Updates for Friday, 11 November 2016
Three people deny murdering Northampton man
'Poppy man' unveiled for Armistice Day
Body found in Wellingborough 'not suspicious'
These are some of the stories we have covered today so just scroll down for the full details:
Patrick Byrne
BBC News
People in Northamptonshire suffering from anxiety and mild depression can now get help in a more direct way, often over the phone, rather than having to go through their GP.
Those taking part in the new system could also have "face-to-face" therapy sessions or take part in courses of treatment online.
NHS psychotherapist Lee Johnson said the new scheme had the advantage of speed.
"It's a lot quicker. In this way people can pick up the phone and have a conversation with somebody.
"An assessment can be made over the telephone within days and the person can be booked in with one of our workers within weeks."
Patrick Byrne
BBC News
A firm employing about 1,600 staff in England and Scotland is to shed 600 jobs as a result of new technology to handle domestic cheques faster.
Images of cheques will be used instead of passing paper around, Northampton-based Intelligent Processing Solutions Ltd (iPSL) said.
The firm is to concentrate activities in Northampton and Milton Keynes.
Fewer staff will be needed to handle cheques, so seven of its sites will close during 2018.
For the past 12 months iPSL has been sharing developments and potential implications with employees and bank customers.
Staff and unions Unite and CWU were told of the plans this week.
Unite said: "We want to now see iPSL make the necessary investment through new technology to secure as many jobs as is possible."
Patrick Byrne
BBC News
Several schemes have already been introduced to cut traffic on the Kingsthorpe Corridor, widely regarded as the most congested commuter route into Northampton.
In 2011, the county council completed a £2m scheme to improve traffic flows in the Kingsthorpe corridor by carriageway-widening, more effective traffic signals and re-positioning of pedestrian crossings.
In March 2015, a Cycle CoNNect hub was installed in Harborough Road, Kingsthorpe (opposite Waitrose) to help offer another transport alternative.
Last week it was announced that Kingsthorpe Corridor was being considered as one of the Smart Corridors for Northampton.
Starting in Weedon Road/St James Road, the scheme would use the latest technology to help improve commuter journeys.
Patrick Byrne
BBC News
The leading domestic cheque-handling company in Britain is to close seven locations with the loss of 600 jobs to concentrate activities at Northampton and Milton Keynes offices.
Intelligent Processing Solutions Ltd (iPSL) has made the move because the Cheque and Credit Clearing Company (C&CCC) is to introduce a quicker and easier way of clearing cheques in the UK.
Image source, PAImages of cheques to be exchanged between banks and building societies will be used instead of moving paper around the country.
Locations at Bootle on Merseyside, Bradford and Copley in Yorkshire, Camberley in Surrey, Chelmsford in Essex, Clydebank and Tweed House in Scotland will close during 2018.
Dominic Hook, Unite union national officer, said: "The announcement of seven site closures and significant job losses at iPSL is tragic news for the workforce.
"This consolidation strategy is deeply disappointing and the impact will be felt widely."
Patrick Byrne
BBC News
A commuter traffic bottleneck junction in Northampton where several recent accidents have raised concerns among local residents could benefit from a government-funded Growth Deal.
Image source, GoogleThis money, channelled through to the local enterprise partnership or council could provide funds to make transport improvements to alleviate traffic problems at the Cock Hotel junction in Kingsthorpe,
Northampton Borough Council said if the government funding was received it would look at improving the North West Relief Road and the Northern Orbital Route to take traffic out of the Kingsthorpe Corridor, which is recognised as one of the most congested routes in the town and includes the Cock Hotel junction.
The cheque-processing company iPSL is set to close its two Scottish centres, according to the Unite union.
Read More
Alex Pope
BBC Local Live
We've just had an update from East of England Ambulance Service, external that five people were taken to hospital this morning after a crash on the A14, and not four as previously reported.
It confirmed that a man in his 30s was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital with a broken leg after he was sedated at the scene.
Four patients with head, leg and chest injuries were taken to Hinchingbrooke Hospital for further treatment.
Their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
After a clear and frosty morning cloud will increase and rain is expected to arrive by evening.
From frost-coated fields and gardens, our Weather Watchers have been looking at the skies as our pictures from Kettering, Irthlingborough and Northampton show.
Image source, Rosemary
Image source, seamosknee
Image source, JackieThe signs are there that we are in for a chilly period with some heavy outbreaks of rain overnight.
Minimum temperature: 2C (36F)
More details from BBC Weather.
Patrick Byrne
BBC News
After two accidents in two days at the Cock Hotel junction in Northampton, a local councillor claims problems will get worse as more housing is built without improvements being made.
On Sunday morning an 11-year-old pillion passenger on a motorbike and a 50-year-old man were seriously injured in a crash with a car at the junction in Kingsthorpe. Earlier in the weekend a two-car crash blocked the busy junction on the Harborough Road as emergency services dealt with casualties.
Image source, GoogleSally Beardsworth, Liberal Democrat borough councillor for Kingsthorpe, said the problems would only get worse as new homes were built. She blames nearby councils for putting too much pressure on infrastructure in Northampton.
The borough council, external said: "Congested areas of towns and cities occur when you have a historic road layout that wasn't designed for current traffic volumes."
BBC Travel
We're just got more information about the accident on the eastbound A14 this morning by Spaldwick.
Cambridgeshire Police says an HGV had broken down in lane one and two vehicles, a Mercedes Sprinter van and a Vauxhall Vivaro, then collided.
Police, ambulance and the air ambulance all attended.
Patrick Byrne
BBC News
A woman paralysed from the chest down after breaking her neck in a crash as a passenger at the age of 16 is to take part in an endurance race to mark Remembrance Day.
Northamptonshire's Nathalie McGloin takes part in Race of Remembrance
Northamptonshire's Nathalie McGloin, external was the first woman with a spinal injury to be granted a racing licence. She has just finished her second season in the Porsche Club Championship.
This weekend she takes part in a Special Race of Remembrance, external, a 10-hour endurance event at the Anglesey Circuit in North Wales, to raise money for ex-servicemen and women.
BBC Travel
Four people have been taken to hospital after an accident on the A14 this morning.
The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST), external confirmed it was called at 07:25 after the crash by Spaldwick. Three ambulance crews, two ambulance officers and the East Anglian Air Ambulance were dispatched.
In total six people were injured with the worst injuries being a broken leg and a cut to the head.
Martin Borley
BBC Radio Northampton
Plans to build 27 houses on a former football pitch in Weldon are to be decided on by Corby Borough Council, external today but local residents have said the scheme would take away one of the last green spaces in the village.
Mulberry Developments want to build the homes on the land off Oundle Road once used by Weldon FC but which has now become an unofficial play area for local children.
The council's development control committee will decide on the future of the land this evening but some residents are angry over the plans and say they have been fighting to preserve the green space for many years.
"Our grandchildren play out there all the time. Every time they come down they have a football and go off and play. And we're not going to have that facility anymore," said Jean Flynn.
BBC Travel
It will take a while for the roads to get back to normal but the three-vehicle accident on the A14 this morning by Brampton has now cleared and the eastbound section of the A14 is now open.
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Patrick Byrne
BBC News
These are some of the stories we'll be covering this morning:
Highways England, external says the emergency services and the air ambulance are at the scene of a serious accident on the A14 which has closed the road eastbound between J18 and J21.
Drivers are being asked to exit the A14 early at J13 (by Thrapston) and join the A605 north towards Peterborough following the hollow back diamond symbol. Then join the A1(M) southbound, to re-join the A14 at J22 near Brampton.
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BBC Travel
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BBC Travel
A serious accident has closed the A14 eastbound by Spaldwick, Police are warning drivers to avoid the area.
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There are severe delays on the A14 because the eastbound road is closed between J18, Beltons in Spaldwick and J21, A1 Brampton, because of a serious accident.
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