A SEVERE weather warning has been issued for Nottingham tomorrow.
After temperatures soared to 23 degrees on Wednesday, creating muggy conditions, heavy rain is set to fall tomorrow afternoon, with the inclement weather predicted to hit around 4pm.
And the Met office have issued a yellow severe warning, letting Nottingham residents know the heavy rain is set to arrive.
The soaking is not expected to last however, with Friday bringing more stable conditions.
For the latest forecasts, have a look at our weather channel.
FIREFIGHTERS were called out to a building fire on the A610 at Eastwood today, June 19, at 4.33pm.
Crews from Eastwood, Hucknall and Stockhill fire station were in attendance.
They left the scene at around 6.20pm.
YOUNGSTERS from Nottingham are being encouraged to apply for membership into a new National Tennis Youth Group.
A nationwide recruitment drive is underway to create a youth group for British tennis which will play a key role in getting more young people playing.
The group will be made up of people aged between 16 – 25 years old, and will work with the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) and the Tennis Foundation on the development of new offers and campaigns aimed at young people.
Members of the group will represent the interests of the young people in the sport at a national level, and will also decide which ideas and projects get financial support through a Youth Legacy Fund.
Andy McFeeters, LTA Tennis Development Manager for Nottingham, said: "This is a great chance for someone from Nottingham to shape the future of British tennis and represent what young people in the area want from tennis.
"I would urge anyone who has an interest in the sport to get in touch because this is a great tennis region and it would be fantastic if that could be represented in the youth group."
For more information and details of how to apply visit www.lta.org.uk/youthgroup.
The deadline to apply is Sunday, July 7.
A CAMPAIGN has been launched to get older people in Notts playing table tennis.
The Ping Pong Care Campaign 2013 encourages community centres, sheltered housing, residential villages, care homes and day centres to get elderly people into table tennis – providing nets that can be attached to any table so expensive equipment isn't necessary.
New studies show the game has mental and physical benefits for older people and the campaign is backed up by a film which follows eight ping pong players who are taking part in the over-80s world championships.
Joginder Chahal, who is called the Spin King by friends at his table tennis club, thinks the sport is a great thing for older people to do.
The 78-year-old, who helps run the Hickling Village table tennis club said: "It is a great idea. It is a social thing as well. We need to have more contact with other people.
Joginder, who has even invented a tool to help him pick up the ball from the floor, added: "It is a difficult game to play properly, but everyone can do it."
Eric Wood, who has been helping to run the village club for five years welcomed the campaign.
He said: "Everyone can play regardless of mobility and it is really good for people. It is a mental thing as well, you have to concentrate."
Thomas Tang is chairman of the Chinese Welfare Association in Notts and attended the event with a view to getting his members involved.
He said: "Maybe it is something we can take back. It is quite exciting."
The campaign, devised by the BRITDOC Foundation – a non-profit film foundation funded by Channel 4 – was launched at Nottingham Trent University yesterday, with elderly people and their carers in attendance.
The film that accompanies the campaign follows eight players with 703 years between them competing in the World Table Tennis Championships in Inner Mongolia.
The campaign, which is being run in Notts by Sport Nottinghamshire and Nottingham City Council, aims to reach out to the community and encourage as many people as possible to watch the film, get inspired and play ping pong.
Jade Gresham is the sport and leisure development officer at the council.
She said: " We're trying to look at increasing activity for elderly residents. Part of it is increasing opportunities.
"There are all sorts of benefits, including helping people to be more independent and living unaided for longer."
She added: "People can be inspired to pick up a bat – everyone can have a go."
It is hoped that the campaign will be introduced across the county, with care staff given a DVD, a net to attach to a table and bats and balls to get going.
A DOCTOR who suffered from depression for years died after setting himself on fire, an inquest heard.
Retired GP Andrew Guion, 63, of Churchill Close, Arnold, was found dead at his home by firefighters on June 13 last year.
The inquest heard how Mr Guion had suffered with depression for many years and had tried to kill himself once before in 2004.
In the months leading up to his death he had recently lapsed into a deep depression, and, with his wife's help, he had enlisted the help of the crisis mental health team, run by NHS Notts Healthcare.
Station manager for Notts Fire and Rescue Service, David Stevenson, investigated the scene and concluded that the most likely turn of events was that Mr Guion had disabled all the smoke alarms, poured petrol over himself and set himself on fire with matches while his wife was at work.
Notts Deputy Coroner Heidi Connor praised the actions of the crisis mental health team, who she said reacted quickly after his lapse and provided much-needed support.
She also praised his wife Jane who had prompted her husband to seek help on a number of occasions.
If there's something troubling you, or if you know of someone who is struggling with depression or anxiety then get in touch with the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90.
MORE than 40 pupils from five schools across Notts got out of the classroom yesterday to test their wits against each other in an inter-schools rocket launching competition at the University of Nottingham.
The Year 12 students from The Kimberley School, Chilwell, Trinity, Arnold Hill, and boys from Nottingham High School took off from their separate schools, and spent a morning building the rockets out of just paper, card, sticky tape and Blu Tack.
They were allowed to make three models, and tested the range by applying their knowledge of aerodynamics, angles and pressure – launching their missiles from a pad made of plumbing pipes and powered by a bike pump.
Teams were challenged to hit a target on the floor at the other side of the University's sports hall. The closer the rocket landed to the centre, the less points were given and the team with the lowest score won.
Megan Hickman, 16, Amy Cheung, 17, and Sergio Benavides, 16, of Trinity School blasted their way to victory and each won an anti-gravity levitation kit for their efforts.
"It was quite erratic," said Megan. "A lot of trial and error was involved and we spent a lot of time practicing this morning, so we're glad to come out on top."
Amy added: "It's great to get out of the classroom to do something fun with physics. It's more interesting than just learning from a book."
And Sergio Benavides, who is originally from Spain, said: "You can use the theory you learn at school and see it in action."
All three of the winning team study A-level physics, but the competition was not exclusively for those learning the subject.
James Mulligan, 17, Barney Mersich, 17, and Clare Kelly, 17, also attend Trinity. Barney, who studies further maths, said: "It's good that people who have an interest outside of their studies can get involved."
Chilwell students Rachel Smith, Amber Gosden and Mancheng Vang enjoyed the hands on approach to the day.
"We based our design on a traditional rocket ship," said Amber.
"We were awful this morning but we have been getting closer and more consistent over the day."
Rachel added: "We've not done stuff like this before, so it's been really fun. We're mainly competing against the other group from our school, who actually tried to sabotage us earlier."
Beth Thomas, 17, Alicia Martin-Jones, 17, and Lucy Oliver, 16, were representing The Kimberley School as Team LAB.
Beth said: "It's been nice to see how other people have gone about designing it as well as seeing our rockets fly across the hall."
Lucy added: "There's quite a lot of pressure on us, but that's the aim of the game."
TWO more care homes in Nottingham have had their contracts suspended by the city council after failings in the standard of care were found by inspectors.
The local authority has stopped sending residents to St Andrews Lodge of Riber Crescent, Basford, after inspectors revealed there were problems at the home.
The inspectors' report said: "We found people's dignity was not always respected and people were not always given choices about their care and support.
"Consent was not always gained prior to care and treatment being given. People were not always given safe and appropriate care and were not always supported to maintain their nutrition.
"We found people were not always protected from abuse or the risk of abuse as staff did not always act in line with training they had been given to respond to or report incidents."
The Post spoke to a member of staff at St Andrews Lodge who wanted to remain anonymous.
They said: "A lot of the staff are not properly trained. This is why problems are happening.
"I have been shocked by some of the things that I've seen."
The Care Quality Commission's report revealed that there were "a number of incidents" currently being investigated by Nottingham City Council's adult safeguarding team.
The name of the second care home to have its contract suspended has not yet been revealed.
A city council spokesman said: "Proper care provision is something we take extremely seriously.
"Nottingham City Council and NHS Nottingham City Clinical Commissioning Group are working with the Care Quality Commission and the management group of St Andrews Lodge to implement a comprehensive improvement plan.
"This is being monitored on a regular basis and the safety and wellbeing of residents at the home continues to be our top priority.
"Should you require any further information or have concerns, please contact Nottingham Health & Care Point on 0300 300 3333.
"The city council currently has temporarily suspended its contract with one other residential home in the city. However, at present we cannot disclose the identity of the home as we are working closely with residents and relatives to ensure they are aware of this and are being supported appropriately."
St Andrews is owned by a company called Methodist Homes. A spokesman for the company said: "Residents' wellbeing is our top priority at all times. Since being acquired in 2011, St Andrews Lodge has undergone a major refurbishment and has been redecorated, fitted with new bathrooms and had its garden landscaped. We set particularly high standards for ourselves and take immediate action to make improvements whenever possible.
"We take this matter extremely seriously and are working closely with the city council and NHS Nottingham City Clinical Commissioning Group.
"We will strive even harder to maintain and improve the very high care standards that we have built so resolutely over the years."
Police are currently investigating the alleged mistreatment of patients at Landmere Nursing Home in Wilford.
The Post reported in October last year that the city council was forced to suspend contracts at two of its care homes after failings were again found by inspectors.
A FAMILY are grieving after a brother and sister died within days of each other.
Ivan Raynor died on Monday, June 11, of a suspected heart attack, aged 56, just six days after his sister Marie Maguire-Raynor, 47, died from a heart attack.
Ivan was found dead in his flat, while Marie had a heart attack in a pub.
In all the family, from St Ann's, have lost five people prematurely to heart disease.
Distraught mum-of-twelve Doreen Raynor, 80, of Nugent Street, said: "I'm in pieces about what's happened. For two of my children to die within days is too much to take. As a family we have always struggled with heart problems."
But the Raynors are not alone. In Notts, the latest figures show there were around 800 people who prematurely died as a result of heart disease between 2008 and 2010.
There are no reports of major issues on roads around Notts this morning.
The Highways Agency says main routes in the area, including the A52, A453, and M1, are all running without incident.
Elsewhere, the A1 northbound between Grantham and Newark reopened at 3am today following yesterday's crash between a van and a lorry which left two people dead.
The Highways Agency say contractors worked into the night to repair substantial damage to the carriageway, after the van which was carrying gas cylinders burst into flames.
Egmanton Road in Egmanton is also closed both ways this morning at Tuxford Road because of a fallen tree.
Meanwhile, the Met Office is warning of the prospect of heavy thundery showers in Nottingham today, with temperatures reaching a high of 19°C.
Tonight will continue to be cloudy and humid, with an ongoing risk of further heavy rain or showers.
THE A1 has been fully reopened following a crash yesterday morning.
The incident at Claypole, south of Newark killed two people after a lorry and a van collided.
The van had been carrying gas cylinders which caught fire.
Both of the people who died were in the van while the lorry driver remained unhurt.
Six fire engines attended the scene.
Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward.
If you saw the crash contact Nottinghamshire Police on 101, quoting incident 115 of 19 June 2013, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
POLICE are appealing for information after a woman was punched in the face.
Police were called to Canch Park, off Memorial Avenue, Worksop, at about 3.15am on Saturday, May 11.
The 40-year-old victim suffered bruising and a cut above her eye.
She claimed the attacker was one of two men who walked from the town centre area carrying kebabs in polystyrene containers.
Anyone who witnessed the assault or has any information should contact PC Adrian Smith, of Worksop Police, on 101 extension 808 7065.
Alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
A CYCLIST who died following a collision at the weekend has been named.
Ashya Vanner, 39, of the Sutton-in-Ashfield area, worked within Notts Police's Crime and Justice department.
She had been riding along the A38 King's Mill Road, in Sutton-in-Ashfield, when her bike collided with a Seat Leon car.
It happened at just after noon on Sunday.
Ashya, a mother-of-two, was taken to King's Mill Hospital in a critical condition and subsequently died from her injuries.
Chief Constable Chris Eyre said: "Ashya's death is a tragic event and she will be sorely missed. Our thoughts are with her family, friends and colleagues at this time."
Ashya joined Notts Police in the Control Room in January 2010. She moved to the Crime and Justice department last August.
She leaves two sons, aged eight and four.
Anyone who saw the collision, or has any information should contact Notts Police, quoting incident 362 of June 16, 2013
Alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
A garage has been evacuated after a chemical spillage in Stapleford.
Fire fighters were called to Autotechz garage, in Pasture Road, after reports of an hydrochloric acid spillage in the road outside the business at 10am.
Fire crews from Stapleford and Highfields and an environmental protection unit are currently at the scene.
Bob Waters, 72, of Hucknall, had driven to Autotechz for an appointment at 11am when he was confronted with a police road block.
He said: "I arrived at 10.45am and police were just putting up the signs across the road and weren't letting me through.
"They've told me there has been a chemical spillage and that nobody is allowed down there. Accidents happen."
Jubilee House Christian School next to the garage was also been evacuated as a precaution, with pupils either taken home by their parents or to George Spencer Academy in Stapleford.
There are no reports of any injuries.
Police closed Pasture Road, between Kennedy Drive, Hickings Lane and Moorbridge Lane, while the clean-ip took place. It reopened at around 2pm.Have you seen anything? Have you been evacuated? Let us know by leaving a comment below...
A FRUSTRATING final day of last season left Nottingham Forest just short of a play-off place in the Championship – but former England international Dion Dublin has laid down the gauntlet by saying they are capable of beating any side in the division.
The Reds finished just one point outside the top six in eighth place, after losing to Leicester City at the City Ground in their last game.
Dublin thinks they paid the price for inconsistency, but thinks they will once again be challenging towards the top under boss Billy Davies.
They will kick off the new season against Huddersfield at home on August 3.
"They have some great footballers there and when they are on song they should really be beating anyone within their league," he said.
"Their inconsistency means that they haven't had a chance to really do that.
"Forest unfortunately conceded a few late goals at the back-end of last season which didn't help their cause one bit, and that deflated the players and the fans and they found it hard to pick themselves up again.
"Finishing eighth and just outside the play-offs is very frustrating for them and they were a side that were in a good position for most of the season but just fell out of it, out of nowhere."
The Reds have also been drawn at home against League Two Hartlepool United in the first round of the Capital One Cup in a tie that will see former Forest captain Colin Cooper return to the City Ground as Pools' new boss.
"I can only see Nottingham Forest being a little bit too strong for Hartlepool," added Dublin.
"They have got enough to get through this tie. It is something they should win and it will be a full house and everyone will be optimistic."
The Reds were 1-0 victors at League Two Fleetwood Town in the first round of the competition last season, before being knocked out by then-Premier League side Wigan Athletic at the City Ground.
Dublin believes it is a competition that Forest should take seriously, adding that Davies will learn a lot from the approach of his players against Hartlepool.
"This offers a great opportunity for managers to see how badly the players want to play for the club," he said.
"It keeps your season alive, it sounds stupid so early on, but if you do just keep your toe in the water you can nick results in this competition.
"It keeps the players' shoulders pinned back and the fans alive, more revenue comes in for the clubs and there is more interest."
Dion Dublin was speaking on behalf of credit card company Capital One, sponsor of the League Cup.
A CRAFT fair is taking place at the John Godber Centre on Ogle Street, Hucknall, next month.
The Centre, which is owned by St Mary Magdalene Church, is holding the free entry event as a part of Open Churches Weekend.
Over 150 churches across Nottinghamshire will be welcoming visitors on July 13 and 14 (northern half of the county) and July 20 and 21 (southern half of the county).
St Mary Magdalene, in Market Place, will be one of the churches taking part in the fourth annual Open Churches Weekend.
It will open its doors from 10am-6pm on Saturday, July 20 and 12pm-6pm on Sunday, July 21.
The craft fair will feature a variety of stall including craft cakes, jewellery, cards, sweets and books to name a few.
It will be open to the public from 11am until 4pm on Saturday, July 21.
PEOPLE with a keen interest in history are invited along to a Byron Pilgrimage Walk on Thursday, July 4.
The eight mile round trip will begin 10am at St Mary Magdalene Church, in the Market Place, Hucknall.
Anyone who wishes to take part in the free walk from St Marys to Newstead Abbey will learn interesting facts about the history of the area, particularly how it relates to the Byron family.
At the Abbey there will be a break, where refreshments may be purchased, before returning back to Hucknall.
No dogs are allowed on the walk.
The event is part of The Hucknall International Byron Festival from Thursday, June 27, to Sunday, July 7, which celebrates the life of the famous poet.
The National Ice Centre is inviting skaters along to a photo shoot on Sunday, June 23 between 10am and 12 noon to be part of the venue's next marketing campaign.
The images will be used in skating leaflets and posters.
People of all ages and abilities are welcome.
Marketing Manager, Kofi Ohene-Djan said: "We really want to capture the fun you can have on the ice at the NIC. We'll be looking to get some shots of people enjoying a skate in the Public Skating session and Parent & Toddler session so come along and you could be included in our future skating leaflets!"
Admission to the Public Skating session is £6 (plus £2 skate hire). The Parent & Toddler session, which runs from 10am to 10:45am, costs £6.50 for a parent and child.
Full details on all skating sessions at the NIC can be found via
www.national-ice-centre.com.
