THERE have been one or two occasions in Burton Albion's exceptional season when it has looked like they are destined to be promoted from League Two, one way or another.

The fourth minute of stoppage time in Saturday's rousing battle at home to Plymouth Argyle, when substitute Matt Paterson bundled in the game's only goal, was probably the biggest such occasion yet.

Although their closest rivals at the start of the day, Northampton Town, were losing, Cheltenham Town and Rotherham United were winning and a draw would have set Burton back.

With the game deep in stoppage time and Plymouth taking a corner, it seemed as if the Green Army would go home celebrating a hard-earned point at the very least.

Instead, substitute Adam Drury ran the ball away from the penalty area and left-back Damien McCrory emerged alongside him, taking it on and running at Argyle's regrouping defence.

McCrory just about made himself enough room for a shot, which was blocked out for a corner.

He took that himself, deep beyond the far post, where Ian Sharps headed the ball into the danger zone and Paterson was in the right place to poke it over the line, sparking huge celebrations.

Harsh on Plymouth? It certainly was but, apart from a 15-minute spell soon after half-time, they had not been the better team in an intriguing, rather than high-quality contest played in remarkably good spirit, considering what was at stake and the fact that a refereeing display bordering on eccentric from Hertfordshire official Keith Hall had wound up both sides.

For all the effort on show, chances were at a premium.

For Burton, the first half was reminiscent of Tuesday night against Wycombe Wanderers: they were on top but could find no cutting edge, although strikers Michael Symes and Billy Kee were at the heart of much of what they did.

Symes had looked well off the pace in the two games before Wycombe but, in that match and on Saturday, his control, flicks and vision were terrific and he twice set Jacques Maghoma up for runs and shots which keeper Jake Cole saved comfortably.

Robbie Weir could not keep his shot down when Kee's sweeping pass invited a dangerous cross from Alex MacDonald on the right, while Symes had a shot blocked after McCrory surged from his own half, outrunning former Burton winger Andres Gurrieri.

Plymouth had barely threatened but they began to put that right in the second half, with Jason Banton, who had a very brief loan spell with the Brewers two years ago, looking dangerous every time he got the ball.

Banton shot across goal and narrowly wide from the inside left channel after 47 minutes, then keeper Dean Lyness was forced into his first serious work, touching away a shot by Joe Bryan from the left after more good work by Banton.

At the other end, Kee headed wide after Symes won the first header from a MacDonald corner, then MacDonald shot wide after a sublime pass from Symes, who set him up after playing a one-two with Kee.

A great challenge by Lee Bell halted Reuben Reid as Plymouth threatened again but both Bell and MacDonald were booked for dissent in quick succession as Burton's frustration grew.

Symes headed the ball in after 76 minutes but the referee's whistle had blown for a push by the striker even as MacDonald delivered the ball from a free kick on the right.

Bizarrely, Bryan was booked for diving when Robbie Weir appeared to take his legs from under him after 82 minutes: both sides were already lining up for what they expected to be a Plymouth free kick.

There was a flurry of late substitutions and Plymouth's might have worked better if Paris Cowan-Hall, on for Gurrieri, had not driven a decent chance wide from 18 yards in the 88th minute.

Burton's included throwing Aaron Webster on up front for the last couple of minutes and the club's longest-serving player certainly provided a distraction when Sharps headed down that late, late corner.

It was Paterson's moment, though, and the enthusiastic striker now has seven goals for the season, three of them outright match-winners, three of them, including two of those winners, from the bench.

At the least, his latest goal has ensured the Brewers' presence in the play-offs – but it remains in their own hands to make their season better still.

PLANS to turn a patch of rubbish-strewn land in Derby into a temporary car park will not go ahead because of a legal arrangement.

Duckworth Square was once home to a shopping centre but the buildings were torn down in 2003.

It has yet to be redeveloped despite a number of proposals and the owner of the land, Metropolitan Housing Trust, which had previously wanted to build low-cost housing on the land, is now looking to sell it.

Councillors on the authority's corporate scrutiny and climate change board had proposed that the council buy the land and turn it into a temporary car park.

But it has now emerged that this would not be possible as a covenant on the land forbids it from becoming a car park.

This is left over from when NCP Car Parks owned the land before selling it to Metropolitan, a council spokeswoman said. NCP had not wanted a car park built on the land.

Council leader Paul Bayliss confirmed that the covenant "prohibits it from being a car park".

He said: "The intention is to put something on site that would enhance service delivery to the public.

"It wouldn't be retail and it certainly wouldn't be a car park because we can't do that."

Asked for more detail, Mr Bayliss said: "We are in the process of some quite complex negotiations with public and private partners and, until we have concluded them, it would be remiss of me to comment publicly."

He said he expected the authority to make an announcement about what would happen to Duckworth Square later this year.

Councillor Mark Tittley, chairman of the corporate scrutiny and climate change board, said the group of nine councillors on the committee had not been aware of the covenant.

Asked if he was disappointed that the temporary car park idea could not go ahead, he said: "As far as I'm concerned, we've made the recommendation, it's been given due consideration and I'm quite happy for that to be the case.

"I wasn't aware of the covenant and nor were other members of the committee.

"But I have to say that we did get good support from the officers and other stakeholders in producing the report."

Mr Bayliss has previously said that the council would only buy the land as a last resort.

DERBY city centre has joined places renowned for their nightlife, like Manchester, Covent Garden, and Camden Town, by being granted Purple Flag status for the first time.

The flag – like blue flags given to beaches, and green for parks – recognises safe areas where there is a good variety of things to do in the evenings and at night-time.

The scheme has been run by the Association of Town and City Management since 2010, with judges looking at things like crime and safety levels, how visitors can travel home after an evening out and door supervision of clubs and pubs.

Derby city centre joins 38 places across the country with the Purple Flag, including top nightspots like Covent Garden and larger cities like Manchester and Birmingham.

The win follows several visits from judges who gave feedback about what was good and what could be improved about the area so the council and its partners could make the changes they needed to get the flag.

Although the full judges' comments have not yet been published, a city council spokeswoman said they had highlighted Derby as being "a great night-time destination for all ages, with an excellent mix of exciting and diverse evening entertainment on offer".

Praise was also given to night-time cultural events like Derby Festé, the Format International Photography Festival and the Derby Camra Winter Beer Festival.

Councillor Paul Bayliss, city council leader, said: "This is a landmark win for Derby and will be a real boost to the city's economy, acting as a catalyst for more inward investment and driving the visitor economy.

"Winning the Purple Flag proves to residents, businesses, shoppers, tourists and visitors alike that Derby city centre is clean, safe, enjoyable and accessible at night.

"We will continue to build on this excellent foundation and use it as a springboard to making Derby an even more inviting and attractive evening and night-time destination."

The spokeswoman said the Purple Flag would be another selling point that could be used when talking to firms interested in basing themselves in the city.

Inspector Andrea Parkin, head of crime reduction at the city and neighbourhood partnership, said working on the accreditation submission had been "extremely rewarding".

Insp Parkin said: "We're proud to have received this internationally recognised accreditation of Purple Flag status which essentially means we have a broad appeal.

"Derby is a safe place and a city of choice for all."

Councillor Ranjit Banwait, cabinet member for neighbourhoods and Streetpride, said getting the accreditation had been a team effort.

He said: "My appreciation and thanks goes to all the hard-working council staff in the neighbourhood and Streetpride (department), from litter pickers to traffic management officers who have contributed to this fantastic achievement, alongside our partners the police and the street pastors."

THE six tragic Philpott children could be remembered each year on the anniversary of their deaths in a family event held to boost good causes.

An inaugural memorial fund-raiser will be held at Osmaston Park on May 11 – exactly a year after the house fire in Allenton which claimed the lives of the youngsters.

And organisers of the fun day said they hoped it could become an annual event and a permanent legacy to the children.

It has been arranged by charity Catch Me When I Fall – set up last year in memory of the children – to raise money for youngsters in need.

A spokesman for Catch Me When I Fall said: "It's about trying to do a bit of good on the anniversary of the children's death and we really want to try and make it an annual event in their memory."

The blaze at 18 Victory Road led to the deaths of Jade Philpott, 10, and her brothers, Duwayne, 13, John, nine, Jack, eight, Jesse, six, and Jayden, five.

Parents Mick and Mairead Philpott, along with family friend Paul Mosley, were found guilty of their manslaughter earlier this month.

The spokesman said: "The death of the children was a massive tragedy and it touched most people across the nation.

"With the court case now finished, it's important to focus on taking some positive out of the negative and do something which will have a positive impact on people's lives."

He said that, ahead of the fun day, a group of close family members and friends planned to walk from Skegness to Derby in memory of the children.

He said the group of about 14 people – who are walking in aid of Catch Me When I Fall – would set off on May 7 and hoped to arrive at Osmaston Park on May 11 at 1pm, for the start of the fun day.

The event itself will feature live music and entertainment, stalls, a dog show, bouncy castles, face painting and a fancy dress competition – among other activities.

The spokesman said: "The walk is called the Long Walk Home.

"It is not being organised by the charity but it is in aid of it and the group will be collecting money in Skegness and on the way back.

"At the moment, the group are just looking for help with transportation to Skegness.

"For the event itself, we have plenty of people on board wanting to help and that's really nice."

Among children supported by Catch Me When I Fall is Tyler Stackhouse, three, of Chaddesden, who was diagnosed with leukaemia last year. The charity donated 500 wristbands to the Stackhouse family to raise money for them. It also donated a horse-drawn carriage for the funeral of five-year-old Morgan Mawson, who died of rare genetic condition infantile Batten's disease in September last year.

The spokesman said: "The charity is making a difference and it would be lovely if people across the UK could help us with our fund-raising."

He said anyone interested in helping the group walking from Skegness with transport – or who wants to get involved in helping with the fun day – should contact 07910 476 689.

For more information, visit the Catch Me When I Fall page on social network site Facebook.

THE Prime Minister has sampled some of Derbyshire's finest grub at a food and drink fair held at the House of Commons.

David Cameron was joined by other high-ranking politicians such as Chancellor George Osborne and Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow at the Derbyshire Food and Drink Fair, held in the Commons Jubilee Room.

A host of the county's firms including Scropton Cider, Chatsworth Farm Shop and Derby-based Indian cuisine firm S&A Foods took part.

South Derbyshire MP Heather Wheeler, one of the event's organisers, said Mr Cameron had "sampled everything".

Mrs Wheeler said: "He started off with an S&A curry and a sample from the Hartington Creamery. He had some Sealwood wine – the red – some of Dickie Allen's Scropton Cider and, of course, some ice cream from Bluebells.

"He absolutely adored some smoked salmon from Bolsover that he tried.

"He was saying how important the tourism industry is and why getting knowledge of Derbyshire's food and drink out there is really important because it makes us a real destination place."

Mr Osborne tried pork pie provided by Derby-based bakers Birds.

Mrs Wheeler said twice as many people came to the fair as were expected, with more than 600 through the doors.

Other organisers of the fair were Derbyshire MPs Nigel Mills, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin, Mid-Derbyshire's Pauline Latham, High Peak's Andrew Bingham, Erewash's Jessica Lee, Chesterfield's Toby Perkins and Derby South's Dame Margaret Beckett.

Mrs Wheeler said the county council had also helped by arranging a coach for stallholders to get to London.

She said: "The stallholders made a contribution to the cost of the coach so it didn't cost the council a lot of money."

Mrs Latham said various other counties had held fairs at the Commons but that Derbyshire's had been the most popular so far.

Mrs Beckett said the event "showed there was more to Derbyshire besides the Peak District".

She said: "When I went across to see how it was going there were all these people walking across the visitors' hall and I thought these can't possibly all be going to the food and drink fair but they were. People were coming out with their S&A Foods curries."

Other companies which took part were Bakewell Puddings, Glossop butchers JW Mettrick & Son, Thorntons, Bolsover fine foods specialist Jaquest, Birds the Confectioners, Hartington Creamery, The Derbyshire Brewers Collective and Belper deli and eaterie Fresh Basil.

A DERBYSHIRE pottery firm has expressed its delight after Prime Minister David Cameron decided to present one of its products to German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

At the weekend, Mr Cameron and his family visited Mrs Merkel at Schloss Meseberg, the rural retreat used by German chancellors to entertain world leaders.

During his stay, Mr Cameron presented her with a tea set made by Denby Pottery, which has been making pottery in Derbyshire since 1809 and currently employs almost 500 people. Last year, the firm achieved sales of more than £40 million and is continuing to increase its exports. The company has enjoyed export success in Germany, with its tea pots proving particularly popular.

The tea set that Mrs Merkel received was in the company's Halo design, a range it launched in 2010.

Managing director Garry Biggs said: "We are delighted that the Prime Minister chose a set of Denby to be his gift to Mrs Merkel. We hope this gift helps support our export drive in Germany and the German Chancellor enjoys using her tea set for years to come."

Former Derby Telegraph journalist Mario Cacciottolo was visiting Boston at the time of the explosions. He describes the reaction of Bostonians.

"You're nearly there!" "USA, USA!" "Come on, you can make it!"

The weather had been poor in Boston for the days leading up to Marathon Monday but when that day came there was barely a cloud in the sky. This helped create a vibrant atmosphere all along the route, and these were just some of the chants that rang out from the well-wishers that lined up to watch the runners, some of whom were staggering the last couple of miles towards the finish line.

People held up signs, sold charity t-shirts and ladies of a certain age were holding out fat slices of oranges for the runners to grab.

In Washington Square, at around the marathon's 23-mile mark, I went into a restaurant with my girlfriend and her friend – both proud Bostonians. We walked past a live street band, performing next to a gleaming fire truck with fluttering American flags and sizzling hot dogs and cheeseburgers being cooked outside a bar.

Shortly afterwards, I missed a phone call from a UK number, which I thought odd. Then my girlfriend took a call from her father and she looked totally horrified. I've never seen her look like that before. She blurted out that there'd been an explosion at the marathon's finish line. Her father had been at the site of the bombings 30 minutes before they went off, but happily had then left.

We decided to head back to her friend's flat, where there was wifi for me to use, and a television. Outside, the carnival atmosphere had collapsed. The music was off, the food was not being cooked and every other person was on their mobile, grim faced.

But the runners, by now made up of just the amateurs seeking to finish, were still passing by. Some of those on the sidelines were whooping and hollering support, somehow oblivious to what had happened, while nearby those on their phones were saying things like "I'm OK, I'm safe" "Secondary wave" and "Is it a terror attack?"

I later walked alone, further down the route, but started to come across police roadblocks. One man approached me and asked if he could call his wife on my phone. Friends were texting me from the UK saying there were devices being found elsewhere around the city – this later proved to be false alarms, but when you are standing in a street surrounded by police and sirens and you see a bag by itself on steps close by, it makes you jumpy.

Now the sun's still shining in Boston and everyone is waiting to hear who was responsible for the explosions. But I've already heard some Bostonians say that they haven't been to the Boston Marathon for a while but they'll be damned if they miss it next year.

The people of this city are proud. They still talk of how they helped defeat the British in the 18th century. They will not be beaten by acts of violence in the 21st.

CALL centre workers swapped their phones for paintbrushes to help decorate Chaddesden pavilion.

Ten members of staff from Webhelp TSC, in Pride Park, spent yesterday giving the changing rooms a facelift.

The Volunteer Action Day came as part of a community link between the call centre and Derby City Council – a partnership which has developed since the firm came to Derby last year, bringing more than 1,000 jobs.

Five changing rooms and the referee's room were redecorated by the team.

Felicity Cowan, Webhelp TSC team leader, helped organise the event. She said: "We wanted to do something for the community as Webhelp created a lot of jobs. We asked each department of the company to nominate people who were good role models, people who try very hard every day and set a good example. They were then chosen to help out at the event.

"I was put in contact with the city council who gave us some options on how we could help the community.

"We felt this was the best choice as it meant we could all get together and have a go."

Felicity said the event was a great success.

She added: "We had a really good day and everybody enjoyed themselves. It was great for team building."

Councillor Sara Bolton said she was very grateful for the work that had been done.

She said: "This is a well-used sports pavilion which is utilised every weekend for the football matches.

"The improvements that have been made are valued by the users.

"The changing rooms were looking a bit tired and they haven't been decorated for three years or so.

"The neighbourhood board were looking at paying for the decorating to be done but now it has been done free for us.

"I thank everybody involved for their community spirit. The changing rooms look much fresher and cleaner. "

Webhelp TSC, formerly known as Hero TSC, handles customer service and sales calls on behalf of broadcaster and telecommunications giant Sky.

Daniel Jones, customer call adviser at the company, said he enjoyed helping out. The 26-year-old, of Boyer Street, Derby said: "Not only was it a change of scenery it was a great feeling knowing we were giving something back to the community."

UP to 5,000 youngsters in Derby are thought not to be vaccinated against measles, figures show.

The numbers were released by the city council in a bid to encourage parents to make sure their youngsters receive the MMR jab.

It comes following an outbreak of measles in the Swansea area, in south Wales, where one new case is reported to be developing every two hours, with the total now hitting 765.

Derby City Council said figures for England and Wales confirmed there were 2,016 cases of measles in 2012 – the highest total since 1994.

Ben Anderson, consultant in public health for the council, said: "We estimate that 4,000 to 5,000 children and young people between 10 and 20 years of age in Derby are not vaccinated against measles – and so are not protected against the virus."

It can take two weeks for symptoms – which usually include a fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes and rash – to develop. The MMR, or measles, mumps and rubella, vaccine is normally given just after the first birthday and again before starting school.

Councillor Fareed Hussain, cabinet member for adults, health and housing, said: "It is never too late to get the MMR vaccine. If you know your child has not been vaccinated now, please take action and don't delay."

THE partner of an alleged sex abuse victim has told a jury she was "distraught" when she told him what had happened to her as a child.

The man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was speaking on the second day of Ricky Elliott's trial.

Elliott, of Brighton Road, Alvaston, denies sexually abusing three young girls when he was a teenager.

The 33-year-old is alleged to have indecently assaulted the girls – aged between six and 10 – when he was 15 and 16 years old.

The partner of the victim, who is alleged to have suffered the most abuse as a child at the hands of Elliott, told Derby Crown Court that she told him three to four years ago – a couple of years before she went to the police in August 2011.

The man said: "She just broke down and said 'I have got something to tell you'."

Asked by prosecutor Laura Pitman how she had been while telling him about it, he said: "Distraught, crying her eyes out, not wanting to tell me but when she did it was a relief for her."

"Did the two of you ever talk about it again?" asked Ms Pitman. He replied: "She basically told me everything on that night and that was it.

"I had been told enough information – I didn't want to know anything more."

Mark Achurch raised the fact that the woman was now applying for compensation and asked the man if this was a lie they had made up.

The man insisted it was not a lie.

On Monday, the jury heard that the woman had told officers that Elliott touched her sexually beneath her clothes regularly over a six-month period and that on a couple of occasions he had indecently assaulted her while they watched pornographic films together.

It is alleged that he indecently assaulted the other two women when they were children, each on one occasion.

The trial continues.

DERBYSHIRE runner Peter Holton has told of the anguished wait he had to tell his wife he had escaped the Boston Marathon blasts.

Mr Holton was nearing the finish of the race on Monday when he heard the two bombs go off.

The 59-year-old accountant said the first he knew about the blasts was runners in front of him slowing up.

He said: "I was thinking what it would be like to cross the finish line when I suddenly became aware of people slowing down in front of me. Soon we were all at a dead stop.

"No one knew what had happened. Then we saw spectators running past holding pictures of runners and shouting their names. They looked desperate and there were some emotional scenes.

"Then we heard the second bomb go off. It was so loud and people started saying there had been bombings."

He said that soon, an organiser rigged up a speaker system and told the runners that there had been "an incident". "He didn't say exactly what it was," said Mr Holton. "But after a while we were handed out blankets and food."

The runners were able to walk back to the yellow US school buses nearby, on which was stored their belongings – including Mr Holton's mobile phone.

"I switched it on and saw so many missed calls and messages. It was very emotional."

Many of these had been from his family – wife Carolyn and son Matthew, who live with Mr Holton in their home in Upper Hall Close.

Mrs Holton, who had been waiting anxiously at home for news of her husband, was relieved to get the text.

She said: "He said he was OK eventually and we were hugely relieved.

"The thing was, the bombs were detonated just after the four-hour mark and I know that was the time Peter was aiming for so I was so worried when I heard the timing.

"But this was one time he would have been thankful for being a bit slower."

Following the blasts, US President Barack Obama said it was not known who was behind the attack but vowed any group found to be responsible would feel the "full weight of justice".

Mr Holton had travelled out to Boston with his friend and running partner Adrian Miller, 51, of Egginton.

Mr Miller was behind Mr Holton and was also unhurt. He said: "The people of Boston were amazing, coming out of their homes to make sure we were OK and offering us food and water.

"But we went out for some food last night and the whole city was very subdued. No one can really believe it. Who would do such a thing to such a beautiful city?

"There are military police and FBI officers everywhere and there is still a big exclusion zone around the finish line."

The pair were due to fly back to the UK today.