Premier Division supported by Sportsform action this weekend will see leaders AFC Oakley M&DH go into home derby action at Church Lane against 11th place Pavenham looking to extend their winning ways to nine games.

Their local rivals who will be looking for just their second away win of the season.

Second place AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College will likewise be in home action at Hillgrounds also looking to take their own winning run up to nine games when called upon by 12th place Sharnbrook who, like Pavenham at Church Lane, will be looking for just their second away win of the season.

Perhaps the game of the day will come at the Football Centre, being the venue at which third place Flitwick Town look to take their unbeaten ways up to 13 games and claim their eighth win on the bounce when called upon by fourth place Renhold United who will hit the road seeking to maintain their unbeaten record.

Over at Woburn Road fifth place Ampthill Town Reserves, currently on a nine game unbeaten run, host a Sandy side that as lost its last three away outings.

At Jubilee Playing Fields sixth place Wilstead, now unbeaten in their last seven starts, play hosts to second from bottom of the table Eastcotts AFC who are still in search of their first away point.

Whilst for bottom of the table Elstow Abbey its also the quest of their first away point when they travel to Crawley Road looking to end a run of nine straight defeats against the hosting Cranfield United who suddenly find themselves in the bottom half of the league standings following three consecutive defeats.

Other action comes at Harvey Close, the venue where Caldecote look for their third consecutive win when called upon by local rivals Ickwell & Old Warden who will make the short journey looking to end a run of three straight defeats.

At Marston Playing Fields hosts Marston Shelton Rovers look for their first victory in five outings when paid a visit by Shefford Town & Campton who are currently on a four game losing away run.

In Division One supported by Wests Citroen Bedford it’s home action at Stockwood Park Athletic track for the still unbeaten and 100% at home league leaders Sundon Park Rangers who are called upon by sixth place Queens Park Crescents who have so far won just the once on the road this season.

With second place Stevington sitting the afternoon out it gives AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College Reserves a chance to climb above them should they claim all three points when on the 3G surface at Hillgrounds they play hosts to third from bottom of the table Henlow.

For fourth place Ickleford now on a six game winning run it’s a trip to Moore Crescent to be hosted by tenth place Houghton Athletic who have been beaten just the once on home soil all season.

Whilst for fifth place Meltis Albion it’s a trip to Hitchin Road to be hosted by ninth place Shefford Town & Campton Reserves.

Other action comes at Mill Lane, the venue at which second from bottom of the table Potton Town, currently on a six game losing run, play hosts to eighth place Riseley Sports who have won just the once on the road this season.

At Greenfield Road seventh place Westoning look to maintain their unbeaten home ways when called upon by bottom of the table AFC Oakley M&DH Reserves.

The main spotlight this weekend for the lower division sides falls upon the action in round three of this seasons Bedfordshire FA Junior Cup.

In round two the giant-killing heroes were Clifton and Caldecote Reserves but in round three both of them face vastly different tasks.

Division Three Clifton make tracks for a King George VI Playing Field outing against high riding division two side Clapham Sports who will certainly start the warm favorites to progress into the hat for the Quarter-Final draw.

Whilst division three Caldecote Reserves at their Harvey Close base are called upon by division four Stevington Reserves who are well capable of landing this round’s giant-killing act.

Over in Jubilee Park division two Atletico Europa should have enough in the locker to see off the visiting division three Wilstead Reserves and in the all division two clash you would favor the visitors Cranfield United Reserves to get the better of the hosting Flitwick Town Reserves.

Of our other four sides in action it’s ties against Luton District & South Beds League oppostion. At Cutler Hammer, Kempston Hammers Sports will receive a visit from Luton Aces who needed a penalty shoot-out win to get by Meltis Albion Reserves in round two and on their 3G surface Wixams play hosts to FC Spandits Reserves who won at Sandy Reserves in round two.

Our other two sides hazve to journey the other way into Luton. Division Two Cople & Bedford SA head to face FC Polonia (Luton) who needed a penalty shoot-out to see off division four Mid Beds Tigers in round two and White Eagles on the road to take on Farley Boys Reserves.

Away from the cup action the league programme in the bottom three divisions is restricted to just two games per division.

In division two it involves the teams currently occupying the bottom four places.

At the Hockey Centre eighth place Bedford United will be in search of their first home win over season when called upon by basement club Kempston Athletic who will be seeking to end a run of six straight defeats.

Whilst at Wootton Recreation Ground ninth place Wootton Village will also look for their first home win of the season when called upon by second from bottom of the table Marston Shelton Rovers who come in search of their first away point.

In Division Three at their Playing Field base sixth place Renhold United Reserves look to maintain their seasons unbeaten home run against the visiting fifth place Dinamo Flitwick who will be looking for their third away win on the bounce which would take them up to third spot in the league table.

Whilst at Bedford Road Recreation Ground second from bottom Sandy Reserves welcome the team immediately above them in the league standings Shefford Town & Campton A who will hit the road looking to end their current five game losing run.

In Division Four the action comes at the Sandy Academy, the venue at which league leaders Mid Beds Tigers seek to extend their 100% winning ways to nine games and go six points clear at the head of the league table when called upon by eighth place Flitwick Town A who have won just the once on the road all season.

At Groveside where second from bottom of the table Henlow Reserves host seventh place AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College A who likewise have won just the once on the road this season.

Volunteers concerned about care for older, vulnerable people in Leighton Buzzard have been working hard to make life a little easier.

The Patient Participation Group (PPG) at Bassett Road Surgery has produced a booklet containing information about health services, aids to mobility, local authority services, specialist support groups and transport services.

Margaret Dews, 81, who is a work group member of the PPG, said: “So many older people live on their own and are often unable to find contact details of health organisations when they need it.”

While Central Bedfordshire Council does produce similar literature, it is targeted at the wider Bedfordshire area.

“This is a local community initiative,” Margaret added. “The driving force behind the booklet was to help older and vulnerable residents in Leighton Buzzard specifically to know who to contact or where to go when they need help.

“We had positive feedback from the health professionals who attended the launch. They said they thought it was a useful tool for them and for older people.”

Town clerk Mark Saccoccio, who attended the launch on Thursday at The White House, said the work was “of value and importance to the wider community”.

Margaret Brown, 85, from Leighton Buzzard, has been credited as the “motor” behind the production since she organised the creation of a similar booklet in 1979 for young families.

Around 4,000 copies of the pamphlet have been printed thanks to funding from Leighton-Linslade Town Council and can be found at the Bassett Road, Grovebury Road, Salisbury House and Leighton Road surgeries as well as on the Bassett Road surgery website at www.bassettroadsurgery.co.uk.

Asda has announced that it will be knocking 4 pence per litre off fuel for three days this weekend meaning unleaded prices drop below the £1 mark to 99.7 pence per litre.

The news follows the Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne freezing fuel duty in his Autumn Statement earlier this week.

Asda President & CEO Andy Clarke had urged the Chancellor to continue with the freeze instead of the anticipated yearly fuel duty rises in line with inflation from April 2016. Feedback from Asda Mums indicates that any future increases would put pressure on household finances.

In the latest Mumdex report, complied ahead of the Autumn Statement, Asda mums made it clear what the Government needs to focus on to take pressure off household incomes including, imposing a limit on energy and utility prices and increasing the personal tax allowance, along with a continued freeze on fuel duty.

Effective from Friday 27th November until Sunday 29th November, motorists will benefit from cheaper fuel prices throughout the weekend as unleaded falls to a new record six year low.

Asda will revert back on Monday to 103.7ppl on unleaded and 106.7 ppl on diesel.

Asda President and CEO, Andy Clarke said: “The Chancellor’s freeze on fuel duty is what our customers were hoping for but it doesn’t look like it will be long lived. We’re adding a further boost by investing in a three day fuel price drop meaning drivers can now benefit from fuel as low as 99.7ppl in the crucial run-up to the festive period.

“We’d urge the chancellor to continue with a freeze on fuel duty to help maintain discretionary income levels for families rather than going ahead with an anticipated inflationary rise from April next year. Our commitment is to keep prices as low as possible for drivers and we’d ask the Chancellor to do the same”

Luton Airport is now at the beginnings of the planning process for its ambitious project to create a rail link to Parkway station, we can reveal.

The airport’s owner, London Luton Airport Ltd, has applied to the council for its opinion on whether an environmental impact assessment will be needed for its final proposals.

This ‘screening’ process often takes place before large scale developments which may have significant effects on the environment.

LLAL’s application for an EIA screening opinion centres around Stirling Place, Kimpton Road and the airport– indicating that any rail link will be built to the back of the station.

Under current plans a new hotel/casino will be built on Stirling Place as part of the overarching Napier Park scheme.

Last week the Luton News revealed that exploratory work on a new transport link is ‘well advanced’.

The journey between the main terminal and Parkway is currently served by a shuttle bus service.

Neil Slaven, easyJet’s commercial director, told us that he hopes the construction on the project can start in 2018 or 2019.

He said: “I think for Luton to really come into the top tier of airports it needs improvement and we believe it would be great for passengers.

“We are working closely with the council and the airport...I have really made the point that to operate Luton at its full potential there needs to be a mass passenger transport system.

“They have done a great job of looking at the options on the table but a final decision is still to be made.”

Luton Borough Council’s regeneration and transformation portfolio holder, Cllr Sian Timoney, added that ‘everyone is on the same page’ to ensure the transport link goes ahead.

A spokesperson for London Luton Airport Ltd was unavailable for comment when contacted by the Luton News.

Come and meet Vinnie the Sparkle Pony as part of a festive and fun day at the Ride High Christmas Fair.

The event, which take splace at Eversholt Hall on Sunday, December 6 , is the perfect start to your Christmas countdown.

From 11am until 3pm Eversholt Hall will host over 20 stallholders selling handmade, high quality and unique items to kick off your Christmas shopping, as well as a great range of other entertainment and

activities including a Companion Dog Show.

The event will feature:

> An array of stallholders selling handmade and unique gifts

> Bring along your favourite dog to take part in The Dog Show*

> Giocoso Concert Band & The Sands Singers Choir performing Christmas carols and seasonal favourites

> Fun and games including the opportunity to meet Vinnie the Sparkle-Pony on the green

> Refreshments, delicious cakes and other sweet treats

> Tombola of great prizes

The Dog Show is your chance to showcase what makes your dog special with prizes for all first places.

Classes include:

> Waggiest Tail

> Best Paw-shake

> Fastest Sausage Eater

> Prettiest Bitch

> Most Handsome Dog

> Dog most like their owner

> Softest Ears

> Best Veteran

> Best Trick

> Best Dressed (Fancy Dress) plus…

> Best in Show - Wins Professional Pet Photo Shoot

Registration from 11am. Judging commences 1pm. £1.50 entry per dog per class. Kennel Club regulations.

Hayley Mackenzie-Wright, Ride High, said: “The support of the local community is so important to the charity. We decided that this Christmas we wanted to run an event that not only raises some funds for

2016 but that also gives something back to our supporters, so we’ve planned as much fun as we can into this event for all the family – dogs included! It’s completely free to come along, we hope as many

people as possible can make it.”

The Milton Keynes based Ride High charity works with up to 90 children every week. The children include those in care or foster children,

those from deprived backgrounds, young carers of parents or younger siblings, those who are bullied at school or feel disenfranchised, those who have been in trouble with the authorities, pupils who have

been excluded from school and children who have suffered abuse. In order to reach the neediest children all are referred to Ride High by childcare professionals.

Ride High aims to change the children’s lives by building skills, confidence and self-esteem. Alongside their weekly riding lessons each child also takes part in a clubroom session, where through structured,

horse-based activities and interaction with fellow members, they develop skills in communication and teamwork. www.ridehigh.org

The Met Office is warning of a blustery weekend ahead across the UK.

A yellow severe weather warning has been issued from 9am tomorrow (Saturday) until 6pm on Sunday for England and Wales.

The Met Office is warning that people should be aware of the potential for some disruption due to the strong winds.

The Met Office warning reads: “A blustery weekend is expected across England and Wales with winds strengthening from the west on Saturday morning.

“Gusts around coastlines exposed to the westerly or southwesterly winds could reach 60 mph at times.

“Inland gusts will be less frequent but could still reach 50 to 55 mph. Further strengthening from the west is expected on Sunday where gusts around western coasts could locally reach 70 mph. Elsewhere gusts of 60 mph are possible, particularly in western areas.”

Motorists who have been flashed by a faulty speed camera will not be fined, Central Beds Council had confirmed.

Over the last week a number of drivers have complained that they were snapped on the Leighton bypass, even though they were travelling under the 50mph speed limit.

Central Beds Council has admitted that this has been down to a problem with the camera, which is currently being fixed

A CBC spokesperson told the LBO: “The council along with the police and the camera company are aware of the fault with the speed cameras at the Leighton bypass and are working to fix it today (Friday).

“Of course, anyone who has been flashed under the posted limit of 50mph will not receive a ticket.”

> Were you flashed by the camera? Email adam.parrislong@jpress.co.uk or call 01582 798505

Little learners at Luton’s Chantry Primary Academy are limbering up to join hundreds of Father Christmases for the town’s popular Santa Run.

Keech Hospice Care’s 5km sponsored event at Wardown Park on Sunday December 13 is festive family fun and a chance to raise money for the charity. It costs more than £5 million annually to provide its vital care and support.

> Countdown to Christmas by signing up at www.keech.org.uk or call 01582 707940.

More than 40 people were caught using their phones to take photos of a collision on the M1 this morning (Monday).

Emergency services were called at 6.40am to reports that a lorry had collided with a central reservation. Fortunately no-one was injured, however two lanes were closed while recovery work was carried out.

While dealing with the incident, police officers noticed a number of passing motorists photographing or videoing the scene on mobile phones while driving.

PC Mark West, of the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Hertfordshire Roads Policing Unit, said: “In just one hour we saw 43 people using their mobile phones while driving, attempting to take photos or videos of the collision.

“These irresponsible people, a mix of both car and lorry drivers, put their own lives and the lives of others at risk by using a phone at the wheel, and can expect a notice of intended prosecution to land on their door step imminently.

“Using a mobile phone is one of the fatal four, along with drink-driving, failing to wear a seatbelt, and speeding, and is never acceptable. That’s why we’re working hard to clamp down on these offences and making the roads of Bedfordshire safer for everyone.”

Leighton Town picked up a point on the road as they drew 2-2 with Godalming Town on Saturday.

The result means Stuart Murray’s men are still in the Evo Stik Division 1 Central bottom two, three points adrift of Fleet Town in 20th.

Town got off to a good start in blustery conditions, taking the lead after 14 minutes through Dave Brown after the Godalming defence failed to clear a free kick.

Good work by Jenkins and Hazet at the heart of the visitors’ defence restricted Godalming to a couple of half chances which were not taken and when they did make progress Bradley Kirkwood in the Town goal made a good save to deny the hosts an equaliser.

Alex O’Brien brought two good saves from home keeper Ossai as Leighton pressed at the end of the first period.

Both sides started the second half well and chances were created at both ends.

But it wasn’t until the 75th minute that Godalming scored an equaliser when a deflected shot hit the post and the rebound fell to Bassett who scored from inside the six yard box.

Leighton worked hard and pressed forward looking to take the game to the hosts but a long clearance found Bassett on the left - who looked at least five yards off-side - and he ran through unchallenged and gave Kirkwood no chance to give Godalming the lead.

Town responded and Hatch almost scored with a great header from a corner.

Leighton pushed everyone forward as they searched for the equaliser and they were rewarded at the very end when keeper Ossai failed to hold an O’Brien free-kick and the alert Hatch was on hand to level the scores.

The armchair exercise classes for the over 50’s have been given a helping hand with transport from Buzzer Buses.

The not for profit organisation provides a collect and drop off service to the classes at the Baptist Church for those who cannot use normal buses.

Exercise teacher Jaqui Shaw started the classes at the end of October after she was contacted by some residents who were interested in armchair exercise classes.

She said: “We have nine members who come to the weekly classes, they love it.

“I feel really fulfilled by the opportunity to provide this class as it makes so much difference to the well being of our older, physically challenged residents.

“It really gives me a buzz when they enjoy it so much and have all become friends.”

The weekly classes are on a Wednesday from 3pm, each class is £3 for 45 minutes. the hall is accessible for those in wheelchairs, walkers and scooters.

Motorists are continuing to face long delays on the motorway and main roads in the area after a collision on the M1 at Luton.

Tthere are significant delays on the M1 in Bedfordshire following an incident involving a lorry earlier this morning between junctions 11 and 12.

Highways England are currently at the scene dealing with the incident, which occurred at 6.40am today.

Motorists are advised to allow extra time for their journey as there are significant delays in the area. There is one lane open northbound and two lanes open southbound.

The carriageway is likely to remain partially closed in both directions until later this evening as the lorry collided with the central barrier and will need to be repaired once recovery is complete. The road will also need to be cleaned following a diesel spill. The M1 will fully reopen as soon as it is safe to do so.

Highway England provides live traffic information via its website (www.highways.gov.uk/traffic), local and national radio travel bulletins, electronic road signs and mobile platforms, such as the iPhone.

Leighton Buzzard moved up to fourth in South West 1 East with a stunning 41-15 victory on the road against Swanage & Wareham.

After crushing High Wycombe 52-0 last week, Buzzards made it back-to-back victories down south, making light work of Swanage to move within nine points of top spot.

Pitch conditions were good and there was a strong crosswind but the heavy showers had stopped by the time the home side kicked off.

Buzzards were immediately dominant - their good ball retention and strong running were quickly rewarded when captain Euan Irwin crashed over from a quickly taken penalty.

With kicking conditions difficult the conversion was missed but Leighton were 5-0 up after only two minutes.

Buzzards had only to wait another seven minutes to score their second try.

A home side’s clearance kick was well taken by Darren Braybrook on half way – the winger threw a 30 yard cross field pass to full back Geoff Branwhite who carved open the Swans defence and passed for captain Irwin to score his second try.

With Branwhite’s successful conversion, Leighton led 12-0.

Perhaps showing signs of over confidence, Buzzards attempted to run a quick penalty from their own line - they succeeded only in conceding a penalty in front of the posts allowing Swanage and Wareham to reduce the deficit to 12-3.

This minor setback prompted Leighton to adopt a slightly less gung-ho approach kicking for position.

It was from a 5 metre lineout that the pack orchestrated a perfect driving maul for Sam Richbell to touch down.

After only 20 minutes the Buzzards led 17-3.

Steadily the home side were beginning to secure more possession and territory.

Despite losing their captain for 10 minutes due to a yellow card, the Buzzard defence rarely looked like being breached leaving the half time score 17-3.

Within a minute of the second half starting Buzzards secured their bonus point with a fourth try.

Excellent work and fast hands through the backs put left wing Ollie Taylor to out-sprint the cover defence to score under the posts. With the conversion successful the lead was now 24-3.

Straight from the kickoff Tom Byard broke clear but 10 metres out chose to pass rather than surely score himself – the pass went loose and somehow Swanage survived.

Buoyed by this let off the home side began to increase the pressure and were rewarded by a try from a forward drive following a line out which, with the conversion, left the score 24-10.

Suddenly the momentum was with the home side with Buzzards conceding penalties, making mistakes and causing nervousness amongst the travelling support.

Fears increased when Swanage scored a second try- again from a forward drive. The conversion was missed but with 20 minutes left the score 24-15.

However, suddenly realising that a game they were totally in control of was in danger of slipping away, Leighton produced 10 minutes of decisive rugby, scoring three tries, all from their own half.

Firstly, a Tom Byard break was supported by Ollie Taylor who made the scoring pass to Captain Euan Irwin to score his third try.

Minutes later, Geoff Branwhite sprinted 90 metres following an interception and, with ten minutes left, Tom Byard broke from a lineout on halfway to score in the right corner.

In the difficult conditions only one further conversion was successful leaving the final score 41-15 to Leighton Buzzard.

Despite the 15 minute second half wobble this was a fine performance - solid pack and lineout, physical straight running and speed and enterprise in the backs.

With other results going their way the Buzzards moved up 4 places to fourth – although in a very tight league only five points separate third and tenth.

Young student wins Highly Commended Life After Stroke certificate

The former Cedars Upper student – now studying psychology at Milton Keynes – was nominated by Stroke Association co-ordinator Hilary Wood who said: “Although Bethany is one of the most cheerful and good natured people you could meet, her road to recovery has been really difficult.

“Doctors said Bethany would never walk again but after 10 months she was able to take her first steps, a testament to how hardworking and determined she is.

“Bethany has always faced rebuilding her life with a cheery outlook and a smile for everyone. She has been an inspiration to her family, friends and school teachers.”

Beth was given her certificate at a gala event at Bedford Lodge Hotel in Newmarket.

She said afterwards: “It was really lovely. I’m so blessed to have such amazing people nominate me.”
She added: “It was an emotional occasion and I heard such inspirational stories too.”

Beth has set up a Twitter page called Beth’s Story@standuptostroke

> The Stroke Association’s Life After Stroke Awards recognise the courage shown by stroke survivors and carers as well as the great work and commitment shown by health professionals, groups and supporter organisations.

Next year’s nominations are now open. For more information visit www.stroke.org.uk/LASA

More than 300 runners took to the course on Sunday morning as Leighton Fun Runners hosted the latest round of the Three Counties League.

Dunstable Road Runners man Darren Deed was first over the line to win the race, followed home by Andrew Leach (North Herts Road Runners) and David Green (Northampton Road Runners).

Martin Crane was first home for LFR in 30th place as the team came home sixth overall. Bedford Harriers won the team event.

A cold-hardy councillor is to stage a sit-in outside a church for the whole of next week to raise cash for charity.

Sam Crooks will brave the chills to collect donations from members of the public for his annual Cornerstone Christmas appeal.

This will be his fourth sit-in and his takings have soared from £6,000 in 2012 to almost £15,000 last year.

This year the benefitting charities will include Age UK, Citizens’ Advice, The MK Hardship Fund, Open Door, The Food Bank and CAFOD, which provides clean water to an African village.

Mr Crooks, who stresses that his mammoth charity effort is non-political, is following in the footsteps of his father, the late Sammy Crooks who was Dean of Belfast Cathedral.

Motived by an earthquake in Pakistan in 1976, Dean Sammy sat outside the cathedral to collect cash in a barrel every day for a week just before Christmas. Because he wore his traditional clerical cloak, he was dubbed Black Santa and his collection became a tradition that remains today.

Matt Adcock reviews Black Mass, starring Johnny Depp

How far should the authorities go in order to take down powerful criminal networks like the Mafia? Well Black Mass, based on the 2001 book Black Mass: The True Story of an Unholy Alliance Between the FBI and the Irish Mob by Dick Lehr and Gerard O’Neill tells the truly disturbing tale of boundaries well and truly crossed.

The plot involves infamous crime lord James “Whitey” Bulger (an astonishing turn from Johnny Depp), his statesman brother Billy (Benedict Cumberbatch) and FBI Agent John Connolly (Joel ‘The Gift’ Edgerton) who all grew up together on the mean streets of South Boston.

Beginning in the 1970s an uneasy alliance is concocted which saw Whitey tipping off the FBI via Connolly about rival criminal activity in return for protection from the authorities and freedom to do pretty much whatever the hell he wanted. It would make a scary fiction but it’s even more terrifying to think that something along these lines actually happened.

Connolly is portrayed as a good guy trapped between his friendship with Irish Mob boss Whitey and his duty to the FBI. Billy is the respectable face of the family whose influential position is also endangered by Whitey’s out-of-control bad deeds.

Then there’s Whitey himself – he is a compulsive negative force of nature who destroys or tarnishes everything he comes into contact with. As Boston’s Italian Mafia get taken down – Whitey more than makes up for that with murders, drug dealing, racketeering, kidnapping or as the new Prosecutor Fred Wyshak (Corey ‘Ant Man’ Stoll) says: “he seems to be behind every crime in the state”…

Director Scott Cooper brings the ‘70s to the big screen in fine style and gives Depp licence to go ‘all out’ and chill the audience to the bone and he absolutely delivers. Depp plays Whitey as a fearless, coolly calculated predator who you cross at your peril. This is a timely reminder of just what an incredible actor Depp can be when given decent material to work with.

As a Christian I’m not in the general practice of encouraging people to enjoy a ‘Black Mass’ but if you’re in the mood for a sublime crime-em-up this should be top of your to see list. It would be criminal to miss it!

* Tweet Matt @Cleric20

Sweet-and-sour has been on the menu for Leighton Buzzard golf club Captain Steve Leng as he prepares to hand over the reins to his successor Adrian Stephenson.

With just a month to go of his year-long term as skipper, Steve’s red army lost their annual encounter against his Vice Adrian before completing his inter-club campaign with a high octane victory over John O’Gaunt on Saturday.

In what was the closest finish for years, Leighton won five of the 14 games, John O’ Gaunt carding four victories and another five matches ending in ties.

Leighton got off to a disappointing start, with five of the fourballs back in the club house before Leighton clocked their first victory. Crematorium boss Andy Wright and heating company chief Steve Giles sounded the death knell for Gaunt’s hopes with a two hole win before Brian Wilson and Richard Barrow added fuel to the fire with a four hole victory.

With three teams finishing all square and with Leighton trailing, success was secured with the last three groups providing the sting in the tail. Shane Kimber and Phil Coumbe, Ben Irvine and Phil Eddy and Vice Captain Adrian and Vice elect John Smith all won by comfortable margins to earn Leighton a well-celebrated 5-4 victory.

Skipper Steve partnered by Leighton’s County champion Matt Hill, County Vice President David Hawkins and Simon Rossiter, Will Sampson and Peter Burgoyne, Steve Gillett and Steve Schmidt and John Latimer and Keith Edmunds all halved their games.

Having lost by 13 to 8 last year as Vice Captain, skipper Steve was hoping for a better result this time against Adrian’s vice squad. But it wasn’t to be as his team went down by 31 holes to 21, winning just seven of the 18 games, with two matches halved.

Adrian and postman Manny Barker, Geoff Nunn and Barry Kent, Phil Coumbe and Andy Ashall, Nigel Chapman and Nick Roberts, Will Koch and Mick Francis, Brian Carter and Ken Wilson, Mark Newton and Mark McLoughlin, Adrian Stannard and Simon Goodall and Paul Johnson and Steve Boud won their games by a total of 31 holes.

Peter Burgoyne and Will Sampson, Steve Tyas and Andy Wright, John Preston and Ian Alexander, Nigel Phelps and Steve Schmidt, Paul Atkinson and John Latimer, Phil Eddy and Matt Sale and Shane Bentley and Steve Richardson won for skipper Steve by a total of 21 holes.

Brian Wilson and Stuart Leslie halved their match against Billy O’Neill and Graham Hazel with Mick Brooker and Peter Taylor also halving against John Smith and Danny Nairne.

Leighton’s inter-club team beat a Mentmore squad 3-0, with victories by Steve Schmidt and Dave Evans, Lance Lawes and Manny Barker and Shane Bentley and Ada Stephenson. Skipper Steve Leng and John Latimer, Andy Jenkins and Shane Kimber and Derek Richards and John Allinson halved their games.

Former Ladies Captain Val Berry teamed up with Farida Cerosio and Marilyn Myatt to win their Modified Texas Scramble with a score of 73.4, with Alison Shirville, Lorraine Leaver and Lynn Newnham finishing runners-up.

Three young people have been killed in a road collision in Luton last night.

Bedfordshire Police is appealing for witnesses following the collision at 11.18pm on a road called Fancott, which runs between Charlton and Toddington.

A red Jaguar XS travelling southbound and a silver Vauxhall Corsa travelling northbound were in collision.

Emergency services were called and the male Corsa driver and a female passenger were pronounced dead at the scene. A third passenger, a female, was taken to the Luton and Dunstable Hospital, but later died. One was 18 and two were in their twenties and from the Luton area.

The driver of the Jaguar, a man in his 60s also from the Luton area, was taken to the Luton and Dunstable Hospital where he is still being treated for his injuries.

A full fatal collision investigation is underway and police are keen to hear from anyone who may have witnessed the incident. Officers are particularly keen to speak to the driver of an unknown vehicle which was travelling in front of the Corsa.

Formal identification, followed by inquest openings, will take place in due course and it is only then that the victims will be named. Next of kin have been informed.

Anyone with information can contact Sgt Steph Crichton from the Beds and Herts Roads Policing Unit in confidence on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Four men have been arrested in Luton this morning on suspicion of committing offences under the Terrorism Act.

The arrests were carried out in a joint operation by the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command (SO15) and the Eastern Counter Terrorism and Intelligence Unit (ECTIU).

The men - who are all in their 30s - have been arrested on suspicion of being involved in the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism. They have been taken into custody at a London police station.

Searches are being conducted at seven separate addresses in Luton in connection with this investigation. A number of vehicles are also being searched.

A spokesman for the Met Police said: “Today’s activity is part of an ongoing proactive investigation concerning individuals in the Luton area. It is not connected to the recent attacks in Paris.

“We are not able to give further information at this time.”