BBC Local Live: Northamptonshire

A taxi driver was robbed and threatened with a knife by a man in Daventry.

Tonight, there is a chance of an early shower, but it will be otherwise dry with clear spells. Brisk south-westerly winds will be easing down with lows of 15C (59F).

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There will be a dry start tomorrow, with some sunny spells. Increasing cloud brings the chance of some showers in the afternoon, some of which could be thundery. It will be less breezy with highs of 22C (71F).

Murderer Danny Beaumont's trial lasted three weeks, but he's going to be back in court facing fresh charges soon.

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After he was found guilty of killing his friend Steven Smith, new charges were put to him. He was charged with possession of drugs - and pleaded guilty to three counts of possession of drugs with intent to supply.

He was remanded in custody today.

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Danny Beaumont, who was today found guilty of the murder of his friend Steven Smith, had only been released from prison days before he killed him.

Northamptonshire PoliceCopyright: Northamptonshire Police

He had been convicted for actual bodily harm and dangerous driving; and had bitten a police officer who tried to arrest him.

Out of prison on the Tuesday, he murdered Steven Smith on the Friday.

A few moments ago, Northamptonshire were -40-0 in reply to Kent's 167 all out on the first day of their county championship game, with Ben Duckett and David Murphy at the crease.

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Olly Stone took four wickets on a bright day in the field for the county, on the day off-field rumours of a "financial crises" were rubbished by the club.

I've just been told that the new A43 bypass to the east of Moulton will cost £19m.

Construction won't get underway until 2016 at the earliest.

The family of Steven Smith, murdered by Danny Beaumont, have said his death has left, "a gaping hole" in their lives.

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In a statement they said they have been "shattered and broken forever," but were grateful for the "diligence" of the jury and the compassion of Northamptonshire Police.

Northampton Saints players have returned to a pub in the town to apologise for their behaviour on Friday night. The Princess Alexandra pub posted details of what is alleged to have happened on its Facebook page.

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A Northampton Saints spokesman said some players were on a night out with friends and glasses were broken when a table fell over, but the players tidied up the glass and the pub was left in the same state as when they arrived.

A supermarket and houses could be built on the site of a former shoe factory in Irthlingborough.

Northamptonshire are continuing to pressurise Kent on day one of their county championship match at Canterbury.

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A short while ago Kent were 150-9. Olly Stone has three wickets for 54 runs in his 13 overs. There's ball by ball commentary available via the website - just click here.

A statement has been read on behalf of the family of Steven Smith, after Danny Beaumont was found guilty of stabbing him to death in Rushden last year.

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It said: "Steven was such a generous and helpful person... he would always put the needs of others ahead of himself. His younger siblings still ask where he is on a daily basis, but all we can do is take them to the cemetery.

"Today, nine months since our lives were turned upside down, we have finally received justice for Steven."

The Rotary Club of Rushden has paid tribute to one of the town's best-known shopkeepers, Jim Osborne, who passed away last Friday at Kettering General Hospital aged 83.

Rotary Club, RushdenCopyright: Rotary Club, Rushden

Jim founded Osborne Sports and Toys in the High Street in Rushden in 1955 and it's now in the hands of his son, William.

Graham Wise, from the club, said: "I am sure somewhere in that 'land of make believe' that Jim helped to maintain, he will find a niche, perhaps running one of Santa's toyshops and I wonder if he will be able to transfer his personalised number plate (J1 TOY) to his sleigh?"

A pub has received an apology after claims Northampton Saints rugby players smashed glasses, intimidated staff and urinated in a garden on a night out.

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The Northampton Chronicle first reported the claims on Facebook made by the town's Princess Alexandra pub about the players' behaviour.

The club said it did not "condone" such behaviour, but claimed the incident had been "blown out of proportion".

Danny Beaumont, who has been found guilty of the murdering Steven Smith in Rushden last October, has been told by Judge Mayo at Northampton Crown Court that "there is only one sentence that I can pass - and that is life imprisonment "

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The minimum term of Beaumont's life sentence will be set in the next few weeks.

A 2.5km stretch of the A43 between Northampton and Kettering will become a dual carriageway, under plans unveiled today by Northamptonshire County Council.

Northamptonshire County CouncilCopyright: Northamptonshire County Council

A new bypass will run between Round Spinney and the current Sywell and Holcot roundabout, to the east of the existing A43 and past a major new housing development.

Its cost is yet to be confirmed, but funding will come from a range of sources including the developer behind the new homes.

After being found guilty of murdering Steven Smith in Rushden last October, Danny Beaumount has pleaded guilty to three counts of possession of drugs with intent to supply.

Sentencing will be postponed.

A jury has found Danny Beaumont guilty of murdering Steven Smith by a majority of 10 to 2.

Northamptonshire PoliceCopyright: Northamptonshire Police

Mr Smith (pictured) was stabbed to death at his home in Rushden last October. He had been stabbed in the chest and the back. Danny Beaumont said he acted in self defence. The jury at Northampton Crown Court reached its decision after more than two days of deliberation.

Beaumont will be sentenced at a later date.

Corby Borough Council tweets: Corby's woodland has been given Green Flag status for 4th year running. corby.gov.uk/corby-snaps-na…

Northamptonshire have made a cracking start to their county championship match against Kent at Canterbury.

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At lunch on day one, Kent are 66/4 with Maurice Chambers taking two wickets for 13 runs in six overs.

You can get ball-by-ball commentary via the BBC Sport website.

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A 16-year-old boy was hit in the leg by an air gun pellet fired from a passing car.

The victim, who suffered a minor injury to his lower leg, had been standing near the Jubilee Avenue/Gainsborough Road roundabout on Friday evening.

I've been hearing how disabled people in Northamptonshire are continuing to feel belittled and marginalised, as the charity Scope launches a new campaign "End the Awkward".

Scope says four out of 10 disabled people in the East Midlands say they've been asked what's wrong with them by a stranger - and the same number say they've been accused of not actually having a disability at all.

It's not going to be as warm or sunny as it was yesterday and the cloud will increase through the afternoon.

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It'll be quite breezy too, especially over higher ground - 18C (64F) the high.

Here are our top stories this lunchtime:

• Former Northampton South MP Brian Binley, who worked with Sir Edward Heath in the 1960s, says he'd be surprised if child abuse allegations against the former Prime Minister are true
• People living in the half-finished village of Little Stanion say they still don't know when or if they'll get the local services they were promised
• Disabled people in Northamptonshire say intolerance remains an issue and that they are often treated like children

I'm at Northampton Crown Court, where the judge in the Danny Beaumont murder trial has just told the jury he'll accept a majority verdict.

Mr Beaumont, 27, is accused of stabbing 23-year-old Steven Smith to death last October. He denies the charges, claiming he was acting in self-defence.

If you are aged between 16-24 and unemployed, or know someone who is, the BBC wants to hear from you.

It's teaming up with colleges on a new eight-week digital traineeship scheme, to help young people learn the skills which could help them to find work.

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Northampton College is among the bodies taking part. The project launches later this month.

Developers, administrators, councils and residents all need to get around the same table if the half-finished village of Little Stanion is to be finished.

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Building work stopped there in 2012 and Corby MP Tom Pursglove, says he wants more details from the administrator about where £2m, earmarked for community facilities, has been spent. Mr Pursglove said ministers will have to look at the "scores" of developments nationally stuck in the same position as Little Stanion.

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Former Northamptonshire and England spinner Graeme Swann has told the BBC he is "shocked" by reports of Northamptonshire cricket club's finances. The club has denied the claims made in a cricinfo article.

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Swann said: "I think inevitably in 20 years time we will only have nine or ten clubs... Whether that means amalgamation with neighbouring counties or some clubs going bust... Inevitably it's unsustainable, the model we have at the moment."

Rising England all-rounder David Willey starred last night in Northamptonshire's four wicket win against Somerset in the One-Day Cup.

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It was the second win in as many days for the county, following their remarkable win at Worcestershire on Sunday. Willey's run a ball 91 was backed up by 61 from Ben Duckett as the county chased down a target of 248 with four wickets and six balls to spare.

Northampton Saints players have apologised to a pub in the town centre after a complaint on social media about their behaviour, the club has confirmed.

Northamptonshire Police and the University of Northampton will take part in a project looking at how the latest academic research on crime could help police forces to do their jobs better.

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The East Midlands Policing Academic Collaboration covers forces and academic institutions in Northants, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire. It's been given £862,620 to fund closer ties between academics and police officers and to carry out research.

The chief executive of Northamptonshire Cricket Club, Ray Payne, has told the BBC the financial situation at the club "is not do or die". His comments follow the publication of a cricinfo article which said the club was in financial crises.

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Mr Payne said the club is in the first year of a three year plan to make it more sustainable. Last year it declared a £305,636 loss. He said: "It's not an emergency loan, it's about longer-term cash-flow and ensuring the losses reported last year are not reported this year."

The sporting atmosphere and culture of Northampton is in the bottom six of 48 towns and cities nationally, according to a survey of 5,000 fans by broadcaster ESPN.

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But Kevin Shoemake, who chairs the Northamptonshire Football Association, said: "I've read this report from top to bottom... some of the scores are very subjective. Right down to grass roots level it's tough times, but participation levels are very, very good."

Here's what we've been talking about this morning...

• Northamptonshire Cricket Club's chief executive has denied the club will be leaving its Wantage Road home
• Former Northampton South MP Brian Binley says it would be "very surprising" if child abuse allegations against Sir Edward Heath were true
• People living in Little Stanion say facilities may never be completed after the developer went into administration three years ago

Nominations for the Spirit of Corby awards close in fewer than three weeks - and you're being urged to get your submissions in before the deadline.

The annual event recognises people that go above and beyond in fields like education, the community and environment. The deadline is 17:00 on Monday, 24 August.

Hundreds of people have commented online following the death of Jim Osborne, who ran Osborne's Sports and Toys in Rushden High Street.

Retired former Northampton South MP, Brian Binley, says child abuse allegations against former Prime Minister, Sir Edward Heath, are the equivalent of "the two women over the garden fence".

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The police watchdog is to investigate whether allegations of abuse made against Sir Edward in the 1990s weren't pursued by Wiltshire Police.

Mr Binley, who worked with the former Conservative leader in the 1960s, said: "I'd find it remarkable if this were proved to be true."

People living in the half-finished village of Little Stanion have been telling me they want to know how building work there can be kick-started.

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The original developer went into administration in 2012. Play areas, a community centre and a shop haven't materialised and residents say £2m earmarked for community facilities is missing. The administrator says the money was paid out for a "proper purpose".

Natasha Douglas, from Little Stanion, said: "Surely these developers should be being asked for bonds to be put up before they're allowed to build houses."

A survey for broadcaster ESPN puts Northampton in the bottom six of 48 towns and cities for sporting atmosphere - and I find it quite amazing.

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Even though the clubs have a very active community programme already, they should take note of this report and get out there even more, such as in our town centres. Publicise themselves.

But we have a great sporting atmosphere and we are a centre of excellence for a wide range of sports. We should recognise that.

The chief executive of Northamptonshire Cricket Club, Ray Payne, has been defending the county side following an article from cricket journalist George Dobell on cricinfo in which it was suggested the club is considering moving to Sixfields and could even face question marks over its future.

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Mr Payne said: "We are certainly not moving grounds. I'm not sure where that idea has come from. We have invested a lot of money over the last few years in the ground. The future of the club is very firmly at Wantage Road."

Northamptonshire Cricket Club's chief executive says his club has asked the ECB for assistance, but denies seeking an emergency loan from the governing body.

Payne was responding to claims made on the cricinfo website yesterday, that the club needs half a million pounds to meet "urgent financial obligations".

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Payne says they are one of a number of clubs asking the ECB what support "may be available" for first class county cricket.

Here are our top stories so far...

• Northamptonshire sporting names have disputed the findings of a survey which says Northampton has one of the worst sporting atmospheres in the country. Sports broadcaster ESPN puts the town 33rd on a list of 48
• People living in the half-finished village of Little Stanion say they fear facilities may never be completed after the developer went into administration three years ago
• The chief executive of Northamptonshire Cricket Club has denied claims the club has asked governing body, the ECB, for an emergency loan and says reports the club will leave its Wantage Road home aren't true

It'll be a bright start, but high cloud will roll in from the west. Although a few showers are possible, it'll be dry in most places with some bright or sunny spells. Breezy, particularly over Arbury Hill.

Maximum Temperature: 19C (66F)

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You can see a full forecast on the BBC Look East Facebook page.

Hello and welcome to Local Live for Northamptonshire.

From now until 18:00 we'll bring you the latest news, sport and travel from across the county.

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