BBC Local Live: Northamptonshire

Today the University of Northampton's Innovation Centre opened at a cost of £8.5m, part of which came from the now defunct West Northamptonshire Development Corporation (WNDC).

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The University say the centre will support 'social enterprises', which operate in a socially responsible manner, delivering social benefits and tackling difficult social problems, trading products and services to further social and environmental goals.

Police have released CCTV footage of a man wanted for a robbery that took place in Tesco, Mereway, Northampton, on Tuesday, 16 June.

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Police say a man approached a checkout assistant and asked her to change a £20 note. The man was aggressive to the assistant who changed the note, telling her to continue handing over cash, which she did. The man then made off from the shop with the cash.

Tonight it's going to be mostly cloudy with occasional light showers although the amount of rain will be limited. A warm and humid night with light winds and lows of 14C (57F).

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Thursday will see a cloudy start with a few showers, but becoming drier and brighter through the morning and by the afternoon there'll be some good spells of sunshine. Feeling warm with highs of 23C (73F).

I've been to the new Innovation Centre, built at a cost of £8.5m by the University of Northampton. It's the first building in the Northampton Enterprise Zone, and is opposite the new rail station.

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It was officially opened today by the University vice chancellor Nick Petford, although there are already business operating in the building.

Here are the evening headlines...

• Action was taken against more than 50 drivers during a four day police and DVLA operation in Corby
• The new £8.5m University of Northampton Innovation Centre has been officially opened
• Northamptonshire have a sizeable lead away to Kent in the County Championship

Earlier we told you ex-Chelsea defender Frank Sinclair was becoming a player/coach at Conference North side Brackley Town, and he has quite a lot of experience.

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• Sinclair played in the 1998 World Cup for Jamaica
• He won the FA and League Cup with Chelsea and also won the latter with Leicester City
• He has also played for West Bromwich Albion, Burnley, Huddersfield Town, Lincoln City, Wycombe Wanderers, Wrexham and Hendon

I'll be heading to Wellingborough Council's planning meeting this evening.

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Looks set to be a long one - applications include plans to convert the Monk and Minstrel pub on Kettering Road in Isham into flats, to build 150 homes and a retail unit off Station Road in Irchester, and for 59 houses west of High Street in Irchester.

Plus, Glamis Hall wants to build a new fence around their day care centre. I'll let you know what happens tomorrow.

Northamptonshire have ended their first innings 398 all out, with Azharullah scoring 58 not out giving the county a lead of 231.

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They have taken tea and home side Kent will begin their second innings having to produce something special to avoid defeat. There is full commentary available online.

Experts believe they've found the front door key to Elizabethan summer house Lyveden New Bield. The house was built by Sir Thomas Tresham, whose son Francis found infamy as one of the gunpowder plotters.

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Sir Thomas had been brutally persecuted - and imprisoned - for his Catholic faith, and Francis was keen for revenge. Known as something of a loose cannon, in 1591 Francis had served some time in prison after trying to stitch up a tenant who owed him money by forging an arrest warrant.

In October 1605 he joined the other conspirators - including his cousin, plot ringleader Robert Catesby - as they planned to assassinate King James I.

It is still unclear what is a happening with the 4,000 year old Egyptian statue Sekhemka, which was sold by Northampton Borough Council last year for £15.76m - or even if it is still in the country.

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An export bar expired at midnight on 29 July and I have once again called the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, but they are sticking to the following statement: "An announcement will be made in due course." Although what that announcement will be we are no closer to finding out.

A 16-tonne sand pit, giant inflatables, a waterslide and more are all at West Glebe Park in Corby for National Play Day, a free event that takes place on the first Wednesday in August each year across the UK.

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Kevin Williams, from Corby Borough Council, said: "One in five Year 6 children [in Corby] is classed as obese, which is something we want to address.

"Putting things on like this, getting children off the sofas, off the computer games, having fun, doing physical activities is a great thing."

Tony Boullemier, who along with his wife Marie, has sold Newspaper House in Derngate, Northampton has been sharing some of his memories of the building.

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He told me: "In the basement we had a snooker club, which was opened by Steve Davies. I found myself playing next to Steve when he was practicing for the world doubles at the Derngate Theatre."

Tony, who owned the Northants Post, which became the Herald and Post, said: "It was ideal for the gym, which was also used by the stars who came to the Derngate [theatre] including the Chippendales."

A 10-year-old girl has helped raise £600 for a dog that was so badly abused and neglected he is now blind.

One of the venues who are hosting events for National Play Day is Abington Park in Northampton.

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It has been a popular venue play for over a century and you can see a film from 1902 of crowd of people enjoying Abington Park in Northampton.

It was made available last month through the BFI's Britain on Film Project, which released archive footage from across the county.

Our top stories...

• An inquest has heard that a Northamptonshire man died after being crushed underneath his own car
• During four days of police and DVLA action in Corby action was taken against more than 50 drivers
• Events are being held across the county today to celebrate National Play Day

Former Chelsea and Leicester defender Frank Sinclair has taken on a role as player/coach at Brackley Town.

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The 43-year-old resigned as boss of Colwyn Bay earlier this year and subsequently played a handful of games for Brackley in the Conference North.

Sinclair previously said he was he was enjoying focusing on playing, but he will also now be coaching at the club who have their first fixture against Harrogate Town on Saturday.

Ben Duckett fell just nine short of his best first class score, but it was another fine knock of 145 and it puts Northamptonshire in a fine spot approaching a hundred lead as they resume after lunch.

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Seventeen-year-old debutant Saif Zaib survived to lunch with Josh Cobb, but has since lost his wicket. There is full commentary available online.

Events are being held across the county today to celebrate National Play Day. The free events take place on the first Wednesday in August each year to highlight the importance of outdoor play in children's lives.

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One of the venues is Wicksteed Park in Kettering.

Alisdair McNee, from the Park, said: "It's about children using their imagination and getting out there and not being attached to some electronic device."

We were talking earlier about a key that X-rays have confirmed might have been Sir Thomas Tresham's front door key to Lyveden New Bield. But who was Sir Thomas?

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• A prominent landowner and a member of the Catholic elite in Northamptonshire
• Imprisoned a number of times for refusing to become a Protestant
• Designed and built Rushton Triangular Lodge between 1593 and 1597 as a protestation of his faith, along with Lyveden New Bield
• When he died his estate was £11,000 in debt - more than £2m in today's money
• Among his 11 children was failed Gunpowder Plot member Francis Tresham

One of our Five to Follow in next year's Rio Games - Northamptonshire's Chantelle Cameron - told BBC Look East that after the heartbreak of missing selection for the London Games, she's desperate to reach the Rio ring.

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"It's mad to think, it still feels like a dream. I've been on the GB squad for five years and sometimes I have to pinch myself because it doesn't feel real," she said.

"I got on to the GB squad within a year which I didn't think was possible. If I make it to the Olympics then it will change my life."

Dozens of drivers have had action taken against them by Northamptonshire Police following an operation in Corby. Over four days, which finished on Tuesday, Special Constables from the town targeted motorists breaking the law.

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The operation saw 17 vehicles taken off the road and action taken against more than 50 drivers for offences including not wearing a seatbelt and using a mobile phone while driving.

I've been speaking to Tony Boullemier, who along with his wife Marie, has sold Newspaper House in Derngate, Northampton, to developers who hope to turn it into flats. He told me the building 'was fantastic' for the Northants Post newspaper, which he owned.

Tony BoullemierCopyright: Tony Boullemier

The paper moved there in 1984, from a office in Guildhall Road, and Tony said: "There was just so much space. We tailored it to what we wanted, including a typesetting studio on the top floor."

But he told me there was "no sentimentality" over the building: "It's past its sell by date and it needs some TLC and re-vamp."

A fresh 24-hour Tube strike is due to start today from 18:30 and London Midland, which operates trains through Long Buckby and Northampton, has said their trains will be busier than normal, although at the moment none of their trains will be directly affected.

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Services will stop running from 18:30 on Wednesday and there will be no trains on Thursday. Transport for London (TfL) advised commuters to complete their journeys before the action began. Drivers are unhappy at pay and conditions offered for working on the new night service.

Here's what we are looking at...

• A Northamptonshire man died after being crushed underneath his own car, an inquest has heard.
• Newspaper House in Derngate, Northampton has been sold with plans to turn it into flats
• Ben Duckett hits a century as Northamptonshire take control against Kent at Canterbury

I'm heading to the University of Northampton Innovation Centre today, which is being officially opened this afternoon.

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The £8.5m centre, opposite the new rail station, is the first building to be opened in the Northampton Enterprise Zone. The building has 42 flexible office units, a café and conference space.

An inquest has heard Ross Fitzgibbon, who died after being crushed under his own car, had moved home to live with his father after his mother died.

The 35-year-old, described as "loyal and honest" with a good sense of humour, had arrived home from work in his Mitsubishi colt, parked it and walked around the car - but it rolled towards him, gained momentum and dragged him under.

The inquest heard there were marks on the window where he had tried to stop the car from moving. PC Jon Hoddle, the scene investigator, said "for reasons unknown he has failed to set the handbrake." He was run over and died of his injuries.

A key found at a historic site in Northamptonshire might have belonged to the father of one of the gunpowder plotters, X-rays have confirmed. Sir Thomas Tresham, whose son Francis helped fund the plot, began building Lyveden New Bield in 1604.

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The cast iron key was discovered sticking out of the mud by National Trust volunteer Zoe Wilson, 18. The charity says it probably dates from 1550-1650 and "could easily have been Sir Thomas's front door key".

The mystery location of the new Starbucks outlet in Northampton town centre has been discovered.

This afternoon will be rather cloudy with some showery outbreaks of rain in places. The rain may also turn heavy and thundery at times, but in between some brighter spells will develop.

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A top temperature today of 21C (70F).

A Northamptonshire man died after being crushed underneath his own car, an inquest has heard. Ross Fitzgibbon, 35, died on the driveway of his home in Maidwell on February 24.

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The inquest at Northampton General Hospital heard Mr Fitzgibbon, who worked as an energy performance surveyor, had in all likelihood failed to fully apply the handbrake - and when he got out of the car it started to roll backwards, and gained momentum because it was on a sloped drive.

As he tried to stop the car vehicle he became trapped under it, was run over and suffered fatal injuries. Coroner Anne Pember recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Northamptonshire will be hoping they can build up a substantial lead against Kent in Canterbury. They resumed already leading by five, with eight first innings wickets in hand.

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Ben Duckett has already completed his century to go with 154 in his last Championship innings. There is full commentary available online.

The 26,000 square foot Northampton House in Derngate has been sold by owners and founders of the Northants Post, Tony and Marie Boullemier, with the aim of turning it into flats. The couple also launched Derngate Gym there in 1986, which closed when Mrs Boullemier retired last September.

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Mr Boullemier said it had not been possible to re-let the building: "It has served us very well. It was headquarters for our newspapers, employing 230 people at their peak and it was an ideal site for the gym. But it's now around 60 years old and needs to be brought into the 21st Century."

A dairy farmer, Charles Reader in Evenley, has had restrictions placed on him while the authorities check his cattle for TB. In 2013 Defra launched a bid to rid England of TB. The English and Welsh governments estimate they have spent £500m in the last decade on testing, compensation and research.

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In the UK over 26,000 cattle were slaughtered in 2013 costing taxpayers £100m. Bovine TB can be spread by other animals, and is the reason for a proposed badger cull. Elsewhere, in China, scientists produced a herd of genetically engineered cows that are better able to ward off bovine TB infection.

One of BBC Look East's Five to Follow in the Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games next year is Northamptonshire boxer Chantelle Cameron.

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The 24-year-old boxes out of the King's Heath amateur boxing club in Northampton and is hoping to make her Olympic debut in Rio in the 60kg category.

She started out as a kick-boxer and is now the country's best boxer in her division.

A petition has been launched in support of providing an area where youngsters can play football and basketball on an estate in Wellingborough.

Earlier it was reported Newspaper House in Derngate, Northampton, could be developed into flats. We now have more details. The building has been sold to a development company which plans to convert it into luxury apartments.

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The building opposite Derngate Theatre has been home to the Herald & Post newspaper, Derngate Gym and Looking Glass Theatre. The new owners will be Derngate Lofts Ltd who have submitted a planning application for 64 high specification apartments with 37 basement parking bays.

The A45 is closed in both directions and there is very slow traffic due to vehicle fire between the junctions for Great Doddington and Grendon.

Here are the top stories:

• A dairy farmer says he's "devastated" at the prospect of being shut down for several months while the authorities check his cattle for TB
• Kettering magistrates met last night to discuss a proposal to close the magistrates' court in the town
• Northampton resume against Kent in a strong position in the county championship later this morning

In the build up to the Olympic and Paralympic games in Rio, at BBC Look East we have chosen five athletes who we feel have the ability to do something special in South America next year.

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We're calling it our Five to Follow. Over the next 12 months we will be keeping a close eye on them, without of course forgetting the many sportsmen and women from the East of England not on the list.

During today I'll unveil who our choice is from Northamptonshire, and explain why they could make history next year.

A 10-year-old Northampton boy had the experience of a lifetime when he walked out at Wembley as a mascot before the FA Community Shield.

Charles Reader, a diary famer in Evenley, in the south of the county, says restrictions while the authorities check his cattle for TB mean he's already lost thousands of pounds worth of breeding stock sales. His cattle were tested yesterday and he'll get the first set of results on Friday.

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He said: "We've had a phone call to say some lesions were found on the lungs of one cow. That could be cancer, it could be all sorts of things, but because of that been we've been place under restrictions. We will more than likely have to do another test in 60 days times."

Towcester cyclist Hannah Barnes has won the two stage Tour of Utah, riding for her US-based team UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling.

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She finished ahead of her team mate Coryn Rivera, and follows her stage win and white jersey for best young rider in the Women's Tour of Britain earlier this year.

A former office block in Northampton town centre could be turned into 64 flats, it has been revealed.

The accessible bus service, Northampton Door-to-Door, says it's having to turn down more journeys because of funding cuts.

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The service caters for those who can't manage to use buses, but this year the organisation received £22,000 less from Northampton Borough Council than last year. In July, 236 journey requests were refused, compared with 75 refused journeys in April this year - before the funding cut.

Opener Ben Duckett offered further evidence of his potential as Northants dominated day one against Kent. They bowled out the home side for 167 at Canterbury, as paceman Olly Stone took 4-59.

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The visitors then reached 172-2 at the close of play after 20-year-old Duckett and David Murphy (42) shared an opening partnership of 105. Duckett, who made 154 in his last Championship innings, struck 13 boundaries in his unbeaten 94.

There is full commentary online from 11:00.

A dairy farmer in Northamptonshire says he's "devastated" at the prospect of being shut down for several months while the authorities check his cattle for TB.

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Charles Reader farms at at Evenley in the south of the county. His cattle were tested yesterday and he'll get the first set of results on Friday. He says the restrictions mean he's already lost thousands-of-pounds and it's a "crippling" blow.

Magistrates say plans announced by Justice Secretary Michael Gove to hold a consultation into the possible closure of 92 courts in England and Wales, including in Kettering and Corby, could have serious implications for local justice.

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Richard Lewis, the deputy chair of the Kettering bench, said: "Kettering is a growing area, with an increasing number of people here. Will they get access to the justice they need? By closing Kettering and Corby people will have to travel to Northampton or Wellingborough."

Here are our latest headlines:

• A dairy farmer says he's "devastated" at the prospect of being shut down for several months while the authorities check his cattle for TB
• Kettering magistrates met last night to discuss a proposal to close the magistrates' court in the town
• Events for children are being held right across the county today to celebrate National Play Day

A mostly dry and bright start with sunny spells during the morning. However, cloud will thicken through the afternoon with scattered showers developing, some of which may turn heavy and thundery.

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Remaining breezy in and around Wellingborough with a top temperature of 21C (70F). You can see my full forecast on the BBC Look East Facebook page.

Welcome to Local Live for Northamptonshire.

From now until 18:00 I'll be bringing you the latest news, sport, travel and weather from across the county from the BBC newsroom in Northampton.

If you have a story or photograph to share, feel free to email me, tweet us or head to Facebook.