This week The Bucks Herald explored the issue of adult social care - and the problems faced by Bucks County Council to provide services for an increasing aging population.
When I started on local newspapers a decade ago we would think nothing of challenging councils on seemingly needless or cruel cuts to services. 
We frequently highlighted where money was being wasted, and where not enough money was being spent - it was an important part of our job. 
That was no matter what the political persuasion of the council or councillor involved, and local newspapers pride themselves on their political neutrality. 
But times have changed for our councils - and after rounds and rounds of government imposed cuts, which last year resulted in a complete slash of the government grant for Bucks County Council - it is clear that all services are being stripped back to the bone. This is bad news for local people - especially our most vulnerable and it is the government’s fault.

We live in the seventh richest country on earth, yet our government has no clear plan on how to take care of our elderly and disabled people - just to throw the problem at the door of our beleaguered councils. They have the money to do it - but it seems to me like they would rather impose conditions like this on the poorest and most vulnerable in this country than treat everyone equally.

Wages in many sectors have not increased in line with inflation, and many people are struggling to 
make ends meet - so with less money around for even the better-off people to pay for things like private health care it’s more important than ever that our public services are serving their all important purpose.

So this week this newspaper is calling on the government to do its job and take its responsibilty to everyone seriously. 
Because the issue of adult social care will affect every one of us in our lifetime - and we all deserve respect no matter what our circumstances.

You can email me your views to hayley.okeeffe@jpress.co.uk or give me a call on 01296 619718 - I’m on Twitter too - @misshoknews

Well-known and popular kebab van owner Resul Atalay is bidding to retain an award he won last year - and wants one lucky customer to celebrate with him.

Resul, who has been serving up delicious food on North Street for 25 years, is hoping to win the ‘Best Kebab Van of the Year’ title at the UK Kebab Awards next month.

Voting is open until Thursday, February 22 - so visit his Facebook page at goo.gl/pwKSVm to find out how to vote.

Meanwhile, Resul is running a competition on his Facebook page where one lucky voter and a plus one can accompany him to the awards ceremony in London on Monday, March 12. This competition is open for entries until Monday, March 5.

The winner and plus one must be available to leave Thame at 3pm and return late on Monday, March 12 and that they have voted at https://goo.gl/6CxWkF

Resul’s kebab van has many supporters and some of the comments made include:

“Not only is the service fantastic, the cleanliness of the van exceptional, presentation of staff immaculate, the food is top quality. Well done team, your award is justly deserved.”

“The food sold there is awesome, fantastic value for money. The staff are awesome and always ask how customers are and really take an interest in them.”

Another supporter said: “It would only be fitting that Resul Atalay, of Atalay’s Kebabs in Thame, would seek to defend his much-deserved title of ‘Best Kebab Van of the year 2017’, and that is exactly what he’s doing. The increased custom, and transition to a new van, has certainly not seen a drop in quality and support has been pouring in from Thame and the surrounding area with the public once again entrusting their votes to Resul and his team.

“We’d like to once again wish Resul and his team the best of luck.”

The 2018 awards will take place on Monday, March 12 at the Park Plaza Hotel in London.

For your chance to win an all expenses paid trip to the UK Kebab Awards 2018 all you need to do is visit Resul’s Facebook page and follow the instructions.

The winner will be announced on March 5.

The winner’s all expenses paid covers travel, food and drink at the event and the ticket price of a seat for the awards. No cash alternative is available.

Thame Chamber Choir will be making a noise - a joyful one though.

The choir’s concert in St Mary’s Church, Thame, on Saturday, March 10, entitled ‘Make a Joyful Noise’, includes masterpieces by Byrd, Haydn – a chorus from ‘The Creation’ – and Mendelssohn, and features the famous ‘Miserere’ by Allegri.

The choir will be directed by Duncan Aspden.

This so impressed the 14-year-old Mozart that, having heard it during a visit to Rome, he is reported to have later written out the whole piece from memory!

These pieces, and all the music in the concert, are settings of Psalms, and the programme also includes former Lord Williams’s School pupil Howard Goodall’s version of ‘The Lord is my Shepherd’, better known as the signature tune for TV’s ‘The Vicar of Dibley’.

Tickets for the concert cost £12, concessions £10, and are free for under 18s. They are available from the Book House, Thame High Street, call 213032, and at the door.

For further information contact Peter Smith on 01844 212900, 07785 258156, or email peter@pjs-marketing.co.uk

The search is on for local heroes as nominations are needed for the 10th Thame Town Awards

There are people all around Thame who help their neighbours, support local groups or go out of their way for others to make the community a safer, more vibrant and happier place to live.

The Town Awards scheme has been recognising and celebrating those exceptional people in our community for 10 years and each year, members of the public are invited to nominate their local unsung heroes for an award.

Nominations are needed this year for individuals and groups who have made a special contribution to life in Thame. This could be a volunteer, a teacher, a shop assistant, a friend, a teammate, a doctor, a committee member – the list is endless.

This year there are five categories in which you can make a nomination:

Sporting Achievement -sponsored by Thame Leisure Centre

Do you know someone who deserves a gold medal for their commitment to a sports club in Thame? Perhaps a player or team who excels in their sport or someone who goes above and beyond to support their team from the side-lines.

Volunteer of the Year - sponsored by Thame Freight Services

Thame thrives on those individuals and organisations who selflessly give their time to help others in our community. From event organisers and fundraisers to friendly neighbours and volunteers, there are plenty to choose from but who do you think deserves to be awarded Volunteer of the Year?

Lifetime Achievement - sponsored by the Town Awards Panel

This award is for those in our community who have made a significant contribution to Thame over an extended period of time. A friendly face who is always supporting community events and local causes, or perhaps someone who has provided many years’ service to an organisation or business in our community. This award can be made posthumously.

Service with a Smile - sponsored by Atalay Kebab Van

There are so many individuals and businesses who consistently provide a friendly service in Thame, but who do you know that should be recognised for it? We’re not just looking for shop assistants – we also want to hear about opticians, carers, cleaners and doctors, to name but a few.

Creative Arts Achievement - sponsored by Towersey Festival

A person of any age who excels in the creative arts or contributes to the creativity of our town. This award covers a wide range of people – from the star of the show to the behind-the-scenes team and everyone in between.

To date, the Town Awards panel has awarded 54 Town Awards to local people.

One of last year’s winners, Ian Blyth, was delighted with his Sporting Achievement award.

He said: “I was shocked and surprised that I had been nominated to receive the 2017 Sporting Achievement Award. The nomination made me feel very proud that I had been recognised for all my hard work with Thame Swimming Club. I was not expecting to receive the award. The Town Awards event was well organised and held in a friendly and warm atmosphere which made the evening thoroughly enjoyable for all the award recipients.”

How to nominate:

Visit www.thametowncouncil.gov.uk/town-awards and complete the online form, or pop in to the Town Hall Information Centre and pick up a nomination form. Be sure to follow the Town Awards Facebook page ‘Thame Town Awards’ and on Twitter #ThameAwards to be one of the first to find out who has won a Town Award this year. The nomination period starts on Monday, February 26 and runs until 5pm on Thursday, March 29, 2018. Please visit www.thametowncouncil.gov.uk/town-awards for terms and conditions.

Donations to two good causes in Thame have been made following funds raised over the festive season.

Thame Concert Band accompanied more than 800 people and families singing traditional carols in what has become a popular event on Christmas Eve in Thame town centre.

The annual Christmas carols around the tree event has now run for 12 years. Members of Barley Hill Church organised mulled wine and mince pies, helped by a grant from ‘Thame Music in the Park’.

Donations collected from the audience raised over £600 and this was donated to two local good causes and a presentation of the cheques has been made.

Conductor of the band Callum Rookes presented a cheque to Thame Youth Café manager Nick Francis. TYC is a hub for young people aged 11 - 16 in Thame run by volunteers who support them, provides a safe environment for them to meet, enjoy a variety of activities and enjoy some refreshments.

Fiona Lindsay presented a cheque to John Hulett, trustee of the Red Kite family Centre.

Thame Concert Band are now busy rehearsing for their next concert on April 7 at Christchurch at 4pm.

Entitled ‘Young at Heart’ music will feature Harry Potter, Toy Story, How to train your Dragon and many more. Tickets are £5 for adults, free for children and all are welcome. Call 07834 809246.

The band is also seeking new players to join the band. It is a friendly group so whether you are an experienced player or a bit rusty, you are welcome to get in touch. The band meets at Christchurch in Thame on a Tuesday evening. Visit www.thameconcertband.org.uk

A Raleigh Traveller bicycle ridden by Lady Diana Spencer fetched £9,200 at an auction in Thame.

It was among a number of lots up for sale at the first auction run by Farnon and Lake at the Masonic Hall on Saturday, February 17, and soared past its guide price of £1,500.

A 1967 AC Cobra went under the hammer just shy of £23,000 and will be going to its new home this week.

Lady Diana Spencer’s bicycle will have a new home at a private collection in Hertfordshire.

A spokeswoman for the auctioneers said: “It will be lovingly preserved for future generations and is now regarded as a family heirloom. The new owner said he has no interest or desire to sell the bicycle to cash in or make any form of profit from it. It was purchased solely for the preservation of a key moment in the life of Lady Diana Spencer, just prior to her becoming the Princess of Wales, and he is delighted to have played his part in preserving it for the future.”

The new owner explained that he owns a building dedicated to significant cultural memorabilia and that this building is where the bicycle will be stored and displayed for his personal enjoyment.

Demand surrounding the auction has led Farnon and Lake to add another date in the diary. Lots are now being taken for the sale on Saturday, April 14.

For details of all future auctions and to talk to the team about the private brokerage service available, visit www.farnonandlake.com, email on enquire@farnonandlake.com or call directly on 0207 415 7050.

A new cricket academy will be opening in Thame this spring which aims to develop the game for young players in the area.

The project has been driven by former professional cricketer Manoj Parmar and will be known as the MP Cricket Academy Sports Field.

Plans have been passed for a 12-acre site on Kingsey Road and facilities will include two cricket pitches, four nets, a pavilion and car parking, and will have access from Towersey Road.

Former India and Oxfordshire player and MCC member, Mr Parmar says the emphasis is providing playing facilities which offer greater access to the sport for players from under five years to 19, including weekends.

Plans are being made to open the new sports ground at a special event planned for Sunday, April 22.

Mr Parmar said: “The most important part of this is for youth to get the chance to play every day, evenings and weekends. It’s a great opportunity and great news for the town.”

A project that was started four years ago became a reality when plans were passed recently by Thame Town Council and South Oxfordshire District Council.

With more than 30 years of dedication to the game and in coaching, Mr Parmar, a qualified ECB level 3 coach, will be teaching all aspects surrounding the game and hopes to see talented players go on into club level amd help the heritage game flourish. Junior cricket teams will be welcome to visit.

Mr Parmar added: “I would like to pay special thanks to Thame Town Council, Joe Middleton and planner Jake Collinge for making this all possible.”

He is now asking for sponsors to support the project. A detailed timetable for all age groups will be available at www.mpsportscricketacademy.co.uk

Contact Mr Parmar at manojparmar565@hotmail.com

Central England Co-op has today announced that it is putting in place an age limit for sales of energy drinks with high caffeine levels.

From March 1, customers who buy energy drinks that contain 150mg or more caffeine per litre will be asked to prove that they are over the age of 16.

The Society has decided to take this voluntary decision after speaking to dozens of parents and teachers about their growing concerns that more and more youngsters are drinking these products.

This decision falls in line with industry labelling guidelines, which require any soft drink with more than 150 mg of caffeine per litre to carry a high caffeine content warning and state it is not recommended for children.

Hannah Gallimore, Central England Co-op Corporate Responsibility manager, said: “We pride ourselves on being a responsible and ethical retailer based at the heart of our communities and after receiving feedback from teachers and parents we knew we had to act.

“This decision will ensure that strict guidelines are in place to prevent young people under the age of 16 buying these products in line with industry labelling guidelines.

“High caffeine energy drinks carry advice stating that they should not be consumed by children, we hope that our decision to put this voluntary sales age limit in place will help address concerns associated with these drinks being consumed by under 16s.”

Bitterly cold weather is on the way in the coming days and the Met Office has issued a warning to mobile phone users.

The weather service has this morning issued a Yellow Warning for snow for much of the country and the wintry blast could affect your phone signal.

Mobile phone networks could be affected by the big freeze

The weather warning states: “Power cuts may occur and other services, such as mobile phones, may be affected.”

Sub-zero temperatures which are going to grip the country next week can cause power cables to break and cause power outages.

These outages in turn can lead to a loss of mobile phone signal.

We took a visit to the New Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham to visit Shrek the Musical.

We saw some of the props, costumes, set and wigs for the show and also chatted to the actor Laura Main who plays Princess Fiona in the show.

The show runs from March 14-25 at Northampton's Royal and Derngate and Milton Keynes Theatre from July 25 to August 5. Visit here for the Northampton dates or here for the Milton Keynes dates.

The gaming world is slowly starting to wake up for 2018 as we head into March but February had a few little surprises up its sleeve.

Far Cry 5 heads up a busy March but there have been a few tidbits of cool gaming news to keep us interested this month.

First up is word that Sega is working on a new racer, with Sumo Digital believed to be behind the game.

For weeks now rumours have been building that British developer Sumo Digital, who worked on Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing and Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, are developing a new kart-based racer for Sega.

The rumours began when an obsessive fan found a set of Sumo’s presentational slides online, which stated the company was working on an ‘unannounced karting game’, that is an ‘established global IP’ and ‘original development’ (i.e. not a port).

Given Sumo’s background that alone was enough to suggest a new Sonic game, but then earlier in the month a toy company named Zappies claimed that a new Sonic racing game was on the way and that they were making toys for it... sooooooo.

Other exciting news this week came from EA which announced Burnout Paradise Remastered will become available on the PS4 and Xbox One on March 16th.

Players will be transported back into the world of Paradise City to tear it up in the ultimate driving playground, from hectic downtown avenues to the wild mountain roads in one of the most popular arcade-driving games ever created.

Burnout Paradise includes the original base game and the eight add-on game packs released during the Year of Paradise, including the extension to the drivable world with Big Surf Island.

Burnout Paradise Remastered also features a range of technical enhancements with high resolution textures for players to explore Paradise City in 4K with supporting 60FPS on PS4 Pro and Xbox One X.

Asda is bidding to make Easter accessible to those who don’t like chocolate with a festive egg made entirely out of cheese.

The new “Cheester Egg”, is being hailed by cheese-lovers as a watershed moment in the history of Easter, with some on social media calling it “the stuff dreams are made of”.

Recent statistics revealed 60 per cent of Brits would choose cheese over chocolate, so Asda responded by creating a confection to make cheese fans everywhere drool.

The cheesy wonder has been crafted using Blacksticks Blue Cheese and is made using freshly sourced milk and traditional Farmhouse Dairy methods. On top of this, it comes complete with its own sachet of sweet caramelised onion chutney and a selection of mini oatcake crackers.

Twitter frenzy It wasn’t long before eager fans of the egg took to Twitter to voice their excitement.

Aleina V wrote: “For someone who doesn’t eat chocolate this sounds amazing. Where can I buy this from?”

Lauren Knight said: “Step aside chocolate: it’s all about this cheese Easter egg now.”

But not everyone seemed so happy at the advent of the savoury treat.

Scott Wilks posted a photo of the egg to Twitter, saying: “This is NOT made from chocolate the way Jesus intended!!!! DO NOT BUY THIS!!!”

‘Something for everyone this Easter’ Jo Miller, Asda’s head of cheese added: “We’re so excited to launch the Cheester Egg. “Following the incredible response to our Christmas cheese advent calendar, the Cheester Egg was the obvious next step to show our customers that we’re constantly listening and ensuring there’s something for everyone at Asda this Easter.”

James Clapham, commercial manager of Butlers Farmhouse Cheeses, says: “We’re a nation of cheese fanatics, so we know consumers will love the Cheester Egg. “It’s an un-expected yet delicious twist on a traditional Easter favourite, and we can’t wait for Asda customers to enjoy our handmade quality blue cheese.” Asda said they will be launching the egg in their stores imminently, so keep your eyes peeled or they might all brie gone. This piece originally appeared in our sister site, iNews.

There will be a TV licence fee increase from April 1, the Government has announced.

The annual fee for BBC programming will rise to £150.50 from £147.

Last year saw the first rise since 2010, and the fee is set to rise in line with inflation for five years. The licence fee applies to anyone watching or recording TV programmes as they are shown on TV, or watching or downloading BBC programmes via iPlayer.

The charge applies whether a TV set, computer, or any other equipment is used. Anyone buying or renewing a licence after April 1 will pay the new fee, while those already buying a licence on an instalment scheme which started before April 1 – such as monthly direct debit or weekly cash payments – will continue to make payments to a total of £147 until their licence comes up for renewal.

Licence fee payers will receive a payment plan or reminder reflecting the new amount when their licence is next due for renewal. TV Licensing, who collect the licence fee, will be advising fee payers due to renew in March to pay on time so that they will pay the current rate of £147.

Anyone buying a new licence before April 1 will also pay the current rate.

The following people from Aylesbury Vale and beyond have recently been sentenced at magistrates courts in the county.

Wycombe Magistrates Court

February 12:

Vincent Connors, 21, Tennyson Road, Aylesbury: drunk and disorderly behaviour in Buckingham Street, Aylesbury. Fined £440, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £44 and costs of £150 to the CPS.

Michaela Almond, 23, Coxhill Way, Aylesbury: stole alcohol to the value of £128 from Sainsburys. Committed to prison for four months. Ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £115.

Stole alcohol to the value of £56 from Sainsburys. Committed to prison for four months concurrent.

Stole alcohol to the value of £98 from Sainsburys. Committed to prison for four months concurrent.

Stole alcohol to the value of £180 from Sainsburys. Committed to prison for four months concurrent.

Stole alcohol to the value of £182 from Sainsburys. Committed to prison for four months concurrent.

Mihai Frone, 27, Tring Road, Aylesbury: drove a silver Vauxhall Corsa on Bicester Road, Aylesbury while over the alcohol limit. Guilty plea entered. Fined £276, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £27 and costs of £85 to the CPS. Disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Leigh Cornish, 26, Lodge Close, Padbury: used threatening or abusive words and committed disorderly behaviour at Buckingham Filling Station, Stratford Road, Buckingham. Fined £40.

Failed to appear at High Wycombe Magistrates Court after being released on bail from Aylesbury police station. Fined £40, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and costs of £85 to the CPS - total balance £195.

Shayne Baldwin, 41, Badrick Road, Aylesbury: handled stolen goods (a Honda motorbike valued at £150). Conditionally discharged for 18 months.

Stole bedding valued at £159.96 from Homesense. Conditionally discharged for 18 months and ordered to pay compensation of £159.96.

Failed to surrender to custody at High Wycombe Magistrates Court. Fined £50, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and costs of £85 to the CPS - total balance £24.96.

February 13:

Leysham Blake, 21, Stephenson Close, Aylesbury: drove a blue Golf on Wendover Road, Aylesbury, while under the influence of drugs. Fined £120, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and costs of £85 to the CPS. Disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Mark Burslem, 51, Lay Road, Aylesbury: failed to stop a Red MG after an accident with a black Audi in Clifton Green, Aylesbury. Fined £80, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and costs of £85 to the CPS.

February 14:

House of Spice Ltd, Fort End, Haddenham: complaints for liability orders for non-payment of non-domestic rates and costs for 80 defendants. 38 liability orders made. Costs of £75 added in each case. 12 liability orders withdrawn. 30 accounts paid.

Keith Robinson, Carrington Road, Aylesbury: complaint for liability orders for non-payment of council tax and costs for 694 defendants. 499 liability orders. Costs of £55 added in each case. 47 liability orders made. 148 accounts paid.

February 15:

Daniel Monk, 28, Bell Lane, Princes Risborough: took a Mini One vehicle without the owner’s consent. Fined £80 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30.

Possessed a quantity of cannabis in High Wycombe. Fined £80.

Drove a Mini One vehicle without a licence or insurance. Disqualified from driving for six months. No separate penalty.

James Walters, 26, Dukes Close, Shabbington: harassment by sending a series of WhatsApp text messages which broke a restraining order issued by High Wycombe Magistrates Court. Fined £346, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £34 and pay costs of £85 to the CPS.

February 16:

Christy Fradley, 28, Bearbrook Place, Aylesbury: Jointly with Bronte Pearson:

> Stole DVDs and CDs valued at £75.94 from the Co-Op, Fairford Leys, Aylesbury. Discharged conditionally for 18 months and ordered to pay compensation of £40.27.

> Stole drinks to the value of £4.60 from the Co-Op, Fairford Leys, Aylesbury. Discharged conditionally for 18 months.

Bronte Pearson, aged 23, Wedgewood Street, Coldharbour: Jointly with Christy Fradley

> Stole DVDs and CDs valued at £75.94 from the Co-op, Fairford Leys, Aylesbury. Discharged conditionally for 12 months. Ordered to pay compensation of £40.27.

> Stole drinks to the value of £4.60 from the Co-Op, Fairford Leys, Aylesbury. Discharged conditionally for 12 months.

Amy Brown, Swansea University

Many parents will feel a twinge of concern if their five-year-old can’t sleep without his dummy or their teenager refuses to throw out the tattered blanket she’s had since she was a baby.

The topic of comfort objects is hotly debated, with some arguing that the attachment to objects from babyhood is childish, unnecessary or even harmful. So when should you worry about your child’s reliance on comfort items?

And how can you encourage them to let go? The truth is that even adults have attachment objects. How many get comfort from a favourite jumper? Or hoard treasured objects from loved ones without second thought?

After all, a third of adults admit they can’t bear to part with their own moth-eaten childhood toy. A need for comfort is part of being human, and comfort objects remind us of feeling calm, secure and loved. Babies are born wanting to be held close.

They spend months cuddled and swayed, knowing someone will help soothe their needs. This helps them build feelings of secure attachment to a parent and confidence to go out into the world. And one day they must make that journey – whether to childcare, school or even just across the room when they start to crawl.

A parent can’t always be there to comfort them, but something that reminds them of that security can – a comforter, or, in scientific terms, a “transitional object” that bridges a link between a new situation and the comfort of home.

Although research in the 1940s considered such items a sign of poor attachment, the paediatrician and psychoanalyst Donald Winnicott later proposed that they were in fact the opposite. Rather than being an object to turn to in lieu of love and care, they were a reminder of love and security.

Although most children grow out of comfort objects by the age of four, later research has continued to back up Winnicott. One study found that kids with strong bonds to transitional objects have stronger attachment to a parent and are happier than those without.

But this effect starts to reverse as children get older. The same study showed that teens who still hold a strong attachment to a transitional object have poorer mental health.

While there is nothing wrong with keeping a comfort blanket for the fond memories it brings, still needing it on a day to day basis as a teenager, or indeed as an adult, could be a sign that something is wrong.

Some comfort objects, however, are better than others. The evidence for using dummies or bottles past 12 months is less positive.

Similarly, although babies thumb suck in the womb, if this habit is carried on past a year, problems can arise. Babies are born with an innate need to suck. When breastfeeding, sucking feeds them, calms them and increases the mother’s milk supply.

Dummies can help bottle-fed babies to suck and calm themselves. Sometimes breastfeeding mums use them, but if a baby meets its sucking needs elsewhere, this can reduce milk supply, so they aren’t recommended in the first six weeks. The subject of whether to give a baby a dummy or not can be divisive. If used carefully, they can have some benefits for young babies and are recommended at night as they may reduce risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, possibly because they stop a baby sleeping too deeply. Sucking can also sometimes help a baby with colic. But experts recommend babies should be weaned from dummies after six months.

Aside from the challenge of weaning an older baby, dummies can introduce harmful bacteria into the mouth. They can also increase the risk of ear infections, and even affect how teeth come through. Speech development can also be delayed as babies miss out on early speech practice and mispronounce words as a dummy is in the way.

Allowing children to have a bottle for comfort is also a bad idea.

Bottles are naturally associated with comfort due to the combination of food, sucking and being held close. But babies should be slowly weaned off them once they are eating solid foods and stopped by 12 months. When a baby sucks on a bottle the milk pools around their teeth and can cause cavities. Bottles can also have a similar impact to dummies on speech development and teeth. The same does not apply to breastfed babies.

There is a lot of difference in pliability between a nipple and a dummy or bottle, meaning less impact on jaw and tooth development. Nipples are also not kept in the mouth for extended periods. Finally, breastmilk is delivered to the back of the mouth rather than milk pooling around the front teeth meaning a lower risk of cavities. So those who squirm at the thought of breastfeeding past infancy but encourage a dummy are not only confused in their logic (after all, a dummy is a fake nipple) but the outcomes are potentially worse, too. Weaning babies from dummies and bottles is best started early, rather than letting it become an ingrained habit.

Start off by removing it during the day and try to offer something positive – more hugs, a book and a cuddle, or a distracting toy if they become upset. Toddlers can be persuaded with sticker charts, or swapping their dummies with the popular “dummy fairy” who brings a new toy for the “big girl or boy” instead.

The NHS has lots of guidance on weaning a child. To wean from bottles, offering babies a cup of water with meals from six months old helps them learn to drink in a different way. Once they have the hang of a cup, you can start to slowly swap bottles for cups over a few weeks.

The nighttime one can be the hardest so try to adopt a new routine to calm them down which doesn’t involve them feeding to sleep.

In short, comfort objects are normal and a great way for small children (and occasionally grown-ups) to calm and soothe themselves, and there is no need to worry about removing them. But once they can walk and talk, stick to the cuddly (or toy car) variety rather than a dummy or bottle – not least for your sanity when it comes to weaning.

Amy Brown, Associate Professor of Child Public Health, Swansea University

Royal Mail is set to raise the price of first and second class stamps by two pence this March.

From March 26 the price of a First Class stamp will increase by 2p to 67p and the price of a Second Class stamp will increase by 2p to 58p.

The price of a Large Letter First Class stamp will also rise by 3p to 101p; a Large Letter Second Class stamp will rise by 3p to 79p. Royal Mail has said that the price rises will ensure the sustainability of the Universal Postal Service.

In a statement Royal Mail said: “Royal Mail understands that many companies and households are finding it hard in the current economic environment. “As a result, we have considered any pricing changes very carefully and in doing so have sought to minimise any impact on our customers.” “These changes are necessary to help ensure the sustainability of the Universal Postal Service.”

Police are warning people about a phone scam which has left residents out of pocket.

Con-men say they are calling from BT in relation to the property’s IP address and that there is a refund due.

The victim is then asked for their bank account details so the money can be deposited. The details are then used to take money from the account.

The victims have been scammed out of a significant amount of cash.

Police advise: ►Be wary of unsolicited calls - even if the number appears to be from within the UK;

Never give any details over the phone, no matter how convincing the caller may seem; ►

If you are concerned about a call then hang-up and wait five minutes before calling another a legitimate number for BT or for your bank; ►

If you have been a victim or have received a call you should report any suspicious activity to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or visit www.actionfraud.police.uk

A police spokesman said: “If you are concerned about calls you are receiving you can block nuisance numbers by registering with the Telephone Preference Service and you can be given further advice by calling the non-emergency 101 line.”

The Met Office has increased the weather warning for snow in in our area to yellow as the country prepares for three days of freezing conditions.

A Yellow warning means severe weather is possible over the next few days and could affect you. Yellow means that you should plan ahead thinking about possible travel delays, or the disruption of your day to day activities. The Met Office is monitoring the developing weather situation and Yellow means keep an eye on the latest forecast and be aware that the weather may change or worsen, leading to disruption of your plans in the next few days.

The Met Office forecast for the week ahead:

Today:

Scattered snow showers in eastern parts will spread westwards through the day, becoming more persistent with some accumulations possible in places. These will be interspersed with some sunny intervals. Feeling very cold with a brisk and bitter easterly breeze. Maximum temperature 2 °C.

Tonight:

Showers will continue in places overnight, especially in Kent and Sussex where they will become persistent and heavy with significant accumulations likely. Very cold with a widespread severe frost forming. Minimum temperature -6 °C.

Tuesday:

Further snow showers through the day, locally persistent in Kent and Sussex. Some bright or sunny intervals are likely, but feeling bitterly cold in the increasing easterly breeze. Maximum temperature 2 °C.

Outlook for Wednesday to Friday:

Bitterly cold, increasingly windy, with penetrating night frosts. Snow showers continuing, giving some significant accumulations and drifting. Showers briefly easing Thursday before potentially prolonged snowfall later and overnight into Friday.

The latest information on road conditions on England’s motorways and major trunk roads is available via our website at www.trafficengland.com or visiting our regional twitter feeds via @HighwaysEngland. In addition, our 24/7 customer contact centre is available on 0300 123 5000 to provide assistance.

Further information on weather conditions can be obtained by visiting the Met Office website www.metoffice.gov.uk

Matt Adcock reviews I, Tonya (15)

Get your skates on and delve behind the scenes of one of the most notorious incidents in sporting history. Olympic US ice skater Tonya Harding (Margot Robbie) became infamous for supposedly having her rival Nancy Kerrigan attacked in 1994.

I Tonya gives a fascinating, darkly amusing and engaging insight into the lives of Harding and those around her in the lead up to the attack and details the fallout afterwards too.

You really don’t need to be an ice skating fan to enjoy the mockumentary style director Craig Gillespie has employed. The story crackles with memorable dialogue and winning scenes that satires the media hungry response and the personal implosion that wrecked Harding’s career. The Kerrigan-Harding affair is presented with much speculation and many possibly inaccurate recollections. Kicking off with a young Tonya (played by Mckenna Grace) who yearns to be an ice skater – if only as a distraction from her painful broken home life. Her mother is the abusive, totally driven LaVona Goldman (Allison Janney). By the time Margot Robbie takes over as Harding, her talent is getting her into competitions but because of her poor background the snobby judges won’t acknowledge her skills.

Everything changes when Harding becomes the first American woman to land a triple axel and her star finally begins to rise. But at the same time things begin to fall apart as her controlling boyfriend/husband and his even more idiotic friend make plans to intimidate her competition.

The film makes Harding out to have a heart and shows her as a sort of a victim of her circumstances. I came away with much more respect and it will certainly make you consider the situation she found herself in, her terrible life and the ongoing repercussions from the Kerrigan attack.

Robbie is superb, making what could have been villain into a flawed human worth taking time to understand. It shows you may not need to have class when you have talent but escaping your environment is another story.

A group of talented youngsters demonstrated their musical abilities on Saturday February 24 at Haddenham’s sixth annual Youth Musical Festival.

There were more than 30 performances by pupils of primary and secondary school age at the event, held at St Mary’s Church.

Musical pieces ranged from Mozart through to Charlie Parker with pieces performed on instruments including the piano, violin, flute, oboe and saxophone.

St Mary’s school choir The Treble Clefs performed their versions of ‘I’m Singing in the Rain’ and ‘Let’s Go Fly a Kite’, equipped with accompanying actions.

The afternoon was compèred by composer, arranger and choir leader Roger Jackson.

Haddenham Junior School teacher Rachel O’Mahony said: “Having only been teaching at the school for a year, this was my first experience of the annual music concert and I was unbelievably impressed by the range of talented students living in the village.

“The concert provided a platform for them to develop their performance skills and was a vital opportunity to familiarise themselves with performing to a large audience — an experience which is difficult to emulate in a student’s weekly lesson.

“A big thank you to all involved, including Tricia Stradling and her team who supplied much-needed refreshments and delicious cakes at the end of the event.”

Images courtesy of haddenham.net.