Fans have blasted the Van Morrison concert at Wrest Park as a ‘disgrace’ after they waited three hours to leave the venue.

Ticketholders also complained of hour-long queues for a cup of coffee, bars running dry and food running out and gridlock in the car park at the Silsoe venue.

It took three hours for some drivers to get out of the car park after the 9,350-capacity gig ended at 10pm.

Some who arrived with picnic hampers were forced to eat outside the gates after security stopped people taking food or drink into the venue.

Richard Franklin, who fired off a complaint to the organsers said: “It was the worst event I have ever attend and feel cheated. The whole evening was a rip off, and certainly in no way represented value for the cost of the tickets. “That’s not withstanding the attitude of the main act, which I found rude.

“I am aware that Van Morrison has a reputation for being arrogant and aloof, but not even saying hello, goodbye or even thank you was very disrespectful.

“I bought 5 tickets, at a cost of £65 each and have registered a complaint for a full refund.

“Having worked all day, I arrived at the venue expecting to be able to purchase some food.

“No such luck. The queues were horrendous. Having queued for half and hour, missing mos.

He added: “I read that this decision was made, under advice from the police.

“Under the Freedom of Information Act, I would like to see evidence of this Personally I think it was just a ploy to rip off event goers, with exorbitant food and drink prices.

“A hot dog starting at £6, a portion of chips £4, burger concessions running out of fries, queues for food, merging with queues for toilets.

“Banning people from even taking in water is just unacceptable.

“Having returned to seat in time to catch the appearance of Van Morrison, on the screens, as he was too far away to actually see him or in fact anything other than a bank of lights.

“I was appalled to find I could not hear anything.

“I thought I had gone deaf. Then I realised that there was no speakers further back, and only around the stage area.

“The video and sound were so far out of sync, that we would hear a complete line in a song, and silence.

“THEN we would see the mouth move on the video. At one point a sax was being played, stopped and then Van Morrison put the Saxophone to his lips and played on the video screen.

“The venue was just completely wrong for an event such as this. The stage was at the end of the tunnel of trees. The crowd were funnelled into this area, with no room to spread out to the sides, which meant people went further and further back.

“Having driven to the event, I was not personally exposed to the rip off that was the bar.

“However my guests were. Two cans of beer and two tonic waters £16.

“Having mentioned that I drove to the venue I was charged £5 to park in a field. I was in the middle, neither close to the entrance/exit or furthest away. At the end of the event, we left at 9.55pm. We returned to the car park to find that temporary lighting had been provided, but with only a few units, 75% of the car park was pitch black.

“Finding footing was difficult enough, but nothing compared to the free for all, in trying to exit the car park. There were young lads, trying to direct traffic, who quite frankly had no idea what they were doing. There was no one of authority visible, managing the situation. It took me over an hour just to leave the car park, two of my guests who were parked further back took over and hour and a half to get out.

“The whole event was a disgrace, and I feel cheated out of the money that I paid.”

SimoneC said on Twitter: “Wrest Park... a terrible venue for a concert. Van Morrison (yeah, I’m that cool) tonight and the venue sold out of wine, pretty much all food, coffee and now one of the car parking stewards has offered to ‘spark out’ a v angry man in the car park (we’ve moved for 30 mins).”

An English Heritage spokesman said: “This concert was an independent event organised by GCE Live who were responsible for all aspects of it, including the traffic management plan which was in place for the evening.”

In a statement GCE Live said: “We would like to apologise to those who had difficulty oin leaving the Wrest Park site on Friday after the Van Morrison concert.

“Despite the best efforts and hard work of the specialist traffic management company contracted to safely get patrons off the site, a bottleneck in the village of Silsoe and the sheer number of vehicles created unnecessary delays.

“We thank those who waited patiently as we worked to resolve the problems on the night.

“We are currently investigating why this happened and how we can guarantee this doesn’t happen again at future events.”

Customers had been warned in advance that food and drink would not be allowed on site, a spokesman added.

The Stoke Hammond and Western Linslade bypass (A4146) will be closed to all traffic for the next two weekends due to surfacing work being rescheduled.

Buckinghamshire County Council has announced today (Monday) that the schedule needed revising because unforeseen ground conditions required some additional work.

The closure this weekend, from 7pm on Friday, September 7, to 6am on Monday, September 10, will allow roundabout resurfacing to be completed.

The following weekend, from 7pm on Friday, September 14, to 6am on Monday, September 17, the bypass will close to allow plant and equipment to be transferred from northbound to southbound carriageway.

From Monday, September 17, to Sunday, October 7, the southbound (towards Wing) carriageway will close completely for teams to remove and replace surface material. The northbound (towards Milton Keynes) carriageway will reopen.

Provisionally, there will be a northbound and southbound closure for one night on Friday, September 28, to paint road markings at the Soulbury and Chelmscote roundabouts.

Mark Shaw, Buckinghamshire County Council Deputy Leader and Transport Cabinet Member, said: “I’m pleased our teams are making good progress with the resurfacing scheme.

“Inevitably, with a project of such magnitude, rescheduling is a possibility to make the best use of time and resources, and I’m very grateful to those who use the bypass for their patience and understanding.”

Busy Leighton-Linslade commuters can now enjoy an increased Dash Direct bus service during peak periods, making it easier to catch fast trains to London Euston and Milton Keynes.

Launched back in April 2010, the D1, Dash Direct, has served residents of the Southern Leighton Buzzard Development and surrounding areas, providing “key connections” to the High Street and railway station.

However, due to an increasing demand at Leighton Buzzard Station for journeys to London and Milton Keynes, Arriva and the rest of the Steering Group have launched a new timetable - which came info force today with a second bus to provide increased frequency during the key commuter periods.

To mark this improved timetable, local councillors, Mayor Clive Palmer, and Town Crier Peter Hailes joined members of the Steering Group at the White House for refreshments this morning, followed by a celebratory photo at the Market Cross.

Ian Foll, Operations Director at Arnold White Estates, said: “This is fabulous news for the town and will help to ensure that all fast trains from the station will be met by a high frequency, reliable bus service.

“Despite our obligation to originally deliver the service for five years, I and the Steering Group members are thrilled to continue promoting sustainable transport for Leighton-Linslade especially at time when services face cuts elsewhere.”

Arriva and the rest of the Steering Group considered how best to serve all fast commuter trains, whilst ensuring “the needs of all other passengers” will be met and that the service remains commercially viable.

The service will continue to operate from 6am until 8.30pm, Monday to Saturday, with further proposals to extend the service into Roman Gate (with extra stops) and along Grovebury Road from January 2019.

A Leighton Buzzard father and son are urging residents to look after the environment, after they were left shocked by the amount of litter they found at Astral Lake Park.

Paul Scott, 51, and his son, Callum, 11, visited the lake on Sunday, August 25, and came home with two bin bags full of litter just weeks after the park opened to the public.

The pair were so appalled by what they found that they made a video to share on social media, calling on locals to look after the green space.

Paul said: “My son has been saving money for a laptop, so we constructed a job list and the first task was litter picking around the lake. We found plastic bottles, cigarette packets, torn t-shirts, and more.

“The contractors had gone in to cut the grass - there were tons of shredded beer cans.

“Luckily, we were wearing protective gloves but children and pet dogs could step on it. And what about the sheep [which arrived on Sunday]?”

Paul claimed he was also disappointed that the landowners, Astral Lake Limited, have not put any bins or dog waste bins around the lake, with the only two dog bins being at opposite gated entrances to the site.

An Astral Lake Ltd spokesman, said: “We are very grateful to the local resident and his son who carried out the litter pick ; it is a great example of local residents proactively supporting their local environment.

“Astral Lake Ltd have no immediate plans to install dog waste bins within the park itself. The best place for dog bins is at the point of entry/exit where the waste collection can be easily managed.

“There are a total of nine entrances into the park; eight of these entrances are off publicly owned land or public highway.

“Both Central Bedfordshire Council and Leighton Linslade Town Council receive community charge from all the new homes built on Sandhills, part of which should be used to finance the upkeep and maintenance of public open spaces, but this will not be used for Astral Lake Park despite the park being used as public open space.

“It is in their gift to install dog waste and refuse bins at the entrances to the park from the public highway. Helpfully, I have been given the name of the officer at Central Bedfordshire that I should speak to and seek a request for bins to be installed and maintained.

“The contractors have worked tirelessly throughout a very hot summer to get the park in a state that it was ready to open to the public. Prior to opening the site, the contractors undertook litter picks on August 13 and 17. The contractors will be asked to give the site a thorough litter pick once all the outstanding works have been completed this week.”

A Central Bedfordshire Council spokeswoman, said: “Whilst CBC weren’t involved in either the planning or installation of any general litter or dog waste bins at Astral Park in Leighton Buzzard, we are now reviewing the current situation.”

The closure and sale of Leighton Buzzard Police Station will have two major benefits, according to Bedfordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC).

The community police hub has moved closer to the town centre, Kathryn Holloway told a public meeting on Thursday.

And the old building will be used to provide a social care facility as part of the redevelopment of the town.

“I did not close your police station,” the PCC said in her opening remarks at the Mentmore Road Pavilion, which led to some heckling from residents, with one saying: “You shut the police station.”

“No, I didn’t,” she continued. “I came in on May 15, 2016 and that was already shut as an enquiries office and I would like to explain why.

“There were two individuals a day, I discovered when I came into this role, that used the enquiries office, the front office in your old police station.”

There was another interruption with a resident saying: “Rubbish. I live across the road. Rubbish.”

The PCC said: “The average was two a day. If I had continued, or reopened that station, with that level of traffic coming through, I promise you this... You would not have the sergeant to my left, you would not have the four individuals behind you, and you would not have the largest community team this town has ever had.

“There are individuals who would like to mislead you, but that is the truth.”

Bedfordshire Police Deputy Chief Constable Garry Forsyth said: “Some people think the PCC is the top cop, in charge of policing across Bedfordshire, and that actually isn’t the case.

“The commissioner has an incredibly  important role to set the budget and hold the police officers accountable for their performance against the priorities she lays out in her police and crime panel.

“She can hire and fire the Chief Constable. But the PCC cannot interfere in the operational deployment of police officers.

“That is a matter which is operationally independent and solely for the Chief Constable.

“That’s exactly how it operates here and in every other police force in the country,” he added.

“For those of you directing anger at someone for police patrols being withdrawn from a certain location, please direct it at me.

“I am the person responsible for making those decisions and we do it based on methodology. I want to provide the very best policing service I can to everyone across Bedfordshire,” he told the meeting.

“What I would ask you to understand is since 2010 our budget has reduced by £37.4m. Between now and 2022, I have to find savings from our organisation of between roughly £11.5m and £12.5m.

“In terms of closing police stations, then it’s a very simple and stark choice for me.

“Do you want empty buildings with no cops in or do you want cops?” he asked.

“Now that means we have to make difficult choices about some locations.

“And that means some places are closed down, but what we will never do and have never done is retreat from a locality.

“The PCC is absolutely accurate in what she says the community policing team now is bigger than it has ever been in this locality.

“We are growing our community policing capability when a lot of other forces are getting rid of theirs,” he said.

“We want as many police officers as we can get on the front line serving the public, dealing with the things you want to tell us about.”

Local resident Jeanne Taylor said: “I understood when the police station was going, and if it’s combined with the fire service, there would be some sort of counter facility there.

“This would be where people could go in just to pass information, or ask questions, or voice concerns.

“And I wondered if volunteers from the community could go in and man the desk if it’s not possible for police officers to do it,” she added.

“I feel policing should have more information gathering facilities on the ground.”

The Deputy Chief Constable replied: “We want as much information as you can give us because you never know that what seems inconsequential now could be critical at a later date. Intelligence and information is our life blood. I would want to have a capability on a front counter in as many places as I could because I recognise not everyone has access to a mobile phone or access to social media. If there is an opportunity for us to staff a location with volunteers we would want to do that, but if it’s just open on an ad-hoc basis it’s not worth having.”

Asked about the valuation of the police station at less than £1m, the PCC said the sale of any police buildings is always subject to advice given by an expert in commercial real estate sales.

“The valuation that was placed on that building is precisely what we got for it,” she explained. “We got exactly the valuation that a specialist commercial agent who was an expert in their field placed on it.

“It’s being sold to Central Bedfordshire Council. It’s being sold to them as part of their redevelopment plan for Leighton Buzzard. You do not have adequate care provision for older people. The old building, beautiful as it was with its glorious lamp hanging outside, I am sure you will have to acknowledge, was not in the centre of town. By contrast a building you are already pay for is serving two purposes for you, and the police are there just off that (central) area.

“The fact is the officers do exist, they are based there, in a much more logical place for the demand and the way that the town has changed, and you’re going to get better social care in the other location.”

Speaking after the meeting Mrs Hollway added: “It’s incredibly important to set out what the actual facts are on crime in Leighton Buzzard and also to hear from residents themselves.

“Of those attending a packed meeting only six had experienced the crimes that dominate calls to the 999 Response officers of Bedfordshire Police - robbery, assault, theft or burglary.

“That doesn’t mean other experiences don’t count of course. We heard residents complaining of a group of youths on bicycles on the High Street and a fear factor around Anti-Social Behaviour more generally which is why we have a Community Hub Team in Leighton Buzzard who work every day to address those problems.”

A former Sandy teacher who launched racist rant against Jews on Facebook has been banned from the country’s classrooms indefinitely.

Harpreet Singh, 49, who was head of maths at Sandye Place Academy at Sandy from September 2016 to June 2017 wrote : “Every sane human is anti semitic. Because you bastards have made Zionism synonymous with the mistreatment of Palestinians. Billions are anti semitic and proud of it. Israel should be wiped off the planet. Dogs! The chosen race?!?!?!! What an insult to God!”

The school suspended him on June 7, 2017 after concerns over the comments were raised by colleagues.

Now a Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) disciplinary panel has found him guilty of conduct which would bring the teaching profession into disrepute.

In addition to the finding of “making offensive/and or racist comments” on Facebook, the panel which heard the case in Coventry also found that Mr Singh had:

>inappropriately facilitated use of his school laptop by someone else who had used it to view sexual material;

>used the computer while teaching to browse for alcohol and to view properties and cars; and in respect of his Facebook rant had he demonstrated a lack of tolerance and respect for the rights and/or beliefs of others.

Striking him off indefinitely on behalf of Education Secretary, Damian Hinds, but leaving the way open for him to seek to have the ban lifted after three years, TRA Chief Executive, Alan Meyrick, said : “I have concluded that a prohibition order is proportionate and in the public interest.”

The panel said : “The panel considered the comments posted on Facebook by Mr Singh, and found that this behaviour demonstrated intolerance and/or hatred on the grounds of race/religion, as the comments demonstrated offensive language and referred to the Jewish race and religion directly.”

The findings say that Mr Singh had shown “insight to an extent” and had told the panel he was sorry for his comments and understood they were offensive and racist.

However, the findings say that if he “was riled” in the future the panel were not convinced he would “have the capacity to act appropriately.” In those circumstances they recommended that he should be banned.

As he imposed the ban, Mr Meyrick, who referred to the “offensive and racist nature of the comments made,” stressed that before Mr Singh would be allowed to teach again he would have to satisfy another panel that he was fit to return to the classroom.

He said: “In my judgement the lack of complete and full insight means that there is some risk of the repetition of this behaviour and this risks a repeat of this behaviour. I have therefore given this element considerable weight in reaching my decision.”

It is open to Mr Singh, to challenge the findings and the ban in the High Court.

Families in Bedfordshire are being urged to talk during Organ Donation Week as new figures show 23 people from the county have died waiting for a transplant in the last five years.

NHS Blood and Transplant wants people to tell their families that they want to save lives through organ donation. Last year, 54 people in the county had their lives saved by a transplant.

During Organ Donation Week (September 3 to 9), the NHS is urging families to talk about donation with the message – ‘Words Save Lives’. Councils and organisations around the country are lighting buildings pink, which is the colour of the donor card, in support of the organ donation campaign.

Anthony Clarkson, Interim Director of Organ Donation and Transplantation for NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “It’s tragic that so many people from Bedfordshire have died waiting for a transplant – what is shocking is that many of those lives could have been saved, had more families agreed to donate organs. We need more families in Bedfordshire to say yes to organ donation, so that more lives can be saved.”

To register visit: www.organdonation.nhs.uk.

Fed up tradesmen are calling out the rising tide of van break-ins and tool thefts in Leighton Buzzard and the surrounding area.

There have been dozens of reported van break-ins since January, and now a Facebook group ‘Leighton Buzzard against van thieves’ has been set up to raise awareness about the problem.

One of the tradesmen affected told the LBO there are a large number of vans being broken into by a gang stealing tools in Leighton and Dunstable.

There were three reports of van break-ins in the space of an hour last week in Ashburnham Crescent, Linslade.

“I was always taught that when you take someone’s tools, you take away their ability to earn a living,” said the man. “It’s one of the worst things you can do.

“A lot of vans have been broken into, the thieves put a grip on the driver’s door and after turning it, it opens all of the other locks.”

The man claims that car manufacturers aren’t interested in changing the security element of the vehicles, with replacement locks costing around £80.

He added: “My van was broken into around four months ago, they stole £1,500 worth of tools. I notified the police, who said they needed to know the serial numbers of the tools.

“My friend’s tools have also been stolen and the insurance company wouldn’t pay without receipts, which is hard for older tools.”

Many stolen tools recovered by police are later auctioned off online unless the original owner is traced.

The man added: “I can understand the police can’t afford to pay someone full-time to try and reunite tools with their owner, but to auction them just seems wrong.”

Speaking on the subject at Thursday’s policing meeting, Beds Police and Crime Commissioner Kathryn Holloway described it as “a traditional problem in the town” given the quick getaway offered by the A5.

The PCC asked the audience to consider the deterrent factor of notices which are widely used stating that “no valuables or equipment are contained in this vehicle overnight” and confirmed that, as the owner of a small business herself in the past, she would not have left the equipment on which her livelihood depended anywhere in an unattended car or van.

She said “This is not, of course, passing the buck for such thefts to victims and this is why there has been such a push to target vehicle thefts by the Community Hub Team.”

Thames Valley Police are investigating after an ice cream trailer was stolen from Edlesborough on Friday, August 31.

The trailer was stolen from Sparrow Hill Farm Industrial Estate between 6.30pm and 9.25pm on Friday, it is described as cream in colour with pictures of cows on the side and front.

Owner of the ice cream trailer, Tony Meola, from Dunstable, is appealing for the public’s help.

He said: “The trailer was parked in Sparrow Hill Farm Industrial Estate, I popped to Dunstable at about 6.45pm and when I got back it was gone. It was hooked onto my van and it was all ready to go for the next day, it was full of ice cream.

“They have got it off my van, attached it to their car and drove off.

“The car was a KIA and we have CCTV images of the car driving off with it.”

Officers are appealing for anybody who may have witnessed the theft to call 101, quoting reference number 43180267073.

An alternative Christian charity is vacating its premises in Leighton Buzzard as the investigation into its finances continues.

‘Into The Light Ministries’ based on Grovebury Road is part of the Elim Pentecostal Church denomination. Its purpose is to spread Christian faith and provide humanitarian aid.

After concerns were raised over its finances, the Charity Commission began an investigation in October 2017.

Now, Dunstable Foodbank has reported that the charity is vacating its warehouse in Grovebury Road – which the foodbank had been allowed to use over the past six years.

The LBO has attempted to contact Into The Light trustees Debbie and Colin Kaye on numerous occasions, without success.

The Charity Commission stated: “After receiving information from a third party that questioned the adequacy of the charity’s financial controls, the Commission obtained bank account records and reviewed accounts previously filed.

“This revealed significant concerns regarding the charity’s accounts, potential conflicts of interest, non-primary purpose trading and public benefit, indicating a possible risk to charitable property.

“The accounts submitted for the financial year ending 31 August 2016 were also not compliant with the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) which sets out how charities must prepare their accounts.

“As a result, we took regulatory action under section 76 of the Charities Act to safeguard the charity’s property and funds, and have opened a statutory inquiry.”

The inquiry will consider:

> Whether adequate control systems were in place.

> Trustees’ management of charity’s resources.

> Management of any conflicts of interests.

> Valid authorisation for any payments/benefits to trustees and connected parties.

> To what extent the charity operated for the public benefit and whether there has been mismanagement.

A teenager who forced the closure of dozens of schools in Bedfordshire has admitted making bomb threats to thousands of schools and a United Airlines flight travelling from the UK to San Francisco last month.

Yesterday at Luton Magistrates Court, George Duke-Cohan, 19, from Hertfordshire pleaded guilty to three counts of making hoax bomb threats following an investigation by the National Crime Agency.

Duke-Cohan sent the bomb threats that resulted in over 400 schools in the UK being evacuated in March 2018 for which he was arrested just days later.

In April whilst under investigation, he sent a mass email to schools in the UK and the US claiming that pipe bombs had been planted on the premises.

On 9 August, the hacker group known as ‘Apophis Squad’ claimed on their Twitter page that flight UAL 949 had been grounded due to their actions.

National Crime Agency investigators working with the FBI identified that whilst on pre-charge bail for the threats to schools, Duke-Cohan made bomb threats to the US-bound flight via phone calls to San Francisco Airport and their Bureau police.

In a recording of one of the phone calls which was made while the plane was in the air, he takes on the persona of a worried father and claims his daughter contacted him from the flight to say it had been hijacked by gunmen, one of whom had a bomb.

On arrival in San Francisco the plane was the subject of a significant security operation in a quarantined area of the airport. All 295 passengers had to remain on board causing disruption to onward journeys and financial loss to the airline.

In an operation supported by Hertfordshire Police, Duke-Cohan was arrested by NCA officers for the third time at his home in Watford on Friday 31 August.

Officers recovered multiple electronic devices belonging to him, the use of which was in contravention to the pre-charge bail conditions imposed on him.

He has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Luton Crown Court on 21 September.

NCA Senior Investigating Officer Marc Horsfall said: “George Duke-Cohan made a series of bomb threats that caused serious worry and inconvenience to thousands of people, not least an international airline.

“He carried out these threats hidden behind a computer screen for his own enjoyment, with no consideration for the effect he was having on others.

“Despite being arrested and having conditions imposed restricting his use of technology, he persistently broke those conditions to continue his wave of violent threats.

“Law enforcement take such offences extremely seriously.

“This investigation proves that operating online does not offer offenders anonymity. We will identify you and you will be brought before the courts.”

The Rotary Club of Leighton-Linslade is delighted to announce that ‘Yes We Can’ disability archery will be continuing for another two years, as the sport has hit the target for its players!

A grant has been awarded by the Whitbread Plc. Chairman’s Fund from the Bedfordshire & Luton Community Foundation to support the provision of Archery for the next 24 months within the ‘Yes We Can’ Disability Sports program.

Since its debut in October 2017, archery has proved to be extremely popular with everyone enjoying the “fantastic coaching” provided by Jo and Sue at the Silver Arrows Archery Club, Edlesborough.

Coach Sue Matthews of Silver Arrows, said: “It is really gratifying to see these individuals growing in confidence, working together and supporting each other.

“It’s a good bonding experience and great fun. We’re back in October to start our new, 30 week season.”

Contact: tahomasandra@icloud.com.

Bedfordshire Police has led a series of drugs warrants across the county and in London today (Wednesday).

Searches and other enquiries have been carried out at 14 properties in Leighton Buzzard, Eggington, Dunstable, Luton, Gamlingay and London.

A total of seven people – one man aged 32, two men aged 29, one man aged 23, two men aged 21 and a boy aged 14 – have been arrested on suspicion of drug offences.

So far officers have recovered a quantity of suspected drugs and drugs paraphernalia, as well as other items for examination. More than 50 police officers and staff have been involved in the warrants and enquiries are continuing.

This follows another series of warrants in Luton and Dunstable last week, after which six people were charged with drug offences.

Today’s operation was run by Bedfordshire Police’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), with support from the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU) and the National Crime Agency.

Detective Inspector Justin Dipper, from Bedfordshire’s SOCU, said: “Illegal drugs will not be tolerated in Bedfordshire and we will always take a strong stance to disrupt those suspected of being involved in such crime.

“Drugs underpin a wide range of criminality, which is why it is so important we take action to address their supply.

“Communities across Bedfordshire should be reassured by today’s police action and have confidence that the force will work proactively to tackle the problem.”

The Rotary Club of Leighton-Linslade is hoping to make the 2019 May Fayre “bigger and better” than ever before, as the town’s landmark event reaches its 30th anniversary.

The success of this year’s fayre - which saw record crowds, has put the club in good spirits, as it has already met to discuss finances and bookings.

£11,000 has been committed towards the big day, with the club even putting in applications to see if it can get either the Red Arrows or a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, hoping the occasion will be one to cherish forever.

Rotarian, Richard Johnson OBE, said: “In essence what we’d like to do to celebrate is have entertainment - better entertainment. It sounds a bit derogatory to past performances, but it’s not meant to be!

“We’re trying to take a step up and professional acts are quite expensive these days; we want the right sort of pazzazz about the whole thing.”

In a bid to go the extra mile, the club has dedicated £5,000 from its £11,000 to entertainment, and Richard, on behalf of the club, wrote a letter to Leighton-Linslade Town Council asking it to match the five grand figure.

The letter read: “It is worth remembering that the May Fayre grew out of adversity and became one of the town’s flagship events...I would urge the Town Council to support our efforts.”

However, in a report by the Cultural and Economic Services Committee, the town council recommended an endorsement of only £1,000 for the May Fayre celebrations (to be confirmed at a meeting on Monday, September 3).

Richard told the LBO before the meeting: “If the recommendation goes through then we will be pleased to receive the support.”

However, the outcome was better than expected.

Richard told the LBO: “The Town Council upped the figure to £2,500! We are really pleased that the Town Council recognised the very special place that May Fayre holds in the community.

“We will do our very best to make it a special 30th anniversary celebration.”

In 1989 the fayre was originally held to raise funds for All Saints Church, after it was damaged by fire in the 1980s.

The organisers didn’t wish to take it on every single year, so asked if anyone would. The Rotary Club accepted and has run it ever since.

A baker from Leighton Buzzard is organising a cake and coffee morning to raise money for Reclaim Life.

Melissa Bartlett, from the Planets Estate, wants to raise money for the charity to thank them for the support they gave her when she had post natal depression after the birth of her one-year-old daughter.

The 29-year-old is holding the charity cake and coffee fundraising event on Saturday, September 15, from 10am till 2pm, at the Conservative Club in Leighton Buzzard, she wants to raise awareness of the work they do.

Reclaim Life offers sessions to help people overcome the stresses of every day life, the therapy given to clients offers practical help in overcoming issues to enable them to move on with their lives.

Melissa said: “I struggled towards the end of my pregnancy and developed post natal depression after my daughter was born.

“I was given a leaflet about Reclaim Life from one of the nurses at my doctors, I looked into it and referred myself to them.

“I was put in touch with one of the volunteer mentors and they were fantastic, they really helped me get to where I am now.

“When I found out they are volunteers and the charity runs off donations I wanted to do something to help.

“This is my way of saying thank you to them for the support they gave me.

“As well as raising money for them I hope to raise awareness of the help and support they offer people.”

Melissa, who has been baking cakes for friends and family for five years, decided to set up her own business when she realised she wouldn’t be able to leave her daughter.

She said: “I set up Minnie’s Cakes and Creations when I knew I would not be able to leave her and return to work.

“While on maternity leave I started studying a diploma in cake business online and attended classes on decorating.

“I love my work and it has been an amazing start, in August I had 15 cake orders, usually when you start a business you expect it take about 12-18 months to really get going, but it has been a great start and I am really enjoying it.”

Reclaim Life is based in Salisbury House, Leighton Buzzard, and people can contact the charity for therapy sessions.

Melissa added: “I really hope people can come down and support this event and help raise money for this amazing service.”

For more information about the charity visit www.reclaimlife.net.

A woman has been taken to hospital with serious injuries after a collision on the A5 at Hockliffe.

A Beds Police spokesman said: “We were called at around 6.10am today (Friday) following a road traffic collision on Watling Street, Hockliffe.

“Emergency services attended and one woman has been taken to hospital with serious injuries. The A5 is currently closed in both directions at the Hockliffe Road junction.”

The man who died in a collision in Linslade on Friday (August 31) has been named.

Kevin Marsh, 72, from Linslade, was struck by a car in Leighton Road at around 10.30pm. He was taken to hospital where he sadly died.

Sergeant Stephen Andrews, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Hertfordshire Roads Policing Unit, said: “This is a tragic incident and our thoughts are with Mr Marsh’s family and friends.

“We’re continuing to appeal for witnesses for the collision and would ask for anyone with information to get in touch.”

Mr Marsh’s family said in tribute to their brother; “Kevin John Marsh was born in Liverpool at the end of the Second World War to Edna and John Marsh.

“He was a quiet but mathematically gifted child who passed his eleven-plus examination when just 10 years old and gained a place at the prestigious Quarry Bank Grammar School in Liverpool.

“He went on to study Mathematics and Physics at the University of Liverpool and from there had a career in the developing computer industry.

“He worked as a Systems Analyst in the defence and finance industries in London, Switzerland, the Bahamas and elsewhere, even undertaking projects in Nigeria.

“He retired from the City having been involved with its computerisation and came to live in Linslade, near to his ageing parents.

“He visited his widowed mother in Bideford Green every day until she passed away in 2008.

“He is survived by his younger brother, sister and two nieces and nephew and we are all greatly saddened by his sudden death.

“We are comforted by the fact that Kevin was able to contribute to others via organ donation and in doing so changed the lives of at least three people who had anxiously been awaiting transplant surgery.

“We hope that families in such tragic circumstances may also be able to consider supporting the organ donation scheme to give people in need a new life, in memory of their loved one.”

An 18-year-old man from Leighton Buzzard has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and driving over the prescribed limit, and has been released under investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting Operation Knapp. You can also give information online via the Bedfordshire Police website.

The A5 has now reopened after a road traffic collision in Hockliffe.

A woman was taken to hospital with serious injuries as a result of the Watling Street collision, which happened at 6.10am this morning.

Highways England tweeted at 1.22pm: “The #A5 is now open in both directions between the #A4012 #Hockliffe and the #A505 #ChalkHill”.

A Beds Police spokesman said: “We were called at around 6.10am today (Friday) following a road traffic collision on Watling Street, Hockliffe.

“Emergency services attended and one woman has been taken to hospital with serious injuries.”

An “abandoned” boa constrictor was found freezing cold at a country park near Leighton Buzzard, as the RSPCA came to its rescue with a hot water bottle.

The charity is appealing for information after the adult boa constrictor snake around 1.5 metres long was discovered on Friday (August 31).

The member of the public found the snake near to a bush in a meadow next to Stockgrove Country Park in Heath and Reach.

The kind-hearted caller then placed the snake inside a bin to confine it and RSPCA animal collection officer (ACO) Kate Wright went along to collect it.

She said: “This poor snake was extremely cold and when I first saw it I wasn’t sure it was still alive, it was so motionless. But when I placed my hand on it to check, he stuck out his tongue.

“The caller was so helpful and then also got some water for my hot water bottle which I then wrapped in a towel and placed with the snake to warm him up. I am really grateful to the caller for all their help.

“As this snake was so cold I took him to a nearby reptile specialist vet to warm up and monitor. Apart from his body temperature he was otherwise in good health.

“I suspect given how cold he was it is likely he had been left in the meadow overnight or even longer.

“I also suspect sadly that given the location where he was found it’s likely he was abandoned and I would appeal to anyone who has any information to contact the RSPCA inspector appeal line on on 0300 123 8018.”

Snakes aren’t able to produce their own body heat and as a boa constrictor is not native to this country this snake would require a heated environment with the correct temperature range for the species for the snake to stay healthy and carry out normal behaviour.

Being outdoors in the UK could potentially be really serious as their body can’t function normally if they become too cold.

The RSPCA has seen a growing number of reptiles - including snakes - being abandoned, which is thought to be because they are too much of a commitment for some people.

Many people do not realise what they are taking on when they buy these pets so we are urging prospective buyers to do their research before getting one. We are seeing a worrying number of boa constrictors coming into our centres, because owners are no longer able to care for them.

Although these beautiful animals may look quite hardy, snakes kept as pets are actually completely dependent on their owners, they need them to provide them with the correct accommodation, heating, lighting and food, all of which must replicate their wild habitat as closely as possible to keep them healthy and allow them to carry out their natural behaviour.

Without proper care they can suffer from serious diseases, dehydration, injuries, parasites, and in severe cases or if left untreated, they can eventually die.

The main thing we want to stress to people who are thinking about bringing an exotic pet into their family is to research the needs of the animal thoroughly and make sure that you can provide everything that animal needs for the animal’s entire life.

The RSPCA currently has dozens of reptiles in its care looking for new but knowledgeable homes. For more information on rehoming reptiles visit https://www.rspca.org.uk/findapet.

For more information about the care of exotic pets please visit www.rspca.org.uk/exotics.

To help the RSPCA continue rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming animals in desperate need of care please visit: www.rspca.org.uk/give

A woman has been left with serious injuries following a road traffic collision in Hockliffe this morning (Friday, September 7).

At around 6.10am, officers were called to reports of a collision between a vehicle and a pedestrian on the A5 Watling Street.

Emergency services attended and a woman was taken to hospital.

A 33-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Sergeant Sam Cordingley, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Roads Policing Unit, said: “This incident has left a woman with serious injuries so it’s really important we find out the cause of it. If you witnessed it, or have any information which could help our investigation, please do get in touch.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 or via the online reporting centre quoting reference number 53 of 7 September.