Cash spent on agency staff by Corby Council – a total of about £30,000 a month – is to go on permanent, full-time jobs.

In a move the authority hopes other employers in the town will follow, it is to recruit 10 new employees and offer one new apprenticeship each year for the next five.

The positions will include three senior technical posts, two administration staff, three multi-skilled trade positions, an electrician and a painter, as well as the five trade apprenticeships.

Council leader Tom Beattie said: “I would urge other employers to carry out a similar review of their budget for agency workers and consider whether there is a different way of doing things which will create secure employment and be more cost effective.”

The new scheme is the result of a review conducted by deputy leader of the council Mark Pengelly.

It revealed that the bill for agency staff employed by the council was rising.

He said: “It’s important to find secure employment for people.

“We hope by converting this agency spending into full-time employment opportunities it will be the start of helping to create much-needed full-time jobs in the town.

“We are asking all companies to look at converting long-term agency spending into full-time jobs.”

The move by Corby Council comes at a time when fears are growing over the security of jobs in the town after the announcements last month that Argos is shedding 440 core workers and in the region of 300 agency staff, Tata Steel is axing a further 110 staff and the Eddie Stobart depot is closing.

Solway Foods, in Godwin Road, Corby, has also revealed it may have to make workers redundant as it struggles in difficult market conditions.

Council leaders have vowed to do all they can to mitigate the jobs crisis and are to lobby the Government for Corby to be given Enterprise Zone status.

Cllr Beattie said: “Over a period of time agency staff were appointed to do work that needed to be carried out. We have focused on this spending on agency staff in the last year and it became clear that the money would be better spent on secure, full-time positions.

“The council is taking the lead on this and we would like other employers to follow.”

The new positions will be advertised in April.

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.

The latest crime figures for four county towns have been released.

In Burton Latimer, there was a sharp rise in incidents of almost 50 per cent last year compared with 2010, while Desborough saw a reduction of nearly 15 per cent.

Rothwell saw 21 per cent more crimes during the same period, but incidents in Barton Seagrave fell by four per cent.

With only 140 crimes committed last year in Barton Seagrave, it is the most crime-free place to live.

Fergus MacDonald, chairman of Burton Latimer Town Council, said: “I don’t think we’re unduly concerned by the rise in the town.

“Of course, it’s always concerning for any organisation when there is a rise in crime, but the figures show that they are relatively minor crimes.

“Some of the increases, particularly theft, could be due to lack of thought from the victim, such as leaving their bike on show.

“I’m confident that the police are on top of the crime figures, and I’m sure if any trend emerges we will be on top of it. I think the figures also come fairly heavily from the Christmas period, when crime tends to rise.”

The figures were released and debated at the A6 Towns Forum at the beginning of the month.

The statistics cover the period January to December 2011, and compare incident rates to the year before.

In the same period, all four towns recorded a reduction in anti-social behaviour.

Desborough saw the biggest drop in anti-social incidents, with a 33 per cent reduction.

Christmas has gone, as has Valentine’s Day, and now the shops are full of Easter merchandise and cards for Mothering Sunday, or Mothers’ Day as some might prefer to call it; the latter being so special for us all as we all have, or have had, a mum who means so much for so many reasons.

At 57 I am very lucky to still have my mum (87) and I will be so proud when she joins us at Wicksteed Park on Mothers’ Day to cut the ribbon to start our 10th Anniversary Walk, her commitment being that ‘while I have an ounce of breath in my body, I will be there’.

You see, our walk this year happens to fall on Mothers’ Day (Sunday, March 18) but I see this as a very positive date in the diary to hold such an event like ours. If, for some reason, your life, or that of a loved one’s, has been affected by breast cancer, in any way, then what better occasion to bring everyone together, joining like-minded people for just a few hours, once a year and do something good?

Circumstances are such that the date cannot be changed. We also have to fit in with national fundraising events being staged around this time e.g. Sport Relief, Race for Life etc. This year’s walk for us at Crazy Hats, a local charity, is our 10th and we really do want it to be bigger and better than in previous years so that we can continue to support our local breast care and oncology units.

The groundwork has been done and preparations are in place to cater for huge numbers again, with a few added extras. Now, we urge you to think seriously about submitting your entries as soon as you can.

A few years ago, with more than 2,000 walkers registered and the rain relentlessly pouring down, we arrived very early at Wicksteed Park to find the lower part flooded, the rangers telling us we should cancel. This was an impossible ask and within minutes the hardy, loyal and determined walkers came out in their hundreds to battle the elements. The fun we had, despite such atrocious conditions, had to be seen to be believed; in many ways it was our best ever.

So this year, although it coincides with Mothers’ Day, please support us. It is all over by lunchtime when you can all go out for that lovely lunch, with a hearty appetite after a good walk and fresh air, knowing you have played your part.

This year please walk for your mum, walk with your mum – for together we can make a difference to breast cancer care in Northamptonshire.

New solutions aimed at tackling parking problems at schools in Wellingborough have been welcomed.

Wellingborough Police have been involved in a campaign to tackle inconsiderate and illegal parking around Oakway infants and junior schools and Sir Christopher Hatton School.

No-waiting cones have been used along Oakway, Plumtree Avenue and Cherry Avenue during a recent three-week operation to prevent parents stopping there.

Seven £30 fixed penalty tickets were issued by police to parents who parked in the no-waiting zones, and more than 30 parents were given advice by officers about their parking.

Cones have also now been placed around The Pyghtle to keep school bus stops clear for Sir Christopher Hatton pupils.

PCSO Joanne Kelland and PC Phil Beckett from Wellingborough Town SCT worked on the project.

PCSO Kelland said: “There has been a continual problem in this area with motorists not observing road safety and regulations. The cones put out at the Oakway schools have encouraged parents to park further away from the school and a lot more parents are now walking. The aim of this type of operation is to reinforce these safety issues and we will continue to monitor the situation on a regular basis.”

David Pinnock, whose grandchild attends Sir Christopher Hatton School, said: “The cones will improve the situation, as long as parents take notice of them.”

Funding for the cones came from Wellingborough mayor Bob Patel’s local empowerment fund.

A new urgent care centre for Corby is on target to open in the autumn.

The £3.2m centre at the Willowbrook Health complex, in Cottingham Road, reached a milestone this week when the steel framework of the building was completed.

Corby Urgent Care Centre will bring together the existing Lakeside Plus Walk-In services and the minor injuries unit in the Nuffield Diagnostic Centre.

Dr Peter Wilczynski, interim chairman of Corby Healthcare, said: “It’s been exciting to watch the steelwork go up week by week, so we’re delighted to mark this milestone in the development of the new centre.

“Corby Urgent Care Centre is significant as the first stage of the development of the Willowbrook Health Complex, giving Corby people the high quality healthcare services they deserve.

“The building work has been going smoothly and there has been relatively little disruption for patients and staff.”

The centre, due to open in October, will provide a single point of access to urgent care services, a range of diagnostics including an X-ray department with extended opening hours and short-term observation bays, reducing the need to travel to Kettering General Hospital.

The project is a joint scheme by Corby Healthcare Clinical Commissioning Group, NHS Milton Keynes and Northamptonshire, Lakeside Surgery and Corby Council.

Leader of Corby Council Tom Beattie said: “We are very pleased with the development of the Corby Urgent Care Centre and are excited to see it take shape.

“It will give residents top- quality health care right here on their doorstep.”

Mums and their children buried a taste of life in the present day in a time capsule.

Enterprise Coaching, which has been working with young mothers from Eden Park, yesterday planted the capsule in the grounds in Elizabeth Street, Corby, for future generations to unearth.

The capsule contains stories of the experiences of the women who live there and professional staff experiences on their project to make a film on being teenage parents.

The residents featured in the film and learned how to edit it.

Enterprise coach Adel Foster said: “Everyone who took part has written a story about how they felt making the film, as a celebration.”

Steph Archer, support worker at Eden Park, said: “I think it’s something they can look back on and show their kids.”

Jobcentre bosses have given their backing for a new £50m shopping park which would provide 1,630 jobs.

The Rushden Lakes proposal for the Skew Bridge site, off the A45, has been welcomed by managers of the Wellingborough and Rushden Jobcentres, who say it could transform the area.

Some people have expressed fear s for the future of Kettering and Wellingborough town centres if the scheme goes ahead.

If it is approved by East Northamptonshire Councillors in June, the development would include 20 new shops, a garden centre, a drive-through restaurant, a gatehouse, a lakeside visitor centre, restaurants, a boat house and a lock.

Work created would include 290 construction jobs during the building phase and 1,340 retail jobs.

Wellingborough and Rushden JobCentre figures show there are more than enough applicants locally to fill these positions, with a total of 3,387 jobless people across the towns – 1,113 in Rushden and 2,274 in Wellingborough – and that 1,114 have expressed a specific interest in working in the retail industry, while 228 require construction work.

Alan Gordon-Smith, manager of Rushden Jobcentre Plus, said: “There is no question that between ourselves and the Wellingborough JobCentre Plus, we have the skills and capacity to supply Rushden Lakes with a significant amount of fit-for-purpose labour should the scheme progress.”

Sonia Rea, manager of Wellingborough Jobcentre Plus, added: “A scheme like Rushden Lakes could have a transformational effect on Wellingborough as well as Rushden.

“The Rushden and Wellingborough offices will work together to capture the potentially significant local employment benefits to our areas.”

Gavin Stollar, spokesman for LXB Retail Properties, the company behind the development, said: “If the Rushden Lakes scheme were to proceed, the employment benefits not only to Rushden and Wellingborough but also to the surrounding north Northamptonshire towns would be significant.

“We are working to ensure that the employment and economic benefits are captured in Rushden, Wellingborough and the surrounding areas.

“It is clear that there are the people locally to fill the jobs we hope to create.”

Val Barham, of Tennyson Road, Rushden, said: “I definitely agree that it will be a big boost to the area. A lot of people were made redundant when the shoe factories closed, and a lot of people still haven’t got jobs.”

Steve Purcell, of Northampton Road, Kettering, said: “The jobs have got to be a welcome relief. We’ve just lost all those jobs in Corby so it has got to be good for the area.

“It will be nice to see something done with that site because it has been an eyesore. I’m not sure whether or not it will be good for the town centres.”

Eileen Burnett, of Wellingborough, said: “If they keep to their word and provide the amount of jobs they say they are going to provide then I think it will be a good thing for the jobs market.

“I think it will be nice to have all those shops on our doorstep.”

Jobcentre bosses say plans for a new shopping centre could be the biggest boost to the jobs market since the decline of the shoe industry.

The £50m Rushden Lakes development would bring a total of 1,630 jobs if it is given the go-ahead by East Northamptonshire Council.

Jobcentre bosses in Wellingborough and Rushden say the scheme would help employ the 3,387 jobless people across the two towns, and those further afield in Corby and Kettering.

Sonia Rea, manager of Wellingborough Jobcentre Plus, said: “This scheme could be the ‘shot-in-the-arm’ that north Northamptonshire has been waiting for following the demise of our shoe and leather industry.”

Alan Gordon-Smith, manager of Rushden Jobcentre Plus, said: “While the Rushden Lakes proposal is obviously potentially very good news for Rushden and Wellingborough, the positive employment impact on neighbouring Corby and Kettering should also not be understated.”

Sisters Margaret Robbins and Win Denton have been reunited at a home just in time to celebrate Margaret’s 100th birthday together.

Margaret, who is also known as Marnie, moved into Linden Manor in Midland Road, Wellingborough, where Win has been a resident since 2009, on Friday.

The sisters are originally from Paddington in London and are two of seven children – four girls and three boys.

Margaret and Win have been inseparable since Margaret’s arrival last week.

They will be joined by friends and family for a celebration to mark Margaret’s 100th birthday on Friday.

Louise Powell, manager at Linden Manor, said Margaret was settling in well at the home and the pair were pleased to be reunited there.

She said: “Win has been here for a couple of years, she is a lady you can have a good conversation with and she is quite pleased her sister has come to live at the home.

“They look out for each other which is quite nice.

“Now that they are together they are always asking where the other one is, they like to make sure the other one is being looked after, if one of them wants a drink the other will ask.”

When Win was born Margaret, who is 12 years her senior, helped look after her.

Win said: “It’s lovely having my sister here.”

Win said her sister had worked as a tailoress in her youth.

She said: “She could make a man’s suit, trousers, waistcoat and jacket, button holes were her speciality.”

Margaret said she was pleased to be living with her sister.

She said: “It’s perfect being here with Winnie and the people here.

“We get on pretty well together, we always have.”

Former Poppies player Leon McKenzie has been jailed for six months after sending police bogus letters to avoid speeding convictions.

McKenzie, 33, was jailed at Northampton Crown Court today after admitting six charges of attempting to dodge speeding fines between February 2008 and January 2010.

Leon McKenzie released the following statement:

I prepared this statement to be able to share with you all how I am feeling and most of all to explain what happened.

A few years ago, I was not in a good place and couldn’t always make sense of what was going on. Some things being personal and some being work related. Unfortunately at that time I fell deep into depression, which led me to try and take my life.

Around that period I wasn’t thinking straight, and got caught up with the wrong people around me. My behaviour towards certain things like these speeding offences were totally unacceptable and very naive of me to allow a third party to take my points for me. I allowed someone to take my points innocently, not knowing the seriousness of what was actually happening.

My mindset at the time was confused and not like it is now. Allowing someone to take my points from me, was very stupid of me and I only wish I was in a better place back then and that I could turn back the clock.

These offences happened two years ago. I was arrested over a year ago and had been told by the police at the time of the arrest if I answered all questions, told the truth and gave them everything they needed I would be cautioned and not charged. I did all that was asked off me, and as result I was given a caution.

It was only when I was arrested when I really understood just how serious this was. I was cautioned and given a chance to start to get my life back again. Which I did and learn’t from my mistakes.

Five months after receiving the caution, I was told that the police officers that were in charge at the time had made a mistake and that I would now be facing charges. The officer in charge reversed his decision and got the caution removed. Two years on, I am left with being charged for these offences.

I broke the law six times in that two year period which I am now very aware of . I am truly sorry for these offences that I committed. I must stress to you all, I was not representing the real me back then and realise how stupid I have been. As most of you, especially the people who really know me are aware, I have been in a better place recently and I have really turned my life around.

It took a lot to speak out publicly about trying to end my life and now turning it around with helping others with issues of depression and starting a new career in music. I feel like I have given back in a lot of ways and will continue to do so as soon as I possibly can.

Anyone reading this, I hope you take note and learn by my mistakes, especially if you are in a bad place with depression,

I ask anyone with depression to speak out to someone before you start making any mistakes like I did.

I am not the Leon that I was a few years ago. I didn’t set an example and I am truly sorry for that. I believe now, I am Leon, not the Leon I was during that two year period, my only comment is that I wasn’t well at that particular time and was not thinking in a way that i am now. I allowed a third party to take points without realising the extent and impact it would cause to mine and my families lives today.

I am now leaving my wife and my beautiful four children along with some fantastic friends and family. God willing they will be okay.

Anyone that knows me, knows my heart and more importantly knows the change in me from where I was compared to where I am now. I am a fighter and looks like now I don’t have a choice but to battle on which I will do.

I would like to say a massive thanks to my family and friends for the support they have given me, especially while this has been going on for so long.

See tomorrow’s Evening Telegraph for the full story

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.”

A science teacher has swapped the classroom for game reserves, lakes and beauty spots as she takes off on a year-long global trek.

Emily Whiting has swapped her job as a science teacher at Brooke Weston Academy in Corby to take part in the adventure, inspired by her childhood love of wildlife programmes.

She is starting her journey in Africa, flying to the Kenyan capital Nairobi before spending time at Lake Naivasha and Masai Mara game reserve.

Miss Whiting said: “I used to watch Big Cat Diary every single week and it was just this little fantasy world that I loved. I love animals, nature and the whole concept of being in the wilderness. For me Africa is the ultimate. I am most looking forward to the Serengeti and Tanzania. That was where Big Cat Diary was filmed so it is my Mecca.”

After travelling through eight countries, she will arrive at her final African destination of Capetown, before visiting south east Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the Cook Islands.

I want to make it clear that the column you are about to read and the views expressed within do not change my over-riding opinion that talking to people and meeting them face-to-face is better than social networking.

Anyone who knows me well or has happened upon one of these columns over the past five years will know full well that I believe that social networking will ultimately be the death of the art of conversation.

Facebook and, to a far greater extent, Twitter encourage people to try to be to the point with a witty, thought-provoking or controversial within a set number of characters.

As Rob Brydon tweeted yesterday: “Wish I could think of something to Tweet about. Ideally something pithy, witty and not too long. Something that knows the value of economy.”

Social networking does not, of itself, promote serious long-term debate or help create life-long friendships.

But, as a recent convert, I have to say it is damned addictive.

I have been tweeting for just a week now and find myself disappointed at myself for the amount of satisfaction I get at being re-tweeted or seeing the number of my followers going up.

I think the pressure of trying to be funny is off because I treat tweeting as part of my job to promote the newspaper and its website, but nonetheless anyone who tweets still wants to be relevant.

I still need to be up-to-date, informative and relevant. As ever, the worst thing is to be ignored.

And I have to say that the twitterati seem to be a friendly bunch.

The people I follow, and my followers to date, seem to be a pleasant bunch with some strongly held views and some wit as well.

I’ve already been pointed in the direction of some fascinating articles and picked up lots of information about people, some I know well and some I don’t.

So please forgive me for my previous sins and criticism of social networking.

I stand by my views that it will never replace personal contact and that actually picking up the phone and talking to someone is still a good idea, but I think I’m going to quite enjoy being part of that community. Must be going, need to tweet everyone to tell them that I’ve finished my column and that it can be read in tomorrow’s Evening Telegraph.

Follow me on Twitter @NeilPickfordET

Texting while driving resulted in tragic consequences for an innocent motorist, the Evening Telegraph reported last week.

Features editor Joni Ager finds out how sending a text from behind the wheel can be more dangerous than drink driving.

Lorry driver William Galbraith is beginning a five-and-a-half year prison sentence after being found guilty of killing another motorist in a horrific collision on the A45 near Great Doddington in 2010.

Galbraith, from Staffordshire, ploughed into the car of Robert Knight, a local DJ and former landlord of the Nags Head pub in Wollaston, as he was stopped at the side of the dual carriageway.

Other cars had seen Mr Knight’s car and pulled out to avoid him but the HGV driver did not brake or swerve.

When police looked at his phone records, they found he had sent and received text messages in the minutes before the crash.

Sentencing Galbraith, Judge Richard Bray said: “The reason for your inattention can only be because you were not paying attention to the road because of your use of a mobile phone.”

Using a mobile phone behind the wheel is one of the top four causes of road collisions and is one of Northamptonshire Police’s Fatal Four.

More than 1,000 drivers were fined in Northamptonshire for using a phone while driving between January and September last year.

But just how dangerous is texting while driving?

The RAC Foundation carried out a survey of more than 2,000 Facebook users in 2008 which found 45 per cent of UK drivers admit to texting while driving.

It then commissioned a study into the impact on driving skills of texting while driving, which found reaction times were 35 per cent slower when writing a text message.

This compares with earlier studies that showed alcohol consumption to the legal limit caused a 12 per cent increase in reaction times and cannabis slowed reactions by 21 per cent.

The study found that drivers did slow down when texting, suggesting they recognised the danger and attempted to mitigate the risk by driving more slowly.

Women drivers were more liable to drift outside of their lane than men, but also slowed down more than male drivers.

There was little change in driving behaviour observed when drivers were asked to ignore a text message that they received while driving which suggests that, if you can resist the temptation to read a text, there is little harm in leaving your phone switched on.

The road safety charity Brake is calling for a change in the law so any driver caught using a mobile phone gets an automatic driving ban for at least 12 months, which it says would be a real deterrent.

It commissioned its own research into the impact of texting while driving last year, which shows texting makes drivers 23 times more likely to cause a crash.

The amount of time drivers spend with their eyes off the road increases by up to 400 per cent when sending or receiving text messages, drivers drift out of their lane 28 per cent more often and make 140 per cent more incorrect lane changes.

The charity is also calling for road safety to be brought into the National Curriculum so all children are taught about the dangers of using a phone at the wheel.

Julie Townsend, campaigns director for Brake, said: “People who text, use the web or social networking when driving are taking enormous risks with their own and other people’s lives.

“This kind of irresponsible behaviour is illegal and it kills so there should be no excuses.

“We are concerned the increasing uptake of this technology could lead to more crashes and casualties caused by distracted drivers, as is happening in the US.

“It is vital the Government acts now to prevent an upsurge in distracted driving, and it’s vital drivers listen to these warnings and make a pledge to never use their phone when driving.”

A five-year-old cycling superstar is set to appear at the world championships after being named one of the best BMX riders in the UK.

Barney Devereux, of Higham Ferrers, is ranked 13th in the UK in the age six and under category and following his latest appearance at the UK BMX national series on Sunday his ranking is expected to rise even further, possibly to 11th.

After coming 11th in his latest race at the National Cycling Centre BMX in Manchester he is on track for a place at the world championships in Birmingham this May.

His dad Marc said: “There is a proper international standard track at the National Cycling Centre which can be quite daunting for the little ones but Barney loves it. He’s absolutely fearless and he loves the crowds.

“This is a big year for cycling in this country with the Olympics and the world championships being held here too.

“We just felt it was too good an opportunity for him to miss.”

Barney trains with the Milton Keynes BMX Racing Club and began taking part in the East Anglian racing series last year.

At Sunday’s national competition there were about 20 children in Barney’s age group.

Barney is following in his father’s footsteps, as Mr Devereux was also involved in BMX racing in the 1990s.

Mr Devereux said: “Barney started riding BMXs when he was four years old and he just picked up the bug straight away.

“I’m absolutely made up for him – in his first year he’s already outdone what I managed to do.”

As well as Mr Devereux, Barney receives a lot of support from the rest of his family, including his number one fan, his younger sister Sydni.

Mr Devereux said: “Barney gets a lot of support – the whole family is very big on sport. His biggest fan is his little sister Sydni. She’s only just turned four and she’s now gearing up to start BMX racing soon too. She’s got her balance and she’s just learning to pedal. She goes to every single one of Barney’s meetings.”

The world championships will take place on a new track at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham just a couple of weeks before the start of the Olympics.

{http://www.mkbmx.com/|MILTON KEYNES BMX|Click here to find out more about the racing club which Barney competes for}

Plans are in the pipeline for the next stage of a regeneration programme to change the face of the Kingswood estate in Corby.

A planning application has been submitted to the borough council to build 21 one, two, three and four-bedroom homes, with off-road parking.

Controversy surrounds the scheme after a report by the district auditor revealed financial mismanagement of the Colyers Gardens phase of the development.

The report, leaked to the Evening Telegraph last month, showed Corby Council settled bills for tens of thousands of pounds without checking work had been properly carried out.

Phase three of the regeneration, submitted by developers Keepmoat, centres on Surfleet Close on the estate.

A statement by MB3 Architecture says: “The proposed new dwellings in this phase are designed to make a contribution to the regeneration of the Kingswood area.

“Housing was previously situated on the site but has since been demolished.

“The architectural style of the proposed units has been created to tie in with the previous phases of the Kingswood masterplan.”

The development will include six properties for affordable housing and the architects say the plans will create an area which is safe, with high quality landscaping, paving and tree-planting. Access to the site will be from Surfleet Close.

The £15m Colyers Gardens development, which included 154 properties, saw the first council houses built in Corby for 40 years.

The district auditor’s report said Corby Council agreed to bear the risks related to any overspending or losses connect to the development but failed to make checks before bills were settled.

A full investigation into the matter is now being conducted by the borough council.

The project was a partnership between the Homes and Communities Agency, which provided Kickstart and social housing grants, and developers Bela. Keepmoat, which has submitted the latest planning application, were the contractors for the Colyers Gardens scheme.

Initial planning permission given to demolish a pub, convenience store and sports club to make way for the Surfleet Close development has now expired.

Children have been dressing up to raise money to support a seriously ill toddler.

Pupils at St Andrews School and Nursery Unit in Kettering held a superhero-themed mufti day to help raise money for Cerys Edwards, who went to the nursery before becoming sick.

Three-year-old Cerys, of Kettering, has already undergone nine-hour surgery after being diagnosed with brain cancer and faces further chemotherapy.

Sarah Stefanowicz, a member of staff at the school, said: “We’ve raised over £450 and we’re dividing that, at Cerys’s mum’s request, between the Ronald McDonald House at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford and money for the family to use on something for Cerys.

“She’s such a lovely girl. She’s been in to visit us already and we’re hoping that once the treatment is finished she’ll be able to come in and see us again.”

More than 4,000 criminals have been arrested as part of a major police operation to tackle robberies, house burglaries and vehicle thefts.

Operation Guardian was launched by Northamptonshire police in late 2009 and this month officers have hit the landmark figure of 4,000 arrests.

Sgt Craig Johnson is part of the Operation Guardian support team which co-ordinates and plans operations across the force.

He said: “This is an impressive figure, even by our count. This means thousands of people have been arrested for offences related to serious acquisitive crime.

“We have been reducing those crimes year on year and do our best to prevent crime. These arrests will have had quite an impact on our communities.”

Every year the force has held more than 20 high impact days as part of the operation and the latest one this month resulted in 13 arrests across the county, including the arrests of four men wanted in connection with an armed robbery at the Co-op store in Kingsway, Wellingborough, on January 26.

The four men have since been released on bail and one was recalled to prison.

Since the beginning of the year the force has increased the length of its high impact days to include the times its intelligence has shown criminals are most likely to be operating.

The Operation Guardian team is also making sure that any intelligence it receives from the public is passed on to officers on the ground as quickly as possible so they can disrupt criminal activity.

The force is showing no signs of slowing down its Operation Guardian work and officers have urged members of the public to continue to come forward with information about suspects.

Sgt Johnson said: “The community needs to know we’re not just tackling these types of criminals on high impact days. Our officers are working 24 hours a day, seven days a week, although they will not always be visible to the public because sometimes they need to work covertly.

“We will follow up any information that is provided by the public.”

Sgt Johnson added there was a clear choice for criminals.

He said: “If criminals want to change their ways they can come to us and we will help them through schemes like the Rose Project.

“But if they do not we will do everything we can to disrupt their lifestyles, their offending and their lives as a whole because they are trying to disrupt our communities.”

A group of councillors want a dossier on why the Corby Cube ran at least £10m over budget to be made public.

However, the ruling Labour group says the report will not be made fully public because of legal concerns.

The report, which runs into hundreds of pages, was commissioned by Corby Council after Conservative councillors expressed concerns about The Cube, including its cost.

A cross-party sub-committee of the overview and scrutiny panel was convened and members have spent months interviewing people about the multi-million pound project.

Their report was made available to all borough councillors yesterday and the Conservative group immediately called for it to be made public.

A statement from leader of the Conservative group David Sims, and councillors Rob McKellar, Stan Heggs and Ray Lilley, to council leader Tom Beattie, said: “As the official opposition on Corby Borough Council, tasked with holding the administration to account and ensuring that the best interests of the public are served, the Conservative group demand that you release a full and unedited copy of the Corby Cube Scrutiny Report to the general public and to the relevant authorities.

“People in the borough of Corby have a right to know how their taxes are spent and how their council is operating.

“There has been an overspend of £10 million on the Corby Cube project and we consider it to be totally unacceptable for the Labour administration to be hiding the details and reasons behind the overspend from the public.

“This is yet another cover-up from Corby Borough Council and is frankly an affront to transparency and open government.”

Corby Council leader Tom Beattie, said the full council will now have to consider the report along with any recommendations the review group has made and what action the council needs to take now.

He said: “The report contains commercially, financially and legally sensitive information and as such it would be irresponsible for the report to be issued in full as this decision could have detrimental implications to both the council and the taxpayers of Corby.

“Although the full report will not be issued, the review group has decided to issue a summary report to the press and public once councillors have had the opportunity to discuss the outcomes.”

Cllr Beattie said the review group took legal advice and was told that its findings should not be made available to members of the public.

The experts said the decision was justified on the grounds that information was given on a confidential basis by those interviewed about The Cube.

They say that without a confidentiality agreement, full and frank views may not have been given to the panel.

The review group was also advised that making the full report public could prejudice the outcome of potential litigation or adjudications related to disputes between the council, its building contractors and the professional team.

The council is paying £178,000 interest on the overspend on the Cube, which opened in November 2010.

A year ago the council revealed that the cost of the Cube had hit £41.6m, about £5m over budget, but in June that figure was revised and the council said there would need to be further borrowing of £5.5m to fund the building, bringing the total overspend to £10.5m.

The planned rooftop garden and the bistro at The Cube have never opened.