A LANDLORD who set fire to an ex-tenant's house after she accused him of fraud has been jailed for more than six years.

Mohammed Saddiq doused the doormat outside Rebecca Barker's home in petrol and set it alight while her 22-year-old daughter was upstairs.

Saddiq's fingerprints were found on a petrol cannister in a bin just metres from the house, off Ashbourne Road, Derby.

At the time of the arson attack, Saddiq was under investigation for having pocketed money for the utility bills Miss Barker had paid him when she was a tenant at his property in Pacific Way, Pride Park.

Saddiq, 37, of Porter Road, Normanton, was found guilty by a jury of dishonestly making false representation and also of arson with intent to endanger life. He was sent to prison for six years and six months.

After he was jailed, Miss Barker said: "It could have been so much worse, if my daughter had been asleep. She had only got up 15 minutes earlier.

"The only reason the fire was kept back was because it's a new property and has fire doors. If it hadn't been a fire door, it would have gone under the door, hit the wooden flooring and then the carpet up the stairs and my daughter wouldn't have got out."

The jury heard that in 2011, after the woman ended the tenancy agreement, she was contacted by various utility companies to pay outstanding debts.

She had been confused by this as she had signed an agreement with Saddiq that her rent covered these bills.

Saddiq told police that the woman had faked the agreement and had forged his signature.

But the jury heard that Saddiq's fingerprints were found on the document.

Seven months after the woman reported the fraud matter to police, and while Saddiq was being investigated for the offence, the front door of her new home in Derby was set alight.

The woman's daughter had been in the property alone and discovered the fire after she went into her mother's room at the front of the house and saw black smoke through the window. Police and fire service officers carried out an investigation and found a petrol container inside a plastic bag in a bin near the house.

Saddiq's fingerprints were found on the plastic bag.

Tests showed that the liquid inside the petrol canister was the same as that on the burned door mat.

Miss Barker said: "The potential consequences do not bear thinking about. I haven't slept properly for more than a year. I'm up and looking outside at every little sound I hear."

Detective Sergeant John Murphy said: "We are very happy with the result. The incident was very traumatic for the victim and local community.

"The police worked extremely hard to investigate the offence and are very content with the length of the sentence, which the offender deserved. Our thoughts are now with the victim of the family who can hopefully move on with their lives."

A SNIFFER dog has been used to help find suspected illegal tobacco – with a street value of more than £15,000 – in raids on a house and shops in Heanor and Ilkeston.

The joint raids, carried out by Derbyshire County Council's trading standards officers and police, were part of a countywide crackdown on rising sales of illegal cigarettes.

The sniffer dog joined officers at a home in Heanor and two shops in the town, before being used again at a shop in Ilkeston.

More than 27,000 cigarettes and 13.65kg of suspected counterfeit and illicit hand-rolling tobacco were seized, along with a car, during the raids.

All goods seized had been hidden – with some found within false panelled cupboards and in car boots.

Following the raids, five men and a woman were arrested and questioned. They have all been bailed pending further inquiries.

Councillor Dave Allen, council cabinet member for health and communities, said: "We are seeing a rise in the number of reports about counterfeit tobacco and are regularly carrying out raids across the county to try to combat this problem.

"We always act on tip-offs and thank the public for letting us know."

PRE-SCHOOL children at a Heatherton nursery school created their own version of a swimming pool ahead of a visit from Belper star Ross Davenport.

Staff at Busy Bees, in Hollybrook Way, said its kids wanted to impress the former GB Olympic swimmer.

As such, they pulled together a load of materials and used them to build a mock Olympic pool.

Nursery manager Catherine Bailey said: "We placed down some old banners to use as the floor of the pool.

"Then we painted a load of bubble wrap blue and used that for the water.

"And then, to form the lanes, we got our hands on very long cardboard tubes.

"It was great. Ross was very impressed when he arrived. The children had races, which Ross judged, and there was a podium at the end for first, second and third place."

Ross was invited to the nursery to help it raise funds for the Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust – a charity that helps disadvantaged young people reach their potential through guidance from world class athletes.

As well as judging the swimming competition, Ross also visited the baby and toddler room to take part in a "beach day".

Ms Bailey said Ross's visit helped make it a fantastic day for the children.

She said: "Everyone's really, really enjoyed it.

"Ross has sat and spoken to the children about his dream of being an Olympic competitor and showed them his medals. Some of them had photos taken.

"They were all excited to see Ross, although when he asked them what they wanted to be when they grew up none of them said 'swimmer'. The answers were more like Batman and Superman.

"One little boy said he knew where the Olympics were held last year because his dad went."

Ross, a Commonwealth Games gold medallist who retired after London 2012, has visited a number of schools in an effort to inspire pupils.

He said pre-school children were not too young to be inspired as well.

Ross said: "I think these kids will remember parts of today and remember there being someone with a tracksuit and medal.

"Today is about planting that seed into young people that tells them they can achieve something.

"It's been brilliant. The kids seem to have really enjoyed themselves and it's my pleasure to have been there."

Miss Bailey said it was difficult to know how much the nursery will have raised for the Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust.

She said: "It's hard to say. We've also got an exercise bike and staff are taking it in turns to cycle a total of 77 miles. We're half way towards reaching that target."

To contribute to the nursery's fund-raising total, call 01332 518 888 or pop into the nursery.

For more information on the charity, visit www.dkhleg acytrust.org

A MULTI-MILLION pound investment by Derby City Council in Balfour Beatty's Raynesway site and a nearby road will secure 1,000 jobs and attract at least another 200 to the city, the authority says.

It was previously understood that the £3.72 million would mean this number of jobs being secured and created just at Balfour Beatty.

The authority now says that the figures, published in a public report for this week's cabinet meeting, refer to four Raynesway firms – Balfour Beatty, Rolls-Royce, Minelco, and Severn Trent, who would all benefit from the improved road.

A total of 400 jobs will be secured at Balfour Beatty as a result of the investment helping it expand.

Council chief executive, Adam Wilkinson previously said there had been a danger that the firm involved, now known to be Balfour Beatty, would leave the city because it did not have a site that allowed for expansion.

Richard Williams, the council's director of regeneration, said there was no such issue with the three other firms.

Asked to justify the claim that 1,000 jobs would be secured, Mr Williams said this was the council's estimate of the "net impact" of helping Balfour Beatty expand and improving the road.

He said: "In our estimation if we didn't do the highways work then jobs might move to other sites from those employers."

Mr Williams said the 200 figure was also an estimate and "based on standard density of employment statistics".

Council leader Paul Bayliss previously said that the road improvements would increase safety as the 50mph service road comes to a point where "drivers virtually have to stop and make a 90-degree turn".

The public report said of the road work: "Access onto Raynesway is an issue for each of the companies, whilst the Balfour Beatty Group consider the existing health-and-safety issues to be a major constraint to their existing site and its operation."

Details of the council's investment in the Balfour Beatty site are still subject to a confidential agreement, but a spokesman for the firm said one result would be a new training tower for engineers learning how to work on pylons.

The £3.72 million will come from the council's regeneration fund.

THE sister of a patient who died after putting a plastic bag over his head said she was pleased a jury had ruled out a verdict of suicide.

Robert Hart was found dead at the Radbourne Unit at the Royal Derby Hospital in December 2011.

The 31-year-old, of Chapel-en-le-Frith, had been sectioned in September 2011 and had been a patient at two other mental health units before arriving at the Radbourne Unit.

During a three-day inquest into his death, which concluded yesterday, a jury was told Mr Hart had suffered severe psychosis and had serious delusions which led to his sectioning.

But on December 6, 2011, staff nurse Ian Hopewell found Mr Hart dead with a plastic bag over his head.

The bag had been taken from a bin in Mr Hart's dormitory.

Police ruled out any third party involvement and said there were no suspicious circumstances.

Yesterday, at Derby Coroner's Court, a jury delivered a narrative verdict on the case.

It read: "We conclude that Mr Hart took his own life by placing a plastic bag over his head.

"We believe that this action was as a result of Mr Hart's severe mental illness and he was not in a state of mind to rationalise the consequences of his actions."

Mr Hart's sister Louise said, after the hearing, she was pleased with the jury's verdict.

The 35-year-old said: "We were really pleased that the jury didn't give a verdict of suicide because we believe that, if it wasn't for the voice Rob was hearing in his head, he would not have done what he did.

"It is a shame the bags were in the bin in the first place but what we can take from this is the fact that perhaps, with the NHS removing the bags from bins, it might not happen to anyone else in the future."

Speaking after the hearing, a spokesman for Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said that bags had now been removed from bins in patient areas.

He said: "We wish to extend our sympathies to Mr Hart's family.

"The trust respects the narrative verdict returned.

"The inquest heard that the trust had immediately put in place steps to reduce risk by removing pedal-bin bags from patient areas, although tragically in this case this could not have been foreseen."

Lloyd Newby has spent nearly 30 years working to unite the community in Normanton. Today, he is among the Derbyshire people named in the Queen's Birthday Honours list, as Ella Rhodes and Isaac Crowson report.

WHEN Lloyd Newby says he has "got involved in a few things" in Derby, he barely hints at his massive contribution to the community over the past three decades.

Now 66, he arrived in the UK from Jamaica when he was 18.

As well as becoming a successful mechanic and owning a garage, Mr Newby said he was very interested in what was going on in Normanton, where he lived.

He said: "I like community politics, I like helping people and got involved in a few things in Derby.

"Rather than going to the pub, I would go to meetings, sit down and listen.

"People would be using words like agenda and minutes and I would think – what is that?"

Mr Newby, who now lives in Sunny Hill, started to become more involved in the community in the 1980s as a member of the West Indian Community Association.

He is now its vice-chairman and he also sits on the Derby City Council Partnership Board and the Crown Prosecution Service Hate Crime Scrutiny Panel.

He also finds the time to be the chairman of the Caribbean Carers' Association for the Elderly and a lead organiser of the Derby Caribbean Carnival.

He was an inaugural member of the Derbyshire Constabulary's Independent Advisory Group and, during the summer disturbances of 2011, he worked with a range of partners helping to ensure widespread disturbances were avoided in Derby.

Mr Newby has also served as a governor at Hardwick Primary School since 1986 and is now chairman of the governing body. He is "over the moon" about being honoured with an MBE medal for services to community cohesion.

He said: "I was so glad when I found out and very overwhelmed. I was so happy to be recognised, I felt wanted and I felt belonging.

"I came here when I was 18 and I love the place, I love England.

"I love the Queen from living in Jamaica, the school had a picture of the Queen on the wall and we all had a picture of the Queen in our homes.

"When I came here I felt like I was coming to my motherland."

Jasvinder Sanghera has been honoured with a CBE medal for services to victims of forced marriage and honour-based violence.

She ran away from home to escape a forced marriage aged 15.

She was told she had brought shame upon her family and dishonoured them. She went into hiding for eight years and told the Derby Telegraph in 2012 how, for the past 29 years, she had not spoken to them and they did not see her children.

She co-founded the charity Karma Nirvana, which supports victims of forced marriages.

It started off in Derby as a local support network for victims of forced marriage and those who had been abused but it now offers international support.

Of her award, she said: "I really couldn't believe the news when I found out. I had to sit down straight away else I'd have fallen over in complete shock.

"After the initial shock, I felt so proud and honoured to receive this.

"I hope this will strengthen the cause and highlight abuse and forced marriage.

"I was disowned because I refused to enter into a forced marriage, so I was left with no education and little hope.

"This year the group is 20 years old so this news is just a double celebration that tops off a really good year so far.

"I'm really looking forward to meeting the Queen. It's brilliant to be recognised for your work and this is the best example of that. I could never imagine anything like this happening, it's amazing."

Ms Sanghera won a Pride of Britain award in 2009 and said at the time she thought that would be the highlight of her work.

She said: "This tops that. I never imagined getting either of them to be honest!

"I just wish my father was still alive because, despite him disowning me, I know he would still be proud of this."

Kevin Caffrey, from Allestree, will be given an MBE medal for life-long service to social care. The 67-year-old said the honour was a complete surprise.

He said: "I'm shocked, it came completely out of the blue."

He started off his career in social care working for Derbyshire County Council and then went on to work for Birmingham-based social care agency Father Hudson's Society.

He said: "After working in the authority I wanted a change. Father Hudson's is a faith-based organisation and, as a Christian, it attracted me."

Mr Caffrey has been involved with the organisation for 20 years and has played a part in a range of projects including the development of new adult care services and fostering and adoption services.

He said: "I commuted the 40 miles from Allestree to Coleshill and back every day for 20 years, which is an indication of how much I enjoy the work."

Peter Posner, who lives in Duffield, will be awarded an OBE for services to the YMCA in the UK and abroad.

The 60-year-old, who works for HSBC, started his volunteering career for the YMCA in 1981 when he became assistant treasurer for the Leicester YMCA.

He has been chairman of both Leicester and Derby YMCAs, president of the European Alliance of YMCAs and is the vice-chairman of YMCA Derbyshire.

He said of his continued involvement: "It focuses on the needs of young people. It has been my way of adding something to the community, particularly to the young."

Two Derbyshire police officers will receive the Queen's Police Medal. Assistant Chief Constable Dee Collins began her career in Hartlepool and became Cleveland Police's first female officer to work on their Armed Response Team.

In April 2007, she took up the post of Assistant Chief Constable for Derbyshire Constabulary.

As part of her role in Derbyshire she is the lead on Criminal Justice, Contact Management, Operational Support, Community Safety and the Special Constabulary.

She said: "I am delighted and proud to receive this award as a reflection of the excellent policing work carried out across Derbyshire on a daily basis."

Deputy Chief Constable Peter Goodman began his career with Nottinghamshire Police before joining West Midlands, where he was divisional policing commander for Birmingham city centre.

He became Assistant Chief Constable for Derbyshire in 2007 and was appointed Deputy Chief Constable for the East Midlands in 2010.

He said: "I am honoured to have been nominated for the Queen's Police Medal and it will be a very great privilege to receive the award."

NEIGHBOURS living in Mackworth have rallied together to fight plans to build seven homes nearby.

And a petition has already been started up which objects to proposals to create several affordable houses in front of Kew Gardens – because residents say they use the land there.

Carol Shaw, 64, who lives in the area, said: "We absolutely love the area where we live. The young children like having picnics on the green and making daisy chains.

"If the houses were built, it would mean the children would have to cross the busy road to the park, which is really dangerous."

The application was submitted to Derby City Council by Derby Homes and it proposes building seven two-bedroom properties, with each one housing up to four people.

Plans also include boundary walls and off-road parking.

Residents are being asked their thoughts on the proposals and have until June 27 to respond.

Mrs Shaw helped organise the petition, which so far has more than 60 signatures, and said it would be delivered to the city council.

She said: "I've lived at Kew Gardens nearly 18 years and there are people who have been here longer, as well as younger couples – so it's distressing for lots of different people."

Jean Poole, 84, of Kew Gardens, said: "I have lived here for 58 years, when the house was first built. I would be devastated if they built more houses here. There is a lot to consider; traffic, the children who play in the area. There are bigger spaces for the houses to be built on.

"The area at Kew Gardens is like a village green. I don't know how they will get seven houses on that land."

Linda and Timothy Reece-Evans, in a letter to the council, said the houses would not be "in keeping with the area". They said: "We care very much about our property and where we live and we have always done our best to make this area a better place to live.

"So we would like to register our objections to the plans for the new build and new road layout in the strongest manner possible."

Mackworth city councillor Paul Pegg said he was "totally against" the plans. He said: "They are not in the right place and there is not enough room – they have been planned too close together.

"There are other places they could build on."

A spokesman from Derby Homes said: "Derby Homes are working with Derby City Council to deliver new, affordable homes within the city.

"We have consulted the local community on our initial plans for the site and the planning process gives further opportunities for people to voice their concerns."

A group of residents visited MP Chris Williamson last night to voice their concerns.

He said: "I will be making some enquiries to identify whether there are preferred sites which would be more suitable for the properties they are hoping to build."

A decision is due to be made on July 15.

DERBY aero engine-maker Rolls-Royce has spoken of its pride after seeing a new aircraft powered by its technology complete its maiden flight.

Yesterday, the Airbus A350 XWB took to the skies for the first time, using Trent XWB engines that had been designed, developed and built at Rolls-Royce's civil aerospace division in Sinfin.

The A350 took off from Blagnac airstrip in the French city of Toulouse, where the aircraft is assembled.

It then took part in a four-hour trip to carry out tests before landing back at Toulouse.

It was a proud moment for all Rolls-Royce staff who had worked on the Trent XWB engine programme since its inception in 2006.

Speaking from Toulouse, Chris Young, Trent XWB's project director, said: "After seven years of hard work, it was quite an emotional moment to see that aircraft take to the skies.

"It was not just a great moment for me personally but also the whole team at Derby.

"Around 2,000 people have been involved in the Trent XWB project since it began.

"Yesterday was a culmination of their efforts and they should feel extremely proud of what they have achieved."

The A350 XWB is designed to operate long-haul routes.

It can seat between 270 and 350 passengers, depending on its configuration.

The A350 has been billed as one of the most fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly aircraft in the world.

It is lighter than conventional aircraft, with more than half of its components made from carbon composite materials.

Its Trent XWB engines have been designed to use 25% less fuel than other engines on the market.

This has resulted in Airbus attracting more than 600 orders for the A350, as airlines look for a solution to combat higher fuel costs.

Every order for the A350 is good news for Rolls-Royce as it is the exclusive engine supplier for the aircraft.

It has made the Trent XWB the fastest-selling Rolls-Royce Trent engine of all time, with more than 1,300 already sold.

Mr Young said: "We're absolutely delighted by how popular the aircraft has been with customers." He added that airline representatives were at Toulouse yesterday to witness the take-off and "remarked how smooth and quiet the aircraft was".

RAIL firms in Derby have said they are ready to work with German firm Siemens to deliver a major contract which city train-maker Bombardier missed out on.

The Department for Transport has reached an agreement with Siemens to deliver the £1.6 billion Thameslink contract – two years after naming the company as the preferred bidder for the deal ahead of Bombardier.

The contract is expected to be formally awarded to Siemens, which will build the trains in Germany, in the next few days because of a legal requirement known as the Alcatel standstill period.

Bombardier shed around 1,000 temporary workers as a result of missing out on the contract to build the 1,200 Thameslink carriages.

The company has moved on from the disappointment of losing the deal and has its sights focused on the next major contract – the £1 billion Crossrail deal.

But Derby could still benefit from the Thameslink deal. The city is home to one of the largest clusters of rail companies in the world – and Derby and Derbyshire Rail Forum, which represents those firms, said that it is ready to help Siemens deliver the contract.

Spokesman Rupert Brennan-Brown said: "The supply chain in Derbyshire is more than willing to assist with requirements Siemens has for delivering the Thameslink fleet. We wait with anticipation the result of the Crossrail invitation to tender."

One Derby firm that has landed Thameslink work is Garrandale, in Alfreton Road. It won a £6.5 million contract to supply equipment for cleaning trains built as part of the Thameslink project.

The firm, which employs 90 people, is designing, installing and maintaining carriage washers and toilet systems for Siemens at its depots in Hornsey and Crawley.

Managing director Malcolm Prentice said the deal would "help secure dozens of jobs in Derby".

Bombardier is one of four firms bidding for the Crossrail deal for 600 carriages. The others are Siemens, Spanish firm CAF and Japanese company Hitachi. The winning bid is expected to be named early next year.

Derby North MP Chris Williamson, who campaigned for the Thameslink contract to be awarded to Bombardier, said the focus should now switch to Crossrail. He said he plans to be out in Derby today to garner support for Bombardier's bid for the deal.

He will be in East Street, between 11am and 3pm, asking shoppers to sign a letter calling on Prime Minister David Cameron to ensure Bombardier has a fair chance of getting the Crossrail work.

He said: "The Government decision not to award the Thameslink deal to Bombardier was disgraceful. What we must do is maintain momentum from that campaign.

"People feel angry about the way the Government has treated Derby. We can try to channel that emotion and turn it into something positive by pushing even harder for Bombardier to be awarded the Crossrail deal."

A PARADE is to take place showing the city is united against extremism – after the killing of Drummer Lee Rigby in Woolwich.

Drummer Rigby's death, on May 22, shocked the UK and prompted the formation of the campaign group Woolwich Strong, which seeks to unite people against "extremism, terrorism and oppression".

Hundreds are expected to march from The Neptune pub, in Osmaston Road, to the war memorial, in Derby's Market Place, in support of the campaign on Sunday, June 23, from midday.

One of the organisers, Stu Grant, of Boyer Street, said similar marches were expected to happen in 75 to 80 other cities and towns across the country, and in Ireland, on the same day.

He said a similar peaceful march, involving 2,000 people, had taken place in Woolwich on May 25.

Mr Grant, 48, said: "That was the starting point for the Woolwich Strong movement which has inspired our march. People from all ethnicities and backgrounds took part and we want the same this time.

"We have written to mosques and temples in the city, asking for their members to come out and join us.

"We hope this will show people in Derby, and all over Britain, that we won't accept extremism."

He said organisers on the march would be wearing red sweatshirts with "Derby Strong" on them, while others would wear T-shirts with the message.

A wreath will be laid at the war memorial but Mr Grant said he wanted to keep more details about that a secret.

He said: "If anyone wants to come and lay teddies or flowers there as well, then they can."

A spokeswoman for Derbyshire police said the force was aware of the march.

She said: "At the moment, we have no intelligence that it needs policing as such.

"If things happen to change, then we will think again but, at the moment, it will be local police officers on duty who will be keeping their eye on it."

On Thursday, it was revealed Drummer Rigby's family would receive financial support in line with the arrangements for deaths on active duty.

Speaking in the Commons, House leader Andrew Lansley said the matter was one that "members across the House will sympathise with".

He said he was glad to assure MPs that "the widow and child of Drummer Lee Rigby will receive financial support".

The two men accused of Drummer Rigby's murder, who have been remanded in custody, are Michael Adebolajo, 28, from Romford, east London, and Michael Adebowale, 22, of Greenwich, south-east London.

ULTIMATELY, despite the administration of Derby Riverlights Developments and the proposed sale of the complex, it will be business as usual for tenants.

The last thing that those marketing the Derby Riverlights building want is for trading tenants to be disrupted in any way, shape or form. It could deter potential investors.

That means business will carry on for Jimmy's World Grill, the Spar convenience store, the Genting Club and the two hotels that occupy Derby Riverlights and buses will run as usual. £23 million is a substantial amount of money but there are investors out there with the means to take on Derby Riverlights.

THE owner of Derby Riverlights has failed and the complex is on the market with a £23 million price tag.

Property firm Colliers International has been instructed to market the building on behalf of receivers handing the affairs of owner Derby Riverlights Developments Ltd, which has gone into administration.

According to the agent, the value of the complex on the open market has dropped below its cost to build – believed to be around £100 million. The Riverlights building contains the bus station, two hotels – Hampton by Hilton and Holiday Inn, a Spar convenience store, the Genting Club casino and Jimmy's World Grill. None of the businesses are expected to be affected by the sale of the property.

Tim Meakes, head of specialist investment at Colliers International, said: "There has already been initial interest but we are in a very early stage of the marketing. At £100 per square foot, it represents good value for money for investors."

Rent paid by the building's tenants each year amounts to £1.97 million. The bus station is let to Derby City Council on a 150-year lease.

Last June the Derby Telegraph reported how Derby Riverlights, the company set up to develop the building, was being forced to sell up.

Despite stating it was capable of servicing interest on money it had borrowed for the giant project, a loan with the former Bank of Scotland had been included in a billion-pound debt portfolio that had been sold to a third party.

According to Derby Riverlights, the new owners of the debt asked for the loan to be repaid or refinanced in too short a time period, forcing the directors into making the decision to sell up.

MP Chris Williamson said: "This is an indication of the declining economy that has been created by the counter-productive austerity programme that the Government is pursuing. We need to get confidence back in the economy. Once we can achieve that then we will see companies flourish again."

Councillor Ranjit Banwait, said the news did "not come as a surprise". He said: "We are disappointed, and I am sure the community will feel the same. It certainly shows that the state of the economy is extremely delicate and it is pretty precarious for major companies out there.

"We hope somebody else will be able to come and take over and protect all the excellent hard work, investment and jobs. We will do all we can to support them."

FURIOUS householders say a mobile phone mast which has not got planning permission is making it impossible to watch their favourite TV shows.

It is the second time in recent months that Everything Everywhere (EE) has been in conflict with residents in Alvaston.

In April, EE took down another "eyesore" mast in Elvaston Lane after Derby City Council ordered it to do so.

It had been up for 13 months despite only having formal planning permission for six.

Now the authority is being forced to do battle with the firm again over a mast in Noel Baker Community School car park which, the council says, only had temporary planning permission to March.

The 30ft-high structure has angered nearby residents who say they were not consulted on the "monstrosity" and that, ever since it arrived, their TV signals have been intermittently disrupted. Widow Sylvia Blinstone, 67, said she used to enjoy sitting down for Channel 5's afternoon movie most weekdays but can rarely do it anymore.

She said: "Nine times out of 10 I can't watch it because the picture is broken up.

"I spent a lot of time watching the TV; I'm a pensioner with limited income. It's maddening when you're half-way through a programme and you can't watch it anymore."

Mrs Blinstone, who lives opposite the mast, in Bracknell Drive, said: "It was only supposed to be temporary but they've put in a concrete base, a concrete wall, and they've put a fence around it. That seems permanent to me."

Graham Goff, 59, said his television was often "pixilated" due to the mast.

He said: "It will reduce house prices in the area."

Deputy leader of Derby City Council Ranjit Banwait has written to EE, the firm created when Orange and T-mobile merged, calling for a quick resolution to the issue.

Mr Banwait said he had received three complaints from people living near the mast about their TV signals and believed "dozens more may have been affected".

His letter, sent to EE chief executive Olaf Swantee, said that the mast's "continued occupation" of the school's car park "appears to have no basis on either legal or planning grounds".

It said the trouble began after the school signed a lease with Orange for telecoms equipment to be put up on its roof.

It said: "The school was part of the Building Schools for the Future scheme which meant that the existing buildings were to be demolished and replaced with a new school and negotiations took place to relocate the equipment to a freestanding mast to be located on playing fields.

"The site was still not ready when the old building needed to be demolished and to assist your company the school agreed to a fixed term six- month licence for a temporary site on the car park. This licence ended in March 2013."

Noel-Baker head teacher Mal Kerr said he wanted the mast off the site. He said: "I'm worried that they (EE) haven't done what they said they would. It's no advantage to us to have it there and it's a disadvantage to residents."

EE was given three days to respond to all the points in Mr Banwait's letter but yesterday only commented on the TV signals.

A spokeswoman said: "EE's mobile network is not causing any TV interference. We use Ofcom-approved spectrum bands, which are completely separate to those used in TV transmission.

"We are investigating whether, in this particular case, the structure itself is the cause of interference, and working to ensure that TV reception is improved for the residents as quickly as possible. We apologise for the inconvenience caused."

IT was a dream come true yesterday for five lads from an Ilkeston band as they played at one of the largest rock festivals in the world at Donington Park.

Emperor Chung's guitarist Danny Beardsley confessed nerves ahead of their first performance at the Download Festival – "but they soon disappeared when we started playing" he said.

The band opened the Pepsi Max stage – one of five stages at the event, which will have 150 bands and 100,000 fans.

Danny said: "We could do it all again. I hope it's one of many sets we do here."

Despite stormy weather on Thursday and rain showers yesterday, everything started on time – with the help of improved drainage.

A further 30,000 people turned up to the event, in its 11th year, yesterday to camp for the weekend – adding to almost 40,000 already there.

Festival director John Probyn said: "We have expanded the land for camping by a 21 acres this year, without increasing camper numbers.

"There's 200 more campers to come, so it will be day traffic today and tomorrow."

Fans were allowed into the main arena half-an-hour early, unlike last year, when mud made it two hours late.

They wanted to see headliners Slipknot but, before they hit the stage, 44 bands had already played in the first of three days. Katie Wilson, 24, of Balham, in London, said: "It was a great day.

"But I think it will be even better on Saturday, when Iron Maiden are headlining."

Meanwhile, 40 people belonging to the bands raised about £60,000 by cycling from London to Donington Park.

They arrived on their bikes at about 12.30pm. The money will go to the Teenage Cancer Trust, Childline and Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy.

It was organised by Iron Maiden manager Rod Smallwood, who said: "There were some spills and thrills, and encounters with farmers and cows, but we made it."

Iron Maiden headline tonight but lead singer Bruce Dickinson was not part of the ride as planned, because of two concerts in Frankfurt.

Also appearing are Motorhead, Enter Shikari, veteran rockers Thunder and Breaston band Fahran. today will see German band Rammstein headlining.

FIVE men and a woman have been jailed for a total of more than 26 years for a UK-wide conspiracy to sell thousands of pounds of crack cocaine.

The "leading light" of the dealing ring, Eugene Robinson, was snared after police planted a covert listening device in his Littleover home.

The 25-year-old was jailed for seven-and-a-half years for sending drugs to Aberdeen, to exploit a lucrative market, as well as dealing them in the Midlands.

Drugs that could have sold for up to £27,000 were sent through the post as well as via "mules" – men who swallowed packages of crack cocaine before travelling up to Scotland by car.

Also jailed at Derby Crown Court were Caleb Alexander, from Allenton, who had been previously linked to the notorious A1 gang in Derby, Liam Cooper, from the city, Cherrelle Cameron, from Alvaston, and Glen Smith and Stephen Forbes, both from Scotland.

Judge John Burgess said: "Eugene Robinson, you are the person who links all the others and indeed some of whom are being prosecuted in Scotland.

"You are the leading light in the enterprise and you would be the person in the dock who profited the most.

"You continued to deal in drugs even after you were arrested."

Police in both Derby and Scotland worked together to close the net on the drugs ring.

Officers intercepted a package of drugs at a Derby post office and monitored the group's movements. Two other drugs runs were stopped in Scotland and arrests were made.

Police fitted a listening device in Robinson's home and it became clear that he was feeling the impact of the seizures. He was recorded complaining about the money he was losing – talking about "32 bags", which means £32,000 in drugs-talk.

John Lloyd-Jones QC, prosecuting, said: "Robinson was wise enough not to send too much drugs in any one run. He makes it plain he's got someone up there (Aberdeen) working for him – someone doing an ounce a day."

Liam Cooper, 23, from Midland Road, was found to be the "cook" behind one of the batches of drugs – meaning he mixed up the crack cocaine.

When police searched his home they found 20g of the drug, as well as traces on a food mixer and a knife. He was jailed for three years and four months.

Caleb Alexander, 26, stored and delivered drugs for Robinson, who referred to him as "his man".

Alexander, of Osmaston Park Road, was sent to prison for four years and two months after admitting his involvement in one of the Scottish deals, as well as a conspiracy to deal locally

Police found drugs in the electricity box outside his home.

Alexander had previously been convicted in February 2009 of assisting an offender and was jailed for six years, which was cut to four years after it went to appeal.

He drove offenders away from a shooting at a house party in Allenton.

In the latest case, Alexander stored the drugs at Cherrelle Cameron's house, in Griffin Close. Cameron, 21, who was jailed for 28 months, also allowed the drugs to be bagged up in her home.

Glen Smith, 59, of Waulkmill Crescent, and Stephen Forbes, 35, of Ross Crescent, both in Aberdeen, were two of the intended recipients of the drugs. Smith was jailed for seven years and Forbes for 31 months.

The court was told that none of the defendants lived extravagant lifestyles as a result of the conspiracy.

Derbyshire police worked with Grampian police, in Scotland, to bust the ring.

Following the sentencing, Detective Inspector Dave Cox said: "Robinson posed a real risk to the community of Derby and the gang had been looking to make as much money as they could by infiltrating other drugs markets.

"On occasions there will be a demand in certain areas of the country. We identified a supply of the drugs to Aberdeen. We will always do our utmost to disrupt cross-border drug supply.

"It required a committed and determined effort from the investigation team and really showed the value of forces working together."

The two police forces also worked together in 2008 to convict teenager Robert Williams and two youths from Derby of being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin.

Williams, of Boulton Lane, Alvaston, was jailed for a year and 11 months.

THEY have spent endless hours during their nursing careers caring for people with cancer – now a group of friends from Ilkeston are running Derby's Race for Life to raise awareness of the disease.

Katy Murphy, Lauretta Otremba and Heidi Walters have worked at various health units providing support for cancer patients.

They have seen loved ones die from the disease and they have witnessed others bravely battle and survive.

Now they are joining together for the event at Darley Park dressed from head-to-toe in pink to show their support for Cancer Research UK.

Katy, 23, said: "Everybody knows someone who has been affected by cancer and that's why it is important to take part in Race for Life and raise sponsorship money for such a worthwhile charity."

The trio met while studying at the University of Nottingham. Lauretta, 22, who now works as a community nurse in Alfreton, said she often cares for cancer patients.

"Being a nurse, I look after people with cancer on a daily basis," she said. "It's emotional a lot of the time and difficult but we do a lot of support for the patients and the families.

"You have to be strong for them, as it is them who are going through the cancer together."

Lauretta said she will also be taking part in memory of her aunt, Jane Fearn, who died on March 29 from lung cancer, aged 42.

"She was a great auntie and friend and a truly inspirational lady who fought incredibly hard right to the end," said Lauretta. "I think she would be very proud of me."

Katy and Lauretta took part in Race for Life in 2009.

Katy, who now works as a mental health nurse, said: "It was good fun and there was a mixed atmosphere.

"It's an emotional day but also happy as well – people are celebrating all that they have been through. It's such a great opportunity for women to come together."

Katy's mum, Julie Murphy, was diagnosed with skin cancer in 2005 after finding a mole on her wrist.

Katy said: "She went to the doctors because it had grown bigger and that's when she had the mole removed to stop the cancer from spreading.

"The doctor told her it was cancerous but she didn't tell me or my sister Lucy about it until she was all clear."

Heidi, who works as a community nurse in Grantham, said she will be racing in memory of Nora Clarke, who died in July 2007, aged 73.

The 24-year-old said: "She was one of my friends who I had known all my life.

"She used to work in a care home just up the road from where I lived with my family.

"She had breast cancer and recovered from it but then it returned and spread everywhere in her body.

"I work with people who have cancer on a daily basis and I do support visits for them regularly. You don't always know what to say to them as it can be very emotional. The main thing is to make sure they know you are there for them no matter what.

"I'm looking forward to this year's race as it will be my first time."

The women will also be taking part with friend Charlee Wheatley, a teacher.

Charlee, 24, was among a handful of people who volunteered to hand out flyers in Derby city centre in April to promote this year's event.

"This really inspired me to sign up and raise as much money as possible for Cancer Research UK," she said.

"A family friend had breast cancer and it deeply affected their whole family.

"She is five years in the clear now but she has inspired me to want to help other people by raising funds for the charity. I'm really excited to take part in the race.

"It will be my first time and I've heard what a great event it is with a great atmosphere."

HOSPITAL comfort packs put together by a charity which provides treats to people with life-limiting conditions are to be given to seriously ill Derbyshire children.

Toys and games, toiletries, clothing and refreshments are among items which can be found in the bags provided for both children and their parents by Me & Dee.

Charity founder Maria Hanson started making up the packs more than two years ago – after noticing there was little time between seriously ill children being diagnosed with conditions and being admitted to hospital.

She started by providing them just to Birmingham Children's Hospital but an increase in demand meant she was suppling them to five hospitals by November 2012.

Maria, of Ticknall, has now agreed to start supplying the packs, which cost £10 to make, to the Derbyshire Children's Hospital, based at the Royal Derby Hospital.

Deliveries will be made every six to eight weeks and the first 100 – which should be given out over the next three months – have been paid for by the Swadlincote and District Round Table.

Maria said: "It was a relief to have this donation and we are so grateful.

"Me & Dee receives so many requests now – up to 50 a month, which would be £5,000 just to cover them – and has been almost dry of funds.

"This means supplying the packs would have been incredibly difficult without having the funds to do so, which is why we really appreciate the support."

Each pack contains 28 items, which are chosen depending on the age of the person receiving it.

One of the first deliveries at the Derbyshire Children's Hospital was made for children and 12 parents on the neonatal intensive care unit.

These packs included dummies, nappies, muslin cloths, baby toiletries and a soft toy.

Maria said: "When I met with bosses at the hospital to discuss supplying the packs, they were delighted with the contents.

"I think many people think it is just a toothbrush and flannel until they see the pack with all the items, from beakers, coffee and soups to towels, flannel and all toiletries, along with a pen and notepad."

Maria Hanson set up Me & Dee in 2006 and – after seeing nominations for trips, gifts and experiences increase from one a month to 20 over the following six years – moved into offices in Melbourne to help cope with demand.

The charity will continue to fund-raise this year, with a black-tie ball set to take place at Burton Albion Football Club on September 28 and a sponsored cycle ride from Derby to Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire, on October 5.

To donate to the charity, visit www.meanddee.co.uk

A BUTCHER'S shop has done scorching business in the hot weather – selling eight times more burgers than he did this time last year.

Scott Rodgers, of Chellaston Butchers, said the high temperatures led to the shop shifting 1,200 burgers in three days this week – up on the 150 they sold over the same period last year.

During July 2012, Derby was battered by heavy rain and flooding.

But this year, despite some cloudy predictions for Saturday and Sunday, temperatures have soared and local businesses have revelled in the heat.

Mr Rodgers said: "We're working like mad. We have 25 different lines and they're all selling.

"We sold 600 kebabs and about 600 lbs of sausages in three days.

"So this weekend we have stocked right up and are expecting similar sales."

Staff at Bluebells Dairy Farm in Spondon said they had been working hard to keep up with the demand for their homemade dairy ice cream.

Hilary Boss, who works in the tea rooms at the farm, said: "Sales have definitely increased. Demand is high and we're having to make lots more ice cream.

"In terms of flavours, we've had to develop more summery flavours and sorbets have become hugely popular in the past week.

"We've moved the cows on to new pastures to improve the milk yield. Better-quality grass means better-quality milk and more ice cream."

Popular flavours which have been selling well include Pimms sorbet, cranberry and raspberry sorbet, lemon meringue ice cream and strawberry mascarpone ice cream.

Hilary said: "We've had promotions for Wimbledon running the past couple of weeks so anything with strawberry in it has been doing great."

Cleaver Meats, which has a stand in the Eagle Market and a store on Wisgreaves Road, Alvaston, has seen a marked increase in sales of barbecue meat.

General manager Graham Hulland said: "Sales have very, very much increased.

"We're probably a good 50% up on sales of barbecue meats than we were a few weeks ago after a few weekends of good weather."

The warm weather has also encouraged people to go out and pick their own fruit.

Scaddows Farm in Ticknall grows fruit, including strawberries and raspberries.

Ann Webster, who owns the farm with her husband, John, said she had witnessed extra visitors over the past couple of weeks of summer sun.

She said: "The weather is obviously bringing people out."

A WATER rescue team is facing a boating challenge which has never been attempted before to raise funds for its vital work.

Members of Water Safe UK Search and Rescue Team will embark on the Round Britain 999 Coastal Challenge, an attempt to circumnavigate 1,999 miles of British coastline in nine days, nine hours and nine minutes in a small rigid inflatable boat.

The team is hoping to raise at least £20,000 for Water Safe UK and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

Nigel Cobb, of Ripley, team leader at the water rescue organisation, came up with the idea while recovering from a broken leg.

He said: "I broke my leg when I was walking my dog and slipped on some ice. I was bored and I was thinking how we could raise a lot of money in one go and then I came up with this challenge."

Mr Cobb, who will also act as the team leader for the challenge, said: "I wanted to use the 999 theme because a lot of the team members have a background in the emergency services.

"Something like this has never been done before. There will be four people on the boat at any one time. We'll be stopping at lifeboat stations along the way to meet up with lifeboat volunteers."

Members of the challenge team will be travelling about 250 miles per day.

Mr Cobb said: "It'll be the equivalent of running a marathon."

Western Power Distribution has provided the fuel for the journey, around £4,000 worth of petrol. The challenge has also been supported by other companies, including X-runner, Hunters Land Rovers and Rolls-Royce,

The Watersafe UK Search and Rescue Team has 21 members and 12 of those are taking part in the challenge.

Members of the team who are not in the boat will travel by road in two Land Rovers, which have been provided by Hunters Land Rovers. One of those is Steve Walker, of Allestree, who is also managing director of X-runner.

He said: "I am realising how much of a challenge this is going to be.

"The boat is called X-runner and we still need to take her on some long-distance sea trials which will probably be around Anglesey.

"We'll possibly go from Anglesey to the Isle of Man which is a 160-mile round trip. That will help us experience lots of different weather conditions.

"We've already done some initial sea trials in the boat in March."

The boat, built by Oxford company EP Barrus Ltd, will set off on the challenge on September 9 at 9.09am from Poole inDorset.

It will travel from there to Bude in Cornwall and then on to Beaumaris in Anglesey.

From Wales it will carry on to Stranraer in Scotland then to the Kyle of Lochalsh and on to Wick, North Berwick, Cleethorpes, Margate and finally back to Poole on September 17.

To support the team's efforts, visit www.justgiving. com/999-challenge.