If your dream is to own a property bursting with period details and charm, then Rectory Farm could be for you.

Situated on a no-through road and immediately adjacent to the village church, this historic Grade II listed farmhouse in Pulloxhill, Bedfordshire, sits in almost four acres of partly walled grounds with landscaped gardens, fields, outbuildings, a greenhouse, orchard and pond.

With origins in the 16th and 17th centuries, ancient symbols known as witches’ marks are still visible on some timbers and were carved possibly in medieval times when the practise was thought to ward off evil spirits and bring good fortune.

Further evidence of this fascinating heritage is an exposed panel of the kitchen wall which reveals the wattle and daub construction, the oldest known method of building walls in medieval Europe. Inglenook fireplaces, quarry tiled floors and sand blasted and exposed beams and timbers combine to make this an exceptional property.

Inside, everywhere is light and bright thanks to virtually every room being dual aspect, many with garden views over to the Chilterns countryside beyond.

As befits an authentic farmhouse, there is a traditional farmhouse kitchen perfect for family dining, a pantry and boot room.

A unique feature is the galleried landing area, arranged on two levels and with timbers dating from 1568.

Off this landing area on the first floor are four of the six bedrooms, including one currently used as a snooker room.

Two further bedrooms are found on the second floor.

Outside, a driveway has parking for twelve cars and branches one way to the garden machinery store/workshop and in the other to the garage block which has pre-application planning approval and is prime for residential conversion.

The grounds include a field which is available by separate negotiation.

Rectory Farm enjoys a rural setting in the village of Pulloxhill which has a school and the renowned Cross Keys pub.

For shopping, the thriving market town of Bedford is 12 miles away with the smaller town of Flitwick just two miles away where a mainline station offers a whistle-stop, 39-minute train service to London St Pancras.

The property is available for offers in excess of £1,350,000 through Michael Graham Bedford Office, 01234 220000

Visit michaelgraham.co.uk/property/rps_mig-BED160017 for more.

Youth Forum members of TACTIC, the Teenage Advice and Information Centre run by Leighton-Linslade Town Council, have been showing their respect for fallen soldiers.

Two art murals have been installed at the Church Square War Memorial in remembrance of the centenary of the end of the First World War.

Over a 12-week period, the youngsters attended workshops to undertake research and find the quotes you see on the murals. They developed their ideas, designed images, made templates and then created the art works using spray techniques. The vivid colour was achieved through a great deal of poppy painting.

The WW1 mural display is for all the community to enjoy and contemplate. The art project gave young people a chance to think about the consequences of the war.

The art project was co-funded by Leighton-Linslade Town Council, and Central Bedfordshire Council’s Youth Support Service Grant.

To find out how to get involved in the TACTIC Youth Forum, for ages 12-19, look up the TACTIC website: www.tactic-centre.co.uk or contact Tracey on 01525-373838, or email tactic@leightonlinslade-tc.gov.uk

An investigation into links between the notorious ‘UK Cat Killer’ and a severed cat’s head found in Leighton Buzzard has ended inconclusively.

South Norwood Animal Rescue Liberty (SNARL) has been compiling information about the UK Cat Killer, who has been tied to up to 400 animal deaths across the south of England.

Last Friday morning, shocked passers-by discovered the head of a white and fawn cat in Meadow Way. Leighton Buzzard, as reported here.

SNARL stated: “Thanks to everyone who contacted us regarding press reports of an incident in Leighton Buzzard. Unfortunately we were unable to conclusively rule this in or out of the investigation.

“Our grateful thanks to the finder who contacted us and who acted quickly to preserve the anonymity of the owner, who remains very distressed about the incident.

“Unfortunately, sometimes circumstances are such that we can’t say for sure, but that doesn’t make any of it easier for the families of cats found deceased, who then are left without clear answers as to what might have happened to their beloved pet.

“We would ask that you bear them in mind over the next few days and be mindful that they can see everything being posted about their tragic loss.”

A petition has been handed over by the Leighton Buzzard Society to Central Beds Council calling for action over the state of the town centre footpaths.

The local authority said it will make pavement repairs in two areas of the town, but is now promising further improvements this Autumn.

The shabby state of the street scene was highlighted at a full council meeting last week during which the petition signed by local residents was presented.

The local authority’s highways department has been using cement and tarmac to replace bricks and concrete slabs, according to Maurice Crowe, who chairs the Leighton Buzzard Society.

“It’s rendered the pavements’ appearance as a mess,” he told the council.

“This damage has been around for at least ten years and the prospect of repairing it with materials to match seems remote.

“As the biggest town in the borough, paying a large percentage of council tax, we feel we should get some consideration from the council to update the High Street pavements and restore our pride to being a Georgian town.”

Mr Crowe said he was told by the council it was difficult to get bricks to match and lack of finance was also an issue.

But the town’s Waterborne Walk shopping centre has the same problem, and always seems to find red bricks to carry out repairs to a very high standard, he added.

Conservative Arlesey councillor Ian Dalgarno thanked Mr Crowe for all the hard work he does for the society. “After a lot of lobbying from the local ward members, who’re extremely passionate about improving the street scene, a project is in place,” said councillor Dalgarno, who’s the executive member for community services.

“Further to the work improving the footpaths, we’ll make other improvements to the street scene, such as repairing broken railings and doing some of the paintwork.

“We will go a little further than you wanted as we want to ensure Leighton Buzzard is a nice place to live in and work.”

Conservative Linslade councillor Gordon Perham said: “I actually brought this up a few meetings ago, and had an answer from councillor Dalgarno that something was imminent, so we have been dealing with it.”

Conservative Leighton Buzzard South councillor David Bowater said: “We’ve done a lot of work in arranging for these works to be completed along with the appropriate officers.”

A worried Leighton Buzzard pet owner is sending a warning to others after her cat was callously shot in the back with an air gun.

Faye Chavgova, 36, of Carina Drive, became concerned on the morning of Friday, June 29, when her feline Lola became reclusive and didn’t want her owners to touch her.

An x-ray at the vets revealed a pellet was stuck in Lola’s muscle, and now Faye wishes to warn other pet owners in the area to stay vigilant, especially after the community was recently rocked by the discovery of a decapitated cat’s head.

She said: “It’s shocking, so shocking.

“On the Friday morning I noticed Lola was under the bushes outside our house. I couldn’t get near her and when I tried to handle her later on she was growling.

“I could see she had been licking her fur and thought she might have been in a fight.

“I found a lump and took her to the vets, who sent her home with anti-biotics, before she was x-rayed on the Monday.

“It’s just horrific to know that someone would target her - she’s only one year old.”

Faye is now keen to promote a Cats Protection petition asking Members of Parliament to introduce licensing for air guns in England and Wales.

The charity has been monitoring press reports of air gun attacks on felines, while it has also conducted a survey of 1,000 vets in the UK.

In an online campaign video that charity claims: “44 per cent of vets treated cats with air guns in 2016 and 46 per cent of these air gun attacks are fatal.

“Cats are left unprotected in England and Wales where these lethal weapons are unlicensed.”

Indeed, while Lola is expected to make a full recovery, others such as campaign cat, Billy, were less fortunate, shot seven times and left with only one eye.

Cats Protection petition: https://cats.e-activist.com/page/7153/petition/1

A Bedfordshire Police spokeswoman, said: “We were called on Monday 2 July at approximately 4.20pm to a report of a cat with a pellet shot wound in Carina Drive, Leighton Buzzard.

“The investigation has been filed, pending further information coming to light.

“Anyone with information about this incident is asked to report it through our online reporting centre or by calling 101, quoting reference number 40/9369/18.”

Dunstable Dunstable & District Orbit Club has carried on the habit of a lifetime by rasing £1,650 for three worthy charities.

The group’s donation was divided equally between its nominated charities, Niemann-Pick UK, Eaton Bray Salvation Army and The Hospice of St. Francis. The charities were presented with their cheques at the club’s meeting on July 17.

Envoy Hilary Chadwick received a cheque on behalf of the Eaton Bray Salvation Army, which offers events and services to support the local community. The donation will be used for their Holiday Club, which provides a wide range of fun activities for local children and their families during the school holidays.

Niemann-Pick UK was represented by Cheddington couple Scarlet and Ben James, who lost their son Roman to the disease when he was just five years old. They accepted the cheque with Roman’s brother Gabriel and grandparents Beverley and Sid James.

Niemann-Pick Type C is a rare neurodegenerative disease that affects infants, children and adults. It is caused by an accumulation of lipids (fats) in the liver, brain and spleen and causes these vital organs to shut down causing an array of symptoms.

The Hospice of St. Francis in Berkhamsted offers free care every year to over 2,000 people suffering with life-threatening illnesses. They provide 24-hour specialist care at their Inpatient Unit and support their families and friends both practically and emotionally.

Dunstable and District Orbit Club is a social and fundraising group for people of all ages. It has raised over £65,000 for charities over a 30 year period. Their membership is drawn from local towns and villages, including Luton, Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard.

Orbit meets on the first and third Tuesday of the month at Dunstablians Rugby Club in Houghton Regis from 8.15 pm. Visit www.orbitclub.org.uk/dunstable.

Staff at Center Parcs Woburn Forest have discovered one of the resort’s lodges has been keeping a secret… and a very cute one at that.

Just outside one of the lodges at Woburn Forest, tucked behind the cycle rack, a family of six hedgehogs, with mum and her five babies were all snuggled up together.

It is where the mummy hedgehog must have had her nest and raised her little ones there ever since.

The hoglets (baby hedgehogs) and their mum were discovered by Center Parcs Woburn Forest’s Technical Services team who heard them scratching and snuffling around.

Woburn Forest conservation ranger Lucie went to check they were okay and estimated they are around eight weeks old. With the dry, hot weather, Lucie made sure she left the hedgehog family some water and let the guests know why there was a bowl of water outside their lodge.

The family staying in the lodge became quite attached to the hedgehog family, and with Lucie put out a pouch of cat food so that the hedgehogs were well fed, and the family could have an evening encounter with the hedgehog family. The bowl of water was then filled each day, and the family began to look after the hedgehogs like an extension of their own family, making sure the hedgehogs were all there when the family returned from their day of adventures.

If you have a little family of hedgehogs near you – either at Center Parcs or at home – in this hot, dry weather please place a bowl of water out for them if they are regular visitors just to help them during the summer.

Police are appealing for information after an attack in a McDonald’s car park in Leighton Buzzard in the early hours of this morning (July 27).

The assault happened just after midnight in the restaurant’s car park in Billington Road.

Officers are urging witnesses to come forward and have also issued a CCTV image of a man that they would like to speak to in connection with the incident.

PC Elliot Wright said: “We believe there may have been other people either in the car park or inside the restaurant itself who may have witnessed this assault and if so we would like them to get in touch with us as soon as possible.

“We’d also like to identify the man pictured as we believe he may have vital information about the incident so if you know who he is please let us know.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Bedfordshire Police via 101 or via the online reporting centre, quoting reference number 16 of 27 July.

You can also call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Matt Adcock reviews Mission Impossible: Fallout (12A)

Here we go then for the sixth instalment of the Mission Impossible franchise which has banked almost $3 billion so far. And the good news is that director Christopher McQuarrie delivers possibly the strongest Mission yet.

Following on from the events of Rogue Nation, we find Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his team up to their necks in strife. It seems that a botched mission leaves nuclear materials about to fall into the hands of an evil genius looking to bring suffering to the world. So the fearless IMF agents who include Simon Pegg’s comedy sidekick Benji and Ving Rhames’ Luther must face try to track down and acquire the warhead before millions die.

Along on the mission, at the insistence of the CIA, is agent August Walker (Henry Cavill) – a one-man wrecking machine who oozes threat. Then there is also disavowed MI6 operative Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson) who returns with a personal objective that could put her in conflict with Hunt.

From the second the pre-credits action starts this movie grips and thrills in equal measure – the stunts and set pieces are jaw-dropping and the adrenalin rush that it takes you on is liable to leave you exhausted after this 147-minute ride.

Boasting possibly not only one of the best car chases ever but also the best helicopter action sequence and a crunching fight in a men’s bathroom that must push the 12A rating, it’s high praise that the director manages to deliver such high octane and ‘just brutal enough’ thrills without having to resort to graphic violence.

Everything is machine-tooled and slick and refreshingly free of shoddy CGI. The chemistry is enhanced with a richness and intensity that comes from the characterisations. If you’ve been following the film series you’ll already be invested in many of these folks so the jeopardy feels real.

Fallout is the film of the franchise that stands as an almost perfect state-of-the-art espionage masterpiece – out ‘Bond-ing’ James Bond and kicking Bourne into touch.

Action blockbusters really don’t come much better than this.

Families in Leighton Buzzard who were ordered to move their outdoor toys were further angered after the council disabled their outside tap.

In another health and safety move, Central Beds Council decided to remove the outdoor tap for residents of Plum Tree Lane – three weeks after they were told to remove their toys.

“It does feel like one thing after another,” said resident Clare Barton. “We were very angry when we got there on Monday and saw that someone had taken off the top of the tap and replace it with a large screw.

“All the council taps in the area were turned off as they are worried about Legionella.

“Our tap is used all the time – the garages use it to wash their cars, the council fills up their buckets and we use it to fill our outdoor pool. We’re a bit fed up and we want to know what’s going on with our toy situation and the reason they’ve turned off the taps.”

A CBC spokesman said: “Officers inspected the play equipment on the front lawn and discussed storage options with residents on July 9.

“We agreed that we will give residents the keys to the vacant garage in the nearby block to store the toys and smaller equipment at night or when not in use.”

CBC is also researching the cost of storage for larger equipment and the possibility of fencing off part of the lawn for toys. The spokesman added: “In terms of the tap, this was turned off due to safety concerns with the water.

“Although the water comes from the main just like the water in our houses it is not used regularly and the water in the pipes can become stagnant and carry waterborne diseases.

“The tap is not part of the block of flats and the decision to turn it off was not linked to the play equipment discussion, we have turned all taps at our garage block off for this reason. Residents can use the water from their own properties to fill paddling pools.”

Women’s health physiotherapist and mum-of-two Jo Dyson also runs Mother Nurture Pilates, which offers mum and baby postnatal Pilates classes in Leighton Buzzard.

Now she is expanding to include antenatal Pilates classes.

Jo said: “Mother Nurture Pilates antenatal is a small group, four-week course suitable for ladies from 12 weeks into their pregnancy.

“Ladies will learn how to do meaningful, functional pelvic floor exercises which will enhance their pelvic health, not just in pregnancy but beyond. We will work all the areas needed to be strong in pregnancy and stretch and release areas known to get tight and stiff.

“My clinical background as a physiotherapist enables me to carefully select suitable exercises so if mums-to-be suffer with pelvic girdle pain, or back pain in pregnancy these exercises can be a real help in keeping symptoms at bay.”

Ladies will receive a goody bag which includes mum and baby items, exclusive discounts from local businesses plus a resistance exercise band and written exercise instructions to help mums exercise beyond the course itself.

The course starts on Wednesday, September 5, and runs from 8-8.45pm at The Studio, Boss Avenue, Leighton Buzzard. Bookings can be made via www.mothernurturepilates.com. For any enquiries (including registering for future courses) email jodyson18@gmail.com

A Leighton Buzzard Guide has gained a top award.

Linzi Grimwood from Leighton Buzzard Rangers was presented with her Commonwealth Award at a ceremony held earlier this month.

The Commonwealth Award is open to Guides over 13 years old and the Senior Section. The award is an opportunity for girls and young women to challenge themselves to discover more about the Commonwealth through fun and exciting activities as well as the wider community and its people.

To achieve her award, Linzi learnt about development within the Commonwealth as well as volunteering with Rock Challenge UK, a charity which challenges young people to be the best that they can be without the use of nicotine, alcohol or other drugs.

Linzi is the first person to have achieved the Commonwealth Award Bedfordshire in the last five years.

Linzi said: “It is fantastic to have achieved this award. It took me a long time to do it but I learnt so much along the way and had such a great time doing it.”

Girlguiding Bedfordshire’s president Betsy Marley said: “We were delighted to present Linzi with her award. She has worked really hard and should be very proud of her achievements.”

Linzi is now a Guiding Leader in Training in Leighton Buzzard.

Girlguiding Bedfordshire is looking for volunteers, so if you feel you could get involved they would love to hear from you - call 0800 169 5901 or visit www.bedsguiding.org.uk/

You can also Follow on Facebook at facebook.com/GirlguidingBeds

Shocking scenes of cruelty have emerged showing the violent killing of piglets at an Eaton Bray pig farm.

Animal Equality – a leading animal protection organisation – today released the footage filmed at Rosebury Farm. The farm supplies meat to major retailers, as well as local butchers.

Animal Equality UK executive director Dr Toni Shephard said: “The sound of piglets’ heads being smashed against the wall, the cries of agony as their tiny teeth are clipped, and the terrified squeals of pigs being forced onto the slaughter truck with electric shocks could be straight out of a horror film.

“Yet these harrowing scenes are from the much romanticised local, family farm producing British pork under the Red Tractor label [part of Assured Food Standards agency].

The harrowing footage, which was filmed over the past three months, shows:

> A worker swinging tiny piglets by a back leg and smashing their head against the wall, one continues to kick for at least 10 seconds.

> Piglets screaming in agony as the tips of their tiny teeth are clipped off without pain relief, a mutilation restricted to ‘extreme circumstances only’ under UK law.

> Terrified pigs being shocked repeatedly with an electric prod to force them onto the slaughter truck, many are prodded in the side and neck in violation of the law.

> A tiny piglet frothing at the mouth, having been thrown onto a pile of dead piglets and left for dead hours earlier.

> Dozens of dead piglets littering the floor of the farrowing (birthing) shed as well as piglets trapped in crates with dead siblings.

> Larger pigs crammed into barren metal pens so small they are forced to lie on top of each other in record-breaking high temperatures.

> Other pigs locked inside filthy, wooden bins with lids that leave them in total darkness, no enrichment is provided.

Dr Shepherd added: “It’s time consumers were told the truth - labels and certificates do not prevent animals from suffering in the meat industry, but choosing from the ever-increasing selection of meat-free options will.”

Veterinary expert Professor Andrew Knight from the University of Winchester’s Centre for Animal Welfare also viewed the footage and confirmed that it showed “inhumane handling and killing of piglets” as well as “excessive and inappropriate use of an electric prod likely to cause pain and fear.”

All of the footage was passed to Red Tractor, Defra’s Animal and Plant Health Agency and the RSPCA last week. Red Tractor has suspended the farm pending further investigation.

Jack Kempster starred with both bat and ball to drag Leighton Buzzard away from the Cherwell Division 2 relegation scrap with a win over Sandford St Martin.

The Leighton skipper took six wickets before hitting 59 as six side eased to a five wicket win under darkening skies which threatened to wash the afternoon away.

His impact was felt almost immediately as Kempster removed Sandford opener Thomas Tanner with the second ball of the day for a duck.

His opening spell alongside Tom Pope saw the pair then remove Ian Reynolds (4), Andrew Whilton (11), Derek Hoebrugge (0) and Chris Thompson (6) to leave the home side toiling on 36-5.

A slight reprise for the home side saw Sandford recover, but only slightly as Kempster took out Thomas Goffe for 25, trapped Benjamin Proctor LBW for 7 and then Sebastian Skinner for a first-ball duck en route to sensational figures of 6-33.

Lee Selfe (2-19) took the final wicket of the innings though as Sandford were back in the pavilion for 114.

Kempster was back out in the middle to open the batting for Leighton, knowing they would need to score runs quickly should the weather halt their progress.

At a strike rate of nearly 160, Kempster fired 59 from 37 balls, with nine fours and a six to put the visitors in a winning position.

Simon Smith would take 3-13 for Sandford, but Kempster’s brilliant batting meant Leighton were well on their way to victory, reaching 115-5 in 18.3 overs.

The win lifts Leighton to sixth in Division 2, 26 points clear of the relegation zone.

In Division 1, Great Brickhill took full advantage of Oxford Downs 2nds’ rained-off affair by beating Buckingham Town 2nds to take over at the top of the table.

Four wickets apiece for Jack Woodhouse and Asif Khan reduced the visitors for just 115. Patrick Sreenivasaprasad’s unbeaten 60 from 37 balls guided Brickhill to 119-2 and an eight wicket win and the lead in the league now by a single point.

Do you really want to make the most of the heatwave this summer?

If so, then one of these five properties on the market with Michael Graham could be right up your street.

From entertaining decks to swimming pools, here are five homes with gorgeous gardens on the market right now.

1. The Old Rectory, in Akeley, Buckinghamshire, is on the market for £3.3 million.

This impressive Grade II listed 19th century house has five bedrooms and comes with a separate Coach House.

A patio area overlooks the main garden which includes a new herbaceous border with over £5,000-worth of plants and bulbs from Preston Bisset nurseries.

With 4.5 acres and an entertaining deck and summer house, this is the perfect property for garden parties.

Visit michaelgraham.co.uk/property/rps_mig-BUC180043 for more.

2. Somerton House, in Daventry, Northamptonshire is on offer for £1.25 million.

Featured in Country and Town House Magazine, this exquisite stone property sits in an acre of land with glorious views over the surrounding Capability Brown parkland.

With beautifully well-kept gardens and a summerhouse to retreat to for some shade, this property has gardens to enjoy all year round.

For more information, visit michaelgraham.co.uk/property/rps_mig-TOW180141.

3. The Oak House, in Flitton, Bedfordshire, is available for £1 million.

Built in 2013 this contemporary property was featured in Build It magazine in 2017 and Waitrose Weekend Magazine in 2018.

In the village of Flitton overlooking the historic church and churchyard, the garden is beautifully landscaped with well-stocked borders and terrace areas perfect for enjoying a glass of wine on a summer’s evening.

Visit michaelgraham.co.uk/property/rps_mig-BED160572 for more.

4. The Manor is in the village of Thurleigh, Bedfordshire, and is available for £1.25 million.

This beautiful Grade II listed wisteria-covered farmhouse has four bedrooms and sits in two acres of formal gardens.

A 12-acre meadow is available by separate negotiation.

A large natural pond to the right of the sweeping gravel driveway is believed to be part of the former moat to the original Manor House.

A charming three storey former Water Tower, a Wagon House and an orchard with a variety of fruit trees and two weeping Ash trees are highlights of these glorious gardens.

For more, click on michaelgraham.co.uk/property/rps_mig-BED140751.

5. The Old Vicarage is in Wollaston, Northamptonshire, and is on the market at £900,000.

This classic late Victorian five-bedroom detached property sits in half an acre of gardens which include a secluded heated swimming pool.

The brick built changing room with a shower and sauna and a separate studio with a kitchenette and cloakroom mean you can hang out poolside all day.

Visit michaelgraham.co.uk/property/rps_mig-OLY180106 for more.

British record holder Jocelyn Ulyett came back to the club where she learned to swim to pass on her knowledge to a new generation of swimmers at Linslade Crusaders.

Jocelyn, who holds the 200m breastroke record, and represented England in the 50, 100 and 200m breaststroke events at this year’s Commonwealth Games in Australia, spent the afternoon with swimmers from Linslade Crusaders.

The swimmers enjoyed hearing Jocelyn tell them how she had worked hard to succeed and had always had the desire to represent her country. They learned breaststroke drills by watching Joss in the pool before trying them for themselves.

Jocelyn learnt to swim at Crusaders and was coached in the club’s squads by Head Coach, Adrian Smith, before moving to the City of Milton Keynes Swimming Club and then Loughborough University where she has continued to develop her swimming to international level.

Great Brickhill took full advantage of the weather to take over at the top of Cherwell Division 1.

While Oxford Downs 2nds began the day on top, weather forced their game with Challow & Childrey into postponement, Great Brickhill were able to get their game with Buckingham Town 2nds not only to go ahead but also to a victorious end.

Four wickets apiece for Jack Woodhouse and Asif Khan reduced the visitors for just 115. Patrick Sreenivasaprasad’s unbeaten 60 from 37 balls guided Brickhill to 119-2 and an eight wicket win and the lead in the league now by a single point.

A woman from Leighton Buzzard is encouraging others to voice their concerns over planning applications after raising her own with Taylor Wimpey.

Linda Holbrook, of Mercury Way, was one of several residents who had concerns about the 214 houses planned for the area behind her home on the Clipstone Park site.

In 2015 the outline permission was granted for 1,210 new residential units, a new link road between Vandyke Road and Stanbridge Road and 11 hectares of employment land at the Clipstone Park site.

Linda and the other residents wanted to raise their concerns with Taylor Wimpey, the builders for the 214 homes. She said: “When we saw the plans, the residents had a meeting to discuss their concerns. During the consultation in June, we felt Taylor Wimpey were not listening to us, at the time we did not feel listened to but we continued to contact them and arranged to meet with them two weeks ago.

“Our concerns were about our privacy, anti social behaviour, the flood risk and security for our homes, with regards to the footpath being built from Mercury Way to Jupiter Way. We had a meeting and discussed our concerns and they addressed them, they said they would increase our privacy by putting a fence up and the flood risk has been taken into consideration, the drainage system will not allow any more water onto our land. We hope extra drainage will go into the footpath as well.

“I believe the footpath has now been removed from the plans. We feel we were listened to and it was a good meeting, Taylor Wimpey have been really good.

“We are happy the changes are being made, it was difficult to word our concerns, but I want people to know that if they have concerns about planning applications they should voice their concerns, that is what we did and it has worked, there are positive improvements to the plans. People power can help to make a difference.”

A Taylor Wimpey spokesperson said: “We are committed to engaging positively with the communities in which we build. We have established clear lines of communication between neighbours of our Clipstone Park site in Leighton Buzzard and our local team, and we are pleased to hear that residents are happy with our approach.”

A Hybrid Planning Application for the development of the site to provide employment floorspace of up to 48,313 sq m, at the Clipstone Park site on Leighton Road, has also been submitted to Central Bedfordshire Council.

If a wisteria-clad Georgian vicarage is your ultimate rural idyll, then Glebe House in Sandy in Bedfordshire is the answer to your prayers.

Built in 1833, the property was formerly the vicarage to the village church of St Mary’s and sits in 3.6 acres of gardens and grounds at the end of a tree-lined drive.

Inside, a combination of its period features with refurbished luxury living makes this house the ideal place to call home.

For buyers who make their decision based on a property’s kitchen, this one can’t fail to impress.

Open plan to the dining room, the space is wonderfully bright thanks to full length windows and walls of glass folding doors to the manicured gardens and terrace.

Highlights include a sleek kitchen island and breakfast bar, a three-oven range, exposed oak flooring and display shelving.

A bespoke range of hand painted Shaker style units by Orwell furniture complete the designer look.

Also downstairs, four reception rooms offer a combination of sash windows with working shutters, dual aspect views over the gardens and limestone fireplaces.

Across the two upper floors are six bedrooms and three bathrooms, including a covetable dressing room off the master bedroom.

Outside, landscaped gardens and terraced areas offer plenty of opportunity for alfresco dining and entertaining, and paddocks and a stable block make this a perfect property for horse lovers, or for making a rental income from the equestrian facilities.

Everton is small village with a pub, a school and a church, so shops are a hop, skip and a jump away in the market town of Sandy, where you can also find a mainline railway station.

Glebe House is available through Michael Graham for £1.7 million.

For more information, visit michaelgraham.co.uk/property/rps_mig-BED180032.

Recent changes to the law have now made psychological abuse within a relationship illegal.

The offence of coercive control now recognises that domestic abuse can take several forms and is not strictly limited to physical violence.

Changes to legislation

The changes now outlaw a number of things that were not previously covered by existing legislation, meaning emotional abuse of a partner is now also illegal.

Coercive control is the psychological abuse of a partner, which can be committed through threats and restrictions, as well as physical violence, and carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

In Scotland, changes to the Domestic Abuse bill were passed by Parliament earlier this year, making psychological abuse and coercive controlling behaviour within a relationship a criminal offence.

The bill was amended to include behaviour that could not easily be prosecuted using the existing criminal law.

The laws have now been enforced in England and Wales, with the amendments making the following 11 acts towards a partner illegal.

1. Sharing sexually explicit images of you – either online or not

New laws surrounding ‘revenge porn’ make it illegal for someone to share intimate photographs of you with anyone, whether that is on or offline.

2. Restricting your access to money

Even if they are the breadwinner, the law says one partner cannot stop the other from accessing money and should not give them “punitive allowances”.

3. Repeatedly putting you down

Constant insults from a partner might not be typically thought of as domestic abuse, but under the new law, persistent name-calling, mocking and other forms of insulting behaviour are now illegal.

4. Stopping you from seeing friends or family

If your partner continually isolates you from the people you love – whether this is in the form of monitoring or blocking your calls or emails, telling you where you can or cannot go, or preventing you from seeing your friends or relatives – it is against the law.

5. Scaring you

Your partner might not physically assault you, but if they are doing enough to frighten you, they are committing an offence.

Women’s Aid says this can include, but is not limited to:

* Making angry gestures

* Using physical size to intimidate

* Shouting you down

* Destroying your possessions

* Breaking things

* Punching walls

* Wielding a knife or a gun

* Threatening to kill or harm you, your children or family pets

* Threats of suicide

6. Threatening to reveal private things about you

Whether your partner is saying they will tell people details about your health or sexual orientation, repeated threats to reveal personal and private information is a form of abuse.

7. Putting tracking devices on your phone

The Crown Prosecution Service says it is illegal under the new legislation to “monitor a person using online communication tools or spyware”.

If your partner is reading your Facebook messages without permission, or insisting they track your devices, it is against the law.

8. Being extremely jealous

If your partner persistently accuses you of cheating, simply for looking at another person, then this could constitute grounds for prosecution.

Humberside Police say “extreme jealousy, including possessiveness and ridiculous accusations of cheating” all come under the new legislation.

9. Forcing you to obey their rules

A relationship should be a partnership, with neither partner having control over the other.

If you are forced to abide by rules set by your partner, it could mean they are committing a crime.

The Crown Prosecution Service says these include rules which “humiliate, degrade or dehumanise the victim”, while Women’s Aid says examples include your partner telling you that you have no choice in decisions.

10. Controlling what you wear

Your partner taking control over any part of your life is highlighted in the new legislation, including restricting who you see and where you go.

Controlling what you wear or how you look could also now be grounds for prosecution under the changes.

11. Making you do things you don’t want to

Your partner forcing you to commit crimes, neglecting or abusing your children, or forcing you not to reveal anything about your relationship to the authorities all count as abuse.

Forcing you to have sex when you don’t want to, look at pornographic material, or have sex with others also falls under this bracket.

Tackling domestic abuse head-on

“These new powers mean this behaviour, which is particularly relevant to cases of domestic abuse, can now be prosecuted in its own right,” said Alison Saunders, director of public prosecutions at the Crown Prosecution Service.

“Police and prosecutors are being trained to recognise patterns of abusive behaviour which can be regarded as criminal abuse.

“We will do everything in our power to tackle this abhorrent crime.”