Arnold: M. N. Singh, 77 High Street, to 6.30pm; Sainsbury's, Nottingham Road, to 10pm; Asda, 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, Bracebridge Drive, 7am to 11pm.

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

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

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

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

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

Eastwood: Co-op, 2A Church Walk, to 6.30pm.

Gamston: Morrisons, to 10pm.

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

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

Hyson Green: Asda, 7.30am-10pm.

Jacksdale: Acorn, 8-10 Main Road, to 6.30pm.

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

Kimberley: Manor Pharmacy, Greens Lane, to 7pm.

Long Eaton: Boots, Long Eaton Health Centre, to midnight; Tesco Extra, 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; Boots, Long Row, 8am to 8pm; 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.

Selston: Selston Pharmacy, 137 Nottingham Road, to 6.30pm.

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-6.15pm.

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

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

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

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

FAR back into the corridors of military history, music has played an important part in the armed forces.

From buglers to drummer boys, Army band parades have helped to boost morale.

The Nottinghamshire Band of The Royal Engineers, the East Midlands TA Band, has been doing just that since they were first formed in 2007.

Comprising 32 members, the band have played across Great Britain and Europe in parades, marching displays and traditional military events.

The band practice regularly at the TA Centre in Bilborough where they often perform concerts as well.

The group have been deployed to a number of locations nationally and abroad including Germany, Belfast and Jersey.

There's been a greater focus this year on the role that bands play in the army since the murder of Lee Rigby, a drummer in Royal Regiment of fusilliers, in May this year.

They've been preparing ahead of Armed Forces Day on Saturday June 29 where they will entertain the crowds which will include former servicemen and women.

Musician Rebecca Young has been playing music over 20 years and plays drums in the band as well a number of other percussive instruments.

She's been one of the earliest musicians to join and said playing as part of them is an experience like no other.

She said: "For me it's the people in the band, you get a lot of variety of arrangements and teaches you quite a lot about music."

As a fellow drummer, the news of Lee Rigby's death hit Rebecca in a more personal way than most.

Pride is a well shared emotion among the members of the band.

Lance Corporal and trumpetteer Teresa Healey said it was a privilege to play for military marches.

She said: "It's so heart warming when you're marching through the streets and there's crowds there in support.

"Leading the troops on a march is just amazing."

Musician Will Haywood said he was thrilled to be able to honour the efforts of the military next Saturday.

He said: "What we do is so much about community and making the troops return as best at it can be.

"We're all really looking forward to Armed Forces Day and it's great to be playing to the local crowds as well."

THE ROUTES for this year's Great Notts Bike Ride can now be revealed.

More than 4,000 participants are expected to take part in the annual event on Sunday, which is being staged for the 32nd time this year.

There are three routes of different lengths – 100 miles, 50 miles and 25 miles – that run through different parts of the city and county.

Feed stations are located at points throughout the course, which provide riders with a much-needed energy boost and chance to enjoy the surroundings.The 100 mile route

The shortest route has been extended from 19 to 25 miles, and takes riders from Victoria Embankment through Ruddington and across to Cotgrave before looping round to the route's new addition Cropwell Bishop – known for its six Stilton creameries – before returning by the riverside through Radcliffe-on-Trent, Holme Pierrepont, home of the National Watersports Centre, and West Bridgford.

Riders on the 50-mile route will start at the same point, but leave Cropwell Bishop eastwards towards Orston and Kilvington on Spa Lane.

They rejoin the 25-mile route at Radcliffe-on-Trent after circling Bingham with a route through Hawksworth and East Bridgford.

Cyclists taking on the 100-mile route leave the 50-mile course at East Bridgford, heading north towards Thurgarton, through scenic villages with two additional feed stations.

At Caunton, riders can join the Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire to the grounds of his private home at Caunton Manor for afternoon tea or stop at Wellow, a village that is home to a 12th century church.

The 100-mile route continues through Eakring Brail and Redgate Woods, passing Southwell and back through Thurgarton before meeting the 50-mile course at East Bridgford.

Further feed stations are located at Plumtree, Langar – where they can see the Cathedral of the Vale – Car Colston, and Radcliffe-on-Trent.

Phil Giles, 41, from Stapleford, is cycling the 100-mile ride. He's raising money for CLIC Sargent, a charity that supports families of young cancer suffers.

Phil's daughter Emilia, 11, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma last year, which prompted him and friend Andy Cliff, 35, to raise £1,200 by completing the 50-mile route.

This year, they're doubling their efforts, and going for the full route.

Emilia has since recovered after treatment, and has been back at school at Fairfield Primary.

"As soon as we got to the end last year we said we would do the 100 this time around," said Phil.

"The charity were so supportive when Emilia was diagnosed; we wanted to give something back. It doesn't just stop now she's back to normal.

"It was the most joyous bit of news possible when we heard she was better and I'm not going to stop doing things for the people who helped us out at such a tough time."

In true family spirit, Graeme Sharrocks, 42, of Ollerton, is cycling the 25-mile ride with his father Paul, 70, and son Ben, 12.

He owns Loop Wheels, a local company that produces a revolutionary new cycle suspension – where springs replace spokes in the centre of the wheel – and is riding one of his bikes on Sunday.

Along with inventor Sam Pearce, Graeme has sold 32 of the new bikes, and Loop Wheels go into full-scale production in September.

Graeme said: "My dad and my son are both using normal mountain bikes, so it will be good to directly compare the ride.

"I might let my dad have a ride on my bike, but if there's any chance of me being uncomfortable I'll have to reconsider."

The ride is part of a three-day Experian Cycle Live programme of two-wheeled entertainment, centered around the hub at Victoria Embankment and organised by Perfect Motion.

On Friday, elite cyclists take to the road in the Nottingham Grand Prix, with family fun taking centre stage on Saturday in the Nottingham City Ride.

Experian Cycle Live Event Director Christopher Simon said: "The Great Notts Bike Ride is the finale of what promises to be a great weekend of cycling. "Our event village is packed with things to see and do, so anyone who is waiting for riders to finish will find loads to keep themselves entertained.

"After the ride, people can come back to the Victoria Embankment and relax, listen to live music, enjoy some great food and drink and soak up the festival atmosphere."

A NUMBER of closures and restrictions will be in place during Experian Cycle Live and the Great Notts Bike Ride.

Victoria Embankment and Wilford Grove will be closed to traffic from 7am today until 11pm on Sunday to allow for the festivities.

Other roads will also be closed to allow for the Nottingham Grand Prix street racing to take place tonight.

Bunbury Street will be shut south of Woodward Street, while Wilford Crescent East south from Woodward Street, Fraser Road south of Bunbury Street, and Green Street, Hunter Street and Felton Road will also be closed except for emergency access between 5.30pm and 10pm.

Chris Simon, event director of Experian Cycle Live Nottingham, said: "This year we have pushed the start time of the Nottingham Grand Prix back to 6pm to give residents more time to get home before the closures.

"The event itself has a great line-up of racing. We hope residents will come along to enjoy the evening and show their support for the riders."

Cycleways around the Victoria Embankment are also expected to be busier than normal tomorrow, when around 1,000 people take part in the Experian Nottingham City Ride.

Over 4,000 cyclists are also expected to set off from the Victoria Embankment for the 32nd Great Notts Bike Ride on Sunday.

As a result, the following additional traffic management provisions will be in place:

Coned lane on Trent Bridge northbound from 10am to 6pm.

Temporary traffic signals on Bradmore Lane, between Bradmore and Plumtree.

Additional signage and stewarding plans at various locations along the route.

All routes on the Great Notts Bike Ride are signed and will have stewards, but event organisers ask that drivers remain particularly mindful of cyclists on the roads.

Mr Simon said: "Our aim is to deliver a great event without causing too much disruption to local residents. We would encourage people to allow extra time for their journey over the weekend, especially on Sunday."

Ruddington Lane in Wilford will also remain closed to riders.

Route maps show riders having to go along the road, but it has been shut near the Nottingham South and Wilford Industrial Estate since last October due to work to construct the new tram line to Clifton. It is scheduled to reopen in July.

Organisers say instead of riding along Ruddington Lane, cyclists will be diverted via Compton Acres.

For more details on Experian Cycle Live, go to www.cyclelivenottingham.co.uk.

ALL the fun of the fair can be had in Notts this weekend as not one but two town carnivals and festivals take place.

A pram race, floats and fancy dress will mark the return of East Leake's annual carnival and parade on Saturday.

The parade will leave East Leake Leisure Centre at 3.15pm and end at St Mary's Church at 4.15pm.

Co-organiser Mel Roper said: "The East Leake Carnival is an entertaining afternoon for all, to celebrate real community spirit and village life."

More family fun will be taking place at Farnsfield St Michael's C of E Primary School charity music festival.

Running from noon until midnight, the day has been organised by the Parent Staff Association to raise money for the school.

Live music will take place on two stages, with children's acts performing during the day and upcoming talent, such as James Gooch, Platform 58 and Brad Dear, taking to the stage later on.

Schoolchildren from the area will also perform songs, music and dance, while a silent disco will take place at the end for late-night ravers.

Over in Sherwood, a craft fair will launch the annual Sherwood Art Week.

It takes place at the United Reformed Church in Edwards Lane, where stalls will sell ceramics, textiles and glassware, with bands playing from 11am to 6pm.

Meanwhile Green's Windmill, in Sneinton is offering a Cornbread Cup Cakes session for children aged four and over from 11am to 1pm on Saturday.

And for those in need of R&R, Maggie's Cancer Centre will be holding a pamper day from 11am to 5pm.

All money raised will go to the centre and the City Hospital.

Meanwhile, Beeston's first ever festival – Beestival – opened on Wednesday and will continue from 10am to 4pm on Saturday with a range of stalls and children's entertainment in the town square.

A mini jazz festival will also take place at Commercial Inn, in Wollaton Road, from noon until 6pm.

Stephanie Wilkinson, business improvement district (BID) manager, hoped to see a great turnout – despite a threat of showers throughout the day.

"We'd urge the residents of Beeston and those who live outside the town to take advantage of the events that will be happening.

"Everyone who comes down to one of our events will receive a voucher booklet full of special offers from your favourite businesses for one week only.

"What we've found is that the people of Beeston are very proud of and loyal to the town.

"Beestival gives them a great way to celebrate what we have in the town."

The Great Beeston Bake-off, see page 27

LEE Christie is every parent's nightmare.

His victims, typically insecure teenage girls looking for adulation, thought they were chatting online with young men.

In one fake profile, Christie posed as a 17-year-old boy with a six pack stomach.

But the true face behind the facade was a 43-year-old alcoholic from Newark who bragged to other paedophiles on forums about his skill in tricking and abusing children.

In all he would spend up to 16 or 17 hours a day targeting children online.

Christie is now behind bars - serving an eight-year sentence handed to him at Nottingham Crown Court last week.

Cases like his are the "tip of the iceberg" in terms of the threat to children posed by people abusing the internet, Nottinghamshire Police is now warning.

The force's Sexual Exploitation Investigation Unit, (SEIU) which effectively replaced the Vice Squad in 2003, says tracking Notts-based online predators is taking up a growing portion of its caseload.

Detectives say parents need to be more aware of how easy it is for children to get online – and need to learn how to spot danger.

"Christie's mindset is he can abuse children from the comfort of his bedroom – he doesn't even need to leave the house," warns Detective Inspector Martin Hillier, of SEIU.

"He used this photograph, posing as a 17-year-old with a washboard stomach, he goes on websites and sends friend requests out to girls, looking for those that are vulnerable or seeking adulation.

"They then 'friend' him, and he's learnt to 'text talk' as teenagers do.

"He entices them in to sexual chat and then gets them to send a photograph."

Once he had indecent pictures or video of them, Christie would trap the girls in a 'terrifying world' where he would get them to do as he said by threatening to publicly upload the pictures online or send them to their parents.

He used the tactic to pressure one 14-year-old girl into cutting herself while he watched on a webcam.

DI Hillier added: "He's the worst individual that we've dealt with, and has been recognised as one of the worst in the country.

"He was almost a professional paedophile."

But Christie's skill at getting what he wanted was ultimately his undoing.

"He basically was bragging on chat forums saying he had a system he would use to get these images, saying to other paedophiles 'I can tell you how to do it'," said DI Hillier.

Through these posts police identified an IP or Internet Protocol address, which eventually led them to his computer and his front door in a raid last January.

Following DI Hillier's comments, Leonie Smith, of Notts support charity Incest and Sexual Abuse Survivors (ISAS), said online abuse is a "massive social problem".

She said: "We get new referrals for all kinds of abuse every day.

"I think that people don't want to believe that this type of thing happens to a high number of people because it is so horrific – but people need to know.

"Parents need to be aware so they can put things in place to protect their children."

Christie, of Barnby Gate, Newark, persuaded his victims to strip and carry out indecent acts, manipulating and threatening ten victims aged 13-16, and accumulating thousands of indecent images of children.

He admitted 23 charges and was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court last Tuesday.

His home was raided by police in January last year, and 70,000 indecent images and videos of children were found on two computers, as well as another 3,000 images of extreme pornography.

DI Hillier added: "Some parents think the only way their children could be targeted is if they are using a laptop or desktop computer, but the web is now on tablets, mobiles and games consoles – some parents don't fully realise that.

"In terms of being aware, I'd say, try and be interested in what your child does online, rather than intrusive.

"Ultimately our message is: 'don't let the internet baby sit your child'."

Imagine shutting your child in a dark room with strangers. You don't know who they are talking to; in fact, they don't know who they are talking to. Welcome to the internet.

The internet can be a real blessing in our lives, allowing us to access a vast storehouse of knowledge and communicate with people in different countries who share our interests.

It can even allow us to present ourselves as the kind of person we would like to be – perhaps as a powerful wizard in an online fantasy game - rather than who we actually are.

Yet there is a downside to this wonderful medium, as others will take advantage of the 'hands off' nature of the internet, and the different rules that we might all apply when using the internet as a medium for communication.

Fraudsters will do this, as indeed will individuals intent on committing sexual offences. The latter in particular can exploit the vulnerable – such as children, those who feel isolated, or even proud parents who are anxious to show off pictures of their precious children.

Offences can include accessing pictures of children, befriending with a view to meeting and offending against, or, as in this recent case, causing children to perform sexual acts online via a webcam.

Those individuals who harness the internet to commit sexual offences will typically use grooming to commit their crimes, and will persuade, cajole and befriend others to facilitate their offending.

It is not just children we should be concerned about, as the whole of society needs to reflect on their online interactions.

Ask yourself what controls you take in normal 'offline' life? What sort of information or guarantees would you need before you did X [whatever action that might be] in 'real' life?

The mother of a Notts teenage girl targeted by an internet paedophile has spoken of the dreadful impact on her family.

The victim, who cannot be identified, was made to perform sexual acts on a webcam and was sent indecent pictures. She was 13 at the time.

"Ever since I found out about what happened I've been sick to the stomach," her mother said.

"My doctor has prescribed me anti-depressants and sleeping pills.

"The whole episode has had a toxic effect on my family and my daughter has seen things she should never have seen.

"She has good days and bad days when she will self-harm because she feels it's her fault. She thought he loved her.

"Since this, my whole life and my family's life has been turned upside down. We are all suffering because we couldn't protect her."

The girl was a victim of Jonathan Kennedy, of Fern Close, Rhyl, North Wales, who had been meeting his victims in a chat room.

The mother said although Kennedy never met her daughter, the effect of his online depravity had been devastating.

"My craziest thought is that I'm lucky because he never touched my child and he touched other people's children," she added.

"As a family we now find it very difficult to trust anyone, particularly the internet.

"As a family we are strong and will overcome the effects of this eventually."

Kennedy appeared at Nottingham Crown Court last July.

Then 24, he pleaded guilty to 28 charges and received a ten-year sentence.

RARE finds have been made at a city library after a team of five staff and more than 40 volunteers spent two years cataloguing more than 40,000 books.

Yesterday Sir Harry and Lady Djanogly cut the ribbon at the launch event for Bromley House Library's new computerised system as it moved from typewritten cards.

Librarian Carol Barstow said: "During the course of re-cataloguing, we have uncovered some curious books and other material.

"They reflect the tastes of members as Nottingham grew from a town into a city and the places they visited as the Empire expanded."

Among the most bizarre was a book written on palm leaves donated by one of the library's founders in 1827, as well as a book published in Britain during the Second World War and smuggled into France to promote resistance against the Nazi occupiers.

This is the first complete re-catalogue of the library on Angel Row in more than 100 years and it was funded by £60,000 from the Heritage Lottery and local trusts, which was matched by the library.

Mary Auckland, catalogue project manager and ex-university librarian, said: "It did seem very daunting at the beginning, but as we catalogued each book we put a white slip of paper in it and when you looked back you could see the progress that was being made – I think it contributed hugely to keeping people motivated.

"When the library last decided to modernise and produce a card catalogue with a typewriter it took them 26 years to do – we're pretty chuffed with ourselves that we've catalogued 40,000 books in just two years."

Books are now searchable using keywords and subjects, although the unique Bromley House headings are being kept.

The volunteers brought a range of experiences, including IT skills and languages such as Latin, Greek, and German.

Volunteer Stephen Brown, 57, of The Park, said: "It was an opportunity to get to know library and the collection a bit better.

"We had quite a few laughs really – there's this sort of literary cliché about 'it was a dark and stormy night' and we did actually find a book from the 18th century or so that started with that."

And retired lecturer Anne Jenkins said: "Lots of books were written during the First World War predicting how things would be after it finished, it was so interesting to read how people felt while all that slaughter was going on."

The cataloguing is the first step in a significant refurbishment of the library.

Other improvements include renovating one wing and an appeal is being launched to raise £450,000 to fund the work.

A CARE home celebrated a trio of milestone birthdays yesterday, with residents turning 80, 90 and 100 all on the same day.

Balmore Country House Nursing Home in Loughborough Road, Ruddington held an all-day party to celebrate the occasion, which also marked the 60th wedding anniversary of one of the residents, bringing the total number of years celebrated to an impressive 330..

Carol Scott, manager of the care home, was delighted to host the occasion. She said: "It's wonderful. It's been weeks in planning."We always keep a list of birthdays and we just happened to notice they were all together. We thought we should make it a special joint one. "It was a real surprise - to be on the same day is incredible and then we found out about the diamond wedding anniversary."

For Carol, the joint celebrations were perfect. She said: "It made it more poignant - what we're doing is celebrating life and the quality of life. I've got to say a great big thank you to my staff - they've worked hard."

Celebrating yesterday were June Hill, who was 80, Audrey Bagguly, who was 90, Maisie Towers, who was 100 and Derek and Winnie Abell celebrated their wedding anniversary.

June Hill lived in Clifton for around 50 years and has four daughters. Vicky Holmes, one of June's daughters said the occasion was fantastic.

The 46-year-old added: "My mum never thought she would make it beyond 56. It is brilliant. It is nice to have a joint thing, it makes it all the more special."

Maisie Towers celebrated her 100th birthday, and her daughter, Barbara Mills - who lives in East Leake -said she enjoyed the event.

She added: "I can't believe she's reached 100 - it is wonderful.

"She's had a hard life, but she's come through it. It is nice to have everyone together here."

David Abell's mum and dad were celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary at the bash.

He said: "It is a great occasion."

A GARAGE and school were evacuated after a hydrochloric acid spillage in Stapleford.

Fire fighters say a cloud of acid fumes was given off after a large drum containing 1,000 litres of the chemical fell off a lorry at Autotechz garage, in Pasture Road, yesterday and started leaking.

Around 500 litres of the acid was spilled in the incident, which happened at about 10am.

Six people were evacuated from the garage, while 47 children from the nearby Jubilee House Christian School were led to safety.

Two fire fighters involved in the clean-up were also taken to hospital as a precaution after complaining about having pins and needles in their hands.

Colin Poyzer, station manager at Highfields Fire Station, said the crew members had probably suffered a strain injury while attempting to lift the container.

He said: "Containers were being unloaded off the lorry and because it was on a slight incline one fell off.

"There was a cloud of fumes. We decided to right the container to stop it leaking and stop the cloud being formed.

"It was extremely difficult. because the container was damaged we couldn't right it using the mechanical device that had been used to unload the containers.

"Fire fighters in breathing apparatus and gas-tight suits had to pull it up onto its base."

Nigel Cooke, 58, of Kennedy Drive, off Pasture Road, said he witnessed the aftermath of the incident.

He said: "One fire engine went passed and I took no notice at first. I then saw guys with breathing apparatus on.

"Everybody was running around like headless chickens, and there was some stuff coming out of the back of the tanker. I thought it didn't look too good, and the scary thing was there is a school next to it."

Fire crews from Stapleford and Highfields, and an environmental protection unit from Stockhill, attended the incident.

Two members of the public were also checked over by the emergency services following the spillage.

Police closed Pasture Road, between Kennedy Drive, Hickings Lane and Moorbridge Lane, for more than four hours while the clean-up operation took place.

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 signs across the road.

"Thee told me there had been a chemical spillage.."

Moorbridge Lane resident Geoffrey Churchill, 67, who has lived in Stapleford for around 30 years, said: "I saw three or four fire engines down there dealing with the spillage.

"It's very unusual and rare that anything like this happens here."

A GUNMAN who shot a rival gang member in the head smirked as he was jailed.

Cameron Cashin was convicted of the murder of Malakai McKenzie yesterday.

Mr McKenzie, 19, died after he was shot outside the Hubb pub in Hucknall Road, Sherwood, in April last year.

As a judge sentenced Cashin to a minimum of 34 years in prison he turned to his victim's family and smirked.

Angry scenes then erupted at Nottingham Crown Court, with friends and family of Mr McKenzie telling Cashin to "rot in hell".

Mr McKenzie's eldest brother Camaron said he was "ecstatic" about the sentence.Have a look at our gallery of pictures here.WATCH: Malakai's cousin talks outside court

Giving his reaction to the verdicts outside court, he added: "I'm speechless. I can't find the words right now.

"I just want to walk through town and enjoy it. I'm going to the cemetery to see my brother."

He refuted claims Mr McKenzie, of Whitemoor, had been part of a gang, saying he had ambitions to be a football coach.

The court had earlier heard Mr McKenzie, who was one of seven siblings, was shot while sitting in the back of a car at around 3.25am on April 21 last year.

It was the third time in three months he had been shot at.WATCH: Tribute video posted on the RIP Malakai McKenzie Facebook page. WARNING: Contains some explicit language.

Gunman Cashin, who was the leader of a rival gang, shot Mr McKenzie in the head after a feud.

He was also convicted of three charges of attempted murder.

Mr Justice Royce told Cashin, 21, of Liddington Street, Basford, there was a "significant degree of planning and premeditation" and he had no mitigation, apart from his age.

"Malakai and the others were young also. You snuffed out his life without a care and you attempted to snuff out the lives of the other three in that car."

And he said it was a "cynical, heartless and wicked assassination".

After the case, Steve Chappell, chief prosecutor at the Crown Prosecution Service East Midlands, said: "Offences of this nature are of the utmost seriousness, leaving families devastated and communities in fear for their safety."

THE number of tickets dished out by city traffic wardens has dropped by 14 per cent since the council brought parking enforcement in-house last year.

Appeals against tickets have also fallen.

And the city council has claimed the service now focuses more on advising people rather than slapping tickets on cars.

More than 45,000 tickets were handed out in 2011-2012, compared to just 39,333 in 2012-2013 – a drop of more than 6,400.

Des Storey, team leader in parking enforcement, said the changes since bringing enforcement in-house were clear.

He added: "We have a reputation of sneaking around trying to catch people parking illegally, but that really isn't the case.

"If there is someone physically sitting in the car, we always point out alternative places to park and the reasons why they can't park in that spot. It doesn't always go down well, but we're always polite, courteous and do our best to give the best possible service we can.

"It's hard to remain popular when you're handing out fines, but many people don't appreciate that without parking enforcement, the traffic in Nottingham simply wouldn't flow as well as it does."

The parking enforcement team in the city has 35 members of staff who also educate people about parking issues in schools.

There are two types of tickets parking wardens can give out – a £70 one for offences like parking in resident-only spaces or a taxi rank and a £50 ticket for not having a ticket at a pay-and-display car park or overstaying the time on the ticket.

Both fines are reduced by half if paid within 14 days.

Parking enforcement manager James Clancy said the team of parking wardens have been trained to use discretion and negotiation where needed.

He added that the falling number of appeals shows that people who get a ticket understand the reasons why.

He said: "Instead of the stereotypical 'ticket first and ask questions later', officers will, wherever possible and safe to do so, look to engage and advise a driver of other parking options.

"We accept that we've still got a way to go. We're looking at some more innovative ways of reaching citizens, such as using social networking and inviting people to comment on our service."

Council leader Jon Collins said that when parking was brought in-house, the way parking was dealt with changed.

He added: "The service refocused its priorities on the customer, moving from a culture of enforcement to one of engagement."

HARDENED boxing fans waited in the rain to catch a glimpse of their hero and Nottingham's world champion Carl Froch.

Dressed in a tailor-made grey suit, Carl thanked his fans for enduring the elements and said that his success was all down to their support.

"To know that I have the support of you guys means a lot," he said.Have a look at our gallery - Carl Froch: A career in pictures.

"I don't think I would have achieved what I have done without you."

Around 100 people gathered at the foot of the Council House, in the Old Market Square, to listen to the boxer talk from the balcony about his plans for the future.

"I want to put on a fight in Nottingham before Christmas," said the 35-year-old to rapturous applause and cheers from a sea of umbrellas below.

"Every man and his dog seems to want to fight me, and I'll fight anyone. It would be great to fight at the City Ground."

Four weeks ago Carl retained his IBF super-middleweight world title by beating "Viking warrior" Mikkel Kessler in a thrilling 12-round win on points at London's O2 Arena.

More than a million viewers tuned in to watch the Nottingham father-of-two beat his Danish rival and Froch reportedly earned £2 million.

It was the first time Froch had beaten Kessler, having lost out to the boxer in a previous fight in 2010.

The only other fighter in the world to beat Froch is the American Andre Ward.

But yesterday Froch admitted that a potential re-match with Kessler would take priority over a fight with Ward.

Asked if he thought he was slowing down with age 'The Cobra, said: "I'm genetically gifted. I'm hitting my physical peak. I'm knocking seconds off my runs. I must be a late developer.

"Running up and down the hills around Gedling and Carlton is what keeps me fit."

Among the crowd was Kellie Miles, 24, of Sneinton, she said: "I love watching his fights, we heard he would be in Nottingham today so we popped down to see him in the flesh."

Malcolm Brown, 65, of Tollerton said: "Carl is a slogger he deserves the success that he has achieved .

"He has put Nottingham on the map in many ways. I'll stand by him."

And mum-of-two Louise Frayton of Carlton said: "My two boys absolutely adore Carl so we've come down after school.

"I think he is a great sportsman, he comes in for some criticism from time to time, but in the ring is where he does the talking."

The event had been organised by Nottingham City Council as a civic reception to formally congratulate the boxer on his titles this year.