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Live Reporting

Pete Cooper

All times stated are UK

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  1. Our live coverage through the day

    Local Live is finished for today but we'll be back tomorrow from 08:00 with the latest news, weather, sport and travel for Northamptonshire.

    We'll see you then.

  2. Some closed Abington Street shops can't be re-opened

    Craig Lewis

    BBC News

    There are a large number of empty shopping units in Northampton's Abington Street - with part of the problem being companies which close down units on a long lease, but continue to pay rent on the closed shop front.

    Closed shopping unit in Abington Street

    Councillor Tim Hadland, Northampton Borough Council's cabinet member for regeneration, said some businesses will close units but continue to pay rent while the shop is closed.

    "That is very frustrating," he said. "We want to see shops open and customers flocking to them."

  3. Cobblers promotion reaches New York Times

    Pete Cooper

    BBC Local Live

    Northampton Town have achieve global recognition for their promotion from League Two, with the New York Times comparing their success to that of Danny Willett winning the Masters golf, and Leicester City sitting on top of the Premier League table.

    Northampton Town

    In his article, Rob Hughes writes: "For Northampton, the recipe for success seems to be a will to survive, combined with having no fear of failure - because last November [when the club was almost wound-up], it had nothing left to lose."

    You can read the full article here.

  4. Weather: Chance of a shower tonight but fine tomorrow

    BBC Weather

    Most places will have a dry evening with some late sunshine but with the chance of shower later, and a low of 4C (39F).

    weather

    It will be a chilly start tomorrow but it should be a largely fine day with a good deal of warm sunshine, with a high of 15C (59F).

  5. Abington Street: Closed for business?

    Craig Lewis

    BBC News

    There are a large number of empty shopping units in Abington Street, with existing shop owners blaming factors including high rents.

    Tim Hadland, council member for regeneration, said the street has been refurbished and the shopping experience in Northampton is improving.

    Video content

    Video caption: There are number of empty units in Northampton's Abington Street.
  6. Bedfordshire scientists create 3D printed hand for Northants boy

    A "life changing" 3D printed hand has been created by scientists at the University of Bedfordshire for a boy born without fingers on his left hand.  

    Video content

    Video caption: 3D printed hand adapted for Towcester boy born with no fingers

    For the fist time left-handed William, 8, who lives near Towcester, is able to hold a pen and draw a picture. The device reads the signals in his arm - which makes it fully controllable

    Mark Hooper, from the university, said: “Jo [Will's mother] had found a design of a hand online made by scientist in Africa... It was brilliant, but we wanted to see if we could make it less clunky and more usable for a young boy."

  7. Headlines: Irchester family at Tunisia attack memorial... Government 'looking at options' over steel

    Sarah Foster

    BBC Radio Northampton

    If you are catching up:

    • Prince Harry has joined the families of British victims of last year's terror attacks in Tunisia for a memorial service at Westminster Abbey, attended by the Scott family of Irchester which survived the shooting
    • Business Secretary Sajid Javid said the government is looking at series of options to find new owners for Tata Steel's plants, including the one at Corby
    • Northamptonshire opener Ben Duckett remained 18 runs short of a triple century as rain prevented play on day three against Sussex at Wantage Road  
  8. Foster carers from Northampton who have looked after 150 children receive royal seal of approval

    Northampton Chronicle & Echo

    A couple from Northampton who have been foster carers for 30 years have received a special letter of commendation from the Duchess of Cambridge.

  9. Northampton Town fan wakes up from lifesaving op asking about Cobblers promotion

    Northants Herald & Post

    Cobblers fan Steve Riches missed seeing his beloved Northampton Town clinch promotion after he was rushed into hospital for emergency surgery - but he woke up from the op asking about the game.

  10. 'Too many similar shops' on Abington Street

    Craig Lewis

    BBC News

    However, another shop worker told me there are too many similar shops in Northampton's Abington Street.

    Phone Box in Abington Street

    Shwinjit Shah, who works at Phone Box, said: "In our shop, the problem is too much competition. When we opened there were only three shops doing this, now there are 10 and the market.

    "People are coming because we offer good service, but our problem is customers are divided between stores."

  11. Closed units reduce trade in Abington Street, shop workers says

    Craig Lewis

    BBC News

    Closed units in Northampton's Abington Street do effect businesses there - according to one shop worker.

    The closed Opera Cafe in Abington Street

    Jakir Ali, an employee at one shop there, said: "If there were more shops open we would have more people walking around, which would attract more people to us."

    The borough council's cabinet member for regeneration, Tim Hadland, insists the town is "changing," highlighting The Drapery as somewhere that went through a "bad patch" but has improved.

  12. Empty units in Abington Street: Is Northampton town centre alive?

    Craig Lewis

    BBC News

    Northampton's Abington Street contains a high number of empty shopping units, including prime sites like the former Eastgate public house and rhubarb bar.

    Empty units in Abington Street

    Many of the closed units are covered with Northampton Alive posters - asking the question just how alive is the town centre?

    The borough council's cabinet member for regeneration, Tim Hadland, said the authority is constantly looking to improve the environment of the town centre.

    "The top half of Abington Street was in a pretty poor state. We have refurbished it, brought in the new traffic policy and people are seeing the benefits," he said.

  13. Corby MP calls for temporary nationalisation of steel industry

    BBC Politics

    The Conservative MP for Corby, Tom Pursglove, told the Commons during an emergency debate on the steel industry that "nothing should be ruled out", including a temporary nationalisation of Tata Steel's UK plants such as Corby.

    Corby Steel

    However, Business Secretary Sajid Javid made it clear that full-scale nationalisation isn't an option and said the government may "co-invest" with a private buyer and could take on some of the debt.

  14. Rain delays Duckett triple ton bid

    BBC Sport

    Wantage Road

    Ben Duckett still needs 18 runs for a triple century as rain prevents play on day three between Northants and Sussex.

    Rain delays Duckett triple ton bid

    Wantage Road

    Ben Duckett still needs 18 runs for a triple century as rain prevents play on day three between Northants and Sussex.

    Read more
    next
  15. St Giles Street is 'different proposition' to opposition down the M1

    Craig Lewis

    BBC News

    I've been looking into the state of Northampton town centre in the light of a report into ways to improve our high streets.

    St Giles Street

    One of the jewels in the crown of the area is St Giles Street, which was recently named high street of the year

    The borough council's member for regeneration, Tim Hadland, said the street is different to the average high street, which often contains "cloned multi-nationals".

    He added: "The independents make all the difference. They show we have a different proposition to certain places just down the motorway."

  16. Northampton needs a 'broader spread of shops', regeneration councillor admits

    Craig Lewis

    BBC News

    A new report into how to improve our high streets included research carried out in Corby and Kettering. One shopper complained Kettering is full of "pound shops and low grade places".

    99p Store, Abington Street

    In Northampton, Abington Street's existing 99p discount store is due to be converted into a Poundland.

    Northampton Borough Council's cabinet member for planning, regeneration and enterprise admitted the town centre needs "a broader spread of shops", adding: "Customers for such shops do exist, but we don't attract them to Northampton in sufficient numbers."

  17. Boy, 8, gets 'life changing' 3D printed hand

    Dani Bailey

    BBC Local Live

    An eight-year-old boy has received a "life changing" new 3D printed hand from the University of Bedfordshire.

    William Joyner with his new 3D printed hand

    William Joyner, who attends school in Towcester, Northamptonshire, was born with fingers missing from his left hand. 

    His mum said it will mean he's able to "tie his laces" and simple things like hold "a drink in one hand and an ice lolly in the other". It's also in his favourite football team Reading FC's colours -  blue and white.

  18. Towcester's Harry Forrester signs new three-year deal with Rangers

    BBC Sport

    Rangers winger Harry Forrester, originally from Towcester, has signed a new three-year contract which will keep him at the club until 2019.  

    Harry Forrester

    The 25-year-old arrived from Doncaster at the end of December on an initial six-month deal and has scored five goals in 16 games. 

    Forrester was in the Northampton Town youth set-up until the age of 10 when he signed for Watford.