A UNIVERSITY of Derby employee was sacked after being accused of fraudulently helping an agency claim cash for recruiting Middle Eastern students, an industrial tribunal was told.

An investigation was launched after foreign students said they had not used an agent to get on their courses and yet an agency was claiming they had and requesting commission, the hearing was told.

As a result, Dr Walid Aleboid, an international recruitment officer at the university whose duties included inputting data on foreign student applications, had his employment terminated.

University officer Nick Slade told the hearing suspicions were raised during an internal investigation into international student recruitment – worth £6 million a year to the university.

Dr Aleboid was suspended and then dismissed.

He was accused of adding an agent's details to three applications "wrongfully and fraudulently", triggering the payment of an agent fee.

The university, which takes 840 of its 14,000 students from abroad, had doubts that the agency, Albayan, was actually involved in recruiting the students, the hearing was told.

"Students were saying they hadn't come from an agent but their names were marked against an agent on the system – this raised our concerns," said Mr Slade, the director of international development at the university.

Dr Aleboid claimed that he had been phoned by Albayan, a firm he knew and trusted, to ask that its details be added to the three files to enable it to follow up the students' cases.

Dr Aleboid told the hearing the request came a couple of days after six other full applications had come from Albayan.

The three new files, however, were applications completed online by students but in which Albayan also said it had played a part by helping the students.

Dr Aleboid said he was unfairly sacked because he used his own experience and knowledge of Albayan to add the information to the three files.

And he told the tribunal an e-mail from the United Arab Emirates embassy later vindicated him, as it confirmed Albayan had been helping students from Abu Dhabi Police Academy fill in the university application forms.

Mr Slade agreed that he had received an e-mail from the embassy confirming the involvement of Albayan but did not present it at Mr Aleboid's disciplinary hearing.

A judge will give a decision later.

PAUL Coutts says belief is running through Derby County's team on the back of a five-match unbeaten run.

Coutts makes a first return to his former club, Peterborough United, today as the Rams look for another positive result to follow Tuesday's victory at Ipswich.

The Scottish midfielder joined Peterborough in the summer of 2008 and he helped the club to win promotion from League One in his first season. He made 60 appearances for Posh before he signed for Preston North End at the end of the January transfer window in 2010.

Now he is a key component in Derby's midfield and the 24-year-old is looking forward to going back to London Road.

"I had a great time there but we know we are in for another tough game," said Coutts.

"We have to be at it 100% if we are going to get the result but there is a great belief in the team that we can keep our run going.

"We know we are a young, fit squad. We keep going right to the end of games and we have got our rewards for that.

"Late goals give a team a massive lift and the confidence to keep going."

Coutts scored an 87th-minute equaliser at Middlesbrough in the unbeaten run and a late goal from Theo Robinson earned a point against Blackburn Rovers.

Substitute Nathan Tyson's winner in stoppage time brought Derby three points at Ipswich.

Peterborough also won midweek.

George Boyd inspired them to a 3-1 victory over Huddersfield Town and one of his two goals was a wonder strike from close to the halfway line.

Coutts, a former team-mate of Boyd, hopes there will be no repeat this afternoon.

"He's a very talented player but he can't score a goal like that every week!" said Coutts.

Boyd has called on his team-mates not to waste their victory over Huddersfield.

"We played well and enjoyed a great win on Tuesday but it won't mean a thing if we don't beat Derby as well," said the attacking midfielder.

"We were desperate to win a game at home but we now need to turn those three points into a run of victories to get us away from the bottom of the table."

TWO thugs who fired a shotgun at a car in a bungled revenge attack have been jailed for a total of more than 11 years.

And a judge said he felt "nauseated" after one of the men asked the courts for mercy, claiming he was a "good guy with a big heart".

Darren Lawrence and Joel Knighton shot at a Vauxhall Corsa parked in a Chaddesden street because they believed it belonged to a man with whom they had a grievance.

But the car turned out to be owned by a woman, who woke up the next morning to find damage worth £5,000.

The pair admitted possessing a firearm and criminal damage at Derby Crown Court.

Lawrence, 25, was jailed for six years and three months, while Knighton, 24, was sent to prison for five years and three months.

Sentencing the pair, Judge David Pugsley told them: "I saw the witnesses in this case – they were terrified.

"One wouldn't name you. The others were terribly afraid. You two went out, armed, for a revenge attack – as it happened you got the wrong car – to inspire fear."

The court was told the defendants wanted to shoot the car because they thought it belonged to a man who had been in a dispute with Knighton's sister.

On the evening of the attack, on November 6 last year, Lawrence, of Bembridge Drive, Alvaston, and Knighton, of Elton Road, Derby, asked a friend to give them a lift to Chaddesden.

When they arrived at Welshpool Road, they both got out of the car and one of them, believed to be Lawrence, fired two shots at the victim's Corsa.

The shots damaged the windscreen, headlight and roof. The car was an insurance write-off.

The attack was captured on CCTV, with one of them seen carrying what appeared to be a gun. They were arrested.

Knighton pleaded guilty two months ago but Lawrence did not admit to the attack until the second day of his trial this week. He claimed there was a police conspiracy against him.

Prosecutor Robert Underwood said: "All witnesses expressed grave concerns about coming forward to give evidence, but nonetheless did so."

He said police were concerned that the weapon had never been found.

The court was told that Lawrence wrote a letter to the judge pleaded for leniency.

Judge Pugsley said: "I quote from this letter: 'I'm not a bad person.

"I'm a good guy with a big heart. I've just made some mistakes in my life'."

The judge went on to say: "I find this claim one of the most nauseating that one can imagine.

"He was quite prepared to vilify the witnesses and police officers until it got too much.

"Normally one is moved by what is written from a prison cell.

"I find his letter has not endeared him to me."

In mitigation, the court was told the pair had been taking part in courses while in custody and doing well.

Speaking after the sentencing, Derbyshire police said it had been a complex investigation and the inquiry had taken a year.

Detective Constable Yvette Sharpe said: "This was a very serious offence which was incredibly frightening for the victim, her family, and the community.

"After a lengthy and detailed investigation I am pleased that both offenders have admitted their guilt and been sentenced accordingly by the court to reflect the severity of the crime."

A ROGUE salesman who made thousands of pounds selling clocked vans has been ordered to pay back £205,000 to his victims.

In September, Maxwell Alvey, whose victims included Derby firm Pegasus Plumbing, admitted buying the vans and tampering with their mileage and was jailed for two years. He received a further two years for stealing £125,000 from an elderly aunt.

Nottingham Crown Court yesterday heard how Alvey, 50, had made £425,000 from his crimes.

Judge Andrew Hamilton ruled his assets were worth £205,000 and would have to be sold if he was to avoid a further 30 months in jail.

Mark Denton, of Pegasus Plumbing, bought a van from Alvey, of Nottingham, in 2009 that had done 200,000 miles more than on the clock. He said: "This is fantastic news. He sold us something which was worthless and only worth its value for scrap."

NIGEL Clough looked back on Derby County's heaviest defeat in eight months and said: "Everything that could go against us, did."

They lost 3-0 to Peterborough United at London Road on Saturday and finished the game with 10 men after defender Jake Buxton was sent off.

Peterborough skipper Michael Bostwick opened the scoring after half an hour and and goalkeeper Adam Legzdins saved Lee Tomlin's second-half penalty before Derby found themselves a man down in the 70th minute, when Buxton received his second yellow card of the afternoon.

Striker Saido Berahino scored twice late on for the home side to bring the Rams' five-match unbeaten run to an end.

Clough said: "It was one of those days where nothing seemed to go for us.

"We're really disappointed and frustrated.

"However, some of the things that went against us were of our own making.

"We didn't help ourselves at times with some silly errors.

"Once we settled after the first five minutes or so, we were comfortable.

"We created situations and chances and I thought Conor Sammon was a handful again.

"Then we gave the first goal away but I thought it was all us for 15 or 20 minutes at the start of the second half.

"We survived the penalty scare but Jake's red card changed the game again.

"It swung it back in their favour.

"Adam Legzdins and Mark O'Brien made mistakes near the end and we were punished.

"It should not have been anywhere near 3-0 because we didn't play that badly.

"There were mistakes but it was not a bad overall performance."

Buxton's first yellow card came after 66 minutes for a foul on Berahino; his second four minutes later when he challenged George Boyd.

Peterborough's penalty was awarded after 56 minutes when skipper Richard Keogh slid in on Boyd.

Asked if he thought it was a penalty, Clough said: "Not sure, it was on the far side.

"Richard Keogh had probably the poorest game he's had for us because he has been incredible since he came to the club. He was a little bit off it.

"On the penalty, he gave the ball away first of all and then he had to make it back.

"He thinks he got a touch on the ball but we saw how far away the referee was when he made his decision."

Legzdins saved the spot kick to keep Derby in the game and Clough was again full of praise for the keeper, despite his error late on for Peterborough's second goal, when he let Berahino's shot squirm through his hands.

"Adam was superb again," said Clough.

"All goalkeepers have moments like that in their careers, so he just needs to remember what he did in the game and the saves he made."

A FAMILY returned from holiday to find their home on fire.

Gavin and Kay Pearson were alerted by soot in the living-room window as they pulled on to their drive.

Inside, they found the kitchen on fire and smoke in the rest of the house, in Peveril Crescent, Sawley.

It took firefighters around half-an-hour to extinguish the blaze.

And to add to the couple's woes, they then discovered they had been burgled while they were away.

Mrs Pearson, 39, said: "I was horrified. I could see the smoke and soot in the front window and thought 'oh no'. The inside was a mess."

While cleaning up the mess they found that jewellery was missing.

Mrs Pearson said: "It was clear someone had broken in.

"A window was open at the back. Drawers had been tipped out. They've taken jewellery belonging to dead relatives.

"How could someone do such a thing? They've taken sentimental things which can't be replaced. And, as if that's not enough, our house has been on fire."

Police are investigating the burglary and the blaze, along with the fire service.

A police spokesman said the fire was being treated as suspicious.

The couple had been on holiday for a week in Devon with their children, Gracie, four, and Joe, two. They arrived home at just after 3pm on Saturday

Mrs Pearson said: "We'd had such a wonderful week. Then we have had to come home to this."

The family have had to move in with a relative. A representative from their insurance firm was expected to assess the damage today.

Yesterday Mr and Mrs Pearson returned to their home to begin clearing up.

The kitchen was badly damaged from the flames, while the rest of the house was covered in soot.

Clothes which were in drawers upstairs had black stains on them. The entire house smelled of smoke. Mrs Pearson, a teacher, added: "We're trying to see what, if anything, can be salvaged. The children are very upset. We all are.

"It is awful to have to come home to find this."

Mr Pearson, 39, said: "It's a mess inside. We are trying to save some of our belongings but it is very difficult."

Anyone with information is asked to call Derbyshire police on 101.

BUSINESSES joined forces to clean streets in Derby after the city council temporarily halted its litter clearance service in protest at funding cuts.

Shopkeepers opening on Saturday and Sunday mornings were greeted by rubbish dumped by revellers.

Among the items that had to be swept up by traders were flyers, takeaway papers, cigarette packets, bill receipts and glass bottles.

The Labour-led council said it suspended its litter picking service to make people think about getting rid of their rubbish and highlight the consequences of Government funding cuts.

The authority says that its StreetPride cleaning team could be one of many services that suffers without adequate funding.

The team stopped cleaning city centre streets at 6pm on Friday and was not due to resume until the early hours of today.

While litter could be seen strewn across some areas of the city centre as a result, the problem was alleviated in other areas thanks to the efforts of shopkeepers.

Among them was Victoria Jacobs, who co-runs the Baked bakery and café in the Strand.

She said: "We won't allow our customers to come to a dirty street.

"We've got a five-star hygiene score and we don't want customers to think this part of town is filthy.

"A few of us have pulled together. There was one person clearing away glass bottles at 7am."

Gary Whitmore, owner of neighbouring Hobsons Locksmiths, said the council was "wrong" to halt its street cleaning service.

He said: "It's ridiculous. The councillors are just trying to score political points.

"Keeping the streets clean is important. You're hardly going to attract people into the city centre if the streets are full of litter and dirt."

Even with the effort of shopkeepers, bins were left to overflow in areas such as the Market Place.

Meanwhile, litter caught up in fallen autumn leaves made the space outside Derby Crown Court look a mess.

Passer-by Mary Hobbs, 53, of Littleover, said: "I hope this doesn't become a regular thing – it makes the city look untidy."

Another shopper, Bethany Worcester, 37, of Allestree, added: "My sister is coming to Derby next week from New Zealand.

"I'm glad she's not here this weekend because she'd have a bad impression of Derby with the litter that's around."

Councillor Ranjit Banwait, cabinet member for neighbourhoods, said the council wanted to show the public what impact further Government cuts could have on public services.

He said: "We've made our point and we're not planning any more stoppages.

"What happens in the future is up to the Government. We want a fairer deal for Derby and ask that people back that campaign."

NEIGHBOURS in a terraced street were left stunned when they looked outside to find a car on its roof.

Police said one caller told them how he heard a "loud bang" and was amazed to discover the car upside down in the road outside his front door.

The incident happened in Campion Street, Derby, at 10.35pm on Friday.

Several other vehicles parked on either side of the street were damaged when the red Renault Megane flipped.

A police spokesman said the driver of the car was arrested.

He suffered only minor injuries.

PETERBOROUGH United deserved their victory but, for a second time in 12 months, Derby County left London Road reflecting on what might have been.

Last season, the Rams built a two-goal lead and missed a glorious chance to make it three before Posh stormed back to win 3-2.

Saturday's 3-0 scoreline looks more emphatic but tells only part of the story of what was a strange contest containing a number of turning points.

Fall the wrong side of turning points and defeat usually follows.

For half an hour in the first half and a period in the second, Derby harboured genuine hope of stretching their unbeaten run to six matches.

They failed to do so because their cutting edge was blunt, certain players had off days and silly mistakes at the back proved costly.

Having to play for the final 20 minutes with 10 men following Jake Buxton's red card also hindered them. They trailed by only one goal at the time before Saido Berahino's late double added gloss to the day for Peterborough, who climbed out of the bottom three for the first time this season.

Rams manager Nigel Clough had warned that Peterborough, now with four wins in six games, can beat any team on their day.

This was such a day but definitely not Derby's day.

Their level of performance slipped when compared with what we have seen for much of the season. Not by much but enough to send them to their heaviest defeat since they lost by four at Southampton in February.

Yet there was no sign of such an outcome earlier in the afternoon.

Much of Peterborough's play tends to go through their deep-lying central midfielder Grant McCann. Once Derby got close to him and restricted his influence, they enjoyed a modicum of control and looked relatively comfortable.

Richard Keogh headed wide from one of a number of corners won in the opening 15 minutes and Theo Robinson whipped a shot from distance narrowly wide.

Conor Sammon's unselfish running and work stretched Peterborough's defence, although it soon became evident that Craig Bryson's energy and willingness to get forward would be missed.

Bryson was out with a tight hamsting and his place in the middle of midfield went to Jeff Hendrick, who played alongside Will Hughes in a 4-4-2 formation.

Little had been seen of Peterborough in attack before they went ahead after 30 minutes.

Shaun Brisley's header from McCann's corner was blocked on the line and Hughes managed to hack clear only for Michael Bostwick to smash a spectacular volley from 20 yards into the top right-hand corner of the net.

Goals change games and Peterborough suddenly looked a different side.

They might have scored twice more within minutes but were denied by Adam Legzdins, who parried George Boyd's low drive and brilliantly tipped Berahino's shot on to the bar.

Storm weathered, there was time in the half for Derby to show they were still in it.

Sammon had two sights of goal without producing a finish and Michael Jacobs fired straight at Bobby Olejnik after his free kick had been blocked.

Derby's best chance to equalise arrived five minutes after the break when a slick move sliced Peterborough open. Sammon's vision released John Brayford on an overlap and his low centre was met by Robinson six yards out.

The striker has been nicking goals from close range this season but, on this occasion, his first-time shot smacked against the outside of a post.

A golden opportunity and a turning point, no question, because the Rams were on top.

They still needed the impressive Legzdins to shine and he saved Lee Tomlin's 56th-minute penalty after Keogh was judged to have brought down Boyd.

Mistakes by Keogh have been rare since he signed from Coventry City. His slip allowed Boyd to charge into the area and the defender was asking for trouble once he went to ground in a bid to retrieve the situation.

He was adamant he got a toe on the ball and it looked a soft decision but it is easy to see why a spot kick was awarded, especially as he dived in, because he was always likely to take Boyd as well.

Derby, grateful for the let-off, pressed again before the next big decision by referee Simon Hooper provided another turning point.

Buxton had not long been booked for a foul on Berahino when he was shown a second yellow card following a tackle on Boyd to leave Derby down to 10.

The Rams defender, not one for demonstrative reactions, argued that he got the ball and he looked to have a case.

Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson felt the minutes between his side failing from the penalty spot and Buxton's sending off were crucial.

"Derby received a lift from the penalty miss but we didn't let our heads go down and kept our concentration when they pushed us back," said Ferguson.

"The red card killed them, to be fair, and we could see out a big win against a very good side."

Legzdins saved from Bostwick and substitute Danny Swanson and the home side should have had another penalty when Paul Coutts sent wing-back Mark Little tumbling.

A second Peterborough goal five minutes before the end of normal time finally settled matters.

Legzdins will not want to see a replay as he let a tame shot from Berhino slip through his hands and the ball bobbled over the line. It was a cruel and undeserved moment for the goalkeeper because he had done much to keep Derby in the game, just as he did at Ipswich a few days earlier.

Berahino, a 19-year-old on loan from West Brom, capped his lively display in the fifth minute of added time when he raced clear of an offside trap and coolly beat Legzdins.

CRAIG Bryson is expected to hand Derby County a boost ahead of their next game after he missed the 3-0 defeat by Peterborough United.

A tight hamstring ruled the Scot out of Saturday's Championship clash at London Road but he should be ready to face Blackpool at Pride Park next weekend.

Bryson had been ever-present this season before injury struck and manager Nigel Clough felt they had to be cautious with the key midfielder.

"His hamstring has been causing him a little bit of a problem," said Clough.

"We have got seven games in the next five weeks and we were conscious of that because we cannot afford to miss him for that length of time.

"We missed him against Peterborough.

"We missed his energy and his closing down but it was just too sore for him to play."

Jeff Hendrick, who sat out the win at Ipswich with an ankle injury, came in for Bryson but Clough was not happy with the 20-year-old's performance.

"I asked him afterwards what positive contribution he thought he made in the game. I don't think he has come up with one yet," said Clough.

"I thought Will Hughes was very good again but Paul Coutts took too long on the ball at times."

Jamie Ward was absent for a fifth game due to hamstring trouble.

The striker trained on Friday but felt the injury again.

"We will see how he is this week," said Clough.

"He felt his hamstring ever so slightly again.

"We certainly haven't rushed him but if it is still there, it's still there. You've got to be extremely careful with hamstring injuries."

A Derby training centre that helps unemployed people get work is being overwhelmed by an influx of jobseekers from eastern Europe.

Mohammed Sharief, chief executive of Normanton-based Jobs Education and Training, said his staff were nearing "breaking point" because of the surge.

And he said police have had to be called as people desperate for work get frustrated.

Mr Sharief said changes to the welfare system meant the unemployed now had to prove they were applying for more than a dozen jobs a fortnight to qualify for benefits.

In Normanton and Arboretum, a huge number of eastern Europeans are desperate for employment.

But their lack of English and limited computer literacy means many are struggling to get work and are relying on the centre for help completing job applications.

JET says about 200 people pile through the doors each Wednesday – a day dedicated to job-hunting.

Mr Sharief said: "It's bedlam. We have nine staff and 12 volunteers at any one time, so people have to wait.

"We had to call the police because some of them get irritated at having to wait and we need help calming them down. Our staff are relatively young and it's unfair to put them under that pressure.

"There are a limited number of jobs in Derby and the clients we are dealing with have no English, no work experience and no qualifications. Realistically, what job are they going to get? They can do manufacturing, cleaning and packing but those jobs are very limited.

"Some employers tell the clients they can't be given the job because they can't read the health and safety signs."

Each Wednesday, JET uses interpreters and bans staff from taking time off.

Slovakian Bohuslav Cervnak, 24, came to Derby two years ago to give his two children a better quality of life.

Speaking via a translator, he said: "The problem is I'm not able to speak English. When I go and see someone at an agency about a job, they say they can't give it to me. They say I have to learn English first."

Mr Cervnak, whose children, Alexander, seven, and Bohuslav junior, five, attend Osmaston Primary School, said he had been on one course to learn English.

He has now landed a place on a second course at the Multicultural Education Centre in Dairyhouse Road.

"I'm trying as much as I can," he said. "I don't want to be on benefits. I want a job.

"I have a brother, aunt and cousins here. Some have got jobs but others haven't."

Dasa Balogova, 23, arrived in Derby from Slovakia, seven months ago and has also been unable to find work due to her lack of English.

She said: "I'm applying for any job – cleaning, packing – I don't mind what it is. I came to England for a better life. I wasn't told how hard it would be to get a job.

"My aunt, grandfather, sister and cousin came to England. Some work and some are on Jobseekers' Allowance."

Mr Sharief said JET received funding from JobCentre Plus to help jobseekers who cannot speak English.

He said that had almost run out and yet hundreds of people, mainly Eastern European, were arriving.

He said: "We could turn them away but then where do they go? The pressure is put back on JobCentre Plus."

Councillor Fareed Hussain, cabinet member for adults and health at Derby City Council said: "The difficulty we have is that funding is so tight at the council that we are still trying to find the money to provide the statutory services we have to.

"I think the situation is something we have to raise with our MPs and Government because, if these people do not get support, then they will lose their benefits, and so deprivation will increase."

He estimated there were about 3,000 Eastern Europeans living in his ward of Arboretum alone.

SKIPPER Richard Keogh felt Derby County only had themselves to blame for their 3-0 defeat to Peterborough United.

Keogh was critical of his own performance at London Road and branded the Rams' display "unacceptable".

Nigel Clough's men went into Saturday's Championship encounter unbeaten in five matches but fell behind to Michael Bostwick's spectacular volley after half an hour.

Derby almost equalised early in the second half, only for Theo Robinson to be denied by the woodwork.

Rams keeper Adam Legzdins saved Lee Tomlin's 57th-minute penalty, before defender Jake Buxton was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Legzdins had kept the visitors in the game with a string of saves but his error allowed Saido Berahino to make it 2-0 in the 85th minute.

And Berahino capped off Peterborough's fourth win in six games by scoring again five minutes into added time.

"They deserved the win and I think we've only got ourselves to blame," said Keogh.

"We weren't at it and didn't start the game the right way.

"And we saw what happens when you don't start well – you end up making errors and we got punished. It's unacceptable.

"I was really disappointed with my second-half performance.

"From a personal point of view, it wasn't good enough.

"As captain, it's my responsibility to lead the team and, in the second half, I didn't do that."

The Rams looked comfortable during the early exchanges but the game changed on a number of key moments.

"It was a bit of a wonder strike for their first goal but we were still in the game," said Keogh.

"Theo hit the post and if that had gone in, it might have changed the game.

"But I don't think we were good enough and we know we need to be better.

"The manager made it clear to us after the game that is wasn't acceptable, especially with the travelling fans, who were fantastic and deserved a better showing.

"Ultimately, it comes down to the players out there on the pitch.

"You can prepare right all week but when we cross that white line, it's up to us to perform – and we didn't."

For the penalty, Keogh was adjudged to have brought down George Boyd in the box after initially losing possession to the Posh player.

"I thought the penalty was harsh," said the summer signing from Coventry City.

"It was sloppy from me in the first place but I thought Boyd made a bit of it – he's a clever player.

"Everything seemed to go against us but it was down to my error. I thought I got the ball. Maybe I got him a little bit but from the way the ball ricocheted out, it was clear I got it.

"Maybe I shouldn't dive in, though, and give the ref (Simon Hooper) the opportunity to give it."

Keogh also felt Buxton was unlucky to be dismissed for a foul on Boyd.

"I think you could see he got a touch on the ball," said the centre-back.

"I think everyone in the ground saw it but we're not referees and, unfortunately, he decided to send him off, which I thought was harsh.

"It unsettled our rhythm a little bit and made it easier for them to keep the ball.

"There weren't too many positives to take from the game but we didn't give up and kept going for it."

Keogh had some words of comfort for Legzdins following his mistake for Peterborough's second goal, when Berahino's speculative effort slipped through his fingers.

"I told Adam not to worry about that," said the Rams captain. "He's been fantastic since he came in and has made some really important saves in certain games.

"It was one of those freak things – if he did it 10 more times, I think he would catch it every time.

"He's got to not let that affect him. It wasn't his fault we lost that game."

A DERBY chef, more usually found creating top Indian dishes, has crafted a Halloween masterpiece in his restaurant kitchen.

Rakesh Kumar, 50, is head chef at the Anoki restaurant in London Road, Derby.

He has worked at Anoki for nine years creating dishes for diners.

Rakesh was born in New Delhi and learned his trade when he started out in the kitchens of Indian hotels.

He has been creative with food for 25 years and said he "really enjoys" the art of presentation.

Rakesh said: "I learned how to make this and that out of many things and I enjoy the challenge."

Among his creations are rose shapes made out of tomatoes and tree representations formed from cucumbers.

Rakesh said he is always looking for inspiration and, with Halloween almost here, a pumpkin was the obvious choice for a challenge.

He said: "It took me just over 30 minutes to compose my pumpkin sculpture, using a vegetable peeler and two small knives. I converted a plain pumpkin into a larger-than-life pair of hands.

"I love making these things. Nothing is impossible and I am always trying to think up new ideas for sculpting food."

Rakesh's nimble fingers worked with lightning speed to make the pair of hands cupping candles and the end result was impressive.

He said he particularly loves being creative because: "When I bring out my food, I am just waiting for people to say 'wow'."

IMS Lettings, Derby's No.1 letting agent, is warning tenants to be aware of hidden fees when moving from one letting agent to another.

When a tenant makes an application to rent a property most agents require a landlord reference as a matter of course.

IMS Lettings provides this service to its tenants free of charge; however, some agents charge up to £45 for the signed document.

The information provided on the document is crucial to the expediency and legitimacy of an application.

If this information is unavailable it can hinder the progress of an application and sometimes even prevent the tenants moving in, which could cost both tenants and landlords money.

IMS Lettings now manages more than 3,000 properties and will soon be entering its 10th year of business. For more information and to view all availabe IMS Lettings' properties, visit www.imslett ings.com.

NIGEL Clough has reminded his players they have to be at it 100 per cent each game if Derby County are to compete in the Championship.

Derby's performance level dipped at the weekend and they crashed to their first defeat in six matches.

The 3-0 loss against Peterborough United was the Rams' heaviest defeat in eight months.

Clough was both disappointed and frustrated but he believes the setback can be a lesson.

"In a way it's a learning process for the team," said the manager.

"It told us we have to be as close as we can be to our best to get results in this league.

"Once you start making errors or have two or three players off it, it becomes very difficult to get something from a game."

Clough has been pleased with the general level of performances this season and going into the Peterborough game he said the displays have been as consistent as at any stage in his time as Derby manager.

Their unbeaten run had seen them record victories over Nottingham Forest and Ipswich Town, and draw against Middlesbrough, Brighton & Hove Albion and Blackburn Rovers.

Clough admitted what happened at Peterborough was a bad day at the office but added: "It wasn't a bad performance, it was more about the mistakes than the overall performance."