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Live Reporting

Pete Cooper

All times stated are UK

  1. Live updates for Northamptonshire have now finished

    That's all for today.

    You can read more on Andrea Leadsom's bid to become prime minister here, or scroll down to see our live coverage of the South Northamptonshire MP's leadership campaign launch.

    Tomorrow, Conservative MPs vote in the first round of the contest and we expect Mrs Leadsom to make it through.

    We'll also continue our build-up to the British Grand Prix and look at how the national teachers' strike is affecting schools in Northamptonshire.

    See you tomorrow at 08:00.

  2. Weather: Some rain tonight, but sunny tomorrow

    Julie Reinger

    BBC Look East weather

    This evening cloud will continue to thicken and may produce an odd spot of rain but it'll be warm, with temperatures falling to about 14C (57F).

    Weather

    The last of any rain and drizzle should quickly clear Tuesday morning to leave a largely fine and dry day with some spells of sunshine. Temperatures reaching about 21C (70F).

    There are more details on the BBC Weather website.

  3. James Acaster: 'I can teach Lindsay Lohan a special football chant'

    Pete Cooper

    BBC Local Live

    Kettering comedian James Acaster has written an open letter to actress Lindsay Lohan in the Guardian explaining to her some of the sights in the town she can take in IF she turns on its Christmas lights, as she said she would on Twitter.

    James Acaster

    It follows an "offensive" tweet about the town on EU referendum night after it voted Leave, with Kettering MP Philip Hollobone telling the Commons she can redeem herself if she can get in the Christmas spirit.

    The multi-award nominated comedian says Ms Lohan can get "discounts on Rollover hotdogs" at Wicksteed Park as he used to work there.

    He also urges the US actress to visit the Weetabix factory in Burton Latimer, saying "you can smell it always, no matter where you are", and says he can teach her a "special football chant if you like, only for hardcore Kettering fans". 

  4. Manager of unbeaten school team applies for England job

    Richard Haugh

    BBC News

    The coach of a primary school football team has applied for the England job, saying he is the "perfect candidate" to succeed Roy Hodgson.

    As reported in the Daventry Express, Sam Chambers, coach of Weedon Bec Primary School, sent his CV to the FA after England crashed out of Euro 2016 and Hodgson stepped down.

    Mr Chambers (left) said in his letter he had guided his side to an unbeaten campaign - even though they faced "mighty teams such as Woodford Halse CE Primary Academy".  

    Sam Chambers/Roy Hodgson

    Ladbrokes has made him a 1,000/1 outsider for the job.

    Jessica Bridge from the bookmaker said: "Stranger things have happened in the last 12 months, like Leicester City winning the Premier League, so it's not out of the realms of possibility.

    "Sam enters the record books as one of the greatest sporting underdogs of all time."

  5. Rushden man jailed for 15 years for part in 'drug ambulance' smuggling plot

    Pete Cooper

    BBC Local Live

    Six men, including one from Northamptonshire, have been jailed for distributing drugs imported in specially-modified ambulances.

    Birmingham Crown Court heard the quantities of cocaine, heroin and ecstasy involved were "truly colossal".

    Dutch Ambulance

    Darren Owen, 48, from Balham Close, Rushden, was given 15 years for conspiracy to import and supply Class A drugs.

    Five others were sentenced for between 11 and 20 years.

    The drugs were hidden in secret compartments, sealed with riveted panels, inside Dutch ambulances entering the UK by ferry ports.

    Investigators believe there were at least 45 trips involving drugs, which had a street value of £1.6bn.

  6. Conservative Party leadership: Leadsom in second place with MPs

    Pete Cooper

    BBC Local Live

    Conservative MPs have been revealing who they are backing in the race to take over from David Cameron as prime minister.

    At the current count, the MP for South Northamptonshire has 38 nods, 12 ahead of Michael Gove, but 74 behind front-runner Theresa May...

    Michael Gove and Andrea Leadsom

    You can see who your MP is backing (unless your MP is Andrea Leadsom) by heading to the BBC News website.

  7. Olly Stone: Northants receive eight approaches for bowler

    Alex Winter

    BBC Radio Northampton sport

    Eight counties have made a 28-day approach for Northamptonshire's Olly Stone, despite the pace bowler being sidelined by a knee injury.

    Stone, 22, is likely to miss the rest of 2016 after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury in June.

    olly stone

    "Whether he'll want to see all eight, maybe not. But I'm sure he'll pick out some and see what they've got to say," said director of cricket David Ripley.

    Ripley continued to BBC Radio Northampton: "He's assured us he'll come back to us and see what we've got to say and we're still hopeful he'll stay."

  8. Police investigating assault in Hardingstone underpass

    Craig Lewis

    BBC News

    I've just had some details regarding the incident that has led to the underpass at the end of Hardingstone Lane being cordoned off.

    Area cordoned off in Hardingstone Lane

    Northamptonshire Police say officers received a call at 11:00 to a report of an assault, which allegedly took place in the area in the early hours of the morning.

    Forensic officers are currently at the scene and an investigation has been launched.

  9. Man stabbed at the Racecourse in Northampton

    A man has been stabbed as he walked in the Racecourse in Northampton.

    The 31-year-old was walking near to Kettering Road, between 20:00 and 20:45 on Saturday, 25 June, when two men approached and assaulted him, leaving him with a stab wound to the abdomen.

    Racecourse

    The victim ran off towards Abington Grove and was later taken to hospital for treatment. 

    Police have appealed for witnesses and put descriptions of the two attackers on their website.

  10. Weather: Cloudy but dry

    BBC Weather Watchers

    After a sunny start there is some cloud rolling in over Northamptonshire. Here is Moulton from BBC Weather Watcher 'Adders'...

    Weather

    Howver, it should stay dry until at least the late afternoon. It will feel warm in any sunshine and in the light breeze with a high of 20C (68F).

    There more details on the BBC Weather website.

  11. Underpass cordoned off in Hardingstone

    Craig Lewis

    BBC News

    An area including the underpass at the top of Hardingstone Lane in Hardingstone, by the Queen Eleanor roundabout, has been cordoned off by police.

    Cordoned off area on Hardingstone Lane

    I've put in a call to Northamptonshire Police to find out what's happened there.

    As soon as I hear anything, you will too.

  12. Is Northants' bowler Stone on his way to Hampshire?

    Alex Winter

    BBC Radio Northampton sport

    Hampshire have also made a 28-day approach for Northants' fast bowler Olly Stone.

    Olly stone

    The 22-year-old's current deal expires at the end of the season, but he is sidelined with a knee injury for the rest of the season.

    Counties can make approaches for out-of-contract players by giving 28 days' notice of their intention to speak to them.

  13. Northants' seamer Gleeson signs new deal

    Alex Winter

    BBC Radio Northampton sport

    Meanwhile, Northants' seam bowler Richard Gleeson has signed a new three-year deal to begin in 2017.

    Richard Gleeson

    The 28-year-old had never played a professional game ahead of last summer's tour match against Australia.

    He has since appeared in 15 games across all three formats on a match-to-match basis, taking three wickets in both of his last two T20 appearances.

    "His level of performance has been nothing short of sensational," said director of cricket David Ripley.

  14. Blue skies and sunshine, but play abandoned at Chesterfield

    Alex Winter

    BBC Radio Northampton sport

    Look at this scene at Queen's Park in Chesterfield...

    Chesterfield

    Hard to believe, but play has been abandoned for the first day of Northants' County Championship match against Derbyshire.  

    They have been testing the bowler's run-ups and after some very concerned faces it was deemed too dangerous to play.

    Yesterday's T20 between the two sides was also called off despite the sunshine due to a waterlogged outfield, caused by the wet weather of late.

  15. Leadsom leadership bid

    Pete Cooper

    BBC Local Live

    So far today we've covered the main points from Andrea Leadsom's bid to become the new leader of the Conservative party and prime minister.

    Scroll down to read what happened as her campaign was officially launched just after 11:00. You can also read more about it, and how she compares to her rivals on the BBC News website.

    Andrea Leadsom

    MPs will vote in the first round of contest tomorrow. If there are any further developments today we'll bring them to you, but now we'll look at what else is happening in Northamptonshire.

  16. Leadsom leadership bid: An analysis

    Sam Read

    BBC Radio Northampton politics reporter

    Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith described it as an "assured performance" and speeches like today are important for Andrea Leadsom's profile, as she starts from a position of being less well known than Theresa May and Michael Gove.

    andrea leadsom

    She tried to sell herself as a true "brexiteer" but also telling those who voted Remain not to "be afraid".

    Pledging to tackle corporate pay-offs and other forms of City excess, she said the "rich would not be a priority" for her.

    She didn't talk about being a mother, as she's fond off, but did say: "I know as a woman how to succeed in a man's world."

    In a time of political surprises, it will be a big one if Andrea Leadsom is able to move from being an unknown energy minister to taking the UK's biggest job.