Even if it doesn’t convert those who loathe musicals, well-mounted film ‘poperetta’ LES MISERABLES (12: Universal) will please fans of the long-running stage sensation.

Tom Hooper, who directed The King’s Speech, is at the helm and takes a rabble-rousing approach to Victor Hugo’s 1,400-page saga.

On his side is a dream cast of Hollywood’s finest performing live on camera, with the action revolving around Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman), a Frenchman released from a chain gang in 1815 after serving 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread.

A bitter and broken man, his life is changed by an act of kindness. But the thief-turned-good Samaritan is doggedly pursued through 19th Century France by obsessive Inspector Javert (Russell Crowe).

Despite a running time of two-and-a-half-hours, the story is abridged, yet it’s still inspirational thanks to evergreen anthems like Bring Him Home and Anne Hathaway singing her heart out in a powerfully moving rendition of I Dreamed A Dream.

She’s at the centre of the film, even though she’s on screen for just 15 minutes as Fantine, the factory girl forced by poverty into prostitution.

Hooper gets a bit carried away with swoopy shots, the close-ups are unrelenting and every scene is enacted in song, so it can be rather heavy going.

But there’s still plenty to keep us entertained, with Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter very funny as the foul-mouthed Thenardiers.

> THE MAGNIFICENT ELEVEN (12: Eureka) is based on The Magnificent Seven and stars the last surviving member of the seven, legendary screen and TV actor Robert Vaughn. Sadly, there’s little else to compare this lame comedy thriller with the superb 1960 Western.

The action is transferred to a depressed English town in a mixed genre movie incorporating elements of Bollywood, British gangster films and sport.

It’s the cowboys – a declining works football team of builders – who come to the aid of Indian restaurateurs against American Bob (Vaughn) and his cronies, who are in the extortion business.

> Routine action movie A DARK TRUTH (15: Sony) stars Andy Garcia, Eva Longoria and Forest Whitaker in the tale of a group of activists trying to expose the crimes of a large corporation in South America.

As a former CIA operative turned radio presenter on a political talk show, Jack Begosian (Garcia) is intrigued by rumours that a water company may have colluded in the massacre of Ecuadorian villagers in an attempt to cover up a poisoning outbreak.

As survivors from the village, Francisco and Mia Francis (Whitaker and Longoria) are key to Begosian’s case, but the corporation is anxious to silence them.

> Made-for-TV horror flick RISE OF THE ZOMBIES (15: Anchor Bay) is set in the aftermath of a zombie outbreak in San Francisco.

Survivors grouped together on Alcatraz include a number of scientists intent on developing a cure for the virus.

When the prison is invaded by the undead some stark choices await those within its walls.

Hundreds of cars disturbed the peace at Butterfield Green Road crematorium on Sunday as visitors attending a swimming gala at Inspire Sports Village were directed there to park.

More than 1,000 visitors soon filled up the 400-space sports centre car park and marshals sent the overflow vehicles to the Vale cemetery and Hilton Hotel instead.

Eugene Fox of nearby Hitchin Road said the cars pouring into the crematorium was disrespectful.

He said: “I think it’s disgusting. There was a funeral going on, there was someone getting cremated, and the crematorium was busy because Sunday is a day when many people visit to tidy up the graves and pay their respects.

“That was disrespectful that all those cars were going up there. There were marshals directing them in, children and parents traipsing through. Is this going to be happening all the time? I felt sorry for the kids as well. It’s a graveyard not a car park, you go to pay your respects, not to park up all day because there’s a swimming gala on.”

An Active Luton spokesman said the 1,000 attendees for the gala and a street dance championships put a “great deal of pressure” on the 400-space car park.

The spokesman said: “We are of course sensitive to our neighbours in all aspects of operations at Inspire and have a travel plan with the council. We are also working with the parks department to continue to improve access.”

He said having learnt from previous events, they wanted to “free up” the Inspire car park for regular customers.

He said: “The cemetery was only used as a last resort and the marshals were there to ensure there was full respect for other users. Inspire has been extremely popular since it opened, and while we are happy so many people are making use of its world class facilities, we will continue to look into other options to limit overflow for major events.”

The rescue and restoration of one of Luton’s historic landmark buildings has had an unexpected result.

Gardeners at Luton Hoo, owned by Elite Hotels for the past five years, have been painstakingly restoring the grounds and formal gardens of the original work of one of England’s greatest landscape gardeners, Capability Brown.

Specialist landscape architects and historians have been carrying out research and ecological surveys into the original designs and the 10 year project aims to restore the site, which in its day was second only to Blenheim Palace in size and investment.

Other projects include restoring the Victorian grass tennis court with a pavilion which can rotate to follow the sun, and the late 19th century sunken rockery, above, hidden by hedges, shrubs and trees, which leads to a ‘pet cemetery’.

Visitors to a business exhibition will be able to book taster appointments to talk to consultants.

Organisers of Best Business Expo at Riverside Centre, in Gipsy Lane, Luton, believe the innovation will add a new dimension to the event on Thursday, May 16.

There will be a networking breakfast, hosted by Jon Baker of marketing specialist Venture Now, workshops, stands and speed networking.

Details from Peter Donn on 07786 066501.

A woman who failed to declare she had purchased a second property and was renting it out pleaded guilty to five fraud offences at Luton Magistrates Court on April 15.

Gillian Hendrie, 63, of Brompton Close, was convicted of council tax benefit fraud and income support fraud, for stealing £8,321 of benefits.

Hendrie received a 12 month community order with 150 hours unpaid work. She was also ordered to pay £220 towards the council’s costs.

If you have financial problems or you are falling behind with your council tax or rent, get help now by calling the council on 0300 790 0345, see www.luton.gov.uk/helpwithdebt or visit the Town Hall.

Call the fraud hotline on 0500 500 777 if you suspect someone is falsely claiming benefits.

A business that makes discreet documentary style films for weddings has scooped a hattrick of top awards.

Ultimate Visuals, with a studio in Luton and a shop in Leighton Buzzard, has been voted by clients as Best Cinematographer in Luton, Bedfordshire and England.

Voting for the Wedding Industry Expert Awards 2103 took place over the course of a week. It’s an international contest voted for by clients and wedding industry peers.

Simon Tiller of Ultimate Visuals, in Oakley Road, said: “We have been trading for over 10 years and this is the first time we have entered any awards so to walk away with these titles is awesome. We would just like to thank everybody that took the time to vote for us.”

> Enter Bedfordshire Business Excellence Awards: www2.bedfordtoday.co.uk/businessawards2013/

A confident Luton-based manufacturer has won its largest order for nuclear components in 10 years.

Specialist pump maker Hayward Tyler, in Kimpton Road, says its business in the United States picked up £3.1million of nuclear related orders in the period since December 31, including its largest single order in the sector over the last decade.

Other orders received in the period included £2.8million of conventional power pump orders from China and India, £1.2 million of oil and gas orders recorded by the UK business and £2.7 million of mainly power related orders for Africa.

Hayward Tyler chief executive Ewan Lloyd-Baker said: “The on-going progress we are making in our core overseas markets is highly encouraging demonstrated by the strong level of order intake in the final quarter to March 31.

“We are confident that this trend underpins the growth aspirations of the business. In addition, positive trends in our end markets combined with the steps we have taken to control costs and invest in our manufacturing facilities, particularly in Luton, give us further reason for confidence in the current year.”

At March 31, Hayward Tyler’s order intake for the 15 month period stood at £49.5 million, £15million of that since December 31.

Hayward Tyler is currently investing about £800,000 in revamping and consolidating its manufacturing facility, including investing in new kit for the first time in 20 years. The company, also reducing its supplier base, says it is continuing to see the benefits of a relationship with MBE Cologne over the delivery of parts.

The company, which will be 200 years old in 2015, will be releasing its results for the 15 months to March 31 will be published in late June.

“They killed my wife. They killed my daughter. They should have made sure they killed me too.”

If you’re in the mood for a dark crime revenge thriller from the maker of the original The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, then Dead Man Down is an interesting oddity that delivers enough to make it worth a look.

Meet Victor (Colin ‘Seven Psychopaths’ Farrell), a small-time gang member who has a dark reason for signing up with the crime empire run by scary kingpin Alphonse (Terrence ‘Red Tails’ Howard).

Victor, you see, is a man on a revenge mission and he means to have payback for the killing of his wife and child by taking down those responsible from the inside of their shady operation.

His plan is somewhat complicated when he crosses paths with Beatrice (Noomi ‘Prometheus’ Rapace), a strange young woman with terrible facial scarring who lives across from him. It seems that she seen something that Victor would rather she had not, and now he must do something for her which also involves revenge.

Dead Man Down looks superb. The cinematography is far better than you’d expect for a film part- funded by WWE Studios, who normally make terrible movies involving at least one of their former grunt and gurn wrestling stars.

I’m guessing that the main reason the film works so well is that director Opley brings his bleak-infused Nordic edge to the party. It might not have the same cult following as The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo but it does have a similar aura.

The central relationship between Victor and Beatrice keeps you hooked through the fairly standard crime drama plot. Farrell and Rapace generate some good chemistry and the supporting cast work well, especially Dominic Cooper as Darcy, Victor’s only real friend in the gang, who might just be the biggest threat to his plan.

If there’s anything that doesn’t quite work it’s the semi-comedy role of French actress Isabelle Huppert as Beatrice’s mother Valentin, all nudge nudge, wink wink encouragement for the two leads to get together.

The trailer for Dead Man Down shows off pretty much all the action scenes.

They are good but you shouldn’t go in expecting a gung-ho Die Hard shoot-em-up.

Rather this will leave you thinking dark thoughts about how far people will go to avenge wrongs and, despite the large body-count, there is a deeper level of emotion being effectively tapped here.

A man on a motorbike who fired shots at a car in Luton last night took off on foot after the incident.

Two shots were fired from the man riding the bike who aimed at a black BMW series three at around 9pm on Culverhouse Road, Biscot,

The car gave chase but in the process of getting away the motorbike collided with two unconnected vehicles before taking off on foot.

Beds police were called and carried out a search of the area but were unable to find him.

No injuries were sustained but there was damage caused to the car.

Fountains Road at the junction of New Bedford Road and Culverhouse Road are shut this morning while forensic examinations are carried out.

It is expected that the roads will reopen around lunchtime.

Police are now appealing for witnesses about last night’s incident. If you have any information call Beds Police on the non-emergency 101 number.

Winners of business awards in Bedfordshire and Luton in 2012 have spoken out to encourage star firms to enter this year.

Great reasons to go for glory in the Bedfordshire Business Excellence Awards 2013 include focusing minds on success as well as an £8,200 advertising package prize pot.

Emma Garrett, vice president of community investment award-winning Bedfordshire Business Women, said: “We would urge businesses to take the time to enter in 2013, completing the application is an incredible way to focus your mind on your achievements and the ceremony is fabulous, celebrating the best.”

Luan Hall, owner Fairies n Frogs, Ampthill, and winner in the New Business of the Year 2012, said: “The feeling was overwhelming even though I felt like a bit of sand on a very big beach... Little businesses can win!”

Jason Higgins, MD, Harmony Internet, Biggleswade, winner of Business of the Year with less than 50 employees 2012, said staff are “very proud of our winning achievements.”

All but one of the categories is now sponsored, including by SA Law, from St Albans, which is backing Business of the Year with over 50 employees and a new category, the Creative Innovation Award.

The other sponsors are Barclays (Headline and Worker of the Year), Mayfair (Under 50 Employees), Nisa Local (Customer Service and New Business), KSK (Online Business and Enterprising Business), University of Bedfordshire (Training and Development).

Visit www2.bedfordtoday.co.uk/businessawards2013/

A SERIAL entrepreneur who co-founded a company that developed a credit card sized computer will share the secrets of his success .

Jack Lang co-founded and chairs Raspberry Pi Foundation, which developed a computer that costs about £20.

The Raspberry Pi was launched in February 2012 and within a year sold more than one million units.

Mr Lang, who will be speaking at the University of Bedfordshire’s Knowledge Network Putteridge Bury Conference Centre, near Luton. on Wednesday, May 29, says mistakes were made along the way. “This is the story of how NOT to set up a company,” he said. But his perseverance paid off, with the business projected to treble its growth by 2014.

He will say how the company took an idea from the laboratory into business, the highs and lows of growing a new company and will offer tips.

For details phone 0800 328 5334, email knowledge@beds.ac.uk and visit http://www.theknowledgenetwork.co.uk/

The summer blockbusters are stacked overhead in a landing pattern to ensure maximum box office bang for buck, and touching down this week, hot on the heels of Iron Man 3, is Star Trek: Into Darkness.

This one is the sequel to the prequel, if you will – a follow-up to the wildly successful JJ Abrams reboot which went back to the early days of Kirk and crew and thus solved the problem of how keep the franchise going with most of the original stars now either in their dotage or, frankly, dead.

Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto are back as Kirk and Spock, Simon Pegg gets another outing as Scotty, and the new face this time is Benedict ‘Sherlock’ Cumberbatch as the mysterious John Harrison.

Will he turn out to be the bad guy? Well, someone has to be behind a debilitating attack on Starfleet which requires Team Enterprise to boldly go into the depths of space and hunt down a fearsome enemy. It’s a critic-proof, carefully-constructed crowdpleaser which offers solid value for money.

You may have to cast around a bit for this week’s other new releases, but you might find Deadfall, a chilly crime thriller in which brother and sister baddies Eric Bana and Olivia Wilde are stranded in a snowy wilderness while making their getaway after a casino heist. Sissy Spacek and Kris Kristofferson are in the supporting cast for an unpredictable tale full of twists and turns.

The Reluctant Fundamentalist is hardly a title to cause a stampede of eager punters to the box office, but there’s a top notch cast in this adaptation of Mohsin Hamid’s best-selling novel. An academic and financial high-flier who finds himself stigmatised in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks returns to his native Pakistan and starts to question his own values. But where’s the story going? No spoilers here, but it’s a provocative and grown-up examination of a topical issue and the likes of Riz Ahmed, Kiefer Sutherland, Kate Hudson and Om Puri do it justice.

The man once dubbed Matthew Mahogany after a string of forgettable films continues to put those clunkers behind him – Matthew McConaughey’s latest is Mud, in which he gets to develop his languid Deep South baddie chops as a mysterious fugitive hiding out on the boondocks. He’s discovered by a couple of teenagers who are impressed and want to help him get back together with old flame Reese Witherspoon.

That sets up an engrossing rites-of-passage drama that’s got touches of Mark Twain, Cape Fear and Stand By Me in its DNA.

Writer/director Jeff Nichols is reckoned to be very much a coming man, and with good reason.

Concerns from Muslim groups have seen halal meat withdrawn from 18 schools in Luton.

Luton Borough Council said it had taken the “precautionary” measure of suspending halal meat and poultry from schools over an issue with certification, after being contacted by the Luton Council of Mosques and Sunni Council of Mosques.

A spokesman for the council said: “The council’s catering service has been successfully serving Halal meat for 15 years to several local schools.

“Our suppliers have provided us with certificates to show that the meat complies with requirements to be designated as halal.

“The issue focuses on the interpretation of how halal meat is certified. We are therefore seeking clarification from the certification body. This is not an issue relating to the source, safety of the food or whether it has been contaminated in any way.”

Affected children are being served vegetarian meals until meat is reinstated.

Luton Sixth Form College announced yesterday that it was also withdrawing halal meat from its menu for the same reasons, and that there was no issue with contamination.

A spokesman said: “We will monitor the situation closely and we are in negotiations with suppliers that meet the approval of the Council of Mosques.”

If you’re claiming a single person’s discount on your council tax, the council will ask you to confirm in writing or online that you are still entitled to it.

If you don’t live alone, but claim the discount, you could be committing fraud.

The National Fraud Authority estimates that council tax dodgers cost the UK £131 million every year.

Portfolio holder for finance, Cllr Robin Harris, said: “If you don’t pay the amount you should be paying, valuable local services such as parks, libraries and events don’t get the money they need to survive.”

Help is available if you have financial problems and can’t pay your council tax or rent. Call 0300 790 0345 or visit www.luton.gov.uk/helpwithdebt

Two people were injured in an assault in Old Bedford Road last night (May 9).

Armed police attended the scene at about 7.30pm following reports of a stabbing.

It is believed two women thought to be sex workers were involved, along with a male.

The male received a small puncture wound but there is no evidence of a knife being used, and the female had a minor bump on her head.

They were both taken to hospital with minor injuries and returned home by 11.30pm.

A Beds Police spokesperson said the offender is known to them and they are trying to locate her.

Enquiries are ongoing.

Police have released CCTV footage of two men they are looking for in connection with an armed robbery on Tuesday (May 7).

The incident happened at Premier News in Kirby Drive at about 7.15am when two men approached the shop, with one standing by the door while the other entered armed with a hand gun.

A shot was fired inside the shop before both men left the scene empty-handed and ran towards Whitehaven.

Det Con Rebecca Kitts said: “The CCTV and pictures we have released may act as reminder to members of the public who were in the area and who may have seen the two men before the incident. Members of the public may also be able to help identify the two men from the footage and pictures. I would urge anyone who recognises the men to speak to the police, in confidence.”

If you can help identify the men in the pictures or the CCTV or if you have information relating to those involved you can contact DC Kitts, in confidence, at Luton Police Station on 01582 394442, or Bedfordshire Police on 101, or text information to 07786 200011.

Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Two people were arrested after a vehicle was taken from Chiltern Road in Luton last night (May 8).

The police helicopter assisted in a wide area search including the Farley Hill area at around 1am - 2am.

The stolen vehicle was recovered.

A large tree branch has fallen on a car in Luton Road, Caddington this afternoon (May 9).

Police were called to the scene at 1.50pm, and fortunately no one was hurt.

A witness said the branch “smashed straight across the windscreen” of a vehicle which was being driven by a woman.

The road is completley blocked by the branch which is too big to be moved without machinery.

The Highways Agency have been contacted and police are awaiting their arrival.

They remain on the scene to deal with the traffic.

Luton beauty business owner Michelina Gurie, 31, is deserting her potions and lotions to take part in a trek across the Sahara in aid of Keech Hospice Care.

The Beau Belles Beauty boss will spend four days in the desert, followed by a further two helping at a local community project.

She said: “When I mention my fundraising to customers they often share their very touching and moving experiences with me.

“Hearing their incredible tales spurs me on and makes me want to help as much as I can.”

She added: “I’m excited and scared in equal proportions – the trek across the turbulent but amazing landscape is going to be a real struggle but nothing compares to the hardships faced by hospice patients and their families.”

The holistic therapist is also hosting a Crafts for Keech event at Luton Irish Forum from 12pm to 4pm on Saturday, June 1.

There are still spaces on the Sahara Trek which takes place next March.

> Sponsor Michelina at http://www.justgving.com/Michelina-Gurie1

Villagers in Caddington and Slip End have been shown artists’ impressions of how a new housing development on a former Vauxhall site could look.

The company is looking at options for its redundant storage site in Chaul End Road, and residents were able to have their say at a recent ‘community planning weekend’.

The development, which has the working name of ‘Chaulington’, is billed as “residential hamlets set in a tranquil landscape surrounded by woodland”, with mix of different types of housing.

Richard Stay, Central Beds councillor for Caddington, said: “It’s got to be commercially viable for Vauxhall. People were coming in quite sceptical but I was quite pleased with what I saw, and the approach that GM has taken towards the consultation process.”

Kevin Collins, who leads the village plan steering group for Caddington and Slip End, said the proposals seemed “positive”.

“It certainly looks nice, it’s far more attractive than high density housing,” he said. “It’s sympathetic to the area and something that could be integrated into Caddington.”