Elinor Cross
BBC Radio Northampton

A 17-year-old boy has been jailed for four-and-a-half years for stabbing a man in a "nasty and sadistic attack" in Northampton.

Victim Dharmin Desai, 30, had been drinking in Kettering and took a taxi to see a woman he knew in Northampton one night in June.

It was there he met the defendant, who can't be named because of his age.

After an argument about a phone the next morning, Mr Desai was stabbed repeatedly in the chest with a kitchen knife.

At Northampton Crown Court the defendant pleaded guilty to wounding with intent, grievous bodily harm and having a bladed article in a public place after earlier denying the offence.

The court heard the boy and victim shared the affections of the unmarried mother, with the attack being described as "nasty and sadistic" by judge Rupert Mayo.

A model winter wonderland will open its doors later at Walsoken, near Wisbech.

The village - which features a fairground, harbour, farm, skiers and skaters - took Jane Gilmurray and Eileen and John Grainger a month to build.

John Gilmurry said his wife Jane had built up the collection of Lemax models over 10 years, which is worth more than £8,000.

He said: "Last year we used our dining room, but there is so much stuff our neighbours the Graingers offered their double garage as its home this year."

The village will be opened to the public from 18:00 to 21:00, external from today until 10 December.

All donations received will go the forces charity SSAFA and the Magpas Air Ambulance.

Image source, Lynn Brosnan

Image source, Lynn Brosnan

A lorry driver who killed a mother and three children from Dunstable while distracted by his phone has had his appeal to have his 10-year jail term reduced dismissed.

Tomasz Kroker smashed into stationary traffic on the A34 in Berkshire, killing Tracy Houghton, 45, her sons Ethan, 13, Joshua, 11, and her partner's daughter Aimee Goldsmith, 11.

Image source, Family handout

Kroker took his case to the Court of Appeal after his legal team said the sentence was "unorthodox" and argued his punishment was far too tough.

But Crown counsel, Charles Ward-Jackson, said Kroker had been "driving for 45 seconds, for a distance of 1km along a dual carriageway, effectively with his eyes closed".

"The facts tell a horrific tale," Sir Brian Leveson told the court in London.

Wisbech Standard

For the last five weeks, anyone caught drinking in public has had their alcohol confiscated - but from Monday drinkers could be slapped with a £75 fine, external.

A Post Officer worker has been left "shaken" after being threatened with a meat cleaver in Luton.

Police say a man entered the Post Office in The Green, Hockwell Ring, at about 06:45 on Tuesday.

He left with scratch cards and a charity box.

He's described as black, medium build and believed to be in his 40s.

He wore a blue hooded top, a black wool hat and a tartan scarf.

Image source, Google

A 36-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of raping a 14-year-old girl in Milton Keynes.

Thames Valley Police said the girl was walking along the bridge which leads to the Connburrow estate on Speedwell Place, between 22:30 and 23:00 on 21 November, when she was attacked.

Police are continuing for appeal for information and have released descriptions of the men, external.

Bucks Free Press

Vietnamese dignitaries paid tribute to Waddesdon air crash victim, external Trung Thanh Nguyen at his funeral in Amersham this morning.

It looks like Airlander 10, the world's longest aircraft, is on the move... albeit in its collapsed state.

Image source, Andy Buckley

A safety feature to deflate the craft kicked in when it broke free from its mooring at Cardington Airfield on 18 November.

Image source, Daren Eaton

It has been on the ground ever since, but these images taken on Thursday show the flight deck and passenger area being recovered.

Image source, Daren Eaton

Its developer, Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV), previously stated that the craft would be rebuilt and relocated to Hangar 2 on the site.

Image source, Andy Buckley

Daren Eaton, who saw Airlander being moved, said it was "not the sort of sunset shots I was hoping to be taking two weeks ago".

We've approached HAV for comment.

It's that time of year when we can peep behind the first door of our Advent calendars - or wait for the big reveal at a hairdressers, pub or supermarket.

Now in its fifth year, the village of Brigstock, near Corby, has created a trail of festive window displays for each of the 24 days of Advent.

Businesses and residents take part - with people waiting in streets and front gardens for a glimpse of the seasonal scene.

The first display, by the Knit and Natter group, will be on show later at The Old Three Cocks pub, with another unveiled at the Co-Op on Saturday.

Trail maps are available on Facebook , externalor each evening, for a small donation to the Kettering and District Riding for the Disabled.

Image source, Brigstock Living Advent Calendar Facebook page

Image source, Brigstock Living Advent Calendar Facebook page

A family from Bedford will be taking part in an emotional race on Sunday to raise funds for the charity that cared for their son.

Mark, Julie and Ella Russell will be racing in the 5k Santa Run along Bedford's Embankment in honour of Harry, who died aged three in November 2015 at Keech Hospice Care, external.

He suffered from mitochondrial disease which left him with physical and mental disabilities, hearing and vision loss, epilepsy, and problems eating and breathing.

Image source, Family photo

Mum Julie said: "Our handsome Harry had the most beautiful soul and smile. He taught us how to make every moment count.

Image source, Claudi Schneider

"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," she said.

Image source, Keech Hospice Care

His six-year-old sister Ella said: "I love seeing so many friends and family dressed up as Santa and talking about my brother.

"It helps me to remember him. It's really magical."

Three lanes are closed on the M25 anticlockwise in Buckinghamshire, between junctions 16 for Gerrards Cross and 15 for Heathrow, after a multi-vehicle crash.

There are delays of about 90 minutes.

Congestion is expected until 13:00.

Alex Pope
BBC Local Live

The Little Free Library in Bedford, which was damaged several times by vandals and had to be taken away to be rebuilt, is back.

The structure housed by the Kiosk At The Park in Russell Park lets anyone add a book or take one away for free.

Image source, Kiosk At The Park

Emma Garrett, who runs the Kiosk, said: "It's been designed and created by local carpenter Marc Simpson.

"It is the perfect place to keep the books donated by our fabulous community, which in turn provide young readers hours of fun."

Image source, Kiosk At The Park

They are now trying to source some paint and decorators to give it a further makeover.

Leighton Buzzard Observer

A Linslade cobbler turned bodybuilder has struck silver at a natural bodybuilding contest., external

Two men escaped apparently unhurt after their car plunged into a freezing river at Whittlesey.

The car was completely submerged in the River Nene after the accident at about 19:10 on Thursday, as the Cambridge News reported, external.

Cambridgeshire Police received a report that the grey Citroen C4 was attempting to overtake another vehicle on North Bank when it went into the water near Millennium Bridge.

"Two men were seen to leave the car and run away from the scene," a force spokeswoman said.

"The helicopter was deployed to locate the men due to the freezing conditions and that they would be wet through."

The men have not yet been identified or found, she added, but the car was recovered at about 22:40.

Luton-based EasyJet has a new chief executive from this morning.

Johan Lundgren is moving to the airline from rival firm TUI.

Image source, PA

Dame Carolyn McCall, who's been with EasyJet for seven years, is becoming the new chief executive of ITV.

Two brothers who robbed elderly women as old as 88 on Bedford's streets over a four-month period have been jailed.

Marvin and Leon Lendor pleaded guilty at Luton Crown Court to a number of robbery and theft charges.

The court heard all their victims were pulled to the ground as they tried to hold onto their bags and suffered injuries.

One of the women had her grandmother's rosary beads taken and another had a key to a church snatched. Marvin then burgled the church, taking the petty cash tin.

The court heard the pair also stole from cars and caused actual bodily harm to a man, while Marvin admitted firearm and knife charges.

On Thursday, Marvin Lendor, 29, of Atterdale Walk in Bedford, was jailed for seven years, while Leon Lendor, 31, of Dover Crescent in the town, was handed a five-year sentence.

Judge Nigel Lithman QC told the men: "There can be few more despicable, contemptible and cowardly crimes than the ones I have heard about today.

"You must have realised that robbing elderly people comes close to ruining their lives, and for what, some short term gain for you."

A man has been killed in a crash between a car and a van in Haddenham.

Cambridgeshire Police said it happened on the A1123 at about 07:50.

The ambulance service, air ambulance and fire crews all attended.

The road remains closed between Earith and Haddenham in both directions.

Alex Pope
BBC Local Live

A coin that's thought to be more than 250 years old has been unearthed in a Bedford garden.

The discovery was made by a seven-year-old girl called Sophie.

Her family has carried out some research and believe it's a George II silver sixpence from 1757 or 1758, worth about £65.

Image source, Family photo

Sophie said: "I'm so excited to find this treasure.

"I had a feeling there was something special about it, it was hiding in some wild strawberries in my front garden."

Image source, Family photo

Her mum Clare said: "It's a bit like the sixpence you would get in a Christmas pudding, but this one isn't going into ours, Sophie plans to keep it forever as a personal momento."

Two women and a girl were injured in a five-vehicle crash on the M1 near Milton Keynes.

Four cars and a lorry were involved in the collision on the northbound carriageway, between junctions 13 for Woburn and 14 for Milton Keynes at about 20:40 yesterday.

Four men and another woman escaped without injury.

A man from Milton Keynes has admitted sex offences against three young girls in Milton Keynes, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.

Ricky O'Grady, 28, of Snowberry Close, Stacey Bushes, pleaded guilty to multiple rapes and indecent assaults which took place between 1999 and 2017.

Det Sgt Tracy Wescombe of the Aylesbury Child Abuse Investigation Unit said: "This was a harrowing case where O’Grady abused very young girls.

"I have to thank the victims for their bravery in coming forward and reliving the abuse and I am pleased for them that he admitted his guilt at court."

O'Grady is due to be sentenced in January.