A TOLLERTON couple have created a new range of socks that won't fall off.

The Little Grippers range is designed for babies, children and sports players and will officially launch online later this month.

They have been created by Adrien Pettiford and his wife, Rachel, who are hoping their product could become a global success.

He said: "How many times do you see lost baby socks on the floor in town? How often do you tell your child to pull their school socks up? It happens all the time and we thought we could solve the problem.

"Our new product features robotically-applied technology which is 100 per cent natural and hypoallergenic. It makes socks, gloves and mittens stay on and not fall down."

Little Grippers, made by the Pettifords' company Toby Brands, are a unique invention the couple have patented. They work by using a silicone strip at the top of the socks, which grips the skin, stopping them from falling down.

Mr Pettiford, who has five children, two of them toddlers, added: "We plan to sell Little Grippers in Nottingham as well as all over the country and, ultimately, all over the world.

"As parents, we know it is something that is needed and something which solves a problem all parents, teachers and sports players have experienced."

The socks have already attracted national attention, with the couple appearing on the innovation slot on Simon Mayo's Radio 2 show on Friday evening.

Toby Brands began seven months ago and was the brainchild of Mr Pettiford, who has worked in manufacturing for 20 years. He said: "What is so great about this new product is that it is a local initiative. We have worked very closely with Barclays in West Bridgford and also our local accountants, Robert H Brindley, in Arnold who have really helped us get the business going, and we are based in Tollerton.

"Hopefully, Little Grippers will put Nottingham on the map for business."

The baby socks are priced at £3 a pair and the school socks £4 or £5 a pair.

The brand will be officially launched on January 27 at Bubble London Business Design Centre and will be available in shops soon afterwards.

In the meantime, people can visit www.littlegrippers.co.uk.

ALEX McLeish will step up his search for a new striker, as well as a new goalkeeper, at Nottingham Forest this week.

The Reds boss will continue his quest to sign an experienced stopper – but believes it is equally important to add more firepower to his City Ground frontline, after a thigh injury picked up by Dexter Blackstock exposed the lack of depth in his squad.

After telling Lee Camp he has no future at the club, the Reds boss handed a debut to rookie stopper Karl Darlow on Saturday and the 22-year-old responded with a solid, confident display amid a 2-1 win over Peterborough.

And it proved to be a lack of cover for his front men that was a bigger concern for McLeish, after Blackstock sustained a problem in training, forcing him to include Matt Derbyshire – who has been told he is free to leave the club in January – on the bench.

"With big Dexter out injured, we only have two strikers, really, in Sharp and Coxy," said McLeish. "Matt Derbyshire is still in the squad, but it is not easy for Matt or for me when I say to him 'you are not in my plans' then ask him to be on the bench.

"While he is still a Forest player, he might have a role to play. He has a great attitude, to be fair.

"But we do need to make additions. It is not about numbers, it is about quality. Two or three could be enough to enhance the squad. It depends on positions, that is what matters.

"And we are looking at a goalkeeper, winger and attacker – we are a bit light in the attack.

"Dexter was still getting twinges when he was trying to kick the ball. Dexter knows his body. He will know that an injury like that is going to curtail his mobility on the pitch.

"So it was a big shift for Coxy and Sharp to put in. They did very well at times.

"But I do think we can get sharper. I do think we can get a little bit fitter and a little bit sharper at this club."

McLeish revealed he has also told Robbie Findley he is free to go – with the striker likely to return home to America. But the manager added he is close to making further additions.

"One or two strikers will be leaving the club and Robbie is one of those, one or two things have been done with him so that he is free to move away from Forest," he said. "I think America is the most likely option for him, that is where the smart money is.

"We have a long list of potential targets and, while we have had one or two opportunities to do things, we want to make sure we get things right.

"We have plenty of options in mind and I am not just talking about keepers.

"If we want to have a crack at the play-offs, we need to reinforce the team; we need to add.

"I want to help the guys who are here to have a big push at this. We need to improve and I am sure new players will help us to do that.

"Some may take until the end of the window to get done. We have sewn a few seeds but some deals will drag on, I would expect until the end of the window."

WHEN we were in shorts and ribbons there were various bits of adult tea-table wisdom that went over our heads.

I wondered why assembled parents, aunts and uncles, considering life over a pot of Assam and a packet of Ginger Nuts, would nod sagely when one of them opined: "You know you're getting old when the policemen start looking younger."

Now that I am no longer in shorts and am old enough to pontificate to nephews and nieces, the policemen reference is not really appropriate.

Even before the latest round of public service cuts, Plod on the street was as rare as rocking-horse droppings. I am, therefore, in no position to say whether, in recent years, they have looked younger or older than of yore.

However, there is some good news for those who lament the accelerated passing of their own allotted years: if you can actually find a police officer, it seems he or she could shortly starting looking older once again.

One of the consequences of the evaporation of public services in the UK, we are warned, could be a lost generation of bobbies.

In a blue line that is now as thin as it has been for nine years, recruitment freezes have meant the number of officers aged under 26 has fallen by 50 per cent nationally and in Notts by 62 per cent.

It's not ideal, but let's not get carried away in the quest to make police forces demographically representative of society.

They have never been truly representative of society and probably never will be, and provided we are not pitting only a bunch of wheezing old lardballs against the criminal fraternity's finest there is no need to panic.

Besides, we can expect time to throw up some checks and balances.

In Notts, for instance, we are told that 100 new officers could be recruited within a year.

One would expect most of these rookie constables to be in their twenties, although I trust every opportunity will also be given to older candidates who have the potential to serve the force well for several years.

Yes, police forces need their twenty-somethings, and not just because they are more likely than a portly chief superintendent to out-run a toe-rag. These young men and women are also valuable as role models.

However let's not lose sight of two things: this is more of a numbers problem than an age problem... and it is not entirely a numbers problem.

Recorded crime does not tell us the full story but the year-on-year improvement in September 2012, the last month for which figures are available on the Notts police website, suggests that fewer officers are being better managed.

The judicious deployment of the promised extra officers, perhaps even (dare one mention it?) as a reassuring deterrent presence on our streets, raises the prospect of further improvements.

If that happens, we should rejoice... and fret about age only when there is nothing more important to worry about.

If a rozzer is good enough, he's young enough.

A CITY school has been told it must improve.

Hogarth Primary and Nursery was given the second-worst rating of "requires improvement" by Ofsted after a visit in mid-December.

In the report, which has just been released, lead inspector Michael Phipps said pupils were not making enough progress in English and maths.

He said that in some lessons, activities were too easy for some pupils.

However, he did note good points, saying pupils felt safe in school and children were taught well in the early years.

The report said: "In recent years pupils' progress in English and mathematics in Key Stage 2 has been too slow.

"Rates of progress are now beginning to rise as a result of actions taken by school leaders to improve teaching.

"Attainment in English is now close to national figures but rates of progress in mathematics have not yet been rapid enough to close the gap with pupils nationally."

He added: "Pupils behave well in lessons. They enjoy learning and they want to succeed. Most pupils concentrate well and can work without help from their teacher when they are given the chance."

The school was given a "satisfactory" grade in its previous inspection.

The "requires improvement" rating replaced this when Ofsted introduced tougher measures last year.

Having been given the rating, schools are subject to regular monitoring inspections from Ofsted.

Head teacher Fiona Johnson said: "The governors, staff and I are pleased that the Ofsted team identified Hogarth's strengths and those things that are key to a child's social development and well-being – such as relationships between themselves and adults in school and overall behaviour.

"In the full report there is evidence of the impact that intervention strategies such as our own Raising Attainment Plan is making on progress.

"We are aware that we need to make the improvements identified and have returned to school this term focused on these aspects."

AFTER reading the "Fears move will be step back for troubled pupils" article in the Nottingham Post, Monday, January 14, I feel very angry and disappointed.

These pupils are the next generation of Nottingham; they are troubled for many different reasons and get valued support to improve themselves, but yet again the service is being closed to cut costs.

At what cost, I ask myself, when 18 months ago funding was taken away from the youth offending team to support young children in the city. Since then, I have dealt with pupils who have gone from petty crime to more serious crime – more cost to the city without the intervention at an early stage.

Now they are closing the Deenwood centre. What will this mean to our young students who get positive, valued support?

Early intervention is vital for these troubled youngsters; yet another vital service is being cut. Without this service, youngsters will not cope with everyday situations.

I ask myself: will the city council save money?

My opinion is, it will not.

DEBBIE WALKER

Learning mentor

Ambleside Primary School

Aspley

RECRUITING police officers, it is reported, has fallen over the last two years, with officers below the age of 26 having reduced by almost 50%.

The commitment of the new Police and Crime Commissioner to recruit 100 new police officers, reported recently, will, I believe, be welcomed by many readers

Irrespective of efficiencies stimulated by new technologies, succession is a vital component of any organisation's continuity and survival; acquired skills, local knowledge and experiences can be passed on.

Widening age profiles have the potential to sustain or increase generational barriers within our diverse communities.

Recruitment should give career opportunities for an age group experiencing high levels of unemployment.

Hopefully, the Nottinghamshire force will be in the vanguard of recruitment for front-line officers.

PAUL KEY

Castleton Avenue

Arnold

HOW can local councillors justify their proposed increases when their workforce has had pay freezes in place for a few years.

I live in Carlton and have never seen or heard of those councillors supposedly representing my area.

How can the three candidates state they represent us, when they haven't step foot on our road, in my knowledge?

I have seen local councillors representing our neighbouring ward distributing election leaflets, which I feel pointless considering it's four months before any elections are to take place.

I am a strong believer that we have far too many councillors on our councils who, in my opinion, are looking for a meal ticket or supplementary income.

Now, politicians are seeking a whopping 32% increase in their salaries. Will they get a bonus for the number of incidences of their insensitivity in these austere times, which goes to show that politicians are still not in touch with the electorate, irrespective of all the spin and manifestos coming through the door?

Well, at least the manifestos and electioneering leaflets will come in handy for the WC!

TONY MORRIS

Manor Green Walk

Carlton

THE most recent estimate is that 40,000 serving soldiers will have their take-home pay cut as a result of Monday's vote to cap benefits to one per cent. That is because the largest group of people affected by the changes are those in work, on low pay, in receipt of working tax credits.

Could the Conservative Party please explain to the nation why they think that our troops are "shirkers"?

And here is my prediction: it will be pensioners next, then the disabled and their carers. Yet we can afford to cut the top rate of income tax for millionaires by five per cent.

ERIC GOODYER

High Street

Colsterworth

YOUR readers have been very, very good with their responses, but can they go that extra mile and do something really, well, shall we say special, memorable and sympathetic?

Were they serving, or were any relatives serving on HMS Collingwood when Herr Hitler's men tried to sink it?

In a recent Letter to the Editor, I asked those who had served at any time, in any capacity, at HMS Collingwood, the massive shore establishment at Fareham, just outside Portsmouth, to get in touch if they wanted to be reunited with their old shipmates.

They are still coming out of the woodwork and I have received some wonderful stories of their experiences, but something else more dramatic has emerged.

In the early hours of June 18, 1943, a bomb dropped on to one of the accommodation huts and killed over 30 sailors. These sailors, all volunteers to serve king and country, were mainly 17 and 18-year-olds.

They had been in the Royal Navy for just over a fortnight and were still under training. There are no photos of them in uniform.

Two sisters of those killed saw my appeal and have come forward seeking more information. Following this interest, I have now tracked down service details of all of them. They came from all over the country and I am hoping that readers of local newspapers, and those who had relatives killed, or they themselves served at HMS Collingwood at that time, will come forward and contribute information ready for the 70th anniversary on June 18, 2013.

We will all meet up and do something special.

Thanks to the kind permission of the Commodore of HMS Collingwood, I have arranged for a memorial service to be held in the chapel and a visit to the spot where the bomb dropped, with a short service there. Wreaths may be laid at the tree planted in their memory.

Be they sisters, brothers, nieces or nephews, it doesn't matter, the HMS Collingwood Association will make this something special, and 70 years seems a good opportunity before it's too late.

Send the details of the one you have lost, or your story if you were there, to Mike Crowe, Chairman, HMS Collingwood Association, 7 Heath Road, Sandown, Isle of Wight, PO36 8PG, or e-mail mike.crowe1@btinternet.com

I also look forward to hearing from anybody who has served at HMS Collingwood at any time, in any capacity, or who would like to "swing the lamp" at one of our reunions, or even join one of our other organised visits to HMS Collingwood to see how it is today.

MIKE CROWE

Sandown

Isle of Wight

AS a retired railway worker, I can see sound economic benefits in having a proposed station on the HS2 route at Toton Sidings (pictured) situated as it is close to Nottingham and Derby.

Most of the present area of Toton is a shadow of its former glory, which in its heyday marshalled trains from the vast Nottingham hue and Derbyshire coalfields (which have long since gone).

Nowadays, block trains (of, say, coal and oil) go from A to B as single units without the need for major sidings (such as Toton).

In the future, we can envisage most local routes such as the Robin Hood line electrified with bimodal locos (using electric and diesel traction on non-electric lines) and tram trains which can use light rail (such as NET) and heavy rail routes (connecting HS2 to the city centre).

DAVID HARDY

Woodstock Avenue

Nottingham

PLANS to expand a marina near Ratcliffe-on-Soar have been resubmitted to Notts County Council.

The plans for Redhill Marina would double the number of boats moored at the site from about 250 to 553.

However, this is a reduction on the 632 previously planned.

The original plans were submitted last March but were withdrawn before a decision was made.

The new proposals also have 72 fewer parking spaces – with a total of 244 being offered. Three fields would be dug up to create the extension.

There would also be a main facilities building with offices, showers and toilets, laundry facilities, a cafe and staff accommodation.

The plans would also involve a "habitat creation area" being developed in the south-western corner of the site for wildflower and wetland planting.

Notts County Council will have the final say over planning permission but Rushcliffe borough councillors are to debate the plans at a meeting tomorrow.

Rushcliffe officials have recommended that the borough council objects to the plans.

Their report states: "The proposed marina would represent unjustified and inappropriate development in the green belt. It would result in a detrimental impact on the character and appearance of the green belt by the way of size and appearance of the site and dominance of access roads and car parking areas."

But marina boss Richard Morley said the plans would create ten new jobs and free up 1.3km of river, which currently has boats moored on it.

"The boats will be a lot safer," he said.

"They will not be in the main river channel.

"We've been operating at Redhill since 1970.

"This application will give more ecology and marshes to the area."

He also argued that the marina was one of the most sustainable in the area, being close to East Midlands Parkway Station, the M1 and the main East Midlands waterway junction.

Chris Meyer, 59, who lives on a boat at Redhill, said boat owners were more vulnerable to the rising waters when moored along the river.

"I live here because of the rural tranquility," he said.

"I get herons and kingfishers on my roof, it's a lovely place. But it would be nice to have a more modern marina – twice lately we've been waterlogged for a week and been stuck on the boats."

CHANGING energy companies feels so unnecessarily complicated, but I do think it's worth the effort in the end, writes Matt Evans, 37, of Hyson Green.

It's not like walking into a shop and choosing a mobile phone tariff – I might know how many minutes and texts I use a month but keeping track of the amount of kilowatts I use in electricity is another thing.

I started looking around last year but felt my eyes glazing over as I looked at all the different tariffs provided by just one company, let alone the rest of them.

I sometimes use cash-back websites. These pay you very small amounts of cash if you buy certain things, and I noticed that nPower were offering £100 cash back if I joined them. I was a little bit sceptical about it initially but got quotes based on the amount of energy I was using at the time and was told I would save about £8 per month.

So I bit the bullet and did it, received £100 cash back and have seen my bills go down as expected.

It is worth doing but it does feel like a lot of hassle, so I think the city council scheme could be a real success if it manages to simplify the whole process.

If I could have used it then, I would have.

SUE Stevenson knows only too well the benefits of switching energy providers.

Ten years ago, she switched from British Gas to an Age Concern E.on package and saw her bills drop dramatically.

Now, 66-year-old Mrs Stevenson's combined gas and electricity bills come to only about £30 a month.

"It was a much better deal for me," she said. "I noticed the difference straight away."

Drawing on her own experience, Mrs Stevenson, of Seaton Crescent, Aspley, is urging people to take part in a new £67,000 council scheme to get people switching energy companies.

Nottingham City Council and Nottingham City Homes are launching the Nottingham Energy Tariff next month.

It will feature a website to calculate the best energy deals based on current energy spending per household.

And unlike some other comparison sites, the council says it will allow people with up to £500 energy-bill debts and people on pre-paid card readers to also switch providers.

The council will also be training staff to provide face-to-face advice in libraries, housing offices and contact centres.

Councillor Alan Clark, portfolio holder for energy and sustainability, said 21,000 people were currently in "fuel poverty" in the city – and 60 per cent of residents had never switched energy companies.

"Broadly, if you switch suppliers, you tend to save £200 a year and it's getting that ethos of switching," he said.

"It's trying to place the city council at the heart of helping people understand their energy bills.

"And if they decide it's not worth it for them to switch, well it's still got them thinking about their energy usage."

The campaign has received £52,000 from the Department of Energy and Climate Change, with the remaining £15,000 coming from the city council.

However, people who live elsewhere in Notts – outside of the city boundaries – can still use the website.

Visitors to the site will be given two switching options – an instant switch, which can be done online immediately, or a "collective switch".

The latter means that groups of residents would join a new provider, which would entail a further discount.

Mrs Stevenson said: "I think anything that can help people nowadays is a good thing, because people aren't eating, they can't afford to heat rooms and look after themselves."

The website address has not yet been confirmed but it will be published, along with other contact details for the project, in the Nottingham Post as soon as it is available.

It is expected to go live next month.

EVENTS are to take place in Notts throughout this year and next to mark the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War – and young people are being asked to get involved.

A competition has been launched for young people to design a logo for the county's "Trent to the Trenches" commemorations.

They will include an exhibition at Nottingham Castle next year and the creation of a roll of honour to remember all those who lost their lives.

The programme is being run by Notts County Council and Nottingham City Council with 130 volunteers leading the way.

County council leader, Councillor Kay Cutts said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for the young people of the county to put their mark on a commemoration that the whole country will be marking.

"The people of Nottinghamshire have a proud history of fighting for their country and the roll of honour which is being devised will be dedicated to the thousands of brave men and women who lost their lives during the Great War."

The castle exhibition is being organised by Nottingham City Museums and Galleries service, which is run by the city council, with the support of the Imperial War Museum.

City councillor David Trimble said: "We're delighted to be working with a wide range of partners and organisations on this important commemoration.

"It's great to see so many volunteers already involved in helping deliver this major programme of activity.

"Their contribution is invaluable."

The logo competition is open to all residents of the county aged 16 or under and the winner's designs will appear on posters and banners all over Notts.

He or she will also receive a £50 book token. There will be two runner-up prizes of £25 book tokens.

Lead volunteer David Nunn, 63, of Kimberley, said: "We are looking forward to receiving hundreds of entries for this prestigious competition, which will kick start the Great War commemoration activity.

"Volunteers have been working tirelessly on a range of activities involving schools, community groups, history groups and staff at Nottingham Castle to gather as much information as possible about Notts during that period."

People are asked to design a logo that is simple, eye-catching and memorable – and represents Notts' contribution to the 1914-1918 war effort.

It must be able to be used on its own, without further text as explanation, so that whoever sees it understands what it is about.

It must be as effective when printed in colour as in black and white and contain a maximum of three colours.

Multiple entries will be permitted and there is no cost for entry.

Individual designs should be submitted as finished artwork on A4 white paper and posted or hand delivered to: Trent to the Trenches logo competition, Nottingham Castle, Off Friar Lane, Nottingham, NG1 6EL.

All entries must be submitted between now and Monday, February 18, with the entrant's name, home address, age, contact telephone number or e-mail address.

STUDENTS in Nottingham are to be encouraged to cycle to and from school every day as part of a £130,000 campaign.

The city council has given the cash, provided by the Department of Transport, to sustainable-travel charity Sustrans to run the three-year project, called Bike It. Secondary schools and academies in the city will take part in the programme, though which ones have yet to be revealed.

The plans have received a mixed response from heads spoken to by the Post. Peter Brown, head teacher at Top Valley Academy, said: "I think this is a great idea. Hopefully, it will encourage independence and fitness in our youngsters.

"Biking to school is growing in popularity here at Top Valley Academy."

Steve Manderson, assistant head at Trinity School, in Aspley, said the money would be better spent on bringing back school buses for his pupils.

He said: "Two years ago, we lost our dedicated school bus and I think many pupils preferred that as a safe mode of transport into school.

"Of course, cycling to school has its benefits but we need to make sure youngsters are safe as a priority."

The money will be spent on classes for youngsters on issues like bike maintenance and cycling safety.

Sustrans has been working in Nottingham since 2009 on the successful Ucycle project – which encourages cycling among staff and students at the city's universities and the Nottingham NHS trusts.

Councillor Jane Urquhart, city council portfolio holder for planning and transportation, said: "We want to encourage young people to make the most of our network of cycle and walking routes to get them around the city and to help them keep fit and healthy.

"The routes link up to make travel into the city centre, local neighbourhoods, schools, major employment sites and park and ride sites much easier. The Bike It programme will help pupils, their families and school staff learn about bikes and cycling in Nottingham.

"Our position as a national leader for sustainable and integrated public and transport systems has helped us attract this funding from the Department of Transport. to spread the word, make sustainable travel such as cycling and walking the number one choice and continue to reduce the carbon footprint across Nottingham."

CYCLING enthusiast-turned-fashion designer Sir Paul Smith has spoken of his pride at designing the leaders' shirts for the 2013 Giro d'Italia, the Italian equivalent of the Tour de France.

Nottingham native Sir Paul has designed the four shirts to be used by the cycle race leaders, including the Maglia Rosa (Pink Jersey) awarded to the overall leader.

The shirts were unveiled in Milan, with Sir Paul keen to get the approval of locals.

He said: "I hope that the simple approach that I've made is acceptable to you all; putting red piping with the pink, cleaning all of the jerseys up to keep them as simple as possible and adding a little drawing of a cyclist by myself on to the jerseys."

The fashion designer was a keen racing cyclist in his youth and harboured ambitions of becoming a professional until an accident.

Although he no longer competes, Sir Paul still has an enthusiasm for the sport.

"I started cycling at the age of 12 and raced until I was 18," he said.

"A bad crash put me in hospital for several months, after which I discovered the world of creativity, design and fashion and started my career, which luckily has progressed to what it is today.

"Having been a huge cycling enthusiast and follower of the major tours and classics for many years, it's an absolute privilege to be asked to design the four jerseys for the Giro d'Italia."

He added: "I have always followed cycling and have been privileged to meet many key riders, building friendships with Bradley Wiggins, Mark Cavendish, David Millar and many more.

"I also have a huge collection of cycling shirts from the 70s right up to current times, often signed by the riders."

The annual Giro d'Italia race will begin in Naples on May 4, weaving through Italy before culminating in Brescia on May 26. The race is the most famous cycle race in Europe behind the Tour de France.

The other three shirts Sir Paul designed are the Red Jersey for the points classification, the Blue Jersey for the King of the Mountains, and the White Jersey for the best young rider.

TWO men have gone on trial charged with robbing convenience stores and a petrol station kiosk.

Lee Watson and Dominic Wright are alleged to have carried out the raids in a two-week period last summer.

Nottingham Crown Court heard how a string of raids were carried out at stores in Langley Mill, Broxtowe, Loscoe, near Heanor, Hucknall and a petrol station kiosk at the Morrisons store in Eastwood.

The robberies happened on various dates in June and July, starting on June 27 at the Co-op in Station Road, Langley Mill.

The jury heard yesterday how one of the robbers had a knife and the other a crowbar and they got away with money from the till.

The next day, a robbery happened at the One Stop shop, in Bells Lane, Broxtowe, when cash was stolen. The robbers again had a knife and a crowbar.

The jury heard how one robber jumped over the counter and used the crowbar to prise open the till.

The accused are also alleged to have robbed the kiosk at the Morrisons filling station, in Eastwood, at 10pm on June 30. Cash was taken.

Prosecutor Jonathan Janes said: "Two men went in. These two, say the prosecution. One of them jumped on to the counter, a frightening sight on any view."

Watson is allegedly linked to the Morrisons robbery by clothing, footwear marks and the evidence of a detective who watched CCTV and identified him.

Wright was linked to the crime after other footwear marks at the scene matched trainers recovered on his arrest on July 12.

More details about the fourth and fifth robberies, on July 9 and July 12, were due to be described to the jury at the trial today.

Mr Janes said all of the robberies had involved two men, with the exception of the fourth – which had involved four men.

During that robbery, cash, cigarettes and a bottle of Jack Daniels were stolen from a Spar shop in Loscoe on July 9.

The case against the two accused was based on circumstantial evidence, the jury was told. Telephone evidence and fingerprint evidence are also to be used.

Mr Janes added: "The issue in this case is not whether any of these robberies occurred, that is self-evident from CCTV.

"The issue is who was responsible."

Watson, 26, of no fixed address, and Wright, 23, of Vale Crescent South, Aspley, deny all five allegations.

The trial continues

THE composer Sir Edward Elgar opened the inaugural HMV store in London's Oxford Street in 1921.

HMV stands for His Master's Voice and the retailer is synonymous with Nipper, the Jack Russell dog listening to a gramophone in its famous logo.

There were three HMV stores in Nottingham until recently.

In February 2009, the Zavvi entertainment store, in Wheeler Gate, was bought out of administration by HMV. For a year, shoppers had the choice of this store, the one in the Victoria Centre and the one in Lister Gate.

But in September 2010, the Lister Gate store closed and then in January 2011, HMV closed its Wheeler Gate store.

Fopp, which is one of nine branches nationally, opened in Queen Street, Nottingham, in November 2001.

But in the run-up to Christmas, HMV boss Trevor Moore warned that the entertainment group, which includes both HMV and Fopp, was in trouble. He revealed the chain was in talks with banks over its future following worse-than-expected trading over the festive period.

The chief executive said market conditions suggested the group, which has 238 stores in the UK and Ireland, would fail to meet expectations for the year to April, so would not meet the terms of its bank loans.

HMV said like-for-like sales fell 10.2 per cent in the 26 weeks to October 27 last year.Shares tumbled 39 per cent after the results were published, giving the retailer a market value of just £10.1 million.