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Evolving habits and everyday conveniences

The world is constantly changing and evolving and the habits of people are adapting to the demands of modern life. Who would have thought, 20 years ago, that we would be walking round with mobile phones so powerful that you can order something at the push of a button or connect with a friend halfway round the world in an instant? The options are almost limitless and as the years go by, the impossible suddenly becomes possible.

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Let me give you an example of just how much things have changed. I can remember on a Friday night traipsing down to my local newsagent in what is the horror that is British weather and standing in a queue for 10 minutes just to buy a lottery ticket from whom always appeared to be a somewhat bemused shop assistant. Service was a slow time-consuming nightmare. The irony is that convenience shops are no longer that convenient to play the lottery in the 21st Century.

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You can buy your ticket in less than minute from the comfort of your own home and you can choose if you want a single line ticket or if you want a syndicate entry. How is that for purchasing power?

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TRAIN season ticket fares have risen by about a quarter in the past five years, new figures show.

Passengers travelling on six routes including Nottingham have been hit by increases of up to £728 between 2010 and next month, when more price hikes are due.

Rail users say they can't afford high fares alongside other bills, while transport campaigners say they are "being held to ransom".

West Bridgford resident Luke Hopkins, 25, travels to Derby every day to work as a programmer and spends £131 on a monthly ticket.

It would cost £1,372 for an annual pass – set to increase by £32 next month.

Mr Hopkins said: "You don't save a lot of money by getting an annual ticket and it's already too much as it is.

"I've experienced times when they just cancel a train because they haven't got enough staff and I end up late for work."

Pattern cutter designer Lesley Atkinson, from Sherwood, spends £166 on a monthly pass to travel to Syston, Leicestershire.

An annual ticket would currently cost £1,732.

She said: "It's probably cheaper annually but it's a hell of a lot to pay out in one go when you have other bills to pay.

"It's just getting harder because not everyone's wages are going up in line with that."

David Thornhill, of the Nottinghamshire Campaign for Better Transport, said: "It's an example of the unacceptable face of the privatised railway where passengers are increasingly paying through the nose, but not necessarily for a better service.

"For many people they are seeing no increase in their wages at all. If you have a season ticket then you have to travel virtually daily and have no choice but to pay up, so you're being held to ransom."

Mr Thornhill said many services suffer from overcrowding, in particular the Nottingham to Birmingham line – where prices have been hiked by 24 per cent to £3,720.

Other Nottingham routes affected by increases include those travelling to Derby, Hucknall, Lincoln, Long Eaton and Beeston.

Nottingham South MP and shadow rail minister Lilian Greenwood, who released the figures, said: "It's just yet another example of the government failing to stand up for working people who are struggling with the cost of living crisis.

"Season tickets like Nottingham to Derby have gone up by 27 per cent when we know most people's wages have one gone up a fraction of that, if at all.

"People are sat or standing on increasingly overcrowded trains and it's becoming unaffordable."

The government will spend £500 million on electrifying the Midland Main Line, between London, Nottingham and Sheffield, by 2019 to speed up journey times.

Rail minister Claire Perry said: "We are taking the tough decisions needed to improve our railways.

"As part of this, from May next year passengers in the Nottingham area will see extra trains and improved journeys thanks to £2 million of government investment on the Nottingham to Lincoln route.

"I'm extremely aware that passengers are concerned about the cost of rail travel and that is why last year we announced a real terms freeze on regulated fares for the first time in a decade and this continues into 2015."

The government announced in last week's Autumn Statement that regulated season tickets and fares would increase by 2.5 per cent.

East Midlands Trains will increase train fares by 1.3 per cent on average, below the current inflation level of 2.3 per cent.

Season ticket price changes

Nottingham to Beeston: 2010 - £364, 2015 - £452, Increase - £88 (24 per cent)

Nottingham to Long Eaton: 2010 - £644, 2015 - £816, Increase - £172 (27 per cent)

Nottingham to Lincoln: 2010 - £1,792, 2015 - £2,208, Increase - £416 (23 per cent)

Nottingham to Hucknall: 2010 - £472, 2015 - £584, Increase - £112 (24 per cent)

Nottingham to Derby: 2010 - £1,108, 2015 - £1,404, Increase - £296 (27 per cent)

Nottingham to Birmingham: 2010 - £2,992, 2015 - £3,720, Increase - £728 (24 per cent)

FOUR more county care homes have been told to stop taking in residents due to concerns over standards of care.

However, social care chiefs say the public can be reassured that the majority of homes in the county are providing good service.

Despite Notts being named as having the worst performing care homes in England, the county council's service director, Caroline Baria, believes that standards are good and a team of quality development officers are fighting to drive up performance.

The team – which visits each care home annually and holds monthly monitoring meetings with health regulator the Care Quality Commission – can take a number of sanctions against homes, including asking them to produce action plans and suspending contracts.

It also sends in inspectors when relatives or other whistleblowers complain about standards of care.

"I hope it does give reassurance," Ms Baria said.

"The fact that we've got these visits happening is reassuring. It means we're able to assure the public that the majority of our homes are providing good care.

"You can't just put a suspension on a care home without good cause. It can cause distress to people who are waiting to go into a particular home. We don't do it lightly, it only happens after we have tried to work with the home and offered a significant amount of intervention and support from our staff."

The county's care homes have come under a lot of scrutiny in recent years and authorities and health chiefs have been forced into taking action on a number of occasions.

In September 2012, the county council was forced to suspend contracts with three homes after concerns were raised over standards of care. And in June last year, the authority suspended its contracts with three more.

Just four months later, one of those homes – St Andrew's Lodge in Riber Crescent, Basford – had its registration removed by health inspectors and was shut down.

However, Samantha Ely, who manages the Leen Valley Care Home in Hucknall, said the performance of homes could be changed quickly.

Just 18 months ago, Leen Valley Care Home, formerly Silverdale Care Home, had its contract suspended and enforcement action was being taken against it by the Care Quality Commission. But now the home's performance has turned around.

Ms Ely said: "I had the ban on my place when I arrived and it took us five weeks to sort it out. But it could take as little as two or three weeks. I think it's about how committed you are to having it lifted."

In January this year, the council took further action by setting up a task force dedicated to tackling the problem of struggling care homes.

And now, social care chiefs have suspended contracts with four more homes – and asked another to voluntarily stop taking residents.

A council spokesman said the step to suspend contracts is taken over standards of care and where there are ongoing concerns – but residents currently living in the homes are not moved.

The authority would not give details about particular problems at the homes.

Charnwood in Carlton, Hallcroft in Hucknall, and Sycamore and Poplars in Warsop are run by Four Seasons, and a spokesperson said: ""We're sorry that the care provision at these homes fell below the standards that we expect to deliver to all of our residents.

"We are strengthening the management in the homes and they are being supported by our senior regional management team."

Blyth Country House Care Home did not wish to comment.

Logan Logeswaran, managing director of Runwood Homes, which runs Jubilee Court, the home asked to stop taking residents, said: "We are confident that the areas of concern are being addressed."

A spokeswoman for the CQC said some of the homes would face further inspections "soon". She said: "We continue to work closely with the local authority and as with all services regulated by the CQC, we continue to monitor these services and will return in due course to check on standards."

ELEVEN Nottinghamshire care homes for the elderly now have contracts suspended by the council:

Albemarle Court, Mansfield Road, Woodthorpe.

Eton Park, Owthorpe Road, Cotgrave.

Blyth Country House Care Home, Spital Road, Blyth.

Bowbridge Court, Bowbridge Road, Newark.

Broadgate, Beeston.

Coppice Lodge, Coppice Road, Arnold.

Acer Court Care Home, Nottingham Road, Nuthall.

Clumber Court Care Home, Bolham Lane, Retford.

Hallcroft Care Home, Croft Avenue, Hucknall.

Sycamore and Poplars Care Home, High Street, Warsop.

Charnwood Court, Station Road, Carlton.

FOUR more county care homes have been told to stop taking in residents due to concerns over standards of care.

However, social care chiefs say the public can be reassured that the majority of homes in the county are providing good service.

Despite Notts being named as having the worst performing care homes in England, the county council's service director, Caroline Baria, believes that standards are good and a team of quality development officers are fighting to drive up performance.

The team – which visits each care home annually and holds monthly monitoring meetings with health regulator the Care Quality Commission – can take a number of sanctions against homes, including asking them to produce action plans and suspending contracts.

It also sends in inspectors when relatives or other whistleblowers complain about standards of care.

"I hope it does give reassurance," Ms Baria said.

"The fact that we've got these visits happening is reassuring. It means we're able to assure the public that the majority of our homes are providing good care.

"You can't just put a suspension on a care home without good cause. It can cause distress to people who are waiting to go into a particular home. We don't do it lightly, it only happens after we have tried to work with the home and offered a significant amount of intervention and support from our staff."

The county's care homes have come under a lot of scrutiny in recent years and authorities and health chiefs have been forced into taking action on a number of occasions.

In September 2012, the county council was forced to suspend contracts with three homes after concerns were raised over standards of care. And in June last year, the authority suspended its contracts with three more.

Just four months later, one of those homes – St Andrew's Lodge in Riber Crescent, Basford – had its registration removed by health inspectors and was shut down.

However, Samantha Ely, who manages the Leen Valley Care Home in Hucknall, said the performance of homes could be changed quickly.

Just 18 months ago, Leen Valley Care Home, formerly Silverdale Care Home, had its contract suspended and enforcement action was being taken against it by the Care Quality Commission. But now the home's performance has turned around.

Ms Ely said: "I had the ban on my place when I arrived and it took us five weeks to sort it out. But it could take as little as two or three weeks. I think it's about how committed you are to having it lifted."

In January this year, the council took further action by setting up a task force dedicated to tackling the problem of struggling care homes.

And now, social care chiefs have suspended contracts with four more homes – and asked another to voluntarily stop taking residents.

A council spokesman said the step to suspend contracts is taken over standards of care and where there are ongoing concerns – but residents currently living in the homes are not moved.

The authority would not give details about particular problems at the homes.

Charnwood in Carlton, Hallcroft in Hucknall, and Sycamore and Poplars in Warsop are run by Four Seasons, and a spokesperson said: ""We're sorry that the care provision at these homes fell below the standards that we expect to deliver to all of our residents.

"We are strengthening the management in the homes and they are being supported by our senior regional management team."

Blyth Country House Care Home did not wish to comment.

Logan Logeswaran, managing director of Runwood Homes, which runs Jubilee Court, the home asked to stop taking residents, said: "We are confident that the areas of concern are being addressed."

A spokeswoman for the CQC said some of the homes would face further inspections "soon". She said: "We continue to work closely with the local authority and as with all services regulated by the CQC, we continue to monitor these services and will return in due course to check on standards."

ELEVEN Nottinghamshire care homes for the elderly now have contracts suspended by the council:

Albemarle Court, Mansfield Road, Woodthorpe.

Eton Park, Owthorpe Road, Cotgrave.

Blyth Country House Care Home, Spital Road, Blyth.

Bowbridge Court, Bowbridge Road, Newark.

Broadgate, Beeston.

Coppice Lodge, Coppice Road, Arnold.

Acer Court Care Home, Nottingham Road, Nuthall.

Clumber Court Care Home, Bolham Lane, Retford.

Hallcroft Care Home, Croft Avenue, Hucknall.

Sycamore and Poplars Care Home, High Street, Warsop.

Charnwood Court, Station Road, Carlton.

FOUR more county care homes have been told to stop taking in residents due to concerns over standards of care.

However, social care chiefs say the public can be reassured that the majority of homes in the county are providing good service.

Despite Notts being named as having the worst performing care homes in England, the county council's service director, Caroline Baria, believes that standards are good and a team of quality development officers are fighting to drive up performance.

The team – which visits each care home annually and holds monthly monitoring meetings with health regulator the Care Quality Commission – can take a number of sanctions against homes, including asking them to produce action plans and suspending contracts.

It also sends in inspectors when relatives or other whistleblowers complain about standards of care.

"I hope it does give reassurance," Ms Baria said.

"The fact that we've got these visits happening is reassuring. It means we're able to assure the public that the majority of our homes are providing good care.

"You can't just put a suspension on a care home without good cause. It can cause distress to people who are waiting to go into a particular home. We don't do it lightly, it only happens after we have tried to work with the home and offered a significant amount of intervention and support from our staff."

The county's care homes have come under a lot of scrutiny in recent years and authorities and health chiefs have been forced into taking action on a number of occasions.

In September 2012, the county council was forced to suspend contracts with three homes after concerns were raised over standards of care. And in June last year, the authority suspended its contracts with three more.

Just four months later, one of those homes – St Andrew's Lodge in Riber Crescent, Basford – had its registration removed by health inspectors and was shut down.

However, Samantha Ely, who manages the Leen Valley Care Home in Hucknall, said the performance of homes could be changed quickly.

Just 18 months ago, Leen Valley Care Home, formerly Silverdale Care Home, had its contract suspended and enforcement action was being taken against it by the Care Quality Commission. But now the home's performance has turned around.

Ms Ely said: "I had the ban on my place when I arrived and it took us five weeks to sort it out. But it could take as little as two or three weeks. I think it's about how committed you are to having it lifted."

In January this year, the council took further action by setting up a task force dedicated to tackling the problem of struggling care homes.

And now, social care chiefs have suspended contracts with four more homes – and asked another to voluntarily stop taking residents.

A council spokesman said the step to suspend contracts is taken over standards of care and where there are ongoing concerns – but residents currently living in the homes are not moved.

The authority would not give details about particular problems at the homes.

Charnwood in Carlton, Hallcroft in Hucknall, and Sycamore and Poplars in Warsop are run by Four Seasons, and a spokesperson said: ""We're sorry that the care provision at these homes fell below the standards that we expect to deliver to all of our residents.

"We are strengthening the management in the homes and they are being supported by our senior regional management team."

Blyth Country House Care Home did not wish to comment.

Logan Logeswaran, managing director of Runwood Homes, which runs Jubilee Court, the home asked to stop taking residents, said: "We are confident that the areas of concern are being addressed."

A spokeswoman for the CQC said some of the homes would face further inspections "soon". She said: "We continue to work closely with the local authority and as with all services regulated by the CQC, we continue to monitor these services and will return in due course to check on standards."

DORIS Nattrass used to recruit soldiers and request tanks during the Second World War – but her son Frederick will never forget the moment she surprised him by adopting his brother, John.

Mrs Nattrass, who has died died on December 8 at the age of 101, had initially wanted to adopt a baby with her husband Frederick, but ended up falling in love with a five-year-old boy – also called Frederick.

But after taking him home he struggled to settle without his brother – so his new parents decided to adopt him too.

Frederick junior, now 65, of Bilborough, said: "I kept saying I wanted my brother, John. They talked about it and decided they would fetch him, but didn't tell me they plans. One day I left school and I saw mum, dad and John in a pram. I pushed the pram back home - I was so happy."

Mrs Nattrass grew up in Worksop, before moving to Basford at the age of 16 to care for her grandmother Annie Wooly.

She began her working life as a window dresser at discount store FW Woolworth, in Radford, before moving to Chilwell Barracks to work as a personnel officer at the start of the Second World War.

There, she helped to recruit soldiers and would deal with requests for new tanks when another one was damaged.

John, 62, of Top Valley, said: "She really enjoyed working at the barracks and made many friends there. She said it was the best years of her life."

It was also during 1939 that Mrs Nattrass married her husband Frederick as mentioned earlierat St Mary's Church, in Edwinstowe, after meeting him through a cycling club.

After the war she turned her hand to lace-making which she did at home until she retired at the age of 57.

John said he will always remember his mum being very caring.

He said: "I believe she got out of life what she put in. We are all going to miss her a lot, everyone will."

Mrs Nattrass became her husband's carer before he died of bladder cancer at the age of 83.  

Frederick said: "She was a lovely, wonderful mum, and a wonderful wife to my dad. She would do anything for anyone they would only have to ask. She is irreplaceable."

Mrs Nattrass also leaves her two sons, four grandchildren and nine great-great grandchildren.

FORMER soldier Michael Furniss has been handed a life sentence for the murder of an Arnold dad.

Furniss shot Andrew Dosiuk three times in his bedroom in Laneham Avenue on Monday, November 11, last year.

Fifty-five-year-old Furniss, of no fixed address, has been given a life sentence and will serve at least 32 years and 11 months in prison.

Handing down the sentence the Honourable Mr Justice Haddon-Cave said: "He was 33 years old, it was clear that he had been shot dead in his bed at close range. There was no apparent struggle or resistance; Andrew Dosiuk was clinically executed in his bed.

"His family has lost a loved one and grieve over the brutal manner of his death."

A man and woman have been taken to hospital after a collision on M1 southbound between junctions 27 and 28. 

The incident, involving two cars, took place near Selston at around 1.20pm. 

Four lanes were closed for a few hours after the collision, which led to drivers experiencing 20 minute delays. 

 Another man and his dog had already got out of their vehicle by the time firefighters  arrived. 

Crews from Stockhill, Tuxford and Highfields were in attendance. 

They left around 2.50pm. 

SWINDON Town manager Mark Cooper says Notts County's recent success has a lot to do with how they "epitomise" manager Shaun Derry and the sort of player he was.

The Robins travel to Meadow Lane on Saturday in League One with both sides in and around the play-offs.

Cooper attended the Magpies' Johnstone's Paint Trophy quarter-final win at Doncaster Rovers on Tuesday night and is under no illusion of the task ahead.

"Notts County are in a good place at the moment," said Cooper.

"They are winning games, very organised, very difficult to play against and they have got some good players.

"Before I went (on Tuesday night) I was under no illusions that it will be a tough game.

"They are not in and around the play-off region for no reason and they are in the habit at the moment of winning games.

"I think they epitomise their manager. He probably could still play, he is very hard working, with desire and a will to win with decent ability so they epitomise everything that the manager and the staff is.

They work hard but they try and play as well, so it is going to be a difficult task for us but we have to remember that we have good players as well."

A MANSFIELD couple who were killed in a crash on the A60 have been named locally as Rob Bowker and Jennifer Hopkinson. Tributes from Mr Bowker's family were left at the scene, near Ravenshead, including photos, flowers and hand-written messages.

A card from his parents read: "To Babe, God bless you son, You will always be in our hearts till we meet again. Love Mum + Dad."

The incident took place last night at around 9.45pm on Mansfield Road and involved a bus and a Vauxhall Corsa.

Mr Bowker and Miss Hopkinson were pronounced dead at the scene.

According to Mr Bowker's Facebook profile, he was born on September 6 1987 and worked in McDonald's.

Another card from his family read: "Dear Rob, you have been the best brother ever. Will never forget you, love forever and always, Will + Becky xxxx"

One of the witnesses to the aftermath of the crash was Lois Lightfoot, whose house looks onto the scene.

Mrs Lightfoot, 80, said: "This is the worst crash that I've ever known about.

"My husband heard a loud bang and phoned the police. "He said I don't like this at all. It's going to be very bad.

"All we could see was the bus stopped and the car next to it - then all traffic stopped. Paramedics and ambulance arrived then about five or six police cars.

"I can't think what the family must be going through."

Friend Lois Riley has also paid tribute on Facebook.

She wrote: "Can't believe mine and Daniel Riley's best friend who was my brother from another mother has gone. Rob Bowker I love you so much, you were everything to me and Dan and the kids. Still trying to work out how to stop crying. You had found such an amazing girl to be with Jennifer Hopkinson was gorgeous inside and out the most beautiful person I've ever met. You were both moving on to such big things and I can't believe that you are both gone. You've left so many people behind who truly love you and will be missed by so many. But especially us and your families. Love you both so very very much. Xxxxxxx"

Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to contact Nottinghamshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 817.

A MOTHER whose teenage daughter died following a move to an adult mental health unit has launched a campaign demanding more support for young people.

Rebecca Overy was a mental health patient in a facility with other people her age at the Alpha Hospital, in Woking, Surrey.

But on the day after her 18th birthday Rebecca was moved back to Nottinghamshire, where her mother, Kathryn Wilson, and stepfather, Barry Wilson, live in Radcliffe-on-Trent.

The teenager thought initially she was going home, but in fact she was moved to Annesley House, an adult unit.

She died three months later after her mental health deteriorated. She was found unconscious in her room on June 24, 2013, and died the following day at the Queen's Medical Centre from a brain injury caused by asphyxiation.

Mrs Wilson, 56, said: "Her death has destroyed me. I sob every day. I think Rebecca would have coped better if she got used to her new place slowly. I am not going to let this go. Rebecca should be here."

Mrs Wilson is now campaigning for better support when young people transfer to adult units. She hopes to contact the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt and force a debate in Parliament.

She said her daughter was badly affected by the news she was not going home and the situation was made worse because she says no help was given during the settling in period and there were no prior visits to Annesley House.

Mrs Wilson added: "When Rebecca was in Alpha Hospital she really started to flourish and gain more confidence. She had her own CD player, lots of posters, and cuddly toys on her bed. It was like a home from home, and there were plenty of activities for her to do. She had made lots of good friends too. They wanted her to get better, just like they wanted to."

Her self-harming attempts had also become less frequent, and she was on less medication.

But at Annesley House, Mrs Wilson said her daughter's spark had "started to disappear" - she became more irritable, withdrawn, and more at risk of self-harm.

Her step-father Barry said: "Rebecca was happy, jolly and full of life, but she became a shadow of her former self. If you were a young person and you had to move place - how stressful would it be? I want the Government to stop talking about transition and start acting."

At an inquest into her death, held in Nottingham last month, the coroner recorded a narrative verdict.

A spokesperson for Partnerships in Care, which runs Annesley House, said: "Partnerships in Care (PiC) acknowledges that there are differences between services for young people and those for adults. The transition between such services can be a difficult time for patients and their families. PiC strives to work closely with everyone involved to ensure the transition is safe, planned and agreed by all. We support the family in seeking new guidance for the transfer of young people into adult care."

AFTER topping Pool A, the quarter-final stage of the 2014 Champions Trophy ended in bitter disappointment for England's men as they fell to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of the world No.3 side Germany.

Playing with two fewer outfield players following a bout of sickness in the squad, England conceded two goals in the closing moments of the second and fourth quarters.

Captain Moritz Fürste and Christopher Rühr scored a goal each to take their side into the semi-finals, while England will now face Argentina on Saturday (6am UK time) in Bhubaneswar, India as they play off for fifth to eighth in the event.

England team manager Andy Halliday said: "David Condon and Chris Griffiths have both been suffering from sickness over the last 24 hours and neither were able to leave the hotel.

"It's extremely frustrating because we have been meticulous in taking every precaution to try and prevent illness throughout the trip."

With the Beeston quartet of Adam Dixon, Sam Ward, Tim Whiteman and Ollie Willars helping England through to the last eight in fine style, England were unable to keep their run going to move onto a medal match.

Germany forced a series of penalty corners in the opening quarter of the match but a combination of good defending from Dan Fox and some outstanding goalkeeping from FIH Goalkeeper of the Year nominee George Pinner kept the scores level as they denied Fürste on four separate occasions.

England's best chances came from a Ward deflection which flashed just wide of the post and a Nick Catlin reverse stick strike that flew over the bar when the Holcombe man might have had more time than he realised.

England started brightly in the second quarter. Catlin and skipper Barry Middleton swapped passes and opened up the German defence but they were unable to get the shot away.

Catlin had another reverse stick effort deflected over the bar but it was Germany who went into the break in the ascendancy.

Fürste finally got the better of Pinner with a rocket penalty corner into the roof of the net to make it 1-0.

The third quarter was nip and tuck as the two sides battled for the all-important next goal.

Ashley Jackson couldn't quite set up Ward in the opening exchanges and at the other end Pinner was called upon to keep out Florian Fuchs and former East Grinstead player Mats Grambusch also went close.

The half ended with a yellow card for Timur Oruz for a foul on Jackson, meaning the Germans would start the final 15 minutes a man down.

England went all out in the final quarter to rescue the game but Nicolas Jacobi stood firm to glove away a Jackson penalty corner with Mark Gleghorne unable to get the rebound under control.

The same two players went head to head again with another penalty corner but with Jackson this time going low, Jacobi was up to the job once again, getting a foot to the ball to keep it out.

With two minutes left on the clock, Germany sealed the win. Grambusch found some space in the circle and cut it back across goal where Christopher Rühr pounced to lift the ball over Pinner to send Germany into the semi-finals.

England head coach Bobby Crutchley said: "We're very disappointed with the result, I thought we lacked our normal high intensity out there.

"Maybe playing with two fewer players affected that, however we are not looking to make excuses for the overall outcome.

"We controlled possession for good periods of the game, but came up against a resolute German defence and a team that always threaten on the counter attack.

"We still created corner opportunities and chances, but were unable to convert them into goals.

"We now need to regroup and with a rest day we can recover and recharge our batteries and hopefully be back up to full strength for Saturday's game against Argentina where we will be looking to reverse the score line from our defeat back in June at the World Cup.

"They are a side who are always strong on the counter attack and they defend with numbers behind the ball."

A NOTTINGHAM Forest fan has a chance of winning £250,000 for the Reds to spend in the January transfer window.

Shaun Lander is one of ten supporters from different Football League clubs through to the Final Draw in the Sky Bet Transfer Fund competition, which takes place at Wembley Stadium next Tuesday, from midday.

As well as money to spend on a player's wages, the winner will also pocket £5,000.

"I couldn't believe it when I found out I was in the final ten," said Lander, who was selected at random from around 70,000 Sky Bet customers to take his place.

"I've always supported Forest since I was a kid, and it's great that I've got a chance to help win them the money!"

Football League Director Richard Bowker will draw the name of the winning fan and the club.

Supporters entered the competition by linking their Sky Bet account to their favourite Football League club. For every £1 bet, they generated one Transfer Fund Token.

Sky Bet Head of Sponsorship Edwin Martin said: "The £250,000 Transfer Fund has proven extremely popular with Football League fans up and down the country.

"Every fan who entered had a chance of making a huge difference to their club, and the second half of their season.

"And, the Sky Bet Transfer Fund re-opens for business on Tuesday December 16 so it's not all over for fans who haven't made our final 10 this time

"They will get another chance to win £5,000 for themselves and £250,000 for their club in the Summer Transfer Window."

The winning club will also be able to spend the £250,000 on players' wages.

The full list of the fans in the final ten are:

No. Name Club

1 J Spurr Huddersfield Town

2 Tony Richards Fulham

3 Christopher Goodwin Cardiff City

4 Brenda Wall Leeds United

5 Jason Woods Southend United

6 Jay Dave Watford

7 Shaun Lander Nottingham Forest

8 Jason Worth Exeter City

9 Matthew Peat Wigan Athletic

10 Tom Howe Leeds United

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE Police are appealing for help to find a Basford woman who has not been seen since discharging herself from hospital.

Sophia Alam was being treated at the Queen's Medical Centre, in Nottingham, when she discharged herself at around 5.45am on Wednesday, December 10.

She has not been seen since and has made no contact with friends or family.

Ms Alam is described as Asian, around 5'3" tall, of average build, with long, black hair worn in a bun.

She was last seen wearing a traditional Asian dress, burgundy-coloured and patterned, with trousers underneath and black shoes.

The 38-year-old has some links to Leicestershire.

She also drives a green Ford Fiesta which cannot be located at present.

Anyone with information on Ms Alam's whereabouts should contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, quoting incident number 000311-10122014.

A woman convicted of arson after a family of five had to flee their home when she allegedly set fire to their shed will serve her sentence in the community.

Melanie Shaw, 44, of Bonnington Crescent, Sherwood, was found guilty of starting a shed fire and throwing paint on a Sherwood family's home last month.

Despite denying the charges, she was convicted by a jury's unanimous verdict of arson, being reckless as to whether life was endangered on February 1, and damaging property at the same house on June 26.

Returning to Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday, December 11, she was given a community order for three years with supervision from the probation service.

Judge Michael Pert QC was satisfied Shaw suffered from mental illness and told her: "Because you are ill, I'm not going to send you to prison."

She was banned by a five-year restraining order from contacting the victims of the arson attack or going to their address.

Shaw thanked the judge for his time as she life court as her many supporters, who attended her trial, clapped as she left court.

Shaw was said to have had a grudge against a friend at a house where the sheds were set on fire in Bonnington Crescent after she had spoken to social services.

Shaw, a churchgoer, lived nearby and had threatened her pal before starting a fire in the family's garden shed as they slept, the court heard.

The friend's husband, who raised the alarm, told the court that they had all gone to bed when he awoke and heard a noise like the sound of running water.

He thought one of the children had left a tap on but when he got up, he saw orange flames against the landing window. "I went to the window, thinking next door was on fire, and saw the shed was ablaze," he had told the court.

His partner called the fire brigade, while he ran to neighbours' houses to alert them.

Flammable acetylene gas bottles had been inside the shed but remained intact.

The family could not return immediately to their home until it was considered safe because acetylene can continue to burn inside the cylinder.

The fire happened in the darkness, so it was not until the following morning that the family saw abusive graffiti on a door and a wall about their daughter.

Four months after starting the blaze, Shaw attacked the family's home again, throwing paint at the house.

A woman convicted of arson after a family of five had to flee their home when she allegedly set fire to their shed will serve her sentence in the community.

Melanie Shaw, 44, of Bonnington Crescent, Sherwood, was found guilty of starting a shed fire and throwing paint on a Sherwood family's home last month.

Despite denying the charges, she was convicted by a jury's unanimous verdict of arson, being reckless as to whether life was endangered on February 1, and damaging property at the same house on June 26.

Returning to Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday, December 11, she was given a community order for three years with supervision from the probation service.

Judge Michael Pert QC was satisfied Shaw suffered from mental illness and told her: "Because you are ill, I'm not going to send you to prison."

She was banned by a five-year restraining order from contacting the victims of the arson attack or going to their address.

Shaw thanked the judge for his time as she life court as her many supporters, who attended her trial, clapped as she left court.

Shaw was said to have had a grudge against a friend at a house where the sheds were set on fire in Bonnington Crescent after she had spoken to social services.

Shaw, a churchgoer, lived nearby and had threatened her pal before starting a fire in the family's garden shed as they slept, the court heard.

The friend's husband, who raised the alarm, told the court that they had all gone to bed when he awoke and heard a noise like the sound of running water.

He thought one of the children had left a tap on but when he got up, he saw orange flames against the landing window. "I went to the window, thinking next door was on fire, and saw the shed was ablaze," he had told the court.

His partner called the fire brigade, while he ran to neighbours' houses to alert them.

Flammable acetylene gas bottles had been inside the shed but remained intact.

The family could not return immediately to their home until it was considered safe because acetylene can continue to burn inside the cylinder.

The fire happened in the darkness, so it was not until the following morning that the family saw abusive graffiti on a door and a wall about their daughter.

Four months after starting the blaze, Shaw attacked the family's home again, throwing paint at the house.

A woman convicted of arson after a family of five had to flee their home when she allegedly set fire to their shed will serve her sentence in the community.

Melanie Shaw, 44, of Bonnington Crescent, Sherwood, was found guilty of starting a shed fire and throwing paint on a Sherwood family's home last month.

Despite denying the charges, she was convicted by a jury's unanimous verdict of arson, being reckless as to whether life was endangered on February 1, and damaging property at the same house on June 26.

Returning to court on Thursday, December 11, she was given a community order for three years with supervision from the probation service.

Judge Michael Pert QC was satisfied Shaw suffered from mental illness and told her: "Because you are ill, I'm not going to send you to prison."

She was banned by a five-year restraining order from contacting the victims of the arson attack or going to their address.

Shaw thanked the judge for his time as she life court as her many supporters, who attended her trial, clapped as she left court.

Shaw was said to have had a grudge against a friend at a house where the sheds were set on fire in Bonnington Crescent after she had spoken to social services.

Shaw, a churchgoer, lived nearby and had threatened her pal before starting a fire in the family's garden shed as they slept, the court heard.

The friend's husband, who raised the alarm, told the court that they had all gone to bed when he awoke and heard a noise like the sound of running water.

He thought one of the children had left a tap on but when he got up, he saw orange flames against the landing window. "I went to the window, thinking next door was on fire, and saw the shed was ablaze," he had told the court.

His partner called the fire brigade, while he ran to neighbours' houses to alert them.

Flammable acetylene gas bottles had been inside the shed but remained intact.

The family could not return immediately to their home until it was considered safe because acetylene can continue to burn inside the cylinder.

The fire happened in the darkness, so it was not until the following morning that the family saw abusive graffiti on a door and a wall about their daughter.

Four months after starting the blaze, Shaw attacked the family's home again, throwing paint at the house.

A CASUALTY was rushed to Nottingham's Queen's Medical Centre after being cut free from the aftermath of a two-vehicle crash.

The incident happened on Carter Lane, in Shirebrook, and saw the injured party rescued by firefighters from Mansfield and Bolsover.

Two other people were also taken by ambulance to King's Mill Hospital, near Mansfield, following the incident, which happened around 1.20pm on Thursday, December 11.

The last fire crew left the scene around an hour later.

DRINKERS at a Bilborough pub rushed to the bar this evening – but it wasn't the thirsty regulars hoping to catch a final tipple as time was called.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson took over the taps at the Beechdale as part of a Tory party fundraiser, topping out a pint of Greene King IPA.

"That's not a half measure," he boomed before placing the pint down on the bar.

And manager Gary Appleby was impressed. "Not bad for a trial shift," he said.

Mr Johnson was visiting the East Midlands as part of a whirlwind tour which took in the Bombardier factory in Derby, and Ilkeston High Street before heading to two fundraisers for candidates in the county.

One drinker shook Boris's hand and said he was "brilliant" when he appeared on Top Gear.

Others wanted a quick photo, including Tony Murphy, 53, of Felstead Road.

He said: "We usually come down on a Thursday for a bite to eat and a few drinks.

"It was really bizarre to just see Boris there through the doors so I went and said hello.

"I was quite surprised. But of course you're going to ask for a photo if you see him there."

Wife Kathryn, 49, added: "It's good for the pub to have people like Boris here – he was lovely."

Meanwhile, Mr Johnson said his party could do well in typical Labour-held seats in Nottingham.

He said: "Jane (Hunt, the candidate for Nottingham South) is not at all far behind here, she is hot on Labour's heels here and has a great chance."

Topics on the lips of Mr Johnson included city devolution, with the Mayor saying more powers could give local politicians "a kick in the pants".

He said: "I wouldn't presume to say that Nottingham can learn anything but Nottingham and London are working together on what I think is a really important issue: giving power and helping local people help set priorities for the city.

"We think the devolution in Scotland and Wales needs to happen in the great cities of England as well.

"We think that will produce responsible government in the great cities.

"I have looked at what's happening with the tram and it's been held up here.

"You would hope that kind of devolution would give a terrific kick in the pants to local politicians."