Liverpool stunned by Wolves

Liverpool were booed off after being outplayed and outfought by Wolverhampton Wanderers.

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London - Chelsea ended their dire run with a 1-0 home Premier League win over Bolton Wanderers but Arsenal, seeking to go joint-top with a win, conceded a late equaliser in a 2-2 draw at 10-man Wigan Athletic on Wednesday.

It was a miserable night for Liverpool as they were booed off after being outplayed and outfought by Wolverhampton Wanderers, who moved up from the bottom of the standings after securing their first away win of the season with a goal by Stephen Ward.

Arsenal's draw took them to 36 points, two behind Manchester City and Manchester United, who lead on goal difference. Chelsea move back to fourth place on 34, one ahead of Tottenham Hotspur, with Bolton sixth on 29.

Having been beaten by Arsenal on Monday to make it just six points from 24, Chelsea were desperate to give their fans something to shout about.

However, there was little sign of last-season's double-winning pedigree in the first hour as Bolton, who would have leapfrogged the Londoners with a win, worked tirelessly.

Neither side had managed a shot on target - though Didier Drogba did hit a post - until Chelsea finally found some energy after 61 minutes when Drogba charged down the right and crossed for Florent Malouda to sidefoot in.

Bolton had several decent chances to equalise but Chelsea nervously held on to record their first league victory since November 10.

“The first half was very difficult, we didn't play so well and there was a lot of weight on our shoulders,” said Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti. “In the second half we were much better and played with more confidence, and after two games in two days we must say that the players did very well.”

The proverbial wet Wednesday in Wigan became harsh reality for Arsenal as, two days after outplaying the champions, they made eight changes and paid the price against a team who came back from 2-0 down to beat them 3-2 last season.

A Ben Watson penalty after 17 minutes had Wigan ahead but Andrei Arshavin equalised after 39 with an acrobatic volley and Nicklas Bendtner forced his way through to put them ahead just before halftime.

Wigan's hopes seemed to have disappeared when Charles N'Zogbia was sent off for butting Jack Wilshere after 78 minutes but three minutes later they were level after Sebastien Squillaci headed into his own net.

Wolves belied their position at the bottom of the league by taking the game to Liverpool at Anfield where Steven Gerrard made his first appearance for six weeks after a hamstring injury.

Wolves had managed only one point on the road all season but fully deserved their win, earned by Ward's neat finish after 56 minutes.

Worryingly for and increasingly frustrated Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson, it was also their first clean sheet. - Reuters

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Chad sacks head of electoral body

Chad’s election monitoring committee has fired the head of the electoral commission.

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N’Djamena - Chad's election monitoring committee sacked the head of the electoral commission, according to a letter obtained by Reuters on Thursday, amid allegations he manipulated preparations for upcoming elections.

Chad's main opposition coalition had earlier this week demanded Ngarmajiel Gami's resignation saying he had fraudulently added eight people to the candidate list ahead of parliamentary elections in February and April's presidential poll, at the behest of President Idriss Deby.

Saleh Kebzabo, spokesperson for the opposition coalition, said on Thursday there would be a meeting on January 3 to choose a new electoral commission president.

A letter from the election monitoring committee addressed to Gami said:

“After emergency meetings December 29 and 30, the monitoring committee has decided to terminate your services as president of the electoral commission.”

Deby, in power since a 1990 coup, is expected to seek a new term in office.

Chad is one of several countries in the semi-arid Sahel region that languish at the bottom of the United Nations' Human Development Index of quality of life.

The country formed the election monitoring committee in 2007, giving it the power to ensure the independence of the electoral commission. - Reuters

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50 years of Christmas memories at hospital on display in exhibition

MEMORIES of staff carving the turkey and doctors and their families spending Christmas in hospital feature in a festive photographic exhibition.

The exhibition, which celebrates memories of Christmas in hospital over the years, is on display at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire.

It includes photographs and stories from former patients and staff about how Christmas has been celebrated at the complex over the past 50 years.

The exhibition shows how Christmas celebrations have changed over the years, with stories showing how consultants took their families to the hospital for Christmas to carve the turkey and eat lunch with the patients.

The project is in the hands of freelance historian Ian Lawley who appealed for former patients and staff to come forward and share their memories of the hospital over the festive period.

Patients told him how the wards were decorated and the staff used to perform a Christmas panto.

Mr Lawley, from Newcastle, said he had heard some very interesting stories about how the festive period has changed at the hospital over the years.

"Some people have said they spent their first Christmas away from home at the hospital as children because of illness," he said.

"One man had around 13 operations as a child meaning between the ages of eight and 13 he was in and out of hospital all the time, and spent Christmases in bed opening presents."

He added: "We decided to stage the exhibition because it's a special time of the year and it's a slightly odd experience for all.

"Christmas time is when you want to be with friends and family rather than in hospital. Over the years the nursing staff tried hard to compensate and make the patients feel special.

"They'd decorate the wards and consultants would even bring their children into the hospital and carve the turkey. A lot was done to compensate the expense of being away from your family."

The exhibition is part of a bigger campaign by the NHS, If Wards Could Talk, which has seen more than 100 people come forward to contribute memories and photographs including international responses from Australia, Canada and Spain.

It hopes to preserve the culture and history of the hospital before the Royal Infirmary is demolished after the new �400 million superhospital is opened in 2012.

Gill Berrisford was a nurse on the wards between 1960 and 1965. The 68-year-old has fond memories of the Christmas period.

She said: "Some of the children actually preferred Christmas and Easter at the hospital because it was better than being at home. Times were hard and if they were in hospital they would have donations.

"We had lots of decorations and it was very nice, friendly and relaxed."

Don't miss your packed, 12-page All Our Yesterdays , free with tomorrow's Sentinel .

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Palladium doubles in price in 2010; platinum up

Palladium more than doubled in price in 2010 based on Friday morning's London fixing, driven by growing demand from auto markets in emerging economies, while platinum racked up a second consecutive year of gains.

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Palladium more than doubled in price in 2010 based on Friday morning's London fixing, driven by growing demand from auto markets in emerging economies, while platinum racked up a second consecutive year of gains.

Palladium, which is used predominantly in catalytic converters for gasoline-powered vehicles, fixed at $791.00 an ounce in the final fixing of the year, against $797.00 at the previous fixing on Thursday afternoon.

Based on the fixings, it rose by 101.27 percent this year, compared with an annual gain of 95 percent for the freely traded spot price . Platinum fixed at $1,731.00 an ounce versus $1,755.00 at the previous fixing. Based on the fixings, it rose for a second straight year, by 18.4 percent in 2010.

The freely traded spot price rose by 18.3 percent. Platinum, which relies most heavily on demand from the jewellery sector, has underperformed palladium this year largely due to its exposure to the flagging European car market, where it is used in greater quantities than palladium in diesel catalysts. - Reuters

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Study links plastic chemical exposure to poor egg quality in women

A SMALL-SCALE University of California, San Francisco UCSF), United States-led study has identified the first evidence in humans that exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) may compromise the quality of a woman?s eggs retrieved for in vitro fertilisation (IVF).

As blood levels of BPA in the women studied doubled, the percentage of eggs that fertilised normally declined by 50 per cent, according to the research team.

The chemical BPA, which makes plastic hard and clear, has been used in many consumer products such as reusable water bottles. It also is found in epoxy resins, which form a

protective lining inside metal food and beverage cans.

?While preliminary, the data indicate the negative effect of BPA on reproductive health and the importance of allocating more funding to further investigate why such environmental contaminants might be disrupting fertility potential,? said Prof. Victor Y. Fujimoto, lead study author and professor in the UCSF Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, who also is on the faculty of the UCSF Center for Reproductive Health.

Findings are available online in the journal Fertility and Sterility at http://j.mp/fyjTFF.
In the study, BPA levels and fertilisation rates were analysed for 26 women undergoing IVF during 2007 and 2008 at the UCSF Center for Reproductive Health.

The women were a subgroup of a larger study evaluating the effect on reproductive health of trace exposures to toxic metals ? mercury, cadmium and lead.

?Given the widespread nature of BPA exposure in the U.S., even a modest effect on reproduction is of substantial concern,? said Michael S. Bloom, PhD, senior author and an assistant professor in the Departments of Environmental Health Sciences, and Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the School of Public Health of the University at Albany, State University of New York. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found BPA in the urine of nearly everyone tested in a 2004 analysis of the U.S. population.

BPA is gaining global attention as an environmental contaminant that impacts health owing to its widespread exposure and endocrine-disrupting properties, according to the researchers.

An endocrine disruptor is a synthetic chemical that when absorbed into the body either mimics or blocks hormones and interferes with the body?s normal functions.

Previous studies in mouse models have indicated that BPA levels alter the DNA of eggs, and a 2010 study in humans demonstrated BPA urinary concentrations to be inversely associated with the number of eggs retrieved during an IVF cycle.

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Oil to end 2010 up 12%

Oil was set to close the year up more than 12 percent and average nearly $80 a barrel - the second highest on record - driven by a resurgence in global demand, an unusually cold winter and falling inventories.

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Oil was set to close the year up more than 12 percent and average nearly $80 a barrel - the second highest on record - driven by a resurgence in global demand, an unusually cold winter and falling inventories.

After rallying to a 26-month high of $91.88 on Monday, U.S. crude edged lower on Friday, with the February contract down 14 cents at $89.70 a barrel by 08:42 SA time. ICE Brent crude fell 10 cents to $92.99.

Oil prices were set to average $79.60 this year, second only to 2008's record average of $99.75.

U.S. crude stocks fell for the fourth straight week last week, but the drawdown was less than expected and put pressure on prices.

Crude stocks in the world's largest economy fell 1.26 million barrels to 339.43 million barrels in the week to Dec. 24, the Energy Information Agency (EIA) said.

Gasoline supplies fell by 2.32 million barrels, almost a million barrels more than expected. Some of that may have been due to companies running down stocks ahead of the year-end, but some analysts saw the fall as indicative of rising consumption as the world's largest economy continues to recover from recession.

“The latest U.S. weekly data release show a continuation of the recent strength in oil demand,” said analysts at Barclays Capital in a research note.

“December is set to be the strongest month of the year in demand terms, with particularly strong indications of gasoline demand.”

OPEC SUPPLIES

Even with crude stocks slipping four straight weeks and prices peaking to a 26-month high of $91.88 a barrel earlier this week, OPEC output has risen only slightly in December as Nigerian supply increased, a Reuters survey found.

Supply from the 11 OPEC members with output targets has averaged 26.75 million barrels per day (bpd) this month, up from 26.70 million bpd in November, the survey of oil companies, OPEC officials and analysts showed.

Core OPEC ministers have indicated they would not provide more oil supplies to arrest oil's rally, saying $100 crude was a fair price.

Oil found support from a weaker dollar and positive US economic data.

The dollar languished against the Swiss franc, hitting an all-time low, and fell to a seven-week trough against the yen. The dollar index was down 0.14 percent at 79.408.

The greenback declined despite supportive jobless claims and factory data that bolstered views the U.S. economy had gained momentum at year-end and was set for a stronger performance in 2011.

The positive data could cause the U.S. Federal Reserve to curb its recent initiatives to spur economic recovery, which could strengthen the dollar and limit price boosts for dollar-denominated commodities. - Reuters

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Man slams Severn Trent Water over sewage leak

A MAN has criticised Severn Trent Water after it took five days to unblock a drain.

John Straw contacted the firm on Christmas Eve after finding sewage overflowing in his and his neighbours' back gardens.

He was told someone would turn out on Boxing Day to put the problem right. But no one turned up until Wednesday.

Mr Straw said they temporarily fixed the blockage but would have to return because it was believed the drain had collapsed.

"I first reported this on Christmas Eve about lunchtime," said Mr Straw, 64, of Temple Drive, Nuthall.

"I looked outside and saw that the drain was getting blocked, so I rang Severn Trent to see if someone could come to sort it out.

"When they said Boxing Day, I thought, 'OK I'll just have to put up with this over Christmas Day, and I was prepared for that.

"But I didn't hear anything after that. I contacted them about it but heard nothing.

"I couldn't get through to their call centres. I just ended up on hold, listening to music for an age.

"I had to call up at 2am on Tuesday to get through. It's not good enough.

"Then they just turned up on Wednesday morning without notice to put it right. They did a good job but I don't see why they weren't in touch sooner."

Mr Straw said the sewage created a bad odour at the back of the houses.

He added: "The smell was awful out the back. I wouldn't go out there because I didn't know if it was a health hazard.

"I was getting loads of sewage coming out of a manhole behind my house. It was not a nice sight.

"The longer the problem went unattended, the worse it got. I am on the end house and I was ending up with a pond of sewage at the back."

Mr Straw said two of his neighbours had been affected.

He added: "It's not necessarily the fact that they didn't turn up so soon, because I know they must be busy. But I thought they would contact me to say when they were coming."

No one from Severn Trent was available for comment but the firm had previously told the Post that it had been busy with calls about burst pipes.

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Stakeholders brainstorm on how to mitigate VVF

COMMUNITY Based Organisations (CBOs), religious leaders and advocacy champions working on Vesico Vagina Fistula (VVF) recently met in Kaduna to review successes and challenges learnt from their activities in the last two years working to mitigate the impact of fistula in the country.

The meeting, which drew 45 community activists and religious leaders from the northern states to Kaduna reviewed the community engagement strategy and discussed the expansion of fistula care project in the country.

Programme Director, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Efem Iyeme Efem, in a communiqu� issued at the end of the meeting, said, ?because of the good work you are doing in the communities, the fistula project in the country has become a model for many people and organisations outside of this country to the extent that many of them have given indications of wanting to visit the country to understudy what you are doing for replication in their countries.?

He said the project and USAID was presently reviewing he treatment programme for VVF in the country with the aim of evolving strategies for maximising the presence of other programmes in the field.

?We are reviewing the work of other USAID programmes in the field to focus energy to achieve more results, for instance, we can relinquish our family planning programs to focus on fistula alone, if we do this we can then achieve more in fistula and allow other programmes to do family planning and others,? he said.

Community mobilisation officer USAID Fistula care project, Halima Sadiyya Abdullahi said the meeting shared maternal mortality law of Ebonyi State and the fistula task force in the state for others to begin the process of replicating it in their various states.

?We shared success stories from the fields to serve as encouragement to others to increase what they are doing in the area of fistula prevention,? she said.

Abdullahi also said the meeting discussed and prepared the community organisations for the purposed evaluation plans of the fistula care project in the country.

Executive Director of Kebbi Youth Vanguard, Usman Bello said community understanding of fistula is changing as a result of their work in the country.

He said his organisation has been able to mount successfully several advocacy and sensitisation programmes in the two communities it is working in Kebbi State.

Bello said from their work tradition, poverty and refusal by many families to encourage their pregnant women to access antenatal services and deliver at hospitals as some of the factors driving fistula in the country.

He identified lack of adequate funding for their activities as one of the challenges that is limiting their successes in the communities.

Samuel Joshua Bamaiyi of Rural Youth Initiative, a community based organisation also in Kebbi State said its work in Kweido and Bayaya Local Government in Argungu local government has recorded many achievements in the last one year.

He said they have been able to meet about 30,946 men and 12,014 females with over 40,465 information, education and communication materials.

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Comment: Separating myths from facts over future of schools

THE consultation on rationalising secondary school places in the district of Gedling begins on January 2.

We look forward to the opportunity to meet with governors, parents, staff, students and other members of the community to discuss the range of options.

Notts County Council is undertaking a review of the school places we have for two reasons.

Firstly, we have a significant number of spare places in the area and, secondly, two of the schools, Wheldon and Gedling, are currently under-performing.

There has been some misunderstanding about the extent of the spare places available at Gedling School, because many parents believe that we have over-stated the capacity of the school.

The difficulty has arisen because on the county's internet site the number given for "the estimated number of full-time pupils" is 731.

This is a figure, agreed with the school, to give a guide to parents on the likely size of the school in the forthcoming academic year.

This number is not about the capacity of the school but the likely take-up of places.

The capacity of Gedling School is 937.

This figure, based upon an assessment undertaken in February 2010, takes into account the changes of use the school has made to its buildings in recent years.

Overall, the county is faced with just over 700 spare school places currently in the district, rising to over 900 in 2015/16.

The council has a legal duty to review the number of places available in local schools to try to get a sensible match between places and pupils.

Obviously, it is better for there to be more places than pupils – otherwise there would be no choice for parents. On the other hand, empty desks and half-empty rooms are a real expense to any school.

Both Gedling and Wheldon schools are affected by this problem but it is a particular concern for Gedling School which will have, on current trends, 390 spare places in 2012/13, rising to over 400 in 2015/16.

The second issue for the council to tackle is the current under-performance of two schools, Wheldon and Gedling, which are both in adverse Ofsted categories.

Wheldon School is designated as requiring special measures and Gedling has been issued with a notice to improve.

Both schools need to make significant improvement to give their students a good chance to fulfil their potential.

The council welcomes the decision of the governors of Wheldon School to seek to acquire academy status, working in close partnership with Redhill Academy, which Ofsted has judged to be outstanding.

For several years now the council has sought to match up schools facing difficult challenges with higher-performing schools so they can share leadership, staffing and know-how, and this could be an option for Gedling School.

A decision has been taken to consult on the options outlined in the cabinet report and any other which emerge during the consultation – not on what the outcome of consultation should be.

However, as the portfolio holder for children and young people's services, I have a duty to do all I can to make sure that the life chances of all our young people are improved as far as possible, wisely using the resources available to achieve this aim.

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Final farewell to campaigning mum who changed city for the better

A VICAR paid tribute to anti-gun campaigner Janice Collins, saying she had made the entire country safer.

Hundreds of mourners at her funeral yesterday were told how the mum of murdered teenager Brendon Lawrence had left a lasting legacy.

"She put herself on a path that has undoubtedly led not just to St Ann's being a safer place, not just to Nottingham being a safer place, but to the country as a whole being a safer place," said Rev Richard Clark.

Family and friends packed St Andrew's Church, Mansfield Road, to pay tribute to the 56-year-old who died of cancer last week.

Mr Clark, who led the funeral and had known the founder of the protest group Mothers Against Guns for more than ten years, said: "She campaigned with a deep and heartfelt commitment for the reduction of the availability of weapons of death across this land.

"That is her lasting legacy, not just to the family she loved, not just to the city she loved, but to all of us wherever we are."

Mr Clark made reference to the Boxing Day shooting in St Ann's and urged the community to "put a stop to it now, let's keep it stopped".

He added: "We do not want to go down that road again. I do not want to take any more funerals like Brendon's."

MP Vernon Coaker was among those gathered outside the church as the horse-drawn carriage carrying Miss Collins arrived.

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Final farewell to campaigning mum who changed city for the better

A VICAR paid tribute to anti-gun campaigner Janice Collins, saying she had made the entire country safer.

Hundreds of mourners at her funeral yesterday were told how the mum of murdered teenager Brendon Lawrence had left a lasting legacy.

"She put herself on a path that has undoubtedly led not just to St Ann's being a safer place, not just to Nottingham being a safer place, but to the country as a whole being a safer place," said Rev Richard Clark.

Family and friends packed St Andrew's Church, Mansfield Road, to pay tribute to the 56-year-old who died of cancer last week.

Mr Clark, who led the funeral and had known the founder of the protest group Mothers Against Guns for more than ten years, said: "She campaigned with a deep and heartfelt commitment for the reduction of the availability of weapons of death across this land.

"That is her lasting legacy, not just to the family she loved, not just to the city she loved, but to all of us wherever we are."

Mr Clark made reference to the Boxing Day shooting in St Ann's and urged the community to "put a stop to it now, let's keep it stopped".

He added: "We do not want to go down that road again. I do not want to take any more funerals like Brendon's."

MP Vernon Coaker was among those gathered outside the church as the horse-drawn carriage carrying Miss Collins arrived.

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Mourners gather to hear tributes to campaigner Janice Collins

HUNDREDS gathered in foggy city streets to pay tribute to Janice Collins who was described as being "almost all heart".

As the horse-drawn carriage with her coffin inside arrived, many of her family and friends, including members of her campaign group Mothers against Guns, began to cry.

The 56-year-old's life, which in later years was devoted to campaigning against violent crime, was celebrated in a ceremony which began with the Labi Siffre song Something Inside So Strong.

Rev Richard Clark, who met Miss Collins on the St Ann's Neighbourhood Regeneration Board, led the service.

Having also led the funeral of Miss Collins' son Brendon Lawrence, who was shot in Watkin Street in 2002, he said the way Miss Collins had dealt with that "massive tragedy" would be her lasting legacy.

"Janice did not choose revenge. Instead she put herself on a path that has undoubtedly led not just to St Ann's being a safer place, not just to Nottingham being a safer place but to the country as a whole being a safer place because she has campaigned with a deep and heartfelt commitment for the reduction of the availability of weapons of death across this land.

"That is her lasting legacy not just to the family she loved, not just to the city she loved but to all of us wherever we are."

Miss Collins, who was originally from Sutton-in-Ashfield but lived in St Ann's, died last Tuesday from cancer.

After her son Brendon was killed, she waited eight years for justice before seeing his killer jailed earlier this year.

She also set up the campaign group Mothers Against Guns and worked tirelessly to reduce violent crime in Nottingham.

The funeral was at St Andrew's Church, Mansfield Road, where Miss Collins had organised Christmas services for the relatives of victims of violent crime.

Referring to the Boxing Day shooting in Westville Gardens, St Ann's, Mr Clark said Miss Collins would have had only one wish for 2011.

"Friends, we do not want to go down that road again," he said. "I do not want to take any more funerals like Brendon's. Let's put a stop to it now, let's keep it stopped."

As Somewhere Over The Rainbow started to play the mourners were asked to pay their own tributes.

Also at the service was Notts Chief Constable Julia Hodson and MP Vernon Coaker.

Mr Coaker said: "Her legacy will live on and the fight she's led against violent crime in particular is something that has made a difference not just to Nottingham but to the whole country."

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Study shows project helps to cut crime

RESEARCH suggests that new windows in council homes are helping to cut crime.

The study was carried out by Nottingham City Homes (NCH) in partnership with the Nottingham Business School at Nottingham Trent University.

The two-year investigation is looking at the social impact and health benefits of the decent homes scheme in Nottingham – known locally as Secure Warm Modern.

The first part of the study focussed on the burglary figures for Bells Lane estate in Aspley and the Broxtowe estate since new windows were installed.

It also collected the views of residents, police officers, NCH officers and community workers. The study found:

Burglaries have been reduced by 41 per cent on the two estates since the window programme was completed. This compares to a 21 per cent reduction across the city as a whole.

Council properties were more likely to be targets for burglary before the work was carried out. Since completion there are now 62 fewer burglaries per year to council homes, compared to 33 fewer burglaries to privately owned property on the estates.

Fewer burglaries are taking place through a window in council properties where work has been completed.

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Slimmer to self-fund tummy-tuck operation denied by NHS

SHOP worker Craig Plant has given up on NHS funding for a �10,000 tummy tuck and now plans to foot the bill himself.

The 20-year-old transformed himself from 24 to 14 stone in weight by going to the gym, running and playing football.

But after losing the weight the full-time Morrisons worker was denied funding to tidy up excess skin, by NHS North Staffordshire.

After maintaining his lower weight for three years, Craig is embarrassed by the loose skin on his body.

Despite two recommendations from Chesterton-based GP Keith Dick, NHS North Staffordshire refused the �10,000 operation.

Craig, from Chesterton, has now taken out an �8,000 loan to pay for the operation.

He has also received �3,000 from magazine Love It, in return for covering his story, to cover the cost of the abdominoplasty and interest over the years.

"I'm over the moon, I'm the happiest man on the planet. It's a big achievement," he said.

But Craig does feel it is unfair that due to a postcode lottery he has had to foot the bill himself.

If he had been under the guidance of Stoke-on-Trent Primary Care Trust he may have been able to have the work completed on the NHS.

"I do feel it's a bit unfair that I had to take �8,000 out of the bank when some people get it for free.

"I'm going to be in debt for the next five years."

Craig hopes to join the army after his operation.

He will pay �200 a month back for the next five years.

He added: "When I found out I could have the money, before Christmas, it was like Christmas come early for me."

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Blackburn scoop first win for Kean

Blackburn Rovers have given Steve Kean his first win since being installed as caretaker boss with a 3-1 victory at West Brom.

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Birmingham - Croatia striker Nikola Kalinic struck twice and was sent off as Blackburn Rovers gave Steve Kean his first win since being installed as caretaker boss with a 3-1 victory at West Brom in Tuesday's Premier League clash.

The 22-year-old's brace and one from Mame Diouf ended a run of three successive away defeats for Rovers and was a perfect response to the defeat by Stoke on Sunday which heralded Kean's naming as manager for the remainder of the campaign in place of the popular Sam Allardyce.

Defeat for West Brom deepens worries about being involved in a long running relegation battle after a successful start to their campaign but Roberto di Matteo's side have lost seven of their last 10 league matches and are only four points ahead of third from bottom Birmingham City.

Rovers struck early as Kalinic steamed onto the recalled El Hadji Diouf's long ball, and calmly shot past Scott Carson in the third minute.

The hosts, though, replied a quarter of an hour later with a nicely worked effort as James Morrison started the move which saw him find Somen Tchoyi, whose cross was tucked away by Jerome Thomas past former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson.

West Brom enjoyed a period of domination but Kalinic broke the deadlock against the run of play in the 53rd minute as he tapped home Kiwi defender Ryan Nelsen's header from playmaker Morten Gamst Pedersen's freekick.

The visitors wrapped up the points nine minutes later when El Hadji Diouf, who appeared to have been energised by being dropped for the previous match, crossed and Mame Diouf headed into the net.

Not even Kalinic's straight red card for a dreadful challenge on Austrian defender Paul Scharner could help West Brom get back into the match and indeed they too were down to 10 men by the end as Gabriel Tamas' professional foul on Mame Diouf saw Phil Dowd wield his second red card. - Sapa-AFP

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New hospital?s facility to reduce brain drain, says Fashola

GEARED towards improved healthcare services through public and private efforts, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola has commissioned a newly built hospital complex of St. Ives Specialist Hospital at Ikeja, Lagos.

Fashola said that the commitment of the hospital?s management had further shown that quality and affordable healthcare could be provided in the country. 

The gesture, he said, allowed for more overseas based Nigerian specialists to practise at home even as it further discouraged reliance on medical care in foreign hospitals.

Fashola who was represented at the commissioning by his Special Adviser on Health, Mr. Toyin Hamzat, praised the effort of the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Tunde Okewale for conceiving the idea to build such a world-class edifice in the service of God and humanity.

He said: ?This is clearly a demonstration of total commitment to the wellbeing of Nigerians in terms of standard and affordable healthcare delivery as we can see here this afternoon. Before now, the facilities in this hospital can only be found abroad.

And I urge everyone irrespective of race, creed and background to take full advantage of these facilities.?

Speaking with The Guardian, Hamzat added that the achievement was complimentary of the efforts of the Lagos State government in raising medical care standard in the state.

He identified that the government had raised standard at the Mother Maternal Centre (MCC), dental and diagnostic sections of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) even as the world class cardiac and renal centre at the Gbagada General Hospital nears completion.

?The essence of all these is to discourage our people from travelling abroad, as all healthcare can be given here. We want to make our hospitals in this state the destination point of healthcare in West Africa,? Hamzat said.

Okewale in his address further said that St. Ives had brought relieve to many distraught families because of their inability to have children they could call their own through the Invitro-fertilisation (IVF) and infertility unit.

He hinted that about 200 women who had lost hope of having babies were proud mothers through the assistance of the cost effective IVF method.

The core areas of focus of the hospital are women, children and the family, render services in the area of obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, medicine and surgery.

In his words: ?The obstetrics services include pre counselling, specialist led antenatal care, ultrasound scan 2D, 3D, 4D, foetal monitoring CTG, foetal biophysical profile, antenatal classes, specialist led labour and delivery, neonatal care (incubator, phototherapy, EBT) etc.?

The gynaecological services also include menstrual disorders treatment, minor and major gynaecological surgery, laparoscopy, hysteroscopy, colposcopy, electrocautry, cervical smear, breast scan, sonohysterogram and HSG.

Others are the contraceptive services, which include emergency contraception, implants, injectables, IUCD and female and male sterilisation.

?The infertility unit of the hospital which has recorded tremendous success over the years will still continue to offer intrauterine insemination (IUI), IVF-ET, intra cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICS), embryo donation/ freezing, egg donation, sperm donation (sperm bank) and ovulation induction.

In the light of this, the former hospital located on Mojide Street will now be dedicated solely to the treatment of infertility cases especially in the area of IVF.?

The medical doctor with over 15 years of experience added that the services were affordable as well as subsidised through the collaboration of a foundation.

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More help for domestic violence victims at Rushcliffe drop-in centre

A NEW support service for women who are attacked by their partners will be launched in West Bridgford in the new year.

The drop-in centre will be run by Rushcliffe Borough Council's Community Safety Team and will be held in a central location in the town.

The team already runs drop-in centres for female victims of domestic violence in Bingham and Keyworth.

The thinking is that having a centre in such a central location would give more women from West Bridgford and outlying villages the chance to get help because many already go to the town for shopping and to visit the bank.

The Community Safety Team has no connection to the police.

The drop-in sessions are only for women but the team can provide advice for male victims of domestic violence.

A project called the Freedom programme, which highlights the situations women can face living with abuse, including the effect on children, will be introduced in Bingham in January. There are plans to run these sessions in the evenings in summer for women in West Bridgford.

To find out more about the drop-in sessions, call 0777 1690 411.

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Westman Islands Ferry Terminal Not Closed

The Westman Islands ferry Herj�lfur could enter the new Landeyjah�fn harbor this morning in spite of predictions that the harbor would remain closed for approximately one month as the harbor?s mouth was said to be blocked by mud.

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Nottingham Post letters, Tuesday, 28th December, 2010

I WAS sent a British woodland tree to plant. Armed with a small hand trowel, a short cane, a handful of peat and the one-foot high sapling in a corrugated tube with a tie attached, I took off for my daily stroll around Attenborough Nature Reserve.

Looking for a suitable place to plant this magnificent specimen proved harder than I first thought possible, as recently a lot of trees have been chopped down, open land demolished and heavy vehicle tracks were everywhere.

As I was passing a new plantation, I thought that this was the ideal place to plant it as it was unlikely to be disturbed in the near future, and as look would have it there was a small hole in the netting next to a seat, so kneeling down I placed my hands through the netting, dug a hole in the ground and planted the sapling, tied my cane to the corrugated cover and fastened the cane to the netting, then having covered the root with the peat set off to complete my journey.

A few days later I was passing the seat and noticed that where my tree was meant to be was a laminated notice fastened to the netting, saying that this was not the place for memorial plants and had removed it and planted it elsewhere, and to call in to the nature centre for more details.

I thought OK so it has been planted in another location, but as I walked on I began to ponder this situation.

I had planted this tree in the countryside as requested and I couldn't see anything wrong with that, as this was a nature reserve, but what really bothered me was if this was a memorial plant, I, myself, would have been most upset at some unfeeling person digging up the plant just because they wanted to, not giving any thought to the distress they were causing by this action.

For goodness sake, where is a better place to grow a woodland tree than a nature reserve?

These are petty restrictions, especially when you have memorial seats, a memorial hide and a memorial pasture.

J SIMMONS Allendale Avenue Attenborough

SO we read of Liberals preparing to abstain, an action taken simply to say "I did not vote for..."

But, with the possible exception of politicians from Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales abstaining from taking decisions on the increase in fees for students in England, the abstention route is frequently the path taken by cowards not wishing to be seen to rock the boat.

It should not be an option.

The graduate tax is, we are told, fair – only requiring repayment if income exceeds �21,000 and a write-off period of 30 years.

We are informed (Post, November 27) that the average income for Rushcliffe, Gedling, Ashfield and Newark and Sherwood districts of Notts are �23,920, �20,774 �18,632 and �18,746 respectively.

Students are motivated to study believing that their earning potential is greater than that of non-graduates.

So assuming that the average individual is not a graduate, it could be that a graduate joins the labour force on a rate of remuneration 10% above the non-graduate, equating the average income over a 40-year period to the figures quoted by government of �100,000 for the lifetime difference a graduate should receive over a non-graduate.

Transposing this minimum of 10% per annum to the examples given and it would appear that graduates employed throughout all four areas will exceed the �21,000 cut in figure and that all graduates will have to repay the debt of tuition loans, of up to �27,000, which will seriously hinder any aspiration of home ownership, given that an income �40,000 is required for a 90% mortgage on the average priced house in the East Midlands.

With little or no contribution from the corporate bodies who utilise the graduates, it is left to individuals to decide whether or not to become a student, which will deter many from embarking upon a route laden with debt.

PAUL KEY Castleton Avenue Arnold

CAN someone from the council please tell me why we cannot have the pavement salted/gritted?

I realise they cannot do all the pavements, but surely certain ones deserve priority.

The one I am talking about is in front of this sheltered housing accommodation in Green Lane, Clifton.

It is a virtual ice rink and the residents do not go out unless they have to, but sometimes this is necessary.

I would be grateful if my question could be answered and more than grateful if the pavement I am talking about could be gritted, and so will many other local people.

C BOSTOCK Whiteways Court Clifton

SO, once again, politicians have misled the voters.

I refer to the Pinky and Perky government this time. First we have Nick Clegg going back on his promise of no increase for student fees, causing demonstrations by students around the country.

Then we have for the Tories with justice secretary, none other than Ken Clarke, going soft on knife crime and, in fact, crime full stop.

So we have two politicians stating falsehoods to us, the voter. Is it any wonder many of us don't even vote at all.

We have been lied to for a long time by these so-called human beings and it has to stop.

I wouldn't like to guess the damage that has been done by these Fib-Dems, we will know soon enough at the next General Election.

Maybe Nick Clegg will rue the day he decided to share power with the Tories, one big mistake I fear. You cannot do a deal with the devil and come out on top.

I have no idea if I will vote in the next general election, but I know if I do it won't be for the Fib-Dems or Tories.

I am not a student, nor do I agree with this Pinky and Perky government and, but why do the Tories dislike the poor and working class, and why has Ken Clarke gone soft on knife crime?

C ENGLAND Soudan Drive The Meadows

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Proteas staring down the barrel

India grabbed the initiative, taking four wickets in the morning session of the fourth day of the second Castle Test.

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IQBAL KHAN at Kingsmead

India grabbed the initiative, taking four wickets in the morning session of the fourth day of the second Castle Test as South Africa struggled to 182-7 at lunch at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead today.

Needing to get to 303 for a win, the home side lost the key wickets of Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers and Mark Boucher to slump to 155-7 after 49 overs.

But Ashwell Prince and Paul Harris fought back fought back for the South Africans to lead them into lunch with the score on 182-7 with another 121 runs required for a victory.

Like what the Kingsmead fans have seen in the past three days, wickets tumbled in the morning session as usual – so far the accumulative number of wickets to fall in the first session of play since the opening day stands at 22.

The South Africans, resuming at 111-3, battled against the Indian bowling especially Harbhajan Singh.

The off-spinner bowled well in tandem with Shantakumaran Sreesanth and the pair finally got the break – Kallis was trapped leg before by the quick bowler for 123-4 and 13 runs later De Villiers (33) was dismissed in the same manner by Singh as the South African sank further into the deep end at 136-6 and still 167 runs adrift of the winning target.

Then Zaheer Khan, punished by Graeme Smith no sooner had the south African innings began late on the third day, bagged two crucial wickets as he removed Mark Boucher (lbw) for one and had Dale Steyn caught by Cheteshwar Pujara for 10.

Then came the revival as Prince and Harris started restoring some pride to the tattered South African innings.

At the break Sreesanth had respectable figure of 3-45 off 14 overs while Singh had taken 2-55 while Khan bagged 2-45.

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New fighter planes more expensive

Norway's new US made F-35 fighter aircraft will cost a total of NOK 30 billion (US$ 5 bill), according to�a note from the US embassy in Oslo, published by WikiLeaks.

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Guardiola set to extend Barca contract

Pep Guardiola is set to extend his contract as coach of Spanish football champions Barcelona, according to Spanish news reports.

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Madrid – Pep Guardiola is set to extend his contract as coach of Spanish football champions Barcelona, Spanish news reports said on Tuesday.

Madrid sports daily AS said that the contract extension will be announced “in the next few weeks.” Catalan paper Mundo Deportivo said the new deal could be revealed “any day now” because the conditions are “completely agreed.”

Guardiola's present contract expires after the season, but the 39-year-old is keen to continue.

The only remaining doubt is the duration of the new agreement.

Barca president Sandro Rosell has proposed a six-year deal, but it seems that Guardiola would prefer a rolling contract which would be renewed every season unless either of the two parties wanted to finish it.

Johan Cruyff – in many ways the mentor of Guardiola – had this kind of contract and stayed on the Barca bench for eight successful years 1988-1996.

Last week Rosell expressed the hope that Guardiola would stay as long at Barca as Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United (just over 24 years now).

Guardiola has been suggested as a possible replacement for Ferguson when the Scotsman eventually retires at Old Trafford.

Rosell said that Guardiola “may want to renew every year. He could become Barca's Ferguson. He can extend his contract as many times as he wants.

“Pep is Barca. He lives for this club. That is what differentiates him from many coaches.”

Guardiola played for Barca 1991-2001. He took over as coach in 2008 and has guided the Catalans to two Spanish Ligas, one Champions League, one Club World Cup and one King's Cup, playing a sumptuous brand of touch football that has won admirers across the globe.

The “Pep Team” is currently two points above Real Madrid atop La Liga, and one of the favourites to win the Champions League. – Sapa-dpa

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Obama ?must convert to Islam?

A leader of Somalia’s Islamist insurgency has threatened to attack the US unless President Barack Obama convert to Islam.

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Mogadishu, Somalia - A leader of Somalia's Islamist insurgency has threatened to attack America.

Fuad Mohamed “Shongole” Qalaf said in Monday's radio message that US President Barack Obama must convert to Islam or Somalia's al-Shabab militia would seek to launch attacks in the United States.

Al-Shabab has not yet launched an attack outside Africa but Western intelligence has long been worried because the group targeted young Somali-Americans for recruitment. About 20 have travelled to Somalia for training.

The militia launched coordinated suicide attacks in Uganda in July that killed 76 people. It has also announced its allegiance to al-Qaeda and is believed to be harbouring a mastermind of the twin 2008 bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania that killed 224 people. - Sapa-AP

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Blackburn?s new owners facing lawsuit

The new owners of English Premier League side Blackburn Rover,are facing a claim for more than five million dollars.

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Mumbai – The new owners of English Premier League side Blackburn Rovers, Indian poultry firm Venky's, are facing a claim for more than five million dollars(about R33–million) for allegedly reneging on a proposed joint venture deal.

Mumbai-based businessman Saurin Shah told AFP he had issued a legal notice to the firm over a proposed tie-up for the Blackburn bid between Venky's and his investment firm, Qubic Group.

The notice alleged that Venky's, which completed the deal in November for 23 million pounds, was liable for the equivalent of a 24 percent stake in the club, as agreed in early talks between Venky's and Qubic.

Venky's were also bound to pay Qubic's costs and expenses for its “advice, reference and recommendations”, the legal notice said.

Shah's lawyers wrote to Venky's parent company Venkateshwara Hatcheries Group on December 22, threatening legal action unless payment was made within seven days.

The correspondence claims that Venky's successful bid for Blackburn was the result of work put in by Shah, who was therefore entitled to payment.

Shah, who had been looking to buy Rovers himself, told AFP that Venky's had “backstabbed” him and completed the deal independently, with a “dishonest” motive of depriving Qubic.

“This is unethical and nothing less than a highway robbery,” he told AFP.

AFP contacted Venky's several times for a response to the allegations but the company did not reply.

Venky's sacked Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce earlier this month after a defeat to his old club Bolton Wanderers that left the Ewood Park side 13th in the Premier League.

Allardyce himself said he was “very shocked and disappointed” and many fans were outraged, while Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson described the move as “stupid”.

Venky's are still looking for a new manager and have said the candidate needs to be British and able to take the club to a top-seven finish through entertaining football.

But injury problems and a potential lack of funds in next month's transfer window threaten that ambition. – Sapa-AFP

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Iraq will iron out oil industry

Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki pledged his government would address logistical and other woes plaguing international oil firms in his country, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.

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Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki pledged his government would address logistical and other woes plaguing international oil firms in his country, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.

In his first interview since his cabinet was confirmed this month, Maliki acknowledged oil companies were facing delays to get needed equipment into Iraq due to airport backlogs and troubles at the main border entry points in the southern oil hub of Basra, the report said.

But it added the prime minister indicated he was getting personally involved to resolve the longstanding complaints, including with meetings planned for this week with senior security officials to address logistical hangups and to identify alternatives to get equipment into the country.

The premier said Baghdad would welcome not just foreign oil field development work but also international petroleum companies.

“We have no restrictions on their entry. We want them,” Maliki told the Journal, referring to foreign oil companies and oil-services firms. “We need speed. We need money.”

Iraq's oil output has risen to more than 2.6 million barrels a day, its highest level for two decades, according to Oil Minister Abdulkarim al-Luaybi. But while the country has some of the world's biggest oil deposits, it has struggled to fully exploit its riches due to prolonged periods of war, sanctions and crippled investment.

“We know that developing Iraq's economy and providing funds for finishing projects and providing jobs for people all depend on revenue from oil,” Luaybi said in his speech at a ceremony to mark his official takeover of the ministry.

He vowed to meet the challenge.

Luaybi said the ministry would “reactivate the role of the exploration teams and geological surveys in order to strengthen national production,” and also emphasized previously-announced plans to expand oil sector infrastructure.

These plans include “projects to expand oil and gas pipelines, and make good use of the gas that comes out with the extraction of oil,” along with establishing new large refineries, he said.

Maliki told the Journal he expected Iraq's cash-flow problems to improve by September when one of four new floating oil-export terminals Ä due to collectively more than double Iraq's export capacity Ä becomes operational in Basra.

Work was also due to get underway soon on an agreement to build an oil pipeline from northern Iraq to the Syrian port city of Baniyas that is expected to be able to pump 2.6 million barrels a day when finished.

And Maliki, vowing to protect the country's oil sector and foreign investors from political interference, said a new raft of proposed amendments to Iraq's investment law would provide better protection for foreign investors and encourage interest in housing and other sectors.

He also dismissed as “mere opinion” a fatwa by anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr prohibiting his followers from working for foreign oil firms. - Sapa-AFP

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European MP: Icelandic Mackerel Fishing Pretext

Struan Stevenson, member of the European Parliament for Scotland, who is one of the vice-presidents of the parliament?s Fisheries Committee, declared Iceland?s unilateral 147,000-ton mackerel quota decision a pretext designed to provoke the European Union and jeopardizes Iceland?s membership application.

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Assange memoir to tell all about WikiLeaks

The whistle blower says his legal fees are the reason for the book.

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New York - WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's new memoir will give a full account of his life and the secretive group that has leaked large amounts of documents, US publisher Alfred A Knopf said on Monday.

Knopf spokesman Paul Bogaards said Assange and the publishing house reached a deal for his autobiography “just before the holiday” and that a manuscript was expected to be delivered in 2011.

Assange told The Sunday Times newspaper in Britain that he agreed to book deals due to financial pressures from legal issues.

The deals would bring in $800 000 from Knopf and another £325 000 from British publisher Canongate, both part of the Random House stable owned by Bertelsmann AG.

“I don't want to write this book, but I have to,” Assange told the Times, citing a growing legal bill that has reached more than £200 000. “I need to defend myself and to keep WikiLeaks afloat.

Bogaards said the book is still untitled.

“In terms of the subject matter, it will be a complete account of his life through the present including the founding of WikiLeaks and the work he has done there,” said Bogaards. “We do not have a timetable for publishing the memoir as yet.”

Assange, 39, is an Australian computer expert who has angered the United States by releasing secret diplomatic cables on his website and teaming up with newspapers around the globe to amplify the impact of the disclosures.

He is now on bail and living in the English countryside under house arrest as he prepares to fight extradition to Sweden, where authorities want to question him over alleged sexual offences.

Assange's memoir would come hard on the heels of a volume from his former second-in-command Daniel Domscheit-Berg, whose “Inside WikiLeaks: My Time at the World's Most Dangerous Website” is set to tell the story of the site. The book is due out from German publisher Econ Verlag in January. - Reuters

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Plan to privatise doctors' surgery

PATIENTS are being reassured that the privatisation of their GP's surgery will not cause a disruption of services.

Newcastle High Street Medical Practice is being put out to tender by NHS North Staffordshire primary care trust (PCT) to ensure the trust complies with new rules.

The surgery is one of two in North Staffordshire run directly by the PCT, rather than as an independent business.

But from April, PCTs will no longer be able to hold contracts for GP surgeries.

So, in order that the High Street practice can continue to operate in its current location, the PCT board has decided to put it out to tender.

It expects a new provider will be in place by next March.

A spokesman for NHS North Staffordshire said part of the new 'Transforming Community Services' Government agenda, the trust could no longer hold the contract.

"This contract has now gone out to tender," he added.

"This will ensure that the services for patients are delivered in the existing building and to the whole of the practice population."

The spokesman added that the first phase of the tendering process had now ended and that there had been a "healthy interest" in the contract.

The final decision will rest with a selection panel which will include both medics and members of the public.

A letter has been sent to the practice's 5,000 patients, explaining the process and assuring them that services will continue as normal.

It states: "The relationship between GP and patients is unique and we are committed to ensuring that patients of the High Street practice continue to benefit from receiving high quality GP services without a break." Patients said they hoped the privatisation would not lead to deterioration in services.

Ingrid Morgan, aged 70, of Newcastle, said: "I've been a patient at the practice for as long as it's been here, and I was a patient at the old practice in George Street.

"I think it's run beautifully at the moment. I hope whoever takes over the management keeps it the same."

Jade Ikin, aged 18, of Newcastle, said: "I hadn't heard that the practice was going to be privatised, but hopefully it won't change much.

"It's a really well-run practice. I can't really think of how it could be better."

The only other PCT-run GP practice in North Staffordshire, at Rupert Street, in Biddulph, is due to close in March. Its 2,000 patients are being found new doctors in the town's two other practices, in Well Street.

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FTSE closes 30-month high

Britain's top shares closed above the 6,000 level for the first time since June 2008 on Friday, as UK equities looked set for their strongest December performance since 1987.

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Britain's top shares closed above the 6,000 level for the first time since June 2008 on Friday, as UK equities looked set for their strongest December performance since 1987.

The FTSE 100 closed up 12.85 points, or 0.2 percent at 6,008.92, albeit in wafer thin trade with the index having traded just 7 percent of its average 90-day volume.

The index closed above 6,000 for the first time since June 3, 2008, and is up 8.4 percent so far this month, the strongest December since 1987 when it rose 8.5 percent.

“The index turned around in the closing auction. Clearly the lack of volume helped with the sudden rebound,” said Jimmy Yates, head of equities at CMC Markets.

“There's is plenty of Christmas cheer and goodwill out there to see the index close above 6,000. Equities remain the preferred asset class.”

Banks , which had dragged back the FTSE in early trade, turned flat shrugging off Europe's debt concerns, while mining and energy stocks rebounded higher as investors' appetite for risk showed no sign of abating.

Miners , for example, have gained more than 13 percent in December.

But Randgold Resources fell 4.3 percent after it said fourth quarter production would be negatively hit by the impact of the political tension in Ivory Coast.

Defensive stocks, such as drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline up 1.2 percent, were also in demand as the FTSE showed broad-based gains.

Analysts warned there could be a correction in the near term.

“While clearly this index is in a long-term uptrend, short-term traders still feel it is vulnerable to a near-term correction,” said Enis Mehmet at Autochartist

He said based on a short-term range of 5,857.33 to 6,000.55, traders should watch for a possible correction into the retracement zone at 5,928.94 to 5,912.04. - Reuters

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Police issue plea to landlords over cannabis farm fires

A SENIOR police officer has urged landlords to do more to prevent fires linked to cannabis being grown in houses.

Assistant Chief Constable Paul Broadbent said 10 per cent of police cannabis farm seizures followed a fire at a rented property.

"Those involved tap into the street lights or use electricity lawfully but it's a rented property and the landlord will know that a large amount of electricity is being used.

"I would urge landlords to let us know if they have suspicions."

Kevin Poxon, of the arson task force at Notts Fire and Rescue Service, said: "Cannabis growing is a very dangerous practice that puts lives in serious danger.

"We often find that electrical supplies have been interrupted which makes it particularly dangerous to firefighters and other emergency services at the scene.

"In addition, fires resulting from cannabis growth often affect the lofts of houses which mean they can easily spread to adjoining properties.

"The Crown Prosecution Service is pushing for severe charges for this type of crime, including arson being reckless as to whether life is endangered which can result in a custodial sentence."

The latest force figures show there were 425 cannabis growing operations discovered by Notts Police between January 1 and November 30 this year. The total in 2009 was 404.

The Post reported earlier this month how Crimestoppers had seen an increase in calls from Notts residents in the last year reporting suspected cannabis farms in their street.

Mr Broadbent said: "There have been nationally and locally some really good investigations tracking down the money and organisations behind the cannabis grows.

"Over the last 12 months to two years there has been a fall in overseas nationals being involved in cannabis production but an increase in local people.

"I think one of the reasons why more local people are involved in it is that they have seen the operations run by people coming in from overseas."

Mr Broadbent said cannabis production was an "expensive hobby" which required costly equipment.

He warned criminals that the use of a thermal imaging camera on the force helicopter made it easy to locate farms.

"The sophistication of cannabis production has increased in the last ten years. There's also a much stronger strain of cannabis than before."

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Tributes paid to Nottingham professor Dr David Ray

A UNIVERSITY of Nottingham professor who was a leader in his field has died.

Dr David Ray, who specialised in neurotoxicology, died aged 58 after suffering from pneumoblastoma – a rare lung tumour – for several years.

The researcher began his studies in London, where he obtained an upper second honours degree jointly in physiology and biochemistry.

He continued his studies in neurotoxicology, which looks at damage to the human brain and nervous system.

In particular, he examined the influence of systemic factors on the neurotoxicology of hyperbaric oxygen and completed his PhD with financial support from the Ministry of Defence.

It was while doing his PhD that he met his wife, Joanna Deen, now the Rev Ray, priest at St James, St Martin's and All Saints churches in Bilborough. They were married for more than 33 years.

After working at the Medical Research Council Toxicology Unit at Carshalton, London, where he became head of the neurotoxicology department, Dr Ray led relocations of the unit to the University of Leicester and then the University of Nottingham in 2001.

At Nottingham, he was appointed a special professor and his team was renamed the MRC Applied Neuroscience Group.

His father, Ted, said his son's enthusiasm for science was apparent from a very early age.

"As a boy, David had an active and enquiring mind, which led to the only occasion that I recall taking him severely to task, when he almost set fire to the garden shed while trying to make fireworks prior to Bonfire Night," he said.

"To David, work came before everything else – nothing stood in its way. Even a few weeks before his death, when he could no longer stand, his career would lift him from his bed into a wheelchair, then by black taxi to work.

"That was the measure of David's will and application."

Dr Ray, who lived in Wollaton, was a keen musician and, as well as composing his own music, sang in St Peter's Church Choir.

He also enjoyed cooking and cycling and went on a number of cathedral trips with the choir – drawn from the city churches of All Saints, St Mary and St Peter.

He had recently been to Tenerife with Joanna, who undertook a two-hour vigil with prayer at the time of his death.

"David was vastly intelligent and always had a passion for scientific thought and won several awards in toxicology," she said. "He will be greatly missed by all for his wonderful wit, kindness and great generosity of spirit."

Dr Ray was a member of various neurotoxicology and toxicology groups, including the WHO Joint Meeting on Pesticide Residues (Toxicology), the UK Food Standards Agency Committee on Toxicology, and the UK Defra Advisory Committee on Pesticides.

He was also a founder member of the International Neurotoxicology Association and a member of the editorial boards of the journals Neurotoxicology, Food and Chemical Toxicology, and International Journal of Toxicology.

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