Updates for Friday, 28 October 2016
Northamptonshire hospital bosses say more GPs are needed in A&E
Tonight's Premiership game 'absolutely crucial' for Saints
Lindsay Lohan's people are checking her diary for Kettering visit
Kate Kinsella
BBC Look East weather
Early low cloud, mist and fog patches should very gradually clear most areas to reveal a dry day with some sunny intervals and a high of 16C (61F).
Here is my full forecast...
There are more details on the BBC Weather website.
Pete Cooper
BBC Local Live
Hello again,
It's a foggy start this morning - rather apt for Halloween - meaning there is a yellow weather warning in place in the county for much of this morning.
We'll have the full weather forecast shortly, and a round-up of the weekend's sport, plus all the news and travel you need between now and 18:00.
A motorist "fixed" his car window with plastic sheeting and tape, leaving a small peephole to see his mirror.
Read MoreReformed gang members are working with police to help teenage girls at risk of being groomed into Northamptonshire's gang culture.
Read MoreHigh-flying Northampton Town make it back-to-back win after surviving a late Bury fightback
Read MoreHopes that Hollywood actress Lindsay Lohan may turn on Kettering's Christmas lights are revived after her agent talks with the local council.
Read MoreNorthampton hold off a spirited Gloucester fightback to battle their way to a Premiership win at Franklin's Gardens.
Read MoreAdam Jinkerson
BBC Local Live
Thanks for joining us today and indeed throughout this week. We'll be back with more regular updates from 08:00 on Monday.
Have a great weekend.
Julie Reinger
BBC Look East weather
Tonight will be mainly dry, with clear intervals and some patches of mist and fog.
Temperatures are expected to fall to around 10C (50F) across the Eastern region.
Tomorrow morning any mist and fog may take a little while to clear and then it’ll be a dry day with some bright or sunny intervals as the temperature peaks at 17C (63F).
Get the full forecast where you live from BBC Weather.
Stuart Bailey
BBC News
A "significant" quantity of Class A and Class B drugs have been found during a raid at a house in Thrapston, police said.
Two men, aged 19 and 21, were arrested at the property on Clare Drive. They are currently being questioned on suspicion of drugs offences.
A Northamptonshire Police spokesperson said: "Today’s warrant is part of an ongoing investigation into the supply of Class A drugs in this part of the county.
"We won’t tolerate drug dealing and the hugely negative impact it has on the local community."
Stuart Bailey
BBC News
A man, who used his position of trust to abuse his friends' children, has been jailed for 13 years.
Adam Aitken, 29, from Orton Goldhay in Peterborough, pleaded guilty to six serious sexual offences against children.
Peterborough Crown Court heard how he befriended his five male victims, aged between eight and 14, after forming close relationships with their parents and carers.
Image source, Cambridgeshire PoliceDet Ch Insp Jon McAdam, from Cambridgeshire Police, said Aitken could have victims in other parts of the country.
"Given the level of offending shown by Aitken, it is anticipated there could be other victims," he said.
"We believe he had links to the Bedfordshire, Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Surrey, West Yorkshire and Scotland areas.
"What is clear from the victim's accounts was how Aitken would groom them, buying gifts and taking them on holiday, and then sexually abuse them and threaten them in to silence."
He added Aitken was a "calculated and dangerous individual who positioned himself to gain the trust of parents and guardians to abuse children."
Stuart Bailey
BBC News
Remember this extraordinary CCTV image from last week?
Image source, Northamptonshire PoliceA man was caught on camera apparently trying to make off with a Venetian blind from a Northampton shop - by stuffing it down one trouser leg and up his jacket.
This happened at Dunelm Mill, on the Nene Valley Retail Park, on Sunday 16 October. But, nearly a fortnight on, police say nobody has been arrested and the investigation is ongoing.
They're urging anyone with information to come forward.
Image source, Northamptonshire PoliceRelive the action as Northampton battle past Gloucester at Franklin's Gardens to record their third Premiership win of the season.
Read More
Sam Read
BBC Radio Northampton politics reporter
Hospitals in Northamptonshire are millions of pounds in the red this year because they cannot balance the books, despite having made huge savings.
A rise in demand for hospital services, even before winter sets in, means budgets are already stretched despite extra government funding this year.
Hospitals were offered the carrot of extra cash by the Department of Health, but had to hit agreed savings targets to get it.
Research by BBC East shows that all but two of the acute hospitals in the East region are in the red - in Northamptonshire the total is £21m.
There’ll be more on this story in Sunday Politic East, this Sunday at 11:00 on BBC One (East).
Stuart Bailey
BBC News
All this week we've been looking at the pressures faced by the NHS in Northamptonshire.
Earlier we looked at the issue of people going to A&E when they could have been helped elsewhere.
Another big problem is so-called "bed blocking" where patients are ready to leave hospital, but can't because of delays in arranging care for them.
A private care home provider told us he has to turn down some clients because local councils aren't prepared to pay enough for beds.
Bill Parker, the county councillor responsible for Adult Social Care, says they're looking at alternatives to care homes.
"All councils are facing ageing populations and there's more demand than ever for our services," he said.
"We do everything we can to help people leave hospital in a timely manner and to go home or, if necessary, into some other form of care.
"We are trying to move away from people going into residential care and instead stay in their homes.
"We're also looking at other ways to provide services including care villages, a kind of sheltered housing."
Stuart Bailey
BBC News
It's a fairly cloudy day in Northamptonshire but some of our BBC Weather Watchers have caught a glimpse of some sunshine. With highs of 15C (59F), it is mild for the end of October.
The weekend's looking cloudy but it should stay dry and mild on Saturday in light winds - a maximum temperature of 14C (57F).
Image source, BBC Weather Watchers/PaulaMariaSunrise in Pattishall
Image source, BBC Weather Watchers/Ziggy's WoodSunshine breaking through in Glapthorne
Image source, BBC Weather Watchers/Pitsford Weather WizardCloudy skies in Maidwell
Stuart Bailey
BBC News
Here's an exciting update about Lindsay Lohan's potential visit to Kettering.
It seems the Hollywood A-lister's people are now checking her schedule to see if she's available to switch-on the town's Christmas lights on 24 November.
Image source, APA council spokesman said: "We can confirm that Kettering Borough Council has now made direct contact with Lindsay Lohan’s representatives.
"Understandably her schedule is very busy but they are looking to see whether she can make it work.
"Kettering’s Christmas lights switch on event is on Thursday 24th November and we are grateful for Lindsay’s interest in it."
Kettering's MP invited Ms Lohan to switch on the lights after an "offensive" tweet on EU referendum night in which she asked, "sorry, but Kettering where are you?"
Stuart Bailey
BBC News
We've often wondered why the chicken crossed the road... well it seems swans have the same idea!
We spotted this in The Chronicle and Echo, external. It reports that a large swan was spotted on the A45 in Northampton yesterday.
Stuart Bailey
BBC News
Yesterday we told you how Wicksteed Park's much-loved pirate ship ride has been sold to a Bulgarian businessman.
It'll be dismantled next week after 34 years because it's becoming too expensive to maintain.
The first picture of its replacement has just been made available - and it looks as if you'll need to hold tight.
Image source, Wicksteed ParkThe new attraction will be a wave swing, a kind of carousel with 40 suspended chairs.
Wicksteed Park bosses are hoping it'll be in place by spring next year.
Stuart Bailey
BBC News
So, we've already previewed tonight's 'must-win' game for the Saints. Now let's turn our attention to Saturday when Northampton Town welcome Bury to Sixfields.
Manager Rob Page says he's expecting a tough encounter against a side doing well in League One so far this season.
"They've had an unbelievable start. They're a good group of players and we've got to respect what they're all about," he said.
"But you could have put anybody in front of us on Saturday and we would have come out as winners.
"So it's about us replicating that level of performance and, if we do that, we stand a good chance of winning."