A LORRY driver who killed a businessman after ploughing into him on the side of the road has told the victim's wife he would regret it forever.

David Charon, of Daybrook, hit Stanislaw Mytych, 31, on the A38 near Ripley.

Mytych had been helping an employee who had run out of fuel, and was said to be climbing back into a van when the accident occurred.

Yesterday, as Charon was jailed for 12 months at Derby Crown Court, he told Mr Mytych's wife, Sylwia Chruszcz: "If I could turn the clock back and not have gone to work that morning – anything to avoid this – I would do it.

"I'm afraid I cannot, and my regret for your suffering will live with me forever. I'm sorry."

The court heard that Charon's lorry "had effectively driven over" Mr Mytych's van – which at the time was parked partly on a grass verge and partly on the northbound carriageway of the A38 between Coxbench and Ripley.

Mr Mytych, who had only been married six months and lived in Allenton, Derbyshire, ran a transport company in South Normanton.

After his van was hit by the lorry, both vehicles shunted into the employee Andrzej Markowski's van – which ended up across the road. Mr Markowski was unhurt.

Charon, 52, told police he did not see the vans, despite them both having their headlights and hazard lights on. Accident investigators concluded that, because Charon was driving at 48mph, the vehicles should have been visible to him for 35 seconds as he travelled up the road before the impact.

Prosecutor Sarah Slater told the court that Charon said he had seen a flashing light, then everything went blank and the next thing he remembered was climbing out of his lorry.

She said: "The Crown's case is that he didn't see them, take any action to avoid them – other vehicles, quite clearly, had done so. And there's nothing to suggest he couldn't have moved over into lane two."

After the court hearing, Mrs Chruszcz said that her husband, who had moved from Poland to the UK eight years ago, would help anyone.

Speaking through a Polish interpreter, she said: "He was a good, hardworking man – he worked round the clock, even on Sundays."

Sentencing Charon, Judge Jonathan Gosling said: "No stone has been left unturned by police and the team of experts to try to discover how it was you came to collide with these two vans with such catastrophic consequences.

"For some reason, which no one can discover, you simply maintained your speed and your path."

Judge Gosling concluded: "This was not, I'm afraid, a momentary lapse of concentration."

He banned Charon from driving for 18 months and said he must take an extended test before he can drive again.

Charon, of Coleridge Crescent, Daybrook, admitted causing death by careless driving. He had been working for DHL at the time of the accident at 5.30am on December 16.

POLITICIANS were in the hotseat as they fielded challenging questions from Notts teenagers.

Broxtowe MP Anna Soubry, St Ann's councillor Dave Liversidge and Nottingham youth MP Uzair Hashmi were quizzed on politics, education, employment and the benefits system.

The event at the East Midlands Conference Centre yesterday was organised by the National Citizen Service.

Abigail Nichols, 16, of Sherwood, was among those wanting to hear what the politicians had to say.

The former Bulwell Academy student said: "It's good to be able to have the chance to ask the people who make important decisions questions. It's not everyone who has this opportunity."

First on the agenda was politics, with Mark Taylor asking whether the panel felt that politicians are engaged with the youth.

Uzair responded: "Definitely not. They are not doing enough at grass roots level for young people.

"They should do more to engage with young people as they are the ones who are making decisions about our future."

Ms Soubry said: "Probably not. We don't want to be in a situation where you have to be of a certain age to represent people of a certain age."

They were also asked about what the most difficult part of their job was.

Miss Soubry replied: "We don't have enough hours in the day or the week."

Mr Liversidge added: "The job is rewarding but also frustrating when you can't get the answers for people that you want.

"There can be too much bureaucracy at times."

The National Citizen Service is a programme run for 16 and 17-year-olds which sees them do activities like canoeing and abseiling and attend events designed to build their confidence and self-esteem.

Uzair, 18, who has been a youth MP for a year, said he felt it was important that youngsters had the opportunity to try new things.

"I did the scheme last year and found it a big help," he said. "Since then I've spoken in the House of Commons and become a youth MP."

RAMPTON Hospital has become the latest Notts institution to emerge as being subject to an ongoing claim of historic sexual abuse.

Lawyers acting for a former patient are suing the NHS over allegations he was physically and sexually abused at the secure psychiatric hospital in the 1970s.

It comes after claims made by dozens of people about historic sexual or physical abuse emerged about several former council children's homes in Notts.

The former Rampton patient, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, is claiming he was physically abused and seriously sexually assaulted and forced to carry out a sex act by a staff member while a patient there in the 1970s.

He was living in Notts at the time he was admitted to Rampton but has since moved away from the county.

The man, now in his fifties, is being represented in a civil action by Verisona Law, which specialises in historic abuse claims.

Solicitor Charles Derham from the firm said: "His claim relates to alleged physical and sexual assaults in the early 1970s by both fellow patients and also by a member of staff."

He added: "He came forward to us I think because he had got to a stage in his life where he was starting to reflect and he just looked back and realised he'd had some struggle and felt he was finally in the right frame of mind to make a stand and say 'this is what happened to me'."

The Post reported last month how a Notts Police investigation which began in 2011 into the former Beechwood Community House, Mapperley, had uncovered 56 victims of alleged sexual or physical abuse from 1973 to 2000.

Four other former Notts Children's homes are also now included in the inquiry, which is called Operation Daybreak.

After the story broke, around a dozen more people came forward with fresh claims and one man told the Post he had been physically abused at Beechwood and sexually abused at other former children's homes in Notts from 1966 onwards.

However, Notts Police are not involved in the claim made against Rampton.

The high security hospital, near Retford, has operated since the early 20th century.

Today it has around 326 patients, many of whom have committed violent crime, but some of whom have been admitted to stop them harming themselves.

The hospital is currently run by Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust.

A spokeswoman for the trust said: "We can confirm that we have been notified of a potential claim by a former patient relating to treatment received at Rampton Hospital in the 1970s.

"We take allegations of this type very seriously and are currently in the early stages of our investigations."

Police ran a huge investigation into allegations of physical abuse and threats towards patients at the hospital after a 1979 television documentary by Yorkshire Television titled 'The Secret Hospital'.

Later 14 members of staff went on trial, resulting in five convictions.

At least three of these convictions were later quashed on appeal in 1983.

The documentary also triggered an external inquiry led by Sir John Boynton, which was published in 1980.

The trust spokeswoman added: "The hospital has changed greatly since that time."

A BIGGER, revamped Next store has reopened on the Riverside Retail Park, Nottingham.

A mezzanine level has been added for menswear and homeware, the childrenswear department has almost doubled in size, and the lingerie section has been extended.

Having closed on May 27, the store reopened yesterday morning and many people went along to see the difference.

Shopper Helen Bryan, 26, from Sawley, said: "It's lethal because I'm going to spend too much money.

"It feels like it's got a lot more choice and they've utilised the space much better."

About 3,800sq ft has been added, taking the store to 12,937 sq ft.

The front of the store has been modernised but the most significant change is the addition of a new shoe room.

Store manager Angela Morrison said: "We're really excited to have reopened our store at Riverside.

"The extra space and new design show off our autumn collections perfectly. All the staff are looking forward to welcoming customers, both old and new, to the store."

The first 100 customers received a golden ticket with the chance of winning a £10 voucher, and shopper Sarah Billinger, a shop worker from Draycott, managed to bag the big prize of £100 with her golden ticket.

She said: "I'm really excited because I've never won anything before. I'm going on holiday to Tunisia next week so I'm going to spend it on something nice for that."

There are four other Next stores in Notts, at the Victoria Centre, Victoria Retail Park and two at Giltbrook Retail Park.

George Cowcher, chief executive of the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the store extension.

He said: "Out-of-town retail parks like the Riverside are an important part of Nottingham's overall retail proposition.

"Any investment in their growth or expansion is a good thing as it keeps pushing the sector forward.

"The crucial thing in retail is getting the balance right to attract the shoppers – the more diversity you can offer, the better.

"That means bringing in the big brands and names like Next as anchor stores which drive footfall, but then supplementing them with the smaller, independent shops and boutiques to offer shoppers real choice.

"From an investment point of view, attracting and retaining the biggest names in retail is absolutely vital because it sends the message to other national chains that Nottingham is a great place to do business."

FOUR Notts villages have taken part in a historic charity event to remember the dead of the First World War.

The Thankful Villages Run is a nine-day charity motorbike ride to 51 villages where all the men who left to fight in the Great War were lucky enough to return home.

They have no traditional war memorial so yesterday Dougie Bancroft and Medwyn Parry – the bikers behind the ride – presented commemorative slate plaques to Wysall, Maplebeck, Cromwell and Wigsley.

The bikers also aim to collect £51,000 in aid of the Royal British Legion on their tour.

Triumph Motorcycles, of Hinckley, Leicestershire, donated two bikes for Dougie and Medwyn to ride during their 2,500-mile journey.

Guy Masters, general manager of Triumph UK, said he was proud to be supporting the riders.

He said: "The Thankful Villages story is one that not many people are aware of, and hopefully this project will do a great deal to help rectify this.

"We owe a huge debt of gratitude, not only to those that took part in the First World War, but also to those that have made similar sacrifices in subsequent conflicts."

Triumph, which was first established in 1902, has a special reason to support the Thankful Village Run as it supplied more than 30,000 motorcycles to the Allied forces in the First World War.

David Roberts, chairman of Wysall and Thorpe-in- the-Glebe parish council, said: "We got a display board made and mounted in front of the village hall about us being a Thankful Village, and we only had one lad killed in the Second World War.

"Everybody came back from the First World War and they were given a silver medal.

"We've got a small memorial in the church but we don't have a war memorial like lots of other villages, because we didn't have any that died."

Incredibly, 14 of the 51 'Thankful Villages' are 'Double Thankful', where everybody also returned from the Second World War.

David Roger Swift, of Cromwell Parish Meeting, said: "It is fortunate this village suffered no loss and I am very happy this is a Thankful Village. It is something that should be remembered."

Mr Bancroft said: "Both Medwyn and I have been overwhelmed by the generosity of Triumph and all our other sponsors. The incredible support and assistance Triumph has shown us has enabled us to concentrate on the important job of speaking to the villages to ensure we can raise our target of £51,000 for the Royal British Legion."

The journey began at Llanfihangel y Creuddyn, near Aberystwyth, on July 27, and will finish there on Sunday, August 4.

THE leader of the city council has hit out over the lack of progress in developing a city centre site.

The lease for Sneinton Market had been with Sneinton Market Development Ltd for the last decade until recently, when responsibility was passed to receivers Pyle Owen.

The Post reported on Wednesday that traders were angry over lack of progress with the site and areas outside their shops becoming unsightly, ridden with rubbish and dead rats.

Now, Councillor Jon Collins is calling on the receiver of the market to stand aside so the council can sort out the area.

And on Wednesday, in response to traders' concerns, the council sent out cleaning teams to, despite the upkeep not being in their usual control.

Councillor Jon Collins said: "We are disappointed at the lack of progress on redeveloping Sneinton Market. The only significant improvements at the Market have been those done by Nottingham City Council with the £10m investment in the Leisure Centre and European funding in the Market itself.

"The council has secured European funding, in principle, for further redevelopment of Sneinton Market and is trying to secure the freehold from the Receiver to allow this to happen. So far the Receiver has refused to co-operate."

Mr Collins claimed that the actions of the Receiver could even jeopardise the future of the businesses that are tenants of the market.

Councillor Collins added: "I believe it's now time for the Receiver to step aside and to stop blocking the Council's efforts to redevelop Sneinton Market and support the Council's efforts.

"It's disappointing that despite the efforts of the Council, the Receiver wants to block the kind of redevelopment of Sneinton Market everybody wants to see.

"We are having to step in because it seems like there is no private sector alternative and I'm calling on the receiver to stand aside and let us get on with the job".

The city council wants to regenerate the area into a hub for creative industries, incubator businesses and independent entrepreneurs.

Barry Hayman, the owner of Hayman Graphics, who spoke out about the situation to the Post welcomed the council's comments.

He said: "Some time ago the council had an exhibition at the Victoria Leisure Centre and we all thought the plans were very positive."

He added: "We'd be delighted to move forward with their plans."

David Beckwith, who runs the PC Doctor shop on the site said: "It is a good thing, we need it doing. People have felt helpless - we can't rely on anybody and we can't pay so we need the council's help."

He added: "We're backing the council's plan - something needs to happen - as long as there is consultation."

The receiver, Pyle Owen, which has responsibility for managing the market buildings, occupiers and surroundings did not wish to comment.

A WOLLATON business has stepped in to give financial help to a guinea pig sanctuary after a thief stole £300 of donations.

The money was stolen from the Avalon Guinea Pig Sanctuary, in Wollaton, on Friday evening when the cash tin was raided.

The money would have bought a month's worth of food for the 200 guinea pigs it supports.

After reading the article in the Post on Wednesday local business Acorn Windows jumped at the chance to help.

Managing director of Acorn Windows, James Hibbert, said: "We saw the paper and rang up straight away and offered to help.

"We like to support local charities and it is nice to put money back into the area. It felt only right to step in and help."

Sanctuary founder Shaz Kelly said she was delighted to receive the generous donation.

She said: "Sometimes it's absolutely horrible but it takes something like this to show you there are nice people in the world.

"I have never had such a good reaction because of the Post, I am impressed. Some of the calls I have had today mean a hell of a lot.

"Without you we wouldn't have done it - it's just made my day."

SWINDLERS are posing as policemen and Apple store workers to steal money.

Nine people are known to have been targeted since Monday.

Some incidents involved a telephone caller claiming to be a policeman investigating a fraud. Another caller purports to be from Apple, collecting a bill for thousands of pounds supposedly run up by a grandchild playing games on a mobile phone.

In at least one of the incidents a large amount of cash has been stolen.

Crime prevention officer Samantha Hancock said: "People are being persuaded to hand over personal details and this could lead to a huge loss of cash. This is a significant security risk and as police there are certain things that we would never be doing.

"It is highly irregular for police to need to come and collect credit and debit cards. If we ever do the police officer will come and collect them in person with formal identification.

"We would never send a taxi or courier ever."

The conmen have mainly targeted elderly people, although a couple in their 40s have fallen victim.

Calls have been received in Wollaton, Carlton, Bramcote, Gedling, Arnold and Clifton, sometimes at night.

A man claiming to be a police officer from a force elsewhere in the UK tells a potential victim they are investigating a fraud and asks them to ring the bank and cancel their cards.

Despite putting the phone down to make the call, the victim's phone line has been directed back to the scammers, who then ask for their bank details.

In many cases the person is asked to provide their full bank card details and key in their PIN so their existing card can be 'cancelled' and a new one authorised. The fraudster then explains the bank needs to collect the cancelled cards and arranges for a courier to visit the house within an hour.

A large amount of money is then charged to the credit card.

Ms Hancock added: "We've also had people pretending to be from the Apple store in London claiming that a grandchild has run up a bill of £1,000.

"In the 'police officer' cases the name PC Harrington keeps cropping up and a claim that two Eastern European men have been detained is also common.

"The most important thing is that people make sure they do not give out any card details or any other sensitive information.

"If people have given out card details they should ring their bank immediately before reporting it to police."

To report any incidents of fraud contact the National Action Fraud centre on 0300 1232040.

MORE than six out of ten voluntary and charity groups are dipping into their emergency money as funding cuts bite, according to a new survey.

Sixty-two per cent of groups in the city said their funding isn't covering costs and reserves are making up the shortfall.

Council cuts and more competition for fewer grants have led to more than half of groups saying they fear they will have to stop some of their services in the next 12 months.

The numbers are revealed in a report put together by Nottingham Community and Voluntary Service following a three-month investigation.

The organisation supports around 300 local charities and voluntary groups a year.

It is funded by the city council, the Big Lottery Fund and the European Regional Development Fund.

Ferg Slade, who wrote the report, said the situation for some groups was drastic.

He added: "There was a case where one group had seen income drop 75 per cent year on year – if this was a private company, they would have shut it down.

"These groups have reserves they have built up for rainy days and they are eating into them to keep their services running."

Six out of ten groups that responded said they fear welfare reforms will mean more people will need support.

A number of benefit changes came into effect this April, including a cut to housing benefit for those whose property is deemed larger than they need.

Other changes included a benefit cap and changing how disability benefit is paid.

Mr Slade said: "These have a result of increased demand on services because people want advice about how these reforms will affect them.

"We've seen increases in the numbers of food banks to feed people who are going hungry and the voluntary sector is having to stretch itself to meet the ever-increasing demand."

The number of food banks in the city and county has sharply increased since the turn of the year, with new ones opening in Ruddington, Carlton and Stapleford.

Vicar Dave Hammond, of St Saviour's church in The Meadows, said: "We started helping with the food bank because we saw people needing the help – forced to choose between heating, eating, new clothes for the children and things like that.

"I think with the welfare reforms it's been difficult because people might not understand the changes. The problems from this can spiral and they might head to debt and legal loan sharks."

Dave Liversidge from Nottingham City Council, said he recognises the role played by th voluntary sector in providing support to communities that need it.

He added: "We have done what we can to protect voluntary organisations from the impact of Government cuts.

"We share NCVS's concerns about the impact of the Government's welfare reforms and as well as lobbying against the changes, we are working with Advice Nottingham to ensure citizens have access to all relevant information and services which could help them, and have worked with services such as the Nottingham Credit Union to provide additional support."

SENIOR nurses at QMC and City Hospital in Nottingham could spend up to 26 more hours a week working on the ward rather than doing paperwork.

The Nottingham University Hospitals Trust, which runs both hospitals, has pledged nearly £900,000 to get the most qualified nurses out of their offices – employing 40 bureaucracy busters to take on senior nurses' administrative work.

A six-month trial was held on the Queen's Medical Centre's head and neck unit with staff and patients praising the success of the scheme.

Sue Mazengarb is the senior nurse in the department and she said having someone to help with paperwork was valuable.

She added: "It's huge for me, in April 2011 two wards merged and I became the manager of two units - it was a significant increase in the amount of administration.

"The paperwork was really around making sure rotas are completed which is quite a time consuming thing and making sure staff have appraisals and development plans are followed so they have attended relevant training.

"It took up a lot of time, up to 70 per cent of my working week."

And the senior nurse said the move will have an impact on quality of care and the staff's quality of life.

The 43-year-old from Chilwell added: "I didn't get into the job to do paperwork. Clinical shifts are why I became a nurse and wanted to do the job. In light of the Francis report ward sisters need to be visible.

"A lot of staff are unaware of my role because I'm stuck in the office and they don't know what I'm doing - I felt a bit detached.

"All of us felt so bogged down with the admin and something had to change, so that's why I wanted to trial the role.

"It's been such a success, They see me as a visible leader and I can get out on the ward - I work more clinically and monitor standards and talk to patients.

"I'm far happier in my role - I wasn't getting the same job satisfaction, I have done all this training and this is my career. I want to be on the ward doing what I was trained for."

And the changes have been noticed more widely.

The senior nurse who has been at the hospital since 1991 said: "The patients have said its nice to see a ward sister and they feel safer knowing someone is in charge - the staff do say the ward runs a lot better."

Caron Swinscoe, Deputy Director or Nursing at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "This pilot scheme has proved a great success and we have seen a measurable difference since its introduction. "The role of Ward Sister Administrator recognises the importance of our ward sisters being out on the ward and visible for patients and staff."

Gordon Waine is the president of the League of Friends of the QMC.

He said: "This is absolutely a positive thing.

"It's hugely worthwhile in my judgement - it is to be welcomed.

"We are as a league of friends very supportive of that initiative."

CARS are being stolen in a wave of thefts sweeping south Notts.

Thieves stole the keys from three homes while families slept and drove the vehicles away in Ruddington and Wilford.

Several other burglaries have been reported in the area since, leading police to ask people to be on their guard and improve their home security.

In one of the thefts overnight on Friday, a burglar scrambled through a tiny front window left open in Lesley Moran's house in St Austell Drive, Wilford.

After helping himself to her purse on a table and a set of car keys, he drove away in her silver Vauxhall Corsa parked outside.

Ms Moran said: "Once they got in, the whole thing must have taken only about ten seconds as I think they left through the front door.

"I'm a community heart nurse and I drive my car every day. It's not just the inconvenience but the cost as well because there will be an excess even with the insurance.

"Then there is the violation you feel knowing that someone has gone through your house."

Car key thieves struck twice in one night in Ruddington between 11pm on Sunday and the early hours of Monday.

They drove off a VW Golf from outside a house in North Road after getting through an open window and taking the keys. They used the same tactic to steal a BMW 3 Series and a VW Touran from a house in Barton Close after getting in through an unlocked door.

There has also been a series of other burglaries in Ruddington and West Bridgford.

On Tuesday, there were four burglaries in West Bridgford.

One was between 10.30am and 2.30pm at Dorset Gardens, another was in Loughborough Road at around 11.40am, a third at Wheatcroft View between 8.40am and 4.40pm and a fourth occurred at Blandford Gardens at about 12.30pm.

Between 8am and 6pm on Wednesday, there was a failed attempt to break into a house in Sandhurst Drive, Ruddington.

The same day between 1.10pm and 7.47pm someone broke into a house in Musters Road, Ruddingon, after forcing the lock on a patio door.

Notts Police are investigating all the break-ins and a force spokesman said officers are looking into whether at least the two car key burglaries in Ruddington are linked.

Police also asked people to lock doors and windows as all the car thefts involved doors and windows left unlocked.

Sergeant Harvey Smedley, from West Bridgford police station, said: "The warmer weather has unfortunately brought with it people leaving their homes, sheds and outbuildings insecure.

"I cannot stress enough that even if you live in an area where you think it wouldn't happen, thieves will take any opportunity – so don't give it to them.

"Ensure that your doors and windows are locked up. This applies even if you are in the house and go upstairs or to a different room as it only takes seconds for someone to get in and grab what they can."

NOTTS County Council says it only made a £23,000 surplus in five years from parking tickets.

The Post reported on Tuesday that motorists have shelled out £8 million in parking tickets over the last three years to the city and county councils.

New figures have shown that the county council made more in tickets than the cost of the parking enforcement service in four of the last five years.

In 2012-13, the council made a £40,000 surplus, an increase on 2011-12 when the surplus was £7,000, but down on 2010-11 where the surplus was £79,000.

The council brought in a surplus of £7,000 in 2008-09, but showed a £110,000 loss in 2009-10, making the total surplus over the last five years £23,000.

Peter Goode, transport manager at Notts County Council, said: "As the small overall surplus for providing the service demonstrates, the purpose of parking enforcement is not to raise money for councils.

"Its aim is to reduce congestion, improve road safety, make greater availability of parking spaces for shoppers and ensure spaces for drivers with disabilities and local residents are used by the right people.

"All money raised from penalty charges pays the costs of providing the service.

"Once these costs are met, any money left must - by law - be spent improving local transport and could include better parking or improved public transport."

THE Police Federation has spoken out to defend officers involved in the case of a pregnant woman who was handcuffed for 11 hours.

Last Thursday, Notts Police said three officers received written warnings over the treatment of Lynnette Wallace, 43, in July 2011.

It came after a case of gross misconduct was proven following a two-day force hearing.

An inspector and a sergeant were given a final written warning and another sergeant given a written warning over the incident.

Notts branch of the Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, responded by issuing a statement saying: "The officers themselves have co-operated at all times with the two-year long investigation and admitted and accepted the failings that were found.

"The panel decided that whilst these did require a disciplinary sanction, for the officers to lose their jobs was not proportionate."

Last week's hearing was told Ms Wallace was in handcuffs for 11 hours, charged with witness intimidation, but this was later dropped.

The Aspley woman went into premature labour three days after being arrested and her daughter Charna was born ten weeks early, weighing 3lb 3oz.

The Federation added: "The hearing came to the conclusion the officers acted in what they perceived to be the best interest of Ms Wallace and were satisfied they were attempting to prevent harm to her and her unborn child.

"It is important to note that an independent investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission found no fault with the level of force used to restrain Ms Wallace at any point, only the amount of time she remained in handcuffs.

"No evidence was provided to connect the birth of Ms Wallace's daughter to actions or lack thereof while in custody."

A WOMAN has been reported to the police for "criminal damage" after painting one side of a garden fence.

Lyndsey Gagrica, of Honeywood Drive, Carlton, had to make a statement at Carlton Police Station after painting her next-door neighbours' new fence white.

The neighbours said she had no right to alter the £80 fence, which also cost them £172 in planning permission fees.

Mrs Gagrica, 34, who has lived with her husband and daughter at her house for 13 years, said: "They wouldn't be able to see anything on my side. I don't understand how it could be criminal damage."

She said she was made to feel like a criminal for doing nothing more than picking up a tin and a brush.

"I even got some advice from Homebase as to what the best type of paint would be," she added.

Mrs Gagrica's neighbours, who did not want to be named, said the fence was put up to maintain their privacy.

"I didn't feel like I could go in the garden," said one of the neighbours, who has lived in Honeywood Drive for 25 years.

She added: "Some of the white paint is dripping through on to my side, and I only have planning permission to have it brown."

Both parties admit the fence-painting issue was one of a long list of disputes between the households.

"I think it's diabolical that they think I shouldn't have any say in what my side of the fence looks like," said Mrs Gagrica.

Her neighbour said: "Every time I make any changes to my house, she will do something without asking us.

"This was the straw that broke the camel's back. I just wanted someone with authority to tell her to leave us alone."

Police confirmed that the incident was reported to them and that no one has been arrested.

They are working with both parties to come to a fair resolution.

PLANS have been submitted to build 141 new homes in Hucknall.

Residents have voiced mixed views on the proposals concerning the Broomhill Farm site, off Nottingham Road, which has been owned by Notts County Council for 60 years.

Now the county council will sell the vacant piece of land to Bellway Homes East Midlands, subject to the approval of the planning application.

Alex Kyriacou, a worker at Zac's chip shop in Portland Road, said he was in favour of the new plans.

He said: "I hope it will bring more business here. It is always good news when there is a development in the area."

Louise Stacey, a waitress at Broomhill Inn, a nearby pub in Broomhill Road, was in agreement, saying: "It would probably be good for us.

"It would bring in more trade because it is quite close to the pub."

But not everyone is welcoming the proposals.

Hucknall resident Carole Terrza, who lives five minutes away from Broomhill Farm, is worried about the impact another development will have on the town.

There are already plans for 900 new homes at the Rolls-Royce site, up to 1,000 homes proposed at Top Wighay Farm, plus a further 600 properties on land north of Papplewick Lane, near Hucknall.

She said: "It is going to create even more traffic for us.

"At the end of the day, it is more strain on the schools, health services, police and road structure, and we just can't cope with it."

David Kirkham, chairman of the county council's finance and property committee, said:

"Redeveloping the site will provide a significant boost to the local economy and much-needed housing, as well as contributing towards the number of homes the Ashfield district is required to provide over the coming years.

"We are keen to bring forward development of the site, which is in line with the uses approved in Ashfield District Council's Local Plan.

"The county council has a duty to make the best use of its assets to raise funds for the services it provides.

"Capital receipts for land sales go back into the council's capital programme, which funds a huge variety of improvement schemes, including new roads and town centre improvements such as those planned in Hucknall.

"Section 106 financial contributions from developers are also helping to fund school improvements and extensions at Holgate School, Beardall Street and Edgewood Primary in Hucknall, creating places for new pupils and improving facilities for all local children."

HALF of Nottingham's voluntary groups fear they will be forced to close services in the next year.

And one in ten have said they might have to close altogether as funding cuts bite.

Angela Kandola, of Awaaz, a group which helps people with mental health problems, said: "Everywhere has been struggling in the face of the cuts, and we have lost a lot of our funding which has made it hard."

These revelations follow a three-month survey by the Nottingham Community and Voluntary Service (NCVS).

The State of the Sector survey revealed that:

54 per cent of groups might have to close a service in the next 12 months

11 per cent think they might close altogether

62 per cent say the funding they have doesn't cover costs

91 per cent said the government's welfare reforms would affect their clients in some way

NCVS chief executive Helen Kearsley-Cree said: "We're finding that the term "more with less" is becoming an unofficial mantra for Nottingham's voluntary sector, and one the sector is none too happy about."

The findings of the survey, which involved 59 groups, show that funding cuts from local authorities are starting to bite.

Recent years have seen dramatic cuts to available funding – with Notts County Council cutting 34 per cent from its funding to the voluntary sector in 2011/12.

The city council has also changed the way it hands out money, allocating it by area instead of dipping into one pot for the whole city.

Dave Liversidge, portfolio holder for commissioning and the voluntary sector at the city, said the new funding arrangements have made it easier and fairer for "admittedly smaller budgets" to be shared out among organisations.

Janet Lewis, chief executive of Base 51, an advice service for teenagers and young people in the city, said: "It's a case of doing our utmost to make the funding go as far as we can."

Do you think more should be done to support the voluntary sector? Email newsdesk@nottinghampostgroup.co.uk