SUMMER is about to arrive in Notts, with temperatures expected to soar.

The Met Office predicts temperatures of nearly 30 degrees celsius next week, with the weather hotting up from Sunday.

The weathermen say that we will bask in temperatures of at least 25 degrees celsius every day.

The sunshine will be welcomed by most weather-beaten Notts residents, but few will be happier than Tracy Harker, who owns Harker's Farm shop in Clipston-on-the-Wolds.

Mrs Harker said: "It's massive for us.

"We're butchers first and foremost and it absolutely goes crazy when the sun goes out – people wanting sausages, burgers and ribs.

"The weather dictates what people are going to buy – if the sun is shining then people will have a barbecue."

Mrs Harker added: "We sell a super ice cream from a farmer in Dorset. The weather has been hit and miss but we'll sell the freezer out on a great weekend."

A Met Office spokeswoman said: "We are expecting warmer temperatures than average. It's because of the jet stream which is in the right position for temperatures in the UK to go above average. We'll definitely get really nice weather next week."

The spokesman added: "It's set very fair and it will be very warm. It looks like being a nice spell of weather for most people."

The current position of the jet stream means that unsettled conditions are being sent to the very north of the UK, with the rest of the country likely to be more settled.

The jet stream is a fast flowing, narrow air current, which has a significant impact on UK weather.

The Met Office said that pollen count is currently graded as "medium" but likely to become "high" to "very high" by the weekend.

At this time of year oak and pine trees, as well as grass, dock plants, and nettles cause problems for hayfever sufferers.

Simon Plowright, the owner of Dovecote Farm Shop at Manor Farm, Barton-in-Fabis, is also excited by the prospect of good weather. He said: "It would be fantastic for us; it's barbecues and ice creams.

"We've only had four or five days so far this year. It would be nice to get some good weather, because we've got a decking area, a garden and animals for the kids to feed. We've got pigs, goats and chickens. People aren't going to stick around if it's raining.

Meanwhile, Harry Forde, sales manager at The Riverbank bar and restaurant at Trent Bridge, said: "When we get the sunshine lots of people come because we can get 400 on the terrace.

"It will be buzzing."

RUBY Conner knew that working in a bank wasn't the job for her.

She had a passion for working for a production company and, when an apprentice role came up, she jumped at the chance.

She has now been at Dance 4 in the city centre for a month.

"I am really enjoying the work I have been doing – it's exactly what I want to be doing," said the 21-year-old.

Ruby is one of hundreds of people benefiting or set to benefit from the Post's successful Get Notts Working campaign.

Earlier this year, we set out to find 300 apprentice vacancies in Notts.

Today we reveal we have surpassed that target – reaching a total of 309 pledges.

Of those, 59 came from training provider New College Nottingham – which is placing students with firms.

One of those firms is Dance 4, who took on Ruby as an events promotion and creative art apprentice.

Her role has seen her create e-flyers for the firm's productions and use social networking sites to contacting customers about upcoming shows.

Dance 4 helps to get young people involved in stage productions by running local shows.

Ruby added: "My apprenticeship lasts for a year and I am getting paid while I learn a job.

"When I finish I will have qualifications and possibly stay on at Dance 4. Or those qualifications will help me stay in the industry."

Steve Rick, who matches New College Nottingham apprentices with jobs, said: "From a company perspective, apprenticeships are a great way of training the future workforce.

"They are also a great way of giving someone a chance at training for a job while getting paid."

Another apprentice who has benefited from Get Notts Working is Scott Curtis, 24.

His dad Phil Curtis, owner of Whitemoor firm Mint Plumbing, decided to take on an apprentice in support of the Post campaign, with Scott fitting the bill.

Scott said: "It's been going really well. We do a lot of plumbing at domestic properties and I've been learning a lot.

"I started at the end of May and feel that the apprenticeship is allowing me to learn important skills while earning at the same time."

The success of this year's Post apprentice drive comes on the back of two previous campaigns.

In 2011, we unearthed 162 roles, while 230 were created last year – a total of 701 in three years.

We have worked with the Derbyshire and Notts Chamber of Commerce, the National Apprenticeship Service, Nottingham City Council and the Nottinghamshire City and County Employment and Skills Board.

George Cowcher, chief executive of the chamber, said: "I'm delighted we are once again celebrating the success of an apprenticeship campaign here in Nottingham.

"I would like to thank all of the employers in and around the city who have supported the campaign."

Karen Woodward, divisional area director for the National Apprenticeship Service, said: "I hope more organisations will now be encouraged to consider the benefits offered by apprenticeships and reap the rewards of a more motivated, skilled and qualified workforce."

A JUDGE has ordered new care proceedings to take place in the case of a baby boy who was found with serious injuries.

The boy, who is from Nottingham but cannot be identified for legal reasons, was just a few months old when he was taken to hospital late last year.

Medics discovered bruises all over his body, including two skull fractures.

Experts agreed that his injuries were "non-accidental" and Nottingham City Council took action to take the baby and his brothers and sisters into interim care.

An emergency hearing was held at Nottingham's County Court at which the baby's father, mother and a former partner were all said to be in the frame. However, a family judge exonerated both parents and also ruled there was insufficient evidence to implicate her ex-partner.

The council later dropped the care proceedings and the children were returned to their mother, although the mystery of how the baby came by his injuries remains unresolved.

Yesterday the boy's court-appointed guardian took the case to the Court of Appeal.

Lord Justice Ryder, sitting with Lady Justice Gloster and Lord Justice McCombe, re-started the care proceedings and directed a fresh hearing to decide where the children's best interests lie.

However, the court allowed the children to stay with their mother in the meantime.

NOTTINGHAM'S hospitals have treated 150 victims of Female Genital Mutilation in the last two years.

A study by the NSPCC found that at least 1,700 victims were referred to specialist clinics across the UK between April 2011 and April 2013.

Of those, 150 were seen at Nottingham City Hospital's FGM clinic, the majority of which are thought to come from the city or county itself.

Other large urban areas in the Midlands also saw large numbers of cases – with 640 referrals made in Birmingham.

According to the NSPCC the figures reveal only a fraction of the true number of victims of FGM because many do not come forward for help.

Some clinics were also unwilling to share their data.

Lisa Harker, NSPCC Head of Strategy, said: "Children who are at risk or victims of female genital mutilation often don't even know it is abusive and harmful because it is done at the request of their family. They are told they are unclean and immoral if they are not 'cut' and that it is in their best interest.

"There is also a huge pressure within these communities to keep quiet about female genital mutilation."

FGM involves the full or partial removal of the external female genital organs.

It is a form of child abuse common to some African, Asian and Middle Eastern communities in the UK.

A NSPCC spokeswoman said: "Nottingham has a diverse demographic and there are many different communities within Nottingham which could explain why FGM is prevalent there."

In Nottingham, according to the 2011 census, 13 per cent of the city's residents are from Asia and seven per cent are African.

Two clinics for women who are pregnant and affected by FGM already run at Nottingham City Hospital. They will be opened up to non-pregnant women from this week.

The NSPCC has also launched a new helpline, which will provide advice, information or support for both victims and professionals who are concerned a child is at risk.

Victims of FGM are usually aged between four and ten but some are babies.

The practice leaves physical and psychological problems that can continue into adulthood, including health problems and damaged fertility.

It has been a criminal offence in the UK since 1985 and in 2003 it became an offence for UK nationals to carry out FGM abroad. However, no prosecution has ever been brought under the legislation.

Superintendent Helen Chamberlain, head of public protection at Notts Police, said: "Female Genital Mutilation is an illegal practice which Nottinghamshire Police takes very seriously. We work closely with our colleagues in health, education and social care to ensure that we are alive to the signs, symptoms of such practices and can react quickly to reports.

"Put simply, it is child abuse to a life-threatening degree which needs to be stopped."

The free 24-hour helpline on 0800 028 3550 at fgmhelp@nspcc.org.uk will be manned by specially trained child protection experts and is for anyone who is concerned a child's welfare is at risk because of FGM.

A victim of Female Genital Mutilation from Eritrea, tells her story:

"Circumcision is a religious thing for boys. For girls it is a cultural thing, and it involves a girl's vagina being cut in different ways in a dangerous procedure.

"Most people in Eritrea think that if a girl is cut, she will grow up to be a good girl; that she will not bring shame on her family and she will marry well.

"If a girl is not cut, they think she will grow up to be a 'slut'; a girl who thinks about sex and will not be satisfied by one man. People believe that a girl who is not cut will bring shame on her family with her behaviour, that no-one will marry her and she will be abandoned.

"I was cut when I was only a few months old so it is something I have no memory of. My mother had taken me to be cut while my father was away on business, as she knew he would not have allowed it. When my father found out he was furious.

"I am not angry with my mother for taking me to get cut; my mother is a traditional person and hasn't been educated about it. She thought she was doing the best for me.

"I believe cutting is something that should be stopped. It is a disgusting practice that many people only do because they believe that the stories around it are true."

A MUM feels her son has been unfairly treated by teachers who told him his new haircut was too extreme.

Kurt Hallam, 15, turned up at Nottingham Academy, the old Greenwood Dale School, in Bakersfield, sporting his new hairdo last week.

It was made up of a short back and sides and blond flicks, similar to the style sported by David Beckham.

But staff objected to the design, especially the colour, saying it contravened the academy's rule book.

Kurt was placed in isolation last Monday after the issue was flagged up and returned home on Tuesday when he was again told off about it.

But Kurt's mum Samantha Hallam – a hairdresser herself – has questioned that decision. She said: "I don't understand how they can claim it is too extreme.

"You see schoolchildren with bright red hair and they seem to be getting away with this.

"We had been on holiday and he decided to have his hair done. It seemed fine to me."

Samantha added that Year 10 student Kurt had been left unsettled by the incident.

She said: "He has just finished his mock exams and he has now been really unsettled by this.

"I've washed his hair and it's not quite as bright as it was. I've had a chat with the teacher who was involved but I still don't feel satisfied with the whole process."

The academy is one of 17 sponsored by the Greenwood Dale Foundation Trust.

It said they follow the trust's basic standards in relation to hair, make-up and jewellery and strict guidelines on school dress.

But Kurt insisted his hair wasn't too bad. He said: "Other people walk around with similar haircuts. I'd been on holiday and was asked if I wanted some flicks in so I thought 'why not?'

"I think I have been singled out."

Being put in isolation meant he had to sit in a classroom on his own doing work.

Academy executive principal Kelvin Hornsby said: "Our pupils are ambassadors for the academy and we expect them to represent us in the correct manner.

"We want our pupils to present themselves smartly as we believe that the self-discipline this requires is an important lesson to learn as pupils will find that there is often a dress code in most places of work.

"We provide very clear guidance to parents in our prospectus and pupil planner and communicate regularly with pupils about our expectations."

NEW figures reveal that the number of pensioners arrested in Notts is on the increase.

Arrests of people aged over 75 years in the county had increased by 20 per cent in one year.

Some of the crimes suggest Victor Meldrews are alive and well in the city and county.

The TV character, played by Richard Wilson in the popular sitcom, One Foot in the Grave, was notoriously irritable and bad-tempered.

Seven of the arrests of over-75s related to threats and 12 arrests were for damage to property.

Other arrests, however, related to serious crimes such as theft and assault, sexual offences and drink-driving, which accounts for the greatest number.

Nottingham Elders Forum chairman Dennis Andrews, 89, said: "Our age group used to go to the pub, drink sensibly and then get in the car and drive home.

"This is a cultural thing. There was nowhere near the traffic on the roads then that there is today. And, of course, the speed cars can go today is much faster. I think older people are under more stress than they were years ago, and some are hitting the bottle a little bit more be cause pressure on finances and an uncertain future is so much greater.

"I can remember my first car – a Morris– served me very well, but it never went faster than 50mph."

In the last five years, 200 older people have been arrested – some more than once.

Five elderly people were arrested for being drunk and disorderly, while a further nine were arrested for exposure.

Twenty-seven were arrested for assault and a further 19 were done for theft from a shop and 29 for drink driving.

In 2012, 43 people aged 75 and over were arrested – the most during the last five years.

In 2011, 35 people in this age group were arrested.

Earlier this year a pensioner who is believed to be Britain's oldest drink-driver was banned from the road – at the age of 88. David Bye, from Ipswich, who walks with two sticks, admitted drink-driving and was given a 12-month driving ban and fined £140.

ONE of the city's two sex shops has had its licence renewed for another year – despite opposition from civic leaders.

City council leader Jon Collins has long campaigned against sex shops and lap-dancing clubs, saying they paint the city in a bad light.

And last year Nottingham City Council launched a consultation exercise to see if the public wanted such establishments closed down.

But the city council's Regulatory and Appeals Committee has now renewed the licence of the only sex shop in the city centre, the Private Shop in Upper Parliament Street.

A second sex shop, Delta Love Productions in Radford Road, Hyson Green, will have its application to renew its licence heard next week.

The committee says it had little choice but to renew the Private Shop's licence, as there were no complaints or reports of any trouble at the premises.

Clive Sullivan, speaking on behalf of Darker Enterprises, which owns the shop and more than 100 other licensed sex shops in the country, said: "There were no objections to the proposal to extend the licence and no problems associated with the business since the last time the licence was renewed."

In response to a question from the committee about young children being able to get in through the doors, Mr Sullivan said: "We used to have young teenagers try to look in, but we have double doors, they couldn't see anything and as they realised this, they don't do it any more."

Chairman of the committee and Bestwood councillor Brian Grocock said: "As we know, there have been no objections and the idea of licensing means the council has greater control over this type of shop.

"The premises have been at their current location in Upper Parliament Street since 2004 and there have been no reported problems since then."

The panel also received one letter in support of the application. It said: "I have never seen any account of any problem with either the shop or its clientele. If another business leaves this block of shops, it'll be one long, boarded-up area."

After a five-minute discussion, the committee decided to approve the licence renewal.

Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Chris Cutland previously hit out at sex shops, calling them "old fashioned" and "demeaning" to women.

But she said she had no say over the renewal of the shop's licence. "This application was reviewed by members of the city council's Regulatory and Appeals Committee and the decision reflects the result of those discussions," she said.

"As is normal in such matters, the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner was not involved in the decision-making process."

The results of the city council's public consultation on sex shops have not yet been released.

A MUGGER pulled an elderly woman to the floor and threatened to throw her in the canal if she did not give them her handbag.

The victim was targeted as she walked along the towpath of the Nottingham Canal, near Castle Boulevard, at about 11am on Monday.

A man on a bike rode past her on the path and then waited behind nearby bushes before pulling her to the floor and trying to steal her handbag.

She let go of her bag after the attacker threatened to throw her in the canal.

Detective constable Dionne Love, from the Meadows CID, said: "This was a despicable, cowardly attack on an elderly woman walking alone along the towpath, which is usually a pleasant and popular area to walk.

"We believe that the man who carried out the attack may live locally and I am sure that local residents will want to provide any information that may be helpful."

The victim did not sustain serious injuries and is expected to make a full recovery, but was left badly shaken and upset.

The man rode off with the bag. He is described as white, aged between 20 and 25, slim and with dark hair. He was wearing dark-coloured clothing with the hood up.

It is believed he was with another man on a bicycle on the towpath shortly before the attack.

Anyone with information should contact DC Dionne Love on 101 ext 8536460, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

BOXING beginners will be competing at a fight night in Chilwell in August.

The "white collar" boxing event at the Village Hotel and Leisure Club will feature fighters who have never boxed competitively before.

All of the competitors are currently undergoing an eight-week intensive training course at Beeston Boxing Club.

Funktion Fitness gym in Derby runs three courses each year in Derby, Leicester and Nottingham.

Gym owner John Lennard said: "We've been running white collar boxing events since 2009.

"The training is all provided free of charge and at the end of it they have their big fight.

"They are genuine beginners. They train together and they have a fair fight at the end of it."

With its roots in New York, this type of boxing often involved workers from white collar professions – such as teachers or office workers.

Mr Lennard explained: "The rumour is that two investment bankers in New York were having a bit of banter, saying they could each beat each other, so they went away and trained for a fight."

Nottingham's fighters train at Beeston Boxing Club three to four times a week, and are encouraged to train outside of sessions as well.

Head coach Kev Jansen said: "It's a very safe introduction to boxing.

"The night will feature the big fights they're training for.

"It will be a fun night. The gentlemen are required to wear black tie and the ladies wear dresses."

Accountant Craig Sturman, 34, from Sutton-in-Ashfield, is one of the people taking part in the course.

He said: "It's a sport that I've always loved watching but I never thought I would actually take part in it.

"The training is very intense, I've never experienced something like this before.

"It's quite healthy and it helps to channel your aggression!"

And businessman Pete Wilkinson, 43, said: "It's a bit like a midlife crisis!

"It's the co-ordination that's difficult, but I do feel fitter. It's very hard work."

The event is at the Village Hotel, in Brailsford Way, on Sunday, August 4.

Contact Beeston Boxing Club on 07826 248 086 for tickets.

INJURED people have been taken to hospital in the back of police cars because officers have given up waiting for ambulances.

In some cases delays were so bad that officers were left with injured people at the scene of calls "for hours", it is claimed.

The claims have been made by Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping and the Notts Police Federation.

Mr Tipping and senior officers have already held talks with East Midlands Ambulance Service over the problem.

Mr Tipping said: "If there's a death in the back of a police car the repercussion is it will go to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, so officers are quite anxious.

"They are sometimes giving some really basic first aid at the scene of incidents – and they don't think they should be.

"It's not just a Notts problem, it's an East Midlands problem. All of the police forces in the East Midlands have complained about it. Everyone accepts the ambulance service are in real trouble."

Earlier in the year it was announced that the East Midlands Ambulance Service was to be fined £3.5 million by the Government after missing national targets for reaching patients involved in life-threatening emergencies for the third successive year.

Phil Matthews, chairman of Notts Police Federation, said: "Officers have a certain level of first aid, but they could be left with a difficult decision if an ambulance has not arrived.

"Do you leave this person on the side of the road waiting around for an ambulance, or do you put them in your police car and take them yourself?

"We are aware it's a real concern for officers."

Mr Tipping said officers had been left waiting in incidents where elderly people had fallen and been injured, and after people were hurt in assaults.

No exact figures were available but the federation said it was aware of "a number of cases" where officers had been left waiting long periods and some where they had taken patients to hospitals themselves.

The East Midlands Ambulance Service grades 999 calls on severity, "red one" and "red two" being the most life-threatening – these have to be attended within eight minutes.

Lower "green" categories mean an ambulance may arrive up to an hour later depending on demand. This means in many cases police could be left waiting fro a long time at incidents.

The most recent figures available show that, in April, the east Midlands Ambulance fell short of hitting its target for attending Red 1 calls within eight minutes. The service attended 71.2 per cent of these calls within the time frame – the lowest score of any other service in the country. The target is 75 per cent.

But for Red 2 calls, the service hit its target, attending 75.4 per cent of them within eight minutes.

An East Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: "We always respond as promptly as we possibly can to any call but we do have to prioritise on the medical condition of the patient – and life-threatening calls will always take priority.

"Paramedics and the police are working together on making sure each service can respond more quickly to each other's needs.

"It means we now have agreements on how speedily police should attend sudden deaths or assaults on ambulance crews and when paramedics need to attend police-led incidents.

"This also includes piloting a scheme where police officers can now telephone clinicians for advice on the best care for patients with minor injuries.

"For example, a patient with a broken finger does not need an emergency ambulance and the police officer on scene can direct the patient to the nearest walk-in centre."

NOTTS County have had a look at former Tottenham youngster Dean Parrett.

The 21-year-old midfielder has had a trial with the Magpies since they returned to pre-season training last week ahead of the new League One season.

Parrett was released by Spurs at the end of last season so is a free agent.

And it looks like he ticks a lot of boxes for Notts boss Chris Kiwomya, who is building a younger squad at Meadow Lane this summer.

He spent five years as a pro at White Hart Lane, after starting his career at Queens Park Rangers Academy, and played four games for the London club, all in Europe, making his debut in the UEFA Cup in 2009 and then playing in the Europa League in 2011.

He has also played for England at Under 16, 17, 19 and 20 level and has played for Aldershot, Plymouth, Charlton Athletic, Yeovil Town and Swindon Town on loan in the past four seasons, gaining experience in Leagues One and Two.

The Magpies are currently training over in Finland and will face Palloseura Kemi Kings in their second pre-season friendly today, having lost 2-0 to Steaua Bucharest in their first friendly at St George's Park in Burton before they left England.

WHEN we were given a televisual tour of Fawaz Al Hasawi's palatial home with it's luxurious opulence and stunning grandeur; when we were treated to a viewing of his garage, packed full of supercars, it created certain expectation levels.

Fans of Nottingham Forest thought that they were entering an exciting new era, that we could look forward to lavish investment in the club and a spectacular push for the Premier League.

Fawaz himself spoke of not only getting the club back into the top flight, but of his dream of adding a third star to the shirt via more success in Europe.

The sky, it seemed, was the limit for Forest. We were not just talking about finally getting the club out of the Championship, but hinting that he wanted to challenge the elite.

And we all got very excited about the new dawn, about seeing the club going all out to secure a place back in the upper echelons of the English game.

Billy Davies, you thought, would not have come back to the club for a second spell in charge, had he not been made certain promises about spending; about the ambitions the owners held for the future of the club.

All of this may still happen. Don't get me wrong, the new owners have shown ambition, I do not believe they have done too much that is worthy of huge criticism. Fawaz comes across as a man who desperately wants to see the club do well.

It is just that, well, we have not really had our socks blown off yet either, have we?

That third star still seems a long way off when you look at the additions Forest have made so far. Yes, I know it is early days yet. There is still plenty of time before the new season starts.

And, as I said, the players Forest have signed so far have been solid, if slightly unspectacular. The likes of Darius Henderson, Eric Lichaj and Gonzalo Jara will be useful assets in the Championship. All were sensible additions.

Jamie Paterson is also the kind of player I get excited about. To be fair to Forest, one of the things I always ask them to do is look at talent in the lower divisions; to give unpolished diamonds an opportunity.

At 21 with pace, an eye for goal and the ability to add some width to the squad, he is a good prospect. If he can make the step up from League One, he will be the one signing, out of all of those made so far, that has filled me with real enthusiasm.

I love to see young players given their opportunity to shine at a higher level when they have done well in the lower divisions – and it is great that Forest have given him that chance now.

Forest fans seem to take to players of his ilk as much as anything; they love to see young players develop at the club. So do I.

But I still find myself wanting to see more. Now we have had the solid, I want to see the spectacular. I want to see Forest make that statement of intent.

Yes, I realise there are issues with FFP; that there could be fines and transfer embargoes in the future if Forest do breach the rules.

But aren't the club's owners mega-rich? That was the impression we were given.

If the ultimate goal is that third star and building a club that can genuinely challenge in Europe, then it is not going to come cheaply. They will have to invest heavily to make that happen.

The days of a club like Forest breaking into the elite as we did all those years ago are probably gone now – without being able to match the spending power of the other big clubs, at least.

We all know that will take time – and lots of it. But if they plan to do that in the future, then why not start now?

I am not talking about going out and spending £40m on nine new players. But show that you do mean business.

Forest, in my eyes, need two key additions to add to their squad. They require a goal scorer and a leader and inspiration. Somebody to bang in 20 goals and somebody who can drive the rest of the squad on when the going gets tough, when they need a kick up the backside.

They need a Roy Keane figure. Somebody who will have somebody up against the dressing room wall if they are not pulling their weight. Paul McKenna had that influence. When he spoke, the rest of the players listened. They miss that now.

If they do have money to spend, these are the areas that need addressing.

Buy a player like that, bring in a recognised goal scorer, whether it be Billy Sharp, Charlie Austin or whoever.

When Billy was brought back to the club, expectation levels were raised by all the ambitious talk; by the open display of wealth from the Al Hasawi family.

What they have done so far deserves praise, things are ticking along nicely.

The signings they have made are good, logical and credible.

But now is the time I would like to see the club and owners demonstrate that they do mean business. I am not talking about proving they want a third star – but just that they really want to get out of the Championship.

SHOULD we be sad to see the departure of Lewis McGugan from Forest? The blunt answer is that only time will tell.

How many times have we spoken about a young man with incredible talent, but a lack of application?

McGugan still has the ability to secure himself a career as a top flight footballer. He is good enough. We have always known this, without any doubt. What has been in question has been his attitude, his fitness and his mentality.

I genuinely hope that a fresh start is what he needs. A new start away from the city where he grew up. Away from distractions too, perhaps.

And, if he cannot learn from Gianfranco Zola at Watford, then he truly cannot learn from anybody. The Italian was a player with incredible, breathtaking talent. He could work magic with a football.

But he also knew the value of hard work and determination – he would do the ugly stuff as well as the pretty.

I hope he can teach Lewis the same lesson. So far, you have to say he has a young man who has wasted his talent. But there is still time for him to change.

AS a form of business, it has been around since the Stone Age.

But Wendy Baird feels bartering could now have future among traders in Nottingham.

The 50-year-old, who runs The Picnic Basket coffee shop in Carrington Street, Nottingham city centre, wants members of a new trade directory she has developed to exchange goods or services without any money changing hands.

She said: "I think as the economic climate gets harder, it's important that independent shops look after each other.

"I think to go back to the way things used to be, where it was a more relaxed way of dealing when times are harder, means traders are not having to pull money out of the business. It makes sense to me."

Ms Baird, of Sherwood, has spent the last year creating www.localsuppliersdirectory.co.uk.

Around 300 food and drink businesses in Nottingham have so far signed up to the site, which is aimed at connecting businesses in the hospitality trade.

Mother-of-two Ms Baird said many members of the new directory have been positive about the idea of bartering for goods and services among the group.

She said: "The directory came about as it is often difficult to find local supplies.

"I wanted to support local businesses, and if I'm spending money locally that money might end up back in my till.

"I use 34 different suppliers, with the furthest away being in Lincoln."

She added: "Bartering has to be balanced transactions and invoiced properly, and purely business to business.

"I would encourage anyone to try it.

"People are doing it all over the world, with some even setting up their own currency.

"It think it's a growing trend and if we can make it work we may set up our own online currency, too."

Jim Lee, owner of Old Basford-based coffee and drinks supplier Lee and Fletcher, has signed up to www.localsuppliersdirectory.co.uk.

He said if he was to start bartering with other members, it would be the first time he had done so in more than 20 years running the business.

Mr Lee said: "I think it's an exciting opportunity.

"Potentially we could supply coffee to other soft drink suppliers, and exchange soft drinks with them.

"I don't see why it shouldn't catch on."

He added: "I signed up to the directory and it is local and purely for the trade.

"Bartering has got to be to my benefit, but if I'm buying something and I can get an equal sale to match it and it's cost-neutral, then great."

Andrew Leyshon, Professor of Economic Geography at the University of Nottingham, said the plan mirrored that of the Local Exchange and Trading Systems scheme, which has been in existence in the UK since the 1980s.

"It helps those people who are time rich and cash poor, and as a way of keeping value in a local community," he said.

But he added that Ms Baird's venture could be helpful to its members.

"It relies on mutual convenience and want," he said.

"Both have to have something they each want, and they have to agree they are equivalent in exchange. That's where money is so effective.

"Bartering can work, but it's not easy. Alternative currencies have also existed for a long time.

"They do work for a bit, but it's usually in times of crisis. The advantage of money is that it's taken for granted."

HOUSING is not just about bricks and mortar, it's about the people who live in those houses, which is why a house move can mean so many things.

In Stephen Chapman and Amy Duffield's case, their house move was all about creating the right environment for their new baby.

The couple, who had been renting an apartment in Ripley, were keen to get onto the property ladder and when daughter Ava was born, the need to move became ever more urgent.

Crest Nicholson's Denby Bank development was their first choice for a family home.

Stephen said: "We had viewed the development last year and loved it, and when Ava came along we knew it was where we wanted her to spend her childhood.

"Amy grew up in this area and I moved down when I was in my teens after relocating from Scotland, so we really wanted to settle properly in Ripley and stay close to our families.

"Ripley is a great area to live, with plenty of parks nearby, as well as Denby Pottery, which has lots of activities for children throughout the summer.

"There are also a number of good schools to choose from for when Ava is older – even though she's still young this is something we had to consider when making our choice.

"And, it's in a great location in terms of our commute to and from work."

It was beginning a new family that also influenced the house type Stephen and Amy selected.

"The sales advisors helped us to choose a three-bedroom Hereford house that's just perfect for us.

"We really wanted a property that not only had lots of space indoors, but a great garden for Ava growing up.

"The Hereford offered both of these, and having such a great outdoor space is like having another room.

"The house itself is superb, and as a new-build it is really low maintenance," said Stephen.

The couple are proof that even during the tough economic climate; families can make owning their own home a reality.

Stephen explained: "We used the FirstBuy scheme, which made it possible for us to buy our home, as we only had to put down a five per cent deposit. Although that scheme isn't available now, there are still great options such as Help to Buy, which is exactly the same, apart from 20 per cent of the cost is covered by a Government funded equity scheme."

Houses at Denby Bank are available from £169,950 for a four-bedroom Kendle house.

For more information visit the sales and marketing suite (open daily, 10am to 5pm), call 0870 754 1095 or visit www.crestnicholson.com/denbybank

MILLER Homes has launched its Gold Leaf Collection of homes at Dukesmead, in Bingham, and says they are some of their most eco-friendly yet.

Julia Portington, sales manager, says that the two, three and four-bedroomed homes combine strong eco-friendly and sustainable housing design with a convenient and desirable location.

Key features include rotary clothes driers, efficient boilers, low energy lighting and garden water butts. Each property has been technically assured by the Zero Carbon Hub, the body tasked with taking the lead on delivering homes to zero carbon standards by 2016.

Highlights of the collection include the four-bedroom Buckthorn-style property, priced at £259,950, which has photovoltaic solar panels.

For those looking for a smaller home, try the Juniper, a three-bedroom house at £179,950.

Julia said: "It really is testament to the popularity of Dukesmead as a development, and the increasing confidence in the property market, that we are able to launch these new properties.

"Alongside offering quality, value for money and flexibility, sustainability has always been close to our heart at Miller, and the Gold Leaf Collection offers greater choice for buyers."

For more information call 0808 250 6337, visit the sales centre open Thursday – Monday, 10am-5pm or www.millerhomes.co.uk

ARCHITECT-DESIGNED student homes are set to breathe new life into Nottingham's Eastside.

This new development by Trent Pads Limited will take a disused factory site at the junction of Curzon Street and St Marks Street and create accommodation for 46 students.

Designed by Nottingham architects Maber, the scheme is fully let for 2013/14.

Christened Six Degrees, the complex will offer modern student living in a vibrant location from £99 per bedroom with all bills included.

Taj Ubhi, of Trent Pads, said: "We have been delighted by the interest in the development, which is just five minutes' walk from Nottingham Trent University."

By replacing a long-vacant factory with residential accommodation, the development is expected to inject new life into an area dominated by disused industrial buildings.

Maber director Nick Keightley said: "We hope this development will act as a catalyst for further regeneration in the area and the wider Eastside."

Set to open in September, the development has apartments set around a central, private courtyard. The four-storey building includes seven, six-bedroom apartments and one four-bedroom apartment with all bedrooms en suite.

Steve Brown, director of Nottingham project and cost managers WT Partnership, said: "We have been involved in a number of student accommodation projects across the Midlands, and we are delighted to be part of the team on this scheme for high-quality university accommodation in our own city."

The scheme features thermal and photo voltaic panels to provide hot water and on-site electricity, while the site's sloping topography has been used to maximise privacy.

ENCOURAGING the savings habit early, house builder Miller has joined forces with a Castle Donington School to create the Save Your Pennies and Build Your Future campaign.

Julia Portington, sales manager for Miller Homes East Midlands, said: "The main objective is to ensure our younger generations have an understanding of money and saving, and how this knowledge can help in the future.

"We continually come across house hunters desperate to buy a home but they just don't have enough for a deposit, and yes, there are ways in which we can help, but the stringent requirements from the majority of lenders makes it much easier to get a mortgage if they have a substantial deposit."

The Save Your Pennies and Build Your Future campaign is aimed at Year 4 children.

It includes an interactive presentation by Miller Homes that asks the school children to decide what they would do with their pocket money. Would they spend it straight away, save it in their piggy bank or deposit it into a savings account?

The presentation goes on to talk about the cost of items relevant to today's children such as a packet of crisps, a Nintendo DS or a mobile phone, and how these costs compare to bigger purchases in life such as a car or house.

Mary Robinson, head teacher at St Edwards C of E Primary School, said: "It is extremely important children learn about the value of money and how by understanding the concept of saving now, it will greatly help them later on in life."

Each child also received an activity pack to continue learning in their class. It takes the message of values and deposits further by problem solving and role play. The children also received a Miller Homes money box house to kick start their savings.

Julia said: "Our ethos is to fully engage with the local communities in the areas in which we build. It is with this in mind we have worked closely with St Edwards to develop this initiative to help educate our future generations as to the value of money and how this translates into aspects of the national curriculum and life in general."

SOME Nottinghamshire home owners could be in-line for a free boiler thanks to a Government scheme.

Under the Government's Energy Company Obligation scheme, UK residents who own their own home, or rent it from a private landlord, could be eligible if they receive certain state benefits, including State Pension Credit, or lower income households receive Child Tax Credit.

The Energy Saving Trust estimates that boilers account for around 55 per cent of an annual energy bill. Therefore, in addition to saving on purchase and installation, eligible households will also benefit from cheaper bills. An A-rated condensing model and heating controls are estimated to offer savings of up to £310 a year.

David Titterton, director of Green Deal and Obligations for npower, said: "We have been trialing free boiler installations in select areas of the UK and are now able to provide energy-efficient boilers for eligible households nationwide.

"Replacing an old boiler can help to keep homes warm and bills down, and contrary to public opinion, summer is the ideal time to upgrade."

Households can phone or submit their details via npower.com. The energy provider will conduct a free survey to find out if they are eligible to receive a free boiler.

For more details, call npower on 0800 980 3355 or visit www.npower.com