1. Elton John: The pop legend will be taking to the stage at the Capital FM Arena for his spectacular show with songs from his 40-year career including one number hits and tracks from The Diving Board, which has been described as an album "that may be the best of his career". Tickets, from £50.40, are available from the box office, www.capitalfmarena.com or telephone 0843 373 3000. Doors open at 6.30pm with Elton and his band on stage at 8.10pm.

2. Bonnie Greer – A Parallel Life: The American-British award-winning novelist and Question Time regular will be talking about A Parallel Life – her first volume of memoirs telling of her early years in segregated America and her arrival in Britain. The event, part of Lowdham Book Festival, will be in St Mary's Church in the village, from 7.30pm until 9pm. Tickets are £8, concessions £7 and £6 Festival Friends, including a glass of wine. Call the box office on 0115 9663219 from 10am-4pm.

3. Shipstones' Beer Auction: There's 400 cases of Shippos up for grabs in John Pye's charity auction. All the profits will be donated the children's charity When You Wish Upon a Star. Today's the last to chance to bid so get cracking now at www.johnpye.co.uk,

4. Sherwood Art Week: The art, crafts and performance of local folk is celebrated at events around the community. There's a chance get hands-on at workshops. Have a go at working with plastic to make a decorative bag or making something with clay. Look out for exhibitions around the area and displays in the shop windows. For full details go to www.sherwoodartweek.co.uk

5. Football – World Cup England v Costa Rica: If anyone still cares England's last game, in the tournament is being shown in bars around Notts including The Approach in Friar Lane, Southbank, in West Bridgford and the Reindeer Inn, East Bridgford, from 5pm.

6. Jurassic 5: The American alternative hip hop group featuring rappers Chali 2na, Akil, Zaakir, Mark 7even and disc jockeys DJ Nu-Mark and Cut Chemist will be at Rock City. The group disbanded in 2007 following their final EP but earlier this year the full line-up reunited to appear at festivals around the world. Doors open at 7pm. Tickets are £25, telephone 0845 413 4444.

KRISTAPS Renerts, 24, of Newmarket Street, Mansfield, pleaded guilty to drink-driving in the town. He was behind the wheel of a Vauxhall Astra, in Clumber Street, when he had 87 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The limit is 35. Magistrates fined him £250 and banned him from driving for 22 months. He was ordered to pay a £25 victim surcharge and costs of £40.

ROBBIE Bowler, 27, of Carnarvon Grove, Sutton-in-Ashfield, has been given a community order after admitting drink-driving. Magistrates in Mansfield heard he was driving a in Chesterfield Road South, Mansfield, when he was caught over the limit on May 31. When tested, he had 93 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, over the limit of 35. He was banned from driving for three years. He was also ordered to take part in sessions to address alcohol and drug use. He was ordered to pay a £60 victim surcharge.

Ilze Gadiske, 27, of Newgate Lane, Mansfield, was fined £440 for drink-driving in St Peter's Way, Mansfield, on May 31. Her reading was 84 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, over the limit of 35. JPs in the town banned her from driving for 20 months and ordered her to pay a £44 victim surcharge and costs of £85.

KALLUM McGachan, 24, of Melbourne Court, Mansfield, pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to a double-glazed window in the town on June 14. At Mansfield Magistrates' Court, he was bailed to attend to be sentence on July 9 at 10.15am.

JAMES Parker, 41, of Dalestorth Avenue, Mansfield, is charged with drug offences. He allegedly had cannabis with intent to supply on March 1 and supplied cannabis, between January 19 and March 2, in Mansfield. He has been bailed to attend Nottingham Crown Court on August 25.

TONY Archer, 42, of Brandleys Yard, Warsop, denied assaulting a female in Mansfield on March 12. He has been bailed to attend his trial at Mansfield Magistrates' Court on August 12.

ALISON Barrett, 44, of Cromford Road, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, was ordered to pay £200 compensation after she admitted owning a dog which was dangerously out of control in Nuncargate, behind the Cricketers Arms, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, on February 10. Mansfield Magistrates' Court heard the dog injured a male. Barrett was conditionally discharged for 12 months.

KERRY Bentley, 35, of Elder Street, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, has denied causing criminal damaging a window in Sutton-in-Ashfield on February 2. She has been bailed until her trial at Mansfield Magistrates' Court on August 14.

MOLLY Chimene, 56, of Padstow Road, Bestwood, was fined £90 after pleading guilty for driving and using a mobile phone in Mill Street, Bestwood, on September 16 last year. Magistrates in Mansfield ordered her to pay a £20 victim surcharge and costs of £85. Three penalty points will be endorsed on her licence. No separate penalty was imposed after she also admitted driving without a seatbelt and a licence on September 16.

SYDNEY Fowler, 57, of Whitewater Road, New Ollerton, pleaded guilty to using a Peugeot without insurance in Mansfield Road, Edwinstowe, on September 18 last year. He was fined £300 by magistrates in Mansfield. He was ordered to pay a £30 victim surcharge and costs of £85. Six penalty points will be added to his licence.

DANIEL Bickerton, 32, of Lord Street, Mansfield, was fined £600 for having an uninsured Ford in Ratcliffe Gate, Mansfield, on September 11 last year. Magistrates in the town ordered him to pay a £60 victim surcharge and costs of £85. His licence will be endorsed with six penalty points. He was found guilty of this offence and having no licence to drive the Ford.

ROBERT Gale, 38, of Goodwood Crescent, Ilkeston, has been fined £600 for failing to provide police with information about the identity of the driver of a vehicle who was allegedly guilty of a road traffic offence in Arnold in September last year. At Mansfield Magistrates' Court, Gale was found guilty and ordered to pay a £60 victim surcharge and costs of £85. His licence will be endorsed with six penalty points.

TIMOTHY Glover, 26, of Fraser Road, Carlton, is charged with using a Vauxhall without insurance in Wigman Road, Bilborough, on September 18 last year. At Mansfield Magistrates' Court, the case against him was proved in his absence. His case has been listed for consideration of a driving ban on July 8.

RICHARD Dowdall, 23, of Rosemary Street, Mansfield, pleaded guilty to a series of thefts. He took £21.98 worth from Sally's Salon Services, Mansfield, on May 10; two DVD box sets, valued at £15.98, in Mansfield on May 8; four cans of beer, worth £4, from Iceland, Mansfield, on May 12; two sets of curtains in Mansfield on May 24. At Mansfield Magistrates' Court, he was handed a community order. He must be rehabilitated for drug use and must pay £21.98 compensation for taking the hair bleach, a victim surcharge of £60 and costs of £85.

COUNCILLORS have been accused of not listening to their own consultation after voting through a controversial charge for late-night policing.

The Late Night Levy will see bars and clubs which open after midnight help contribute towards the cost of night-time policing in the city – estimated to be nearly £1.5 million a year.

But members of Nottingham's Business Improvement District will be exempt from the charge as they already pay for resources like taxi marshalls.

A consultation by Nottingham City Council found 74 per cent of people were against the plans which will come into force from November.

And Alan Williams, head of trading services at Nottingham Trent University Students' Union, accused the city council of not listening regarding the levy.

He said: "They didn't like what people said and so they've stuck with the plans.

"We are just outside the BID area and so we aren't exempt – but we have had discussions with the BID about joining before and we'll be carrying them on.

"But we don't want to pay twice for policing through the levy and the BID. The money the council will get from this will pay for two more community protection officers and our two campuses will put in more than £4,000 a year each, but will they ever need to come here or patrol here?

"It might be that we pay the cost and see none of the benefit."

The decision to bring in the levy was voted through unanimously at a licensing panel meeting yesterday after a 20 minute debate.

The panel heard this will mean two extra community protection officers for the city compared to the original plans for three.

Brian Grocock, head of the licensing committee, said the move to bring in the levy – of up to £4,440 a year – was a good one.

He said: "It's part of a range of measures this council has done to improve the late night economy.

"We're quite a progressive city, we have the saturation zone and designated public places orders and a strategy for making the city safer. This is part of that."

Responding to suggestions the council had ignored the results of its own consultation, he said: "I don't think we have, we have exempted BID members for example. As a committee, our job is to make the city as safe as possible. The levy will help that."

The proceeds from the Late Night Levy will be split 30/70 between Nottingham City Council and the police.

As well as the survey that suggested that nearly three-quarters of people were against the levy, the council received 194 written responses, with 159 disagreeing with the levy and 35 saying they would reduce their hours to avoid paying.

Brigid Simmonds, Chief Executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said the "costly new tax" would damage the city's economy.

She said: "It will undermine all local partnerships between the police, the local council, and Nottingham businesses.

"Several other authorities with important night-time economies, such as Leeds and Bristol, have looked at the evidence and decided this is not the best way forward."

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

SIXTY per cent of Nottingham's hospital wards were under-staffed last month.

A shortage of available nursing graduates has led to recruiting problems at the Queen's Medical Centre and City Hospital.

New figures published today reveal that 51 of the 85 wards at the two hospitals were under-staffed last month.

The remaining 34 were over-staffed.

Chiefs at Nottingham University Hospitals Trust, which runs the two hospitals, are adamant there is no threat to patient safety as a result the shortage.

They say they regularly have vacancies for about 140 nurses because of the shortage of candidates, which is a national issue.

Jenny Leggott, director of nursing and midwifery at the trust, said: "These figures do not mean that our wards are unsafe.

"What matters to us is what our patients experience and whether patients are kept safe.

"This (the number of nurses) is only one part of the jigsaw of what keeps a ward safe."

Today is the first time figures on staffing of hospitals have been published.

It has been done because of new government requirements following a review into the scandal at Stafford Hospital, where hundreds more patients died than expected because of poor standards between 2005 and 2008. A report into the failings called for more openness and transparency in the health service.

The data published today shows the number of hours hospital bosses planned for each ward for patients compared to the actual hours that were filled.

It covers the whole of May. Similar data will be published on a month-by-month basis.

Ms Leggott said it was difficult to judge the severity of the staffing issues on the basis of just one month of figures, adding: "We'll know more when we get further data in the months ahead."

She added that there could be many reasons why wards were short of nurses, other than large numbers of vacancies. These include sickness and maternity leave.

The reasons behind some wards being over-staffed include the dependency levels of patients, with some requiring one-to-one care.

Between May 2012 and May this year, the trust took on 280 new permanently-employed nurses, taking the total number to 5,158.

There are plans to increase staffing numbers in some specific areas, including healthcare of older people and stroke sufferers. For this, the trust will increase the amount spent on nurses by £5.7 million to £193.7 million in the current financial year.

People in Nottingham believe the Government needs to do more to get more nurses into hospital wards.

Mati Sirel, 63, of Carlton, name said: "It is concerning to hear there are shortages. I have had family members in hospital and they have waited longer than they should for care. More needs to be done."

Geoff Smith, 43, of The Meadows, agreed, adding: "I've been in hospital a couple of times over the past five years.

"I've not had any particular problems myself but it is good the hospital are looking to recruit."

Are you worried about the nursing shortage? E-mail newsdesk@nottinghampost.com

AS Andy Murray defends his Wimbledon crown, public interest in tennis is expected to spike.

It's been coined the 'Andy Murray effect' and people from all over the country are expected to dig out their tennis rackets for a summer of fun.

Woodthorpe Lawn Tennis Club has said it is hopeful that it will sign up more members as tennis fever peaks during Wimbledon fortnight.

And Simon Ashmore, 35, a welfare officer at David Lloyd leisure in Nottingham, also thinks that Wimbledon encourages others to try their hand at the sport.

He said: "There has obviously been a surge of interest because of Andy Murray.

"But it's also due to other things, too, such as the Great British Tennis Weekend. We do it over four weekends and people are welcome to come and play, free of charge.

"The next weekend we are holding one here at David Lloyd is July 19 and 20.

"But, yes, Andy Murray has helped us out and helped improve our numbers."

However, not everyone agrees that it's Wimbledon paving the way.

David McBride, 51, a coach with more than 30 years' experience, doesn't expect there to be a massive surge of interest in his tennis lessons and clubs, which are held at Mapperley Park Tennis Club.

He said: "It's two weeks. There is always a surge of people for a few weeks, I can't deny that. It bumps the numbers a little.

"Wimbledon doesn't cause a spike in interest as most competitions have all finished before it begins.

"The way to increase interest in tennis is to make it exciting, by doing school demonstrations, by running clubs… That's what keeps it running from year to year."

Despite there being disagreements about what makes tennis such a popular summer fad, one thing is for sure.

The country is preparing for a Wimbledon-obsessed couple of weeks, with Andy Murray very much in the spotlight.

For those interested in getting a free pass to play tennis at David Lloyd, call 0845 129 6809 or visit the club in Aspley Lane.

RECENTLY I sat in Market Square having a coffee and sharing a table with an American couple who were on a month long tour of Britain.

They had set aside two days to stay over in Nottingham on their way to York and Edinburgh.

The gentleman was very friendly and talkative and we passed the time admirably; and it was very interesting to get an opinion of Nottingham from a different prospective.

He was very complimentary at the friendliness of the Nottingham people, but questioned why we made so little of our history, the Robin Hood legend.

To this end I was delighted to see recently that the castle tunnels are to be made open to the public.

This would be a major draw for historically-minded people and should make the whole castle visit more appealing.

Regrettably, during the same report there was mention of installing a glass elevator as well, which is frankly hideous.

We need to embrace what little is left of our history and learn from all the heinous mistakes made in the past by previous planners.

Another comment by the American was that there were no public toilets in the square. I escorted them up to the third floor of Debenhams, as they are the nearest toilets that I know.

But it actually does beggar the question, where are all the public toilets nowadays?

I only know of toilets in Broadmarsh and Victoria Centre.

Can anyone tell me if there are more?

LES HARDY

Blenheim Drive

Chilwell

ON Sunday I accompanied a relative to the A&E department of the Queen's Medical Centre. It is no exaggeration to comment that it was like a scene from a field hospital in a disaster area.

Throughout the afternoon the elderly folk of Nottingham lay on trolleys, in stifling heat, side-by-side, row-after-row, like the starting grid of a Formula 1 race, each waiting patiently for their slot in one of the cubicles to see a clinician.

In these overcrowded conditions, the NHS staff were faultlessly calm, caring and respectful, but so evidently overstretched. I overheard one staff member ask of another, 'When do we get to call it a national emergency?'

This is outrageous and an indictment of the failure of the Government's NHS reforms. If the achievement of the setting up of the NHS during the childhoods of the generation on those trolleys is not to be lost by stealth, we must all make it our priority cause when exercising our democratic voices.

CLIVE TRUSSON

Pelham Crescent

Beeston

I HAVE just read your article about ending loneliness and would like to say that Carewatch in Nottingham has been helping alleviate loneliness in older people for over 18 years, by offering over 55s a place to go every week day to have a chinwag, a cup of tea and a hot meal.

The centre was initially run from the city centre but had to move because of high rents four years ago to its current location in the St Ann's area of Nottingham.

Many of our users say it's a lifeline offering them a place to meet, good food and drinks in a warm friendly atmosphere.

Carewatch in Nottingham is open from 9.30am until 2.30pm Monday to Friday in St Augustine's Church Hall, Westville Gardens, Nottingham, NG3 4QF which is on the 45 bus route from the city centre. We would welcome any new over 55s who are feeling lonely or isolated to our centre.

LYNDA CROSS

Centre Manager, Carewatch in Nottingham

Westville Gardens

St Ann's

WHILST council officers pontificate regarding the short-term employment afforded by the transport building initiatives that are presently grid-locking the county, almost quietly Thoresby Colliery and the Player's Factory are to disappear with the loss of around a thousand full time jobs.

Players, despite council protestations, is leaving the city due to financial reasons and relocating in Eastern Europe.

Also, when the tram is finally up and running it will, amongst other things, jeopardise many workers in the parallel transport section bus companies.

Has anyone done their sums regarding how many drivers, mechanics and office personnel will join the ranks of the unemployed?

ANTHONY WILKINSON

Clifton Road

Ruddington

ROY'S boys may have unceremoniously crashed out of the World Cup but hope is on the horizon for England's footy future.

More than 150 youngsters have been mastering fancy foot work to rival Neymar, Oscar and Thiago Silva, at the Central Nottingham Brazilian Soccer School, in St Ann's.

The kids, who are aged between five and 15, have been learning the tricks of Brazil's flamboyant-style of football for more than two years and hopes are high that some could become the England stars of the future.

The school is based at Hungerhill Road, and is run by community charity, the Renewal Trust.

Sports strategy director at the trust, Jonathan Morley, said the school focused on the children's tactical development which is often "missing from English football".

"A lot of English football is based on outdated coaching and beliefs – players are encouraged to kick the ball as hard as they can when they get it – but we aim to teach the kids how to keep hold of the ball.

"We play on a smaller pitch which is good for the young players as the bigger pitches encourage them to boot the ball up the other end.

"Brazil has won five World Cups and produces more professional footballers than any other country in the world.

"England invented football, but Brazil mastered it."

He added: "We teach young people techniques used by the world's best footballers right from the start, because we believe good players are made, not born."

The trust trains unemployed people to become coaches at the school, which is open Monday to Friday from 4.30pm to 6.30pm.

They teach more than 500 different ball skills, including heading, passing, volleying, ball control, shooting and turning.

The children use a low- bounce ball and play on a smaller pitch so that they have more opportunity to score goals.

It is estimated that the young players will touch the ball more than 600 times a session.

Mr Morley said: "It's not just football skills that they learn at the school but there is the social aspect, too.

"Kids can take what they learn into school, which is a great way to make friends and gain confidence."

One of the club's coaches, Ryan Johnson, 26, used to regularly train with Leicester City as part of their under-17 squad.

He said he felt the Brazilian style of coaching was superior to the English method in almost every way.

"It's totally different from English training. We train to music as well, which is important not just for balance – it's important for movement and getting used to the rhythm of the ball. It is definitely better."

The soccer school is an official feeder club to Nottingham Forest Academy and so far five young players have been signed up.

England will be playing their final World Cup 2014 match, against Costa Rica, at 5pm tonight.

What's your worst memory of watching England? Get in touch: Newsdesk@nottinghampost.com

PRIME Minister David Cameron has voiced frustration at "slow progress" with the development of the Nottingham Enterprise Zone.

Mr Cameron came to the city three years ago with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg to reveal that Nottingham would be the first in a new wave of these economic development areas.

They suggested that the zone could help create up to 10,000 new jobs over time.

While some plans for the zone have been revealed, there have been few signs of physical progress three years on and no major inward investments.

Mr Cameron spoke out during a visit to the Nottingham Post offices, suggesting that D2N2, the local enterprise partnership [LEP] for Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, should drive progress in the zone.

He also hinted that help would be available for the technology infrastructure in the Enterprise Zone, which covers parts of the Boots site at Lenton and a number of other commercial locations.

"It needs the LEP to get stuck in, get behind it, promote it a bit more," Mr Cameron said. "Anything we can do on the broadband front – we're looking at that."

He added: "Most of them [enterprise zones elsewhere in the country] are making progress but that one [Nottingham] seems to be a bit slower than some."

A new wave of enterprise zones was announced in the March 2011 Budget, with Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg coming to the Boots campus to reveal that Nottingham would be one of them.

The zone is aimed at enabling business growth and attracting new firms to the area by offering a series of incentives which reduce costs for firms which set up within them – including reduced business rates, a simplified planning process, superfast broadband and access to a range of financial and inward investment support.

It was focused initially on surplus land at the Boots campus but has since been expanded to include Nottingham Science Park, Beeston Business Park and the proposed Nottingham MediPark.

David Ralph, the chief executive of D2N2, insisted that the Nottingham Enterprise Zone had made significant progress even though it had been launched at a time when business and property had been affected by the downturn.

But he admitted that demand from firms which might move into the area was "weak".

He told the Post: "In the last 12 months, the LEP has provided dedicated support with the joint venture agreement signed, a planning application submitted for Beeston Business Park and the planning application for the Boots site is soon to be submitted for an access road to open up the site for redevelopment. MediCity [a business incubator] has also opened on the Boots site and already has 20 businesses in place.

"We have also secured £5.5m of Government funding for the MediPark and recently worked with MediCity to provide high-speed broadband provision.

"To help drive the Nottingham EZ forward, D2N2 now chairs the Nottingham Enterprise Zone Board but occupier demand remains weak."

Mr Ralph added: "The Nottingham Enterprise Zone is a long-term programme to bring forward key economic opportunities close to the city centre. We are confident that progress to date, within difficult markets, has been as strong as possible.

"With planning applications now being submitted, delivery on the ground will accelerate over the next few months."

A significant portion of the Nottingham Enterprise Zone is classed as brownfield land, which usually requires remediation work.

SINGING in the summer could be curbed by the county council in new bylaws proposed for Bestwood Country Park.

Councillor John Knight, chairman of Nottingham County council's culture committee, is seeking approval from the full council meeting on Thursdayfor a raft of new rules for the park – which currently has no bylaws in place.

The list includes regulations to stop kites being flown, games being played and people singing too loudly, in what Councillor Knight believes will "discourage nuisance behaviours and minor anti-social behaviour".

The report to be presented to the council has been discussed with park users and stakeholders at meetings of Bestwood Development Group, where a number of local people preferred the idea of a voluntary code of behaviour, rather than bylaws.

But the park's managers said that a voluntary code would be "insufficient", and would give them "little tangible power" to take on nuisance behaviour.

Councillor Knight wrote: "[These bylaws] assist park managers, park rangers and local police in their job.

"Though the penalties for breaking bylaws are not high, they do provide a deterrent, increasing the authority of park staff to tackle minor nuisances such as unauthorised

fishing, fires and camping.

"Other country parks and local nature reserves under the council's control have bylaws in place for this reason."

Residents weren't against having rules, but favoured moderation over hard policies.

Bob Gow, a volunteer at the Bestwood Winding Engine House, thinks certain measures should be put in place if appropriate.

He said: "If people are misbehaving, having bylaws means you can fetch the police and do something about it rather than go through any long-drawn-out processes.

"I don't want to stop people from flying kites or having fun, but I see it as appropriate to deal with issues that could be dreadful for other users of the park."

Clive Robinson runs a hedge laying workshop at the park and agreed that some rules should be put in place.

But he believes that most of the park's visitors would adhere to them without the need of new laws.

He said: "Most areas like that need some basic rules in place and that is the same anywhere in the countryside.

"Dogs need to be kept under control, for example.

"But to most people who spend a lot of time or live and work in the countryside, these things are common sense.

"When I've been to the park the visitors always seem like sensible, considerate folks who are there to enjoy the park. You always get some who like to enjoy it in different ways but I think the majority are sensible."

Do you think that these new bylaws need to be put in force to keep people in check at Bestwood Country Park? Let us know at opinion@nottinghampost.com.

ON average, 2,000 patients are treated at Queen's Medical Centre every day.

It has made its name as one of the country's biggest and busiest teaching hospitals.

But over the next 18 months the hospital is set to become even bigger and better – and patients will experience the benefits, say hospital bosses.

A series of developments promise to "transform" the hospital, providing better access for patients, visitors and staff.

The project will include a £3 million helipad, a new entrance and tram stop, a 650-space multi-story car park and a new medical research facility.

Hospital bosses say it is the biggest development since the hospital was built in 1977.

Significantly, the tram stop, which will be similar to the stop at Station Street, will be the only direct tram link into a hospital in the UK.

Due to open in December, it will give visitors a new and more convenient way of reaching the hospital.

A new hospital entrance to the south of the campus, marked for completion by winter next year, will link to the tram stop.

Daniel Mortimer, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust director of strategy, said: "With the tram running through, that completely changes access to the site.

"No other hospital has that kind of public access. There's a hospital in Dublin that has a tram running alongside it but that's as close as it gets. It's a first and that's a big step forward.

"The second big step will be having the new entrance and linking it. There's a benefit to the city and to the hospital."

The new 650-space car park, due to open in spring next year, aims to alleviate congestion problems around the hospital site.

Kelly Gomersann, 31, from Colwick, said the car parks at the QMC were always busy.

She added: "There should definitely be more car parking. As soon as it's past 9am you can be waiting 20 minutes for a space."

Jane Brooks, 62, from St Ann's added: "The car parks often seem to be a long way from where you want to get to.

"I think there need to be more options in terms of how to get to the hospital."

Critically ill patients will also be able to get help quicker, thanks to the creation of a helipad on the QMC site.

The new helipad will be on top of the multi-storey car park at the south side of QMC and will support the hospital's Major Trauma Centre.

Currently, air ambulances land at Nottingham University's playing fields, and it can take ambulances up to 20 minutes to transfer patients from the helicopter to A&E.

Thanks to the helipad, teams will be able to transport the patients into the department within three or four minutes.

They will be taken from the helicopter, down a lift shaft and into a waiting ambulance.

This will then travel via the inner ring road to the emergency department.

Mr Mortimer added: "We can finally bring a helipad to QMC. At the moment the helicopter lands at the University of Nottingham hockey field and an ambulance picks them up.

"What we can do is land on our helipad and bring people very quickly round the site.

"We can control the roads, the traffic and the lifts – everything on site to make it quicker."

The Nottingham Hospitals Charity will be launching a multi-million pound fundraising campaign to build the helipad, with the aim of completing it by spring next year.

Peter Homa, chief executive of Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, said the next two years would be an exciting time for the QMC.

He added: "We are naturally excited that we can, over the next two years, look forward to a number of developments at QMC which will quite literally change the face of the hospital and most importantly improve the way in which our patients, visitors, carers and staff access our hospital, leading to a better experience for those in our care.

"These developments are also great news for the city of Nottingham.

"Importantly, it boosts the city's position and standing as a national and international leader when it comes to research, innovation, enterprise and healthcare."

FAULTY fireworks have been stolen from a house in Top Valley.

Police were called to the Rise Park area following the theft, which is thought to have taken place between Tuesday, June 17 and Sunday, June 22.

Police said the fireworks were faulty and could cause serious injury to anyone involved with them.

Anyone who is offered the fireworks or has information about there whereabouts should call police on 101.

A WOMAN stole £19 of meat from Tesco.

Carrie Jones, 26, of Edison Way, Arnold stole the meat from the Long Row store on March 5.

She pleaded guilty at Nottingham Magistrates' Court and admitted breaching a conditional discharge for two years imposed for a previous theft. No action was taken on the breach but Jones was fined £70 for the theft. She was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £20 and £40 costs.

POLICE are appealing for witnesses to a burglary at a house in Breaston.

A man sneaked into the home on Sawley Road whilst the occupant was in at around 3.45pm on Friday, June 20.

The offender stole a wallet from the kitchen before running away.

The suspect is described as being in his 40s, about 5' 10" tall, very tanned, with black hair and a black bushy beard.

Anyone who saw a man matching this description in the Sawley or Draycott area should contact Derbyshire Police on 101.

A MOTORCYCLIST was airlifted to hospital with serious injuries after a crash with a car on the A46.

The smash happened near East Bridgford at about 9.20am yesterday.

It involved a blue, foreign-registered, Yamaha motorbike and a silver Honda CR-V car.

Police said the motorcyclist was in Queen's Medical Centre in a serious condition.

The two elderly occupants of the Honda were treated at the scene for minor injuries.

The road was closed for several hours while the scene was examined and cleared.

Anyone who saw the crash or the vehicles involved in the moments leading up to the incident should call police on 101, quoting incident 184 or 24 June 2014, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

THE chairman of the Nottinghamshire Neighbourhood Watch has put out a call for new members.

Writing to the Post, David Rhodes said the city's 5,000 were not enough to serve the 300,000-plus population.

He wrote: "For the first time in several years, burglary crime in the city ceased to fall last month.

"With summer approaching bringing hot weather and the World Cup mania, the 30 per cent of burglaries largely due to home-owner negligence is unlikely to fall again anytime soon."

He cited international research showing in places where Neighbourhood Watch has a presence, the incidence of crime is reduced by between 16 per cent and 26 per cent.

Mr Rhodes said: "We need more Neighbourhood Watch coordinators and schemes."

Anyone wishing to receive more information about Neighbourhood Watch in the city should email cityadmin@nottswatch.co.uk

ENGLAND may have lacked leadership and charisma in Brazil but one company took things a step too far when they mistook the face of US president Barack Obama for Three Lions defender Chris Smalling.

The unnamed company from Dorset was responsible for sourcing images of each England player for items including 2,000 coffee mugs.

All the mugs passed through various stages of proofing before being unpacked by Wholesale Clearance UK, who discovered Smalling's cup actually pictured the smiling face of Obama.

The "Obama mugs", available for just £1, may well end up the bestseller in the squad.

SOME supporters in Brazil are turning down the country's pricey hotels during the World Cup because they feel safer in the favelas.

Fans, turned away by the expense and risks associated with more traditional accommodation, are booking up bunk beds in some of Brazil's poorest communities instead.

Rates in the favelas have doubled to around £23 a night since the tournament began.

The five cheapest places to fill up within ten miles of Nottingham city centre:

Unleaded

1. Sainsbury's Beeston, Cross Street, Beeston, 126.9p

2. Asda Nottingham, Loughborough Road, West Bridgford, 127.7p

3. Sainsbury's Arnold, Nottingham Road, Arnold, 127.9p

4. Morrisons Gamston, Gamston District Centre, Gamston, 127.9p

5. Clifton Express, Clifton Lane, Clifton, 127.9p

Diesel

1. Asda Nottingham, Loughborough Road, West Bridgford, 131.7p

2. Morrisons Gamston, Gamston District Centre, Gamston, 131.9p

3. Clifton Express, Clifton Lane, Clifton, 131.9p

4. Sainsbury's Beeston, Cross Street, Beeston, 131.9p

5. Mrh Wollaton Spar, Wollaton Vale, Wollaton, 131.9p

For the latest prices, check online at nottinghampost.com.

A NEW school is planned for Hucknall as a report tells of "significant concern" at the lack of primary places in the town.

With a 900-home development planned for the Rolls-Royce site, Nottinghamshire County Council will consider the report tomorrow.

The document states: "The area has a predicted shortage of places within the next three to four years for the existing population, excluding growth proposals".

As a result, the authority is set to build a school at a cost of £3m, with the money recouped from the developer.

The report adds: "The early provision of a primary school offers some redress to the shortage of primary school places in Hucknall and there is an urgent requirement to facilitate a conclusion of this issue now that the wider proposal has secured planning permission." The plans will be discussed tomorrow at County Hall, West Bridgford, from 10am.