Samantha Noble
BBC News Online

The founder of Nottinghamshire's Sundown Adventureland has died of a short illness at the age of 92.

Audrey Rhodes started the business with her husband in 1968 from her back garden with just a few pets.

Sundown Adventureland is now a 60-acre theme park that has mazes, sandpits, and many rides like a pirate boat and teacups.

Image source, Sundown Adventureland

Mrs Rhodes ran the park in Retford until her death, along with her daughter Gaynor and grandchildren Debs and Shaun.

She died yesterday morning with her family by her side at her home within the park's grounds.

Her family said she "was as dedicated in her 90s as she was in her 40s" and "worked relentlessly around the park until the end".

They said: “She was devoted to creating fun for children, providing them with somewhere truly special to make wonderful memories with their families. We will ensure that her legacy continues.”

Right up until her illness, Audrey always insisted on being the first person on any of the new rides installed at Sundown, her family said.

They added she will be very sadly missed by not only her family but all of Sundown’s staff and customers.

Liam Barnes
BBC News

A man is in hospital with "serious" injuries after a stabbing on a street in Nottingham.

Police said they were called to Wareham Close in Aspley at about 21:45 on Monday, and the 30-year-old victim was taken to hospital.

A force spokesman said three people were believed to have been involved and asked for anyone with information or CCTV footage of the area from the time to get in touch.

PA Media

More than half of the dogs that are taken to vets with severe heatstroke go on to die, according to a Nottingham study.

Researchers from Nottingham Trent University and the Royal Veterinary College said the risks, however, can be lowered if cases are detected and managed early.

As the warmer months approach they urged owners to watch for early signs of heatstroke such as respiratory and behavioural changes and lethargy.

Image source, PA Media

The team examined records of more than 900,000 UK dogs and found heatstroke was becoming an increasing problem for the animals as global temperatures continue to rise.

They identified 856 heat-related incidents that required veterinary care over a two-year period and found 111 (14%) were categorised as severe, with signs such as seizures, vomiting and loss of consciousness.

Of these cases, 63 dogs (57%) went on to die of the condition.

Emily Hall, a veterinary surgeon at NTU's School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, said: "It is vitally important that owners know to take action when their dogs show these milder signs, in order to prevent progression to heatstroke.

"Once dogs get to that severe stage, it's really a coin toss as to whether they will survive."

Debbie Yates "rewarded" the 12-year-old with treats and money for sexual touching over months, a court hears.

The next 48-hour order will start at 18:00 GMT on Friday in the Arboretum and Lenton, police say.

The four were caught playing football in a car park when the ball rolled towards a road, police say.

PA Media

A lottery-winning couple who have bagged £10,000 every month for the next 30 years are set to follow their dreams of becoming home and furniture designers.

Rolls-Royce engineer Kirk Stevens and his partner Laura Hoyle, from Hucknall, landed the prize on the National Lottery's Set For Life draw on 1 March.

They celebrated with four bottles of prosecco and Ms Hoyle admitted she "couldn't sleep a wink".

Image source, Camelot/PA Wire

The 39-year-old handed in her notice as an area manager for a delivery firm and returned her company car after her win, before "trying out a Porsche Cayenne".

The couple did not realise they had won for 13 days despite receiving a notification promising "good news about my ticket".

Ms Hoyle said: "I finally checked the app and saw there were lots of notifications there. It was then that the penny finally dropped that we should call Camelot fast.

"I was physically shaking as I told the lady, 'I think I've won the lottery'."

Image source, Camelot/PA Wire

Mr Stevens, 37, said he had no plans to leave his job and intended to finish his degree in advanced manufacturing systems with Brunel University London.

Ms Hoyle hopes to use her interest in home makeovers and design to set up a property management business, while her partner intends to set up his own workshop to design and create bespoke wooden furniture on his weekends off.

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

Dronfield residents have been warned to be careful of unexpected visitors after a 90-year-old woman was duped into letting a man into her home.

Derbyshire Police said the man, who was in his 30s, visited her house at about 15:00 yesterday claiming he needed to check her bathroom taps.

The woman later realised her bedroom had been searched but it is not known yet if anything was stolen.

The bouncer subjected the woman to a prolonged and "extremely frightening" ordeal.

The firm had been accused of working with suppliers that underpaid workers and breached Covid rules.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

A 27-year-old man has been jailed after he was found guilty of stabbing a man during a confrontation on a street in Leicester.

Police said a number of passers-by witnessed Nathan Bloor stab a 25-year-old man "several times" on New Parks Way just before 17:30 on 5 January 2020.

During the attack the victim, who police said was known to Bloor, was able to grab hold of the kitchen knife, twisting it and causing it to snap, the force added.

The victim needed hospital treatment for wounds in his back, arm and legs but was later discharged.

Image source, Leicestershire Police

Police said video footage, witness accounts, and DNA were used to identify Bloor as the main suspect.

Bloor, of Styon Road in Leicester, pleaded not guilty to charges of wounding with intent and possession of an offensive weapon but was convicted by a jury at Leicester Crown Court on Monday.

On Wednesday he was sentenced to nine years in jail for the wounding offence and another two years for being in possession of a knife. These will run concurrently.

He was also sentenced to three years and four months imprisonment for two separate drugs offences.

Leicestershire Police said Bloor was in a car that was stopped by officers in the Dominion Road area on 2 June 2020 where they found heroin and crack cocaine.

Bloor pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of class A drugs with intent to supply and will serve this sentence consecutively.

National League side Notts County appoint Ian Burchnall as their head coach a day after Neal Ardley left the club.

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

Nottingham's Nightingale Court, which will focus on dealing with the backlog of court cases caused by the pandemic, has opened in a Sherwood hotel.

A conference room at the Mercure Hotel on Mansfield Road has been turned into a temporary courtroom to take on some of the city's cases.

As of the beginning of January, there were more than 8,000 "outstanding cases" at Nottingham Magistrates' Court and more than 1,000 "outstanding cases" at Nottingham Crown Court.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said using the hotel will "free up the nearby crown court for more jury trials".

Image source, Google

The court will hear non-custodial criminal cases, community service orders and be able to issue fines.

Courts Minister, Lord Wolfson QC, said: "We are determined to deliver swifter justice for people across Nottingham and this new Nightingale Court will boost those efforts.

"This is part of our action to tackle the impact of the pandemic on our courts and reduce delays for victims."

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

A woman is due to appear in court charged with arson with intent to endanger life following a fire at a house in Nottinghamshire.

Emergency services were called to Chestnut Avenue, Bingham, at about 02:40 on 22 March.

Image source, Google

The fire caused damage to a carpet but no injuries were reported.

A 61-year-old woman is due to appear at Nottingham Magistrates' Court later.

She has also been charged with criminal damage and threats to commit criminal damage.

BBC Weather

The morning will see scattered showers and spots of rain in parts of the region, but this should clear to make way for lengthy sunny spells.

There will be highs of 14C (57F) and there is the possibility of scattered showers overnight, with lows of 5C (41F).

Image source, Smiley-Sue

Five months after hospital treatment, 70% of patients studied had still not fully recovered.

Jamie, six, was hit by an electric scooter travelling at 24mph on a pavement, his sister says.

Police say they received a call that "raised concerns" about the welfare of Smita Mistry on Tuesday.

Liam Barnes
BBC News

Three men have been arrested after a sword attack left a man needing hospital treatment.

Nottinghamshire Police said officers were called to Main Street in Burton Joyce on 15 March after receiving reports of an "altercation".

A 23-year-old man was taken to the Queen's Medical Centre with non life-threatening injuries, but a force spokesman said the injuries "could have been worse had a woman not intervened".

Three men aged 23, 22 and 17 were arrested in Netherfield and Lowdham on suspicion of grievous bodily harm this morning.

Image source, Google

Liam Barnes
BBC News

A man who was taken to hospital after a crash on the M1 last week has died in hospital.

Leicestershire Police said they were called to the scene between junction 20 and 21 at about 18:30 on 10 March after a crash involving several vehicles.

A man in his 30s was taken to University Hospital of Coventry and Warwickshire, but died on 19 March.

Police said a 24-year-old man arrested on suspicion of failing to stop was later released under investigation, adding officers are continuing to investigate and "are still keen to speak" to drivers or occupants' cars in the area at the time.

Image source, Google