The number of permanent exclusions since 2009 has been revealed by Nottingham City Council.

The authority is currently considering charging schools £14,900 for each student that is excluded following a sharp rise in numbers last year. In the 2013/14 school year 94 students at primary and secondary schools in Nottingham were excluded – up by 55 on the previous year.

Pat Fielding, director of education at Nottingham City Council, said: "This is a complex issue and there is no single explanation for the recent rise in permanent exclusions. It could be a change in head teacher, the more consistent application of behaviour policies or that the young people are more likely to benefit from a fresh start elsewhere.

"The Council has worked hard with schools and academies over the past five years to reduce permanent exclusions and they are always the last resort. However, if a pupil's poor behaviour continues, teachers must take action to ensure this minority of pupils does not disrupt the learning of other children."

Here is the list of exclusions since 2009.

A Djanogly City Academy – 58 B Bulwell Academy – 34 C Farnborough School – 32 D Ellis Guilford School And Sports College – 23 E Nottingham Academy – 19 F Emmanuel School l – 17 G Big Wood School – 14 H Bluecoat Academy – 10 I Top Valley Academy – 19 J Fernwood School – 8 K Bluecoat Beechdale Academy – 10 L Nottingham University Samworth Academy – 6 M Trinity Catholic School – 5 N Nottingham Girls' Academy – 3

Forecasters are predicting a dry weekend across the county - although temperatures will often remain in single figures.

Met Office predictions show wind speeds are not likely to rise above 20 mph and although temperatures might creep up to eleven or twelve degrees on Saturday they will remain low for most of the weekend.

Across the county minimal rain is forecast and no snow or adverse conditions are expected.

Following festive price drops in Nottingham department stores thousands of shoppers are expected to visit the city on Panic Saturday.

In the last week prices have fallen at their fastest rate in 12 years and with it being the last weekend before Christmas people from across the county are rushing to snatch-up festive bargains.

The sale prices at Marks & Spencer, House of Fraser and Debenhams as well as others have been blamed in part by a two per cent drop last month triggered by Black Friday - the retail bargain day imported from the USA.

On the day Nottingham was ranked seventh in the country for internet-based purchases.

City residents made 11,281 purchases, with the trend continuing into Cyber Monday – another retail event for online deals. On that day Nottingham shoppers clicked their way to 7,770 bargains according to figures from Postcode Anywhere, a specialist retail software business.

Stores like Argos and Boots have dropped their prices to attract shoppers and a study by the Centre for Retail Research estimates 13 million consumers across the country will spend £2.1 million for every minute the shops are open averaging of £92.31 per person.

Marks & Spencer is tempting shoppers with a series of 30 per cent off sales on cashmere and coats as well as three for two deals on toys.

Shopper Sarah Kearns from Newark travelled to the city centre early on Saturday to try and avoid the crowds.

The 50-year-old said: "I have finished all my Christmas shopping but I thought I would pop in to see if I could pick up anything extra for my grandchildren.

"It is their birthday at the start of January and I am hoping to pick up something for them.

"Hopefully I will be out of town before the crowds wake up."

It is predicted in-store sales will reach £4.74 billion over the nextfive days, which would be a 21per cent increase on last year.

The research was commissioned by Vouchercodes.co.uk, whose managing director, Claire Davenport, said: "Panic Saturday kicks off a big week for retailers.

"With Christmas Day falling later in the week this year, consumers feel that there is still plenty of time to complete their shopping."

The Government has announced plans to get unemployed people aged over 50 back into work.

Job-seekers will be offered "career reviews" and advice on using computers as part of the plans.

In the United Kingdom there are around 1.2 million over 50s who are looking for work and it is estimated that finding jobs for them could add £50 billion to the economy.

The news comes as number of people claiming Job Seeker's Allowance in Nottingham fell by 524 last month.

In November there were 8,642 claimants in the city, compared with 9,166 in October.

This is 2,727 fewer than the 11,369 people on Job Seeker's Allowance this time last year.

The number of people in work in the city has also risen, with latest available figures showing 142,500 people are now employed compared with 132,400 last year.

Apprenticeships are also on the up, with 3,200 people on training courses in the city – an increase of 9.9 per cent on last year.

A trial project for over 50s – which will also include training in writing CVs and improving interview and social media skills – will begin in April.

Employment Minister Esther McVey said: "With 50 being the new 30, there are more and more older workers wanting to make the most of their skills and experience in a new career, and they have a hugely valuable contribution to make to any workforce.

"Not only is this a waste of valuable talent and life skills, but it's a missed opportunity for businesses to make the most of their experience to support younger colleagues develop their careers."

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE trio Stuart Broad, Alex Hales and James Taylor will all be going to the ICC Cricket World Cup.

They have today been picked in England's squad for the tournament, but Trent Bridge team-mates Harry Gurney and Samit Patel have missed out.

The squad will be captained by Eoin Morgan, after Alastair Cook's reign was brought to an end.

Cook said he was "gutted" to learn he had been dropped from England's World Cup squad.

The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed the switch this morning, after news of the change at the top first emerged last night.

Cook has paid the price for his and his team's poor one-day international form over the past year.

He has made just one ODI half-century in his last 22 attempts, and has led his country to five successive series defeats.

His fate was decided by national selector James Whitaker and colleagues Peter Moores, Angus Fraser and Nottinghamshire' director of cricket Mick Newell.

Cook said: "I am gutted to be left out of the World Cup squad, and it is likely to take me a while to get over the disappointment.

"That said I wish Peter, Eoin and the lads all the best for the World Cup.

"I would also like to thank all the players and fans who have supported me during my time as one-day captain."

The ECB said in a statement: "ECB today announced that Eoin Morgan has replaced Alastair Cook as England one-day captain with immediate effect.

"England selectors met yesterday to pick a 15-man one-day squad for the tour to Australia and the ICC Cricket World Cup. Selectors recommended to managing director England cricket Paul Downton a change in captaincy which has now been approved by the ECB chairman."

Health bosses have said it's important people "continue to take care of themselves" as NHS resources are put under increasing pressure in the run up to Christmas.

New research shows that 134 hospitals out of 140 across the country missed their targets this week of seeing, admitting, treating or discharging a patient in four hours 95 per cent of the time - including Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust Queen's Medical Centre Campus.

The QMC managed to hit the target 81.4 per cent of the time, with 3,436 people turning up to A&E this week.

Six-hundred-and-thirty-nine of these people had to wait more than fours hours to be treated or discharged compared to the national average of 315.

Dr Barbara Hakin, from NHS England, said the pressures were continuing to increase "significantly".

"We have admitted more people to hospital this week to take care of them than in any previous week on record. I want to pay tribute to the staff dealing with that - they are doing a brilliant job.

"While we are now below the extremely high waiting time standards that we set ourselves, the service we provide remains robust.

"The NHS's waiting times for urgent treatment are among the best for any major country that measures them.

"As we come into the holiday period, it is important people continue to look after themselves and nip problems in the bud.

"They should ensure they have proper medication, get their flu jab if they have not done so, and get advice from their pharmacist."

Firefighters have put out a blaze at the Imperial Tobacco factory in Dunkirk.

Firefighters - including crews from Stockhill and Highfields - were work at the scene in Thane Road for several hours on Saturday

The blaze was in an undercroft of the building and no-one was reported hurt.

In April, the Post reported that  Nottingham's Imperial Tobacco factory would be closing with the loss of 540 jobs.

The site on Lenton Industrial Estate, became the prime target for "company restructuring" because it has been producing only half the cigarettes it is capable of making.

Imperial Tobacco also blamed declining sales, increased regulation and growth in the illegal cigarette trade for its plans to shut the factory by 2016. 

Transport operator NCTX said no bus services had been affected by the fire.

Fire at Imperial Tobacco on Thane Road is not affecting W4. Buses will run as normal.

— Nottm City Transport (@NCT_Buses) December 20, 2014

CRICKET bosses have confirmed that Alastair Cook has been removed as captain of the England one-day team.

The move looks likely to give Nottinghamshire star Alex Hales a chance to take on Cook's role of opening bat for the upcoming World Cup.

A selection meeting took place there ton Friday to make the decision and it has now been confirmed that Cook has been deposed, with Irishman Eoin Morgan to take over.

The news comes just days after the England team returned from a 5-2 series defeat in Sri Lanka.

Alastair Cook said: "I am gutted to be left out of the World Cup squad and it is likely to take me a while to get over the disappointment. That said I wish Peter, Eoin and the lads all the best for the World Cup. I would also like to thank all the players and fans who have supported me during my time as One-Day captain."

Cook's expected exit is almost certain to open the door for Nottinghamshire batsman Alex Hales to form a partnership with Moeen Ali at the top of the England batting order..

James Whitaker, National Selector, said: "We spent a considerable time yesterday discussing the make up of a squad that gives England the best possible chance of success at the World Cup which begins in less than two months. Having reviewed the recent series against Sri Lanka we came to the conclusion that there was no place for Alastair Cook amongst our strongest 15 one-day players and therefore recommended Eoin Morgan be appointed One-Day captain."

Eoin Morgan said: "It is a huge honour to captain England and I am delighted to be leading the one-day side. I firmly believe that with the players currently involved in the one-day set up we have the makings of a very good one-day side, a young side that can surprise people at the World Cup. We all recognise we still have a lot of work to do on our one-day game but the potential of this group of players is huge and it is now up to us as players to turn that potential into consistent performances on the international stage starting next month against Australia and India."

Notts stars Harry Gurney and Samit Patel have been selected in England's performance programme, the England Lions.

Panic Saturday certainly lived up to its name - as thousands of shoppers descended on the city centre in a desperate bid to bag their final few Christmas gifts.

Whether armed with lists and budgets or venturing into the festive shopping chaos for the first time, shoppers admitted to panic buying presents in a stressed-out frenzy.

Kayleigh Betts, 28, told the Post she had little choice in shopping on what is one of the busiest days of the year - the last Saturday before Christmas.

The mum, from Sutton-in-Ashfield said: "I work 13 hour shift so its hard to go shopping.

"When it is as busy as this it is difficult to actually look at things properly and find what you are looking for.

"You end up buying stuff which wasn't on your list, novelty things almost just for the sake of it and spending more.

"A lot of people leave it this late because they live busy lives and of course they have to wait to see where they are financially and what they can afford."

In the last week prices have fallen at their fastest rate in 12 years, this coupled with it being the last weekend before Christmas resulted in people from across the county and country rushing to Nottingham to snap-up festive bargains.

Mum-of-two Joe Freeman travelled all the way from Stoke with her mum and daughter to grab some bargains in Nottingham as part of a "girlie weekend".

The 34-year-old said: "I spread out my shopping over ten weeks but I've come to Nottingham and bought a lot of things I didn't intend to.

"More clothes for my daughter, she already had loads and more Christmas decorations which I don't need."

Customer service advisor Rebecca Howarth, 22, was less than thrilled with the shopping chaos while in town with partner Francisco Sandino, 27.

Miss Howarth, who lives near Nottingham Train Station, said: "I hate shopping at the best of times and this is just chaos.

"I know we are running out of time but some people are just so hard to buy for, so you end up going into a shop and feeling overwhelmed."

However, Keri Devlin, 37, of Chilwell, said she avoided Christmas panic by being organised and not trying to be too perfect.

She addedL "If something is out of stock or not the right size then I make a really nice IOU with a picture of the present and then the person will get it after Christmas.

"There's too much pressure on having the perfect Christmas."

Rushcliffe has been named as the eighth most desirable place to live in the UK, according to research carried out by Halifax.

The survey is based on the health, employment rate, crime rates, education, weather and life expectancy of resident's in different areas across the country.

For the fourth year Hart in Hampshire topped the annual list.

Surrey's Elmbridge and Winchester in Hampshire came second and third on the quality of life top 50 survey.

Nearby Rutland pipped the south Nottinghamshire borough coming fourth place.

The report, which is the ninth Halifax has produced, uses statistics from various sources including the Office for National Statistics  and the Met Office.

Nottingham City Transport has warned passengers that some buses will not serve a few stops in Sherwood following a car crash this afternoon.

The Yellow Line, L12 and L14 buses are not serving stops on Nottingham Road between Haydn Road and Perry Road in both directions.

NCT published the information at around 4.30pm on Saturday December 20.

Yellow Line, L12 and L14 buses not serving stops on Nottingham Road between Haydn Road and Perry Road in both directions due to an RTC.

— Nottm City Transport (@NCT_Buses) December 20, 2014

The transport company has also urged people to allow extra time travelling this afternoon with the later 5.15pm kick-off time at the City Ground expected to cause congestion.

ADAM Murray claimed his first win as manager of Mansfield Town as Vadaine Oliver's goal clinched a 1-0 result for the ten-man Stags at AFC Wimbledon.

It was goalkeeper Dimitar Evtimov though, who really made the difference, proving absolutely unbeatable in a top class performance.

The visitors had made an impressive start to the game, creating the better chances.

But it looked like they were going to be up against it when a red card for Rob Taylor left them to play with ten men for the best part of an hour.

Wimbledon though, failed to make it count and Mansfield showed great spirit and determination, taking the lead after the break and surviving immense pressure to keep a clean sheet.

For the third successive game, Murray made five changes to his side as Mansfield returned to league action following their FA Cup exit.

Goalkeeper Evtimov, full-back Kieron Freeman and winger Junior Brown were all cup-tied for the 1-0 defeat to Cambridge United in midweek and returned to the side, with Sascha Studer, Lee Beevers and Simon Heslop the players to miss out.

Jamie McGuire came into the starting XI wearing the captain's armband and Matt Rhead partnered Vadaine Oliver up front, as Rakish Bingham and Ollie Palmer dropped to the bench.

There was an early blow for the hosts as Adebayo Akinfenwa limped off with less than five minutes on the clock.

The big front man took a knock in the midst of a first minute melee in the box as Callum Kennedy's free-kick caused problems, though the offside flag ensured the danger was limited.

That aside, it was a quiet start to the game with little in the way of goalmouth action – what there was, the visitors had the better of.

Rhead hit the post with quarter of an hour gone and should have done better when Taylor's left-hand cross found him unmarked a few yards out.

The Stags striker tried his luck from distance shortly after, but his drive never looked like troubling keeper James Shea.

The Dons enjoyed their fair share of possession but struggled to hurt their opponents, while Mansfield looked bright going forward.

A dipping shot from Taylor from 30 yards dropped just over the bar, then a surging run by the midfielder deserved greater reward with 23 minutes on the clock.

Taylor picked the ball up from just past the halfway line and powered forward into the box. Rhead had gone with him to offer support, but pulled up short and the subsequent pass went straight to a blue shirt.

It had been a promising start from Taylor and his team, but the afternoon took a downward turn for both in the 32^nd minute.

A rash two-footed lunge from Taylor on Sammy Moore left the Wimbledon player needing treatment and the Stags man heading for an early bath as referee Darren Deadman issued a straight red card.

The travelling fans could have been forgiven for thinking their team would find themselves up against it thereafter. But the home side couldn't make the extra man count before the break.

George Francomb's fierce effort from distance was all they had to offer, and it flew well wide.

And it was the visitors who grabbed the advantage after the interval.

Oliver muscled past his marker to drive forward into the box, coolly slotting the ball beyond Shea to give his side something to cling on to.

And cling to it they did.

The Dons laid siege to the Mansfield goal on the hour, with Evtimov tipping over Dannie Bulman's rising effort then sparing Luke Waterfall's blushes by preventing an own goal from Francomb's cross.

In an entertaining second half however, the momentum then swung the other way as Stags twice went close to extending their lead.

Rhead's header from Freeman's cross was cleared off the line, with Shea getting a hand to Waterfall's effort in the air from the resulting corner.

At the other end, Evtimov also proved his worth, twice denying Moore in the space of a minute.

The first effort from just outside the box was comfortably held, the second, from a similar distance, pushed away as Murray's men continued to hold firm.

The Nottingham Forest loanee was proving immense between the posts, and kept his side in front again with ten minutes to go.

Moore let fly at the far post from a corner, but Evtimov pushed his shot on to the woodwork, then quickly grabbed the loose ball.

In a hairy final few minutes, Wimbledon put the visitors under pressure as they desperately searched for an equaliser.

Matt Tubbs headed Francomb's free-kick wide, then Evtimov denied the forward from close-range deep into added time, pulling off a string of saves in a goalmouth scramble to make sure of the three points.

AFC WIMBLEDON: Shea, Fuller, Barrett, Goodman, Kennedy, Francomb, Bulman, Moore (Pell 84), Rigg, Akinfenwa (Azeez 5 (Oakley 74)), Tubbs. Subs not used: McDonnell, Harrison, Nightingale, Sutherland.

MANSFIELD: Evtimov, Sutton, Tafazolli, Waterfall, Freeman, Brown, Clements (Heslop 84), McGuire, Taylor, Oliver (Bingham 56), Rhead (Palmer 87). Subs not used: Studer, Riley, Bell, Lambe.

ATTENDANCE: 3,790 (178 away).

MATTY Fryatt had two goals ruled out for debatable offside decisions as Leeds United held on for a 1-1 draw at the City Ground.

Fryatt had successfully found the net in first half injury time to give the Reds the lead, but had two efforts ruled out either side of that, for offside decisions that television replays suggested were hugely debatable.

Billy Sharp returned to haunt his former club as he netted from the penalty spot, after Danny Fox had tripped Sam Byram, to level for Leeds early in the second half.

But the Reds will still feel they should have won the game, with keeper Marco Silvestri making a host of fine saves to hold Stuart Pearce's side at bay.

There were two changes to the Forest side, but also a very different approach, as Pearce opted for a 5-3-2 formation, in an effort to cancel out the midfield diamond favoured by Leeds.

Jack Hunt came into the side as a right wing back, with Jamie Paterson dropping to the bench, while Matty Fryatt took the place of top scorer Britt Assombalonga up front, within a bold team selection.

Michael Mancienne was pushed into a defensive midfield role, with Danny Fox, Kelvin Wilson and Eric Lichaj the three-man central defence.

If Pearce's plan had been to cancel out Leeds' approach, it worked in the opening stages – although the end result was a scrappy start to the match, with an ambitious – but well struck – 30-yard shot from Henri Lansbury, which cleared the Leeds bar by some distance, being the only shot of note.

It was Leeds who should have taken the lead, as the game finally sparked into life with 15 minutes gone. Firstly Alex Mowatt saw his shot take a wicked deflection, which took it spinning narrowly wide of Karl Darlow's post.

Then within a minute, after the keeper had made a superb save to deny Mirco Antenucci, Jason Pearce should have scored when the rebound fell to him a few yards out, but he sent a shot wildly over the bar, with the goal gaping.

Forest had the ball in the net in the 22^nd minute, as Fryatt deflected home a cross-shot from Antonio. The assistant referee immediately flagged for offside, although television replays suggested that the goal should have stood, with full back Sam Byram playing him on.

It was a tight decision for the assistant referee to make in a split second, but Forest will feel aggrieved to have had a perfectly good goal chalked off.

Forest had to make a change when Blackstock picked up a knock. The striker attempted to continue, but had to be replaced as half time approached, with Assombalonga coming off the bench.

The Reds had been fairly direct in their approach, with a host of long balls fired in Blackstock's direction or towards Antonio, as he pushed forward down the left. But without the physical presence of Blackstock, Forest would have to come up with a different approach.

Forest did not have much time to ponder the issue, before they took the lead, in first half injury time. A Mancienne header was arrowing dangerously towards goal when Fryatt stuck out a boot to make absolutely certain the ball found the back of the net, with the striker prodding it home from close range.

The officials had another big call to make eight minutes into the second half, as Byram skipped into the box down the right. Fox dangled a leg and the Leeds man went to ground, with referee Roger East quick to point to the spot.

Sharp, who had been a popular figure with Reds fans during his time with the club, was not as well liked when he rifled home the resulting penalty emphatically.

Hunt, who had played well down the Forest right, might have restored Forest's advantage in the 58^th minute, but fluffed his lines when handed a shooting chance eight yards from goal, firing weakly straight at the keeper.

Antonio then came close with a spectacular effort, which keeper Silvestri saved brilliantly, diving high to his left to push away the wing back's driven shot.

Then came another moment of controversy, as Fryatt had another goal ruled out for an incorrect offside decision. Replays again showed that the Forest man was in line with the Leeds defence, before flicking the ball into the net.

Tesche saw a low shot well saved and Lansbury saw Silvestri make an even better one, when his shot was seemingly bound for the top corner, before the keeper intervened. Antonio was then denied as Silvestri showed his reactions again, to kick away his header.

Substitute Chris Burke was then denied by the Leeds keeper, as he looked to profit from a poor clearance from Stephen Warnock. Burke then bent a left footed shot wide, following a probing run.

Karl Darlow had to make a fine save of his own to deny sub Doukara – and there was still time for Assomablonga to come agonisingly close to a winner with a downward header that bounced the wrong side of the post.

Forest: Darlow, Lichaj, WIlson, Fox, Mancienne (Paterson 89), Hunt (Burke 70), Antonio, Tesche, Lansbury, Blackstock (Assombalonga 41), Fryatt. Subs: de Vries, Lascelles, Ince, Osborn.

Leeds: Silvestri, Bryam, Warnock, Pearce, Sharp, Tavares (Morison 66), Bianchi, Cook, Mowatt, Cooper, Antenucci (Doukara 85). Subs: Barardi, Taylor, Tonge, Montenegro, Delfabrio.

Referee: Roger East

Attendance: 22,664 (1,859 away)

Tonight's lottery draw was a cool £4.1 million.

The winning numbers were 18, 22, 23, 32, 40, 42 and the bonus ball was 28.

This week's big money balls were released by Professor Green who was in the studio to perform for tonight's draw.

In the Thunderball draw, the top prize was £500,000 and the winning balls were 1, 2, 12, 29, and 32. The Thunderball was 3.

Were you a big winner on tonight's lottery draw? Email newsdesk@nottinghampost.com