A tax cheat from Luton has been named and shamed by HM Revenue & Customs today.

A J Walker of 45 Enderby Road in Warden Hills, Luton, features on the list of deliberate tax defaulters, which is people who have received penalties for either deliberate errors on their tax returns or deliberately failing to comply with their tax obligations.

Mr Walker is a double glazing salesman who has a commission-based income.

He defaulted on tax in the tax year 2010-11 and 2011-12, and received penalties of £13,535.29 and £13,863.54.

The penalties involved tax of £25,781.52 and £26,406.76.

The list published by HMRC is its fifth to date of deliberate defaulters.

The deputy general secretary of the National Union of Teachers is calling for local authorities to take responsibility for free schools and acadamies following the revelations about Barnfield College this morning.

A Skills Funding Agency report into Barnfield College and Barnfield Federation has been referred to Hertfordshire Police who will decide if a criminal investigation is required.

Kevin Courtney, Deputy General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union, said the news comes days after publication of the Department for Education investigation into the Glendene Arts Academy over irregularities in the use of that academy’s funding.

He said: “Whatever the outcome of these investigations, and those at the King’s Science Academy in Bradford, it is becoming increasingly clear that the Secretary of State has failed in his duty to oversee the governance and management of academies and free schools – his key education policy. Clearly this is not a function that can be properly discharged from Whitehall.

“The NUT is calling for the oversight of free schools and academies to be devolved back down to local level with local authorities empowered to assume responsibility for their oversight.

“In addition, the NUT believes that taxpayers have the right to demand answers to the following questions from Michael Gove:

When will the investigation report into the Barnfield Federation be published?

Are there further investigation reports by the DfE or its agencies into irregularities at academies or free schools that have not yet been placed in the public domain?

If so, to which schools do they relate and on what date was each report produced?

As these are state-funded schools, will the Secretary of State publish these reports at the earliest opportunity in the interests of transparency and openness?”

I’m sorry, but this just isn’t a laughing matter. This sort of crude so-called humour is not acceptable in this day and age, and strong action is needed as a matter of urgency.

Vile Twitter trolls rounding on whichever unfortunate finds themselves in the public spotlight? Stand-ups with no self-control going for gags against vulnerable groups? Mrs Brown’s Boys from start to finish? No, none of the above.

I speak, with the pain that is still sharp after years of suffering, about puns in shop titles.

Now a pun is a lovely thing, and I am very fond of wordplay that provokes a knowing smile or a groan of grudging recognition.

But a pun should be like a snowflake – beautifully-constructed, a delight in the right place and in the right measure, but essentially ephemeral.

Which is why puns in shop titles will never be right, and should be discouraged at every turn.

I can see how the temptation can be hard to resist. You’re a small business trying to make an impact, you come up with what you think is a bright idea that will appeal to punters and make you more memorable, and you don’t have the experience of working with words that would tell you how quickly a quirky catchphrase becomes a tedious yawn.

Hair salons have traditionally been the keenest purveyors of the pun above the door – and in the days before the internet and social mobility they could get away with it.

But we all know that there’s no such thing as an original joke, and nor does the original pun exist.

So anyone who thought that calling their business Fringe Benefits or Curl Up And Dye was purely the result of inspiration on their part is sadly mistaken.

Take, for example, the shop which apparently sports the best pun in the country.

That would be Junk & Disorderly, a supposedly shambolic secondhand store on Market Street in Chesterfield, of course – well, it would be according to an online poll after a shortlist was culled from a database of 700,000 businesses.

Presumably that database mining didn’t flag up the fact that there’s a Junk & Disorderly if not in every town then in every other town in the UK.

Others on the shortlist included Pane In The Glass, Abra Kebabra, World Of Woolcraft, Sofa So Good and Heaven Scent. Oh, my aching sides.

To be fair, World Of Woolcraft is a new one on me – but I fear it will return to haunt me.

If you ask me, all business names should have to be registered with a man in a grey suit in a grey office somewhere, and the registration process should involve lots of repetition of the name on the part of the hair salon, coffee bar or fast food outlet concerned in a bid to make them realise that nothing goes stale quicker than a not particularly ribtickling joke.

A 46 year old man was robbed as he walked along Sundon Park Road on Monday night.

The victim had reached the junction of Toddington Road, close to the MacDonald fast food outlet and the BP garage on Marsh Road at around 11.10pm when he was approached by three men.

Two grabbed his arms while the third pushed an unknown object in to his stomach and demanded the victim’s property.

The victim handed over an Apple iPhone 5s, a Nokia N5 and a small amount of cash before the offenders fled the scene.

All three offenders are described as white men, possible Eastern European, approximately 5’8” tall and wearing dark clothing.

Detective Constable David Elias said: “Although this offence happened late at night this is an extremely busy area with lots of motorists passing by and the fast food outlet being regularly used late at night. I would urge anyone who saw the robbery or anyone who saw three men matching the description to come forward and speak to officers, in confidence.”

Call on 01582 394376, or Bedfordshire Police on 101, or text information to 07786 200011.

Alternatively contact the independent crime fighting charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800555 111.

A charity supporting people and relationships in Bedfordshire has welcomed a report which shows its services are value for money.

An independent report commissioned by the Department for Education, shows nationally Relate’s couple counselling service delivers £11.40 benefit for every £1 spent.

Angela Foll, Chief Executive of Relate Bedfordshire and Luton said: “It’s great to have this recognition of the value of our work.

“At Relate Bedfordshire and Luton we help over 4,000 people every year through our range of services but we know there are more people who could benefit from accessing help and support.

“Every day, we see first-hand the devastating impact that relationship breakdown can have – so we know that our work to help couples understand each other and have the tools to improve their relationships if they want to is absolutely crucial.”

The DfE commissioned the independent evaluation as part of the Prime Minister’s commitment to relationship support.

Relationship breakdown is estimated to cost the UK economy £46 billion each year, with often devastating and long-lasting emotional effects for individuals and families.

The evaluation looked at services offered at different stages of a couple’s relationship: marriage preparation, short relationship education classes and couple counselling.

All services were found to be associated with positive impacts, with couple counselling in particular leading to positive changes in wellbeing and relationship quality.

Relate, the UK’s leading relationship support organisation, welcomed the report. Ruth Sutherland, Chief Executive of Relate said: “We are delighted that this report demonstrates the financial and social benefits of Relate’s couple counselling service. Given that relationship breakdown is estimated to cost the UK economy tens of billions each year, it is clear that future investment in relationship support services will continue to bring very real financial and social benefits.”

The report also found that people who used relationship support services were more likely to access support in the future.

However the authors identified the need for improved signposting to these services so that more people can benefit throughout the course of their relationships.

They also call for a clear strategy for relationship support which encourages central and local government and local public health departments to take account of the importance of adult couple relationships and their impact on health and wellbeing.

>Contact the charity at www.relatebedsandluton.org.uk

A Luton pub landlord and his brother were badly beaten in the early hours of Saturday morning after four people were refused a drink.

Gerard Duggan of the Sugar Loaf in New Town Street and his brother Declan suffered a terrifying assault which left the pub smashed up and Declan needing reconstructive surgery on his broken jaw.

Declan – former landlord of the White Swan in Dunstable – said: “It was only the sheer bravery of other customers that stopped anyone being killed by these axe-wielding thugs.

“This was by far the most serious public order assault and offence that I have witnessed in my lifetime.

“They appeared at the back door and I was attacked.

“They went away and came back tooled up with weapons and started smashing windows with axes and hatchets.”

He was taken to the Luton&Dunstable Hospital where he underwent micro surgery through his temple to reconstruct his jaw.

The evening had started on a high note when Declan and a party of family and friends – including Lord Bill McKenzie and his wife Dianne – went to the Sugar Loaf after attending a Valentine concert at Luton Library Theatre.

Declan said: “It went from being a Night at the Opera to the St Valentine’s Day Massacre.

“Luckily most people had left before the attack began. It was absolutely terrifying, like living a nightmare.

“I’ve never seen thuggery like it.”

A police spokeswoman said: “Two unknown offenders accompanied by two women gained entry through the rear entrance and became angry and aggressive when they were told they wouldn’t be served.

“The landlord was headbutted and when the other injured party came to his assistance, he was dragged along the floor and assaulted again.

“Five minutes later windows were smashed, it is believed by the same people.”

> If you have any information please contact the officer in charge, Police Constable Stephen Hunt, on 101. You can also ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

This year’s FSB Bedfordshire Business Awards were launched in Luton with the news that Center Parcs has joined the team as the headline sponsor.

Daniel Whittemore, Head of Corporate Sales at Center Parcs, said: “SMEs play a vital role in the business community and it’s important that once a year time is taken out to recognise the achievements of members of the FSB.”

The FSB Bedfordshire Business Awards were launched to an audience of sponsors and potential entrants on February 12) at Basepoint, in Great Marlings, Luton,

Bedfordshire FSB Branch Chairman Ian Cording said: “It’s great to see Center Parcs show their commitment to the county’s small business community by getting behind these awards. Without a headline sponsor and all the other brilliant sponsors, these awards simply would not happen.”

Toma Habashi, Managing Director of Luton-based specialist media agency and new sponsor Silvertoad Ltd said winning a category at a previous FSB Bedfordshire Business Awards had helped the company win new business. “The fact that a prestigious business organisation has judged us to be a winner has definitely given us an edge,” he said.

Chris Harris, Regional Manager of sponsor Basepoint, said: “Basepoint and the FSB share the same ethos to see businesses grow and flourish. We are sure the standard of entries will be as high, if not higher, this year.”

Peter Cabon, Executive Director at the enterprise agency and sponsor Wenta, said: “Start up businesses are the lifeblood of the economy. By showcasing success we hope to encourage more people to make the step into starting up their own businesses.”

Center Parcs is sponsoring the Overall County Winner and Community Business of the Year.

The free-to-enter awards are open to any sole trader or company employing up to 250 employees in Bedfordshire, not just members of the FSB.

Entrants can go for glory in up to three different categories. From all these award winners, chosen by an independent panel of judges, will emerge the Overall County Winner.

For more information and to enter, visit www.fsb.org.uk/Beds-awards

Two people suffered minor injuries when a bus hit a fence on part of the Dunstable section of the guided busway yesterday, Wednesday, February 19.

It is believed that six people were on the Centrebus vehicle at the time of the accident, which happened

at around 2pm in the Boscombe Road area.

Onlookers said that both the fence and the front of the bus were damaged. The bus windscreen was smashed in the accident.

Services were disrupted for a time.

Police, ambulance and fire service personnel went to the scene.

An investigation will be held into the accident.

The busway tweeted alerts about the disruption and thanked bus travellers for their patience while the situation was dealt with.

The £90 million controversial busway was opened in September last year.
Since then there have been issues with motorists inadvertently ending up on the busway after becoming lost or using their sat navs.
A motorist also went through the wooden fence on Hatters Way, causing some disruption.

If there are three words that turn me away from a film faster than the prospect of sitting in front of someone chowing down on a binful of popcorn, ‘enchanting romantic fantasy’ is only beaten by a short head by overall champion ‘starring Adam Sandler.’

A New York Winter’s Tale is packed with the distressing warning signs of a date movie which might appear to have something to offer but falls flat on its face.

It’s adapted from an acclaimed novel, there are lots of star names wearing elegant period costumes, but there is a baffling storyline which struggles to convince.

And it’s also first time out as director for Akiva Goldsman, who may have an impressive pedigree as a writer and a producer but has never called the shots before.

So what’s it all about? We’re in New York half way through the First World War – oh, sorry, we were half way through but the Yanks had yet to rock up on the front line – and burglar Colin Farrell breaks into a posh pad.

There he comes across frail young beauty Jessica Brown Findlay, her off Downton Abbey, and they begin to hit it off. Hold on, she’s suffering from TB and not long for this world.

But Colin, who at the same time is being pursued by sinister gangster Russell Crowe, then discovers that he is able to hop through time and is determined to use his gift to both dodge Russell’s attentions and save the love of his life.

Sounds absolutely ludicrous, doesn’t it? It’s possible to be carried away by flights of fancy, but not when they are as heavy-handed as this. Catch it while you can, it won’t be around for long.

Another big budget release laden with stars which has failed to convince the critics is Monuments Men.

George Clooney directs and takes a lead role, along with the likes of John Goodman, Matt Damon, and Bill Murray in this sort of true tale about a hand-picked group of arty warriors tasked with rescuing priceless paintings and the like before the retreating Nazis torched them in the dying days of the Second World War.

Watch the video to see what the stars had to say in advance of the London premiere.

Assistant manager at Luton Hoo Hotel, Ben Hunt, is set for a marathon year with no less than 11 runs scheduled for him to take part in between March and December.

The runs will see Ben covering more than 120 miles in total while raising money for charities including The Meningitis Trust and Luton-based Keech Hospice Care.

To date, Ben has raised over £3,000 on behalf of the charities and since his first run last July, he has been well and truly bitten by the running bug.

He said: “After sadly losing a friend 20 years ago to meningitis and recently experiencing another friend losing his 19-month-old daughter to the illness, I felt that I really wanted to do something to make a difference and decided that I would take part in the Great North Run.

“I started running at the beginning of last July, building up slowly and working on improving my techniques over the next two to three months. After completing the race in under two hours I was determined to carry on and since then I have continued my training. I am really looking forward to taking part in more races and raising money for some very worthy charities.”

Ben’s next race will be the Reading Half Marathon on Sunday, March 2. To make a contribution visit: http://www.justgiving.com/Ben-Hunt6

If women entrepreneurs want to grow their business, they need to network. Research has shown that investing time and energy in networking can reap huge benefits for your business. Not everyone is a natural networker and even armed with the confidence of running a successful business, the prospect of networking can be daunting.

Your business is growing, you have strong contacts, and you’re happy with how your business is progressing, so why network? Research has shown that women in business often build narrow, strong relationships but that it’s having a wide, varied network that is paramount. Businesses need a wide range of contacts to exchange ideas, share information, solicit advice, share resources, raise capital or develop partnerships.

You may well have a profile on LinkedIn and Facebook, a Twitter account and possibly a blog. It’s easy to feel as though you’re always communicating but are you really building a quality, varied network that is going to have a positive impact on your business?

With limited time, it’s important to join the right networking group, but this can be a daunting, and financially challenging prospect. A goodplace to start for many is Bedfordshire BusinessWomen; a nurturing, inclusive group which was founded in 1988 and has become the most successful women’s networking group in the county.

Bedfordshire BusinessWomen hold networking events on the third Thursday of every month and include four major networking events throughout the year. On the first Wednesday of every month, a Bedfordshire BusinessWomen member-run workshop also takes place. Why not come along as a guest to the next event and experience the power of networking for yourself?

For more information to come along as a guest, or to join, please visit: http://www.beds-businesswomen.org

Detectives in Luton are seeking witnesses to a late night robbery that happened on Tuesday (Feb 18).

The 25 year old victim was walking along Park Street at 11.30pm and when he reached the junction of Strathmore Avenue he was approached by three men.

The men punched the victim to the ground and took several items from his pockets including an Apple iPhone, cash, a silver bracelet and rings.

The offenders are all described as black and fled the scene running towards Kingsland Court.

The officer in charge of this investigation, PC Ben Stone, is keen to speak with anyone who saw the robbery.

PC Stone said: “Although this offence happened late at night we know there were a lot of pedestrians out and about at the time. I would appeal to these people to speak with officers and tell them if they saw or heard anything suspicious in the area or saw three men running towards Kingsland Court.”

Anyone with information relating to this crime can contact PC Stone at Luton Police Station, inconfidence, on 01582 394471, or Bedfordshire Police on 101, or text information to 07786 200011.

Alternatively contact the independent crime fighting charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800555 111.

A new initiative to help students gain work experience and find employment when they finish their studies has been launched at Barnfield College.

The Job Shop, which has opened at the College’s New Bedford Road campus, works with the students to source industry experience and part-time employment during their studies – and full-time relevant roles after they leave.

Services include weekly CV sessions, careers guidance, job search training and workshops to develop interview techniques and key skills.

Staff support students in arranging interviews with local businesses, giving application form guidance and providing 1-2-1 support for training needs.

The Job Shop also reaches into the wider community, working with the unemployed and developing relationships with young people who are not currently in education, training or employment.

College Principal Miles Dibsdall OBE said: “Our new Job Shop works closely with employers to ensure that once our students have completed their studies at Barnfield, they are ready for the world of work and able to move directly into the career of their choice.

“We are delighted to be able to provide such a valuable service, not just to our students but to the wider community – for both local job seekers and employers

A man has been arrested after police raided a house in Connaught Road, Luton, yesterday evening.

Police in Luton executed a search warrant yesterday evening (Feb 19) after a house in Connaught Road was found set up as a cannabis factory.

Members of the Special Constabulary attended the address and found cannabis together with a hydroponics lighting system which had been fitted in the property.

During the subsequent search of the house a bag containing what is thought to be cocaine and various weapons were also seized.

A 27 year old man was arrested at the address on suspicion of cultivating cannabis and possession of a class A drug (cocaine).

He has since been released on police bail pending further investigations.

Police Sergeant Pauline Leng, who is based at Luton Police Station, said: “This was an excellent result which illustrates the dedication of the Special Constabulary officers who give their own time to protect and keep the public safe.”

If you believe a property in your area is being used to produce illegal drugs then you can contact Bedfordshire Police, in confidence, on 101, or text information to 07786 200011.

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

The theft of guns during a burglary at a Kensworth home is of “great concern” say police.

The firearms and jewellery were stolen from the Poplar Road property while the woman who lives there was away.

On returning she noticed a window had been smashed and intruders had searched her home before taking cash and a silver antique jewellery box. They also opened a gun cabinet and removed two BSA .22 rifles and a shotgun.

Detectives from the South Bedfordshire Burglary Team are appealing for information about the break-in, which happened between 1.20pm on Monday, February 17 and 8.35pm on Tuesday, February 18.

The officer in charge of the investigation, Det Con Tracey Joyce, said: “The silver jewellery box holds significant sentimental value for the victim and can never be replaced.

“It is also a great concern that whoever has committed this offence has taken three firearms which were legally held at the premises.

“I would urge anyone who has noticed an unusual person in the area recently or anyone who has information relating to the person who is responsible for this offence to contact the police.”

Contact Det Con Joyce, in confidence, on 01582 394086 or Bedfordshire Police on 101, text information to 07786 200011 or call crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Children in Luton are set to benefit from a new NSPCC centre which has just opened in Adelaide Street.

The children’s charity chose Luton for the centre as it is an area of “high need”.

The centre will offer services for child victims of sex abuse and run two projects including Letting The Future In.

Service centre manager Steven McIntyre said: “Letting The Future In is about saying to a child, ‘What happened to you was not your fault and it doesn’t have to impact your future.’”

There is also a programme for families of abuse victims, which teaches parents how to protect their children in the future, and looks at how as a family they can “close the door on abuse” and move on.

Steven said: ”Some of the most powerful work I have ever seen has taken place in a service centre.”

At the moment the centre is working with families from their old centre in Hemel Hempstead but soon they will be taking referrals from Luton Borough Council.

They are working with the Luton Safeguarding Children Board, Beds Police, children’s centres and women’s centres.

Steven said: “We want to get to know as many people in Luton as possible. But the great thing about our work is it’s not done by postcode. If it makes sense to work with a family from outside Luton, we will do it.

“We don’t get money from the government so we are independent, our work for children isn’t related to the government of the day. We can just do what we think is right for a child.”

One of the campaigns is ‘PANTS’ - the Underwear Rule.

It’s a simple way to help keep children safe from abuse (see below). It is shocking that this is something that needs to be taught, but just like teaching children how to cross the road or not to speak to strangers, it is a valuable lesson which could one day protect them. Steven said: “We’ve had fantastic feedback from parents about the Underwear Rule. They all say they just didn’t know how to talk to children about this subject before, but the Underwear Rule is a really simple way to broach the topic.”

The centre takes cases by referrals, but Steve stresses that if someone is worried about a child, would like to know what the NSPCC is all about or would like to fundraise, they can drop in.

Fundraising is crucial for the NSPCC as 92 per cent of their funding is from public donations and they don’t get any money from government.

Fundraising manager Sally Phipps said: “If you’ve got a fundraising idea, just do it. We want people to be proactive. Get in touch if you have an idea and we can support you. It will make such a difference to the NSPCC and the lives of vulnerable children in Luton.”

The Underwear Rule:

P - Privates are Private

A- ALways remember your body belongs to you

N - No means no

T - Talk about secrets that upset you

S- Speak up, someone can help

Leaflets are available from the NSPCC centre in Adelaide Street or nspcc.org.uk/underwear.

If you would like to get involved in fundraising or volunteering, call Sally Phipps at the Regional Centre on 0207 650 3270 or email SPhipps@nspcc.org.uk

Business is tough and we all need to do something different to stand out from the competition. But what do we do and where can we go for advice?

Many business people have turned to mentors for support, or have themselves become mentors, to offer their knowledge and skills for the greater good.

The slogan “Be Someone Who Matters To Someone Who Matters” was used for this year’s National Mentoring Month and is a brilliant quote to define what a ‘mentor’ actually is. It also shows that mentoring is a two-way street, with you as a person seeking a mentor to support you; and in return using your own skills and knowledge to mentor someone else.

In large PLC companies, mentoring is standard practice. Each person is advised to seek out a mentor to guide them through their career within the organisation. If you work in a small company or are self-employed, this can be a far more daunting task. How do you actually go about finding a mentor? What key skills and attributes do you look for? How often should you meet and what will a mentor actually do for you? Do you need to pay them? These are just some of the questions asked which sadly can be enough to scare off a lot of people.

Becoming a member of Bedfordshire BusinessWomen (BBW) can help you find a mentor or simply to receive advice and support via the monthly networking opportunities.

BBW is a not-for-profit networking organisation that has been going for over 25 years and is specifically designed to provide a support network for women who live or work in Bedfordshire. There are monthly networking events, as well as online community forums, where relationships can be developed in a nurturing environment.

A recent discussion on the BBW LinkedIn group highlighted the difference between coaching and mentoring; two disciplines often confused but clearly explained at {http://www.cipd.co.uk/hr-resources/factsheets/coaching-mentoring.aspx#link_0|www.cipd.co.uk}

BBW member and owner of Elizabeth Toogood: Your Critical Friend explains that finding a mentor can be difficult; it is like any recruitment project - somewhere out there is the correct person but you will only recognise them if you have a clear idea of what you are seeking.

Elizabeth’s advises: “chemistry is massively important. Be sure you like and trust this person to share with them your innermost thoughts and expose your mistakes without feeling they will judge you. It is as intimate as taking your clothes off! Do expect to pay; I know no expense is a good one, but this gives you some equality in the relationship.

It respects the mentor and it also allows you to feel free to give them a call and say “help, now please!” Fees can vary hugely - make sure that you get value for money and are not locked into a relationship that you cannot free yourself from.”

Finding the right mentor is important as there needs to be a personal as well as business chemistry to ensure the success of the mentoring relationship. Having the right mentor will allow you to bounce ideas off someone, work through strategy with them, or simply obtain an outsider’s opinion.

Elizabeth said: “I would not be without my mentor to help me learn from and celebrate successes and unpick areas where I am less happy. We are always learning”.

A great mentor will help take your career in the right direction. A great mentor will become a friend long after your career has progressed. A great mentor will help you grow, prosper and succeed.

If you want to take the next step in finding your own mentor, or maybe you would like to offer some of your time to mentor someone else, then you might want to consider joining Bedfordshire BusinessWomen. Come along to our next event as a guest and meet the members. You can find all the information on upcoming events on our website as well as a list of current members. To book as a guest or join our group, please visit: {http://www.beds-businesswomen.org|www.beds-businesswomen.org}

Space movie GRAVITY (12: Warner) lost out to 12 Years A Slave in the coveted best film category, but still dominated the Bafta awards, winning six prizes.

The nerve-shredding tension of Speed meets the technical perfection of Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey in this intimate sci-fi spectacular.

Sandra Bullock stars as Ryan Stone, a talented medical engineer making her first space-shuttle mission under the command of veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski (George Clooney).

As the team carry out a service on the Hubble Space Telescope, a planned missile strike on a defunct Russian satellite sends shards of dangerous debris hurtling towards them, instantly destroying the shuttle.

With limited oxygen supplies remaining, Stone and Kowalski find themselves trapped in the void, setting the clock ticking on an intense and exhilarating fight for survival.

The special effects are tremendous, while Bullock’s almost balletic performance imbues this film with a humanity and grace that beautifully complements director Alfonso Cuarón’s breathtaking vision.

> The only thing that THE HAUNTING OF CONNECTICUT: GHOSTS OF GEORGIA (15: Lionsgate)has in common with the original story is that it involves ghostly goings-on and is supposedly based on a true story.

The haunted house this time is an old mansion in the Georgian backwoods, which was once part of the “underground railway” that helped slaves from the Deep South escape to the north.

The house’s newest residents are a young family from the city, but with daughter Heidi possessing psychic abilities, it’s not long before otherworldly creatures are popping up all over the place.

Mum Lisa, who has similar powers to her daughter but has fought long and hard to suppress them, is sceptical at first yet reluctantly starts to accept something very bad must have happened at the property back in the 19th century.

A relentless pace is sustained throughout and the proceedings are punctuated with a constant stream of frights and shocks, which go a long way towards compensating for the predictable plotting and bland performances.

> On paper, CLOSED CIRCUIT (15: Universal) has the makings of a taut and clever thriller.

Barrister Martin Rose (Eric Bana) is appointed to defend the sole surviving suspect after a terrorist bomb in central London leaves many dead.

But when special advocate Claudia Simmons-Howe (Rebecca Hall) is appointed to review classified evidence that she legally can’t reveal to ex-lover Rose, the pair find both their careers and lives in jeopardy as they unravel a conspiracy that stretches to the country’s highest seats of power.

So much screen time is spent explaining the legal complexities of terrorist trials that the pace never gets into top gear.

The script is by Peaky Blinders writer Steven Knight, but the clunky dialogue has a tendency to make the two leads appear wooden and disconnected from the story, with only Jim Broadbent as a government bigwig with a hidden agenda making any real impression.

Bedfordshire’s Lord Lieutenant dropped into Stepping Stones Luton on Wednesday to see the work the charity does to help women dealing with domestic violence and addictions.

Helen Nellis was told the charity is dealing with 160 clients with many more on the waiting list.

A range of benefits is offered to women, from individual support, mentoring and counselling, and courses designed to increase self-esteem, parenting skills, the therapeutic environment of a supportive group, and encouragement into training and work.

Staff at the Luton & Dunstable Hospital celebrated a very special anniversary on Thursday.

More than 300 people who had been nominated by their peers and managers, attended a dinner to celebrate the hospital’s 75th birthday at Luton Hoo’s Warren Weir Suite.

The event was to thank staff for their outstanding contribution to the work of the hospital and to present awards to individuals and teams who had made a special contribution.

Guest speaker Professor Sir Peter Rubin, chairman of the General Medical Council, told the audience he had done some research into conditions in health services 75 years ago.

He said news reports showed the River Thames had flooded and that doctors were dealing with a diptheria epidemic, a disease most doctors would never see in their lifetime now.

And he condemned recent criticism of the National Health Service.

“I think people who criticise the NHS should try living in a country which doesn’t have an NHS,” he told the audience, to a round of applause.

The L&D was opened on February 14, 1939 by Queen Mary almost 10 years before the NHS was created.

During its anniversary year the hospital has a range of events planned including a thanksgiving service at Dunstable Priory Church, a special edition souvenir newsletter as well as radio broadcasts and news interviews.

Special guests on the night included Sir Peter, Dame Christine Beasley, former Chief Nursing Officer at the department of Health, award- winning chef Jean-Christophe Novelli and Dr Danielle Freedman, a consultant chemical pathologist and associate physician in clinical endocrinology.

The event was sponsored by L&D Charitable Funds which are donated for the benefit of staff.

The L&D was the first NHS Foundation Trust Hospital in Beds, Herts and Bucks in 2006 and today is a fully fledged University Teaching Hospital. It has 550 beds, supported by 13 operating theatres to meet the needs of 300,000 people in the local community.

Last year over 200,000 patients were referred by their GPs to see a specialist there and the L&D’s midwives delivered over 5,500 babies.

Today the L&D provides some specialist services including Neonatal Intensive Care Unit that provides the highest level of care available in the UK for critically ill new- born babies. It also has a cancer unit, a stroke unit and a modern cardiac unit and the busiest A&E in the East of England.