BUSINESS owners in Derbyshire are being urged to be on their guard against a scam which has seen one firm lose more than £150,000

Known as mandate fraud, it takes place when scamsters call up companies claiming to be from an organisation or supplier to which the business regularly makes direct debit payments.

The fraudster asks the business owner to change over the details of a direct debit, standing order or bank transfer mandate so that any funds are sent directly to them, rather than to the genuine supplier.

Now, Derbyshire detectives have issued a warning businesses in the county to prevent them being taken in by the scam.

Detective Inspector Rob King, head of the Derbyshire police's economic crime unit, said: "Recently we have seen both attempts and substantive offences being committed.

"In one case last year, we saw a company in Derbyshire fall victim to mandate fraud and lost in excess of £150,000.

"People often hear about frauds but think that it won't happen to them.

" I would urge all business owners to be on their guard and not to underestimate the fraudster.

"These criminals are quite prepared to try a scam thousands of times, as a successful hit from the fraudster can see large amounts of money heading their way."

But DI King said there were a number of measures and checks a company can put in place to reduce their chances of being hit by the scam.

He said: "These include ensuring that bills and financial documents are not left around for others to see and that details of standing orders and direct debits are properly and securely recorded.

"Always check your bank statements carefully and, if anything looks suspicious, report it to your bank or financial institution straight away."

Other crime prevention tips include always verifying any changes to financial arrangements by contacting the company directly – ensuring that you use the established contact details that you already have on file so you can be sure you are talking to the company concerned, and not potential fraudsters.

And if you are concerned about the source of a call, ask the caller to give you a main switchboard number for you to be routed back to them. Alternatively, hang up and call them back using established contact details you have on file.

For information around frauds and scams, visit the dedicated Stamp out Fraud in Derbyshire webpage at www.derbyshire.police.uk/stampoutfraud.

To report a fraud, call Derbyshire police on 101 or Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or visit www.actionfraud.police.uk.

MATLOCK Town's top goalscorer, Danny Holland, will make a much-needed return for the Gladiators as they welcome Ramsbottom United to the Autoworld Arena.

Holland missed the 1-0 defeat by Ilkeston with a swollen knee but should be OK for tomorrow's Evo-Stik Premier Division clash.

Midfielder Niall McManus, whose ankle injury has kept him out of Matlock's last two games, should also be back in the side, while Joe Leesley and Adam Yates are both suspended.

Joint manager Dave Rushbury said: "Any manager will tell you that, to get the goals, we need to keep playing good football and get into the right positions.

"We were lightweight against Ilkeston but it needs to be one step at a time.

"People are aware of what is required; we have the platform but now we have to find a way of converting that good football and the pressure we had against Ilkeston into goals.

"Doing that is one of the hardest things in football."

Tomorrow's game marks the half-way point in Matlock's season – and it's certainly been an eventful first half, with personnel and managerial changes at the Autoworld Arena.

"It's not been a good start," added Rushbury, "We only have 22 points and that's just not good enough.

"But I do believe that we're getting some stability now and, from tomorrow, when the second half of the season gets underway, we must get going properly.

"We have to ensure that we maintain our league status and also try to head towards mid-table if we can."

There is good news with regard to a couple of players with long standing injuries.

Joint manager Martin Foster played 15 minutes against Ilkeston while winger Jason Stokes is hoping to be back within the next three weeks after sustaining an ankle injury against Frickley Athletic five weeks ago.

BATTERED and bruised they may have been after their previous FA Vase game but Heanor Town's reward for beating Coleshill United is a trip to Deeping Rangers tomorrow.

Glen Clarence's side scraped past Coleshill 4-3 and the Lions picked up several injuries, most notably a double fracture for Scott Rogers after a late, high challenge.

Heanor donated the £1,200 prize money for beating Coleshill to Rogers, who will be cheering on the Lions tomorrow.

Clarence said: "Scott came out of hospital last Friday and is in good spirits.

"He has been overwhelmed with the generosity from the club and players, who donated their expenses from the Coleshill game."

Nick Hall returns for what Clarence says is "a huge" game for his side.

New signing Jack Andrews will be in the squad after joining from Rainworth MW.

He played some of the second half against Barton Town Old Boys last Saturday, which the Lions lost 2-1.

Clarence said: "We weren't good enough against Barton. We have done well in the Vase and Derbyshire Senior Cup matches but we didn't deserve a single point against Barton.

First team coach Steve Huntington added: "We have lost twice in 15 matches and it was a big blow losing against Barton.

"We must bounce back against Deeping Rangers in the Vase, as we have a run of very difficult games until the new year."

MICKLEOVER Sports turn their attention back to the Evo-Stik Division One South tomorrow following the harsh lesson of their FA Trophy exit last weekend.

Sports were beaten 6-2 by North Ferriby United of the Conference North but joint manager Glenn Kirkwood says his side can take plenty of heart from their display.

"They were a massive threat going forward but the scoreline was a little harsh," said Kirkwood.

"It was 4-2 with 10 minutes to go and we had a great chance to make it 4-3. We threw everything at them, missed the chance and then they got two more late on.

"It was perhaps the best we've played lately and a big learning curve for the lads. We played a Conference North side and held our own for most of the game.

"We were so disappointed to lose as the lads worked their socks off. We were a little naive but playing against a team like North Ferriby will have helped to improve the lads' game no end."

Sports play host to Carlton Town tomorrow, aiming to close the gap on the top two. They have five games in hand on both leaders Sutton Coldfield Town and second-placed Newcastle Town.

"We're in a fantastic position," added Kirkwood, who will be without the supended Karl Demidh. Chris Palmer and Karl Ashton should return, though.

THE Highways Agency was branded a "joke" today after it admitted work to improve the roundabout at Markeaton Island had been delayed yet again.

The latest delay is the fourth in the space of two months.

Each delay has come with a new excuse.

This time, "resource issues" have been blamed for a delay in getting the traffic lights to work.

A fortnight ago, the Highways Agency said the project would be completed by November 28.

But today, a spokesman for the agency said a contractor had not been able to deploy workmen to the site, meaning roadworks are now expected to remain in place until around December 15.

Motorist Edward Phillips, of Ladybank Road, Mickleover, said he was frustrated, but not surprised, by the latest delay.

He said: "It's been one delay after another after another. It's sheer incompetence. This work was supposed to be finished months ago. These delays are a joke."

The £4 million project started in July and was due to be completed by the first week of October.

However, the completion date was pushed back when Severn Trent announced it needed to repair a water pipe in the same area.

Those repairs were completed on September 26 – and motorists were told Markeaton Island would be free of roadworks by the end of October.

But on October 28, a second hold-up was declared. This time, the delay was attributed to the discovery of gas mains and cables which were not known about.

At the time, Tim Harbot, the agency's Midlands regional director, said he was "very, very sorry" for the delay and said he expected the work to be finished by November 15.

But six days on from that date, roadworks were still in place and frustrated motorists were continuing to sit in long traffic queues, particularly in rush-hour times.

The Highways Agency blamed the weather for the delay and said work was on track to be finished by November 28.

However, today, the roundabout was still littered with traffic cones – and lanes closures in both directions have continued between 8pm and 6am.

A spokesperson for the Highways Agency said: "Surfacing work at Markeaton is now complete, and traffic signals are in place. However, resource issues mean we are awaiting installation of electronics to make the signals work.

"Once this is done, we can fully re-open the area to traffic.

"It is unfortunate that this scheme is not yet finished. But we look forward to reopening the road completely and delivering smoother, faster journeys for drivers."

Earlier this year, major works at Little Eaton island were also heavily delayed.

DERBY County head coach Steve McClaren says he is surprised to see Brighton in the bottom three of the Championship.

Rams and Brighton met in the play-offs last season but the Seagulls have won only one of their last 15 League games.

"They have still got quality and they play football," added McClaren.

"Sami Hyypia has come in as manager. He has got good experience in Finland and Germany where his teams played good football.

"He is trying to bring that to Brighton and it is taking time, as normal, but from what I have seen of them in recent weeks it is starting to come together.

"They have lost a couple of players and didn't really replace Leonardo Ulloa from last season but Darren Bent has come in and he could be the piece in the jigsaw they have been looking for.

"So we expect a very difficult game on Saturday."

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CONFIDENCE at Holbrook Sports is low after a heavy midweek defeat by St Andrews.

But manager Paul Romney is hopeful his side can return to winning ways at Derbyshire rivals Graham Street Prims tomorrow.

Sports were beaten 4-2 in the second round of the League Cup but their record in the league is much better.

Romney said: "We will definitely be looking for a positive response after the blow of being knocked out of the League Cup.

"We will need to be at our very best against Prims to ensure that we get something from the game.

"Prims have had a rough time this season and (manager) Simon van de Broucke and his team are working hard to get their season back on track."

Niall Mather is serving the first of a three-match suspension, while Matt Harris and Josh Wright are unavailable. Stephen Akers and Sam Ridgard are doubtful due to injury.

Van de Broucke's side are second from bottom in the East Midlands Counties League with only six points. They were beaten 5-1 by Ellistown in their last game – their 16th defeat of the season.

Borrowash Victoria head to Radford, while South Normanton Athletic play host to Arnold Town.

FORMER Derby County favourite Bobby Davison is backing the Rams to reach the Premier League this season.

Davison was a Pop Side hero in the 1980s when he finished top scorer in five consecutive seasons.

He hit more than 100 goals for Derby and helped the team to win back-to-back promotions from the Third Division to the First Division.

Davison believes the Rams are now ready to return to the top flight.

"Do I see them going all the way this season? Without a shadow of a doubt, yes," he said.

Davison was speaking after receiving the Merit Award at the Derby County Former Players' Association annual dinner held at the iPro Stadium.

He is a former team-mate of Steve McClaren, the Rams head coach, and is impressed with the current team.

"Steve's side have the right formula. They score goals and don't concede many," said Davison.

"Before the defeat at Leeds last weekend, which was disappointing, they had conceded only 17 goals in 18 matches and scored 35.

"They are top, so they have a great platform, but the mentality of the players needs to be spot on every game because in the Championship is very competitive.

"Derby are there to be shot at, so they have to handle that.

"Steve, Eric (Steele) and Simmo (Paul Simpson) will have the players prepared to go on the pitch. The players then have to show the right mentality and not get carried away.

"I was disappointed with the way they conceded the two goals at Leeds. It was too easy for Leeds to score them.

"Steve would probably like more clean sheets and I am sure he, Eric and Simmo will have looked at the Leeds' video and asked how the striker (Mirco Antenucci) was allowed a yard of space in the penalty area.

"I played with Mark Aizlewood at Leeds, the Welsh international defender, and he always said space never scores a goal, so don't stand in space in the area, stand next to a man."

Derby hold a one-point lead at the top of the Championship going into tomorrow's home game against struggling Brighton.

They are favourites to win promotion and Davison said: "Derby County have got to be in the Premier League, got to be, and I just hope they get there this season and stay there.

"You expect Liverpool, the Manchester clubs, City and United, and Arsenal and Tottenham to be there but Derby County can be in the next level of teams with the likes of West Ham, Southampton and West Brom."

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JAKE Buxton is in line to make his first appearance in five weeks for Derby County tomorrow with skipper Richard Keogh likely to be ruled out by injury.

Keogh, ever-present this season, damaged a hamstring in the defeat at Leeds last Saturday.

"He is struggling but this is why we have a squad," said head coach Steve McClaren.

Buxton is the ready-made replacement to step in alongside Ryan Shotton at centre-back for the game against Brighton & Hove Albion at the iPro Stadium (3pm).

Buxton last featured when the Rams lost 2-1 to Brentford at the beginning of November and he has started only two matches since mid-September.

"Jake Buxton has been unlucky," said McClaren. "He has been waiting for an opportunity and if he gets it on Saturday, we trust him implicitly.

"It is a squad game and the competition for places at the back is strong, in midfield it is very strong as it is in the wide areas.

"We lost Richard Keogh to injury this time last season and Michael Keane came in and performed really well and we got good results."

Another of Derby's central defenders, Zak Whitbread, remains sidelined with back and hamstring problems.

Jamie Ward returns to the squad after missing eight games due to a thigh injury.

The forward played 65 minutes for the under-21s against West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday.

"I cannot say I have missed Wardy's banter, his jokes, his chirpiness and his moaning!" joked McClaren.

"But we have missed him in terms of his football.

"He gives us a lot with his energy and his quality. It is good to have him back."

McClaren said Craig Bryson and Simon Dawkins are both pushing for a start against Brighton.

Both have made an impact as substitutes in the past two matches.

"Bryson, Dawkins and Kwame Thomas made a huge difference when they came on at Leeds last week," added McClaren.

Striker Leon Best also returns to the squad after missing the trip to Leeds due to illness.

Derby are back at the iPro Stadium for the first time since thrashing Wolverhampton Wanderers 5-0 four weeks ago.

They have a strong home record with five wins and three draws in nine League games.

"Home form is important," said McClaren.

"The teams in the Championship this season are closer together in terms of quality and it is difficult to go away anywhere and get a win.

"At home, we get 27,000 every week, the atmosphere is terrific and the fans get right behind the team. They are our 12th man and we have to maintain our home record."

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APARTMENTS could be built on the site where Derby City Council had been planning a 50-metre swimming pool, a leading councillor has said.

The authority had wanted to build the pool adjacent to the Riverlights building, home to the city's bus station, but this has now been dropped in favour of a proposal to have it at Moorways.

The council has revealed that, in May 2012, it paid more than £2.8 million, plus VAT, for the land that the Riverlights swimming pool would have gone on.

It still owns the site.

Councillor Martin Rawson, responsible for regeneration, said apartments may be an option for the land, with the city council keen to see an increase in city centre living.

He said: "New apartments are a possibility for that site. We'd be happy to talk to developers about that particularly. But if anyone comes forward with good ideas we'd like to hear them."

The dropping of the swimming pool plan at Riverlights follows the October closing of Jimmy's World Bar and Grill, which used to be in the building.

And, in June last year, the owner of Derby Riverlights, Derby Riverlights Developments Ltd, failed and the complex was put on the market with a £23 million price tag.

Mr Rawson said he believed the vacant space in Riverlights was still a viable home for bars and restaurants.

He said: "When a new owner comes in, I would expect them to go out and market that space to probably some of the national [bar and restaurant] chains."

THE head coach of a top swimming club that uses Derby's Moorways swimming pool says it will "battle all the way" against its proposed closure.

Derby City Council confirmed on Thursday that it would close the leisure centre part of Moorways in April.

Its budget for the year from April 1 also includes closing the swimming pool and then, somewhere on the site, building a new 50-metre pool.

Councillor Alison Martin said that, if that budget was confirmed, the pool too would close in April, saving £350,000.

That would help towards the council's savings target of £22 million in the year from April 1, in the face of cuts to its grant from the Government, inflation, and new costs of caring for the elderly.

The new Moorways pool would be instead of one planned for Riverlights in the city centre, which has been dropped because the site is not suitable, with early 2018 a target completion date.

Derventio eXcel head coach Andi Manley said the decision to close Moorways pool next year could put the future of performance swimming in the county in jeopardy.

The venue is the Derbyshire elite performance squad's main training base and its closure would leave the group with no permanent home.

Manley said this could have a knock-on effect on the City of Derby club at a time when swimming in the county is at an all-time high.

He said: "Without the right facilities, performance swimming in the county will suffer.

"Certainly, we need a 50-metre pool but the gap between the closure of Moorways and the building of the replacement will be massive.

"I gave Mel (Marshall, City of Derby head coach) a ring as soon as the news was announced because it could have an effect on everybody.

"Mel and I will have a meeting next week to decide what strategy we should take.

"There is due to be a public consultation in January but we intend to battle the decision all the way."

Derventio, set up 11 years ago, has produced some of the county's finest swimmers.

Among them are Great Britain internationals Molly Renshaw, who won bronze in the 200m breaststroke at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in the summer.

Others to have made an impact on the international stage are paratriathlon world champion Dave Ellis, Emma Smithurst, Joe Keane, Chris Steeples and Kane Haggett.

Manley added: "They seem to have gone off the tracks from the 2012 Olympics. We have been told that one of the training pools from the London Games might be available for use at another site. That is what we have been told.

"Clearly, the new 50-metre pool is what we want. But the gap in training could really set us back.

"I was speaking to the head coach at the City of Leicester club, who used a pool in the city centre before it was closed, and they had to move to a new facility.

"They had a gap of two years and he thinks it set the club back 10 years. In our case the gap would be even bigger."

Derventio swimmers train at other pools in the county, including Etwall, Ripley and Matlock.

However, the loss of Moorways could overburden those facilities and added pressure could be heaped on Derby's Queen's Leisure Centre, the home of the City of Derby club.

"We currently have a long-standing arrangement with the city council that allows us to use Moorways free as part of their support for our performance programme and what we have been trying to achieve," said Manley, who has been in charge of the squad for the last five years.

He added: "If the closure goes ahead, what we will start to see is swimmers leaving the county and going to other places like Nottinghamshire. I hope that is not what they want.

"We have a proven track record in the county of producing international level swimmers. You only have to look at what Adam Peaty and Molly Renshaw have achieved."

Mrs Martin said the council's leisure strategy had included both the closure of Moorways leisure centre and the pool, with the original plan being to build a new 25-metre pool there. That position has now, she said, changed because Moorways is thought to be the best site for the 50-metre pool as Riverlights is no-longer an option.

She said: "We've brought forward the closure of the swimming pool because of the funding situation and because we now believe that's the best place for the 50-metre pool."

All elements of the 2015-16 budget are now up for consultation, meaning that all groups that use Moorways swimming pool will be able to have their say.

Most leisure centre activities will be moved to the new Derby Arena once it opens early next year.

ADAM Peaty added another silver medal to his collection as part of the 4x50m mixed relay team at the World Short-Course Championships in Doha last night.

It was the final event of the evening and the quartet of Peaty, Chris Walker-Hebborn, Siobhan-Marie O'Connor and Fran Halsall finished 0.2 seconds behind Brazil in a new British record of 1:37.46.

Another silver for Britain, making four so far at the championships, was claimed by Welsh girl Jazz Carlin in the 800m freestyle.

She also set a new British record, lowering Becky Adlington's 2008 mark to 8:08.16.

Carlin fought out a battle with Sharon van Rouwendaal as Mireia Belmonte dominated the event.

She was not to be beaten though and her determination saw her refuse to relinquish second.

"For me short course is pretty tough," said Carlin.

"Mentally, I find it pretty tough because I know my turns are not the strongest part of my race.

"Coming into this meet, I didn't really have high expectations but I gave it a go.

"My legs are sore but coming away with a silver medal is a great way to end this year. I am very happy with that."

QTell us a little about yourself.

AI have lived in Allestree all my life and I have been married for 24 years to Karen and have two children, James, 21, and Lucy, 17.

Many years ago, I got a first-class honours degree in computer science and since then I've been employed in IT for over 25 years, first at Rolls-Royce, then Boots and then IBM. However, last year I moved to Computacenter, an IT services company based in Nottingham.

QWhat made you write the book?

AThere are essentially two reasons. Firstly, by far my favourite subjects at school were history and geography.

My move into IT was because it seemed like a good idea in the 1980s, as it was a boom industry back then.

But I always retained an interest in history and geography, bought lots of books on the subjects and continued to visit local places of interest at weekends.

Secondly, I started writing in my spare time towards the end of the 1990s, mainly short stories and poetry.

I have been a finalist in the Derby Telegraph's short story and poetry competitions, being runner-up on several occasions, as I was the last time I entered in 2009 with a similarly quirky tale about Derby County called Up The Ramblings!

However, it was also in 2009 that I entered a poetry competition run by Derby City Council. The poem in question was Brad And Mel, the very same Shire-Ode, which drives the quirkiest part of Derbyshire: Unusual & Quirky.

The poem wasn't placed but a similar entry for Nottinghamshire called Arnold's Daughter won first prize.

Hence, I knew I was genuinely on to something, at which point I started to flesh the concept out, bringing in my history and geography interests, and writing about the 77 Derbyshire places that are woven seamlessly into Brad And Mel.

Given the extremely quirky nature of the poem, I carried the quirky theme through by including a Quirk Alert for each place, and then beefed the book up by introducing a whole new section covering the history of Derbyshire, all the way from the Stone Age to the 21st century.

Again, I interspersed the history with the book's idiosyncratic Quirk Alerts.

QHow long did it take to research and write?

AAround four years. When I submitted my manuscript to Halsgrove Publishing, it totalled 160,000 words and contained 950 photographs. Halsgrove asked me to edit it down to 80,000 words and 400 photographs, so a lot of painstakingly researched trivia and many other photos of Derbyshire had to be jettisoned.

However, I am glad they steered me down this path, as the book couldn't have turned out any better. Interestingly, after defining a format for the book, it only took me nine months to knock out Nottinghamshire: Unusual & Quirky.

QWhat's your favourite quirky fact, perhaps discovered by chance?

AI think my favourite is in the Derbyshire history section entitled The Muggle and the Full Blood Princes, which, alas, will be lost on anyone who doesn't know Harry Potter.

But for those who do, the Quirk Alert in the book refers to the fact that two Princes of Wales have turned up the ball at the annual Royal Shrovetide Football match at Ashbourne, but that the first woman to "goal" a ball in 1943...was Doris Mugglestone!

QIs this a book that will surprise even people who think they know everything about Derbyshire?

AThat is definitely the strapline Halsgrove have used: "If you think you know Derbyshire, then read this fascinating and profusely illustrated book and think again."

The best recommendation I can give is that I work in Nottingham, with mainly Nottingham and Nottinghamshire people.

So far, around 30 colleagues have bought the book and many of them say that, even though they're not from Derbyshire, they can't put it down. They can open it at any page and be genuinely entertained by either the photographs, their captions, the ever-present Quirk Alerts or just simply interesting history.

Of course, there are undoubtedly anecdotes in the book that stalwart Derbyshire folk will have heard before but I can guarantee there will be dozens that they haven't.

The other difference with this book is that the Shire-Ode (Brad And Mel) drives the almanac-like second half of the book, and these seemingly random 77 places have most definitely not been thrown together before.

Not even the wonderful Arthur Mee, who wrote the 1930s King's England series, has covered some of the more obscure places that my Shire-Ode does!

QWhat are your favourite places in the county?

AAs a child, it would have been something predictable like Dovedale or Mam Tor. And they are both still utterly stunning for very different reasons.

However, I think my two favourite places used as part of the research for the Derbyshire history section were the Nine Ladies stone circle on Stanton Moor and Minning Low, the Neolithic burial site which is on probably on the most remote part of the High Peak Trail.

Both places have such a stunning sense of peace. As someone quoted in an online review for Minning Low, "One can feel the breath of time". They are extraordinary places.

QIf friends ask you about the book, which fact makes them laugh the most?

AWell, that would have to be the Naked Racing from 18th-century Whitwell.

It's a long story, which I told on BBC Radio Derby, but involves a first-hand account from 1755 when "the earth was encrusted with thin ice and the northerly wind cut to the marrow".

The author goes on to mention "a finer set of lads I had never before behel", "women who cheered as heartily as any of us", while he finishes by stating that the winner, Flaxey Rotherham, came home "six lengths clear".

Then there was the Wirksworth chap who in 2005 became the first (and currently the only) person to cross the English Channel... in a bath!

The journey took two months and his tin bath came complete with Victorian shower heads and taps – and a compass in the plug hole!

QWhat makes Derbyshire special to you?

AIt just is special. Aside from not having a coast, it is certainly England's most diverse land-locked county.

It is also both gently beautiful and savagely beautiful in different parts.

The endless limestone villages lend the county its own distinctive character, plus the people and their stories, and indeed the layer upon layer of Derbyshire history are as quirky, yet as quintessentially English, as any other county.

Derbyshire Unusual & Quirky is available from local stockists or from the publisher, Halsgrove, on 01823 653777 or at halsgrove.com.

DERBYSHIRE'S police and crime commissioner has told how something "radical" was needed for the county's police force and fire service as he approved plans for a new £14.5m joint headquarters.

Alan Charles gave the go-ahead for a purpose-built base for both organisations being created at the existing constabulary HQ in Ripley yesterday .

And now work is expected to start on the build early next year, with an estimated completion date of December 2016.

Mr Charles said: "After many months of hard work and negotiations on both sides, I am delighted that this purpose-built building is on its way to becoming a reality.

"We had to do something radical as two of our existing police buildings at the HQ at Ripley are coming to the end of their useful life.

"Through true partnership working, our two critical emergency services have been closely involved working side-by-side in planning a tailor-made headquarters to suit both our future needs."

The proposal was rubber-stamped yesterday by Mr Charles along with strategic governance board members, at a meeting held at Butterley Hall, in Ripley.

The site is expected to house more than 500 staff from both services.

It would see some buildings at the police headquarters, at Butterley Hall, demolished and replaced by a 7,700-square-metre office block.

The total cost of the project is estimated to be about £14.5m and the fire service has already been successful in obtaining a £1.5m grant awarded by the Department of Communities and Local Government.

Mr Charles is seeking £3m of similar funding from a Home Office Innovation Fund.

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service's existing HQ, at Burton Road, Littleover, will also be sold to help fund the new building.

Councillor Roland Hosker, chairman of Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Authority, said: "Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service's current headquarters is no longer fit for purpose and restricts the opportunities to develop new and more efficient ways of working.

"This joint project will see the delivery of a modern, bespoke joint headquarters that will enable greater collaboration between our two organisations to improve both interoperability and efficiency.

"I'm really pleased that both the Communities for Local Government department and the Government's Treasury Investment committee recognised the strength of our business case, in their awarding DFRS £1.5 million Transformation Grant funding to support the development of this innovative joint venture.

"This along with the sale of our existing headquarters site at Littleover, Derby, will go a long way to funding our share of the project."

Projected time scales for the project include tendering for the major contract in January and February 2015 and starting the main contract at the end of April.

Occupation of the new building is projected for the end of February 2017.

Chief Constable Mick Creedon said: "I fully support the decision made by the commissioner.

"It will enable us to forge closer links with the fire service to the benefit of people across Derbyshire.

"We know this is a massive investment but one that is needed for the long-term efficiency of our two organisations."

A CHILD had to be rescued by firefighters after becoming stuck in a wooden rowing boat in Derby.

Crews were called to Burton Road, in Littleover, shortly after 3.30pm today.

A fire spokeswoman said fire crews used a small saw to release the child, who was unharmed, before leaving the scene at 3.50pm.

ALFRETON Town approach Christmas in dire straits in the Vanarama Conference Premier – but manager Nicky Law remains convinced that they are not too far away from improving their fortunes.

The Reds – in theory – have a glorious opportunity to do so tomorrow when they visit a side in every bit as much both as themselves, Nuneaton Town.

Both sides have scored 20 goals and conceded 45 but Nuneaton are a point better off.

Law believes his side have acquitted themselves well against stronger sides in the Conference and how they fare against sides like Nuneaton, further down the table, could be key to their chances of turning the season round.

"In the last three games we have made steady progress but it's the same thing, we have lost," he said.

"But if we can play like that against the lesser teams, we have a chance.

"We have to take belief into tomorrow's game."

Law was heartened by some of what he saw in the 2-1 defeat at home to Gateshead on Tuesday.

"We went out against what I think are the best passing team in the league and we passed the ball really well," he maintained.

"In the first 20 minutes, we were great.

"We kept the ball, worked it well and had a good shape but we didn't score and when we don't get the opening or break, we seem to change things when we have no need to.

"There are positive signs. They are small steps we are making, but we are making them.

"And there is not too much damage done. Everyone else around us lost and we are still in there."

It is the halfway point in the season, in terms of games, and Alfreton are six points away from safety.

Nuneaton are managed by Liam Daish, the former Republic of Ireland international, who spent eight years in charge at Ebbsfleet United and took over at Nuneaton in September.

He recently admitted that the task there is bigger than he envisaged – like the Reds, they are a part-time outfit.

"This is definitely a tougher job than I thought it would be. I would say that for certain," said Daish.

"I have tried to address things and I have said to the lads I will keep working with them until things are sorted – it is hard, though."

l Alfreton have announced that the sponsorship for their community development scheme from locally-based confectioners Thornton's is being used to provide free season tickets for youngsters to see the remaining home games in the 2014-15 season.

Up to 180 children will benefit and the tickets are being handed out in local schools. 

AMELIA Bamford had a huge smile on her face as she threw snowballs at her dad in Lapland's Enchanted Forest.

But just 24 hours earlier, the four-year-old was in hospital having treatment for leukaemia – a battle which Amelia has been fighting for 18 months.

Yesterday, she was taken to Lapland for the day with When You Wish Upon a Star, a charity which grants wishes for poorly children.

Despite a 4am start at East Midlands Airport, Amelia could not stop smiling as she played in the snow.

Her dad, Anthony, who joined Amelia on the trip, said: "Amelia was absolutely over the moon when we told her she was going to Lapland.

"We told her a month ago and she has been excited ever since. Whenever we mentioned it to her, her face just lit up.

"It was such an early start to the day but just seeing the look on Amelia's face in Lapland was amazing.

"The last 18 months have not been easy on her because she can't do everything that a normal four-year-old can do, so it was nice for her to do this."

Amelia, who lives in Willington with her family, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in April 2013.

"We thought she had a cold with a runny nose," said Anthony, who works at Alpha Construction in Hilton. "But then we noticed that there were tiny specks of blood when she blew her nose. We also noticed small but unexplained bruises.

"They became more apparent on one particular day, and my wife Yvette thought, 'I don't like this', so she phoned our GP, Dr Farrow, who was brilliant and saw Amelia within 20 minutes.

"Within less than an hour we were at the Royal Derby Hospital – another hour after that we got blood results back and we were told it was not looking good. By the end of the day we found out she had leukaemia.

"We woke up one morning and everything was normal – but by the evening we found out our daughter was seriously ill. The symptoms were so tiny and we need to make people more aware.

"The only way I can describe it is intense sadness. It is such a heavy sadness and not anything you could ever imagine. We've tried to be positive for the children though. The best thing was the GP getting us seen at the hospital so quickly, that was fantastic."

Amelia, a reception pupil at Willington Primary School, immediately began treatment, which included chemotherapy and a course of steroids. She also began a two-year clinical trial of a drug called methotrexate.

In six months' time, the family will know whether Amelia has beaten the cancer.

"With the sort of leukaemia she has, once it goes then it's gone, it won't come back," said Anthony 35. "If she is diagnosed with it again then it will be a new one, not a reoccurrence."

Anthony and his wife remained positive for Amelia and her brother and sister, Jasmine, seven, and Thomas, two – who was only three months old when the family received the devastating diagnosis.

On Wednesday, Amelia went into Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham for her treatment, which she has every four weeks. But at 4am yesterday she was at East Midlands Airport raring to go to Lapland, in Finland – the "real" home of Santa Claus.

"It was her last treatment before Christmas," said Anthony. "She lost all her hair but it has come back now. She's really outgoing, if she likes something then she'll get stuck right into it, and she's really confident. There are odd times when the treatment gets the better of her – you can tell. That's when you get the real contrast between her usual self.

"Amelia is a typical girl – she likes Disney, she likes school and she goes to keyboard lessons, which she enjoys."

Yesterday in Lapland, Amelia enjoyed snowball fights with her dad, tobogganing and a reindeer ride before the highlight of the day – meeting Santa Claus. As he reflected on the day, Mr Bamford said: "It's been a memorable experience for Amelia, she's really enjoyed it. The excitement of it has shone through - it's nice to do something different. "And, of course, the highlight for Amelia was meeting Santa - because it was the real Santa."

Amelia was among 100 children from the East Midlands who were taken to Lapland on a specially chartered flight.

Liz Credgington, fund-raiser from When You Wish Upon a Star, said: "It was such an amazing day. Most of the children are going through a tough time so it's really special for them to come to Lapland and meet Santa – it's given them something to look forward to. A lot come straight from hospital or they are having treatment over Christmas so to give them this memory is amazing.

"A trip like this costs £90,000 to organise. It is one of the biggest things that we fund-raise for and it is the highlight of our year. For a lot of young children, it is their dream to meet Santa and going to Lapland is such a big adventure for them.

"It's a really long day but the kids power through it. When you are in the Enchanted Forest and you hear the children screaming with excitement, it is just lovely."

YOUNG TEARS OF JOY REDUCED ME TO TEARS TOO

IT is very humbling seeing the children having the time of their lives in Lapland, writes Rachel Butler.

You would not think that they are poorly at all. It's a long day – from 4am to 10pm – but the children power through it and don't stop enjoying themselves.

There was so much screaming from the children when they entered the Enchanted Forest, where they met elves and went on reindeer and husky rides, and then later on when Santa Claus entered the room.

This trip costs When You Wish Upon a Star £90,000 a year to organise, but experiencing the excitement from the children makes you realise it is worth every penny.

For some children who went on the trip, they will not live for a long time – so to see them sharing special memories with their parents is priceless. It's a moment the parents will remember forever.

When You Wish Upon a Star is a very worthy charity and this their annual Lapland trip is the highlight of their year., Yesterday, when I joined them on it, I understood why. I felt honoured to be invited and to witness the hard work the charity puts in to making the trip extra special.

As Santa entered the room, I looked at the children's faces and had to wipe a tear away. All the children on the trip, including Amelia, are very, very brave. When You Wish Upon a Star had made their day.

To donate, ring 0115 979 1720.

AS WE begin the run-up to the busy festive period, there is lots to look forward to.

We sit top of the league, the FA cup third round draw is imminent, we have a Capital One Cup tie against arguably the best team in Europe at the moment in Chelsea and Nottingham Forest tickets are on sale.

Another crucial part of the season on the horizon is the transfer window.

Traditionally, Derby County have been quiet in January regarding transfers but this time around I feel the squad needs additions, not to the squad but to the quality of the first team. What I mean by this is not a Zak Whitbread-type signing that adds some depth to the squad but a player who will come in and improve the first team from day one.

I understand that this type of player does not come cheap and prices are often inflated in January but it does pose an interesting question for the board.

Do they cross their fingers and hope we have enough or do they find the couple of million it may take to secure the quality we need to push on for what we hope will be a successfully campaign?

Whatever the board decide, the nature of football is such that either option is a gamble.

As fans we would do well to remember this if the wheels come off in the new year as we hit the inevitable rough patch somewhere between now and May.

If possible, I would like to see us strengthen in two areas.

I believe we really need a commanding, quality centre-half. I am not harping on about the past but a Jason Shackell type.

A player of his quality and standing would be ideal to shore up what at times has been a soft centre and an area that I feel in recent weeks opposition teams have been targeting.

Any player brought in must be better than what we already have.

The last thing we need is a repeat of the Jay McEveley-type transfers under the woefully insecure Billy Davies the last time we found ourselves in a similar position at the turn of the year.

While Chris Martin has been an outstanding player again this season it would be a problem if he were to be injured and out for any period of time, as he is so pivotal to the way Derby play.

I am not talking about getting a back-up player, I would like to see competition that I feel Leon Best is currently unable to give.

The price of forwards in the championship who score as many goals as Martin, such as Jordan Rhodes and Ross McCormack, may mean we have to look overseas which only increases the size of the gamble.

We have been linked with Glenn Murray at Reading and I am a huge fan. But at 31 years old and prices being quoted at £3.5m, this seems to be a long way off our recent policy of investing for the future.

Expensive yes but this is the kind of signing that may just get you over the line at the end of the season.

Looking ahead to today's game, the loss of Kazenga LuaLua for Brighton is a huge boost for the Rams.

LuaLua has been the most creative and dangerous player every time I have seen Brighton play over the last couple of seasons and while injury is not to be celebrated I am pleased he will not be in the Seagulls line-up this weekend.

Darren Bent is an interesting addition to the Brighton team and maybe someone we might have had a look at.

A clean sheet looks beyond us at the moment but overall the quality of the Rams will shine through.

I think Chris Martin will bag a brace and I am going for a 4-1 Rams victory.

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