A 65-year-old woman was arrested on Sunday February 8 as part of enquiries into Operation Daybreak.

She was arrested on suspicion of indecent assault and aiding and abetting a rape offence, alleged to have happened at Bracken House, in Bulwell, between 1972 and 1973.

The woman has been bailed pending further enquiries.

This is the eleventh arrest made under Operation Daybreak, an inquiry into historical child sexual abuse at Nottinghamshire children's homes, with a total of four suspects who remain on police bail.

It was a throwaway comment at the end of an interview but, in many ways, Stuart Pearce has never been more right.

For Nottingham Forest, the departure of Paul Faulkner as chief executive could indeed have as big an impact as his own sacking, in the long run.

And, while Fawaz Al Hasawi acted quickly to replace Pearce with Dougie Freedman, it is imperative that he now does the same with his CEO.

More specifically, it is also vital that the new man is given the chance to do his job.

Contrary to popular opinion, Faulkner (pictured) did not decide to step away from the club because he disagreed with the decision to part company with Pearce.

The issue was that this was not the first piece of advice from the former Aston Villa chief executive that had been overlooked – and he was not consulted at all over the appointment of Freedman. Generally, he felt frustrated that he was not allowed to do his job.

Faulkner may be young; he may not yet have celebrated his 40th birthday. But he has experience of running a Premier League football club and doing so well.

Yet his presence at the City Ground was wasted. He could have taken much of the weight off the shoulders of Al Hasawi, he could have been an asset. Instead he was forbidden to give interviews to the media – when he might have been able to take some of the spotlight off the owner, during periods of turmoil – and shackled when it came to making anything beyond the most mundane of decisions.

Al Hasawi's ambition and passion for Forest cannot be questioned. He, like Nigel Doughty before him, has pumped in impressive amounts of money, in an effort to secure success.

But, off the field, the club's proud reputation is being damaged. With each unpaid bill, with each fresh winding up order (and they had dried up following Faulkner's appointment) and particularly when it comes to money owed for transfer fees or for the wages of a player taken on loan, Freedman's task will only become more difficult.

At a time when Forest will remain under a transfer embargo for the next two transfer windows and will be relying on free transfer signings and loans – neither of which the club will be allowed to pay more than £10k a week for – the good will of rival clubs has never been more important.

Freedman has made a bright start, when it comes to restoring Forest's fortunes on the pitch, now somebody needs to be handed the task of repairing the damage to the club's reputation off it. And they must be given the same freedom; the same level of trust as the manager. 

Dorus de Vries' professional reaction to being dropped at Brighton has inspired an instant change of heart from new Nottingham Forest boss Dougie Freedman – who now hopes to have a new deal tied up with the keeper within 24 hours.

Freedman had stated at the weekend that there would be no contract talks with any players for at least a month, while he assessed the qualities and character of his squad.

But the Scotsman has been prompted to make an instant change of course, after being won over by the professional attitude of the Dutchman – and Freedman has told the player that he wants him to agree fresh terms on his current deal, which expires at the end of the season, by tomorrow.

"What happened to change things was simply the way they were training – it got me thinking over the weekend. I thought that Karl (Darlow) is going to be leaving at the end of the season, when he joins up with Newcastle, and I have a number two who is sitting there, desperate to be a number one," said Freedman this afternoon.

"I had a call from the chairman saying that there is some room to get things done with our current players and he is a fantastic lad to have around. He is an unbelievable professional. When you come across people like that, you want to work with them."

And Freedman has not rested on his laurels, having already held initial talks with the 34-year-old, who had been in fine form in recent weeks – and telling the player that he wants his future resolved as soon as possible.

"You will get to know me in time and you will see that I like to speed things along when I make my mind up on something," he said. "I don't do the 'can we talk again next week' thing. I just talk to people and say 'this is where we are going, this is what we are doing, are you into this? Do you believe in this club and believe in me?'.

"It will be up for discussion tomorrow. I do not see the point in dragging things out longer than they have to be. I cannot see the point in it.

"At the weekend, I just saw his reaction and I liked it. I liked what he represents. That was my reasoning."

Freedman drafted Darlow back into his starting XI at Brighton on Saturday, but admitted that leaving out de Vries had been the 'toughest decision' he has made since taking over as manager following the departure of Stuart Pearce.

Bargain hunters will be able to grab designer goods at reduced prices as TK Maxx opens a new store in Nottingham.

The discount clothing retailer will be opening its fifth store in the city at the Victoria Retail Park in Netherfield.

The bright and modern store's grand reveal takes place on Thursday, February 19 at 9am, where customers will be able to get their hands on designer gems at up to 60 per cent less than the RRP.

The first 500 customers through the doors will also be treated to a £10 gift card to spend in the new 15,976 square foot store.

The store will receive several deliveries per week with each delivery containing thousands of accessories, fashion and homeware products. 

Raegan Dawson, the store's manager, said: "We are very excited to be opening up the new TK Maxx store and bringing Nottingham's shoppers big labels at amazing prices."

The shop will also create 40 jobs.

The biggest problem facing Shaun Derry tomorrow night is whether to go for the jugular or stick to the away method that's brought so much success this season.

Leyton Orient are low on confidence which is understandable given they are rock bottom of League One.

Derry could try to capitalise on that by sending his side out hoping an early goal will lead to frustration and anxiety in the home stands.

The danger is of course you get picked off on the counter attack and Orient do have pace in their team.

It is likely to be a three-man midfield again which makes sense because it is the strongest department of the whole squad.

So it's right to utilise the talents of Gary Jones, Alan Smith, Liam Noble and Curtis Thompson (pictured) in the centre of the park.

That leaves the option of a three-man attack or a five-man midfield with the wingers playing more conventional roles.

It's absolutely essential that support is given to the frontman whose task will be to get Notts County further up the pitch.

Key Battle: Will Hayhurst v Elliott Omozusi

THERE is little doubt that Will Hayhurst has a wonderful left foot and it's a potent weapon Notts are hoping to see on a consistent basis.

It certainly can create chances and Notts will hope the winger can get the better of Elliott Omozusi and help the Magpies to glory.

Magpies team news

NOTTS County will be without winger Alefe Santos, who has returned to Derby after his loan spell ended.

Hayden White is fit after a thigh problem and made the bench for Saturday's defeat to Chesterfield.

Striker Jimmy Spencer is obviously an absentee as he is recovering from a serious knee injury.

Taylor McKenzie is also out injured.

Opposition in focus

Orient danger man – Chris Dagnall: The forward has been a constant threat for rock-bottom Orient all season and it has been rewarded with nine goals.

There were rumours Notts were keen to sign him during the transfer window which would have been a quality addition.

Dagnall is not particularly blessed with height, but he works incredibly hard for the team.

He is a great finisher too and any space afforded to him certainly presents a great risk.

Orient manager – Fabio Liverani: Sounds like a fashion designer and not a football manager and Liverani is struggling to tailor himself to the rigours of League One football.

Brought in to replace Mauro Milanese, Liverani has found the going tough with Orient bottom of League One and looking in serious danger of tumbling out of the division.

He needs to pick up and fast if the Os are going to avoid trips to Morecambe and Accrington Stanley next season.

Orient team news

NEAL Eardley is definitely out of the game after the defender's loan spell from Birmingham was cut short early by the Blues.

Goalkeeper Alex Cisak is set to make his debut after signing for the club on loan from Premier League side Burnley.

The O's are also sweating on the fitness of defender Scott Cuthbert and veteran striker Kevin Lisbie, who only recently returned from a shoulder injury.

Top chef Heston Blumenthal has been told to watch his back by catering students who are set to cook-up a storm at a national competition.

On Tuesday New College Nottingham will send four teams of students to the regional heats of the prestigious Nestlé Professional Toque d'Or competition.

The 12 students taking part have already won £2,000 worth of catering equipment for the college after impressing at the trial stage which included a test on culinary knowledge.

Student Jessica Bereznyckyj, 21, of Calverton, said: "I am looking forward to just being there and meeting people in the industry.

"Heston Blumenthal is my favourite chef and I would like to be as good as him if not better one day.

"I love the way he puts a twist on normal things and makes them better and I use that for inspiration.

"I think the course we are on has prepared me for the competition well.

"Last year one of our teams made it this far but we want to do better and set the bar higher."

Each team is made up of two chefs and one front of house staff member and during the competition they will receive a box of ingredients and be tasked with recreating a dish that they see cooked by professional chefs on the day.

If they make it through to the grand final they will win a further £1,000 for equipment, with the overall winners having this amount doubled.

Callum Dovey hopes the competition will get him noticed.

The 18-year-old of Basford, said: "It will be so exciting battling it out against other colleges, and it's nice to be able to represent the college at such a large scale event.

"We all have our strengths and weaknesses but we are determined to do well.

"My dream is to cook with Danish chef René Redzepi and taking part in competitions like this could help me do that.

"It will also be interesting to see what level the other colleges are at in terms of skill and how they do things differently."

All the students taking part in the competition are studying towards their professional chefs diploma.

As part of the qualification they spend two days a week working at Adams Restaurant & Brasserie in Stoney Street.

Head chef trainer Shaun Potter said: "I think our students can go to the competition and impress with what they know already.

"What the students do here is as good as any restaurant in Nottingham so they have a real chance."

Teams from 28 different colleges from across the country will take part in the competition.

West Bridgford are making their usual spring charge in the Midland Premiership season.

And their third successive victory, a 3-2 home win against Bournville, has thrown the title race wide open.

Paul Sibley's pass to Charlie Brooke saw the Bridgford centre forward race half the length of the pitch to open the scoring in the 26th minute, but the Birmingham side were level three minutes later, scoring in open play.

The second half was a repeat of the first as Brooke cleared the ball from his own circle to Mark Richardson, then raced forward to collect the return pass to restore Bridgford's lead, only for Bournville to equalise from a penalty corner.

The Black and Golds, playing their best hockey of the season, with defender Josh Chan having a fine match, scored their winner with ten minutes remaining as Will Good collected his third goal in two matches.

While rivals Bournville slipped up, Nottingham University kept up the pressure in second place by defeating North Stafford 3-1 at University Park.

The students' penalty corner work secured the points, Ben James scoring twice in the first half and Peter Small adding a third as the Notts club took a three-goal lead.

South Nottingham lost 6-0 in Midland Division 1 at Stone, but there were big scores from the Notts pair in Division 2.

Promotion-seeking Sikh Union (Nottingham) were four up against Wellingborough by half-time at The Forest as Surinder Saini converted a penalty corner and Dharminder Hundal struck a hat-trick.

The floodgates opened in the second half as 35 minutes produced ten goals from Dharminder (5), Saini (3), Pritpal Dhanjal and Sarpreet Mehat as Union won 14-0.

North Notts also took a 4-0 interval lead at home to point-less Kings Heath Pickwick.

Jason Barton, Allan Butler (2) and a Simon Atkin penalty corner put the Mansfield Woodhouse club in command before Alex Greer (2), Barton, Mark Johnson and Anthony Cody wrapped up a 9-0 win.

Next Saturday's local derby between Boots and Nottingham at Lady Bay will be an important fixture for both clubs in their pursuit of East Midland Premier Division leaders Coalville Town.

Both warmed up with satisfactory wins, Nottingham defeating a very defensive Ramgarhia (Derby) 4-0 at Goosedale where Lewis Pantry and Robert Britton were the first half scorers and Ben Morris (2) completed the win.

Manny Soar (3) and Connor Marshall had Boots leading 4-0 against Nottingham Players at Highfields.

Skipper Adam Innocent, James Cameron-Williams (penalty stroke) and Adam Hemphrey extended the visitor's lead before Jack Dickie scored for the home side, but Boots finished strongly winning 10-1 with further goals from Innocent, Soar and James O'Flaherty.

In the division's relegation matches, Nottingham Trent University defeated Market Harborough 1-0 and Mansfield, in spite of scoring first at Ashby through Jason Ward, lost 2-1.

On Sunday, the two Notts clubs met in a postponed match at Goosedale where Ward (2) and Kyle Farquharson gave Mansfield a 3-0 victory over the Nottingham Trent students.

RESULTS

Warwick Printing Second Team League

Midland Premier Division: Belper 3 West Bridgford 0, Northampton Saints 1 Beeston 6.

East Midland Premier Division: Berkswell and Balsall Common 0 Nottingham University 5, Boots 8 Coalville Town 0.

East Midland Division 1: Newark 7 Nottingham Players 2, South Nottingham 2 Leicester Westleigh 4.

East Midland Division 2: Mansfield 3 Derby 2, Market Harborough 5 Nottingham Trent University 0.

Warwick Printing Third Team League

Midland Premier Division: Nottingham University 8 Boots 3, West Bridgford 0 Lichfield 0.

Midland Division 1: Beeston 2 Warwick University 1.

East Midland Premier Division: Nottingham 4 Barton 1, Nottingham Players 6 South Nottingham 1.

East Midland Division 1: Derby 7 Mansfield 1, Derwent 4 Newark 2.

Warwick Printing Central League

Midland Premier Division: Beeston IV 1 Birmingham University IV 6, Northampton Saints IV 4 Nottingham University IV 1, West Bridgford IV 3 West Bridgford V 0.

East Midland Premier Division: Beeston V 4 Leek VI 0, Boots IV 1 Rugby and East Warwicks IV 1, Rugby and East Warwicks VI 1 West Bridgford VI 1.

North East Division 1: Boots V 1 Nottingham IV 0, Loughborough Town IV 5 Boots VI 3, South Nottingham IV 0 North Notts IV 4.

South East Division 1: Leicester IV 4 West Bridgford VII 3.

North East Division 2: Newark IV 4 Burton VII 1, North Notts V 3 Belper VII 0, Nottingham V 2 Derby IV 3, Nottingham Players V 0 Derwent IV 6, West Bridgford IX 0 West Bridgford X 0.

FIXTURES

Saturday

Warwick Printing League

Midland Premier Division: Barton v West Bridgford, Northampton Saints v Nottingham University.

Midland Division 1: South Nottingham v Stourport.

Midland Division 2: Loughborough Town v

Sikh Union (Nottm), Warwick University v

North Notts.

East Midland Premier Division: Berkswell and Balsall Common v Nottingham Players, Boots v Nottingham, Mansfield v Coalville Town, Ramgarhia (Derby) v Nottingham Trent University.

East Midland Division 1: Newark v Nuneaton.

Sunday

Warwick Printing League

East Midland Premier Division: Market Harborough v Nottingham.

Police have confirmed the identity of the man who died after a Nottingham city centre fight at the weekend as Josh Bradley.

The 19-year-old, from Bulwell, died after a brawl in Thurland Street, just before 4am on Sunday.

Four men, aged 28, 24, and two 22-year-olds, remain in police custody on suspicion of murder.

A 23-year-old man has been bailed after he was arrested on suspicion of murder.

Two men aged 19 and 20 arrested on suspicion of affray have been released on bail. 

Tributes have been paid to Josh, who was a member of Bilborough Community Amateur Boxing Club.

Large sections of the city centre had been taped off on Sunday and into Monday while police carried out their investigation.

Searches have continued throughout the day in Thurland Street at the junction with Clinton Street, Pelham Street and Clumber Street, but cordons have since been lifted.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call police on 101 quoting incident number 140 of 8 February.

Further tributes have been paid to murder victim Josh Bradley who died after a fight in Nottingham city centre at the weekend.

The 19-year-old, from Bulwell, died from facial injuries after a brawl in Thurland Street at around 4am on Sunday.

Four men, aged 28, 24, and two 22-year-olds, remain in police custody on suspicion of murder.

 A 23-year-old man has been bailed after he was arrested on suspicion of murder.

Two men aged 19 and 20 arrested on suspicion of affray have been released on bail.

Josh had trained with Benny's Boxing Club from around the age of 12.

He was one of the best fighters to come out of the nine-year-old boxing organisation, said head coach Kevin Sheehan.

Aged just 14, Josh won the English Schoolboy Championships and he had trained in Sheffield for the English Schoolboys boxing championships.

Mr Sheehan, who trained Josh with brother Pat Sheehan, said: "He was the first lad to win a championship for Benny's Boxing Club.

"We knew him from being about 12. He was just a quiet lad. I can't believe it's happened. You wouldn't think butter would melt in his mouth - he kept himself to himself."

Josh trained with the club when it was based at Cyril's Gym in Nuthall Road, for three to four years. It now runs from Highbury Vale.

Mr Sheehan said the local boxing fraternity was shocked at the news and that his phone hadn't stopped ringing about what had happened.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact 101 quoting incident number 140 of February 8.

Firefighter Matt Knight will soon be battling shark-infested waters, hurricanes and 20-foot waves as he rows 2,400 miles across the Pacific Ocean.

But the 38-year-old, of Heddington Gardens, Arnold, is only worried about getting seasick on the epic journey from California to Hawaii.

He said: "I'm not concerned about huge waves, sharks and any other sea creatures.

"But I'm nervous about getting seasick. I've had it a few times and it's horrible – you just want to jump off the boat."

Matt, who has worked at the Stockhill Fire Station, Basford, for five years, will be rowing with three other men as part of the Great Pacific Race.

The impressive distance, which is the same as 11,593 Eiffel Towers, will expose the four-man amateur team to a number of dangers including deafening winds of 25 knots and waves the size of houses.

The team, also consisting of Darren Clawson, 38, of Luton, Dong Jin Lee, 27, of Korea, and Raf Schildermans, 37, of Belgium, hope to break the world record set by team Uniting Nations – who completed the route in 43 days as part of the competition's first race.

During the first annual race, which took place in June 2014, 13 teams took part and only seven successfully made it to the finish line.

One team retired after 10 miles due to seasickness and another was rescued by a US Coastguard helicopter after their boat started to take on water after a few days at sea.

Matt said: "We don't just want to race, we want to win. We're serious about it."

The team are currently training daily on rowing machines and will be progressing to the sea as soon as they have purchased an ocean row boat.

They will also have to take part in six training courses in the run up to the race, on June 4, 2016, including sea survival, boat safety and navigation.

Matt said: "This sort of race requires a lot of mental ability. It isn't just fitness – we'll be spending a long time on a boat, so we'll have to forget the bad times and get on with it."

And the fireman is no stranger to danger – last year he took part in the Jungle Ultra Marathon, a challenge that involved him running 155 miles over six days in the Amazon jungle and mountains of Peru.

Tim Marston, Matt's watch manager at the fire station, said: "Sometimes I wonder if he's more machine than human. I think his only issue will be the fact he has to sit down for over a month."

Team NOMAN set out on the rowing adventure last year and said they relied on painkillers to ease the aching in their backsides.

Chris Blacketer, of the team, said: "Spending pretty much 24 hours a day sitting on our backsides, meant we were on a constant stream of painkillers just to get through the days."

The men will be racing as part of Endurance Limit – a not for profit organisation who has raised over £250,000 for Great Ormond Street Hospital.

To donate visit www.justgiving.com/endurancelimits. To sponsor the team call Matt on 07814031652.

Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Dorus de Vries has signed a two-year extension to his contract, which will be effective from the summer.

De Vries' professional reaction to being dropped at Brighton has inspired an instant change of heart from new Forest boss Dougie Freedman – who had, hours earlier, announced his hope to have a new deal tied up with the keeper within 24 hours.

Freedman had stated at the weekend that there would be no contract talks with any players for at least a month, while he assessed the qualities and character of his squad.

But the Scotsman has been prompted to make an instant change of course, after being won over by the professional attitude of the Dutchman – and Freedman will have been boosted by the news the 34-year-old has agreed fresh terms on his current deal, which was due to expire at the end of the season.

"What happened to change things was simply the way they were training – it got me thinking over the weekend. I thought that Karl (Darlow) is going to be leaving at the end of the season, when he joins up with Newcastle, and I have a number two who is sitting there, desperate to be a number one," said Freedman this afternoon.

"I had a call from the chairman saying that there is some room to get things done with our current players and he is a fantastic lad to have around. He is an unbelievable professional. When you come across people like that, you want to work with them."

And Freedman added: "You will get to know me in time and you will see that I like to speed things along when I make my mind up on something.

"I don't do the 'can we talk again next week' thing. I just talk to people and say 'this is where we are going, this is what we are doing, are you into this? Do you believe in this club and believe in me?'.

"I do not see the point in dragging things out longer than they have to be. I cannot see the point in it.

"At the weekend, I just saw his reaction and I liked it. I liked what he represents. That was my reasoning."

Freedman drafted Darlow back into his starting XI at Brighton on Saturday, but admitted that leaving out de Vries had been the 'toughest decision' he has made since taking over as manager following the departure of Stuart Pearce.

Ambulances will be based at more of Nottinghamshire's fire stations in a bid to create a more streamlined service.

Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service and East Midlands Ambulance Service have teamed up to sign a number of 'co-location' agreements.

The scheme, which is already in place at Ashfield, West Bridgford, Bingham, Stockhill and Mansfield fire stations, will see EMAS staff use more of the county's 24 fire stations as a base to park up and wait for 999 calls to attend, as well as take rest and meal breaks.

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Wayne Bowcock said: "We are extremely pleased to be able to welcome our EMAS colleagues into some of our stations as part of the co-locating agreement. It makes perfect sense that we should work with our closest partner organisations to share resources and facilities as far as we can, to ensure the best value service to our local communities.

"Our crews are used to working alongside their colleagues from the other emergency services when responding to incidents, while training and when taking part in events and initiatives. By co-locating we are further cementing that partnership, while maximising the efficiency of our stations, their facilities and the role they play in their local community."

Sue Noyes, chief executive of EMAS said: "We're really pleased to be working in collaboration with NFRS on the introduction of Community Ambulance Stations.

"They will provide a safe, comfortable and appropriate rest area should a local crew have the opportunity to have a brief rest, a hot drink or use the toilet facilities in-between responding to 999 calls - on average, we get a new call every 45 seconds and so crews spend the vast majority of their working day 'on the road'. This will be much better than them having to standby at the roadside which is currently the case.

"The introduction of shared facilities reduces our operating costs and allows us to spend more money on patient care. It also allows us to improve our relationship with other public services that we work very closely with on a day-to-day basis."

A paedophile has been locked up at the age of 76 for "evil" sex attacks on young girls in Mansfield.

Alexander Rolland, of Westfield Lane, was sentenced to eight years in custody at Nottingham Crown Court.

He will serve half and be released on licence to sign the sex offenders' register for life and be subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO), banning any unsupervised contact with children.

Judge Michael Stokes QC, who sentenced him on Monday, February 9, told him he had to deal with him for a catalogue of sexual offending against a number of children under the age of 13 years.

"Some children never forget what has happened them and it can affect their relationships when they grow up and want to start their own families," the judge said.

"It's evil behaviour and there is no other way of describing it."

The most serious offence had been Rolland repeatedly sexually assaulting a 12-year-old.

"She was one of four children who you treated in this illegal and disgusting way," added the judge.

Prosecutor Dawn Pritchard, reading from a victim impact statement, said this girl was "frightened" when Rolland touched her and thought he might be dangerous.

A second victim was aged eight years when she was interviewed by police and told them Rolland touched her.

She said since she had become a "very angry person" and feels scared.

"She is pleased he admitted he touched her," Miss Pritchard told the court.

"She too wants him to go to prison."

A third child said he sexually touched her and exposed himself when she was about ten years old.

A fourth girl complained Rolland touched her when she was seven years old.

Married Rolland pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child, six sexual assaults, causing a child to watch a sexual act and observing a person doing a private act.

In 1988 he was convicted of indecently assaulting an 11-year-old girl, the court heard.

Laura Pitman, in mitigation, asked for credit for the guilty pleas Rolland had entered and said he recognised there were issues he needed to addresses.

"He has indicated he will access courses in the prison environment," she said.

Four puppies have been rescued after being dumped at the side of a canal in freezing temperatures.

The five-week-old Staffordshire bull terriers were found in a cardboard box next to Erewash Canal in Eastwood – with their mother tied up nearby.

A dog walker discovered the pups as the temperatures plunged to minus 6C, and immediately called dog wardens.

Luckily all the puppies – who have been named Wellington, Willow, Maisie and Gracie – and their mother Rocky are healthy.

They are currently being cared for at Babbington Hall Rescue Kennels in Awsworth.

Kennels owner Tony Sanderson said: "If they hadn't been found so quickly, it could have been a very different story.

"The puppies would not have been able to take the freezing conditions for very long.

"Because they were in a box, it also meant the mum couldn't look after them or be with them.

"They really had to be found within a couple of hours of them being dumped."

Mr Sanderson said the kennels had seen an influx of dogs being abandoned by their owners – particularly over the past six months.

He added: "There seem to have been a lot of people looking for somewhere to get rid of puppies over the last six months. A lot of people are allowing their dogs to be caught out by not having them spayed or neutered."

Broxtowe Borough Council's Neighbourhood Wardens are now appealing for anyone who has any information about the puppies. As soon as they are old enough they will be put up for adoption and re-homed.

A spokesman said: "Rocky and her puppies have been very lucky, particularly in the recent freezing temperatures and it could easily have been a tragic story. The average dog can live to 15 years and we encourage residents to think carefully before getting a pet to ensure they can provide it with a happy and healthy life."

If you have any information on the puppies, or if you find a stray or abandoned dog, contact neighbourhood wardens on 0115 917 7777.

Trams were delayed in Nottingham this evening due to a police incident in Basford.

The network was temporarily suspended in the Wilkinson Street area following reports of someone acting suspiciously.

Police were called at 6.20pm but couldn't find anyone and left after searching the area for an hour.

The trams are back in full service, but are still experiencing some delays. 

We are running a full service with delays due to an earlier police incident at basford. NET apologises for any inconvenience caused.

— NET Nottingham Tram (@NETTram) February 9, 2015

Fawaz Al Hasawi has pledged to continue to support Nottingham Forest 'in every way possible' as he issued a statement apologising for the negative publicity the club has attracted in recent weeks.

The Reds owner and chairman also said that it was the 'most difficult' decision he has had to make during his time at the club, when it came to parting company with Stuart Pearce.

Forest found themselves in the spotlight when Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony launched a public attack on the club for their apparent failure to pay a portion of the transfer fee that was owed for Britt Assombalonga on January 30.

In the fallout that followed, Al Hasawi appeared to threaten to walk away from the City Ground after himself coming under fire from fans on Twitter.

He has subsequently assured supporters that he has no plans to quit – and has today confirmed that any money owed to Peterborough has now been paid. As a result, Forest are no longer under a full transfer embargo and new boss Dougie Freedman will be able to sign players again, in the emergency loan market.

And Al Hasawi released a statement saying: "I would like to start by apologising for the negative publicity the club received last week. We know who was responsible for that.

"Let me reassure everyone that all monies owed over transfer-related transactions have now been paid, resulting in the recent embargo being lifted. This means the manager will still be able to bring players in on emergency loan under the initial Financial Fair Play restrictions.

"Since the summer of 2014 I have spent more than £22million and I will continue to support the club in every way possible."

Al Hasawi went on to reveal his dismay over the decision to part company with Pearce – a man he believes still holds legendary status at the club, despite his frustrating run of results as manager.

"It has been another busy period for the club with Stuart being relieved of his duties following last weekend's defeat to Millwall," continued Al Hasawi. "As I said at the time, that decision was by far the most difficult I've had to make as owner and chairman of Nottingham Forest. I know how much Stuart means to our supporters and he did a huge amount of excellent work behind the scenes.

"He made significant strides towards integrating our academy and first-team set-ups and proved on a number of occasions his willingness to give our younger players a chance to prove themselves, while his keenness to engage with supporters at a variety of events was fantastic.

"Sadly, my hand was forced based on results on the pitch. But I hope we can all take consolation from the fact his relationship with the club hasn't deteriorated as a result of his managerial tenure, for which our fans must take immense credit. You backed him all the way."

Forest have today tied experienced keeper Dorus de Vries to a new contract, with the Dutchman, 34, signing a new deal that will keep him at the City Ground for another two years beyond next summer.