It’s set to be one of the biggest Bonds of all time - and some part of its success can be put down to a lad from Langford.

Ben Whishaw, in his second outing as the boffin Q, has received rave reviews for his geeky character whose job is to provide Bond with the gadgets to help keep him alive.

The 35-year-old actor was at the premiere of Spectre, the latest James Bond film, in London on Monday.

At the premiere he was quoted as saying: “I’m not completely sure I have the answer [as to why we all love Bond films] but perhaps it’s because everyone has grown up with them and they have this nostalgic thing... I like Q’s clobber but I love the acting bit with Daniel [Craig], Ralph [Fiennes], Rory [Kinnear] and Naomi [Harris]. And of course working with Sam Mendes.”

In its review The Guardian said: “Another person who has grown into his part, incidentally, is Ben Whishaw as the perennially stressed quartermaster and tech supremo Q: Whishaw has developed him as a very enjoyable comic character.”

And The Independent reported: “Even the minor characters are very vividly drawn. Q (Ben Whishaw) is more prominent than in Skyfall and shows a Paddington-like stoicism when he is forced out into the field.”

Ben, a former pupil of Henlow Middle School, began acting with the Bancroft Players Youth Theatre at Hitchin’s Queen Mother Theatre, and the Big Spirit theatre company when he attended Samuel Whitbread Community College in Clifton.

He graduated from the Roy al Academy of Dramatic Art in 2003.

He has since gone on to win acclaim for performances on stage and screen, receiving a BAFTA for his portrayal of Richard II in BBC’s The Hollow crown, based on WilliamShakespeare’s history plays.

He is also appearing in the Meryl Streep film Suffragettes and upcoming productions are said to include playing Freddie Mercury in a biopic of the iconic Queen leading man.

Meanwhile it has emerged that the actor’s paternal grandfather was a multilingual British spy who was planted inside the German army during the Second World War.

The Daily Telegraph tells how Jean Stellmacher, who was born in 1922 in Istanbul to a Russian mother and German father, was called up by the German army while at university in Istanbul.

The exploits of Stellmacher, who chose the name John Victor Whishaw, have been collected in a book, Piercing the Waves, by Stellmacher’s daughter, Ingrid, which will be published next year.

>The full story can be seen on our website at www.biggleswadetoday.co.uk

If you’ve recently been diagnosed with osteoporosis and would like to learn more about it, come along to an information event organised by the Bedfordshire support group.

It’s in the Exhibition Room at at Incuba in Brewers Hill Road, Dunstable, at 2pm on Wednesday November 25. Special guest speaker is Luton&Dunstable Hospital osteoporosis specialist Dr Rabindranath Chanda.

Group founder Deborah Bird said: “It’s not only the elderly who are affected. We’re trying to raise awareness that some medications for cancer and epilepsy can increase the risk, as can conditions such as colitis, coeliac disease and Crohn’s disease.

“And we’re hoping that various charities will take stalls in the Exhibition Room.”

> More details from Deborah.nos@btinternet.com or visit www.facebook.com/BedfordshireOsteoporosisGroup

Kings Road Fashion is organising a fashion show to raise money for Willen Hospice on Thursday, November 5.

The Woburn branch of the fashion boutique is celebrating its 10th anniversary, to mark the occasion the boutique owners decided to host a fashion show at the Woburn Golf Club and raise money for the Hospice.

Joanna Messenger, owner of the Leighton Buzzard boutique and event organiser, said: “The fashion show is a celebration for the Woburn branch, but we also thought it would be a great idea to support Willen Hospice.

“A lot of our customers are affected by cancer or know someone that is, this is our way of supporting a charity that is close to a lot of peoples hearts.

“We will have local girls modelling items of clothing from our Autumn/Winter collections, the clothes we sell are from independent designers from across Europe.”

A ticket for the show is £45 and includes a two course dinner, glass of bubbly and £20 Kings Road voucher.

For more information visit: www.kingsroadfashions.co.uk/index.html.

Beds police and crime commissioner Olly Martins has said that he needs a deputy in case he is called up as an army reservist.

On Thursday we revealed that Saqhib Ali, a former Labour parliamentary candidate for North East Bedfordshire, is set to be appointed as deputy PCC after a recommendation from Mr Martins.

With the force facing its worst ever funding crisis many have questioned whether the post– which would pay £30,281pa for three days a week– is financially viable.

Mr Martins is unable to comment on Mr Ali’s appointment, as the decision is still due to be vetted by the police and crime panel on Thursday,

However he has told us that the post is affordable and would provide backup in case he is called up for active duty from the Territorial Army.

Mr Martins said: “The appointment of a deputy will provide additional resilience, as recommended by the police and crime panel, should I be mobilised as an Army reservist.

“My office’s costs, listed as the third lowest in a recent Taxpayers’ Alliance report, have already budgeted for this appointment.”

Subject to the panel’s approval Mr Ali will become the first deputy since the departure of Tafheen Sharif, who resigned in August 2014 after allegations that she had used her position to interfere in an attempted murder trial.

Ms Sharif, who earned £36,000pa for her four day a week role, was later cleared of any wrongdoing by the IPCC.

Mr Ali’s pro-rata pay will be £50,469pa,

In a report to the police and crime panel Mr Martins states that the “salary and employer on-costs can be accommodated within the existing budgetary

provisions.”

He adds that Mr Ali, who is vice chairman of Wixams Parish Council, has “experience of community safety and a sound understanding of complex

political environments.”

The report reads: “Mr Ali is an experienced board-level senior executive, currently employed as head of customer solutions at Lloyds Banking Group, supported by 18 years experience working for global blue chips in finance, captive finance and commercial management roles.

“(He) was a parliamentary candidate in May 2015 for Labour North East Bedfordshire and waged an active campaign, notwithstanding this is a safe majority Conservative seat.”

A man has been jailed for more than a year after he carried out a bomb hoax at London Luton Airport.

Vasilica Stanescu, 28, of Dirkhill Road, Bradford, admitted making fake claims that he was going to detonate an explosive device at the airport on Wednesday 7 October.

Stanescu had phoned emergency services and reported he had a bomb inside him. Police immediately attended and discovered Stanescu at a parking area near the terminal building.

He was arrested and later charged with making a bomb hoax, assaulting a police officer and criminal damage.

At Luton Crown Court on Friday he was sentenced to a total of 13 months in prison.

Sergeant Giles Hutchinson from Bedfordshire’s airport policing unit said: “Stanescu made a hoax call stating he was going to detonate a bomb at a busy airport – which is no joke. We take all threats to harm extremely seriously and would always act to protect the public.

“Had he been telling the truth, this claim would have posed a major risk to life.

“I am pleased Stanescu has been appropriately dealt with by the courts. I hope this serves as a deterrent to anyone tempted to make hoax or prank calls to police and other emergency services.”

The Living Wage foundation has today announced that accredited living wage employers will now pay staff at least the new voluntary living wage rate of £8.25 per hour.

This contrasts the national minimum wage of £6.70 per hour, and the new minimum wage rate for over-25s of £7.20 per hour which comes into force next year.

There are now more than 2,000 official Living Wage employers across the UK, a figure double that of last year.

Sarah Vero, director Living Wage Foundation said: “Today we are celebrating those 2,000 responsible businesses that are voluntarily paying the Living Wage to their staff. These employers are not waiting for Government to tell them what to do; their actions are helping to end the injustice that is in-work poverty in the UK now.

“The Living Wage campaign is growing at pace. Today more UK businesses are announcing their Living Wage accreditation including national retailer Richer Sounds, Lloyds Banking Group and Unilever. They join a growing list of organisations ranging from FTSE 100 companies to independent businesses, SMEs and third sector employers who all share our belief that work should be the surest way out of poverty. The Living Wage is good for people and for business.”

The Living Wage announcement today comes in tandem with research released by KPMG, a principal partner of the Living Wage Foundation, which details the number of workers across the UK earning less than a Living Wage, as well as breaking down the areas across the country where low pay remains prevalent and highlighting the sectors paying the lowest rates of pay across the UK.

Neil Jameson, director, Citizens UK said: “Citizens UK member communities have been acting on this issue for well over a decade to champion the Living Wage and encourage those businesses we believe can, to pay their staff enough to live on. Whilst huge gains have been made with increased numbers of organisations signing up, the fact remains that nearly 6 million workers, that’s 23 per cent of the UK’s working population, earn less than a Living Wage.”

The Foundation has launched an online interactive map as part of the Living Wage People’s Movement, detailing for the first time, all the accredited businesses and their branches that pay their staff at least the Living Wage, so consumers and businesses can easily search for a Living Wage accredited employer to do business with or buy from.

The map is available online.

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, today announced that the London Living Wage would also increase to £9.40 per hour. The London Living wage is calculated independently to reflect the cost of living in the Capital.

A lacklustre Leighton Town were sent crashing out of the FA Trophy on Saturday as they were brushed aside by Enfield Town.

The 4-0 scoreline, with two goals in each half, wasn’t much of a surprised given Enfield’s start to the season - flying high in the Ryman Premier Division - but Leighton’s performance will leave something of a sour taste in the mouth.

And perhaps more of a concern for Mark Eaton is the side’s lack of goals, having scored just three times in their last seven outings.

Leighton though had a great opportunity to open the scoring after barely a minute on the clock against Enfield when Ben Gallant broke down the left and sent a low ball across the face of goal but Russell Bull at the far post could not get a touch and the ball was cleared by the home defence.

Enfield’s first chance came just three minutes later when first Mickey Parcell forced a save from Aaron Bufton, and then skipper Ryan Doyle headed wide.

They weren’t to be denied in the seventh minute though when Bobby Devyne latched onto a through ball to roll his side into the lead.

He came close to doubling the score two minutes later when he was sent tumbling in the penalty area - a challenge the referee deemed fair though, letting Leighton off the hook.

Just after the half hour, Corey Whiteley had two chances for the home side, shooting just wide with the first and then cutting in from the left he curled a curling shot fractionally over the crossbar.

He did not have to wait long to get amongst the goals however and in the 36th minute he drove home from 10 yards after Scott Durojaiye had easily opened up the Leighton defence before pulling the ball back for the striker to double the lead.

Enfield went further ahead in the 57th minute when Dernell Wynter cut inside from the left wing before driving a low shot between Bufton and his right hand post.

Leighton had some more bad luck when Drew Mitten, who had just come on as a substitute suffered a serious foot injury when crossing the ball from the left wing, and he was replaced by Kerran Birch.

Enfield completed the scoring in the 64th minute when Whiteley scored his second of the match after rounding Bufton to score a simple goal and put the result well and truly beyond doubt.

Leighton kept up the search for a consolation goal though, but had to wait until the 77th minute before getting their first shot on target. Birch cut in from the left and fired a right footed effort on target but David Hughes in the home goal made a reasonably comfortable catch.

Birch was involved again a minute later when he got a touch to a low cross but a defender deflected the ball for a corner which Alex Woodfine touched wide.

The hosts nearly added a fifth in the 91st minute when Harry Ottaway struck a fierce shot that struck the angle of the bar and post before bouncing across goal.

Town can have no complaints about the score after a disappointing display and they now have to pick themselves up for a vitally important game at North Greenford next Saturday against another side who like Town are struggling near the foot of the table, but had a good win recently against Chalfont.

Drivers are being alerted to more severe fog tonight (Monday) and continuing into Tuesday after the Met Office issued a ‘yellow warning’.

Disruption has been caused on roads and motorways, as visibility has been reduced to 100m or less in some areas.

And some airports have even had to cancel flights.

Motoring association, AA, are warning people to be ‘better safe than sorry’ and make sure they use their fog lights appropriately.

The AA put the following tips on their website for people driving in foggy conditions:

1. Use dipped headlights at all times along with wipers and demisters.

2. Familiarise yourself with your front and rear fog lights – know how to switch them on and off – and use them when appropriate.

3. Beware of other drivers not using headlights.

4. Only drive as fast as conditions allow and maintain a greater distance between you and the car in front. Follow a three-second rule.

5. Tailing someone’s rear lights can give a false sense of security and is dangerous.

6. If the road has street lights on, then you probably don’t need your fog lights on.

7. Be able to stop within the distance you can see clearly – this is particularly important on motorways and dual carriageways, as vehicles are travelling faster.

8. Don’t accelerate to get away from a vehicle that is too close behind you.

9. Check your mirrors before you slow down.

10. At a junction with limited visibility, stop, wind down the window, and listen for traffic. When you are sure it is safe to emerge, do so positively and do not hesitate in a position that puts you directly in the path of approaching vehicles.

The Leighton’s annual Royal British Legion Remembrance Day Parade is taking place on Sunday.

The parade will start at 10.15am and they will march down the High Street to Church Square, outside All Saints Church.

Serving and former members of the armed forces, the emergency services and uniformed youth organisations will form the parade.

George Compton, chairman of the Royal British Legion Leighton Branch, said: “The parade will follow the same format as last year, we will march to All Saints Church, at 11am there will be a wreath laying ceremony and then the service will continue inside the church.

“There will be a full service outside All Saints Church on Wednesday 11th November at 11am.”

Milton Keynes Theatre is offering young dancers the chance to star in a David Walliams book adapted for the stage.

The theatre has joined forces with the Birmingham Stage Company to offer people the chance to perform when Gangsta Granny is performed in February next year.

They are looking for a female dancer to play the role of a 16-18 year old in the show.

Applicants must be no taller than 5ft 2ins (157.5 cm), available to perform in all the shows, from Tuesday February 9 to Saturday February 13 and be aged 18 and over.

The successful dancer will get to perform a short solo dance number in the Strictly Come Dancing scene of the play.

Applicants interested in auditioning for this once-in-a lifetime opportunity will need to choreograph a two minute dance routine (music will be provided) and then send a video of your choreography to Birmingham Stage Company who will decide on the winner.

To apply email mkcreative@theambassadors.com for the music and an application form.  

Deadline for applications is Saturday November 28.

Leighton Town have sacked Mark Eaton after less than five months in charge.

Eaton took over from Craig Bicknell, who was dismissed in the summer, but Leighton have picked up just two wins and 11 defeats in their opening 13 matches,.

Saturday’s 4-0 defeat away at Enfield saw Town knocked out of the FA Trophy, while sitting 19th in Evo-Stik Division 1 Central.

A club statement read: “Following the recent run of poor results and performances the Club Executive have decided to relieve Mark Eaton of the position of football manager effective immediately.

“Mark is very disappointed with this decision and the Executive wish to thank him for his and his associates for their hard work, committment and effort put in since the start of this season.

“From today, football matters will be handled by Stuart Murray whilst the Executive consider the situation.”

A 22-year-old from Leighton Buzzard jumped 13,000ft from a plane to raise hundreds for Breast Cancer Now.

Georgia Finch, of Billington Park, took on the challenge in memory of her mum, who lost her battle with breast cancer in 2001.

She chose to raise money for the charity because it funds research into the disease.

She said: “I wanted to do the skydive because I wanted to do something that would scare me and give me the feeling where anything could happen as most cancer patients are often scared of what is happening to them.

“I was very nervous, it is the most scariest and thrilling experience I have ever felt. When I landed my legs had gone to jelly but I was so proud I had done something like that.

“My sister and I lost my mum to breast cancer in 2001. She would have been 50 last year so we wanted to do something to celebrate her life and something she would be proud of. We chose Breast Cancer Now because the funding they provide for research can make a huge difference to so many people.”

Georgia was supported by her family when she did the skydive at Hinton skydiving centre.

She added: “Through my just giving page and sponsors I have raised £1,300. I am glad that I have raised that much and it is going to a great cause.”

She plans to do more work for the charity next year.

Hotel guests had to be evacuated after fire broke out at Luton Hoo yesterday.

Firefighters from Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service fought a fire in the main lobby chimney of Luton Hoo last night after 35 guests were evacuated from the hotel building.

Fire Control received a call from Luton Hoo at 17.05 yesterday evening) about a fire in the main chimney in the lobby of the hotel. The fire caused smoke to fill the lobby and reception area and smoke and burning ash to billow out of the top of the chimney stack.

When Firefighters from Stopsley Community Fire Station arrived they found smoke and ash issuing from the chimney and falling into the large hearth in the lobby. They immediately called for another fire engine from Luton Community Fire Station to support them and for the Luton Aerial Platform to assist in fighting the fire.

After assessing the seriousness of the fire and the possibility it might spread to other parts of the building Firefighters began by rolling up carpets and moving furniture to minimise damage to these from their firefighting. Two Firefighters from Stopsley got to work in the hearth and began pulling out ash and debris. They then began fighting the fire from below using chimney rods and were soon caked in ash and soot.When the Aerial Platform arrived at 17.37 two Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus were moved into position above the chimney where they could use a fire hose to begin to fight the fire from above.

By 18.45 Firefighters were making steady progress in containing the fire and it was extinguished by 19.04. Once out they monitored the roof and used thermal imaging cameras to search through the whole of the building to ensure there were no embers that could have caused further fires. After 15 minutes of monitoring the fireplace and chimney the fire was declared out and crews made ready to leave.

The fire started accidentally and there were no casualties.

Watch Commander Anthony Doherty said: “Fortunately chimneys are built to get hot and we assessed that the fire would not spread from the chimney itself into the building. Unfortunately the chimney shaft was not straight but had two major kinks in it and did not have an access points. However once the Aerial Platform arrived we could begin fighting the fire from above as well below and used it to keep an eye on the roof to ensure no embers would ignite other parts of the building.

“I’d like to thank our crews who worked hard to get the fire under control and then put it out without causing any major harm to the rest of the building and its fixtures and fittings. They took care to ensure there was no risk to the rest of the building or the interiors.

“I’d also like to thank all the staff at Luton Hoo who worked with us to enable us to fight the fire effectively. They gave us all the help we required and were very supportive of our efforts.”

Plans to put sponsorship on police uniforms and vehicles are being seriously considered, crime commissioner Olly Martins has admitted,

On Tuesday Mr Martins told the Home Affairs Select Committee that unless he is given extra funding for the force, he will have no other option but to seek other means of income.

As well as commercial sponsorship the PCC may use his powers to permanently turn on variable speed cameras between M1 junctions 10 and 13.

At present the cameras are only active when speed restrictions are in place.

Mr Martins said: “I am running out of levers to pull to keep Bedfordshire Police financially viable. We’ve had a council tax referendum.

“We’ve extensively lobbied the Home Office for fair funding but they haven’t listened and the Chancellor’s spending review at the end of the month means we face more cuts.

“Strict enforcement of the speed limit could raise £1million and to me that’s better than losing 25 more police officers.

“I want to ensure the police are there when people need them but Bedfordshire Police is already stretched to the limit.

“We have just 169 police officers per 100,000 population as against a national average figure of 232 and 388 in London.

“Yet we have the 4th highest level of gun crime per head, 5th highest level of burglary, robbery and vehicle crime, 7th highest level of knife crime, together with a high terror threat and organised crime problem. That’s why I am prepared to take desperate measures to avoid reducing our already anaemic police numbers.

“However, motorists staying within the speed limit – whether that is 70mph or less - will not be affected, only those breaking the law.

“In addition to the speed cameras option – I am also prepared to examine selling sponsorship of our police uniforms and vehicles. To those who say this is not the way they want things to go I say sign our petition calling on the government to adequate funding for Bedfordshire Police. We have to make them listen.”

> To view Mr Martins’ petition click here

Some unused football club changing rooms are to be transformed into hives of activity by the successful Men in Sheds project.

West Bletchley Council is offering to convert one or two of the rooms in spacious sheds for the community scheme.

Already Men in Sheds runs one of the biggest projects in the country at kiln Farm.

The project supports older people, known as ‘Shedders’, who want to get together and share their DIY and woodworking skills.

West Bletchley Council spokesman Paul Neate said: “This would be the second Shed in Milton Keyens., It will be local and predominantly run by and for MK3 residents.”

He added: “I can identify with the Shedders. Having had a full and busy working life I can understand how a loss of work could lead to a loss of identity.”

The football club building at Rickley Park, home of the West Bletchley Carnival, has several redundant changing rooms.

West Bletchley Council is inviting all interested parties, especially those in the MK3 postcode or anyone with a trade or skills to share, to their offices on Tuesday 17th November at 11am.

Lunch will be provided and there will be a walk to take a look at the site on Rickley Park at 12pm.

One of the most emerging talents in the field of classical music is bringing a gig to the Leighton Buzzard Library Theatre at the weekend.

Classical guitarist Manus Noble performs at the venue on Saturday, November 7 in an event organised by Leighton Buzzard Music Club.

He has received rave reviews wherever he plays – all over the UK and in London’s most prestigious venues such as the Cadogan Hall, Wigmore Hall and on the South Bank.

Taught originally by the renowned Craig Ogden, Manus then studied at the RCM under Gary Ryan.

His reviews in the Times, Telegraph and Oxford Times have described him as ‘giving a powerful, poised impression’, ‘immaculate sensitivity and refined technique’, ‘he enthralled the audience’.

As well as writing new works for the instrument himself, Noble has developed a certain flair and passion for modern techniques and repertoire, with many composers choosing to write new works for him.

His programme for the concert at Leighton Buzzard will range widely through the classical guitar repertoire from John Dowland to Piazzolla.

Leighton Buzzard Music Club has provided top-class professional concerts of mostly classical music since 1946.

The club provides eight concerts during a season which runs from September to April.

Tickets for the concert are £13 for adults and £11.50 for club members in production of a current membership ticket. Students can go along for £5 and accompanied children under the age of 16 can get in for free. The concert starts at 7.30pm.

Tickets for the concert can be booked by calling the box office on 0300 300 8125 or visit www.leightonbuzzardlibrarytheatre.co.uk.

For people wanting to find out more about the club and to see upcoming concerts for the rest of the season, please visit www.lbmusic.co.uk/

People in Bedfordshire are being encouraged to ‘Take Notice’ during November to improve their feelings of happiness and wellbeing as part of the county’s Five Ways to Wellbeing health initiative.

The three-year Public Health project was launched in Bedfordshire in May and is designed to highlight actions that can be taken to make a positive difference to our feelings of overall happiness and wellbeing.

It has been supported with five monthly themes which started in September and finish in January.

Five Ways partners Bedford Borough Council, Central Bedfordshire Council, Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (BCCG) and East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT), which provides Bedfordshire Mental Health and Wellbeing Service, are taking it in turns to promote themes.

Bedfordshire Mental Health and Wellbeing Service is the lead partner for November and the theme of Take Notice, with individuals encouraged to be aware of the things around them.

We can all be guilty of worrying about events or issues or fixating on the next task in hand, from project deadlines at work and unpaid bills.

The focus for Take Notice is to pause and be aware of what is happening in the present moment.

Simple techniques can include pausing and identifying five different things you can hear, or concentrating on what your senses are experiencing while having a snack – how does it smell and taste, what is the texture?

This awareness is also known as ‘mindfulness’.

Therapist Claire Hill, from Bedfordshire Mental Health and Wellbeing Service, said: “We spend a lot of time thinking about the past and the future when it is more helpful for us to focus on the present moment.“Things in the past we cannot do anything about and things in the future are in the future. If we worry about them now it’s not going to help us.“If we are focused in the present moment then we are not focusing so much on difficult thoughts.”

Glyndebourne on Tour has been coming to MK Theatre annually for the past 16 years, and more than 50,000 people have enjoyed their first-class opera during that time.

This week coming, Glyndebourne are back – and two of the three productions comprising the programme are premieres that have transferred straight from the 2015 Glyndebourne Festival.

Things begin on Tuesday with a revival of an opulent period staging of Donizetti’s Don Pasquale.

Opulent period setting aside, this piece still has some very recognisable modern plot lines: A rich old man in search of a young wife; a rebellious teenager sulking in his bedroom and an ambitious woman longing for money (and for a young lover).

Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail (The Abduction from the Seraglio) will follow.

Among the cast is the up-and-coming American tenor Benjamin Bliss, currently a member of the Lindemann Young Artist Development Program at The Metropolitan Opera in New York.

Also transferring is a new production of Handel’s oratorio Saul, which tells the well-known Biblical tale of the first King of Israel’s love and loathing for his eventual successor, David.

“Triumph, joy, madness, death, battles, jealousy, rage; what more do you want from a night at the opera?” asks the provocative, brilliant Australian director Barrie Kosky who was at the helm.

He did quite the job too – the work gathered amazing reviews.

All three main stage productions have a central role for the Glyndebourne Chorus, an ensemble with a well-earned reputation for showcasing the soloists of tomorrow.

Off stage, The Stables at Wavendon will be screening Glyndebourne’s award-winning production of Benjamin Britten’s Billy Budd on Sunday.

To book tickets call the box office on 0844 871 7652 or visit atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes

Michelle Collins has been announced to appear in a new touring production of a fantasy musical coming to Milton Keynes Theatre next year.

She stars in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang to be performed from Wednesday May 4 to Saturday May 14.

One of the world’s favourite musicals, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang will have audiences of all ages flying high with its mixture of madness, intrigue and exuberance.

Can the loveable but whacky inventor, Potts, along with his two children and the gorgeous Truly Scrumptious outwit the bombastic Baroness Bomburst who has decreed that all children be banished from his kingdom?

What happens when the children are caught and imprisoned with other youngsters by the evil Childcatcher? Will it all end happily ever after?

Michelle plays the role of Baroness Bomburst while Lee Mead who has appeared in Casualty and the musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Tickets for the show can be booked by calling the box office on 0844 871 7652 or visit www.atgtickets.co.uk/miltonkeynes.

A man has been arrested after being found with a gun at Leighton Buzzard station, the LBO understands.

At 6.30am this morning police officers were called to reports of a man who had been spotted with a firearm at the station in Linslade.

The force has confirmed that the man was in possession of ‘a weapon’ and he was initially detained under the Mental Health Act.

However he has now been arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear.