THE family of a 14-month-old girl suffering from cancer have praised a community trying to raise her quality of life.

Brianne Tattersall-Underwood was diagnosed with a brain tumour aged just three months in November 2011.

Her mother Jade Tattersall-Underwood and her partner, Dean Haywood, are currently out of work, so residents across Sneinton have joined in with fund-raising activities aimed at providing the specialist equipment and toys Brianne needs.

Jade was a carer at a private care home, having trained at Castle College, but left after struggling to work during pregnancy. Dean was a warehouse operative and quit following Brianne's diagnosis.

Jade said she and her partner had not returned to work, in order to care for their daughter.

The 24-year-old of Colwick Road said: "We are just trying to spend as much time with her as possible as we don't know if she will be here tomorrow.

"We have to take every day as it comes."

A target of £1,000 has been set by fundraisers who have organised a wide variety of events including a coach day out, concerts and a table-top sale.

Miss Tattersall-Underwood said: "I'm shocked. I didn't think people cared these days, but it is so nice to know they do."

The sheer size of Brianne's tumour meant it would be impossible to fully remove it without incapacitating her almost entirely.

She has had regular chemotherapy for around a year but the treatment is only just keeping the cancer at bay.

Kevin Hallam, licensee of the Vine Inn, in Handel Street, has orchestrated the fund-raising.

He said: "Originally we were just going to do a family night and try to raise some money, but the whole thing has snowballed.

"We organised a trip to Blackpool and raised £555."

The pub has also arranged country and western evenings and another pub, the Wheatsheaf, held a car boot sale.

Mr Hallam added: "Everyone involved has been brilliant.

"With it being a baby, there's a certain amount of pulling on the heartstrings. We need to give Brianne a better quality of life while she is with us."

Future events lined up include a pyjama party and a fancy dress night at the Vine Inn.

Brianne's grandmother Maxine Tattersall said: "There's been a lot of heartache and it makes me feel awful to see my daughter and grand-daughter suffering.

"The community have done so much, they are fantastic."

THE UK's first temporary shop dedicated to science has opened in Nottingham.

The 3-2-1-Ignition "pop-up" shop at the Broadmarsh Centre aims to bring science and technology to life for shoppers young and old.

The project has been backed by Nottingham City Council's Science City initiative and partners from education and industry in the city.

Hasmita Chavda, programme development assistant for Nottingham-based education company Ignite!, which is running 3-2-1-Ignition, said: "This is the first of its type in the UK which is very exciting for Nottingham. We hope to be visited by lots of people, and I hope that many will go away with a new found interest in science."

The shop contains programmable computers and 3D printers. Schools will be able to book workshops on topics ranging from Earth sciences to the workings of the brain.

Meanwhile, visitors will also be able to take part in hands-on experiments and learn more about science-based industries, courses and careers available in the sector.

There are also plans to run workshops for children, by children.

A group of school children from Nottingham's Primary Parliament were given a tour of the new science shop yesterday as part of its official opening.

Members were shown a pop-up classroom and given the opportunity to participate in science and technology activities in the shop.

Ignite! say the shop, which is open for just four weeks, is modelled on similar initiatives in San Francisco where education workshops are linked to themed retail outlets.

The company said it was the first time a shop promoting science and technology had been set up in the UK.

Councillor Nick McDonald, Nottingham City Council's portfolio holder for City Centre, Business and Skills, said: "We want to inspire future generations to take advantage of Nottingham's growing reputation for science, innovation and creativity.

"This shop will give people of all ages the opportunity to experience for themselves how exciting science can be.

"They'll also get a flavour of the variety of ways of getting involved with science and research, whether it's for pleasure or as a career."

The shop will be open in the upper level of the Broadmarsh Centre until November 10.

Partners in the initiative include South Nottingham College, Bilborough College and New College Nottingham, as well as Nottingham Trent University and the University of Nottingham, and the city's GameCity festival.

For a full list of workshop times and details, visit www.ignitionpopupshop.wordpress.com/schedule/.

PLANS for the regeneration of one of the city's most well-known thoroughfares are being discussed by council officials.

Arkwright Walk, currently pedestrianised, could be opened up for buses and other traffic under new plans.

The scheme would be a continuation of regeneration in The Meadows area, where around 300 houses are already being demolished.

Di Clausen, 68, of St Saviours Gardens, said the plans sounded positive.

Arkwright Walk follows the course of the old Arkwright Street, which ran from the city centre to Trent Bridge.

"It will certainly make the bus routes more accessible to those who live deeper in to The Meadows and access into the area would be improved," said Mrs Clausen. "Hopefully people would become more aware of the area. It could be a step towards an Arkwright Walk high street with shops.

"We need to make The Meadows more open so that people travel through and appreciate that it is not a horrible place."

Margaret Spencer, 72, of Holgate Road, is a member of Old Meadows Tenants and Residents Association.

"As long as they ensure that the road is safe for all the children who use it then the plans are a good idea," she said.

"Arkwright Walk was fantastic when it was a real high street years ago. It would be nice to get the shops back."

A Private Finance Initiative scheme, which would have seen external companies involved in planning and building, had been planned to regenerate Arkwright Walk as part of a Meadows-wide scheme but had to be shelved when central government funding was withdrawn.

Councillor Dave Liversidge, Nottingham City Council's portfolio holder for housing, said due to its layout, The Meadows could feel quite self-contained. "Reopening Arkwright Walk to traffic would improve access and help the area thrive in the future," he said.

"Although it is improving, The Meadows suffers levels of deprivation. We think it has great potential considering it is so close to the city centre."

Tell us your views. Write to Nottingham Post, City Gate, Tollhouse Hill, Nottingham, NG1 5FS or e-mail newsdesk@nottinghampostgroup.co.uk.

HALF of city students did not reach the expected level in their GCSE results this summer, according to figures from the Department for Education.

The statistics, released yesterday, showed that only 49.1 per cent of 16-year-olds picked up at least five A* to C grades including English and maths, which is regarded as the benchmark.

It means the city is 143rd out of 152 authorities in the country .

Meanwhile, for the first time, schools in the county bettered the national average, with 60.3 per cent of students reaching the benchmark, leaving it 53rd of 152 local education authorities.

Councillor David Mellen, portfolio holder for children's services at Nottingham City Council, was pleased with the improved results, up from 46.7 per cent last year, but admitted more needs to be done.

He said: "We are very happy with what has been happening in schools. Teachers have been working very hard, as have students with the support of parents."

Mr Mellen said levels of deprivation contributed to the city languishing among the worst-performing authorities.

"It does have a big effect, but we are not sitting back and using it as an excuse," he said. "We get reports from teachers that children are coming into school with no breakfast. And benefit cuts could make it even harder. It is bound to impact on children's education."

The improving performances have come at a time when many schools have transformed into academies, and are no longer under local authority control.

Mr Mellen added: "We work closely with academies. They are doing very well."

The figures are provisional and will be updated in January, when changes in grades following appeals will be taken into account.

Marks for individual schools were not published yesterday, though the schools themselves already know. Top Valley School celebrated its best-ever results, with 57 per cent of students reaching the benchmark.

Assistant head teacher Lee Morgan said: "We are overjoyed with the results."

The city was also near the bottom of the A-level results table, though yesterday's figures didn't include results from academies and colleges, many of which had top marks.

Of the 438 students whose results were taken into account, the average point score was 660.8. The overall average score last year - including academies and colleges - was 746.1.

Points scores are based on the number of each grade, such as A, B, C, D , or E, pupils obtain.

For schools under Notts County Council's control the average A-level point score was 750.4, leaving the authority 81st nationally.

Councillor Philip Owen, committee chairman for children and young people's services at the county council, said: "This is all down to the hard work that has gone off over the last few years."

He said targeting under-performing schools by linking them with more successful counterparts had worked.

For example, the previously struggling Meden School in Mansfield, has been working with Toot Hill School in Bingham, and has seen results improve.

Mr Owen said: "We have targeted schools, for example those in the Bassetlaw and Mansfield areas, and attempted to drive up performances. These results justify that work."

A similar approach has proved successful in London.

Analysis by the Financial Times newspaper earlier this year, suggested London pupils did better in five GCSEs, including maths and English, than those from other regions.

The gap between the performance of pupils from rich and poor backgrounds also narrowed. This success was put down to good leadership in schools, high-quality teaching, the success of academies and partnerships, where strong schools support weaker ones.

A Department for Education spokesman said top-performing schools helping their struggling counterparts was a good way of raising standards.

Dr Peter Gates, of the University of Nottingham's School for Education, emphasised the importance of leadership in schools. He said: "If you have a school which hasn't got good management or leadership, then this could work. I can't see how it can work in any other way."

THE murder of Caroline Coyne in July 2011 would become the first of three separate but notorious attacks on lone women in Nottingham.

The killing of the young mother by a man who stalked her through the streets would be followed by horrific rapes in December and March.

But Caroline's stepfather hopes a 'code' inspired by Caroline's tragic death – which obliges passers-by to help people who look vulnerable to crime – could help prevent more victims.

Jason Stansfield, 42, of Arnot Hill Road, Arnold, hopes 'Caroline's Code' will prevent more attacks and save lives.

Aimed mainly at public transport, taxi companies and the public, it says drivers should try to help people who ask to be "made safe".

Mr Stansfield said he was upset more had not been done to try to help Caroline and women attacked in other incidents in the city.

He said: "There have been a certain number of incidents in Nottingham where people have not stopped or tried to help. Caroline's Code could save other people going forward.

"You can't stand by and not help people, it's not how a society should be operating."

Before she was murdered, Caroline had stepped in front of a bus, tried to flag down passing cars, and got into a taxi but got out without paying.

She even got into a police car, but was advised to get a taxi. No one knows why she was in that area at that time of night. But she ended up wandering the streets alone and encountered Carl Powell who stalked and killed her.

Five months after the attack on Ms Coyne, a woman in her early twenties was beaten unconscious and raped on The Forest Recreation Ground by 19-year-old Joseph Moran.

Moments before she had boarded a bus but was told to get off by the unnamed Trent Barton driver, who would not waive the 20p she needed for the full fare. Moran, of Walker Street, Sneinton, was convicted of the attack in June and locked up for six-and-a-half years in September.

In the March attack, a 17-year-old girl was raped in the Sneinton Market area in the early hours after a man saw her staggering along a street.

She had been to a friend's house and set off for home in a taxi – but ended up wandering through the city centre. Last month Mawawe Karam, 28, of Herbert Road, Carrington, was jailed for ten years after admitting rape.

Nottingham City Transport, which runs Nottingham's main bus network, said it already had a "long standing" policy that vulnerable customers should never be left at the road side.

But it said it would be "proud" to support the idea of Caroline's Code.

A spokesman added: "Our drivers are empowered to allow customers to travel for free, if they present themselves in need of travel and cannot pay the full fare."

Every NCT bus has a radio, it added, where drivers can contact a 24-hour control and staff talks to police about passengers who need help.

Florian Le Loroux, marketing manager for Nottingham Express Transit, which runs the trams, said: "Clearly this initiative follows some very tragic events and we are supportive of the intentions which lie behind the code."

He said the firm already had policies which mirrored the code's aims, but would use it as part of future reviews.

Nottingham City Council, which licences taxis in the city, said it would be willing to talk to Mr Stansfield.

Councillor Alex Norris said: "We pride ourselves on measures that are in place to help make the city safe at night and are interested in anything that could help to improve things."

Ian Pole, director of DG Private Hire, one of the city's biggest taxi firms, said the firm is involved in a scheme with the University of Nottingham Students' Union to help ensure students get home even if they are stuck without cash.

Mr Pole added: "We agree with things like this, because you feel for the families."

A police spokesman said: "Police already regularly help people who are in distress. If an officer is notified that someone is in distress, then they will do everything in their power to make sure that person is safe."

What do you think? Is a code needed? And could this particular code work? Call the newsdesk on 0115 05 1966 or email newsdesk@nottinghampostgroup.co.uk.

HEAD teachers have labelled plans for two new free schools in West Bridgford and Arnold as damaging.

The Post this week revealed how 1,200 extra secondary school places could be created by September 2018 under the plans.

Torch Academy Gateway Trust, headed by John Tomasevic, principal at Toot Hill Academy in Bingham, wants to open The Trent Bridge Free School in West Bridgford and The Nottingham Free School in Arnold.

Heads in those areas have questioned the proposals.

Rob McDonough, head teacher at West Bridgford School, wants to build three new classrooms, at a cost of around £150,000 to ease pressure on places at his school.

He said: "We are open to giving parents more choice of where to send their child.

"These free schools could be damaging, in that it may count against our application for building funds, which would then deny many parents the chance to come to our outstanding school and possibly have to go somewhere which hasn't been tried or tested.

"The option of expanding our school would also be much cheaper for the taxpayer."

The head teacher at West Bridgford's other major secondary – Rushcliffe School – is also worried.

Phil Crompton said: "West Bridgford and the surrounding area is served by some of the highest-achieving schools in the region and it comes as a major surprise to hear that anyone is proposing to create a new school in the area.

"The demand for secondary places could easily be met by increasing capacity on existing secondary school sites."

Andrew Burns, principal at Redhill Academy in Arnold, also questioned the proposals. His school hopes to create extra space for 50 to 60 students in each year group, at a cost of £750,000.

"By expanding our academy, we will be able to cater for the growing demand for school places in Arnold.

"We do not feel that a new free school is something that this town and its people need," he said.

Robin Fugill, principal of Arnold Hill Academy, agreed: "You can't just plonk a new school into a community like you put a shop in a high street, because you are dealing with young people's lives that need to be nurtured.

"The Government should be building on the schools which have already integrated themselves in their community."

However, Linda Adcock, of the School of Education at Nottingham Trent University, said: "Free schools have a worthy place in society where groups of children have no suitable provision, for example children with a particular special need or where children have to travel some distance to go to school. They also provide a creative space where innovative educators can offer provision which is outside the usual educational experience.

"It is also a powerful way of supporting the drive to give parents and the local community more say in the education offered to young people.

"However, we need to take care that this does not fragment communities rather than join them together. We have to ask, whenever groups of children are taken out of an existing school population, what the effect is going to be on those remaining children."

John Tomasevic, chief executive of the trust seeking to set up the free schools, said: "We are proposing a small, personal school where learning strategies are tailored to the individual and where each child is important.

"The question parents need to ask is would they prefer to send their child to an existing school that is expanding to accommodate additional numbers and the numerous challenges that brings, or to a smaller, specialist school that focuses on the individual?"

A NEW Morrisons superstore in Ilkeston has been given the go-ahead.

The decision was made at an Erewash Borough Council meeting at Long Eaton Town Hall.

It had been recommended for refusal by council officials, on the grounds that the development in Field Road would take away trade from the town centre .

However, councillors voted in favour of it.

The planning application also includes 39 new homes and a petrol station on the site of what is now Derby College.

Several members of the public spoke out against the application, citing concerns about pollution, increased traffic and worries about people deserting shops in the town centre.

James Smith, Morrisons development executive, said a great deal of hard work and investment had gone into the project. He said: "I am very pleased we have been given the go-ahead."

The sale of the Derby College site to Morrisons means that a new £10 million campus for the college – on the site of the former magistrates' court in Pimlico, Ilkeston – can go ahead.

CITY councillors have approved plans to build new sports pitches and changing rooms at The Forest recreation ground.

The £1.9 million facilities will be built on the north-eastern corner of the site, which was formerly used as a bowling green. It also used to contain a pavilion and putting green.

The pavilion was destroyed by arsonists in 2004 and the bowlers who once used the site have relocated.

However, a number of concerns have been raised by local residents who claim that football is already well catered for at the park and say the plans will destroy a tranquil green space and unspoilt corner.

Residents have also objected to the removal of 63 trees and shrubs, although the council has said a new tree will be planted for each one removed.

Under the plans there will be an all-weather football pitch and a multi-use pitch, designed for netball and basketball.

Nottingham City Council's development control committee decided the benefits outweighed the negatives this week.

Berridge councillor Toby Neal said he had spoken with youth groups in the area.

"They are interested in a secure site and a well presented site. Personally, I welcome it. I think that it will add additional services that local groups will use," he said.

Committee chairman Councillor Chris Gibson said: "This is one of these applications which has got pluses and minuses. It was a difficult one and it's a matter of balancing the gains against the losses, and that's what I was doing in my own vote.

"It was a quiet area but it's in decay, it's not being used.

"There are people who enjoy the trees and foliage, but against that there's the chance of a high-quality sports pitch."

The project is being led by The Forest Sports Zone Advisory Group, which has been set up to oversee the project. It includes representatives from the council, the Partnership Council, a community-based charity in Radford, residents and sports groups.

The group is submitting bids for funding to help pay for the revamp.

Jim Taylor, chairman of The Forest Working Group, which has overseen £5 million of work already been carried out on other areas of the Forest, said: "We would implore people to see the proposals for the Forest in the round and not just focus on this relatively small area.

"A great team of local people have worked incredibly hard over 13 years to make the case and raise £5 million to restore the Forest to its former glory.

"We're planting lots of trees and our intention is to make it into a very civilised, attractive and enjoyable park.

"But a crucial element of this proposal is to provide the quality facilities for sport and the local community."

Tell us your views. Write to Nottingham Post, City Gate, Tollhouse Hill, Nottingham, NG1 5FS or e-mail newsdesk@nottinghampostgroup.co.uk.

WHEN it was suggested to Alan Sheehan that Notts County could still get to Wembley this season, after their Johnstone's Paint Trophy exit, his response was rapid.

"Hopefully not! Hey, we're still looking at the top-two. If that's impossible, we'll take Wembley," he said.

Automatic promotion in League One is clearly the aim for the Magpies' left-back, reaching the final of the play-offs a last resort.

Maybe it is because he has already lost twice in the League One play-offs in his career, with Leeds United and Swindon Town.

Notts have already hit the top of the division this season and are currently in fifth place ahead of facing Coventry City, who are languishing in 20th, away tomorrow.

There is only one question mark still hanging over their promotion credentials – their inconsistent form at Meadow Lane.

While they are impressively unbeaten on the road, they have won three and lost three on home soil in the league – and have also lost to League Two Bradford City in the Capital One Cup and Sheffield United in the JPT.

"We've made a good start, but at the same time some of the points we've dropped are disappointing so we could be even higher up the table," added Sheehan.

"There are going to be ups and downs and a lot of twists and turns before the end of the season.

"We've got to stay positive because we've got a good bunch of players."

Sheehan was at Meadow Lane last season when Notts made a superb start under former boss Martin Allen, winning eight of their first 13 games.

But they then suffered a big dip in form, winning just three of 17 league games to slide down the table before Allen was sacked.

The Magpies then won ten of their last 16 games under Keith Curle to surge back up it, but missed out on the play-offs on goal difference.

Sheehan thinks Notts are better than last season and hopes they can sustain a challenge for promotion into the Championship over 46 games this time.

"We've just got to try and be consistent," he said.

"We've got a bigger squad than last year and we've got a stronger squad so hopefully we can keep it up."

After starting the first five league games of the season, Sheehan's season has been interrupted by an injury and suspension.

The Irishman was sidelined for a few weeks with a hamstring injury and in his first game back he was sent off.

He made his first start in five-and-a-half weeks against the Blades in the JPT on Wednesday night, captaining the team, but Notts lost 4-1 to their League One rivals.

"We let in four very soft goals which is annoying," he said.

"We only got playing in the last 20 minutes when the game was all over.

"You wonder why the hell we didn't start like that.

"It's disappointing, but at the end of the day that's us out of the JPT so we will shut up talking about it now and get on with the league.

"I was happy to come back and get my first 90 minutes and I felt good.

"It's been very stop-start for me recently. You can't do anything about injuries.

"I'd played something like 52 games in a row before that so I'd had a good run in the team.

"You have just got to be positive when you're out and now I'm back and hopefully back in the team to stay."

While Sheehan was out, the Magpies signed his former Leicester City team-mate Jordan Stewart on a short-term deal.

Stewart played at right-back against United because of injuries to Julian Kelly and Carl Regan, but when they are fit he will battle it out with Sheehan for the left-back spot.

"There's obviously competition for the left-back spot because Jordan has done well so who knows, it's all up to the manager," said Sheehan, who did not lose any sleep about exiting the JPT.

It is bottom of the Magpies' list of priorities this season, with promotion at the very top.

He believes Notts have three big games in eight days starting at the Ricoh Arena.

They then face Bournemouth and Doncaster Rovers at Meadow Lane.

"Our focus has shifted straight away to the league," he said.

"The league has always been our priority, obviously.

"We're looking at Coventry, Bournemouth and Doncaster and it's a very big week for us because they are three teams that will be up and around it at the top so we need to take points off them."

Notts are unbeaten in their six away league games this season and going all the way back to February they have gone a record 13 away league games undefeated under Curle.

Sheehan says the Magpies feel almost invincible away from Meadow Lane.

"I don't know if I can put my finger on it," he said.

"When we're at home teams sit back with two banks of four and make it hard for us to break them down, but away it's the other way round.

"Teams come at us to try and break us down and we're good enough to hit them on the break, we've got players that suit that way of playing.

"We'll be confident going to Coventry because of our away form and we'll be raring to go in that one, looking for three points."

MANSFIELD Town winger Lindon Meikle says his own FA Cup giant-killing experience means there is no way he will take Workington lightly tomorrow.

And he has warned his Stags team-mates that their fourth qualifying round tie at Borough Park will be as tough a game as they will face all season.

Mansfield make the 400-mile, eight-hour round trip to Cumbria to take on their Blue Square Bet North opponents, who are a league below them.

But Meikle knows exactly what to expect, having played there a number of times during his Eastwood Town days.

It was while with the Badgers that he enjoyed success in the FA Cup, reaching the third round in 2009 after scoring in the previous round to knock out Wycombe.

That is why he knows tomorrow's game is going to be really tough if they are to reach the first round proper.

He said: "I remember playing against teams in the league above and you were super fired up.

"So I have told the lads they can't go into it thinking it will be easy because it won't be a breeze.

"I have told them it will be harder than some of the games in our own league and the pitch won't help at all as it will be boggy. So they'd better be ready."

Mansfield go into the game on the back of a good 1-0 win against high-flying Forest Green Rovers.

And Meikle said that should get the stuttering Stags going again.

"I don't see why people are shocked about us beating them. They seem to be underestimating us," he said.

"We should be the team that is feared and we need to get that back into our game so wherever we go, people expect to win."

More from Meikle: Page 44

A NURSE who has been struck off after giving an overdose of salt to a baby has apologised to the family.

Four-month-old Samuel McIntosh died at the Queen's Medical Centre in July 2009 after being given a concentration of sodium chloride about ten times greater than he should have had.

Speaking for the first time about the tragedy, Louisa Swinburn told the Post: "I am very sorry about what happened and this is the first time that I have ever really been able to express my apologies to the family.

"It's something that I am going to have to carry with me for the rest of my life.

"The last few years have been dreadful, knowing what happened.

"Without the support of my husband, children and a strong group of friends, I don't know how I would have got through it."

A Nursing and Midwifery Council hearing was also told how, weeks before the incident, Swinburn had been photographed asleep next to Samuel's cot.

The council ruled she should be struck off the nursing register.

This means she can no longer work in the profession.

Swinburn added: "I have had to carry the can for this. I do feel guilty and this guilt will never go away, but I feel as if I have been made to face this on my own and the [hospital] Trust hasn't supported me.

"My colleagues and friends know I was a good nurse. I was good at my job, but I made a mistake and that will stick with me forever."

An inquest into Samuel's death in 2010 heard that two nurses who were involved in the "dreadful mistake" could not explain how it happened.

The inquest was told that Swinburn and a colleague were "distracted" by another staff member as they prepared a solution to correct Samuel's low salt levels.

As a result of the mistake, Samuel was given 50ml of a sodium chloride solution. A registrar had prescribed 5ml.

The error meant the infusion given to Samuel was 10 times the required concentration, causing swelling to his brain.

Panel chairman Peter Harvey said: "It (the panel) considered that Mrs Swinburn's wide-ranging misconduct and her lack of insight into a catastrophic drug error was extremely serious and the risk of repetition could not be excluded.

"The panel considered that, on the specific facts of this case, her misconduct was fundamentally incompatible with her being able to continue to practise as a registered nurse."

Jenny Leggott, Director of Nursing for Nottingham University Hospitals, said: "After proper investigation and process, Louisa Swinburn was dismissed by NUH in August 2010 for gross misconduct, after being photographed appearing asleep on duty and posting the image herself on Facebook in June 2009.

"Her conduct was reported to the NMC, who have heard the case this week, concluding that she is no longer able to work in the profession."

THE officer who led the investigation into Carl Powell described him as a sexual predator who targeted the vulnerable.

Detective Chief Inspector Tony Heydon said Powell showed a complete arrogance about the way he treated women.

"Carl Powell is a sexual predator who watched Caroline walking alone in the Porchester Road area before choosing to attack her," he said. "His actions were violent and sexually motivated. He left her to die in an alleyway, with no regard for human dignity whatsoever.

"Powell also subjected another woman to a similar sexual attack. Having met the victim, I must pay tribute to her incredible maturity and presence of mind when faced with Powell.

"She was able to persuade Powell not to continue the attack. Caroline was not so lucky, having tried to run away and fight with a man faster and stronger than her.

"Carl Powell has lied throughout, denying any responsibility.

"Several witnesses were aware they had met Caroline in the period before her death and they will undoubtedly feel that they wish they had the benefit of hindsight. However, they should not feel that they failed in any way.

"In the hour before she died, Caroline flagged down a marked police car, with two Special Constables inside. She asked them for a lift home, something that many officers experience while on patrol. "After talking to her, making an assessment and knowing their vehicle should only be used for a policing purpose; they gave her the correct advice and sent her on her way. There is no criticism of their actions from myself, their colleagues, or Caroline's family.

"The Independent Police Complaints Commission was asked to look into the actions of these two officers, and at their request an internal review was conducted, which subsequently exonerated the officers from any wrongdoing.

"Caroline also attempted to flag down a passing bus and got in and out of a taxi. Each one of these witnesses has no doubt questioned their own actions after finding out what happened.

"Only Powell treated Caroline with contempt and he should be the only one left to regret his actions. Thankfully he has a long time in prison to do so.

A WOMAN who survived an attack by murderer Carl Powell just weeks after he killed Caroline Coyne said she had a lucky escape.

She wiped away tears in court as she saw Powell being sentenced yesterday.

CCTV of Powell during the second incident matched footage taken at the time of Ms Coyne's murder.

The court heard Powell attacked the second woman as she walked alone along Carlton Road out of the city. Powell grabbed her and dragged her into the grounds of the City College site.

She said: "I had no idea what was going to happen. I was really scared. He pushed me down behind a wall. It was very dark.

"I thought that was it. I am a Christian. I just prayed to God, saying 'please God... please'."

She said his hands were tight around her neck and she couldn't breathe. "I kept asking him why he was doing this and tried to keep him talking. I told him I would be quiet, and that I wouldn't cause any problems.

"I cried at first, but then decided that I had to act like he hadn't done anything wrong. I apologised for crying and told him that he had given me a fright. He actually apologised to me. I didn't freak out, but managed to persuade him to carry on walking up Carlton Road. I tried to convince him I liked him, by being nice. He kept trying to kiss me and do other things but I told him that my mum was waiting for me and that we could meet up another day.

"I didn't want to make him hostile again and kept trying to convince him to keep on walking up the road. I believe he was fully convinced I wasn't bothered by what he had done. He figured we were getting on. He seemed convinced that I wouldn't report him.

"I told him we would do the things he wanted to do another day, and gave him my phone number to make him believe it. He eventually let me go. The whole thing lasted about 45 minutes, maybe longer.

"I had to keep my wits about me and got home to my mum and told her what had happened. If he had held my neck any longer, I dread to think what would have happened, as I couldn't breathe."

NOTTS County are giving key trio Alan Judge, Neal Bishop and Dean Leacock intensive treatment to try and get them fit to face Coventry City.

None of the three were in the Magpies squad in their 4-1 defeat to Sheffield United in second round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy at Meadow Lane on Wednesday night.

And boss Keith Curle said they were not rested – but were injured.

Judge limped off against Carlisle United last Saturday, after being kneed in the backside, Leacock also picked up a knock at Brunton Park and Bishop has a rib problem.

They have all played every game in League One so far this season, helping Notts up to fifth place after 12 games, but Curle is sweating on their fitness for the trip to the Ricoh Arena.

"I have no idea if they will be back," he said.

"There was not one player rested for the Trophy tie. Everybody that didn't play was due to injury.

"They will be getting intensive treatment morning and afternoon."

Curle says he won't lose any sleep about exiting the JPT, but is still demanding a response from his players tomorrow, after their biggest defeat of the season.

"I don't lose sleep over football," he added.

"I don't get too elated when we win or down when we lose because I have got a big picture of where we can finish at the end of the season.

"But we have to get this result out of our systems now."

Curle pulled no punches after his side was put to the sword by the Blades.

"If you don't defend your 18-yard box and your goalmouth you will be punished," he said.

"Our defending was poor.

"Whether it's a competition some of the players didn't want to be in I don't know.

"It looked like it from some of our defending because they weren't defending for their lives.

"I wanted to be in it. I had a great time going to Wembley when I was a player.

"It's a fantastic place to be and some of these lads have probably only seen it on the tv.

"The only positive was Jordan Stewart's goal."

CAROLINE Coyne's son Cameron was too young to remember much about the mother who was brutally taken away from him when he was still a baby.

He was just five months old when Caroline, 28, was murdered by "sexual predator" Carl Powell as she walked home from a party.

The events of the early hours of July 23 last year have already been keenly felt by Caroline's other son, Ethan, eight, however. And Caroline's mum, Mandy Coyne, said the life term handed down to her daughter's killer yesterday would make it just a little easier for the family.

"He keeps asking questions about what happened and who did this," she said.

"While it doesn't change the fact she can't see them grow up, it will be slightly easier now to explain to him that the person who did this has been sent to prison."

Caroline was targeted by Powell as she walked back from a family party in Arnold. It's still not known why the 28-year-old, who lived in Bakewell Drive, Top Valley, was going on a route which took her through Mapperley and Thorneywood on her way home.

She left the party, in Roundwood Road, Arnold, with her half-sister Rhiann, now 18, at about 11pm on July 22. The pair walked the short distance to Caroline's stepdad Jason Stansfield's house in Arnot Hill Road just before midnight, but she did not go inside.

Mr Stansfield, 42, recalled: "I could hear them halfway down the street, they were making so much noise. They were both loud.

"I met them in the back garden. I went to give Caroline a hug and she just kind of wriggled out and ran off out the back garden.

"I didn't get any other calls that night asking where she was. The next day, at a restaurant booking in town I'd made to celebrate Rhiann's birthday, Caroline didn't turn up. That night, I got a call from Mandy saying Caroline was dead."

Caroline worked as a care assistant for West Bridgford-based MGB Care Services Ltd. Her role was to help look after adults with learning disabilities and challenging behaviour at the company's Burlington Villa care home, off Mansfield Road, in Sherwood, and the Ash Villa home in Musters Road, West Bridgford.

Mr Stansfield helped bring Caroline up while in a relationship with her mother. He and Mandy had two children together, Jensen and Rhiann, who live with Mr Stansfield.

"Caroline was a sweet, loving and caring young woman who was six years into a relationship with her partner, Nick," Mr Stansfield said.

"Everyone who met Caroline could not help have their spirits lifted by her. She always had a smile and always had time for other people. This was especially true for the residents she looked after at the care home where she worked.

"Her two boys have not only lost their mother, but each other, as Ethan has gone to live with his natural father, James, in Derbyshire and Cameron – who will never have a memory of his mother because he is too young – now lives with his father, Nick, in Leicestershire.

"So Caroline's abrupt and tragic end has not only torn our family apart metaphorically, but quite literally as well.

"The family is, of course, pleased that the trial has had a positive outcome and Carl Powell has been found guilty of Caroline's murder. Powell is clearly a significant danger to women."

Caroline had taken a taxi for part of her journey but then decided to walk. At one point, she got into a police car with two Special Constables, but – after a computer check was carried out – she was told they were "not a taxi service".

As she walked down Porchester Road in Mapperley, Powell was walking near her – and he fatally attacked her in Thorneywood Mount, Thorneywood.

Mr Stansfield said: "During the trial, we learnt that Caroline flagged down a police car. Two Special Constables were asked by Caroline if they could take her home. After a check on the police computer showed no trace of Caroline, they told her to either walk home or get a taxi. So the police, in our opinion, failed Caroline and their advice to take a taxi put her right in the path of her murderer.

"The taxi driver was trying to help but didn't get an address, so wasn't able to drive her to a place of safety."

Powell, 24, of Carlton, was given a life sentence – with a minimum of 20 years before parole – at Nottingham Crown Court yesterday, after being found guilty of murder. A month after killing Caroline, he followed a second woman, now aged 22, who had been walking home alone. He was jailed for four years concurrently for falsely imprisoning her with intent to commit a sexual offence and 18 months concurrently for sexual assault.

After the jury convicted him unanimously on all three charges, the judge, Mr Justice Flaux, told him Caroline Coyne was an "innocent stranger" who had the misfortune to encounter him by chance as she made her way home.

"You rapidly appreciated that she was very drunk indeed, vulnerable and alone," he said. "Whatever you said or did to her at the Punch Bowl pub [Mapperley], she was frightened and distressed enough to run away from you but you followed her, effectively stalking her."

The judge said Powell pulled up his hood, donned a pair of gloves and followed Caroline into the alleyway, where he attacked her and savagely bludgeoned her around the head. He told Powell: "Only you know what happened in that dark alleyway at the side of Thorneywood Mount but it's clear that you cornered and attacked her."

He added that Powell had left Caroline "to die alone and defenceless".

THE blue touch paper may not yet have been lit on Nottingham Forest's season, but Greg Halford is confident there will be some pretty spectacular fireworks when it does properly flame into life.

Having spent time at eight different clubs, the well-travelled defender has amassed more knowledge than the average 27-year-old player.

And, when he assesses the mixed start to Nottingham Forest's season, plain speaking Halford admits there is plenty of room for improvement.

But he is also firmly convinced that this rejuvenation will happen – and in the not too distant future.

Because, more specifically, he believes Forest have assembled a squad with more explosive power than any other in the Championship.

A tally of 11 goals from ten games so far might not suggest a side packed full of attacking talent.

But, with the likes of Dexter Blackstock, Simon Cox, Billy Sharp, Lewis McGugan, Andy Reid, Henri Lansbury and Jermaine Jenas in the squad, Halford is certain the Reds will soon be blowing away the opposition.

"We have brought in a lot of players, we have brought in almost a whole new team," he said. "But now we have the firepower to challenge anyone in the league.

"In fact, we have the firepower to test a lot of teams in the Premier League, on our day.

"It is just a matter of time until that comes. People just need time to get their confidence going.

"Take Billy, for example. He has had chances, but has not put one away.

"But when he does get a goal, he will be on top of the world. Then I know there will be more to come from him."

For Halford, it is not merely about missed chances however – but also creating them in the first instance.

And that is something else he hopes will fall into place given time, as an almost entirely new side comes together.

"It is just about how we build; how we create chances," he said.

"That final pass can be the hardest thing in football. As soon as we find the same wavelength, we know we will be a hard team to beat.

"We don't feel that is very far away at all. We are working hard in training, we are still learning about each other as a team.

"But it will happen sooner rather than later. When it does, we know we will be very hard to beat.

"As soon as we start putting chances away, we will be up there."

Forest's start to the campaign has hardly been a disaster, with O'Driscoll's side only having lost twice in the Championship.

And they go into the game against table-topping Cardiff on the back of two much improved displays.

Forest were unlucky not to beat Blackburn, who held on for a 0-0 draw at the City Ground, before the Reds then secured a 1-0 win at Peterborough that could easily have been more emphatic.

As a defender, the thing that pleased Halford most was consecutive clean sheets.

And he believes that defensive resolve will be key against the Championship's second top scorers.

"A clean sheet is always the start. You try to keep things tight at the back, then you build from there," he said. "Hopefully we can stop Cardiff, then we have to rely on other people to go and win us the game.

"Our first, main job as a back four, is to keep Cardiff out. They are the top scorers in the league and we know that might be tough.

"But we are at home and we are going into the game with confidence and momentum.

"The Blackburn one felt like it had been the first one in a while, to be honest. We were over the moon when we got it.

"I don't think we are scoring as much as we would like as a team.

"But, as a back four, keeping a clean sheet is our first job. We were delighted to keep a couple of them.

"We could have beaten Peterborough by four or five goals. But, in the final ten minutes, they piled the pressure on.

"To keep a clean sheet after the ten minutes of pressure we had was very pleasing.

"It was a win that we deserved, but it was also one that we needed.

"That was very important for us, to get moving in the right direction again.

"We went into the first international break on a high, but we seemed to come back from it on a low.

"Hopefully that will not happen to us again, because we lost a lot of ground in the league."

Having dominated against one of the big boys, in Blackburn, in their last outing at the City Ground, can they be confident of their chances against the side topping the table?

"Absolutely," said Halford. "We have to consider ourselves as one of the big boys as well. We cannot be afraid of anyone in this division.

"Blackburn surprised me in the way that they played. They came here with the idea of getting a draw.

"I cannot remember them having a genuine effort on goal. We bossed the game and we should have come out of it with three points.

"That is 100% a sign that other sides are respecting us. In the first few games, we passed the opposition off the pitch. Teams will recognise that we're going to have the majority of possession in a lot of games.

"As long as they are solid, they know we are going to have to make decisions; find a way to break them down.

"We are all gelling as a team, we are still getting to know each other and how we play.

"Hopefully we can pick up as many points as possible between now and Christmas because I have no doubt that, beyond Christmas, we will kick on, we will find our feet properly.

"And, when things fall into place for us, we will be a challenge for anyone."

Tomorrow, Forest will be hoping to snuff out Cardiff – and, by doing so, spark their own promotion push into life for the first time.

POLICE are searching a landfill site in Newark for the head and arms of a Notts murder victim.

The decapitated body of Kevin Kennedy, 50, was found on overgrown land between Rossington Road and Burrows Court, Sneinton, on August 8.

The murder inquiry now centres on Staple Quarry landfill site, at Grange Lane, Newark, where refuse lorries take rubbish from kerbside collections and commercial and industrial waste.

The search, which began earlier this week, is expected to last a month.

A police spokesperson said: "We can confirm that a search of an area at a landfill site in Newark is due to be carried out over the next four weeks.

"The search is being made in connection with the murder of Kevin Kennedy. Mr Kennedy's body was found on land between Rossington Road and Burrows Court, in Sneinton, on Wednesday, August, 8 2012, and was missing body parts, namely his head and arms.

"A number of searches and enquiries are ongoing to locate them and this includes the search of the landfill site.

"Anyone with any information, or who believes they may have found body parts, is asked to contact Nottinghamshire Police on 101."

The tip is owned and operated by FCC Environment.

The company said: "Staple Quarry landfill site accepts residual household, commercial and industrial waste from Nottinghamshire and neighbouring counties, processing approximately 200,000 tonnes per year."

Police declined to comment on the theory that the body parts may have been dumped in a bin in Sneinton, which had then been taken to the tip.

A post-mortem examination into the cause of Kennedy's death was inconclusive.

Peter Healy, 50, of Lord Nelson Street, Sneinton, has been charged with murdering Mr Kennedy, causing actual bodily harm and theft.

Tara Swift, 40, of West Street, in Leicester, has also been charged with Mr Kennedy's murder.

They are next due to appear in court in January.

THE stepfather of murdered mother-of-two Caroline Coyne says he hopes her killer will never be let out of prison.

As 24-year-old Carl Powell was jailed for life – with a minimum of 20 years – for murdering Caroline as she walked home from a party, her stepdad Jason Stansfield said he was "relieved" at the guilty verdict at Nottingham Crown Court.

But he said: "I hope he stays in jail for the rest of his life.

"The thought of him ever being out again fills me with horror."

Powell had stalked Caroline as she walked back from a family party in Arnold.

He attacked her in Thorneywood, striking her repeatedly on her head, face and upper body.

Caroline, 28, of Top Valley, had tried to flag down cars and was caught on CCTV deliberately stepping in front of a bus during her walk, but no-one stopped to help her.

Mr Stansfield now wants transport organisations and members of the public to sign up to a new code obliging them to help people at risk of crime.

He said "Caroline's Code" could help save lives in the future.

Caroline had two sons, Ethan, now eight, and Cameron, one.

Caroline's mother, Mandy Coyne, said: "Caroline was a beautiful little girl, who grew into a strong-willed and determined young woman.

"She lived for her two sons, and played a big part in our family life.

"Her murder has devastated everyone and it has been so difficult for us all, and especially her boys to understand why their mummy isn't around."

Just a month after the attack on Caroline, Powell targeted a 21-year-old woman who was walking home alone along Carlton Road.

He put his hands around her throat and dragged her into the grounds of the City College site before assaulting her.

Yesterday he was also found guilty of false imprisonment with intent to commit a sexual offence, and sexual assault, in relation to that attack, and given concurrent sentences of four years, and 18 months, respectively.

SEAN O'Driscoll today said Nottingham Forest will not make any further new signings before January – and revealed the club are still to make a decision over the future of Jermaine Jenas.

The Reds have been linked with loan moves for several players, including Jermaine Pennant and Connor Wickham, over the past few weeks.

But manager O'Driscoll says he does not want to add a sixth loan signing to his squad – and said he is as yet unsure as to whether the club will even look to extend Jenas's stay at the City Ground.

The midfielder's second spell with Forest is due to officially end in just over a week, after the game at Barnsley.

"I have five loan players and I do not want six, because I can't use them. It would be pointless," said O'Driscoll.

"Unless we lose one or two loan players or we have a definite idea that the loan players we do have are not going to be featuring for whatever reason, then there is no point in bringing in another.

"When you can only have five in your squad (on a match day), then there is not much point in bringing in another one.

"The main point of signing a loan player is because they are not getting games at their club.

"It might change, but at the minute, the only way we can bring in another player is on loan or if they are out of contract. And I am reluctant to bring in another loan player."

And O'Driscoll said Forest are still to consider the future of Jenas, who currently has a slight back injury.

"He has played a bit part in the games and we have missed him for the best part of two weeks with injury," he said.

"I don't want to fill the team with loan players and he is something we have to look at.

"Is he an asset to the squad or can we get somebody that we need or may improve us?

"We have to look at that (situation) as and when it occurs."

Earlier this week, winger Pennant – who began his career at Notts County – insisted he had rejected Forest in favour of a loan move to Wolves.

"It is news to me. I was surprised to hear that," said O'Driscoll. "I think he was made available by Stoke. But we did not make an enquiry or phone call about it. Or I didn't, anyway.

"I am not sure how he can turn us down when we did not make an offer."

A MOORGREEN woman who dedicated her life to helping others has died.

Mother-of-two Juliet Evans lost her battle against cancer on October 9, aged 76.

A funeral service for Mrs Evans took place at St Mary's Church, Greasley, on Thursday.

Son Nigel Evans, 42, of Stoke-on-Trent, who gave the eulogy at the service, said: "We are proud of mum and all that she has achieved, for all the lives that she has touched through her work as a nurse, her faith, her work in Mothers' Union and through her generous friendship and support of others."

Mrs Evans, nee Church, was born in Chiswick on July 2, 1936.

For a short while during the Second World War she was evacuated to Gloucestershire with her mother but soon returned to London – where she and her mum were buried under the family's grand piano when a doodlebug flying bomb hit the street in which she lived.

In 1956, Mrs Evans began her training as a nurse at St Thomas Hospital, London, and qualified in 1960.

After completing her training, she trained as a midwife before deciding to move to Australia and become a nurse in Sydney.

In 1967, she had accepted a post to train in tropical diseases in Papua New Guinea but before going, decided to catch the boat home.

It was on this boat that she met her future husband, Alan Evans.

Nigel said: "She gave up the opportunity to go to Papua New Guinea and instead settled in Moorgreen."

The couple married in Sussex in 1968 and moved into a house in Moorgreen the same year.

After moving to the village, Mrs Evans became a Tawny Owl in the local Brownie pack and did meals on wheels.

She was also worshipped at St Mary's Church, Greasley, becoming a member of the choir and taking up committee roles.

Mrs Evans was a member of Greasley Players and of the Mothers' Union, for which she was Newstead Deanery leader.

After having her daughter, Roz, in 1975, she went back to work doing night duty at Nottingham General Hospital, before becoming a school nurse based at Eastwood Clinic and finally at Hucknall Health Centre. She retired 16 years ago.

Nigel said: "She will be missed so much by us all but our lives are the richer for having known her."