A 22-YEAR-OLD man suffered a deep gash to his face after a suspected bottling incident in Ilkeston.

The man was taken to hospital to have stitches put in his face following an alleged fight in The Triangle.

Police said another man, aged 21, was knocked unconscious in the alleged assault, which is believed to have happened at 1.25am on Saturday.

Two men, aged 18 and 20, were arrested on suspicion of wounding with intent, have been questioned and bailed in connection with the alleged altercation.

Anyone with information should call the police on 101 or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

VILLAGERS staged a "pop-up pub" to protest over the closing of their last remaining hostelry.

Residents of Findern are angry that their only pub has been sold to a funeral directors.

About 50 people marched through the village on Saturday before meeting in a field to have a drink in protest at the closure of the Wheel Inn pub, which has been shut since April.

Murray's Funeral Directors, in Burton, has purchased the building, saying it wants its business to be nearer to its customers.

But it is a move which has been strongly opposed by villagers, who have already seen another of their pubs and a butcher's close.

The protesters met outside the garden centre before making their way to the field and sitting down to enjoy a drink.

Phil Watts was present at the event and was pleased at the way the day turned out.

The 39-year-old teacher, of Findern, said: "It was very positive and there was lots of laughing and joking.

"It was a nice afternoon, everyone brought their own deck chairs, tables and beers and had a nice time.

"It's just a shame that it will be a one-off."

Mr Watts said the pub's closure had been an annoyance for the village's community, as it was the only place left for people to go out and enjoy a drink.

He said: "It is very inconvenient. The nearest pubs are a 40-minute walk away and there are only buses every hour.

"But there are many of us who will keep this going and try to get the pub back."

Fellow villager Phil Mason is also keen to continue to push to get The Wheel Inn reopened as a pub.

He said: "We are still hopeful.

"We are hoping that common sense will prevail and the community can have an effect."

Mr Mason is prepared to do what he can to make his voice heard.

He said: "To change what has happened is impossible.

"But to make life uncomfortable for them [the funeral directors] is possible.

"Our aim is to disrupt their business so that it is more hassle than it is worth for them."

He was also glad to see lots of old friends at the march, even if the numbers were not as high as he had initially hoped.

"It actually brought people together who haven't seen each other for six to eight months," he added.

"We don't see them at all now unless we bump into them at restaurants and pubs in the surrounding villages."

He is hoping to hold a similar event in the future, but possibly without the march to make it more accessible to Findern's older residents.

He added: "We will continue to fight.

"It is about more than just this one pub. They're closing all over Derbyshire and all over the country."

A 17-YEAR-OLD girl from Burton who was reported missing has been found safe and well - but another teenager is still missing from the area. 

Detectives are becoming increasingly concerned for the welfare of Alana Keeling, 16, who was last seen in Burton town centre on Wednesday.

Rebecca Tremlett, who had also been missing, was found in the early hours of this morning, Staffordshire Police said.

The alarm was raised after the girls, both from the Kings Bromley area, failed to return home. It is believed there were together.

Alana is described as medium build with long dark hair. She was last seen wearing a black baggy t-shirt, black leggings and black boots with white furry cuffs.

Anyone with information is asked to call Staffordshire Police on 101 quoting serial number 668 of 3 September 2014.

Derby Telegraph's popular Win a Wedding competition is back and registration is underway.

This year, couples will be in with a chance of winning a £15,000 wedding at the beautiful Cathedral Quarter Hotel in August 2015.

Any couples who register for this year's competition will stand a chance of winning, with Derby Telegraph readers encouraged to vote for their favourite couple when the supplement is printed in-paper.

The top five couples as voted for by our readers will progress to the Win a Wedding Final Night held at the Cathedral Quarter Hotel in December and will compete against each other in a series of tasks to earn points. The couple with the most points at the end of the night will win this year's stunning prize.

To register, use the in-paper entry form found in your Derby Telegraph, or click here and enter online.

In addition to the venue and wedding breakfast, the winning couple will receive the bride's gown courtesy of Stately Brides, groom's suit hire thanks to Brigdens, £500 towards wedding rings from bespoke jeweler Flash Jordan, invitations and a table plan created by P.S. I Love You, and a wedding cake from Cake Decor.

On top of this, they will also receive hair styling for the bride and bridesmaids at Harvey Luke, make-up by Sheelagh Powell, flowers from Jo Beth Floral Design, and coverage of their big day from Jakt Photography and Light Films, ensuring their happy memories are captured forever.

The bride will arrive for her big day in style courtesy of a beautiful white Rolls-Royce from Wedding Cars of Derby, while all the guests will be invited to dance the night away thanks to a disco from 4Events.

As weddings can be stressful, the wonderful Owl House Day Spa will provide some well needed rest and relaxation for the happy couple in the form of a Langley Lovebirds Package.

Last year's winning couple, Leeanne Moore and Stuart Groombridge, were married in August this year.

"It was amazing, a truly fantastic day," Leeanne said. "I married the man I love in the dress I always wanted in front of all our closest family and friends."

The pair won their £15,000 dream wedding by beating out fierce competition from other finalists last December, securing victory after providing the closest answer to the tie-breaker question after a closely fought contest.

Leeanne commented, "It means I now have no worries or stress about money for the big day."

"We're so lucky. It's one of the best days of my life, without a shadow of a doubt."

For all the latest info on this year's competition. like our Facebook page.

TWO high-value, petrol-powered remote control cars have been stolen from a shed in Mickleover.

The burglary happened sometime between 2pm on August 31 and 7pm on September 1, at a house in Uttoxeter Road.

The first remote car is described as a MGT, 4.60SE model and the second car is described as a Mammoth SE model.

Officers would like to speak to anyone who has information about the theft or been offered the remote control cars matching the description that they believe could be stolen.

Anyone with information should call PC Jonathan Joyce on 101 quoting crime reference number 36726/14.

ILL and disabled children were all smiles as they took part in a sailing day organised by their doctors.

Patients of the Royal Derby Hospital had the opportunity to test their skills in specially-designed boats.

And 14-year-old Izzy Askey was particularly happy to be out on the water.

She is believed to be the youngest person in the country suffering from Fowler's syndrome, a condition that affects the muscles in the bladder, usually in 20-to-30-year-old women.

The disease often makes life very uncomfortable for Izzy, of Kilburn, but this was not the case at the Carsington Water event.

And Izzy thanked her doctor – consultant paediatrician Richard Bowker – for making her feel well enough to go out and have fun with the other children.

She said: "He's really caring and understanding and he really listens to me.

"He helps me be in control of things."

Izzy went through a long period of uncertainty when she first fell ill.

"When I first went to hospital, they said it was so unusual to have this condition this young," she said.

"So it was really hard for them to diagnose me."

Izzy is due to undergo surgery at the University Hospital in London on Wednesday, which will involve putting an electrode into her spine.

But the Sailability challenge offered her an opportunity to forget about it for a few hours and have some fun. She said: "We went out on the Jolly Roger but there was no wind so we had to be towed back. We had to paddle with oars for a bit to get back, it was fun."

The event at Carsington Water was organised by Nottingham Children's Hospital consultant paediatrician David Thomas – a keen sailor – for the first time last year.

This year, he has teamed up with the Royal Derby, Kings Mill Hospital, Chesterfield Royal Hospital and Sheffield Children's Hospital, as well as the charity WellChild, to give more children the opportunity to join in the fun. And the Royal Derby's Dr Bowker was pleased to see his patients out enjoying themselves.

He said: "This is to get them away from the hospital environment and to get them doing normal things.

"I think it will enhance our relationship with the patients seeing them out doing something they enjoy."

Dr Bowker has been in his position at the hospital for eight years and has known some of the children for four of those.

"This experience adds to the can-do attitude we are trying to inspire," he said. "It is also nice to see them outside of the hospital so that they are actually happy to see us."

Many of the children involved in the days events suffer from neuromuscular diseases, which affect the nerves and muscles.

Dr Thomas added: "Sailing has a lot to offer and different people take different things out of it, so for these kids it is fantastic."

A DANCER from Chellaston has become the first girl to win a special performing arts scholarship in remembrance of the Miners' Strike.

Bethany Unwin, 16, has been studying at AEDA, The Arts Academy, in Nottingham, since January.

The school is run by Carmen Shaw who launched the Ernest B Shaw Scholarships in memory of her grandfather, who was a miner.

The bursaries are offered to one male and one female each year. They must come from a mining background or community.

They were introduced to mark the 30th anniversary of the 1984-85 strike.

Bethany, whose grandfather was a coal miner, has now been rewarded with financial help, allowing her to take on a two-year performing arts professional programme that begins next Monday.

She said: "I really can't wait to start and be doing something I love every day.

"From Monday to Friday, I will be at classes from 9am to 5pm or 7pm. Then, on Saturday, I will be back doing other classes that aren't part of the program.

"I used to be sitting in maths class and I would be bored out my brain, but this is going to be amazing."

On top of her dance commitments, Bethany is also studying A-levels in dance and English literature.

She said: "It is going to be non-stop for the next two years, but it's such an incredible opportunity.

"The course would have cost £6,000. Without the scholarship, I don't think we'd have been able to afford it."

The awards are made to candidates demonstrating outstanding talent and ability in either classical dance or musical theatre.

Bethany has been awarded the scholarship to a course which includes vocational training in the arts with continued A-level studies.

Bethany will be taught by the AEDA faculty which includes Bolshoi ballet trained master Gabor Menich, musical direction from vocal coach Jon Orton and the opportunity to experience work with professional companies.

Carmen, a former ballerina, set up AEDA in September last year.

She said: "Bethany was awarded the scholarship because of her exceptional ability and potential."

Bethany hopes the course will pave the way for a career as a professional dancer.

She said: "My favourite style would have to be ballet. When I perform, it just feels right.

"I would love to get an apprenticeship with a company and work my way up, but those types of jobs don't come up very often so we'll just have to see what happens."

JUST after the brutal murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby last year, I spent an evening with a group of friends at a local pub.

The wide-ranging conversation turned to Islam and it soon became evident that there was a deep antipathy towards Islam in general and Muslims in particular following 9/11, 7/7 and other atrocities. I was concerned that although none of us sitting around that table knew any Muslims or had ever been in a mosque, most believed Islam to be a religion that promotes violence.

I decided I would do something practical in response to my own ignorance about this faith community. I contacted the Derby Multi-Faith Centre and explained to the director that I would like to be put in touch with a Muslim family in Derby who might be willing to meet me and help me to understand Islam and how their faith impacted upon their daily lives.

A few weeks later, I first met my new friend in his home in Derby. We spent more than an hour together chatting and he graciously listened to the back-story that had led me to our meeting. I was then invited to join his extended family for a meal. This was an occasion of prayer, informal conversation and laughter and I feel deeply privileged to have been invited to participate.

Since then, I've been able to explain to some of my friends just how compassionate, welcoming and peace-loving my friend and his family are, which, of course, will be true for the majority of Muslims both here in the UK and around the world. Many of them may be conservative in how they express their faith, but that most definitely should not be seen as a threat!

This July, I decided to keep a day's fast in Ramadan as a small way of standing alongside the local Muslim community, especially at a time when many feel ostracised at being seen as a threat to society. Indeed, one man told me how, while walking to work holding a bag, someone shouted from a passing car: "Is the bomb heavy!" I visited my friend's mosque (the first to be opened in Derby in 1965) to observe a prayer meeting, after which we broke our fast and had another meal with his family. I am looking forward to welcoming them all to my home in Ockbrook in the near future.

I feel that my life is being enriched through my developing friendship with this Muslim family and in understanding more about their faith. All the Muslims I have met so far have been welcoming, generous with their time, open to questions and peace-loving. I believe they bring enrichment to our society. I wish to do all I can to challenge the misunderstanding held by some that Muslims are, by their very nature, a threat to society. My experience shows that just isn't the case and I would encourage everyone to seek to get to know members of this faith community for themselves and so build some bridges of reconciliation, peace and hope.

WILL Hughes is in the England Under-21 squad for their final European Championship qualifier.

Hughes, the Derby County midfielder, will be hoping to add to his eight caps for Gareth Southgate's side when the match kicks off at 5pm (BST).

He was in the side which beat Lithuania 1-0 on Friday night. England have won eight of their nine games in Group One and have already secured top spot.

SCARCELY a day passes without parasitic investors wanting to buy our homes.

All my life (since 1936) I've had people sneering that I lived in a slum terrace, so why are they now clamouring to buy them?

In 1957, our landlord, Mr Cordery, charged rent plus rates of 9/11d per week. There was no electricity – only gas lights.

Mr Cordery offered it for £100 in 1957, but building societies sneered that these slum terraces should all be knocked down – what you want is a nice semi and an unaffordable mortgage.

In 1957, wages were between £5 and £12 a week. Nobody would lend us £100.

Now these slum terraces are advertised at £120,000, and rents are £495 a month.

Labour policy should be a slum terrace for everyone. People on benefits should be able to take out mortgages.

If a Georgian slum terrace on Downing Street is good enough for Prime Ministers, it should be "a slum terrace for everyone".

D Pinder

Campion Street

Derby

A 47-YEAR-OLD has been jailed for sexual grooming of a 15-year-old boy whom he met on the internet.

Paul McDonald admitted meeting a child following sexual grooming, causing a child to engage in sexual activity and possessing indecent images of children of the lowest category.

Jailing McDonald to three years and nine months at Derby Crown Court, Recorder Nirmal Shant QC said: "You befriended through a website a 15-year-old boy. There followed a period of grooming, it followed that this young lad, who was vulnerable, came to see you as a friend and trusted you and you abused that trust."

Derby Crown Court heard they had met on about 20 occasions over a two-month period but there had only been sexual activity on one occasion.

Karen Davenport-Coles, prosecuting, said McDonald had taken the boy out for meals and had given him cigarettes.

The situation came to light after McDonald stayed in a hotel in September last year with the victim and another boy, who suspected something was going on and reported it.

The court heard that McDonald had no previous convictions.

James Horne, in mitigation, said: "He (McDonald) has found the whole process incredibly difficult and incredibly embarrassing and shows remorse for the victim, to whom he offers an apology and to his parents."

He said McDonald had been extremely honest with the police when he was arrested. Mr Horne said: "He was a man who had relatively recently come to terms with the fact he was homosexual and was using websites for over-18s but during the course of that met the victim."

McDonald, of Gateway Court, Matlock, must sign the sex offenders' register indefinitely, when he is released from prison and obey a sexual offences prevention order.

Supermoon 2014: Get your cameras ready! Tonight the moon, which is now around 240,000 miles away from Earth, may appear 14 per cent larger and 30 per cent brighter as it comes closer than usual to us.

Keep your fingers crossed for clear skies.

If you manage to grab a great shot of it, we'd love to see it. Send your pictures to newsdesk@derbytelegraph.co.uk

THE organisers of a giant water slide that wowed Derby have said it "brought the community together".

Our Mickleover and the sponsors also thanked the fire service for stepping in and saving the day when the 100m-long inflatable was struggling to get enough water down it for the daredevils.

And they said the event, which saw thousands flock to the city, would go down as "a day to remember".

The 328ft slide was placed in Kipling Drive, Mickleover, on Sunday. Roads were blocked and extra public transport was put on so that people could get to the attraction.

It was the brainchild of community group Our Mickleover and sponsored by Huub Design, which designs and manufactures specialist triathlon wetsuits and accessories, and Derby construction company MBS.

Huub founder and director Dean Jackson said: "We did have a heart-stopping moment at the beginning of the day when we realised, despite all the reassurances, that the water pressure was not going to be enough for the slide.

"Thankfully, Derbyshire Fire Service came to the rescue and we were soon back to the original plan.

"Everybody was very patient and the feedback from those who hurtled down the slide was great. Speed and water is what Huub is all about so we just had to get involved in this great event right here in Mickleover.

"This was all about creating an event that was fun for all the family, brought the Mickleover community together and showcased the city as a whole. I think the whole day was a huge success and we were delighted to have played our part.

"Hundreds of people enjoyed the slide and the zip wire, stalls and fairground on the adjacent field and there was a real buzz about the place."

Participants paid £5 to shoot down the giant slide on Sunday with all profits being donated to charity. Another 100 'golden tickets' were made available on the day to thrill-seekers wishing to get wet.

Both Huub and MBS were founded in Mickleover and are still run by local people.

Well over 800 people took the opportunity to go down and the MBS team collected £1,000 in ticket sales from those who had pre-booked and the hundreds of others who took the opportunity to take up the tickets released on the day.

Adam Stevenson, managing director of MBS, manned the fire hoses at the top of the slide throughout the day. He said: "It was an exhausting but really enjoyable day and it was great to see so many people come out to support this event which was organised by local volunteers to bring the whole community together.

"We did have some hurdles to overcome but, working in construction, we are used to facing challenges head on and finding a solution. What mattered was that we overcame those and worked together to ensure this event was the success that everyone wanted it to be.

"We were very lucky with the weather and I am delighted that all the hard work that everyone from Our Mickleover, Huub and MBS put in made this a real day to remember in Mickleover."

A HEARING which could see a killer who fled to Ireland after he walked out of Sudbury prison more than a decade ago extradited back to the UK has been put back.

Anthony Craig was due in court in Ireland yesterday but the case was put back to tomorrow. The 66-year-old was serving a life sentence for the brutal murder of an accountant when he was transferred to the open prison near Ashbourne.

His disappearance, and the refusal by Derbyshire police to name or release a photo of Craig, led to questions in the House of Commons and a change in policy by the force with regards to absconders.

Craig was sentenced to life in 1974. He had lured John Kirby to a park in Blackburn in 1973 after meeting him at a gay pub in the city. He robbed him of just 2p before hitting him over the head with a brick three times.

Craig had served 28 years in prison when he walked out of Sudbury in 2002 and never returned.

It has now transpired that he fled to Ireland before settling in County Leitrim.

DERBY County midfielder Will Hughes will aim to add to his eight caps when England take on Moldova in their final European championship qualifier tonight (5pm BST).

But just how do the players prepare for such an important match? Take a look at this video with coach Gareth Southgate, which was shot just before England played Wales at Derby's iPro Stadium back in March.

A CRICKET club will this weekend host a tribute day in memory of a Derbyshire student who was stabbed to death in Borneo.

Called Neil's Day, the event will see teams from Belper and Ambergate compete against each other in a fund-raiser to celebrate the life of Neil Dalton.

It has been organised by Belper Amateurs, for whom Neil played, and will take place on Saturday at the Packhorse Ground in Sandyford Lane, Alderwasley, starting at 10am.

Pip Nightingale, the club's secretary, said: "Anybody who knew Neil is urged to attend Neil's Day, regardless of whether they have a link to cricket or not.

"The day is designed to be a celebration of his life and we would love to see as many people as possible in order to make the day a glowing success, providing Neil with the send-off that his brilliance as a person deserves.

"The last few weeks have not been easy for our members and we would like to use the event to raise money for Neil's favourite charity the Anthony Nolan Trust."

Neil, 22, of Ambergate, was stabbed to death in Borneo along with fellow Newcastle University student Aidan Brunger.

The trainee doctors were both on a six-week attachment at a local hospital and were killed on the street in the town of Kuching on August 6 after a night out.

Mr Nightingale said: "One of the teams expected to play are Neil's former teammates from 2006 in Belper Amateurs Under-15s.

"Neil's close friends and family will be attending the event, which aims to provide a fitting tribute to Neil, with entertainment aside from cricket involving live music in the evening and a variety of games and activities around the ground during the day.

"A portion of the money raised on the barbecue and bar will be put towards a patio area of the Belper Amateurs' clubhouse that will be constructed in Neil's memory."

Mr Nightingale said the day will see four cricket matches played, each in a 15-over format, with the first match being between a Belper Amateurs XI and a team of Neil's friends starting at 10am.

The second match, Belper Meadows versus an Ambergate XI, will follow and then the two losing sides will compete against each other before the stage is cleared for the winning two teams who will compete for the Neil Dalton Trophy.

A raffle will also be running, with prizes including a professionally-made cricket-themed cake and two family tickets for Megazone in Derby.

Fishmonger Zulkipli Abdullah, aged 23, has been charged with the murders of Neil and Aiden.

Derby and South Derbyshire Coroner's Court has opened and adjourned an inquest into the deaths of both men, who have been awarded posthumous honorary degrees.

A 52-YEAR-OLD woman was attacked by a gang of teenage girls who robbed her of her mobile phone.

The victim was walking in Radford Street, Alvaston, when she was confronted by the group.

One of the group kicked her the leg before hitting her several times.

During the robbery, the victim's Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini was stolen.

She later attended Royal Derby Hospital to be checked over.

The offence happened close to the junction with Kiwi Drive at about 1am on Saturday (Sep 6).

Police want to hear from witnesses or anyone with information on the people responsible.

The main offender was white, in her late teens, of average build and with blonde hair.

She was wearing a matching tracksuit that appeared light grey in colour.

One of the other girls had short, black hair and a third had long, brown hair that was straightened.

Anyone with information should call Derbyshire police on 101, quoting crime reference 37453/14.