Thursday 28th February

Rugby PR - Top players from Wasps, the premiere league rugby side that wants to share Wycombe Wanderers' Adams Park ground, begin a public relations campaign to win over local opinion today. They will be training with youngsters at Marlow's Sir William Borlase School.

New Maidenhead - Plans for a multi-million pound redevelopment of Maidenhead town centre were revealed yesterday when the council appointed architects. The council plans to demolish the concrete centre which many feel marred the town when it was built in the sixties, and return to an old town square surrounded by modern shops.

Clear out - Wycombe Wanderers manager Lawrie Sanchez dropped a big hint yesterday that he is planning a clear out of players in the summer. Speaking after a 2-0 home defeat to Reading, which has dented play-off hopes, Sanchez said: "They were more powerful than us and that's something we are going to address this summer. Reading have spent £3m over four seasons to get to the top. We have spent £30,000 over the same period."

Wednesday 27th February

Gales cause havoc - Ninety mile per hour gusts were recorded in Bucks yesterday, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage. A number of minor roads were blocked by fallen trees, and fire fighters dealt with collapsed scaffolding.

Rich list - Gerrards Cross is the most expensive place to live in Britain, according to a survey by Halifax Bank yesterday. They said the average price for a property in the village is £387,000, well ahead of second place Esher in Surrey. Prices have risen 75 per cent in the last decade, said the bank.

Wycombe flop - A record league crowd of 9,250 crammed Adams Park last night to see a disappointing Wycombe Wanderers lose 2-0 to league leaders Reading. The game was delayed 15 minutes because of traffic congestion.

Tuesday 26th February

Frogmoor flows - The £100,000 water feature in Frogmoor, in the centre of High Wycombe, is due to be switched on today a month after the firm that had virtually completed it, Water Techniques, went into administration and was unable to finish the job.

Flood alerts - Flooding alerts were reimposed on the River Thame and the Bear Brook at Aylesbury last night after heavy rain and the promise of more to come today.

England? No probs - When Wycombe Wanderers under-17 team were called to the National Sports Centre at Bisham Abbey, near Marlow yesterday to play the cream of England's under 17 year olds they were meant to be simple cannon fodder. But Wycombe beat the England lads 1-0 with a goal from Leon Gordon, and went home as proud as peacocks.

Monday 25th February

Wasps anger - Wycombe Wanderers fans have turned on the club for failing to keep them informed about the proposed ground sharing deal with rugby club Wasps. Targeted leaks to newspapers from both clubs are playing up the proposal, but rumours from the council, who have final say, are less enthusiastic. Chairboys on the Net, the biggest supporters' website, accuses the club of making a mockery of its pledge to improve communications with supporters.

Victim buried - Pat Moore, the 31 year old whose bullet-ridden body was found in the boot of a car in High Wycombe just before Christmas will be buried in his home town of Peterborough today with his partner Dawn and sons Ricky, 11 and seven year old Kieran in attendance. Eight people have been charged with a variety of offences, including murder and conspiracy to murder.

Amersham pledge - Amersham International, the medical research company that celebrates 20 years since privatisation today, says it is going to make more efforts to become a household name in the future. The company - based in the town that bears its name - is one of Britain's most successful companies, in the forefront of global advances on unravelling the human genetic code.

Weekend of 23rd and 24th February

Ref's blunder - Wycombe fans and players were fuming last night after goalkeeper Martin Taylor was given a yellow card in the Blues goal-less draw with Wigan for timewasting after the wind blew the ball away as he was running up to take a goal-kick. The same thing happened to Aston Villa keeper Peter Schmeichel in a televised match earlier in the day without any such penalty.

Woman praised - A 41 year old Gerrards Cross woman was praised yesterday for facing up in court to the man who tried to rape her. Gerald Dyson, 47, of Hithercroft Road, Downley, High Wycombe was jailed for life at Aylesbury Crown Court for attacking the woman in her car in Packhorse Road, Gerrards Cross. He had three previous convictions for rape.

More bobbies - Nearly 300 civilians are to take on police station roles currently performed by police officers, to enable more bobbies to get out on the beat, Thames Valley Police said yesterday. With additional coppers being recruited, the force, which covers Bucks, Berks and Oxon expects to have 400 extra officers on the streets by this time next year. At the same time however, nearly nine out of ten Thames Valley officers voted against Government plans to reform their pay and conditions.

Weather warning - Snow, sleet, gales and a wind chill of minus six are expected in the Chilterns this weekend. Motoring organisations are warning that conditions will be difficult, particularly on country roads.

Friday 22nd February

Boy charged with arson - Police yesterday charged a 14-year-old boy with arson at Princes Risborough Upper School. The school reopened late after the half term this week after £200,000 worth of damage was caused after a fire was started in a nearby skip.

Slip road still closed - The westbound M40 slip road onto the M25 was closed all day yesterday as workmen battled to clear up the acids spilt from car batteries and chemical drums when a lorry overturned. The slip road is due to open today, 60 hours after the accident.

Tuttle joins Blues - Wycombe Wanderers last night signed Millwall central defender David Tuttle on a month's loan. Tuttle, 30, a former Spurs and Sheffield United player was needed after it was learned that young Roger Johnson's knee injury is worse than expected and will keep him out for several weeks.

Thursday 21st February

Drugs raid - Three men were remanded in custody on drugs charges when they appeared in court yesterday after dramatic dawn raids by more than 30 armed police on three houses in the Aylesbury area. Thousands of pounds worth of heroin and crack cocaine were recovered. Four other men have been questioned by police.

Motorway chaos - There were severe delays on the M40 yesterday after a lorry carrying car batteries and chemicals spilt its load in one of the worst places possible - where both M40 slip roads meet the south-bound M25. The slip roads were closed all day and are not due to reopen until this morning while the chemicals are mopped up. Earlier a lorry and its trailer parted company on the M40 at Stokenchurch causing further jams.

Teenage pregnancies - The number of teenage pregnancies in Bucks jumped by eight per cent in the past year, according to figures announced by the government yesterday. Elsewhere hospitals in Wycombe and Amersham achieved most of their targets, according to performance figures, but Stoke Mandeville Hospital was said to be "underachieving" on the number of operations cancelled on the day and on the number of patients waiting more than 18 months for treatment. Last year a Stoke Mandeville hospital boss resigned in a row over "massaged" waiting lists.

Wednesday 20th February

Safety anger - Safety campaigners are angry that more than eight months after a lorry smashed into a High Wycombe estate agency in the centre of town, killing two women, we are still no nearer to hearing either the cause of the accident or what safety precautions are planned to stop it happening again. The shops are now nearing completion after being rebuilt.

Floods warning - With more than an inch of rain falling overnight, police and motor organisations warned today of flash floods and difficult driving conditions.

Sublime to ridiculous - A year ago today Wycombe Wanderers played one of their most heroic games in their history when they beat Wimbledon in an FA cup 5th round replay in a nail biting penalty shoot out against all the odds. Last night they played one of their most forgettable games, losing 4-1 at home to Blackpool in a game in which no-one came away with any credit. Funny old game.

Tuesday 19th February

New station - High Wycombe railway station is to be rebuilt in the next four years, Chiltern Railways announced yesterday. The £5m redevelopment will transform the station into a transport interchange, with special facilities for buses whose services will be linked to train times. The company said it would also be providing more off-peak trains between Wycombe and Marylebone from September, and it also plans to build a new Birmingham Moor Street station, making it possible to get a train from Wycombe straight to the city's new Bullring shopping centre.

New line - In total, Chiltern Railways plans to spend £371m on new trains and station improvements following its success in gaining a 20 year franchise to run services on the Chiltern Line. It plans to build a new station north of Aylesbury, and run a taxi-bus service from Aylesbury station to outlying districts. The Aylesbury freight depot is to be improved, and the company is to look at building a new line linking Aylesbury and Oxford.

Council tax wallop - Bucks councillors decided to increase council tax bills by six times the rate of inflation yesterday. Bills overall will increase around nine per cent, meaning that most people in the Wycombe area will pay an extra £80 to £100 a year. The Bucks rate, which will be confirmed next week, has been hit because of a £3.5m shortfall in the social services budget, mainly because of increased costs in looking after children in care. Next door, council tax payers in Windsor and Maidenhead face a mere 2.5 per cent increase, although their annual payment remains slightly higher than Bucks.

Monday 18th February

School stays shut - Princes Risborough Upper School will not reopen today after half term because it is still too badly damaged by the £200,000 arson attack a week ago. The school's electricity and heating is still not working and the main hall is damaged. A teenager was arrested over the weekend in connection with the fire.

Green farmer - David Passmore has been named the greenest farmer in Britain by English Nature and Country Life magazine. David uses many non-chemical farming methods at his farm in Ewelme near Henley and as a result threatened birds such as skylarks and corn bunting, plus other wildlife, thrive on h is acres.

Roger's contract - Wycombe Wanderers defender Roger Johnson, who played a key role in the Blues 2-1 win against Bournemouth on Saturday, has been awarded a contract until June 2005. Roger, 19, a youth team member is the youngest player ever to make a league appearance for the Blues.

Saturday 16th February

Murder hunt - Police launched a murder investigation yesterday after a woman queuing for her benefit money was stabbed to death in a DSS office near Slough. The offender fled on foot. The woman, who lives in Windsor, has not been named.

Cyclist attacked - A 29 year old woman cyclist from Princes Risborough is recovering today after being dragged from her bike in Lower Ickneild Way, Longwick, dragged into a van and indecently assaulted. Her attacker was in his forties with a dark complexion.

Bournemouth Blues - Wycombe Wanderers travel to Bournemouth to face their bogey team today. The Blues have never beaten the Cherries since manager Lawrie Sanchez took charge three years ago.

Friday 15th February

Security tightened - Security will be tight and visible in Windsor and Slough today for Princess Margaret's private funeral at St George's Chapel and cremation at Slough Crematorium. Special medical staff are also on stand-by to look after the frail Queen Mother. Meanwhile hotel rooms around Windsor were booked up last night as people arrived expecting a glance at visiting Royals.

Bus routes cut - Bus companies are warning they will have to cut out some routes in Berkshire next month because of a shortage of drivers. Some bus services from South Bucks to Heathrow have already been hit.

Cedric's no - Wycombe Wanderers were being tight lipped last night over reports that transfer listed Wolves striker, Cedric Rousel, has turned down a loan spell with the Blues until the end of the season. The Belgian international is said to be only interested in a permanent move, but with a value of £1.5m he is beyond Wycombe's means.

Thursday 14th February

Jobs blow - It is estimated that around 500 of the 5,800 jobs cut announced by British Airways yesterday will fall on the Wycombe area. Around 3,000 jobs are being cut at the swish HQ, Waterside at Heathrow, bringing the total of axed BA jobs at the airport to a staggering 6,600 since September 11. There are fears that hundreds of "support" jobs at the airport, which is the biggest single employer in the area, are also threatened.

Soaking up - Jobs already lost at Heathrow are still not affecting official unemployment statistics in the area. Jobless figures for Wycombe, Beaconsfield, Aylesbury and Amersham area announced yesterday showed there were 3,432 officially out of work, a slight drop on the previous month. At an average 1.3 per cent the jobless average is one of the lowest in the country.

Cool love - Card shops said yesterday that Valentine cards have not been selling as well as last year, but flower shops and stalls reported a brisk trade.

Wednesday 13th February

Agency boost - Reed Health, the temp agency that supplies Wycombe area hospitals with agency nurses, said last night that its profits leapt 18 per cent last year as local hospitals used more and more agency nurses to keep up numbers.

Don't give up for Lent - Henley vicar Brendan Burley is urging parishioners not to give up anything for Lent, which starts today, because it is too negative. Instead he wants people to do something positive like take daily exercise or undertake voluntary work.

Sean's devine - Ace attacker Sean Devine was back to his goal-scoring ways last night when his 52nd minute goal gave Wycombe Wanderers all three points at Chesterfield last night. Devine, who had an 15 month injury lay-off prior to his return last month, scored for the first time since his return on Saturday and is now hopefully resuming his old ways.

Tuesday 12th February

School arson - Firefighters think a prank that went wrong caused £200,000 worth of damage to Princes Risborough Upper School. They said yesterday that the fire, late on Sunday night, was started in a paper recycling bin but got out of hand.

Park revamp - Marlow's Higginson Park, alongside the Thames, is to get a £75,000 facelift in time for the Queen's visit in June, councillors decided last night. New paths, bins, seats, moorings and a sun dial sculpture will be included and old tatty bins and seats removed. Later in the year a statue of Sir Steve Redgrave will be unveiled in the park.

Marching on - Wycombe Wanderers visit Chesterfield tonight in the hoping to gain ground on other play-off hopefuls. Dannie Bulman, who had to have stitches to a head wound after a clash on Saturday, is expected to be in the squad.

Monday 11th February

Blackspot campaign - Safety campaigners are expected to increase their campaign to improve the Wycombe to Amersham road - particularly at night - following the death of 16 year old Vicky Bishop, a passenger in a car which left the road last Thursday night and hit a tree. In an almost identical accident 14 months ago two 19 year olds died when their car hit a tree near the same spot, and in June 2000 a 20 year old died in a hit and run incident within a few hundred yards of the latest smash.

Deal nears - Wycombe's top councillors meet in a private Cabinet meeting tonight where they are expected to hear that hurdles that have dogged the redevelopment of the town centre - known as the Phoenix Project - have now been cleared.

Sunday 10th February

Flowering tributes - Royalists and tourists presented floral tributes at the gates of Windsor Castle yesterday after news of the death of Princess Margaret. The Queen arrived at the castle yesterday to spend the week preparing for her sister's funeral at Windsor on Friday. The audience stood for a minute's silence at the Princess's favourite theatre - Windsor Theatre Royal - last night. There was a minute's silence at the Wycombe Wanderers v Bristol City game.

Night camp - Wycombe Wanderers players led by Steve Brown will be visiting a special kids camp in Prestwood tonight. Children from all over the country who suffer from a rare skin disease which means they can't go out in daylight are sharing a week's holiday in the village.

Blues win - Goals from Sean Devine and Mark Rodgers gave Wycombe a 2-1 win against high flying Bristol City at Adams Park yesterday. The win still keeps the Blues six points behind the Division Two play off place with manager Lawrie Sanchez saying the team needs to win 10 of the remaining 16 games for a chance at promotion.

Saturday 9th February

Teenager dies at blackspot - A 16 year old girl has died at an accident blackspot on the Wycombe to Amersham Road. Vicky Bishop, of Tylers Green, Wycombe was a back seat passenger in a car which left the road at Beamond End and hit a tree. Another 16 year old and the 25 year old female driver - all thought to work at Starrs newsagents in Hazlemere - were injured. The stretch of the A404 where the accident happened late on Thursday has claimed a number of victims in recent years.

Natural causes - An inquest jury yesterday returned a verdict of death by natural causes on a man whose family felt he died through neglect at Wycombe Hospital. James Paton's family were upset that Mr Paton was infected by the antibiotic-resistant bug MRSA following an operation. But coroner Richard Hulett said MRSA was a natural fact of life in all hospitals, and doctors said Mr Paton, 69, of Flackwell Heath would have died anyway from a stroke following an operation for a burst ulcer.

Blunket support - Local Sikh leader Jaydeesh Singh, who chairs Slough based Sikh Community Action, yesterday backed Home Secretary David Blunkett's call for a debate on arranged marriages, although Muslim groups condemned Mr Blunkett's remarks as interfering with their culture. Mr Singh said the issue "should not be hidden behind the banner of cultural distraction."

Friday 8th February

Second department store - A second department store wants to open in High Wycombe town centre, the council said yesterday. Alders wants to be part of a new town centre redevelopment, known as the Phoenix Project, which is expected to be given the nod next week. Already House of Fraser are lined up to be part of the scheme which will be developed on the bus station site and the adjoining open air car park. A Bhs store and new Tesco will also be incorporated.

Illegal immigrants found - A group of Albanians are being interviewed at Heathrow immigration centre today to find out how they managed to board an articulated lorry in France without being discovered. The driver says he only realised they were in his artic when he looked in his wing mirror and saw heads looking out of the side of the lorry as he drove on the M40 at Beaconsfield. He stopped and called the police. The group of 15 included babies and children.

Fraudster sought - A man being hunted in connection with a £1.4million con has been spotted in Aylesbury. It's alleged that Robert Macmillan, posing as a English aristocrat, ripped off a German businessman by selling worthless investments. He is in his 40s with a goatee beard and an American accent.

Thursday 7th February

Attempted murder charge - Yousef Faghir, 23, of Mead Street, Wycombe Marsh was remanded in custody by the town's magistrates yesterday charged with the attempted murder of a Wycombe police officer. His court appearance followed an incident in Crest Road, Booker earlier in the day involving a man with two knives. A man was later arrested in Marlow Hill.

Flood channel opens - Much of Maidenhead was saved from flooding yesterday when the multi-million pound flood alleviation channel - between Maidenhead and Windsor - was used for the first time. The Thames did burst its banks in one part of the town causing minor flooding and a flood watch remains in force. There's a flood watch too on the River Thame, with river officials concerned about the level of the river at Thame Bridge in the centre of the town.

Train row - Angry commuters will face underground bosses at a public meeting tonight to complain against what they say is an "increasingly unreliable" Met Line service through Chesham, Amersham and Little Chalfont.

Wednesday 6th February

Chief exec - Wycombe Wanderers will announce the appointment of its first chief executive today whose main task will be to put the club on a more business-like, and profitable, footing. The move is seen as the first step towards changing the club's constitution - at present 600 supporters in effect "own" the club, but many want the rules to change so that a major benefactor could pump extra cash into the Blues.

Bus smash - A single decker bus with five passengers was involved in a smash with two cars on the Amersham Road/London Road junction in Beaconsfield yesterday, seriously injuring one of the car drivers and slightly injuring the other. The bus driver and his passengers were shaken but uninjured. The smash caused an enormous traffic snarl up.

Jubilee stamps - Golden Jubilee stamps, produced in their millions by the Wycombe security printers De La Rue, will be going on sale today - precisely 50 years since the Queen came to the throne.

Tuesday 5th February

Shot fired - A gunman fired a shot in an abortive attempt to rob a country sub post office in Chalfont Common yesterday. The shot hit the ceiling as two robbers grappled with the sub-postmaster at 6am. No-one was hurt and the gunmen, wearing balaclavas, fled empty handed.

Wasps announcement - Hopes that premier rugby side Wasps will ground share with Wycombe Wanderers were fading last night when the London club announced it was looking "at a number of venues", following yesterday's confirmation they are to be ousted from their current venue at QPR's Loftus Road. Council planning controls and residents objections are likely to make any deal to play at Adams Park a drawn-out affair, and Wasps need to be in site by the start of next season. A statement from the Blues is expected tomorrow.

Euro ban - Tory councillor David Meacock will tonight try to persuade fellow councillors on Chiltern District Council to reverse their earlier decision to accept the euro if people want to pay their council tax bills in the currency.

Monday 4th February

Grass skirt charge - Rugby club manager Marc Simpson, 27, from Kitchener Road, Wycombe appears before magistrates today charged with causing grievous bodily harm to Simon Cripps, 21, who suffered severe burns when a grass skirt he was wearing was set alight at the Chilterns Universty rugby club Christmas party.

Drinks ban - Councillors meet tonight to extend the outdoor drinking ban in Wycombe town centre. The ban will extend to an area from the council offices to Desborough Avenue and include Safeways supermarket.

Rivers subside - The levels of local rivers slowly subsided yesterday even though an inch of rain fell in most areas throughout the day. Environment Agency officials are keeping a close eye on the River Thame which is still on flood alert in Thame, Aylesbury and Aston Clinton.

Sunday 3rd February

Flood fears - Emergency services are on standby today as the River Thame continues to rise. There is particular concern about the height of the river at Thame Bridge in the town itself. Heavy rain overnight was not expected to improve the position.

Hundredth bobby - Thames Valley Police, which covers Bucks, Berkshire and Oxfordshire, has recruited its 100 officer from ethnic minorities, but community groups said yesterday the figure needs to be much higher. The force has 3,200 policemen and women.

Point Vale - Wycombe Wanderers remain lodged in eleventh position in Nationwide Division two after a 1-1 draw with Port Vale yesterday. Dannie Bulman scored the equaliser for Wycombe in a game that saw the return of striker Andy Baird after a long lay off.

Saturday 2nd February

Batten down - Storms brought havoc to the Wycombe area yesterday, with 60mph gusts bringing down trees and advertising hoardings. Traffic on the M40 was brought to a standstill after debris from lorries scattered across the motorway at Handy Cross, while there were 10 flood watches last night on local rivers. More storms are expected today and tomorrow.

Rugby history - Marlow based rugby international Nick Duncombe, who broke his neck two years ago, could make rugby history today if he is picked from the England squad to play Scotland. At 20 Nick could become England's youngest scrum half for 71 years.

Agent steps in - Wycombe Wanderers manager Lawrie Sanchez was fuming last night after his plans to bring in a young Premiership player on loan was thwarted at the last minute by the players' agent. The player, his club and Wycombe had agreed terms but late yesterday the agent stymied the deal, saying the move was not in the players' interest.

Friday 1st February

Factory closure - Nestles is to close its Aylesbury factory with a loss of 116 jobs, the company announced yesterday. Production at the factory, which makes dehydrated foods, will be switched to other UK outlets as part of a restructuring. The company said it would do all it could to help its Aylesbury workers find new work.

Pensioner dies - A 75 year old pensioner died yesterday after an accident involving a van in Prestwood High Street. Police are appealing for witnesses.

Bring on the Reds - A Wycombe Wanderers side may play at Manchester United's Old Trafford ground for the first time following the draw for the quarter finals of the FA Youth Cup. However, the young Blues side has to beat Barnsley first next week and the Man U youth team will have to overcome Hartlepool.