Northants Police cars take part in Movember

Image by Northants Police. Available here.

Northants Police vehicles are set to have moustaches in order to support the International 'Movember' Movement.

Throughout November, police cars in the county will don a moustache with the hope of encouraging others to take part. 

Inspector Ian Wills, from the force's roads policing unit, said: "It's great that we can use our vehicles to raise awareness of Movember.

"The whole Movember movement was created to highlight the issue of men's health and encourage people to talk more openly about the issue.

"Having moustaches on our cars will hopefully encourage men across Northamptonshire to take part by growing their own moustaches and raising money."

Movember has managed to raise more than £340 million across the world since 2003, helping to improve the lives of men affected by prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health problems.

Surrounding counties will also take part, with police vehicles in Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire will also wear moustaches for the month.

The forces have challenged residents who spot any of the cars parked by the side of the road to Tweet pictures of them using the hashtag #MoPo. Motorists have been warned however not to take pictures of the vehicles while driving.

By Stephen Matthews

Man struck with baseball bat in Kettering

A 23 year old man from Kettering received serious head injuries after being hit with a baseball bat on Cedar Road.

The victim tried to intervene in an altercation between two men at around 9pm on Saturday, 25th October, but whilst doing so he was struck on the back of his head with a baseball bat.

He received treatment at Kettering General Hospital, but was later transferred to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford with serious head injuries.

The offender is described as a white man in his late twenties with untidy shoulder-length hair.

A man has been arrested in connection with the incident, and has been released on bail pending further enquiries.

Witnesses or anyone with any information can call the police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

By Stephen Matthews

Kettering shop severely damaged in JCB attack

Photo by Ryan Wells

A shop in Kettering has been severely damaged after thieves rammed a JCB through the front of the building.

Budgens, on St Stephen's Road, Ise Lodge was left 'severely structurally damaged' after thieves attempted to remove the cash machine from the front of the store.

Officers were called to the scene just before 4am on Monday, October 27th after numerous reports of a break-in.

Detective Sergeant Nick Cobley said: “This incident has left the shop severely structurally damaged so we are not letting anybody into the building at the moment and we are guarding the scene to make sure the public remain safe.

“We have recovered the yellow JCB which was used to break into the building. We believe this vehicle, along with a 4x4 which was possibly green, was stolen by the thieves before they carried out the robbery.

“We would encourage anyone who saw what happened in St Stephen's Road in the early hours of this morning, or who knows anything about the two stolen vehicles, to contact us as soon as possible.”

Witnesses, or anyone with information about the incident, can call Northamptonshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

By Stephen Matthews