Children had fun making their own Olympic torches at a half-term event.

Craft sessions were held at Corby Heritage Centre, in High Street, in the Old Village, when youngsters learned more about the 2012 London Games.

Billy Dalziel, heritage development worker at the centre, said: “The play sessions were held from Monday to Friday and we had a good turnout.

“Children enjoyed making the torches and learning more about the Olympics.

“They are excited about the torch relay coming through Corby and about our town athletes, Daniel Keatings and Will Sharman.”

The heritage centre will be holding more activity sessions for youngsters during the schools’ Easter break when children can learn about St George and make a shield.

Children at a Kettering school are backing a campaign aimed at making people think twice about raising their fists to fight.

The One Punch anti-violence initiative was launched and is being rolled out across schools in the district after a Wellingborough man died from a single punch.

Stuart Martin, 28, died after he was hit in the back of the head outside Bar Life nightclub on June 19, 2010.

This month pupils at Kettering Science Academy showed their support for the campaign by drawing posters highlighting its message. They also put their own ideas forward on how to publicise the message further.

The posters and ideas will go towards a competition.

The final will be at The Lighthouse theatre in July.

A DVD featuring Mr Martin’s fiancee Katie Harthen and mother Joyce Martin speaking about the tragedy and their life afterwards is being shown in schools.

The campaign has also received a boost from former Saints rugby player Ben Cohen, who recently backed the project.

Lumpy batter and floor splatter – don’t be left with egg on your face when flipping pancakes today.

As hundreds of households across the country prepare to break out the non-stick frying pan and get creative with flavour combinations, we are giving you the perfect pancake recipe.

With just four basic store cupboard ingredients – plain flour, milk, eggs and salt – Kettering Park Hotel chef Craig Duffy says the pancake offers a great family-friendly cooking session.

He said by following his simple instructions very little can go wrong – apart from when it comes to flipping, of course.

First, whisk the three eggs before adding the flour before it is incorporated.

Then slowly add the milk and salt until any lumps disappear.

The batter should be very thin and run flow easily.

Heat some oil in a pan then pour the excess out before pouring some batter inside.

Cook the pancake before loosening it and attempting to flip it.

Whatever your preference, what happens next is up to you.

Be it sweet or savoury, pancakes can be jazzed up to make them as healthy or as decadent as you choose.

Junior sous chef Mr Duffy said: “Whatever people want on top of them, pancakes are usually delicious and a lot of fun to cook.”

Historically on Shrove Tuesday Christians went to confession and were absolved of their sins.

It was the last opportunity to use up all of the rich foods before embarking on the Lenten fast.

A popular choir which has been going for nearly 70 years is preparing to say goodbye to its musical director.

Stephen Bell joined the St Cecilia Singers, of Rushden, in 2007 but is planning to leave the choir to move back to Northampton.

He will be leaving the choir in November and its members, who in the past have performed at venues such as Royal Festival Hall and the Royal Albert Hall in London, are beginning the search to find his replacement now.

Mr Bell, 48, of Wellingborough, said: “I’ve had many, many highlights during my time with the choir, including our performance of Handel’s Messiah last November. The choir sings with great passion and it was incredible to hear them perform such a wonderful piece of music.

“But I feel it’s time to move on and make way for someone else.”

The closing date for applications for the post of musical director is April 30. Suitable applicants will be interviewed, and those shortlisted will be expected to audition with the choir.

St Cecilia Singers chairman Roy Benning, who has been with the choir for more than 30 years, said: “Stephen has been a superb conductor who knows how to get the best out of us.

“We now need to find someone of the calibre of Stephen or even better, if that’s possible.”

{http://www.stceciliasingers.org.uk/|ST CECILIA SINGERS|Click here for more details}

Creative youngsters had lift-off with a space rocket challenge at their school.

Year 1 pupils at Studfall Infants School in Corby were challenged to design and construct a space rocket at home with their family to link with their space topic and trip to the Leicester Space Centre.

Design and technology teacher Angie Lawlor gave each child a cardboard tube as a starting point and the rest was down to them.

Each of the 90 children who entered received a certificate and the three winners, Amelia Ford, Cerys Esselmont and Morgan Harvey, received a Space Centre gift and an activity book.

Design and technology co-ordinator Lorraine Corkan said: “There were some wonderful designs and it was super that families were so involved with the children and their project.”

A television and West End star put smiles on faces and new moves on the dancefloor with a visit to a town studio.

Starlight Dance welcomed So You Think You Can Dance star Ryan Jenkins to its Kettering studios on Sunday.

Mr Jenkins has worked on several West End shows and the hit film Phantom of the Opera. He taught a workshop to the infant, junior and senior dancers.

The visit came about after the school won a national competition to appear in Bobby Dazzlers at Her Majesty’s Theatre in the West End on Sunday.

Starlight Dance founder Jacc Batch said: “A big thank you to Ryan Jenkins. Our dancers all loved their workshops and he was an inspiration to us all. We look forward to working with him again.”