CHRISTMAS cards designed by a 10-year-old from Wollaton and a six-year-old from Sherwood will be sent out by Nottingham MPs this month.

Nottingham East MP Chris Leslie and Nottingham South MP Lilian Greenwood both held competitions for schoolchildren in their respective constituencies – and now the winners have been revealed.

Olivia Black, 10, who attends Fernwood Junior School in Wollaton, will see her design printed on Ms Greenwood's cards, while Leah Huddlestone, six, of Seely Infant and Nursery School in Sherwood, will see hers on Mr Leslie's e-cards.

Leah, who drew a picture of the globe with Father Christmas, said: "I just thought about it and the idea came into my mind. I think it's amazing that Santa goes round the world in one night."

Leah added that she loves drawing and was chuffed to learn her design had been picked.

"I'm really happy about it," she said. "Mum and dad were very happy too."

Mr Leslie presented Leah with a certificate and an iPad, donated by Experian, for her winning design.

He said: "It is a very colourful and very happy design; she put a lot of detailed effort in it. It's got me in the Christmas mood."

The Labour MP said he had received more than 200 applicants for the competition and he even called in art expert Rob Howie-Smith, of the Art Organisation in Station Street.

Meanwhile, Olivia, who was one of 480 entries for the Nottingham South competition, took a different angle and drew the Queen walking her Corgi in the park beside a Christmas tree.

The Year Six pupil, who lives in Parkside, in Wollaton, said: "I did it because of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the Christmas tree is very bright. It took me about an hour to paint it and draw it."

As the winner, Olivia will spend a day in Parliament with her family and enjoy lunch on the terrace at the House of Commons with Ms Greenwood. She will also receive a free family ticket to a Nottingham Panthers match.

Ms Greenwood, who will send the card to more than 2,000 people, businesses and groups, said: "We received some impressive entries but Olivia's card really stood out.

"We'd suggested that children take inspiration from 2012's national events, and her vivid painting really captured the spirit of the Queen's visit to Nottingham.

"I'm looking forward to showing Olivia around Parliament. She beat some tough competition and I'm grateful to all the schools and children that took part.

"I'd like to thank Mike Sassi from the Nottingham Post and Kay Hardiman from the Nottingham Contemporary for helping to judge the competition, and E.on for their support, which made the competition possible."

THE family of a dad killed when a wall fell on him at work are calling for new compensation laws for relatives of accident victims.

The widow and daughters of Adrian O'Dowd were awarded more then £200,000 by a court last October – more than four years after his death.

But they say they are yet to receive it after Mr O'Dowd's former employer, Patrick Walsh, failed to pay up.

Adrian's widow, Angela O'Dowd, spoke out about the case today and described how financial turmoil had added to the loss of Adrian for her and their daughters Katie, 21, Sinead, 22, and Clodagh, 19.

She said the Government should set up a national scheme to help families when those ordered to make pay-outs fail to do so.

Mrs O'Dowd, 45, of Nuthall, said: "With an accident like this there's no pot you can go to – there's nothing.

"It's been awful – we are the victims here. Our lives are on hold until this is sorted out."

She said Mr Walsh had made one offer of about £30,000 in around August – but she rejected it, saying it would not even cover legal fees.

Mr Walsh yesterday told the Post he had made offers to the O'Dowds but declined to discuss the case further.

Mr O'Dowd started work for Mr Walsh to replace a wall at the back of a house in Mays Avenue, Carlton, on January 24, 2007.

But the five-foot wall came crashing down and trapped him underneath.

Firefighters and ambulance crews fought for four hours to pull him from the rubble but he had already died.

Mrs O'Dowd said: "We lost everything, on top of me losing a husband and my daughters losing a father.

"We had to sell our house in Bakersfield to pay debts. We wanted to start a new life and were told insurance was in place – but it wasn't."

In 2009 Mr Walsh, then 41, and of Highcliffe Road, Sneinton, appeared at Nottingham Crown Court in a criminal case and admitted failing to ensure the wall was stable enough.

He was fined £2,500 and ordered to pay £7,500 in compensation to Mr O'Dowd's family, which was honoured.

But after hearing he had no employer's liability insurance, the family launched a civil claim for compensation against him for the loss of Adrian's earnings.

On October 19 last year the High Court awarded the O'Dowds £204,922.

But the family say so far they have received none of it having rejected an offer.

Having already spent about £30,000 in legal costs, the family say they can't pursue it any further and are left in limbo.

Mrs O'Dowd said: "We've got a judgment – but what happens now? When a judge makes a decision and you are awarded that amount, that's what you should be given. There needs to be something set up for cases like this."

Mrs O'Dowd said the family's situation had been made worse because she is not able to work due to health problems.

She said: "We talk about Adrian every day and remember him as if he's still here at times. The girls' birthdays are the hardest times.

"My daughters have kept me going – I'd have given up long ago if it wasn't for them."

She said the family did not know where to turn and pleaded with the Government to change the law.

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said: "Health and safety inspectors routinely check for evidence of employers' liability insurance when they visit premises. We can and do prosecute when we find evidence of failure to have this compulsory insurance. The usual route for damages is through the courts, so there are currently no plans for a Government-backed fund."

Mr Walsh told the Post: "I've spoken to Mrs O'Dowd on numerous occasions and we're still waiting for her to get back to us. I've made several offers (since October)."

NOTTINGHAM City Council has revealed its new chief executive is set to be Ian Curryer, the current corporate director for children and families.

In his first interview with the Post about his forthcoming role as the council's top official, Mr Curryer voiced his support for the proposed £26 million regeneration of Nottingham Castle.

Mr Curryer said: "I'd be very keen to support that project because I do think people see the castle as an iconic building for our city.

"It would be fantastic if we have something that really stands out as a great visitor attraction."

The post was advertised with a salary of £165,000 but Mr Curryer has offered to do the job for £160,000.

Mr Curryer has lived in Nottingham for more than 30 years since moving from Hertfordshire to train as a teacher at Nottingham Trent University. He lives in Lady Bay and is married with two children.

He taught in city primary schools for 12 years and during that time was a head teacher for five years.

Mr Curryer said he aims to be a visible chief executive and added: "I want to bring a more citizen or customer focus to our organisation.

"I want to place the citizens at the heart of what we do."

He also said that working across public, private and community sectors would be important with reduced funding in the future.

There were 14 applicants for the role – both internal and external – and Mr Curryer was one of three to be shortlisted.

He was selected by the council's appointments and conditions of service committee on Wednesday but that decision must now be approved by the full council on Monday.

Jane Todd stepped down from the role on health grounds earlier this year after she was diagnosed with a benign brain tumour and underwent a major operation.

Carole Mills-Evans, who was her deputy and the council's corporate director for resources, has been acting chief executive for the past nine months and will remain in the post until January 1, before returning to her former position.

Council leader Councillor Jon Collins, said he was pleased with the proposed appointment.

He said: "He has proved himself to be an asset to the team and I look forward to working with him in his new position.

"The final shortlist was very strong, and it was clear that any of the three candidates could have stepped up to the job.

"In the end, the panel's consensus was that Ian is the right choice.

"I thank Carole Mills-Evans for providing stability and direction during the interim period. Her hard work is appreciated."

A FRAUDSTER pocketed cash raised by her work colleagues after claiming that she was dying from cancer.

Teresa Clay, 42, of Ripley, was also granted full pay by bosses while off work supposedly having medical treatment, a court heard.

She started her full-time job at Storm DFX, on the Nix Hill industrial estate, Alfreton, in August of last year.

She complained of a sore throat after a few weeks and told her employers she had to undergo further investigations in hospital, Derbyshire magistrates were told.

She then said she had been diagnosed with throat cancer.

Clay worked only mornings while claiming she was having radiotherapy.

"She then said doctors had found a second cancer in her throat and she needed chemotherapy," said prosecutor Mike Treharne.

"By November she said she could only take liquid food."

Clay went on to claim she had to move to her parents' home following a house fire, her ex-partner had thrown acid over her car bonnet and, in December, the vehicle blew up.

"Her employers were very concerned for her welfare. They hired a car for her for four weeks while she got hers fixed," said Mr Treharne.

In March, Clay told work she had a throat operation. The following month she claimed her one remaining kidney was malfunctioning and she couldn't afford a dialysis machine.

"Work colleagues took it upon themselves to do fund-raising.

"One did a ten-mile run and paid £300 to her. But there was no problem with her kidneys and she did not have cancer, the court was told.

"The workforce were completely taken in by her deceit.

"She was paid £3,618 she wasn't entitled to," added Mr Treharne. "It's a tale of deceit that's really quite awful." The fraud came to light after Clay quit her job to work for the National Grid in Blackwell, the court was told.

Clay, of Honeyfield Drive, admitted fraud between last August 15, 2011, and May 22 this year by making false claims that she was terminally ill. She had no previous convictions.

Magistrates said she had told "lie after lie" in an "unbelievable level of deceit" and imposed a six-month jail term – suspended for one year.

They ordered her to do 200 hours unpaid work and pay £3,618 compensation to Storm DFX and £300 to Jodie Stuart, with £85 costs.

Stacey White, for Clay, said she did not accept all the allegations but it was accepted it was "a fairly despicable offence".

Ms White said Clay's debts had "spiralled out of control" at the time.

She added: "She regrets her actions every day. She feels embarrassed and ashamed. She hasn't told her family."

Probation officer Julia Gillott said Clay was on medication for depression.

ALL eyes will be on 20 children from one school of dance when they feature in Nottingham's big pantomime Cinderella, which begins today.

The youngsters were selected at auditions by talent scout and trainer Greer Sheppard, 53 – and all of them attend the Marcia Jones School of Dance and Drama in Beeston.

The children, aged between 7 and 12, make up the opening scene of the show at the Theatre Royal, which this year stars American singer and actor Sheila Ferguson, who plays the Fairy Godmother, and EastEnders star John Partridge.

One of the dancers taking part in the show is Anais Toibin-Storer, 12, of Burton Joyce.

Anais has already performed in three Christmas pantomimes in Nottingham, including Jack And The Beanstalk, Aladdin and Sleeping Beauty, but she says this year's is one of the best.

"We met the stars of the show earlier this week and they have been really lovely," she said.

"I think this year's panto is better than some of the others. I'm really excited about being involved. From the rehearsals that have taken place so far I think people will love it."

Another dancer, who will be treading the boards for the second year running, is eight-year-old Sommer Russell of Mornington Crescent, Nuthall.

She said: "I was in Sleeping Beauty last year and I'm really pleased to be in Cinderella. I really enjoy dancing in the opening scene. I also like the finale."

Dance teacher Greer Sheppard, who has more than 40 years' experience, said: "Everyone is well prepared and raring to go. The children have learned their routines well."

Cinderella runs at the Theatre Royal from today until Sunday, January 13. Tickets are £13.50 to £27.50 from the box office, call 0115 989 5555 or go to www.trch.co.uk.

Let us know what you think of the panto. E-mail newsdesk@nottinghampostgroup.co.uk

Don't miss Monday's Post for our review of Cinderella

FOUR men have been sentenced for their part in a spate of tobacco burglaries across Notts and Leicestershire after a crackdown by a specialist police team.

Notts Police set up Operation Donjon after a series of incidents where stolen cars were used as getaway vehicles in shop burglaries which targeted the theft of cigarettes.

They were first identified by CCTV at a house they broke into in Costock.

They were then linked to the other crimes by their methods and use of the same stolen vehicles.

They were pictured on CCTV during a burglary at a One-Stop shop in Newark. Cigarettes from this incident were found in the boot of a stolen vehicle.

Their spree came to an end in Leicestershire on July 7 when they were arrested shortly after a shop burglary.

Detective Inspector Kev Broadhead, who is leading the ongoing operation, said Christopher Hall, 19, was Donjon's "number one target".

Mr Broadhead said: "His arrest was a massive breakthrough in the inquiry. Since the arrests of all four men, the number of incidents of this kind have decreased dramatically.

"But while the results mean they are now out of the equation, there are others and we will now simply move down to the next target on our list."

At Leicester Crown Court Hall, of Ennis Close in Derby, admitted eight burglary and theft offences, and asked a further two offences to be taken into consideration by the judge.

He was sentenced to three years, nine months behind bars.

Also sentenced were three Notts men:

Nathan Morgan, 18, of Chatham Court in Newark. He admitted four burglary and theft offences, as well as the assault of a detention officer while in police custody. He was given one year, nine months in custody.

Shaun Watt, 19, of Lombard Street in Newark. He admitted five burglary and theft offences. He received one year, three months in custody.

Christopher Wilson, aged 33, of Wolsey Road in Newark. He admitted two shop burglaries involving cigarettes in Leicestershire and was sent to jail for 12 months.

As Operation Donjon continues, Notts Police are using "capture shops" in Notts, fitted with recording equipment and forensically-marked property.

People are also being asked to look out for anyone trying to sell large quantities of cigarettes.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Notts Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

A JUDGE told a man given 18 years for assaulting and raping two girls that his "past had caught up with him".

Andrew Crane was yesterday jailed after being found guilty of 15 sexual offences against the girls, who have now grown up.

It took a jury less than two hours to unanimously convict the 49-year-old at Nottingham Crown Court.

After the verdict, Judge Jeremy Lea told Crane: "You are nearly 50 years of age. But your past has caught up with you today."

Crane was found guilty of six charges of indecently assaulting one of the girls, one charge of gross indecency toward her, and four of rape.

He was also found guilty of three indecent assaults and a rape on the second girl.

Both victims wept in court as the verdict of the jury of nine men and three women was read out.

Crane, dressed in a white top, showed little emotion but when the judge retired to consider sentencing could be seen wiping tears from his eyes.

Judge Lea said the case amounted to "the most serious abuse".

Jailing Crane, he said: "The evidence that we have heard has been clear and compelling. I don't need a victim impact statement having heard from them [the victims] to appreciate the impact of your offending upon them.

"The evil of this type of offending is the distortion of familial relationships, the destruction of trust that the child can normally have with those adults who look after that child."

The court heard that one of the victims had struggled to have a "normal relationship" with her mother and had found forming relationships as an adult difficult.

"This is a result of your offending when you were clearly intent on your own selfish pleasure," added Judge Lea.

"You could have made a full and frank admission and saved yourself a number of years in custody, and exhibited that you felt sorry for what you have done and didn't want to put these women through more trauma by coming to court."

Crane was also told he would be on the sexual offenders' register for life.

The jury had heard that Crane's first victim was five when he first abused her. She called what happened to her "her little chest of horrors", the court heard.

The jury heard Crane touched her, then gave her chocolate, performed sexual acts in a toilet and got her to simulate a pornographic pose from a magazine.

She went to police in 2011.

The second victim was frightened and crying when he first indecently assaulted her in a toilet when she was 11.

"On another occasion, he performed a sexual act in front of her and another time he raped her.

Crane was interviewed about her allegations in June 2012 but denied all offences, insisting that the girls were lying.

But the jury saw through his claims.

In mitigation, Ian Way said it had been years since the offences.

He said that since then "there's nothing to suggest that there's been any offending of this type".

He added: "He had no previous convictions."

Detective Constable Nicola Costello, who investigated the case, said: "Crane put his two victims through systematic sexual abuse over a number of years for his own gratification.

"He has remained cold and callous throughout; opting to put both victims through further trauma by making them relive what they've been through in a public trial.

"At no point would he accept responsibility for the harrowing abuse he inflicted.

"The significant sentence handed to Crane clearly reflects the extreme distress and pain he caused.

"I hope this signals an end to a difficult chapter in the victims' lives and that they are now able to recover and rebuild their lives."

A WOMAN who was fined for dumping bags of litter by a tree told officials she did it because "everyone else seemed to put it there".

Lisa Baker was caught when community protection officers found letters with her address on in Baden Powell Road in Sneinton.

Baker, 31, who lives in Baden Powell Road, admitted leaving a bag and was issued with an on-the-spot fixed penalty of £75.

Six days after the first offence, more waste was found at the same location, including another bag linked to Baker.

When interviewed she again admitted putting the second bag of waste there and said she did it because "everyone else seemed to put it there".

Baker did not pay the fixed penalties and so the two offences were heard in court.

She was found guilty in her absence of the two offences and fined £600 for each offence, plus costs of £684.68, and a £15 victim surcharge, with a total to pay of £1899.68.

Nottingham City Councillor Alex Norris said: "We believe this to be one of the biggest fines ever handed out for littering and we're really pleased that the courts took it so seriously."

A TAXI driver who was hit on the head with a machete as he was robbed by a gang says he is "disgusted" after seeing only one of the group sent to prison.

The driver, who asked not to be named, spoke out after Gareth Beeson, 23, was handed seven years for his part in the attack on June 5.

Beeson was one of five people who got into the driver's minibus after he was called to Nine Acre Gardens in Bulwell.

The driver, a dad-of-one, was grabbed from behind and a machete was held to his throat.

He tried to wrestle free but as he did one of the group stole cash from his jacket pocket as another searched the glove compartment.

The driver managed to get out of the minibus only to be confronted by other members of the group.

He was forced to hand over a bag of cash and was then hit on the side of the head with a machete before the group ran off. The driver was left with a six-inch cut to his head and needed 12 stitches.

Beeson, of Bethnal Walk, Bulwell, admitted robbery at Nottingham Crown Court on Wednesday . He was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Beeson was one of five people who were arrested in connection with the robbery.

Two were released without charge and two others, a man and a woman, were charged with robbery alongside Beeson but no evidence was offered in court and the case against them was dropped.

After the hearing the driver said: "They'll halve [Beeson's] sentence and he'll be out in three-and-a-half years. I feel disgusted. Only one person is serving time. I'm feeling completely low. I don't want to even leave the house."

He said he now could not see himself properly returning to his old job.

He added: "I've tried getting back into it a few times but as soon as someone sat behind me I can't do it. I just get jumpy."

A spokesman for the Crown Prosecution Service said a guilty plea was offered by Beeson, who played the most "significant role" in the attack. Her added that the prosecution had to consider the evidence against the remaining two alone after the plea.

The spokesman said: "The evidence against these defendants was not as strong. It was therefore considered that the most appropriate course was to accept the guilty plea from Beeson and discontinue proceedings against the two remaining defendants. This decision was made in consultation with the victim, the police officer in the case and the trial judge, who all agreed to this course of action."

AN INQUEST has opened into the death of a 28-year-old man in Bilborough.

Nottingham Coroner's Court heard that Germaine Michael Edwards died on Saturday, November 17.

An interim post-mortem examination has ruled gunshot wound as the cause of death.

Mr Edwards, of Chingford Road, Bilborough, suffered wounds to his liver, heart and left lung.

A 32-year-old man appeared at Nottingham Crown Court yesterday charged with the murder of Mr Edwards.

Damien Simpson, also known as Damien Fogo, of no fixed address, was remanded in custody to appear at Nottingham Crown Court on March 11.

AS Sean O'Driscoll steps out into his technical area today at the City Ground, what happened a week earlier will still baffle him.

Some of the boos and criticism that met the 2-1 defeat to Hull on the banks of the Trent shocked the Reds manager.

But, as he accepts it often goes with the territory, he is not about to start changing his way of working.

The fact he went with one striker at home is not something he felt should have clouded the overall objective.

Instead, he felt it was a much-needed tactic that, had it been executed better, could easily have brought about three points and plenty of positivity from the home crowd.

And as Burnley pay a visit today with the Reds tenth in the Championship and four points off the play-offs, he remains confident his side will continue to develop in a positive way.

"When it doesn't go for you as a manager, it is said you lack passion and when it does go for you, you're a tactical genius," said O'Driscoll.

"Two weeks ago at Wolves, we were tactical geniuses and now, we are out of our depth and never managed a big club before.

"It is what it is and I can't change it. We are trying to find a way to satisfy everybody.

"A way the players are comfortable with, a way that gives us the best way of achieving a positive result and establishing an identify within the club rather than just saying we play 'the Forest way'.

"I keep asking what is 'the Forest way' and nobody actually tells me.

"The game is constantly changing and evolving so I want to make sure we have an identity that everybody recognises.

"We can look different for different games, be flexible. I don't want to say 'we did this no matter what' because if it doesn't work, what do you do next? That is ongoing."

Forest's loss to Hull followed defeat at Ipswich, a setback after rising to just outside the play-off positions.

But O'Driscoll added: "The reaction to the defeat took me by surprise.

"There has been a lot of reflection and we have tried not to change the routine a lot.

"It is a difficult one because everybody's opinion is valid. But it is a little bit about how football has developed, systems have changed and to harp on to one aspect of the 90 minutes and let that cloud everything else, that did surprise me.

"But the support we have had has been fantastic. You walk out here and they start the song and I have been here when I wasn't a part of it so to be a part of it now is great.

"You only have to look around the place to see how everybody wants us to do well and you can see why. If you can get this going it will be a great place to play football.

"Saying things is one thing. You have to put the hard graft in and it is not going to be easy."

Burnley arrive in Nottingham unbeaten in three, following two draws and a victory.

And O'Driscoll knows they are a side that can handle themselves.

"They are very organised and know what they are doing. I watched them in the derby game against Blackburn in an atmosphere that was really intense," he said. "Those derbies can get very frantic but they were organised and teams like that, who can handle difficult situations, you have to give respect to.

"They have a good goalkeeper, two good centre halves, two very good central midfielders and a goalscorer up front. So it's not a bad team!"

A TEENAGER charged with murdering a baby has appeared in court.

Scott Gladwin, 19, is accused of killing the baby in 2010. He appeared at Nottingham Crown Court yesterday in front of Judge Michael Stokes QC.

A few details of the case were discussed during the brief hearing.

Gladwin, who is from the Huthwaite area, was remanded in custody until his next appearance at the court on Thursday, December 20.

I logged into Facebook the other day and immediately knew I must go on a quest. For there, sitting in the middle of all the announcements about which of my friends were expecting a baby and which ones were irate about politics, stood a challenge.

"Our belly's are already rumbling!" the challenge read. "Who's tried the Megaburger?!"

I ignored the incorrect use of "belly's" and the frankly unnecessary interrobang, and instead focused on the more personal aspects of the query, which came from the Facebook page of Wimpy. I was then forced to admit that in fact, I had not tried the Megaburger.

And so off I set to that great hall of life quests, the Broadmarsh Centre.

I brought Anya, my daughter, who is two and who had never been to Wimpy.

It had been a while since my last Wimpy experience, but as we walked in I immediately remembered what I like about the place. Here we were at a fast-food burger joint, and we were greeted and shown to a seat by an actual human.

The human interaction continued as we were waited on. Right there at our seat. In a fast-food place. Remarkable.

Since I didn't have to jockey for position in a queue below a giant glowing godlike menu, I had time to look around. And from my admittedly unscientific eyeball poll, I believe there can not be many restaurants in Nottingham with as diverse a clientele as Wimpy.

In the corner sat a teenage couple having what looked to be a fairly successful date. Near them sat a pair of pensioners and across from them, a mum and grown daughter. Three lads near the front compared mobile phones. At a table across from me were a small group of Chinese students taking pictures of their food. All of human life was there.

But I wasn't there to make a demographics pie chart. I was there to answer a call. A call to the Megaburger.

Scanning the menu, I realised that the Facebook taunt had glossed over what a Megaburger actually is. The menu offered a more complete definition.

It is a standard Wimpy burger topped with the iconic Wimpy sausage, the Bender in a Bun.

I worried. Is this not the hubris of man? To take burger and sausage and just put them together under the same bun – could such a thing truly be possible? Cow does not lay with pig. I was venturing into a dangerous place.

And frankly, I was worried about the whole "mega" thing as well. Hear the word "megaburger" today and you'd be forgiven for thinking you're about to be served four-fifths of a cow slathered in three kinds of cheese, a field's worth of onions and enough bacon to make a heart artery file a complaint with its union.

There's some show on one of those channels – "Dave" or "Dave 2" or maybe "Gary", I honestly have no idea – that features an American man travelling his country, visiting eateries and consuming burgers and other creations with names like The Violator. Every episode seems to end with a shot of him sweating and needing the toilet. It's horrific.

That's sort of what I had in mind with the Megaburger.

But that's not the Wimpy Megaburger. It is a reasonable size. Note that by "reasonable," I do not mean "small". It is the size of other Wimpy burgers and a perfectly normal amount of food for an adult human to consume at a sitting.

And like other Wimpy meals, it is served on that civilising conveyance, the plate.

There's just something pleasant about going to a fast-food place and being served at your table with cutlery and food on a proper plate.

It's a much better all-round experience than being thrust over a counter a paper bag containing your food in a way that implies you should go find the nearest park bench to consume it on.

So finally, knife and fork in hand, I got down to my Megaburger.

The red bender's a bit like the polser sausages that are ubiquitous in parts of Scandinavia. It's not dissimilar to a hot dog, but a bit meatier and less limp.

Only moderately spiced, it played nicely with the burger, which avoids the strangely sweet misadventure you sometimes get with big-brand fast food burgers. Anya addressed herself to a mini-bender with chips, and needed little persuasion.

For dessert we opted for a shared Rocky Road Sundae. Mini Oreos, mini-marshmallows and lots of chocolate sauce over vanilla ice cream, served up in an old-fashioned long-stemmed glass sundae bowl. Luxury.

I don't always do exactly as Facebook instructs, but on this occasion it served me well. What they do at Wimpy's isn't new or complicated – but as it turns out, people still like human contact and reasonable portions of comfort food served properly.

NOTTS County are set to sit down with Luton Town in the new year to try and finally thrash out a deal for Andre Boucaud.

The two clubs have been haggling over the 28-year-old midfielder for weeks now – and Magpies boss Keith Curle expects talks to come to a head in January when the midfielder's loan at Meadow Lane ends.

The Hatters are demanding a fee for the player because they splashed out £25,000 to sign him from York City only ten months ago.

His stock has also risen because he has done so well for Notts in League One since joining them on a short-term deal at the start of this season. He has established himself in the heart of the Magpies midfield, playing 16 of their 20 league games.

Boucaud would have played more times, but was banned for three games in September after being sent off.

He also scored in a 2-1 win at Coventry City at the end of October.

It would be a big blow to the Magpies' hopes of winning promotion if they can't agree a deal with Luton.

"I think Luton want to open negotiations in and around the last week of his loan," said Curle.

"That is the time they want to sit down and thrash out a deal if there is one to be had."

Boucaud is set to miss the Magpies' League One game at Yeovil Town today with an ankle injury he suffered in their last league game against Swindon Town.

He originally returned to Luton for treatment, but Curle says he is now back at Meadow Lane to continue his recovery.

"We sent him to the expert of Luton's choice because he is their player," said Curle.

"That's been sorted out now and he's back here continuing his rehabilitation. Hopefully he will be available for selection very soon."

BARTOSZ Bialkowski was Notts County's hero today.

The Magpies drew 0-0 at Yeovil Town in League One – and were indebted to their goalkeeper, who made four great saves in the second half to deny the Glovers and make sure Notts extended their record unbeaten away run to 21 games.

The Magpies were boosted by the return of Dean Leacock to the heart of their defence at Huish Park, after he missed their FA Cup draw against Rotherham United through suspension.

On-loan striker Chris Iwelumo was also restored to their attack and Carl Regan replaced Julian Kelly at right-back, joining Leacock, Gary Liddle and Alan Sheehan in defence, in front of Bialkowski.

Gavin Mahon, captain Neal Bishop, Alan Judge, Yoann Arquin and Jeff Hughes all also started against the Glovers.

Notts made a blistering start and Bishop went close to scoring after less than two minutes, but Yeovil goalkeeper Marek Stech blocked his low shot from eight yards with his left leg.

Defender Byron Webster then headed over the crossbar for the home side from a corner on seven minutes and midfielder Edward Upson blazed a shot over Bialkowski's bar from 20 yards three minutes later.

Yeovil threatened again on 13 minutes.

Jamie McAllister, their captain, curled a free-kick into the box and Ayling hit a shot at goal from close range that Bialkowski blocked at his right-hand post.

The Magpies hit back on 20 minutes, Liddle heading the ball across the face of goal from a corner, but it was hacked clear, and Iwelumo prodding wide a minute later.

Judge then swung a dangerous cross into the box on 25 minutes, but defender Daniel Burn headed it clear under pressure from Hughes.

Glovers' midfielder Sam Foley fired narrowly wide from the edge of the box in reply on 28 minutes, but Notts were quickly back on the attack and Hughes was inches away from getting a toe to an inswinging free-kick into the penalty area by Sheehan on 35 minutes.

Bishop then directed a near-post header into the side-netting and, after Joe Edwards curled a shot wide from inside the box, Arquin went close to breaking the deadlock.

Bialkowski launched a long goal kick forward, Hughes flicked it onto the Frenchman and he attempted to curl a shot beyond Stech and inside his left-hand post, but he was denied by a good save.

Yeovil were first to threaten at the start of the second half.

Gavin Williams hit a shot at goal from inside the box on 49 minutes that was blocked by Leacock and Upson forced Bialkowski into a good save with a 20-yard effort a minute later, the Pole diving to his left to parry the ball away.

The home side went close to scoring again on 58 minutes, Williams seizing onto the ball inside the box and rifling it at goal. Fortunately for Notts, Bialkowski was there and made another good save.

Undeterred, Yeovil continued to put Notts under pressure it took a super save from Bialkowski to stop Burn scoring on 65 minutes.

McAllister swung a free-kick into the box and Burn met it with a good header that looked set to creep inside Bialkowski's left-hand post, but he somehow clawed it away at full stretch.

The Magpies' No.1 then blocked a powerful shot from Upson.

Notts brought on Francois Zoko for Mahon soon after and the Ivorian was quickly involved, sending Judge racing into the penalty area on 72 minutes.

The Irish midfielder aimed a low shot towards the bottom-left corner that beat Stech, but went inches wide.

Hughes then fired just wide of Stech's right-hand post on 76 minutes.

That was the last time the Magpies threatened and they came under intense pressure in the closing minutes, but they were rock solid at the back and held on for a good point.

YEOVIL: Stech, Ayling, Webster, Burn, McAllister, Edwards, Smith, Upson, Foley, Williams (Hayter, 77), Madden. Subs: Stewart, Hinds, Blizzard, Ugwu, Reid.

NOTTS: Bialkowski, Regan, Leacock, Liddle, Sheehan, Mahon (Zoko, 71), Bishop, Judge (Labadie, 90), J Hughes, Arquin (Showunmi, 83), Iwelumo. Subs: Mitchell, Kelly, Bencherif, Hollis.

ATTENDANCE: 3,355 (235 away).

THE NOTTS Fire and Rescue Service has said when it expects a new control room to be up and running as part of a multi-million pound scheme.

In March fire services across the East Midlands were awarded £5.4 million to improve their control rooms.

The services in Notts, Derbyshire and Leicestershire got the funding by applying to the Department for Communities and Local Government.

While the three control rooms will still work independently, they will all use the same computer system to mobilise firefighters and fire engines when they receive emergency call outs.

The project has now been dubbed the "Tri-Service Control" scheme.

Notts chief fire officer Frank Swann is expected to tell Notts Fire Authority on Friday that the Notts centre should be ready by early 2014.

In a report Mr Swann added: "This is heavily dependent on the prime contractor, and its ability to complete within the challenging timescales that have been set by the programme."

He added each fire authority has committed a further £246,667 each to top up the grant funding to reach a total of £6.1 million for the scheme.

The report also reveals that the current control room at the fire service headquarters at Bestwood Lodge, Arnold, will need to be refurbished before the new system goes live.

The control will be temporarily located elsewhere in the headquarters building next month so work can start.

THE number of young people registering to become blood donors in Notts has dropped by more than a third in the last two years.

New figures show only 2,786 people aged 17 to 24 have become blood donors in the city and county this year – a drop of more than 37 per cent from 4,440 young people donating in 2010.

The NHS says the decline needs to be addressed now, to avoid a shortage of supplies of life-saving blood in the years to come.

Holly Mason, from NHS Blood and Transplant, said: "We need young people to come forward now to become the next generation of blood donors.

"Young people are our future life-savers."

More young people getting tattoos and piercings is thought to have contributed to the dip, as anyone who has a tattoo cannot give blood for at least four months afterwards.

Freda Leafe, 82, of Calverton, has chronic lymphatic leukaemia and has to undergo regular blood transfusions – and urged more donors to come forward.

She said: "I don't know what has caused the fall in young donors. I wish there were more."

The NHS has launched an appeal to find 10,000 new donors in the East Midlands. Every year 225,000 new donors are needed to replace existing donors who drop out of the system in the UK.

A WOLLATON man jailed for chopping off another man's finger has been given another two-and-a-half years after attacking a prison guard.

Steven Unwin punched the guard in the face several times in the attack at Ranby Prison, near Retford.

It led to a disturbance as other prisoners began to throw snooker balls at the guards and others started cheering.

Nottingham Crown Court heard Unwin had just had a row with his wife on the telephone.

After putting the phone down, he approached two guards and asked what the time was.

Robby Singh, prosecuting, said: "He (the guard) looked down at his watch and when he looked back up he was punched by the defendant."

The guard ended up on the floor and Unwin stood over him to continue the attack. Eventually other guards pulled him away.

Mr Singh added: "It enlivened all of the other prisoners on the wing."

The guard, who had blood on his face, was taken to hospital after the attack on March 15. He had a broken tooth as well as bruises and a bloodshot eye.

Unwin, 31, previously of Whitemoss Close, Wollaton, was moved to the more secure Garth Prison in Lancashire after the incident.

He had been serving eight years and three months for chopping off the finger of his girlfriend's former boyfriend in The Meadows in 2009.

He put the middle finger of the man's left hand on a breakfast bar and cut it off with a 10-inch knife. He pleaded guilty to assault the guard causing actual bodily harm.

In mitigation, Dean Bower said it was a "spur of the moment assault" and not premeditated.

He said Unwin had been arguing with his wife as prison officials had restricted their contact.

"On this day they had a row over the telephone," said Mr Bower.

"He came away from the telephone and went over to the two prison guards with no intention of assaulting them at that point.

"He took his frustrations out on that particular prison guard."

Judge Michael Stokes, QC, added two-and-a-half years to Unwin's original sentence.

He said: "Though the prison officer was not seriously injured, the court has got to do what it can to ensure that those who are in highly vulnerable positions in prison are protected."

Speaking about the disturbance which followed the attack, Judge Stokes added: "If anything like this occurs in a prison environment, it's virtually inevitable that others will react as they did."

A 47-YEAR-OLD man is in a serious condition in hospital after he was found with head injuries in an Arnold Street.

He was discovered in Front Street at about 11.35pm on Saturday and was taken to the Queen's Medical Centre.

Police believe he had been in to both the Robin Hood and Horse and Jockey pubs in Arnold on the night.

Officers are trying to work out how he was hurt and whether he was attacked.

Anyone who visited the two pubs on Saturday night, or has any information, should contact Notts Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.