James Grant

Wellingborough engineer and strongman James Merry is preparing to represent England at the World's Strongest Masters Championships in Florida in November. After winning England's Strongest Masters competition last year, the 41-year-old is training four days a week while working full-time and consuming about 6,000 calories daily. He says his goal is to win, supported by his family, after progressing from a lockdown home gym to national titles and strong performances in international competitions.

A new £15.75m urgent treatment centre at Northampton General Hospital is due to begin accepting patients on 7 September 2026, replacing the Springfield Urgent Treatment Centre. Located beside the accident and emergency department, it will bring urgent treatment, emergency assessment and specialist children's care into a single hub, helping patients reach the appropriate clinician more quickly and allowing emergency staff to focus on life-threatening cases. Services will transfer in stages to maintain safe operations.

An early intervention scheme run by Northamptonshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner has supported 310 children in its first six months by placing youth workers within police teams and schools to address early signs of anti‑social behaviour. The programme aims to reduce pressure on emergency services by offering one‑to‑one support and family sessions, with referrals increasingly coming from schools in Northampton, Kettering and Wellingborough. Officials highlight stronger safeguarding and reduced escalation of problems as key benefits.

A developer convicted of health and safety offences faces renewed legal action over an unsafe six‑storey block of flats in Kettering. North Northamptonshire Council is seeking a further court order to secure the site after Marcus Fielding continued work despite a High Court ruling requiring demolition. Fielding denied wrongdoing but admitted lacking funds to carry out the demolition. Sentencing is scheduled for August as the council monitors the site and prepares for demolition enforcement.