A MAN has described hearing vehicles "exploding" in a car park behind his garden during what is thought to have been an arson attack.

The fire at the back of the Aston Court Hotel, in Midland Road, Derby, damaged six cars and is believed to been started deliberately, according to the fire service.

The incident happened at around 5.30am yesterday.

Matt Wrigley, 26, of Midland Place, said: "I could first of all hear a car alarm going off, then five minutes later I got up to see a car on fire. Then I heard this loud explosion which was bigger than fireworks.

"There were four or five separate explosions and I called the fire service straight away.

"I thought it was probably arson because who starts a fire outside at that time?

"It's very bizarre and there is no reason for it to happen.

"I saw three cars on fire, from what I could see. It's very strange and random for that time of the morning. They were a few metres high in deep flames.

"The people responsible need to be in trouble for it. This goes much further than obviously jut a bit of shouting I sometimes hear.

"I don't want this just behind my garden."

Barrie Grimward, 54, of North Wales, was staying at the hotel and his BMW was damaged in the incident.

He said: "At 5.30am I heard loud bangs and I wondered what the hell was going on. I could not believe what I could hear, and I was staying at the front of the hotel.

"Both of the car door handles have been melted and so have the panels between the two doors.

"I have no idea how I'm going to get home. It's a company car. But at least we are all safe.

"Nobody deserves this, it's just a mindless act. I don't know why they would do it, they must have some agenda known only to them."

Hotel manager John Rowland was at home in Five Lamps when he got a call about the incident early yesterday.

He said: "I'm very shocked and I find this quite disturbing. We obviously do not want this at these premises.

"It is concerning and we will obviously take steps to see how we can make incidents like this less likely in the future.

"I'm very upset and concerned. It's really bad and obviously does not reflect well on the area.

"We have had no issues at the hotel in the past in terms of upsets to suggest this would happen.

"I will help the police in any way I can to find out what has happened. This is not normal and is truly shocking. I will take this very seriously."

Derbyshire police have launched an appeal for people who were in the area at the time to call them with any information on 101.

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— Sharon Pickering (@MrsShazPickers) July 16, 2014

Police and firefighters were called to a two-car collision on the A52 in Spondon last night.

The incident happened at 9.30pm and the drivers were not thought to be injured.

A SHISHA bar gutted by a fire on Christmas Day has reopened after having thousands of pounds spent on rebuilding work.

Riverside Shisha Cafe was set alight by Ahmed Ibrahim in a revenge attack after the 19-year-old was thrown out on Christmas Eve for "mouthing off to other customers".

The fire caused almost £100,000 of damage to the cafe and the adjacent Chester Green Fish Bar in City Road, Chester Green.

Manj Mundi, owner of the Riverside Shisha Cafe, said: "The place was absolutely gutted. It has had a big financial impact on myself. Christmas is usually a busy period so we lost a lot of business during that time and since.

"Also, just seeing all the time and effort put into building it up literally disappear in front of our eyes was hard to come to terms with.

"I don't understand how someone can have that mentality to just ruin someone's else's life like that.

''It wasn't just me that it impacted on – the chip shop next door had to close down and my five members of staff were out of work."

But the 26-year-old said there was "no point feeling angry about it" and had got on with rebuilding his business. He said: "We basically had to start from scratch. There was literally nothing left of the smoking area, and the whole of the inside had suffered smoke and water damage. It had to be gutted and replastered and the roofing had to be redone."

Manj said they had made changes in the process and believed that it was now better than before.

"We've improved the way it is set out," he said. "It's a lot nicer now."

Ibrahim, who admitted arson at Derby Crown Court, was sent to a young offenders' institution for two years and 10 months in May.

The court heard that he had returned to the cafe a few hours after being thrown out and set fire, in the early hours of Christmas Day, to the veranda part of the premises – where shisha, a syrupy tobacco mix containing molasses, is smoked.

CCTV, a footwear impression and witness statements all led to police tracking down Ibrahim, who was of no fixed address but lived in Normanton.

The court heard that £80,000 of damage was caused to the shisha cafe and £18,000 to the fish bar.

The shisha cafe, which serves coffees and waffles and crepes, is open between 6pm and 1am.

IN her column "Labour will save the NHS from further damage and deceit" (July 11), Margaret Beckett writes 'The Government failed to meet its own targets of treating 95% of A&E patients within four hours for the past 50 consecutive weeks.'

She goes on to castigate the Tories, quite rightly, for their failing with regards to the NHS performance on their watch.

She is then tempted into less blameless territory: 'If they hadn't squandered £3 billion on changes no one wanted NHS finances would be healthier.'

During 13 years in power, Labour oversaw the massive modernisation of many hospitals by means of private finance initiatives. While much of it was needed, by choosing this option Labour hung a financial albatross around the neck of those same hospital trusts which they will struggle to cope with for decades to come.

The reality now is that NHS accounts cannot be balanced and it faces financial meltdown unless drastic action is taken if it is to survive.

The only solution, instead of political point-scoring by the other major parties, is for all parties to agree a long-term strategy for the NHS, combining the appropriate elements of their respective policies.

UKIP is accused of wanting to privatise the NHS. What UKIP wants is to introduce some elements of privatisation, where appropriate, such as at Hinchinbrooke hospital. This was turned around from failing to become an efficient and financially viable hospital by privatising the delivery of some services while keeping them free at the point of delivery.

Margaret Beckett claims "Labour rescued the NHS after years of Tory neglect before and we are pledged to do so again."

No, Margaret, you mortgaged it up to the hilt with typical Labour profligacy. The figures don't add up any more and most hospital trusts are unable to balance the books as a result.

Martin Bardoe

Ashbourne Road

Derby

ELAINE Carpenter, 52, of City Road, Derby, was given a 12 month conditional discharge ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge and pay costs of £85 for an assault by beating.

SCOTT Day, 28, of Belfield Road, Etwall, was fined £226 and ordered to pay a £22 victim surcharge as well as £85 costs for an assault on June 12.

NATHAN Timmins, 27, of Gladstone Street, Langley Mill, was given a community order and must attend a Thinking Skills Programme, carry out 120 hours of community service and face a 12-month supervision order. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £60, costs of £85 and disqualified from driving for 16 months for taking a car without the owner's consent on June 8 and driving along Hartington Street, Derby, while over the legal alcohol limit and without a licence on June 8.

PAUL Fournillier, 47, of Rawdon Street, Derby, was given a 12-week jail sentence suspended for a year after failing to comply with a community order on June 1 given for theft. He was also ordered to be electronically monitored for three weeks as part of a curfew requirement.

MICHAEL Walton, 33, of Loscoe Road, Heanor, was given a jail sentence of 17 weeks, suspended for 18 months, and an 18-month supervision order for driving a vehicle on June 4 while over the legal alcohol limit.

JAMIE Wragg, 30, of Peveril Avenue, Borrowash, fined £75, ordered to pay £100 compensation and £85 CPS costs for damaging a window belonging to Derby Homes on June 5.

MIZANUR Rahmann Miah, 42, of Reginald Street, Derby, was fined £198, ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge and costs of £601 and had his licence endorsed with six penalty points for using a car in Friar Gate, Derby, with no insurance on November 22.

OZ Darryn Smalley, 27, of Milestone House, Green Lane, Derby, was committed to prison for six weeks for stealing two steaks from Marks and Spencer on July 1.

THOUSANDS of people will descend on the Roundhouse as the BBC's Antiques Roadshow comes to Derby on Sunday.

Some of Britain's leading antiques and fine-arts specialists will be on hand to offer free advice and valuations from 9.30am until 4.30pm.

The show, now in its 37th series, sees folk raid their attics and take along their family heirlooms, household treasures and car boot bargains for inspection by the experts.

Presenter Fiona Bruce said: "This will be my seventh year on the Antiques Roadshow and I still feel so lucky to be presenting the programme.

"Every week is different; a new location and thousands of new visitors.

"The only constant is the pleasure of the unexpected – we never know what will turn up, from the most fabulous Fabergé to the most humble object with a riveting story."

Series editor Simon Shaw said: "Fiona and the team are really looking forward to their visit to Derby. Although we can never predict what will come to light, every show brings big surprises, which is what makes working on the show so exciting.

"So, on behalf of all of the experts, we're asking the people of Derby to dig out your treasures."

The event is expected to be very well attended and those wanting to drive to the Roundhouse are advised to arrive early.

Roadshow visitors will be directed initially to Car Park 1 which is located close to the Roundhouse.

Once full, drivers will be directed by stewards to additional spaces nearby.

Parking spaces are also available at the Park and Ride, next to the iPro Stadium and buses run regularly from Derby Bus Station through Pride Park. Arriva runs services 44 and 45 but visitors are advised that the first bus is not due to depart until 9.54am.

Parking for the disabled is located in Car Park 1. Apart from guide dogs, no dogs are allowed in the Roundhouse.

TWO days of calypso fun will descend on Derby as the annual Caribbean Carnival comes to the city.

Troupes of dancers from London, Luton, Leeds and Nottingham will join Derby's Mandela troupe and the Carnival Association's own dancers for a parade on Saturday.

The procession leaves Pear Tree School at about 1pm, meanders through the city centre, arriving at about 3pm in the Market Place, where it culminates in a costume exhibition and stage show until 7pm.

On Sunday, a stage show with local, national and international headline artists takes place at Osmaston Park from 1pm until 9pm

A fun fair, catering stalls selling Caribbean and European foods as well as arts and crafts stalls are also part of the entertainment.

The carnival is planned and organised by the Derby West Indian Community Association.

George Mighty MBE, chairman and co-founder of the association, said: "We are expecting a really good crowd for both days with more than 460 dancers taking part in the parade along with floats and sound systems.

"It is great to see so many other troupes coming from around the country to take part."

The event started out as a small festival in 1975 and was held at Moorways Sports Centre. It was not until 1986 when the group began to put more of an emphasis on the carnival.

From there the event became a much bigger venture, attracting much more interest around the East Midlands as well as nationally.

The organisers are hoping the good weather will continue.

George said: "We are all keeping our fingers crossed that it isn't wet.

"It won't stop the parade on Saturday but it could affect the event at Osmaston Park on Sunday.

"But I don't think the ground will be too bad given it is so hot at the moment."

To get to the Sunday event at Osmaston Park, take the 40 or 41 bus from the Derby Bus Station. For more information, visit www.dwica.co.uk

DRIVERS have been warned that part of the A38 will be closed overnight for three weeks between the Markeaton and Kingsway islands so resurfacing work can happen.

The southbound carriageway of the road at its junction with Raleigh Street will be closed between 8pm and 6am from Monday.

The Highways Agency has said that a "local diversion route" will be signed.

Meanwhile, from Monday until August 1 at the same times, there will be closures of parts of Main Road, Derby Road, and the A515/A50 interchange, Sudbury. Alternative routes will again be provided.

A FEMALE distraction burglar climbed through the window of a house while the victim was in the kitchen fetching £1 for the offender.

Once inside, the offender stole a purse belonging to the 65-year-old victim and ran off.

The incident took place in Critchley Street, Ilkeston, at around 8am on Wednesday .

Police says the offender walked up to the window of the home, leaned inside and asked the householder she knew where someone lived.

When the victim said she knew no-one of that name, the burglar asked if she could have "£1 for bus fare."

The victim walked into her kitchen to fetch the cash and when she returned the offender was gone, along with her purse containing cards and cash.

A Derbyshire police spokesman said: "We believe that the burglar waited until the woman was out of the room before climbing in through the window and taking the purse."

No description of the offender has been released but anyone who saw suspicious activity in the street at the time is asked to call 101.

UNISON is to highlight what it is calling the "cost of living crisis" in the UK by dressing up as Victorian workers outside the Royal Derby Hospital.

The idea is to draw a comparison between employment today and in the 19th century.

Pam Shepherd, Unison regional organiser for health workers in Derbyshire, said: "The Coalition Government's continual driving down of employment rights and pay is a step back into a Victorian era of economic insecurity, having to queue for food and waiting to be called to work.

"This new million plus zero-hour 'flexible' workforce is the 21st-century equivalent of Victorian workers standing outside the dock gates in the morning hoping for a day's work.

"It comes to something when even Boris Johnson has said: 'We're returning to Victorian levels of disparity between the rich and the poor.'

"Unison is hoping to channel the spirit of the people of Derbyshire village Pentrich who, nearly 200 years ago, in 1817, marched towards Nottingham in protest against a lack of work, lack of food and the indifference of the Government.

"Unison will make sure our members' voices are heard in the face of the biggest fall in living standards since the Victorian era."

Members of the union will be outside the Royal Derby Hospital from 10am to 2pm on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday next week, and outside Chesterfield Royal Hospital from 10am to 2pm on Tuesday and Wednesday and from 9am to noon on Friday.

They will be handing out bags of boiled sweets to hospital staff.

DERBY County are hoping Craig Bryson will play a part in tomorrow's friendly against Notts County at Meadow Lane (1pm).

Bryson has not figured since the opening fixture of pre-season against Matlock Town at the beginning of the month.

An ankle problem sidelined the Scottish international midfielder for the matches against Ilkeston, Nuneaton Town and Northampton Town.

Another midfielder, Paul Coutts, remains an injury doubt.

He started the friendly at Matlock but the Scot has not played since due to a bit of damage to his hip flexor.

Coutts missed virtually all of last season after dislocating a kneecap in the Capital One Cup defeat by Leicester City in September.

Derby fans should get a first look at new signing Cyrus Christie tomorrow.

The 21-year-old right-back joined the Rams from Coventry City last week.

Kieron Freeman could return to the squad. The right-back missed out against Northampton with an ankle injury picked up in the win at Nuneaton.

There is still no Lee Grant as the keeper recovers from a knee operation he underwent at the end of May.

LEE Grant has his sights set on recovering from a minor operation on his knee to play a part in Derby County's pre-season matches.

The Rams' number one goalkeeper underwent surgery at the end of May and has yet to figure in the friendlies.

He sat out the games against Matlock Town, Ilkeston, Nuneaton Town and Northampton Town.

Derby still have matches to play against Notts County tomorrow, Russian side Zenit St Petersburg and Slavija Sarajevo, from Bosnia-Herzegovina, on the tour of Austria next week, then Burton Albion and Glasgow Rangers.

"We have lots of games in pre-season, so there's time to catch up," said Grant, who was ever-present last season.

"I'm looking forward to playing my part in some of the friendly matches."

The 31-year-old is ready for a gruelling couple of weeks on the training ground as he builds his fitness and works towards a return to full training.

"While the boys have been hard at work, I've been in the gym working on my rehabilitation but I'm doing well and am happy with my progress," he said.

"I don't think I've avoided the pre-season running totally, certainly not with (goalkeeper coach) Eric Steele in charge.

"I really enjoy working with him but I think I might be cursing him a bit in the next few weeks, with the workload I'll receive!

"I've been doing as much as I can to keep my eye in, as it were, so it isn't too much of a shock to the system.

"I am sure there are some gruelling sessions awaiting me as well but it's something to look forward to.

"The work I have been doing has been very intense to make sure I'm not too far behind the lads."

Grant admits it has been frustrating to be out of action.

"I am trying to put all the hard work in so when I get back into the games, I won't be too far behind," the former Burnley stopper added.

snicholson@derbytelegraph.co.uk

A BABY died after a nurse on her first shift for the 111 out-of-hours medical advice line failed to recognise he had a serious infection.

Amy Chapman was five minutes from the end of her night shift when Daniel Randle phoned about his poorly son, Sebastian, aged 11 weeks.

Mr Randle said Sebastian was "floppy", had a fever and a serious cough.

Ms Chapman advised him to keep the baby cool and look for any signs his condition was deteriorating.

Seven hours later, a worried Mr Randle and his wife Helen, from Oakwood, alarmed at Sebastian's condition, dialled 999 and the youngster was taken to the Royal Derby Hospital.

Doctors desperately fought to save him but he died at 7.40am.

A post-mortem examination found he had suffered blood poisoning which had caused his organs to fail.

In the inquest, the nurse admitted that, if she had realised the severity of the symptoms, she would have called in an out-of-hours GP to examine Sebastian.

Assistant coroner Louise Pinder said Ms Chapman had failed to recognise three "red flag" symptoms – temperature, the age of the patient and his limpness.

Miss Pinder said she "falsely reassured" the parents and did not tell them to call back.

She said: "Seb's condition significantly deteriorated during the night."

Miss Pinder said "a defect in the system utilised by the out of hours advice service" contributed to the failure to recognise Sebastian's symptoms.

But she said that although the baby's condition therefore went untreated following the out-of-hours call, "it would not, on a balance of probabilities, have altered the outcome".

Following the inquest, the head of Derbyshire Health United, which runs the 111 service in the county, said "clearly there was a failing in the quality of care that Sebastian received for which we deeply apologise".

Ms Chapman told the hearing she had been a nurse since 2006 and had been at Derby since 2012.

The night she handled the call from Mr Randall was her first as a fully-trained and independent caller. It arrived five minutes before her shift was due to finish. She received the call from a handler and was told Sebastian was a baby "with a cough".

Ms Chapman said: "There was quite a few calls before Daniel's. I had done two weeks with someone but this was my first shift on my own and I started at 6pm."

She said the call centre is in Derby where they work in pods of eight, with nurse advisers and shift managers.

Mr Randle finished the 111 call at 11.01pm. The following morning a call to the ambulance service was made at 6.18am.

Doctor Richard Bowker, from Derby Children's Hospital, which is part of the Royal Derby Hospital, said Sebastian arrived at the hospital at 7am on September 10, 2013.

He said: "At 7.01am he was not breathing, he was very pale and did have a pulse but it was very fast. His blood pressure was very low.

"At 7.06am his heart stopped beating for the first time.

"There is no doubt the chances of survival are significantly reduced during that time frame. But, the chances were quite low at 11pm before.

"Seb was not given the best chance of survival.

"This is not a common disease but it is devastating."

In her summing-up, Miss Pinder said: "The cough pattern was incorrectly chosen by the call adviser and the nurse adviser.

"The nurse had failed to notice three red flags, temperature, age and limpness.

"There was a failure to recognise the significance of these symptoms as a result of a defect in the system utilised by the out-of-hours advice service and a failure by the nurse adviser to recognise that the pathway disposition was incorrect."

Stephen Bateman, interim chief executive of Derbyshire Health United, said: "The tragic death of Sebastian has deeply affected us all. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with his family at this very difficult time.

"Derbyshire Health United is committed to the highest standards of patient care and clearly there was a failing in the quality of care that Sebastian received for which we deeply apologise.

"The health and safety of our patients continues to be our utmost priority and an exhaustive investigation and swift action was undertaken following Sebastian's death.

"We wish to assure all of our patients that the service is safe and every effort has been taken to ensure that this unfortunate event would never happen again."

In the 111 system, trained advisers who answer the phones offer basic health advice and direct the caller to the most appropriate service for their needs – A&E or GP out-of-hours services, for example.

A spokesperson from the Health and Social Care Information Centre said it is "deeply saddened by the tragic loss of this young life".

She said extensive safety checks of 111 guidance – known as NHS Pathways – are carried out.

"Immediate action was taken within four hours to provide all call handlers using NHS Pathways with an interim solution and a complete review of the system was also instigated."

DERBY County look to be edging closer to landing George Thorne following West Bromwich Albion's public stance yesterday.

Albion revealed that the midfielder had not travelled with the squad to a pre-season training camp in the United States.

The Premier League club also confirmed it was in talks with Derby over Thorne, who impressed during a loan spell with the Rams last season.

"While those negotiations continue it makes sense for him (Thorne) to remain at home," said Albion manager Alan Irvine.

"However, if no agreement is reached, George will be flown out to join the rest of the group in the US."

The messages coming from the Hawthorns have changed since last month when Albion rejected two bids for the player from Derby and turned down two transfer requests from Thorne.

Albion were adamant Thorne was not for sale.

Now it appears that talks are to start again.

Thorne caught the eye in his dozen appearances for Derby last season and he has made it clear he sees his future away from West Brom.

Derby's second bid was believed to be £1.5m rising to £2m with add-ons.

It remains unclear how much Albion want for Thorne, who is 21 and has made only 42 league starts in his career.

The Rams have and will continue to support and meet Financial Fair Play guidelines meaning they will identify targets in a sensible fashion and not be reckless in the chase for targets.

Derby's club record fee paid for a player is £3.5m – Robert Earnshaw from Norwich City in 2007.

They have spent £3m on a player on only four other occasions in their history – Claude Davis (July 2007), Giorgi Kinkladze (April 2000), Branko Strupar (December 1999) and Craig Burley (December 1999).

Derby are close to signing Spanish youth international Ivan Calero.

The 19-year-old attacking midfielder has been on trial with the Rams and played in last week's friendly against Mickleover Sports.

He is a product of Atletico Madrid's Academy and has featured for Atletico's B team.

Derby head coach Steve McClaren is bolstering the club's under-21 development squad in a bid to strengthen it as a breeding ground for players to step into the first team.

THE first part of a vital flood defence scheme for Derby to protect hundreds of homes and businesses will be completed a year later than expected.

Derby City Council says the delay to finishing the replacement barriers on the River Derwent for Alfreton Road Industrial Estate, Darley Abbey, and Chester Green, is being caused by the Government.

The defences in the first phase of the scheme had been due for completion in March 2017 but this will now be a year later.

The current defences offer protection that means affected areas will have a 2% to 4% chance of flooding each year, but the new ones would reduce this to 1%.

Though the last time the area flooded was now sometime ago, the threat of it has badly affected some residents' insurance costs.

Derby North MP Chris Williamson said the situation was "entirely unacceptable" and that he would be chasing up the issue.

Councillor Martin Rawson, responsible for planning and environment, said the council was still awaiting approval of the scheme's business case from the Environment Agency and confirmation from the Department for the Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra) that funding was in place.

He said: "Preparation work is on-going to allow the start of the construction scheme by March 2015, subject to the funding and planning permission approval, with a view to completing the first package of work by March 2018."

The whole scheme has three phases and is due for completion by May 2021, protecting places including Alvaston Park, Raynesway, Ambaston, and Breadsall.

Mr Rawson said: "We are still progressing to complete the whole scheme by the 2021 date but this is a complex project with a number of influencing factors and there is a risk of change."

Mr Williamson said he had made "strenuous representations" to MPs before about the importance of the scheme.

He said: "As each year goes by, the risk continues for the people living in those areas because the current flood defences are inadequate. That's an unacceptable state of affairs.

"I will raise the matter with the Environment Agency and Defra."

Sarah Thornhill, 31, of City Road, Chester Green, said she wanted to see the barriers up as soon as possible.

She said: "It concerned us when we moved in seven years ago because there was quite a big flood that summer.

"We haven't had one since but it affects our insurance.

"I'd like the defences sorted as soon as possible."

An Environment Agency spokesman said: "This is a complex scheme and further clarifications are being addressed before the business case is approved."

No-one from Defra was available to comment.

Experts are warning to be careful in the heat as temperatures hit a sizzling 30C. But the sunshine is still putting a smile on people's faces.

THOUSANDS of people across the county will be cracking open the sun cream today on what is expected to be the hottest day of the year.

Conditions will be so warm that the Met Office has issued a level-two alert, which means there is a 60% chance of temperatures being high enough on at least two consecutive days to have a significant effect on health.

There are four alert levels, with level one being the lowest.

The top temperature will be 30C at 4pm today, according to the forecaster.

Dr John Grenville, secretary of the Derbyshire Local Medical Committee, said people should take the warning seriously.

He said: "I would call this a two-part problem. One is the short-term issue of being burnt and the pain of that.

"The second part, which is more serious, is a long-term problem which means it can lead to long-term problems.

"This is a serious warning and the NHS heatwave plan is designed to save lives.

"When people walk around it will feel nice now, but later on, if they have not put cream on, then they might not be able to lie down.

"People love a sun tan but I would advise a factor 40 or 50 sun cream.

"It will be difficult for the vulnerable and the elderly. People need to take this hot weather as seriously as cold weather."

Derek Ward, director of public health at Derby City Council, also advised people to be careful.

He said: "It's great to be expecting such nice weather this weekend, however high temperatures can be dangerous, which is why we want to make people aware of how to look after themselves in such heat."

A spokesman for the Met Office said night time temperatures would reach 23C at 10pm tonight.

Samantha Harrison, of Wye Street, Alvaston, said she would be out and about with her van, Sam's Ices, today.

She said: "On an ordinary day I will serve about 150 people, but on Thursday it doubled – it might have even trebled.

"I have been bombarded with calls from businesses asking if I can bring the van over to them.

"This is the best summer I can remember in about six years. I've been serving ice creams for 22 years and if you can't flog them in this weather then you never will."

Animal welfare expert and former Derby RSPCA manager Malcolm Hall said the warm weather could be a dangerous time for pets.

He said: "It's very important people should not leave their dogs in a hot car because it will become an oven. If they are left and are in pain for long periods then that is breaking the law.

"The police are well within their rights to smash a car window if they see an animal being kept inside.

"Giving animals plenty of water when they are in the house is vital – any sign of heatstroke and they should be taken to the vets."

The previous hottest day of the year was last Saturday, which was 26.7C.

Mark Smith, manager of Swarkestone Nursery, predicted in March that this summer would be the best in 15 years.

He based his forecast on what his suppliers were telling him and on the early-season temperatures.

Mr Smith said: "Plants need to be kept in the shade during this warm weather or in a cool place. This will stop the plants scorching.

"I'm definitely confident this summer will be the warmest in 15 years. It's incredibly hot here and we are taking breaks for water every 20 minutes."

Jim Murray, deputy chief nurse for Derby Hospitals, said: "To combat the effects of the current hot weather, we have implemented our heatwave plan across our hospitals.

"Staff have been made aware that we have cool rooms available where 'high risk' patients can be given priority time. We are monitoring indoor temperatures and making sure that additional water is available for all patients, with ice if needed."

THE FOUR LEVELS OF HEAT WARNINGS

THE heat health watch system comprises four levels of response based upon threshold maximum daytime and minimum night-time temperatures. These thresholds vary by region, but an average threshold temperature is 30C by day and 15C overnight.

Green (Level 1) — Summer preparedness and long-term planning.

Yellow (Level 2) — Alert and readiness

Triggered as soon as the risk is 60% or above for threshold temperatures being reached in one or more regions on at least two consecutive days and the intervening night. This is an important stage for social and healthcare services who will be working to ensure readiness and swift action to reduce harm from a potential heatwave.

Amber (Level 3)— Heatwave action

Triggered when the Met Office confirms threshold temperatures for one of more regions have been reached for one day and the following night, and the forecast for the next day has a greater than 90% confidence level that the day threshold temperature will be met. This stage requires social and healthcare services to target specific actions at high-risk groups.

Red (Level 4) — National Emergency

Reached when a heatwave is so severe and/or prolonged that its effects extend outside the health and social care system. At this level, illness and death may occur among the fit and healthy, and not just in high-risk groups.

See www.nhs.uk/summerhealth for advice.

THE number of complaints made against Derby city councillors in the last financial year shot up to 13 – from just one in the previous 12 months.

But only one of the 13 complaints in that time was upheld.

Derby City Council said the name of the councillor involved was confidential.

In March, this year, Tory councillor Philip Hickson said the council's standards committee had upheld a complaint against Labour councillor Ranjit Banwait, who is now council leader.

The comment was made at a council meeting following Mr Banwait's apology for a "political analogy" he made referring to domestic violence in September 2013.

He had said: "Can you imagine being married to a Liberal Democrat and incurring some domestic violence?

"One minute everything's all right, the next minute you get walloped around the head with a saucepan, next minute councillor [Les] Allen comes over and says please, I'm really sorry, let me take you to hospital."

In apologising, he said: "Sometimes in the cut and thrust of the chamber, the wrong words are said. I regret what I said and I do apologise."

Two of the 13 complaints in 2013-14 were made by other councillors. Four complaints about councillors were received in 2011-12.

AN 11-YEAR-OLD girl who was born with a congenital heart disease has made it through to the final of a national singing competition.

Tamara Msimanga has had  open heart surgery four times and will be on medication for the rest of her life.

But the "bubbly" youngster does not let this stop her from singing – and she has now made it through to the final of the TeenStar competition which takes at Birmingham NEC tomorrow.

Her mum, Michelle Msimanga, 30, of Alvaston, said: "It hasn't been a pleasant experience seeing what Tamara has had to go through but we try and make sure that she maintains a normal life as possible and encourage her to follow her dreams."

"She was born with a congenital heart disease and only two of the chambers in her heart were working.

"The last open heart surgery she had was five years ago.

"She goes through stages and sometimes it gets difficult for her to breathe but she is bubbly and happy and in pursuit of her dream which is to be a singer."

Michelle said she entered Tamara into the TeenStar competition – pre-teen category – after seeing an advert online.

She said: "Tamara was really excited but quite nervous too.

"Her first audition was in Glasgow where there were thousands of other people auditioning. She sang Bruno Mars, When I was Your Man and got through.

"We then went to Manchester for the area final and she was the judges' top act of the day."

Now the youngster will be performing at the NEC in Birmingham and will be singing a "mash-up" of Katy Perry's Roar and Beyonce's Run The World.

Michelle said: "I help Tamara with her song choices as we have seen the competition and we know what the judges are looking for.

"We try and make her auditions different and showcase her as an individual. There are 27 others she will be competing against.

"I'm extremely proud of her. I cannot describe it.

"Tamara has worked really hard for this. It would be totally amazing if she won. But if she doesn't she has had an amazing experience."

The overall winner will receive a package including £5,000 cash to spend on the development of their act.

Tamara said: "I practise singing in my bedroom. My favourite singer is Iggy Azaela. The best thing about the competition is that I have been singing since I was a little girl and I get to see what it is like doing what I want to do when I grow up.I would be very happy if I won."