THIRTEEN people in Nottinghamshire have died because of a shortage of organs in the past year.

The NHS revealed the figure today ahead of National Transplant Week on Monday.

It also revealed that there are 124 people in the county waiting for an organ transplant. The campaign is trying to find more donors and encourage more people to tell family members they want to be a donor.

Sally Johnson, of NHS Blood and Transplant, said: "Last year 76 people living in Nottinghamshire benefited from a life-saving organ transplant thanks to families making the decision to donate when a loved one died.''

YOU can enjoy a traditional summer fair with a difference today during a major event to celebrate the unique character of Derby Road and Canning Circus.

Head to this lively shopping district from 10am to 5pm to sample the excellent shopping, entertainment and food and drink available – including an unusually high cluster of independent shops, bars and businesses.

The summer fair will feature entertainment, workshops, competitions and in-store promotions – plus food, live music and family fun. There will even be bunting and store front decorations all along Derby Road and Canning Circus to evoke the feel of a traditional village fete.

Among the highlights will be the BBC Big Busk at Canning Circus, featuring a piano which can be booked by experienced and novice singers and entertainers alike. It's all to mark the tenth anniversary of the passing of one of Nottingham busker Frank "The Xylophone Man" Robinson.

Other activities include:

Traditional stocks, made by wooden furniture specialists Brown Dog Interiors, Derby Road.

Giant puppets and costumed characters, created by City Arts, walking around the streets.

Artist demonstrations at Focus Gallery, Derby Road.

Beer tasting and cream teas at the Hand and Heart pub.

Best Notts Dog photography competition at interiors store Le Chien et Moi.

Schools painting competition at Lime Gallery/Framework, Derby Road.

Pavement café at The Falcon Inn.

Cakes and hot drinks stall at The Footman's Rest, Canning Circus.

Craft workshops, including those all-important loom bands at The Number One Bead Shop, Derby Road.

Competitions and food at the Sir John Borlase Warren pub.

Best allotment photo competition at The Worm That Turned, Derby Road.

Come and Play Day at Windblowers musical instruments specialists.

Find out more and follow the action at www.facebook.com/DerbyRoadNG1

Woodland Craft Weekend, Sherwood Forest Country Park, today and Sunday, 10am-3pm: Learn how to make a two-part crook stick at this two-day course with the park's expert rangers. £40 per person. Book on 01623 823202.

Wetlands and Wildlife of the Jubilee Campus, University of Nottingham, today, 1pm-3pm: Family friendly tour led by ecologist Mark Woods. Meet at the flagpole at Wollaton Road car park. Book on 07825 753993. Free.

Tour de Broxtowe, Broxtowe Country Park, Broxtowe Estate, today, 2pm till late. Family event to celebrate the arrival of the Tour de France in Britain with entertainment including BMX and scooter demos, music, games, races, bouncy castle and stalls. Then, from 8.30pm stay for a spectacular outdoor cinema screening of Saturday Night and Sunday Morning. Free. More details at www.travelright.org.uk/nottingham.

Community Fun Day, Lenton Abbey Park, today, 1pm-5pm: Lots of entertainment and activities including samba, belly dancing, DJ workshops, graffiti art, bouncy castles, tennis lessons, mendhi (hand art decorations), delicious food and games. Free.

The Big Busk, various venues around the city centre, today, from 11am: Enjoy talented singers at 15 busking points around the city, then join BBC Radio Nottingham's Verity Cowley in the Old Market Square at 4pm as she leads a rousing mass finale performance of Pharrell Williams' "Happy."

Medieval Forest Life Weekend, Sherwood Forest Country Park, today and Sunday, 11am-4pm: Step back in time and enjoy a recreated medieval forest encampment with crafts, combat, archery, cooking and wood turning demonstrations. Parking £3.

Mini Miners, Bestwood Country Park, today, 10am-noon: Enjoy lots of fun activities at Dynamo House, including "tunnelling for coal" for the under fives (and you thought those days were over). Free.

Tenth Gala Day, Colwick Woods, Sunday, noon-4pm: Fun for all the family, including dog show, live music, belly dancing, archery, kick boxing, fancy hat competition, tombola, stalls, face painting and refreshments. Free.

Twelfth Great Nottingham Inclosure Walk, starting from Queen's Walk Recreation Ground, The Meadows, Sunday, 2pm: Unusual guided walk looking at some of the land given over to "the people" to use for recreation forever – passing through four lovely parks including The Arboretum and Forest Recreation Ground. Free.

TRIBUTES have been paid to a female cyclist who died after a rush hour collision with a lorry. Louise Wright was rushed to the Queen's Medical Centre with critical injuries but pronounced dead in hospital on Thursday July 3. Flowers have been laid at the site of the crash, in Lower Parliament Street at its junction with Pennyfoot Street and Fisher Gate The driver of the HGV, a Greene King lorry, was treated at the scene for minor injuries. Louise worked at iconic Nottingham clothing firm Paul Smith, and the company issued a statement in her memory. It said: "Louise was a lovely person who was very well liked and respected. It is a very sad day for all of us, our sympathy goes out to her friends and family." The Post understands Louise was a member of the Nottingham Roller Girls. Cards left at the scene described her as a "star" who will "never be forgotten". One, signed Al, said: "A star has gone out. You were a beautiful roller girl." Another read: "You were an inspiration to all of us. I still can't believe it. Hope you are skating in the sky." Fellow roller derby participants took to Twitter to pay their tributes. Emzy Red said: "I'm so sad to hear about Louise Wright. I coached her at the LRR Bootcamp & then skated with her at Rollercon." miss.d.nightshade tweeted: "So unbelievably sad to hear about Louise Wright from @NottsRollerGirl. Much love to your family and friends fearless roller girl! Xxxxx."

LATER this year, Nottingham rower Connor Gamble will take to the skies as he jets off on a gap year. Before then though, there is work to do on the water.

The 18-year-old from Cotgrave will take part in Great Britain trials at Holme Pierrepont next week, with selection for the Junior European and World Championships up for grabs.

Gamble has done well to get this far, with around 200 athletes turning out at the start of the selection process.

He missed out on the cut for the Munich Junior International Regatta earlier this year by a fraction, and is determined this time to secure his first GB call-up.

Only the top 13 will get the nod, and the competition is nail-bitingly close.

"I missed out at the last trials, for Munich, by one spot and one hundredth of a second when I came in seventh," said Gamble, a three-times national champion in doubles. "It's all really close. It's pretty hard.

"They don't let you do both (tournaments). Usually, they take the best six to the Worlds and the lower seven to the Euros.

"For the Worlds, there's only a double left available for selection because they've pre-selected a quad.

"For the Euros, there are seven slots available, so I've got to be top nine in these trials – if you take away the pre-selected four, so top 13 still.

"I'm targeting the Worlds because it's a more prestigious event. But if I don't get it, I imagine I'll be doing the doubles at the Euros.

"My coach said I should definitely make the Euros; I'd have to drop six or seven places to not make it, which is quite a lot.

"The Worlds would be quite tough but it is quite close."

Gamble will take part in both doubles and quads boats during the trials, which involve completing numerous races on the day and see personnel swapped about to determine the best combination.

"They'll swap one person and see if the boat rows faster," the South Nottinghamshire Academy pupil explained.

"You don't know when you are going to be swapped, so you have to try in every race.

"One race you could be swapped and that's when you know you are getting trialed.

"If you're doing quite badly, they do take into account what you've done before. And they announce it on the day.

"That would be the first time I've raced for GB. I've done nationals before, but not made GB.

"It's always been my aim."

Gamble took up rowing just over four years ago, following in the footsteps of his brother Declan.

It became, he says, 'an addiction', though he has had to reduce his training hours in the last few months to focus on his A-Levels.

"My brother started and my brother's coach asked if I wanted to start," said Gamble, who has been racing in a quad at Henley Royal Regatta this week.

"I tried it and went from there.

"It's like an addiction really.

"I was more addicted when I first started; it was ridiculous what I was doing then.

"I try to do 12 sessions a week, but with exams it has been a bit less than that.

"It's been pretty tough. I've had to cut down quite a lot.

"Once exams are over with, I'm able to build it back up again and do two sessions a day before the trials.

"I think I'm best in a double; I usually get my best results in doubles.

"The singles I enjoy if I'm having a good day; but if you're having a bad day it's not so good."

Should Gamble win the coveted GB vest, the Europeans will take place in France and the Worlds in Germany next month.

After that, he plans to defer going to university for a year and head to Australia.

Already coaching four days a week at Nottingham Rowing Club to help raise funds to put towards his sporting career, Gamble will do the same at a couple of boarding schools on the other side of the world.

And it won't be to the detriment of his own time on the water, with Olympian Daniel Noonan – who won bronze in the men's quad skulls at London 2012 – on hand to offer tips.

"It's going to be quite a lot of experience and I'll probably row while I'm out there, so I'll get different coaching," said Gamble. "As a whole experience it's going to be good.

"Coaching is how I fund my GB stuff; I have to fund myself. I really enjoy it.

"The club do support me a lot. They bought me a boat, which I still use."

With the GB trials costing hundreds of pounds and participation in the international championships running into four figures, Gamble is looking for sponsorship to help achieve his ambitions. Contact him on 07429 465382 or email c.gamble1996@hotmail.com.

HOLLAND goalkeeper Tim Krul is ecstatic to be in the semi-finals of the World Cup after his dramatic introduction to the tournament.

The Newcastle player came on late in extra time and produced two saves in a penalty shoot-out against Costa Rica after a goalless draw over 120 minutes in Saturday's quarter-final in Salvador.

"Tonight I have realised a dream," Krul said. "What I've experienced is an incredible emotion.

"(Holland coach Louis) van Gaal had warned me. It was something prepared and I knew that I would have this chance."

Van Gaal promised Cillessen - who, unlike Krul, was not told of the planned change for the shoot-out - that he remains his first choice for the semi-final.

"There is no question about who will start next game, it will be Cillessen," he said. "But we felt Krul was the better choice here.

"We told Krul that he would be a possibility for the penalties, but we didn't tell Cillessen, as we didn't want to ruin his preparation.

The Oranje had numerous chances to win the game without the need for spot-kicks but were denied by the woodwork three times as well as by an inspired display from Costa Rica keeper Keylor Navas.

"It was that kind of night when the ball did not want to go in," midfielder Wesley Sneijder added. "But despite all of our hard work we still went into the penalty shoot-out sharp.

"There was only one team that deserved to go to the semi-finals and it was us. If you work hard you go very far."

Holland, runners-up four years ago in South Africa, take on Argentina in the last four on Wednesday in Sao Paulo.

"Now we have to think of Argentina," Krul said. "It will be a very difficult game."

Navas lamented his team's elimination from the World Cup but believes they have done their nation proud.

Los Ticos had never reached the quarter-final stages of the competition and had gone unbeaten in Brazil before losing 4-3 on penalties in Salvador.

"We lost everything in a penalty shoot-out and we go home sad but with our heads held high," Navas said to Costa Rica newspaper CRhoy.com. "It's hard but this is life."

Bryan Ruiz and Michael Umana saw their spot-kicks saved by Krul while the Dutch converted all of their attempts.

"We cannot blame anyone because to be there at that time is not easy," Navas said. "Our rivals did their job in the penalty shoot -out and we didn't."

Navas was named as FIFA's man of the match for the third time in this tournament after the Levante goalkeeper again came up with a string of good saves to keep his side in the game.

"One just tries to help, to do a good job," the 27-year-old said. "I thank God.

"I always try to make sure that no ball goes in and the posts certainly helped us. Fortunately, Holland didn't score throughout the game."

Costa Rica coach Jorge Luis Pinto praised his players.

"We are not a world football power but we have done very important things here," Pinto said. "When it comes to penalties, you have to understand the player, the pressure and the circumstances they are in.

"We did a great job."

Pinto, whose side surprisingly finished ahead of Uruguay, Italy and England in the group stages to progress to the knock-out rounds, admitted the Dutch were the better side.

"We were lucky throughout the game," Pinto said. "Navas was brilliant and spectacular.

"We go home proud of what we have done and I want to express my gratitude to the Brazilian people."

Belgium coach Marc Wilmots labelled Argentina as "ordinary" and criticised their spoiling tactics after his side went out of the World Cup after a 1-0 defeat in the quarter-final in Brasilia.

Gonzalo Higuain's early goal was enough to decide the contest after which Wilmots said he was proud of his team but derided Argentina's approach.

Wilmots also claimed Lionel Messi was given an easy ride by the referee, Nicola Rizzoli of Italy.

The Belgium coach said: "We were not impressed by the Argentinians, they were just an ordinary team.

"They can distort the rhythm, they take 30 seconds to take a throw-in and the referee doesn't do anything.

"They had the goal, and Messi was one-on-one with (Thibaut) Courtois at the end but how many shots have they had? If I played that way I would have been destroyed by the Belgium press.

"They didn't give us any space, this was a World Cup quarter-final and their extra experience probably counted for something."

Neymar is convinced that Brazil can win the World Cup without him.

Brazil's World Cup star and poster boy was ruled out of the tournament on Friday night when he fractured a verterbra after being kneed in the back by Colombia's Juan Zuniga.

Twenty-four hours after Brazil's quarter-final win, the Barcelona forward released a video in which he spoke about his heart-breaking injury for the first time.

The 22-year-old, who scored four goals for the Selecao here in Brazil, was visibly upset when speaking into the camera about missing the rest of the World Cup.

But the former Santos player is sure his team-mates will retain their composure and go on to lift the trophy on July 13 at the Maracana.

"My World Cup has not ended, it has been interrupted by a play but the tournament goes on and I told my team-mates to do everything in order to help me achieve my dream to be world champion," Neymar said.

"My dream was to play at a World Cup final but I'm certain my team-mates will be champions.

"I will be there with them, and all Brazilians will soon be celebrating all of that."

Wollaton: A drink-driver was ordered to pay £255 after being caught almost twice over the legal limit. Rashid Ali, 25, of Ranelagh Grove, Wollaton, was caught driving a Honda Civic in Forest Road East with 69 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The limit is 35. He pleaded guilty and was fined £150 at Nottingham Magistrates' Court. He has also been banned from driving for 18 months, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £20 and £85 costs. His disqualification could be reduced by 19 weeks if he completes a driving course.

Kimberley: Thieves stole a cordless drill and other tools when they broke into a van in a car park at Sainsbury's in Kimberley, between 1.55pm and 2.10pm on Tuesday. They got in through a side door. Anyone with information should call police on 101.

Long Eaton: Notts Police's Capture Bike has seen a thief jailed for a month. Lee Love stole the bicycle from outside the David Lloyd gym in Rugby Road, West Bridgford, at around 2pm on Monday, June 16. The bike was fitted with a tracking device and officers caught up with Love in the Daleside Road area of Colwick. The 35-year-old, of Fair Lea Close, Long Eaton, admitted theft at Nottingham Magistrates' Court and was locked up for four weeks.

Carrington: Burglars stole cash from a house in Winchester Street. They got in by forcing open patio doors between 10am and 1pm on Thursday. Anyone with information should call police on 101.

Sherwood: Police are hunting burglars who took cash from a house in Flintham Drive. They broke in on Monday by forcing open a front window.

Call police on 101 with information, quoting incident number 000718-30062014.

Parodies of Luis Suarez's controversial bite on Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini filled the internet shortly after the incident took place at the World Cup.

And now one West Bridgford pub has mocked up a picture of the striker munching on a burger to promote an offer.

The poster is being used to promote a beer and a burger promotion at the Southbank Bar next to Trent Bridge.

Liverpool striker Suarez was banned for four months by Fifa after his third biting incident in recent years.

Suarez was banned for 10 games for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic during a Premier League match last year and was also suspended for seven games for biting PSV Eindhoven's Otman Bakkal while playing for Ajax in 2010.

Other items celebrating Suarez's World Cup bite include bottle openers and one fan even got a tattoo of the player as Hannibal Lecter.

LAST weekend he was at Glastonbury and, according to reports, pulling in more fans than main stage headliners Metallica. Then on Thursday, @jakebugg was in front of another huge crowd, this time opening for Arcade Fire in Hyde Park, where drummer @Jack__Atherton posted this shot of his view from the stage.

QUEEN of country @DollyParton swung into the city on Wednesday night for a show at the Capital FM Arena, the final date of her UK tour and the 68-year-old star was still buzzing after her Glastonbury set. "Somebody pinch me, I must be dreaming! Still riding high after @GlastoFest. 100,000 people out there singing with little 'ol me! :)," she tweeted to her three million followers. Twitter was awash with tweets about her Nottingham show, where she played to 9,000 people. But my favourite Dolly tweet was by @Mr_Mike_Clarke, who wasn't even at the show, posting this photo of his car radio, quipping: "That Dolly Parton is so wise..."

THE @Notts_TV mascot the blue duck has been spotted as far afield as Brazil during World Cup games but nothing beats this shot of a pair of them on the cobbled streets of Weatherfield. On a visit to the set of Coronation Street, @Barbymargy posted a photo outside the iconic Rovers Return saying: "Ey up, fancy a pint, duck?"

BY all accounts it was a good night at the Royal Concert Hall on Thursday for England and Notts cricketing legend Graeme Swann's first dip into the world of live theatre, since retiring from the sport, billed as An Evening With... Aggers and Swanny, hosted by Jonathan Agnew. Curiously, before the show, @swannyg66 retweeted this shot of what looks like Gordon The Gopher, by @TheFurredUmpire. Any ideas?

DOZENS of buskers will take over the city centre today for the Big Busk, in remembrance of Frank Robinson, aka the Xylophone Man, who died ten years ago. There will be 15 spots around the city where singers, musicians, rappers and magicians will be doing their thing to entertain shoppers, with a grand finale in the Old Market Square at 4pm. Organiser @sophieshardlow from BBC Radio Nottingham posted this shot of Frank's plaque in Lister Gate, where he played for years.