If you’ve ever imagined yourself living in a quintessentially English thatched cottage, then Ivy Cottage in Flitton may well be your dream property.

Tucked away towards the end of a no through lane, this gorgeous Grade II listed family home has been thoughtfully renovated throughout, retaining many period features such as exposed oak flooring, beams and timbers and antique style radiators.

On the ground floor, the sitting room and dining room are both dual aspect with views of the driveway to the front and the garden and flagstone terrace area at the rear, perfect for summertime alfresco dining.

Benefitting from four bedrooms and two bathrooms, the property also has generous ceiling heights, unusual in a country cottage, and a well-equipped kitchen/breakfast room with light grey Shaker style units and a ceramic Belfast sink.

Outside, just under an acre of gardens surround the property and include a greenhouse, summerhouse and paddock area with a stable block, tack room and hay store.

Used by the present owners as a gym, a further detached space could easily be converted into a home office.

Another added bonus is the gravel driveway with parking for up to eight cars.

Named after the river Flit which flows close by, the village of Flitton is around two miles from the small Bedfordshire town of Flitwick which has plenty of amenities and crucially for commuters, a mainline railway station.

London St Pancras will feel a million miles away when you close your front door and head to the station, but once on the train you can be in the city in about 47 minutes.

The property is available for £825,000 through Michael Graham Estate Agents’ Bedford Office (01234 220000).

Visit michaelgraham.co.uk/property/rps_mig-BED180290 for more information.

As temperatures reached the exotic heights of 31C across the country this week, sunbathers could be in for more than a tan as horse flies appear to be terrorising the nation.

Horseflies, or clegs as they are commonly known, are bloodsucking insects commonly found in Britain and can grow up to 1-1/4 inches in length.

Peak time for the insect in the UK is between May and September and one Wildlife Trust warned that this year the UK is seeing populations more like you would expect in the Mediterranean, due to the warmer weather.

Bloodsucking females

Whilst the male horsefly feeds off nectar, the female horsefly feeds off animals, including humans, by sucking their blood so she can produce eggs.

The female will lay around 25 to 1,000 eggs in damp wetland areas and also in grassy woodland areas.

It’s their jagged, razor sharp teeth that cause the damage though – and even just one bite from the bloody thirsty bug could leave unsuspecting victims in a great deal of pain.

Painful, infected bites

“A bite from a horsefly can be very painful and the bitten area of skin will usually be red and raised,” NHS Choices says.

“Horsefly bites can take a while to heal and can become infected. See your GP if you have symptoms of an infection, such as pus or increasing pain, redness and swelling.”

According to the NHS symptoms of horsefly bites include a larger red, raised rash, dizziness, weakness and wheezing. A part of the body may also become puffy and swollen.

In rare occasions an allergic reaction to the fly can prove fatal and in 2013 a father of four died suddenly after being bitten by the fly.

If you’re bitten by a horsefly, keep the wound clean and apply ice to minimise the itching.

The Blakesley Show is all set for another successful year celebrating the very best of British livestock, local food, and rural skills.

Michael Graham Estate Agents has been sponsoring the popular show in South Northamptonshire for 14 consecutive years.

This year’s event takes place on Saturday, August 4, at Blakesley Heath Farm (NN12 8HN).

A spokesman for Michael Graham said; “We’re preparing to pull out all the stops (and corks) at our stand this year.

“Now that we’re officially enjoying summer and not just a heatwave, what better way to spend a Saturday in the country?”

“Described in some quarters as London Fashion Week for farm animals, the stars of country shows are the magnificent cattle, superb sheep and the cleanest, sweetest smelling pigs you’ve ever seen.

“Shampooing and grooming behind the scenes must surely be a sight to behold.

“This year the 134th Blakesley Show has about 65 showing classes for cattle and sheep, 70 for horses and a small section for exhibiting produce.

“Sheep shearing, a gymkhana and a display of vintage farm machinery are regular highlights of this traditional rural show, with the not so traditional-sounding Kangaroo Kid Quad Bike Stunt Show ready to set pulses racing in the main ring.

“And if you like to shop, you won’t be disappointed - hundreds of trade stands turn up to tempt around 3,500 expected visitors.”

The Michael Graham stand this year has a fabulous fun fair theme with a traditional coconut shy and candyfloss, and a horsebox bar stocked with everything from gin to prosecco.

Entry to the Show is £12 for adults, £5 for under 16s, and under-eights go free.

The spokesman added: “The £25 family ticket admits two adults and up to three children making this a showstoppingly good value, fun, family day out.

“Pop the date in your diary and we look forward to seeing you there!

“Are you a Blakesley Show regular? We’d love to hear your top tips for making the most of the day.

“Find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and for Michael Graham town and country properties to buy and to rent, visit www.michaelgraham.co.uk.”

Matt Adcock reviews Incredibles 2 (PG)

It’s been 14 years since the incredible Incredibles burst onto the scene and delivered some of the best cinematic super hero action we’ve ever had. That first tale was essentially an origin story about which introduced the Parr super family and friends. Now with Incredibles 2 the action picks up immediately from where the first film finished with the heroes taking on the Underminer (John Ratzenberger) and his drill weapon.

If you’re new to this super party the family are made up of dad Bob / Mr Incredible (Craig T. Nelson), mum Helen / Elastigirl (Holly Hunter), daughter Violet (Sarah Vowell), son Dashiell / Dash (Huck Milner) and baby Jack Jack. Each has unique powers which they will have to call upon to fight off a new threat although in a pleasing switch it is Mrs Parr who takes the action lead whilst Bob minds the kids.

New characters include Winston Deavor (Bob Odenkirk) and Evelyn Deavor (Catherine Keener), who want Elastigirl to front a campaign to help persuade politicians to lift the ban on super heroes. And against this backdrop we get to go a giddying rush of action wonderfully woven in to plenty of laugh-out-loud comedy.

Sequels often feel like cash in on the originals but Incredibles 2 demonstrates how good they can be when they build on the character arcs of the first film. Watching new bad guy on the block Screenslaver (Bill Wise), who sends hypno-signals to bend the minds of those who watch their screens too much, chimes with how many parents are trying to limit the screen usage of their children so makes for a very timely force of evil. But how do you fight an enemy who can make anyone turn to his side? Only through teamwork!

It’s great fun to see alpha-male Bob being forced to deal with domestic family-raising – struggling with his own mini mid-life crisis whist his wife kicks all kinds of butt thanks to her shape changing elasti-powers. It all build up to a satisfying climactic smackdown which in true Avengers or Justice League style dishes out moments for each of the heroes and their pals like Frozone (Samuel L Jackson) to play their part.

Incredibles 2 is a worthy follow up to an all time classic.

Thinking of escaping the rat race and upping sticks to the countryside?

If so, one of these top five dream cottages in our region could make the perfect spot to enjoy a more relaxed and tranquil approach to life.

All five properties are in ideal rural locations and are available through Michael Graham Estate Agents.

1. Cedar Cottage, in Wavendon, near Milton Keynes, is a Grade II listed, 16th century thatched three-bedroom detached-cottage with a modern clay tiled extension linked by a glazed entrance hall.

The property has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and was recently extended.

It was also rethatched eight years ago and many original features have been retained.

The property is available for £695,000. Visit michaelgraham.co.uk/property/rps_mig-WBS180111 for more.

2. Rectory Cottage is in Hardwick, near Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, and is a Grade II listed, 17th century home.

The homely cottage includes five bedrooms, a second floor study, and four bathrooms.

It sits in a generous plot of 0.35 acres and has been refurbished and remodelled to a high specification.

The cottage is available for £1,000,000. Visit michaelgraham.co.uk/property/rps_mig-AYL170074 for more.

3. Pond Cottage is in Dinton, near Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire and is a five-double bedroom detached home sitting in 5.6 acres of woodland.

The attractive property was once two adjoining farmworkers’ cottages.

It includes a private driveway and double garage with attached studio and enjoys gorgeous open countryside views.

The property is available for oieo £1,000,000. Visit michaelgraham.co.uk/property/rps_mig-AYL130384 for more.

4. Brambledown is in Monks Risborough, Buckinghamshire, and is a 1920s ‘Arts and Crafts’ style detached cottage.

The picturesque property includes four double bedrooms and two reception rooms.

It sits amidst a secluded leafy plot of one acre and the property has plenty of potential for development, subject to planning permission.

Brambledown is available for £950,000. Visit michaelgraham.co.uk/property/rps_mig-RIS180097 for more.

5. Ivy Farm Cottage is in Great Horwood, Buckinghamshire, and is a Grade II listed, 18th century thatched property.

The five-bedroom detached home sits in a plot of just under one acre.

It includes two en suite bathrooms, two shower rooms, and five reception rooms.

The cottage is available for £900,000. Visit michaelgraham.co.uk/property/rps_mig-STS170162 for more information.

Two vehicles have been damaged in Chinnor and police are appealing for witnesses.

The rear windscreen of a silver VW Polo was smashed while parked on Hill Top Lane, between 9pm on Friday, July 13 and 3.40pm on Saturday, July 14, but nothing was stolen.

A passenger window of a white Land Rover was smashed while parked on the same road, between 11am and 11.45am on Saturday, July 14. The offenders searched the glove box but nothing is believed to have been stolen.

Thames Valley Police are appealing for witnesses and also warn motorists not to leave anything on show, including valuables, when leaving your vehicle parked up.

If you have any information relating to these incidents please call the police via the 24 hour non-emergency telephone number 101.

Alternatively, if you have information but wish to remain anonymous, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online by visiting www.crimestoppers-uk.org

No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.

A retired sound engineer from Thame has shared his experiences of life on the road with famous music stars in a new book.

‘Soundman - A Journey Through Rock’n’Roll Sound’ has been written by John Wilford and traces his 30 years working as a sound engineer, tour manager and production manager with well-known bands and musicians.

The book is a behind-the-scenes look into what happened on stage, back stage and at sound checks, in the TV and recording studios, on the tour bus and in the hotels.

It is an insider’s view, covering the good, the bad and the downright disastrous, from the pubs and clubs to Wembley Stadium and The Hollywood Bowl.

John, also known as ‘Wilf’, was born in North London. After studying radio, television and electronics servicing he joined a semi-pro group as a roadie before working full time as a professional sound engineer.

John worked for Midas Amplification where he built sound mixing consoles for many famous touring artists including Pink Floyd’s Quadraphonic mixing desk. He went on to set up sound companies in Newcastle and Nashville, USA which he later sold, and then worked for Concert Sound up until his retirement.

John said: “For many years friends have been telling me that I should write a book about my life on the road. They told me that not many people had been there right from the start during the 1960s or worked with so many different types of bands and artists from different genres.

“This is also a history and evolution of the Rock ‘n’ Roll sound system as it came to be used in the entertainment industry and by many performers around the world.”

The book has just been published by The Book Guild Publishing, priced £12.95.

ISBN: 9781912362691 Visit www.bookguild.co.uk

Read more at https://soundmanwilf.wixsite.com/johnwilford

Free pizza workshops will be cooking up some treats at Thame Food Festival.

The latest to join the already packed programme are Bell Kitchens who will be running the workshops using Clementi wood fired pizza ovens, during the event on September 29 and 30 at the Thame Showground.

This will be topped off by several interactive demonstrations from the Clementi team who are coming over from Italy especially for the event to show what these ovens can really do.

Alongside will also be some other demonstrations revealing the many different ways you can cook using one of their intriguingly named products - the Big Green Egg! This is not only a barbecue for grilling steaks and sausages, but a smoker, a roaster and a pizza maker and even a baker.

They will be joined by Farmer Lou - their preferred meat supplier - who will be offering delicious sausage rolls and serving up a storm with their hog roast. So there will be sampling galore!

If the food side of things is not enough to tempt you, then it is worth visiting the Bell Kitchen stand to find out more about their very latest product called Uberstar. This is a dry mix that you add to alcohol to make a cocktail. The simple process is to steep the dry mix with vodka or Bacardi (depending on the cocktail). At the festival the Bell Kitchen team will be using it to mix up a jug with soda or juice and serving small samples in shot glasses. The dry non-alcoholic mix will be available to purchase, take away and make at home.

Lotte Duncan, patron and organiser of Thame Food Festival said: “Building on last year, we wanted to mix up Thame Food Festival even more this year, by extending the event in a variety of different ways.

“The result is going to be so many more different activities, experiences and demonstrations; some of which we are still working on. With so much going on, many will find they want to come for the day or even extend their visit over the weekend to make the most of the event, which is why we are also now offering the option for a two-day ticket for advance bookings.”

www.thamefoodfestival.co.uk

The history of the beautiful craft of lacemaking can be discovered at an exhibition opening in Thame.

Lace Beauty from Bobbins and Thread is presented by the Isis Lacemakers and visitors will be able to try their hand at making some lace.

Members of Isis will be giving demonstrations during the exhibiton which opens at Thame Museum on Saturday, July 28 and runs until August 8.

The exhibition is being held during the school holidays to enable children to visit and find out about this craft which was once important in this area of Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

The exhibition is free and the museum is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, 10am to 4pm and Sunday, noon to 4pm. www.thamemuseum.org

Isis Lacemakers was formed in 1983, to meet and make lace together. Visit www.isislacemakers.org.uk

The weather was beautiful for the big music party in Thame - and the crowds turned up in style.

Venues across the town were packed for the second Thame Town Music Festival which took place at the weekend, with more than 60 different bands and artists performing at the free event.

The festival started on Friday evening with a sellout classical concert in St Mary’s Church, opened by the BBC’s Will Gompertz.

A songwriters competition was held on Friday evening in the Barns Centre, which was won by Alex Hedley.

Saturday saw the main stage appear in front of the Town Hall and the other six venues in pubs and clubs made ready to produce live music throughout the day.

All the venues were packed out throughout and, in the evening, the crowd in front of the main stage swelled to thousands to watch Dr Feelgood close the show with an incredible, dynamic and entertaining live show.

Festival director Johnnie Littler said: “On behalf of the organisers and the volunteer army that worked so long and hard to plan and deliver TTMF 18, I have to say that we are absolutely thrilled, delighted and a little bit proud of what was achieved.

“The people of Thame turned up to the party and enjoyed a spectacular day where live music was at the centre of events.

“The classical concert on Friday evening was a sellout, the songwriters competition at the Barns Centre was brilliant and the afternoon’s convention was very interesting.

“Even though Tom Robinson was delayed because of huge traffic problems, we gave him a platform on the main stage to air his opinions on the music industry - and he didn’t hold back!”

Johnnie added: “We should all be hugely grateful to all the performers, many of whom travelled long distances to play at the festival. The partnership between the performers giving of their talent, the organisers providing the infrastructure and planning, our sponsors supporting us with the means to provide that infrastructure and the crowds who turned up to experience the day meant, I believe, that we delivered on our mission statements - A Party With A Purpose, Supporting Musicians, Not for Profit, For The Love Of Music.

“Thame can be proud that it can plan, produce and deliver a free festival of live music that can then be enjoyed by many thousands of people, on such a fantastic day for the local community.”

In stark contrast to allies such as the United States and Canada who monitor their ex-military personnel for life, the United Kingdom has no reliable system in place to track suicides among the nation’s 2.6 million veterans despite evidence that thousands struggle with serious mental health problems, including PTSD.

JP Investigations wrote to the 98 coroners in England and Wales, along with their equivalents in Scotland and Northern Ireland, to ask for records over the last three years on the number of suicides committed by people who had served in the armed forces.

Just one was able to provide the data while 25 others replied saying no such information was kept or could not be searched for. Several coroners backed calls for such data to be kept in a readily-accessible format.

In response to a request made under the Freedom of Information Act, the Ministry of Defence told JP Investigations that it “does not hold information on the causes of death of all UK Armed Forces veterans”.

A senior NHS executive acknowledged earlier this month that “we can do better” on collecting data on veterans taking their own lives.

Suicide remains rare among military veterans and the last comprehensive study, completed in 2009, found the overall rate was comparable to the general population. Separate studies conducted among veterans of the Falklands War and the Gulf War found risk of suicide was lower than for the population as a whole.

But, despite the yawning gap in official records, there is evidence that a disturbing number of ex-soldiers - in particular among those who fought in the most recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan - are taking their own lives or attempting to do so.

Johnston Press has established that at least 16 veterans are feared to have committed suicide since January, of whom at least seven are known to have fought in Afghanistan and Iraq. At least two of the deaths involved individuals who were also part of British special forces while five were former members of the Royal Marines.

Among the former soldiers to have taken their lives this year are 29-year-old Kevin Williams, who was the youngest British soldier to fight in Iraq when he was deployed on his 18th birthday. He took his own life at his home in Basildon in March after being diagnosed with PTSD and failing to keep appointments for treatment. His comrade and friend, John Paul Finnigan, 34, who served alongside him during some of the toughest fighting in Iraq, also killed himself 12 weeks later.

Our figures mean that ex-soldiers and sailors are killing themselves at a rate of one every 11 days. During the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan between 2001 and 2014 the rate of British fatalities due to enemy action was one death every 14 days.

The Government last week confirmed to JP Investigations that it has no suicide data relating to veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan but insisted it is “committed to undertaking this work”.

Campaigner Rose Gentle, whose son Gordon was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq in 2004 and who has since become a leading voice on the treatment of veterans, strongly backed the investigation’s findings. She said: “The Government is embarrassed in case the true figures come out. It’s wrong that the information on veteran suicides is not available.

“The situation for boys leaving the services is just as bad as it ever was. They come out of the services and many are struggling. They have lots flashbacks, they’re so depressed and just can’t handle it. A lot of them are lost, a lot don’t know where to turn.”

Figures from a published study by Combat Stress, the oldest and largest veterans mental health charity, are that 19 per cent of veterans it currently treats have moderate to severe suicidal thoughts.

Relatives, campaigners and professionals - including two coroners - told our investigation that they believed official figures for the number of suicides were vital to understanding the extent of serious mental health problems among veterans and focusing resources designed to assist former personnel experiencing a mental health crisis and prevent them from taking their own lives.

After years of criticism, the Government has begun to put significant resources into mental health provision for both serving personnel and veterans, amounting to £22m a year for the next decade. Among measures launched in the last 18 months is an online “Veterans’ Gateway” to streamline access to help and a tailored NHS service to help personnel leaving the armed services. A Veterans’ ID card to allow ex-servicemen and women identify themselves and access services is also in the pipeline.

But a large number of those interviewed by JP Investigations were sharply critical of the absence of reliable data, arguing that such information would be straightforward to collect from inquest proceedings or NHS records.

In America, where the death records of every veteran are collected by a dedicated Washington department, the suicide rate increased by 35 per cent between 2001 and 2016. A study by the Department for Veteran Affairs found that in 2015 the suicide rate was 2.1 times higher among US former military personnel compared with the civilian population.

In Australia, an official report in January this year found the suicide rate from 2002–2015 was 14 per cent higher among male veterans than all Australian men, after adjusting for age.

A Canadian government study based on records from 1976 to 2012 found that its veterans were at a “significantly higher risk of death by suicide” compared to civilians. The age-adjusted suicide rate for male veterans was 40 per cent higher compared to civilians and for female veterans the figure was 80 per cent.

There is no such equivalent information for the United Kingdom.

A leading clinician at Combat Stress, which is currently treating more than 3,000 veterans, said reliable suicide data was vital to understand whether Britain was experiencing a similar sharp increase to its allies and the lack of this data is a “red light” for those working with ex-servicemen and women.

Dr Dominic Murphy told JP Investigations: “We don’t actually know those rates. From the mid-noughties onwards there has been a higher rate of suicide among American, Canadian and Australian veterans and some of our European allies and we just don’t know [the situation] in the UK because the last study was in 2009.

“One could argue that it might coincide with the end of… the active war fighting phase in Iraq and Afghanistan. These are still low prevalence rates but any increase is very worrying, it is a very negative outcome. For me it is a red light that we need to actually fill this gap with data.”

A former head of the Royal Navy expressed his surprise at the lack of suicide records. Admiral Lord West, who is now a Labour peer, said: “Not to have the statistics of what’s actually happening, it would be very silly. Otherwise how could you take any action if it’s necessary?

“I’m very surprised there’s no kind of record of [suicide from] mental illness that stems from their time in the military. I think it would make absolute sense to do that.”

Northern Ireland MP Jeffrey Donaldson, a veteran and former member of the House of Commons Defence Select Committee, told JP Investigations that his own contacts with veteran groups led him to believe that the number of suicides among ex-services personnel is increasing and called for an “urgent review” by the MoD of record keeping practices.

He said: “Whilst there will be varying circumstances in each of these suicides, the current trend is very worrying and the deaths of these brave people is an indictment of a system that is failing to provide many veterans with adequate support and treatment.

The Government need to undertake an urgent review of their record keeping to ensure that the MOD are continuously monitoring the levels of suicide amongst veterans. Having access to such statistics won’t resolve the issues linked to suicide amongst veterans but it will help identify the scale of it and thus assist with targeting resources where they are most needed.”

A veteran turned psychologist, who has set up a pioneering service to treat ex-military personnel which has the backing of senior generals, told JP Investigations that the failure to collect data from inquests or NHS mental health trusts made it appear that the Government was deliberately ignoring the extent of the problem.

Simon Maryan, a former Royal Marine who jointly heads Veterans United Against Suicide UK, said he had he seen a rise in suicides and suicide attempts since the beginning of 2017.

He told JP Investigations: “When you leave the forces in the UK the Ministry of Defence essentially washes its hands of you - you become the responsibility of the civilian sector.

“It is unforgivable that we have no proper way of recording whether a suicide involves a veteran. It should be a mandatory requirement for the Ministry of Defence and coroners to ask if someone who has committed suicide had been in the services. It is not a difficult thing to do - it's a tick box.

“Not recording these figures makes it very easy for the MoD to turn a blind eye. How they can they tackle a problem if they don’t know its scale and nature. If it is possible to record these figures in America or Australia, why not in the UK? It is a derogation of duty of care - bluntly, they have screwed these guys up, they should fix them.”

The statistics currently available on suicide rates among veterans rely on so-called “cohort studies” focused specifically on veterans from the Falklands War and the Gulf War, and information held by mental health trusts treating veterans.

Two coroners told JP Investigations they believed a systematic approach would be beneficial.

Dewi Prichard Jones, Coroner for North West Wales, said his own experience indicated that young maladjusted male veterans with short service records were at highest risk of suicide - a finding confirmed by other studies.

But he said a more comprehensive system was needed: “It would probably help to tackle this as is done in the US and Australia but it will be a matter of resources and priorities. Suicide is a favoured topic of public discussion at present. If they could track veterans and do something on suicide that would be very helpful.”

The MoD told JP Investigations that provision of veterans’ mental healthcare is “primarily” the responsibility of the NHS and devolved administrations. It added that it had “no ability” to direct coroners or the Procurator Fiscal in Scotland.

A MoD spokesperson said: “While rates of suicide are significantly lower in the Armed Forces than the general population, any suicide is a tragedy for the individual, their family, friends and colleagues and we take each case extremely seriously.

“The reasons people take their lives can vary and are not necessarily linked to their service. Help is available for serving personnel, their families and veterans, including through the two 24-hour mental health helplines provided by Combat Stress.”

Dr Dominic Murphy, a senior clinical lecturer at Combat Stress, says that the lack of data on the issue is a “red light” for those concerned about veterans’ welfare.

His research of the charity’s mushrooming client base has reflected what is already known - that young men from unstable backgrounds who leave the services after a short period are most at risk from suicide.

What he does not know is whether the rapid increase in demand for the charity’s mental health services might also suggest a rise in suicides among the UK’s veterans.

'WE DON’T KNOW THOSE RATES'

“We don’t actually know those rates. From the mid-noughties onwards there has been a higher rate of suicide among American and Canadian and Australian veterans and some of our European allies and we just don’t know [the situation] in the UK because the last study was in 2009.”

Although suicide is “not very common” the rises among UK allies have been “significant”.

The rises among UK allies have been over a similar time frame.

“One could argue it might coincide with the end of the wars, the active war-fighting phase in Iraq and Afghanistan. These are still low prevalence rates but any increase is very worrying, it is a very negative outcome.”

He adds: “For me it is a red light that we need to actually fill this gap with data.”

His understanding is that UK coroners don’t routinely ask if the deceased was a veteran when they do kill themselves.

The Johnston Press Investigations Team wrote to coroners across the UK and those who replied confirmed that they had no means to record that someone was a veteran after an inquest.

“The fact that you wrote to all the corners and could not collect any data just shows that we don’t really know what is going on.”

By contrast the health care systems of Canada, American, Australia have a veterans affairs agency which tracks them on a national database and allows access to different health provision, he says.

HIS STUDY

He has just completed a study of 400 of the 3185 clients currently being treated by Combat Stress, looking at how often they have suicidal thoughts or ‘suicidal ideation’.

The results have been accepted for publication in the Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corp.

“Our data suggests that 19% of our [client] population currently experience moderate to severe suicidal ideation”.

Some of the risk factors for suicidal thoughts he found among his client base are being a young single male, an early service leaver ( less than four years of continuous service), unemployed and having had more difficult childhood experiences.

Such veterans often grow up without adult role models who can regulate their emotions well.

“It just means people get really stressed and can’t calm down.”

This finding confirms research by other academics.

RED FLAGS

It is a “red flag” if his clients have made any actual plans or attempted to take their life or self-harmed in the past.

“Protective factors” that mitigate against suicide are whether they have loved ones and whether they have more positive thoughts to balance out the negative ones.

“Often this is friends, family, children, pets - if people don’t have those again that is very concerning. So you can see why people who aren’t in employment or relationships is kind of worrying.”

He adds: “For such people, they cannot see a future where they are not suffering from mental health problems.”

“When you are in the military you have quite a high status, you have a job you are quite respected, you have got peers around you. You then leave the armed forces and you may not be working, you may not have any friends, social support around you. That loss of status can be very difficult for people, as it would be for anyone; loss of meaning and loss of direction.”

Combat Stress has three treatment centres in Great Britain. Veterans in Northern Ireland may receive community-based treatment or attend a centre in Great Britain.

Thunderstorms and heavy showers could hit our area on Friday afternoon and into the evening, according to the Met Office.

A yellow severe weather warning has been issued for our area and much of the South East by the Met Office this morning.

The warning for heavy rain and thunderstorms is in place from 2pm Friday (July 20) until midnight.

The Met Office warning reads: “High temperatures may set off some heavy showers and thunderstorms, which in some places could be slow-moving and persistent, bringing a risk of flooding.

“Should they develop, in the heaviest showers some places could see 30mm of rain in an hour, which would likely bring flooding impacts particularly should this fall on an urban area.

“There would also be a smaller chance of impacts from lightning strikes. As is the nature of showers, many places will miss them altogether, and it is not possible to say precisely where they will occur, but the warning area highlights the region at greatest risk.”

Cainhoe Manor is steeped in history.

On top of a small hill surveying open countryside, the location perfectly befits a property that was once a hunting lodge for King Henry VIII - and where Catherine of Aragon was exiled near the end of her marriage to the controversial monarch!

This Grade II listed house, in Gravenhurst, Bedfordshire, not only has a richness of history and character that’s hard to beat but, thanks to a 25-year long refurbishment programme by the current owners, also has a great modern interior allowing for the best of both worlds.

The sense of majesty at Cainhoe Manor begins with a fabulous reception hall that doubles as a drawing room.

The bespoke kitchen, orangery and garden room are light and bright and perfect for dining overlooking the garden.

For more formal occasions, a separate dining room boasts a traditional fireplace and ceiling friezes.

A solid oak staircase leads to the two upper floors and bedrooms where a long oak panelled corridor runs the entire length of the first floor.

The master bedroom suite has exposed oak floors and panelling and one of the five further bedrooms was used by Catherine of Aragon during her captivity at the Manor before the annulment of her marriage to Henry VIII.

State-of-the-art designer bathrooms are all newly fitted to the highest standard and the whole property has been re-roofed, re-plumbed, rewired and re-pointed.

Outside, you’d be hard pushed to find something this property can’t offer.

Designed by award-winning Chelsea Flower show designer Julie Toll, idyllic gardens surround the property.

Extensive grounds of just over four acres include a swimming pool with a smart pool house and sun terrace, a new stable block and a detached Coach House, currently used as a garden machinery store but prime for conversion into a self-contained annexe.

Cainhoe Manor sits in the bucolic hamlet of Gravenhurst with the nearest shop two miles away in the village of Shillington.

The market town of Hitchin is eight miles away, with rail services to London Kings Cross taking around 30 minutes.

The property is available for £2.7 million through Michael Graham’s Bedford office 01234 220000.

Visit michaelgraham.co.uk/property/rps_mig-OHO165715 for more.

An announcement from Ubisoft this week has signalled a real change of tide in the world of video games.

After 500 million mobile downloads Hungry Shark devoured enough data to persuade the right people it should be launched on consoles.

This week Ubisoft released Hungry Shark World, from the acclaimed Hungry Shark mobile franchise, on PS4, Xbox One, Xbox One X and Nintendo Switch.

Historically since the meteoric rise of mobile phones and tablets, popular video games would often be dumbed down or ported onto mobile.

But the meteoric rise of the platform now sees some games being developed for mobile FIRST and consoles very much an afterthought.

Developed by Future Games of London, a Ubisoft branch, Hungry Shark World lets players rise through the ranks of the food chain, starting as a small shark with a little bite and progressing into the meanest predator in the ocean.

Players eat as much as they can to take on a variety of fearsome bosses, including gruesome goblin sharks, prehistoric predators and giant squids.

Hungry Shark World introduces four unique worlds to explore, including tropical islands, sunken temples, vast cities and frozen icebergs.

The game features more than 250 missions and 20 distinctive sharks to upgrade, each with its own characteristics and personality.

HSW is specifically made for console and the game features fully optimised gamepad controls. The game will also support 4K display and provide enhanced graphics on both PS4 Pro and Xbox One X platforms.

As a kid of the 80s and 90s I’m not much of a mobile gamer but this is a big sea-change - pardon the fully intended pun - for the industry, particularly if it does well on console.

Hungry Shark World is available to download now for £7.99.

To the locals it's the 'The Sunniest Place in Denmark' yet the Danish island of Bornholm, with its picture-postcard fishing villages, dense beech and conifer forests, stunning beaches and rugged granite cliffs, is little known to us in Britain.

Landing at the island's small airport close to its west coast capital Rønne – which is by far the largest town – we were met by Destination Bornholm guide Helle Mogensen following our short 25 minute flight aboard a turbo-prop ATR72 from Copenhagen which is operated several times a day by Danish Air Transport (DAT).

Our visit was timed to coincide with the Summer Solstice and also with Denmark’s largest culinary competition, ‘Sol over Gudhjem’. It's a competition which marks the beginning of a week in celebration of the island's produce and one which features no fewer than 65 food, drink, farm and agriculture-based businesses.

From its humble beginnings in 2009, the whole competition came about following a somewhat derigatory comment from the island's only Michelin-starred chef, Mikkel Marschall... and it went something like "nobody on the island knows how to cook!"

Today Mikkel is not only the ‘Sol over Gudhjem’ competition's instigator, but he has remained in charge of proceedings and has also managed to attract a host of big named sponsors.

With a handful of Denmark's top celebrity chefs invited to take part annually, they create menus using local Bornholm produce and products, the results being judged by some of the Europe's best known culinary experts and for the 2018 competition, top English chef James Lowe from Lyle's in London was on the invited panel.

Now in its 10th year, ‘Sol over Gudhjem’ – it roughly translates as 'Sun above God's Home' – it all seems very casual and is a bit like Masterchef in flip-flops! It's held alongside the town of Gudhjem's picturesque harbour, the annual competition now attracts up to 10,000 spectators to its quayside home while it has now become something of a Danish institution.

At a shade larger than the Isle of Man at 588 sq kms (227 sq miles) – as against 572 sq kms – and with a population of almost 40,000, Bornholm sits in the middle of the Baltic Sea, some 210 kms (130 miles) to the east of Denmark's capital Copenhagen.

At just 20 miles from the south-eastern coast of its Scandinavian neighbour Sweden and approximately half as much again from the north Poland coastal town of Kolobrzeg, the island of Bornholm is well know to the Danes, many of whom enjoyed their first encounter with it on a school trip.

We were staying on the opposite side of the island some 30 minutes drive from the airport at the impressive Stammershalle Badehotel – www.stammershalle-badehotel.dk – with its views out to Denmark's easternmost archipelago of Christiansø and Frederiksø which are around 20 kms distance. The islands can easily be reached by ferry from Gudhjem's quayside in a little over an hour... but be warned, it can be extremely rough!

The Stammershalle Badehotel was built in 1911 in classical Scandinavian style and is perched high up on the craggy northern coastal cliffs. The hotel has 16 comfortable ensuite bedrooms – strangely I was in No19! – and all are decorated in traditional Nordic style. There's a very comfortable lounge area and superb dining room which is accessed down some extremely steep steps.

On arrival at the hotel, Helle, the Destination Bornholm (www.bornholm.info) press manager, had arranged for coffee and some delicious strawberry-topped cakes in the lounge as we learned about our pre-planned four-day itinerary.

With the Baltic Sea just yards away, we decided on a pre-dinner dip from the wooden jetty opposite the hotel and while the sea temperature was well below what I call ideal – probably less than 15 degrees! – it mattered not as we quickly headed for the hotel's luxury sauna!

Like most Bornholm hotels, the Stammershalle Badehotel prides itself on its food and it certainly doesn't disappoint on that score as head chef and gold medal winner Marcus and waiters Isolde and Magnus ensured that we were soon tucking into a fabulous six course dinner following a glass of Champagne.

First it was Norway lobster and cauliflower served with red currants, before more courses consisting of smoked mackerel, calf's tongue, Guinea fowl, elderflower ice cream and then cherries in chocolate with macarons and all this accompanied by a variety of wines from around the world… and all absolutely delicious!

From its Baltic fishing village heritage, Bornholm has reinvented itself as an eco-friendly, foodie destination and it is also keen to become 100% green and carbon-neutral by 2025.

With so little traffic, the island is said to be a cycling paradise on pretty flat terrain. With more than 170 miles of dedicated cycle tracks which both criss-cross and circumnavigate the island, we actually borrowed bikes from the hotel although I must admit I struggled and gave up after half an hour… I clearly prefer horsepower over pedal power!

Accompanied by local guide Ross Culiner, a jovial Canadian who married a Bornholm lass, we headed north to one of the island's best-known tourist attractions on our second day, the magnificent early 12th century ruins of Hammershus. Said to be northern Europe's largest castle, it is perched atop a huge granite outcrop offering magnificent views along the coast.

Originally built for a Danish bishop, it's actually 74 metres (243ft) above sea level and dates back to around 1255. Over the next few centuries, it grew to include a great stonewall stretching 750 metres (2,460ft) around its grounds and it was also strategically important to the Hanseatic League, a northern European trading confederation which was still in operation some 300 years later. With views over to southern Sweden clearly visible to the north, a brand new Hammershus Visitor Centre was finally opened in March this year.

We then drove inland, passing through the Almindingen forest which is home to a herd of secretive and shy European bison which were brought to the island several years ago from central Poland. Close by there is also a trotting track which is very popular with the local equestrian fraternity.

Stopping off to visit the largest of Bornholm's four unique round churches at Østerlars – they also served as Baltic fortresses besides being a place of worship – it was then on to Svaneke, the island’s (and Denmark's) most easterly and probably prettiest town with its red-roofed houses and equally attractive harbour.

Svaneke is well known for its liquorice while it also has an excellent brewery (Svaneke Bryghus) and a traditional boiled sweetmaker (Svaneke Bolcher) while glass blowing and ceramics are also regular attractions for visitors.

"The locals all agreed that the town should remain as it is today and not allow any development which goes against the look of the place," said Ross as we walked past so many colourful merchants' houses. We also visited the town's impressive Lutheran church which was being repainted in the traditional red-oche colour following our lunch stop at Svaneke Røgeriet – www.roegerietsvaneke.dk – an impressive five chimney stack smokehouse known locally as the 'Five Sisters'.

And it was at Røgeriet where we were finally introduce to Bornholm's specialist iconic dish 'Sol Over Gudhjem'. It consists of smoked herring on fresh rye bread topped with a raw egg yoke and is accompanied by chives and radishes. Besides that we tucked into smoked cod, mackerel, salmon, prawns and shrimps accompanied by one of the many local brews.

Local fishermen take their herring catches to be smoked at the smokehouse for around five hours in the traditional way, with no artificial smoke flavourings being added… and judging by the huge piles of chopped wood, they are kept pretty busy!

Following an afternoon tour of the Copenhagen Distillery with its deep fresh spring water well, we were introduced to the micro-brewery's sales manager Jesper Mathiesen… and we were more than happy to sample the various flavoured gins designed by fellow owner Sune Urth who is also responsible for research and development of the product.

En route to the distillery we called in at Plantation near the village of Rø where a series of glasshouses are looked after by both the physical and mentally disabled. They grow cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, etc alongside fields of delicious strawberries which we were allowed to pick ourselves.

We also sampled Sea Buckthorn cocktails at Høstet (it means harvested in Danish) – www.høstet.dk – owned by Mads and Camilla Meisner who explained the process of turning bright orange berries into jams, marmalades and delicious juices which can be added to spirits… especially Copenhagen Distillery's gin!

Mads explained: "We planted the Sea Buckthorn bushes back in 2010 and it took three years before we had results. Buckthorn is rich in nutrition and is regarded as a super food. In order to get the berries, you need male and female plants. To collect them, we cut off the branches and freeze them with the berries still on them. We then defrost everything and the berries fall off. They are then pressed. It's a very exotic taste which can be used as a juice or made into preserves which chefs seem to love."

That evening we were invited to meet the following day's seven 'Sol Over Gudhjem' competition contestants who were introduced to a large crowd at the farming museum close to Gudhjem at nearby Melsted. And that's where we enjoyed another meal – I loved the sausages and pork dumplings! – while one of the sweet courses was actually one of the winning desserts from the previous year's competition.

For the competition itself, three of the celebrity chefs would be preparing desserts for a prize of 10,000 Danish krone – around £110, one krone is worth around 12p – while the top main course dish prize for the other four was 50,000 krone (£550) plus the use of a brand new 12 cylinder, bi-turbo Mercedes Benz coupé for up to four weeks!

The dessert competition the following day was won by a man who never takes his hat off, Brian Mark Hansen. He's from the Michelin-starred Søllerød Kro restaurant in Copenhagen. "Naturally I'm delighted that the judges liked my creation while my kids seem just as excited as I am," grinned Brian while standing on a table holding a giant-sized cheque.

Meanwhile there were huge cheers when the 2018 'Sol Over Gudhjem' champion was declared, for the diminutive Thai-born Dak Laddaporn Wichangoen, head chef at the Michelin-starred Kiin Kiin Copenhagen restaurant, became the first ever female winner of the competition.

While the crowds gathered around her in celebration, I finally had the chance to briefly chat with her the following morning, as she – like most of the competitors – was also staying at Stammershalle Badehotel. "I still can't believe I've won," she said.

"It was such an honour to be judged the best against three other top chefs who are also friends. My only worry now is that I've got the Mercedes for four weeks as part of my prize but I'm not sure where in Copenhagen I'm going to park it."

I also bumped into Mads from Høstet shortly after the competition had ended and he was holding a special award. "I'm really thrilled that we've won the best product award for our Sea Buckthorn juice," he said. "In a previous year our marmalade got the same award."

Having lunched at a former twin-chimneyed smokehouse called Norresan close to Gudhjem harbour, we then drove to the south of the island close to the village of Dueodde where we spent time on one of the best beaches I've ever seen. Covered in glistening white sand so fine that it's used in egg timers and hour glasses, it seems to go on for miles while a short distance away is a wonderful camp site set among the pine trees.

With no appreciable tide in the Baltic and a gently sloping beach, the area is clearly safe for bathing and popular with families with young children. It also offers miles of easy walks with hardly any traffic… and that also applies to the rest of the island.

Before heading to the airport for our transfer back to Copenhagen, we visited another new venture accompanied by Elisebeth Falk from the Danish Agriculture & Food Council and Destination Bornholm's cruise coordinator Peter Juhl who, just days earlier, had walked to Santiago de Compostela in Spain having taken 33 days to complete the 800 kilometres of the Camino Way.

Meeting Kasper Rasmussen who claims he's not a real farmer, he certainly has his sights set on producing what is usually extremely expensive Japanese Wagyu beef. Although officially a schoolteacher, as his brother runs the family farm, Kasper has taken the bold step of inseminating some of the farm's black and white Holstein cattle with foetuses imported from Japan... and so far since December last year, the Holsteins have delivered seven healthy dark brown Wagyu calves which are all looked after by three very friendly Jersey cows.

The previous evening we dined at Nordlandet - www.hotelnordlandet.com - a clifftop restaurant close to the conjoined villages of Allinge-Sandvig offering views all the way back down the coast towards Gudhjem. The restaurant offers true Nordic gourmet cuisine with much of the contents being foraged in the Bornholm countryside.... and it was all absolutely delicious!

Meanwhile our final lunch was at an equally attractive location set high above the tiny steep-hilled hamlet of Vang where there are just a dozen fishermen's cottages plus an old watermill. Once again the Le Port Restaurant – www.leport.dk – had wonderful views from its terraces perched high above the tiny harbour… and as expected, the food and its presentation was absolutely exquisite.

From what I saw (and tasted), the island offers a truly wonderful gastronomic experience while our only disappointment regarding the whole trip was that the planned Summer Solstice beach party celebrations – which were due to have been held on Saturday 23 June – had to be cancelled.

The island – which is absolutely perfect for a weekend break – has had just a few drops of rain since early April and that means that everywhere is tinder dry. It would be a disaster should a spark from just one of the bonfires get out of hand so everyone agreed that calling off the beach parties was the sensible thing to do… that common sense approach clearly being very Danish!

BORNHOLM FACT FILE

Where to stay:

Alan Wooding was the guest of VisitDenmark – www.visitdenmark.co.uk and https://bornholm.info/en/ – and stayed at the Stammershalle Badehotel http://stammershalle-badehotel.dk/en/ which offers double rooms from £107 including breakfast.

Where to eat:

Nordlandet https://hotelnordlandet.com/en/ – a Nordlandet Evening includes 4 courses, 3 wines, water, coffee and petit four and costs £112. A two course meal starts at £41.

Stammershalle Badehotel Restaurant http://stammershalle-badehotel.dk/en/the-restaurant/. A menu based on seasonal produce starts at £53 and wine pairing can be added for an additional £41.

Nørresan in Gudhjem offers light sandwiches in a refurbished smokehouse. Prices start at £12. https://da-dk.facebook.com/norresand/

A ‘smoke duet’ shared platter for two people at Svaneke Røgeri is £36 and the classic ‘Sol over Svaneke’ open faced sandwich is £8.

Restaurant Le Port offers lobster bisque with leeks and turbot at £15 – https://leport.dk/?lang=en

What to do:

Hammershus https://bornholm.info/en/hammershus/. Admission to the Visitor Centre is free.

Bornholm Food Festival in June where food producers open their doors to the public. Prices vary.

Visit the strawberry farm for free, visit the beekeeper for £18 or take a trip to Svaneke Brewery and sample a selection of craft beers for £6. https://bornholm.info/en/event/bornholms-madfestival/

Visit one of Bornholm’s four round churches. Most of them have free entrance, some will have a small entrance fee around £1.2. https://www.visitdenmark.com/bornholm/activities/bornholms-round-churches

How to get there:

There are 155 weekly flights from London (Luton, Stansted, Heathrow, Gatwick) to Copenhagen. Flights with SAS from London Heathrow start at £108 return. Flights from Copenhagen to Bornholm with DAT (Danish Air Traffic) start at £96 return and take around 30 minutes.

Island Bus Tour:

Plantagen vegetable & berries – organic gardening, beekeeping, production of jam, apple juice, and vinegar. Bertil Ekstrøm Bertil.ekstroem@brk.dk and Stig Westermann Stig.westermann@brk.dk

Bornholms Kildevand/Copenhagen Distillery www.copenhagendistillery.com

Høstet https://xn--hstet-vua.dk/shop/cms-english.htm

Food market:

Guide Hans Jørgen Jensen from LAG – an independent Bornholm organisation that supports the development of local projects hjj@lag-bornholm.dk and +4520423370.

Lehnsgaard Rapeseed Oil – Hans Kai Hansen www.lehnsgaard.dk and mail@lehnsgaard.dk

Bornholm’s Ismejeri http://www.bornholms-ismejeri.dk/ – Jonas Bohn & Vibeke Bengtson +45 56493740 info@bornholms-ismejeri.dk

Vandkefir Perler https://vandkefirperler.dk/ - Paulie Melnyk info@vandkefirperler.dk +45 22 58 91 35

Bornholm Hemp https://www.bornholmerhampen.dk/en/hampe/ - Signe Anker info@bornholmerhampen.d

Kasper, WagyuBornholm http://wagyubornholm.dk/ and kontakt@wagyubornholm.dk

More details:

For more details, see www.visitdenmark.co.uk and https://bornholm.info/en/

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

Wycombe Magistrates Court

June 26:

Craig Johnson, 25, Tees Road, Aylesbury: theft by employee - stole £4,500 belonging to Gala Bingo. Ordered to pay compensation of £4500 and ordered to undertake eight days of community service.

David Price, 34, Grove Way, Waddesdon: theft from a shop - stole seven bottles of vodka valued at £164.50 from Sainsbury’s, Aylesbury.

Stole four bottles of vodka and two bottles of Jagermeister valued at £180.50 from Sainsbury’s, Aylesbury.

Ordered to undertake eight days of community service and be under a night-time curfew for three months.

Ordered to pay compensation of £164 and pay a victim surcharge of £85.

Nicholas Stone, 34, Crovebrook Road, Monks Risborough: trespassed on lines belonging to London Northwestern Trains in dangerous proximity to High Wycombe Railway. While at High Wycombe Railway, was in a drunk and/or disorderly state.

Fined £80, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and costs of £85 to the CPS.

June 27:

Lucinda Wynn, 36, Greyhound Lane, Winslow: drove a Volkswagen Caddy van on the A41 Bicester Road, Waddesdon, with drugs in her system. Fined £369, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and costs of £85 to the CPS. Disqualified from holding a driving licence for 12 months.

June 29:

Mark Holwell, 50, Littleworth, Wing: assaulted a woman by beating. Fined £1,312, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £131 and costs of £105 to the CPS.

Shaun Vine, 35, Fletcher Close, Aylesbury: stole meat valued at £89.72 from Waitrose, Aylesbury. Fined £120, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and costs of £85 to the CPS.

June 30:

Lynsey Bradwick, 26, Meadowcroft, Aylesbury: stole three bottles of Bells Whiskey valued at £66 from Sainsbury’s, Aylesbury. Fined £80, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and costs of £85 to the CPS.

July 2:

Zaheen Hanif, 56, Olivier Way, Aylesbury: drove a BMW in Amersham at 37mph in a 30mph zone. Fined £123, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and costs of £85 to the CPS.

July 3:

Darrell Brett Richard Wynn, 44, Thrasher Road, Aylesbury: drove a Ford Focus on Park Street, Aylesbury, while over the alcohol limit. Fined £53, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and costs of £85 to the CPS. Disqualified from holding a driving licence for 12 months.

Ioan Alexandru Duta, 31, Kinson Green, Aylesbury: drove a black BMW on Buckingham Road, Aylesbury without third party insurance and a licence. Fined £250, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and costs of £85 to the CPS.

July 4:

Ben Goss, 33, Madley Road, Aylesbury: assaulted a woman by beating on two separate occasions. Given a 12 week sentence suspended for 12 months because of seriousness of offence. Ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work within the next 12 months and to pay costs of £50.

July 5:

Kris Darby, 27, The Crown, Granborough: assaulted a woman by beating. Fined £253, ordered to pay compensation of £125, a victim surcharge of £30 and costs of £85 to the CPS.

Billy Ian Jeneson, 19, Buckingham Street, Aylesbury: travelled on a Chiltern Railways train without paying a fare. Fined £20, ordered to pay compensation of £3.50 and a victim surcharge of £30.

July 6:

Nadia Benhaddou, 37, Witham Way, Aylesbury: assaulted a male. Committed to prison for 12 weeks because of seriousness of offence and because other similar offences committed during bail period. Ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £115.

Frank Bastable, 23, California, Aylesbury: drove a SEAT on Cookham Road, Berkshire, at 41mph in a 30mph zone. Fined £100 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30.

July 9:

Benjamin Hellon, 24, Brill Road, Oakley: possession of a quantity of crack cocaine. Fined £120, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and ordered to pay costs of £85 to the CPS.

Albert Lamb, 39, Churchill Avenue, Aylesbury: assaulted a constable in the execution of their duty. Fined £144, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and costs of £150 to the CPS.

Damaged a cell at Aylesbury police station. Fined £100 and ordered to pay compensation of £150.

July 10:

Shame Makore, 45, Ossulbury Lane, Aylesbury: drunk and disorderly behaviour in a public place. Fined £80, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and costs of £85 to the CPS.

Mohammed Khan, 19, Belgrave Road, Aylesbury: possessed a Knuckle Duster with a lock knife inside HMYOI Aylesbury. Given a four month prison sentence suspended for 12 months. Ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work within the next 12 months. Ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £115 and costs of £200 to the CPS.

Christian Scott Luckett, 19, Weston Road, Aston Clinton: drove a Vauxhall Corsa in Stocklake, Aylesbury, while above the alcohol limit. Fined £160, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and costs of £350 to the CPS.

July 11:

Kristopher Corey Jamie Lee Tilbury, 27, Ryeland, Buckingham: drove a Volkswagen Golf while disqualified in West Street, Buckingham. Committed to prison for four weeks. Ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £115.

Joseph Brinkley, 27, Red Admiral Street, Aylesbury: assaulted an accredited person while they were executing their duty. Sent a verbal threat by public communication network.

Ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work within the next 12 months. Ordered to pay compensation of £50 and to pay a victim surcharge of £85.

July 13:

David Price, 34, Grove Way, Waddesdon: entered Uptown Coffee Bar, Whitehill Lane, Aylesbury, as a trespasser and stole a laptop (valued at £179.99) and £30 in cash. Possessed heroin in Wendover Road, Aylesbury. Committed to prison for 12 weeks suspended for 12 months because of seriousness of offence. Ordered to pay compensation of £1,185.99.

Shaun Vine, 35, Fletcher Close, Aylesbury: stole alcohol and soft drinks valued at £184.75 from Morrisons. Fined £120, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and costs of £85 to the CPS.

The hottest day of the decade could be on its way to the UK – with the mercury set to climb to highs of 34 degrees in parts of the UK on Wednesday July 25.

But the sun’s rays can make the working environment almost unbearable.

Laura Kearsley, partner and solicitor in the employment team at Nelsons Solicitors, explains what the law says on employee rights during hot weather.

Can I leave my workplace if it becomes too hot?

Not unless you feel unwell and you need to take sick leave. The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 places a legal obligation on employers to provide a “reasonable” working temperature in the office.

Your employer has a duty to determine what reasonable comfort will be in the particular circumstances.

Are there any other regulations that protect workers during hot weather?

In addition, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 requires employers to make a suitable assessment of the risks to the health and safety of their employees. The temperature of the workplace is one of the potential hazards that employers should consider when doing risk assessments.

Does my boss have to legally provide air conditioning in the office?

No, they do not. Where working temperatures are uncomfortable, employers should consider:

:: Using fans or air conditioning if available

:: Providing cool water in the workplace and encouraging workers to drink it to prevent dehydration

:: Modifying the dress code requirements if appropriate However, sensible employers will use mobile air conditioning units and fans to keep workers cool.

If you have other suggestions for how your employer could make working in the warm weather more comfortable, you should pass these on.

Is it acceptable for me to wear shorts and flip flops in the office during warm weather? What will happen if I defy my employer?

Your employer may change dress code requirements in warmer weather if this is appropriate. However, they are still entitled to insist on certain standards of appearance – particularly for customer-facing roles and for shoes and clothing to be sensible for health and safety reasons.

Are there any other regulations that protect workers during hot weather?

The general duties for employers to treat employees with trust and confidence apply throughout the employment relationship.

Have you ever dreamed of living the rural idyll down on the farm?

If so, then look no further - these are five of the best farmhouses on the market right now, all being offered for sale through Michael Graham Estate Agents.

1. The Old Bell House, in Hitchin, Hertfordshire is a Grade II Listed detached former farmhouse.

The property boasts eight bedrooms, making it an ideal family home with plenty of outdoor space too for entertaining or family games.

There are also barns and outbuildings with planning permission to convert into accommodation or offices.

The home is available for £1.75 million. Visit michaelgraham.co.uk/property/rps_mig-HIT180083.

2. Rectory Farm, is in the village of Pulloxhill, near Bedford.

In a village location overlooking the Chilterns, this property has everything you could want in a farmhouse.

Grade II listed, this six-bedroom property has every period feature you could imagine and comes with a traditional farmhouse kitchen, boot room, pantry and four acres of land to play with.

Rectory Farm is available for £1.35 million. Visit michaelgraham.co.uk/property/rps_mig-BED160017.

3. Willowvale Farmhouse lies in Steeple Claydon, Buckinghamshire.

This 17th century chocolate-box thatch sits in an acre of gardens and paddocks with outbuildings.

The house has retained its much-loved historic features including the inglenook fireplace and bread oven in the kitchen which sits beautifully alongside more contemporary fixtures and fittings.

The property is available for £1.15 million. Visit https://michaelgraham.co.uk/property/rps_mig-BUC160340

4. Ivy Farm Cottage is in Great Horwood, Buckinghamshire.

This 18th century thatch has five bedrooms and an enviable village location.

The interior flows beautifully with an open-plan kitchen, family room and dining area all adaptable and well planned out, making this the perfect, most easy living house you could hope to find.

Ivy Farm Cottage is available for £900,000. Visit https://michaelgraham.co.uk/property/rps_mig-STS170162.

5. Harrowdene Farm House is in the village of Felmersham, Bedfordshire.

This wonderful property is a 17th century farmhouse which has managed to hold onto its most desirable and original features.

The inglenook fireplaces and flagstone and quarry tiled floors alongside gorgeous bathrooms and a kitchen with an Aga all help make this property so lovely. Walled gardens surround the grounds which include two separate stone barns with previous planning consent for conversion.

The property is available for £750,000. Visit michaelgraham.co.uk/property/rps_mig-BED170689.

Matthew Horne, Joe Lycett and Dara O’Briain will be among the big names appearing with plenty of drama, musical, comedy and music in the new season at the theatre.
Kicking off the new season, the Creative Learning department at Milton Keynes Theatre have partnered with Vivo D’arte to bring this year’s Stage Experience production of Little Shop of Horrors.
A local cast, aged between 10 and 25, will be turning Milton Keynes into Skid Row, bringing the frightening floristry to life!
In the Autumn English National Ballet present a passionate retelling of Kenneth MacMillan’s masterpiece Manon, and Glyndebourne, bring La Traviata and Cendrillon (Cinderella).
Coming to Milton Keynes in September is a stage adaptation of the Oscar winning film Rain Man.
Gavin and Stacey star Matthew Horne plays Dustin Hoffman’s part from the film and is supported by Downton Abbey actor Ed Speelers.
If you would rather be swept up in the swinging 60s then Cilla - The Musical will be making a return to Milton Keynes later in the season.
ITV may well have broadcast the last ever episode of the sitcom but the British spirit abroad will still live on when Benidorm comes to Milton Keynes Theatre. It will feature many of the cast of the sitcom and a script by the show’s creator Derren Litten.
The hit West End show The Comedy About a Bank Robbery is also aiming to bring plenty of laughter later in the year.
The show has been produced by the same company who have previously bought The Play That Goes Wrong and Peter Pan Goes Wrong to the theatre. The latest effort as a cross between Oceans’ 11 and The Marx Brothers.
The National Theatre also continues to provide audiences with world-class entertainment, presenting the sensational wartime epic, War Horse.
Additionally there is a superb line-up of special one-night events. Prepare to laugh out loud with some of the biggest names in comedy, from Joe Lycett and Dara O’Briain, to Jason Manford.
There’s also a variety of music from the likes of Jane McDonald, Caro Emerald, The ELO Experience, and A Vision of Elvis.
It will soon be that time of year… Oh no it isn’t! Oh yes it is!
EastEnders star Shane Richie will lead the cast in this year’s spectacular family pantomime, Robin Hood.
It has been described as the ultimate sheriff-busting, arrow-shooting, tights-wearing, pantomime extravaganza ever to come to Milton Keynes Theatre.
Further family fun can be found with added ‘sparkle and shine’ from brand-new musical Nativity! The Musical, based on the smash-hit film series, bringing the feel-good festivities to the holiday season.
A number of shows for thebeginning of 2019 have already gone on sale with popular musicals The Rocky Horror Show, The Band and The Bodyguard appearing as well as the acclaimed production of Les Misérables.
Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake returns with a fresh take for the 21st Century, and a thrilling adaptation of best-selling novel The Girl on the Train also takes to the stage.
Tickets for all of these shows and more are already on sale.
They can be bought by calling the box office on 0844 817 7652 or alternatively by visiting www.atgtickets.co.uk/miltonkeynes where more information is available.