A 60-year-old driver of a lorry, which was carrying carpets, was unijured but left shaken after the crash at 5.30am.

The road was closed until the morning of Thursday June 20 as essential resurfacing works were carried out to repair serious damage done to the northbound carriageway of the busy commuter road caused by the heat of the burning carpets.

When the southbound carriageway was open, a screen was put up to avoid passing motorists having to see the scene.

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. 

COLSTON Bassett Dairy is continuing its centenary celebrations with a Village Fun Day on Saturday, June 29.

The village is set to come alive with music, a cooking competition and traditional games for children.

Local villagers and dairy workers are being invited to join in the party celebrations.

The Fun Day will be a celebration of Colston Bassett Dairy's rich past.

There will be a 'History Display' – showing the unique journey of the dairy from 1913 to today.

Children will be able to enjoy the centenary celebrations by taking part in games from the last one hundred years and by watching cheesemaking demonstrations.

Also running throughout the day will be the cooking and cheese wrapping competition - a fun, picnic-based event in which teams must produce a culinary dish and wrap a piece of Stilton for judges – Jack Inguanta and Sue Levers.

From afternoon into evening, guests will be treated to a hog roast buffet and refreshments and there will be entertainment from a local jazz band.

Billy Kevan, the Dairy manager said: "It is excellent to be able to celebrate Colston Bassett Dairy's centenary with the whole village - farmers, villagers and dairy employees have enjoyed working together since 1913. The Village Fun Day is a fantastic way to show how the whole community is proud of our heritage and we are delighted to still be making such high-quality Stilton.

A 21-YEAR-OLD has scooped a national award for a coffee shop she set up when she was 18.

Despite her limited experience, Natalie Eastwood has brewed up success over the past three years with plaudits from customers and critics across the county.

Natalie, of Chilwell opened up Espresso Coffee Bar in Westpoint Shopping Centre, Chilwell, with little more than the dream she had as a teen.

"It's always been a big interest of mine. Whenever I went into a coffee shop, I loved the smell of the coffee, the people that were in there, the relaxed environment."

After working for a short time in beauty therapy, Natalie decided to take the leap and pursue her ambition.

"I don't think you can ever be too young to start as long as you cope with things like not being able to take loads of days off.

"You don't mind it as much when you love what you do."

With help from her family, the café opened in August 2010 and has been a big success so far.

The café was shortlisted this year in the Café Society Award and picked up the gong for Best Independent Café in the UK at the ceremony in Kensington Gardens, London.

"You can only win first place as there is only one prize.

"I was absolutely over the moon."

Natalie's dad, company director Kevin Eastwood, showed her the ropes when she started but is astounded by what she has done on her own.

He said: "I was able to help her out and move things forward, but she had to get a hold of it and make it happen.

"When we found out she'd won the award, we cracked out the champagne and made a few cocktails."

Praise from the customers has been unanimous as well.

Duncan Fraser, 74, of Milton Crescent, Attenborough, said that he comes to Espresso Coffee Bar virtually every day if he can.

He said: "It's so pleasant and the coffee is fantastic.

"It's so much better than most of the places in town."

Denise Steel, 68, of Baulk Lane, Stapleford, has been coming since the shop opened.

She said: "The coffee is gorgeous and the staff are always lovely.

"It's a pleasure to come here."

For Natalie, the best days are still brewing.

"It's been the best three years of my life.

"I just can't wait for the years to come and see what's around the corner."

TRIBUTES have been paid to a coach who dedicated his life to swimming.

Tony Holmes, long-time head coach of Nottingham Leander Swimming Club, died after losing his battle against cancer.

Among the swimmers who came under his guidance was Rebecca Adlington, who achieved double Olympic gold medal glory at the Beijing Games in 2008 and double bronze at London 2012.

Rebecca's mum, Kaye, said: "He was a very nice man and very heavily involved in swimming. It's very sad to hear of his death. He was very highly thought of – he dedicated his life to swimming."

She added: "He always sent text messages whenever Becky had a swim. He made sure that he knew he was following her progress and sent messages about how well she had done."

Sue Davis is the secretary at Leander swimming club, where Mr Holmes was head coach.

She said: "He was a fantastic bloke, he was unbelievable. He had been with the club 32 years as chief coach. He was a friend as well as a colleague. I can't believe I'm not going to work with him anymore. The time he had for the swimmers was massive; he would always talk to them and encourage them. His commitment was incredible."

Mr Holmes, who was a bank manager and worked in other financial roles, was diagnosed with lung and brain cancer in February.

Ms Davis said he had a massive impact on people's lives.

She added: "He's been coaching children of children he coached years ago. He would strive to get the best out of everybody and his passion for swimming was immense. He's going to be greatly missed."

And she is clear about the greatest achievement of Mr Holmes' career.

In 2009 he led the club to the country's top swimming competition.

She said: "He took us to the National Swimming League A Final. To reach the final as a club within Nottingham was immense. Eight of the other were city or county clubs."

Outside of swimming, Mr Holmes, who lived in Heron Ridge, was a passionate Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club supporter.

The funeral is on Thursday at 1pm at the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Carlton Hill.

AN Arnold man allegedly stole a beef steak from Co-op, Sherwood, on June 6 this year. Joshua Campbell, 20, of St Albans Road, is further charged with failing to surrender to custody on June 17. He is on conditional bail to attend Nottingham Magistrates' Court today at 2pm.

AMANDA Loftman, 39, of St Peter's Street, Radford, is charged with robbery. The offence allegedly involved another female in Radford on June 2. A mobile phone and £10 were taken, Nottingham Magistrates' Court heard. A preliminary hearing has been listed for Loftman to attend at Nottingham Crown Court on July 1. Loftman is on conditional bail.

STEVEN McLeavey, 38, of Deepdene Close, Broxtowe, has been ordered to pay £144 compensation. He pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to the windscreen of a black Mondeo in Bilborough on May 3. Magistrates in Nottingham further ordered him to pay £210 compensation. He admitted causing criminal damage to the car windscreen of a black Toyota in Bilborough on the same date.

CRAIG McMorran, 27, of Oakford Close, Broxtowe, pleaded guilty to drink-driving. He was driving a Renault Mégane in Oakford Close while over the limit on April 30. Magistrates in Nottingham issued a £220 fine, a victim surcharge of £22 and costs of £85. He was banned from driving for 12 months.

JARRAD Dar, 29, of Nottingham Road, Eastwood, has been fined £70 for criminal damage. He damaged a BMW in Old Basford on June 20 last year. After pleading guilty at Nottingham Magistrates' Court, he was fined £70 and ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge.

A JOB applicant has been fined £50 for fraud after he failed to reveal unspent convictions. Jason Smith, of Merchant Street, Bulwell, should have disclosed his previous offences on a job application form at Iceland, Main Street, Bulwell, on or about October 26 last year. Magistrates in Nottingham issued the fine and requirements to pay a victim surcharge of £20 and costs of £30.

DANIEL Inger, 30, of Sherbrook Road, Daybrook, drove a Ford Focus without a licence or insurance. He was fined £100 for having no insurance in Calverton on December 30 last year. A victim surcharge of £20 was imposed and his licence will be endorsed with six penalty points. No separate penalty was issued for having no licence. His guilty pleas were entered at Nottingham Magistrates' Court.

MAGISTRATES in Nottingham issued fines to an unlicensed taxi driver who was driving without insurance. Adeel Abbasi, 33, of Glentworth Road, Radford, was fined £200 for each offence. He was driving a Toyota Avensis in George Street, Nottingham, when he was caught. After he pleaded guilty, the fines were issued and he was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £20 and costs of £325.80. Eight penalty points will be added to his licence.

A DRIVER has denied he was in an unlicensed taxi in Nottingham's Upper Parliament Street. Mohamed Aly was allegedly in a Vauxhall Astra without a licence or insurance on March 22. He will have a trial at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on August 16 at 2pm.

A BULWELL man has been fined £125 for dropping a cigarette. Shaun Chappell, 47, of Hucknall Lane, pleaded guilty to the offence by post at court. It happened in Newmarket Road, Bulwell, on November 7. The fine was issued at Nottingham Magistrates' Court along with a victim surcharge of £20 and costs of £100.

A WOMAN was prosecuted for dropping a cigarette end in Long Row, Nottingham, on October 11 last year. Louise Elliott, 27, of Tavistock Drive, Mapperley, was fined £200 at Nottingham Magistrates' Court. The case was proved in her absence. She will be informed about the fine, a £20 victim surcharge and costs of £100.

MARK Herrod, 54, of Clanfield Road, Bilborough, was conditionally discharged for dropping a cigarette end. Nottingham Magistrates' Court heard the offence happened in Milton Street, Nottingham, on November 6 last year. Herrod pleaded guilty by post. As well as being subject to the conditional discharge, there are requirements to pay a £15 victim surcharge and costs of £50.

DANIEL Matthews, 29, of South Snape Close, Bulwell, has been banned from keeping a dog for two years. He pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a Staffordshire bull terrier called Penny. He failed to investigate and address the causes of her poor body condition and weight loss between December 10, 2012 and December 24, 2012. Magistrates in Nottingham fined him £60, ordered he pay a victim surcharge of £20 and costs of £100. Matthews also admitted a second charge where he did not take reasonable steps to provide Penny with a suitable diet, including a constant supply of fresh drinking water during the same period. No penalty was imposed on this charge. On a third charge he was fined an additional £60 for failing to meet Penny's need for adequate daily care and supervision during this period. He also admitted this allegation. All three charges were brought under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

BOOK LOVERS turned out in force to celebrate their literary passions and catch a glimpse of their heroes at the Lowdham Book Festival over the weekend.

Yesterday, author and broadcaster Simon Mayo spoke to the crowds at Lowdham Village Hall, discussing his children's book Itch and his experiences as a radio presenter.

Jane Streeter, one of the organisers of the Lowdham festival, said the event was going particularly well this year.

She added: "We've had a really nice mix of people. It's going really well."

And next weekend, visitors can expect a packed schedule of literary activities, with a talk from Second World War poetry expert John Lucas just one of a plethora of events taking place.

On top of that, the festival is going on tour with a host of events taking at the Bromley House Library in Long Row in the city today.

Steff Harrison, 63, went to the Simon Mayo event with her husband, Andy.

And Mrs Harrison, from Gunthorpe, said: "This is the first time we've been.

"It is a badge of honour for the area; everyone has heard of the Hay-on-Wye festival, but this is so good."

In Sherwood, knitters covered the area in their yarns as part of a week-long arts festival.

The Sherwood Arts Festival runs through to next weekend and included the "yarn bombing" event which saw bus stops adorned with knitted cushions and knitted apples hanging from trees on Saturday.

Natasha East is on the committee that organised the event.

She said: "It's been brilliant – the comments have been fantastic.

"People coming out of pubs have been taking pictures and there's loads of people looking, touching things and sitting on the benches."

In Carlton, ten football teams took part in a charity five-a-side competition – raising more than £1,000 for Barnardo's.

Oliver Bowler is business development manager for Talbot and Muir, the firm behind the event.

He said: "It's gone really well even though the weather was a bit hit and miss."

The event also included a variety of food and drink stalls and competitions.

Beeston residents flocked to a festival celebrating the best of the area.

The event opened with an arts and crafts fair in Beeston Square from 10am through to 4pm on Saturday.

There was also a teddy bear trail on Friday and a family fun day and jazz festival at the Commercial Inn, in Wollaton Road, on Saturday.

ALDERCAR Infant and Nursery School has been given a glowing report by government inspectors.

The school, in Godkin Drive, Langley Mill, was marked as 'outstanding' overall – the top mark available – by Ofsted following a visit in May.

The quality of teaching, behaviour and safety of pupils, leadership and management and achievement of pupils were all given the 'outstanding' accolade.

Inspectors, who observed 17 lessons during their visit, said: "Pupils make outstanding progress, often from very low starting points.

"Teachers and teaching assistants inspire pupils and build on their natural curiosity about the world.

"Teachers almost always pitch the work at exactly the right level for every pupil."

Inspectors also found pupils always try their best, behaviour is outstanding, carefully planned lessons allow excellent opportunities for pupils to develop reading, writing and number skills, and disabled pupils or those with other special educational needs are very well taught and are fully included in the life of the school.

Headteacher Gayle Shiels said: "We're all absolutely delighted to have gone from a 'good' rating last time to an 'outstanding' one this time.

"It's a fantastic achievement for the whole team, the children and our parents. As the report states, we believe everyone at Aldercar Infant and Nursery School is 'a star' and we'll continue to work together to make sure every child does the very best they can."

A STAPLEFORD Primary School is celebrating after achieving its second 'good' Ofsted report in a row.

Wadsworth Fields Primary School, in Wadsworth Road, was inspected at the start of May and was awarded the second best category overall.

The school was judged to be a 'good' education provider because children in the early years foundation stage make good progress from their below-average starting point, pupils continue to make good progress throughout the school and, by the time they leave in year six, attainment is average in English and above average in mathematics.

The teachers were congratulated for providing good lessons overall, with some lessons judged outstanding.

The inspectors also noted that pupils are keen to learn and that relationships with one another, teachers and teaching assistants are very positive.

Head teacher at the school, Sally Bates, said she was thrilled with the outcome of the inspection.

She said: "We're delighted to have been given a good accreditation for two years running. We recognise that under the new Ofsted framework it is becoming increasingly difficult for schools to show they are providing a good standard of education.

"For us, our success has been a team effort, from the midday supervisors to the governors coming together as a team to do the best for our children.

"We are celebrating the all-round contribution of all our staff. They are all passionate about working with our children and parents to make sure the life chances of each individual child are as good as they can be."

Other reasons why the school was judged to be good was because behaviour is good, and in some lessons exemplary, and because pupils feel safe.

It was also commended for the strong head teacher and leadership team and because links with parents and attendance have both improved significantly since the previous inspection.

Lead inspector Lynn Brewster said: "The curriculum is themed around the interests of the pupils and provides breadth, balance and promotes good behaviour.

"Many opportunities exist for pupils to take part in a range of enrichment activities, including art, music, dance, sport and gardening, as well as residential visits and school trips that complement their learning. Spiritual, moral social and cultural opportunities provided by the school contribute well to pupils' overall education."

The school was not judged as 'outstanding' because in some lessons the pace of learning is too slow and work lacks sufficient challenge.

Inspectors also noted that not all teachers give helpful feedback when they mark pupils' work and that although achievement in writing is improving, it is not yet good in all years. Some pupils are unsure of their targets and there are not enough opportunities to practice writing in the subjects they study.

Mrs Bates added: "I am confident that we will achieve 'outstanding' in our Ofsted. We are going to carry on polishing what we are doing at the moment and looking at every resource we can to enhance what we offer to our students."

I AM pleased that since I last wrote – in opposition to the plans for a free school in the Trent Bridge area – that a decision has been made not to go ahead with the proposals.

However, as a supporter of a non-selective system of education, there are many other issues of concern in the education field at present.

The spelling, punctuation and grammar (Spag) tests are being introduced this year, and I understand the views of educationalists are very mixed as to their efficacy.

The evidential backing for the tests is dubious as they contain 'right' and 'wrong' answers where that might not apply. There is no evidence that they will help 11-year-olds do anything better and they may even detract from encouraging a child's thirst for reading – although I would be happy to be persuaded otherwise.

At this time of the year, many parents are scratching their heads as to how they are going to juggle the forthcoming long holidays in terms of child care arrangements, particularly if there is not an extended family to help out.

There are many holiday activities available but many are beyond the average budget. We are a long way off truly family-friendly working arrangements, and there are more advanced systems available in other European countries.

However, having said that, I am totally opposed to the suggestion from Michael Gove that we should be reducing the length of the summer holiday break to only four weeks – and even extending the school day to 4.30pm.

I believe that children – and school staff – need that long break in the summer. Pupils should be able to enjoy the lengthy summer break as a time when they can explore and learn about life around them in a carefree manner, and not have the continual worry of studying for exams.

On a final note, I am very concerned to read about proposals from the Department for Education that the numbers of teaching assistants will need to be reduced. They are an invaluable resource providing support in many areas of behaviour, learning and special needs. We should be resisting these proposals.

THE 'Troops to Teachers' scheme, where ex-military personnel are fast-tracked into UK classrooms to teach and support lessons, was announced.

The thinking behind the programme is to utilise the discipline, team-work skills and experience learned in military service, and transpose those skills to the classroom.

There are definite supporters of the idea – and it would be difficult to argue that those skills are not useful within a classroom setting.

There is, of course, an opposing point of view, largely borne from the fact that the Troops to Teachers candidates will not need a degree and will complete their training within two years, with only one day a week studying.

The argument is that this is simply not enough training to prepare any candidate to enter the specialised knowledge-based profession of teaching.

It is one thing to have the skills to deliver subject knowledge, but the reason that teaching is a graduate profession is because subject knowledge is required in the first place.

As someone who works in education, I acknowledge the importance of specific subject knowledge and passion for a subject that teachers should have. Ofsted focuses strongly on the links between high quality teaching and in-depth knowledge of the subject, and across the UK, schools link up to provide training between specialist teachers.

As a parent, I would hope that whoever teaches maths or science or history to my son would know enough about that subject to be able to communicate it to him in an inspiring way.

In life, as well as in school, there is little more annoying than someone who professes to be an expert on a given topic when, in reality, they just Googled it the day before.

The most telling thing about the scheme, however, is the uptake. There is already less interest from ex-troops than expected. Their reason? In comparison with other professions that ex-military personnel enter after their service is complete, they say that the teaching salary is too low.

And they don't need a maths degree to figure that out.

Rarely a week seems to go by when business doesn't get it in the neck for one reason or another.

Businesses are, variously, 'big', and full of 'fat cats', 'tax avoiders' and 'loan sharks', while that part of the commercial world known unfortunately as financial services is entirely responsible for the end of life as we know it.

It gets worse. According to a report by an organisation called the Directory of Social Change, businesses also appear to be responsible for some of the struggles that charities have been experiencing.

It's done an analysis which says businesses give a paltry 0.4 per cent of their pre-tax profits to charities.

The DSC's chief executive, Debra Allcock, says she's also shocked that charitable giving has gone down.

Other than a disastrous financial crash and a lingering downturn I can't think why that might happen either.

I'm being cheap and churlish, of course. The DSC has been around a long time, a testament, I think, the importance of what it stands for.

The commercial world is a powerful force and a profit-oriented outlook needs counterbalancing regularly as it's usually a product of a team effort – a team where some members don't profit as much as others.

But why the DSC thought publicly battering business round the head was a smart way of getting companies to give more is beyond me.

Pressure groups and politicians of all colours seem to think that it's OK to give business a regular kicking even though the behaviour they make such a song and dance about applies to a comparatively small number of companies, many of whom are not a million miles from Westminster and its adoring crowds of microphones.

Perish the thought that any of this is London-centric grandstanding for a London-centric media.

If it isn't, it's a pity that the DSC chose Westminster as the place to make its point.

The DSC says it has conducted a detailed examination of the charitable giving of around 400 businesses.

This is a chunky number, and I'm guessing there's a good cross-section of companies in their sample – small, medium and large, different parts of the country, different types of industry.

If there isn't – if it's concentrated on what critics like to refer to as 'big business' – then I wonder whether it tells a representative story.

If I tell you that there are more than 800,000 private sector businesses in London alone, you might see that sample in another light.

The problem is that most are small, don't have much of a voice, and probably don't earn a lot of money. It's the same here in Nottingham.

They are what are known as lifestyle businesses, set up by one or two people (some of whom had lost their jobs) as a way of earning their own living rather than being paid by someone else. Despite the image business has for being a licence to print money, most bring in the equivalent of a salary and a pension. It's no coincidence that the earnings threshold beyond which businesses start paying Corporation Tax is £75,000. Not exactly fat cat territory, is it?

There's more than a hint of headline-grabbing PR in some of the statements delivered by Debra Allcock. "Today we tell the truth", "they give so little and they give so badly", "the Great British Public is fed-up", she says. The killer punch is this sweeping criticism: "the vast majority of our companies in the UK have a great deal to be ashamed about".

The point she makes is that's not OK for companies to claim giving by staff as their own or to give so little. Some could give more – substantially more, and they know it. Corporate Social Responsibility has become an almost gruesome phrase which applies not only to earnest, long-term efforts to try to lift up the communities that businesses operate in, but to marketing-led PLC box-ticking.

But it isn't OK either to tar all businesses with a brush which suggests they are all irresponsible takers rather than givers. When you factor in the sheer size of the UK economy I don't think it's unfair to assume that most, in fact, do not behave like that.

Rarely a week goes by without the Post's columns containing an example of community activity by local businesses, whether it's the likes of Ikano sponsoring the Robin Hood half marathon, The Cooper Parry Corporate Challenge (which has raised £270,000 for charities in 10 years), or the boss of a small business in Mansfield called Hall-Fast raising £5,000 for a special school by doing a 15 kilometre assault course.

The DSC's chief executive says the poor giving is another example of "the lack of moral leadership that has been exhibited and exposed by our political leaders, our media leaders and our business leaders". Is modern life really that degenerate? Or have people got lost on an anti-business bandwagon?

Not for the first time, I'll point out a statistic which a few people in Westminster really ought to take on board. Of the UK's working population of roughly 30 million people, 80 per cent work in the private sector. When you kick 'business' you kick the part of the country that provides the vast majority of jobs and the vast majority of the tax revenues that pay for the civilised society government tries to maintain on our behalf. Indeed, some of that tax goes from government to charity.

Parts of the business world should behave a whole lot better, parts of it could give a whole lot more. For many businesses, though, life can often seem punishingly hard, commercially uncertain and financially precarious. They have nothing to be "ashamed" of.

THE debate about where much-needed new housing is going to be built is one of the most pressing of all. There's a shortage, and kick-starting house building would do the economy a power of good.

This debate is also a controversial one because, sooner or later, some empty land is going to have to disappear underneath bricks and mortar. But what kind of empty land – and where?

Anna Soubry, the MP for Broxtowe, has sought to bring some clarity to this messy debate by sending a letter to a department run by her own government pointing out the mixed message they give about protecting the countryside on the one hand and allowing new housing on the other.

The response? Not a mixed message but a proper own-goal, with one of her ministerial colleagues, Nick Boles, suggesting that while greenbelt would be built on only in exceptional circumstances, "low quality, environmentally uninteresting fields" might have to make way for the developer's digger.

In short, Mr Boles has left the debate in the same mess that Ms Soubry complained about, while inflaming local passions by suggesting that some green fields might be pretty boring anyway. Who is he to judge?

For the sake of residents in Broxtowe, Rushcliffe and the rest of the country, somebody in Mr Boles' department needs to get a grip and give an important question a meaningful answer.

FIGHTING talk has started before a football match between ex-professional footballers and servicemen.

A team made up of players from the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force will take on the Nottingham All-Stars at Hucknall Town Football Club at 7pm on Thursday, June 27, to celebrate Armed Forces Day.

Craig Armstrong, who played for Nottingham Forest between 1992 and 1999, is taking part in the match and said: "We want to win – as ex-players we don't like losing.

"I'm sure there will be a competitive edge and they will try and put one over on us!

"I'm sure that a lot of them will be a lot fitter than a lot of us, so it will be interesting – hopefully the experience will shine through."

Other confirmed players for the Nottingham All-Stars team include former Nottingham Forest footballers Des Walker and Steve Hodge, as well as Notts County players Tommy Johnson and Lawrie Duffield.

The Combined Services team chairman Lt Col (Ret'd) Mick Cotton said his team had experience players and he was certain it would be "a hard-fought match".

He added: "Football is the most widely enjoyed game in the military. It is the 'servicemen's sport'.

"The whole team is looking forward to playing against some of Nottingham's well-known sporting heroes.

"It is a privilege, not only to be invited to play, but also to be a part of our Armed Forces Day celebrations."

The match has been organised by Nottingham City Council in conjunction with Hucknall Town FC as part of the Armed Forces Day celebrations.

Mr Armstrong added: "It's for a good cause and I always enjoy playing these matches, because no matter who wins it benefits someone."

City councillor Dave Trimble said: "Nottingham is incredibly honoured to host the 2013 Armed Forces Day and this one-off football match will be a fantastic event for all to enjoy."

Tickets are still available for £5 from Hucknall Town Football Club, the ticket offices at Nottingham Forest and Notts County, and at the nine city council run leisure centres as well as the council house in Old Market Square.

All locations are operating a cash-only system for this match and children aged four and under go free when accompanied by a full-paying adult.

Victoria Embankment

10am Tri-Service and veterans villages open; interactive and static displays open; arena displays.

10am-5.30pm Live music and entertainment on the main stage and community stage.

10.50am Parade and service will be broadcast live to Victoria Embankment from the Old Market Square

10.58am The Red Arrows flypast

Noon RAF Typhoon aircraft

1.35pm Hawker Sea Fury of the Royal Navy Historic flight.

1.50pm Dakota from the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial flight.

1.57pm Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane from the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial flight (pictured)

3.55pm Royal Navy Lynx Mk8 helicopter and Fairey Swordfish from the Royal Navy.

5.40pm-6pm King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery, Musical Drive

6pm Tri-Service villages and displays close

Nottingham Castle and the Old Market Square:

Please note that the Castle and grounds will be closed to the public.

10.47am-10.49am Feu du joie with 100 Regiment Royal Artillery firing 105mm light guns

10.50am Parade steps off from Nottingham Castle

10.58am Red Arrows fly past the Old Market Square

11.30am Start of Drumhead Service

Noon Typhoon flypast

12.10pm Parade leaves the Old Market Square

6pm late Big Night Out

Live entertainment, discounted activities and special food and drinks offers from 6pm until late.

Nottingham City Council has teamed up with Radio Nottingham, The Nottingham Business Improvement District (BID) and Experience Nottinghamshire to host a special Armed Forces Big Night Out.

Live entertainment in the Old Market Square:

7pm-8pm Band of The Adjutant General's Corps

8.30pm-10.30pm Music from Fat Digester

MUSIC and fashion met this weekend as staff from Nottingham's Music Exchange hit the decks at Paul Smith's Covent Garden store.

The local fashion legend invited staff from Hockley to set up a pop-up shop at his Floral Street store in London, both playing and selling vinyl across Friday and Saturday.

As well as music, shoppers got the chance to pick up T-shirts and tote bags designed by Sir Paul with The Music Exchange logo.

The Music Exchange was set up by homeless charity Framework, where all profits from the event are going to.

Brian "Joey" Mutton, who has been running The Music Exchange since 2010, said it had been a thrilling, if surreal, opportunity.

"We've had a really great time and it's been pretty busy throughout.

"We've played a bit of everything from Roxy Music to David Bowie.

"It's pretty strange just playing at the shop all day but still really nice."

Brian thanked Sir Paul for all his help, adding: "He's just been so supportive of what we do."

The Music Exchange will play another pop-up event when Sir Paul opens his new London store in Beak Street, Soho, in September.

Brian said the first event had been a great opportunity to show people what Nottingham has to offer.

"It's been great to get out of the city and show how many exciting things are happening, like Jake Bugg.

"It's been a really good year so far for music in Nottingham."

Rock City photographer David Baird, 28, has contributed several live music prints featuring the likes of Bryan Ferry and Mumford & Sons, which will be auctioned.

Visiting the store on Saturday, he said he was thrilled to have joined the project.

"Paul Smith is a Nottingham icon and it's been a great honour to work with him.

"He's such a nice guy and his clothes look great even though they are a little bit out of my price range."

Sir Paul, who has worked with a number of musicians from Led Zeppelin to Jake Bugg, said it had been great collaborating with The Music Exchange.

He said: "Vinyl has always been close to my heart. There is something very real about it, even with the scratches.

"It's been wonderful to work closely with The Music Exchange, especially given its support for homeless charity Framework.

"Our pop-up idea hopefully will happen in some other shops over the coming months."

ROLLING hills, lush meadows and fertile farmlands are a common sight in Notts. And green campaigners are keen to keep it that way.

So they were shocked at the suggestion this weekend from a Government minister that such land could be "boring" and make way for housing developments.

Among those bemused by the comments is Green Party Councillor for Lady Bay, Richard Mallender, who slammed Planning Minister Nick Boles for saying that some green fields are "environmentally uninteresting."

Mr Mallender, who yesterday took part in the Great Notts Bike Ride, said: "I've been cycling through rural Rushcliffe and there's lots of beautiful green space and it is not boring and is not wasted.

"It is beautiful to look at, there are crops growing and cows and sheep grazing in the fields. It is supporting bees, which we are being encouraged to look after because they are so important.

"Yes we need housing, but there are plenty of brownfield sites that have stood empty for a long time that need developing."

Anna Soubry wrote to Communities Secretary Eric Pickles to tell him that the demands of Government planning inspectors have left Broxtowe struggling to meet their quota of new houses without damaging Green Belt sites.

She wrote: "This is an intolerable situation which has undermined the assurances on the Green Belt given by yourself and the Prime Minister".

In response, Mr Boles, under-secretary to Mr Pickles, said some "environmentally uninteresting" green field sites or even Green Belt could not be guaranteed protection from development in Broxtowe.

Controversial plans for 450 houses on Green Belt land at Field Farm, Broxtowe, were recently approved despite protests from The Stapleford and Trowell Rural Action Group (STRAG).

Zoe Cockcroft, chairman of STRAG, said: "'Low quality, environmentally uninteresting fields' certainly isn't a qualification which applies to Field Farm. The site comprises good quality agricultural land as well as woodland connecting Nottingham city with the open countryside, forming a unique ecological corridor."

Nita Green, Conservative Councillor for Nuthall East and Strelley for Broxtowe Borough Council, said she agreed with Miss Soubry's stance that local authorities are being forced to approve developments their residents oppose.

"When it comes to local decisions, if the Government decides they want the land they will take it regardless of what local people want," she said.

"I think Nick Boles' statement is an awful thing to say," she added.

Rushcliffe borough councillor for Cotgrave Richard Butler agreed. He said: "I don't think it's a particularly helpful expression," he said.

"The Government has been putting more pressure on local authorities like Rushcliffe to find more land for housing. They are just handing over the problem to councils."

Malcolm Baker, chairman of Rushcliffe Residents' Association, who campaigned against 1,200 homes being built at Sharphill, near Edwalton, added: "Before building on any green site they should exhaust every single one of the brownfield sites.

"Once it's all gone, then I can understand the theory of building on 'uninteresting' green sites."

The letters between Miss Soubry and the Department of Communities and Local Government are published on her website, and the Broxtowe MP said people are free to discuss the details of her correspondence – but refused to be drawn on the issue.

She said: "If you believe in localism, it puts ministers in a very difficult place.

"Nick Boles knows my views and there's no call for a public debate."

NOTTINGHAM proved itself to be a cycling city this weekend, with one of the biggest turnouts for years in the Great Nottinghamshire Bike Ride – despite driving rain.

Cyclists turned out in their masses to mark the end of Experian Cycle Live – a three-day festival of two-wheeled entertainment centred around Victoria Embankment.

Friday's Nottingham Grand Prix and City Ride and the Folding Bike Race on Saturday took a back seat as the Great Nottinghamshire Bike Ride, in its 32nd year, showed itself to be the event's glittering finale, with 4,000 riders.

There were three different route lengths – 25, 50 or 100 miles.

Kym Bignell, 26, from West Bridgford, completed the course having been told by doctors four years ago that she may never be able to do physical exercise again.

She said: "To prove them wrong was a fantastic feeling. I wanted to cry when I got to the finish line."

Kym has Sreiburgs disease, which erodes joints in her foot. She had her first child, Eavie-Rose, last year and has been training weekly over the last six months.

"For me it wasn't just a case of going on a bike ride; it's much bigger to complete something you were told you will never do."

Ex-Army engineer Martin Reed did the 25-mile route in a full chemical warfare suit and gas mask in aid of Help for Heroes, and one man rode a unicycle for 50 miles.

Nottingham-born Olympic silver medallist, Bryan Steel, who took part in the 50-mile route, said: "I was so impressed at how many people were here."

Chris Simon, director of Perfect Motion, organisers of Experian Cycle Live, said: "This year has been one of our busiest rides we've ever had. The 100-mile ride sold out the Tuesday before the event – the first time we have ever sold out a ride before the event."

A MAN was taken to hospital after a fire broke out in a ground floor flat at Holly Gardens, Thorneywood, on Saturday night.

Notts Police say the fire, reported just after 10pm, was started when paint thinner caught fire and spread out of control while the man was decorating at a house that has been converted into three flats.

Around 20 residents came out of neighbouring homes after seeing the smoke, and described their shock as the flames burst out of the house.

Pete Borrows and his son Anthony were watching a film when they heard the commotion. They ran out of their house next to the flats and called the fire brigade.

Mr Borrows, 46, said: "At first we thought it was a bonfire or a barbecue. The flames were still roaring out the windows – it was quite intense."

He added: "It was totally gutted, the there was nothing left at all."

Simon Reast, who lives opposite the flat, was also watching television when he heard the noise and immediately called the emergency services.

He said: "When I came to look there were flames coming out the window. There was a lot of smoke.

"I'm just glad it wasn't early in the morning. I was concerned about our house because the fire was so big."

The 50-year-old father of two added: "It's lucky. A young couple with a baby had just moved out of the top flat three weeks ago."

Gary Thorogood-Page also lives on the road and took a video of the flames.

He said: "There was a black cloud and looking out we could see the flames and smoke."

The 45-year-old architect and father of one added: "I jumped up and ran into the road – it was so smoky. One of the lads [who lived in the flat] tried to go back in.

"The windows all blew and flames were licking up the walls. It started at about 10pm and lasted until 2am."

Notts Fire and Rescue said the ground floor property was left "severely damaged".

Everyone in the building was accounted for and police are not treating the incident as suspicious.