People obsessed by their smartphones or tablets should wear special computer glasses or use screen filters to block out blue light to get a good night’s sleep.

If they use these filters three hours before bed, they will see levels of their sleep hormone increase by nearly three fifths, sleep better and nod off quicker and get an extra 24 minutes sleep a night.

The ubiquitous digital gadgets are always on hand and the temptation is to use them just before we go to bed.

The largest source of blue light is sunlight and it boosts alertness and regulates our internal body clock that tells our bodies when to sleep.

But the blue light emitted from most LED-based devices disrupts sleep by suppressing the sleep hormone melatonin leaving many tired out in the morning.

Lead author Assistant Professor Dr Lisa Ostrin said to avoid sleep disturbances, people should limit their screen time, apply screen filters, wear computer glasses that block blue light, or use anti-reflective lenses to offset the effects of artificial light at nighttime.

Some devices even include night mode settings that limit blue light exposure.

Prof Ostrin of the University of Houston College of Optometry said: “Exposure to increasing amounts of artificial light during the night may contribute to the high prevalence of reported sleep dysfunction.

“Release of the sleep hormone melatonin is mediated by the intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs).

“This study sought to investigate whether melatonin level and sleep quality can be modulated by decreasing night-time input to the ipRGCs.

It gave 22 participants aged 17 to 42 short wavelength-blocking glasses three hours before bedtime for two weeks while still performing their nightly digital routine.

They also wore activity, light exposure and sleep monitors 24 hours a day during the study period.

Saliva samples were collected to assess melatonin content, sleep quality assessed by using The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and pupil dilation measured.

All had about a 58 per cent increase in their nighttime melatonin levels, the chemical that signals your body that it’s time to sleep.

And levels were even higher than increases from over-the-counter melatonin supplements.

All participants also reported sleeping better, falling asleep faster, and even increased their sleep duration by 24 minutes a night from an average six hours and 48 minutes hours to seven hours and 11 minutes.

They also had slower redilation phase.

Prof Ostrin said: “The most important takeaway is that blue light at night time really does decrease sleep quality.

“Sleep is very important for the regeneration of many functions in our body.

“By using blue blocking glasses we are decreasing input to the photoreceptors, so we can improve sleep and still continue to use our devices.

“That’s nice, because we can still be productive at night.”

She concluded: “The use of short wavelength-blocking glasses at night increased subjectively measured sleep quality and objectively measured melatonin levels and sleep duration, presumably as a result of decreased night-time stimulation of ipRGCs.

“Alterations in the ipRGC-driven pupil response suggest a shift in circadian phase.

“Results suggest that minimising short wavelength light following sunset may help in regulating sleep patterns.”

The study was published in Ophthalmic & Physiological Optics.

Mothercare has announced a voluntary recall of one of its own-brand baby bouncer chairs after it emerged that the fabric seat could become detached from the frame, resulting in a child falling through.

While the firm said that incorrect assembly could lead to injury, it also highlighted that the risk of detaching fabric was still present in correctly assembled chairs.

A company announcement read: “Bouncers with a batch date of 12/2015 onwards and with a barcode ending in 843611-3 are affected by this recall. All earlier versions are unaffected.

“If you own one of these bouncers please stop using it immediately and return your product to a mothercare store where a full refund will be given.

“If you have any queries please contact mothercare via email on: bouncerEnquiries@mothercare.com”

The organisation also apologised to customers, saying: “This action has been taken to ensure the safety and well-being of our customers and we apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.”

Shoppers at Tesco stores across Britain will no longer be able to buy 5p ‘single-use’ plastic carrier bags from the end of the month.

In a move welcomed by campaigners, Britain’s biggest grocer will become the first major supermarket chain to ditch its throwaway bags.

From August 28, shoppers who forget their bags will still be able to buy one – but it will be a more expensive reusable one, made from thicker recycled plastic, costing 10p.

“It’s great to see major retailers moving away from disposable plastic. For too long we’ve seen plastic as something to be used once and thrown away,” said Louise Edge, senior campaigner at Greenpeace UK.

The move followed a 10-week trial in three stores in Norwich, Aberdeen and Dundee during which sales of single-use bags fell by 25 per cent. Bag sales have tumbled Tesco has given out 1.5 billion fewer single use bags since the introduction of the carrier bag charge in England in 2015, but still sells over 700 million of these each year.

The retailer hopes that removing single use carrier bags will significantly reduce the number of bags sold, helping reduce litter and bags sent to landfill.

Matt Davies, Tesco’s UK head, said: “The number of bags being bought by our customers has already reduced dramatically. Today’s move will help our customers use even fewer bags.”

Environment Minister Thérèse Coffey added: “I welcome Tesco wanting to go further and help their customers use even fewer plastic bags.”

The introduction of the 5p charge in England in October 2015 brought it into line with schemes already operating in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. About 8m tonnes of plastic makes its way into the world’s oceans each year, posing a serious threat to the marine environment. Official figures last July revealed that the number of single-use plastic bags used by shoppers in England plummeted by more than 85 per cent after the introduction.

More than 7bn bags were handed out by seven main supermarkets in the year before the charge, but this figure plummeted to slightly more than 500m in the first six months after the charge was introduced. However, while campaigners welcomed Tesco’s move they warned much work remains to be done to curb plastic pollution further – especially when it comes single-use bottles.

“The plastic bag charge has done wonders for reducing the number of bags polluting our coastlines and waters. Now we need to see the same for throwaway plastic bottles – a deposit return scheme which encourages collection,” Ms Edge said.

Luton Borough Council has been selected by the Government as one of the 21 local authorities to run a canvass pilot aimed at reducing the costs involved in making sure its electoral register is kept up to date.

The Council has a duty under the Representation People Act 1983 to make sure its electoral register is kept up to date. Every year it writes to all households in Luton to check who can be added to, removed or remain on the register.

At the beginning of July a Household Enquiry Form (HEF) was sent to every Luton household to confirm who lives at the address.

If a household does not respond to the HEF reminders are sent out but this is costly. Luton electors can assist to reduce these costs by responding quickly to the HEF as soon as they receive it.

If the council still receives no reply, it must visit households personally to collect the required information. This also significantly adds to the cost of the annual canvass.

Instead of the household visit the council will be telephoning some households to confirm who is resident.

Telephoning will begin on 7 August and those answering will be asked to confirm the names of people living at the property. To reassure anyone who is concerned the call may be a scam, the number calling will be 01582 546000. If you wish to call back instead, you can call Electoral Registration 01582 510380 to provide the information.

The Cabinet Office will collecting data from all the pilot authorities to find out if the new ways of working reduce the cost of the annual canvass without reducing the accuracy and completeness of the register. Further information can be found at www.luton.gov.uk/elections

A Luton footgolf and fun day raised an impressive £5,000 for Brain Tumour Research.

Seb Cameron, 35, of Wigmore organised the tournament and fun day with an initial aim of raising £2,500 and was blown away by the total.

On Sunday, July 9, Luton players descended on Tea Green Footgolf Club, Wandon End, from across the country, including Manchester, Nottingham, Cambridge, Bedford and, of course, Luton.

The day was “a success from start to finish”, and Seb highlighted the importance of finding a cure for brain tumours, the biggest killers of children and adults under 40 than any other cancer.

Seb, Tea Green Footgolf Club captain, said: “I would like to thank everyone who made this event possible, from all of my wonderful sponsors to everyone who took part.

“The money we raised will hopefully will go someway to ensuring that more people we care about are not affected by this horrible disease.

“If any businesses would like to contact me about sponsoring my 2018 event, I would welcome a conversation.”

Winners were: Mens: Paul Boulton; Seniors: Andy Peck; Ladies: Sarah Boulton; Juniors: Luca Boreham.

Search: “Sebba Cameron” on Facebook to get in touch.

A determined Luton computing student has won a prize from the British Computer Society (BCS): The Chartered Institute of IT.

Lukasz Wladyslaw Migacz, 21, who is from Poland and currently lives in Luton, recently completed his first year of a Computer Security and Forensics course at the University of Bedfordshire and achieved the equivalent of A grades across the board.

This made him the highest performing student in the school of Computer Science and Technology, and his commitment to his studies meant that the BCS chose to award him its Bedford branch student prize, given every year to a high performing first year computing student.

Lukasz, said: “Since coming to university my goal has always to be the best in my class.

“There was a lot of competition from my fellow students, who are all very good.

“But my hard work in classes, and the extra study I have done at home, has paid off,”

As well as achieving excellent grades, Lukasz has also taken coming to a new country and getting to grips with a new language in his stride.

Lukasz’s prize includes automatic membership to the BCS for the remainder of his studies and a £150 cash prize.

His certificate was presented by the chair of the BCS Bedford branch, Dr Ip-Shing Fan.

Sue Brandreth, research fellow and associate lecturer at the university and from the Bedford branch of the BCS, gave Lukasz her seal of approval, saying she was “delighted”, and Lukasz’s achievements were “outstanding”.

Bedfordshire Police officers have raised more than £5,000 in memory of a courageous colleague who was killed on duty in Luton 10 years ago.

Five officers completed a ‘Police Unity Tour’ bike ride on Sunday, in honour of PC Jon Henry who was stabbed to death in June 2007.

The money raised goes to Care of Police Survivors (COPS), which provides support to the families of officers who have died while on duty.

Detective Constable Matt Crouch, one of the five Bedfordshire cyclists, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have raised such a significant amount of money in aid of this very worthy cause.

“It was really moving to ride in memory of Jon.”

PC Henry was murdered in George Street, Luton whilst responding to a report of a man attacking members of the public with a knife.

Jon was the first officer at the scene and upon arrival he immediately placed himself between the suspect and members of the public.

He paid the ultimate price when he was stabbed twice, sustaining fatal wounds.

Ikechukwu Tennyson Obih was convicted of Jon Henry’s murder on March 26 2009 and sentenced to life imprisonment with minimum of 25 years.

Dunstable Rotary Club has donated £500 to The Brain Tumour Charity after hearing about its work from a woman who survived the disease.

Estate agent Carol Rutherford was invited to speak to club members earlier this year about the impact of brain tumours and The Brain Tumour Charity’s efforts to raise awareness of the symptoms.

Carol, 60, was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2012 after months of health problems including extreme tiredness, memory loss and visual problems.

She collapsed at home and admitted to Bedford Hospital, where an MRI scan revealed a large brain tumour, which doctors said was too large to remove and told Carol’s family she would die within hours.

But after a last-minute decision to send her brain scan results to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridgeshire, surgeons there said they could operate on the low-grade (non-cancerous) tumour.

Carol was rushed by ambulance to Addenbrooke’s for the operation and has since made a remarkable recovery. She has raised thousands of pounds for The Brain Tumour Charity through events including marathon walks, a pop quiz and bake sales.

She told Dunstable Rotary Club members: “Sadly, my story is not unusual – 62% of brain tumours are not diagnosed until a visit to A & E. This compares with 5% for breast cancer.

“Earlier diagnosis will not always save the life of a brain tumour patient but even where terminal earlier diagnosis can greatly improve quality of life in the time someone has left.”

Graham Smith of Dunstable Rotary Club said: “All of our members who heard Carol’s talk were very impressed - it left a strong message and lots of food for thought.”

Visit www.thebraintumourcharity.org

Youth football team, Luton Nations FC, were able to question England manager Gareth Southgate when they met him, courtesy of Thurlow Nunn.

Thanks to the Vauxhall sponsorship of the England football team, Thurlow Nunn was able to give the youth team the exclusive chance to put their most pressing questions to the England team manager as he agreed to be put on the spot by the youngsters.

The Luton Nations FC team, which Thurlow Nunn works with, travelled in style and was whisked off to meet Gareth on-board the England Team coach where, upon arrival, they were given the football star treatment.

The budding football players were also presented with an England shirt signed by Gareth and the England team, which they could use to raise money for the club or keep as a memento of the day.

Kevin Thoburn Head of Luton Town FC Community Trust comments: “We can’t thank Thurlow Nunn and Vauxhall enough for this fantastic opportunity. Luton Nations FC are a club we helped create a couple of seasons back and the entire team had a great day - meeting a serving England manager really is a once in a lifetime opportunity and a dream come true for the boys.”

Simon Grylls, Regional Director at Thurlow Nunn says: “We were delighted to be able to give Luton Nations FC the chance to meet a footballing icon. With Vauxhall being the England Team sponsor, they are able to extend #GetIN opportunities like this where they can, and we are over the moon to be have been a part of this one.”

“I know Luton Nations FC was ecstatic at the prospect of meeting him and he certainly lived up to expectations. It was a real honour to meet Gareth and we hope the teams take away not only a signed shirt, but also some fabulous memories from the day.”

Gareth Southgate said: “I’d just like to say thank you to the team at Thurlow Nunn for inviting me – I had a brilliant time, and it was really great to meet the future talent of football. The kids had some fantastic questions; they certainly put me through my paces!”

Thurlow Nunn Luton dealership is based in Kimpton Road, Luton. Visit www.thurlownunn.co.uk

Today (Tuesday 8 August) has been named Fantasy Football Day, with over a million amateur managers in the UK alone expected to make their picks in what is traditionally the most popular day of the year for wannabe Mourinhos to select their fantasy football teams.

Analysis of data from one online fantasy football game Draft Fantasy shows that the Tuesday prior to the first Premier League fixture is the day most managers select their players, with the corresponding day in 2016 (August 4) having accounted for 12 per cent of all selections. In total, the week before the start of the season will see over a fifth 21 per cent of all players select their team.

With fantasy football games estimated to attract over 8.5 million players in the UK alone, this could mean that this Tuesday will see over 1.2 million teams selected.

Draft Fantasy have marked the occasion with a dedicated website – FantasyFootballDay.com – which includes hints and tips for managers, exclusive videos from football influencers and everything budding Guardiolas need to know ahead of them making their final selections.

Elie Steinbock, Draft Fantasy founder and CEO said, “We are gearing up for our biggest day ever on the site on Tuesday, including having 25 additional support and technical staff to ensure every manager can make their selections without a hitch.”

“Teamed with our unique draft offering, the biggest revolution in the game in over two decades, Tuesday 8 August is going to be momentous occasion for Draft Fantasy, and all fantasy football players across the UK.”

Check out fantastyfootballday.com for more information.

Royal Mail and Action Fraud are warning households not to duped by fake missed delivery cards.

The fake missed delivery slips, look almost identical to the ‘something for you’ cards from Royal Mail, and are being used in an attempt to scam the recipients personal details according to Action Fraud.

The cards request the recipient to call an 0208 number to re-book a free delivery.

The number provided is not registered to Royal Mail though and after calling an automated message will ask for details and consignment number.

Check delivery cards very carefully

Royal Mail are now advising households to be on the look out for anything suspicious arriving in the post.

A Royal Mail spokesperson told the Express, “The Royal Mail security team is looking into this incident as a matter of urgency. Customers should check delivery cards very carefully to ensure they are genuine, and remain vigilant. Although this card is similar to one of our Something For You cards, the Royal Mail logo is crucially missing”.

“Customers should also consider whether they are expecting a delivery from the company named on the card”.

At present Action Fraud has not received any reports of such incidents, however, there have been incidents of fake delivery notes in the past.

Police are at the scene of a collision, involving one vehicle, in Dunstable Road, Caddington.

Bedfordshire Police were called at 10.38am this morning to reports of a one vehicle road traffic collision.

Dunstable Road remains closed while emergency services are at the scene.

Drivers are advised to use alternative routes.

More to follow.

Cancer care has significantly improved in Luton over the past year, according to annual national survey results published in July.

The National Cancer Patient Experience Survey 2016 asked cancer patients across England for their views and to rate their care on a scale of zero (very poor) to ten (very good).

The respondents from Luton gave an average reading of 8.7 which meets the national average, whilst the rating for Breast Cancer care scores an incredible 9.2 which is much higher than the national average of 8.8.

Luton staff scored 70% on keeping patients informed about financial help available to them- 14% more than the national average. Being treated with dignity and respect, having support from health and social care services during and after their treatment and having confidence in the nurses and doctors that treated them were all areas that were rated exceptionally well.

Specifically looking at Breast Cancer, 100% of patients said they had all the information they needed and 77% said the hospital and community staff worked well together, which is significantly more than the 61% national average.

Carole Gillespie, the lead Clinician for Cancer at Luton Clinical Commissioning Group, said, “The latest data shows cancer survival is now at a record high and this survey confirms the vast majority of cancer patients are extremely positive about the NHS care they receive.

“One of our key priorities is to improve cancer patient experience at a time when the NHS is successfully treating more patients for cancer than ever before, so this positive feedback from patients is an encouraging testament to the hard work of NHS staff”.

The full results are available on the Quality Health website.

Rents in Luton have seen a surge over the past year as tenants search for value outside London, according to an index.

Residential rents in the East of England region increased by 2.35% in the 12 months to July - the fastest rise of any UK region.

It was also nearly four times the average UK growth rate of 0.64%, according to the rental index from specialist buy-to-let mortgage lender

Landbay.

The current pace of growth means a tenant in Luton, for example, faces paying £789 on average a month in rent, compared with £757 a year ago -

an extra £384 over the year, the study found.

John Goodall, chief executive and founder of Landbay, said: “Young people working in London are wrestling with rising inflation on the one hand, and rock-bottom interest rates on the other, so it’s hardly a surprise that people are tackling longer commutes to reduce their rent burden while they save for a deposit on a house of their own.

“These surrounding areas are starting to experience a surge in rental prices.”

The Luton and Dunstable Hospital Charitable Fund is raising money to renovate the child oncology rooms at the hospital.

The Children’s Oncology Room project aims to convert two side rooms on the children’s ward into welcoming specialist treatment rooms for patients, so they feel happier having to spend time in the rooms.

The children that will use the rooms are being treated for Cancer or Leukaemia and will stay in isolation rooms when they come in for treatment to minimise the risk of infection.

Three-year-old Niamh Dawson, of Luton, was diagnosed with Leukaemia at the start of the year, she is an oncology patient at the hospital. Her mum Hayley said: “Everything happened so quickly and we soon realised that the L&D was going to become our second home for the next few years.

“It is amazing that they can always put us in this room to make sure Niamh is safe but the room itself is so depressing. It is so hot and cramped in the room.

“The new rooms will be absolutely amazing, to have more child friendly rooms, with colours and to be able to control the temperature in the room would make such a huge difference to us all.

“It must sound so silly to everyone but the temperature has been the most awful thing for us.

“When Niamh has a fever we desperately have to try and keep her cool but there isn’t any air conditioning and the room is so full of other equipment we can’t bring a big fan in.

“The staff on the children’s ward are fantastic and we couldn’t be happier with the care she gets but the room where she gets treated could be so much better and it would have such an impact on her time at the L&D.

“We care supporting the appeal for the refurbishments of the children’s oncology rooms and we really hope you will too!”

The hospital wants to transform the rooms into inviting, colourful, interactive and spacious areas.

Sarah Newby, head of fundraising, said: “Refurbishing the oncology rooms on the children’s ward is a really exciting project to be involved with and is exactly what the L&D Charity was set up to do.

We want to make the rooms the best they can be for all our children and their families who have to spend time in them. We want them to be homely and comfortable and not a place people dread having to stay in.

“We want them to have the necessary equipment to help distract the children when they are feeling really poorly and frustrated. We want them to have individual temperature controls so that each family can make the room as comfortable as possible for them and their child.”

The project will cost £150,000, the hospital’s charity has already raised £60,000. To make a donation call 01582 718289 or text PONC99 £5 to 70070, or visit: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/childoncology.

Luton Borough Council is to recommend that planning permission to build houses on the former site of Saints Community Centre is granted.

On August 16 the council’s development control committee is to discuss Foxhall Homes Ltd’s application to erect four ‘two bedroom’, seven ‘three bedroom’ and four ‘four bedroom’ houses, as well as a community building.

The site, situated at 83-85 Solway Road North, was well known for being the home of Saints Community Centre, until it closed in April 2015 because the council’s executive committee could not afford essential repairs of £400,000.

A Luton Borough Council spokesman, said: “It is recommended that planning permission is granted...

“...In order to address the issue of local community facilities... the development proposal includes the provision of a community building with a floor area of 158sq m...

“The proposed building would serve as a base for various community activities...”

A small part of the development would encroach onto the Alder Crescent playing fields and the existing basketball court, so it is proposed that part of the court would be incorporated into the development and part converted to natural turf playing fields.

The Milan Day Centre also stood on the site but was demolished following its 2013 closure, a supporting statement saying this was due to a decline in “service users”.

Reference: 16/01916/OUT

A grateful husband and wife are raising funds for an award-winning Luton care home that has brought joy to their 97-year-old grandmother.

Stephen and Karen Carrick, of Luton’s Toddington Road area, are holding a series of quizzes in The Bramingham pub, Quantock Rise, in honour of a care home run by Friends of the Elderly charity, whom have been so kind to Stephen’s beloved ‘Nanna’, Violet Kerr.

As well as celebrating her 97th birthday, Violet, originally from Dublin, recently moved to Little Bramingham Farm care home, feeling welcomed into the community.

Stephen said: “Nanna is always saying how lovely and friendly the staff are and that they are always willing to help.

“Up until June this year when she moved into Little Bramingham, she had lead a fairly independent life since losing her husband (almost 30 years ago).

“Still living at home on her own, it has only been in the last four years that she had been getting some care in to assist her with certain things.

“Our aim is to raise around £1,000, as a thank you to everyone for helping Nanna settle and for all their great work.”

Born in Dublin in 1920, Violet moved to England permanently in circa 1960, working most of her life at SKF in Sundon Park.

During the war, she lost one brother in the retreat from Dunkirk and her other brother was a prisoner of the Japanese.

Now, after a hard working but sociable life at SKF, Violet still enjoys making friends.

A Friends of the Elderly spokesman, said: “The money raised through the two pub quizzes will be used to benefit residents through activities and day trips.”

The first quiz on Friday, August 25, will start at 8pm, the second, on 27th, at 7pm.

Entry to the quiz will be £5 per team, with a maximum of six people per team. There will be a raffle on both evenings.

Friends of the Elderly supports older people, operating a number of care homes across the country.

In April, Little Bramingham Farm was chosen by residents and families as one of the Top 20 East of Englandcare homes, and received an award from ‘carehome.co.uk’.

> Stephen.Carrick@hotmail.co.uk

A group of Luton GPs, teachers, students and friends have completed a 100km trek, raising £6,700 for Oxfam and the Gurkha Welfare Trust.

At the end of July, the friends completed the Oxfam Trailwalker UK, n “ultimate team endurance event,” in fewer than 30 hours, walking 100km across the South Downs Way in teams of four.

The £6,700 raised will go towards Oxfam, a charity whose aim is to alleviate global poverty, and the Gurkha Welfare Trust, whose mission is to provide aid to Gurkha veterans, their families and communities.

Dr Manraj Barhey, Luton GP, said: “The walk itself started on July 29 at 9am and we walked day and night – through pouring rain, through muddy fields and through truly challenging conditions!

“The Gurkhas were magnificent in encouraging us and the trek was the equivalent ascent to Snowdon and Ben Nevis and longer than two full marathons.

“I am glad that we will be able to help Oxfam and the Gurkha Welfare Trust in achieving their aims, whilst promoting walking as a good way to stay healthy.”

The teams included, Team Fit Bits: Sukhbir Barhey – safety consultant, Balraj Barhey – Kumon instructor, Kushy Barhey – student, Patrick Burns – student, Sukhwinder Barhey and Kyo Barhey (walk support crew); Team Sikh Skywalkers : Govind Barhey – student, Amreet Soora – radiographer, Harneet Soora – student, Karpal Soora – aftermarket project manager, Hardeep Barhey, Manjit Soora, Davinder Lotay, Satwinder Lotay, and Jaswant Ruprai (walk support crew); Team Run Fat Boys Run: Dr Abbas Zaidi – Luton GP, Munawar Jaffer – business consultant Sukhdev Ruprai – teacher, Dr Manraj Barhey – Luton GP, and Masuma, Kumail, Saami, Akber Jaffer and Paramjit Ruprai (walk support crew).

St John Ambulance is looking for new Dunstable volunteers as its young Badger unit celebrates its 30th anniversary.

The charity is looking for a Cadet unit lead and a Badger unit lead at its Dunstable unit, while there are also opportunities for youth leaders from both Badgers and Cadets to work with existing adult volunteers in the Dunstable youth section.

Both unit leads will take responsibility for running their particular area of the unit, while there are also vacancies in Dunstable for young Cadets and Badgers, the Badgers celebrating their 30th anniversary this summer.

A St John Ambulance spokesman said: “Badgers are the youngest St John 
Ambulance volunteers, aged between seven and 10 years old, and the charity is very proud of its youngest volunteers and the commitment they have shown to learning first aid and skills over the past 30 years.

“A special ceremony featuring our mascot Bertie Badger was held on St John’s Day (June 24), while St John Ambulance itself celebrated 140 years of first aid training on July 10.”

Badgers work towards achieving their Super Badger Award, which includes learning first aid, as well as completing 12 subjects ranging from ‘creative and active’ to ‘healthy and caring’.

Meanwhile, older group, the Cadets (aged 10-17), work towards their Grand Prior Award, choosing from more than 70 subjects, such as fire prevention and first aid.

Cadets meet on Wednesday evenings at Dunstable 
Fire Station from 6.45pm to 8pm and Badgers on Monday evenings from 5.30pm to 7.30pm.

>east-volunteering@sja.org.uk

Environmental Health has closed ten food stalls in Luton indoor market after finding a cockroach infestation.

The inspection took place on Tuesday and has resulted in all of the cooked food stalls being closed for the time being.

The fishmonger and butcher shops have been allowed to remain open. Fumigator Rentokil has been appointed to carry out a deep clean and spray of the site, with food stalls expected to stay closed for up to a week.

The indoor market is managed by Town and Country Markets (TCM). Spokesman Andrew Sparrow told that Herald & Post that up to 40 per cent of the units in the market are food and beverage stalls.

Mr Sparrow said: “I’m led to believe [the infestation] may have occurred by the basement and therefore I think it’s right and proper that we work with the council to temporarily close a number of these units. Our priority is the safety of the public.

“Having looked at some of the units, the rubbish and food lying around is a haven for pests. We’re having to work with traders for a bit of education about food hygiene.”

All of the food stalls based in the indoor market are registered with Luton Borough Council and subject to food hygiene inspections.

A spokesman for The Mall said: “We have been made aware of a breach of Health & Safety within the Market Hall, and can confirm that a number of food units within the area have been temporarily closed following an investigation by Luton Borough Council Pest Control.

“While the Market Hall is not under our management we would like to assure the public that we are working with the responsible parties to ensure cleanliness standards are met and this matter is resolved as quickly as possible.”

A spokesman for Luton Borough Council said: “The Council temporarily closed ten high-risk food businesses in the Market Hall on 8 August, using formal food hygiene powers. A Magistrates Court hearing will be held on Friday to confirm that the outlets should remain closed until the pest control issue is resolved. Officers continue to monitor the remaining food businesses that have been allowed to continue operating. The Market Hall’s management company is currently dealing with the situation and the outlets that have been closed will be allowed to re-open once the health risk is removed.”