A DRUNK driver rammed a van several times - because he was annoyed at turning 50.

Steven Cartwright drove into the front of the van belonging to Bella Vista, a food processing company, three times and banged on the windscreen, said John Kavanagh, prosecuting at Barnsley Magistrates' Court.

Mr Kavanagh said Cartwright, of Mortimer Road, Cubley, was also carrying a can of lager. He described Cartwright's behaviour as 'bizarre and irrational'.

He said the confrontation happened on an unmade road leading to the plant which was wide enough for two vehicles but had potholes.

Mr Kavanagh added: "The van driver saw Mr Cartwright's car being driven quite quickly and bouncing around. The man slowed to a halt and it appeared Mr Cartwright's car was driving straight at him."

Gerard Casey, defending, described Cartwright as 'fragile'.

He said: "It was Mr Cartwright's 50th birthday. Some people aren't bothered when they reach that age. Mr Cartwright seems to regard it differently.

"His behaviour could be explained by it being his birthday, him drinking a relatively large amount and to him thinking he had once been turned down for a job at Bella Vista."

Cartwright admitted drink driving and damaging the van. He was banned from driving for 40 months, fined £110, ordered to pay £85 in costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

Cartwright was also ordered to pay £250 towards repairing the van.

THE number of police officers in the region off sick with anxiety, depression and stress is rising.

Last year saw the figure rise, with 155 officers taking time off with mental health pressures - 95 for stress, 27 with depression and 33 for anxiety.

In 2011 a total of 135 officers took time off for the same reasons - and in 2010 the number stood at 115.

The Police Federation claimed the pressure of increased workloads, in the face of budget cuts, was taking its toll.

"Certainly it's very worrying," said Steve Williams, the Police Federation's chairman. "While the service is not at breaking point officers are really feeling the pinch, and the figures reveal the seriousness of what is happening on the ground.

"We need to take stock of that. They're being pushed from pillar to post. The public has the right to expect a quality service, but officers are being overstretched.

"It's a sad reflection on the current situation in policing in this country. The cuts are having an effect."

What do you think to this? Have your say below.

A BARNSLEY MP has voted to abolish the so-called bedroom tax, saying it's leaving families in Barnsley on the edge of spiralling debt.

Although the motion was defeated by the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, Michael Dugher said people are being left with nowhere to go and met with constituent Karen Fletcher, who had travelled to Parliament to lobby against the bedroom tax.

Widely known as a 'tax', it's actually a cut in housing benefits for those deemed to have a spare bedroom.

Mr Dugher said: "The bedroom tax is leaving families in Barnsley with nowhere to go and on the edge of spiralling debt.

"Meeting with Mrs Fletcher was a real reminder of the true damage that this cruel tax of David Cameron's is having.

There are around 3,000 people in Barnsley affected by the bedroom tax.

BLOCKBUSTER has plunged back into administration putting jobs at risk at the borough's only remaining store.

Staff in Wombwell face an agonising wait as the race gets underway to find a buyer for Blockbuster after the firm went bust for a second time this year.

Simon Thomas and Nick O'Reilly of Moorfields Corporate Recovery LLP were appointed as joint administrators of TS Operations Ltd, which trades as Blockbuster.

It follows Gordon Brothers Europe acquiring the business and assets of Blockbuster Entertainment Ltd and Blockbuster GB Ltd in March.

Since then the company tried to turn around the historically loss-making company by restructuring the business.

The company also tried to develop a new digital platform but was unable to broker a licensing deal in time.

Simon Thomas, joint administrator, said while the company is in administration every effort will be made to ensure retail trade continues as normal and the firm is encouraging customers to visit stores and continue to rent and buy as usual.

FIREFIGHTERS are set to walk out for a fourth time in a month in an ongoing dispute over pensions.

Announcing the latest strike, the Fire Brigades Union said it was launching a further ballot on other forms of industrial action which will close on December 4.

The union fears firefighters will lose their jobs if the retirement age is raised from 55 to 60 because they may not be as fit.

Brandon Lewis, fire minister, told firefighters on Friday he had withdrawn June proposals on firefighters taking their pension before 60.

The FBU has argued firefighters are likely to experience a decline in fitness in their 50s, meaning they would be unlikely to meet the fitness standards required in the fire service and could face dismissal.

A South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue spokesman said: "We're disappointed another strike date has been announced and call on the government and the FBU to negotiate an end to this dispute as quickly as possible."

ONE of the town's most prolific shoplifters, making her 70th appearance at Barnsley Magistrates' Court, has been jailed for 48 weeks.

Patricia Helen Siddall, 46, was jailed after being accused of being defeated by her battle with heroin addiction.

District Judge John Foster said: "You appear to have lost the battle with drugs and you're ambivalent about dealing with the problem.

"It's your life and you have chosen to live it. People who continue to behave dishonestly have to be punished. You have an appalling criminal record.

"Courts always seriously consider how to deal with people with drug problems. It's quite clear courts have given you opportunities including conditional discharges, community orders and suspended prison sentences."

Philip Howard, defending, said Siddall, of Malham Court, Barnsley, had spent as much time in prison as she had outside over the last 30 years.

He urged Mr Foster to give her a daytime curfew to stop her stealing from shops.

Mr Howard said: "I cannot get around the fact that she is a prolific offender. She has been sent to prison seven times in the last 18 months.

"She is intelligent but has a deep-seated heroin addiction. People who know she has difficulties with shoplifting prevail on her to commit offences to help them and so she can get money to buy drugs.

"The cycle of committing crime because of her drug addiction, going to prison, coming out and committing more offences must be broken."

Joanne Lewis-Crooks, prosecuting, said Siddall was caught stealing at Wilkinson because she was recognised by a member of staff.

Other thefts at Boots were caught on closed circuit television. Siddall admitted three thefts.

ITV is filming at Elsecar Heritage Railway today, ready for a TV poll where viewers can vote for the railway to win £50,000 funding.

The televised vote will be on ITV's Calendar programme at 6pm on November 25, and a phone number will be published in the Daily Mirror on that day for people to call.

The railway wants to win the funding to complete its line to Cortonwood and put up station and create a memorial park there.

Chairman Del Tilling urged everyone to vote.

"This project is for all our coal mining communities and we're proud to be a South Yorkshire finalist in a national competition," he said.

The railway has recently been celebrating having almost doubled its turnover in its busiest year.

OUR town is now home to the oldest living person in the UK - 113-year-old Ethel Lang!

It follows the death of Londoner Grace Jones, also 113, which was confirmed on Thursday. There were only 171 days between the two ladies.

Super centenarian Ethel, who has lived in Barnsley all her life, was born on May 27 in 1900 in Worsbrough Dale and has seen six monarchs and 22 Prime Ministers come and go in her long life.

Ethel, the youngest daughter of miner Charles Lancaster and his wife Sarah, was born when Queen Victoria was still on the throne and the Marquess of Salisbury was Prime Minister.

In 1922 she married William Lang, a young plumber and the only son of Barnsley councillor Thomas Lang, at St Mary's Church, Barnsley.

One year later the couple celebrated the birth of their daughter, Margaret, who is now 89.

Widow Ethel lived independently until she was 105 when she moved into a Barnsley care home. Her main hobby was dancing, which she enjoyed up to turning 107.

A TEENAGER has been jailed for 16 weeks for shaving his ex-girlfriend's hair - after she told him she had been unfaithful.

Samuel Kennedy, 18, who had broken up with Courtney Dyson about two weeks earlier, decided to embarrass and humiliate her because he wanted revenge, Barnsley Magistrates' Court was told.

After using electric haircutters on Miss Dyson at his home, Kennedy told her: "That's what you deserve. Get out of my house."

Jayne Ormrod, prosecuting, said Kennedy asked Miss Dyson to his home to talk things over after the split. Miss Dyson went because she thought Kennedy might 'do something silly'.

She said Kennedy, of Brookfield, Oxspring, picked up Miss Dyson's handbag and took it upstairs. She followed him to his bedroom.

Mrs Ormrod said: "Miss Dyson sat on a bed. Mr Kennedy got on top of her. As he straddled he, he picked up some electric hair cutters and partially shaved her head.

"He later said he did not want to hurt her. He said he wanted revenge, to embarrass her and to make her look stupid."

Mrs Ormrod added that a 'distressed' Miss Dyson had had to spend more than £200 on a wig following the attack.

Eric Bray, defending, said Kennedy had been 'deeply upset' when Miss Dyson told him she had been unfaithful more than once.

Mr Bray said: "This was astonishing behaviour by Mr Kennedy. It should not have happened.

"At one point during the encounter, Miss Dyson said 'goodbye' and Mr Kennedy straddled her on the bed with his knees either side of her body.

"He reached for the cutters, shaved off part of her hair and that was the end of it. He wanted to humiliate and shame her but went the wrong way about it."

Kennedy, who admitted assault, was banned from contacting Miss Dyson for two years.

AROUND 200 campaigners who want to save Barnsley Central Library formed a human chain around the building.

They waved home-made banners and chanted throughout Saturday's demonstration. 

Local campaigner Dave Gibson said: "Our petition against the demolition has had over 4,000 signatures and we have had a very positive response by standing outside the library so far.

"It's a well-used, purpose-built library which is less than 40 years old. It's crazy to pull it down. The library service in the centre of Barnsley will get worse."

The council says redevelopment of the Shambles Street site will enhance the town centre and increase footfall, contributing to increased spend and improving Barnsley's economy.

The vision for the new £17million sixth form is 'an inspirational and vibrant building', which will allow Barnsley to compete in the sixth form education market on a regional level, offering better opportunities for Barnsley's young people and attracting students from other areas.

The project is being delivered within tight timescales, with the aim of demolition the library starting in the new year and the new college opening in September 2015.

To take part in the consultation, click here.

A BARNSLEY bouncer has been given a five-year jail sentence after being found guilty of raping a young woman in the toilets of the nightclub where he worked.

Leeds Crown Court heard that Shaun Hill, 39, of Ashwood Grove, followed his 21-year-old victim into a toilet cubicle at Bar Phono in Leeds before forcing her to perform a sex act on him on April 20, 2012.

Jurors heard Hill had spoken to the woman, who was described as 'intoxicated' and had taken cocaine, earlier in the evening and they had been laughing and joking with each other.

After the sex attack the woman told a police officer, who was outside the club, about the incident. She reported the matter the next morning.

The married father-of-two said she had consented to the sex that took place between them.

He told the jury: "I knew it was wrong because of my missus and my children but I couldn’t stop it for some reason. I don’t know why." 

Judge Geoffrey Marson, QC, told Hill that he had abused a position of trust and responsibility.

He said: "It was a dreadful ordeal to which you subjected her. The courts have to protect young women - even those who have consumed a large amount of alcohol or taken drugs."

Detective Chief Inspector Gail Lawrie, of Operation Topaz, West Yorkshire Police’s dedicated rape investigation unit, said: "As a member of door staff, Hill was in a position of trust where his role was to keep people safe.

"He abused that position to exploit the victim for his own sexual gratification when she was in a vulnerable state."

BARNSLEY MP Dan Jarvis took part in a 25km race across the rugged terrain of the Peak District.

Grin 'n' Bear It, the race organised by the Woodhead Mountain Rescue team, was completed in three hours and 39 minutes by Dan.

Mr Jarvis said: “It was cold, wet, windy and very muddy - at one stage I was stuck in a bog up to my waist, but I was determined to finish.

“I wanted to do the run to highlight the important work carried out by the Woodhead Mountain Rescue team, who do a great job in all weathers helping out those who have got into difficulties.

"That people are prepared to volunteer to do this job and to go out, often at very short notice, is hugely to their credit. I look forward to supporting their work again in the future."

The Barnsley Central MP is no stranger to tough races, having completed the London Marathon in April with his father, Bernard - himself a veteran of over 100 marathons.

A BARNSLEY man who kicked his victim in the face twice has been given a suspended jail sentence.

Mark Aaron Bligh, 27, who also punched Joshua Sanders, was given a 14-week prison sentence, suspended for a year, at Barnsley Magistrates' Court.

Bligh was accused by District Judge John Foster of having a problem controlling his temper.

Mr Foster said: "You chose to kick this man on the side of the head. The attack might have resulted in greater injury.

"It seems to me that you think about yourself first and others a distant last."

Tim Warburton, prosecuting, said Bligh, of Greenhill Avenue, Honeywell, had lent Mr Sanders £50 three or four months earlier.

He said: "Mr Bligh felt angry about not being paid back and about Mr Sanders winding him up.

"His emotions intensified when he saw Mr Sanders on some steps near Asda."

Jack Danaher, defending, said Bligh and Mr Sanders 'more or less bumped into each other' on the day of the attack.

He said: "Mr Sanders had been winding up Mr Bligh and smirked at him when they met near the Asda. Mr Sanders did not need treatment at hospital.

"There has been no trouble between them since the attack and Mr Bligh has changed and settled down."

Bligh, who admitted assault, was ordered to pay £200 in compensation to Mr Sanders, to do 120 hours of unpaid work, to pay £85 in costs and a victim surcharge of £80.

MOBILE speed cameras will operate on the following roads from Monday.

A61 Park Road, Barnsley

A628 Cundy Cross to Shafton Two Gates

A633 Rotherham Road, Athersley South

A633 Rotherham Road, Monk Bretton

B6411 Houghton Road, Thurnscoe

Brierley Road, Grimethorpe

Pogmoor Road, Barnsley

A6023 Doncaster Road, Mexborough

A6022 Rowms Lane, Swinton

A633 Sandygate, Wath upon Dearne

B6097 Doncaster Road, Wath upon Dearne

Melton Green, West Melton.

A SOUTH Yorkshire Police officer has pleaded guilty to drugs offences.

Sarah Greaves admitted her crime on November 14 at Derby Crown Court.

The 29-year-old, from Doncaster, appeared at court alongside her co-accused, Adam Dickinson, 31, from Worksop, Nottinghamshire.

She pleaded guilty to the charge of being concerned in the offer to supply Class A drugs, namely cocaine, between August 15, 2012, and  February 6, 2013.

Dickinson also pleaded guilty to the charge of being concerned in the offer to supply Class A drugs between the same period.

Greaves was charged in June this year after phone records belonging to her co-accused were examined as part of a separate police investigation, indicating drugs offences were being committed between the pair.

Greaves appeared at Chesterfield Magistrates' Court in July and at Derby Crown Court last month.

Chief constable David Crompton said: "Greaves has brought shame upon herself, her colleagues and the police service through her criminal behaviour and will now, rightly, be subject to punishment."

Greaves will be sentenced at a later date.

A DAD-TO-BE turned to growing cannabis to ease his family's financial troubles.

Dale Smales, 34, set up a cannabis farm at his home on Dearne Road, Bolton-on-Dearne, Sheffield Crown Court was told.

The set up could have yielded up to £15,300 on the streets.

Police found hydroponic growing equipment, a lighting system and blackened windows, said Andrew Bailey, prosecuting.

As well as finding dried cannabis, 17 empty plant pots and plant food, a ‘How to Grow Marijuana’ book was also uncovered.

Paul O’Shea, defending, said Smales and his partner were expecting a child and there were serious financial pressures on him.

Smales was jailed for 16 months.

A RESIDENT fears future fires if the council do not get on top of a rubbish problem.

A fire started on Bloemfontein Street, Cudworth, was started in rubbish that had been left out by a nearby resident.

James Wilmott lives close by and says he had to go and put the fire out himself before calling the fire brigade.

He says unless more bins are provided and there is a better communication line with the council, it will happen again.

"One of the residents is a bit of a hoarder and the rubbish builds up a lot," he said.

"There's a couch out there at the minute and it's just waiting to be set on fire.

"I just wish the council would come around, knock on doors and ask people how many bins they need.

"Personally I don't think just one collection a fortnight is enough.

"I want this addressing as soon as possible because it's been going on all summer and it's getting on top of people."

A spokesman for the council said four bins were provided to each house for garden waste and cardboard, glass, cans and plastic bottles, paper and general household waste.

He said: "The alternative weekly collection scheme has been established in Barnsley for some years and the vast majority of residents manage their waste without any problems.

"We also run an additional waste capacity scheme for larger households with five or more permanent residents.

"If a resident requires assistance with managing their waste or understanding what can be recycled they should contact the waste management helpline for advice or to arrange a home visit by a member of the waste management team if appropriate."

Waste collections in the borough changed recently. Here's your WAB Guide on what you need to know.

BARNSLEY'S taxi drivers are meeting with police to find ways of tackling increasing violence against cabbies.

Mark Cox, chairman of Barnsley Hackney Carriage Association, said the group was due to meet police next week to discuss solutions to the escalating problems, which have included a stabbing and assaults.

He said: "We have some ideas to put forward which will hopefully help regarding assaults on drivers. These kinds of incidents used to be very rare but lately it's happening more, especially on taxi ranks."

Pete Tingey, whose Blue Line company does 1.2 million taxi runs a year in Barnsley, said that in the past year one of his drivers was stabbed while taking a £10 fare to Darfield.

Another was threatened when an assault involving a husband and wife took place in the back of a cab in Silkstone.

The Silkstone incident ended with the cab having to be written off after damage estimated at £3,500 was caused by the drunken husband repeatedly kicking the car. The taxi driver narrowly escaped injury.

Mr Tingey said: "It's getting rough in Barnsley. I blame cheap alcohol and the loss of the 11pm closing time for pubs and the 2am closing time for nightclubs. You should see Barnsley town centre on a Sunday morning - it looks like a war zone."

He said of the Darfield incident: "It started when the passenger said he was going into his house to get cash but didn't come back."

He said the driver was attacked when he went to recover his money.

Both the Darfield and Silkstone addresses have been 'barred' by Blue Line, meaning the firm will not pick up fares there.

DI Gary Askew from Barnsley CID said he would speak to Mr Tingey about violence against cabbies.

He said: "I know we dealt with the Darfield incident but we need to know about any others. We want to prevent these kinds of incidents in Barnsley."

TWO people were injured after a 12-car smash on the M1 in Barnsley on Thursday morning.

Police closed two lanes of the southbound carriageway for around five hours while debris and vehicles were removed.

Firefighters from Barnsley and Tankersley stations were called to the scene and cut two trapped people from their vehicles.

The incident happened close to junction 37 of the M1 at Dodworth.

A Yorkshire Ambulance Service spokeswoman said two casualties were taken to Barnsley Hospital, although their injuries were not serious.

"We were alerted at 7.56am and sent a rapid response vehicle, two ambulances and two hazardous area response team vehicles to the scene," she added.

"There were four patients in total, two of whom were treated at the scene but did not need hospital treatment."

A South Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said: "Lanes two and three of the motorway were closed for around five hours but lane one and the hard shoulder were kept open to keep the traffic flowing."

A DINER was raided by thieves who got away with goods and equipment worth more than £2,500.

Owner of the Shortwood Diner, Gary Bottom, said the thieves even took his griddle - that he uses to cook truckers' breakfasts on - along with pies, soft drinks and charity boxes for Afghan Heroes and Barnsley Hospice.

The thieves got in by ripping a panel off the back of the diner, which seats 14 people at Dearne Valley Parkway near Platts Common roundabout.

Gary, 56, of George Street, Hoyland, set up the diner almost 12 months ago but has already been targeted previously by thieves who stole cables and gas bottles. 

He said he was not insured and it had cost him £1,000 to secure the premises after the latest raid on October 29.

"It has caused mayhem," he said. "I have always wanted to run a diner and I finally did it and now I'm being kicked in the teeth."

SHOEBOXES full of goodies will soon be making their way to soldiers in Afghanistan who are there for Christmas.

Royal British Legion member Jane Townsend, of Upper Hoyland Road, Hoyland, is posting out 130 shoeboxes for the 'Parcels for Soldiers' project - a non-profit organisation set up and run by members of the armed forces.

The boxes, packed with items like shampoo, sun cream, lip balm and treats for the Army dogs are being sent to men and women serving in Afghanistan.

Jane heard about Parcels for Soldiers through Twitter and asked people to help in the charity's Christmas appeal.

She said: "Women troops appreciate things like lipstick and nice hand creams. Some items like chocolate and sunblock we can't send in the summer because it melts in the heat.

"Although it gets hot in the day now, at night it gets bitterly cold so we're including thermals and woolly hats."

Anyone who wants to send a shoebox should visit www.parcelsforsoldiers.com to check what can and can't be included or phone Jane on 07799412264.

RESIDENTS are pulling together to raise money for faster broadband - after BT said it wasn't financially viable for them to provide.

People living on the Rose Hill and Water Royd estates in Dodworth have been suffering with slow internet which makes downloading and watching films impossible.

John Clapham, of Low Pasture Close, has had internet with BT since 2004 and said it's only marginally improved during that time.

He started a campaign and has asked BT numerous times to install a street cabinet with fibre optic cables to improve the speed but he was eventually told by BT it wasn't financially viable.

"If I lived 100 metres up the road I'd get superfast broadband," he said.

"We pay the same as people who get faster internet, and we all pay a premium on our phone bill for broadband improvements but we're still having to fund our own broadband improvements. I think it's disgusting."

John, 44, was initially told the street cabinet and cabling would cost £22,000, but said BT had agreed to contribute £14,650 and the council would pay £3,662 - leaving the residents to find £10,988.

Radio DJ Simon Hirst, who lives on the Rose Hill estate, has had broadband since 2000 and said slow speeds often interfered with his work and prohibited him from sending and receiving large files he may need for his show.

He added: "It doesn't allow you to watch anything on things like YouTube, it just buffers.

"It's always been bad, but BT just won't upgrade it."

A spokesman said BT isn't under any legal obligation to provide broadband in the way they're obligated to provide a phone service.

He said: "To bring higher speed broadband to this community an extremely complex underground network rearrangement is required as the technology put in place decades ago didn't take into account the invention of broadband.

"The underground cabling from the exchange will be rearranged enabling engineers to install a copper and a fibre street cabinet which will give almost all the residents superfast broadband speeds.

"The costs to do this work are not commercially viable, however we have worked with the local community and agreed to cover a substantial amount of the costs but have asked the local community to also contribute.

"On a per household basis this proposal will be very good value for money and transform the way residents can use the internet."

About 70 people from the Water Royd and Rose Hill estates attended a meeting at Station Road WMC on November 10.

The attendees agreed they would be willing to pay £50 per household and street representatives were appointed to ask others in their neighbourhoods.

Of the 350 houses affected, 69 households have pledged to contribute £50 and of those, 15 said they would contribute up to £100.

John said he was hoping to have all the money collected by December 1, allowing him to instruct BT to begin the upgrade, which involves installing a street cabinet with fibre optic cables.

A MAN was found hanged at his home in Barnsley.

Stephen Leslie, 48, of Honeywell Lane, Barnsley, was found on November 1.

An inquest has been opened and adjourned pending further enquiries.

PROBATION officers went on strike for only the fourth time in 106 years last week.

Barnsley members of trade union Napo joined in the 24-hour walkout against the government's plans to privatise 70 per cent of the Probation Service on November 5.

Andrew Green, 36, the Napo shop steward for Barnsley, said members face unprecedented times.

As they walked out of their headquarters at Acorn House on Oakwell View, staff were cheered by fellow trade unions in Barnsley who turned out to support them.

Since the government's announcement in May, Napo has spoken strongly against the proposals.

Members in Barnsley believe fragmenting the public sector service into 21 private companies and one national service will undermine public protection and put communities at risk and fail to provide the adequate service offenders need to turn their lives around.

A BARNSLEY Football Club legend is set to celebrate his 90th birthday!

Norman Rimmington signed for the Reds in 1945 and made 29 appearances as a goalkeeper and celebrates his birthday on November 29.

Barring a few years away from Oakwell during his playing career, Norman has spent a lifetime working for the club and to this day is still working here.

Norman started as a player, but since then has done virtually every job. He has been a first team coach, trainer, groundsman, physiotherapist, kitman and now he works in the laundry.

He's at the club most days and a much-loved character at Oakwell. He has a phenomenal memory and regularly recall stories from decades ago.

Norman attained his coaching badges at Lilleshall with the likes of Sir Bob Paisley and Sir Bobby Robson. He has been a mentor to hundreds of players and worked for 26 managers at Barnsley.

To celebrate this amazing occasion Norman will be the guest of honour on the November 30 home game against Birmingham City.

The official matchday programme will be dedicated to him, a presentation will take place and he will walk out onto the pitch at half time with his 10 great grandchildren for the supporters to show their appreciation.

THIS group of 'Tough Mudders' have raised over £2,500 for a young boy who has leukaemia.

Jamie Marshall, 27, of Hart Hills, Hemingfield, wanted to do something worthwhile when he heard about seven-year-old Jack Palmer, of Tingle Bridge Lane, Hemingfield, to help his family in their difficult time.

The notorious Tough Mudder event was chosen. Consisting of a brutal, 12-mile obstacle course designed by the Special Forces, they trained hard at Mick Crossland's Combat Academy in Wombwell.

Jamie's 11-strong team, consisting of Shane Palmer (Jack's dad), Ryan Flemming, Justin Illingworth, Craig Hardcastle, Emily Colbourne, Anne-Marie Savage, Michelle Lunn, Christina Corker, Lee Maskin and Mick Crossland put themselves through the challenge in September.

Jamie, who's served in the Army for seven years, said: "Jack's dad is a friend of mine so I wanted to do something worthwhile to help out in whatever way I could.

"The Tough Mudder was as you'd expect: tough, long and packed with extras to make it even more challenging. It's nice to raise money for such a worthwhile cause."

Jamie, who got back from Afghanistan on November 12, is also celebrating as his partner Hayley is due to have their baby!

The group are arranging a date to present the money to Sheffield Children's Hospice where Jack has been receiving his treatment.

BARNSLEY Council is encouraging pensioners to claim all the benefits they're entitled to after it emerged that over a million older people nationally are missing out.

The latest government figures show that between 1.2million and 1.6million pensioners are failing to claim pension credit - worth around £2billion per year.

Pension credit is a means-tested benefit aimed at topping up retirement pensions if the government deem that someone hasn’t enough to live on.

The average amount going unclaimed by pensioners is about £33 per week, or £1,716 per year.

Cllr Alan Gardiner, cabinet spokesperson for corporate services, said: "There will no doubt be hundreds, maybe thousands of pensioners in the borough worrying about heating their houses this winter.

"This money could make all the difference. The Welfare Rights Service provides free help and advice, and anyone who wants more information on pension credit or who need help with the claim process should contact them straight away.

"Even if you don’t qualify for pension credit they may be able to identify other benefits that you’re missing out on."

For residents living in Barnsley, the Welfare Rights Service can be contacted on 01226 772360. Lines are open during normal office hours.

A BARNSLEY woman escaped and two neighbours had to be evacuated after a candle caused a blaze.

Firefighters were called out to Grange Court, Park Street, Wombwell, at around midnight on Monday.

When firefighters arrived at the flat they found the flames were contained to the window area - near to where the candle had been burning.

A spokeswoman for South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue said: "The lady was already out of the flat when the crews arrived. A tea light had accidently set fire to a curtain.

"Firefighters put the fire out and ventilated the flat. To prevent candles causing a fire in your home don’t leave them burning in a room with no-one in it. Make sure they're in holders that won’t fall over."

THE family of a young father who died after the off-road motorbike he was riding crashed into a wall has paid tribute to a 'loving, family man' who enjoyed taking his two daughters to the seaside.

Popular Craig Baker, 26, died on October 30 after testing out the bike near a Carlton scrapyard where he worked.

It had been fixed the previous weekend and he had wanted to wait until the weather improved before trying it.

His partner Carly Green, with whom he has children, Keira, five, and Lacey, three, said he doted on his family and worked hard to look after and protect them.

Carly, 24, said: "He was the best and he was a good dad to the kids. He loved us doing things together and taking the kids to the seaside.

"In August, he threw a big party for the girls' birthdays with a bouncy castle. He was just a lovely lad. We were always teasing each other.

"He left me with two precious gifts and I will remind the kids every day of how lovely their dad was."

Craig and Carly had been together for six years and met when she moved next door.

Craig grew up on Leslie Road and attended Hunningley Lane Primary and Elmhurst, which is now Barnsley Academy.

The couple had lived at Birkwood Avenue since 2010.

Carly said he had wanted to take part in off-road bike trials with a friend.

"He was excited to go on the bike, he'd been waiting for the rain to stop. It was the first chance he'd had to go on it.

"That morning the sun was shining and he couldn't resist. His workmate said he was so excited to have a go.

"He had gone to work and it was just a normal day. We never thought anything like that would happen."

BARNSLEY College is set to spend £4million upgrading its sport facilities.

The college has been successful in securing funding from the Skills Funding Agency’s (SFA) College Capital Investment Fund (CCIF) to enable the upgrades.

The £1.3million from the CCIF will combine with the £2.7million raised by the college.

An extension will be built to the existing Sports Academy and convert the former theatre building at the Honeywell campus into a multi-function sports hall, dance studio, gym and bistro.

The changes will create eight new classrooms for students and a new social space as well as the sports hall which will be open to the public.

Work is planned to start early next year and be completed in the summer.

Principal Colin Booth said: "This is great news for our students and the local community who will be able to make use of the excellent new sports hall."

The new sports facilities are one of many new building projects the college is currently working on to enhance learning facilities for students and the town as a whole.

The Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) centre on Old Mill Lane is currently being developed, a new £17million sixth form is planned to open in 2015 and a new £10.8million construction centre is planned to be built on the Honeywell campus, also opening in 2015.

AN elderly Barnsley woman is in hospital with serious injuries after being hit by a car near the town centre.

The incident took place on the A628 Westway, close to the junction with New Street, at around 7.15am on November 13.

A 40-year-old woman from Barnsley was driving a silver Renault Clio which was in collision with the 74-year-old female pedestrian.

The pensioner was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Witnesses, or anyone with information, should call South Yorkshire Police on the non-emergency number, 101, quoting incident number 133 of November 13. 2013.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

AN 11-month-old boy, allegedly murdered by his father, had a ‘badly bruised’ face and a ‘swollen head’, a paramedic told Sheffield Crown Court.

Dale Wragg was told by 999 operators to attend Kadan Beaumont's Hoyland home when driving a fast response car for the Yorkshire Ambulance Service.

Kadan's father, 28-year-old Michael Beaumont, denies murdering his son.

Giving evidence for the prosecution, Mr Wragg said he was the first to arrive at the home, on Chapel Street, and went upstairs where he found Kadan on the floor.

"My initial impression was that the baby was deceased," he said. "He was greyish blue, something we would expect from someone who is either critically ill or deceased."

Mr Wragg also commented on the child's injuries.

He said: "The child was quite badly bruised around his face and I also noticed his head was badly swollen, especially the forehead."

The paramedic asked Mr Beaumont what had happened to his son, but was told the child had been knocked down some steps by the family dog the day before.

"I asked him whether he had taken the child to see any healthcare professional in the time from the incident to the time I arrived, and he said no, he hadn't."

Mr Wragg said Kadan’s airway was obstructed, he wasn’t breathing and he gave him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Kadan was displaying classic signs of a head injury, which included clenching his teeth and stiffening his limbs, and was taken by ambulance to Barnsley Hospital.

His mother Helen Barnes, 27, denies cruelty to a child by neglecting to seek medical assistance.

The trial continues.

A BARNSLEY woman who chased a man into a store while waving a knife in front of terrified children has escaped jail.

Anna Poyzer, 33, pulled a knife out of the boot of her car after an incident with another vehicle in Brampton.

A subsequent confrontation quickly escalated, with Poyzer and her passenger arguing with the other motorist.

Prosecutor Michael Tooley told Sheffield Crown Court the argument spilled into the Dil Brothers convenience store, where Poyzer brandished a knife.

One witness said she was ‘terrified’ that Poyzer was going to stab the other driver.

Poyzer, of Bellbrooke Avenue, Darfield, admitted possessing a bladed article and affray.

The mum-of-three was said to have ‘health problems’, leading Recorder Kate Tulk to impose a more lenient sentence.

Having been handed a 12-month supervised community order, Tulk said psychiatric reports had persuaded her against imposing a jail term.

She said Poyzer would normally have been jailed, but she had suffered ‘difficulties for several years’ and it would be better if she was given treatment.

THE number of people who have contributed nothing towards their rent following the introduction of the 'bedroom tax' has fallen dramatically.

There are 2,700 tenants in Barnsley affected by the so-called tax, which is a reduction in the amount of housing benefit people in social housing receive if they're deemed to have a spare bedroom.

The latest figures from Berneslai Homes show that as of October 8, only 86 people had not paid anything towards the shortfall - a stark contrast to the 354 people who had still owed 100 per cent in May.

The figures also show that 858 tenants (35 per cent) have fully paid up.

But there are still 1,059 people who owe between one and 24 per cent of their arrears due to the bedroom tax shortfall.

Despite the drop, Fran Postlethwaite, of Barnsley Against Bedroom Tax, said 65 per cent of affected tenants were in arrears with their rent.

She said: "Every week we're meeting people who are struggling to feed themselves properly and keep up with their bills.

"The bedroom tax is driving many further into debt and creating real despair. When Berneslai Homes sends threatening letters to people who cannot manage to keep up with their payments this makes them even more frightened and desperate.

"We want Barnsley to join the 16 local councils who have promised that no-one will be evicted as a result of arrears arising from the bedroom tax."

During October, 73 people went before county court for rent arrears - 18 were related to the bedroom tax.

Of the 2,700 people affected by the bedroom tax, 15 per cent said they wished to downsize.

In 2012/13 Berneslai Homes rehoused 220 people in smaller homes, while so far this year it has rehoused 84.

A WOMAN has died after being hit by a train.

The woman, who was struck at Chapeltown just after 3pm, suffered injuries to her head and foot but later died in hospital.

Rail services between Sheffield and Barnsley had delays of up to an hour, with trains diverted via Rotherham Central and replacement buses laid on.

A spokesman for British Transport Police said: "Officers were called to Chapeltown following a report that a woman had been struck by a train.

"It was reported to police at 3.05pm and is currently being treated as non-suspicious. Medics from Yorkshire Ambulance Service were also at the scene, treating the woman for injuries to her foot and head."

However, it was confirmed on Thursday morning by a BTP spokesman that she had sadly died from her injuries.

AROUND 12 cars have been involved in an accident, causing huge delays between Woolley (J38) and Dodworth (J37).

Three lanes are closed and there's queueing traffic on M1 southbound.

We'll keep an eye on it and inform you of the latest.