IT was always something of an adventure back in the 1950s visiting my grandparents in The Meadows.

Not only did it usually mean a trip from West Bridgford into the city centre on the fondly remembered brown-and-cream West Bridgford UDC number 24 motor bus, but you then caught either a 40 or 47 trolleybus to a stop close to where they lived at 200 Wilford Road.

And it always seemed as though the conductor on the trolleybus was the same ever-smiling West Indian gentleman who often asked whether I would like the important job of ringing the bell for him when we wanted to get off.

To a six or seven-year-old in that era, believe me. it was a thrill equalled only by actually hurrying a Murray mint!

I also remember that smile still being in place when he had the job of using the long pole when the bus came adrift of the overhead wires.

Tomorrow at 7.45pm, you have the opportunity to share some memories of the trolleybuses at a meeting of the Nottingham Industrial Heritage Association, in the

International Community Centre, 61b Mansfield Road.

A charge will be made of £1.50 for members and £2.50 for guests. Light refreshments will be available.

David Franks, once of Ilkeston Road but now living in Sheerness, will join other speakers to tell the story of the Nottingham system – its history, routes and vehicles – and how some of the Nottingham buses are being preserved so we can still see them running.

Along with friend Steve Collins, David can lay claim to owning the oldest extant Nottingham trolleybus – a 1934 Karrier rescued from a farmer's field where it had been used as living accommodation. The pair are now restoring it from virtual dereliction.

Steve has fond memories. "You never minded missing a trolleybus because you knew that there would be another in two minutes.

"It was a fantastic service. There were always at least two buses at the terminus.

"As one pulled away, another would roll in to take its place."

Thursday's main speaker is Rod Bramley, an authority on trolleybuses in general and Nottingham in particular.

He now lives in north Wales and is making the journey back to the city to help tell the story of this much-loved and remembered mode of transport.

Also speaking will be David Astill, of NCT, who will try to bring people up to date with modern trolleybuses and what is being done in Leeds, where the trolleybuses look set to make a surprise return.

The trolleybus system operated by Nottingham City Transport ran from April 10, 1927, to June 30, 1966.

In 1925, the city council decided to convert some tram routes as the tram network was largely single line down the middle of the road with periodic passing loops, which didn't allow a very frequent or punctual service to be run.

The following year, an order was placed for "ten Railless Trolley Vehicles" and a service appears to have started on the northern section of tram route 5. The vehicles were double deckers with outdoor staircases.

As the system grew, it operated routes which served the most densely populated areas of Nottingham, including The Meadows, St Ann's, Basford, Bulwell, Radford and Lenton and strayed beyond the city boundary to Carlton.

The Second World War saw a revival in the fortunes of trolleybuses and, when hostilities ended, the system entered into its halcyon days, with the delivery of new, modern vehicles and a well-maintained system that was admired at home and abroad.

In the 1960s, trolleybuses – victims of cheap oil and the internal combustion engine – were replaced by a fleet of new motor buses. There were emotional scenes in June 1966 on the last day of normal service.

On Thursday, June 30,1966, the Nottingham Evening Post and News warned readers – "Last chance for a trolley ride." When the big day came, Albert Parish and Fred Cooper went down in history as the last driver and conductor on the final trolleybus.

The last 12 vehicles were sold as scrap for £1,725.00.

While it's a fact that trolleybuses disappeared from our streets not far short of 50 years ago, they are still deployed worldwide.

In the UK, Leeds got the Government go-ahead last year for design work on a new system.

Could it happen in Nottingham?

At one time you wouldn't have believed that trams would make such a successful comeback. So never say never!

HUNDREDS of pupils dressed to impress as they celebrated their school's diamond anniversary.

Round Hill Primary, in Foster Avenue, Beeston, marked its 60th anniversary with a look back at how the town had changed as part of Local History Week this month.

Pupils took part in walks, talks and research to learn about the town's past with the aim of bringing history to life.

To mark the final day of the week, the pupils all dressed in the style of different decades from 1950s to the present day.

Emma Halston, 10, dressed in a 1950s style and said she had enjoyed the week.

"It's been good learning about the history of Round Hill school and how things were around here years ago.

"It seems like the school was very different 60 years ago and lots of things have changed, especially as the teachers don't have the cane any more.

"It's important to see the past because sometimes people make mistakes and we can look back on them and not make them again."

Year three pupil Noah Bacon dressed as a punk for the day and said he liked seeing all the different costumes.

He added: "The dressing-up has been fun – some of the people look really good.

"It's been fun learning about Beeston and the past."

Sam Norris, the school's history co-ordinator, said the week's activities had captured children's imagination.

He said: "I think if young people can see how things have changed around them over time, then it brings out an interest in history.

"This week has proven that history is everywhere.

"We have looked at the blue plaques where famous people lived or big events happened and it's been interesting to think about what life was like years ago.

"Even now, with the tram and the town centre being developed, Beeston will always be changing and activity weeks like this are important to cultivate a fascination with the past."

Harry Wright, 10, said he had learnt a lot about where he was from during the week. He added: "It's been quite different from the kind of thing we normally do in school and it's been fun.

"It's strange to think that in 40 years' time, people might be looking back at photos of us today when they celebrate 100 years of the school.

"School this week has made me think of what Beeston will be like in the future and what it was like in the past."

A TEN-year-old girl who is organising a charity bike ride to support her terminally-ill grandma has smashed her fundraising target.

Sophie Doughty, of Church Crescent, Daybrook, decided to raise money for Maggie's Nottingham after Carol Roden, 55, was diagnosed with lung cancer in July.

She planned to raise £500 but donations have already been pouring in and now stand at just over £1,000 – before the bike ride has taken place.

The sponsored children's bike and scooter ride around Calverton is planned for Saturday, November 3.

"We expected about 15 people to sign up," Sophie's mum, Keeley Doughty, 32, said.

But, since she started publicising the event in September, 80 people have registered.

"We're absolutely overwhelmed with the response we've been getting," she said.

"People we've heard from so far have been mainly family and friends from Arnold and surrounding areas who have shown incredible generosity.

"We get at least two or three phone calls a day with people asking to donate money or buy raffle tickets or sign up for the bike ride.

"Someone donated £100. It's unbelievable.

"People want to do what they can to help.

"Facebook has been really useful for letting people know. We would have never thought it would get this big."

The bike ride will start from the Gleaners Inn, in Bonner Lane, which is having a barbecue to raise funds.

Sophie will hold a raffle at the event, with prizes including a Nottingham Forest T-shirt, signed by the players, and a voucher for a three-course meal for ten people at Bistro Live, in the Lace Market. "I'm happy I've sold so many raffle tickets already," said Sophie, a pupil at Willow Farm School, Gedling. "I'm really looking forward to the bike ride."

Mrs Roden, who works as a production manager on a root vegetable farm, said she was shocked by the level of support.

"I feel overwhelmed and bewildered.

"The response is absolutely lovely."

Maggie's offers emotional and practical support to patients and their families at its centre in the grounds of the City Hospital. To support Sophie, go to www.justgiving. com/Sophie-Doughty or visit her fund-raising page at www.facebook.com and search "Childrens sponsored ride for the Maggies Cancer Care Centre Nottingham".

A MANSFIELD running and athletics club may be forced to disband after being kicked off the site where they have trained since the 1950s.

The Mansfield Harriers and Athletics Club, who have about 300 members and compete at a national level, have been told to leave Berry Hill Park after a dispute with trustees.

A joint statement, issued by the board of trustees of Berry Hill Social Welfare Centre, said the decision was made after an incident earlier this month when it was claimed that members of the Harriers were verbally abusive to a football club training at the park.

Harriers chairman Paul Gair said the athletes were left upset when they arrived for regular Thursday training at the park's track and field facility only to find a football club using the field inside the track.

Some athletes were unaware the trustees had given the night to Woodhouse Colts FC, although the trustees gave seven days' notice.

Mr Gair said: "There was a lot of anger because we were given very little notice and we feel like we've been mistreated all along."

The decision to ask the club to leave also follows financial disputes between the two sides.

Mr Gair said the track and field side of the club had nowhere to train from November 1.

He said the only other possible sites were in Kirkby in Ashfield or at the Harvey Hadden Stadium, in Bilborough, both of which could be hard for members to reach.

He said: "Part of the club will fold. It will add to travelling, I think a lot of people will drop out of the sport. Mansfield will have no athletics club."

He added: "I'm bitterly disappointed, very, very upset."

The news has sparked concern from other athletes. Last night, three-time Olympian and European and Commonwealth 110m hurdle gold medallist Andy Turner tweeted: "Who do we need to speak to stop this happening?"

And Mick Robinson, chairman of Notts AC, said: "What is happening is ludicrous and this could have a massive, massive blow on Mansfield Harriers and Nottinghamshire athletics. The way they have built that club in the last decade or so is remarkable. It is unrecognisable from what it was. They are in the British League, have national juniors. They have produced top athletes like Ricky Soos. It needs sorting out."

A joint statement from the trustees said that although they needed income to repair and replace facilities, the behaviour of the club was a "price too high to pay", and added: "The trustees have acted to ensure such issues will continue to be dealt with through open and transparent processes and to manage Berry Hill Park in the interests of all who choose to use it."

A LACK of basic labour jobs has been blamed for a surge in the number of young Notts people out of work for more than a year.

Although overall youth joblessness is falling, figures show that last month 930 18 to 24-year-olds had been claiming job seekers' allowance in the city for more than 12 months. This is 520 more than the same figure from a year ago.

Trevor Fothergill, a director of Educational Wellbeing, Lenton, which tries to get qualifications and jobs for young people excluded from mainstream schools, said the city was suffering from the demise of manufacturing.

He said: "Employers are cherry-picking the best candidates now and they have a right to do that.

"But there are a marginalised group of people who want to work but who don't have qualifications, but who do want labouring work. Years back, if you didn't do well in school in Nottingham, you could get a job at Raleigh with basically no qualifications.

"You could get manual work without grades. That doesn't really exist any more and that was the crucial safety net."

The Raleigh factory in Triumph Road stopped making cycles in 2002, ending 114 years of bicycle-making in the city and taking about 280 jobs with it, although the firm still designs bikes at its Eastwood base, employing about 150.

Nottingham City Council said that overall, the number of unemployed 18-24-year-olds had fallen by 7.6 per cent across Nottingham to 4,055, compared with 4,390 a year ago.

But the authority added that the number of young people out of work for longer was of "great concern". The council is running schemes to tackle joblessness and is ploughing £2 million into the Nottingham Jobs Fund, which will create 400 jobs by March 2014.

John Dowson, head of policy and representation at Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce, said not enough companies were taking on large numbers of new employees.

He said: "It's a competitive jobs market for unemployed young people.

"Our surveys show local firms remain positive about the future but many are only planning to grow by five or more employees.

"There are fewer larger job increases happening.

"The chamber is doing a fair bit to try to help – we work to encourage businesses to take on new apprentices."

David Kirkham, director of Nottingham and Notts Employment and Skills Board, said a flood of more qualified young people trying to find work was also causing a problem.

The board builds relationships between schools and businesses.

Mr Kirkham said: "I think we still have a very difficult economic situation and even though the job seekers' allowance rate has steadily gone down, we still have relatively high levels of 18 to 24-year-olds claiming.

"Those that are further away from the jobs market are in a sense facing more competition.

"For example, you have more graduates moving on to job seekers' allowance and not in to work, therefore it becomes a much more competitive environment.

"But there is work going on out there. We are aware of thousands of vacancies on a monthly basis that are not necessarily filled.

"We need to ensure young people know where to go to find a job and what that job entails.

"We're aware of certain sectors where there will be huge demand for new entrants, such as engineering, which has an ageing workforce and has historically been very important to Notts."

A CALL for more investment in green industries to break the "cycle of decline" facing the UK has been backed by green energy experts in Notts. Frances O'Grady, general secretary designate of the TUC, said yesterday that the country was "crying out" for good green jobs and appealed for a change in direction from the Government to support the industry.

It comes after a fall in the number of UK homes installing solar panels since the start of August, following a dramatic cut in feed-in tariff rates – a subsidy offered by the Government for the generation of green energy.

Ms O'Grady said green economy was now worth £122 billion, almost a tenth of total UK output, sustaining nearly one million jobs.

"We want investment not cuts, so that we reverse the scandalous funding shortfalls that will see 16,000 jobs lost in the home-insulation industry and 20,000 at risk in the solar industry.

"We want a properly capitalised Green Investment Bank, not the pale imitation we have now, which is able to raise funds on the capital markets to invest in the green capacity Britain needs in the coming decades.

"And we want a smart, active green industrial strategy that provides us with a clear route map showing how we get from where we are now to where we want to be in ten or 20 years' time."

Daniel Smith, general manager at Watnall based MG Renewables, providers of sustainable technologies such as solar panels and wind turbines, echoed the call for more to be done.

"It is still a fledgling industry and still needs that support," he said.

"So anything the Government can do to support the industry would be welcome.

"The feed in tariff dropped dramatically since it was introduced and it just creates uncertainty in customers.

"We need support for the industry and consistency so we can build a business on growing demand. We have had to lay people off.

"With energy prices going the way they are, to me it makes sense in the long term to make this commitment to support the industry."

Jerome Baddley is sustainable energy development manager at the Nottingham Energy Partnership, a not-for profit organisation which aims to tackle fuel poverty, cut carbon emissions and make businesses more sustainable.

He said: "Central Government inability to create a stable environment for investment, with hot and cold incentives and inconsistent energy policy, will undermine trust and investor confidence.

"An environment of boom and bust 'technology gold rush' has been created within the green tech sector. Stability and confidence are required to grow a resilient green technology sector, that creates jobs and keeps money in local communities.

"This confidence is being undermined at a critical time when households and businesses are being expected to borrow and invest their own money, through programmes like the green deal. Nottingham is sticking to its Energy Strategy and delivering on its environmental targets, the Government needs to do the same."

He added that the potential for green jobs in Nottingham was "huge" and that the Nottingham Energy Partnership was a good example of green growth. Since 2008 its staff has grown from three to 25, and it is currently recruiting three new full-time posts to help expand its services across the region and the UK.

MORE than 100 people who completed the Ikano Robin Hood Half Marathon are still waiting for their medals – nearly a month after crossing the finishing line.

A nurse has complained to race organiser Sweatshop after she wasn't given a medal to recognise her achievement. Sarah Shortland, 33, of Appledore Avenue, Wollaton, trained for a year in the build-up to the race and raised more than £700 for the Nottingham Rape Crisis Centre, in Chaucer Street.

Mrs Shortland, who works at the Queen's Medical Centre, hurt her knee four weeks before the race on September 30, but still managed to complete the 13.1-mile run in two hours and 50 minutes. It was the first time the mum-of-one had taken part in the half marathon. When she finished the race she was not handed a medal celebrating her achievement but was given a medal to say she had completed the children's fun run.

She said: "It took a lot of determination and training to complete the race. When I got that medal at the end of it, it left a nasty taste in the mouth.

"Everyone I have told the story to thinks it is wrong.

"I have contacted the organisers and they have apologised and said they would send me a medal in the post but, three weeks later, I still haven't received it.

"I just think after putting so much work in and people deciding to sponsor me, it's not that great that I've got nothing to show for it at the end."

Sweatshop admitted that it ran out of medals to give to all the competitors on the day.

Race director Claire Bond said they were 107 medals short. She said: "Normally, there is a no-show rate for half marathons of 28 per cent; in Nottingham, the no-show rate was only 18 per cent.

"The medals will be arriving in the country this Friday.

"All participants who did not receive a medal have been apologised to and they will be receiving one in the post as soon as possible."

Mrs Shortland decided to support the Nottingham Rape Crisis Centre charity after hearing that it was short of cash and could have to close.

She said: "I think the advice and support they offer women is incredibly important, and I wanted to raise money for the one of the smaller and more local charities."

YOUNG actors and musicians from across the city are hoping to raise awareness of domestic violence with a new film.

Beats And Brains will be shown at schools across Notts to draw attention to the issue after a number of high-profile cases.

The film and its soundtrack were produced by Nottingham youth charity, Base 51, which aims to educate young people about healthy relationships.

Forty young people aged 13 to 25 are taking part in the project, which began rehearsals at the NGY Myplace youth centre in Castle Gate, Nottingham, on Monday.

The plot follows two young male characters, Miles and Nathan. Miles is the perpetrator in an abusive relationship and Nathan is trying his best to make the right decisions.

Nathan is played by Dexter Atkinson from The Vista, Stapleford. The 16-year-old said: "I've never acted before and I'm enjoying it. I'm learning a lot more skills. I know domestic violence goes on and I want it to stop."

Project co-ordinator, Lucy Sheldon, a sex and relationship education worker for Nottingham City Council, held a three-hour domestic abuse workshop with the young people taking part.

She said: "The goal is to educate people about domestic abuse and help educate them about relationships."

Alison Thomas, children and young people manager at Notts Domestic Violence Forum, said: "Other films are quite simplistic. They explain domestic violence, but this understands concepts and talks about choices and gender equality. I hope the film brings the debate forward and this is the start of the generations that will be educated about domestic violence."

Filming of the short film, expected to be about 20 minutes long, ends today.

Yesterday's rehearsals were held at Nottingham Forest's training ground in Wilford.

A club spokesman said: "As a club we take a strong stance against domestic violence. That is why we are backing the Post's Man Enough campaign and the film – both of which aim to raise awareness of the crime. No one should have to tolerate domestic violence."

The Post's Man Enough campaign is aiming to raise awareness of domestic violence and is urging 10,000 people in Notts to sign the White Ribbon campaign to end violence against women. So far more than 4,300 people have signed up for the campaign, run with Women's Aid Integrated Services, the Notts Domestic Violence Forum and Notts Police.

Readers can sign the White Ribbon pledge at www.man- enough.org or text Man Enough to 81400. Women who need help can contact Nottingham's Women's Aid on 0808 800 0340 or visit www.wais.org.uk

Are you a young person who has been affected by domestic violence? If you are, e-mail newsdesk@nottinghampostgroup.co.uk or call 0115 905 1966

PARTS of an old Victorian mill complex in Radford are set to be demolished in the next few months.

Old Radford Mill, off Ilkeston Road, has long been earmarked as a potential site for housing.

While there are no development proposals on the table, Nottingham City Council is planning to pull down a large part of the building at the back, which borders Denman Street Central and Norton Street.

The front part of the building, which can be seen from Ilkeston Road, will remain, as it is not owned by the council.

The council says it costs about £50,000 a year to maintain the empty building, which deteriorated in recent months and needed emergency repairs.

Some local residents say they will be sad to see the historic building disappear.

Michelle Burrows, 35, of Graham Street, in Radford, said: "I'd like to see it rejuvenated – it seems a waste to knock it down.

"I don't see why they won't just refurbish the building."

And Freddie Leeming, 64, of Baldwin Court in Radford said: "It's been standing empty for a long time. If they put shops there, it will be a good thing for the community.

"It's a shame that it's being knocked down, though. I remember the building when it was going strong."

But the city council says it is not financially viable to keep the mill. In a report, it says: "The property would be very difficult to sell due to the liabilities associated with it.

"In addition, the council would lose control of an important site that could influence the regeneration of the neighbourhood and be used for the provision of new housing."

It will cost the council about £400,000 to pull down the building. The site will then be bounded by security fencing.

The council had planned to demolish it in June 2008 but English Heritage carried out a spot check of the building to check it did not qualify for listed status, delaying the council's plans.

A spokeswoman for English Heritage said yesterday: "Radford Mills in Nottingham, although impressive in the local landscape, was not recommended for listing as it wasn't considered nationally historically or architecturally significant.

"The buildings are conventional in their form and character and the site underwent developments throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, resulting in the loss of both visual and functional coherence."

A city council spokesman said: "We are finalising details with the adjoining landowner and have a contractor lined up to carry out the demolition as soon as possible – either towards the end of this year or early next year.

"There are no firm proposals for the site as yet but it is earmarked for a family housing development."

Did you work at the mill? Tell us your memories. Call Delia Monk on 0115 9051959 or e-mail delia.monk@nottinghampostgroup.co.uk

OMID Beyraghdar-Ghoushon, 40, of Sherbrook Road, Daybrook, pleaded guilty to assaulting a woman in St Ann's between June 11 and June 14. Magistrates in Nottingham imposed a community order, with supervision from the probation service during the next 12 months. A restraining order was imposed to prevent Beyraghdar-Ghoushon from contacting the victim and he also has to pay her £475 compensation. He was given the same community order after he pleaded guilty to criminal damage in St Ann's between June 11 and June 14. He destroyed an iPhone 4 worth £400 belonging to the victim of the assault, the court heard. As punishment for both offences, Beyraghdar-Ghoushon must do 100 hours of community work.

PIOTR Bryja, 38, of Mickleborough Avenue, St Ann's, is accused of criminal damage. It is alleged he damaged the rear windscreen wiper of a Renault Clio in Church Street, Nottingham, on September 13. His case has been listed to be heard at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on October 24. He is on conditional bail.

NATHAN Burton, 38, of Cramner Walk, St Ann's, is charged with assault causing actual bodily harm to a woman in Nottingham on October 7. His trial will take place at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on December 20. He is on bail.

STUART Daykin, 33, of Sherwin Road, Lenton, has been given bail by magistrates in Nottingham. He pleaded guilty to assaulting a female in Clifton on October 7. His next court hearing is on October 25.

CLAYTON Dixon, 28, of Bentinck Court, Sneinton, denied assaulting a woman by beating her in Nottingham on August 26. Magistrates adjourned the case for a trial on December 12. Dixon was granted conditional bail.

GRAHAM Sedgwick, 34, of Lindfield Road, Broxtowe Estate, has been ordered to pay compensation of £111.96. Magistrates in Nottingham heard he admitted damaging a glass door pane in Aspley earlier this month. The compensation order was made to a woman. He was further fined £55 after he pleaded guilty to assaulting the same female in Aspley on October 4.

THE question mark still hangs over Meadow Lane, just like the fog did last night.

Notts County threw away victory against Bournemouth in League One not once, but twice. Leading 2-0 and 3-2, they drew 3-3, somehow.

Jeff Hughes fired them ahead midway through the first half and French striker Yoann Arquin doubled their lead on 32 minutes.

They looked to be cruising to three points, but the Cherries netted twice in nine minutes early in the second half, through Josh McQuoid and a penalty from Harry Arter, to make it 2-2.

Winger Jamal Campbell-Ryce also netted from the spot to put Notts back in front on 83 minutes, but Bournemouth hit back again two minutes later, making it 3-3 through sub Matt Tubbs.

It means the Magpies' struggles at Meadow Lane continue and their home form could still undermine their promotion challenge in League One.

The Magpies faced Bournemouth three days after beating Coventry City 2-1 to extend their unbeaten away run in League One to a record 14 games and they were entirely unchanged from that victory.

Alan Judge, their star midfielder, was still conspicuously not in their squad, so captain Neal Bishop, Jeff Hughes and Andre Boucaud started in midfield and Jamal Campbell-Ryce, Francois Zoko and Arquin were named in a three-man attack.

On-loan defender Ashley Eastham made his home debut alongside Dean Leacock at the heart of the Magpies' back-four, Gary Liddle was again switched to right-back, Jordan Stewart was at left-back and No.1 Bartosz Bialkowski began in goal.

Former England goalkeeper David James started for the Cherries and he quickly showed he is not past it at 42 by making a good save to deny Arquin on six minutes.

Bialkowski launched a long goal-kick forward, Jeff Hughes flicked it on and Arquin audaciously attempted to beat James with a volley from 35 yards, but he parried the ball away.

Notts threatened again soon after.

Campbell-Ryce seized onto the ball just inside the visitors' half on eight minutes and swept past midfielder Shaun MacDonald in the blink of an eye, but hit a shot well over the bar from 25 yards.

Jeff Hughes then spurned a good chance to give the Magpies a 1-0 lead a minute later.

Stewart swung a free-kick into the penalty area with his left foot and the Northern Ireland international rose brilliantly to meet it, but directed a header past James' left-hand post from ten yards.

Bournemouth hit back quickly and went close to scoring three times at the Kop end in a mad two minutes.

First, Bialkowski made a great save to deny McQuoid on 19 minutes, after he smashed a shot at goal from 25 yards that was soaring into the top-left corner of the net.

Bournemouth defender Simon Francis then crashed a shot against the foot of Bialkowski's right-hand post from the edge of the penalty area, after Marc Pugh cut the ball back to him from the subsequent corner.

And Bishop then presented striker Lee Barnard with a chance with a badly misplaced pass and Bialkowski was forced into another good save to stop his old Southampton team-mate scoring.

The Magpies could easily have been rocked by those three scary moments, but they went straight up the other end after Bialkowski parried away Barnard's powerful shot and scored to take a 1-0 lead.

Jeff Hughes scored it to make amends for his earlier miss, pouncing on a rebound inside the box, after James had saved at the feet of Arquin, and stroking the ball into the net from 12 yards.

It soon got even better for Notts as they doubled their lead on 32 minutes.

It was a gift from Bournemouth as Francis badly under hit a back-pass straight to Arquin and the young French striker gladly accepted it, striding forward unchallenged into the box and coolly sliding the ball low under the onrushing James.

The Magpies were suddenly in complete control of the game and they looked in no mood to surrender their two-goal lead, Bishop bravely blocking a bullet shot from Barnard inside the box on 39 minutes and Bialkowski denying Pugh moments later.

The Pole thwarted the Bournemouth midfielder for a second time at the start of the second half too, parrying away his low shot from close range on 48 minutes.

But Bialkowski was finally beaten by McQuoid on 51 minutes.

Cherries' winger Donal McDermott sent his team-mate racing into the Magpies' box with a great back-heel and he had all the time in the world to curl a low shot beyond Bialkowski and inside his right-hand post

It put the game back on a knife-edge, although Bishop almost eased the tension inside the stadium with a good strike from inside the box on 54 minutes, but it was deflected onto the underside of the bar.

Bournemouth then made it 2-2 from the penalty spot on 60 minutes, after Bishop tripped Pugh just inside the box as he tried to jink past him.

Arter stepped up to take the spot-kick and sent Bialkowski the wrong way as he smashed it inside his left-hand post.

Having thrown away a 2-0 lead so quickly, Notts came out fighting and Boucaud forced James into a good save with a powerful strike on 62 minutes.

They then threw on their talisman Lee Hughes for Zoko on 69 minutes, hoping he would once again be a super sub, but it was Campbell-Ryce that put them back in front from the spot on 83 minutes.

Having given away a penalty, Bishop was upended in the box by MacDonald inside the penalty area and Campbell-Ryce was the coolest person inside Meadow Lane, striking the spot-kick into the bottom-right corner of the net.

James dived the right way, but the ball still squirmed underneath him.

The Magpies' joy was short-lived, however, as the Cherries equalised again just two minutes later as Notts went to sleep.

Tubbs capitalised, seizing onto a cross into the box and driving the ball low under Bialkowski from an acute angle.

It left Notts feeling acute frustration.

Notts: Bialkowski, Liddle, Leacock, Eastham, Stewart, Bishop, Boucaud, J Hughes, Campbell-Ryce, Zoko (L Hughes, 69), Arquin. Subs: Pilkington, Sheehan, Bencherif, Mahon, Showunmi, Nangle.

Bournemouth: James, Francis, Elphick, Addison, Cook, Pugh, MacDonald, Arter, McDermott (Tubbs, 67), McQuoid, Barnard (Fletcher, 81). Subs: Jalal, Zubar, Partington, Fogden, O'Kane.

Attendance: 4,584 (208 away).

POLICE investigating a burglary discovered more than £8,500 worth of drugs and £4,200 in cash when they "followed their noses" after smelling cannabis from the house next door, a jury heard.

The officers had been called to a break-in at a house in Bramley Road, Broxtowe Estate, and were having a look around the area when they got a whiff of the drug.

When they checked at a neighbouring property, the door was open but no one was home, Nottingham Crown Court was told yesterday.

Inside, officers found flowering heads of cannabis in a cardboard box on the kitchen table.

They also discovered 1.2 kilograms of frozen amphetamine in four bags in a freezer and £4,200 in cash in a plastic bag in a kitchen drawer.

The cannabis weighed 440 grams and was worth £2,500, while the amphetamine had a potential wholesale price of £6,000.

The registered tenant at the house, Stephen Bostock, 54, of Cranwell Road, Strelley, went on trial yesterday in connection with the haul.

Prosecutor Jonathan Eley said: "They [the officers] smelt something. They smelled cannabis and so they followed their noses, as it were, to see where this was coming from."

Bostock denies possessing cannabis with intent to supply, producing cannabis and possessing amphetamine with intent to supply in Bramley Road on July 12 last year.

He also denies possessing criminal property, in the form of the cash.

Mr Eley said it was not an uninhabited house.

He referred to photographs taken of a bathroom with toothpaste, toothbrushes and soap, a living room, with furniture and a television.

He mentioned a bed, with a duvet and sheets tossed aside and "clearly in use".

Mr Eley said more photographs came from a motion-detection camera, which Bostock allegedly had installed overlooking a door and gate to his back yard.

Images recovered from a secure digital card showed the defendant and others in the yard on July 8.

The prosecution say someone was using the property to distribute drugs.

Bostock was arrested and interviewed.

He answered "no comment" to every question put to him, said Mr Eley.

In his latest interview, he prepared a written statement saying he was not living there and that he was staying at his daughter's because of health problems.

He claimed another person was living there and that he had no knowledge of what was in the house.

The trial heard from investigating officer Detective Constable Stuart Satterley yesterday.

He told the court that the defendant had been a council tenant at the property since 2004 after his father died.

The case continues

A MAN who drove neighbours mad by blaring out loud music has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Gavin Townroe played songs, including Viva Forever, by the Spice Girls, so loud that one neighbour at Digby Court, in Lenton, had to be signed off sick from work due to lack of sleep.

Other people living in the block of flats would even leave their homes just to get away from the noise.

Townroe, 33, ended up in Nottingham County Court after ignoring an injunction which demanded he keep the volume down. Community Protection officers investigated the problem after neighbours bombarded them with complaints.

Townroe has now been given a six-week suspended jail term for breaching the antisocial behaviour injunction after officers went to the flats and heard loud music still playing.

One of his neighbours, Salah Alsayed, 33, told the Post he first complained about the problem in January last year.

He said: "It was different music – rock, dance, R&B – and the police have been here many times. I like music too – but not like that.

"Friday, Saturday, you don't mind, but seven days a week it's very difficult to deal with.

"Sometimes it would happen in the mornings, seven, eight o'clock."

He added: "It's taken nearly two years to come to this."

Wayne Cliff, an enforcement officer from Canning Circus Police Station, told the court he heard the Spice Girls blasting out from Townroe's flat.

He said: "Despite being warned, Mr Townroe had a total disregard for his neighbours and for the antisocial behaviour injunction placed upon him.

"I'd like to thank residents for their commitment and determination in providing evidence to enable such action to be taken and hope this case reassures residents that antisocial behaviour will not be tolerated."

In court, Townroe admitted that he might have played music loudly or allowed other people in to his flat who put music on. But he could not remember many of the incidents neighbours complained of as he was drunk at the time, the court was told.

Digby Court is run by Nottingham City Homes and is one of five blocks of flats off Church Street, Lenton.

Nottingham City Homes director of housing Gill Moy said: "Neighbours should never be subjected to antisocial behaviour like this and the court's actions back up how serious it is. The playing of loud music at all times is unacceptable and something we treat seriously to make sure our tenants and residents can live a peaceful life in their own homes."

The Post could not contact Townroe yesterday.

A MAN has been fined more than £800 after being caught selling fake designer clothes from the back of a car in Radford.

Andrew Hayden, 40, of Kirkstead Garden, Hyson Green, was caught out by trading standards officials who became suspicious when they spotted him selling items in Birkin Road on October 3 last year.

When officers searched the car they found that it was full of designer clothing, training shoes, jewellery and perfume; bearing well-known trademarks such as Ralph Lauren, Juicy Couture, Paul's Boutique and Stone Island. The also found evidence linking Hayden to Laura Franks, 31, of Kingswell Avenue, Arnold. A search of her home uncovered more designer clothing, invoices, an order book and business cards advertising Notts Clobber and Young Notts Clobber, Facebook sites which sold counterfeit goods.

Among the items were fake GHD hair straighteners which could heat up to dangerously high temperatures.

At Nottingham Magistrates' Court, Hayden and Franks were ordered to pay fines and costs of £824 each.

The goods will be destroyed.

Councillor Alex Norris, portfolio holder for community safety, said: "Counterfeit goods not only damage company reputation and allow criminals to profit illegitimately from registered trademarks; they can also be highly dangerous.

"During this operation, a number of fake GHD branded hair stylers were seized.

"These items can reach very high temperatures and, without stringent safety checks, could catch fire or burn somebody badly."

A MAN smashed a teenager over the head with a brick and beat her unconscious before sexually assaulting her, a court was told.

Prosecutors claim Jermaine Robinson, 27, of Basford Road, Basford, leapt down steps and attacked her after she refused to have sex.

She was conscious after the blow from the brick, but Robinson is accused of punching the 19-year-old repeatedly in the face until she was unconscious.

She came round to find herself at the top of the steps, where he allegedly sexually assaulted her on June 26.

She asked: "What are you doing?" and he stopped, Nottingham Crown Court heard yesterday.

"He [Robinson] tried to say to her that a random person came over and hit both of them with a brick," prosecutor Andrew Vout told the trial.

The woman, however, remembered what had happened and told him she was not stupid and that she needed a doctor.

She ran down the steps and into the street, where she saw a man called Simon Johnson riding by on his bike on the way to work.

"He said she was bloody and in distress," said Mr Vout.

"Simon Johnson tried to talk to her. Robinson emerged and said 'she's been robbed'." Mr Johnson rode on and said he was calling the police and Robinson allegedly replied: "Phone them then".

One of the woman's phones was destroyed by Robinson, said Mr Vout, but her other one was intact and she called police.

She "tearfully" tried to tell the operator about what had happened and said that she had been hit with a brick.

Robinson ran away along Tennyson Street, Radford. When police and paramedics arrived, she needed 11 stitches to a head wound and had swelling to the right side of her head, a swollen left eye and multiple grazes and bruises.

The court heard how the woman met Robinson as he walked towards her carrying a can of lager. He asked, "Is everything OK?" and she replied, "No, it's not", and told him that a man in a car would not leave her alone.

She then had a drink with Robinson at the back of some shops. He said he had some cocaine and they walked to an alleyway in Burns Street, Radford, where the attacks are claimed to have later happened.

Robinson is alleged to have given her some cocaine. They continued drinking before going back to the shop to buy brandy and returning to the steps together.

The defendant is then said to have started to kiss her neck, complimented her and asked for sex. She said "no".

Mr Vout said: "He [Robinson] started shouting at her and then, suddenly, he took a brick, leapt down the steps and smashed her over the head with the brick using great force.

"Surprisingly, the woman was still conscious after this blow. She touched her head and it was pouring with blood. He punched her repeatedly to the face with his fist until she fell unconscious to the floor."

Robinson denies supplying cocaine, causing grievous bodily harm with intent and sexual assault on June 26.

The case continues

JEFF Hughes said he had no idea how Notts County failed to see off Bournemouth last night.

The Magpies scored twice in 11 minutes in the first half through Jeff Hughes and leading scorer Yoann Arquin to lead the Cherries 2-0 and looked to be cruising to a vital three points.

But they pressed the self-destruct button big time in the second half, conceding twice in nine minutes. Winger Jamal Campbell-Ryce then scored from the penalty spot to put them 3-2 ahead in the closing minutes, but Bournemouth sub Matt Tubbs still had time to break their hearts with a dramatic late leveller to make it 3-3.

Hughes said: "I have no idea how we didn't win that one.

"We're kicking ourselves with their goals, especially the third one.

"I don't know how it got through three of our players and the goalkeeper. I don't think theirs was a penalty either.

"Their player was laughing afterwards, saying he was outside the box.

"It was one of those nights, which we seem to have at home.

"We're very disappointed.

"It's not through a lack of effort; it just seems like it's the way it's going here at the minute.

"If you score three goals at home you should win."

Hughes put Notts ahead on 21 minutes with his third goal of the season and Arquin doubled their lead on 32 minutes, beating ex-England goalkeeper David James.

But Josh McQuoid pulled a goal back for the visitors on 51 minutes and Harry Arter made it 2-2 from the penalty spot, after Magpies' captain Neal Bishop tripped Marc Pugh in the box.

Campbell-Ryce struck from the spot on 83 minutes, but Tubbs scored just two minutes later to snatch three points away from Keith Curle's side.

TOUTS who sell Ashes tickets online for extortionate prices are to be banned from matches at Trent Bridge.

Bosses at the ground are working with sites like eBay and Seatwave to track down people who try to sell tickets at inflated prices.

Tickets costing £80 for the clash between England and Australia next summer are being sold online for up to £500. The first four days of the five-day match sold out within hours of going on sale last week.

Notts County Cricket Club have identified 600 tickets which are being sold online for above face value. Club chief executive Lisa Pursehouse said they would cancel those tickets and re-sell them to people who missed out, while stopping the sellers from buying tickets at Trent Bridge again.

She said: "Selling cricket tickets for profit does not contravene any laws but it does contravene our ground regulations. It is up to us to enforce these regulations and we have cancelled tickets and blacklisted purchasers found to be selling tickets for profit."

Tickets for the first Ashes Test at Trent Bridge, between July 10 and 14 next year, went on sale last Monday. Notts' ticket hotline had huge demand, with some fans waiting hours. Thousands were left disappointed and were placed on a waiting list.

Websites like eBay, Seatwave and Getmein allow people who have bought tickets for some sports and music concerts to sell them on.

It is illegal to do this with tickets for football matches but this is not the case in other sports. It is down to individual grounds to police it.

Notts CCC said people found selling their tickets online for a profit would have them cancelled and be refunded. They have been banned from buying tickets.

The club are contacting fans put on the waiting list to offer them the chance to buy the tickets.

Mrs Pursehouse said: "We want this match to be enjoyed by genuine cricket fans and if anyone has a genuine reason for being unable to use their tickets they should get in contact with us.

"We will remain vigilant and continue to take action where we see tickets being sold for profit."

Gordon Hollins, the English Cricket Board's managing director for the professional game, has backed Trent Bridge's policy. "Selling tickets for profit is unfair on ordinary fans and prevents the game being accessible to all sections of the community," he said.

"[The board] is committed to eradicating ticket touting wherever possible and all international venues who take action against touts will have our full and wholehearted support."

Tom Smith, 22, of West Bridgford, missed out on tickets. He said: "I can't believe people do this. I was so disappointed to miss out, but to find that people are buying them to make a profit is ridiculous. It's good the club are taking action."

PRIOR to this game, Sean O'Driscoll had spoken of the fine margins that exist between success and failure in the Championship.

And the Nottingham Forest manager's nerves will have been frayed as he saw his point emphatically, dramatically proved in Blackpool.

Forest went from looking like cruising to a comfortable third successive win, to instead staring at defeat, before then completing an injury-time fightback of their own, courtesy of a goal from Dexter Blackstock, which helped them to snatch a point.

Another demonstration of Billy Sharp's finishing prowess had put Forest in charge on a night when, until the final quarter of the game, Blackpool failed to find top gear.

But then goals from Elliot Grandin and Gary Taylor-Fletcher in the 69th and 75th minutes helped Ian Holloway's side complete a turnaround that had rarely looked to be on the cards.

Fortunately for the Reds substitute Blackstock was to add another late twist of his own, as he pounced on a through ball from Andy Reid before slotting calmly home from close range to make it 2-2.

Forest's 2-1 success at Bloomfield Road last season was their only win in nine meetings with Blackpool, but they will have arrived in the north in confident mood.

Holloway's side had lost four of their previous five games, including their last two home games, against Huddersfield and Charlton, while Forest were looking to record three consecutive wins for the first time since May 2011.

Prior to kick-off Sean O'Driscoll had said he would consider making changes as his side headed into the second of a run of three games in seven days – but in the end he made only one alteration, which he was forced into.

That saw Radi Majewski, who had performed impressively after coming on for the second half of the 3-1 win over Cardiff City, replace Adlene Guedioura in midfield, with the Algerian international sitting out the first of his two match ban, following his second sending off of the campaign.

Majewski and the rest of the Forest midfield enjoyed plenty of possession in the first few minutes, as Forest made a confident start, passing the ball around purposefully on a pitch that had been heavily watered to leave it with a slick surface.

But it was Blackpool who were to carve out the first opportunity, as they almost profited from their first attack of the game, as Stephen Crainey sent an instant left-footed shot bouncing off the outside of the post.

The Reds did go close when a long throw from Greg Halford was only partially dealt with by Nottingham born Blackpool skipper Alex Baptiste, whose clearance fell to Andy Reid on the edge of the box. The Irishman let fly with a powerful shot which looked to be on target – until it unluckily hit Simon Cox and went out for a goal kick.

Forest were to draw first blood as a clever set-piece, a little good fortune and an outstanding finish from Sharp combined to carve out the first goal.

Sharp had been denied by a smart save from Matt Gilks, after he had ghosted through the centre. But Reid's clever delivery from the subsequent corner then found Halford on the edge of the box and, when he drove a shot into the area a deflection looped the ball up into the air, with Sharp providing an improvised finish with the outside of his right boot to send it arching high into the corner of the net.

Forest were playing with confidence and enjoyed a long spell of dominance – but could not quite carve out another clear cut chance. And, when Gomes led a swift counter, it ended with the Blackpool man flashing a shot across the face of goal and narrowly wide.

The Blackpool fans were giving referee Eddie Ilderton a torrid time, after a number of decisions went against them – and that might have been an influence when he flashed a harsh yellow card at Cohen when it was questionable whether his challenge on Crainey had even been a foul.

Forest, who had to replace the injured Ayala with Brendan Moloney in the 44th minute, came close to adding a second when Sharp saw his angled shot deflected narrowly over the bar.

The visitors began the second half with a slight reshuffle in formation, with Gillett pushing further forward to make it more of an orthodox 4-4-2, with Cohen on the left and Reid on the right of midfield.

Reid thought he had scored against his former club when he connected crisply with a powerful shot that looked as though it may bend inside the post, before flying inches wide with Gilks at full stretch.

Evatt was booked for a very late challenge on Moloney in the 63rd minute, which brought a halt to a promising Forest attack down the right.

Blackpool made a double change in the 69th minute, bringing on Nouha Dicko and Nathan Delfouneso – and, within seconds, before either player could get a touch, the home side had pulled level as Phillips crossed to pick out the late run of another sub, Grandin, who headed simply home.

Six minutes later, Blackpool, who had been second best for much of the game, found themselves ahead for the first time as Taylor-Fletcher intelligently worked the room for a shot just inside the box, before calmly stroking a low shot beyond Camp and into the bottom corner.

Sharp might have secured a share of the spoils when he again timed his run to perfection in the 83rd minute, but could not provide a finish of equal quality, misfiring wide of the post.

But then Blackstock popped up to provide the final twist in the tail to earn Forest a point.

Forest: Camp, Halford, Ayala (Moloney 44), Collins, Harding, Gillett (Blackstock 82), Cohen, Majewski (Jenas 77), Reid, Sharp, Cox. Subs: Evtimov, Moussi, McGugan, Coppinger.

Blackpool: Gilks, Crainey, Eardley (Dicko 69), Evatt, Phillips, Gomes (Grandin 59), Ince, Taylor-Fletcher, Sylvestre (Delfouneso 69), Baptiste, Osbourne. Subs: Basham, Halstead, Angel, Broadfoot.

Referee: Eddie Ilderton, Tyne and Wear

Attendance: 13,228

ANDY Reid says it is vital Nottingham Forest's players buy into Sean O'Driscoll's blueprint for success.

The Reds manager has spoken this week about the need to instil a 'culture' at the club, where everyone is united in following the same ethos.

And winger Reid, as one of the senior figures in the dressing room, says it is vital that everyone gets on board.

O'Driscoll is trying to implement a brand of passing football at the City Ground and has frequently spoken about the need for players to have the mental strength, courage and character to stick by their principles through thick and thin.

"It is something the manager is trying to introduce, but we all have a responsibility to work on this," said Reid, who played a key role as Forest claimed a valuable point with a 2-2 draw at Blackpool last night.

"Even as one of the senior players in the squad, I am still learning all the time and I really enjoy that.

"It is important to try to make yourself better as a player.

"We are definitely all trying to build a culture here. It is our responsibility to see it through.

"It starts with the manager, but we all have to play our part.

"It is about looking at the bigger picture. We need to look at the process and the methods that will get us to where we want to be. That is what we are trying to do at the minute."

Like his manager, Reid believes that if the entire club can buy into what O'Driscoll is trying to implement, the Reds can flourish.

"It is about us, as players, buying into it. But it is about the coaching staff, the owners and the other staff around the club all getting on board as well," he said.

"The youth team also have to buy into it as well.

"When they come and train with us, they have to be ready to step in; prepared for the way we like to do things."