Stuart Bailey
BBC News

Good morning and welcome back to live updates of news, weather, travel and sport for the county.

We'll again be keeping across the murder investigation in Northampton following the death of a 17-year-old boy on Tuesday evening. A 16-year-old boy, two 17-year-old boys and a 19-year-old man are being questioned by police. 

Looking at the weather, it's going to be cloudier than yesterday. A full, weekend forecast is coming up shortly. 

It's looking overcast in Northampton town centre at the moment...

You can get in touch with your stories, pictures, videos and comments today via email, Facebook, external or Twitter, external.

The death of Liam Hunt has been described as "a tragic loss of a young life".

I'm afraid that's it for our rolling news for Northamptonshire today. Thanks for joining us.

We'll be back at 08:00 tomorrow with all you need to know in the county, with the latest news, sport, weather and travel until 18:00.

If you're just joining us, scroll down to see what's been going on in the county today.

Have a great evening, and see you again soon!

Katy Prickett
BBC News

Three more teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of murdering a 17-year-old boy in Northampton, taking the total number of suspects to five.

Police confirmed Liam Hunt died from a stab wound during an attack on St George's Street, at about 17:00 on Tuesday.

Image source, Northamptonshire Police

Ch Insp Lara Alexander-Lloyd (above) said the "isolated" incident was a "tragic loss of a young life".

A 15-year-old boy has been released on bail. A 16-year-old boy, two 17-year-old boys and a 19-year-old man are in custody. 

The police officer of 13 years sent inappropriate photos of himself and and visited her on duty.

Stuart Bailey
BBC News

A Northamptonshire police officer who admitted having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a vulnerable person has been dismissed by the force.

PC Antony Pettinger, a local officer based in Rushden, admitted he formed a relationship with the woman after going to her home in response to a call.

In a professional standards interview, the 35-year-old accepted the relationship was wrong.  

Further allegations were proven relating to sending inappropriate pictures of himself to the woman, visiting her while on duty and accessing confidential information about her without a policing purpose.

In mitigation, Pettinger was described as a "commended officer with a previously unblemished, 13-year front-line career".

On delivering the outcome, Northamptonshire Police chief constable, Simon Edens, said: "You consciously and deliberately crossed the boundary between your role as a police officer and your personal life.

"You breached this standard by pursuing an improper personal relationship, you abused your power and she was vulnerable to that abuse. 

"You presented a huge risk to public confidence in the police."

Helen Burchell
BBC News

This poor fox was badly hurt when he was hit by a car and became trapped underneath it, near March in Cambridgeshire.

Luckily, the driver called Fenland Animal Rescue volunteers to come to the aid of the animal.

Image source, Fenland Animal Rescue

After jacking up the car they released the fox, but it was unable to stand, so they rushed him to vets who took X-rays and scanned him for potential neurological damage.

Image source, Fenland Animal Rescue

"This poor boy was in a terrible situation," Josh Flanagan, the charity's founder, said.

Thankfully, although in need of specialist treatment, there didn't appear to be any permanent damage.

Image source, Fenland Animal Rescue

"Mr Fox" has now been taken to the Rushden-based National Fox Welfare Society in Northamptonshire for a period of intensive care, where he's "doing very well". 

He'll then return to Fenland Animal Rescue, where staff will care for him for up to three months until he is able to be returned to the wild. 

Vets have told them the fox should make a full recovery.

Image source, Fenland Animal Rescue

"It's our belief that every animal deserves a helping hand and our end goal is to get Mr Fox back to the wild," Mr Flanagan said.

Stuart Bailey
BBC News

Dylan Hartley's chances of leading the British and Irish Lions this summer have "gone backwards" with Alun Wyn Jones likely to captain the tourists, according to former Lions skipper Gavin Hastings.

Image source, Getty Images

Hastings is one of three ex-Lions captains, along with Martin Johnson and Brian O'Driscoll, to back Jones for the role against the world champions. 

Jones only became Wales skipper last month but, with Warburton injured, led the Lions in the decisive and victorious third Test against Australia four years ago. 

Hartley (pictured) has led England to 16 straight wins and, despite his poor disciplinary record for Northampton Saints, had been touted for the Lions captaincy prior to the current RBS 6 Nations. 

However, Hartley has been substituted before the hour-mark in both England's 2017 Six Nations matches as he continues a comeback from injury.

Hastings said: "I think Jones is out on his own. Dylan Hartley's gone backwards a wee bit. 

"I think Jones is showing his characteristics as a leader of men.

"He's a guy that's been around the block more than once. No-one else is in the frame." 

Stuart Bailey
BBC News

• The Northampton Chronicle and Echo, external says St George's Road in Northampton has now fully reopened after a 17-year-old boy was assaulted on Tuesday night and later died in hospital.

• In the Northamptonshire Telegraph, external, Kettering General Hospital says it expects to be £25.1m in debt by the end of March.

Stuart Bailey
BBC News

About 580 people work at Tata Steel in Corby and yesterday's agreement on pensions will secure those jobs - at least for the time being.

Steelworkers accepted proposals to move from a final salary pension to a less generous scheme, in return for a major investment plan by the company.

But there are still questions about the long-term future of the steel industry.

Doug Fairbairn, from the Community Union in Corby, says the government needs to step in to help.

"They have to invest the money needed for new blast furnaces to keep steel-making in the UK," he said.

"They've got a massive opportunity now. 

"The government has been saying warm words, that they don't want the industry to fail. But now they need to stand up and be counted."

A government spokeswoman said: "The government remains absolutely clear that the future of steel in the UK needs to be commercially sustainable in a competitive global market.

"We are developing an Industrial Strategy that must build on our strengths and extend excellence into the future.

"We will continue to engage with the sector, as well as with the unions, the devolved nations and other partners to find a long-term viable solution for the industry."

Stuart Bailey
BBC News

What a scorcher! 

Well, not quite. But temperatures are into double figures again and the county's been enjoying some sunshine.

Our BBC Weather Watchers have been busy capturing it...

Stuart Linnell
BBC Radio Northampton

So it's the end of an era at Northampton Saints, as chief executive Allan Robson announces he is to retire at the end of the season.

This morning, on the BBC Radio Northampton breakfast show, I spoke to Allan about his 17 years at Franklin's Gardens...

BBC One

In case you missed it, Cambridgeshire actor Warwick Davis featured on the hit BBC One show Who Do You Think You Are last night. 

The film and TV star owes his big break aged 11 to his paternal grandmother Edith, who heard a radio ad "looking for short people to appear in [Star Wars] Return of the Jedi". 

As he looked back through his family history, he found humanity and humour in some uncomfortable stories. 

One part of his journey saw him travel to Northampton and Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk on the hunt for facts about a musical ancestor.

You can watch the episode on the BBC iPlayer.

Stuart Bailey
BBC News

Northampton Saints' departing chief executive Allan Robson has been looking back at the highs and lows of his 17 years at the club, and what the future holds as he prepares to retire. 

The highs

"Everyone would expect me to say winning the Premiership or the Heineken Cup and, of course, they're highs. 

"But sometimes it's the more mundane, normal things like signing a sponsor that you battle away at and may come out a winner."

The lows

"The lowest of the lows was the run-up to relegation. It wasn't so much the relegation itself but the time running up to it. 

"Things were looking awful. Every defeat was a nail in the coffin until we got relegated. The relegation almost came as a relief."

The future of the club

"Many supporters are unhappy about Friday night and Sunday matches. It's down to the agreements we've entered into with TV. 

"There's a lot of demands on the club and the game that need to be resourced by money and this is becoming more and more challenging."

The future of the game

"It's a growing sport. The audiences are better than they've ever been because the sport is so wonderful. 

"You can look at our game at Bath at the weekend or England v Wales. Those were phenomenal games and it's no wonder people want to watch. 

"But we have to manage and control this game."

Northampton Saints chief executive Allan Robson will retire at the end of the season, after 17 years at the club.

Northampton Saints chief executive Allan Robson says that player wages will "challenge" the club in future seasons.

Stuart Bailey
BBC News

There's been plenty of praise for Allan Robson, who's announced he is leaving Northampton Saints at the end of the season after 17 years.

Lennie Newman, former Saints player and manager, said: "Allan can look back at his time with great satisfaction. 

"He's kept the club in profit for all those 17 years. It's probably a feat never to be equalled. 

"But I think it's good timing for Allan, a bold decision. This has been his most difficult year with a new board and problems on and off the field."

Saints chairman Tony Hewitt said: "Allan has been an excellent chief executive.

"As a club, we have been reliant on generating our own income to grow our operations. 

"Year after year we have grown our turnover and, when you consider that his time as chief executive also included a recession and a relegation a decade ago, this has been a significant achievement." 

Stuart Bailey
BBC News

Northampton Saints' chief executive Allan Robson has announced he is to retire, external at the end of the season.

He arrived at Franklin's Gardens as commercial director 17 years ago before becoming chief executive in 2006.

The club's achievements during that time include winning the 2014 Aviva Premiership title, two European Rugby Challenge Cup titles, an Anglo-Welsh Cup title and reaching finals in major competitions. 

Image source, Northampton Saints

Northampton Saints has also been a successful business during Robson's time in charge, recording profits for 16 successive seasons. It also opened the new £6m Barwell Stand last year. 

The 62-year-old said the time was right to go: "We've all got to retire at some point. Why now? Why not?

"I've been in sport for 30 years but I can't go on forever and the end of the season is as good a time as any. 

"I am privileged to have had the career that I have had, and to have worked at a club as special as the Saints." 

Chairman Tony Hewitt said it had begun the process of finding a new chief executive. 

Elizabeth Rizzini
BBC Look East weather

There's plenty of cloud around this morning, with a few mist patches, but all of this will lift and clear, and we'll get some sunshine coming through this afternoon.

Feeling quite pleasant, with a slight chance of some light showers, but you'll be unlucky to catch one.

Top temperature: 11C (52F). 

Get the full forecast where you live, from BBC Weather.

Stuart Bailey
BBC News

It’s Thursday and we’re back with live news, sport, weather and travel updates for Northamptonshire between now and 18:00.

A murder inquiry is continuing in Northampton after the death of a 17-year-old boy on Tuesday night. We'll bring you any updates to this story. 

As for the weather, it should be a bright day with some sunshine and temperatures into double figures again. We’ll have a full forecast shortly.