THAT Edin Gondzic knocks out a decent dinner at his deli-cafe in Broad Street. Last year I saw off a high-value effort before crossing the road to see a meaningful flick at Broadway.

Edin can now also be found round the corner in Carlton Street, the main drag through Hockley, in a bijou establishment named, depending on your chosen source of information, Edin's Kitchen, Edin's Natural Kitchen or Edin's Patisserie Bar and Kitchen.

Whatever, it is to be found in an old jeweller's shop behind a miniature run of outdoor tables that I didn't consider occupying on what was the first squally day of autumn.

Inside, the place looks a treat, with rickety Bohemian furniture on the business side of a most attractive counter loaded with dried flowers, bottles of wine and cordial, meringue-topped pies and weapons-grade chocolate cake.

I took my place at one of three balloon-backed stools around a tiny table next to the staircase. Had there been a blaze, I would have been in charge of the hairspray-sized fire extinguisher.

Happily there were no emergencies and I got on with my starter, a substantial bowl of thick, well-seasoned butternut squash soup.

It was remarkable for two features. First the presence of cumin seeds – an original touch but one that gave the broth a spicy lift into a realm apart from the standard autumn seasonal offering. It's a terrific combination.

The other remarkable feature was the temperature of the soup. There seems to be a conspiracy in the trade to serve every soup as if it is a gazpacho or vichyssoise – close to stone cold; lukewarm if you are lucky. This was served at proper soup temperature, with steam wafting aromatically off the ochre surface.

The soup came with three slices of bread and two pats of butter. To keep the quack onside I swerved one slice of bread and both the butter pats.

The main course: penne with smoked bacon, chicken and mushrooms in a tomato ragu.

I prefer a longer pasta but the chief virtue of tubular penne is that two pieces sit firmly around the tines of a fork, thus reducing the chances of ragu splattering over the spectacles as the last centimetre of spaghetti or linguine is sucked sharply between the lips.

There was plenty of bacon, chicken and mushrooms to make this a proper main course. I'd have happily coughed a tenner for the pleasure but the two dishes together came with a luncheon special tab of £7.50. The good quality and low price made it sensational value, so a rare four stars for me.

Things got better with dessert – a generous wedge of the classic sachertorte that had been winking and blowing kisses at me from behind the glass on the lower tier of the counter display.

At a Viennese café you'd peel off a ten-euro note for sachertorte no better than this. The cake itself was moist and rich in chocolate with heavy hints of apricot, and the ganache was simply gorgeous. Again, great value at under £4.

Finally, a word for the service, which was charmingly done by a team who looked as if they cared about what they were doing. Thoroughly recommended.

THE family of former paratrooper John Haywood paid tribute to a "loving, stoic family man" after an inquest ruled he died of natural causes.

Mr Haywood, of Perry Road, Sherwood, died on July 14 last year after developing a lung infection after surgery to remove cancer.

The 68-year-old had his right lung removed in April 2012 following his cancer diagnosis and developed a rare condition where there is an 'air leak' following the operation called a bronchopleural fistula.

Dr John Duffy, consultant thoracic surgeon, told the inquest that out of 600 pneumonectonies, only around four per cent develop the same condition as Mr Haywood which leads to difficulty breathing and increase chances of other lung infections.

He added that in Mr Haywood's case, they decided to try inserting a stent to try and reduce the leak and levels of fluid in the lungs.

But Dr Duffy said stents can come loose if patients have a heavy coughing fit – which Mr Haywood was prone to.

He said: "There was a concern of life threatening infection. I suspect it was prone to slipping because it wasn't as big as it should have been.

"The stent was not a definitive treatment, it was temporary to get Mr Haywood's condition under control."

It was removed a few days later after it became dislodged, and Dr Duffy said he had ordered a bespoke stent but this did not arrive.

Dr Duffy said: "That was a last-ditch attempt to salvage the situation. I thought it was worth considering.

"He died despite our best efforts. Even in hindsight, I don't think we could do any more."

Speaking after the inquest, Mr Haywood's wife of 49 years Maggie said: "It was a long 15 months that he was ill, but he was a fighter."

Sister Denise Buckley added: "He was a loving, stoic family man."

Nottingham: Quadrophenia Night at Rescue Rooms, Goldsmith Street. Quadrophenia is a 1979 British film, loosely based on the 1973 rock opera of the same name by The Who. It will be shown at the city centre bar at 8pm and live bands and DJs will play throughout the night music from the film.

Nottingham: Hard rock band The Treatment will take to the stage at Rock City in Talbot Street. Doors open at 6.30pm and tickets cost £11 including booking fee.

Arnold: Village Ventures theatre group will perform Bane at Bonington Theatre. Bane is a one-man, one-musician series of plays which follows anti-hero Bruce Bane as he goes about his shadowy business in the mean streets of a fictional American city. Tickets to the show, between 7.30pm and 9pm, cost £10 for adults, £8 for concessions and £5 for children.

Arnold An exhibition of the town's involvement in the First World War is being staged at the library in Front Street. Guests are welcome to share their family stories and browse the exhibition, which features the use of Arnot Hill House as a hospital. The exhibition runs until October 25.

Ruddington: Western Front Association meeting at St Peter's Rooms, in Church Street. Speaker Mick McDonald will be talking about the development of the Royal Naval Air Service. Talk will start at 7.30pm. Cost £3 for members, £3.50 for guests.

Upper Broughton: The village hall is holding an art show. It will feature the work of artists, sculptors and woodcarvers, along with exhibitors of other media. It is the 32nd year the event has been held. It is free to attend and open from 10am to 5pm.

West Bridgford: Farmers Market on the Croquet Lawn including local fresh produce such as meat, fish and bread. The free event runs from 8.30am to 1.30pm.

Cotgrave: As part of the Big Draw project, youngsters are invited along to sketch poppies for a display to commemorate the First World War at Rufford Abbey. The free session runs from 10am to noon at Cotgrave Shopping Centre.

Chilwell: An art festival will be taking place at the Old Barton's Bus depot in High Road with over 40 local artists exhibiting their work and a host of activities for children. It runs from 12 to 4pm.

Nottingham: Local reggae band UJahm will be playing a set at the Nottingham Contemporary cafe this evening. They are joined by DJ Herbal T for a night of dub, dancehall, ska and bass. Doors from 8pm. Free entry.

Top Valley: Families can enjoy an off-road bike ride going from Top Valley to Mill Lakes. The ride is for parents who would like an introduction to taking their youngest ones out on bikes safely. The ride starts at Tesco Extra on Top Valley Drive at 12.30pm.

Tell us about events you are planning in your area. Email newsdesk@ nottinghampost.com.

PATIENTS could have to wait at least two weeks to get a doctor's appointment as experts warn that the system is going into "meltdown".

Nottinghamshire is facing a crisis, with new figures uncovered by the Post showing that the East Midlands is the worst place in the country for GP recruitment.

Just 63 per cent of GP training places in the region are filled, compared with at least 90 per cent in almost every other part of the country, despite the average salary being £70,000 and partners earning more.

With over a third of GPs in the county close to retirement age – doctors and patients fear the struggle to get an appointment will get worse. Peter Holden, chairman of the British Medical Association in the East Midlands, described it as "a huge problem". Thirty years ago, training schemes were hugely oversubscribed," he said. "The fact is, all around the country places are full, but not here.

"If we don't fill the training places, the East Midlands will be under-recruited because most people become a GP within 30 miles of where they do their training. It's only going to get worse.

"A routine appointment will be two weeks for a GP at least – it has to be."

Mr Holden said young doctors were going abroad for better pay or moving to bigger cities – put off by the region's rural areas.

He also said medical students were put off becoming a GP because they worked much longer hours than consultants in hospitals, with the added responsibilities of practice overheads and paying staff.

He said: "The young ones have paid for their education and they are saying they will not be treated like this."

Health Education England, which is responsible for the recruitment of GPs, is advertising the places in Nottinghamshire for the third time, which it has never had to do before. But Mr Holden thought the candidates attracted would be of a lower calibre because they would most likely be people who had failed to get a job previously.

"What we're frightened of is that we will get people not totally committed," he said. "Some of these people can't get a job. Those who come in at third-round recruitment always struggle in the exams. We are facing meltdown within five years."

Doreen Brooks, who is chairman of the patient participation group at Beechdale surgery and lives in Bilborough, said patients were already worried.

She said: "I have heard about this being a problem and I think patients are concerned.

"My surgery is really good and the waiting times are not long. Sometimes you can get an appointment in a day. But I know friends and family say they have to wait for two weeks already and that's only going to get worse."

Out of the 14 regions in England, only three have fewer than 90 per cent of training places for 2014 filled. The East Midlands has the lowest rate at 63 per cent, with 163 of 261 places filled.

And with 485 out of a total of 1,328 GPs in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire aged above 50, and an average retirement age of around 58, the problem becomes even more significant.

A spokeswoman for Health Education England said: "We are doing further work to improve the number of applications and fill rate.

"This includes, for example, doctors with experience in other specialties wishing to be GPs being able to transfer more easily into GP training and improving access to the GP returners scheme by working closely with the Royal College of General Practitioners."

Health body NHS England said: "Nationally, there are currently 9,000 GPs in training, with a further 5,000 anticipated to enter training in 2016.

"NHS England is currently looking at the current picture of general practice very carefully, including the number of retirement-aged GPs. We recognise that there isn't a quick or easy solution when it comes to creating a more sustainable GP workforce.

What's your experience of getting an appointment with your GP? Email newsdesk@nottinghampost.com.

NOTTS Outlaws captain James Taylor insists his team's failings in knockout cricket are nothing to do with mental weaknesses.

Notts lost a fourth straight home quarter-final in the domestic T20 competition despite scoring 197 for two against Hampshire.

They then lost heavily to Durham in the semi-finals of the Royal London One Day Cup with Taylor scoring 114.

It has been suggested Notts fold under the pressure in these big occasions, but Taylor says that is not the case, insisting their opposition deserve credit.

"I don't understand when people say it's a mental thing. It's down to poor performance or being outplayed by quality opposition," he said.

Taylor was in his first full season leading the Outlaws having taken over from Chris Read, who was still the four-day skipper.

He relished the role despite not living up to his expectations in the Natwest T20 Blast.

"I've enjoyed it. I like to lead from the front," Taylor told the Post.

"We've performed well in one day cricket without getting over the final hurdle.

"Home quarter-final in the T20 was a good effort but we haven't done quite as well as expected.

"We probably expected to get to the semi-finals of the 50 over, somewhere around there.

"We didn't put in the performance we expected in that game but you have to credit Durham (pictured)."

THE loss of suspended skipper Adam Murray is a blow for Mansfield Town.

But midfielder Jamie McGuire (pictured) is certain others can 'step up to the plate' in his absence.

With Murray out for three games and Chris Clements injured, McGuire has a chance to hold down his place in the team.

He hasn't played as much as he would have liked so far this year, but says collective results outweigh any personal gains.

"It wouldn't bother me if I was out the team and we were winning," said McGuire. "I was coming on thinking I could help the team out.

"Adam's suspended for three games now. I think the likes of myself, Hessy (Simon Heslop) and even young Jack (Thomas), can step up to the plate now.

"Hopefully we can hold our place in the team."

McGuire hopes too, that Mansfield can bounce back from last Saturday's poor performance and defeat to Accrington Stanley when they face Portsmouth today.

"The lads have all responded on the training ground. We've all worked hard," he added.

MANSFIELD Town's defence was always going to come under scrutiny this week.

Three times in the opening ten minutes of their last two games it has been breached; six goals in total have been conceded in their last three.

Questions were bound to be asked.

And they have.

The most common one though, has been, which defenders are actually fit?

Prior to bringing in 20-year-old Jamie Sendles-White on a month loan from QPR yesterday, Stags were down to two recognised centre-halves ahead of today's game at Portsmouth.

John Dempster (groin) and Ryan Tafazolli (hamstring) were the latest to venture in to the treatment room, leaving Martin Riley and Ritchie Sutton as last men standing.

Boss Paul Cox said in midweek he may be tempted to switch from his favoured 3-5-2 formation to four at the back.

But whatever combination he opts for, Sutton is confident he and Riley can help kickstart a turnaround in fortunes – at least where results are concerned.

"We've played together before," said the 28-year-old.

"Even that first season when Riles was here, we played centre-half together a lot, so if we do have to play as a two, it's not going to be alien to us.

"We know each other's game, so we should be strong.

"Playing 4-4-2 is something I think any defender is comfortable with.

"We've got to prepare ourselves for anything.

"Whatever formation we play, we can't make any excuses. We've got to go out there to win."

Sutton, though, does have sympathy for those who will miss out this afternoon.

"Demps definitely wanted to prove himself this year," he said.

"I spoke to him a lot and he was saying it's a big season for him, like it is for all of us.

"Tafs is a young, promising player. He's been a rock for us and can go on to play at a higher level.

"I'm sure he'll be disappointed.

"At the beginning of the season, when we had five fit, strong centre-backs, it looked like there was going to be a lot of competition for places.

"But they've been dropping like flies!

"This year we have just been unlucky in that position.

"We've just got to do the best with what we've got.

"We've got plenty in the changing room to get results, so there can be no excuses. We've just got to go out there and perform."

Doing so involves remaining steadfast for the opening quarter of an hour, at least.

Accrington Stanley's Marcus Carver almost punished them in the first few seconds on Saturday. A scare before the breakthrough came with a ninth minute penalty.

Cox accused his players of showing signs of complacency afterwards, when the final scoreline showed 1-0 – their second defeat in a row.

Sutton insists everyone was 'up for the game', but says their recent slide stems from their second half collapse against Carlisle United last month, when they almost let slip a 3-0 lead after the break.

"Second half against Carlisle felt like a 90 minute half. It was a hard half," he said.

"We haven't really recovered from that.

"We've gone through a lot in these past two games.

"People can say it's like we're in a comfort zone because we won two on the bounce; that we just had to go out there and turn up. But that's not the case.

"The last two games, teams have flipped it round and done what we do – started well.

"We should be solid in defence in the first 15 minutes especially.

"We shouldn't be taking any chances.

"It's disappointing that we nearly conceded from kick-off on Saturday. That's not us, we're strong defensively.

"It's disappointing we haven't kept as many clean-sheets as we can do this year.

"Hopefully we can pick up now."

Sutton knows, though, that to kickstart a run this afternoon involves adapting to an intense atmosphere at Fratton Park, where attendance figures have reached 16,000-plus this season.

"When we played Portsmouth last year, it's one of the only games I've played in where I couldn't hear myself think for the first ten minutes," recalled Sutton.

"We're used to that now, though. We know it's going to be a good atmosphere.

"We showed last year that we can cope – we went there and went 1-0 up, up until about 15 minutes from the end.

"We know we can go there and get a result.

"We'll try to do the same thing today."

IN ANY sport, players who come through the ranks capture the imagination of fans – and that is no different with Nottingham Panthers.

So when the young trio of Jordan Cownie , Lewis Hook and Ollie Betteridge impressed against Hamburg Freezers last month and even more so against Coventry Blaze last week it was inevitable the spotlight would be thrust upon them for a few hours.

Of the three, Betteridge has the strongest links to the area having joined as a 16-year-old. Now 18, the centre from Derby is hoping he will find more success by continuing to play with confidence.

"Corey (head coach Corey Neilson) knows that sometimes we'll make mistakes as we're young. He tells us not to worry about what we do, just try our best and we do that," he said.

"The best thing we can do when we are out there is be confident in ourselves. That's what we try and do.

"It was great last Friday. Unfortunately we've got a lot of injuries and Corey had to call us in, but hopefully we've come in and done a good job.

"The first game against Hamburg was tough, very tough! They are on a different level but we did amazing to beat them at home."

Betteridge played in front of 4,500 fans against Coventry, significantly more than the maximum of 1,500 he is used to with his English Premier League club Swindon Wildcats.

He will not be in the line-up for tonight's game against Fife Flyers at the National Ice Centre (7pm) or the return fixture in Scotland tomorrow (6.30pm) as he plays for Swindon at weekends.

He hopes having a two way deal will reap rewards and lead to a long-term future with the Panthers.

"There's nothing like playing in the arena in Nottingham. I'd love to play every midweek game here. I'll be with Swindon at the weekends. I'll do my best for them and hope to impress Corey," he said.

Panthers winger Greg Jacina was certainly impressed by Betteridge and Hook and Cownie, who are on two-way deals with Milton Keynes Lightning.

He is equally pleased to see captain David Clarke back in the line-up after his return from shoulder surgery.

"He's so important to this organisation as a natural leader. It's great to have him again," Jacina said.

"We've got the kids as well for some games. They stepped up against Coventry and are getting better from what I've seen. It's great to see them do well."

Panthers had a busy schedule travelling across Europe before being hit with an injury crisis, but Jacina says he feels relatively fresh.

He is in his first full season with Nottingham having joined in the second half of the last campaign, scoring 20 points in 28 games.

Jacina has been impressive this season with five points in seven domestic games and the man of the match award in the 2-1 win against Coventry last Friday.

The former Florida Panthers winger says he is enjoying settling in in Nottingham after joining a team which was struggling when he first signed.

"I feel alright. I'm enjoying it. I love coming to the rink and hanging out with the guys," he said. "It's something I love to do and I'll always give 100 per cent. We've got a great group.

"We've been together for a couple of months now. We went through some good bonding, especially with our travels in Europe.

"It's a lot of fun for me personally playing with Nottingham. We are trying to put something special together."

Tonight's game will be preceded by a tribute to 18-year-old Panthers fan Kris Dunn, who lost his battle with cancer and passed away peacefully in hospital this week.

WE'VE hit a little bit of a sticky patch in the last couple of weeks, but because of the start we've had teams are going to come to the City Ground, get a lot of men behind the ball and make it difficult for us.

I was at the Forest-Ipswich game on Sunday and I felt that when we went a goal down, and 2-1 down, that the crowd started to get a little bit edgy.

We have to be realistic and realise that although we've got a good strong squad, it's not going to be plain sailing for the whole season.

There's going to be times when things are difficult. There's going to be times when we're 1-0 and 2-0 down.

And what we need more than anything then is your support.

When we're going through a difficult patch and we go 1-0 down, there's nothing worse for players than the crowd getting on your back.

What we need as a team is the crowd to get behind us.

We need the crowd to help some of the younger lads when they're having a difficult time.

And I think if we're going to get promoted – just as the manager has said a number of times – we're going to do it as a club.

It's difficult to explain how much of a lift it gives us when you get behind us.

The last five minutes on Sunday were noisy, there was an atmosphere there and everybody in the City Ground felt we could get a goal – and we did.

And the buzz and the atmosphere around the ground after that almost made it feel like a win.

We got three in the last ten minutes against Fulham too and the atmosphere was the same that night.

So you make the difference.

You always turn out in great numbers and if you support us as much as you possibly can then we have a better chance of achieving something. I have no doubt about that.

If you look at the start we've had and the chance we've got to kick on now – we're unbeaten, and it's October. So be patient and stick with us. There will be ups and downs to come.

I WENT up to Leeds on Wednesday for a scan and to see the leading groin specialist in the country.

Unfortunately he found a little bit more damage to my groin than we had thought there was.

He felt the best thing was for me to have another injection, but that means the rehab is now going to be longer than we first thought.

From what the specialist said it could be anything from eight to 12 weeks which is obviously really, really disappointing.

I'm gutted but it's just one of those things that happens in football and all I can do now is be as positive as I can and work as hard as I can to come back stronger.

I'm sure the lads will keep picking up results and kick on from our great start.

And if I get back just after Christmas time hopefully it might give everyone a little bit of a lift and I can try to contribute towards what we all ultimately want come the end of the season – promotion.

My groin has actually been a little bit sore since my hernia operation last season.

Although I've worked a lot on strengthening the area, it's still been niggling away and I've never quite felt 100 per cent.

Whenever I did any sharp movements like twisting and turning or opening out controlling a pass, I felt it pull.

So I need to get it sorted. Hopefully the injection will do that.

But it just means that I've got to spend longer strengthening the muscles around the injury to protect it as much as possible and allow me to get back playing at the level I need to.

I spoke last time about the mental side of dealing with injuries and how difficult that can be.

Psychology is a massive part of sport now and we have a man called Keith Mincher working at the club who I have been working with over the last few weeks.

Personally I find it hard to believe that every football club who can possibly afford it doesn't have a sports psychologist.

I think you need to train your mind just as much as you need to train your body. It's vital.

I've known Keith for nearly 15 years.

He worked with us in the Forest Academy and although I've worked with other psychologists during my career, Keith is the one I felt a connection with and I've always kept in touch with him.

I understand him and he understands me. So when you've got that trust it's a lot easier to work on things.

We've worked on things throughout my career such as controlling your physical state; how you carry yourself and communicate through your body language. And controlling your mental state, which involves things like identifying and controlling your mood.

Realising that you have the power to control the way you are thinking, and staying positive in difficult times is massive for any footballer.

Back in the youth team when he first came in, I think all of us were sitting back and saying 'what's this rubbish, I'm not interested in this'.

But what was funny was that at the start probably 90 per cent of us were sceptical.

But by the time Keith had worked with us for a while and when he eventually left the club and moved on, probably about 80 or 90 per cent of us were seeking him out for help.

And when I say help, it doesn't mean anything was wrong.

I just mean we were looking to improve ourselves and could see that Keith is a man who could help us do that.

He has worked with Stuart Pearce before with the England U21s and he works with the staff as well as the players.

He's a great bloke to have around us, a real positive influence.

And the more positive influences we can have around the club the better.

IT has been 16 minutes of this interview so far and Alan Smith is tackling each subject like he does opposition midfielders.

Time is flying by at a rate of knots which underlines how engaging he is and when he talks you undoubtedly listen.

The fire and passion to succeed still rage inside of the former England international whose performances this season have been hugely impressive.

A move into coaching is on the agenda for the 33-year-old but when he broaches the subject, he says there is one aspect it will never be able to replace.

"I have taken a session or two and it's just a fresh voice for the players," he said.

"For myself, if I need a day's rest from training, then it's good to take a group away and do a session with the lads.

"It's nice to take a step back at times because you do see things that you wouldn't usually when playing.

"But there's no better feeling than finishing a game, going into a dressing room knowing you've had a positive result.

"As a manager or coach you never get that."

Smith has certainly experienced that feeling plenty of times with Notts this season in what are currently heady times at Meadow Lane.

They are eighth in the table, are in the Northern quarter finals of the Johnston's Paint Trophy, and currently possess the best defensive record in League One.

Considering the wretched campaign of last season when they just avoided relegation, it is remarkable progress.

Smith has undoubtedly played his part as being one of several experienced players who manager Shaun Derry says are driving high standards from within.

As Smith rightly points out it's easy to forget this team is still only a few months old having been put together by Derry from scratch in the summer.

"Anybody who has seen the performances of late would think they were from a team who have been together a lot long than they actually have," he says.

"We've worked on keeping our shape a lot and to have a back four that's so young and which has done so well will stand us in good stead.

"We are all still learning each other's games so to get that solid base and foundation so early on can help us progress.

"But when you go into a game knowing you are difficult to beat, it gives you the belief that you can pick up results.

"That's been the formula for us and it gives us massive self-belief. The more that people talk about you being hard to beat, the more you want to live up to that reputation.

"But we have to remember that it's a young team and there are players here who are still learning and it's down to the experienced lads to help them on their way.

"I remember being a 21-year-old myself and making mistake after mistake and you only get better by people believing in you.

"That's the message we need to send to everyone."

Smith's straight-talking and honest persona is in sync with the dressing room Derry has built this season.

There are no big-time Charlies and certainly no individuals like there were last season.

It is very much a team ethic which extends from those in the starting 11 to those who have a place on the subs bench.

Smith maintains it is crucial that it continues if the Magpies want to remain upwardly mobile.

"For a club to stay up like it did last season - and to a man they were excellent - that positivity has carried on," he said.

"It's given everyone belief and there are probably 20 players vying for 11 places.

"There will be times when people will be disappointed because in my opinion we've got 16/17 players who could easily be playing week in, week out.

"We have to all look long term that whatever team the manager picks is for a reason because he feels he can win a certain game, or he might want to be more defensive.

"We are managing to get that because everybody is staying positive through the disappointments when they are not playing.

"That will have a major say on the rest of the season."

NOTTINGHAM'S most famous outlaw could soon be given a 21st-century twist in a new TV series.

St Ann's-based media company Envision Productions has put forward the idea of the new series called Hood.

The plans are to use local actors and locations to put the series together and an online fundraising campaign to produce a pilot smashed its £500 target.

Producer Adam Guest said: "It's been a labour of love so far and now we're just so pleased to finally be at a stage where we can create this vision of ours.

"The locations are local, the actors are passionate and there is still the tip of the hat to the original legends. It's Robin Hood, but not in any way you've seen him before."

The idea is the latest in a series of planned adaptations of the Robin Hood legend.

Yesterday, the Post revealed how movie-maker Sony was considering a new blockbuster version, also called Hood.

If TV companies buy into the latest idea for the TV series, Robin Hood would be played by actor Josh Kemp, from Nottingham.

Director James Newton said: "This isn't your average low-budget film.

"The credentials and skills possessed by our film crew speak for themselves.

"We've also built up a fantastic array of equipment including some of the latest HD cameras and even a camera crane."

If the series is made, it could once more boost tourism in the county.

The release of the 2010 film Robin Hood, starring Russell Crowe, coincided with a 5.5 per cent increase in the number of people coming to Nottingham Castle.

Sheriff of Nottingham Jackie Morris said that the city "encouraged filming projects which feature the city or promote its culture and history".

And Councillor John Knight, who holds the leisure portfolio on Notts County Council, has backed plans to give the story of Robin Hood another telling.

He said: "Both Robin Hood and historic Sherwood Forest have an international profile and anything such as a film or a television show promoting the legend of Robin Hood can only provide a further boost for Nottinghamshire.

"Robin Hood's story is known throughout the world and we attract hundreds of thousands of visitors from home and abroad each year to explore historic Sherwood Forest."

NOTTINGHAM Rugby welcome Worcester Warriors to Meadow Lane tomorrow afternoon for the first of their British and Irish Cup group stage games (3pm).

The Green and Whites will be under the guidance of backs coach Ben Johnston for this match as he takes control in the cup as has been the case in previous seasons.

Nottingham's much-changed team will feature a number of debuts and a first start for Matt Everard, who assumes the captaincy in the absence of the rested Brent Wilson.

Flanker Everard said: "I'm really looking forward to captaining the side, it's a nice surprise.

"There are a lot of experienced players around the squad, like Dan Montagu and Calla (Tom Calladine), so it's not going to be a hard job with experienced players around me like that to be honest.

"We've not got the biggest squad, but everyone trains every day. So when we rotate players there's a good understanding with everyone knowing the plays and how we want to play the game.

"Those guys that maybe haven't had as much game time, like myself, just want to get out and play."

Nottingham come into the match on the back of an impressive display against Yorkshire Carnegie last weekend, where they came from behind at half time to dominate the second half and emerge victorious.

Johnston said: "We stuck to our task really well against Yorkshire and were pretty calm at half time, despite being 17-6 down.

"The tries we conceded were our doing and we just felt that if we kept playing our game we'd be in with a chance and it proved to be the case."

Ahead of the Warriors clash against a side who beat them 55-16 away in the league earlier this season, Johnston added: "For me, this is just another game we have to play.

"It's a chance for us to focus on ourselves as a squad and give the opportunity for some of our players to get some game time.

"There are a few new players coming in this weekend which gives us a chance to have a look at them.

"They've had to be patient, there are players there who have put in a lot of effort during pre-season and over the last couple of months and this is their opportunity to shine."

Nottingham team: 15) Conor Bullivant, 14) Corey Venus, 13) Elliot Cox, 12) Javiah Pohe, 11) Liam O'Neill, 10) Dan Mugford, 9) Alex Smit; 1) George Porter, 2) Jon Vickers, 3) Conor Carey, 4) Morgan Eames, 5) Dan Montagu, 6) Rupert Cooper, 7) Matt Everard (c), 8) Tom Calladine. Replacements: 16) Michael Holford, 17) Ben Brownlie, 18) Jake Barron, 19) Kiefer Laxton, 20) Cameron Lee-Everton, 21) Rory Lynn, 22) Oris Mawaqalive

SINGLE father Matthew Alfred asked for help tackling his home's mould problem but said he was left with a 2ft hole in his bedroom and no answers.

The 23-year-old and his son Cody, five, have taken to sleeping in his Stapleford council flat's living room because the problem is so bad.

The customer services adviser says he has been "fighting a losing battle" with damp since he moved into the two-bedroomed home in Montrose Court in December.

On Thursday, staff from Broxtowe Borough Council dug an exploratory hole in Mr Alfred's ground-floor bedroom to try to find the cause of the damp – but left before filling it in. He said: "It has got to the point that all our bedclothes are damp so we have to sleep in the living room on the floor.

"The hole in my bedroom is the size of a washing machine and they just left it.

"I am disappointed because it is not just me – I have a five-year-old and they have a duty of care to us.

"The mould has spread everywhere, including my son's toys. They keep coming and having a look but nothing is ever done."

Neighbouring properties have also experienced similar problems. Natalie Huffen lives next door. The 25-year-old care worker said: "My whole back wall is damp again. The council came about six months ago and re-plastered but it has gone back to the way it was.

"I had to take my carpet up because it was so bad and it ruined all my furniture.

"My clothes are all damp and smell all the time again."

Mr Alfred's mother, Caroline Alfred, 46, of Maryland Court, Stapleford, said: "The council used a pneumatic drill to dig a hole in the bedroom floor and they covered it with a board and just left it.

"It is just not right to do that now the colder weather is setting in, even for a day."

The Post contacted Broxtowe Borough Council a yesterday afternoon and was told the hole would be filled by the end of the day. The work was done at 4pm but workmen told Mr Alfred that they couldn't get a seal and had to finish the job with polythene under the concrete.

A spokesman said: "The council has been working extensively with Mr Alfred to alleviate his family's situation at Montrose Court and find the cause of the damp problem.

"We are currently looking at various options to improve the situation.

"Housing officers visited Mr Alfred's home to assess the situation and determine whether temporary accommodation was required and found that the bedroom was suitable to be used and slept in."

NOTTINGHAM Rugby duo Michael Holford and Dan Mugford have been named in the Championship XV squad to face Canada at Sixways on November 2.

Green and Whites head coach Martin Haag will lead the team, assisted by Kevin Maggs, and has named a squad made up of English qualified players from around the Championship, with experienced prop Holford and new recruit Mugford, a fly-half, included.

"I'm very happy with the squad we've selected," said Haag ahead of the first clash of its kind since a select side faced the Maori All Blacks in 2012.

"We wanted to spread the load among all the clubs, so that everybody is represented. I'm delighted with what we've ended up with and very excited about the players we will have – it will be a great opportunity for them to test themselves against a national team."

Championship XV squad

Forwards

Charlie Clare (Bedford Blues)

Darren Barry (Cornish Pirates)

James Percival (Worcester Warriors)

Lee Imiolek (Yorkshire Carnegie)

Marco Mama (Bristol Rugby)

Mark Bright (London Scottish)

Michael Holford (Nottingham Rugby)

Nick Fenton-Wells (Bedford Blues)

Ryan Bower (Worcester Warriors)

Ryan Burrows (Yorkshire Carnegie)

Tom Cruse (Rotherham Titans)

Backs

Dan Mugford (Nottingham Rugby)

Dougie Flockhart (Doncaster Knights)

Greg King (Moseley)

Jack Tovey (Bristol Rugby)

Lawrence Rayner (Plymouth Albion)

Michael Keating (Rotherham Titans)

Miles Mantella (London Scottish)

Ryan Glynn (Jersey RFC)

Tom Kessell (Cornish Pirates)

Will Owen (Moseley)

KYLE Dixon conceded his ankle injury has "killed" the rapid progress he has made under Shaun Derry's reign as he vowed to find top gear once again.

The midfielder is currently on loan at Conference North side Boston United and has played the last three games for the Pilgrims.

He was sent to the Jakeman's Stadium to get much-needed minutes under his belt after sitting two months out with an ankle injury which he suffered in pre-season.

It has stopped him from building on his impressive end to the last campaign when he gate-crashed Derry's starting 11 and won himself a new contract.

There were high hopes as to what he could achieve this season, but the player admits being sidelined has considerably set him back.

And DIxon admits his performances at Boston are not up to the standard he set with the Pilgrims last year.

"I've learned a lot since the last time I was here, but being injured has killed me," said Dixon.

"I was doing well at Notts and then I was out for about two months.

"I'm still getting back into it at the minute but I've not played as well as I have done when I was here last year. I'm hoping I can do a lot better."

Dixon was a big hit with the Pilgrims last season where his performances in midfield drew praise from boss Dennis Greene.

And the 19-year-old is keen to get back to producing that level of quality again.

"It's frustrating for me as I can't hit the strides I was hitting last year," he said.

"Hopefully, I can snap myself into it. I feel like I'm half a yard off it, but after every game I feel better.

"But nothing can replicate game sharpness, I have to just try to get into the team and do my best and I know it'll come."

Dixon is expected to be in the Boston team which faces Leek in the FA Cup today as they look for a response to a disappointing defeat to Hendesford.

"We're miles better than that," he said. "We want to bounce back."

JAMES Taylor might not be aiming to prove Kevin Pietersen wrong – at least publicly – but he is determined to make the most of his second chance with England.

In his autobiography, Pietersen said Taylor had no right to play Test cricket in his last appearance in 2012, claiming the batsman was so small he should have been a jockey.

However, the Nottinghamshire limited overs captain is preparing for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka and is hoping it serves as a springboard for the World Cup – and an opportunity to add to his two Test caps beyond that.

Taylor, understandably, did not want to have his say on Pietersen, but he did tell the Post he is delighted his mental strength has paid off.

Despite averaging 73.12 last season and 88.80 this season in domestic one day cricket, Taylor was kept waiting for almost two years to be picked again.

He said: "I always have hopes to be in the England side. Hopefully I've always been there or thereabouts given the runs I've scored.

"I'm desperate to get in the side in whatever format it is. There's a lot of one day cricket to come so I would have been disappointed not to be involved at all.

"Pretty much every interview I've done for the last three years has had questions about me and England.

"I enjoy the speculation of whether I'm in the squad or not. I'd rather be discussed than not at all.

"I just get on with it. I know the only way I'll get into England is by making runs for Notts and winning games for them.

"It's what I keep saying and it's what I do. It makes it a lot easier thinking like that.

"You can't get ahead of yourself. If you do then you don't make runs."

The former Leicestershire man, 24, says the constant shadow of an England selector looming over him this season in Notts director of cricket Mick Newell has been a great positive, even though Newell gets to see the best, and worst, of him.

"Having Mick here is great. He lets me know how close I am. I knew I was there or thereabouts because of it," he said.

If Taylor succeeds on the sub continent and gets his chance at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand at the start of next year, he believes England can defy predictions and win it.

"You look at the talent. If the guys perform then England have a chance. There is a lot of guys with a lot of experience and there's a lot of exciting players with both bat and ball," he said.

Newell says Taylor did not perform to the level he is capable of in the County Championship, scoring 992 runs at an average 38.15.

He has drawn plenty of praise from Newell for his white ball endeavours, but Taylor says he was happy with his season as whole.

"I'm pretty happy, especially with the five hundreds in six weeks at the end of the season with Notts and England Lions. I'm delighted with that.

"All the one day cricket went well and I finished on a high in the Champo," he said.

There was notable relief from the diminutive but powerful middle order batsman after he scored 126 in the final game of the season against Sussex in County Championship Division One.

"I was delighted to get that hundred. I'd worked hard for it all season," he said.

"It would have been the only season where I'd not got one in the Championship if I'd missed out in the final game."

LANDSCAPE gardener-turned-brewer Rob Witt has scooped gold at his first Robin Hood Beer Festival.

The new dad, 32, says the award-winning Four Hop Men of the Apocalypse beer is brewed to his own taste and is his perfect pint.

It was the first beer Mr Witt produced as an amateur brewer in his Beeston garden shed.

When it won a national competition two years ago, it gave the University of Nottingham graduate the confidence to ditch the day job and set up his own alternative micro brewery – Totally Brewed – near Meadow Lane.

Mr Witt, who has set up camp in the main tent of the Nottingham Castle beer festival, told the Post that his first experience of the event as a trader had been "fun but exhausting".

He said: "The reception we've had been really great.

"Thursday was kind of a trade night, so I had a lot of the other breweries coming over to say hello and they were really complimentary and I've been asking lots of questions.

"Even the big names like Blue Monkey and especially Magpie Brewery, who are my nearest neighbour if you like, have been incredibly helpful."

Mr Witt took 20 barrels with him and expected to sell out by the end of the festival today at 11pm.

He said: "Generally, business is going really well – I am selling more beer than I can make. It is a lot of hard work but I definitely made the right decision to change careers.

"I would rather work hard and be exhausted and do the job I love than go off every day in a suit to do a corporate job."

Festival-goer Andrea Turner, 44, of Edgware Road, Bulwell, was drinking Totally Brewed's Slap In The Face.

She said: "It is the second time I have tried it today – it was the first beer I went for and I scored it nine out of ten, and now I've had it again it will get another nine. It's not too heavy but still has lots of flavour."

The credit controller has been visiting the festival every year for longer than she can remember.

She said: "It has grown and changed over the years and I think it is just getting better and better. I'm glad they have the band playing all day now, as people who came in the day before didn't get the full experience. Everyone pays for a ticket, so they should get to see the whole thing."

Across four days, up to 30,000 people will visit the castle, with more than 1,215 brews to try.

Campaign for Real Ale volunteer Gus Manning, who is manning the organisation's recruitment stand, said the group had received more applications than ever.

"We normally get around 200 by the end of the festival but it's only 6pm on Friday and we already have 150. We have had to order in more application forms because everyone has been so keen – it's all really promising."

It is the 39th Nottingham beer festival and seventh Robin Hood Beer and Cider Festival at the Castle. The first festival attracted 7,000 punters, while 30,000 are expected this year.

GOOSE Fair has gone and the weather has turned. That can mean only one thing – in Britain, it's Christmas.

Nottingham's two big shopping centres have yet to start piping Ding Dong Merrily On High around the malls but already there are signs throughout the city centre that a little Christmas spending will be welcome.

And now. Even during the autumn mid-season sales.

Clinton Cards, whose Solihull branch was criticised for unveiling its festive display during the school summer holidays, has £39.99 "Snowing Christmas Trees" stacked in its Victoria Centre store.

A chunk of the furnishings floor of Nottingham's John Lewis is stocked with trees, cards and seasonal decorations.

The Three Crowns, Jamie's Italian and Tamatanga are among the catering establishments with A-boards advertising their Christmas fare.

And if you like to get your gifts boxed and ribboned a fortnight before the end of British Summer Time, you'll find yards of festive wrap in the Clumber Street windows of Poundland.

BHS, often an early leader in the Nottingham Christmas shopping stakes, has giant paper holly leaves and berries suspended from the ceiling of its Broadmarsh store and posters reminding their customers: "'Tis the season to be jolly."

'Tis also the season for a liverish response if you like your Christmas to happen at... well, Christmas, actually.

Which begs the question, if December 25 is the first day of the religious festival of Christmas, what is an appropriate first day for the seemingly-endless commercial festival of Christmas?

Early August, according to management at the Bybrook Barn, in Ashford, Kent – later forced by customer protests to haul down the Christmas tree put up 140 days before the event. November 15, according to Intu, owner of the Victoria and Broadmarsh Centres. That's when the grotto is expected to open on the upper deck of the former mall and a children's "digital experience" at the latter. Details have yet to be finalised.

At John Lewis, whose Victoria Centre store is Nottingham's biggest shop, head of branch Amanda Dammers said: "Our Christmas shop launches at the same time every year. As winter approaches, inevitably thoughts turn to the festive season.

"Christmas was also our most popular search term online from early September, so we know that our customers like to get a head-start with their preparations."

Ms Dammers was speaking on the day city council workmen began putting up Nottingham's Christmas lights. Don't worry – they won't actually be switched on until November 21.

Geoff Williams, representing the independent retailers who are members of Nottingham's Business Improvement District (BID), reinforced the point that customers dictate retail practices.

"In the United States, Christmas shopping was traditionally not done before Thanksgiving," he said. That holiday, a thanksgiving for the year's harvest, is celebrated in the US on the fourth Thursday in November.

"Over here we have moved the way customers want us to," Mr Williams said.

"There is an early surge of people who want to get things organised and buy their gifts now. You get a bit of a lull and then it's the second group – mostly male – who hate the whole business and leave it to the end.

"Retailers are always accused of being too commercially-minded – but it's not just the retailers. Clearly the customers are thinking that way, too.

"Browsing early gives people the chance to think about a purchase, then go back a couple of weeks later and buy it. Leave it to the last minute and the item may not be there."

Nottingham traders hope to build on the progress of last Christmas, when 1.97 million shoppers visited the city centre in the four weeks before Christmas week – an increase of four per cent and a further sign that the UK was slowly emerging from its seven-year economic slump.

Reporting a six per cent year-on-year rise in sales, Amanda Dammers credited last December's commitment from all retailers to stay open late. Cut-price parking was another factor.

However, independents' spokesman Geoff Williams, looking back on the downturn, says: "There is still a lot of ground to make up. The other thing is that people are being a bit more sensible with their spending."

The traditionalists may not like it but a long lead-in to Christmas is permanently blocked into retail accountants' diaries.

As the writer Katharine Whitehorn once concluded: "From a commercial point of view, if Christmas did not exist it would be necessary to invent it."