THE families of soldiers who have received medals for their service in Afghanistan have welcomed Armed Forces Day being held in Nottingham.

Around 50 members of the 62 Works Group Royal Engineers who have returned from a six-month tour of Afghanistan received medals yesterday.

And family and friends who turned out in large numbers to cheer their heroes are gearing up to celebrate the work of the Armed Forces in Nottingham.

Armed Forces Day comes to the city on Saturday, June 29, in the Old Market Square and Victoria Embankment, with bumper crowds and royal visitors expected.

Allison Stacey's husband, Kev, who hails from Hucknall and is a Forest fan, received a special medal for 15 years of long service and good conduct.

Mother-of-three Allison said: "He's got a special medal and he's happy about that. The day is about being proud of him – he's been away for seven months."

And for Allison, Armed Forces Day coming to Nottingham is a perfect chance to thank the soldiers for what they do.

She added: "It is an overwhelming day of pride. A lot of people don't fully understand the families behind these guys and what they go through. This is a great day and we'll definitely go – it is a chance for people to come out and say thanks as well.

"People stop him in the street and say 'thank you' – the British public seem to be taking them to their hearts."

Kirsty Fenton's husband, Kev, has been in the regiment since August 2012 and had to return from duty to see her give birth to their second child.

Twenty-nine-year-old Kirsty, who lives in Chilwell, said Armed Forces Day was a welcome celebration.

"We will be going – it is really important. I think they should get a pay rise as well as more praise! They put their lives at risk – I'm really proud of him."

Darren and Tracey Ellidge attended the event to watch their son, Wes, 27, rewarded for his efforts in Afghanistan.

Darren said: "Armed Forces Day sounds great – I don't see any reason why we wouldn't be going. It's a celebration for the family and for us to show how proud we are of him."

The regiment was deployed across Afghanistan to support military operations and develop the civilian infrastructure of Afghanistan.

Their role was to develop and maintain all facilities used by UK forces and increase the Afghans' own expertise so they can plan, build and maintain their own infrastructure.

Lieutenant Colonel Gavin Hatcher, Commanding Officer of 62 Wks Gp, said: "We can look back on our time in Afghanistan with an immense sense of pride and achievement; as an organisation we really have delivered a significant amount in a relatively short timeframe."

TWO four-year-olds were among the perpetrators of crimes committed by very young children in Notts.

More than 83 offences were recorded as being committed by under-tens in the city and county over two years.

They range from theft and criminal damage to violence and robbery.

The four-year-olds scratched a car in the Basford and Bestwood area.

There was also a shed burglary in The Meadows and Clifton area, recorded as being committed by a seven-year-old, alongside an older child.

A nine-year-old was responsible for a robbery in the Mansfield South police area and there were three incidents of violence committed by seven-year-olds in Aspley and Bilborough.

The figures cover April 2011 to April 2013 and were published by police following a Freedom of Information act request.

In total, there were 94 offenders under ten for the 83 crimes, with some crimes having multiple offenders.

Under current law, ten is the age of criminal responsibility in England, meaning under-tens cannot be arrested by police or charged with a crime.

But police do intervene and record young children as the perpetrators. Very young children can then be placed under curfews or be referred to youth offending teams.

In the case of the four-year-olds, parents agreed to pay for the damage caused.

Roger Hopkins Burke, criminology subject leader at Nottingham Trent University's school of social sciences, said very young children who committed crime could be influenced by older youngsters.

He said: "I think ten is too young but the worry is people assume you do things under the age of criminal responsibility and you get away with it – but that's not true."

He added: "Some children are out on the street without adult supervision. It is about upbringing and what goes on in the family home."

Paddy Tipping, police and crime commissioner for Notts, said crime committed by young people was falling in Notts.

He added: "I'm not sure these numbers are surprising, given the size of Notts. The fact that very young children don't go to court doesn't mean that nothing happens.

"We know we need to keep young people away from court using early intervention."

He added that he was "comfortable" with the current age of ten for criminal responsibility.

He said: "The action of the four year-old is not as important as what the copper says to the parents."

Sergeant Deb Barton, restorative justice and youth issues sergeant for Notts Police, said:

"What we are doing now is going back with the children to their parents, talking to the victims of the crime and saying 'this is what's happened, it needs to be put right'."

D RIVERS who hog the middle lane or tailgate other cars face on-the-spot fines of £100 and three points on their licence. Police are also to get powers to issue instant fixed-penalty notices for not giving way at a junction or using the wrong lane at a roundabout.

Details of the crackdown on anti-social motoring have been announced by Transport Minister Stephen Hammond. His crackdown on Claras (members of the Centre Lane Residents' Association) and other pet hates was announced on Wednesday.

"We've all suffered from it at one point or another: middle-lane hogs clogging up the motorway or irresponsible motorists driving right up to our rear bumper," he said.

"Whilst we may curse in our car at this thoughtless behaviour, very few of us ever see action taken against them. Careless drivers are not only a menace, their negligence puts innocent people's lives at risk.

"For those of you nodding in rueful agreement, today brings good news. From July, careless drivers who put other road users at risk face on-the-spot penalties.

"And it is not only good news for the driver, but also for the police. It will be easier for the police to tackle problem drivers by allowing them to immediately issue a fixed penalty notice rather than needing to take every offender to court.

"Also in the measures we are setting out is an increase in fines for other offences. The punishment for using a mobile phone while driving, for example, will rise from £60 to £100, a timely change given that smart phones have led to an increase in texting and e-mailing while driving. This is now a serious danger to road safety. "

The penalty for driving uninsured will also go up – by 50 per cent, from £200 to £300.

Mr Hammond added: "The new levels will offer greater encouragement for motorists to take remedial training as an alternative to the fixed penalty notice, while part of the revenue raised will go to the victims-of-crime service. They are also overdue, with penalties for most offences having stayed the same since 2000."

AA president Edmund King welcomed the announcement, saying: "An increase in the standard motoring fixed-penalty fine will help deter those who commit motoring offences including mobile phone use.

"We are also pleased to see that, at long last, new powers and fines will be given to the police to tackle the top three pet hates of drivers – tailgaters, mobile phone abusers and middle-lane hogs."

But Institute of Advanced Motorists director of policy Neil Greig said: "This is a major change in traffic law enforcement and the IAM is concerned that issuing fixed-penalty tickets for careless driving downplays the seriousness of the offence.

"Careless covers a wide range of poor to reckless driving behaviour that often merits further investigation.

"This could free up traffic police time and allow them to maintain a higher profile. But without traffic cops out on the road to enforce this new approach, it will have little impact on road safety."

Professor Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation, said: "Anti-social behaviour is as big a problem on the roads as it is in wider society.

"Giving police more discretion to act, and freeing up resources to allow them to do so by cutting procedural delays in court, is good news.

"We are also pleased to see that the stick is accompanied by the chance of re-education for moderate offenders.

"Raising the fine level to £100 is justifiable to tackle the plague of hand-held mobile phone use which slows drivers' reaction times even more than being at the drink-drive limit or taking cannabis."

TRAM workers have spoken of their desperate attempts to save a colleague's life following a heart attack that proved to be fatal.

Senior materials technician Vince Dunne was taken ill on Tuesday evening while working at the tram line development in Station Road, Beeston.

Workmates of the 60-year-old were quick to react to the heart attack and tried as hard as they could to keep Mr Dunne alive.

Site engineer Jim Stuart, 25, said: "I started the chest compressions and tried my hardest because we just wanted to get him breathing again.

"We were trying to pull him round for about 50 minutes.

"I only knew him on a professional level but he was a genuine guy and a pleasure to talk to.

"The next day, I had to go back and pick up his glasses and shovel and put them away, which was really sad.

"I really hoped that he would pull through but he didn't."

General foreman Mark Haywood was the first person to start CPR before a paramedic arrived shortly after.

The 43-year-old added: "I got there just a few minutes after it happened.

"A colleague was on the phone to the ambulance and I started talking to him and tried to calm him down but he had another seizure.

"I prised his mouth open and gave him a couple of breaths and then Jim started the chest compressions.

"When the paramedic arrived, he was shocked three times.

"I went with him in the ambulance to the Queen's Medical Centre and I was told that he had officially passed away at 8.30pm.

"I just tried to save his life the best I could and I am pretty gutted it didn't work.

"He will be really missed."

Mr Dunne, from Wigan, worked for Taylor Woodrow for more than 25 years and was regarded as one of its best employees.

Section manager Jamie Missenden, 31, said: "I first started working with him in January 2012 and quickly formed a strong friendship.

"He had a great sense of humour and will be sorely missed.

"He was liked by all and has left a large hole in the company that we will struggle to fill.

"I feel privileged to work with the two guys that went above and beyond to try and save his life.

"The company could not be prouder of their efforts."

MARKET Harborough quartet Heaven's Basement, pictured below, head to Download following the release of Filthy Empire, their album produced by John Feldmann (Papa Roach and Good Charlotte) featuring the Fearne Cotton-endorsed debut single Fire, Fire. Guitarist Sid Glover does the talking...

Market Harborough? Is that a new hotbed of rock n roll?

Not exactly. There used to be a pretty good bar scene (Corby/Kettering) and there are a lot of people playing in bands but there isn't really one conscious movement of music happening. It's kinda the same as most places really, there's definitely a love of live music though. I'd love to say the whole area that I grew up in was rife with great music and rock n roll but I had to venture out of town to really find the guys I wanted to play with long term. There are a lot of great blues musicians around the Leicestershire area though, and that's kinda what got me started.

What is the history of the band?

We came together through a real connection of wanting to be a great live band. Nothing to do with following trends or success, just wanting to blow the roofs off venues with a real exciting show.

How would you describe your music?

A fresh take on old school rock n roll. That pretty much sums us up, not wanting to repeat anything that's been done by our peers but also appreciating the simplicity of what you can do with a guitar and a really loud amplifier.

Who or what have been your biggest musical inspirations?

All the guys that have stood the test of time I guess. From Robert Johnson, Son House and the American Bluesmen to The Stones, Zeppelin, Beatles, Pink Floyd, Sabbath, AC/DC, etc. We're really music fans so we like a lot if things; from Prodigy to Oasis, Muse to Slipknot.

Where and when was your first gig and how did it go?

It was in Kettering at a bar called The Sawyers. I used to hang out there a bit growing up so we figured it'd be a good place to try some stuff out.

Tell us about your latest album

It's called Filthy Empire and we wanted to make the best debut album we could – a real sucker punch from out of the blue – and I think everything we've been through along the road to get here has helped us to achieve that. It's available from our website www.heavensbasement.com.

What can we expect from your Download appearance?

Four guys that are hitting their stride of playing together live and really enjoying riding that wave! We're really looking forward to being able to play longer sets and introducing everyone some of our new stuff. It's gonna be a downright dirty rock n roll show. Good times!

THE county council is moving people out of a Notts nursing home after "serious concerns" over the standard of care were flagged up by watchdog inspectors.

Police are also investigating the alleged mistreatment of patients at Landmere Nursing Home in Ruddington Lane, Wilford.

The home, which predominantly caters for people with dementia, failed in all ten standards of care examined by the Care Quality Commission earlier this year.

On Wednesday the owners of the nursing home, Life Style Care, told the Post they were due to close the home, and admitted they were using "outdated care practices".

Inspectors revealed a catalogue of errors in a recently published report, which detailed alarming scenes including:

One resident had discharge coming from their eyes. The nurse in charge confirmed the resident was receiving treatment for the condition. However, inspectors found that this was not the case.

People were not receiving their medicine when they should. One resident had not been given their prescribed medicine for six days.

Inspectors observed "mal-odours in different parts of the home which the manager also said they found concerning".

Notts County Council has now said it was "not satisfied" with the standard of care and was left with "no option" but to terminate the contract – meaning it will no longer send people to the home in Ruddington Lane, Wilford.

Of the 44 people the local authority was supporting to live in the home, more than 20 have already been moved out and re-housed elsewhere. The council said 11 people remained in situ.

Caroline Baria, service director for joint commissioning, quality and business change at the council, said: "We terminated our contract with Landmere Care Home in Wilford on May 9 following careful consideration with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and the local NHS.

"We had suspended the contract with the home in March due to a number of concerns regarding the care, treatment and support of residents at the home.

"We had been working with the CQC, the NHS and the managers of the home to try and improve outcomes for residents.

"We were not satisfied that the necessary improvements had been made, so were left with no option other than to terminate our contract.

"We have been working with the residents and relatives to facilitate them to move to suitable alternative accommodation."

A spokesman for Life Style Care said: "Life Style Care acquired Landmere Nursing Home in November 2011.

"Outdated care practices have resulted in poor occupancy and high use of agency staff.

"The resulting high operating costs have made the business financially unsustainable, thus necessitating the closure of the home.

"Landmere management has shared its decision with Notts County Council, Nottingham City Council and the Care Quality Commission.

"These agencies are aware of the planned closure of the home.

"The home's management team remain committed to meeting the needs of its remaining 17 residents, whilst working with Council and Primary Care Trust colleagues in finding them suitable alternative accommodation."

No date has been given for the closure.

ENGLAND may have impressed against New Zealand at Trent Bridge this week – but the real star was a father-of-two with brilliant bowling skills.

Chris Newell bagged a £50,000 prize after successfully completing a cricketing challenge in front of the 16,000-strong crowd.

He was set the challenge of bowling and hitting three stumps, then two stumps and finally one single stump in successive balls.

The 50-year-old claimed not to have played properly for 20 years – but his efforts led Michael Vaughan to joke on Twitter that Australia may now call the fan into their squad.

He even drew a stunned England squad out of their dressing room and onto the balcony.

Mr Newell, from Sheffield, said: "With the first ball all I wanted to do was try and hit the stumps, then I just wanted to repeat that with the second.

"When it came to the third I don't know, I was in a dream. "The crowd were really helpful and with that third ball I wanted to do it more for them.

"My wife was in the car when I called, with my two sons.

"They were all cheering and screaming when I told them."

He added: "I'm originally from Yorkshire so I guess there's a bit of the old Fred Truman in there somewhere.

"My boys both play for Herefordshire."

When asked what he would do with the money, Mr Newell replied he would be spending a part of it on more cricket.

"If we can get tickets we'll go to Melbourne for the Boxing Day Test at the MCG later this year, but if not then the Caribbean," he said.

CAMPAIGNERS fighting the development of a 100-metre wind turbine have welcomed plans to give local residents more say on such developments.

New guidance is expected to tell councils that local residents' concerns should take precedence over the need for renewable energy.

The plans revealed by the Government also include proposals to increase the amount of money communities will receive for agreeing to host wind farms nearby, with householders set to get hundreds of pounds off energy bills.

The plans have been welcomed by Burton Joyce councillor Steve Cluff, who is fighting to stop a 100-metre wind turbine north of Stoke Bardolph Sewage Treatment Works, off Stoke Lane.

Mr Cluff, who is also chairman of the council's wind turbine working group, said: "The communities are the people that have to live with wind turbines, so it's vital that their voice is heard and given weight when making decisions.

"In our case, we have thousands of people who have come out time and time again against this application and it's right for local authorities to bear this in mind.

"As for the financial incentives, I think in some cases they are appropriate – the people near the turbines have to live with them – but the plans for here are too close and it's too intrusive for us to want to see this go ahead."

The new measures would also lead to an increase in what developers were expected to pay residents for allowing wind turbines in their area.

Currently, this can be up to £1,000 per megawatt of installed power, but it would be increased to £5,000.

Energy Secretary Ed Davey said: "It is important that onshore wind is developed in a way that is truly sustainable – economically, environmentally and socially, and today's announcement will ensure that communities see the windfall from hosting developments near to them, not just the wind farm.

"We remain committed to the deployment of appropriately-sited onshore wind, as a key part of a diverse, low-carbon and secure energy mix and committed to an evidence-based approach to supporting low-carbon power."

But Nigel Lee, of Nottingham Friends of the Earth, questioned the wisdom of the plans. He said: "Will this apply to fossil-intensive forms of energy generation too, or is it just wind farms?

"We are all for the idea of communities having more of a say in how energy is produced but I think this is the wrong way of going about it."