Cans of fizzy pop look set to cost as much as 8 pence more as the new sugar tax comes into force this April.

The Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL), also known as ‘the sugar tax’, is set to make soft drinks companies pay a charge for drinks with added sugar after it was announced in the 2016 Budget in a bid to tackle rising obesity rates.

The new tax will make soft drinks companies pay a charge for drinks with added sugar with two bands for deciding on the tax increase.

The amount of tax depends on the total sugar content of the drink with companies having to pay 18p per litre on tax if the drink has 5g of sugar or more per 100ml, or 24p per litre if the drink has 8g of sugar or more per 100ml.

The Government has said this is not a tax on consumers, meaning companies do not have to pass the charge on to customers; however, prices of sugary soft drinks are expected to rise. Under the new tax system a 330ml can of Coca Cola, Old Jamaican Ginger Beer, Pepsi and Dr Pepper are expected to cost 8p more; and a 330ml can of Sprite, Fanta and Schweppes Indian Tonic Water could cost 6p more.

A litre bottle of pop could cost as much as 24p extra. The new sugar tax is a welcome step for health campaigners.

But not all popular sugary drinks are set to be hit with the extra tax. Schweppes Lemonade, Lilt and Tango are all exempt from the tax increase due to their smaller sugar content levels – as well as Irn Bru, whose parent company A.G Barr famously changed its recipe at the start of the year to get around the forthcoming sugar tax by limiting its sugar content from 10.3g per 100ml to just 4.7.

Drinks with a high milk content will also be exempt from the tax as they contain calcium and other nutrients, as well as fruit juices because they do not contain added sugar.

We take a look inside Olney’s first new pub in decades hot off the heels of the town being named as one of the best places to live in the southeast.

It’s been a great month for Olney after it was named one of the top 10 places to live in the southeast by The Sunday Times and it has The Cherry Tree, a brand-new pub and restaurant, which opens its doors for the first time today.

The Cherry Tree – named after the town’s legendary Cherry Fair – is a sensitive and elegant restoration and extension of a two-storey, Grade II Listed house, converted from an old, closed residential care home.

The opening was marked by the town’s Mayor, Cllr Jeremy Rawling, pulling the first pint at last week’s VIP Party.

General manager, Stevie Watts, will be ensuring that her team of 40 local people will be putting their training into practice to ensure that everything runs smoothly when they open.

Overlooking the Market Place, The Cherry Tree opens every day from 8am and will be serving drinks and food all day. The owners, award-winning pub group, Oakman Inns, appear to be bucking the often-cited trends for pub closures, as this will be their 21st opening in the last ten years and their second this month.

When you arrive, you are immediately struck by the attention to detail by the architects and designers. Many of the old Victorian and Georgian features such as cornicing, plasterwork, sash windows, parquet flooring and fire places have been painstakingly renovated and reinstated to integrate and yet contrast with the inspirational contemporary design. The space created is subtly interspersed with antiques and cherry tree-themed works of art sourced locally, including 1930s oil paintings and original 1920s Tiffany wall lights in the Lobby.

Set within the original garden courtyard, the 100-seat restaurant is a contemporary addition. A beautiful, light room where one side features an impressive, open theatre-style kitchen, where guests can watch Head Chef, Michal Dabrowski, and his staff freshly prepare their dishes. The chefs can be seen grilling and roasting over the Josper charcoal ovens and grills and preparing hand-crafted authentic Italian Pizzas in a beautiful copper-clad, wood-fired pizza oven. The menu also features an imaginative and delicious range of gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan dishes.

Stevie Watts, who grew up nearby, is the Cherry Tree’s first general manager said she has been overwhelmed by the welcoming the new pub-restaurant has received.

He said: “Olney is such a vibrant and busy town and richly deserves the Sunday Times accolade. We’ve been overwhelmed by the friendly welcome we’ve had since starting building work here. Everyone has been struck by the extraordinary transformation that’s taken place – and the choice of stylish settings for both drinks, dining and events. We’ve had so many encouraging comments from our VIP Party and the practice runs - and I’m so proud to be opening such a beautiful place.”

Stevie and her team have already become involved in the town’s activities helping with the famous Pancake Race last month. They are holding a Charity Quiz Night this week and will be supporting a number of community events this year including this year’s BOFF (Big Olney Food Festival).

Sam McCallum, Chair of BOFF, and The Cherry Tree’s Bar Manager, said: “Oakman Inns has a great reputation for becoming involved in their local communities and have won lots of awards for their work. Their involvement for our tenth Food Festival will help make it a really great event and doubtless bring lots of additional visitors to the town.”

A group of hardy cyclists have handed over more than £7,000 to support people with multiple sclerosis.

The Chilterns Multiple Sclerosis Centre had a visit from six members of the Haddenham Hillbillies who presented a cheque for the amazing amount of £7,633.05, on Saturday, March 17.

This incredible amount was raised by the local cycling group who take on cycling challenges around the world to raise money for good causes.

Last summer they cycled 400 miles from Haddenham to Norwich and Colchester and back again, to raise money for the centre.

The Hillbillies were David Finch, Andy Coles, Damien Natale, Matt Akerman, Matt Fields, Martin Roberts, Rob and Sara Rydings, Steve Fitzpatrick and Niall Pritchard. The group was followed in the support van by an all-female crew - Tracey Natale, Donna Gascoyne and Michele Finch.

David Finch said: “We did our first challenge in 2012, riding coast-to-coast and raising money for the MS Centre as one of our members has a family connection to it, so we understand the importance of such a place to the wellbeing of someone living with multiple sclerosis and we decided to support the charity again last year.

“Even though cycling in East Anglia is relatively flat, it didn’t make it any less challenging as we were sitting on the bike for some seven hours a day for four days! We all powered through and got our reward at 12 miles to go, when we finally got to have the Magnum ice cream we had been dreaming about every day.”

The donation will help to fund over 200 hours of treatments and support for people with multiple sclerosis living in the local area. Many of these are not usually available on the NHS. With the right treatment and support they are able to manage their symptoms and remain independent for as long as possible, and so the centre is a lifeline to many of its members.

Run it, jog it, walk it or blast it – that is the message for anyone wanting to take part in the Lord Williams’s School 5k fun run.

The appeal to take part comes from the Lord Williams’s School (LWS) Parents Association (LWPA), who are organising the run on Saturday, April 28 at the school in Oxford Road, Thame, starting at 1pm.

Back for a second year, the event promises to be bigger, bolder and colourful, with the introduction of a ‘colour blast station’ alongside last year’s obstacle course section.

The 5K route offers a mixed terrain - perfect for runners and joggers looking for a challenge or families and supporters looking to soak up some springtime ‘fun in the sun’. With music and entertainment on the day as well as a raffle and refreshments, it promises to be a fun-packed afternoon for all.

PTA chair Karen Shardlow said: “This is a wonderful community event which everyone in Thame and our surrounding villages are invited to take part in, no matter what your age or level of fitness. There’ll be a big boost of colour on the day as we bring in a colour station for the first time, as well as the obstacle course, which went down very well with participants last year.”

As part of the fundraising event, every participant who crosses the finish line will receive a well-deserved medal and all entrants are being asked to raise as much sponsorship as they possibly can for the school.

Local business supporters include Lucy Electric, who have kindly offered support for a second year by sponsoring all the runner/walker numbers.

Karen added: “All funds raised from the event will go towards supporting Lord Williams’s School and the purchase of resources which will enhance our children’s learning and education during their time at LWS.”

Entry is £10 per person and you can register online at www.lws5k.eventbrite.co.uk

For more information about Lord Williams’s School, visit http://www.lordwilliams.oxon.sch.uk/

Sporting pupils from Thame have brought home some trophies after taking part in a tag rugby festival.

Chinnor RFC hosted the Primary Schools Tag Rugby Festival for school teams from across Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

Ten schools entered 12 teams and catered for 120 young players aged 9 and 10, and the fine weather added to the enjoyment of the afternoon.

The teams of seven initially played round robin games in three pools each with four teams. The teams were then seeded into three further pools based on the number of wins each team had.

The Leaders’ Pool Trophy was won by John Hampden ‘A’ team, from Thame; the “Runners’ Up Pool” Trophy was won by St Joseph’s RC School, Thame; and the Competitors’ Pool Trophy was won by St Johns C of E School ‘B’ team from Lacey Green.

All players were presented with a participation medal in recognition of their efforts and enjoyment.

This event is now likely to become an annual event due to its success, reflected by the smiles of the pupils and their teachers and parents.

The summer season at Aylesbury’s Waterside Theatre is underway and we have picked out seven shows you simply won’t want to miss.

The summer season will take the impressive theatre up to its eighth year since opening in 2010 and the big shows keep rolling in.

The Waterside attracts some 330,000 visitors every year and attracts thousands of theatre-goers from neighbouring towns.

Once again there is a packed summer schedule with something for all tastes.

And we have picked out seven shows you won’t want to miss when they come to town...

CLICK ON THE GALLERY TO SEE THE SHOWS.

The popular First Thursday Music Club welcomes Van Susans to the stage in Thame.

The six-piece pop-rock band from London appeared at last year’s town music festival and will be at the The Stables, James Figg Pub on Thursday, April 5, for an evening where an open mic session is held.

Van Susans’ debut single Bones, released under Beatnik Geek Records, was met with much applause.

A spokesman for the club said: “The gravel in singer Olly’s voice draws you in, then there’s the catchy hooks and songwriting prowess, combining to create an irresistible sound. Lead singer Olly’s ‘edgy vocals’ propel the group away from today’s music scene and into a parallel genre of their own.”

Chris Hawkins of the BBC said: “The Levellers achieved 6 gold selling albums and the Van Susan’s are that band for a new generation, destined for equally great success.”

In addition to Van Susans playing the feature spot, Mia Wilson, Cammy and the Moondogs and Get Loose are already booked in too.

The First Thursday Music Club still offers the opportunity for artists to play live in front of a warm and appreciative audience. The club maintains the open mic section of the evening where slots will always be available in the first hour on a ‘first come, first served’ basis with player sign-up by 7.30pm. The club has a full house PA system with keyboard, bass amp, guitar amp and jazz drum kit (bring breakables!) all set up on stage and ready to go.

Admission is free.

Visit https://vansusans.com/

Tickets are now on sale for OakFest, the beer and music festival which raises funds for Oakley C of E Combined School.

The fifth festival will be held on Saturday, June 9, with a great line-up of musicians to keep everyone entertained through the afternoon and evening.

The gates to the school field on Worminghall Road will open at 12.45pm and the crowds will be entertained through to midnight by 14 bands and artists, many local to Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

These include Prog Floyd, Transit, The Ponderosa, Vibe, Michael Lee, Bright Shadows with the ever popular The Band With No Name closing the show.

Event organiser, Iola Seaton-Reid, said: “Our little festival is growing each year, raising essential funds for our school. The support from our sponsors, the musicians and the audience is tremendous.

“We are delighted that Windmill Windows are sponsoring the main stage this year with Westfield Fasteners of Long Crendon sponsoring the bar and McCormick Schwartz once again sponsoring the barbecue tent.”

As well as the music there will be a fully stocked bar featuring 10 real ales, local ciders, lots of lager, a Pimms tent, a barbecue as well as a traditional tea tent. For the children there is a craft activity tent and bouncy castle, ice creams and festival merchandise. Sponsor Rugby-Tots will be running rugby sessions.

All monies raised will go towards providing much needed equipment and learning resources for Oakley C of E Combined School, Oakley Pre-School and towards the running costs of St Mary’s Church, Oakley.

Festival visitors are invited to take a deckchair or blanket.

Tickets available on the gate or in advance online at www.cuatoakfest.co.uk and from the school office on 01844 238364, email office@oakley.bucks.sch.uk

They are also available from Vintage and Modern Guitars, Thame, and The Eight Bells, Long Crendon. Adults £10, under 18s and over 65s £5, advance ticket sale offer (ends May 25), buy one adult ticket and get an under 18’s ticket free. Ample free parking on the recreation ground via Lynnens View off Oxford Road.

For full details visit www.cuatoakfest.co.uk and Facebook Oakfest18.

The day we said ‘goodbye, to our king, the great great grandson of Queen Victoria, is a tribute written by Felicia Mirza, about the laying to rest of King Michael 1 of Romania. He lived at Peles Castle, Sinaia, which has links with Thame.

Felicia, who has visited Thame with fellow Romanians, writes:

“December 5 ,2017, the day Romanians lost King Michael I .He died at the age of 96 at his residence in Switzerland.

He was born Prince Michael of Romania at Foisor Castle on the 25th of October 1921. His parents were Crown Prince Carol of Romania and Crown Princess Elena of Greece and Danmark who got married at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Athens on March 10, 1921 . After passing through Constantinopole, at the beginning of May, they reached Bucharest where Queen Maria of Romania had already prepared for them a beautiful apartment at Cotroceni Palace, the royal residence in Bucharest.

They kindly refused the apartmant in Bucharest and went to Sinaia to live in the flat where Carol spent his childhood and which was described by Elena as ”a staircase and three rooms where she could enjoy” complete privacy”

King Carol, built in Sinaia the Peles Castle, at the foot of the Bucegi mountainson The Peles River, which gave the name to the castle. A magic valley, a fascinating landcape which inspired Queen Elisabeth of Romania to write stories and legends for children under the pseudonym of Carmen Silva.

On October 25 the future king of Romania was born and the next day, Princess Elena wrote to her father King Constantine of Greece asking him to be Michael’s godfather.

The child was christened Michael on the afternoon of January 10, 1922 and at the reception, the British Ambassador addressed the king, the queen and the happy parents of the prince the best wishes of wellness and prosperity for the heir to Romanian throne.

Of great importance in King Michael’s education were the formative years.

The professors, carefully chosen by the king from Bucharest or other cities, the elite of education, would teach only at Palatine School and on special holidays, like Christmas and Easter, the king would invite them for a reception and offer them books, pens, cigarettes or cigarette cases.

King Carol II established this Palatine School for Michael, and brought around 40 children from all over the country, two from each county in order to offer Michael a proper environment to study in Romanian and insisted that Michael was to be treated like any other student.

Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Romanian, Geography, History, Religion and later Psychology, Philosophy were fundamental subjects.

Prince Michael first became king on July, 20, 1927. He was just five years and a half, following the death of his grandfather Ferdinand because his father, Carol had renounced his succession rights and settled in exile with Magda Wolff, who later became Lupescu.

In 1930 his father, Prince Carol, returned to Romania and took back the throne on June 8.

In 1940 Carol abdicated and Michael became king for the second time.

On December 30, 1947, King Michael was forced to abdicate and leave the country. For 44 years he lived in exile in Switzeland, Italy, England.

In 1948 King Michael married Pincess Ana de Bourbon-Parma and they had five daughters. They stayed married for 68 years, the longest royal couple in Romania. King Michael and Queen Ana celebrated their diamond anniversary in 2008 in the presence of 14 royal families.

King Michael supported our country to join The European Union and NATO, proving an example of distinction, dignity and love for his country, Romania.

King Michael and Queen Ana (Anne) attended the the Golden Wedding anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The Romanian royal couple stayed at Buckingham Palace in 1997. In 2008 King Michael returned to Peles Castle, Sinaia and in 2016 Queen Anne died in Switzerland, at the age of 92. The funeral was held at Curtea de Arges Cathedral, Romania.

King Michael died in Switzerland in December 2017. The coffin with the body of King Michael was brought to Romania on Wednesday, December 13 and in the afternoon was taken to Peles Castle, Sinaia, the place King Michael was born and spent his childhood.

In the evening, the coffin was taken to the Royal Palace in Bucharest where many representatives of state institutions paid their respect.

On December 16 King Michael I of Romania was buried with full state honours at Curtea de Arges beside his wife Queen Anne.

A public consultation has started over proposals to build a care home with plans that have been criticised by Thame Town Council.

Angle Property Limited, who recently purchased the Kingsmead Business Park - including the DAF site - launched the consultation this week with an exhibition at the Howland Road site on Wednesday, March 28.

But the town council are opposed to the plans and say the land is designated under the Thame Neighbourhood Plan for employment, and have issued a statement putting their views to residents. They say the town has already lost employment space, mostly through permitted development rules, equivalent to around 600 jobs at a time when population is increasing through new housebuilding.

It also says it was made clear when it was advertised for sale that the DAF site was protected for employment use under the Neighbourhood Plan, and Angle submitted their bid on that understanding.

The statement said: “Regrettably they now seem determined to undermine the Neighbourhood Plan, and the community’s wishes, by any means at their disposal and to turn the whole site into yet another unwanted windfall residential development. Firstly, they used central Government initiated Permitted Development Rights to secure permission to convert the DAF building to 45 flats.

“The town council contested their case, pointing out that such rights didn’t apply, but the planning authority went ahead and gave permission. They then amended that permission in an attempt to establish residential principles on the existing DAF car parking provision.

“They are now proposing to build a care home on that parking area, which they presented to Thame Town Council two weeks ago. Members of the town council vehemently opposed this as it would incur further loss of employment space, and is potentially another means of establishing the principle for residential development of the whole site. Their proposals are clearly in contravention of the adopted Thame Neighbourhood Plan.

“Our Neighbourhood Plan vision statement was, and will remain, to retain the character of Thame as a true market town and the Neighbourhood Plan revision process will engage fully with the community in determining how that should be best achieved. We cannot allow developers to turn Thame into a dormitory commuter town with no heart.

“Angle Property Limited have invited comments and opinion on their proposals and we hope that the community of Thame will respond appropriately.”

A spokesman for Angle Property Ltd said the company would be commenting on the consultation at a later date.

An 18-year-old man has been arrested after schools across our area and beyond were put on alert after staff reported that they had been sent “threatening” emails.

An 18-year-old Hertfordshire man was arrested yesterday evening (Wednesday) on suspicion of making malicious communications relating to the threatening emails received by a large number of schools and colleges throughout the UK.

A National Crime Agency (NCA) spokesman said: “We understand these threats have caused considerable concern but we do not assess there to be an increased risk to the public.

“We believe this incident is linked to the hoax bomb threat that closed hundreds of UK schools last week. As this is a live investigation we are unable to comment further.”

Police confirmed that forces across the country reported similar incidents. The emails informed schools that they will be targeted in an attack. A Cambridgeshire Police spokesman said yesterday:

“We are aware of a series of malicious communications to schools across the country this morning (Wednesday 28 March).

An Easter advert featuring a bunny being branded by a chick went viral after it ignited a heated row on Twitter.

The picture, uploaded by high street retailer Poundland, was intended to advertise the store’s Easter offerings.

In the image, a bunny can be seen bending over having just been branded with a large “X”, along with the caption: “I’ve got a way to make you hot and cross, Bunny.” Twitter users soon voiced outrage over the image – with some labelling it “disturbing”.

‘Dumb humour’

Anne Bryceland said: “No that’s just nasty.” While another user tweeted: “I’m sure a child would find it funny. It’s rather dumb humour I think. A bit disturbing really.”

“Obviously it’s done to provoke a reaction but…” Darren Monks said.

“Is this really appropriate?” another commented. Poundland has previously landed itself in hot water over a racy ‘Elf Behaving Badly’ Christmas advert.

The controversial campaign was banned but helped drive record-breaking sales of £59 million according to the retailer.

‘Keep it up Poundland’

Some on Twitter were keen to applaud the store over their bold advertising strategy – with customers saying “don’t ever change”.

Brian Whelton said: “It’s good to see a company that still has a sense of humour and is prepared to use it! Keep it up Poundland!”

While Lisa tweeted: “Your tweets are a highlight of the holidays now.” “And they’re back. @Poundland don’t ever change.” Jack Wade added.

Clare Fenemer said: “I shouldn’t but I did laugh at this. One naughty duck.”

A Poundland spokesperson told i: “Looks to us like people are loving it. We can, however, confirm no chicks or bunnies were harmed in the making of our posts.” This piece originally appeared on our sister title’s site, iNews

hh Forget chocolate eggs this Easter, now you can get your face made into a lolly in the ultimate confectionary personalisation.

Sweet-toothed narcissists have finally been given the opportunity to own a copy of their face - in the shape of a giant lollipop.

Selfie-obsessed lolly-lovers can submit a photo and immortalise themselves in sweet form.

A team of master sugar-smiths takes less than a week to handcraft the tutti-frutti flavour Face Licker, which costs £39.99 from online retailer Firebox.

A spokesman said: “Each lollipop is totally unique and thoughtfully brought to life from scratch.

“They’re extraordinarily lifelike too, they just taste sweeter and have fewer imperfections than your actual face.

“Why not give one of your face to a loved one so they have a sugary reminder of your toothsome grin?

“Or just be a complete narcissist and get one of yourself to suck on.

“The tasty tutti-frutti flavour makes this a lolly with some seriously flavoursome facial features.

“Slurp your own hair, nibble on your ear or bite off your nose, or you could just use it as a sweet face mask for when you’re just not looking your best.

“Not only are they delightfully delectable, but vegan-friendly too, so the only ethical dilemma you need to face is whether or not you feel comfortable repeatedly licking a life-size replica of someone else’s head.”

Puppy owners are being urged to get their new pets microchipped or face a £500 fine.

Despite compulsory microchipping coming into effect on 06 April 2017, a report by The Dogs Trust (2017) says two out of three rescued stray dogs have out of date microchips, or chips that contain false information.

As a result they may never be reunited with their owners.

Microchipping a dog is a legal requirement in the UK and dog owners could land a £500 fine if their dog is not microchipped. It’s a painless procedure for the dog, which stores the owner’s details on a national database.

The dog must be registered on either Animal Tracker, Identibase, MicroChip Central, MicroDogID, National Veterinary Data Service, Pet Identity UK, Petlog, ProtectedPet, Smartchip or UKPETtrac.

PDSA vet Rebecca Ashman said: “Here in the UK it’s a legal requirement for dogs to be microchipped. We also recommend cats are microchipped as it’s the most reliable way of identifying them and improves the chances of them being returned if they are lost.

“One of the most heartbreaking scenarios is an injured animal brought to us who isn’t microchipped, or the details aren’t up to date. You know this pet has a loving owner who is probably fraught with worry, but there’s no way to let them know what has happened.

Sadly, many pets in this situation can often end up in rescue centres because their owners are never found.”

To help pet owners, Rebecca has sorted through the fact and fiction around microchipping:

Microchipped pets don’t need any other ID?

Fiction: while cats don’t need any other ID, it’s actually the law for dogs to wear a collar and ID tag when outside the home.

Legally the tag should give the owner’s name and address but a phone number is also recommended.

One microchip will last the pet’s entire life?

Fact: In the vast majority of cases, a single microchip will last for your pet’s entire lifetime.

The chip can sometimes move around a little, which is why it’s best to scan over a pet’s whole body when checking for one. If the pet changes owner they don’t need a new chip – the new owner can just call the company to change the details.

Won’t it hurt my pet?

Fiction: microchips are really tiny – smaller than a grain of rice. It’s similar to getting any other injection like a vaccination and many pets don’t even notice it happening. It goes under the skin at the back of their neck. They’re made of non-reactive material so should not cause any reaction or pain once inserted.

A microchip will show my contact details to anyone who scans it?

Fiction: a microchip scanner will only show the microchip’s unique ID number. If your pet is found and brought to a vet or rescue centre, they will scan for the number then call the microchip company to access the owner’s details. This is why it’s really important to make sure your details are always kept up-to- date in the database.

It’s really cheap to get your pet microchipped?

Fact: the cost can vary, but many councils, charities and veterinary clinics offer discounted or even free microchipping schemes. It’s worth researching what’s on offer in your area to get the best option for you and your pet.

More on pet care at www.pdsa.org.uk

Vets in the Souteast are urging pet owners to keep chocolate treats safely out of reach of inquisitive pets this Easter.

It comes after findings released by the British Veterinary Association (BVA) revealed more than seven in 10 (74%) companion animal vets in the region saw at least one case of chocolate poisoning over Easter holidays last year - well above the UK average of 62%.

BVA’s Voice of the Veterinary Profession survey shows that the majority of vets still see urgent cases over the festive period because chocolate treats have not been secured out of reach of pets. While most vets across the UK saw an average of two cases of chocolate poisoning last Easter, around one in eight (13%) treated five or more cases, which is more than double the figure reported over the previous two years. Regionally, incidences of chocolate poisoning remained highest in the south of England.

Chocolate can be highly poisonous to pets, with dogs most commonly affected. It contains theobromine, a naturally occurring chemical found in cocoa beans, which, while safe for humans, is harmful to dogs and other animals. The level of toxicity depends on the amount and type of chocolate ingested - dark chocolate and cocoa powder are most toxic- as well as the size of the dog, with smaller dogs and puppies being most at risk.

British Veterinary Association President John Fishwick said: “Easter is a time of great fun for the whole family, but chocolate treats meant for humans can be poisonous for our pets. Dogs in particular have a keen sense of smell and can easily sniff out sweet treats, so make sure any chocolate goodies are stored securely out of reach of inquisitive noses to avoid an emergency trip to the vet.

“If you suspect that your dog has eaten chocolate, don’t delay in contacting your local vet. The quicker the animal gets veterinary advice and treatment, the better. Your vet will want to know how much chocolate your dog has eaten and what type. If possible, keep any labels and have the weight of the dog to hand.”

The effects of chocolate poisoning in dogs usually appear within 12 hours and can last up to three days. First signs can include excessive thirst, vomiting, diarrhoea and restlessness. These symptoms can then develop into hyperactivity, tremors, abnormal heart rate, hyperthermia and rapid breathing. In severe cases, dogs can experience fits and heartbeat irregularities and some cases can result in coma or death.

Following the internet-shaking news that Cambridge Analytica “harvested” the data of 50 million Facebook users, many users of the social network are now considering deleting their accounts.

Upping sticks from Mark Zuckerburg’s digital kingdom isn’t as simple as it sounds though, unfortunately, due to the social media giant’s far-reaching influence on other websites.

Loss of access to other services

For many, our Facebook account acts as a passport of sorts for other popular services, such as Spotify, Netflix and Tinder.

Selecting “Log in with Facebook” when signing up to other services is an easy cop out from the arduous process of filling out a form. There’s no need to remember a new password – simply click log in with Facebook every time you want to use a certain app.

However, if one wants to delete their account, this creates headaches.

For example, if you deactivate your Facebook profile, and had previously logged in to Spotify premium via the social media giant, you will be unable to retrieve your account.

You will be required to make a new account, with a different email address. Once signed up it may be possible to reassign your old email address to your new account if you reach out to the customer service team. Your painstakingly curated Spotify playlists, however, may be lost for good.

The same issue applies to other services you may have signed up to via Facebook – your conversations and matches on Tinder will be lost, your Airbnb bookings will be cancelled and your Netflix subscription cancelled.

Tie up loose ends before deleting

That’s not to say you shouldn’t delete your Facebook account, if you’re concerned by the company’s role in the Cambridge Analytica scandal. However, for peace of mind consider deactivating any paid-subscription accounts before you are locked out. It is also worth contacting customer service teams at the various sites you use connected to Facebook and finding out what you will lose as a result of deleting your social media account. Finally, organise a date with any long-term Tinder matches before it is too late.

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

Wycombe Magistrates Court

March 19:

James Byrne, 74, Bankside, Wendover: drove a black Peugeot on Bankside, Wendover while over the alcohol limit. Fined £120, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and costs of £85 to the CPS. Disqualified from holding a driving licence for 40 months.

March 20:

Navjeet Kibbe, 33, Opal Mews, Aylesbury: failed to provide a specimen for analysis after being suspected of driving a vehicle while over the alcohol limit. Ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work within the next year. Ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £85 and costs of £85 to the CPS.

Drove an Audi A5 on Paradise Orchard, Berryfields, without due care and attention. No separate penalty.

Clare Laker, 43, Coxhill Way, Aylesbury: drove a red Vauxhall Corsa on Lower Road, Aylesbury, while under the influence of drugs. Fined £120, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and costs of £85 to the CPS.

Drove a motor vehicle while cocaine was in the bloodstream. Disqualified from driving for 15 months.

Sunny Varia, 21, Hamble Drive, Aylesbury: used a silver Ford Focus on Whaddon Chase, Aylesbury, without third party insurance and/or a licence.

Failed to provide a specimen for analysis. Fined £416, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £41 and costs of £85 to the CPS.

March 21:

Kevin Brook, 37, Rothschild Road, Wing: pursued a course of harassment against an individual. Community and restraining orders made. Fined £85 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £85.

Kelly O’Beirne, 32, Byron Road, Aylesbury: stole a Google WiFi adapter to the value of £125 from PC World, Aylesbury. Committed to prison for 14 days because of seriousness of offence and the committal of similar offences previously. Ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £115.

K Two Sales Ltd, Station Road, Haddenham: failed to ensure that all of its employees were protected by the risk of falling metal sheets while at work. Fined £22,000, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £170 and costs of £1,647.20.

March 26:

Paul Swain, 45, Beech Tree Lane, Wing: criminal damage to a black Mercedes at Prospect Place, Wing. Used threatening and/or abusive behaviour in Wing High Street. Fined £40, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30, compensation of £50 and to pay costs to the CPS of £85.

Sainsbury’s has installed new security measures at self-service checkouts in a bid to crackdown on thefts in the store. The supermarket will be adding extra CCTV cameras and mirrors above its self service checkouts in 300 stores across the country to help staff monitor customers as they scan and pay for items.

The new security aims to act as a deterrent for people who fail to pay for items in their shop.

Failing to scan items at self-service checkouts or scanning the item as a cheaper alternative remains a widespread problem for supermarkets and one in four shoppers who use self-service tills has admitted to failing to pay for an item, according to VoucherCodesPro.co.uk.

The study also found how Brits are stealing £3.2 billion worth of goods from self-service tills every year – or around £5 per person per month.

Sainsbury’s said in a statement: “This is in hundreds of stores and has been in some for almost a year.

“The safety of our customers and colleagues is extremely important to us, which is why we invest in a range of measures to keep everyone safe.”

What is the best bar in Aylesbury? The people of the town have been voting for the last 18 months and the results are in.

CLICK THE LINK ABOVE OR THE GALLERY ICON IN THE MAIN IMAGE TO SEE THE FULL LIST

Back in September 2016 we started an online upvote to give the people of Aylesbury the chance to choose their favourite watering hole.

Some may have changed hands for better or worse, some have been refurbished and some no longer exist but today 18 months since we launched the online poll - and after more than 20,000 votes - we reveal the town’s best pubs in order, as voted by you.

Don’t agree? Get involved in the debate on our Facebook page and tell us why your local is the best.

While wages can often be sat at the same level for years on end, sadly the same can’t be said about prices and charges.

Here is a run down of all the prices, charges and tariffs increasing from April 1 2018:

List of price hikes:

* First-class stamps have risen from 65p to 67p and the price of a second-class stamp has also gone up by 2p to 58p. Posting a small parcel now costs 5p more up from £3.40 to £3.45.

* Average council tax bills are set to go up by as much as 5.1% in some parts of the UK, which is an increase of £81 a year.

* Water bills will increase by £9 (2 per cent) to £405 for the average household.

* Prescription costs in England will also go up by 20p from £8.60 to £8.80 (2.32 per cent).

* The NHS dental charge payable for a check-up will increase by £1 (4.85 per cent) from £20.60 to £21.60.

* The dental charge for a band 2 course of treatment will increase by £2.80 from £56.30 to £59.10 (almost 5 per cent). The charge for a band 3 course of treatment will increase by £12.20 from £244.30 to £256.50 (5 per cent).

* TV licence costs will also go up by £3.50 from £147 to £150.50 1 April

* Air Passenger Duty on long haul flights (over 2,000 miles) is set to increase by 4 per cent, hiking flight costs.

* NHS wig and fabric charges – the cost of NHS wigs and fabric supports are rising by about 1.5 per cent.

Phone & broadband

* EE bills will rise by 4.1 per cent across the board in line with January’s RPI.

* O2 bills will also increase by 4 per cent in line with February RPI.

* Vodafone customers that took out a monthly plan on or after the 5th May 2016 will see a bill hike of 3.6 per cent in line with March RPI.

* Sky Broadband customers will see line rental costs rise from £17.40 per month to £18.99 (9.1 per cent)

* Post Office Broadband customer will see increases – the Essential package will rise from £25.00 a month to £27.00 a month (8 per cent) Gas & electricity Prices are also heating up for energy customers

* EoN are removing their dual fuel and paperless discount resulting in an average price hike of 2.7 per cent for its dual fuel customers meaning an annual bill hike of £30 on average.

* ENGIE bills will go up by 5.9 per cent, leaving customers on a standard variable tariff £58 out of pocket on average.