Old and new triathletes and duathletes took on a challenge at RAF Halton in aid of Rennie Grove Hospice Care.
More than 130 people took part in one of three race options – a mini-Olympic distance, a super sprint or a new duathlon option – on July 31.
More than 130 people took part in the RAF Halton triathlon and duathlon to raise money for Rennie Grove Hospice Care. Matt Hinge, from Aylesbury. PNL-160508-104901001
It is hoped the event will bring in £20,000 towards the charity’s specialist nursing service for patients with life-limiting illness.
Princes Risborough resident Tarek Maani, who trains with Stoke Mandeville Tri Club has already done 10 Olympic distance and sprint triathlons, even though he has only started in the sport recently. He said: “Now I’m addicted – I’ve caught the bug!”
This is the second time he’s been at RAF Halton and took on the Mini Olympic distance. He finds swimming the hardest discipline, but has previously done several open water swims, including a river swim in the Windsor Triathlon, so 20 lengths of the RAF’s pool felt far easier.
Matt Hinge, from Aylesbury, was also returning for a second time. He said: “I preferred the course this year, although I still don’t really ‘like’ running so for me the hills were hard on foot. I really like the fact the different events overlapped so cyclists were cheering runners on and vice versa.”
More than 130 people took part in the RAF Halton triathlon and duathlon to raise money for Rennie Grove Hospice Care. Swimming. PNL-160508-104850001
The winner of the mini-Olympic distance was Aylesbury’s Jesus Gonzalez Tejeria, who finished in 1:22:47 while Princes Risborough’s Heather Golla was the first woman home in 1:35:37.
Rennie’s director of fundraising and marketing, Gillian Barnett, said: “We’re so grateful to everyone involved for making this event a success.
“RAF Sgt Kristian Harrison MBE and his team have done sterling work so our sincere thanks go to them and RAF Halton for hosting this popular event once again. Thank you to our sponsors too: Budgens in Wendover for providing bananas for participants; Ashmei for donating prizes including a £30 gift voucher to spend on its new season range online or in-store; Grant and Stone for providing a large banner plus cable ties and hazard tape for all our events; Otech Bikes for offering technical support on the day and Stoke Mandeville Tri Club for their help promoting the event and offering training sessions to participants. And last but by no means least – our amazing volunteer marshals who man the route uncomplainingly whatever the weather to ensure our participants can find their way.”
More than 130 people took part in the RAF Halton triathlon and duathlon to raise money for Rennie Grove Hospice Care. Diane Weaver, from Bledlow, who has taken part in five Rennie Grove RAF Triathlon events. PNL-160508-104840001

Athletes take on triathlon challenge at RAF Halton in aid of hospice charity


Get the latest breaking news from The Bucks Herald - politics, transport, education, health, environment and more, updated daily.


A study has found that half of parents with children under the age of 14 allow them to drink alcohol at home.
And, perhaps more worryingly, one in 10 respondents to the Churchill Home Insurance survey allow children between the ages of five and seven to drink alcohol.
While it is not illegal for a child between the age of five and 16 to drink alcohol on private premises, it flies in the face of advice from the Chief Medical Officer whose official advice warns: “Children and their parents or carers are advised that an alcohol-free childhood is the healthiest and best option. However, if children drink alcohol underage, it should not be until at least the age of 15 years.
“Parents and young people should be aware that drinking, even at age 15 or older, can be hazardous to health and that not drinking is the healthiest option for young people.”

Do you think it’s okay to allow children to drink some alcohol at home?


You're almost there.We've just sent a confirmation email to . Check it out to confirm your registration.
We are unable to send your welcome email at this time.
Please try again later by clicking the resend welcome email link from your profile page.

Mini tournament helps miracle trust fund


After years of hard work and preparation, Vale of Aylesbury Athletic Club’s Anuradha Cooray took to the streets of Rio de Janeiro on Sunday when competing for Sri Lanka against the world’s best athletes in the Olympic marathon, the final athletics event of this year’s Olympic Games.
The club are very proud of Anuradha and delighted to report that he ran a smart race in wet conditions, crossing the finish line 34th out of the 140 finishers in a time of 2:17:06, two minutes faster than his first Olympic marathon in Athens in 2004.
Known for his strong finish, Cooray did not disappoint on Sunday as he started towards the back but worked his way through to take 34th spot.
He said afterwards: “The whole day was amazing and I’m very happy to finish 34th from almost 150 athletes who started.”
At the age of 38, Anuradha had stated that he would be retiring after the Rio Games, but after such a strong race in Brazil, it is possible that he may consider running at next year’s World Championships to be held in London.
He will take a decision on that in the near future.
In the meantime, the 38-year-old will return to Aylesbury where he works as an assistant manager at Greggs in the town centre and get back to training locally for now.

Aylesbury’s Cooray delighted with marathon run at Rio Olympics


After years of hard work and preparation, Vale of Aylesbury Athletic Club’s Anuradha Cooray took to the streets of Rio de Janeiro on Sunday when competing for Sri Lanka against the world’s best athletes in the Olympic marathon, the final athletics event of this year’s Olympic Games.


The Cola-Cola glass bottle has been voted as the most iconic packaging on the UK’s shelves.
A study of 1,500 Brits exploring the influence of packaging and branding on shopping habits found that one in six people thought the Coca-Cola bottle was the most identifiable in terms of packaging.
Indeed, it was deemed to be just as recognisable without its logo or the product itself.
The research, commissioned by Easyfairs, organisers of Packing Innovations and Luxury Packaging London, found the Toblerone triangular chocolate bar finished as a close runner up, with Marmite’s glass jar rated as third-best-loved product packaging.
Beauty brands, such as the Tiffany Box and the Chanel No.5 Bottle just missed out on the top ten.
Coke’s success has been attributed to its targeting younger audience, with one in five Millennials selecting the bottle as the most recognisable pack product.Pringles’ iconic cylinder tube, fourth on the overall list, was the Millennial’s second favourite.
The study also revealed barcodes as the greatest packaging invention, ahead of more traditional items such as the cardboard box (21 per cent) - although the younger generation, 18-34 years, voted for 3D printing and re-sealable zips as its top two.
Gerry Sherwood, Event Director for the Easyfairs’ Packaging Portfolio, who commissioned the survey, said: “Millennials have officially passed Baby Boomers as the largest generation in history, and are more personally connected to their favourite brands than ever before. It is therefore not surprising to see 3D printing come out top in our poll for this age group.”
Top Ten Most Recognisable Brand’s Packaging
1. Coca-Cola Bottle
2. Toblerone Triangle
3. Marmite Jar
4. Pringles Tube
5. KFC Bucket
6. Heinz Ketchup Bottle
7. Fairy Liquid Bottle
8. Apple’s iPhone Box
9. Walkers Crisp Packet
10. Amazon Box

Coca-Cola bottle ‘most iconic packaging’


The Cola-Cola glass bottle has been voted as the most iconic packaging on the UK’s shelves.


Being stuck in a dead end job by your early 40s is bad for your health.
Having an unrewarding job as you start out on the career ladder makes you more depressed, worried and had more trouble sleeping.
And if you stay stuck in positions with low levels of job satisfaction it affects you not just you mentally but physically too, including catching more colds, having a bad back and poor heart health.
But if you are happy in your job or finally get your dream job as your career progresses your overall health gets a boost.
The study by Ohio State University sociologists found job satisfaction in your late 20s and 30s has a link to overall health in your early 40s.
While it impacts on physical health, its effect was particularly strong for mental health.
Lead author and doctoral student Jonathan Dirlam said: “We found that there is a cumulative effect of job satisfaction on health that appears as early as your 40s.”
The study highlighted the importance that early jobs have on people’s lives.
Associate professor of sociology Dr Hui Zheng said: “You don’t have to be near the end of your career to see the health impact of job satisfaction, particularly on your mental health.
“The higher levels of mental health problems for those with low job satisfaction may be a precursor to future physical problems.
“Increased anxiety and depression could lead to cardiovascular or other health problems that won’t show up until they are older.”
He added the study was carried out before the credit crunch and said: “The recession almost certainly increased job insecurity and dissatisfaction, and that could have resulted in more negative health effects.”
The study used data from 6,432 Americans followed from the ages of 14 to 22 as part of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979.
Researchers examined job satisfaction trajectories for people from age 25 to 39 and their health on turning 40.
Participants rated how much they liked their jobs from 1 - dislike very much - to 4 -like very much.
They were then divided into four groups: consistently low and consistently high job satisfaction, those whose satisfaction started high but was trending down and those who started low but were trending higher.
About 45 per cent of participants had consistently low job satisfaction, while another 23 per cent had levels that were trending downward through their early career.
About 15 per cent of people were consistently happy at their jobs and about 17 per cent were trending upward.
Mental health was most affected by people’s feelings about their jobs with those in the low job satisfaction group throughout their early careers scored worse on all five of the mental health measures studied.
They reported higher levels of depression, sleep problems and excessive worry and were more likely to have been diagnosed with emotional problems and scored lower on a test of overall mental health.
Those whose job satisfaction decreased were more likely than those with consistently high satisfaction to have frequent trouble sleeping and excessive worry, and had lower scores for overall mental health.
But they didn’t see an impact on depression scores or their probability of being diagnosed with emotional problems.
Those whose scores went up through the early career years did not see any comparative health problems.
Those in the low satisfaction group and those who were trending downwards reported poorer overall health and more problems like back pain and frequent colds compared to the high satisfaction group.
But they weren’t different in physical functioning and in doctor-diagnosed health problems such as diabetes and cancer.
As with mental health, no effects were seen on physical health for those trending upward.
The findings was presented at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association in Seattle.


Sorry, we're having problems with our video player at the moment, but are working to fix it as soon as we can
House plants can suck dangerous toxic chemicals out of the air - leaving it cleaner to breathe, according to new research.
The study shows certain species act like natural air fresheners - removing harmful chemicals from the air we breathe.
House plants can suck dangerous toxic chemicals out of the air - leaving it cleaner to breathe, according to new research
Research has shown the air in offices and family homes often contains pollutants leading to ‘sick building syndrome’ where people suffer a range of symptoms including headaches, fatigue, difficulties in concentrating and respiratory problems.
It has been estimated to blight the lives of up to three in 10 office workers. A study earlier this year estimates that annually nearly 100,000 people die from the effects of indoor air pollution.
Now new research has found the Scarlet Star (Guzmania lingulata), from South America and a member of the bromeliad family of plants, got rid of more than 80 percent of illness causing compounds.
That performed the best out of five plants tested, although the Dracaena Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans massangeana) soaked up virtually all of a particularly pungent chemical common in nail salons.
House plants can suck dangerous toxic chemicals out of the air - leaving it cleaner to breathe, according to new research
Native throughout tropical Africa, it is grown in many homes and offices within the UK, US and Europe.
Scientists say their findings show picking the right houseplant can clear the air of dangerous pollutants in homes and offices.
Printers and cleaning products give off potentially harmful chemicals known as VOCs (volatile organic compounds).
Dr Vadoud Niri, of the State University of New York, said: “Buildings, whether new or old, can have high levels of VOCs in them, sometimes so high you can smell them.”
House plants can suck dangerous toxic chemicals out of the air - leaving it cleaner to breathe, according to new research
VOCs are compounds like acetone, benzene and formaldehyde that are emitted as gases and can cause short and long term health effects when inhaled. They can come from paints, furniture, copiers and printers, cleaning supplies and even dry cleaned clothes.
Explained Dr Niri: “Inhaling large amounts of VOCs can lead some people to develop sick building syndrome, which reduces productivity and can even cause dizziness, asthma or allergies. We must do something about VOCs in indoor air.”
The most common solution is to install ventilation systems that cycle in air from outside or methods using adsorption, condensation and chemical reactions.
But using plants to remove chemicals from indoor air, known as biofiltration or phytoremediation, is much simpler - and cheaper.
House plants can suck dangerous toxic chemicals out of the air - leaving it cleaner to breathe, according to new research
In addition to carbon dioxide plants can take up gases such as benzene, toluene and other VOCs.
NASA began studying this option in 1984 and found that plants could absorb these airborne compounds via their leaves and roots.
Since then, other studies have looked at how plants phytoremediate specific compounds, such as the cancer causing chemical formaldehyde, in a closed space.
Most of these studies focused on the removal of single VOCs by individual plants from the ambient air.
But Dr Niri wanted to compare the efficiency and the rate of simultaneous removal of several VOCs by various plants.
So his researchers built a sealed chamber containing specific concentrations of several VOCs and monitored the VOC concentrations over several hours with and without a different type of plant in the chamber.
For each plant type, they noted which VOCs the plants took up, how quickly they removed them from the air, and how much was ultimately removed by the end of the experiment.
The researchers tested five common house plants and eight common VOCs, and they found that certain plants were better at absorbing specific compounds.
For example, all five could remove acetone, the pungent chemical abundant at nail salons, but the dracaena plant took up the most, around 94 percent of the chemical.
Dr Niri said: “Based on our results, we can recommend what plants are good for certain types of VOCs and for specific locations.
“To illustrate, the bromeliad plant was very good at removing six out of eight studied VOCs - it was able to take up more than 80 percent of each of those compounds - over the twelve hour sampling period. So it could be a good plant to have sitting around in the household or workplace.”
Dr Niri says the next step in the research is to test these plants’ abilities in a real room, not just a sealed chamber.
He would eventually like to put plants in a nail salon over the course of several months to see whether they can reduce the levels of acetone that workers are exposed to.
The other three plants studied were Jade plant (Crassula argentea), the Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) and the Caribbean Tree Cactus (Consolea falcata.)

VIDEO: House plants can suck dangerous toxic chemicals out of the air


The choice of leaf-based beverages on offer has mushroomed in recent years, from builder’s tea or nothing, to every flavour from peppermint to rhubarb & ginger.
Now, a third generation of teas is brewing. This will concentrate less on exotic new flavours and more on health benefits as producers look to capitalise on a market that remains huge – with 165 million cups of tea consumed in Britain every day – but faces growing competition from coffee.
Tetley has looked into the tea leaves and predicts we are in for a range of “remedy” teas – enriched with medicines, from painkillers to antibiotics – some of which may even be offered as cures for hangovers and remedies for tiredness, the report suggested.
We can also expect tea to be consumed through an array of alternative “delivery mechanisms” such as tablets, jellies, sprays and sorbets, according to a new report Tetley has done with so-called futurologist consultancy Future Foundation.
“Britain’s love affair with tea is enduring. The way we consume tea has gradually evolved since the 17th century, but now we are entering a period of rapid change,” said Laurent Sagarra, head of product innovation at Tetley.
“The way we consume tea has gradually evolved since the 17th Century, but we are now entering a period of rapid change,” she said.
“We’re constantly innovating, grading, blending and tasting and now’s the time to see what’s next for the iconic British cuppa,” she added.
The proliferation of teas will give High street coffee shops a run for their month, the report suggests, with “tea-total” outlets offering a range of exotic tastes and flavours.
Nick Chiarelli, director of the Future Foundation, said: “Our report predicts that exciting and satisfying new tea formats will develop, and that tea will evolve to deliver personalised health benefits.”

New generation of teas could cure hangovers, report suggests


A test has been developed that could help to diagnose bacterial infections, including meningitis in minutes.
The new test, developed by a team at Imperial College London, is a major breakthrough in the rapid diagnosis of meningitis and sepsis in children. If made available through the NHS, it could allow treatment to begin much earlier, saving hundreds of lives and reducing the risk of life-changing after-effects.
The signs and symptoms of meningitis are notoriously difficult to diagnose, and can be dismissed as a cold or flu. Many young children presenting the early symptoms of the disease are initially sent home, before being rushed back to hospital a few hours later as their condition rapidly deteriorates.
Currently, doctors grow bacteria in a sample of blood, in a process which can take up to 48 hours.
Responding to the news, Liz Brown, CEO at charity Meningitis Now said: “A delay in life-saving treatment for bacterial meningitis can be a matter of life or death. We welcome this significant progress in the development of a rapid test for meningitis and sepsis.
“We would however, continue to advise people to know the signs and symptoms of meningitis and to seek immediate medical attention if they have any concerns”.
The study led by Professor Michael Levin has shown that a bacterial infection can be distinguished from other causes of fever, such as a viral infection, using a pattern of genes that are switched on or off in response to an infection.
A larger project will now begin to develop these findings into a pin-prick diagnostic test, which Professor Levin believes could be available through the NHS within five years.
14 facts about meningitis and septicaemia
Meningitis is usually caused by bacteria or viruses
Meningitis is inflammation of the membranes that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord
Septicaemia is blood poisoning
Some bacteria that cause meningitis also cause septicaemia
Meningitis and septicaemia often happen together – it is vital to know all the signs and symptoms
The early signs and symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia can be similar to ‘flu and include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting and muscle pain.
The more specific signs and symptoms include fever with cold hands and feet, drowsiness, confusion, pale blotchy skin, stiff neck, dislike of bright lights and a rash which doesn’t fade under pressure.
In babies, symptoms can also include being floppy and unresponsive, dislike of being handled, rapid breathing, an unusual, moaning cry and a bulging fontanelle (soft spot on the top of the head).
There are an estimated 3,200 cases of bacterial meningitis and septicaemia each year in the UK.
Following bacterial meningitis or septicaemia, one in ten people will die and at least a third of survivors will be left with lifelong after-effects such as hearing loss, epilepsy, limb loss or learning difficulties
Meningitis and septicaemia can affect anyone, of any age, at any time. However, babies and young children are most at risk, and young people between 15 – 24 years are also a higher risk group.
In the past 20 years, effective vaccines have been developed to give protection against SOME types of meningitis. These are offered to all babies and young children as part of the UK childhood immunisation programme. BUT there are not vaccines to protect against ALL types.
A vaccine to protect against meningococcal group B (Men B) disease, the most common cause of bacterial meningitis and septicaemia, was introduced into the UK childhood immunisation programme in September 2015.
If you suspect someone may be ill with meningitis or septicaemia, trust your instincts and get immediate medical help.
Meningitis Now aims to reduce the impact of meningitis by raising awareness and funding research into vaccine and treatment. For support and advice on meningitis call the Meningitis Now Helpline on 0808 80 10 388.
For more information or to donate visit the website at www.MeningitisNow.org

Pin-prick meningitis test could be available within five years


Get the latest breaking news from The Bucks Herald - politics, transport, education, health, environment and more, updated daily.


It could cost airline passengers £25 for making a complaint, following the introduction of new aviation rules.
Passengers traveling with British Airways, easyJet and Thomas Cook will be charged £25 if any claim they make is unsuccessful, as the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will no longer mediate between customers and airlines.
Previously, the CAA would act as the ‘middleman’ in negotiations between customer and airlines in disputes regarding flight delays and cancellations or missing or damaged luggage.
British Airways, along with easyJet and Thomas Cook, have signed up to the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR), which charges customers a £25 fee for unsuccessful claims for compensation.
However, passengers with other airlines, including Flybe and Ryanair will be able to pursue complaints without fear of financial loss as these airlines have signed up with the Retail Ombudsman which does not charge customers to use the service.
Also, Eurowings and Lufthansa will use German company Söp, which similarly does not charge a fee.

BA and easyJet passengers could pay £25 charge for flight delay complaints


Video game escapism in its purest form.
No Man’s Sky in undeniably a work of art, but have you got time to look around the whole gallery?
No Man’s Sky launched last week after much hype and billed as quite literally the biggest video game ever made.
The self-perpetuating game, which promises to be potentially endless, was four years in the making by a tiny team in game production terms. And you can tell as it will instantly take your breath away.
Make no mistake there has never been anything like this before. As you fly ever deeper into the universe, new planets and solar systems roll silently into view – some will have been seen before, others discovered for the very first time. And you have 18 quintillion of them to choose from...
Each has its own set of flora, fauna and inhabitants. By exploring, players gain information about the planets that they can submit to The Atlas, a universal database that can be shared with other players of the game and for which they are rewarded in currency each time.
Each planet is a work of art you could spend hours studying, analysing and dissecting. These works of art are housed in an endless gallery and for art connoisseurs it will be Manna from heaven.
However, most people’s playing time will be finite.... unless you’re at university and can afford to miss the odd class here and there to squeeze in just one more exploration of a peculiar alien planet.
And that is where one of the game’s key sticking points comes in. As much as No Man’s Sky takes us to Infinity and leaves us wondering what waits beyond, there is also an almost irresistible itch which you can’t scratch because you can never truly “complete” this game in the traditional sense.
But that is very much a personal take on NMS, many people might enjoy jumping on for a couple of hours here and there, discovering lots of different things and logging it to the Atlas, if anything it could be cathartic but many people like a beginning, a middle and an end to their games.
No Mans Sky is undeniably a work of art
The care, thought, time and brilliance that has gone into this utterly original video game is mindblowing and deserves to be experienced by PlayStation gamers.
It is the purest form of video game escapism we have ever seen and should be celebrated as such.
But it will more likely go down as a cult classic than the blockbuster success it’s craft deserves.


Visit now for gadgets & tech news and features from The Bucks Herald


Bryony Page may have wowed crowds by becoming the first Brit to win an Olympic medal on a trampoline.
But new research suggests injuries sustained from indoor trampoline parks are an “emerging health concern”.
The warning comes after a study recorded 40 children needed medical treatment at one hospital in the space of just six months after trampoline accidents at an indoor park.
Last week 25-year-old Bryony won a silver medal in Rio, performing twists and turns at a staggering 30ft.
But while many youngsters may wish to emulate her, researchers stress the danger of using indoor trampoline parks, where many kids bounce simultaneously, on beds placed in close proximity to each other.
Researchers reviewed the medical records of Australian children under 17, who sought medical treatment at a children’s emergency care department between July 2014 and January 2015.
The team focussed solely on injuries sustained whilst at a trampoline park.
During a six month period, the team recorded 40 child patients, 55 per cent of which were girls, requiring treatment for their injuries.
The average age of each child patient was 10, but the youngest was just a year old.
Most of the injuries, a third, occurred while the child was on the trampoline.
And a fifth - 18 per cent - of the injuries were caused by a failed landing.
But in eight cases, the injury was the result of several different children of different sizes using the trampoline at the same time.
The research, published in the journal Injury Prevention, revealed over half of the children (52.5%) injured were simply jumping and not attempting any flips or somersaults at the time.
Six children injured themselves by landing awkwardly on something on the trampoline, such as protective padding designed to prevent falls.
Bruising and sprained ankles were the most common injuries, with 55% of the children’s medical records detailing these.
A third fractured elbow and ankle bones.
But for five children, their injuries were more serious and required surgery and a hospital admission.
Author Dr Christopher Mulligan, from The University of New South Wales said: “Most children were injured while involved in simple jumping activities (52.5%).
“However, five children (12.5%) were injured while attempting somersaults or flips.
“Six children were injured when they came into contact with something while on the trampoline.
“This included two children who landed on balls, and four children who landed on, or caught their feet in, the less elastic padding surrounding them or the hard surface floor.
“In terms of the injuries observed, the majority of patients presented with a soft tissue injury or sprain ( 55%) or fractured bone(s) (37.5%).
“One child sustained a lip laceration. One child presented with concussion, and one with chest pain.
“The lower extremity was the most frequent site of injury (67.5%), followed by the upper extremity (15%).
“The most common sprains were of the ankle. The most common fractures were supracondylar fractures of the elbow and fractures of the ankle.
“There was one fracture/dislocation of a cervical vertebra. No patients sustained a loss of consciousness.”
He added children using trampolines at home are more at risk of falling off it as they are raised above the ground or falling through the padding.
But at centres “double bouncing, or multiple users on a single trampoline, carried a significant risk for injury.
“This occurred particularly when small children were jumping with larger peers
or other adults.”
The study was published in the BMJ’ s Injury Prevention.


Bryony Page may have wowed crowds by becoming the first Brit to win an Olympic medal on a trampoline.


Bucks County Show is a must-go-to event on many people’s calenders.
The annual show, on from 8am-6pm tomorrow (Thursday), brings together town and country in one amazing day of celebration and always pulls in the crowds come rain or shine.
With free buses running throughout the day from Station Way in Aylesbury to the showground at Weedon Park, visitors do not need a car to get there. But if you do drive, there is plenty of parking available.
The focus of the show has always been on the farm livestock and this year is no different, with 60 cattle classes including Aberdeen Angus, British Charolais, Hereford and Jersey as well as over 30 sheep classes including Texel, Wiltshire Horn and Berrichon.
The top quality horse show includes many qualifying classes to the Horse of the Year Show and this year there will be five rings with 80 classes.
The main ring entertainment will include the Royal Signals White Helmets Display Team and the Band of the Royal Corps of Signals, and around the ground there will be a chance to enjoy the Sheep Show, vintage tractors, marquees for home and garden, shopping and rural crafts.
The ever popular Food Hall and the recent addition of the Cookery Theatre will also be there, plus new for this year is a pie competition for commercial pie makers. Following judging, the pies will be available for public viewing from 11am.
Tickets (which include free parking)can be bought on the day, but are cheaper if bought in advance online at www.buckscountyshow.co.uk or from several locations in the county. Details are on the website.
On the day prices are £16 adult, £6 children aged five to 16 (under fives free), £13 OAP, £38 groups of two adults and two children.


Visit now for the latest entertainment and leisure news and features - from The Bucks Herald, updated daily


Berkhamsted may be teeming with great places to eat but if you are looking for good honest Italian food with a contemporary twist in a great setting then look no further than Carluccio’s.
A popular eating out destination for people from across the Home Counties, Berkhamsted has won a number of awards for its high street offering in the past.
Carluccios is the brainchild of the godfather of Italian gastronomy Antonio Carluccio
To that end it has a reputation to protect.
Carluccio’s - the brainchild of the godfather of Italian gastronomy, Antonio Carluccio, may be yet another chain - and yes the high street does need to maintain its tradition of having some great independents - but it doesn’t feel like one and in many respects has local at its heart.
For a start Berkhamsted’s Carluccio’s is nestled away in the Listed Old Town Hall building on the high street, making it one of the best and most interesting settings to enjoy a nice meal.
Cosy and inviting inside, the staff offer as warm a welcome as the table filled with a host of delicious desserts which greets you as you walk in.
Carluccio's Grandioso platter
The menus cater for all ages and are genuinely exciting. It is the sharing platters that steal the show, though. There are meat and veggie versions, the meat version is particularly delicious and boasts succulent freshly sliced meats like Parma ham, salami from Naples and Milan, herb-roasted ham and mortadella. And if you can manage it, the meat is accompanied by olives, caperberries and home baked focaccia.
But don’t miss out on the arancini, a taste sensation which is essentially Italy in a stuffed rice ball. Coated with breadcrumbs and then deep fried, the arancini are balls of gorgonzola and courgette or nduja and buffalo mozzarella, both served with a tomato sauce.
A range of fantastic classic Italian dishes from a hearty traditional lasagne, lobster spaghetti and homemade ravioli, as well as gluten-free pasta, adorn the menu and the mix is just right without offering too much choice that you find yourself overwhelmed. The menu also includes Italian grill dishes of flattened chicken breast topped with Parma ham and mint-marinated lamb cutlets which is a must.
The dessert offering is typical Italian fare with a zesty lemon tart, chocolate cake, tiramisu and meringue to choose from. There is also a collection of Carluccio’s own branded products on offer and you can take some sweet treats home with you if you like too.
Bistecca Di Fesa
Another aspect which gives the chain a local connection is its picnic service.
There are freshly made meat and vegetarian picnic meal platters available at £45 each, which generously feed two people, as well as a children’s version with a mini pizza, cake and juice for £10 and it all comes in a nifty coolbag. So if you are going out to enjoy the fine summer weather we are experiencing at the moment you can place your order over the phone and collect the picnic basket four hours later.
People might ask did Berkhamsted need another chain? Maybe not, but it definitely needs its Carluccio’s.
Traditional, hearty lasagne
Sweet treat: Carluccio's tiramisu

Eating Out: Carluccio’s puts Italian soul into Berkhamsted’s award-winning high street


Visit now for the latest places to eat out across Northamptonshire - direct from The Bucks Herald


The Cola-Cola glass bottle has been voted as the most iconic packaging on the UK’s shelves.
A study of 1,500 Brits exploring the influence of packaging and branding on shopping habits found that one in six people thought the Coca-Cola bottle was the most identifiable in terms of packaging.
Indeed, it was deemed to be just as recognisable without its logo or the product itself.
The research, commissioned by Easyfairs, organisers of Packing Innovations and Luxury Packaging London, found the Toblerone triangular chocolate bar finished as a close runner up, with Marmite’s glass jar rated as third-best-loved product packaging.
Beauty brands, such as the Tiffany Box and the Chanel No.5 Bottle just missed out on the top ten.
Coke’s success has been attributed to its targeting younger audience, with one in five Millennials selecting the bottle as the most recognisable pack product.Pringles’ iconic cylinder tube, fourth on the overall list, was the Millennial’s second favourite.
The study also revealed barcodes as the greatest packaging invention, ahead of more traditional items such as the cardboard box (21 per cent) - although the younger generation, 18-34 years, voted for 3D printing and re-sealable zips as its top two.
Gerry Sherwood, Event Director for the Easyfairs’ Packaging Portfolio, who commissioned the survey, said: “Millennials have officially passed Baby Boomers as the largest generation in history, and are more personally connected to their favourite brands than ever before. It is therefore not surprising to see 3D printing come out top in our poll for this age group.”
Top Ten Most Recognisable Brand’s Packaging
1. Coca-Cola Bottle
2. Toblerone Triangle
3. Marmite Jar
4. Pringles Tube
5. KFC Bucket
6. Heinz Ketchup Bottle
7. Fairy Liquid Bottle
8. Apple’s iPhone Box
9. Walkers Crisp Packet
10. Amazon Box

Visit now for the offbeat news - from The Bucks Herald


Coca-Cola bottle ‘most iconic packaging’


Deus Ex has you spoilt for choice.
Mankind Divided and so am I when it comes to reviewing the latest Deus Ex game after its launch last week.
There is so much to rave about in DEMD and I’m still enjoying it now over a week into the game.
But there are a number of elements which do not quite sit right with me.
Let’s start with the positives, though, and there are plenty of them.
There is layer upon layer in this game all expertly crafted together and beautifully designed.
The gameplay stands up to the high standards set by previous Deus Ex games and goes beyond them in many respects.
This is a game that will suit all types of gamers too.
Looking for a quick blast for an hour, you can jump on and get enough done to enjoy the experience, looking for longer, more involved sessions on your console then the gameplay rewards your patience, curiosity and creativity.
You play augmented human Jensen who is essentially the most deadly Power Ranger on the planet. I mean this guy has everything and would even give Superman a run for his money.
There are so many options to negotiate each scenario
And this is where my first problem lies with DEMD.
Sometimes, dare I say it, there are so many options available to you, so many ways to deal with scenarios and enemies and so much in your arsenal, it actually feels a bit ... easy.
‘Ramp up the difficulty setting!’ I hear you cry.
Well yes there’s that but my point is no matter what level you are playing at, Jensen just has too much at his disposal for his enemies to trouble him.
Sometimes, dare I say it, there are so many options available to you, so many ways to deal with scenarios and enemies and so much in your arsenal, it actually feels a bit ... easy. Damien Lucas, gaming columnist
But don’t get me wrong it’s still great fun entering a room littered with foes and walking out past a pile of them without breaking a sweat.
Another thing that doesn’t quite land for me is the Apartheid type references between the humans (naturals) and the augmented race. It is a poor attempt to give the storyline resonance with real life - for example there are posters dotted around saying things like ‘Augmented Lives Matter’ and it just feels a little frivolous.
I’m being hyper critical, though, and Deus Ex will go down as one of the games of the year of that there is no doubt.
Rating: 8.5/10

Console Corner: Deus Ex Mankind Divided review


One of the most recogniseable voices in British music can be heard when she brings a concert to Aylesbury’s Waterside Theatre next month.
Singer Jane McDonald takes her new show across the country and visits the Waterside on Thursday September 8 at 7.30pm.
The show is entitled Making Memories and is packed full of world class songs and arrangements, featuring an extravaganza of musicians and singers.
After receiving five star reviews for her performance as Grizabella in CATS, Jane will introduce Memory into her concert act, as well as including full versions of some of her own songs, including The Hand That Leads Me, written as a tribute to her mother.
Expect new amazing medleys, old fan favourites and some exciting additions guaranteeing you will be on your feet time after time.
By popular demand, Jane is finally introducing full versions of some of her own songs including Some You Win (from her platinum Number One album) and her most recent composition, The Singer Of Your Song, which was written for her fans.
She rose to fame with her appearances in the 1998 series The Cruise and was also a regular panelist on the ITV series Loose Women between 2004 and 2014.
Tickets to the concert are available from £31. For more information or to book in advance, call the box office on 0844 871 7607, or go online at www.atgtickets.com/ aylesbury.

Jane McDonald creates memories at Aylesbury


Visit now for the latest theatre & comedy news - direct from The Bucks Herald


Eating Out: Carluccio’s puts Italian soul into Berhamsted’s award-winning high street


Berkhamsted may be teeming with great places to eat but if you are looking for good honest Italian food with a contemporary twist in a great setting then look no further than Carluccio’s.


Pokemon GO players who are found to be cheating will have a permanent ban slapped on them, it has been announced.
The game’s developer, Niantic, has altered the terms and conditions to include the condition that a life ban will ensue for anyone caught using trickery to bag Pokemon.
The new clause prohibits: “Falsifying your location, using emulators, modified or unofficial software and/or accessing Pokemon GO clients or backends in an unauthorized manner including through the use of third party software.”
It has been reported that some users have managed to fool the app into thinking they were at a different location. Some Pokemon are region-specific, although taken to extremes, a player could play the game without leaving their home.
“Our goal is to provide a fair, fun and legitimate game experience for everyone,” Niantic said:
“We will continue to work with all of you to improve the quality of the gameplay, including ongoing optimization and fine tuning of our anti-cheat system.”
Anyone believing that have been unfairly banned can access an appeals system.


Pokemon GO players who are found to be cheating will have a permanent ban slapped on them, it has been announced.


Daniel Ricciardo made it three podiums in a row for Red Bull Racing in Belgium on Sunday as Max Verstappen failed to convert a front row start into points.
Ricciardo, who finished third in Hungary and second in Germany, crossed the line second again at the Belgian Grand Prix behind race winner Nico Rosberg.
A dramatic start helped Ricciardo through the field, but hampered his Red Bull Racing team mate Verstappen, who was starting from the front row.
Slow off the line, the Dutchman was involved in a collision with both Ferraris and needed a first lap pit-stop to repair a damaged front wing.
Battling through the field, Verstappen renewed his rivalry with Kimi Raikkonen, who has openly criticised the teenager’s driving style in the past, and the pair clipped on several occasions as they battled down the order.
Ricciardo meanwhile saw off Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg to move into second. A potential battle with championship leader Lewis Hamilton looked set to unfold until the Mercedes driver pitted late on, handing Ricciardo a safe second place.
Verstappen was caught up with the two Ferraris at the first corner
Verstappen’s tyre problems saw him eventually finish 11th, out of the points.

Ricciardo on the podium in Belgium as Verstappen struggles


Visit now for the latest boxing news - direct from The Bucks Herald


Red Bull Racing topped the time sheets as Max Verstappen set the pace ahead of Daniel Ricciardo in free practice at an unusually warm Belgian Grand Prix on Friday.
The 18-year-old grew up just 50 miles from the Spa-Francorchamps circuit and was cheered on by a large Dutch contingent as he set the fastest time with a 1:48.085.
Team-mate Daniel Ricciardo was second, with 1.48.341 ahead of Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg, and Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel. Championship leader Lewis Hamilton is likely to start towards the back of the grid after taking several engine penalties, and was 13th fastest at the end of the second free practice session.
Earlier in the day, Ricciardo completed an installation lap with the head protection device ‘the halo’ which is earmarked to be introduced to the sport in 2018.

Verstappen tops the timing sheets as Red Bull lead the way in Belgium


Red Bull Racing topped the time sheets as Max Verstappen set the pace ahead of Daniel Ricciardo in free practice at an unusually warm Belgian Grand Prix on Friday.


UK motorists have been hit by a near-20 per cent rise in insurance costs in the last year, new figures show.
The average driver now pays £715 a year for fully comprehensive cover, up 19 per cent on the same time last year.
The figures were revealed by the Confused.com car insurance price index, which tracks quarterly and annual trends.
After dropping for several years from a high of £843 in 2011, insurance costs have been rising since the start of 2015. The latest figures, for the period from April to June 2016 show that costs have risen by 6 per cent since the start of the year and drivers are paying an average of £115 more for their insurance than they were in the same period last year.
Northern Irish drivers have been worst hit by the latest rises, seeing their premiums climb 25 per cent year-on-year. They now face an average premium of £863.
Also feeling the impact badly are motorists in parts of Scotland - the Highlands and Islands saw rises of 24 per cent and drivers in the Hebrides were hit with a staggering 42 per cent annual increase.
Conversely, Orkney’s capital - Kirkwall - was one of only two places to see a drop in costs, with a quarterly fall of four per cent. Hereford, in the West Midlands, was the only other place to see a fall in quarterly premiums - down two per cent on the first three months of the year.
While younger drivers might face the highest premiums overall, they have actually escaped the worst of the rises. Drivers aged 17 saw an annual rise of just eight per cent - the lowest of any age bracket - but still face average premiums of £2,013. A the opposite end, 61-year-old drivers saw a 24 per cent rise - the highest of any age group - but still only pay £418 a year.
And the gender gap persists, with male drivers facing annual rises of 21 per cent in comparison with the 18 per cent faced by women. This continued difference means the gap between the sexes is growing as men pay an average of £92 a year more - up from £27 in 2013.
Confused’s motoring editor, Amanda Stretton, said: “We’ve not seen price rises of this magnitude for five years - a 19 per cent annual increase is substantial to say the least. And these price rises are being felt across the board, for drivers of all ages and genders, across all UK regions.
“If prices continues to rise at the rate we’ve been seeing, we could be facing the possibility of average comprehensive premiums reaching a high not seen since 2011. This, combined with rising fuel prices and increased motoring costs across the board, could result in a sizeable dent in drivers’ pockets.”

Car insurance costs soar nearly 20 per cent in 12 months


Visit now for the offbeat news - from The Bucks Herald


Breakfast at Tiffany’s, the classic tale of Holly Golightly so memorably played by Audrey Hepburn in the iconic film, has been given a new lease of life as a stage play with music, starring Georgia May Foote.
Georgia was runner up in last year’s Strictly Come Dancing and her television credits include Coronation Street, This Is England ‘86 and Grange Hill.
Breakfast at Tiffany’s is her professional stage debut.
She said: “I am so excited that for my first theatre role I will be playing such an iconic character. I cannot wait to join the cast. It’s a wonderful adaptation of an incredible story and I’m really thrilled to be part of it.”
Based on Truman Capote’s classic novella, the story is set in 1943 New York. Fred, a young writer from Louisiana, meets Holly Golighty, a charming, vivacious and utterly elusive good time girl.
Everyone falls in love with Holly, including Fred. But Fred is poor and Holly’s other suitors include a playboy millionaire and the future president of Brazil. As war rages in Europe, Holly begins to fall in love with Fred - just as her past catches up with her.
The story has been adapted for the stage by award winning playwright Richard Greenberg and contains memorable songs from the era as well as original music by Grant Olding.
Breakfast at Tiffany’s is sure to capture the hearts of audiences and sparkle like a diamond in a Tiffany’s window.
The show is on at Milton Keynes Theatre at 7.30pm from Monday September 19 through to Saturday 24 with additional 2.30pm matinees on the Wednesday and Saturday.
Tickets cost from £16.50 and are available online at www.atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes or call the box office on 0844 871 7652.

Corrie star Georgia May Foote sparkles at Milton Keynes


The chance to stay in one of the country’s biggest castles with the promise of Knight School, Horrible Histories and huge looming turrets to explore was like music to my eight-year-old audience’s ears.
“So we get to play all day, then have a knights’ sleepover as well?” Even with mum and dad in tow he knew he was in for something special. And I wasn’t unexcited myself.
At over 1,100 years old Warwick Castle offers its 21st century visitors free reign to explore magnificent stately rooms, dungeons and impressive grounds.
And its owners, Merlin Entertainments have brought history to life with a flaming fireball launch from the trebuchet (the largest in the world ), breath taking displays from enormous birds of prey, blood and guts from the Horrible Histories, spooks and ghouls undergrounds, jousting, archery, knights and endlessly more.
But the best part? Now, you don’t even have to go home. When the castle closes its gates the fun is only just beginning as another exciting adventure awaits – the promise of a sleepover in the shadows of kings.
The castle has been home - and imprisonment - to kings and earls, hosted royal banquets and parties and even has links to the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. So the latest addition of year-round camping lodges at Knight’s Village really does mean a sleepover steeped in history.
No time to make it round the maze or see the joust? We can come back tomorrow morning after breakfast. The words are like magic to my little knight-in-training. And even mum and dad are tingling to wake up in such magnificent grounds after enjoying an evening by the river and some of the best views you could ever wish for.
An afternoon arrival showed us that a day at the castle just isn’t enough. But once evening arrived there really was a whole new adventure waiting.
Families can banquet in the great food hall where majestic thrones, flags and plates of armour take you right back hundreds of years. But what really grabbed our attention was the entertainment and chance for children to go wild.
The castle’s brilliant staff pulled everything out of the bag for the youngsters. Circus skills, archery, more knight and sword training – it was a summer Kids Club, but one where the grown-ups are elbowing to get involved as well. Though the less interested still get to enjoy a superb evening relaxing on the porch, watching the fun and basking in the last of the sunshine.
But of course, the centrepiece of Knight’s Village - the lodges. They’re great. With everything from mod-cons (plugs, and WiFi) to replica weaponry and armour, there’s something to keep all ages happy.
Unless you go for the premium, they’re on the cosy side. But with hundreds of years of history on your doorstep, there’s certainly no reason to want to cram inside and watch television.
And of course if it’s sunny and you have a taste for something a bit more medieval, you can get yourself booked up for Glamping and take on a huge cloth tent, complete with four-poster beds and a pair of thrones to watch over the evening entertainment as the sun sets.
It was as peaceful and entertaining a night as you could hope for, with happy children and happy mum and dad all looking forward to a return to the banquet for a hearty breakfast and another go at flag spotting.
The best bit about sleeping among the trees where inspiring history once unfolded? Waking up to stunning views in complete tranquillity. Looking out over the new camping village (which prides itself on not harming the historic grounds in any way and that not one tree was felled in its construction), you really can imagine yourself hundreds of years back in time.
And being able to head back through the gates to do it all again for a second day of exploring.
Warwick Castle’s Knight’s Village is as magical as you could expect from a stay in a truly historic location, and with activities continuing well into the night, acres of grounds to explore, and a historic town just metres outside, there’s no reason not to be excited.
Earning an excited thumbs up from mesmerised children, the stay really delivered as the perfect place to enjoy history on your doorstep this summer.
Warwick Castle’s Knight’s Village offers seasonal stays in Glamping tents or year-round accommodation in its wooden lodges. Prices start from £41.30 per person.
Visit www.Warwick-castle.com to book or more information.

TRAVEL REVIEW: Exclusive sleepover at one of the country’s biggest historical castles


The chance to stay in one of the country’s biggest castles with the promise of Knight School, Horrible Histories and huge looming turrets to explore was like music to my eight-year-old audience’s ears.


For anyone who has found the whole process of internet shopping too much like hard work Amazon has come up with a solution.
The online retailer today revealed that it is introducing its Amazon Dash Buttons to the UK.
The dinky little gadgets are a one-touch way to order a host of popular products without all that complicated rigmarole of actually logging onto your Amazon account and searching for them.
The Dash Buttons are literally that, small plastic boxes housing a button, which when pressed will connect via wi-fi to your Amazon account and using one-click buying order your selected products.
Each button is linked to a particular item and there are 40 brands available from launch so you can get everything from cat food to condoms and nappies to NERF ammunition delivered to your door.
Daniel Rausch, director of Amazon Dash, explained the thinking behind the devices: “We’ve all experienced the frustration of running out of something we need - Dash Button and Dash Replenishment Service are designed to make that moment a thing of the past.
“Dash Buttons offer the convenience of one-click shopping from anywhere in the home - they can be placed near those frequently used items you don’t want to run out of, and when you see supplies running low, the Dash Button makes it easier than ever to order more. Just press the button and your item is on its way.”
The £4.99 devices are only available to Amazon Prime customers, which means you’ll have to sign up to the £79-a-year service to enjoy the Dash Button’s convenience. The good news is that you’ll get £4.99 back off your first order of each product.
Alongside the buttons, Amazon also announced the UK rollout of its Dash Replenishment Service.
Like the button this links to your Amazon account but rather than having to do the ordering yourself it allows connected smart devices to order supplies themselves.
This means the likes of washing machines, dishwashers and printers from big-name brands including Bosch, Samsung, Whirlpool and Siemens can monitor your consumables usage and order more before you run out.
If they could just design a button that remotely loads the dishwasher too, they could be onto a winner.

Amazon Dash lets you order your loo roll at the touch of a button


CHICKASAW COUNTY
Candidate drops out of sheriff’s race
The Chickasaw County sheriff’s field for the November election has been sliced in half after the Republican primary winner announced last week that he is no longer a candidate.
Ben Scholl, in a post on his campaign’s Facebook page, announced Friday that he has withdrawn his name as a candidate and endorsed current Chief Deputy Marty Hemann in the upcoming election.
“I appreciate all the encouragement I have received in the last year during the campaign,” Scholl wrote, “but due to personal circumstances, this was a choice, while difficult to make, I feel is the correct one.”
He said he was proud of the positive campaign he had run and also praised Hemann for doing the same thing.
“Many of you have commented throughout the campaign that I have always remained positive and respectable towards the other candidate,” he wrote. “Marty took the same approach to his campaign, remaining positive and focusing on his strengths. I met with Marty today to express my gratitude for his approach throughout this campaign.”
Scholl, who is the pastor of the First Congregational Church in Nashua, announced his candidacy earlier this year and garnered almost 54 percent of the vote to beat Jim Kollman in the June Republican primary to earn a November race against Hemann.
Current Sheriff Todd Miller announced earlier this year that he would not seek a second term in office.
Scholl currently serves as a part-time officer with the Nashua Police Department, and said he would continue to “do my part to be a positive and encouraging figure in our community, as well as dedicate my time to serving in our emergency services organizations in a variety of capacities.”
But throughout the statement he made announcing his withdrawal from the race, he emphasized the need for positive campaigning this fall.
“Focus on your strengths and set the example you want to see in your community,” he wrote. “Run for the position, not against the candidate. That, folks, is leading from the front.”
By Bob Fenske editor@nhtrib.com


By Chris Baldus | cbaldus@charlescitypress.com
UPDATE at 4:45 p.m.: A Floyd County jury delivered a guilty verdict on one count of third-degree sexual abuse against Brittany Rae Beek, 27, of Charles City. Jurors found her not guilty on a second count.
A sentencing date has not been set.
The guilty verdict handed down was in regard to the accusation that Beek performed a sex act on a 15-year-old girl who had run away from a Waverly treatment shelter with a 16-year-old acquaintance of Beek’s on May 10. Beek brought the two from Cedar Falls to her home after her acquaintance contacted her via Facebook.
That night the trio watched the sexually charged movie “50 Shades of Grey” and Beek then performed sex acts on both the girls, according to their accusations.
The decision indicates that the jury believes Beek committed the acts on the 15-year-old, which was a statutory crime because of their ages.
The other count related to the 16-year-old required the jurors to believe that Beek committed the acts on her acquaintance against that girl’s will or by force.
The maximum penalty for a class C felony is up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
Judge Colleen Wieland presided over the trial.
Previous story: The fate of a Charles City woman accused of sexually abusing two teenage runaways is in the hands of a Floyd County District Court jury of seven women and five men.
The case against Brittany Rae Beek, 27, was turned over to the jury at about 12:30 p.m. today. Beek is charged with two counts of third-degree sexual abuse, class C felonies.
The closing arguments for both sides were similar in that both attacked the credibility of the trio involved.
Public Defender Nellie O’Mara told the jury that the girls changed their stories from the day they were returned to custody to the day they took the stand in the trial, only Beek told the same story repeatedly.
Ginbey said Beek had changed her story from the day she was first interviewed by Charles City Police to when she took the stand in her defense on Thursday. The girls told consistent stories that corroborated each other despite having no time together to concoct a story after being taken back into custody.
Regarding DNA evidence linking Beek to a lesion on one of the girls’ abdomen, O’Mara said that the girl left Beeks house May 11 wearing one of her shirts. A button from the shirt could have caused the injury and transferred Beek’s DNA when the girl physically fought with an ex-boyfriend as he tried to turn the girls over to police.
Ginbey asked the jurors to take their common sense with them, called the lesion a hickie and said the button theory was nonsensical.
Beek was the last witness to take the stand before closing arguments. She denied doing anything sexual with either of the girls that she retrieved from Cedar Falls. One of the girls who had known Beek for about a year had contacted the Charles City resident asking for a ride and to be able to stay with her.
Beek and O’Mara, went through a Google Chrome record of how and when her Android cellphone had been used the night of the alleged incident in May. They detailed that the girls used the phone throughout the night accessing Facebook and YouTube at time before, during and after the time of the alleged incident. O’Mara had Beek read from the record more than a dozen specific times and tell what the phone was being used for, including whose Facebook pages were accessed.
In her cross examination, Ginbey referred to roughly half-hour gaps in the records. Beek answered, “Possibly, I hadn’t looked at it that closely.”
On the phone topic, Beek testified that she messaged the mother of one girl right away when the girl contacted her, but she didn’t hear back from her until the next day. The girls had her phone from the point after Beek picked them up until the next morning, so they might have responded to the mother.
The mother had testified that Beek had contacted her by message more than once.
Beek testified that she did not know the girls were runaways fro, a youth shelter in Waverly until after they had left her home.
Ginbey noted in a question to Beek that she said in the interview with Charles City Police that the jury watched earlier in the trial that she said she planned to bring the girls back to Cedar Falls because they were runaways.
-20160826-

Jury finds CC woman guilty of sexual abuse


23 hours ago
Best of Moscow: Eight Ways to Enjoy the Last Gasp of Summer
A Moscow winter may not carry quite the same connotations as one in “Game of Thrones,” but it certainly signals the end of terrace dining, soaking up rays on the beach and frivolous outdoor pursuits. With that in mind, we’ve been out and about and compiled a list of the best ways to get your vitamin D fix before the snow sets in.

Giant Matryoshka Doll Delays Russian Athletes' Flight


Motorists now change their car more often than they switch their mattress or even their mobile phone, suggests new research.
The length of time motorists keep a car has plummeted from around five years to two years or less, reveal latest figures.
The data produced by automotive experts, cap hpi, shows that some car makers now see average returns of vehicles in 24 months, and there is evidence of a growing number of 18-month leases in the market.
Mattresses should be changed every seven or eight years to ensure a good and healthy night’s sleep, according to chiropractors, while mobile phone contracts are on average between 18 and 24 months.
Expert say car manufacturers are managing volumes in the used market by varying contract lengths by model and remarketing channels.
Philip Nothard, retail and consumer specialist at cap hpi, said: “What we are seeing is the ‘iphonification’ of the car industry as consumers increasingly pay to drive rather than pay to own their vehicles.
“It’s the same model as the mobile phone industry where people are comfortable paying a monthly fee - only they are now doing this with their vehicles as well as their mobiles.”
He said the growth of personal contract purchase (PCP) and other finance options is having a “profound” effect on the car industry.
Personal Contract Hire (PCH) is also increasing, as motorists increasingly look towards usership rather than ownership.
Around four out five new car sales (80 per cent) are now on finance, according to estimates by cap hpi.
Mr Nothard added: “Not so long ago it was fairly common for motorists to have their cars for a minimum of five years or longer, but that has now changed dramatically and dropped to just two years for millions of motorists.
“After buying a house, the car was usually the biggest outlay for most consumers but now they are far more likely to change their car more often than their mattress.
“Consumer demand remains strong in the used car market and there are lots of used bargains waiting to be snapped up.
“As PCP becomes more popular and accessible in the used market, motor dealers expect its use to double in the future so we’re going to see people changing their cars with increasing regularity.”

Motorists change their car more often than their mobile phone


Motorists now change their car more often than they switch their mattress or even their mobile phone, suggests new research.


A loner who used a gay dating app to blackmail other men has been jailed for two and a half years.
Liam Hull, 22, targeted scores of men using GRINDR, where he would ensnare his victims, many of which were married and had children, by threatening to expose them unless they coughed up money.
One victim paid over £1,000 into a bank account that Hull had set up.
Another victim, a man who had been married for over 20 years and who had two grown up children, was forced to confess to his wife about his double life.
Another man suffered a mild stroke because of the worry and stress after Hull contacted him.
Hull, of Luton, pleaded guilty to three offences of blackmail when he appeared at Luton Crown Court on Wednesday.
Prosecutor Max Hardy told the court Hull had used the site called Grindr, to blackmail scores of victims across the south of England, but many had been reluctant to help the police for fear their families would find out about their double lives.
Hull would contact potential victims, exchange explicit selfies and phone numbers and use this scant information to trawl through social media to track down people and learn their real names.
Armed with this information he would then demand money to keep their gay life a secret.
After one victim paid Hull he brazenly told the victim “Thanks, just be careful who you speak to next time.”
Bedfordshire Police arrested Hull in May after some of his victims came forward.
Defending, David Healey told the court Hull had been diagnosed in his youth with ADHD and dyslexia and had spent some time in his teens in care.
It emerged that Hull, who was living on benefits, had been convicted of an offence in July 2015 of making a false representation after contacting a man he had met through the website Grindr site and asking for £200 from him to meet, but then failed to turn up.
In 2014 he accepted a police caution for threatening to put pictures on Facebook of a man who had been in contact with him regarding sexual matters.


A loner who used a gay dating app to blackmail other men has been jailed for two and a half years.


Hatters boss Nathan Jones once again paid a glowing tribute to Luton’s travelling army of fans who were at Cambridge United on Saturday.
Almost 1,700 made the short trip to the Cambs Glass Stadium to see their side thump the U’s 3-0 and move up to second in the table.
A delighted Jones was his usual passionate self with the supporters after the final whistle and when speaking to the press, he said: “I was fortunate when I was at Brighton, we travelled really well at Brighton.
“I remember Fulham when I took over for 10 days, we took three and a half thousand, then here (Cambridge), days like this and Leyton Orient (last season).
“Last week we were gutted we didn’t give them the result, but they were outstanding today, absolutely outstanding.
“I love our fans, they are immense our fans, to travel and they just make it a great atmosphere, they sing, they get behind the team and it lifts them.
“I love our fans, they are immense our fans, to travel and they just make it a great atmosphere, they sing, they get behind the team and it lifts them.” Nathan Jones
“That’s why I said a couple of weeks ago, they can lift them, and we’ll respond, but they can lift them, and they did, credit to them, I love our fans.”
Goalkeeper Christian Walton admitted he had been left hugely impressed by the club’s support base since joining on loan from Brighton too, as he said: “I knew what the fans were all about there, they’ve been excellent since I arrived.
“The support they took down to Plymouth, Stevenage last week and then today. It gives you that little edge, second half when they’re getting behind you and they pulled us through and were really good.”
Meanwhile, striker Jack Marriott added: “They’re superb, our fans are absolutely different class. I can’t remember how many were down at Plymouth, wherever it is, we always take great following and they were superb.”


Hatters boss Nathan Jones once again paid a glowing tribute to Luton’s travelling army of fans who were at Cambridge United on Saturday.


A study has found that half of parents with children under the age of 14 allow them to drink alcohol at home.
And, perhaps more worryingly, one in 10 respondents to the Churchill Home Insurance survey allow children between the ages of five and seven to drink alcohol.
While it is not illegal for a child between the age of five and 16 to drink alcohol on private premises, it flies in the face of advice from the Chief Medical Officer whose official advice warns: “Children and their parents or carers are advised that an alcohol-free childhood is the healthiest and best option. However, if children drink alcohol underage, it should not be until at least the age of 15 years.
“Parents and young people should be aware that drinking, even at age 15 or older, can be hazardous to health and that not drinking is the healthiest option for young people.”

Do you think it’s okay to allow children to drink some alcohol at home?


A study has found that half of parents with children under the age of 14 allow them to drink alcohol at home.


Luton Community Housing is encouraging people to sign up to the Community Cup on Saturday, September 10.
The organisation has teamed up with Keech Hospice to raise money at the five-a-side tournament.
Last year, Luton Community Housing hosted a football tournament for 10 different housing associations, homeless shelters and local organisations to compete for third, second and first place.
Local businesses sponsored the event, helping the organisation raise over £800.
The money raised went towards hostels for the homeless.
This year they will be raising money alongside the charity, Keech Hospice Care supports terminally ill adults and children in Bedfordshire.
Luton Community Housing aims to provide homes for people and support those who need help with their housing situation.
The tournament is at Venue 360, Gipsy Lane, from 1pm till 4pm, it is £10 to enter a team.
>> To enter a team, email Daisy at daisy.craydon@lch-ltd.co.uk.


Luton Community Housing is encouraging people to sign up to the Community Cup on Saturday, September 10.


The world’s largest aircraft was damaged this morning after hitting a telegraph pole during its second test flight.
The £25m Airlander 10 - which is part-plane and part-airship - is understood to have sustained damage to its cockpit when it ploughed into the pole.
Aftermath of the Airlander 10 crash on Cardington Airfield, Bedford. Photo: Glyn Dobbs
No-one was injured in the accident, which happened as the aircraft was coming in to land at Cardington Airfield at around 11am
Following the collision, developers Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) Tweeted: “We’re debriefing following the second test flight this morning.
“All crew are safe and well and there are no injuries.”
The helium-filled aircraft had its first test flight from the airfield on August 17 taking to the skies for the first time.
Aftermath of the Airlander 10 crash on Cardington Airfield, Bedford. Photo: Glyn Dobbs
Christened the ‘Martha Gwyn’, the vast aircraft measures 302ft long and is around 50ft longer than the biggest passenger jets.
Engineers have spent three years working on the Airlander 10, which is filled with 1.3million cubic feet of helium - enough to fill 15 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
It was first developed for the US government as a long-endurance surveillance aircraft but it fell foul of defence cutbacks.
The huge aircraft will be able to stay airborne at heights of up to 20,000ft with a 10-tonne cargo for two weeks at a time at speeds of up to 90mph.
Airlander 10 outside
HAV hopes to be building 10 Airlanders a year by 2021.
HAV were contacted for comment.

£25million Airlander hits telegraph pole on second flight


The world’s largest aircraft was damaged this morning after hitting a telegraph pole during its second test flight.


Luton defender Johnny Mullins is determined to take the positives from Tuesday night’s narrow EFL Cup exit at the hands of Leeds United into this afternoon’s League Two trip to Cambridge United.
Hatters more than matched their Championship opponents during the game and could consider themselves hugely unlucky to go out of the competition as Mullins said: “We performed really well and more than matched them, I thought we were the better side for the majority of the game.
“There are so many positives to take from the game, but we’ll go again on Saturday and look for a win.” Johnny Mullins
“The only time they looked dangerous was when we actually gave the ball away and gave them the impetus.
“So, we’re pleased with the performance but disappointed with the result.
“There are so many positives to take from the game, but we’ll go again on Saturday and look for a win.
“It was a mark of respect at how Leeds came and gave us the respect and I thought we were the better side for the majority of the game. The only thing we haven’t won on is the scoreline.
“We’re disappointed. We hate losing football matches. But we’re pleased with the performance, as much as we can be. We’re disappointed that we’re out but we were more than a match for Leeds.
“I think they would agree with that and I’ve sure everybody would’ve seen that in the stands. We’re pleased with that but no-one likes losing football matches.
“It’s a mark of where this football club is at now that we expected to win.”
Although Luton were eventually defeated, with Tyler Denton’s 23rd minute goal enough to settle the tie and make it back to back defeats for the first time this term, Mullins wasn’t worried by that statistic.
He continued: “Somehow, I don’t know, we’ve had back-to-back defeats now, which is unusual (considering) how well we’ve played.
“We can’t get caught up that we’ve got beaten. The positives outweigh the negatives, ten-fold. I’m really enjoying playing football within this team and I know everyone else is.
“We’re just looking to Saturday now and to come off that pitch with three points.
“What the end goal for this team is to get promotion, so midweek was a bit of a bonus, but we didn’t want to lose.
“We’ve played Aston Villa and Leeds and, in my opinion, we’ve been the better team against both of them.”
Mullins was back in the side once more after being suspended for Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Stevenage after being sent off against Newport County.
He added: “It was a bit harsh (the red card). It was foolish of me to get myself in a situation like that, which was disappointing, but the lads dug me out of a hole there last Tuesday.
“So it was nice to be back. I had a little breather, so to speak, which was good to recharge the batteries but I’m pleased to be out there and I felt good.
“It is (hard to get back in the team), there’s no shying away from that, every position is like that at the minute.
“The squad is just full of quality and you see that everyday in training and that’s only good for the team.
“When you’re not in the team you’ve got to push that little bit harder and when you’ve got the shirt you want to keep it. To me that’s the recipe for success.
“Everyone wants to play and there’s competition all the time, be it suspension, injury, or whatever it is, everyone wants to play and that’s only a good thing for the side, everyone is doing their utmost to play.”

Mullins ready to take positives from Leeds defeat


Luton defender Johnny Mullins is determined to take the positives from Tuesday night’s narrow EFL Cup exit at the hands of Leeds United into this afternoon’s League Two trip to Cambridge United.


Deus Ex has you spoilt for choice.
Mankind Divided and so am I when it comes to reviewing the latest Deus Ex game after its launch last week.
There is so much to rave about in DEMD and I’m still enjoying it now over a week into the game.
But there are a number of elements which do not quite sit right with me.
Let’s start with the positives, though, and there are plenty of them.
There is layer upon layer in this game all expertly crafted together and beautifully designed.
The gameplay stands up to the high standards set by previous Deus Ex games and goes beyond them in many respects.
This is a game that will suit all types of gamers too.
Looking for a quick blast for an hour, you can jump on and get enough done to enjoy the experience, looking for longer, more involved sessions on your console then the gameplay rewards your patience, curiosity and creativity.
You play augmented human Jensen who is essentially the most deadly Power Ranger on the planet. I mean this guy has everything and would even give Superman a run for his money.
There are so many options to negotiate each scenario
And this is where my first problem lies with DEMD.
Sometimes, dare I say it, there are so many options available to you, so many ways to deal with scenarios and enemies and so much in your arsenal, it actually feels a bit ... easy.
‘Ramp up the difficulty setting!’ I hear you cry.
Well yes there’s that but my point is no matter what level you are playing at, Jensen just has too much at his disposal for his enemies to trouble him.
Sometimes, dare I say it, there are so many options available to you, so many ways to deal with scenarios and enemies and so much in your arsenal, it actually feels a bit ... easy. Damien Lucas, gaming columnist
But don’t get me wrong it’s still great fun entering a room littered with foes and walking out past a pile of them without breaking a sweat.
Another thing that doesn’t quite land for me is the Apartheid type references between the humans (naturals) and the augmented race. It is a poor attempt to give the storyline resonance with real life - for example there are posters dotted around saying things like ‘Augmented Lives Matter’ and it just feels a little frivolous.
I’m being hyper critical, though, and Deus Ex will go down as one of the games of the year of that there is no doubt.
Rating: 8.5/10

Console Corner: Deus Ex Mankind Divided review


Hatters defender Scott Cuthbert believes his side need to be wary of former Town loanee Joe Pigott when Luton travel to Cambridge United in League Two on Saturday.
The 22-year-old spent the four months at Kenilworth Road after joining from Charlton last term, netting four goals in 15 games for the club.
Joe Pigott celebrates his second against Oxford for Luton
He signed a permanent deal with the U’s in the summer, and although is yet to open his account for Cambridge, goalless in six matches, Cuthbert said: “Pigs came here, he’s a young lad, works hard, puts himself about and as he showed against Carlisle and Oxford he knows where the goal is.
“He’ll be massively dangerous and he’ll certainly be one to keep an eye on.”
Pigott might have been lining up against United for the Hatters this season, but boss Nathan Jones opted for Danny Hylton instead and whether that will add any more desire to Pigott’s approach, the manager said: “I hope not, but you never know.
“Joe’s motivation is Joe’s motivation. He’s someone I know well, someone I like, someone who under different circumstances could have been with us, but it wasn’t to be in the summer.”
“He’ll be massively dangerous and he’ll certainly be one to keep an eye on.” Scott Cuthbert
Meanwhile, defender Dan Potts hopes Saturday won’t be the time when an ex-Luton player comes back to score against their former club, adding: “I know Joe well, I got on very well with Joe last year.
“It will be good to see him, but hopefully he won’t have too good a game on Saturday.”

Cuthbert wary of ‘dangerous’ ex-Hatter Pigott


Hatters defender Scott Cuthbert believes his side need to be wary of former Town loanee Joe Pigott when Luton travel to Cambridge United in League Two on Saturday.


Town boss Nathan Jones felt his side all but outplayed Championship oppoents Leeds United during their 1-0 EFL Cup second round defeat at Kenilworth Road on Tuesday night.
Hatters bossed possession for large swathes of the first half, only to trail to Tyler Denton’s 23rd minute goal.
“We were excellent I wouldn’t go as far to say outplayed, but we weren’t far off outplaying a Championship side.” Hatters
They then upped their game even more in the second period, dominating territory and going close on a number of occasions, but couldn’t find the all important equaliser, striker Jack Marriott twice shooting wide when clean through.
Jones said: “I’m disappointed to be going out of the cup and I’m disappointed to lose the game but that’s as far as my disappointment goes, because I thought we were outstanding from start to finish.
“The way we went about our work was superb, we were excellent I wouldn’t go as far to say outplayed, but we weren’t far off outplaying a Championship side.
“I thought first half we moved the ball really well, we just lacked a little bit of cutting edge, we had probably the best chance of the first half, the chance to go in level but we didn’t take it, one-on-one and then second half I thought we were magnificent.
“We went for it, had fluency, changed one or two things, we had the best chances second half again and I felt we deserved to win the game.
“As I said, you’ve got to take your chances but in terms of a performance, I couldn’t ask for any more from my squad of players, I thought they were excellent.”
Jones has set himself and the club the target of reaching the Championship in three years times and believes performances that Town have conjured up against the Whites and Aston Villa back up his claims.
He continued: “Sometimes I’m disappointed, sometimes I’m very vociferous in what I do, but I just thought that was an excellent performance.
“I’m proud of them, they did what I wanted them to do tonight, they moved it quicker than a Championship side, we had a cutting edge to us.
“We want to end up here, three years time we want to end up here, playing them regularly. But we’ve come and we’ve taken on three Championship clubs now since pre-season and I thought we’ve been excellent in all three games, I really do.”
Although Luton have now lost their last two games, after a stoppage time defeat to Stevenage at the weekend, Jones wasn’t downhearted in the slightest, as he added: “It’s two defeats, but you have to take those in context.
“If I didn’t want to lose the game then I would have just shut up shop against Stevenage and said we’ll take a point no problem, we’ll sit in second, we don’t want to do that.
“We felt it was a risk and reward and we felt we could get the win, and even after they scored we still had chances and as I said, we were dominant in that game, so, so, so dominant.
“So that was a good performance, sometimes results can mask performances, but that was excellent. Then we’ve come up against a Championship side, there’s a lot more clinical results out there where Championship sides have beaten higher league sides a lot more comfortably.
“I thought we were excellent, so yes, we’ve lost the game, but one, that will give them a load of heart and two, I’m just proud of them.”

Jones: We weren’t far off outplaying a Championship side


Town boss Nathan Jones felt his side all but outplayed Championship oppoents Leeds United during their 1-0 EFL Cup second round defeat at Kenilworth Road on Tuesday night.


For anyone who has found the whole process of internet shopping too much like hard work Amazon has come up with a solution.
The online retailer today revealed that it is introducing its Amazon Dash Buttons to the UK.
The dinky little gadgets are a one-touch way to order a host of popular products without all that complicated rigmarole of actually logging onto your Amazon account and searching for them.
The Dash Buttons are literally that, small plastic boxes housing a button, which when pressed will connect via wi-fi to your Amazon account and using one-click buying order your selected products.
Each button is linked to a particular item and there are 40 brands available from launch so you can get everything from cat food to condoms and nappies to NERF ammunition delivered to your door.
Daniel Rausch, director of Amazon Dash, explained the thinking behind the devices: “We’ve all experienced the frustration of running out of something we need - Dash Button and Dash Replenishment Service are designed to make that moment a thing of the past.
“Dash Buttons offer the convenience of one-click shopping from anywhere in the home - they can be placed near those frequently used items you don’t want to run out of, and when you see supplies running low, the Dash Button makes it easier than ever to order more. Just press the button and your item is on its way.”
The £4.99 devices are only available to Amazon Prime customers, which means you’ll have to sign up to the £79-a-year service to enjoy the Dash Button’s convenience. The good news is that you’ll get £4.99 back off your first order of each product.
Alongside the buttons, Amazon also announced the UK rollout of its Dash Replenishment Service.
Like the button this links to your Amazon account but rather than having to do the ordering yourself it allows connected smart devices to order supplies themselves.
This means the likes of washing machines, dishwashers and printers from big-name brands including Bosch, Samsung, Whirlpool and Siemens can monitor your consumables usage and order more before you run out.
If they could just design a button that remotely loads the dishwasher too, they could be onto a winner.

Amazon Dash lets you order your loo roll at the touch of a button


For anyone who has found the whole process of internet shopping too much like hard work Amazon has come up with a solution.


The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have praised the courage of girls who have recovered from mental health difficulties and self-harming.
William and Kate were continuing their drive to raise awareness about mental health with a visit to a newly revamped centre for young people.
The Youthscape building at Bute Mills in Luton, Bedfordshire, reopened in April after a GBP3.2 million revamp.
It was designed for the organisation as a national hub for its work.
Founded in 1993, the charity specialises in young people’s social, emotional and spiritual development. It has pioneered projects such as SelfharmUK, which is the only dedicated imitative aimed at helping youngsters understand and recover from self-harm.
The royal visitors met Holly Keany, 18, and Ellis Jones, listening intently to their stories as they described everything they have been through during their lives.
Miss Jones, also 18, emotionally revealed that she began self-harming after her mother was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease.
She told the couple that Youthscape helped her cope, especially when her mother died when she was just 14.
William told her: “What happened should never have happened to you and you should never have g one through it.
“The fact you have gone through it and got where you are now, you should be really, really proud.”
Kate, who was wearing a blue and white LK Bennett dress, told both girls they were “so courageous” and “strong”.
Speaking after the meeting, Miss Jones said: “I feel so thankful for what he said, especially because he lost his mum at a similar age.
“It meant a lot to me. He said I was really brave and strong and that I should be proud of myself. He was really nice and so was Kate.”
Over the past year, the Duke and Duchess have focused much of their public work on promoting the emotional and psychological well-being of children, teenagers and adults.
Touring the building, they met some of the young people who use the facilities spread across the mill, which was built in 1911.
William, an avid Aston Villa fan and president of the Football Association, joined Jermaine Hylton, 17, and Youthscape worker Matt Allen in a game of Fifa on a computer.
Playing his favourite team against Luton Town, who recently beat Villa,William scored a goal during the match, but one of the boys told him it was offside.
William jokingly said after his celebration: “What? Are you kidding me?!”
Talking to other young people about their Youthscape experiences, Katerevealed to Charlie Loveard, 16, and Denice Matongo, 23, who were playing Uno, that she used to play it with her siblings and it is her favourite game.
After asking about the charity and whether she would recommend it to anyone, the Duchess told Laura Murphy how much she enjoyed reading the Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins.
The 20-year-oldsaid: “She said it was really, really good.”
Moving on the one of the kitchen areas, where centre users are taught cooking skills as part of their development, Kate and Will happily tucked in to chocolate rice crispie cakes, made specially for their visit.


The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have praised the courage of girls who have recovered from mental health difficulties and self-harming.


The types of cookies we, our ad network and technology partners use are listed below:
Revenue Science ► A tool used by some of our advertisers to target adverts to you based on pages you have visited in the past. To opt out of this type of targeting you can visit the 'Your Online Choices' website by clicking here.
Google Ads ► Our sites contain advertising from Google; these use cookies to ensure you get adverts relevant to you. You can tailor the type of ads you receive by visiting here or to opt out of this type of targeting you can visit the 'Your Online Choices' website by clicking here.
Digital Analytics ► This is used to help us identify unique visitors to our websites. This data is anonymous and we cannot use this to uniquely identify individuals and their usage of the sites.
Dart for Publishers ► This comes from our ad serving technology and is used to track how many times you have seen a particular ad on our sites, so that you don't just see one advert but an even spread. This information is not used by us for any other type of audience recording or monitoring.
ComScore ► ComScore monitor and externally verify our site traffic data for use within the advertising industry. Any data collected is anonymous statistical data and cannot be traced back to an individual.
Local Targeting ► Our Classified websites (Photos, Motors, Jobs and Property Today) use cookies to ensure you get the correct local newspaper branding and content when you visit them. These cookies store no personally identifiable information.
Grapeshot ► We use Grapeshot as a contextual targeting technology, allowing us to create custom groups of stories outside out of our usual site navigation. Grapeshot stores the categories of story you have been exposed to. Their privacy policy and opt out option can be accessed here.
Subscriptions Online ► Our partner for Newspaper subscriptions online stores data from the forms you complete in these to increase the usability of the site and enhance user experience.
Add This ► Add This provides the social networking widget found in many of our pages. This widget gives you the tools to bookmark our websites, blog, share, tweet and email our content to a friend.

QUIZ: How well do you know your retro games?


Can you get 10/10 in our retro games quiz?


The important role of volunteers in our community will be among those recognised in this year’s Pride in Bedfordshire awards.
Among the supporters this year is housing association bpha, who are sponsoring the Volunteer of the Year award.
A spokeswoman for bpha said: “bpha is a housing association committed to providing its customers with high quality, value for money services whilst continuing to develop sustainable and affordable housing. Our goal is to create places where everyone feels proud to live. We are a leading provider and developer of affordable homes – for rent, sheltered, residential care and shared ownership.
“bpha is about much more than just housing though. We are passionate about creating and maintaining thriving communities where people want to live. We work together with communities to improve opportunities, independence and quality of life for residents.
“Volunteers are an integral part of every community. With our own community volunteers dedicating over 2,500 hours each year to supporting local initiatives, we see first-hand the great work that they do. To mark bpha’s 25th anniversary in June 2015, bpha pledged to give staff one working day each year to support projects in the communities we serve. In just one year, bpha staff volunteered over 2,000 hours of their time.
“Volunteers do not get paid a penny for what they do, so it is important that their efforts are recognised and celebrated. For this reason, bpha is delighted to be sponsoring the Volunteer of the Year accolade at this year’s Pride in Bedford Awards.”
If you would like to find out more about how to become a bpha volunteer, please get in touch by calling 0330 100 0272 and ask for the community development team.
Our Pride in Bedfordshire 2016 awards are launched this year in association with the Harpur Trust and Costa, supported by Quantum Print.
The Pride in Bedfordshire awards will be presented at Bedford Corn Exchange on Thursday, November 3, with guest Jon Moses, a finalist in ITV’s Superstar.
Full details of how to nominate someone for an award is at http://bedsprideawards.weebly.com
>> Details of categories appear on our website.


The important role of volunteers in our community will be among those recognised in this year’s Pride in Bedfordshire awards.


Fertility experts are calling for tougher regulations around IVF treatment because the solutions used to grow embryos can influence the birthweight and health of babies.
They want firms a clear list of ingredients for the solutions like those used to regulate food such as peanut butter.
The demand follows the results of a trial that shows that the composition of these laboratory cultures influence the health of the resulting embryos and babies.
The trial found that they affected the numbers of viable embryos created, the rates of successful implantation in the womb, the pregnancy rates and the babies’ birthweights.
The findings were published in the journal Human Reproduction, together with a second paper that reviews what is currently known about embryo culture media.
The second paper concludes: “There is a strong case for demanding full transparency concerning the compositions of and scientific rationale behind the composition of embryo culture media”.
The journal’s editor-in-chief, Professor Hans Evers, called for “urgent action” by industry and regulators in the wake of the findings, saying that, just as with foods such as peanut butter, the exact composition of the culture media should be listed.
He said: “Floating an embryo for only a few days in a culture medium affects the birthweight of IVF children nine months later.
“Small differences in birthweight may reflect more subtle disturbances that only will manifest themselves later in life.
“As of today, not knowing the exact composition of their IVF culture media is no longer an option for clinical embryologists.”
Dr John Dumoulin, the IVF laboratory director at Maastricht University Medical Centre in The Netherlands, and his colleagues recruited 836 couples who were scheduled for IVF or ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) treatment at one of 10 IVF centres.
Dr Dumoulin said: “For the first time, by means of a large randomised controlled trial, we have shown that human embryos that are cultured in vivo are sensitive to their environment and that something is programmed into these embryos during those few days before transfer to the womb that still has an effect nine months later.
“This being the case, we must be aware that David Barker hypothesised that the environment in early life, from foetus to the first two years of life, can have a significant effect on long-term health.
“This means that we should be careful and we should no longer blindly accept new culture media, or other alterations in laboratory or clinical procedures, without first rigorously studying effectiveness and safety.”
In the second paper, a working group of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, led by Professor Arne Sunde, of the University Hospital in Trondheim, Norway, made the same recommendations.
Their research showed that culture media vary widely, their composition is usually unknown by the embryologists, doctors and patients, and figures about the influence of the media on outcomes are conflicting.
Prof Sunde said: “The key issue is that we must know the composition of the culture media we use, since it seems to induce differences in the make-up of the children born.
“We have no information about long-term consequences of this, but we cannot rule out that the composition of the culture media may affect the health of children as they grow up and become adults.”
At present, there is no uniform regulation of embryo culture media. In Europe, the majority of media approved for use carry the CE mark, but other non-CE media can still be used.
Prof Sunde added: “It is not obligatory to declare changes and the information we might get is far from sufficient.
“We want to know in detail what changes have been made and the scientific basis for the changes, including animal and human clinical data backing the change.”


Fertility experts are calling for tougher regulations around IVF treatment because the solutions used to grow embryos can influence the birthweight and health of babies.