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.

EX-PROFESSIONAL cricketer Chris Schofield turned Peter Parker for the day as he completed a marathon dressed as Spider-Man - a decade after nearly losing his life.

The 37-year-old postman, who suffered a fractured skull in a 20-foot fall from a roof in 2003, finished the Yorkshire Marathon - his first 26-mile race - in three hours 58 minutes.

He was initially supposed to run with his wife Lisa but she was forced to pull out with a back injury, leaving Chris as a lone runner in the outfit suggested by his five-year-old son Joseph.

"The last six miles were a killer - I'd not done enough training and was relying on my postal fitness," said Chris, whose round covers Hoylandswaine.

Following his fall, doctors told the former Yorkshire cricketer, who opened the batting with ex-England captain Michael Vaughan in his only first-class cricket match, it was unlikely he would play the sport again.

He went on to compete in the Bradford league and represent Hoylandswaine before retiring last year.

He said of his fall: "It was a really, really icy night and unfortunately I slipped and fell. I was found the next morning."

Chris was supported by friends, family and residents of Hoylandswaine and raised £1,200 for Macmillan Cancer Support by completing the race in York.

A PERSON has been hit by a train at Chapeltown, causing severe disruptions between Sheffield and Barnsley.

Because of this, journeys between Sheffield and Barnsley may be delayed by up to 60 minutes.

These delays will continue until further notice.

Services are being diverted via Rotherham Central.

A BARNSLEY businessman has invested almost £400,000 transforming the Lucorum pub into a Mediterranean-style restaurant.

Chris Palmer decided to redevelop the Hanson Street building into an eatery and cocktail lounge, which opened as Lazy Pasta and Lazy Lounge on November 9, to try and create a dining quarter and boost business in the town centre.

It will serve lunches, have an early bird menu to catch workers on their way home and be open in the evening.

The building has been given a complete overhaul and is now split into three areas with a welcome bar, a restaurant area in the former pub's courtyard and a cocktail lounge upstairs.

Mr Palmer said he was determined to make it work in Barnsley before trying the idea elsewhere.

"I'm trying to create something for Barnsley that it's not seen before. I'm a Barnsley man and I wanted to make this work in my hometown," he said.

"It's a brand and it could have easily been done in Sheffield or Leeds but I want it to work here.

"I'm willing to invest here first rather than take it elsewhere but if it's successful the plan is to roll it out and we've already identified a premises in Sheffield.

"I think because it's such a beautiful building it's better suited to being a restaurant.

"Usually most restaurants you go to, once they get you in and you've eaten they want you out. Basically what we've created is a relaxing cocktail lounge, where people can go after eating so they're in no rush and it's a relaxed atmosphere."

Lucorum's glory days as a watering hole may now be over, but in its heyday it became home to live music nights with artists such as Sunshine Underground and Jon McClure of Reverend and the Makers taking to the stage - even the Arctic Monkeys were rumoured to have held a secret gig there.

A MAN whose friends bet him a tenner he couldn't eat a full chestnut ended up in hospital - after it got lodged in his throat.

The man, in his 60s, and his pals were drinking in the Barley Sheaf, on Aldham House Lane, Wombwell.

The nut got stuck in his throat after he had attempted to swallow it whole. He began to choke as he could not wash it down with a drink from his pint.

He was taken from the A and E department at Barnsley Hospital to the Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield where doctors managed to push it down into his stomach.

Staff at the pub said the customer has been in since and is now waiting for nature to take its course.

SOUTH Yorkshire Police has been slammed in a new report - which claims the force is still prioritising burglary and vehicle crime over child sex exploitation.

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) found that the emphasis from managers at South Yorkshire Police was still more focused on dealing with other crimes and must act immediately to improve its response.

It also found that intelligence teams were not fully supporting child sexual exploitation investigations and that staffing problems were hampering the investigations.

It said that these matters should be addressed 'as a matter of urgency'.

Crime commissioner Shaun Wright said there had been ‘a failure of management’ at South Yorkshire Police as he responded to the report, which he himself commissioned in the summer.

The HMIC inspection report did say, however, that South Yorkshire Police now showed a ‘clear commitment to enhancing the force's response to the sexual exploitation of children’ and found ‘all the officers and staff working in child protection to be deeply committed to their work’.

But the inspectors also said these efforts have had ‘mixed success’.

The report said: "Although staff and officers were aware that tackling child sexual exploitation was a stated force priority, this has not consistently been translated into operational activity on the ground at a local level."

Shaun Wright said: "The report makes a number of recommendations, with the most urgent to be implemented immediately and others within three and six months.

"I fully support the recommendations and have instructed the chief constable that he must ensure they're in place within the time frames set out by the inspectors.

"The commitment and effort of officers and staff on the front line of this most heinous of crimes is fully appreciated by me and rightly recognised by the inspectors.

'However, there is clearly a failure of management to turn my, and the public of South Yorkshire's, key strategic priority into operational effectiveness uniformly across the whole force area."

BARNSLEY Football Club's chief executive wants to attract 8,000 lapsed fans back to Oakwell.

Ben Mansford will make a series of visits to pubs across the borough to engage with 'armchair fans', while the club is asking supporters to vote for a new crest as part of the 'brand refresh' Mansford wants to implement.

The former football agent, who replaced Don Rowing at Oakwell in the summer, said the club could increase its budget if regular attendances were higher.

He said: "When I first started looking at average attendances I saw that they were about 18,000 in the season after relegation from the Premier League, whereas now they're around the 10,000 mark.

"For the vast majority of people they might have stopped attending for economic reasons but I want to get out and about in town and be truly visible, firstly to our current supporters to thank them for staying with us but also to the 8,000 or so who have stopped coming.

"There are many armchair fans outside of the city centre and they might occasionally check the club's website. I want to get into their environment and they might explain to me why they've fallen out with Barnsley Football Club.

"To remain competitive in the Championship, we need to grow our attendances. By getting out into the town and talking to people, I hope that we can bring a few back." 

A BARNSLEY dentist pleaded guilty at court for continuing to treat patients despite not being registered.

Mum-of-two Jane Penvose, 43, of Carrfield Close, was removed from the General Dentist Council’s register in August 2012 for non-payment of her annual retention fee.

A dental practitioner for 24 years, Penvose forged a General Dental Council certificate when her membership lapsed.

Jayne Ormrod, prosecuting at Barnsley Magistrates' Court, said: "Some £23,400 in wages was obtained by this woman. There may have been other costs incurred by the small practice she worked for."

Philip Stables, defending, said there had been no complaints from patients about Penvose.

He said: "Mrs Penvose had to get the certification to carry on practising. She did not have the money to do so.

"She made a clumsy attempt to cover that up because of financial problems after her husband lost his job."

Penvose admitted two charges of fraud by false representation and illegally practising dentistry. She will be sentenced for the two frauds at Sheffield Crown Court on November 22.

Penvose, who was granted unconditional bail, was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge for illegally practising dentistry.

A COUPLE who left a dog suffering from a potentially fatal bug out in the cold in their back garden have been banned from keeping animals for five years.

Brett Kershaw, 23, and Elizabeth Wheelhouse, 19, put Ernie, an American bulldog, under some trees with no proper shelter and protection, Barnsley Magistrates' Court was told.

An animal welfare officer who saw the dog at the scene said there was a putrid smell and the dog, who later died, was unresponsive, said RSPCA prosecutor Brian Orsborn.

Mr Orsborn said Kershaw and Wheelhouse, of Clyde Street, Barnsley, had woken up that morning to find half the kitchen floor of the home where they were then living half covered in blood and diarrhoea.

Mr Orsborn added: "The couple bleached and cleaned the kitchen and carried the dog outside into the back garden, covered it in a blanket and left because, apparently, Mr Kershaw wanted to help his parents to move home.

"The dog was eventually seen by a vet, put on intravenous drugs and, when he did not respond, put on a warming pan. The dog died."

Kershaw said later he had not been told the dog had been vaccinated. Wheelhouse said she did not know if the dog had had its injections.

Philip Howard, defending, said the couple had bought the dog on the internet for £80 and insisted the couple were told the dog had been given the necessary treatment.

He said the dog appeared healthy for the first few days but started vomiting and not eating. He said the dog would appear to recover and get back to normal.

Mr Howard said Kershaw and Wheelhouse had no money to see a vet and were going to take Ernie to a branch of the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals in Sheffield.

He added: "The couple wrapped the dog in a blanket and left it in the garden. On mature reflection, Mr Kershaw and Miss Wheelhouse accept their care didn't come up to the appropriate standards.

"Mr Kershaw and Miss Wheelhouse did not act out of cruelty but out of ignorance. They were full of sorrow and remorse when the dog died. They will be denigrated by certain members of the public."

District Judge John Foster described the couple's reaction to Ernie's illness as 'unpleasant'.

Kershaw and Wheelhouse admitted two charges of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. They were ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid work and each ordered to pay £250 in costs.

SOME of the world's best snooker players will return to Barnsley's Metrodome next month!

The venue hosted the International Championship qualifiers last month and fans flocked to the arena to see the world’s best in action.

The Metrodome will now stage the German Masters qualifiers on December 11 and 12, followed by the Haikou World Open qualifiers on December 13 and 14.

Both tournaments will see 128 players each playing one match, with the 64 winners to go through to the respective venues in Germany and China next year.

A spokesman for World Snooker said: "We were delighted by the response of fans when we staged qualifiers in Barnsley for the first time in October as hundreds of fans packed the arena to see top stars like Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump, John Higgins and Jimmy White."

A 44-YEAR-OLD motorist was left with serious injuries after the car he was driving hit a wall.

The man, from Barnsley, was driving a grey Ford Focus along Doncaster Road near the junction with Portland Street which police said hit a wall at 2pm on Wednesday.

The driver was taken to Barnsley Hospital where is currently in a stable condition.

Police want to speak to anyone who witnessed the incident, or who may have seen the vehicle as it drove along Doncaster Road.

Contact South Yorkshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 544 of October 30.

BARNSLEY has a higher death rate from cervical cancer than the national average.

The latest figures from Public Health show the death rate from cervical cancer was 4.45 per cent - compared to the national average of 2.24 per cent.

There were 19 deaths from cervical cancer during 2008-2010 and 16 of those deaths were women under the age of 75.

Sharon Stoltz, acting director of Public Health, said: "Our figures are higher than the national average, but it doesn't mean Barnsley has the highest number of deaths from cervical cancer in the country.

"Cervical cancer is a fairly common cancer in women. Not all cancers can be prevented but cervical cancer is one of those women can be protected from by being vaccinated."

She said there would be a focus on getting girls aged 12-13 to complete the human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV) programme, which helps lower women's chances of getting cancer.

HPV is a sexually transmitted virus that causes 99 per cent of invasive cervical cancers.

In 2011, 90 per cent of eligible girls in Barnsley received the vaccination, but Sharon said there were three stages to it and that led to some girls only having the first or second course.

She added: "It's one of the really important cancer prevention measures. If all young girls took up the HPV vaccination and completed the course as well as going for regular smear tests we should be able to reduce the number of deaths from cervical cancer in Barnsley."

POLICE are appealing for witnesses after two men were assaulted in a suspected homophobic attack in a Barnsley bar.

The two men were on the dancefloor of Digital on Wellington Street at around 12.45am on October 27 when the incident occurred.

One 24-year-old man was headbutted and the other, aged 32, was punched in the face by the same unknown man.

The suspect is described as a white man between 6ft and 6ft 4in tall, of a stocky build and in his late 20s.

The two men, from Barnsley, believe they were attacked due to their sexuality.

South Yorkshire Police is treating the incident as a homophobic hate crime.

Witnesses, or anyone with information, should call South Yorkshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111, quoting incident number 691 of November 12, 2013.

POLICE are waiting for the results of toxicology tests after a 41-year-old man was found dead.

Unemployed Kevin Riddiough, of Ellington Court, died at his home in Kingstone on October 29.

The cause of his death is unknown and an inquest has been opened and adjourned.

A FESTIVE fundraising single performed by members of the Barnsley Youth Choir is expected to fly off the shelves when it's released on Friday!

It's been produced by the same man who helped produce The Clash's first album and worked with The Beach Boys and Abba.

The choir, which formed in 2009, worked with legendary record producer Simon Humphrey at his Leeds-based studio to record the double A-sided CD that will raise money for Barnsley Hospice.

Simon is well-known in the music industry and has also worked with many other artists ranging from Culture Club to Marc Bolan.

The single, costing £2, will be on sale from the Chronicle reception on Church Street, Matalan at Cortonwood, hospice shops, Horizon Community College and via the choir's website.

It has been made by Barnsley firm Riviera Multimedia.

The choir, which has more than 180 members, is led by musical director Mat Wright, a teacher at Horizon Community College.

It's been split into two sections for the recording, with the younger members, aged seven to 11, singing Winter Wonderland and older members (12 to 19) performing O Holy Night.

Mat said the choir is 'buzzed and excited' about the single and has set its sights on going national.

"It's something Barnsley people can be proud to support and it's our young people doing something remarkable for themselves and the town," he said.

"We're hoping it will be something people want to buy, not just to raise money, but as a quality piece of work."

Mat said the idea of releasing a single came about after he was approached by Barnsley Central MP Dan Jarvis.

"Dan is really helping us and is speaking to people to promote the single and we're hoping to make as much money as possible and every penny of it will go to the hospice.

"We believe we have ended up with something of real quality that can be marketed nationwide.

"The songs are very different pieces but both are of quality. O Holy Night would stand up against any choral Christmas single released and Winter Wonderland does exactly what it says on the tin - it will make people smile and get into the festive spirit."

As well as Simon lending his expertise to the choir, lecturers from the University of Huddersfield and University Campus Barnsley, Graham Hughes and Al McNichol, were there with degree students to help with the recording.

Mat said: "It was great for the kids to work with the very best and Simon was blown over by the quality of the singing of these young people."

A BARNSLEY lad who left school at 14 and with no qualifications has been named apprentice of the year.

Billy Wood, 19, of Westfields, Worsbrough Bridge, won first place at the Chartered Institute of Builders annual awards in Sheffield.

Billy has been training with Barnsley Community Build for more than three years after leaving Barnsley Academy at Kendray.

He studied joinery on a learning programme and is now on an apprenticeship and has an NVQ level two and diploma level two.

He has been offered an interview with B&Q at Stairfoot, where he's currently an apprentice.

"I didn't think I'd won because the other finalist had got lots of qualifications and had done an apprenticeship with a big company.

"But I'm glad I won. I was presented with a trophy and a cheque for £500 which I'm going to put away.

"I didn't have a good time at school and got into a bit of trouble but now I've got my head down."

Although his time with BCB has now finished, Billy continued as a volunteer and acting supervisor on a refurbishment project creating bedsits for people with mental health problems.

The South Yorkshire Construction Training Group receives nominations from organisations in the construction industry where excellence and achievement in training and development has been achieved.

THIS six-year-old Barnsley lass is all set to wow around 1,500 people with her ice skating skills!

Holly Shenton, of Gawber Primary, has been skating for two years and will perform at IceSheffield's Christmas ice show on December 5, 6 and 7.

Mum Donna, 30, of Intake Lane, Pogmoor, said the youngster isn't at all daunted by the prospect!

"Holly hasn't shown any nerves," Donna said. "She has had lessons for a year and absolutely loves it.

"She can do a waltz jump and a 'Salchow', as well as spin on the ice." 

The Salchow, invented by Swedish skater Ulrich Salchow in 1909, is a tough jump which sees a skater take off from a back inside edge of one foot. The rotation in the air is made in the direction of the curve of the take off edge.

The landing is then made on the back outside edge of the foot - opposite the one used for take off. One or more rotations may be made in the air! 

The £15million IceSheffield venue opened in 2003 and its 'Home For Christmas' show will see Holly appearing alongside the country's leading skaters.

A ROAD was closed for four hours on Sunday after a three-car collision.

The accident, which took place on Barnsley Road in Darton, happened at around 9.20am on November 10.

None of those involved suffered serious injuries.

A BARNSLEY couple are celebrating after welcoming their 'miracle triplets' into the world - conceived naturally at the same time as they underwent IVF treatment!

Marie Mellor, 29, and her partner Marc Hutchinson, 30, are hitting the national headlines after the success and had been trying for a family for eight years without any joy.

As a last attempt, Marie started IVF treatment, opting to have just one fertilised embryo implanted.

After a pregnancy test came back positive, the couple eagerly awaited the scan - only to discover three healthy babies!

Stunned doctors believe Marie, who was born with spina bifida, became pregnant naturally at the same time as having IVF treatment - despite her fallopian tubes being blocked.

"I was speechless! Marc just burst out laughing," said Marie, of Syndale Road, Cudworth.

"I kept saying how can I be having three babies when they only implanted one embryo - it's just impossible.

"At first I thought it must have been that the one embryo had split into three, but the babies are different sexes and are not identical so doctors said they must have come from three different embryos."

Marie and her doctors have decided that she had managed to get pregnant naturally at the same time as undergoing IVF treatment - despite having been told her fallopian tubes were blocked so a natural pregnancy would be impossible.

"They're my miracle babies, this time last year I didn't even dare dream of having one baby and now I have got three," she added.

The couple were all set to get married last month. The venue and reception were booked and paid for, she had collected her wedding dress and all was ready.

But the multiple pregnancy caused Marie, who was born with spina bifida, to put on so much weight that the wedding had to be postponed until next year.

The triplets no-one expected would have been born on Christmas Day had Marie carried them to full term.

However, while in Jessop Hospital, Sheffield, on bed rest, Marie went into labour eight weeks early and underwent an emergency Caesarean.

Last week the babies were transferred to Barnsley Hospital where Olly Jack, Freya Carole and Ava Noelle and all doing well.

Olly, the biggest baby at 3lbs 13oz, is already out of his incubator. Ava Noelle, who weighed 3lbs 6oz and Freya Carole, who weighed 3lbs, are still in their incubators.

"We're going to have our hands full but we couldn’t be happier," Marie said.

OAKWELL Brewery, the home of the historic Barnsley Bitter, will soon be no more after demolition work got underway.

Heavy plant machinery has been brought in to clear the Pontefract Road-based brewery site, which can trace its roots back to the original Barnsley Brewing Company formed in 1888.

Oakwell Brewery ceased brewing earlier this year and sold its equipment to other brewers around the region.

Approval to demolish all the buildings on the site was granted on November 4 after an application was submitted to Barnsley Council by agent Christopher Rawlins, of Dunton Plant Ltd, Birmingham.

The firm has been instructed by the brewery's managing director Lynne Booth to flatten the site but Mr Rawlins doesn't believe any 'firm plans' are yet in place yet for its future use.

Mr Rawlins said: "The reason the buildings are coming down is brewing has stopped there and what they're worried about is the buildings being empty and being liable if anything happens, if someone gets into the buildings or is injured.

"As far as I know there are no definite plans but I know it's been mooted about a school."

Uncertainty over the brewery's future came to light in March when about half a dozen other businesses on the site were given notice to leave by June.

RBNB, the company which owns Oakwell Brewery, wanted to sell the 54-acre site where beer has been brewed for more than 120 years.

At the time Ms Booth said sales were down and not enough money was coming in. She said the site was 'too big' and the buildings were in a state of disrepair, many of them falling down.

TWO soap stars were in Barnsley to film part of television programme in which celebrities hunt for antiques.

Vicky Entwistle, who played feisty Janice Battersby in Coronation Street, and Shaun Williamson, best known for playing hapless Barry Evans in Eastenders took part in BBC2's Celebrity Antiques Road Trip.

The third series follows 20 pairs of celebrities as they set off on a whistle stop tour of the UK, determined to make the biggest profit from buying and selling antiques.

Vicky and Shaun, who visited Elsecar Heritage Centre, compete against each other in the episode, putting their wit and bargaining skills to the test as they set out to find hidden gems before taking them to auction.

On hand to help each of them are two of the show's antiques experts.

Travelling in classic vintage cars, the teams are given a budget of £400 before starting their engines for a cross-country road trip.

Celebrity Antiques Road Trip has been a hit with viewers, attracting a peak audience of more than 2.5 million.

Wendy Rattray, creative director for STV Productions which produces the show, said: "We have some brilliant celebrities lined up to hit the antiques trail in the new series, which promises more fun, banter and friendly rivalry from our competing stars."

The episode with Vicky and Shaun will air on November 18.

ALMOST 6,000 of the poorest pensioners in Barnsley may be living in unnecessary poverty.

Independent Age claims that up to 5,800 pensioners are failing to claim Pension Credit - a basic benefit which is intended to top up pensions of the poorest to at least £145.40 per week.

Independent Age has launched a free 'Wise Guide' book to help the town's poorest pensioners put more cash in their pockets.

Victoria Richards, head of advice and support at Independent Age, said: "With rising prices a huge source of anxiety to many pensioners, Pension Credit really can make all the difference to those in later life.

"In some cases, it can also passport pensioners to other benefits such as council tax and housing benefit and when claimed with extra financial support such as Attendance Allowance, it can almost double some people’s incomes.

"But it does have to be claimed - and our new Wise Guide shows you how."

The guide is the first in a series of easy-to-read books, packed with essential information for the over-65s.

For more information, click here, or ring 0845 262 1863.

A TEN-YEAR-OLD boy who is receiving treatment for aggressive tumours has said he wants to give the money from a charity football match to a children's hospital.

Brandon Lee, of Bellbrook Avenue, Darfield, was diagnosed with rhabdmyosarcoma two years ago, which causes malignant tumours to develop in muscle tissue.

He had been feeling ill while on a family holiday in Majorca. When the disease was later diagnosed, it was found to have spread considerably.

Since that time Brandon has undergone radiotherapy and chemotherapy, a number of operations to remove the tumours, as well as part of a lung and the replacement of his diaphragm with a plastic prosthesis.

Dad Tommy, 40, said the family had been wracked by anxiety for the last two years but that, following the end of his treatment in March, Brandon was showing improvement and was back at Upperwood Academy this term after a two-year absence.

He said: "It's been a very stressful and emotional couple of years but they're saying it's a miracle he's done as well as he has and the fact there's no news is good news at the moment.

"They don't really know what's scar tissue, tumour or healthy tissue from the scans at the hospital, so we're by no means out of the woods, but it does give us hope.

"Brandon's put a lot of weight back on after being very sick and is feeling a lot better. He's a real little fighter and has taken the whole thing in his stride."

Brandon's brother Tom and friends Josh Swift, of Howard Street, and Jacob Windsor, of The Willows, all 17, decided to arrange a charity football match in support of Brandon, pitting Darfield JFC's under-17s team against members of Darfield AFC, dubbed 'The Geriatrics'.

The match will be held at Netherwood school on November 16, with kick-off at 12.30, and Chris Waddle has confirmed his attendance.

However, Tommy said Brandon had already decided that he wanted any proceeds to go to Sheffield Children's Hospital's oncology and M3 wards, where he has received treatment, rather than the family.

Jacob said he had been amazed at how quickly support for the match had grown.

He said: "It just started as an idea that we put out there and everyone got involved, putting in their own ideas, and we've had loads of people asking for sponsorship forms.

"It's not going to be a sad day, we want to raise as much money as possible for Brandon and have a great time while we're doing it."

A BURGLAR who raided a newly-built house in Barnsley has been jailed for a year.

James Jones, 33, of Colley Crescent, Kendray, appeared at Barnsley Magistrates' Court on November 8 and admitted stealing kitchen doors, drawers and handles, worth £87, from the Worsbrough Common property last month.

Jones also asked for five other offences to be taken into consideration - the theft of valuables from two shops in Barnsley town centre, handling stolen property from a recent burglary at Worsbrough and theft of tools from building sites at Larch Place, Kendray and Bluebell Bank, Barnsley.

A South Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: "Much of the property has since been recovered by officers and returned to their rightful owners, who are extremely grateful."

Last month the force launched Operation Lockdown, an initiative to clamp down on house burglary and car crime.

A MUM-OF-TWO said a group of reckless revellers ruined a bonfire night at a pub last week after they started setting their own fireworks off.

Rebecca Haigh Sellars, who has two children aged six and two, took her family to the bonfire at the Longridge Road pub in Monk Bretton on November 3.

The Royston mum said everything was fine until a group of people, who looked to be in their 20s, turned up and started lighting fireworks in the crowd where children were.

"We only stayed half an hour because the kids were scared after someone lit a firework near to people," she said.

"My youngest was right near it and I managed to grab him out the way just as it exploded. He was really lucky not to have been hurt."

A number of people complained on Facebook saying the boisterous group was playing reckless with people's safety.

Landlord Nigel Lofts said about 1,000 people attended and every effort was made to marshal the event and keep people safe.

He did say a 30 to 40-strong group of revellers had decided to make their own entertainment and started lighting their own fireworks display in the middle of the car park.

He said: "There was a load of them in their 20s and they had those illegal bangers and I must have told them three or four times to stop but they kept throwing them. They were even chucking them in the fire, full packets of them.

"One of them even put a banger underneath a cone and there was a child nearby who must have only been two but thank God he wasn't hurt when it exploded.

"You try your best to put on a good event, I spent £3,000, but with idiots like these knocking about it's not easy. I've even warned other pubs to keep an eye out for people with these illegal bangers."

A SCHOOL has hit back at claims on We Are Barnsley's Facebook page that it's isolated dozens of pupils for wearing unsuitable trousers and banned them from wearing Remembrance Day poppies.

Parents flooded to the page last week, criticising Kirk Balk Community College's uniform policy.

One parent, Jane Rockett, said: "There are probably more kids in isolation at Kirk Balk today than anywhere else due to their trousers being an inch tighter at the bottom than they should be. Wish teachers would concentrate on teaching."

Joanne Harper-Hall posted: "One of my sons said most of the school was in isolation today. They both used to love school and never wanted to miss a day but they hate it now. They should be enjoying their school years. Apparently no poppies are allowed this year, they're banned!"

But Kirk Balk strongly defended its uniform policy and denied poppies were banned.

It said the Facebook comments sprang from 'malicious gossip' and the focus should instead be on its positive Ofsted report, which came out this week.

The college said it had written to parents last week about uniform policy after some pupils pushed the rules.

The letter said: "Currently staff time is being taken up dealing with uniform issues. Of real concern is the wearing of short skirts and leggings.

"These are inappropriate in a college setting. Whilst we are reluctant to interrupt learning, it may be deemed necessary to send students home to change their clothes if they continue to wear non-uniform clothing."

Vice principal Roger Goodwin said: "We have got malicious gossip on Facebook driving the agenda.

"There were people saying pupils couldn't wear poppies for Remembrance Day, whereas in fact we had a strong week of remembrance in school including assemblies for each year group, and a thought for the day.

"We sold poppies in school encouraging students to wear them during the remembrance period."

A LITTLE boy cannot understand where his best friend Choc the dog has gone.

Two-year-old Reuben has spent the past weeks scouring the family home between Silkstone and Cawthorne calling out for Choc the chocolate brown spaniel.

He has been told the family pet is away chasing rabbits - because his parents cannot bear to tell him the truth.

Choc is missing and they fear he has been stolen. The family are offering a £500 reward for Choc's return.

They have had posters printed and created a social media campaign, with many getting involved on We Are Barnsley.

Owner May Quilter, 32, says Choc, who is microchipped and was wearing his collar and identity tag when he went missing, has been neutered so would be of no use to someone who might have taken him for breeding purposes.

"He is such a part of the family that he even has his own bedroom," she says at the family home off Waggon Way.

"My son Lucas is five so he understands that Choc is missing and desperately wants him back. Reuben is too young to understand - he just wanders around calling out his name - it's heartbreaking to hear him."

In a cruel twist of fate this is the second time Choc has gone missing.

Almost three years ago he disappeared and four months later May was told Choc was living with a family in Kendray.

She took him back home and the family who had had him are so concerned having heard he is missing again that they're calling May regularly to find out if Choc has been found yet.

She said: "Choc does sometimes go beyond the garden, usually to follow a scent, but he always comes back. The only way he would not come home would be if he was injured or if he had been taken and was being kept somewhere.

"If someone has found him they could have contacted us, the police, the dog warden or simply taken him to be scanned at a vets.

"When he went missing last time he wasn't wearing a tag on his collar but this time he is. I just find it hard to believe that someone would pick him up and not ring us. I don't believe that he's still running free.

"We just want him back home."

Choc went missing on October 3. Anyone with information should contact 07852 129001.

A BARNSLEY man who assaulted his wife has had his sentence reduced following an appeal at Sheffield Crown Court.

Kevin Clark, 51, managing director of Windsor Foods, had his sentence cut to four months in jail, suspended for two years, by Mr Recorder Hill-Baker.

Clark, of Redland Grove, Staincross, was originally jailed for 26 weeks at Barnsley Magistrates' Court after admitting attacking his wife Kimberley.

The attack, which the court heard lasted up to 15 minutes, happened after Clark, Mrs Clark and the man he suspected of having an affair with her had been on a night out at a pub in Hoyland.

After being originally sentenced at Barnsley Magistrates' Court, District Judge John Foster said: "I have recently not heard a worse domestic violence case. This was a shocking assault."

MORE than 50 people packed into a lecture theatre in Barnsley Central Library to protest at the planned demolition of the building.

Everyone who spoke at the meeting, on November 2, expressed their commitment to the existing building and their opposition to its demolition to make way for a new sixth form college.

Kate Burland, who chaired the meeting, said: "For me this campaign is about ensuring the excellent purpose-built library we already have is not demolished. Moving is not an option, the current location and facilities are ideal."

Dave Gibson, who opposes the demolition, taught A-levels at Barnsley Sixth Form College for 24 years before retiring last year.

He agrees a new sixth form building is needed but said there are plenty of other places one could go.

"The plan to build it on Shambles Street is more about the impression a new building there gives to visitors to Barnsley than it is about what is best for students," he said.

Roy Bowser, secretary of Barnsley National Union of Teachers, said: "My union is committed to the library service in Barnsley and we oppose this plan. My members have instructed me to write to the council, expressing our opposition."

As a result of the protest meeting, it was agreed to set up an action committee to campaign during the four-week consultation period on the library's demolition, which started last Wednesday.

The first big public protest planned will be a 'Hands Off Our Library: Hands Around the Library' event on Saturday, November 16 at 11am.

Kate added: "The aim is to get enough people to get a complete circle around the library. We feel that will make a very visual statement that we will not let our library be pulled down."

A DAD accused of murdering his 11-month-old son blamed the fatal injuries on the family dog.

Little Kadan Beaumont died in hospital from head injuries.

Sheffield Crown Court was told Michael Beaumont, 29, sent a photo of his son's injuries to Helen Barnes, Kadan's mum, while she was at work.

A message with the picture read: "Look at my head mummy. Naughty Mia knocked me down the steps in the garden. I cut my neck as well."

Beaumont told the same story to friends and paramedics who were called to the house when Kadan collapsed the following day.

Robert Smith QC, prosecuting, said: "He told them Kadan had been knocked down the steps by the dogs the day before."

The tot was found to have two recent fractures of the skull, bleeding in his eyes and on the surface of the brain as well as multiple bruises to his head and face.

He died at Sheffield Chidlren's Hospital on September 28, 2011.

Mr Smith said expert evidence would show that Kadan had been subjected to violence from when he was two months old.

"The cause of his collapse that morning was not due to any incident involving being knocked over by a dog.

"His collapse and death was due to trauma to the brain caused by someone striking or throwing him against some surface shortly before the emergency services were called."

Beaumont and Barnes, 28, a teaching assistant, were living at Chapel Street, Hoyland Common. He was caring for Kadan while Barnes was at work.

The prosecution say Barnes, who has a degree in early child studies, failed to seek medical attention for Kadan.

Kadan was taken to his GP on December 10, 2010 when he was seven weeks old after coughing up blood.

A week later he was taken to hospital with a 'cauliflower' ear which a doctor thought may have been caused by a punch. The medic said 'there was a high index of suspicion' of non-accidental injury.

Witnesses who saw Kadan covered in bruises in the street with Beaumont the day before his death were shocked at the youngster's appearance and one said the tot had a 'blank' expression.

Mr Smith said: "No responsible parent would have ignored those injuries."

Beaumont denies murder and causing or allowing the death of a child while Barnes denies allowing the death of a child and cruelty to a person under 16.

The trial continues.

THE Reds missed the chance to climb out of the relegation zone on Saturday after dominating against Doncaster Rovers.

Barnsley controlled large parts of the South Yorkshire derby and were awarded a 19th-minute penalty after a clumsy challenge on Marcus Pedersen.

Top scorer Chris O'Grady then had his spot-kick saved by Ross Turnbull, leaving the Reds in the relegation zone after the 0-0 draw with 11 points from their 15 matches.

However, Barnsley kept their first clean sheet of the season having leaked 31 goals in their previous 14 matches.

"We definitely wanted three points today but we didn't work their keeper enough," said David Flitcroft.

"In the first half we should have come in three up and we had more chances after the break.

"It was something you don't see often, O'Grady missing a penalty."

Next up for the Reds is a trip to Millwall on November 23.

A CANNABIS grower is scared he will become hooked on heroin inside jail - having been given a 12-month sentence.

John Molyneux, also a convicted robber, began taking heroin while he was serving a five-year stretch inside prison, said his barrister, Richard Barradell.

Mr Barradell told Sheffield Crown Court: "He knows Doncaster Prison is full of it. He hopes he is strong enough not to give in to all the demons."

Molyneux, 47, of Wilson Street, Wombwell, was arrested after police raided his home on May 9 this year.

They found a cannabis growing set up with four tents, electric bulbs and an extractor fan upstairs. Plants, seedlings and root balls were discovered along with a glass jar containing cannabis in a bedroom. A bucket contained fragments of leaf and stalk.

Prosecutor Bev Tait said based on an annual yield, the cannabis would have fetched £17,000 on the streets.

Molyneux told police six larger plants were about two months old and he had been growing cannabis from seed.

Mr Barradell said he had struggled with his heroin addiction for a long before meeting his partner and since then had not offended.

But with his criminal record he found himself virtually unemployable and got into debt as well as starting to smoke cannabis.

"He has let his partner and stepchildren down, this was not for gain he did it because he was in debt," the barrister said.

His partner suffered from a degenerative bone disorder, one of his stepsons had ADHD and a brain disorder and the family cared for each other and relied on him.

But Judge Michael Murphy jailed Molyneux, who admitted cultivating cannabis with intent to supply, for 12 months.

He told the defendant: "I see people day in day out now who have decided to produce cannabis themselves and put it into the drug market.

"It's happening with enormous frequency. Anyone who does this for gain must expect an immediate prison sentence."

THE leader of Barnsley Council has praised the work done to ensure all 17 of Barnsley's libraries remain open.

Sir Steve Houghton told cabinet members that the Future Library Strategy was a 'first class piece of work'.

It means all the borough's libraries are to remain open and only half will see a small reduction in their opening hours.

Cllr Houghton said libraries having a future in Barnsley was good news, particularly in light of other local councils having to cut services and, in some cases, close libraries.

He said: "At a time when we're under huge pressure and have to get costs down and keep a pretty good service, it deserves praise not criticism and I want to congratulate everyone for their involvement. It's a very emotive area."

The new opening times came into effect on November 4.

VULNERABLE people have been told they must now pay for a previously free helpline service.

Careline is currently used by more than 1,300 people in Barnsley and from next April those who want to continue using it must pay £3.24 a week.

Careline provides a round-the-clock monitoring service to vulnerable people - many of them elderly - who want to feel more protected in their own homes.

It's provided by the council's Independent Living at Home Service (ILAHS) and was previously funded by the government's Supporting People fund.

Funding is likely to cease due to government spending cuts.

One Careline user in Hoyland, who didn't want to be named, said it was worrying that funding cuts were hitting such an important service.

"People do use it and rely on it," she said. "If you fall or become ill, it ensures that an ambulance or relatives are called."

Cllr Jenny Platts, cabinet spokesman, said: "It is, of course, with reluctance this will become a paid service from April 2014. However, we will try to keep the charge as low as possible."

The move to a paid service will see the introduction of the latest and most simple to use assistive living technology from Bosch Healthcare.

ONE of the best-known characters on the town centre's streets has been fined £50 for something which happened in 10 seconds.

Dean Saunders, 42, who has been effectively homeless for more than a decade, was spoken to by police because he was among a group of people drinking in a zone where it is banned, Barnsley Magistrates' Court was told.

A can of lager had been thrust into his hand as he walked past the group, according to his solicitor Philip Stables.

Mr Stables added: "Mr Saunders was the only person the police spoke to. He poured the lager away, walked off, there was an exchange of words and he was arrested.

"One wonders why this matter has ended up in court when there are other ways that it could have been dealt with. This was a minor incident which was over in 10 seconds.

"Mr Saunders, who is well known in the town centre and has been effectively homeless for 10 years, was put in emergency accommodation two weeks ago.

"He has been on bail with a condition that he does not go in the town centre between 9am and 5pm. That was a massive restriction on his liberty."

Christopher Knowles, prosecuting, said Saunders asked a police officer as he poured the drink away: "Are you f***ing happy now?"

Mr Knowles said some old folk in earshot were 'disgusted' by the remarks. He said Saunders uttered a stream of expletives as he walked off.

Saunders, of Calder Avenue, Royston, admitted using threatening words and behaviour. He was ordered to pay costs of £85 and a £20 victim surcharge.