Your background and where you come from doesn’t matter, according to Imperial College Professor Anne Dell.

She told Years 9 and 10 pupils at Lealands High School what was important was that “you can aspire to be something great.”

And she said she herself was a fine example – she grew up on a farm in the Australian Outback with no electricity and didn’t attend school until she was 11.

But she went on to study chemistry at university and won a scholarship to Cambridge to do a PhD.

She is now a professor of carbo-hydrate biochemistry and specialises in the role sugars play in the body,

Professor Dell was at Lealands as part of the Speakers for Schools programme.

Four teenagers have been arrested after a man was stabbed in Luton this afternoon.

The 18-year-old man suffered serious but not life-threatening injuries in the incident, which happened in Lower Wellington Street at about 12.45pm.

He is currently in hospital in a stable condition.

A number of people were involved in the fight, which started in nearby George Street.

Officers attended and have arrested four people on suspicion of affray– two 17-year-old boys and two men aged 18 and 19.

All are currently in custody.

Lower Wellington Street was cordoned off last night while scenes of crime officers continued their investigations.

Detective Inspector Sean Quinn, investigating, said: “This is being treated as an isolated incident between two groups of people.

“We are continuing our enquiries and are trawling through CCTV to identify anyone who was involved in the incident.”

Anyone with any information about the incident should call DI Quinn on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

Police have arrested a fifth teenager after a man was stabbed in broad daylight in Luton town centre on Monday afternoon.

The 18-year-old man suffered serious but not life-threatening injuries in the incident, which happened in Lower Wellington Street at about 12.45pm.

He was taken to Luton and Dunstable Hospital in a stable condition.

A number of people were involved in the fight, which started outside Lloyds Bank on George Street.

Officers attended and arrested four people on suspicion of affray– two 17-year-old boys and two men aged 18 and 19.

Another 17-year-old was arrested late on Monday.

All were held in custody.

Lower Wellington Street was cordoned off for most of Monday while scenes of crime officers continued their investigations.

Detective Inspector Sean Quinn, investigating, said: “This is being treated as an isolated incident between two groups of people.

“We are continuing our enquiries and are trawling through CCTV to identify anyone who was involved in the incident.”

Anyone with any information about the incident should call DI Quinn on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

Six teens have been arrested after police received reports of an aggravated burglary at a home in Round Green, Luton, last night.

Officers attended the property shortly after 9pm and later stopped a taxi on New Bedford Road, from which four were arrested.

Two teens were also arrested by police in the town centre.

In all four 18-year-old men and two boys aged 16 were held by officers.

All six are currently in custody at Luton Police Station.

A woman in her 50s was left with ‘serious’ injuries after a car and motorbike collided on New Town Street, Luton, this morning.

East of England Ambulance Service sent a rapid response unit and an ambulance shortly after the collision at 7.45am.

The woman, who is believed to have been the motorbike rider, was taken to the Luton and Dunstable Hospital.

She is said to have sustained serious but not life threatening injuries.

Police closed off New Town Street after the collision.

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service will continue to answer 999 calls and respond to emergencies during the forthcoming 24 hour strike.

The Fire Brigades Union has announced that the its members in fire and rescue services across England will be on a continuous nationwide strike from 9am on Tuesday, December 9, till 9am on Wednesday, December 10.

This is the latest in a series of strikes over the past 15 months.

The FBU is in dispute with the government over firefighter pension arrangements.

Safety advice is available at: www.bedsfire.com

Bedfordshire’s chief fire officer, Paul Fuller said: “Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service does have well practiced plans to continue to deliver services during the periods of FBU strike action, based on the previous strikes over the past year, and these plans will again be put into place.

“This is a national dispute between the FBU and the Government; however, there is always a local impact when strikes are called, as there will be a reduced service for the community, compared to normal.

“Therefore, we will prioritise any 999 calls we receive, so that we can respond to those with a potential threat to life and we will still have qualified firefighters and officers responding to emergencies.”

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Glen Ranger highlighted the need for the public to take extra care as the latest strike will take place in the build up to Christmas.

He said: “With Christmas approaching, the potential for fires in the home increases, with additional combustible materials in the home – and the use of candles, Christmas tree lights etc. This means that we will need the support and help of the public to minimise the risk of fire and other emergencies.

“We urge the public to use common sense, and minimise the potential for fire to start in the home, and take extra care when driving on the county’s roads.”

Luton Elite Badminton Club held a community badminton tournament last month at Denbigh Sports Hall to mark its fifth anniversary.

The club was formed by a group of volunteers to encourage people from the local community to engage in Badminton.

The club has gone from strength to strength with new members joining every week. It meets at Denbigh High School on Wednesday evenings from 7.pm-9.30pm and also at the High Town Recreation Centre in Luton, on Sunday afternoons from 12pm-2pm.

The club has two teams competing in division 1 and one team competing in division 2 of the Bedfordshire badminton league.

Club chairman Moktadir Meah said: “As residents, we wanted to give something back to this community to tackle the many issues that are evident. We felt we could do this by encouraging people to participate in playing badminton in a fun environment. I would like to thank all volunteers and members who are a part of this club who have done a fantastic job and I would also like to thank Be 2travel, Samad Travel and the Neighbourhood Governance ‘Your Say, Your Way’ for sponsoring this event.”

Applications for funding to fund projects such as this, can be submitted now and the closing date is 5th December 2014. For more information, please contact Heather James on 01582 548 785 or Heather.James@luton.gov.uk The next Neighbourhood Governance ‘Your Say, Your Way’ Decision Day for the Biscot/Saints ward’s is Saturday 17th January 2015 at Denbigh High School.

Eleven teenagers have been charged following two separate violent offences in Luton.

On Tuesday, Luton News reported that several teens were arrested over the stabbing of an 18-year-old man in Lower Wellington Street at around 12.45pm the same day.

Now, Khia Yearwood-May, 19, of Arrow Close in Luton, Derrick Clarke, 19, of Fendon Drive, also in in Luton, and three 17-year-old boys are due to appear at Luton Magistrates Court today (Thursday).

It is understood the victim of the attack is still recovering in hospital, having suffered serious but not life-threatening injuries.

A further six teenagers have been charged with aggravated burglary over an incident at Round Green at around 9pm on Tuesday.

Rakeem Smith, 18, of Dunstable Road in Luton, Juarae Walker, 18, and Jordan Weedon, 18, both of Denham Close in Luton, Ryan McEvoy, 18, of Waleys Close, Luton, and two 16-year-old boys, will appear at Luton Magistrates Court today.

Detective Inspector Sean Quinn said: “We will not tolerate such violent incidents and we will act quickly to identify, arrest and prosecute anyone we suspect of being involved.”

Anyone with information call 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Bedfordshire Police launched their Christmas drink drive campaign on Monday, December 1.

Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Road Policing Unit will be conducting more drink and drug driving stop checks throughout December.

The unit’s chief inspector, Richard Hann, said: “Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs dramatically increases your chances of being involved in a collision that results in someone’s death or injury.”

The legal alcohol limit for driving is 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, but any amount affects driving ability, and drivers can be over the limit the next day.

Motorists found to be driving while under the influence of drink or drugs face a minimum of a 12-month disqualification from driving, and a fine and/or imprisonment. Causing death by careless driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs carries a maximum penalty of 14 years’ imprisonment and a disqualification of at least two years.

It’s been nine years since neo-noir thriller Sin City, based on a comic book series, burst onto our screens.

So enough time has elapsed for belated sequel SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR (15: Lionsgate) to feel as fresh, hard-edged and visually stylish as the 2005 original adaptation.

This is a compilation of four tales –some new, some continuations – of crime and betrayal set in a dangerous city.

The stories criss-cross as square-jawed bruiser Mickey Rourke awakes on a highway surrounded by bodies and toxic femme fatale Eva Green compels ex-lover Josh Brolin to kill her supposedly abusive husband.

Cocky gambler Joseph Gordon-Levitt plots to destroy corrupt senator Powers Boothe, while stripper Jessica Alba seeks vengeance for Bruce Willis’s death.

It’s all elegantly rendered in dazzling monochrome sharpened by colour splashes (red lips, orange flame, pink feathers) and played stark and straight by the stellar cast, although Green’s copious nudity might surprise.

The film is slightly one-note, yet it conveys the essence of Frank Miller’s art better than ever.

> Child-friendly animated caper THE NUT JOB (U: Warner) has a promising set-up and a decent voice cast, including Liam Neeson and Brendan Fraser, but on the whole it lacks inspiration.

Expanded from a ten-minute short, the film revolves around Surly the Squirrel (Will Arnett), a self-serving rogue who is banished from the park by his fellow animals after accidentally destroying their food reserves.

Heading into the city, Surly stumbles upon a nut shop that has enough food to help him and the entire community survive the impending harsh winter.

Young viewers will be entertained by the slapstick and frantic set pieces, but adults won’t find the depth or sophistication that we now expect from animated features.

There are a few amusing sight gags and the animation is pleasing on the eye, but it’s an unremarkable romp that doesn’t live up to its promise.

> A small American town is unexpectedly ravaged by a series of devastating tornados in disaster movie INTO THE STORM (12: Warner).

Richard Armitage, who called the shots as Thorin in the Hobbit trilogy, has to play second fiddle to the angry elements in this white-knuckle adventure.

After a huge tornado touches down, the townsfolk flee for their lives as a professional storm chaser (Matt Walsh) and a meteorologist (Sarah Wayne Callies) try to capture the unprecedented weather on camera and thrill-seekers risk their lives for the chance to experience a twister close-up.

Meanwhile, local teacher Armitage has to put himself in harm’s way to make sure his kids are safe.

Director Steven Quale ramps up the tension with jaw-dropping CGI effects taking the viewer to the heart of Mother Nature at her most extreme.

In comparison, the human aspect of the film relies too heavily on clichéd archetypes, like mercenaries after film footage to sell for big bucks and troubled teens with distant fathers.

They’re bog-standard subplots that frustratingly interrupt the mighty bluster of the action sequences.

Zoe Mitchell and Cliff Lath have just returned from a charity trek in Burma, they raised £8000 for Keech Hospice Care.

They were joined by 14 other people who also took on the challenge to raise money for hospices in the UK, altogether they raised £45,000.

The Luton pair set off on the journey on Saturday, November 8, and returned nine days later.

They both raised money for Keech Hospice Care after the good work they have done for both their families.

Mrs Mitchell said: “It was an amazing experience and it was great that we could raise so much money.

“The lifestyle and culture out there is really different, it was a real eye opener to how lucky we are here.

“I made some great friends and everyone was so supportive of each other.”

Mr Lath said: “It was a lot tougher than I thought it would be.

“The team really helped each other out and we really motivated each other during the trek.

“It is such a beautiful country, it was a great experience and I enjoyed every minute of it.”

A man was injured on Thursday evening after a shooting in Luton.

The attack took place outside a supermarket in Axe close at around 6.15pm as a shotgun was fired.

The victim – who is in his 20s –suffered minor injuries and is recovering in hospital.

It is thought two people may have been involved in the shooting. The road is currently closed off while police investigate.

Detective Inspector Sean Quinn said: “We believe this to be a targeted attack on this individual and not a random shooting.

“It is only through sheer luck that the victim was not seriously injured and I would urge anyone with information as to who is responsible to call police.

“We have a dedicated team of officers working on the investigation and are treating it very seriously.”

Anyone with information can call DI Quinn on 101 or text information to 07768 200011.

Police are appealing for witnesses after a man was assaulted and robbed outside Luton Airport.

The 21-year-old victim was punched several times by a group of three men who stole his phone outside the main terminal of the airport, shortly before 5am on Saturday.

The victim also suffered a cut to his wrist during the incident, which caused him to bleed heavily.

Detective constable Gill Cowley said: “I would appeal to anyone who witnessed this incident or saw a group of three men, all dressed in black, hanging around the area on Saturday, to call police.”

If you have information call DC Cowley 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

A partnership agreement to improve outcomes for people experiencing mental health crisis has been signed by partners from across Bedfordshire and Luton.

Twenty-two organisations in Bedfordshire and Luton, from health, police, fire, local authorities, drug and alcohol support services, and criminal justice, committed to prevent mental health crises where possible, and to provide effective emergency response systems when a crisis does occur.

The mental health crisis care concordat was signed at a special event on Thursday at the Rufus Centre, Flitwick.

Dr Judy Baxter, GP and clinical director for mental health, Bedfordshire clinical commissioning group, said: “This concordat gives crisis care in mental health the priority it deserves.

“Over the last few months we’ve been busy collecting ideas on how we can deliver the concordat, and today’s event continued to identify further ideas for Bedfordshire and Luton-wide initiatives and local action plans.

“This county-wide concordat action plan will ensure we can improve all our services for people experiencing a mental health crisis.”

A 78-year-old dog walker was left with a fractured jaw and a bleed to the brain after being attacked in Wardown Park on Saturday.

Police are looking for three Asian teenagers who were seen in the park before and after the assault 3pm.

The man was wearing a mustard coloured jacket and had been walking his small dog around the park near the lake.

One of the teenagers is described as a dark skinned Asian male, about 16 years old, skinny with long hair on top and short on the side, about five feet seven inches.

He was with two other Asian youths of around 15-17 years old.

It is believed that they may have been in the park prior to the assault by as much as an hour and may have been by the ice cream stand.

Detective Sergeant Tom Hamm said: “The victim is in a stable condition in hospital having suffered a fractured jaw and a bleed to the brain.

“This was a very serious assault and we are asking anybody who was in Wardown Park between 1pm and 4pm to contact us if they saw this incident or the three Asian youths in the park before or after the attack took place.”

Anyone with information relating to this incident can contact DS Hamm, 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.

Luton Borough council is seeking new panel volunteers for school admission appeals.

If a school place is refused, parents can put their case to an independent panel to appeal against the decision.

Councillor Waheed Akbar said: “Our panels are made up of people from a variety of backgrounds. Some individuals have experience in education, others are parents and some volunteers have no personal experience in this area.”

They are set up under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. The panel is made up of three people, with a clerk to take notes.

It must include someone who does not have personal experience of school management and someone who is familiar with schools in the town or who is a parent of a child at school.

The panel is independent from the councils, therefore school governors appointed by the council are eligible to volunteer.

The role is unpaid. Appeals are held within school hours, lunch is provided and car parking is free.

Volunteers must be 18 or older, to apply, call 01582 548060.

Sian Jarvis, School Admissions appeal panel member, said: “I think it is rewarding to give families the opportunity to present their child’s case for school admission at their preferred school. I believe it is important to be fair and impartial in considering all the arguments.

“I have been a panel member for seven years and I enjoy feeling that I do something worthwhile and it gives me a great sense of satisfaction, whilst practically it helps me to maintain my existing skills.”

We have breaking news that just days before Christmas there are several reindeer running loose through the streets of London.

Reports are not entirely clear but it seems that Santa Himself (Jim Broadbent) may have crash-landed in the capital city while test-driving his new sleigh and has potentially been arrested, which could be very bad news for the children of the world getting presents this year.

This is the fun scenario of Get Santa (not in any way a festive sequel to Get Carter) from British director Christopher Smith. Get Santa sees young Tom (newcomer Kit Connor) excited to have his father Steve (Rafe Spall) released from prison where he’s been serving time for being a getaway driver. Santa has picked this broken family to help him get back to Lapland and save Christmas, but can Steve and Tom break him out of jail, find his reindeer and get the magic sleigh running again?

Smith has a track record for making genuinely creepy horror films, so it’s a bit of a departure for him to be creating a family friendly film. He’s aided by having Ridley Scott on production duties.

Get Santa manages to tick the boxes of being a fun Christmas comedy that is actually funny, and not too slushily sentimental. The biggest laughs for me came from seeing Santa trying to adapt to life on the inside, acting tough with his beard and hair in cornrows.

There’s a real British feel to the whole thing and for once that doesn’t mean ‘cheap’ or ‘not up to Hollywood standards’. The cast, which includes Stephen Graham, Warwick Davies and Jodie Whittaker, keep the action moving nicely.

The film keeps a good balance of slapstick throw-away humour and heartfelt life lessons about father/son bonding.

It may not be remembered as a classic, but if you channel your festive spirit this will keep the whole family amused.

Teens left seriously injured after unprovoked Addington Way attack

Four teenagers were walking towards a park at 4pm when they were approached by three Asian men wearing hoodies who attacked them.

One teenager was left with a broken jaw while the other suffered a punch to his right eye which required stitches.

Detective constable Colin Knight, investigating, said: “This appears to be an unprovoked attack upon two teenagers.

“We are looking for anyone in the area who saw this attack or the two teenagers or three Asian men before or after the attack.”

Anyone with information relating to this incident can contact DC Colin Knight, 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.

Active Luton is inviting women and girls to a free workout session at Lea Manor Recreation Centre on Saturday, December 13. from 12pm till 3pm.

They will be able to use the gym and pool, get a personal training session and choose from a number free exercise classes such as boxercise, spin class, ab blast and Latin fusion.

It celebrates the first year anniversary of the Me Time programme which encourages women and girls to increase their sport and physical activity levels for fun, social, recreational or competitive purposes.

The trust offers a variety of women-only sports and fitness programmes.

The free workout session gives women and girls a chance to come along and take part in the classes and see what programmes are on offer.

Helen Barnett, chief executive of Active Luton, said: “There are a number of reasons why participation levels are low amongst women, and we know confidence is often a barrier.

“This is why we are proud of Me Time which is encouraging more and more women to get fit and healthy.

“This weekend’s event is not just an opportunity for those on the programme to celebrate a successful first year; it is also so that other Luton women to take advantage of free exercise sessions and find out more about the programme.

“I encourage women from across Luton to take advantage of this fantastic offer and to bring their friends, daughters, mums, aunties and nans too.”

A 35-years-old Luton man is in police custody in London folllowing an arrest by counter terrorism officers in the town this morning.

The man, who has not been named, has been arrested on suspicion of fundraising and inciting terrorism overseas, according to a police spokesman.

He was arrested by officers of the SO15 Counter Terrorism Command.

Officers are in the process of searching, two residential addresses in East London and one in Luton.