THE woman accused of the murder of seven-year-old Shanay Walker is facing new charges.

The body of Shanay was discovered in a house in Bestwood Park, Nottingham, on Thursday, July 31.

Kay-Ann Morris was charged with her murder on Sunday, August 3.

Morris, of Beckhampton Road, was additionally charged on Thursday, December 11 with cruelty to Shanay, dating back to 2012.

The 24-year-old has also been charged with cruelty to two other children, dating back to 2011.

A second woman, Juanila Smikle, 53, of Easegill Court, Top Valley, also faces allegations of cruelty towards Shanay between 2012 and 2014.

She has also been charged with cruelty to four other children, dating back to 2011.

Smikle was due to appear before Nottingham Magistrates on Friday, December 12.

Blue Peter gardener Chris Collins shared his trade secrets with a group of star-struck schoolchildren at Edwalton Primary School on Friday December 12.

The celebrity gardener, who has also appeared on Gardener's World, Turf Wars and This Morning, was impressed with the school, in Wellin Lane  – saying it was one of the best he had ever seen.

He said: "I've been to around 220 schools and this is one of the better ones, it really is right up there.

"You can see how proactive the kids are and hopefully there's a few budding gardeners amongst them as well."

Chris, who was helping the school's young gardeners plant up a range of soft fruit bushes on their organic plot, told the Post he was taken aback by the on-site farm, complete with two North Siberian pigs, chickens and a goat.

He said: "I must say I was surprised by the goat, that's a first for me at a school. I took a selfie with it so my wife might be a bit jealous."

The school was chosen by the Foodshare charity to pilot a new community garden programme which aims to get schools growing and donating food to the most vulnerable people in the community -the programme will be part of the curriculum for the next two years.

Chris said: "It important the kids know where their food if coming from especially in this age where to a large degree we have it so easy, it's good for them to see that it has come from plant to plate.

"And you know what? Ten years I have been doing this and not once has a kid said me they aren't interested in it, they all are."

The schoolchildren admitted to feeling a bit star-struck by their special guests as they queued patiently to get his autograph.

Pupil Chloe, 11, said: "I'm going to put his signature in a golden frame on my wall and keep it forever, it is so exciting meeting a celebrity gardener and be able to show-off all our hard work."

Before the young gardeners had a chance to show-off the fruits of their six-months of hard work to Chris, they took part in a special assembly where they gave a presentation about Foodshare.

The Foodshare flagship garden was set up in the summer and features a polytunnel, raised beds, a shed, rainwater harvesting system, irrigation and a wide range of salad leaves and winter vegetables.

Community Manager at Morrisons, who are supporting the Foodshare garden, David Hewitt, said: "This project is phenomenal and all the children should be incredible proud of themselves."

BINGHAM'S David Phillipson and Ruddington's James Shaw have clinched a Nottinghamshire double at the National Wheelchair Championships, winning the men's doubles and quad doubles respectively.

Phillipson won his fourth national men's doubles title in Gloucester, after partnering Norfolk's world No.1 ranked junior Alfie Hewett to victory.

The second seeds reached the final for the loss of just one game before upsetting top seeds Marc McCarroll and Gordon Reid, the top two ranked Brits, 7-5, 2-6, 6-4.

Two-time Paralympian Phillipson also improved on his seeding in the men's singles, defeating second seed McCarroll 6-1, 7-6(6) to extend his winning career head-to-head record over the British No.2 and earn a place in the final for the second successive year.

But a second upset proved beyond Phillipson as top seed, defending champion and world No.3 Reid retained his title 6-1, 6-2.

British No.3 Phillipson goes into his Christmas and new year training block content with the latest additions to his trophy cabinet.

"To pair up with Alfie for my fourth national doubles title and beat Marc again is a nice way to end 2014," said Phillipson, the 2008 national men's champion, who will turn 26 on New Year's Day.

"After a long season we are all pretty tired and it was a bit of a tired performance in the singles final, but obviously I'm very happy to reach the final again."

Shaw, the newest player to join Phillipson on the Tennis Foundation's Wheelchair Tennis Performance Programme, won his first national title in Nottingham and vows to go into 2015 inspired by pairing up with London 2012 silver medalist and 2014 US Open champion Andy Lapthorne and encouraged by his own progress this season.

The 19-year-old collected his first national title, partnering US Open champion Lapthorne to beat Richard Green and Ian Payne 3-6, 6-0, 6-3.

"To be asked to play with Andy Lapthorne after only being on the Great Britain program for a month was a real honour," said Shaw.

"To be at the masters a couple of weeks ago watching Andy play, then to be on the same side of the court competing with him was an incredible moment.

"Being national champion is something I couldn't have dreamed of at the start of the year."

Police have extended their search for a Derbyshire man, who has been missing for more than a week, to Nottinghamshire. 

Carl Mason, 48, went missing from his home in Endowood Road, Derbyshire, on Monday, December 1.

He is believed to have left in a silver Ford Fiesta with a registration plate starting YP56 and may have travelled to Dunham-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire.

He has not been seen since.

Mr Mason is white, around 5ft 6inches tall, with a slim build and receding grey hair. He does not have teeth on his upper jaw.

He was last seen wearing blue jeans, black shoes and a thick blue or black coat.

If you have information call Derbyshire Police on 101.

Flights have been barred from travelling across airspace in London until 7pm after a computer error, the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation has said.

Passengers have had their flights cancelled, but it is not yet clear how the error will affect flights going to and from East Midlands Airport.

UK air traffic controller Nats has confirmed a "technical problem" at the Swanwick control centre in Hampshire.

Passengers flying out of East Midlands Airport have been told to expect some delays but "nothing major."

The technical problem at the centre in Swanwick, Hampshire, is expected to cause severe delays elsewhere.

Some flights have been delayed of more than an hour destinations including Edinburgh and Belfast.

A spokesman for East Midlands Airport said: "We expect a few delays but this is nothing major. We have mainly domestic flights tonight and they are travelling north to Scotland and Ireland."

Flights at Heathrow are currently experiencing delays and planes could be turned away. Gatwick is accepting incoming flights and all departing flights are grounded. 

BRITISH Transport Police had to be called to Beeston station after a man was standing on the train tracks.

BTP was called to the line at around 1pm on Thursday, December 10 after reports of a trespasser.

A 21-year-old was escorted from the station.

A spokesperson for East Midlands Trains said, "Following a trespass incident at Beeston station at about 1pm on Thursday one service was delayed for about eight minutes. 

"We're sorry for the inconvenience this may have caused."

A spokesperson for BTP said: "A man was detained under the Mental Health Act and taken to hospital for further assessment."

TWO men have pleaded not guilty to causing the death of a soldier by dangerous driving.

Callum Leach, 20, of Beacon Hill Road, Newark, and George Allen, 19, of Cludd Avenue, Newark, appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday.

The prosecution alleged the pair were racing along Beacon Hill Road before being involved in a crash which killed Craig Cooke, 25, of Tyneside.

The defendants also face an allegation of causing serious injury to a female by driving dangerously in Beacon Hill Road.

Leach and Allen will appear at Nottingham Crown Court on May 18 to face trial, which is set to last five days.

WEST Bridgford town centre? It's been a while. I believe my last raid was on Mud Crab Pacifico, which was by no means bad. Returning to the neighbourhood this week it looked like a straight choice between Bird's and, over the road, Yumacha Brasserie.

I mention Bird's because its Nottingham branches sell the city's finest sandwich – the in-house egg and cress job on soft, sweet granary-type bread. I could easily have taken one of those back to the car, and perhaps one of those perfectly-jellied pork pies.

However I had time for a restaurant lunch so I paid my first visit to Yumacha, whose website confides that it is the perfect place in which to "sit, relax and watch life go by to the soothing notes of chilled-out world beats". Right.

I asked for a seat by a radiator because a panic-stricken radio announcer had just declared that Britain was about to be struck by a "weather bomb". What she meant was a nasty storm of the type you tend to get in December. Weather bomb? It will no doubt enter the Book of Barking British Meteorological Phrases somewhere between "organised rain" and "weather event".

For my luncheon event I ordered the bento special: you select four from a list of meat, fish and vegetable dishes and they come enclosed in one of those compartmentalised black boxes with either steamed or fried rice and a sweet chilli dip.

The remarkable thing about my selection was that it contained the only really pleasant Thai fish cakes I have ever ingested. After years of scrapping with unfishy vulcanised pucks I sank the gnashers into two succulent, tender patties. They were delightful.

Switching to the top left corner of the box I started making inroads into the veg section.

I'd ordered mixed vegetables in oyster sauce and I was treated to green beans, carrots, corn, beansprouts, spring onions, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts and mushrooms, all perfectly cooked.

Next, three little pork ribs with plenty of fragrant meat and a fiery accompaniment of onions, red peppers and chillis. I put out the fire with a few gulps of Luscombe ginger beer.

Last, but by no means least, the south-west corner of the bento was filled with Malay chicken curry with plenty of tender poultry in an unctuous ochre sauce.

The bento was priced at under a tenner, adding outstanding value for a meal high in quality.

I considered the dessert menu but my eye had been caught by the display of cakes on the counter: from left to right, banana toffee loaf, tea "cake's" (note the grocer's unnecessary apostrophe), chocolate Hochi, raspberry and white chocolate cake...

The last one sounded fun so I ordered a slice. It was harmless enough, although bore no trace of white chocolate. Interestingly, my bill listed it as raspberry and almond cake. Alas, I recall no evidence of almond, either. Either way, we can agree that raspberries were present.

Good effort. Good service. Good chance of a return visit.

I had: Bento box special, £9.95; raspberry and almond cake, £2.95; ginger beer, £3. Total: £15.90

Marks out of five ★★★★

Yumacha Brasserie 17 Central Avenue West Bridgford Nottingham NG2 5GQ 011 981 1400 yumacha.co.uk

The Food Sleuth dines unannounced and pays his own bills.

A burst water main has cut out traffic lights at Sneinton Hermitage. 

The incident happened just as rush hour was preparing to kick off on Friday at around 4pm.

The road has been flooded from Ace Auto Services to the junction with Colwick Road and Meadow Lane, with a local resident saying the water "reaches about half way across the road and the spill off is running in various directions."

Nottingham City Council sent out a emergency works bulletin shortly after 4.30pm.

A spokesman said that Severn Trent Water would be there "within the hour" and would be putting temporary four way traffic signals in place whilst the mains were being fixed. 

The bulletin said it expected the works to last for 24 hours but added the end date was "until repairs are complete."

Moderate delays are expected. 

STUART Pearce is looking forward to his side getting more amazing away support at Rotherham United tomorrow, joking: "Even I'm struggling to get tickets for my family!"

Nottingham Forest fans are expected to completely fill the away end at the New York Stadium as Pearce aims to inspire the Reds to victory in the Championship.

And Pearce (pictured) knows they will really spur his players on during the 90 minutes.

"The good thing about the Championship now is there are some real key games and great atmospheres and some very well supported teams," he said.

With two wins in their last four league games, against Norwich City and Wolves, Forest will be confident of beating the newly-promoted Millers, who are just one place above the relegation zone.

And Pearce is expecting a very different challenge to the one his side faced in their last game against Charlton Athletic at the City Ground, which was a 1-1 draw, midfielder Robert Tesche scoring a long-range thunderbolt in the second half to rescue a point.

"I think Charlton were sitting off and counter-attacking a little bit with the quick boys up front," he added.

"Rotherham are a little bit more direct, they like to go from back to front and have a big centre forward, and I think you're in for a physical contest.

"We've got to win that to get a foothold in the game."

WE are sad to report that our classical columnist and reviewer Peter Palmer died this week, aged 69.

Peter, who lived in Bramcote, had been writing for the Nottingham Post for over 40 years, supplying a weekly column about his beloved classical music and regularly reviewing concerts at the Royal Concert Hall, Albert Hall and beyond.

In later years he developed a passion for alt-country and folk and had begun to review shows at The Maze, the Glee Club, Lakeside Arts Centre and Nottingham Playhouse by the likes of Blair Dunlop, Dervish, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Mindy Smith and Scott Matthews.

It was during these shows that he met EG contributor Sue Atkinson.

"Peter had a stroke 16 months ago which left him with locked-in syndrome and he was unable to move other than to blink," she says.

"This became the only way he could communicate. He was totally dependant on medical care. He was in the City and QMC hospitals, before being moved to a neurological unit in Hucknall where he remained until he died on Monday.

"Peter had an incredibly wide range of musical knowledge and interests ranging from classical through folk and Americana.

"His mother was Swiss-German, and Peter was himself a fluent speaker of German, having translated and edited a number of publications on German composers.

"He was a Cambridge graduate reading Modern Languages, before studying Stagecraft at the Zurich Opera Centre. He completed an introduction to a book on the 20th century composed Othmar Schoek, translated Bloch's Essays on the Philosophy of Music, and was the Editor of the Bruckner Journal.

"Peter had performed in and remained very keen on dramatic productions.

"He was a great champion of the Cosmic American Music gigs at The Maze and rarely missed the opportunity to review musicians there, which is where I met him.

"He was also very fond of cats and had given a home to a number of rescue cats over the years – we had many enjoyable conversations about cats and bands in the intervals between musicians at The Maze."

Nottingham Post entertainment editor Simon Wilson adds: "I remember my first encounters with Peter were at the old Post offices in Forman Street. I'd be coming in from a night at Rock City to write up a review of Oasis, Blur or the Manic Street Preachers while Peter would be tapping away at his keyboard having been to see an orchestra across the road at the Royal Concert Hall.

"He'd then drive off through those huge iron gates in his classic black VW Beatle.

"Our music tastes were worlds apart back then so our conversations were brief but he was always polite and a brilliant reviewer.

"It's shocking how his love of live music was brought to an abrupt end when he suffered a stroke.

"We miss his words."

Peter's funeral takes place at Bramcote Crematorium on Monday, January 5 at 12 noon. Donations to The Cats Protection League or Musicians Benevolent Fund are requested.

GREG Abbott has revealed how Sheffield United boss Nigel Clough showered Notts County with praise and says it proves they are no longer viewed as a soft touch.

The Magpies recorded a 1-1 draw against the much-fancied Blades recently and were close to a win until Jamie Murphy's equaliser.

It maintained Shaun Derry's record of being unbeaten on the road this season, in stark contrast to last season's campaign when Notts had a case of travel sickness.

Magpies assistant boss Abbott said Clough, son of the late Nottingham Forest great Brian, had nothing but good things to say about the club.

"Nigel said some terrific things about us because we said we might be punching a little bit above our weight," he said.

"He was having none of it. He said we were a very well organised team, difficult to beat, hard to break down, we've got goals in the team and have some decent players.

"He also said we played some nice football at times. So there is respect there.

"Last year teams were coming to us and thinking it was three points up for grabs, now they are thinking we don't want to lose to a team who are well drilled and pretty well organised.

"We are okay with that. It's nice to hear."

Notts face another examination of their credentials when they host high-flying Swindon at Meadow Lane.

Notts have not beaten a side in the top half of the table this season, but Abbott says that does not concern him.

"It's about getting 70-75 points and if we have to beat everybody below the top six then we will do," he said.

"We've had some good performances away from home. We were narrowly beaten at home by Bristol City.

"It will be a concern if we don't reach that 75 points and then we can work out why that is.

"But it's not a major issue. We nearly beat Sheffield United and Preston.

"It's fine margins."

£25million was up for grabs during this evening's EuroMillions jackpot draw.

Were you one of the lucky winners?

The winning numbers from tonight's draw were 2, 15, 28, 31, 37, and the Lucky Stars numbers were 4 and 6.

An additional £1m was at stake in this evening's UK Millionaire Maker game.

The letters and numbers are: Y G C 8 1 3 2 1 5

The numbers for tonight's Thunderball, with a jackpot of £500,000 is 1, 3, 22, 19, 36. The Thunderball was 14.

Were you a EuroMillion winner this evening? Email newsdesk@nottinghampost.com.

A car fire on the M1 has left traffic at a "standstill", according to fire crews. 

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service reported the incident at 5pm, saying a car was on fire on the northbound section between junction 27 to junction 28 of the M1.

Firefighters from Ashfield and Stock Hill attended the scene after receiving a call at around 4.55pm.

The accident took place near the junction 28 A38 turn-off.

The vehicle was extinguished just after 17.20pm. Fire crews were detained a further 15 minutes before they left the scene.

The car is in the third lane and has led to all traffic being held up. 

Car fire on M1 northbound section between junction 27 to junction 28. Car is in the third lane. Traffic on northbound is at a standstill.

— Derbyshire FRS (@DerbyshireFRS) December 12, 2014

HIT & MISS enjoyed a fine week as the Eight-a-side Indoor Cricket League at Bar Lane Community Centre in Basford gathered momentum towards the season finale.

They closed the gap on the Premier Division leaders to one point with two comprehensive wins seeing them pick up 12 points from the 14 available.

Justin Graham and Robert Shead were named man of the match in the two games.

Freakezoids and Kashmir All-Stars were the teams to lose out to Hit & Miss, Freakezoids losing 135-60 and Kashmir losing 150-69.

Freakezoids will be disappointed with this result after a strong start to the season and are now 16 points behind in third but they do still have two games in hand and if they win them they will stay in contention.

League leaders Basford Mill had a comfortable win over Bitter & Twisted, winning three bonus points and the three points for the win.

With four matches to go to the end of the season, the prize money of £500 to the winners and £250 to the runners-up is going to boil up into an exciting climax between the top three of Basford Mill, Hit & Miss and Freakezoids.

In Division One, there was a closely contested match between the men in green (Ruddington) versus Basford Manor, with victory going to Manor by 34 runs to move them four points above Ruddington.

Man of the match went to Basford's Chris Hudson, hitting 32 runs and taking two wickets.

The lads from Sheffield, Apperknowle, maintained their impressive season with victory over Thrumpton to extend their lead at the top of the table by seven points.

All teams have five matches left and these could leave a nail-biting finish to the Autumn season.

Game of the week in Division Two came from Ashby BT's nail-biting one-run victory over Kashmir All-Star's, with scores of 97 to 96.

Kashmir, however, took three bonus points to move them onto 36 points and level with Ashby BT's with one game in hand.

Wajid Ali (Kashmir) was man of the match, hitting 17 runs and taking three wickets.

League leaders Basford maintained their impressive form with a 47-run victory over Meadows CC, while Goosedale CC maintained second place with their huge 101-run victory over Lincolnshire Poachers.

In Division Three, Nottingham Women had an exciting victory over ICCA Cobras by one run, 134-133, to maintain their challenge on league leaders Duane's World.

Hollie Stannard and Jessica Craddock top scored with a partnership of 44 for the Women with Victoria Armstrong the pick of their bowlers with three wickets for five runs from her two overs.

Duane's World continued their impressive form by beating Nott's-In-Laws with a 76-run victory.

The Bluecoats also gained victory over Out & Proud.

HEAD coach Corey Neilson has revealed his delight at seeing the young Nottingham Panthers trio of Lewis Hook, Ollie Betteridge and Jordan Cownie performing so well in Great Britain's World Championship Division Two campaign in Estonia.

Winger Cownie (pictured) scored four times in the first three games, while fellow winger Hook was man of the match against Romania, a game centre Betteridge also scored in.

And in their final game,

GB Under-20s secured the gold medal and promotion to World Championship Division 1B with a thrilling penalty shootout victory over Korea .

The game ended 4-4, with Bobby Chamberlain scoring a hat-trick and Hook also on target for GB.

Cownie then netted the winner in sudden-death penalty shots to see GB and the Panthers trio ending on a big high in Tallinn.

The teenagers have played sparingly for Panthers this season, spending most of their time on two-way deals with Swindon Wildcats and Milton Keynes Lightning respectively.

However, Neilson hopes to see more of them in the second half of the campaign – especially after seeing them do so well in GB colours.

"I'm really pleased for them," Neilson said. "Those kids work their socks off.

"We want to see good kids do good things and they are certainly good things.

"We've worked hard with them when we've had them around.

"Hopefully we'll have them back for some of the midweek games we've got coming up."

NOTTINGHAM speed skaters Elise Christie and Jack Whelbourne face "some of their toughest competition" when they return to World Cup action this weekend.

The Great British short track speed skaters will compete in the Asian leg of the ISU World Cup series, spending tomorrow and Sunday in Shanghai before moving on to Seoul for the final World Cup of the year.

But GB Performance Director Stuart Horsepool says the experience the duo will gain is more important than winning honours.

"Winning medals in Asia is not our primary objective," he said.

"We are keen to ensure that Elise and Jack have as much experience as possible competing against the world's top skaters from nations such as Korea and Canada.

"This will help them to fine tune their skills and techniques, increasing their chances of medalling as we head towards the World Championships next year."

Whelbourne will line up in 1000 metres and 1500m and Christie will race across 500m and 1000m.

And despite Horsepool taking the pressure off, 24-year-old Christie will no doubt be looking for a podium place, having come close to achieving one in the United States leg of the series last month.

The European 1000m champion currently lies fourth in the series rankings for that distance.

She finished fourth in World Cup 1 in Salt Lake City, and fifth overall in World Cup 2, Montreal.

And she has already made a flying start to the latest round of action.

In today's qualifiers, Christie finished first in both her 500m and 1000m heats.

Tomorrow, she will now compete for a place in the final.

Whelbourne however, didn't fare quite so well, falling in both of his races today.

However, he still has a chance to make the finals when he competes in the repechage events tomorrow morning.

The duo are under no illusions about the challenge they face.

After this weekend's action, the competition resumes in Seoul from next Friday through to Sunday.

"Jack and Elise will be facing some of their toughest competition out in Shanghai and Seoul over the next two weeks, but this is key for their development," Horsepool added.

Meanwhile, the rest of the GB Short Track squad have stayed in Nottingham to continue training and preparing for the rest of the season.

A FOOTBALL fan was left with a £305 legal bill for running onto the City Ground pitch during a match between Nottingham Forest and Derby County.

Nottingham Magistrates' Court heard this week that Rams fan Nicholas Harris reacted when he saw a Forest supporter run on to the pitch during the 1-1 draw on September 14.

Harris, 43, of Bestwood Road, Hucknall, did not attend court but had admitted entering the field of play.

He was fined £200 with £85 prosecution costs and a £20 government surcharge.

The court heard that the incident took place after Derby had scored a goal.

Harris was represented by solicitor Graham Heathcote, who was at the match.

He told District Judge Leo Pyle: "In the second half, a Forest supporter strolled onto the pitch. I was watching it happen and was amazed no-one went to apprehend him for causing this flashpoint. Nicholas Harris turned out to be the man I saw, with the object of confronting him.

"He had been to the football many times and never had any difficulties. He doesn't understand why he did what he did but had an amount to drink.

"He is entirely adamant he will never do anything like this again."

Sanjay Jerath, prosecuting, said: the incident took place shortly after Derby had scored a goal.

"When Derby scored, the defendant went onto the pitch, passed one security steward and was detained by the second.

"When interviewed, he said he was watching the football and saw a fan gain access from the stands. He said it was frustrating seeing a Forest fan on the pitch and went onto the pitch to confront him."

The court heard that Harris had recently been made redundant and was living off his remaining wages of £800. He hoped to find fresh work shortly and the judge gave him a week to clear the court bill.

Harris had never been in trouble before. The court was told the club had taken no action against him.

The Championship game ended 1-1 in front of a crowd of 30,227 people.

THE FAMILY of a soldier who was killed in Afghanistan has launched a bid to have the A453 renamed in honour of those who died in the conflict.

Peter Cheetham-Jones and John Upton are set to write to the Highways Agency to suggest the name change.

Mr Upton, 68, of Beech Avenue, Beeston Rylands, said his cousin, Mr Cheetham-Jones, had come up with the idea of renaming the road.

Mr Upton's son, Sean, was killed in Afghanistan in 2009.

The A453 historically connected Nottingham and Birmingham, and the pair would like the road to be renamed as 453 UK military personnel died in the war in Afghanistan.

Mr Upton said: "My cousin came up with the suggestion but I thought it was a really good idea.

"Obviously it would mean a lot to me for the road to be renamed because of losing Sean out there."

Warrant Officer Upton was on foot patrol in Afghanistan on July 27, 2009 when he was hit by a rocket patrol grenade. He was 35.

"We've been thinking about how to go about getting the idea put forward, so have come up with a few names," Mr Upton said.

"The few ideas we have are Heroes Way, Helmand Way or Bastion Way.

"It's not just for Sean. I feel it would be appropriate for all the people who lost their lives in Afghanistan."

Andrew Gregory, county chairman for Royal British Legion, said: "From a personal point of view, I believe that it's entirely appropriate to at least consider the proposal.

"It would be a permanent memorial to those who made the ultimate sacrifice, especially those from the local area. Just a simple memorial to 453 men and women, their families and dependents and a constant reminder to the thousands who use the road daily."

The road now runs from Clifton to the M1, and then picks up again from Tamworth to Sutton Coldfield.

The pair are now considering the best application to put forward to the Highways Agency, who said they would consider the idea when they had recieved the submission.

Bill Turton, secretary of the Clifton branch of the Royal British Legion, said it would be something they would support.

He said: "I think it's a good idea and a nice way of paying tribute.

"I'm a big football fan so I remember when they changed the A52 to Brian Clough Way, so it definitely seems appropriate if they can rename a road after Brian Clough that they can do it for those people who died in Afghanistan.

"I think Helmand Way and Bastion Way would be good names for the road."

GONE are the days when the office Christmas party consisted of workers having a few glasses of fizz around the photocopier.

Now when it comes to colleagues letting their hair down for the annual festive bash, there is an array of unimaginable ways of marking the season with colleagues.

Nottinghamshire ranks highly for venues which are "thinking outside the box" when offering up something less bog-standard for staff this Christmas.

And the festive office bash is big business, providing a huge boost to the local economy.

Prices can go up to £65 a head - the maximum cost of entry to festivities at The Walled Garden at Beeston Field.

Jonathan English, president of Nottingham City Business Club, said he believes the number of Christmas parties is on the up, following an upturn in the economy.

Mr English, who is also the managing director of Skeleton Productions will be descending with 10 staff and 10 associates on The Racing Room, based at The Dragon in Long Row, for a game of Scalextric, after a meal at the Roundhouse pub and "some drinks and dancing".

He said: "I definitely think the economy has picked up.

"We tried to book a Christmas party somewhere but it was full - there's been a lot of demand."

Mr English added: "It's great to celebrate all the hard work everyone has done and build on a human level, not just on a work level, and also to interact with people outside the company."

Welcoming Mr English's team at The Racing Room will be owner Tom Hall.

Mr Hall said the venue is booked up almost every night by office parties right up until Christmas, with up to 30 people per session.

He added: "I think people are just looking to do something other than sitting eating turkey and mince pies and other mediocre things.

"Office parties can be really good fun because of the mixture of competition and a little bit of inebriation amplifies the hierarchical structure within the office."

Another wacky way to celebrate is at the The Lost City Adventure Golf, at The Cornerhouse, in Burton Street.

Its marketing manager Laura Kirby said: "It's something different, it's quite competitive - if people come in with work they can try and beat the boss."

She said firms like Boots, Experian and Capital One were hosting departmental festive parties there.

A more serene setting is Colwick Hall Hotel, in Colwick Park, which is transporting party-goers into a Narnia wonderland with its Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe theme, with prices ranging from £12.50-£40.50.

One city business looking forward to the yuletide get-together is IT firm The Hub, in Friar Lane.

It takes place at the Park Plaza, in Maid Marian Way, next week and will include around 80 of the 200-strong group-wide workforce.

Hub marketing executive Jaye Taylor said: "There will be a pre-drinks reception and then a sit-down meal, before we boogie the night away until the early hours."

Miss Taylor said the state of the economy shouldn't hamper a good party.

"Even if everyone is willing to chip in, or bring in home-made food, you don't need to spend a lot on a party."

She recalled having a "dance-off" at last year's bash and getting carried away.

"I thought I was Beyonce," she added.

Angela Dawson, groups, meetings and sales manager at the Park Plaza, said bigger businesses can start inquiring about Christmas parties around January.

She added: "I think this year has been much more successful than last year, since the economy picked up, we've definitely seen an increase in business."

George Cowcher, chief executive of the East Midlands Chamber of Commerce, said as well as the retail sector, pubs, restaurants, hotels and other recreational venues also rely on the seasonal spike in trade to boost their annual profits.

He added: "It's not just economic benefits which the Christmas party can bring to business.

"Many firms have found the cost of holding a staff event is far outweighed by the value in terms of employee loyalty, relationship building, motivation and team spirit leading, in some cases, to higher productivity after Christmas celebrations."