A TEENAGER awoke to her boyfriend dragging her out of bed, hitting her, forcing her to eat a cigarette butt and demanding she undress before chasing her outside.

Her boyfriend, Jordan Binder, eventually ended the assault, ordering her to remain in the corner of the bathroom, before turning off the light and leaving the flat – locking the door behind him.

The girl, who suffered a black eye, tenderness to her face and a cut lip, called the police and Binder, 19, was arrested.

It was the second time he had attacked her in two days.

At Derby Crown Court Binder, of Binder Street, Long Eaton, admitted two offences of assault causing actual bodily harm, although he did not accept he attacked his girlfriend to the extent she said or that she was naked when she went outside. He said she was wearing a dressing gown. Binder also admitted an offence of criminal damage.

Sarah Slater, prosecuting, said: "It was a sustained assault on both occasions."

"On the first occasion, she said she was woken by him at 9am and he appeared to be in a bad mood with her and slapped her (repeatedly)."

The girl told police Binder had then grabbed her by the jaw and hit her head against a door and pulled at her eyelids.

"She said it went on all day until his cousin came round in the evening," said Miss Slater.

The court heard that two days later she had been asleep when Binder arrived home drunk with a friend and she was woken by her boyfriend dragging her out of bed.

Miss Slater said: "He dragged her around the bedroom, smashed her head against the door, forced her to eat the remnants of a cigarette and slapped her across the face causing bleeding in her mouth."

Binder's friend tried to stop him from assaulting her but he continued and when she tried to get up, knocked her to the floor again.

Handing Binder a nine-month custodial sentence suspended for 18 months, Judge Ebrahim Mooncey said: "I would not have passed this sentence had you not spent time in custody already."

Binder will be supervised by the probation service.

POLICE are looking for information following two burglaries in Rushcliffe borough this week.

The first incident took place during the daytime on Friday at a home in North Road, West Bridgford.

The thief smashed a rear window and took a pair of tablets from inside.

Another incident took place between 10.30pm on Wednesday, July 9, and 7.30pm on Thursday, July 10, from a detached garage in Paddock Court, Stanford-on-Soar.

A red and white specialised road bike was stolen from the premises.

If you have any information contact Nottinghamshire Police on 101.

THIS year's Trent Bridge Test match may be over, but there is much more international cricket on its way to Nottingham.

Next summer, the Australians return for the Ashes for the second time in three years, with Trent Bridge hosting the fourth Test match from August 6 to 10.

Tickets for that clash go on sale in the autumn.

New Zealand will also be heading to Nottingham in 2015, for a one-day international on June 17.

And there will be more to come as Trent Bridge plays host to further 50-over internationals in 2016, against Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Beyond that the summer schedule is unknown, but bids are soon to be prepared to stage international cricket from 2017 to 2019, with announcements likely by the end of this year.

Among the matches up for grabs in the packages on offer will be India's next Test series in England as well as the 2019 Ashes series.

India do return to Nottingham later this year, for a one-day international on Saturday, August 30. This match is already a sell-out.

INTERNATIONAL cricket can be used to bring in more crowds for domestic matches at Trent Bridge, according to Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club chief executive Lisa Pursehouse.

Crowds have increased at Nottinghamshire games, particularly T20 matches, this summer. Ms Pursehouse said that among the reasons for the increased interest was last year's Ashes Test. She expects last week's match between England and India to have a similar impact, starting with the home team's match with Leicestershire on Sunday.

She said: "Last year on the final day we found out, through questions asked of staff around the ground, there were a lot of people here for the first time. These people come back having enjoyed the cricket."

Ms Pursehouse said that last week's match had gone "exceptionally well", despite the pitch prepared by head groundsman Steve Birks coming in for heavy criticism because it was believed it favoured batsmen too much.

The match attracted tens of thousands of fans, though the crowd was much lower yesterday with the game petering out into a draw. Just 4,500 tickets had been sold in advance, though a further 3,000 paid on the gate.

Ms Pursehouse added: "From our perspective we feel we have done everything we can to make this a success and provide the fans with a terrific experience."

TEST matches at Trent Bridge attract cricket fans in their tens of thousands – and this week was no different.

And with those cricket fans comes huge opportunity for businesses within reach of the famous old ground. Whether they are a pub, a takeaway or a convenience shop, they have raked it in over the course of the five-day clash.

The Larwood and Voce pub and restaurant in Fox Road took as much money during the match as it does in the whole of December. Fans packed in for breakfast before play started on each day with many heading back at the lunch-break and then after the last ball of the day.

In between those times, staff opened a little hatch in the cellar from which fans in the ground could buy drink and snacks.

General manager Dan Cramp said: "The Test match is great for us, it always is. Over the course of the five days we do as much trade as we do over the Christmas period, which is the whole of December."

The Trent Bridge Inn has also seen a huge rise in takings.

Management ordered in 400 barrels of beer in preparation for the week – well above the usual weekly order of around 50.

To maximise profits, they made the most of the fact the rear bar backs on to the concourse behind the stands by opening it up, allowing supporters to buy drinks from there.

Naiomi Haywood, of the management team, said: "Whenever the cricket is on we get busy but the Test match really brings in the crowds. It is a great experience.

"We have to bring in staff from other Wetherspoons in the city."

Ali Aslam, who runs the Radcliffe Convenience Store, in Radcliffe Road, said their takings were double what they would usually expect from any normal Wednesday to Sunday.

He said: "People come in before and after play, and even during it for drinks and snacks. Everyone is always in good spirits. We welcome them all."

POLICE are on the lookout for three men following an attempted robbery at a business.

The incident took place at around 5pm in Rolleston Drive, Arnold, on Thursday.

The suspects, who were only described as black, entered the address, threatened the occupants and demanded cash.

They left empty-handed and drove off from the scene in a silver Audi A3.

The vehicle was seen parked in Jacob's Court, Brook Avenue, shortly afterwards.

Police are appealing for witnesses. If you have information call 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, quoting 000766- 10072014.

IT was the chance of a lifetime last night for 46-year-old cameraman Bo Baraniak from Carlton who was in Brazil to help capture the final for broadcast across the globe.

Mr Baraniak has worked as a steadicam operator for several broadcast companies including Sky and the BBC.

Although he has covered the 2002 World Cup in Japan, last night was the first time he had covered the competition's final.

Speaking last night, he said: "The atmosphere here is electric, I've had a walk along Copacabana beach, with a sea of fans happily chanting their nations songs. All very much in the carnival spirit.

"This is a big job where pressure is high on such a massive global event, nearly as high as filming Forest v Derby!"

FIREFIGHTERS were called out to a car blaze following a crash in the early hours of yesterday morning.

The vehicle caught fire following a collision with a trailer on Beechdale Road in Beechdale.

One crew from Stockhill station attended the scene at just after midnight on Saturday.

A woman involved in the incident had left the vehicle before emergency services arrived. Firefighters extinguished the blaze and left the scene at around 00.40am.

WORK will start on building a new sixth-form block in West Bridgford when the summer holidays begin next week.

The centre is to be built at Rushcliffe School's Boundary Road site, costing £3 million, and is expected to open in September next year.

It will include 12 classrooms and a common room.

In a message to parents, head teacher Phil Crompton said there would be no disruption to students' education during construction next year.

He has also asked parents to not take children to school by car where possible because some of the construction work will take place there.

Mr Crompton said the addition of the common room would be particularly beneficial for students.

TABLE tennis enthusiasts will be able to show off their skills when more than 20 ping-pong tables spring up across Nottingham city centre later this month.

The tables will be popping up in various locations, from Smithy Row to the Lakeside Arts Centre, Nottingham Castle and even Nottingham train station, between July 21 and August 31.

They are free for everyone to play on, including novices and more experienced players, and bats and balls are provided.

The project, called Ping! Nottingham, will launch with a ping-pong bonanza on Smithy Row, just off the Old Market Square, on July 21 from 12.30-4pm.

There will be exhibition matches featuring England international players, as well a chance to beat the table tennis robot, other games and plenty of giveaways.

Ping! Nottingham has been organised by Nottingham City Council Sports and Leisure in partnership with Sport England and Table Tennis England.

Nottingham is one of 16 regions that have been selected to be part of the scheme.

For more details visit www.pingnottingham.co.uk.

DRIVERS in Nottingham are being warned to expect minor delays on Thursday due to a slow-moving funeral procession.

A horse-drawn hearse will leave Malton Road in New Basford at 11am and will travel through Sherwood Rise to Mansfield Road Baptist Church.

After the service, the cortege will leave the church at about 12.30pm and will then travel through the city to Wilford Hill Cemetery.

The procession is due to arrive at the cemetery between 1.30pm and 2pm.

Nottingham City Council says traffic may build up during these times.

PARALYMPIC champion Richard Whitehead will officially open a city secondary school's new building today.

Farnborough School, in Clifton, has undergone a £17 million reconstruction.

It is the final city school to benefit from the now-defunct Building Schools for the Future programme.

As well as new classrooms, there will be a multi-use games area, sports pitches and adult education facilities.

Executive head teacher Phil Crompton said: "This event signals a real statement of intent.

"Education matters. It can be a gateway to success and this wonderful new building will make an enormous impact upon the lives of the people of Clifton and the surrounding area.

"It's hard to believe how quickly the site was transformed – and now we must make sure it's put to good use."

PAPPLEWICK Pumping Station museum has joined Keyworth Village Café and Bistro and the Radisson Blu Hotel, near East Midlands Airport, among the county's best-rated tourist spots.

The Victorian steam engines in Rigg Lane, Ravenshead, which used to supply water to central Nottingham, are run by volunteers and are open on six weekends in 2014.

And the museum has now been awarded review website TripAdvisor's certificate of excellence.

When selecting certificate winners, TripAdvisor uses an algorithm which takes into account the number of ratings, how recent they are and the attraction's overall score.

Museum director Ashley Smart said: "We'd like to thank all of our past visitors who took the time to complete a review. There is no greater seal of approval than being recognised by one's customers.

"The accolade is a remarkable vote of confidence to the museum and our continued commitment to excellence."

IT has been a difficult five years for East Midlands Airport. First, the economic crash saw passenger numbers take a sharp dive. This was followed by the demise of Castle Donington-based airline BMI and its low cost subsidiary BMIbaby.

The loss of its home airline which flew to major European hubs on the continent such as Brussels, Paris and Schiphol was a significant blow not only for the airport but the region's ambitions and self-confidence.

It has proved difficult to replace the network completely and the business traveller wants code sharing by airlines so that luggage is seamlessly transferred to the next plane.

For the first time in 40 years, there is no regular daily flight to Paris. Flybe, which operated code share with Air France and KLM, pulled out of regular scheduled flights to Paris earlier this year.

But Andy Cliffe, managing director of East Midlands Airport is confident that things will change for the better.

He is working hard on building relationships with companies which might want to use his airport as a way of attracting airlines.

New investment in the airport is expected to help drive business travel, says Mr Cliffe.

A new lounge for business travellers opens next month and coincides with a push to re-establish routes and seek new destinations.

Mr Cliffe believes that he is getting on top of the problem – Notts business travellers do not necessarily want to fly from Birmingham, Manchester or Heathrow.

"We need to engage much more across the whole of the business community," he says. "It is useful to engage with the Local Enterprise Partnerships and the Nottingham Economîc Growth Board.

"One of the things we will do collectively is a much broader aviation strategy for the East Midlands so we can understand at a sectoral level what is happening, which particular businesses are trading, which markets and sectors will expand and develop. We can then connect it back to the airport allowing us to have a different conversation with airlines. We haven't been as smart as we should have been."

Mr Cliffe points to the economic growth plans drawn up by D2N2 LEP which seeks to create 50,000 jobs by 2020. There is also an opportunity to attract business passengers from Lincolnshire, especially those in the food manufacturing sector, he says.

"Talks with the Derbys and Notts Chamber has produced a wish list of routes and services from EMA such as Paris, Germany and Scandinavian countries. It's just not a quick win. We are just going to have to appeal to a broader range of carriers," says Mr Cliffe who is having "ongoing discussions," with individual airlines to restore a network lost with the demise of BMI.

"But we need of change the nature of that debate. The way we will change it is by getting a collection of significant businesses across the region."

Business leaders constantly press the airport for long haul flights, especially to the USA and India. Flights to the States are unlikely in the near future, concedes Mr Cliffe who points out that Manchester has only just begun expanding its North American network.

"We have quite a distance to go," he says. "The Indian sub continent is probably easier.

Flghts to the Indian sub continent bring the prospect of "a golden egg" with both passengers and freight, says Mr Cliffe.

It is likely to be 12 months to two years before the negotiations bear fruit.

It is unlikely the Nottingham tram will ever extend to the terminal. In the short term, a fast bus link from the airport to East Midlands Parkway railway station is likely, connecting it to Midland Mainline services to Nottingham, Derby and south to London.

Despite recent timetable improvements, Mr Cliffe says train journeys still remain too slow, an observation recognised by East Midlands Trains.

"But everything is moving in the right direction, improving quality, getting the right levels of connectivity, seeing D2N2 set out its ambition," says Mr Cliffe.

EMA is owned by MAG, Manchester Airport Group, a consortium of local authorities including Manchester City Council which not only owns Manchester Airport but last year bought Stansted.

"Those airports don't compete with each other so from a strategic UK market standpoint, EMA makes sense from MAGs perspective," says Mr Cliffe.

"The investment here at EMA is a real signal from MAG that we need to improve things which is what we are doing."

A £12m investment in new security, lounges and refreshed shopping area is due for completion towards the end of the year. It will include improvements to the arrivals area which, as things stand, can see passengers queuing in the rain to get through passport control when two planes arrive about the same time. Mr Cliffe acknowledges passengers can get wet when there are long queues at border control. Improvements will include a covered walkway later this year.

Freight carrier DHL which bases 23 aircraft at EMA announced last month that it is to invest £90 million into its operations at the airport on the back of a UK export boom.

Investment will improve capacity and its mechanised processes. A major logistics headache will be plans to re-surface the runway in 2016. The airport will need to close over a consecutive number of week ends during a quiet spot, probably the autumn of 2016.

The airport, the largest freight operation after Heathrow, and is a 24 hour operation unlike Manchester which closes between midnight and 5am giving time for runway maintenance.

Putting on his Experience Nottinghamshire hat, Mr Cliffe says what the East Midlands has to offer tourists can play a vital role in driving passenger numbers and more can be achieved.

Tourist attractions alongside a strong cultural and art scene should drive passengers through the airport. They are also important in attracting inward investors by creating a desirable place. Employers seek more than just a place to work for their staff.

The core of the terminal is now 50 years old with numerous extensions, particularly to cope with the growth in low cost air travel. The number of passengers this year is expected to be around 4.4 million and only when six million begins to appear on the horizon will MAG and EMA plan for a new terminal. It will be a massive undertaking and some years away, perhaps 2025, and sooner if business growth matches Mr Cliffe's ambitions.

"There will be quite a bit of strategic thinking over the course of the next year.

"The dilemma is whether we improve our product over a period of time or just blitz it all in one go. To some extent, that is what we are doing now.

"There isn't a bit of the business we are not trying to improve in some shape or form. We just have to be careful how much we turn into a building site at any one time."

VISITS from cute puppies will become a regular fixture for students next year after more than £5,000 was raised at a revision-time puppy room.

Stressed students took to their union to pet Labrador pups on May 1, making a donation for their time with the guide dogs-to-be.

It went down so well that Nottingham Trent University's Students' Union has decided to name Guide Dogs as its charity of the year starting in September.

And since they hit the £5,000 mark, the students were allowed to name their own pup, which they decided to call Trent.

Computer sciences student Molly Redmond, 22, said: "It was a really cool experience. The puppies were so playful and friendly and we learned a lot about how their training works.

"It's interesting to see how they change when they're working to when they can just play. I guess they're a work hard, play hard type of dog."

Lizzy Kelly, vice-president of activities at the students' union, said: "It went down a storm. Loads of students came down to see the cute puppies and some of them were really playful."

The idea was first mooted as a way of calming students who are dealing with the hectic exam season and the Students' Union promised to set up the puppy room if more than 6,500 votes were cast in union elections.

After 6,738 hit the ballots, the Students' Union spoke with Guide Dogs to arrange the event – which took in £5,107.05 in donations.

"It's definitely something we want to do again," said Lizzy. "The benefits are not just for the students but for the puppies and owners as well. The pups need to get used to being in a busy environment so it helps with their training too."

Experts at the university agreed that pet therapy was good for stressed-out students and that the puppies will benefit from the exercise.

Mandy Rafferty, community fundraiser for the Nottingham Mobility Team at Guide Dogs said: "The money raised will pay for the first stages of a young guide dog's life. Each dog costs us £50,000 over the course of its life."

Mandy said the links created with the university through the puppy room will provide a "legacy" at the union.

"We want to say a massive thank-you to the students who contributed. So we are thrilled to be able to let them name a puppy Trent," she said. "Guide dog owners have to go to crowded places, like shopping centres and hospitals, so it was a great opportunity for the pups to get used to the hustle and bustle of a busy environment."

POLICE are warning residents to switch off chargers in their homes after a fire broke out in Lenton Abbey.

The cause of the fire, which happened at a house in Manton Crescent, is thought to be a charging device left switched on and unattended in an upstairs room.

Police community support officer Helen Russell-Taylor said: "It is always best practice to turn off any electrical items that are not in use, and specifically charging devices should not be left switched on after charging them has finished."

She also reminded people to test their smoke alarms and ensure they were working.

No-one was injured during the fire, which happened on Friday, July 4, but the house was significantly damaged.

JAMES MacCallum, 51, of Darvel Close, Beechdale, pleaded guilty to disqualified driving in an uninsured Peugeot 406. The offences were in Wilkinson Street, Radford, on June 20. MacCallum was bailed to attend sentencing at the court on July 22 at 2pm.

ANDREW Acreman, 27, of Tolkien Close, Bedford, denied drink-driving in Radcliffe Road, West Bridgford.

He was allegedly caught on April 23 with 97 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, over the limit of 35. He was bailed until his trial on November 25.

LEE Cassell, 38, of Mansfield Road, Warsop, is charged with stealing four bicycles in Rufford. The bikes were worth more than £2,000 and were allegedly taken on June 9 and June 11. Cassell has been bailed to attend Mansfield Magistrates' Court on July 30 at 10am.

TYRONE Forbes, 28, of Gilbert Close, Bestwood, has been bailed to attend his trial at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on October 17 at 10am. He denied using threatening behaviour in Arnold on April 23.

JAYDEN Gorewoda, 18, of Tenbury Crescent, Aspley, is charged with having a lock knife in Melbourne Road, Aspley, on June 21. He has been bailed until July 29.

RICHARD Cooper, 48, of Kirkland Drive, Chilwell, has been accused of assault in Field Lane, Chilwell, on December 11 last year. His case will be heard at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on August 5 at 2pm.

BILLY Coss, 21, of Summers Road, Newark, was conditionally discharged for 12 months. He admitted possessing cannabis in the town on June 20. He was ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge and costs of £40 at Nottingham Magistrates' Court.

STEPHEN Ridgley, 54, of Durham Crescent, Bulwell, pleaded not guilty to assault in the town on April 2. He has been bailed to attend his trial on September 29 at 2pm.

RAFAL Knopik, 36, of Kelvedon Gardens, St Ann's, was fined £75 by Nottingham magistrates. He admitted damaging clothing and bags in St Ann's between June 4 and June 6. He was ordered to pay £50 compensation, a £20 victim surcharge and costs of £85.

COREY Thrower, 18, of Littlewood Court, Hucknall, pleaded guilty to causing damage to a £600 till screen at the Co-op, Hucknall, on May 13. He also admitted damaging interior fixtures and fittings at an address in Laughton Crescent, Hucknall, and assaulting a police sergeant in the town on July 6. He was bailed to attend sentencing on August 7 at Nottingham Magistrates' Court.

MARK Tomlin, 27, of Cedar Grove, Hucknall, pleaded guilty to stealing tins of tuna and doughnuts in the town. He took £30 worth of tuna on July 6 and £2 worth of doughnuts, both from Tesco, Hucknall, on July 7. He offended during a suspended sentence imposed at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on July 4 for nine shop thefts and failing to surrender. JPs have now given him an 18-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. He will go to drug rehab for nine months as a non-resident patient. He will be supervised by the probation service for 12 months. He was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £80

CAMERON Gillies, 24, of Abbey Road, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, was found guilty of using an uninsured Vauxhall Astra in Nottingham on September 4. His case will be heard again at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on July 22 at 2pm.

ISAAC Straun, 27, of Hudson Street, St Ann's, was found guilty of assaulting the same woman in Edwalton three times between February 28 and March 15. He has been bailed to attend sentencing at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on August 12 at 10am.

JOHN Gordon, 30, of Cambria Mews, Mapperley Park, was fined £150 after admitting he stole a wheel trim from a Volkswagen Golf in Chilwell on June 19 and had cannabis on him on the same date. Magistrates in Nottingham ordered Gordon pay a £20 victim surcharge and costs of £85.

LEWIS Thompson, 23, of Waterdown Road, Clifton, pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine and cannabis in the town last September. At Nottingham Magistrates' Court, he was fined a total of £220 and ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge and costs of £85.

RONALD Currie, 64, of Katrine Walk, Sinfin, Derby, pleaded guilty to drink-driving in Giltbrook. Currie was behind the wheel of a Vauxhall Corsa on the A610 when he was caught on April 24. He had 95 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood, over the limit of 80. At Nottingham Magistrates' Court, he was fined £150, banned from driving for 14 months and ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

ELOUISE Holmes, 25, of Stanhope Crescent, Arnold, pleaded guilty to being over the drink-drive limit. She was in a silver-coloured Fiat Punto in Mansfield Road, Redhill, when she had 70 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, over the limit of 35, on June 20. She was fined £200, banned her from driving for 17 months and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £20 and £85 costs.

REGARDING your story "£50 fines for not having a tram ticket branded daylight robbery" (July 11), I support those passengers who are not trying to dodge fare payment and are intimidated by "ambassadors" when they offer payment for their fare as on their previous journeys.

I notice that the passengers mentioned in your piece were from Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Selston and Heanor. What evidence has NET given that they have publicised widely in these areas and Bunny, where I live?

On the evening of June 26, I was coming home from work at the City Hospital. After using the Medilink bus service to Wilkinson Street, I caught the tram from there to Station Street. This is something I have seldom done before.

While on the tram, I was approached by a tram employee who I thought was a conductor, and I offered to buy a ticket as I had done previously. He told me that their ticket issuing had changed and I had to get off the tram at the next stop; and because I had entered the tram without getting a valid ticket first, he was issuing me with a £50 penalty ticket.

I explained that I was unaware of the ticketing change as I am not a frequent tram user. There are no notices on the doors of the tram to say that it is an offence to enter the tram without a valid ticket or pass. On the website news item posted on May 19 it does say, "For a few more weeks the conductors will still be present to offer help and advice…." – I did not receive any help or advice before boarding or while on the tram.

The NET tram penalty is indeed "daylight robbery".

DOROTHY MICHALAK

Albert Road

Bunny

I'VE paid good money (nearly £400) for an unlimited annual season ticket to ride the trams, but have been treated like a criminal by NET.

I forgot to swipe my card on my journey home one day and was unceremoniously ordered off the tram. The inspector accepted that my card was fully paid up and valid but he still issued me with a £50 fine.

I appealed unsuccessfully and their letter told me to pay up within 14 days to "avoid a criminal record".

How dare they treat me like this?

JUDITH FRASER

Bramcote Lane

Chilwell

THE story that a tram customer was thrown off and fined for not purchasing a ticket before getting on begs the question – do NET want people to use the tram, or would they be happier running them virtually empty and clawing back the shortfall in revenue from high fares, levies and fines?

I realise that some try to avoid paying the fare, but one starts to wonder where the idea of being a customer went. It is just another attack on soft targets – actions so beloved by those petty tyrants initially elected as public servants.

The threat of multiplying the penalty to an astronomical £1,000 is simply taking money by menaces and should be illegal. The roving conductors appear to be traffic wardens in another guise, as their actions are pretty similar.

ANTHONY WILKINSON

Clifton Road

Ruddington

MY son and I were at cub camp over the weekend at Walesby when on Saturday a mini tornado came across the site, attacking our friends and ours tents.

While the camp was very busy, it came in at our friends' tent next to us, then our tent – we were having to hold everything down including the tent.

It then whipped a material shopping bag from a third tent on the other side of us up into the air until it went completely out of sight.

The tornado went into the middle of the camp before going up rather than across to the tents on the far side. Witnesses stated they saw it happen and grass and belongings were whipping around in a circular motion.

Being in the eye of the mini tornado was an amazing experience.

On a calm, red-hot day, a sudden gale of wind was there, disrupted us and was then gone. Totally amazing! The whole camp site stopped to talk about what we'd just witnessed.

For my son Thomas and his best friend George, both eight, it was the first topic of conversation in the playground today.

CAROLYN WILKINSON

Charnock Avenue

Wollaton Park

Did you capture the phenomenon on camera? E-mail newsdesk@ nottinghampost.com

YESTERDAY in my wardrobe I found a jar of Boots Smiths Cremolia skin cream which belonged to my brother-in-law, who departed this mortal coil some 20 years ago.

I am 96 and I accidentally spilled some of the Cremolia on my wizened old arm, so I rubbed it in and this morning my arm is as smooth as a baby's botty.

PS: I may do the other arm tonight.

ALBERT LAMB

Hartcroft Road

Bestwood Park

THE recent headlines of a national newspaper indicated that pensioners' income had increased by £884 per year, and the average pensioners' income had risen to £24,804 per year – just short of the average salary figure of £26,500.

The report also claimed that for the first time in three years, pensioners' income has been recorded as going up faster than inflation.

In 2013-14 the official inflation figure was 5.2 per cent, and the basic pension was increased by this amount; for 2014-15 the increase was 2.5 per cent, with inflation of 2.1 per cent.

All the surveys indicate, however, that inflation experienced by pensioners was over nine per cent – due to high increases in food prices, high cost of energy and utility services and increases in council tax.

There are nearly 11 million pensioners and, like all groups of the population, there are those among us who fit into one of three categories: those who need benefits, those who do not qualify for benefits and those who have high incomes.

Surveys show that the income of those in the second group (just over five million people) is below £11,000 a year. It is clear that the report has been issued in preparation for the next election and is part of the campaign to attack the most vulnerable in our society.

DENNIS ANDREWS

Chairman

Nottingham Elders' Forum

Friar Lane, Nottingham

ON Friday evening I went to Nottingham Playhouse to see the new production of The Full Monty. It was an excellent show, and I loved every minute from beginning until the end. The songs and singing were great. The whole cast were at their very best .

So it's full marks to The Full Monty.

JEAN TAYLOR

Barlock Road

Basford

YOU asked for stories and pictures of "kids gone mad" for the loom band craze.

My 12-year-old daughter Ella had a stall at Rushcliffe's YouNG Market, for teenagers in West Bridgford on Saturday, July 5, and did really well selling homemade key rings, bracelets and pencil-toppers.

She's now busy making lots more (like the horse pictured, below) and is hoping to sell them at Rushcliffe School's summer fair this Friday.

JANE CURTIS

Melton Gardens

Edwalton

I HAVE just been informed that part of the building site on the corner of Greythorn Drive and Loughborough Road, West Bridgford, is to be a care home.

I can't think of anything more depressing for a resident to be poorly in bed and for their relatives and visitors to have a view from the window of Wilford Hill Cemetery and Crematorium. I trust this was taken into account by the planning department.

KATE HOLMES

Selby Road

West Bridgford

AFTER the way his government has treated public sector workers, attacking their pay and their pensions, David Cameron dares to condemn their strike action – and threatens to impose even more "democracy" on unions after the next election.

As one writer put it: Democracy imposed is tyranny. Cameron is lining up the underprivileged for a bashing.

MPs, despite being overpaid, receive pay rises many times greater than any public sector worker gets, have pensions which leave public sector pensions in the shade, and some of their expenses fiddles netted them more income than many public-sector wages. No wonder the workers strike.

R L COOPER

Harlequin Close

Radcliffe-on-Trent

THE five-day forecast for Nottingham so far looks bright and clear, with temperatures hitting highs of 25C and only a small risk of showers.

Today and tomorrow will be largely sunny, with dry, clear spells this morning followed by sunny intervals and light winds.

The weather will become slightly cloudy tomorrow with sunny spells. There is a chance of thundery showers developing on Thursday.

Temperatures will peak on Thursday and Friday but the weather is likely to become increasingly humid on Friday, with a 55 per cent chance of rain forecast from around 7pm.

Lows of 15C are predicted for early morning tomorrow.

A LEARNER driver was shopped by her mother after borrowing a car to drive a few yards for a cheeseburger, a court heard.

Shortly afterwards, officers received a second call to say that Tina Hicking, 31, had returned from McDonald's to her Dean Street home in Langley Mill.

Magistrates were told yesterday that Hicking needed food to eat with her medication at 2.30am on June 6.

She was put on probation for a year, must get help in tackling a drug problem and must also obey an eight-week curfew.

She admitted taking a Vauxhall Corsa without consent, driving without insurance and breaching the terms of her provisional licence. She must pay £85 costs and a £60 Government surcharge and had six penalty points put on her licence.

Nick Wright said in mitigation that Hicking was being cared for by her parents after committing a series of offences, most of theme while she was in a violent relationship with a man now in prison.

He said Hicking didn't like the food in the house: "Why not walk to McDonalds? It is literally a stone's throw. You can stand at her home and see McDonald's roof. The answer was that she didn't want to be around lots of people. The riot act has been read by her parents but there is continuing support," Mr Wright told Southern Derbyshire magistrates.