PROUD fruit and vegetable growers will show off their inner-city gems at an open day this weekend.

Visitors will be able to learn about the benefits of owning an allotment at the event tomorrow. And all proceeds from the Littleover Lane Allotment Association open day will go to the National Garden Scheme.

More than 180 allotments will be made available for the public to view, with around 15 owners on hand to inform visitors about the many benefits of maintaining a plot.

Amanda McLaren has been on the association's committee for a year and has owned an allotment on the site for six years. She aims to show people what drew her to the outdoors.

The 43-year-old, of Normanton, said: "For me, personally, it was about getting a balance with my work life.

"Although it is only round the corner from where I live, it is like going somewhere completely different because I don't have the space to do this at home.

"I get an enormous sense of well-being from being outdoors, where you can hear the birds singing. It gets you in touch with nature."

Ms McLaren, who works in accounting, also loves to grow her own food and likes the variety of trying foods, which are often not available in supermarkets.

She said: "You start off not having any idea what you are doing, but you meet a whole new community of people and get as much information as possible.

"This year, I've grown borlotti beans for the first time."

The homegrown food provides so many culinary opportunities, she said. "I make my own jams and chutneys and I've now realised I eat a lot more chutney than jam," she added.

"I recently made a spicy Indian green chutney, which is really nice with poppadoms."

David Kenyon lives on the Littleover Lane site itself.

The 53-year-old, who teaches at King Edward VII School in Sheffield, has been on the association's committee for 20 years.

He likes to grow exotic and rare fruit and vegetables.

"Heritage tomatoes have much thinner skins than normal ones," he said.

"So things like that and mulberries don't travel well because they just fall apart when they are packed up and moved."

Mr Kenyon also believes that maintaining an allotment is a great way to keep fit and urged people to come down and give it a go.

He said: "I get plenty of exercise and it is great fun.

"The open day is always a very good day out.

"We have lots of produce and the children can pick carrots."

Margaret Roper, who lives in Littleover Lane, likes to use her plot to grow flowers, as well as food.

The 67-year-old added: "I like to cut them and give them away as presents and I always have plenty in my house."

The open day takes place tomorrow from 11am to 5pm.

Tickets cost £3 for adults and admission is free for children.

A PASSENGER from Derby who was on board a plane that made an emergency landing at East Midlands Airport believes the airline responsible should offer counselling to those affected.

Adrian Pepper also said they should pay out compensation and refuted an airport statement that said its staff on the night "ensured information was communicated appropriately," calling it "demeaning".

Mr Pepper, 44, of Mickleover, was flying home from a business trip to Ibiza when the aeroplane got into problems as it started to descend to land at the Castle Donington-based airport.

He said there was a smell of acrid smoke and, when the plane came to a stop, next to emergency vehicles, "children were screaming and there was utter panic".

A spokesman for the Air Accidents Investigation Branch said its officials have undertaken an investigation in to what happened but the results would not be known "for some time".

Mr Pepper, of Girton Way, said: "In my view, the very least Jet 2 should be offering is counselling to those passengers who want it and compensation for those on the flight.

"At times in the plane and afterwards in the airport you could see how shocked some people were.

"This sort of thing doesn't happen to you on a regular basis, it's a once in a blue moon situation, and some people could end up traumatised by this."

The plane ran into difficulty on its approach to the airport at around 8.50pm on Wednesday. Once it had landed Mr Pepper and his partner had to force an emergency door and climb out on to the wing of the plane and into the arms of the emergency services.

Jet 2 said the flight had "a minor electrical fault" and is investigating further.

Last night it could not confirm whether or not the plane was still grounded or if any defects had been fixed and it was flying again.

It also did not comment on Mr Pepper's call for counselling and compensation.

Mr Pepper said: "I read the statement that East Midlands Airport put out after the incident with interest.

"In it they said extra water and seating were put out for us and that more staff were on hand to tell us what had happened and what to do next.

"But that is not what I saw.

"Staff there didn't tell us what was happening and acted like nothing more than wet fish when we asked them for help.

"For them to come out with a statement like that is nothing short of demeaning."

A spokesman for the Air Accidents Investigation Branch said: "Investigators have been to East Midlands Airport and have carried out a thorough examination.

"The results will be published online but that report will not be available for some time."

WOW! September already! And it's time to take a look at those summer bedding baskets or containers.

Plants in tubs can start to look tired now but you don't have to get rid of everything, which saves money and time.

Looking at one of my tubs, I realised that the centrepiece, a red leaf banana, was still looking good so I disposed of the old petunias and removed any tatty old banana leaves.

Re-using the old compost is fine, provided you make sure there are no vine weevils lurking. They are easy to spot when you tug on the old plants and they come away freely with no roots.

Plant nurseries and garden centres have autumn and winter interest container and basket plants. All of these are winter hardy and, if left in the pot, will fill out and look great this time next year.

I've revamped my tub by plating trailing golden ivy, silver leaf, red pansies, light blue violas, euonymus Emerald Gaity and a little golden grass called Carex Jenneke.

All of these plants will give colour now until possibly early spring. Clearly the banana might not survive the winter but the rest of the plants will fill out.

Thinking about must-have shrubs in your garden, Abelia Kaleidoscope is possibly my favourite plant of all time.

It has bright, variegated, lemon yellow and green leaves in spring and summer which change to vivid oranges and reds during autumn and winter, with white trumpet flowers throughout the year. It needs a sunny, well-drained position, will grow to about 3ft x 3ft and it's great for a container too.

Another favourite is Photina Little Red Robin, an evergreen, bushy little shrub with bright red new growth throughout the year. It grows in full sun or semi shade in a moist but well-drained spot.

E-mail me with your questions or problems at shrubman@ntlworld.com.

POLICE have arrested three people after a 24-year-old man was taken to hospital with head injuries following a fight in Chaddesden last night.

Officers were called to reports of a fight at the junction of Cardigan Street and Cowsley Road at 8.25pm yesterday evening.

A spokesman for the police said: "When officers arrived they found a 24-year-old man suffering from head injuries.

"He was taken to the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham but his injuries are not thought to be life changing."

Neighbours close to the incident told the Derby Telegraph that they believed the man had been stabbed.

However, police could not confirm how the man came by the injuries to his head.

Three people were arrested at the scene and will be questioned today.

Anyone who was in the area at the time or who has any information about the incident should ring Derbyshire police on 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

THE shoes have been brought, the books packed and parents across Derby and Derbyshire will be shedding a few tears as children start school.

And to mark the milestone many will be taking pictures and we would love for you to send them to us for use on the Derby Telegraph website as well as the paper.

If you have a photo of your child, grandchild, niece or nephew that you would like to send in please email it to newsdesk@derbytelegraph.co.uk - including the name of the school they are attending. 

A 67-YEAR-OLD man has been given a three-year community order after admitting two charges of sexually touching a 16-year-old girl.

John Harris was told he must attend a sexual offenders' group work programme.

Derby Crown Court heard that Harris, of Peet Street, kissed the girl on the mouth and squeezed her bottom while they were in a bar.

A woman in the bar who saw what happened, told the girl's mother, who then reported the offences to police earlier this year.

Harris will be supervised by the probation service and must sign the sex offenders' register.

Judge Michael Elsom said: "It does not seem to me the best way of dealing with you at this stage is to send you to prison. It seems young women and society will be best served if I make this order but, if you break the terms of the order, you will find yourself back before this court."

Harris must also obey a sexual offences prevention order which includes not having any unsupervised contact with children under 16. He had no previous convictions.

The Duchess of Cambridge is pregnant with her second child. 

In a statement from Clarence House, the Queen and members of both families are said to be delighted with the news

As with her first pregnancy, the Duchess is suffering from acute morning sickness and is being treated by doctors at Kensington Palace.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are very pleased to announce that The Duchess of Cambridge is expecting their second child

— Clarence House (@ClarenceHouse) September 8, 2014

The Queen and members of both families are delighted with the news that Their Royal Highnesses are expecting their second child

— Clarence House (@ClarenceHouse) September 8, 2014

You can read Their Royal Highnesses' announcement in full here: http://t.co/QmLbXtXyug

— Clarence House (@ClarenceHouse) September 8, 2014

Fantastic to hear that Prince George will soon be a big brother! Congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on their happy news.

— Ed Miliband (@Ed_Miliband) September 8, 2014

Many congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. I'm delighted by the happy news that they're expecting another baby.

— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) September 8, 2014

A MOTHER-OF-TWO who spent £15,000 on takeaways in three years to feed her addiction to unhealthy food has lost six stone after being bullied.

Natalie Fowkes was told she looked like a man by school bullies who dubbed her "Fat Nat" and "Beach Whale" when she weighed about 18 stone.

After leaving home aged 18 she said her weight gain became worse when she was in charge of her own food budget and would eat about 500 takeaways a year, costing about £5,000.

The 25-year-old from Langley Mill has now transformed her life, looks a different person and has confronted the bullies about the abuse which left her depressed.

She said: "I've always had people call me fat because I was the biggest one in the class. I was called names constantly and, at the time, remember thinking, 'They will all regret it one day'.

"When I was single, I'd go out in Ripley and people would say I looked disgusting and like a man. It was horrible and I'd cry all the time.

"I loved food so much, it was an addiction. People with a drug addiction get all the help in the world but I didn't get that. Food was my comfort. I hated being fat and I used to think, 'Why can't I just be thin?' I was in my 20s and still young."

After full-time mum Natalie had her first child, Maisie, four, she put on four stone and her diet did not improve.

She said: "I was terrible for takeaways and loved chips, crisps and full-fat Coca-Cola. My diet was disgusting and I'd eat anything I could get my hands on."

Natalie found out about Slimming World through a friend. After battling her nerves to go to the first meeting four years ago, the weight started to fall off. She said: "Slimming World has been my life. I can't begin to imagine what it would be like without it."

Her second child, Ollie, was born three months ago. She decided to stay with Slimming World and battle her cravings. The hard work paid off when Ollie was born and Natalie lost 12.5lb five days after his birth. She now weighs 11st 9lb.

She said: "I know how cruel kids can be, so I wanted to help for when they got older. I did not want the kids to say, 'Look at the state of your mum'.

"I have so much more confidence. Four years ago, I never dreamed of showing off my legs."

Natalie's Slimming World group meets each Thursday at 5.30pm and 7.30pm at William Gregg Leisure Centre, Heanor.

BEFORE

BREAKFAST: "I loved to eat three slices of white toast with chocolate spread and drink of a cup of tea. I'd also have a packet of biscuits with it."

LUNCH: "I'd visit McDonald's or Greggs and have a super-sized cob with a full-fat cake."

DINNER: "A crispy chicken would be one of my favourite choices, with a mountain of chips. If not chicken, then it would be a pizza or a kebab."

AFTER

BREAKFAST: "I now have a full English Slimming World breakfast with fruit and a yoghurt."

LUNCH: "I enjoy pasta or a jacket potato, certainly not constant visits to fast food restaurants."

DINNER: "I enjoy a meat dish with vegetables and potatoes now."

CHECK out the questions and answers in our Derby County webchat with chief football writer Steve Nicholson.

Steve answered Rams-related questions between noon and 1pm on Monday.

Read what was said in the replay of the blog below.

style="display:none;">Live Blog Rams Web Chat

HEADING out on a journey in Derbyshire this week? Mobile speed cameras will be in place along the following roads from today until Sunday, September 14. 

Hampshire Road, Chaddesden

A6 Alvaston to Raynesway

A52 Main Road, Brailsford

A608 Smalley

A609 Long Hill, Fernilee

A515 Parsley Hay, Bakewell

A515 Buxton Road, Sandybrook

A6005 Nottingham Road, Borrowash

Fields Farm Road, Long Eaton

Woods Road, Chaddesden

A5111 Warick Avenue, Derby

A516 Uttoxeter Road, Derby

B6052 Old to New Whittington

B6057 Sheffield Road, Stonegravels

A511 Hatton

A514 Swadlincote

A6 Furness Vale to Newtown

A6 Buxton to Dove Holes

A617 Bramley Vale

A617 Glapwell to Pleasley

ENGLAND meet Switzerland in a European Championship  qualifier in Basel tonight.

The match will kick off at 7.45pm, with ITV coverage starting at 7.15pm.

THE Derby City Mission has celebrated its 25th anniversary with an event to thank all the volunteers who have helped over the years.

The Bishop of Derby, the Right Reverend Dr Alastair Redfern, presided over Holy Communion at Saint Alkmund's Church, Kedleston Road as 400 guests attended, yesterday.

The mission was created in 1989 by Geoff Holland and over the years has helped thousands of people across the city with debt advice, food packages and with help getting home safely after a night out.

Operations manager, Viv Merkelt, said: "We really want to say thank you to all the people who have helped the mission become what it is today.

"We only have a staff of three or four and without people giving up their free time we would not be able to do any of the good work across Derby."

City missions date back to 1826 when the first one was set up in Glasgow.

Derby City Mission began in a small office at Junction Baptist Church where Geoff and his first volunteer, Sylvia Cooper, went door-to-door inviting senior citizens to a Christmas dinner.

Since then they have undertaken a great many projects including the Basics Bank, the first food bank in the UK.

Two of their most recent successes have been the Street Pastors program and the Derby Churches Night Shelter.

For more than five years volunteers have taken to the streets on Friday and Saturday nights, with 48 trained pastors currently on the books. In the years they have been operating there has been steady decrease in the number of drunken people the pastors have dealt with.

Viv said: "We are so pleased with the work the pastors have been doing and we belive they are one of the reasons that Derby has its Purple Flag status."

And Chief Constable of Derbyshire Constabulary, Mick Creedon, agrees. He said: "I cannot overstate the contribution the Derby CityMission has made to the safety of the public in Derby.

"The value of the work that the street pastors do in our city centre, week-in-week-out, is immense. Their time given so willingly, at unsociable hours of the day and night, has a worth that cannot realistically be calculated."

To find out more, phone 01332 460 346.

AFTER months of anticipation, Strictly Come Dancing is back!

A team of 15 new celebrities took to the dance floor for the first time last night - dressed to impress and ready to rumba. 

Here is the 2014 line-up. Who do you want to win the competition?

• Singer Pixie Lott and Trent Whiddon
• Tennis coach Judy Murray and Anton du Beke
• Mrs Brown's Boys actress Jennifer Gibney and Tristan McManus
• Presenter Caroline Flack and Pasha Kovalev
• Saturdays singer Frankie Bridge and Kevin Clifton
• ITV This Morning presenter Alison Hammond and Aljaz Skorjanec
• Casualty actress Sunetra Sarker and Brendan Cole
• MasterChef judge Gregg Wallace and Aliona Vilani
• Radio One DJ Scott Mills and Joanne Clifton
• Antiques expert Tim Wonnacott and Natalie Lowe
• Ex-TOWIE star Mark Wright and Karen Hauer
• Blue singer Simon Webbe and Kristina Rihanoff
• Wildlife presenter Steve Backshall and Ola Jordan
• EastEnders actor Jake Wood and Janette Manrara
• Former rugby player Thom Evans and Iveta Lukosiute

A DAY of street entertainment at the newly-refurbished St Peter's Cross in Derby is to be held to celebrate the completion of £1 million of work in the area.

The development at the junction of St Peter's Churchyard, East Street and St Peter's Street has seen the area transformed, with space for entertainment as well new seating and lighting.

The area has also been re-paved.

And to complement the work at street level, St Peter's Church has been cleaned and new lighting will be installed to enhance its architecture and stained glass windows.

Stephen Jeffery, chairman of the St Peters Quarter Board, which organises activities under the area's Business Improvement District status, said: "The completion of work is a real cause for celebration in this area.

"We have been working closely with Derby City Council to bring St Peter's Cross to the top of the regeneration agenda and we're delighted with the results.

"The regeneration work will bring a renewed vibrancy to the area and create a focal point that will be a much more attractive area for visitors to enjoy.

The work has been carried out by Derby City Council, in partnership with the board, and traders have welcomed the results.

Caroline Cadman, from the Bon Marché womenswear store, said: "The work has really modernised the area and created a much-needed space for entertainment and relaxation in the busy St Peter's Quarter.

"Hopefully, this will encourage many more people into the area."

Gill Barling, manager of Reams Arts and Crafts Supplies, in St Peter's Churchyard, added: "We recently relocated the shop further towards St Peter's Cross so that we could benefit from the additional footfall that this work will hopefully bring.

"It is great that this area, which has sadly been neglected for many years, is finally seeing some investment and we hope that it will encourage more people back."

Councillor Martin Rawson, cabinet member for environment, planning and regeneration and deputy leader of Derby City Council, said: "Investing in the development of this important area right in the heart of Derby is vital to continue to attract people to our busiest shopping street.

"At a time of significant economic challenges, it is more important than ever to ensure that we continue to attract inward investment to support jobs in Derby."

Acts performing across the area between 11am and 3pm on Saturday will include a Brazilian-inspired martial arts group, a belly dance troupe and various singers and bands.

Information about all the businesses in St Peters Quarter is available at www. stpetersquarter.co.uk.