Tesco, Vauxhall, Barclays and Luton Borough council have helped Level Trust provide over a thousand children with learning packs for school.

The learning packs are full of stationary, craft equipment and a book, Boris The Brave And His First Day At School.

The packs were given to 1750 children to help them them get ready to start school in September.

Jane Malcolm, director of Level Trust, said: “The learning packs are a great way to help children prepare for the start of school.

“For some children, it will be the first time they have ever left their families, which can be very daunting when you are only four years old.

“The packs are full of items that will help kick start their learning and help them prepare for the types of activities they will be doing every day at school.”

Staff from Tesco, Vauxhall, Barclays and the council helped put the packs together, deliver them to schools and helped with the funding to purchase the contents.

Debbie Cavallo, manager of information technology at Vauxhall, said: “Vauxhall are proud to sponsor Level Trust.

“Volunteers among Vauxhall staff packed up for the little ones and delivered them to the local schools.

“Vauxhall’s warehouse operation was ideal for the large amount of stock that was needed to make nearly 2000 packs for rising fives.

“We had a very exhausting day but also a very rewarding one.”

Jane added: “We simply could not have provided this project to local children if it was not for the amazing support that these organisations gave.

“It truly was a partnership project. Luton is very lucky to have businesses which are so willing to support their local community.”

Luton Borough Council will be carrying out a programme of road maintenance and resurfacing during the summer holidays.

This will allow the highways repair teams to tackle potholes that occurred during the winter.

The following roads will be closed:

Swifts Green Road, from Monday, June 29, to Friday, July 3, from 8am till 6pm.

Rochester Avenue, from Friday, July 3, to Monday, July 6, from 8am till 6pm.

Stapelford Road, from Monday, July 6, to Tuesday, July 7, from 8am till 6pm.

New Town Street and New Town Road, from Thursday, July 8, to Friday, July 9, from 8am till 6pm.

Rossfold Road, from Monday, July 13, to Thursday, July 16, from 8am till 6pm.

Sundon Park Road at the junction of Hill Rise, from Monday, July 20, to Wednesday, July 22, from 8pm at 5am.

Lyneham Road, from Friday, July 24, to Saturday, July 25, from 8am till 6pm.

Havelock Road, from Tuesday, July 28, to Wednesday, July 29, from 8am till 6pm.

Hillside Road and Brook Street, from Thursday, July 30, to Monday, August 3, from 8am till 6pm.

Beechwood Road (from Dunstable Road to Waller Avenue), from Monday, August 3, to Thursday, August 6, from 8am till 6pm.

Strangers Way, from Friday, August 7, to Wednesday, August 12, from 8am till 6pm.

Biscot Road at the junction of Cronwell Road, from Friday, August 14, from 8pm till 6am.

Ashburnham Road, from Monday, August 17, to Sunday, August 23, from 8am till 6pm.

Longcroft Road, from Monday, August 24, to Friday, August 28, from 8am till 6pm.

Park Street section between Cumberland Street and Cutenhoe Road, from Thursday, August 27, to Wednesday, September 2, from 8am till 6pm.

If you see a pothole, or you think a road needs resurfacing, report it to 01582 510333.

A replacement for a crossing guard who was sacked for impeding a fire engine is ‘urgently needed’, according to petitioners.

In May our sister paper the Luton News revealed that a crossing guard posted outside William Austin Junior School had been dismissed by Luton Borough Council after being spotted moving children into the path of an on-call fire engine ‘several times’.

At the time the fire crew were on their way to a tree blaze just a few doors down from the crossing on St Ethelbert Avenue, Luton, and several firefighters eventually had to forcibly remove the lollipop man from the road.

Following an investigation the crossing guard was sacked for gross misconduct.

Now, six weeks on, his vacancy has not yet been filled and 104 parents and residents have signed a petition to have the matter addressed.

The petition states: “(We)need urgently a crossing patrol person at St Ethelbert Avenue outside William Austin Junior School to keep our children safe from dangerous traffic.”

St Ethelbert Avenue resident Jacqui Brittain, who herself was a crossing guard for 20 years, told the Herald & Post: “It is a very dangerous crossing there as people park on the double yellow lines all the way down.

“I understand they need to do interviews and background checks but it has taken a long time.”

According to a council report the crossing is not currently being covered as there are no standby guards available.

The report adds that the following the dismissal last month a council officer visited the site to count the amount of passing vehicles and unaccompanied children.

It was concluded that a crossing guard is still required on St Ethelbert Avenue and the council has advertised to fill the post.

A Home Leone charity shop opened its doors to the public on Thursday, June 12.

The Chapel Street shop is the first for the charity that was set up last year by Nigel Hyde to transform the lives of thousands of people living in slums in Sierra Leone, he wanted to rehouse them and create a better future for them.

Heather Baker, store manager, said: “We have had so many donations from people, everyone is really generous.

“All the money raised will go to help the people in Sierra Leone, it is great that the charity has come this far in its first year.

“We want to invite people to pop in, bring in any unwanted items and volunteer if they can,”

Heather’s partner is working in Sierra Leone with the charity, he is helping them build homes, she travelled to the country in March.

She said: “To see first hand how these people are living really touched my heart, it was a real eye opener and makes you appreciate what you have.

“They are always positive, even though they are really struggling, that is why I am here, supporting the charity.”

There are images around the store from Sierra Leone, showing some of the work the charity does and who they have helped.

Former Luton Town striker Ricky Miller appeared before magistrates today to answer charges of assault.

Mr Miller, 26, faces five charges, including one offence of threatening or abusive behaviour towards former Luton Town player Brett Longden outside Pink Punters in Milton Keynes on April 27.

The four other offences relate to the alleged racial abuse and headbutting of taxi driver Mohammed Adnan, 27, in Hockliffe later that night.

Mr Miller, of Valence Road, Dunstable, was arrested immediately afterwards and later charged with the offences on June 3.

Today (June 25) at Luton Magistrates Court, Mr Miller pleaded not guilty to all five charges, electing a trial by jury at Crown Court.

Bail was granted with conditions. Mr Miller will next appear at Luton Crown Court on July 21.

Police are searching for two men after a firearm was discharged at a home on Tuesday afternoon.

The incident occurred on Douglas Road, Luton, at around 4pm.

The firearm caused damage to the house, but no-one was injured in the attack.

Police would like to speak to two black men seen in the area at the time, who are both described as being of slim build.

One of the men was wearing a dark-coloured thick winter coat, while the other wore dark clothing and a bright blue cap with a peak.

PC Emma Cook, investigating, said: “We are currently treating this as an isolated incident and would reassure the community that we are thoroughly investigating this offence. Thankfully no-one was injured.

“We are keen to speak to anyone who was in the area at the time or who knows anything about this incident to get in touch.”

Call PC Cook on 101, or alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111

A full closure of the M1 is in place between junction 10 and 12 after a road traffic collision.

At least one person is known to have been injured and requires rescuing by air ambulance.

A Beds Police spokesman said: “We were called at 12.39pm to reports of a two vehicle road traffic collision on the M1 northbound between junctions 10 and 11.

“Officers remain on the scene, where there is a full road closure in place for the air ambulance. Ambulance and fire services are also in attendance and it is believed one person is injured.”

An East of England Ambulance spokesman confirmed that a man in his 50s was flown to Addenbrookes Hospital with suspected leg and abdominal injuries.

In addition, there was also a broken down lorry on the southbound carriageway between junctions 12 and 11.

Financially stricken Beds Police is prepared to outlay more than £200,000 on its next chief constable, a job advert reveals.

Police and crime commissioner Olly Martins is recruiting for the force’s top job after Colette Paul announced her retirement earlier this month.

A profile of the vacant position, which was posted online today, shows that the deal on offer is a wage of up to £149,350 a year, with a ‘generous’ £48,000 relocation package and an £8,000 car allowance.

In total the force’s new chief constable could cost taxpayers up to £207,350 within their first year in office.

The post comes after a warning that the force is nearing a “financial cliff” and repeated pleas for additional government funding.

It also comes in the same week that beds Police changed its operational model, following a referendum ‘no’ on an increased council tax precept for the police.

Victims of non-urgent crimes will now book an appointment with officers to have their case handled.

An application deadline of July 24 has been set for the chief constable post, while Mr Martins will interview selected candidates on August 24 and 25.

The job advert states that the PCC is looking for a chief constable who has “significant experience of managing finite resources”.

It adds that they will need to come up with “better ways to deliver value for money services that meet both local and national needs”.

A driver has been arrested after a serious road traffic collision on the A5120 in Toddington.

There are currently a number of road closures in place near junction 12 of the M1 following the collision on Harlington Road.

A Beds Police spokesman said: “Police were called at approximately 4.25pm today (June 25) to reports of a collision between a vehicle and a male pedestrian.

“As a result, the exit slip road at junction 12 on the M1 southbound is currently closed, as well as the entry slip road on to the southbound carriageway.

“Harlington Road (the A5120) is also currently closed from the M1 to the roundabout with Toddington Road.”

It is understood that emergency services are currently in attendance and the injured man has been taken to Luton and Dunstable Hospital.

The spokesman added: “The driver of the vehicle has been arrested in connection with the incident and has been taken to police custody.”

Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to call Beds Police on 101.

A Luton man has been fined after dumping waste on a National Trust estate. Marek Litwinski (38) of Highbury Road, Luton, pleaded guilty at Wycombe Magistrates Court on Wednesday to an offence of dumping waste illegally.

The court heard that on 15 March 2015, four sacks of building waste were found dumped in bushes near a casual parking area at Ashridge National Trust estate in Buckinghamshire. The waste was found by National Trust volunteers during a clean-up exercise and cleared and disposed of at the Trust’s expense. The incident was reported to the Waste Partnership for Buckinghamshire for investigation.

Details within the dumped waste were traced to a building firm from Luton. The company was able to demonstrate that it had several different fully authorised waste disposal routes by which employees could dispose of the company’s waste. All the firm’s vans are fitted with trackers and it was a relatively simple matter for the company to identify the driver responsible for the waste deposit at Ashridge.

Mr Litwinski attended a voluntary interview at Dunstable and was questioned by investigators from the Waste Partnership for Buckinghamshire. He admitted depositing the waste but could not fully account for having left it there. He said he had taken the sacks out of the van to gain access to his cigarettes (which were in his coat). He could not explain why he had not put the sacks back in the van, nor why he had deposited them in bushes well away from the van. He acknowledged that dumping waste in this manner would also be illegal in his native Poland.

The Magistrates fined Mr Litwinski £800 and ordered him to pay clean-up and prosecution costs of £745. A victim surcharge of £80 was also levied, making a total to pay of £1,625.

The case was prosecuted by Buckinghamshire County Council working on behalf of the Waste Partnership for Buckinghamshire.

Luton playwright Jack Thorne has been named as the man working with JK Rowling to bring a Harry Potter production to the West End.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has been written by author JK Rowling in collaboration with John Tiffany (who will direct) and Thorne, who also wrote the recent E4 teen drama Glue.

It will open at the Palace Theatre next summer, with tickets going on sale this autumn.

JK Rowling has confirmed in a Twitter post that the play will not be a prequel to the seven Harry Potter novels.

She offered her followers no further clues about the content of the play, tweeting: “I don’t want to say too much more, because I don’t want to spoil what I know will be a real treat for fans”.

Few additional details have been announced, though it is understood that informal casting has already started.

Born in Bristol, Thorne has written for radio, theatre and film, most notably on the TV shows Skins, Cast-offs, This Is England ‘86, This Is England ‘88, The Fades and the feature film The Scouting Book for Boys along with collaborating with Tiffany on an adaptation of the Swedish horror film Let The Right One In.

In 2012 he won Bafta awards for both drama series (The Fades) and serial (This Is England ‘88).

Today he tweeted ‘Re Harry Potter, can’t say anything, other than playing in @jk_rowling’s sandpit is the greatest honour & the greatest fun.’

He has even portrayed Luton in his work, with the one hander ‘Bunny’. In an earlier 2010 interview with the Luton News he said his experiences of Luton have been good. He says that he has not come across any problems and he loves the unpretentious atmosphere.

“Bunny is not a campaigning piece of theatre,” he said.

“It’s a real portrait of Luton and I hope in a way my affections for it come through.

“I have nicer neighbours now than I have had in any of the other places that I have lived in.

An injunction application to ban the leaders of Britain First from Luton for a year has been dismissed by the High Court this morning.

The decision means that both Paul Golding and Jayda Fransen will be able to lead the far-right group for its demonstration through the town tomorrow.

Beds Police contends that the protest will be “highly provocative” and could cause “major disruption and serious public disorder”.

However an interim injunction against the pair has been handed down, which bans Golding and Fransen from publishing or distributing material which is “likely to stir up religious and/or racial hatred” and from behaving in a way that would cause “harassment, alarm or distress” for a period of 12 months.

The pair are also prevented from entering any mosque or Islamic centre without written permission.

Finally the injunction also stops the pair from carrying or displaying a banner or sign with ‘No More Mosques’ or wording to that effect during tomorrow’s demonstration.

The injunction given police powers of arrest if any of these terms are broken.

A full hearing will be held at a later date.

Chief superintendent David Boyle said: “This injunction was sought due to concerns that their presence in Luton could increase the possibility of disorder and anti-social behaviour in the town.

“The terms which have been agreed today give us greater power to ensure that order is kept in the town during the demonstration.

“I would like to be clear that it was never our intention to ban any demonstration and we will always facilitate peaceful protest where possible. “We have a policing plan in place to ensure we meet the needs of those wishing to demonstrate.”

Prior to the hearing Golding told his followers that an injunction could mean the end of Britain First.

He said: “Unless we raise the funds to secure capable legal representation by Friday we will be torn apart in the High Court and the result will be nothing less than the end of Britain First.

“No second chances, no last minute miracles, Britain First will collapse and cease to exist. It is a desperate and outrageous attempt to sabotage our Luton march and cripple Britain First in one go– using taxpayers’ money of course.”

> On Saturday Britain First will assemble in Midland Road outside Luton Train Station at 1pm, then proceed along High Town Road, turn right into Burr Street, right into Hitchin Road and Church Street then right into Guildford Street before finishing on land adjacent to Bute Street ‘shoppers’ car park.

Bute Street car park will remain open for people to use.

British Transport Police (BTP) officers are appealing for the public’s assistance in identifying a man from CCTV images after a serious assault on a train between St Albans and Luton Airport Parkway.

A 38-year-old man, from Bedford, was left with multiple injuries following the incident, in the early hours of Wednesday, 17 June.

Sergeant Stephen Bartlett said: “The victim was travelling on his own on a Bedford-bound train in the early hours of the morning. As the train arrived at St Albans, he noticed another man sleeping close by. Fearing the man was going to miss his stop, he woke him. The man reacted angrily resulting in the victim moving to another carriage.

“Shortly before the train arrived at Luton Airport Parkway, the aggressive man located the victim and began violently assaulting him. He punched him repeatedly before throwing him from the train onto the platform in the station.”

Rail staff at Luton Airport Parkway called police and the victim was taken to hospital for treatment to a broken and cut nose, swelling to the head and bruising. The attacker is believed to have left the train at Bedford.

Officers have been pursuing several lines of enquiry and are now appealing for help identifying a man they believe will be able to assist their investigation.

Sgt Bartlett added: “Who is the man in the cap? That’s the question we need the public’s help to answer. If you know who he is, please get in touch with BTP or, alternately, Crimestoppers. We are also keen to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident, and has yet to come forward to police.

“This was a violent and sustained assault and we are doing all we can to catch the person responsible. Everyone has the right to travel on the rail network, at any time of day or night, without the fear of violence of any kind.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40, or text 61016, quoting reference E/B3 of 26/06/2015. Information can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity, Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.

Police are appealing for witnesses after a man was involved in a collision with a van on the Harlington Road yesterday (25 June).

The incident happened at approximately 4.20pm near junction 12 of the M1. The occupants of a black VW Golf and a white Ford van are believed to have had a verbal altercation.

A man then got out of the Golf and was subsequently involved in a collision with the van.

Detective Inspector Dani Fitzharris said: “We are appealing for witnesses of this incident to come forward so that we can establish exactly what happened. If you saw the two vehicles in the area at this time, or the collision itself, then we’d urge you to contact us.”

The man suffered serious injuries and was taken to the Luton and Dunstable Hospital. His condition is not believed to be life-threatening.

A 29-year-old man from Milton Keynes and a 26-year-old man from Caddington have been arrested in connection with the incident and are currently in police custody.

A couple from Luton have been given prison sentences and disqualified from keeping all animals for 10 years after they allowed one of their dogs to attack the other so badly, that he died as a result of the injuries.

Lisa Dolor aged 34 and Dwain Warrington 35, both of Hardwick Green, Luton, appeared at Luton Magistrates’ Court yesterday (Thursday 25 June) after previously pleading guilty to charges under the Animal Welfare Act, in a case brought by the RSPCA.

Warrington admitted causing unnecessary suffering to Tyson, a young male black mastiff, by housing him in circumstances which allowed him to be attacked by another dog, known to be dog-aggressive. As well as the ban, he was sentenced to 16 week custodial sentence.

Dolor admitted not meeting the needs of Tyson, by allowing him to be kept in circumstances where he was attacked by another dog, and so not protecting him from pain, injury and suffering. As well as the ban, she was given a 16 prison sentence, suspended for a year, and made to do 150 hours unpaid work.

Tyson’s injuries were so bad that the vet said there was nothing they could do to save him, and he had to be put to sleep. At the owner’s request the other dog, a bull terrier type dog, was also put to sleep.

The RSPCA, Luton Borough Council Dog Wardens and Police visited the same address in April 2014, when another young mastiff cross had also been attacked by the owners’ fellow dog, and had also died as a result.

RSPCA inspector Stephanie Law said: “It is the owner’s responsibility to make sure their animals are safe at all times, and are not at risk.

“Yet Tyson had neglectfully been left in danger, despite previous warnings and advice given by us, and local dog wardens from Luton Borough Council, to keep the dogs apart when unsupervised.

“On its own this would have been a tragic accident, but this was the second time we have been called to this address and the second time a dog has been killed. We have to make sure this doesn’t happen again.

“Failing to protect an animal from harm from other animals is a serious issue, and we are pleased this has been reflected by the courts. We are also really grateful to the local wardens for all their work and support on this issue, which has been invaluable.”

Family and friends of Luton Town and Indians Cricket Club aren’t getting hot under the collar after its charity curry night raised nearly £2,500 found Keech Hospice Care.

The spicy evening at Wardown Park was attended by 150 people and raised vital funds for the Luton-based charity which cares for children and adults with life-limiting conditions across Beds, Herts and Milton Keynes.

Event organiser Rashmi Patel, from Luton Town and Indians Cricket Club, said: “We wanted to raise money for a local charity that would benefit local families.

“Keech Hospice Care plays an extremely important role in the community. It’s there when a family needs it most.

“Without the dedication of Keech Hospice, adults and children who are terminally ill, and their families, wouldn’t get the help and care they need at the most painful and difficult time of their lives.”

Keech Hospice Care relies on fundraising for 70 per cent of its running costs, as only 30 per cent of its funding comes from the National Health Service. The hospice offers children and adults practical and emotional support as well as providing treatments and therapies including music and hydrotherapy.

This afternoon members of far-right group Britain First will protest through the streets of Luton.

Demonstrators will assemble in Midland Road outside Luton Train Station at 1pm, then proceed along High Town Road, turn right into Burr Street, right into Hitchin Road and Church Street then right into Guildford Street before finishing on land adjacent to the Bute Street car park.

> The Luton News will be on the scene to given you the latest as it happens, to follow our live blog of the action click here

Marches by Britain First and counter demonstrators have passed peacefully in Luton.

Police were out in force for the event but the number of demonstrators was nowhere near the 2,000 Britain First had claimed would descend on the town.

The main shopping area remained open during the speeches and marches, which were kept away from the centre of town.

You can see how the events of the day unfolded on our live feed.

Barnfield Academy Trust students picked up a prize at this year’s Luton Annual International Carnival, with their dancing dragon.

Students from four of the trusts academies – West, South, Studio and Moorlands – took part in the event at Wardown Park in May.

Festive Road, in Milton Keynes, ran workshops with the students to design and create their costumes and constructions, based on the theme of Let Your Dreams Take Flight.

The end result was a brilliantly coloured dragon, complete with flapping wings and a mouth that blew smoke, which was mounted on wheels and paraded as one of the carnival floats. Students dressed up as baby dragons and danced their way to a Future Star award from the UK Centre for Carnival Arts.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of affray following an incident in Luton yesterday.

Police were called at 7.50pm to reports of violent disorder in St George’s Square in the town centre.

Officers attended and arrested a number of men on suspicion of affray offences.

A further man, who isn’t believed to be connected to the original disorder, then approached officers and produced a weapon, before being quickly detained.

No-one was believed to be injured in the incident, and those arrested have been taken to police custody for further questioning.

The incident is not currently being treated as terror related.

Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to contact police on 101.