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BBC News
23-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Warehouse fire under control as major incident ends
Update: Date: 17:25 BST Title: Live updates coming to a close Content: With the scale of the warehouse blaze being downgraded after hard work by fire crews, we will bring our live updates to an end. You can read the latest on the fire here, which broke out early this morning on an industrial estate in Rushden, Northamptonshire, and at its height forced emergency services to declare a major incident. BBC Look East will report on the blaze on tonight's programme from 18:30 BST on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, while BBC Radio Northampton will also communicate updates on its news and travel bulletins. Thank you for following. Update: Date: 16:46 BST Title: Rushden fire is 'under control' Content: The fire service says the blaze at Sanders Lodge industrial estate is now "under control and contained within the site", despite smoke continuing to billow from it. Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service says a warning remains in place for local people to stay away from the site and to keep windows and doors closed due to the smoke. Eight fire appliances, two aerial appliances and a specialist high-volume pump remain at the scene, but this has been scaled down from the height of the incident. Assistant chief fire officer Phil Pells says there will continue to be an emergency services presence overnight and that road closures "will remain in place until Saturday at the earliest". Update: Date: 16:37 BST Title: Major incident stood down Content: Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service says the fire is being stood down as a major incident. Update: Date: 16:37 BST Title: 'We couldn't believe what we were seeing' Content: Doreen, 80, lives in a property that backs on to the Sanders Lodge industrial estate and describes how she found out about the blaze. She says: "My son rang me up this morning and said, 'Mum, look out of the window', then I saw what had happened... and said, 'Oh my gosh.' "We've lived here 50 years and I couldn't believe it." Update: Date: 16:35 BST Title: MP thanks emergency services Content: Gen Kitchen, the Labour MP for Wellingborough and Rushden, has issued a message of thanks to the fire and rescue service. In a video shared on her social media platforms, external, she says the effort, led by Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service, and supported by crews from Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire, had "minimised the impact on the local community". Update: Date: 16:19 BST Title: Residents warned of low water pressure Content: Anglian Water says some of its customers in the Rushden area "may have very low water pressure" because of the fire. The firm says it is due to the fire service needing to access the water supply in order to douse the flames coming from the Monoworld site. It says it hopes to have "everything back to normal as soon as possible", but has not offered an estimated time. Update: Date: 15:41 BST Title: Blaze appears to be dying down Content: Sam ReadBBC Look East By any normal standards there is still a big plume of smoke over Rushden. However, it's now much smaller than when I arrived at 11:30. As you can see from this photo I've just taken - it's much more grey now than thick black smoke. Update: Date: 15:31 BST Title: What does 'declaring a major incident' mean? Content: The blaze in Rushden has led to a "major incident" being declared by the fire service, but what does that mean in practical terms? When one gets declared, it essentially means a formal structure and chain of command is set up between different agencies, such as the fire service, police and local councils, so they work better together to keep the public safe. It means regular meetings take place between those agencies so things don't get missed. In this instance, the fire service is taking the lead. Update: Date: 15:06 BST Title: A reminder of what we know so far Content: It is almost nine hours since the fire started at Sanders Lodge industrial estate. Here is a reminder of the key information we know about the blaze: Update: Date: 14:41 BST Title: 'We got out of bed quite quickly' Content: A man living near to the site of the fire says he was alerted about it by a text message from a neighbour. Malcolm says he received a message asking "are you alright?" after his neighbour saw smoke rising "over and above" his property. He says: "We got out of bed quite quickly to go and have a look. Common sense has been applied and we shut everything up. The colour of the smoke looked quite toxic." Update: Date: 14:24 BST Title: No injuries, says fire service Content: Sam ReadBBC Look East Mick Berry, the area manager from Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service, tells me there are thankfully "no injuries or fatalities" resulting from today's blaze in Rushden. He praises the work of fire crews tackling the flames and shares his thanks for the support he has received from neighbouring Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire teams. Mr Berry says the burning materials are "predominantly" plastics that have been "crushed down", making them "really, really difficult to extinguish". Update: Date: 14:19 BST Title: Latest view from the air Content: This latest shot has been taken from a drone at the scene and shows how widespread the flames are. Update: Date: 14:17 BST Title: Fire service photos show scale of blaze Content: Large amounts of what appears to be waste is in flames at the site Crews have been at the site since early morning Fire crews on a cherry picker try to dampen down the flames A funnel of black smoke has been pouring from the scene Update: Date: 14:10 BST Title: Road closures in place around the area Content: Northamptonshire Police have put in a number of road closures "to support public safety and emergency services activity". They are: • A full closure of all slip roads at junction 16 of the A45, both eastbound and westbound (the A45 itself is open past the scene) • Ditchford Road, between the junction with Mill Road and the A45 • Northampton Road, at the junction with Wellingborough Road • Wellingborough Road, at the junction with Washbrook Road Police ask people to avoid these areas and find alternative routes. "Thanks for your patience while we and blue light partners deal with this incident," a spokesperson says. Update: Date: 13:50 BST Title: Smoke seen for miles around Content: You have been sending us your photos of the Rushden blaze, with the smoke plume visible for miles. Nearby resident Sarah Ward captured the smoke Alfie took this photo, with smoke visible over the top of Waitrose Anna Howlett said she could see the blaze from the Stanton Cross estate in Wellingborough The smoke is seen billowing behind Pertenhall Church, 12 miles away Sixteen miles away, the smoke is still visible in Oakley, Bedfordshire Update: Date: 13:41 BST Title: Site of the fire identified as recycling firm Content: The fire service has confirmed that the blaze is at the premises of recycling firm Monoworld. The company recycles plastic waste products such as food packaging and also has recycling centres in Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire and Hartlepool, County Durham. We have approached the firm for comment. Update: Date: 13:27 BST Title: Scale of smoke plume captured by pilot at 33,000ft Content: This video can not be played We have been sent video of the fire scene by a pilot who was flying through the area at 33,000ft (10,058m). Lucas Kalfjall said he could see a "massive column of smoke, clearly visible" billowing high into the air from the industrial estate. Update: Date: 13:26 BST Title: 'Windows up, air-con off' Content: The A45, a major east-west route through Northamptonshire, remains open as normal despite its close proximity to the blaze. The road is only about 200 metres from the perimeter of the Sanders Lodge Industrial Estate. However, Northamptonshire Police says, external motorists are being advised to "keep windows up and air conditioning off". Update: Date: 13:10 BST Title: Nearby shopping centre trading as normal Content: The site of the fire is close to Rushden Lakes - a large outdoor shopping complex located on the opposite side of the A45 dual carriageway. The BBC has contacted Rushden Lakes and it says it is continuing to trade as normal. Update: Date: 12:55 BST Title: Latest statement from fire service Content: Mick Berry, the area manager from Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service, has just issued a statement about the latest response to the blaze. He says: "This is a large fire that is having a significant impact on the Sanders Lodge industrial estate in Rushden. "A multi-agency decision has been taken to declare a major incident, but fire crews are working extremely hard to prevent the fire from spreading and reduce the smoke plume. "We would urge people to stay away from the site while emergency services deal with this incident and ask nearby residents to close windows and doors due to the large amount of smoke issuing from the site. "We anticipate that we will be on scene over the rest of the weekend, and we appreciate the impact this is having on local businesses on the estate and would like to thank them for their patience."
BBC News
21-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
How Saints are working to unearth the next Pollock
For years, 18-year-old Jack Lawrence has been dreaming of becoming a professional rugby one of many in Northampton Saints' academy desperate for a first-team contract this year he finds out if he makes the cut."I look at the pictures of the big names at Saints and wonder if one day it could be me," he admitted."It's been my boyhood dream, it would be very special."Since early February, BBC Look East have been filming behind the scenes with Saints' Under-18 defending Premiership champions pride themselves on producing young, local have a mandate to provide in excess of 50% homegrown players in the senior Saints squad, every season, 32 out of 61 first-team players come from the academy, including England stars Alex Mitchell, George Furbank, Fraser Dingwall, Tommy Freeman and of course, the biggest young star in the game, Henry are now the players who have helped propel Saints to a European Champions Cup final against Bordeaux Begles on Saturday, 24 May. "I cannot recommend the academy highly enough," said flanker Pollock, 20, who won his first England cap in March and has been called up for this summer's British and Irish Lions tour to Australia."You put your trust in the coaches that you're ready for the next step. That's what is so good about it, they put you in regardless of age and how old others think you are. "The coaches give you the confidence to go out on the pitch and show yourself, giving you the ability to take the next step and adapting to that next level."It's special here, very special."In this year's academy, there are around 65 players battling for a contract, although some are 17 and have another year to play. "It's something I've dreamed about since I picked up a rugby ball," said lock Ollie Hull."It's quite stressful, you have to watch your nutrition, you have to look back at the games to make sure you're doing everything you can do get a contract."Every Premiership rugby team is given a region to recruit and develop academy identifies, recruits and develops the most talented young players from several different local regions: the Northampton & District Alliance and East Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Suffolk and north east Essex, plus Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire and train once a week in Bedford with matches at weekends. 'We talk about making good mistakes' "The big thing we pride ourselves in is the relationships with our clubs and schools and the game across our region," said Max Dominy, one of the academy coaches."We have club and school coaches getting in touch saying 'we have a player we think you should take a look at'. "We value their opinion. We go out and about watching games."Once selected, the boys become part of a professional academy set-up."You've got to know when to flick a switch, when to be on, when to be off," said head coach Charlie Reed."In academy rugby environments you hit a real high level of intensity, it then drops, and then it climbs and you are expected to go to the high level again the next day."And you have to do that repeatedly for quite a long period of your life."The players are coached in the same way as the first team."It's about giving them a safe space to participate," said Dominy."We want them to play and feel free to express themselves and want to get better."We talk about making good mistakes. If they drop a ball, it doesn't matter because they're trying to do the right thing. "Eventually, they will catch it and it will make them a better player. We make it a safe space for them to fail."The priority though is their education."It's the most important thing," said Mark Hopley, the head of the Saints academy."We want to make sure they are focusing on that, so we facilitate a rugby programme alongside that. We work with their schools and clubs, but I guess between 14 and 18, it's a four-year job interview really." Swapping football for rugby union Lawrence has been part of the academy set-up for a few first love was football until a friend asked if he wanted to join his local rugby union club in Cambridgeshire. He was instantly hooked."I loved the physicality," he parents, Mark and Karen, have driven him to matches all around the country. Soon, however, the region's top public schools were interested in him joining."I'm an electrician, and my wife is a hairdresser, so we are not the richest in the world," said Mark."One of the first things we said in the meetings with these schools was that we couldn't afford to send Jack, but they said don't worry about the finances. They told us they wanted to work with Jack, his talent and develop him as a person."When we took him for his first day at St Joseph's in Suffolk, he walked away with his suitcase and that was a fairly emotional day to be honest."I thought I would be the one supporting my wife from crying, but I was the one who broke down in tears actually."Rugby union is often criticised for being too reliant on the country's top public schools. "That is the perception," admitted Hopley."Within our programme at GCSE year, there are high potential boys from state schools and there is movement. There are some independent schools who go after those boys and offer them scholarships. "Ultimately it's about what's right for their education. But they do get life-changing experiences as a result. "But we do have very good state schools too. Northampton School for Boys this year have more England Under-18 players in their squad than any other school. We are lucky to have them as a key partner." 'Character and work ethic over everything' This year, the Saints Under-18s won the Premiership Academy title. They beat last year's winners Bath 31-14 in the final at Kingsholm.A few weeks later, the senior coaching group at Saints met to discuss who they should sign and who should be released."We are looking for character and work ethic over everything," said Hopley."Sometimes it's position specific, we look at physical athletic potential but it's never one thing. But I can never coach how hard a young man is willing to work."Head coach Reed added: "I want authenticity, self-awareness."Do they want to get better through their actions, to drive their own development? If they have these traits at a young age, they will have them at an older one too."Hopley admits that selecting players is a real challenge and they can make mistakes."We've kept players too long and probably been too nice and stopped them getting opportunity elsewhere and we won't do that again," he said."The responsibility we have is to those players who don't get a contract. Have we added to their lives, developed them as people, so when they do go forward to their different environments, are they a better person?"We have to be honest, but telling them bad news isn't easy to take. When it comes to the crunch, it's the worst part of the job."Saints have handed seven players first-team academy contracts for the 2025-26 season. At their final home game of the season, the chosen players and their families were invited to Franklin's Gardens for the signing of contracts. The new players were unveiled to the crowd and given a framed signed jersey with their name embossed on the Lawrence looked in shock. His parents beamed with pride."This is something I wanted for a while," said Jack. "I have wanted this so much, my mum and dad too, it means so much to them as well."Watch: Saints Ascending - Behind the scenes with Northampton Saints Academy on BBC iPlayer
The Independent
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
The 1980s ‘British Disneyland' that is now a housing estate
Plans were established earlier this year for a major new Universal theme park to be built in Bedford, but this is not the first time that a huge project like this was once in the works. In the 1980s, developers envisaged a theme park that was to be the British answer to the US ' successful Disney parks, putting £346m behind the project to build the park in Corby. The park was to be called WonderWorld, with plans including 13 themed villages, hotels and rides designed by Monty Python's Terry Gilliam, according to the BBC. A BBC Look East report from 1989 shows that the park was planned to be constructed on a 1,000-acre site in Weldon, around where Priors Hall Park is now, next to Corby. The concept was initially created in 1980, but near the end of the decade, there was still nothing to show of the 'equivalent to America's Disneyland'. Plans for a mock safari, a 10,000-seat stadium for indoor sports, a concert arena and a family resort with hotels were also floated to be included in the designs. The video report from four decades ago shows the WonderWorld chairman handing over the keys to an international construction group to start work. Plans were in place for a 39-month construction programme, hoping for an initial summer opening by 1992. The report stated that WonderWorld would welcome four million visitors a year, with parking for seven thousand vehicles. The park was also supposed to provide much-needed employment, with 2,000 jobs on site during construction, 1,000 full-time staff at the park and 350 seasonal workers. Unemployment had risen in Corby following the 1980 closure of the steelworks, which led to 10,000 job losses and nearly a third of the town out of work. Yet, the park wasn't built, and WonderWorld never opened its doors to the millions of visitors it was hoping for. The park's blueprint was inspired partly by Disney's Epcot Park in Orlando, which opened in 1982 and features the distinctive large Spaceship Earth ride inside a spherical golf-ball-like structure – a defining trait of the park. Around Spaceship Earth are lots of small 'villages', many modelled after different destinations around the world, from Mexico to the UK. WonderWorld was also to have a themed village built around a central bowl, 700m in diameter, the BBC said. A brochure promised "a unique resort set in beautifully landscaped surroundings", with an "accent very much on participation". In 1985, one of the architects, Derek Walker, told the publication: "The basic ingredients [for WonderWorld] are very simple: entertainment at the very highest level. It's participatory and it's incredibly educational. "[WonderWorld] will offer the best of British design." Despite positive buzz around the project early on, rising costs, planning delays and difficulties in finding long-term funding all contributed to WonderWorld's downfall. The only thing to show of the park was a large WonderWorld sign constructed at the site and a small wooden cabin, the BBC said. While the park never came into fruition, more than 1,000 houses were built at Priors Hall Park, and there are now plans to build a further 5,000 on the site.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Farmer tells Lib Dem leader about tax change fears
A Norfolk farmer said forthcoming changes to inheritance tax could be "potentially career-ending" for him, as he hosted Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey at his farm. Chris Blaxell, who is based near North Walsham, spoke about the "devastating" issue with the leader and fellow North Norfolk Lib Dem MP, Steffan Aquarone. Davey said: "They're really on their knees - the last thing they need is this inheritance tax change." Sir Keir Starmer, who spoke to BBC Look East last week, said: "These are political choices, but what you can't have is the interest rates coming down; the growth we need in the economy; the waiting lists coming down and maintain the tax breaks for farmers." Davey travelled to Mr Blaxell's farm, where he has 300 acres (121 ha) for crops and cattle, on the same day the National Farmers' Union met Treasury officials to ask them to rethink the tax. The government said the changes - that could see 20% levies on any land worth more than a £1m - would go ahead in April 2026, as the UK's finances needed stabilising. Mr Blaxell is a partner in his farm alongside his mother and father, who inherited the site from his father. "Traditionally, farmers die with their boots on and they don't ever really stop and as a generation passes, I pick up their reins," said Mr Blaxell. "For me, it's potentially career-ending after 40 years. "Although I'm given 10 years to repay that 20%, the returns from farming - by the time I've made my profit and paid the income tax - there wouldn't be enough money left to pay the inheritance tax." Davey said: "I'm actually quite angry on behalf of farmers across the country - the Treasury just doesn't get it. "I've been hearing about the struggles and hard work they have to put in and this, frankly, could end this farm if the government proceeds." Last year, the prime minister told MPs the "vast majority" of farmers would not be affected by the inheritance tax changes. However, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch described it as a "cruel family farms tax" and vowed to reverse it. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Farmer confronts minister over inheritance tax NFU leads protests over inheritance tax reforms Tractor rally at racecourse in protest at tax plans Minister urges farmers to 'look calmly' at tax plans Most farmers won't pay inheritance tax, PM insists HM Treasury: Agricultural property relief Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
BBC News
12-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
New boys aim to help Luton out of 'sticky situation'
Being part of a relegation battle is likely, you would assume, to give some players sleepless not so Thelo Aasgaard and Kal Naismith, who joined Luton Town during the winter transfer Hatters are next to bottom of the Championship, after being relegated from the Premier League last season, but former Wigan forward Aasgaard underplays any concerns, simply describing it as a "sticky situation".And as for Naismith, returning to the club he helped reach the second-tier play-offs in 2022 just "feels right".He told BBC Look East: "It's strange because the atmosphere the staff and players have created, it didn't feel that I was coming into a club that was down or low in confidence."The staff are bubbly and positive, and that's so important now and in the months ahead. It's important that when you come into your work every day it's a good environment, and it certainly feels like that."We know the challenge ahead. The Championship is a really unforgiving league - every match is tough - but we've got each other's backs and we're looking forward to it." Bloomfield still looking for first win Things have certainly not gone to plan at Kenilworth Road this summer, former manager Rob Edwards expressed confidence that he had a squad with the quality to challenge again at the top of the table, having guided them to promotion in 2023. But a run of 10 successive away defeats led to his departure on 9 January, and five days later Matt Bloomfield was appointed, leaving League One promotion hopefuls Wycombe to oversee the Luton rescue has been rapid since then with five players signed, including Aasgaard, for an undisclosed fee from Wigan Athletic, and Naismith, on loan from Bristol City, with two going out on results have yet to pick up, with two draws and two defeats in their past four games - though their depressing run on the road was ended with a point against Sheffield Wednesday at are away from home again on Wednesday evening when they make the trip to fourth-placed Sunderland, who are unbeaten at home and have not lost in their past seven games, winning four. But Aasgaard believes previous experiences with Wigan, for whom he scored in a 2-1 Championship win against Luton in September 2022, will help him adjust quickly after stepping up a played 87 minutes against Sheffield Wednesday on his debut, and told BBC Look East during a school visit for Children's Mental Health Week: "I hope I can bring some quality on the pitch, and try and be a leader in my own way. "I want to take my skillset into the squad and help us get out of a sticky situation. There's a lot of quality in the changing room - I have no doubt we'll do that."The 22-year-old added: "I have had quite a few seasons at Wigan when things didn't go right - my first professional season there was a tough one, but I feel I can thrive in these pressured situations. "That's when you find out who's got the mental strength, and I like to think I can come through that and help my team-mates as well." Luton 'the right place' for Naismith Bloomfield had a close-up view of Aasgaard's ability when Wycombe played at Wigan in November, and regards him as "technically very, very good".He is also impressed by the Norwegian's versatility, and said on signing him: "Thelo can play as a 10 but can play as an eight or on the left, so he's adept at playing in a variety of positions."The Luton manager has an equally high regard of Naismith, who is 10 years Aasgaard's senior, and replaced his new team-mate for the final few minutes at Hillsborough this month - his first game since early will have the task of helping shore up a defence that has conceded 49 league goals, the fourth-highest total in the Championship - only Plymouth (63), Portsmouth (54) and Cardiff (51) have let in Naismith, who began his career in Scotland with Rangers, is just happy to be back despite the circumstances."It feels amazing. That first day driving back through the gates again, it felt calm - the right place," he said. "I knew it was the right place for me the first time. Life took me on a different route, I never make things easy for myself, but I am just so grateful to get a second chance. "I was worried and there are lots of emotions and nerves about coming back and how it would be, but everyone has been so welcoming - it feels right." Following the Sunderland game, Luton have two at home against Sheffield United and Plymouth, then the M1 derby at Watford on 23 February - a match which could be crucial to their survival hopes."They're the games you want to be involved in; they're the games in which to showcase your talents," said Aasgaard."I think we'll be in a really strong place by then. There's a lot of new signings but I feel we've gelled together really well."
