All 1,500 tickets have been snapped up to see Nottingham's world champion boxer Carl Froch made an Honorary Freeman of the City of Nottingham.

Froch will receive the honour at the Royal Concert Hall on Thursday, October 16.

Free tickets were made available on Thursday morning and were all snapped up within hours.

The Royal Concert Hall Tweeted on Thursday afternoon: "The folks of Nottingham have been showing their love for @Carl_Froch. All available tickets for the event on the16 Oct have now been taken."

The event will start with a ceremony conducted by Nottingham's Lord Mayor Councillor Ian Malcolm, followed by a celebration of Froch's life and career with a question and answer session compered by Darren Fletcher.

NOTTINGHAM has the third highest levels of bus usage in the country, new figures have revealed.

And the city's 157 bus journeys per person each year puts it at nearly three times the national average of 51 bus journeys a year, according to the Department for Transport.

London topped the table of passenger journeys per head of population with Brighton coming second.

The figures also showed the number of bus journeys in the city increased by 100,000 to 48.8 million in 2013/14. The figures for Nottinghamshire showed a drop from 33.6 million to 33 million.

And passengers and bus companies alike have said they are not surprised that public transport is popular in the city.

Student Patrick Wilson, of Clarendon Street, commutes to the Nottingham Trent University campus in Clifton by bus.

The 20-year-old said: "The buses tend to be pretty quick and they run late.

"I don't drive so there's no real alternative but I'm happy with the buses.

"Nottingham does seem to be a lot more bus focussed than other cities and that's a good thing."

And retired secretary Maureen Jones, of The Downs, Silverdale, said: "If the buses were every hour I don't think I'd bother but they are really handy."

Nottingham City Transport said it believes the growth in bus journeys is due to investment in new vehicles.

Anthony Carver-Smith from the firm, added: "Through significant investment in brand new buses, increasing frequencies and new technologies like free Wi-Fi and real time tracking on buses, as well as partnership working with the two local councils, we expect to keep attracting more customers and keep Nottingham as a very good city for public transport."

And Alex Hornby, Trentbarton Marketing and Communications Director, said the stats come as "no surprise".

He added: "Our own figures show a steady increase in customer numbers as a result of innovative marketing and a focus on delivering better services."

He said the company has spent £5 million on new buses this year with more features such as wi-fi and power sockets.

Other stats revealed by the Department for Transport show that 4.7 billion passenger journeys were made on buses in England in 2013/14 – the highest figure since the mid-1980s.

Passenger numbers also grew outside London, by 1.5 per cent, the first increase since 2008/09 which was the first year of free national bus travel for older people.

What do you think of the buses in Nottingham? Email opinion@nottinghampost.com

Chemistry student James Heseltine updated his friends on his night out antics using photo messaging app, Snapchat - then uploaded the whole event to YouTube.

The Nottingham student's mini film started with a shot of him in a toilet cubicle and finished with him kissing his final conquest.

In total, James kisses 31 girls – and one boy – in Nottingham's night clubs, including Rock City. The video has already had hundreds of views on YouTube.

In a post on social networking site Facebook, James' housemate, George Miller said: "Regardless of his 36 encounters with the girls of crisis, James still manages to come home alone."

Have you seen a better Snapchat video than this one? Let us know in comments below...

Two mums have been jailed for two years each after a woman was robbed with a steak knife in her home.

Defendants Jodie Smith and Joanne Parrish were locked up on Thursday, September 25.

Nottingham Crown Court heard Smith believed the victim had stolen her three-year-old daughter's TV, so she decided to go to her home in a taxi and take her televisions.

The victim was woken by a loud bang and confronted by Smith, who brandished the knife, and accomplice Parrish.

"Smith had a knife and was waving it in her face," said prosecutor Gregor Purcell.

"Both defendants were shouting and screaming, Both were still heavily under the effect of alcohol.

"Smith had a steak knife and waved it in the woman's face. She was frightened and baffled as to what the reason the upset was. She asked what it was she was meant to have done. She ran off to get help."

The woman's son was at home and said one of the women threatened to stab him if he did not help remove one of two televisions they stole from the house in February.

The TVs were loaded into the waiting taxi but were tracked down after police contact the firm that ferried the defendants to the address.

Smith, 26, of Amesbury Circus, Aspley, wrongly thought the victim fhad something to do with a burglary at her home, when her three-year-old daughter's TV had been stolen.

Martin Elwick, mitigating, said Smith, a single mum on benefits, had completely overacted and behaved out of character.

"No doubt drink played a part," he added.

Parrish, 27, of Chatsworth Avenue, Basford, pleaded guilty to the robberies on the basis she did not have the knife.

Dominic Shelley, mitigating on her behalf, said the offence was out of character.

His client helped a lady with Multiple Sclerosis and she was "devoted" mother-of-two.

"She had no idea about the knife at the time," he said.

"She was shocked when she saw it.

"She shouldn't have let herself become involved in her friend's problem."

Judge James Sampson told the women the offence had been at 6.30am.

Smith had been the one brandishing a knife in front of the victim's face.

He said they both went into the house and took televisions and made off in the taxi.

"It seems the motive for the attack was the wholly mistaken belief the woman had stolen from Smith but that in not way would justify what happened."

He accepted the offence was out of character and they were both remorseful but he had a public duty to perform.

Mushy peas
Nothing says Goose Fair like a cup filled with mushy peas and mint sauce. Punters love to gather around the pea stalls to get their annual dose of Goose Fair nosh.
Terry's Pea Stall owner, Terry Burdett makes his mushy peas

Cock-on-a-stick
Back in 1950, Arnold resident Ray Whitehead brought his family tradition of a cock-on-a-stick to the fair. Since then, the sweet tasting cockerel-shaped lollipop has become a Goose Fair delicacy.

The rides
Both thrill-seekers and families can look forward to 450 attractions including 100 white-knuckle rides. Making its debut this year is the spinning sensation Moondance. And let's not forget the classic Hook-a-Duck waiting to give out gigantic teddy bears to deserving winners. 

The grand opening
The Lord Mayor of Nottingham performs one of the city's oldest traditions each year beneath the big wheel ride. Crowds of people gather round the attraction to witness the bell ringing ceremony officially declare the fair open.

The history
The city's biggest event of the year is now in its 720th year and is riddled with history. Despite now being known for its rides and food, the Goose Fair originally started as a trade event. It was cancelled in 1646 due to the bubonic plague and again during the two World Wars in the 20th century.Crowds of people climb the steps ready to pay for a nostalgic Goose Fair show. Image courtesy of the National Fairground Archive

The people
The five-day extravaganza is constantly buzzing with Nottingham locals and fairground staff. People attend the fair from far and wide and you are never short of a weird and wonderful story or two.
Krystal and Stanley Reeves in their luxury caravan at Nottingham's Goose Fair

The lights
There really isn't anything more beautiful and fascinating that the illuminated night time Goose Fair. The ancient fair truly comes alive in the dark and visitors can experience the fair in all its glory.

Are you planning on attending this year's Goose Fair? You can get your hands on £30's worth of vouchers in next week's Nottingham Post. Find out more information here.

What is your favourite thing about Nottingham's Goose Fair? Let us know in the poll below...

A "zero-tolerance" approach to homophobic chanting will be in place at  the Saturday September  27 football match between Nottingham Forest and Brighton and Hove Albion.

The police and Forest have both said that this type of abuse will not be tolerated at the City ground game and that officers would be taking "positive action to identify anyone who is involved".

Superintendent Ian Howick, who will be the police commander for this game, said: "Over the years we know that Brighton and Hove Albion FC have had to put up with a small minority of people who have started or joined in with homophobic chants.

"We don't want people to be caused any unnecessary distress, we simply want people to enjoy the game."

Forest's media and communications manager Ben White fully said: "The support that the players have received this season has been tremendous and we ask that the fans continue to focus their energy on encouraging our team.

"We want supporters to enjoy the match without using chants which are likely to cause offence to others.

"Forest host an antisocial behaviour text service that allows people to report any poor behaviour, and both clubs fully back this approach."

Details of the club's text reporting facility can be found on each match ticket and will be displayed on the big screens on the day.

Hundreds of football fans across Nottinghamshire lined up outside stores for the midnight launch of video game FIFA 15 in the early hours of Friday.

Teenager Charlie Catlow and his three friends got a lift with his mate's dad to Asda in West Bridgford last night and were among the first to line up at the doors. 

Charlie, 14, from Lady Bay, said: "The queue just kept growing and there were loads of people there before they opened the doors at midnight. 

"We could easily have waited until today to buy the game but there was a good banter in the crowd and it was just a laugh going to Asda at midnight with my mates."

Despite his efforts, Charlie didn't get the first play on his new £40 game – his 11-year-old brother Joe got up early on the morning of the launch and beat him to it.

Joe said: "I'm pleased he got it. It's a really good game and the graphics are even better than the last one."

Leon Jackman, deputy manager at the GAME store in the Victoria Centre, also launched the game at midnight. He said: "People started queuing at around 7:30pm.

"We put on a FIFA tournament so people could get a feel for the game before the launch and more than 50 people turned up.

"The queues have been out of the door all day and we've completely sold out of the Ultimate Edition."

Players can now show emotion depending on what is happening in the game, all twenty stadiums in the Barclays Premier League are featured, and players can use tactics such as time wasting.

A demo of the game was made available on September 9 and the full version was released to gamers at midnight on September 26 for PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One and Windows PC users.

A boat was spotted caught on the cill at Kegworth on the River Soar. 

The boat was trapped on lock 56.

John Hallam sent the photo below to Towpath Talk on who shared the image on their Facebook page on September 25.

Post by Towpath Talk.

According to the comments on the post, John has reported that the boat's occupants only sustained minor injuries.

The lock has since been emptied and the river is now clear. 

The River Soar is the main river flowing in Leicestershire and is a major affluent of the River Trent

Do you have any information regarding the incident? Tweet us or leave a comment below and let us know.

NOTTS County's Kyle Dixon and Greg Tempest have both joined Conference North side Boston United on loan for a month.

Right-back Dixon spent part of last season with the Pilgrims, while his team-mate has previously been on loan at Ilkeston FC in 2012.

The Magpies have given permission for the two youngsters to play in the FA Cup, and both can go into the Boston squad to face Dereham Town in the competition tomorrow.

Dixon recently returned to training following an injury he picked up in pre-season.

Neither have featured for the Notts first-team so far this season.

A planned week-long strike which would have disrupted rail journeys from and to Nottingham has been called off.

More than 80 engineering and maintenance staff were set to stop working from 6am on Sunday until 5.59am on Saturday, October 4 - after bosses withdrew a 2.75 per cent pay offer following strike action in July.

Talks took place on Friday to try and resolve the issues between the train company and the Unite union and East Midlands Trains said at lunchtime that a deal had been struck and services would be running as usual.

Several roads in West Bridgford and Beeston will have temporary restrictions in place as a result of the Robin Hood Marathon on September 28.

Click here to see a map of the road closures.

Roads Affected and Nature of Restriction:

West Bridgford
(1) A60 Trent Bridge, West Bridgford – 8.45 to 10.30 - Road closed Nottingham bound (northbound)
Diversion route for northbound vehicles is via Radcliffe Road – Lady Bay Bridge – Meadow Lane – Manvers Street – Pennyfoot Street – Lower Parliament Street – London Road

(2) Trent Boulevard 10am to 2pm - road closed from its junction with A6011 Radcliffe Road to Adbolton Lane
Diversion via A6011 Radcliffe Road – Rutland Road
To travel north across Trent Boulevard at Lady Bay Road – controlled crossing
To travel south across Trent Boulevard at Julian Road – controlled crossing

(3) Adbolton Lane 10am to 2pm - road closed from its junction with Trent boulevard to Regatta Way
Diversion via A6011 Radcliffe Road – Regatta Way
Adbolton Lane between its junction with Regatta Way and second entrance to Water Sports Centre controlled with stop/ go boards

(4) A6011 Lady Bay Bridge 10am to 2pm - fully closed in both directions from Radcliffe Road to Meadow Lane
Diversion via Radcliffe Road – A60 Trent Bridge – London Road

Beeston
(1) A6005 Queens Road East, Beeston, 8am to 12pm between its junctions with Beacon Road and the Nottingham City Administrative boundary (Woodside road junction) – traffic can travel from south to north only (towards Nottingham only)
Diversion for southbound vehicles is via Woodside Road – Broadgate – Humber Road – Middle Street Station Road – Queens Road

(2) Beacon Road, Beeston, 8am to 12pm Road closed from its junction with A6005 Queens Road
East to its junction with Lilac Grove roundabout – travel south to north (towards Queens Road East only)

(3) Lilac Grove roundabout 8am to 12pm road closed from the centre –line of its junction with Humber Road clockwise to the centre line of its junction with Humber Road South (traffic can travel towards Queens Road East only)
Diversion via Lilac Grove – Meadow Road – Queens Road 

(4) Humber Road South, Beeston 8am to 12pm road closed from its junction with Lilac Grove roundabout to its junction with Main Road (traffic can travel towards Queens Road East only)

(5) Prohibited right turn 8am – 12pm
(a) Lower Road, Beeston onto Queens Road East
(b) Salisbury Street, Beeston into Queens Road East
(c) Queens Road East, Beeston into Beacon Road
(d) Lilac Grove into Lilac Grove roundabout
(e) Hartley Drive, Beeston into Beacon Road
(f) A6520 Radcliffe Road into A60 Loughborough Road, West Bridgford

(6) Waiting restrictions will be in force on both sides of the road at the following locations 8am to 12pm
(a) A6005 Queens Road East, Beeston, between its junctions with Beacon Road and the Nottingham City Administrative Boundary
(b) Beacon Road, Beeston, Beacon Road from its junction with A6005 Queens Road East to its junction with Lilac Grove roundabout
(c) Humber Road South, Beeston from its junction with Lilac Grove roundabout to its junction with Main Road
(d) Lilac Grove roundabout for its whole length

CHILDREN will help to feed the homeless with fruit and vegetables from their new orchard.

Nine trees growing apples, pears, cherries and greengages have been planted at Westdale Infant School in Digby Avenue, Mapperley.

They add to an already thriving garden where pupils harvested 320 potatoes last year.

The school is hoping new, larger planting plots will help them produce up to 800 potatoes and carrots – meaning they can donate any surplus to homeless charity Shelter.

"I like getting my hands dirty doing the gardening," said five-year-old pupil Matthew Thompson. "It's going to be really good fun. Carrots are my favourite vegetables. They help you to see in the dark."

Lola Ward, six, is hoping to pick some apples off the trees to eat at play time.

"I like gardening. In my garden we have strawberries but my dad doesn't water them so they don't grow so well. I'm going to learn all about gardening at school and show him how to do it properly."

During winter, school gardener Marianne Atkinson hopes to help the children add blackcurrant, redcurrant, blackberry and raspberry bushes to their flourishing garden, which is a home for frogs, insects and the school hedgehogs.

"You have to be careful when stroking the hedgehogs," said Matthew Thompson. "They are very spiky and are only supposed to be out at night because they are nocturnal."

Marianne said getting the children outside and involved in the gardening helped their education.

"They can often take more in by being in a totally different environment. They love plants and getting their hands dirty with anything that grows.. It helps them learn about the world around them, especially by donating extras to Shelter."

At the launch of the orchard yesterday, the school was awarded with its runner-up prize for housing association Gedling Homes' Best School Garden award. Westdale was pipped by Pinewood Primary School in Arnold to top spot.

JACK Hobbs is back doing some light training but is still waiting for the specialist to approve his return to full training – while Andy Reid will also miss Nottingham Forest's clash with Brighton.

The Reds' injury problems are clearing up slightly, with Matty Fryatt also expected to join in with the rest of the senior squad on Monday.

But they will still be without all three of the players, for the visit of the Seagulls to the City Ground tomorrow.

And coach Brian Eastick says the club are taking things slowly when it comes to easing the trio back into action, saying: "Jack was out on the training ground doing some light work with the medical staff and is feeling more comfortable with it. But we have to take it slowly with him.

"We are still waiting for advice from the specialist. But he is a lot more comfortable with it than he was, he has done some work on the training ground, without being in full training.

"We are still waiting for one or two things to come back to us, after the scans he had. I don't know what he will need, beyond this, but we are just taking one step at a time.

"Jack is a very good player and he will be desperate to get back in action as soon as he can.

"We need good players in all positions of the pitch and he has done very well for us. It is unfortunate that he has had this little setback with his injury.

"Hopefully the specialist will give him the go ahead to step up his training again.

"He is running quite freely and is feeling better in his own mind. He is making progress. We will see how we go.

"There is real competition for that centre half spot alongside Michael Mancienne, with Kelvin Wilson coming in and Jamaal Lascelles getting his chance as well."

Reid had been expected to be in contention for a return this weekend, but Eastick says he is not quite ready.

"It is a case of taking things slowly with Andy at the minute, he will not be considered for this weekend and I don't think he will be for Tuesday, either," he said.

"We will have to see about the Ipswich game, which is about a week away. But he is not ready to face Brighton.

"Matty we hope will be back in training next week, he should train with the under-21 players over the weekend, then he will train with the senior squad and we will see how he is.

"If he is okay, Stuart might think about putting him on the bench at Wigan, but we will take one day at a time and the important thing is that he gets a week of training under his belt, then he will be considered for a start. We have missed him because he is a good player and a very good goal scorer.

"I think, as we have said all through this season, if you are going to win promotion you need two or three players who are going to get you goals and he is in that category."