A man has been arrested in connection with a double stabbing at a children’s contact centre in Luton.

Beds Police were called to reports of an attack at Purple Professional Services on Rothesay Road at 4.45pm on Sunday and armed officers later conducted searches on carriages at Luton train station.

Last night a 44-year-old man from Newham, London, was arrested in relation to the incident.

He has been taken into police custody while further investigations are carried out.

Following the incident a man was taken by air ambulance to hospital with stab wounds to his chest and chin.

Medics also took a woman to the Luton and Dunstable Hospital by road.

The Luton News understands that she was also stabbed in the incident.

Purple Professional Services uses its base on Rothesay Road to hold contact sessions between children and parents.

Firefighters helped to protect a collection of snakes after a massive barn fire off the M1.

At its height more than 50 firefighters fought to bring the blaze under control after fire broke out at Newlands Farm Caddington on Sunday.

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue received dozens of calls from motorists who had spotted the blaze from the motorway.

The first call was received at 10.43 on Sunday morning.

When fire fighters arrived at the farm they found the barn – filled with about 100 tonnes of straw – one third of which was already on fire.

After bringing the fire under control, the decision was taken with the Environment Agency to let the fire burn itself out.

Since 4pm on Sunday, fire crews rotated during the night to ensure the fire stayed under control.

It was finally put out on Monday

A Beds Fire and Rescue spokesman said: “Because of the fire’s proximity to the M1 and Luton Airport both the Highways Agency and Airport were informed and took appropriate action to warn drivers and pilots of the incident.

“There was no threat to either transport route with the M1 staying open and the airport continuing to operate.

“Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service would like to thank all those who have called about the incident.”

As part of the incident firefighters helped protect a collection of snakes in a building opposite the barn fire by shielded it with a water curtain and other measures.

As snakes only have one lung there was concern for the snakes’ welfare and firefighters assisted the owners of the reptiles in ensuring they were safe.

Police have released CCTV of two men they want to speak to after a car was vandalised in a Luton car park.

The damage is believed to have happened overnight on Tuesday, June 2 to Wednesday, June 3.

The crime reference number is C/21542/2015.

If you could help police identify the people in the images, ring the Crime Services Team on 101.

Alternatively call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Two men from Luton have been arrested in a terror sweep by officers from the Metropolitan Police Service’s Counter Terrorism Command (SO15).

They arrested three men this afternoon, Tuesday, 14 July, on suspicion of being involved in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.

At 12:45hrs one man in his 20s was arrested at a business address in Letchworth, Hertfordshire; the other two men - one in his 20s and the other in his 30s - were arrested shortly after at two separate residential address in the Luton area.

Officers from SO15 were supported by colleagues from Bedfordshire police and Eastern Counter Terrorism Intelligence Unit during the operation.

They were also assisted in the execution of one of the arrests by officers from the Met’s Specialist Firearms’ Command. No shots were fired.

Searches are under way at two addresses in the Luton area as part of the investigation.

Today’s arrests and searches are part of an ongoing investigation into Islamist-related terrorism.

A spokesman said: “As this is an active investigation, we are not able to release any further information at this stage.”

Pupils from Foxdell Junior, Denbigh, Downside, Beech Hill, Bushmead and Chantry primary schools were left inspired after taking part in a day of innovative learning on Thursday, July 9.

Over 100 school children visited Kenilworth Road stadium for the Day Of Inspiration, a project run by Unleashing Potential.

The Luton charity aims to empower communities through skill development, it does this through lifelong learning programmes.

The children took part in interactive assemblies run by hip-hop artist and educational practitioner Karl Nova and football journalist Amar Azam.

Project manager Amar said: “The purpose of this initiative remains to leave children with the message that they can be whatever they wish to be when they grow up, as long as they apply themselves at school.

“Having worked with Student of Life before on many projects, we had no hesitation in repeating the formula.

“The link-up is typical of the sort of work that Unleashing Potential carries out with local schools.”

The pupils went on a stadium tour and met some of the workers at the club and learnt about their job roles.

Tyrone West, Denbigh Primary PE teacher, said: “The assembly with Karl was fun and engaging. Pupils were challenged in a different environment with pupils from different schools.”

This is the second year of the project and Luton Town Football Club has hosted the day on both occasions.

Rekindled plans for thousands of homes on the east of Luton would change the area ‘beyond all recognition’, according to campaigners.

On Friday and Saturday the Crown Estate will hold two public consultations over its plans for a green belt site on the edges of Wigmore and Cockernhoe.

At present the area is allocated in the North Herts District Council for 2,100 homes, though it is feared that the potential for development on an adjoining site could push that number up to more than 4,000 in total.

Numerous plans have been submitted in the last five years and in July 2013 residents from Cockernhoe, Wigmore and surrounding areas packed out a community hall for a meeting in opposition to plans for a total of 3,500 homes.

Campaigners remain braced for further proposals.

Carolyn Cottier told the Luton News: “Everyone would suffer from this, the only people that would benefit are the developers making money.

“It would change the area’s character beyond all recognition as it would absolutely obliterate the views there.“

She added: “It is not just Wigmore that would be affected by this, it also concerns Cockernhoe, Stopsley, Crawley, Lilley and Offley.”

Another Wigmore resident told us: “I moved here two years ago for the peace and quiet, it is also one of the only places in Luton that is liveable in.

“This development would engulf everyone, it would be absolute chaos”.

Crown Estate strategic land manager Steve Melligan said: “We are committed to working with the local authority through the Local Plan system to deliver a high quality, sustainable development.

“This initial consultation will give local people the chance to shape our proposals early in the process”.

> The consultations will be held at Cockernhoe Memorial Hall between 5pm and 8pm on Friday, and at Wigmore Church between 10am and 1pm on Saturday.

Former English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson has been recalled to prison, the Luton News can reveal.

Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was jailed for 18 months in January 2014 after pleading guilty to a charge of mortgage fraud.

He was released on licence, which is due to end on July 22, but has now been recalled to HMP Peterborough.

A statement on the Luton man’s Facebook page indicated that it is not yet known how long the 32-year-old will be held.

It added: “His licence ends next week but they could add a charge on for breaching his terms.”

In November Mr Yaxley-Lennon addressed the Oxford Union, a month after first planned as he was recalled to prison for breaching the terms of his licence.

During the Oxford address the former EDL leader told students that the licence prevented him from speaking about certain topics, adding: “I regain my freedom of speech on July 22 2015, I would be happy to come back and speak to you freely then”.

Later on Twitter he said that he would “tell all about police blackmail persecution and bribery” once his licence expires.

The Ministry of Justice has said that it will not comment on Mr Yaxley-Lennon.

A spokesperson added: “Offenders on Home Detention Curfew must comply with the conditions of their curfew or release licence. If they fail to do so, they can be immediately recalled to custody.”

A father from Luton is facing jail after being found guilty of the manslaughter of his nine-week-old baby daughter.

Adam Stokes, 33, of Runfold Luton, pleaded not guilty to the charge but was told that a jail term is “inevitable” after being found guilty at Luton Crown Court yesterday.

In January 2013 Stokes’ daughter Scarlett collapsed having suffered a cardiac arrest.

She was rushed to the Luton and Dunstable Hospital and transferred the same day to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, but never regained consciousness.

The infant died ten days later when the life support was withdrawn.

Throughout the trial the prosecution said the father was responsible for the appalling injuries she suffered by shaking her with “excessive force”.

Baby Scarlett was being fed by her father at the time she collapsed and medical evidence given to the court showed that the bleed to the brain she suffered was caused by shaking.

The court heard that paramedics found the infant “pale, unresponsive, blue, floppy and warm to the touch”.

In the witness box Stokes said that when his daughter had been born, she had undergone surgery immediately at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

He told the court that he fed the baby, changed and bathed her daily, describing it as “the everyday things you do for a baby.”

Stokes described his daughter as a “very, very quiet baby” who didn’t cry often and who sometimes had to be woken up for her feeds.

On the the morning of January 14, 2013 he said he got up around 7am and put the kettle on to make up a feed for his daughter.

Stokes said he got his daughter out of her Moses basket and started feeding her as he sat on the corner of his bed.

He said he winded her after each ounce, telling the jury: “She was fine with the first two ounces again, then it got to the third ounce.”

He told the court his daughter then went floppy and was “like a rag doll.”

The father said he checked to see if his daughter’s heart was beating and he told the jury it was, but he said he “couldn’t see her breathing.”

Stokes denied shaking the baby and said that his “whole world has been ripped apart”.

A man has been charged with attempted murder following a double stabbing at a children’s contact centre in Luton.

Beds Police were called to reports of an attack at Purple Professional Services on Rothesay Road at 4.45pm on Sunday, and armed officers later conducted searches on carriages at Luton train station.

On Monday night Fatmir Mula, 44, of Lowe Avenue, Newham, was arrested in relation to the incident.

The 44-year-old has now been charged with two counts of attempted murder and possession of a bladed article.

He has been remanded in custody and will appear at Luton Magistrates’ Court this morning.

Purple Professional Services uses its base on Rothesay Road to hold contact sessions between children and parents.

Two people were slightly injured after a kitchen grill caught fire at a Luton flat.

Firefighters were called to Heswall Court, Bailey Street, Luton on Tuesday evening.

The fire was out on arrival and two people were treated for smoke inhalation.

Firefighters and paramedics gave medical assistance to the casualties.

Twenty five per cent of the kitchen was damaged by the fire and firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used Positive Pressure Ventilation to clear smoke from the flat.

A fun-loving gran from Luton who loved Halloween will be getting a special Star Wars and fancy dress themed funeral in Luton today.

Mum-of-four Lorna Johnson, 56, of Lewsey Farm, practiced as a white witch and loved science fiction.

After she sadly died on June 23 of lung cancer, her family were determined to give her the send-off she truly deserved.

Son Neil, 35, will attend her funeral dressed as a Tasmanian Devil.

He said: “Basically, Halloween was always my mum’s favourite time of year, we always had fancy dress parties.

“When we were deciding what to do for the funeral, it just seemed the perfect thing.

“I know she’d love the idea. She was very, very fun-loving and very family oriented.

“At the moment people are still deciding what to wear.”

All of Lorna’s four children and ten grandchildren will attend the service in fancy dress.

Funeral director Brett Houghton of Co-operative Funeralcare will lead the service dressed as Star Wars’ Darth Vader.

He said: “We personalise every detail of a funeral as much as possible to make it unique to that individual.

“Lorna’s family wanted today to be a celebration of her life and we’re confident that her personality will shine through.”

A Bramingham Primary school pupil who was born premature at 25 weeks has achieved a level 6 at the National Key Stage 2 SATs exam.

Ayran Thanki, 11, of Leamington Road, was born weighing just over 700g and was given a 40% chance of survival. He spent the first six months in the neonatal unit at the Luton and Dunstable hospital.

In his recent Mathematics exam he achieved a level 6, which places him in the top 1% in the country.

His mother, Minal Thanki, said: “He was overwhelmed with the results, I don’t think he could believe it, he worked so hard.

“We are so proud of him, I cannot believe it, I still have visions of the day he was born and those first few months where the nurses had to work so hard to help him breathe and now look at what he has achieved.

“The nurses at the neonatal unit were amazing and did such a fantastic job for him.”

Aryan loves Maths and English and has entered short story competitions at school, and as a result he has had some of them published.

Mrs Thanki added: “Bramingham is such a fantastic school, they have given him so much support and met all his needs.

“They are amazing, even for those children that do not need it, they are always offering help and support.”

A fun-loving gran from Luton who loved Halloween was honoured with a special Star Wars themed funeral today.

Mum-of-four Lorna Johnson, of Anmer Gardens in Lewsey Farm, practiced as a white witch and loved science fiction.

After Lorna, 56, died of lung cancer on June 23, her family were determined to give her the send-off she truly deserved.

Son Neil, 35, attended her funeral dressed as the Tasmanian Devil.

He said: “Basically, Halloween was always my mum’s favourite time of year, we always had fancy dress parties.

“When we were deciding what to do for her funeral, it just seemed the perfect thing.

“I know she’d love the idea. She was very, very fun-loving and family oriented.”

All of Lorna’s four children and ten grandchildren attended the service in fancy dress.

Funeral director Brett Houghton of Co-operative Funeral Care lead the service dressed as Star Wars’ Darth Vader.

Speaking before the funeral, he said: “We personalise every details of a funeral as much as possible to make it unique to that individual.

“Lorna’s family wanted today to be a celebration of her life and we’re confident that her personality will shine through.”

Scores of press photographers were in attendance, bringing a touch of glamour to the star-studded send off.

A council has said ‘no further action’ will be taken against one of Britain’s most popular zoos where a keeper was seriously hurt after being trampled on by a rhino.

The man, in his 50s, was tending to the animals in the Asian rhino enclosure at Whipsnade when one unexpectedly turned on him.

He was left immersed in water with chest, abdomen and pelvic injuries.

Colleagues raised the alarm and he was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge in a “serious” condition.

The zoo has refused to give an update on the worker’s condition eight months after the incident, saying it is a “private matter”.

Central Bedfordshire Council, which investigated the incident, said ‘no further action’ will be taken against zoo bosses.

But its investigation was unable to establish the cause of the incident.

A spokesman said zoo staff have been given “advice and recommendations around improving policies and procedures”.

But neither the council or zoo would expand on the report findings.

A council spokesman said: “We have worked closely with Whipsnade following the incident and offered advice and recommendations around improving policies and procedures.

“We will continue to work with them on all aspects of health and safety.

“Following a lengthy investigation and review of the information gathered, no further action is to be taken.”

The council said it would not be releasing more details as much of the information obtained was “subject to strict disclosure rules”.

A spokeswoman for the Dunstable based zoo said the council recommended ‘minor changes’ to ‘existing policies and procedures’ which it has taken on board.

Fully-grown adult male rhinos can weigh more than two tonnes in captivity.

The one-horned rhinos at Whipsnade are endangered Nepalese rhinos.

A Luton man accused of causing the death of a toddler has been found dead, the Herald & Post can exclusively reveal.

Alistair Wayne Bowen, 35, was found dead at his home on Drayton Road on Saturday and police are not treating the incident as suspicious.

He was set to appear at Guildford Crown Court tomorrow charged with causing or allowing the death of his former partner’s one-year-old girl in Surrey.

A file on Bowen has been handed over to the Luton and Beds Coroner Service and the Herald & Post understands that a post mortem will be carried out in the coming days.

Bowen’s cause of death is not yet known.

A Beds Police spokesperson said: “At 4.58pm on Saturday (11 July) Bedfordshire Police was called to an address at Drayton Road, Luton, where officers found the body of a man in his mid-thirties.

“The death is not being treated as suspicious, the coroner has been informed and an inquest will be opened and adjourned in due course.”

Surrey Police began probing Bowen and his former partner Kirsty Lee after officers were alerted by staff at St Peter’s Hospital in Chertsey, where Miss Lee’s daughter Cara Lee-Fanus was admitted with serious injuries on Wednesday May 28 2014.

She was later transferred to St George’s Hospital in Tooting but died the following day.

A post-mortem established the cause of death as a head injury.

Detectives from Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team launched a murder investigation.

Miss Lee, 25, of Grove Close, Windsor, and Bowen appeared at Guildford Magistrates Court in April, jointly charged with causing or allowing the death of a child or causing or allowing serious physical harm to a child.

At the time Bowen was granted bail on the condition that he did not contact Miss Lee, go within one mile of Heathrow Airport or enter Surrey except for his court appearances.

He was also barred from having unsupervised contact with anyone under the age of 18.

Luton paranormal author Paul Adams is to compere and speak at the UK’s first extended symposium on the ghostly and psychic happenings at old Highgate Cemetery.
Highgate Vampire Symposium 2015 takes place on Sunday (July 19) at Upstairs at the Gatehouse, the small theatre above the Gatehouse pub in Highgate – one of the most haunted buildings in the area.
Paul said: “There is a programme of speakers throughout the afternoon.
“We have people coming from as far away as America to take part. They’re all interested in some aspect of the Highgate phenomenon including ley lines, social hysteria, ghost hunting, folklore and so on.”

The paranormal historian has already written nine books and has two more in the pipeline.

He’s been fascinated by the subject ever since he was a young lad.

“I was an only child and had to make my own entertainment,” he explained. “I read a lot of Dennis Wheatley and loved Hammer horror films.”

The father-of-four describes himself as “a complete agnostic” and believes the only way to reconcile faith and science is through psychical research.
And even though he admits to being a sceptic, he says he would love to have confirmation of the existence of other entities.

> For more information visit www.highgatevampire2015.uk

Luton & Dunstable Hospital stand accused of wasting 44% of food served to patients, according to figures from the Campaign for Better Hospital Food.

The research published today found that hospitals across the UK threw away on average 26% of patients’ food.

Much of this was apparently due to food being left uneaten on plates after serving.

The campaign claims this research shows up to 30m patient meals being binned each year.

Alex Jackson, of the Campaign for Better Hospital Food, said: “These shocking figures lift the lid on the appalling state of hospital food in our country.

“Patients need nourishing, wholesome meals which are appetising and tasty to eat, not soulless, factory-made food they clearly can’t stomach.”

Luton & Dunstable Hospital disputed the figures published in the research, claiming their food wastage was as little as just under 9%.

A hospital spokesman said: “Since 2012 the Luton and Dunstable University Hospital has reduced its food wastage by 4% to 8.88% in June 2015.

“We have worked hard to reduce the wastage but there are often other factors that influence our ability to minimise waste.

“The main reasons for food wastage at the L&D are patients being discharged,a change to a patient’s diet, for example where a patient must not have food or drink.

“Or if a patient has changed their menu choice, or the relocation of a patient to another ward.

“We carry out audits twice a month in order for us to ensure minimal food wastage and to help deliver the best possible service for patients.”

But the Campaign for Better Food insists its independent research is accurate.

Mr Jackson added: “The government has been steadfast in its refusal to have the quality of hospital food and hospital food waste monitored by an independent organisation.

“Instead it’s happy to use dodgy statistics to bury the true extent of patient dissatisfaction with what they’re being served.

“We want the government to fix hospital food for good by setting higher hospital food standards, putting them into legislation and getting meals independently inspected by a trusted organisation.”

One of three men arrested in connection with a suspected Al Qaeda terror plot laughed as he was being taken away by police.

The suspect was one of two detained at different houses in Luton on Tuesday.

A third, believed to be a van driver, was arrested at lunchtime at the offices of Alliance Healthcare in Letchworth.

Neighbours of the man arrested in Marlow Avenue, Luton, said it is not the first time the house had been targeted by police.

Neighbour Zara Ahmed told BBC Look East: “I saw police arresting a man with a beard and a hat. All I saw, he was just laughing away.

“There was one police car and the rest were undercover police. They broke the door down.”

Fellow resident Craig Failla said: “I looked out my window and it was about 10.30/11 that I saw undercover police and loads of police around the street, jumping over the fence and going in the door.”

A neighbour of the other house in Vestry Close accused the police of handling the investigation “all wrong”.

The man, who refused to give his name, said: “They’re like my family. I’m not saying anything.

“The police broke the door down– it’s been handled all wrong.”

Witnesses said the man arrested at Alliance Healthcare shouted ‘cowards’ as he was ‘dragged away’ by a dozen plain clothes police officers.

All three suspects remain in custody.

An Alliance Healthcare spokeswoman refused to comment and said: “You need to contact the Met Police.”

An inquest has been opened into the death of a man accused over a toddler’s fatal injuries.

Last night the Luton News exclusively revealed that Alistair Wayne Bowen, 36, was found dead at his home on Drayton Road, Luton, on Saturday.

Bowen was set to appear at Guildford Crown Court on Friday charged with causing or allowing the death of his former partner’s one-year-old girl in Surrey.

The 36-year-old’s death is not being treated as suspicious.

Luton and Beds Coroner Service is now waiting on the results of a toxicology test, which may reveal a cause of death.

The inquest has been adjourned to a later date.

A Beds Police spokesperson said: “At 4.58pm on Saturday (11 July) Bedfordshire Police was called to an address at Drayton Road, Luton, where officers found the body of a man in his mid-thirties.

“The death is not being treated as suspicious, the coroner has been informed and an inquest will be opened and adjourned in due course.”

Surrey Police began probing Bowen and his former partner Kirsty Lee after officers were alerted by staff at St Peter’s Hospital in Chertsey, where Miss Lee’s daughter Cara Lee-Fanus was admitted with serious injuries on Wednesday May 28 2014.

She was later transferred to St George’s Hospital in Tooting but died the following day.

A post-mortem established the cause of death as a head injury.

Detectives from Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team launched a murder investigation.

Miss Lee, 25, of Grove Close, Windsor, and Bowen appeared at Guildford Magistrates Court in April, jointly charged with causing or allowing the death of a child or causing or allowing serious physical harm to a child.

At the time Bowen was granted bail on the condition that he did not contact Miss Lee, go within one mile of Heathrow Airport or enter Surrey except for his court appearances.

He was also barred from having unsupervised contact with anyone under the age of 18

Bedfordshire motorists are being urged to drive with extra caution and patience on rural roads as harvest gets underway.

NFU East Anglia says increased numbers of farm machinery will be on the move in the coming weeks, as farmers work to bring in our food and prepare fields for next year’s crops.

Rural roads are hazardous throughout the year, accounting for about 70 per cent of serious injury accidents, but the harvest period can bring increased risks.

NFU East Anglia Regional Director Robert Sheasby said: “We’re asking all road users to take special care driving in the countryside, to reduce the risk of accidents during the busiest time in the farming calendar.

“By following sensible advice, such as rural insurer NFU Mutual’s road safety code, accidents can be prevented, inconvenience to motorists minimised, and farmers can have a successful, and safe, harvest.”

Mr Sheasby said one common scenario for accidents was when tractors were slowing down to turn right.

“Drivers following the tractor may try and overtake, just as the tractor is turning into a field or farmyard. It’s really important that drivers are alert to tractors signalling to turn,” he said.

NFU Mutual’s rural road safety code includes advice for both tractor drivers and drivers of other vehicles. It is designed to help reduce risks to themselves and other road users. The code says:

For cars, lorries and motorbikes:

 Be patient when driving behind tractors; they rarely travel long distances on the roads and will pull in when it is safe to let traffic pass

 Look carefully for oncoming and following vehicles before turning right

 Watch carefully for oncoming traffic before pulling out onto a major road

 Be prepared for tractors to turn right into fields and farmyards

 Remember that when turning right a tractor with a trailer will often pull over to the left first in order to negotiate the turn

 Check rear view mirrors before trying to overtake

 Indicate clearly before pulling out to overtake

For tractors:

 Make sure the road is clear ahead and behind before turning right - in particular look behind to check that no vehicle is trying to overtake

 Watch carefully for oncoming traffic before pulling out onto a major road

 Signal clearly well in advance of slowing down or moving to the right

 Make sure tractor and towed implement lights are working

 Make sure amber flashing beacons are switched on while travelling on public roads

 Make sure cab glass, mirrors and lights are clean and free from obstructions

 Pull over when you can do safely to let following vehicles pass

 Check that trailers and mounted implements are well lit at night

The NFU has also produced a Farm Vehicle Health Check so farmers can ensure their vehicles are roadworthy. It is available on the NFU website at http://bit.ly/1nf2hoJ