A series of knife sweeps were carried out across parks in the Borough by Bedford Borough Council’s Community Safety Team.
Council officers carefully searched areas in Bedford Park, Russell Park and Addison Howard Park in Kempston during three afternoons in May.
The recent knife sweeps help to keep parks and open spaces in the Borough free from hidden or discarded weapons, and continue to keep them a safe space for everyone to enjoy.
During the latest searches, Council officers did not find any concealed weapons or hazardous items.
This latest initiative is part of the Council’s commitment to tackle serious violence together with community partner, the Bedfordshire Violence and Exploitation Prevention Partnership (VEPP).
The knife sweeps also formed part of Operation Sceptre; a biannual national campaign aimed at reducing knife crime and serious violence across the UK.
Find out more about how Bedford Borough Council works with its partners to tackle violence and exploitation at https://bedsvepp.org/
Councillor Andrea Spice, Portfolio Holder for Economic Prosperity, Planning, Housing and Regulatory Services said; “To help minimise and combat serious violence in our Borough, our officers coordinated three knife sweeps in our parks to keep our well-loved green spaces free from weapons and dangerous items.
“We are determined to keep Bedford Borough safe for all and I am pleased to say that our officers did not find any targeted objects in the latest searches.
“We will continue to work closely with our community partners to ensure everyone across the Borough, young and old, is supported and continues to feel safe.”
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Keeping Bedford safe with series of knife sweeps
Origi on the private training sessions which led to Champions League glory
Former Liverpool forward Divock Origi has announced his retirement from professional football on Monday afternoon – even though he is just 31Divock Origi (Image: (Jan Kruger – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images))Divock Origi brought the curtain down on a career defined by iconic goals and major honours on Monday. And one of the forward’s most iconic moments in a Liverpool shirt had been months in the making.Origi wrote his name into the Anfield history books when he scored his side’s second goal in the 2-0 Champions League victory over Tottenham Hotspur in 2019. However, just a month before that game, the Belgium international starred with two goals, including the decider, when Liverpool beat Barcelona 4-0 in their Champions League semi-final second leg to overturn a three-goal deficit.And taking up the story of how things unfolded in the run up to the Reds winning the European Cup for a sixth time, Origi revealed that not only had he been due to leave Anfield for Wolverhampton Wanderers a couple of months before, but he had also visualised his big moment during private training sessions he was doing to improve his finishing.“When I came back from Wolfsburg, I was supposed to leave Liverpool,” he wrote in a special The Players’ Tribune. “Wolverhampton came with an offer of 30 million, and it made sense to go. I was out of the team. I wasn’t playing at all.“But when I prayed about it, for some reason it didn’t feel right. Something kept telling me to stay. And that’s when my faith kicked in. I can’t explain it, but I just felt like Liverpool was where God wanted me to be. I thought, It might not make sense now, but something good will come from this.“I stayed in Liverpool, and the first six months were extremely tough. Like I said, I wasn’t playing. I was doing heavy 5ks when I wasn’t in the matchday squad. Even during the 11 v 11 games at training I couldn’t participate. I had to be on the sidelines watching.“But Klopp was always there. I knew he believed in me. He’d always say, “Hey, keep training like this. Keep going.”“In private, I was training even more than anyone knew. It was like a little secret. The team used to train in the afternoon, and in the morning, I’d go to this little pitch in the city, and like every other day, I would go and just practice finishing — nothing but finishing. When the sun was rising, I’d load my balls up in the car, and I’d go on the pitch, hoping that there weren’t too many people there. I’d be praying no paparazzi snapped me. This little facility had six synthetic pitches. Sometimes you could rent all six, but usually not. And you put two small goals in the corner, and you had the big goal. And it was all about precision…… Now, visualize a moment, and finish.Divock Origi celebrates with Fabinho after scoring the fourth goal during the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg between Liverpool and Barcelona(Image: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)“You visualize it, you finish. You visualize it, you finish.“Like that for an hour. I was doing this in October, when I wasn’t even in the main team. But that drilling over and over, just transformed me. That gave me a different type of composure, beyond just being calm. It was like a focus. I started to really master my gift. At some point I was finishing on my left foot almost as well as my right.“Laces inside. Finish. Laces outside. Finish. Just simple.“Fast forward, and it’s the 2019 Champions League semifinals versus Barca at Anfield. It’s pure chaos. Liverpool went into it down 3-0. We had injuries. And Klopp put me in.“You visualize it, you finish. You visualize it, you finish. You visualize it, you finish.“The rest is history — our history. By the end of that year, I was a Champions League winner. And I’m the one that scored one of the two goals.”Divock Origi celebrates with the trophy after the UEFA Champions League finalOrigi agreed to move to the Reds in the summer of 2014 from Lille but remained with the French team on loan for another season.But the Belgium international was restricted to just 175 appearances during his time at Anfield – of which he only made 68 starts.However, many of his 41 goals during that time were memorable, including six derby strikes against Everton, a brace in the Champions League semi-final comeback against Barcelona in 2019 and the clinching goal in the subsequent final against Tottenham Hotspur.Joining AC Milan on a free transfer at the end of his Liverpool contract in 2022, the striker endured a difficult time at the San Siro, making only 36 senior appearances and scoring twice before leaving in December.He also had stints with Wolfsburg and Nottingham Forest and earned 32 caps for Belgium, scoring three goals. He retires from professional football at the age of just 31.FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE! All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo’s dedicated LFC Facebook page
Two primary schools set to open in 2027 in Leicestershire
The county council said money from the authority and Section 106 developer contributions would be used to fund the school in Garendon Park, which it added would be the first of two primary schools in the 3,200-home housing development.It said Broadnook Primary School would be built using Section 106 developer contributions from Davidsons and Cora Homes to serve the housing development, which is currently being built.Councillor Charles Pugsley, cabinet member for children and families, said: “Our school organisation team worked brilliantly to ensure that we have the right number of school places on both developments to help our growing county.”It’s great that we’ve reached the stage now where we’re inviting academy trusts to express their interest in running these future schools, and I’m confident that we’ll see lots of interest and a competitive process, so children get the best possible education.”The council added it would invite academies to apply to run the proposed SEND school in Husbands Bosworth.It said it was carrying out engagement with residents with a view to submitting a planning application to Harborough District Council.
Turner Prize nominee unveils artwork at new Cambridge South station
Mark Titchner’s installation will welcome passengers when the station opens later this monthTurner Prize nominee’s artwork unveiled at stationAuthor: Emma SmithPublished 5 minutes agoLast updated 4 minutes agoA public artwork by Turner Prize nominee Mark Titchner has been installed at the new Cambridge South railway station ahead of its opening on 28 June.The piece, called Together We, has been fitted to the station’s stairway balustrades and explores themes of movement, connection and community.Titchner, who was nominated for the Turner Prize in 2006, drew inspiration from physician William Harvey, a former University of Cambridge student who was the first to identify the circulation of blood around the body.The artwork was commissioned by GBR Anglia and the station project team, with Network Rail saying it reflects both human circulatory systems and the movement of people through transport networks.Titchner said he hopes the installation will offer travellers “moments of reflection” during their journeys.As part of the project, the artist will also work with pupils at three Cambridge primary schools to create posters inspired by the artwork.Cambridge South station, next to Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, will become the city’s third railway station when it opens later this month.
Knife crime drops by 12% in Cheshire, says deputy commissioner
Recent efforts target knife crime among young peopleAuthor: Adam SmithPublished 4 hours agoLast updated 4 hours agoKnife crime incidents in Cheshire have decreased by 12 per cent compared to the previous year, with 508 serious offences recorded in 2025, according to Deputy Police Commissioner Gemma Southern.Southern shared the update at a recent meeting responding to queries from the police and crime panel, which monitors the work of the commissioner’s office.The panel had raised questions about the current strategies the commissioner’s office is deploying to address knife crime, particularly among young people.Southern noted Cheshire ranks as having the 11th lowest knife crime rate per 100,000 population in the UK.Recent CampaignsA week-long national campaign aimed at reducing knife crime last month resulted in the recovery of over 250 knives and bladed articles across Cheshire.”This year’s campaign saw a particular focus on children and young people,” Southern said.Authorities and community partners visited 38 schools and youth organisations across Cheshire, delivering educational sessions and demonstrations on the dangers of knife crime and gang culture.Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.
Operating theatre staff to strike over overtime pay cut
Operating theatre staff to strike over overtime pay cut
By Lee Peart
08 June 2026
Operating theatre staff at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have voted to strike over a cut in overtime payments.
c) Niek Verlaan/Pixabay
UNISON said the trust’s move to standard bank overtime rates from the previous agreement to pay staff time and a half beyond their 37.5 hours a week will leave workers around £120 out of pocket per shift.
Elaine Inacio, a senior theatre assistant at Bedford Hospital, said: ‘Staff aren’t asking for anything extra, just the pay we were on before.
‘It’s already stressful enough working in operating theatres, but morale has absolutely plummeted since this pay cut.
‘Nobody wants to go on strike, but we’ve been left with no choice.’
A spokesperson for Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: ‘We value our theatre teams enormously and fully recognise the skill, commitment and pressure involved in their roles. We are sorry that some colleagues feel distressed by the recent changes, and we are continuing to meet with staff and trade union representatives to listen to their concerns and to ensure they have all the correct information in relation to the changes.
‘Earlier this year, the trust standardised overtime and additional‑hours payments for theatre staff so that all colleagues are paid consistently and in line with national NHS Agenda for Change arrangements.
‘This followed a lengthy and formal consultation process, including individual discussions with affected staff and engagement with trade unions and ACAS. These changes were not made lightly. They were introduced to ensure fairness across our workforce, to bring legacy local arrangements in line with trust‑wide standards, and to support the long‑term sustainability of our services. We remain committed to working constructively with UNISON and our theatre teams, and we hope to avoid any industrial action. Our priority is always to maintain safe, high‑quality care for patients while supporting our staff as much as possible.’Beverley Knight tour to be ‘world’s first’ with Auracast dates available
Six dates on Beverley Knight’s ‘Born to Perform’ tour will have Bluetooth’s Auracast available, in what’s being described as “the world’s first live music tour” to offer the technology.Unlike standard pairing, Auracast allows for an “unlimited” number of compatible devices – including hearing aids, headphones and earbuds – to connect to one audio broadcast.
The assistive listening technology has already been installed at the National Theatre and Sydney Opera House, and trialled at Bristol Temple Meads station and Frankfurt Airport.
It’s estimated that over a million venues will offer “inclusive listening experiences” with Auracast by 2029.
The “Shoulda Woulda Coulda” singer and theatre star – whose mother is a cochlear implant user – shared the news in a post to her Instagram account on Monday, in which she wrote that she is “excited to see the possibilities of this new technology”.
She said: “Over the years my mum lost the ability to hear, and now wears a cochlear implant. Following along to conversations in everyday life and listening to gigs has proved to be a challenge.
“I spoke to my Sound engineer Adam Waller who did some thinking, and I am proud to say that along with his company Open Door Audio I am able to present a series of shows on my Born To Perform tour which are suitable for a brand new technology called Auracast.
“It allows folks with hearing devices such as cochlear implants to experience a gig with a clarity that was until now unimaginable.”
The first Auracast-enabled show of the tour will take place on Tuesday in Bath, with the technology also available for performances in Bristol (19 June), London (21 June), Southend-on-Sea (23 June), Cardiff (27 June) and Wolverhampton (30 June).
Open Door Audio added: “Open Door Audio is proud to partner with Beverley Knight’s Born to Perform tour to become the world’s first live music tour to offer Auracast broadcast audio at selected venues.”
Fans attending the six Auracast-enabled venues are invited to register their interest in the technology via a Google form, with those going to dates where Auracast is not yet available also encouraged to submit a response.
“If people register their interest at other venues, we’ll do our very best to extend availability across additional dates on the tour,” the form reads.
Images: Lewis Shaw.
Man denies murdering De Montfort University student near campus
A man has pleaded not guilty to murdering a student near a university campus in Leicester. Harper Dennis, 18, appeared at Leicester Crown Court charged with killing De Montfort University (DMU) student Khaleed Oladipo on 3 February.Oladipo died in hospital after being found in Oxford Street having suffered stab wounds.On Monday, Dennis, of Bath Lane in Leicester, pleaded not guilty to murder, possession of an offensive weapon and failing to comply with a Section 49 notice – specifically failing to disclose his code for his phone.
Cambridgeshire construction company enters liquidation after nearly 19 years
A liquidator has been appointedThe company specialised in construction and civil engineering (stock image)(Image: PA)A Cambridgeshire based company has entered into liquidation after nearly 19 years, according to the London Gazette. D & L Groundworks Limited, specialising in construction and civil engineering, based in Whittlesey, entered liquidation in April.A Winding-Up Notice was published in the London Gazette on April 8. A liquidator has been appointed.The Gazette states that it is a ‘Creditors’ liquidation. Molly Monks of Parker Walsh has been appointed as liquidator of the company for the purposes of the voluntary winding-up.Companies House confirmed that the business is now in liquidation. Documents show that the company, of Peterborough Road, Whittlesey, was registered in June 2007.The company previously traded under the name ‘DLP Groundworks Ltd’. It has two current listed directors: Lesley Jane Page and Darren Michael Page, both of Peterborough Road.A notice on London Gazette states: “At a General Meeting of the Members of the above-named Company [D & L Groundworks Limited], duly convened, and held at Suite C, Victoria House, Bramhall, Cheshire SK7 2BE on 1 April 2026 at 10.00 am the following resolutions were passed by the Members as a Special resolution and as an Ordinary resolution:”That the Company be wound up voluntarily and that Molly Monks (IP No. 19830) of Parker Walsh, Suite C, Victoria House, Bramhall, Cheshire SK7 2BE be appointed Liquidator of the Company.”
Staffordshire County Council encourages residents to celebrate unpaid carers with award nominations
People in Staffordshire are being invited to nominate unpaid carers for this year’s Dignity in Care Awards. Staffordshire County Council is calling on residents to submit nominations to the annual Staffordshire Dignity in Care Awards, which aim to celebrate individuals who go above and beyond to support others.The call for nominations – including for dedicated category recognising unpaid carers – coincides with Carers Week, which runs from 8 to 14 June and recognises carers across the country. The county council revealed that in Staffordshire, around 82,000 people, nearly 10 per cent of residents, provide unpaid care each week, including more than 1,600 young carers. Their contribution is estimated to be worth £2.6 billion a year. Martin Rogerson, Cabinet Member for Health and Care at Staffordshire County Council, said: “Unpaid carers are at the heart of our communities, providing vital support to loved ones every single day. “Carers Week is an important moment to recognise their contribution, but also to highlight the support available to them. “Through the Dignity in Care Awards, we want to shine a spotlight on these everyday heroes and ensure they feel valued and appreciated.” The Dignity in Care Awards celebrate those who support adults only and all nominations must relate to care delivered to a Staffordshire resident. This includes providers based outside the county, such as those in Stoke-on-Trent or any organisation delivering care to a Staffordshire resident.
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Carers Week is a national campaign raising awareness of caring and the challenges unpaid carers face, while highlighting their vital role in communities. The county council ahas also directed unpaid carers towards local support available through Staffordshire Together for Carers, which works with partners to provide advice, information and practical help to adult and young carers across the county. Support can include short breaks, counselling, opportunities to meet other carers and advice on benefits carers might be entitled to. Nominations for The Dignity in Care Awards close on 1 July and applications can be made here.
