Man died after 'bid to steal bike'

A middle-aged man collapsed and died after a teenage boy allegedly tried to steal his bicycle.

Father-of-three Josip Jovanovic, 57, became involved in a confrontation with the youth after going fishing at the Embankment in Bedford on Wednesday afternoon.

The boy ran away without the bike but Mr Jovanovic collapsed a few minutes later behind the Borough Hall building.

He was taken to Bedford Hospital South Wing where he died later in the afternoon.

Three boys, aged 12, 13 and 15, were arrested.

Balls urges stiffer migration rules

Labour leadership contender Ed Balls has called for stiffer rules on migration within Europe.

Mr Balls called for changes to the free movement of labour rules, one of the central principles of the European Union, to prevent migrants from new member states undercutting British workers.

The shadow schools secretary also called for tighter restrictions on immigrant workers sending money from benefits back to their country of origin.

Mr Balls said the current seven-year transition arrangement limits to control migration from new EU members may need to be extended with the possibility of Turkey joining the union.

Baby inches from serious injury after car loses control in Rhyl

Rhyl crash

A BABY sleeping in a car escaped serious injury by inches after a taxi crashed off a road and into a florists.

A family told how they feared the worst when a cabbie working for Roberts Taxis smashed into an awning belonging to John Stephen’s florists after careering off Vale Road, Rhyl, and onto the pavement outside.

It missed a parked car with little baby Tegid Williams sleeping inside by inches, before coming to a stop against a post with the engine still revving.

The shop is run by Lynda Williams and her dad Norman Williams helps out.

Lynda’s sister Charlene had just popped into the shop for a few minutes when the car lost control at about 11.15am.

Rhos on Sea puppet theatre could become museum

Chris Somerville

A PUPPET theatre which has given hours of enjoyment to thousands of children – and big kids too – could be turned into a museum.

Much-loved puppeteer Chris Somerville hopes to spend many more years as he can pulling the strings at the Harlequin Puppet Theatre in Rhos on Sea.

But when he finally puts away his 1,000 Marionettes (puppets on strings), he hopes to use his unique archive to educate future generations.

Chris, who runs the UK’s only purpose-built puppet theatre, said: “There’s a possibility it will become a puppet museum. There’s a puppet guild and the archivist is a friend of mine. If he could afford to buy it he would like to as he would be keen to preserve the memory.”