A NATIONAL newspaper has apologised after describing a well-known Nottingham imam as a "jihad cleric".

The Daily Star Sunday said Dr Musharraf Hussain, chief executive and chief imam at the Karimia Institute in Bobbers Mill, had urged British Muslims to wage holy war against non-Muslims. It had also given the impression that Muslim Hands, of which Dr Hussain is a board member, shared these views.

The paper has now published an apology accepting that the allegations were untrue.

Dr Hussain said: "I was extremely surprised and disappointed to read the article, since this was contrary to my views and my work which I have tirelessly done over the past two decades.

"Not only was it inaccurate, but a misrepresentation of my beliefs. I have put myself on the line to criticise 'jihadis' and 'terrorists' many times as I have been working for peace."

NOTTINGHAM'S tram operators have fined a local mum for boarding the tram despite having a fully-paid up travel card.

It was one of a number of complaints that have been received by the Post over the past week by passengers who say they are being unfairly penalised following changes to the tram ticketing system.

The new system, rolled out in April, requires passengers to either buy tickets or swipe their travel cards at tram stops before boarding.

Jo Welch, 43, from Mapperley Park signed up recently for the monthly direct-debited Kangaroo ticket which allows unlimited travel on trams, buses and trains across the county.

She boarded the tram on Tuesday with her ticket from Hyson Green to the city centre.

When approached by a conductor, however, she was told that as she had failed to swipe her ticket at the Hyson Green stop she would be issued with a £50 on-the-spot penalty fine.

She said: "I asked, 'can't you just give me a verbal warning as you just gave me information I wasn't clear about?'.

"Luckily I wasn't with my son at the time – the idea of feeling stressed in front of my child would have been awful. It's not good for the community."

Last week, the Post reported on a petition to stop Nottingham Express Transit from issuing fines for boarding without a ticket.

Kathryn Punchard, 62, from Matlock, was visiting the city for a concert last Wednesday when she was given a fine.

Mrs Punchard, who said she had not visited Nottingham since January, was shocked to be fined after she offered payment for her travel.

She said: "I thought the conductor could have used some judgment that some people don't live here and don't have an idea about how to pay and on this occasion allow us to buy a ticket."

A spokesman for tram operator Nottingham Express Transit said: "The switch to off-tram ticketing arrangements has been widely publicised, with notices at stops and through an extensive on and off tram publicity campaign over several months.

"An appeal process is also in place for anyone who believes they have been unfairly issued with one of these notices."

Have you been given an on-the-spot fine? E-mail newsdesk@nottinghampost.com

THREE cuckoos captured in Nottinghamshire woodland are being tracked as they fly more than 5,000 miles to the depths of the African rainforest.

In a bid to understand their migration habits, two native British cuckoos were caught at Sherwood Pines Forest Park, and a third in Warsop Vale, and were tagged with a £3,000 satellite tracking system.

They were released in Sherwood Forest last month, and experts are now able to follow them as they fly south for the winter months.

One of the cuckoos, named Dudley, has already crossed the Sahara Desert and is currently on the edge of the rainforest in eastern Nigeria.

The other cuckoos, which haven't yet been named, are in Morocco and Belgium.

It is believed they will end up in the Congo rainforest.

Paul Stancliffe from the British Trust for Ornithology, which is leading the project, said: "We're currently seeing a decline in the UK in the number of breeding cuckoos, and we have lost almost three-quarters in the last 25 years.

"Over the next few weeks we will be able to find out more about their habits when they migrate, and hopefully learn more about what could be driving the decline.

"Cuckoos actually spend most of their time outside the UK and we don't know a lot about what they do or where they go when they're not here.

"We think they will end up in the Congo, but we don't know that for sure. This project will help us find out more."

The cuckoos might not even make it across the desert, But the information they provide as they make their way will prove vital to scientists.

Erin McDaid, of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, which is also involved in the project, said: "Many people have heard about the fact that birds migrate, but when you realise a bird that was recently in our area is now as far away as Africa, can be quite a surprise. It opens your eyes to how amazing our native cuckoos are.

"The information we learn from this project will help us improve their breeding areas and create better habitats for them. We can also then work to ensure their habitats on migration routes are protected."

Andy Lowe, West Notts Conservation Officer for Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, helped catch the birds at Sherwood Pines. He said: "Cuckoos are only here for about six weeks so we only had a short time to catch them. We used a cuckoo call playing on an MP3 player to lure them into nets.

"The fact we can watch them as they migrate will help us learn so much."

Follow the birds on their journey at bto.org/ cuckoos.

ILLEGAL parking by renegade taxi drivers outside Nottingham railway station is being targeted in a clampdown.

The city council is accusing cabbies of "flouting" the double yellow line restrictions in Carrington Street and making the road dangerous.

It has vowed to catch offenders and bring an end to the "unofficial taxi rank".

The council said it is stepping up patrols by Community Protection Officers and using CCTV to catch offenders and issue them with £70 fines.

The blitz has been welcomed by commuters.

Steven Parr, 54, from Wilford, travels to London to work and has seen the taxis on the double yellow lines. He said: "There have been times when buses can't get through and it's a busy road. Rules are rules and they shouldn't be allowed to get away with it."

Student Sarah Peace, 20, of West Bridgford, added: "I can't see why they are parking there. There's a massive taxi rank at the side of the station anyway."

An official taxi rank runs along Station Street for cabbies wishing to pick up fares from Nottingham Station.

This will be extended further along the street – to take up around three-quarters of the length of the road – when work to shut the junction with Carrington Street is finished.

But the council has said there is a cat-and-mouse game going on with taxi drivers who continue to use Carrington Street illegally when patrols aren't taking place – particularly when trains from London arrive in the city.

It is understood that lookouts alert taxi drivers when a Community Protection Officer is in the area.

When the Post visited Carrington Street at 4.30pm, there was a CPO in the station and taxis were using the official rank on Station Street.

He told the Post: "They won't come here while I'm standing here, but they'll come back after I finish and they'll be lined up on both sides of the street."

When the Post revisited at 8.30pm, six taxis were queuing along Carrington Street.

Jamil Ahmed, chairman of the Nottingham Licensed Taxi Owners & Drivers Association, said he welcomed the action.

He added: "I hope the city council takes action to ensure it's a level playing field for all. Some taxis unfortunately take advantage when there is a weakness in the system.

"These taxis are undermining the main taxi rank and action should be taken."

Jane Urquhart, portfolio holder for planning and transport at the city council, said: "The restriction on Carrington Street allows for passengers briefly alighting from or getting into vehicles, but not for long-term parking or creating an unofficial taxi rank.

"It is enforced by camera, as well as by CPOs if we become aware that the restrictions are being seriously flouted.

"There is no reason for taxis to park at the front of the station, flouting restrictions and creating problems for traffic on what is a busy bus route in and out of the city."

Is the council right to clamp down on taxi drivers? E-mail opinion@nottinghampost.com

THE number of houses sold in Nottinghamshire has jumped 13 per cent in one year, according to new figures from the Land Registry.

The latest data shows that 905 homes were sold in March, compared to 800 the year before.

It also gives the average price for a house sold in May at £124,472 (up 5.1 per cent from £118,452)) and the average sale price for a detached property at £191,063, also up 5.1 per cent from £181,822 last year.

Naomi Woodfield, 45, of Burton Joyce, recently sold her four-bedroom detached bungalow for £365,000 with estate agents Chesterton Humberts.

She believes the recent increase in sales is down to more people having confidence in the market. The mother-of-one said: "I put the house on the market two years ago but the price was quite high at £425,000 and the market wasn't that buoyant. I took it off the market, did some re-decorating, and put it back on the market in May. It sold within four hours at £365,000.

"I do believe the market is growing but people want value for money and they are savvy about the properties. Sellers have to be realistic. You will only sell if people think your property is worth what you are asking for."

Figures from Experian's Property Index also show that from 2013 to 2014, the number of homes that entered the market for sale in the East Midlands valued at over £500,000 rose by more than ten per cent. Houses for sale in the second highest price band (£250,000 to £500,000) increased by 20 per cent.

But the statistics also reveal that the number of homes entering the market for sale valued below £100,000 decreased by nine per cent.

Rob Clark, associate of Savill's estate agents in the city, said one of the reasons for an upturn in sales is because sellers have become more realistic about what their property is worth.

He said: "The market was certainly moving in the first quarter of this year and there was a short burst in new properties valued between £400,000 to £600,000 coming on to the market. I think people had more confidence in the market after it stabilised at the end of last year.

"I think there has also been an upturn in the sale of properties. One reason for this could be because sellers, who have had their property on their market for a year or more, are becoming more realistic about what their house is worth. When new and fresh houses come on the market, it makes it more competitive and sellers have to be in line with that in order to sell."

Dan Bennett, associate director of Chesterton Humberts in the city centre, said: "There have been a few more properties coming on the market valued at over half a million, and they have probably increased by ten per cent in the East Midlands. I think that is because the market is moving more quickly so it gives them more confidence to sell.

"However, from our experience in the past couple of months, we have felt there is a shortage of houses coming to the market in all sorts of price ranges. I think some sellers are holding back because they see the market going up and feel if they wait a bit longer the value of their house will rise more and they will get more money."

A SCIENTIST believes she is inching closer to discovering a new drug and vaccine to stop the transmission of malaria.

Dr Rita Tewari, of the University of Nottingham's school of life sciences, has done a huge study into how the killer disease spreads.

She looked into what affects proteins in the bodies of mosquitoes which lead to the malaria parasite developing inside them.

Dr Tewari said: "If we can find out what proteins are essential for these parasites to develop and divide, maybe we can target and arrest them with drugs or vaccines."

Dr Tewari's research was carried out with colleagues in London, Oxford and Saudi Arabia.

BLIND and partially-sighted people will continue to get support at Queen's Medical Centre.

Charity My Sight Nottinghamshire has stepped in to team up with Action for Blind People to run a help service that was under threat.

Action for Blind People had been working with drugs company Novartis, but that link-up finishes at the end of the month.

From August, My Sight Nottinghamshire will run the service from Mondays to Thursdays, with an Action member of staff available one Friday per month.

Andy Buchan, area operations manager for Action for Blind People, said: "We're delighted that My Sight Nottinghamshire is stepping-in to ensure the vital service continues.

"Panic and despair are natural instincts when someone is told they're losing their sight but it doesn't need to be this way. The advice and guidance available at QMC from My Sight and Action is designed to reassure patients, giving them options and contacts to help them adjust to sight loss and to continue leading active lives."

OFFICERS believe a missing man may have been spotted in a park in Dunkirk.

David Willoughby has now been missing for more than a week.

The 30-year-old left his home in Clifton Lane, Clifton, at just before 6.30pm on Thursday, July 10. He visited a friend later that day in St Ann's.

The possible sighting in Dunkirk was on Monday.

Officers believe he may have friends in Lenton.

He is white, strongly built and around 5ft 7in tall. He was last seen wearing a grey Nike tracksuit with a black and red T-shirt underneath, and Adidas shoes.

Anyone who has seen him is asked to call the police on the non-emergency number 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

BLUE Bell Hill Primary has become the first living wage accredited school in Nottinghamshire.

The living wage commitment will ensure that every member of staff at the St Ann's school earns at least £7.65 per hour, regardless of whether they are permanent employees or third-party contractors and suppliers.

This rate is significantly higher than the national minimum wage of £6.31.

The living wage is an hourly rate calculated according to the basic cost of living in the UK.

SEVERAL memorials are to be removed from a city cemetery to make way for a larger one.

The Sisters of Mercy applied to Nottingham City Council for permission to remove the nine memorials at St Barnabas Cathedral, in Derby Road.

The application says: "Nobody has records of when the memorials were erected, although we believe that some were erected before 1948.

"Of the memorials in question, one has already fallen over, several others could easily be pushed over, all are beyond realistic repair or renovation."

Now that the plans have been given the green light by Nottingham City Council, a new memorial with all the names of people buried there will be built.

WITH today set to be the hottest day of the year to date, here are our top tips for staying cool.

Dip in the fountains in Old Market Square. There is, of course, no better way to cool off than in cold water.

Have an ice-cream. There will be ice-cream sellers at various locations in the city, including Old Market Square and parks such as The Arboretum.

Stay in the shade. Parks across the city have various shaded areas near trees, ideal for those who want to keep out of the intense heat of the sun. Try The Arboretum or Victoria Embankment.

Wear lightweight, light-coloured cotton clothes. Heat is trapped by synthetic fibres but cotton absorbs perspiration and its evaporation causes you to feel cooler. The light colours reflect the sun's radiation.

Eat small meals and eat more often. The larger the meal, the more metabolic heat your body creates, breaking down the food. Avoid foods that are high in protein, which increase metabolic heat.

Keep hydrated. There are plenty of places to get a drink in the city. But you should stay away from alcohol, as this dehydrates the body. You are better off with mineral water or low-sugar fizzy drinks. Also, avoid drinks with caffeine such as coffee and colas.

And finally ...

Eat spicy food. Although this may be the last thing you fancy in hot weather, curries and chillies can stimulate heat receptors in the mouth, enhance circulation and cause sweating, which cools the body down.

A PAINTING on display at Nottingham Castle will be shown on 30,000 billboards across the country in the UK's biggest ever art show.

Ivon Hitchens' oil painting A River Pool will join 24 other paintings in the Art is Everywhere project, having been selected from a pool of 70.

It will be shown at bus shelters, underground stations, roadside billboards, motorway services, national rail networks, shopping centres and airports. It will also feature in an on-screen exhibition at 1,000 Vue cinemas.

MCDONALD'S and Next are the latest companies to sign up to the Nottingham Post's final summer recruitment fair.

The event, organised in partnership with Nottinghamshire County Council, will take place at the Richard Herrod Centre, in Carlton, on Tuesday .

It will feature more than 20 exhibitors and four training providers.

Other organisations include Ambuline Arriva, Avon, Care UK, Cobalt Carbon, Vision For Education and YU Energy.

Stephen Carpenter, of McDonald's, said: "We are hiring crew members and customer care assistants across Nottingham, a mixture of full and part-time.

"If you're interested, then come along and say hello."

Eight Bramley apples

100g brown sugar

100g unsalted butter

Large pinch each of cinnamon & nutmeg

Pinch of salt

4 eggs

500ml milk (approx)

Water

Cream together the butter, sugar and spices. Add this mixture to the centre of the cored and peeled apples. Place in a non-stick baking dish just large enough to hold the apples snugly. Add a few spoons of water to the flour and salt to form a thick paste, then mix in the eggs. Add the milk until a thick batter is reached. Pour over the apples and bake at gas mark 5/190°C for an hour.

HAVING read your articles about £50 tram fines, I wanted to share my experience of being issued with a penalty fare notice with you.

I live in Derbyshire and I rarely travel into Nottingham using the tram network. At around 9.15am on Sunday, June 29, I boarded a tram at Phoenix Park with my three-year-old son. On arriving at Phoenix Park, I saw no signage informing me that I needed to purchase a ticket prior to boarding the tram, and therefore assumed that I paid on board, as I have always done in the past.

After finding a seat for myself and my son, I got out my purse ready to pay the attendant. It was while waiting to pay that I noticed a sign displayed inside the tram informing me of the new rules regarding paying for journeys. I immediately shouted a tram attendant over to ask about the payment of fares. I apologised immediately.

He said very little to me and instead went to speak to his colleagues further down the cabin. He returned shortly after and asked my son and I to vacate the tram with no explanation as to what was happening. I was then issued with a penalty fare notice.

I was very upset at the prospect of paying a £50 fine for an innocent mistake which I had tried to rectify immediately. I was only travelling into Nottingham as I had some free tickets to take my little boy ice skating for the first time. What should have been a special day for my son and I had been completely ruined by the thought of having to pay the fine.

I felt intimidated by the attendant and his colleague as I gave my details. I was in a place very unfamiliar to me and felt my questions and explanations were not being listened to. This treatment was completely unfair and unnecessary. I understand that I had made a mistake but I was made to feel like a criminal.

On returning to Phoenix Park following my visit into the city, I looked carefully for information informing customers of the changes to payment methods. There was only a single, small banner under the shelter.

The ticket machines displayed no signage either; however, there was an attendant stood by them informing customers of the ticketing changes and ensuring that everyone who passed the machines had purchased a ticket. He had not been present when I passed the machines.

Surely if the signage is clear enough, then there would be no need to pay an attendant to complete this role. I feel it is completely unfair that I was not informed of the ticketing changes prior to boarding the tram, especially when people travelling later in the day were told personally.

I understand the need to enforce penalties on those who intentionally avoid paying their tram fares. However, I am not one of these people. I should not be punished for the failings of NET to provide adequate information with regards the changes to payment methods.

I appealed against the penalty fare notice immediately, hoping that common sense would prevail and the fine would be dropped; however, my appeal was unsuccessful.

If I do not pay the fine of £50, then I can expect it to increase to £1,000 with the threat of a criminal record! Ridiculous. I will not be returning to Nottingham in a hurry and will never use the Nottingham tram system again after the way in which I have been treated.

KIRSTY COUPLAND

Church Street

Waingroves

Ripley

AS someone who is a more mature member of the human race, how pleasing it is to see how far our society has developed in terms of equality, particularly in recent times.

Women bishops; more women in key roles in Government; less commotion when people in the public eye are happy not to deny their sexuality; the rules of succession to the throne. Long may such prejudices, for whatever reasons, continue to disappear, and may human beings be more tolerant of our individual differences.

LILIAN THORNLEY

Main Road

Radcliffe-on-Trent

KATE Holmes, in her letter about the care home proposed for Loughborough Road, says it would be "depressing" for residents to look out on Wilford Hill Cemetery.

It's because we never really talk about death openly, which is quite sad. My mum and dad rest at Wilford Cemetery, and my sisters and I visit often. Over the years, I have worked caring for hundreds of older people, who would often say "I'm going to Wilford", or "so-and-so's at Bulwell". When we visit, we remember happy days gone by.

JEAN TAYLOR

Barlock Road

Basford

We all live on the edge of darkness,

Teetering on the brink,

Listening to our voice of reason,

Do we swim or do we sink?

Sometimes we all edge nearer

But somehow pull away

When all you feel is hopeless

At the end of a desperate day.

But keep your wits about you,

Think straight whatever's on your mind,

Hang this side of darkness

Don't step over the dividing line.

Keep within your boundaries,

Face the world full on,

Think of all the people it will hurt

If one day you should be gone.

Hang this side of darkness

However bleak things seem to be,

Think of all life's good times

Then I know your mind will be free.

J SHAW

Clive Crescent

Kimberley

Our World Cup now is over,

Four long years have come and gone;

Another four are looming

Till again we bring it on.

A pass of pure precision

Or a stunning strike on goal,

Superb in breathless beauty

To entrance our very soul.

Or damn some team's oblivion

Log-jammed, long since sent home

With other mighty nations

Whilst some minion takes their throne.

To some it's merely just a game,

To some it's so much more,

Not so much a passion

More a thirst for total war.

So whether you're elated

Desolate, reduced to tears,

Next time could all be different,

Well it's only four more years.

Yet those who wonder why the fuss,

Deride not football's draw;

You too must have some passion,

Just one, or maybe more?

IAN GRAY

Wollaton Road

Wollaton Park

Like the sun sets

The body will die.

Only the spirit will awaken

In a new dawn on high.

The sun never dies

But it will rise

To a new birth

Above the skies.

Don't be afraid

Of going your way

For tomorrow you will

Be back,

Yes back this way.

Life is forever at his command

Some have proof,

Others don't understand.

A new life earned

After rest come what may

Your old body is gone,

Your spirit will stay

Returned forever

With loved ones in view

What more could you want

But a heavenly review

That's anew.

DOROTHY McGOUGH

Larchdene Avenue

Wollaton

I would not want to have been Adam

That is, before he fell,

All that leisure there in Eden

With not a jot of work as far as I can tell.

They just had their fruit and ate it,

Weeds and snails left to their own devices,

No hedge-cutting, no digging. No, no, no!

Idleness: the deadliest of vices.

As I write my hands are dirty

With garden soil they've been employed,

Yes, I am grubby, sweaty, joyful

Gardening – a task I never would avoid

BERNIE BROWN

Leslie Road

Forest Fields

Do paedophiles and rapists

In Parliament abound?

Are sex offenders and perverts

Also to be found?

Why could we be ruled

By such criminals as these?

Because entering Parliament

Is for them just a breeze?

There's no qualification needed,

No personality test.

Just con the local party

And they will do the rest.

So rare are investigations.

So rare the naming names.

Is cover-up on cover-up

The true name of the game?

I'll show you a thief,

If you show me a liar.

Who is under such a cloud?

Is there no smoke without fire?

Metaphors, similes, cliches,

They each hint at the facts,

But many, many years go by

Before our "representative" acts.

Psychopath or sociopath

Call them what you will,

One thing is certain:

In Parliament they serve us ill.

R L COOPER

Harlequin Close

Radcliffe-on-Trent

JOHN Rasul, 50, of Beauvale Road, The Meadows, is accused of possessing cannabis in Milton Street, Nottingham, on June 24. He was bailed to attend Nottingham Magistrates' Court on September 22.

CHELSEA Simmons, 19, of London Road, Newark, pleaded guilty at Nottingham Magistrates' Court to stealing a £2.10 sandwich from Wilkinsons, Newark, on June 25. She was fined £75 and ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge and costs of £85. No action was taken on a breach of a conditional discharge for an offence of threats to cause criminal damage.

JANET Waltham, 70, of Selby Road, West Bridgford, pleaded guilty to drink-driving in Loughborough Road, West Bridgford, on June 19. Magistrates in Nottingham heard she had 101 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, when the limit is 35. She was fined £200 and banned from driving for 25 months. She was ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge and costs of £85.

GARETH Watkins, 27, of Jensen Way, Carrington, is charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm on a man in Nottingham on April 26. Watkins was bailed at Nottingham Magistrates' Court to appear on July 28.

SHANE Simpson, 21, of Owsthorpe Close, Top Valley, is in custody accused of stealing a Ford Fiesta in Nottingham earlier this month. He denied the charge and his case was listed to be heard at Nottingham Crown Court on July 25.

PHILLIP Marriott, 34, of Rosecroft Drive, Arnold, pleaded guilty at Nottingham Magistrates' Court to stealing £83.15 worth of groceries from Sainsbury's on May 19. He also admitted failing to surrender to custody at the court on June 6. He was handed a community order with a requirement to attend a thinking skills programme and be supervised by the probation service for 12 months. He must do 120 hours' of unpaid work.

DARREN Smallwood, 27, of Dunstan Street, Netherfield, denies stealing the contents of a handbag, including a Nokia mobile phone, £50, a purse and a bank card, from an address in Shaw Gardens, Clifton, on July 7. He was remanded in custody to appear at Nottingham Crown Court via video link on July 25.

MATEUSZ Herka, 18, of Bentinck Court, Hyson Green, is charged with stealing a mobile phone from a man in Nottingham on June 26. His case will he heard at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on Monday.

PAUL Guthrie, 52, of Mitchells Terrace, Ilkeston, denied drug-driving in Arnold in February. Magistrates in Nottingham bailed him to attend his trial on September 29.

AN assault charge against Louis Wright, 32, of Musters Road, West Bridgford, has been dismissed by magistrates in Nottingham. He denied the charge, relating to an alleged assault on a woman in Strelley in March.

CHRISTOPHER Carter, 31, of Long Dale, Forest Town, has been bailed after he was found guilty of assaulting a female in Mansfield in March. He will be sentenced at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on July 28.

DONNA Stacey, 46, of Valentine Avenue, Selston, was fined £110 for being drunk and disorderly in her street on June 18. She pleaded guilty at Mansfield Magistrates' Court and was ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge and costs of £85.

SCOTT Bowler, 36, of Denham Street, Bulwell, has been bailed to attend Nottingham Magistrates' Court on August 14 after being found guilty of assaulting a female in Nottingham on March 30.

AKAS Ahmed, 26, of Independent Street, Radford, was fined £200 for not wearing a seatbelt while driving on October 7 last year. He was prosecuted in his absence at Nottingham Magistrates' Court and found guilty. JPs ordered him to pay a £20 victim surcharge and costs of £85.

SCOTT Fletcher, 37, of Barlock Road, Old Basford, was fined £105 after pleading guilty to driving when using a hand-held mobile phone. Mansfield magistrates ordered him to pay a £20 victim surcharge and costs of £85. Three penalty points will be added to his licence.

RICHARD Powell, 48, of Wollaton Street, Nottingham, pleaded guilty to using an uninsured Audi in Nottingham on October 10 last year. Mansfield magistrates fined him £110 and ordered him to pay a £20 victim surcharge and costs of £85. Six penalty points will be added to his licence.

MICHAEL Rhodes, 51, of Tame Close, Clifton, pleaded guilty to using a mobile phone while driving a Ford in Nottingham on October 10 last year. His case has been adjourned to be heard at Mansfield Magistrates' Court on August 5.

MOHAMMED Nasir, 43, of Sneinton Dale, Sneinton, was found guilty of using a mobile phone while driving a Vauxhall in Melton Road, West Bridgford, on October 6 last year. At Mansfield Magistrates' Court, he was fined £200 and ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge and costs of £85. Three penalty points will be endorsed on his licence.

WITH highs of 30C expected, today is set to be a scorching hit with sun worshippers.

But as the mercury rises in Nottingham, some schoolchildren and workers will be getting hot under the collar.

Schools are being forced to balance the need for strict uniform guidelines with ensuring students can keep cool.

And that has led one mum into conflict with her daughter's school.

Emily Cope, 12, said she was told by a teacher at Big Wood School to put her blazer back on after she'd taken it off during the warm weather, to the anger of her mum.

Lydia Dundon, 32, believes the school, in Warren Hill, near Top Valley, should relax its guidelines to allow students to stay cool.

"She struggles with the heat anyway, so she was walking outside with her blazer off when a teacher asked her to put it back on, even though he was just wearing a short-sleeved shirt," said Miss Dundon, of Bestwood Park.

"I think it is right that a school has a proper policy around uniforms but when the weather is so hot, they need to be more sensible about it."

In a letter to parents at the start of the summer, head teacher Andrea Healey reaffirmed the policy surrounding blazers.

She said: "During periods of warm weather, pupils are expected to wear their blazer to school.

"Pupils will be allowed to remove their blazer during lessons with the permission of the member of staff and whilst sitting and relaxing or playing sports during unstructured times."

An additional note on the school's website tells parents that it has high standards for uniforms, saying "it creates a sense of belonging, and reduces arguments at home about what is or isn't acceptable dress for school".

It is set to be warm throughout today but temperatures are expected to be at their highest, 30C, at about 4pm, at the end of the school day.

It will remain warm throughout the evening, though the dry weather will make way for heavy downpours tonight and into tomorrow.

The city council has issued guidance to schools and other businesses on how to take precautions for vulnerable people such as children.

A spokesman said: "With the mercury rising in Nottingham, public health officials at Nottingham City Council have issued advice on staying sun safe, and looking out for vulnerable people.

"Even if temperatures do not hit extreme levels, Public Health England still advises people to keep safe in the sun, seek shade to cool down and keep hydrated with plenty of cool fluids."

The hot weather has sparked a level two heatwave alert from the Met Office. This means there is a high chance that temperatures over the next few days could pose significant health risks.

Among the most vulnerable are the elderly and the very young, as well as people with chronic or long-term medical conditions.

It has prompted Age UK Notts to issue advice for the elderly for how they can keep cool.

The charity says they should stay indoors during the hottest parts of the day, drink plenty of cold fluids and wear a hat as well as a high-factor sun cream or block for essential trips outside.

Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said "The importance of staying cool in hot weather cannot be overstated for older people, especially if there are successive hot days. It is extremely important that older people take sensible precautions during a heatwave, particularly if they have breathing problems or a heart condition.

"Anyone with an older family member or neighbour can help by calling in to check to see if they are OK and if they need help in taking reasonable precautions to stay well in the hot weather.

"Helping out by bringing in shopping may be especially valued if it means older people don't have to be outside in the sweltering heat."

With the temperatures rising, many people will be doing what they can to try to keep cool.

But they are being warned against jumping into canals and rivers.

Tony Stammers, head of health and safety with the Canal and River Trust, said: "Inland waters such as canals, rivers and reservoirs may look inviting on a hot summer's day, but any open body of water can pose a hazard, as the water can often be extremely cold and can bring on cramps in even the strongest swimmers and there may be hidden objects lurking beneath the surface."

How are you making the most of the heatwave in Nottingham? E-mail at newsdesk@nottinghampost.com.