ALE-LOVERS are being promised a "beer festival in your front room" with the opening of a new city centre pub.

The Barrel Drop in Hurts Yard has opened its doors to punters looking for the perfect pint and will stock up to eleven cask ales from around the country.

It is the latest addition to Nottingham's thriving beer scene with a host of bars and pubs including the Crafty Crow in Friar Lane and Junkyard Pour House in Bridlesmith Walk opening and flourishing in recent months.

Chris Farman, who is originally from Scotland, is the owner of the pub and opened after visiting Nottingham to see friends and spotting "a gap in the market".

"It's about creating somewhere that's nice and relaxed," he said.

"It's niche - it's a beer festival in your front room. That's what we want to achieve. People can come in on their own or with friends, and chat and relax. There are no busy queues or Sky Sports blaring in the background.

"It seems to be working – the feedback has been really positive, people say it's what Nottingham has needed and it's been very positive. We've been extremely busy since it opened.

"We will always have a local ale on and the rest will be from all around the UK – we want to give people as wide a variety as possible so we'll have different styles and strengths on and people can try different breweries."

And Mr Farman is hoping to see Hurts Yard - the small alley between Long Row and Upper Parliament Street which houses the pub as well as Rob's Record Mart and Cucumaras among other shops – flourish.

He said: "We want to settle in and then start to make a bit of noise about Hurts yard – it's a unique place and it's a shame some people don't even know it's there.

"We will be running speciality weeks once a month where we have five particular beers on the top row of the bar starting with five Scottish ales for Burns Night and we will follow on from there.

"We're in the process of looking at starting a pub quiz as well - we want people to know the pub and know us as well and feel they can stop in on their own."

Mr Farman has been working in the industry since he was 18 and has spent the last ten years working for a national beer company. He said: "Real ale has always fascinated me. I didn't want to be with a big company any more so decided to set up an independent."

We have decided to go for a traditional cask bar because we are slightly larger than the normal micropub. Usually micro pubs are out of town. There are a few enthusiasts.

The pub's beers are not pulled through hand pumps. Instead, the barrels sit directly on the bar and beer is poured from a tap inserted into the barrel.

Matt Hinton owns the Brew Cavern beer shop in Flying Horse Walk and is a lover of real ale and craft beer and said the Barrel Drop is "a great little place with lots of potential".

He added: "It's a really good addition to the Nottingham beer map with a good quality selection of gravity cask beers and even some mead."

The pub – which was formerly seafood restaurant Finest of Fish – opened on December 12.

An ability to edge close games has been key to Nottingham Rugby's rise up the Championship, according to head coach Martin Haag.

After a battle at the wrong end of the table last season, the Green and Whites have turned things around.

Victory over Doncaster Knights saw them move into fourth spot before Christmas – their first time in the play-off places since June 2013 – though Rotherham Titans have since knocked them back to fifth.

Haag knows their position counts for little at the moment, but is pleased with the forward strides his team have made.

"It's only halfway through the season and there's a lot of rugby to be played yet," he said.

"We're not even halfway through the league.

"We've managed the squad well. We're pretty much full strength – just two or three players missing, and we know they are long-term anyway.

"We're in a good place. There's a lot of rugby to be going.

"What we need to do is keep improving.

"It is great to be in that situation.

"Last year, we lost nine games by less than seven points. That was one of the things we talked about for this year.

"What we've done this year is probably turn at least four of those around, which is why we're sitting in the position we're in.

"We were very competitive last year, but this year we've got a bit of a habit of winning those close games."

Their last outing, against Doncaster, was anything but; with Nottingham cruising to a 24-3 win.

And whilst it may still be too early for talk of a play-off push, Haag believes the next few games will be key to how their campaign pans out.

First up, is the club's last game at Meadow Lane, against London Scottish on Sunday, followed by a trip to Rotherham Titans and the visit of Plymouth Albion to Lady Bay.

By then, they will have played every team in the league at least once, giving them a better judgement of their potential.

"The next three or four games will be vital," said Haag.

"We've got London Scottish, which is our last game at Meadow Lane and I really hope the crowds come out and support us.

"It would be great to have a big crowd, playing against a team in third – a tremendous team in London Scottish.

"We then have Rotherham away – another rival of ours, who are in and around where we are at the moment.

"And then we have Plymouth at Lady Bay, which will be a great occasion.

"They are three big games for us and we'll know a little bit more about where we want to be and where we want to stay come the end of those.

"There's a lot of work goes on behind the scenes, not just on the field. That's one of the things we need to keep doing.

"We stop working, stop believing and start thinking we're better than we are, then we will come unstuck."

As we all begin planning a 'new start' for 2015, setting goals and resolutions, Nottingham Rugby are planning for a truly new start this year.

Sunday will see the final game for the Green and Whites at Meadow Lane stadium before moving to our new home at Lady Bay.

This was to be Nottingham's ninth season at Meadow Lane, having moved from our original home, Ireland Avenue, after the 2005/06 season.

I experienced the last move as a player and have played at both previous grounds.

I first went to Ireland Avenue as a six-year-old before working my way through the ranks into the first team at the age of 18.

Leaving such a traditional-styled rugby club was always going to be difficult and emotional for everyone involved.

Added to that, the fact we were moving to a football ground meant there would always be a different feel to the club.

The facilities and pitch at Meadow Lane are outstanding and it allowed us to play a brand of rugby which was so enjoyable to play.

I played some of my best rugby in the years at Meadow Lane and shared some amazing moments with team-mates I'll never forget.

January 4 will see Nottingham take on London Scottish in the last game at Meadow Lane.

It will be a sad day to leave such great facilities but will also leave an air of anticipation about the move to Lady Bay for the visit of Plymouth Albion on January 18.

We have the chance to create our own ground.

I hope that this is an opportunity to recreate that traditional rugby feel that was so apparent at Ireland Avenue.

I for one am looking forward to seeing the new home at Lady Bay on January 18 after saying goodbye to Meadow Lane on Sunday.

I hope everyone had a great Christmas? For me, this was the first Christmas where I've really been able to relax and enjoy the holiday period.

Previously it used to always be a time of cramming in some festive fun and family time around a busy training schedule gearing up for a Boxing Day and New Year's match.

Last year, I didn't have the training schedule to contend with but had only just announced my retirement from rugby, so had a lot of thinking about my future and desperately trying to answer the 'what next' question!

It has been very nice this year to switch off, enjoy the festive season and recharge the batteries!

A 77-YEAR-OLD man from Manchester has denied a road traffic offence in Newark.

Michael O'Moore, of Lapwing Lane, was allegedly in charge of a red Peugeot 406 in Balmoral Drive when he was over the legal limit to drive.

His reading was 84 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, over the limit of 35, on November 4.

After pleading not guilty at Nottingham Magistrates' Court, O'Moore was bailed to attend his trial on April 9.

A host of international talent features in a Nottingham Rugby Meadow Lane All Star XV.

As the Green and Whites prepare for their final game at Notts County's ground, against London Scottish this weekend, the coaches have put together a select line-up of players past and present to have pulled on the jersey at the stadium over the past nine seasons.

Nottingham Rugby Meadow Lane All Star XV: Alex Corbisiero (England, British Lions, Nottingham 2007/08); Tom Youngs (England, British Lions, Nottingham 2008/09 and 2010/11); Dan Cole (England, British Lions, Nottingham 2008/09-2009/10); Filipo Levi (Samoa, Pacific Islands, Nottingham 2011/12); Ali Williams (New Zealand, Nottingham 2010/11); Sione Kalamafoni (Tonga, Nottingham 2010/11-2011/12); Brent Wilson (New Zealand Sevens, Nottingham 2010/11-present); Paul Grant (Nottingham 2014-present); Tim Ussaz (USA, Nottingham 2007/08-2010/11); James Arlidge (Japan, Nottingham 2010/11-2012/13); Matthew Tait (England, Nottingham 2013/14); Billy Twelvetrees (England, British Lions, Nottingham 2009/10); Ben Johnston (England and Nottingham 2009/10-2010/11); Viliame Iongi (Tonga, Nottingham 2014/2015-present); Chris Wyles (USA, Nottingham 2006/07). Replacements (from): Campese Ma'Afu; Joe Duffey; Neil Fowkes; Craig Hammond; Tyson Meek; Sam Vesty; Ayoola Erinle; Junior Sifa; Cesar Sempere.

Freakezoids beat Premier League leaders Basford Mill in the Nottingham eight-a-side Indoor Cricket League to move up to second place and put their rivals under pressure in the title battle.

After winning the toss Basford chose to field, hoping to put some pressure on the Freakezoids team (pictured).

But Liam Shipman and Dave Green had other ideas and got them off to a solid start, scoring 34.

But the next pair of Dominic Wheatley and Sam Ecob struggled, scoring only six runs.

Freakezoids' last two pairs scored 26 and 34 respectively to post a challenging score of 90 for Basford to chase.

Basford made a good start to their innings, scoring 19 from their first four overs.

But the Freakezoids then really turned up the heat.

Sam Ecob led the way, taking five wickets and leaving Basford with a huge challenge.

The next eight overs saw Basford score just 30 runs, leaving them with a final total of 34 from their 16 overs, Freakezoids claiming all seven match points.

Bitter & Twisted took on Kashmir All-Stars in another nail-biting match, with Kashmir winning by eight runs, 76-68.

Apperknowle were crowned champions of Division One and promoted to the Premier League, after recording their 11th win of the season with a victory over second-placed Thrumpton.

Keyworth CC continued their chase for the runners-up spot with a win over Basford Manor by 13 runs, which put them back into second place after Thrumpton's loss.

Division Two leaders Basford Development increased their lead with a 24-run win over Kashmir All-Stars.

Kashmir made an incredible start with Nazakat Ali (31) and partner Majid Hussain (15) putting on 46 for the first pair.

Jamie Morpeth and Chris Hudson top scored for Basford with a partnership of 42 as they chased down Kashmir's score of 75 with four overs to go.

Goosedale CC took on Meadows CC and came out on top with a 62-run victory, which moved them to within touching distance of the league leaders.

Division Three title-winners Duane's World continued their excellent form by beating Out & Proud by a huge 114 runs.

Out & Proud were put in to bat and were kept down to a lowly total of 39 runs from their 16 overs, with only Will Pearson (18), Yusuf Javed (18) and James Maddocks (14) putting up any resistance.

Duane's World's innings was a formality and they hit 153 from their 16, giving them a full seven points to extend their lead at the top to 24 points.

Wes Blake led the way with his man of the match contribution of 25 runs and four wickets.

The young guns of Royal Challengers Bluecoat beat second-placed Nottingham Women by 23 runs, with Hollie Stannard (Nottingham Women) and Zohaib Malik (Bluecoat) impressing.

IF you're feeling glum at the thought of going back to work or school next week, there's one sure way to cure the January blues – get out for a stroll in the fresh air.

Notts is blessed with an abundance of beautiful parks, from country estates to venues in the heart of the city.

So don that warm jumper you no doubt got from Santa and head out for a healthy hike this weekend:

Arboretum Park, Waverley Street, Nottingham

The city's oldest park with more than 800 trees, most of which were planted in the 19th century. It maintains its original layout, dating back to 1852, and has lots of walkways and attractions, including an aviary and no less than nine Grade II listed structures. Plus, it's dead easy to get to as it's right next to the tram line.

www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/arboretum

Arnot Hill Park, Arnold

Another lovely old venue dating back to 1792, which has recently undergone a major restoration programme taking it back to its former glory. There have been improvements to the lake, as well as a new skate park, play area, sensory gardens, art trail and tree sculptures.

www.gedling.gov.uk/parksopenspaces

Attenborough Nature Reserve, Barton Lane, Attenborough

Beautiful, award-winning park with a fabulous visitor centre, nature shop and cafe selling home-made, organic food. There are also loads of groups to join, including Wild Kids and Wild Tots, plus you can follow one of the many nature walks or go birdwatching around the lake.

www.attenboroughnaturecentre.co.uk.

Bestwood Country Park, Alexandra Lodge, Northern Drive, Park Road, Bestwood Village

Explore more than 650 acres of historic parkland, with lakes, meadows, ancient oaks and breathtaking landscapes between Arnold and Bestwood.

Don't miss the popular Winding Engine House, the last remaining relic of the former Bestwood Colliery – it's even been designated a Place of Interest by tourist organisation Visit England.

www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/enjoying/countryside

Broxtowe Country Park, Alwyn Road, Broxtowe Estate

Fabulous inner city open space between Aspley, Broxtowe Estate and Nuthall, with lots of woodland plus sports facilities and the great Phoenix Adventure Centre.

www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk

Burntstump Country Park, Burntstump Hill, Arnold

Featuring 22 acres of woodland and park with great pathways around the flora and fauna, plus the rather lovely Burntstump Inn smack in the middle of the site. Winner.

www.gedling.gov.uk/leisure

Cotgrave Country Park, Hollygate Lane, Cotgrave

Explore lovely woodland, with around 5km of paths and cycle trails, at the centre of which is Heron Lake – a popular spot for anglers. Grantham Canal also runs through part of the site, which was established in 2000 on a former colliery.

www.nottscc.gov.uk/enjoying/countryside

Colwick Country Park, Mile End Road, Colwick

Just a stone's throw from the city centre is this idyllic spot, with lake, woodland, meadows and fishing galore. The excellent adventure centre also runs lots of water-based activities to keep adrenalin junkies happy.

www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/colwickCP

Clumber Park, off the A614, near Worksop

One of the most famous of all Notts beauty spots, featuring more acres of parkland, heath and woods. Highlights include the Gothic chapel and the brilliant Walled Kitchen Garden – which offer a wonderful glimpse of the site's past as a major country house estate. Parking is £6.50 and admission to the Walled Kitchen Garden is £3.90 for adults, free for kids.

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/clumber-park

Highfields Park, University Boulevard, Nottingham

Right next to the University of Nottingham is this 121-acre park endowed with gorgeous trees, boating lake and sports facilities. A favourite with families because of the rather super play park and the nearby Lakeside Arts Centre, which holds regular performances and events for kids and has a great cafe.

www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/HighfieldsPark

Holme Pierrepont Country Park, Adbolton Lane, Holme Pierrepont

Home to the famous National Water Sports Centre, you won't believe you're only 10 minutes away from the city centre in this beautiful 274-acre park. As well as the unbeatable water facilities – offering all sorts of adventure packages – there's a great family fun park, nature trails, cycling routes, a cafe and a gym.

www.nwscnotts.com

Newstead Abbey, Ravenshead

The atmospheric former home of the poet Lord Byron is a must at this time of year – especially for those with Goth tendencies.

Explore the beautiful landscaped gardens and dramatic lake, or simply take some eerie photos of the gorgeous abbey, which dates back to the 12th century. The grounds are open every day, while the house opens at weekends only. Parking £6, house tours £5 for adults and £4 for kids.

www.newsteadabbey.org.uk

Rufford Abbey Country Park, off the A614, Ollerton

This historic 150-acre site is full of interesting nooks and crannies, with the remains of a medieval monastery, a contemporary craft centre, woodland walks, a children's play village, sculpture trail and lake. And there are regular events all through the year, so watch out for details on these pages.

www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/enjoying/countryside

Rushcliffe Country Park Loughborough Road, Ruddington

Smashing family venue with enormous play park featuring about 20 pieces of modern equipment suitable for kids up to 12 years of age.

There's also plenty of opportunity to spot wildlife walking around eight kilometres of paths, with a skateboard and BMX track nearby.

www.rushcliffe.gov.uk/rushcliffecountrypark

Sherwood Forest Country Park, Edwinstowe

Timeless attraction, which is home to the UK's "tree of the year" the mighty Major Oak, as well as numerous others dating back roughly 800 years. The 450-acre site hosts all sorts of events throughout the year and has a great visitor centre, gift shop, cafés and craft village. Parking is free until the beginning of April.

www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/enjoying/countryside

Sherwood Pines Forest Park, off the B6030, Old Clipstone

Largest woodland open to the public in the East Midlands with great walking and cycling, as well as regular activities for families, including the chance to learn bushcraft skills. Parking £4 per day.

www.forestry.gov.uk/sherwoodpines

Wollaton Hall and Deer Park, Wollaton

Home to the magnificent Elizabethan hall (better known these days as Wayne Manor from the latest Batman movie franchise).

As well as the house, you can visit the Industrial Museum on one of its steaming days, or just walk around the gorgeous lake and have a cuppa in the popular cafe. Job done.

www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk

RETIRED men are being urged to take to their sheds and learn new skills.

Broxtowe Borough Council has launched a campaign to keep men active and make new friends.

The Men In Sheds scheme has now launched in Stapleford and needs men who are interested in building, woodwork or simply socialising.

The scheme runs every Thursday at Maycliffe Hall, Toton Lane. It has six regular members but others drop in occasionally.

Retired engineer Nick Bradley, 67, of The Home Croft, Bramcote, said: "It is great to get out of the wife's hair for a few hours and be with others my own age.

"The idea is that we want to build things and sell them on to buy new equipment so we can do more.

"At the minute, where we are there is only space for six of us to work at once but the others don't mind because they get to sit and drink tea and eat biscuits!"

The group uses the hall and storage containers outside as a "shed" but hopes a new location will be found if more people get involved.

Retired tool setter Michael Minns, 70, of Trowell Road, Wollaton, said: "The group is already showing a lot of promise. I worked in a factory all my life and you do miss the male bonding, so it is nice to come and get chatting and learn new things.

"A man's shed is very important. Even my dad used to escape to his."

The Men In Sheds project started in Australia before spreading worldwide.

Professional wood-turner Bob Yates, 83, of Broad Oak Drive, Stapleford, said: "I think this is a great idea and eventually it would be nice to get younger people involved also.

"I would rather sit at my wood lathe all day than a TV or computer."

An Age UK survey showed that more than 27,000 people in Nottinghamshire say they feel alone.

Broxtowe council leader Councillor Milan Radulovic said: "The council recognises that loneliness and social isolation is a serious issue among older people and projects like this can go a long way to help combat this."

The project runs from 10am to 1pm every Thursday. For details, call 0115 9173358.

Arnold: Sainsbury's Pharmacy, Nottingham Road, 10am to 5pm; Asda Pharmacy, 111-127 Front Street, 10am to 4pm.

Aspley: Queen's Pharmacy Centre, 403 Nuthall Road, 10am to 4pm.

Beeston and Lenton Abbey: Jardines Pharmacy, Boots, Giltbrook Retail Park, 11am to 5pm.

Hyson Green: Asda, 10am-4pm; Medina Chemist, 85-89 Radford Road, 10am to noon.

Long Eaton: Asda Pharmacy, Midland Street, 10am to 4pm.

Netherfield: Medina Chemist, 89 Victoria Road, 10am to noon; Boots, Victoria Retail Park, 10am to 4pm.

Nottingham central: Boots, Riverside Retail Park, 10am-midnight; Castle Marina Sainsbury's, 10am-5pm; Boots, Intu Broadmarsh Shopping Centre, 10.30am to 4:30pm; Boots, Intu Victoria Shopping Centre, 11-19 Lower Parliament Street, 10am to 5pm; Trust Pharmacy, B Floor, Queens Medical Centre Campus, Derby Road, 10am to midnight.

Radford: Midnight Pharmacy, 194 Alfreton Road, noon to midnight.

Sneinton and St Ann's: Asim's Pharmacy, 14-16 Colwick Road, Sneinton, 10am to noon.

West Bridgford: Asda, 184 Loughborough Road, 10am to 4pm.

Hucknall: Aieron Thornhill, 22, of Laughton Crescent, pleaded guilty to having a hunting knife in the town on November 8. Magistrates in Nottingham heard he was drunk and had been assaulted. He went home and got a knife and was angry at what happened to him. JPs gave him a 16-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, because the offence was so serious. Thornhill was also given an eight-week curfew, to stay at his address between 9pm and 6am, and will be electronically tagged. He must attend 19 days of a thinking skills programme and be supervised for 12 months. He was further ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £80 and costs of £85.

Hucknall: Fabion Wilson, 37, of Brickyard Drive, has been given a restraining order banning contact with a woman he twice assaulted in Snapewood on August 24. Magistrates in Nottingham made the order until December 19, 2016, after Wilson pleaded guilty to the attacks.

He was handed a community order with supervision from the probation service for 18 months. And he was ordered to pay compensation and a £60 victim surcharge.

Hucknall: Jason Wootton, 41, of Minerva Road, denied the theft of a tub of protein powder, valued at £34, from Tesco Extra, Ashgate Road, on August 8. His case has been listed for trial at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on April 17.

Beeston: Chang Xian Wu, 30, of Cowdray Close, Loughborough, was fined £220 for drink-driving. Wu was behind the wheel of an Audi A6 on the A52 Derby Road when he was stopped on November 25, 2014, Nottingham Magistrates' Court heard. Wu tested 55 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, over the limit of 35. After pleading guilty, he was banned from driving for three years and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £20 and costs of £85. Wu was fined £110 for using the Audi without insurance, but received no separate penalties for having no licence to drive the Audi or a test certificate. All charges were admitted.

Clifton: Lee Paul Thomas, 20, of Bournmoor Avenue, is due to appear at Nottingham Crown Court accused of wounding a man at the Winning Post pub on August 17. Thomas is on bail to attend a plea and case management hearing on April 14.

Gedling: Bradley Fowles, 26, of Brooklands Drive, pleaded guilty to a series of road traffic offences. Fowles had no insurance for a Renault, drove the vehicle without wearing a seatbelt and when disqualified on November 17. Magistrates in Nottingham bailed him to be sentenced on January 7 at 2pm.

Strelley: Dennis Edward Richard Walker, 34, of Moorgreen Drive, has been fined £73 at Nottingham Magistrates' Court. He pleaded guilty to failing to provide police with a specimen of breath for analysis when it was suspected he had been driving, in Nottingham on June 1, 2014. JPs decided Walker should have ten points added to his licence and ordered he pay £40 costs and a victim surcharge of £20.

Ruddington: Benjamin Armstrong, 30, of Ling Crescent, pleaded guilty to assaulting a woman on August 28. Armstrong was bailed to be sentenced at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on January 22 at 2pm.

More than 100 people have told police they were abused at Nottinghamshire care homes.

Nottinghamshire Police say they have compiled a list of 11 suspects but have yet to charge anyone during Operation Daybreak.

The huge investigation was launched in 2010 and is looking into alleged sexual and physical abuse by staff at five former children's homes from the 1960s until 2000.

They are Beechwood Community House, Mapperley; Bracken House, which was in Thames Street, Bulwell; Ranskill Gardens, Bestwood; Wood Nook, Beechdale; and Risley Hall, in Derbyshire.

The force released the figures to Nottinghamshire County Council ahead of a police and crime panel meeting at County Hall next Monday.

Assistant chief constable Stephen Jupp says in a report that said the Crown Prosecution Service is reviewing the cases of two individuals.

He says 95 complaints have also been made against Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council since the investigation began.

Mr Jupp adds that since November, there have been "a number of complaints" involving eight care homes in north Notts. These are the subject of a separate investigation – Operation Xeres – which spans from the 1950s to 1990s. Officers have identified 19 victims, with 19 named suspects and 18 suspects yet to be identified.

Mr Jupp adds: "There are already links being identified with Operation Daybreak. The force and the local authority are currently establishing a joint investigation team."

Hit records, West End musicals, TV shows ... Shane Fenton, aka Alvin Stardust, put Notts on the musical map – but who else can we claim in the big time?

Few will have heard of Mapperley-born keyboard player Dave Rowberry – but they will have heard him.

After studying at Nottingham College of Technology and occasionally playing at the Brookside club on Mapperley Plains, Dave became well known on the Newcastle pop and jazz scene in the early 1960s after graduating from the University of Newcastle.

In 1964 he was chosen to replace Alan Price when the famed keyboard player suddenly upped and left hit band The Animals.

Rowberry recorded songs like We Gotta Get Out of This Place, It's My Life, Don't Bring Me Down, Inside-Looking Out and See See Rider with the Geordie boys, and he is on the band's highly rated album Animalisms/Animalization.

Once The Animals broke up Rowberry turned to session work, in particular with The Kinks and jazz singer Dana Gillespie.

But despite a campaign by fans, Rowberry was not mentioned when The Animals were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. He died in 2003, aged 62.

Around the same time The Animals were enjoying their greatest success, a Nottingham band called The Jaybirds were dominating the local scene. Led by mercurial guitarist Graham Barnes, aka Alvin Lee, and bassist Leo Lyons, the band also featured Dave Quickmire on drums.

As fame beckoned, Quickmire left to be replaced by Ric Lee from a local group called The Mansfields and in 1966 The Jaybirds headed for London to provide backing for The Ivy League.

But under Alvin Lee's rock and blues influence the trio evolved into Ten Years After, Chick Churchill joining on keyboards.

They recorded a number of successful albums including Undead which featured an Alvin Lee song called I'm Going Home.

When the band played a storming ten minute version at the 1969 Woodstock festival, they became huge rock stars, especially in America.

Five phenomenal years of success ended in 1974 and although there were occasional reunions, there would never be a return to those heady days.

In March 2013 Alvin Lee died in Spain from 'unforeseen complications following a routine surgical procedure'. He was 68.

Although he was born in Redcar, Pete York was the original drummer with the Spencer Davis Group, after being educated at Nottingham High School and Trent College.

Nottingham-born saxophonist Elton Dean had two singular claims to fame.

He was a member of rock band Soft Machine who he joined after working with Bluesology, a group that featured Long John Baldry on vocals and a pianist named Reg Dwight. Dwight later revealed that he combined the names Elton and John for his more famous persona.

Dean died in February 2006 from heart and liver problems, on the day before he was due to join a reunion of Soft Machine.

Drummer Ian Paice, born in Nottingham in 1948, was a founder member of Deep Purple in 1968 and he is still playing and touring with the band.

Nottingham returned to the charts in 1974 with Paper Lace who were 'discovered' on talent show Opportunity Knocks and went on to have big hits with Billy Don't Be a Hero and The Night Chicago Died, which also went to No 1 in America, before the band broke up amid expensive litigation.

The original line-up was Dave Manders, Philip Wright, Mick Vaughan, Cliff Fish, Roy White and Mike Harper; later augmented by Carlo Santanna. Paper Lace reformed in 2012 founder members Philip Wright and Cliff Fish.

City-born musician and songwriter Graham Russell found fame in Australia where he teamed up with Russell Hitchcock to form the vocal group Air Supply who had a string of worldwide hits including the Graham Russell-penned ballad All Out Of Love. More than 30 years on the duo continue to tour internationally.

John Parr, from Worksop, is best known for penning the title song of the 1985 movie St Elmo's Fire and he also provided music for The Running Man and Three Men and a Baby. He has worked with greats like Tina Turner, Meat Loaf and Bryan Adams but returned to England last month with his one-man show.

Nottingham High School old boy Trevor Dann, who cut his broadcasting teeth on BBC Radio Nottingham, is worthy of inclusion as he was a co-producer of the iconic BBC music show BBC2 Old Grey Whistle Test, which featured former Post journalist Richard Williams as presenter.

He also won a BAFTA for producing the 1985 Live Aid concert at Wembley.

And we must not forget Radford's Su Pollard who had a big hit in the 1980s with Starting Together.

Trevor Chambers, the son of Jamaican parents, was born in Hyson Green but it was as reggae singer Trevor Sparks that he found fame with songs like Bye Bye Love, On The Wings Of Love and Under The Board Walk. He died of a stroke in Chicago in 2004.

City band KWS – Chris King, Winston Williams and Delroy St. Joseph – had a UK No1 with Please Don't Go, apparently recorded as a plea to Forest defender Des Walker who was about to sign for Italian club Sampdoria. Their second release Rock Your Baby also reached the top ten, but there is little to report after that.

The Stereo MCs have been variously described as 'an English hip hop/electronic dance group' and 'the big boys of British rap'. The three member line-up on the big 1992 worldwide hit Connected was Nick 'The Head' Hallam, from Nottingham; Robert 'Rob B' Birch, from Ruddington; and Welshman 'Owen If' – born Ian Frederick Rossiter. They continue to tour and also sought-after producers.

Edwin Starr, famed for the protest song War, was an adopted son of Nottingham.

Born in Nashville, his early recording career was in the US, but he moved to England in 1973 and he became a popular night club performer until his death, at his Bramcote home, in 2003.

The other big rock star who hails from the county is Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson who was born in Worksop. A man of many talents, he is a qualified airline pilot, scriptwriter, broadcaster, brewery boss and international fencer.

Despite a famous Scottish newspaper renaming her Corinne Brewery ... we can be proud of Long Eaton's contribution to chart history.

As lead vocalist with Swing Out Sister, her moment came with the group's biggest hit, Breakout, in 1987. The band has continued to record and tour ever since.

West Bridgford-born musician John Crocker spent more than 30 years with the Chris Barber Jazz Band and also played with Ken Colyer and even Elton John. He retired in 2003.

Nottingham's Andy Fletcher founded Depeche Mode with former school friend Vince Clarke in 1980 and although Clarke left a year later, Fletcher has continued to record and tour with the band, also establishing a reputation as a top DJ when not on Mode duty.

Playing bass on Roxy Music's big hit Virginia Plain was Nottingham-born Rik Kenton. Interview in 2002 Roxy vocalist Bryan Ferry said: "I don't what's happened to him (Kenton). I haven't seen him for many years.

"He was No. 2 in a long line of players. He was very good."

Last year the Post tracked Kenton down in Leyton Buzzard, where he writes music for television and film.

Of modern day musicians, Clifton's superstar Jake Bugg has taken Nottingham's name around the globe, and popular boy band The Wanted features Jay McGuinness who comes from Farndon near Newark.

For more about local entertainment history ... and loads of other nostalgia articles, don't miss the bumper new-look Bygones now on sale at local newsagents.

Nottingham boxing champion Carl Froch is hoping the new year will bring him his dream fight in Las Vegas.

He said: "It'd be nice to finish off my career and get my dream fight in the fighting capital of the world.

"We're very close to securing the deal.

"Life's pretty good at the moment, but I'd like to extend my family and have more children, but I'll have to speak to my fiancée Rachael about that first."

Singer-songwriter Indiana, of Long Eaton, is also hoping the New Year brings her more success. She is releasing a new album this month.

The 27-year-old said: "I hope it's successful and I can go on and make a second album. I'm planning to tour again when the album is released and I hope to extend it to Europe.

"I received a guitar for Christmas and my dream is to be confident enough to play it onstage myself.

"I'm currently teaching myself which is what I did with the piano. It's going well so far but I'm probably annoying everyone in my house."

Grime star Gino Bonazzi is hoping Nottingham becomes more of a community in the New Year.

The 22-year-old, of Radford, said: "I hope the people of Nottingham come together and start helping each other a lot more.

"I also hope that my close family members stay healthy, and nothing but good comes to them.

"In terms of my career – I'm already living the dream!"

And January 1 is the time when many of us across the county will be making their New Year's resolutions.

Pure Gym, in Mansfield, is preparing for an influx of new members.

Amy Page, the gym's assistant manager, said: "It's the busiest time of the year for us. Last year we saw huge amounts of people pouring through the doors wanting to get fit.

"We're already seeing an increase in the amount of people signing up as members."

The gym, in Nottingham Road, is also holding extra classes due to high demand from its members, including the new high intensity based Les Mills GRIT series of classes and the Pure Loser six-week weight loss course.

Miss Page added: "Classes are a great way for people to get fit as they're fun to take part in, especially when set to music.

"They're also instructed by fully qualified personal trainers, so it's perfect for those who need extra motivation."

Kirsty Layton, of Keyworth, will be trying to lose weight in the new year.

The 33-year-old said: "January's a good time to start because it's just after the Christmas binge.

"I think you have to be in the right frame of mind to make it work and this time I'm ready to get back into shape."

Sixty-one per cent of people in the East Midlands planned to make resolutions.

The research, by YouGov for LowLow frozen meals, also found that 23 per cent of people will be looking to get fitter and five per cent were planning to give up smoking.

New Leaf, the local NHS specialist Stop Smoking Service, said it sees a marked increase in referrals and numbers of people accessing its service at this time of year.

Naomi Maslen, the enhanced services technician at the Trust Pharmacy in Queen's Medical Centre, said: "We see a huge increase in the amount of people hoping to quit smoking at the start of the year.

"It's traditional and brings new beginnings. But it's important to make sure you have support around you, are properly prepared and select the right products to use.

"It's also a good idea to manage your expectations – don't put yourself under unnecessary pressure."

Simon Murray, of Clifton, is hoping to quit smoking after over 30 years.

The 55-year-old said: "I never quite manage it.

"But this time I've prepared myself in advance and I'm going to try and stick to it.

"I'm not getting any younger so it's now or never. I'm starting to feel the effect on my health."

And for those wanting to help the planet in the new year, recycling is a good place to start.

Veolia, Nottinghamshire County Council's waste contractors, said you don't have to start big – simply recycling Christmas cards is good enough.

A spokesperson for the contractors said: "Put them in the recycling bin or re-use them by turning them into gift tags for next year's presents."

Kevin Parker, regional communications manager for Veolia, added: "We are proud to have introduced a range of recycling schemes.

"We are very grateful that Nottinghamshire residents have taken up the recycling challenge and look forward to helping them continue this fantastic work."

Katie Hopkins oozes jolly hockey sticks charm as she enters the room.

It's hard to believe this woman is the same 'professional troll' who has made a career out of her controversial views on everything from breastfeeding campaigners ("the mammary militia") and the obese ("chubbers"), to children named Chardonnay.

Hopkins is looking a little softer around the edges, however, having recently gone from 8st 7lb to 11st 13lb in three months for a new two-part documentary.

Katie Hopkins: My Fat Story shows the 39-year-old ("although people think I'm 52 already") munching on fast < ahref="http://www.nottinghampost.com/food">food, ready meals, cakes and chocolate milkshakes to experience being overweight – and to prove her theory that losing weight isn't that difficult.

It comes as a surprise to learn that Hopkins, who has previously claimed she'd never employ an overweight person, worked in a Wimpy branch and a McDonalds drive-thru.

"I probably served quite a few fat people in my time. Just as well they didn't know who I was then," she says.

"Hopkins admits being bigger for the TLC documentary was "hard work" – "it's horrible going up the stairs, but more than that, it's horrible how you feel about yourself" – and there's even the occasional teary moment in the show.

So does Katie Hopkins have a heart after all?

"I think I do have a heart," she continues. "It took a while to find it..

"Becoming this other person that was 12 and a half stone, 50 per cent more of me than there used to be, not being able to run anymore, not being able to leg it around the place anymore and solve anything. I just became very weak."

"People do have their reasons for being overweight. But you still have to decide one day when you look in the mirror, 'This is my problem, I'm going to do something about it, and I'm now going to say, 'I have no excuses''. The day you can do that is the day you can change who you are and change the amount you weigh."

She hasn't fully lost the extra weight when we meet (a few months after the weight challenge), but is back in some of her old clothes, and "definitely near where I ought to be".

Katie Hopkins: My Fat Story starts on TLC on Friday January 2 at 9pm.

Two centres that collect blood from the umbilical cords of newborn babies for use in medical research are to close – putting up to 16 jobs at risk.

The Anthony Nolan Trust is also in consultation with staff over the future of its Cell Therapy Centre at Nottingham Trent University's Clifton campus, where 23 people work.

Sixteen staff are on hands at the Queen's Medical Centre and City Hospital to take donated umbilical cords from new mums. These can then be used for research and for the harvesting of blood stem cells to treat children with leukaemia or genetic conditions.

But Government money that pays for the two sites will run out in February and both will close immediately afterwards.

The future of the Cell Therapy Centre – a cord blood bank and research operation – is being reviewed.

But the charity will not say how many jobs could be lost or what the centre's future will be until the consultation period is over.

The cord collection centres opened in February 2014 and have proved popular with new mothers.

The team has collected 408 samples which have the potential to save lives.

The trust says that although mums will no longer be able to donate, all collections made by the time the centres close will be frozen for use later.

Chief executive, Henny Braund, said that closing the Nottingham centres was "not an easy decision" and he thanked donors for their generosity.

Mr Braund said: "We have a long-term strategy for our cord programme and we need to focus our efforts and resources most effectively for the benefit of transplant patients within a smaller number of collection centres.

"As a charity, we have to ensure that our resources are used most effectively for the benefit of patients who need a lifesaving transplant.

"Cord is an important option but is not the solution for everyone in

He said that the NHS stem cell strategic oversight committee had been reviewing what size of public cord bank was needed in the UK to meet the needs of patients.

"Anthony Nolan is working toward meeting this total along with NHS Blood and Transplant.

"Our proposed cord programme will enable us to meet the needs of the UK based on the expected demand and size of the cord blood bank required.

"With this in mind, we will be investing £2 million of voluntary funding from next April in cord blood collection and storage in the UK."

News of the cutbacks come just weeks after the Nottingham cord collection team was nominated in this year's NUHonours awards – recognising the best care and compassion shown in the city.

Speaking to the Post at the time, Penny Cole, lead midwife for the team, said: "It's been really popular. We do get a lot of women interested.

"Once the baby is out, it is taken away and we can then collect the umbilical cord from a holding area. It doesn't interfere with the birth.

"Until we started using them for this, they were thrown away as waste."

It is not clear how many jobs from the therapy centre will be lost but the charity has confirmed the contracts of 15 of the 16 staff at the collection sites will come to an end.

The other member of staff, a midwife, will continue to work at Nottingham's hospitals.

There are six other collection centres in the country: two in Leicester, one in Manchester, one in London and one in Birmingham.

The Birmingham site is to close in March.

Twenty people were evacuated from a flat after a fire less than an hour into the new year.

The blaze, at 00.49am on January 1, started in the roof of a three-floor flat in Lawrence Close, Cotgrave.

Residents were asked to evacuate properties in the block of flats where the 10 by 20 metre property was based.

One resident, who did not wish to be named, said: "We were taken out of the flats for safety reasons, but I don't think it was actually that serious. It was more of a precaution I think because we didn't see any flames or anything.

"We were just told that there was smoke coming from the roof and that was it."

Three fire crews - from Bingham, Central and West Bridgford stations - attended the fire.

Firefighters used four sets of breathing apparatus and a thermal imaging camera to tackle the blaze.

The ice that made pavements and roads slippery has largely melted overnight.

And cold temperatures have been replaced with unseasonably mild ones, with highs of 13c expected today.

The day will remain cloudy however, with rain forecast to arrive by 3pm.

Sun is set to return on Friday but temperatures will fall to around 7c.

Over the weekend, Saturday is expected to be damp with rain forecast throughout the day and highs of 5c with Sunday looking the brighter of the two days and temperatures set to remain typical for this time of year.

For more weather news, click here.

An investigation has begun into the cause of a stampede at New Year's Eve celebrations in Shanghai's historic waterfront area after 36 revellers were killed and 46 injured.

Fourteen of the casualties were seriously injured in the stamped half-an -hour before midnight.

The crush happened in Chenyi Square in Shanghai's Bund district overlooking the Huangpu river.

Thousands of people had gathered to see in 2015 in the area – an avenue lined with art deco buildings from the 1920s and 1930s when Shanghai was home to international banks and trading houses.

The official Xinhua News Agency quoted an unnamed witness as saying people had scrambled for coupons that looked like dollar bills that were being thrown out of a third-floor window.

At one of the hospitals where the injured were being treated, police brought photos out of dead victims who they had not been able to identify, causing dozens of waiting relatives to crowd around the table. Not everyone could see, and young women who looked at photographs someone had taken on a mobile phone broke into tears.

Xia Shujie, vice president of Shanghai No. 1 People's Hospital, told media that some of the people brought to them were suffering from serious suffocation.

This morning, dozens of police officers were in the area and tourists continued to wander by the square, a small patch of grass dominated by a statue of Chen Yi, the city's first Communist mayor.

As we wake up and look forward to what 2015 has to offer, it's always interesting to look back and see how people predicted what this year would be like.

In Back to the Future II, Marty and Doc Brown were propelled from 1989 to 2015, so what predictions did they make?

Firstly, we are not being transported around in flying cars and it seems like the technology is some way off. Closer to the mark would have been driverless cars. Trials on vehicles driven by a computer will be starting this year in Coventry and Bristol.

Self-tying shoelaces is another prediction that didn't materialise although Nike has said the technology is currently in production.

One technology from Back to the Future II that has made it is better weather forecasting. Yes, Doc Brown can predict exactly when it will stop raining, but developments in our forecasting means we can guess the weather by the hour.

And finally, the hoverboard. Short of getting a skateboard and a large ramp, we won't be able to fly on a board for a long time yet.

Fly-tippers dumping waste illegally are costing Nottingham taxpayers hundreds of pounds every day.

And despite spending more than £811,000 in cleaning up since 2011, the authority has only received £1,750 in fines from fly-tipping over three years.

The city has been hit with an average of nearly 15 fly-tips a day, but only eight people have been caught since 2012, Government figures have said.

There were 16,245 incidents of people dumping waste, including tyres, white goods and even animal carcasses on the streets in Nottingham.

Investigating fly-tipping costs Nottingham City Council £49,401 over the three years, figures from the Department of Environmental and Rural Affairs showed.

Residents have said they want to see fly-tippers punished.

Hassan Khaled, 59, Sneinton, has seen rubbish dumped on Windmill Lane. He said: "If someone messes up where you live by dumping stuff, you want to be sure they are paying for it.

"I'm surprised only eight people have been fined – I don't know what kind of message that sends out.

And Richard Lloyd, 67, also from Sneinton, said: "I don't think fly-tipping is as big a problem as it once was, but you want to see people punished when they do it, otherwise it makes you look like a soft touch. But my main gripe has to be with those that do it. This is where people live and it's not nice to look at."

Richard Antcliff, head of neighbourhood enforcement and operational support at Community Protection, said: "We work to warn people and prevent fly-tips happening in the first place. Even if we fined everyone, we wouldn't recoup the costs of clearance and investigation."

In September, Gedling Borough Council took further action against fly-tippers after 43 incidents in 10 days. The council looked at using CCTV cameras to catch fly-tippers, as well as stepping up patrols. The cameras have not yet been switched on.

But Mr Antcliff suggested it was unlikely the city council would use CCTV cameras.

The number of fly-tips in Nottingham stood at 7,618 in 2011/12 and decreased to 4,180 in 2013/14.

Elsewhere across Notts, £700 in fines was handed out last year after 5,554 tips, £645 the year before after 4,998 and £2,643 in 2011/12 after 5,067.

Head of community services, Nicola Heaton said the city council was one of the few in the country to have a free bulky waste collection service which helped Nottingham win the title of Britain's Cleanest City.

Appointments to collect bulky waste can be booked by calling 0115 915 2000 or visiting nottinghamcity.gov.uk/bulkywaste.