DROPPING a cigarette butt cost a local man almost £500.

James Fletcher, 32, was given a fixed penalty notice by Barnsley Council following the incident outside Morrisons, Cortonwood, last July. However, due to a lack of payment court proceedings were launched against Fletcher, of Ingsfield Lane, Bolton-upon-Dearne. He was fined £220, told to pay a surcharge of £88 and court costs of £160, totalling £468.

A MAN who failed to keep up with the requirements of a court order has been re-sentenced. Steven Bottom, of Thornwell Grove, Cudworth, admitted to failing to attend unpaid work appointments. The 52-year-old was re-sentenced at Barnsley Magistrates’ Court last week and was told to carry out a total of 95 hours of unpaid work over the next 12 months.

A MOTHER who failed to ensure her child attended school has been fined. Kayleigh Bushnell, of Ingsfield Lane, Bolton-upon-Dearne, admitted the offence. The 37-year-old was told to pay £131.

A WOMAN who committed a further crime whilst serving a suspended prison sentence will appear at Sheffield Crown Court in April. Leanne Brooke, of Milgate Street, Royston, admitted the breach at a hearing held at Barnsley Magistrates’ Court this week. The 36-year-old will be re-sentenced on April 23.

A BEST-SELLING author will give a talk in the town centre next month.

Stephen May will celebrate the launch of his latest novel ‘Green Ink’ in a special event at the Library @ the Lightbox on April 12.

The event will run from 1pm until 2.30pm.

A council spokesperson said: “May has written six novels, including ‘Life! Death! Prizes!’ which was shortlisted for the Costa Novel Award and The Guardian Not The Booker Prize.

“He was shortlisted for the Wales Book of the Year and has also written plays, as well as for television and film.”

MORE than 500 people successfully quit smoking in Barnsley over the latest six-month period, new figures have revealed.

NHS England figures show 502 of the 805 people who had set a date to quit smoking in Barnsley self-reported they had done so between April and September 2024.

It means 62 per cent of attempts to quit smoking using stop smoking services in the area were successful.

Across England, 105,954 people tried to give up smoking during that period, while only 57,472 successfully quit.

THE leader of a London-based council said it was ‘inspiring’ to see the work Barnsley Council bosses are doing on a recent visit to the town.

Last Tuesday, representatives from Hammersmith and Fulham Council, Imperial College London and Upstream Nexus visited the town.

The council has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the London-based local authority and will now work with them to learn more about some of their major projects which will help deliver on key strategies.

Council leader Sir Steve Houghton said: "It was fantastic to host our colleagues from Hammersmith & Fulham Council in Barnsley.

"They've done great work over many years to position themselves as a leading global innovator for economic growth and provide excellent support for their children and young people. 

"There is so much for us to learn from, and it was intriguing to hear how they have gone about these major projects which have made a real difference in their borough. 

"Much of what they have done will help to inform some of our plans for projects like the Great Childhoods Ambition and The Seam Digital Campus, and we hope they will be able to take inspiration from what we have done in Barnsley, like Health on the High Street, to apply in their borough. 

"We're looking forward to continuing to build this relationship as we move through our innovation journey, learning from each other's successes and failures by sharing best practice, providing learning opportunities for employees and residents and helping one another to drive inclusive growth and innovation in our boroughs."

Councillor Stephen Cowan, leader of the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham, added: "It was inspiring to see the transformative work led by Cllr Sir Stephen Houghton CBE and his team - the very epitome of Entrepreneurial Municipal Government.

"The hard application of their imagination, persuasion, and relentless determination is reshaping the economic landscape of Barnsley, offering new and better prospects for their residents.

"From Barnsley's trailblazing Health on the High Street work to their clever plans for the Seam Digital Campus, it was clear why Barnsley has established itself as an investment centre for global businesses in future-shaping, long-cycle industries.

"Barnsley's approach and their Inclusive Economic Growth Strategy aligns with the ethos of other partner high growth innovation centres we work with around the world.

"I'm very grateful to have an 'inclusive growth partnership' between Barnsley Council and Upstream London/Hammersmith & Fulham Council. Together, we will foster new ways to benefit everyone in our communities."

A LOCAL care home has delivered an egg-stra special donation to Barnsley Hospital Charity following an appeal to staff, residents and their families.

Hoyland Hall Care Home collected creme eggs following an appeal from the charity.

And staff from the home on Market Street, Hoyland, recently visited the hospital to hand over over 100 eggs.

A charity spokesperson said: “What an incredibly generous donation we had the pleasure of receiving this week from staff, residents and their families at Hoyland Hall Care Home.

“Thanks to everyone for donating a whopping 106 crème eggs beautifully presented to support our volunteers’ fundraising. Your support is truly appreciated.”

BARNSLEY College has unveiled a state-of-the-art immersive space that can instantly transport students to extraordinary environments – from a football stadium or construction site to the depths of outer space or even inside the human body.

This groundbreaking technology is set to revolutionise the classroom experience, offering students and employers hands-on, interactive learning like never before.

Operating similarly to virtual reality, but without the need for any additional apparatus such as headsets, the Igloo Vision immersive space uses bespoke software and technology to create a flexible, interactive environment around users.

Barnsley’s immersive space is one of six interconnected facilities across educational institutions in the region. 

The space, housed in the College’s Sci-Tech campus, provides a particularly accessible and engaging means of delivering presentations, creative sessions and lessons – transforming the learning experience across departments from digital and Esports, to healthcare, construction and engineering.

It also means a whole host of high-quality training options can be delivered directly to learners in the region, without the need to travel to other locations and facilities such as healthcare settings or building sites – improving sustainability, efficiency and consistency.

David Akeroyd, Barnsley College Principal and Chief Executive Officer, said: “This new immersive space is a game-changer for education, transforming the way our students learn by placing them at the heart of dynamic, interactive environments.

“At Barnsley College, we are dedicated to providing our students with all the tools they need to become exceptional – staying at the cutting-edge of new technologies is vital to that. It ensures that the skills and knowledge students leave College with are directly relevant to the world they will find themselves living, learning and working in.

“We are always looking to enhance engagement and accessibility for all students across any subject and discipline, and this immersive space truly does that – ensuring Barnsley College remains at the forefront of digital skills training.”

The launch marks the culmination of the college’s involvement in the Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF), which has seen a £4.2m investment in local skills infrastructure.

Dan Fell, Chief Executive Officer of Doncaster Chamber of Commerce, said: “Doncaster Chamber – supported by neighbouring Chambers of Commerce and other business organisations – led South Yorkshire’s Local Skills Improvement Plan.

“As part of that process, the Chamber network engaged with thousands of South Yorkshire businesses.  Those businesses were clear that digital skills were of paramount importance to them as were modern methods of learning and an agile skills system. The immersive learning network ticks all three of those boxes and shows the willingness and ability of the region’s further education sector to respond to the needs of the region’s employers.

“These are challenging times for business with increased staffing costs just around the corner.  However, smart business knows that continuing to invest in staff and workforce development is key to success.  This innovation provides yet another reason for employers to partner with our region’s increasingly progressive and tooled up further education sector and to continue supporting the next generation of talent.”

Barnsley College led the bid, endorsed by Doncaster Chamber of Commerce – and supported by Sheffield College, RNN Group, DN Colleges Group, Northern College, Sheffield Hallam University, Communication Specialist College Doncaster, South Yorkshire Provider Network and the University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre – which has raised the bar for digital skills training.

As part of the LSIF, the College also opened the UK’s first dedicated modern methods of construction training facility alongside Laing O’Rourke and T3 Training and Development.

The funding, from the Department for Education, provides the resource to realise the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) – a roadmap created with input from local education institutions and businesses to target the skills needs of the future.

ALMOST 100 incidents of concern were reported to Barnsley Council in a 12-month period about a care home before it was shut down.

Woodlands Lodge Care Home, based on Hawshaw Lane in Hoyland, cared for people with dementia but had its contract terminated by the council last year.

A Freedom of Information request shows that a total of 98 incidents of ‘concern’ were raised with Barnsley Council between September 2023 and August 2024.

Low-level concern and safeguarding concerns were the two most-commonly reported issues.

AN Easter trail will be coming to Barnsley town centre during the upcoming Easter school holidays.

The trail will start next Sunday and end on Sunday, April 20.

Nine bunnies will be hidden in shops, cafes and museums – each holding a letter to spell out an Easter-themed word.

Once you have collected the word, those taking part are encouraged to hand in their completed map at the Family Hubs unit on the top floor of Barnsley Markets for a chance to win a prize.

Coun Robin Franklin said: “These free events are a fantastic way for families to spend time together and see what our fantastic town centre has to offer.

“I encourage everyone to enjoy our brilliant restaurants and leisure activities in The Glass Works and across our town centre while taking part in the Easter trail.”

MOTORISTS have been warned of possible delays in Hoyland while work takes place. Temporary traffic lights will be on Market Street from 9.30am on tomorrow (Monday) until Wednesday. A street light will be replaced.

TEMPORARY traffic lights will be placed in Hoyland Common next week. The lights will be placed on Clough Fields Road from Thursday until the following Tuesday. Northern Powergrid are responsible for the work that could cause delays.

STREET light replacement work is set to cause delays in Silkstone next week. From 9.30am on Wednesday until 2.30pm on Friday, temporary traffic lights will be placed on High Street. Motorists have been warned of possible delays while Barnsley Council work takes place.

MOTORISTS have been warned to expect delays while work takes place in West Melton. Temporary traffic lights will be in place on Firth Road, from April 7 to 11.

NINETEEN Barnsley establishments have been handed new food hygiene ratings – and it was good news for most of them.

Maggie’s in Monk Bretton and Rasha’s in Grimethorpe both received the top marks following an assessment on March 18. As did the staff canteen at Ardagh Glass in Monk Bretton.

Seven pubs were also handed five-out-of-five ratings. Shafton Village WMC, Victoria Quarter, The Royal in Darton and Tankersley Golf Club all received the ratings following an assessment this month. While the Horse and Jockey in Thurgoland, Penistone’s The Cristello Lounge and The Mill of the Black Monks all picked up a five-star rating after being assessed last month.

Nine takeaways were also assessed – and it was good news for most of them.

New Fuller Chinese, in Cudworth, Penistone Fish and Chips, UK Pizza and Kebab, Marmaris Wombwell and Town Kebab and Pizza all received five-star scores. As did Dale Fisheries, J Chippy in Goldthorpe and Langdale Road Fisheries. But Yummy House, based on Midland Road in Royston, received a one-out-of-five score.

BIG shout-out to school crossing patrol warden Wendy who has been raising money for a local charity.

Last year she took on the Yorkshire Three Peaks and raised a fantastic total of £640 for Barnsley Hospital Charity.

A charity spokesperson said: “There’s no stopping Wendy who is a school crossing patrol warden at Joseph Locke Primary School in her mission to raise funds for our patients.

“Last year Wendy took on the Yorkshire Three Peaks and we met up with her this week to celebrate a fantastic total of £640.

“Not content with that, Wendy walked over LEGO at our charity event on Barnsley market last weekend raising £50 and has just signed up to do a charity skydive on April 30 for our new Breast Care Appeal launching this Spring.

“Thank you Wendy for your superb support.”

YOUNGSTERS from Oxspring Primary School’s Pupil Parliament had a special visit recently.

Marie Tidball, MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, was on hand to speak with the pupils.

She said: “I used to go to Brownies in Oxspring, just down the road at St Aidan’s Church, so this brought back such fond memories for me.

"The pupils were wearing their best outfits in the spirit of Red Nose Day.

They told me about the issues that matter to them, including the problems that they are facing with their KS2 building and toilet block. I’ll be getting in touch with Barnsley Council to work towards a solution for the school. We’ve definitely got a few future campaigners in the group here. They asked me some fantastic questions. Hopefully they will soon be able to come down to Westminster and see it all in action soon.”

A COMMUNITY event was held in Wombwell this week.

Councillors joined the Barnsley South Area Team, police officers and a range of council workers for the event on Wednesday afternoon on Midland Way.

An Easter egg hunt was held for the children, while a litter-pick also took place.

Residents were also able to speak with those in attendance about any issues they had.

PLANS to provide free bus travel for under-18s in Barnsley are set to be rubber-stamped at a meeting next week.

The re-introduction of the scheme was originally unveiled in the budget proposals back in January.

It will see the ‘MI Card’ scheme – ditched in 2017 – make its way back thanks to a £5m, two-year package.

The proposals are set to be rubber stamped at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

A report states: “The proposal is to offer free bus travel for all eligible children and young people under the age of 18 living in the borough.

“This means all bus journeys within South Yorkshire that start or finish in the borough, between the hours of 7am to 9pm every day.

“The scheme is proposed go live on August 1 and the pilot will run for two years until July 31, 2027.

“It is proposed that there will be a process of ongoing assessment, measuring and monitoring or usage, cost and impact to enable overall decision making on the effectiveness and future viability of a South Yorkshire-wide roll-out.”

A DOG owner will be sentenced later this year after allowing  his pet to chase, attack and kill cats, a deer and a bird.

Ben Bates, 19, appeared at Sheffield Crown Court on Monday and was told he will be sentenced at the same court on June 13 having committed multiple counts of causing unnecessary suffering to animals.

He was also charged with theft having removed a poster warning about the consequences of hare coursing and uploading ‘obscene’ videos to social media.

Bates, of Darfield Road, Cudworth, also pleaded guilty to killing and taking a roe deer, hunting a wild mammal with a dog and attempting to cause an animal fight to take place.

A BARNSLEY church has invested in solar panels which will save them £3,000 on energy bills.

Emmanuel Methodist Church, based on Huddersfield Road, has gained a grant to part-fund its sustainable development through the Net Zero Barnsley programme delivered by The Business Village in partnership with Barnsley Council.

It is estimated that the 36 solar panels it has fitted to the roof of its Huddersfield Road building will generate around 12,725 kwh of electricity a year, saving the church £3,000 on energy bills and reducing their CO2 carbon emissions by 2.46 tonnes annually.

Church trustee Jan Eldred said: “Gaining expert help and financial support to invest in our solar panels has helped us to achieve our ambition to have them much sooner as part of our drive to be as sustainable a church as possible.

“Being able to store the electricity generated by day in a battery so that we can use it at our evening events to power lighting and kettles and sound systems is a very important bonus.

“We will work to fund more batteries for even greater efficiency.”

Coun Robin Franklin, cabinet spokesperson for regeneration and culture, added: “We all have to play our part in protecting our borough for the future, so it’s great to see Emmanuel Church working with the Net Zero Barnsley to install these measures on top of the great work they’ve already been doing in this area.

“Using cheaper and more sustainable energy thanks to the solar panels will be a gamechanger for them, and I encourage others to see what they can achieve through the Net Zero Barnsley programme.”

A DAREDEVIL hospital porter has raised almost £3,000 for Barnsley Hospital Charity in a series of fund-raising stunts.

Luke Callaghan, who is 30, works at Barnsley Hospital and, despite working 12-hour shifts, he is dedicated to helping the charity.

So far, he has completed two sky dives, done a fire walk, a Lego walk and last Sunday, did a shark dive.

Luke has raised a fantastic total of £2,858 and said: “What an amazing adventure I have been on to raise money for our local hospital.

“It’s just a massive thank you to all those who have stepped up and supported me through the amazing challenge."

Well done Luke!

THE organiser of a successful mental health fitness programme which offers eight weeks’ free training for anyone struggling physically, mentally, emotionally, or financially is busy preparing for another bootcamp.

In November, the bootcamp, run by fitness coach David Wilkinson, pictured, of Grassroots Sports Academy, saw over 20 people sign up to receive free training twice a week as well as full access to all Bears Den @ Grassroots sessions throughout the eight weeks also free.

Feedback from those taking part was that the experience has had a huge impact both mentally and physically.

David said: “All those that came along wanted to make changes – 17 completed the course and 14 are still involved now. They joined for different reasons and were of all ages but 99 per cent of them had been struggling mentally and all reported improved mental health afterwards. They felt better, lost weight, felt fitter and mentally stronger.

The forthcoming bootcamp, which will begin in April, and sessions will be held at Darfield Road Community Centre, Cudworth.

David added: “Our welcoming, non-judgmental atmosphere ensures everyone feels supported, no matter their ability, age, or fitness level. Our success stories prove what we do changes lives!

"We have run numerous bootcamps in the past and helped 100s of people finding that helping them get active as part of a group helps them feel a part of something, whilst also helping them socialise, meet new friends, gain confidence and improve physically and mentally.”

PLANS to spend £2.5m on three new town centre sculptures received fresh backing yesterday – after two councillors blasted Barnsley Council for not using the cash elsewhere.

Couns Steve Hunt and Dickie Denton, who both represent the Liberal Democrats, said the local authority should be prioritising other issues instead of the ‘Yorkshire Roses’ scheme on County Way.

Coun James Higginbottom told the full council meeting: “The vast majority of the funding for this is coming from elsewhere.

“The Lib Dems have bemoaned everything that’s good about the town centre and that includes the Glass Works, the library and the sixth form college, all of which have been resounding successes.”

​​LOCAL heroes in Darton were commended at a special awards ceremony in the town hall this week.

The Stars of Darton event returned to the council’s calendar for the first time since 2014.

Those in the Darton West ward had the chance to win an award in ten categories.

Couns Alice Cave, Trevor Cave and Sharon Howard said the event was a great chance to highlight those in their ward who deserve recognition.

Rev Jean Daykin was awarded the special recognition award.

They added: “This year’s Stars of Darton event was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the many and varied achievements contributing to improving the quality of life in our communities.

“It’s so important that we thank them all for everything that they do throughout the year.”

LOCAL MP John Healey recently paid a visit to a new housing development which will see more than £1m put back into the local community.

The visit at Brampton Vale, in Wath-upon-Dearne, included a tour of the site, which will deliver 311 new homes on a greenfield site allocated in Rotherham’s development plan.

A quarter of the homes – 78 in total – will be affordable, with the first nine already allocated to the local authority.

In addition, Persimmon is contributing over £1m in Section 106 funding to support local services, including more than £600,000 for nearby schools, as well as funding for public transport, play areas, and sports facilities.

John said: “This is a fantastic example of how new homes can bring real investment in our local communities.

“Developments like Brampton Vale help address the pressing need for more housing in Rotherham, while also providing lasting benefits for local residents, whether it’s funding for schools, enhanced public spaces, or improved local infrastructure.”

A BARNSLEY esports commentator has just concluded the finals of the ePremier League where the winner took home £30,000.

Richard Buckley grew up in Mapplewell, attending Wellgate Primary School before moving to Smithies and attending Darton College.

He then went on to study at Barnsley College – and that’s when his dream of becoming a sports journalist really started to pick up pace.

Having left to study in Manchester, Richard met his now co-commentator Brandon Smith and the duo are now watched by millions worldwide commentating on the EA FC game – formerly FIFA.

He has just finished commentating on the ePremier League, of which Manchester City’s team were victorious.

They took home £30,000 out of a £100,000 prize pot after beating Brighton and Hove Albion in the final 6-5.

A BARNSLEY nursery has been rated ‘good’ following its latest Ofsted inspection.

Hopscotch Nursery, based at the Priory Centre, received the rating following an inspection on February 24.

A report said: “Children enjoy the time they spend at the nursery.

“They form happy and positive relationships with kind and caring staff, who know them well.

“Children display a strong sense of belonging. Staff are attentive and respond warmly to children’s individual needs.

“For example, they provide them with cuddles when needed and reassurance and praise throughout the day.

“There are clear procedures for settling children and building relationships with parents and carers from the very beginning.

“For example, the youngest children follow routines from home to ease their transition.

“This helps children to feel safe and secure within the nursery.”

PUPILS at Burton Road Primary School had the chance to meet with four Barnsley Football Club players last week.

Organised by the community trust, the club’s charitable arm, Kieren Flavell, Jonathan Bland, Rogan Ravenhill and Adam Hayton all paid a visit to the Monk Bretton school last Thursday.

A spokesperson for the trust said: “The players shared valuable insights on sportsmanship, teamwork, and the importance of working hard both on and off the pitch.

“The visit wrapped up with an engaging Q and A session, where the students asked some fantastic questions.

“A huge thank you to the players for inspiring the next generation.”

BARNSLEY singer-songwriter Harriet Rose is playing back in South Yorkshire twice over this weekend.

Harriet, whose music is inspired by the likes of Fairground Attraction, The Smiths and the Beautiful South, will be playing at the Leadmill in Sheffield tomorrow night (Friday).

She is then set to perform at the Gorilla Beer Hall in Mexborough on Sunday.

Harriet supported indie folk band Stornoway at their gig at All Saints Church in Pocklington last weekend.

Later this year she will be performing at Come Together festival in the north east in June alongside the likes of Robbie Williams and Kaiser Chiefs.

BARNSLEY College are asking for donations for this year’s Love Grace Appeal.

The college have said they are ‘overwhelmed’ by the generosity of the students and colleagues at the college.

They have recently been handed some Easter eggs and are putting gift bags together for those in need.

But they’re asking for more donations.

A spokesperson said: “We need your help to keep this momentum going.

“If you can donate handbags, toiletries, or small treats, it would mean the world to those who need them most.

“Every donation makes a real impact – let’s spread kindness together.

Donations can be dropped off at the college located on Church Street, Barnsley, S70 2AX, Monday to Friday between 8am – 2pm. For any queries regarding donations, call 216357.”

POLICE UPDATE: Kailem has been found safe and well.

POLICE are appealing for help to find a teenager missing from Barnsley.

Kailem, who is 14, was last seen in Hoyland around 8.20am yesterday morning (March 26).

He is described as white, around 5ft 6ins tall, with short brown hair. He is thought to be wearing a plain black jacket, black jogging bottoms and maroon or burgundy trainers.

Kailem is known to frequent Hoyland and Jump as well as Barnsley town centre.

Officers are becoming increasingly concerned for Kailem's welfare and want to speak to anybody who has seen him.

A police spokesperson said: “If you can help us find Kailem or know where he is, please call us on 101, quoting incident number 319 of 26 March 2025.

“You can also get in touch with us online here: www.southyorkshire.police.uk/ro/report/mp/v2/add-something-reported-missing/.”

BARNSLEY Council’s ruling cabinet members are set to discuss a £3.5m investment plan which will ‘enhance the borough’.

The council’s Love Where You Live campaign was initially launched in 2013 – and over a decade later bosses are relaunching it with a new ambition.

As part of the council’s budget, they have allocated £3.5m to the scheme – £1.5m in revenue funding and £2.115m in capital investment to ‘drive real change’ in neighbourhoods.

The funding will be used to keep streets clean, empower residents to have their say, build stronger and more connected communities while also supporting local schemes and projects.

Coun Caroline Makinson, deputy leader of the council, said: “I’m incredibly proud of our people here in Barnsley.

“By investing in our local communities, we’re not just making environmental improvements, we’re strengthening the heart of our borough.

“Love Where You Live is about people, pride and partnership, creating a place to belong.

“Together, we’ll create neighbourhoods that are vibrant, welcoming and full of opportunity.

“This is about all of us – our community, our future, our home.” 

A SPECIAL VE Day 80th anniversary celebration is planned at Oakwell.

The dementia-friendly event will be held on May 8 at the football club.

Award-winning musician Oliver Harris will be on hand to perform to those in attendance.

The dress code is forties’ red, white and blue. Tickets must be booked in advance and cost £14.

To book contact Kathy Markwick on 07729 528844 or email kathymarkwick@gmail.com

BARNSLEY theatre-goers are being invited to tease their hair, dust off their leather trousers, and get those air guitars ready!

The Lamproom Theatre is set to return to the power rocking days of the 1980s as Rock Of Ages takes to the stage next month. 

Rock Of Ages is set in Hollywood and tells the story of a small-town girl, a city boy, and a rock ‘n’ roll romance on the Sunset Strip. 

But when the bar where rock reigns supreme is set to be demolished, it’s up to these wannabe rockers and their band of friends to save the day

The Lee Semley Production is at the theatre from April 14-19 and features the music of Journey, Bon Jovi, Poison, Def Leppard, Guns N' Roses, Pat Benatar, Whitesnake, Europe plus many more rock bands of the era.

A MUCH-LOVED local venue has vowed that it’s business as usual despite being broken into in the early hours of this morning.

Thieves smashed glass panels in the doors at the Parkway Cinema on Eldon Street before stealing stock from the bar.

A cinema spokesperson said: “Well this isn’t what we needed at 2.05am this morning. The cinema was smashed into and stock from the bar stolen. 

“The damage to the doors was much worse than the cost of a few bottles. 

“But South Yorkshire Police were absolutely amazing. They attended the site promptly and arrests were made within the hour. 

“One of the culprits left a nice trail of blood, which CSI were happy to take a sample from this morning. 

“All just as we are starting to recover from a bad summer last year. We are ever thankful for your continued support and donations.”

A spokesperson for the force added: “At 2.20am we responded to reports of a burglary at the Parkgate Cinema on Eldon Street, Barnsley.

“It is reported that two men forced entry into the premises and stole several bottles of alcohol before leaving the scene.

“Officers attended and have arrested two 46-year-old men on suspicion of burglary.”

THE RampUP programme will once again be travelling around the borough during the Easter school holidays with free and fun events. 

The sessions have proven incredibly successful in previous years with more than 4,000 participants inspired to cycle or scoot across 119 events delivered in 2024. 

Delivered by the council’s Sport and Physical Activity team, all sessions are free with bikes, scooters and helmets provided for all participants in the RampUP Zone. 

You can take your own bikes and scooters too where there will be the opportunity for your bike or scooter to receive a free maintenance and safety check carried out by qualified mechanics from Barnsley Bike Works. 

They'll be at selected sessions and can advise on maintenance tips and how to look after your bike. This service is available to everyone, so parents and carers are welcome to bring their bikes along to make sure their wheels keep rolling as we head into the spring. 

Councillor James Higginbottom, Cabinet Spokesperson for Environment and Highways, said: "We're proud to once again be offering a free series of RampUP events this Easter half-term.

"Physical activity has many proven benefits for our physical and mental health, so it's important that our children and young people have the opportunity to access these experiences so they can move more, live well and feel better. 

"The events are also a fantastic and creative way to engage them with cycling and scooting at an early age, combining both practical and educational elements to teach them about active travel, which we're continuing to invest in for a cleaner, greener and more sustainable Barnsley.” 

The full timetable of RampUP events happening across Barnsley this Easter is available on the council website.

A NEW campaign to encourage more men to check their prostate cancer risk online has launched.

Barnsley Council is partnering with Prostate Cancer UK on the new awareness campaign which is rooted in local stories.

Over the last five years, prostate cancer has been the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men in Barnsley. Research also shows that it is regularly being diagnosed in Stages 3 and 4, requiring more aggressive treatment and resulting in poorer health outcomes.

Developed alongside Barnsley Hospital, the new ‘It might not be reyt’ campaign has been designed to highlight how important knowing your risk is and how easy it is to check online.

At the heart of the campaign are videos with Anthony and David, two local men who wanted to put people’s minds at ease about what knowing your risk and getting tested entails.

Anthony was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2019 after he noticed a few symptoms his father had. He has since made a full recovery and got back to doing the things he loves, like cycling, and shared his story to help more people think about their risk and find out sooner.

David lives and works in Barnsley and is a champion of the campaign, encouraging men to “not hide behind a stone” by speaking about prostate cancer and getting checked.

The videos can be viewed on https://www.youtube.com/user/barnsleymbc

Working with Prostate Cancer UK, the council has also created a Barnsley-specific version of their online risk checker. This tool makes knowing your risk simple, taking only 30 seconds and involves answering three simple questions about your age, family history and ethnicity.

Check your risk online today by visiting prostatecanceruk.org/risk-barnsley. After completing their quick questions, the risk checker will give you advice on what you can do next.

Councillor Wendy Cain, Cabinet Spokesperson for Public Health and Communities, said: “We’re committed to helping our communities get the right support to live happier, healthier, longer lives. We want to help more men get the possible treatment to beat prostate cancer, which is why we’re delighted to be partnering with Prostate Cancer UK on this new campaign.

“Checking your risk online is quick, easy and could save your life, as the sooner you know, the quicker you can start getting the treatment you need. Please check your risk online and encourage your friends, family members and colleagues to check too.

“By working together and sharing this message across our communities, we can give prostate cancer the chop in Barnsley. I would like to thank Anthony and David for championing this campaign as well as our health partners, including Prostate Cancer UK, for all their support.”

Early prostate cancer doesn’t typically come with any symptoms. That’s why knowing your risk is so important, as the sooner you know, the easier prostate cancer is to treat.

There are a number of key risk factors which can make you more likely to get prostate cancer, such as your age and ethnicity. Family history is important in understanding your risk, as you are two and a half times more likely to get it if your father or brother have been diagnosed with it.

STUDENTS have recently been learning how to gather evidence at a crime scene from forensic experts.

Barnsley College Level 3 Applied Science students visited Think Forensics and learned about the process of collecting evidence at a crime scene.

During the visit, students got hands-on experience by practising evidence collection techniques at simulated crime scenes.

The day began with a demonstration on how forensic experts gather important evidence, such as fingerprints, fibres, and trace materials from a crime scene.

Students then had the opportunity to collect their own samples from simulated crime scenes, before they worked together to analyse and find connections between the different scenes as if the activity was based on a real crime.

Tom Swales, Applied Science course leader at the college said: “This visit was a valuable opportunity to put their classroom knowledge into practice.

“This trip was very important for the students to understand how forensic evidence can help solve real-life cases and this hands-on experience helps them see the value of applied science in the field of forensics.”

OVER 50 young musicians attended a Spring workshop at the weekend.

Grimethorpe Youth Band Spring Workshop at Barnsley Civic on Saturday.

A band spokesperson said: “It was an inspiring day filled with music and fun for young players of all levels of experience, getting the chance to play alongside members of Grimethorpe Colliery Band and finishing with a short concert for parents. 

“The players tackled some challenging repertoire including Felicitous by Fredrick Schjelderup, as well as a virtuosic rendition of Carnival of Venice featuring the band's Principal Euphonium player, Mark Glover.

Grimethorpe's Musical Director, Ben Dixon said, “Education is an integral part of what we do as a band and these workshop days are vital in inspiring the next generation of players. It’s fantastic to see young players pushing themselves with more challenging music and we look forward to welcoming them back in the summer.”

The date of the next workshop will be announced shortly.

ALMOST three-quarters of children in South Yorkshire who need eating disorder treatment are waiting too long to access care following a referral, new figures show.

NHS England figures show around 105 children and young people across the county were waiting to access eating disorder treatment as of the end of December.

Its guidance says under 19s with an urgent eating disorder referral should receive treatment within one week, while this rises to four weeks for routine ones.

In South Yorkshire, around 75 children and young people with a routine referral had been waiting longer than the recommended time.

It meant 71 per cent of children and young people yet to receive support were waiting too long for treatment.