@Dele_Adebola do you still have Ebola? #prayfordele

— Danny (@Sheehan94) October 10, 2014

@Dele_Adebola@dalejohnsonESPN you only 'ad it but you're all better now, amirite? ⚽

— Jeff Boison (@jeff_boison) October 10, 2014

@Dele_Adebola oh mate get well soon #ebola

— ʎoq pǝɹǝʍod ɹɐןos (@solarpoweredboy) October 10, 2014

Guys please stop asking if I have ebola. I do not have it. But I thank you for caring about my health and wellbeing :-) Dele.

— Dele Adebola (@Dele_Adebola) October 10, 2014

A Nottingham nightclub company have been shortlisted in six categories in the UK Festival Awards.

Nottingham's DHP Family - responsible for Splendour, Dot to Dot, Everywhere, Hit the Deck and new festival No Tomorrow - are hoping to take home a clean sweep of industry awards at the ceremony in London on December 1.

Ali McLean, Head of Festivals at DHP Family, said: "Building a successful festival requires an equal measure of logic, passion and luck, as well as the ability to carry out careful planning, research and having the guts to give it a go.

"We are extremely pleased to be recognised in the same fields as some of the UK's most prestigious and well-known festivals."

Winners will be decided through a public vote with DHP urging Nottingham to get behind them to secure their victory.

To vote visit festivalawards.com/vote before voting closes on November 1.

A BOUNCER has been sentenced to 17 months in prison after robbing and assaulting students in the city centre.

Kadeem Ali, of Edwalton, pleaded guilty to one count of robbery, one count of actual bodily harm (ABH) and the possession of cannabis during a hearing at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday.

The first offence happened on March 12 when the 23-year-old tried to 'be-friend' two Loughborough University students as they left a city centre nightclub.

Prosecution Dawn Pritchard described how first year student, Daniel Pender, was "frozen" and "terrified he would be seriously hurt" after Ali cornered him in a dead end alley.

"Mr Pender and his friend tried to run away from the defendant and his friend got away... but the defendant caught up with him, grabbed him round the neck, pushed him up against the wall and demanded he got his wallet out.

"He said he would stab him if he didn't, although no knife was seen."

The second incident was just six days later when Ali again accosted a student - this time on North Sherwood Street.

Miss Porter described how second year student Thomas Mee was walking home from a takeaway at 3am in the morning when Ali approached him.

"He started off friendly asking whether he had any credit on his phone," she said.

"Mr Mee denied he had a phone on him and then he asked for drugs, which left the victim feeling in danger."

Ali then punched the 19-year-old in the face and kneed him in the stomach, before running off up North Sherwood Street.

Police saw the attack and chased him down, arresting him and finding cannabis both in his pockets and at a later search of his home - where Mr Pender's phone and wallet were also recovered.

For his defence, Robert Egbuna said Ali had recently had two bereavements that had sent him "on a downward spiral" and he had not committed a crime before he turned 22.

Ali also had a doctor's report to show he has obsessive compulsive disorder.

But as he had already been given a suspended sentence of six weeks for driving with excess alcohol and two assaults on a constable in February, Judge J Sampson felt he had had his chance.

The judge said: "I accept to a certain extent you went off the rails, but you were very clearly given a chance in February this year.

"I do have a public duty to perform and it would be cold comfort to your victims if the judge let you out because he felt sorry for you.

"You present a high risk of further offending."

Ali was sentenced to 12 months for the robbery, four months for the ABH and an additional month for breaking the conditions of his suspended sentence, to run consecutively.  

He also received one month for each of the two drugs offences to run concurrently with the rest of his sentence. 

BINMEN will be helping firefighters target vulnerable people and help them fit smoke alarms in their homes.

A pilot scheme is being launched in Gedling where the council's binmen will identify people with dementia - who are more at risk of fire - by checking who has not put their bins out.

Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service has seen a rise in the number of fires at the homes of over 65s, which can be linked to those with dementia.

Emma Darby, from Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue's risk reduction team, said: "Older people are disproportionately affected by fire. Waste management services have data of every vulnerable person who can't put their bins out.

"A lot of firefighters have had training to deal with dementia and we've seen more and more that they are spotting it.

"Sometimes people tell us things that they wouldn't tell other agencies, like the kettle boiling dry or forgetting things. We can use this data to help us find the homes to visit."

More than 300 people have been put on the initial list of inspections from the binmen's findings, and the roll-out of fire prevention equipment is expected to last around three months in Gedling.

If successful, the Fire Authority is keen to continue the project across the county. Along with smoke alarms, flame retardant bedding and cooking equipment will be given out.

Wayne Bowcock, Nottinghamshire's deputy chief fire officer, said: "One of my key drivers is that prevention is better than cure. If we want to reduce the call volumes, we need to see a greater investment in reduction. If it costs a lot of money and it saves one life then it is cost effective."

As part of the scheme, Nottinghamshire Police and East Midlands Ambulance Service will also share the binmen's data.

Police will secure their homes by fitting window and door locks while the ambulance service inspections will include replacing the bottom of walking sticks.

Husband and former full-time carer Rodney Fogg thinks the idea is positive, but ignores the underlying problem.

He said: "It's like trying to put a plaster on an open wound. It's fair to say that people with dementia are more susceptible to fire risks but who's to say the person whose bin has not been put out is not away on holiday or someone who overslept?"

Mr Fogg, of West Bridgford, cared for his wife Pamela, who has Alzheimer's disease, full time before she went into care.

"The point is that these people need round the clock support. It sounds like a good idea, but there will be trouble monitoring it and maintaining it," he said.

MANSFIELD Town have signed centre-half Jamie Sendles-White on a month's loan from Queens Park Rangers.

With Ryan Tafazolli and John Dempster adding to the list of sidelined defenders this week, Stags had just two recognised centre-halves ahead of tomorrow's trip to Portsmouth.

As a result, chairman John Radford gave boss Paul Cox the green light to delve in to the loan market.

"We've had to move into the market as a result of our injury situation and we've brought in a player, in Jamie, who has international experience with Northern Ireland at youth and Under-21 level," said Cox.

"He also featured in QPR's pre-season tour of Germany and is a player who they rate very highly.

"I'd like to thank QPR for allowing Jamie to join us."

Sendles-White goes straight in to the squad for tomorrow's game, and is also eligible to play for Mansfield in the FA Cup, with their first round tie on Saturday, November 8.

The 20-year-old has been with Rangers since the age of 15 and signed a new one-year deal in the summer following a number of impressive displays in the club's elite development squad.

Meanwhile, 16-year-old goalkeeper Adam Bishop has travelled with the squad to Portsmouth as on-loan Nottingham Forest stopper Dimitar Evtimov is struggling with a groin strain.

Our latest Q&A is with local rock DJ Apocalypse - also known as John 'Spike' Smalley

Q When did you start DJ-ing and why?

A I started in 2004. A friend wanted someone to play music between bands at a show he was putting on at Junktion 7, and I volunteered, because I wanted to see the bands. I then spent that summer being second DJ in the second room of a different friend's club, then started my own night once the students got back.

Q What are your favourite venues in Nottingham to play?

A The new Nottingham Trent University Student Union is great - not just because all the kit is brand new, but all the staff there are wonderful people. I also love the Maze, and there's something a bit special about playing Rock City.

Q What is Nottingham's biggest floor-filler?

A It depends on the night but apart from the obvious standards, you'll always get a full dance floor of silly choreography to Sonata Arctica's Full Moon, or Evil Scarecrow's Robototron (which always embarrasses the band themselves)

Q How does Nottingham's club scene compare to other cities in the UK?

A For a relatively small city, Nottingham has a very healthy club (and live music) scene, with a lot of niche genres catered for. It's only when you go elsewhere that you really realise how lucky we are here. There are bigger cities in the Midlands with only a fraction of what we've got.

Q What advice would you give to people who want to get into DJ-ing?

A Knowing your audience is just as important as knowing your music, and your people skills need to equal your mixing skills.

See DJ Apocalypse on the decks at the Assault clubnight at NTU Student's Union on Friday, October 17.

RECOLLECTIONS of a war overshadowed by events in Vietnam are being depicted in a new film by a soldier's son.

Major Nicholas Ofield, of Hucknall, was one of 500 British Army troops in the Dhofar War in Oman between 1968 and 1975.

He returned to Oman for the first time with son and director Tristan Ofield, of Bulwell, to film the new documentary.

The 67-minute film called Operation Oman premieres at the Broadway cinema in Hockley next month. (nov 16)

"This is basically my dad's account," explained Tristan. "He hasn't been back in 40 years. Originally, I was just going along to document that but when I got back I started making something a little bit more serious and interviewed some of his fellow soldiers.

"No one has done a film about this war before."

It is estimated up to 10,000 people died in the Dhofar conflict, which was fought to allow the country to modernise.

Britain backed Qaboos bin Said al Said, who overthrew his father, Said bin Taimur, during the war.

"No one actually knows how many people died," explains Tristan. "But we know at least 30 British soldiers lost their lives. It's a war that was completely overshadowed by Vietnam, which I think the British were happy with because they were supporting an absolute monarchy."

Said bin Taimur was a traditionalist and made laws to stop peasants owning property and banned the wearing of glasses.

The men who worked the land were backed by the Chinese in a Communist revolt.

Fearing a red dawn in Oman, the British backed Qaboos, who oversaw major social, educational and military reforms after the Communists were beaten.

The film has the backing of Sir Ranulph Fiennes, who both fought in and has written about the conflict.

He said: "Operation Oman is an incredibly important film in that it remembers those soldiers who gave their lives fighting the insurgents, in a conflict that is often overlooked, and in many instances, forgotten altogether."

The first screening is being held in aid of the Royal British Legion on November 16 at the Broadway cinema in Broad Street, Hockley.

JUST when fans think they know all there is to know about ice legends Torvill and Dean, the golden greats have brought out an autobiography packed with new revelations.

In Our Life on Ice, Jayne and Chris talk about a death threat, a terrifying car smash, parenthood and making Hollywood actor Jack Nicholson cry. After publishing their life story nearly 20 years ago, the couple were sceptical at first about the idea of book number two, believing there was nothing left to say.

Two shy teenagers, who grew up in Nottingham, became the darlings of the ice rink, revered around the world, and were the greatest love story there never was – apart from the time they "dabbled slightly" on a coach, as revealed on Piers Morgan's Life Stories last year.

That relationship, they try to sum up in the book. First and foremost, they are the best of friends, there's a bit of husband and wife in there and brother and sister.

But underpinning it all is the commitment and trust they share. Early on in their partnership they were "quite prudish" but as time went on became aware of what a romantic liaison might do to their partnership.

"There's always a chance the feelings you have for one another might change, which is when things like fear, secrecy and betrayal start rearing their ugly head. Once they come into play, you're finished," they say.

"You see it all the time in skating. Couples skate together, fall in love, split up and another one bites the dust.

"The more we saw this happen the more guarded we became and so a romantic relationship was completely out of the question."

From first setting foot on the ice as children in the 1960s to winning Olympic gold in 1984, then coming out of retirement to star in ITV show Dancing on Ice in 2006, there are countless stories to share.

But it's not just about their successful skating partnership, which began at Nottingham Ice Stadium nearly 40 years ago.

And as well as the triumphs and laughter, there's tears and sadness as the couple talk candidly about less joyful moments in their private lives.

Jayne, who is married to US sound engineer Phil Christensen, reveals the torment behind her ectopic pregnancy and failed IVF attempts.

"The next time you think this one's definitely going to work. But when it doesn't, you start to become desperate. After that you start expecting it not to work, which is hard, not just mentally and physically," says 57-year-old Jayne, who grew up in Clifton.

Describing the decision to adopt, she says: "It was a wonderful feeling. It felt like a new beginning." Her adopted children Kieran and Jessica bonded well and are as close as any other brother and sister. "But whenever they fall out, the first thing he says is, 'Mum, when's she going back?' which makes us all laugh," says Jayne.

Chris – or Buster as his dad called him – recalls a row over his father's affair and the day his mother walked out on the family when he was six years old.

Chris, 56, who lived in Calverton, says: "I don't often talk about this part of my life. In some ways it draws a bit of a blank and I only remember certain parts. A psychologist would probably tell me I block out the memories and perhaps I do."

These days he and his mother, now in her 80s, get on fine, but never talk about the past.

Jayne also reveals how hard it was going their separate ways in 1998 when Chris moved to Colorado. She recalls: "I found the first few months really hard to deal with and felt quite depressed at times."

Seeing Chris and his then wife Jill Trenary off at the airport, she says: That's when it really hit me, the enormity of what we were saying goodbye to. It was almost like losing a limb."

After coming out of retirement eight years later for Dancing on Ice (DoI), they vowed never to call time on Torvill and Dean again.

While Bolero was the highlight as amateur ice skaters, DoI has been the high point of their professional careers.

"Getting back on the ice and being Torvill and Dean again was fabulous but then transforming that into nine successful series and seven sell-out tours was light years beyond anything thought possible," they say.

Chris reveals which two celebrities Jayne would loved to have coached.

"Jayne always wanted David Beckham on the show...or Robbie Williams. We knew we'd never get them but Jayne always held out hope."

Of all the stars who appeared, from sporting greats Dame Kelly Holmes and Greg Rusedski to the laugh-out-loud Todd Carty and Joe Pasquale, Chris says one of the biggest shocks was getting Pamela Anderson on the show... even though she was the first to be voted off.

The couple totted up they have skated at least 250,000 miles – almost ten times round the earth – and the ice is where they feel at home.

"Even when we're not working we still have to put our skates on once every few days and feel the ice. It's kind of essential. Like an amphibian needing to get into the water."

However, Chris reveals their spectacular skating career could have been cut short when he fell asleep behind the wheel en route to their training camp in Germany for the 1984 Olympics.

Jayne had nodded off and Chris, who had been awake for 24 hours previously, fell asleep for a few seconds.

He awoke in blind panic to find he'd veered across three lanes and was hurtling towards the central reservation barrier.

"There was then one almighty bang, at which point Jayne woke up screaming.

"All I could do was hold on to the wheel as tightly as I could and pray that it would eventually come under control. The alternative was certain death," says Chris, who remains haunted by the incident today.

Devoting a chapter to their Olympic winning Bolero – watched by half of Britain's population – the couple say: "That Bolero became a marker in people's lives fills us with an enormous amount of pride.

"So to have helped create a moment in time that people associate with happiness, like when England won the World Cup, is something very special. That – coupled with competing and winning the gold medal – is without doubt our proudest achievement to date."

So much has been said and written about the performance but who knew how the length of Jayne's iconic purple dress was perfected?

She says: "Because it was made of pure silk chiffon it wasn't allowed to touch the ice. If it had, it would have become a mess. So what Courtney [the designer] asked us to do was to run through the routine very slowly, while he followed on behind with a huge pair of sheers.

"Each time the skirt touched the ice he'd cut a bit off. That's why the hem of the dress is so uneven. It produced an excellent effect, though, even if it was accidental."

The quirkier side of fame resulted in Nottingham streets, a city tram and even two gigantic Russian cargo ships being named in their honour. Chris's ship has been refurbished and is currently operating out of Panama. Jayne's was scrapped three years ago.

Their legion of fans, swelled by a whole new group since Dancing on Ice, they describe as "dedicated, supportive and, above all, appreciative."

Even Hollywood actor Jack Nicholson and former US President Ronald Reagan have expressed their appreciation.

Meeting Nicholson backstage in LA during their world tour, they asked him if he'd enjoyed the show.

"He just said 'I love anything that makes me cry'. I think it was a positive comment," says Chris.

The majority of fans are supportive and congratulatory but the police were called when Jayne's fan mail from a prisoner turned nasty.

"At first they [his letters] were friendly enough, but after a while he began to get abusive; his final letter declaring that as soon as he was released he'd come and find me and kill me. The police were called and nothing happened, but I remember being very scared for a while."

Looking to the future, they hint of new projects in the pipeline and a few weeks ago the couple were spotted back in their home city. Chris harbours an ambition to create a sitcom based around life at a local ice rink – another is to have a role in Britain's best loved soap.

"I'm a huge Corrie fan....I even created a role for myself as a gym owner a few years ago," he says. It came to nothing but who knows?

Torvill and Dean will be signing copies at the National Ice Centre, Bolero Square, tomorrow from 12pm. Customers are advised to purchase the book, £20, in advance from 

Nottingham Station has been evacuated after a security alert.

The Post understands an abandoned case in the main hall led to people being asked to leave at around 6.30pm on Friday.

Eye-witnesses said that hundreds of people were stood on Station Street while the main hall was out of bounds.

Security alert at Nottingham rail station. Abandoned grey holdall causing concern. pic.twitter.com/P0QX75iQw1

— Sally Bowman Collard (@sallcoll) October 10, 2014

Nottm station has been evacuated x.x theyve found an unattended bag in the middle of the foyer c.c

— ❤ Loz ♫ ♪ (@Lozbunneh) October 10, 2014

Dramatic times at #Nottingham station. Hundreds disgruntled, one bag responsible. @MyNottingham@HappyNottm#evacuated

— P.Thiagarajan (@conscri_PT) October 10, 2014

Izzy O'Connell, 22, shift leader at Costa at Nottingham station said: "It's the first evacuation we have had as we have only been open a few weeks. 

"Everyone was quite calm but it was because the evacuation was well organised.  We aren't too worried as we are keeping well informed."

Trains are still running and people can access the platforms via the footbridge on Station Street.

PLANS for 22 new homes in Eastwood have been given the go-ahead.

Developer Rippon Homes was given planning permission for three and four-bedroom detached and semi-detached homes on land next to Peacock Drive.

They were approved by Broxtowe Borough Council's development control committee at a meeting on Wednesday.

The vacant site is next to Springbank Primary School.

Ian Dyke, managing director of Rippon Homes, said: "We are delighted that our plans for Eastwood have been approved and we look forward to starting work on site shortly.

"We have worked closely with the council's planners and we are delighted with the approved scheme, which we believe will bring attractive, high-quality new homes at realistic prices to Eastwood.

"The new homes have been designed to complement the architecture of existing properties in the town, while also creating an interesting and attractive street scene with off - street parking to the homes."

Rippon Homes will contribute £27,784 towards the provision of public open space near to the development.

THOUSANDS of poppies have been scattered across the floor of Nottingham Contemporary to remember those who gave their lives for us.

BBC Radio Nottingham asked listeners to knit 11,000 poppies for the 11,000 Nottinghamshire men who lost their lives in the First World War – and so far, more than 50,000 poppies have been donated.

A sombre, yet positive, mood spread across the gallery as names of those who did not make it home were projected on to the wall, and people of all ages looked on to see the names of their loved ones.

Hazel Arbuthnott, 78, of Giltbrook, has knitted more than 200 poppies and doesn't plan on stopping yet.

She said: "I made the 'Lest We Forget' display on the wall – it was displayed in the Children Society Shop window in Kimberley.

"These men gave their lives for us and it's important that we educate the younger generation."

Sisters Pamela Herrick, 66, and Jill Davenport, 64, knitted 365 poppies between them.

They said: "We wanted to commemorate our great uncle, George Lang Scott, who lost his life in the war when he was 24 years old.

"The men who fought are extremely heroic and it's important that we remember their efforts."

Audrey Williamson, 60, of West Bridgford, visited the exhibition to remember her uncle and grandfather, who both fought in the trenches.

She said: "It's vital that their memory lives on.

"They gave their lives so we could carry on in peace and I thank them every day for that."

Sophie Shardlow, deputy editor at BBC Radio Nottingham, came up with the idea for the Big Poppy Knit. She said: "People engaged with the appeal immediately and it's been a huge success so far. It's a living exhibition – people can search for a poppy before they buy it and it's great to see the different colours on offer."

Showcased at the exhibition is a poppy designed and signed by Beeston-born fashion designer Sir Paul Smith.

Sophie said: "I contacted him and asked if he'd like to contribute to the appeal. He was absolutely delighted and he's done a fantastic job."

Elaine Hopkinson, community fundraiser for the Royal British Legion, said: "I was blown away and tears started falling when I first saw the exhibition. It has a major impact on you. just want to say a big thank-you to the generous people of Nottinghamshire. The response has been overwhelming."

Entry to the exhibition is free and the recommended donation per poppy is £2.

The exhibition remains open today from 10am until 5pm and tomorrow from 11am until 5pm. The poppies will then be donated to the Royal British Legion in November to be circulated around the country.

Teacher killed 12 Germans single-handedly: See Tuesday's Post.

FRAUDSTER Jacqueline Murray took advantage of an old man to pay for her gambling habit.

She spent £24,000 of Tim Smith's money on bingo websites after being granted power of attorney over the pensioner, who had dementia and left her his £140,000 estate.

Murray, 61, was also found guilty of cheating the public revenue of almost £20,000 in overpayments after she claimed disability benefit, despite being fit enough to work.

Judge Michael Stokes said: "You were deliberately, for a very long time, claiming benefits in a dishonest way... and you abused your position over a man who was obviously fond of you... milking it for your own benefit behind his back."

Murray avoided jail due to several health conditions but was given a 12-month sentence suspended for a year, with a two-month curfew and must pay the benefits back.

NUMBERS in Nottingham schools have risen by more than half in five years.

In May this year, there were 42,461 children on roll at city schools – up from 27,969 in the same month in 2009. And Nottingham City Council expects the rise to continue.

The figures are revealed in a report for the authority's schools forum next Thursday. The council has spent tens of millions creating extra space. A further 1,599 places will be available by September 2016.

The report, by school organisation project manager Jennifer Hardy, said: "Since 2010, Nottingham City Council has added additional school places across the city to meet the increase in birth rates and also the challenges of inward migration."

THE number of first-time youth offenders has dropped to less than a quarter of the number committing crimes four years ago.

Re-offending rates among young people have also dropped, from 29.9 per cent in 2009-10 to 26.3 per cent.

Meanwhile, the number of young offenders behind bars in Nottinghamshire has remained at its lowest-ever level for the past two years.

The figures were revealed as Nottinghamshire County Council approved its youth justice plan for 2014-15.

Councillor Liz Plant, vice-chairman of the council's children and young people's committee, said: "It is vital we work to ensure every child has the opportunities to achieve regardless of their place in the criminal justice system – as a child on the cusp of offending or a young person in youth detention accommodation with numerous offences."