Mega old friend that’s still bags of fun.

Mega Man is back on our consoles with a new look, the same tried and trusted gameplay and just enough tweaks to get it noticed.

The action-platformer, one of the founding fathers of modern gaming, is very much alive and kicking after what Capcom clearly deemed a successful project with the multi-title Mega Man Collection last year.

Out on Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, the game brings back a number of features like acting and a 2.5D graphic style which may throw some hardcore MM fans off initially.

But fear not. Mega Man 11 may look different, but think of it like a trusted old friend you have known for years that may have had some work done now they are getting on a bit. And you’re not sure too sure about how they look. But over time you stop noticing the facelift and remember why you love them so much and still have lots of fun with them to this day.

Or just that the graphics are slightly more polished and infinitely less charming but the mechanics remain true to this cornerstone of gaming.

Your task? To stop Dr. Wily from using his Double Gear system by tackling eight stages, which can be chosen in any way you see fit.

New foes come in the shape of Block Man, Fuse Man, Blast Man, Acid Man, Tundra Man, Torch Man, Impact Man, and Bounce Man.

Mega Man can perform his classic moves like Mega Buster and slide but unique to the 11th instalment is the said Double Gear system, which enables MM additional abilities: the Speed Gear and Power Gear.

The Speed Gear allows MM to slow down time and dodge attacks while the Power Gear increases the attack power of MM’s weapons but watch out they don’t overheat. Health low? Activate both gears to let off a powerful charge shot which can only be used once and leaves you weakened. It’s kamikaze stuff but a great new element to the gameplay. The addition of Time Trials, Missions, Global Leaderboards, a concept art gallery and most importantly FOUR difficulty settings give MM11 just enough new content to keep things fresh and interesting for returning MM fans and newcomers.

MM11’s crowning achievement, though, is retaining that crucial sense of fun which is only enhanced by some excellent sub-bosses and robot master battles.

Some of the stages are a touch long for my liking and you WILL find yourself tweaking the difficulty but overall this is a solid addition to the MM franchise but sticking to the age-old adage don’t fix what ain’t broke.

A woman from Biggleswade is warning pet owners to be extra vigilant after three of her cats were killed in the space of three days.

Julie Burchell, of Lindsell Crescent, wants to make people aware of what has happened this week after she lost three of her six cats in unusual circumstances.

To add to the mystery one of her neighbours has also found one of their cats dead and another is still missing.

Julie said: “I’m afraid that we may have a repeat of what happened a few years ago where cats were going missing and turning up dead.

“On Monday night I thought my cat, Billy Boy (pictured) had been run over, he was badly hurt, we took him to the vet and he sadly died.

“The next morning I found another of my cats, Tabitha (pictured) dead by the side of my house, not a mark on her and then this morning my neighbour knocked on my door, having found Maizy dead at the side of the road, again, not a mark on her.

“Another lady, who lives down my road, posted on Facebook that one of her cats is missing and another had been found dead – again, no marks on them.

“I had six cats, and have lost three since Monday night, I am so upset, they are like family.

“I want people to be aware of what is happening, please be extra vigilant and keep an eye on your cats, I don’t want this to happen to anyone else.

“I have reported it to the police, I am waiting for them to call me back and I have reported it to the RSPCA.”

Julie’s neighbour, who asked not to be named, said her cats Oli and Obi went out around 10.30pm on Monday, October 8 as normal. However the next morning, they had not returned and she and her family became very worried.

Sadly Obi who is around 9-10 years old (black in colour) was later found dead in their garden. The cause of death is not known.

Her second cat Oli who is ginger and white in colour aged around 8 years old is still missing and she is increasingly concerned for him.

A spokesperson for the RSPCA said: “We are so sad to hear that these cats have died or gone missing from this one area and it must be truly heartbreaking for their owners.

“While at this stage we do not know if this is in relation to deliberate or accidental incidents we would issue a warning to cat owners in the area to be extra vigilant.

“We would urge all cat owners to keep a close eye on their pets and their behaviour and if they suspect they have been injured or poisoned we would advise they seek immediate veterinary attention.

“As a precaution we would also ask people who are using substances such as anti-freeze to make sure they are extremely careful in their storage of it and how they dispose of it.

“If anyone has any information which can help us with our investigation they should call 0300 123 8018 or contact the police.”

Signs of poisoning can be seen anything from 30 minutes after ingestion to two or three days. This can include some, or all of the following symptoms: vomiting, seeming depressed or sleepy, appearing drunk or uncoordinated, seizures and difficulty breathing.

It is a criminal offence under the Protection of Animals Act 1911 and the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to administer poison, dangerous drugs or substances to an animal; and under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 it is a criminal offence to allow a cat to suffer unnecessarily.

A Beds Police spokesman said: “We have received two reports from concerned residents from Lindsell Crescent, Biggleswade, whose cats have died in recent days.

“We have not received any information of suspicious activity in the area and while we appreciate this is a distressing and upsetting time for the owners, we would need confirmation from a vet that the deaths are thought to be caused by poisoning before it becomes a police matter. Anyone who notices any suspicious activity is asked to call us on 101.”

A Biggleswade resident is calling for Central Bedfordshire Council to make changes on a ‘dangerous’ road.

A lady who lives in Hitchin Street has complained to the council about speeding and parking issues, which she says has gradually got worse over the years.

She said: “There are more cars parking along Hitchin Street causing more congestion along an already dangerous road leading into town.

“I have contacted the council to complain about this and asked for double yellow lines and speed humps or a speed camera along the road to ease the problem. They said they would send someone from the council out in the next few weeks to assess the situation.

“Something needs to be done, it has gradually been getting worse since the railway bridge was closed a few years ago. More recently it has been affected by the parking charges in the town centre and commuters are also parking here and walking to the station.

“Cars speed down here, my neighbour was pulling out of her drive and was nearly hit by a speeding car, it is nearly impossible to see when you come out of your drive because of cars parked both sides. There are even cars parked on the paths, restricting access for mums with buggies. It’s getting ridiculous and is very dangerous.”

A council spokesman said: “Our parking enforcement officers do regularly patrol this location and enforce the current restrictions. However there have been a number of inspections and site visits to this road, and we are considering making changes. The road is suitable for slower speeds, and there are plans to review the traffic flow into town, as well as other future changes on Hitchin Street to help both the residents and the town.”

The campaign to redevelop Biggleswade Railway Station is about to gather momentum as the town prepares to submit its bid for Access for All funding.

North East Beds MP Alistair Burt has this week appealed for support from local residents to strengthen the case being put to the Government.

Following a number of meetings held over the last year, led by Mr Burt, and joined by a range of stakeholders, Biggleswade Station will shortly be nominated to the Access for All scheme to help create step-free access solutions; as well as wider improvements to parking and public transport provision to and from the station.

Mr Burt said: “This is an historic campaign that has tried to get improvements a number of times over the years.

“I am delighted that, with the assistance of local councillors, Central Bedfordshire Council, Biggleswade Town Council, Network Rail, Govia Thameslink and local disability campaigners, that we are now a step closer to seeing these efforts pay off.

“We have held a number of meetings over the past 12 months which have helped to develop proposals and the council have funded a feasibility study which shows the commitment to improving Biggleswade Station and ensuring we have a strong case to put forward.”

The Access for All programme is a Government funded initiative to support stations to create an obstacle free, accessible route from the station entrance to the platform.

With £300m funding available, it is a competitive scheme and bids must show they have well evidenced support from the local community.

Mr Burt is asking for constituents to contact him by October 17 to show their support for the improvements in order that these can be included as part of the application.

Constituents can email alistair.burt.mp@parliament.uk, or by dropping a letter into his Biggleswade office at North East Bedfordshire Conservative Association, St Andrew’s Street.

As the process develops, there will be a chance for full public consultation of the ideas being considered, but support for the initial concept of redevelopment will be very useful at this stage.

Is this the pinnacle for Assassin’s Creed?

There are three certainties in life (well probably a lot more than that to be fair but for the purposes of this intro there’s three) death, taxes and the next Assassin’s Creed game.

But who says that’s a bad thing, yes some of the middle order of the now 11-strong series grew a touch stale but my goodness have Ubisoft got a good thing going in the latest iteration Assassin’s Creed Odyssey.

There is a clear effort to further explore and expand the role-playing element to Assassin’s and they have done just that but without compromising on quality.

Set in 431 BCE, you are thrown into the (fictional) Peloponnesian War and choose between controlling a mercenary for either the Delian League led by Athens or the Peloponnesian League, led by Sparta.

What will strike you first when you start playing ACO is just how vast the open world you inhabit is.

The graphics and visuals as usual are spectacular but ACO takes it to a completely different level and feels like the Assassin’s that this generation of console has been building towards for the last five years.

The open world is truly massive and offers huge longevity given how much there is to do, explore, discover and uncover.

As well as feeling like the pinnacle for the franchise, Ancient Greece also feels like the setting the series has always been building towards.

The story as ever is engrossing, beautifully-crafted and littered with choice and the twists and turns which we have become so accustomed to.

This is not just the same game repackaged in a different time and place, though, as has often been the criticism of Assassin’s in the past.

No ACO is so much more. Some pacing issues and the perennial problem of grind - which goes hand-in-hand with many open-world games of this scale - means this falls just short of as close to perfection as you can get.

But make no mistake Odyssey is the crowning achievement of the series so far, delivering on all fronts to take the mantle of Ubisoft’s best ever Assassin’s and one of the best games of its genre of all time.

The biggest down side? Completing it. Which will take you the best part of 60 hours depending on your dedication to side missions and exploration.

But even then you will want to go back for more time and time again.

A beautiful game and milestone title for the current generation of consoles.

The segregation unit at Bedford Prison has been likened to a dungeon which should be closed, according to the prisons Independent Monitoring Board annual report.

The report highlights the difficulties in managing the 150-year-old Victorian prison with a high turnover of inmates, chronic lack of investment over many years and the impact of losing large numbers of experienced staff.

In particular the report focuses on conditions in the segregation unit where ‘the toilets frequently block, there has been a consistent infestation of cockroaches and a plague of

rats’.

The report states: “Each year we have commented on the deplorable conditions in the segregation unit. We now believe that it can no longer be considered a decent and humane place

to hold prisoners and recommend that it should be closed and relocated.

“The unit is simply appalling. It is a dungeon. These are not appropriate conditions in which to detain prisoners in the 21st century.”

Although acknowledging considerable attempts made to improve the prison, the report says the rate of progress is too slow and that there remain problems around increasing

violence, poor living conditions, low levels of engagement in educational initiatives and disinterest in constructive preparation for release.

The availability of drugs within Bedford Prison continues to be a problem, and the board estimates that between a third and half of all prisoners are taking drugs at any one time. And although drug

treatment services are valued by prisoners, the issue of drugs getting into the prison is not improving.

The report adds: “The majority of drugs come in over the wall, which is remarkably easy in a town centre prison.

“Whilst acknowledging the focus placed by the prison on addressing the problem, the report also points out that a capital investment in new window grilles required to

help prevent the supply of drugs has not been financed despite being highlighted by the board in 2017 and requested by the prison.”

Violence at the prison continues to be a significant issue, despite the implementation of a violence reduction strategy. The number of incidents between June 2017 and May 2018 almost doubled.

The report notes that there has been little attempt to involve prisoners themselves in the prevention and management of violence. ‘This seems odd given they would seem to have as great a vested

interest as anyone in making the prison a safer place,’ the report says.

Since the Bedford Prison riots of November 2016, a recruitment drive for new officers has restored staffing levels to the benchmark level of 110 set by the prison service.

However, there is an experience gap, which is evident in day-to-day operation and handling difficult situations.

Staff and prisoner relationships are seen, generally, as positive, and the report highlighted the capable leadership of the prison governor, Helen Clayton-Hoar, who was also praised for her work

on diversity and equality within the prison. The work carried out by prison officers on a daily basis in often difficult situations and poor conditions was also noted.

The board has identified many areas for development at the prison, including improved mental health services, investment in measures to prevent drugs coming into the prison, officer training

requirements, and preparing prisoners for release.

Kevin Whiteside, chairman of the IMB, said: “What we are seeing is the challenge of managing a prison that is past its sell by date. Staff have left in droves over the past few years and although they have

now been replaced you cannot just turn on the tap of experience. Added to this are the particular difficulties of high turnover local prisons, which perform poorly across the country. There is no

doubt about the determination to improve, but the obstacles are formidable.”

The report follows the announcement last week of an action plan issued by the The Justice Secretary to stabilise HMP Bedford following an Urgent Notification by the prisons inspectorate.

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of murder after the body of a woman was found in Upper Caldecote.

The woman, in her 40s, was found after an ambulance crew was called to an address in Biggleswade Road, Upper Caldecote, near Biggleswade, at 10.30pm on Thursday.

The two men were released while investigations continue, Bedfordshire Police said.

Officers said they were pursuing a number of lines of inquiry.

The spirit of Elvis is in the building at Aylesbury’s Waterside Theatre this Friday.

A Vision Of Elvis starring Rob Kingsley winner of The National Tribute Music Awards “Official Elvis Show” and “No.1 Male Tribute” is internationally renowned as the best Elvis Presley tribute concert, touring the world today.

Officially endorsed by Elvis Presley Enterprises (EPE) for charitable contributions and officially endorsed by Mr Ed Bonja – Elvis’s photographer and road manager (1970-1977) who said: “On stage Rob Kingsley looks extraordinarily like Elvis. He sings like Elvis, but most importantly, he seems to capture the very soul of Elvis – his charisma, his gestures – hell he even walks like Elvis!”

Celebrating Rob’s ‘10th Anniversary’ on tour, performing to thousands of fans in major theatres, festivals and arenas worldwide and making history by being the first Elvis tribute artist to perform at the New Wembley Stadium to over 50,000 people.

Rob brings you a brand new high octane show. All costumes, instruments and stage set authentically recreated to give the feel and energy of a live Elvis concert, which promises to be the ultimate experience for any Elvis fan the world over.

Here are some of the testimonials about the show:

‘The King is Back’

Rolling Stones Magazine

‘Like a one to one with Elvis’

President of the Official Elvis Presley Fan Club Finland

‘Elvis was in the building’

President of the Official Elvis Presley Fan Club India

‘Simply Superb’

North West End reviews

A Luton farmer has lost more than 20 sheep to dog attacks in the past 12 months.

Now the RSPCA is reminding dog owners and walkers of the importance of keeping their pets under control to avoid devastating attacks on livestock.

The call comes after the farmer, who grazes his flock on Sundon Hills Country Park, Sundon, has lost six sheep in recent weeks as a result of dog attacks.

The farmer, who does not wish to be named, has said that over the last 12 months alone 21 sheep have either been killed or put to sleep.

The RSPCA is now reminding dog owners and walkers of the importance of keeping their pets on leads around livestock.

RSPCA Animal Collection Officer Kate Wright said: “It is heartbreaking to hear that so many sheep have died as a result of dog attacks, which could have easily been prevented had the owners just kept their dog on a lead and not let them run loose near livestock.

“Whilst the vast majority of people take care as a matter of course sadly accidents can happen and even the most docile and obedient dogs can get distracted and excited by grazing animals.

“You may think that if your dog momentarily chases a flock of sheep and comes back relatively quickly that there would be no harm done, but even if there are no visible injuries, actually it could be causing the animals a lot of worry and anxiety, which can be really harmful to their health. Ewes have been known to abort unborn lambs whilst under stress which is just tragic.”

In more extreme cases, severe attacks can happen which have a devastating effect on the livestock, resulting in severe injury and death.

PC Chris Naughton, from Bedfordshire Police’s rural crime team, said: “Following the recent incidents in Sundon Hills, we support the RSPCA’s call for owners to keep dogs on leads around livestock. If you have a dog, please keep it in sight and under control, as the impact of these attacks can be terrible for all involved.”

Dog owners should also remember that it is lawful for farmers to shoot a dog to protect their livestock - which no one wants to happen. Owners could also be prosecuted by police if their dog is caught worrying livestock.

There is a very simple way to stop any of this happening though – keep your dog on a lead around livestock.

The RSPCA is also urging dog owners to spread the word about being responsible around livestock.

If anyone sees a dog attacking a flock of sheep they are urged to call the police immediately.

For more information visit www.rspca.org.uk/pets to learn more about responsible dog ownership or if you are worried about your dog’s behaviour visit the RSPCA’s website to find a suitable behaviour expert.

A Shefford 18-year-old was jailed yesterday (Monday October 15) after admitting a reckless arson that destroyed his former girlfriend’s family home in Letchworth and killed her pet rabbit.

Ethan Andrews, formerly of Shefford Road, Shefford, poured petrol over the rabbit hutch that he knew housed the victim’s much loved pet ‘Spice’. When he lit the accelerant, the resulting explosion blew in patio doors to the property.

The fire swept over the back of the house gutting a living room, destroying garden decking as well as damaging windows and doors to the house and a neighbouring property. Smoke billowed into upstairs bedrooms, causing risk to life and further damage to property. As a result, the house was made uninhabitable and the family have had to move out.

There was nothing left of the rabbit hutch containing Spice and a second pet – a degu – later also died as a result of smoke inhalation.

The incident followed the break-up of a brief relationship between Andrews and his former girlfriend. The victim, who was aged 18 at the time, had complained that Andrews had been controlling and abusive. When she broke up with him he tried to pressurise her back into a relationship, making threats against her and to harm her pets.

In the early hours of July 16 this year, Andrews drove to her home in West View, Letchworth, and started the fire in their garden. Officers arrested him hours later, finding petrol in a jerry can and a lighter in his car. He later admitted arson ‘reckless as to whether life was endangered’ and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.

He was sentenced to 32 months imprisonment at St Albans Crown Court yesterday for the arson and a further three months to run concurrently for killing the rabbit. He was also given an indefinite restraining order.

The case was investigated by Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Domestic Abuse Investigation and Safeguarding Unit.

Detective Constable Colin Workman said: “It is clear from the fire investigation that numerous lives were put at risk by Andrews’ actions, including the life of an unborn baby.

The explosion was so large it woke up neighbours and it was only their quick actions in raising the alarm that stopped lives being lost.

“If this had not happened toxic smoke would have continued to pour into bedrooms where people were sleeping – potentially killing them before they even woke.

“Andrews planned this attack to get back at the victim. It was an act of pure callousness to target a rabbit in order to achieve this goal. His deliberate actions caused immense distress and harm to the victim and her family. I hope this sentence today allows them to start putting these terrible events behind them.”

Anyone affected by domestic abuse can visit www.hertssunflower.org or call the Herts Domestic Abuse Helpline on 08 088 088 088 for free information, advice and support. The helpline is open weekdays 9am-9pm and weekends 9am-4pm. In an emergency, always call 999.

Brazen thieves could have used hi-vis jackets with ‘recovery’ on them to con potential witnesses to the theft of 10 cars in Broom.

Bedfordshire Police is appealing for witnesses after the cars were stolen from a private barn in High Street, Broom.

The cars were stolen at approximately 10am on Friday (12 October).

The offenders posed as staff from a recovery company, all wearing high-visibility jackets with ‘recovery’ written on them. They have been seen to come back numerous times to the owner’s barn and used three trucks to remove vehicles from the property

The stolen vehicles are:

Blue Ford - Number plate: Y112BCE

Blue BMW 325 - Number plate: X844RGT

Red Ford Escort - Number plate: G224CWC

Blue Ford Maverick - Number plate: R770FRT

Blue Ford Mondeo - Number plate: EO02VAD

Black Ford Mondeo - Number plate: WV55PKX

Blue Ford Probe 24V - Number plate: M921PWL

Green Mitsubishi L200 - Number plate: OE02ACF

Red Nissan - Number plate: WPK725S

Red Vauxhall Cavalier- Number plate: M67URO

Mahbubur Choudhury, investigating, said: “The victim reported the vehicles stolen as soon as they realised the cars have been removed from the property. We believe this was a scam during which the offenders successfully deceived any potential witnesses by pretending to be legitimate car recovery company.

“We are keen to speak to anyone who might have seen the theft in progress or who has been offered one of the cars for sale.

“Additionally we would like to issue a warning to remain vigilant and always check the credentials of a car removal company and report any suspicious behaviour to the police.”

Anyone with information is asked to visit the force online reporting centre or call 101 and quote reference number 40/31143/18.

Alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Community work carried out in Sandy has been recognised with the presentation of a cup to two organisations.

Inskip and Davie Estate Agents and Sandy Library were presented with the Fred Simms Charity Cup by Judith Howard, representative of the Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire, for the outstanding charity work each have done in the community. The presentation was made on Wednesday, October 10.

Library manager Madeline Phippen said: “We are all extremely proud of our library. We enjoy providing a service for all areas of our community.

“We love having the children all making the crafts during the holidays, singing at Rhyme Time, and love helping and advising them with their book selections.”

Ryan Inskip, of Inskip and Davie, added: “We are especially thrilled at being honoured this way. The office now has two generations working hard together, supporting all we can in Sandy and Moggerhanger Hospice is paramount.”

The Fred Simms Charity Cup was donated to the east Bedfordshire community by Fred Simms, who was the Biggleswade Chronicle’s editor for over 30 years until his retirement in 1980.

It is presented each year to a group or individual who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in their community.

Yellow was the colour for the day at Derwent Lower School in Henlow when children and adults marked World Mental Health Day.

The theme was ‘Hello Yellow’ on Wednesday, October 10 in support of the charity Young Minds whose aim is to ensure that all young people are supported and empowered with their mental health, whatever the challenges.

Children and adults dressed in yellow to support the cause and work for the day was based around mental health, with one class making emotions artwork. Another class enjoyed listening to different stories and using smiley faces or sad faces to show how they thought the people in the stories might feel.

More than £480 was collected through a just giving page and being put in a yellow bucket. Some of the work from the day will also be on display for at open day for prospective new parents on November 21.

Biggleswade Amateur Theatre Society has been a staple supplier of quality performances for decades, probably most renowned for their bold and brassy annual pantomimes, and their recent production of Robert Harling’s Steel Magnolias was another testament to the brilliance of this amazing group.

Set in Louisiana in the mid-80s, the story takes place in a town beauty parlour, focussing on four key moments over three years that effect the lives of six local women:

Truvy is the owner of the parlour (played by Kerry Hewish) and is the optimistic and pragmatic anchor for the others. Annelle (Erin Crockford) is a young newcomer to the community looking for work and a sense of identity. Ouiser (Kay Young) is an old, grumpy cynic opposite her life-long best friend, Clairee (Natasha Leftwich), who is the sassy, young at heart widow of the town’s mayor. M’Lynn (Melanie Wilcox) is the group’s career woman and family matriarch with Shelby (Sarah Ridley)as her daughter, often at loggerheads as she tries to assert her own passage into independence away from her mother.

The performance was a delight to behold as each actor created very believable southern American women and imprinted their personal stamp on each character. It is a script that emulates the naturalistic flow of long-time friends’ informal chatter so shifts from topic to topic rapidly which the women delivered confidently, establishing their relationships with each other and engaging us as if we were in the shop awaiting our turn in the chair (enhanced by the meticulous detail of the set and intimacy of the Methodist Church staging). Special shout-outs must go to Hewish and Crockford for their faultless multi-tasking: deftly coiffuring the parlour’s patrons’ hair-dos whilst delivering their lines fluidly.

Young and Leftwich made for a hilarious partnership – and indeed were responsible for the funniest saddest moment in a narrative I can think of – their worldly wisdom (jaded and nostalgic respectively) contrasted each other with wit and profundity in equal measure.

Wilcox (who also directed) and Ridley presented their mother-daughter relationship with aplomb, able to switch between familial affection and contempt as recognisable in any family dynamic.

The humour was plentiful, played through punchlineperfect timing, characterisation and incidental interactions, but perhaps most praiseworthy was the raw emotion they were able to muster on stage: from a harrowing diabetic seizure to the anger and tears of an inexplicable death, which moved the audience to empathetic sniffles and throat clearing.

This was a truly magnificent play, performed to a standard one would expect from professionals and it is a genuine shame that royalty complications restricted their run to only the two nights. Perhaps they may be tempted (or persuaded) to revisit it in the future but, nevertheless, it certainly is exciting to think of where BATS will go from here.

TV Chef and former Great British Bake-Off Winner Nadiya Hussain visited Keech Hospice Care in Luton to bake with patients and their families during Starlight Cake Bake week.

The former Luton resident showed patients how to make some delicious rocky road delights. Nadiya also made friendship bracelets and took part in a singalong with the children, families and hospice staff.

Nadiya has been a Starlight Ambassador for the past three years and the face of the charity’s annual Cake Bake fundraiser, which raises vital funds to support seriously ill children and their families by providing play and distraction services in hospitals and hospices across the UK.

Nadiya said: “I’ve had such a wonderful morning, just being able to sit and bake with the kids, to make bracelets and meet their parents has been so special. Having been the sibling of two sick children when I was growing up, I know how vital it is to enjoy special moments as a family, just doing normal activities like baking.

“Being a Starlight Ambassador means that I can be part of their work by getting involved with days like today. By helping them to bring fun, normality and comfort at what is a really difficult time for families means the world to me. Please help support Starlight to provide more memories to families with sick children by signing up to the Starlight Cake Bake today”.

Liz Searle, CEO of Keech Hospice Care said; “We had an amazing day making tasty treats with Nadiya.”

“She was caring and patient with the children, showing them how to make the rocky road and bracelets. They were delighted to meet her and appreciated that she took the time to speak to everyone personally.

“As Nadiya’s local children’s hospice, caring for children in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Milton Keynes, we were so pleased to have her with us to show her the excellent care and support we provide to adults and children facing a terminal and life-limiting illness.”

To find out more about Starlight and how you can host your own Starlight Cake Bake visit www.starlight.co.uk

Pupils in Langford are taking on a building project with help from a local developer.

David Wilson Homes has begun its new school award scheme at Langford Village Academy as over 60 children look forward to an academic year long project.

The Building Buddies Award is being hosted at the school close to the homebuilder’s Kingsley Manor development, guiding pupils through the construction process with four exciting activities.

The scheme is intended to encourage children to show an interest in the industry, helping them to consider a career in construction from an early age.

Year 3 and 4 pupils have now been presented with their workbooks by Jennifer, the sales adviser at Kingsley Manor, as they prepare for the first activity of naming a development and designing a logo.

Joy Mead, Key Stage Two leader and teacher at the academy, said: “We are very grateful to David Wilson Homes for this opportunity for our children to be involved in the local housing development through the Building Buddies Award Scheme.

“The children were very excited to receive their booklets and we’re looking forward to learning more about the whole process of homebuilding as the project progresses.”

Split into four quarters, the Building Buddies Award is set to teach young children about planning and land, sales and marketing, technical and design and construction.

Jason Hearn, sales director at David Wilson Homes South Midlands, said: “With our new Building Buddies Award, we have the chance to educate young children on the construction industry as well as raising awareness of important issues such as site safety.

“We’re thrilled to be working with Langford Village Academy throughout the academic year and we hope the pupils enjoy being amongst the first participants in this exciting project.

“We’re looking forward to seeing the creativity of the children grow with each design and literature task, whilst giving them an understanding of the construction process at our nearby Kingsley Manor development.”

Further to the naming and logo design competition, the pupils of Langford Village Academy will partake in a marketing and writing competition, a wildlife friendly exercise and a site visit and poster competition.

The winner of each competition will be presented with a prize, whilst the school itself will be presented with the coveted Building Buddies Award in a ceremony towards the end of the school year.

Services to and from Sandy are being cancelled or delayed by up to an hour after a person was hit by a train today.

Emergency services are at the scene of the incident near Sandy and this is causing disruption to trains between these stations.

Trains may be delayed by up to 60 minutes or cancelled. Disruption is expected to continue until at least 3pm.

All lines are currently blocked, therefore services are unable to run between Peterborough and Hitchin.

For some time, Oakman Inns – the pub group which owns a host of venues across Bucks, Beds, Herts, Northants, Warwickshire and Oxon – has been concerned that the limited choices on children’s menus might be discouraging young diners from trying new dishes by offering them little more than chicken nuggets and chips.

The award-winning Tring-born company asked over 1,000 parents with children aged two to 12 what they would like to see on a kids’ menu which was followed by tasting days with their young customers.

Oakman runs two Beech Houses, The Betsey Wynne, The Cherry Tree, The Akeman Inn and the Dog and Badger in Bucks, The White Hart at Ampthill in Beds, The Kings Arms, Red Lion, The Akeman, Beech House and Banyer’s House in Herts, The Navigation Inn at Thrupp Wharf in Cosgrove Northants, The Crown and Thistle, Old Post Office and Blue Boar in Oxon and the Four Alls and The Globe in Warwickshire.

They combined these insights with what they know from tens of thousands of visiting children who have ordered from their pubs in the past.

The results, says Oakman Inns’ chef director, Ross Pike, spells the end of what he calls “Beige on a Plate.”

“As well as offering healthy options that will go down well with parents and their children, we’ve tried to create family-friendly pricing with a “Formule” of three courses and one of our six side orders for just £9,” Ross said.

“That could be Carrot & Pepper Sticks with red pepper & garlic hummus as a starter, followed by our new 5 A Day Bolognese served with Broccoli & Carrots, and an Apple Crumble and Vanilla Ice Cream to finish.”

One of the young menu tasters at the White Hart in Ampthill was Antonia Woodbridge, aged 5 (pictured). Her mum, Charlotte Woodbridge, said: “Oakman Inns has managed to create a balance between the normal demands of a child and the always-present concerns of the parents. I really like the idea of the fixed price menu and the ability to select a choice of sides to go with what is already an interesting, nutritious menu. My daughter, Antonia, loved it.”

To encourage children to try new flavours and ingredients, Oakman Inns has introduced a new Sweet Potato Hash dish with rocket, avocado, feta, toasted pumpkin seeds and tzatziki.

Ross Pike added: “It’s all about keeping a balance, which is why we’ve also left some firm favourites on the menu such as Beef Burgers, Portobello Mushroom Cottage Pie, as well as their own Sunday Roast and Breakfast menus plus a variety of hot and cold drinks.”

On the back of every kid’s menu there’s a games activity sheet to keep young minds busy – and to encourage them to get outdoors and active, they have the chance to win a high-ropes climbing experience in partnership with Go Ape for a family of four.

Already well-known for their dedicated sponsorship of children’s team sport across the communities their 23 pubs serve and the annual Oakman Cup Mini Rugby Festival, Oakman believes that a healthier menu and some parental support will encourage children towards taking a step in the open air, rather than towards a screen.

One of the UK’s best-known parenting lifestyle bloggers, Lynn James aka Mrs Mummy Penny said: “We love to eat out as a family and a healthy option is always important when choosing where we eat. It’s really encouraging to see Oakman Inns have developed a new menu with healthy eating in mind. Perfect for my three sport and health conscious boys.”

The RSPCA wants animal welfare to be taught in school as 30% of children in the East of England have seen animal abuse online.

The animal welfare charity has revealed that from January to June this year there were 16 animal cruelty incidents on social media in Bedfordshire reported to the RSPCA, compared to 41 last year and 38 in 2016.

The RSPCA has more than 400 online incidents of cruelty and neglect in the East of England reported to it each year.

Young children are being exposed to horrific incidents of animal suffering online in ways previous generations have not experienced.

The RSPCA is launching Generation Kind, an education and prevention programme aimed at children to teach them about respect for animals and how to care for them. There are nine projects within the programme.

Chief executive Chris Sherwood said: “The number of children seeing animal abuse online is shocking - the current generation of children are witnessing horrifying animal cruelty and neglect through channels which simply didn’t exist for previous generations.

“The risk for children growing up in the 21st century is that frequent and casual exposure to animal abuse will desensitise them and may even make it seem acceptable.

“Animals need us now more than ever and we want to grow a new generation of young people who care, who are informed and who want to do their best for animals.

“This is why we are launching Generation Kind - an ambitious education programme targeting school children, children in care, young offenders or those at risk of offending and other disadvantaged young people. Central to this is a new campaign to get animal welfare taught in all schools.”

From dazzling magic to a celebration of Little Mix, there's plenty to enjoy...

1 THEATRE

Benidorm - Live, Milton Keynes Theatre, until October 20

It’s the stage production of the hugely popular TV show, with an all-new set of Alicante escapades for the much-loved cast members, including Jake Canuso (Mateo), Janine Duvitski (Jacqueline), Adam Gillen (Liam), Sherrie Hewson (Joyce Temple-Savage), Shelley Longworth (Sam), and Tony Maudsley (Kenneth). ITV’s smash-hit comedy celebrates a decade of fun, having followed the ensemble cast of holidaymakers and staff for 10 series since it first broadcast in 2007.

Details: atgtickets.com

2 BALLET

Manon, Milton Keynes Theatre, October 24 to 27

English National Ballet brings a classic masterpiece to Milton Keynes Theatre, by one of Britain’s leading choreographers. Famous for its expressive choreography and dramatic challenge, Manon features some of the most demanding and fulfilling roles in ballet, bringing period drama to life through dance.

Details: atgtickets.com/MiltonKeynes

3 MUSIC

Jackson Live in Concert, Milton Keynes Theatre, October 21

CJ is one of the most experienced Michael Jackson tribute artists in the world today. He’s joined on the stage by his band and dancers, who work their way through all the hits.

Details: atgtickets.com/MiltonKeynes

4 THEATRE

Princess Charming, The Place, Bedford, October 21

This topical exploration of gender identity and stereotypes for children aged seven to 11 provides children a voice and families the opportunity to take part in an important discussion. Through cabaret, sticker books, song and dance, and even acrobatics, performers Charlotte Worthing and Alexander Luttley aim to inspire audiences to find the courage to defy expectations.

Details: www.theplacebedford.org.uk

5 FAMILY

Big Beats Little Feet, Corn Exchange, Bedford, October 22

Big Beats Little Feet launch their first Bedford party, with a Kids vs Adults Silent Disco. The immersive three-hour event includes wireless headphones and three DJs playing simultaneously, with a children’s channel, a channel for the grown-ups and a party classics channel.

Details: bedfordcornexchange.co.uk

6 MUSIC

The Little Mix Experience, Bedford Corn Exchange, October 24

Back by popular demand after a sell-out show in 2017, the Little Mix Experience returns to Bedford Corn Exchange for a half-term treat.

Details: bedfordcornexchange.co.uk

7 THEATRE

Spamalot, Grove Theatre, Dunstable, October 19 and 20

Spamalot won a Tony award in 2005 for Best New Musical and has been wowing audiences ever since. As well as the quirky humour of the Pythons, it has a rich score, from the soaring and stirring Find Your Grail to the comical The Song That Goes Like This. The show is presented by Dunstable Musical Theatre Company.

Details: grovetheatre.co.uk

8 MAGIC

Jamie Raven: Making Magic, Grove Theatre, Dunstable, October 23

Expect the very unexpected, and to laugh as much as you are mystified as Jamie Raven shows exactly how, for 25 years, he has been ‘making magic’. The lovable magician headlined the West End smash The Illusionists and promises to take audiences on a journey through the magical world in which he operates, explaining how magic works, why magic works and what it means to so many different types of people.

Details: grovetheatre.co.uk

9 MUSIC

Tim Ridout and Jâms Coleman, Bear Club, Luton, October 22

Luton Music’s concert season continues with this viola and pianist duo, performing works by Bach, Schumann, Britten and Brahms.

Details: www.lutonmusic.org.uk

10 THEATRE SCREENING

King Lear, Grove Theatre, Dunstable, October 22

Ian McKellen will star in the title role in Shakespeare’s tragedy, recorded at the National Theatre. King Lear sees two ageing fathers reject the children, who truly love them. Their blindness unleashes a tornado of pitiless ambition and treachery.

Details: grovetheatre.co.uk