A SOUVENIR cricket ball given to a schoolboy as a present for finding the famous ball hit for six sixes in one over by Notts cricket legend Garry Sobers is up for sale.

The ball, signed by Sobers, was found by Richard Lewis, who at the time was 17 and lived in Pontardawe, Wales.

It is expected to make £1,500 when it is sold at Hansons in Etwall, Derbyshire, later this month.

Mr Lewis, now 61, found the ball lying in St Helen's Avenue, Swansea, as players were leaving the field in the historic match which saw Sobers – a former West Indian captain – smash six sixes in one over in 1968, as Notts played Glamorgan.

The sale is of particular interest because the supposed actual ball hit by Sobers during that game was sold at auction in 2006 for £26,400 to an anonymous overseas buyer.

However since this sale, evidence gathered by freelance journalist Graham Lloyd has cast the authenticity of that ball into doubt – so much so that when the ball came back up for auction in May this year it was rejected for sale by the auctioneers Bonhams.

The crux of Mr Lloyd's argument lies in the make of cricket balls used by Glamorgan Cricket Club.

He says it is common knowledge among cricket fans that at that time Glamorgan always used a Stuart Surridge ball in matches – but the one sold back in 2006 was made by Duke & Son.

Now Mr Lloyd says that this ball – being sold on Friday, October 26 – is the "closest genuine memento" for cricketing fans to get their hands on, in memory of that game.

He said: "I think it should be of interest – its a memento from that game which we can rely upon."

Charles Hanson, owner of auctioneers, said: "It is the nearest to the original six sixes ball in that it's the same make and same age.

"It's signed by Garry Sobers and provides an opportunity to acquire an item linked to one of sport's most iconic moments."

Mr Lewis, a semi-retired history and politics teacher in Birmingham, said: "Bearing in mind the recent publicity associated with the original ball, I've decided that now would be a good time to sell mine and use the proceeds for an excellent holiday."

THREE people were taken to hospital after a car smashed into a row of terraced houses.

The incident happened at 1.30am on Saturday when a BMW left a bend in Nottingham Road, Borrowash, and crashed into the houses.

Two fire engines were sent to the scene, one from Long Eaton and one from Derby's Nottingham Road..

Two houses were damaged and Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service isolated the gas supply at both.

Ambulance staff assessed the people who were hurt and a structural engineer from Erewash Borough Council attended the scene to check the damage to the houses.

THE floodgates will open for Billy Sharp once he nets his first goal for Nottingham Forest – hopefully against Championship leaders Cardiff City on Saturday.

That was the positive prediction from the striker's former Doncaster team mate Simon Gillett.

Midfielder Gillett saw Sharp tear up Championship defences at Rovers and is convinced he will soon be doing the same for Forest.

Sharp, who netted 40 goals in 82 appearances for Rovers, has produced some encouraging performances for Forest since joining on loan from Southampton – but is yet to find the back of the net.

"That is Billy. He is always sniffing around for a goal and it will not be long before he hits the back of the net," said Gillett.

"He has been very close a couple of times in the last few matches. He has been unlucky.

"We are all willing him to get a goal and I am sure many will follow when he does.

"He is somebody that is not effected by it. He is a very bubbly character.

"I am sure that goal is on the way and when he gets one, they will start to come regularly."

Gillett believes Forest's new look squad is steadily coming together.

But he says the backing and patience of supporters will remain vital while things do fall in to place.

Gillett has been impressed by the level of backing from fans, particularly away from home, with close to 3,500 Reds making the trip to Peterborough.

"It does not go unnoticed," he said. "They can see what we are trying to do. We want to play in a certain way and they are behind us in that."

IT goes on and on and on. Just like the M6 to Carlisle.

Notts County are now unbeaten in 13 away league games and if ever there was a chance to reflect on that impressive club record which started in February, it was on the way back to Nottingham from Brunton Park.

Four hours and 200 miles would be time and distance enough, in fact, to recite all 150 years of the Magpies' history, although, actually, maybe not.

Notts will be looking forward though, not back, because, while they will not travel further for an away game than Carlisle this season, they look set to go a long, long way in League One, being in the top-six after 12 games.

Twice before this game, they had scored four goals on the road during their unbeaten run, against Charlton Athletic and Wycombe Wanderers.

They conceded twice at The Valley, however, and three times at Adams Park.

At Carlisle, they won 4-0. It is their biggest win of the season, their biggest in eight months under boss Keith Curle.

Talk about a perfect response to successive league defeats to leaders Tranmere Rovers and Stevenage at Meadow Lane.

While many were expecting changes, Curle played exactly the same 11 players that lost 1-0 to Tranmere in a huge show of faith and was repaid big time.

Talk about ruthlessness too. They had four shots on target and scored with each of them, through Jeff Hughes and captain Neal Bishop in the first half and Francois Zoko and Jamal Campbell-Ryce in the second.

The Magpies' fans did not just celebrate four goals. They sung for their old No.4, Mike Edwards, too.

Having left Notts for Carlisle in the summer, after eight years and 304 games, he played against his old club for the first time. "There's only one Mike Edwards!" was the chant. It was strange seeing him in Carlisle colours.

Such has been the tide of change at Meadow Lane over the summer, Edwards only faced three of his former team-mates – Hughes, Bishop and Alan Judge.

Bishop, who now wears No.4, gave Edwards a clip round the ear before kick-off and then inspired Notts to victory with a powerful display in midfield and scored on 27 minutes.

He scored just five goals in his first three seasons at Meadow Lane, but has already now got three so far this campaign.

He is not just a tough-tackler and a driving force now, Bishop is now a goal threat.

Having scored a long-range wonder goal at MK Dons, his strike against Carlisle was far less spectacular, as he slid into the six-yard box to steer Jordan Stewart's low cross from the left wing past United goalkeeper Mark Gillespie. But it was no less significant because it gave Notts a 2-0 lead.

It was a wonderfully created goal too. Hughes won the ball back with a good tackle and quickly spread it out wide, Stewart drove the ball across the face of goal and Bishop made a superbly-timed surge to score.

Hughes had already netted to give the Magpies a 1-0 lead.

He chose a move to Notts over Carlisle 15 months ago and has since proved a great signing.

He scored the Magpies' first goal in the first game of last season at Brunton Park at the beginning of a phenomenal first season at Meadow Lane in which he scored a career-record 17 goals to be the top scorer and it took him just 11 minutes to score their opener at Carlisle once again.

Judge made it, jinking his way past two players on the left and curling a cross into the box, and Hughes beat Gillespie with a header from six yards to notch his second goal of the season.

Judge was later forced off injured, unfortunately, and he was replaced by Francois Zoko, who scored his fourth goal for Notts against his old club.

The Ivorian forward spent two seasons at Carlisle before rejecting a new deal with them to join the Magpies in the summer, passing Edwards on the M6, and he struck on 54 minutes to make it 3-0, racing onto a flick from Yoann Arquin and into the penalty area and sliding the ball past Gillespie and inside his left-hand post.

As Notts fans went wild, he just lifted his right arm up in the air in a subdued celebration, before being mobbed by his new team-mates.

The Magpies completed the rout just three minutes later.

They had already been denied a penalty in the first half, wrongly, after Gillespie spilled a cross and Hughes nicked it away from him only to be upended by the goalkeeper.

But they were given one on 57 minutes.

Winger Jamal Campbell-Ryce was brought down in the box by Carlisle left-back Chris Chantler and, after picking himself up and dusting himself down, he swept the penalty into the bottom-left corner of the net, sending Gillespie the wrong way.

Already leading 2-0 at half-time, those two early goals at the start of the second half killed off Carlisle.

Referee Stuart Attwell might as well have blown his whistle as soon as Campbell-Ryce's penalty hit the back of the net and let Notts and their fans begin their long treks home early to get home in time for X-Factor.

But he booked the wrong Notts player in injury time at the end of the first half so he could not be relied on to make the right decision. Arquin fouled Chantler near to the halfway line and yet Attwell booked Campbell-Ryce before Curle told him he had made a mistake.

Never before has a yellow card been rescinded so quickly. Unlike Attwell, the Magpies made no mistakes.

They were faultless from the first minute to the last.

"We want five, we want five," their fans chanted.

They didn't get their wish, but they were still deliriously happy with four goals, if less so about the four-hour journey home.

League 1: Bournemouth 2 Leyton Orient 0, Carlisle 0 Notts County 4, Colchester 1 Stevenage 0, Crawley Town 3 Bury 2, Hartlepool 1 Doncaster 1, Portsmouth 2 Crewe 0, Scunthorpe 1 Brentford 1, Sheff Utd 1 Oldham 1, Swindon 2 Coventry 2, Tranmere v Yeovil.

League 2: AFC Wimbledon 1 Cheltenham 2, Barnet 1 Plymouth 4, Bradford 1 York 1, Burton Albion 1 Bristol Rovers 1, Chesterfield 1 Dag & Red 2, Fleetwood Town 0 Wycombe 1, Gillingham 4 Aldershot 0, Northampton 3 Exeter 0, Rochdale 1 Morecambe 2, Rotherham 0 Southend 3, Torquay 3 Accrington Stanley 1.

A COTGRAVE man whose wife is recovering from breast cancer will today embark on five days of non-stop fishing to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

Clive Hawker, 42, said he had decided to do the challenge, at Holme Pierrepont because it combined his favourite hobby with helping a cause close to his heart.

Six years ago, his wife, Vicky, 41, was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Mr Hawker said: "When Vicky got ill, it was a very traumatic time. The course of treatment was long and tough but she battled on through.

"Even though she got given the all-clear, she has never been the same since. It has been an extremely difficult time for both of us.

"So, as I'm a dedicated angler, I thought I would do a sponsored five day non-stop fish for Cancer Research.

"I just want to do something for a cause that helps people like my wife and give something back."

Mr Hawker, who took early retirement recently, added that he would eat and sleep by Hackett's Lake, Holme Pierrepont for the next five days.

He said: "I won't leave the lake in the next week. I've never done anything like this before, so I am quite apprehensive but also excited."

Mr Hawker has been fishing since the age of five.

"The longest I have fished for before is 48 hours and this is much longer," he said.

"I can't predict how many fish I'll catch really. I can go for 24 hours and catch 40 fish, but then again, at this time of year, things slow down a lot and there are less fish.

"But I'm hoping for a fair haul."

He added that the five day challenge was a personal challenge as well as a fundraising one.

"I've got epilepsy, so for me this five-day stint is a personal milestone, too.

"I will have my dad and a few friends popping out to see me to check I'm OK. I'm really looking forward to completing it and I'm hoping to raise around £500 for Cancer Research UK."

Mr Hawker has raised £100 so far. To sponsor him, go to www. justgiving.com/clivehawker1904.

A CENTRE for homeless people is asking people to help fund fuel for its kitchens.

Nottingham's Emmanuel House Day Centre feeds hundreds of people every week.

But rising fuel prices mean it costs around £3,000 to run the kitchen for one year at the centre in Goose Gate.

Through its Fuel for Food campaign it hopes to raise this cash by the end of the month.

Fundraiser Natasha McCracken said: "Traditionally we've focused on donations for harvest; we've generally got food from community groups such as churches and schools, but we wanted to give people the option of giving individually and take advantage of online giving.

"People like to know what they're giving for and we've worked out how much it does cost to fuel the kitchen."

Individuals can give to a special Just Giving account, but restaurants are being urged to take part, by donating £1 every time they sell a dessert.

Ms McCracken said: "It's the idea that for someone else it's just a little extra, it's their treat and dessert – but the cash will go towards something that's very basic in comparison here."

The day centre also has a number of volunteering posts available, and is looking for people to help run various activities – anything from art and music activities or running projects in the allotments.

The centre is also looking for a volunteer to help out with data entry. For more details go to www.emmanuelhouse.org. uk/site/volunteering.

Donate to the Fuel for Food campaign at www.justgiving.com/emmanuelhouse- Fuel4Food.

Food donations are always needed. For more details about what you can give go to www.emmanuelhouse.org.uk

A MAN has been fined £300 for kerb-crawling in Nottingham. Nigel Feckey pleaded guilty to soliciting another person for the purpose of obtaining a prostitute in Balmoral Road, The Arboretum, on July 5. Feckey, 52, of Moore Road, Mapperley, was also ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

BRIAN O'Connor, 44, of Land Bank, Rise Park, was given a community order for assaulting a female in Forest Fields on July 7 this year. He pleaded guilty at Nottingham Magistrates' Court, and was ordered to attend a domestic abuse programme and be supervised by the Probation Service. He must comply with a restraining order not to contact the victim of the assault and pay her £250 compensation, plus court costs of £85.

MARK Cowell , 47, of Sandside, Cotgrave, admitted damaging a DVD cabinet and a canary cage, worth £59 and £45 respectively. The items, which belonged to a woman, were damaged on September 14 this year. Cowell admitted he assaulted the owner of the goods in Bingham on the same date. Magistrates in Nottingham imposed a community order, including supervision from the Probation Service for 12 months. He has to pay the victim £200 compensation and court costs of £85.

STEVEN Coaten, 37, of Olga Court, St Ann's, has been disqualified from driving for 20 months for drink-driving. Coaten pleaded guilty to driving a Ford Fiesta in Carlton Road, Nottingham, on September 20 with 83 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - exceeding the 35 micrograms limit. As well as being disqualified, Coaten was also fined £110, and ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and a £15 victim surcharge. Coaten also admitted a charge of driving without insurance. He faced no separate penalty.

ADAM Smith, 19, of Montfort Crescent, Sherwood, admitted carrying a kitchen knife with a 16cm blade in Northgate, Newark, on September 13 without good reason or lawful authority. He was made subject of a community order and ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs.

A LOWDHAM newsagent has added a special new item to its shelves among the usual papers, magazines and sweets – miniature golden postboxes.

Station News started selling the novelty money boxes after the village's postbox was painted gold to celebrate the success of Lowdham Paralympic gold medal winner Richard Whitehead.

Richard and Tina Manning, owners of the shop in Station Road, said they were thrilled by sales and planned to donate the proceeds to charity.

Mr Manning, 49, said: "Richard Whitehead's mum and dad live just down the road from the shop and pop in regularly.

"As a bit of a joke I got one of these mini postboxes that are also little money boxes, and spray-painted it gold.

"I put it on the counter and then it started to get lots of attention.

"Customers kept asking if they could buy them, so I decided to start making them in bulk. So far we have sold 205 and I have just bought another batch of 60.

"They were originally priced at £7.50 but then Richard started signing some of them so we raised the price to £10. They are going very quickly."

Mr Manning added: "Because they have become so popular I have enlisted the help of a car garage in Gunthorpe to spray-paint them for me."

The postboxes, which are about six inches tall, cost Mr Manning around £3 to £4 to produce.

He said that all the profit made would be donated to cancer charity Sarcoma UK, a charity for people with bone and soft tissue cancer.

He said: "A few years ago Richard lost a friend to cancer so we thought it would be fitting to donate to this charity.

"We hope to raise at least £1,000 and are planning to present a cheque to the charity in mid November in the WI hall in the village."

THE future of a flying club has been thrown into doubt by a multi-million pound plan for new housing and a business park.

Rolls-Royce wants to build 900 homes on part of its Hucknall site and a public consultation was launched on the plans last month.

The plans suggest the airfield used by the Merlin Flying Club, which celebrated its 50th anniversary earlier this year, would be built on.

The club is now in discussions with Rolls-Royce but chief flying instructor Colin Hutson, 52, from Hucknall, said the future of the club was uncertain in light of the plans.

"At the moment we have no idea what is going to happen," he said. "Until it is all approved or otherwise we don't fully understand what effect it's going to have on the club.

"Of course we want to stay open, we've been going for 50 years and there's plenty of people who still want to keep the club."

The Merlin Flying Club, which is open to Rolls-Royce employees and their immediate family, started when several workers asked for permission to use the airfield to start a flying club.

Its primary aim is to help people learn to fly in an affordable way.

Another member of the club Nigel Perkins, 56, of Ockbrook, Derbyshire, agreed that it would be hard to see the club close.

"At the moment the situation is uncertain," he said. "We are talking to the company and will continue to do so as the plans progress.

"Everyone here wants to continue if we can but the company is saying it doesn't know what will happen so we just have to wait."

Hucknall resident Jackie Wadsworth, 47, whose son has just learnt to fly at the club, is disappointed that the club may not be able to continue.

She is also concerned that Hucknall's Air Training Corps (ATC) squadron, which also uses Rolls-Royce land, will be affected by the proposals.

"Certainly it looks very much like Merlin Flying Club would be grounded because of the development," she said.

"I think it's very sad from a purely personal point of view. This experience has changed my son's life, he had no idea what he wanted to do before joining the club, but they put faith in him and his love of flying means he wants to become a commercial pilot.

"The club is so important to the community is very sad to see it threatened."

Rolls-Royce will not put in a full planning application yet until after the public consultation is over. The firm declined to comment.

HOME-MADE scarecrows went on display around Toton as part of a new community event.

The stuffed creations were kitted out in a variety of outfits from purple tights to lab coats, some of them relaxing in deck chairs or perched on walls at the village's first scarecrow festival.

Each one of the 33 scarecrows had been made by different community groups in Toton, with schoolchildren, Scouts, Brownies and church groups all taking part.

Organisers, husband and wife Andrew, 57, and Lynne Pearson, 53, of Bridge North Way, Toton, said the festival had brought people from the community together.

"It originated as an idea to join as many church and community groups together as possible and we were amazed when we had 33 groups sign up," said Andrew, a member of Toton Churches and head teacher at Bramcote Hills School, in Bramcote.

"All of the groups taking part had to create a scarecrow and scene."

He said the theme was not just the traditional harvest festival, but also included elements involved in the creation of food worldwide, such as coal, power and the weather.

"The idea now is to get as many members of the community involved in enjoying the displays and activities," he added.

"We opened at 10am and just one person turned up but then it was rammed and both churches were full. We are delighted by how popular it's been and that people chose to take part.

"As a church we want to reach out to the community and invite them to come in and see what we are all about."

Toton Churches includes St Peter's Church and the Methodist Church, both in High Street.

The scarecrows and scenes were spread between the two churches and included a scientist scarecrow dressed in a lab coat to represent genetically-modified food, a TV weather map made of scrunched-up tissue paper and a fisherman.

Methodist Church minister Antony Oakley was also pleased with the turnout.

"This is a fantastic community event and it's lovely to see people of all ages enjoying themselves and having a good time," he said.

"That's really where we want the church to be – at the heart of the community, it's great."

As well as locating each individual scarecrow, children were given the opportunity to take part in games and crafts.

Vegetables were available to create different characters and animals, apples hung from the ceiling for children to try to grab using just their teeth while others were shown how to make corn dolls from straw.

Julie Jennings had come to the festival with her two daughters Grace, five, and Daisy, two.

"It's been really good, it's brought everyone together and it's been great for the children," said Julie, 44, of Long Eaton.

"People have gone to a lot of effort and it really shows."

Anthony Taylor, 72, of Toton, was also impressed with the different scarecrows.

He said: "They're brilliant, Some are really life-like.

"I think the whole event is excellent.

"It's brought lots of people in and everyone seems to be really enjoying it."

NOTTS woodlands should be declared no-go areas for dogs, owners say, after more pets were struck down by a mystery illness.

The illness has struck down dogs being walked in and around Sherwood Forest or Clumber Park every autumn since 2009.

Several animals have died, although there have been no recorded fatalities so far this year.

Each autumn warning signs are put up in woodland car parks and on information boards about the condition, known as seasonal canine illness.

Now one woman says it is time for the authorities to stop people walking dogs in Notts woodland until the cause is found. Chloe Stark, 22, of Ratcliffe-on-Soar, spoke after her Jack Russell crosses Alfie and Lunar, and chihuahua Roma, all fell seriously ill after a walk in Sherwood Pines, near Clipstone, on September 30.

Within 48 hours of the trip all three were vomiting and only recovered after being admitted to the vets and given antibiotics.

Miss Stark, who lives on a narrow boat on the River Soar with boyfriend Mark Smith, said: "It's fair enough putting signs up but they are easily missed.

"It's happened four years running now and it's time to say to dog walkers 'don't come in at this time of year.

"It was absolutely horrific with my dogs."

Seasonal canine illness was first linked to areas of woodland in 2009, but an exact cause has never been found. Dog owners are advised to look out for vomiting, diarrhoea or lethargy which usually appears within 24 to 72 hours of dogs having walked in woodland in autumn. At least 11 Notts dogs have died since 2009, all after being walked in and around Sherwood Forest or Clumber Park.

Miss Stark's comments were backed by Angie Shaw, club secretary of the Nottingham Dog Training Club, based in St Ann's.

She said: "You are only putting your dog at risk by visiting these areas at that time of year until they find out what's causing it."

Louise Fleetwood, of the Forestry Commission, which runs Sherwood Pines, said out of thousands of visitors the commission was only aware of four cases this year. "We would never dissuade people from coming when it's only a minority of dogs that have been affected," she said.

A spokeswoman for the Animal Health Trust, which is investigating the illness, added: "We will not be advising owners to stay away from woodland at this point in the investigation because we still don't have a definitive cause."

A RUNNING and athletics club has fallen out again with the organisation in charge of its training venue.

Mansfield Harriers and Athletic Club and the trustees of Berry Hill Park in Mansfield have been in dispute over the facility for more than a year.

In the most recent incident athletes were left upset when they arrived for regular Thursday training at the park's track and field facility only to find a football club using the field inside the track.

Some athletes were unaware the trustees had given the night to Woodhouse Colts FC, in a move which has again thrown both sides in to dispute.

It follows a row in June over a rise in the rent the Harriers pay to use the park.

Ray Jackson-Smith, secretary of the trustees, said he emailed the Harriers on September 27 saying they could no longer use the facilities at the park on Thursdays, but offering them Fridays or Wednesdays or a change in their fees.

But Mr Jackson-Smith said he got no reply from the Harriers, so went ahead with allowing the football club to take the night.

He said: "There has been a long standing run-in with the Harriers and the trust. The trust has taken a lot of stick which is unjustified."

"We need to manage the park and try to make some income because it's a private park which has no public sector income at all."

But Harriers club chairman Paul Gair said he had not received the trustees' first email.

"It's frustrating," he said. "I've had enough of it. I just want it all resolved.

"As soon as I got the second email (about Thursdays) I tried ringing the chairman of the trustees, but couldn't get through."

He said he eventually spoke a trustee representative but felt the conversation "didn't achieve anything".

He said there had not been enough notice for him to warn athletes of the problem, so some turned up on the night the football team were there.

One of them, 17-year-old middle distance runner Hayley Silver, said: "Everything seems to be done so irrationally by the trustees and it's unfair on the kids and the adults at the club."

Mr Gair said the club had agreed to pay their rent for September and sent a letter to the trustees saying they wanted to resolve the dispute.

"I'm ever the optimist," he said. "I just want it sorted."

The club has between 200 and 300 members.

A SCHOOL is being investigated for allegedly failing to stop two young pupils watching pornography on a field trip.

It has been alleged the year 4 girls watched adult TV in a dormitory in Skegness.

It is one of a number of serious allegations which have been made about the way Burton Joyce Primary School has been run. Notts County Council has launched an investigation.

Eric Ashworth, a governor at the school, said: "I do not believe that child protection measures at the school have been rigorous enough.

"One of the complaints that has been made is that two girls watched porn while on a trip to Skegness. We are very concerned about this allegation."

The Post understands the trip took place in the spring.

Mr Ashworth, a former teacher, also claims important decisions about the school have been taken by governing body committees, but that formal records of these meetings do not exist. He said these include a committee agreement to apply for academy status.

Mr Ashworth said he believed head teacher Margaret Gretton should be suspended while the council inquiry took place.

Mr Ashworth said at least four governors have resigned, while parents have taken their children out of the school.

Christopher Green, 47, of Main Street, Burton Joyce, has taken his four children – aged five, eight, nine and ten – out of the school, and has also called for Ms Gretton to be suspended.

He said: "We didn't want our children at that school anymore. It was a really bad situation that was getting worse."

The Post previously reported how the school's application for academy status had been put on hold while the investigation was going on.

Councillor Philip Owen, committee chairman for children and young people's services at the county council, said the council had launched the inquiry into the way the school has been run, including the role of the head teacher.

In terms of the academy status application, he said: "This process has been stopped because of the allegations that the process was flawed."

Speaking about the Skegness trip, he said complainants had spoken of "inappropriate material" for the age of the pupils, adding: "I am aware that allegations have been made from a variety of sources."

A Department for Education spokesperson said: "Burton Joyce Primary School's application to become an academy has been deferred whilst the local authority completes an investigation into concerns raised by members of the local community, and we have had the opportunity to consider the outcome."

When the Post rang the school we were told the head teacher was not available to comment.

SPOTLIGHTS may have been to blame for a fire which tore through the roof of a house and led to families evacuating their homes.

The blaze broke out in the loft of the property in Summerwood Lane, Clifton, in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Fire crews from West Bridgford were called at about 3.52am as the smell of smoke spread to the homes of people living next door to the terraced house.

Neighbour Vernon Ganly, 45, said he was woken by the smoke but at first had no idea where it was coming from.

He said: "I looked out of the bedroom window and saw smoke coming from the eaves of the house and the neighbours came outside and rang the fire brigade.

"I had to stay out for about 15 minutes, then the firefighters came and then it was out."

The house is thought to be rented by two women aged in their 20s.

Neither is thought to have been hurt and no-one else was affected.

A few doors down Robert Treece, 65, said he and wife Kathleen were woken by the sound of the fire brigade arriving.

He said: "It woke us up because the engines were roaring and the lights were flashing. then I looked outside and thought 'what's going off?'

"Apparently all the loft was on fire. A fireman said it was because of a problem with some little spot lights.

"Some people had to leave their houses for a bit because it was next to their lofts.

"I heard once it caught hold it went up pretty quick and it's burnt a hole in the middle of the roof.

"It's a shame really about the house but I'm really glad no-one was injured."

Yesterday a green tarpaulin could be seen covering the hole in the roof.

Another person living on the street, who did not want to give their name, said: "People had to leave their houses because of the smoke, it's still smelly in there now."

Notts Fire and Rescue Service said four firefighters wearing breathing equipment tackled the fire and it was declared over at 4.47am.

JOHN Gaffney, 61, of Forster Street, Radford, admitted a series of benefit offences after he claimed £29,000 over ten years. Magistrates in Nottingham gave him a 10-week prison sentence, suspended for two years. He made a false statement to Nottingham City Council that he was in receipt of an occupational pension on September 2, 2002; May 24, 2002; October 13, 2002; and September 3, 2003. His sentence was suspended at Nottingham Magistrates' Court because of his poor health. He is subject to a curfew for five months and has been electronically tagged.

DANNY Thompson, 22, of Wigman Road, Bilborough, denied stealing a mobile phone in Fletcher Road, Beeston, on August 14. His case was sent to Nottingham Crown Court to be heard on November 27 and he was remanded in custody.

COLLEEN Marr, 46, of Lawrence Close, Cotgrave, has been given a 12-month conditional discharge for stealing cans of strong lager. She admitted committing the offence at the Co-op, in Cotgrave, on September 9 and was ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs.

DANIEL King, 27, of Sneinton Dale, Sneinton, pleaded guilty to assaulting a woman in Upper Parliament Street, Nottingham, on September 16. He was fined £122.

A MOTORIST has been banned from the roads for 14 months after being caught drink-driving. Sebastian Graja, 32, of Radford Road, Hyson Green, admitted driving an Audi A4 in Cranmer Street, Nottingham, on August 3 with 123 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood, exceeding the 80 milligrams limit. Graja was fined £200 and ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

HENRY Martin, 52, of Cosby Road, Sneinton, has been ordered to pay a total of £689 in fines and costs. He was found guilty of driving a Vauxhall Astra in Lower Parliament Street, Nottingham, when he had a accident with another vehicle.

Magistrates heard he failed to stop after the smash on November 13 last year. He was fined £110 for this offence and disqualified from driving for six months. No separate penalty was imposed for failing to report the accident, which he was also found guilty of.

He was further fined £55 after he was convicted of driving without due care and attention and was ordered to pay £319 compensation and court costs of £150. He pleaded guilty to driving without a licence and was fined £40 and ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge.

THE final design for a £75,000 statue of Notts County legends Jimmy Sirrel and Jack Wheeler has been welcomed by fans.

Sculptor Alan Edwards, who created a statue of Brian Clough and Peter Taylor which stands outside Derby County's Pride Park stadium, has designed the latest piece.

It will be built outside the Magpies' Meadow Lane ground once enough money has been raised.

Supporters will be able to have their names engraved on a plinth at the bottom of the statue in return for a £25 donation. So far, £28,000 has been collected.

Notts County fan Scott Giles, 24, of Stapleford, was impressed by the design's attention to detail.

"It looks really good," he said. "I'm really impressed by how they almost look life-like with all the detail in the faces.

"Once the statue is up it will be great to see the pair finally recognised for everything they helped the Magpies to achieve during their time at the club."

Raffles have been held to boost the fund and Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has donated £3,000.

The fund was set up by lifelong Magpies fans Darren Patterson and John Semak in 2010 in memory of Mr Sirrel and Mr Wheeler, who masterminded the Magpies' famous rise from the old Division Four to the top flight of English football, between 1971 and 1981.

Mr Sirrel was manager and Mr Wheeler his assistant when Notts won the Division Four title in 1971 and finished runners-up in Division Three in 1973 and Division Two in 1981.

Martin Naylor, 44, of Radcliffe Road, West Bridgford, is among those keen to see the full-sized version of the statue once it had finished.

He said he hoped people would give generously so that the statue design became a reality. The idea is fantastic and the statue looks great. The facial expressions and posture of the two guys is just right," he said.

"Jimmy Sirrel and Jack Wheeler are two of the most famous faces in the history of Notts County and it's fantastic they are being remembered in such a way.

"My own personal memories of Notts County started in the 70s, when Jimmy was manager and Jack was trainer and both of them are such loyal servants to the club it's brilliant they are being remembered in such a way."

To make a donation, visit www.jimmyandjackstatuefund.co.uk.

A COUNTRY pursuits show which attracted thousands of people over the weekend is now so popular organisers are set to make it even bigger.

The Robin Hood Game and Country Show appeared at Newark Showground for the fourth year running on Saturday and Sunday.

It featured horse-riding displays, crafts, dog agility and training shows, clay-pigeon shooting and hundreds of trade and food stands.

Organisers Aztec Events said 52,000 people attended across both days, compared to about 32,000 last year.

Event promoter James Martin said: "We've had people from Leicester and Newcastle travelling down. I think we are getting more people because the show is growing and there's more to look at."

He said a five-year plan involved making the show 40 per cent larger and added: "We've seen some big shows cancelled around the country with the weather this year – so for us this was an extremely risky move at this time of year.

"But we've got a really good team and the weather has been on our side this year. All the hard work has paid off."

About 350 organisations and companies ran exhibitions and stalls at the show, including Ashfield Ferret Club, which meets twice a month in Stapleford Community Centre.

The club ran a stall where visitors could learn about ferrets and children could pick them up or take them for walks.

Club organiser John Goddard said: "It gives the public the opportunity to see the animals close up.

"People realise ferrets don't deserve their reputation for being horrible, bitey things.

"We get enjoyment from passing on knowledge and the show always has a good feel."

Among the food stands, Lime Tree Pantry, from Ollerton, was selling pies and tarts baked with ingredients from farmers in the local area.

Kevin Haddy, who was helping to run the stall, said: "It's been great, we get a lot of people coming back for more. I think its the taste of the pastry people love."

Nottinghamshire Freemasons also ran a stall as part of plans by the group to recruit more members and improve the movement's image.

Steve Larimore, secretary to the group's provincial information committee, said: "We are generally working to change the perceptions of what Freemasonry is about and spread the word.

"It's about friendship and charity and we've suffered over the years for being known as secretive which isn't actually true."

NOTTS County captain Neal Bishop is set to have an X-ray on his ribs.

The midfielder, 31, scored his third goal of the season as the Magpies thrashed Carlisle United 4-0 to move back into the top-six in League One.

But he has been in a bit of pain since taking a whack on his ribs three games ago against Stevenage so is going to hospital to have it checked out.

Defender Carl Regan also left Brunton Park with his right foot in an air cast boot and Alan Judge limped off in the first half, after being kneed in the backside, but Magpies' boss Keith Curle said the Irishman will be okay.

Notts are now unbeaten in 13 away league games under Curle and Bishop said they were back to their best against Carlisle, after back-to-back defeats to Stevenage and league leaders Tranmere Rovers at Meadow Lane.

"It was the complete performance from the first minute to the last, coming off the back of two disappointing home results," he said.

"It was a big game because of losing to Stevenage and Tranmere and we responded just as I knew we would.

"Some people might have thought those two defeats were the start of a slide, but we showed we're a good team and can stay up there in the mix."

Bishop had only scored five goals in three seasons until now – but has got three in the first 12 league games of this campaign.

"More goals than bookings is a rare occurrence for me," he joked.

"I looked at the bookings sheet the other day and I haven't got one this season.

"I was having a word with Judgey because he's got a few!

"It's unchartered territory for me.

"The gaffer gives us all the licence to get forward into the box and it was great to get on the end of Jordan's (Stewart) cross and stick it in."

Jeff Hughes, Francois Zoko and Jamal Campbell-Ryce also netted as Notts claimed their biggest win of the season at Brunton Park.

They created four chances – and ruthlessly took all of them.

"It's no fluke," said Bishop.

"We do a lot of shooting drills after training and it's paying off big time because we're sharing the goals around.

"We had four chances, scored all four of them and there were four different scorers."

CLIFTON singer songwriter Jake Bugg is expected to hit the top ten with his debut album, released today. The 18-year-old's self-titled collection has been picking up rave reviews, with the NME describing it as: "full of wit, wisdom and genuine soul," and awarding it nine out of 10.

"It's as if Buddy Holly had grown up on a council estate in the East Midlands (4/5)," said the Daily Mail, while The Guardian described him as having "a warm, wistful voice and keen observational eye, pitching his songs beautifully between youth and experience".

Bugg has sold out his Rescue Rooms gig next month, after which he'll be supporting Noel Gallagher on a tour of the US and Europe.

Tickets recently went on sale for his headline show at Rock City on February 15, priced at £12 and available from www.alt-tickets.co.uk.