REVISED plans for new electoral boundaries in Notts have created controversy among voters.

The Boundary Commission for England published initial proposals last year for an overhaul of Parliamentary seats to cut the total number of constituencies from 533 to 502, including radical changes in the county.

After the first of two rounds of consultation, it yesterday published new plans involving changes to the Sherwood, Mansfield and Newark constituencies.

Burton Joyce and Stoke Bardolph, a ward which currently falls within the Gedling constituency, is to be part of Sherwood, together with Lambley, Woodborough, parts of Arnold, Calverton as well as Beckingham, which currently falls under Bassetlaw.

The initial proposals had seen Burton Joyce and Stoke Bardolph joined onto Newark, together with Lowdham, Nevile, Wiverton, Farndon and Southwell East and West.

Mike Storr, of Padleys Lane in Burton Joyce, and co-owner of Dennis Hair Styles salon in Main Street in the village, welcomed the new plans.

"I think we have more in common with the areas in the Sherwood constituency than Newark," he said.

But Brian Alvey, Neighbourhood Watch coordinator for Burton Joyce, described the plans as "awfully confusing".

He said: "It will be baffling for voters to be part of a whole new constituency."

Gedling MP Vernon Coaker said it was unclear which constituency he would stand in, but added: "It has been a huge privilege to represent all the people of Gedling constituency and I hope to continue to hold that privilege in the future."

Deputy leader at Gedling Borough Council, Councillor Michael Payne, said he was "hugely disappointed" at plans to "split Arnold in half".

Under the proposals, parts of Arnold will come under Sherwood, while others will come under Nottingham North and Hucknall, together with Bulwell, Ravenshead, Hucknall and Bestwood Village.

Councillor Payne added: "People living on one side of the High Street will be represented by a different MP to people on the other side.

"I think this shows the commission have not respected the communities' identities."

The initial proposals involved the abolition of Rushcliffe constituency, which includes Cotgrave.

In the shake-up the area would be thrown in with Coalville in Leicestershire, as part of a new Coalville and Keyworth constituency.

These plans have not been changed by the commission, despite strong opposition when they were first announced.

Pam Pickett, a freelance journalist from Cotgrave, said: "I don't want to be grouped in with places like Coalville. That's in Leicestershire. I live in Nottinghamshire. I don't think these changes make any sense."

A spokeswoman for the commission said people were now being encouraged to take part in another consultation and said: "If people are horrified with the proposals, this is the time for them to let us know."

The consultation lasts until December 10 and the commission will make its final recommendation to the Government by October 1 next year.

For more information, go to www.consultation.boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk.

What's your view? Tweet me at @WinniePonderosa using #Boundaries or call me on 0115 905 1963.

A JUDGE has been summing up the evidence in the case of 24-year-old man accused of murdering a woman on her way home in Nottingham.

Mr Justice Flaux reminded the jury of seven men and five women at Nottingham Crown Court about the evidence they have heard.

Prosecutors say Carl Powell, 24, of Carlton, murdered Caroline Coyne and attacked a 21-year-old woman in Carlton Road, one month later.

Ms Coyne was discovered dead with head injuries in Thorneywood Mount, Thorneywood, at 8.40am on Saturday, July 23 last year.

Powell denies murdering the 28-year-old, of Top Valley.

He also pleads not guilty to attacking a second woman in the early hours of August 24 last year.

He denies her false imprisonment with intent to commit a sexual offence and sexual assault.

THOUSANDS of cannabis plants have been discovered in a drugs factory in Hucknall – believed to be the biggest ever found in Notts.

Officers swooped on Alexandra House, in Watnall Road, early yesterday morning. They found 3,000 plants with a street value of £1.5 million.

The building appears from the outside to be derelict but was previously used as a gym.

People living nearby said they were shocked by the scale of the haul. Charlotte Richardson, 25, of Goodall Crescent, said: "I've passed it loads of times and just thought it was a gym. It's degrading for Hucknall."

Stacey French, 23, of Watnall Road, said: "I had no idea. You see a lot of people hanging around there but I just assumed that it was because it was a gym."

Inspector Nick Butler said officers found the drugs after obtaining out a search warrant "Police discovered a sophisticated set-up inside with thousands of plants and hydroponic systems.

"Officers will remain at the scene while the plants are recovered and it could take us days to dismantle everything.

He added: "Police will act on any information about local criminality and I urge anyone with information about crime happening where they live to get in touch."

This is the latest in a series of cannabis factories raided by Notts Police this year. A £1 million haul was found in Newark in and 500 plants were discovered in a cellar in North Circus Street, in Nottingham city centre.

Two men have been arrested in connection with the latest find and police urged anyone with information about cannabis production to call them on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

PRINCE Andrew praised young apprentices at a Notts training centre yesterday and encouraged them to become leading lights for the furniture industry.

The Duke of York officially opened Webs Furniture Training's new centre in Beeston during his day long visit to the county.

He also stopped at Nottingham High School and West Nottinghamshire College in Kirkby-in-Ashfield.

As part of the trip the Prince heard about the progress of the Working with Youth scheme – an employer-led effort to tackle youth unemployment.

His Royal Highness stopped and talked to young apprentices about their courses as he was given a tour of Webs' new building, which houses work rooms for cabinet fitting, upholstery, wood machining and other furniture making methods.

While at the upholstery station, he spoke to 20-year-old apprentice Jake Bailey.

Jake, of Lowdham, said: "The Prince asked us the difference between good quality furniture and bad quality and how a customer would decide between the two.

"He also asked about the stages that a piece of furniture went through. It was really nice to get to speak to him."

Kitchen installation apprentice Glyn Jarvis, 18, also enjoyed being part of the royal visit.

Glyn, of Nuthall, said: "This is such a brilliant building with state-of-the-art facilities. It is completely different from the old building we used to work in. My aim is to set up my own kitchen installation business one day and be self-employed."

The Duke of York was accompanied on his tour by civic guests including the High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire Liell Francklin, Notts County Council chief executive Michael Burrows and Mayor of Broxtowe Councillor Margaret Handley.

Webs directors Peter Sisson and Maureen Adams-Cooke led the Prince's tour of the £2.2 million training facility.

Mr Sisson said: "During his tour around the building he took a genuine interest in the work the apprentices were doing, taking time to chat to them about their individual projects and taking a close look at their work.

"He was very impressed with what we have achieved here and the fact that he took the time to pay us a visit is a real boost, not just to the apprentices but to the whole furniture industry."

The visit ended with the Prince unveiling a plaque to mark the opening of the building, which offers facilities for 200 learners - but it didn't go quite to plan, with the stick that was used to open the curtains over the plaque falling off in his hand.

He said: "It is particularly pleasing to come here and see the co-operation and collaboration between businesses and apprentices but also to see how young people here are really engaged."

He told the apprentices: "You are the future of the furniture trade in this country over the next 30 years and could well end up running your own business in a few years time. You really can achieve that."

Hilary Mantel, Bring Up The Bodies: The book is the second in Mantel's trilogy on Thomas Cromwell. Her first, the best-seller Wolf Hall, won the Man Booker in 2009. Judges said that she had shown "even greater mastery of method, powerful realism, and the separation of past and present and the vivid depiction of English character and landscape".

Will Self, Umbrella: Umbrella is set across an entire century and follows a misdiagnosed woman in a north London mental hospital, her family and her doctor. Judges said that the novel, which has no chapters and few paragraph breaks, was both "moving and draining". Novelist and journalist Self, 50, was favourite to win.

Tan Twan Eng, The Garden Of Evening Mists: The Garden Of Evening Mists follows a young law graduate who seeks solace among the plantations of the Cameron Highlands during the Japanese occupation of Malaysia. The writer, 38, who was born in Malaysia. Judges said they had likened the book's beauty "to that of slowly crashing icebergs".

Jeet Thayil, Narcopolis: The book is the first novel by 53-year-old Indian writer Thayil, who is a performance poet, songwriter and guitarist. Judges said of the book, which is said to capture the Bombay of the 1970s in all its compelling squalor, "poetry is not often the stepping stone of the novel, but we very much admire this perfume prose."

Deborah Levy, Swimming Home: Set in a summer villa, Swimming Home is Levy's, 53, first novel in a decade. Traditional publishers turned down the novel and it only hit the bookshelves following the help of supporters. The novel, set on the French Riviera over a single week, examines the effect depression can have on apparently stable people. Judges praised the "technical artistry, glowing prose" and "intimate exposure of loss" in the novel.

AN air hostess from Nottingham features in a new fund-raising calendar.

Jemma Hartley is Miss May in the 2013 Ryanair Cabin Crew Charity Calendar.

The calendar aims to raise money for the TVN Foundation, based in Warsaw, Poland, which helps children with cystic fibrosis.

The calendars are on sale on flights and at www.ryanair.com for £10.

Ryanair's Stephen McNamara said: "We hope the calendar will raise up to 100,000 euros for TVN Foundation."

Anna Maruszeczko, of TVN, said: "We are delighted and honoured to be selected as Ryanair's charity partner."

POLICE say it is lucky no-one was killed after officers had to prise a bag containing a loaded gun from the hands of its owner.

Officers searched Marlon Burgher's Radford flat, in Forest Road West, which he shared with his father Hernel Burgher, in June – finding cannabis worth more than £2,000.

While officers were speaking to the pair, Marlon, 33, grabbed a bag and tried to escape through a window.

Two officers struggled with him until the bag was torn from his grip.

Inside it was an 11mm double-action French revolver loaded with six rounds of ammunition.

Both men were at Nottingham Crown Court on Monday where Marlon was jailed and Hernel was given a suspended prison sentence.

After the case, Detective Andy Gerus, of Operation Vanguard, which tackles drug dealing and organised crime in Nottingham, said: "Marlon Burgher was keeping a loaded weapon in a residential complex, showing a complete disregard for the safety of himself, his father and his neighbours.

"Considering his scuffle with the two officers, we are lucky the gun didn't go off leaving someone seriously hurt or even dead.

"These officers showed an astute attention to detail and were quick-off-the-mark when Marlon reacted.

"As a result we have not only removed a quantity of illegal drugs, but a firearm as well. As can often be the case, follow the drugs and you invariably uncover other illegal activity."

During a further search of the flat £1,000 in cash and a set of scales were also found.

On Monday Marlon pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm and ammunition without a certificate, and possession with intent to supply cannabis.

He was jailed for a total of eight years.

Hernel, 51, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cannabis and was sentenced to a six-month suspended prison sentence and 100 hours of unpaid work in the community.

Anyone who suspects someone of drug or gun crime should contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

POLICE have released CCTV images of a man they want to speak to in connection with an incident in Hyson Green where a child had a cigarette stubbed out on his head.

Malikah Lal, 30, of Belton Street, Hyson Green, was walking down Noel Street, near the tram stop, on the afternoon of Thursday, September 6, when a stranger put a cigarette out on her three-year-old son's head.

Miss Lal said the attack had left her son, Javid, with a sore, burnt head for two days.

She said she was too shocked to go after the man, who is described as black, between 30 and 35 years old, about 5ft 3ins tall, of average build, and was clean shaven.

He was wearing a grey top and a black jacket.

Speaking at the time, Miss Lal said: "It was horrifying. I'm so angry and upset. It breaks my heart someone could do this to any child, never mind my son.

"I am feeling disappointed with myself, because I've always thought if someone went for my children, I would go for them. I feel kind of responsible, as if I've let my baby boy down. I was mortified and was nearly physically sick. I couldn't stop crying."

Anyone who recognises the man in the CCTV images should call police on 101, quoting incident 557 of 6 September 2012 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

POLICE think the people pictured in the CCTV image above could have information about a street robbery.

A mobile phone and a wallet containing cash were stolen from two 16-year-old boys during the incident near to Firs Road in Edwalton.

It happened at about 7.30pm on Thursday, August 16.

One of the victims was punched in the head before the robbers fled up Valley Road with the stolen property.

The people in the image or anyone who recognises them are asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

CANDIDATES battling to land a powerful new job which will shape the future of Notts Police say they would not want to officers carrying guns.

The question was posed to the four people vying to become the first Police and Crime Commissioner for Notts at a hustings organised by the politics society at the University of Nottingham.

Last night around 150 people turned up to the event to quiz the men – one of whom will be elected to the role on November 15 and earn a salary of between £70-75,000.

Conservative Tony Roberts, Labour's Paddy Tipping, and independents Malcolm Spencer and Dr Raj Chandran, took questions from students, which covered topics from accurate recording of crime statistics to whether officers should carry guns.

In response Mr Roberts, a former school teacher, said: "I think the public would be extremely uncomfortable if the normal bobby on the beat had a gun strapped to his waist.

"And I am not convinced if the tragic events which happened in Manchester (killings of two PCs last month) would have been any different if the officers had been armed with a gun."

Mr Spencer, a retired police officer, said: "I would not have wanted to carry a gun - I think it puts up a barrier for people.

"Obviously some units within Notts Police have to be armed, but we have to be careful how we use these units.

"I would however like to see more officers carrying a taser gun – it is actually the least lethal deterrent.

Dr Chandran, a retired GP and an honorary director of DARE, the young people's anti-drugs campaign, said: "I am convinced the British police service is the best in the world, and this is because we don't carry guns. If we allow police to carry guns it could become a police state."

And Mr Tipping said: "We police by consent in this country. And that is how I would want it to remain. So I'm not in favour of it at all.

"There are armed response units in Notts and we have to monitor how we use those."

All of the candidates also said that they wanted to increase neighbourhood policing, tackle gang crime and bolster officer numbers.

Student Josh Davy said: "The hustings is the first time a lot of students got to grips with the role of the police commissioner.

"I think a lot of people will be voting in November."

A SENTENCE given to a man who threw beer over a toddler in a pub has been branded as too lenient by the child's father.

Danny Polak, 64, of Sherwood was fined £355 after throwing the drink at the boy and kicking the child's mother Rachel Atkin when she confronted him.

Polak, of Sherwood, yesterday said he was "sorry".

But the boy's dad Tony White, 30, feels he should have been punished more severely.

He said: "It's not enough. All my son was doing was crying and this happened to him. It is a very lenient sentence."

The incident happened in the Ernehale pub in Nottingham Road, Arnold, on Monday, June 11.

Nottingham Magistrates' Court heard that Miss Atkin had gone to the pub with her 15-month-old son and her sister-in-law Rebecca White after a morning at a soft play centre.

They sat on a table next to Polak and his wife.

Miss Atkin, 25, left her son and Ms White seated while she went to order food at the bar.

Catherine Picardo, prosecuting, said that was when the toddler started crying.

She said: "The defendant, with a half-full pint in his hand, approached the table and poured it over the baby's head, which caused him to scream."

Ms Picardo added that when confronted by Miss Atkin, Polak told her: "You shouldn't bring kids in a pub."

Miss Atkin responded by throwing her own drink at Polak and told him: "See how you like it."

The court heard she then turned her back on the retired grandfather – who kicked her in the backside.

Miss Picardo said: "It is quite shocking behaviour as it involved a 15-month old child. It took place in a family pub where children are entitled to be."

Mr White said his partner Miss Atkin had not been back into the Ernehale or any other pub since the incident.

He said: "It has really affected her. She won't go to another pub as she's worried it could happen again.

"It has really shaken her up. That's why I expected the punishment would have been more severe."

Polak admitted two counts of assault and received the fine, as well as £50 compensation.

Speaking at his home yesterday, he told the Post: "I'm sorry about it. I had gone out for lunch and the baby was crying for a good 15 minutes. I just wanted them to be quiet.

"But there was very little drink in the glass and I didn't aim at the baby. I feel I have been treated very harshly. It has made my wife poorly."

He added: "I've not been back to the pub since. I won't even go into Arnold."

AMANDA Dammers was at university when she realised that she got a buzz from retailing.

Shopping engaged her attention and interest.

Nearly 20 years on, having begun her career on the shopfloor selling women's accessories, Mrs Dammers is the new managing director of John Lewis in Nottingham.

It is a far cry from the spires of Oxford where, as a theology student, she was taught by the future Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams.

"He was my tutor, hugely impressive," she said.

Another was Tom Wright, the future Bishop of Durham.

But none of these inspiring teachers guided her towards the church.

"An arts degree trains you in a certain way of thought. I read something I enjoyed and it combined English and history."

Today, Mrs Dammers, 39, is getting to grips with Nottingham, both the Victoria Centre store and the city as a whole.

She moves from John Lewis in Leicester where she was MD.

It is promotion.

Mrs Dammers said: "I come from Liverpool and have been working in Leicester and I think Nottingham is a fantastic city.

"As someone new to Nottingham, I really recognise the vibrancy of the city.

"Sometimes when you live in a city, work in a city or have been affiliated to a city, you miss its strengths.

"In the region, Nottingham is the premier shopping centre and it should be one of the top places to come shopping.

"As a city, we have an awful lot to offer. We have possibly allowed others to shout about what they have more than we have."

Mrs Dammers readily confesses that she hasn't been in Nottingham long enough to understand the dynamics of the city.

She continued: "What has really struck me is the emotional connection between the shop and our customers.

"We are not just a shop that trades in the city, we are a shop that is part of the city and that is really important."

John Lewis Nottingham moved to the Victoria Centre 40 years ago.

"Customers ask me if I am the new head of branch and you don't always get that in a store. There is a real desire to be part of the store. You feel there is a real relationship there."

The Nottingham store can trace its roots back to 1804, becoming Jessops.

Today, the 150,000 sq ft store employs 700 staff and celebrates 40 years in the Victoria Centre next month.

It is a heritage built on trust, value and great service, added Mrs Dammers.

She joined John Lewis in Peterborough on the retailer's graduate trainee course and so can work a till.

"I liked the vibrancy and energy of retail," she said.

With two young children – she is married to a schoolmaster at a public school who teaches Greek and Latin – shopping is more of an effort.

"I like shopping without two young children. On my own, I really enjoy it.

"Shops are fantastic. You can go into a shop, be inspired and lose yourself ."

Over the next few months, it is likely that Mrs Dammers will get involved in shaping the way Nottingham promotes itself, either through the Retail BID (Business Improvement District) or championing a cause.

"We are a store that is always very much part of the city and part of the community, " said Mrs Dammers. "I love that."

NOTTS County have told striker Mikael Forssell it's decision time over a move to Meadow Lane.

The Magpies are chasing the ex-Chelsea striker, 31, for the second time in eight months.

He rejected a loan deal with them last season when he was at Leeds United because he did not want to drop down to League One.

But Notts hope it's second time lucky because he is a free agent now.

"I've spoken to his agent again," revealed Curle.

"We're getting to the stage now where we're going to have to draw a line under it.

"We have to look at whether we can get the finances available and if he really wants to come or not."

Forssell has gone back home to Finland since leaving Leeds and has offers to play in America and Scotland, but Magpies boss Keith Curle hopes he fancies the challenge of trying to help fire Notts into the Championship.

"I know he has got a few other offers, but they're not acceptable to him at the minute so I don't think he's going to be signing for anybody else imminently," he added.

Notts face League One rivals Sheffield United in the second round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy at Meadow Lane tonight (7.45pm) and Curle also says they cannot wait much longer for Damion Stewart to get a work permit.

The Magpies want to sign the Jamaica defender, who impressed during a short-term loan at Meadow Lane last season.

He has been training with them for seven weeks since being released by Bristol City, but they cannot strike a deal because he does not have a work permit.

"That's something else we might have to revisit and draw a line under as well," added Curle.

"Damion knows if he can't get it sorted we will have to look elsewhere to safeguard ourselves.

"It's annoying because he's been playing over here for seven or eight years.

"But Bristol City didn't apply for a work permit when he joined them from QPR so he's having to reapply.

"He was going to go home and see his family for a week, but he was told if he did the likelihood is he would not be allowed back in the country so he unpacked and stayed."

NOTTINGHAM Forest must avoid suffering another international hangover, warned Dan Harding today.

After a flying start to the campaign, the Reds lost momentum following the international break at the start of September.

Following home wins over Bristol City and Charlton and outstanding performances at Huddersfield and Bolton that could easily have secured another six points – rather than just two – Forest's form notably dipped following two weeks without a game.

They collected only two points from their next four fixtures, including painful defeats at the hands of Leeds and Derby and scrappy, hard-fought draws with Birmingham and Palace.

Defender Harding believes Forest got back on track with a dominant performance over Blackburn and an encouraging win at Peterborough – but is anxious that the team can maintain their form this time, following another long gap without a game.

"Last time we went into an international break, we were playing well and getting good results," said Harding. "But the break seemed to slow us down a little bit, when we came back.

"This time we have gone into the international break on a high again and we need to make sure we maintain that momentum.

"It is our job to make sure we build on that win now, in the next three matches.

"We have three big games against Cardiff, Blackpool and Barnsley over the next week and we want to build on that win over Peterborough."

Harding hopes Forest can prove their promotion credentials when they return to action against table-topping Cardiff at the City Ground on Saturday.

"We still have a big part to play in the promotion race," he said.

Young rugby and hockey players from The Elms Junior School in Long Eaton got the sporting year off to a perfect start by clinching notable title hat-tricks at the popular Westbourne Tournament (Friday 28 September).

The youngsters' latest tournament-winning triumph comes as Keith Morrow, Head of The Elms, urged people to celebrate the role of the independent school sector in producing London 2012 Team GB medallists and not look at the success simply as a question of money.

The Elms traditionally enters the U11 boys' rugby and girls' hockey at the Westbourne Tournament, hosted by Westbourne School, Sheffield, and for the third year running both teams finished as the tournament champions.

The tournament, which is held at Abbey Dale Sports Club, is an annual early term event giving local prep and independent junior schools the chance to put their training to the test and for everyone to get some early season game time under their belts in preparation for major regional and national events later in the year.

In addition to timetabled PE and Games lessons, all children in Years 5 and 6 at The Elms have the opportunity to play in a wide variety of competitive sports fixtures, with hockey, netball and rounders the major sports for girls while for boys it is rugby, football, hockey and cricket. Swimming is also very popular with both boys and girls.

The school's 'Sport for all' policy means the focus for Wednesday afternoon fixtures and weekly Games lessons is on individual improvement across the ability spectrum while by fielding a variety of teams, as many children as possible get to represent their school.

Mr Morrow believes it is this ingrained culture of school sport that can help pupils develop a lifelong love of competing which can lead to Olympic glory or international honours.

He explains: "More than a third of the British medal winners in the 2012 Olympics were from independent schools, which educate only 7% of the school population in the UK. At prep and independent junior school level, most schools set annual fees that are not significantly different to the capitation given by Local Authorities to state primary schools. But, our independence allows us to use our funding where we feel it benefits pupils most. 

"Employing specialist teachers, rather than generalist primary teachers, is one way prep and independent junior schools are able to teach sport at a higher level than state primary schools. It is this specialist knowledge, opportunities to play a range of sports and take part in regular competitive sport that plants a seed of enthusiasm and love of sport in children of a young age, which senior schools go on to develop and where we see our athletes flourish."

The Elms is the junior school to Trent College, which itself has enjoyed notable individual sporting successes over the past 12 months with England U18 hockey call ups for Kim Leiper and Chris Proctor, a Scotland U17 cap for rugby union prospect Nick Gray while Jamie Spencer-Pickup was crowned British Schools' Judo U42kgs champion.

Mr Morrow added: "Sport builds confidence, develops teamwork skills and sportsmanship and encourages respect in young people. Pride in the school badge on the sports field cannot be underestimated in the bonds it creates throughout the rest of everyday school life. This is all part of Trent College and The Elms' thorough preparation for life ethos."

For more information about The Elms Junior School and Nursery visit www.elmsschool.net

NOTTINGHAM'S music scene has been, it's fair to say, buried for some years now.

In fact for as long as I can remember in my young life, the only hometown band that ever grabbed my attention was a local three-piece called Censored with their song about Nottingham and Robin Hood and his many men "whistling through the trees".

They played a few gigs then went to university and split up.

Naturally, to my idolising and aspirational mind, they were basically rock stars on stage at the 12,500 capacity Wembley Arena, not the 450-sized Rescue Rooms.

This all changed, however, when a band called Dog Is Dead hit the scene.

You've probably heard of them now with the release of their much anticipated debut album All Our Favourite Stories, occurring last Monday.

In a few years when they are where I imagined Censored all that time ago, it will be easy to forget that they are just local lads from all the glitz and glamour of West Bridgford.

My first experience of them was when they supported Flamboyant Bella (who they are ironically now much bigger than) at the cupboard-sized venue Stealth in 2008.

It has been watching them evolve over the years that has kept my love and fandom alive.

Watching as the single release gigs move to bigger venues each time, watching the line-up change and move around, remembering playing "that" song a million times on repeat which you would now consider one of their worst and, of course, suddenly not being able to get anywhere near them through the crowd of screaming girls.

If the album is anything to go by, the band will carry the Nottingham name into the music scene for good. However, they face competition to be the first.

Jake Bugg, Clifton's scowling teenage answer to the simultaneous demise of Britpop and resurrection of folk music, has hit the mainstream, which goes to show that one musician standing on a stage with an acoustic guitar can be something special.

With that in mind look out for names like Saint Raymond, Joe Danks and many more to become household in years to come.

It's an exciting time for music in Nottingham and I wouldn't want anybody to miss out.