HUNDREDS of Clifton residents came together to raise money to buy a specialised wheelchair for a six-year-old girl with an extremely rare illness.

The event was held at the Fairham pub, with organisers saying about 500 people attended.

They included Maddison Sherwood and her family.

Maddison suffers from spinal muscular atrophy with respiratory distress type 1, an inherited condition which affects just 50 people worldwide.

She needs a wheelchair to get around and uses a ventilator to help her breathe.

Her family are trying to raise about £3,000 to buy a smaller wheelchair which can be used indoors as the one she currently uses is too big.

Her mum Lidia, 28, said: "I am overwhelmed to see so many people here raising money for my daughter.

"The condition she has is terrible. We want to be able to get her this wheelchair so she can get around in the house and indoors elsewhere. There is a real community spirit in Clifton and things like this bring people together."

The family live in East Leake but are originally from Clifton.

People throughout the neighbourhood were invited to yesterday's event by organiser Nicola Hollingsworth, 44.

She said: "We are used to having big get-togethers, previously at the old Grey Mare pub.

"But that was knocked down so the Fairham allows us to have charity events here."

There was music, face painting and a bouncy castle among the entertainment at the event.

Pub landlord Tony Thomas, who has only been in charge for about three weeks, said: "I'm originally from this area so I am happy to arrange this, especially for such a good cause."

Clifton resident Steve Mitchell, 58, went dressed as a vicar and had his face painted. He said: "It is all in the name of fun but it is nice to be able to raise money for a good cause."

Lee Rogers, 42, said: "I was born and bred around here. It is nice to have the community come together."

Denise Buck was also there. She said: "We don't often get the chance in Clifton to have everyone together so this is a really nice thing.

"It is also nice that we are raising money for such a good cause."

HUNDREDS of homes could benefit from power generated by the River Trent – thanks to a new hydro plant.

Construction of the facility at the Old Lock, next to Holme Lock and the weir at Holme Pierrepont, is about to get started.

Beneco Energy – the company behind the scheme – claims it could save several thousand tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions a year.

Building work is due to start at the end of September after planning permission for the project was granted by Rushcliffe Borough Council.

The plans will see the disused Old Lock cleaned out and a turbine installed to harness the water power of the River Trent.

The plant will link up to a hydro-electric power station – due to be built on the north side of the river bank in July 2015 – and is expected to generate 3,000 MWh (megawatt hours) of electricity every year.

A statement submitted with the planning application by Tyler Parkes – the architecture firm for Beneco Energy – revealed the plans had been in the pipeline for more than seven years.

The firm admitted previous applications had been withdrawn because of concerns over fishing in the area, but after a number of changes, and a halving of the size of the hydro plant, all parties are ready to get spades in the ground.

A spokeswoman from Tyler Parkes said: "The 2009 Renewable Energy Directive sets a target for the UK to achieve 15 per cent of its energy consumption from renewable sources by 2020. Whilst the proposed scheme is relatively minor in terms of overall renewable energy potential, it will make a significant contribution."

The scheme will power up to 700 homes.

The power plant has received approval from a number of interested parties, including British Waterways, Trent River Police and Natural England.

PREPARATIONS are underway to build a new hydro-electric power plant on the River Trent at Holme Pierrepont, but there has been a long journey to get to this stage.

The old lock at Holme Lock, near the National Water Sports Centre, was built over 200 years ago in the 1790s.

Construction finished in 1800 as part of a raft of improvements to make the River Trent easier to navigate.

It has since been replaced with a newer lock on a section of canal next to the weir at Holme Pierrepont.

These new plans will see the old disused lock cleaned out. A turbine will then be installed, alongside a gearbox, generator and control panels and sluice gates, to convert the power of the River Trent running through the devices into energy, which could power up to 700 homes. The installation will link up to a hydro-electric power station – approved by Rushcliffe Borough Council to be built on the north side of the river in July 2015 – to distribute the power and save over 1,770 tonnes of CO2 emissions a year.

But some boat owners in the area remain concerned about the move.

David Anderson, 48, of Bestwood, has a narrow boat moored at Holme Pierrepoint and said adding a new flow of water to the area could be "a recipe for disaster."

He said: "I have real safety concerns about it.

"We watch novice narrow-boaters coming to the lock which is designed as a stop and they can't handle it.

"If people are struggling with no flow, adding a flow to the area could cause serious problems."

But the power plant has received approval from a number of interested parties, including British Waterways, the Trent River Police and Natural England.

A spokesman for Natural England said: "The proposal is unlikely to affect any statutorily protected sites or landscapes."

However, it did call on the council to ensure no bats were roosting at the site, and if they were, to offer alternative places in the area for them to make their homes.

Richard Bennett, senior ecologist for the Canal and River Trust, also approved the scheme and Beneco, the company behind the plans, promised to undertake to replace any trees lost during the building.

He said: "It has my approval on the basis of providing a range of fruit trees which, while compensating for those trees removed to allow the construction phase, will also be of benefit to visitors."

And Renewable Design Consultants, who carried out a flood-risk survey, were also happy with the plans.

A spokesman said: "Various potential risks from flooding at the hydro scheme during construction and in its operation have been identified.

"Mitigation measures are suggested to reduce the risk to the turbine from flooding, including constructing a flood-proof powerhouse and installing pumps to evacuate any leaks.

"Overall, a hydro scheme of this size should not cause or be a significant flood risk at this large site."

The location of the development, situated in the old lock structure, means much of the hydro plant will be underground, so not visible.

There will be some plant enclosures above ground level, 1.13m high safety fencing, walkways and handrails.

There will also be a ventilator just above the level of the safety fencing and a rubbish removal crane and sluice gates will replace the existing concrete walls to the lock.

But a low hedge will be planted to improve the views from the Lock House – the only residence looking over the site. Planning permission was granted by Rushcliffe Borough Council in 2013.

NOTTINGHAM Forest have already proved they can be among the Championship promotion contenders this season, says Stuart Pearce.

But the Reds boss also warned the rest of the Championship his side are only going to get better.

Forest reaffirmed their position at the top of the table and extended their unbeaten start to the campaign with a thumping 4-0 win over Reading at the City Ground.

And, when asked if his players are starting to believe something special is on the horizon this season, Pearce responded: "Yes, I don't see why not.

"It would be easy for me to throw cold water on that, because there is a long way to go.

"And we do have to take every game one at a time and I have to evolve a squad situation where every player who plays is under pressure for his shirt, from somebody outside the team.

"But if we can do that, I think that – with the ability we have in the squad and, on top of that, if we have the hard-nosed professionalism needed to put into place everything that we ask of them – we do have a chance."

Pearce does warn Forest must keep working to improve however – but, equally, the manager very much believes they can do exactly that.

"We have to keep getting better. It is such a long season and it is such an unforgiving league. Myself and the coaching staff are under no illusions, when it comes to what we have to do, to get out of this league," said Pearce.

"I have been promoted out of this division with Forest and with Manchester City and I know that we will have rocky periods during the season.

"I am also looking at the likes of Norwich and thinking that they have a decent team and at Watford, Cardiff and Wolves, just to name a few of them.

"You know well that it will be a tough league and you cannot take your foot off the gas for one moment. But the exciting thing for me is that I believe I have got a squad that will evolve and get better. We can still get stronger."

Winger Michail Antonio was at the centre of Forest's win, netting two goals and setting up another for Matty Fryatt.

Pearce will have thought twice about keeping him in the side following a lacklustre display at Bournemouth that saw the £1.5m signing from Sheffield Wednesday substituted at half-time.

But, even at 24, the manager admits Antonio is a player with impressive talent, but also a few rough edges that still need ironing out.

"Antonio can be an enigma at times. I took him off at Bournemouth because I thought he was really poor. But he responded with a fantastic performance and a couple of goals," said Pearce.

"He is a real threat when he gets turned and runs at players and he is a real threat in the air. He is an outstanding talent who we have to nurture. I think the best of him is still to come.

"I hope there is a competition developing between he and (Britt) Assombalonga, when it comes to the goals, with both of them on four now. I really do. Fryatt has chipped in as well, so we do have a lot of threat."

CLIFTON singer Jake Bugg managed to persuade popular band The Hives to wear the colours of his beloved Notts County during the Leeds Festival.

A picture was posted on Twitter of Bugg with the band, who were all wearing the Magpies famous black and white stripes.

Both Bugg and the band were playing at theweekend festival.

R.I.P Richard Attenborough! A great man lost :(

— Marcus Wheatley (@MarcusWheatley1) August 25, 2014

What. Richard Attenborough has died! Not what I wanted to wake up to this morning. RIP you wonderful man

— April Extall (@AprilElizabeth1) August 25, 2014

RIP Richard Attenborough, you brought Dinosaurs back to life, what else could could a 10 year old boy ask for pic.twitter.com/aUbzMBxCSh

— Neil Blackwood (@blackwood1701) August 25, 2014

#RichardAttenborough RIP pic.twitter.com/aIwp40fFMQ

— Michael Simpson (@mikeysimpson10) August 25, 2014

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning of rain which will last until just before midnight on Bank Holiday Monday. 

The warning was previously issued from 6am until around 10am on Tuesday morning. 

Although no flood warnings have been issued, rainfall is expected across much of England and Wales, with the possibility of it exceeding 30mm in some places. 

Temperatures are expected to reach no higher than 14C - 10 degrees lower than the August Bank Holiday Monday in 2013. 

Met Office spokesman Calum Maccoll said: "Temperatures are certainly down on last year with some rain at times, particularly on Monday. On Tuesday there will be a lot of low cloud in the morning but during the day we will start to see brighter conditions. 

"This really sets us up for a bright day on Wednesday. We might see low cloud again but that should break up as the day progresses leading to sunny spells." 

FOOTBALLERS squared off this weekend to recreate a match that was played in the midst of the horror of the First World War nearly 100 years on.

Christmas Truce games are said to have broken out in the battlefields of Belgium in 1914.

And Newark Town FC played a team from their German twin town of Emmendingen, in Ypres as part of the commemorations of the Great War, the Germans winning 4-1 in front of a crowd of around 150.

Lewis Poole, of Sawyer's Close, Newark, is a serving soldier in the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Anglian Regiment, known as the Poachers and captained the side.

The 21-year-old said: "Obviously we wanted to win, but the result wasn't really important and it was a great game to be part of.

"It was a very emotional weekend – seeing all the graves and paying our respects to those that gave their lives in the war.

"I feel pretty honoured to have taken part in the game too. We both gave 100 per cent and wanted to win, but they were stronger."

The idea to recreate the truce game was that of Newark historian Francis Towndrow who had been researching the diaries of Newark soldier William Setchfield, the man widely credited to have sparked the kick-about on the battlefields.

Private Setchfield, said to be a keen Forest fan, served in the 1st Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment, and in a letter sent to his brother from the front, said: "We spent a wonderful Christmas. The Germans came over to us in the afternoon and we had our photos taken with them, but it would be a big task to put everything that happened in a letter. Forest made a draw with Derby, I see, although I haven't seen anything about the game yet."

The trip was granted £8,600 from the Heritage Lottery Fund, and £650 has been secured from Newark Town Council to send an official delegation.

Amateur photographer Ben Blyth, 18, was invited on to the trip by the team.

He said: "It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to get involved, it was just really humbling to see people play football knowing what happened there 100 years ago.

"The difference was we got to go home but they didn't."

What are you doing to commemorate the war? Email newsdesk@nottinghampost.com

At 10°C colder than this time last year, it felt more like November than August – but that didn't stop families from making the most of the bank holiday.

Temperatures dropped to 14°C on Monday with persistent rain and low cloud.

But at Papplewick Pumping Station visitors were queuing out of the door to see the First World War steaming event, organised in conjunction with Echoes of a Gilded Age to mark 100 years since the start of the conflict.

Sharon Barnes, membership secretary of the Papplewick Association, said: "We did very well on Sunday with around 700 visitors. I think people saw what the forecast was like for Monday and decided to come then.

"Although Monday was miserable outside, we had queues out the door in the morning. I don't think the weather put people off."

In St Ann's, more than 100 people turned up to Stonebridge City Farm's Pirate Day – despite its bouncy castle being rained off.

Manager Marie Rogers said: "Over the weekend visitor figures weren't too bad; we had around 200 people on both Saturday and Sunday. When it did rain people dived into the cafe and barn.

"On Monday we moved some of our Pirate Day equipment indoors and put some gazebos up for the games.

"We planned it six months ago, but you have to go with what you get."

This year's August Bank Holiday weekend was much cooler than in 2013, when Nottinghamshire basked in 24°C heat.

Richard Lombardi, 39, of Thorneywood, said he was pleased the weather held off for his charity football match on Sunday.

It was organised after his cousin's four-year-old daughter, Alice Icke, was diagnosed with kidney cancer.

He said: "The weather was really nice. I think if it had taken place yesterday a lot of people wouldn't have turned up. We have raised £1,169 for Clic Sargent so far."

But the forecast is looking good for the rest of this week. Met Office spokesman Calum Maccoll said: "On Tuesday there will be a lot of low cloud in the morning, but during the day we will start to see brighter conditions.

"This really sets us up for a bright day on Wednesday, with low cloud breaking up as the day progresses, leading to sunny spells."

PEOPLE in Stapleford have paid tribute to Richard Attenborough after the death of the Oscar-winning actor and director.

Lord Attenborough's family were originally from the area, and his grandfather ran the town's bakery for a number of years.

His mother Mary was born in Sawley and married in Long Eaton, where his father Frederick became headmaster of Long Eaton Grammar School.

The family moved to Leicester before the birth of Richard and his brother, veteran broadcaster David.

Richard died on Sunday, aged 90, and one local councillor has now called for a plaque to the film legend to be put up in the town.

The A Miracle on 34th Street star even visited the town on October 13, 1988, to open a community centre.

Barbara Brooke, from the Stapleford and District Local History Society, said Lord Attenborough was "very proud of Stapleford".

She said: "He came back to the town in 1988 to open the Carnegie Community Centre, in Warren Avenue, and I was there and spoke to him.

"He was a lovely man and was absolutely charming. He was a little bit theatrical but was very proud of Stapleford."

Mrs Brooke said Lord Attenborough's grandfather - who ran the bakery in Derby Road – was an important local figure.

"Most people in those days didn't have cookers so he was very much in demand at Christmas because people took their joints of meat to be cooked in his bake house," she said. "I always thing that is a quite lovely story."

"He was very well aware of their Stapleford roots.

"On the Stapleford town trail it iss one of the first things I talk about and it's always very popular with people, everyone is most impressed. We should be proud."

Sandra Hart, of Warren Avenue, has lived in the town for most of her life, and said the town was very proud of his work.

The 65-year-old said: "They both came into this area as often as they could. I understand he was a lovely man - what you saw was what you got. He was a nice person.

"I think he had a very long and lovely life and he achieved an awful lot. He contributed a hell of a lot.

"It is nice to know some one like that came from the area where you live. It's nice to know someone from Stapleford has done something special."

Councillor John McGrath, who represents the Stapleford South West Ward, said he would try to mark Lord Attenborough's passing with a permanent tribute.

He said: "He was obviously a very famous man. He's absolutely someone the town can be proud of.

"When we have a town council meeting we will try to get a plaque up – I will put it forward for the whole family. I am sure there will be no objections to a man of his calibre.

"The people of Stapleford are proud to know his family are from around here."

On his trip to Stapleford in 1988, Lord Attenborough was introduced for the first time to his second cousin, Constance Longmire, who was 77 at the time and lived in Ashgrove Road.

He was presented with photographs of the town, including some of his grandfather's bakery.

Speaking at the time, Lord Attenborough described the visit as a sentimental journey and one that had etched in a part of his life previously missing.

NOTTINGHAM Forest fans are being given a chance to appear in the club's team photo.

Supporters can buy a £1 ticket for a chance to line up alongside manager Stuart Pearce and his players – and raise money for a worthy cause.

The once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was the idea of Chilwell couple Richard and Michelle Daniels, whose Forever Stars charity is aiming to raise £100,000 for a bereavement suite for parents at the Queen's Medical Centre.

Richard Daniels said: "Forest rang us and asked if I wanted to be on the team photo to represent the charity, but we had a chat and thought it would be better to raffle it off.

"It's a chance of a lifetime. As much as I want to do it myself I think it's too good an opportunity to miss for the charity.

"It's going to be £1 for a raffle ticket to be in the photo. We'll also have a runners-up prize of two tickets for a future home game in the corporate box."

Lifetime Forest fan Richard added: "I will be buying a few tickets myself – you never know your luck.

"To be standing next to manager Stuart Pearce is a big moment for any Forest fan. It's every supporter's dream to play for the team but this is the next best thing."

The raffle tickets are on sale now and can be purchased from the Forever Stars website (foreverstars.org) or from the customer services area at Beeston Sainsbury's – an official partner of the charity.

The photo is expected to be taken during the international break in the first week of September.

And Richard is hoping to raise around £1,000 to push the charity toward its overall target.

The couple had a stillborn baby daughter Emily in December last year and set up Forever Stars to improve facilities for other bereaved parents at the hospital.

At the moment the QMC does not have a dedicated area for bereaved parents after birth, so they often have to remain on the maternity ward.

When the couple hit their target, a state-of-the art suite with three rooms will be created.

Richard said: "When Michelle had Emily she was still in the labour suite and could heard the sound of babies and of people celebrating having a healthy baby.

"It's devastating being there. We wanted to create a haven for people to start the grieving process. We want Nottingham to set the example of how to look after bereaved parents."

Nottingham Forest's media and communications manager Ben White said: "It is a fantastic way for the club to engage with the fans, whilst supporting this season's charity partner Forever Stars, alongside BLESMA [the British Limbless Ex-Service Men's Association].

"The club looks forward to working with both charities, and hopes that together we can provide much-needed funds and awareness for such worthwhile causes."

To buy a raffle ticket go to www.foreverstars.org or go to the customer service desk at Sainsbury's in Beeston.

ALEX Salmond and Alastair Darling are set to go head to head on Scottish Independence for the second time.

The leader of the Scottish National Party is facing up to Darling, who is head of the Better Together campaign, live on BBC One Scotland at 8.30pm with the economy likely to be heavily debated.

The debate, which will last for an hour and a half, is also scheduled to include discussions over Scotland's role at home, abroad and what happens after the vote.

The debate is being chaired by Glenn Campbell and both figures will be given a chance to give an opening and closing speech.

Earlier this month, The Post's Jerermy Lewis spoke to a number of Scots who have adopted Nottingham for their views on the big issue.

We should remain together,'' said James Knox, 40, from Aberdeen. ''It's a purely personal thing but I can't see the reason for it.''

Mr Knox got to know Nottingham when he worked for Holiday Inns, then in St James's Street. He later had catering appointments at the Ice Arena and Royal Centre.

Latterly the catering chief at Sandown Park racecourse, he was this week appointed general manager at Nottingham racecourse, Colwick Park. He and his wife are looking for a home in the Gedling area.

''I'd say yes to more devolution,'' he added. ''But I wouldn't like to go on our own with no idea how the economy will work.''

One Scot who is wary of independence is David Trimble, 58. ''I would support the No campaign even if I lived in Scotland,'' he said. ''I'm not a nationalist – I think we are stronger together.''

Mr Trimble grew up in Calton, an impoverished inner-city district of Glasgow, He and his twin brother left school at 14 and he says: "My parents brought us south to give us more opportunity. I started work in printing and went into mining."

Mr Trimble entered local politics and is a Labour member of the city council, holding the leisure and culture portfolio.

He added: "I tried to watch this week's TV debate online but it crashed. I just think that if I went into a voting booth I'd find myself with too many unanswered questions: jobs, currency, the EU."

Mr Trimble visits Scotland once a year and follows Glasgow Celtic but his son "thinks of himself as a lad from Nottingham".

The referendum will be held on September 18.

WITHIN three months of gaining his Aero Club certificate, William Hodgson Sugden-Wilson found himself in France with 10 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps.

The squadron's role was to spot for the artillery.

After a two-week training course on battery and aircraft communication, he was posted to work with 10 Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery.

The battery was involved in the preliminary bombardment ahead of the Battle of Loos.

Lieutenant Sugden-Wilson was the son of Mr and Mrs W. H. Wilson of Hexgreave Park, Southwell. Educated at Harrow, he had become a land agent in Somerset before being commissioned in the West Somerset Yeomanry in April 1913 and applying for a transfer to the corps when war broke out.

His task as an observer was becoming riskier as the German fighter tactics evolved with the likes of Max Immelman taking full advantage of the Fokker Eindekker's ability to fire through its propeller.

Sugden-Wilson had a close shave on September 13, 1915, when his aircraft was attacked by a Fokker. The lower petrol tank of his B.E.2c was pierced by gunfire. Sugden-Wilson fired back as the Fokker turned away. A fuel shortage meant he and his pilot could not pursue.

Eight days later, Sugden-Wilson's luck ran out at the hands of Lt Immelman.

In what he later described as "a great fight lasting 15 minutes" over Willerval, in northern France, he expended all of his ammunition before his pilot was fatally wounded. Though wounded himself, Sugden-Wilson, also a qualified pilot, managed to land the crippled machine and was taken prisoner.

Initially posted as missing, he wrote to his mother on October 1, 1915, from a hospital in Germany: "When we were 11,000ft up we were attacked by two hostile machines.

"Lieutenant Caws, who was the pilot, was shot dead; the bullet passed through his neck downwards to his heart, passing through the instrument board and hitting my leg. I went on fighting till I had no more ammunition left, but by this time the aeroplane was in a spinning nose dive. I had to get the machine under control before we hit the ground.

"The machine at once caught fire, and before I got out of the wreckage my boot was burning fiercely. I was able to get it off quickly, but not before my leg was slightly burned.

"I then tried to lift the dead pilot out, but he was too heavy, both his legs having been broken in the fall. My face was burned a little when I tried to get him out, but my right leg was useless, and I could not stand any longer, so it was no good.

"The remains of Lieutenant Caws were buried by the Germans with military honours, and they were very kind to me, and looked after me well.

He added: "Up to the present I have been in four different hospitals, and am as cheerful as my position permits."

Immelman also wrote his account of his battle in his diary: "I took off at 9am in my Fokker monoplane. I had no special orders, but wanted to protect a machine of our section which was putting our artillery on to newly located objectives by telegraphic signals.

"At 9.45am I fly my circles over Neuville village, as agreed. I am 3,100 metres up, and cannot see the other machine, which has arranged to climb to 2,500. That does not matter; it will certainly be there.

"For a long time I have been looking out on my right; when I peer out to the left again, I see - quite close behind me on my left a Bristol biplane which is heading straight for me. We are still 400 metres apart.

"Now I fly towards him; I am about 10-12 metres above him. And so I streak past him, for each of us had a speed of 120 kilometres an hour.

"After passing him I go into a turn. When I am round again, I find he has not yet completed his turning movement. He is shooting fiercely from his rear. I attack him in the flank, but he escapes from my sights for a while by a skilful turn.

"Several seconds later I have him in my sights once more. I open fire at 100 metres, and approach carefully. But when I am only 50 metres away, I have difficulty with my gun. I must cease for a time.

"Meanwhile I hear the rattle of the enemy's machine gun and see plainly that he has to change a drum after every 50 rounds. By this time I am up to within 30 or 40 metres of him and have the enemy machine well within my sights. Aiming carefully, I give him about another 200 rounds from close quarters, and then my gun is silent again.

"I look round for my 'comrade of the fray', but he is no longer to be seen. I am still 2,500 metres up, so we have dropped 600 in the course of our crazy turns.

"At last I discover the enemy. He is about 1,000 metres below me. He is falling earthward like a dead leaf. He gives the impression of a crow with a lame wing. A thick cloud rises from the spot where he crashes, and then bright flames break out of the machine. Soldiers hasten to the scene.

"I find soldiers are attending to one of the inmates. He tells me he is the observer. He is an Englishman.

"When I ask him where the pilot is, he points to the burning machine. I look, and he is right, for the pilot lies under the wreckage - burnt to a cinder. The observer is taken off to hospital."

Immelman said he later visited Sugden-Wilson in hospital.

This article is based on research by Hucknall historian Jim Grundy.

NOTTINGHAM Forest have the firepower to challenge in the Championship – and will very much need it, according to Stuart Pearce.

The Reds manager is happy with the attacking arsenal he has assembled at the City Ground.

Strikers Britt Assombalonga (four) and Matty Fryatt (two) have made a quick start to their Forest careers, by getting among the goals early.

While winger Michail Antonio is pushing Assombalonga all the way having fired four goals of his own.

Pearce's side have found the net more than any other side in the Championship so far – scoring at least two goals in all four of their fixtures.

But, ahead of the Capital One Cup second round clash at Huddersfield tonight, Pearce believes Forest will need every ounce of that attacking threat if they are to enjoy a successful season.

"We do feel as though there are goals in this group, but you have to have that in this league," said Pearce.

"You look at Norwich who have Lewis Grabban, who has got four goals already.

"The teams who win promotion have to have goalscorers and we have to have that in our side, while also keeping clean sheets at the other end, if we can.

"But we do feel as though we have that threat."

Pearce also believes Dutch front man Lars Veldwijk, who has so far been used sparingly as a substitute, will also have a role to play this season, along with Dexter Blackstock, who is edging closer to a return from injury.

"I think all the strikers will contribute this season, if they stay fit. They will be a handful," said Pearce.

"I think Lars as well, given time, has a part to play. He will be a success at this club.

"And, on top of that, we have Dexter Blackstock coming back into training.

"We hope to get goals from the four of them and also from the likes of (Henri) Lansbury, (Andy) Reid, Antonio, (Chris) Burke and maybe the central defenders and full-backs as well.

"You need goals in your team and you need resilience. We have a bit of resilience in there."

Pearce, most importantly, believes he has brought proven goalscorers to the club.

"Whenever you look at the squad listing at the start of the season, you look at how many goals you think they are going to get," he said.

"A player does not suddenly become a 20-goal a season player after having got none the season before. It does not work like that.

"You have to make sure that, on paper at least, you have got goals in your squad and we feel as though we have."

Pearce also believes Assombalonga is already proving a bargain, despite his £5m price tag.

"At that price tag, he was an absolute snip," said Pearce. "You only have to work with the lad for a short space of time to realise what sort of character he is. He is a boy who is desperate to do well and desperate to improve.

"He came with a good scoring record and a good reputation. They spoke very highly of him at Peterborough and I know why they did now, having worked with him.

"He is an outstanding kid. I don't think he is content with where he is, with regard to the standard of football.

"He knows he can only get better and this is a fantastic club for him to get better at.

"We just hope that his form and ability keep growing and that it takes this club into the Premier League."

A CHARITY that helps older people and those with mental health problems has become the latest organisation to be hit by ongoing tram works.

Voluntary Action Broxtowe says it has had to cancel events and close the doors of its office in Chilwell Road, Beeston, due to roadworks outside.

Staff made the decision to shut for two weeks after two elderly people fell over outside its Oban House headquarters, after tripping over the uneven road surface.

Chief officer Linda Button said: "We have been a victim of the tram works for the last 18 months. To raise money we hold a vintage tea party every Friday and it is very popular with elderly people, but three weeks ago two of them fell outside.

"Because we deal with a lot of elderly people we had to close because things were getting worse and worse.

"We reopened last week because we just can't justify being closed for so long, but we are losing money because we are keeping the tea shop closed for safety."

The charity also provides volunteer opportunities and relies on donations.

Officer manager Alison Linton said: "People are avoiding us because it is noisy and dirty all the time. We have a car-boot sale planned for Friday, but until the day before we will not know if it can go ahead.

"Our tea party and car boots are important events for us because they help keep us afloat and pay our rent."

Broxtowe MP Anna Soubry has called for there to be more communication between contractors and the public.

She said: "The charity contacted me to tell me they were closing. I think there is a general lack of communication which makes it very hard for everyone."

A spokesman for NET Phase Two construction contractor Taylor Woodrow Alstom, said: "Throughout the works we have attempted to keep local businesses and organisations informed about any access restrictions or roadworks in the vicinity of their properties.

"We have worked alongside them to minimise disruption as far as possible."

And Chris Deas, project director for Nottingham City Council, said: "We are sorry to hear about Voluntary Action Broxtowe's concerns, and are in discussions with them at the moment to see whether assistance can be provided to them."