The sister of a boy who died at Keech Hospice is calling on the people to paint Wardown Park a sea of red and support Luton’s Santa Run.

Ella Russell’s brother, Harry,aged three, died at Keech Hospice Care in November 2015. Five year old Ella is now asking everyone to get their Santa suit on.

“It’s a magical thing. I love seeing all the Santas having fun as they run and walk around the course. Last year, just after Harry died, me, Mummy and Daddy went to watch all the Santas. It was brilliant! I’m doing it this year to remember my little brother.”

In his short life, Harry had to cope with physical and mental disabilities including hearing and vision loss, epilepsy, breathing problems and being fed through a tube. His mum, Julie said Harry taught their family how to live in the moment.

“Our handsome Superhero Harry had the most beautiful soul and smile,” said Julie. “He gave the most amazing cuddles and you’d never want to let go. Harry taught us, and Keech always showed us, how to make every moment count. We feel the Santa Run is the perfect positive event not only to remember Harry, but to raise precious funds and awareness for our local children’s hospice.

“With millions of rooftops to reach in just one night, Santa must be quick on his feet. But, for us, Keech’s Santa Run will quite literally be a walk in the park – running is a no no! We’re all looking forward to soaking up the atmosphere, celebrating Harry’s life and having fun with all the other Santas.

As a charity, Keech Hospice Care relies on 70% of its funding to come from its community for its survival.

“It took us a considerable time to accept Harry’s disabilities and not feel bitter and angry,” said Harry’s Dad, Mark. “The most significant moment in Harry’s short life, and certainly for us as a family, was when Keech came into it. It was a huge turning point. Hospice care is not just about death, it‘s very much about living and Keech made Harry’s final year very much about life and gave us so much support.

“I remember asking the doctor when we first arrived at Keech how long as a family we could be looked after by the charity. Doctor Justin replied we had got Keech Hospice Care for the duration of Harry’s life and however many years we needed it for afterwards. I just thought that’s a massive commitment from Keech to our family. Doctor Justin was so sincere when he said it and I was blown away.

“I don’t know where we’d be now if we hadn’t had Keech. So please come and give Santa a run for his money at Keech Hospice Care’s 5km sponsored Santa Run on Sunday 11 December at Wardown Park.”

Another major retailer is to disappear from UK high streets, as struggling office stationery brand Staples has been offloaded by its American owner.

The UK arm of US firm Staples – which employs around 1,100 staff across 106 stores in Britain including Northampton, Banbury, Milton Keynes, Aylesbury and Luton – has been bought by restructuring specialist Hilco, which also owns HMV, for a “nominal sum”.

Hilco said it would now phase out the Staples brand in the UK over the coming months. Plans for the store estate and the impact on staff were not disclosed.

Staples’ European operations are also under threat. Officials in the US put the European business under review in May, and the outcome of this review has not yet been concluded.

According to its most recent accounts, Staples’ UK retail operations reported pre-tax losses of £5m for the year to the end of January 2015, and this followed losses of £7.1m a year earlier. The firm has debts of £60m.

They say when one door closes, another opens – as Emma Matthews, 49, of Sundon Park is only too happy to testify.

The mother-of-two worked for BHS in George Street for 14 years and when she was made redundant in August, the crafty cook decided to turn her cake making and decorating hobby into a business – Happiness Factor Cakes.

She’s just won gold in the wedding category at the largest show of its kind in the world – Cake International at the NEC in Birmingham.

Her winning entry was a four-tier red and gold creation with a Chinese theme.

Emma said: “I was thrilled to be awarded gold, which meant my mark was over 90 percent.”
But even more was to follow: she discovered she’d been placed second in the category which came with a £50 prize, bottle of champagne and commemorative rosette.

“There were more than 220 entries, so I was really pleased,” she smiled.

She’s always been interested in baking and when a BHS colleague suggested they take a City & Guilds in Sugarcraft at night school, Emma jumped at the chance – gaining distinctions at all three levels.

She’s sad that BHS imploded so dramatically. “When you work with people every day for 14 years, they become like family,” she said. “We still keep in touch and we’ve organised a Christmas outing.

“As for Philip Green,” she snorts, “he could sort the whole pension situation out tomorrow if he wanted to.”

But on the plus side, it was just the incentive she needed to start her own company.

There is a backlash from families who have lost loved ones to road crashes that justice is not done with lenient sentences compounding their grief.

Figures from the Ministry of Justice revealed under the Freedom of Information Act show that 1,640 people have been found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving between 2006 and 2015.

Of those convicted, 79 received a suspended sentence with a further 14 just given community services.

A further 10 people convicted of causing death by dangerous driving received just a fine.

Not one person has been given the maximum 14 year jail term for causing death by dangerous driving since the maximum sentence was lengthened from 10 years in 2004.

While some offenders escaped jail, families say others were given unduly lenient sentences and believe judges are constrained by guidelines.

Under rules which apply to all criminals, a driver who pleads guilty before the case goes to trial will have their sentence automatically reduced by a third and most criminals will be released after serving half their sentence.

This means that some killer drivers could be out of jail in a matter of months.

Data obtained for England, Wales and Northern Ireland shows no-one has ever received the maximum sentence of 14 years. You can sign our Change.org petition here and share it using #DriveForJusticeCampaign

Amy Aeron-Thomas, advocacy and justice manager for RoadPeace, the charity for road crash victims, says: “There are too many cases where courts have been too lenient on those who cause death or serious injury on the roads.

“We think all culpable cases should be treated as manslaughter and there needs to be a full review of driving offences and it is good that the Government has said they will have a consultation on this.

“RoadPeace welcomes this Drive For Justice campaign for reform of driving offences.

“We have had piecemeal reform for the past decade which has resulted in great inconsistency in how law breaking drivers are prosecuted and sentenced.”

Gary Rae, campaigns director at road safety charity Brake says: “We fully support this Drive For Justice campaign to get the whole issue of sentencing guidelines for road deaths re-examined.

“We agree one of the issues is courts don’t use the powers they have already got - what do you have to do to get the maximum 14 years?

“There are also inconsistencies in different courts.

“People think road crime is viewed and treated as a second rate crime.

“If your loved one was shot dead, everyone would say how horrific that was.

“But people are more accepting and complacent about road deaths.

“The law needs to change so sentencing fits the crime.”

Duncan Dollimore, senior road safety and legal campaigner at Cycling UK, says: “We fully support the re-working of sentencing guidelines and agree there should be tougher sentences.

“There are lots of concerning decisions in cases where drivers cause death or serious injury and do not receive a custodial sentence at all.

“Our biggest concern about sentencing is the inadequate use of disqualification powers.

“We believe that courts are forgetting that driving is not an entitlement: it is a privilege.

“There are too many cases where people are arguing it would cause extreme hardship to them if they were banned from driving.

“But courts should be more concerned about the risk they are presenting to others.

“We would like to see more disqualifications and with repeat offenders, much longer bans and lifetime bans from driving.”

A grieving daughter has spoken of her disgust at finding her mum’s grave left open in Luton two weeks after her interment ceremony.

Ticey Oakley, 52, was so distraught after finding mum Jeanette’s neglected open grave at The Vale Crematorium off Butterfield Green Road that she pulled the casket containing her mother’s ashes out herself and took it home.

Ticey’s sister Theresa who died of epilepsy as a teenager in 1971 is also buried in the family plot and it was 83-year-old mum Jeanette’s wish to be buried alongside her.

“Now I’m going to have to go through the pain of saying goodbye all over again”, said Ticey.

Great grandmother Jeanette Duggan died in October last year and was a keen fundraiser for the British Legion, even meeting the Prime Minister through her charitable work. Her interment ceremony on October 28 was an emotional day for her family and it was accompanied by standard bearers from the Legion.

Ticey said: “We were told by people at the Vale Crematorium that once the family had moved away from the grave, they would fill it.”

Two weeks later, on Saturday, November 12, Ticey returned to the gravesite to place poppies on her mum’s grave.

She said: “Once I arrived, I saw they hadn’t filled the grave and my mum’s casket was on show. I took it out myself and put it in my shoulder bag.

“I feel absolutely disgusted and hurt. Now, I’ve got to go through the upset of saying goodbye to my mum all over again. They’ve let myself and my family down.”

Ticey said she was told by managers at the Vale that an undertaker had had an accident on site and they were short-staffed. She met with managers again on Saturday for an explanation.

She added: “If it was a day late, yes, but not two weeks!

“It only takes some young lad who thinks it’s funny to take it out the grave and I think if we didn’t live locally, how long would it have been left like that? I actually said that to them.”

A Luton Borough Council spokesman said: “The council has offered an immediate and unreserved apology to the Oakley family for our failure to inter Mrs Duggan’s ashes properly.

“We are very sorry, we fully appreciate the distress our actions caused and have begun an immediate internal investigation into to how this happened and to make sure it cannot do so again.

“Officers have met with the Oakley family, and re-internment of the casket has been re-arranged. All costs to the family will be reimbursed in full and a donation made to charity.”

A man was shot dead by a police officer after tasers failed to be “effectively deployed”, a preliminary inquest has heard.

Josh Pitt, 24, from Leighton Buzzard, was fatally injured when he was shot in the chest with a Glock pistol on Wednesday, November 9 in Luton.

Mr Pitt had been holding a bladed article when the two armed officers, from Bedfordshire Police arrived at the scene after being called at 9am.

They had been called to the block of flats after reports of a “domestic incident”.

Ian Pears, assistant coroner for Bedfordshire, said: “Officers from Bedfordshire Police attended an address in Hibbert Street, Luton, on the November 9, 2016 to a report of a domestic incident.

“Two armed officers met Mr Pitt who was in possession of a bladed article. Tasers were deployed but are not believed to have been effective.

“A bullet was fired from the gun of a Glock pistol of the armed officer which hit Mr Pitt in the chest.

“Mr Pitt was conveyed by paramedics to Luton and Dunstable Hospital where his death was confirmed.”

A post-mortem carried out by pathologist Dr Nat Cary on Friday, November 11 gave the provisional cause of death as a single gun shot wound to the chest.

Forensic examination of the scene has taken place, and a number of knives have been recovered. Body worn video footage from some of the officers at the scene has been obtained, and will now be analysed by IPCC staff.

The inquest was attended by Mr Pitt’s girlfriend and mother.

A pre-inquest review into the death will be held at the court on April 4, 2017.

A portrait of a Sandy war hero who was awarded the Victoria Cross is going under the hammer next week.

Captain Sir William Peel’s short life, he died at the age of 34, reads like a Boys Own adventure.

The third son of Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel, Sir William was involved in the Crimean War, was badly wounded in the Battle of Inkerman, came home to his estates in Sandy where he built the Sandy to Potton railway, was wounded at the Relief of Lucknow in India in 1857 before succumbing to smallpox in 1858.

Sir William was born in 1824 and was a British naval officer and recipient of the Victoria Cross, effectively three times over, in the Crimean War. Like his father hewent to Harrow and then entered the Navy at the age of 14.

He was a Commander of the Naval Brigade in the Crimean War and in 1854 at the Siege of Sebastopol, he and his Brigade were charged with the task of supplying ammunition to the artillery when a Russian shell, fuse still alight, landed among them and their explosives. Whilst others ran, Peel picked up the shell and threw it over the parapet. The shell burst as it left his hands.

A month later at the Battle of Inkerman, Peel noticed a platoon was in grave danger of being cut off and surrounded by Russian forces. He braved a heavy barrage to lead the platoon to safety. In the following year, Peel led his troops over a ridge putting himself in the line of fire. He was shot and seriously injured. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for all of these immense acts of bravery, one of the earliest officers to be awarded the Victoria Cross during the Crimean War.

Sir William had estates in Sandy, which he bought with a legacy from his father’s death in 185. He lived at The Lodge on the outskirts of Sandy; where he decided to build the Sandy to Potton railway in 1857. Sadly the Railway only lasted from 1857-1861; Sir William named one of the engines “Shannon” after his frigate. The locomotive “Shannon” (GWR Railway Museum) and its engine shed still survive.

Sir William was later sent to India and was wounded again at the Relief of Lucknow. He died in India from smallpox aged 34

There are three statues of the great Victoria Cross holder - all by William Theed the Younger - they are at the Maritime Museum (1860); Sandy Church, (1861); and at Flagstaff House in Barrackpore, India (1863). Sir William’s home is now the home of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

Cheffins auctioneers will be selling the portrait in their November 30th & December 1st Fine Art sale. Its’ estimated value is around £3-5.000.

A campaign against plans to build on greenbelt land east of Luton is calling on its supporters to object to North Herts District Council (NHDC).

NHDC’s local plan proposes to declassify greenbelt land around Cockernhoe and Mangrove Green to allow 2,105 new houses and flats for Luton’s unmet housing need.

NHDC Local Plan is open to consultation and the public has until November 30 to submit comments.

Campaigner Carolyn Cottier, of Rushall Green, said: “Residents of Wigmore, Breachwood Green, Offley and Cockernhoe are exasperated. We argue that the development proposed for east of Luton would create unbearable chaos upon the roads, and bring them to a standstill.

“This is an emergency because if NHDC pass this foolish plan, they will have destroyed this whole area. So this really is in our interests and is our last chance to object.”

Charlotte Allin, from Wigmore, complained about traffic problems in the area. She said: “With a potential extra 2,000 to 4,000 cars coming off this new build’s site and heading towards the motorway, it’s going to be absolutely ridiculous!”

The proposals were also condemned by Cllr David Franks, head of the Liberal Democrats on Luton Borough Council. He said that the two main roads into town – Crawley Green Road and Eaton Road – already suffered mass congestion coming from east Luton, problems which could be made worse by the development.

But in spite of these objections, NHDC is obliged by the government to create a local plan with enough housing for the district, as well as an additional 1,950 homes for Luton’s unmet housing need.

NHDC executive for planning, Cllr David Levett said: “We are now in the last couple of weeks of the consultation and I would urge residents, businesses and workers in the district to make their views known either by email, post or using our new online software.”

The deadline for submission is 11.59pm on Wednesday, November 30. Following this, NHDC will decide whether to submit its plan to the government. This decision will be made by March 2017.

The local plan can be viewed at www.north-herts.gov.uk/localplan.

The campaign against the plans, ‘Keep East of Luton Green’, also has a website here.

To submit comments, email local.plans@north-herts.gov.uk or send a letter to Strategic Planning and Projects Group, North Hertfordshire District Council, PO Box 480, M33 ODE.

Millions of Brits have no idea what their home telephone number is, according to new research.

Sixty per cent of the nation only have a landline because they need it for their broadband connection.

And if the phone does ring, a third of people assume it’s an automated or sales call, and 22 per cent never answer it .

A shamed Luton councillor convicted of falsifying business documents in June can continue to claim his £7,500 allowance after turning up to just one council meeting in six months.

Cllr Mohammed Ashraf, 60, was convicted on June 7 at Luton Magistrates Court and subsequently excluded from the Labour Party.

Despite this, the council’s Standards Committee was unable to deliver any sanction due to changes in government legislation. Cllr Ashraf – formerly a member of the council’s executive – continues to represent Dallow ward despite his absence at council meetings.

LBC’s Lib Dem leader Cllr David Franks said: “When Cllr Ashraf was convicted, his constituents were entitled to expect that he would resign.

“In the meantime, he is not representing them and is still able to draw his allowance. It’s absolutely disgraceful. The cracks that he has fallen through are ones that have been put there by the government.”

Under current rules, any councillor who fails to attend a meeting for six months is no longer a councillor and a vacany exists. Cllr Ashraf attended a meeting on November 15 – just days before it is believed his six months was due to run out – and is now able to continue collecting his £7,500 allowance until at least May 15.

During his trial in June, it emerged that Cllr Ashraf, of Denbigh Road, fabricated a document to state his firm Luton Travel Services was covered by Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing (ATOL).

Cllr Ashraf – previously portfolio holder for trading standards at the council– was also convicted of four other charges relating to breaches of ATOL and unfair trading regulations. He was cleared of one alleged breach of unfair trading regulations.

Cllr Ashraf was contacted by Luton Today but failed to respond.

The trial of a woman accused of murdering her sister in Luton has been adjourned until early next year.

Sabah Khan, 26, stands accused of murdering 34-year-old sister Saima Khan on May 23.

Mum-of-four Saima was found with serious injuries at her Overstone Road home and died at the scene.

At Luton Crown Court today, Sabah Khan pleaded not guilty to the murder of her sister. A provisional trial date has been set for February 6.

A Heinz baked beans ad which showed children drumming on empty tins has been banned because young viewers could copy it and slice their fingers open on sharp edges.

The television ad showed full and empty tins being flipped and twirled around while actors drummed out the rhythm of a song on its sealed top, sides and bottom.

It was part of the food giant’s Facebook and social media campaign “Learn the #CanSong”.

But the advertising watchdog received complaints the ad encouraged unsafe practice and featured behaviour that could be dangerous for children to emulate.

The US multinational argued all surfaces shown in the ad “were safe to tap on and the ad did not depict any movements that involved placing a hand or fingers inside the can.”

It added viewers had created their own video versions of the ‘Can Song’ and uploaded them “which was evidence that copying the ad was not prejudicial to their health or safety.”

On its social media sites there were online tutorial videos explaining how the Can Song could be performed with “additional, precautionary measures” including instructions on preparing a can in the social media videos.

The tin needed to be empty and clean and it also recommended applying tape to the inside of the open end of the tin.

All cans in the ad had been taped.

The children shown tapping cans in the ad were supervised by adults and the ad was designed to appeal to adults too.

Advertiser Clearcast said the behaviour in the ad did not look dangerous or harmful and no one was shown playing with the rim of the cans .

However the Advertising Standards Authority banned the ad as viewers were likely to copy the actors.

But the children would not be as “proficient” and “it might still be possible that mistakes could be made with an empty can, which might include a hand or fingers being inserted into an open tin (with the associated risk of cuts).”

While the ad referred to Facebook and “#CanSong,” it did not include instructions “to ensure a tin can was made safe before attempting to learn the song.

“For the reasons given and because the ad did not include information on how to ensure consumer safety when recreating the song, we concluded that the ad condoned and encouraged behaviour that prejudiced health or safety.”

ASA added the ad was “likely to have appeal to a wide age range, including children, who wanted to learn the Can Song and would therefore seek to recreate it.

“However, as set out above, we considered there was a health and safety risk in doing so, particularly if a child was to attempt to play the song with an empty tin without adult supervision.

“Because the ad was likely to condone or encourage behaviour that could be dangerous for children to emulate, we concluded it breached the Code.

“The ad must not be broadcast again in its current form.

“We told HJ Heinz Foods UK Ltd to ensure that future ads did not condone or encourage behaviour that prejudiced health and safety, including behaviour that could be dangerous for children to emulate, for example by featuring open tin cans being used to play music.”

Strict new rules which will see backless car booster seats banned for younger children have been delayed until next year.

Currently, children weighing as little as 15kg - around three years old - are permitted to travel in backless booster seats, but under the new rules, children below 125cm and 22kg will be banned from travelling in them.

The change in law was originally expected to come into force next month, but the United Nations - which sets the standard for car seats worldwide - must implement the new rules before the European Union can update the law in Europe.

This is now unlikely to happen before March 2017 - and if Britain has left the EU by the the time the ban is implemented, the UK government will update it on its own timetable.

A backless booster seat, also known as a booster cushion, currently satisfies the legal car seats law requirement for children up to 135cm tall, and can be purchased for as little as £6, but is not recommended. However, parents who have already purchased a backless booster seat before the change will be allowed to continue to use them.

But child car seat experts from consumer organisation Which? say that this type of booster seat is unsuitable for such young children.

Which? say a small child is not held as securely in the seat, the adult seat belt is not guided across their body in the best way, and, most importantly, a booster seat offers no protection for a child if your car’s involved in a side-impact crash.

Which? child car seat expert, Lisa Galliers, said: “A decent high-backed booster seat provides better protection in a front crash, as they’re designed to guide the adult seat-belt across the child’s body properly.

“Our crash tests prove they offer much more protection in a side-impact crash than a backless booster seat alone.”

The new rules will only apply to any new products appearing on the market, meaning parents buying a booster seat next year should start to see that they are not approved for use with children under 125cm and 22kg.

Homeless Cat Rescue are struggling to find homes for three caring felines.

Pango, 18 months, is a black male who loves to play and is never far away. He tends to eat food too quickly and needs feeding little and often to prevent him being sick. He needs a home with no other cats.

Black and white Bruce, three-four, is full of character and cheekiness. He would suit a home as the only cat. Bruce is friendly but will let you know when he has had enough.

Tabby cat Misty, eight, is very sweet natured and would like a quiet home. Misty lost her tail in an accident a few years ago.

If you can help, call: 01582 529009 or visit: http://www.homelesscatrescue.co.uk/

Parents and couples eager to buy their first family home are being encouraged seek support from the government’s Help to Buy scheme.

Persimmon Homes, the team behind the new Dallow Place development, took the wraps off 63 properties and wish couples to know that with the right support they can achieve their dreams of buying.

Greg Kaye, head of sales at Persimmon Homes North London, said: “Help to Buy allows buyers to secure a brand new home with as little as a five per cent deposit, a mortgage of just 75% and the remaining 20% in the form of an interest free government loan, repayable in the same time period as the mortgage.

“Alternatively those who need to sell their current home will appreciate the ease of Persimmon’s Part Exchange scheme.

“This allows purchasers to move quickly and easily without the worry and headache of finding a buyer.”

Three and four bedroom properties are available at the site, located one mile outside Luton town centre, and now only a few homes remain.

If you are unsure about your financial matters, The Money Advice Service, an independent organisation set up by the government, can provide support.

The organisation offer a range of free and unbiased advice for first time buyers, including tips on borrowing. Call 0300 500 500 or visit www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk.

For information about Dallow Place and appointments, call 01895 544 282 or visit www.persimmonhomes.com.

Speculation is rife that the Government’s long awaited review of dangerous driving offences and penalties may consider the possibility of increasing the maximum sentence for death by dangerous driving from 14 years to 20 years.

Although no one has actually received the maximum of 14 years since it was extended from 10 years to 14 years in 2004, campaigners believe increasing the maximum would be a good move as it will increase sentences overall.

Duncan Dollimore, senior road safety and legal campaigner for Cycling UK who have long been campaigning for a review of motoring offences, says:

“We have been told there will be a review looking specifically at motoring offences and penalties, with a public consultation beginning before Christmas, and an intention to bring legislation before parliament in 2017.

“At the moment, the maximum penalty for death by dangerous driving is 14 years.

“The judge will never impose that. There is not a sentence that ever gets the maximum. It has to be the worst possible case.

“Judges will probably only go up to 90 per cent of the maximum. They also give a discount for an early guilty plea.

“They are talking about possibly having the maximum sentence extended to 20 years.

“This would not mean someone would get the 20 years but the sentences themselves would go up and be higher.”

Justice minister Sam Gyimah said: “Driving offences can have devastating and heart-breaking consequences for victims and their families.

“This government is determined to make sure sentencing fits the crime for those who kill or seriously injure on our roads.

“We will launch a consultation on dangerous driving offences and penalties by the end of the year.”

You can sign our Change.org petition here and share it using #DriveForJusticeCampaign

Two men are due to appear at court this morning (Thursday) in relation to the death of Luton’s Henry Huggins.

The 48-year-old was assaulted on October 8, 2013 in Whipperley Ring, Luton. He was left in a coma following the incident and subsequently died in June 2015.

Stuart Docherty was convicted of causing grievous bodily harm in relation to the incident and James Early was convicted of assault causing actual bodily harm.

The two men were sentenced in November 2014, however, they have now been summoned to court where Docherty will face a charge of murder and Early will face one of manslaughter.

They will appeal at Luton Magistrates’ Court today.

Detective Inspector Fraser Wylie, of the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, said: “Following the tragic death of Henry last year the case was re-examined by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) who have made the decision to press charges of murder and manslaughter against Docherty and Early respectively.

“I would like to take this opportunity to urge people to cast their minds back to that fateful day more than three years ago. If, for whatever reason, you did not come forward when the incident was initially investigated, we would urge you to now to get in touch and speak to us about what you witnessed.

“We have continued to work closely with the family and appreciate their support during what continues to be an upsetting time for them following the loss of Henry last year.”

Anyone with information should call the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit on 101 quoting Operation Loni.

A county-wide design festival is heading to Luton to celebrate the talents of school pupils and students.

The School of Art and Design at the University of Bedfordshire will be hosting the first Design Festival Luton & Beds on Thursday, December 1.

The showcase will praise talented young artists from schools, colleges and the university, as well as championing local designers.

The festival’s organiser, Beverley Bothwell, senior lecturer in Fashion Design and Communication at the university, said: “We are really excited to be hosting the first Design Festival Luton and Beds. We think this will be a great opportunity for designers across Bedfordshire to come together and share ideas.”

The festival is open from 10am - 7pm and the public can participate in drawing, screen-printing, 3D printing and laser cutting workshops.

To attend this free event, at Alexon House, Guildford Street, register at: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/design
-festival-luton-beds-2016
-tickets-29072427413.

A man is in a critical condition after a road traffic collision on the Luton/Dunstable border earlier today (Thursday).

At approximately 5.20am, a blue Vauxhall Tigra and a cyclist collided at the Dunstable Road/Poynters Road roundabout.

Emergency services attended and the cyclist was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, where he is being treated for serious injuries.

The police are keen to speak to anyone who witnessed the collision.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Hertfordshire Roads Policing Unit on 101.

Bedfordshire’s best performers are invited to rise to the challenge next month as Britain’s Got Talent rolls into Luton.

Producers from Thames TV, makers of the show, will be at the California Inn on Chapel Street on December 12 as they go through the first round of local auditions.

And they are keen to sample the local talent!

Thames TV producer Marcus Rose said: “We are looking forward to meeting a lot of new talent at the California Inn that could take part in Britain’s Got Talent.”

Those who pass the first round of auditions will be in line for a chance of TV stardom in front of judges Simon Cowell and David Walliams.

And it’s a delight for the California Inn, which was relaunched in July this year.

Tina Haynes, owner of Cali Bars, said: “It’s an honour to have been approached to host the Luton auditions for Britain’s Got Talent.

“Here at the Cali, we’re very proud of the live entertainment we put on and we can’t wait to show Thames TV the talent our area has to offer.”

Auditions will take place at the California Inn on Chapel Street from 8pm to 11pm on Monday, December 12.

Those wishing to audition should register by emailing info@cali-bars.co.uk with their details, including their name, phone number and a brief description of their act, by 5pm on Friday, December 9.