A huge cannabis factory has been uncovered at Legoland - apparently planted by someone sneaking in from the Queen’s estate.

Police found 50 of the chest-high plants being cultivated under heat lamps and an irrigation system in a bungalow at the park in Windsor.

But theme park bosses say the vacant building is inaccessible to the public and “appears to have been accessed via the Crown Estate” - land belonging to the Queen.

Astonished workers discovered the professional set up while looking for asbestos in what is understood to be derelict staff accommodation yesterday.

A spokeswoman for Legoland said: “Following routine checks, we can confirm that illegal substances were found in a derelict cottage outside of the LEGOLAND Park boundary.

“The building in question is inaccessible to the public and appears to have been accessed via the Crown Estate.

“We have notified Thames Valley Police and we will continue to support their ongoing investigation.”

The cottage containing the plants is on the 215 acres owned by Legoland, but outside the theme park boundary.

It is situated near the entrance to the park and kennels where visitors can leave their dogs.

A spokesman for the police said: “Thames Valley Police officers were called at about 11.15am today following reports that cannabis had been found at a property in the Legoland grounds in Windsor.

“Officers are currently at the site where cannabis plants and equipment used in the production of cannabis has been located.

“No arrests have been made and an investigation is being carried out.”

A horse running wild on the road was killed this morning after it was struck by a van on the outskirts of Leighton Buzzard.

The horse was one of around 12 spotted flygrazing in an unsecure field off Mile Tree Road for weeks.

An eyewitness said: “The poor mare was hit by a van whilst running loose on the road.

“She has left behind her little filly foal aged only a few months old, who tried to get through the hedge to her and didn’t understand where she’d gone.

“The police officer in attendance was absolutely brilliant at trying to get the situation sorted as quickly as possible.”

Several horses had escaped from the field yesterday and local volunteers are still monitoring their activities.

Police managed to contain two runaway horses in a field near the narrow gauge railway using police tape, but it is understood they have since escaped.

The volunteers claim to have raised the issues with police and the RSPCA for several weeks without any success.

Regarding this morning’s tragic incident, a Beds Police spokesman said: “We were called at approximately 7.10am today to reports of a horse that had been hit by a car.

“Police and a vet attended but sadly the horse had to be put down.

“A number of other horses in the same field as the horse have been seized by police under our stray horse policy and will be rehomed unless the owners come forward.”

An RSPCA spokesman added: “We were contacted about three abandoned horses in Vandyke Road, Leighton Buzzard, on Monday. An RSPCA officer attended with the police and checked the horses, which showed no signs of injury or ill health.

“As they were abandoned, they come under the Control of Horses Act 2015, which the RSPCA does not enforce. As part of the act, abandoned horses are the responsibility of the landowner or the local authority. We understand people’s frustrations, but the RSPCA must work within the law.

“Horses being left to fly graze has been a huge problem across England and Wales and this specific law was introduced with the aim of deterring people from leaving their horses in this manner.

“Sadly, the RSPCA and other equine welfare charities have been picking up the pieces of the ongoing horse crisis for many years, rescuing sick and injured horses who have been left without appropriate care. Quite often, their owners are almost impossible to trace.

“As a welfare charity, we have to prioritise our time for sick and injured horses and are already well over our capacity for horses - with stables for just 120, we have over 500 in our care, which are stabled through private boarding yards at a great cost to the charity.”

Embrace Children Victims of Crime (CVOC) received a donation of more than £12,000 from Bedfordshire Police to help the charity continue its work supporting children victims of crime. The money was raised last year by Bedfordshire Police officers and staff.

Temporary assistant chief constable Jackie Sebire presented the cheque to the charity which provides practical, emotional and specialist support across the county for children and teenagers who have been victims of crime.

The charity also organises trips to theme parks and family holidays to Disneyland.

Ann Campbell, CEO of Embrace CVOC, said: “We will ensure that all the money raised in the county will be spent on helping children and young people from Bedfordshire to cope with what’s happened, recover and move-on with their lives.”

Last year the force held a number of fundraising events for the charity, including a Relax and Retail Evening, cake sales and raffles.

Donations were also made by individuals, one officer took part in the Great Northern Run, raising £2,000 for the charity, and an officer and police staff member won a fishing competition and donated their £2,000 prize money.

T/ACC Sebire said: “This is a fantastic cause and I was honoured to present the cheque to Embrace CVoC today.

“The charity does incredible work changing the lives of young people and we’re looking forward to raising even more money for them in 2017.”

The next fundraising event for Bedfordshire Police will be the Milton Keynes Festival of Running on Sunday, March 5.

Leighton Buzzard’s homeless have spoken out about how they crave somewhere warm to go during the day so they don’t have to loiter on the streets of the town centre.

The plight of the town’s homeless and its street drinkers has sparked fierce debate in past week.

After reporting on problems caused to business owners in North Street, some of those on the streets have revealed to the LBO what daily life is like outside the nights they spend at the Black Horse shelter run by Leighton-Linslade Homeless Shelter.

> “I’m so cold all the time, I’ve been on the streets since the 10th May last year. They keep moving me on no matter where I go. I was sectioned under the mental health act for 5 weeks, I went through the pain of detox to be thrown back onto the streets in the rain with no money and nowhere to go, 21 miles away from my home town and support groups.

“I slept in a graveyard for weeks as its the only place I felt safe. I had a meeting with someone from the supported housing accommodation and on the day they didn’t turn up. It’s a nightmare. I’ve never been homeless like this. I’ve been outside on the streets every night since May. I just a want home.”

> “I would just love to have somewhere to go in the daytime, with friendly faces, tea, coffee and maybe a board game or pool table.

“If we have nowhere to go then we have no choice but to be on the streets. I know some the guys if they haven’t had a drink can actually become very ill.

“They can have seizures and all sorts. They actually need to have alcohol in their system to a certain extent to keep their bodies functioning properly unfortunately. Addiction in any form is an illness, and it’s a shame not many people look at it like that.

> “We were just waiting to be let into the night shelter in that photo, we weren’t sure what time it was going to be open. Sometimes they open at 7pm and sometimes it can be 10pm.

“What we have here is a misunderstanding, but the people of the town have been very good to us. We don’t do anything wrong, what people don’t realise is the lives that we’ve all lived.

“I’m still married and have two daughters. I had my own home and was self employed for nearly 30 years. I am staying at the Black Horse tonight and I think they are opening at 7 o’clock.

“If we had somewhere warm to go in the daytime with tea and coffee, then we wouldn’t be on the streets, it would help a hell of a lot.

“If you opened somewhere like that up it would solve a big problem. When you really look at it, we are displaced. For how long? Who knows.

“I know it will stop at some point with the right kind of help. I believe that the people of this town really want to help us and we really are thankful for that.

> “My family have only just recently been made aware of my situation, but what if they weren’t and they picked up that paper and saw me on the front. It felt like an invasion of my privacy.

“Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and we are too. When you live on the streets you know more about what goes on than most people. Drug pushers always target the homeless and vulnerable, that’s how these drug dealers survive.

> People are very quick to condemn but not all homeless people are drunken louts. There’s a famous saying from the Salvation Army ‘You are only 3 pay cheques away from being homeless’. A lot of us have very complicated backgrounds.

> “I wish there was more here, more than a roof over our head for the night. We need help changing our lives and help finding out where it all went horribly wrong, but the sad thing is none of this really gets followed through.

“Most of us fall through the gaps somewhere along the line and end up going back to the only way of living we know.. on the streets.

> “I don’t want to be here anymore, I want be up there in the next world. I think about it all the time.”

Lauren Janes, co-founder of the We’ve Got Your Back - Back Pack Appeal for the Leighton Buzzard and Linslade Homeless Community, said: “We see these men and women on a weekly and sometimes daily basis. They should be treated as equals.”

Having a cuppa or a snack is an important part of our daily routine, yet millions of farmers who produce the treats we enjoy during our elevenses are struggling to make a living.

That’s why Fairtrade Leighton Linslade is calling on the local community to put Fairtrade in their break and support the drive for much-needed change during Fairtrade Fortnight.

Spokeswoman Sally Reith said: “We’ve been campaigning for Fairtrade for more than 10 years and have learned the difference it makes around the world. We need everyone to get behind farmers and their families this fortnight.

“We’re also encouraging youngsters – including young people at TACTIC – to explore what it means to trade fairly.

“The food on our tables, the tea and coffee in our mugs, all come from farmers who work hard but are not paid what they deserve.

“In Kenya’s coffee and tea growing regions, one in three people live in poverty, while tea pickers in Malawi earn less than £1.46 a day. This is not enough to provide decent food, education or healthcare for their families or to invest in better farming practices.

“By buying products bearing the Fairtrade Mark, consumers can help farmers earn a viable income and an extra premium they can invest in vital community, business abd environmental projects.”

She added: “We’re inviting everyone to take a selfie with their favourite Fairtrade product and post it to our Facebook page, Instagram or Twitter @FairtradeLL for a chance to win a #Fairtrade hamper.

> Visit www.fairtrade.org.uk/fortnight or contact www.fairtradell.co.uk

People power has seen a local council drop plans for a large council tax increase.

Central Bedfordshire Council’s Executive is recommending a smaller increase in council tax next financial year in response to public feedback on their spending plans.

The council proposed to apply the Adult Social Care precept which would see an increase in council tax of 3% to contribute towards funding for care services plus an increase incouncil tax by 1.75% to contribute towards funding of other services, however, this is being reduced to a 1.5% increase after listening to residents.

The feedback on the draft budget proposals showed that the majority (55%) supported the Adult Social Care levy. The majority (53%) also supported the proposed increase in Council Tax to pay for other services but there was also a significant minority who disagreed and some concerns expressed about the impact this would have on some people such as pensioners and those on low incomes.

The application of the Adult Social Care precept (of an increase of up to 3%) would result in a weekly increase of 78 pence in council tax for an average household (Band D). This, combined with the proposed 1.5% increase in council tax, would result in a total weekly increase of £1.19 for an average household (Band D).

The public also wanted to see the council continuing with its efficiency drive which is set to bring savings of more than £15m. This will be achieved through a range of measures including reviewing contracts and seeking better deals from suppliers in areas such as facilities management; reducing the use of agency workers; giving customers the option to make their own contribution to “top up” the service they receive; generating income by trading council services; and withdrawing some services where the need for them is not apparent.

Councillor Richard Wenham, Executive Member for Corporate Resources, said: “Although most people were supportive of the increases in council tax we recognise that, for some people, this increase will be difficult so we have reduced the increase as much as we can.

“Almost 40 per cent of our revenue budget, which we raise from council tax, will be spent on adult social care services (£73m) next year. This is an important frontline service that provides vital support for vulnerable people but with increasing demand, increasing costs and less money from Westminster we need to raise more money through council tax in order to avoid dramatic cuts to our services.

“Efficiency and value for money continue to be a top priority too. Next year we will be reducing our spending by just over £15million which is on top of the £104million we have already saved since 2009.”

Councillors are also recommending investing over £308million in capital projects over the next four years from external and council funding. Projects include new school buildings, extra care schemes, road improvements, rolling out superfast broadband, improving our market towns and country parks and energy efficiency improvements - which in turn save money.

The final budget is approved by Council at a meeting on 23 February.

Read more about the budget on the council’s website.

There was once an expression by the film director Stanley Kubrick that if you can think of something then you can film it.

The same expression can probably be used to describe the adaptation of the very popular book The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. As at first read of the book, you would imagine it is difficult to stage.

However, it is a triumph from the National Theatre's production bringing the show to Aylesbury's Waterside Theatre that not only does it prove entirely possible to stage, but it is done with such incredible flair that it is a joy to watch.

And it is probably worth going to see for any wannabe theatre directors and producers because the relatively simple staging and the use of the imagination of the audience sells this as a piece and shows what can be achieved when the budget might not be massive.

But as for the story, it sees the autistic Christopher Boone who is sets out to solve the murder of a neighbour's dog. But the further he digs into the mystery of who killed Wellington, the more secrets he uncovers and his stable world is turned upside down by revelation after revelation.

Given the subject material, it must be difficult to portray Christopher but kudos to Scott Reid who gives a performance which is accurate and yet sympathetic at the same time in what must be one of the most challenging roles for a young man on the stage. He is fully deserving of the standing ovation that he received at the show's conclusion.

Indeed given the nature of the show, many of the actors double up as the ensemble and given the energy they all put in, every single person is outstanding.

There are a couple of moments which stands out. The scenes in the climax to the first act are truly outstanding pieces of theatre as you see a model railway version of London bought to life and using that to portray the confusion within Christopher's mind shows an incredible level of flair within the show.

And the other bit is difficult to talk about without spoiling, but there's an appearance at the end which will melt the heart of even the stoniest, grumpiest of people.

This is theatre at its very best and a show which comes highly recommended.

A science fiction romance writer who specialises in tall, dark, steely men with cool blue eyes and rare but devastating smiles has been shortlisted in the 2017 Romantic Novel Awards.

Hywela Lyn from Pirton was nominated for Beloved Enemy, the third in her Destiny trilogy.

She said: “I was surprised and excited because the book means a lot to me. And even if I get no further, I’m thrilled to be on the shortlist.”

Beloved Enemy, which was self published, is one of four finalists in the newly introduced Paranormal or Speculative Romantic category.

Protagonists Kerry and Cat are marooned on an inhospitable planet and need to work together to stay alive. But how can they learn to trust each other when he vowed never to get close to a woman again and she made a solemn pledge to destroy him?

Hywela admits that there’s lot of herself in her strong leading ladies: “Ever since I was a child I’ve longed to have adventures and made up stories with myself as the heroine. Most of my main characters’ beliefs and emotions are similar to mine.”

The worlds she creates are untainted by crowded cities and technology and she’s fascinated by the stars and the idea of space travel.

The men in her books are handsome and hunky, chivalrous and honourable while the women retain femininity and charm. And – this goes without saying – love always wins in the end.

Hywela fantasises about writing of David Attenborough as a young man. “He has great charm and charisma and is extremely talented. He would make a wonderful hero,” she sighs.

She lives with her long suffering husband Dave, two horses, a feral cat and rescued terrier and dreams of buying a cottage and some land in her native Wales.

> Winners of the 2017 RoNAs will be announced by Prue Leith at a glittering ceremony in London next month.

A £1.6 million lottery award will be used to preserve Greensand Country, which encompasses the Greensand Ridge and the surrounding river valleys and stretches from Leighton Buzzard to Gamlingay.

The Greensand Country Landscape Partnership (GCLP) says the Heritage Lottery Fund will support an array of exciting projects which will help them raise awareness of the hidden heritage of the Greensand Country and reverse the gradual decline in the distinct character of this “beautiful and loved” landscape.

‘Greensand Country’ is an island of higher ground, which stretches from Leighton Buzzard, across Mid Beds and over to Gamlingay, rising out of the flatter clay vales. The area’s sandy soils were not suitable for agriculture, so by medieval times the land was mainly used for grazing, woodland, deer hunting and keeping rabbits.

Much of this ‘poor’ land had been used to support the foundation of monasteries, but when these were dissolved under Henry VIII, the land was given away to those in the king’s favour, who built their manor houses and parks up on the former monastic estates.

As a result of this history, the area contains all of Bedfordshire’s remaining lowland heathland, more than half of its woodland, and more surviving historic parkland than any other landscape in the country.

However, GCLP say the landscape’s very distinctive character has been weakening over decades due to modern development and changes in land use. Valuable habitats are becoming fragmented; views of and from the area are being lost or impaired and traditional heritage skills are dying out.

The GCLP has been formed by a range of partners in the area who will work with landowners and local communities to take a joined up approach to meeting the challenges in the area.

The Partnership is led by Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity and the Greensand Trust, and also includes the RSPB, The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire, Central Bedfordshire Council, Bedfordshire and Luton Biodiversity Recording and Monitoring Centre, Bedfordshire Geology Group, Sustrans, British Horse Society, Flitwick Town Council, Shuttleworth College, local landscape author Brian Kerr, Community Voluntary Service, The Shuttleworth Trust, Federation of Small Businesses, Arnold White Estates Limited and Clophill Heritage Trust.

The 4-year programme will deliver:

> Restoration and expansion of key habitats such as lowland heathland and grasslands

> Events, workshops and festivals focused on the landscape and its heritage

> Improvements to footpaths, cycle ways and bridleways

> Much greater provision of information about the area, its hidden stories and its history, and its significance to our national and local heritage

> Training and apprenticeships in order to develop the skills needed to look after this landscape for the future

> Opportunities for local communities to volunteer and bid for funding for their own heritage projects

The Partnership is now hard at work getting started on the programme and recruiting three staff.

Jon Boswell, Chief Executive at Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity and chairman of the GCLP, said: “We are thrilled to have gained this funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund to deliver our Landscape Partnership programme with our partners in the area. Even locally, the fascinating heritage of the Greensand Country is not well known.

“As a result of this funding, we will be able to preserve the distinctive character of much of this beautiful landscape, and provide a multitude of opportunities for local people and visitors to enjoy and learn about the landscape and contribute to its future conservation.”

Robyn Llewellyn, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund East of England, said: “From healthy heathlands and working woodlands to storytelling and geotrails, we’re delighted to support this project which will achieve a sustainable future for the Greensand landscape and reconnect people with the natural heritage on their doorstep.

“Alongside a diverse partnership of organisations, volunteers and communities will play an integral role in this exciting vision for Greensand Country, gaining the skills and experience needed to not only reverse its decline but ensure it continues to thrive beyond the lifespan of the project.”

If you would like to learn more or get involved see http://bedsrcc.org.uk/rural/greensand-country-landscape-partnership/

Project specifics - Leighton Buzzard area

LIVING HEATHS: The lowland heathland at Rushmere is being improved and expanded with improved signage and interpretation; dunding is available in this area for landowners, farmers and communities to create islands and corridors of heathland, acidic grassland and neutral grassland habitat so that the ecological networks across the landscape can be improved and make habitats more robust with respect to climate change and visitor impact WORKING WOODLANDS: Woodland owners will be offered courses and 1:1 support on how to bring their woodlands into positive management; funding will be offered for woodland owners to bring their woodlands into positive management.

HISTORIC PARKLANDS: There is a group of historic parklands in this area (towards Aspley Guise, Husborne Crawley and Ridgmont), where GCLP are working with the landowners to enhance their historic parklands maintaining a strong landscape character; GCLP will be creating a historic parkland walking trail in these parklands to engage people in the natural heritage and stories of the parklands.

COMMUNITY HERITAGE: GCLP will be creating a walking trail in the around Leighton Buzzard and Heath & Reach which enables people to explore the geology and geomorphology of the Greensand Country which will give people a better understanding of the exciting geological ridge that stretches across Bedfordshire and beyond and reveal the geological history of the landscape; GCLP will be offering funding so people can restore structures made of sandstone e.g. walls, wells, lynch gates, small barns etc.. with the appropriate heritage building skills; GCLP will be offering funding so that people can plan and deliver Community Heritage projects which explore the historic heritage of their place, or manage specific aspects of their heritage.

CELEBRATING THE GREENSAND COUNTRY: GCLP will be running a story telling project in this area, exploring the stories of the historic parklands around this western end of the Greensand Country. They will be looking for volunteers to research the stories and will then be telling the stories through folk music, storytelling and lots of other ways. GCLP will then archive these stories for the future (This project is about the past); GCLP will be capturing people’s emotional connection with the landscape today through photographs, art and writing. They will run workshops and competitions in this area of the Greensand Country to inspire people and will then celebrate this by running art shows at their festivals. GCLP will then archive this material so people in future generations can see what people felt about the landscape today. (This is about the present); GCLP will be running a Talks and Debates programme. They will take talks to local communities so that they can learn more about different aspects of this landscape and its heritage. We will inspire debate about the future of this landscape. (This is about the future); GCLP will be running a schools programme in the area; GCLP will run three festivals, one in 2018, one in 2019 and one in 2020. These festivals will result in events happening across the landscape and in the Leighton Buzzard/ Heath and Reach area.

REVEALING THE GREENSAND COUNTRY: GCLP are going to extend the Greensand Ridge walk and will take the start/ finish into the centre of Leighton Buzzard. There will be a gateway feature built to celebrate the start/ finish of the walk; the interpretation on the Greensand Ridge Walk will be improved; communities in villages that are just off the walk will be linked to the walk; the Greensand Country cycle route will be extended into the centre of Leighton Buzzard; there will be a gateway feature built to celebrate the start/ finish of the cycle route in the centre of Leighton Buzzard; the interpretation on the Greensand cycle route will be improved; there will be a new interpreted walking route down the Flit Valley; circular horse riding routes will be created in the area including at Heath and Reach.

HERITAGE SKILLS: People, both volunteers and professionals will be trained in the skills to look after this landscape for the long term. These will be skills to look after the natural environment and heritage building skills. People in this area can join in; young people in the area who are not in education, employment or training will be taught skills to look after this landscape up to level 1; 8 apprentices will be taken on and taught the professional skills to look after this environment for the future.

She’s too young to take part in an official half marathon charity challenge, so 10-year-old Leighton schoolgirl Amber Jones has organised one herself.

She and mum Emma will do a sponsored walk on Saturday, April 1, covering 13.1 miles from their home in Johnson Drive to The Lancer on Lake Street in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

And the keen young athlete – who belongs to Leighton Buzzard Athletics Club – has already raised £175 towards her £200 target.

“We may have to revise that figure,” Emma smiled.

Amber is doing the walk as a thank you to Macmillan, who supported her great aunt Elaine Luff, who has now had the all-clear from cancer; her late Great-grandmother; and the mum of a close friend who is currently being treated for the disease.

And the Leighton Middle School student is inviting everyone to get involved.

She said: “I’ll be walking with my Mum, but if anyone wants to join us for a mile or two they’ll be more than welcome.”

Emma said: “The route is pleasant and uncomplicated and I’ve tried to make sure it’s safe and secure.

“Amber is really excited about the challenge. She’s aware she’ll ache afterwards but is looking forward to the sense of achievement she’ll feel.”

The walk will also be quite an accomplishment for Emma, who recently lost 10 stone. She says: “My main aim was to be able to do things with the children and I’m quite a different person to the one I was two years ago. I wouldn’t have been able to do this then – now I go for everything.”

Emma and husband Paul also have a son, Dylan, who is 12.

> To sponsor Amber go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/AmberJones13miles and to join the mother and daughter team on their walk, visit http://gb.mapometer.com/walking/route_4477430.html

A voluntary patient transport group is scheduled to start on April 1 – but they’re still in desperate need of drivers.

A spokesperson for Leighton Buzzard Voluntary Patient Transport (LBVPT) said: “We urgently need more drivers who are willing to give up a few hours of their time every now and then to help other, less fortunate people.

“They can claim a mileage allowance, parking fees and out-of-pocket expenses.

“We provide transport to our three local hospitals for those who can’t get to them without assistance and who don’t qualify for NHS help.

“Travel to a hospital appointment can be particularly difficult for some elderly or vulnerable adults in our community, especially those who cannot afford a taxi, who find public transport difficult to use or who are unable to get lifts from friends or family.

“LBVPT is a charitable organisation that provides a safe, inexpensive and reliable means of transport for those in need to attend a hospital clinic appointment.”
The group does not take patients to the dentist, optician or for a doctor’s appointment.

They ask everyone who uses the service to give their driver a donation towards the cost of the journey to cover fuel and parking expenses.

The suggested donation for a round trip to both Milton Keynes and the Luton & Dunstable Hospital is £9.90, plus parking.

It may be possible to reclaim this amount from the NHS and instructions are given on the website.

LBVPT also needs administrators and call handlers.

> If you’d like to volunteer for a couple of hours to help your community, call 07873 497633 or visit www.lbvpt.co.uk

Fiori Musicali – who specialise in bringing beautiful classical music to stunning venues – will be appearing in the glorious 18th century Music Room a Stowe.

The baroque group presents a programme of Telemann and Vivaldi on Sunday February 12.

Dr Penelope Rapson, Fiori’s founder and director said: "We are looking forward to this concert enormously. We have enjoyed several performances in the splendid surroundings of Stowe House, courtesy of Stowe Arts, and it’s wonderful to be back at Stowe on Sunday.

"This time we’ll be celebrating the music of Georg Philip Telemann (1681-1767) with an evening of sparkling baroque music to mark the composer’s 250th . Telemann was the Lloyd Webber of his day- arguably one of the most successful composers of the late baroque, hugely prolific and immensely popular.”

Fiori's woodwind players will be bringing to life the world of this versatile musician, performing music for recorder, oboe, bassoon and harpsichord by Telemann and his contemporaries in the elegant surroundings of Stowe's 18th Century State Music Room.

On recorder is whizz kid Amanda Babington who dazzles by her sheer bravura as her fingers effortlessly speed over the notes in Vivaldi’s Sonata for recorder and bassoon. Her partner in crime in this fearsomely spectacular piece (which is as much a challenge to todays player’s as it was to Vivaldi’s performers 250 years ago!) is Sally Holman, daughter of the well known early music specialist Peter Holman. #

And to complete the line-up, ever-popular baroque oboist Gail Hennessy, whose mellow velvety tone has been admired from San Francisco to Japan.

Together with Fiori’s director Penelope Rapson on harpsichord these engaging musicians will be exploring the delights of music that entertained audiences in the mid 18th century.

Penelope added: “We’ll be performing vivid, exciting music by these great composers and bringing alive the very different world they were born into.”

Audiences for Fiori’s concert will be able to enjoy a reception before the concert in the Marble Saloon, overlooking the impressive vista across the grounds, and imbibing the 18-century atmosphere of Stowe in all its many dimensions –the splendid architecture, the impressive landscaping and, last but by no means least, the inspiring music of the time.

The concert starts at 7.30pm MK18 5EH – reception before the concert in association with Stowe Arts. And as ever the concert is directed and introduced by Penelope Rapson

Tickets cost between £15 and £20 with reception at a cost of £12. Book online at www.fiori-musicali.com or call the Box Office on 0333 666 3366.

Flitwick Town remain four points clear at the head of the Premier Division supported by Sportsform after they stretched their winning home ways to four games with a 5-4 victory over Kempston Rovers Development.

Will Scutt scored a brace and was joined on the scoresheet by Martin Byrne, Ritchie Bevan and Ian Buckingham to bring up the nap hand against Rovers replies via Sam Smith with a brace plus Patrick Asare and Franck Noah.

For second place AFC Oakley M&DH it was a 2-1 home victory over Ampthill Town Reserves, Ali Smith and Rob Heaney netting the vital goals against a lone Town reply from Cameron Edwin.

Whilst third place Caldecote had to settle for a share of the points when drawing 3-3 at fourth place Wilstead. Paul Jones with a brace plus Liam Fenton scored for the home side against Caldecote replies via Ossie Smith, Nicky Albone and Tom Wallace.

Following two straight defeats, Renhold United returned to winning ways with a 3-2 home victory over AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College. Wes Lewis, Ben Brown and an own goal did the damage against Town replies from Dan Green and Delroy Phillps.

Elsewhere, Cranfield United notched up their third home win on the bounce with a 2-1 victory over Shefford Town & Campton. Adam Hulks and Martin Holland scored for United against a lone Town reply from Ryan Lewis.

Whilst just down the road it was the same 2-1 scoreline that took Wootton Blue Cross to a home victory over Marston Shelton Rovers. Jack Downes and Rob Odell on the home scoresheet against a Rovers reply via Wes Burrows.

Over on The Green there was a 5-1 home win for Ickwell & Old Warden over bottom of the table Sandy. Ashley Boness and Sean Duignan both netted twice alongside a single strike from Zak Rowe to bring up the nap hand against a lone Matt Johnson reply.

Whilst Sharnbrook’s four game unbeaten home run was brought to an end by Stevington who beat them 3-0. Lawrence Bentham netting twice and Ben Walsh once.

Division One supported by Wests Citroen Bedford

Despite being held to a 2-2 draw at bottom of the table Old Bradwell United Reserves it was an increase up to 10 points at the head of Division One league table for Queens Park Crescents and a retention of their unbeaten away record.

Anish Khinda and Daniel Rasol were on their scoresheet against United replies via Joe Canavan and Charlie Wells.

Whilst now in second spot are Totternhoe Reserves who likewise had to settle for a 2-2 draw on the road at Henlow. Jonny Clarke with an opening half brace fired the Totts 2-0 ahead before a second period brace from Luke Hills squared matters up only to see leading goalscorer Paul Wright fail to complete the perfect comeback by having his 90th minute penalty saved.

Losing out on that second spot, albeit on goal difference are M&DH Clapham Sports who were beaten 5-3 at fourth place Crawley Green Reserves. Adam Marsh with a brace plus goals from Sam Woodham, Callum Beaney and one from the penalty spot by Robert Newman brought up the home nap hand against M& DH replies via Marko Toczic, Ryan Prior and Sam Maddix.

For Kempston Town & Bedford College Reserves it was win number five on the bounce when winning 6-1 at second from bottom of the table Elstow Abbey. Kegan Roberts with a brace was joined on the scoresheet by an own goal plus goals for Giovanni Moscaritoio, Jesse Sidhu and Bradley Temperley against the lone Abbey reply from the penalty spot via Dean Leyton.

The biggest score of the day went to Shefford Town & Campton Reserves who ran out 10-0 home winners over Meltis Albion. Chris Clark netted four times alongside braces for Josh Lummis and Sam Kelly plus single strikes from Simon Castle and Jordan Greenwood.

Whilst Cople & Bedford SA brought their four game losing home run to an end with a 3-1 victory over Westoning. Ollie Hughes netting twice and Dominic Andrews once against a lone reply from Thomas Cooksley.

Division Two

The game of the day in Division Two saw third place Riseley Sports take their unbeaten ways to eight games via a 3-3 home draw with league leaders Atletico Europa. Sam Harrison, Jack Healy and Mitchell Crook were on the home scoresheet against Europa replies via Tedan Jankovic twice and Paddy Aliman once.

Whilst it was also stalemate at Mill Lane in the clash between the bottom two sides. Hosts Potton Town led via Jordan Thomas before Rovers Craig Barnes squared matters up to ensure their hosts remain bottom.

Elsewhere for fourth place Cranfield United Reserves it was a 2-1 away defeat at Flitwick Town Reserves. David Lyons and Dave Keefe were on the Town scoresheet against a lone United reply via Ben Thompson.

Whilst fifth place Lea Sports PSG retained their unbeaten ways with a 3-1 home victory over Caldecote Reserves thanks to goals from Joe Hennem, Rhys Holding and a successful penalty from Ryan Darby. The Caldecote reply being an own goal.

Division Three

Marston Shelton Rovers Reserves find themselves just a point off the top of the table after netting a 5-0 home victory over league leaders Wilstead Reserves. Gary Russon with a brace plus strikes from Keiran Day, Ross Milton and Dean Clark brought up the nap hand.

However just a point behind them and having played two games less are now third place Bedford Albion who took their unbeaten ways up to seven games with a 8-0 home win over Sandy Albion. Paul Babbington with a hat-trick, and Jack Brown with a brace were joined on the scoresheet by Michael Michalski, Shane Canzano and Pasquale Grasso.

Also still very much in the title race are fifth place Caldecote A who sit just goal difference behind the Albion having played the same number of games after netting a 4-0 home win over Shefford Town & Campton A. Ricky Aris, Tony Norman, Neil Giles and Robert Salvaggio all finding the back of the net to do the damage. Whilst for White Eagles it was a likewise 4-0 home win over bottom of the table Wootton Village thanks to goals from Arkadusz Boruch, Mateusz Dybikowski, Vagile Grosv and Kazimiere Orzechowski.

Division Four

For league leaders CS Rovers it was an end to their 100% away record when they were held to a 3-3 draw at Harlington, Shaun Gentle-King hitting a home hat-trick against Rovers replies via Connor Darocha twice and Jamie Gray.

Whilst second place Clifton’s title hopes took a knock when they were beaten 5-1 at home by Henlow Reserves who now sit in third spot and are starting to look like title contenders themselves. James Campbell with a brace plus single strikes from Gareth Brown, James Davis and Robbie Bratchell brought up the winning nap hand against a lone home reply from George McMillan.

Elsewhere there was no joy for bottom of the table Lidlington United Sports who fell to their seventh consecutive defeat when beaten 5-2 at AFC Kempston Town & Bedford College A. Mark Allen with a hat-trick plus Daniel Mattin and Gavin Cheema netted for the Town against United replies from Ben Stubley and Tom Staples.

Jubilee Cup Group C

The scheduled dead rubber fixture between Sandy Reserves and Kempston Athletic was called off due to the unfit state of the hosts’ Bedford Road pitch.

Jubilee Cup Group D

Stevington were to end their series of group games on a high by winning 6-4 at Dinamo Flitwick. Jamie Endersby and Sam Nightingale with braces were joined on the scoresheet by Sam Cody and Regan Scott for the winners against home replies via Dale Goldie twice plus Alex Sommers and Rhys Hughes.

Jubilee Cup Group F

In drawing 3-3 at home with Renhold United Reserves it’s a place in the last 16 for Houghton Athletic and a place in the Watson Shield for Renhold United Reserves. Troy Walker with a brace plus Ali Mohaydeen marked the home scoresheet against United replies from Luke Marsh, JP Stribling and Andy Pyke.

Bucks County Council says it will consider taking up the ongoing saga of the crumbling A4146 Stoke Hammond Bypass with the original contractor who built it if problems persist.

The bypass was opened up to drivers in September 2007 but ever since the dual carriageway has been beset with large cracks and potholes.

This continues to be the case this year, despite a mild winter.

The road surface has undergone immediate repairs recently to keep the route safe for drivers and the council says it will complete wider-scale repairs once the weather gets warmer.

Motorists are also being advised of a partial closure of the bypass for essential repairs to be made to the safety fencing.

The council has confirmed there will be a partial closure from Monday, January 30, for two weeks, to allow the work to be carried out.

Councillor Mark Shaw, Buckingham County Council Transport Cabinet Member said: “Once we’re out of this current cold snap, we’ll be looking to do some wider-scale repairs, which will involve closing a lane.

“This will allow us to do a full assessment and determine how long the repairs will take.

“It’s the safest way to do the works, and in the end we’ll have a much better surface.”

In June 2015 the LBO ran a story about the £60 million dual carriageway being forensically analysed three times a week as rapidly forming defects appeared on the surface.

Councillor Shaw added the bypass was one of the main roads the county council now routinely inspected every month.

He said: “These inspections throw up a wide range of issues, which vary from road to road, depending on factors such as ground conditions, surface material and usage.

“These can manifest as large potholes, failed ironwork, or edges of roads falling away, and we usually undertake to attend to these by the end of the next working day to solve the problems.

“With Stoke Hammond bypass, our monthly inspections have found small potholes, which quickly become large potholes, in the surface of the slow lane, and we’re repairing these as quickly as possible, with a view to resurfacing when it’s warmer and the temperatures allow asphalt to be laid more effectively.

“Over time, if our inspections lead us to the conclusion that the road surface is performing poorly through design or original materials used, then of course we’d consider taking this up with the contractor.”

One motorist commented: “The bypass is great and has benefited a lot of people but the trouble is it can be very dangerous.

“The pot holes can be quite big, it is an accident waiting to happen with the amount of cyclists and motorcyclists that use the road.”

Facebook users commenting on the Leighton Buzzard Observer page have questioned whether Buckinghamshire County Council has considered taking action in relation to the original construction of the road by Alfred McAlpine.

Councillor David Bowater, chairman of Central Bedfordshire Council, posted: “Surely consulting engineers were appointed to oversee the construction. Their professional liability insurance should take a bit of a hammering!”

Andy Taylor said: “Need to seek compensation from the original civil engineers who signed off the project. This has been a mild winter.”

Leighton Buzzard Society added: “For a road not yet 10 years old, it is appalling and is more like an obstacle course as you avoid craters!”

The county council has also highlighted a list of works planned along the route in the next few weeks.

This includes pavement and drainage work between the Wing roundabout and the Newton Longville roundabout between February 6 and 17 which will involve a temporary lane closure on both sides of the road. The council says it will take advantage of the closed lanes to install some new lighting.

> The LBO attempted to contact Alfred McAlpine but could not get through to the company before our deadline.

Billington Park residents are being advised to apply for a reduction on their water bill after a story in the LBO prompted one man him to look at his house plans.

Andrew Lyman, of Gibson Drive, has lived on the Leighton estate for four years with his wife and two children. And after reading our recent story about a woman from Sandhills who had her water bill reduced from £40 to £2 a month he decided to look into where the surface water from his home goes.

Isabel Edgar Briancon had been paying a surface water drainage charge for the past six years, unaware that she did not need to pay it because the surface water drains into the man-made lake at Pratt’s Quarry.

Andrew looked at the plans for his house, which showed that all the surface water from his home drains into the pond behind Astral Park pavilion.

He said: “I think residents at Billington Park should look into the rebate from Anglian Water aswell.

“The surface water drains into the attenuation pond to the rear of Astral Park Pavilion, I believe the majority of residents on the estate are unaware of this and could be saving money on their bills.

“After speaking with friends on Sandhills who applied for a rebate from Anglian Water and reading the article, it got me wondering if our water drained into the pond, which is designed for collecting surface water.

“I looked at the plans and it shows that it did, I emailed Anglian Water and sent them the plans.

“I am waiting to hear back from them. I think they should be telling people if they are entitled to a rebate, not waiting for people to apply.”

Anglian Water say they have been reminding customers – through letters and their website – to contact them if they think they are entitled to a rebate.

A spokesperson for the company said: “Surface water drainage is a complicated network of pipes and has many different owners. In some areas Anglian Water is not responsible for any surface water pipes, but a surface water charge is applicable. This may be when surface water travels from homes through a council owned pipe and is then treated by Anglian Water.

“If a property is only connected to a soakaway, the owner is eligible for a surface water rebate on their water bill. If a property is built before 2000, the way to confirm it is connected to a soakway is by looking at the deeds to the property.

“Deeds are not accessible to Anglian Water and therefore we rely on our customers to contact us if they think they have a soakaway and are entitled to the rebate.

“Customers whose homes are not connected to the surface water drains are entitled to a reduction on their sewerage bill.

“Since a reduced charge for non-connected properties was introduced we have asked customers to let us know if their charge is incorrect. We’ve promoted this through customer letters and leaflets, our website and reminders on their bills, where we ask customers to contact us if they think they have a soakaway and are entitled to the rebate.”

A Bedfordshire school discriminated against two Asian brothers last year by calling police after the children were given plastic toy guns as presents.

Central Bedfordshire Council has admitted the school would not have called police if a white child had received a toy gun.

Teachers at the school – which has not been named – claimed they were following the government’s anti-terrorism ‘Prevent’ guidance.

The boys’ mother said: “To this day, I cannot fathom why a teacher who has known my family for years would suspect terrorist activities based upon a plastic toy gun.

“Our only distinguishing feature is the colour of our skin.”

The incident happened in March 2016 when the elder boy aged seven told his teacher that he and his five-year-old brother had received toy guns as presents from their parents.

Notes by teachers made it clear they understood the gifts were toy guns. But despite this, the headteacher contacted Beds Police.

Teachers isolated the boys for 90 minutes and denied their mother access to them until officers arrived. Police were led through a packed school event with the boys seen trailing behind.

Upon hearing the allegation, police dismissed it.

The boys’ mother said: “I was utterly humiliated by this experience but more importantly my sons were confused and terrified.”

The school claimed the older brother had shown signs of “changing behaviour”. This included false claims he had been speaking Arabic and that his father had taken him to a mosque.

It emerged neither boy speaks Arabic and they have never been to a mosque. Their father is a non-practising Muslim and their mother is a non-practising Hindu.

Following legal action by Liberty, Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC) admitted the school breached the boys’ Human Rights on three counts.

A CBC spokesman said: “We apologise for how the two boys were treated. We accept that they were discriminated against and have apologised to the family and agreed to pay compensation.

“Following this incident, all schools have been reminded of their safeguarding responsibilities and the importance of following council’s guidance.

“Schools are encouraged to deal with incidents at a local level, meaning that only the most serious are escalated.”

The boys’ mother added: “I’m relieved the Local Education Authority has admitted the school were racist, but the Prevent duty needs to go.”

In Bedfordshire, the Prevent strategy has previously drawn criticism from Luton Council of Mosques, who accused the scheme of breeding mistrust of Muslims and causing fear in the community.

Debaleena Dasgupta, Liberty legal officer and solicitor for the children, said: “There were absolutely no grounds to believe the children were at risk of radicalisation. They fell foul of the Prevent duty purely based on the colour of their skin.

“It’s encouraging that this LEA recognised the school would never have called the police if a white child had received a toy gun, and has committed to improving its Prevent processes.

“But while the Government continues to compel teachers to view pupils with suspicion, we will continue to see incidents like this. Schools should be places of learning which encourage children to speak openly, not silence them. Prevent isn’t working. Ministers must learn the lessons of this case and revoke the Prevent duty in schools and subject the wider strategy to a full and independent review. To do anything else is to condone ongoing discrimination in our classrooms.”

Serving the community can sometimes be a thankless task ... but it shouldn’t be one that comes with a barrage of abuse.

That’s the message from Soulbury Parish Council following a heated meeting on Monday, January 16, when parishioners criticised them for not objecting to a development of ten houses proposed opposite The Boot pub.

In the meeting, parishioners allegedly referred to their parish council as both “useless” and uncaring”.

This is despite the fact that not a single resident volunteered for a vacancy on the parish council last year and current members were elected unopposed.

Parish Cllr Alan Stevens said: “The council was again subjected to verbal abuse, with members of the public stating that we are not looking after the interests of the parish.

“The meeting got very heated and was not a good example of self control or adult behaviour.”

He added: “We were accused of not looking after the parish.

“We asked why people did not apply for the vacancy on the council and they said, ‘Look I’ve got a job’ and ‘It’s alright for you, you’re retired’.”

According to Cllr Stevens, there are in fact three members of the parish council who have full-time jobs.

In the development’s design and access statement, agent Brickhill Properties state: “The proposal is a well-designed scheme that promotes the use of a mix of dwellings built of appropriate materials, with attractive design styles and landscaping to help respect the character, appearance and setting of the village and heritage assets.”

Dozens of objections have came from the public, although official consultants have supported it subject to conditions. A decision will be reached by March 24.

Leighton Buzzard-based businesses are coming together for a training session on how to increase their customers through online marketing.

The initiative is for both budding and established companies to learn how to work towards greater success, but without the prohibitive cost.

The event is being organised by local Market Square cafe and clothes company Ollie Vees in tandem with social media expert Angela Drayson.

A spokesman for Ollie Vees said: “The session is aimed to show our local businesses how they can increase both awareness and enquiries through low cost methods online.

“Angela has proved this with her own business and has travelled the globe gaining insight and techniques ready to share with the local business community.”

Angela will share secrets of social media, how techniques are used and how you can apply them.

She will also show businesses how easy it is to engage with both domestic and commercial customers.

The one-off session on Thursday, February 23 between 6pm and 8pm, takes place at Ollie Vees, 33 Market Square, with coffee and cake upon arrival.

Tickets are £17.50 each through the booking hotline 07515 422009.

The event is aimed at both small and medium companies across the Leighton Buzzard area.

The hours are long and stress levels are high.

But Kit Wharton, ambulance driver and author of a new memoir, tells Nick Duerden that the job is where he belongs. Just don’t mention Mr Stinky…

It is early morning and Kit ­Wharton, an NHS ambulance driver ­recently off another 12-hour shift and sitting in his kitchen, is telling me about his work.

He has just written a book, Emergency Admissions, in which he recalls cases that amply demonstrate how the life of an ambulance crew can be a messy one – illness, road traffic accidents, a lot of blood, the occasional death.

Wharton was granted permission by his bosses to write the memoir on condition that all names (except his own) were changed, and that locations weren’t revealed.

The Andy McNab of the NHS

After we speak comes word that no photographs of the author can be printed, as if the NHS now considers him its own Andy McNab.

During our conversation, he is careful not to sound in any way critical of those who employ him.

“I’m a bit anxious about it all,” he confesses.

Wharton, a father of two, comes across in much the same way as emergency services workers are portrayed in television dramas: lugubrious and deadpan, full of gallows humour.

But the job isn’t always dramatic, he points out: “The most common call we get is from elderly people that have fallen over. We go to see them, pick them up, do some medical observations – then either take them to hospital or leave them at home.” The job remains a perennially tense one, however, because the spectre of tragedy is only ever a call away.

All in a day’s work His book is a series of diary-like snapshots of his daily work, and inevitably focuses on the calls that are dramatic: the fiftysomething woman who passed out after being whipped a little too enthusiastically at an S&M party; the homeless man, knocked down by a bus, whom he refers to as “Mr Stinky”; and the mentally ill man who thought it a good idea to swim the Channel before realising he wasn’t great in water. In Wharton’s merciless estimation, he was, “raving f***ing mad. Nuts. Bonkers. Cuckoo.”

The story of the elderly gentleman so heavily constipated he ended up vomiting his own faeces is one that lingers in the memory. “All in a day’s work,” he says, with what might just be a hint of pride.

Wharton is 51-years-old, and a former journalist. “But I was hopeless,” he says. Being part of an ambulance crew felt like a better fit. “To be honest, this is the only job where I’ve ever felt I really belonged.”

Hard drive: What it takes to work in the ambulance service

According to the College of Paramedics, entry into the profession has changed. Historically, it was achieved by working in various roles within a specific NHS ambulance service.

Prospective paramedics would start out in the non-emergency Patient Transport Service, before moving into accident and emergency work following qualification as an ambulance technician. Then, after acquiring some experience, they would sit entry exams and complete a training course to become a qualified paramedic.

However, with an increasing number of university courses now leading to the paramedic qualification, this is no longer the case. The recommended route to becoming a paramedic is the completion of a higher education diploma in paramedic science (or equivalent). To become an ambulance paramedic, you need a foundation degree, diploma of higher education (DipHE), or a degree in paramedic science or paramedic emergency care. You could start as a student paramedic or trainee technician for an ambulance service.

On average, earnings for ambulance paramedics are between £22,000 and £35,250 a year (according to gov.co.uk). Ambulance trusts dealt with an average of 16.1 emergency calls a minute (23,216 on average each day) in 2013-14. Emergency vehicles responded to 6.33 million calls in that time. Of these, 95.1 per cent (6.02 million) were responses to a 999 emergency call, and 4.9 per cent (309,260) were in response to a call to the 111 service. Nevertheless, his job is an increasingly stressful one given the financial crisis within the NHS.

Struggling to cope

Recent reports have suggested that A&E departments are continually struggling to cope with demand, and are now so full that they either turn ambulances away or make them wait outside, wasting more than 500,000 cumulative hours in a queue.

The sick sometimes die because they aren’t seen in time, but Wharton, mindful of sounding a critical note, attempts to paint a brighter picture.

“Most people are surprised we arrive at them so quickly,” he says, before conceding, “though, it’s true, I’m not sure we’re always hitting our targets.”

The reason for this, he suggests, is us, the public: “Calls to 999 are increasing year on year, and these days many people will call an ambulance for the wrong reasons.” In praise of the no-fuss generation In his book, he points out that the wartime generation – those people, he points out, “who defeated Hitler” – never complained because they didn’t want to make a fuss. That generation is dying out, “to be replaced by today’s me-generation – products of the welfare state from cradle to grave, who call an ambulance at the drop of a hat because they’ve scratched their finger opening their dole cheque.”

He sounds angry, I suggest to him. “Not angry, just… exasperated.” Little wonder the tone he strikes is so battle-weary. The average working day for ambulance crew is 12 hours, though shorter shifts are available.

A meaningful job

“People do quit out of stress, I suppose,” he concedes, “but I find the job stimulating, and it feels meaningful.” I ask him how he unwinds. “I murder children,” he jokes.

The biggest impact the job has had on him is in how he views the ageing process. “Doing this, you realise that a lot of unpleasant things will happen to you as you get older. The body starts breaking down. It no longer does what you want it to do.”

Wharton says he was recently called to the house of a man dying of cancer. “His friend wanted us to take him to hospital because he had become dehydrated and confused. His system was failing. Extending life isn’t always the answer “We ended up consulting with a doctor, and the patient himself during a lucid moment, and we all agreed that it would be best to leave him where he was, at home – where he could die in peace, and not in a hospital ward.”

He says that our approach to treating people now is to throw drugs at them in the hope of extending their life – but that extending life isn’t always the answer. “A lot of elderly patients say the same thing to us: don’t get old. Just don’t get old.” He falls quiet now, gallows humour conspicuous by its absence.

‘Emergency Admissions’ by Kit Wharton (4th Estate, £9.99) is out now

Matt Adcock reviews The Lego Batman Movie (U)

“I have seen you go through similar phases in 2016 and 2012 and 2008 and 2005 and 1997 and 1995 and 1992 and 1989 and that weird one in 1966...”

Everything is super awesome in this Bat-fun spin-off from the superb Lego Movie. Batman in his loveable Lego guise (gruffly voiced by Will Arnet) rises to the call when Gotham is threatened by The Joker (Zach Galifianakis) and possibly the most terrifying all-star group of baddies and monsters ever assembled. But this time it’s possible that Batman – who always works alone - will need accept the idea of getting backup and not from his usual Justice League pals.

Also on Batman / Bruce Wayne’s mind is having to deal with becoming the adoptive father to Dick Grayson / Robin (Michael Cera), thinking through his relationship with his mentor Alfred (Ralph Fiennes) and working out his possible romantic feelings for new Gotham Commissioner Barbara Gordon (Rosario Dawson). And feelings are Batman’s one weakness…

The Lego Batman Movie is a hyperactive blast of feel-good superhero adventure which is totally meta and packed with a ton of quick fire Easter egg cultural references that will have anyone with even a passing interest in super-em-up films grinning from start to finish. Whenever the action lulls there are brilliant cameos from other movies and TV including King Kong, Voldemort, Sauron and even the Daleks (who the narrator tells US audiences to ask their ‘nerdy friends’ if they don’t recognise them).

This might just be the most merchandisable film ever too – as you can pretty much buy every single vehicle, character and setting in all their Lego glory and play the virtual incarnation on your PlayStation too.

The Lego Batman Movie is exactly what we need to put 2017 on track – providing a brilliantly irreverent comedy that feels like a kind of Deadpool junior (the opening titles themselves are some of the best ever). Bat fans everywhere are well served with classic characters, Batsuits and pop culture references but newcomers and for those too young to have witnessed The Dark Knight on the big screen this is likely to be an addictive gateway drug.

A Bat-blast of fantastically fun big screen super action – The Lego Batman Movie is a triumph and hopefully a wake up call for those making the live action batflicks. Don’t deny yourself this undiluted endorphin rush, everything is awesome (again).