Nic Rigby
BBC News

Our live updates have now come to an end for another week.

You can scroll down to catch up with any stories you might have missed.

We'll be back with more news, sport, weather and travel updates at 08:00 on Monday.

Have a great weekend.

BBC Northampton

BBC Northampton looks at the new-look Cobblers Northampton Town team:

Julie Reinger
BBC Look East weather

The last of any showers dying away to leave a dry night across the BBC East region with clear spells and mainly light west to north-westerly winds.

Temperatures for many of us staying in double figures, but some spots could fall to around 9C (48F).

Apart from a few light showers, Saturday should begin largely fine and dry with some sunshine but eventually heavier showers will move west to east and some of these could produce hail and thunder.

The winds could become quite blustery for a time with isolated gusts of 40mph. Top temperatures around 21C (70F).

Sunday should be fine and dry with sunny spells. Cloud is expected to eventually thicken from the west and temperatures again climbing to around 21C (70F).

Image source, .

For a more detailed forecast for where you are, visit BBC Weather.

Caroline Densley
BBC Radio Northampton sport

It's been a rather busy summer at Sixfields - there's been investment from Chinese firm 5U Sport - the team headed to Spain for a weeks training and twelve new players arrived.

Image source, Getty Images

The Cobblers face Shrewsbury in their opening game of the League One season - the last time the two teams played each other was back in April. Of the match day squad that day, only half the players still remain on the books at Northampton Town.

I feel there's some real intent for progression this season.

Manager Justin Edinburgh has brought in Regan Poole, the teenage defender from Manchester United on loan; Ash Taylor, who has so far impressed in central defence, he's ex-Aberdeen; and most recently striker Chris Long, who has played for England at every age group from under 16s through to under 20s.

There's still much discussion around the need for a goalkeeper to challenge David Cornell after the departure of Adam Smith to Bristol Rovers.

The Cobblers have been linked to Newcastle United's Freddie Woodman - Edinburgh says he's got a couple of targets in mind -- but he's going to wait until they get the right person.

I'm going to go for a top ten finish this season -- I think that'll be the progression the club deserves.

We'll be at every Cobblers match home and away this season, but commentary is restricted to your radio as the BBC does not have the rights to webstream matches.

There's also the return of Thursday Night Football from 18:00 on BBC Radio Northampton.

BBC Sport

Northamptonshire wicket keeper David Murphy has made the decision to retire from professional cricket.

The 28-year-old is to leave Wantage Road at the end of the season in order to pursue a career outside the game.

Image source, Getty Images

Murphy joined the Northamptonshire Academy in 2007 after representing Hertfordshire at age-group level.

He graduated to the county’s first team in 2009 – whilst still studying at Loughborough University.

"After some careful consideration, I have decided that the 2017 season will be my last as a professional cricketer," he said.

"Although I still feel I have something to offer Northamptonshire as a player, I have received an extremely attractive proposal to work in law in London beginning in 2018."

Image source, Getty Images

Willy Gilder
BBC Radio Northampton

Northamptonshire County Council has backed down from its decision to change the opening hours of the County Record Office.

Some 3,000 people had signed a petition against the changes, which had included the suggestion that people should pay a fee of £31.50 to access the archives out-of-hours.

Image source, Google

The record office, at Wootton Hall Park, Northampton, is where all the archives for the county are kept.

Historians and family history researchers were furious about the restriction in opening hours that was due to come into force on 21 August - from four days a week to three mornings.

They were dismayed at the idea of having to pay the new hourly fee for a service that is currently provided free of charge.

Now the council has said it will continue with the existing opening hours of three days a week - but that it will review this before setting next year's budget.

It has also promised to consult on any future changes.

Craig Lewis
BBC News

We reported earlier that Rob McKellar has announced he is stepping down as Conservative group leader at Corby council to take up a new job at a property law firm.

He has served as the elected council member for Weldon, Gretton and Priors Hall since 2011, and has led the opposition Conservative group for the past two years.

He said: "My new professional role will be an incredibly demanding one requiring an enormous amount of focus and commitment.

"Something will have to give and it is only right and proper that I take a step back from my political duties rather than sacrificing the service that I give to my constituents.

"I have massively enjoyed my time spent as Conservative group leader and I am incredibly proud of the group's record on shaping the direction of Corby and its local authority."

Craig Lewis
BBC News

The Conservative leader on Corby Borough Council has announced he is to resign.

Rob McKellar has been the opposition leader in Corby for the past two years, but has revealed he will be stepping down in November after accepting a new job at a property law firm.

Image source, Google

Mr McKellar will continue to serve as councillor for Weldon, Gretton and Priors Hall - a role he has held since 2011.

Corby Conservatives will hold a leadership election during September, but Mr McKellar's deputy David Sims has already ruled himself out of the running.

A community group, which has concerns over a proposed new bypass to the north and west of Northampton, say the plans are illogical.

More than 500 people have contributed to a consultation, external asking for views on two proposed routes for the northern orbital road, which ends today.

Image source, Google/Northamptonshire County Council

The new road would take traffic from Moulton on the A43 around the edge of Northampton, and join up with Harlestone Road.

Some 10,000 new homes are to be built at sites such as Dallington Grange, Buckton Fields and Northampton North and developers are being asked to contribute to the building of new roads.

The first stage would cost £32m, but it's not known what the cost of the complete scheme will be.

Some local residents have come together to campaign against the proposals.

Brenda Ludlow, who farms between Boughton, Pitsford and Moulton, said: "It won't ease the congestion. If they build the houses as well, the congestion's going to remain and then they'll push on for another bypass and it'll go on and on."

Charlotte Mackaness, from Boughton, said: "It's lunacy to build a road to ease congestion and pay for it by building more housing.

"The road is going to have to be elevated over floodplain and across this steep valley - it's going to cost so much money and they're gong to have to build so many houses in order to get the developer contributions."

A Northamptonshire County Council spokesman said: "These two routes are enormously important not just for Northampton but for the county as a whole as they will help unlock housing and economic growth.

"With the county and Northampton in particular continuing to grow rapidly it is important to get the infrastructure in place and this scheme will be funded by central government and developer contributions, which is how the vast majority of major infrastructure projects are funded.

"Further to that, Kingsthorpe is already very congested with existing traffic levels and these roads will alleviate a great deal of pressure there."

Elizabeth Rizzini
BBC Look East weather

It'll be a largely fine day across the BBC East region, with some sunny spells, especially at first.

However some cloud is expected to bubble up through the day, and whilst this could bring one or two light showers, most places should stay day.

Here's my full forecast:

Keep up-to-date with the latest weather where you are with BBC Weather.

Adam Jinkerson
BBC Local Live

Welcome to live updates for Northamptonshire on Friday, 4 August.

We'll be here until 18:00 with the latest news, sport, weather and travel updates from around the county.

Coming up first, a full forecast for the day.

You can get in touch by email, Twitter, external and Facebook, external.

Derbyshire move to the top of the T20 Blast North Group as they claim a five-wicket win against Yorkshire at Headingley.

Kris Holland
BBC News

That's the end of our live updates for Northamptonshire - scroll down through the feed to look at today's stories.

Don't forget that you can follow live coverage of Northamptonshire Steelbacks' T20 Blast match with Lancashire here. Play begins at 18:30.

We'll be back at 08:00 on Friday - enjoy your evening.

Dan Holley
BBC Look East weather

Mostly dry tonight across the BBC East region, but breezy with a mixture of clear spells and occasional cloud, perhaps bringing an isolated shower.

Staying mild with temperatures only dropping to 13C (55F).

Friday will be quite breezy, but much of the day will be dry with sunny spells and occasional cloud and just the small risk of a shower. Feeling warm in the sun with temperatures peaking at 23C (73F).

Visit BBC Weather for a more detailed forecast where you are.

Nic Rigby
BBC News

Some 3,000 people have signed a petition criticising changes to opening hours at the Northamptonshire County Record Office, which is based at Wootton Hall Park, Northampton.

The office is currently open for four days, free of charge.

But from 21 August the record office will be open for just three mornings a week, and a Saturday morning once a month.

Image source, Google

People wanting access outside of these times will be charged an hourly fee of £31.50.

Graham Band, a military historian, said the plans were "absolutely bonkers".

He added: "If people are having to come here to follow up on their family history, they will have to cough up £31.50 and pay for overnight accommodation as they will have to wait for staff to turn up with their orders and they are only allowed one item at a time."

Mike Ingram, a local historian, explained the importance of the archive to the county.

"It is absolutely huge. It contains not only the town's history and the history of the county, but also important family histories," he said.

A county council spokesman said: "In light of the immense budget pressures, we have reluctantly made the decision to reduce the opening hours for free access to our archive service.

"This is also in light of the reducing number of on-site visitors over the past two years, and we will be redirecting our limited staff resources to developing online access to the archive."

Northamptonshire Steelbacks are back in T20 Blast action, later.

The county welcome Lancashire to Wantage Road, in a rematch of the 2015 final, which the visitors won.

Northants, the 2016 champions, are fourth in the North Group following Tuesday's two-run defeat against the Birmingham Bears.

The top four clubs progress to the quarter-finals of the competition, along with four clubs from the South Group.

BBC Radio Northampton has live coverage of the match, with build-up from 18:00 and commentary at 18:30.

• T20 Blast: Tables

Sam Edwards
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

A man arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving following a fatal crash near Peterborough on Tuesday has been released under investigation by police.

However, he has now been sent back to prison, as it emerged he was out on licence for an unrelated offence at the time of the crash.

Rugby player Mark Collin, 51, died in the head-on collision on the B1040 near Whittlesey at about 04:20.

Image source, PRFC

Officers arrested the driver of an Audi, which had been stolen in Northamptonshire.

He has been released under investigation, but recalled to jail for breaching the terms of his licence.

Police are still looking for two other people who they believe fled the scene.

A topping out ceremony marks one year until the University of Northampton's new Waterside Campus opens.

The British Women's Open - the fourth women's golf major of the year - got under way at Kingsbarns, external in Scotland this morning.

Kettering's Charley Hull, 21, tees off at 12:27 at the course, which is near St Andrews.

Image source, Getty Images

Hull is ranked 25th in the world and is Britain's number one female golfer.

She's previously won tournaments on both the LPGA and Ladies' European Tour, has played in two Solheim Cups and at the Olympics.

Her career-best finish at the British Women's Open was when she tied for 12th at Royal Birkdale in 2014.

• Charley Hull's golf column: Rain, the Solheim Cup & peri-peri chicken
• British Women's Open leaderboard (external site), external

Northamptonshire Police's proactive team, which is a group of plain clothes officers operating throughout the county, has tweeted this picture of a car seized in Northampton after they found its driver was not insured.

They say their suspicions were raised when the motorist ended up driving onto a path while completing a three-point turn...