Kris Holland
BBC Radio Northampton

That's all we have time for on this week's Northamptonshire Local Live - thanks for being with us.

If you're just joining us, here's a look back at some of the big stories from Friday, 30 June.

• Harrison Ballantyne: Tribute to boy, 11, killed at rail depot
• Batch of Burton Latimer made Weetabix held by New Zealand customs
• World number 855 Alex Ward to face fellow Briton at Wimbledon

We'll be back at 08:00 on Monday.

Have a good weekend.

A site manager has been jailed for four years after a grounds worker died when a trench wall collapsed on top of him.

Shane Wilkinson (pictured), 33, of Crowland, Lincolnshire, died on 4 September 2014 at a building site in Collyweston, Northamptonshire.

Image source, Northamptonshire Police

Andrew Winterton, 52, of High Street, Collyweston, was convicted of gross negligence manslaughter at Northampton Crown Court.

Trench digger driver Dean Wortley, 48, of Market Deeping, was jailed for 12 months for health and safety breaches.

Northamptonshire Police said it was the first case of corporate manslaughter successfully tried in the county, after a joint investigation with the Health and Safety Executive.

The court heard Mr Wilkinson was standing next to a deep trench, which had been incorrectly excavated by Wortley.

When the unsecured trench wall collapsed, the father-of-five was completely buried in the rubble and he died at the site.

You can hear more from the case on BBC Look East tonight, at 18:30 on BBC One.

Here's a look at what else is making the news around Northamptonshire on Friday:

• The Daventry Express, external reports that lead has been stolen from the roof of St Augustine's Catholic Church in the town.
• Meanwhile, the Northamptonshire Telegraph, external says concerns have been raised about the upkeep of play areas on an estate in Higham Ferrers.
• And the Northampton Chronicle and Echo, external has news of a crackdown on people who have been parking for free all day in the car park next to Radlands skate park.

Dan Holley
BBC Look East weather

Cloudy with outbreaks of showery rain but becoming drier later with a few clear intervals.

Temperatures will only fall to 12C (54F) in a strengthening northwesterly wind but Saturday may start cloudy.

Any patchy rain will soon clear to leave a mostly dry day with sunny spells and areas of cloud but just the small chance of an isolated light shower.

Maximum Temperature 23C (73F).

More details from BBC Weather.

David Keller
BBC News

There's long delays on the A1 near Wittering after a male pedestrian was struck by a vehicle.

Police said he was hit at about 15:15 and the northbound carriageway has been closed.

The air ambulance has been called to the scene.

There's no information yet as to when the road will re-open, but we'll try and find out more when we can.

Alex Pope
BBC Local Live

A Northampton man who used to run wrestling events in Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard and Milton Keynes, has been jailed after grooming a 12-year-old fan.

Steven Biggs, 40, of Northumbria Gardens, Northampton, used to run Total Action Wrestling.

He was told by a judge at Luton Crown Court he had been "manipulative and devious" towards the girl, who was infatuated with him and two other wrestlers.

Biggs pleaded not guilty to attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming and engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.

He was found guilty by a jury on Thursday and jailed for 18 months today. He was also given a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, stating he can't have unsupervised contact with girls aged under 16.

The mother of the girl, who's now 14, said in a statement her daughter's childhood had been stolen and irreparable damage had been done to her.

Police say a 46-year-old pedestrian seriously injured in a collision in Northampton has died in hospital.

The crash happened just before 00:45 on Bedford Road, close to the Workbridge Centre entrance, on Wednesday.

Police said he was struck by a black Vauxhall Vectra.

Image source, Google

Police are asking for anyone with information or who witnessed the crash to contact them.

As we told you yesterday, George North's contribution to the British and Irish Lions Tour of New Zealand is over, after the Northampton Saints wing suffered a suspected hamstring injury.

The Welshman picked up the injury in Tuesday's 31-31 draw with the Hurricanes in Wellington.

North, 25, has taken to Instagram, external to give his reaction to the injury, saying: "Obviously my hamstrings don't agree with NZ. Gutted is an understatement."

"Thanks for all the support and messages. I'm backing the boys 100% tomorrow so let's all get behind them #allforone, external."

He will fly back to the UK after tomorrow's second Test against the All Blacks, which kicks-off at 08:35 BST.

North's Northampton Saints team-mate, lock Courtney Lawes, is among the replacements for the Lions in the game which they must win to keep the series alive - having lost the first Test last weekend.

It's 35 years to the day since BBC Radio Northampton was officially opened by the Duke of Gloucester.

Here's a look back at some archive footage from the day...

It's been a rather cloudy day so far, and it looks like it'll stay that way this afternoon.

It'll be mainly dry for many, although a few showers are likely later on.

Highs of 18C (64F).

BBC Weather has more details.

News from the draw for the men's singles at Wimbledon, which starts on Monday.

Northampton's Alex Ward, 27, who came through qualifying, will play 22-year-old compatriot Kyle Edmund - the world number 48.

It is only the second time he has reached the tournament, having been given a wildcard (tournament entry awarded to a player at the discretion of organisers) for the 2016 edition - though he was eliminated in the first round by 11th seed David Goffin.

The 11-year-old's family said they would struggle to live without the "character who lit up a room".

With the return of live cricket to the BBC TV in 21 years, why not find out how YOU can get involved with game.

We've got all you need to know with our Get Inspired guide or, if you have/know any five- to eight-year-olds who would like to try the game then the All Stars Cricket might be for them.

Just ask England bowler Stuart Broad.....

Meanwhile, the school attended by Harrison Ballantyne says it is in "mourning" after his death.

The 11-year-old died on a railway line close to the Daventry International Railway Freight Terminal on Tuesday.

In a short statement on its website,, external Guilsborough Academy said: "As a school we are mourning the very sad loss of one of our eleven-year-old students, Harrison Ballantyne.

"We would like to express our sincere condolences to Harrison's parents, brother, wider family and friends.

"At the front of our school we have a reflection area for floral tributes; we will also be opening a book of condolence where students and staff can express their thoughts about and memories of Harrison."

Principal, Julie Swales, added: "Harrison was always an enthusiastic student, a member of the school football team and was highly respected by all who knew him. Harrison was a natural leader in and out of class; he will be greatly missed by all of us."

The parents of a boy who was electrocuted at a rail depot near Daventry have commented publicly for the first time.

Harrison Ballantyne, who was 11 years old and from Crick, died after an incident near a railway bridge off a bridle-path on Tuesday evening.

Image source, British Transport Police

In a statement issued by British Transport Police, Harrison's parents, who are not named, said: "Harrison was our beautiful son. In less than 12 years he filled our lives with happiness. His lively character lit up the room."

They also described him as a "talented sportsman" and "outgoing boy", who "loved to be active and outside exploring, climbing and getting muddy".

Family liaison officers continue to support Harrison's family and enquiries into the circumstances surrounding his death continue, although they are not being treated as suspicious.

The statement added: "His innocence and inquisitive nature led him to the railway track, stealing him from this world so soon after he arrived. We will struggle to live without him."

A fundraising page set-up to raise money for a memorial to the boy has so far attracted donations totalling almost £5,000.

A consignment of Burton Latimer's famous breakfast cereal Weetabix has reportedly been impounded by New Zealand customs officials, after complaints it could confuse customers.

The 300 boxes had been ordered by a specialist shop in Christchurch, "A Little Bit of Britain".

But food giant Sanitarium, which owns rival brand Weet-bix, has objected to it being sold.

The shop's owner has been told the cereal will only be released if a sticker is put over the Weetabix label.

• Read more: UK cereal held by New Zealand customs

Alex Winter
BBC Radio Northampton sport

What drama last night at Wantage Road.

Leicestershire were chasing a mighty 394 to beat Northamptonshire in their day-night County Championship match, and had reached 299-5 before Northants struck with the second new ball to come back into the game.

But with only two runs needed by the visitors, Rory Kleinveldt forced a leading edge from Mathew Pillans - who had scored a fine 56 - and Leicester old-boy Josh Cobb took a winning catch.

"I thought it was slipping away," said Northants' head coach David Ripley.

"The missed chances were adding up. It was looking like it was just going to be one of those things."

It's five wins now for Northants in the County Championship, but in what is a highly competitive season they are only fourth in the table, and face a huge game at third-placed Kent next week.

The government is being urged to invest millions of pounds to upgrade Kettering General Hospital.

The town's Conservative MP, Philip Hollobone, told the Commons the area was growing and an older population meant a cash injection was needed.

"The idea is this," said Mr Hollobone. "To have on one site, at Kettering General Hospital, a one-stop shop for GP services and out-of-hours care, an on-site pharmacy, a minor injuries unit, facilities for social services and mental health care, access to community care services for the frail elderly, and a replacement for the A&E department.

"Those services in a one-stop shop urgent care hub on site would enable the rapid assessment, diagnosis and treatment by appropriate health and social care professionals."

Mr Hollobone said the plans would cost between £20m to £30m.

"This is an example of best practice across the NHS," he added. "And it is what we would like to see introduced at Kettering to relieve pressure on clinicians in the A&E department."

Health Minister Philip Dunne said a formal bid for a centre was likely to be made next year.

Northampton's Alex Ward will find out his first round opponent at Wimbledon - which starts on Monday - when the draw for the tournament is made later this morning.

The 27-year-old beat Russia's Teymuraz Gabashvili in the third and final round of qualifying yesterday and will now compete alongside the likes of Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer. The draw starts at 10:00.

Ward will now hope to go one better than last year, when he lost to Belgian David Goffin in the first round.

"It just feels amazing, I'm still struggling to get my head around it," said Ward, who slipped down the rankings from 242 last year after having six months off with a wrist injury.

"It will mean everything [to return to Wimbledon], especially having qualified. I feel like I really deserve my place there."

Reaching the first-round proper guarantees him at least £35,000 in prize money.

"That's a big sum of money," he said.

"I haven't got a coach at the moment, so I can invest in a coach and have better preparation for matches."

Northampton's Alex Ward - ranked 855 in the world - will play in the men's singles tournament at Wimbledon, after coming through qualifying on Thursday.

Ward, 27, beat Russia's world number 176 Teymuraz Gabashvili 6-7 (3-7) 6-4 7-6 (8-6) 6-1 in the third and final round of qualifying in Roehampton.

Image source, Getty Images

Ward, who studied at Northampton School for Boys, was given a wildcard (tournament entry awarded to a player at the discretion of organisers) to play in qualifying and had lost his previous seven matches before this week.

It's only the second time he has reached the tournament, having been given a wildcard for the 2016 edition - though he was eliminated in the first round by 11th seed David Goffin.