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Doncaster car salesman honoured for service

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A car salesman who worked his way up through the ranks at a Doncaster branch is celebrating 20 years in the business.

Lee Butterton, 44, started his career as a sales leader at Evans Halshaw Citroen Birstall in 1995 before working his way up to become dealer principal at the company’s Wheatley Hall Road site. In honour of his 20 years at the firm, colleagues presented Lee, pictured above front left, with a Mont Blanc pen in an engraved presentation box marked with his length of service.

Lee said he “loved” working at the dealership and added: “Over the past 20 years, I have made some great friends, most of which I am still working with today. The team has a great bond and it makes every day enjoyable.”


Family of late Doncaster war hero in funeral plea

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The friends and family of a Doncaster war hero, who passed away aged 99, are calling on people across the borough to attend his funeral and help give him the send off he deserves.

Eric Gill, of Nelson Road, Edlington, who fought in the 49th West Riding Infantry during World War Two, sadly passed away on November 30.

And now, the loved ones of Mr Gill are calling on people across Doncaster to attend the brave veteran's funeral.

This is due to fears that the funeral of Mr Gill, who was awarded the Légion d'honneur by the French Government earlier this year, may not be well attended due to the 99-year-old only having a 'small circle of friends and family,' some of whom will be unable to make it due to illness and distance.

Commenting on social media, a spokesman for the Gill family said: "We call upon the entire nation to consider attending his funeral in Doncaster

They added: "Let us show the world how much respect we have for Eric and the men who helped keep this great nation of ours free."

A venue and date for Mr Gill's funeral has not yet been announced, but continue to check the Free Press website for updates.

Emergency services attend incident in the Isle

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Humberside fire and rescue service have attended the scene of an incident in the Isle of Axholme this morning.

The incident occurred in Upperthorpe Hill, Westwoodside.at around 11.26 today (Sunday, December 6), when an fire service emergency first responder vehicle was sent out.

Further details on the incident are not yet known.

More to follow.

Mum ‘lucky to be alive’ after crashing when Doncaster traffic lights failed

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A mum-of-two who was involved in a head-on crash after traffic lights failed at a busy Doncaster junction says she is lucky to be alive.

Laura Hardy has been left with back, neck and arm injuries following the horror smash on White Rose Way near Lakeside Shopping Centre.

Mrs Hardy says she is the fourth person to be caught up in a collision at the junction in just two days because of the faulty lights.

The mum, whose Renault Megane was written off by insurers following the crash, has criticised Doncaster Council for not providing enough signs to alert motorists to the problem.

Mrs Hardy, aged 35, of Trumfleet Lane, Moss, said: “There were no signs before the lights to let people know they weren’t working - the only sign was on the actual pole of the traffic lights and by then it’s too late.”

She said a fellow motorist rushed to her aid following the crash, and told her he had been involved in a collision at the same spot the previous day.

“The police told me about another crash and I saw someone else on Facebook posting about being involved in a crash, all because of the lights,” Mrs Hardy added.

“I think it’s pretty appalling that the council did nothing for two days.

“I think the council should be offering up compensation.”

Gill Gillies, the council’s assistant director of environment, said: “In these situations it is standard practice to attach an out-of-order sign to traffic light posts to warn road users approaching the junction. When we realised that it would not be a quick repair we put in temporary traffic lights and closed Carolina Way to help manage traffic in the area until the fault was fixed.

“The Highway Code is clear that motorists should always approach traffic lights and junctions with caution.”

Mrs Hardy, mum to daughters Jessie, six, and Jodie, five, has been unable to return to work at her clothes ironing business due to her painful injuries.

“I’m just so glad the kids weren’t in the car with me I could have been taking them to school so things could have been worse. I was pretty shaken up. I just keep thinking what could have happened - it could have been a lot worse. I do feel lucky to be here.”

South Yorkshire Police confirmed that officers were called at around 10.40am to the collision, which happened last Monday. A white Mercedes is believed to have been involved, as well as Mrs Hardy’s gold-coloured Megane.

The force said it received several calls reporting the faulty traffic lights and had received three reports of collisions in the area.

Over 100 One Direction fans slapped with parking fines at Sheffield gigs

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One Direction fans were slapped with over a hundred parking fines during the band’s three day stint at Sheffield Arena.

Sheffield Council caught out 106 drivers with a number of cars being parked illegally during the sell-out shows on October 29, 30 and 31.

It’s estimated that the council raked in around £3,500 worth of parking fines as many giddy gig goers got a miserable end to what would have been a great show.

Figures obtained by The Star’s Your Right To Know Campaign showed that 106 motorists had to pay at least £35, with fines rising to £70 if unpaid for more than 14 days.

With the arena car park being full, many 1D fans parked in the Valley Centretainment and Meadowhall Retail Park instead.

But many cars were also left on grass verges and directly on footpaths which resulted in dozens of tickets being issued.

Predictably, fans tried to avoiding the arena parking charge and ended up being hit with a much bigger one.

On Thursday and Friday’s show, Civil Enforcement Officers handed out 31 fixed penalty notices and 44 were issued on the Saturday.

But despite the large amount of tickets issued, Sheffield Council denied that extra staff were on shift for the One Direction concerts.

A council spokesperson said: “We can confirm that the concerts were covered by our normal evening shift of three civil enforcement Officers.

“There were no additional staff deployed.”

On the total sum of fines imposed, the council added that the overall figure would reflect more accurately people paying the early charge of £35.

“Based on past experience, the average amount we collect is nearer the lower figure than the higher one, closer to £3,500.

“As a matter of course, we enforce at any event at which we believe there are likely to be parking contraventions.

“We regularly attend football matches, City Hall events and arena events. Experience tells us that large arena events tend to result in parking issues, so our evening shift we attend when they can.

“Unfortunately, drivers often park illegally on footpaths and similar areas around the arena and Meadowhall retail park areas when there are arena events.”

The figures come as new research released by the charity Guide Dogs identified that 75 per cent of people in Sheffield would support a new law to tackle the problem of pavement parking.

Court round-up: Latest convictions at Doncaster, Sheffield and Rotherham magistrates’ courts

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The following were convicted at Doncaster, Sheffield and Rotherham magistrates courts between Thursday, November 19, and Monday, November 30.

Doncaster

All addresses Doncaster unless otherwise stated.

Theft: Rebecca Lyne, aged 34, of Fenland Road, Thorne, pleaded guilty, four weeks’ jail; Marian Sobaru, 18, of Shirley Road, Hexthorpe, pleaded guilty, 12-month conditional discharge, £85 costs.

Attempted theft: Richard McHugh, 33, of Cunningham Road, Doncaster, pleaded guilty, community order with curfew requirement, £85 costs.

Criminal damage: Daniel Crowther, 25, of Haig Road, Moorends, pleaded guilty, community order with rehabilitation activity requirement, £150 compensation, £50 costs.

Disorderly behaviour on a railway: Steven Richards, 67, of Hartley Brook Road, Shiregreen, Sheffield, no plea indicated, £220 fine, £85 costs.

Breach of curfew requirement: Glen Waite, 31, of Fisher Street, Bentley, pleaded guilty, £75 costs.

Assault: Kyle Grimshaw, 26, of Sussex Gardens, Denaby Main, pleaded guilty, two months’ jail suspended for 12 months; Kathryn Barker, 60, of Springwell Gardens, Balby, pleaded guilty, two years’ conditional discharge, £85 costs; Jason Wright, 26, of Wheatley Park Road, Bentley, pleaded guilty, three months’ jail, £80 compensation, £85 costs.

Theft: Ashley Metcalf, 33, of Alderson Drive, Town Moor, pleaded guilty, three months’ jail, £42 compensation; Maurice Hunter, 49, of Royston Avenue, Bentley, pleaded guilty, one months’ jail, £25 compensation, £85 costs.

Breach of restraining order: Kevin Weir, 54, of Crossgate, Mexborough, pleaded guilty, community order with curfew requirement, £85 costs.

Assault: Dean Maddison, 45, of Rowley Way, Sunnyside, Rotherham, pleaded guilty, community order with rehabilitation activity requirement, restraining order imposed, £100 compensation, £85 costs.

Theft: Amy Betts, 33, of Woodfield Road, Balby, pleaded guilty, 14 weeks’ jail suspended for 12 months; Ian Cherry, 33, of West End Lane, New Rossington, pleaded guilty, 14 weeks’ jail suspended for 12 months.

Theft: Stephanie Coggan, 27, of Wainwright Crescent, Sheffield, no plea indicated, community order with drug rehabilitation requirement.

Driving while disqualified: Kenneth Bowman, 25, of Haigh Crescent, Stainforth, pleaded guilty, community order with curfew requirement, £85 costs, two years’ driving ban.

Assault: Gavin Coltart, 35, of Miller Close, Thorne, pleaded guilty, £100 fine, £85 costs.

Criminal damage: Simon Kaye, 49, of Armthorpe Road, Intake, pleaded guilty, £150 compensation.

Drink-driving: Brian Moore, 57, of Sandtoft Road, Belton, pleaded guilty, community order with curfew requirement, £85 costs, two years’ driving ban.

Trespassing: Liam Shead, 24, of Wood View, Maltby, Rotherham, pleaded guilty, community order with 120 hours’ unpaid work supervised, £350 compensation.

Assault: Michael Tratt, 68, of Somerset Road, Hyde Park, pleaded guilty, six months’ jail suspended for 12 months, £300 compensation.

Criminal damage: Joseph Stephenson, 26, of Longlands Drive, Mapplewell, Barnsley, pleaded guilty, £80 fine, £40 costs.

Criminal damage: Adam Crawshaw, 25, of Farnborough Drive, Cantley, pleaded guilty, community order with 180 hours’ unpaid work supervised, £100 compensation.

Assault: Gracjam Kaluza, 38, of Carr View Avenue, Balby, pleaded guilty, two years’ conditional discharge, restraining order imposed, £150 compensation, £85 costs.

Breach of community order: Kelly Hoult, 30, of Laughton Road, Hexthorpe, pleaded guilty, £75 costs.

Theft: Robert Leverton, 20, of Stubbins Hill, Edlington, pleaded guilty, £70 fine, £100 costs.

Assault: Jake Troupe, 19, of Locksley Avenue, Edenthorpe, pleaded guilty, six weeks’ detention suspended for 12 months, restraining order imposed,

Theft: Kevin Mulholland, 48, of Westminister Crescent, Doncaster, pleaded guilty, community order with curfew requirement, £100 compensation.

Failing to comply with supervision requirement: John Wilshire, 28, of Balfour Road, Bentley, no plea indicated, two weeks’ jail.

Drug possession: Jason Dunn, 43, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty, £55 fine.

Threatening behaviour: Shiwan Alakaram, 35, of Imperial Crescent, Town Moor, pleaded guilty, 12-month conditional discharge, £300 costs.

Failing to identify driver when asked by police: Liam Kelly, 23, of Grange Avenue, Hatfield, pleaded guilty, £300 fine, £85 costs; Michelle Laverick, 25, of Manor Road, Askern, pleaded guilty, £120 fine, £85 costs, six penalty points on licence.

Assault: Andrew Grundy, 26, of Riley Avenue, Doncaster, pleaded guilty, three months’ jail.

Drunk and disorderly: Rebecca Houston, 28, of Kings Road, Doncaster, pleaded guilty, 12-month conditional discharge, £85 costs.

Drug-driving: Yunusemere Demir, 18, of Sandringham Road, Intake, 12-month driving ban, £180 fine, £85 costs.

Sheffield

All addresses Sheffield unless otherwise stated.

Driving without insurance: Zoltan Bado, 43, of Royston Avenue, Bentley, pleaded guilty, £55 fine, six-month conditional discharge,

Speeding: Philip Ball, 47, of Raintree Court, Cusworth, no plea indicated, £220 fine, £85 costs, three penalty points on licence; Joanna Baran, 38, of Chequer Avenue, Doncaster, no plea indicated, £80 fine, three penalty points on licence; Dennis Harris, 60, of Church Road, Stainforth, pleaded guilty, £220 fine, £85 costs, three penalty points on licence; Marc Jenkins, 26, of Discovery Way, Maltby, pleaded guilty, £200 fine, £85 costs, two weeks’ driving ban; Stephen Kelly, 52, of South View, Austerfield, pleaded guilty, £55 fine, three penalty points on licence; Waqar Mirza, 27, of Stoops Lane, Doncaster, no plea indicated, £220 fine, £85 costs, three penalty points on licence; Gavin Steward, 36, of Southfield Road, Thorne, no plea indicated, £440 fine, £85 costs, six penalty points on licence; Sharon Walker, 48, of Harold Avenue, Woodlands, pleaded guilty, £220 fine, £85 costs, six penalty points.

Rotherham

All addresses Rotherham unless otherwise stated.

Theft: Ian Stark, 54, of Briery Walk, Rotherham, pleaded guilty, 10 weeks jail suspended for 12 months, £85 costs.

Drink-driving: Jason Nichols-Dixon, 22 of Kent Road, Kimberworth Park, pleaded guilty, £85 costs, 16-month driving ban.

Teenager Jacob to ditch wheelchair for Santa Dash

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A determined teenager with cerebral palsy is to ditch his wheelchair to take part in a festive fundraiser.

Jacob Hunter, 17, from Bolton-on-Dearne, has limited mobility and sometimes has to use a wheelchair to get around.

He had an operation to straighten his legs and intensive physio as he grew up but is determined to walk the one mile route at Clifton Park in Rotherham on December 13.

Jacob, who celebrates his 18th birthday next month, said: “I’m really looking forward to this challenge and helping the patients and their families who are being looked after by Rotherham Hospice.”

The event, now in its sixth year, saw 400 people dressed as Santa draw in more than £8,500 last year.

The run will set off from the Walled Garden at noon.

Hospice events fundraiser Claire White said: “The Santa Dash is great fun, and you don’t even need to dash. Many people will jog, walk or enjoy a gentle stroll. It’s a fantastic spectacle to see all the Santas together.”

Plenty more dashing Santas are needed for the festive frolic around the park.

Registration is £7.50 for adults and £5 for children, including a free Santa suit to wear during the event and a medal at the finish.

Visit rotherhamhospice.org.uk or contact the fundraising team on 01709 308917.

To donate to Jacob’s challenge, see www.justgiving.com/Jacob-Hunter.

All funds are in aid of Rotherham Hospice.

Doncaster club visited by hellraiser Oliver Reed hit by fire again

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A former Doncaster club which has become a target for arsonists has been set ablaze again.
The former Clay Lane WMC in Shackleton Road, Clay Lane, went up in smoke at around 4pm yesterday afternoon and has been the target of a series of fires since its closure nearly a decade ago.

Fire crews allowed the blaze in the dilapidated building to burn out.

There are now growing calls from locals for the building to be demolished.

The club, which was renamed The Explorer before its closure, was a popular venue in its heyday and attracted a string of star names.

It made national headlines in the early 90s when hellraising actor Oliver Reed walked into the club wearing a Doncaster Rugby Club shirt and santa hat, unfurled a huge wad of cash and told bar staff to “buy all the working class pigs a drink.”


Police issue new warning

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Police chiefs in South Yorkshire are urging Christmas revellers to think twice about how much they drink - to avoid waking up with a criminal record as well as a hangover.

New figures show that between November 1, 2013 and January 31, 2014, 37 per cent of the 1,886 assaults recorded in South Yorkshire featured alcohol as the aggravating factor.

Superintendent Colin McFarlane, of South Yorkshire Police, said: “Of course we want people to enjoy the festivities, but remember that drinking alcohol can leave you vulnerable in more ways than one.

“Alcohol lowers your awareness and impairs your judgement, which can make you an easy target for crime.

“It can also make you more likely to commit antisocial and violent behaviour. What may start as an enjoyable night out could end with huge, negative repercussions on your life, or on someone else’s.

“While we don’t want to spoil the festive fun for party goers, we want to ensure that people who are going to be going out and drinking over the festive season and New Year do so responsibly.

“I would ask you to think about how your actions could affect others and be mindful of how much alcohol you’re drinking, know your limits.

“Look after your drinks in a busy environment and look after each other, too. If someone you are with has had too much to drink, ensure they get home safely.

“Being drunk will not be tolerated as an excuse for criminal behaviour.

“If you commit anti-social behaviour, or violent crime, you could face a fine, a criminal behaviour order, and for some anti-social behaviour and most violent crime, you could be sent to prison.”

Revealed: Isle of Axholme’s parking ticket blackspots

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It is the parking ticket capital of the Isle of Axholme - and there are concerns that the issue could deter shoppers from coming to the town.

Figures revealed through a Freedom of Information request from the Bells reveal High Street, Epworth, had more parking tickets than anywhere else in the Isle.

But despite the number of fines which have been handed out on the street, which is in the main shopping area in the town, officials at North Lincolnshire Council say the overall number of tickets issued last year had plummeted compared to the previous 12 month period.

In total, there were 16 tickets handed out to people by parking wardens on High Street in the 12 months up to October 2015, our investigation revealed.

There were 36 tickets dished out in Epworth in all.

In the Isle of Axholme as a whole, 60 fines were issued for parking offences, with other blackspots revealed in Crowle, Keadby, and in West Butterwick.

Don Stewart, the chairman of Epworth Town Council is concerned about the figures and said he feared that dishing fines out in the town for parking would deter visitors from coming to the town to shop.

He added he would raise the issue at the town council and look to hold meetings with North Lincolnshire Council on the matter.

He said: “Speaking personally, I have always felt that the parking has always been a problem for the poor shoppers who take the time to come to Epworth and do shopping and spend money there to try to keep the shops open.

“My concern is that people can get back to their cars five minutes late and find a parking ticket.

“I have had a lot of calls about it as both a local resident and as a local councillor.

“Now this has been raised by the Bells I am going to look to put it on the agenda at the town council.

“Epworth is a popular place and it may be something that we need to look at.

“I think there is still quite a lot to be done on this issue.”

Mr Stewart said he had been made aware in the past of a case where a disabled woman was give a fine after parking on High Street while she was visiting her doctors’ surgery, but had been unable to use the disabled bay, as it was already occupied.

He said one way of improving the situation may be to extend the limits from two to three hours.

But he added there were areas in Epworth were people could park without restrictions. They included parts of Albion Hill, Rectory Street and Mulberry Street.

A spokesman for North Lincolnshire Council said the number of tickets issued had actually fallen compared to the previous year.

A statement from the council said: “The council does everything possible to support local business and we recently invested £250,000 in creating an expansion of our off street car park on Albion Hill.

“There is no evidence that more people are receiving parking tickets, in fact there has been a significant decrease in number of tickets issued from 224 (October 2013 to September 2014) to just 60 (October 2014 to September 2015).”

The council website lists three car parks in the Isle. They are the Potts Lane car park in Crowle, with 33 spaces; Church Street car park in Epworth , with 53 spaces and Chapel Street Manor Court, Epworth, with 12 spaces.

VIDEO: Meet the South Yorkshire warehouse workers hoping to make your Christmas dreams come true

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year - unless you’re caught in the Christmas crush on a rainy day.

Now more and more of us are choosing to shop on the internet from the comfort of our own homes. Community reporter Lee Peace visited online retailer Amazon’s huge warehouse in South Yorkshire to gain an exclusive, behind the scenes insight into the booming world of internet shopping.

Step foot into the Amazon Fulfilment Centre and the first thing that strikes you is the sheer size of it.

The facility is a whopping 500, 000 sq ft - enough to squeeze in five and a half football pitches.

Row after row of imposing shelves are stacked 30ft high with every item imaginable. Skate boards, lightsabers, board games, lawn mowers, vacuum cleaners, books, DVDs. You name it and its here.

On the day of our visit the Doncaster-based centre had more than 800, 000 items in stock, all ready to be shipped out to meet orders in the busy Christmas shopping season.

Site leader Nathan Fetherston said that although this is the most busy period of the year, team morale has never been higher.

He explained that staff members are happy to play the role of real-life Santa’s little helpers - their aim is to make customers’ festive dreams come true by ensuring gifts are delivered right on time ready to open on Christmas Day morning.

The 39-year-old, of Gringley-on-the-Hill, near Bawtry, said: “It gives us a great feeling at this time of year, when you go through all of the items we have, you can feel the joy that you are going to be bringing to people when they open up all of these presents.

“When you talk to the team, they are really excited at this time of year. We help to keep morale high by having coffee and cookie breaks and things like that. The work we are doing right now will make people happy and that brings a tremendous amount of pride to everyone that works here.”

When you click that button to buy something from the Amazon website, a unique barcode makes it way through cyber space to the centre, where it is picked up by a team of around 300 ‘pickers’ who sift through the huge inventory to locate the item and make sure it gets sent out to the right place.

On average there can be between 20, 000 and 50, 000 packages that get delivered from the centre every day.

They leave via a fleet of trucks and how they reach their end destination depends on the location of the buyer. They can eventually be delivered by vehicle, ship or plane as items processed at the site are delivered across the whole of Europe.

Given the sheer number of items you would think everything would be stocked in like for like areas. Electricals in one part, garden furniture in another, and so on.

But that’s not the case at Amazon. Everything is stocked completely randomly. So garden rakes are perched alongside dolls houses, kettles are nestled beside picture frames.

On the face of it this sounds like a logistical nightmare, with staff having virtually no chance of finding anything.

But this unusual method is actually the best way they can work it.

Nathan explains: “Each item that comes in is placed into a cage with several other items. The cage itself also has a unique barcode so our central computer directs a member of staff who is handling an order to the correct cage.

“From there they look at the item’s unique barcode and can easily pick it out from the other items. So lets say you need to pick out a TV and are looking at a cage that is full of TVs then it would be difficult to spot the individual item as they would each look about the same.

“But if you are looking for a TV in a cage with lets say garden furniture and a stack of toys then it is obviously easier to pick out as each item looks different.”

To meet the tens of thousands of extra orders over the festive season, Amazon draft in 700 additional temporary staff at the Doncaster site alone to help meet demand. Across their 10 UK centres, they draft in an army of 19, 000 temporary workers.

In Doncaster there are also 30 specialist gift wrappers, who spend all day adding special bows and loving messages to Amazon parcels.

One gift wrapper Iwona Purzymska, aged 42, of Doncaster, believes she has the best job on site.

She said: “They say gift-wrapping is the best job in the centre, especially at this time of year, and I think its true.

“It makes you feel good because you can see the messages and where they are going. It makes you believe in Christmas and goodwill!”

Nathan added: “You do find yourself looking through the items and it makes you think, ‘My wife or children, or a relative would really love that’. It gives you some great ideas for presents.”

In addition to meeting demand temporarily, Amazon is also having to think long term as more and more people are turning to online shopping. Research by UK retailer Shop Direct recently revealed one in four British people now shop online at least once a week.

A second 250, 000 sq ft Amazon Fulfilment Centre is set to open shortly in Water Vole Way - creating more than 300 jobs - a short distance from the current centre in Balby Carr Bank, Balby.

And over in nearby Sheffield, 270 jobs have been created at a new delivery office that opened last month at Victory Park, Upwell Street.

John Tagawa, vice president of operations, said: “We will continue to create new sites, more jobs and provide a wide range of benefits for our employees.”

Doncaster pop star Louis Tomlinson ‘spends £6,000’ on video game ‘cheat’

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Doncaster One Direction star Louis Tomlinson has reportedly spent £6,000 to ‘cheat’ at a video game.

According to The Sun on Sunday, the soccer-mad pop star has bought virtual coins on the gaming black market so he could improve his football squad on soccer game FIFA 15 - but the transaction is forbidden by game-maker EA Sports, which considers it to be cheating.

A source told The Sun on Sunday: “Technically it is against the rules of the game but he’s not the only one who does this. A lot of people buy coins to better their team.”

The newspaper reported that the transaction can lead to players being banned from the game full-time, with EA apparently warning that it has already banned “hundreds of thousands” of people from FIFA 15.

South Yorkshire firefighters help with flood relief effort in Cumbria

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South Yorkshire firefighters have taken water pumping equipment to Cumbria to help with the flood relief effort.

A six-strong team travelled to Cumbria over the weekend after floods wreaked havoc - leaving some communities isolated.

They used South Yorkshire’s high volume pump, which is capable of pumping 8,000 litres of water per minute.

It was used to pump water back into the River Derwent in Cockermouth, where the main street through the town is under water.

Another team travelled to Cumbria today to relieve the first crew.

Head of South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue’s emergency response, Phil Shillito, said: “We are pleased to be able to offer practical and strategic support to our colleagues in Cumbria.

“The high volume pump is an extremely powerful piece of kit and is ideally suited to helping to deal with the quantities of water we are talking about in Cumbria right now.

“To be part of such a massive relief effort is extremely rewarding for those involved and I would like to thank them on behalf of the people that they are assisting.”

In Doncaster in 2007, when more than 30 high volume pumps from all over the country helped to pump out flooded areas around Bentley and Toll Bar.

Members of Peak District mountain rescue teams have also been helping out in Cumbria.

Edale mountain rescue team spokesman, Ed Proudfoot, said: “Edale mountain rescue team sent three swift and water rescue trained team members along with an experienced off-road vehicle driver.

“A total of 24 mountain rescue personnel and five vehicles were deployed from Peak District teams.

“After a challenging drive in dangerous conditions with many lorries and cars overturned and abandoned on the road, the teams from across northern England met at Penrith and were deployed to multiple incidents throughout the Lake

District.

“Edale’s section worked alongside others throughout the night and provided assistance to upwards of 70 stranded people, including young children and babies.

“They were also involved when an emergency call came in to respond to a woman who had been washed away in the flood water.”

MOBILE SPEED CAMERAS: Full list of South Yorkshire locations this week

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South Yorkshire Police mobile speed camera units will be visiting the following locations this week:

A18 Carr House Road, Doncaster

A57 Worksop Road, South Anston, Rotherham

A6022 Rowms Lane, Swinton, Rotherham

A6023 Doncaster Road, Mexborough, Doncaster

A6023 Low Road, Conisbrough, Doncaster

A6023 Mexborough Relief Road, Doncaster

A61 Chesterfield Road South, Sheffield

A61 Halifax Road, Sheffield

A6101 Rivelin Valley Road, Sheffield

A6123 Herringthorpe Valley Road, Rotherham

A6135 Chapeltown Road, Ecclesfield, Sheffield

A6135 Mosborough Moor, Mosborough

A614 Selby Road, Doncaster

A618 Mansfield Road, Wales Bar, Rotherham

A621 Baslow Road, Sheffield

A628 Pontefract Road, Barnsley

A629 Halifax Road, Wortley, Barnsley

A629 Upper Wortley Road, Rotherham

A630 Wheatley Hall Road, Doncaster

A631 Bawtry Road, Brinsworth, Rotherham

A631 Bawtry Road, Wickersley, Rotherham

A631 Rotherham Road, Maltby, Rotherham

A633 Rotherham Road, Athersley, Barnsley

A633 Rotherham Road, Barnsley

A635 Doncaster Road, ARoadsley, Barnsley

A638 Bawtry Road, Doncaster

A638 York Road, Doncaster

B6059 Wales Road, Kiveton Park, Rotherham

B6077 Loxley Road, Sheffield

B6082 Carlisle Street East, Sheffield

B6096 Station Road, Wombwell, Barnsley

B6097 Doncaster Road, Wath-upon-Dearne, Rotherham

B6200 Handsworth Road, Sheffield

B6273 Pontefract Road, Rotherham

B6376 Edlington Lane, New Edlington

B6411 Houghton Road, Thurnscoe, Barnsley

B6427 Grange Lane, Maltby

B6546 Burncross Road, Burncross, Sheffield

Hatfield Lane, Armthorpe, Doncaster

Normanton Hill, Sheffield

Pogmoor Road, Barnsley

Shirecliffe Road / Cooks Wood Road, Sheffield

Sprotborough Road, Doncaster

Station Road, Dunscroft, Doncaster

Thorne Road, Doncaster

Urban Road, Hexthorpe, Doncaster

Vale Road, Thrybergh, Rotherham

West End Lane, Rossington, Doncaster

Wheel Lane, Ecclesfield, Sheffield

Worksop Road, Aston, Rotherham

RETRO: Hellraising film star Oliver Reed’s nights of chaos in Doncaster

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The news of another fire at a former Doncaster club has sparked memories of the time legendary hellraising actor Oliver reed walked in to the venue, threw a wad of cash on the bar and told the barman: “Buy all the working class pigs a drink!”

The Clay Lane Club, which closed down more than a decade ago, has become a target for arsonsists and the dilapidated building suffered another serious blaze on Sunday.

But locals can still recall the visits the boozy actor to the Shackleton Road club at the height of his hellraising fame when he was never too far away from trouble and the headlines.

We’ve dug into our archives to find this report of the late star’s visit to the club in mid-December 1990.

“Hell-raiser Olllie Reed was boozing with the lads in one of his favourite haunts last night - a humble South Yorkshire club.

“Infamous Ollie sported his old rugby shirt and a Santa hat as one of the guests at the relaunch of Clay Lane Social Working Men’s Club, Doncaster.
“Regulars are used to their colourful drinking mate, for Ollie is an honorary member and often drops in when he is in South Yorkshire.

“He is a pal of comedian David Copperfield, star of TV’s Three of Kind, whose parents live nearby.

“Ollie joined guests including the Stones bitter advert actor Tony Barton for the session, which follows £170,000 worth of refurbishments at the club.
“There was no ‘them and us’ atmosphere from sociable Ollie, who joined regulars for a pint and a chat.

“Some of the members recalled another visit three years ago, when the former wild man of Hollywood had a close shave.

“Members had joked that he looked like a tramp and held him down on the pool table, pulled out razors and gave him an impromptu shave.

“But taking the whole thing in good heart, the scruffy star threw £50 on the bar and told the barman to buy ‘all the northen working class pigs beer all round.’

Last night, with the familiar stubble on his chubby cheeks, the star of numerous films was in good heart, laughing and joking with regulars and builders.

“Ollie’s just that sort of bloke and he’s had a smashing night, just chatting and having a drink with everyone,” said vice president John Taylor.

“It’s been one of our great nights and we’re delighted everything has gone so well.”

“Ollie was more than satisfied with a night well spent.

“Other guests at the official opening of the 1,400 member club included brewery and building officials.”


My view, Dr Nick Tupper: Extra lives saved by cancer treatment

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I’ve some Christmas cheer on how we’re standing up to cancer in Doncaster.

Nearly 400 ‘extra’ lives have been saved in the borough over the past two years, thanks to the ‘catch cancer early’ drive we’ve run.

Between March 2013 and March 2015, an extra 185 people a year won their battle against cancer thanks to initiatives to enable early detection of the disease, followed up with fast access to potentially curable treatment.

That’s 370 Doncaster people alive who probably wouldn’t be had we not put focus and resources into treating cancer early. We found this after comparing Doncaster’s cancer care figures for the last two years against those for 2012/13.

Since 2013, the clinical commissioning group I chair has focused on tackling cancer on a number of fronts, including training GPs to increase the number of patients referred to hospital specialists with suspected cancer; organising weekend cover for cancer care at Doncaster Royal Infirmary and developing a scheme to support people who are living with and beyond cancer.

The number of Doncaster people diagnosed after being admitted to hospital in an emergency – when it is often too late for treatment – has been cut by nearly one third. GPs have referred to hospital thousands more patients with suspected cancer, which has led to hundreds more having their first treatment.

Overall, 12 per cent more Doncaster patients had their first treatment for cancer, the highest rise in South Yorkshire and more than double the national average. This is largely due to the combined efforts of GP practices and hospital clinicians in Doncaster and Sheffield acting fast.

Nearly 9,000 Doncaster people are urgently referred by their GP to hospital with suspected cancer each year and, following tests, an average 2,500 of them are found to have the disease.

Publicity campaigns are raising awareness and helping people spot the cancer early warning signs. Our CCG’s Movember moustache brigade did their bit by raising a fantastic £864 in sponsorship this year and people regularly dip into their pockets to donate money to good causes like the Doncaster Cancer Detection Trust.

Around 10,000 Doncaster people are living with a cancer diagnosis at the moment and by 2030 this is expected to rise to over 20,000.

The average age of a person diagnosed in Doncaster is 65 and the average life expectancy in the town is 79. Everyone who survives cancer could potentially enjoy an average 14 extra years of life. Multiply that by the additional 370 people we estimate have survived cancer over the past two years and it adds up to a potential extra 5,180 Christmases which those people will be able to spend with their family and friends.

AGONY AUNT Andrea Moon: There’s no excuse for domestic violence

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Q: I’m 35 and live with my husband and two children. My husband hasn’t worked for the past three years and I work part-time to fit in with the kid’s school.

When he first got made redundant, he was quite positive and thought he could get something quite quickly. After a few months he started to get annoyed and depressed, that’s when he started to take it out on me and the kids. He gets so bitter about me having a job, but that’s what keeps our heads above water. He wont help me with the kids so I cant work full time.He has hit me when we’re arguing about bills, and when he’s had a drink. I’m never sure what mood he’s going to be in when I get home. With Christmas coming, I brought home presents for the kids and he got really cross, accusing me of over-spending. I had saved for them and got them in a sale. I cant’ cope with working as well as being in the wrong for earning. He doesn’t help out in the house. I have tried to be positive and help him with his CV, but he dismisses any suggestions and sulks. I feel trapped, what can I do?

A: Firstly, no-one has the right to be violent against anyone else. This needs to be nipped in the bud, there are no excuses. Your husband has to be made aware that this is unacceptable, frustrated, depressed or not. The important thing is to keep yourself and your kids safe. What you do about your relationship is absolutely up to you. Please consider your options carefully.Have you tried to discuss the matter with your husband? What is his reaction when he has been violent? Have the kids witnessed this behaviour? One in four women experience abuse in their lifetime, you are not alone and this is not your fault. Domestic violence against men is also on the increase. None of this is acceptable. Alcohol has a large part to play in the loosening of inhibitions but this is still no excuse. Christmas and social occasions also intensify violence. There is a lot of pressure surrounding these times and ideals to live up to. You do not have to be a victim.It is stressful enough to have to work and manage the house, you do not have to endure any mental or physical abuse. You should be proud of yourself affording presents for your children and covering the household bills. If your husband has dismissed your help in finding a job, then he only has himself to blame. His depression needs to be diagnosed and treated. For advice please contact the 24 hour Domestic Violence Freephone Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or see {http://www.refuge.org.uk/|Refuge|click here} If necessary, make the call from a public or friend’s phone.

Christmas Countdown: December 8

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It's time to get into the festive mood, with our latest Christmas cracker joke.

Christmas just wouldn't be the same without a corny gag from a cracker, so we're counting down the days to December 25th with a different joke every day to get you into the Yuletide mood.

Here's today's, from Faye.

Make sure you check out tomorrow's joke...

Merry Christmas!

Amazon Doncaster staff’s early Christmas surprise for school kids

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sBig-hearted staff from Doncaster’s Amazon Fulfilment Centre teamed up with Father Christmas and other businesses to deliver £5000 worth of toys and gifts to school children.

Youngsters were invited to Santa’s Grotto in Sheffield city centre where they were handed their early Christmas presents.

The event was co-organised by Amazon’s charity committee, steel firm Outokumpu, Sheffield City Council and councillor Talib Hussain, the lord mayor of Sheffield. All pictured above.

sDoncaster-based credit union in triple award win

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A credit union with offices in Doncaster has scooped three top national awards.

South Yorkshire Credit Union, which has bases in Doncaster town centre, Mexborough, Stainforth and Denaby Main, won the Edward Filene Supreme Award for Social Entrepreneurship at a ceremony in London in November.

The team also took the Award for Excellence in Dispensing Financial Education, and chief executive officer Murdo Macleod was awarded the Excellence Shown in Performance by a Chief Executive Officer Award.

The awards, presented by Jamaican high commissioner Aloun Ndombet-Assamba, were made by the International Credit Union Leadership Development and Education Foundation.

Judges said Mr Macleod was “an inspirational and dedicated CEO, making impressive inroads into the market at all levels.”

The credit union’s performance in financial education was described as “a superb example of how a credit union has worked with partners, made its products relevant and accessible, uses social media and has delivered a complete financial solution, proving that credit unions don’t have to settle for a second-class service.”

In a statement after the awards, the Foundation said that SYCU “can boast that for this year only they are the best credit union in Great Britain and Ireland.”

SYCU was formed in 2002 as Barnsley Credit Union but now has offices across the region. It originally provided just financial services, but now offers furniture, electrical and electronic items.

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