CHILDREN at an Arnold Primary School are now able to access flower beds that were continuously waterlogged after Notts companies built a new path.

Pupils at Robert Mellors Primary and Nursery School, in Bonington Drive were unable to use the flower beds whenever bad weather hit, but can now learn about the importance of nature, rain or shine.

North Midland Construction carried out the work free of charge over the spring half term.

The school also runs a gardening club, and is hoping that now the planting spot is all-weather, they can encourage the wider community to get more involved.

Year 6 pupil Kade Reed said: "I help out at gardening club every week and look after the younger children, showing them how to garden. I've even started to grow vegetables at home now."

The garden is used by all age groups in the school. Year 2 pupils Donatas Kilmas and Lee Polak both enjoy working on the patch.

"I like growing things," said Donatas. Lee added: "The flowers and the garden will look really pretty – I like planting the seeds."

Head teacher Susan Laplanche said: "Previously, when the rain came down the field would get really boggy, so we couldn't access the flower beds. Now it's much easier and safer for the children to use the beds."

And Susan doesn't want the use of the gardens to stop with the children. She added: "We hope to expand it and make it a big community project involving our school families and local community."

Sutton-in-Ashfield civil engineering company NMC Nomenca helped provide resources for the project while AS Plant, a utilities company from Mansfield, provided machinery and labour.

Bill Ball, integrated marketing systems manager at NMC Nomenca, said: "As a company we like to carry out a number of projects in the community. It's fulfilling, especially when you get children writing you a card as a thank you. That's worth more than money."

Let us know what exciting things your school is up to. Email newsdesk@nottinghampostgroup.co.uk

CHILDREN in West Bridgford are looking forward to a special 'playing out' event which will see their road closed.

Florence Road is the location for the party, which is organised by a mum-of-three Emma Harris.

She was inspired after she saw an article in a national newspaper about a similar 'playing out' initiative in Bristol.

Mrs Harrison, whose children are aged six, eight and 10, said: "The idea came about because I felt frustrated that as my children got older they just didn't have the freedom to play outside on the street like I did when I was younger.

"I think times have changed due to a mixture of more and more traffic on the roads and an overblown fear perhaps of children being abducted."

Mrs Harrison, who is training to be a yoga teacher, added: "Then I saw an article in the Guardian about an initiative in Bristol where a residential street was closed off for a couple of hours every few weeks so that children could play and meet others on their road.

"I thought 'what a great idea' and put the wheels in motion by contacting the county council for it to happen in Florence Road."

Mrs Harrison, 43, knocked on the doors of around 50 houses in and around her road and asked whether the residents would support the plan.

"I'm hoping the afternoon will bring the children from different families in the street together, because they don't know each other at the moment."

And Christina Sharkey, 38, who also lives on Florence Road said she thought the event was a great idea.

The mum-of-three children who are aged nine, seven and four, said: "The children don't really get a chance to play out on the street any more. This afternoon of playing will give them a sense of freedom and for them to get to know other children in the street.

"I'd love to see it become a regular event."

The party will take place on Friday, July 12 from 3.30pm until 5.30pm.

The road will be closed between its junctions with Albert Road and Abbey Road and cars will not be able to drive up and down it.

No diversion routes will need to be put in place as the event only affects the one small residential street.

A GROUP of residents in Keyworth have launched a campaign for a new activity park in the village.

They want to see equipment installed on the Nottingham Road side of the Rectory field and will be holding a presentation about their idea at the next full Keyworth Parish Council meeting on Monday.

Brian Lund, who has lived in Keyworth for 44 years and used to teach at South Wolds school, is one of the people behind the plan.

He said: "When I worked at the school I could see there was an obvious need for facilities for young people to use in their spare time.

"There is a wealth of sports clubs in the village but nothing where young people can do unorganised activities at their leisure."

In 2009 a Village Plan group was set up in Keyworth to look into how the community could be developed for the benefit of all.

Mr Lund was part of the group, and that was when the idea for the activity park was formed.

Mr Lund added: "We sent out questionnaires and the need for a Teen Park, as we called it then, was identified. Since then it has gone a bit quiet but the Village Plan group has been working on locations for where the park should be, along with the county council's youth service.

"We have identified the Rectory recreation ground as the best location."

The group want to see a five-a-side football pitch, a basketball court and 10 pieces of permanent gym equipment on the land.

"The idea is that it will be a space for all ages to use, from teens to pensioners having an exercise group there. The equipment will only take up 10 per cent of the field, but we know there has already been talk of opposition from other groups in the village."

The field is of historical importance as it is an example of ridged and furrowed land. It is also the site of the annual travelling fair and it used to belong to the Church of England.

Chairman of the Village Plan group and father-of-four Tom Atack said the park would cost around £100,000 and that the group had started applying for grants to fund the project.

He said: "When we surveyed the village we got a huge response.

"At the moment young people just hang around on the recreation ground which can come across as intimidating to some people."

Both Mr Lund and Mr Atack encouraged residents to come along to the meeting to hear more about the plans.

It will be held on Monday from 7pm in the Centenary Lounge at the Village Hall in Elm Avenue.

MEN in Nottingham spend longer in the shower than women, new research reveals.

According to a survey carried out by Nottingham-based energy company E.ON, 53 per cent of men spend close to ten minutes in the shower compared to just 48 per cent of females.

And almost one in five (19 per cent) admit having arguments with their partner or housemates over the length of time spent in the bathroom.

But the survey also found that it is the younger generation who enjoy a longer soak.

The 18-to-24 age group takes up to 25 per cent longer in the bath, and twice as long in the shower compared to those in their later years.

E.ON has compiled the information to inform people that they could save more than £200 off their annual energy bills by spending just two minutes less in the bathroom.

Beverley Maguire, energy efficiency expert at E.ON, said: "It's clear the battle for the bathroom is a hot topic for many households.

"Many of us are guilty of spending too long in the shower.

"We'd urge people to think about speeding up their shower time which might help family harmony at the same time as cutting energy use, and also to find out about the other small changes that can help cut energy waste."

But the research – which asked around 3,000 people in the city – went even further and concluded that the favourite band people in Nottingham like to listen to in the shower is One Direction.

And Capital FM is the city's most listened-to radio station when bathing, accruing 36 per cent of the vote.

E.ON's top tips for saving energy and cash in the bathroom include:

The type of showerhead you have has a big impact on the amount of water you use. Fit your shower with a water-efficient head.

Modern showers heat up immediately so there is no need to run them before getting in.

A hot bath or shower helps to heat up the whole bathroom. Shut the bathroom door to keep the heat in – and help save money on your heating bill. But don't forget to ventilate your bathroom afterwards to prevent condensation.

Remember to take everything you need into the bathroom so you don't leave the shower running if you need to jump out and grab things.

WHEN Rebecca Hindson was born she was told she would never walk.

Unwilling to accept defeat, the 42-year-old has since gone on to become a world champion swimmer and has completed a marathon charity challenge, covering 2,012 miles.

And now Rebecca, who has cerebral palsy, is finding ways to help the disadvantaged in her community – helping to set up a group to provide support for vulnerable and elderly people.

For Ilkeston-based Rebecca, giving up was never an option. She said: "I'm a twin and when we were born the umbilical cord was wrapped around my neck. It gave me cerebral palsy as I was starved of oxygen. They said I would never walk.

"But my mum and dad said they would buy me a dolls pram when I walked ten steps, so I did it and they had to."

Rebecca started swimming lessons when she was about ten years-old. Despite struggling at first because of her coordination she was put in for a gala aged eleven and won a race. After that she was picked for nationals and went on to represent Great Britain.

She said: "I went to my first international in Miami at the age of 18. I got four gold medals, for 1,500m freestyle and relays. It was incredible.

"To hear the national anthem brought it home. People were looking at my ability rather than my disability."

Now Rebecca has just completed the 2012 Challenge, where she had to swim, cycle and walk 2,012 miles in a year – despite having to have surgery midway through.

She was raising money for Littlewick, the medical centre where Rebecca receives physiotherapy.

She said: "My GP fought for five years to get me the physio I need and it's made a massive difference.

"I feel like I've got my life back and want to celebrate that. I want other people to get their lives back."

But the challenge was even more difficult than anticipated. Rebecca explained: "Four days after starting in September I was told I needed to have a hip operation. I had it done at the end of September and had to have an emergency op two days later. I lost a month of my challenge."

"Every day I swim at least a kilometre and then try to go to the gym and do 10km on the bike. Walking is the hardest."

Rebecca completed the challenge in May, raising around £700.

WHEN she's not in the water raising money for charity, Rebecca Hindson can be found working to improve life for vulnerable people.

As a member of the Patient Participation Group at Littleover Medical Centre, Rebecca suggests new initiatives the surgery can run to support the community.

Her latest venture is a social group for people who find it harder than most to get out and about.

To get it up and running, she is currently collecting coupons in the Post and Nottingham Building Society's Cash For Your Community campaign, which shares £35,000 between participating groups.

The more coupons collected the bigger their share of the cash will be.

Rebecca said: "I know how important it is for people who are vulnerable to get out and about and the idea is that a social group would encourage people who can't get out easily to do so and stop them becoming depressed.

"Things like day centres have been stopped and people are suffering the consequences and from my own personal experience I know how hard it can be.

"It's something I feel quite strongly about and if it's something that can help other people then all the better."

The Patient Participation Group took part in last year's Cash For Your Community – winning a total of £247.

This was used to form a new parent and toddlers group.

"The group is so appreciated in the community now that it's up and running," said Rebecca.

"It's helped integrate people with disabilities and meet people who they wouldn't see otherwise."

People can collect coupons, printed in the Post, for Littleover Medical Centre's Patient Participation Group until July 13. All coupons must be sent to the Post by 5pm on July 17.

Y OU will be hard pressed to find a family home that is in a more convenient location than this beautifully-presented and larger than average, extended semi.

Shopping is easy with Long Eaton's Asda and Tesco super stores and the town centre just five minutes' walk away. The highly-regarded Grange Primary School is an equally short walk in the other direction.

Almost on the doorstep are excellent transport links to Nottingham, Derby and East Midlands Airport. The M1 is just five minutes' away by car.

Despite its close proximity to the town centre, the house is within walking distance of a riding school, the river Trent, Erewash canal, two nature reserves and an abundance of parks to relax or play in.

So what about the house itself?

To the front is a smart block-paved drive with room for two cars and a lean-to workshop at the side, with power.

The porch has a Upvc glass door, behind which is a timber front door and the original stained glass above.

Step into the impressive tiled hall and you'll find a white staircase leading up to a bright landing, thanks to the large window at the top of the stairs.

Staying downstairs for now, the expansive lounge, which has been knocked through into the dining room, has the genuine wow factor.

There is a family room at the end of the house, offering views through French windows into the garden. This is a very impressive space.

The owners say they have catered for 12 at Christmas lunch with room for more at the table, while the feature fireplace, with its slate hearth, is just begging for a wood-burning stove.

Another nice touch is the original bay window and glass door, which have been retained. It leads into the family room which has a serving counter, giving access to the kitchen.

The owners say there have been plenty of memorable barbecues on the patio, which looks onto a large and private rear garden surrounded by fruit trees and with panelled fencing all round.

At the end of the lawn you'll find a greenhouse and a small vegetable plot which is currently occupied by a duck house.

It's hard to believe the house is so close to a main road, as you can hardly hear the traffic. Close your eyes and listen to the tweeting of birds – and the occasional quacking duck – and you could believe you were in a country garden.

Back at the house, upstairs are two large double bedrooms and a single third bedroom. There is a large family bathroom, recently refurbished and refitted with a smart, modern white suite, including P-shaped bath and shower.

The extended kitchen, with modern high-gloss white units and a range-style-cooker (not included in the price but negotiable) makes catering for a crowd a breeze. The end sink looks out on to the garden and there's a skylight in the ceiling that allows light to flood in.

With no upward chain and marketed at an extremely attractive price this is one property not to be missed.

A PROGRAMME which aims to cut prostitution by teaching men about the realities of sex work has delivered its 100th course.

Nottingham's on-street prostitution team has been running its Change Programme since 2004.

It has now delivered 100 sessions to 846 men who were caught buying sex on city streets.

Of these, only 21 are known to have re-offended – a rate of only 2.5 per cent.

The team, a partnership of Notts Police and the city council, says the tactic is now one of the most effective ways of cutting prostitution in the city.

Sergeant Neil Radford, who leads the group, said: "It is so successful because it works to alter perceptions.

"For many of these men, it's easier to see a sex worker as an object, so when you make that person real, you make it harder to abuse them without guilt."

The one-day courses are run by probation officers and are for men caught trying to buy sex on the street.

Instead of facing court, they agree to pay £240 each to go on the course.

It gets men to think carefully about their reasons for wanting to pay for sex and gives them information about the lives of the women they pay.

Every man who attends a course gets a police caution at the end, instead of facing court with the possibility of being named and shamed. Sgt Radford added: "We know that one offence is one offence too many and there's always more to do. We believe that the more you can do to help men understand the repercussions of their behaviour, the more chance you have of preventing them from re-offending."

The on-street prostitution team also uses undercover officers and works with women to get them off the streets.

The team, alongside charities such as Prostitute Outreach Workers (POW), has been credited with helping to cut the number of prostitutes working on city streets.

It estimates there are around 50 women working as street sex workers in the city, as opposed to around 250 a decade ago.

Mr Radford added: "Men think the women are bored housewives or students paying off loans – but they almost exclusively have serious drug addictions and are living desperate lives."

Sue Johnson, the former director of POW and now a city councillor, said: "It educates the men – they are not just thinking 'I'll go and pick someone up' any more.

"They realise it could be their daughter, it could be their sister – it could be anyone. It opens their eyes."

LIFE on the waterways sounds idyllic. Being able to simply move your home to a new part of the country whenever you like, a slower pace of life, de cluttering... but what if you have a family, a job, and all that entails?

Well, it is still a viable prospect as Michelle and Jeremy Greenwood can prove.

Michelle, 41, and Jeremy, 46, have two children, Billy, 9, and Lola, 7, as well as a thriving bespoke boat building business, Tristar Boats.

They live in a house boat at Trent Lock, their home of four years, and have permanent moorings, which means they can send their children to the local school just like their foundation anchored neighbours.

Jeremy's commute to work is a leisurely canoe journey from Trent Lock to Redhill Marina at Ratcliffe on Soar.

The couple put their heart and souls into the interiors of the boats they fit. They only take on three to four projects a year, all from recommendations, and are currently working on a narrow boat and a dutch barge.

There are huge variations in what people want from their new homes, and with the talents of a former theatre designer and television set builder, Michelle and Jeremy are the perfect people to create that interior styling.

The couple have included traditional 'gentlemen's club' type decor finished with Farrow and Ball wallpaper, secret passages between rooms (pull forward the children's toy cooker and scurry through the space like Alice in Wonderland), bathrooms with digital shower controls and LED lighting, bedrooms with four poster beds and even installed CCTV cameras into their boats.

Boats can have central heating or traditional stoves, your only restriction is space.

Michelle said: "Space becomes very precious and every little nook and cranny is used.

"Space wise, a boat is usually comparable to a one-bedroom flat; the kitchen will take a washer dryer, a dishwasher, then there's living and dining space, bedrooms and a bathroom."

Narrow boats were originally working boats, 6ft 6in wide and 45 ft long – to carry their cargo and fit along with waterways and lock system for which they were designed. However, boats come in all shapes and sizes. The width of the dutch barge the couple are currently working on is 12ft 6 inches wide, still navigable through the waterways.

The couple say the average cost of a second-hand boat is £30,000 to £40,000 and a bespoke built narrow boat from them coming in at around £80,000, so they advise doing your homework and researching the costs and logistics of living afloat before you set your heart upon it.

"Hire a boat for a holiday first," said Michelle, "make sure you like it."

"Visit and view lots of boats and boat builders. You'll soon work out who are good builders," said Jeremy. "Get quotes from boat builders and visit a boat show. The inland waterways National Festival takes place in July and even more locally, there's an open day here at the Redhill Marina.

"We blog all our boats' construction progress – we like to have an open relationship so that owners know exactly how their home is constructed.

"You can get finance from specialist companies, similar to a mortgage.

"Boats are not difficult to live in and there is a good sense of community on the river – we find you talk to people a lot more."

But you do need to do your homework before you start the journey.

T HE couple have lived in their home in Castle Donington for the past four years, since it was built, in fact. While they love everything about it, they've made the decision to enjoy their retirement years cruising the waterways.

Steve said: "There is an age difference between us and so we think it is important to enjoy our retirement now and downsize."

Angie added: "It isn't a knee jerk reaction it's something that we had in the back of our minds for some time.

"However, it came up in conversation and turned into a workable option around six to nine months ago. It's just something the floats our boat."

The couple have taken several holidays on narrow boats and both have backgrounds that involve water.

Angie grew up in Cornwall and Steve in Essex, so they both come from coastal areas, and the couple have naval backgrounds.

Their plan is the buy a smaller property in the south of the country, closer to three of the their four children and their grandchildren, perhaps renting it out on long term or holiday basis and then invest around £65,000 into a narrow boat.

Steve said: "We've taken lots of advice from both our financial advisor and people who already either live or spend a lot of time on narrow boats."

"We've done our homework," added Angie.

The house went on to the market at the end of January.

Robin Bailey, of Marble Property Services, said: "It was awful weather when the house came to the market, which really set us back with our marketing, but things have really kicked off now.

"There's been growing interest in the property, but we've just not found the right person to buy yet.

"The house has a superb specification and we think, once which we get people through the door, the house will sell itself.

"We just need the footfall. This is why we organised an open house event."

Angie said: "The house is like a Tardis." Looking at it from the back provides a very different impression from the front view.

"From the back you can really see how four bedrooms, two en suites, a family bathroom, a superb kitchen/ dining/ family room, plus a study or dining room and a lounge all fit in.

When asked which of these rooms the couple liked best, Angie said the very social kitchen family room got her vote, providing a central hub for both working, living and relaxing.

"It's great to cook here in the kitchen and then when I want a break to just sit in the family room and read a book or listen to the radio," she said.

"It's also perfect when visitors come as we can all be together chatting while I'm preparing diner," added Angie.

The kitchen includes a range of appliances, units and the couple have added an island unit.

"When we moved in I had just had a knee replacement so wanted everything close to hand," said Angie. "We went back to the original kitchen fitters and ordered it to match the existing units.

"It's now ergonomically designed and everything is within easy reach. It's a very easy kitchen to work in."

Steve on the other hand cited the fantastic decked area at the back of the house as his favourite.

As we sat chatting on the deck when I visited, I could see exactly why he loves it. It really acts as an additional room for the house.

He said: "When friends come to stay they always gravitate to this area.

"It gets the sun in the morning until around 11.30am and then it's back by about 3pm.

"We put in an additional patio in the lower garden in case we wanted to sit in the sun at other times of the day."

The raised deck is large enough to comfortably take a table and six chairs and you can look down over the lower garden with its meticulously maintained lawns and patio area.

Beyond this is a strip of woodland and then the land drops away to The Spital, a recreation area. It means the garden is private and yet has some fabulous views.

To one side of the house is a neighbour's paddock and there is a bungalow to the other side – the Linen's house occupies the former gardens of this property.

The house was only built four years ago and the Linens are the first owners.

They have added all the interior touches to the accommodation, giving it a look of a show home but still with the welcoming and comfortable feel of a family home.

There is a lovely multi-fuel burner in the lounge and doors out on to the deck, a well fitted kitchen and a utility with plenty of storage, and also a double garage.

So, the question is, how will the couple go from a four bedroom home to having all their possessions in the space of a boat?

Well, they've already begun to rationalise their possessions, separating essentials from non-essentials.

Angie said: "I've already been on Ebay. All my jewellery has been sold and I'm just left with a few basics. Next I'm starting on the clothes."

"It will come down to the amount of clothes that will fit into a small suitcase," added Steve.

Buyers will also have the option of buying certain pieces within the house "they just fit so well within the house," said Robin. Other items will be stored at their children's houses or sold.

As the couple won't be buying another house to live in, they will be at the end of the housing chain and Steve says could move into rented accommodation if they get a quick sale.

He said: "When we bought this house we looked at 23 properties in three weeks. Ironically, this was the first one Angie saw. "We stepped through the door and fell in love with it.

"We had moved up from Cornwall in January of 2009 and, after spending six months in rented accommodation while we considered locations, finally decided on Castle Donington – Steve wanted a short travelling time to work so this location won.

"There are two major motorways are within easy reach and the infrastructure of the location is great.

"We are a 20 minutes' walk to Castle Donington and there is a local shop and primary school within walking distance."

Now the couple are on track to start their next adventure – navigating the 2,500 miles of Britain's canal system.

Steve said: "You can buy a good second-hand narrow boat for around £65,000, although we may consider a bespoke boat."

Steve is an engineer by trade and so is interested in knowing exactly how his boat is built and where items like cabling are so that he can properly maintain his investment.

Angie said: "We've seen several boats but the sale of the house is the starting point. We don't want to find something until we've sold our house."

Marble is holding an open day on Saturday, July 6, between 1pm and 3pm, call 01332 811 333 for an appointment.

C ontemporary and stylish, this lovely family home in Edwalton is certainly worth viewing. Its bi-folding doors from the living and dining spaces and contemporary staircase are the touches that set it apart.

The property's open design provides a lovely feeling of light and space without the starkness that can occur.

As Steve Parker from FHP Living points out: "This is a truly stunning four-bedroom house."

Its design has stemmed from a complete refurbishment.

Steve said: "The refurbishment has been carried out to the highest standards, with literally no expense spared."

Living space spans to approximately 2,500 sq ft of accommodation, which is broken down as an entrance hallway with doors leading off to the sitting room, breakfast kitchen and garden/ dining room.

In addition, the ground floor accommodation includes a WC and utility room.

Each room is stylishly finished. The stunning bespoke breakfast kitchen has been fitted with white units with granite work surfaces and there's a range of appliances integrated within.

The dining space within this room is fabulous with not only Velux windows but also bi-fold doors onto the gardens – extremely practical when entertaining, or simply enjoying the summer months.

Another fabulous space worthy of individual mention is the 24ft garden/ dining room – a lovely bright space enhanced by further sets of bi-fold doors leading out into the garden.

The contemporary design scheme follows throughout the house.

On the first floor, the 22ft master bedroom suite includes a good-sized bedroom with dressing area and there is a separate en suite shower room.

The first floor has four bedrooms in total, there are two further double rooms and a single bedroom, as well as the family bathroom.

A clean black and white theme has been adopted for the family bathroom, where you will find a corner bath and a separate shower cubicle among its fittings.

Outside, simplicity of design continues with a good, square lawn area, well-designed terrace with planting and stocked borders.

Beautifully and meticulously maintained, the garden provides the perfect setting for Al fresco dining.

In addition, there is an extensive block-paved frontage that provides off-road parking before leading to the double garage.

There is also a lawn area to the front as well as considered planting, both creating a stylish setting for the house.

Steve said: "This house provides a fabulous family home with a degree of flexibility.

"It was originally designed as a five-bedroomed property but four larger bedrooms suited the owners lifestyle and needs better.

"However, it could easily be converted back."

Location is also a key selling factor for this spacious property.

Standing in a cul-de-sac in the highly sought-after district of Edwalton, it is within easy reach of the facilities of West Bridgford and the city centre.

There is also great access to major commuter routes and yet the property is in an area which retains a sense of suburbia.

Steve added: "Viewings are highly recommended to fully appreciate this superb quality property to the full."

A PUB landlord is determined to stage his annual darts competition tomorrow, despite £500 of prize money being stolen.

Baz Barrett, owner of The Doghouse, on Carlton Hill, will not let the thieves who burgled his pub and attached recording studio stop the Carlton Open competition.

The burglars, who broke in through the beer cellar by taking bricks out of the wall in the early hours of last Friday morning, stole the safe containing prize money and bar takings – a total of £3,500.

They then made their way into the recording studios where they took some of Mr Barrett's precious guitars and recording equipment.

The pub opened in September and has had a recording studio since April 2012.

Mr Barrett said: "Just because some guy with sticky fingers decides he wants to rob us doesn't mean I'm going to let them ruin the competition.

"We're just going to get on with it."

Doghouse regular Kev Hallam, 51, said: "I've got a lot of admiration for Baz to go ahead with it after the burglary."

Mr Hallam has been going to the pub since it opened and his children, Jack, 11, and Emily, 8, use the studio facilities.

"They love it. Emily's always jumping around on the stage. There's a real community feel to the place," he added.

Mr Barrett took over the reins this year from his father, George, who ran the darts contest for 15 years at Ollerton Miners Welfare and Boughton and District Social Club before calling it quits two years ago.

George, 68, of Ollerton, and former secretary of Nottinghamshire Darts, said: "I'm proud that my son has taken it on. It's given me some great memories over the years – I met some great people playing."

George and friend Erol Golder, 50, have donated £500 between them to replace the stolen prize money, but George won't be playing this year.

"I'm too old to throw them any more, I'll leave that to the younger ones," he said.

He's been helping Mr Barrett with preparation work, including adding eight dart boards for tomorrow's competition.

The Carlton Open is expecting 100 entrants for the 501 competition, and Mr Barrett is keen to tell the public that it is still on.

"There are still plenty of places left and people can pay their entry on the door," he added.

"We will make sure the winners get the full cash prize."

Entrants who want to reserve a spot can pay an £8 advance fee or turn up on the day and pay £10 to take part. It is free for spectators.

Notts Police confirmed the incident was reported at 8.30am on Friday June 28.

They are asking for any witnesses or people with information to call them on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

S UPERCAR owners from across the East Midlands had the opportunity of putting the latest Bentleys to the test at Donington Park while also helping local charities.

Altogether 20 owners signed up for a full day of driving which opened with them taking part in a motoring cavalcade that brought together some of the most desirable cars around – much to the delight of members of the public as the enthusiasts drove from Stapleford Park in Leicestershire.

Awaiting them at Donington Park were ten new Bentleys for them to drive on part of the circuit, a road route and a special dynamic driving course.

These cars, worth in total of around £2.5m, included two examples of the new Flying Spur, recently launched but not yet on the roads of the UK, three Mulsannes and Continental models.

Sally Brooks, marketing manager at Bentley Leicester, described the exercise as a fabulous opportunity to show off the latest range of Bentley motor cars under extreme driving conditions both on and off-road.

A morning session gave guests of the event sponsors an opportunity to drive the cars supplied by Bentley Motors in Crewe.

The supercar owners had paid £500 to take part with the money going to the newly-formed Star Trust dedicated to helping charities in the East Midlands.

Vehicles in the cavalcade included six Porsche 911s, three Aston Martins, four Ferraris, an Audi R8, an Austin Healey, four Bentley Continentals and a Lotus Elan.

Leicester entrepreneur Shahid Sheikh, who took part in his Bentley Continental GTC, said it was a good way of contributing to charity while also having a good day out.

"We enjoyed a gentle drive through the countryside and gave the public a chance to see a fleet of supercars," he said.

The co-chairmen of the Star Trust, Steve Hampson and Tim Maxted, were highly delighted at the response from local business people.

Tim said it was a fabulous first event for Star Trust with over £15,000 raised for local good causes.

"It was a great day where owners could enjoy their cars in the company of like-minded people," he said, adding that it was a real experience to drive the route.

"We certainly raised a few smiles along the way," he said.

The principal aims of Star Trust are entrepreneurial fund-raising for local charity benefit, providing exceptional social events for extraordinary people, offering an experienced fund-raising team with transparent results and providing commercial philanthropy.

"No staff are employed by Star Trust, so we have no administration costs," said Steve.

Tim added that any charity organisation will be encouraged to pitch for money from the Star Trust with the decision as to where the money will go being decided by a committee of patrons from the region separating the fund raising process from the donating.

Star Trust will then use links with commercial operations to get the best deals and providing even greater benefit to the chosen charities.

Committee member Janine Edwards, of St James's Place Wealth Management, said Star Trust represented "more local and more meaningful fund-raising.

Sponsors of the Bentley driving day were Bentley Leicester, Bentons Estate Agents, Berkeley Insurance Group, Champions (UK) plc, Donington Park, Finesse Hospitality, Lumbers Jewellers and St James's Place Wealth Management, Stapleford Park.

NOTTINGHAM could be about to bask in its longest period of July sunshine in seven years, according to forecasters.

With the UK set to experience its hottest temperatures of the year so far this weekend, the Met Office says it could herald the start of two weeks of summer sun.

If that happens, it will be the longest period of warm July sunshine since 2006.

But Notts weather archivist Jim Rothwell said: "We had a very hot summer in 2006, and the hottest July on record. I don't think we'll beat that."

Mr Rothwell, 82, of Southwell, worked as a forecaster at the Met Office and is a Fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society.

His work saw him create the Central England Weather Series, a collection of reports now housed at Nottinghamshire Archives.

He said the summer so far has been dry and windy, with seasonally poor temperatures.

He added: "This winter and cold spring is similar to what we had in 1955. June that year was rather like the one we've just had, and the July and August were fine that year.

"History might repeat itself, hopefully."

Temperatures are expected to reach the late 20s°C over the weekend, and hit 30°C next week.

The UK's previous highest temperature of the year was 27°C, recorded on June 30.

West Bridgford Tennis Club is among those set to make the most of the weekend's weather.

The club held an open day attended by more than 100 people last weekend, with further lessons for youngsters yesterday.

It is also planning a fun-filled day of activities on Sunday to mark the end of this year's Wimbledon tournament.

The club will be open from 11.30am, with Pimms being served in the sunshine and the men's final set to be shown on a big screen.

Members said they will have their fingers crossed that Andy Murray wins his semi-final later today so they can cheer him on in the final.

Stephanie Barling, the club's tennis development officer, said: "It's also a chance for families to play some social tennis, and hopefully watch Andy Murray win.

"Whenever there is good weather we get lots of people coming out and wanting to play."

Staff at Bardills Garden and Aquatics Centre, in Toton Lane, Stapleford, also welcomed the arrival of warmer weather.

Owner Pam Sisson said the centre was stocked up with barbecues and garden furniture in anticipation for the sunshine.

She added: "Everything is a month later than usual. We're still selling bedding plants in July.

"Things may be a month late but nature gradually catches up, and our plants are growing beautifully now. I think this is our reward."

Are you planning to enjoy the sunshine by hosting an event? Let us know at newsdesk@nottinghampostgroup.co.uk.

I N hindsight, it's probably fair to say that Volvo's C30 was a bit of an under-performer. It had the talent to sell in massive numbers but never quite made the breakout from modestly successful to a real monster hit.

Volvo will point to the fact that over the model's entire seven year life span, it shifted 210,000 cars, but that rather ignores the fact that the chassis it's based on is that of Ford's Focus, a car that can shift 80,000 units per annum without breaking sweat.

Still, the three-door C30 is a more high concept item, originally pitched as a rival to cars like the Volkswagen Scirocco, Hyundai Veloster and even metal like Audi's A3.

Now that it's gone, it's easy to get rather dewy eyed about a Volvo that looked good, drove well and which was several points removed from most people's idea of what a car from this Swedish brand ought to represent. Here's what to look for when seeking out one of the later facelifted models on the used market.

The smartened front end is certainly more dramatic and expressive than that of the original, echoing the look perfected by Volvo's C70 and S60 models. You'll need to find a car with the optional accessory styling kit, however, if you really want to get the dynamic look the designers first intended.

Otherwise, the design recipe remains exactly as with the original 2006 version. Built at Volvo's facility in Belgium, the C30 has room for four adults and the option of folding the rear seats flat to form a useful loading space.

Although it shares the same wheelbase as the S40 saloon, the tape measure shows this model to be fully 22cm shorter and the car shares not one panel with its four-door stablemate.

The compact shape inevitably means that boot space is at something of a premium but at 433 litres, it's not too bad and you can always extend it to 947 litres by flattening the split-folding rear seat.

If you have got stuff to carry though, the use of a glass tailgate rather than a proper rear hatch means that the opening is small and the loading lip high.

Still, style doesn't come without a few sacrifices and there are fascinating design touches everywhere you look, from the horseshoe tail lamps, to the deep arc of the rear glass and the pumped-up Volvo shoulders.

It all continues inside too, most notably with a floatingcentre console that's attached top and bottom but has open space behind. It's easy to get comfortable at the wheel thanks to a wide range of driver's seat and steering wheel adjustment and dense, soft-touch plastics cover the upper dashboard, offering a premium feel.

Only storage space could be better: the tiny glovebox is accounted for by the handbook which leaves some even smaller door pockets and a couple of cubbies in the centre console.

You'll need to square away around £6,500 to get your hands on a 2010-onwards facelifted C30, this netting you a 1.6D Drive in S trim with high-ish mileage. Pay around £750 more and you can bring that mileage sensibly down to five figures.

If you prefer petrol power you'll pay from £8,000 for the 1.6-litre car, but remember that most of the petrol-powered models you'll be looking at will carry far lower mileages than their diesel counterparts.

Make sure the car is in very good condition. There's no reason why it shouldn't be, as it will probably be within warranty, but you may find a few scuffs or scratches on some of the interior plastics.

The diesel engines mop up miles well, although check the clutch on manual cars as the pedal is easy to ride.

A replacement clutch assembly is around £200 (price based on a 2010 T5) whilst an exhaust system is in the region of £350. Front brake pads will require the thick end of £75, whilst rears are £50 a pair. A new alternator will be £180.

Even in the entry-level 1.6-litre petrol variant, rest to sixty can be dispatched in 11.2s – or 9.4s in the diesel D3, although you'll need to be very slick at crashing through the 5-speed manual gearbox to get anywhere near these times. The T5 version gets to sixty in six seconds on the way to nearly 150mph.

The Volvo C30 is already being talked of as a cult car by some. Perhaps it's a little too soon for that sort of thing, but it's easy to see why these handsome coupes now make very attractive used buys.

With used prices reflecting the sticky new sales performance, the C30 looks a bargain compared to a Volkswagen Scirocco. A punchy D5 diesel with an R DESIGN body would be our chariot of choice here.

W HETHER you see it as a smart coupe or a sleekly-styled three-door hatch, Kia's second generation pro_cee'd offers a sensible spin on sporty motoring that offers extra bite in GT form.

It's also well built, aggressively priced and comes with a bullet-proof warranty deal. Still sensible then, but with a little sexiness thrown in.

Buyers of humbler pro_cee'd models always knew that there was the kernel of a really good car in there. The steering's fairly meaty by modern standards, there's a reassuring amount of front end grip, the ride/handling compromise is well judged and there's a nice consistency of control weights. All the sorts of stuff that keen drivers look for in other words.

That changes with the introduction of the pro_cee'd GT. Here customers get a 201bhp turbocharged four-cylinder 1.6-litre petrol engine that also develops a hefty 265Nm of torque. Yes, it's right out of 'Build A Hot Hatch 101' but it's clearly a formula that works and works well.

This results in acceleration to 62mph in 7.4 seconds, which sounds a little pessimistic for such a punchy car. By contrast, a heavier Mini Cooper S with a mere 184bhp will get to 62mph almost half a second quicker, although this may well be down to an issue of gearing. The GT's not heavy, weighing in at around 1280kg.

Kia is quick to play down expectations, advising us that it's a warm rather than a hot hatch and you can see where they're coming from, with many of the top hot hatch players now boasting up to 300bhp. Still, over 200bhp is nothing to be sniffed at, especially as Kia can bring all sorts of other qualities to the party.

The pro_cee'd is a handsome, wedge-shaped three-door hatch, designed by Europeans for Europeans. Built in Slovenia under the auspices of the Frankfurt-based Kia Motors Europe design team, it features a longer and lower profile than the five-door car, resulting in an edgy, coupe-like shape.

The front end now features Kia's 'tiger nose' grille to lend it a bit more attitude. A sharply raised beltline and a sharp crease leading into the rear arches disguise the fact that it rides on the same chassis as the cee'd and features the same windscreen angle. Other than that, only the bonnet and front wings are interchangeable parts.

The GT builds on this solid foundation, upping the aggression levels a few degrees. Plus there's decent practicality too, with a 60-40 split rear seat folding flat without having to remove the headrests.

Priced at around £20,000, the GT looks good value against other similarly styled and powered compact coupes like Volkswagen's Scirocco and Peugeot's RCZ. There are two trim levels – GT and GT Tech. Both feature air-conditioning with cooled glovebox, heated and electrically-adjustable door mirrors, remote central locking and an MP3-compatible CD stereo with USB and auxiliary inputs.

This promise of trouble free motoring will be enough to tip the balance for many potential customers.

Strangely, the pro_cee'd GT might take less time to get enthusiasts on board than it will the less well-informed public. The Kia badge still has some work to do to reach the same volumes as Ford or Vauxhall and it would be a shame to see this car pass as a highly-regarded one-off, much as the Proton Satria GTI did in the Nineties.

We hope this is the start of a series of more sporting Kias; cars that can lift the brand clear of its bargain basement beginnings. One thing's for sure. It looks the part already.

WORK to improve Nottingham's ring road is due to start at the end of the month.

Transport Minister Norman Baker announced yesterday that the Government has agreed to plough £12.8 million into the project.

The cash will allow work to start within the next four weeks at the ring road's junction with Aspley Lane.

It is hoped a number of measures will ease congestion on the A6514, which is used by 50,000 vehicles a day.

Nottingham City Council is adding an extra £3.4 million, bringing the total cost to £16.2 million.

Mr Baker said: "The ring road already suffers from congestion. Planned housing and employment growth will generate additional pressures.

"The work I have approved will ease this congestion, improve bus journey times and make the road safer for pedestrians and cyclists."

The work will include:

Significant improvements of key junctions between the A60 Mansfield Road and the A52 by the Queen's Medical Centre. Junctions affected will be Aspley Lane, Hucknall Road and Crown Island (Wollaton Road);

Better road facilities for public transport, pedestrians and cyclists;

Widening sections of the carriageway in the central reservation to relieve congestion;

Repairing of worn-out bits of road;

Upgrade street lighting.

Councillor Jane Urquhart, city council portfolio holder for planning and transport, said: "This is positive news for Nottingham, for commuters, businesses and public transport users."

The work, which will take more than two years, will come at a time when the second and third tram lines are being constructed.

Mr Baker said there would be disruption to motorists but said that it would be kept to a minimum.

People living near the ring road agreed that it would bring benefits for them.

Alan Cross, 55, who lives near the site in Basford, said: "It is going to cause a lot of problems while they are doing the work, there is no doubt about that. But when you think of the end result then I believe it will be worth it."

Gordon Ball, also of Basford, added: "The whole of Nottingham needs it. It's good to see something happening if it helps the flow."

Will you benefit from the improved road, or are you concerned about the impact of roadworks? E-mail newsdesk@nottinghampostgroup.co.uk

A NOTTS war hero has had a road named after him.

Lieutenant-Colonel Sam Derry, MC, DSO. protected and helped more than 4,000 prisoners-of-war escape from Italy during the Second World War.

Newark and Sherwood District Council arranged for signs to be made to mark Sam Derry Close, off Barnby Gate, in Newark.

Council chairman Councillor Dennis Jones said: "Sam Derry's record speaks for itself. He was a courageous man who helped thousands of servicemen to escape the Nazis.

"He is Newark's most senior decorated war hero and while he was offered a lot of recognition during his lifetime he shied away from the limelight.

"He was a modest hero, who thought clearly and quickly on his feet."

Lieutenant Colonel Derry's son William said: "When you consider the number of people who would otherwise have been either executed or sent to Nazi concentration camps but escaped, and who were able to go on to have children themselves, and whose children also had children of their own – none of these people would have existed."

Lieutenant-Colonel Derry joined the Territorial Army in 1936, serving with the 60th North Midland Field Brigade in Lincoln before embarking on his war service in 1939.

He was a Dunkirk evacuee and served in the Western Desert in 1941 before being imprisoned by the Nazis.

He twice escaped and recounted his experiences in his book The Rome Escape Line, which was later made into a film, The Scarlet and the Black.

Lieutenant-Colonel Derry died in 1996, aged 82.

The 100th anniversary of his birth is due to be celebrated on April 14 next year.

PROUD Notts residents have been tuning in to see a respected family light up their television screens

The Tahirs – Tahmina, 42, T, 43, Rashiqa, 15 and Zeenat, 12 – appeared in three of the four shows on ITV's Happy Families series, the last of which aired last night.

The family – who own TJ News and Post Office in Sneinton Boulevard – feel the show gave a fair representation of them but missed an opportunity to delve deeper into the community.

Tahmina Tahir said: "We've had such good feedback from people in the community.

"It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see my family on TV and I'm really glad we did it.

"The fathers' episode was my favourite because it really showed the pressure T is under. I think people will really appreciate his bubbly personality now they know how hard he works."

And the show helped her learn some things about her own family.

"I always knew my eldest, Rashiqa, was into her basketball but until we watched the programme, I didn't realise she could make a serious go of it."

Rashiqa, who trains at the Wild Cats Arena in Greenwood Road, and her sister Zeenat, had hoped for a little more air time but the confident pair came across well, according to their mum.

Tahmina added: "As a family we are really open.

"We have instilled a work ethic in the girls – which came across well – but they're real characters too!"

Regular shoppers at TJ News paid tribute to T, Tahmina, Rashiqa and Zeenat.

Betty Ketwood, of Sneinton, said: "The family service you get here was represented well. It's benefited the community – I would have liked to be in it myself."

Anna Joyce, who lives on Sneinton Boulevard, has been shopping in the area for more than 20 years.

She added: "It was a little strange seeing the shop on telly.

"They came across really well, but they could have shown much more of them."

Tahmina said she wanted Sneinton's diversity to shine through.

"I was born here and my kids were too, but T and our parents, who help us out as well, are from Pakistan.

"We have still got our culture, but we've mixed that with Western traditions and found a great balance.

"Our relationships with the customers from all walks of life shows that our way of integration works and I think the programme could have done more to get that across."