East Midlands MEP and Ukip energy spokesman Roger Helmer has claimed that climate change is "open to question".

In an interview with The Independent, Mr Helmer spoke about "climate alarmism" and suggested that predicted rises in temperatures across the world were "grossly exaggerated".

Mr Helmer also said a Ukip government would get rid of any legal targets for curbing carbon emissions.

Speaking to the Independent, Cambridge Maths graduate Mr Helmer said: "We think the relation between human activity and Co2 levels is open to question, while the relationship between global temperature and atmospheric Co2 levels is hugely open to question, especially as there hasn't been any global warming for the last 18 years according to satellite data."

Mr Helmer said the planet has always had a pattern of warming and cooling over the past 10,000 years – but that is unconnected to human influence. He added: "But there you are, I'm not a scientist, I'm speculating."

Joanna Haigh professor of atmospheric physics at Imperial College London said: "As Roger Helmer is honest enough to admit, he is not a scientist – and frankly, it shows. "There's been a slowdown rather than a pause in global warming. Such slowdowns (and accelerations) have happened before and are explicable."

Mr Helmer is an MEP for the East Midlands and also recently stood for Ukip at the Newark by-election, losing out to Conservative Robert Jenrick.

For more politics stories click here.

TEMPERATURES are creeping up after days of icy cold across Nottinghamshire.

Forecasters are expecting temperatures to reach seven degrees celsius today and as much as twelve degrees celsius tomorrow.

No rain is expected for the next couple of days but there is risk of some fog in the early parts of today so drivers should be aware of the problems that might cause.

For more weather news click here.

AT a time when patience – or a lack of it – has never been more apparent in football, 2014 has been an interesting year for Nottingham Forest, largely because it has seen three different men occupy the manager's office. A long, drawn out end to the tenure of Billy Davies was followed by the treading water that came with the temporary appointment of the dignified figure of caretaker boss Gary Brazil, followed by a rebuilding process started, in promising fashion, by Stuart Pearce, before the more recent stutter in form. Drama? There has been plenty of that. But what about progress? Now that is a question that will divide fans right down the middle. There are those who can see the positive work Pearce is doing at the club, in the dressing room, on the training ground and behind the scenes where, as he put it, he has begun to put some pride back into Forest. But, quite rightly, it is through what happens on the pitch where Pearce will ultimately be judged and, on that front, it has been something of a mixed bag so far. But do not underestimate the damage he was left to repair, however. Perhaps, then, it is best to start at the beginning. And, in the case of Davies, what happened in January was probably the beginning of the end for the Scotsman, as a frankly bizarre, unrealistic list of transfer targets further eroded his relationship with the club hierarchy, at a time when a few carefully selected additions might have made all the difference. Instead, what they ended up with, when it came to permanent signings, was Rafik Djebbour. That sentence needs little further elaboration. On the pitch, while the window was still open, Forest were actually doing well. West Ham were hammered in the FA Cup, 5-0 at the City Ground, in the one game where Djamel Abdoun has ever really performed in a red shirt, although the real star that day was hat-trick hero Jamie Paterson. While there were also big home wins over Blackburn, Watford and Yeovil, in which Forest netted a not unimpressive total of 11 goals. But things went downhill from there. February saw Forest progress into the fifth round of the FA Cup with a win, at the second attempt, over Preston. While a 3-0 win at Huddersfield suggested little momentum was being lost in the Championship. But it soon was. That proved to be the last win Davies secured as Forest manager with a subsequent run of three draws and four defeats, combined with his increasingly fractious relationship with the club hierarchy led to his departure. Following an embarrassing 5-0 derby day drubbing at Derby, that was the end of another chapter in Forest's history. It was to be a while before the next was to begin, in earnest, however. After initially turning down the job, Pearce eventually accepted it in late March, but only on the proviso that he could start in July, before the start of the new season. And Brazil was left to hold the fort, for the remaining eight games. He began with a slightly unfortunate 1-0 defeat to Charlton, at the City Ground, and a performance at Ipswich that might have merited more than a 1-1 draw. But a crippling injury list continued to take a toll, with an emphatic 5-2 defeat at QPR suggesting that Pearce, when he did take change, would have much work to do. Brazil, with back-to-back wins over Birmingham and Leeds, suddenly inspired a faint hope that Forest could still sneak into the play-offs. A 4-1 defeat at Bournemouth, which could have been worse, ended that idea, with ruthless bluntness. When Brighton won at the City Ground on the final day, to themselves sneak into the top six, salt was only rubbed into the wound. For the head of the club's youth academy and former Notts County boss, it was almost an impossible position. Given that the players knew he would not be in charge for more than a few months, he had little authority to exert. While there were members of the squad who will have suspected their days were numbered in the summer. Ironically, for many, their fate will have been sealed with their performances under Brazil, in the final months. Other than Ben Osborn, Dan Harding and Dorus de Vries, there are no players from that final day starting line-up against Brighton who are now involved with the senior squad. Jamie Mackie, Radi Majewski, Marcus Tudgay and Matt Derbyshire were all moved on, along with loan signing Lee Peltier. Danny Collins and David Vaughan remain at the club, but are peripheral figures, while Steve McLaughlin is likely to be sent out on loan again, when he returns from Notts. That demonstrates not only the injury problems that hampered the side's progress at the end of the season, but also the changes since. When Pearce walked out of the City Ground tunnel, to a rousing, remarkable reception on August 9, on an afternoon when the roof was almost lifted off the stadium, he included six new signings in his team, which was also strengthened by Karl Darlow, Andy Reid and Chris Cohen, who had returned from injuries. It is here where Pearce's biggest achievements have been; through the astute business he has done in the transfer market. Around £8m was spent to bring in the trio of Britt Assombalonga – a record signing at £5.5m – Michail Antonio and Michael Mancienne. While Chris Burke and Matty Fryatt were signed on free transfers and Jack Hunt joined on loan. With Robert Tesche also later snapped up on a free, Pearce has done some good business in his time at the club. Perhaps his only misjudgement has been the more recent signing of Tom Ince on loan. And that is only because the player was not needed, rather than because of any lack of quality in the England under-21 winger. And, initially, it all came together well. It was not until October that Forest tasted defeat in the Championship, as Cardiff, led by newly-appointed Russell Slade, condemned them to a 2-1 defeat in Wales. After a routine opening day win over Blackpool there was a fortunate 2-1 success at Bournemouth and a 4-0 drubbing of Reading. A 1-0 success at Sheffield Wednesday tested Forest's character – and defensive resolve – to the limit. A 1-1 draw with Derby was typical local derby material, while a 5-3 win over Fulham had everything. Following a credible 2-2 draw at Watford, consecutive defeats at the hands of Blackburn, Huddersfield and Brentford had questions asked of the new manager for the first time. The relief when Forest beat Norwich 2-1 was palpable around the city. It also bolstered confidence levels enough for them to travel to Wolves and hammer them 3-0. That November win feels like a long time ago now, with Forest having since drawn three and lost three amid a run of six games in the Championship without a win. And Pearce and his players are under pressure once more. But perspective is also still required. The key number for 2014 is still three – in the number of managers the club had during the space of 12 months. As 2014 turns into 2015, perhaps it is not just patience, but also time and stability that are now the key words. If this was a school report on the six months Pearce has had in charge so far, it would almost certainly have a painfully similar tone to the ones I used to get, which would normally read 'Is capable of better'. So too are Forest and their manager capable of more. They proved as much in the first three months of the campaign. Their challenge is to ensure that, come the end of the campaign, their end of term report reads rather differently.

Next year marks the tenth anniversary of the Freedom of Information Act.

In Nottingham the Act has revealed everything from complaints about criminals dressed as jelly babies to tram workers wolf-whistling at passers-by.

Nationally, since January 1, 2005, there have been more than 400,000 data requests.

Justice minister Simon Hughes said: "The Freedom of Information Act is not only about the high-profile, headline-making releases of information but about the right of the individual to find out about the issues that matter to them.

"It is a fundamental right of all citizens to be able to hold their Government to account."

Since 2010, the Act has been extended to cover academies, companies wholly owned by more than one public authority, the Association of Chief Police Officers, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service and the Financial Ombudsman Service. It will be extended to Network Rail in 2015.

Heading into 2015, plenty of Nottingham Panthers fans might still be nursing hangovers from the over indulgence of Christmas.

But for coach Corey Neilson and his staff, a different hangover has never truly gone away, with injuries setting the tone for a testing, but ultimately fruitful 2014.

Neilson might be sick of talking about it, but he faced unprecedented problems last season as he used 20 imports.

In adversity, victory can be all the sweeter though. If it was not for all the issues faced, a win over Belfast Giants in the Challenge Cup final might not be one that people will talk about for years to come.

In fact, much of the first half of 2014 will be forgotten by Panthers fans, but not that night on March 25.

Having lost the first leg of the final 5-2 to the runaway Elite League champions it looked an uphill task.

Back in Nottingham though, Matt Ryan's third period goal eventually sent it all the way to penalties and that was whereCraig Kowalski shone, the net minder saving all three Giants efforts before Petr Kalus scored the only, crucial, goal as it finished 7-6 on aggregate.

It was a fifth straight Cup for the Panthers, but that was the big highlight of an otherwise challenging season.

They finished fourth in the league table and there was no appearance at play-off final weekend as owner Neil Black's other team, Braehead Clan, won 9-1 on aggregate in the quarter-finals.

Panthers captain David Clarke had been able to lift one trophy though, to go with reaching 600 points in all Elite League games – making him just the second person to reach the landmark.

With the 2013/14 season out of the way, Neilson was hoping for a fresh start with a fresh roster, but those injury problems would not go away.

While hopes of matching the grand slam of 2012/13 were high, the spotlight also fell on a new competition as Panthers entered the Champions Hockey League, taking on the best Europe had to offer.

Akin to Nottingham Forest taking on Barcelona in the football equivalent, it would be a monumental ask for Panthers to even win a single game as they were seeded last out of the 44 teams that took to the ice.

But Black put his hands in his pockets as a competitive roster was built. It fell apart though as the regular season line-up, plus experienced winger Nathan Robinson, was basically left to fend for itself due to injuries or departures.

Against the odds, Panthers did win a game, beating German champions Hamburg 3-1 at the National Ice Centre. The rest of the games were lost, but that was to be expected.

Unfortunately, European success did not make for smooth sailing domestically as the new look team looked strong defensively but struggled for goals.

They did go top briefly in December, but overall it has been a case of playing catch-up as, once again, injuries bit.

Star netminder Kowalski remains sidelined, while Clarke is out for the season with a shoulder injury.

But the new year brings fresh hope. Kowalski will be back at some point to battle his replacement Mattias Modig, who has come in with an outstanding save percentage of .924 from 16 games.

Replacing Clarke's goals looks tough, but the team swept arch rivals Sheffield Steelers over Christmas to leave them fifth in the Elite League, only six points behind the leaders with a game in hand ahead of today's final game of the year.

Broadcaster and charity champion Esther Rantzen is among the names on this year's New Year Honours list.

The former television presenter and founder of Childline has been made a Dame.

Thirty years ago Dame Esther set up the counselling phone line for children suffering with abuse and bullying.

She said: "I am thrilled that this honour recognises the contribution made by Childline and the Silver Line in transforming lives, and I am delighted that the talented teams at both charities have also been recognised for their inspirational work and devotion to the most vulnerable children and older people in our society."

Ceramic artist Paul Cummins and theatre designer Tom Piper, who designed the ceramic poppy display at the Tower of London have both been made MBEs after the installation attracted five million visitors.

The installation was made up of 888,246 ceramic flowers - each one representing a British and Commonwealth death in the First World War.

Mr Cummins said he felt "taken aback and extremely happy to receive this unexpected honour".

Actresses Joan Collins and Kristin Scott Thomas have become dames and John Hurt has been knighted. Emily Watson, James Corden and Sheridan Smith have all been given OBEs.

In total, the queen has honoured 1,164 people in the New Year – with three quarters recognised for work in their local communities.

When Carl Froch landed a perfect right hand flush on the chin of George Groves to end their bitter rivalry, thousands of fight fans punctuated every replay on Wembley's big screen by screaming "boom".

What they had just witnessed was the holy grail of a punch, since been regarded by the experts as one of the finest ever seen in a world title fight, never mind a British ring.

It has been replayed endless times and the picture of Groves with his leg twisted awkwardly behind him and staring into the stars, has become an iconic image.

What transpired under that famous arch back in May was undoubtedly one of the most gripping events to have taken place in the history of sport in this country.

An 80,000 crowd, the biggest boxing has seen for any fight in this country since the war, became engrossed in a duel between two men whose dislike for each other continues.

Retaining those IBF and WBA titles were always at the forefront of Froch's mind, but when he comes to review the last 12 months, he achieved so much more than just keeping those belts around his waist.

Perhaps the most significant bonus of the fight was that Froch became a household name, something that, over the years, has been a struggle for the four-time super middleweight world champion.

But now everybody knows who the Cobra is regardless of whether they are a boxing fan or not. It enabled Nottingham's most famous son to put the city on the map, something which he has mentioned countless times in a series of interviews since.

It was eventually rewarded with the Freeman of the City, the highest honour any local authority can bestow to a member of its community.

Brian Clough, Torvill and Dean and Paul Smith have received the accolade, enabling Froch to join a stellar cast of Nottingham greats.

And who could forget the Carl Froch tram being unveiled as the city did its utmost to pay tribute to a man whose fearlessness makes him one of the greatest fighters this country has ever produced.

Whether Froch will fight again, who knows. Talk of retirement has since surfaced, but there remains one box left to tick. A fight in Las Vegas next year is looking increasingly likely against a man he has chased for months in Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

It is a fight the world of boxing wants to see and 2015 is already looking as exciting as what has been a special 12 months in the Cobra's career.

It was the year Nottingham Rugby left one Meadow and sought a new pasture; 2014 turned into a fond farewell.

From leaving the Lane, to heralding new owners, what happened off the pitch over the last 12 months at the club somewhat overshadowed the action on it.

It started with a management-led team, headed by existing directors Alistair Bow and Simon Beatham, replacing Jason Brewer and Luke Jones at the helm, helping to secure the Green and Whites' future.

New investment had been sought for almost a year, and the 15-strong consortium pledged to plough £750,000 into the club over the next three seasons.

Another major announcement followed towards the end of the year, with the news Nottingham would stop playing home games at Notts County's Meadow Lane stadium, switching to the Lady Bay Sports Ground in West Bridgford.

Martin Haag's men signed off for the year in style in their penultimate game before the changeover, thumping Doncaster Knights 24-3.

And where the rugby is concerned, it certainly got better as time wore on.

The 2013/14 campaign was mostly one to forget as Nottingham found themselves almost being dragged into a relegation battle.

They always managed to keep the danger at arm's length, with some positive performances showing their true potential – including against the likes of high-fliers Bristol and London Scottish; the latter being toppled 15-3 at Meadow Lane. But a tenth place finish was still something of a disappointment.

Subsequently, changes were made in the summer as head coach Haag overhauled his squad.

Opening the season with a couple of wins, over Bedford Blues and at Plymouth Albion, suggested it wouldn't take long for the players to gel, and they have continued to climb the table since.

The year ended with them in fifth place and very much in competition with the top pack. It means they go back to the Bay firmly on the up.

For Nottinghamshire, 2014 was akin to taking a trio of Ferraris for a test drive before watching rivals drive them off the forecourt one by one.

In short, they came reasonably close to landing three trophies, but in the end were left with nothing.

The year began with hopes high. Alex Hales and Michael Lumb went into the season off the back of landmarks. Hales scored 116 in a T20 in March, the first Englishman to hit an international ton, while Lumb blazed a century on his one day international debut the previous month.

The bowling attack was bolstered by the high profile arrival of Australia international Peter Siddle and by June, Notts were flying in the County Championship – the big prize they wanted to land.

They went to the top of the table in mid-July after arguably the highlight of the year in terms of an individual game – the one wicket win against Lancashire in Liverpool.

Notts held their nerve in that game, but they could not stay the course as trophies got away from them.

They slipped to fourth in Division One after a dreadful finish saw them lose the last three games as key players missed matches.

Siddle was recalled by Cricket Australia in July just when he was hitting his stride and Andre Adams' magnificent career with the club ended with a damp squib due to injury in August. With the bowling attack stretched, Notts were unable to match Yorkshire as they lifted the title at Trent Bridge.

It was a similar tale of what might have been in the cup competitions. For the fourth straight year, they lost in the quarter-finals of the Twenty20 Cup at Trent Bridge.

This time Hampshire left a bumper crowd deflated as they managed to chase down 197 to win by five wickets.

It was no better in the Royal London One Day Cup. Notts made it to the semi-finals, but the Emirates ICG is not a happy hunting ground and they lost by 83 runs with Ben Stokes scoring an incredible 164.

There were plenty of highlights from the year though on the individual front.

Hales was rejuvenated in red ball cricket and broke into the England ODI team alongside James Taylor. They will both go to the World Cup early next year along with Stuart Broad.

Harry Gurney missed out on a place in the final 15-man squad, but he made his own international breakthrough.

Riki Wessels and Luke Fletcher also made their marks internationally, not by representing their countries, but by performing abroad.

Fletcher did well in the New Zealand T20 competition, while Wessels' form saw him earn a contract to play in the Big Bash League this winter alongside Lumb and Hales.

Thousands of children are currently being groomed in 'every town' in Britain, according to a charity.

Parents Against Child Sexual Exploitation (Pace) says police forces lack skills to deal with such abuse.

However Nottinghamshire Police promised to review the way they deal with child sexual exploitation in the county in August.

Police chiefs reiterated they will "take seriously" any victim who comes forward.

Speaking at the time, Padding Tipping, police and crime commissioner for Nottinghamshire, said: "I have regularly discussed the issue of child exploitation since I came into my post with the chief constable and other senior staff.

"Have there been incidents in Nottinghamshire? The answer is clearly yes. We are not complacent, though, and I am confident the issue is taken seriously."

The issue can take place when a young person is being manipulated by an adult into sex following a process of 'grooming', including being given gifts.

The child may then be sexually assaulted over a number of years, and can be shamed or intimated out of reporting the crime. 

A DIRECT descendent of Charles II's mistress is appealing about his relative's Nottinghamshire stately home.

Bestwood Park Lodge was gifted to Nell Gwyne by the King of England, who ruled from 1660 to 1685.

Her illegitimate son became the first Duke of St Albans.

Now London-based Charles Beauclerk, son of the 14th Duke of St Albans, is asking Nottinghamshire people for more new information to help him compile a new book.

It will be called The Broken Hearth: Madness and Redemption in the House of Nell Gwyn, and explores the role mental illness played in the disintegration of the 10th Duke's family after his death in 1898.

Nottinghamshire County Council, which now manages Bestwood Country Park, is also helping Mr Beauclerk in his search for new tales..

Mr Beauclerk said: "I feel proud to have such a colourful heritage, though psychologically it's probably a mixed blessing.

"I visit Bestwood Country Park a lot and am often wandering in the woods thinking of this wonderful past and feel that for the first time now I have a real connection with the place.

If you have any interesting stories related to Bestwood Park Lodge, email newsdesk@nottinghampost.com.

SUPER-SIZE school uniforms are flying off the shelves ahead of the new school term as more than one in five Nottingham children are classed as obese.

Blazers up to size 56in chest and trousers up to 46in waist are available from stockists ahead of the new school term – nearly double the national average waist size for an 11-year-old.

Public health officials say the increase in sales of large sizes reflects the number of children who are overweight.

Lisa Phillis, sales director at supplier Just School Wear, in Sherwood, said: "There is no doubt that children are getting larger. Over the past five years we have been supplying many more larger uniforms.

"A few years ago we were seeing average waist sizes of 26 to 28in. Now the norm is around 30in for a senior boy. But we do have up to 46in in stock."

The most recent public health figures published by the Government show that Nottingham has 530 children in Year 6 – the last year of primary school – who are classed as obese. This works out at 21.7 per cent – well above the national average of 18.9 per cent. Five years ago, the city figure was just 12.8 per cent.

Nationally, the average waist size of 11-year-old boys and girls is 27.5in. This is 3in more than in 1978 for boys and 4in more for girls.

It has led to stockists increasing the size of the uniforms they sell. As well as large blazers and trousers, PE kits are available in sizes up to XXL.

In November, a study by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health found British girls are the fattest in Europe, topping a league table of 22 nations in Western Europe.

British boys under 20-years-old are 10th in the league table, with Greece at the top where one-third of boys are ranked as fat.

Research for the period 1980-2013 says there has been a substantial increase in overweight and obese children and adolescents in developed countries, including the UK.

The RCPCH wants a ban on advertising of foods high in saturated fats, sugar and salt before 9pm, and restrictions that stop them being advertised on internet 'on-demand' services.

Anthony Buckland, co-owner of Price and Buckland, a uniform supplier in Hucknall, has also noted an upward trend. "I'd say the number of 46in blazers we have sold has doubled in the last decade," he said.

"There is clearly an issue there which relates to child obesity levels. We are having to cater for much larger children than we did many years ago."

Barbara Brady, a public health consultant for Notts County Council, said a lot of work needs to be done to cut obesity rates. She believes the introduction of free school dinners for all children aged between four and seven in September will help.

"It will mean schools can ensure they are getting healthy and nutritious meals," she said.

"There is a big society issue which needs to be tackled."

Becky Humber, who has two children at Bluecoat Beechdale Academy, in Bilborough, said her children eat healthy but believes there are too many temptations for youngsters not to do so.

She said: "I know there are parents at my children's school who struggle.

"It is cheaper to buy a packet of crisps than some fruit, so it is no wonder."

Nottingham Forest fans have an extra reason to cheer their team on to promotion after music legend Sir Paul McCartney said he would sing at the City Ground if the team reach the Premier League.

Sir Paul was being interviewed by London radio station Xfm when he was told about The Reds playing his track, Mull of Kintyre, before every match.

He then said he would consider singing it live at the stadium – if Forest get can reach the promised land of the top tier of English football.

Xfm presenter Matt Dyson asked: "Maybe you could do a live PA, say if Forest get promoted?"

Sir Paul replied: "Yeah, when's that going to happen? Imminent? Good luck Nottingham."

And the moment has been seized upon by football fans, who say having the former Beatles star at the City Ground would "raise the roof".

Supporter Gary Mitchell, 50, of Hucknall, said: "Mull of Kintyre gets everyone pumped up before the start of a game. He should be proud that there are 30,000 people singing his song before a match.

"I think it would be nice if Sir Paul made a presence anyway, whether Forest get promoted or not."

Forest have been singing their own version Mull of Kintyre for more than 30 years, but have changed some of the lyrics to make it more fitting. 

Beatles fan Mark Simpson, 52, of Newark added: "It would be incredible wouldn't it - it would be huge.

"We would probably get a lot of people going along just to see him and then they would see what a great club we have."

Club ambassador John McGovern, who played for the team from 1975 to 1982 captaining the team to two European Cups, said there's still time for The Reds to get promoted this season.

He said: "Sir Paul is exceptionally talented and for him to suggest he might do that is a very honourable gesture.

"There's still enough games left and enough points to play for to get promoted. You have to remain positive.

"I hope we do see him. I would absolutely love that."

Mr Dyson, who is originally from Nottingham, but now lives in London, said Sir Paul singing at the City Ground would be "one of the best days" of his life.

The 37-year-old Forest fan added: "I thought it would be the only chance I would get to speak to Sir Paul about the song and to see if he knew that it was a song Forest fans had reworked.

"If there's enough people that want him to do it, maybe he will one day. I would be straight there."

The club currently sit in tenth place having won just two of their last 17 games in the Championship.

He is a YouTube sensation whose educational science videos have been viewed by millions across the world.

Now Professor Martyn Poliakoff, from Beeston, is set to become a sir as he will be knighted for his services to chemistry.

The 67-year-old will be knighted in the New Year's honours list, with 12 other Nottinghamshire residents also due to be given awards by the Queen.

Prof Poliakoff, a research professor at the University of Nottingham, said: "I'm delighted and somewhat overwhelmed - I see this as recognition of not just me but my colleagues.

"It's my passion and I'm also keen on communicating science to young people because they are growing up in a world that is faced with terrific problems, such as climate change and global warming.

"The new generation of scientists are going to have to solve these problems so we need these people to keep society going as we know it.

"It's enormously fascinating so I feel my position puts me in a good place to tell people how exciting science is.

"I thought the videos would just be a project for a few weeks but they have been going for six-and-a-half years and reached people all over the world - it's very nice to know people are interested."

Prof Poliakoff - brother of renowned playwright Stephen Poliakoff - joined the university as a lecturer in inorganic chemistry in 1979.

The grandfather-of-three created his first YouTube video with video journalist Brady Haran in 2008, originally intending to produce a short clip for each of the 118 elements in the period table.

Since then he has created 540 videos on his YouTube channel Periodic Videos, which has 518,000 subscribers. They have been viewed 81 million times.

Prof Poliakoff, who was awarded a CBE in 2008, said he has been stopped in the street by fans in Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and Beijing who recognised his eccentric hairstyle and chemistry-themed ties.

He is currently vice-president and foreign secretary of the Royal Society, and is transforming his Elm Avenue home into an eco-friendly environment.

His wife Janet, an engineering company director, said: "He's been successful with so many things and the YouTube videos have really taken off - it's difficult to keep up. Martyn has worked hard and deserves it."

Stephen Poliakoff, who only found out the news yesterday, said: "I'm extremely proud. My brother has dedicated his whole life to science and popularising it through his videos about periodic tables.

"It's fantastic that it has all come together as he has been a great ambassador for science and deserves this honour."

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE Police have given fans advice ahead of the club's trip to League One Rochdale in the FA Cup.

The Reds take on Rochdale at Spotland on Saturday and police have issued advice about behaviour, parking and refreshments.

The Notts Police Football twitter account said: "For those #nffc off to Rochdale by coach - be advised that the coach park is 100m walk from the Spotland ground."

"Refreshment facilities available at Spotland for #nffc. Please be patient when queuing at halftime. Limited outlets.

"Please consider your fellow supporters and don't throw beer/vessels etc and let's leave Rochdale FC with only the best of memories of #nffc."

Police also informed fans that gates at the ground will open at 2pm for away fans.

And supporters driving to the ground have been informed they can park at at Oulderhill Community School in Greave Avenue - which is a short walk from the home side's ground. The postcode is OL11 5EF.

The warnings come after police warned Forest fans after bad behaviour during away days at Birmingham and Wolves where fans chanted inappropriately, climbed on stanchions and caused damage in the concourses.

For more Nottingham Forest stories click here.