Locko Park, Spondon: Orcs, goblins and warriors set to do battle

May 2, 2014, 2:18 am

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A BATTLE between orcs, goblins and warriors is set to break out in a Derby park this weekend.

But there is no need to fear the strange-looking creatures. The mock fighting is all part of a fantasy live role-play event being staged at Spondon's Locko Park.

About 1,500 enthusiasts from all over the UK are expected at the four-day event, which starts tonight.

The event, organised by the Lorien Trust, based in Woodville, is one of several that take place during the year.

Called The Spring Moot, it is the first main event of the year.

Organisers says it is an ideal time to visit the traders and see what new stock has arrived and make orders for The Gathering – the year's "main" event, held in August.

A spokesman for this weekend's event said: "It will be like Robin Hood meets Lord of the Rings. People can dress as anything from our game world, from heroes to fighters."

Locko Park is used to staging the fantasy events.

In previous years, The Gathering has seen 3,500 people don costumes and make up and step into their alter egos for the bank holiday weekend.

A fantasy world is created in the park, with a market place, camps and entertainment.

It is an occasion that attracts people from as far afield as Italy, Germany, the US and New Zealand.

Typically, Saturday and Sunday are used to form alliances and discuss tactics ready for a battle on Monday.

Former Derby Telegraph photographer Martin Elliott has been to many of the battles.

He said: "The battle's completely safe. The weapons are made of latex and there are stewards there to make sure no-one's hurt.

"There are thousands of people fighting, so it can be hard to tell who won. It's not about winning or losing, though, it's all for fun."

And shoppers at the nearby Asda store have been left stunned when hordes of goblins popped in for a bite to eat.

Mr Elliott said: "There's food at the market but you do get some people going over to Asda. It's a strange sight when they're in full make-up but I think the staff are used to it by now."

Tickets to this weekend's event can be purchased at the gate for £70. For more information, visit www.lorientrust.com.

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Enchanted Village to be built at Alton Towers

May 2, 2014, 2:31 am

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Alton Towers Resort has been given the green light to create an Enchanted Village. It is set to open at the Staffordshire theme park site next spring. The Enchanted Village will feature 120 fairytale lodges and five luxury treehouses alongside children's play areas and a new themed restaurant with family entertainment. It will be sited next to the Alton Towers Hotel. Mark Kerrigan, development director at Alton Towers Resort, said: "The new accommodation will further enhance our position as a short break destination and also provide significant opportunities for the local area. "We have worked incredibly hard in recent years to grow tourism in Staffordshire and are extremely excited about bringing this new concept to life over the coming months."

Denby Pottery to create dozens of new jobs as exports boom

May 2, 2014, 2:51 am

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A DERBYSHIRE ceramics manufacturer has announced it will be creating dozens of new jobs thanks to booming export sales. Denby Pottery has said it will be recruiting 37 new manufacturing staff at its factory in Denby. It will bring the total number of manufacturing jobs at the site to 238 and allow the firm to produce almost 120,000 pieces of pottery a week. The new recruits will be starting over the next few weeks in response to growing demand for the company's stoneware products in overseas markets. Sales to export countries such as Korea and Canada have increased by 62% in the first quarter of this year resulting in additional manufacturing requirements in the UK. Paul McGowan, chief executive of Denby's owner Hilco Capital, said: "Our investment in export activities over recent years is bearing fruit, especially in the Korean and Canadian markets. "While the growth figures for the first quarter are impressive we expect even higher levels of growth in the current quarter given the record level of our export order book at the moment. "The Denby business has seen volume growth every year since we acquired it in 2009 and overall business increased by an impressive 5% in the first quarter of this year, despite the closure of our North American distribution centre for an entire month due to weather disruption." Managing director of Denby Pottery Garry Biggs said: "It is satisfying to see the growing level of interest in our Denby-made stoneware products in so many overseas markets, particularly in Korea which we anticipate will become Denby's largest overseas market within the next two years." Last month, Hilco Capital announced its intention to sell Denby Pottery. The firm said that so far it had received 27 expressions of interest. To date seven firm offers have been made for the business and negotiations are continuing with those parties, which include major international homewares brands and financial investors. Mr McGowan said : "We are very pleased with the high level of interest received for this great British brand and the highly efficient manufacturing facility at Denby. "We continue to negotiate with all interested parties and hope to make a positive announcement in the coming months, which will enable the Denby business to continue its growth around the world."

Boy, 12, found by police after five-hour search in Ashbourne

May 2, 2014, 3:03 am

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A missing 12-year-old boy was found after a five-hour police search in Ashbourne. The National Police Air Service helicopter spotted the youngster, who has not been named, on land near the town's rugby club. He was reported missing from his home in Ashbourne yesterday morning and a number of officers were involved in a ground search for him throughout the day. He was discovered by the police helicopter crew just before 4pm and returned home safe and well. The NPAS helicopter, which is based in Husbands Bosworth in Leicester, landed on the Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School playing field, before leaving at 4.15pm.

An extra £14m of Government cash for under-funded Derbyshire schools

May 2, 2014, 3:31 am

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DERBYSHIRE schools are to get a share of an extra £14 million. As one of the country's worst-funded education authorities, Derbyshire County Council qualifies for the Government cash. The money will not be available until this time next year, but Derbyshire County Council is giving schools early notice of the windfall so they can plan for it. The authority's deputy leader and cabinet member for children and young people, Councillor Kevin Gillott, welcomed the extra cash. He said: "This is a significant amount of money and by letting schools know early what's available, it will help them plan their spending. "Schools are facing considerable financial pressures, including inflation and a rise in employers' pension contributions, and are having to make some difficult decisions. The authority is about to launch a consultation with schools on how the money should be allocated. They will be asking schools and the Schools Forum - made up of headteachers and governors from a wide variety of schools and education providers, including nurseries and special schools - for their views. A report on the outcome of the consultation is due at the end of the summer term when the authority's cabinet will be asked to agree in principle on how the money will be allocated. The final amount of money will not be confirmed until December 2014.

Formula E gets keys to Donington base

May 2, 2014, 3:43 am

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THE teams that will compete in the forthcoming Formula E racing series have been handed the keys to their new bases at Donington Park.

A total of 10 teams will take part in the 10-race championship, which involves all-electric powered single-seater racing cars.

Earlier this year, Formula E announced that it had selected Donington as the base for all the teams, as well as its logistics and admin staff.

The teams have now been given the keys so they can start moving into the buildings, ahead of an official opening later this month.

Formula E has the backing of some big names.

Among the 10 teams is an outfit called Venturi, of which Hollywood superstar Leonardo DiCaprio is a partner.

The first Formula E race is due to take place in Beijing, China, in September.

Ahead of that, the teams will be using Donington Park to test their cars.

Margaret Beckett: We'd build 20,000 family homes and scrap bedroom tax

May 2, 2014, 4:07 am

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THIS week's better economic news merits a very cautious welcome. Average wages have risen slightly more than average prices.

But big rises in top people's pay flatter the income averages. And the figures don't include cuts in tax credits, which hit the lower paid.

The GDP increase, though welcome is belated. Chancellor George Osborne boasts we now have faster growth than our competitors. But they achieved growth much earlier.

His austerity programme, VAT hikes and 24 tax increases so flattened growth that we're still catching up.

Nor has growth returned as a result of rigidly sticking to his "master plan".

Infrastructure investment has been stepped up and claims of eliminating the debt in this Parliament have been dropped.

In the real world, rents have risen twice as fast as wages since David Cameron became Prime Minister.

Gas and electricity bills have gone up £300, and the cost of nursery places has soared by 30%. And there are 500 fewer Sure Start centres, and 35,000 fewer childcare places.

All of this, as well as the huge tax cut for the wealthiest, the bedroom tax and other welfare cuts, has been supported and voted for by the LibDems.

There is a better path. Improving and protecting people's living standards will be a central purpose of the next Labour government. Our agenda includes:

Freeze electricity and gas bills until 2017 while restructuring the energy companies.

Expand free childcare for three and four year olds to 25 hours a week for working parents.

Strengthen the national minimum wage and offer tax rebates to firms signing up to pay the living wage.

Tax bankers' bonuses so we can put every young person who has been out of work for a year into a job.

Crack down on zero-hours contracts, giving workers better employment rights.

Get 200,000 family homes built each year.

Scrap the bedroom tax.

Ed Miliband has shown that, unlike the Tories, he is prepared to stand up to the vested interests and powerful forces that are making people's lives harder.

Some have started to ask why he doesn't stop or prevent the damage the Coalition is inflicting. That is because they are the Government. They have power and authority to act.

That's why it matters how you vote. We can criticise, and suggest a better way, but we can't act until we, not they, have power.

On May 22, you have a clear choice: to vote either for a cash-strapped Labour council, doing its utmost to help those bearing the brunt of the Coalition's cruel cuts, or for the two parties of government whose divisive policies are to blame.

The European elections are on the same day.

Some talk of a UKIP protest vote. But UKIP want to privatise our NHS, cut taxes for the richest while raising them for the lower paid, cut maternity pay, and scrap other rights at work. Not so much a protest, more a vote for more of the same.

'Don't axe vital Derbyshire adult care services, let us pay more for them'

May 2, 2014, 4:20 am

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A DISABILITY group is urging council chiefs to charge people more for care services instead of axing them.

Derbyshire County Council says it needs to slash £65 million from its adult care budget because of Government cuts.

One proposal is to change the eligibility threshold for people who receive support from the council.

But Derbyshire County Learning Disability Partnership Board said its members would be prepared to pay extra, rather than lose their services.

Paul Lobley, chairman of the board, said: "The people we've discussed this with would rather pay more for services such as transport or housing or day care than actually lose them."

Mr Lobley said its members gave their views at a consultation exercise organised by the partnership.

One service user said: "If I didn't have the day centre, I'd be stuck at home and my dad wouldn't get a break. I would be bored at home and have nothing to do."

At present, about 1,150 people use transport paid for by the county council, for example to get to and from day care centres.

One idea put forward by the council to offset the £65 million cut is to introduce a new flat-rate charge of £5.

The consultation revealed some would prefer to pay the fee rather than lose the service.

"I think £5 is a fair amount," said one service user. "If it's for any distance it's very good value."

The council's four proposals are:

Raise the eligibility threshold so only people who have been assessed as having "substantial needs" or above receive ongoing support.

Charge people a higher contribution for adult social care services they receive through the council.

Reduce the council's housing-related support budget.

Change how transport to day care services and other activities is provided or arranged by the council.

In a letter to the cabinet, Mr Lobley urged the council to consider the impact cuts would have on those who use adult care services.

He wrote: "We would remind the council that a proportionate financial reduction in adult services in comparison with other council services would have a profoundly different effect on the life chances of the more vulnerable members of our society than it would on the more able section of the county's population."

Councillor Clare Neill, the council's cabinet member for adult services, said: "We're now getting to the point where we've got to start looking at the services that we are providing to adults and indeed to children."

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Roadworks alerts for Derby and Derbyshire

May 2, 2014, 4:38 am

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Planned roadworks for Derby and Derbyshire for Monday, 5 May to Sunday, 11 May: *A38 Little Eaton, Derbyshire: Roundabout capacity improvements Until 27 May, there will be carriageway closures from 8pm to 6am on the roundabout. *A38 Markeaton, Derby: Roundabout capacity improvements Until 19 June, there will be carriageway closures, lane closures and verge working. *A52 at junction with M1 junction 25, Borrowash: Severn Trent work Severn Trent Water will be replacing a water main between Sunday 27 April and Friday 23 May. There will be full overnight closures of the westbound carriageway from 8pm to 6am and a lane one closure with speed restriction at all other times between the M1 and Borrowash. Diversions will be signed.

Replace six-week summer break with "more frequent, shorter holidays" to help "exhausted" teachers, union suggests

May 2, 2014, 5:07 am

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Radical plans to cut the six-week summer break and spread holidays throughout the year have been proposed by the UK's biggest head teachers' union. The NAHT proposals could lead to members allocating more holiday throughout the year to help ease the pressure on teachers. The plan is due to be discussed at the union's annual conference in Birmingham this weekend. In its manifesto on the future of education, the NAHT says the current term structures make it difficult for teachers to "reduce their hours to a manageable level under current budgets". "A different pattern of holidays might help teachers, parents and pupils," it continues. "We should debate more frequent, shorter holidays." According to the Times Educational Supplement, Russell Hobby, the union's general secretary, said the proposals had been drawn up to reduce the "stress and workload" faced by teachers. "They are exhausted by the end of term. The current system is damaging to the health of teachers. Staggering the holidays could ease the pressure on them. However, the long summer break is a key feature of the school year, and it's not a universally popular idea." Around 28,500 head teachers are members of the union.YOUR SHOUT: What's your view on this? Let us know in the comments box below.

Dad Barry Smith was "beaten to death with pool cues and set on fire"

May 2, 2014, 5:58 am

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FATHER-of-four Barry Smith died after being beaten with pool cues and set on fire, his murder trial was told this afternoon. The trial began of three people accused of killing Mr Smith, 48, in Derbyshire. Vincent Aitken, 44, his daughter, Emma Aitken, 18, and her boyfriend, Nathan Doherty, 27, all deny the killing in Kilburn, in October last year. Aitken's wife, Pamela, 40, is also facing trial after denying assisting an offender. A jury was sworn in at Leicester Crown Court. And in the prosecution opening, it was claimed Mr Smith was beaten with two pool cues which broke, and a fence post, before being dragged into a field and set on fire. The body of Mr Smith, of Mayfield Avenue, Kilburn, was discovered outside Kilburn Welfare Social Club on the morning of October 6 last year. Aitken, his wife, both of Chapel Street, Kilburn, daughter and Doherty, of Portland Street, Derby, were all arrested within days of the discovery. The case continues.

Osmaston Road, Derby: Serious road accident

May 2, 2014, 6:36 am

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Police are at the scene of a serious road accident in Osmaston Road, Derby. It is believed to involve a cyclist and a car and traffic incident investigators are present. The incident happened close to the junction with Shaftesbury Street at around 1.15am. The area has been cordoned off and police are warning that the road will be closed for three to four hours. It is expected to cause major traffic problems in and out of the city as Osmaston Road has become a diversion route following the long-term closure of London Road while bridge works are carried out. A diversion is in place along Ascot Drive and through Pride Park. More to follow.

Osmaston Road, Derby, to close for hours after fatal accident

May 2, 2014, 7:08 am

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Police say a person has died in an accident in Osmaston Road, Derby. The incident happened close to the junction with Shaftesbury Street just before 1pm today. The area has been cordoned off and police are warning that the road will be closed for three to four hours. It is understood that the incident involved a cyclist and a HGV. It is expected to cause major traffic problems in and out of the city as Osmaston Road has become a diversion route following the long-term closure of London Road while bridge works are carried out. A diversion is in place along Ascot Drive and through Pride Park. Several police cars attended the scene, together with an ambulance and a number of people stood watching from the door to their homes. Resident Jane Prjanikov, of Ivy Square, said: "I heard and then saw a lot of police activity which was quite alarming. I was quite shocked to see what was happening." Saqib Mahfooz, of Dexter Street, said he was also shocked by what had happened. He said: "There is so much extra traffic on Osmaston Road because of the London Road closure, which doesn't help." More to follow.

LATEST: Dad Barry Smith "was beaten to death with pool cues and set on fire"

May 2, 2014, 7:16 am

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Father-of-four Barry Smith died after being beaten with pool cues and set on fire, his murder trial was told this afternoon. The trial began of three people accused of killing Mr Smith, 48, in Derbyshire. Vincent Aitken, 44, his daughter, Emma Aitken, 18, and her boyfriend, Nathan Doherty, 27, all deny the killing in Kilburn, in October last year. Aitken's wife, Pamela, 40, is also facing trial after denying assisting an offender. In his opening speech, the prosecutor, Michael Auty QC, described the attack as "cold, brutal, chilling and culminated in an attack so severe Barry Smith lost his life." He said Mr Smith was beaten with two pool cues which broke, and a fence post, before being dragged into a field and set on fire. The body of Mr Smith, of Mayfield Avenue, Kilburn, was discovered outside Kilburn Welfare Social Club on the morning of October 6 last year. Aitken, his wife, both of Chapel Street, Kilburn, daughter and Doherty, of Portland Street, Derby, were all arrested within days of the discovery. The case continues at Leicester Crown Court will continue on Tuesaday.

Osmaston Road, Derby: Man arrested after fatal road accident

May 2, 2014, 7:56 am

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A MAN has been arrested on suspicious of causing death by driving without due care and attention after a fatal road accident at Osmaston Road. The incident happened close to the junction with Shaftesbury Street just before 1pm today. It is believed a cyclist has died and traffic incident investigators are present. The area has been cordoned off and police are warning that the road will be closed for three to four hours. It is expected to cause major traffic problems in and out of the city as Osmaston Road has become a diversion route following the long-term closure of London Road while bridge works are carried out. A diversion is in place along Ascot Drive and through Pride Park. Several police cars attended the scene, together with an ambulance and a number of people stood watching from the door to their homes. Resident Jane Prjanikov, of Ivy Square, said: "I heard and then saw a lot of police activity which was quite alarming. I was quite shocked to see what was happening."

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Live: Leeds United v Derby County

May 2, 2014, 8:40 am

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JOIN us for live match coverage of Derby County's Championship clash with Leeds United on Saturday. We'll have all the build-up from Elland Road and minute-by-minute updates from the game in our interactive match blog below. The blog will be up and running from around 10.15pm ahead of kick-off at 12.15pm.

 

Team news: Leeds United v Derby County

May 3, 2014, 3:13 am

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STEVE McClaren has made six changes to his Derby County side for the final match of their regular Championship campaign against Leeds United (12.15pm). Zak Whitbread, John Eustace, Will Hughes, Patrick Bamford, Simon Dawkins and Conor Sammon, who has recovered from a rib injury, are all handed starts for the Rams at Elland Road. Jake Buxton, George Thorne, Craig Bryson, Jamie Ward, Johnny Russell and Chris Martin are all rested. Top scorer Martin and Ward sit out the game completely, while Buxton, Thorne, Bryson and Russell are on the bench, where there is also a place for Mason Bennett. Defender Whitbread, on loan from Leicester City, comes in at centre-back for his first senior appearance since he went off injured at Watford in October. "We have players that need football under their belts as we go into the important time of the season, and we have also got players that we want to protect going into the play-offs as well," said Rams coach Paul Simpson. "We are looking after the squad. We think there are players that need to get a run out and this is the perfect opportunity. "Patrick Bamford needs another game, as does Simon Dawkins - this is the next step on his road to recovery and, hopefully, this will do him the world of good so he is ready for the play-offs. "Zak Whitbread needs a game and we want to protect Jake Buxton. Chris Martin has been a massive part of the team this season but we want to protect him. "There are no injuries - everybody is fit - but the idea is to make sure they are all fit for Thursday." Derby are already guaranteed third spot and a place in the play-offs, though are still waiting to find out who they will face. Leeds boss Brian McDermott has named an unchanged side following last weekend's victory over Birmingham City. LEEDS UNITED: Butland, Wootton, Lees, Pearce, Pugh, Tonge, Brown, Austin, Murphy, McCormack, Smith. Subs: Cairns (gk), Poleon, Walters, White, Dawson, Thompson, Hunt. DERBY COUNTY: Grant, Wisdom, Keogh, Whitbread, Forsyth, Eustace, Hughes, Hendrick, Bamford, Dawkins, Sammon. Subs: Legzdins (gk), Naylor, Buxton, Thorne, Bryson, Russell, Bennett. REFEREE: J Linington (Isle of Wight).

Icing on the cake: Derby searches for its top cake decorators

May 3, 2014, 3:19 am

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JUDGING has been taking place in Derby city centre to find the city's top cake decorators. Among them were Michelle and David Hollinshead, of Cake Decor in Eagle Market, who organised the annual event. Almost 40 cakes were entered three categories – Wild and Wacky, Wedding Cake and Birthday Cake decorated by children aged 10 to 16. The cakes were dropped off at the Quad, Market Place, by 9.30am this morning and the results will be known later today.

Firefighters' strike: Derby firefighters kept busy despite 22-hour strike

May 3, 2014, 3:34 am

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FIREFIGHTERS in Derby have been kept busy despite taking 22 hours of strike action this weekend over pension proposals. Less than an hour before they went on strike at noon on Friday, they attended a road traffic collision in Grafton Street, Derby - freeing a trapped driver. Once they returned to duty after 5pm, they received several call-outs - including to a rubbish fire in St Mark's Road, Derby, and a fence on fire at Chevin Avenue, Mickleover, between 8pm and 9pm. An Alfreton crew dealt with a car fire at Somercotes at 7pm. Overnight, an Ascot Drive crew was called to Foresters Park, Osmaston Park Road, at 1.40am to deal with an indoor bin fire at the KFC outlet, which threatened to set fire to the fast food outlet's kitchen. The firefighters were due to strike again today from 2pm through to 2am and on Sunday, from 10am to 3pm.

Rosie Swale Pope: Global adventurer and charity champion to run through Derby

May 3, 2014, 4:19 am

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GLOBAL adventurer, author and charity champion Rosie Swale Pope will be in Derby this weekend as part of a running challenge. Rosie, of Tenby, Pembrokeshire, is an marathon runner who has previously done a five-year round-the-world run, raising £250,000. She is now running from London to Yorkshire over 29 days - despite recent knee surgery - pulling her famous survival cart Icebird, to raise money for PHASE Worldwide, the charity of which she is patron; Macmillan, Emmaus and Naina's Leg Fund. Originally, she was due to run northwards through Nottingham but is diverting through Derbyshire to met up with a man who was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident last year. Rosie said: "I understand my book about the round-the-world run has been inspirational to him especially as he was told he would have never walk again. "So I am going to meet up with him in Bonsall and we are going to walk together for a while as I make my was further north." Rosie is no stranger to Derby and Derbyshire. Last year she abseiled down Jury's Inn to raise money for Sight Support Derbyshire, a charity for people with visual impairment, and counts blind explorer Miles Hilton Barber, of Belper among her best friends. She also has a sister living in the county. She said: "I love Derbyshire it is so clean and the people are very friendly. You have litter bins unlike some counties and people want to sto and talk." Talking about her latest run, she added: I'm 67 now and my intention is to embrace every day and set myself more challenges. It's time to do more not less. "This run may well be my last. It all depends on how my knee holds up. Keep an eye out for me when I pass through the city. I would love for you to say hello"