TOUR guide Ade Andrews has snared his third award this year.

Mr Andrews, pictured, who conducts the Robin Hood Town Tour, landed the VisitEngland Tourism Superstar 2014 silver award and VisitEngland Tourism Experience of the Year 2014 bronze award.

And now he has been awarded TripAdvisor's Certificate of Excellence 2014.

The award celebrates hospitality excellence and is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding TripAdvisor reviews.

Mr Andrews, who has been guiding tourists as Robin Hood for 20 years, said: "To win two VisitEngland Awards in the same year is a fantastic achievement, but to then go on and win TripAdvisor's Certificate of Excellence 2014 for a second year running is phenomenal.

"I look forward to continuing to make sure Robin Hood's legacy lives on through my tours and to helping visitors understand and appreciate our famous city and county."

HIT bands and top grub will be taking centre stage this weekend as the Newark Festival kicks off.

Big names Union J and Rough Copy will share the stage with blasts from the past the Human League and Heaven 17 at the festival, starting today at Riverside Park.

And there will be something for the family, too, as children's entertainment takes centre stage on Sunday, with the weekend rounded off with a Proms in the Park and firework display from 6pm.

Naomi Black is the booking executive for the festival and said it promised to be a fun-filled three days.

She said: "There's a lot going on and it's been about six months in the planning, so we're looking forward to it.

"It's been good to have the different themes for the days. Friday night is a bit poppy and modern, Saturday is more 80s.

"Sunday will be great for the children and then we've got the proms from 6pm to round it off."

The children's fun day will include magic demonstrations, a Postman Pat show and a craft zone.

The bands are geared up for the show. Luke Friend will be on stage on Friday night. He came third in last year's X Factor.

"I can't wait to just feel the vibe, it's going to be amazing," said the 18-year-old from Devon.

"I love festivals and have been doing them since before I even went on the X Factor. It's a different kind of performance because you can work with the crowd and they give you energy."

Also on the bill will be Tich, who will be playing her single and previews of her new material. She said: "I'm really looking forward to it, because the line-up is full of loads of my mates. Loveable Rogues, Union J and Luke (Friend). I've played with, and hung out with all of them.''

Union J will be headlining on Friday night. Jamie Hamblett – better known as JJ – said: "We've never been to Newark before and headlining anything is amazing. Performing is the thing we love to do."

Sunday's entertainment will be free, and there's a food market in the Market Place with stalls selling and promoting the best of local food and drink. A carnival parade will take place from the town to the festival site, arriving at 2pm.

Day tickets can be bought at www.ticketmaster.co.uk or by calling 0844 844 0444. They are £27 for Friday and £31.50 for Saturday. More information can be found at www.newarkfestival.co.uk.

THE 23rd Lady Bay Open Gardens Weekend will offer residents a chance to look behind the walls and fences of 16 private gardens while enjoying cream teas, live music and dance.

Organisers will showcase the Victorian suburb's "hidden gems" while raising money for good causes.

The gardens will be open to the public on Saturday and Sunday with the £2.50 entrance fee going to FIELDS – a countryside action group – who help run the event. Participating gardens will be identified with a yellow balloon. A map of gardens and entertainment will be posted at the Post Office in Trent Boulevard.

A RUCKSACK containing a laptop, wallet and camera has been stolen from a car in Strelley village.

The theft took place at around 11am on Wednesday, June 11, when the car was left unattended, but secure, near the entrance of Oldmoor Pond.

The victim, who had gone for a walk, returned to find a smashed rear window.

A laptop, wallet and a camera bag containing a camera were stolen.

If you saw or heard anything suspicious call 101 quoting incident number 311-11062014.

HIGH-STREET giants are helping to improve Beeston.

The town has been named by the Business in the Community charity as one of the first in the country to receive help to increase the number of shoppers, reduce empty properties and create 3,000 jobs over the next three years.

The news comes as new figures show that Beeston attracted a record 105,000 shoppers in the town centre in just one week in May.

Neil Walton, of Iguazu furniture and gift store, High Road, said: "This is excellent. Beeston has become far more resilient while the tram works have been taking place than people think.

"These figures and the extra support can only be a good thing for the town and I hope it continues to improve."

Beeston is among the first 29 of the 100 UK towns in the UK that will be supported by Business in the Community , which aims to increase shopper numbers by 10 per cent and reduce empty shop units by 20 per cent.

Stephanie Wilkinson, Beeston Business Improvement District manager, said: "To receive this nomination by Business in the Community is recognition of all the hard work we have put in. Our footfall figures are regularly higher than before the tram works even began, and this is testament to the time, ingenuity and resilience of our member businesses in the town centre.

"We hope we can now help them to really push on and take advantage of the increasing number of people spending their money in Beeston."

The businesses which will be helping to achieve the goals are Boots UK, the Co-operative Group, Marks & Spencer and Santander.

Under the scheme, expert advice will be available to help the town achieve its vision for a more appealing high street.

Enterprise director Jane Pritchard, of Business in the Community, said: "We're delighted with the enthusiastic response from high streets to our campaign. We are looking forward to demonstrating how, with corporate support, we can revitalise Britain's high streets."

High streets Minister Brandon Lewis said: "It's great to see some of the biggest names in British retail like Boots UK using their business expertise and local knowledge to help others on the high street attract more shoppers."

A Boots spokesman said: "Boots has long been committed to the vitality of UK high streets and our work with the Future High Street Forum continues this legacy of active local support.

"With the Boots UK support office based in Beeston, we are very pleased that the town has been successful in applying for the Business in the Community Healthy High Street Campaign."

DOG owners can get their pets micro-chipped for free at Colwick Country Park on Monday.

An event to encourage responsible dog ownership will run from 10am until 2pm as part of Nottingham City Council's Together We Can Keep It Clean campaign.

Park rangers will be on hand to offer advice and there will also be a demonstration of the work of FIDO, the council's high-tech dog mess removal machine.

The authority is urging park visitors to report dog mess and offenders anonymously on 0115 915 2020.

Culprits face an £80 on-the- spot penalty or a maximum fine of £1,000 if found guilty at court.

A NEW community café in the heart of Beeston has been officially opened.

Deputy Mayor of Broxtowe Councillor Susan Bagshaw did the honours at Yew Tree Court.

It will be open every Wednesday until July 30 between 10am and 12pm, offering a range of refreshments including tea, coffee, soft drinks, scones and pastries.

The Yew Tree Community Café is a partnership pilot project between residents of the council's retirement living scheme Yew Tree Court and housing services officers.

The aim is to provide a meeting place to encourage new friendships and understanding.

The doors will be open to people of all ages from across the community and there is a particular focus on welcoming people experiencing social isolation or loneliness.

The café will not operate on a commercial basis so will be running a "pay as you please" policy under which customers can choose to pay all, some or none of the suggested menu prices.

What do you think? E-mail opinion@nottinghampost.com.

"YESTERDAY was dramatic – today is OK."

A fairly suitable description of the taxi protests that gripped the city on Tuesday but, thanks to a bit of smart work by the bus companies, the impact was pretty minimal on Wednesday.

Unless you needed a cab, I guess.

My colleague Jeremy Lewis has already hit the nail on the head when it comes to the taxi protest: right idea, right ideals, pretty poor execution.

And he wasn't the only one to get narked about it.

Call it a strike, a protest, a go-slow, or whatever you like, but the taxis are no longer running around the city centre without passengers and the two sides in this dispute will now take their cases to a meeting rather than seeing it play out on the roads.

Cabbies say illegal pick-ups by private-hire drivers is rife and the council should do something; the council says it's not a problem and that people are just using new technology.

But it went further. The deputy leader of the council Graham Chapman said if "they don't move with the times, then their future could well be quite bleak".

The first day of the strikes was dramatic.

In fact, it was worse.

Buses delayed by nearly an hour and a half, and as the minutes drained away, so sympathy for the cabbies' plight did too.

So, expecting much of the same second time around, I headed to the city council's traffic department, where they have a bank of 300 cameras and around 70 screens.

Basically, I thought it would be an interesting place to sit back and watch the true impact of the protest – an interesting contrast to the day before when I put shoe sole to pavement.

We know now that Wednesday was nowhere nearly as bad as Tuesday but it was pretty fascinating being able to see why and how this could potentially change the way the city works in the future.

The taxis milled around the city and, having learnt from previous events, the buses stopped short of the centre.

All of which meant Parliament Street was dead.

We flicked on to the traffic camera and... nothing. A few people milling around, none waiting for buses, and empty roads. Eerie stuff.

It's a long way from a couple of years back when people with paddles would stand at the zebra crossing, letting shoppers and commuters cross so as not to delay the buses.

Obviously, having buses from the south of the city terminating at the Broadmarsh and from the north at Victoria Centre isn't a sustainable solution for the long term, so there will always be some traffic along Parliament Street.

But the council don't seem to be afraid of looking at stopping cars from travelling down certain routes in the city.

I think here of the plans for Collin Street, Canal Street and all around the Broadmarsh.

If they will are shut off to traffic as the shopping centre is redeveloped, could the same happen around the Viccy Centre too as it gets a fresh look?

Could it be that by clogging up some city streets for two hours on a summer morning, the taxi drivers have given an idea to council staff that changes the way we drive around the city for good? Watch this space...

"I am blind and was frightened being caught up in the protest" – See tomorrow's columns page.

NO wonder Prime Minister David Cameron wanted to announce new money for pothole repairs on his visit to the East Midlands today.

They are a serious problem for motorists across the county and they will no doubt welcome the news that £3 million will be invested in road maintenance.

The Government estimates that the money could fund repairs to 60,000 potholes.

Drivers and businesses have every right to feel aggrieved at the current situation.

Most would contend that the problem has worsened during the past decade and yet they pay out through their taxes for road repairs.

In addition, unlucky motorists pay again when they hit a hole and damage their vehicle.

And not only do potholes lead to expense, they are a hazard, too, increasing the risk of accidents.

So, the new funding will be a popular measure in an area where there are a number of marginal Parliamentary seats, such as Broxtowe, Sherwood and Nottingham South.

It will not be lost on readers that seats such as these will help decide the outcome of the next election.

But whatever party political spin is placed on today's announcement, we are glad of the cash.

WHEN I learnt years ago that the number of television channels was going to be greatly increased, giving viewers a far wider choice of programmes, I thought how wonderful it would be for the sick, the retired and others who, for a variety of reasons, are at home during the day.

However, now that we have this huge selection of programmes, I wonder if this multiplication of channels is as wonderful as it appears on the surface.

Nothing beats a really good murder mystery, but why do the companies keep repeating repeats of Murder She Wrote, Poirot and Columbo?

These thrillers are all excellent, but you might say that they themselves create a mystery by their frequent appearances in the schedules.

There is nothing I enjoy more than a good Western, but how many times is anyone expected to watch Dan Duryea in Al Jennings of Oklahoma?

A Western star I enjoy is Randolph Scott, who made over 100 feature films.

So why do the television companies keep showing the same half-dozen?

The solution to this glut of repeats of repeats is to be found in the "off" button and a good book.

COLIN BOWER

Hall Street

Sherwood

IN answer to Peter Brice from Sutton-in-Ashfield, who sent in a picture of what he thought was a butterfly and didn't know what it was, the answer is it is a cinnabar moth.

JANE COLLINSON

Thurlbeck

Cotgrave

I WOULD like to reply and identify Peter Brice's mystery "butterfly".

I too had a strange encounter with the mysterious red and black insect. Fortunately, my Diamond Handguides book of Butterfly and Moths of Britain and Europe held the answer: it is a cinnabar moth.

JEFFREY GELLION

Kimberley

I READ your article titled "16,000 a year rely on handouts in Notts", and am sending you this email to let you know that there is now a free recipe book to download and print free for food bank users.

It is free to copy and It is available at http://thebank cook.com/2014/04/23/down load-the-bank-cook-booklet.

HORTENSE JULIENNE

Croydon

South London

IN his recent nonsense about British values (the best of which are universal and part of the values of most moderate religions and nationalities), David Cameron made a big thing of the Magna Carta, promoting the idea it was the basis of our freedom and should be taught in schools.

In fact, the Magna Carta specifically excludes the likes of me and you from having the same rights as the nobility. It is very anti-democracy.

The nearest thing to democracy that has appeared in the world was the ancient Greek city states, to which we have no connection and do not even approach as far as democracy is concerned.

What we have was won by trade unionists and Chartists but, of course, Cameron won't tell you that, nor wish it to be taught in schools.

RL COOPER

Harlequin Close

Radcliffe-on-Trent

I HAVE noticed stainless steel objects – perhaps similar to a penny whistle or small wind instrument – being played by users, in bus queues, while cycling or relaxing on a canalside.

Was this a new, expanding trend in live music, or perhaps medical aid for someone with respiratory problems?

I realised that neither was the answer: the stainless steel object was an electronic cigarette. It is more aligned to a pipe than a cigarette, although it has none of the character or aroma once so frequently associated with pipe smoking, particularly on a balmy sunny evening.

While locally cigarette manufacture will cease, a chance for the manufacture of electronic cigarettes may offer a new product for local manufacturers, particularly for the medical, chemical, electronic and light engineering businesses around Beeston and Dunkirk.

PAUL KEY

Castleton Avenue

Arnold

RUFFORD Abbey Country Park has scooped two awards from online organisations after receiving positive feedback from visitors.

The park has been awarded a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence, which honours hospitality excellence, and has also been named as a runner-up in the Netmums Outdoor Play Awards.

The TripAdvisor award came on the back of impartial reviews by tourists and park visitors, while Netmums ran an online poll to find the UK's best-loved outdoor attractions.

Linda Hardy, visitor services manager for country parks at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: "Web forums such as Netmums and TripAdvisor give people the opportunity to post up their own personal and candid views about their experiences when they visit a tourist attraction.

"We are very pleased to hear that we have received these awards from these organisations as it reflects that people are enjoying their visits to Rufford."

POLICE have relaunched an appeal for information after an armed robbery at a Shirebrook house.

Two men walked into a house in Field Drive on January 25 and an argument broke out between them and the two men and one woman inside.

One of the burglars fired a shot into the wall and the two men stole cash before driving off in a car. No one was injured. The man with the gun is described as 5ft 7ins and stocky. He wore a black balaclava and dark clothing.

His accomplice is 5ft 10ins and wore a green military-style jacket, dark trousers and a black balaclava.

He was holding a knife.

Both men are white.

A small, light-coloured hatchback car was seen in the area.

Anyone with information, who has seen the car, who was in the area of the night of the offence, or can help the investigation in any other way, should call police on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

SIX Nottingham City Homes' employees will pedal the equivalent of riding from Nottingham to Paris as they cycle a total of 425 miles in the Great Notts Bike Ride.

The cyclists are being sponsored by colleagues across the organisation and are on target to raise at least £500 for the Derbyshire Asbestos Support Team.

NCH director of property services Steve Hale, who will cycle 100 miles on Sunday, said: "We're all keen cyclists, and taking part in the Bike Ride is a good excuse to enjoy ourselves while raising money."

Joiner Mark Reynolds is also cycling the 100-mile route. He said: "We are delighted to raise money for them."

People can support the NCH riders and DAST through virginmoneygiving.com/team/NCHDAST

PLANS for 14 new homes on a recreation ground only metres from a popular football pitch have been criticised by sports clubs.

Nottingham Community Housing Association has submitted a planning application for the one-bedroom flats to be built on Hickings Lane recreation ground, in Stapleford.

The development would be at the side of the pitch, with its closest point 4.5 metres away.

Pegasus Youth Football Club trains on the pitch and hoped that the area would be used for a new all-weather pitch in the future.

Chairman Vince Cox said: "Our under-11s train there on a Wednesday and we were not aware of the plans. Space is very, very limited, so taking some away is not ideal.

"We could do with more and not less room. We are against this not only because of the space but because it could make training very difficult with homes so close to the pitch.

"I do not think the council utilise the space well enough and if they did, this would not have to happen. The teams in Stapleford wanted an all-weather pitch put in that same area but if houses are built there, it would not look good for that which impacts our future."

Stapleford Villa Football Club uses the re ground for training. Under-7s coach Wayne Loseby said: "We have struggled to get a pitch to play on and this could make it even harder if the space is reduced. Building houses in the area will take away some of the green space which is needed.

"Having a pitch only metres away from people's homes could cause problems for them and us when balls are hitting windows."

A protest petition was launched yesterday by Stapleford town councillor Richard MacRae, who said: "They should not be building on the park, full stop. If this goes ahead, we will lose the whole park eventually.

"It is just wrong and I will be talking to Sport England about our concerns. People do not just play football on there, people go for picnics and take their kids to that area.

"It is dead easy to dig up a park and plonk some houses down but that doesn't mean it is right. I am going to fight as hard as I can to stop this and I will be out collecting signatures and encouraging people to speak up."

Because of the location, Sport England has to be consulted for the project to move forward. Spokesman Chris Dowsett said: "It is our role to protect playing fields from development or from the impacts of development which may affect the use of playing fields.

"We need to carefully consider the proposal and we would object to the development if it does not accord with our playing fields policy."

Ted Czerniak, director of housing, leisure and property services for Broxtowe Borough Council, said: "The area of recreation ground proposed to be developed is considered by the council as unusable for pitches.

"It can be confirmed that none of the facilities in the recreation ground will be lost, nor will the development create a problem whereby any pitch would be unplayable.

"New paved access into the recreation ground will replace the current route, which is an unlit, partly muddy path that is a magnet for antisocial behaviour.

"It is hoped that the development will bring about improved access and safety for the recreation ground users, improve the ground and encourage the greater use of its sports facilities."

A decision on the plans will be made by the council's development control committee on a date to be arranged.

Nottingham Community Housing Association declined to comment.

STEVEN Mitchell, 26, of Sargent Gardens, St Ann's, pleaded guilty to possessing a one-gram bag of cannabis in Sneinton. At Nottingham Magistrates' Court, he was handed a community order with 50 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay a £60 victim surcharge and costs of £85.

STANISLAW Mirga, 59, of Port Arthur Road, Sneinton, denied two benefit offences. He allegedly failed to notify the Department for Work and Pensions about a changes in his circumstances which would have affected his entitlement to employment and support allowance. He was bailed to attend his trial at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on November 3 at 10am.

GARY Deakin, 39, of Wood Lane, Hucknall, pleaded not guilty to being in charge of a silver Ford Mondeo when unfit to drive through drink. Magistrates in Mansfield heard the offence was allegedly committed in Ravensdale Road, Mansfield, on May 9. Deakin is on bail until his trial on August 14 at 2pm.

MICHAEL Greasley, 45, of Paling Crescent, Sutton-in-Ashfield, is charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm in Mansfield on December 22 last year. He was bailed to attend a plea and case management hearing at Nottingham Crown Court on October 8 at 10am.

TCHOTCHOU Samo, 29, of Davy Close, Ladybrook, Mansfield, is charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm in Mansfield on December 22 last year. His case will be heard at Nottingham Crown Court on October 8. He remains on bail.

JASON Ellis, 28, of Park Avenue, Shirebrook, pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to a window in Mansfield on May 14. He was handed a community order at Mansfield Magistrates' Court. He was given a one-month curfew, between 7pm and 7am, and will be electronically tagged. He was fined £110 and ordered to pay £291.50 compensation and a £60 victim surcharge.

LIAM Doran, 23, of Milton Street, Mansfield, is charged with producing cannabis in Mansfield. He has been bailed to attend a plea and case management hearing at Nottingham Crown Court on June 25.

DIANE McKenzie, 47, of Garden Lane, Sutton-in-Ashfield, denied assaulting a male in Kirkby-in-Ashfield on December 13. She has been bailed until her trial on August 20.

MICHAEL Paddon, 26, of Laurel Avenue, Forest Town, pleaded guilty to assaulting a female in Forest Town on June 1. He is on bail to attend Mansfield Magistrates' Court on August 6.

BARBARA Parnill, 50, of Misterton Court, Mansfield, pleaded guilty to assaulting a man at the Wheatsheaf pub, Mansfield, on May 16. She was bailed at the town's magistrates' court to be sentenced on July 9.

MALCOLM Green, 49, of Hudson Street, St Ann's, pleaded guilty to damaging an advertising sign belonging to the Malt Cross pub, Nottingham, on May 27. He has been bailed to attend Nottingham Magistrates' Court on July 3.

EMMA Humphreys, 24, of Leybourne Drive, Bestwood, has been bailed to attend Nottingham Crown Court on July 1. She is charged with wounding a male with intent to do him grievous bodily harm in Nottingham on May 25.

ROB Stuart, 20, of Brookhill Street, Stapleford, denies assaulting a male in Chilwell on March 25. He has been bailed to attend his trial at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on September 15.

EMMA Collins, 27, of Wigman Road, Bilborough, was handed a community order by magistrates in Nottingham. She pleaded guilty to destroying a toilet and two windows, belonging to Nottingham City Homes, in Bilborough on May 20. She was given an eight-week curfew, from 7pm to 7am, and electronic tagging. She was ordered to pay £75 compensation.

HAMISH Brown, 32, of Deepdene Way, Broxtowe, pleaded guilty to assaulting a female in Cinderhill on March 5. At Nottingham Magistrates' Court, he was fined £300 and ordered to pay £300 compensation. He also has to pay a £30 victim surcharge and costs of £85.

STEWART Walters, 37, of Elizabeth Road, Newark, pleaded guilty to drink-driving in Grange Road, Newark, on May 19. At Nottingham Magistrates' Court, he was banned from driving for two years and ordered to pay a £60 victim surcharge and £85 costs. There was no separate penalty after he admitted not having insurance or a licence.

DAVID Wharmby, 39, of Minerva Grove, Hucknall, denied a benefit offence. He is accused of making a false statement to the Department for Work and Pensions about the extent of his physical capabilities to claim Disability Living Allowance. Magistrates in Nottingham will hear his trial on September 15. He remains on bail.

JONATHAN Hallam, 31, of The Meadows, Farndon, denied assaulting a female in Newark, on June 16. He has been bailed to attend Nottingham Magistrates' Court for his trial on August 15.

Tax increment financing (TIF) – councils can fund regeneration projects by borrowing money against a predicted increase in local business taxes.

Local Growth Fund – councils can bid for grants from the fund.

City Deals – power and funding are devolved to the actual engines of economic growth.

THE future of Eastwood Cemetery Chapel will be discussed on Tuesday

Broxtowe councillors will hear an update on proposals for the chapel, which was gutted in a fire earlier this year.

They will also discuss the construction of new dementia-friendly homes in Eastwood and First World War commemorations.

The meeting starts at 6pm at Beeston Town Hall.

DAVID Cameron praised Broxtowe MP Anna Soubry, saying she was a "role model" for women in politics.

He said: "She speaks her mind and takes on her opponents.

"Since I've been leader of the Conservative Party, we've almost trebled the number of women MPs.

"I want to see that go further and faster.

"Let's go out and find great women who are working in public service, in business and industry and encourage them into politics.

"Let's be sure the selection process is fair and give women a proper chance. Let's make sure there's training and assistance we can give.

"Let's use her (Ms Soubry) as a role model."

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE has "a lot to offer" in terms of culture and heritage, according to the Prime Minister.

He also said the city was doing a good job in promoting itself as an international tourist destination.

He said: "I'm a big admirer of the history and the heritage which I think Nottinghamshire rightly makes a lot of, with everything from Robin Hood to lace. It does a good job of making the most of its history.

"It also has some very beautiful countryside, which I think sometimes people forget about."

He also praised the city's recent bid to become a Unesco City of Literature – which would mean us joining just seven other cities in the world which have the status.

He said: "I understand that the Arts Council is right behind you, so you've got our support for that in terms of the Government machine is behind you.

"You've got some good claims. Byron, D H Lawrence, J M Barrie – there's some good names to throw into the pot."

Mr Cameron added: "I do believe that in the modern localised world, cities have to make the best of everything they've got, so when you can host great sporting events, grab it with both hands; if important festivals are coming to your city, go for it.

"Full marks to Nottingham for trying to grab these things. We want our cities to be exciting. We need to say 'don't just go to London, come and see what Nottingham has to offer'."

MR Cameron said Nottinghamshire had a "particular problem" with potholes, which could be a blight on hard-working families.

He visited Victoria Street, in Kimberley, yesterday on the day it was announced that the county would receive £3 million to repair up to 60,000 potholes over the next year.

The road has been identified as being in urgent need of attention and is littered with potholes.

Mr Cameron said: "I was shown a road in Kimberley that needed real attention.

"It has dangerous potholes all the way down the middle.

"Some people might think 'why is the Prime Minister thinking about potholes?', but this is something that affects a lot of hard-working people who just want to get to work or take the kids to school.

"The damage that can be done to their cars, motorbikes or mopeds or bikes can cost a lot of money. They want action.

"It's important to come up with something where people can see that the money will be spent and the potholes will be filled in."

Stapleford town councillor Richard MacRae spent the morning with the Prime Minister.

The chairman of Stapleford Community Group said: "I have demanded that some of the money be spent in Stapleford because the conditions are terrible.

"Some of the roads need re-doing completely.

"I told him how the roads really are in the area and he seemed to take it all on board.

"I am happy that the money is coming in but I will be even happier when the roads are fixed."