A DERBY rail firm has landed a £6.5 million contract to supply equipment for cleaning trains built as part of the Thameslink project.

Garrandale, in Alfreton Road, is designing, installing and maintaining carriage washers and controlled-emission toilet systems for Siemens at its depots in Hornsey and Crawley.

The deal is the largest since the firm was founded in the 1970s and will keep its 90-strong Derby workforce busy for the next 18 months.

Garrandale has also signed a 12-year maintenance contract to keep the kit in full working order, guaranteeing a steady income until at least 2025.

The engineering, rail and chemicals business has also obtained work at other depots in Bedford and Brighton, putting it in pole position for further contracts at Cricklewood, Peterborough, Horsham and Cambridge on behalf of Thameslink operator First Capital Connect.

Managing director Malcolm Prentice said: "They were looking for high service levels, the right experience and the right facilities. It is our biggest contract to date and will help secure dozens of jobs in Derby."

Garrandale's turnover has risen from £10 million to £12 million in the past year.

The firm has made its first forays into the Eurozone, having signed a deal with Irish Rail to look after seven rail depots and a contract with Alstom to look after two sites maintaining Dublin's trams.

The search is on for the companies that will be competing for the Derbyshire's Best Business Awards 2013. Oliver Astley speaks to former laureates to find out what winning meant to them.

FOR decades, the Derbyshire business awards in their various incarnations have showcased the best of what county enterprises have to offer.

The categories are occasionally tweaked to reflect new developments in the economy and this year sees the inclusion of online business of the year and school of the year.

The award for achievement in international business has been replaced with the exporter of the year title.

In the main, however, Derbyshire's Best Business Awards, organised by the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce, are a vital means to highlight some of the brilliant achievements of companies in the county.

Last year's event saw the Greenbank Group notch up an unprecedented hat-trick of gongs.

The Woodville firm, which designs and manufactures equipment for the power generation industry, won the innovation, people development and international business awards.

It was not the first time the business had been recognised by the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce's business awards.

In 2008, Greenbank bagged a brace of awards, being named business of the year and seeing its managing director land the entrepreneur of the year title.

Since then, it has not rested on its laurels, having developed more sophisticated equipment to monitor the efficiency of plant in coal-fired power stations.

Winning the awards was a massive boost for management and staff but there have also been tangible commercial advantages.

Managing director Charles Conroy said: "Even though we are in the power generation industry, the kudos that we got from winning an award sponsored by Rolls-Royce was great, especially in China."

China is a growth area for Greenbank, the company having invested significant time, effort and resources in attempting to win business in the territory.

"Potential customers were genuinely impressed and we are in negotiations with a large Chinese utility company and things look very promising," said Mr Conroy.

The business is also making progress selling its leak detection technology in Germany and is contributing to the conversion of coal-fired plant to biomass.

As well as giving the company greater credibility, the awards have also helped raise the profile of the business within the county.

This is important from a recruitment point of view.

"As a small engineering company with about 90 employees, we are faced with a lot of competition when trying to recruit, not least from the likes of Rolls-Royce," Mr Conroy said.

"Winning the commitment to people development has certainly helped with our efforts in this regard."

Indian restaurant Anoki has also seen trade increase as a result of the awards. And, appropriately enough, the launch of this year's Derbyshire's Best Business Awards took place at Anoki, in London Road.

Last year, the restaurant was a winner in the customer service category.

Owner Naveed Khaliq said: "Winning the award at last year's Derbyshire's Best Business Awards was a significant achievement for Anoki and has been a tremendous platform from which to launch our 10th anniversary celebrations this year.

"Here at Anoki, we place our customers at the heart of everything we do, so, to be recognised for our commitment to customer care, is testament to our philosophy and demonstrates what can be achieved through hard work and attention to detail.

"The award created a real buzz around the place, with both staff and customers keen to share in our success. We will keep pushing the boundaries by seeking out new food combinations and introducing new dishes to constantly surprise and excite our guests."

As well as established businesses wanting to expand, start-ups have also benefited from being named winners.

Eight years ago, Derby firm East Midlands Business Services took the small business of the year title.

Director Simon Bucknell said: "At the time, we were very much a start-up company. Winning the award gave us quite a lot of credibility.

"You need that when you are starting out and it certainly helped when we were dealing with larger companies."

The awards see small businesses rub shoulders with large operations and not all are focused on commercial success. The environment award is one example and East Midlands Airport took the title the first time it was included, back in 2009.

Neil Robinson, corporate social responsibility director at East Midlands Airport, said: "It was a great honour to have achieved the Environmental Award in 2009, after just three years of making our carbon neutral promise.

"Since winning the award, we have gone from strength to strength in proving our commitment to the environment and, in 2012, we announced that we were the UK's first airport to have carbon neutral ground operations.

"Over the past six years, we have achieved some ground-breaking firsts for airports in the UK, such as installing commercial-scale wind turbines and planting a 26-hectare willow farm on airport land. We are now sharing best practice with other businesses in the East Midlands and across the wider aviation industry."

Another winner in 2009 was builder Ian Hodgkinson, named entrepreneur of the year. He said: "There is a great sense of achievement and it's wonderful to gain recognition for all of the hard work you've put into your business.

"It was a really bad time for the construction industry and we were going against the grain and were successful."

If you think that you have got what it takes to be victorious at Derbyshire's Best Business Awards, visit www.business-awards.org.uk for further details.

In a break with tradition, the overall Business of the Year Award will be presented to one of the winners from the other categories.

The Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce awards team can be contacted on 01332 851280.

THE AWARD SPONSORS

DERBYSHIRE'S Best Business Awards would not take place without the category sponsors.

Alongside regular sponsors such as Rolls-Royce and Toyota, there are newcomers to the awards, such as engineering firm Cullum Detuners, wealth management specialists Kingswood and document shredding and archiving business Shredall.

Derby College is the sponsor of the Commitment to People Development category and Rolls-Royce is once again backing the Excellence in Innovation award.

The Exporter of the Year category is being sponsored by the Enterprise Europe Network and Toyota is throwing its weight behind the Environment award again.

Sponsorship of the Most Promising New Business and Marketing Campaign of the Year categories are still available.

The overall business of the year award, selected from one of the category winners, is being sponsored by Insider Media.

A DERBY statue which was put up for sale on auction site eBay has gone back on sale after a potential buyer got cold feet.

The bronze-effect statue, which is two metres tall and stood on the roof of the Zanzibar nightclub in London Road for more than a decade, sold for £343.98.

But the buyer, from Sinfin, has gone to ground and failed to pay so the statue has been re-listed with a new reserve price of £60.

It has been put up for sale by the restaurant chain Cosmo, which is converting the former cinema into a 330-seat global eat-all-you-want buffet-style outlet opening at the end of May.

The money raised from the sale of the statue, and the blue neon signage which sold for £62, has been pledged to the Derby Telegraph's Give Us a Break appeal (see above).

Cosmo's group operations director Kan Koo said: "We were amazed by the interest in this statue and are very disappointed that the winner appears to have changed his mind. The statue received in excess of 40 bids and had in excess of 400 interested parties, so we are sure someone out there will be grateful of a second chance to snap up the sultan and give this famous Derby landmark a new lease of life.

"We had pledged the money raised from the sale to the Give Us a Break appeal and, no matter how much the statue makes on its resale, Cosmo will honour the amount originally pledged."

How you can donate to the cause

The Derbyshire Children's Holiday Centre desperately needs help to raise £30,000 for a new minibus. If you want to donate, send a cheque or postal order made payable to Derbyshire Children's Holiday Centre.

It should be marked on the reverse with Derby Telegraph Minibus Appeal and sent to Derbyshire Children's Holiday Centre, Freepost, RSKX-EAJE-ETXZ, Belper, DE56 0QB. Or they can be sent c/o Zena Hawley, Derby Telegraph, Northcliffe House, Meadow Road, Derby DE1 2BH.

Or you can use a debit or credit card to make a donation at www.justgiving.com/DCHCDerbyTelegraphAppeal.

To find out more call Derby 781821 or visit the website www.derbyshirechildrensholiday centre.co.uk.

A DERBY city councillor who was found to be employing illegal immigrants in his clothing factory has been cleared of any wrongdoing.

Balbir Sandhu's factory was raided by UK Border Agency officers in December and five of his 40 staff were arrested after questioning.

Two of the workers have been deported for having false paperwork and being in the country illegally.

But Mr Sandhu was found to have carried out the proper pre-employment checks before giving them a position in his factory in Stanhope Street, Normanton.

He said: "It's a huge relief for me now that the whole thing is over.

"I know I'd done nothing wrong and I co-operated with the agency throughout the whole investigation.

"I had the whole community asking me questions about the situation, and it's now finally all over."

Four of the women – from Pakistan and India – had overstayed their visas or illegally entered the country.

Another woman was escorted off the premises after it was discovered she was already known to the agency as an immigration offender.

During a search of a home in Dale Road, Derby, an Indian man was arrested after checks showed he did not have permission to be in the UK.

If Mr Sandhu had not carried out the correct checks, he would have faced a £10,000 fine per person.

He said: "That would have been the end of my business and all the people who are hard workers would have been out of a job.

"I knew I hadn't done anything wrong and now I'm glad that's been proven.

"Everything's computerised and everyone is on the payroll and pays tax and national insurance.

"I'm shocked some workers turned out to be illegal immigrants but I'm glad I have been cleared of any wrongdoing."

A Home Office spokesman said: "Officers carried out a raid on A Star Fashion, Derby, in which five immigration offenders, from India and Pakistan, were arrested.

"A sixth offender was arrested during a search of a residential property in Dale Road. Two of the people arrested on the day have subsequently been removed from the UK.

"The others have outstanding applications being considered by the Home Office. If they are found to have no right to remain in the UK, they will also face removal.

"Our checks found that the business had carried out the appropriate pre-employment checks on the illegal workers, so no civil penalty was imposed."

EMPLOYERS HAVE A DUTY TO CHECK

EMPLOYERS must make sure all their workers are allowed to work in the UK.

There is a duty to check potential employees' documents before employment to ensure they have the right to work. This will enable a legal excuse against having to pay a penalty if the Border Agency finds an illegal worker.

To gain a legal excuse, employers must: ask for and take copies of original, acceptable documents showing that the person is allowed to work before they start working, and if a person has a restriction on the type of work they can do and/or the hours they can work, make sure the job you give them does not break those conditions. This must be checked every 12 months.

There is no excuse if an illegal immigrant is legally employed, even if an employer carries out the correct checks before or during their employment.

If these checks are not carried out and an illegal worker is found, the Border Agency, will take tough action against you and the fine is £10,000 for each illegal worker, or up to two years in prison.

ANOTHER step towards setting the record straight about Derby's most famous suffragette and anti-war campaigner will be taken later today.

A blue plaque is to be put up on the former home of socialist Alice Wheeldon at 12 Pear Tree Road, in Normanton.

In 1917, she was accused of planning, with her family, to poison then Prime Minister David Lloyd George. She was found guilty and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

She was released on health grounds in late 1918 but died shortly afterwards.

There is a widespread belief that Alice and her family were framed by the MI5 to raise sympathy for the Government.

A campaign to clear her name has been gathering momentum over the past few years.

Her relatives say the charge against Alice and her family was a miscarriage of justice and are preparing a case to put to the Government.

Great-granddaughter Chloe Mason, who lives in Sydney, Australia, has been a frequent visitor to Derby, gathering information and giving talks on the subject in the city and other parts of the UK.

She and her sister, Deidrie Mason, have travelled from Sydney to take part in today's event.

Keith Venables, a member of the Derby People's History group which nominated Alice for the blue plaque, said: "The siting of the plaque marks an important milestone in the challenge to this shameful episode of British history.

"A century after her arrest, trial and conviction, Alice Wheeldon is being recognised for her bravery in standing up for what she believed in – peace and civil rights."

Alice, who ran a secondhand clothes shop in Pear Tree Road, was a fervent anti-war campaigner and hid conscientious objectors in her home.

Derby City Council and Derby Civic Society have formed a partnership to start putting up blue plaques across Derby to celebrate famous people who have strong links with the city. Nominations come from the public.

This will be the second of about 20 plaques the city council is planning. Another was put up to the Lombe brothers – who built the city's Silk Mill – last week.

There is also a plan to add QR barcodes to the plaques. When scanned by a smartphone, these codes would take people to a website for where they could discover more information about the person.

Alan Grimadell, vice-chairman of Derby Civic Society said: "Alice Wheeldon is part of the historical fabric that moulds Derby together.

"She died at a relatively young age – 53. She was a suffragette, was strongly opposed to the First World War, and held strong feminist political views that today are widely recognised. In her own right, she was a pioneer."

A FORMER Derby County investor and US businessman facing multiple counts of fraud has told a court that he encouraged people to invest in a solar panel firm because he believed it was "doing great".

Jeffrey Martinovich, former chief executive of MICG Investment Management, told the court in Virginia, USA, that he touted EPV Solar to potential investors because he strongly believed in the company's prospects.

Martinovich managed a hedge fund called MICG Venture Strategies. which had a large stake in the New Jersey-based solar panel manufacturer that would eventually file for bankruptcy.

Venture Strategies was the same hedge fund that helped finance the takeover of Derby County in January, 2008. It was one of four US investors that provided backing for the deal.

Martinovich said that he had confidence in EPV Solar because the Obama administration was pushing alternative energy sources in the form of tax credits.

He said: "That was the future and we were really excited about it. Our management team was feeling fortunate that we had EPV. We were bullish and everything we received only confirmed the view that it was doing great."

The prosecution has accused Martinovich of pushing the hedge fund to potential investors while he knew that things were unraveling at the company. It alleges Martinovich schemed behind the scenes to assign a false value to EPV by inflating by hundreds of thousands of dollars the incentive fees that MICG could collect.

But Martinovich told the court: "You don't get ahead by taking advantage of people and taking more fees. You get ahead by helping people and working hard."

Martinovich faces 26 counts of fraud. If found guilty on all counts he could face 520 years in jail. The case continues.

A BUZZARD has been found dead with its beak bound by twine.

Police said the bird was found in Turnditch by a member of the public.

It appeared to have had a hole forced through its beak which had then been bound closed with twine.

Wildlife crime officer PC Emerson Buckingham said: "This bird was most probably alive when it was attacked and may have starved to death as it would have been unable to drink or eat with its beak bound.

"We continue to work with the RSPB to investigate the cause of the death.

"Any member of the public who finds dead birds of prey should contact police and are advised not to touch them."

The bird was discovered on Thursday, April 11. A number of poisoned buzzards were found nearby in Kirk Ireton in 2010.

Buzzards are a protected species and anyone caught harming or killing them could face a £5,000 fine or up to six months in prison.

Anyone with information is asked to call PC Buckingham on 101 or the RSPB on 0845 466 3636.

MORE than 2,000 offenders involved in violent crimes in Derbyshire last year were let off without a formal conviction.

These offenders, who amounted to more than a fifth of those who committed violent crimes between April 2012 and March this year, were instead dealt with by "community resolutions" – ranging from apologies to offers of compensation. This was down 535 on the number of offenders dealt with in this way in 2011.

The figures were released by Derbyshire police after it was revealed that, in the whole of England and Wales, 10,160 people who committed a serious violent crime last year were dealt in a similar way. This was an increase of 1,637 offenders from 2011.

The county and national figures are not comparable because those from Derbyshire police were for all violent offences, whereas the ones for England and Wales were only for "serious" violent crimes.

The county's force said it did not have a figure for "serious" violent crimes dealt with in this way.

The figures were based on Freedom of Information requests obtained from police forces by the Labour Party.

MP Yvette Cooper, Shadow Home Secretary, said: "Offenders who admit to serious and violent crimes – including knife crime, domestic violence and serious assault – are increasingly being let off with no criminal record, no justice and not even a caution. That's bad for justice, bad for victims and goes against all the evidence."

Derbyshire Chief Constable Mick Creedon said: "Guidelines are in place to help forces decide where the use of community resolutions might be appropriate, but in every case, this decision will be victim-led and, above all, reflect their views and wishes.

"While in the main they are used to deal with less serious offences, there is no simple formula. At times it may be appropriate to use such informal resolutions to deal with more serious cases."

Community resolution, also known as restorative justice, was introduced in Derbyshire in April 2009.

Mr Creedon said that since its introduction it had been used "responsibly and proportionately" where a community resolution was the preferred outcome for the victim and the offender accepted responsibility.

He said: "It gives police the flexibility to deal with a variety of offences effectively and has led to increased victim satisfaction. It has also been proven to have more impact on an offender than a court punishment or prison sentence alone."

Derbyshire's police and crime commissioner Alan Charles said handing out restorative justice had to be about "common sense and good professional judgement" but must always be victim-led.

A MOTORIST driving at what police said were "high speeds" lost control of his car, mounted a pavement and smashed into a bus stop.

Officers say the force of the impact sent the car's front bumper flying into the road and into the path of an oncoming motorcyclist, knocking him off his bike.

The motorcyclist, who suffered whiplash injuries, was described as "a pretty lucky guy" by a resident who lives near the bus stop.

The accident happened at 9.40pm on Monday in Wilsthorpe Road, Breaston, near its junction with Maxwell Street. The crash sent glass and metal flying into the road.

Nash Lalani, 53, lives on the corner of Maxwell Street and Wilsthorpe Road, where the bus stop once stood.

He said: "I was in the kitchen with my wife when we heard a huge bang. We thought someone might have kicked over a wheelie bin but then there was a smash as well and we went out to the front of the house to see what had happened.

"There was a car in the middle of a road and a motorcyclist screaming 'you've only just missed me, you could have hit me' at him.

"People started coming out into the street and looking at what had happened. The bus stop was completely smashed in.

"I think the motorcyclist, who was a man who looked like he was in his 40s, must be a pretty lucky guy to have escaped without being hurt more."

Skid marks left by the car, which was travelling from the direction of Draycott towards Long Eaton, could yesterday be seen 70 yards up the road. They continued on to the pavement outside Breaston Manor Day Nursery and to the point of the impact.

All that remained of the bus stop was its perspex roof which was taped off and lying on the pavement.

Mr Lalani, who works from home as a project manager, said: "Everyone was out in the street looking at what had happened. The skid marks are very long."

Mr Lalani said a police officer was helping clear up the scene until after midnight and workers using heavy machinery took apart what was left of the bus stop in the early hours of yesterday.

Kelvin Morley, who is a registered carer for his mother, lives in Maxwell Street and noticed the damage when he went to see her yesterday morning.

He said: "By the looks of the tyre marks on the road and the pavement I would say the car must have gone sideways on to the pavement. The marks look like they could be from a lorry."

A staff member at Breaston Manor Day Nursery said she noticed the damage when she arrived at work yesterday morning. She said: "It looked a real mess."

A police spokesman said: "We believe the car was travelling at high speeds and hit the bus stop, leaving it obliterated. A bumper from the car went into the path of a motorcyclist and he was left with whiplash injuries."

He added that inquiries were continuing into the crash.

VISITORS to a consultation evening on a new £12 million Derby secondary school have given their approval to the design.

More than 120 people viewed plans and a walk-through video at Lees Brook Community School last night, including Mid Derbyshire MP Pauline Latham.

The contract to build the school under the Government's Priority Building Programme was awarded last week to BAM Construction and it was the first chance for residents and parents to view the design.

Lees Brook school, in Morley Road, Chaddesden, was originally due to be rebuilt, at a cost of £24 million, under the then Labour Government's Building School for the Future scheme.

But the Conservatives halted the BSF project after coming into power in 2010.

Mrs Latham led a campaign to ensure that the school was at the front of the queue when the Government's alternative building programme was launched.

She said: "I am really pleased that a new school will be finally built. I think it is a better design and a better cost for the taxpayer than the previous one under BSF.

"The school has improved its results in recent years and I think a new building will be the fresh start it needs to improve things even further."

Officials from BAM and staff from the school were available for people to speak to at last night's event.

Ronald Wells, who lives close to the school on Morley Road, said it was a "good plan".

He said: "I have lived here over eight years and know the school needs rebuilding.

"The rebuilt school will be further away from houses on Morley Road and so it will be better for everyone."

Another Morley Road resident Jean Weaver agreed it was better placed. She said: "The buildings are well designed. I like it and it is long overdue for the area."

The school will be rebuilt to the rear of the site, on playing fields. Pupils will continue to be educated in the old school until then.

Work is due to begin this summer and the new school should be finished in October 2014.

The chairman of governors, Hazel Till, said: "I am pleased by the positive feedback from people and the numbers who have come to look. Many people have worked hard to make a new school a reality finally."

A WOMAN who visited Derbyshire Children's Holiday Centre as a child has thrown her weight behind the Derby Telegraph campaign to raise £30,000 for a new minibus to take children on much-needed holidays.

Michelle, now aged 33, said she went to the centre in Skegness a couple of times between the ages of seven and 11 and said it gave her a break from the "reality of her life".

She said: "I remember in those days, we went by coach from the old Derby bus station. I never felt homesick and looked forward to going. I had three square meals a day and suddenly there was organisation to my life.

"We were having breakfast, dinner and tea, which people take for granted, but I didn't.

"I came from a single parent family and spent much of my time looking after my three younger sisters, so being away from everything was very exciting."

Michelle, who is married and lives in Belper, works as an internet sales manager for a car company in Derby, said she particularly enjoyed the activities such as going to Butlins and roller-skating while she was at the centre.

She said: "Going to Skegness gave me my first experience of the sea. I loved the place, the rooms were nice and the staff were great, particularly a woman called Ruth. It was wonderful to have fun on the beach and come back to find your clothes had been washed for you and put neatly on the bed. I first tasted honey at the centre and the dining room smelled gorgeous at breakfast time."

Thousands of Derbyshire children have enjoyed holidays at the centre since it was set up in 1891.

But breaks for 450 children each year are under threat after it was discovered that the minibus which takes them there each week is on its last legs.

Since trustee chairman Bill Tomlinson was told the bad news, it has got worse with exhaust and fuel delivery system problems, although he has been assured it is still roadworthy and safe.

Michelle said: "I owe a lot to the centre and it helped turn me into the person I am today with a successful career and home life.

"So I am hoping to become a volunteer at the centre in the near future. It is such a worthwhile cause and gives children chances they might never have."

The centre survives on public donations. About £17,000 a month is needed to keep the centre going.

How you can donate to the cause

The Derbyshire Children's Holiday Centre desperately needs help to raise £30,000 for a new minibus. If you want to donate, send a cheque or postal order made payable to Derbyshire Children's Holiday Centre.

It should be marked on the reverse with Derby Telegraph Minibus Appeal and sent to Derbyshire Children's Holiday Centre, Freepost, RSKX-EAJE-ETXZ, Belper, DE56 0QB. Or they can be sent c/o Zena Hawley, Derby Telegraph, Northcliffe House, Meadow Road, Derby DE1 2BH.

Or you can use a debit or credit card to make a donation at www.justgiving.com/DCHCDerbyTelegraphAppeal.

To find out more call Derby 781821 or visit the website www.derbyshirechildrensholiday centre.co.uk.

THE company which operates a major contact centre in Derby has revealed it is to recruit an extra 50 people to deal with customer service inquiries.

Webhelp TSC, which operates the Pride Park centre, has launched a recruitment drive to find "customer engagement specialists".

But the new recruits will not be manning the phones at the centre, which handles sales and customer service calls on behalf of media giant Sky.

They will communicate with customers by e-mail, web chat and social media platforms.

Webhelp said that if the concept proves successful, the number of jobs could grow to 200, taking the number of people employed by the company in Derby to more than 1,300.

The company first indicated that it was looking at other technology to reach its customers in February, when Paris-based Webhelp Group bought the business from Indian firm Hero Group for around £75 million. At the time, Webhelp's chief executive, David Turner, said it had plans to expand and invest in the UK business, bringing in new technology, allowing it to be more competitive and offer its clients' customers more options when making contact.

This included making more use of text messaging services, web chat and e-mail communications.

The director of strategic accounts at Webhelp TSC, Anton Manley, said: "This recruitment drive demonstrates the incredible success of Webhelp TSC's relationship with BSkyB.

"We already have a 3,000-strong team at locations across the UK offering assistance to Sky customers.

"We now have the opportunity to extend our support and provide a fully integrated multi-channel service to all our clients and their customers. I'm delighted these jobs are coming to Derby to expand our multi-channel offering from here and continue the remarkable jobs growth of Webhelp TSC in Derby."

The contact centre, which was formerly occupied by internet bank Egg, opened in Derby as HEROtsc 15 months ago with 400 staff.

Since then, employee numbers at the site have tripled.

Mike Purvis, sales and marketing director at Webhelp TSC, said: "The growing partnership between BSkyB and Webhelp TSC underlines the bond between two organisations that are leading their industries with innovative offerings and a shared desire to offer an excellent customer experience across both traditional and emerging social and digital media channels.

"This is another important step in Webhelp's determination to create a European customer experience innovator with multi-channel capability."

TOURISM bosses have greeted with delight news that hit BBC drama The Village – filmed in the Peak District – is to return for another series.

Series one of the programme was filmed in a number of county locations, including Hayfield, Chapel-en-le-Frith and Edale.

And it has been announced that the programme, which charts the story of a village from the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, will return with six episodes next year.

David James, chief executive of Visit Peak District and Derbyshire, hoped the second series would continue to boost the economy in the Peak District by attracting visitors to the area.

He said: "We are delighted to hear that the BBC has commissioned a second series of The Village.

"The first series has been attracting impressive ratings – starting with 6.4 million viewers and then about 5 million for each subsequent episode, so it's been a great showcase for some of the Peak District's most stunning landscapes – from the picturesque village of Hayfield to the majestic beauty of Edale.

"We understand that lots of local businesses have experienced an increase in interest and trade since the start of the drama, attracting tourists to the area from far and wide.

"We're hoping that the area's latest starring role on prime-time television will bring in more staying visitors from all over the UK to boost the economy, and look forward to welcoming the production company, crew and cast back here to film the next six episodes, which we gather will be set in the 1920s."

Series one features three Derby actors. Luke Williams, 20, played the role of Paul, who was killed in the second episode and whom millions of viewers saw proposing to Agnes, played by 19-year-old Chloe Harris, in episode one. Both attended Chellaston Academy.

Nick Preston, 17, of Allenton, another former Chellaston pupil, landed the part of teenage Alf. His character will be introduced to viewers in the final episode of the six-part series on Sunday.

It has not yet been confirmed whether any of them will star in the next series.

Peter Moffat, creator and writer of The Village, said: "I'm thrilled at the prospect of bringing to the screen the plans I've got for all these characters, and some new ones, as the life of the village moves away from the horror of war and into the roaring twenties.

"Boom and bust, the Charleston, motor cars, extreme politics, fish and chips, jazz, bananas, cinema, the decline of the aristocracy and the rise of the middle classes – the outside world comes to the village, bringing with it the big drama that change always generates."

Executive producer John Griffin said: "We are delighted with the success of The Village and the response we have had to such a beautifully authored piece from Peter Moffat. The cast have been extraordinary and we look forward to working with them again on series two."

The final episode will be screened at 9pm on Sunday.

A MUM-OF-THREE saved the life of a teenage assault victim when she stepped in during a horrific attack that left him brain-damaged.

Caroline Lee bravely stopped her car after seeing thug Lee Rhodes savagely beating his 17-year-old victim.

Leaving two of her own teenage children in her car, the nursery worker went over to Rhodes, who was picking up and dropping the youth, who he had also been punching and kicking. She confronted the 17-year-old and he ran off. He was later put behind bars for eight years.

Mrs Lee was presented with a commendation for her bravery by police at a ceremony in Derby yesterday.

The 40-year-old said: "I stopped to help because I have three children of my own and I hope that anyone in the same situation would do the same for my kids. At the time I didn't think that he might try to attack me.

"The boy was just lying there, I could see blood on his face and head, the lad kept picking him up and dropping him on the floor and dragging him across the car park."

Mrs Lee's husband Steven, 43, a lorry driver, and her mother Maureen Hicken, 69, were there to support her at the ceremony.

Mrs Hicken said: "I am very proud of Caroline. She will stick up for anybody who is in trouble."

Mr Lee, who was working away at the time the assault took place, said: "She showed real bravery. I think that comes from having kids of her own."

Yesterday's Divisional Commander Awards, at St Mary's Wharf police station, were told CCTV footage and evidence given by Mrs Lee forced Rhodes into pleading guilty to wounding.

Chief Superintendent Jack Atwal said: "Caroline acted with no thought of her own personal safety and her actions saved his life.

"The victim spent his 18th birthday in critical condition in hospital which must have been heartbreaking for his parents. Caroline is an extremely brave woman."

Mrs Lee, who works at Chaucer Infants School and Nursery, in Ilkeston, has three children – Jonathan, 18, Martin, 14 and Zara, 13.

At the time she stopped to help the assault victim, from Long Eaton, in the incident in a car park off Cotmanhay Road, Ilkeston in June last year, they were on the way back from Martin's running club.

Mr Atwal also praised the work of Det Sgt Sarah McAughtrie and Det Con Emma Brentnall, whose investigation led to the conviction of Rhodes, of Dovedale Circle, Cotmanhay.

The awards recognised police officers, community support officers, special constables and members of the public who show bravery and courage.

PC Nicola Richardson, PC Andrew Melladay, PC Joseph Murphy, PC Nathan Bull, PC Steven Revill, PC Vernon Bell, PC Karen Stubbins, Sergeant Michael Sisman, PC Andrew MacGregor and PC Aaron Shaw, who dealt with a large crowd disturbance in Bethulie Road, Derby, on January 20.

Acting Sgt Emma Brentnall, PC Amreen Khokhar and PC Steven Bruce, who performed CPR to try and save the life of a Derby man who had taken a lethal amount of tablets, morphine and cider.

Caroline Lee, for saving the life of a 17-year-old attack victim.

Det Sgt Sarah McAughtrie and Det Con Emma Brentnall,

for their investigative work on the same case that saw an 18-year-old jailed for eight years

Joseph Hudson, Ryan Atter and Anthony Cortes who tried to disarm a man who had stabbed a relative and was carrying knives in Howard Street, Long Eaton, last year.

PC Darren Morter and PC Nicola Burns, who also tackled the same man.

Det Sgt Sarah McAughtrie and Det Con Ian Blakeley, whose investigation saw an attacker who stabbed a victim receive a 10-year prison sentence.

PC Gemma Roberts who protected and supported a young man with learning difficulties who was being harassed by his mother.

Ian Leyland, who detained a man who was trying to steal from a till at Ladbrokes betting office in Ilkeston.

PC Richard Barker, Geoff Record and Mark Snape, who were commended for their investigation of a series of high value metal thefts from Rolls-Royce.

PC David West, PC Michael Potter and PC Leigh Rowe, who together helped save the life of a potential suicide victim who had tried to throw himself over a bridge on the A52 at Derby.

Det Sgt Richard Crowther, who successfully investigated a series of indecent exposure offences between June and December 2012.

PC Simon O'Connor and PC Matthew Moore, who spent two hours in freezing conditions talking a potentially suicidal man from jumping off St Mary's Bridge, Derby.

Insp Stephen Fairbrother for his thorough work leading Derby police's licensing team.

The Rev Jo Whitehead and the Rev Mair Bradley who have shown an "exemplary level of support" to officers in Derby.

A BAKER had drunk a quarter of a pint of absinthe moments before he collapsed and later died, an inquest has heard.

Jason Dance had been drinking throughout the day before attending a party in Alvaston.

After he drank the strong alcoholic spirit and collapsed, an ambulance was called by concerned friends.

But witnesses have told Derby and South Derbyshire Coroner's Court that Ian Wilson, the ambulance technician who attended the scene, told them Mr Dance was "just drunk" and that he should "sleep it off".

Soon after, the 33-year-old stopped breathing and died at the scene.

Witness Tanya Brown, who was at the party and had drunk a small amount of alcohol, said: "We were sat around and someone said to Jason that they could drink him under the table.

"A quarter of a glass of absinthe was poured for him and Jason was saying 'no' but everyone was egging him on to do it. He said he would have it, then he was going home, and he 'necked' it."

Ms Brown told the inquest that he got up to go to the kitchen but fell over and banged his head. Mr Dance lay on the floor and started projectile vomiting.

She said: "The paramedics said they wouldn't take him because he was too drunk."

She said partygoers were told to leave him on the decking at the rear of the property in Griffin Close, Alvaston, and sleep it off and he would be fine.

She said Mr Dance continued snoring for a couple of minutes then she noticed that his lips and ears were turning blue, adding: "People thought it was just the light but then they checked his pulse and there wasn't one."

She said a party-goer tried to administer heart massage and the ambulance was called again.

When questioned as to whether Mr Wilson and his ambulance colleague Louise Stanley were asked to leave at any point she said: "Nobody asked them to leave the first time the ambulance was there."

Peter Bainbridge, clinical quality manager for East Midlands Ambulance Service, was asked by coroner Dr Robert Hunter whether Mr Dance had received the "minimum standard" of care.

Mr Bainbridge said: "This patient should have been taken to hospital. He was in a vulnerable situation and was at risk of compromising their airway."

Mr Bainbridge also said it was inappropriate for Mr Dance to have been left with the other party guests to keep observing him.

He also said that snoring could be a sign of a restricted airway. and added: "Because he was intoxicated he would not be aware and then be unable to breathe entirely."

Previously, the inquest into Mr Dance's death, which occurred in the evening of August 14, 2010, was told Mr Watson had left the scene because he felt "intimidated".

However giving evidence at the inquest yesterday, Jonathan Croft, who also attended the party, when asked whether there was a "threatening atmosphere" by Dr Hunter, he said: "No. Not at all."

LEE BELL credited manager Gary Rowett with saving him from football's "scraphead" as he collected Burton Albion's Player of the Year award.

Bell – who is suspended and cannot play in the Brewers' play-off matches – gave a stark insight into the financial realities of the lower leagues as he recalled being released by Crewe Alexandra at the end of last season.

"I was pretty much on the scrapheap at the end of last season," he said.

"So I'm really proud of this award and I really appreciate it from the fans, I really do.

"I've won them before, at Macclesfield and Crewe, but this one means a little bit more because of where I was at the start of the season.

"It's strange, with Crewe getting to the play-off final last year, we were three weeks behind everyone else.

"There had been a couple of offers for me and Crewe hadn't told me where I was, so I had put them on the back-burner.

"Then you get released and you have to ring a manager up and say 'I've been released now, I want to come and sign for you' and they know your heart isn't really into that."

It seems remarkable that Bell, who has brought a calm authority to Burton's midfield and who is still only 30, should have considered himself in danger of dropping out of the game.

But he added: "It's getting harder and harder each year.

"The finances just aren't there in football, so better and better players are dropping down the leagues.

"My options were to go to play in Scotland, which wasn't going to happen because of personal commitments, or go and play in London, which was the same – it wasn't going to happen.

"Or I could have dropped into the Conference.

"Then I rang Gary Rowett up and asked if I could come and train – it wasn't really a trial.

"But, obviously, I did quite well for him."

Bell won the fans' votes over more high-profile candidates like Jacques Maghoma, who won top scorer and Player's Player of the Year awards on the night.

"I'm massively surprised," he said.

"I can't believe it. I think there are better players than me in the team.

"I honestly thought that Mags (Maghoma) would win everything.

"I was really surprised to hear my name on the video after 10 seconds – it took me back a bit.

"But, on a personal note, I know I have worked quite hard this year."

A reckless moment in the penultimate game of the regular season, when he was sent off for elbowing Bradford City's Zavon Hinds as they challenged for a header, ended Bell's season early but he said the award helped him feel a little better after that disappointment.

"I'm still trying to get over it. But that's football, there are ups and downs," he said.

"I'll be reminded at training that I won't be involved in the game.

"I'm obviously still disappointed that I won't be involved in the play-offs – but it's my fault.

"Right at this minute, this is a little up for me and I'm thankful for the award.

"I'm just glad I made that phone call to Gary Rowett.

"And I just want to work hard again next season to make sure I'm not in that position again."

A WEAPON amnesty has been launched across Derby in a police bid to reduce the risk of items such as knives and BB guns falling into the wrong hands.

It has been organised by Derbyshire police and Derby City Council and will run throughout May. People can hand weapons in at police stations across the city.

The last time an amnesty was held in the city, in November 2011, 483 weapons were surrendered.

Chief Inspector Steve Pont said: "The aim of this amnesty is to make Derby a safer place by removing items such as knives, BB guns and knuckle-dusters that could fall into the wrong hands and be used in crime. Special bins will be at police stations during May and we are also sending a mobile police office into different communities for those who don't feel comfortable going to a station to hand over their weapons.

"In many cases, people who carry a weapon end up having it used against them.

"And, if you carry a weapon, you face a real possibility of going to prison even if you don't use it."

Weapons can be handed in at police stations in St Mary's Wharf, Cotton Lane, Pear Tree Road and Derby Market Place. The mobile police station will also accept weapons at Caxton Street between 3pm and 7pm on May 6 and 20; Asda Sinfin between 3pm and 7pm on May 7 and 21; Allenton shops between 3pm and 7pm on May 8 and 22, and Normanton Road between 3pm and 7pm on May 9 and 23.

Chief Inspector Pont said: "People may feel they need to carry a weapon as some kind of status symbol but those who do so often end up being injured themselves. The maximum sentence for having an offensive weapon is four years in prison. I would urge people to hand their weapons in to us, no questions asked."

Councillor Ranjit Banwait, chairman of the Ending Gang And Youth Violence Partnership for Derby City Council, said: "In 2009, I put a motion on weapon amnesties to the full council, which led to a successful operation which removed a large number of weapons from circulation.

"This latest amnesty gives members of the public the opportunity to hand in any unwanted items in their possession, which they might have for an innocent reason but which, when placed in the wrong hands, could be used to commit a crime or could put the owner in the unfortunate position of breaking the law.

"It could be their grandfather's old service revolver, an ornamental samurai sword or a BB gun which they bought on holiday."

RELATIVES of Derby anti-war campaigner Alice Wheeldon have said a blue plaque installed in her honour has "restored her reputation".

Mrs Wheeldon is famed for her political activism in the early 20th century but was jailed in 1917 for 10 years after being accused of plotting to poison the then Prime Minister David Lloyd George.

There is widespread belief that Alice and her family were framed by MI5 to raise sympathy for the Government and family members have spent years campaigning to clear her name.

Yesterday, a ceremony at her former home in Pear Tree Road was held as a blue plaque was unveiled to mark her achievements as a socialist.

And it was attended by Mrs Wheeldon's great-granddaughter, Chloe Mason – and her sister Deidrie – who had both flown from their home in Sydney, Australia.

In an emotional speech, Mrs Mason thanked the people of Derby for helping to "restore the reputation she deserves".

She said: "We never believed something like this would happen, so to see that plaque up there means more than I can tell you. When she died, she was reviled for something we believe she never did. But she did so much good.

"This is important for history and for young people growing up in Derby and learning about its heritage."

Blue plaques are traditionally put on a building or a site to mark the connection between that location and a famous person or event. This is one of 20 plaques being put up in the city this year.

Candidates needed to have been dead for at least 20 years; had a long-lasting effect; have public support and a link to a building or site in Derby.

Derby City Councillor Hardyal Dhindsa said: "I hope we can clear Alice Wheeldon's name and give her the correct place in history for future generations."

And in further honour of Mrs Wheeldon, singer-songwriter Robb Johnson, of Hounslow, has written a new song called "Alice Annie Wheeldon" as part of his new album Bring Down The Moon.

LABOUR leader Ed Miliband has hit back at claims his party's manifesto for Derbyshire is littered with promises that cannot be delivered.

Speaking ahead of today's county council elections, Mr Miliband said Labour's 75 pledges for Derbyshire was a sign his party was aware of what needs to be done in the county.

The stack of policies is almost double the 38 election promises put forward by the Conservative group, which says Derbyshire County Council has to "live within its means".

Mr Miliband, who visited Swadlincote and Long Eaton in a last-gasp effort to win votes, said the manifesto from Derbyshire Labour was "great".

He said: "We've not made promises we cannot keep.

"We've got more promises and we've also got more credible promises. It's a great manifesto and it talks about things that matter, such as introducing the living wage – that's a really important issue for so many people.

"It talks about energy efficiency and helping people cut their bills.

"It talks about how to support businesses – that's a really important issue as well. And it talks about protecting children centres.

"I think what you see here is a campaign with momentum that is based on conversations with people in Derbyshire."

Alongside Mr Miliband was Derbyshire Labour's leader Anne Western. Asked how Mrs Western could deliver her group's manifesto and cut £130 million from council budgets, as required by the Government, Mr Miliband said: "I'm going to leave that to Anne. She's a great leader and will make the right decisions."

Mr Miliband hit out at anti-European party UKIP, which has 54 candidates across 64 seats in Derbyshire.

The opposition leader said: "I think UKIP's policies will take Britain and Derbyshire in the wrong direction. Their policies are terrible."

The polls open at 10am today and Mrs Western said the chances she will be leader of the county council come the weekend were "pretty good".

She also insisted her group's manifesto was not full of unaffordable promises. "A lot of it does not involve spending money. It's about doing things differently."

Andrew Lewer, leader of Derbyshire Conservatives, said he was confident his group could win a second term. He said: "This is a critical election. We believe it is essential to keep the hard left from taking Derbyshire back. Only a strong Conservative vote can achieve that.''

Alan Graves, of Derbyshire UKIP, said: "We're very confident of taking control of the council. There's a lot of people who are fed up with the old parties."

The county's Lib Dem leader Steve Flitter said the best his group could hope for was a hung council.