A CONMAN who took money from elderly people for mobility aids that were never delivered has been sentenced to six months in prison – after breaching a court order three times.

John Cooney, 37, of Water Lane, Radcliffe-on-Trent, first appeared in court in 2010 after trading standards officers were contacted by worried customers of his company Mobility Plus.

Many had paid deposits on equipment that they never received.

At that time, he was ordered to sign an agreement under the Enterprise Act, which set out rules that he must stick to while running his company.

But within weeks of this, Trading Standards received more complaints about the company, and Cooney and business partner Carl Mould appeared in court in January this year. Cooney, a father-of-two, admitted 36 breaches of the undertaking at that hearing but sentencing was deferred until December 2014 to give him one last chance to stay out of trouble.

He was back in court yesterday after admitting a further 49 breaches of the order since January, which involved mis-selling goods to another five customers.

He pleaded guilty to contempt of court.

After the hearing, Councillor Mick Murphy, chairman of Notts County Council's community safety committee, said: "Trading Standards and the court have given Mr Cooney every chance to comply with the law and recompense his victims.

"Unfortunately, he chose to continue to rip off vulnerable people.

"After all, people who need mobility aids are by definition some of the most vulnerable in our society and trading standards will continue to protect them by bringing offenders like Cooney before the courts."

Cooney previously formed UK Mobility with Carl Mould, 46, of River Crescent, Waterside Way, Colwick, at premises in Epperstone.

The company sold aids for the elderly, including rise and recline chairs, bath lifts and specially-adapted beds.

All their victims were aged over 65 and handed over deposits ranging from £170 to £1,100.

Many said they had paid deposits for products such as chairs, beds and mattresses that had not been delivered.

The business suddenly closed on January 6, 2011, without notifying existing customers or the owners of the premises it rented at Crifton Enterprise Centre, Epperstone.

Mould was jailed for four months in September after admitting 26 breaches of the order since the January hearing.

A MAN has been charged with attempted murder after a 67-year-old woman was stabbed in Mansfield on Sunday .

Maurice Joseph Poismans, 68, has been charged after the woman was found injured at an address in The Patchills at about 8.50am.

Yesterday, she was still at the Queen's Medical Centre in a stable condition.

Poismans, of The Patchills, will appear at Mansfield Magistrates' Court this morning.

A WOMAN has transformed a complete stranger's life by donating one of her kidneys.

Lesley Turner, 49 does not know who has her right kidney, only that the recipient had been on dialysis for eight years.

Giving away a kidney to a stranger is very rare and is known medically as an "altruistic donation".

Lesley's operation was the first of its kind carried out by Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.

The surgeon who carried out the two-hour operation, Shantanu Bhattacharjya, said: "Lesley has done a great deed by becoming our hospital's first altruistic donor. It was an honour to be a part of that. I think she is a remarkable woman."

Lesley, who has been married for 25 years, said she did not donate her organ for recognition but because she wanted to give someone else the opportunity to live life to the full.

She said: "I know what it is like to be around people who are really ill. And I know how much of a difference getting a new organ can make, as my mother-in-law had a heart transplant 14 years ago. She has gone on to see her grand-kids being born and love life.

"But I don't want people to get the wrong impression. Donating an organ doesn't make you a better person or a different person. You are still the same person with good and bad qualities; you just happen to have one less kidney.

"I just wanted someone who was really suffering to be afforded the same opportunity as my mother-in-law had – to have their life back. Anyone can donate at any age and I was surprised to learn that I was the first one Nottingham's hospitals had carried out."

Barry Evans, 34, of Sutton-in-Ashfield, received a kidney earlier this year from an altruistic donor who lived outside Notts. He said: "Words can't describe how amazing I think people like Lesley are. My donor saved my life, and now I'm starting a family."

Lesley, who is from the Nottingham area, donated her kidney on October 31 at the City Hospital.

A 58-YEAR-OLD man has appeared in court charged with four counts of having sex with a horse.

Peter Coulby, of Hillingdon Drive, Ilkeston, appeared before magistrates in Derby yesterday afternoon.

He was charged with four counts of having intercourse with a living animal between February 1 and June 6.

Coulby also faced four counts of possessing extreme pornography on June 5.

Police were called to a property in Breaston Lane, Risley, on June 6 following reports of a man acting suspiciously in a field.

A man was arrested nearby.

Coulby was granted bail and will appear at Derby Crown Court again on January 21.

AFTER barely four months as Nottingham Forest manager, it is already abundantly clear that Sean O'Driscoll is not one for cliches or stereotypes.

He does not adhere to the norm, nor say what is expected of him.

But even he must have joined a fairly exclusive club among football managers when he warned that Forest must be wary of spending big; cautious about making marquee signings in January.

It may sound like the exact opposite of the message Billy Davies would traditionally noisily begin to articulate at this point of year.

But, as is frequently the case with O'Driscoll, his point was not quite as basic as it may first seem.

His appeal, as January approaches, is not for Forest to avoid making new signings during the transfer window, but for them to tread carefully if and when they to.

The Al Hasawi family have thus far shown themselves to be ambitious supporters of their manager, with the money that has been spent on assembling a squad that feels like it is starting to gel nicely.

And, on the face of things, it appears that they have largely listened to his judgement, since he first walked through the doors back in July.

Now, following early talks about their plans for the future, for January and beyond, O'Driscoll hopes that continues, as he himself ploughs new ground, as manager of a club who, for once, clearly have the resources to spend if they wish.

"We have not asked for anything," said O'Driscoll, whose new-look side will be looking to secure a place in the top six when they take on Ipswich tonight.

"We have not gone to the owners and said 'we need this, this and this'. What we have told them is that we can develop this team further. We need patience for that to happen. But it is their club, their money.

"If they want something different, we have to sit down and make sure we do things right.

"If they want to bring in three or four players, we have to make sure they are the right players; players who can help.

"We do not want to do things for the sake of it."

In recent months, potential deals are understood to have been offered to bring several big-name players to Forest – including Nottingham-born winger Jermaine Pennant.

"If players are forced upon you, it is ridiculous. You cannot work in an environment like that," said O'Driscoll. "That has not been the case at all.

"But we have to be mindful of the fact that this is not my club. If it was I would have the final say. But it isn't, so I haven't.

"We are heading in the right direction, but we need to take little steps. You cannot make massive leaps in this division.

"It will be little steps and then January will decide whether one or two players can come in to make a big improvement to the squad. There will be a lot of players who want to come to Nottingham Forest, because it is a good club.

"But we have to make sure they are the right ones. That is the conundrum."

Forest's most recent addition, Alan Hutton, is certainly a big-name addition. But, in his case, O'Driscoll believes the move works for both parties.

"Taking lads from Premier Division clubs is difficult because, when you have been the top flight, you don't always want to step down," said O'Driscoll. "But he is out of favour at Aston Villa and needs to play some games, in the same manner as Jermaine (Jenas).

"In six weeks time he might have four or five Premier League clubs looking at him. He might be outside of our reach.

"But you never know. With loan players, they have to come in and do well and, if they do that, they will do well for themselves as well as the club."

O'Driscoll hints that Forest might look at the possibility of making the loan moves of Daniel Ayala and Billy Sharp permanent in January.

"We have two season-long loans in Daniel and Billy and the rest are all short term. It is not ideal," he said. "If you can get your own players, that is better for everyone.

"We have seven loan players now so, if they are all fit, two of them cannot even be in the squad. That can create an atmosphere – an unhealthy one.

"In the January transfer window we will look at the various possibilities, whether that be trying to keep what we have got, to develop things or bring in more players and reorganise.

"In six weeks time, we will have a clearer picture of what we want to do."

Equally, if Southampton or Norwich do want Sharp or Ayala back in January, O'Driscoll says Forest will have to be realistic.

"If Southampton politely ask to have Billy back in January, we would have to have a discussion. If both parties agree, a season-long loan can be brought to an end in January," he said.

"I think you could actually say 'no' to Southampton, if you wanted to.

"But you have to be mindful of how you would feel if the boot was on the other foot.

"I always think you should treat people how you would like to be treated yourself."

Again, that is hardly an excerpt from the average football manager's quote book.

But O'Driscoll's grounded sense of logic has stood Forest in good stead so far.

And managers who throw around cash as enthusiastically as they do cliches are not automatically a success.

SEAN O'Driscoll will be backed with more new additions in the January transfer window – but the Nottingham Forest manager warned the club must tread carefully with new signings.

When it comes to their permanent additions, the Reds have so far largely maintained a careful policy of recruiting players who have experienced success in the Championship.

And O'Driscoll hopes that remit will be maintained in January – and that the club's ambitious owners will resist the temptation to splash out on big-name signings in the pursuit of success.

"There is a logical progression, when you are trying to construct a team. You want players that you know and, more importantly, have been there and done it and are good characters," said O'Driscoll.

"You can bring in a player because he is a marquee signing that will excite the fans and even put bums on seats – but if he does not deliver, he can cause more harm.

"It has to be right for the player as well. If you are in the market for spending vast amounts of finance on players, you have to make sure they are the right ones.

"The remit would be that you need people who know this division – because this is the division they will be playing in – who can make the step up to the next level, if needs be.

"These things are ongoing and everyone has an opinion, which is the best thing about football and the worst thing in football."

O'Driscoll confirmed he had held early talks with the Al Hasawi family about Forest's January plans.

The manager says it will become more clear what is required over the coming weeks, as the window approaches.

"They have their ideas of what their team needs; of what the squad needs," he said.

"We have our own ideas. What we don't want is to have 35 players wandering around the place.

"Because that would be an unhealthy situation. You can look back at other clubs who have gone down that line and brought players in for the sake of it; because their CV or their past history might make them a good signing – and they have been disasters.

"Whether you have money and resources or not, you have to bring in the right players at the right time for you."

TWO-THIRDS of schools in Nottingham were ranked outstanding or good in their most recent Ofsted inspection, new figures reveal.
The education watchdog today published figures which show how each local authority is performing.
It shows that as of the end of August, 19 per cent of city schools had the best-possible outstanding rating, while 48 per cent having good.
However this was below the national average of 21 per cent and 49 per cent respectively.
Meanwhile, 19 per cent of Notts schools were rated outstanding, with 52 per cent being graded good.
*See tomorrow's Post for full story.

'Move the Chase Neighbourhood Centre onto the site of Loxley House,' was one interesting suggestion put forward during a consultation event on the Robin Hood Chase today.

Project Managers Alan Parker & Gill Callingham of the City Council were at the Chase Neighbourhood Centre this morning to show off their new master plan for the Robin Hood Chase shopping precinct, and consult local people.

In addition, another public meeting has been arranged at the Chase neighbourhood Centre for Thursday 29th November at 4pm, when St Ann's locals are being invited to discuss the new plans with local councillors Jon Collins, Dave Liversidge & Sue Johnson.

At today's meeting local residents said that "it was the building of the Neighbourhood Centre in the middle of the Robin Hood Chase in 1997 that caused great harm, with many of the shops closing down soon afterwards. The community centre is not a permanent fixed structure; it is made from wooden units bolted together, so it can be moved!"

Eight local residents arrived to join in the discussion this morning, and later three of the Chase shopkeepers attended.

Locals said that the construction of new St Ann's following the slum clearance program in the late 1970s was 'a disaster', as few facilities were rebuilt in the area, shops, community centres and pubs, and what has been provided has now nearly all gone. "The recent closures of the Chase Co-op store, and Westminster pub was a great loss to the community", they said.

The residents at the meeting also thought that the master plan shown "was not sensitive to the needs of St Ann's locals who often used the Robin Hood Chase," and said they believed the Regeneration Scheme was a kind of "damage limitation exercise."

Project Manager Gill Callingham informed the meeting that "all the elderly people we have consulted say that no one wanted to go onto the Chase at night time, because it has a bad reputation."

All the local residents present today said "this was just not true!" A lot of the shops had closed because of the positioning of the community centre, so there was nowhere for people to do their shopping today during the hours of darkness. All of the pensioners at today's meeting agreed, and pointed out that "they did go onto the Robin Hood Chase at night, and even walked to the top of the Chase when it was dark."

As part of Zone 3 in place of the former library, Co-op and shops on the north side of the Chase, there are plans to build up to 18 new houses at a cost of £2m. We were told this part of the project will now not happen until 2015 at the earliest.

Plans at the meeting also show a 50/50 mix of new houses & shops on the area at the front of the Robin Hood Chase in Zone 2a in place of the closed Health Centre, which would cost £1.6m.

However, Gisella Sobarasua who edits the Chase Magazine said "there were still too many new homes on the plan, which if built would make the Chase too closed in and claustrophobic. This would also bring with it an increase in antisocial behaviour, due to the closeness of the new houses."

Project Manager Alan Parker said that this was an issue raised during consultation events last autumn.

"We have listened to these concerns, and now we do not intend to build any new houses in the Aster Road area.

"However, we do need to build some new houses on the Chase to help finance the scheme.

"Also, we are now close to a deal with the NHS to buy the former Health Centre, so the City Council will own all of the land. It is important to realise that the future plans for the Robin Hood Chase cannot happen without a private developer on board, as the City Council does not have the money to develop the land by itself," he said.

For local news about St Ann's visit http://stonebridge-park-nottingham.com/

SEAN O'Driscoll admitted Forest produced their worst performance of the season at Ipswich and refused to make excuses over their 3-1 defeat.

Referee Andy D'Urso's decision to award a soft penalty following Danny Collins' challenge on DJ Campbell was the turning point of the game, as Luke Hyam smashed home the rebound after Campbell's spot kick had been saved brilliantly by Lee Camp.

That made the score 2-1 just five minutes after Dexter Blackstock had cancelled out Guirane N'Daw's opener, which came after a mistake from Camp – who could also have been sent off in the first half.

Daryl Murphy killed the game off with a third Ipswich goal in the 90th minute – but O'Driscoll admitted his side had not deserved a share of the spoils.

"We got a great result against Wolves and the one thing we said after that was not to get complacent now… but talking about it does not do it, it is about what you do on the pitch," he said.

"And we committed all the mistakes that you don't want to commit on the pitch.

"We gave the ball away from the kick-off, we did not defend the first goal kick… we gave them momentum and never wrestled it back from them.

"I am glad we did not get somebody sent off, because that would really have capped off our night.

"What do I put it down to? We are not as good as people think we are. We conceded 11 crosses against Wolves and we could have conceded three or four goals then.

"If, individually, you have poor nights, you make sure that you are still hard to beat as a team, but we were not even that.

"When you have an off night, you try to make sure that you get something out of the game. It was disappointing."

O'Driscoll refused to gloss over Forest's performance in general, saying: "Sometimes the scoreline does not reflect the game – but that one did, if we are honest. It could have been more, to be fair.

"We started badly and got worse. We were thinking about making changes early, in the first half.

"But that is the worst we have played all season. That is not typical of the Forest team we have seen this season."

O'Driscoll also revealed that Simon Cox is likely to be out for two months with his ankle injury, which further scans have revealed does involve a fracture and a detached ligament.

"He will have another scan in a few weeks to see if it is healing, if it isn't, he might have to have it pinned," said the manager. "If it is healing, it is still going to be six weeks beyond that, probably."

THE crackdown on antisocial behaviour has included action against Christopher Pearson, who was banned from pubs and clubs in Hucknall town centre for three years in 2010.

Pearson, of Dawlish Close, Hucknall, was given an Asbo after being convicted of assaulting a teenager in the town. It bans him from entering Hucknall town centre between 10pm and 3am daily and from entering licensed premises in the town at any time.

A breach of the order could result in the 32-year-old being fined or sent to prison for up to five years.

Anyone who sees Pearson breaking the conditions of the order can call Notts Police on 0300 300 9999 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A POLICE crackdown has seen antisocial behaviour in Hucknall fall by almost a quarter.

Inspector Nick Butler said the number of incidents between April and October this year is down 22 per cent on the same period in 2011.

He said one of the key reasons for the improvement was a dedicated antisocial behaviour team taking to the streets at peak times when troublemakers are in action.

The team have been operating for about two-and-a-half years.

"It's made a massive difference. It gives a specific responsibility to officers to tackle antisocial behaviour," said Inspector Butler. "The figures show the impact."

He added: "Our key business is fighting crime and keeping people safe. Antisocial behaviour is no less a crime then a theft – there's an offender and a victim. It's equally devastating and we need to respond in that way.

"We are putting the victims first in everything we do."

Mr Butler said the police would not be stopping there.

He said: "Hucknall is a very safe place to live. It's got the lowest rates of crime and disorder for 30 years.

"We've got dedicated officers in the right places at the right times and we're working very closely with our partners.

"We can't be complacent and we are not complacent."

Rosemary Wragg, of Derwent Drive, said she has not heard of any incidents for a while.

She added: "I think they are doing a good job.

"You see police more than ever. It's reassuring.

"It's a difficult time that we are living in and the police do a good job."

Despite the statistics, some residents say that antisocial behaviour is still a problem in Hucknall.

Dawn Plenty, of Palmer Avenue, said: "What really annoys me is all the glass on the floor. I've had two punctures in my mobility scooter in the last month and it cost me £170 to get it fixed."

The 78-year-old added: "You worry you might get a brick thrown through your window.

"It's mostly youngsters. They know they can get away with stuff and if there was more police it might deter them.

"They ride their bikes on the pavement. Last week one went right over me."

Deborah Robinson works at T8s Wine Bar in Central Walk.

The 47-year-old said: "We've had a few come in here. They get a bit loud and rowdy. You get used to who they are."

She added: "I don't think it's worse than anywhere else.

"They aren't even kids – more grown-ups. It's often older people who cause trouble."

Ged Dove works at the Red Lion Pub on the High Street and blamed alcohol for pro problems in the area.

He said: "People can't afford to go out so they drink at home first.

"They come out already three parts drunk and the police blame us for their behaviour."

He added: "The police initiative won't make any difference. I have rung the police before and all they do is kick them out on to the street."

NEW members are needed for a group which provides respite for carers in Gedling if it is to continue to offer day trips and parties.

The Take a Break carers' support group – which meets every Monday in the Gedling Road Methodist Church hall in Carlton – has held a Christmas party each year since 1994.

However eight years on it is struggling to hold the party as it needs drivers to help drop off and pick up members and equipment.

Christine Touhig, who founded the group when she was caring for her mother, who had dementia, said the situation was at crisis point.

The pensioner, who lives in Gedling Road, said: "It is really important we recruit new members because we won't be able to have a Christmas party next year if disabled members don't have transport.

"We used to be able to run trips to places like Devon too but now numbers have dwindled to around ten members from double that amount, we just can't do it.

"We really need drivers and people to help organise fundraising events, as well as someone who can set up a website, if we are to have any hope of running events in the future."

She added that the group would continue to meet on Mondays from 10am until 1pm.

She said: "We will still offer meetings but with the big events we need more people."

This year's Christmas party, which will be held at the Main Street Methodist Church hall in Carlton Hill, will go ahead on Monday, but it could be the last.

Carer Liz Carroll, who looks after her 96-year-old mother, said the party was very important.

Mrs Carroll, 66, of Canarvon Street in Netherfield, said: "The party is such a cheerful event and is a chance for people to let their hair down.

"Some people may struggle to provide a Christmas at home, and the party helps with that as a really festive time is offered.

"The group and the party is very important to carers and their relatives."

Group committee member Glenda Merryweather, 73, echoed Mrs Carroll's concerns.

Mrs Merryweather, of Balmoral Road in Colwick, said: "I joined the group when I was caring for my husband who had Huntington's disease and my mother who was blind.

"It really is important to carers because it offers a well-needed break.

"But the Christmas party is equally important.

"At this time of year people are stuck in the house and without something to look forward to they can get depressed.

"Christine has been brilliant organising all the events over the years and we have had some lovely trips away. But it seems like most of our male members have now died and we have less and less people who can help with transport."

To join the group or offer transport to help with its events, contact Christine on 0115 952 4482.

Is your charity feeling the pinch this Christmas? Contact our newsdesk on 0115 905 1967 or email newsdesk@nottinghampostgroup.co.uk

FOURTEEN jobs will be axed when an Ilkeston GP surgery and walk-in centre closes in February.

The Ilkeston Family Practice at the town's community hospital has more than 1,500 registered patients.

But it will close its doors after it was decided that some medical services were duplicated in the town.

For 64-year-old Carol Hufton, the potential closure is a big blow.

Mrs Hufton, of Glebe Crescent, said: "A lot of people from around here will be upset at losing the surgery and walk-in centre because it's always there, seven days a week.

"The doctors there are lovely and they have been there for me when me and my family have needed them.

"I don't see why they would want to shut the surgery and walk-in centre down – they have brilliant doctors and brilliant staff there.

"It will be a big loss. I just hope we can persuade people to think again here."

Mrs Hufton said her family are thinking of putting a petition together to show the strength of feeling in the area.

Helen Clark, chairman of the Erewash Labour Local Government Committee, said the news of the closure was a "shame".

She said: "It's extremely worrying news as the centre provides a valuable service."

Vikki Taylor, director of commissioning at NHS Derbyshire County, said: "Ilkeston Family Practice has been a GP surgery for local patients as well as a GP-led walk-in centre for all patients from Ilkeston and surrounding areas.

"When this practice was commissioned, there were no extended hours available at GP surgeries. However, there are many practices in Ilkeston now that offer extended hours, usually on one or two early mornings, late evenings and/or on Saturday mornings.

"Therefore, a mutually amicable decision has been made to reduce duplication and maximise efficiencies locally by closing the practice and its walk-in service.

"Ilkeston Community Hospital itself remains a central part of health provision in the future and services are unaffected."

She added that the majority of registered patients at the practice live within the catchment areas of others in the town.

Patients are being notified of the changes and are being sent a full list of all GP practices that have the capacity to take patients and offer a level of service outside of the core hours of 8am and 6.30pm.

APPRENTICES could help kick-start Nottingham's economy, it was claimed last night.

Nottingham Apprenticeship Hub aims to help businesses take on apprentices by offering financial incentives and support for employers.

It has been set up in a partnership between Nottingham City Council, the National Apprenticeship Service and the Department of Work and Pensions.

The launch was held at the city's Antenna Business Centre in Huntingdon Street, coinciding with the start of Confetti Media's Group's Creative and Digital Media Apprenticeship programme.

Jason Beaumont, a director at Confetti Media Group, urged businesses to hire an apprentice from Confetti's talent pool.

"Our main objective is to announce to employers about new opportunities for them to take on new apprentices, specifically in our area," he said.

"It is essential to kick-start trade in the city.

"There are a lot of talented people looking for opportunities. The exciting thing for the youngsters is that we want all our apprenticeships to lead to a job. If the company sees the value they will get a full-time job and that's the main aim."

Nottingham City Homes has committed to taking on an apprentice.

Martin Valentine, head of communications and marketing for NCH, said: "We are going to get them to make movies and we want them to do a lot of web stuff. This person potentially would be right in the thick of it. They would come out with a resume of interesting work."

Neil Fowkes, head of business development at South Notts College, added: "They have got more of a chance with their life, more of an opportunity and a contribution to society. Employers benefit and Nottingham benefits."

A city council spokesman described the scheme as a "virtual hub". He said the council would be working with employers and the job centre.

Nottingham city councillor Nick McDonald, portfolio holder for jobs, skills and business, said: "We need to do more in Nottingham. Apprenticeships are the beginning of a career and that's what differentiates from a normal job. We hope for lots more apprenticeships and we want to see Nottingham as a leading city for apprenticeships."

Has your business taken on an apprentice? Call our newsdesk on 0115 9482000 or e-mail newsdesk@nottinghampostgroup.co.uk

THE group which oversees sport in Notts wants more link-ups between schools and sports clubs. And it has recruited one of Britain's best gymnasts to help.

At the moment there are around 160 arrangements where schools get pupils to play for clubs outside school hours.

But Sport Nottinghamshire wants this number to increase – and has enlisted gymnast Becky Downie as ambassador of the scheme to boost links between sports.

The former Rushcliffe School student has agreed to promote Sport Nottinghamshire's School-Club links programme. It aims to develop formal links between clubs and schools to encourage children to continue playing sport after school, and also create a pathway towards elite sport.

Becky, who started out at the age of seven with Bigwood Gymnastics Club, said: "Gymnastics has been such a big part of my life and has given me so many wonderful experiences, but without the encouragement from my school, teachers and my first local club, my story could have been a very different one. School-Club links are a great way to encourage kids to take something they enjoy to the next step. I'm looking forward to supporting this programme and think it could really make a difference."

The School-Club links initiative aims to further sporting opportunities for young people in Notts by working closely with local authorities, schools and clubs, to foster formal partnerships.

Notts Athletics Club, for example, currently has official links with 14 schools in the city, while Nottingham Outlaws Rugby Club works with Trinity School, Hadden Park High, and Nottingham Academy to give pupils greater access to rugby league.

Rob Cook, youth sport manager at Sport Nottinghamshire, said: "Nottinghamshire currently has about 160 active School-Club links but we'd like to have many more. This is why we are encouraging local schools and sports clubs to create formal links, and to tell us about it.

"We're delighted that Becky has agreed to be ambassador for this programme. Becky is someone who has achieved amazing things through hard work, dedication and self-belief, but we'd like to think that she had a little helping hand from her school and her first club.

"We hope her story may help inspire others to formalise these links."

For more details about the scheme visit www.sportnottinghamshire.co.uk. Clubs or schools wanting to establish a link can also e-mail rob.cook@ntu.ac.uk.

PLANS to introduce a minimum price for alcohol need to be part of a wider exploration of society's view of drinking, Nottingham experts have claimed.

The Government outlined plans to introduce a 45p minimum charge per unit of alcohol yesterday, arguing it will help reduce the levels of ill-health and crime related to alcohol.

The Home Office has launched a ten-week consultation on the plan, which was first mooted in March at a lower 40p minimum per unit.

The plan has polarised opinion nationally, with the drinks industry warning it would hit consumers hard.

But Mark Holmes, a nurse at the Nottinghamshire Recovery Partnership, which specialises in treating people with alcohol problems, welcomed the idea.

He said: "The only way of controlling the sale of strong ciders and lagers – which are often sold cheaper than bottled water – is to actually enforce this minimum unit price.

"This has got to be part of a wider look at our culture and how we deal with binge drinking. We know actually the biggest binge drinkers are people aged 35 to 55."

Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) Trust says 1,477 people have been admitted to accident and emergency departments or hospital for alcohol-related issues this year up to Tuesday.

It said 1,536 people were treated last year and 1,519 in 2010.

Mr Holmes added: "A minimum price per unit will only affect a small amount of people anyway. But we don't want it to be a sticking plaster over the bigger problem of a huge amount of people ending up in hospital or being prosecuted as a result of drinking."

The 45p minimum would mean a can of strong lager could not be sold for less than £1.56 and a bottle of wine below £4.22.

But recovering alcoholic Mike McGill, who ran counselling service Alcohol and Drugs Educational Programme and Training (ADEPT) in Nottingham for six years, said: "It will make very little difference.

"It might hit people's pockets but the truth is people with chronic alcoholism will get it any way they can, including stealing.

"I don't think introducing a minimum unit price will stop or reduce alcoholism.

"That needs to be done through therapy, counselling, and abstinence."

ADEPT offered counselling to recovering alcoholics and drug addicts from a base in Mansfield Road.

It closed in December last year after having its funding cut.

Mr McGill is now in the process of forming a new company, Community Therapy Services, based in Sherwood, to offer similar services.

Mr McGill, 58, who has been sober for 20 years, added: "Alcoholism is a huge problem in Notts.

"Hitting people in the pocket won't solve the underlying problem. Services are drastically needed."

The Post reported in August how the city's latest annual local alcohol profile showed it was "significantly worse" than national averages in 12 out of 25 key health indicators. They included life expectancy and the number of alcohol-related hospital admissions.

The figures showed drinking problems are reducing Notts men's life expectancy by 11.4 months, and women's by 4.9 months.

The Government's proposal is not expected to affect pubs and other licensed premises – known as on-trade alcohol retailers – where alcohol is sold for consumption on the premises.

In 2010, the average price per unit of alcohol in the on-trade was £1.34.

But the Home Office says retailers that sell alcohol at very low or heavily discounted prices could be affected, for example, through promotions that result in heavily discounted alcohol.

The consultation on the Government's plan runs until February 6.

The Government is also considering banning multi-buy promotions in shops and off-licences, reviewing mandatory licensing conditions to try and combat "irresponsible" promotions in pubs and clubs, and cutting red tape for responsible businesses. For more information about the consultation visit www.homeoffice.gov.uk.

See Saturday's Post for reaction from consumers and businesses.

AN organisation which has backed the Post's Five Tons of Tins campaign from the start has already filled four collection boxes to help hungry families.

The Workers' Educational Association, Mapperley Road, Mapperley Park, is well on the way to achieving its aim of collecting one box of tins for each of Nottingham's seven food banks by Christmas.

WEA course organiser Nicky Cleaver, 56, said: "Our collection is going really well. We have been getting staff to bring tins in for just over a month and we have now filled four collection boxes.

"Our aim is to fill at least another three of four, so that we can give one box to each of the seven food banks. We have loads of stuff from rice to pasta, to all sorts of tins. It is something we very much support."

Her colleague Marina Corah, a programme administrator at the WEA, added that it was vital children did not go without at Christmas.

She said: "We backed the Post's campaign because we thought it doesn't take much to put an extra tin or two in your shopping trolley. And those tins can really help families in need.

"In this day and age, in such a technological world, I can't believe children are going hungry. It is vital that kiddies go to school with something warm in their tummy and come home to a meal. We hope our collection helps."

Christina Rowson, 28, Slimming World consultant for the Sneinton group, said their tin collection was going well.

The group, which has about 50 members, meets on Tuesdays in St Christopher's Church Hall.

Miss Rowson, of St Ann's, said: "My group has really got behind the campaign and our collection has been an amazing success so far. We have collected at least 100 tins for the St Ann's food bank.

"The ladies have all brought in a tin or two and some have brought in bags full.

"It really can make a massive difference to a family. That one or two tins could be the difference between having an evening meal or not.

"There is a real buzz in the group about it and we are all equally proud of one another in coming together to help people in Nottingham during the festive season."

James Halfpenny, manager of the Poppy and Pint pub in Pierrepont Road, West Bridgford, said their collection was going well.

He said: "We have already filled one box, with a mixture of staff and customers bringing tins in. People seem to be behind it, which is good.

"I'm planning on having another push before Christmas so hopefully we can fill our box a few more times."

The Post's campaign aims to collect five tons of tins for local food banks by Christmas. Schools, churches, businesses and community groups around the country are taking part.

Have you been helped by a food bank? Or are you a volunteer at one? If you would like to tell your story, or update us on how your collection is going, please contact Emily Winsor on 0115 905 1951 or e-mail emily.winsor@nottinghampostgroup.co.uk