Jim Mallinder's men hadn't beaten their bitter rivals since December, 2014, with seven long meetings having elapsed in that time.

Derby day had so often signalled pain for those of a Saints persuasion as Tigers continually held the upper hand.

And even when Northampton did over come Leicester twice in the same year, they had to do it the hard way.

Tom Wood's dramatic try helped 14-man Saints see off Tigers 21-20 in the Premiership play-off semi-final at Franklin's Gardens in May, 2014.

And seven months later, Saints, again down to 14 men on home turf, showed real character to overcome the old foe 23-19 in a regular-season showdown.

Those were the only two wins Saints had enjoyed against Leicester in a total of 19 meetings.

It was a sobering record and one that brought a large amount of misery.

So how sweet it was for Saints to not only beat Tigers on Saturday, but to put them away in some style.

There were no last-gasp heroics needed.

No nerve-jangling final stages.

Instead, Saints bossed the game pretty much from start to finish.

Luther Burrell's score was the least they deserved after coming flying out of the blocks, and Dylan Hartley added another before the break.

Tom Collins capped a sensational display with a score to match as he sidestepped Ben Youngs and dived over the line to seal the win.

Jonny May's eye-catching late try was barely any consolation for Tigers as the Gardens faithful celebrated a long overdue success with a chorus of 'who the hell are Leicester Tigers?'.

And what a success it was.

Saints were under huge pressure coming into the match, having been slaughtered by Saracens at Twickenham on the previous Saturday.

But, as Mallinder's men have done so often over the years, they pulled together, instilled a siege mentality in their dressing room and summoned up a showing saturated with spirit.

Led by Hartley, who produced a gargantuan display, and Courtney Lawes, who was even more outstanding then we've come to expect in recent times, Saints totally overwhelmed Tigers.

The only area of joy for the away side was the scrum, which they dominated all day.

But they couldn't use it as a platform to claim the points as Saints simply suffocated them in open play.

The home side had clearly learned from Bath, who won at Welford Road on the previous Sunday.

The west country side disrupted the lineout and used lightning kick-chase and smothering defence to stifle Tigers' creativity.

Their star-studded back line hardly got a sniff as Saints shut the door in their faces time and time again.

It was so different to Twickenham as the gaping holes were sewn up - and so was the match.

Almost every Saints player emerged with huge credit as character and class was shown in equal measure.

It resulted in a convincing success that gives the club a shot in the arm, an injection of confidence moving forward.

And now the challenge is to back it up.

Saints know they can't keep relying on big defeats to help them produce big victories.

Mallinder said this display was the standard his team must continue to reach this season.

The tough tests keep coming, with Bath, who have beaten both Tigers and Saracens so far, up next at the Gardens.

And if Saints can bring this level of performance again, they are capable of claiming another big victory.

But for now, it is time for those of a Northampton persuasion to sit back and enjoy some rare bragging rights.

How they rated...
AHSEE TUALA
Looked defensively secure and started a few attacks by gathering high balls and spotting space... 7

GEORGE NORTH
The Wales wing looked refreshed as he continually carried the ball into enemy territory, keeping Tigers on their toes throughout... 8

ROB HORNE
What a debut for the Australian centre, who added real grit and no shortage of class to the Saints midfield... 8

LUTHER BURRELL
This man looked back to his bulldozing best as he put Tigers on the back foot and got the scoring started with a tidy try... 8

TOM COLLINS
Was one of the few players to emerge with credit from Twickenham a week earlier and he was superb here, cutting Tigers apart to score a stunning try that sealed the win... 9

HARRY MALLINDER
A characterful showing from the youngster, who bounced back from a really difficult display against Saracens with an accomplished performance here... 8

NIC GROOM
Like Mallinder, he didn't have the best day at Twickenham, but he was so much sharper here, buzzing around and refusing to give Tigers a second to breathe... 8

ALEX WALLER
Was up against it in the scrum with Lions prop Dan Cole his opposite number, but put plenty of effort in around the park and helped Saints push Tigers back... 7

DYLAN HARTLEY
The skipper led from the front with a hugely physical display that was capped with a try. He also taught Leicester a lesson on lineout throwing... 9

KIERAN BROOKES
Helped to set up Burrell's try with a composed pass, but was withdrawn at half-time after having a difficult half in the set piece as Ellis Genge got the better of the scrum battle... 6

MICHAEL PATERSON
Made some really key contributions for Saints, showing why the coaches chose to start him in this huge fixture... 8

CHRISTIAN DAY
Always adds a secure approach to the Saints second row and helped to marshal the troops in a typically assured showing... 7

COURTNEY LAWES - CHRON STAR MAN
Second row or back row, it doesn't matter to this man mountain, who was everywhere in another incredible, all-action display... 9

JAMIE GIBSON
Gets through so much work week in, week out and this was a hugely satisfying afternoon for the flanker against his former club... 8

TEIMANA HARRISON
A great option at No.8, he adds plenty of power and desire and some big carries helped Saints to keep the intensity high... 8

Replacements (who played more than 20 minutes)
PAUL HILL (for Brookes 40)
Added plenty of fire and desire from the bench, with some strong carries, but Saints' scrum didn't function on this occasion... 6

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink believes his predecessor Justin Edinburgh deserves a slice of the credit for his first win as Cobblers boss at the weekend.

The former Burton Albion and Queens Park Rangers manager only took over at Sixfields last Monday, with Edinburgh having been sacked just four days earlier.

Hasselbaink took over a team bottom of Sky Bet League One, with no points from four matches, and without a win in any competition since March 14.

The Dutchman had an instant impact though as Town beat Doncaster Rovers 1-0 at an upbeat Sixfields, but afterwards he was keen to acknowledge the work Edinburgh had done at the club prior to his arrival.

“I must say this three points is part of Justin as well, who has just left,” said Hasselbaink following the win over Rovers, which was sealed by a Matt Crooks strike after only 21 seconds.

“I definitely believe, that at a certain time he would have got the three points, and it is just unfortunate how it works in football.

“But we mustn’t forget the good work that Justin has done here.”

The good work Hasselbaink refers to includes recruitment, with Hasselbaink stressing when he took over the job that he was impressed with the amount of talent he now has at his disposal.

Six of Saturday’s Cobblers starting line-up and five of the seven players on the bench were signed by Edinburgh over the summer, with a seventh starter, goalkeeper Matt Ingram, signed on the day of his departure.

Ingram made a string of key saves late in the game to maintain Town’s slender advantage, and Hasselbaink is pleased to be reunited with a player he knows well.

“He did well (against Doncaster), and there will be more matches when we need him,” said the Cobblers boss.

“He is a good keeper, I bought him from Wycombe when I was at QPR, so I know him really well. He was there at times when we needed him on Saturday.”

The Cobblers are back in action at Sixfields on Tuesday night, and there are no fresh injury concerns for Hasselbaink, although the Town manager has suffered someething of a setback with the news that midfielder John-Joe O’Toole has had to undergo minor surgery on his troublesome groin injury.

O’Toole has yet to feature this season, with his his most recent playing action in the 4-0 pre-season friendly win at Frome Town in July.

He had an injection to try and solve the groin issue a fortnight ago, but it didn’t do the trick and he has now undergone an operation which means he is likely to be sidelined for at least two more weeks.

Also missing for the visit of Pompey are Sam Foley, Sam Hoskins and Aaron Phillips.

Midfielder Matt Crooks has hailed the immediate impact new boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has had on the Cobblers squad.

The Dutchman replaced the sacked Justin Edinburgh as boss last week, and only met the players for the first time on Tuesday morning.

He had only a few days to make his mind up on players and make his selection ahead of Saturday’s clash with Doncaster Rovers, and he hit the ground running with a 1-0 win at Sixfields.

There was a back four instead of a back three, there was a first start of the season for George Smith, who played left midfield, and Crooks himself was utilised in a more advanced attacking midfield role, and he netted the only goal of the game - laid on by Smith.

So, all in all, that a pretty successful start for Hasselbaink and Crooks said: “You have to give the manager credit, as he has changed a few things.

“We have gone with a different formation, and you can make of that what you like, but we worked hard as a team.

“We worked hard individually, we were compact as a team and got the three points which is what we needed.

“So we can thank Jimmy, but I think we can also thank ourselves for putting a good shift in as a team.

“Jimmy is very, very thorough in what he does, and it is good. You can’t get away with anything, so you all know what you need to do.”

Saturday’s win was a massive boost for everybody concerned with the Cobblers, who had lost their first four Sky Bet League One matches of the season, a run that saw Edinburgh lose his job.

Signed from Rangers in the summer, Crooks admits he can’t put a finger on why the Cobblers started the season so slowly, but he is now confident things will improve.

“It was difficult, we knew as much as anybody that we are a good group of players, but we just weren’t putting it together as a team,” said Crooks.

“Hopefully now, as the season progresses, we can put everything right and get a lot of victories.”

And after enjoying that first win of the campaign, Crooks is hoping he and his team-mates can back that up when Portsmouth come to Sixfields on Tuesday night (ko 7.45pm).

“We don’t want to be down there, we want to be in the top half of the table at least,” said the former Accrington Stanley man.

“It is good that we have that hoodoo off our backs and we can push on.”

“It is better when you have games all the time, it’s game after game, and that’s what we love doing, it’s what we all want to do, and hopefully we can get another three points on the board on Tuesday.”

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink knows he is going to have to manage his new Cobblers squad carefully as the team faces a hectic September schedule.

The Cobblers take on league two champions Portsmouth at Sixfields tonight (ko 7.45pm) in what is the second match in a run of nine in the space of 28 days.

The first saw Hasselbaink guide his team to their opening win of the season at the seventh attempt on Saturday, seeing off Doncaster Rovers 1-0, and the Dutchman is desperate to follow up that result with another positive one against Pompey.

But he accepts the games are now coming thick and fast, and that he is going to have to ‘clever’ with how he manages the workload of his players.

“In the next month we have nine games, so it is going to be a difficult one to work with the team,” said Hasselbaink, who only had four days training to assess his new players before the weekend win.

“We have to be really clever how we use our players, and that process starts straight away for the next game. There is no rest for the wicked, as you guys say in England!”

Saturday’s win over Rovers saw the Cobblers climb off the bottom of the Sky Bet League One table, and the manager admitted he was always confident the team could grab a result once he had seen the squad working in training.

To achieve the result he made a couple of significant tweaks to the team though, with the most obvious one the introduction of George Smith on the left of midfield.

With Chris Long operating on the opposite flank, that gave Town much needed width and pace, and that was key for Hasselbaink, who added that his players are also going to have to ‘get used to winning’ again .

“You always have to believe you can get something, and we had to change our approach a little bit,” said the former Burton Albion and Queens Park Rangers boss.

“I think it was very important we had some pace in the wide areas to give us an outlet and that is where the goal came from.

“I think it shocked them a little bit that they scored in the first minute, and then you have to manage your game.

“They need to get used to winning, and that is not easy, it is a process. The more we will be together, the more you can work on those things.”

One thing that did impress the Town boss was the work-rate and togetherness of his team, and he expects more of the same against Kenny Jackett’s Pompey on Tuesday.

“The win was the most important thing, but you also look at the performance of the team and how they play together, what they do, and what they are prepared to do for each other,” said Hasselbaink.

“And I must say that was second to none.

“But there is no time to rest and dwell on Saturday’s welcome win over Doncaster as we are facing a tough home game against Portsmouth.

“We got off to a great start on Saturday backed by fantastic support. Looking for more of the same.”

Match-winner Matt Crooks was delighted to get off the scoring mark on Saturday, and says the hard-fought 1-0 win over Doncaster Rovers ‘takes the pressure off’ the Cobblers

Crooks scored the only goal of the game after just 21 seconds of play, lifting a George Smith pull-back into the roof of the net with a crisp left-foot strike, and after such a torrid start to the season the win was a huge relief for everybody connected with the club.

Town went into the game off the back of four straight defeats in Sky Bet League One and with a new manager in place, with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink taking charge of his first game following the sacking of Justin Edinburgh.

Everybody was hoping the Dutchman’s reign at Sixfields would get off to a flying start, and that is exactly what happened with Crooks’ early strike securing the team’s first win since March 14, and the former Rangers man was delighted to get that first win in Cobblers colours under his belt.

“It was a good performance, we have got the first three points now and that probably takes the pressure off us,” said the midfielder.

“Hopefully we will have the confidence and freedom to play on from this now, and start playing some football and getting some points on the board.”

Crooks’ finish for the goal was an assured one, but it was set up by a darting run down the left by Smith who then showed great composure to bide his time and perfectly tee up Crooks.

It was Smith’s first start for the club, with Hasselbaink clearly impressed with what he had seen of the former Gateshead man in th four days training he had with the players last week.

Overlooked by Edinburgh in the opening weeks of the campaign, aside from a nine-minute cameo in the Carabao Cup at Queens Park Rangers, Smith was thrown straight into the action on the left side of midfield, and made an instant impact.

“It was good for George,” said Crooks. “That was his first game for Northampton, and it was the perfect start for him and the perfect start for us.

“He played really well, and I am sure he went home happy.”

Hasselbaink made a couple of tactical and personnel changes to the Town team, with one of those being to play Crooks in a more attacking role from midfield.

The 23-year-old scored and also had other chances. and he feels it is a position that suits him.

“Maybe they didn’t expect me to play so high up the pitch, but I enjoyed it up there and probably could have scored a couple more,” said Crooks.

“Hopefully I will be able to get on the ball more as well and try and do a bit more for the team.”

“Before, I was in the midfield two and I maybe had to sit back a little bit more.

“But I feel I can now use my legs and get in behind, and try and use the ball in different areas, and I enjoyed it.”

The Cobblers return to league on action on Tuesday night when they host Portsmouth at Sixfields (ko 7.45pm).

Fixture: Northampton Town v Portsmouth, Sky Bet League One

Date/time: Tuesday, September 12, 2017, 7.45pm kick-off

Venue: Sixfields Stadium, Northampton

Forecast: 13c, rain

Outs and doubts: Cobblers: John-Joe O’Toole (groin), Aaron Phillips (thigh), Sam Foley (knee), Sam Hoskins (knee). Pompey: Oliver Hawkins (facial wound), Jack Whatmough (knee)

Possible line-ups: Cobblers (4-2-3-1): Ingram; Moloney, Taylor, Pierre, Buchanan; Grimes, McWilliams; Long, Crooks, Smith; Revell. Pompey (4-2-3-1): McGeel Thompson, Burgess, Clark, McCrory; May, O’Keefe; Lowe, Pitman, Kennedy; Chaplin

Betting: Northampton 21/10, draw 12/5, Pompey 29/20

Form guide: Cobblers WDLLL, Pompey: WLDDD

Man in the middle: Darren Drysdale

Last time out: Northampton 1 (Crooks) Doncaster Rovers 0; AFC Wimbledon 0 Pompey 2 (Pitman, Chaplin)

Most recent meeting: May 7, 2016, Fratton Park: Portsmouth 1 (Naismith) Cobblers 2 (Whatmough OG, Collins)

Record v Pompey: P32 W9 D7 L16

Pompey connection: There is one standout connection between the clubs, and that is Ricky Holmes. Unwanted by then Fratton Park boss Andy Awford, Town manager Chris Wilder jumped in to take the winger on loan, and the rest is history. Holmes immediately settled at Sixfields, and was an instant hit with the Cobblers fans as he dazzled in the claret and white. The loan move soon became permanent, and Pompey’s loss was definitely the Cobblers’ gain as Holmes inspired the team to their stunning Sky Bet League Two title success in 2016, with a string of match-winning performances and wonder goals in the second half of that campaign. The love affair with the Cobblers wasn’t to last though, as the ambitious Holmes was tempted away to Charlton Athletic a few weeks after the title celebrations.

Opposition view: Portsmouth boss Kenny Jackett: “Hopefully we can take some confidence into the rest of the week because I look at this group of games as a whole. Northampton and Fleetwood this coming Saturday are two fixtures that I’m very much looking forward to.

“When there are a lot of matches in a short space of time, then you want to attack it and get as many points as you can. Both the players and supporters did well on Saturday and we’ll want them to do so again on Tuesday night.

“We got a great backing at Wimbledon. That was to be expected, although I certainly don’t take it for granted.It drove the players on and helped us get a deserved victory, so hopefully it will be a similar story against Northampton.

“A new manager has come in there and they got a great win at the weekend. They’re a tough side to play. We always respect the opposition and analyse them to try to work out their strengths and weaknesses.

“But the main thing is to get your own team sorted because it doesn’t matter how much research you do – if you don’t have good players, then you won’t win.”

Jeremy Casey’s preview: Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink made an instant impact as Cobblers boss, inspring the team to its first win of the season against Doncaster Rovers on Saturday - now comes the really hard bit.

More often than not a team will experience a bounce with a new manager taking charge, and that was the case for Town at the weekend, with the dream start of that Matt Crooks goal on 21 seconds giving the players confidence, and something to hold on to.

Now they have to try and follow it up with another positive performance just a few days later, against another freshly promoted side in Pompey, who themselves were boosted by their first away win of the season at the weekend, seeing off AFC Wimbledon 2-0.

The Cobblers have to grab the feelgood factor that engulfed Sixfields on Saturday, and keep on running with it.

For the visit of Pompey, I would imagine it will very much be a case of as you were for Hasselbaink who is likely to go for an unchanged team, unless injury or fatigue is a factor.

The injection of pace on the left wing offered by George Smith at the weekend was very welcome indeed, as was the more advanced role for former Rangers man Crooks, who has shown in the past that he has an eye for goal, but found himself lying perhaps a little too deep under previous boss Justin Edinburgh.

Switching to a flat back four was also a smart move, with Brendan Moloney and Dave Buchanan both more comfortable and efftective when utilised as orthodox full-backs, while Matt Ingram in goal more than justified his selection.

Pompey will also arrive at Sixfields in confident mood, even though their start to life in league one following their title success last season has been a spluttering one.

They won on the opening day, seeing off Rochdale at Fratton Park, but didn’t claim a second success until last weekend, when they saw off Wimbledon thanks to goals from Brett Pitman and Conor Chaplin, who will be the main attacking threats for the south coast side.

Width is provided by Jamal Lowe on the right and Matthew Kennedy on the left, with Stuart O’Keefe and 19-year-old Adam May the engine room in midfield - so he should have an intriguing battle with fellow teenager Shaun McWilliams.

Former Cobblers midfielder Danny Rose has found himself out of favour in recent weeks, failing to make the match day squad for the past two games, with Jackett trying to quickly stamp his own identity on the team he inherited from Paul Cook.

Cook is now in charge at Wigan, having ‘done a Chris Wilder’ and left Pompey in the wake of their title success, and Jackett has already sidelined a clutch of last season’s regulars, Gareth Evans being another, as he sets about stabilising the club in league one.

A travelling army of more than 1,000 Pompey fans are expected to make the trip north from the south coast, so a cracking atmosphere is guaranteed, and Hasselbaink, who was delighted with his new team’s performance at the weekend, will be hoping he enjoys that winning feeling once again.

With the Town players’ confidence boosted the win over Rovers, they will be in the mood to make it two wins from two and really get the season moving in the right direction.

Prediction: Cobblers 2 Portsmouth 1

The following people were sentenced at Northampton Magistrates’ Court:

JULY 17:

Florin Moisa, aged 37, of Moorfield Square, Northampton, stole eight boxes of aftershave worth £119.92 belonging to B&M store; fined £100, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85.

Dominic Cohen- Johnson, aged 24, of Regent Street, Northampton, possession of cannabis; fined £100, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85.

Ingrida Gvazdauskiene, aged 45, of Dryleys Court, Northampton, drink-driving with a breath test reading of 73mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath; fined £300, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85, banned from driving for 20 months. Driving not in accordance with a licence; no separate penalty. No insurance; fined £300.

Emmanuel Talabi, aged 20, of Junction Road, Northampton, possession of a class A drug; fined £140, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85. Possession of cannabis; fined £95.

JULY 18

Dominik Radzik, aged 38, of Purser Road, Northampton, drink-driving with a breath test reading of 66mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath; jailed for four weeks consecutive, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £115 and banned from driving for 44 months. No insurance; no separate penalty. Failed to comply with community order; no adjudication, dealt with original offence as follows, possession of an offensive weapon in Great Russell Street; suspended sentence of 12 weeks imposed.

John Wright, aged 34, of Swale Drive, Northampton, damaged a wall and door, dangerous driving, no insurance, driving not in accordance with a licence; pleaded guilty and committed to Northampton Crown Court for sentence.

Otis Barrett, aged 23, of Park Drive, Northampton, used threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour; jailed for 12 weeks suspended for 18 months, ordered to pay compensation of £150, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £115 and costs of £85.

Mark Davies, aged 56, of Waypost Court, Northampton, used threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour; jailed for 10 weeks, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £115. Stole alcohol worth £220.60 from Waitrose; jailed for eight weeks consecutive. Stole alcohol worth £437.50 from Waitrose; jailed for eight weeks consecutive. Stole alcohol worth £911.60 from Waitrose; jailed for eight weeks concurrent. Possession of cannabis; no separate penalty. Used threatening or abusive words or behaviour; no separate penalty. Commission of a further offence while on a suspended sentence; no adjudication, dealt with original offence. Stole football shirts worth £600 belonging to JD Sports; suspended sentence of 12 weeks imposed.

Dragos-Codrut Bacan, aged 29, of Merthyr Road, Northampton, no registration plate; fined £220, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85.

Andrei Borta, aged 27, of Gibbs Acre Court, Northampton, driving not in accordance with a licence; fined £90. No insurance; fined £180, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Stephen Bubb, aged 19, of Rodney Close, Daventry, no insurance; fined £660, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Michael Connors, aged 33, of Kingscroft Court, Great Billing, faulty tyre; fined £440, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £44 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with three points.

Gary Davis, aged 53, of Cedar Close, Daventry, no test certificate; fined £220, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85.

Stephen Davis, aged 67, of Deenethorpe, driving using a mobile phone; fined £660, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with three points.

Connor Diggin, aged 21, of Cranford Road, Northampton, driving not in accordance with a licence; fined £220. No insurance; fined £660, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

John Doran, aged 26, of Blenheim Road, Northampton, no test certificate; fined £220, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85.

Kerry Dunn, aged 28, of Queen Eleanor Terrace, Northampton, driving at 56mph in a 40mph zone; fined £440, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £44 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with four points.

Michelle Elliott, aged 34, of Turners Court, Northampton, no insurance; fined £660, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Donal Farrell, aged 43, of Milton Street North, Northampton, failed to give information relating to the identity of a driver; fined £660, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Liam Fox, aged 19, of Bushland Road, Northampton, driving not in accordance with a licence; fined £36. No insurance; fined £73, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Dorel Ghervas, aged 22, of Abington Grove, Northampton, no insurance; fined £660, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points. No test certificate; fined £220.

Nathan Gilbert, aged 19, of Winchester Road, Northampton, no insurance; fined £660, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points. Driving not in accordance with a licence; fined £220.

Octavian Serfim Gurau-Golban, aged 21, of St Michael’s Avenue, Northampton, no insurance; fined £660, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Darren Hicklin, aged 26, of Farnborough Drive, Daventry, no insurance; fined £660, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Chris Hinchliffe, aged 49, of Jenner Crescent, Northampton, no insurance; fined £660, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points. No test certificate; fined £220.

Julius Krompalcas, aged 19, of Junction Road, Northampton, no insurance; fined £133, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points. Driving not in accordance with a licence; fined £66.

Gareth Martin, aged 35, of Mill Lane, Northampton, driving not in accordance with a licence; fined £220. No insurance; fined £660, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Honnour McLellan, aged 19, of Moss Close, Towcester, failed to give information relating to the identity of a driver; fined £660, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Mikhail Mpofu, aged 27, of Reynard Way, Northampton, no test certificate; fined £220, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85.

Catalin Nita, aged 34, of Burrows Court, Northampton, no insurance; fined £660, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points. Failed to comply with a red light; fined £220.

John Wright, aged 34, of St Andrew’s Road, Northampton, driving not in accordance with a licence; fined £220. No insurance; fined £660, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Yuchen Zhang, aged 23, of Eastern Avenue South, Northampton, no insurance; fined £660, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points. Driving not in accordance with a licence; fined £220.

JULY 19

Leon Henry, aged 26, of Balfour Close, Northampton, assault; community order to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work; ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £85.

Vadim Braga, aged 27, of Spencer Bridge Road, Northampton, drink-driving with a breath test reading of 91mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath; fined £310, banned from driving for two years. No insurance; fined £310, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £31 and costs of £85. No test certificate; fined £100.

Lyde Darien, aged 23, of Connolly Road, Northampton, damaged a cooker; fined £250, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30, compensation of £100 and costs of £85.

John Russell, aged 19, of Lyttleton Road, Northampton, driving not in accordance with a licence; fined £50, ordered to pay costs of £85. No insurance; fined £120. Failed to stop when asked by a police officer; fined £80. Driving without due care and attention; fined £120, banned from driving for 12 months. Failing to pay for petrol’ fined £120, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and compensation of £29.62.

Tomas Taleisis, aged 38, of Whitworth Road, Northampton, failed to provide a breath test; jailed for 20 weeks, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £115, banned from driving for four years.

Andrew Woods, aged 48, of Tresham Green, Northampton, drink-driving with a breath test reading of 65mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath; fined £350, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £35 and costs of £85, banned from driving for 18 months.

Eugea Forde-Chambers, aged 36, of Farmhill Road, Northampton, failed to stop when asked by a police officer; fined £200, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85. No registration plate; fined £100.

‘What are black holes?’, ‘how did the world begin?’ and ‘how does the internet work?’ are among questions asked by kids parents struggle to answer, a study has found.

A poll of 2,000 mums and dads found 54 per cent are regularly flummoxed by the deep and meaningful or scientific questions put to them by their children.

In fact, the average mum and dad face eight questions a month from their offspring which they find difficult to respond to, either because they don’t know the answer or are too embarrassed.

And 53 per cent admit that the more scientific the question, the less likely they are to be able to answer it.

Other questions parents struggle to answer include ‘why do people die?’, ‘why is the sea salty?’ and ‘how does the internet work?’

It also emerged the average parent will turn to Google six times a month to get the answer to a question their child has asked.

A spokesman for ACS, which commissioned the research to mark the opening of the new Science Centre at its Hillingdon school, said: “Children are known for always asking questions, but it can be difficult when they want to know things parents themselves don’t know the answer to.

“Sometimes mums and dads will stumble with their reply as it’s an awkward question or they know the answer is going to lead to more potentially embarrassing questions.

“But inquisitive children are also asking lots of questions about the planet, how things work and science which are leaving parents struggling to give them the right answer.

“It’s important to encourage your children’s thirst for learning new things and even if you have to Google the answer yourself, it can help them develop an interest in an important subject as they get older.”

The study, carried out through OnePoll, found ‘what does God look like?’ is the question most likely to leave parents stumped, followed by what came first, the chicken or the egg?’ and where do you go when you die?’.

‘What are black holes?’ came fifth with ‘why is water wet?’, ‘why do people die?’ and ‘how did the world begin?’ close behind.

‘Where do babies come from?’, ‘why is the sea salty?’ and ‘why is the moon sometimes out in the day?’ completed the top ten.

Other questions from intrigued youngsters which leave parents scratching their heads include ‘why is the sky blue?’, ‘what makes the earth spin?’ and ‘how do planes fly?’.

But while 47 per cent of parents just respond with an honest ‘I don’t know’, 28 per cent admit to trying to cobble together an answer which sounds like it could be right while 35 per cent tell the youngster to Google it.

Twenty-three per cent Google it themselves and then pretend they knew the answer all along while others tell the child to ask their teacher (14%) or a sibling or other parent (11%).

Thirty-three per cent of parents even admitted to knowingly telling their children the wrong answer because they didn’t want to admit they didn’t know.

But 80 per cent of parents admit this has back fired when their children have then repeated the wrong answer to other people because they believed it to be right.

A spokesman for ACS added: “The extent to which science based subjects grab children’s interests is fascinating. It certainly underpins our commitment to equipping our teachers and students with the very facilities and skills they need to teach, learn and develop this obvious early curiosity.

“It’s clear too that parents should be brought into the picture too as they are quite clearly struggling to cope with many of the questions posed by their inquisitive offspring.”

Top 30 impossible questions

1. What does God look like?

2. What came first, the chicken or the egg?

3. Where do you go when you die?

4. What are black holes?

5. Why is water wet?

6. Why do people die?

7. How did the world begin?

8. Where do babies come from?

9. Why is the sea salty?

10. Why is the moon sometimes out in the day?

11. How does the internet work?

12. Why is the sky blue?

13. Where does wind come from?

14. Why do we have a leap year?

15. What makes the Earth spin?

16. Why is blood red?

17. What is infinity?

18. How big is the world?

19. Why doesn’t the sky fall down?

20. Why does cutting onions make you cry?

21. How do planes fly?

22. How do telephones work?

23. How does TV work?

24. Why am I right/left handed?

25. What is electricity?

26. How do clouds float?

27. How does the car work?

28. How do the sun and moon stay in the sky?

29. Why are people’s eyes different colours?

30. How does lightning strike?

Lawes, who lined up in the back row, produced an action-packed performance that earned him the man of the match award in the 24-11 Aviva Premiership victory.

The England star was one of the players of the season at Saints last year and did enough to earn a place on the British & Irish Lions' tour of New Zealand.

He came off the bench in the final two Tests to help the Lions secure a series draw.

And Lawes has picked up where he left off this season, with his display against Tigers key in ensuring Saints bounced back from their opening-day disappointment against Saracens.

"We saw last year that Courtney was one of the outstanding rugby players in England," Mallinder said.

"He was unfortunate not to start a Test for the Lions, but he played brilliantly coming off the bench in those Test matches.

"He's shown what a versatile player he is by playing six for us and showing that mobility.

"His height in the lineout gives you extra options.

"He's played six for England so he's very comfortable there."

Saints will be hoping Lawes can continue his fine form in the weeks to come, with Bath heading to Franklin's Gardens on Friday night.

But Mallinder knows he must be sensible in looking after his player.

"He's a tough, hard worker is Courtney," the Saints boss said. "He never complains.

"He's had his rest period, come back in and we're going to have to watch him. He can't play at that intensity for 80 minutes every single game, so we've got to be sensible with his welfare.

"We need to start this season well, we didn't last week so we need him playing full bore like he did for the next few weeks."

Lawes and Saints showed real character in overcoming the Tigers last weekend.

And Mallinder said: "I think the lads knew they played badly against Saracens and it was their response.

"You've got to win the collisions, particularly against the big sides. At Twickenham, we weren't.

"This time, we were putting them under pressure and their England half-backs (Ben Youngs and George Ford) couldn't control the game.

"You look at yourselves and sometimes you talk too much about tactics and the technical side, but you can never get away from those basics."

Jamal Ford-Robinson says Saints' win against Tigers provided huge inspiration for the Wanderers as they made it a derby-day double at Franklin's Gardens.

After the first-team had secured a 24-11 success against Leicester, the Wanderers took on Tigers' second string.

And it was an even more convincing win for the green, black and gold as they scored six tries to send their local rivals packing.

Ford-Robinson scored twice, with Francois van Wyk, Tom Stephenson and Juan Pablo Estelles also dotting down.

Rory Hutchinson added five conversions and a penalty as the Wanderers backed up last Monday's win at Sale Jets to make it two wins from two in the Prem Rugby A League.

And Ford-Robinson said: "The A League stuff is perfect to show what you're about.

"Selection's not in our hands, but we can come out, do what we do and hope we've done enough to get into that weekend squad.

"I managed to watch the first-team game and the atmosphere was unbelievable.

"It's the kind of thing that can spur you on in this kind of game and to be out there in front of a packed Franklin's Gardens is the aim."

Tighthead prop Ford-Robinson now has three tries in two Wanderers games, as he scored after sprinting to the line at Sale last Monday.

And he said: "This was more my style, in the close quarters, getting a dot down.

"But it's not about me - it's about the team.

"It was a huge effort from everyone.

"We got the maul going in the second half, some lovely handling from the backs and some real good stuff all round."

Ford-Robinson switched to Saints from Bristol during the summer and he is enjoying life at Franklin's Gardens.

"I like it," said the front row forward, who celebrates his 24th birthday today (Monday).

"It's a bit of a smaller place (the town) coming from what I'm used to at Bristol, but I've settled in well.

"We've got a really good squad here, a good culture about the place.

"I like to provide a bit of entertainment, but everyone's up for it.

"We all change in the same place, we get the music and banter going and I'm really enjoying it."

Budget supermarket Lidl is facing a backlash after airbrushing Christian symbols from packaging in order to remain ‘religiously neutral’.

The chain’s new Greek food range features images of the famous Anastasis Church in Santorini, Greece, complete with its world-renowned blue dome roof.

But eagle-eyed customers have spotted that the packaging does not feature the Christian crosses that usually adorn the top of the dome and surrounding buildings.

Shoppers have flocked to Lidl UK’s Facebook page to express their “dismay” and “disappointment” over the alteration to the images.

Daniel Novak wrote: “I’m highly disappointed in a company that is bending over to cater to specific people. Why are you hiding from the history?

“We are all to learn from history, removing it with photoshop will cause the same mistakes of the past to be done over and over again.”

Steve West added: “Why have you taken the crosses off the top of Greek churches in your advertising?

“Is there somebody you will think takes offence? There is. Me, Greeks and many others. I definitely won’t be using you again if you don’t reverse this policy.”

And Daisy Matthews wrote: “Why are you erasing the reality from a photo?

“If there were products from Hindu, Sikh, Jewish, or Muslim countries with their symbols depicted on there I wouldn’t have a problem buying them.

“As a Christian I feel really hurt, discriminated against, upset and disappointed that you have done this, if it is the case I won’t be shopping at your store anymore.”

Meanwhile, Carol Anne Thurley, a member of the Facebook group Grecofile, wrote: “To us it seems rather pathetic and an offence to Greeks and those of us who love Greece.”

The ‘Eridanous’ range features Greek delicacies such as olive oil, Moussaka, yogurt and gyros.

Customers have also pointed out that some of the Halal meat products on offer at Lidl appear to feature buildings with minarets - a piece of Islamic religious architecture.

The row has spread across Europe, with shoppers in Belgium and Germany criticising the policy.

A Lidl spokesman told Belgian TV station RTL: “We are avoiding the use of religious symbols because we do not wish to exclude any religious beliefs.

“We are a company that respects diversity and this is what explains the design of this packaging.”

A German Lidl spokesman said: “Our intention has never been to shock.

“We avoid the use of religious symbols on our packaging to maintain neutrality in all religions.

“If it has been perceived differently, we apologize to those who may have been shocked.”

A spokesperson for Lidl UK said: “We have been selling our highly popular Eridanous own-label range in Lidl stores across Europe for over 10 years now.

“In that time the design of the packaging has been through a number of updates.

“We are extremely sorry for any offence caused by the most recent artwork and would like to reassure our customers that this is not an intentional statement.

“In light of this we will ensure that all feedback is taken into consideration when redesigning future packaging.”

Britain is to be hit by a warmer than average ‘Indian summer’ this autumn according to predicted forecasts from the Met Office’s Weather Outlook.

The Met Office three month forecast says, “above-average temperatures are more probable than below-average temperatures”, with temperatures reaching as a high as 32C – or 90F in some parts of the country from September to November.

The unseasonal climate forecast comes as a result of lower than average pressure to the north of the UK increasing the frequency of westerly and southwesterly winds which is set to “increase the likelihood of above-average temperatures” this autumn, according to the Met Office.

Warmer temperatures will also develop as “a result of the broad background warmth associated with the present high global temperatures.”

Previous years have seen temperatures rise at 34.4C in September 2016 and 29.9C in October 2011.

‘A freak occurrence’

The Weather Outlook forecaster Brian Gaze told the Daily Star, “It would be a freak occurrence - but September could well have a hotter UK average temperature than August this year, with forecast models showing much warmer than average temperatures for the UK for September.

“And highs up to 32C would not be a surprise this month. Europe’s warmth is likely to reach Britain.

“Summer is being shifted from August to September this year.”

It’s not all hot temperatures though as parts of the UK are still expected to receive spells of heavy rain and severe gales during September and October.

The average worker spends the equivalent of two weeks a year GRUMBLING - with the top gripes about IT, air con and printers, a study has found.

Researchers say the typical employee will also find time to whine about unnecessary staff-all emails - and uncomfortable chairs.

Other problems which drive staff mad are the temperature of the office, commuting, people pulling sickies and a phone call just as you’re about to leave.

Common gripes, which generally take up a total of 20 minutes of the working day, include the amount of junk mail received, being copied into emails that are of no concern and someone stealing a favourite mug.

In addition, irritable Brits can’t stand it when someone smells out the office with stinky food, or turns on the freezing cold air conditioning.

IT issues form a major part of the top 50 list of grumbles - as workers complain about computers which are too slow or crash, printers jamming or breaking down and a bad phone signal.

Geoffrey Dennis, Chief Executive of international animal charity SPANA, which provides free veterinary treatment to working animals in developing countries, said: “It’s clear that there’s no shortage of annoyances in the workplace that raise people’s blood pressure on a daily basis.

‘’From pointless meetings to colleagues who use your favourite mug, these frustrations seem to be part and parcel of office life in Britain.

“It can be hard to keep a sense of perspective at times, but we should remember that most of these irritations are trivial and very minor compared to the tough working lives endured by working animals in developing countries around the world.

“These animals often doing back-breaking, dangerous work with little rest and no holidays or retirement at the end of it. That’s why they desperately need our support.”

The study shows getting a phone call when you’re just about to leave the office is THE biggest grumble.

Others are frustrated by colleagues who are difficult to work with or who suck up to the boss, and also those who take credit for work they didn’t do.

Unrealistic deadlines, ‘meetings about meetings’, office jargon and everyone ignoring a ringing phone can also make work life irritating.

Others moan about their insensitive boss, or those who choose to micro-manage everything.

Embarrassing team building exercises, having to engage in small talk and being asked to desk share are other common complaints.

Researchers also found two thirds of people are most likely to grumble to other colleagues; one in 20 will start moaning the minute they step foot in the office.

Another 15 per cent admitted they ‘whinge all day long’.

But most are unlikely to do anything about their work worries - with more than two thirds owning up to the fact they wouldn’t confront a colleague who was annoying them.

Another six in ten would never say anything about their ‘ridiculous workload’.

Office workers are most likely to make a noise about IT going wrong, with half of those polled complaining about the state of their computer or printer.

Seven in 10 admitted they often feel irritable at work, and 52 per cent say their whole working day can be ruined by just a few ‘bugbears’.

Other factors that affect how good a day is going to be include what the traffic is like on the way in (35 per cent), and how much work there is to do (43 per cent).

A further quarter say their day is affected by whether or not the boss is going to be in, while 27 per cent say how early they wake up can ruin the day ahead.

Geoffrey Dennis, Chief Executive of SPANA, continues: “Without exception, everyone has to contend with problems - however minor - at some point in their careers.

‘’But many people in the UK aren’t aware about the hard conditions faced by working animals around the world.

“These animals play a vital role in supporting the livelihoods of the world’s poorest families.

‘’However, despite their importance, their welfare is often neglected. SPANA is working to ensure that working animals have access to veterinary care when they are sick or injured, as well as educating owners about how to best care for their animals.”

TOP 50 OFFICE GRUMBLES

1. Getting a phone call when you’re literally about to leave the office

2. Computers being slow

3. IT issues

4. The temperature being too low/high

5. No air conditioning

6. Computers crashing

7. Printers jamming or breaking down

8. Colleagues who are difficult to work with

9. When someone uses your desk when you’re away and leaves it messy

10. Freezing cold air conditioning

11. Being in the office when the weather is lovely

12. Having meetings about meetings

13. People not replying to your emails

14. When someone calls in sick when you know they aren’t ill

15. Being copied into emails that are of no concern

16. Colleagues who suck up to the boss

17. Colleagues who talk too much

18. People who loudly complain about how busy they are

19. People not saying thank you when you’ve helped them out

20. The commute

21. Someone constantly arriving late to work

22. The amount of junk mail received

23. People who ignore a ringing phone

24. Smelly food being eaten in the office

25. The phone ringing constantly

26. Someone taking credit for work you’ve done

27. Having to sit in long and tedious meetings

28. People speaking loudly

29. Returning from holiday to hundreds of emails

30. Office jargon (such as “touch base”)

31. People who leave dirty dishes in the work sink

32. Unnecessary all-staff emails

33. Unrealistic deadlines

34. People not cleaning the microwave when their food spills

35. People who email out of normal working hours

36. Not having enough annual leave

37. An insensitive boss

38. People not listening to you when you talk and then asking you the same question 10 minutes later

39. People who inflict their mood swings on colleagues

40. An uncomfortable chair

41. Bosses who micromanage everything

42. Bad phone signal

43. The office gossip

44. People who expect the cleaners to tidy up all their mess

45. Someone stealing your favourite mug

46. Having to desk share or ‘hot desk’

47. Embarrassing teambuilding exercises

48. Having to engage in small talk

49. Colleagues who don’t shower regularly enough

50. Someone leaving their chair out in the middle of the aisle

Acid attack thugs should be handed tougher sentences according to the county’s police and crime commissioner, following a spate of alleged incidents in the county.

Stephen Mold has even pledged to write to the home secretary Amber Rudd in a bid to see harsher punishments dished out for the life-changing crimes, the Chronicle and Echo can reveal this week.

His call came after the NHS revealed the amount of people requiring specialist treatment for acid attacks had doubled since 2014.

Mr Mold said: “The rise in acid attacks across the country is deeply concerning. This is an extremely violent assault that leaves victims with life changing injuries. In my view the punishment must reflect the severity of the crime.

“We need to deter individuals from perpetrating these horrific attacks and I have written to the Home Secretary outlining my support for much tougher sentencing.”

Chief inspector for Northamptonshire Police David Lawson confirmed that acid attacks were on the rise in Northamptonshire too, particularly as there is a perception among thugs that “it is a better alternative to carrying a knife.”

But he said the force has now issued its officers with fresh guidance on how to spot concealed bottles of damaging substances.

He said: “This is a different problem (to knives).

“But our job is about making the public aware that if you carry this sort of thing, you are going to be dealt with very seriously.”

Chief insp Lawson said that his officers were not about to start confiscating goods from anyone carrying over-the-counter cleaning products, but added that people trying to conceal bottles would be treated suspiciously.

Recent cases include an alleged acid attack in the early hours of the morning in The Drapery, Northampton where four people were splashed with a “noxious substance.”

Just last week a Daventry couple had acid squirted at them by two people as they waited at a zebra crossing in Park Leys.

In both cases, alleged victims were targeted as they left pubs and clubs.

But secretary for the county’s Pubwatch scheme Kate Bailey, said those who run pubs and clubs have a tough job in spotting would-be attackers.

She said: “There is not an awful lot (pub owners) can do to prevent this sort of thing.

“Unless you can get close to an open vessel to sniff it, you are not going to know whether they are carrying a bottle of water or something malicious.

“In the short term the best thing we can do is get that advice out there of how to treat people quickly.”

One victim of the alleged Drapery attack claimed to have spent six hours in hospital as a result of chemical burns.

“The chemical got in my eye, burnt underneath my eye and left a few marks on my arm,” she told the Chron.

“There was a guy called Kyle who helped me rinse out my eye before the ambulance arrived. I’ve never met him before, but it brought back my faith in humanity.”

Acid can be bought over the counter

Part of the issue facing police is that hazardous substances can be bought over the counter.

Household drain cleaner containing sulphuric acid can cause severe burns and dissolve skin and even bone - but it can be bought from as little as £5 a litre.

A common patio cleaner was used in one of the London assaults, while hydrochloric acid or ammonia, can also be bought over the counter at almost any DIY store.

Alan Gale, who owns Home Supplies in White Hills Crescent, said shopkeepers are currently faced with a difficult task identifying those buying acid for criminal purposes but are developing ways of tackling the issue.

Eight arrests made in the county over suspected acid attacks

Acid attacks have hit the headlines here in Northamptonshire following a number of incidents this summer alone.

An 18-year-old man, 23-year-old man and 22-year-old woman were arrested in connection with a suspected acid attack in Park Leys, Daventry, last week.

A couple had allegedly been targeted as they made their way across a zebra crossing at 1.30am.

Four people charged with splashing four people with ammonia in Northampton town centre in a separate incident are currently awaiting a trial.

Jake Price, 22, Taishon Whittaker, 26, and Frank Taylor, 24, all from Wellingborough, appeared alongside Ijuha Sterling-Campbell, from Ecton, at Northampton Crown Court on August 23. They all pleaded not guilty to maliciously throwing the noxious substance on the morning of July 23. A trial date is yet to be set. Arthur Collins the 25-year-old former boyfriend of reality TV star Ferne McCann, was arrested in the county on April 23, following an alleged incident at a London nightclub.

Police were called to the nightclub on Sidworth Street in Dalston, at 1.10am on Monday, April 17, after a noxious substance was sprayed. A week later he was arrested in Rushden by officers from the Met’s Specialist Crime & Operations.

Collins was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and was taken into custody. A number of people suffered burns during the alleged attack with two blinded in one eye.

Q & A

How do you define an acid attack?

So-called ‘acid attacks’, where corrosive substances are used as part of a violent assault or robbery, have become increasingly prominent, with a series of high-profile incidents this year. As well as significant harm caused to individuals, the NHS estimates that the average cost of care for a victim requiring specialist burns treatment, eye care, rehabilitation and mental health treatment is £34,500.

Is it on the rise?

The assistance for victims comes as new data from NHS England show the number of people requiring specialist medical help for this type of assault is on the rise. In 2014, 16 people required specialist medical advice, rising to 25 in 2015 and increasing further to 32 last year. The level of demand for specialist burns help so far in 2017 suggests there will be another rise in patient numbers this year.

What should I do if I see a victim of an acid attack?

Whilst the overall number of people impacted by this type of attack remains low, people are advised to take three simple steps in the event they witness or are victim of an attack:

· Report the attack: dial 999.

· Remove contaminated clothing carefully.

· Rinse skin immediately in running water.

A star of the BBC drama Call the Midwife will swap babies for ogres as she takes on the role of Princess Fiona.

Laura Main, who plays Sister Shelagh Turner in the show, will play the role famously voiced by Cameron Diaz in the film, when the show tours the United Kingdom.

Shrek the Musical can be at Birmingham's Alexandra Theatre from February 14 to 25 and then to Northampton's Royal & Derngate from March 14 to 25 and to Milton Keynes Theatre from July 25 to August 5 next year.

Joining her in the cast is Steffan Harri who plays the title role, Marcus Ayton as Donkey and Samuel Holmes as the villainous Lord Farquaad.

Laura said: "‘I’ve been waiting a long time for an adventure like this to come along and now that it has I am ready to swap the surgery for the swamp in one of my favourite musicals. Shrek has made a Believer out of me and I can’t wait for this fairytale to take me across the country."

For further details or to book tickets for the dates above visit www.atgtickets.co.uk/birmingham, www,royalandderngate.co.uk or www.atgtickets.co.uk/miltonkeynes.

A disabled girl from Byfield will soon have the freedom most teenagers have thanks to generous donors who have raised enough money to buy her a portable hoist.

Harriet Margieson has a rare and painful condition and needs to be hoisted in and out of her wheelchair but few places have specialist equipment.

Newlife, The Charity for Disabled Children, launched a fundraising appealto buy the 13-year-old girl a £1,655 portable hoist which would give the uch more freedom on August 25.

Less than three weeks later, the money has been raised and Harriet’s mother Jane was very thankful, and added that her daughter was pleased too.

“I would like to say thank you to everyone who donated to the appeal,” she said.

“Harriet is delighted by the news and the equipment will make a huge difference.”

Harriet has Aicardi-Goutieres Syndrome, which has made her quadriplegic and causes severe muscle spasms, but her condition is even rarer as she does not have a learning disability.

Harriet needs to use a hoist to get in and out of her wheelchair and is far too heavy to be lifted so a portable hoist will make a world of difference at home and when they are out and about.

Newlife thanked the Banbury Guardian and Daventry Express for helping to share the appeal in the papers on August 31.

Newlife’s head of charity operations Stephen Morgan said: “The response has been amazing and shows how Harriet’s day to day struggle really touched the heart of members of the local community.”

Fundraising appeal to get a new hoist for disabled Byfield girl

A young man was robbed at knife point as he walked towards a Northampton village.

The victim was walking from Weedon towards Flore, and was close to the village sign, at about 9.40pm on Friday (September 8), when he was approached by a man who demanded cash.

The offender threatened the victim with a pen knife before taking cash and making off in a dark coloured car, similar to a Honda Civic, with lowered suspension and a loud exhaust.

The offender was white, about 20, 6ft and was wearing a grey top and bottoms with white trainers.

Officers investigating the incident would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed this incident or who may have any information regarding it.

Witnesses or anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A group of determined women are taking on the challenge of a lifetime by cycling from Coast to Coast.

Nicky Taylor, Steph Beesly, Louise Harrison, Jaime Hulme and Hazel Halton will saddle up and ride 140 miles across the Pennines.

They are raising money for a little boy from Newnham who has a life-limiting illness and also Cerebral Palsy Research.

Harry Charlesworth suffered severe brain damage prior to being born.

He has quadriplegic cerebral palsy, is tube fed, has breathing difficulties and is not reaching any milestones.

His mother, Hayley said: “Harry has a short life expectancy and will never walk or talk.

“The ladies have put their everything into this challenge and I’d hate for them not to reach their target of £1,500.”

Their challenge takes place this weekend.

“This is no mean feat for a group of ladies who have hardly cycled in their whole lives,” added Hayley.

The ladies are appealing for more donations - however big or small.

“Weʼre raising £1,500 to help Harry have the best life possible,” said Steph.

Fundraisers are also invited to get moving this month to help the appeal and complete 100 miles for Harry.

Lynn Stubbs, chairman of the Helping Harry Trust, said: “All you need to do is clock up 100 miles during September. For those who count steps, that’s about 211,000 steps over the month - or just 7,033 steps a day.”

To donate to the Coast to Coast challenge, visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/helping-harry?utm_term=DyxeRJzeG

To find out more about The Helping Harry Trust people can go to www.thehelpingharrytrust.com

Visitors to Daventry Flower and Vegetable Show had a blooming great time.

It took place at Daventry Community Centre on September 3 and attracted more entries and attendees than last year.

The show, organised by the Daventry Allotment & Gardening Association (DAGA) supported by Daventry Town Council, saw more than 300 exhibits being awarded individual rosettes for first, second and third places.

Five overall category winners were each presented with a £10 National Garden Centre Voucher by Daventry Town Mayor Lynne Taylor, with the winner of the children’s category winning a £10 Argos voucher.

The mayor congratulated DAGA on an excellent show and commented on how proud Daventry Town Council were of their allotment community.

There was a good attendance from the public and allotment holders who all enjoyed viewing the produce, sampling homemade refreshments and shopping in the arts and crafts market.

The overall category winners were Vegetable: John Barker, Soft Fruit: Kath Vaughan, Flowers: Marjorie Loughrey, Novelty: John Barker, and Children’s; Millie Burgess aged 8.

New category for 2017 Jams and Cookery was won by Marjorie Loughrey.

DAGA are donating the money raised from the charity auction and raffle - £177.10 - to the Green Health project for people with mental health issues.

Kieran Fitzgerald bagged a brace as Daventry Town edged out Eynesbury Rovers in the United Counties League.

Town ended in-form Rovers’ 100 per cent with a 3-2 victory as Fitzgerald grabbed the late winner despite his side playing with ten men for most of Saturday’s fiery premier division encounter.

Robbie Parsons just failed to make contact with a cross before the drama started to unfold in the eighth minute. Parsons was shown a straight red card for a challenge.

Holding on for 80 minutes against one of the form teams looked too much to ask but the match remained even for the next half hour. But Town’s defence lapsed only once when Dom Lawless got through and keeper Iustin Cerga did enough and the striker shot wide.

Town grew in confidence as the game went on and went in front in the 37th minute. Dan George came out of his box to deal with a long ball but his pass only found Fitzgerald who took one touch before firing home from 40 yards out with the keeper stranded.

Following an incident as the teams left the field at halftime, Eynesbury’s Richard King and Town’s joint manager Arron Parkinson were not allowed to attend he technical area after the restart. But Town started the half brightly and Adam Creaney curled a 25 yard free-kick into the top corner of the net.

Town’s euphoria did not least long as Jordan Brown finished from close range. Just two minutes later Eynesbury were level when Declan Rogers rifled the ball back into the net from 15 yards out.

Town weathered the storm and regained the lead in the 75th minute with another excellent Creaney run through the middle. His chip into the box found Fitzgerald who controlled the ball with one foot, turned and smashing it home with the other.

With the match moving into stoppage-time, Eynesbury captain Steve Gentle was given a straight red card after a challenge that left Jordon Richards requiring treatment for a head injury.