A SKATING rink with real ice is set to return to Derby after proving a stone-cold hit with families last Christmas.

The rink attracted more than 35,000 people last December and early January after organisers announced they had ditched fake ice in favour of the real thing.

Thrilled by the turnout, host Derby Live has decided to bring it back – and this year it wants visitor numbers to smash the 40,000 mark.

The open-air rink will be open in the Market Place every day from December 1 to January 6, apart from Christmas Day.

A spokesperson for Showplace Events, which provides the rink, said: "We are pleased to be able to offer the ice rink in Derby's Market Place once again this year.

"The fact that the rink is made of real ice makes it a really magical experience. Customers can expect an enjoyable experience for all the family, with some added Christmas activities for all to enjoy."

The ice rink – which can be hired for private parties while at the Market Place – takes two weeks to set up as it involves several processes.

First, a base made of aluminum and plywood is laid, followed by handrails and piping.

Glycol is then pumped through pipes to slowly create a low temperature, before water is poured over to create a three-inch surface, which freezes in a matter of hours.

Once open, marshals will be on hand to help beginners so they can join in the festival of fun along with more experienced skaters.

Sessions will last for approximately 50 minutes, with tickets priced at £6.50 for off-peak periods and £8.50 during peak times.

There are concessions available for under-16s, over-60s and students.

Among those who went last year were seven-year-old twins Samuel and Oliver Hildred and their brother Ben, eight, who travelled from Loughborough with parents Zoe, 34, and Steve, 42, to test out skating on real ice.

Zoe described it as a "fantastic experience". She said: "It's great to be able to skate on real ice. Derby Live always puts on great stuff and we like doing the ice-skating around Christmas as it's a seasonal thing.

"Ben is the best at it – he puts the rest of us to shame."

Meanwhile, Derby Live has also announced details of a children's theatre show that will guarantee the audience sees a white Christmas.

Producers have promised fake snow galore at the Guildhall Theatre, where Snow Play will run from December 12-23.

The interactive production will allow children to help decide what happens in the plot, make a giant snowman on stage and enjoy a "super" snowball fight.

Snow Play proved to be a smash-hit last Christmas at London's Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, with Patrick Lynch from Cbeebies and Italian television star Carlo Rossi.

Tickets are priced at £10.25, concessions £8.75 and family tickets (two adults, two children) £28.

To book, call Derby 255800 or visit www.derbylive.co.uk.

STAFF at the school attended by a teenager who died in a road smash have paid tribute to a popular pupil who "worked hard".

Liam Porter, 16, died after the moped he was riding crashed with a car in Belper on Tuesday night.

Liam, of Findern Close, Belper, was taken to hospital after the incident, which happened at Far Laund at about 5.15pm. He later died of his injuries.

The teenager had been riding an Aprilia moped which was in collision with a Vauxhall Corsa. The driver suffered minor injuries.

Liam had been a pupil at Belper School.

Neil Fordham, head of year seven at the school, said it was "very sad news".

He said: "Liam had a well developed sense of humour that he used to positive effect. He worked well with staff, made good progress in a wide range of subjects and participated in several different extra-curricular activities.

"The very sad news of the has affected a large swathe of the school community."

THE governing body of a troubled Derby secondary school is to be replaced by an interim executive board likely to be set up by Derby City Council.

The council's action follows a threat last month by the Government to appoint an external sponsor at Sinfin Community School, which would put in its own interim executive board ahead of academy conversion.

The school's governing body, which met with the council last Wednesday evening, has 14 days to respond to the local authority's proposal and then it has to be agreed with the Department for Education.

It is understood that the council, which is opposed to the conversion of schools to academies, wants to create a co-operative trust involving Sinfin school and linking it up with other schools and businesses

But Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Education, wants to create more academies and it is believed that a sponsor for Sinfin has already been selected.

He sees this as the way to raise standards in failing schools.

The opposing methods of trying to remove Sinfin school from special measures could set the council and Government on a collision course. The council would not be drawn on its co-operative trust plans for the school at this stage.

Andrew Bunyan, the council's strategic director for children and young people, said: "The focused work of the board will be student progress, teaching and learning and leadership and management and it will aim to move the school out of special measures, which it was placed in last February."

News of the council's action has been welcomed by Dave Wilkinson, branch secretary of the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers.

The union is opposed to academy conversion but happy to accept a co-operative trust being established.

He said: "The governing body at Sinfin Community School has not been fit for purpose for a long time and it has been responsible for dispute after dispute with NASUWT, leading to strike action which could have been avoided.

"The governing body will not be missed."

Mr Gove's letter to the school and council at the end of September was only the fifth time the Secretary of State for Education has taken such action against a "failing" school nationally.

Academy status would place the school outside local authority control and would mean it being run by a private company.

Co-operative trust status would see the school still linked to the council but also working with businesses, other schools or colleges and with parents having a say in the running of it.

The school's governing body did not wish to comment at this stage and head teacher Steve Monks refused to comment on his own position at present, although under any new arrangement his job would be in jeopardy.

The Department for Education was unable to respond by last night.

DRINKERS were left surrounded by flames after arsonists threw huge fireworks into a pub.

One regular, in his 70s, was sitting on a chair as sparks flew around him from the explosives.

The front bar of The Grampian, in Sinfin, was filled with smoke and customers had to run outside the pub to get their breath.

The fireworks were multi-shot "barrage" types.

As plumes of smoke filled the room, licensee Philippa Macdonald said she feared for her 13-year-old son, Greg, who was sleeping in his room above the pub.

Amid the panic she and partner Karl Richards, both 36, managed to phone the police and fire brigade, who arrived within minutes to clear the front room of the pub of smoke.

Miss Macdonald said: "It was absolutely petrifying.

"The fireworks were banging and popping around the room, flames were shooting everywhere. The regulars did not know what was happening and poor old Jack was sitting in his usual chair as smoke and fireworks filled the place. It's a miracle nobody was hurt."

She said both fireworks were of the multi-explosion type, one square and one round. She said each must have cost around £30.

Mr Richards said: "I have no idea why we have been targeted. It seems like it was just a random attack.

"We don't think this was kids, it was definitely adults because these were fireworks of the expensive variety."

The incident happened at 11.25pm on Tuesday night.

Miss Macdonald and Mr Richards have run the pub since December last year and said they have not had any trouble of this kind before.

Mr Richards said: "We were stood behind the bar when we saw the front door open slightly and then we saw a flame. Someone shouted something like 'have it, take that' and the first firework was thrown in the door, followed by the second one.

"They started fizzing and banging. One of the fireworks had 12 smaller ones that shot out from it. Both were pretty big and must have cost quite a lot of money.

"One was about eight inches square and the other was circular and a similar size.

"I can only think the reason there was no fire is because the carpet is fireproof and there was nothing too flammable lying around to catch light."

Miss Macdonald said: "I was so scared that the flames would take hold and spread.

"We are just so fortunate that the pub only had about four or five customers. It was quite late at night. If it had been an hour earlier the place would have been packed because there were a lot of people in here watching the football.

"I've rung all the other pubs in the area warning them about what has happened to us."

Mr Richards said: "We've had no trouble of this kind in the 10 months we've been here.

A spokesman for Derbyshire Police said its officers were studying CCTV of the incident and appealed for information from anyone who may have seen suspicious activity in the area at the time.

He said: "At 11.30pm we were called to The Grampian Pub after reports of lit fireworks being thrown through the front door.

"There were customer still drinking at the time and thankfully no-one was hurt."

HONDA has updated the sporty CR-Z hybrid with a range of improvements focusing on style and performance.

Subtle revisions to the exterior and interior enhance the styling of the car, while the power of the petrol engine and electric motor has been increased to 137PS without comprising fuel economy or increasing exhaust emissions.

The car also features a Lithium Ion battery for the first time and a Plus Sport (S+) boost system to help the driver make the best use of this sporty performance.

The revised CR-Z will go on sale in January.

Style-conscious motorists will appreciate the CR-Z's new front bumper design, which frames a revised grille. This is complemented at the rear by a new aerodynamic diffuser design, while striking 17-inch alloy wheels fill the wheel arches of the GT model.

Two bold new colours, Energetic Yellow and Aurora Violet, above, further enhance the CR-Z's looks.

The 1.5-litre petrol engine has been upgraded, which has helped push the peak power output from 114PS to 121PS.

The 0-62 mph sprint time falls from 9.7 seconds to 9 seconds, the top speed is 124mph and the combined consumption is 56.5mpg and 116g/km of CO2.

JUST a few days before Christmas last year I did something that brought gasps of shock from the women in the office.

No, I didn't change into my football kit in front of everyone, allowing them a peep at my Adonis-like frame.

All I did was buy an item online and have it delivered to work.

Reception rang to me to tell me there was a package for me, so along I trotted to grab the 4ft by 2ft box.

Carrying it back to my desk I proudly plonked down my new purchase.

"Please tell me you've not bought that for your wife for Christmas?" came the first voice.

"Honestly Martin, that's not for Claire, is it?" came the next.

Even the editor came out of his office to express his disapproval, such was the magnitude of my potential faux pas.

Quickly thinking I could have some fun, I happily played along with things.

"Of course I have," I replied. "What's wrong with it? She said she wanted one so I've bought one. I can't see what all the fuss is about. It's only a vacuum cleaner."

Within minutes the gossip had spread like wildfire.

"Martin's bought his missus a Dyson for Christmas, can you believe it?" I distinctly heard a sports reporter murmur.

Of course, I hadn't bought it as a gift to the sainted Claire at all. That would be the purchase of a mental man.

But just last week I was reminded of this story as I shopped for Claire's birthday presents.

I'm quite a good shopper as it happens and – whisper it – I enjoy it at times too.

But by the time I had taken item number three to the till in shop number three, I was starting to question my own choices.

"I'll put the gift receipt in the bag in case the person you're buying this for doesn't like it. Is that okay?" the young shop assistant said.

"To be honest, duck," I answered, "you're the third person who has said that to me in the past 30 minutes. Am I not picking the right presents?"

The other girls behind the till started to giggle.

"Oh no," she apologised, "it's very nice. I'm sure your wife will love it."

With a grin I left, knowing I'd suitably embarrassed the poor girl.

Three (yes chaps, three) hours later and laden with gifts I struggled on to the bus home.

Pushing my way through the door at home I put down my purchases and reached with a sigh for drawer where we keep the scissors and Sellotape.

"Now comes the hard part," I muttered to myself.

If there was such a position as the President of Wrapping Presents, Mrs Naylor would be a shoe-in.

I, on the other hand, approach this ancient ritual as if I'd been forced to don a hi-vis vest and work as a steward at the City Ground.

Thirty minutes later, Claire's beautiful gifts were reduced to a mass of pink paper, loosely stuck together by about a mile and a half of tape.

I'm sure when she opens them on her birthday she'll have the usual wry grin I welcome every birthday and Christmas.

I hope that she'll love what I've bought her. After all, I put a lot of thought into it. I'm just worried in case she thinks the food blender doesn't match the new pots and pans.

THE best of Derby's restaurants, cafés, pubs and bars have toasted their success at the annual Food and Drink Awards.

Top of the pile was restaurant Zest, in Friar Gate, which was crowned Restaurant of the Year and also took the honours in the customer service category.

The awards ceremony was held on Monday night at The Roundhouse, Pride Park, where guests applauded and celebrated the best places to eat and drink in the city.

Zest owners and siblings Stuart and Hayley Baddiley were shocked to hear they had won the main award against tough opposition, which included fellow finalist Fahrenheit at Genting Casino, at the Riverlights complex, which was also nominated in the best newcomer category.

Stuart said: "We are absolutely overwhelmed. We came expecting we'd be sitting clapping all the winners, not be double winners ourselves."

And Hayley, who opened the restaurant with her brother seven years ago, added: "We've been shortlisted in the past and won a couple of awards, but it's always the Restaurant of the Year that you want.

"It's brilliant to get the best customer service but to be recognised at the best place to eat in the city is really overwhelming."

More than 1,400 nominations were received from diners and pub fans across nine categories – best international restaurant, best lunch, best café, best bar, best pub, best newcomer, best out of town, best customer service and Restaurant of the Year.

A judging panel then made a surprise visit to shortlisted finalists, scoring them on a range of criteria, with the best dining or drinking experience earning the prestigious titles.

The Exeter Arms, in Exeter Place, won in the best pub category. Martin Roper, joint owner with Denise Sage, said: "It's a fantastic accolade. We couldn't do it without the team of staff we have – everyone works together."

The best bar title went to Red Zebra, in Queen Street, which was opened in November 2010 by business partners Allison Collard-Jones and James Harris.

They were delighted to come out top in a strong final line-up, which included Vie Lounge Piano Bar and Restaurant, Green Lane, and three times winners Bar Number 5, in George Street, whose owner Stephen Rouse congratulated Red Zebra's management and staff on their success.

James said: "We are very, very excited about this and it's a reward for all the hard work we have put in. It shows we are doing something right and gives us confidence to push ahead with our plans to make Red Zebra a chain, with a bar in Sheffield our first target."

The Dragon pub on The Green, Willington, which is run by Graham Townend, Heidi Taylor, Lewis Robinson, executive chef Danny Edwards and Rick Graham, picked up the title in the best out of town category.

Heidi said: "We are absolutely thrilled. It's only a year and a half since we carried out a refurbishment and it's taken a lot of hard work. We have a great team and we couldn't be more pleased."

Others winners were: best international restaurant, MoonSha, Friary Street; best lunch, Le Bistrot Pierre, Friar Gate; best café, Bean Caffé at Friar Gate Studios, Ford Street; best newcomer, Baked, The Strand.

Young Chef of the Year was Jacob Robinson, who is a student at Derby College's Hospitality and Culinary Arts Academy.

This year's awards were supported by Marketing Derby, Quad and Capital FM.

John Forkin, managing director at Marketing Derby, said: "We are astonished at how big Derby Food and Drink Awards have become.

"This year is only our fourth and we received more than 1,000 nominations from the public, which is quite stunning.

"The food and drink sector is a really important part of any city's economy. It provides thousands of jobs but it is really important also from an investment and tourism point of view to have a vibrant and varied range of restaurants and bars."

THE PRINCE'S Trust and Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service have teamed up as part of a scheme to inspire unemployed youngsters.

The Get Started programme was the first in the UK to be run by a fire and rescue service and was organised by the Prince's Trust to engage and boost the self-esteem of unemployed 16-to-25-year-olds.

Eleven young adults were involved in the programme, which ran for five days at Shirebrook Fire Station, taking part in practical and classroom-based workshops.

These included core skills in fire-fighting, hose-running, pitching ladders and wearing breathing apparatus.

The workshops aimed to help participants develop new skills, confidence and motivation, make new friends and give them a reference of experience on future job applications.

George Martin, Fire and Rescue Service national liaison officer for The Princes Trust, said: "The model that Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service (DFRS) has developed is a concept that I will now be using to promote the Get Started programme to other fire and rescue services.

"Both The Prince's Trust and DFRS are proud of each individual and how they have developed throughout this course.

"We will continue to provide support to these individuals and wish them every success for the future."

Each individual was presented with a certificate to mark their achievement.

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service area manager Bryan Bennett said: "It has been an honour for us to work alongside The Prince's Trust."

While most people will be looking forward to an extra hour in bed when the clocks go back tomorrow, Linda Aston has a mammoth task on her hands – as she has more than 200 timepieces at The Mecca stall which she runs in Derby's Market Hall. British Summer Time comes to an end at 2am, when the UK returns to Greenwich Mean Time.

Picture: Kate Lowe DEKL20121012C-004_C

A DEFENDANT has been cleared by a jury of starting a fire that forced a family-of-seven to flee their home in the middle of the night.

Yesterday, Dennis Beastall was found not guilty of arson with intent to endanger life or being reckless as to whether life was endangered.

But he was convicted of threatening, in an argument two weeks before the blaze, to damage the property in Buchan Street, Derby.

During the five-day trial, the jury heard the fire took hold about 2.30am on November 4 last year. Mark Corpe, his partner and five children managed to get out safely.

The court had heard that, on October 23, Beastall and Mr Corpe had an argument which ended in the defendant allegedly making threats to burn down the other's house.

Beastall denied making the threat but was convicted by the jury of this offence. He was jailed for 28 days but will be released immediately because of the amount of time he has already spent in custody awaiting trial.

After the hearing, Mr Corpe said the blaze had been "an horrific experience".

But he said the family had now left the area and were moving on with their lives.

A CAMPAIGN march will take place in Ripley against plans to close Derbyshire's 16 ambulance stations.

East Midlands Ambulance Service wants to replace them with two super-centres, or "hubs", in Derby and Chesterfield and about 30 standby posts where staff can take breaks and restock.

It is part of radical plans to change the way the service operates across the region and the trust has started consulting the public.

But union Unison has now expressed concerns that Amber Valley could be left exposed under the plans and is calling for a hub to be set up in Ripley.

It has decided to organise a campaign march and petition-signing day through the town next Saturday at 10am.

It will start at the Brewers' Fayre pub, in Butterley Park, and travel to Ripley Town Hall via Nottingham Road, Oxford Street, Ivy Grove and Ripley Ambulance Station.

A spokesman for the union said: "We want to save the Amber Valley corridor because, if they plans go ahead, it will leave just two large hubs in Derbyshire – leaving the people of the Amber Valley area potentially at risk."

CINEMA-GOERS in Derby were left shaken AND stirred as they gave the new James Bond film a universal thumbs-up.

Sell-out audiences at the Odeon were wowed by Daniel Craig as he took the lead in Skyfall, which opened at cinemas yesterday.

The blockbuster is being shown in five of the screens at the Meteor Centre multiplex, such is the demand to see Bond fight to save secret service MI6 as it comes under attack from the enemy.

James Daly, eight, of Chaddesden, was taken to see one of the first viewings by parents Karl and Clare.

The St Alban's Catholic Church pupil was able to go to the cinema because of an inset training day.

James said: "I feel really lucky to be able to come and see the film. I've seen most of the Bond films and this one is definitely the best. I loved his car and his gun best."

Mum Clare, 43, said she was "mesmerised" while watching the movie.

She said: "I really like Sean Connery as James Bond but Daniel Craig is great in Skyfall. He's everything and a little bit more."

Another school pupil who was able to go and see Skyfall because of an inset training day was 13-year-old West Park pupil Emily Ward.

She and Bond-mad dad Dave, 48, said the movie was in their all-time "top five" 007 films. Emily said: "The baddie (Javier Bardem) steals the film for me. He's brilliantly acted."

Dave, of Oakwood, said he was a huge fan of James Bond films and had the complete collection at home.

He said: "It is not a popular choice but my favourite out of all of them is On Her Majesty's Secret Service. It's the only one that had George Lazenby in the role of Bond.

"The reason I like that one so much is because it is most true to the book. Skyfall is brilliant though, absolutely fantastic. We would both thoroughly recommend it."

Skyfall is the 23rd Bond film and is the first to be directed by Sam Mendes.

It is the third of the franchise to star Daniel Craig as 007. The cast also includes Dame Judi Dench as M.

Lee Currie, 41, of Holbrook, went to see the film with wife Sarah. He said: "We both had the day off work and the film's two-and-a-half hours went just like that. It really lived up to the hype."

Nicholas Henry, 32, took girlfriend Sue Godfrey, 30, to her first Bond film.

The pair, from Long Eaton, watched the noon showing in Derby. Sue said: "I am normally more of a rom-com film lover but Nick has started trying to convert me to action films.

"I really enjoyed the film, it's full of scrapes and spills."

Paul Hughes, manager at the Odeon in Derby, said: "We sold out all five screens for every showing from 5.30pm yesterday.

"It is going to be the most popular movie since the last Twilight film."

FORMER Home Secretary Ken Clarke has visited Derby to drum up support for next month's Police and Crime Commissioner elections.

The veteran politician was in Market Place yesterday and showed his backing for the Tory candidate in Derbyshire, Simon Spencer.

But Mr Clarke refused to say how many people he believed needed to turn out to vote to make it a meaningful election.

He said: "I wouldn't guess a number, we have never had one of these elections before.

"The people who turn out will be the ones who care most about the quality of the police service."

The election, costing about £1 million, will take place on November 15.

It will give people the chance to choose the man who will replace the existing police authority and have the power to set the force budget and hire and fire the Chief Constable.

The commissioner will receive a salary of £75,000 a year.

Candidates have pointed out that cost compares to more than £260,000 that the police authority costs in terms of members' allowances and expenses.

Mr Clarke, the Justice Secretary until two months ago, said that policing would still remain the job of the police and that it was important for the voting public to know that would not change.

He said: "What the duty of the Police and Crime Commissioner is is to be the man who should ask the difficult questions about the police's priorities and value for money."

Mr Clarke has been an advocate of rehabilitation and restorative justice in the past – a stance now being taken by Prime Minister David Cameron.

Mr Clarke said: "Reforming people is not the role of the police, that is the role of other parts of the criminal justice system.

"But what is important is that there are links between the two and they can be quite helpful to each other in making sure someone does not go back to their old ways.

"That is why I think the neighbourhood justice being suggested at the moment is interesting."

Mr Spencer said he was grateful for the support of the current Minister without Portfolio.

He said: "Ken has been a great advocate of alternative approaches to the justice system and restorative justice which I admire and I'm very grateful for his support.

"My role, if I'm elected, will be to articulate the concerns of the public to the Chief Constable and I will do that as forcefully as I can and make sure it's heard at the highest level to bring a new level of accountability we have never seen in the past."

Both men said that if people cared about the county then they should vote on November 15.

There are four candidates standing in Derbyshire.

Along with Simon Spencer for the Conservatives, the candidates are Labour's Alan Charles, independent Rod Hutton and UKIP candidate David Gale.