Adam Jinkerson
BBC Local Live

A man who was seen by a schoolgirl performing an indecent act while sat outside a Northampton school earlier today is being hunted by police.

The suspect was seen sitting in a vehicle outside the Malcolm Arnold Academy in Trinity Avenue at about 08:15.

Image source, Google

He is described as being a white, olive-skinned man, aged between 30 and 40.

He had an average build and was clean shaven with short messy hair.

Anyone with information should call Northamptonshire Police.

Andrew Sinclair
BBC Look East political correspondent

UKIP has decided not to field a candidate in North Norfolk where Liberal Democrat Norman Lamb is defending a majority of 4,043.

The party is asking the 8,300 people who voted for them last time to "lend" their votes to the Conservatives in order to unseat Mr Lamb.

UKIP has announced "non-aggression pacts" against certain Brexit-supporting Conservatives like Stewart Jackson in Peterborough and Philip Hollobone in Kettering, but this is thought to be the first time it has decided not to stand in order to unseat an anti-Brexit candidate.

A shop owner from Corby has been fined for selling counterfeit vodka following an investigation by trading standards in Northamptonshire.

Balraj Singh Dhaliwal, who runs V & G Food Store in Willowbrook Road in the town, was investigated after a customer complained about a bottle of Chekov vodka bought in April 2016.

On a subsequent visit to the store, trading standards officers found 87 bottles of illegal vodka, most of which were seized from a storeroom in the back of the shop.

Dhaliwal admitted four offences relating to the sale of the illegal vodka at Northampton Magistrates' Court.

Image source, Google

He was fined £800 and ordered to pay £1,250 in court costs, £11.50 compensation to the consumer and a £30 victim surcharge.

David Hedger, manager of Northamptonshire County Council Trading Standards, said: "Counterfeit vodka can be extremely dangerous for consumers – you don't know the strength of what you're drinking or even what it contains.

"There are some key signs to look out for, including poor quality labelling, spelling mistakes and whether the product smells and tastes right."

Trading Standards says consumers who comes across suspected counterfeit goods can contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 04 05 06 or visit their website, external.

We've had one of the driest Aprils on record.... with under half the expected amount of rainfall for the month.

It follows one of the driest winters for 20 years... BBC East weather forecaster Dan Holley's tweet shows how it compares to average years.

Carroll Weston
BBC Radio Northampton

A children's centre in Rushden is hoping to raise at least £5,000 to safeguard its future.

Rush 2The Den, based on Fitzwilliam Street, was set up three years ago to provide youth clubs for older children and play sessions for parents and babies.

The building is owned by the St John's Ambulance which wants to sell the property, and the children's group says it would like the option of buying it but needs to raise money.

Image source, Google

"We have people coming from outside Rushden to come here because they think we do such a wonderful job," said Andy Davies, who runs youth clubs at the centre. 

"It's very, very important that we should be keeping this building going."

Here are the latest pictures from Northampton town centre where police are investigating a sexual assault.

The St Giles churchyard was closed after an attack at about 20:30 yesterday.

Image source, South Beds News Agency

Image source, South Beds News Agency

Image source, South Beds News Agency

Image source, South Beds News Agency

Image source, South Beds News Agency

Sarah Jenkins
BBC Local Live

Thames Valley Police has arrested another man in connection with the death of Hang Yin Leung in Milton Keynes.

Mrs Leung, 64, died in hospital 11 days after she was attacked during a robbery at her home in Orne Gardens, Bolbeck Park.

A 24-year-old man from Northampton has been arrested today on suspicion of murder and is currently in police custody.

Image source, Leung Family

He is the fourth person to be arrested in connection with the investigation.

A 22-year-old man from Northampton was arrested on suspicion of murder by Thames Valley Police on 30 April and released under investigation.

A man aged 18 from Redhill in Surrey, arrested on suspicion of murder last month, remains on bail.

Another arrested man was released with no further action.

Thames Valley Police is continuing to appeal for information and has asked people to get in touch.

Northamptonshire Police says a churchyard in Northampton town centre was closed after a sexual assault was reported on Monday evening.

In a statement, the force said: "Detectives have launched an investigation following the report of a sexual assault in St Giles Church, Northampton, at around 20:30 yesterday evening."

All entrances to the churchyard were sealed off by police this morning.

Anyone who was in the area at the time is encouraged to contact the police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111.  

Adam Jinkerson
BBC Local Live

Anglian Water says water levels in the east of England are "good" and there will be no need for a hosepipe ban come summer, despite the recent record dry weather.

October to March has been the driest in the UK for more than 20 years and there's been a particular lack of rain in southern and eastern counties of England.

Emma Staples from the company said "there will not be any restrictions" on usage this year.

"Our reservoirs are on average 94% full. That's absolutely ample for this time of year," she said.

The opposition Labour group on Northamptonshire County Council has a new leader.

Bob Scott has been chosen to replace John McGhee, who has decided to stand down from the post.

The Conservatives retained control of the authority at last week's election, although Labour increased its representation from 11 councillors to 12. 

Speaking on BBC Radio Northampton, Mr Scott said "there wouldn't be a great deal of changes", but vowed to develop a team "into a fighting machine that will challenge the administration".  

On Friday, both Mr McGhee (Kingswood) and Mr Scott (Lloyds) were re-elected to their respective wards.

Image source, Northampton Labour Group

A man believed to have been involved in a serious crash on the A605 at Elton in Cambridgeshire, which killed two people and seriously injured another, has been found and arrested, say police.

Image source, Paperpix.uk

The man, 19, from Northampton, has been arrested on two counts of death by dangerous driving and one count of serious injury by dangerous driving and is being treated for serious injuries in hospital.

Some news just reaching us that all entrances to St Giles' churchyard in Northampton have been sealed off by police.

We'll bring you more when we get it.

Kate Kinsella
BBC Weather

Another cloudy day but it's not going to feel so cold across the BBC East region.

The keen north/north-easterly breeze has fallen light overnight but you're still going to feel it along the north Norfolk coast. 

Elsewhere there'll be a slightly more mild feel to the day, with highs of about 13C (55F) inland. 

Cloud will slowly disappear overnight, leading to a cold night, with a chance of a slight frost in some rural spots, and a much brighter start to Wednesday.

Watch my full forecast here:

Kris Holland
BBC Radio Northampton

Welcome to live updates for Northamptonshire on Tuesday, 9 May.

We'll be here until 18:00 keeping you up-to-date with the latest news, sport, weather and travel as it happens.

It's been a chilly and cloudy start here in Northampton town centre - we'll find out if it's going to stay that way with the latest forecast shortly.

And, as ever, you can get in touch with the team by email, Twitter , externaland Facebook, external.

The "master manipulator" couple subjected children to a decade of sex and drug abuse, including rape.

That's it from us today - thanks for joining us.

Take a look back through today's feed for anything you may have missed.

Stay tuned to the page overnight for any breaking news from around Northamptonshire, but we'll be back again with regular updates at 08:00 tomorrow.

Have a great evening.

Julie Reinger
BBC Look East weather

It will be a largely dry night, with cloud feeding down from the north and the winds easing to a light north to north-easterly.

Under clear skies, temperatures in some spots could fall as low as 3C (37F). A touch of frost can't be ruled out.

It will be a chilly start to Tuesday, which is likely to be a rather cloudy day, but there should be some brightness and sunshine.

Light north to north-easterly winds. Highs of 15C (59F).

BBC Weather has more.

Adam Jinkerson
BBC Local Live

The officer who oversaw the investigation into a sex abuse couple said the longest possible sentence given by the judge was "welcomed".

Nicholas Taylor, 47, and Joan Taylor, 43, were convicted in March of 84 charges including rape and supplying Class A drugs. Taylor was jailed today for life, with minimum term of 18 years, and his wife for 18 years. 

Det Insp Adam Pendlebury, said: "The pain and suffering they caused their victims cannot be underestimated and I hope the knowledge that their abusers will be in prison for many years will give the victims some comfort.

"Neither Nicholas nor Joan have shown any remorse for their actions despite knowing how their actions have impacted on their victims."

Each of the victims, all of whom were abused in the Taylor's home in Briar Hill, Northampton, gave evidence at the trial.

"The Taylors plied their victims with drugs and alcohol before sexually abusing them and that abuse has had a lasting impact on their victims," Mr Pendlebury added.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their support during our investigation and the court process. Coming forward and giving evidence during the trial was incredibly brave and has led to two dangerous individuals being sent to prison for a very long time."

Stuart Bailey
BBC News

The child victims of a Northampton couple have been praised for helping to secure their convictions.

Nicholas Taylor, 47, and Joan Taylor, 43, were convicted in March of 84 charges including rape and supplying Class A drugs.

Their trial heard they targeted 11 children as young as 11 years old between 1996 and 2006.

Emily Cherry (below), from children's charity the NSPCC, said: "Their bravery has stopped further children being abused by this couple and has got justice for them as victims.  

"We can stamp out child sexual abuse but we have to be vigilant to the signs and make sure that anyone who sees the signs reports them. 

"Parents must have those conversations with children about what is acceptable behaviour, backed up with the police and schools for support."

Ben Ando
BBC News

A Northampton couple found guilty of sex and drug abuse against children, including rape, have been jailed.

Image source, Northamptonshire Police

Nicholas Taylor and Joan Taylor carried out 84 offences over a 10-year period inNorthampton between 1996 and 2006, Leicester Crown Court was told.

Taylor was jailed for life, with minimum term of 18 years, while his wife was sentenced to 18 years in prison.

The pair targeted children as young as 11 and supplied them with crack cocaine.

Speaking after the pair were convicted by a jury, Det Insp Adam Pendlebury, from Northamptonshire Police, praised the "extraordinary courage" of the Taylors' 11 victims.

He said: "The Taylors were master manipulators who used crack cocaine to force their victims to engage in sexual activity against their will and their actions have had a devastating impact on their victims' lives."

He described Nicholas Taylor as a "very dangerous, depraved individual" and his co-accused as "a more than willing accomplice".

The investigation into the couple began in 2014 and was the largest of its type in the force's history.