Saturday

Arnold: M. N. Singh, 77 High Street, to 6.30pm; Sainsbury's Pharmacy, Nottingham Road, to 10pm; Asda, 111-127 Front Street, 7am to 9pm.

Bilborough: Co-op, Bracebridge Drive, to 10pm.

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

Gamston: Morrisons, Lings Bar Road, to 8pm.

Hucknall: Tesco, Ashgate Road, to 10pm.

Hyson Green: Asda Superstore, to 10pm.

Keyworth: Co-op, 2 The Square, to 2.30pm; Keyworth Pharmacy, The Square, 9am to 1pm.

Long Eaton: Boots, Long Eaton Health Centre, Midland Street, 7am to midnight; Tesco Extra, Waverley Street, 6.30am to 10pm.

Mansfield: Sainsbury's, Nottingham Road, to 10pm.

Nottingham central: Glasshouse Chemist, 42-44 Glasshouse Street, to 7pm; Canning, Beastmarket Hill, to 6pm; Boots, Riverside Retail Park, 9am to midnight; Boots, Long Row, 8.30am to 8pm; Castle Marina Sainsbury's, 7am to 10pm.

Radcliffe-on-Trent: Radcliffe Day and Night Pharmacy, 1 Shelford Road, 8am to 10pm.

Radford: Midnight Pharmacy, 194 Alfreton Road, 9am to midnight.

Rise Park: Knights Pharmacy, 9 Bestwood Park Drive West, 9am to 7pm.

Sneinton and St Ann's: D Parmar, 298 Woodborough Road, to 12.30pm; Phakey's, Family Medical Centre, 149 Carlton Road, 9am to 1pm.

Southwell: Lloyds Chemist, 2-4 King Street, to 5.30pm; Co-op, The Ropewalk, 8am to 10pm.

Stapleford: Co-op, Stapleford Care Centre, Church Street, 7am to 10pm.

West Bridgford: Moss Chemists, Asda Superstore, 184 Loughborough Road, to 10pm.

Sunday

Alfreton: Lloyds Pharmacy, 1 Limes Avenue, 11am to noon.

Arnold and Woodthorpe: Sainsbury's Pharmacy, Nottingham Road, 10am to 4pm; Asda Pharmacy, 111-127 Front Street, 10am to 4pm.

Bilborough: Co-op, Bracebridge Drive, to 4pm.

Gamston: Morrisons, Lings Bar Road, to 4pm.

Hyson Green: Asda Superstore, 11am to 5pm.

Ilkeston: Ilkeston HCC Ltd, The Old Station Surgery, Heanor Road, noon to 1pm.

Long Eaton: Jaysons, 3 Market Place, noon to 1pm; Tesco Extra, Waverley Street, 10am to 4pm.

Mansfield: Sainsbury's, Nottingham Road, 10am to 4pm.

Nottingham central: Boots, Victoria Centre, 10.30am to 4.30pm; Boots, Broadmarsh Centre, 10.30am to 4.30pm; Boots, Riverside Retail Park, 10am to 4pm; Castle Marina Sainsbury's, to 4pm.

Radcliffe-on-Trent: Radcliffe Day and Night Pharmacy, 1 Shelford Road, 11am to 5pm.

Radford: Midnight Pharmacy, 194 Alfreton Road, noon to midnight.

Southwell: Co-op, The Ropewalk, 10am to 4pm.

Stapleford: Co-op, Stapleford Care Centre, Church Street, 10am to 3pm.

West Bridgford: Asda Superstore, 184 Loughborough Road, 10am to 4pm.

Worksop: Tesco, Gateford Road, 10am to 4pm.

A BAR where a man was attacked and left fighting for his life has had its licence suspended.

The 20-year-old spent weeks in a coma after being assaulted in an alleyway next to Buzz Bar, in High Street, Long Eaton.

Erewash Borough Council's licensing sub-committee imposed the suspension.

There have been other incidents in the past year, the latest on July 24 when a 39-year-old suffered a broken ankle.

In October last year a 39-year-old man had his face stitched after being glassed in the club when he tried to stop two men arguing.

And in January, a 36-year-old man suffered serious head injuries in an attack. He was taken to the Queen's Medical Centre, with fractures to his eye socket and nose and several loose teeth.

Derbyshire Police and the council also suspended the licence of Kirk Hallam Social Club, in Dallimore Road, after police were called there on a number of occasions. The latest was on July 27 when a customer was hit over the head with a pool cue.

Licensing officer PC Mark Dunn said: "It is critical to examine why the disorder occurred and how it can be prevented in the future.

"We will not tolerate those cases where the poor management of premises leads crime and disorder. We submitted to the licensing committee a number of reasons why we felt the licences needed to be suspended after being called to both premises on a number of occasions."

The police can use powers introduced by Parliament in 2007 to request that a council immediately suspends licences due to "serious disorder".

The suspensions will continue until a further hearing is held to review them.

At that hearing the licensing sub-committee might make permanent changes to the licence or even revoke it.

Buzz Bar landlord Eddie Rathour said that in the July 27 incident a man was ejected from the bar but his ankle was not broken when he left.

He added: "If you close all the bars in Long Eaton, all you're going to get is nuisance and disorder on the streets. People are going to go to supermarkets and hang around on street corners.

"At least in venues they are contained and monitored."

The bar was working with the police and intended to get the suspension lifted.

Warren Riley, 27, of Ballater Close, Sinfin, is currently on remand in relation to the alleyway attack.

He denies causing grievous bodily harm and faces trial later this month.

A RADIO advertisement produced by Notts schoolchildren to encourage recycling is set to go on air.

South Notts Academy students won a competition run by waste firm Veolia to create the ad.

It will be aired on Gem 106 from Monday.

The competition – part of Veolia's U Create Project – saw 49 county schools and academies take part.

It was aimed at encouraging people to recycle but also get students thinking about environmental issues.

The students from the Radcliffe-on-Trent academy who won the contest said it had an impact on them.

Olivia Newby said: "It made me think more about the planet and ways to reduce the amount of waste we produce."

James Chillman said: "The best thing was the whole group taking part and working together."

Liam Norris also said it had got him thinking, adding: "I have decided to recycle more than I used to."

Ellie Humphrey added: "Recycling is more important than I thought it was and helps the environment."

Their advertisement, called Bin Smart, tells listeners about the amount of waste produced in the UK each year.

To a background of music, they are asked: "Are you being smart or are you being messy?"

It advertises the website of Veolia, Notts County Council's waste contractor.

The recording is also going on the school website and will be available on the Veolia website soon.

As well as the broadcasts , the academy also won a gold disc and was given a £200 cheque at a ceremony at County Hall last month.

Students at Redlands Primary School in Worksop will also have their ad broadcast.

Class teacher Kathryn Dodds said: 'The whole thing has set the children buzzing and they have not calmed down yet.

"We enjoy working on all eco projects, especially if we can help make a difference to the local community."

Councillor Jim Creamer, chairman of Notts County Council's environment and sustainability committee, said: "We were astounded by the entries to this competition, and pleased that so many students took part. We look forward to hearing the winning entries on local and radio."

THE mother of the overall winner of last year's Baby of the Year competition has said her son still talks about being voted Notts' cutest child.

Jacob Bricknell, now three years old, was crowned Baby of the Year 2012 after beating hundreds of other children to become the most photogenic tot in the county.

The annual competition, organised by the Post, is now set to start again at the Victoria Centre.

Jacob's mum, Angela, 23, said she would be entering two of her children into the competition this year.

"It was such a wonderful surprise but also a shock when we found out Jacob had been picked as the overall winner," said the mother-of-three from Hucknall.

"We have treated him to days out and things like that this year. His trophy is on the shelf and he tells all his friends 'I'm a winner' constantly. It's really cute.

"This year I'm going to enter Jacob again and our daughter Amelia, who is just 20 weeks old."

Angela and her husband Jonathan also have another child, six-year-old Daniel.

The full-time mum added: "It's a great competition and we are really proud of Jacob for winning. Maybe we will have the same luck again this year."

The Bricknells put Jonathan's £1,500 prize money into a saving account for when he is older.

This year's Baby of the Year competition photo sessions will begin in the upper mall of the Victoria Centre, outside the Disney Store, on Monday, August 12.

Parents and carers can bring their baby or toddler down to be photographed until Saturday, August 24.

Photo sessions run from 9.30am until 5pm Monday to Friday, 9.30am until 5pm on Saturdays and 11am until 4.30pm on Sundays.

All you need to do to enter your child for a chance to win the £1,500 overall winner prize money is buy a copy of the Post and cut out the token for the competition.

Tokens will appear in the Post from next Saturday, August 10.

As last year, there will be a winner, who will receive £500, in each of the following categories: 0 to 9 months, 10 to 18 months, 19 to 36 months and 3 to 5 years.

Post readers will vote for their favourites and the 20 children with most votes in each category will appear in a supplement featuring the top 80.

A panel of judges will pick a winner for each category and an overall winner who will get £1,500.

PRIMARY schools in Notts are to receive an extra £7.6 million to help teach children from deprived areas.

The Government has announced the schools will receive an extra £400 in pupil premium cash for every child eligible from September next year.

But fears have been raised that schools won't get all the money they are entitled to.

The pupil premium for each school is worked out on how many children take free school meals. With many parents refusing free meals, hundreds of thousands of pounds could be going begging.

John Slater, Notts County Council director for education standards and inclusion, said: "Schools across the county work really hard to encourage parents entitled to free school meals for their children to get what they're entitled to.

"However, we estimate that more than 1,400 children across Notts, who could be entitled to free school meals, are not getting them which in turn means that, if their child is primary-aged, their child's school misses out on the pupil premium.

"So, we'd urge parents who are on benefits and think they might be entitled to claim to get in touch with us to check."

In Notts, around 10,600 children are entitled to free school meals. In the coming school year – when schools will get £900 per pupil – that means £9.6 million for county schools.

In 2014-15, when it rises to £1,300 per pupil, this will rise to £13.9 million.

Meanwhile city schools will receive a total of £7.3 million in 2013-14, rising to £10.6 million in the following year.

The money is usually spent on extra teaching assistants and other equipment to get children from disadvantaged backgrounds up to speed.

The Government announcement came as it told primary schools it expected higher standards.

Councillor David Mellen, portfolio holder for children's services at the city council, said: "I am in favour of any resource for children from poorer backgrounds.

"It is right that schools should have funding that enables them to address the needs of these children."

Mr Mellen added: "I think that this money is replacing other cash which was previously spent under the previous Government."

Rob Illingworth, from the Notts branch of the National Union of Teachers, agreed, saying: "Cuts are being made to budgets elsewhere in schools so I'm not sure this is new money."

Jo Bradley, head teacher at Bluebell Hill Primary in St Ann's, said the pupil premium was vital but queried where the cash has come from. "I think we will be losing out in other parts of the budget," she said.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said the money would help ensure all pupils reached their potential.

BUSY commuters are being offered a new way to beat shop queues – with the first park-and-ride delivery service.

Nottingham City Council has teamed up with the Asda Home Shopping Centre in Bulwell to offer a "click and collect" point at Queen's Drive.

The scheme, which starts on Monday, will give people the chance to order shopping online and then pick it up when they return to their car at the end of the day.

Councillor Jane Urquhart, council lead on planning and transport, hopes it will ease traffic congestion.

She said: "We understand the time it can take to do a full weekly shop, especially after work when the traffic congestion is typically at its worst.

"Being able to get dropped off at your car via the park-and-ride buses, to have your shopping waiting for you is not only a time-saving solution but also helps to reduce the number of vehicles on the city's roads."

The service will be available Monday to Saturday from 8am to 8pm.

An Asda delivery van will be at the park-and-ride site throughout the day with orders arriving every two hours.

David Miclkethwaite, 64, of Sherwood, uses the Queen's Drive site when he visits the Queen's Medical Centre.

"I can see how it would be helpful but I'm not sure I'd use it myself because I prefer to see what I'm buying," he said.

"I'm sure it will be very popular with the people who use the park and ride on a daily basis, though."

Asda announced in June that it planned to expand its click and collect service to park and rides, universities, business parks and train stations.

The new point at Queen's Drive is the first one to come to fruition.

Asda Home Shopping Centre manager Richard Jackson said: "After a great amount of planning and organisation we are proud to present the first-ever click and collect service situated at a park and ride. Not only does this encourage people to use the park and ride, we also hope to decrease the amount of road miles as well.

"We are really grateful for the council's participation in the launch and everyone is looking forward to getting the scheme underway."

HOSPITAL bosses have taken action to improve waiting times after a man who waited six hours to be assessed by medical staff died.

As a result of an investigation, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust is also to give training to staff about communication with the relatives of critically ill patients after the man's family were asked to remain in the waiting room while the patient died.

The man, who had pneumonia, had been discharged after three days in the Queen's Medical Centre but he was re-admitted four days later with breathing difficulties.

He had to wait for six hours to be assessed by medical staff.

After assessment, the man's condition deteriorated despite medical staff doing blood tests and administering intravenous fluids.

A report to the trust's board said: "It was necessary to make resuscitation attempts, at which time the relatives were asked to wait in the visitors' area.

"The relatives were not with the patient at the time of his death and raised concerns with the ward sister at the time."

In response to the man's death, the trust has taken action including:

Starting a project to reduce waiting times to be seen by a doctor, particularly at times of high activity;

Education for staff about asking families if they wish to be present when a patient is being resuscitated;

Education for staff on effective care and communication for families of critically ill and bereaved relatives.

The report of the trust's board meeting in June said: "The investigation had not found any deficiencies in the discharge process or any link between the circumstances of that discharge and the fact of re-admission.

"Relatives and/or carers would normally be given the option of being present when resuscitation was attempted. Many relatives choose not to be present.

"Nevertheless, on this occasion, more could have been done by nursing staff to support the relatives at this time."

The news comes after the Post reported that the trust had admitted a series of failures in caring for a 97-year-old woman who died after falling out of her bed on a ward.

A spokesperson for Nottingham University Hospitals said: "We are committed to ensuring the fundamentals of patient care are consistently delivered to patients.

"Listening to and acting on feedback from patients, relatives and carers enables us to do an even better job."

Tell us the story of your hospital treatment. E-mail newsdesk@ nottinghampostgroup.co.uk

THE site of Nottingham's world-famous Goose Fair has been hailed for the quality of its green space.

The Forest Recreation Ground has received a Green Flag Award for the first time.

The awards recognise the best green spaces in the country.

June Perry, chairman of Friends of the Forest, says the award completes a dramatic turnaround in The Forest's fortunes over the last decade.

She said: "When we were formed in 2001 The Forest was regarded as a bit of a wasteland. At one time it was quite common to see burned-out cars left around the park, piled up.

"It's gradually turned around, with councillors becoming more and more aware of the beautiful possibilities of the place and its historic value to people.

"It's very satisfying to see that work by the locals and the city council together has changed it to such a degree that it's worth a Green Flag. It is something that I thought would never happen."

The Forest is one of three parks and open spaces in Notts to have achieved a Green Flag Award for the first time.

Overall 40 have been announced, compared to 37 in 2012. They are given by Keep Britain Tidy.

Marcus Laing, 35, of St Ann's visited The Forest's outdoor gym area with his sons Kayne, 13, Ethan, ten, and Lewis, nine, yesterday.

He said: "It used to be a bit grubby, now it's looking bang on. I'm over the moon it has won a Green Flag, especially as we're close by."

Sharon Graley, 44, of Basford, visited the park with her partner Eugene Shaw, 40, and eight-year-old daughter Phoebe Malcolm.

She said: "It's always neat and tidy and looked after, and has improved a lot in recent years."

Mr Shaw added: "My parents used to bring me here when I was a kid. It used to just be a field and a tip where they would scrap cars. It's much better now."

The Forest award comes before the official opening of the park on August 31 after a £5.2m restoration.

The lottery-funded revamp included restoration of the park's Grade II listed lodge, pavilion, central promenade, and entrances and railings.

Improvements have also been made to pitches, paths and planting areas.

The work has also won The Forest a Green Heritage Award in recognition of efforts to highlight the site's historic importance.

It means The Forest is the first green space in the city to receive both awards.

City councillor Dave Trimble said: "This Green Flag Award recognises and highlights that people in Nottingham are benefiting from green space of the highest quality."

The accolades in Nottingham are among a record 1,448 awards given out across the UK this year.

Paul Todd, Green Flag Award programme manager, said: "It is testament to the hard work of the men and women who maintain and improve Nottinghamshire's parks and green spaces that they have achieved 40 Green Flag Awards and 11 Green Flag Community Awards this year.

"Parks and green spaces are an important part of our communities."

AN MP has criticised the leader of Nottingham City Council, saying he has refused to meet to discuss Beeston traders whose businesses have been affected by the tram works.

Anna Soubry, MP for Broxtowe, claims she wrote to Councillor Jon Collins to arrange a meeting to discuss the shops that "face closure" if compensation packages aren't improved.

In her weekly constituency e-mail, the MP, who is Under-Secretary-of-State for Health, said: "Jon Collins has refused to meet me and the leaders of both Broxtowe and Notts County Council to discuss compensation for shops and businesses in Beeston and Chilwell who face closure. Some shops like Cameron House are facing losses that the current financial package does not meet.

"The city and county councils have stumped up two million pounds to compensate small businesses in Beeston affected by the works but only up to 70 per cent of losses and with a cap of £13,500.

"This deal was based on Chilwell and High Road remaining open to one-way traffic. It now resembles a building site and is completely closed to traffic. Councillor Collins says I should talk to Councillor Jane Urquhart, head of transport, who is 'not around' until August 12."

The tram route is due for completion by late next year and, while businesses affected by the works will receive compensation for loss of revenue, concerns have been raised about the long-term damage to their businesses.

But a city council spokesman said: "It's a pity Anna Soubry has chosen to include this in her newsletter in a way that detracts from the issue in hand. Councillor Urquhart, who is overseeing the tram project and who is the most appropriate member to deal with this issue, is currently arranging a meeting with Anna Soubry.

"Councillor Collins is also happy to meet Anna Soubry to discuss the tram project as a whole at a mutually agreeable date."

The spokesman added: "Together with Nottinghamshire County Council, we are providing financial assistance to some traders on Chilwell Road and High Road, whose profits are less than in the comparable period last year, prior to tram works starting. It's worth noting that some traders have so far been financially unaffected – in fact, new businesses are now choosing to locate on the road.

"The discretionary financial assistance goes well beyond national land compensation requirements and provides a substantial contribution towards lost profits, which may be due to the tram works, but which recognises that other factors may be evident, such as a business's individual performance or the current economic climate.

"We will continue to work with local traders and provide additional help such as free customer parking areas, a free shopper bus service and a range of marketing initiatives during the works.

"Ultimately the area will benefit from a better shopping environment and a fast, frequent tram service."

RUSHCLIFFE Country Park is among a number of Notts sites which have kept their Green Flag status.

A ceremony to celebrate the award was held at the park, in Ruddington. It was attended by those who have worked there over the past 12 months.

Park manager Keith Laing said it was the seventh consecutive year they had made the grade.

Mr Laing, who became manager in 2005, said: "I'm extremely proud.

"The Green Flag Award trains the mind. When you are looking at things on the park you are minded that you have a high standard to maintain."

Mr Laing's team of staff are supported by about 30 volunteers who make up the Friends of Rushcliffe Country Park.

The volunteers received a Queen's Award for Voluntary Services last year in recognition of their work.

Mr Laing, of Cotgrave, said: "The Friends do a lot of conservation work and maintenance tasks, like footpath repairs. We are busy planning our winter work, you can never stand still."

The parkland contains 8km of footpaths, grassland and conservation areas.

It also has a lake, a large children's play area, as well as a skate park and BMX cycle track.

The park is open year-round, with its car park open from 8am to 6pm between April and October, and to 4pm from November to March.

The Friends meet on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 9.30am to carry out maintenance work.

For more information about volunteering call the Ranger's Office on 0115 9215865.

THE 40 Green Flag parks and open spaces in Notts for 2013-14 are:

Nottingham City: Arboretum, Bulwell Bogs, Clifton Playing Fields, The Forest Recreation Ground, Heathfield Park, High Wood Cemetery, King George V Park, Lenton Abbey Park, Lenton Recreation Ground, Martin's Pond Local Nature Reserve, Queens Walk Recreation Ground, Sandy Banks Local Nature Reserve , Southern (Wilford Hill) Cemetery, Strelley Recreation Ground, Vernon Park , Victoria Park, Woodthorpe Park

Nottingham Trent University: Brackenhurst Campus, Clifton Campus

University of Nottingham: Jubilee Campus, University Park

Rushcliffe: Rushcliffe Country Park

Broxtowe: Bramcote Hills Park, Colliers Wood

Gedling: Arnot Hill Park

Ashfield: Brierley Forest Park, Kingsway Park, Portland Park, Selston Golf Course, Sutton Lawn, Titchfield Park

Mansfield: Carr Bank Park, Peafield Park, Titchfield Park, Yeoman Hill Park

Newark and Sherwood: Newark Castle Gardens, Sconce & Devon Parks, Sherwood Avenue Park, Vicar Water Country Park

Bassetlaw: Kings Park

The 40 are among 89 Green Flag Award honours given in the East Midlands. A number of other nearby parks also achieved the status.

Victoria Park in Ilkeston, operated by Erewash Borough Council, retained its award, while six parks run by Amber Valley Borough Council were also granted it.

They are Belper Parks, Belper River Gardens, Crays Hill Recreation Ground, Crossley Park, Pennytown Ponds Local Nature Reserve and Heanor Memorial Park.

Meanwhile, Shipley Country Park and Elvaston Castle Country Park are among three Derbyshire County Council-run green spaces to have received the accolade.

Nottingham to Leicester

Services run between Leicester and East Midlands Parkway, where there will be a connecting bus service to Nottingham every ten minutes.

Liverpool to Norwich (via Nottingham)

Services are not calling at Nottingham or Grantham on this route but will instead call at East Midlands Parkway, where express bus services will run to Nottingham, Grantham and Newark. Passengers travelling from Langley Mill and Alfreton should use replacement bus services for travel to Nottingham.

Nottingham to Lincoln

Train services will continue to run from Newark Castle to Lincoln throughout the resignalling work. Connecting bus services will run between Newark Castle and Nottingham, with an hourly bus service from Rolleston, Fiskerton, Bleasby, Thurgaton, Lowdham, Burton Joyce and Carlton to Nottingham. From August 10 to 25, trains will run between Nottingham and Lincoln, from 8am to 8pm.

Nottingham to Skegness

Services continue to run between Grantham and Skegness at all times. Direct train services ran between Nottingham and Skegness from July 20 to July 28, and will again from August 10 to August 23, between 8am and 8pm. At all other times, an hourly bus service will run between Nottingham and Grantham with an hourly train service connecting at Grantham for services through to Skegness.

Nottingham to Matlock, via Derby

Trains are running as normal between Matlock, Derby and Beeston. For services through to Nottingham, passengers should change at Derby for an express bus service which will run at 15-minute intervals.

BY the time Nottingham Station reopens in just over three weeks' time, 2,000 people will have worked on the biggest rail project in Nottingham for a generation.

Six miles of track are being replaced, 143 new signals are being installed and two level crossings are being uprooted and replaced with footbridges.

The work has seen most train services replaced by buses at the station as 50-year-old track is replaced with shiny new rails.

"It's not just the bright rails that people will notice when the station opens on August 26 – journeys will be quicker and more reliable," said Kevin Newman, senior commercial scheme sponsor for Network Rail.

"A lot of trains when they are coming into the station usually have to stop just outside the Revenue and Customs building because they can't go across all the tracks, but the development work will mean this is possible. Also, trains on the Robin Hood Line will be able to go quicker – at the moment, they can only go at 35mph to Radford junction, but this will increase to 50mph."

One of the main areas where work was taking place yesterday was Mansfield Junction, between Castle Marina Retail Park and the NG2 Business Park. The line splits here between the Robin Hood Line to Hucknall, Mansfield and Worksop and the Midland Main Line to Beeston, Leicester and London.

Yesterday, the trains were going nowhere – the old rails and sleepers had been ripped up and workmen were busy directing heavy machinery laying fresh pieces of track.

Dave Scarth, programme manager for Network Rail, said: "I came here eight years ago to set up the East Midlands resignalling programme, when one of our main aims was to wind down Trent Power Signal Box."

The switch was pulled on the box after 44 years' service on July 19, the eve of the work.

Instead, the signals will be controlled from Derby.

Mr Scarth added: "You can't get nostalgic about these things – all we are doing is replacing the kit that has done a good job for a number of years, and replacing it with modern equipment fit for the 21st century."

All the work is being done with the upcoming electrification of Midlands Main Line in mind and Chris Denham, from Network Rail, said: "It wouldn't make sense for us to do one set of work to only have to close the railways for the electrification, so it's all future-proof in that respect.

"We expect the rails to last as long as the old ones did, for around 40-50 years.

"The track and signalling through Nottingham are past it and people will notice the difference – their journeys will be more reliable and with electrification coming in the next five years, they will be quicker as well."

But the track and signal replacement at the station is just one step of the improvement plan.

Justin Page, acting route manager for the East Midlands for Network Rail, said: "When the station reopens on August 26, there will still be scaffolding and work taking place on site, but this means when it reopens properly early next year, we'll have fast and reliable trains leaving from a modern station."

THE majority of people appear to be happy with the rail replacement buses at Nottingham Station.

The Post spoke to passengers waiting for the buses at the start of rush-hour yesterday and many who spoke to us seemed happy with the way things were going.

David Holland, 25, was waiting for the rail replacement bus to his home town of Beeston.

He said: "It takes about ten minutes longer but that doesn't really bother me. I can sit and read a book on the bus just like I would on the train. I think the buses are smooth and it's not a problem while the work takes place."

Sakib Subhan, from Hyson Green, agreed.

The 25-year-old added: "I have had no problems at all with the replacement buses – I've travelled at rush hour and it's been OK and I've travelled on Sunday evening and it's been all right too."

Raj Sahdev, 52, of Forest Fields, was travelling to London and was waiting for a bus to East Midlands Parkway.

He said: "I've heard horror stories but apart from a few teething problems early on, the system seems to be working really well now.

"The staff are all around and happy to help, so I think it's going well."

Carl Bates, 25, from Carlton, was heading to Derby. He said: "People don't seem to be fussed about the work as long as the buses are good, and they have been so far in my experience."

A BINGHAM takeaway has pulled back from the brink of closure.

Mani Davanipour, owner of Pizza Pasta on Union Street, counted the cost of failing to comply with food hygiene regulations in March and was taken to court by Rushcliffe Borough Council for breach of regulations at the takeaway.

He was rated zero under the Food Standards Agency's ratings scheme which measures businesses' compliance which food safety law.

But after the council agreed an action plan with him, his premises have been reinspected and have been rated as four for hygiene.

There are six ratings ranging from zero to five, with zero meaning urgent improvement is needed, to a generally satisfactory three, through to a five – very good.

Rushcliffe currently has 87 per cent of food businesses either highly rated as a four or five for compliance.

In March, at Pizza Pasta, the council found dirty tiles, no proper way of managing food safety, unclean surfaces and no proper food handling training.

Protection and safety manager Sarah Cairns said: "We worked with Mr Davanipour to show him what to do and how vital it was so that he protected his customers.

"He struggled to cope with both running a business and keeping it up to scratch in cleanliness and regulations. We worked with him to show him how to keep on top of things by giving him an action plan. We visited him weekly and in July he applied to be reassessed and we rated him as four."

Mani Davanipour said: "I am delighted to receive this certificate and I am determined to maintain these good standards at my takeaway."

THE proud parents of Paralympic gold medallist Richard Whitehead are drumming up support as he embarks on his next challenge – 40 marathons in 40 days.

Geraldine, 62, and John, 65, from Lowdham, said their son – a double amputee – is an inspiration to everyone and is proof that being disabled doesn't stop you from achieving your goals.

Mrs Whitehead said: "I am really proud. He has done so much. His aim is to show people there's no such thing as 'can't'."

The 37-year-old athlete, who won gold at the 2012 Paralympics, currently holds the world record for double amputees in the 200m, half-marathon and marathon.

Richard received his MBE at Buckingham Palace last month for his services to sport.

Now he is embarking on a new journey, running a marathon a day for 40 days, starting on August 13. He is hoping to raise £1 million for two charities, Scope and Sarcoma UK, by doing the challenge, which will take him from John o' Groats to Land's End.

Mrs Whitehead said she has already put posters all over the village to raise awareness of the challenge.

She said: "Everybody in the village wants to support him. Whatever happens, he will do it. If he starts something, he will finish it because he puts his mind to it."

A postbox was painted gold in Lowdham in honour of Richard after his Paralympic success.

His father said his son has always been into sports and was a keen swimmer and gymnast when he was younger.

He said: "He is a big inspiration. Young people look up to him. He shows people what they can do and wherever he goes in the world, [his fans] follow him."

Mrs Whitehead said she can remember when Richard first began running.

She said: "He started running at night in Colwick. Just three weeks later, he ran his first marathon in New York.

"He was elated after that and it gave him the encouragement to spur on to the next one."

Richard and his parents are encouraging the people of Nottingham to take part in his 5k Family Fun Run, starting at Victoria Embankment on Sunday, September 8.

To register for the run or to make a donation visit www.richardwhiteheadrunsbritain.com

DETECTIVES hunting two Notts men over an alleged conspiracy to smuggle cocaine into the UK have arrested one of them.

Kevin Machin, 35, was arrested on Wednesday at a campsite in Grantham, as part of an ongoing investigation by the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU).

He was charged with conspiracy to import cocaine and remanded in custody at Lincoln Magistrates' Court on Thursday.

He will next appear at Lincoln Crown Court on Thursday.

Detectives are still looking for Ian Oldham, 36, known as "Iggy", and described as white and 5ft 7ins. He is of stocky build, with blue eyes and balding, shaven, mousy hair, clean shaven, with the letters "JJ" tattooed on his right arm and two scars on his left arm. He is believed to be in Notts.

He has links with, and is known to have recently been in, Kirkby, Arnold, Sherwood, Top Valley, Bulwell, Aspley and Bilborough, but also has contacts elsewhere in the county and in Derbyshire.

Detective Sergeant Gary Tattersall of SEROCU said: "Anyone who sees him or knows of his whereabouts is asked to call 999 at once. You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."

Four other men were arrested in Kent, Surrey and Derbyshire in a co-ordinated police operation on in April. They include Wayne Long, 43, of, Lichfield Close, Mansfield.

All are currently in custody charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine. They are due to appear at Maidstone Crown Court with a trial date currently set for September 30.

A fifth man, aged 31 and from Derbyshire, who was arrested on the same date and released on police bail at that time, is to have no further action taken against him. The charges follow an investigation into the alleged importation of Class A drugs from the Netherlands.