Derelict Power Court could provide an answer to Luton’s need for more public parking spaces – but only in the short term.

Luton Town’s owners 2020 Developments has put in a planning application which, if approved, would introduce 694 spaces on four plots of land within the Power Court site.

The submission to Luton Borough Council seeks a temporary two-year change of use of the land – which the club ultimately wants to build its new stadium on – to short term public car parking.

The application, prepared on behalf of the Hatters by Indigo Planning, says the club expects a decision on the stadium to be made by the end of the summer – although Deputy Leader of Luton Borough Council Cllr Sian Timoney said at a recent public meeting it would be “before the end of the year”.

It states: “Ahead of this comprehensive scheme, 2020 Developments is eager to see the site brought back into beneficial use as soon as possible.

“As such this planning application is submitted to allow for parts of the Power Court site to be used as a public car park to serve Luton town centre.”

The car park would be accessed from the existing traffic lights at the junction of St Mary Road, Church Street and Power Court.

The application points out that there is a long history of car parking on the Power Court site, with permission first granted for this use in 1998.

It adds that planning permission for two other car parks in the town centre – Hotel Complex, Cumberland Street (56 spaces) and Flowers Way (153 spaces) have both expired.

“Neither of these permissions have been extended and further erodes the number of car parking spaces within the town centre.

“This is before referencing the pending loss of the Crawley Road car park and the historic loss of the Library car park which significantly reduced the number of car parking spaces within the Central area.

“The Library car park, which provided approximately 700 spaces, would have been included in the total number of spaces within the central area when the Local Plan and Luton Local Transport Plan were adopted. This quantum of spaces has never been fully replaced.”

The application points out that a total of 1,404 spaces have been/are about to be lost in the town centre, and adds: “It is clear, therefore, that the addition of 694 spaces will not result in an increase above the historic number of parking spaces within Luton’s central area.”

The Hatters say that the car park would only be provided until the comprehensive scheme for the 17,500-seater ground comes forward.

The application adds: “To ensure that there will be no prejudicial impacts to the future development of the site, this permission is limited to a period of two years from commencement of use. Clearly, if the applicant can bring forward the comprehensive scheme before the end of this two-year period, they will.”

Leighton man Sam Dunham will be performing at the Edinburgh Fringe next month.

Sam, who grew up in the town and went to Linslade Lower, Linslade Middle School and then Cedars High School and Sixth Form College, will be appearing in Curse of the Mummy from August 3-26.

He will perform alongside Jack Faires and Jack Gogarty and will play a huge array characters in the course of the hour long play.

In the play, staged by Last Chance Saloon, unwitting hero Montana Jones is on a quest for archaeological eminence; however a love-cursed Mummy and a Nazi spy threaten to destroy everything he hopes for.

This ancient legend is unwrapped, revitalised and whipped up with mischievous musical mash-ups and outrageous humour in a frenetic hour of riotous comedy.

Using catchy pop songs and obscure 80s ballads combined with an intriguing interpretation of world history, the Curse of the Mummy takes the audience on a whirlwind adventure.

Director Simon Egerton said: “I’m really happy to be working with the guys again on what will be our fourth show together.”

A dentist in Leighton has won a prestigious international award.

Arun Darbar, who started Smile Creations in 1984, was awarded the John G. Sulewski Distinguished Service Award For Outstanding Commitment and Contribution at an international conference held in America earlier this year.

Mr Darbar said: “Working in Leighton Buzzard is a great experience and we have had loyal patients for more than 30 years, they stay and grow with the practice.

“We also have a fantastic team who have helped to take us where we are today and we couldn’t be without them.

“For a market town practice to be recognised internationally and receive such an award is out of this world, I am honoured, humbled and privileged to have received this.”

Smile Creations was one of the first practices to use lasers in dentistry and now Mr Darbar teaches colleagues all over the world, spending nearly two months every year travelling and teaching others how to use lasers and improve their patients’ experience.

He added: “Never in my wildest imagination did I ever think that I would travel the world meeting and making new friends all because of laser dentistry, nor did I think that such an award would ever be given to me.

“This recognition makes me one of the very first outside the USA to receive this prestigious award. Leighton Buzzard has been put on a world class leader board for laser dentistry.”

Two sisters who have breathed new life into a pub/restaurant in Heath and Reach over the last 12 months have decided to stay.

Sisters Sarah Smith and Jo Carter have announced plans for a permanent commitment to the Dukes.

The pub, formerly known as the Dukes Head, has been on the site since 1747 and in recent years has been Indian, Thai and Chinese restaurants.

The project to turn it into a gastropub with an a la carte restaurant, bar snacks menu, real ales, open fire and six en suite bedrooms has been a labour of love for Sarah and Jo, who have spent much time completely restoring the interior, re-equipping the bar and restaurant areas, and refurbishing the accommodation.

Landlady Sarah, a mum-of-two who manages the pub onsite on a daily basis, has more than 14 years’ experience in the hospitality trade including two years as restaurant manager at a Michelin-starred restaurant.

She said: “I fell in love with the Dukes Head having known it for many years, and had both my daughters’ christening parties there in 2007.

“My sister Jo and I moved heaven and earth to get it, although on a leasehold basis. Now, just over a year later, we are buying the building, and we want our customers, suppliers and staff to know we are here to stay.

“We have put together a first-rate team including chefs who enjoy cooking with high quality, extremely fresh ingredients.”

They have ambitious plans for the future, including regular live music and a weekly pub quiz.

Removing lead from petrol and paints has sparked a dramatic drop in crime levels, suggests new research.

The heavy metal is a neurotoxin that can alter the formation of the brain and reduce grey matter in areas responsible for thinking and planning.

Now a study has found children under six exposed to the metal were much more likely to be suspended from school - or even locked up - as they grew up.

A one unit increase in blood lead levels - measured in millionths of a gramme per each tenth of a litre of blood - raised the probability a child would be suspended from school by up to 9.3 per cent.

And among boys, a one unit increase in blood lead levels raised the probability of incarceration by up to 74 per cent.

But a drop in exposure led to less antisocial behaviour - backing previous claims the banning of a lead is a significant factor behind decreasing crime over the past few decades.

Professor Janet Currie, of Princeton University, New Jersey, said: “Children who have been suspended are ten times more likely to be involved in criminal activity as adults.”

Moreover, young people who are incarcerated for even a short period are less likely to graduate from high school and more likely to commit crimes as adults.

She added: “Our results support the hypothesis that reductions in blood lead levels may have been responsible for a significant part of the observed decrease in antisocial behaviour among youths and young adults in recent decades.”

For most of the 20th Century crime rose across the UK and other Western countries.

Then, about 20 years ago, the trend reversed - and all the broad measures of key crimes have been falling ever since.

The fall in the use of lead-based paint and leaded petrol has been suspected of being behind the phenomenon but evidence has been scant - until now.

So Prof Currie and colleagues sought to find lead exposure’s effect on school disciplinary problems and juvenile incarceration.

The study published on the National Bureau of Economic Research website analysed about 120,000 children born in Rhode Island because of the state’s aggressive lead screening programme.

Nearly three-quarters of children have been screened at least once by the time they reach 18 months, far above the national average.

By age six, children in the study had been screened an average of three times.

Lead doesn’t stay in children’s bloodstreams for long before it’s deposited in organs like the brain, and multiple blood screenings increase the chances of detecting exposure.

The researchers examined children born from 1990, which was shortly after leaded petrol was phased out, until 2014.

They accessed Rhode Island Department of Health blood lead level tests for preschool children conducted from 1994 to 2014.

They linked those records to school suspension records beginning in the 2007 to 2008 school year, as well as to juvenile detention records beginning in 2004.

Lead was banned from house paint in 1976, and leaded petrol was phased out between 1979 and 1986.

People who were exposed to lead up to the age of six are more likely to exhibit poor thinking skills and impulse control, to have trouble paying attention, and to behave aggressively.

These traits can lead to antisocial or criminal behaviour in adults.

Studies seeking links between adult crime and early childhood lead exposure have suggested that the drop in lead exposure could explain up to 90 percent of the sharp downward trend in US crime that started in the mid-1990s.

Lead can be absorbed into bones, teeth and blood. It causes kidney damage, inhibits body growth, causes abdominal pain, anaemia and can damage the nervous system.

More than a century ago, a royal commission recommended to British ministers that women shouldn’t work in lead-related industry because of damage to their reproductive organs.

By the 1970s, studies showed that children could even be poisoned by chewing fingernails harbouring tiny flecks of old leaded paint from their homes and schools.

Studies have shown that exposure to lead during pregnancy reduces the head circumference of infants. In children and adults, it causes headaches, inhibits IQ and can lead to aggressive or dysfunctional behaviour.

A remaster that will not Crash and burn.

I think it is fair to say 2017 has been the year of the classic comeback and an old friend is the latest to Crash the scene (see what I did there).

This past month alone we have had WipEout Omega and Micro Machines World Series before Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy landed on June 30th.

It doesn’t say much about the current crop that these games - and systems given Nintendo and Sega’s reproduction of mini NES, SNES and Megadrive consoles - are A) being considered worthy of re-release and B) being received so well when they are.

But it is what it is and there is a big market in nostalgia.

When Crash Bandicoot was fresh on the gaming landscape back in the 1990s, he soon became the PlayStation’s mascot in a bid to rival Nintendo’s Super Mario and Sega’s Sonic.

It would be folly to suggest he endures anything like as much or as well as those two gaming giants... but Crash’s charm won him plenty of friends who will be delighted to see him back in remastered glory.

And he looks great. All new character modelling does justice to this 3D platforming gem and gives gamers old and new the chance to revisit the first three Crash games: Crash Bandicoot, Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back, and Crash Bandicoot: Warped in some style.

The visual improvements really are striking even if the gameplay is somewhat stuck in the 90s still.

The crowning glory of the original Crash games was the variety of challenges and environments to keep you engaged - and enraged - throughout. Having all three together represents an impressive collection of levels and action.

But as I touched on just now the random and often infuriating adjustment to difficulty and repeat deaths can bring even the game’s biggest fans to the brink.

You can’t fix what isn’t broken... but you can quite easily break something that has been delicately preserved for years.

Vicarious Visions have done Crash justice, though, even if they haven’t quite brought it kicking and screaming into next gen in terms of the gameplay, design and mechanics.

My expectations in remasters are always set relatively low - it’s easier to deal with the disappointment that way - but Crash is a worthy resurrection of a game which let’s not forget graced our screens over 20 years ago. It remains great fun to play and deserves the attention of both fanboys and newbies alike.

Just as we’ve stopped trying to rip apart the new indestructible £5 notes, the new £10 note is set to launch later on this year.

Like its predecessor, the £10 note will be waterproof and ‘unrippable’, here’s what else you need to know about the new £10 note.

When will it be released?

The Bank of England has reportedly already printed 275 million £10 notes. It’s not ready to be released just yet though as the new note is expected to be officially circulated from September 2017 by the Bank of England.

What will it look like?

After years of campaigning Jane Austen will become the only woman to be featured on the back of an English banknote and to mark the 200th anniversary of the author’s death the new plastic £10 note will be formally unveiled on 18th July at Winchester Cathedral, where Austen was buried in 1817.

From what’s been revealed so far, the mock up design has already found itself criticized as campaigners have accused the Bank of England of ‘airbrushing’ the portrait of Austen to remove her eye bags, thin lips and pointed chin. We’ll discover this July what the Bank of England thinks Austen really looks like.

Is this one ‘vegan’?

Like the infamous £5 note release earlier this year, the new £10 note will also include small traces of tallow (animal fat) much to the dismay of vegetarians and vegans across the country.

Although a petition to replace the tallow found in the £5 note attracted over 135,000 signatures, the new £10 note will contain animal fat regardless.

The Bank of England says that Polymer banknotes are “cleaner, more secure, and more durable than paper banknotes. They will provide enhanced counterfeit resilience, and increase the quality of banknotes in circulation.”

The Bank of England is currently investigating how to make the new £20 note due to launch in 2020 tallow free.

Just two beers or glasses of wine a day raises the risk of bowel and gullet cancer by more than a fifth, according to new research.

People in the UK are above this threshold, guzzling an average of 2.1 drinks daily, placing them among the most vulnerable to two of the deadliest forms of the disease.

And anyone having four or more drinks a day is at increased risk of liver, gastric and pancreatic cancer - three more particularly lethal types.

The five cancers are the most common digestive cancers across the world, causing almost three million deaths a year, says the report by medical group United European Gastroenterology (UEG).

The study found the average alcohol consumption across 28 EU member states was ‘moderate’ - between one and four drinks a day.

But this was enough to place citizens at a heightened risk of both bowel and oesophageal, or gullet, cancer.

‘Heavy’ drinkers at risk

‘Heavy’ drinkers who get through more than four daily were more likely to develop pancreatic, liver and gastric cancer.

The UK was 8th in the league table of drinking, ahead of France and Germany where the average is two drinks.

In Ireland the figure is 1.9 drinks, which is also the average across the 28 EU nations. Lithuania topped the list, with average consumption of 3.2 drinks a day,

No countries within the EU were found to have ‘light’ alcohol consumption of less than one drink a day, on average.

Drinking across the region is higher than in any other area in the world, with over one fifth of the European population over the age of 15 drinking heavily at least once a week.

As a result, the continent suffers from the highest proportion of ill health and premature death directly linked to alcohol.

But despite this, as many as nine in ten people are unaware on the link between alcohol and cancer.

‘Mixed messages’

The researchers said consumers are provided with mixed messages on recommended units, glasses and volumes of alcohol, so they are calling for a unified approach to the provision of clear and consistent information.

Digestive health expert Professor Markus Peck, a member of UEG’s public affairs committee,, said; “One of the main challenges in addressing high drinking levels is how deeply embedded alcohol consumption is within the European society, both socially and culturally.

“Political action like minimum pricing and reducing access to alcohol needs to be taken now to prevent many future casualties.

“Research then has to follow to help generate data and allow us to fine-tune future political activity”.

The report said France is leading the way with stricter marketing coupled with regulations for drinking at work. This has led to a decline in alcohol consumption and cases of digestive cancer as a result.

Sir Ian Gilmore, chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance (AHA), said: “These findings show clearly that because of current consumption levels in Britain we are some of the most at-risk people for developing these types of cancers.

“This is not surprising when enough alcohol is sold in England and Wales for every drinker to consume 50% more than the weekly limit recommended by the UK’s chief medical officers.

“Alcohol is a group one carcinogen and while the evidence shows any level of drinking increases cancer risk, this risk increases in line with the level of consumption.”

The AHA says alcohol-related health harm is so great, and awareness of the link between drink and cancer so low at just 10%, that alcohol manufacturers should be forced to put health warnings on the labels of cans and bottles.

Minimum pricing

It is also urging ministers to organise sustained campaigns to alert the public to the dangers of drinking and to introduce minimum unit pricing, as Scotland is seeking to do, in order to reduce overall consumption and damage to health.

Dr Lisa Wilde, director of research at Bowel Cancer UK, said about 11 out of every 100 cases of bowel cancer are believed to be linked to alcohol.

She said: “We know that 41,200 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year, it’s the fourth most common cancer in the UK.

“There are several known factors that increase your risk of getting the disease.

“Some of these are things you can’t do anything about, for example, age and genetics.

“But you can make changes to your lifestyle to help stack the odds against bowel cancer.

“As well as cutting down on alcohol, also being a healthy weight, taking more exercise and stopping smoking will make a real difference.”

Chief medical officer Dame Sally Davies introduced strict new boozing guidelines last year with a man’s recommended weekly limit now 14 units, or six pints - the same as for women.

A popular children’s drink has been recalled by supermarket giant Sainsbury’s.

Alpro has recalled its Alpro Growing Up Drink (1-3+yrs 1 litre UHT pack) because of insufficient sterilisation.

The plant-based soya drink from the Belgian company is intended for toddlers aged from 1 year onwards.

However, the sterility of batches coded AB2310 XX:XX has been compromised. As a result the microbiological safety of these batches has also been compromised and this poses a risk to health, if the affected product is consumed.

Customers may also recognise affected batches by an unpleasant texture, taste and smell.

The product concerned has been sold only in Sainsbury’s stores. The 1 litre packs have a Best before date of 05 March 2018.

No other Alpro products are known to be affected.

Anyone having purchased any of the listed products should not drink it. Instead, it should be returned it to the store from where it was purchased for a full refund.

Kodi has told customers complaining that their box “no longer works” that a number of websites have now shut down their services.

In May, The Digital Economy Act was passed into law, meaning that users now face up to a decade behind bars for illegally streaming copyrighted content.

Despite being perfectly legal itself, some customers use the software to illegally access copyright content through third-party add-ons.

The new law targets developers who built these add-ons, but technically anyone streaming the illegal content is now punishable by the law. In a new blog post, Kodi have said that many websites and repositories promoting add-ons using pirated media content have now shut down their services.

TVaddons library has recently gone offline as well as popular Kodi add-on Phoenix, which provided access to TV shows, films and sport channels.

This comes in the wake of recent legal action against some websites but has led many users to complain that their “Kodi Box” is no longer working.

Kodi has slammed individuals selling media players which come pre-loaded with these add-ons, known as “fully loaded Kodi boxes”.

Despite saying they will not police its own software, Kodi said it has no sympathy for users who are now seeing these illegal add-ons disappear.

A spokesperson said: “Team Kodi (the unpaid volunteers who create Kodi and manage the Kodi name/brand for love not money) have never manufactured a “Kodi Box” and we do not supply media content.

“People who have been selling “Fully Loaded” devices on Amazon, eBay, Facebook, etc. or provide “IPTV Streaming” services with impossibly $cheap subscriptions to improbably $large selections of Movies, TV shows, Live Sports, etc. are not affiliated with the Kodi project. They are criminals who profit from piracy.

“If you post in our forums or social channels about a pirate add-on or streaming service not working please expect ZERO sympathy or support. We don’t care. We care less than not caring. We don’t care biggly.

“And to counter a popular comment; if the Kodi userbase drops a huge percentage because pirate services flee or die, we’re fine with that. Kodi has been around since 2002 and we are not going to implode or disappear (unlike the pirates).

“Life will be a little quieter, but less time spent on self-entitled whiny people means more time writing great code and having fun. We’re okay with that too.”

Latest figures from the NHS has revealed that there has been 11, 471 newly recorded cases of FGM in England in the last two years.

In the last year alone (2016 - 2017) the figures reveal that were 5,391 newly recorded cases of FGM - although this is a drop from the 6,080 cases recorded in the financial year 2015-2016.

FGM, which is the deliberate mutilation of female genitalia, is most commonly undertaken between the ages of five and nine, accounting for 44 per cent of the total number of cases where the age at the time of being cut was known according to the statistics.

Women and girls born in Somalia also accounted for more than one third of newly recorded cases of FGM with a known country of birth (2,504). Of the newly recorded cases, 112 involved women and girls who were born in the United Kingdom.

More funding needed to stop FGM

FGM has been illegal in the UK since 1985, however the figures also revealed that in 57 cases FGM had taken place in the UK.

The National FGM Centre, run by Barnardo’s and the Local Government Association, raises awareness in schools and communities and trains professionals to spot girls at risk of FGM.

Director of the National FGM Centre, Michelle Lee-Izu said, “Whilst we are making progress in tackling FGM, today’s figures show it is still being practiced in communities across England.”

The National FGM Centre says the latest statistics show more money must be found so its vital work can continue beyond July 21 when the current funding ends

“The Centre’s remit is to help eradicate FGM for girls and women living in England by 2030 but this will not happen if it closes down just two years after being set up by the Government. The Government has said it is committed to ending FGM and more funding needs to be found so the Centre’s work can continue.”

Pioneering products from a company based in Leighton Buzzard provides vital protection of blood products to help save lives.

Peli BioThermal, based in Stanbridge Buildings, Stanbridge Road, provided Crēdo ProMed, which proved critical in the success of an air ambulance blood plasma transportation trial.

The Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) safely transported blood plasma products, to the scene of an accident, in Peli BioThermal temperature controlled packaging products.

Peli BioThermal’s Crēdo ProMed is a robust, temperature controlled portable medical transport bag designed to ensure protected pharmaceutical products remain intact.

The Crēdo ProMed™ transported the new blood plasma treatment during the five-month trial, which has now been extended so the service’s helicopters can carry defrosted fresh frozen plasma on board.

Paul Terry, Peli BioThermal’s director of sales EMEA, said: “We are delighted the trial has been so successful for this vital air ambulance service and Peli BioThermal products proved instrumental in ensuring the precious blood plasma, designated for emergency treatment, remained protected at all time.

“This trial success demonstrates how our robust and reliable temperature controlled packaging products are continually helping save lives here in the UK and worldwide.”

Plasma assists in stopping bleeding by helping blood clots to form.

Leighton Town kicked off their pre-season campaign in style with a crushing 5-0 win over Easington Sports at Cedars on Saturday.

Scott Reynolds’ side featured several new faces as he looks to build on last season’s 16th place finish in SSML Premier Division.

In sweltering conditions on Cedars 3G pitch, the first half ended goal less with some good play from both teams but neither able to break the deadlock.

After a goal-less first half, Reynolds made a host of changes to his side and it brought about success, with a glut of goals in the second as Town, playing in sky blue, ran out comfortable winners.

It completed a solid week for Town, who continue to train twice a week during pre-season, while manager Reynolds casts his eye over the new recruits to his squad,with more than 30 attending the training sessions.

The team train on Tuesday and Thursday at Vandyke from 7.15pm

Town are next in action on Saturday for their second pre-season friendly, away at Totternhoe.

A colourful carnival with some glorious weather ensured a large crowd turned out to enjoy one of Leighton Buzzard’s showpiece events.

The town’s carnival was blessed with a bigger procession than previous years as community groups interpreted the Colours of the Rainbow theme in their own way.

The winners from Saturday were:

Children’s Organisations & Schools – 1st Beaudesert Lower School; 2nd Pulford VA Lower School; 3rd Leedon Lower School

Open – 1st Brooklands Residents Association; 2nd= Friends Within (Mencap) and Men in Black.

Walking – 1st Shooting Stars; 2nd= Hockliffe Street Baptist Church and Doreen’s School of Dancing; 3rd Dogs for Good.

The two new shields Doreen Rolls Memorial Shield (awarded to the entrants with most points for enthusiasm) and the Peter Lymbery Memorial Shield (entrant with most points overall) were both won by Beaudesert Lower School.

They were presented by Doreen’s daughter and Peter’s daughter.

Carnival committee chairman Mark Freeman said: “Carnival was a huge success with a bigger procession than in previous years, more stalls and brilliant weather.

“The crowd seemed larger than usual, but it is difficult to say how many people come into the park.

“The standard of the procession entries was very high, and the judges – Cllr Syed Rahman, Dave Edwards, Malcolm Chaney and Victoria Harvey – had a difficult job in scoring them. We are grateful to all the groups that entered for making it a wonderful parade, and all the companies that provided the vehicles.”

Mark added: “All the local groups that performed in the arena were well received, and it great to have them show the rest of the town what they work so hard at all the year round, and the Shires RBL Youth Band were again welcomed to lead the procession and perform in the arena.

“My personal thanks to my team for their efforts all through the year, and to the volunteers who came and helped us on the day.”

With the event done and dusted for 2017, organisers are already planning for Carnival 2018, which will be on July 14.

Mark said: “We are inviting suggestions for the theme, which need to with us by July 31 – send to chairman@leightoncarnival.co.uk. We will run a ballot on the carnival website www.leightoncarnival.co.uk throughout August to choose the most popular theme suggestion.

“If anyone had photos or video of carnival that they would allow us to put on our website, please contact us. We are particularly keen to build up our library of pictures from the 1950-2000 especially of the Carnival Courts. Many of the pictures of the Queens and Princesses we have from that era are poor quality and do not do those people justice.”

See the July 11 issue of the LBO for 3 pages of pictures from the event.

Leighton Buzzard Town a second suffered a shock defeat in a row, this time at the hands of bottom club Oxford and Bletchingdon Nondescripts to blow open the Cherwell Division 2 title race.

Having lost last Saturday to Oxford 2nds, who had occupied bottom spot, Nondies did the very same to Leighton, having slipped to the bottom last week.

Their 47 run win means Jack Kempster’s side slip to fifth in the table, but there are just six points separating the top five, with Challow and Childrey leading the way.

In Kempster’s absence this week, stand-in captain Dan Scott won the toss and elected to bowl first, a decision that look to have paid off as opening bowler James Aldridge struck twice early to reduce the visitors to 30-2.

But, then the visitors wrestled back the initiative through Shah (55) and Day (54) as they looked poised to post a big total.

The introduction of spin duo Lee Selfe and Anthony Francis prompted a swing in momentum, as they dismissed both players and dragged Town back into the game.

The pair picked up the last seven wickets to fall in quick time to dismiss the visitors for a slightly under par score of 201, a total that the hosts were confident of chasing. Francis ending with figures of 4- 57 and Selfe 3-43.

Towns reply got off to poor start as opening bowler Saleem tore through the top order to reduce Town to 25-4.

Things didn’t get much better and three more wickets went down quickly as Town slumped to 70-7.

Captain Scott was the only batsman to show any resistance as he then in partnership with the lower order brought up his own half century, to at one point give Town a brief glimpse of victory.

But when he departed for an excellent 73 any chance of a Town victory went with him, and the home team were bowled out for 154, to register a 47 run defeat.

Leighton will be keen to get their promotion push back on track next week when they travel to Sandford St Martin.

Leighton 2nds didn’t fare much better in their Division 5 clash with Long Marston, going down by five wickets.

Town batted first and though excellent half centuries from Riaan Krynauw (56) and Captain Andy Smith (58) posted a competitive looking 197 from their 50 overs.

Unfortunately, this didn’t prove to be enough as the bowlers found wickets difficult to come by and Marston reached their victory target for the loss of just five wickets. Andy Smith was the pick of the bowlers finishing with 3-47.

Great Brickhill 2nds remain second from bottom of Division 3 despite an excellent victory over Banbury 3rds.

Big knocks from Lawrence Armstrong (49), Greg MacDonald (77), James Clark (59) and Omar Hanif (62) set Brickhill towards a huge total of 295-5.

And with Edwards Marshall putting in an unplayable spell, taking 6-23, Banbury were skittled for 201 to hand Brickhill a comfortable 94 run victory, but they stay second from bottom.

Campaigners opposing a decision to place all Leighton Buzzard’s market stalls on one side of the High Street say they have held “positive” talks with the town council.

Leighton Buzzard Market Traders (LBMT) campaign group presented a 2,045-signature petition to the council last Tuesday when they met at the Pantry cafe in the town centre.

The new market layout, which is lined up for mid-August, would see all stalls based on the north side of the High Street.

However long-established market traders have been threatening to quit, while others fear for their future livelihoods over the changes.

LBMT spokesman David Overton said the meeting had been “positive”, with a follow-up gathering due to take place tomorrow (Tuesday).

He said: “We all wish the best for the market and we hope that the further deliberations by the council following our comments to date, and on Tuesday, will result in an updated council offering to traders to help deliver a workable, refreshed market together.”

Leader of the council, Cllr Ewan Wallace, town clerk Mark Saccoccio, and chairman of the market sub-committee, Cllr Mark Freeman, plus several other councillors met with the campaigners.

Cllr Wallace said: “It was a very constructive meeting and it was good to hear directly from many traders.

“My councillor colleagues and I were pleased to have the opportunity to dispel some myths that had grown up such as the compulsory use of gazebos.

“As they say ‘it’s good to talk’ and at the end of the day talking things through face to face in good faith is always the best way resolve issues.

“I think most who attended found that there wasn’t much between us after a few misunderstandings had been resolved. Sometimes the bureaucratic process of local government fails to provide clarity and proper engagement.

“I was particularly pleased to receive the petition which clearly demonstrated to me the passion of local people for the market.

“This shows we have a strong bedrock on which to build on what is best and deliver a thriving market into the future.

“We hope to meet again early next week to resolve the remaining issues.

“Afterwards, what is needed is a genuine partnership between traders, council officers and councillors to ensure so we get the best return on the Town Council’s significant new investment to ensure the market continues to be a valuable asset to our town.”

Cllr Wallace added: “We are coming back to the traders on all issues. This includes the layout and yes there is flexibility within the current plan.”

One of the biggest food events in the area returns to Milton Keynes on Sunday July 16.

The fourth installment of the MK FEAST takes place at Bradwell Abbey.

Initiated by MK Food Revolution, the festival will showcase the best of Milton Keynes’ home-grown products and produce in a family-friendly and relaxed atmosphere.

For this month’s edition of MK FEAST, 14 cold food stalls, five artists, two charities and ten street food vans will set up camp for the day. Traders will be occupy both of the historical barns as well as the court yard.

Apart from a wider selection of street food, there will be face painting for the kids as well as live music for everyone. A local craft beer bar will be run by Milton Keynes’ specialist beer shop, the MK Biergarten.

Franzi Florack, the event organiser, said: "Last year MK FEAST was such a success that we ran three events over 12 months. This year, we want to focus on one brilliant summer party which showcase all the brilliant products which are created so close to our doorstep and celebrate the traders who make them happen.

"We are especially proud that all of our producers are based either in or very close to MK, and the addition of entertainment and a bar should tempt lots of people to join us for the day. It’s a very family-friendly, free event and we’d love for as many people as possible to show their support for a more independent Milton Keynes.’

Bradwell Abbey has played hosts to all three previous FEASTs and provides a stunning backdrop, decorated with homemade bunting and flower decorations from social enterprise Branch-Out. The first FEAST in February 2016 was organised due to a lack of city-centre opportunities for independent traders.

Miss Florack said her organisation are keen to increase awareness about sustainable food production.

The event runs from 11am to 4pm, visitors will be able to tuck into all kinds of street food, from Indian, Mexican and American dishes to burgers, locally made sausages and pizza. Vegan and vegetarian dishes will also be on offer.

The farmers market will boast locally made meat, bread, chocolate, chutneys, honey, juices and cakes and visitors can round off their day by shopping for soap, photography and other art as well as flowers from the area.

For further information about the event visit www.mkfoodrevolution.org.

Mentmore Road Under Fives Preschool is holding an open morning on Wednesday, July 12.

Visitors are welcome to the Preschool, based in The Pavilion on the playing fields, Mentmore Road, from 10am till 11.30am.

The open day gives parents and children the opportunity to look round the preschool, see the children in action and speak with members of staff.

The Preschool has spaces for funded and non funded children from ages two to five.

For more information the open day or Mentmore Road Under Fives Preschool, call 07845 971542 or visit: www.mentmoreroadunderfives.co.uk.

A scammer from Great Billington has been jailed for nine months alongside his partner-in-crime after exploiting two elderly residents.

John O’Reilly, of Stanbridge Road, and his cohort Tommy Fury, of Chipping Norton, gave a £100 quote for repairs to an elderly man’s roof in April 2016.

But this gradually rose to a staggering £35,000 as the pair found more “work” to do. The repairs were not needed and last Friday, July 7, the rogue duo were jailed at Aylesbury Crown Court.

They had previously given suspended sentences for a similar crime in 2014.

Passing sentence, Mr Recorder J Boothby described the pair’s actions as a “mean, low crime that inflicted misery on old and vulnerable people”.

He added: “Both you have done it before, both of you knew that you would go to prison the next time you did this. Suspended sentences don’t work with you and therefore you will go to prison immediately.”

The court was told that the elderly man had called in the pair’s firm, Weathershield Roofing, in April 2016 to repair the flat roof at his Dagnall home. After an initial quote of £100, the pair returned the following day and hiked the quote to £5,000, saying the whole roof needed replacing.

Both Fury and O’Reilly then asked to inspect the loft and returned to say the rafters needed replacing at a cost of £35,000.

Prosecutor Alexander Greenwood said the resident wrote a cheque for £20,000 in Mr O’Reilly’s name but the following day he realised he had been conned and called family members.

When they inspected the loft, they could find no damage or defect to the rafters and they raised the alarm.

When the two men returned the following day to start work, Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards officers were waiting for them.

The court also heard of their dealings with another elderly resident in Dagnall. An original £300 quote for repairs to her shed roof had turned into a £1,600 bill for new guttering, although the price was dropped to £1,300.

Surveyor Charles Leigh-Dugmore, called in by Trading Standards to assess the value of the work, said he considered the work done by the two men at the first house was worthless and that, anyway, there was nothing wrong with the timbers and insulation in the loft.

His report on the work they did at the second house valued it at just over £250 (ex VAT), although a reasonable professional rate would have been around £650 (ex VAT).

Bucks County Council cabinet member for community engagement Noel Brown said: “I’m really grateful to the family for getting in touch so quickly. An early alert from family or watchful neighbours is just what we need to give our team valuable time to catch these criminals.

“Our elderly and vulnerable residents have a right to feel safe and secure from excessive overcharging by preying scammers. This case demonstrates that we are doing our utmost to rid Buckinghamshire of this kind of mean crime.”

HF Holidays has a proud history spanning over 100 years and throughout that time it has had to move with the times. After a century of changes, the ethos at the heart of its holidays is still the same – beautiful locations, great leaders and pleasant sociable evenings.

As the UK's only holiday co-operative they have come a long way but that doesn't stop them ooking forward. In fact it only excites them and it's with that excitement that their very own country house, Monk Coniston has received a top Green Tourism award.

It's in recognition of its sustainability efforts, for Monk Coniston has been granted Green Tourism’s Gold status, the highest award possible in recognition of the HF Holiday's team’s industry leading sustainability practices.

Following this, they are also proud to announce that Larpool Hall in Whitby has been awarded Silver Status while Harrington House in Bourton-on-the-Water achieved Bronze, making it great year for its sustainability goals.

HF Holidays also continues to create a fantastic, safe environment for its gluten free guests and have achieved the official Coeliac UK Gluten Free Award accreditation – three years running!

They give credit to all of the houses that took part in this round of audits, but also to all of those who have continued to create a safe environment for our guests as well as accompanying other guests with their dietary requirements.

They take great pride in caring for guests and take massive responsibility with your trust; therefore you can continue to rely on us to provide you with delicious meals.

The company were also proud winners of the Best Activity Tour Operator at the Silver Travel Awards! Jim Forward, the company's CEO, accepted the award and couldn't wipe the smile of his face!

Following this, HF Holidays turned its attentions to the 2017 Group Leisure Awards and 2017 Telegraph Travel Awards, where with your support, they are hoping to add to their tally of awards for 2017.

Ten books to read on your next English holiday

We've uncovered some great books to read and their locations when you next take an English holiday. From afternoon tea in Wordsworth's former home in the Lake District as you read his famous poetry, to All Creatures Great and Small enjoyed in Herriot Country, the inspiration behind this great book. And as this is the 'Year of the Literary Heroes', grab your book and get ready for an immersive English literary holiday.

Monica Ali: Brick Lane, East London

Join London's edgy and artistic crowd and explore Brick Lane, the inspiration for the popular book of the same name by Monica Ali. Visit on a Sunday and grab a bargain at Brick Lane's eclectic market, brimming with second-hand clothes, furniture and bric-a-brac and then onto one of the many Bangladeshi curry houses, where you'll dine with the locals – but do get there early. Retire to a serene guestroom at the uber-cool Hoxton Hotel with your copy of this modern classic for some down time – rooms from £109.

thehoxton.com

PD James: The Children of Men – Southwold, Suffolk

Play homage to PD James with a trip to the pretty coastal town of Southwold in Suffolk, where large parts of her novel, The Children of Men, were set. Stay in a holiday cottage located in the high street, close to the holiday home where PD James wrote some of her best-selling detective novels, and really get under the skin of this dystopian book. A week at Lower East Lodge in June costs from £420. solely-southwold.co.uk/lower-east-lodge

visitsuffolk.com/blog

Graham Greene: Brighton Rock, Brighton

Buy a stick of rock and find yourself a great spot on Brighton beach, next to the Pier (Palace Pier in the book), to immerse yourself in this edgy novel. Then visit The Lanes, located in Brighton's historic quarter, where you can weave your way through the alleyways full of independent shops, cafes and restaurants. Stay in the heart of the action with Brighton Lanes Apartments. Prices from £385 per week, based on four sharing. visitbrighton.com/accommodation

Daphne du Maurier: Rebecca, Fowey, Cornwall

Take a boat trip along the Fowey River and you'll see Readymoney Cove, the place where du Maurier once lived. Get lost in Rebecca as you travel past the coastal landscapes that inspired her famous novels. Pop into the du Maurier Literary Centre, located in the Tourist Information Centre, which is full of information about this famous author. Rooms at The Fowey Hotel start at £109. foweyfestival.com

Ian McEwan: On Chesil Beach, Dorset

Pack a picnic and enjoy a long refreshing walk along Chesil Beach in Dorset, the setting of the heart-breaking novel by Booker prize-winning author Ian McEwan. It spans 18-miles, connecting Portland to Abbotsbury and is the largest Tombolo in England. This bank of pebbles will play a significant part in next year's release of the film adaptation of the novel, of which Saoirse Ronan will star as Florence. Stay a night or two in the Heights Hotel, Isle of Portland, and book a room with a view over Chesil beach itself. Is there a more inspirational place to enjoy this book? Prices from £120 per room, per night, based on two sharing. visit-dorset.com

DH Lawrence: Lady Chatterley's Lover, Eastwood, Nottinghamshire

Enjoy this racy Victorian novel with an overnight stay at Eastwood Hall, in DH Lawrence's hometown. Discover the influences and humble beginnings of one of the most controversial authors of this time, through the Blue Line Trail (free to download). You will see his former home, including the DH Lawrence Birthplace Museum, the Mechanics Institute where Lawrence would borrow books, and the Congregational Chapel and British School where he taught. Superior Rooms from £82 based on two adults sharing. The DH Lawrence Birthplace Museum is open from Tuesday to Saturday, 10 – 4pm. Prices: Adult: £6.90. Children: £3.50. eastwoodhallhotel.co.uk

James Herriot: All Creatures Great and Small, North Yorkshire

Immerse yourself in this classic book-turned-TV-series based on the memoirs of a Yorkshire vet as you discover Herriot Country with its grand sweeping hills and the valleys of the North York Moors. Take a visit to The World of James Herriot – a museum set in his hometown of Thirsk. Explore the 1940s home where you will see the original Austin 7 car as featured in the TV series alongside the world's largest collection of Herriot memorabilia. Prices: Adults £8.50. Children: £5. worldofjamesherriot.com/

Wordsworth's Poetry: Lake District

“I wander'd lonely as a cloud” is the famous line from the quintessential Lake District poem, Daffodlils. Learn all about one of England's finest romantic poets and discover Wordsworth's Grasmere on a free two-hour, 3.7 mile walk on 29 April. Then take a short journey to Rydal Mount and Gardens in Ambleside, the historic family home of William Wordsworth, where you can enjoy an afternoon cream tea in Wordsworth's dining room as you read your complimentary Wordsworth Daffodils poem. Prices: Free (donations welcome). Places are limited to 20 people. Book in advance for Afternoon Tea. £15 per person – max six people.

lakedistrict.gov.uk/visiting/events/lake-district/import-walk/wordsworths-grasmere

rydalmount.co.uk

Emily Brontë: Wuthering Heights, West Yorkshire

Stay at the family-run Apothecary Guest House, set opposite the famous Brontë Church with panoramic views of the surrounding moors - the perfect spot to read Wuthering Heights. Continue with the ultimate Brontë experience, a visit to Brontë Treasures at the Brontë Parsonage Museum, just up the road. This is a private tour led by the curator of the museum, providing a unique insight into the lives and work of this inspirational family, with close-up viewing of previously-unseen items in the Parsonage Library. Double Rooms from £65, based on two people sharing (B&B) – book a room to the rear for views. Brontë Treasures is limited to 12 people, book in advance via the website. Tickets £85.

bronte.org.uk/whats-on/371/bronte-treasures/364

theapothecaryguesthouse.co.uk

Arthur Ransome: Swallows and Amazons, Coniston, Lake District

Relax in true Swallows style with an afternoon cruise aboard Steam Yacht Gondola, the inspiration behind Captain Flint's houseboat, as you journey down 'The Amazon River' and Octopus Lagoon'. Then grab a seat at the Bluebird Café, overlooking Coniston water and lose yourself in your copy of Swallows and Amazons. Price Adult £11, Child £6 – NT members: Adult £9.90, Child £5.40. Book in advance. nationaltrust.org.uk/steam-yacht-gondola

thebluebirdcafe.co.uk/