Monarch Aircraft Engineering (MAEL), celebrated the graduation of their aircraft engineer apprentices at an event at Monarch Aircraft Engineering’s Training Academy at London Luton Airport last week.

The four year scheme, now in its 42nd year, continues to produce high calibre engineers and this year, the nine successful apprentices achieved NVQ Level 2 Diploma in Performing Engineering Operations, NVQ Level 3 in Aeronautical Engineering and EASA Part 66 Aircraft Maintenance Licence Category ‘A’.

The scheme helps towards the creation of jobs in the local community, and also provides an essential pipeline of skilled aircraft engineers for MAEL and the wider industry.

Commenting on this major achievement, Mick Adams, Managing Director for MAEL said:

“We are very proud to see the apprentices graduate after four years hard work where already, they have made a significant contribution to the business. From around five hundred applicants that we see each year, to have secured a position on the scheme is in itself an achievement. These now fully trained aircraft engineers are a credit to their families, those who have worked so hard to train them, and of course Monarch Aircraft Engineering where our apprenticeship scheme is industry renowned for producing the best.”

The near future wants a word with you. In the year 2154, the wealthy will have mostly left earth to live in complete luxury on a man-made super space station while the rest of the population starve on a ruined planet below.

But even though things are incredibly bleak down here, there may just be one man who can make a difference, one man who will fight for the abandoned people of earth and maybe, just maybe, change the balance of power forever…

Step forward Max (Matt Damon) – he’s a bit of a loose cannon, he has a long criminal record, but he’s also an idealist, and he’s in love, which could be a dangerous combination.

One day Max is working away in the factory where combat/security cyborgs are created when he gets locked into a decontamination chamber and given a lethal dose of radiation.

The clock is ticking and he has just five days to try and make good on his childhood promise to his beloved Frey (Alice ‘Predators’ Bragga) that he will get her to the safe haven circling the planet, which goes by the name of Elysium.

Max gets himself tooled up with a mech-like exoskeleton and is promised a free pass to the fabled space station if he can kidnap a corporate bigwig and download the guy’s brain info.

Easy, right? Well, while getting hold of the brain only means taking down the bigwig’s robot bodyguards it seems that what he has hidden in his noggin is of upmost importance to Elysium security enforcer Delacourt (Jodie Foster).

It’s fair to say that she’s not a people person. She shoots down transport shuttles full of innocent families just for trying to get to Elysium.

And she has a secret weapon in the form of a super soldier named Kruger – Sharlto Copley, who sci-fi fans will not need telling played the hero in director Neill Blomkamp’s last film, the much-praised District 9, and has masses of fun as this kick ass villain.

Cue gunfights, desperate plans and a fantastic showdown between Max and an equally exoskeleton-enhanced Kruger which has to be one of the one-on-one big screen battles of the year.

It’s good to see cutting edge special effects used sparingly and to really enhance and improve this off world tale, boosting the viewing experience.

Elysium is a smart, gritty sci-fi movie that delivers a decent thrill ride and carries a good moral message at heart, too. Recommended.

A Luton protest group has joined forces with a hospital campaign in a bid to save a children’s ward.

Luton People’s Assembly will be taking to the streets on Saturday in a bid to show how far sick children will have to travel from Bedford if the town’s Riverbank Ward closes.

The group is gathering at Bedford’s Interchange Retail Park at 10am on Saturday with a symbolic sick child, ‘Molly’, on the back of a flat bed truck.

The procession will then travel the 22 miles from Bedford to the Luton and Dunstable Hospital in a bid to prove how long the journey could take with a very sick child.

Chair of Luton People’s Assembly Mark Dee Smith commented “Last Saturday’s Bedford March showed the strength of feeling that concerned parents have and their determination to save their local children’s hospital services. We hope that this event will help to drive the message home, Riverbank ward must stay open to provide all services”

Campaigners are urging people to come along with whistles, rattles and balloons to make an impact.

Paediatric services at Bedford Hospital have been suspended after junior doctors were removed from working in paediatrics at the hospital after had expressing concerns about the level of supervision they were receiving.

A protest group held a parade in the town last Saturday.

Dr Raffles comes to the hospital at a time when children’s inpatient services have been suspended and those under the age of 19 who present at A&E are bussed out to neighbouring hospitals.

He said: “Paediatrics at Bedford Hospital have been through some high-profile changes.

“The principle behind them is safety. In the longer term our focus will be on securing a sustainable service, delivering high quality care.

Imagine if you had a child who was so ill that you feared for their life?

Imagine if you used to have a nearby emergency hospital service which could have saved that child’s life?

Imagine if, instead of treating that child locally, they were transported to a hospital over 22 miles away on a busy road?

How would you feel if they died as a result?

We at the Luton People’s Assembly do not want to see this happen and we are determined to work with our friends at the ‘Save the Riverbank Ward campaign in Bedford to prevent such a calamity.

On Saturday 9am 31 August 2013 we are gathering at Bedford interchange Retails Park to set off at 10 to follow our sick ‘child’ Molly in a bed on the back of a flat bed truck from Bedford to Luton’s L&D Hospital, a journey that could prove life-threatening for a real child. Come along and bring Whistles, rattles, balloons and anything else that will make a visual or audible impact.

You’ll have doubtless heard the huffing and puffing about the Ministry of Defence running up a £40,000 bill because staff kept dialling the speaking clock.

Admittedly it may have been harder to make out the details amid the clatter of other government departments rushing to make sure that they weren’t going to get caught out by a similar small-time scandal.

But I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling my eyebrows rise higher at the realisation that the speaking clock still exists rather than the familiar spendthrift ways of public servants.

I’ve had a think about it, and I just can’t work out why anyone in this day and age would ever need to dial 123 in the first place.

Watches, apparently, are high fashion items these days and it’s de rigueur to have a variety of wrist-friendly timepieces to match your outfits, so you’d think that most people would be able to check the time at a glance.

But I’m not a watch wearer, haven’t been for years. They always seemed to conk out on me, so I just gave up on them, but I’m never at a loss if I need to check what the time is, particularly in a work environment.

I’ve had a think about it, and when I’m sitting at my desk I have no fewer than four time sources close at hand, and that’s without a watch about my person, or asking anyone else in the room.

There’s a clock on the computer desktop, a clock on my desk phone, a clock on my mobile phone and, do you know what, there’s even a clock on the wall.

If I’m out and about, time just jogs along with me. There’s a clock in the car, there’s a clock on the sat-nav if I need to make use of it, if I turn on the radio they tell you the time every five minutes and that ever-present mobile phone comes along with me, too.

At home, the cluster of clocks includes one on the TV, one on the microwave, one on the oven, and sundry wall-based and computer-linked devices.

Even if I’m walking down the street, there’s usually some sort of public clock within sight and if not, you can check your phone or, in extremis, buy something or take some money out of a hole in the wall – the receipt will tell you just what the time is.

But why, I’d like to know, do these people need to check exactly what the time is? What are they waiting for?

I can’t believe that in the corridors of the Ministry of Defence they are so short of things to do that they have to keep checking to work out how long it will be before the tea trolley comes round.

I realise that military types need to synchronise their watches before setting off on major operations, but that can’t be the reason for this rush to the speaking clock. Can it?

Three people were arrested and 16 firearms found during searches in Luton and Dunstable on Thursday.

A 52-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of bringing an imitation firearm into the UK after a search warrant was executed at an address in Plaiters Way, Dunstable.

The second warrant was executed at an address in Arundel Road, Luton where 16 firearms plus ammunition were seized and two juveniles were also arrested on suspicion of ‘Bringing an Imitation Firearm into the UK’, under the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006.

Specialist firearms officers and an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit attended the scene to ensure all the weapons were safe before they were seized for further forensic tests and to clarify if they are illegally held.

Detective Inspector Sandra Evans, leading the Operation Boson Team, said: “We are continuing to listen and respond to community concerns. All information given to the police is used and kept confidentially, so if anyone has information that can help in the fight against those who are involved in gun crime, I would encourage them to speak to officers now.”

The three people arrested have been released on police bail pending further investigation.

> Anyone with information about gun crime can contact detectives on the direct confidential reporting line 01582 394281, or use the 24 hour non-emergency number 101; text force control direct on 07786 200011 or contact the independent crime fighting charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

Up to £2000 worth of reward money is available for information about gun crime in Luton.

All of Whipsnade Zoo’s 2,500 residents were measured at their annual weigh-in yesterday (August 27).

Data is monitored from all 200 species – from Asian elephants to Egyptian tortoises – allowing keepers to keep an eye on their wellbeing and health.

Devastated students discovered they had been given the wrong GCSE results due to a “technical error” at Lea Manor High School on Thursday.

The Northwell Drive school sent letters out on Friday informing parents and students of the mistake and providing students with their correct results.

A furious father said his daughter was “deflated” and “very upset” after being told she had done worse than she thought in her exams.

The father, who does not wish to be named, said: “This is very, very serious. Students have been given grades for exams they didn’t even sit. This affects their A-levels, their plans for college - everything. Everybody’s results are wrong, and many cases worse than what they thought they had. The school is run by monkeys. They are complete idiots, there are always problems there and this just tops it all off.”

A spokesman for the school said they are still looking into how many students and subjects were affected, as the initial focus was on issuing the correct results.

Peter Clarke, deputy headteacher at Lea Manor High School, said: “We will be looking into how a system error led to some students receiving additional exam grades. The correct results have now been issued and on behalf of the school I would like to apologise to the students and families affected.”

Were you affected? Let us know by emailing connie.primmer@jpress.co.uk.

One thing’s for sure in the never-ending merry-go-round that is Tinseltown – phone Mark Wahlberg’s people about a part and the answer is likely to be yes. Phone Dwayne Johnson’s people about a part that involves him stripping down to his vest, you’re also likely to get a response in the affirmative.

Cue the double whammy that is Pain And Gain, which connoisseurs of sensitive, character-driven narrative film-making will note is directed by Michael ‘Boneheaded Big Bangs’ Bay.

The well-defined duo who merit above the title billing are pumped-up kidnappers in what is being marketed as a tongue-in-cheek comedy.

Bodybuilder Mark works in a Miami gym and enlists recently-released crim Dwayne to help him in his ramshackle plan to kidnap a wealthy client and muscle him out of a substantial stash of cash.

The plan goes horribly wrong, and Ed Harris comes into the frame as the hard-faced detective on their trail.

Apparently it’s based on a true story, and it’s a world away from the special effects blockbusters with which Bay made his name and his money.

The leads seem to be having fun as a pair of meatheaded dreamers, but the man calling the shots will have to offer more than this if he wants us to forgive and forget Transformers and Bad Boys – although, to be fair, you can catch Armageddon on telly pretty much every week of the year and it still stands up as a classic of its kind.

So, let’s talk about how Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, and Louis Tomlinson have changed your life. No? How about Harry Styles, then?

Harry is the best-known name in all-conquering boy band One Direction who tick the latest box in their career plan with a big screen movie release made firmly with fans in mind.

This cute quintet may only have finished third in The X Factor but under the gentle guidance of Simon Cowell they have stormed to world domination without anyone who isn’t a teenage girl really noticing or caring.

The surprise name is behind the camera, Super Size Me director Morgan Spurlock getting the nod to produce One Direction: This Is Us, a formula flick featuring interviews, performance footage and music, including – surprise, surprise – their new single. Don’t all rush at once.

Interviews with all five band members at the film’s premiere are featured in the video report linked to this preview.

What’s next? You’re Next... It’s an 18-certificate home invasion slasher starring nobody you’ve really heard of, which gives you some idea of how the body count is going to rise. A wedding anniversary bash isn’t going all that swimmingly before the crazed crossbow-wielding masked gang arrives on the scene – for shock and gore fans only.

All of Whipsnade Zoo’s 2,500 animal residents were present and correct for their annual weigh-in this week.

All 200 species – from tiny Egyptian tortoises to giant giraffes and Asian elephants – had their vital statistics recorded on Tuesday (August 27).

The animals must be weighed and measured in order to monitor their health and well-being throughout the year.

A range of innovative techniques are used, from training the elephants to walk onto weigh boards in exchange for a banana, to tempting ring-tailed lemurs onto the scales with their favourite sultana treats.

The animals’ measurements are recorded into the international Zoological Information Management System where they can be shared with zoos around the world and used to compare information on thousands of endangered species.

This is part of the International Species Information System, an organisation that provides data and sharing software to more than 800 zoos and aquariums in almost 80 countries.

Visit www.zsl.org.

Cheryl Smart has seen the Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce change from an old boys’ network in her 25 years at the helm.

When she joined the Kimpton Road, Luton-based organisation in 1988 female staff were banned from wearing trousers – now there is no doubt who wears them!

Not only did MBE-holder Cheryl become the first chief executive of the business lobby group in 136 years but the world of local companies has, too. A large proportion of its members are women.

Cheryl said: “When I joined as export supervisor, after a career in industry, the Chamber was still very much an ‘old boy’s network.”

She adds that the internet has changed everything, making many roles at the Chamber defunct meaning the organisation has had to adapt. “Job roles are less fixed and everyone has to be prepared to multi-task,” she said.

She views setting up trade missions as the highlight of her years with the Chamber.

Cheryl took on the chief executive’s role in 2008. Her work was recognised in 2011 when she was awarded the MBE for services to business.

This week the No.24 bus serving Luton and Dunstable Hospital, ceases to run after 7pm. 
The route is no longer commercially viable and Luton Borough Council has withdrawn its subsidy.

On September 25 the busway opens. This will not serve the hospital although the council has said “Services to the Luton & Dunstable hospital will still be provided by non-busway services”.

But not the No.24.

Staff ending or starting a shift after 7pm, or evening visitors to the hospital, can no longer use the No.24 bus.

A Labour government grant of £81m towards the estimated £90m cost of the busway was made in 2010 and contracts had to be honoured.

Luton with Central Beds Council contributes £3m of the original estimate; the additional £5m - £9m over budget; £557,000 per year maintenance; and will subsidise the bus companies if passenger numbers are too low.

Who makes these decisions?

Unelected council officers? Maybe, but responsibility lies with the Labour councillors who occupy 75% of seats in the Town Hall, wielding 100% of power in decision making.

The busway project is poor value, widely unpopular and unlikely to attract the necessary passenger numbers.

It does not even help people reach the hospital.

To stand back against Syria’s alleged use of chemical weapons would “look extremely bad on our generation”, says South West Beds MP, Andrew Selous.

Military action will be debated by MPs today in a preliminary motion in the House of Commons, after the government backed out of an early vote on British intervention.

Speaking to the LBO ahead of today’s debate, Mr Selous said: “I am like most people in that I am very cautious about the UK having further involvement in this war.

“But I think that comments made today have changed things.

“Chemical weapons on the battlefield were not used in the Second World War as a result of being banned in the 1920s, so it a pretty retrograde step for a country.

“That is absolutely an issue we need to address because it will look extremely bad on our generation if we let that happen.”

It has been reported this morning that US President Barack Obama has said he has “not yet decided on a plan for retaliatory action against Syria”, but revealed that the Syrian government’s forces were behind a recent chemical weapons attack near Damascus.

Conservative Mr Selous added: “I share people’s reservations in getting involved in what is a civil war in the Middle East.

“We do not yet know what America is going to do and weapons inspectors have not come up with the report to the UN Security Council.

“I am very worried and yes, it is a very split issue.

“I will listen very carefully to the debate today, which is about the general principle.

“It is to air all sides of the issue to help me form my opinion, but I will also listen to what my constituents have to say on the matter.”

> What do you think? Get in touch with your views. Tweet @LBOamanda

Mid Beds MP Nadine Dorries has confirmed she will not vote in the Syria debate until further facts are known by the government.

Announcing her views ahead of the House of Commons preliminary motion that questions the UK’s future involvement in the country’s civil war, Ms Dorries said: “The use of chemical weapons against a civilian population is an abhorrent war crime, however, I am absolutely convinced that any response must be based on verified facts and international law.

“Before I would cast my vote on a motion regarding Syria I would want to read the UN report and verify the legalities.

“This is difficult when the report has not yet been written and the Security Council has not yet deliberated the matter.

“I would also need to be convinced that this conflict somehow requires intervention in a way that others don’t.

“I am concerned that the speed with which events are moving is in contrast to the lack of information available to justify military action and the UN mission in Syria must be given the time it needs to produce a comprehensive, factual report backed up by hard evidence.”

It has been reported this morning that US President Barack Obama has said he has “not yet decided on a plan for retaliatory action against Syria”, but revealed that the Syrian government’s forces were behind a recent chemical weapons attack near Damascus.

Ms Dorries added: “Voting to send British armed service personnel into battle is one of the most important duties of a Member of Parliament.

“I would not sanction a course of action that would commit the lives of our British forces unless a compelling and definitive case of war crimes was made which thoroughly justified the case for British involvement.

“I would also seek the support of my constituents and would do this by urging constituents to contact me with their opinion. At the moment neither criteria has been met.

“I will not be casting an uninformed vote in haste and consider that to submit to a whipped vote today would be to do just that.

“Therefore I will not be voting.”

> What do you think? Get in touch with your views. Tweet @LBOamanda

A taxi driver was thretened with a knife during a robbery in Kelvin Close yesterday.

The driver, 33, had picked up a passenger who is described as a black man with “deep sunken eyes” and a “protruding chin”, at about 8.45am in Park Town.

The passenger kept changing his mind about where to be taken until eventually arriving in Kelvin Close where he threatened the driver with a knife and forced him to hand over a brown draw string bag containing cash.

He then fled the scene towards Townsley Close.

The robber spoke with a Jamaican accent.

In a second incident at about 5.20pm on the same day, a 19-year-old victim was approached as he walked along Chaul End Road.

A man started a conversation with the victim, then when they reached Waller Avenue he reached in the victim’s pocket and took his iPhone 4s. The man then threatened the victim before turning right in to Leagrave Road as the victim turned left in to Marsh Road.

The offender is described as a white man, possibly Spanish or Eastern European, 5 ft tall, with an average build and approximately 23 years old.

He wore a white shirt with a black collar and cuffs, blue jeans covered with “fashionable rips” and black shoes.

Anyone with information relating to these crime is urged to contact Det Con Jabhar Khan at Luton Police Station, in confidence, on 01582 394436, or Bedfordshire Police on 101 or text information to 07786 200011.

Alternatively you can contact the independent crime fighting charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

The principle of building 5,150 homes north of Houghton Regis is due to be decided at a meeting on Wednesday afternoon (Sept 4).

Councillors at a special gathering of Central Bedfordshire Council’s development management committee will be wading through a 117-page report detailing the issues.

Paid council officials have recommended granting outline planning permission, subject to referral to the Secretary of State. It is considered to be of ‘sub-regional’ importance.

Among objectors are the owners of the Quadrant Shopping Centre, in Dunstable, who say the plans, including retail, pub and takeaway uses, could take trade away from the town centre.

That point is contested however. The report says the development is key to building the A5-M1 road and the Woodside Link that are considered crucial in unlocking investment in the town centre.

The report states that the Secretary of State for Transport has indicated his intention to approve the road should planning permission be granted on the basis that the applicant will be contributing £45 million. The government will be contributing the remaining £127 million.

Luton Borough Council has also made an official objection, arguing it should be able to house people from its waiting lists in half of the affordable homes on the huge site. The land is largely arable farmland.

The Houghton Regis Development Consortium plans also envisage up to 202,500 sq-m in business and other uses including offices, industrial and storage, hotel, care home, car showroom, data centre and a petrol station.

Business group Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce has “strongly” supported the plan, known as HRN1. In a statement to the meeting in Shefford, the Chamber said it sees HRN1 as a perfect example of an infrastructure led, balanced, sustainable development of employment land, much needed housing with appropriate, modern community amenities. The Chamber added it would work “with the prime contractors and Central Bedfordshire Council” to maximise the local procurement of goods and services.

Bedfordshire Police will invest in new mobile devices in a bid to increase productivity and the time officers can spend on the front line, it has been revealed.

Police and Crime Commissioner Olly Martins, approved the controversial move to improve efficiency and save money in the longterm by providing officers with tablet computers to enable them to complete paperwork and witness statements on the move without the need for returning to the police station.

The first stage of the investment plan will see a pilot scheme launched this month with three different devices being trialled in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire.

The mobile devices would allow officers to carry out their work at their current location and would provide access to real time information as well as emails, the intranet and all the programmes available at their desktop.

Mr Martins said: “This is the latest element of our plan to save £7.5million but avoiding cuts to the front line. We are still facing a challenging financial future but police officers and staff cannot work any harder than they currently are. With this in mind, the intention is to better equip officers so that they can work smarter and more successfully than before, reducing costs and increasing efficiency. It’s all about investing to save.

“With increased data at their fingertips, the evidence-gathering process will become much easier and officers will be able to make better informed judgements in the field. The public would much rather have officers on patrol in their communities than filling in paperwork in the office and mobile devices will help increase visibility and make people feel safer.

“The technology will be trialled initially to determine product suitability but the long-term plan is to roll out mobile technology more widely to improve detection rates.”

Three bus companies will be offering four new routes and single ticketing on the £91million Luton Dunstable Busway.

Together the Arriva, Centrebus and Grant Palmer GPS-tracked services will provide a service that runs up to every seven minutes at peak times after the busway opens on September 25.

Councillor Nigel Young, of Central Bedfordshire Council, reckons 15 minute journey times and improved connections for businesses are the “great benefits” of the scheme. Services will run from as early as 5.30am until late on weekdays.

Mr Young added: “By working together so closely, the councils and operators have delivered four great routes and ensured that the busway will open up a wealth of opportunities for hassle-free journeys to work, college, shopping, the theatre or just catching up with friends.”

Colin Chick, of Luton Council, said the busway will be a key asset in delivering sustainable economic growth, better access to jobs and environmental benefits.

A University of Bedfordshire lecturer from Syria believes Britain should intervene in the country.

Dr Abdulmaten Taroun, a Senior Lecturer in Business Systems, said intervention is essential if Britain wants to remain a leading nation in human rights, democracy and international law.

He said he has been “living in fear” for his people since the 2011 revolution, and says “although no one would favour a foreign attack against their country, it may be the only option”.

Dr Taroun said: “Syrians are left with two choices: to be killed by Assad forces or to accept external intervention against his forces.

“It is a very, very difficult situation. Sometimes, as was the case last week when a chemical weapon attack took place in Damascus suburbs, I feel hopeless as I can’t do anything to ease the pain of my people.

“People are suffering and yet, we only sit and watch. This suffering must end soon and this seems only possible through intervention.”

Dr Taroun is against foreign troops landing in Syria, but accepts a specific foreign intervention could be in order to “deter and degrade” the regime’s ability of using chemical weapons and launching missiles against civilians.

He adds an intervention is likely to force the Syrian regime to agree on a political solution and give Syrians a chance to rebuild their country as a free and democratic state.

“We do not need someone else to fight our battle; we simply need help to free our country from the current dictatorship through dismantling its mass destruction weapons,” he added.

Dr Taroun said he was disappointed with Parliament’s decision not to back PM David Cameron’s motion, “as it sought to stop the use of chemical weapons, not to change the regime”.

However he respected the PM’s decision to listen the British people, but believes the decision to back down “will have a profound effect” for the UK internationally giving them less power in the Middle East specifically.

He said: “The answer (why Britain, specifically should help) is because the UK is one of few nations who have the privilege of doing something. If Britain wants to maintain the UK position as a leading nation in human rights, democracy and international law, they should take some risk as absolute certainty does not exist.

“While concerns regarding military act are legitimate, many British fail to recognise they are losing on the long term politically and economically.

“In addition to that, the type and scale of asked intervention is very limited. The Syrians are not asking for full involvement in their revolution; they are asking for some help. I think that failing to provide this minimal help will be translated as weakness and hesitation not wisdom.”

The project management specialist believes incorrect information in the British media led to yesterday’s decision too as not enough has been shown, and it has been portrayed as two equal sides.

He said: “The reasoning behind the voting was influenced by the Iraq war experience and the failure of the British media to show people that the conflict in Syria is a revolution against a dictator where people had to turn to arms due to regime cruelty.”

Conflict, as part of the wider Arab Spring, started back in March 2011, when protesters demanded the end to nearly five decades of the Assad family’s dictatorship.

Although the latest alleged use of a chemical nerve agent has attracted huge international attention, with over 1000 believed dead and 4000 patients, killing continues on a daily basis with an estimated 150 lives lost each day.

Doctor Taroun said there are 110,000 people confirmed dead, around 60,000 missing, around 200,000 detainees, 8 million refugees and internally displaced, 1.7 million housing unit destroyed and around $200 billion direct cost of the damage to the country’s economy and infrastructure.

Dr Taroun supports a charity, Syria Relief, providing help and support to Syrians in need, inside and outside of the country.

He said: “It is important to continue the humanitarian support to Syrians specially when taking into consideration the dire economic situation of the majority of Syrians,

“Millions live in awful conditions. This charity is trying to go beyond the Syrian government and get the aid straight to the people.”

To donate, text ‘SRLF11’ followed by the amount in pounds to 70070.

Visit www.syriarelief.com for more information.

Owners of a Luton garage are furious with the council after being evicted from their premises to make room for the new inner ring road.

A Team Vehicle Services relocated from Midland Road to Flowers Industrial Estate in July after the premises they rent was compulsory purchased by the council.

Rob Johnson, 52, who runs the business with Paul Button, 52, said although they had known the relocation might happen, they were only told they had to leave suddenly.

Mr Johnson said: “We got a letter on April 18 saying they wanted us out by May, but we eventually left on July 1. They sent threatening letters and said they would send bailiffs round, but we should have been given three to six months notice to move. We had to find a new premises and get it all fitted out, and find the money to pay for it.

“If it hadn’t been for Paul receiving some inheritance, we wouldn’t have been able to pay the first six months’ rent. The council promised us compensation but we haven’t heard a single thing from them since. We lost three weeks’ worth of business while we relocated and tried to find the money to get the electrics and new ramps fitted at the new place.”

A Luton Borough Council spokesman said A Team Vehicle Services have been kept fully informed.

The spokesman said: “Following a public inquiry, the council compulsory purchased the A Team building in April. Additional time was given for the company to relocate. Professional advisors were employed by A Team (which will be paid for by the council) to assist in their relocation. Owing to the failure of the company to relocate and the imminent demolition of the building, a further notice was served requiring them to vacate the site by June 25. Compensation will be paid in accordance with the Compulsory Purchase Compensation Code on submission of a valid claim. No such claim has been received to date.”

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire has defended offers made to students with as little as two E-grades at A-level to study highly academic courses.

An undercover reporter from The Sunday Times posing as a sixth form student was offered places on law and engineering degree courses with two E grades. The paper called it a “bargain basement scramble” to fill places before the new academic year begins.

But Vice Chancellor Bill Rammell said: “I don’t accept the Sunday Times criticism of our offering places to students with valid A-level results.

“We accept a small number of students on some courses with two E grades, but these account for only 1.5 per cent of our annual intake of new students, and we recruit at all levels, including at ABB and above.

“We are a university that excels in providing a strong academic curriculum along with advanced academic skills so that we unlock the potential of a wide range of students, from diverse backgrounds, who have the required entry grades.

“We know from experience this works. We offer a range of support to our students, including through a personal coaching system and our Professional and Academic Development department.”