PAULA Burbidge feels privileged to play a part in one of the most important times in a woman's life.

She is deputy ward sister in Lawrence Ward, which offers both ante and post-natal care.

The 49-year-old from Mansfield, who has been working at the hospital since 2003, said: "It is about being with the women – we follow the story. Some of them, we know really well.

"You still get a feeling of privilege when women are giving birth. It is quite an intimate feeling. We are preparing them for parenthood.

"It's a unique opportunity because you are becoming involved in a woman's life."

Nurse Burbidge added: "My role is to promote standards of care to make sure people have a safe pregnancy and childbirth."

Diane Grainger is a midwifery support worker on the ward and said it was wonderful to get some recognition.

She added: "It was a lovely surprise. I think things are improving for nurses but it is nice to be thanked.

"We do a lovely job and most people are happy when they leave. We get a lot of positive feedback."

Patients on the ward couldn't praise the staff enough. Claire Freeman was waiting to have her first child and had been in the ward since Thursday.

The 41-year-old said: "It has been wonderful, I've been thoroughly looked after.

"It puts you at ease and they seem to really enjoy their job."

SENIOR nurses have said a big thank-you to all the staff working at their hospital.

Personalised cakes were delivered to all 50 wards at the City Hospital on Saturday, thanking nurses and midwives for all their hard work.

The director of nursing and midwifery for Nottingham University Hospitals, Jenny Leggott, took time out to personally deliver the cakes – along with her messages of thanks.

She said: "The 12th of May is International Nurses' Day and we like to celebrate that.

"There's been quite a lot of poor press about nursing care but the majority of nurses do an exceptional job.

"We wanted to show our appreciation for the nurses who do an excellent job, sometimes in difficult circumstances. That is why we marked the day by giving each ward a cake to say thank you for all your efforts."

The thank-you cakes were received with beaming smiles from nurses across the wards at the hospital – with many remarking that it was a pleasure to be given recognition for their work.

Staff took time out to have a chat with Mrs Leggott and enjoy a slice of their cake – each iced with a message of thanks to the particular ward.

Sue Haines is an assistant director of nursing at the City Hospital and helped deliver the cakes and speak to staff.

She said: "It's about celebrating the day and realising the work our nurses and midwives do. It's about thanking them.

"We're also welcoming former staff and people back with an afternoon tea party to thank them and let them know the work being done at the hospital."

International Nurses' Day comes at a time when the Post is celebrating the work of local nurses through the People's Nurse of the Year competition.

Nominations for the Post's competition closed on Thursday.

The shortlisted nominees will be featured in a special supplement to be published this summer.

Readers' votes will determine the overall winner.

There will be awards in three categories of nursing: adults, children and midwifery.

The winner of each category will receive a glass trophy.

International Nurses' Day is celebrated around the world each year to mark the contributions nurses make to society.

GEMMA Jackson has been delivering babies for eight years.

The midwifery sister in the Labour Suite at the City Hospital says that even after all that time, each new birth is special.

The 28-year-old from Gedling added: "It is a special moment in someone's life and to be involved is amazing.

"Each one is special. I can't remember how many I have been involved in now, it's so many – I wish I could.

"It is quite a privileged thing – it's very special, we are in a unique position to help."

And for Gemma, being part of a strong team is one of the perks of the job.

She said: "We've got a great team here – the midwives are so well supported, the majority of our work is about helping ladies deliver their babies and looking after some of them who become quite unwell."

Despite the true rewards of the job coming every day, Gemma said it was great for the team to be thanked by senior staff.

She added: "It's very nice to be recognised, especially with a lovely cake, but we also get credit from women we help."

Twenty-four-year-old Kate Shirley is a core labour suite midwife and is permanently based in the ward.

She said: "It's all about bringing new life into the world. I really enjoy the work. It really does not get better."

She added: "It's really appreciated by all of us that people have come here to say thanks. It's great that they recognise the hard work and what we do."

And for one new mum who had given birth just minutes before, the midwives and nurses do an incredible job.

She said: "They've been brilliant. They've just been really supportive.

"Our midwife, Joshua, has just been so fantastic – we think it's great to recognise him."

Joshua Downey, a 22-year-old midwife from Lincoln, has only been working at the hospital for three weeks.

He said: "It's hard, exciting , challenging but great.

"I just really enjoy caring for women during deliveries and helping them through."

FOR Paula Lovett, making a difference every day is the part of her job she loves most.

The staff nurse, who has been working at the City Hospital for two years, said rehabilitating patients was incredibly rewarding.

"When I leave each day, you know you have helped – it is a sense of achievement," she said.

For Paula and her nurses at the Linden Lodge unit – which helps people overcome neurological problems – the day of thanks was much appreciated.

She said: "The cake is brilliant, it's absolutely beautiful. It makes us feel appreciated and thanked.

"It is fantastic, this ward. I enjoy rehabilitation and we work together. It is not just nurses, we all work hard.

"It is important that the hospital has given the nurses this thanks."

She added: "I hope we're making a difference to people's lives."

Charlotte Wall, 22, of Mapperley, is a nurse on the ward and has been working there for eight months. She said: "It's lovely working here – it can be challenging but it is genuinely great. It is really nice to receive this cake and makes you feel appreciated."

One of the patients on the ward, who had been there for about a week, said the nurses were amazing.

She added: "They're brilliant, they go above and beyond and they take time out to do anything for you.

"They are just so great and really help you. I can't praise them enough."

Thank you: Jenny Leggott, left, director of nursing and midwifery, with nurses from Linden Ward.

Picture: Shawn Ryan NOSR20130511T-027_C

City centre

City centre: Lane closures in Wilford Street at the Castle Boulevard junction 9.30am-3.30pm until Wednesday.

Lace Market: Pilcher Gate closed until May 20.

Sneinton: Lane closure in Bath Street, between King Edward Street and Carlton Road, from tomorrow until May 22.

Broxtowe

Chilwell: Signals in Inham Road, near the Eskdale Drive junction, until July 9.

Rushcliffe

West Bridgford: Signals in Loughborough Road, near the Stanhome Drive junction, until June 4.

Gedling

Carlton: Multi-way traffic controls in Carlton Hill, at the Carlton Square junction, until June 3.

Daybrook: Off-peak lane closures in Mansfield Road, at the Valley Road junction, until June 15.

Gedling: Stoke Lane closed until June 9 at the Emerys Road junction.

Newark and Sherwood

Southwell: Two-way temporary traffic signals in Nottingham Road between 9am and 3.30pm daily until May 20.

Ashfield

Annesley Woodhouse: Salmon Lane closed from 7am to 4pm daily between Monday, May 20, and Friday, May 24, and Tuesday, May 28, and Friday, May 31.

Hucknall: Wood Lane closed between the junctions with the A611 Hucknall Bypass roundabout and Park Road from 9am on Wednesday, May 29, until 11.59pm on Friday, May 31, to allow for electrical works for a new substation.

Kirkby-in-Ashfield: Grives Lane closed between the Central Avenue and B6021 Kingsway junctions until 6pm tomorrow to allow for repairs to a cable fault.

Sutton-in-Ashfield: Station Road closed from Kings Mill Road East to Mabel Avenue and Bathwood Drive between 7pm and 5am daily from tonight until Saturday, May 25, inclusive. A temporary 30mph speed limit will be in place in Kings Mill Road East, between Coxmoor Road and Kirkby Road.

Mansfield

Mansfield: Cedar Street closed for sewer repairs near the Littleworth junction from 8am on Tuesday, May 28, until 6pm on Friday, June 7.

Mansfield: Parkland Close closed for carriageway resurfacing work from 8am on Monday, May 20, until 11.59pm on Saturday, May 25.

KEEN dressmaker May Scaddan celebrated her 100th birthday yesterday with family and friends.

Born in Tollerton, May was the only child of Francis, an electrician, and Mary Hopkinson.

After leaving school, she worked as a nanny in Normanton-on-the-Wolds but became homesick and returned home and trained as a milliner.

Her love of fashion led her to become a machine embroiderer in the Lace Market, making quilts and lingerie.

She married Sam Scaddan at Keyworth Church in 1940 and they later had daughter, Patricia.

Years afterwards, May made the bride's and bridesmaid's dresses for her daughter's wedding.

She then tried her hand at lunchtime supervising, working at Selby Lane Infants School.

There she grew very fond of one little girl, Rita Linley, whose hand she used to hold in the playground.

Fifty years later, Rita is the owner of Hillside Farm Care Home, in Rushcliffe, and is now looking after May.

Rita said this was the first time a resident had reached the milestone birthday since she started working at the home in 1998.

She said: "It is like a role reversal. I am now holding her hand in life and I am very honoured to be able to do this for this lady."

Speaking about when May first arrived at the home, Rita said: "We were delighted to welcome her because she was a lady I have such great respect for."

Everyone at Hillside Farm joined the 100-year-old's birthday celebrations on Saturday.

May, who is still a member of Keyworth Mothers' Union, said she was excited to receive a birthday card from the Queen.

She said: "It is now on my sideboard in my room."

THERE are nearly 4,500 nurses working at Nottingham's hospitals.

And the dedicated staff at the Queen's Medical Centre and City Hospital can walk up to four miles on each of their 12-hour shifts.

To recognise the efforts of the city's nurses, senior staff from Nottingham University Hospitals visited wards across the Queen's Medical Centre on Sunday – thanking nurses personally and delivering cakes with "thank you" iced on top.

Jenny Leggott, director of nursing and midwifery with the trust, said: "We should be rightly proud of the nurses we have here in Nottingham.

"We have a very good relationship with the university, who provide the education for our nurses, and we have excellent mentoring for our nurses.

"The majority of our nurses actually live here in the area and they care for relatives of their colleagues. They work very hard and give exceptional care."

Dr Stephen Fowlie, medical director with the trust, said: "There is a link between the fact that staff tell us this is a good hospital to work in and the fact that we recognise the contribution each member of the team makes to patient care. Nurses are central to that."

There are 87 wards at Nottingham's hospitals, with an average of 32 nurses working on each ward.

And staff work in more than 50 specialties at the QMC, City Hospital and Ropewalk House – everything from renal, children's, spines, cardiology, stroke and urology to maternity and major trauma.

ON D57, the admissions ward at the Queen's Medical Centre pictured above, days can be fast-paced and hard work.

Patients often only stay for a short time, as the department can serve as a gateway between the emergency department and home.

But for Zoe Raynor it is a job with a real sense of satisfaction.

The deputy sister from Bramcote said: "We see anything and everything – it could be elderly people who fall, but also situations like overdoses.

"I always wanted to be a nurse. I decided when I was a little girl. I have bad days – everyone does in all jobs – but it I do love it."

Zoe, who has been in her role for two years, said the personalised cakes were a nice surprise.

She added: "It feels really good to be appreciated.

"Sometimes work is really hard and you just want someone to say thanks."

Hannah Willoughby has been a nurse on the ward for eight months. She said: "You get to meet so many different people and it is a really good team to work in, with nice people.

"I talk to patients a lot – some of them require emotional support as well."

REGISTRATION is now open for our third Cash For Your Community campaign.

Two hundred Notts community groups will get a share of £35,000.

Nottingham Building Society and the Nottingham Post have teamed up once again for the campaign, which helps cash-strapped charities.

How much cash each group gets will be decided by readers collecting coupons for their chosen cause.

The more coupons a group collects, the higher its share.

The Canaan Trust, a homelessness charity in Long Eaton, entered in 2011 and 2012.

It took away £297.36 in the first year and £347.64 last year.

Project manager Kevin Curtis said: "The Cash For Your Community money has helped us to support our clients in a whole raft of different ways.

"Whether it's something as simple as providing them with a Mango card so they can get to a job opportunity, or bringing in specialists to run sessions, the money has made a big difference."

This year, three groups with the highest number of coupons will win a bonus prize of £1,000.

Registration is now open. All groups have to do to enter is fill in the form on Page 15 and send it in to the Post by 5pm on Wednesday, May 22.

The first 200 eligible groups to send in forms will be entered to win a share of the £35,000.

Peter Stanhope, of Nottingham Building Society, said: "Following the success in previous years, we are delighted to be working with the Post once again and look forward to reviewing the applications for Cash For Your Community 2013.

"In 2011 and 2012, we saw a diverse range of groups receive grants and I'm sure 2013 will produce a similar diverse and depth of support for groups in our county."

Successful groups will be notified by letter and featured in the Post. The first coupon will be published on Monday, June 17. All coupons need to be in by 5pm on Wednesday, July 17.

Post acting editor Charles Walker said: "We're thrilled to be able to run Cash For Your Community for a third successive year and we're looking forward to showcasing the good work this year's entrants are undoubtedly doing in the community."

A POLICE dog joined more than 100 officers and staff receiving awards for their response to the Nottingham riots.

The ceremony took place on Friday at Albert Hall – near Canning Circus Police Station, which was petrol-bombed during the disorder in August 2011.

Chief Constable Chris Eyre was joined by Sir John Peace, Lord Lieutenant of Notts, to commend officers for their work in Operation Constantia.

Ritchie, a seven-year-old police dog, and his handler, PC Leigh Whitehead, were among those to receive certificates.

The pair were part of a team of six officers and six dogs responsible for 25 of the 90 arrests on Tuesday, August 9.

"It was exhilarating but very frightening as well," recalled PC Whitehead, who was among officers who responded to the petrol-bombing of the station.

"I've been in the force for 23 years and it was one of the most frightening nights I've ever been involved in.

"The whole dog section played a massive part and it means more to me that the dog has got an award than me because it's nice to see the dogs get that recognition for what they are trained to do.

"Normally, it's the officers who are awarded but in the dog section we are only as good as the dogs we handle. The working partnership is excellent and they put their lives on the line for us, which is something you can't comprehend unless you are in the dog section."

The disorder in Nottingham spread from London on the night of Monday, August 8.

The next night, the force dealt with more than 1,000 reports of incidents in the city and the county.

As well as Canning Circus, Nottingham High School was targeted when around 20 people climbed on to the room.

Officers came under physical attack and stones were thrown at police vehicles.

The story of the August riots was told at the awards evening through interviews, pictures and commentary.

Ritchie, who bit several of the offenders in the Canning Circus attack, helping identify and arrest them, attended the ceremony to rapturous applause.

PC Whitehead said: "It was quite an amazing feeling walking up on stage with him because the room just erupted with applause.

"If it wasn't for the work of the whole dog section, Nottingham would have faced a lot more damage."

Within 48 hours, Notts Police had managed to put an end to the trouble – quicker than elsewhere in the country.

The force says that its robust response, a 24-hour communication function to reassure people and an overwhelming surge of support from the public helped restore calm and peace.

More than 140 people were arrested and have been dealt with through the courts.

THE weather tried to spoil the 130th Nottinghamshire County Show– and failed.

Gloomy forecasts and a cup final may have kept some Saturday visitors away, but only one shower hit the showground.

And while a brisk south-westerly drove in the rain yesterday afternoon after a dry morning, all outdoor competitions went ahead and there were enough covered attractions for those without brollies in a crowd that is expected to be down on last year's 56,000.

There was no stopping the star turn. Thousands looked upwards on hearing the roar of a Second World War Lancaster bomber. The aircraft from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight made three passes over the showground – a fitting tribute to Lancaster crews from nearby RAF stations who took part in the Dambusters' Raid 70 years ago this month.

On the ground, almost as much noise was generated by the Triumphs and quad-bikes of the White Helmets, the Royal Signals motorcycle display team.

The importance of the event was stressed by the president of Newark and Notts Agricultural Society, Hodsock farmer Sir Andrew Buchanan, at a lunch he hosted on the first day. "The show is worth £3 million to the local economy," he told guests.

"It is a beacon of excellence that I hope will carry on promoting agriculture, showcasing British and especially local food, promoting tourism and encouraging everyone going into the farming industry."

The President's Award for outstanding service to Nottinghamshire was presented to Jenny Farr, leading local fundraiser for the NSPCC, of which she is a national vice-president.

The President's Challenge to school pupils, to produce something to help people less fortunate than themselves, saw the £1,000 prize go Newark's Magnus School, thanks to pupil Matthew Parkinson, 13, who designed a device that helps shoppers with limited use of their hands to carry several bags.

Nottinghamshire horsemen, farmers and breeders scooped several important prizes at their local show.

They included Charles Le Moignan, of Misterton, and Redbridge Tiny Tim, who won the Ridden Hunter and Riding Horse championships, and Jack Cochrane and Avanti, who secured the Working Hunter championship.

In the Nottinghamshire Council of Retail Meat Traders' annual Robin Hood Sausage and Pie Evaluation, Mansfield Woodhouse butcher Robert Bowring won the trophies for speciality pie and savoury pasty or pastry slice.

Results for all classes are expected to be posted by Tuesday on the county show website: www.nottinghamshirecountyshow.com

A THREE-YEAR-OLD cycling champion from Nottingham scooped yet another trophy at a national competition.

Despite having been on a bike for only a year-and-a-half, Ashton Heron, of Bilsthorpe, has won several awards and competitions.

And he has now won in the first qualifying event of the Strider British Balance Bike Championships in London.

Ashton made headlines after he became the UK Bike Balance champion for his age group at a contest in Manchester last July.

His mum, Tina Austin, says he's had a 24/7 obsession since hitting the saddle when he was just 18 months old.

She said: "He absolutely loves it. He shows off to all his family and friends and brings it into school.

"In a typical day, he'll cycle to school, cycle back from school and then go out again to cycle some more!"

Despite his big wins and burgeoning talent, Tina insists they've never pushed Ashton into taking part in any of the races.

"If he didn't enjoy it, there would be a lot of kicking and screaming," she said.

"Whether he enjoys it has always been the main thing."

Dad Adrian Heron said: "If he ever says he doesn't want to go and compete, then we won't make him.

"But when we ask him if he wants to go for a cycle ride, he still gets so excited."

Ashton will take part in several competitions in the UK this year, culminating in September at the Strider Bike Balance Championships in Manchester, which he aced last year.

Mark Hayward helps to organise the competitions and says he's been taken aback by Ashton's enthusiasm.

He said: "Ashton is a phenomenal talent and at just over three, that's even more incredible. I know that Sir Chris Hoy was on a BMX from the age of five or six. We could be working with an Olympian of the future."

SHREDDERS and grinders from across the country rolled into town this weekend for one of the biggest skateboarding festivals in the UK.

Hundreds of skaters flocked to the Make It Count event for the chance to fly to California and compete for a one-year sponsorship deal with skate fashion brand Element.

Flo Skatepark, in Poulton Drive, Sneinton, was selected from dozens of other venues around the UK to host the festival.

The competition was split into three age groups – 13 and under, 14-16 and 17 and over – with everyone from hardened pros to beaming youngsters gunning for the top prize.

There were no trials or entry fees: entrants were simply required to turn up with a can of food, which would then be donated to a variety of good causes.

Caroline Stewart, co-owner of Flo, said she was delighted by the response the centre had received from the skateboarding fraternity since the park was opened last November.

She said: "Although we've held contests here before, it's quite exciting to be involved in one of the international competitions.

Alex Halford, 20, of Greythorn Drive, West Bridgford, was one of the pros at the festival and has rubbed shoulders with the likes of Tony Hawk, arguably the greatest skateboarder of all time.

Alex said skating still trumped all other sports for its hidden complexity and "fringe benefits".

He said: "It's a very creative sport and although you spend a lot of time doing solo stuff, it's a great way to socialise.

"It keeps you really fit and the girls love it!"

Student Oliver Birch, 21, travelled from Liverpool with his friends for the day and said he was blown away by the park and other athletes.

He said: "The park is sick; we've never been here before but it's going really well so far.

"Skating's not like football, you don't get bored of seeing the same places; you can skate all day, every day and never see the same place twice."

Organiser and film-maker Simon Wilson said he had been stunned by the level of enthusiasm.

He added: "The levels of skill here are definitely up there with other contests in terms of the tricks they're doing."

HARD-UP residents are calling Nottingham City Council at a rate of more than one a minute over worries about benefits changes that came into force last month.

The Post can reveal that between April 2 and 16, the council answered 5,300 calls and had 2,854 face-to-face enquiries, meaning it dealt with nearly 750 queries a day.

The remainder of the month was equally busy.

Compared with the same period last year, the service has received 71 per cent more phone calls.

The council has taken on an extra 14 benefits advisers to its team of 58, for the next 11 weeks, to help cope with the demand. Staff have also been working overtime and have cancelled holidays.

Research shows that Government welfare changes, which include changes to Disability Living Allowance, Child Benefit and the Spare Room Subsidy, or Bedroom Tax, will take £120 million out of Nottingham's economy.

Clive Thorpe, 51, of Strelley, is among those affected by the changes.

He is having his housing benefit cut by £10 a week.

He added: "The way I see it, it's the tip of the iceberg.

"People are anxious and so they're going to the council clearly in their thousands.

"Before long, people are going to stand up against this – I can easily see these welfare changes ending up like the Poll Tax, with people taking to the streets."

City council deputy leader Councillor Graham Chapman said: "These welfare changes are unfair and the last thing we need at a time of recession, especially in deprived areas.

"The people most likely to be affected are working families who rely on benefits to supplement their low income. We have prepared for the changes, though, and I'd like to thank our staff who are doing their utmost in difficult circumstances to deal with the high volume of queries."

Deputy chief executive and corporate director for resources Carole Mills said: "Our dedicated team are working long hours and individuals have foregone annual leave to meet customer demand. We're sorry for any delays people experience in the light of such high demand."

It is not just the council that has been seeing more people seeking help following the changes. The number of people going to Framework, a charity that helps homeless and vulnerable people, has also risen.

Service director Dave Smith said: "Compared to last year we have seen the number of people presenting in person at our head office more than double to around 50 per month.

"Likewise, in Nottinghamshire County, our drop-in and surgery services are seeing around 230 people a month – up by 20 per cent since the beginning of the year."

The Government has said the old benefits system was "broken" and that the reforms were needed.

For more information and advice on the welfare changes, visit www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/welfarechanges or call 0115 9154944.

AROUND 90 volunteers have taken part in a trial run to test buses that will operate during a major revamp of Nottingham railway station in the summer.

Staff from East Midlands Trains posed as passengers and caught buses and carried luggage across the station.

The simulation was ahead of a £100 million upgrade to signalling between July 20 and August 25 when the majority of trains will not run from the station.

East Midlands Trains customer services director Neil Micklethwaite said: "We've had a very successful day and the event has achieved what we set out to achieve.

"We tested a range of scenarios relating to the planned bus replacement services and we are pleased with the results. There are a few areas that we can improve on and we'll take them away to work on. That's why we carried out this event – to make sure we are fully prepared when work starts."

Businesses and workers welcomed the plans to keep the city moving at an event held at the Park Plaza Hotel on Friday.

They were briefed on how commuters heading to London, Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester and Sheffield would have to catch replacement bus services to East Midlands Parkway station for connecting trains.

Andy Gray, owner of the Talbot House Hotel, in Bridgford Road, West Bridgford, said: "We have a lot of people from Australia staying with us during the Ashes Test match at Trent Bridge in July, so it's gratifying they have moved the dates of the work back until after this.

"Anything that rejuvenates Nottingham has got to be a good thing."

Nick Harrington, principal planner with engineering company Laing O'Rourke, which is working on the upgrade of the A453 between the M1 and Nottingham, said he was "very much pro" the station works.

He said: "No one likes being stuck in traffic jams and diversions. It's all about keeping Nottingham open for business."

The work also means there will be no trains running on the Robin Hood Line for nearly six weeks.

Between 25 and 35 buses will leave Nottingham station every hour, taking passengers to nearby stations.

A new 100-space car park will be created at Beeston to cater for extra passengers.

The main stroke symptoms can be remembered with the word FAST: Face-Arms-Speech-Time.

Face – the face may have dropped on one side, the person may not be able to smile or their mouth or eye may have drooped

Arms – the person with suspected stroke may not be able to lift one or both arms and keep them there because of arm weakness or numbness

Speech – their speech may be slurred or garbled, or the person may not be able to talk at all despite appearing to be awake

Time – it is time to dial 999 immediately if you see any of these signs or symptoms

It is important for everyone to be aware of these signs and symptoms. If you live with or care for somebody in a high-risk group, such as someone who is elderly or has diabetes or high blood pressure, being aware of the symptoms is even more important.

Symptoms in the FAST test identify about nine out of 10 strokes.

Other signs and symptoms may include:

numbness or weakness resulting in complete paralysis of one side of the body

sudden loss of vision

dizziness

commun- ication problems, difficulty talking and under- standing what others are saying

problems with balance and coordination

difficulty swallowing

sudden and severe headache, unlike any the person has had before, especially if associated with neck stiffness

blacking out (in severe cases)

BILLY Davies' instant impact on his return to the City Ground has ensured Nottingham Forest have already been installed as one of the favourites for promotion next year. (Monday, May 13)

Do any of you worry about managerial vacancies at Everton and probably Wigan, or is it a certainty that Billy Davies will stay even if approached?

ExBurtonJoyce

Shame that Pembo has left for Bristol City

jono2333

Watford or Brighton may well have shorter odds than Forest come another 2 weeks and if Wigan drop and keep Martinez, the three relegated clubs are going to be the favourites. I know a lot could change in the next two months but wouldn't put more than a tenner on Forest finishing top 6 just now.

richardw11

Bookies are now quoting Leicester as second favourites, 8-1 Champions, 5-2 for promotion. Billy Davies still 11-1 for next Rangers manager. Ally McCoist in running for Everton job. Would Billy run to Glasgow?

AncientRed

There must be a mistake! I can't see Derby of Leicester mentioned anywhere in this at all!

Huey the Noose

Hard-up residents are calling Nottingham City Council at a rate of more than one a minute over worries about benefit changes that came into force last month. (Monday, May 13)

Get a job you benefit scroungers.

MichaelKeaton

The sad fact is that the country is going bankrupt. The Government claims that the deficit is being cut, but that merely means that the country is getting deeper into debt a bit slower than before.

PeteWalch

BEESTON'S weekly market is returning after a break of more than a year.The former Willoughby Street market shut down at the start of May last year because of the site's poor condition. (Monday, May 13)

"How many years since people have been campaigning to get the market into the Square? About time as well. It should also be allowed to expand along the High Road like it does in Long Eaton."

digbypatch

"I wish them all the luck in the world, I just hope the people of Beeston make use of it."

mint_sause

NOTTS-BASED commercial property consultancy NG Chartered Surveyors has taken one of the top slots in a flagship national award scheme.

NG has been recognised by leading property magazine Estates Gazette and its online edition EGi for its work over the past 12 months.

NG took third position in Nottinghamshire's "most active agent" category. With its four-strong agency team, NG says it has "punched well above its weight" – with firms in the top two slots being regional heavyweights.

NG senior partner Richard Sutton said: "Trading conditions remain tough but, through a mixture of tenacity and proactive, innovative marketing, we have managed to consistently close deals.

"In the face of a challenging market, agencies have to be more focussed on delivering results than ever before. Therefore, this accolade from a premier commercial property publication is really pleasing, reflecting the hard work of our staff."

Over the past 12 months, NG successes include almost filling a set of micro units at Moorgreen Industrial Estate – a sign that small businesses in the region are feeling confident despite the tough economic climate.

NG says it has seen growth in demand for industrial premises and business has also been boosted by the busy office market in Nottinghamshire.

The firm has busy on a range of office deals in the city, including several period properties in Ropewalk and the Lace Market.

Richard said: "We have experienced an increase in enquiry levels in all areas of the industrial sector, with manufacturing particularly strong. There has also been an increase in activity in the office sector, with NG sealing a number of deals in the city centre.

"The number of deals we have completed also provides us with invaluable information about the local market and this knowledge helps us to further improve the quality and breadth of the professional services we offer."

INNES England has been awarded a new contract to handle lease consultancy work by The Co-operative Group. The Nottingham based-property consultant has been awarded the three-year contract in the group's Central and Eastern region for trading stores.

This follows the announcement that Innes England had been instructed to take on asset management work for the group's non-trading store portfolio last year. The region covers 15 counties and stretches from the West Midlands to north Nottinghamshire, across to the East Coast, south to the M25 and north-west along the M1 corridor.

Innes England will handle lease management work including rent reviews and lease renewals for about 100 trading properties, including food stores, funeral parlours and pharmacies.

The Co-operative is the UK's largest mutual business, owned by more than six million individual members, as opposed to private shareholders. It is the UK's fifth-biggest food retailer, the leading convenience store operator and a major financial services provider, operating The Co-operative Bank and The Co-operative Insurance. Among its other businesses are the number one funeral services provider and Britain's largest farming operation.

The group operates 4,800 retail trading outlets, employs more than 100,000 people and has an annual turnover of more than £13bn.

David Blellock, regional portfolio manager at The Co-operative Estates, said: "Innes England has delivered good results on the asset management work, so we were happy to appoint the team for the additional professional services work. We have a strong in-house management team, which takes care of the property portfolio, but alongside this team, we really value the advice from Innes England."

Gary Woodward, director of Innes England, said: "We are proud of the strong relationship we have developed with The Co-operative over the last ten years and delighted to have been instructed on this work.

"The majority of the work will focus on rent review and lease renewals. We are also tasked with considering ways in which we can improve the group's position with regards to leasehold matters – for instance, lease re-gears or making sure that lease terms are favourable.

"In the last year alone, we collected over £5.5m in rent for The Co-operative, excluding service charges and insurance, so our priority is to deliver the same results in the professional work as we have managed to achieve with the asset management services."

THE number of hoax calls received by Notts Fire and Rescue Service has decreased again – for the fifth year in a row.

New measures introduced by the organisation meant that in 2012 only 226 calls turned out to be time wasting or hoax – 270 fewer than in 2008.

The service says the decrease in what it calls "malicious" calls is thanks to new technology which includes phone box trackers which pinpoint caller locations.

These devices ensure that people are in the area where the fire has allegedly been spotted.

Technology is also used to block repeat offenders from contacting switchboard operators.

Emergency call operative Gill Footitt said she believed youths and young adults were mostly to blame for hoax calls.

She said: "If we send firefighters to a bogus incident, they might not get to a real fire in time.

"Hoax callers put everyone at risk when they force 40-tonne fire engines to run red lights for no reason.

"We can never assume a call is fake, so we often end up sending valuable resources out on wild goose chases.

"The psychological state of the people calling can never be predicted, so they might light a fire on purpose to make sure someone turns up."

Ms Footitt said she hoped the new measures would mean the number of malicious calls continues to reduce, especially with new powers to ask challenging questions and disconnect practical jokers.

In 2012 Notts Fire and Rescue received 10,323 calls, of which 4,318 were "false alarms".

These included 1,302 incidents of good intent, which means people thought they were doing the right thing by calling the fire service.

The figure also includes 3,016 cases of automatic dispatch due to alarms going off at hospitals, schools and other public buildings.

Malicious calls are not included in the false alarms category.

Fireman Phil Coates at Arnold Fire Station said: "Malicious calls are a real problem that tie up resources.

"I have been in the service 25 years and have been to a lot of them, which is frustrating.

"A false alarm is only false until we get there and determine it is.

"Many times they are caused by burning toast and small flies getting into alarm systems.

"Hoax calls are a lot more serious and there have been times when crews have attended one when a genuine incident comes in and they can't get to it.

"The people who do them should be prosecuted.

"We get people calling up about house fires that don't exist and when we realise it is a malicious call and trace it back, it has been done from a phone box miles from the incident location.

"Hoax calls cost time and money and possibly lives."

Firefighter Lee Holmes believes that the best way to reduce malicious calls is through education and public events at schools, village halls and community centres.

The Tuxford-based fireman said: "Taking time out to engage folks in conversation is the best way of getting our message across.

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