Craig Lewis
BBC News

The trial of a former police and crime commissioner (PCC) accused of breaking data protection laws focuses on whether he used his powers for an "improper political purpose", a court has heard.

Adam Simmonds, 40, denies recklessly passing on details of a fraud probe involving Wellingborough MP Peter Bone.

Summing up, Mr Justice Green told the jury at Southwark Crown Court that the case revolved around the "proper confines" of a PCC's power.

The judge said the prosecution's case was that Mr Simmonds had "wrongly conflated" his role as PCC with his political role, that he had found it "difficult" to distinguish the divide between the two positions and that he had disclosed the information to help the Conservative party.

Mr Justice Green summed up the defence case by saying that everything Mr Simmonds had done was "done in good faith".

He told the court the former PCC's defence barrister Mark Harries said Mr Simmonds had been "deeply concerned" about delays in a decision as to whether Mr Bone should be prosecuted or not.

"The longer the investigation went on the greater the risk the media would become interested," the judge said.

Earlier in the case, the court heard Mr Simmonds, of Northcote Road in Leicester, had conversations with Northamptonshire MPs Michael Ellis and Christopher Heaton-Harris about an investigation into fellow Conservative Mr Bone.

Mr Simmonds had also spoken to Conservative politicians Barry Graves, Paul Bell and David Mackintosh about the case between November 2013 and May 2014.

The investigation into Mr Bone was dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service in 2014.

The case continues.

BBC Radio Northampton

BBC Radio Northampton's Helen Blaby has taken her programme out to Irchester Country Park.

It's to celebrate Love Parks, external week.

She'll be finding out about the history of the park, who uses it, and what goes on there.

So, if you're in the area, or if you use the park regularly, then pop down and see her. You'll find Helen and the team outside the visitor centre and cafe.

You can also listen live here until 15:00.

The chief executive of Northampton Borough Council, David Kennedy, has announced he is resigning from the role.

Mr Kennedy, who was appointed in November 2007, will leave the council at the end of July.

In a statement, he said: "I have been proud to serve the public of Northampton for the last decade.

"I have concluded that the time is right for someone else to lead the council's excellent and committed staff.

"I want to thank all those who have worked with me and supported me since 2007 and wish them well in the future."

In June, Mr Kennedy was one of two senior council officers to be questioned by police as part of an investigation into a £10m loan to Northampton Town Football Club that was never fully repaid.

David Kennedy, the chief executive of Northampton Borough Council, has resigned.

More to follow...

The Friends of Northampton General Hospital, which provides guides and a passenger transport buggy service at the NHS hospital, is to close after 28 years.

It's after a row over car parking, with the hospital saying volunteers not under its direct control, such as the friends group, will now have to pay to park there or have their parking reimbursed by a third party.

At a meeting, members of the friends group, which has around 70 members, were asked if they wanted to continue, with many saying they didn't.

"We have decided we have no other choice than to terminate our activities at the hospital," the group's chairman, Tony Croft, told BBC Radio Northampton.

"Seventeen of our volunteers resigned over the parking charges. We thought we would be unable to offer a full service [going forward]."

The service will cease operations on 31 August, and will use financial reserves to help volunteers pay for parking while it works to deliver a handover of its services to the hospital.

Car parking at the hospital costs £3.20 for up the three hours, £5.20 for between three and six hours and £10.00 for any length period over six hours, within the same day.

"People are very complimentary about the services," added Mr. Croft, who has worked at the hospital for nine years.

"I really will miss it, but to pay £5.20 - I just don't think it is acceptable."

Adam Jinkerson
BBC Local Live

Police have revealed the name of a lorry driver who was killed in a collision on the A14 last Wednesday.

Dave Steven Welsh, 51, of Occupation Road, Corby in Northamptonshire, was travelling east at Brampton Hut near Huntingdon when he was involved in a collision with a Volkswagen van and another lorry at about 10:45.

The driver of the second lorry, a 59-year-old man, from Thornton-Cleveleys near Blackpool, suffered serious but not life-threatening injuries.

The driver of the van, a 47-year-old man from the Kimbolton area, suffered slight injuries.

The Met Office warns of thundery showers pushing north from 16:00 through this evening.

There's a chance of localised flooding. Lightning may also be a hazard, with possible disruption to power supplies.

Craig Lewis
BBC News

A judge has begun his summing-up in the case of former Northamptonshire police and crime commissioner, Adam Simmonds.

Mr Simmonds, 40, denies recklessly passing on details of a fraud probe involving Wellingborough MP Peter Bone, which was subsequently dropped.

Mr Justice Green is currently taking the jury of nine men and three women at Southwark Crown Court through legal directions.

Northampton Town's pre-season preparations are well under way.

Justin Edinburgh's side play their latest game ahead of the new League One season this evening.

The Cobblers - who spent last week training in Spain - are back in the UK for a match away at Southern League Premier Division side Frome Town.

Town have won both of their pre-season fixtures so far, with an 8-2 win at Sileby Rangers on 8 July followed by a 4-1 victory against a Birmingham City Development Squad in Spain last Friday.

Kate Kinsella
BBC Weather

It will be dry and very warm across the BBC East region today, but scattered thunderstorms are expected tonight.

Bright or sunny spells will accompany a breeze that will gradually strengthen through the day.

It will feel very warm in most places away from the coast and it will be increasingly humid in the afternoon.

Heavy rain and thunderstorms will spread north through the evening and overnight.

Maximum temperature: 25C (77F)

You can get more localilsed details from where you are at BBC Weather.

Kris Holland
BBC Radio Northampton

Welcome to live updates for Northamptonshire on Tuesday, 18 July.

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

As ever, don't forget that you can get in touch with the team by email, Twitter, external and Facebook, external.

Adam Jinkerson
BBC Local Live

It's goodbye I'm afraid - we've come to the end of Monday's live updates.

Feel free to scroll down and catch up on any stories you may have missed from the day. Also, remember to check back on this page for any breaking news happening overnight.

We'll be back with more news, sport, weather and travel for the county tomorrow from 08:00.

Have a good evening.

Julie Reinger
BBC Look East weather

A dry night with clear spells and some patchy mist and fog across the BBC East region.

It'll be fairly humid, especially in the west, with light winds.

Minimum temperature: 13C (56F)

Tuesday will be another very warm day with spells of sunshine, but a yellow warning for heavy rain is in place for the evening and night through into Wednesday.

Some parts are likely to see some heavy, thundery downpours and possibly some localised flooding.

Hail and frequent lightning could also lead to disruption to power networks.

Maximum temperature: 26C (79F)

More details from BBC Weather.

Adam Jinkerson
BBC Local Live

Here's a quick look at what some of the local papers are reporting today...

• The Northampton Chronicle and Echo, external has the answer to the question, "what was the large plane flying over Northampton today?"
• In the Northamptonshire Telegraph, external there's more on a hit-and-run incident in Corby last week, in which a 10-year-old girl suffered a minor injury while riding her bike.
• The Daventry Express, external has some great pictures of the Welton Soapbox Derby, in which 2,500 people lined the village's streets.

Stowmarket's Josh Webster finished fifth at this weekend's Porsche Supercup at Silverstone.

The 23-year-old is a former Porsche Carrera Cup champion and was disappointed with how his car performed on the track.

He said: "Starting third with high hopes of being on the podium and even challenging for the win, but it’s absolutely not possible today."

BBC Weather

After a fairly cool start to Monday, there's now plenty of strong sunshine covering the county.

With light winds it will feel warm, although it shouldn't be as humid as over the weekend and some patchy cloud will build at times.

The high: 24C (75F).

For more, go to BBC Weather.

Five-year-old Kyran Duff has been given an award after calling 999 when his mum lost consciousness.

The subject matter of the Sir Edwin Landseer portrait is a matter of dispute.

Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton has become only the second Briton after Jim Clark to win five times at the British Grand Prix. Here is the story of Clark's final win at Silverstone in 1967, 50 years on.

Adrenaline was in no short supply on the track at Silverstone for the British Grand Prix this weekend, but there was a thrilling display before Sunday's race from the RAF's Red Arrows aerobatic team.

Here are some of the best pictures from their routine beneath leaden skies over the Northamptonshire circuit...

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

England and Harlequins rugby player Mike Brown was on the grid as the Red Arrows flew overhead, and shot this footage...