Headlines on Friday, 1 July 2016
News, sport, travel and weather updates resume on Monday at 08:00
That's all for today.
Don't forget there is full coverage of Northamptonshire's T20 match against Birmingham Bears on BBC Radio Northampton.
And full coverage of the Austrian Grand Prix on the BBC Sport website.
As for us, we'll see you on Monday at 08:00. Have a great weekend.
Alex Dolan
BBC Look East weather
Rather cloudy and breezy with the risk of showers tonight, although they are likely to be quite isolated with lows of 9C (48F).
A fine start with sunny spells tomorrow but cloud increasing with the risk of showers, and highs of 19C (66F).
More details on the BBC Weather website.
Alex Winter
BBC Radio Northampton sport
Northamptonshire's cricketers are in action at Edgbaston against Warwickshire's Birmingham Bears tonight.
And Birmingham does look rather splendid this evening...
The Steelbacks are top of the T20 Blast North group, with the Bears only behind them on net run-rate.
There is full coverage from 19:00 on BBC Radio Northampton.
Pete Cooper
BBC Local Live
It seems Kettering comedian James Acaster has taken some umbrage at Lindsay Lohan accepting MP Philip Hollobone's offer to switch on Kettering's Christmas lights...
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I'm sure he's joking... as James tweeted the US actress on the night of the referendum, saying he was a "big fan" and attempting to explain where Kettering was to her.
Andrea Leadsom is gaining more support for her bid to be the next leader of the Tories.
The MP for South Northamptonshire now has 17 confirmed MPs supporting her, including John Baron, the MP for Basildon and Billericay, who himself was seen as a leadership contender.
And it seems some MPs have used the BBC to declare their support...
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Rugby doesn't quite move as fast as football.
It was November last year the Saints confirmed they were signing the French number eight Louis Picamoles.
And now, finally, he's arrived in Northampton...
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Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer
Nico Rosberg edges Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton in a rain-interrupted second practice session at the Austrian Grand Prix.
Image source, Getty ImagesRosberg set his time in the seven minutes of running at the beginning of the session before a heavy downpour.
Hamilton recorded his lap in the final 10 minutes after the rain had abated and the sun returned.
There was just 0.019 seconds between them, with Force India's Nico Hulkenberg third from Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel.
Helen Burchell
BBC News
As the #FindMajorTom, external campaign continues, organisers plan to launch another Action Man astronaut in the hope of gathering the footage denied to them by Major Tom's thieves.
Image source, Wisdom DesignThe "Mercury 10" mission is the brainchild of Chris Hillcox, from Sutton Coldfield in the West Midlands, and Rob Wisdom, of Essex, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Action Man's creation.
Helen Burchell
BBC News
Earlier this week we told you about the desperate search for an astronaut lost in the Northamptonshire countryside after plummeting to Earth from space.
Well... a mini version.
Image source, Wisdom DesignWe're sad to say Action Man Major Tom has still not been found, but the good news is his "brother", Commander Tim, is in training for a repeat mission.
Major Tom fell to Earth in Creaton on Sunday after being launched 19 miles (30km) into near space. Before the rescue team which was tracking his fall could arrive, space scavengers had made off with the vintage 1966 toy, his space capsule and on-board camera.
Joe Townsend
BBC Radio Northampton sport
Cobblers' boss Rob Page told me his former Wales team-mate and now manager Chris Coleman has been "exceptional", adding the Welsh side "epitomise" team spirit.
Image source, Getty ImagesPage, capped 41 times by Wales, said they show "togetherness and a bond" similar to that shown by Northampton Town last season, which led them to the League Two title.
He said it was "fantastic to see and long may it continue".
Wales face Belgium in Lille in the quarter-final of Euro 2016 tonight at 20:00.
Joe Townsend
BBC Radio Northampton sport
Northampton Town manager Rob Page told me he'll "definitely" bring up Wales' progress in Euro 2016 during the start of pre-season training today.
Image source, Getty ImagesPage played 41 times for Wales, captaining the side once, which he described as the "proudest moment" of his career.
He did admit to me that England were the "better side" when they beat Wales 2-1 in the group stages, but said that was "the only positive" for England in the tournament.
Pete Cooper
BBC Local Live
Roy Rickhuss, the general secretary of the Community Union which represent steel workers, will be the Chieftain for this year's 48th Corby Highland Gathering.
The Corby steel plant, which employs 578 people, is due to be sold as part of Tata Steel's UK business.
The Corby Highland Gathering will take place next Sunday, 10 July, on Charter Field in Corby Old Village.
Pete Cooper
BBC Local Live
Owen Paterson, the former environment secretary, has backed Andrea Leadsom to be the next prime minister.
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Mr Paterson has even written a piece for The Telegraph, external describing the South Northamptonshire MP as "a businesswomen, a mother and an exemplary local MP", adding "she has acquired a true understanding of the needs and aspirations of the people up and down the land".
Andrew Neil
Presenter, The Daily Politics
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The Spectator
The bookmakers have reported, external that Andrea Leadsom has overtaken the Justice Secretary when it comes to betting on who will be the next Tory leader. Theresa May remains the favourite at 1/3, with Leadsom at 7/2 and Gove at 12/1.
The centenary of the Battle of the Somme has been marked across the UK. In Corby, a ceremony took place outside the Cube.
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Elinor Cross
BBC Radio Northampton
Yesterday we brought you news of the Kettering Magistrates and County Court closing and today it's the turn of Corby Magistrates' Court to shut its doors for the final time.
Image source, GoogleJonathan Smithers, president of the Law Society, said the courts set for closure were well used and "every citizen... should have access to justice".
He said: "It shouldn't depend on how much money you have, whether you have your own car, whether you have to rely on public transport. Everyone should be able to use it."
But the Ministry of Justice said: "Access to justice is not just about proximity to a court and we are investing over £700m to reform and digitise our courts and tribunal services, to deliver swifter and more certain justice."
The plan is to use technology such as video, telephone and online conferencing for face-to-face hearings, but also use public buildings such as town halls for cases.
There's patchy cloud and sunny spells at the moment around Northamptonshire. Here's Roade from BBC Weather Watcher 'dugjay72'.
But scattered showers will develop and where the showers occur, they may well be heavy. A high today of 19C (66F).
There are more details on the BBC Weather website.
Tim Laughton MP, who supports Andrea Leadsom to be the Conservative party leader, was asked how he thought she would do in the first ballot.
He believes she will be one of the final two candidates...
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Backing continues for Andrea Leadsom to be the next prime minister.
Firstly, The Leave.EU campaign, founded by businessmen Arron Banks and Richard Tice, has pledged its support to the South Northamptonshire MP, describing her as "the breakout star of the Leave campaign".
She has also received the backing of former Corby MP Louise Mensch...
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