A SILVER surfer from West Bridgford is believed to be one of the oldest online shoppers in the country.

Arthur Lloyd, 92, of Abbey Road has been ordering his shopping online for the last eight years and has just been named as Asda's oldest online customer.

The retired estate agent took to the world wide web after finding it easier than going to his local shop following the development of sight problems.

He said: "I started to lose my sight about eight years ago and that is when I decided to try shopping online.

"If I went to the supermarket I would not be able to read the labels on the tins.

"I use a magnifying screen so I can see the things on the internet.

"Being able to shop online gives me a great sense of independence which is very important for me.

"I have always been into technology and I had one of the first home computers, the ZX81.

"I was surprised to hear that I am the oldest online Asda shopper in the country.

"More people should try it because it is really helpful and simple."

Mr Lloyd orders his shopping every Sunday without fail and spends many hours searching for different things online.

Son David Lloyd, who lives in The Park, added: "My dad has been into computers since the 1980s.

"He does everything online from shopping to internet banking and he is even signed up to Twitter.

"Ordering shopping online is much easier for him and he has been doing it for so long that all the delivery people know who he is.

"Anyone that struggles with their mobility should really consider doing their shopping online because it is really easy and can save a lot of problems."

To reward Mr Lloyd's loyalty to Asda, the supermarket surprised him with a free shop.

General manager Richard Jackson from the Asda Home Shopping Centre in Bulwell, said: "Our home shopping service is a great way for customers to receive their shopping at a time that suits them.

"Arthur is our oldest online customer and he really shows how quick and easy it is to order online.

"We are so grateful for his loyalty and we hope he continues to use our service."

NOTTS County boss Chris Kiwomya has revealed he would love to sign the man who inflicted a Good Friday defeat on his side – Bradley Wright-Phillips.

The striker is a free agent in the summer and was offered to the Magpies earlier this season by his club Charlton Athletic in a player-swap deal for Alan Judge, but they turned it down.

But Kiwomya says he spoke to Wright-Phillips, who is on loan with Brentford, before Notts lost 2-1 at Griffin Park.

"I spoke to him before the game quickly and he said he'd be interested, but I'm not sure we could afford him," Kiwomya told the Post.

"I know his dad Ian (Wright) pretty well so I'll speak to him and we'll see. He'll have a lot of good teams after him."

Wright-Phillips scored the winner for the Bees in the second half, after Magpies' goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski gifted them a goal in the first half.

The Pole let in a tame shot from Bees midfielder Toumani Diagouraga on 21 minutes and his confidence looked shattered after that.

He was replaced by 39-year-old goalkeeper Kevin Pilkington in the second half, who was beaten by Wright-Phillips in his 150th game for the club.

Kiwomya made it clear Bialkowski was subbed because he was ill, not because of his howler.

"He's been very ill and it was touch and go whether he was going to play yesterday morning," he said. "He wanted to give it a go, but we could see he wasn't quite right so we took him off. He's been brilliant for us so we've got no problem with Bart."

BILLY Sharp hopes to bag some crucial goals for Nottingham Forest between now and the end of the season – so he has a tough decision to make in the summer.

The striker has set his sights on firing the Reds into the Premier League, to give himself a chance of proving himself in the top flight next season.

Sharp, currently on loan from Southampton, admits he would consider a permanent switch to the City Ground.

But he says he is focused on playing his part in the play-off challenge under Billy Davies, so that he has the option of plying his trade with two different Premier League clubs.

"It would be nice if the club I am contracted to were in the Premier League and the club I have been on loan to were as well," said Sharp, who will be part of the squad that faces Brighton in a crucial promotion clash this afternoon.

"That would put me in a strong position at the end of the season. That is why I wanted to sign for the full season. I wanted to be settled. I wanted to help the club achieve something special.

"That has given me a good feeling – and hopefully we can achieve something.

"I have been on loan for the season and I have played under three managers. So there has been a certain amount of uncertainty.

"I actually bumped into the Southampton chairman when I was away last weekend. It was the first time I had spoken to him since I had been here, which was quite funny.

"I have seen rumours in the media that I am going to sign permanently. I have spoken to the gaffer about one or two things.

"But at the minute, I just want to do my job to the best of my ability to help Forest get in a stronger position and, hopefully, to get promotion."

Sharp believes he has the quality to ply his trade at the highest level – but his immediate aim is to force his way back into the starting line-up at Forest, after finding himself on the bench amid the six-match winning streak.

"I still believe now that I could do a job in the Premier League," he said. "But it is about people believing in you. Not enough people believed in me at Southampton.

"But people believed in me here, which is why I am here. I like to play as much as anyone else, so it has been frustrating recently. But there is no point sulking. If you sulk, you are not going to help yourself or the team.

"I have to get my head down and work hard. If I can do that, perhaps I can score an important goal between now and the end of the season that can help this squad achieve something special."

TRAVELLERS have set up camp at a second site in Notts.

A group of around 12 caravans are at a car park at the junction of Alfreton Road and Boden Street in Radford.

It follows the appearance earlier this week of five caravans by the Gresham Sports Park pitches, off Wilford Lane in West Bridgford.

People living near the Radford site said the travellers had appeared a few days ago.

They said they were not concerned by the camp but were worried the travellers could be at risk because they thought there might be asbestos in nearby derelict buildings.

Mick Howden, 84, a retired joiner living in Clifford Street opposite the camp, said: "I'm not bothered by it at all – although I know there are people who are concerned about it.

"They can have a bad name and there's the anti-social thing but they are not affecting me. I've only really seen one person moving around.

"They seem very quiet. I think travellers get branded with a reputation unfairly."

A woman living in Boden Street, who did not want to be named, said: "They're not troubling us, we are just worried about them going into the buildings."

One of the travellers told the Post they had come from Strasbourg in France.

One of the group, who didn't wish to be named, said: "It's not a problem, we're only planning on staying here for five or six days and then we'll look at moving on."

Upon hearing that the building near the site might contain asbestos, he said: "It's fine – the children will be careful and we'll keep an eye on them. As I said, it's not a problem."

The car park is run by Total Car Park Limited on the former site of several buildings which made up the Forest Mills complex and have recently been demolished.

A handful of other empty buildings are still on the site.

Another person living nearby, who also did not want to be named, said: "We don't bother them and they don't bother us.

"The police did go on there yesterday and spoke to them.

"The car park is not really being used – I'd imagine some people might be scared off."

No-one from Total Car Park could be reached for comment yesterday.

At the West Bridgford site, Rushcliffe Borough Council has closed the pitches until further notice.

The travellers there have said they will move on over the weekend.

The Government yesterday unveiled changes meant to make it easier for councils to move on travellers who occupy sights illegally.

Local authorities are currently restricted in taking immediate action against caravans used as a main residence which they think are in breach of planning rules.

But the Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles said these regulations will be scrapped.

A NOTTINGHAM Forest fanatic is set to miss his first match in 40 years.

Stuart Astill has followed the Reds home and away for 1,786 consecutive games, but will miss Monday's away trip to Burnley after being hospitalised.

The Sandiacre pensioner will be tuning in to the game on the radio in hospital, rather than travelling to Turf Moor, after having an operation to remove part of one of his toes.

Mr Astill, 67, said: "This is my first missed game for 40 years. The last time was in 1973 – it was at home to Preston and I was an usher at a wedding. I'll miss the atmosphere. I knew my run would end at some point but I didn't expect it to be now.

"It's going to be really unusual listening to the game on the radio after how many games I have been to."

Mr Astill first started going to football matches with his dad – a Derby County supporter – when he was 11. In November, 1956, he went to his first Forest game, against Middlesbrough, who won 4-0 after Brian Clough scored a hat-trick.

Since the 1960s, Mr Astill has missed just two games and even watches the youth teams play. But the diabetic had to be admitted to hospital last week after his foot became infected.

Although he is still in hospital, doctors have allowed him to go to today's home game against Brighton.

"I've had my surgery," he said. "I've had half my toe cut off. Hopefully it will stop the infection."

NOTTINGHAM Forest made only one change to their starting line-up as they looked for a club record seventh consecutive victory.

Sam Hutchinson was drafted in at right back as the Reds faced promotion rivals Brighton at the City Ground.

The on-loan Chelsea man took the place of Gonzalo Jara who only returned from international duty with Chile late in the week and did not return to training with the Reds until Friday.

Forest were otherwise unchanged, with Henri Lansbury recovering from a calf and shin problem he had collected while on duty with the England under-21 squad.

THERE was to be no club record seventh straight win for Nottingham Forest, but Henri Lansbury's injury time strike did earn them a dramatic draw against promotion rivals Brighton.

The midfielder struck in the 91st minute – albeit with the aid of a gaffe from keeper Casper Ankergren – to secure a 2-2 draw at the City Ground.

It had seemed that the Seagulls would take all three points after Will Buckley had netted in the 85th minute to put the visitors ahead for the second time in the game.

That goal came barely two minutes after Lewis McGugan had came off the bench to score for the fourth game in a row, to cancel out a strike from Leonardo Ulloa.

Forest were not able to secure what would have been a club record equalling seventh straight win. But Lansbury's goal could still prove to be a vital moment for the Reds, as they avoided seeing Brighton climb above them in the table.

Forest made only one change to their starting line-up as Sam Hutchinson was drafted in at right back.

The on-loan Chelsea man took the place of Gonzalo Jara who only returned from international duty with Chile late in the week and did not return to training with the Reds until Friday.

Forest were otherwise unchanged, with Henri Lansbury recovering from a calf and shin problem he had collected while on duty with the England under-21 squad.

Lansbury, in fact, almost made an early impact, with the former Arsenal man producing a smart turn to carve out the room to cross dangerously into the centre, where only a strong header from Matthew Upson denied Forest a chance.

The midfielder then forced a smart save from Casper Ankergren following a one-two with Simon Cox, driving a powerful, rising shot that the keeper did well to parry.

Despite a bobbly pitch, Forest were playing some flowing football, at one stage stringing together more than 20 passes before possession was finally lost on the edge of the Brighton box as Radi Majewski attempted a killer ball.

Hutchinson was getting a lot of the ball down the right and one cross from him gave Cox the chance to steer a header towards goal, although the striker was too far out to properly trouble the keeper.

Adlene Guedioura then let fly with a trademark effort from the edge of the box, which Ankergren watched carefully as it flew wide of the post.

Forest were building pressure on the Brighton goal, with Henderson testing Ankergren's alertness with an angled shot, following good chest control on the edge of the box.

While Reid might have done better when Cox fed him with a clever pass but, as he angled towards goal, the Irishman lifted a cross-shot over the bar, while seemingly in two minds over whether to cross or shoot.

A sloppy ball from Guedioura led to a clumsy, rugged challenge from Danny Collins on Leonardo Ulloa, with the Forest skipper picking up a deserved booking as a result, in the 18th minute.

Forest were agonisingly close to taking the lead in the 31st minute when Majewski saw an angled shot well blocked by Ankergren, with Henderson then seeing his follow-up effort cleared off the line, amid a melee of bodies.

And, on the stroke of half time, Cox was unlucky not to see the ball break for him in front of goal, after Ankergren had only parried a shot from Henderson. The ball rolled right across goal, just out of reach of the striker.

There was still time for a moment of controversy as Kazenga LuaLua escaped with a yellow card following a clash with Hutchinson, which saw him angrily thrust his shoulder and head into the body of the Forest man, amid a confrontation on the touchline.

LuaLua was shown a yellow card by referee Linington, but the Forest fans were baying for a red.

LuaLua did not emerge for the second half, with Brighton boss Poyet perhaps wisely opting to bring on Dean Hammond in his place.

It was the visitors who might have broken the deadlock when Ulloa found space to shoot on the edge of the box – and bent a decent effort only narrowly wide of the post.

But a flowing move from Forest culminated in Majewski feeding Reid on the edge of the box, with the Irishman lifting a shot over.

Cohen was furious when a free kick was awarded against him after he had cleanly won the ball from Will Buckley.

And the free kick proved to be a dangerous one, with Darlow parrying a cross-shot from Andrea Orlandi and Collins brilliantly blocking a follow up shot from Ulloa.

But the Argentine striker was not to be thwarted and, from the resulting corner, he fired a shot through a busy penalty area that, with the aid of a deflection, found the bottom corner of the net.

Karl Darlow made a truly outstanding save to deny Upson a goal, after he flicked a header towards goal as he attacked a wayward shot from Hammond.

Forest then made a change as Jara came on in place of Hutchinson, who had covered a lot of ground down the right, while Lewis McGugan then came on to replace Majewski, as Forest looked for a goal to get themselves back into the game.

A McGugan corner found Cox at the near post, but the striker's flicked shot was always flying high and wide.

A superb first-time pass from Guedioura gave Reid the chance to cross from the left and pick out Henderson at the far post, where the striker's driven shot was well saved.

Reid was rather ambitious as he let fly with a 30-yard shot, but it did not dip too far high of the target.

But it was McGugan who was to have an impact yet again as he latched onto a pass from Reid, powered into the box and fired a shot across goal that, with a the aid of a slight deflection, found the back of the net.

Forest were level for barely two minutes however, as Brighton took the lead for the second time in the 85th minute. When the ball fell to Ulloa in the box he kept his composure to simply square the ball for Buckley, who drove an emphatic finish beyond Darlow.

But there was still more drama to come as, fed by Reid, Lansbury smashed a low shot from the edge of the box that, somehow, Ankergren allowed to slip under his body and into the back of the net.

Forest: Darlow, Hutchinson (Jara 68), Ward, Collins, Cohen, Guedioura (Sharp 79), Lansbury, Majewski (McGugan 73), Reid, Cox, Henderson. Subs: Evmitov, Moussi, Halford, Blackstock.

Brighton: Ankergren, Greer, Crofts, Orlandi, Calderon, ulloa. Upson, Lopez, LuaLua (Hammond 45), Bridge, Buckley. Subs: Brezovan, Dunk, Vincente, Dicker, Painter, Barker.

Referee: James Linington, Newport

Attendance: 28,124 (2,771 away)

DEFENDING play-off champions Nottingham Panthers will have to claw back a two-goal deficit against Fife Flyers at the NIC on Sunday (4pm) after going down  4-2 to the outsiders in the first leg in Kirkcaldy – and they will have an extra 68 seconds to try to complete their comeback.

The game ended in farcical circumstances  when,  with league winners Panthers battling back to 4-2 after trailing 4-0 going into the last period, a sheet of glass at the visitors' end smashed.

After a lengthy hold-up, referee Rab Cowan decided to end the game those 68 seconds short of the final hooter and they will be played in Nottingham before the second leg starts.

Off-colour Panthers were 3-0 down with less than 13 minutes gone – Casey Haines' early opener (1.39) being added to by Bobby Chaumont (10.37) and Josh Turnbull (12.52) – prompting an early time-out from coach Corey Neilson.

Although Panthers improved, they went further behind in the 26th minute through Kris Hogg, leaving themselves with a mountain to climb as they faced a first defeat in Scotland this season.

But their strength in depth proved crucial in the final period as Flyers tired and were forced into taking penalties.

In the 46th minute, David Ling blasted Panthers' first while they had a two-man advantage and then the former NHLer floated a perfect pass for Brandon Benedict for a vital second goal on the power-play.

 
But as Neilson said, as he contemplated the long journey home: "If we get going straight from the off on Sunday and play with intensity from start to finish we can complete the comeback."

Other results: Belfast 3, Edinburgh 1; Braehead 7, Cardiff 5; Coventry 2, Sheffield 3.

BILLY Davies today praised the courage and character of his Nottingham Forest side, after seeing them fight back from behind twice to preserve their unbeaten start since he returned as manager.

The Reds were denied a club record equalling seventh straight win by promotion rivals Brighton – but did manage to secure a 2-2 draw thanks to an injury time strike from Henri Lansbury.

Davies felt it was important to retain their eight-match unbeaten record, particularly against one of their immediate rivals in the race for a top six finish.

And he was particularly impressed with the determination shown by his players amid a performance that also saw Lewis McGugan come off the bench to score for a fourth game running.

"This team never gives in and there is great credit to every one of them for their attitude, commitment and application. They drove on right to the end," he said.

"It is important to remain unbeaten, particularly when we were up against one of the teams around us. I am very pleased with the effort we have seen, after the international break.

"We had to change the right back, purely because Gonzalo Jara had travelled back from Chile. Sam Hutchinson had not played in six months, but did particularly well, considering that.

"I have to say I am delighted with the effort we showed and with our courage. This team does not give in and that is the most pleasing thing you can say, as a manager.

"I thought they showed character to keep going and, even at 2-2, we tried to win the game."

Forest dominated the first half, but could not find a way to make the breakthrough.

"If it was a boxing match, it would have been stopped at half time. In the first half, we were excellent. We just did not quite get the breaks," said Davies.

"We had a lot of shots and a few good chances and we should have come in at half time at least a goal or two up.

"I am told their player (LuaLua) was very fortunate to stay on the pitch, after he had raised his hands – although I have not seen it.

"We did not start well in the second half, we gave them a ten minute period were they got on top.  But they got the breaks that we had needed in the first half. There was a Chris Cohen tackle, which they got a very dubious free kick from. They then win a corner from that, which they score from.

 "I did enjoy the game, it was very exciting. Brighton are one of the better sides in the division and to do to them what we did in the first 45 minutes was very pleasing.

"The game should have been finished by half time. But one or two breaks went their way – although we did get a break of our own for the second goal. All in all, a point is a point."

Davies revealed that midfielder Adlene Guedioura had been taken to hospital with blurred vision after the game, after being caught by a swinging arm from Dean Hammond.

"Guedioura has gone to hospital with an injury. I am told he has blurred vision," said Davies. "It was when he was breaking forward, he took a blow to the head."

A STATUE of Notts County legends Jimmy Sirrel and Jack Wheeler won't be built as soon as originally planned.

It was hoped £75,000 could be raised by the end of the 2012-13 season so the statue could be unveiled in September.

But with less than two months of the season left, the total stands at nearly £40,000.

Iris Smith, vice-chairman of the fund board and chairman of Notts County Supporters' Club, said: "It won't happen by September, when you consider where we are with fundraising.

"Even when we have the funds, we then have to apply for planning permission and all that surrounds that.

"But it is going to happen, we are determined about that.

"Jimmy and Jack are club legends, so we are determined to honour them with this statue at Meadow Lane."

The fund was set up by fans Darren Patterson and John Semak in the summer of 2010.

The September 25 unveiling had been planned to coincide with the fifth anniversary of Mr Sirrel's death.

Mrs Smith was unable to say what date they were now targeting but added there were plans for fundraising events, including a summer bike ride.

The statue would be built outside the club's Meadow Lane stadium in one of three places – on the corner of Meadow Lane and County Road, by the stadium's main gates or outside the club shop.

Mrs Smith said: "The fans have been fully behind this.

"It's a great idea. There is a statue for Brian Clough in the city. We want one for Jimmy and Jack."

The duo masterminded Notts County's rise to the top flight of English football in the 1970s and 1980s.

So far, cash has come in from many sources, including 826 fans paying £25 to have their names on the plinth.

There are 1,000 spaces available.

Sculptor Andrew Edwards has also designed 150 miniature versions of the statue, selling them for £150.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, a friend of Mr Sirrel, donated £3,000.

Notts County fan Alan Taylor, 70, said: "It would have been nice to have been able to unveil it in September but, as long as we get it eventually, it will be worth the wait."

SCRAP material is being recycled to help with the treatment of child cancer patients.

Wollaton Women's Institute and Playworks have teamed up to make special "wiggly bags" after an appeal from the children's oncology ward at the Queen's Medical Centre.

Every child needs one of these bags throughout their treatment – they hold the central line which is used to give medicine and blood, keeping it safe and helping to prevent infection.

Ellen Smith, resource development manager at Playworks' Scrapstore, said: "It's great that we can take companies' waste and put it to such a good cause.

"What the ladies do in making these bags is incredible and it makes a big difference to the children."

The line is inserted into a child's chests and stays in until treatment has ended, usually after 18 months.

When the line is not in use, it can be curled up into the bag, which takes the weight off it and stops it from getting tugged and dirty.

Each child has five bags and they are washed every day, so they need replacing regularly.

Eileen Kearsley and members of her WI group decided to make bags after receiving a letter from the hospital.

Mrs Kearsley, 63, from Wollaton, said: "We have made bigger bags in the past for the Breast Cancer Ward, so I knew we could do this as well. We made 100 to start with and it just went from there. Now, we have made more than 850 in almost a year."

Mrs Kearsley has been writing to other WIs in Nottingham and now has more than 40 people contributing. Bandana bib company It's A Bibble in Wollaton has donated materials and the WI also receive a large amount from Scrapstore.

Linda Percival, owner of It's A Bibble, was keen to help after hearing what the group do.

The 58-year-old said: "Its brilliant what they do and to see them make good use out of material we don't need."

Mrs Kearsley delivers the bags to children at the hospital.

She said: "It's like Christmas for them and they love the new designs that we are able to make."

Playworks run Scrapstore out of a warehouse in Alfred Street North, Nottingham, and it is full of all sorts, from plastic and paper to wool and fake fur.

Ellen Smith, 32, says that the charity, which has been running for more than 30 years, benefits everyone involved.

She added: "Companies save money by getting their waste reduced, the ladies get material for their bags and we get money to run our play schemes throughout Nottingham."

The store is holding an open day on Saturday to give people a chance to discover its treasure trove of recycled arts and crafts materials, which are helping to make a big difference all round.

RESTORATION work costing £17,000 is under way at Ruddington War Memorial following years of weather damage and wear and tear.

The memorial, in Church Street, commemorates local people who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars and there is also a listing of a death from the Korean War.

The work, which includes repairing the memorial's steps and a clean-up of the stonework, is paid for by Notts County Council and backed by ward councillor Reg Adair following an application from the parish council.

Mr Adair said: "Restoring and repairing war memorials is a key element of the work carried out by the Local Improvement Scheme and I'm delighted with the repairs that are being undertaken here in the village. Communities across Notts are proud of their memorials, as they remind them of the sacrifices of so many people from their own town or village."

Over the past five years the Local Improvement Scheme has repaired and restored more than 30 memorials at a cost of £500,000. It has also paid for the creation of new memorials at Colwick, Halam and Mansfield.

Mr Adair added: "The people of Ruddington turn out in their hundreds for Remembrance Day services and this year we will have a memorial to be proud of."

George Fearn, President of the Ruddington branch of the Royal British Legion, said he was thrilled that the memorial was being restored to its former glory and looked forward to it being unveiled.

EDWALTON residents have welcomed plans for a new £700,000 sports pavilion.

The existing pavilion, on Alford Road playing fields, is to be demolished and a new one more than double the size built after planning consent was granted.

Notts County Council and the Football Association are contributing to the cost.

The pavilion has been used by Edwalton Football Club and the wider community since 1972, when it was built.

Tony Woods, of Melton Gardens, is treasurer of Edwalton Neighbourhood Council. "I've been pushing for this for some time," he said.

"I think it will be excellent. It should be a really good facility."

"We don't want it to just be a football place, though – it needs to be a community facility."

A council report revealed that one resident of neighbouring Firs Road had objected to the plans. "Whilst they have no objection to sports being played they are concerned that the pavilion could be open until 11 at night for social events."

The report, which outlines the reasons for granting permission, also said: "The existing pavilion is considered to be at the end of its useful life.

"The showers were decommissioned in 2008, there are no female toilets and facilities for users with disabilities are poor. It is unsuitable to meet the needs of those it serves."

The new building will incorporate an entrance lobby, changing rooms, toilets, a kitchen, a function hall, a reception office, a cleaner's room and various storage areas.

Brian Griffiths' 11-year-old grandson plays football on the fields and the pensioner lives just a few minutes away in Highgrove Gardens.

He said: "I'm all for it. They tend to not use it much as it stands. What's there does not have much use – it's quite small really.

"The playing fields are extremely busy, especially at weekends. The rebuilding is a good idea – it shows there is a commitment to the playing fields from the council."

Satish Beri, 24, of Longlands Drive said: "Edwalton will only be a better place for investment like this.

"We've got a good reputation for sport here, with the golf course as well, so any improvement to that is welcome.

"I used to use the pavilion for football and it really is the centre of local Saturday and Sunday football, so it's important.

"It's got to be a good thing."

Building work will not start at the site until drainage plans and details of the roofing have been approved.

A NEW shop and restaurant could soon be built in Central Avenue, West Bridgford.

There has been talk of building the new restaurant behind the Halifax Bank for some time, leading to objections from traders and stallholders on the town's farmers' market.

Now, a full planning application for the site, which faces on to the town's Croquet Lawn, has been submitted to Rushcliffe Borough Council.

Karina Wells, of Totally Locally West Bridgford and a resident of Musters Road, said: "We just don't need another commercial unit in the town. There's talk of it being a Yo Sushi or a Patisserie Valerie and that's just not needed.

"We already have lovely restaurants like Escabeche. We don't need anymore.

"It will also encroach on the lovely Croquet Lawn and affect the farmer's market, which is added bad news.

"Why can't new big-chain businesses use some of the empty units in Melton Road, for example, if they must come to West Bridgford?"

Traders on West Bridgford Farmers' market claim the new development would lead to three stallholders being turfed off their pitches.

Linda Phillips, of community group the Friends of Bridgford Park, said: "Everybody I've spoken to is against it. They don't want a shop fronting on to the Croquet Lawn – it's a unique space.

"We've got empty shops in West Bridgford, we've got 15 cafés and restaurants, nine charity shops and ten banks and you can count on two hands the number of independent businesses we've got."

Central West Bridgford Community Association has written to councillors urging them not to grant access rights.

Jo Bounds is the co-owner of Tiffin Tea House, in Abbey Road. She said: "My main gripe is that it is a real shame that people like ourselves can't afford the rent on Central Avenue, which is excluding exciting, independent businesses. Instead, we are left with big national companies – it can lose its charm.

The plans will be decided at a meeting of the council's development control committee.

PEOPLE in Beeston took to the streets to celebrate the start of tram works in Chilwell Road.

The character of the busy shopping road will change when trams start using it after work on the next phase of the city's tram network.

Construction work has just started – so what better time to celebrate what the street has before the road is ripped up.

Hundreds turned up to a street party on Saturday – one last big bash in Chilwell Road before it changes forever.

Children enjoyed balloon modelling, Punch and Judy and a circus workshop and there was a coconut shy, hook-a-duck and tin can alley.

There was also music for the youngsters from local band Johnny and the Raindrops.

For adults, there was food and drink, as well as music on the main stage, followed by live entertainment in bars in the town centre in the evening.

And 1,000 Easter eggs were given away.

Martin Fallon, 38, who was there with his family, said: "I've lived in Beeston all of my life. It's certainly changing, which is a shame to see. It's great to come here and remember how this street has been a big part of life around here."

John Roland, 46, said: "The tram is going to be good for Beeston. But it's important we have events to get everyone together like this and celebrate what we have here."

Sarah Stewart, 35, said: "I don't want it to change but it's happening. I wanted to come here and have a good day."

Gill Thomas, 55, said: "I love events like this. Everyone is happy, though not so much with the actual idea of the tram works."

For Becky Cullen, Beeston holds many good memories and she wants to celebrate that through poetry. She was asking people passing her stall to write down what Beeston meant to them.

She will then collate the ideas and write a poem, to be published in the Beestonian free paper.

She said: "So many people have so many memories. That's what I want to be able to capture. That's why I'm here. One person has written about how the Sea Scouts gathered here. That's just the kind of thing I want, something which relates to the area."

The event was organised by Matt Goold, 39, of Meadow Lane, who wanted to showcase the shops in the road – which will stay open during the work.

Work on the new line to Chilwell, which has divided opinion in the town, will see Chilwell Road closed to through traffic for a year in total – six months each for two different sections. But it will remain open for pedestrians and escorted deliveries to businesses.

A WAR hero has appeared on the Antiques Roadshow TV programme to see the valuation of a painting depicting him firing the final shots of a brutal battle.

Former sergeant Ray Ellis, 93, of Hucknall, was the sole British survivor of the Battle of Knightsbridge in the Second World War.

He was tracked down by the BBC show when the canvas was taken in for valuation.

The picture shows Mr Ellis, just before he became the only member of 426th Battery of the South Nottinghamshire Hussars to survive three days of panzer attacks by Germany's Afrika Korps in June 1942 at a barren desert crossing near Tobruk, Libya.

The picture features Mr Ellis in the foreground getting ready to fire a round from a 25-pounder gun next to a comrade who was killed moments later.

He told last night's show: "My regiment had been given the order to fight to the last man and the last round and not to retire, and this painting shows our position after a long day's battle.

"I fought in that battle. I am in fact that man there. And the reason I can say that is because the regiment was almost wiped out – but by some miracle, I was the last man virtually and I fired the last round.

"That round, which was at about six o'clock at night, hit a Mark IV tank.

"Then the man standing at the side of me was killed because a German tank had come up behind us and fired its machine gun, almost point-blank.

"And I took a deep breath and waited for mine. For some reason, the tank didn't fire and I survived and am still here."

Mr Ellis, who went on to be a head teacher, was captured with about 90 men from his regiment, which had already served in the siege of Tobruk the previous year. The rest were killed.

The picture, by war artist Terence Cuneo, was completed in 1978 under the eye of Mr Ellis.

It was taken to the Antiques Roadshow when it visited Newstead Abbey.

Mr Cuneo, who served as a sapper in the war, went on to become the official artist for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.

The painting was valued at between £30,000 and £50,000 on last night's show, one of two filmed at the abbey.

The second is likely to be shown in the autumn.

MORE than 600 families have missed out on their preferred school for their child this September.

Figures from the Department for Education reveal that 327 families in the city and 307 in the county weren't given an offer at their first-choice school.

It has led a county education chief to express frustration that some children won't be going where their parents want them to go.

The majority were given an offer at their second or third-choice school.

Councillor Philip Owen, chairman of the children and young people's committee at Notts County Council, said: "I'm happy that most parents got their first choice and most of the rest got one of their three preferences.

"But I'm disappointed if there's one child that doesn't go to the school that their parents wish them to attend.

"We firmly believe that parents should be able to make the choice of where to send their child to school. When this occurs they are often more supportive of that school."

Parents whose children are in Year 6 at primary school were asked to pick three secondary schools they wanted their child to attend from September, in order of preference.

They received offers on March 1 letting them know which ones they had been successful at.

The figures have just been unveiled by the Department for Education, showing that 95.9 per cent of the 7,499 first-choice applications in Notts were granted. The corresponding figure in the city was 87.8 per cent of 2,678 applications.

Nationally, 86.7 per cent got a place at their first-choice school.

Seventy-two families in Nottingham did not get an offer at any of the schools they wanted.

Councillor David Mellen, portfolio holder for children's services at the city council, said the capacity and popularity of some schools made it impossible for some families' wishes to be granted.

Trinity School, in Aspley, was the most popular city school, receiving 548 applications for the 165 Year 7 places available.

Bluecoat School, in Aspley, and Fernwood, in Wollaton, also had significantly more applications compared with places.

Trinity head teacher Michael McKeever said they simply did not have room for all those wanting to attend.

Mr Mellen added: "You are not going to get every parent getting their first choice of school.

"We have many popular schools in the city which receive a huge amount of applications. Places can't be given to them all.

"What is important is that all schools improve. Places are given out and we have to make sure there is a balance between the schools that we have."

Parents who did not get their preferred choices still have the option to appeal against the decision. The appeals must be submitted in the next two weeks and all hearings will be held by June 19.