Happy days for children at The Meads Primary School in Luton last week when they were visited by Henry Winkler, aka The Fonz.

The actor, who is dyslexic, was there as part of an educational partnership with charity Achievement for All 3As.

But Winkler is still making movies and has third billing behind Kevin (Zookeeper) James and Salma Hayek in hit-and-miss comedy HERE COMES THE BOOM (12: Sony) - set in a school.

In a bid to save his school’s music department and the job of timid colleague Marty Streb (Winkler), jaded biology teacher and ex-college wrestling champion Scott Voss (James) moonlights as a mixed martial arts fighter.

The school wants to save money, but Scott hopes to win enough to put things right and become a hero to his students in the process.

His exploits are brought to the attention of disapproving superiors after a series of bruising and embarrassing encounters in the ring (actually a cage), so will he win the heart of feisty school nurse Bella Flores (Hayek)?

Combining the inspirational life lessons of Dead Poets Society and the underdog melodrama of Rocky, James’s ordinary Joe charm and quick wit help carry the film through its stuttering storyline and predictable plot twists.

In the middle of the slapstick and one-liners, the story even tries to shoehorn in a commentary on failing education systems and the therapeutic value of music.

> I’m sure I’m not the only viewer who finds the shooting of films with shaky hand-held cameras irritating.

Not to mention the horror genre’s almost totally clapped-out found-footage gimmick, which is now taken to the mean streets of Los Angeles in END OF WATCH (15: Studio Canal).

This police movie is from the same stable as Training Day and is well acted, but doesn’t have the earlier film’s cynical wit. Uniformed cops Taylor (a shaven-headed Jake Gyllenhaal) and Zavala (Michael Pena) stumble across the activities of a Mexican drug cartel, with violent and tragic repercussions.

Much of the film’s appeal relies on the relationship between the wisecracking duo, with equal weight given to their personal and professional lives.

But the whole thing is crudely manipulative, with the LAPD painted as spotless saints and the villains sketched as barely human.

> There’s even more found-footage in THE BAY (15: Momentum), a cautionary Jaws-meets-Paranormal Activity tale from Rain Man director Barry Levinson.

He delivers unexpected jolts and grisly scenes as he unveils the implosion of 4th of July celebrations in the small coastal town of Claridge, Maryland, after parasitic crustacean isopods terrorise the population. Panic gradually takes a grip as the carnivorous creatures attack in the water.

For Levinson, it’s not just tosh as he was born in Maryland and has observed the effects of pollution first-hand.

The film location, Chesapeake Bay, actually has a marine ‘dead zone’ and this terror tale is an impassioned expression of his own concerns. Intense farming and local government are implicated in the catastrophe in the movie.

Tring Tennis Club will be opening its doors to the public later this month to give players of all ages and abilities a chance to try out its facilities for free.

The open day takes place from 1pm to 5pm on Sunday, March 24 and attractions include free coaching, a ball machine and serving speed gun, kids’ mini tennis games, a cardio-tennis taster session and refreshments.

There will be a second open day on Sunday, June 30.

Facilities at Tring Tennis Club include six high quality floodlit courts, a clubhouse, changing rooms and a bar, and full adult membership is £159.

For further details on the open days, or to get involved with tennis at the club, call chairman Clive Holder on 07973144336 or email chairman@tringtennisclub.co.uk

Hemel Stags coach Troy Perkins is likely to make a couple of changes to his line-up against South Wales Scorpions on Sunday in an attempt to give most of his squad some early-season game time.

Perkins is pleased by the Stags’ start to life in the semi-professional ranks, despite last week’s 26-4 defeat at London Skolars.

He said: “We muscled up pretty well in the forwards, and while we probably had a bit of naivety with the ball in hand and lacked that bit of experience on how to get across the line, it was encouraging overall.

“If we can put in a similar performance against the Scorpions, and maybe construct a few more tries, then we’re pretty confident we can give them a game.”

South Wales Scorpions coach Dave Clark added: “I’ve read that Hemel are quite physical and a big side, so I’m expecting the same kind of challenge that we had from London Skolars in the first week.

“Hopefully we’ve learnt from that experience and can handle those bigger bodies a lot better.”

Sunday’s game kicks-off at Pennine Way at 3pm.

Talented young children wore red and sang We’re the Fun Raisers today to raise cash for Comic Relief.

Eight pupils of Francis House Prep School in Tring had previously been recorded singing the Red Nose Day song by Out of the Ark music publishers.

Their singing was used to teach the song to primary school nationwide, who sang it for their parents during assemblies today.

All of the pupils at the prep school sang it for their parents too in return for donations to Comic Relief – and were recorded by the Gazette.

They have also been having competitions among the school pupils to see who can bake and sell the tastiest cake for Comic Relief.

Headteacher Helen Stanton-Tonner said: “I am really proud of everything our children have done to support Red Nose Day.”

Staff and pupils at Hobletts Manor Infants School have been busy in the kitchen making goodies for a Comic Relief cake sale.

Inspired by TV cookery programme The Great British Bake Off, the sale was organised as part of the Children’s Food Trust Let’s Get Cooking scheme.

Year 2 teacher Steve Brown said “We’ve been really busy at Hobletts Manor Infants School baking all of these wonderful cakes which the children have made at home and in the classroom.

“We are raising the money for sick children and people not quite so fortunate as ourselves.”

Headteacher Wendy Hull added: “We wanted to link the cake sale in with the Let’s Get Cooking initiative and really make it a community event.

“It’s great to see the fantastic array of cakes which have been donated.

“The children have put a lot of effort into making them and their hard work has really paid off!”

A dangerous rubble pit is creating a nightmare for people living in Hartcroft Close in Hemel Hempstead.

After a tree was removed due to its awkward position in the road, which is part of a development managed by the Hightown Praetorian housing association, a neighbour says nothing been done to restore the area and believes it is a safety hazard.

Kevin Sells says the inches-deep hole poses a threat to young children from the cul-de-sac, as it contains loose bricks, concrete powder and a mountain of rubble.

He lives on the road and has two daughters, aged six and two. He said: “Everyone knows everyone on this road, and it’s normal for our kids to go and play outside together. Luckily the weather means they won’t be doing that but you can’t keep them on a leash, if one of them trips in it they could really hurt themselves.

“It is a real inconvenience, and I am left confused as to whose problem this is to deal with. I am cheesed off because nobody is listening to me, it is just like they don’t care.”

Kevin has alerted the housing association, and said a contractor whose name he cannot remember told him more work would be done on Monday, leaving the problem over the weekend.

He added: “I would understand them wanting to come back and fill it in later, but at least cordon it off and make it safe. It is just annoying because of my girls. If one of them falls down there I at least want to know who to go to.”

Housing authorities have been approached for comment and a response is awaited.

Fabulous fret fingerer Lachlan Horne is keen to prove that he’s much more than a Hendrix homage specialist – and you can see what he’s got to offer at Aylesbury’s Limelight Theatre soon.

He’s booked in for a return session at the Queen’s Park venue on Saturday, March 23. He wowed the audience with his Jimi Hendrix tribute last year and this time round he will be showcasing his own material as well as covering some popular and timeless guitar classics, with the legendary Experience axeman among those getting a nod.

Lachlan’s reputation as a performer and guitarist of exceptional talent with a real feel for rock and blues has been steadily building, and you can find out more about his background online at www.lachlanhorne.com

Tickets for the Limelight gig are £8 in advance or £10 on the door, you can get yours by calling the box office on 01296 431 272 or visiting the website at www.qpc.org.

As the cost of motoring soars, it’s reassuring to know there are still cars that still offer incredible value for money that don’t cost the earth to run.

One such is the plucky Suzuki Alto – a modest but in many ways admirable five-door urban supermini that cuts its coat according to its cloth.

Alto is Suzuki’s smallest and most unassuming model. It has a pleasingly modern appearance with a characterful face, dramatic, chunky headlamps, and to be honest, no-one is going to get too excited about driving it, even though there are surprises in store there.

Instead, the Alto’s voice tells a story of statistics that truly stack up in terms of everyday driving.

Like the fact that it achieves a desirable 65.7mpg overall, slides under the magical 100g/km of CO2 figure for emissions, thus avoiding road tax and the London congestion charge, and that a modest insurance group rating of 4E won’t result in a horror bill every 12 months.

Alto is also easy to understand – it comes in three spec grades of SZ, SZ3 and SZ4, the top model adding ESP, side and curtain shield airbags, plus smart 14-inch alloy wheels and foglamps.

For only £7,999 the top model boasts a a decent array of gear that includes tilt adjustable steering column, air con and rev counter.

And although it may be considered an A to B town car, the little Suzuki isn’t embarrassed out on the open road, excels in urban conditions and provides a few driving surprises along the way, with quite respectable handling, good steering feel and tenacious cornering.

The three-cylinder 1.0-litre 12v engine is a little gruff but pegs away valiantly, with a lithe and easy five-speed manual gearbox.

That’s not to say that everything is rosy and there are some obvious cost-cutting measures that need to be weighed up.

The new interior is still undeniably drab, in shades of grey that contrast sharply with the excitement of a certain book of that name; budget plastics are cold and hard to the touch, although undoubtedly sturdy; and seat fabrics feel nylony and not terribly cosy. There’s the retro manually toggled door mirrors to come to terms with; the rear hatch lifts rather awkwardly on the key; and rear windows only hinge open rather than slide down fully.

Inside, a rather bulky dash has been totally simplified – no bad thing in itself with so many baffling high-tech cars around – with clear main dials and a quirky rev counter perched top right of the dashboard. It looks strange up there but is actually quite handily positioned.

The dash is dominated by some stylised giant air vents that work very well, plus a chunky CD-tuner of below par sound quality.

Front seats actually wrap around you comfortably although lack some side support.

Space wise, the cockpit feels narrow and rear legroom is poor but the small rear seats fold almost flat to create a useful amount of maximum storage space.

A small rear aperture doesn’t help when trying to load large items on board.

But Alto’s straightforward function – or functionality as they call it nowadays – can be a welcome blessing.

There is nothing not to understand in Suzuki’s bargain basement buddy and there are many drivers both young and old who will utter a sigh of relief over running costs.

Alto doesn’t pretend to be something it isn’t and its Honest Joe approach is rather endearing in an age of flash image, posing and bluster.

At a glance:Suzuki Alto SZ4 5-dr hatch, £?????

Powered by 1.0-litre 12v petrol engine producing 68PS @ 6,000rpm and max torque of 66lb/ft @ 3,400rpm.

Economy: urban mpg 54.3, extra urban 74.3, combined 65.7.

Max speed 96mph; 0-62mph in 13.5 secs.

Emissions: CO2 99g/km.

VED cost (12 months) 0.

Key features: Top model SZ4 features ESP, side and curtain shield airbags, 14-inch alloy wheels and front foglamps.Five-speed gearbox with option of four-speed transmission.

Thousands of people in England who have recently moved house could miss their chance to vote in the local government elections this May, says the Electoral Commission, the independent elections watchdog.

“One of the most common reasons for people not being able to vote is because they forget to update the electoral register with a change of address,” says Samantha Mills, the commission’s head of campaigns.

“We’ve found that many people assume the electoral register is updated automatically – especially if they’ve told the council they’ve moved for council tax purposes.

“The deadline to register is coming up in April. We’re asking everyone who’s moved house in the past six months to take a couple of minutes to make sure they can vote. Registering is quick and easy: simply print off a registration form from www.aboutmyvote.co.uk, fill it in, and send it to your local authority”.

Local elections are taking place across many parts of England on Thursday, May 2. The deadline to register – and to apply for a postal vote – is Wednesday, April 17. Anyone not registered by that date will not be able to vote.

“It’s your vote, so don’t lose it”, urges Mills.

A disused building has been sold for £376,000 to a company that plans to turn it into a pre-school.

The former health centre in Victory Road, Berkhamsted, which has been empty for the last two years, was sold by Aitchison Rafferty to Toad Hall Nursery Group.

The Gazette has previously reported fears that the run-down site and some disused toilets nearby are attracting anti-social behaviour to the area.

A man who ran the Berkhamsted Half Marathon in a mankini will run in a 100-mile race next weekend.

Phil Robbins, 33, of Highfield Road, Berkhamsted, expects it will take him about 24 hours to finish the Thames Path 100 – which begins on Saturday, March 23.

The race goes along the Thames Park National Trail from Richmond to Oxford.

The most Phil has run in one go before is 70 miles – but he did the multi-day 156-mile Marathon des Sables Sahara desert race in 2011.

He said: “I wanted to do something that did not pressurise me into another personal best during the Berko Half, which is why I wore the mankini. I just ran in it for a bit of a laugh.”

The husband of a cancer sufferer has pledged to cycle 75 miles to raise money for the charity that helped bring a smile back to his wife’s face.

Popular mum-of-two Sue Herring, now 55, was first diagnosed with cancer when she was 48. She had a mastectomy on one of her breasts and the other was operated on to make sure the cancer was gone.

But five years later, doctors found cancer in her spine.

Her tumour snapped two vertebrae, causing her to shrink from 5ft 1ns to 4ft 7ins.

She now gets care at her home in Chapel Meadow, New Mill, from Iain Rennie Grove House Hospice Care.

She struggles to eat without being sick and weighs just 61/2 stone.

Husband Steve, 54, said: “I do believe she would not have made it through Christmas if it was not for Iain Rennie.”

He will now ride 75 miles in the charity’s Chilterns Cycle Challenge to raise cash for the good cause.

The event – which also has 10km and 35-mile challenge – is on Sunday, March 24.

Steve said: “Sue used to go cycling with me before this cancer.”

She was night-time supervisor at a Tesco in Aylesbury, and took great joy from walking her two dogs and watching her son Lee, 24, play football for Tring Athletic.

She can now do very little, needs a wheelchair to get about and Lee has moved back home to act as her carer.

Her other son Mark, 25, regularly takes her to hospital for treatment. Steve said IRGH nurses have helped her a lot.

He said: “It’s been so lovely to see Sue smile again and I’d like to do whatever I can to make sure that other families can also benefit from this wonderful service.”

Entry to the Chilterns Cycle Challenge – which begins and ends in Kingsbury Square, Aylesbury – is £15 for adults and £7.50 for five- to 16-year-olds. Sign up at www.rennieway.org or by ringing 01442 820740. Sponsor Steve at www.justgiving.com/Steven-HerringChilternsCycleChallenge2013

The National Trust has warned it may have to install dog bins around the Ashridge Estate unless people start clearing up after their pets.

The conservation charity owns the popular beauty spot and has made a survey for dog-walkers about what they do when their pets poo there.

The Trust says volunteer litter-pickers have had to scoop up mess dumped in plastic bags beside paths and around the visitor centre, creating an ‘eyesore and health risk’.

It would cost £400 to buy each new bin and more than £150 a year to maintain them.

There are also fears that they could overflow, about the possible ‘urbanising’ of the unspoilt area. Visitor experience manager Caroline Lisk said: “The estate covers 5,000 acres. It would be difficult to provide sufficient coverage without spoiling the unique nature of the estate.”

Instead she suggests dog-owners take poo home, perhaps in a margarine container, or use a stick to flick it into the undergrowth.

Take the Trust’s survey at www.surveymonkey.com/s/ashridgedogmess

A review of Green Belt boundaries has begun ahead of the publication of a core strategy for home-building in Dacorum.

The strategy says that between 2006 and 2031, there should be 8,800 new homes in Hemel Hempstead, 1,180 in Berkhamsted and 480 in Tring.

Green Belt boundaries will now be changed to allow for the properties to be built in areas already identified in the strategy – but also to correct ‘anomalies’. Town and parish councils have been given the opportunity to suggest how this can be achieved.

Berkhamsted town councillor Laurence Handy said: “This is about any tidying-up that needs to be done to the current boundary.”

Recent details of applications made to Dacorum Borough Council for planning permission to carry out development include the following proposals.

4/02291/12/Ful and 4/02301/12/Lbc, Conversion Of Granny Annexe To Separate Dwelling And Associated Fenced Garden (Amended Scheme), The Barn, Piccotts End Farm, Piccotts End, Hp1 3Au

4/02306/12/Ful, Reuse Of Existing Site Access And Provision Of New Access Drive To Barn And Annexe. Construction Of Timber Stable Block, The Barn, Piccotts End Farm, Piccotts End, Hp1 3Au

4/00220/13/Ful, Extension Of Emc Building, Bsi Product Services, Kitemark House, Maylands Avenue, Hemel Hempstead, Hp2 4Sq

4/00352/13/Ret, Two Wooden Sheds, 15 Hedgeside, Potten End, Hp4 2Re

4/00354/13/Fha, Rear Dormer (Amended Scheme), 79 Cross Oak Road, Berkhamsted, Hp4 3Hz

4/00361/13/Fha, Construction Of Single Storey Timber Framed Orangery To Rear, The Laurels, The Common, Chipperfield, Wd4 9Bu

4/00372/13/Ful, Construction Of One 1-Bed End Of Terrace Dwelling, 21 Katrine Square, Hemel Hempstead, Hp2 6Pf

4/00374/13/Ful, Demolition Of Existing Timber Shed And Construction Of Storage Facility And Ancillary Club Room, Land Adj. Clubhouse, Ashridge Golf Club, Golf Club Road, Little Gaddesden, Hp4 1Ly

4/00378/13/Ldp, Single Storey Rear Extension, 5 The Lye, Little Gaddesden, Hp4 1Uh

4/00380/13/Fha, Ground And First Floor Rear Extension, 3 Grange Road, Tring, Hp23 5jp

4/00389/13/Adv, Three Internally Illuminated Letter Fascia Signs And Two Internally Illuminated Projecting Signs, Barclays Bank Plc, 11 Bank Court, Hemel Hempstead, Hp1 1Bx

4/00390/13/Drc, Details Of Materials, Phase 2 (Plots 1 - 7 And 34 - 40) As Required By Condition 3 Of Planning Permission 4/01173/11/Mfa (Comprehensive Redevelopment To Provide A Range Of 75 Residential Dwellings; New Class B1, B2 And B8 Accommodation (Including The Retention Of Two Light Industrial Buildings Within Sharose Court); A New Surgery/Health Centre; 3 Commercial Units (For Class A1/A2/A3/A4 And B1 Use), Creation Of A Public Square, Associated Landscaping; Formation Of New Access Roads And Provision Of 197 Car Parking Space (Amended Scheme), Land At, Hicks Road, Markyate, Al3 8Lg

4/00392/13/Fha, Single Storey Side And Rear Extension, Increase In Garage Roof Height At Rear And New Parapet Wall, 25 Horselers, Hemel Hempstead, Hp3 9Uh

4/00393/13/Fha, Single Storey Rear Extension, First Floor Front And Side Extension/Dormers, Fenestration Alterations And Provision Of Site Entrance Gates, Bramley Cottage, Cow Lane, Tring, Hp23 5ns

4/00394/13/Fha, Detached Double Car Port With Storage For Cycles, Walnut Cottage, The Grovells, Hudnall Common, Little Gaddesden, Hp4 1Qj

4/00395/13/Fha, Loft Conversion Rear Dormer Window And Velux To The Front Roof Slope, 31 Beechfield Road, Hemel Hempstead, Hp1 1Pp

4/00396/13/Drc, Details Of Method Statement Demonstrating How The Pointing Joint Details Accord With The Existing Building As Required By Condition 15 Of Planning Permission 4/02071/12/Ful (New Gable Wall To Be Rebuilt Due To Existing Structural Issues), McDonald’s Restaurant Ltd, 241 London Road, Apsley, Hemel Hempstead

4/00397/13/Nma, Non Material Amendment To Planning Application 4/01424/12/Fha (Single Storey Rear/Side Extension), 6 Princes Close, Berkhamsted, Hp4 1Js

4/00398/13/Ful, Replacement Sports Pavilion And New Changing Room Block, Land At Chesham Fields, Chesham Road, Berkhamsted, Hp4 3Ae

4/00399/13/Drc, Details Of Cycle Store As Required By Condition 4 Of Planning Permission 4/01172/11 (Construction Of Five Storey Block Of 49 Flats With Associated Car And Cycle Parking), Land Opp. Cavendish Court (Adj Holiday Inn), London Road, Apsley, Hemel Hempstead

4/00400/13/Tca, Silver Birch - Removal To Ground Level, 15 Chapel Street, Berkhamsted, Hp4 2Ea

4/00401/13/Tpo, Works To Oak Tree, Removal To Ground Level Of Two Lawson Cypress And One Spruce, 2 Blegberry Gardens, Berkhamsted, Hp4 3Ar

4/00402/13/Tpo, Works To Two Corsican Pine And One Norway Maple, 5 Beechcroft, Berkhamsted, Hp4 3Bt

4/00410/13/Fha, Single Storey Side Extension, 8 Lombardy Close, Hemel Hempstead, Hp2 4Ng

4/00411/13/Fha, Two Storey Rear Extension, 21 Holly Drive, Berkhamsted, Hp4 2Jr

4/00412/13/Drc, Details Of Conditions 2, 3, 19, 20, 21, 23 (Materials, Contamination And Archaeology) Of Planning Permission 4/01115/12/Mfa (Alteration And Extension Of New Lodge To Provide Four Flats. Construction Of 29 Flats And 21 Houses, Bin And Cycle Storage, Electricity Sub-Station, New Access To London Road And Associated Landscaping. (Amended Scheme), New Lodge, Bank Mill Lane, Berkhamsted, Hp4 2Ns

4/00420/13/Fha, Single Storey Front And Rear Extensions, 9 Shepherds Green, Hemel Hempstead, Hp1 2Hl

4/00421/13/Ful, Change Of Use Of Banger Racing Yard (Sui Generis) To Residential (C3) (Amended Scheme), Land At Primrose Cottage, Pouchen End Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hp1 2As

4/00422/13/Ful, Alterations To Front Boundary Wall, Provision Of New Railings, And Widening Of Access Point Onto Highway, Bsi Product Services, Kitemark House, Maylands Avenue, Hemel Hempstead, Hp2 4Sq

4/00427/13/Tel, Pad-Mounted Grp Substation, Land At Corner Of Link Road &, Fletcher Way, Hemel Hempstead

4/00438/13/Fha, Single Storey Rear Extension, Mace Cottage, Langley Road, Chipperfield, Kings Langley, Wd4 9Js

4/00439/13/Roc, Removal Of Condition 15 Of Planning Permission 4/0838/95 As Modified By Planning Permission 4/01523/01/Ret (Demolition Of Existing Buildings, Construction Of Supermarket, Revised Access) To Allow Deliveries Between 5.30am and 11pm Monday to Saturday and 9am to 4pm Sundays, Tesco Store, London Road, Tring, Hp23 5Nb

Applications and accompanying plans can be viewed at Planning Reception, Ground Floor, Civic Centre, Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead, from 8.45am to 5.15pm Monday to Thursday and from 8.45am to 4.45pm on Friday.

Can paedophiles ‘get better’ and go on to live happy and healthy lives?

Most people would recoil in horror and say definitely not – but the woman in charge of rehabilitating these offenders disagrees.

Elisabeth von Rabenau, who heads up the sex offenders programme in Herts, Beds, Cambs and Peterborough, said: “I wouldn’t necessarily say in every single case but certainly a lot of them can and will if given the chance.”

But she said the key is teaching these men – and also a small number of women – to be aware of their own risks and possible triggers for re-offending.

Much like drug or alcohol addicts the potential for relapse never goes away but can be controlled.

“A lot of the men would say ‘I know I would never re-offend’

“Our approach would be to say it is much better if you think of it in terms of this is something I need to manage and monitor for myself on an ongoing basis,” said Elisabeth.

“So there is a good chance that people will not re-offend again but I think people need to remain alert to their own risks and their trigger situations.”

Her team – made up of three women and one man – run a series of programmes for sex offenders.

The Thames Valley Sex Offenders Programme, named after where it was first introduced, covers a range of sex offences involving adults and children but also exhibitionism, voyeurism and the grooming of victims.

This intense course starts with a foundation block of two full workings weeks from 9.30am to 5.30pm, followed by eight sessions on victim empathy, 20 on life skills and up to 24 sessions, each lasting two hours, on leading better lives.

There’s a dedicated programme for those caught dealing in internet child pornography – a crime that is rarely out of the headlines and that many believe is on the rise. However, police forces like Herts Constabulary say they’re just getting better at catching the culprits and Dacorum’s new Chief Insp Glen Channer previously headed up the unit responsible for tracking them down.

The course to ‘fix’ these offenders is made up of 35 sessions each lasting two hours and normally running during the evenings.

This is something that former Dacorum mayor Stephen Holmes may have to take part in after he was jailed for 10 months last year after admitting he had collected a huge stash of child porn on his computer.

The group work sessions involve offenders analysing their behaviour, the motivation behind it and taking responsibility for what they did.

“Recognising it wasn’t something that just happened, these images didn’t just pop up on the computer,” said Elisabeth, who started her career as a probation officer.

“Often there is some sexual motivation in there but often it is about meeting a whole range of other needs.

“That could be about dealing with stress or trying to find an area in your life where you have got some control. It is quite complex.

“When you talk about offending that relates to the internet a big part of that is making the victims real people.

“It is not a fantasy world. They are not just images – why might children look as though they are smiling? What might be going on behind the scenes?

“It is about getting across the idea that these are real children who have been abused.”

Lots of work is done around building the life skills that these offenders may be lacking.

“Elisabeth said: “If we are looking at internet offending it is not unusual to be dealing with people who maybe hold down responsible occupations.

“In a work situation they may appear quite skilled but maybe in their personal lives they may not have those same problem solving skills.”

Her team of probation officers, who aim to help 40 sex offenders from Herts through their programmes next year, deal with people from all walks of life.

Elisabeth said: “Men from the whole spectrum.

“We see people who may be unemployed, who have maybe struggled with life and relationships across the board, and we have had men who are successful running businesses, academics, in another programme we have got somebody who is a doctor.”

She added: “Very broadly speaking I would say there is a range that goes from people who are accessing certain types of images fairly deliberately from the outset and there is another type that is maybe viewing pornography, which may well start off as legal initially, and then it reaches the point when that is not enough. To use the addiction kind of analogy, it is not giving you the hit anymore.”

But does all this ‘rehabilitation’ actually work?

Figures show that over a two year follow up period of those who had not attended a treatment programme 8.1 per cent re-offended, while of those that had gone on a course 4.6 per cent re-offended.

“There is a clear positive impact of attending a treatment programme and that is confirmed by other national and international research,” said Elisabeth.

Stop It Now is a child sexual abuse prevention campaign that has a helpline for those worried about their own behaviour or thoughts or the actions of others. Call 0800 1000 900 or email help@stopitnow.org.uk

Enthusiasts are already rallying to the cause for an event that raises thousands for local charities.

The Chiltern Hills Rally already has 500 confirmed entries for the big bash on Sunday, May 19 – 100 up on the same time last year.

The 2012 rally was cancelled at late notice after appalling weather created safety problems because of flooding.

It was the first time the event hadn’t gone ahead in the 20-year history of the rally which has raised a total of £250,000 for good causes. This year’s rally at Aylesbury Rugby Club in Weston Turville should see more than 1,000 vintage vehicles on show and attract crowds of up to 6,000, with family entertainment that includes a dog show.

Visit www.chilternhillsrally.org.uk for details.

Nearly one in four cigarettes smoked in Dacorum could contain illicit tobacco, 
experts have warned.

Only a year ago only 2.5 per cent of cigarettes were iffy, but now it is more than 23 per cent.

Experts warn that the increase in illicit tobacco is bad for local businesses , increases criminal activity and threatens public health.

Not only do smokers not know where cheap cigarettes come from, there’s a chance they could contain mould, asbestos or even human faeces.

Dr Raymond Jankwoski, deputy director for public health and chair of Tobacco Free Hertfordshire, said: “Tackling illegal tobacco is important because it is a source of cheap tobacco to children and young people.

“In addition, cheap illegal tobacco undermines smokers’ attempts to quit, brings crime into communities and undermines legitimate local businesses.”

For help and advice on quitting smoking, visit www.wequit.co.uk.

A former Tring Park School pupil will compete in the regional finals of a national singing competition on Saturday.

Amani Hussain, 14, will perform in the Teen Star regional finals in Hayes, singing Justin Bieber hit Boyfriend – but with a twist.

Amani, a pupil at the Tring performing arts school between the ages of eight and 12, will change some of the lyrics and perform a rap she has written herself.

She said: “Hopefully that way people will remember it.”

Amani, who now goes to Pipers Corner School in High Wycombe but lives with her family in Chivery, just outside Tring, said: “I’d like to think I’ll get through, but even if I don’t, it will have been a really good experience.

“All my friends and family have been really supportive.”

Mum Roxanne said: “I’m very proud of Amani. She’s always loved singing from a very young age.”

Amani is already a star on YouTube, where she posts videos of her singing under the name ThatAmaniLiaGirl. To see her in action, visit www.youtube.com/user/thatamaniliagirl.

Highways bosses have spent £20,000 on a traffic information sign to keep motorists informed.

It went up on Hemel Hempstead’s Redbourn Road last month and is part of the new Herts Highways Integrated Transport Control Centre.

CCTV and automatic traffic and journey time counters are used to monitor traffic speeds and identify congestion. Traffic lights can be adjusted to help get vehicles moving and messages put on signs to inform motorists of what is causing the delay and offer alternative routes.

Find out more about the Integrated Transport Control Centre by {http://www.hemeltoday.co.uk/community/local-services/400-000-bill-is-money-well-spent-1-4888846|clicking here}