Anglia Wellingborough News

The MP for Wellingborough, Peter Bone, has been leading a parliamentary debate over plans to shut the prison in the town.

There was a protest against the prison's closure at Westminster before the debate. It's estimated the prison provides 600 jobs in the Wellingboroguh area. But the Ministry of Justice says the move could save around £10 million a year. It's due to close by the end of the year.

• UK
• Wellingborough
• Northamptonshire

A protest has been held in Wellingborough today against plans to close the local prison. It's been earmarked for closure as part of a Government review of the prison system. Campaigners say it will mean a loss of around 600 jobs in the town.

• UK
• Prison
• protest

Signalling problems at Bedford - due to the theft of cabling - is causing disruption on the rail network this morning.

A replacement bus is running on First Capital Connect between Luton and Bedford. Tickets are being accepted on First Capital Connecte services to and from King's Cross or Moorgate.

It is also causing delays of up to 20 minutes on East Midlands Trains between Luton and Wellingborough.

London Midland services are also affected between Bedford and Bletchley. Trains are not calling at Bedford and are terminating at Kempston Hardwick.

• UK
• Bedford
• Luton

MPs will discuss the closure of Wellingborough Prison in an emergency debate in Parliament after the summer recess.

• UK
• Wellingborough
• Prison

Wellingborough MP Peter Bone has criticised the decision to close HMP Wellingborough.

The Conservative MP told Parliament the closure of the prison in his constituency could mean the loss of up to 600 jobs. He described it as a "good improving prison" and said it was becoming more cost effective.

Peter Bone also said there seemed to be no consistency within the Justice Department. He said: "The reason given for its closure is we have too much space in our prisons. This is coming after years and years of being told they are overcrowded and we need more spaces".

He added: "This is the wrong prison being closed for wrong reasons at the wrong time".

Peter Bone also criticised the Coalition Government for not telling him about the decision to close the prison in his constituency before announcing the news, saying he heard about the news during a radio phone-in.

• Politics
• Wellingborough
• Northamptonshire

Wellingborough Prison will shut by the end of this year, with a loss of nearly 600 prison places as a result.

The plans have been announced by Justice Secretary, Kenneth Clarke.

The Prison Service say closing Wellingborough will save over £10m each year and avoid significant capital costs of up to £50m - a sum they say is needed to maintain the prison in the future.

• UK
• Northants
• Wellingborough

A reward is being offered for information that leads to the arrest of the killer of a pensioner from Wellingborough.

The body of 76 year old Karoly Varga was found in his house at Canon Street last year. The case against a 47 year old man who was charged with the murder has been dropped.

Now police and his family are appealing for information which could solve the case.

• UK
• Crime
• Murder