People driving in the East region are being urged to help cut the number of towing related incidents on Highways Agency roads this summer by checking their caravan or trailer before setting out.

There were 268 towing related incidents in the East region recorded on Highways Agency roads between July and September in 2013, and 2415 incident nationally, each potentially causing long delays and distress to those involved.

But many of these incidents could have been avoided if a few simple checks had been carried out, particularly where the caravan or trailer had not been used since the previous year.

Highways Agency Service Delivery Manager Andy Withington says: “The vast majority of caravanners and people who tow are safe and responsible drivers – however we do see a big peak in caravan and towing incidents during the summer, many of which could be avoided if drivers had carried out a few simple checks.

“If a car is off the road for months it’s common sense to check it is roadworthy before taking it back out and we strongly urge people to do the same with their trailers and caravans.”

Frequent causes of incidents include overloading the caravan or trailer, a mismatch with the towing vehicle, tyres which have burst because they have not been checked or replaced where needed and poor towing technique.

The Highways Agency advises anyone towing a caravan or trailer to:

• carry out a final maintenance check before setting off – particularly if it has been left over the winter

• pay particular attention to the condition and pressure of the tyres on both the towed and towing vehicle

• check that loads in the towed and towing vehicle are secure, that the weight is evenly distributed and is not excessive

• be aware of how towing affects the vehicle’s performance – particularly braking distances

• use extended mirrors when towing wider trailers, such as caravans, to ensure clear and legal visibility of the trailer and of other vehicles on the road

• check they have an appropriate driving licence for the vehicle and trailer combination

• know the correct speed limit for the vehicle and roads

• make sure they have proper breakdown cover in place

Drivers towing boats in particular should take care to keep the hubs of their trailers out of cold water, as this can stop the grease working and lead to failed bearings.

The Agency works closely with the Caravan Club, the Camping and Caravanning Club and the British Horse Society to promote safety messages to people who tow vehicles and trailers.

Martin Spencer and Ian Hewlett from The Caravan Club says: “The overwhelming majority of incidents involving caravans are readily avoidable if drivers check their car and caravan’s condition and loading before setting off and observe the speed limits for towed vehicles.

“Correctly used, caravans are safe and straightforward to tow, and provide fantastic, trouble-free holidays. The Club provides a wealth of advice and information to help caravanners avoid problems, and works with the Highways Agency and other bodies to promote safe caravanning.”

Ian Hewlett for the the Camping and Caravanning Club added: “Ensuring your tow vehicle and trailer are in a roadworthy condition are important steps for every driver, leave yourself plenty of time before your trip to check and rectify any problems. If you’re going on a long journey plan regular breaks to help you to remain fit to tow.”

Sheila Hardy from the British Horse Society says: “We all want to transport ourselves and our animals safely. Breaking down – or worse – on a busy road is stressful for both drivers and horses, so we should do all we can to avoid finding ourselves in that situation.”

“We encourage everyone to follow the Highways Agency’s advice and go to www.bhs.org.uk for more specialist information.”

The Agency encourages all drivers to plan their journeys and provides a full range of services to help with this.

It has produced several sources of information about safe towing, including downloadble magazines and videos, all available on the Highways Agency’s website.

Highways Agency traffic officers will be at service stations across England this weekend sharing advice on safe towing and journey planning, as well as being on hand to deal with any incidents on the motorway network.

House-hunters with a property to sell can discover how to make a quick and easy move to the home of their dreams at Taylor Wimpey’s stunning Beauchamp Mill development in Stotfold.

A Part Exchange Weekend is taking place at the Beauchamp Mill Sales Information Centre on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th July, when would-be movers can find out all they need to know about this stress-free incentive that could see them offload their current property in an instant!

Under Part Exchange, customers choosing from a selection of fabulous three, four and five-bedroom homes at the development will receive an agreed price for their existing property based on the average of independent professional valuations.

With the leading housebuilder as their guaranteed cash buyer and no danger of the property chain collapsing, Part Exchange purchasers are free to sit back and relax until their brand new home is ready to move into.

Representatives from the local branch of Connells estate agents will be on hand to value prospective purchasers’ homes during the event (subject to availability).

What’s more, all those who receive a valuation will be entered into a free prize draw to win a family day out at Woburn Safari Park, where Taylor Wimpey has helped to fund a new tiger enclosure and shelter for two Amur tigers, Elton and Minerva.

Christine Scarborough, Regional Sales and Marketing Director for Taylor Wimpey North Thames, says: “Many aspiring movers may be discouraged from looking for their ideal home because they cannot face the daunting prospect of trying to find a buyer for their current place – but Part Exchange takes away all the hassle and headache of playing the property market in one fell swoop.

“To find out how they could trade in their old home for a beautiful brand new house in a superb location at Beauchamp Mill – and be in with a chance of winning a family day out at Woburn Safari Park – would-be buyers should pay us a visit during our Part Exchange Weekend. They could find themselves making their dream move much more quickly than they ever thought possible!”

A 22 year old man was robbed in Dallow Road on Thursday last week after being dragged from his car.

Two black men approached the victim, took the car keys from the ignition and pulled the victim in to an alley.

The offenders assaulted the victim, took cash from his pockets and forced him in to a disused flat where they

were joined by a third offender who hit the victim over the head with a metal bar.

The victim managed to escape from the scene.

Detective Constable Gill Cowley, is keen to trace witnesses to the incident.

DC Cowley said: “We believe the offenders left the scene in the victim’s black Vauxhall Astra and we need anyone who can help identify those responsible for this crime to come forward and help this investigation.”

Call 101 with information.

The first offender is described as black, 6’ tall with a slim build, short black hair and in his late 20s. He was wearing a scarf over the bottom of his face and a green hooded top.

The second offender is described as black, approximately 30 years old with a slim build. He was wearing a scarf over his head and all back clothes.

The third offender is described as white, between 20 to 25 years old, tall and thin with a clean shaven ‘baby’

face. He was wearing a white shirt and an Ice white watch.

Anyone who can help with this investigation can contact DC Cowley, in confidence, at Luton Police Station, on 01582 394471, or Bedfordshire Police on 101, or text information to 07786 200011. Alternatively you can contact the independent crime fighting charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

A 22 year old woman was assaulted, groped and robbed by a gang as she walked home on Saturday night, July 19.

The incident happened at around 11.48pm as the victim was walking through the underpass towards Crawley Green Road in Luton and saw a group of 13 to 15 young men standing in her way.

As she tried to walk through the group one of the offenders grabbed her bottom. Another grabbed her hair and dragged her backwards to the ground then stole her phone. She was then groped by three of the group.

All the young men left the scene on foot towards Moor Park and Detective Constable Gill Cowley, investigating, is keen to trace people who were in the area that night and may have vital information about those responsible.

DC Cowley said: “Clearly this assault and robbery has left the victim extremely traumatised.

“We know that there were other people in the area that night who might have seen or heard a young woman crying or may have heard the assault taking place. I would appeal to those people to contact the police and tell officers what they know.”

Anyone who can help with this investigation can contact DC Cowley, in confidence, at Luton Police Station, on 01582 394471, or Bedfordshire Police on 101, or text information to 07786 200011.

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

A team involved with National Citizen’s Service are hosting a family fun day at Wardown Park on Thursday, July 24, to raise money for LAMP. The free event will be from 12.30pm till 4.30pm, there will be activities, stalls and a bouncy castle.

Barton Le Clay Pre-school are embarking on Forest School training to further develop the children’s activities, after the success of their nature garden.

The Pre-school received lots of donations from local businesses for the garden.

The nature garden was created thanks to a donation of land from Ramsey Manor Lower school and a grant from Central Bedfordshire council.

Ms Wardle, chairperson for the pre-school, said: “The Headteacher and governors granted the preschool use of a bit of land out the front of our building for us to create our very own new natural environment for the children to explore. This has been a fantastic opportunity that we are so grateful for.

“Mill End Nursery started the ball rolling by donating lots of bedding plants to fill our tyre planters, Wright Bros Fencing suppliers, Clophill, then gave us some trellis for the clematis around our pond area.

“Newbury Farm, Silsoe, gave us a fruit tree and lots of grass plants. Flitvale Garden Centre gave us tons of herbs which we used to fill up our pallet herb garden and Homebase, Bramingham, gave us lots of watering cans for the children to use.

“We are very grateful for all of these kind donations and look forward to seeing the garden change through the seasons.”

A 23-year-old man with an imitation firearm was arrested for ‘intent to cause fear’ after a concerned member of the public saw him in Vestry Close on Monday (July 21) afternoon.

Detective Constable Colin Knight, who appealed for witnesses, said: “We will not tolerate this type of offence. It not only causes fear but those who carry imitation firearms also put themselves at risk as armed officers who respond to this type of emergency will not know if the firearm is real or not.”

> Call DC Knight on 01582 394069 or Beds Police on 101.

Wigmore Primary school’s year 5 pupils invited parents to look at the solar systems they designed and created.

The event was to show the strong links between the school and parents.

Headteacher, Mr Davidson, said: “I was thrilled with the interest shown by both parents and children.”

>

Luton Borough Council should do more to recognise the town’s heroes, according to the councillor behind plans to make Hatters manager John Still an honorary freeman of the borough.

Lifetime Luton Town fan Michael Dolling, representative for Stopsley, proposed the honour for Still– which was unaminously agreed by councillors.

Should the Hatters manager accept the award, he will be invited to the Town Hall for a special ceremony.

Cllr Dolling told Herald & Post that the honour should be the first of many the council bestows.

He said: “It was agreed that sometimes we do nothighlight these people enough.

“There is limited scope for reward but I can think of plenty of people who would be right to receive something like this.”

Cllr Dolling added that Still’s award, the first of its kind since 1992, is being given in recognition of the entire club’s efforts over the last year.

He said: “It had to be offered to an individual so its for John Still, on behalf of the club.

“The title celebrations have raised the town’s morale.”

In our weekly feature into Luton life in the run up to World War One there was still no hint of what was to come.

Festivities were held at Luton Hoo as Mr Harold Wernher reached his majority. His 21st birthday had been in January but celebrations were put on hold for an open air festival at the stately home in July.

A rug alleged to have been stolen from a trap while in the care of a Dunstable innkeeper was the subject of a claim at Luton Couty Court.

Sydney Bates sued William Slater of the Saracens Head for 17s, the cost of the rug. He had paid Slater 3s to look after his horse and trap when the rug went missing. The Judge reserved judgement.

Luton hat trade was suffering from imports a trade report revealed. Luton’s young women were urged not to buy the imports because of jobs fears.

There was an outbreak of scarlet fever in Dunstable schools. Parents were urged not to send their children to school during the ‘peeling stage’. Two afflicted boys had been sent home and their mother reported to the medical officer.

Two men have been arrested in connection with a stabbing outside Asda in Wigmore Lane, Luton, last night.

The incident occurred just after 11pm when emergency services were called to the scene and found a 34-year-old man with a cut to his body.

The victim was taken to the Luton and Dunstable Hospital where he has undergone surgery and is now recovering.

He is described as being in a stable condition.

Two men, both 22 years old, were arrested shortly after and are now being questioned by officers.

Detective Sergeant Martin Eaton, investigating, is keen to trace anyone who saw the incident outside the Asda store and also anyone who may have witnessed an argument outside the Wigmore Arms Public House at approximately 11pm.

DS Eaton said: “This morning Scenes of Crime Officers are completing a forensic examination of the scene and police officers are conducting searches to find the weapon involved in this incident together with house to house enquiries.”

He continued: “We believe the two people who have been arrested in connection with this incident are known to the victim and we need information from the public to help piece together the circumstances leading up the assault.

“I would urge anyone who witnessed an argument outside the Wigmore Public House shortly before the assault to come forward as they may have vital information that could help this inquiry.”

Anyone who can help with this investigation can contact DS Eaton, in confidence, at Luton Police Station, on 01582 394310, or Bedfordshire Police on 101, or text information to 07786 200011.

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

Beds Police is one of the three worst constabularies in England and Wales at dealing with austerity measures, a report has revealed.

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) has tracked how efficiently forces have made savings since a 20% reduction in funding was announced in October 2010.

Of 43 forces thirty five were judged to have made a ‘good’ response to cuts– while Beds Police was one of just three to be told it ‘requires improvement’.

The police watchdog said that the county force has ‘significant policing challenges in the short term’, while issuing a stark warning over a raft of cuts to officer numbers.

The report read: “The force previously reduced its police officer numbers to a level that put at risk its ability to provide effective policing and this had a serious impact on performance.

“The force recognised this...under the leadership of the new chief constable, with oversight by the police and crime commissioner (PCC), it is now taking steps to increase its police strength to safer levels through the recruitment of 60 police officers.”

Beds Police is planning another recruitment drive in the autumn, in addition to the 28 new PCSOs who have joined in the last 12 months.

Of three areas assessed by HMIC, Beds Police was given a ‘requires improvement’ rating in two and a ‘good’ rating in one.

The force was told it needs to improve its efficiency to deal with an ‘unusually high level of serious threat’.

HMIC reports that earlier this year Beds Police ‘did not have a full understanding of its current level of demand’, though since ‘the force has recognised that it needs a better understanding of demand in order to manage its response more effectively.’

Another area of concern was whether the force is able to provide an ‘affordable way of policing’.

Though praising a back office sharing agreement with Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire forces, the report urged work on the deal to be stepped up.

It said: “HMIC is concerned that a significant amount of work remains to be done, and that any delay in finalising or implementing the plans could seriously affect the force’s ability to provide effective policing in the longer-term.”

PCC Olly Martins defended the force’s record, adding that police funding needs to be re-examined.

He said: “It is disappointing to be classified as ‘requires improvement’, particularly when at the same time it is acknowledged we are in the process of taking the steps required to deal with the various challenges we face.

“However HMIC’s categorisation reflects the underlying truth about our predicament.

“That’s why, whilst the current Home Secretary has made clear there will be no review of the police funding mechanism this side of the general election, it is imperative that whoever is the Home Secretary after May 2015 urgently addresses the inadequacies of the funding formula for policing. 
“Police funding needs to work in a way that recognises the demands forces like Bedfordshire face.”

Chief Constable Colette Paul added: “One of my priorities when I arrived as the new Chief Constable was to recruit people to the force and to fill any vacancies to strengthen our capacity so that we were in a position to deliver as good a service as we can to the public within the constraints we have.

“Looking back now, we’ve come a long way although we still have more to do over the next five years to meet our ambitious five year plan.”

Luton Culture community development officer Kelima Dautovic was at her desk at Farley Community Centre as usual this week.

But her heart was miles away, back home in the Bosnian village of Kozarac. There 284 of her countrymen were finally being laid to rest with dignity and respect, after being discovered in a mass grave containing more than 1,000 bodies.

“I should have been there,” the mother-of-three said simply.

Earlier this month, people across Europe supported Srebrenica Memorial Day, commemorating the 8,000 men and boys who died during the genocide in July, 1995. Kelima, 49, who has lived in Sundon Park for more than 20 years, was a key speaker at the Luton event.

She was nine months pregnant with her second child when she arrived in this country on a coach with 32 other refugees.

She spoke no English, had a six-year-old daughter and her husband was incarcerated in notorious Omarska prison.

Yet in spite of all she suffered at Trnopolje concentration camp, where women were regularly raped and beaten, Kelima regards herself as lucky – not only because she lost no immediate family members but also because Lutonians welcomed her and her fellow fugitives with open hearts.

“We didn’t want pity or benefits,” she said. “We wanted to work. We wanted people with ready smiles on their faces who, even though they couldn’t comprehend what had happened to us, would understand the effect it had on us.

“And this we certainly got in Luton . . . bountifully.

“We have shown our gratitude by raising our children to respect and accept what this country stands for, to encourage them to make British friends of all creeds and colours.”

She added: “But we have also taught them never to forget who they are and where they come from. They must know their identity, their language, their history. For that is their foundation.”

Felima and her lorry driver husband Enver, 51 – freed from prison four months after his family arrived in Luton – are enormously proud of their children.

Daughters Ena, 28, and Victoria Amina, 21 - the first Bosnian refugee to be born in this country – hold university degrees while son Sead, 17, is on a sports scholarship at Oxford United.

Kelima, a driving force in the Bosnian UK Network, says she and her husband have worked hard to provide them with a secure background: “But it’s thanks to the strength and kindness of the good people of Luton that we were able to build our lives anew.”

Housing and homelessness charity Shelter has launched an appeal calling for urgent support of its advice helpline, as the number of calls taken from people struggling to pay for their homes in the South East soars by over 69% in the last two years.

Last year the helpline spoke to more than 1070 people in the region struggling to pay their rent or mortgage, or going into debt because of their housing costs. Overall, calls to the charity from people in the South East rose by 25% over the same period.

The shocking figures reflect the growing number of people in the region facing an ongoing battle to keep up with their housing costs. The charity is warning that with so many already living on a financial knife-edge, a job loss or serious illness can be all it takes to tip someone into a spiral that ends in homelessness.

Over the last year, the helpline’s advisers heard from 124,000 people across the country desperately in need of support. But nearly 54,000 calls went unanswered as the charity struggled to keep up with growing demand.

Despite increasing the number of helpline advisors, the charity is finding that overwhelming need for their services continues to outstrip resource, making it impossible to answer every call.

Shelter helpline adviser Nadeem Khan said: “It’s heart breaking to hear from families everyday who are desperate to keep a roof over their heads, but it’s even worse to know that at any given time there could be others waiting desperately on the line who we just can’t get to.

“For many people – from a family who have been evicted and have nowhere else to go, to a parent who has lost their job and is struggling to keep their head above water – we are the only place they can turn for help.

“Cut after cut to the housing safety net has left many families facing a downward spiral towards homelessness. We need more support than ever so that we can be there to answer every call for help.”

The charity has heard shocking stories from across the country of families on the brink of losing their homes.

Campbell Robb, Shelter’s chief executive said: “Every 11 minutes, a family in Britain loses their home. With more and more people having to stretch their finances to breaking point in a bid to makes ends meet, it’s not hard to see why.

“But as more people come to us desperate for support, sadly our helpline is also being stretched to its limits.

“Our advisers can be the difference between a family keeping their home or losing it, which is why we urgently need more support to make sure that no call for help goes unanswered.”

The charity is urging supporters to donate to their helpline by visiting shelter.org.uk

Roma champion and Christchurch Bushmead vicar Martin Burrell is appealing for volunteers to help teach English to Luton’s Roma community.

The former Scottish Opera Orchestra clarinettist said: “Since January, Romanies have had the opportunity under EU laws to work in Britain. But if they don’t have English, they’re not going to be able to hold down a job.

“There are lots of courses out there but Romany people prefer to have English brought to them in their homes.

“We have a project that’s been running for nearly a year, funded by the Luton and Bedfordshire Community Foundation. It aims to help them engage with English, in recognition that this is a route to work and to integration.

“But we need to recruit many more volunteers to meet the huge need from the Roma community.”

The project’s literacy and language co-ordinator is Tracy Guy, 44, of Bushmead who did her training in ESOL (English as a second language) at the University of Bedfordshire.

The current course is run by Luton Adult Learning Centre.

The former pre-school practioner said: “It’s very similar to an early years foundation course – it’s the same sort of principle, teaching people how to read and write.

“I visit several ladies with mixed abilities and basic English. We look at the alphabet and I help with filling in forms.

“I really enjoy what I’m doing. I feel I’m making friends – and making a difference.”

She added: “We’re looking to recruit as many volunteers as we can and we’ll train them up.

“They don’t have to have a teaching background – we will teach them to teach English.

“People who respond should be flexible and prepared to work within a family unit. It can be challenging but it’s also very rewarding.”

Romanian widow and mother-of-six Cornelia Angel, 44, has benefitted from an ESOL course.

She said: “When we arrived I had no money, no work, no house. I sold flowers and did cleaning jobs.”
Now all her younger children are at school and she’s had an interview for a full-time job in a care home: “Thanks to Martin – and Jesus.”

> Find out more by emailing tg56luton@gmail.com

A wreath was laid on behalf of more than 70 police officers who paused to remember PC Jon Henry on Friday.

Officers taking part in the Police Unity Tour– a three day memorial cycle tour from New Scotland Yard, London, to the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire– stopped off in George Street to pay tribute to the fallen officer, also meeting with PC Henry’s widow Mary and daughter Maggie.

PC Henry was stabbed while on duty on George Street in June 2007.

Ikechukwu Tennyson Obih was convicted of PC Henry’s murder in 2009, jailed for life and will serve at least 25 years.

During a short ceremony on Friday Beds Police’s sole rider in the tour, sergeant Michael Pinsent, presented Mary with a band he wore– which bore the dates of PC Henry’s birth and death.

Sgt Pinsent told Luton News: “It was an honour to represent the force and present the band.

“PC Henry gave his life and that needs to be remembered.

“It was good that we stopped off on the way to do this, it was very important.”

After stopping for refreshments laid on by Sainsbury’s in Bury Park, the cyclists continued the tour which has raised more than £40,000 for the Care of Police Survivors charity.

The board of Barnfield College and the board of Barnfield Academy Trust will legally separate and create two independent organisations, it has been confirmed this morning.

The decision means that Barnfield College, on New Bedford Road, will become its own entity separate from academies dotted around Luton.

The move, which requires a sign off from the Department for Education, will see each organisation appoint their own chief executive.

It is expected that the split will take effect from ‘early November’.

A spokesperson said: “This decision was not taken lightly but only after several months of deliberation.

“We believe it is in the best interest of both Barnfield College and the Barnfield Academy Trust.

“Barnfield College and the academies are planning to continue to work together to share expertise and build on the achievements of the last few years.

“Students and their families will notice little difference as the legal changes will affect only governance and top level management arrangements.”

The spokesperson added that funding agencies ‘played no part’ in the decision.

The idea of Stockholm syndrome, where hostages bond with their kidnappers, is examined to great dramatic effect in LABOR DAY (12: Paramount).

A 13-year-old boy is forced to grow up fast as he helps his lonely single mother (Kate Winslet) cope with depression. They encounter a stranger in distress (Josh Brolin) and offer to take him home and give him shelter – only to discover he’s an escaped convict and the subject of a police manhunt.

But before you can say “howdy” they are in love – all three of them.

Credibility is stretched by the speed of the emotional developments and more time is devoted to baking a pie than might be allocated to a Jamie Oliver cookery programme.

Yet the whole thing hangs together remarkably well as Winslet and Brolin have time to flesh out their characters and writer/director Jason Reitman skilfully cranks up the tension, leaving you anxious to find out how it all ends.

> The Muppets prepare to embark on a world tour, unaware that Kermit has been replaced by an evil genius who is his exact double in MUPPETS MOST WANTED (U: Walt Disney).

Kermit is mistaken for Rusian criminal mastermind Constantine and is sent to a gulag, while his dastardly doppelganger goes off on the tour with the rest of the gang. This provides the perfect cover for Constantine and sidekick Dominic Badguy (Ricky Gervais) to carry out a heist.

There’s a goodly amount of amusing gags, but fewer belly laughs this time and a lot more star cameos, as if to distract attention away from the plot.

Self-deprecation is part of the Muppets’ charm and they’re always putting themselves down, apart from Miss Piggy. But when they sing about how the film is a sequel and therefore not quite as good as the last one, sadly it’s true.

One duff instalment won’t kill this relaunched franchise, but it’s unlikely to prove quite as much as a favourite with young viewers.

> Another sequel, RIO 2 (U: 20th Century Fox), is the same mix of colourfully frantic action, sharp sight gags and catchy musical numbers as the original.

In fact it’s overflowing with songs and slapstick as Jewel (voiced by Anne Hathaway), who is thrilled not to be endangered any more after her exploits in Rio, convinces her city slicker beau Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) to rediscover their rainforest roots when a flock of blue macaws is discovered deep in the Amazon.

The ecological message is pushed even harder than before, with the birds having to defend their habitat against illegal loggers, and many will enjoy the X Factor-style jungle auditions.

> Eisenberg is in a visible role in THE DOUBLE (15: Studio Canal), a thriller which sees Richard Ayoade’s second outing as a director following 2010 quirkfest Submarine.

He plays an office drone in a drab suit whose feelings for a fellow worker (Mia Wasikowska) go unrequited. His life takes a turn for the worse with the arrival of a new colleague (Eisenberg again), who is an exact physical double, but also arrogant, successful and sexually confident – his opposite in personality.

Eisenberg is terrific in dual roles and makes acting opposite himself seem totally natural, visually arresting and utterly compelling.

Detectives in Luton are warning members of the public to take extra precautions after a school student was subjected to an attempted robbery on Monday.

The incident happened between 3.10pm and 3.20pm as the 15-year-old victim walked home from school along a footpath in St. Thomas’ Road, Stopsley, towards Hitchin Road.

The victim was shouted at and approached by five teenagers who demanded he hand over his mobile phone.

The offenders searched the victim’s pockets and assaulted the boy before other pupils came to help him.

The offenders, who were all boys, between 14 to 17 years old, four are described as mixed race and one is described as black, all left the scene empty handed.

Detective Constable Lucy Arnold, investigating, is keen to trace anyone who can help identify those responsible and remind young people to take extra precautions when they are out and about during the summer holidays.

DC Arnold said: “I would urge anyone who has information relating to the five responsible for this incident to come forward and help stop them from targeting other young people.”

She added: “Bedfordshire Police does often record an increase in robberies involving young people during the summer months when they are out and about enjoying the hot weather.

“I would like to take this opportunity to remind them to be extra vigilant, stay with their friends and keep their belongings out of sight.”

A man has been charged in connection with a stabbing that occurred outside Asda in Wigmore Lane, Luton, on Tuesday.

The incident, which occurred at just after 11pm, saw a 34-year-old man sustain a serious cut that required surgery.

The victim remains in hospital in a stable condition.

Aaron Brannigan, 22, of Hitchin Road, Luton, has been charged with s18 grievous bodily harm and will appear before Luton Magistrates Court today.

Another 22-year-old man who was arrested at the same time has been released on police bail pending further investigation.

Following the incident scenes of crime officers sealed off a section of the supermarket car park to conduct a forensic examination.

Police officers also conducted searches for the weapon involved, as well as making house to house enquiries.