THE mother of a girl who battled meningitis said it was "heartbreaking" that a vaccination for the disease was now available but at a cost of hundreds of pounds.
Sarah Woods' daughter, Sophie-Jade, was struck down by meningitis when 21 months old.
The disease attacked the 11-year-old's inner ears, leaving her deaf.
Now, her mum Sarah has spoken out after news that the UK's first lifesaving vaccine, Bexsero, for Meningitis B is available but only privately.
Sarah, 31, of Hobart Close, Mickleover, said: "I know there is not a bottomless pit of money but I don't think the whole situation has been taken into consideration.
"The long-term effects and costs of looking after children and their families affected by meningitis is much greater.
"Meningitis is a silent killer. You cannot put a price on your health."
Developers, pharmaceutical giant Novartis, cannot discuss the price it is offering to private clinics, GP and medical services but the NHS list price is £75 per dose.
And youngsters will need between two and four doses, depending on age.
It is unclear when the Government will make a final decision on whether the broad-range vaccine, for babies from two months, should be on the NHS.
Sarah, who has four children, aged three, six, nine and 11, said she had no option but to pay for the vaccinations because she could not bear the thought of seeing any of her other children battling the disease.
Her daughter, Sophie-Jade, now has two cochlear implants – small electronic hearing aids installed inside the ear – which give her a limited sense of hearing.
Sarah said: "It's such a raw topic in my heart, it's so painful. It's very unfair."
Lucy Groves, of Castle Donington, said she also welcomed the news that a vaccine had been developed.
Her five-year-old daughter, Scarlett, contracted meningitis when she was eight months old and was left with scarring.
Lucy, 37, said: "It's fantastic news that a vaccine has been developed but it is very sad that it is only available privately."
She said it was a "discrimination" against people of a lower social class.
"The vaccine will massively reduce the amount of suffering," said Lucy.
"But my long-term hope would be that it would be available on the national vaccine system."
The Independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which advises the Government on vaccinations, delayed a decision to put Bexsero on the NHS earlier this year.
The JCVI said there was insufficient evidence of cost-effectiveness and is reviewing new information on Bexsero.
Meningitis Now founder Steve Dayman, who launched his fight against the deadly disease after losing his baby Spencer to meningitis in 1982, said: "The availability of the lifesaving vaccine in the UK is a watershed moment in the fight against the deadly disease.
"The vaccine is one of the most significant leaps forward in the fight – it's taken decades to develop and stands to save thousands of lives and spare so much misery.
"We welcome that it is now available privately, but believe every parent should have the choice and chance to vaccinate their baby – not just those with means.
"Universal vaccination is the best way to stop the disease."
Meningitis Now, formed after Meningitis UK and Meningitis Trust merged this year, fights the disease on all fronts – funding preventative research, raising awareness and providing support.
A SECOND damning report on Derby's failing Muslim free school is expected to say that no progress has been made in the past few weeks since it was placed in special measures.
It follows a monitoring visit to Al-Madinah School by Ofsted – Office for Standards in Education – which took place two weeks ago as a result of a full inspection back in October which said the school was "in chaos" and "inadequate".
The latest report, which is due out tomorrow, is expected to be "very critical" and "very negative", according to Barry Day, chief executive of Greenwood Dale Trust, who was asked by the Government to investigate how the school could be turned around.
But despite the fact "the school appears to have gone backwards in the past couple of months", he believes it could have a future.
He has just completed a 10-day assessment of the school – which has sites in Nelson Street and Friar Gate – and is preparing to make recommendations to the Department for Education and his own board of trustees.
He has also drawn up an action plan and completed a senior leadership report for Ofsted.
He said: "The monitoring report is not going to make good reading. It will be very negative about the school following on from the previous report.
"But the action plan that we have supplied has been approved by Ofsted – without it they would have shut the school.
"I am willing to supply staff to help turn things around but it won't be easy and will involve a great deal of hard work and for the time being I recommend that Safina Higgins remains as acting head as she has been the saviour of the situation.
"But the school is unlikely to become part of our trust because, as I have told the DfE already, specialist finance and health and safety experts need to sort issues out separately, while we concentrate on helping out with the academic side."
Mr Day has promised to supply some of the staff from his 22 academies to help the school over the next few months and he is likely to take a place himself on the governing body when it is re-organised after the end of January, when the current trustees are due to leave.
Having carried out a "due diligence" exercise, Mr Day has concluded that urgent changes need to be made.
He said: "The primary school in Friar Gate is not fit for purpose and the play area is not even safe. We have stopped children using the playground but of course that leaves them without an outdoor exercise area.
"Midland House, in Nelson Street, where the secondary children are based, is about a quarter full and there are not enough staff left to manage both sites properly.
"So it would make sense to combine both age groups on the Nelson Street site as soon as possible and creating extra outdoor areas there."
Mr Day is anxious that more staff are recruited and said that some former staff, who left because of the "dysfunctional" state of the school, as Ofsted reported in October, might wish to return.
He is also concerned that existing pupils do not leave because the school could become unviable.
Four parent representatives from the newly-formed school's Parents and Friends Association listened to Mr Day's conclusions and were particularly interested to hear that the Muslim faith aspect of the school would remain.
Aftab Rehman, who has two daughters at the school, said: "We wanted our children to attend the school because of the faith element to learn good morals and values.
"There would be no reason for it to remain open without the faith element. We realise the school needs a strong governing body and that the previous one lacked the expertise, although their intentions were good.
"We are confident that parents will want to bring their children here once they realise that the expertise Mr Day can bring is being put into action.
He has a vision for the future and the backing of the Government which is a powerful combination moving forward.
"We want to be the best school in the UK."
Mr Day said that he hoped the next Ofsted monitoring visit, which could be in late January, would show some progress based on the plans under way and being proposed for January.
He said: "I have spoken with Schools Minister Lord Nash, who is carefully monitoring the situation at the school.
"He has told me he wants the school to prosper."
Arshed J Ahmed, secretary of the PFA, who has one child at the school, added: "It has been a very worrying time for everyone. The community had faith in the school and now we need to show them they were right to do so and, if necessary, re-earn their trust."
Mr Day, whose trust runs the City of Derby Academy, formerly Sinfin Community School, and specialises in sorting out challenging schools, is planning further meetings with the PFA and staff at the school.
He said he was keeping the current trustees – Shazia Parveen and Shabhan Rehmat – fully informed.
Al-Madinah School hit the headlines after Lord Nash ordered the school to stop insisting that non-Muslim members of staff should wear a hijab – Islamic head dress – and insisted that an action plan was drawn up within 15 days of the original damning Ofsted inspection.
Mr Day was called in three weeks ago.
A DERBY woman was last night being quizzed by murder-probe detectives after a pensioner was found dead with stab wounds.
The body of the OAP, understood to be in her late 60s, was discovered at a house in Belper.
A 37-year-old woman from Derby was later arrested by police.
It is thought that officers made the arrest outside Derbyshire.
Officers were called to a house on Short Row, off Green Lane, at about 11pm on Tuesday night.
The area around the house was cordoned off throughout yesterday and remained restricted last night.
Police scientific officers could be seen examining the property where the body of the woman, who has not been named, was found.
Her devastated partner was being comforted by friends and relatives.
Neighbour Roy Booth, 69, said he saw police lights in the area late on Tuesday.
He said: "My first thought was there had been an accident. It's been a big shock to find out it's being treated as a murder. It's very sad."
People living close to the scene have expressed their shock and officials have also sent sympathy to the family and friends of the dead woman.
Jenny Ditchfield, 35, of nearby Acorn Drive, said: "It's scary to have something like this happen on my doorstep.
"We do the school run past here every day.
"It's a nice area, I've lived here most of my life."
Another neighbour said: "I didn't hear anything, which surprises me because I was up until 2am working on my university project."
Jade Beecroft, 31, of Mill Street, lives near the Short Row property.
She said: "It is usually a very quiet area but I did hear some noises on Tuesday evening; dogs barking and people moving around.
"But I didn't think much of it until I woke up this morning and saw the police cordon.
"It's a really nice place to live and feels very safe.
"People are friendly and say hello to each other in the street, so it's quite shocking to find that the neighbourhood is now at the centre of a murder investigation."
Laura McCartney, 33, lives just two doors down from the home in which the body was found.
She said she rushed to the scene after friends called her asking if she was safe.
She said: "I feel totally sick that this has happened just two doors away from me.
"It's the last thing you expect to happen here."
Frederick and Marilyn Wathall, of Green Lane, live across the road from the scene.
Mrs Wathall, 65, said: "I was upstairs at about 11pm when I saw a lot of blue flashing lights at Field Lane.
"I thought to myself, 'What's going off here?'
"I went to bed not long after and when I woke up the next morning I saw the police on the street.
"I thought they must be connected."
Anybody with any information should call the police on 101.
A STUDENT died last night after being found injured at the University of Derby earlier in the afternoon.
Emergency services were called to the main Kedleston Road campus shortly before 4pm by security staff who had found a young man unconscious.
Police have not revealed exactly where on the campus he was found, but said he was taken to Royal Derby Hospital with serious injuries, where he was later pronounced dead.
A Derbyshire police spokesman said: "We are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident."
His family has been informed.
Soon after the incident, a spokesman for the University of Derby said: "We can confirm that a man was found injured at the university's main Kedleston Road site in Derby at around 3.50pm.
"Emergency services attended the scene.
"The man, who is believed to be a student at the University, was taken to Royal Derby Hospital suffering serious injuries.
"The incident is still under investigation by the police and further inquiries should be directed to them."
Police confirmed the young man had died shortly after 9.30pm last night.
A spokesman for the University of Derby then told the Telegraph that the university had nothing further to add.
RESIDENTS have gathered more than 1,500 signatures on a petition against plans to build hundreds of homes in Chaddesden.
Radleigh Homes wants to build up to 215 properties on land at Brook Farm, in Oregon Way.
But residents said they did not want to see the homes built on one of the "last remaining open spaces" in the suburb – and have today handed in the petition to Derby City Council.
Jane Lamb, 65, of Chapel Lane, said: "This land is the heart of Chaddesden, our heritage, precious open space in an ever-increasing, over-populated suburb of Derby.
"It is already coping with the nightmare of traffic congestion and escalating pressure on local amenities."
CRUEL burglars have stolen a seven-week-old puppy during a raid in a Derbyshire village.
The French bull terrier bitch was taken while the owner was upstairs at her home in Hilton.
Police say whoever was responsible sneaked into the house, in Dale End Road, between 7.15pm and 8pm last night,
The woman came downstairs at discover her puppy and her handbag had been taken.
Anyone with information should call 101.
BOOKMAKERS have slashed the odds on Derby County winning promotion.
A run of one defeat in 10 matches and five consecutive wins has seen Derby climb from 14th to fourth in the Championship under Steve McClaren's stewardship.
And their progress is reflected in the betting.
They ranged between 10/1 and 8/1 to win promotion before the season started – that was joint 13th out of the 24 teams to go up.
Now they are 3/1.
Queens Park Rangers, under Harry Redknapp, are 2/7 favourites for promotion to the Premier League, followed by Leicester City at 4/5 and Burnley at 9/4.
Reading are 10/3 and Derby's rivals and neighbours, Nottingham Forest, managed by former Rams boss Billy Davies, are 4/1.
The Rams are 12/1 to win the Championship.
HEALTH staff failed to tell social workers that youngster Riley Pettipierre's mother was a drug addict.
That is one of the main conclusions of a report released today into the death of the Belper tot.
But authorities responding to the damning findings admitted nobody had been sacked over Riley's death, blaming instead the failure of "systems".
The report of a Serious Case Review into Riley's death carried 12 devastating conclusions about some of the actions of professionals involved in the care of Riley and his mother, Sally Dent, and made 18 recommendations.
The main criticisms included "poor information sharing" between health professionals; a lack of effective recording systems; and failure of drug treatment workers to put Riley's needs above Dent's and to assess whether the toddler was at risk.
It said a number of professionals did not comply with the child protection procedures in Derbyshire by referring the family to Children's Social Care.
Mother Dent and father Shaun Binfield were jailed in February after they were convicted of the manslaughter of their son, Riley.
The toddler died at their home in Kilbourne Road, Belper, on March 13, 2012 after he drank Dent's methadone.
She had placed it in a child's beaker for herself to take during the night. Binfield was convicted of putting the beaker in a place that was accessible to Riley.
Dent was also convicted of cruelty to a child – after it was found that, during the final months of Riley's life, he ingested cocaine, heroin and methadone. Dent used crack-cocaine and heroin alongside methadone.
Lynn Woods, chief nurse and director of quality at NHS Southern Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said: "I don't believe anyone has lost their job – in most cases it is a system failure – individual negligence is not common."
Ms Woods, speaking for the different health organisations in Derbyshire, said: "A serious case review is not a disciplinary procedure – it's a reflective looking back and learning lessons. It would be up to the individual host organisations if they thought host disciplinary procedures were necessary."
The conclusion of the report stated that, if Riley had been referred to Children's Social Care, it "probably" would have prevented his "untimely death".
The serious case review revealed that despite the many different health professionals and drugs workers involved in care of Sally Dent, a known hard-drugs user, children's social care was never informed of Riley's birth in November 2009.
When it was pointed out that a failure of communication between professionals and agencies is something that has been raised before in reviews of why children have died or been harmed, Ms Woods said there were mechanisms in place, such as audits, to ensure the actions taken as a result of the review were "actually serving to make things better for kids".
She said: "We know there were issues in this particular case that may have impacted on other children, but steps have been put in place from the serious case review and children should be at less or no risk going forward."
In this case, when Riley was born, he showed symptoms that could be attributed to drugs withdrawal – under correct procedures, the midwife should have requested a meeting with Children's Social Care and the health visitor.
This was never done.
When Dent left hospital with Riley, health "professionals did not always effectively share communication with each other", the report said.
Staff involved in Dent's drug treatment (her methadone plan) "failed to compare the information she provided about her drug use" with each other, which would have shown she was giving conflicting reports.
The report states there might have been a culture at the drug treatment clinic she attended not to be proactive about referring safeguarding concerns to Children's Social Care. It said the clinic had made no referrals in 12 months.
But the report does add that Riley appeared to thrive, a positive bond had developed between the mother and child and "they were living in what was seen as a positive and supportive arrangement".
Ms Woods said she did not believe there was "a culture" among drug workers of not referring to social care but she added: ""We, in this case, fully accept, in health, a referral to social care should have been made".
During the final 10 days of Riley's life, police received information about Dent and Binfield and drug-dealing but "they did not connect the couple together as parents or identify they had a small child living with them", says the report.
Police have now instructed all staff that they must inform the Central Referral Unit, which includes social care staff, when they are dealing with an incident that may affect a child's safety.
WE'LL LEARN LESSONS, SAY AUTHORITIES – BUT IT'S HAPPENED BEFORE...
A SERIOUS case review in June into the death of Dylan Crean, who was murdered by violent offender Peter Gavin Cawser, in August 2011, found that Derbyshire Probation Service and Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust did not talk to each other about Cawser in the run-up to Dylan's death.
The report said the mental health service had been aware that Cawser, formerly of Woodville, was under a supervision order.
And the probation trust knew he had been referred for mental health assessment.
Both agencies were aware of the presence of the child in the same household but no inquiry or referral to children's social care was made.
Derbyshire Safeguarding Board said the probation service and mental health trust must learn to communicate with each other and other agencies. Both agencies responded to the report, saying the issues had been addressed.
In October 2010, a serious case review was published after a seven-week-old baby had bones broken by his father in Derby.
The report said agencies, including health and social care, did not always share information about the family as they should have and did not always record the information they did receive, or what had happened.
On two occasions, agencies did not meet before the baby was discharged from hospital as they should have done, to share information and agree the level of risk to the baby.
In 2007, a two-year-old child was referred to social services by doctors after she was admitted to hospital with fractures to her left leg and wrist and bruising to her chest.
She lived with her mother, stepfather, three-year-old brother and baby half-sister.
Following her admission to hospital, immediate arrangements were made for her mother and stepfather to be supervised at all times while caring for the children.
After initial meetings, it was reported that the baby's stepfather had two previous convictions for violent offences and social services were told he could become aggressive.
A couple of months later, the child was seriously sexually assaulted while in the care of her stepfather.
He was jailed for a minimum of 89 months.
The report concluded that had all parties been aware of the stepfather's previous violent history, a robust protection plan could have been put in place.
ON-LOAN defender Michael Keane showed against Blackpool that he can step into Derby County's team if called on but will have to bide his time, says first-team coach Paul Simpson.
Keane made his Rams debut as a substitute in Saturday's victory over Blackpool.
The 20-year-old Manchester United player is having to be patient for a start due to the form of centre-backs Richard Keogh and Jake Buxton.
Derby have conceded only three goals in their last five games and much of this has been down to the back four.
Keane has Championship experience from his loan spell at Leicester City last season and is with Derby until January, although there is a chance the deal can be extended.
A busy schedule of five matches in 19 days, starting against Charlton Athletic at The Valley this weekend, is likely to see Derby utilising their squad.
"There is every chance Michael is going to be needed and that is the reason we brought him into the club. He is a really good option to have," said first-team coach Paul Simpson.
"The way the two centre-halves have been performing – they have been outstanding for me the way they have gone about their business – it has been difficult for Michael to get in."
Keane replaced Buxton after 73 minutes against Blackpool with Derby leading 4-1 against 10 men.
"We had put the Blackpool game to bed, so it was a good opportunity to give Michael 20 minutes," added Simpson.
"I thought he looked very good on the ball and he could have got himself a goal.
"That will do him the world of good and if he is needed further down the line, he knows what to expect."
Derby finished the Blackpool game with three current England Under-21 internationals on the pitch in Keane, midfielder Will Hughes and right-back Andre Wisdom.
THIS is the terrifying moment a gold dealer was attacked with a stun gun in his home by a raider posing as a parcel deliveryman.
In an unexpected twist, would-be robber Paul Grimshaw ended up fleeing for his life – as two women armed with knives chased him off.
Victim Nigel Blackburn's screams prompted his fiancée, Pranee Rice, 29, and her friend, Mornrat Sangyang, 27, to leap into action.
Pranee, only seconds earlier, answered the door to the reflective jacket-wearing deliveryman, who insisted Mr Blackburn personally sign for a parcel.
The attack, in Mr Blackburn's home, in Hemington, near Castle Donington, was captured on film.
Watch it here:
After seeing the footage at Leicester Crown Court, Judge Simon Hammond jailed Grimshaw for eight years.
He publicly commended the two women for their "great bravery."
Afterwards, Mr Blackburn, 56, who was floored during the attack – as the Taser was embedded into his neck – said he feared for his life.
Paying tribute to his rescuers, he said: "They possibly stopped me from being killed. I can't begin to explain the pain – it was excruciating.
"Pranee and Mornrat heard me shouting and came downstairs as fast as two horses bolting, grabbed some knives, and charged straight at him, screaming to get out.
"He must have been thinking, 'I'm not taking them on'.
"In fact, Mornrat went back to get a meat cleaver."
Speaking outside court after sentencing, Pranee remarked: "We were upstairs, heard the noise, and just acted instinctively, without thinking.
"We're pleased the man is now behind bars and can't harm anyone else for the next few years. It was very frightening, but we'd do it again."
Grimshaw, 31, of Lytham St Anne's, Lancashire, who fled empty-handed, admitted aggravated burglary and possessing a stun gun with intent to commit robbery.
He told police he was reluctantly recruited, under threat by a gang, to enter the home on June 20, intending to overpower the victim before others looted the house. No-one else was caught.
Grimshaw left behind a clipboard with his fingerprints on.
Mr Blackburn, who suffered a cut arm as well as facial and neck injuries, has now moved house and sold his car with a distinctive personalised registration number plate.
He said: "It's left a legacy of immense fear and my partner won't sleep without a weapon next to the bed.
"I've changed everyday life because of people who don't give a damn. Tight security, and not going anywhere without protection, is now routine."
Judge Hammond said: "It must have been absolutely terrifying. Both these women behaved with incredible bravery."
Philip Gibbs, prosecuting, said: "The whole incident was shocking."
Brian Williams, for Grimshaw, said: "He's sickened by what he did and it was completely out of his league. He accepts what the women did was a brave thing and apologises to everyone in the house. When they appeared, he went away and didn't seek to take on the two women."
CHRIS Martin says it is a "joy" to play for Derby County in their current form.
The Rams have won their last five games, scoring 14 goals in the process.
The run has seen Steve McClaren's side climb to fourth in the Championship table.
They have suffered only one defeat in 10 matches since McClaren was appointed head coach, while playing an attractive brand of passing football.
"We're in a really good patch of form right now and it's brilliant to be in a team which plays like that," said Martin.
"Nobody wants to play long ball football, really. Sometimes, it's effective and gets results – I'm not taking anything away from teams that do it – but you really want to be playing in a free-flowing side and scoring goals at will, which we have been doing lately.
"Everyone enjoys playing in the team and I think you can see that, from the way we were buzzing around in the first and second half against Blackpool.
"We dominated the game and it's a joy to play with the lads at the minute.
"We play very good football. We've played quite a few teams now, either home or away, and from our point of view, I think there's nothing to fear.
"I think we are playing football as good as anyone in the division at the moment."
Martin is certainly enjoying himself on the pitch at the moment, having scored six times during Derby's winning streak and five in his last three outings.
His hat-trick in last Saturday's 5-1 thumping of Blackpool – the first league treble of his career – took the striker's tally for the season to 13 in 22 appearances.
After reaching double figures in last week's 2-1 victory over Middlesbrough, the 25-year-old former Norwich City front man spoke of his desire to reach 20 goals for the season – a feat not achieved by a Rams players since Dean Sturridge did it in the promotion-winning 1995-96 season.
"I'm on the way there but there's still a long way to go," said Martin.
"My focus will be on number 14. That's the next one and is always the most important.
"Hopefully, that will come in the next game – but I'm not going to look too far ahead."
This weekend, Derby travel to The Valley to take on Charlton Athletic, who are hovering just above the relegation places.
Martin is wisely remaining level-headed when it comes to talk of Derby and a possible return to the Premier League.
"Things have gone quite well so far but we won't get carried away," he said.
"Our form is very good but no trophies are handed out in December. We'll wait until May and see where we are then.
"It's a boring cliche but we have to take it game by game.
"You can't look too far ahead because that's when it comes back to bite you.
"We won't look at where we might be in a month or two months' time.
"Our focus will be on Charlton Athletic away on Saturday.
"That will be a tough game. Hopefully, we can give another good account of ourselves and keep the run going.
"You need to stay level-headed and keep doing the things that have brought you success in the first place.
"We've prepared perfectly for every game – that's credit to the staff – and if we can keep doing that, we won't go far wrong."
THERE were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the tragic death of a University of Derby student, a police officer has confirmed.
An inquest was today opened following the death of Christopher Bergeron, 19, who was found on Wednesday at the university's Kedleston Road campus by security staff.
It was reported that he had fallen from one of the buildings at the site.
Detective Constable James Carver, of Derbyshire police, told Derby and South Derbyshire Coroner's Court the room from which Mr Bergeron fell was locked from the inside.
He said: "We do not believe there are any suspicious circumstances at this time."
Security staff found the teenager on the ground at the foot of a tower shortly before 4pm.
Mr Bergeron, originally from Essex, was in his second year at the university studying for a degree in computer games programming.
He was taken to Royal Derby Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The inquest was formally opened and adjourned by assistant coroner Paul McCandless.
It comes after lots of messages of condolences were left for the student across the internet.
A spokeswoman for the university said everyone was "devastated" by Mr Bergeron's death.
She said: "We continue to work with Derbyshire police to provide all the assistance we can to their inquiries in order to fully understand what has happened.
"Chris was a hard-working and dedicated student who showed great enthusiasm and attitude towards his studies.
"Despite only being on the course for just over a year, his grades were indicative of his passion for game development; proving to be one of our brightest and best.
"Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences go out to his family and friends as they come to terms with this tragic event.
"We will continue to offer and provide support to anyone within our university community who feels that they need it."
On the Derby Telegraph's Facebook page, Michael Killackey said: "What a terrible thing to have had happen, and at this time of year, thoughts are with their family and friends."
Annie Withnall said: "This is really sad, whatever the circumstances."
In respect for Mr Bergeron, a computer games expo event scheduled that was due to take place on Friday afternoon at the university has been cancelled.
Professor Keith Horton, Dean of the Faculty of Business, Computing and Law, said: "The games team here at Derby are devastated by the loss of one of their students.
"Given that many of Chris's friends and tutors would have been involved in the event and will only just be starting to coming to terms with his death, we do not feel it appropriate to go ahead at this time. We hope to reschedule the event in the future."
AHEAD of Derby County's trip to the Valley on Saturday, we turn the spotlight on Charlton Athletic.
The Addicks are struggling for form in the league, having picked up just four points from 15. Here are their last five results:
Yeovil Town 2-2 Charlton Athletic (Sat 7th December) – The Addicks threw away a two goal lead as Ishmael Miller's penalty rescued a point for the hosts. Johnnie Jackson was sent-off for Charlton after scoring in the first half.
Reading 1-0 Charlton Athletic (Tues 3rd December) – Billy Sharp scored his first goal for Reading after 13 minutes to condemn the Addicks to defeat at the Madejski
Charlton Athletic 0-1 Ipswich Town (Sat 30th November) – Charlton squandered countless goal-scoring opportunities as Tommy Smith's 5th minute header separated the teams
Charlton Athletic 2-0 Doncaster Rovers (Tues 26th November) – Dale Stephens and Simon Church scored either side of half-time to give Chris Powell's men a much needed three points. The game was the rearranged fixture from August, which Doncaster had led 3-1 before the match was abandoned due to heavy rain.
QPR 1-0 Charlton Athletic (Sat 23rd November) – Charlie Austin hit a spectacular winner to ensure victory for QPR in the London derby
Top Scorer
Striker Simon Church is currently the club's leading scorer, having hit the net on five occasions this season. Three of those goals have come in the league, against Barnsley, Blackburn and Doncaster Rovers.
Best Result
Arguably Charlton's best result of the season came way back in August, when goals from Michael Morrison and Yann Kermorgant helped the Addicks to a 2-1 win over promotion contenders Leicester City.
Charlton Athletic v Derby County, head-to-head:
The Valley has not been a happy hunting ground for the Rams over recent seasons. The two most recent meetings have ended in draws, and Derby haven't won at Charlton since a Premier League victory in September 1998.
Charlton Athletic 1-1 Derby County (December 29, 2012) – Jamie Ward's 72nd minute penalty cancelled out a first half strike from Danny Haynes as the teams shared the points.
Charlton Athletic 2-2 Derby County (December 15, 2008) – Derby escaped with a point as Nathan Ellington scored in the last minute to level the scores. Ellington also scored Derby's first goal, converting a penalty.
Charlton Athletic 1-0 Derby County (January 29, 2002) – Chris Bart-Williams scored the decisive goal for Charlton in this Premier League clash. The Addicks side contained current manager, and former Ram, Chris Powell. Malcolm Christie and Fabrizio Ravenelli failed to score for Derby.
Charlton Athletic 2-1 Derby County (January 30, 2001) – Youl Mawene scored an own-goal and future England international Scott Parker got on the scoresheet as Derby fell to defeat. Craig Burley scored the Rams' goal.
Charlton Athletic 1-2 Derby County (September 12, 1998) – Paulo Wanchope and Francesco Baiano scored a goal each to help Derby to all three points at the Valley. The Rams did pick up five yellow cards during the match, with Igor Stimac and Stefanio Eranio amongst the names in referee Mike Reid's book.
Did you know?
Derby County beat Charlton Athletic 4-1 in the 1946 FA Cup final to claim the trophy for the only time in their history. Jackie Stamps scored twice for the Rams, whilst Addick Bert Turner became the first player to score for both teams in the final after scoring from a free-kick to cancel out an own-goal he had scored earlier in the game.
OINK, Derby's famous water buffalo, has died.
The daughter of owner Katherine Moore confirmed the news on Thursday afternoon.
She said the 22-year-old two-tonne animal - a popular figure and firm favourite with children and adults who visited him at his home in Darley Abbey - was suffering from illness.
She said: "We had to make the decision to have Oink put to sleep."
Oink became the subject of a legal ownership battle in 2010.
SIMON Dawkins says his loan move to Derby County could not have gone any better.
Dawkins arrived from Tottenham Hotspur in October and the 26-year-old forward has made seven starts in his eight appearances.
He has played in six wins and tasted defeat only once in his time with the Rams.
He is enjoying his football as much as at any time in his career.
"I am playing and we are winning, so there is no better feeling," Dawkins added.
"My spell here has gone better than I thought it would.
"I have played a lot more than I thought I would and my body is getting used to playing 90 minutes every week – sometimes three times a week!
"It's been fantastic. We have got great players here, a great manager as well and so anything is possible."
A run of five consecutive wins has lifted Derby to fourth in the Championship and Dawkins has played a key role.
Fans have enjoyed his lively displays. They are keen to see him stay longer and the club wants to extend his stay, either on loan or permanently.
Asked about his future, Dawkins said: "At the moment I have no idea what will happen.
"I will just keep going until January and see what happens.
"I'll leave it in the hands of both clubs.
"Spurs stay in touch and they come to watch the games. I know they are monitoring my progress."
Dawkins' contract at Tottenham is up in the summer but the Premier League club have an option to extend his deal.
The player says his focus is on helping Derby to maintain their impressive run of form and repaying the faith shown in him by Rams' head coach Steve McClaren.
"Everyone is pulling in the same direction and we just need to keep that going," Dawkins added.
"We need to keep working hard and keep doing the things we are good at because that is working for us."
McClaren had Dawkins on trial when hew was manager at Dutch club FC Twente and coach at Queens Park Rangers.
"Finally, we have got to work together here at Derby and I am really happy with that.
"Hopefully, I am repaying the faith he has shown in me," said Dawkins.
A 37-YEAR-OLD Derby woman has appeared in court charged with the murder of a Belper pensioner.
Andrea Cutler was charged with the offence late last night, after police named the victim as Sandra Bainbridge.
She confirmed only her name, date of birth and her address of no fixed abode when she appeared at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court this morning.
Cutler, who wore a black baggy jumper, black trousers and black pumps, was remanded in custody to appear at Nottingham Crown Court on Monday.
Ms Bainbridge, 70, was discovered in a house in Short Row, off Green Lane, at 11pm on Tuesday.
A post-mortem examination has been carried out by a Home Office pathologist but the results have yet to be released as to how Ms Bainbridge came about her death.
The area around the house was cordoned off throughout Thursday and forensic officers continued examining the property.
And police appealed for anyone who saw suspicious activity in Short Row or who saw anyone coming to and from the house between Sunday, December 1, and Tuesday, December 10, to contact them.
David and Pat Gascoyne were among neighbours who said they were shocked at the discovery and that they were "especially concerned" that the victim was a pensioner.
Mr Gascoyne, 77, said: "What's happened is sad and a shock.
"We don't want anything like that happening around here and it doesn't feel realistic. The neighbours have been very shocked."
Brian Cooper, 51, of Long Row, said: "It's a shock more than anything, to be honest.
"Things like this don't really happen here."
Gavin McDowell, manager at the George and Dragon pub, in Bridge Street, said: "This is all people have been talking about and they are very shocked."
Nicola Conquest. 55, of Merlin Close, owns Fleur Florists, in King Street. She said: "There have been people in the shop talking about it."
Kim Backler, 34, of Mill Street, said: "I spoke to her occasionally, she seemed quite pleasant and was always willing to talk.
"My husband Peter spoke to her when passing because we have a similar cat.
"It's still a shock especially when I saw her photo and only living round the corner.
"I send my condolences. My thoughts are with her and her family and friends."
Anybody with any information should contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
DERBY Telegraph chief football writer Steve Nicholson talks about the latest Derby County news in our weekly video.
He discusses the Rams' FA Cup third round draw against Premier League giants Chelsea, as well as the midweek FA Youth Cup win against Wigan Athletic.
And we look ahead to the Rams' trip to The Valley for their next Championship clash, against Charlton Athletic.
DERBY County have been drawn at home to Stoke City in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup.
The Rams opened their campaign with a 4-3 win over Wigan Athletic earlier this week.
Stoke, meanwhile, edged out Leyton Orient 5-4 on penalties after their third-round tie had ended 2-2 following extra-time.
The Potters will now make the short trip to the iPro Stadium at a date to be confirmed.
The tie is due to be played by Saturday, January 25.
QUEENS Park Rangers have announced plans to move into a new 40,000-capacity stadium as part of an ambitious project to be constructed at Old Oak in west London.
QPR chairman Tony Fernandes has revealed that the club intended to leave Loftus Road because there was "no option of expanding" at their present home.
The new stadium is set to be built as part of a "major regeneration" of the Old Oak area, with plans for the creation of a residential and commercial precinct larger than Canary Wharf.
While there is likely to be some fan backlash over leaving Loftus Road - a ground QPR first used in 1917 - Fernandes believes the project would cement the club's place in west London.
QPR chief executive officer Philip Beard also said that the club's fans would be consulted over any move.
"Loftus Road is - and always will be - a special place for the club and our supporters, but we need more than an 18,000 capacity," Fernandes said in a statement on the club's official website.
"With no option of expanding here, we have to look elsewhere and we welcome the (London) Mayor's and Hammersmith & Fulham Council's commitment to regenerate the area, which includes an option to develop a new stadium at Old Oak as a key catalyst to bring forward redevelopment, cementing our future in this part of west London.
"Not only will this give us a top-quality stadium to cater for QPR's needs as the club progresses and grows over the years ahead, but we are very excited about being the driving force behind creating one of the best new urban places in the world.
"This will be the catalyst for the regeneration of a forgotten area - ultimately bringing new transport, 24,000 homes and at least 50,000 jobs.
"It will create a vibrant new destination in London, boosting local businesses, attracting new visitors and tourism and creating a thriving community."
The announcement came after QPR and their partners, Stadium Capital Developments, concluded a letter of collaboration with the Greater London Authority (GLA) and the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham to "bring forward an early and very significant private sector investment into the Old Oak Common regeneration area".
London Mayor Boris Johnson recently announced that turning Old Oak into a new world-class city quarter was one of his main regeneration priorities.
"We look forward to working with the Mayor and local authorities and we will, of course, be consulting our loyal and passionate supporters, as well as the local community, on our exciting plans early next year," Beard said.
"We will look to build a stadium QPR fans and local residents can be proud of.
"Loftus Road is renowned for its atmosphere and with the help of our supporters, replicating that at our new stadium will be one of our top priorities."
Antony Spencer, who is developing the masterplan for the Old Oak site, said it was hoped planning permission would be secured early in 2015 and that work would begin on the project soon after.
Spencer also revealed "world-class architects" were being consulted for the project - which is reportedly set to cost £10billion - to "design iconic tall buildings akin to New York, the Far East and London's finest, as well as improving and incorporating the waterside environment of the Grand Union Canal".
He added: "We know we still have a long way to go in dealing with the planning, infrastructure funding challenges and business relocations but we are now in a position to forge ahead as we have secured strategic land holdings in excess of 100 acres.
"We are confident of securing a planning permission by early 2015 and starting development shortly afterwards."
MILLWALL are keen to sign on-loan striker Martyn Waghorn on a permanent deal when the transfer window opens in January.
The 23-year-old has been at the Den since September, but he is due to return to parent club Leicester City after Saturday's clash with Blackburn Rovers.
But Lions boss Steve Lomas is open in his desire to keep Waghorn at the club on a long-term basis.
"He is in the prime of his career at 23 and is the type of player we want to keep around," he said.
BLACKPOOL centre-back Gary MacKenzie has been ruled out of action for around three weeks with a hip injury.
The 28-year-old sustained the problem during his side's 1-0 loss to Yeovil last week, in which he was one of three Blackpool players to be sent off.
He will now miss the hectic Christmas period, including tomorrow's clash with high-flying QPR.
BLACKBURN Rovers have announced the signing of teenage winger Connor Mahoney from Accrington Stanley.
The 16-year-old, who made six appearances for the League Two outfit, will link up with Blackburn's development squad.
"It's something I have dreamt of for a very long time," Mahoney, a lifelong Rovers fan, admitted.
