A father of two has made it to the semi finals of the Carpet Fitter Of The Year competition.

John Wright, 42, of Richmond Road, has been a carpet fitter for 26 years and now runs his own flooring business with his partner Tracey Cutts.

The pair run Aspect Design Flooring on the High Street in Leighton Buzzard.

The competition is organised by the National Institute of Carpet and Floorlayers and John is hoping to reach the final at the Flooring Show in Harrogate in September.

He said: “It is nerve-wracking but exciting as well. It will be great to progress through to the final.

“We had to do a written exam and submit a portfolio of our work, it was done on a points system and each of your answers was given points.

“Hundreds of people entered this competition so it is quite a big thing to get this far.

“It is quite an achievement. I will be competing on the 17th May to see if I make it to the final.”

The family of a woman who died in a crash in Ivinghoe on Sunday have paid tribute to their ‘darling’ loved one.

Ali Mcguigan, 19 who is mother to a three-year-old son, was the passenger in a VW Golf when it was involved in a crash with a Mercedes Citan van on the B448.

Today here devastated family issued a tribute statement via the Thames Valley Police media team.

It read: “We are utterly heartbroken at the loss of our beautiful darling daughter and step daughter Ali who tragically passed away in a car collision on Sunday. She was a loving mummy to a gorgeous little boy who she loved so dearly, and she was a sister to four brothers and one sister.

“Ali was an amazing daughter to us she loved her siblings so much. She was one hell of a good mum to her beautiful son Harvey-Lee. I keep asking why our daughter and my best friend got taken from us.

“Ali was such a lively, funny girl and so caring to others. She loved her music including dancing round to Ed Sheeran with her son, her younger brother and little sister.

“Ali was a granddaughter, niece, and cousin. Ali had a huge heart and by God she is loved so very much by us all.

“It’s hard to tell a three-year-old child that mummy has gone to the stars because they needed a new beautiful shining one to brighten all the others like she brightened our days.

“She didn’t deserve to be taken the way she did, she didn’t deserve to be taken at all. They say you never expect it to be you to lose someone you love so much, and I wouldn’t wish this on any parent that has to say goodnight god bless to their precious child.

“We will get you justice my darling girl, many hearts are broken but your name will never be unspoken.

“We will tell your darling son of how wonderful his mummy was and how much you love him.

“You always made us laugh and smile.

“These are memories we will have of you forever, but I would do anything to have you here, and this to be a horrible dream.

“Ali we will love you always, sleep tight my darling xxx”

Ali’s mum Kay Leach has launched a crowdfunding appeal to raise £3,500 to give her daughter, from Milton Keynes “the best send off.”

In a poignant statement on JustGiving, she described Ali as a beautiful daughter and an amazing mum to three-year-old Harvey-Lee.

“Ali had a huge heart, and by God, she is loved so much by us all,” she wrote.

Police have arrested a 22-year-old man on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving while unfit through drink or drugs.

Investigating officer Sgt Mark Ashby, of the Roads Policing department based at Amersham police station said: “I would like to speak to anyone who may have seen a blue VW Golf driving from the direction of Bletchley and the Stoke Hammond by-pass towards Ivinghoe prior to the collision.

If you have any information you can contact police on 111 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A shy Leighton Middle School pupil who isn’t much of a sprinter has done a deal with her mum – she’s been allowed to skip running in school competitions as long as she swims the required 600m instead.

And 10-year-old Amelie Muir decided to use the opportunity to raise money for a charity close to her heart - Brain Tumour Research.

Proud mum Natalie Dixon said: “She’s been swimming since she was two but for many years had a love-hate relationship with the water. Then she started lessons at Energie Liscombe Park and the smaller class sizes turned it around for her. This year she joined the Crusaders swim squad and has come on in leaps and bounds.

“She’s aiming to do the 1km Big Swim on Sunday May 21 and would love some support while she does the 55.5 laps.

“Amelie really does suffer with shyness and sometimes has trouble showing what she’s good at so we’re really delighted that she’s taken up this challenge.”

Amelie is nicknamed the ‘little barracuda’ and on her justgiving page she says: “Nowhere do I feel as at home as I do in the water and I am so pumped up to swim like a fish – the barracuda my mum knows I am.

“I really want to raise money for this good cause. I’ve never done anything like this before but training has gone well and I know I can do it because I’m good at swimming – one day I might even swim the Channel like my favourite author David Walliams!”

> Visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Barracudaamelie

A Dunstable-based company behind 99.5million nuisance calls has been fined a record £400,000 by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

Keurboom Communications Ltd has been issued the ICO’s highest ever nuisance calls fine after more than 1,000 people complained about recorded – also known as automated – calls.

The calls, made over an 18 month period, related to a wide range of subjects including road traffic accident claims and PPI compensation. Some people received repeat calls, sometimes on the same day and during unsociable hours. The company also hid its identity, making it harder for people to complain.

Companies can only make automated marketing calls to people if they have their specific consent. Keurboom did not have consent so was in breach of the law.

Steve Eckerlsey, Head of Enforcement at the ICO said: “Keurboom showed scant regard for the rules, causing upset and distress to people unfortunate enough to be on the receiving end of one its 100million calls.

“The unprecedented scale of its campaign and Keurboom’s failure to co-operate with our investigation has resulted in the largest fine issued by the Information Commissioner for nuisance calls.”

Mr Eckersley said: “These calls have now stopped - as has Keurboom - but our work has not. We’ll continue to track down companies that blight people’s lives with nuisance calls, texts and emails.”

During the investigation, the ICO issued seven information notices ordering the company, which is registered in Dunstable, to provide information to the regulator. When it failed to comply, Keurboom Communications Ltd and its director, Gregory Rudd, were prosecuted and fined at Luton Magistrates’ Court in April 2016.

Following the ICO’s investigation, Keurboom Communications Ltd has been placed in voluntary liquidation. The ICO is committed to recovering the fine by working with the liquidator and insolvency practitioners.

The ICO’s powers will be further strengthened when the government introduces a new law allowing it to fine the company directors behind nuisance call firms. Making directors responsible will stop them avoiding fines by putting their company into liquidation.

In 2016/17, the ICO had its busiest year for nuisance calls issuing 23 companies a total of £1.923 million for nuisance marketing.

The previous record nuisance call fine was in February 2016, when the ICO fined Prodial, a lead generation company, £350,000 for making 46 million nuisance calls.

In September 2016, the ICO fined TalkTalk £400,000 under the Data Protection Act for failing to prevent an attack on its systems.

Simon Lee is senior lecturer in politics at University of Hull.

In UK general elections, England matters. It accounts for 82% or 533 out of 650 constituencies in the national parliament. At the 2015 general election, 318 (or 96%) of the Conservatives’ 330 seats were won in England, as were nearly 93% of the their votes.

Of Labour’s 100 most vulnerable seats, 86 are in England. For the Conservatives, 81 of the top 100 most vulnerable are also constituencies in England.

If Prime Minister Theresa May is to achieve a much increased majority at Westminster in 2017, it will be in England that her electoral fate will be predominantly determined. A key question is how many of the 3.6m voters who backed UKIP in 2015.

What’s more, important issues such as the NHS, education, higher education and housing are devolved, so this election will feature many England-only policies.

The cuts that need to be made to the national funding formula for schools, for example, apply only to schools in England. It’s only the NHS in England that needs to address a forecast £30 billion funding gap by 2020-21. And it’s also only the NHS in England that has been described as facing a “humanitarian crisis” by the Red Cross.

Simple electoral arithmetic and political logic therefore suggests that the politics of England should feature front and centre in the 2017 general election campaign in England.

A hole in the political map

Paradoxically, not one of the major UK political parties has yet announced plans to produce a dedicated national manifesto for England. They are, as usual, producing UK plans, and the two parties always produce manifestos for the much smaller constituencies of Wales and Scotland but have not mentioned England.

The explanation for this is simple but goes to the heart of why the British power elite has become so detached from the electorate in England.

Despite their manifold differences over Brexit, the one thing which has continued to unite the leaderships of the UK’s three major political parties is their overt British nationalism. They share the conviction that political narratives of national renewal must mean British renewal, delivered via the institutions of the centralised British state.

Most recently, this has been manifested in May’s Plan for Britain. This policy purports to be aimed at building a “stronger, fairer” country, even though devolution to the administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland means that it can only really be a “Plan for England”.

May, Jeremy Corbyn, Tim Farron and others therefore have been observing one of the unwritten laws of British nationalism. This states that no party shall publish a manifesto for England during a UK general election campaign, because it might challenge the authority of the British state. It might jeopardise Westminster’s capacity to continue to govern England in the centralised, top-down fashion to which the British party political power elite have become accustomed.

Only once has this unwritten law been challenged. During the 2015 general election campaign, David Cameron and William Hague launched the Conservative Party’s first ever English manifesto. It was the first such manifesto by any major political party.

However, even then Cameron began his launch speech on the defensive, stating: “Let me be clear: we do not support English nationalists … we do not want an English parliament … we are the Conservative and Unionist Party through and through and through.”

Fearing nationalism

Cameron was articulating one of the enduring characteristics of the British power elite, from Tony Blair to May. Any demand for an English parliament or devolution to England amounts to English nationalism.

However, there is nothing intrinsically nationalistic about the desire to enhance either the process of English governance or the creation of a democratic, institutional civic English national identity to better reflect the increasingly plural and multicultural population of England.

For the British party political power elite, the danger of opening up an English political narrative is that the English electorate might begin to look a bit more closely at the funding formula that sustains the British union. They might ask why identifiable public spending in England, at £8,638 a person in 2014-15, is 14.6% lower than in Wales (£9,904). They might wonder why it’s as much as 20.1% lower than in Scotland (£10,374) and 28.6% lower than in Northern Ireland (£11,106).

Voters in England might also question why mayoral elections are being held in six combined authorities across the country. This despite the fact that more than two-thirds of mayoral referendums and no fewer than nine out of ten cities, have voted to reject an elected mayoral system of governance. No voter in England has sanctioned these decisions in a referendum.

In the 1975 European Community referendum, England voted 68.7% in favour of staying in the European Community. It was the most europhilic of the nations of the UK. By June 2016, England had become the most eurosceptic of the nations. It voted 53.3% to leave the European Union and was decisive in determining the referendum’s outcome.

One key lesson for the British power elite is clear: ignore the national politics of England at your peril.

This article originally appeared on theconversation.com

It’s a proud day for South Bedfordshire as the new A5-M1 link road and new M1 junction 11A opened to traffic this morning, the news even getting a special mention on the BBC Radio 2 Chris Evans Breakfast Show.

The 2.8 mile dual carriageway, which was open by 6am, has become part of the A5, while the the new M1 junction 11A, which connects the new road and the new Woodside Link road to the M1, also opened at the same time.

Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for South West Bedfordshire, Andrew Selous, said: “This is a fantastic day for us locally. We have needed this road for so long. It was talked about before the Second World War. When Markyate was bypassed in 1959, the Chairman of Hertfordshire County Council said then, ‘I am sure that Dunstable’s Bypass won’t be far behind”!

“This road will relieve congestion in Dunstable and Houghton Regis as well as villages like Totternhoe and Kensworth.

“It will also greatly speed up journey times from Leighton Buzzard to the M1. The air quality in Dunstable and Houghton Regis will also be greatly improved from the reduction in HGV traffic through both towns”.

BBC Radio 2’s The Chris Evans Breakfast Show also joined in the celebrations, as Chris dedicated his show to “the good people of Dunstable”.

Speaking live on air shortly after 7am this morning, Chris told his listeners: “The good people of Dunstable this morning are benefitting from the opening of a brand new junction on the M1, a brand new one, junction 11A, linking the M1 to the A5...a brand new 2.8 miles of gorgeous, shiny, glistening dual carriageway of tarmac!”

The team also received a message from a listener called ‘Chris’ who contacted the BBC with the message: “Just heard the news about the new junction in Dunstable.

“I drive past it every day to and from work and this is the best news of the year!”

The scheme includes two other new junctions and six new bridges.

The lane restrictions on the M1 which were in place during the construction of the new road will be restored to full capacity.

The national speed limit will apply on the new, dualled section of the A5.

Drivers are asked to take extra care as the road layout has changed with the introduction of new slip roads and the new junction. The new road replaces a section of the A5 through Dunstable which is being handed over to Central Bedfordshire Council and Hertfordshire County Council.

Some minor work including the completion of new sign installation will need to take place after the new road is opened and the old section handed over to the council.

Single lanes will be closed for this to be done.

What are your thoughts about the A5-M1 link? Email: editorial@lutonnews.co.uk

For the information about the A5-M1 Link scheme, visit: http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/road-projects/A5-M1-Link-Dunstable-Northern-Bypass

From the moment we pulled into the North Devon hotel's reception area and were greeted by jovial doorman Neil Tynan, suitably attired in a top hat and smart tailed coat, we were made to feel at home.

"Welcome to the Saunton Sands Hotel," he beamed while beckoning a porter to remove our luggage from the car, adding: "We hope to make your stay with us an enjoyable one".

It was just the start we needed on a long weekend break, especially after a four hour drive from Bedford to the village of Saunton which is a few miles east of Barnstaple, North Devon's largest town.

Saunton Sands is the flagship of the family-owned Brend Hotel Group which features 11 top quality West Country properties and was voted the proud winner of the 2015 Hotel Group of the Year at the AA Hospitality Awards.

The four-star art deco-styled Saunton Sands Hotel has the enviable position of being perched high on the hillside overlooking more than three miles of a pristine sandy beach while it sits alongside the unique 1,500-acre World UNESCO-designated Biosphere Reserve site of Braunton Burrows.

Built in the 1930s by the Christie family of Glyndebourne Opera fame – they also own Tapeley Park, a large family estate at nearby Instow – during the Second World War the hotel was used as a military school before reverting back to a top class establishment.

Purchased by the Brend family in December 1977, Saunton Sands has undergone many changes but has thankfully retained its many glamourous art deco features… including those wonderful large mirrors in the AA Rosette Award winning dining room and the gold coloured staircases.

Settling into room 118 – let's forget that annoying 'one, one, eight' directory of enquires television advert! – our sea view room on the ground floor had absolutely stunning views from its balcony.

Beautifully appointed, our deluxe accommodation had all the accoutrements you would expect from a top class establishment – a free mini bar, daily newspaper and WiFi, a safe and large flat screen television plus coffee/tea making facilities together with a comfortable giant-sized bed and large en suite with a separate bath and shower cubicle.

With its heated indoor and outdoor swimming pools and an aromatic sauna, the 80-plus room hotel (there are also 12 separate apartments) has plenty of other facilities for those with a sporting bent – a gym, snooker room, squash and tennis courts and table tennis plus a putting green – while right next door is Saunton Golf Club, reputed to be one of the finest in the South of England and one which offers generous discounts to hotel guests.

There is smart cocktail lounge and terrace bar along with a gift shop, hairdressing and beauty treatment salon, while the hotel regularly caters for weddings in its conference and banqueting suites.

The 160 or so hotel staff all seemed very polite indeed and couldn't do enough for you. They were immediately to hand every time you required a drink or snack and were all very smartly turned out in their coordinated black uniforms.

Offering a superb buffet breakfast and an extensive dinner menu – you needed to reserve evening dining with the restaurant manager – guests in deluxe rooms are always seated by the windows so that they can enjoy uninterrupted views of the beach and Braunton Burrows.

The hotel can also provide picnic lunches, while according to a fellow guest, they have an impressive Sunday lunch menu as well as some scrumptious afternoon teas!

Naturally there is a smart dress code in the dining room as befits a quality establishment but the hotel is also a magnet for families with younger children thanks to the closeness of that stunning beach and those wonderful sand dunes in which you can always find plenty of space.

We also enjoyed a delicious complimentary Devon cream tea on the terrace overlooking the beach while the Sands on the Beach restaurant, located at the foot of a winding wooden staircase, is open throughout the day and serves steaks, burgers and locally caught seafood until late in the evening.

The beach itself is gently shelving so is perfect for youngsters while surfers, longboarders and paddleboarding abound as the consistency of the waves brings them to the area in their droves.

The hotel, which is located high above the northern end of the beach, can also arrange surfing tuition with Sarah Whiley, herself an expert wave rider and the hotel's resident coach, while wetsuit hire is available for all shapes and sizes.

Other surfing hot spots are nearby Croyde Bay and Woolacombe which are just round the headland while beyond Saunton beach and across the wide expanse of the River Taw estuary you can just make out Hartland Point several miles away.

As part of the South West Coastal Path at the southern end of the beach some three miles distant – that's if you have walked alongside Braunton Burrows – you come to Crow Point which lies at the mouth of the Taw estuary. Incidentally the beach itself has a chequered past for it has been used for location shots on several major films while it has also provided the backdrop for a succession of music videos for the likes of Robbie Williams, Olly Murs and Pink Floyd.

However it is its military use which is far more exciting as the Royal Air Force have regularly practiced beach landings on Saunton Sands using their massive Lockheed C-130 Hercules transporter aircraft in preparation for action in places like Iraq and Afghanistan.

Braunton Burrows sand dunes, besides being an official AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), are also used regularly for military troop training. It is said that there are more than 500 species of flora, fauna and wildlife living in the dunes and in the adjacent Braunton Great Fields area which is a well known archeological site.

As we only had two full days in which to explore the area, we decided to walk from Braunton village to Barnstaple along the six-mile traffic-free Tarka Trail… although in total it actually runs for around 30!

Named after author Henry Williamson's classic fictional story about Tarka the Otter, the trail starts from Braunton's Caen Street car park and follows what is a now a disused railway embankment which was closed by Dr Richard Beeching some 50-plus year ago.

The trail is also part of the National Cycle Network (it's No.27) and the coastal path while it follows the Taw estuary all the away into Barnstaple town centre. However there are stops for refreshments along the way at places like the Waterside Cafe after 2.5 miles and the castle-like Braunton Inn a few hundred yards further on. Apparently you can download an audio guide for the walk from northdevonbiosphere.org.uk

Close to the start of the walk you could also hire bikes from Otter Cycle Hire (tel: 01271 813339) but we chose to stretch our legs instead and on reaching Barnstaple, having viewed plenty of wildlife including oyster catchers and various waders out on the mudflats, we visited the town's famed indoor Pannier Market which is largely unchanged since it was built around 150 years ago and is situated along the pedestrianised High Street.

On our way to the bus station to catch the No.21 back to Braunton, we had chance to pop into Saunton Sands' sister hotel, The Royal & Fortescue. It's one of four Brend Group hotels in the town where the family once owned a butcher's shop before building up their hotel portfolio.

Had we had time, then a visit to the Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon might have been in order. It's located in a large Victoria building at the end of Long Bridge and it's free… so worth thinking about if the weather changes for the worst.

There are certainly plenty of things to do come rain or shine in this part of North Devon as Ilfracombe is only a short car ride away from Saunton Sands. There you can visit the aquarium or book a trip out to Lundy Island to see the nesting puffins aboard the 267-seat passenger ship, MS Oldenburg. It sails four times a week at 10am on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from Ilfracombe and on Saturdays from Bideford – enquiries 01271 863636 or info@lundyisland.co.uk

From Ilfracombe you can also enjoy a Sea Safari – www.ilfracombeseasafari.co.uk - tel: 07827 679189 – with trips of varying length along the coast aboard a fast rubber boat with twin outboard engines. If you're lucky you might see dolphins, seals and all species of seabird nesting on the cliff ledges.

Alternatively there are several fishing boat trips on which you can catch mackerel and dog fish. They all go from the harbour while if sailing or fishing is not your thing, then visiting pretty villages such as Clovelly, Lynton and Lynmouth or the charming Watersmeet maybe an alternative as might be a visit to the Royal Horticultural Society's Rosemoor Gardens close to Great Torrington – see rhs.org.uk/rosemoor

As for the children, then meeting more than 600 animals at Exmoor Zoo in Barnstaple or going to The Big Sheep theme park in Bideford is a possibility as is a shopping trip to the Atlantic Village located along the Clovelly Road in Bideford.

For horse riding and trekking enthusiasts, then Roy's Riding Stables at Croyde Bay is a must (call 01271 890898) while that area is also famous for jumping into the sea off the rocks – it's called 'Coasteering' – and is really only for adrenalin junkies and not the feint-hearted!

For our final day, we chose to visit nearby Arlington Court, once the permanent residence of the Chichester family and now home to the National Trust's Carriage Museum. The museum itself is crammed with horse dawn carriages once owned by various lords and ladies and it also includes the impressive golden House of Commons-owned Speaker's State Coach and Queen Victoria's pony phaeton.

In the impressive neoclassical-style Regency house there are collections of model ships, pewter tankards and ornaments but especially seashells, although visiting children will probably be more excited about spying the bat camera or hunting for geocaches in the extensive grounds.

On the upper floor of the house is an exhibition dedicated to Sir Francis Chichester, the famed sailor who exactly 50 years ago in 1967 single-handedly circumnavigated the globe in his yacht Gypsy Moth IV. Sir Francis was actually from a different branch of the family, the son of the Rev Charles Chichester, the vicar of the nearby village of Shirwell.

However the last family member to live at Arlington Court was Rosalie Chichester who was responsible for much of the huge eclectic collections. She never married and decided to leave the mansion and its 3,500 acres of gardens and parkland to the National Trust before she passed away in 1949.

Arlington Court also has a small Victorian kitchen and tearooms serving dishes made from fruit and vegetables grown in its impressive walled kitchen garden while the flower gardens are quite stunning. There are acres of lawns and flowering meadows but it is the many walks and trails that meander through the deer-inhabited woodland that are so impressive, some passing into deep picturesque valleys and alongside babbling streams.

For more details about Arlington Court, call 01271 850296 or visit nationaltrust.org.uk/arlington-court

TRAVEL FACTS

** Many thanks to Saunton Sands Hotel's executive manager Peter Brend and his charming wife Kelly and to Sue Bradbury of SBPR Ltd for arranging our three night stay.

The Saunton Sands Hotel, Saunton, Nr Braunton, North Devon EX33 1LQ – Tel: 01271 890212 – www.sauntonsands.com and reservations@sauntonsands.com

The Imperial Hotel, Taw Vale Parade, Barnstaple, Devon EX32 8BN – Tel: 01271 345861 – www.brend-imperial.co.uk and reservations@brend-imperial.co.uk

Victoria Hotel, The Esplanade, Sidmouth, Devon EX10 8RY – Tel: 01395 512651 – www.victoriahotel.co.uk and reservations@victoriahotel.co.uk

The Belmont Hotel, The Esplanade, Sidmouth, Devon EX10 8RX – Tel: 01395 512555 – www.belmont-hotel.co.uk and reservations@belmont-hotel.co.uk

The Barnstaple Hotel, Braunton Road, Barnstaple, Devon EX31 1LE – 01271 376221 – www.barnstaplehotel.co.uk and reservations@barnstaplehotel.co.uk

The Park Hotel, Taw Vale, Barnstaple, Devon EX32 9AE – Tel: 01271 372166 – www.parkhotel.co.uk and reservations@parkhotel.co.uk

Royal & Fortescue Hotel, Boutport Street, Barnstaple, Devon EX31 1HG – Tel: 01271 342289 – www.royalfortescue.co.uk and reservations@royalfortescue.co.uk

The Royal Hotel, Barnstaple Street, Bideford, Devon EX39 4AE – Tel: 01237 472005 – www.royalbideford.co.ukandreservations@royalbideford.co.uk

The Devon Hotel, Matford, Exeter, Devon EX2 8XU – Tel: 01392 259268 – www.devonhotel.co.uk and reservations@devonhotel.co.uk

The Carlyon Bay Hotel, Sea Road, St Austell, Cornwall PL25 3RD – Tel: 01726 812304 – www.carlyonbay.com and reservations@carlyonbar.com

The Royal Dutchy Hotel, Cliff Road, Falmouth, Cornwall TR11 4NX – Tel: 01326 313042 – www.royaldutchy.com and reservations@royaldutchy.com

The Brend Group's Contemporary Restaurants

Sands on the Beach, Saunton Sands Hotel, Saunton Beach, Devon EX33 1LQ – 01271 891288.

Carriages Bar & Brasserie, The Devon Hotel, Matford, Exeter, Devon EX2 8XU – Tel: 01392 259268.

62 The Bank Cafe Bar and Bistro, Boutport Street, Barnstaple, Devon EX31 1HG – Tel: 01271 324446.

Florentinos Italian, The Royal & Fortescue Hotel, Boutport Street, Barnstaple, Devon EX31 1HG – Tel: 01271 3244446.

A hustings event has been arranged in Leighton Buzzard on Tuesday, May 23, featuring the candidates for the South West Beds constituency.

The evening, organised by Leighton Linslade Churches Together, will get underway at Cedars Upper School inMentmore Road, Linslade at 7.30pm and will last for up to two hours.

You will get the chance to hear from the local candidates and also put questions to them.

In the run-up to the event here’s some more detail from the four candidates who will be hoping to be elected on June 8.

> The Liberal Democrats have announced Daniel Norton as their candidate.

He said: “This election is a huge opportunity for voters in Bedfordshire to change the direction of our country and ensure Britain has a decent opposition.

“People in Bedfordshire may have voted to leave the EU, but many did not vote for the extreme form of Brexit that Theresa May has imposed on us after being backed by Labour.

“For all those who want to protect our local economy by staying in the Single Market and ensure the people have the final say over what comes next, this is your chance.

“The Liberal Democrats are the real opposition to the Conservative Brexit Government and the only party fighting for a Britain that is open, tolerant and united.”

> Daniel Scott has been selected as Labour’s candidate.

Daniel lives locally in Leighton Buzzard with his wife and two young children.

He is self-employed and runs a small business in Milton Keynes.

He has served as a school governor and is currently treasurer of the local triathlon club.

Speaking after the selection, Daniel said: “Leighton Buzzard is my home and I am proud to be standing again as Labour’s candidate in this general election.

“This Tory government has overseen the biggest cuts to our public services in a generation. The NHS and social care is in crisis, our schools are struggling under the weight of the budget cuts and cuts to police budgets are putting our safety at risk.

“People here in South West Bedfordshire need a local representative that will put them first.

“I will work tirelessly between now and June to let local people know that this general election will be a choice between a Labour Party that will stand up for the people of South West Beds or a Conservative Party that only looks after the privileged few.”

> Andrew Selous, who has served as the area’s MP since 2001, has been selected as the candidate for the Conservatives.

He said: “Our area has waited for decades for the A5-M1 link road which has just opened.

“Since construction started 50 new business deals in the area have been signed creating nearly 2,500 new jobs.

“The investment already generated or planned so far is worth an estimated £2 bn.

“The Engineering and Construction skills centre opening in Leighton Buzzard will generate more high skilled, well paid jobs.

“The number of unemployed claimants in SW Beds has fallen from 2,158 in May 2010 to 605 in March 2017, a fall of over 70%. In recent years the United Kingdom has created more jobs than the whole of the rest of the European Union put together !

“None of that happened by accident; it was the result of hard decisions taken to help businesses start and expand.

“Mere pledges to spend more money are worthless if not backed by the policies to create the wealth we need to fight poverty and fund our schools, police and NHS properly.”

> Morvern Rennie is the Green Party candidate.

Morvern is 28 and lives in Bedfordshire with her husband and their two young children.

Brought up in rural Aberdeenshire she graduated with a 2:1 in Law from Strathclyde University in 2010.

She worked in the hospitality and events industry until the birth of her first child in 2013. She has volunteered extensively for the Scottish Green Party since 2014.

She said: “A chaotic Brexit being led by inexperienced negotiators is a threat to the stability of the British economy. Greens will steady the ship and support Bedfordshire businesses by working to stay in the single market, defending free movement of workers and trusting the people of Britain to decide on the final deal we are offered by the EU.

“We will help Bedfordshire’s hard working families by campaigning for more affordable housing, reducing commuting costs by bringing the railways back into public ownership and fighting for a compassionate welfare system which makes work pay.

“We will be a strong voice for education in Bedfordshire ensuring everyone has the chance to succeed in life by reducing class sizes, scrapping tuition fees, bringing back bursaries for nurses and ensuring our universities continue to be world leaders by matching EU funding.”

CBeebies’ arts and crafts hero Mister Maker is on his way to the Grove Theatre in Dunstable for a show at the beginning of next month.

His show encourages Mini Makers and grown-ups to sing, dance and make some noise. There’s a big ‘make’ to take part in, lots of audience participation and of course The Shapes.

Mister Maker said: “We had such a fantastic time on our last UK tour, it will be great to meet friends again and make lots of new ones. We’ve added new songs for the audience to enjoy and some new amazing ‘makes’!”

The man behind Mister Maker is Phil Gallagher, a Bafta-nominated performer. His theatre show has toured in the UK, Singapore, Hong Kong, New Zealand and Australia.

He said: “I’ve always been Mister Maker. Even from an early age, I have always loved arts and crafts and making things.

“One of the things that makes me most proud is that wherever we perform our live show, children and grown-ups give us such a warm and excited response. “My house is covered in glitter, sticky tape and googly eyes – but I don’t mind, because arts and crafts have become my life.”

“My top tip is to have a go at making something and I guarantee you will surprise yourself and be really proud of what you create.”

The show takes place at 1pm and 4pm on Thursday June 1. Call the box office on 01582 60 20 80 or alternatively visit www.grovetheatre.co.uk to book.

It was a good day for Theresa May whose reported row with Philip Hammond was completely overshadowed by Labour’s leaked manifesto.

But it was a bad day for the poor cameraman whose foot was run over by a car carrying Jeremy Corbyn to the meeting where the manifesto was supposed to be agreed.

Going up / Going Down

Gordon Brown enjoyed a return to the political spotlight with a typically robust speech on the future of engineering in Britain.

But the speech might not have gone down well with Labour’s leadership, given Mr Brown conspicuously failed to mention Jeremy Corbyn during his 25-minute oration.

Celeb-watch

National treasure Sir Ian McKellen is backing Labour’s Wes Streeting in Ilford North. “I don’t normally get involved in politics, although I have voted, I think, in every election that I’ve been able to,” he said.

Gaffe of the day

It emerged Paul White, the Conservative candidate in Burnley, has taken a holiday to Turkey in the middle of the election campaign

Tweet of the day

That time @theresa_may came to my front door but I was too scared to answer - David Bryan filmed himself hiding from the door-knocking prime minister.

Quote of the day

“[Jeremy Corbyn] would have surrendered Gibraltar to the Spanish, and indeed the Falkands to Australia.” - Ukip’s Paul Nuttall (he meant Argentina).

PR stunt of the day

Not content with kissing babies, Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron let a boy he met in Cardiff sit at the wheel of the party’s battle bus.

Blast from the past

Former prime minister David Cameron emerged from his shed to weigh into the fox-hunting debate saying he thought the ban was “a mistake”.

The fee to park at Rushmere Country Park is to rise to £3 from next month to cover the rising costs of running the woodland site.

Parking charges have remained at £2 per day at the park since it was opened in 2011, with funds raised from grants to develop the facilities available to visitors.

However today the Greensand Trust has confirmed to the LBO that the fee will rise to £3 from June 1.

The park aims to be self-funding and the Trust says parking fees contribute towards essential services such as the visitor centre, toilet facilities, play areas and play equipment, security, staff costs, cleaning, wildlife and environmental conservation, repairs and maintenance, woodland management, waste management and much more.

The charity, which operates the park on a not-for-profit basis, says it hopes visitors will understand and points out that savings can still be made by buying a £40 annual Greensand Pass (£45 if you choose the Gift Aid option which adds a donation towards the upkeep of the park.

Rushmere Country Park is the holder of a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence as a result of the high number of excellent reviews it receives via the website.

Gill Welham, Chief Executive of the Greensand Trust, said: “We hope our visitors will understand the need to increase the charge.

“The Trust has worked hard to raise funds and improve facilities since the park opened in 2011. During that time the running costs have increased and to ensure we conserve the site properly, we’ve had to take the difficult decision to pass on some of the cost to our visitors who can enjoy all the park has to offer for what is still great value.

“Regular visitors can still save money by buying a Greensand Pass – this also entitles holders to park at the entrance of Maulden Wood near Clophill at our head office, The Working Woodlands Centre.

“If you choose the Gift Aid option when buying a Greensand Pass the additional 25p per pound from the government helps us carry out our conservation work and look after this wonderful park.”

She pointed out that visitors can enjoy the park with its 400 hectares of woodland and heathland for a whole day for just the £3 fee.

Included in the fee are:

> An ‘access for all’ sculpture trail where visitors can search for fairies and have a photograph in the Giant’s Chair.

> Play areas, a giant slide and play spots around the site

> The heronry where you can watch herons raise their young in the Spring

> A network of walking, cycling and horse-riding trails

> Areas where dogs can be walked on and off the lead including a dog fun area specifically for our canine friends

> Access to the Visitor Centre, toilets, the deck, Tree Tops Café, Herons Hatch, meadow for picnics and Stockgrove Visitor Centre and cafe.

Rushmere Country Park was made possible through a joint venture between the Greensand Trust and Central Bedfordshire Council who jointly own the site, with the operational management delegated to the Trust.

People of Aylesbury be warned, the cabbage-crunching, criminal mastermind Gangsta Granny is coming to town next week.

The acclaimed producers of Horrible Histories and George’s Marvellous Medicine are bringing their world premiere of David Walliams’ Gangsta Granny to Aylesbury Waterside Theatre from Wednesday 17th of May to Sunday 21st May prior to a West End run this summer.

Aimee Eaton, 16, from nearby Bedford, will be dancing a solo piece in Gangsta Granny. She is currently studying for a musical theatre BTEC, alongside taking A Levels in physical education and biology. Aimee dancers 25 hours a week, often with her days staring at 5am and ending at 10pm!

Gangsta Granny author and Britain’s Got Talent judge David Walliams, who recently co-hosted BBC TV’s Sports Relief show and is the creator of the ground-breaking comedy series, Little Britain has established himself as the UK’s best-selling author for children is his parallel career!

He began his publishing career at Harper Collins in early 2008 with his debut novel The Boy in the Dress. Then, after writing two other popular stories, in 2011 he published Gangsta Granny, which was shortlisted for both The Red House Children’s Book Award and for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize. At Christmas 2013 a TV version of Gangsta Granny was shown on BBC One with an all-star cast including David Walliams himself. Gangsta Granny went straight to number 1 in the children’s book charts and his books have been translated into no fewer than 30 languages.

It’s Friday night and Ben knows that means only one thing – staying with Granny! There will be cabbage soup, cabbage pie and cabbage cake and Ben knows one thing for sure – it’s going to be sooooooooo boring! But what Ben doesn’t know is that Granny has a secret – and Friday nights are about to get more exciting than he could ever imagine, as he embarks on the adventure of a lifetime with his very own Gangsta Granny!

The cast includes: Ashley Cousins as Ben, Gilly Tompkins (from Leighton Buzzard) as Granny with Louise Bailey, Alison Fitzjohn, Laura Girling, Richard James, Umar Malik, Benedict Martin and Aaron Thiara. Gangsta Granny has been adapted for the stage by Neal Foster. Design is by Jaqueline Trousdale, music by Jak Poore, sound design by Nick Sagar, choreography by Paul Chantry & Rae Piper and lighting by Jason Taylor.

Gangsta Granny is a must for all families and will be enjoyed by everyone from 5 to 105! It’s both laugh-outloud funny with some brilliant comic scenes, but also moving and truthful things about family relationships.

To find out more and book tickets call 0844 871 7607 or visit www.atgtickets.com/Aylesbury.

Computers have been shut down across the country after NHS computers across the county were hit by a cyber attack.

The attack is said to be a ‘national’ problem although it is not yet clear how it has affected our area yet.

Dr Tony Naughton, the chief clinical officer at Fylde and Wyre CCG, described the problem as ‘national’, while East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust said it believed it had been hit by a ‘cyber attack’ and had suspended all non-urgent activity.

Tech experts are now battling to fix the problem, but computers at walk-in centres, hospitals, and at GP surgeries have been taken offline. Patients have been urged to avoid them all ‘unless absolutely necessary’, and should call 111 for triage and medical advice.

East and North Hertfordshire NHS trust, one of the those affected, said in a statement: “Today (Friday, 12 May 2017), the trust has experienced a major IT problem, believed to be caused by a cyber attack.

“Immediately on discovery of the problem, the trust acted to protect its IT systems by shutting them down; it also meant that the trust’s telephone system is not able to accept incoming calls.

“To ensure that all back-up processes and procedures were put in place quickly, the trust declared a major internal incident to make sure that patients already in the trust’s hospitals continued to receive the care they need.”

A statement from NHS Digital said: “A number of NHS organisations have reported to NHS Digital that they have been affected by a ransomware attack which is affecting a number of different organisations.

“The investigation is at an early stage but we believe the malware variant is Wanna Decryptor.

“At this stage we do not have any evidence that patient data has been accessed. We will continue to work with affected organisations to confirm this.

“NHS Digital is working closely with the National Cyber Security Centre, the Department of Health and NHS England to support affected organisations and to recommend appropriate mitigations.

“This attack was not specifically targeted at the NHS and is affecting organisations from across a range of sectors.

“Our focus is on supporting organisations to manage the incident swiftly and decisively, but we will continue to communicate with NHS colleagues and will share more information as it becomes available.

“As at 15.30, 16 NHS organisations had reported that they were affected by this issue.”

The NHS is under increasing attack from cyber blackmailers attempting to extort ransoms from dozens of hospitals using internet viruses which encrypt data.

Health service trusts serving millions of patients have been hit by the “ransomware” attacks in the past 12 months, prompting concern that antiquated IT systems are leaving NHS data such as patient records vulnerable to exploitation by criminals.

The rise of ransomware was last week highlighted by Europol, the EU’s law enforcement body, as the “dominant threat” to public and private organisations across Europe as organised crime groups deploy an increasingly sophisticated arsenal of viruses.

“NHS trusts are being increasingly targeted and any loss of patient data would be a nightmare scenario. Like everyone else, they need to be applying robust controls.”

Ransomware works by implanting a piece of software, often sent disguised in an email, which then turns data on a machine or network into encrypted gobbledygook. The senders then demand a ransom, paid in an untraceable cyber currency such as BitCoin, which averages £350 to £700 but can reach into thousands. According to one estimate, the extortion racket is worth some £300m a year.

NHS Digital, the body which oversees cybersecurity for the health service, acknowledged an increase in attacks but said that no ransom was paid in any of the “rare” serious ransomware incidents reported to it and that no data was lost. It said patient records had not been affected, adding that the NHS was one of myriad organisations being targeted by the attacks.

A Sandy man has been sentenced to two years in prison for trying to persuade someone who he believed to be 12 years old to engage in sexual activity with him.

Craig Hall, 44, of High Road, Sandy was jailed at Luton Crown Court yesterday (Thursday) after being found guilty of three counts of attempting to incite a child under the age of 13 to engage in a sexual act. He has also been placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for 10 years and has received a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Hall struck up with a conversation with someone online, who he believed to be 12 years old, and sent her sexually explicit messages as well as tried to persuade her to carry out a sexual act on him in exchange for money.

In fact he was talking to a 17-year-old woman online, who had lied about her age in order to deter Hall from speaking to her.

The woman then reported Hall to Bedfordshire Police and an investigation was subsequently launched.

Investigation Officer Nicky Owen, from the Internet Child Abuse Investigation Team (ICAIT), said: “Although Hall was talking to a 17-year-old, he believed that she was only 12 years old, and thinking she was of such a young age spurred him on even more in his attempts to engage in sexual activity.

“Behaviour such as this is completely unacceptable and it’s only right and proper that we thoroughly investigate sexual predators such as Hall, in order to ensure that they are made to pay the price for their actions.”

Earlier this week the force launched Operation Netsafe, a regional campaign to tackle the viewing, making, and sharing indecent images of children.

The force is working with others in the Eastern region, alongside the charity the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, to promote this important issue.

ICAIT Detective Sergeant Graeme Twyford said: “The viewing and sharing of indecent images is a crime – causing severe trauma to countless children as a result of the thousands of people wanting to see such images. There’s also a very fine line between the viewing of these images, and the decision to contact a child and attempt to engage them in sexual activity.

“Resources are available for those who are worried about either their own, or a loved one’s behaviour or thoughts, and I think it’s really important that we let people know that help is available in a bid to help prevent the risk of the offending.”

Find out more on the Bedfordshire Police website or visit the Lucy Faithfull Foundation for advice and support.

Follow the #OperationNetsafe hashtag on Twitter for more information about the campaign.

I was taken aback this week when I spotted a release I hadn’t known about... NBA Playgrounds.

Anyone who grew up gaming in the 90s will fondly remember NBA Jam, the Midway classic arcade basketball game.

Well to all intents and purposes, it’s back in this hybrid cross between Jam and NBA Street.

For those of you who haven’t played NBA Jam or Street, Playgrounds is a 2-on-2 basketball game in the arcade style of both its predecessors.

At only £19.99 it looks great value too and should hit the nostalgia nerve right on the money.

Officially licensed by the NBA, Playgrounds includes both current and retired players like Allen Iverson, LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Shaquille O’Neal.

But the best - and most addictive part - promises to be the fact that more NBA players can be unlocked as you progress through the game, as can new moves for each of those players.

We are promised that hundreds more NBA Players will be added post-launch (May 9th) and they will be free.

Playground has single player, local multiplayer and online multiplayer modes, which will include online tournaments.

Other features include a lottery pick system, which will offer in-game rewards, and plenty of “over-the-top” dunks, three-point shots, and more.

The player packs resemble the gold blind bags you get on FIFA Ultimate Team.

But let’s not kid ourselves the real joy, and the main reason most of us will part with our money for Playgrounds is the crazy slam dunks and moves, of which there are “hundreds.”

CEO of developers Saber Interactive, Matt Karch, says the game is accessible enough for anyone to pick up and play, but still has “a lot of depth for hardcore pros who’ve mastered their game.”

High-flying, cartoonish arcade basketball madness is out now on Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4 and Xbox One.

Ahead of this year’s Bring Your Dog To Work Day - the event’s founders have published guidance for HR departments of the companies who want to take part.

Natural pet product company HOWND has devised ‘seven HR Guidelines’ after being asked for advice from a number of office-based organisations:

Written consent should be obtained from every office employee ahead of Bring Your Dog to Work Day.

An accurate record of all dogs in the workplace should be kept.

Each dog coming into the workplace should be kept on a leash while walking in the building, as well as outside, and should have an identity tag with the owner’s contact details.

Dogs must be clean and well-groomed ahead of their day at work.

Dogs should be well socialised i.e. good natured and comfortable around dogs and people.

Each participating employee should bring a ‘Dog Packed Lunch’ - including treats, toys, a lead, water bowl, and food.

Each participating employee should also bring appropriate bedding for their dog, i.e. dog basket, mat or rug. Just so the working day is as comfortable as possible!

But isn’t this event just a novelty for workplaces? It might seem that way, but the benefits of allowing people to bring their pets to work have been studied in some depth by Virginia Commonwealth University. The research showed an 11 per cent reduction in the stress levels of employees which is significant enough to turn the heads of dog owners and team motivators in a range of companies.

“The presence of pets can substantially reduce a person’s stress level in the workplace. Increased job satisfaction, team cooperation and morale have all been reported in employees that spend the workday with their pets,” explains Jo Amit, co-founder of HOWND.

Raising Money for Charity

Raising money for animal welfare and promoting the benefits of bringing dogs into safe work environments are both aims of the event founder HOWND.

Businesses that wish to take part can do so as ‘Business Sponsors’. Previous years saw a wide range of businesses from across many industries getting involved and this is only set to increase. Companies such as Scottish & Southern Electric, Private Fly, Shore Capital, Henry Schein, as well as a host of UK pet businesses have all sponsored in the past.

The two official charities for 2017 are All Dogs Matter, which rescues and rehomes hundreds of dogs each year in the UK and Animals Asia, a charity foundation that saves dogs and cats from the corrupt meat trade in China and Vietnam.

If you own or run a business, you can participate by making an online donation to become a business sponsor. In return for a minimum donation of £50, your company’s logo and website link will be displayed on the Bring Your Dog to Work Day website homepage. All the money raised will be split equally between All Dogs Matter and Animals Asia.

Individuals can also make a donation whether they take their dogs to work or not. For a minimum online donation of £2, a picture of a person’s dog can be published in the ‘Dog With A Job Hall Of Fame’. Individuals that donate £5 or more online will automatically be entered into a prize draw to win £100s of goodies from our business sponsors.

Past Success

Bring Your Dog To Work Day has become a recognised calendar event.

This has led to the initiative claiming bronze and silver ‘Marketing Campaign of the Year’ accolades at the annual PetQuip Awards.

“We’ve enjoyed incredible results on a shoestring budget. The day has been featured on national television and been the focus of a number of radio talking points around the country,” adds Jo.

Celebrities have got involved too, with the likes of Ricky Gervais and ITV’s Loose Women tweeting their support. This has helped the #BringYourDogToWorkDay hashtag trend on Twitter in both 2015 and 2016.

Be in a movie

Participants in this year’s Bring Your Dog To Work Day will also have the opportunity to contribute to its first official movie.

Through an award-winning app called Seenit Capture, those who take part can join the BYD2017 project, before recording and uploading clips of their dogs at work. These clips will be used to create a short film.

Bring your dog to work day takes place on June 23rd. For further information about Bring Your Dog To Work Day please visit the official website, or email hello@bringyourdogtoworkday.co.uk.

A cream or ointment may soon cure baldness or stop hair turning grey, a new study suggests.

The cells that makes hairs and turns it grey was accidentally discovered by US scientists as they explored how certain cancer tumours form.

The breakthrough could one day identify possible treatments for balding and hair greying and also explain why we age.

Associate Professor of Dermatology Dr Lu Le at UT Southwestern Medical Centre said: “Although this project was started in an effort to understand how certain kinds of tumours form, we ended up learning why hair turns grey and discovering the identity of the cell that directly gives rise to hair

“With this knowledge, we hope in the future to create a topical compound or to safely deliver the necessary gene to hair follicles to correct these cosmetic problems.”

The study found the protein called KROX20, more commonly associated with nerve development, turned on in skin cells that become the hair shaft.

These hair precursor, or progenitor, cells then produce a protein called stem cell factor (SCF) which is essential for hair pigmentation.

When scientists deleted the SCF gene in the hair progenitor cells in mice, their hair turned white.

When they deleted the KROX20-producing cells, no hair grew and the mice became bald.

Prof Le made the discovery while studying a disorder called Neurofibromatosis Type 1, a rare genetic disease that causes tumours to grow on nerves.

Scientists already knew stem cells contained in a bulge area of hair follicles are involved in making hair and that SCF is important for pigmented cells.

What they did not know in detail was what happens after those stem cells move down to the base, or bulb, of hair follicles and which cells in the hair follicles produce SCF - or that cells involved in hair shaft creation make the KROX20 protein.

If cells with functioning KROX20 and SCF are present, they move up from the bulb, interact with pigment-producing melanocyte cells, and grow into pigmented hairs.

But without SCF, the hair in mouse models was grey, and then turned white with age,

Without KROX20-producing cells, no hair grew.

Future research will try to find out if the KROX20 in cells and the SCF gene stop working properly as people age, leading to the greying and hair thinning seen in older people, as well as in male pattern baldness.

The research also could provide answers about why we age in general as hair greying and hair loss are among the first signs of ageing.

The study was published in Genes & Development.

Experts have issued a warning that ‘aliens’ are threatening Britain’s rarest reptile, after European lizards have moved over from the continent - and are killing our native species.

The continental wall lizard has been spotted in its hundreds across the south of England causing a significant drop in rare native sand lizards.

Experts are now urging the public to keen an eye out for the ‘alien’ lizards so they can keep tabs on local wildlife figures.

Robert Williams, doctoral student from Leeds University, has set up an online mapping system so eagle eyed spotters can report their sightings of the wall-climbing reptiles.

He said: “They could have a competitive interaction with native lizards, the main focus of my study is to quantify where wall lizards have increased and where native ones have declined.

“There is a lot of evidence to suggest that the wall lizards are increasing and the sand lizard is in trouble, they are suffering in terms of their habitat loss.

“There is a major reintroduction process going on for the sand lizard.

“Wall lizards have been in Bournemouth since the 1960s and they are quite common, but since the wall lizard have been there it is very hard to find sand lizards, they are one of the rarest reptiles in Britain.

“They both share the same habitat and compete for the same food resources.

“If wall lizards reach seriously invasive stages it could have an impact on bugs and butterflies on the flip side they could provide a food source for birds of prey like kestrels.”

Wall lizards can grow up to 20cm in length and can be identified from a mottled pattern on its back and sometimes blue scales along its sides.

Unlike British lizards, which spend their time on the ground, wall lizards are very agile and are often seen running up vertical surfaces.

He added: “Wall lizards are very easy to spot basking on sunny days.

“Considerable survey effort is required to get around to all the known wall lizard sites and there is a need for updated population surveys, assessment of range expansion, and of course identification of new populations.

“The public can help us assess just how widespread the lizards are in the UK and make a valuable contribution to this project by reporting your own wall lizard sightings, whether locally or further afield.”

Sand lizards are facing a dramatic loss in habitat prompting wildlife campaigners to introduce a captive breeding programme.

A range of nightlights available in the likes of Boots, Mothercare, Tesco and Sainsbury’s have been recalled over fears that the products could overheat and pose a safety issue.

The children’s lights are manufactured by Brother Max, whose products are carried by Boots, Tesco Direct, Mothercare and Sainsbury’s among others.

There are two versions of the product affected by the recall, which has been prompted by what the company describe as “an isolated incident where the product overheated”.

The Brother Max Carry & Hang Nightlight comes in ‘Bunny’ and ‘Bear’ options - model number: 70384BL2 with barcode: 5060164670384.

A company statement reads: “The incident is being fully investigated and due to the potentially serious nature of the risk and our commitment to safety, we have taken a precautionary decision to voluntarily recall this product until further notice.”

Anyone in possession of one of these items is advised to stop using it immediately and unplug at the mains.

Affected customers can email the Brother Max helpline for a refund.

Email: family@brothermax.com

Tel: 01280 878266 - Monday to Thursday 9.00am to 5.00pm / Friday 9.00am to 3pm

Summer’s about to get a tad bit boozier as discount supermarket Aldi has announced new premium adult-only ice popsicles.

Gianni’s Alcoholic Ice Popsicles, which cost £2.99 for a four pack, come in two summery flavours (Peach Bellini and Gin and Tonic) and are set to be a must-have for every summer BBQ.

Made with Prosecco from the Padova and Venice regions of Italy, Gianni’s Peach Bellini combines peach and prosecco to give you the perfect treat, rain or shine, and the Gin & Tonic Ice will prove it’s not just mother’s ruin after all.

The popsicles have an Alcohol by Volume measure of 4.5 per cent.

‘Sunshine not guaranteed’

“We are proud to bring popular products and trends to our customers whilst staying committed to our low price promise,” says Tony Baines, Joint Managing Director of Corporate Buying at Aldi UK.

“Although sunshine may not be guaranteed, our alcoholic popsicles are sure to be a hit with adults across the UK, whatever the weather!”

Gianni’s Alcoholic Ice Popsicles are on sale now.