A rare bird has been spotted visiting Hemel Hempstead in the garden of an amateur birdwatcher.

Steve Gilden couldn’t believe his luck when a male blackcap landed on one of the feeders in his Boxmoor garden.

“I always find it exciting when I see something that I don’t normally see, especially when you think about the fact that this little thing has probably flown all the way from Russia.”

The bird - a type of warbler with a distinctive black cap marking - is normally only found in the UK in the summer but has increasingly been found migrating to England to escape cold winters in northern Europe.

People are being urged to leave a light on at home when going out at night after a spate of break-ins.

Police patrols have been stepped up in Boxmoor after a spate of burglaries where jewellery has been taken.

Officers are also reminding people to double lock their front doors and lock windows when leaving the house.

Dacorum Det Insp Justine Jenkins said: “There has been a marked increase in burglaries in the Boxmoor area in the past couple of months and we’ve been increasing patrols in the area, using additional resources to try to combat this.

“The burglaries are mostly occurring in the evenings up until around 10pm and jewellery is predominantly being targeted. We’ve been delivering crime prevention advice to residents in the area, but if you’ve missed this it is important that if you’re not going to be in your property in the evening I would advise you to either leave a light on or set a timer switch for a light to come on when it gets dark. This simple step will give your house the appearance that someone is in and it could deter a burglar.”

>Three men - two from Watford and one from Camden - have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to burgle on Thursday. They have been police bailed until January 29 while the investigation continues.

We’ve all heard it many times before – the best way to get over your fears is to face them. Abena Bailey gets up close to a tarantula.

In my case this meant popping along to AmeyZoo in Bovingdon where managers Siouxsie Gillet and Mark Amey offer gift vouchers for people to handle spiders or snakes to cure their phobias.

I’ve been afraid of spiders for as long as I can remember and I’m soon embarking on a trip to Thailand where I’m told the eight-legged creepy crawlies are quite huge, so it was the perfect time for me to face my fear. How? By holding a massive hairy tarantula in my hands, and holding it all together at the same time.

Now I once jumped out of a shower and ran, soaking wet, wrapped in a towel to the next door neighbour because there was a spider on the shower curtain. I was too scared to return to the bathroom for the best part of that day, so you can see the scale of my spidey sensitivity.

As the phobia appointment loomed, memories of the 1990 film Arachnophobia, where giant spiders kill their way through the cast, haunted me.

I wasn’t sure what to expect so I had a chat with Siouxsie, who was scheduled to take me through the session and boasts a 100 per cent success rate.

She told me that it could take a few minutes or a whole day, but I would hold a tarantula in the end.

Reassured – I think – I kept a clear head and tried not to imagine myself throwing the tarantula on the floor before running screaming into the streets of Bovingdon.

Our fears can manifest themselves in the strangest ways and often originate from some small incident in our childhood.

Siouxsie said: “We have a really negative perception of spiders and I think it’s really sad. Childhood phobias and scary movies concentrate on all the negative side of spiders.

“It’s the same with snakes. The typical image is of them open mouthed about to take a bite, or of a spider in attack mode.”

I have no idea where my fear of spiders came from. I told Siouxsie I was nervous about a spider crawling up my arm and attacking my face or burying itself in my hair, or even creeping into my mouth in the middle of the night.

I wasn’t actually scared of one killing me with its bite, it was the way they moved that freaked me out.

Talking about my fear was an important part of the phobia session.

First I sat next to a cabinet full of tarantulas kept in small tanks, and the next step was opening the cabinet and looking at all the spiders inside.

The hairs on the back of neck instantly stood up in protest.

I was going to hold a pinkish Chilean Rose tarantula called Rosie, who Souixsie assured me was the gentlest speciment they had – she had even been on visits to schools in Dacorum to meet the children.

I perched at one end of the shop while Souixsie, at the other end, took Rosie out of her tank and rested her on the counter.

“You will hold this spider,” she told me. “Come a bit closer if you want.”

I had no idea that it would take me the best part of an hour just to approach the desk.

I felt hot, itchy and any sudden movements, such as hair tickling my neck, made me jump out of my skin.

Siouxsie calmly invited me to touch Rosie’s leg.

I put my hand out, got a millimetre away and then panicked and retreated back to the far side of the room.

The patient process of soothing my panic continued, until eventually Rosie and I came into contact. Her leg touched the tip of my little finger.

Was I cured? No, I felt like I was going to be sick.

But next I stroked her abdomen, then Siouxsie told me I was ready for Rosie to crawl over my hand.

Mark stood next to me for reassurance and I linked arms with him tightly.

First Rosie crawled over one finger, then two, then three, and eventually my whole hand.

After that, the prospect of holding Rosie didn’t seem so frightening and I felt silly that I had been such a chicken for two hours.

Then came the big moment. I held Rosie, and then I held her again, and again, spurred on by the achievement of conquering my fear.

When Siouxsie asked me if I was ready to hold a tiny house spider, I thought it would be no problem – I had conquered my feat, and anyway it really was incey wincey.

But when Mark put it on my hand it ran around so quickly I panicked, and for some reason my reaction was to bury my head into Mark’s shoulder and bite him!

I really don’t know what came over me, but being scared of smaller spiders isn’t unusual.Siouxsie said most people were more frightened of house spiders than tarantulas.

And did it work? Well, a few days later I found myself searching through my lock-up for bathroom paint when a huge spider scarpered out from its hiding place into view.

I was startled yes, but not scared. I just got on with what I was doing and let the spider, and the neighbours, do the same.

Find out more about Ameyzoo online at www.ameyzoo.co.uk

A bid to see a baby battering beast caged for longer has been successful – but the court that ruled he must spend years more behind bars has also decided that his identity should be protected.

Hemel Hempstead MP Mike Penning and the prosecution team involved in the case called for the jail term of the Hemel Hempstead monster to be looked at again after he was sentenced to just 10 years and nine months behind bars.

The 35-year-old, who lived with his girlfriend, beat her baby girl so badly that she has been left blind, deaf, incontinent and needing around the clock care for the rest of her life.

Mr Penning wrote to the Attorney General Dominic Grieve, who agreed that the sentence was unduly lenient and asked for the Court of Appeal to review the case.

The court ruled that his sentence should be increased to 15 years behind bars and another three years on extended licence.

But it also ordered that the sick abuser should not be identified in any way, despite his name, whereabouts and picture being published when he was first jailed.

Mr Penning welcomed the longer sentence but was left puzzled by the banning order.

He said: “It does seem ridiculous. Like everybody else I’m really surprised, it doesn’t make any sense

“I welcome the additional jail term but have to say that I still think even 15 years is not enough. I feel they should lock him up and throw away the key but at least the system has worked.”

County police and crime commissioner David Lloyd said: “The constabulary was absolutely right to challenge the original sentence in this terrible case. I am very pleased that this view was supported by the Royal Courts of Justice.”

Santa and his elves are coming to Hemel Hempstead’s Marlowes Shopping Centre this festive weekend.

A free elf craft workshop, dance performances, free candy canes and a visit from Santa himself will be part of the festivities during their visit.

On Saturday children are invited to join the elves for a craft workshop from 11am to 4pm, where they will be given an elf hat and rosy cheeks along with a certificate.

Free candy canes will be handed out on Sunday, while elves will bebreak dancing, moon walking and waltzing during performances at midday, 1pm and 2pm on Christmas Eve .

Santa will be leaving the shopping centre at 4pm on Christmas Eve.

Centre marketing manager Carly Cullen said: “Having playful elves around the centre will be perfect for creating a fun atmosphere before Christmas.”

The founder a care group which opened its first home in Hemel Hempstead has been named Asian of the Year 2012.

Ravi Gidar was presented with the prestigious accolade in recognition of his tireless contribution to the Asian community in the UK at the Asian Who’s Who International ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel on London’s Park Lane.

The award winner is chosen by an independent panel of eminent advisors, including previous award winners, and Ravi took the title for his commitment to business, culture and the community.

He came to the UK from India in 1966 with his parents.

He and his brother Sukhi established Gold Care Homes in 1999, when they bought Queensway House in Hemel Hempstead.

The company now has 23 nursing and residential homes caring for up to 1,150 elderly residents.

He said: “This award is not for myself but for the whole Asian community. I have only given my time and experience but others give so much more. There are many people who are deserving of this award but I am humbled to have received this honour.

“I feel honoured and appreciated by the whole Asian community, which contributes to British society in business, enterprise, sport, politics and much more, and has now become an integral part of Britain, providing diversity and culture.”

Thieves working under the cover of darkness stole a huge generator.

The crime happened between 4pm and 10.30pm on Sunday, December 15, after thieves cut through a chain locking gates to Frogmore Paper Mill in Fourdrinier Way, Hemel Hempstead.

Detective Sergeant Craig Flint said: “This was a large and extremely heavy item that was taken and offenders would have had to come prepared.”

Police have published pictures of the generator and the trailer it was mounted on at the website www.herts.police.uk under the latest news section.

If you can help solve the crime, phone them on 101 quoting crime reference D1/12/7446 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Extra cash has been released to spend on Hemel Hempstead’s Old Town Hall arts venue after the bill for the regeneration project turned out to be higher than expected.

Dacorum Borough Council’s cabinet agreed to reallocate £450,000 set aside for phase two of the scheme so that it can be splashed out on the first stage of the works, due to get under way in the new year.

Phase one – originally expected to cost between £90,000 and £100,000 – involves the redevelopment of the Gallery Bar and the reopening of The Cellar, including installing a lift to allow for disabled access.

During a meeting of the council’s cabinet Councillor Neil Harden said: “This is really exciting and is turning our Old Town Hall into a 21st century venue.

“I have heard reports from the community that they are really excited that The Cellar is coming back.”

The Cellar Club – expected to bring in an extra £10,000 each year – will host comedy nights, jazz, rock and indie music nights and will be available for private hire.

But the costs of the first stage of the project have come in higher than expected due to unforeseen works including renewing the mains electrical supply, damp proofing the basement, fire proofing and upgrading drainage.

The £700,000 project is part of a bid to attract investment and footfall to the Old Town. Phase two of the work involves redeveloping the colonnade area, for which external funding may be sought.

A fire that began nearly six weeks ago at a recycling base is still burning – but it is unknown how much public cash has been spent on it.

Herts Fire and Rescue Service spokesman Simon Hoggett said the information was unavailable and that he could not say how much time firefighters have spent at the site either.

But he said John Mills, the county’s deputy chief fire officer, had told him more information on the blaze should be available by mid-January.

Mr Hoggett said the fire at the Appspond Lane site just outside of Leverstock Green is now ‘smouldering’ and being monitored by staff as it burns itself out.

Firefighters still check up on it once a day, but no longer spend all day there.

A portrait photographer whose work is already on display in the National Portrait Gallery wants to say ‘watch the birdie’ to Dacorum bird-watchers – and he’s hoping golfers and bee-keepers will want to get involved in his latest project, too. .

Luke Archer, 24, from Potten End, said: “I am looking at different groups in our society – basically just quirky, outdoor activities which in a way have parallels with photography.

“They all have a history, they require time and effort and specialist equipment. They are all hobbies, like my passion for photography itself.”

The photography graduate’s current long-term project about peers in the House of Lords, entitled Inheritance, was inspired by the rediscovery of his grandfather’s 100-year-old camera.

Although he says that camera is too sentimental to take out and about on his new mission, he will still be using vintage equipment.

“It is still old-fashioned, I will have to go under the cloth and things like that. But I might incorporate some digital as well.

“I want people to come forward who are willing to spend some time being photographed this way. If someone is a member of a club or society, it might lead to more people knowing about it.”

Those who sit for Luke’s project will be given a print of their image and he will not use them for commercial gain without the subject’s permission.

“You can’t really tell when you start a project where it will end up. I just do it with the aim of as many people seeing them as possible,” said Luke , whose work can be seen {http://www.lukearcherphotography.co.uk|online}

“I just want to group images of these subcultures together, so it becomes a story of Hertfordshire and some of the activities and pastimes in the county. I haven’t done any projects based on my own area before, it is nice to do something more local.”

If you are a golfer, bee-keeper or bird-watcher and are interested in sitting for Luke, contact him on 07841574644 or lukearcherphotographer@gmail.com

Herts Euro MP Richard Howitt has welcomed the decision to introduce a ban on fish ‘discards’.

He has been campaigning for more than five years for the change, alongside celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.

The new rules aim end overfishing of European fish stocks and ban discards, where fish that trawlers catch but can’t sell because of quote or other restrictions are just dumped over the side

The Labour man said: “Once the discard ban is introduced our fishermen will have to fish more selectively – and it is in everyone’s interests that they do it. I’m delighted.”

Booming pub chain Wetherspoon would like to open a new pub in Tring – if anyone’s got a site for it.

The high-profile pub firm told the Gazette there was ‘no doubt whatsoever’ it would like to open one of its traditional pubs in the town.

Spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “We are definitely interested in Tring. It is a decent town and a lot of people want to open a pub there, but not many sites are coming up. If one came up, we would certainly be keen on it.”

Wetherspoon now runs about 900 pubs – and, despite historically focusing on bigger cities, is opening more and more pubs in smaller towns as it attempts to reach new customers.

It already runs The Crown in Berkhamsted and The Full House in Hemel Hempstead.

Mr Gershon was speaking ahead of the chain’s UK-wide sale of beer and meals from Wednesday, January 2, to Thursday, January 31. Some prices will be cut by up to 50p in that time.

A GCSE student is swapping science notes for scripts and songbooks to star as Dick Whittington’s leading lady.

Lucy Scott, 15, from Miswell Lane, Tring is to play the main female role of Alice in the Court Theatre’s pantomime, starting on Saturday despite having to sit exams soon after.

The budding musical theatre actress was the youngest gunning for the coveted role.

Lucy said: “I have been acting with the Court Theatre since I was about 10. I just got into it after seeing their pantomime and I have done all the youth shows since then.

“Then I got asked to audition for the pantomime this year. I was the youngest at the audition by about five years, so it was a big surprise to get the main part. But it was a very good surprise.”

Lucy has no understudy and will act in each of the 12 shows in the pantomime’s six-day run.

But she will be taking valuable time out of her revision schedule, as she is due to sit all of her mock GCSE exams, as well as her Science finals, next month.

She added: “Because I am much younger, it is a bit harder to do all of the shows.

“I am going to be studying in between performances but it is going to be so worth it to be involved in the pantomime.”

Ian Gower, who co-wrote the pantomime and stars as baddie King Rat, said: “We have got Lucy as our new leading girl this year and are bringing up a lot of young ones. We have a cast of about 40 youngsters in the youth drama group.

“It is very much aimed at bringing young people through and everything is a team effort. This year, the Court Theatre’s festive offering will feature a mass sing-along, in which all children can interact with the stars, including Lucy, on stage.

The Aylesbury High School student said: “It is much more relatable, not like the big celebrity world of panto. It inspired me when I was younger and I know a lot of my friends were inspired by it too.

“I am sure some of the children who watch us will want to be the person who is actually acting on stage by this time next year.”

Tickets for Dick Whittington and his Cat have almost sold out, with just days to go before curtains open.

To check the availability of all matinee and evening performances from Saturday through to January 6, visit www.courttheatre.co.uk or call 07543 560478.

The snowman seen by millions of TV viewers in the iconic John Lewis Christmas campaign has been donated to the a hospital children’s ward – and you could bid to win it.

Starfish Ward at Watford General Hospital, which cares for sick children from the Dacorum area, is an acute admissions ward that cares for patients up to the age of 16 years old, with acute and chronic medical and surgical conditions.

The Watford snowman, which has made its home in the local department store during the festive season, is now making its journey to Starfish ward for all to enjoy on Christmas Day and beyond.

Pearl Robson of John Lewis Watford said: “The snowman has been a real hit and we are delighted to donate it to such a good home in time for Christmas..

Zoey Pullar, a senior sister on Starfish Ward said: “The children will be thrilled to see him.  We are also very grateful for the opportunity to auction our donated snowman post-Christmas to help raise money for our ‘Light up the Lighthouse Appeal’.

“Lighthouse is the high-dependency area of our ward where children who require high intervention care are nursed. 

“These children are acutely unwell and admitted in emergency situations. They receive highly-specialised treatment in this area and are constantly monitored until their condition stabilises, or an intensive care team is required to transfer them from Watford to a paediatric intensive care unit.”

The snowman will be sold off through a blind auction which will open on the hospital website at midday on Christmas Eve and will run until midday on New Year’s Eve.

To place a bid or find out more visit {https://www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk/newsandmedia/snowman_auction.asp|the auction page on the Trust website} from midday on 24 December.

Euro MP Richard Howitt looks as pleased as punch to get his hands on the Nobel Peace Prize.

The prestigious accolade was presented to the Euopean Union in recognition of the work it has done to preserve peace across the continent in recent years.

Mr Howitt, who got a chance to get up close and personal to the honour at the European Parliament, said: “I’m very proud of this award

“The European Union fully deserves this recognition. This is a side of Europe that we don’t always see.

“Both my parents served in the Second World War, my father in the RAF and my mother with the WVS. The European Union has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for six decades of work in advancing peace in Europe.”

Police want to speak to this man after a supermarket security guard was sprayed in the face with what is believed to have been pepper spray.

The victim, aged in his 30s, was attacked as he approached someone suspected of shoplifting at Tesco in Jarman Park, Hemel Hempstead.

It happened on Tuesday, December 11, between 7.15pm and 7.25pm.

PC Stephen Smyley said: “I am appealing to anyone who may recognise the man pictured as he may have information about the incident. If you see the person pictured please contact police immediately.”

The suspect made off in the direction of the store’s petrol station.

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Smyley via the non-emergency number 101, quoting crime reference D1/12/7354. Alternatively contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

The handover of a cheque for more than £7,000 has taken the fundraising total racked up by Markyate’s Beechwood Park school for Keech Hospice Care to nearly £160,000.

The school has been supporting the children’s hospice organisation since 1994, and pupils, staff, and the Parents’ Association all put their weight behind the fundraising effort which takes in activities like summer balls, fireworks nights and raffles.

Head teacher Patrick Atkinson said: “The entire school community is pleased to support this wonderful local charity.

“Numerous fundraising activities have taken place at school over the years, many at the suggestion of our pupils, some of whom have visited children at Keech Hospice.

“The varied support we have given is fully deserved and we appreciate that more is always required. It is marvellous to hear that Keech Hospice appreciates our support; I know this means a great deal to the boys and girls, parents and staff who have given their time and energy resulting in the substantial donations. I am sure it will encourage them to continue to do more.”

Alaine Sellers, the current chair of the Beechwood Park School Parents’ Association, added: “Our relationship with Keech is very important to us and we will continue to work hard to help support them.”

Keech community fundraiser Claire Collings said; “Fundraising efforts like this make a huge difference to the hospice and help to brighten up lives of the children and their families.

“The children’s service provides specialist palliative care for children and young people up to the age of 18 years who have life-limiting conditions and who live within Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Milton Keynes.

“Staff at Keech may not be able to add days to the lives of these young people but they strive to add life to their days and this money will go towards continuing this care.”

Care at the hospice focuses on helping children to enjoy the highest quality of life - controlling their pain and other distressing symptoms, offering practical and emotional support and providing a range of treatments and therapies including complementary therapies, music and hydrotherapy.

Hemel Hempstead MP Mike Penning is backing the launch of a Chance To Be Chancellor project and calling on Dacorum teenagers to get involved.

The project is organised by educational charity Citizenship Foundation and is open to all those aged 14 to 18.

The teenagers are challenged to grapple with the same issues that face Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osbourne ahead of the official Budget in mid-March.

And they’re expected to learn about, and share their opinions on, a selection of possible policies.

Students can also enter a national competition by creating a short video arguing their choices with a chance to win an iPad.

All entries will be collated to produce the Youth Budget, a report launched in anticipation of the official budget to give the voters of the future a platform for their views on important economic issues.

Mr Penning said: “Chance to be Chancellor is a great way of bringing the current economic challenges into schools in Dacorum.

“It’s also a great opportunity for students to have their say on what they think should be included in Budget 2013.

“I encourage as many students as possible to get involved and submit their ideas on how to tackle the current economic challenges; a particularly difficult challenge in the current climate. I wish all entrants the best of luck.”

Chance to be Chancellor 2013 runs until Friday, February 15 and details of how to enter can be found on www.chancetobechancellor.org.uk .

The spirit of a competitive Christmas was captured by pupils at Hemel Hempstead’s Cavendish School as they designed, made and then filled hampers destined for distribution by the town branch of the Age Concern charity.

As part of a inter house competition nearly 40 hampers were produced by students in Years 7 to 11.

Each hamper was designed with a Christmas theme and filled with a variety of food items.

Sixth form students and members of staff then loaded up the mini bus and hand- delivered the hampers, singing Christmas carols as they did so..

Danny Allen, head of the school’s Bragg House, said: “Many students have put a lot of time and effort into making and filling the hampers, the elderly cllients at Age Concern were very grateful for the gifts as well as the time the sixth form students happily spent with them”

A new awareness and fundraising campaign is set to be launched across the East of England by Cancer Research UK, as new figures show that the lifetime risk of developing cancer is increasing.

Latest statistics from the charity predict that a man’s lifetime risk of developing the disease is set to reach one in two in the UK by 2027.

This means that within 15 years 50 men out of every 100 are likely to be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lifetime, as opposed to 44 out of every 100 in 2010.

Women’s lifetime cancer risk is also increasing and is predicted to rise from 40 to 44 out of every 100 women by 2027.

Although the number of cancer cases is set increase steeply - largely due to the fact that people are living longer and cancer is predominantly a disease of old age - the good news is that, thanks to research, survival rates have doubled in the past 40 years and more people in the East of England are now beating the disease than ever before.

The prediction for the future comes as Cancer Research UK prepares to launch its new campaign with a hard-hitting TV advert on Boxing Day.

It features one of the charity’s dedicated scientists and demonstrates the power of research in beating cancer. The message is clear that research is cancer’s enemy - but more money is needed to help Cancer Research UK beat cancer sooner.

{http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWuyPi_nuJE&feature=youtu.be|You can view the commercial here}

Helen Johnstone of Cancer Research UK said: “Research is driving up survival rates, but the figures released today show that significant challenges lie ahead. With more of us being diagnosed with cancer in future, there’s still so much more to do.

“That’s why we’re calling on people to back our new campaign and help us bring forward the day when all cancers are cured. It’s not just technology or knowledge that we need to win our fight against cancer – it’s funding.”