Work is now finished in Vicarage Street to renovate roads and provide a new bus lane and shared area highway.

The scheme was instigated and paid for by the University of Bedfordshire as a way to provide a safe shared area which links the new student accommodation to the main campus site.

The road is block paved, so is all level and has no kerbs.

Rod Black, Interim Highways Development Control Manager, said: “The new shared area highway provides easy access to Vicarage Street and the University for buses and pedestrians.

“The street improvement programme has also allowed us to upgrade Vicarage Road, bringing it up to a far better state of repair than it was previously.”

The new bus lane will run from the UKCCA entrance to the junction with Lea Road, where buses will join Park Street.

Traffic can no longer enter Vicarage Street via Park Street and exit onto St Mary’s Road.

Any drivers accessing Vicarage Street from Park Street can enter St. Ann’s Road for the Iceland car park and also drive along Lea Road to use Vicarage Street car park but no further.

Motorists can still drive to the UKCCA from St Mary’s Road but traffic can go no further past that point.

Planters will be installed to finalise the landscaping, while bus stop flags are also set to be put in place soon.

A man has been charged with attempted murder following a mid-morning incident in Farley Hill.

An altercation between two men resulted in the offender chasing and assaulting the victim with a knife, leaving him with injuries to his neck.

The incident took place near the junction with Stockwood Crescent, between 10.45am and 11.15am on Friday September 6.

Armed officers arrived at the scene and arrested a man who has been charged with attempted murder and possession of a bladed article in a public area.

He has been remanded in custody.

Det Con Gill Cowley, who is investigating the attack, is keen to speak with anyone who may have witnessed the attack – particularly the driver and passenger of a car which was forced to stop as the offender was stood in the middle of the road.

If you have information relating to this incident, contact DC Cowley, in confidence, on 01582 394285, the non-emergency number 101, or text information to 07786 200011.

Alternatively contact independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111, or online at crimestoppers-uk.org. a man who has been charged with attempted murder and possession of a bladed article in a public area, and has been remanded in custody.

Luton North MP Kelvin Hopkins has poured cold water on being too enthusiastic when talking about an improving economy.

Mr Hopkins attended a meeting of small businesses over breakfast at Leaside Hotel on Friday.

“Things seem to be getting better now,” Mr Hopkins told members of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).

“A few years ago customers stopped going to restaurants and I hope things are picking up again now.”

But he told lutontoday he believes an uptick in the economy was more to do with people having to replace clapped out vans than to be reason for the government to cheer.

“People can go on for so long without replacing things like vans but there comes a point when they have to. I think this upturn is more to do with that at the moment.”

The meeting went on to discuss how Luton had lost a huge amount of manufacturing and what could be done about reviving the sector.

But Mr Hopkins, an economist, said: “Now the backbone of our economy is small business.

“I have always been a wage slave but I admire people who set up their own businesses and take a risk.”

He added that he believed creating a stable economy was vital but it is taking time to recover from “the verge of collapse of the financial sector”.

Two branches of a business lobby group in Bedfordshire have merged into one more powerful organisation.

North and East Bedfordshire branch and the Luton and South Bedfordshire branch of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) officially came together a few weeks ago.

Outgoing chairman of the Luton and South Bedfordshire Branch Damian Cummins explained the reasons for the merger at a breakfast meeting in Luton on Friday (September 13).

Mr Cummins said the FSB is a lobby group and it could do this more powerfully with one group covering the entire county of Bedfordshire.

“We have over 2,000 members in Bedfordshire,” said Mr Cummins. “That is double the strength of the local Chamber of Commerce and the new branch will be a powerful voice for business.”

I’m not sure I would have been a willing guest if invited round to break bread with Henry Ford. By all accounts he wasn’t a bundle of laughs, you have to wonder whether perfecting the production line was such a good idea, and apparently he got on like a house on fire with Adolf Hitler.

But one thing we could certainly agree on, and that’s his famous reply when pestered to provide more colour choice to customers who were queueing up for his famous Model T motors.

You can have any colour you like as long as it’s black, he said, or words to that effect – not because he was opposed to anything else, but because he was determined to keep the assembly line as simple as possible.

But I’m with him, especially in one particular aspect of modern life – and that’s football boots.

When I was a young shaver keen to express my funky personality and show I was very much an individual, I persuaded my sainted mother to spring for a pair of boots promoted, if memory serves, by carrot-topped World Cup winner Alan Ball. At a time when such things were regarded as dangerously decadent, they were white.

We all know that kids will round with relish on anyone who steps outside the norm, and it’s fair to say that I quickly learned to regret my rashness.

With everyone else in the side still shod in sober black, I stood out like a sore thumb and they didn’t let me forget it.

And as that was a time when you could only successfully claim the need for new boots if the old ones had fallen apart, I repented at leisure as well.

But despite those childhood scars, I’m not advocating turning the clock back and introducing a ban on boots of many colours. I can move with the times.

But in the more modern spirit of metrosexual mores, when men moisturise and fret about their designer undertrousers, at least we could try and make sure that they match?

Now that coloured boots are so commonplace as to raise nary an eyebrow, more and more garish options are coming to the market.

And coupled with the current fondness for kits that dip into the dayglo paintbox in an attempt to make an impression, we now have footballers – whether they be highly-honed professional athletes or Sunday morning scuffers – who look like they’ve been sent out to do battle after a quick session with the dressing-up box and the Dulux colour chart.

It’s wrong that a team picture, viewed from the ankle down, looks like a tube of Refreshers. Come on, football authorities – boots should be one colour per team, and that colour should match the kit. You never know, there might be some money in it...

One in ten homes in Luton are at risk of gas fires, explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning, according to new figures from the Gas Safe Register released on Monday.

The first nationwide interactive gas map shows the most dangerous postcodes in the country for gas safety, and reveals 15 per cent of Luton’s households are unsafe.

Inspectors visited 11,000 homes in the East of England for the research ahead of Gas Safety Week this week.

Russell Kramer, chief executive for Gas Safe Register, said: “Gas safety is a life or death matter and something that shouldn’t be ignored. People are aware of the potential risks of unsafe gas work and they know what they should be doing to keep themselves safe, but as our research has found, not everyone is acting on that information. This is why we have launched the gas map. It is the first time that data on unsafe gas appliances and illegal gas work has been compared across postcodes. We want people to realise that gas safety is something that they should take seriously and by bringing it to their doorstep it makes it harder to ignore.”

One in three gas customers in the UK admit they’ve never had their gas appliances checked or maintained, despite 82 per cent of people knowing they should.

Luton residents are also being caught out by cowboy gas fitters who pretend to be legal engineers despite not being registered.

Of those illegal jobs investigated in the East of England, nearly two in three left victims’ homes unsafe and almost one in five were so dangerous that the gas appliances had be turned off immediately.

Find out how safe your area is www.staygassafe.co.uk

“Everyone’s driven by something…”

Vroom vroom – buckle up for some seriously entertaining race drama action from two-time Academy Award winner Ron ‘A Beautiful Mind’ Howard.

Rush is a full-on spectacular big-screen re-creation of the bitter rivalry between pretty boy English F1 driver James Hunt (Chris ‘Thor’ Hemsworth) and Niki Lauda (Daniel ‘Inglourious Basterds’ Brühl).

You don’t have to be a fan of Formula One to enjoy this fast and furious action drama powered by both the nailbiting racing and the sexy crackling charisma of Hemsworth, who is on top form as Hunt.

He is ably backed up by Brühl, all icy discipline as Austrian perfectionist Lauda, Hunt’s nemesis on the Grand Prix track.

Howard directs the film with style and heart, bringing to life the period which was arguably the most glamorous and dangerous era of Formula 1 racing.

Rush really lives up to its name, covering the exhilarating true story of how two people pushed themselves to the very edge of physical and psychological endurance in their desire to win.

Everything works to deliver a superb viewing experience. The racing action rivals the excellent Senna for the title of most edge-of-your-seat cinematic ‘on track’ thrills.

The personal lives of the two drivers are fascinating as their chalk and cheese lifestyles offer insights into the driving philosophies of these two legends of F1 history.

There are some great lines in the script, and enough funnies to make you laugh out loud in places, too.

The many love interests of Hunt bring a James Bond-esque playboy element, even though the main females of the film – Olivia ‘TRON: Legacy’ Wilde and Alexandra ‘The Reader’ Maria Lara – play second fiddle to the two men who eat up the screen with their fierce rivalry.

Rush packs real emotion – especially in dealing with Lauda’s near death crash, which sidelined him for many races and gave Hunt the chance to wrestle the title from his grasp.

Both men are flawed but the actors manage to have you empathise with them, all the while leaving you astounded that this is a true story.

For racing thrills there is nothing else out there to touch Rush, and it is definitely a film to be seen on the big screen. You can almost smell the 1970s cologne alongside the engine fumes and burning rubber!

A 43-year-old man who was arrested in connection with a murder in Hastings Street was released on bail on Saturday.

The man was arrested at a house following the death of a 19-year-old in the early hours of Friday morning.

The 19-year-old died from a stab wound to the heart, a post mortem confirmed.

A member of the public reported the man had been found at 12.40am, and police officers administered first aid until the ambulance arrived but the man died at the scene.

Det Chief Insp Sharn Basra said: “We are treating this as an isolated incident and some people have already spoken with detectives but we still need to trace and speak with a number of people.

“I am particularly interested in tracing four men who were seen going in to an alley way which runs between two houses that have been converted in to flats in Hastings Street.

“It is believed one of the men then returned to the entrance of the alley way and turned right towards The Butcher’s Public House where he stood and is joined moments later by another member of the group. Both men are then joined by the remaining two group members before they all leave the scene towards Elizabeth Street.

“All the group are described as wearing hooded tops; one is described as black and another is described as a white man with short straight ginger hair which was brushed forward.

“Two other men were also seen on CCTV in the area at around the time of the incident. They are seen to be walking from Hastings Street towards the direction of Windsor Street.

“These people may be vital witnesses to the incident and I need them to contact the police urgently.”

Anyone with information can contact Bedfordshire Police, in confidence, on 101, or text information to 07786 200011. Alternatively you can contact the independent crime fighting charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

The family of a teenager who was killed in Hastings Street say they are “shocked and saddened” by his “pointless death”.

Micah Urquhart, 19, of Hastings Street, died from a stab wound to the heart and was found by a member of the public at 12.40am on Friday.

Police attended the scene and administered first aid before being joined by members of the Ambulance Service but Micah died at the scene.

A spokesperson for Micah’s family sad: “As a family we were shocked and saddened to learn the awful news that Micah had been killed in the early hours of Friday,

“We are desperately trying to come to terms with the fact that his young life has been cut short in such a brutal manner. This pointless death has left us numb and at this time we would ask that our family be left in peace to grieve and be given the time and privacy needed to process this tragic event.

“Micah was a well known and well loved boy who will be desperately missed.”

Micah was born in Luton and grew up in Hitchin and Stevenage where he attended John Henry Newman School and had a large group of friends.

He was a keen footballer and a lover of music which he studied after school.

The family said: “Micah was full of humour and very affectionate to all who knew him. Micah came from an extended family, he was a son, brother, uncle and nephew loved and cared for by all of his close relatives of which there were many. We would greatly appreciate anyone coming forward with information that may help the police with their enquiries.”

Detectives in Luton are keen to trace a Good Samaritan who helped a teenager when he was robbed on Friday.

The victim, 15, was robbed by two youths on BMX bikes as he made his way to school at 8.20am. When he tried to retrieve his phone he was punched in the face.

Two motorists stopped to help the victim and one of them returned the phone to the victim before taking him to school.

This motorist could be vital to the investigation. Call Det Con Rebecca Kitts on 01582 394443.

A recommendation that the council supports the development of an Armed Forces Community Covenant (AFCC) in Luton was welcomed by ex service organisations yesterday.

The Government initiative – which aims to recognise our moral obligation to our Armed Forces and their families – is likely to be agreed at the next executive meeting on Monday.

Chairman of Luton & District Combined Services Association John Bavister said: “It’s a brilliant idea.”

President of the Royal British Legion Don Woodcroft agreed: “It’s a move in the right direction, a start.”

As Luton has no covenant at present, the proposal is that the council and other statutory agencies will work with representatives of the Armed Forces and ex-service associations as well as the voluntary and community sectors and local businesses to draw up a local AFCC.

The covenant will be signed formally at the Town Hall on November 11 to coincide with Remembrance Day.

A joint action plan will be monitored and reported on annually.

The statement of intent is specifically aimed at veterans, defined as anyone who has served in the Armed Forces as a regular or reservist.

It will ensure that they are able to access help and support and receive the services they need and deserve.

Two 18-year-old men were arrested on suspicion of murder in Luton this morning.

Detectives executed two warrants to arrest the teens in connection with the murder of Micah Urquhart, 19, who was stabbed to death on Friday.

Both men are now being questioned by police.

Detective Chief Inspector Sharn Basra, of the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, said: “Although we have made arrests in connection with this investigation it is of paramount importance that people still come forward and assist this investigation.

“Detectives are continuing to piece together Micah’s last movements – we know he was last seen leaving his home address in Hastings Street at 3.30pm on Thursday afternoon (Sept 12) as he was heading on foot towards the town centre. It is important that anyone who saw or heard from him from 3.30pm on Thursday until 12.40am on Friday should contact the inquiry team as soon as possible.

“I would like to thank those people who have already come forward and spoken with officers, however, we know there were a number of people in the Hastings Street area who have still not come orward to speak with us.”

Police are looking for four men who were seen going into an alleway way which runs between two houses that have been converted into flats in Hastings Street.

All the group are described as wearing hooded tops; one is described as black and another is described as a white man with short straight ginger hair which was brushed forward.

Two other men were also seen on CCTV in the area at around the time of the incident. They are seen walking from Hastings Street towards Windsor Street.

These people may be vital witnesses.

Call the Major Crime Unit on 01707 355666, or Bedfordshire Police, in confidence, on 101, or text information to 07786 200011.

A cannabis plantation was discovered in scrubland close to Peak Forest in Sundon Pits this morning.

Beds Police officers found the plants following intelligence about drugs gathered from the local community.

There were three separate areas at the location with around 35 cannabis plants being grown.

The plants, which were at different stages of maturity, have been recovered and will be destroyed.

Sergeant Andy Rivers of the Local Policing Team, said: “Bedfordshire Police is committed to the fight against drugs and will do all that we can to prosecute those involved in producing and selling them across the county.

“Thanks to information from people in the area we were able to recover and destroy this crop of cannabis but I would urge anyone who has any information about this discovery, or any other drug related offences, to come forward.”

If you have information relating to this incident or any other drug offences in Bedfordshire, contact Bedfordshire Police in confidence, on the non-emergency number 101, or text information to 07786 200011.

Alternatively contact independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111, or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.

Demolition work on the former High Town Recreation Centre in Old Bedford Road will start in the next few weeks.

Housing will be built on the site and it is expected it will hold between 60 and 80 new homes.

The building has stood derelict for a number of years, making it an eyesore for the local area.

Mo Harkin, Head of Housing, said: “As the building has been rusting away for a number of years I know local people will be pleased to hear that the demolition process has started. Residents told us they wanted to see the site used for affordable housing so it is exciting that the process is underway. The new homes will allow vulnerable local families in desperate housing need to move into affordable homes.”

Once the site is clear more details will be announced about the specific plans for the site and how it will help meet Luton’s growing housing need.

The demolition is expected to be finished in December.

There were tears, There were smiles. And there were some tough decisions to be made.

But the dancers who attended Panto Factor auditions at the Grove Theatre on Saturday proved that Dunstable’s got talent and that Dick Whittington will be one cracker of a Christmas show.

Choreographer Kerry Turner of Magic Beans Pantomimes said: “We were so pleased with the turn-out for the Grove’s first-ever open dance auditions.

“We saw well over 150 dancers, of whom 50 have been cast. They’ll be performing in teams and rehearsals start at the end of next month.”

She added: “We’ve found some really gifted dancers and can’t wait to get started.”

Theatre spokesman Adrian Gilmartin said: “Magic Beans were looking for talented perfomers to play the role of the ensemble alongside Leslie Grantham – arguably TV’s greatest villain, Dirty Den from EastEnders – and Ryan Moloney, Toadfish from Neighbours.”

He said the atmosphere was full of nervous excitement as wide-eyed chidlren, anxious parents and wannabe panto stars waited to be seen: “The competition was hot and the talent was strong but the numbers were whittled down until the final teams were chosen.”

There are call backs this weekend for the lead role of Dick Whittington.

The winner will be announced at a grand finale next Thursday (September 26). You could be there as the eight finalists battle it out, X Factor style, with tickets at just £5 each.

Dick Whittington runs from December 13 to January 5.

Tickets are available from the box office on 01582 602080 or online at www.grovetheatre.co.uk

Freshers Fortnight will mark the beginning of an initiative to reinforce the message that drunken and disorderly behaviour will not be tolerated - as it’s revealed nearly 50 per cent of violent crime is alcohol related.

Beds Police is joining forces around the country to alert the public about the realities of dealing with drunkenness and alcohol-related incidents - and it all kicks off on September 28 as part of a nationwide In Focus: Alcohol Harm initiative.

Beds Deputy Chief Constable John Fletcher said: “Police all too often have to care for people who have clearly failed to take care of themselves. They need to grow up and take responsibility.

“Drinking so much that you can’t think clearly makes you vulnerable and more likely to become a victim of crime, be injured or be involved in violence. We’re not here to clean you up and drop you home, or mediate drunken arguments. We’d prefer our officers to be in their communities rather than being pulled off their beats into town centres every weekend.”

Police officers, street pastors, special constables and police cadets will be heading to drinking hotspots for the fortnight and beyond into the first term.

Offenders are thought to be under the influence of alcohol in nearly half of all incidents of domestic abuse and alcohol plays a part in 25 to 33 per cent of known child abuse cases.

Mr Fletcher added: “Don’t be a drain on police time because you’ve had too much to drink. Take responsibility for yourself. The police service is realistic that it has to make budget reductions but the impact of excessive drinking is an example of the real operational challenges we face.

“We need to put officers on the streets to keep people safe and prevent crimes from occurring as well as responding when they do. But the result of that decision is that these are police officers who are not doing all the other things that the government and public want them to prioritise.”

A unique recruitment fair aimed at young people will take place at Tokko Youth Space in Luton’s Gordon Street next month.

Routes 2 Success is being organised by community interest company redMV and aims to help those looking for work experience, jobs and apprenticeships.

A spokesperson said: “Employers from a wide range of sectors will man interviewing and information stands dealing face-to-face with young people who will have the opportunity to pitch for work and gain an understanding of what’s required from a variety of employers.

“Expert advice and guidance on careers and interview techniques will also be available at a wide range of workshops covering careers in sectors such as media, fashion, music and many more.”

Route 2 Success will take place on Tuesday, October 8.

Young people are encouraged to register online at www.routes2sucess.co.uk to book places on workshops and smeinars as spaces are limited.

“They look like regular people, but they’re monsters inside. You see, if you slip through the cracks, and stay on Earth after you die, your soul rots. They rot, the world rots. Global warming, plague, bad cell reception – the dead are responsible.”

Imagine the situation – you’ve just died, having been shot in the face by your supposed best friend/cop partner, and find yourself ascending through the sky to the afterlife.

But before you hit the pearly gates you are whisked into an sterile white office to meet a stern-faced woman named Mildred Proctor (Mary-Louise ‘Saved!’ Parker). It turns out that she’s the director of the Boston division of the Rest In Peace Department, a specialist after-life agency that recruits deceased police officers to capture ‘deados’ – the spirits that fail to cross over and return to Earth as monstrous ghosts.

You don’t need to imagine it, though, because this is exactly what happens to Detectives Nick Walker (Ryan ‘Green Lantern’ Reynolds) who is double-crossed and killed by his partner Bobby Hayes (Kevin ‘I Sold My Soul To Advertise Mobile Phones’ Bacon) over some stolen gold they found during a drug bust.

As he’s a little worried that he might not make it into eternal paradise thanks to some of his dodgy dealings on earth, Nick agrees to join the R.I.P.D. after Proctor explains that service can potentially make up for a negative final judgment and it’s ‘only’ for a 100 year tour of duty.

Nick gets saddled with a grizzled partner, Roy Pulsipher (Jeff ‘True Grit’ Bridges), a marshal from the Wild West days who has closure issues thanks to his body having been ravaged by coyotes.

From then on it’s like a kind of mash up of Ghostbusters, Men In Black and Lethal Weapon – except that R.I.P.D. isn’t even half as good as any of them.

It’s based on a comic book by Peter M. Lenkov and sounds appealing, but just doesn’t work very well on the big screen.

There’s nothing particularly wrong and there are some good funny moments, mostly based around the duo’s altered perceptions – for some reason, Nick appears to the living as an elderly Chinese man (James Hong), whereas Roy is a very sexy blonde Russian woman (Marisa Miller).

But the action is weak and the tone wildly uneven, with very adult jokes thrown in to a 12 certificate film that the trailers make look like a family action romp. Destined to be forgotten quickly, despite a great cast and fun premise.

Two men appeared at Luton Magistrates Court on Saturday charged with the murder of a 19-year-old.

Waqar Younis, 19, of Queens Close in Luton, and Paul Lynham, 18, of Midland Road in Luton, are both charged with one count of murder.

Micah Urquhart died in Hastings Street on Friday September 13.

A series of workshops will take place in Luton next month aimed at enhancing young people’s job prospects by raising their game.

The programme has been developed by local charity Unleashing Potential, together with the National Careers Service. It is supported by the council and Job Centre Plus.

The Raise Your Game skills workshops will target youngsters aged between 18 and 24 who are not in employment, education or training.

Everyone who signs up will have the opportunity to to take part in three workshops over three weeks.

The sessions will encourage participants to communicate and present more effectively as well as helping with team building, decision making and leadership skills.

Young people will also get the chance to learn about matching their skills with local job opportunities. They will also meet industry professionals and learn about the private, public and charity sectors in Luton.

Unleashing Potential is a local charity led by professionals from Luton who initiate skill sharing projects in the town and in Africa, through their Project Malawi programme.

The first set of workshops begins next week.

> To find out more about the programme, contact Tas Bushra-Jalil of the National Careers Service on 07738 704729.