Summary

  • The boss of Northampton Hospital says its deficit will increase if it doesn't get 60 new beds

  • A Northampton woman was welcomed on stage for a selfie by her lookalike, Adele

  • Wicksteed Park wants people to apply for the chance to be among the last to experience its Pirate Ship ride

  • More news, sport, travel and weather updates from 08:00 on Friday

  1. Our live coverage through the daypublished at 18:00 British Summer Time 31 March 2016

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

  2. Weather: Dry tonight and tomorrowpublished at 17:48

    BBC Weather

    It'll be a dry and chilly night with light winds and clear spells wand temperatures down to 2C (36F).

    weather

    It will stay dry and mainly bright through tomorrow with a high of 12C (54F).

  3. Children's centre closures put families 'in jeopardy'published at 17:36 British Summer Time 31 March 2016

    Sam Read
    BBC Radio Northampton politics reporter

    A Child Development Expert at the University of Northampton says proposed cuts to the county's children centres would leave work to help children 'severely compromised'.

    Dr Eunice Lumsden says the ability to support families and improve long term outcomes is in jeopardy.

    Children with motherImage source, PA

    Earlier this week, the county council announced plans to close eight and move nine to libraries . The remaining 33 would all face cut backs.

  4. Wilder says East Stand has been empty 'far too long' as opening approachespublished at 17:24 British Summer Time 31 March 2016

    Stuart Ratcliffe
    BBC Look East

    Northampton Town hope to have the East Stand at Sixfields open by this weekend and Cobblers manager Chris Wilder is one person who, it seems, can't wait...

    Media caption,

    Wilder says East Stand has been empty "far too long" as opening approaches.

  5. Headlines: Goverment 'doing all it can' over steel crisis... Proposed children's centre closurespublished at 17:08 British Summer Time 31 March 2016

    Sarah Foster
    BBC Radio Northampton

    Here are our top stories if you're catching up:

    • David Cameron has insisted the government is doing all it can to resolve the steel crisis - but has warned there's "no guarantee of success"
    • A Child Development Expert at the University of Northampton says proposed cuts to the county's children centres would leave work to help children "severely compromised"
    • Northampton Town captain Marc Richards says he's relieved to have returned to fitness at an opportune time
  6. Wicksteed Park Pirate Ship: 'I squealed like a piggy'published at 16:52 British Summer Time 31 March 2016

    Pete Cooper
    BBC Local Live

    You've been commenting on the fact the Pirate Ship at Wicksteed Park is closing down.

    Josie Price writes on Facebook, external: "That noise and then the screams! Unmistakable Wicksteed pirate ship! Great fun".

    pirate ship

    Stephanie McLean writes, external: "How sad. I squealed like a piggy".

    And John Morris says, external: "This is the one I almost fell out of!"

  7. Pirate Ship ride to close at Wicksteed Park after 34 years: The statspublished at 16:32 British Summer Time 31 March 2016

    Martin Borley
    BBC Radio Northampton

    It's the last season for the Pirate Ship ride at Kettering's Wicksteed Park.

    The attraction - and the park - have a long history...

    data pic
  8. Richards expecting 'party atmosphere'published at 16:12 British Summer Time 31 March 2016

    Joe Townsend
    BBC Radio Northampton sport

    Striker Marc Richards expects a "party atmosphere" as Northampton aim to secure promotion from League Two on Saturday.

    Marc RichardsImage source, Getty Images

    Chris Wilder's team could potentially win promotion from League Two on Saturday, on the same day Sixfields' new East Stand opens.

    "I was here 10 years ago," Richards told me "To see a packed out Sixfields was amazing."

  9. More patients need to be 'kept at home' to ease beds pressure at Northampton Hospitalpublished at 15:55 British Summer Time 31 March 2016

    Pete Cooper
    BBC Local Live

    Dr Matthew Davies, from the Nene Clinical Commissioning Group, says Northampton Hospital's need for extra beds isn't just down to A&E admissions, but also because the NHS "struggles to keep people at home".

    Northampton General Hospital

    Northampton Hospital is seeking funding for 60 extra beds, and Dr Davies told BBC Radio Northampton more needs to be done to "prevent patients, especially older people, going to hospital in the first place".

  10. Wicksteed Park Pirate Ship closure is 'a sad shame'published at 15:45 British Summer Time 31 March 2016

    Martin Borley
    BBC Radio Northampton

    I spoke to some visitors to Wicksteed Park in Kettering about the planned closure of the Pirate Ship ride and this is what they told me...

  11. Hospital staff 'under pressure' because of a lack of beds, says Northampton chief executivepublished at 15:35 British Summer Time 31 March 2016

    Sam Read
    BBC Radio Northampton politics reporter

    Northampton Hospital's chief executive says its £20m deficit will increase if the hospital can't get funding for 60 new beds before next winter.

    Chief executive Sonia Swart says the hospital is well over capacity and extra beds would help create much needed efficiency savings...

    Sonia Swart@: "We have patients in some day rooms. We have additional beds put up. That means there is huge pressure on our staff."
  12. Weather: Dry with sunny spells, but the chance of a showerpublished at 14:46 British Summer Time 31 March 2016

    BBC Weather Watchers

    It's been a bright start across Northamptonshire after a frosty start. Here's a beautiful picture of Yelvertoft this morning from BBC Weather Watcher 'Hello'...

    yelvertoft

    This afternoon should stay largely dry day with plenty of sunny spells, but there is the chance of a scattered showers with a top temperature of 11C (52F).

    You can find more details on the BBC Weather website.

  13. Prime Minister: Government will do everything it can to support UK steelpublished at 14:08 British Summer Time 31 March 2016

    Prime Minister David Cameron says the government will do everything it can to secure steel making in Port Talbot calling UK steel a vital industry. But he adds that he doesn't believe nationalisation is the right answer.

  14. Cameron: Tata is 'difficult situation'published at 14:04 British Summer Time 31 March 2016

    David Cameron says the government is "not ruling anything out" as it tries to save thousands of Tata steel jobs. Speaking after chairing crisis talks on Tata Steel's decision to sell its UK business, the PM said the government was "doing everything it can" but there were "no guarantees of success".

  15. PM: No guarantees on steel crisispublished at 14:00 British Summer Time 31 March 2016

    The government is "doing everything it can" to save thousands of steel jobs, David Cameron says - but he warns there are "no guarantees of success".

    Thousands of jobs nationally are under threat, including around 500 in Corby, after Tata Steel announced it is considering selling its UK operation.

    David Cameron

    PM: No guarantees on steel crisis

    David Cameron says the government is "doing everything it can" to save steel jobs but there are "no guarantees" amid criticism of its handing of the crisis.

    Read More
  16. Adele selfie star says 'instagram has gone insane' since picture went onlinepublished at 13:50 British Summer Time 31 March 2016

    An Adele "doppelganger" who posed on stage for a selfie with the singer says she has been inundated with messages from fan groups around the globe.

    Adele with Emily Bamforth (left)Image source, Tom Winkler

    Emily Bamforth, 27, from Northampton, said her "Instagram had gone insane" after her moment of fame on Tuesday.

    Adele, also 27, got her up on stage after Ms Bamforth's fiancé said people claimed she looked like the singer.

  17. Headlines: Hospital needs new beds... PM against steel nationalisationpublished at 13:30 British Summer Time 31 March 2016

    Sarah Foster
    BBC Radio Northampton

    Here are you lunchtime headlines:

    • Northampton Hospital's chief executive says its £20m deficit will increase if the hospital can't get funding for 60 new beds
    • David Cameron has rejected the suggestion Britain's steel industry should be nationalised - saying it wasn't the right answer
    • Wicksteed Park in Kettering wants people to apply for the chance to be among the last to experience its iconic Pirate Ship fairground ride
  18. New beds at hospital will reduce deficit, says chief executivepublished at 13:02 British Summer Time 31 March 2016

    Sam Read
    BBC Radio Northampton politics reporter

    Northampton Hospital is looking to secure a temporary building to reduce the number of patients being cared for in unsuitable parts of the hospital.

    The hospital's chief executive Sonia Swart says the need is "urgent" and will save the hospital money...

    Data pic: 60 new beds needed at Northampton Hospital; £20m deficit; 30 patients waiting in A&EImage source, Northampton General Hospital
  19. Corby steel: MP Tom Pursglove reveals contents of letter to David Cameronpublished at 12:34 British Summer Time 31 March 2016

    Pete Cooper
    BBC Local Live

    In a letter to the Prime Minister, MP for Corby Tom Purglove has said the town "cannot afford to lose" the Tata Steel plant.

    tom Pursglove

    In the letter delivered to David Cameron yesterday, he said "nothing should be ruled out" and "short period of public ownership" should be considered "in order to facilitate a buyer".

    You can read the full letter on Mr Pusglove's Facebook page, external.