A metal pole was used in an attempted robbery in the Langley Street underpass last night.

A man, 21, was leaving the underpass at about 8.05pm when two teenagers approached him from behind and put a metal pole over his head and across his neck.

They demanded property but the victim managed to push them away and ran from the scene.

As he left one of the would-be robbers hit him across the leg with the iron bar, causing bruising.

Both offenders are described as black men between 15 and 17 years old and one was carrying a metal pole.

Det Con Catherine Layton said: “I would appeal to anyone who saw the two offenders loitering in the underpass to speak to officers as they may have further information that could help identify them.”

Call Det Con Layton on 01582 394442 or 101 with information.

A pupil at Lea Manor High School was airlifted to hospital after falling ill during a PE lesson at the school this afternoon.

Headteacher Amanda Simpson, at the Northwell Drive school said: “I was sorry to be informed that one of our Year 11 pupils fell ill suddenly during a PE lesson earlier this afternoon at Lea Manor Recreation Centre.

“Trained staff performed emergency treatment at the scene until an air ambulance arrived. Our thoughts are with the pupil and all those affected at this time.”

The East of England Air Ambulance called at the school at 12.16pm along with a community first responder, ambulance, and two paramedic officers.

The pupil was escorted by a critical care paramedic and lifted to the L&D Hospital by air ambulance where they remain in a serious condition.

The biopic of 1970s porn star Linda Lovelace is probably a cleaned-up version of reality.

But LOVELACE (18: Lionsgate) is a surprisingly watchable and heartbreaking ‘true story’. Amanda Seyfried is excellent in this entertainingly sleazy, star-studded take on the tale.

Growing up in a household headed by her strict mother (Sharon Stone), Linda Boreman marries Chuck Traynor (Peter Sarsgaard), a scumbag who forces her into pornographic films.

Groundbreaking adult movie Deep Throat makes her an international star as Linda Lovelace, but there’s no escape from marital and career abuse.

The film expertly contrasts her glamorous reputation to the dark account of exploitation she revealed to the world years later.

Seyfried humanises the story with her remarkable performance along with Hank Azaria as porn director Gerry Damiano.

> If you admired the 2006 indie hit Little Miss Sunshine, you’ll get more than a hint of deja vu from coming-of-age comedy THE WAY WAY BACK (12: Twentieth Century Fox).

Not only does it borrow from the family-on-a-trip story, but two of the core cast members, Steve Carell and Toni Collette, are in strikingly similar roles.

Fourteen-year-old Duncan (Liam James) is dreading going on summer holiday with his ditzy mother, her overbearing boyfriend and his daughter.

Unable to fit in with his teen peer group, Duncan becomes a regular at the Water Wizz theme park where he forms an unlikely friendship with its eccentric manager (Sam Rockwell).

Although Rockwell gives it his best shot, it’s all rather dull when he’s not on screen.

Carell’s spiteful asides are darkly funny, but they stand out like a sore thumb in a movie that feels like a decade of bittersweet American comedy condensed into one hour and 45 minutes.

> Hyperactive comedy caper PAIN & GAIN (12: Paramount) is based on the supposedly true story of a Miami personal trainer.

He and two body-builder pals plot to get rich quick by kidnapping a wealthy businessman client and forcing him to sign over his fortune to them.

Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson and Anthony Mackie play the trio whose biceps are so much bigger than their brains that the scam seems doomed to failure.

And their plan does go awry when the hostage escapes and hires a relentless private detective to track them down.

The stars give it some welly, but the mix of comedy and violence makes for uncomfortable viewing. Indeed, there are moments that make you wish director Michael Bay had made another Transformers movie instead. Well, almost.

> A small-time dealer has to pick up a shipment of marijuana in Mexico and bring it back over the border in abrasive comedy WE’RE THE MILLERS (15: Warner). He’s forced to do this after his cash and stash are stolen, leaving him owing thousands to an old college buddy, now a major drug kingpin.

So he recruits a stripper (Jennifer Aniston) and two surly teens to pose as his holidaying family in a motor home. Aniston and Jason Sudeikis are a good pairing as the sham spouses, but the standout turn is from Will Poulter as their nerdy fake son.

Whipsnade Zoo’s chimpanzees enjoyed a whole host of festive gifts filled with their favourite treats last week.

Keeper Jane Storr said: “The chimps are on Santa’s nice list, so we wanted to do something special.”

MP Andrew Selous is delighted that the number of unemployed JSA claimants in South West Beds in November 2013 was 1,366 – 611 fewer than in November 2012.

He said: “The provision of jobs for my constituents is one of my very highest priorities.”

A Caddington mother and daughter are picking up the pieces after the Milton Keynes Winter Wonderland fiasco put their business in jeopardy.

Sarah and Amelia Eacope run the Lollipop Girls mobile sweet shop to raise funds for the Papworth Trust charity and had hoped to raise between £2,000 to £3,000.

Mrs Eacope said they are now in “long-term debt” after the business invested about £3,000 in stock and an extra candyfloss machine to keep up with demand after she was told a predicted 20,000 people would visit the wonderland, which closed after one day.

She added: “We put a lot of planning into this to make it festive and extra special. The money is everything I’ve got.”

Amelia, 12, who has cerebral palsy, and her mum are now working round the clock to sell their stock in other ways.

Mrs Eacope said: “While Facebook has been blamed for the wonderland being cancelled, it has been amazing for us. Word is getting out and people are coming forward with orders.”

The pair have started posting out online orders and have been invited to set up their stall at events in their village and St Albans.

Mrs Eacope added: “As soon as we’ve made back our investment, we will carry on fund raising for Papworth. There is no way we will let this beat us.”

The Winter Wonderland Milton Keynes event was cancelled after just one day. It’s website promised ice skating, a Santa’s grotto, and reindeer, along with other quality attractions. What people found was a small plastic ice rink, a skinny Santa in a cheap costume and two reindeer in a pen, set in a muddy park.

Mrs Eacope said: “I saw elves smoking outside the tents, the Santa in what looked like a pound shop suit and reindeers without any horns that the children couldn’t even get near.”

There are 106 people in Bedfordshire waiting for a transplant this Christmas and 24 Bedfordshire residents have died in the last five years due to the shortage of organs.

NHS Blood and Transplant is highlighting the figures as it asks people to talk to their families over the festive period about their decision to be an organ donor.

NHS Blood and Transplant has also released the results of a survey showing that only one in twenty people in England and Wales spending time with family at Christmas will be discussing organ donation. 83% of people in England and Wales said they would be spending Christmas with family this year but family chats about holidays and the weather are much more likely to take place than about organ donation.

Anthony Clarkson, Acting Director of Organ Donation and Transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “Don’t miss the opportunity to discuss organ donation when you’re with your family this Christmas. We know that Christmas is a time for enjoying ourselves and talking about the nice things in life like future holidays. But for people in need of an organ, Christmas is a very difficult time so we are urging everybody to talk about organ donation.

“16 people in Bedfordshire have received a life-saving organ transplant from a deceased donor this year. To help save more people we need everyone, including the 179,830 people on the NHS Organ Donor Register in Bedfordshire, to talk to their loved ones about their donation decision.”

Telling your loved ones about your organ donation decision is vital. In a separate piece of research carried out in England, only 31% of families said they would agree to donation going ahead if they are unaware of their loved one’s decision to donate.

Fewer than 5,000 people each year die in circumstances where they can donate their organs.

NHS Blood and Transplant is asking people to tell their families this Christmas that they want to donate their organs, and to record their decision by joining the NHS Organ Donor Register.

>To join the NHS Organ Donor Register, visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk or call 0300 123 23 23

A Christmas sing-song in The Mall had a serious message on Thursday; “Enjoy the 12 days of Christmas and not 12 days of drinking and driving.”

A small choir formed by Luton Borough Council’s road safety team changed the words of some favourite carols to deliver the message.

Drivers were reminded not to drink and drive, and to be aware that they might still be over the limit the morning after a celebration.

Cllr Dave Taylor, Portfolio Holder for road safety at Luton Borough Council, said: “This year’s Christmas drink-driving campaign in Bedfordshire and Luton highlights the fact that many people remain unfit to drive the morning after enjoying a few drinks.

“Drivers need to remember it takes around three hours for every pint of average strength beer or lager to leave the body’s system after you stop drinking. So if you consumed four pints, it may not be safe to drive for at least 13 hours.”

More than 300 free breath-test kits were also handed out to help keep everyone safe and another 131 were distributed the previous evening during an enforcement session in Houghton Regis when drivers were stopped by Bedfordshire Police and required to take a roadside breath test.

Bedfordshire Police are carrying out enforcement of drink and drug driving throughout December, conducting roadside breath and field impairment tests, where relevant, with all drivers involved any collisions attended.

Motorists found guilty face a minimum 12-month disqualification as well as a fine and/or imprisonment.

The offence of causing death by careless driving while under the influence of drink or drugs now carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison and a driving ban of at least two years.

Cllr Budge Wells, Deputy Executive Member for Sustainable Communities at Central Bedfordshire Council said: “Any alcohol in your system can impair your judgement, cause difficulty assessing road conditions and ultimately cause a serious collision. Depending on the amount of alcohol consumed it is often still unsafe to drive the following morning, even after a good night’s sleep.”

There is no safe drink-drive limit so if you want to enjoy a drink this Christmas make sure you have organised a way to get home either through a designated non-drinker, public transport or a taxi.

Police advice includes:

* If you have to take the car, stick to non-alcoholic drinks rather than having one glass of wine or a beer and hoping you will be under the legal limit

* Take it in turns for one of your party to be the designated driver on nights out

* Use public transport or pre-book a registered taxi with a reputable company.

To help avoid a drink-driving ban use the ‘morning after calculator’ at www.morning-after.org.uk

A marathon eight-hour council meeting resulted in the London Luton Airport expansion being approved by Luton Borough Council on Friday.

The plans to increase passengers from 12 million to 18 million a year will now be reviewed by the Department for Communities and Local Government to see whether the application needs to be determined by the Secretary of State or if the council can proceed to issue consent.

The council’s impartiality was challenged because it owns all of the shares in the airport, although London Luton Airport Ltd (LLAL) owns the airport infrastructure.

Glyn Jones, managing director of the airport said after the decision: “We have committed to developing an airport which everyone in the local area will be proud of, and passengers from all over the world will enjoy visiting.

“In the year of our 75th Anniversary this is an exciting milestone for all of us at the airport, the local area, and the millions of passengers who use us for business travel, to visit friends and family or to get away on holiday.”

Just six of the development control committee’s 11 members attended the meeting, which had already been postponed once after Herts County Council demanded a second, impartial, legal opinion on Luton council’s suitability to make the decision.

Lib Dem Councillor David Franks was present on Friday but left before the decision was made as he had a conflict of interests.

Other councillors absent from the meeting included the Labour Councillor for Luton South, Amy O’Callaghan, who was away for pre-booked Christmas holidays.

After presentations about the airport throughout the morning, 37 objectors from local town and parish councils, campaign groups and private individuals spoke of their serious concerns about the proposals.

Their main worries included increased noise levels, a disproportionate number of additional flights in the late evening and early morning, climate change and global warming worsened by the plans and fears that increased particulates and night noise could damage health.

In total the council has received 455 objections and 43 representations in support of the application, which involves construction of a multi- storey car park, road layout changes and taxiway extensions.

Andrew Lambourne from campaign group Hertfordshire Against Luton Expansion (HALE) said: “It takes courage for a councillor to stand up and say to their planning advisers – ‘You need to do more to protect the quality of life of our residents.’ Sadly, none showed that kind of courage – even though we could see that they wanted to.

“The voting process when it case was heart-rending: all the councillors expressed their deep concern over the seriousness and difficulty of the decision they were about to take given on the one hand the need to do right by Luton, and on the other hand the need to do right by the people of Luton. In the end, Luton won – and hence lost.

“Ultimately this was such a big decision that to make it with half the committee absent was simply not democratic – and is another good reason why it should be called in.”

Independent barrister John Steel QC was appointed by the council to review the application prior to Friday’s meeting.

Speaking after the meeting, MP for Luton South, Gavin Shuker, said: “This is a great day for the town, and a much needed boost for our local economy. London Luton has returned over £210m in concession payments to the Council since 1998, and it is good news for local taxpayers that these are set to increase between now and 2031 as the Airport develops.”

An antique rocking horse was stolen from Denmark Close in Luton.

The burglary happened between December 9 and 15 and police would like to speak to two men who were seen in the area.

Burglars forced open a window to take the horse.

Two men were seen in the area carrying a painting and a tube recently and officers want these men or anyone who has information about the whereabouts of the rocking horse to contact them.

The first man is described as white, between 17 and 21 years old, 5’7” tall with a slim build.

He was wearing a royal blue padded jacket with a small motif on the chest to the right and navy bottoms with a white motif running down the sides. He also wore a white hat or hooded top and white gloves.

The second man is described as being between 17 and 21 years old with short brown hair and freckles. He was approximately 5’7” tall with a chubby build. He wore a dark jacket, a dark t-shirt, gloves and blue jeans with light stitching on them. He also wore black training shoes.

Anyone with information relating to this investigation can contact Det Con Surfraz Hussain, in confidence, at Luton Police Station, on 01582 394435, or Bedfordshire Police on 101, or text information to 07786 200011.

A flasher targeted a woman in broad daylight in Luton on Friday.

The 20-year-old was walking home down the alleyway in the Bracklesham Gardens and Telscombe Way area at about 2.45pm when she became aware of a man walking behind her.

He called to her and as she turned around he indecently exposed himself to her.

The victim hurried off and the flasher is believed to have turned back in to the alleyway and headed off in an unknown direction.

The flasher is described as a white man in his late twenties to mid-thirties, six feet tall and of slim to medium build. He wore a beanie hat and a mid-length parka-style winter coat. He spoke with a local accent.

Call 101 with information.

In my travels over the last few days, I have been greatly encouraged the welcome darkness thatis returning to our land.

You might not be as aware of this development as I am, but take my word for it – the lights are going off all over the land, and with a bit of luck we shall not see them lit again.

I’m not talking about street lights, madam, and we’re not about to get into the rights and wrongs of turning off public utilities at a time when all good people should be in bed. I turn the lights off in my house when they’re not being used, and I expect the people spending my council tax to do the same. If you’re out in the small hours, take a torch and take precautions, all right?

No, the lights I am talking about are the cheery strings of twinkling tweeness that mark this time of year, festooned across the front of homes and gardens.

There has been, in recent years, a worrying trend to ape our American cousins by going bonkers with the Christmas lights.

Neighbours would compete for the most garish display, sometimes for charity and sometimes just for the hell of it, and turn their home into a mini Las Vegas complete with revolving snowmen, rampant reindeer and flashing compliments of the season.

It was only a couple of years ago that Dee Towers was one of the few down our street that didn’t feature some sort of seasonal display, standing dark and forbidding while all around it blinked and twinkled. And the displays would be switched on earlier and earlier each year, too, making the whole month of December a time for electricity board executives to rub their hands with glee at the prospect of the coming wonga windfall.

This year, there are no more than a handful of listless strings of lights draped in trees and bushes, and almost nothing adorning walls and windows.

And that’s a picture repeated elsewhere – there are still a few people who go over the top, but now they’re the exceptions rather than the trendsetters.

Why the tide has turned I don’t know. The cost of buying lights and keeping them juiced up in these tough times could be a contributory factor, I dare say, as could the distinct possibility that people just tired of the novelty and can’t be bothered with it any more.

But I prefer to think that it’s a sign of a nation collectively coming to its senses and realising that it is not mandatory to jump aboard any bandwagon foisted upon us by our cousins across the pond.

Hallowe’en, despite the best efforts of the retail giants, has singularly failed to take off on these shores, and is another indication that we are quite properly turning our backs on the cultural touchstones of the good old US of A.

Our next task must be to snub twerking and return to Morris dancing. Are you with me?

If someone says you’re a bit of a Walter Mitty they’re dismissing you as a deluded daydreamer, but where does the name come from?

First there was a short story by American humourist James Thurber, and that was turned into a big screen vehicle for the talents of Danny Kaye.

The combination was enough for the name to pass into the language, but that won’t bother potential punters pondering whether to shell out on a new cinema take on the story.

They’ll be more attracted by the presence of Ben Stiller as writer and director, and asking themselves the crucial question: Is it funny?

In this modern makeover, our hero is stuck in a humdrum admin job at a top magazine and is forced to grasp life with both hands when he loses a crucial image and has to go on a worldwide hunt for it.

That’s the cue for lots of location work and special effects, but the laughs are strained and most people would be left thinking that if he didn’t back up his data he deserves all he gets.

Keanu Reeves is still getting big gigs – go figure. Swords and samurai adventure 47 Ronin casts him as impassive hero determined to right wrongs and cut off heads with a single sweeping slice. Which isn’t wrong if you’re doing it for the right reasons, apparently.

He’s not asked to express much emotion, which is a good thing, as he battles against the baddies and assorted supernatural foes.

Fair play to Robert Redford, now aged 77 but refusing to relax and take it easy. In All Is Lost he carries the whole picture without saying a word, or even having a name.

He’s an intrepid yachtsman battling against the elements after his vessel is holed by a freak collision. His supplies are dwindling, the radio is wrecked, there’s a big storm coming and the sharks are circling – here’s real adventure, and a tale well told by Margin Call director J.C. Chandor and his superb star.

What would you do if a power cut, flooding or severe weather trapped you at home? A basic “emergency kit” will make your life easier and help you through the crisis by providing basics like fresh water, food, a way to communicate and to keep warm or cool.

“If local people are trapped in their homes by severe weather or an industrial accident like a chemical leak, or need to leave quickly because of flooding or a bomb threat the Bedfordshire and Luton Local Resilience Forum is responsible for co-ordinating support and relief,” explains the Forum’s Chairman, Chief Superintendent Mike Colbourne. “But it’s also useful if people have some supplies at home to help them cope.

“It’s quick and easy to create an emergency kit and store it in a waterproof box or bag somewhere to hand when you need it, or easy to move if you have to evacuate your home. Why not put it together now ahead of any crisis happening?”

You should include these items in your emergency kit:

> Bottled water

> Tin opener and non-perishable food

> Wind up radio

> Pocket torch (battery or wind up)and spare batteries

> Foil blanket and first aid kit

> Hand sanitizer, rubbish bags and plastic ties for personal hygiene

> Dust masks – to help filter contaminated air

> Warm clothes and a sleeping bag (1 per person)

> Mobile phone and charger

> Spare medication

> Insurance / important documents in a waterproof pouch

“Think about your family’s particular needs when creating your kit,” Chief Superintendent Colbourne adds, “and include any special medications taken by your family and enough food and water for everyone.”

See more BLLRF advice on: bit.ly/ZhYpqi and visit www.bllrf.org.uk today to discover how to protect your home and family this winter.

Bedfordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Olly Martins is calling on the public to save the non-urgent police number ‘101’ into their new mobile phones to end unnecessary delays for genuine 999 callers.

“Lots of people receive plush new mobiles and smartphones for Christmas and either have to key in their contacts again or transfer lists. This is the perfect opportunity to add one more – the non-urgent 101 police number – so that there’s no confusion on which number to call in the future,” he said.

The non-urgent ‘101’ number was launched to ease pressure on emergency services by reducing the level of inappropriate 999 calls as well as making it easier for residents to contact the police.

‘101’ can be used to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response such as stolen cars, if you suspect drug dealing/taking, would like to speak to your local policing team or want to provide information about crime in your area.

“While you must always dial 999 in a genuine emergency, the reality is many people call the number unnecessarily for issues which can be followed up later that day or a few days later. This means somebody who requires an urgent police response might have to wait longer than necessary to receive help, the consequences of which could be devastating,” said Commissioner Martins.

“Many people still don’t know the ‘101’ number and what it means and hopefully by prompting people to store the number when they’ve just received a brand new phone from Santa will ensure it’s remembered and more importantly available when needed.

“I would also urge people to take all the precautions they can to protect their new phone against theft, including activating built-in tracker apps and utilising the free of charge immobilise.com service,” he said.

A 14 year old boy was assaulted as he walked in Chapel Street in Luton on December 20.

The incident happened at about 1pm as the victim and two friends walked from Farley Hill towards the town centre.

As they crossed the road the driver of a small navy 3-door car beeped his horn before the passenger got out of the vehicle and began to shout at the victim. He then punched the victim in the face before getting back in to the car and leaving the scene.

The offender is described as a man with a mixed race appearance, 5’10” tall, in his early 20s with a slim build. He had a shaved head and a patchy beard with freckles on his face. He spoke with a local accent and wore a blue hooded top.

The officer in charge of this investigation, PC Lucy Craddock, is keen to trace witnesses to the incident.

PC Craddock said: “This appears to be a completely unprovoked assault on the young man who was left with a nose bleed, swelling and bruising. This incident happened in broad daylight when lots of people would have been in the area and I would appeal to anyone who saw the incident or anyone who can help identify the man responsible to contact the police.”

Anyone with information relating to this investigation can contact PC Craddock, in confidence, at 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.

Painstaking period detail, lots of star names, a rollicking tale of cross and double cross – what’s not to like about David O. Russell’s latest?

After building himself a real reputation as an intelligent film-maker who still serves up serious entertainment with recent successes The Fighter and Silver Linings Playbook, the current darling of the directors uses top talent from those films in a ‘based on real events’ story of 1970s con artists and conspiracies in American Hustle.

Christian Bale is the con man at the heart of the story, with Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence the women in his life at work and at home.

Bradley Cooper is the loopy government man who forces them to put their criminal talents at his disposal and Robert de Niro makes an almost obligatory appearance in a film which has been compared favourably with the likes of Goodfellas and Boogie Nights for its taut structure and impeccable period feel.

Robert de Niro also makes his mark in Last Vegas, another of those concept projects aimed at the older viewer.

Michael Douglas is getting on a bit and finally decides to get married, which is the cue for him to recruit old pals De Niro, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Kline for a stag do in Vegas that they’ll never forget, even if they are all old enough to be getting a bit fuzzy in the memory department.

It’s an obvious comedy and everyone seems to be having a good time, but there’s every chance that as the credits roll you’ll be asking yourself: “Now what did I come in here for?”

There’s another cast link into the third big film of the week – Morgan Freeman has played Nelson Mandela on screen in the past, and now it’s time for Idris Elba to fill those giant shoes.

The news that the legendary figure had died famously broke on the night that Mandela: The Long Walk To Freedom received its premiere, and you can’t help but feel that the wall to wall coverage of the man’s life and achievements that followed could kill interest in this biopic stone dead.

The story will hold no surprises to anyone who read a newspaper or watched a TV bulletin in the weeks following Mandela’s passing, which is a problem, but Elba is undoubtedly impressive in this respectful and respectable telling of a remarkable life.

There were some very special festive deliveries at the Luton&Dunstable hospital on Christmas day.

First to arrive was bonny Maya Kruszewska at 2.34am, weighing in at 3.2 kg.

She was a beautiful baby sister for four-year-old Roksanna and a lovely Christmas present for her mum Monika, 29, and builder dad Arek, 35, who live in Hart Lane, Luton.

The couple were celebrating a traditional Polish Christmas with friends when Monika went into labour.

“We called a taxi and she was there within three minutes of getting to the hospital,” Monika said.

“She’s a very good baby. She eats and sleeps.”

Next to make an entry was 2.9 kg Fatima Gurbuz of Burnham Road, Luton.

She was three weeks early and took her Turkish parents by surprise – dad Murat, 27, was in Hemel Hempstead where he works as a chef.

“My wife Ozlem had been taken to hospital with high blood pressure,” he explained. “Fatima arrived the next day.”

Their five year-old-son Ali is thrilled to have a sister and former Ashcroft High pupil Murat says his daughter looks just like him.

Little Levi Matiusevska came in time for tea at 10.05 on Christmas morning and tipped the scales at 3.12 kg.

His 25-year-old mum Rachel of Woodgreen Close was induced after suffering from gestational diabetes during pregnancy.

“It was lovely having him at Christmas,” she said. “He’s already becoming alert and active.

“He’s really easy – he eats and sleeps a lot and is really smiley.”

Bouncy baby Samuel Osibodu interrupted his parents’ Christmas lunch when mum Olabukola realised his arrival was imminent.

“He was only due on the 28th,” she said. Her 3.4 kg son has a ready-made playmate in his seven-year-old brother and according to Olabukola of Marsh Farm he’s proving a ‘very good’ addition to the family.

A team of Luton youngsters have just completed a 12 week self development programme.

Under the Prince’s Trust scheme, a group of 14 16-25 year olds not in education employment or training, celebrated finishing the course with a presentation at the Chaul End community centre last month.

Among the projects they got involved with was raising more than £480 via bag packing and a beauty and fun day.

A project called #CleanTeam4U saw them helping a range of different organisations with manual labour, including redecorating a family room in Norton Road Primary School, helping with food packages at Food Bank, designing a creative ethnic wall at African Caribbean Day Centre and various tasks at Chaul End Community Centre.

Their aim was to inspire other young people to make a positive change in their community.

In the team challenge they worked with a range of people to enhance their well-being. The team planned and carried out a workshop for young children at Raynham Way Community Centre to help them with confidence, teamwork and communication.

All the children thoroughly enjoyed it and it was very successful.

The projects are all designed to develop youngsters personally by improving their own confidence, self-esteem and employability.

Tamanna Sidika (Assistant Team Leader) said: “The Team have worked extremely hard throughout the programme. They gave it 100% and that is what they got out of the programme. They are perfect role models for young people today. Well done!”.

A man suffered from smoke inhalation after a kitchen fire on New Year’s Eve.

Fire crews were called to Ivy Court in Dallow Road at 10.46pm where there was a fire in the kitchen of a ground floor flat.

The male casualty was led to safety and left in the care of the ambulance service.