Martin Heath
BBC Radio Northampton

Politicians and residents have been leaping to the defence of East Northamptonshire after a government survey suggested it was the least happy place in the UK.

The annual well-being report placed the district at the bottom of the happiness category.

People who live there have been telling us about the great community spirit... here's our tribute to some of them.

Alex Winter
BBC Radio Northampton sport

Northamptonshire have signed fast bowler Nathan Buck from Lancashire.

Image source, Getty Images

The 25-year-old, who began his career at Leicestershire before moving to Old Trafford, has joined Northants on a three-year deal.

Buck was a great prospect at Grace Road but has struggled since moving north – playing just 19 matches across two injury-hit seasons.

Northants sign paceman Nathan Buck on a three-year deal after he agrees an early release from his Lancashire contract.

Martin Borley
BBC Radio Northampton

Politicians in East Northamptonshire have been responding to news that a government survey suggests it's the least happy place in the UK.

The annual well-being survey from the Office of National Statistics, external asked people to rate their lives against four key indicators. East Northamptonshire came bottom in the happiness category.

Glenn Harwood, deputy leader of East Northants Council, said: "We're pleased to report the results of our most recent survey show that the majority of people (85%) are very happy with East Northamptonshire as a place to live."

Image source, Geograph/Dennis Smith

Mr Harwood said there are "great areas of natural beauty, such as the Nene Valley and Stanwick Lakes" (pictured).

He added that life will improve further with the arrival of the Rushden Lakes development next year with a "spectacular" retail offer and cinema.

In honour of Women's Sport Week, external (3-9 October), BBC Get Inspired and Radio 1Xtra have teamed up for an intimate and interactive discussion on body image issues for women in and around sport.

Full details about how you can be there, get involved and watch it live can be found here.

Martin Heath
BBC Radio Northampton

A High Court Judge has ordered that 3,000 photographs allegedly stolen from Pippa Middleton's private iCloud account should not be published.

Image source, Reuters

A man has been released on bail after being arrested in Northamptonshire on Saturday in connection with the police investigation into the incident.

Ms Middleton, the sister of the Duchess of Cambridge, has launched a civil action against "a person or persons unknown" followed the apparent attack on her account.

Judge Philippa Whipple's order will include any personal information involved in the alleged hack and prevent publication by anyone who is aware of the injunction.

Ms Middleton's lawyer said she was not worried about publication by the mainstream media. It was more likely that the pictures would be released by "rogue elements on the internet".

Relive Friday's Premiership action, as Northampton come back from 13-0 down to beat Exeter and Saracens thrash Bristol.

Martin Heath
BBC Radio Northampton

A motorcyclist who died in a crash near Daventry has been named.

Gary Bates, who was 49 and from the town, was seriously injured on Charwelton Road last Saturday. He died in hospital.

The driver of a BMW was arrested at the scene.

Image source, Google

Northampton may be fourth in League One, but they forgot to bring striker JJ Hooper's shirt for their win at Swindon.

Stuart Linnell
BBC Radio Northampton

Politicians say body cameras, which could be introduced in Northampton town centre, should act as a visible deterrent in difficult situations.

The campaign group Big Brother Watch has said that staff using the equipment will have to be properly trained to make sure they don't make secret recordings.

Councillor Alan Bottwood said the cameras will be visible on the clothing of parking attendants and Neighbourhood Wardens.

"If they get in a conflict situation they will be able to say 'look, I'm going to turn my camera on'. The police say that, when they do that it can defuse a conflict situation".

Stuart Linnell
BBC Radio Northampton

Privacy campaigners say council staff must be trained properly before they're allowed to use body cameras in Northampton town centre.

The borough council is planning to introduce the equipment for parking attendants and neighbourhood wardens so they can record incidents as they happen. The cameras are already widely used by the police.

Daniel Nesbitt, from the campaign group Big Brother Watch, told me earlier that full training is crucial: "There must be no potential for any covert recording as that shouldn't be happening.

"Members of the public wouldn't have the chance to modify their behaviour, so the point of the cameras would be invalid," he said.

Martin Heath
BBC Radio Northampton

Reaction has been coming in to our story about the government survey which suggested that East Northamptonshire is the least happy place in the country.

Corby came bottom in the life satisfaction category in the ONS well-being study, external.

Responding on social media, police inspector Julie Mead said "absolutely not! Great towns and great communities.  What makes me happy re Northants, it's community spirit".

Liz Coombe, a Wellingborough councillor, tweeted that "all the cheeriest people I know live in Corby. What a rubbish survey".

Twitter user "Safetyjord" said that one happy thing about Northamptonshire was the "good transport links to nicer counties", and "@NmptonSneakerCo" praised the county's food, scenery and footwear.

Willy Gilder
BBC Radio Northampton

A survey that says East Northamptonshire is the least happy place in the UK could generate improvements, according to a statistician.  

The Office of National Statistics asked thousands of people to rate their lives against four key indicators for their annual Well-being Survey, external.

East Northamptonshire scored just 7.01 out of 10 for happiness, while Corby achieved the bottom score for life satisfaction.

Matt Steel, from the ONS, says the survey "allows people the insight and the scope to make improvements to what makes our lives good. We think it's a real case for action".

Here are the happiness scores for the whole county:

1. Corby 7.08
2. Daventry 7.64
3. East Northamptonshire 7.01
4. Kettering 7.61
5. Northampton 7.35
6. South Northamptonshire 7.88
7. Wellingborough 7.50

Sam Read
BBC Radio Northampton politics reporter

Opposition councillors in Kettering have criticised plans to cut council tax support for vulnerable people in the borough.

Last year, the council introduced new rules requiring the poorest people to pay at least 45% of their bills, but the council's now consulting on a move to increase that figure to 68%.

Mick Scrimshaw, who's a Labour councillor, said: "Last year, I genuinely believed that they didn't understand where this left Kettering compared with the whole country.  We told them, they still went ahead, and they still doing it again this year."

No-one from the ruling Conservative group has been available for comment so far.

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Yesterday we told you about a report from Oxford Economics which described Northampton as an "economic powerhouse" worth approximately £6bn a year. 

That may be, but it's another day and another survey and we've now been told that Northamptonshire appears to be one of the least happy parts of the country.

The annual Well-being Survey by the Office for National Statistics, external says two areas of the county - East Northamptonshire, and Corby - come bottom of the lists for happiness and life satisfaction.

Samuel Boyle
BBC Radio Northamptonshire

Northampton Borough Council, external says it is considering plans to allow its staff to record activity in the town centre using body cameras, in the hope they will improve standards of cleanliness and safety.

Parking attendants, park rangers and neighbourhood wardens may be able to monitor behaviour if the new plans are approved.

Full training would be given to members of staff using the devices, which are already used by Northamptonshire Police, but privacy groups including Big Brother UK say they should be banned.

We'll find out if the scheme has been given the go ahead next month.

Andrew Radd
BBC Radio Northampton

A Northamptonshire council that offers the lowest level of council tax support in the country is considering cutting the benefit further.

In Kettering everyone who receives the means-tested support  has to pay at least 45% of their bill.

Now the borough council is consulting on changes and one option would see that figure rise to 68%. It says it should get more money from central government to fund the benefit. 

In Corby and South Northamptonshire people have to pay a minimum of 8.5% of their bill.

Kate Kinsella
BBC Look East weather

Today is due to be dry with some cloud and sunny periods, but the cloud will tend to increase later in the afternoon. Winds will become stronger later, but it will feel warm in shelter.

Maximum temperature: 21C (70F).

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Good morning and welcome to another day of live updates of news, sport, weather, travel and more for Northamptonshire. 

Today we'll start by looking at what the weather has in store for us today with a full forecast.

You can get in touch with all your comments, photographs and news via email, Facebook, external or Twitter, external.   

John-Joe O'Toole scores his second goal in two games to give Northampton their first away win of the season at Swindon.