Sam Read
BBC Radio Northampton politics reporter

As we mentioned earlier, Northampton Borough Council will tonight agree new orders that will allow £100 fines to be handed out for offences including drinking alcohol or urinating in the street. 

It got me thinking about new enforcement officers working since April who hand out fines to people who litter or don't pick up after their dog. 

The council tells me up until the end of October, officers handed out 1,091 fines. That's just over five a day.   

Martin Borley
BBC Radio Northampton

The Chron reports this morning that fire crews were called, external to Wicksteed Park in Kettering last night where the boathouse was on fire.

The paper says an investigation is under way. We'll bring you more on this when we can.

Sam Read
BBC Radio Northampton politics reporter

Meanwhile, the idea of banning busking in Northampton town centre has been rejected because of a lack of public support. 

Tonight Northampton Borough Council will agree new "public space protection orders" that will see spot fines handed out for drinking in the town centre.

But the idea of an order banning busking has been rejected. In a consultation 52% of people opposed the idea.  

Sam Read
BBC Radio Northampton politics reporter

New rules that allow fines to be handed out for drinking alcohol or urinating in Northampton town centre are likely to be agreed tonight. 

The borough council is looking at introducing a raft of "public space protection orders".

Image source, Getty Images

Some of these things were previously covered by by-laws, but enforcement required a court appearance. 

Under these new orders, £100 fixed penalty notices will be handed out.

BBC Weather

A typical autumnal today with very little change expected over the next 24 hours.

The day will start grey with glimmers of bright spells amongst the patchy rain. 

Mild for the time of year at 12C (54F) and it will be rather breezy throughout the day too. 

Tonight will remain cloudy and the rain should diminish overnight.

BBC Weather has your local forecast.

Kate Scotter
BBC News

Good morning.

We are back and will be bringing you all the news for the county between now and 18:00.

We'll have news of how Northampton Borough Council is looking to issue on-the-spot fines to those caught going to the toilet in the street.

But first we'll have the day's weather forecast for you. 

Pete Cooper
BBC Local Live

Live updates for Northamptonshire have now finished.

We've heard there have been severe problems on the county's roads - keep up-to-date on the BBC Travel page before you head home.

But there has been one story today that has really taken the biscuit - a giant edible gingerbread grotto has been built in Northampton.

We'll be back tomorrow from 08:00. We'll see you then.

Nic Rigby
BBC News

A singer-songwriter who has co-written this year's Children in Need song All We Needed, external has praised the classical music education she received at Northampton High School.

Image source, Rachel Furner

Rachel Furner, 24, from Gayton, said: "I did music GCSE and I used to struggle with the classical music, but the older I get the more I appreciate learning about the structure of classical music.

"It has made a real difference to my writing."

Image source, Getty Images

The song All We Needed is performed by Craig David (above).

Alex Dolan
BBC Look East weather

This evening and tonight will be cloudy with further outbreaks of rain across southern counties, becoming mostly dry with clear spells elsewhere.

Minimum temperature: 9C (48F).

Any early rain will clear in the morning, and it'll become bright with sunny spells, although there's a chance of some showers developing later.

Feeling cooler as the breeze picks up, with highs of 13C (55F).

Alex Winter
BBC Radio Northampton sport

Northampton Town midfielder Jak McCourt has a "fighting chance" of being fit for Saturday's game with Peterborough, according to manager Rob Page.

McCourt missed the weekend's trip to Gillingham, but it's hoped he will be back in contention for the second Nene derby of the season.

Image source, Getty Images

Speaking about McCourt, Page said "every day he's getting better" and "fingers crossed we'll have him for Saturday".

The Cobblers lost 3-0 to The Posh in Peterborough less than a month ago.

Nic Rigby
BBC News

A Northamptonshire singer-songwriter, who has penned hits for top pop bands including Little Mix, has spoken to the BBC about the new Children in Need single, which she co-wrote with Craig David.

Rachel Furner (above), 24, from Gayton, said: "Me and Craig get on really well and we often go off into conversations about life. I wanted to write a song about looking back on life and not taking it for granted.

"I would love it to come across as moving and for people to think about those they have lost." 

The song can be viewed on YouTube, external and will raise funds for Children in Need.

Image source, Getty Images

Rachel has recently come back from South Africa where she has been helping the Star for Life, external charity by visiting schools and helping children with musical projects.

"It's a great charity which has a network of songwriters from England and Sweden and we go into schools to hopefully inspire young people," she said.

As well as writing hits for Little Mix (above), Rachel has written songs for Una Healey, formerly of The Saturdays.

Nic Rigby
BBC News

A 24-year-old former Northampton schoolgirl, who is making a name for herself in the music industry, has told the BBC that co-writing the new Children in Need single for singer Craig David has helped fulfil her "dream".

Image source, Rachel Furner

Rachel Furner (pictured above), from Gayton, near Northampton, is a successful songwriter signed to Universal Music, whose latest track Secret Love Song recorded by Little Mix sold 1.5m copies.

Rachel, who went to Northampton High School, said writing All We Needed, external for Children in Need was "on every English writer's bucket-list".

Image source, Children in Need

"I remember seeing the Children in Need song Never Have a Dream Come True (a 2000 hit performed by S Club 7). I just loved it," said Rachel.

"It's important because Children in Need helps thousands and thousands of children and families."

Children in Need

Over £1m of Children in Need donations have helped fund projects in Northamptonshire.

Those helped include the New Ark Foundation in Northampton, which helps families from the county's black and minority ethnic community.

Dealing with issues including immigration and domestic violence, the funding has helped pay for a new support worker to ease the case load.

You can find out more about its work below...

A life-size grotto made out of edible gingerbread is built in a shopping centre.

Orla Moore
BBC Local Live

Four of the region's police forces are piloting a new tagging system designed to monitor the movements of offenders on early release from prison.

Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Northamptonshire, external will trial the new tags, which will use GPS technology.

Hertfordshire already uses tagging, but it's been on a voluntary basis until now. 

The tags will allow police to track the locations of prisoners, enforce curfews and prevent contact with victims and other criminals.

Image source, Herts Police

Regional project lead, Det Insp Craig Flint from Hertfordshire Constabulary, said: "All those selected to take part in the pilot have been carefully considered and fully risk assessed. 

"Throughout this pilot the public's safety and protecting people from crime remains a priority.  

"This tagging technology is being used in support of, and not as a replacement for, other more traditional policing methods."

Four prisoners are currently wearing the new tags - all aged between 26 and 44 years. 

The pilot will run for 12 months.

Pete Cooper
BBC Local Live

The former Northamptonshire police and crime commissioner Adam Simmonds has had his plea and case management hearing at Southwark Crown Court adjourned.

Mr Simmonds, 39, of Northcote Road, Leicester, is accused of knowingly or recklessly breaching the Data Protection Act by allegedly disclosing information about MP Peter Bone, who represents Wellingborough.

The hearing will now take place on 23 January.

Tom Percival
BBC Radio Northampton

Shopworkers' union Usdaw has joined calls for shops to be closed on Boxing Day, as a petition for a ban reaches more than 170,000 signatures.

An Usdaw spokesman said the union "welcomed the debate" generated by the petition, which was started last month by Ian Lapworth, a baker and former DJ from Kettering.

Image source, Getty Images

An Usdaw spokesman said: "Staff in retail work very long hours in the run-up to Christmas.

"We are calling for shops to be closed on Boxing Day and New Year's Day, as well as early closing by 4pm on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve."

BBC Weather

This afternoon will stay rather cloudy but most of the rain will move away, though there will be light rain or drizzle around Northampton and further south. Highs of 13C (55F).

There are more details on the BBC Weather website.

Pete Cooper
BBC Local Live

Elsewhere in Northamptonshire today:

• Family, friends and officers will gather to pay tribute to a war veteran who has died at the age of 97. A number of officers from RAF Marham will be among those honouring the life of William John Linaker from Stanion, reports the Northamptonshire Telegraph, external
• Meanwhile, the Northampton Chronicle & Echo says, external complaints against Northamptonshire Police are up by 9% year-on-year

Pete Cooper
BBC Local Live

A planning application has been submitted for the first phase of converting a disused iron works and several run-down buildings into a "cultural hub".

The creation of an Institute for Creative Leather Technologies and a Leather Conservation Centre for the University of Northampton marks the start of the Vulcan Works project, which be part of a Cultural Quarter in Northampton.

Image source, Northampton Borough Council

The buildings between Guildhall Street, Fetter Street and Angel Street were central to the town's shoe trade.

The Vulcan Works was built in 1875 for engineering company Mobbs & Co and was later turned into a leather warehouse. The building has been largely empty since the late 1970s.

If approved, the work will commence on the £12.4m facility in the new year.