We exclusively report that Quinton Green, who is regularly lauded by local dignitaries for his anti-violence work, has been in prison on at least two occasions for violence against women.

Northampton Saints ready for rugby's final Friday Night Lights of the season and a farewell to George Furbank

I've been mulling over whether to start off by talking about how Friday night's semi final is George Furbank's last game at the Gardens. I'm not usually superstitious, but I made a big ol' fuss about Furbs before the European Cup Final in Cardiff and things didn't quite go to plan. But there's no doubt in the players and coaches' minds that their game is going to be positively influenced by their departing Captain's last run-out at the Cinch FG, as Furbank, Dowson, Hutch, Coles and Dowson discussed at Monday's presser.

I love a foxglove. But I've never bought one. There are currently about 40 in flower in my urban patch and I've given away about 20 more. They've just self seeded EVERYWHERE. At first I though I'd dig them up in early spring, and they would just fill a few gaps, but with the hot weather they've taken over a little, and I'm already planning what to do to stop them taking over next year.

There was robust debate over a glass of pop following press night of Royal & Derngate's latest Made in Northampton play, on whether you had to have had kids to truly 'get' it. Two of my fellow audience members, without offspring, of course recognised the scenarios portrayed about a group of Bristol parents forced together every weekend by the birthday parties of their various pre-school and primary-age children.

My reference point for 2.22 a Ghost Story, currently running at Northampton's Royal and Derngate, came purely from Lily Allen's title track on her brilliantly brutal album West End Girl. James Bye, Shvorne Marks, Natalie Casey and Grant Kilburn are Sam, Jenny, Lauren and Ben in 2.22 A ghost storyAll photos copyright: Helen Murray www.helenmurrayphotos.com I'd read about how she'd been cast in the original London version - much to her duplicitous actor partner's annoyance - and had gone on to win awards; perhaps acting as frazzled and frightened new mum Jenny wasn't too much of a stretch.

Council leaders have found themselves hamstrung by social care costs, but party sources hope they will have the lowest average tax rises of any party

A small antidote to a rainy Sunday afternoon in the run up to Christmas was spent in the warm and cosy, phone-free stalls of the Royal Theatre, surrounded by pre-school and primary children. Faye Lord is Mog - all photos by Manuel Harlan OK, so add in a repetitively screechy cat noise, and some singing, and this might not sound so relaxing, especially if you've done your duty in bringing up small children (mine are now all 17 years and over).

Panto has come a long way since I started reviewing back in the 1990s. No more shonky sets and wonky donkeys, it's all rather stylish on stage at the Royal and Derngate this Christmas. Just remember to take your coat if you're in the stalls...more of that later on. Georgia Brierley-Smith as Tink - all photography by Pamela Raith The old-style curtain has gone and an apparently hi-tech 'scrim', a sort of translucent screen that you can project effects onto, makes for a stunning flying-through-the-stars effect for Peter and Not-Wendy.

BBC director-general Tim Davie and chair Samir Shah answer questions from the Culture, Media and Sport Committee after multiple scandals, including allegations against Gregg Wallace and a livestream o...

Special report: Uniserve was paid £1.4bn for Covid contracts that included supply of £178.5m in never-used equipment

Northampton's St Andrew's Healthcare is at risk of closure, as it announces beloved Workbridge will close

We're very lucky here in Northampton - with autumn nearly upon us there's so much good stuff going on we shouldn't just settle in on the sofa every night. Case in point - go and see some live theatre. A brand new production of Hugh Whitemore’s acclaimed play Breaking the Code, opens at Northampton’s Royal & Derngate has opened, running from Thursday 11 to Saturday 27 September, before touring.