Earlier we told you how a Northampton pub was facing a battle to retain its late-night licence after a man was stabbed there on 1 April and left needing surgery.

The victim was stabbed twice, once in the chest and once in the back, which meant he sustained a punctured lung and required surgery, including a chest drain.

A 22-year-old man from Northampton has been charged with GBH and he's awaiting trial later this year.

Between 30 September and 5 February, there were 19 reported thefts or acts of violence at The Bantam - which is open on Friday and Saturday nights until 06:00 the following morning.

Police want the Licensing Sub-Comittee, external on Northampton Borough Council to limit the pub closing time to no later than 03:00, have a new CCTV system installed and at least three bouncers on the door at peak times.

The committee will look at the licence on Tuesday.

A pleasant afternoon of sunshine continues, and it'll stay mainly dry with just a few isolated showers.

Highs of 16C (62F).

BBC Weather has more detailed local forecasts for where you are.

Yesterday we told you about a wily raccoon that went on something of a rampage around a family's home after finding its way inside through a catflap.

Marek Chapanionek initially thought the intruder was a cat, but soon realised the unusual visitor was a more exotic species - and he's just sent us a few more pictures...

Image source, Marek Chapanionek

Image source, Marek Chapanionek

Image source, Marek Chapanionek

The critter stole a cereal bar from his wife's handbag before running upstairs and opening a chest of drawers.

He eventually trapped the animal in a hallway, where it took a nap before the RSPCA arrived in the morning.

And in case you missed it yesterday, you can read more here.

With the 2017 county season here, keep up to date with the latest signings, departures and rumours ahead of next season.

Four kittens spent three days in a box in the back of a lorry as it travelled across Europe.

The fifth year of the Rockingham International Horse Trials, external takes place from the 19-21 May.

And as you can see, our team has been down for a bit of a sneak peek...

Kris Holland
BBC Radio Northampton

A lorry driver travelling from Poland to the UK had a shock when he found four kittens hitching a ride in the back of his lorry..

The kittens, who are believed to be just two weeks old, travelled over 1,000 miles through Poland, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, France before being found at the truck's destination in Northampton yesterday.

Following their European odyssey, the animals - who are being cared for by the Northamptonshire branch of the RSPCA - have been named Agnetha, Björn, Benny and Anni-Frid after pop legends ABBA.

Image source, RSPCA

“These kittens are lucky to be alive having travelled so far with no food in the back of a cold lorry," said RSPCA Northamptonshire's animal welfare manager Dawn Smith.

"Our biggest concern right now is ensuring they pull through as - at only two weeks old - they’re very young to be away from their mum."

The Northamptonshire branch say they will hand-rear the kittens over the next seven weeks or until they are ready for adoption.

The RSPCA said the no mother had been found with the kittens.

Martin Heath
BBC Radio Northampton

A group of travellers have been told to leave The Inlands in Daventry by today.

It's the third time they have been asked to move on in little over a week, after the small group of caravans left The Hollows - a small park near the town centre - last week, before moving on to the Eastern Way playing fields.

Piles of rubbish and empty gas cylinders have been left at each site.

Wooden stumps along the perimeter of The Inlands have been removed and muddy wheel tracks are visible.

It's believed the travellers came to Daventry two and a half weeks ago to attend a wedding, which I'm told took place last night.

They've been given notice to leave by the County Traveller Unit within 24 hours. If they don't, a court eviction order could follow.

A man was stabbed and left needing surgery" following an alleged attack at a Northampton pub, which is facing a review of its late-night licence, say police.

The Bantam - which is open on Friday and Saturday nights until 06:00 the following morning - has a history of trouble.

And in an application to Northampton Borough Council, PC Chris Stevens states: “The most recent incident that has caused this review to be triggered was a stabbing which took place on 1 April, 2017 at about 05:40.

“In the lead-up to the incident, the victim reported that the group involved were inside and had caused five to six fights throughout the course of the night.

"The victim was stabbed twice, once in the chest and once in the back, this has led to him sustaining a punctured lung and needing surgery, including a chest drain.”

The incident follows the report of 19 thefts or acts of violence at the premises between 30 September and 5 February.

Police want the Licensing Sub-Comittee, external on Northampton Borough Council to make the pub close no later than 03:00, have a new CCTV system installed and at least three bouncers on the door at peak times when they meet to review The Bantam's licence on Tuesday.

Responding to an action plan, external outlined by PC Stevens on 21 February, Ciaran Shanahan of the Trust Inns - premises licence holders of The Bantam - noted:

"With regards to incident reporting, the majority of incidents have been recorded in our register - ‘the majority’ obviously not being good enough as all incidents should be recorded.

"Also it is agreed that although the main basics had been inputted, the amount of detail in the reports needed to be improved upon."

Image source, Reuters

Wellingborough-based wholesaler Booker, external, which is being bought by Tesco for £3.7bn, has reported a 15% rise in annual profit to £174m for the year to 24 March, following higher sales for its catering and retail supply businesses.

The group supplies the Budgens, Londis, Happy Shopper and Premier convenience stores, as well as restaurant chains such as Wagamama and Carluccio's, and also operates the cash-and-carry business Makro.

Booker says it is "continuing to assist the UK competition authorities in their ongoing consideration of the merger", which is expected to complete in late this year or early 2018 subject to shareholder approval.

Police have asked for the late-night licence of a Northampton pub to be reviewed.

Image source, Google

They say The Bantam on Abington Square in the town centre - which is open on Friday and Saturday nights until 06:00 the following mornings - has a history of trouble.

Those complaints include reports of 19 thefts or acts of violence between October and February, and someone was allegedly stabbed there on 1 April.

Officers want the pub to close no later than 03:00, a new CCTV system installed and a minimum of three bouncers on the door at peak times.

The Licensing Sub-Committee, external on Northampton Borough Council will meet to review the licence on Tuesday, 23 May.

Tracey Topping is named "greatest loser" after cutting her weight from 30 stone.

Sara Thornton
BBC Weather

A much better day than yesterday, although cloud and showers are lingering in the east.

Sunnier spells inland, with temperatures reaching a high of 18C (64F).

It's downhill overnight with a band of rain pushing in from the south, heavy at times.

BBC Weather has a local forecast for where you live.

Kris Holland
BBC Radio Northampton

Welcome to live updates for Northamptonshire on Thursday, 18 May.

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

After Wednesday's heavy downpour, there's some early sunshine about in Northampton town centre; we'll take a look at the regional forecast shortly.

And remember that you can get in touch with the team by email, Twitter, external and Facebook, external.

An inquest ruled scrap metal dealer David Brickwood was 'unlawfully killed' as he lay in bed.

Stuart Bailey
BBC News

That's the end of our Northamptonshire Local Live news feed for another day.

You can, of course, scroll back to read anything you might have missed.

Any breaking stories will appear here overnight. Otherwise, we'll be back with regular news, sport, weather and travel updates tomorrow morning from 08:00.

Have a great evening and try to stay dry out there!

Scrap metal dealer David Brickwood was ambushed and killed as he lay in bed.

BBC Weather

Cloudy with outbreaks of rain, some heavy and thundery overnight.

Image source, BBC Weather

The possibility of 15mm to 25mm of rain with the chance of more for some areas.

Lows of 9C, that's 48F.

Thursday will be mainly dry with sunny spells and feeling fresher.

Highs of 18C (64F).

BBC Weather has more local forecasts.

Helen Burchell
BBC News

We reported earlier about a raccoon which caused chaos in a Northampton family's home after getting in through a cat flap.

It's now being looked after by the RSPCA.

Raccoons are not native to the UK and the animal charity has warned people not to keep them as pets.

Image source, RSPCA

A spokeswoman said: "When raccoons are found stray, it is usually because they have been kept as a pet and have either escaped or been abandoned deliberately.

"They are wild animals and we would strongly discourage people from buying or keeping one as a pet.

"It is illegal to release or allow a raccoon to escape because, if they escape or are released into the wild, they are considered a risk to our own wildlife and environment."

Craig Lewis
BBC News

An inquest today heard that David Brickwood, who was murdered in his own home, suffered 35 separate injuries including stab wounds.

Assistant Coroner Hassan Shah said the 74-year-old had been "the victim of an unprovoked attack" while in bed and gave a conclusion of "unlawful killing".

Police were called to Lindsay Avenue, Abington in the early hours of 26 September 2015 by a man "screaming for help".

The grandfather and father-of-three was taken to Northampton Hospital, but died soon afterwards.

Image source, Brickwood family

Police are still investigating Mr Brickwood's murder.

Speaking after the Inquest, Det Ch Insp Louise Hemingway, said: "I can't stress enough the importance of people coming forward - but people with evidence.

"There has been a lot of rumour and a lot of speculation. Somebody out there must know what happened."

Mr Brickwood's son, Dale, said the family had suffered "20 months of hell".

"It's damaged every single one of us," he said.