Police are investigating after an elderly woman in Leighton Buzzard had her bank cards stolen by a distraction thief.

The man approached the victim in Leighton Road at approximately 2.45pm on Friday (November 24) and asked her for directions.

While distracting her with his phone the man took the bank cards from her purse, before returning it to her trolley and leaving.

An investigation is ongoing, and anyone who has any information about the incident is asked to contact police on 101, quoting crime number JD/51619/2017.

A holidaymaker has been left red-faced and potentially scarred for life - by a henna tattoo MOUSTACHE.

Arran Maye, 28, had an allergic reaction to the ‘temporary’ tattoo he got on his FACE in Benidorm - and doctors in intensive care warned he could need a skin graft.

The plumber and his mate Adam Lewis, 29, both got the £9 inkings as part of their ‘Mexican’ themed fancy dress night out.

And while Adam’s faded in a few days, Arran’s face immediately started to tingle before his face swelled up and he was left with puss dripping from the inking.

He rushed to hospital from the airport after the extreme allergic reaction caused his airways to narrow, and he ended up in intensive care.

Gutted Arran is in recovery but had to go back to work with his new facial decoration.

Daft Arran, from Leicester, said: “I’ve managed to see the funny side of it. I mean, what choice do I have?

“I look a right idiot though.

“I’ve had one before years ago and it was fine but I guess that wasn’t on my face.

Swelling

“It was fine at first but then it got tingly, the next day it was blistering and pussing and by Sunday my face was a balloon.

“The doctors said 100 per cent you’re going to have a scar for six months.

“It will be exactly in the outline of a moustache.

“They did mention a skin graft and that it might be permanent. I was trying not to hear it to be honest.”

Arran and Adam were on a six-day break to fancy dress festival Benidorm Fiesta on November 14 with 20 mates.

Three days in, after a couple of pints, the pair paid 10 euros each for matching henna curly moustache tattoos which took “about a minute”.

“We’d only had a few pints as it was 2pm so we still had half our senses - or should have anyway,” said Arran.

They claim the ‘artist’ in the shop told them it would wash off naturally in a couple of days - or could be cleaned off instantly with nail varnish remover.

“Stupidly we believed him,” said Arran. “We thought it would be a good laugh for our costume that night.”

Blisters

Single Arran said it started to tingle slightly in a matter of minutes but when he woke up the next day his face was swollen and blistered.

He still went out that night - dressed up again as a ‘Mexican’ after he couldn’t remove the tattoo - but the next day his blisters were bursting and pussing (Sun).

He added: “It was like my face was trying to push out the henna.

“The pus was pouring out and my face was huge and it was so painful. I was in agony.”

He tried a number of home remedies - including toothpaste, olive oil and salt - and visited three pharmacies for tablets, creams and soaps.

They dashed to the airport and boarded a plane but Arran’s allergy to PPD - the chemical in henna - got worse and his airways started to narrow onboard, he claims.

“Twenty minutes from landing my airways were closing up. I had to just try and relax.

“When we landed they tried to rush us through but when I got to passport control the guy was being funny about letting us through.

Intensive care

“My picture is really old anyway, but of course with your face it like a balloon with a moustache it doesn’t help.”

Pals drove him from Luton to their local hospital Leicester Royal Infirmary where he was rushed into intensive care, given a breathing mask and stayed for two nights.

Medics reduced the swelling with medicine, and consulted a plastic surgeon who warned the scarring could be permanent.

Arran, who still has a red burn shape in the perfect shape of his tattoo, said he tried wearing a balaclava-type face cover but was “getting funny looks”.

“Work think I’m a numpty,” he said.

“The hospital staff were great. They did laugh - after I stopped turning blue.”

Medical experts have pointed out that the substance painted on Arran’s face was illegal ‘black henna’ which while colloquially known as ‘henna’ is a different substance which contains chemical PPD.

Henna is a natural and legal substance that doesn’t cause allergic reactions and doesn’t contain PPD.

Adventurous young farmers from Leighton Buzzard raised an incredible £17,000 for charity after tackling three of the highest mountains in the UK.

On Friday, November 17, Leighton Buzzard Young Farmers Club (LBYFC) presented Florence Nightingale Hospice and local charity KidsOut with cheques worth £8,743 each, after the team received sponsorship for climbing the highest mountains in Scotland, England, and Wales.

Between 4pm on June 2 and 4pm on June 3, 19 intrepid club members drove over 450 miles to complete their challenge, finishing in an impressive 22 hours and 51 minutes.

A Leighton Buzzard Young Farmers Club spokesman, said: “We are feeling very proud of our achievements - we raised far more than we ever expected!

“At the first mountain, Ben Nevis (Scotland), we were all raring to go. We started in the late afternoon and had to get up and down before sunset.

“It was the tallest mountain of the three and we had to pick up the pace on the way down.

“We then got into the cars and the drivers had some food ready - pizzas!”

After completing Ben Nevis in around five hours, the team headed to Scafell Pike, England, arriving at the rather unfriendly hour of 2am.

The spokesman said: “We got out and started climbing in the pitch black. We had our head torches so it wasn’t too bad and made sure we all stuck together, reaching the top just as the sun was rising.

“We were back on the road by 6.30am and our team started to ascend Snowdon (Wales), the final mountain, at around 11am. The journey down was the hardest with everyone beginning to feel the lack of sleep.

“However, they powered through on adrenaline and the thought of returning to their comfortable beds!”

The cheque presentation, including charity guests, took place at Wing Village Hall.

The money given to Florence Nightingale Hospice, Aylesbury, will go towards providing care for local people and families affected by life-limiting illness.

Meanwhile, KidsOut, Leighton Buzzard, will use the donations for Christmas gift boxes and a day trip for disadvantaged children.

The spokesman added: “This wouldn’t have happened without a number of local businesses. The club would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone who has donated, especially George Browns, who have supported us from day one.

“Finally, we cannot thank our drivers enough.”

To join the LBYFC, email: info@lbyfc.co.uk or call chairman, Will Roff, on: 07909 680807.

Sentimental Brits would prefer to receive a Christmas card than a text or email, a study has found.

Researchers found despite high tech methods to deliver messages of goodwill, most still yearn for a good old fashioned handwritten card.

Half of adults polled in the Oxfam study would be devastated to receive a festive communication over social media instead of a heartfelt Christmas card.

Eight in ten admit they’d hate to see technology taking over one of their favourite times of the year, and 64 per cent think those who don’t bother to send a card have lost the true spirit of Christmas.

An overwhelming 83 per cent believe more thought and feeling goes into the written word than a quick-fire text message or post.

And nine in ten adults still believe a Christmas card is the most fitting festive greeting of all.

Fee Gilfeather, Head of Customer Experience at Oxfam, said: “Us Brits love our traditions, and this survey proves our nation is united when it comes to festive greetings.

“Electronic messages just can’t replace reading a handwritten message from a well-wisher, or the lovely decoration they bring when strung up at home.”

Two thirds of those polled admitted they would be offended to receive a Christmas text, festive photo filter or seasonal status update from parents, siblings or a best friend.

Distant relations

According to seven in ten, these types of messages during the festive period are only appropriate for distant acquaintances - and even then a considerable two thirds still preferred a card through the mail than a message in an inbox.

Two thirds of Brits are warmed by the idea of the thought and effort that goes into choosing, writing and posting a Christmas card - while 37 per cent look forward to reading the greeting inside.

Half of those polled feel sending a card shows someone really cares - and for one in ten, the sound of a card coming through the letterbox makes them feel a little less lonely.

On the other hand, 46 per cent said digital greetings are too easy to send, and lack the thought and effort that a traditional hand written card brings.

More than one third disliked the thought of online friends firing off messages to everyone in their contacts list, like a Christmas conveyor belt.

But if Christmas cards is a numbers game, Brits are totalling some impressive festive figures: sending an average of 23 greetings each year, and spending an average 45 minutes writing them - approximately two minutes on each.

Though there are many people to consider, and much to say when carefully crafting cards each December - unsurprisingly, parents received the lengthiest messages, while best friends, siblings and children also receive detailed tidings.

Christmas round robin

More than four in ten adults said they use Christmas cards as a round robin - a traditional way of communicating to distant family and friends what has happened during the year - and seven in ten considered it a fantastic way of keeping in touch.

But it’s not always the season of goodwill when it comes to Christmas greetings - as almost one in ten have ‘defriended’ someone because they didn’t receive anything from them.

What’s more, a name spelt wrong and a card received after Christmas were considered the ultimate faux pas - as was a stamped name and a hastily scrawled signature.

While one in five feel nauseous receiving personalised cards of a beaming family, including the family pet among the list of senders also makes the list of seasonal social blunders.

Through only one third of adults feel every single card message should be different from another, eight in ten Brits said Christmas cards receive more thought and feeling than a digital greeting ever could.

Great strides forwards... and backwards.

The saying one step forward, two steps back exists for a reason, much to the disappointment of Star Wars fans.

The 2015 release of Star Wars Battlefront was widely criticised for placing too much focus on its flawed multiplayer and inexplicably ignoring single player altogether.

Well I can happily report that DICE have addressed that issue and taken a real step forward with a solid and enjoyable single player campaign in Battlefront 2.

In fact with a focus on single player, making its blasters and weapons feel vastly superior to the first game and a much-improved roster of Star Wars characters then it has to be said SWB2 is a sequel which improves upon its predecessor in some major ways.

Fourteen beautiful crafted maps set across the entire 40-year history of the series and what’s not to like?

That’s where the two steps back come in.

Anyone who has read up elsewhere on the game will undoubtedly already know this but unfortunately there is no getting away from it, the terrible progression system and disjointed storytelling are huge setbacks.

As I have touched on the game is visually stunning, there is an exciting scope of online battles and impressive set-pieces in the single-player campaign (which just by virtue of existing is an improvement on the last game).

The Starfighter Assault makes for some memorable Star Wars battle action and the controls play their part too.

But the rage-inducing complexity of the progression system in multiplayer is exacerbated by convoluted and cumbersome menus and poor tutorials.

Predictable twists make the story feel cheap but then the same accusation could be leveled at the classic films themselves.

There is also too much emphasis on the random loot drops and microtransactions which has sparked a lot of criticism elsewhere and rightly so.

If there’s one thing that Star Wars Battlefront II accomplishes though, it is capturing that unmistakable magic of the series and the fact you are flying, running and blasting your way around the Star Wars universe.

There is more content, a single-player campaign (although it does feel strange praising a game for the inclusion of this!) and superb graphics and sound. But it is all counterbalanced - rather ironically - by the progression system which is regressive in terms of the overall SWB2 experience.

Almost 800,000 cancer cases a year are caused by being overweight or diabetic, a study shows.

And women who are carrying too many pounds are almost twice as likely to develop the disease as men, according to the research.

The staggering toll underlines the dangers of the obesity epidemic - especially among children.

It’s the first time the number of cancers likely to be caused by the conditions has been calculated.

The results are particularly worrying for the UK with more than two thirds of men and almost six in ten women overweight or obese.

More than four million Britons are living with diabetes - about nine-in-ten with the type 2 form linked to obesity.

Cancers caused by diabetes and being overweight or obese were almost twice as common in women as men - accounting for 496,700 and 295,900 respectively.

Breast cancer was the commonest cancer - accounting for 147,400 cases or 29.7 per cent.

Endometrial cancer - which begins in the lining of the womb - was the second with 121,700 cases linked (24.5%).

Diabetes link

Lead author Dr Jonathan Pearson-Stuttard, of Imperial College London’s School of Public Health, said: “While obesity has been associated with cancer for some time the link between diabetes and cancer has only been established quite recently.

“Our study shows diabetes - either on its own or combined with being overweight - is responsible for hundreds of thousands of cancer cases each year across the world.”

High insulin or glucose levels, chronic inflammation and sex hormone disruption could be behind the alarming phenomenon.

The researchers say the figures highlight the need for effective food policies to tackle overweight and diabetes.

They also called for doctors to be aware of the high cancer risk carried by people of all ages who are overweight, have diabetes or both.

The study published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology found nearly six per cent of new worldwide cancer cases in 2012 were caused by the combined effects of diabetes and being overweight (BMI of over 25) or obese (over 30).

Dr Pearson-Stuttard said: “Both clinical and public health efforts should focus on identifying effective preventive, control and screening measures to structurally alter our environment, such as increasing the availability and affordability of healthy foods, and reducing the consumption of unhealthy foods.

“It’s vital coordinated policies are implemented to tackle the shared risk factors and complications of chronic diseases such as obesity and diabetes.

“In the past, smoking was by far the major risk factor for cancer, but now healthcare professionals should also be aware that patients who have diabetes or are overweight also have an increased risk of cancer.”

High BMI

Being overweight was responsible for twice as many cases with 544,300 due to a high BMI (body mass index) - equivalent to 3.9 per cent. Diabetes caused 280,100 - or two per cent.

One-in-four of the latter in 2012 (77,000) were attributable to the worldwide rise in diabetes between 1980 and 2002.

Just under a third of weight-related cancer cases in 2012 (174,000) were attributable to the worldwide rise in the number of overweight and obese people over the same period.

The researchers say if global rates of diabetes and overweight continue to rise the share of cancers due to them will increase by over 30 per cent in women and 20 per cent in men by 2035.

Almost nine-in-ten people living with type 2 diabetes are overweight or have obesity. People who are overweight or have obesity have added pressure on their body’s ability to use insulin to properly control blood sugar levels, and are therefore more likely to develop diabetes.

The study gathered data on cases of 12 types of cancer from 175 countries in 2012. They combined this with information on diabetes and high BMI and on diabetes - matching the sets by age group and gender.

Commonest cancers

The two factors accounted for a quarter of liver cancers and more than a third of all endometrial cancers worldwide.

In men, liver cancer was the commonest cancer caused by diabetes and high BMI, accounting for 126,700 cases, or 42.8 per cent of all cancers caused by diabetes and high BMI.

Bowel cancer was the second most common - accounting for 63,200 new cases or 21.4 per cent.

The most cancer cases were seen in high-income western countries (38.2 per cent, 303,000 of 792,600 cases).

But the largest increases from 1980 to 2002 were seen in low and middle-income countries.

The researchers said diabetes is associated with bowel, pancreas, liver, gallbladder, breast and endometrial cancers.

High BMI is associated with multiple myeloma, bowel, gallbladder, pancreas, kidney, liver, endometrial, breast, ovarian, stomach, thyroid and oesophageal cancers.

Supermarket giant Morrison’s has pulled its chicken and mushroom pies off its shelves - because some are actually fish pies.

The Yorkshire retailer had to withdraw its Morrisons Traditional Chicken & Mushroom Pie because some may actually contain fish and mustard.

This could pose a health risk to anyone who is allergic to these ingredients which are not labelled on the packs.

The 400g pies affected have a use by date of 4th December.

The supermarket said: Morrisons is recalling the above product because it may contain mustard and fish that are not declared on the label.

“This means the product could pose a possible health risk to anyone with an allergy or intolerance to these allergens.

“We are asking all customers with a mustard or fish allergy or intolerance not to consume this product and return it to their nearest store for a full refund.

“No other products are affected by this issue.

“We apologise for the inconvenience this may cause and assure customers of our continuing commitment to the highest standard of product quality and safety.”

The Food Standards Agency added: “Morrisons is recalling Traditional Chicken & Mushroom Pie because a small number of packs have been identified to contain Fish Pies.

“The Fish Pie contains fish and mustard which are not mentioned on the label and therefore are a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy to mustard and/or fish.

“If you have bought the above product and have an allergy to fish and / or mustard, do not eat it.

“Instead return it to the store from where it was bought for a full refund.

“No other Morrisons products are known to be affected.”

A tragic loss has lead a young widower to speak out in support of a Chichester hospice.

This year, Matt Rixon lost his wife Andrea to breast cancer.

Andrea was only 39 when she died a month before the couple’s 10th wedding anniversary. with husband Matt, her mum and her siblings by her side.

Matt said this will be his first Christmas without his wife and Hannah and Jamie, their young children, miss Andrea every day.

The couple met when he was aged 17 and she was 22.

“Sadly, she was diagnosed with breast cancer three years ago, when our son Jamie was just four months old.”

One year after reconstruction to her breast, Andrea was told the cancer had spread to her liver and only chemotherapy would be possible. After the chemotherapy ended in January, the cancer was back.

The family found it very difficult to hear this news and Andrea fought to keep life as normal as possible.

Matt said: “We were devastated. After a short stay in hospital she came home, but we were quickly referred to the care of St Wilfrid’s, our local hospice in Chichester.”

Despite the anguish of what they were going through, after Andrea’s death Matt said he really felt the need to let people know how important the care of the hospice was to him in the last days of Andrea’s life.

“I didn’t feel like this because my story is unique, it’s not. So many patients, their family and friends, benefit from St Wilfrid’s, but I never thought we would need their help and certainly not so early in life.

“Despite the sadness, I want to thank the hospice and all its supporters, because without it our family would not have been able to receive the care and support we have valued so much.”

In the last days Andrea spent on the St Wilfrid’s Hospice ward, the family were able to form fond memories, including Hannah having her first holy communion.

Andrea was too unwell to go to the hospice chapel, so the service was held in her room to ensure she did not miss out.

Visiting times were not restricted and the children were free to play in the garden or watch television.

Family and friends came to visit and Matt said Andrea was ‘so pleased’ to see close friends meet for the first time, something she had always wanted.

“Of course it was distressing, but I felt we got to say our goodbyes in the best way possible.”

Matt Rixon, the widower of young mum Andrea Rixon, who died earlier this year at St Wilfrid’s hospice, is encouraging others to support the charity, especially in the run-up to Christmas.

Matt said: “I honestly don’t know how we would have coped if St Wilfrid’s nurses hadn’t been there to help us all during Andrea’s last days. I continue to receive their valuable bereavement counselling.”

Before Andrea died, she expressed a wish to be laid to rest next to her father, who also received St Wilfrid’s care some years earlier. Since her death, Matt’s uncle has also died under the hospice’s care.

Matt is now backing St Wilfrid’s 2017 Christmas appeal, which aims to raise some of the £20,000 a day needed to run the hospice.

It only receives 15 per cent of its funds from the National Health Service (NHS) – the rest has to be raised locally in the community.

Matt said: “St Wilfrid’s is a charity and I’d like to ask you to please consider a donation today, of whatever you can afford, to help enable other people to receive such priceless care this Christmas and beyond.

“I want the hospice’s services to be available to as many local people, like my family, as possible. Together, we can ensure that their care can continue now and into the future.”

St Wilfrid’s head of fundraising and communications Jerry Doyle said: “We are incredibly grateful to Matt for speaking out like this and being so passionate about supporting our Christmas appeal.

“It is the family’s first Christmas without Andrea.”

As many people will be thinking of loved ones in the run-up to Christmas, Jerry said the hospice is holding two ‘remembrance events’.

One is at Chichester Cathedral on December 3 and the other in Hotham Park, Bognor Regis, on December 17.

The latter is a ‘first’ for the hospice and is intended to bring together people with ‘no religious connection’. Both start at 4pm and ‘everyone is welcome’.

Jerry said: “They will both give people a chance who have been bereaved, any time this year or in any year, to come together in a moving event with music and readings.”

To make a donation to the hospice’s Christmas appeal, visit www.stwh.co.uk/christmas, call 01243 755827 or post a donation to the hospice.

The age old problem of leaves on the line is being solved differently by Leighton Buzzard Railway this year.

Every autumn, the Leighton Buzzard Railway at Pages Park receives a deep covering of leaves from the line of trees behind the platforms.

And every year, the track gang (or more correctly the “Permanent Way” team as such people are known in railway circles) descends to gather them up.

But this year was slightly different!

Friends of the Earth volunteer Pipa Sandford helps run the Linslade Memorial Garden and needs leaves to rot down to make leaf-mould.

The Leighton Buzzard Railway heard of her request and Mike Bowley, of the railway’s Permanent Way team, was delighted to oblige.

On Monday, November 20, the team filled 17 bags for Pipa, who will store them for a couple of years until they rot down into usable, nutritious leaf-mould.

The Leighton Buzzard Railway is an accredited museum with a history linked with the sand quarrying industry around the town. The line runs to Stonehenge Works next to the sand quarries.

Visit www.buzzrail.co.uk to learn more.

A Leighton Buzzard girl who is hoping to take part in an International Service project in West Africa next month has hosted a successful fundraising event.

Freya Strangways held a quiz and curry night at the Jalori in Woburn Sands on November 21 to raise money for the charity.

International Service is a human rights charity that promotes the rights of minority groups such as women, children, those with disabilities and those living with HIV/AIDS.

Freya said: “I will be volunteering for them in Burkina Faso in West Africa from January for three months, living with a host family and working with members of the community and Burkinabe volunteers.

“In order to go to Burkina Faso, I need to raise £1,500.

“The money raised at the event will go towards my fundraising total for the charity, however, please be assured that no money goes towards the cost of my time spent volunteering, and instead goes towards the work done by the charity, for example, by providing materials required to help set up businesses.

“My fundraising night was a huge success, raising over £500 for the charity.

“I would like to say a massive thank you to The Jalori for hosting the event, and the people who donated raffle prizes; Sculptors, Ann McGuigans Hair and Beauty, Beauty by Ciara, Pizza Express Leighton Buzzard, Daytona Go-Karting Milton Keynes and Feet Therapy.

“If anyone would like to donate they can go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/freyastrangways.”

Residents of sheltered housing enjoyed an early Christmas lunch with the mayor of Leighton-Linslade.

Cllr Syed Rahman attended a Christmas lunch at Stanbridge Rugby Club hosted by St Barnabas and Taplow Lodges of Freemasons, both of which meet at the Masonic Centre in Linslade. The guests of honour were mainly residents of the local sheltered housing project.

The guests were greeted by the mayor and then offered a sherry or soft drink followed by a full Christmas lunch of turkey and all the trimmings, not forgetting the Christmas pudding.

After lunch, local group the Rock of Ages had the guests singing and dancing to a selection of rock and roll classics. After all the festive fun everyone settled down to tea, cakes and a raffle, before leaving for home.

David Ball, a past master of Taplow Lodge, acted as head steward and the meal was prepared by David’s wife, Jean Ball MBE. She was helped by some of the other wives of Lodge members, who were also in attendance to help serve the meals.

David said: “It is always a pleasure to host this Christmas event and we know that those attending have great fun and thoroughly enjoy themselves. It is one of the varied ways in which Buckinghamshire Freemasons’ core values of friendship, integrity and charity are used to benefit all members of our society, both young and old.”

An estate agency is helping to put a smile on children’s faces this Christmas.

Estate agency Connells in Leighton Buzzard has collected more than 100 boxes as part of Operation Christmas Child to donate to underprivileged children around the world.

The Christmas giving initiative, by international charity Samaritan’s Purse, a charity which has sent more than 120 million gift-filled shoeboxes to needy children since 1990, ran from November 1 until November 18. Boxes are now being distributed with the aim of reaching children around the world by Christmas Day.

The local Connells branch has taken part in Operation Christmas Child for several years, and acts as a drop-off point in the local community for the shoe boxes as well as driving the initiative with its employees and customers.

Connells esidential sales manager Phill Appleby said: “This is an incredibly worthwhile appeal and we are very proud to play a part in enabling all of the good work that Samaritans Purse does by supporting Operation Christmas Child again this year.

“Our business is reliant on our strong link with the community and taking part in Operation Christmas Child enables us to meet many more local people, bringing us all together at this traditional time of giving.

“We love opening up our doors to the community and being the local drop-off point for the shoe boxes.

“We would like to say a big thank you to all those who joined us in supporting this cause and generously brought in a box this year.”

British citizens who fear immigrants and thought they threatened their values and way of life were more likely to have voted Brexit.

And the results, partly driven by narcissism, were regardless of their age, gender or level of education.

The research, published in Frontiers in Psychology, identified ‘collective narcissism’ as a new voting variable.

Scientists from the UK, Poland and Portugal measured the effect of xenophobia on voting behaviour, and found that it was strongly related to voting in favour of Brexit.

Led by Dr Agnieszka Golec de Zavala, from Goldsmiths, University of London, the researchers then tried to establish what kind of people believe that immigrants threaten the UK.

They found three distinct groups: authoritarians, who fear other groups will threaten the status quo; people who compete for their group’s dominance over immigrants; and collective narcissists, who believe the UK is entitled to privileged treatment but complain this ‘true importance and value’ is not recognised by other countries.

Importantly, the research also found that people who just valued their British identity were not more likely to reject immigrants or vote for Brexit.

Dr Golec de Zavala said this research introduces collective narcissism as a new variable to consider when making predictions for political behavior.

She said: “From Brexit, Trump and support for Vladimir Putin in Russia to the nationalist, ultra- conservative government in Poland, studies from our and other labs show that collective narcissism systematically predicts prejudice, aggression and a tendency to interpret innocent behaviors as provocation to the national group.

“Collective narcissism is not a good attitude to have.

“We should study how this becomes a group norm and find ways of preventing it from happening and spreading.

“We should vet our leaders more carefully in this respect because leaders have the power to make such attitudes normative in their groups.”

The researchers also suggest that as the study was conducted after the referendum, it may be that the ‘yes’ vote increased people’s xenophobia, and made them feel more empowered to express xenophobic attitudes.

Any music fan will be aware of how vinyl records have become strangely fashionable again, with the retro format enjoying a resurgence as an alternative mp3 downloads and streaming.

But now it seems that its counterpart, the cassette, may been enjoying a similar resurgence.

According to Official Charts Company data, the humble tape is the fastest-growing format in the UK at the moment.

Sales of cassette albums have doubled in the space of a year - up 112% compared to 2016, thanks in part to big name acts like Jay Z , Royal Blood and Lana Del Rey releasing limited runs as a collector’s item for fans.

The biggest seller so far has been the soundtrack to Guardians of the Galaxy - ‘Awesone Mix vol. 1’ - the retro collection featuring tracks such as ELO’s ‘Mr. Blue Sky’ and Fleetwood Mac’s ‘The Chain’. It has also sold more than 70,000 copies on vinyl.

More than 80 albums have been released on cassette already this year, leading to over 20,000 sales to date.

That’s the highest annual total since 2006, bucking a trend which saw an all-time low (of less than 4,000 units sold) in 2012.

The best-selling non-compilation cassette so far this year is Kasabian’s album For Crying Out Loud, with 1,026 sales to date. It’s a small but not insignificant figure, given its limited run and exclusive availability on the band’s official website.

“That’s the best thing I’ve ever heard,” Serge Pizzorno told OfficialCharts.com, adding: “It’s about fan loyalty, I think. It’s about having a physical object. One of your favourite bands has put out an album and you want it on a different format that you can hold in your hands. It’s nice to see the sleeve and the artwork in a different way as well.”

Other releases whose cassette versions re selling well include albums by Enter Shikari, Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott, Arcade Fire, Gary Numan and Blondie.

However, cassettes will have some way to go before they get back to their status as top-selling format, 27 years ago - long before CDs, and the internet, had taken hold. Still, with vinyl’s rebirth, and with Christmas coming up, who knows?

Next have recalled a pair of children’s coats following the discovery that they could present a choking hazard.

The company say that despite “rigorous checking” taking place, a problem has come to light where buttons may become detached, presenting a choking hazard for young children.

The two items concerned are Navy Hooded Coat (with item code: 182560), and a Grey / Pink Fur Collar Coat (code: 191228).

A company spokesperson said: “We have identified that the bulk production has not achieved the same high standard consistently.

“We’ve taken the decision of recalling it and request that you return the coat to us for a full refund.”

Anyone who has purchased either item can call 0333 777 8185 to arrange a collection, or they can return the coat to their local store. Cutstomers who have given either coat as a gift should ask the recipient to contact Next.

Next added: “We’re very sorry for any disappointment and inconvenience caused, but we hope you’ll understand that customer safety is our highest priority.”

A burglar from Leighton Buzzard has been jailed after being caught with stolen property linking him to a break-in in Stotfold in July last year.

Stanley Wood, 28, of Oatfield Gardens, was handed a five-year jail sentence after being found guilty at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday.

In July 2016 Wood smashed the back door of a property in Campion Avenue, Stotfold, before ransacking the property and making off with various items including two Apple Macbooks, two iPhones and several items of jewellery.

Wood was captured on CCTV purchasing a crowbar shortly before the burglary.

Later that day a car which was seen in the area at the time of the burglary failed to stop in Baldock when police requested it to do so. After a short pursuit Wood was found to be in the vehicle and when it was later searched, police found several of the items that had been stolen, including a bag with the victim’s name on it.

Detective Constable Surinder Ram, investigating, said: “We are delighted to have taken another burglar off the streets of Bedfordshire and hope this sentence acts as a deterrent for those who think nothing of breaking into someone’s home. We are committed to tackling this distressing crime and will do all we can to take action against those who commit these callous acts against others.”

As thieves can take advantage of the darker nights, the force is reminding people to secure their homes and keep them lit. You can visit the burglary advice on the force website.

Plans to shut down the controversial Greenacres travellers’ site could be put on hold – because its residents have promised to behave better.

Central Beds Council officers received the pledge from a group of six travellers, said to be representing the whole site, when it met with them face to face during the formal consultation on the CBC’s £9m proposal to close Greenacres.

It was in July that the LBO first reported how CBC had devised the plan to acquire both Greenacres and nearby The Stables in Little Billington – if necessary by compulsory purchase – in order to establish a replacement council-owned and managed gypsy and traveller site.

It follows years of Greenacres hitting the headlines for all the wrong reasons with reports of crime, fly-tipping, open sewage and theft of water and electricity supplies. It was notably the centre of a human slavery scandal uncovered in 2011, which saw 24 people rescued. Although there are 56 authorised plots, 96 have now been confirmed to exist there.

With the August to November consultation period on its plan to close down the travellers’ sites over, the council’s Executive will consider the next move at its meeting on Wednesday, December 6.

But it appears the travellers have bought themselves more time, as officers are now suggesting “robust” council action to make the sites compliant with planning and licencing regulations, safe and well maintained, well managed and accessible to the authorities.

It is only if this doesn’t work that the council will look to press ahead with its original plan to acquire Greenacres and The Stables and build a new council-owned and managed site.

During the consultation, CBC had a total of 382 questionnaire responses, with a clear majority in favour of the option to acquire the site – although the travellers who responded by the form did not support this option. There was also “significant” public concern about the £9m cost of the council’s plan.

The Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group Gypsy and Travellers Health Inequalities Report pointed out to CBC that the site residents may have lower literacy levels than the general population.

The report to Executive reveals: “Therefore, to ensure that all residents had an opportunity to take part in the consultation, a team of eight officers visited the site to hand deliver the questionnaires and consultation documents to each accessible plot. Officers engaged with residents and assisted with the completion of questionnaires on the day and answered questions from residents on site at the time.”

A total of 16 people contacted the council on the dedicated consultation phoneline, with the majority identifying themselves as land owners or residents at The Stables and Greenacres,

The report states: “The majority of people who contacted the phoneline confirmed that they were not in favour of the council’s preferred option. The main issues related to land ownership, planning permissions, utility connections and homelessness. Some residents from the site have articulated very clearly that they would not move onto a new council owned gypsy and traveller site.

“On October 9, a meeting was held with six site residents. During the meeting officers sought clarification as to whether the residents were able to talk on behalf of all residents on the site. The residents confirmed that this was the case.

“Residents explained that they did not support the option to develop a new council managed site as they felt settled and did not want to sell their land and lose their homes. The council has established a productive and open dialogue with these key site residents. There is agreement on the need for change and residents were keen to work with the council on resolving issues on the site and maintaining longer term improvements and made several suggestions.”

CBC points out that the consultation has opened new dialogue with the travellers and seen them pledging to work with the council in the future.

But the report adds: “If the council and partners can work with residents this would be the most cost effective approach and possibly be more effective at resolving the issues in the longer term as the residents will be making changes themselves rather than having them imposed on them.

“However, the council has also been clear that the issues identified on this site must improve.

“The council’s position on the need for improvement has not changed and the acquisition of the site continues to be a viable long term option to address the issues on this site. Despite a range of multi-agency approaches to resolve the problems no tangible progress has been made and the situation continues to deteriorate.

“Improvements on the site must be made and they must be sustainable in the longer term. Using the available legislation to resolve the issues identified will prove challenging but it is essential that significant improvements are seen in the coming months.

“The level of improvement needed and timescales would be agreed by a Council Project Board involving key stakeholders.

“If sufficient improvement is not made on the site the council should then proceed with the original proposal to acquire the site.”

Councillors will also be asked at the Executive meeting to agree to the £9m cost being accounted for in the council’s Medium Term Financial Plan.

What do you think? Email news@lbobserver.co.uk.

Britain’s oldest poppy seller was the guest of honour at Friday’s Christmas lights switch on in Leighton Buzzard town centre.

102-year-old Wally Randall made national headlines last year after it emerged he was the UK’s oldest poppy seller, operating inside Wilko on the High Street.

He said: “It was very good and nice to see so many people there. I was lucky to have my two granddaughters with me. It was wonderful.”

After the town council announced there would be no celebrity participating in the lights switch on this year, the search was on to find a local deserving of the honour.

And as the town’s oldest volunteer and a budding celebrity in his own right, Wally certainly fitted the bill.

A town council spokesman said: “We were delighted to welcome Wally to turn on our Christmas lights.”

Thousands of residents and visitors flocked to Leighton Buzzard town centre to enjoy the Christmas Festival Weekend.

Jointly organised between Leighton-Linslade Town Council and LB First, the three-day event offered something for everyone.

On Friday evening, the High Street came alive with a Christmas Market, Food Court, Fun Fair and a performance stage boasting live entertainment provided by local community groups.

To rapturous applause, Walter “Wally” Randall (believed to be the UK’s oldest poppy seller at 102 years young) joined the carnival princesses as well as Andrew Selous MP to switch on the Christmas lights.

A council spokesman said: “In accordance with our joint working arrangement with LB First, it is the group who source the VIP honoured with turning on the Christmas lights.

“The decision to publicly celebrate the success of a local individual very much echoes public sentiment and something the group is keen in doing more of.

“The fact that the celebrity was kept a secret very much goes with the tradition of light switch-on events.”

On Saturday, the twice weekly Charter market was boosted by numerous handmade craft stalls which provided the opportunity to buy unique Christmas gifts for loved ones. If you missed out, don’t despair as there are 3 more Saturdays and Tuesdays to spend local. There was also the spectacle of the KidsOut Santa Dash to enjoy.

The Dickensian Ding Dong on Sunday alongside our Victorian circus performer proved a popular hit with families.

Those brave at heart enjoyed a last ride on the funfair for the weekend. Some tasty festive treats were available from the street food vendors who contributed to the vibrancy of the day.

Leighton-Linslade Concert Band, Ampthill Town Band and MK Brass once again entertained the crowds with renditions of all of the festive favourites.

The festival this year was generously supported by Steven Eagell Toyota alongside community groups including Leighton Buzzard Speakers and Leighton-Linslade Concert Band.

>You can have the chance to win £25 of market vouchers, by letting the council have your feedback from the event which can be done via our website; www.leightonlinslade-tc.gov.uk/christmas-festival.

Send your views also to news@lbobserver.co.uk.

See more photos in the December 5 issue of the Leighton Buzzard Observer.

Firefighters were called to a blaze in a garage involving logs and kindling on Sunday afternoon.

The crew from Leighton Buzzard were called just after 5pm to a bungalow in Linslade Road, Heath and Reach.

The fire was extinguished by the occupier and the crews ventilated the loft, garage and garage of attached property due to light smoke logging.

Crews also turned over and damped down the site of the fire using a hose reel and thermal imaging cameras to ensure they had found all sources of the blaze.

> On Friday at 11am, a Dunstable crew attended a chimney fire at the Black Horse, Bedford Street, Woburn.

The fire was contained in chimney and firefighters tackled the blaze using chimney rods and a backpack sprayer, using a thermal imaging camera to ensure they had located all sources of the fire. They then cleared smoke from the building using positive pressure ventilation. The fire was accidental and there were no casualties.