Local News

Groups of volunteers have teamed up to remove dozens of bags of litter and graffiti tags from the streets in Northampton as part of a nationwide tidy-up campaign. To coincide with The Great British Spring Clean, Northampton Town Centre Business Improvement District (BID) organised a Tidy Day – supplying volunteers with litter-picking equipment to remove rubbish from the streets and clean up unsightly graffiti. The team, which included representatives from The Salvation Army, The Lowdown, Virgin Money, Northampton Town Council, Immediate Justice, Veolia and a large contingent from McDonald’s, removed 50 graffiti tags and collected a total of 40 bags, leaving the town centre looking clean and welcoming ahead of the Easter holidays. Mark Mullen, operations manager of Northampton Town Centre BID, said: “Our regular Tidy Day sessions always have a big impact on the look and feel of our town centre and it was lovely to see so many volunteers out and about..

Families in Northampton have been urged to get their thinking caps on and solve a series of riddles as part of an interactive trail around the town centre during the Easter holidays. The trail, organised by Northampton Town Centre Business Improvement District (BID) and delivered by LoyalFree, will run from Saturday 5th April until Tuesday 22nd April – giving families free entertainment during the school holidays. All those taking part can simply use their phone to solve the riddle displayed in the windows of 11 town centre businesses. A completed trail will enable players to collect a free Easter treat from Market Square News and also be entered into a draw to win one of two £50 vouchers to spend in the town centre. Mark Mullen, operations manager of Northampton Town Centre BID, said: “We’re looking forward to providing families with a fun and interactive activity to keep little ones busy in the..

Record Store Day returns on Saturday, April 12, and Northampton’s music retailers are gearing up for the important date on the annual calendar. But while music fans scramble to get their mitts on some of the limited releases – this year more than 400 will be issued – the event is not without risk for the stores. “It takes a huge amount of organising, and is frankly a major risk for all record shops...it’s a huge investment and often a gamble,” said Alex D’arcy from Vinyl Underground, “However, putting any potential financial risks and rewards for a small independent retailer to the side, and remembering entirely why we do what we do, it’s all about a passion for music, a passion for the humble vinyl record and sharing that passion with likeminded people.” Vinyl Underground has been a force in the town for more than three decades and those behind..

After very successful snowdrop weekends at the start of the year, Lamport Hall are now looking forward to a jam-packed season starting with a bang this spring! The gardens are open every Wednesday-Friday 9am-3pm until the 19th of December. Outside of the usual opening season, garden entry is reduced by £1 per person. In the high season from April to September the gardens are open until 4pm. Monty Don featured the gardens on his BBC programme about the best gardens in Britain so come along and visit their magnificent rockery for yourself. The Hall will be open every Wednesday and Thursday from April to September with an optional guided tour at 10:30am and freeflow access from 12pm-3pm. The Hall was home to the Isham family from 1560-1976 and they have a fascinating story to tell. The Hall is also home to a magnificent collection of art and furniture. The café..

As the world observes Autism Awareness Day (Wednesday 2nd April), SENsational Care Provisions is taking a stand to break the stigma surrounding autism and champion the inclusion of autistic individuals. Autism is a spectrum condition that affects how individuals communicate, interact, and experience the world around them. Despite growing awareness, many autistic adults continue to face barriers in employment and social inclusion. SENsational Care Provisions, a dedicated care provision centre support adults with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and are committed to an inclusive environment where individuals on the autism spectrum are empowered to thrive. “At SENsational Care Provisions, we believe that autism is not a limitation - it’s simply a different way of experiencing the world,” says Emily, Co-Director. “Our mission is to provide creative, energetic, person-centred care that encourages the strengths of every individual we support. Co-Director Johnny said: "We aim to change perceptions and ensure that..

Without an official Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) green card, workers are not allowed onto a ‘live’ building site. For years this has caused problems for students who are eager to hit the ground running but are unable to gain access to the workplace due to red tape and the wait for further accreditation. Thanks to a new partnership between the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), Learning and Skills Academy CIC, Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce, West Northamptonshire Council, North Northamptonshire Council, Northampton College, Moulton College and three local Job Centre Plus offices, 54 Northampton College students have qualified for fully funded CSCS cards – giving them the ability to experience the real-world workplace. A further 135 learners are currently going through the training process. A celebration ceremony held at Northampton College’s Booth Lane campus saw all the stakeholders come together to meet the successful students and hear more about their..

The GamesWorld interactive video gaming extravaganza comes to Royal & Derngate’s Underground Studio for three days during the Easter holidays. From Friday 18 to Sunday 20 April family and friends will be able to immerse themselves in the world of gaming, getting hands-on with the very best video games and consoles spanning over five decades. With 100 consoles available, GamesWorld is a nostalgia-fuelled event where people can revisit all the classics from Atari to Sega, Playstation to Xbox, from Nintendo to Wii. It’s the ideal opportunity to challenge friends to a Mario Kart showdown, go head -to-head in multi-player battles, or experience the latest in Virtual Reality. With something for everyone, whatever their age or level of experience, players can revel in nostalgia as they rediscover their childhood favourites and arcade classics, or get right up to date testing out some of the very latest VR adventures. There are 90-minute..

Imagine exchanging vows in a stunning Tudor manor, surrounded by rolling parkland and steeped in romance. Picture yourselves walking hand in hand through historic halls, raising a toast in an elegant setting, and celebrating with loved ones in a venue where every detail is designed for unforgettable moments. On Sunday 13th April, Fawsley Hall invites you to experience all of this and more at their Wedding Open Day. Whether you’re newly engaged or finalising the perfect venue, this is your chance to see Fawsley Hall beautifully dressed for a wedding, meet the dedicated team, and start picturing your perfect day in one of Northamptonshire’s most enchanting wedding venues. A Venue Like No Other Set within acres of idyllic countryside, Fawsley Hall blends history with modern elegance. As you explore, you’ll step into breath-taking ceremony spaces, from the grandeur of the Tudor Great Hall to the romantic and light-filled Salvin Suite...

A group of passionate businesspeople from the area think it’s high time that Northamptonshire has its own brown sign to help drive visitor numbers to explore all that we have to offer. They told Pulse’s Sammy Jones what it is, and how they are going to get it... What a lot Northamptonshire has got; from our stately homes and ancestral seats to our beautiful green spaces, thriving independent employers and the big businesses who are flocking to make this area their home, not forgetting our prominence as a place for culture and the arts. We can’t fail to mention that our county is rich in sporting class, can we? And of course our position as the home of motorsport was sealed long ago. If you live here, we are preaching to the converted – you know already what an engrossing, lively county this is and just how much it has..

The new LCS Stand at Sixfields has begun a phased opening process! The club are required to stage a gradual opening of the new facilities, and this process began at the Birmingham City game on Saturday when the general admission seats (available via ntfcdirect.co.uk), first floor lounge and boardroom and second floor executive boxes were open for the first time. Over the coming weeks, other parts of the new stand will open including the new raised wheelchair viewing area and the concourse and the club will communicate those dates in due course. Supporters and guests enjoyed watching the Cobblers draw 1-1 with the high-flying Blues from the club's first ever pitch facing hospitality areas in its 128-year history as the game attracted Northampton Town's biggest ever crowd at Sixfields and the biggest home league crowd since April 1987. "We were delighted..

March is Brain Tumour Awareness Month and is an opportunity to shine a light on this lesser known cancer. There are over 120 different types of primary brain tumours, which makes diagnosing this terrible cancer incredibly difficult. Add to that the fact that we still don’t understand what causes them and this makes it even more important to raise awareness of this non-discriminatory disease. Mark’s Mission – Friends pull together to raise vital funds Mark’s Mission was set up by a group of local friends Andrew Nicholson, Derek Middlemiss and Mark Monaghan following the devastating news in April 2024 that Mark had stage 4 Glioblastoma, an incurable brain tumour. Following his diagnosis, he underwent two different rounds of Chemotherapy and a major 7 ½ hour operation to remove most of one of his tumours. Unfortunately, as is the nature of this cruel disease, his tumours have all grown back and..

A Northamptonshire mother diagnosed with terminal cancer is preparing to launch a new charity designed to support others living with the condition through exercise-based initiatives. Victoria Skinner, 38, who has been living with cancer since 2015, is set to unveil The Tor-Rox Foundation at a formal launch event in Northampton on 26 March 2025. The charity, named in part after her nickname, ‘Tor’, will offer financial grants to help cancer patients access personalised exercise and wellness programmes. The mother of five-year-old Isla has raised more than £33,000 through a series of strenuous personal challenges, including a solo Hyrox competition, in her effort to fund the organisation. Her ultimate goal is to raise £40,000 to fully establish the Foundation. “The Foundation has been a year in the making,” said Ms Skinner. “Completing the solo Hyrox last year made me realise I wanted to do something that could benefit other cancer patients,..

The Weetabix Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards have returned for their seventeenth year, opening entries for the 2025/26 competition and once again shining a spotlight on the county’s food and drink talent. Launched on 25 March at The Lane, Northampton College, this year’s campaign calls on chefs, producers, venues and students to put themselves forward across 18 categories. The awards aim to celebrate excellence and innovation across Northamptonshire’s hospitality and agri-food sectors, from community cafés to high-end restaurants and artisan makers. Awards Director Rachel Mallows MBE DL said the scheme had become a vital support to local businesses: “These awards are about more than recognition. They help build reputations, attract customers and support long-term growth. We want to see entries from every corner of the county — this is a chance to shine.” Headline sponsor Weetabix returns for its sixth year, alongside long-standing category sponsors. Stuart Branch, the company’s Group..

To mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, The Old Savoy presents a tribute to the legendary stars who kept us smiling through the dark days of World War II. Spirit of the Blitz recaptures the defiant optimism of war-torn Britain, remembering the heroes of that treasured generation through the songs that tell their stories; songs like Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree, Bless 'Em All, Leaning On A Lamp-Post, and of course, We'll Meet Again. VE Day is commemorated annually throughout Europe, but this year is deemed especially important as the last big anniversary where a significant number of veterans will remain to celebrate the coming of peace and to honour their fallen comrades. Andy Eastwood, the show’s producer, who also portrays morale-boosting entertainer George Formby, describes it as a moving experience: "The wonderful thing about Spirit Of The Blitz is that it means many things to different people...

On Sunday, 16th March, the StoneX Stadium, home to Saracens Rugby, played host to the highly anticipated Premiership Women’s Rugby final. Prior to the main event, a celebration of the future of women’s rugby took place with an exciting under-14s and under-12s girls festival. In a show of community spirit and support for the women’s game, each Premiership team selected local girls' teams to represent them in the festival. For Northamptonshire, Loughborough Lightning chose the Old Northamptonians under-12s girls’ team and Bugbrooke under-14s girls’ team to take part in this unforgettable experience. The event not only allowed these young athletes to play on the same pitch as the stars of the Premiership, but it also spotlighted the incredible growth of girls' rugby across the region. The Old Northamptonians under-12s girls’ team, in particular, have had an extraordinary season, achieving a remarkable record, being undefeated both at home and away. Their..