If you look up at the right time on Christmas Eve you will be able to see 'Santa's sleigh' in the sky.

The sighting will add a little bit of magic to children's Christmas celebrations as they eagerly await their presents from the white-bearded red-suited man.

But while it could be Father Christmas making his deliveries, the bright light is probably more likely to be a reflection of the International Space Station as orbits the earth.

According to Nasa's own space station tracker, the object should be visible for four minutes in Nottinghamshire at 5.22pm and for one minute at 6.58pm. 

So tell the kids to look out for it - it will be the third brightest object in the sky. 

More needs to be done to protect animals from cruelty, according to East Leake residents.

Neighbours spoke out after the bodies of five horses were found dumped on wasteland next to the side of a road in the village.

The grim discovery was made by a member of the public on Rempstone Road just before 9am on Tuesday.

Residents have called for greater protection for vulnerable animals who are subjected to abuse and cruelty.

Rebecca Stevens, 22, of Brookeside Avenue, said: "Animal charities do a great job, but so much more needs to be done.

"It brings it home when it's close to where you live. It's heartbreaking."

Geoff Adams, 59, of Bateman Road, added: "The village is usually quiet so it's come as a huge shock, especially because it's so close to Christmas.

"People need to realise that we can't carry on treating animals like this. It's disgusting."

Jennifer Marshall, 36, of Sycamore Road, agreed. She said: "I hope people change their attitude towards animals. This can't keep on happening.

"My 11-year-old daughter rides horses and she's devastated by the news."

Nottinghamshire Police were called to the scene at 8:50am.

The RSPCA are now investigating. Officers from the animal charity quickly removed the bodies after they were informed.

The police said the charity can prosecute if they see fit.

Inspector Clint Davies, of the RSPCA, said: "This was a shocking discovery. Even in a nation of animal lovers, there are thousands of people who don't care about their animals at all. In fact, some literally treat them like rubbish."

Officers are not yet sure how the animals died.

RSPCA chief inspector Cathy Hyde added: "Over the past five years there has been a marked and very worrying increase in equine neglect and abuse.

"This disturbing trend in neglect seems to be affecting equines more than any other animal that we deal with."

The news come after the RSPCA revealed that nearly 800 pets have been abandoned in Nottinghamshire this year.

The RSPCA is appealing for anyone with information about what happened to the horses to get in touch.

If you have any information, contact the appeal line, in confidence, on 0300 123 8018.

Alfreton Town manager Nicky Law is under no illusions his embattled side face a tough set of festive fixtures.

The Reds boss is still smarting from a poor defensive display in a 5-1 home defeat against Macclesfield Town last time out.

On Boxing Day, third-bottom Alfreton travel to Lincoln City for the third time this season, before hosting Conference Premier relegation rivals Dartford at the Impact Arena two days later and then welcoming the Imps on New Year's Day.

"Any game is difficult (in this division) especially when you are in the position that we are in" said Law.

"If you look at the next three games, Lincoln, Dartford, Lincoln, they are tough games.

"Going from the 26th, there are four fixtures in nine days and it is going to be a tough call. We will have a better idea of where we are at the end of that spell."

Boxing Day also sees the annual Radcliffe Olympic charity game at 10.30am at the Recreation Ground between an Olympic XI and a Radcliffe Olympic Vets side.

Since 1995, over £14,800 has been raised for various charities including NSPCC, Headway, The Huntingtons Diseases Association, Macmillan Cancer Support and Luekaemia Research.

This year a new charity has been nominated which is Help for Heroes.

A day later, the Radcliffe first team host Aylestone Park at the same venue in the East Midlands Counties League at 3pm.

Radcliffe include Lee Potts, who returns to the club from Carlton Town, and recent signing Manny Mtombeni, who will be looking to make his home debut.

Radcliffe will be without Matt Gamble, Sam Adams, Kenny Reeves, Sam Winch, Ryan Smith and Ryan Plummer.

Squad: Dunn, Brindley, Williams, Smallwood, Spence, West, Ramshall, Hegarty, Durham, J.Morris, Potts, Mtombeni, Soiza, O'Brien, Mantezolo, Sewell, Millward, Sansone, Holvey.

This is one of a host of non-league fixtures across three days over the festive period, which include various local derbies like Carlton Town versus Rainworth MW on Boxing Day and Basford United hosting Dunkirk in the Midland League Premier on Saturday at Greenwich Avenue (3pm).

Basford squad: Deeney, Kearney, Thornton, Meikle, McNicholas, Webster, Craven, S Hendrie, Smith, Wiggins-Thomas, L Hendrie, Anderson, Whitehurst, Doolan, Russell, Coxon, Asumang-Hayles, Fogg.

Selected non-league fixtures on December 26:

Conference Premier: Lincoln City v Alfreton Town

Evo-Stik Premier Division: Belper Town v Ilkeston FC, Stamford v Grantham Town

Evo-Stik First Division South: Carlton Town v Rainworth Miners Welfare, Mickleover Sports v Loughborough Dynamo

Midland Football League Premier: Long Eaton United v Shepshed Dynamo

Charity match: Radcliffe Olympic XI v Radcliffe Olympic Vets (10.30am, Recreation Ground)

Selected non-league fixtures on December 27:

Midland Football League Premier: Basford United v Dunkirk

NCEL Premier Division: Parkgate v Athersley Recreation, Retford United v Pickering Town, Worksop Town v Garforth Town

NCEL Division One: Dronfield Town v Bottesford Town, Shirebrook Town v AFC Mansfield, Teversal v Clipstone

East Midlands Counties League: Ashby Ivanhoe v Gedling Miners Welfare, Graham Street Prims v Radford FC, Holwell Sports v Greenwood Meadows, Kimberley Miners Welfare v Barrow Town, Radcliffe Olympic v Aylestone Park

Central Midlands League North: Sherwood Colliery v Newark Town, Thorne Colliery v Welbeck FC, Ollerton Town v Kinsley Boys

Central Midlands League South: Clifton All Whites v Bulwell, Linby Colliery v Belper Utd, Hucknall Rolls Leisure v Eastwood Community, Hucknall Town v Holbrook St Michaels, Southwell City v Blidworth Welfare

Central Midlands League Challenge Cup: Real Utd v Harrowby Saints

Precision Notts Senior League: Attenborough v Kirton Brickworks, Beeston v Wollaton, Bingham Town v Selston, Burton Joyce v Bilborough Town, Sandhurst v Awsworth Villa, West Bridgford v Cotgrave, Keyworth United v Boots Athletic

Selected non-league fixtures on December 28:

Conference Premier: Alfreton Town v Dartford

Evo-Stik Premier Division: Grantham Town v Ilkeston FC

Evo-Stik First Division South: Stafford Rangers v Carlton Town (1pm)

Head coach Martin Haag is confident his Nottingham Rugby players will come back in good shape from a Christmas break.

The Green and Whites have the rest of this week off, before returning to prepare for their game against London Scottish on January 4.

The squad will be given a fitness and conditioning programme to follow, courtesy of strength and conditioning coach Andy Smith.

But it will be on an 'informal' basis, with Haag keen for the players to make the most of some down time.

"I hope they won't be drinking and eating too much, but there's a time for them to relax," he said.

"They will get some opportunity to at least do some fitness and conditioning so they don't come back in too bad a shape.

"They will have a programme to do, which will be very much ad hoc in terms of when they do it. It's very informal.

"It's an opportunity to enjoy their time with families and loved ones.

"As a rugby player, you don't often get that privilege. It just happens to fall like that sometimes.

"It's a great opportunity for them to get away, reassess where they are and then come back in the following week to prepare properly for London Scottish.

"I'm sure they will enjoy themselves at least one day!"

Clothes, GHD Straighteners, coffee machines, furniture and hot water bottles were among the most popular items for Christmas shoppers at John Lewis.

The fashion and home departments have been the busiest at the Nottingham branch in recent days, according to staff.

Nationally, the department store recorded sales of £160.6m during the week ending December 21, an increase of 6.5 per cent on the previous week.

Sales in stores that week were 2.4 per cent down on last year, but online sales increased by 5.5 per cent and there was a 30.3 per cent rise in the number of people placing "click and Collect orders" online to pick-up in stores.

The retailer suffered a 10.8 per cent decrease in sales of electrical and home technology items that week, which it blames on the "growing significance of Black Friday on the shape of pre-Christmas trade".

However, small electrical items were more popular than ever, with sales of GHD straighteners rocketing by 44 per cent, and 13 per cent more Nespresso coffee machines sold than this time last year.

Andrew Murphy, retail director John Lewis, said: "Last week we said it's all to play for and that is still absolutely the case as we have seen a building trend of customers leaving their gift purchases right up until the last minute.

"The record levels of trade in our fashion and home assortments are hard won in what has been a challenging market.

"However, busy though our shops have been over the past week, it's only in these final pre-Christmas days that many customers are finally moving to complete their gift buying and other purchases.

"Consequently our partners are standing ready for a very busy final trading day before the festive break."

Errol Flynn's timeless performance as Robin Hood is being shown this Christmas Eve.

The Adventures of Robin Hood, an adaptation of the story of Nottingham's favourite outlaw, will be on from 1.50pm on Channel 5.

In the flick, Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland star as Robin Hood and his band of followers fight to protect King Richard's throne from evil Prince John and his villainous accomplice Sir Guy of Gisbourne.

Flynn woos Olivia de Havilland and crosses swords with Basil Rathbone's Sir Guy of Gisbourne and Claude Rains's Prince John, while Erich Wolfgang Korngold's music goes brassily heraldic.

A few weeks into production of the film, studio boss Jack Warner thought the rushes lacked sparkle and replaced director William Keighley with Michael Curtiz. The result was a box-office smash and Oscars for the score, editing and interior decoration.

The film was given five stars out of five by the Radio Times' Christmas TV guide.

The Adventures of Robin Hood has a U certificate.

CHRISTMAS is a time of goodwill - which is exactly why Chris Pearce spent last year's festive day fixing his neighbours' boiler.

The Mapperley resident has been nominated as Good Neighbour of the Year in the first Pride of Gedling Awards for his tireless work in helping others on his street.

Not only does he fix boilers on Christmas Day, the joiner picks up shopping for an elderly resident in Morley Road and makes oak chopping boards for his foodie friends.

"I'm a big believer in helping others," said Chris, 45. "I think, if you can, you will. It doesn't cost anything to be helpful, just a little bit of your own time."

Chris has run his business, Pearce Joinery, from his home since 2006, and specialises in hardwood flooring.

"I've got two young mouths to feed so I don't give everything away," he joked. "But some jobs are small and, if you know what you are doing, don't take half an hour.

"With the boiler, you just don't want to see someone without hot water on Christmas Day. It would have cost them a fortune to call someone out."

Chris picks up shopping for an elderly lady who lives on the road, and he also helped her apply for a grant to make improvements to her home.

"I knew that the Government gave out home improvement grants and thought she might qualify," said Chris. "She ended up with new central heating, a new kitchen, a new bathroom a new roof and double glazing. It's made her home a lot warmer."

Chris said he hoped his nomination could encourage more people to be kind to one another.

"Most of my friends are the same," he said. "If you help someone out they usually repay the favour, so it all pays off. It's always nice to help your fellow human beings."

He was nominated by next door neighbour Alison Kent, 45, whose boiler he fixed.

She said: "Chris helps with all the simple things. He helps out whenever you need him and offers more than he has to. I'm glad we live next door to him.

"We like to think it's reciprocal but he's so good at the handy stuff that I don't think we quite pull our weight."

The Pride of Gedling Awards have been launched by The Post with Gedling Borough Council to find the pillars of the community in the borough.

Councillor John Clarke, leader of the council, said: "We've seen nominations from all arenas.

"I used to be self-employed in a small business and I know there are a lot of people in the trade who do some jobs for free. If there are others out there, let's nominate them too."

BRANDON Benedict says Nottingham Panthers have been out of luck – but it is time for them to make their own fortune by winning the battle.

Three straight defeats and a string of injuries mean they are second favourites going into back-to-back games against Sheffield Steelers over Christmas.

Centre Benedict (pictured) is as frustrated as anyone by recent struggles, but he says the team must make sure they have no excuses when they go to Sheffield on Boxing Day before hosting them a day later.

He said: "We aren't getting to pucks first. We aren't winning our battles.

"We can say what we want, but we've got to start scoring goals and we just aren't doing that. I don't know to be honest why it's happening. I can't put my finger on it but we aren't playing well as a team.

"It's really frustrating. You've got to be consistent and we obviously aren't.

"These last few weeks have been really on the downside for us and that's so disappointing.

"It's a bunch of good guys in the dressing room. Sometimes it's a strange game. You just need a few bounces to change momentum."

"Against Fife on Saturday we didn't get any but at the same you create your own bounces."

The 5-1 home defeat to Fife was seemingly a low point for Benedict, who captained the team in the absence of injured skipper David Clarke.

Afterwards the 33-year-old described the performance as 'unacceptable'.

"It's another game where we didn't capitalise on our chances first off. It seemed like we didn't have any jump from the start again either," he said. "We just weren't there. It's unacceptable again."

Mansfield Town manager Adam Murray hailed it as one of the best goalkeeping performances he has seen. But for Dimitar Evtimov, it came as no surprise.

The Nottingham Forest loanee was man of the match last Saturday as he batted away everything AFC Wimbledon could throw at him to help his team earn a 1-0 away win.

He admits it is as good a game as he's ever played, though says such form was always there – it just needed to be brought out.

Evtimov has benefited from playing first-team football while with the Stags, albeit he has had to battle for the number one spot with Sascha Studer.

He has just two more games before his loan spell runs out, and is hoping he gets a final chance to stake his claim for an extension to his deal.

When asked what difference Saturday's display could make to the possibility of staying on, he laughed: "It will probably increase my chances!

"If I'm playing games and the team wants me, then of course I would like to stay and play some more games, and help the team.

"Forest have kept in touch (during his loan spell). They try to watch all of my games.

"It's up to the Forest manager (Stuart Pearce) to decide. I would like to stay if I'm playing and if the team wants me."

The form of Studer meant Evtimov hasn't played as many games for the Stags as he perhaps would have liked.

However, he has been prepared to put in the hours on the training ground and wait for his chance.

"To be honest, I was frustrated because I wasn't playing," said the Bulgarian.

"But I kept my head down and was training hard every day to get back in the team. I think that paid off.

"Every single day, I train hard. I have to train hard because I don't want to waste my days.

"I want to train hard and show the manager, show everybody, show the fans, that I deserve to play.

"My main aim now is to keep the number one jersey, and hopefully I will help the team win games."

That dedication paid off against the Dons, with Evtimov at the heart of a sterling defensive display – being singled out for praise from Murray as a result.

"That's such a compliment, especially coming from the gaffer," said the shot-stopper.

"I did my best to keep a clean-sheet and was happy to get the win.

"You don't think about injuries or the ball hitting you in the face, you just try to save the ball. It's probably the best I've ever played.

"We defended as a unit and the team spirit was amazing.

"I think I had it in me – if I didn't think I had it, I probably wouldn't think I'm a good keeper!

"It's all down to hard work, and a little bit of talent. But the main thing is hard work."

The hope is that result can not only do wonders for Evtimov on a personal level, but also the Stags collectively.

It was Murray's first victory since being named Paul Cox's replacement and lifted them up to 16th in League Two.

Going into the clash with bottom of the table Hartlepool United they are seven points off the relegation zone.

"We have two tough games – Boxing Day and then on the 28th against Bury," said Evtimov.

"They will be really tough but we need to get something out of the games.

"Saturday's result will help us to dig in and go again."

"It increases our confidence and can help us keep going.

"To get a few good results in the next couple of games before January, that will increase confidence even more.

"We were struggling, to be honest, before Saturday – in the last few games we couldn't find the right result.

"On Saturday, we showed we have potential and the team spirit is great. That can turn around anything."

WHEN Wimbledon were packed up and put down in a town famous for concrete cows, Milton Keynes Dons were branded Britain's "most hated club" by lads' mag Loaded.

Football's old romantics were not best pleased either as they raged that moving a team 70 miles away from its home, and under a new guise, was as sacrilegious as it gets.

The old Wimbledon, who were FA Cup winners in 1988, had, according to many, become a victim of a franchising led by the wild-haired chairman Pete Winkelman.

Eleven years on, the matter is still a thorny issue of debate, but for Notts County midfielder Alan Smith, who spent two years at stadium:mk, he enjoyed his time at the club.

"I have good memories of the place," he said ahead of facing his old club in a Boxing Day Meadow Lane showdown.

"It doesn't have a lot of history, but it's a club which, over time, will create a lot of history just because of the way it is evolving.

"Because of how the club was created, they are not everybody's favourite team because of the Wimbledon connection.

"But they are one of the nicest football clubs. It's such a family run club from the chairman right through to the people who work in the ticket office and around the ground.

"And as anybody will tell you the stadium they have is outstanding.

"It's a Premier League ground really. They are all geared up to progress this year, having gone close on a number of occasions.

"They have lost a couple of play-off semis, but there are a good set of lads down there. I still stay in contact with a lot of them now which is quite unusual for me."

The task facing Smith and his Notts team-mates looks an ominous one given Karl Robinson's side slammed seven past Oldham last weekend.

The Magpies are also being manacled by some disappointing home form of late having lost to Swindon, Preston and Yeovil in recent weeks.

Throw in the statistic that Notts are yet to beat a team above them in the table and no wonder the bookmakers make the visitors clear favourites.

The tenacious competitor that he is, Smith is not fazed by such statistics.

"I don't think we've got to worry about that too much if I am honest," he said. "We aren't concerned about who we play. We know we are capable of getting results. If we are right then we will cause upsets along the way.

"The teams who are up there, the top five especially, are the ones you would have presumed would be up there anyway.

"Bristol City, Swindon, Sheffield United, MK Dons and Preston are the ones who set the benchmark.

"Beating the top teams is difficult, but if you don't drop points against them, then you've not lost anything.

"We can't be downbeat, we have to stay positive."

A win for Derry's side would certainly enhance the Magpies' top six prospects and Smith (pictured) is keen to remain in the pack.

"We want to stay there," he said.

"We are going to get beat in games, but when that happens you have to bounce back.

"Everytime that has happened this season, we have done.

"We have a tough Christmas period and we'll be ready."

MK Dons one to watch

Benik Afobe: Arsenal have high hopes for this 21-year-old striker which is why they refuse to let him leave the club permanently.

The former England youth international has enjoyed six loan spells during his career as he looks to gain valuable experience.

Clearly his move to MK Dons has been the most profitable with Afobe already at the top of the goalscoring charts.

He is blessed with decent pace and is deadly in front of goal having scored 19 league and cup goals this season.

Notts have to marshal him at every opportunity if they are to stop him from netting number 20.

Key battle

Hayden Mullins v Dele Alli

Dele Alli has ripped up League One this season and has courted a lot of interest from a number of clubs.

A wonderfully gifted footballer he can pretty much play anywhere, but usually it's on the left side.

Should he be given that position, then the youngster will face a veteran in Hayden Mullins.

Should the wily campaigner win this battle and keep Alli quiet, Notts will at least quiet some part of the MK Dons attack.

Notts County team news

Notts will be without the suspended Liam Noble who sits out the third game of a five-match ban.

Gary Jones and Alan Smith are likely to continue in his absence in the heart of midfield.

Elsewhere, there will be no place for striker Jimmy Spencer who is unlikely to play again this season.

He is recovering from knee ligament damage after he was injured during pre-season.

On-loan Wolves striker Jake Cassidy and Mustapha Dumbuya (pictured) will have to prove their fitness.

Patrick Bamford: It is safe to say the Nottingham born Forest academy product is Middlesbrough's form player in recent weeks, with the forward having netted in six of his last eight appearances for the club.

Bamford, 21, is used either as an out-and-out striker or in a wider position out on the right – but has proved to be a scoring threat from either berth.

The Forest fan (pictured) has scored eight goals overall for Boro, since joining them on loan from Chelsea.

That already matches the eight goals he fired during a loan spell at Derby County in the second half of last season.

Middlesbrough have plenty of attacking threat in their ranks – with former Forest target Grant Leadbitter having netted ten goals from midfield (albeit including six penalties).

But it is Bamford who can often make the side tick, in the final third of the pitch.

Aitor Karanka: The Boro boss has a good grounding in management, having learned his trade, to some degree, under Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid.

In June 2010 Karanka was appointed assistant manager at the club where he had previously plied his trade as a player, by then newly appointed manager Mourinho.

He remained in the role for three years, before moving on when Carlo Ancelotti arrived as manager and wanted to bring in his own coaching staff.

It is now just over a year since Karanka was appointed manager at Middlesbrough, following the departure of Tony Mowbray.

He has overseen a promising push for promotion this season and his side are particularly strong at home, having last lost at the Riverside in late August, when Reading edged a 1-0 win there.

NOTTINGHAM Forest face two tough games over the festive period – but should relish the challenge, says Stuart Pearce.

The Reds face high-flying Middlesbrough at the Riverside in a Boxing Day clash, before a Birmingham side revived by the appointment of Gary Rowett visit the City Ground on Sunday.

Boss Pearce (pictured) knows both sides will pose tough opposition – but says his players should look forward to the chance to prove themselves.

"We have two teams coming up who are in particularly good form, it should be a test we relish as a football club," he said.

"It will be a tough game for us, at Middlesbrough, because they are doing well. But it is not a game that is insurmountable for us, that is for sure.

"We have to create our own luck in games. We have ceded points to teams who have not been on good runs this season. We have drawn games against teams we should have beaten, in my opinion.

"Technically they are a very good side, looking at the game against Derby a few weeks ago they played very well; they were very incisive.

"Patrick Bamford played extremely well, creating a goal and scoring a goal.

"They started the season okay, then hit a lull then hit a vein of form over the last few months, which has pushed them into the top regions of the league. They are a team with the credentials to get promoted."

Pearce says Forest will have to use their squad, with two games coming up in the space of 48 hours.

But he will simply pick his best side for Boro, before worrying about Birmingham after the final whistle in the north east.

"We will not pick our team on Boxing Day with Birmingham in mind," he said. "What you do, because results are so precious in football, is pick your best team, with a view to getting a result at Middlesbrough.

"Then we will sit and look at things. If players have not done well, their places will be under threat. If they have done well, it will be difficult to leave them out."

"We will have a look and we will be guided by the sports science people as well, when it comes to how the players come out of the game."

Across the city, breweries, pubs and restaurants have had menus and beer lists dedicated to all things Christmas. Beer lover Peter Blackburn finds out how Nottingham's taste for drink changes during the festive season and what local experts sup at this time of year.

There are around 200 beers stacked on the shelves that cover the walls at Nottingham's latest shopping mecca for ale lovers, the Brew Cavern in Flying Horse Walk.

An explosion in beer production on both sides of the Atlantic has brought an incredible variety in styles, especially pale, hoppy, strong craft beers packed with fruity flavours.

And as a result drinkers can find a beer for all purposes this festive season – particularly some perfect drinks for the cold days and dark nights.

"The breweries know what people like all year round so they produce accordingly," said the shop's owner, Matt Hinton.

"More often than not it's a darker, more malty, richer beer at this time of year – but you can still get hold of good pales, IPAs and saisons that also warm your cockles.

"There's always a fair few stouts available that have coffee and chocolate flavours but you will notice it more this time of year. To be fair, interesting flavours is the way craft beer has been going anyway so we've got all sorts available for people to drink. We've got a sour cherry stout, a rye beer with raspberries in it and we've got an imperial breakfast stout with vanilla and cocoa. You will find a lot at this time of year that it's dark and strong."

And for Matt – and many others – Christmas is a time to enjoy a few different drinks.

He said: "I will always mix it up – I would never just say I am only going to have these particular ones. I have got my eye on a few – I had a really nice milk stout recently and I will be having some stout types and some darker beers. There's a vast range of beers out there."

For Katrina Mitchinson, Christmas time means more of the drinks she loves most.

The sales and marketing director at Magpie Brewery has a taste for dark and wholesome beers and will be sharing that passion by featuring a whole host of stouts and porters at the brewery's tap pub, the Crafty Crow, in Friar Lane.

"Personally, I love dark beer anyway," she said. "I like stouts and porters, anything dark sweet and malty is what I tend to go for and around Christmas time we sell a lot more like that.

"In the summer we have refreshing, hoppy, pale stuff but in winter we put on a lot more dark beers and the demand for that really increases – a lot of breweries will change like that, adding chocolates, gingers and Christmas stouts. It's quite festive.

"It's great to see different microbreweries putting things out – we ourselves at Magpie will do a Humbug, which is a dark chocolate flavoured one, and a festive winter ale called 500 Tidings."

And this Christmas – with beers and pubs absolutely booming in Nottingham – Katrina is hoping drinkers will put down the traditional sherry, port and warming red wine and pick up a pint during the Crafty Crow's first Christmas.

"I hope so, I really do," she said. "It's our first Christmas and it's difficult for us to say what's going to happen – we're hoping people will come in for festive drinks.

"We're doing festive food, too, like festive cheese platters that will go well with dark beers as well. We have things like mince pie cheeses and Christmas pudding cheeses and we have a chorizo stew which we make with one of our dark beers – it's really nice.

"People want warming, winter things. Anything that makes people feel a bit cosier at Christmas will be really good."

Winterfestbier by Hohenthanner Schlossbrauerei: We had a few good German beers coming in and I always associate them with Christmas. It's perfect for this time of year – it's a rich, malty lager which is brewed in the Oktoberfest style – it's matured through the autumn and it's for the Christmas period. (500ml £3.50)

Dirty Stop Out, smoked out stout by Tiny Rebel: This Welsh brewery has been doing the rounds in Nottingham – those smoky flavours are really popular this time of year. The artwork is really cool and it's very different. Perhaps a stout for the younger crowd. (330ml £3.50)

Soulless Black IPA by Redwillow brewery: Not many people associate an IPA with this type of beer but the black IPAs are slightly richer and it has a roasted flavour. It's a nice style for this time of year. (£4 330ml)

ENERGETIC gym members are hoping to raise cash for an amputee so he can "have an ankle again".

The Christmas Eve 'Workout of the Day' (WOD) in Sneinton was organised to help towards the £7,900 needed for Luke Watson's new prosthetic.

The 25-year-old from Burton Joyce shattered his talus (ankle bone)in a go-karting accident more than ten years ago and developed arthritis.

In July 2013, Luke has the bottom of his left leg amputated and replaced with a prosthetic leg through the NHS.

But now he's hoping a new, more advanced, prosthetic from a private firm will help him represent Nottingham in the Hunter Games, a sporting competition for disabled athletes.

"We chose Christmas Eve because its a season when everyone is very charitable," said Luke. "I want to get back to being completely independent and the new prosthetic would help me do that.

"I appreciate everything the NHS has done, but the new prosthetic will make it so much better."

On his current prosthetic leg, Luke has to walk up hills sideways because there is no ankle joint. After training, he has to take off his prosthetic and use his wheelchair because of pain and friction.

Since doctors suggested he do more to keep fit in October, Luke has taken part in regular group training sessions at CrossFit Nottingham gym in Alfred Street South, Sneinton.

With a partner, he came third in a recent 'throw down' competition, which pits trainers against each other at varying degrees of difficulty based on their current level of fitness.

"It's made a huge difference to his life," said mum Lea Watson, 47. "When he was growing up he was very isolated because his injury meant he couldn't take part in most sports. CrossFit has changed all that."

In typical WOD fashion, participants were asked to do exercises based on Luke's birthday. As he was born on October 27 1989, they would do 27 'thrusters', ten 'rig works' and 89 'burpees'.

Photographer Christian Burton, of Mapperley, was taking snaps to sell to participants in return for donations. He has raised £120 so far.

He said: "I've known Lea through CrossFit and took Luke on a dragon boat ride (rowing) last year. He's a real inspiration."

And Luke's story has made its way to other branches of CrosFit, including Glasgow, Mansfield and Oakham, which are all hosting fundraisers in his name.

CrossFit Nottingham's social secretary Selina Conway, of Arnold, said: "CrossFit is a real community and events like this are fantastic because everyone trains really hard to do something amazing."

To donate to Luke's new prosthetic, visit www.gofundme.com/LukeWatsonCFN.

It's official - Father Christmas is on his way. Eagle-eyed youngsters may have spotted 'Santa's sleigh' in the sky just minutes before 5.30pm - which means it's time for children to get themselves tucked up in bed. 'Santa' passed through Nottinghamshire's skies for four minutes at 5.22pm. But don't worry if you missed him - he'll be back over our skies for one minute at 6.58pm. Poppy Birch, six, of Mansfield, was keeping a close eye out for Santa. She said: "I really hope Santa brings me a drawing game and Blo pens." Ellie Taylor, eight, of Cropwell Bishop, dug out her binoculars to get a better look at the sleigh. She said: "Christmas is really fun and I can't wait - I've asked Santa for lots of things." But parents - don't tell your kids - the bright light is actually a reflection of the International Space Station as it orbits the earth. The spacecraft is used by NASA to learn about living and working in space. On Twitter, Chloe Cooper-Cashin, from Nottingham, said: "Excited to see Santa fly over on his rounds! #ISS" Another user, Paul Smith, said: "Just spotted Santa flying over Mansfield #iss" You can also track Santa's progress online, thanks to the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD). Norad's website keeps you up to date with Santa as he travels to world to deliver presents to children across the globe.

It started in 1955 when a department store placed an advertisement in a Colorado Springs newspaper which told children that they could telephone Santa and included a number for them to call. However, the telephone number was misprinted and calls instead went through to Colorado Springs' Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) Center. Colonel Harry Shoup, who was on duty that night, told his staff to give all children who called in a "current location" for Santa Claus. The tradition continued when the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) replaced CONAD in 1958.

IT was a fairytale ending for one woman after she received a wedding proposal on stage in front of a packed pantomime audience of more than 700 people.

There was unexpected drama during the second half of Sleeping Beauty at Nottingham's Playhouse when James Smith got down on one knee and popped the question to his girlfriend of two years, Jess Richards.

Nottingham-born James emigrated with family to Jess's native Australia nine years ago, where the couple met while working in coal mines.

James, 23, had arranged for the jester in the production to call the couple both onto the stage to read out an "email from Australia".

Jess, a coal mining engineer from Brisbane, said: "I had no idea. We had discussions about getting engaged but not for another year or so.

"I thought they must call people up on stage in pantomimes all the time to embarrass them, it wasn't anything out of the ordinary - until he got down on one knee."

Jess, 23, who is staying with James at the Hucknall home of his grandparents, Brenda Purdy, 76, and Peter Purdy, 80, for Christmas and New Year, added: "It was surreal, I couldn't believe it was happening."

Jess said she was left wondering if some bizarre joke was taking place until James pulled out a 14 carat yellow gold ring with a one-carat diamond, and theatre staff then brought out two bouquets.

Electrician engineer James said: "I like the extreme.

"After my grandparents said we were going to the pantomime as a Christmas present about two-and-a-half months ago I emailed the Playhouse and gave them a call to organise it all.

"I was pretty nervous, I was sweating up there on stage.

"I knew she would say yes. She has been asking me when I was going to put a ring on her finger.

"Everyone clapped and when I sat back down, one man said 'you've just upset every woman in here because their husbands aren't as romantic'."

He said apart from his parents, Karen and Gary Mitford, and Jess' parents in Australia, no one knew of his plan.

Grandmother Brenda Purdy, who was in the audience, said: "I thought 'what's he playing at?'

"I didn't think he had it in him. We're very pleased for both of them."

Giles Croft, the Playhouse's artistic director, said: "It's not everyday Nottingham Playhouse has these requests, we've certainly never had a marriage proposal on stage before.

"We were delighted to be part of this couple's special moment and we wish them both the very best for their future together."

DOCTORS are being shown how to spot signs of domestic violence this Christmas. 

GPs are being trained to recognise whether their patients could be victims of domestic abuse, which costs the NHS £1.7 billion a year and traditionally rises around the festive season.

Dr Jane Ellis, from the Church Walk Surgery, in Eastwood, is leading a project for 13 doctors' surgeries in the Nottingham West Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) area.

She said: "Signs we can spot can be physical symptoms, such as chronic pain, migraines or gynaecological problems. It's just making that move to think whether something is going on in the background that we are not picking up on."

The intervention comes after the CCG had 75 domestic abuse cases referred for support this year, 16 of which were repeat incidents.

In the 12 months to April this year, Nottinghamshire Women's Aid supported 3,344 women and its helpline received 8,646 calls.

Women's Aid bosses say they have seen a 25 per cent increase in calls every three months, with 1,236 received from October to December 2012 and 2,207 from January to March 2014.

Under the scheme, doctors can refer victims for support through the Women's Aid Integrated Service and also contact police if they feel there is a safety issue.

Dr Ellis, who has been a GP in Nottinghamshire for 22 years, said: "We know GPs are seeing women who are suffering domestic violence but we are not necessarily identifying them. Women are normally quite happy to be asked the question of whether they are being abused."

Dr Ellis said there was traditionally a spike in domestic violence at Christmas.

She added: "I don't think alcohol should be used as an excuse, I think there is more stress on families at Christmas."

NHS Nottingham West CCG commissioned the service for two years at a cost of £80,000.

The programme is already in place in the city, Mansfield and North Nottingham, and there are plans to extend it further.

Dr Guy Mansford, chief clinical officer for the CCG, said: "GPs are being asked to take the lead because they are a trusted confidential source that patients can share problems with."

Val Lunn, Women's Aid Integrated Service chief executive, said: "Women experiencing domestic abuse tell us that GPs are professionals they can trust, so it's important that GPs feel confident to have the conversation with patients and know that there is also help at hand for anyone who discloses domestic abuse."

CCG chiefs say men in violent relationships are less likely to report domestic abuse but the service includes a pathway for them to get access to the right service.

It comes after 991 men told Nottinghamshire Police they were victims of domestic abuse in the first half of this year. Last year the figure was 1,177 and in 2012 it was 934.

The figures were obtained by domestic survivor Ian McNicholl, of the ManKind Initiative charity.

The figures for female victims were 4,415 in 2012, 4,598 in 2013 and 4,073 from January to October 2014.

For support, call Women's Aid on 0808 800 0340 or visit www.wais.org.uk.