Following on from the open letter to the Nottingham Forest players from Reds fan Josh Reynolds this week, lifelong City Ground supporter Steve Hampton, otherwise known as 'The Trent End Fox', from Slaidburn Avenue in Silverdale, has taken the step of penning his own response in an open letter to the Forest fans, here is what he had to say:

I've spent more Saturday's with Forest than I have with my wife. I've been married for 26 years.

I've seen us win the First Division; lift the European Cup (twice) and clinch the League Cup at Old Trafford.

I've got an average job, an average house and a rubbish car.

I'm bitter about a lot of things – the size of my pension, the state of the potholes outside my house, Adrian Chiles and people using mobile phones while driving.

But am I bitter about footballer's wages? No.

I logged on to my computer the other day and read Josh Reynolds' open letter to Forest's players.

While I agree wholeheartedly that the team are playing poorly and results have not been anywhere near good enough, linking criticism of the players with how much they earn didn't sit comfortably with me, and never has.

It's an easy thing to say. It's lazy.

It has always struck me as odd having to defend the fact that footballers earn wages for their work. People from all corners of life (even politicians) take pot shots while being very sensitive when it comes to how much they earn themselves.

Why is it that nobody complains about the income of pop stars, actors and other entertainers, or the charges of lawyers and IT millionaires? Where is their 'privilege?'

Footballers' wages, like everyone else's, are down to supply and demand. Steve Coppell put it brilliantly when he said: "Like turtles' eggs, thousands are laid, hundreds hatch but only a few make it down the beach to the sea – where even less survive."

Those at the top, playing with the likes of Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard and Vincent Kompany, have won a race with thousands of entrants. Don't deny them the right to capitalise on their special ability and earn a fair share of the income they generate.

A footballer's career is more fragile than most. The average career span of a footballer is eight years. A musician or an actor's can be anywhere between a one-hit wonder and a full 30, 40, 50, 60 years. Football at a maximum is between 16 and 20 years.

In no other profession do employees (clubs) agree to give five or six hours a week to community activities. The government recruits footballers as ambassadors for health schemes, drug awareness programmes, anti-racism and charity initiatives.

PFA members fly to Africa to support Aids education and last Christmas footballers visited hospitals in every town and city in the UK (including ours).

Players have to take criticism – it goes with the territory. I can't knock Josh for that.

No professional footballer would swap his career and nothing beats playing, but that is no reason for this joy to be exploited and used as a stick with which to beat them.

The thing that makes footballers' wages such a controversial topic is that football is tangible to every human being who loves the game, whereas being the founder of Microsoft or Apple, or one of the greatest actors the world has ever seen, is not.

Football faces bigger problems; sexism, racism and foreign ownership to name but a few. Why not focus our frustrations on that instead?

Regards,

Steve Hampton, Silverdale, Nottingham

The Trent End Fox, a lifelong fan

Hundreds of council officers in Nottinghamshire can access your home or workplace without your permission, a report has found.

Privacy campaign group Big Brother Watch said that too many civil servants have been handed so-called powers of entry.

The group asked councils across the country how many members of staff have these powers. They found that at the end of 2012, there were 19,375.

Nottinghamshire County Council has 68 staff which have powers of entry, while Nottingham City Council has 73.

In the districts, Ashfield has 35, Bassetlaw 47, Broxtowe 24, Gedling 23, Mansfield 24, Newark and Sherwood 12 and Rushcliffe said they have around 60.

Staff allowed access to homes and workplaces without a warrant include environmental health officers and planning officers.

But Big Brother Watch has said there are examples of strage regulations which allow council staff access to private property.

These include the Hypnotism Act which allows inspection to ensure illegal hypnotism is not taking place.

Emma Carr, director of Big Brother Watch, said: "Few people would expect that public officials would have the power to enter your home or business, often without a warrant or police escort. The general public have been left high and dry, at the mercy of an army of penpushers who can enter our homes as they please.

"There have been a number of missed opportunities to rectify this, including the Protection of Freedoms Act and the Home Office's review of the powers, yet both have failed to tackle the number of officials with these powers."

Television presenter Dermot O'Leary showed he has the X Factor as he took up prime position in the front row of a prestigious fashion show.

The 41-year-old attended the Burberry Prorsum show as part of the British Fashion Council London Collections, held at Kensington Gardens.

He donned a pair of white skinny jeans, burgundy shoes, a navy polo shirt and a short black mac.

You can recreate Dermot's on-trend look in Nottingham by heading to Dune for a pair of similar oxblood brogues, Debenhams for a navy trench coat, Blacks for a designer polo shirt and Topman for a pair of eye catching skinny jeans by Levi's.

What do you think of Dermot's stylish look? Let us know in the comments below...

Schoolchildren in Bulwell have been getting an in-depth look at how foods make their way from the farm to the fork thanks to a record-breaking project by Tesco.

More than 1,000 students have visited the Tesco Extra store, in Jennison Street, since the Farm to Fork Project was launched in April last year.

The project aims to teach children where food comes from in a bid to encourage healthy eating, and the store is the first in the country to have more than 1,000 children take part.

Rob Offiler, Farm to Fork leader at Tesco, said: "The reaction from the children has been fantastic.

"We've had them coming in months after saying they remember coming in for the day."

The Farm to Fork Project sees children from schools around the Bulwell area have a behind the scenes tour of the store.

They find out about where the ingredients for bread come from, before making their own, as well as taking an in-depth look at the fish and cheese counters.

Mr Offiler added: "The children might not have had the chance to taste some of the foods before, and we also explain to them that not all of the cheese we have comes from cows.

"It just gives them a better understanding, and hopefully helps them eat a bit healthier."

Every student from Crabtree Prinary School, which takes children aged between three and 11, has taken part in the project.

Headteacher Katie Pritchard said the project coincides with various parts of their curriculum.

She said: "It works with our curriculum in a number of ways, but the children all enjoyed it.

"They absolutely loved the bakery, and it also meant they got to take the bread they had baked home with them.

"The staff at the Tesco are absolutely amazing."

Chris Tilley, community champion for the store, said: "We are the only store in the country to reach this landmark and very proud of it.

"So far we have seen four schools from the Bulwell area visit the store to find out where their food comes from and experience new tastes of foods from around our country and other parts of the world."

IN a bustling hotel corridor, crammed with staff, publicists, directors and journalists, all talk has turned to actor Kit Harington's new hair.

Yes, it may only be a few inches shorter, but for this lot – and indeed the throng of Game Of Thrones fans who are used to the actor's curly locks tickling his shoulders – the new style is causing many double takes.

"It's for Testament Of Youth, mate," he exclaims, laughing, as the film's director James Kent comments on the new look.

And it's for Testament Of Youth that the London-born actor is here today, promoting the movie before its release this month.

Not only does he look different, with slicked back hair, in the adaptation of Vera Brittain's timely memoir of loss and friendship during the First World War, but the role itself is firmly rooted in reality, a considerable sidestep from the fantasy TV series he is most associated with.

In the film, Harington plays Roland Leighton, Brittain's idealistic young fiancé whose death in the trenches had a profound impact on her life.

"It was an opportunity to play a real-life character, of which there was reams of research that had been done," explains the 28-year-old, who studied the bestselling 1933 book at school in Worcester, where his family moved to from London when he was a child.

"I had a book about his most personal thoughts, and that's not something you get [with most characters]. That's a very rare thing, to be playing someone like that."

But it wasn't without problems.

"With the next thing I did, I went into it expecting that and went, 'Oh no, I've got to think – I've got to invent all of that again!'" he jokes, chuckling. "But I loved it. I'd love to play a historical figure again."

While Harington is urging people to read up on Brittain and Leighton's letters ("The really moving bit is that they just stop one day... that made me break down"), he doesn't think Game Of Thrones fans will need much encouragement to see the film.

"Young people today have more inclination to learn about the First World War than people give them credit for," he explains.

"I certainly was nigh-on obsessed with it when I was young. I don't think it was a morbid fascination with how they died, but it was more that these men were my age when I was learning about them.

"I think it's the greatest reminder to us all of the consequence of war, and how it can wipe out an entire generation of men, and in this day and age, women too."

While "harrowing" and "hard to watch for the right reasons", the role offered a change for Harington.

Since his breakthrough role in Game Of Thrones back in 2011, he has starred in action film Pompeii, voiced a part in How To Train Your Dragon 2, and will soon be seen in the upcoming Susan Sarandon film The Death And Life Of John F. Donovan and the Spooks movie.

"Last year was one of those years where I spent a long time as a gladiator or a warrior, or a man with a sword," he explains.

"And I said to all my agents and team, 'I need to do something which is a bit more modern, which steps me into a place where I've got more room for character development', and this definitely did that."

He admits he's becoming more selective.

"I'm getting pickier with projects now, which is strange," he says.

"So far, it's been work, work, work. Do anything. And now it has to really show me something that I haven't done before.

"That's very broad, but I like the idea of characters with slowly twistable coils in them that get tighter and tighter and tighter and then they break.

"This wasn't that, but I like the idea of playing someone like that."

And with the popularity of Game Of Thrones throwing up more opportunities, as well as international fame, Harington enjoyed having time back at his family's home to "be a kid again" over Christmas, and take stock.

"I'm always blessed and happy that I've been able to work as an actor," he says. "And I'm learning to enjoy it more.

"It was always terrifying in the first few years of having actually got a job, and thinking, 'This is going to disappear at any minute'. Now I'm leaning to sit back and enjoy the work."

A 31-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of arson after a fire in a derelict Radford building.

Two fire engines attended the scene and rescued a man from the building after they were called to Denman Street East at 6am on January 16.

Police were also called and arrested the man at the scene an hour later. The force put up a cordon around the 60x60 metre building.

A Nottinghamshire police spokeswoman said: "We were called just before 6am on Friday, January 16, to a fire in a derelict building.

"A 31-year-old man was arrested at the scene at 7am."

The former Forest Mills building is next to a Total car park, and the company confirmed to the Post that commuters parking at the site were unaffected on Friday morning. 

Firefighters, from Central and Stockhill fire stations, were still at the scene at 9am.

Nottingham Forest fans have had the 5-0 loss at the iPro Stadium last March rammed down their throats for the last ten months by those of a Derby County persuasion.

But this alone won't be a motivating factor to ROAR ON THE REDS come Saturday lunchtime.

The Derby Telegraph is urging supporters of Steve McClaren's side to "ROAR ON THE RAMS" this weekend and have published an article headlined 'Five reasons to get behind the lads ahead of Nottingham Forest clash'.

It is a bid to try and add to the "euphoria and intensity" of the East Midlands derby clash something which Stuart Pearce has said has "gone up a notch" since he was a player.

The 'five reasons' quoted in the story are the five goals scored in the last season's match away to Derby, which spelled the end of Billy Davies' second stint as manager at the City Ground.

A Craig Bryson hat-trick and one each for Jeff Hendrick and Johnny Russell put "Rams fans in heaven" says the article.

So, on the flip side, are the five goals the same motivating factor for Forest fans heading into the game against their bitter rivals at the other end of Brian Clough Way?

While it's fair to say this won't be sitting well with those in red, who won't take kindly to the expected taunts come 12.15pm and kick-off, had the 5-0 defeat not occurred this game will still have had the same simmering ill will attached to it.

In his exclusive Post column before the league match between the two sides at the City Ground in September, Andy Reid put it well when he wrote: "They went very close to getting to the Premier League last year. But I'm glad they didn't. One because I don't like them, and two because it means we can play against them."

You just have to take a look at some of the more unusual parody accounts on social media site Twitter to see the level of feeling and, at times, hatred that seems to burn bright inside some fans when it comes to this fixture.

The to and fro sledging you get in the build-up to the two fixtures between Forest and Derby each season never disappoints and while the Rams like to remind Forest of the 5-0 defeat, they are reminded themselves of their Wembley defeat to QPR in the play-off final in May when Bobby Zamora's goal denied them their Premier League promotion.

So much so that during the last clash, in the second month of the new Championship season, Forest fans handed out Zamora masks to wear to taunt their rivals.

Although many were confiscated on entry, some slipped through the net and were seen inside the City Ground that day – who would bet against a few more finding their way into the iPro tomorrow?

The time for talking is nearly over – so bring on the derby and ROAR ON THE REDS.

Commuters and businesses say more than 30 weeks of roadworks at a new supermarket in Colwick are "unjustified".

Temporary traffic lights will be used on the Colwick Loop Road, or A612, which will at times be closed to traffic overnight.

Work begins on Monday January 19 and will see access roads built, road widening and signals for a new junction to a Sainsbury's supermarket.

The store will be built off the A612, between the Victoria Retail Park and Mile End Road, and is expected to create 450 jobs.

There will also be a pub, petrol station and light industrial space at the site.

"For commuters it's going to be awful," said Richard Fife, secretary of the Burton Joyce Village Society. "It's much longer than can be justified. We have no issue with the development of the site but I really can't see how it can need 30 weeks of work. No doubt it will be quite unnecessarily disruptive."

"I made that trip for many years and remember the long period of works about ten years ago. We were diverted through Carlton and it made the trip a lot longer."

Mr Fife said there are a lot of commuters into central Nottingham from Burton Joyce and that public transport is not a feasible option.

"You get many people in Burton Joyce living here and working in Nottingham," he said. "It's probably the majority.

"In the hours when people want to get into work in the morning, there is only one train, and the bus service goes the long way round."

Gary Burgess, technical director of food waste recycling plant Bio Dynamic, said the works would create a "big problem" for businesses on the Colwick Industrial Estate.

"It's bound to have an impact," he said. "I don't know how they are going to organise the junction into the industrial estate. Our trucks, and trucks from other companies, come in through that junction."

Buisinesses including Wastecycle waste disposal, PAGE Freight Services, Kitchen World Nottignham and Nottingham Pallet Racking and Shelving, are all based at the Colwick Industrial Estate.

"It's going to be a big problem," said Mr Burgess. "And really is going to impact everybody on the site. It's quite a busy road, even at the best of times. At peak times it starts to choc-up there anyway so I guess it will just be constant throughout when work begins."

Thomas Bow City Asphalt will carry out the work, which will also see a temporary 30mph speed limit introduced on the 40mph road, on behalf of developers City Estates.

Roadworks are due to be competed by August 28, 2015.

Nottinghamshire County Council, the local highways authority, expects traffic heading down the road to be delayed.

A Sainsbury's spokesman said: "The roadworks are in line with and required for the planning approval. They will improve capacity on the highway as well as providing a new internal access road to serve our store, petrol station and the pub and fast food outlet.

"Clearly these are complex works and will take a number of months to complete. We'd like to thank people for their patience while this work is taking place." 

A shoplifting granny has been spared prison after she amassed thousands of pounds from her crimes and involved her daughters in thieving sprees. Lorraine Hutchinson, 47, was told by Judge Jeremy Lea she had "led her daughters astray in an appalling way" as she was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court. Her children, Hayley and Kylie Baker, were arrested for stealing from shops. Hayley was involved more seriously than her sister – after more than £13,000 of unexplained cash filtered through her bank account for years. The trio were caught when they picked up food in Tesco, Carlton Hill, with a young child in tow, sneaking items into their handbags on their trolley. Security staff became suspicious, stopped them and found £39.33 of food, the court heard, as the women argued about whose fault it was. Days later, Hutchinson, who has 36 shoplifting offences on her record, was caught with Kylie putting £47.50 of food in their handbags in Farmfoods, Carlton Square. Police traced them after security staff noted the registration number of Hutchinson's car, leading them to an address in Carlton, where hundreds of pounds worth of clothes were found with security tags. Hutchinson, of Greenwood Road, Bakersfield, and her depressed daughter Hayley, 21, were making cash from selling stolen items, the court heard. Investigators found unexplained cash credits had gone through their bank accounts. Hutchinson benefited by £8,276 but will repay £8.61, the only amount she has. Hayley Baker benefited by £13,412 but will pay a nominal amount of £1, as she has no cash. The judge told Hutchinson: "Your case causes me the most anxiety. Plainly you should go to prison, because you have led your daughters astray in an appalling way. I have to weigh into the balance the need to punish you in that way and the impact it would have on others, and I have in mind the evidence I have got and the impact it would have on your son. "I think in your case I can avoid sending you into custody. It's an exceptional case." Hutchinson, 46, pleaded guilty to the thefts at Tesco and Farmfoods, possessing criminal property, namely clothing, and converting criminal property between March 1, 2011, and December 31, 2012. She received 12 months in prison, suspended for two years. Hayley Baker, of Oakdale Road, Carlton, admitted theft from Tesco and converting criminal property. She left court with a ten-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and 120 hours of unpaid work. Kylie Baker, a mother-of-two, of Longford Crescent, Bulwell, pleaded guilty to shoplifting from Tesco and Farmfoods and received a conditional discharge for 12 months.

HIDDEN away in a secret location in London, a group of celebrities are perfecting their dance moves and adding any last minute adjustments to their sparkling costumes.

From the salsa to the foxtrot to the rumba, their faces were plastered across TV screens late last year as contestants on BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing.

And now they're gearing up to jump on the tour bus and travel to locations dotted across the UK – including Nottingham's Capital FM Arena on Tuesday and Wednesday.

They'll be hitting the dance floor in each city to compete for the magnificent Glitter Ball Trophy – and keep the judges' comments sweet.

But for this year's champion, TV presenter Caroline Flack, she won't be having her winning partner Pasha Kovalev by her side.

The winner has been paired with professional dancer Tristan MacManus, who was partnered with Irish actress Jennifer Gibney on the show, but this isn't stopping her from looking forward to the tour.

The 35-year-old, who will be wowing audiences on the big stage performing the Charleston and salsa, says: "I always knew Pasha wouldn't be going on the Strictly tour because he has a show of his own. But I didn't want it to finish so they've paired me with Tristan.

"I've been astonished by the popularity of Strictly. I was buying some trainers from a guy in East London recently and he suddenly said, 'Shouldn't you be learning your waltz?'

"It's no exaggeration to say this has been the best experience of my life. It's given me a new belief in myself, a greater self-confidence."

Caroline was chosen as this year's champion by judges Craig Revel Horwood, Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli and Darcey Bussell after being propelled to the top of the leader board with a perfect score.

Competing alongside her in the final were fellow celebrities Mark Wright, Simon Webbe and Frankie Bridge.

Boyband member Simon Webbe is so eager for the tour, he turned up to rehearsals an hour early. He says that for him, Strictly was an eye-opening experience after suffering from depression last year.

The 36-year-old, who was a singer in Blue, says: "I can't wait for the tour but I'm not wishing away this rehearsal time. I've come in early today because I was so excited.

"2015 has started amazingly. It's a new chapter for me and my family and even the boys from Blue. It feels weird but humbling at the same time.

"In a nutshell, I went through depression. I didn't share it with anybody though.

"I found myself in a predicament when I got into Strictly. I didn't realise how big it is. When I was told Strictly will change your life I took it with a pinch of salt. It's been food for the soul."

Fellow finalist Frankie won't be joining the boys on tour due to being pregnant with her second child with footballer Wayne Bridge, but stepping into her shoes is former contestant, Rachel Stevens.

S Club 7 singer Rachel will be joining the Strictly gang to perform the quick step alongside dancing partner Kevin Clifton, who couldn't be more excited to hit the road.

The 32-year-old, from Grimsby, says: "I love the tour. Number one, because no-one is getting kicked off the show so it doesn't feel as much of a competition. We're all in it together putting on a show. And also, I think from the tour you realise how much everyone loves Strictly.

"When you come out on the tour you go to these massive arenas and instead of thinking, there's a few people over there and look for this camera, there's suddenly thousands of people all around you on all sides going mental."

He adds that despite this being his second time on the Strictly tour, he still gets a rush of nerves before each performance: "I get quite nervous anyway. I get stage fright whatever I'm doing. Last year on the tour I remember being on the other side of the curtain and hearing the audience's roar. The butterflies really go."

For professional dancer Aljaz Skorjanec, this is also his second time on the popular dancing programme.

After joining the show in 2013, the 24-year-old, from Slovenia, took home the trophy with celebrity partner Abbey Clancy.

This year he may have missed out on the embellished prize, but that hasn't stopped him from having a whale of a time with TV presenter Alison Hammond.

Laughing away while trying on his glitter-clad costume, he says: "On tour I wouldn't say the competition is as big as it is on the TV show. For me the biggest difference is that the audience are all around and you need to make sure you perform to the very first row and to the people at the back. Everyone must be engaged. All 10,000 of us are going to have fun."

Bubbly Alison has no regrets about signing up for Strictly, despite missing out on the chance to perform in Blackpool.

The 39-year-old, from Birmingham, says: "Why wouldn't I say yes to Strictly? Strictly is the one show that you watch and the one that I feel has no air of nastiness. Strictly makes you look good and wants you to look the best that you can be.

"We got such a good response. Some people are still tweeting and texting and saying they are missing me and Aljaz. I'm like, really? It's only January. We really did have an effect on them. It's a massive compliment."

She's a natural behind the cameras on ITV's This Morning, but put her in front of a crowd of thousands, she'll be both nervous and excited.

"I can't wait for the tour and seeing the home crowds and playing up to them - I'm just really looking forward to it," says Alison.

"I'm nervous and excited. My nerves work well for me. I'm nervous about everything, I'm always nervous but I love it, I love the buzz.

"For me, it's about how big the arenas are. You have to get around these arenas - we're just working out the dance floor and I'm like oh god, I don't know if I'm fit enough. Honestly, I just can't wait but I hope I can do it."

Former rugby player and model Thom Evans was eliminated before his time on the show when less-talented dancers managed to avoid the dreaded dance-off.

But now he's back and ready to prove his skills on the dance floor with blonde bombshell Iveta Lukosiute.

Practicing their individual routine at rehearsals, the pair already look perfect enough for the arenas.

Scottish Thom, 29, says: "It feels slightly weird to be back but it's amazing. My time on the Strictly show was cut quite short and just to be back it gives me a second chance to go out there and fulfil that potential.

"I always thrive with big crowds and I feel like it's going to bring out the best in me. I can't wait to get started really."

He added: "I hope I'll continue dancing. I've got such a buzz for it but it will be hard to maintain it. If it's not in a class it will be on a dance floor somewhere, so I apologise in advance."

Strictly Come Dancing: The Live Tour will be at the Capital FM Arena on Tuesday, 7.30pm, and Wednesday, 2.30pm and 7.30pm. For tickets go to www.capitalfmarena.com or call 0843 373 3000.

One of them lived in Nottingham, the other in Dubai and veganism brought them together.

Kate Antill was a flight attendant living in the Middle East when she decided to take being vegetarian to a new level.

But as she went online and scrolled through Adrian Bhagat's vegan recipe website, created at his home in Nottingham, she had little idea that it would lead to a relationship and a brand new life on the other side of the world.

Kate, 33, says: "I decided I was going vegan and I found his cooking website when I was desperate for ideas. I looked at some of the things on there and thought I have no idea what half these ingredients are, how do I get hold of them? So I thought I'd email him and we got chatting. A few e-mails bounced backwards and forwards. I thought 'I'm going to invite myself to Nottingham next time I'm in England' – and he never got rid of me!"

The first meal Adrian, a vegan for 21 years, cooked for Kate was a mushroom and nut pie – a dish that has been on the menu of their new Bluebird Cafe in Sherwood.

For Adrian, an IT worker for 18 years and Kate, who used to work for Emirates Airlines, the cafe signalled a move into unchartered territory.

But two months into their new venture, the cosy eatery with seating for 17 has received a warm welcome from vegetarians and meat-eaters like.

When customer Nicola Couch left a review of the food on the Trip Advisor website she described it as delicious, adding: "The fact that there is a vegan option for every choice on the menu is a bonus, as you don't feel that you're missing out at all."

The menu at the cafe, the former home of Mmm Deli, on the corner of Mansfield Road and Winchester Street, changes monthly.

All the food is vegan but vegetarians can have dairy ice cream or cheese if they wish.

Adrian, who continues to work two days a week as a software project manager and four days in the cafe kitchen, says: "You find as a vegan you usually get the dish with something taken out – you can have this without the cheese or the dressing – but here it's the other way round.

"We have a vegan menu which has vegetarian options. I think we're the most vegan-friendly place in Nottingham.

"There have been lots of nice comments about the food and people just come by and say Sherwood really needs a vegetarian restaurant and they're happy it's here."

Using good quality ingredients, dishes are cooked from scratch in the tiny kitchen.

This month's starters are French onion soup, a warm salad of wild mushrooms and chestnuts or Thai-flavoured houmous.

A colourful red bean, coconut and cashew casserole is one the hearty mains, or creamy red onion tart, made with walnut pastry, is served with wasabi roasted asparagus and salad.

"It's the kind of thing I always cook for friends when they come round," says Adrian, 42, who runs the online vegan guide for Nottingham.

"We are trying to market to lot of people, so for people who are steadfastly meat-eaters we try and give them things they are quite familiar with like pies....it's not like it's freaky food.

"And then we have vegetarian customers expecting to find something different to what they cook at home, so we try to do a bit of both really.

"I don't make my food fussy though – it's healthy and it's filling, nutritious and wholesome," says Adrian.

Desserts for January are a comforting spotted dick pudding with cream or custard, poached pears in red wine or – the piece de resistance – a cookies and cream sundae.

Kate says: "That's one of our things – we wanted to have really good sundaes.

"That's one thing as a vegan you never get anywhere, an amazing sundae for pudding, so every month we have a different one with either vegan or vegetarian ice cream.

"We've done chocolate fudge brownie ones when we first opened, then knickerbocker glory and this month is cookies and cream. Those are really good – they're my favourites."

The drinks menu favours local breweries Flipside and Magpie and beers that are gluten-free (Green's) or fruit (Samuel Smith). For those who prefer the grape to the grain, the wine is organic.

Kate's background as a flight attendant in first class has been a bonus when it comes to organising front of house.

"I really know my stuff as I did first class for a long time. I know how things should be to and make sure everything's lovely.

"When it comes to customer service I'm focused on making sure everything here is done as well I would have expected back then."

She works in the cafe when she's free but a full-time job as an ambulance driver responding to 999 calls means she works long shifts, often at unsocial hours. In her absence, the Bluebird employs two teenage waitresses, who are both vegan.

Naming the cafe was down to Kate. The couple considered everything from the V Spot to the Hedgehog Cafe.

But bluebirds and the freedom they represent seemed to tie in best with Adrian's escape from the daily 9-5 grind.

Kate was also responsible for the decor. Light blue painted walls, cream vintage-style floorboards and wine bottles lined up in the window depict a simple but cheerful style.

The wooden chairs, from Freecycle and friends, have colourful seat covers made by Kate from remnants of material and a couple of her old dresses.

Adrian, meanwhile, put his woodwork skills to good use by making the tables.

"We got lot of crockery and cutlery, mismatched, from car boot sales. The whole design of the place is a bit mish mash but it's fun and quirky that way," says Kate.

"We got all kind of cool stuff from car boot sales like this vase which was absolutely filthy – we got it for 10p. It's got a little cow on it and says 'absolutely pure milk' – how retro and lovely that is that? It's probably from the 50s".

The day the Post visited, it was all hands on deck preparing 400 vegan sausage rolls and desserts for Nottingham Trent University's Give it A Go Week, which encourages students to try different foods.

At the moment the cafe is open Wednesday to Saturday, from 5-11pm but welcomes 'takeover chefs' who use the premises to cook their own food.

D's Popup Kitchen runs Falafel Thursdays from 11am to 3pm and Beccy's Global Kitchen serves lunch on Saturdays between 12pm-3pm. Adrian, meanwhile, is planning Friday lunchtime pizzas.

Bluebird waitress Catherine Hall, 19, is the president of NTU's Vegetarian Society. She has never eaten meat and turned vegan a year ago.

"Knickerbocker glory is my favourite thing. I'm a dessert person and usually when I go out pudding is fruit. There is not much choice," says Catherine, who is studying wildlife conservation.

Fellow waitress Eshe Graham, an 18-year-old who turned vegan six years ago, says the choice is something she's not used to.

"Usually there's only one or two options in restaurants but finding somewhere you can go and eat everything is amazing."

Bluebird Cafe, 610 Mansfield Road, Sherwood, www.bluebird-cafe.co.uk, telephone 07542 230976.

TRY IT AT HOME 

Lime and Coconut Cheesecake

This is quite a unique cheesecake that contains no cheese or other animal products. It's light but rich, creamy but sharp. It's healthier than regular cheesecake too and won't make you feel bloated.

Ingredients (serves 6-8)

250g vegan ginger biscuits

2 dessertspoons vegetable oil

145g creamed coconut

2 limes

350g firm silken tofu

1 avocado

70g caster sugar

Coconut shavings and lime slices to decorate

Method:

1. Break the biscuits into fine crumbs in a blender or put them into a plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin.

2. Place vegetable oil and 45g of the creamed coconut into a pan. Heat gently, stirring continuously, until the coconut has melted.

3. Take off the heat and add the biscuits. Mix well and transfer to a lightly oiled 7in cake tin with a spring bottom. Press down firmly and leave to cool in the fridge.

4. Using the saucepan again, add the juice and pulp of two limes and the rest of the creamed coconut. Heat gently until the coconut has melted.

5. Transfer to a blender and add the tofu, avocado and sugar. Whiz until well blended and smooth.

6. Remove the biscuit base from the fridge and pour the lime mix into the tin. Place in the fridge to set for approximately three hours.

7. Decorate with coconut shavings and lime slices.

Lincoln City have completed the signing of Notts County striker Tyrell Waite.

The Conference side have signed the forward until the end of the season after he impressed during a loan spell at Sincil Bank.

His departure ends a three-year association with the Magpies having joined the club from Ilkeston in 2012.

During that time has struggled to nail down a first team place and this season has spent time on loan at Nuneaton and Ilkeston.

He then moved to Lincoln last month and has convinced their manager Chris Moyses to hand him a five-month deal with the chance of making it longer term in the summer if he continues to impress.

Waite was out of contract with the Magpies in the summer but with playing time scarce under Shaun Derry, he said leaving the League One side was best for all parties.

"Notts gave me the opportunity to start my professional career and pursue certain achievements," he said.

"The feeling (to leave) was mutual and I think a new chapter in my career is due.

"I would like to wish all the staff , players /friends , all the best for the rest of the season.

"It's been a pleasure working with everybody involved at the club."

Nottinghamshire duo James Taylor and Stuart Broad did not have the best of days at the office as England were beaten by hosts Australia in the first match of the Tri-Series, which also includes India.

The first match of the tournament, designed to get all three teams ready for the ICC 2015 Cricket World Cup next month, saw the Aussies win by three wickets with 61 balls to spare.

Batting first, England were reduced to 234 all out in Sydney after making a disastrous start in the very first over of the match – with eventual man of the match Mitchell Starc taking two wickets in the first three balls to reduce England to nought for two.

After losing opener Ian Bell, Notts Outlaws skipper Taylor, batting at number three, was trapped lbw to the second ball he faced.

Skipper Eoin Morgan, in his first full one-day international since taking over the captaincy, helped England steady the ship with a fine knock of 121 off 136 balls.

But with nobody else getting past the 20s, England's total looked very getable.

Despite losing seven wickets, with the ever-improving Chris Woakes claiming four scalps, Australia got themselves home in the 40th over.

The hosts had been cruising at 158 for two, with opener David Warner leading the way with 127 off 118 balls, and despite a wobble in the middle they were able to get over the line.

For Notts' Broad, in only his third competitive outing since surgery, he was unable to make a breakthrough and saw his 6.5 overs go for 49 runs – the worst economy rate of the England bowlers.

"We did well to get to 234 after the early wickets, 250 would have been better," said Morgan. "Ultimately the early wickets cost us.

"Starc swings the ball like Jimmy Anderson, so credit to him. We still won't know what a par score is if we look back, losing wickets throughout the innings cost us.

"I was happy with my performance to start like this as captain but devastated at the result."

Next up for England is a clash with India, starting at 3.20am UK time on Tuesday morning, where fellow Notts player Alex Hales will hope to get his chance.

THE question mark that has hung over the huge former Stanton Ironworks site near Ilkeston may finally be resolved next month.

More than two years on from when an application for more than 1,900 homes was submitted, a date on when a decision will be made has finally been announced.

The planning committee at Erewash Borough Council will sit and debate the pros and cons of the plan on February 25 – and the biggest decision in recent years for the borough will finally be made.

It has not been an easy path. Since 2007, when the final 150 workers walked out of the 500-acre site, the plans for the site have remained up in the air.

Originally 4,000 houses, with an access road cutting across greenbelt land and joining the A52, was proposed.

However, this proved hugely controversial and a protest group of local residents and concerned activists, called Green Squeeze, was created.

The scheme would boost the local economy by some £26.3 million, according to the plans – cash that would be well needed in the nearby town of Ilkeston.

In spring 2008, the company behind the original plans had to pull out after suffering in the 2007 financial crisis and the proposals were to undergo a huge change.

Such was the cost of the road – £120 million according to Murray Lloyd, who has been working as the project manager on the site since 2006 – that the plans had to be restructured to allow the continued viability of the project.

Yet despite the number of houses being cut by more than half, the plans for 1,950 still make up a third of the housing stock that Erewash must fulfil in the next 25 years, making it a key area for the council.

And it is that number of houses, and the inevitable increase in vehicles running to and from the site, that concerns locals most.

Paul Harvey, chairman of action group Green Squeeze and Dale Abbey resident, said: "The same things that worried us at the start of this application worry us now.

"The amount of traffic that is going to be created by nearly 2,000 homes is going to create massive problems on the roads around the area, particularly in villages Stanton by Dale and Dale Abbey.

"As far as I can see, there are no detailed plans to change any parts of the road network. Instead they are going to make changes as and when they see problems arise.

"That to me is just absolutely bonkers.

"The roads around the site will become rat runs for people to get to Derby and the M1 and junctions like Arbour Hill and the A6096 Ilkeston Road will see traffic rise hugely. I have seen estimates of a more than 248% increase."

However, project manager Mr Lloyd believes the "suck it and see" approach to how areas will be affected by traffic is the best way to go.

He said: "This model is being used all over the country, not just at Stanton.

"We have made a pot of money available for the works to highways so that as problems arise we can address them.

"In all the plans we have done we have reacted to what the authorities, both Erewash and Derbyshire County Council, have wanted and we are confident they are happy with what we are proposing.

"We are aware there are going to be definite pinch points and those will be addressed. The Sandiacre junction [at the Red Lion pub] is one of those such junctions."

That traffic is unlikely to appear overnight, given the length of time that the building of the site will take.

As well as the houses, there are also offices, warehouses, industrial spaces and new roads to construct.

Mr Lloyd said: "This building project will take between 15 and 20 years.

"So those 1,900 homes, and the traffic associated with them, will not all appear at once."

At the beginning of this year, a number of revisions were made to the plans. But, according to Mr Lloyd, these were for minor details and an updated environmental assessment.

Mr Harvey, who also sits as a parish councillor for Stanton by Dale, said: "We all agree with the development of the Stanton site.

"What we do not agree with is what we see as the lack of planning on the traffic front and how that will impact on the communities around the site."

Parish councillors will be able to view the full and final plans that will go before the planning committee by the end of the month before the planning meeting.

One week before the decision will be made, the report by Erewash Borough Council planning officers will be released.

The key for the future of the site may well lie within that document as the officer will advise councillors on whether they should accept or reject the plans. Only time will tell.

STANTON Ironworks were originally started in 1846 when Chesterfield man Benjamin Smith, and his son, Josiah, brought three blast-furnaces into production alongside the Nutbrook Canal.

These original furnaces produced around 20 tons of pig iron – a basic type of iron – per day but the company experienced financial difficulties and there were several takeovers during the middle of the 19th century.

During this period the business was taken over by the Crompton family, who then owned the firm for more than 80 years and renamed it The Stanton Iron Company.

The Franco-Prussian War of 1870 created a huge demand for iron and the works expanded rapidly, with the construction of new furnaces and foundries, known as the New Works, along the Erewash Canal.

By the early 20th century the business was named The Stanton Ironworks Company Ltd. During the Second World War, both shell and bomb casings, gun barrels and concrete air-raid shelter components were made.

At itsheight, 7,000 people worked at Stanton, making it one of the biggest employers in the area. But the years following the war saw Stanton's fortunes fluctuate.

During the early 1980s, Stanton became part of the French Pont-a-Mouson Group and later part of Saint Gobain. Production wound down during the 1990s and eventually stopped on May 24, 2007, when the last pipe was made.

Soon after the closure, Birmingham-based company Spring started creating controversial plans to build 4,000 houses on the site.

But in 2008 the company was forced to pull out of the deal after its residential property arm suffered badly in the credit crunch. However Saint Gobain still wanted to continue with the plans to create the village on the brownfield site.

Plans were finally submitted in February 2013 and now, two years later, a decision may finally be reached.

A prisoner with ties to Nottingham who failed to return to jail in Suffolk has been re-arrested.

Kyle Naylor, 26, who absconded from HMP Hollesley Bay was arrested in the early hours of Friday, January 16, at an address in Chesterfield, Derbyshire.

Naylor, who was serving a sentence for robbery and wounding with intent, went missing from the prison on Tuesday January 13.

Nottinghamshire Police had appealed for information from city residents.

Witnesses are being asked to come forward following an armed robbery at Booze Busters, Hucknall.

Officers were called just after 9.00pm on Monday evening January 12 after a man entered Booze Busters, in Nabbs Lane, armed with a knife.

He escaped with a quantity of cash and cigarettes after threatening a member of staff, who was left severely shaken by the ordeal.

Police are looking to speak to any witnesses to try and trace the man wanted in connection with the robbery, who is described as around 5ft 10ins tall, is of thin build and spoke with a local accent.

If you have any information call Nottinghamshire Police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, quoting incident number 729 of 12 January.

In the build-up to tomorrow's derby clash between Nottingham Forest and Derby County, the Post takes a look back at five of the most memorable matches between the two clubs since the Rams moved to the iPro Stadium, using old match reports, pictures and video footage.

Our fifth flashback is to 2008 when Lee Camp was the Reds' hero in a 1-1 draw Emanuel Villa will never forget.

Lee Camp pulled off an injury time penalty save to earn ten-man Nottingham Forest a crucial point against local rivals Derby.

He denied Nacer Barazite at the death against his former club to seal a 1-1 draw at Pride Park and then, in a further twist, Derby had what they thought was a last-gasp winner from Miles Addison ruled out by the referee for a foul.

Emanuel Villa had made amends for his earlier own goal as he bagged an equaliser for Derby on 66 minutes.

The striker had inadvertently turned the ball into his own net when Stephen Bywater's save from a corner cannoned off him early in the second half.

But the Reds only had the lead for 11 minutes before Villa scored from Kris Commons' free-kick.

Forest had to play the last 16 minutes with ten men after Lewis McGugan was sent off.

McGugan was dismissed for a lunging tackle on Paul Green.

Luke Chambers gave the penalty away, handling the ball in the box but Camp saved Barazite's spot kick before pulling off a stunning save from Przemyslaw Kazmierczak from the resulting corner.

There was further controversy as Derby had the ball in the back of the net from the next corner, but the referee disallowed Addison's header for a foul.