A FLASHER exposed himself to an 82-year-old woman in the early hours of this morning.

The victim was washing up in the kitchen of her home, in Birchwood Avenue, Long Eaton, at 12.30am.

She looked out of the window and saw that a man was standing in her back garden.

The woman moved to her dining room and opened the window and told him to leave before threatening to call the police.

He exposed himself before running away down an adjoining alleyway.

She has told police he was aged around 30, 5ft 8ins tall and wore glasses.

He wore a high-necked jumper and had short greyish hair.

In a separate flashing incident a man exposed himself to two young girls in Heanor.

The incident happened on October 11 at 7.50am.

An 11-year old and a 12-year-old girl were walking along what is known locally as 'The Blue Bridge,' in Aldreds Lane, when they looked down to the recreation ground to see a man in grass area.

He exposed himself to the girls.
 
They have told police he is aged between 30 and 40 years old, of a chubby build with a grey stubbly beard.
 
He was wearing a distinctive yellow and black, horizontally striped beanie hat and a large thick green or blue raincoat.

Anyone with information on either incident is asked to call the police on 101.

DERBY'S version of Speakers' Corner will be launched in the city centre this weekend.

It will be positioned behind the city's waterfall and will give people the opportunity to air their views and opinions, provoke debate or entertain.

It will be launched on Saturday at 11am as part of Democracy Week.

A range of presentations and performances will be held to showcase what the Corner can be used for.

Councillor Ranjit Banwait, deputy leader of the city council, said: "We want to encourage people to come along and to take part in public speaking in Derby.

"Speaker's Corner should be a place where people can feel comfortable expressing their views and to gather and listen to others.

"It will be a great tool for people to experience the benefits of living in a democracy and the freedom of expression while respecting the need to observe the laws around public speaking."

The idea for Speaker's Corner was floated to Derby City Council's cabinet in 2009 by Councillor Banwait and received cross-party support.

The original and most famous Speakers' Corner is in the north-east corner of Hyde Park in London.

People in this part of the park are allowed to speak on any subject, as long as their speeches are deemed by police to be lawful.

Members of the Socialist Party have been frequent speakers at the Corner since 1904.

In practice, the police tend to be tolerant of speeches and intervene only when they receive a complaint or if they hear profanity.

Nottingham has its own Speakers' Corner, opened by the then-Justice Secretary Jack Straw, in February 2009, which is located to the north-east of Old Market Square, near the statue of Derby County and Nottingham Forest legend Brian Clough.

This was the pilot project of the Speakers' Corner Trust, which was established in 2007 to enable citizens to engage in free and open public debate.

There are also Speakers' Corners in Australia, Canada, Malaysia, Holland, Singapore, Trinidad and Tobago and Thailand.

AN independent electrical retailer in Derby is battling back from the brink of closure by taking the equivalent of VAT off the price of goods across its store.

And the message from Reliance Electrical's management to the public is simple: we are doing our bit – now it's over to you to come through our doors and support us.

Chairman John Webster, 75, said: "We announced in June that we were going to close but then decided to carry on, and we have been for three months.

"The problem is people still think we are closing. We want to get the message out that we are still very much in business.

"As with any company, the question of whether we have a long-term future is up to the consumer. We can keep going while people are prepared to support us by buying from us. But that means having unbeatable offers to earn this loyalty.

"I hope our great VAT discount offer will bring more people into the store. Certainly, how we do in the next couple months – the build-up to Christmas – is going to be important."

Seven of 14 staff at the Babington Lane store, which is in the city's St Peter's Quarter, have retired or taken redundancy. Mr Webster said this and other measures had cut the company's overheads by £200,000. Younger blood, in the form of store manager Robert Corby, has taken the helm and is responsible for the day-to-day running of the business.

Mr Webster added: "We have a smaller staff but we are still here offering the great service we are known for.

"A lot people have told us they don't know what they would do if anything was to happen to Reliance. We are a million miles away from the big supermarkets selling TVs. We have been established for 50 years and when you have been around that long you add things to the business over time, like testing equipment and workshops. We are the people the public turns to if they have problems when the warranty's run out.

"But we can't survive on what our after-sales service brings in. We need sales if we are to continue."

Reliance's survival has been welcomed by Stephen Jeffery, chairman of the St Peter's Quarter board. He said: "This is great news, both for Babington Lane and for the St Peter's Quarter. Reliance Electrical has been a mainstay for many years and we are determined to do all we can to support it."

SPECIALIST firm Anyday MOTs, in Heanor, only opened for business on Monday but already it is aiming to be the best in Derbyshire at what it does.

The garage is based at Agate House, in Heanor Gate Road (DE75 7RJ), on Heanor Gate Industrial Estate.

The company does not repair, service or maintain cars like many test centres in the county.

That means its experienced staff do not have to juggle different work and can instead concentrate solely on carrying out the annual roadworthiness and emissions checks that every vehicle has to pass once it reaches three years old. Anyday also does not charge for retests.

These two things mean you can be sure it wants your car to pass with flying colours – and without any extra cost – as much as you do.

A company spokesman said: "We offer an unbiased MoT test and we have no axe to grind. If a vehicle fails we offer a free retest within 14 days."

An MoT test at Anyday is £19.99 for motorbikes, £34.99 for cars, small vans up to 3,000kg and motorhomes, and £44.99 for vans between 3,000kg and 3,500kg.

These represent big discounts on prices recommended by Government testing authority VOSA, which in the case of a motoribike is £29.65, for a car is £54.85 and for large vans is £58.60. Anyday is further offering a £5 discount on any MoT with the advert on this page, which applies until October 31, 2012. "All a customer has to do is cut it out and bring it along," added the spokesman.

Opening hours at Anyday are 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, and 9am to 1pm on Saturday.

For more details or to book your vehicle in for an MoT test, call 01773 711411, email sales@anydaymots. com or visit www.anyday mots.com.

TODAY marks the deadline for prospective candidates to put themselves forward to become Derbyshire's first police and crime commissioner.

The £75,000-a-year role will see one elected person replace the existing police authority.

Five people are currently in the race for the post, with the public going to the polls on Thursday, November 15.

Whoever is voted in will have the responsibility for overseeing the work of the police.

Labour candidate Alan Charles had former Home Secretary David Blunkett by his side as he launched his manifesto this week.

However, independent candidates Rob Lane and Rod Hutton both feel that the key to being a success in the role is keeping politics out.

Mr Lane said: "I feel an ordinary person, like myself, will be able to bring the fresh pair of eyes to the scrutiny of our police service and that is so important to this role.

"Otherwise, people will be stuck with more of the same – a member of the current police authority or city council, who will become invisible and do nothing to increase the accountability of the police.

"The electorate deserve someone who is going to be active in communities across the county, working tirelessly to reduce crime by enhancing lives and opportunities."

The police commissioner's powers will include hiring and firing the Chief Constable and setting the council tax precept.

Mr Hutton said: "This role is too important to entrust to a party politician from one of the main parties, which is why I am standing as an independent candidate.

"I want to listen to neighbourhoods and shopkeepers, get voluntary organisations involved and engaged in community safety initiatives, ask the Chief Constable to explain why concerns still exist in the same neighbourhoods year after year.

"I will also question the response times it takes police to get to you when you're asking for help or how long it took for the phone to be answered."

David Gale is the UKIP candidate and is against privatising any part of the police service.

He said: "The public should not be suckered into thinking that privatising police services would lead to improvements in service or efficiency. Not only can it be bad for morale but it is quite wrong for public-sector services to be focused on shareholder profits.

"Instead, hiring employees with private sector experience maintains the ethos of public service whilst reaping the rewards of their experience."

Tory candidate Simon Spencer will be joined in Derby today by party chairman Grant Shapps.

Mr Spencer said: "He is coming to support what is an extremely important policy and talk to the media so that the public are aware of the importance the role of commissioner will be. It is great that I will be getting support from such an important member of the party."

Mr Charles, who launched his manifesto in Matlock, said the Government had not done enough to support victims of crime. He said: "I pledge to work with voluntary groups like Victim Support to prioritise the needs of victims and witnesses and to act on those needs. I will also work with organisations such as Addaction to help vulnerable individuals and families to reset their lives."

YOU may have heard of Motability, writes Leana Kell, of motors.co.uk, but do you know what it is?

It is a Government-funded charity which allows anyone with a disability to obtain a new car cheaply.

Derbyshire has many approved Motability dealerships, such as Pentagon Vauxhall in Derby

Staff there are experts when it comes to helping people with disabilities get mobile for the least possible cost.

They will help review their needs and identify the right make for them from the great range of cars.

Another Motability expert in the city is Beechdale Hyundai.

See the adverts below for more details of the services offered by Beechdale Hyundai and Pentagon Vauxhall.

Motors.co.uk answers the following key questions:

DO I QUALIFY FOR THE SCHEME?

If you have a disability, you may be eligible. To acquire a new car, you'll first need to obtain either a Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance or a War Pensioners' Mobility Supplement. You must have 12 months' award length remaining when you apply.

WHAT ARE ITS KEY BENEFITS?

You are provided with a package which includes a new car of your choice every three years, insurance and personal accident cover, servicing and maintenance, full breakdown assistance from the RAC, replacement tyres and windows or windscreens.

HOW DO I PAY FOR IT?

The most popular option is to contract hire – customers choose a new car every three years with all the benefits included for a monthly fee.

The customer pays all or part of their allowance to Motability for the period of the agreement. There is usually no additional payment unless their chosen car is a more expensive model.

CAN I OWN OR LEASE THE CAR?

Yes, there is a hire purchase option which allows customers to buy the car at the end of the agreement.

You negotiate the price with your Motability dealer and are responsible for insurance, breakdown, tax, servicing and repairs. You must receive your allowance for the full length of the agreement.

WHERE CAN I GET A MOTABILITY VEHICLE?

To find your local dealer, visit www.motability.co.uk and use the "find-a-dealer" tool.

DO I NEED A DRIVING LICENCE TO QUALIFY?

If you opt for a lease agreement, you don't need to be the designated driver. You can nominate up to two drivers.

Parents or carers can apply if they look after children aged three and above.

ANY DRAWBACKS?

There are only 400 car models available within the cost of a weekly mobility allowance.

If you wish to buy a larger model or better specification of car, you will have to pay an additional fee in one lump sum to the dealer at the start of your lease.

IF you think you could cook with the best chefs in the business live on stage, now is the chance to realise your dreams.

The BBC Good Food Show Winter is searching for budding celebrity chefs.

You need to upload a five-minute video which showcases your cooking talent on to YouTube and send in the link.

The winning entrant will have the chance to cook as James Martin's assistant live on stage in front of thousands of food fans at the event in Birmingham.

The winner will also have the unique opportunity to talk to legendary chef Brian Turner and pick his brain on how to carve a career in the kitchen limelight.

In the winning demonstration, judges will be looking for:

Flair

Originality

Humour

Entertainment

Culinary skill

The winner will be announced on November 21 and must be free to visit the NEC event on December 2. The deadline for applications is November 14. Entrants must be over 16. Visit www.bbcgood foodshow.com/cook-with-James-Martin.

NEW research shows that drinking cherry juice can reduce the risk of gout by more than a third.

Scientists at Boston University found that consuming up to three servings of 10 to 12 cherries each day reduced the risk of a gout attack.

The study of 633 patients with gout found that those who ate the fruit over a two-day period were 35% less likely to suffer an attack.

Professor Yuqing Zhang, who published the findings in the journal Arthritis and Rheumatism, said: 'The gout flare risk continued to decrease with increasing cherry consumption."

Gout is a type of arthritis and is caused by a build-up of uric acrid in the blood and tissues. It affects one in 70 adults in the UK and five times more men than women. Prolonged build-up produces crystals of urate which can form around the joints and kidneys.

When the crystals enter the joint, they trigger inflammation and the painful attacks commonly experienced with gout. If left untreated, gout can lead to joint damage and other complications.

Tart cherry juice works by helping to dissolve these crystals and provides valuable pain relief for sufferers. Cherrygood, the UK's leading cherry juice drink, contains the juice of tart Montmorency cherries which have the highest antioxidant level of any fruit and excellent anti-inflammatory properties.

Previous research at the Human Nutrition Research Centre at the University of California showed that women who consumed 280g of tart cherries showed an overnight 15% reduction in uric acid levels.

THERE are many reasons why people can lose their hearing in later life.

The most common is age – it is a normal part of the ageing process. In fact, more than 70% of people over 70 have some degree of hearing loss.

Hearing loss is usually gradual, so you may put up with it for years before accepting you need help.

Another cause is noise exposure. This can be from a short burst of sound or from longer exposure, such as working in a noisy factory.

The World Health Organisation says noise exposure is the biggest cause of permanent hearing damage.

Listening to loud music is a common risk factor. A small reduction in volume makes a big difference to how long you can listen safely.

If you are concerned about hearing loss, book an appointment with your GP. The cause could be something as simple as a build-up of wax.

If further investigation is required, having your hearing tested is not unpleasant and, if needed, properly fitted hearing aids will not harm your hearing and can help preserve as much useful hearing capability as possible.

A NEW study has found that a commonly-used herb dramatically cuts colds.

Research by Cardiff University's Common Cold Centre reveals extracts from echinacea purpurea can slash by nearly 60 per cent the number of colds suffered by people with a weak immune system or prone to recurrent infections.

The study was the largest clinical trial ever conducted on the benefits and risks of taking the herbal remedy, run over four months.

The researchers gave the herb extract, produced by Swiss herbal medicine firm A.Vogel and sold in the UK and worldwide under the brand name Echinaforce, and a placebo, to 755 volunteers.

As well as slashing cold outbreaks, it showed that the herb reduced the severity of cold and flu symptoms and halved the need for sufferers to take painkillers, so reducing the risk of paracetamol overdose.

Professor Ronald Eccles, director of the Common Cold Centre, said: "These new results confirm that echinacea supports the immune resistance, and in parallel acts directly against a series of viruses.

"This appears to be an effective therapeutic approach, which not only works at the level of the human host but also acts on the invaders, all with highly acceptable tolerability."

University of London researcher Dr Margaret Richie said: "The clinical trial indicates that echinacea supports low-running immune systems but does not over-stimulate well-supported ones."

Dr Jen Tan, medical director at A.Vogel, says: "It's promising to find that echinacea cuts the risk of catching a cold and helps reduce sufferers' pain relief requirements, making it a safer alternative to relieve cold and flu symptoms."

LOOKING after yourself becomes ever more important as we go through life and it all starts with a healthy diet.

Some simple changes can make all the difference, so it could be time to cut back on the takeaways, chocolate and alcohol and add more fruit and vegetables.

It is recommended that we eat at least five portions of different types of fruit and vegetables a day.

Starchy foods such as potatoes, cereals, pasta, rice and bread should make up about a third of your diet – preferably wholegrain varieties, which contain more fibre and make you feel fuller for longer.

Try to eat two portions of fish a week, including one oily type, which may help to prevent heart disease.

Cut down on saturated fat, found in cakes, pies, biscuits, sausages, cream and hard cheese, as it can increase your risk of heart disease.

Eat less salt and sugar. Salt can raise your blood pressure and sugary foods can not only help you pile on the pounds but can cause tooth decay.

If your teeth have become a problem, there is no need to suffer in silence. Improvements in dental treatments in recent years mean the treatments available can soon put a smile back on your face.

Dentists can now bridge gaps, turn discoloured teeth pearly white and crown a broken tooth in glory. Denture wearers have plenty to smile about too. Full dentures will help you eat comfortably and speak clearly.

Partial dentures replace missing teeth and can sometimes be supported by the teeth remaining. They can be made to match your natural teeth closely so that your appearance hardly changes.

They may even improve the look of your smile and help fill out the appearance of your face. Dentures can ensure you will still have plenty to smile about.

IT is a well-documented fact that sleep is fundamental to our health and it is even more important to invest in the right mattress the older you get, says Damian Topping, of bedroom furniture firm Dreams.

"A good mattress is at the very heart of the restful and refreshing sleep that we all need to function at our best," he said.

"There's a huge choice of mattresses available to suit everyone, regardless of shape, size or budget.

"It's such an important investment in our health and well worth taking the time to find the right one.

"Sleeping on the wrong kind of mattress can result in a whole new meaning to getting out of bed on the wrong side.

"Aches, pains and bad tempers are familiar tell-tale signs. Choosing the correct mattress, on the other hand, can work wonders.

"When shopping for your mattress, don't be afraid to go for it. Forget politely perching on the edge – lie down in your usual sleep position in the middle of the mattress and see how it feels.

"Memory foam can be a great option for the older buyer as it helps to distribute body weight evenly."