TWO pensioners were left shaken after youths attacked their Carlton home in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The couple, who live in Lymington Gardens, off Carlton Road, and wish to remain anonymous, had their front door and two double-glazed windows smashed through.

Their front garden was trashed as well.

The 74-year-old woman was woken by the attack at around 3.30am and rushed to alert her 78-year-old husband, who said: "I have never been so scared in all my life.

"My wife looked out of the window as they ran off shouting. They are dirty cowards to do something like that to old-age pensioners.

"I just didn't know what was happening and what to do."

Before they ran away, the group of youths broke the couple's garden ornaments, throwing the garden gnomes through a window.

The victims added: "They smashed everything in the front garden.

"I don't know why they decided to pick on us – we have never done anything to offend anybody in all our time."

The couple, who are still waiting for repairs to be made to their double glazing, said that nothing was stolen.

This adds to their confusion, as it appears there was no motive for the attack.

Nottinghamshire Police confirmed that the incident was reported at 3.45am on Saturday and that no one has been arrested to date in relation to the attack.

A spokesperson said: "Investigations are ongoing and we would appreciate if anybody who has any information came forward."

Police are appealing for witnesses and have asked anybody who can help to call 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

AROUND 11 per cent of over-85s in Ashfield have received a free smoke alarm as part of a scheme to offer home fire safety checks.

The council's customer service centre contacted residents aged 85 and over to see if they wanted the free service to reduce the chance of a fire or accident in their home.

Around 560 residents were contacted through the joint initiative from Notts County Council and Notts Fire and Rescue Service, with 48 per cent of people already having a smoke alarm.

The 45-minute checks allow firefighters to advise residents on a range of safety issues, including overloading plugs, trailing wires and the importance of installing and testing smoke alarms.

There were 207 house fires involving an elderly resident in Nottinghamshire in 2012/13, 187 in 2011/12 and 193 in 2010/11.

Paul McKay, service director for promoting independence and public protection at Notts County Council, said: "We are really pleased with the success of this pilot.

"This vulnerable group, who already access our services, can have a safety check to prevent the risk of fire and injuries in their home."

Chris Hooper, engagement and partnership manager at the Fire and Rescue Service, said: "Through the pilot scheme, we carried out 60 home fire safety checks on vulnerable individuals in the Ashfield area. This pilot will now be evaluated to look at how it can be improved before it is rolled out across the county, district by district.

"This is a major step forward for us and will enable us to quickly and efficiently identify and assist people that we consider most at risk of fire."

People over 85 wanting a free home fire safety check should contact the Fire and Rescue Service on 0800 022 3235 or email vulnerable.people@notts-fire.gov.uk

A free tool to help older people test their smoke alarms without standing on chairs or climbing ladders is available free of charge from the council by calling 0115 977 4676 or phoning the Fire and Rescue Service on 0800 022 3235.

REVISED plans to build more than 6,000 homes have been approved by Broxtowe Borough Council.

The plans had been amended to meet the demands of the 2032 high-speed rail development, which includes a station in Toton.

Councillors voted 23 to 15 in favour of building 6,150 houses across the borough by 2028.

The council's plans to meet expected future housing demand will now be submitted to the Secretary of State.

A more detailed plan, outlining how the housing will be spread across the area will be drawn up soon.

A meeting was told that after the government announced in January that Toton was the preferred location for a station for HS2, the council consulted people on revised plans "to include a strategic location for growth in the vicinity of the proposed HS2 station".

Councillor David Watts, vice-chairman of development control, said the plan was a sensible and realistic vision for Broxtowe that had taken into consideration the views of the public. He said: "We tried to take into account as many responses from people as possible as well as providing for the levels of housing needed to move forward."

Several councillors voiced their dissatisfaction with the plans. Some were unhappy about the alterations to green-belt boundaries to accommodate 2,150 homes, which included an application for 450 houses at Field Farm, already submitted to the Secretary of State.

Further green-belt development at Toton Sidings has also been identified as important for economic growth.

Nuthall councillor Jill Owen was concerned about the use of land which is currently protected. She said: "This plan means to offer up beautiful parts of green belt in order to cram houses on our land.

"I accept that Broxtowe needs additional housing but no more than can be used on brown field sites and other field sites."

The council's Conservative leader, Councillor Richard Jackson, said objections by himself and other Conservatives did not represent a rejection to housing development in the borough.

He said: "We're not talking about having no housing and it's not about standing in line with the national party.

"We've been threatened that if we don't support this we will have a planning free-for-all on our hands."

Kimberley and Cossall Councillor Richard Robinson backed the proposals and criticised those who opposed them.

He said: "It's a travesty. Not only are you letting your residents down but you are advocating a race to the bottom."

Public support for the development has been mixed. Christine Batham, a member of Toton Environmental Protection Society, said: "I don't think we should be developing on green belt but I accept that we don't live in an ideal world."

A FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND business for Ruddington has got off to a flying start and is seeing all ages pass through the door.

Rider's Ink tattoo studio in Church Street is the first tattoo establishment in the village.

Owner Scott Morrell said he was thrilled with the regular custom he is receiving.

The father-of-one said: "I'm getting about three or four customers a day at the minute, which is great. During the opening day at the end of April, I was fully booked and people had to make appointments – we were that busy."

Mr Morrell, 25, added that his shop was appealing to all ages.

He said: "We have had a good range of people in so far. The other day I had an old lady who wanted an angel on her back and just before her I did a religious symbol for an 18-year-old lad.

"I know Ruddington isn't the kind of place you might expect a tattoo studio, but we've got people popping in all the time. Some of them are just a bit curious about us and want to have a look around, others know what they want and come and get it done."

The 2011 census showed that the average age in Ruddington was 42, but a large chunk of residents are over 45, with 1,508 of the 7,216 residents aged between 45 and 59, and 484 people aged 75 to 84.

Mr Morrell has previously run tattoo shops in Carlton Road and Nuthall Road but decided to move to Ruddington after business slowed down.

He has taken on an apprentice to help him out two days a week at his Ruddington business.

He added: "I always knew I wanted to be a tattoo artist. Drawing was the only thing I was good at when I was at school, so I just took it up. I have been doing it for six years now.

"The other two shops were not doing as well, so I moved. I'm from Clifton, so this is much more convenient for me too. I plan to stay here for the future."

The shop is open Monday to Friday, 9am until 6pm. Tattoo prices start at £10 and all customers must be at least 18 years old.

If you want to book an appointment, contact Mr Morrell on 07860 644842.

EXPERIENCED baker Arnold Brown went head-to-head with young trainee cooks competing for the glory of creating Nottingham's best apple pie.

A tried and tested recipe belonging to 90-year-old Arnold, who ran Brown's Bakery in Mansfield Road, Nottingham, was pitched against a pie baked by teenagers who are taking an NVQ course in hospitality and catering.

In a closely-fought battle, Arnold's age-old recipe narrowly triumphed over youthful enthusiasm – but only just. Both pies had golden shortcrust pastry with a light dusting of sugar and were packed with juicy Bramley apples making it a tough decision for judges Erewash MP Jessica Lee, Katie Evans from Nottingham Hospitals' Charity's Hayward House appeal and myself.

The recipe belonging to Arnold, who lives in Beechdale and receives support from Home Instead Senior Care, was baked by Gemma Poole from the home care organisation. Gemma said: "Arnold will be absolutely over the moon. He said we'll give them young 'uns a run for their money."

The competition was hosted by Cafe 100. The community cafe doubles as a training base for the hospitality and catering industry for disadvantaged teenagers, aged 16-18, who live in Tuntum Housing Association flats within the same property.

Two days a week they train in kitchen and front-of-house skills. Tuition includes an abattoir visit and a bread workshop led by John Freeman, head chef at Sat Bains' two star Michelin restaurant in Nottingham.

Special projects officer Gul Khosa said even if they didn't continue a career in the catering industry, the qualification and experience gave them the confidence to pursue other avenues.

James Hessey, 18, who would like a job in the motor vehicle trade, said: "I knew how to cook a bit before but I have learnt more from it – it's been good. I can make lasagne, cakes, breakfasts and soup."

The cafe, situated at the corner of Derby Road and Wellington Street, serves breakfasts, from a full English to porridge, and lunches including steak and Guinness pie and sausages with onion gravy.

Gul said: "We really want people to come in and support the young people. The prices are good and the food is good."

Cafe 100 is open to the public Tuesday to Friday from 8.30am to 3pm.

Arnold Brown's apple pie recipe

Ingredients:

500g soft flour

125g lard (or white cooking fat)

125g butter (at room temperature)

One egg

Sufficient water to make pastry dough

750g Bramley apples, diced to half inch

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Ensure the butter is at room temperature.

2. Blend the butter, lard and flour until fine crumbs.

3. Add egg followed by sufficient water to blend into the pastry dough. Arnold said: "Gently does it. The secret of good pastry is not to overwork it."

4. Choose a dish in which the apple nearly fills it and add sugar to taste.

5. Roll out pastry and fit to dish.

6. Decorate and/or wash with egg for a shiny finish.

7. Bake for 30 minutes. "It's only acceptable with lashing of custard," concluded Arnold.

A WOMAN says she is still awaiting a refund more than two months after a health clinic apparently ceased trading.

Janet Locklin spent a total of £787 on sessions at the Slimline Clinic after seeing an advert about its beauty treatments.

But part way through her course of treatments at the clinic, she received a text message stating the company had closed.

Mrs Locklin, 62, of Radcliffe-on-Trent, said: "I was shocked. I had only been in that week and the clinician said 'I'll see you on such and such', and then I got this text message from them."

Mrs Locklin first attended the Slimline Clinic, in Fletcher Gate, Nottingham city centre, last October and paid £299 for 12 sessions of the ultrasonic lipo inch loss treatment.

She then paid a further £138 in December for another 12 ultrasonic lipo sessions, before spending £350 in January on booking 12 facial treatments to run alongside the ultrasonic lipo sessions.

On March 1 she received a text from the clinic saying: "Hello Slimline Clinic here, we are no longer operating, all remaining sessions will be refunded via cheque over next 14 working days."

The message also told her to e-mail the company to request a refund for any outstanding sessions.

Mrs Locklin said: "I have sent three e-mails and a text saying they owe me a refund for 12 lipo sessions and six facials, but had no reply."

She added: "I'm losing hope now. I feel I've been let down as I've paid for a service I've not had."

The Post called the Slimline Clinic this week and was faced with an automated message with three options about making a booking, changing a booking, or asking for a refund.

Upon pressing for the refund option, an automated message then said to e-mail the company.

The Post phoned the number again yesterday and received an automated message saying "Welcome and thank you for calling Slimline Clinic", before the line then cut off.

After also twice e-mailing the company the Post hadn't received a response by last night.

The Post spoke to the Slimline Clinic's former landlords, who confirmed they ended their tenancy around March.

A spokeswoman for Nottingham City Trading Standards said: "We are aware of the company, but they are not involved in any active investigation."

SOME residents were allowed back into their homes yesterday as demolition work continued in the aftermath of the gas blast in Newark.

More than 100 people had to be moved out after a gas explosion ripped through a terraced house in Wright Street on Sunday.

Grandfather Leslie Rourke, 71, and his daughter-in-law Jeanette, 40, were killed. Her husband Nick, 42, was critically injured.

On Monday, Notts Fire and Rescue Service spent hours dismantling the remains of the house before it was safe to remove Jeanette's body.

After 48 hours away, some residents were allowed back into their homes, while those in Private Street and other parts of Wright Street were asked to prepare for another night away.

A police spokesman said: "Building Control Services from Newark and Sherwood District Council will be carrying out the controlled demolition of the supporting walls and the remainder of the roof structure on the two neighbouring properties."

One resident told the Post: "There has been a strong sense of community, everybody has been looking after each other and the Methodist Church at the end of the road has set up a food bank for people. I'm proud to live in this street."

Superintendent Mike Manley said: "I'd like to thank the people affected for their understanding and patience, along with those who are volunteering and helping to make life as comfortable as possible for those who cannot return home. "

Residents from affected properties should report to the information centre at Charles Street Methodist Church or call the helpline on 0300 500 80 80.

More help from the county council on 0300 500 80 80 and the district council on 01636 655548.

A NEW alcohol-free bar will open in Nottingham – thanks to a £340,419 grant.

Double Impact is one 11 projects across the East Midlands to receive a share of more than £3 million from the Big Lottery Fund.

The money will enable the charity to open an alcohol-free bar, where people can meet for a coffee or meal during the day and for entertainment in the evening.

Chief executive Graham Miller said the new café and club was aimed at everyone.

"This is going to be a quality venue that offers an alternative to all those places serving alcohol," he said. "There isn't anywhere like it in Nottingham at the moment and we hope it will become a destination – for business people during the day and for families and groups of friends at night who just want to sit, see some music or comedy somewhere that's not part of the alcohol scene.

"It's about challenging people's stigmas and attitudes to both addicts and alcohol.

"We wouldn't be able to do it without the Big Lottery's involvement – it's too big – but they've given us the kick-start we need and now we have to work to make it a success."

The bar will be open by the end of the year.

A building is yet to be secured but will be in the city centre and will seat around 140 people.

All profit will be invested back in to Double Impact and the bar will also provide employment and training for service users.

Part of the grant will also be spent on a recovery recruitment programme.

Poet Georgia Brown, 43, of Sherwood, first got in touch with Double Impact about three-and-a-half-years ago when she was struggling with a heroin and alcohol addiction. She is now about to start training to become a life coach.

"This venue is something I've been looking for for a long time because there's evenings when you want to go out but don't want to see people inebriated," she said.

A grant of £278,297 also went to Newark and Notts Child Bereavement and Loss Centre and £265,847 to POW Nottingham, for people involved in or affected by prostitution.

A TEENAGER shouted "it's going to get sticky" moments before he was shot dead, a court heard.

Malakai McKenzie, 19, was hit in the head after a gunman fired at a car outside The Hubb pub, Hucknall Road, Sherwood, in the early hours of April 21 last year.

Nottingham Crown Court heard four shots were fired, one hitting 19-year-old Mr McKenzie.

Timothy Spencer, prosecuting, said Cameron Cashin – one of three men accused of Mr McKenzie's murder – was the gunman.

As CCTV footage of the shooting was played in court, Mr Spencer said: "In the car were four young men. Mr McKenzie's brother saw Cameron Cashin approach.

"He heard Malakai shout out 'that's Cam, that's Cam, it's going to get sticky'.

"The prosecution suggests the evidence of the [CCTV] imagery supports the evidence of the two eyewitnesses – two of the McKenzies – who will tell you the gunman was Cameron Cashin."

Cashin, 21, of Liddington Street, New Basford, denies murdering Mr McKenzie, as well as three counts of attempted murder and one count of possession of a firearm.

Two other men, Malcolm Francis, 19, of Constance Street, Basford, and Ijah Lavelle-Moore, 21, of Nottingham Road, New Basford, also deny the charges.

The court has previously heard that the shooting was the third time in three months that Mr McKenzie had been shot at due to gang rivalry.

Continuing his opening of the prosecution case yesterday, Mr Spencer said the bullet which killed Mr McKenzie also hit an asthma inhaler in the pocket of one of his cousins sitting next to him in the rear of the car.

He said: "Shot one enters the car somewhere around the driver's side window and it passes through the car, and emerges through the rear windscreen. The expert says shot one did no damage to a human being.

"Shot two was a rather lower trajectory. It went down past the driver's side.

"It may be because of shot one that Malakai McKenzie leaned forward and took shot two in his head."

The court heard a third shot ended embedded in the car's bodywork, while a fourth passed through the vehicle.

Mr Spencer said Mr McKenzie was alive for a short time after being shot.

The car was driven to the City Hospital and then to the Queen's Medical Centre, where he was pronounced dead.

Mr Spencer told the court that Cashin phoned Lavelle-Moore, who was with Francis, at 3.43am – 18 minutes after Mr McKenzie was shot at 3.25am.

The court also heard evidence of how a resident in Bagthorpe Close, Sherwood, had called police minutes before the shooting to report a group of men congregating near her house.

Mr Spencer said: "The prosecution say that the woman's instincts that something wrong was happening was absolutely correct. This was criminal activity.

"This was, we say, the Cashin gang meeting up for a final rendezvous before moving on to The Hubb."

Jurors were shown CCTV footage of Cashin and three other men walking along Hucknall Road to the car park at The Hubb.

Mr Spencer said: "This shooting, we say, was not confined to the four who get themselves caught on camera.

"Others must have been involved. Others must have had roles to play."

The trial is set to continue today.

NOTTS County insists the club will not tolerate bullying – as police investigate allegations of racial abuse at Meadow Lane.

The Professional Footballers' Association says it is supporting a group of young Magpies' players in raising allegations of bullying by some members of the coaching staff, who it says have now resigned.

It is understood the allegations, some of a racist nature, were made against youth coach Brett Adams and lead foundation coach Lee Broster.

In a club statement, Notts said: "Notts County would like to reiterate the club's zero tolerance policy on any form of bullying or intimidation.

"As a club, Notts County are committed to offering a safe and enjoyable environment for all of its employees, both playing and administrative and want every member of staff to feel comfortable in reporting any incidents that contravene this strategy.

"Recent incidents have brought the club's procedures for dealing with bullying and intimidation under scrutiny, but we are delighted to have received praise for our actions in such matters from both the PFA and the League Managers' Association (LMA).

"Both organisations were involved throughout a recent disciplinary issue and were impressed with how the club dealt with the issues raised, co-operating fully to ensure the most stringent possible investigation was launched.

"Whilst we cannot comment on the specifics of such actions, we would like to assure everyone associated with Notts County that we take any allegations of inappropriate behaviour seriously and will always investigate fully any accusations brought against anyone involved with the club."

In a separate statement, attributed to PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor OBE, the PFA said: "The PFA has been working with and supporting a group of young players at Notts County in raising allegations of bullying by some members of the coaching staff. Some of these allegations were also of a racist nature.

"We take any bullying, intimidation and racist behaviour extremely seriously and work with the relevant bodies in football to do all we can to deal with such allegations thoroughly and ultimately seek to eradicate these problems.

"We have a duty of care towards the players and in this situation we made sure that they were given immediate assistance, which included being accompanied and represented at every stage of the process by the PFA.

"There is a proper process in place to deal with incidents of this nature and that process was followed by all concerned.

"Those members of the coaching staff took the decision to resign just before a disciplinary hearing and it is obviously not possible to prevent someone from resigning in these circumstances.

"However, the effect of their collective decision to resign was that the players were able to put this behind them and continue with their careers.

"Our first priority is protecting the players at all times and they were satisfied with the way in which the matter was dealt with."

As previously reported in the Post, the Black Lawyer's Association has also complained to Notts Police about the alleged abuse.

CHILDREN at Pinewood Infants love the latest addition to their school – a yellow double-decker bus.

It was moved into position by a crane and now pupils can't wait to get inside.

Children at the Arnold school are being asked what they want to see inside, with the expectation that the downstairs will be a play area and the upstairs will be opened up for community use.

Head teacher Chris McAdam said it would be great for the children.

She said: "It is very exciting for them. They are desperate to get inside the bus.

"It is going to be used as an alternative teaching area. It will provide them with a comfortable play area as well. And we plan to open it up for community use."

The school submitted a bid to the Big Lottery Fund to buy the bus. It received £10,000 and chipped in with £5,000 from its own coffers.

The 25-year-old bus came from a company called Used Coach Sales, in Warrington, Cheshire.

Work will begin in the coming weeks on decorating the inside. The windows which face onto the street will be blacked out.

Rob Molloy, the school's building and maintenance expert, has already started work on the bus.

Youngsters were excited about seeing it being put in position. Mitchell Willis, six, said: "I love the bus. I'm really looking forward to being able to get on it. I think they should put some sticky glue on it so we can climb up the walls."

Ben Dames, six, said: "It's exciting that we are going to get to play on the bus. I want to be able to go upstairs to do some reading and then use the downstairs area for playing with toys."

Five-year-old Kwame Aqua said: " I want to play with toys and figures in the bus."

A MAN told a court how he pleaded with a gunman not to kill him and his friend.

Dwayne Bryan said he managed to escape from the alleged gunman, Damien Fogo.

But Nottingham Crown Court heard that Fogo shot Germaine Edwards in the boot of as car.

The friends had given Fogo a lift on the day Mr Edwards died – Saturday, November 17.

Everything had seemed normal, said Mr Bryan, as Mr Edwards drove Fogo to pick up keys and cash.

After waiting for 15 minutes, Fogo returned to the car with a gun, Nottingham Crown Court heard.

Mr Bryan said there was a "big bang" on Mr Edwards' window and he opened the door.

"He [Fogo] grabbed the keys, pointed the gun at Germaine and said get out of the car," said Mr Bryan.

"He [Fogo] walked him to the boot, put Germaine in the boot and jumped in the back of the car. I was nervous. I said 'don't kill us, please'.

"We just thought one of us was going to die or both of us were going to die."

Fogo is accused of murdering Mr Edwards, a Co-op manager who had been expecting £10,000 redundancy from the store where he had worked in St Ann's.

Mr Bryan said Fogo said he wanted "ten grand" and that he was not going back to prison.

"He told me to drive, drive to get him some money," said Mr Bryan.

Mr Bryan drove Mr Edwards' hired Ford Fiesta, with Fogo in the back seat and Mr Edwards still in the boot.

As he drove towards Broxtowe Police Station he tried to crash the car into another car, but the driver swerved out of the way and the Ford Fiesta stalled.

Mr Bryan explained to the jury what he had been doing: "I was trying to cause a scene... just so I could try and save my mate's life."

After the car stalled, Mr Bryan got out of the driver's seat and ran to the police station, leaving Mr Edwards in the boot.

As he ran he said he heard Fogo shout from the driver's open window, "you're dead or Germaine's dead".

Fogo drove 28-year-old Mr Edwards to Fairnley Road, Bilborough, where he allegedly shot him in the car at close-range.

Mr Edwards, of Chingford Road, Bilborough, was seen staggering in Fairnley Road shouting 'help me, I've been shot'.

Prosecutor Timothy Barnes QC said that whoever "executed" Mr Edwards drove off. The car was set on fire at a car park close to Trowell Services.

Fogo, 32, previously of Hungerhill Road, St Ann's, denies murder, attempting to rob Mr Edwards and Mr Bryan and possessing a handgun.

He says he never returned to the car and was not part of what happened.

The case continues.

A GANG have been jailed over a "sophisticated" conspiracy targeting Nottingham clubbers for their mobile phones.

Expensive smart phones were stolen from handbags and pockets in bars and nightclubs and passed on for sale in Algeria.

Police uncovered the scam by chance – after a student at the University of Nottingham had her iPhone 4 stolen in Stealth nightclub.

She had downloaded an 'app' called Find My iPhone which allowed her to lock it and to track it.

The student logged onto her laptop and found her phone was at an address in Radford Boulevard.

She passed this information to detectives who found her phone and 58 others.

They had been taken from people in Stealth, Rock City, Market Bar, Ocean, Oceana, Coco Lounge and Red Bar.

Derby clubs Nono8 and Fever had also been targeted along with Embrace and Replica in Sheffield.

Algerians Karim Bousaboun and Mehamad Maddahi, both of Radford Boulevard, are believed to have made £51,488.71 from the scam.

Prosecutor Ian Way said a third man had been bailed and was believed to have left the country.

Bousaboun and Maddahi were jailed at Nottingham Crown Court yesterday for conspiracy to steal mobile phones.

Bousaboun, 25, who was found guilty after a trial, received four years, and Maddahi, 22, who pleaded guilty, got three.

Judge Andrew Hamilton said: "The two of you acted as a gang. You target young people in Nottingham clubs. They were easy prey. Young people have their phones about them at all times these days.

"As a gang you worked out a system whereby in fact one of the gang would take the phone out of the nightclub and hand it to the person waiting outside."

An Algerian man would collect the phones and take them out of the country.

"The fact is this netted you a considerable amount of money and this was clearly done as a very sophisticated scam," said the judge.

The woman who helped expose the scam said: "The night was ruined, so I went home and got straight on my laptop to see if I could find it on the 'Find My iPhone' app.

"They must have turned the phone off because the app couldn't find it, but at midday the next day they must have turned it on for a few minutes because I got a hit."

Detective Constable Perveez Rashid, of Radford Road CID, said 60 per cent of the phones they found had not been reported stolen and were presumed lost.

He urged people to pinlock phones, register them on the website www.immobilise.com and report a lost or stolen phone to police.

He said: "With Bousaboun and Maddahi now in jail, and their illicit enterprise dismantled, we have gone a long way to reducing this type of crime."

AFTER finishing their final university exams, friends Ahmed Mashadani and Andreas Aristidou could be forgiven for wanting to relax.

But that will be furthest from their minds as they set off on a 3,000-mile bicycle ride – to deliver a bottle of water.

The pair are due to set off from the University of Nottingham's University Park campus on Friday, June 7, to ride to Laayoune in Western Sahara.

The reason for their gruelling efforts is to support the charity Water.

The pair hope that the symbolic gesture, as well as their fund-raising, will raise awareness of drought and the difficulty of finding clean and accessible water without the help of charities like Water.

Water works to create better access to clean water in Africa.

The trip comes just a year after Ahmed, 25, rode a 110cc scooter from the University of Nottingham's Malaysia campus, near Kuala Lumpur, to Nottingham. The trip was to raise money for the Red Cross.

The management student said this had given him a hunger for more challenging tasks.

He added: "We are going to deliver a bottle of water from the UK to one of the driest places on earth, where finding clean water is an extremely difficult task. With nearly a billion people without access to clean water on our planet it is a very pressing issue.

"This charity has been active in the African continent for quite some time. You can really see the differences they have made.

"Accessing water is a lifeline for all of us and is a fundamental right for everybody."

The pair hope to reach their destination by mid to late-August.

They haven't drawn up a definite route but are looking to travel south through France and towards Barcelona in Spain. They will head along the coast and towards Gibraltar before heading into Africa.

They will have just £350 each to spend, meaning they must take a fold-up tent with them to sleep in.

Ahmed and Andreas began training for their ride six months ago, using bikes in the gym.

Ahmed added: "When I went on my scooter ride I had a plan of my route but it became difficult to stick to at times.

"So I felt that the best thing to do this time was to have a rough idea, but we will take it as it comes."

Wendy Chapple, associate professor at Nottingham University Business School, is Ahmed's personal tutor.

She said: "I think this is a huge challenge, but if anybody can do it Ahmed can.

"It is a brilliant initiative that he has taken on to raise money and highlight an important issue."

To find out more information about the pair's journey visit their Facebook page or donate to their cause at my.charitywater.org/ the-waterboy-express

A 23-YEAR-OLD man has been jailed for five years for attacking a football fan with a pint glass.

Jamie Burbanks attacked Marcus Fisher at the Stag and Pheasant pub in Clumber Street, Mansfield, at around 9.45pm on Tuesday, June 19 last year.

Marcus and his mum, Amanda, are now campaigning for venue owners to introduce plastics after 9pm under the name No Glass No Smash in a bid to reduce the chances of a repeat incident.

Mrs Fisher said: "This isn't just about what happened to Marcus, it's about stopping people like Burbanks reacting in the way he did.

"If he didn't have that glass in his hand he wouldn't have been able to use it against my son."

Marcus, 21, had been watching the England versus Ukraine Euro 2012 football match at the pub when Burbanks thrust a pint of beer into his face.

Marcus, from Mansfield Woodhouse, suffered a three-inch cut to his left cheek, which needed 11 stitches, and cuts to the left side of his neck and ear.

Burbanks, of Chaucer Street, Mansfield, was arrested the next day.

Detective Constable Steve Dunn said: "I support any attempts to reduce violence but let's not forget that the responsibility ultimately lies with an individual and them making the decision to drink responsibly."

A NURSE has been suspended for six months for leaving his unit to have a cigarette while there were no other qualified members of staff present.

Paul Rigby, who worked at the children's development centre in the City Hospital, left to have a smoke despite having been told that the other qualified member of staff was also on a break.

The senior staff nurse then at Notts Healthcare - the county's mental health trust - was also found to have left a student nurse to administer medication unsupervised.

The case was heard before the Nursing and Midwifery Council and Mr Rigby was given an interim suspension order of 6 months while his fitness to practice in the future and any further sanctions are investigated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

According to the report which outlines the evidence and findings from the hearing, Mr Rigby was informed the other qualified member of staff was leaving the ward for a break."

The report continued: "The panel prefers the evidence...that you left the unit to go on a cigarette break knowing that Mr 2 was on a planned break, therefore leaving no qualified member of nursing staff present."

Ms Adayemi, the lawyer acting on behalf of the council said an interim suspension order was needed "on the grounds that it is necessary for the protection of the public and is otherwise in the public interest, to maintain proper standards of conduct and behaviour."

Speaking about Mr Rigby, Ms Adayemi told the panel that "the facts have been found proved and that you did act dishonestly in a professional capacity."

In Mr Rigby's defence, his lawyer Ms Jan Alam of Ropewalk Chambers said testimonials previously provided from his colleagues stated they have faith in his ability.

The report said: "Ms Alam submitted that you [Mr Rigby] do not pose a risk to patients and that your clinical competencies have never been called into question."

Mr Rigby was also found to have signed the controlled drugs book saying he had administered morphine sulphate despite not being present at the time.

A spokesperson for the Trust said: "Nottinghamshire Healthcare can confirm that Paul Rigby, previously employed by the Trust in its Health Partnerships Division, is no longer employed by the Trust. The Trust takes staff misconduct very seriously and will investigate fully any allegations concerning the quality of patient care."

The hearing took place between May 7 and May 14 at the Old Bailey in London.

A COUSIN of Malakai McKenzie's has recounted the moment his relative was shot dead.

Amarley Robinson-McKenzie was in the driver's seat of an Audi A2 which was shot at four times by a gunman.

One of the bullets hit Mr McKenzie in the head.

Giving evidence behind a screen at Nottingham Crown Court yesterday, Mr Robinson-McKenzie said: "A group of guys walked in the car park. They were hooded up.

"At this point Malakai knew who the guys were. He said 'look sharp'. He knew what was going on.

"I looked up an I've seen a gun, so I ducked down and just heard three to four bangs.

"I heard my window smash and could feel bullets entering the car.

"They realised Malakai had been shot."

Mr McKenzie had been in the car with his brother and two cousins,

Mr Robinson-McKenzie told the court the four had left a party at The Hubb between 2am and 2.30am on April 21, 2012.

He said: "We drove back up the hill towards town, but I don't think we were ready to leave yet. So we turned around and parked at a bus stop [outside The Hubb] for a little while. We saw a car leave the car park so I thought we would go in there instead of being by the bus stop."

THREE men accused of murdering a teenager left Nottingham in the days after his death, a court heard.

Malakai McKenzie, 19, was shot in the head in a car outside The Hubb pub, Hucknall Road, Sherwood, in the early hours of April 21 last year.

Cameron Cashin, 21, of Liddington Street, New Basford, denies murdering Mr McKenzie, as well as three counts of attempted murder and one count of possessing a firearm.

Two other men, Malcolm Francis, 19, of Constance Street, Basford, and Ijah Lavelle-Moore, 21, of Nottingham Road, New Basford, also deny the charges.

Timothy Spencer QC, prosecuting, told Nottingham Crown Court that phone records showed all three men were in contact with each other in the hours after Mr McKenzie died.

Mr Spencer said Cashin texted Lavelle-Moore on the morning of April 21, 2012, saying "come now man".

He said: "It's a summons. We say it's clear from that text that both sides of the call understood what was being talked about – that the next stage of the plan was to unfold."

Mr Spencer told the court that phone records showed Cashin used his mobile in Birmingham at 3.55pm on April 21, 2012.

Further records showed him using the phone in Moss Side, Manchester, four days later.

Cashin returned to Nottingham on May 1, 2012, and handed himself in to police.

Mr Spencer said Francis and Lavelle-Moore also left Nottingham on April 22, 2012.

CCTV footage showed Francis in the Ibis Hotel in Leicester later that day, where the court heard he checked in under a false name and address.

He and Lavelle-Moore were also caught on CCTV in Leicester, before they checked into a hotel on April 23.

Mr Spencer said they stayed there until April 29, when they checked in at a Premier Inn in Derby. They were arrested there on May 2, 2012.

Mr Spencer said police seized items from their room, including Francis's mobile phone and a Nike jacket the prosecution say was worn by Cashin at the shooting.

Mr Spencer said: "If the prosecution are right about that, how would it get to these two? Why would Cashin trust them with what could be quite a significant item of clothing? Unless they are his trusted confidants and part of the team."

Police also recovered two written notes by Lavelle-Moore and Francis which the prosecution say outline their whereabouts on the night before Mr McKenzie was shot.

The court heard both notes said the two had been at Lavelle-Moore's house listening to music before heading to Francis's to cook pasta. They both said Cashin arrived and ate with them. Cashin and Lavelle-Moore left at about 1.30am.

Mr Spencer said when questioned by police, Cashin said he knew nothing about the shooting and had been in bed.

Francis also told police he had no involvement.

Mr Spencer said Francis told police he had been pressured to write an alibi involving Cashin, but wouldn't say who by.

The court also heard Francis told police he had last seen Cashin two weeks before the shooting, before admitting he'd seen him on April 20.

Mr Spencer said: "We say this is a very significant interview. He is clearly deliberately lying at some stage."

The court also heard Lavelle-Moore said he had left Nottingham because he "had a bad feeling about the situation".

Three other men alleged to be involved in the shooting caught flights from Gatwick Airport on April 26, 2012.

Two flew to Jamaica, while the third went to Bermuda.

The case continues.