NOTTS Paralympic champion Richard Whitehead has had to overcome a serious case of blisters to continue his mammoth marathon challenge.

Richard is in his second week of trying to complete 40 marathons in 40 days, by running from John O'Groats to Lands End.

But his challenge looked in jeopardy after he suffered a badly blistered left stump last week.

On doctor's advice, Richard switched to a hand-powered bicycle to complete marathons on Saturday and Sunday.

Richard, 37, of Lowdham, said: "I had massive blisters on my left stump after a breakdown in my prosthetics.

"It's never happened before. The road conditions near John O'Groats weren't that great and they have had their impact on my stump.

"The challenge is to get to Land's End, so we took the decision on medical advice to make it a more sustainable journey by using my hand-bike. That has its own challenges.

"I don't use the hand-bike at home, and it's not the easiest thing to use.

"The decision to use it instead of running was a hard one, but it was the right one."

Richard continued on the hand-bike yesterday as he completed a leg between Fort Augustus, near Inverness, and Fort William.

He said: "My stump is heavily bandaged but it's a lot better.

"We are just trying to manage the situation appropriately so I can get my leg back on later in the week.

"The key message of this challenge is trying to break down barriers and using the bike stuck within the ethos of what I'm trying to do.

"A lot of people would have maybe stopped, but I'm hoping to raise a lot of money for charity as there are a lot of people worse off than me in life."

The Paralympic gold medallist hopes to raise £1 million for disability charity Scope and Sarcoma UK, which helps cancer sufferers.

His journey will see him stop in Nottingham and host a 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.

CONCERNED residents are objecting to plans to turn their cul-de-sac into a through road.

People bought their homes in Hunter Street, in The Meadows, last year after it was built as a quiet cul-de-sac off Fraser Road.

But now it has been revealed that developers want to extend the Estate, and turn Hunter Street into a through road to the new homes, connecting with nearby Green Street.

A firm called Blueprint has bought the site of the old King's School, which is no longer in use, to build the new homes and link road.

Chris Theobald moved to the area, which is known as the Green Street estate, from West Bridgford as he wanted to buy into a traffic-conscious, sustainable development.

Mr Theobald, who is the director of an enterprise agency said: " It's not a good idea. We are objecting on safety grounds and the total contradiction of imposing this on a pedestrian friendly area. It's supposed to be an eco-friendly estate."

He added: "The whole development was planned to restrict the movement of traffic – it's single carriageway and double-yellow lined.

"I don't mind the houses being built and filling an untidy area and finishing the estate off – but we reject the opening up of a narrow road. It's going to cause traffic chaos and the new estate has enough access from Green Street."

Cath Sunderland also lives on Hunter Street.

The 60-year-old said: "I do feel strongly about it.

"Priority should be given to pedestrians who should feel free to move around and it would be nice for children to be free to play in the street.

"It shouldn't be about cars going up and down with everyone else keeping out of the way."

She added: "Also, because it's a single -file road it's only wide enough for one vehicle at a time. It's also been turned into a through road, then the only way they can get past is mounting the pavement.

"I think there's a real safety problem."

The residents have written to the city council to inform that they would prefer bollards and pedestrian-access only if the road is to be opened out.

The planning application is expected to be discussed in September and approval has been recommended.

Blueprint development director John Long said: "With any new development it's perfectly normal for people to have concerns, but the majority of Green Street residents are happy to see the success of the development that they have bought, transforming the area and raising values.

"We have worked with the local authority and our specialist design team to ensure that the new access will be safe and pleasant for everyone, including pedestrians, cyclists and motorists."

What do you think of plans to turn Hunter Street into a through road? Email opinion@nottinghampostgroup.co.uk

A BARBERSHOP quartet with a Notts contingent are showcasing their talents in a bid to fund their flight to compete in Hawaii.

Ellie Blackeby, 28, of West Bridgford, is the bass singer of Fortuity, the champions of the UK and the Netherlands region, and her husband Duncan is part of the male champions – The Emerald Guard.

Ellie performs alongside lead vocalist Gemma Netherton-Hind, 24, who works in Nottingham but lives in Derby; baritone Sarah Netherton, 38, a solicitor from Cornwall; and 28-year-old Veryan Zimber, a tenor who lives in Bristol.

They won this year's championship with the third-highest total ever recorded – 656 points out of a possible 800.

"It's unheard of even to get above 600," said Ellie, who explained they are judged on sound, expression, music choice and showmanship. "We couldn't believe our ears when they read out the score."

The girls, who have been known to perform ABBA's Thank You For The Music and At Last by Etta James, qualified for the international finals in Hawaii by winning the UK and Netherlands competition – known as Sweet Adelines.

Their performance has almost 10,000 YouTube views, but Fortuity are keeping their feet on the ground.

Gemma said: "We have the potential to do really well but we are just going out there to enjoy it. The American barbershops are so good, we couldn't expect to win."

Flights, accommodation, registration fees and costumes are to the tune of £9,000 and the girls are hosting two events to raise funds for the trip, having also received generous donations.

The first of them is the Fortuity Show, where they will be supported by The Emerald Guard and the Lace City Chorus at the Arnold Hill Academy at 7pm on September 28.

A week later, they are joining forces with Notts rock band Darkhorse at 7.30pm on October 5 at the Iona School in Sneinton.

Both gigs are Hawaiian-themed and fancy dress is encouraged.

"We know there are a lot of causes that are more worthwhile than us, so we don't want to see it as charity," said Ellie.

ELLIE and Duncan Blackeby have had a year to remember.

The newlyweds from West Bridgford have both become champions of the Sweet Adelines' barbershop quartet competitions this year.

Ellie, 28, won the competition with her quartet Fortuity on May 10, just five days after Duncan's group, The Emerald Guard, took home first prize.

Married two months earlier, the couple delighted their friends and family with a typically musical touch to their wedding and broke out into song with a rendition of Michael Bublé's I Won't Dance.

Duncan, an accountant, and Ellie, an environmental scientist, spend many of their weekends travelling the length and breadth of the country to practise and perform with their quartets – with members based in London, Cornwall, Bristol and Sheffield.

"It's been so amazing," said Ellie. "Since I started singing barbershop when I was 12, my dream was to win the Sweet Adelines and I've done it the same week as Duncan."

The talented double act understand each other's demands, help to coach their respective quartets and sometimes perform in an octet.

"When the girls come to Nottingham, Duncan will give us more time to rehearse by doing things like cooking for us and I'll do the same for him," Ellie said. "We bounce off each other and learn from each other. To share your passion with your other half is an incredible blessing."

A DERELICT building has been targeted as a site for a new supermarket – which is set to create 250 jobs.

Asda has its eye on the site in Carlton Road, St Ann's, which has been empty since the Co-op food store closed in February 2009.

The company is in negotiations with the Co-op about buying the 31,500 sq ft plot to build its fifth supermarket in the Nottingham area.

And residents have welcomed the move, saying the site has become an eyesore. Danny Theobald, 27, of St Ann's, said: "I would welcome a new supermarket.

"There's hundreds of people round here who would kill for a job right now and that would give us all a big boost."

Harbhajan Digwasans, 64, of Albany House, St Ann's, said: "It's good idea. We don't have anything like that around here. I have to do my shopping at the corner shops and they don't have the same selection and are often expensive."

But businesses in the area fear for their survival if they have to compete against one of the country's largest retailers. Mustafa Qaderi, who owns the M&F Mini Market, said: "It would be difficult for businesses in the area, not just me but everybody. It would have a big effect on us."

Asda has not yet drawn up formal plans, but confirmed it is in talks to buy the land with a view to building another store in Notts to add to its sites in West Bridgford, Hyson Green, Arnold and Long Eaton.

Nottingham City Council is not directly involved in the plans, but welcomed the news. A spokesman said: "We are aware that negotiations are ongoing and obviously we welcome any prospect of investment and job opportunities."

What do you think of the plans? Email opinion@nottinghampostgroup.co.uk

WHEN Kelvin Wilson walked through the gates at Nottingham Forest, he knew exactly what he was letting himself in for.

"There is expectation at Forest. The expectation comes when you come to the club and I knew that when I did," he said.

"Playing every week you know the fans are wanting more. The fans expect and we know that. I am a fan myself.

"We do not need telling, we all know and are giving it our best shot."

Having been born and raised in the city, Wilson knows all about Forest. It is the club he supported growing up.

These are not recent quotes, however; they are not sentiments offered following his recent return to the City Ground from Celtic.

They are, in fact, more than five years old. But they are more relevant than ever.

Wilson, in fact, was talking in March 2008, when Forest were fighting – successfully as it turned out – to end their three-season exile in League One.

Three years of being a big fish in a small pond; of being the side that everyone wanted to beat was finally brought to an end on a dramatic final day when, as well as beating Yeovil 3-2, Forest also saw other results go their way – allowing them to snatch second place and a return to the Championship.

It had been a long, hard slog; a marathon fight to escape the clutches of a division where they largely had the most resources, the biggest squad and the heaviest weight of expectation.

Almost from the moment Forest edged Doncaster and Carlisle by two points to seal promotion, the goal immediately became even grander – that being to end their exile from the top flight, which now spans 14 years.

But, following a summer of ambitious spending, which saw nine new additions – including Wilson – arrive at the club, Forest's standing in the division; the way they are starting to be viewed by opposition sides, is beginning to feel slightly familiar.

Just as they were in League One, Forest are now becoming one of the bigger fish in the second tier; one of the teams that everyone will view as a significant scalp.

The £5m or so already invested in new players could yet be added to, with Billy Davies confirming that he would like to see three further additions before the window closes.

With Wolves winger or forward Bakary Sako and Middlesbrough midfielder Grant Leadbitter understood to still be among their potential targets, the money spent may yet double, before September 2, if the club are successful in their pursuit.

While, in the meantime, three consecutive wins – four if you include the Capital One Cup success over Hartlepool – have only swelled the sense of optimism.

And, even beyond the expectation level of supporters, that will bring with it a familiar set of challenges.

Last week, in the build-up to the visit of Bolton – viewed as the biggest test of the campaign so far – skipper Chris Cohen referenced Forest's time in League One.

"We have been in some tough leagues. Even when we were in League One, it was tough for us, because to the other sides, facing us was always the biggest game of their season," he said. "Now we are in a division where everyone is capable of beating everyone."

Very true. Last season proved that the Championship is one of the most closely contested divisions in Europe, when sides like Huddersfield, Blackburn and Sheffield Wednesday – all under threat of relegation until the final weeks of the campaign – finished only ten points behind Leicester, who snatched the final play-off spot. Again, this time around, there will be a dozen or more sides who will regard themselves as being equipped to push for the top six.

But not only are Forest definitely among that group, but they are also clearly already viewed, by their peers, as being one of the major threats for automatic promotion.

Davies believes they can be a top two side if they add the players they want, in the coming weeks.

But the three opposition managers Forest have faced have been unified by more than just defeat. Mark Robins, Gary Bowyer and Dougie Freedman have also been united in voicing their belief that Forest are already equipped to be a top two side.

More than that, both Huddersfield and Bolton arrived at the City Ground in a familiar frame of mind – with the intention of stifling Forest's attacking ambitions.

In Huddersfield's case, it worked, with only a second half strike from Henri Lansbury the difference between the two sides, amid a closely fought encounter.

Bolton's plan to pack the midfield with a 4-2-3-1 formation worked less well, with Jamie Mackie breaching their defences with barely a minute on the clock.

But that is the biggest issue Forest will face at the City Ground this season. As it was when they were in League One, teams will come to Nottingham with the intention of keeping things tight; of frustrating the Reds.

It will not be a factor in their next two Championship fixtures, when they head to Watford and Wigan over the next few weekends, where they will face opposition who will, you would expect, be more than willing to go toe-to-toe on home soil.

But, beyond that, Barnsley and Middlesbrough visit the City Ground, before Davies' side head to Doncaster, a side who will have done well if they have retained their Championship status at the end of the campaign.

And they are three fixtures where Forest are likely to find themselves up against teams with a defensive, closed shop mentality.

Both Wilson and Cohen will remember only too well what it was like in League One, when Forest had to grind out results; when they had to scrap and claw their way to promotion at the third attempt.

Cohen has already intimated that solid, rather than spectacular, will suffice, if it ultimately steers the Reds back into the top flight for the first time since 1999.

Last weekend, what Forest produced was certainly spectacular, as they took apart a Bolton side still armed with parachute payments following their relegation from the Premier League just over a year ago, as well as a squad that is equipped to compete in the second tier.

But, in the coming months, particularly if they do add the likes of Sako and Leadbitter to their squad, Forest will increasingly find themselves regarded as one of the big guns in the Championship; as one of the biggest scalps.

For Forest, that weight of expectation will be nothing new. But their ability to overcome the response that their position among their promotion favourites engineers, could be the difference between success and failure.

AN INVESTIGATION has been launched at a mental health institution to determine whether or not a 23-year-old man should have been granted unattended leave, after he allegedly smashed windows at a nearby petrol station and threatened to kill himself.

The man was allowed out of the medium-secure mental health unit called Calverton Hill in Calverton and hours later was arrested by armed police on suspicion of theft and criminal damage.

Christy Jamieson, landlady of the Admiral Rodney pub in Calverton, saw the incident at around 12.30pm yesterday at the Manor Filling Station in Main Street.

She said: "There was a lot of shouting and the police were getting ready to Taser him.

"They didn't shoot him, because he shouted 'Don't Taser me, I'm mental'."

Another Calverton resident, aged 54, who did not want to be named, said: "It was scary. Nothing like that happens in this village.

"How was this allowed to happen? And what's going to stop it happening again?"

Calverton Hill is a purpose-built unit which has the specialist facilities to care for men and women with high levels of challenging behaviours and complex forensic histories.

A spokesman for Partnerships In Care, which runs Calverton Hill, said that a "full and thorough" investigation would be carried out into whether or not the man's leave was appropriate.

The spokesman said: "We can confirm that a patient, who had appropriate leave from Calverton Hill, is alleged to have caused damage in the local area earlier today.

"The police are investigating the incident.

"Leave is authorised by the responsible clinician based on the patient's clinical presentation, and reviewed as appropriate regularly."

A Notts Police spokesman said that the 23-year-old remained in police custody last night.

SHOVELLING two tonnes of coal a day may sound like a gruelling and stressful way to spend your retirement.

But for 65-year-old Tina Pinney working for the North Norfolk Railway line has given her a new lease of life.

The Nottingham pensioner has just qualified as a steam engine fireman – a role which involves piling coal from a locomotive's tender into the red-hot fire that raises the steam.

Tina and her partner Mel spend eight weeks every summer volunteering on the six miles of railway which stretches from Sheringham to Holt.

And after a gruelling two days of exams during which Tina had to complete five separate trips on the train she has now been promoted to fireman.

She said: "You can imagine my excitement and joy at hearing the magic words 'Well done – you've passed' at the end of a most gruelling day.

"My thanks go to all those on the railway who believed in me and constantly encouraged me, and to Mel who, when I was about to throw in my shovel and give up, said I had the ability and I just had to believe in myself."

Tina has been a steam railway enthusiast for 25 years.

She fell in love with North Norfolk and the Poppy Line in particular, where she now volunteers, in 1996 after a visit there. She added: "We were welcomed with so much friendship and the character of the railway, the beautiful scenery and the people who worked on it made the Poppy Line the place where I could hopefully continue in my ambition to become a fireman."

Despite living in Nottingham, Tina and her partner Mel both joined as volunteers on the Poppy Line in 2010.

Like all footplate crew, Tina started as an engine cleaner and began to learn the craft of fireman.

"At 65 anyone who has the willingness to achieve their heart's desire musn't let age deter them.

"Shovelling two tons of coal may not be on everyone's wish list, but it has brought me a massive sense of achievement and pride, and so much happiness."

Marketing manager for the Poppy Line Colin Borg said Tina's achievement was outstanding.

He said: "It is rare for a woman to want to take on the role of fireman and more rare given Tina's age – but she did extremely well and this is a very hard qualification to get."

Are you doing something unusual in your retirement? Email newsdesk@nottinghampost.co.uk

A BARRISTER has been jailed for seven months for fraudulently posing as an unemployed single mum to get a council flat – despite having two properties and a full-time law career.

Nadine Wilson-Ellis, 35, told officials she was penniless – despite living 150 miles away with her husband and working as a law lecturer.

The mother-of-two was given a council flat in Bristol which she then illegally sub-let for £100 a week while she lived with her family in one of two Nottingham homes.

Wilson-Ellis – who recently qualified as a barrister – made £10,000 from the scam, which she used to pay the mortgages on her other homes.

She was caught out only when she asked Bristol City Council – for a bigger flat.

Investigators found she had falsified bank statements and a maternity certificate.

She was teaching law full-time at a higher education college in Nottingham with a £30,000 salary.

Judge Michael Longman jailed her at Bristol Crown Court after she admitted two offences under the Fraud Act. He said: "You brazenly lied in the face of the most damning evidence which fortunately the jury saw through."

Prosecutors said the scam cost the taxpayer almost £75,000.

The council says because she had the flat they had to pay for a genuine claimant to live elsewhere at a cost of £39,000.

Had she pleaded guilty at the first hearing, court costs would have been just £3,700.

The court heard she applied for a council house in September 2008, but used forged bank statements and a form with false information about her job. She then applied for a bigger council house in September 2011.

She has lost her job as a result of the proceedings, and is now on benefits and going through a divorce.

Wilson-Ellis wailed loudly as she was led down to the cells.

Bristol's assistant mayor Gus Hoyt, responsible for council housing, accused her of a "shocking abuse of the system".

Wilson-Ellis told Bristol Crown Court she had not rented out her council flat and insisted the tenant was a friend.

She claimed: "The lady who stayed with me was not living there.

"She was paying me back. I had lent her some money previously, to help her out so she could help her mum out back in Jamaica for her mum's surgery."

THE city council is desperately trying to find primary school places for more than 200 children.

With just two weeks to go until the start of the school year, the authority is negotiating with seven schools to take in extra children.

The Post revealed two weeks ago that 234 children due to start school next month were without a place.

The council was unable to give an updated figure but confirmed it was unlikely to have changed significantly.

Councillor David Mellen, portfolio holder for children's services, said talks were taking place to solve the crisis.

He said: "We want all children to be learning from day one of the new term.

"We are working with a number of schools and academies to secure additional places for the autumn term to make sure this happens.

"Discussions are currently under way with seven primary schools to take additional pupils.

"Some of these schools are already in the process of being expanded and are being asked to accommodate additional pupils before the building work is officially complete. Others are schools we are looking to expand or schools with the capacity to provide a bulge year."

The council is in the process of a huge expansion programme in schools to ease the pressure on places.

Some schools have been expanded, with others in the pipeline. But this won't be soon enough for some anxious parents waiting for news.

Among them is Fozia Syed, whose son Yusuf, 4, does not have a place. She applied for a place at Welbeck Primary in The Meadows, where Yusuf has attended the nursery.

Fozia said: "I've made an appeal but I'm waiting for a date for the hearing for that.

"I've been told that it won't be until September, which is a big worry because that will be into the start of term."

City acting head of school improvement Nick Lee has admitted he expects around 100 children will still be without a place come the first day of term on September 2.

Another parent, 24, of Bulwell, who did not want to be identified, said: "The council are clearly working hard but what am I meant to do if my son doesn't have a place?"

Are you still waiting for a school place for your child? E-mail marcus.boocock@nottinghampostgroup.co.uk

WARNINGS are being given to shoppers after fake sunglasses which could lead to eyesight damage were found in Notts.

Community Protection's Trading Standards service said people should beware of the cheap imitations after officers seized thousands of pairs.

Discoveries have included both designer brands and non-branded sunglasses being sold by traders for knock-down prices.

Some even included fake 'CE' safety markings and purported to offer UV protection when in reality officers said they posed a "serious risk", offering little or no protection.

Some could cause long term damage by allowing harmful UV rays to enter the eye.

Trading Standards manager Jane Bailey said: "People should only buy from a reputable trader and make sure anything you buy has a CE mark on. If it seems too good to be true for the price then it probably is."

Trading Standards said in one raid earlier this year 1,700 pairs of sunglasses, including fake Armani, Dior and Ray-Ban pairs were found.

Trading Standards said people looking to buy sunglasses should check pairs meet British Standard BSEN 1836:2005, which specifies performance levels the sunglasses should conform to.

They should also look for a CE mark and check the filter category of the glasses - how dark they are.

Anyone with information about unsafe or counterfeit sunglasses is asked to contact the Citizens' Advice Consumer Service on 08454 040506.

THE number of cases of tuberculosis in Notts has fallen by nine per cent, new figures reveal.

Public Health England has released tuberculosis figures for 2012, and found that across Notts there were 93 people infected with the potentially-fatal condition that year.

This figure has dropped from the 102 recorded cases in the county in 2011.

Across the East Midlands the number of cases of the disease also slightly fallen by around four per cent with Leicester recording the most amount of cases with 190 infected people living in the city alone last year.

Despite considerable efforts to improve prevention, treatment and control, tuberculosis incidence in the UK remains high.

Dr Fu-Meng Khaw, centre director, Public Health East Midlands, said: "TB is a preventable and treatable condition, but, if left untreated, can be life threatening. It is encouraging to see that numbers have decreased slightly in the East Midlands.

"Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are key to reducing TB levels in the UK so we encourage local health service commissioners to prioritise.

"To reduce the risk of active TB disease in people coming to the UK from high incidence countries, it is essential that new migrants have good access to screening and diagnostic services. Ensuring that NICE recommendations on screening for latent TB infection are implemented in a coordinated manner across the country is therefore very important."

Number of reported cases in 2012:

Nottingham – 59

Nottinghamshire County - 32

Bassetlaw - 4

In 2011:

Nottingham City – 69

Nottinghamshire County – 23

Bassetlaw – 1

OLYMPIAN Rebecca Adlington has spoken of her shock after thieves broke into her home on Monday.

The swimming star, pictured, from Mansfield, had been out for a meal at a Tapas restaurant before discovering her house had been burgled.

Rebecca, who now lives in Stockport, Greater Manchester, initially feared that her medals were missing, and took to Twitter to vent her anger.

She tweeted: "In absolute pieces. Some b******* have broken into my house and stolen my Olympic medals! Something I will never be able to replace."

Rebecca later tweeted that the incident had left her shaken, and lashed out at people making fun of the incident.

She wrote: "To anyone replying 'haha' or 'lol' you have obviously never worked hard for something to then have someone break into your home to take them."

The Olympian then posted an update an hour later saying that her medals had been found, but the thieves had stolen a car belonging to her partner, swimmer Harry Needs.

Rebecca – who won gold in the 400m and 800m freestyle in Bejing, and gained bronze medals in London last year – wrote: "Medals have been found. I am so relieved. They've been in the house and stolen Harry's car and got keys. I'm just glad no one has got hurt.

"Thank you for all the concern. The main thing, I know, is we're safe. Life is more precious."

Police have now confirmed they are investigating the incident.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: "A laptop and a black Audi A3 were stolen from the house. Nothing else was taken."