THE British police service is the oldest in the world, and is seen as a beacon for other policing models around the world.

Robert Peel, when setting up the Metropolitan Police, said "the police are the public and the public are the police" – and this system, where officers are members of society protecting members of society, has allowed us in the UK to establish trust and close community links.

I have found my career in the police to be varied and rewarding, giving me the challenges of policing urban city areas as well as rural locations.

The thing that I have always loved is the people you meet as you go about your job. I really believe that the majority of the community supports the police and appreciate the difficult role officers and staff undertake.

The introduction of a volunteer cadet scheme serves to reinforce this and take it one step further, and will give young people from the county a voice and opinion within policing that can really be heard.

A cadet will get to learn about us as a service and they will also be able to directly contribute to their own community through volunteering opportunities, which will serve to enhance future employment in whatever career they set out to pursue.

The police service is now a really varied family, with many jobs that were once undertaken by officers now performed by highly trained professional staff members. Cadets will see these roles and get to understand what routes there are into various careers.

The modern police service has a far wider police family with specials, volunteers, PCSOs and case investigate ors working with us and we are changing to meet modern times, so it makes perfect sense to try and inspire younger generations.

In my time with the service I have seen many great developments and the cadet scheme is certainly one which fills me with positivity for the future of the force.

For more information about the cadet scheme call 101 extension 8003474.

FEW things get blood boiling and pulses racing more than the travails of city centre parking. Now Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles has waded in with an attack on "ridiculously high parking charges and traffic wardens who pounce on those simply popping into their local shop for a pint of milk".

The current on-street charges in Nottingham are comparable with other places.

However in busy shopping and business areas such as the city centre stretch of Derby Road, parking is an issue. If you're picking up your child from school or quickly popping into a shop to buy something inexpensive, dealing with payment machines and paying a minimum of £1 is an annoyance and a barrier to trade.

In Nottingham there is a sense of injustice about the cost of off-street parking and a perception – denied by the city council – that traffic wardens are over zealous.

City parking shouldn't be a cash cow. More free 15-minute parking areas would be a sensible compromise. After all, the city council has listened to people's parking concerns before (after introducing a unpopular charging scheme); and it should keep listening on parking.

The authority's parking policies, and they way in which they are implemented, can have a major impact on the city's competitiveness.

THE Churchill family of West Bridgford said they couldn't think of a better way to spend a Saturday together than taking part in May Fest at the University of Nottingham.

The annual community open day at University Park took place on Saturday. It is run by staff and students at the University who invite the public on to the campus to take part in a range of interactive sessions and experiments.

Spencer Churchill, 41, who is a managing director of a business, took his two children Fay, 10 and Zak, 6, along.

They started their day by trying out a smoothie-making bike and a remote controlled helicopter in front of the Portland building.

Mr Churchill said: "We heard about the open day and thought it would be good to have a wander around.

"So far the kids have had a go on a bike which makes smoothies and are now trying out this helicopter. The child puts on some special goggles and then they can see from the helicopter's perspective in the air.

"It is a very interactive day with loads to do for all the family and it's nice to get a look around the university too."

Fay added: "I'm having a really good time so far and I've learnt quite a few things."

A sample of the activities on offer on Saturday included scientists creating thunder and lightning on demand in a one-hour spectacular, a tour of the university's creative energy homes, the New Theatre – which is the only 100 per cent student-run theatre company in the country – performing snippets from their forthcoming production of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and interactive exhibitions at the Lakeside gallery for people to watch.

Sharon Clancy, head of community partnerships at the university, said she always looks forward to the May Fest events.

She added: "May Fest is a fantastic event for the community.

"As well as showing the many great things that the university does and how what it does is relevant for everyone, it also showcases the community's activity with the university. So it is a real bringing together of people and of interests.

HOME-MADE jams, table cloths, candles and pies were some of the locally-sourced products on offer at this year's West Bridgford Summer Gathering.

The annual event in Bridgford Park attracted more than 1,000 people on Saturday.

Many families went along to sample the local produce and to take part in activities from Nordic walking to dancing.

Katherine Wilson was running a stall for a West Bridgford online company called Locally Produced for You, which sells everything from clothes to coasters.

She said: "The Summer Gathering is all about bringing together the amazing creative businesses which are based in and around Bridgford.

"All the stalls here today have a connection with the area by using local ingredients and materials. It's a great opportunity to show off all the good things about West Bridgford and the atmosphere is lovely. Everyone is friendly and chatty and it's always a great day for families."

Jane Powell and Anne Stephens were running a stall which gave a taste of what their business, called Tots at the Top, is all about.

It provides sessions for children up to school age that focus on learning through play, creative activities and song.

Jane said: "We run sessions throughout Rushcliffe and today we are showing parents what we're about.

"We have a selection of foods on our table here and we're teaching children which foods they can grow in the garden and which they can't.

"They stick the foods on to a paper plate so it's creative and educational."

Alongside all the craft, food and homeware stalls, the event also involved activities such as story telling, Nordic walking and dancing.

Anna Rich, 38, of West Bridgford, went along to watch her six-year-old daughter maypole dancing.

She said: "My daughter Lucy is doing the maypole with her school, West Bridgford Infants.

"This is just such a nice event which really brings the whole community together. People in West Bridgford are so friendly and even though we haven't had good weather really this year or last year the event is still so well supported."

AN IVF treatment centre in Nottingham has developed a technique to detect abnormalities in implanted embryos.

CARE Fertility, on Nottingham Business Park, says it can dramatically increase the chances of a healthy baby developing.

The centre uses time lapse imaging to take thousands of snapshots of a developing embryo that can help doctors pick those most likely to implant successfully.

Standard methods of selecting embryos are based mainly on what they look like through a microscope.

But CARE says that using time-lapse images they have found that developmental delays in the embryo are good indicators of likely chromosomal abnormalities that could result in a failed pregnancy.

"As the first clinic to introduce time lapse imaging into the UK, we already knew that the ability to view detailed images of embryo development helped us with embryo selection and, therefore, improved our patients' outcome," said Alison Campbell, embryology director at CARE Fertility.

"Using morphokinetic algorithms to predict success we have now demonstrated a 56% uplift in our live birth rates, equivalent to a 78% live birth rate."

Using this method, more than 100 babies have been delivered.

Professor Simon Fishel, managing director of CARE Fertility Group, said: "In the 35 years I have been in this field this is probably the most exciting and significant development that can be of value to all patients seeking IVF."

NEIGHBOURS rushed to the aid of trapped people after a gas blast destroyed a house.

A baby and a young boy were passed out of a window while four people dragged a man from under rubble.

One house in Wright Street, Newark, was destroyed while the house next door was severely damaged.

Four people – two adults and two children – were taken to hospital. A man was taken by air ambulance in a "serious condition".

As the Post went to press last night police said another person had been found in the rubble of the home and a specialist rescue team from Lincolnshire had been brought in to reach them. The debris was being removed brick by brick.

Another person was missing but believed to be in the wreckage.

Neighbour Cormac Fleming helped to rescue children from the house next to the blast property.

He said: "We ran over and smashed the window with a brick. Next thing the mother handed me a two-month-old baby and then a five-year-old boy. Then she came out.

"The main house was non existent. The whole front of the house came out and a large proportion of the one next to it.

"I took the baby. I was just acting on impulse."

The blast happened at 5.15pm yesterday.

Neighbours Audie Cashin and Isla MacDonald went to help a trapped man, pulling him to safety.

Four other people were helped to safety while firefighters and police searched for more.

Mr Cashin, 50, said: "I heard the explosion and it sounded like a bomb.

"I saw a leg in the rubble and four of us dragged an adult male out and he said 'my dad, my dad is in the cellar'."

Ms MacDonald, 59, said: "I live opposite. I was sitting in the front room and heard an almighty explosion.

"I jumped up and ran out of the house. I saw smoke and the house was gone."

More than 100 people were evacuated from their homes. Many went to the nearby Grove Leisure Centre.

People remaining in the area were asked to stay indoors and ensure windows were closed to reduce the effects of dust and any gas fumes.

Cordons were set up around the area.

Dot Steele, of nearby St Mary's Gardens, said: "I was just coming back after going out and we heard the bang. It scared my son. I've never seen anything like this in my whole life.

"I hope everyone is ok."

One witness said the family in the blast house were from Poland.

He said: "The house is knocked down completely. We were shouting into the rubble. I heard that a man came out covered in blood. He said his wife was inside in the bath and someone else was in the cellar.

"The house caught ablaze and we had to wait for the fire service. The property is completely destroyed. There is nothing left."

GOING outside our home is something the majority of us take for granted.

But it is something Jenny Rigby is unable to do.

Barring a couple of visits to hospital – where she has been stretchered out – she hasn't left her home in Amber Hill, Bestwood Estate, for nearly three years.

The problem – her wheelchair won't fit through her front door.

Miss Rigby, 67, has rheumatoid arthritis in both arms and knees.

The condition has worsened to the extent she can no longer stand up to fold the wheelchair to get it through her door as she used to.

She takes morphine to control the pain caused by the condition, while she also has osteoporosis and asthma.

The size of her kitchen means she can't turn her wheelchair round, having to come out backwards, and she is unable to reach cupboards.

Her bathroom is also a very tight squeeze.

"I don't know what to do any more," she said. "I don't get out. I just sit here day in, day out. If I'm not just sat in the lounge, I'm laying in my bed. I'm fed up with it."

Miss Rigby said she contacted Nottingham City Homes, which owns her bungalow, when her condition deteriorated in 2010.

Her problems go back more than 35 years to 1977.

She had been working as a nurse in the Army and was stationed at Ripon in Yorkshire when she fell down a flight of stairs and through a glass door at the bottom.

She was paralysed from the waist down for several months and was left with severe arthritis. She was also left with glass in her back which surgeons haven't been able to remove in case it leaves her permanently paralysed.

She added: "That's when all my problems started. I was paralysed for a while and I've been left in a wheelchair.

"I need to be either moved or have my door widened.

"I'm on the waiting list for a new home and I have been told it's not possible for the door to be widened. So I'm stuck."

Carers from Sterling Homecare visit Miss Rigby regularly, while her daughter Anna has to bring her shopping.

Bestwood Councillor Brian Grocock said he had picked up Miss Rigby's case but added that Nottingham City Homes was struggling to find a suitable property with wide enough doorways.

He said one property had been offered but Miss Rigby had turned it down because it was on a hill.

A spokesman for Nottingham City Homes said: "We're very sympathetic to Jennifer Rigby's situation and we're working very closely with her to find her a new home.

"Potential properties are being identified on a regular basis however she has very complex and specific needs, such as the property needing concrete floors and a ramp that is not too steep. Unfortunately this means they are being ruled as being unsuitable for Miss Rigby."

TWO people were taken to hospital and a police helicopter was used to trace a third person after a car hit a wall in Nuthall.

The crash happened at around 10.15pm on Saturday outside houses near the Three Ponds pub in Nottingham Road.

Firefighters from Stockhill and Central stations cut two people free from the car and they were taken to the QMC in an ambulance.

A spokesman for Notts Police said the police helicopter was used to trace a third person involved in the incident. All three are now accounted for.

Carole Myatt, 53, lives in Nottingham Road and part of her wall was hit by the car.

She said: "We were just sitting down to watch Jonathan Ross at about 10ish when we heard this almighty bang.

"We looked out the window and could see a car had hit our wall, a lamp post and part of next door's gate. My husband got the driver a glass of water.

"There was debris everywhere from the wall and the light from the lamp post had fallen to the ground and smashed."

Mrs Myatt, who has lived in that house for 20 years, added: "There were three people in the car and not young, probably in their 30s.

"It is a dangerous corner because people come quickly from Nuthall island."

Mrs Myatt added that the police came to collect the car at 4am yesterday.

And Mike Jones, 79, who has lived in Nuthall all his life, said he had heard about the crash from a neighbour.

He added that the road where the crash happened was quite a dangerous one despite a 30mph speed limit.

He said: "That road from the Nuthall island towards Kimberley has speed cameras and a low speed limit and it is a built-up area but you sometimes see cars speeding along there.

"I hope the people involved in the crash are ok."

Notts Police were unable to confirm yesterday if any arrests had been made in relation to the incident.

Firefighters were also called to an accident in Basford in the early hours of Saturday evening.

A man was helped from his car after it hit a barrier in Valley Road around 6.20pm.

He was taken to the Queen's Medical Centre by ambulance.

CITY council staff took to Notts County's Meadow Lane pitch for a football tournament in memory of a colleague.

As well as the council five-a-side teams, two council contractors – Total Reclaim and RCC Ltd – also entered players for yesterday's competition.

It was held to raise money for the Treetops Hospice in memory of city council IT manager John Widdowson, who died from oesophageal cancer in 2010, aged 49.

Funds were also raised for the Anthony Nolan Trust, a blood cancer charity, in support of a council employee who is in hospital.

Mr Widdowson's widow, Jane, 46, and their two daughters Lydia, 15, and Miriam, eight, attended the event.

Mrs Widdowson said: "It's been lovely to come and see everybody and see how they've come together in memory of John.

"He was a very special man."

The Treetops Hospice cared for Mr Widdowson near the end of his life, providing at-home care.

Mrs Widdowson added: "I can't sing their praises enough."

Money was raised from the £3 entry charge, while many of the teams also made their own donations. The money, which will be split between the two charities, has yet to be counted.

The tournament was organised by one of Mr Widdowson's colleagues in the IT department, Naeem Akhtar Rashid, 35. He said: "John was a great man, he basically gave me the inspiration to do this tournament."

The event was won by Mr Widdowson's former department, IT Services, which beat Neighbourhood Services three nil in the final.

Ursula Friel, who works for the neighbourhood services team and attended with her four children to cheer on the team, said: "We all want the team we work with to do well, it's just the fun of it and it's for charity."

And Kalel Brody, 28, co-captain for the traffic and signals department's team, said: "We went out to services and contracts, but it's still been really fun to play."

Mr Widdowson's two daughters helped to present trophies to the teams at the end.

The Sheriff of Nottingham, Councillor Merlita Bryan, said: "I think it's nice that the city council workers want to come out and support something like this."

Teams which were knocked out of the tournament early took part in another competition against each other.

Councillor Eunice Campbell was one of those staffing the Anthony Nolan stall and said: "We've been very successful today.

"We want to raise awareness of the trust and get as many people as we can to sign on to the register."

The trust aims to increase the amount of people on the stem cell register and there will be a registration event at the Loxley House building, Station Street, on Wednesday, July 3, from 11am to 3pm.

POLICE have defended themselves after criticism about the number of children who had DNA samples taken in Notts.

Twenty-eight aged 16 and under had swabs taken every week in 2011, new figures have revealed.

They included 58 primary school-age children – 12 ten-year-olds and 46 11-year-olds.

It has been suggested that in many cases the child won't have been charged with a criminal offence.

The Howard League for Penal Reform, which has revealed the figures, has argued against so many DNA tests on children.

Notts Police said it was working hard to reduce the number of children being arrested.

The 2011 figure of 1,461 actually marked a fall from 1,852 in 2010.

A spokesman said: "Where appropriate, and on a case-by-case basis, we can seek to find a solution through community resolution or restorative justice rather than the courts. This is, of course, in consultation with all involved parties.

"As a result, in 2012-13, we saw a 42 per cent decrease in the number of young people entering the criminal justice system for the first time."

Under current rules, police can retain indefinitely the DNA of anyone they arrest for a recordable offence. A new law, imposing tighter restrictions on DNA retention, is expected later this year.

Nottingham North MP Graham Allen, who has worked to help young people stay out of trouble, believes police only take DNA samples when necessary.

He said: "I'm supportive of what the police do. If someone is arrested they take DNA samples. This can even lead to other crimes being solved."

Frances Crook, chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: "When public money is tight and police forces are shrinking, it is disappointing to see valuable crime-fighting resources being wasted on taking DNA samples from thousands of innocent children while serious offences go undetected.

"Children who get into trouble with the police are usually just up to mischief. Treating so many like hardened criminals by taking their DNA seems excessive."

TRADERS in the city centre say they would back any move to relax the city's tough parking laws.

Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles recently slammed high parking charges in many city centres, which he claims are putting people off shopping.

He also called for councils to be more relaxed in their approach, and stop unsing motorists as "cash cows".

He said: "We are currently looking at more ways to curb ridiculously high parking charges and traffic wardens who pounce on those simply popping into their local shop for a pint of milk."

People who park and work in Derby Road in the city centre are particularly fed up of high parking prices and what they say are over-zealous traffic wardens. Delia Shaw, a shop worker in Derby Road, said: "People are in and out of here really quickly. It would be fairer to people who are only going to be five minutes.

"They shouldn't have to pay large amounts to park to just buy a pint of milk."

Currently anyone wanting to park on Derby Road must pay £1 for an hour, and 50p per additional 30 minutes on Mondays to Saturdays between 8am and 6pm.

Roger Rinon, who parks to pick his children up from St Joseph's School pays £1 a day even though he is only there five minutes at a time.

He said: "Traffic wardens should give us more time."

Stuart Isbister, manager of The Worm That Turned shop, said: "It is much better than it used to be but there could be more flexibility and there could be more free zones."

His wife and co-owner, Heather, added that she can see how to some people just popping in for a £1.99 pack of seeds can find it a hassle to fork out a £1 to park on the road – although the couple are willing to help with the charges.

But Nottingham City Councillor transport spokeswoman Jane Urquhart hit back at Mr Pickles' comments.

The city's portfolio holder for planning and transport said: "His comments don't reflect the situation in Nottingham. We have introduced simple, cheap on-street parking arrangements in the city centre which allow the sort of short-term parking arrangements he appears to be referring to."

"In Nottingham, Mr Pickle's stereotypical traffic warden waiting to pounce doesn't exist – we've recently brought the service back in-house and there is a grace period before tickets are issued and there are no bonuses for issuing high numbers of fines."

I SEE that Nottingham Forest have been quoted at 12-1 to win the Championship next season. And 7-2 to get promotion.

Now I've been known to have a bet or two in the past and I might just be tempted to have a flutter on them....but I think I'll look round for better odds first. Every pound in my pocket is a prisoner!

Obviously, the relegated clubs are going to have to shed some of their best players. But there will still be plenty of quality in the Championship next season.

There's Brighton, Wigan, Reading, QPR, Bolton and Leeds for starters. It is going to be an even tough league to get out this time around.

I tipped Brighton go up via the play-offs. I thought they would go through 2-0 or even 3-0, but all credit to Palace.

Palace also had a match-winner in Wilfried Zaha, who joins Manchester United next season. Give a player like him any space and he will punish you nine times out of ten.

Brighton have now suspended Gus Poyet and some of his backroom staff. What's that all about? It can't be for failing to get promotion, because he's done a great job there.

Was it something he said? Or have they heard that he has been tapped up by another club?

The clubs coming down from the Premier League might have their parachute payments and all that, but just look at what happened to Wolves last season!

They couldn't win a game in the Championship and have gone down for a reason.

In Forest's case, a lot will depend on how much cash is made available to the manager and who he decides to bring in.

Forest have already been linked with the old Stags lad, Baptiste, at Blackpool.

Scottish international Charlie Adam is another whisper, as is Reading striker Adam Le Fondre.

Now Le Fondre scores goals for fun. But would he come to Forest?

Midfielder Adam also has a proven track record and has a good head on him. He's also got a great left foot, is good a dead-ball situations and knows how to look after himself in midfield.

But I wasn't too impressed when I saw him play against Wales. He looked to be sulking. It might just be that his best days are behind him.

A club like Forest is always going to be linked with players. But I take it with a pinch of salt until I see that they have signed.

It doesn't look as though Billy Sharp is coming back to the City Ground, and that would be a shame.

I wouldn't blame him because he spent too much time warming the bench. And, when he did get a game, they didn't play to his strengths.

There is talk of him joining Reading. But why would Nigel Atkins sign him? Didn't he send him out on loan when he was Southampton boss?

It's a shame that Forest have parted company with John Pemberton again, because he always does a good job for the club. But Forest's loss is Bristol City's gain as he links up with Sean O'Driscoll again.

I wonder where Chris Fairclough these days? Last I heard he was looking after the kids at Charlton.

I was sorry when he left Forest after the departure of Billy Davies because he had been a fantastic servant to the club.

He is the ideal man to have on the coaching staff and is a great example to the kids.

He was a tremendous footballer and a credit to his profession. He was also a very nice lad, by the way.

You wouldn't find him rolling about the pitch pretending to be hurt or waving imaginary yellow cards at the referee.

WHAT'S the first thing you do when you've finished a marathon shop? Stagger through your front door, groaning under the weight of a load of bags and gasping for a cup of tea probably.

At least, that's the way it used to be.

But why groan and gasp in the 21st century High Street?

No one groans when they're shopping these days (ok, just all blokes) because the heavy stuff has probably been delivered to your doorstep after you carried out the physically onerous task of pressing some keys on a laptop.

And no one gasps anymore because shops sit cheek-by-jowl with coffee shops, cafes, restaurants, delicatessens, smoothie bars, cookie kiosks and other purveyors of low-fat lard. You can't move for opportunities to top up your cholesterol.

Shopping, you see, is not a chore anymore. It is an experience.

It has to be an experience because there is a breed of people out there for whom handing over good money for the pleasure of battling with the hordes is right up there with medieval torture.

Then there's the small matter of that armchair alternative: you can either drive to Murderhall or click on a website, so what's it going to be (not the M1, thanks very much).

So, if shopping destinations are to compete with the wide variety of competitors for people's time (sport, cinema, tourist attractions, gyms and other leisure pursuits), they've got to do not one but two things: offer facilities which give people a reason to hang around, and be open at times when busy people are not so busy.

We now know that this is what the long-term plans to extend the Victoria Centre boil down to. Not the £35m that Intu wants to spend covering up that awful concrete, but the money it wants to throw at a whopping great extension at the northern end of the centre on Mansfield Road.

As and when that happens (or even if – Intu and the city council are at loggerheads over these plans) the Victoria Centre will no longer be just a day time shopping mall.

It will stay open during the evening and you'll be able to eat there and entertain yourself.

We don't know exactly what form this experience will take, but Intu issued a stock market statement a few days ago which said that it believed that "for a shopping centre to thrive it needs to trade into the evening, providing the extended shopping hours which our customers want and a wider range of catering and entertainment options."

So now you know – forget the midweek match, you could be enjoying a Wednesday night choosing curtains at John Lewis instead.

Now, those of a certain age might well be sitting in their armchairs and snorting that history is merely repeating itself here. After all, didn't the Victoria Centre once have a food court?

As our old black-and-white image shows, it did indeed, complete with a fountain, verdant foliage (ok, a tree) and even umbrellas to protect you from the intense heat which used to beat down upon us in those far-off days of 1985.

With the very greatest of respect to those who look back fondly on the days when the Victoria Centre was still regarded as an icon of retail excellence, the fodder doled out at the food court would probably have been flash-fried by restaurant critics.

Consumers these days expect not baked potatoes with dayglo 'cheese' washed down by gullet-melting styrofoam tea, but an exotic choice of food from a range of branded restaurants or cafes. In other words, places where you can enjoy a meal rather than tolerate murder on a paper plate.

Right now, the Victoria Centre can't deliver that. Even with that £35m refurb, it will still be behind the times for what's meant to be a flagship city shopping destination.

Most days, the centre shuts at 6pm, though you've got until 7.30pm to race round on Wednesdays.

Contrast that with Cribbs Causeway in Bristol (a similar size city to Nottingham), where a 9pm finish is routine. Closer to home, Leicester's Highcross stays open until 8pm on weekdays. Even Westfield Derby stays open until 8pm on Thursday and Fridays, while its restaurants (TGI Friday's Pizza Express and Nando's) are open to 9.30pm or 10pm. At Meadowhall, the mall stays open until 9pm, the Oasis dining area an hour later.

There are plenty of places you can go to eat in Nottingham (and the Cornerhouse is only a stone's throw from the Victoria Centre). But even on shopping hours the Victoria Centre seems stuck in another era.

The City Council wants Broadmarsh, which Intu also owns, redeveloped before the Victoria Centre is extended, Intu wants planning permission for the Victoria Centre extension before it does anything with Broadmarsh. In other words, we're in a right pickle.

CLIFTON folk are working to revive a tradition that lasted around 100 years.

May Day celebrations on the green in Clifton village were held from 1908 to 2009.

And now a group of residents are looking to set the maypole up again – applying for funding in time for May Day next year.

Mark Fraser, who was born and raised in Clifton, is leading the group and wants the celebrations to take place in Central Park, Southchurch Drive, Clifton.

The 37-year-old retail manager said: "I know it's going to be a headache, I'm going to be spending a lot of time on it, but it's all worth it in the end.

"I lived in the house facing the green where they took place when I was young. It was our highlight of the year, it was great."

The traditional celebrations in Clifton Village included voting for a May Day queen as well as many stalls and activities.

"It was just a big highlight, a great day out," said Mr Fraser.

"It's something that must come back, I'm sick of hearing about all the negatives, let's start looking for the positives.

"It's not as bad as you think, it's a lovely community – we can pull people in together and celebrate that."

And Mr Fraser said he already had massive support for the plans.

"I've opened up a Facebook page and hundreds of people have joined. I've had messages of support, people offering to pick up litter or blow up balloons. Someone's even offered to sew the bunting."

Mark is beginning to make contact with local businesses and people who can offer grants but is also looking for volunteers to help with the plans.

He said: "I don't want it to be an occasion where people have to pay a lot of money to come and enjoy themselves. We need as many people to volunteer."

He added: "So far we have a confirmed total of 74 stalls willing to take part in 2014.

"I'm more than happy to organise as much as I can but I need to know other people's strengths to help out."

One of the most important features of the event will be the dance around the maypole and Dovecote School in Greencroft has donated the use of theirs.

Clifton North councillor Roger Steel said: "I do support community initiatives and volunteers from the local area.

"I think it would add another event for the benefit of the local residents and the community.

"I'm all in agreement with local initiatives to bring the community together. I have been involved in local community initiatives such as the Wilford village bonfire event and I'd be willing to give any help I could."

Lilian Greenwood, MP for Nottingham South, pledged her support for the idea.

She said: "There's a long tradition of May Day celebrations in Clifton and lots of happy memories.

"It is a great thing to revive the festival, bringing the community together and I would be happy to support the plans."

RISE Park residents are petitioning to say the council isn't doing enough about the problem of dog mess.

Petitioners Julie Wright, Terri Bradshaw and Helen Edwards have collected over 500 signatures so far.

They are calling for more regular cleaning up of dog mess and a tougher crackdown on dog owners who don't clear up by installing mobile CCTV cameras around dog dirt "hotspots".

Julie Wright, of Haverhill Crescent, said: "They had a week of action last year where they did a number of things which have made no difference whatsoever.

"I just think it's pointless, what they are trying to do, because it's not working."

Ms Wright named a number of places in the area as particularly bad, including the pavements around the Top Valley Academy and the nearby primary schools.

Top Valley Academy Principal Peter Brown said: "It hasn't been brought to my attention, but that doesn't mean that it's not a really significant point.

"Where there are children passing on a regular basis people who have dogs have to behave responsibly."

Local resident and mum of three Frances Finch, 39, of Prendwick Gardens, says she has noticed dog mess in Southglade Park and on the roads around it.

She said: "People walk their dogs on the field and when they walk them along the road they don't always clean it up.

"My kids walk along here a lot, unfortunately.

"I think it's the dog owners that need to take responsibility – they need to clean up after their animals and should be fined if they don't.

"It's just catching them, isn't it?"

Incidents of dog fouling have been reported to Nottingham City Council since the beginning of the year.

The petitioners' criticism comes just a few weeks before their next planned week of action in June.

Bestwood councillor Brian Grocock said: "We are active over dog fouling all the time and we try to combat it as best we can – it is an ongoing process.

"It's a thing that is very close to my heart as I'm a dog owner myself and I class myself as a responsible dog owner.

"It is something that I know people get very upset and concerned about, especially if you push your pram through it or your child walks through it."

Councillor Grocock said the council had several policies in place, including regular patrols, a "See It, Report It" campaign and regular cleaning.

He added: "Dog owners should realise that they are part of society."

THEFT has been reduced by almost 40 per cent in Hucknall town centre – thanks to the eyes of a community inspector.

A poster featuring the eyes of Inspector Nick Butler was put up after studies suggested people behave better when they feel they are being watched.

The eye-catching poster, designed to target theft in the area, is displayed in petrol stations, supermarkets, car parks and other key places around the town.

Inspector Butler said he was inspired to create the poster after reading an article about the study.

He said: "I photographed my own eyes and used an art package to stylise them a bit.

"We have an excellent beat team but it is impossible to be everywhere all of the time."

Now, Hucknall has seen almost a 40 per cent drop in theft in the town centre after the posters were implemented 18 months ago.

The inspector added: "Although other districts have seen reductions, they are not as dramatic as those seen in Hucknall.

"It also reminds people to take care of their property and not have handbags open."

Sofia Delgaudio, manager of Sense Charity shop on the High Street, said: "I have one of the posters behind the till. When people are at the till, they tend to look up and see it."

She added that the poster helped her to remind customers to watch their bags.

Manager of Poundstretcher Jennie Downs said that although the poster was not displayed in her store, she had noticed a decrease in theft recently.

She said: "Anything is worth a go. I think shoplifting has gone down – especially in here."

Ashfield District Councillor Lachlan Morrison praised the police initiative and said he supported anything encouraging good behaviour.

He said: "Anything that the police do to reduce crime is definitely a good thing."

Inspector Butler added: "I think it's like the cardboard police figures you see in shops. People seem to behave better when they feel watched.

"I hope it's also a reminder that we will take action when crimes take place."

Arnold: M. N. Singh, 77 High Street, to 6.30pm; Sainsbury's Pharmacy, Nottingham Road, to 10pm; Asda Pharmacy, 111-127 Front Street, 7am to 11pm.

Beeston and Lenton Abbey: Grewal Chemist, 38-40 Chilwell Road, to 7pm; Jardines Pharmacy, Sainsbury's Complex, Beeston, to 6.45pm; Manor Pharmacy, 24 Chilwell Road, to 7pm.

Bestwood: Forest Pharmacy, 131 Arnold Road, to 7pm.

Bilborough: Co-op Pharmacy, Bracebridge Drive, 7am to 11pm.

Burton Joyce: Burrows & Close, 49 Main Street, to 6.30pm.

Chilwell: Gordon Davis Chemists, 81 Bramcote Lane, to 6.45pm.

Clifton: Day Night Pharmacy, 116 Southchurch Drive, to Midnight.

Cotgrave: The Co-operative Pharmacy, 9 The Precinct, Candleby Lane, to 6.30pm.

Daybrook: Snowden-James Pharmacy, Daybrook Health Centre, Mansfield Road, to 6.30pm.

East Leake: Manor Pharmacy, 12/14 Gotham Lane, to 6.30pm.

Eastwood: The Co-operative Pharmacy, 2A Church Walk, to 6.30pm.

Gamston: Morrisons Store Pharmacy, Lings Bar Road, to 8pm.

Heanor: W R Evans, 67 Mansfield Road, to 6pm.

Hucknall: Health Centre Pharmacy, Curtis Street, to 7pm; Lloyds Pharmacy, Unit 1, Farleys Lane, to 6.45pm; Tesco Pharmacy, Ashgate Road, 6.30am to 10.30pm.

Hyson Green: Asda Pharmacy, Asda Superstore, 7.30am-10pm.

Keyworth: Co-operative Pharmacy, 2 The Square, to 6pm; Keyworth Pharmacy, The Square, 8.30am to 6.30pm.

Long Eaton: Boots, Long Eaton Health Centre, Midland Street, to midnight.

Long Eaton: Tesco Extra, Waverley Street, 6.30am to 10.30pm.

Mansfield: Sainsbury's, Nottingham Road, to 10pm.

New Basford/Forest Fields: Shally's Chemists, 37 Beech Avenue, to 6.30pm.

Nottingham central: Glasshouse Chemist, 42-44 Glasshouse Street, to 7pm; Canning, 2 Beastmarket Hill, Old Market Square, to 6.30pm; Boots, Riverside Retail Park, 9am-midnight; Castle Marina Sainsbury's, 7am-11pm.

Radford: Canning, 61 Ilkeston Road, to 7.15pm.

Radford: Midnight Pharmacy, 194 Alfreton Road, 9am to midnight.

Rise Park: Knights Pharmacy, 9 Bestwood Park Drive West, 9am-7pm.

Sherwood and Woodthorpe: Lloyds Chemist, 678 Mansfield Road, to 6.30pm; Jayplex Chemist, 724 Mansfield Road, Woodthorpe, to 6.30pm.

Sneinton and St Ann's: D Parmar, 298 Woodborough Road, 9am-12.30pm and 2-6.30pm; Phakey's, Family Medical Centre, 149 Carlton Road, 9am-6.30pm.

Southwell: Lloyds Chemist, 2-4 King Street, 8.30am-6pm; Co-operative Pharmacy, The Ropewalk, 7am-11pm.

Stapleford: Co-op Pharmacy, Stapleford Care Centre, Church Street, 7am-11pm.

Strelley: Omega Chemist, 25 Flamsteed Road, 8.45am-1pm and 2.30pm-6.30pm.

West Bridgford: Asda Chemist, Asda Superstore, 184 Loughborough Road, to 10pm; Manor Pharmacy, 97A Melton Road, to 7pm.

City centre

Sneinton: Lane closure in Bath Street, between King Edward Street and Carlton Road, today.

Broxtowe

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

Rushcliffe

Ruddington: Temporary suspension of weight limit in Flawforth Lane, between the A60 Loughborough Road and A52 Wheatcroft Island, from 8pm to 6am nightly until Friday.

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

Gedling

Carlton: 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 Saturday, June 15.

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

Newark and Sherwood

Bleasby: Main Street closed from Tuesday until June 1.

Boughton: Manvers View closed until June 1.

Ashfield

Annesley Woodhouse: Salmon Lane closed 7am-4pm daily until Friday, and from May 28 to May 31.

Hucknall: Wood Lane closed between the junctions with the A611 Hucknall Bypass roundabout to Park Road, from 9am on Wednesday, May 29, until 11.59pm on Friday, May 31.

Hucknall: Linby Colliery Level Crossing, in Church Lane/Linby Road, closed for track relaying works from 10pm on Friday, May 31, until 7am on Monday, June 3. Further closures are also planned between 10pm on Saturday, June 8, and 8am on Sunday, June 9; from 10pm on Friday, June 14, until 6am on Monday, June 17; and between 10pm on Saturday, June 22, and 9am on Sunday, June 23.

Sutton-in-Ashfield: Station Road closed from Kings Mill Road East to Mabel Avenue and Bathwood Drive, between 7pm and 5am nightly until Saturday inclusive. A temporary 30mph speed limit will also 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 works, until 11.59pm on Saturday.