News included arson attacks and vandalism, to flooding, job cuts and multi-million pound town centre redevelopment plans.

JANUARY: A SPATE of church break-ins swept across villages in south Northants.Nine churches, including ones in Greens Norton, Bradden, Helmdon, Cold Higham and Weedon Lois, were targeted in nine raids over an 11-day period.

FEBRUARY: INVESTIGATORS appealed for witnesses following an arson attack on a popular town centre venue in Buckingham.The fire gutted much of the bar area and ceiling at the Grand Junction pub but no one was injured.

MARCH: THERE was anger after it was announced toilets at Buckingham Community Centre would be closed to shoppers. Under new arrangements, disabled people and mothers needing to use the centre's baby-changing facilities still have access, but will have to ask the manager for a key.



















APRIL: NEW plans to build a £25million housing development on land in the centre of Buckingham, were submitted. The application was to build 99 flats, four houses, a shop and a cafe on land near the White Hart pub car park. It is a revised previous application withdrawn after concerns over parking and potential increase in traffic movement.

MAY: PLANS were unveiled to spend £500,000 on upgrading facilities at Brackley Town Football Club. Following promotion to the Southern League Premier Division, the club needs to build another stand, new changing rooms and physio rooms as well as improve the car park and install a new artificial training pitch to meet the ground grading requirements of the premier division.



















JUNE: A LECKHAMPSTEAD mother urged parents to make their children wear cycle helmets after a minor accident nearly cost her daughter her life. Eleven-year-old Danielle Richardson ended up undergoing emergency surgery after slipping off her bike and bumping her head.

JULY: THE nightmare of severe flooding, last seen 10 years ago, returned to the region when the River Great Ouse burst its banks. Torrential rain saturated the town's roads and caused localised floods, the water reaching up to three feet deep in places and blocking roads. Scores of homeowners were left counting the cost of the floods with many still carrying out repairs on their homes today.



















AUGUST: A £70million revamp of Bicester town centre was given the final go-ahead by the Government. The development will include a new supermarket, library, bus interchange, council offices, 19 flats, parking for 525 cars and a range of new shops, bars and restaurants.

SEPTEMBER: COMMUNITY leaders in south Northants spoke of their concern after it was announced that 400 police officers' jobs could be cut in the county as part of a wide-ranging review. The jobs could be lost over several years as part of a programme of change to ensure the force is 'prepared to meet the policing challenges of the future.'

OCTOBER: Former Prime Minister Tony Blair and wife Cherie visited Winslow Hall with a view to buying after it came onto the market for 3million. The Grade I listed building, set in 17 acres of parkland, has seven bedrooms, a library, games room and a former coach house which has been converted into two flats and garages.

NOVEMBER: A right royal welcome awaited HRH the Queen when she visited Stowe School and Gardens with Prince Philip. Members of the public lined the colonnades and cheered as the royal party arrived by helicopter. They had earlier visited Milton Keynes where the Queen opened the new Stadium MK, home to the MK Dons football club.

DECEMBER: LENBOROUGH mum Caroline Dinnie raised £3,670 for a cancer hospital with a tandem 12,000ft skydive despite her fear of heights. Former nurse, Mrs Dinnie, who has a 12-year-old daughter, suffered the onset of scondary cancer last year after an initial diagnosis of breast cancer around three years ago.