IT looks like a normal game of five-a-side football.

Each team has a goalkeeper and four outfield players.

As usual they are trying to outscore each other.

But there is one major difference – they aren't allowed to run.

Welcome to one of Notts' newest sports – walking football.

Each week, a group of mostly older men meet for the games at Bramcote Leisure Centre.

It is the brainchild of sports chiefs at Broxtowe Borough Council to try to encourage people to remain fit and healthy.

The rules are the same as normal games of football, barring the fact that players can only walk, something they readily admit took some getting used to.

Terry Astill, 68, of Chilwell, finds it really beneficial.

He said: "I love the sessions, they're great fun. I've always liked football and used to play a bit when I was younger.

"Now I can't run like I used to, so this is ideal. I can still get outdoors and stay fit and healthy."

The retired post office worker added: "When I first started, I naturally wanted to run after the ball. You soon realise you can't do that."

Retired engineering salesman Ivan Weller, 65, of Beeston, said: "I like playing sport, whether it's swimming, badminton, squash or football.

"I saw a leaflet advertising these sessions and really wanted to get involved.

"I played football when I was younger and you really want to run at first. But I eventually got used to it."

The players meet for an hour once a week. They spent around ten minutes doing warming up exercises before embarking on a match.

George Reynolds, 65, a retired interpreter from Chilwell, also enjoys the sessions.

He said: "They're very enjoyable. And great for the social side.

"I like keeping fit but I had to give up long distance running because I had knee problems.

"That's when I heard about this and found it ideal. It was strange at first, not being able to run around in a football match. But I got used to it soon enough."

Councillor Richard Robinson, at Broxtowe Borough Council, was part of the group which helped set up the sessions, which run from 2pm to 3pm on Wednesdays

He said: "Staying active is important at any age, but especially so for older adults as exercising regular can help to prevent some medical conditions and help to reduce the risk of suffering a stroke. The sessions have proven popular."

To find out more, contact Broxtowe Sport on 0115 9173572.

Watch video from the game at www.thisisnottingham.co.uk

THE mother of a man whose death remains a mystery more than a week after he died has made an emotional plea for information.

Stephen Lees, 31, was admitted to the Queen's Medical Centre on Tuesday, December 11, with head injuries and died the next day.

A 33-year-old woman and 38-year-old man were arrested on Friday, December 14, at a house in Alberta Terrace, Forest Fields, as part of the inquiry. A 50-year-old man was also arrested.

All three have been bailed pending further inquiries.

Stephen's mother Deanna Mills said: "Stephen was a much-loved son and brother and we are devastated that we are never going to be able to see him, to hug him, ever again.

"Don't let us go through Christmas not knowing what happened to our boy."

The Nottingham man's family hope releasing the photograph of him will help police solve his death.

Mr Lees' death was referred to the police by the coroner after a post-mortem examination found that he died of a head injury.

Police are particularly keen to hear from anyone who heard for or saw Stephen between Friday, December 7 and Tuesday, December 11.

Call the incident room on 101 extension 844 6906 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

WORK is set to start on a footbridge at the site of where a 13-year-old girl died after being hit by a tram.

Network Rail says the project will go ahead "at speed" after the death of 13-year-old Lindsey Inger.

She was hit by a tram at the crossing close to Bestwood Village on November 28.

The accident happened only four years after Jean Hoggart and her seven-year-old grandson Michael Dawson were killed by a train at virtually at the same spot.

A public meeting was held in Bestwood Miners' Welfare Club last week to discuss the safety of the crossing and Network Rail representatives revealed a footbridge may be built.

The organisation now says it is to push ahead with the project, with work set to start over the next few months.

Martin Frobisher, route managing director for Network Rail, said: "This location has been the site of tragedy and, at the public meeting last week, I promised to see if a footbridge could be installed.

"This was in direct response to a request at that meeting and my team immediately started exploring the options available.

"Designs have been drawn up and give an early indication of the size of structure which would be necessary to accommodate all users on this site.

"We are in discussions with Nottingham Express Transit and will meet Ashfield District Council officials in mid-January to develop them further.

"I can assure the community we are pursuing this project at speed. However it is important that we balance that with the need to find the right solution for this site."

Tramlink Nottingham Chief Executive Phil Hewitt said: "We are working closely with Network Rail on their ideas for the footbridge.

"We will certainly play our part in making sure that their proposals are developed and implemented as quickly as possible."

A timetable for the work to build the footbridge has not yet been drawn up, but Network Rail said it would be made available "as soon as possible".

Since the accident, two MPs have called for improvements to the double crossing.

Sherwood MP Mark Spencer said more should be done, after the installation of new warning signs in 2008.

He was joined by Nottingham East MP Chris Leslie who said it was "vital" that the tram network was as safe as possible and said safety improvements should be made to the crossing "urgently."

THE city is enjoying one its busiest Christmas shopping periods in recent years.

New figures have revealed a sharp rise in shoppers visiting Nottingham this year, despite the tough economic climate and ever increasing competition from the internet.

The number of shoppers reached a peak last Sunday when there was a 23 per cent increase compared to the penultimate Sunday before Christmas in 2011. Stores are now hoping for bumper sales during the run-up to Christmas Day

Neil Fincham, centre manager at The Exchange shopping arcade said: "We are expecting this to be an exceptional weekend."

Compared to last year, there was a nine per cent increase in the number of shoppers in the city in November, a 12 per cent increase in the first week of December, and a six per cent increase in the second week of December.

Trader Jeff Allen, chairman of the Nottingham Business Improvement District, said: "This is great news for the city and we hope it translates into increased sales."

IF Sean O'Driscoll signs one player this January, I hope it is a defender.

The Nottingham Forest manager says he has three players on his wish list, as the transfer window approaches.

And I can understand why he might want to add another quality striker or a winger to the equation.

But the most important addition he could make, without any question, is another defender.

Yes, fans would get excited at the prospect of another goal scorer.

And there is no question that they could do with a little more pace in the side, particularly in wide positions.

But if there is one area that needs strengthening, it is the back-four.

In the summer, that was O'Driscoll's biggest challenge; it was the most obvious void in the squad.

Just look at the players Forest have lost over the past year.

Wes Morgan was sold last January and Reading brought Chris Gunter in the summer.

Then Luke Chambers and Joel Lynch departed on a free transfers, after their contracts had expired.

O'Driscoll had to start from scratch when it came to his back-four.

And he did a good job, with the players he brought in.

Danny Collins is solid, he is a steadying influence and a decent captain.

Greg Halford's flexibility has already been a valuable asset. He must have played in virtually every position, asides from in goal, at some point or another, only half way into the season.

And, for the first time, Forest actually have a left back, in Dan Harding, at the club.

But, with Daniel Ayala, Elliott Ward, Sam Hutchinson and Alan Hutton all at the club on loan, they still lack many permanent figures in defence.

If they want to build for the long term, I'd like to see a few more permanent additions to the Forest rearguard.

It would be great to see Ayala in particular made a permanent addition, if that is possible.

As O'Driscoll says, much will depend on whether Norwich are willing to sell.

If they are, having him at the club permanently would be a welcome boost.

The work O'Driscoll did in the summer was good – but it felt like a temporary fix.

If he can find a way to give Forest's defence a more long-term feel to it, it could really make a difference.

People always talk about the need for strikers to have a good understanding up front, with their strike partner.

But that applies just as much at the back. So far, it looks as though Ayala and Collins are the best partnership in the centre. Wouldn't it be great if there could be some longevity given to that?

But, whatever happens with Ayala, Forest still need to add more permanent strength in depth to their ranks.

And, while January is not the best time to do business, nor are the final few weeks before the season starts – and O'Driscoll seemed to do a good job back then.

There will be players out there who are available, who can make Forest stronger.

And, if one of those does prove to be a defender, I will be a happy man.

Equally, Forest will be one step closer to being the finished article, when it comes to being capable of challenging for promotion.

And I genuinely don't think they are too far away from that.

Just two or three additions could see them very well equipped.

Given what happened in the summer and all the excitement it generated, there were high expectation levels at the club.

And they have perhaps not been fulfilled as many would have hoped.

But let's not get too downhearted. Because Forest are not a million miles away.

They are within touching distance of the play-off places. They can still make this a successful season, without having to improve hugely.

There are a host of sides who will still consider themselves to be in the promotion race and Forest are very much one of those.

Yes, automatic promotion may now be beyond them, as they would be relying on other teams to drop points.

But a top six finish is more than realistic, it is entirely within reach.

The players can no longer use the excuse that they are gelling as a squad.

But that is a positive thing, because they should be unified; they should have developed an understanding, having had five months together now.

But, if all goes well, there will be no need for excuses anyway.

Forest are close to being the finished article.

And, if O'Driscoll can add two or three pieces to the jigsaw over the coming weeks – including the pivotal defensive signing – they should have a squad that is capable of competing with anyone in the Championship.

A TERRITORIAL battle over a few inches of land has landed a 73-year-old man in court again.

Richard Carter has been found guilty of twice breaking a restraining order to alter his neighbour's boundary.

A judge in Nottingham heard how Carter painted a dotted white line boundary on neighbour Leanne Jamson's block-paving in June.

And, in July, he moved her wooden planters and parked his trailer up against them so they couldn't be moved back.

This week, District Judge Leo Pyle convicted him of breaching the restraining order under the 1997 Protection from Harassment Act after a trial at Nottingham Magistrates' Court.

Carter and Mrs Jamson have been at odds for four years over a piece of drive between 12 and 18 inches wide.

A civil court hearing in 2008 concluded that the small piece of land in Fields Drive, Aslockton, belongs to Mrs Jamson.

But Carter continued to disagree, and in October last year a restraining order prevented him from changing the boundary.

In court, Carter denied the charge as he claimed the land was his. But giving evidence behind a screen at the trial, Mrs Jamson said it was hers.

She said she left her home at 5.45pm on June 30 and returned at 10.30pm to find the white line. She said: "It was on my blocked paving and about a foot on to my property."

Mrs Jamson said she left her house at 9am on July 10 to go to work, only to return at 5.40pm to find the planters moved.

She added: "They had been moved on to my property and his trailer was the other side of the planters, encroaching on to my property, stopping me putting the planters where they should be."

Mrs Jamson said she could provide photos of both incidents as evidence but Rosemary Wilde, prosecuting, said: "It's not contested that Mr Carter has done the physical act of the two allegations of breach because they are accepted. What may be in dispute now is whether or not he painted that line in contravention of the restraining order."

She said Carter had "laid claim to the land".

"Essentially it's suggested he doesn't accept the initial county court judgement, therefore he has a reasonable excuse for breaching the order."

Chris Brewin, defending, said: "My claimant has not encroached in any way, shape, or form and has not breached the restraining order. My client has not reconciled himself to the county court order."

District Judge Pyle ordered a pre-sentence report be prepared before he sentences Carter on January 24, and granted conditional bail.

FIREFIGHTERS were called to a fire at an industrial estate in Ilkeston.

Crews received reports of the blaze at the Ilkeston Household Waste Recycling Centre at Manners Avenue Industrial Estate, at around 7.40pm last night and had the fire under control by 8.50pm.

No one is believed to be injured. 

A FLAT in Worksop was damaged after a fire broke out on the first floor.

Firefighters from Worksop and Retford fire stations attended the incident in Northumbria Close at around 9pm yesterday.
One person had to be rescued by crews.

NOTTS County chief executive Jim Rodwell has blasted the decision to call off the Magpies' league game against Leyton Orient at Meadow Lane today.

Rodwell was furious with referee Jeremy Simpson, who held two pitch inspections, at midday and 1pm, before calling the game off.

The pitch was perfectly playable and Rodwell said: "I am astonished at the decision of today's match referee to call the game off.

"In all my years in football I have never been more surprised at a decision.

"It quite simply beggars belief that a professional match official could come to this conclusion.

"Both managers and both sets of players wanted to play the game and were more than happy with the condition of the pitch.

"It appears that the only person in the stadium who thought that the game was a danger to the players was the referee."

A 27-year-old man has been charged after two people suffered stab wounds at a house in Beeston on Saturday morning.

Luke Nicholson, 27, of Meadow Road, Beeston, has been charged with the attempted murder of a 25-year-old man and with causing GBH to a 23-year-old woman.

He has been remanded into custody and will appear at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on Monday.

Police were called to Alexandra Crescent at around 5.40am to find the man victim with stab wounds to his body and the woman with slash wounds to her hand.

The woman has been discharged from hospital but the man remains at Nottingham's Queen's Medical Centre in a stable condition.

A cordon at at the scene has now been taken down.  

NOTTINGHAM Forest suffered a painful 2-0 defeat at Watford, after Daniel Ayala was sent off in bizarre circumstances in the first half at Vicarage Road.

The Spanish defender picked up a second yellow card in the 38th minute, just as Greg Halford was being prepared to replace him on the touchline.

Ayala had already been booked for a foul on Matej Vydra when he then hacked down Troy Deeney, leaving referee Neil Swarbick with little option but to show him the red card.

At point, a near post shot from Vyrda had already given the Hornets the lead – and the striker added his second within two minutes of Forest being reduced to ten men.

Sean O'Driscoll's side improved after the break, but still rarely troubled the home side, who never looked troubled.

Forest made a bright start to the game and should have gone ahead in the second minute, after Simon Cox had forced a corner.

Andy Reid's curling delivery found an unmarked Danny Collins at the near post, but the skipper flashed his header across goal and narrowly the wrong side of the post.

There were early signs that this would be an end-to-end affair as Vydra drove in a powerful shot that looked to be goal bound before taking a deflection off Andy Reid that took it wide.

Forest were lively in possession and a flowing passing move led to Dan Harding finding space on the left but, from a good position, his cross was poor.

Elliott Ward made a perfectly timed challenge to deny Almen Abdi as the Watford man threatened to burst clear into the box.

But the visitors responded as Billy Sharp's clever flick found Simon Cox, who could not get his shot away before being closed down in the box.

Chris Cohen then fed Cox into space on the right flank, where the striker delivered a teasing ball into the centre. Sharp managed to connect as he slid in at the far post, but could not direct his shot on target.

Tommie Hoban then failed to guide the ball into touch and saw Cox steal the ball off his toes in a dangerous position inside the box, but the striker could not pick out Sharp in the centre.

Some poor defending then played a part as Watford took a 16th minute lead. Guy Moussi might have brought down Almen Abdi as he surged towards the box, but the Watford man was allowed to feed the ball into the path of Vydra, who drove a shot beyond Camp at his near post.

It was a powerful strike, but the keeper might have been disappointed to allow the ball past him – although can also point out the lack of protection he was provided.

Ayala was booked for the first time, for a clumsy foul on Vydra, as he hacked down the Watford man in the centre of the pitch.

Daniel Pudil then brought a smart save from Camp, who plunged quickly to his left to push away his powerful shot that was angled across goal.

Sharp then picked up an injury as he appeared to slip while challenging Manuel Almunia to get on the end of a Cohen free kick fired into the box. Both players went down in a heap, but it was the Forest striker who was left needing treatment.

Vydra then went down rather cynically in the centre of the pitch, claiming that he had been pulled back by Alaya, in an effort to get the Forest man a second yellow card.

Skipper Collins appeared to be indicating to the Forest bench that it would be wise to substitute the defender, as he was treading a fine line.

And, after Sharp had failed to profit from a half-chance with a header, Halford was stripping off and preparing to be introduced.

But Forest could not make the change in time and paid the price for not showing more urgency, as Ayala brought down Deeney as he surged towards the box and duly picked up his second yellow card.

It left Forest down to ten men in the38th minute and, two minutes after that, the game was effectively over, as Watford netted a second goal.

It was the same combination of players, as Abdi slotted Vydra in down the centre, where he had the pace to stay clear of the Forest defence, before slotting a calm finish beyond the onrushing Camp.

At half time, Forest did make a double change, with Adlene Guedioura and Halford coming on, in place of Harding and Reid.

Abdi had the ball in the net again in the 50th minute, but his joy was short-lived as his effort was rightly ruled out for offside.

Guedioura's urgency and drive were a welcome addition for Forest, who started the second half with some promise, albeit without carving out a clear cut opening.

The Algerian did fire a shot into the side netting from a free kick, after Cohen had been fouled by Cassetti right on the edge of the box – with the Watford man collecting a booking for his trouble.

Ward and Deeney were both booked following a bout of pushing and shoving in the box, as Forest attempted to take a corner.

Sharp sprinted clear when Hall failed to clear a deep ball from Halford, but the striker was for once guilty of poor finishing, as he failed to connect properly with a shot that bobbled well wide of the target.

Forest then picked up two bookings in the space of a minute, with Cox and then Sharp both punished for fouls.

They were given a let off by referee Swarbrick in the 82nd minute, however, when Halford appeared to have hauled down substitute Steve Beleck in the box. It looked like a clear penalty, but the referee booked the Watford player for simulation.

Camp produced a good save in the final stages after Deeney had skipped clear, pushing the striker's rising shot away around the post.

Watford: Almunia, Hall, Hogg, Deeney, Pudil, Vydra (Beleck 74), Abdi (Battacchio 85), Cassetti, Hoban, Chalobah (Mujangi Bia 90), Ekstrand. Subs: Bonham, Nueton, Yeates, Geijo.

Forest: Camp, Ayala, Ward, Collins, Hutton, Cohen, Moussi, Reid (Guedioura 45), Harding (Halford 45), Cox (Blackstock 79), Sharp. Subs: Darlow, Gillett, Lansbury, Majewski.

Referee: Neil Swarbrick.

Attendance: 15,143 (1,687)

I HAVE been volunteering with Home-Start Nottingham from early 2011. I first heard about Home-Start after I underwent brain surgery for epilepsy in 2010 and I required a volunteer myself.

Unfortunately, at that time, Home-Start was extremely short of volunteers and I wasn't actually matched with anyone until I was back on my feet and no longer requiring any help.

When that call came, it made me think back to the time when I was in need of some support, and that feeling of nobody caring, so I decided to become a volunteer and help people like myself.

Volunteering with Home-Start does not take up huge amounts of time, as it's only once a week for two hours a time.

This might not seem like much but to some of the families who require a helping hand or just a friendly face, this could make the world of difference, having a huge positive impact on their lives.

The role you play as a volunteer can vary from a listening ear for a new single mother learning to cope with her new life of just her and the children – to a depressed mum of five who thinks she just can't cope any more.

The rewarding feeling from volunteering is huge. Knowing that my two hours has made a small difference to that family's life is priceless.

At times, it can be emotional but the co-ordinators at Home-Start are always available to off load to, making Home-Start such a fantastic organisation to volunteer with.