Latest news with #JaneBethea
BBC News
21-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Northamptonshire health teams issue contaminated drugs warning
A county's public health leaders have issued a warning about contaminated drugs circulating at festivals and parties over the North and West Northamptonshire councils said some drugs bought off the street or online could be as much as 10 times stronger and could cause serious harm or 18-year-old told the BBC he saw a friend hospitalised after taking contaminated Bethea, director of public health at North Northamptonshire Council, said: "The risks to inexperienced or recreational drug users are increased by the rapidly changing drug market." The councils warned that by buying illegal drugs, users "can't be sure what is in them or the effect they will have". Ms Bethea said: "Festivals are a particular setting of concern given there can be a number of street drugs circulating at these events, and those that take them may be inexperienced or experimenting for the first time, and so have low tolerance."She said there were particular issues with potent synthetic opioids, such as nitazenes, being mis-sold, and high availability of contaminated Gay, director of public health at West Northamptonshire Council, said: "Your drugs may look the same, even if they are contaminated, so I urge all recreational drug users to stop and think, and if they go ahead then to abide by the advice."The councils are working with charities such as Change Grow Live and Ngage on the White, from Ngage, said: "We have young people who are ending up in A&E because of contaminated substances."It is really shocking actually how many of our young people it is affecting." 'He started seizing on the floor' Deano is a former drug user who now works with 18-year-old from Northamptonshire, who did not want to give his surname, said he started taking drugs to help him told BBC Radio Northampton's Annabel Amos: "I am a massive insomniac, always have been."Also, I've got ADHD [Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder], so they bounce off each other."So that's what I initially started using substances for."He said when buying drugs "there's always going to be a risk" they could be said when he was 16, he was with a friend, who was about his age and took what he thought was ketamine, but the substance also contained amphetamine and fentanyl - a powerful said: "He was bugging around for a bit, getting all excited because of the amphetamines and then what I assume happened is the fentanyl took over after that."He started seizing on the floor, foaming [at the mouth] and he got taken away by ambulance."It's still a shock because you don't know what they've taken."His friend later recovered and now Deano is working towards rebuilding his life and has applied to college. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
'Roman's Got Talent' at Chester House Estate's annual show
A free festival is to showcase different talents from the Roman era with a theatre performance based on the reality show Britain's Got two-day Roman Fest will be held at the Chester House Estate, near Irchester, Northamptonshire, and will include a performance of 'Roman's Got Talent'.The show will be performed by the charity Laugh Out Loud Theatre Company and will highlight talents such chariot racing and a Gladiator dance members will also be asked to participate as judges and rate the performances. The event, which is expecting about 5,000 people, will also include the opportunity to see an excavation in progress and the chance to wash real Roman objects that have been found at the Bethea, director of public health, communities and leisure at North Northamptonshire Council, said the event would highlight the "400 years of Roman history" at The Chester House said: "This event is always the highlight of the estate's calendar and provides a fun day out for the whole family, whilst also providing a great insight into the world of Roman Britain."The festival, organised in partnership with the University of Leicester's Heritage Hub, will also feature Roman-themed stalls and crafts, a pop-up archaeology lab and Roman-style military demonstrations.A pop-up exhibition of artwork by Northampton College students inspired by the Romans and objects from the Northamptonshire Archaeological Resource Centre will also be displayed, and the event will feature stalls from museums, archaeology groups and heritage Scott, professor of archaeology and director of the university's Heritage Hub, said: "This annual event is a fantastic opportunity to showcase our collaborative research and archaeological expertise through guided tours of our live excavation and an interactive pop-up archaeology lab."In addition to popular favourites, such as demonstrations from the Ermine Street Guard, you can learn the basics of osteoarchaeology, examine real archaeological finds using microscopes and uncover the surprising role of insects in archaeology and health."Roman Fest 2025 will take place on 28 and 29 June, between 10:00 and 16:00 BST. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
23-03-2025
- BBC News
Irchester lamb-feeding event expanded ahead of its spring return
A popular lamb-feeding event has been re-designed and expanded ahead of its return this newly rebranded 'The Great Spring Adventure' will be held at The Chester House Estate, near Irchester, Northamptonshire, and will feature a bigger offering following the success of last year's to 100 cade lambs - which are orphaned and bottle fed - will be housed in a barn where visitors can meet and feed them and hear from experts about how they care for the event will also feature an Easter egg hunt, Easter arts and crafts and a new golden egg hunt. Jane Bethea, director of public health, communities and leisure at North Northamptonshire Council, said it would teach visitors about the "dedication" it takes from the farming community to "raise and care for lambs"."We can't wait to welcome thousands of visitors to be part of this heartwarming tradition, guided by our expert lamb welfare team from Watermeadow Park," she said."The team have been working closely with colleagues in the public health team to ensure that everyone is safe whilst enjoying the experience."The event will take place between 5 and 21 April and will also offer quiet special educational needs and disabilities (Send) sessions. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
