YOU have to go back 30 years for the last time a Derby County player topped Chris Martin's goalscoring feat last season.

Martin hit 25 goals as the Rams reached the Championship play-off final – one short of Bobby Davison's 26 in 1984-85.

Derby will again look to Martin for the goals this coming season and the striker showed his finishing quality at the weekend.

He scored a hat-trick as Steve McClaren's side recovered from a goal down to beat League One opponents Notts County 3-1 in Saturday's friendly at Meadow Lane.

Martin fired home an equaliser five minutes before half-time and dispatched a penalty early in the second half.

He saved his best finish to last with a rising drive into the top corner.

They were Martin's first goals of pre-season.

This was Derby's fifth first-team friendly and they face two more this week while away at a training camp in Austria.

First up are Russian side Zenit St Petersburg tomorrow night followed by Slavija Sarajevo on Friday.

Jake Buxton, Johnny Russell and Kelle Roos played 90 minutes against Notts. Martin, Richard Keogh and Craig Forsyth 86, Jeff Hendrick 80 and Will Hughes 70.

Standard of opposition has increased with each friendly and the Rams are improving with each workout.

The games are a means to an end, as McClaren highlighted when he said: "We are getting to where we want to be."

Derby fielded a strong 11 in which new signing Cyrus Christie was at right-back.

George Thorne completed his move from West Bromwich Albion on Saturday morning but was not involved and so Will Hughes was the deepest of the midfield trio that also featured Jeff Hendrick and fit-again Craig Bryson.

Defender Zak Whitbread (back), midfielder Paul Coutts (hip flexor) and goalkeeper Lee Grant (knee) were not available. Mason Bennett played for the under-21s at Middlesbrough.

Christie's athleticism and pace caught the eye after only two minutes when he surged down the right and centred low towards Martin, who failed to connect with the ball when he looked set to score. Simon Dawkins' follow-up was deflected behind.

In Christie and Forsyth, Derby have full-backs who are comfortable going forward. This provides a double-edged attacking threat and is a positive approach but the 'back door' also has to remain closed.

Plenty of possession was enjoyed by Derby in the first half, although at times it was too intricate around the edge of the box, too many touches, but such things tend to iron themselves out in pre-season.

There was nothing intricate about the goal that gave Notts the lead just before the half hour.

Skipper Richard Keogh was caught in possession just outside his own area and one of the Magpies' triallists, Elliott Whitehouse, thumped a shot high past Roos and in off the underside of the bar.

Martin levelled 11 minutes later when he expertly swept a first-time finish low past Fabian Spiess after Russell's smart pass.

Keogh almost headed the Rams in front a minute later but Notts had tested Derby.

The Magpies' midfield included ex-Leeds United, Manchester United and England striker Alan Smith. The 33-year-old was influential and used his know-how.

Derby went ahead when Martin converted his spot kick in the 52nd minute after Dawkins had raced into the area, checked back and was tripped by Zeli Ismail, on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers. Ismail had a loan spell at Burton Albion last season.

Cue the start of the substitutions, one of which saw Christie replaced by triallist Allasane Toure, a 25-year-old defender from French club RC Lens.

Toure went to right-back, making some solid challenges and winning some headers.

Hendrick wasted an opportunity to stretch Derby's lead and Forsyth's glancing header from Hendrick's free kick struck a post as the Rams controlled matters and went in search of a third goal.

The goal arrived after 75 minutes when Hendrick, full of running, squared to Martin who showed terrific technique to steer a first-time shot into the top corner. A stunning strike.

NOTTS COUNTY: Spiess; Dixon (McKenzie, 7), Adams (Tempest, 46), Smith (Keane, 46), Mullins, Hollis, Ismail (Balmy, 61), Noble (Wroe, 61), Asante (Waite, 46), Dawson (Trialist , 61) Whitehouse (Murray, 61). Other subs: Andrews (gk), McGowan.

DERBY COUNTY: Roos; Christie (Toure, 52), Keogh (O'Brien, 86), Buxton, Forsyth (L Naylor, 86); Hendrick (Hanson, 80), Hughes (Sammon, 71), Bryson (Eustace, 52); Russell, Martin (Freeman, 86), Dawkins (Ward, 65). Other sub: Etheridge (gk)

Referee: D Deadman (Cambridgeshire).

Attendance: 3,235 (1,742 away fans).

WATCH all the goals from Derby County's 3-1 friendly victory over Notts County.

Striker Chris Martin hit a hat-trick for the Rams at Meadow Lane on Saturday as Steve McClaren's men continued their preparations for the new season.

Elliott Whitehouse had put the Magpies ahead after Richard Keogh was caught in possession.

WATCH highlights from an eventful first day of Derbyshire's County Championship Division Two encounter with Glamorgan.

Sixteen wickets fell at the 3aaa County Ground, with the visitors bowled out for 138 before Derbyshire reached 142-6 in reply at the close.

Alex Hughes took a career-best 4-46 and Wes Durston hit a quickfire 50 for the home side.

A MUM-OF-THREE claims she was left "drowning in rubbish" because her black bin was collected only three times since January.

Kirsty Taylor, 32, of Northwood Avenue, Chaddesden, said the waste was cleared the day after she threatened to take the matter to the Derby Telegraph.

Derby City Council said that the missed fortnightly collections were down to the fact that Mrs Taylor's black bin was broken and was often too heavy for the lifts on bin lorries to pick up.

It has said that, in recent weeks, it tried to contact Mrs Taylor about the problem but without success – something she denies.

The council said that, while contact was attempted, it cleared the bins and excess sacks "on a number of occasions".

Mrs Taylor said: "I threatened them with going to the paper, and putting the rubbish out in the street – which I never intended to do – and they came the next day.

"It had been 10 weeks since it was cleared and it was disgusting.

"I'd stacked up bags outside the house but three or four needed re-bagging because the foxes and cats got to them."

The problem was exacerbated by the public sector strike on July 10, when her bin was not collected again.

Mrs Taylor said that the threat to go to the Derby Telegraph was made on Friday and that the council turned up on Saturday morning to complete the clearance.

She moved to Derby on January 11 with her three children, Alfie, one, Tyler, two, and Jessica-Lea, 12.

The first clearance, she said, was organised by Derby Homes shortly afterwards.

The second was by the council in April and the third – a standard black bin collection – was carried out in the late spring.

A council spokeswoman said: "We are aware of the issues relating to this address and a supervisor had attempted to make contact with the resident over recent weeks, but without success.

"More recently, the supervisor has been able to discuss the issue with the customer and a solution has been agreed.

"The problem arose because the customer had a larger bin which was broken and often too heavy for the lifts on the rubbish removal trucks to pick up.

"While we were trying to make contact with the customer, the bins and excess waste was cleared on a number of occasions.

"A crew has now cleared the remaining excess waste and we have exchanged the large broken bin for two smaller bins, which provide the same capacity.

"We have also supplied extra bags for the resident."

THE largest primary school in Derbyshire is performing much better than two years ago, Government inspectors have found.

In 2012, Hilton Primary School was judged to "require improvement".

The school, which has 830 pupils, was revisited at the start of this month and has now been graded as "good".

An Ofsted report states the school is "much improved" and that some of the teaching is now "outstanding".

It also says pupils feel safe and happy at the school and are "achieving well".

Head teacher Kevan Lomas, who took charge of the school in February, said it was thrilling news for staff and pupils.

He said: "I'm delighted for the staff, children, parents and governors, who have worked so hard to achieve this judgment.

"We are very proud of all that we have achieved since the school's last inspection and the positive impact that this is having on children's learning and progress.

"This report, however, is not the end of the journey for us but a key milestone in our journey to excellence.

"Not only has it clarified all the things we are doing right but it has also helped us to clarify our priorities for the coming year and beyond.

"Our ultimate goal is to become – and remain – an 'outstanding' school, where every one of our 830 pupils is happy and successful, reaching their potential wherever their abilities may lie."

The report outlined what the school must do to be graded "outstanding" at its next inspection.

It said teachers' marking of work had not always been precise enough to help pupils improve, while some children's spelling and presentation of work needed to be worked on.

The report also found "a small minority of parents" felt they did not receive enough information about their child's progress.

Mr Lomas said he would address these points and that he was confident the school would be rated "outstanding" at its next inspection.

He said: "I have been impressed with the determination shown by my colleagues. Equally, the children have been outstanding ambassadors for the school and have worked hard to raise their own standards.

"With the continued support of teachers, children, parents and governors, I am confident that, in time, we can become an outstanding school and a real beacon of high achievement in the county."

A TREE caught alight in the grounds of the University of Derby's Mickleover campus.

A fire service spokesman said crews were called to reports of a blaze in Chevin Avenue, shortly before 9pm last night.

But when they arrived the flames were already out.

They made the scene safe and left at 9.35pm.

The cause has yet to be revealed.

A driver on the M1 in Derbyshire decided to pull over after seeing the word fire on their dashboard, from the Adele song Set Fire to the Rain.

The barmy reason was one of ten which the Highways Agency traffic officers were given by drivers who had illegally stopped on the hard shoulder of motorways.

Last year between July and September 279 drivers in the East Midlands stopped on the hard shoulder when there was no emergency.

The full list is as follows:

• One motorist pulled over because they saw fire on their dashboard display, it later turned out it was the name of the Adele track they were listening to.

• One motorist parked up and fell asleep on the M6.

• People stopping to read a map or check their sat-navs.

• Traffic officers stopped with two cars on the hard shoulder – the owners were half way through the selling and buying process for one of the cars.

• One driver realised their car insurance policy was up for renewal – they were ringing around for quotes to renew.

• A group of motorcyclists parked on the hard shoulder on the M1 to review their route and have a drink.

• Taxi drivers waiting on the hard shoulder around Heathrow airport for their client's flights to arrive.

• A mobile phone operator, stopping at regular intervals in their private car carrying out signal tests on the hard shoulder.

• A driver who stopped to pick flowers.

• Have you broken down Sir? No, came the reply, we are taking pictures of our new-born grandchild (in their open top sports car) as it is a lovely day.

Jamie Hassall, Highways Agency national enforcement co-ordinator, said: "Every day, millions of people use our motorways. Most of them use the hard shoulder correctly and don't ignore red X's, but we are appealing to the few who put themselves, other road users, and those working on motorways at risk. "Where the hard shoulder is used as an additional traffic lane at peak times, you can only drive on it if there is a speed limit over it. When a red X is displayed over any lane, it's simple – don't drive on it."

DERBYSHIRE police have been praised in a national report for continuing to reduce crime while working to a tighter budget.

In the Policing in Austerity report published today by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC), which looked at how forces in England and Wales have made savings, Derbyshire was rated as "good".

It was one of 35 forces to be given that rating. Five forces were judged to be "outstanding" and three – one of which was Nottinghamshire – were told they "must improve". No forces were considered to be "inadequate".

The report said Derbyshire Constabulary was a low-cost force and had achieved savings in challenging financial circumstances. It said the force had plans to change the way in which it provided policing so that it could continue to keep its communities safe with reduced resources.

Zoë Billingham, HM Inspector of Constabulary for the Eastern Region, said: "HMIC's assessment is that the force has demonstrated a good response; it is delivering the savings required, planning sensibly for the future, while at the same time it is continuing to reduce crime and retain high levels of victim satisfaction."

She said the force was "well led" by Chief Constable Mick Creedon, it had a very good understanding of the issues facing it and its outlook for 2016 and beyond was "positive".

Jonathan Isaby, chief executive of the Taxpayers' Alliance, said: "It's fantastic news for taxpayers that Derbyshire's police force is making big savings. After years of tax hikes and spending splurges, the crisis in the public finances means that organisations in the public sector have to do more with less.

"Let's hope that other forces can cut out wasteful spending and ensure that the police are on the street, solving and preventing crimes in local communities."

The report said Derbyshire Constabulary:

Was on track to achieve its required savings of £24.2m over the spending review period between March 2011 and March 2015.

Had plans in place to deliver all of the savings needed in 2014-15 (£6.2m) and 2015-16 (£7.1m).

Was developing a new way to organise itself so it could deliver policing with fewer resources in the future. Provided a good quality of service to its communities by delivering high levels of crime reduction between 2010-11 and 2013-14, overall low crime and high levels of victim satisfaction.

HMIC's Valuing the Police programme has tracked how forces have made savings following the Government spending review in October 2010. It found that this year police forces have made good progress in implementing financial austerity and improvements had been made since last year.

A NATIONAL review of Taser use by police forces ranks Derbyshire as below average.

The report by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) published today reveals that, last year, Tasers were used by county officers 83 times.

This works out as 5% of officers using the electro-shock weapon. The average figure for forces in England and Wales is 9%.

IPCC Commissioner Cindy Butts said: "We've always accepted that there are legitimate reasons for using Taser in policing and that it can be a valuable tool in assisting police officers to manage difficult situations.

"However, in light of the significant increase in Taser use, it is important to ensure that the device is being used appropriately and not as a default choice where other options, including communication, could be effective."

Assistant Chief Constable Gary Knighton said: "We carefully assess the best way to handle incidents and all of our Taser deployments are managed by a police officer of inspector rank."

DERBY TV personality Maria Fowler is being stalked by a sinister internet troll who has threatened to blow up her house and rape her.

Police are investigating after former The Only Way Is Essex star Maria was targeted with the terrifying messages on her Twitter page.

The internet troll has since deleted his account but Maria intends to take further action and hopes to see him prosecuted.

The 27-year-old, who used to go toLittleover Community School, and lives in the city, said: "There are people out there who are capable of things like this and it's very worrying.

"It's an absolute nightmare to receive something like that. I was sent the message which said there is a bomb outside your house and that I should watch out because I will be raped.

"It's disgusting and this person is clearly an absolute weirdo. It's a very extreme thing to say and there is no point at all.

"I live on my own so to be threatened with rape is terrible. If it is a stalker then generally they are people you know but this is just a weirdo.

"It has left me feeling scared when something like this happens.

"I've had things similar but this is the most recent. People do say things on social media but it's just insults. This is far worse."

After leaving the TV show, Maria moved back to Derby to set up her own business, Amazing Tan, which sells a series of professional spray-tanning kits.

The threats have not deterred Maria from still using Twitter.

She said she has received support from other users who urged her to contact the police.

She was propelled to fame when she joined the show, which is broadcast on ITV2 and averages more than one million viewers for every episode.

She has not always experienced the positive side of fame and has suffered bouts of depression after negative stories in the media.

She tried to end her life by taking an overdose and the news made national headlines.

She moved back to her home city for peace and quiet and did not expect to receive the threats.

She said: "If somebody said that to me in the street then they would not get away with it.

"It should not be any different for doing it online.

"When I got back from my holiday I did think about what my car would be like because I have just had a new one.

"These messages arrived before I went away on holiday.

"I thought about not going away but then if I hadn't that would have meant they had won."

Maria said her worry was greater because the account had no name, picture or any details about themselves.

She has over 445,000 Twitter followers and she said the threats would not stop her using the social media platform.

She said: "I will carry on because I am not going to let this person get away with it.

"My message to them is simple.

"Posting these threats can have serious implications for people."

A spokesman for Derbyshire police said: "I can confirm that Maria has contacted the police about three messages she received on Twitter."

A FORMER Derbyshire kickboxer has been jailed for nine years after admitting trying to smuggled £2m of cocaine and ecstasy into the country.

A van driven by Paul Mitchelson was stopped by the Border Agency in France as he was travelling back to the UK from the continent.

Inside, hidden behind panels, were 11kg of cocaine, more than 50,000 ecstasy tables and a further 23kg of powdered ecstasy.

The 39-year-old, of Mill Street, Coton-in-the-Elms, near Swadlincote, pleaded guilty to importing cocaine and MDMA at Maidstone Crown Court, where he was handed the nine-year jail term.

A spokesman for the National Crime Agency, which led the investigation, said: "The drugs have a collective street value of more than £2 million.

"Mitchelson was stopped at on May 28 by Border Force officers at the UK Control Zone of the Channel Tunnel, in Coquelles, France.

"He was driving a VW Crafter TDi Van and said he was returning from Belgium where he had been to view a classic 1976 Porsche car on behalf of a third party."

The spokesman said: "Officers searched the van and three screws from the offside interior panel were removed revealing three packages.

Malcolm Bragg, from the National Crime Agency's Border Policing Command, said: "Drugs destroy communities and Mitchelson had no regard for the misery and damage they would have caused."

TRIBUTES have been paid to a father-of-six who would have been celebrating his 47th birthday today.

Derek Howard was given less than a year to live in September last year after he was diagnosed with terminal oesophageal cancer.

His children, Kira, Derek, Tasha, Stacey, Bonnie and Serena Howard, say his legacy will live on.

He lived in Melbourne before his death in May but spent most of his time residing in Allenton.

Kira, 26, said: "Everyone who knew my dad knew him as a family man. He lived for his family. People always and still do comment on how devoted he was to his children and how rare it is to find such a close family as ours.

"From when we were younger right through until the end he always dedicated all of his spare time to his children. He was never happier than when spending quality time with us, never scared to be a big kid and always getting involved in any activities.

"He was such a huge part of our lives, life will never be the same without him.

"There was never a sad face when he was around, he had the ability to make anyone smile no matter how down they were.

"The months in which he battled through were what I can only describe as the biggest roller-coaster imaginable, absolutely heartbreaking. His passion and love for his family got him through each day."

After his diagnosis, Derek, who worked as a lorry driver, proposed to and married his fiancée, Kirsty.

Derek grew up among five siblings in Coolock, Dublin, and originally came over to England when he was 19 with his then partner, Michelle.

DERBY actress Lauren Socha will be fulfilling a career ambition when she lines up in the next series of  Celebrity Big Brother when it hits television screens.

The Misfits actress is understood to have signed up for the Channel 5 programme, ending two months of speculation that she would appear on it.

In the past, she has tweeted that she would "love to go on Big Brother". Now she will get her chance.

The 23-year-old, of Littleover, is best known for her role as Kelly Bailey in E4's Misfits.

It was for this role that she won the Bafta for Best Supporting Actress in May 2011.

The actress hit the headlines for the wrong reasons when she was convicted of racially abusing a taxi driver in 2012, for which she received a four-month sentence, suspended for 12 months,

A source told the Sun on Sunday: "Lauren is hoping she can show a different, more gentle-natured side to her."

The show is set to start on August 18.

It would not be the first time Big Brother has featured a Derbyshire person. In 2012, model Danica Thrall, originally from Heanor, took part in a celebrity version of the show.

However, Benefits Street's White Dee – whose real name is Deirdre Kelly – apparently turned down an offer to take part this year as she is going to be filming her own cookery show.

And ex-I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here contestant and Coronation Street actress Helen Flanagan, who had been tipped for the show, is apparently trying for a baby with her fiancé.

Socha was a member of Chellaston Youth Players, one of the most respected and acclaimed youth musical theatre groups.

As well as her, the group produced many talented actors including Georgia Groome and Lauren's brother, Michael.

In her court case, Socha described her offence as "inexcusable". She issued an apology to a driver of Asian origin after subjecting him to a torrent of abuse following a nine-hour drinking binge.

She admitted she had let down "my family, my friends and myself". She said she was "ashamed and embarrassed about how I acted in his taxi on that night".

And she described the six months between the offence and the court case as "an absolute nightmare".

She said that following the incident she had not been working and that she wanted to "accept the punishment of the court" and try to get her career back on track.

As well as the suspended prison sentence, she was handed a 12-month supervision order and ordered to do 80 hours of unpaid work. She was also ordered to pay £450 compensation to the driver.

JAMIE Caven was edged out 10-8 by Gary Anderson in a tight opening round contest at the World Matchplay Darts in Blackpool.

The pair shared the opening six legs at the Winter Gardens on Monday night before Derby ace Caven landed double 16 and then took out 132 on the bull to break and move 5-3 up.

But Anderson broke back immediately with a 145 checkout before levelling.

The next four legs also went with the throw before Anderson broke to lead for the first time at 8-7, with Caven missing three darts at tops before seeing his opponent pin double 12 to move ahead for the first time.

The Scot then landed tops for a 9-7 cushion, and though Caven hit back in the next, Anderson proved too strong as he finished 80 to progress to the last 16.

"It was one of those games where it was going to be about one break of throw or one mistake," said the in-form Anderson.

"Jamie broke me early on and I broke him straight back but when it was seven-all and I got the break then I wanted to have a big push.

"Things are going well for me so far this year and it's been a while since I played like this on stage.

"It's starting to come good again and I'm enjoying it again."

Next, Anderson will face BDO world champion Stephen Bunting, who knocked out Peter Wright.

NEW jobs could be created on the site of a former Rolls-Royce foundry, a World War Two memorial erected and 100 homes built as part of a swathe of new plans to regenerate Osmaston.

Part of Osmaston Park could also have housing built on it in a bid to "increase public safety", and the junction of Osmaston Road and Ascot Drive could be "improved".

News of the proposals come as developer Keepmoat is consulting on its plans for 343 homes on what is currently Rolls-Royce land, off Nightingale Road.

And building continues on 95 homes – a mixture of social and low-cost housing – in Elton Road and Glossop Street.

The work is being carried out by the Osmaston Regeneration Partnership, made up of the city council, Keepmoat, Derby Homes and the Osmaston Community Association of Residents (Oscar).

Details of the projects are scarce as the council says they are in the "feasibility" stage. But it says it wants to see commercial units built on the site of the former Rolls-Royce Light Alloy Foundry, in Russell Street.

This could create scores of jobs on the site, which is still owned by Rolls-Royce.

The latest 100 homes could be built in Elton Road. It is understood they would also be constructed by Keepmoat.

Controversially, the council is also considering a patch of land on Osmaston Park for new homes.

It says this would involve "construction of a small number of homes adjacent to the allotments on an under-used area of Osmaston Park to increase public safety by overlooking and increased activity".

Councillor Robin Turner, who represents Sinfin, said he had concerns about building on parkland as it was vital for people's health.

He said: "Any land removed from the park ought to compensated for through other areas of adjacent land being attached to it."

City council deputy leader Councillor Martin Rawson said: "There are currently no concrete plans to build homes on Osmaston Park but we will look at this if there is a demand from the people of Osmaston."

The World War Two memorial could be created either in the foyer or the garden of the former Rolls-Royce factory office building in Nightingale Road, known as Marble Hall, said the chairman of Oscar, Leigh Alcock.

By April 2015 it will be transformed into a "community hub" featuring small business units, meeting rooms, office space, a café, and places for health and child care services.

The memorial would be to the 23 people who died when Rolls-Royce was bombed on July 27, 1942.

THE decision has been made to enforce a three-hour parking limit for shopping at Wyvern Retail Park.

I fear that many of these shops, which I frequently use, may live to regret this.

No time for a coffee at the new coffee house or for lunch at Sainsbury's café. No time to visit Homebase and Halfords, the children will have the final say! ''You can always call in at B&Q down the road, Dad".

No time for Mum to even consider looking around Next or Boots, when you might miss out on going to McDonald's.

The Wyvern has a very good variety of quality shops which has offered an alternative to going into the centre of Derby for several years, especially at Christmas.

For many people these new restrictions will change their shopping habits. I am one of them; I wonder how many more.

Nigel Bryan

Hillside Crescent

Spondon

THANKS to the intensive reporting of conditions in Normanton, the Telegraph has succeeded in getting Derby City Council to admit that more should have been done for this area recently.

I first had a glimpse of Normanton in 1953 when I saw two of my brothers settle into their digs in Sale Street. They arrived to start their apprenticeship with International Combustion Ltd and attend evening classes at Derby Tech on Normanton Road. I was bundled off to boarding school, with another brother, in North Wales.

I was able to visit my two brothers in Derby, who moved to Toc H on Osmaston Road, which was a residence for young people from different countries and the UK.

I was back in Derby in 1970 after completing my academic studies at various British universities and started my race relations career with Derby Council for Community Relations. I stayed in Rose Hill Street, off Normanton Road.

Even then the Normanton and Pear Tree areas were considered to be an immigrant "ghetto". It seems nothing has changed till today. I visited Harlem in New York in 1968, the year in which the Rev Dr Martin Luther King was assassinated. This area was considered to be a mainly black ghetto. Conditions there were terrible in every sense. So when I was in Derby two years later there was no comparison between Harlem, New York, and Normanton, Derby.

It is really wrong that Normanton is still thought of as Derby's ghetto. The word ghetto was used to describe the infamous Warsaw Ghetto in Poland during the Second World War. It was an area of Warsaw where the Nazis forced Jews to live in terrible conditions, away from people of other races. Many of the Jews from the Warsaw Ghetto ended up in the German death camps.

During July 2011 I wrote a letter to the Editor of the Telegraph, "Vibrant multi-faith area is safer than rest of city" (July 11 2011). I stated that "people have tried, without success, to vilify the Normanton area." It seems that some people still insist on demonising Normanton and its residents and I find this most unfair.

In the same letter I also stated that "Normanton is an area of vibrant multi-faith. Muslim mosques, Hindu temples, Sikh gudwaras and Christian churches, together with Indian and Pakistani community centres, are living testimonies of multi-racial co-operation."

Derby has now a reputation of being a progressive multi-cultural city. We should be very proud of this. Our last Mayor and the present Mayor both originally came from "Azad" Kashmir.

It really is time that the Normanton and Pear Tree areas are not thought of as dangerous immigrant ghettoes, but as parts of our city with much to offer.

I find it a joy to hear so many different languages being spoken. It is also a pleasure to see so many shops run by our ethnic minorities. I hope the people of Derby continue to embrace and promote good race relations.

A NEW role of "executive support officer" for the leader of Derby City Council has been created with pay of up to £41,000 a year.

The job replaces the role of personal assistant to the leader but will carry extra responsibilities and pay.

Council leader Ranjit Banwait said the person who got the job would, for the first time in a role like this, be required to work weekends and evenings.

He said that the post would enable him to "do an effective job for the city of Derby" and added that it will be "part of a wider review of council services to save money".

Mr Banwait said one recent example which showed the need for an assistant to "think outside the box and work outside normal hours" was when he spent a weekend talking to those affected by missed bins following this month's public sector strike.

The new role – which has come up now because the current PA to the leader retires this week – has already come under fierce criticism.

David Jowett, assistant branch secretary of Derby Unison, said his organisation had "serious concerns" over whether the spending on the role was needed.

He said: "In the light of severe pressure on the budget, and services for the vulnerable being cut, this clearly doesn't send the right message to the electorate.

"Unison agrees that councillors need to be well supported in their roles but, at the same time, believes the creation of this role is not necessary."

Tory opposition leader Philip Hickson said it was "completely unnecessary recruitment".

He said: "The leader has always had secretarial support at a much more modest level than this proposed post and that has proved to be wholly appropriate for a succession of different council leaders from all political parties."

He added that the cost, a salary of between £37,578 and £41,148 per year, was "completely unsupportable".

Mr Banwait said he had nothing to do with setting the salary level as it was "dependent on the requirements of the role".

He said the amount of pay would be comparable to someone with a similar job at Nottingham City Council.

A Derby City Council statement said: "We have consulted the leader on his expectations of a PA and have designed the post accordingly, including weekend and evening work.

"The post is designed to support the leader only, but we will assess if there is any spare capacity to support other cabinet members after appointment."

WATCH the best of the action from the dramatic second day of Derbyshire's County Championship Division Two encounter with Glamorgan.

Derbyshire moved to the brink of victory at the 3aaa County Ground on Monday.

Vital late runs from Tony Palladino and David Wainwright helped the hosts to 241 all out in their first innings before Glamorgan were shot out for 175, with Mark Footitt taking 6-48.

That left Derbyshire needing only 73 to win and they ended the day on 13-1.