the exhibition have been taken, so we’re expecting an excellent show.”

Tom added: “There will be several hundred pieces of art that are unique, individual and affordable, covering everything from pottery and furniture to paintings and sculpture.”

The spring exhibition runs at Parkside Hall, Ampthill, from 10am to 4pm on Saturday, May 23 and Sunday, May 24.

The event is free with refreshments provided. All art is for sale.

Police are appealing for information after a driver caused injuries to a traffic warden in Leighton Buzzard.

On Friday May 15, the warden approached a man who was parked in a bus stop in Lake Street in order to ask him to move.

The man then drove off, clipping the officer in the process and leaving him with minor injuries.

The incident happened at around 11.35am.

Anyone who can help identify the car is asked to call PC Christopher Game on 101, text 07786 200 011, or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Warehill EC held their monthly dressage show last weekend, though conditions were far from idea.

Most of it passed with dark skies, but three riders were unfortunate enough to have to do their dressage test during a downpour.

Clair Scott and Cefnarochr Dyhirin picked up rossettes in the prelim 1 where they wereplaced 1st and in the largest class prelim 14 where they were 4th.

Class 1 - Intro B: 1st Tanya Wilson & Cinnaria. 2nd Sarah Cunliffe & Noughts and Crosses. 3rd Lucy Coassack Thomas Owercob 2000. 4th Elaine Moxom & Salvador.

Class 2 - Warehill WTC - B: 1st Victoria Moxom & Salvador.

Class 3 - Prelim 1: 1st Clair Scott & Cefnarochr Dyhirin. 2nd Karen Jackson & Carrig Prince. 3rd Paula Burke & Hordens Polkadot. 4th Trudy Stewart & Jaffa. 5th Kay Sweetman & Luckylulu. 6th Jackie Day & RoseberyShow Girl.

Class 4 - Prelim 14: 1st Sandra Janes & Tim. 2nd Jenny Thornhill & Harvey. 3rd Paula Burke & Hordens Polkadot. 4th Clair Scott & Cefnarochr Dyhirin. 5th Emma Bowley & Harvey. 6th Jackie Day & Rosebery Show Girl, Maisie O’Niell & Trefriw Nutcracker

Class 5 - Novice 30: 1st Nichola Burling & April Morn.

Evening dressage shows start later this month.

A Screwfix employee recently took part in a 5,500 mile national cycle relay to raise money for The Screwfix Foundation.

Daniel Savory, from the Chiltern Industrial Estate store, cycled the Leighton Buzzard to Aylesbury leg of the challenge, covering 11.6 miles.

The charity supports projects to fix, repair, maintain and improve properties and facilities for those in need in the UK.

To mark the opening of its 400th store, members of staff across the country are cycling a leg of the relay each over an eight week period, hoping to raise £100,000.

Daniel said: “I enjoyed the challenge of Tour De Screwfix especially with it being for such a worthwhile cause.

“It will be fantastic to see the final amount raised.”

Charities in and around Leighton Buzzard are being encouraged to apply for a share of the funds raised.

Andrew Livingston, CEO of Screwfix, said: “We are extremely proud of all the staff at all of our 400 stores throughout the UK who are participating in this incredible challenge.

“It is a fantastic achievement which is raising money to enable The Screwfix Foundation to continue its hard work in supporting well-deserved local causes.”

The cycle challenge started in Inverness on Monday, April 13, and will travel to every store in the UK.

To apply for funding, visit: www.screwfixfoundation.com

You’ve seen budding bakers battle it out on TV, but are you up for the challenge right here in Leighton?

The whole family is invited to take part in the Great Leighton Bake-off competition at the Big Lunch food festival on June 7 in the High Street.

There are five different categories to enter: children’s cup cakes (age 5-9 and 10-16), a men-only category (cake of your choice), decorated cupcakes for adults, plus classic Victoria sponge.

To get involved juscomplete the entry form and return to the White House, in Hockliffe Street, Leighton Buzzard LU7 1HD

Forms can be completed online at www.leightonlinadle-tc.gov.uk or pick one up from the library, Ollie Vees or A Touch of Class hair salon. Deadline is June 1.

The competition will be judged by celebrity chef Sean Wilson at the Bake-off tent, run by the local Women’s Institute at 2pm and winners announced at 3pm. Deliver your Great Bake to the tent opposite the Market Cross by 1pm.

Not only will you enjoy the Bake-off fun but there are over 50 different food and trade stalls on site, including food from around the world – American, Thai, Caribbean, Italian and lots to choose from if you have a sweet tooth! Various trade stalls include Indian pickles and chutneys, wooden kitchen ware, pampered chef, Artisan chocolates and Fair Trade will be bringing along the smoothie bike to have a go!

Live music will be available all day and the double decker bus bar for your beverages. The English Tea tent will be serving up traditional Afternoon tea and will be joined by a guest speaker, Tea expert and consultant Malcolm Ferris-Leys. Giant bubbles, circus skills, arts and crafts, stilt walkers and the foodies double act are all to watch out for in the high street! Plus lots of free fun activities for everyone to enjoy.

For more information contact Jo Martindale, Partnership officer at Leighton Linslade Town council on jomartindale@leightonlinslade-tc.gov.uk or 01525 631911