A WOMAN had to cling on when her horse bolted - after being attacked by a dog on the Trans Pennine Trail.

Sarah Bedford was enjoying a leisurely trek along the Trans Pennine Trail near Silkstone Common when an unleashed German Shepherd ran towards her and began biting her horse.

The 26-year-old then clung on as her 14-year-old warmblood, Deedee, charged off with the dog following.

"The dog came from absolutely nowhere and went straight for her back legs and she just bolted and didn't stop until we were at Worsbrough," said Sarah.

"I was shouting at everyone to get out of the way because she was at a proper gallop. She'll be scared of dogs for the rest of her life now."

Sarah feared her horse was going to crash into a gate on the trail, last Sunday morning, but a group of bike riders managed to swing it open in time.

Members of the public tried to grab the dog before the owner eventually caught up and restrained his animal but, despite being apologetic, he was unwilling to give his contact details in case the horse needed vet treatment.

Sarah, from Worsbrough, who later contacted the police, cleaned the horse's wounds and said she would monitor the animal before deciding if a vet is required.

POLICE chief Shaun Wright has branded the performance of the South Yorkshire force as ‘unacceptable’.

The force is one of the worst five in the country in terms of overall crime per 1,000 residents and second and third worst for burglary and vehicle offences.

The overall crime rate is falling but Mr Wright said the South Yorkshire force ‘must do more and do it faster’ to improve performance across a number of areas, including crime reduction.

He said: "Despite the pressure on budgets of reduced government funding, I have maintained financial support to the force to avoid it having to reduce officers at the same rate other forces have had to.

"It's extremely disappointing and frustrating that other forces continue to perform better. I have done my best to provide the force with the financial resources it needs to achieve the objectives I have set.

"Real transformational change is required to shape the future operating model of the force and that change is not happening fast enough.

"The force needs to step up to the mark, do more and do it faster. I have made it clear to the Chief Constable that I want to see improvements and I want to see them fast."

AN 81-year-old ex-miner who was left devastated after losing the ability to talk has been given his voice back through pioneering hospital treatment.

James Sykes, of Dodworth, was left feeling very lonely when a virus paralysed his vocal cords and he was unable to talk.

The great-grandfather believed there was no cure available to help him as he was too ill to undergo a general anaesthetic.

But now after a procedure to inject a filler into his vocal cords under local anaesthetic, he can talk again.

"When I went to see my doctor originally, he referred me to a speech therapist who said the only thing that could be done was an operation on my vocal cord," said James, who has five children, eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

"I have a bad chest so I knew a general anaesthetic was out of the question. I was told that nothing could be done."

The widower began to feel very isolated and over a two-year period his voice declined until, in January, he lost it altogether.

For a man who was a bit of a crooner in his younger years, it was a hard blow to take.

"It was awful," he said. "Gradually my voice got so bad I couldn't speak and my breathing was very laboured. I couldn't have a conversation with anybody.

"It made me feel very lonely. My wife died ten years ago so I live on my own and after I lost my voice I stopped going out. I had no social life. I couldn't even use the phone."

Then his daughter Pat Rhodes, 59, of Higham, read about ear, nose and throat consultant Declan Costello who specialises in voice disorders at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

James had an initial consultation with Mr Costello. Shortly after, he had an injection in the neck under local anaesthetic where a filler material was injected into his vocal cord.

"I can't thank enough everybody involved in giving me my voice back," James said.

"It's wonderful to be able to speak to my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren again."

Daughter Pat added: "It's fantastic to have dad back to his old self. The best compliment I can pay Mr Costello is that the other day dad and I had a really good argument. We've never fallen out but we do like to argue every single day."

ABOUT 200 complaints have been made by angry residents following plans to provide a gypsy pitch in their village.

Fred Harston, chairman of Royston Tenants and Residents Association (TARA) says he and Royston councillor Caroline Makinson have handed in the complaints to Barnsley Council.

A storage caravan at Grange Farm could be changed into gypsy accommodation plus a day room and utilities block if plans are given the green light.

There would also be improvement works to the land including the removal of a railway carriage, lock up container and other materials.

Fred said the TARA group had written to residents following concerns and collected complaints from them to give them a voice.

"The community feels this can open the flood gates for a much larger project which is a gypsy site," he said.

"How many caravans you can get on there, I don't know."

He said residents didn't want a gypsy site in their back yard and said there could be an increase of traffic on the roads and increased gypsy activity in the area.

According to the proposals, the existing caravan could turned into accommodation despite being in the greenbelt because of 'very special circumstances'.

These include that the applicant, and her sons who are from a gypsy family, have been living in rented accommodation but are in urgent requirement of a new home.

Due to a lengthy waiting list for pitches, the caravan provides an ideal solution and would mean they could stay in the area, the plans said.

'SIGNIFICANT failures' were made by a Barnsley GP whose patient died days after having a heart attack.

Coroner Chris Dorries said the failures meant Gary Newsome's condition wasn't diagnosed at a time when his life was likely to be saved by hospital treatment.

An inquest ruled Dr John Harban, a GP of 23 years' experience, had made failures during a consultation with Gary days before his death.

Gary, 50, who was overweight, smoked and suffered from diabetes, allegedly told the doctor he was suffering from chest pains.

The coroner said there was insufficiency both of enquiry of the patient and of examining him during the consultation.

In particular, he said there was no questioning as to whether the shortness of breath was accompanied by chest pain.

Mr Dorries said he realised Gary was a patient with 'very high risk factors' for coronary disease and this was his first presentation of shortness of breath.

"I would wish to make clear that I do not doubt that Dr Harban was seeking to do his best for Mr Newsome on July 15, 2011, but the clear evidence of the experts was that important things were not done that should have been done.

"On the basis of expert evidence there were significant failures during this consultation. In consequence Mr Newsome's condition wasn't diagnosed at a time when his life was likely to be saved by hospital treatment."

Gary, of Hartington Drive, Honeywell, had been to see Dr Harban, who works at Lundwood Medical Centre and went into the consultation room with his brother Allan, who said Gary was complaining of chest pains and being out of breath.

Dr Harban said he thought his patient was starting with a viral illness, and a developing condition, an obstruction of the airways from the amount of cigarettes he was smoking.

He said he examined Gary on what he was told and sent him home without any treatment.

He was found dead at home on July 19.

The cause of death was a heart attack which had happened between three and seven days prior to his death.

The inquest also revealed how notes were backdated following a telephone consultation with Gary on Monday July 18.

Gary had phoned the surgery on July 18 and a note was made by the receptionist saying he couldn't breathe and had had chest pains since last Thursday.

Mr Dorries said he intends to advise NHS England of the issues surrounding note keeping for the consultations.

Gary's sister, Janet Asquith said Gary's death has 'cut the family to the core'.

Janet says she wants Dr Harban struck off and says the family is complaining to the General Medical Council.

A spokesman for the Medical Defence Union said Dr Harban could not comment due to patient confidentiality.

A BARNSLEY man assaulted his grandmother who had looked after him virtually all his life.

Kieron Wright, 21, had to pay for solicitor Gus Kennedy to represent him at Barnsley Magistrates' Court because he could not get legal aid.

Wright was ordered to pay £150 in compensation to his grandmother Geraldine Russell, 64, after grabbing her by the arm and opening a partially healed wound.

Mr Kennedy said Wright, of Coniston Drive, Bolton-upon-Dearne, had lived with Mrs Russell since he was a child. He said one of her rules was that Wright must be back home by 11pm when he was working.

Wright, who works at a car parts manufacturer, came in at 11.30pm and there was a row. Mrs Russell wanted to kick him out after the assault but had forgiven him after he expressed regret.

Jayne Ormrod, prosecuting, said Mrs Russell bruised easily because she takes warfarin for a heart problem.

"A partially healed wound on Mrs Russell's arm started bleeding after Mr Wright grabbed it," she said.

Wright, who admitted assault, was given a 12-month conditional discharge, ordered to pay £35 in costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

A FIRE chief is urging people to avoid holding bonfires and firework displays before the weekend - to avoid coinciding with firefighters taking strike action.

The strike is planned for November 1 and they're worried there could be a lack of cover if bonfire and firework displays are held early.

South Yorkshire bosses have admitted the emergency response service will be 'severely reduced' on Friday night when firefighters walk out between 6.30pm and 11pm, as part of a national day of action called by the Fire Brigades Union.

Jamie Courtney, chief fire officer, said he wants fire engines to be kept available for life-threatening calls only during the strikes.

"Don’t hold your bonfire or fireworks display on Friday night," he said. "We’re satisfied with the contingency arrangements we're putting in place but our 999 service will still be severely depleted so we need the public to help keep our fire engines available for real emergencies.

"Our best advice is to either attend an organised, public event or hold your display on another night, following all of our usual advice to make sure bonfires don’t get out of control and incidents are kept low."

A second strike is planned between 6am and 8am on Monday, November 4, in an ongoing dispute over pensions.

POLICE have released a CCTV image after a Barnsley woman was assaulted in the town centre.

At 2am on Sunday, August 11, police received reports that a 22-year-old woman had been injured during an assault in Rio's Bar on Wellington Street.

The 22-year-old was believed to have been hit in the face with a bottle by an unknown woman.

Police have been investigating the circumstances surrounding this assault and are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

Officers would also like to trace the woman in the CCTV image as she may hold vital information about the incident.

Anyone who witnessed the assault or has information about the woman pictured is asked to contact South Yorkshire Police on 101 quoting incident number B/74445/13.

HALF of Barnsley's libraries will have their opening hours cut.

It comes after a 12-week consultation earlier this year looking at the future priorities for the borough's library service.

A Barnsley Council report shows a small reduction in opening hours at nine of the 17 libraries - with no changes to the Central Library in the town centre which is due to be demolished next year.

Cudworth will close two hours earlier on a Tuesday, while in Goldthorpe the opening hours will increase by two-and-a-half hours, staying open longer on a Wednesday. Hoyland will close two hours earlier on a Thursday.

Mapplewell and Staincross will close two hours earlier on a Monday and Penistone will increase opening hours on Mondays and Tuesdays, be open on Wednesdays and open longer on Thursdays.

Athersley will reduce opening times by six hours, closing early on a Monday, staying open an hour later on a Tuesday and then reducing opening hours on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and closing completely on Saturdays.

Royston will reduce by two-and-a-half hours, closing earlier on a Monday and a Saturday. In Wombwell the library will close earlier on a Monday, at 5pm instead of 7pm.

The neighbourhood library in Darfield will reduce opening hours on Monday, Tuesday and Friday but stay open longer Thursdays. There will be no change at Dodworth.

In Grimethorpe, the library will open two hours longer on a Wednesday. Monk Bretton and Thurnscoe libraries will reduce opening times by six hours but there will be no change at Priory Campus or Worsbrough.

The Library Link in Kendray will be available during the resource centre's opening hours.

The plan is for Barnsley's 17 libraries to be split into two types - 'community libraries' run by the council and smaller 'neighbourhood libraries' run by local groups.

The community libraries would be in Barnsley town centre, Cudworth, Goldthorpe, Hoyland, Mapplewell, Penistone, Athersley, Royston and Wombwell and stock a full range of books, host a range of activities such as reading groups, and access to IT and meeting rooms.

Neighbourhood libraries in Darfield, Dodworth, Grimethorpe, Monk Bretton, Priory Campus, Thurnscoe and Worsbrough would have a smaller book stock.

Feedback from the consultation showed libraries in Barnsley are 'highly valued' by those who use them.

It found many people did not want the two-tier service, and many believed the neighbourhood libraries were more likely to be under threat in future.

There was also concern over a reduction in opening hours, particularly a drop in late nights and Saturday mornings, because of the impact on working people's ability to access them.

What do you think? Have your say below.

THESE baby hedgehogs have been rescued and are now all snuggled up for winter.

The hedgehogs, called Jessie and Rosie, are only several weeks old and have been rescued by Janet Mason, of Monk Bretton.

They were found abandoned in a garden in Rotherham and will stay with Janet, of Monks Way, who will hand rear them until they reach a weight of 900g before being released next year.

She has been rescuing hedgehogs since 2010 and has released 170 into the area this year.

Many had been poisoned by slug pellets, injured or abandoned and live in her garden until they're well enough to be released.

"I've always liked hedgehogs and it's heartbreaking when they come in with terrible injuries," said Janet.

Another hedgehog called Shelly was found in a clay pit at Wigfield Farm.

The clay had set around her and it was only when she was cleaned up that Janet discovered Shelly only had one eye.

Janet only takes six hedgehogs at a time, but many come from as far away as Hull and Manchester and are released where they came from where possible.

Janet is part of Barnsley Biodiversity Group, British Hedgehog Preservation Society and Hedgehog Street and is warning people to check bonfires for hedgehogs before they're lit.

She said in 1950 there were 35 million hedgehogs but today there are about 1 million left.

She encouraged people to feed hedgehogs dog or cat food mixed with kitten milk in a container with a small hole.

A TEENAGER shaved the head of his ex-girlfriend in a revenge attack for 'messing him about'.

Samuel Kennedy, who had broken up with Courtney Dyson about a fortnight earlier, was on top of her as he shaved part of her head, Jayne Ormrod, prosecuting, said at Barnsley Magistrates' Court.

Kennedy, of Brookfield, Oxspring, said to Miss Dyson: "That's what you get for messing me about."

Mrs Ormrod said: "Mr Kennedy wanted revenge an to embarrass Miss Dyson. He said he wanted to make her look stupid."

Miss Dyson had agreed to meet Kennedy after getting a call from him.

Mrs Ormrod said he went upstairs with her handbag. She followed him into a bedroom and he straddled her on a bed.

Mrs Ormrod added: "Miss Dyson tried to get away but Mr Kennedy was on top of her."

Kennedy admitted assault. His solicitor Brian Bushell said he would put Kennedy's side of the story at a later date.

The case was adjourned until November 12 for a pre-sentence report and Kennedy was granted conditional bail.

LOCKE Park Tower will be open to the public from November 3.

Visitors will be able to gain access on the first Sunday of every month between 2pm and 4pm, excluding January.

Tours are free but donations are suggested.

The Friends of Locke Park are also looking for volunteers to take tour groups.

For information, click here.

A BARNSLEY mum-of-five is celebrating after winning a whopping £300,000 on a scratchcard!

Julie Whaling, from Lundwood, who plays two scratchcard games every week, couldn’t believe her eyes as the matching numbers were revealed one by one.

Julie, 47, who works as a packer at Manor Bakeries, said: "I was getting ready to head off to work but thought I’d just play the scratchcard which I’d bought earlier that day.

"When I saw the matching numbers my hands started to shake - I must have checked the card about ten times.

"I really thought it was all a wind up so I called my son Steven into the room and he said we should call the National Lottery. They confirmed that I’d won the top prize and we both started jumping up and down in celebration."

Still shell-shocked at her good fortune, Julie gave the winning card to her daughter Shantel, 27, to safe-guard before heading off to work her night shift.

Since her son had already announced his mum’s win on Facebook, she was met with a rapturous reception when she arrived at the bakery.

Julie, who has lived on the same street all of her life, is now looking to move into a bigger home and has already been to view her dream bungalow, which is just one mile down the road from her current house.

"It really is a dream come true and if it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone." Julie added.

"We're going to have the best Christmas ever and I’m taking the whole family out to lunch on Christmas Day so no one has to do the cooking."

WHEN a mum-to-be woke to find she was in labour and her son's head could be seen, it was down to her boyfriend to deliver him.

Sarah Pearson and Graeme Smith, of Bank Street, Worsbrough Common, were alerted to little Charlie's arrival when Sarah, 25, woke up and 'felt something weird'.

They had visited Barnsley Hospital hours earlier after Sarah's waters broke. She was told to return in 24 hours.

DJ Graeme, 22, said: "We had a couple of hours' sleep and then Sarah woke me. When I looked there was a head sticking out.

"I phoned the midwife, who told us to ring for an ambulance, and while we were waiting a woman on the phone was talking me through everything.

"The next thing we knew Charlie was out."

BARNSLEY actress Katherine Kelly has spoken about her baby joy, revealing that she and husband Ryan Clark want the baby's sex to be a surprise.

The 33-year-old said she and Australian Ryan had not wanted to find out whether it's a girl or a boy at her 20-week scan.

"There are very few surprises in life and we're not bothered if it's a boy or a girl, it will be nice to see on the day," she said.

"We know how lucky we are. I've always wanted to be a mum, more than I wanted to be a wife!

"Everyone is so excited and Ryan is Australian so we've got a whole family on that side of the world and family in America - I think it will be a jet-setting child."

Katherine will be taking maternity leave from the end of November and has been scaling down her workload.

She has finished filming Mr Selfridge, which will be aired in January but will honour long-standing commitments to the Lamproom and The Co-Operative, whose adverts she voices.

"It's time to be a mum for a while. I just really want to have that time to get to know the baby and bond."

A BARNSLEY couple have both been sentenced to six months' imprisonment - after pleading guilty to benefit fraud and claiming in excess of £45,000.

Beverley Allott, 51, and Paul Allott, 54, of Cumberland Road, Hoyland, appeared at Sheffield Crown Court on October 28.

In total they received £45,313.31 in benefits overpaid between January 2004 and May 2012, to which they were not entitled.

Beverley Allott pleaded to 12 counts and Paul Allott to 13. All 18 counts were pleaded to by at least one if not both of the defendants.

His Honour Judge Lawler QC, sentencing the pair, expressed that they were of previous good character and entitled to receive credit for their timely guilty pleas.

However, he said not only were these offences persistent, but they were over a long period and the dishonesty took many forms during that time.

He added they were both motivated by financial gain.

Taking into account that they were now paying the overpayment back to the authorities, but being of an opinion that only a custodial sentence was appropriate, he sentenced both Paul Allott and Beverley Allott each to six months' imprisonment.

AN illegal immigrant was discovered working at a town centre car wash by police.

The man was discovered working at Oakwell Car Wash, on Pontefract Road, by officers who were taking part in a campaign to make sure foreign workers were being treated fairly.

The 20-year-old Albanian was arrested and now faces deportation.

Police visited six car washes around the Wombwell Lane and Pontefract Road area, also including Wombwell Lane car wash, Expert Valeting and Shine On 2 car wash.

DCI Mark Wilkie said: "People who are illegally in the country generally are forced to work for very low rates of pay.

"The campaign was to ensure people who worked there are being treated fairly.

"We weren't particularly going in looking for illegal immigrants but we did find someone who should not be in the country."

The operation was part of a national campaign to crackdown on modern slavery and human trafficking.

He added: "Barnsley doesn't have the same ethnic backgrounds as other areas in South Yorkshire, but the first time we have gone out, we've found him, even though we weren't looking for him."

WOMEN in Barnsley live longer than men - but the life expectancy for men is improving at a faster rate.

Figures from public health show women in Barnsley live on average 80.9 years and men live for 77.4 years, compared to 82.9 and 78.9 years nationally.

There is a variation in life expectancy across the borough with up to 6.1 years' difference between the area with the highest and lowest life expectancy for men and a gap of 7.6 years for women.

Sharon Stoltz, director of public health, said it was unknown why women appear to live longer, but said it could possibly be down to changing lifestyles over the last ten to 20 years.

"Women on average live longer than men, but the gap is narrowing faster for men than it is for women.

"In some ways, women have started behaving like men. More women have taken up smoking, drinking more alcohol and more women are obese.

"All these risk factors contribute, especially if the woman does little exercise.

"Having said that, women are living longer than they were 10 or 20 years ago - probably because of advances in medical science and treatment."

She said the aim was to narrow the gap between the Barnsley and national averages, and that it was important to get the message across to people to look after their health.

A BARNSLEY man is swapping South Yorkshire's hills for the rugged terrain of Vietnam when he takes on an epic cycling challenge.

James McCormack will begin his journey in Ho Chi Minh City in January.

The 37-year-old will then cycle through paddy fields before crossing into Cambodia, negotiating the Mekong River and finishing at the world famous Angkor Wat temple.

James, from White Cross Mount, Cudworth, will be climbing on his bike to raise money for Marie Curie.

He is an accomplished cyclist and has raised £5,000 for the charity so far.

In 2008 he purchased his first bike since childhood and has cycled throughout Britain - including Land's End to John O'Groats, France, Ireland and Brazil.

Last year he was all set to cycle across Jamaica with the Jamaican Olympic team.

But disaster struck when James had a nasty bike accident which meant ten months with his leg in plaster and a painful shoulder injury.

Until April, he was unable to stand unaided or walk without crutches.

"I went from being a very active man to being unable to climb up the stairs without shuffling on my bum," James said.

"I hope it will mark a return in normality for me. I take great personal satisfaction that I've raised £5,000 for Marie Curie so far and I'm looking to double that over the next few years."

For more information, click here.

A MEETING will be held on Saturday opposing the council's proposals to demolish Barnsley Central Library. 

The idea is to bring together people who are opposed to the demolition of the library and the downgrading of some branch libraries to neighbourhood libraries with reduced opening hours.

Local campaigner Dave Gibson said: "I have started a petition against the demolition and have had a very positive response by standing outside the library so far.

"The majority of people knew about it and were already opposed. I hope people will start campaigning in places like Darfield, Dodworth and Worsbrough to stop their branch libraries being downgraded too.

"I'm angry there has been no consultation about the plans to demolish the library and ask people who highly value the library service to come to the meeting so we can decide how we should respond as a local community.

"I hope in the meantime the council cabinet will delay any decision to enable proper consultation to take place."

The meeting will be held at 1pm on Saturday, November 2, at the library on Shambles Street.

A TOTAL of 90 houses could be built on Rabbit Ings Country Park - to meet future housing needs.

The popular nature reserve has been deemed suitable as part of Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment - a research document put together by consultants on behalf of Barnsley Council.

It identifies sites throughout the borough to provide housing up to 2027.

According to the report, Royston coking works is opposite the site and the land is detached from existing shops and services.

It's 'unlikely to be particularly attractive to the market, and likely to be appropriate for development only in the longer term', the report says.

Rabbit Ings is marked as having 'poor achievability' and cannot be used in the first ten years, the report adds.

Cllr Tim Cheetham said he understood how Rabbit Ings had been chosen as a housing site, as it technically had brown field status.

But he said it was 'wholly unsuitable', the topography was 'lousy' and would stand against development if it came to it.

"They've got to look at every scrap of land," he said. "It just couldn't proceed as we have made substantial investment to return it to green land."

A BARNSLEY man has been charged with the attempted murder of a woman believed to be his wife.

Emergency services were called to property at about 7.40am on October 18.

Ajit Singh Sekhon, 59, of Kirkland Gardens, Monk Bretton, appeared at Barnsley Magistrates' Court the following Monday where he was charged with attempted murder and section 18 assault.

A 55-year-old woman was found with serious injuries and was taken to hospital where her condition is improving.

A 31-year-old man who had sustained minor injuries was also taken to hospital.

Ajit Singh Sekhon, 59, of Kirkland Gardens, Monk Bretton, appeared at Barnsley Magistrates' Court the following Monday where he was charged with attempted murder and section 18 assault.

Sekhon was committed to Sheffield Crown Court on November 4 and is being remanded in custody until that date.

THOUSANDS of visitors from China may flock to Barnsley after plans to relax visa rules were announced by chancellor George Osborne.

Under the plan, Chinese nationals visiting the European Union will not need to submit separate UK visa applications if they book with selected travel agents.

Barnsley has links with China in the form of 19th century missionary James Hudson Taylor, who travelled from Barnsley to China and is considered a spiritual leader by 70 million Christians in the Far East.

Owen Gleadall, president of the Barnsley Chamber of Commerce, said the proposals meant many 'ordinary' people would now be able to travel.

"We've been chasing it long enough now and as far as people coming to Barnsley from mainland China, it will make a massive impact.

"You could always get here if you had a significant amount of money, the issue was with the tourist visa."

He said the Chinese had previously found it difficult to meet the stipulated criteria when applying for a UK visa.

"We want to make friends with the Chinese and want their money but they turned around and said 'we can't get into your country'. Anywhere else in mainland Europe wasn't a problem but the UK made it really difficult for some obscure reason.

"It was an obstacle we put in their way but no other European country had."

He said latest figures from Visit England placed the UK number 24 on a list of 25 places visited by the Chinese, with 200,000 visitors last year.

Currently, Chinese visitors can apply for a single visa to visit much of Europe, but a separate one is needed to travel to the UK.

Barnsley MP Dan Jarvis has encouraged the town to take advantage of the changes to entice Chinese tourists.

He said: "Hudson Taylor the most famous westerner in a country of more than 1.3 billion people. Already many of them come to Barnsley to trace his roots but it has been difficult because of visa rules.

“Now there are plans to simplify this and Barnsley must not miss out of this fantastic opportunity. I have long been arguing that the town must do more on this issue and so look forward to local stakeholders capitalising on the unique advantage we have, to attract Chinese tourists to spend money in Barnsley and help grow our local economy and create jobs for Barnsley people."

ALDI has got the green light to build a new store in Barnsley.

The scheme, east of Sheffield Road, Birdwell, includes 88 parking spaces and landscaping and involves demolishing existing units on the vacant brownfield site.

OVER £20,000 was raised when scores of blood-thirsty zombies were chasing people around Worsbrough Mill last week!

The undead descended on the park to pursue those taking part in the Barnsley Hospital Charity Zombie Run.

More than 560 people raced through the post-apocalyptic assault course as fast as their legs could take them, with the terrifying zombies hot on their heels.

The event was completed with military personnel in full-on SWAT gear carrying machine guns, guiding the hundreds of 'evacuee' runners through the 5km course.

Each runner wore a utility belt which had three 'lives' attached to it. Those who made it to the end of the race and reached the 'quarantine' area with at least one intact were deemed to have survived the course.

Katie Cartwright, fundraising manager for the charity, said the idea for the event came from her own love for TV show The Walking Dead.

"We've raised nearly £20,000 in one day and couldn't be more thrilled with the way in which people have got into the event," Katie said.

"We've had some really imaginative costumes and it's great to see people having such a good time while raising funds for such as important charity."

PRIME Minister David Cameron has commended online retail giant Asos for demonstrating there are jobs, businesses and expansion in the area.

Mr Cameron visited the firm's huge warehouse at Park Springs, Grimethorpe, before the release of economic growth figures were released on October 25.

During Thursday's visit, he said Asos, built near the former Grimethorpe pit site, was an impressive company which had started from nothing and took advantage of online technology and young people's desire for affordable fashion.

"I think they're to be commended and it's great they have invested here in Barnsley and they're employing so many people," he said.

But when quizzed about unemployment, Mr Cameron said the government needed to ensure businesses like Asos work with colleges such as Barnsley to offer apprenticeships, internships and training schemes.

"There is a lot more to do but I think Asos is a success story and we're standing here on a site of a very important colliery, which in the past employed 5,000 people.

"Asos now employs 3,200 people here and that is a demonstration there are jobs and businesses and expansion coming to this area."

He said such apprenticeships provided a broader opportunity to bring manufacturing and design jobs back to the UK - and the government would do everything it could to see that sort re-industrialisation take place.

"South Yorkshire is an engine of the economy," the Prime Minister added. "I don't want just a recovery where there is a big jobs growth in the south but not much benefits in the rest of the country, we want to make sure it's properly spread and that's why businesses like this are so worthwhile."

Nick Robertson, chief executive of Asos, said: "We're very proud of what we're doing here, we're proud of the team and the changes we're making."

The Grimethorpe warehouse is the company's global distribution centre and opened in 2010. The firm is on target to turnover £1billion by 2015. 

A CORONATION Street actor is switching the Alhambra's Christmas lights on next month.

Jack P. Shepherd, 25, who has played David Platt on the popular soap since 2000, will be turning on the shopping centre's lights at 5pm on Wednesday, November 20.

THE Reds were held to a 1-1 draw in the South Yorkshire derby on Saturday.

Having come off the back of a much-needed 3-2 win against Middlesbrough, David Flitcroft's side started well against Sheffield Wednesday and took the lead through Marcus Pedersen with a powerful volley in the 16th minute.

David Perkins maybe should have added a second for the Reds after the half-time interval, but fired his shot over the bar.

Owls boss Dave Jones sent on Atdhe Nuhiu and the Austrian made an immediate impact in the entertaining derby, his deflected shot being pushed away by Jack Butland.

The keeper, on loan from Stoke, couldn't do anything about Matty Fryatt's thumping equaliser from the edge of the box.

"We're growing into the season," said Barnsley boss David Flitcroft. "I'm pleased we're getting better and finding some momentum.

"We did the game plan and it completely worked, the moment we have not focused allowed Sheffield Wednesday to get in.

"I was desperate for a clean sheet and it's disappointing - the quality of Pedersen's goal should win the football match."

Barnsley remain in the Championship's relegation zone, with nine points from 15 games. Next up for the Reds is a trip to mid-table Ipswich Town on Friday evening.

THE budget for repairing the town's pothole-ridden roads is being slashed in half, from £320,000 to just £160,000 a year, among a host of other money-saving changes. Here's your WAB Guide on what's set to change.

A council report says this can only be done for one year, or two at most, before the borough's roads sustain significant long-term damage.

It states there were 33,500 defects repaired in 2012/13 but it's thought only 18,000 defects a year could be repaired under the new £160,000 budget, meaning about 15,000 minor defects will not be touched from 2014/15, resulting in the highway surface deteriorating.

Four jobs and one vehicle will also be lost as a result, but cuts to environmental services as a whole threatens 43 jobs and other significant reductions in services.

Two packages of cuts were approved by Barnsley Council last month - saving more than £2million. Here's a list of where the money will be saved.

- Three senior management posts will be lost through merging Neighbourhood Services with Waste and Engineering Services to save £150,000.

- The refuse and recycling collection is being redesigned to save £450,000 through the loss of 11 jobs, four refuse collection vehicles and a reduction in overtime.

- Two supervisory/management posts in Neighbourhood Services will go to save £60,000 and cardboard will be separated from green waste to avoid £250,000 in disposal costs.

- Eight street cleaner posts will be cut but many of the 1,500 litter bins will continue to be emptied, with seldom used bins being removed. All dog bins will continue to be emptied.

- Grass mowing will be slashed and five jobs lost to save £130,000 by not mowing 200,000 sq metres of banks and 'hard to cut' areas.

- Three jobs will be lost in general grounds maintenance, saving £72,000 and reducing the number of shrub and flower beds everywhere except Barnsley town centre and the crematorium.

- Public toilets will be closed other than in Barnsley town centre, leading to the loss of one job and saving £40,000.

- Two ranger service jobs will go to save £60,000, resulting in less maintenance and remedial work on 750km of public rights of way.

- The Play Area team will also lose a post, saving £30,000.

A council report warns it will substantially reduce the team's ability to repair or replace play equipment when it becomes unsafe. In time, all play equipment will be removed as there will no longer be funds to repair or replace equipment.

- A job and tractor will be lost in the Tractor Team to save a further £50,000 and means some 1,000,000 sq metres of grass will no longer be mown.

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

A635 Doncaster Road, Saltersbrook Road

B6411 Houghton Road, Thurnscoe

Brierley Road, Grimethorpe

Pogmoor Road, Barnsley

A6023 Doncaster Road, Mexborough

A6022 Rowms Lane, Swinton

A633 Sandygate, Wath upon Dearne

Melton Green, West Melton

Pontefract Road, Brampton.

BARNSLEY are big favourites to win this Saturday's South Yorkshire derby - and David Flitcroft believes one of his midfielders will take the Championship by storm this season.

Playmaker Paddy McCourt, 29, scored a brilliant individual goal to set the ball rolling as the Reds clinched a much-needed 3-2 home win over Middlesbrough at Oakwell last time out.

But unfortunately the ex-Celtic man had to be withdrawn a couple of minutes later suffering from sickness.

"Paddy is so unpredictable, I don’t think there’s much like him in the Championship if I’m being honest," Flitcroft said.

"Once he gets near that box you’ve got to be very careful you don’t bring him down. He worries defenders. That’s what Paddy’s got.

"We’re still trying to get him fitter and stronger, but I believe he’ll take the Championship by storm, I really do. Paddy will be influential for us over the next six to eight games."

Arch rivals Sheffield Wednesday visit Oakwell on Saturday, searching for their first win of the season. Kick-off is at 12.15pm.

A HOUSING development for 1,362 homes has been proposed for farm land.

The site, in Bolton upon Dearne, is one of several identified for housing by consultants who have carried out a study on behalf of the council.

Many of the pinpointed sites are in the greenbelt and one particularly large area around Bolton has been proposed for 1,362 homes, running from Bolton train station to Goldthorpe and entirely surrounding the Lowfield Road estate.

Another suggested neighbouring site has deemed land suitable for 42 houses, with no 'bad neighbours' - despite bordering the sewage works.

The report suggests these would 'need screening' but have 'not deterred demand to date'.

Other large suggested sites include:

- Land south of the Broadwater estate and south of Carr Head in Bolton, which could accommodate 613 homes

- West of Deightonby Street in Thurnscoe suitable for 684 homes

- East of Clayton Lane, Thurnscoe, suitable for 367 homes

- The Reema estate and adjoining land off School Street in Thurnscoe suitable for 752 homes.

Other smaller sites include:

- Clayton Lane playing fields suitable for 127 homes

- West of Thurnscoe Bridge and south of Derry Grove suitable for 263 homes

- South of Coniston Drive in Bolton is suitable for 220 homes

- South of Barnburgh Lane is suitable for 206 homes

- North of East Street suitable for 137 homes

- Bolton House Farm suitable for 118 homes.

However, Cllr Roy Miller said the study was only a technical exercise and did not represent council policy. He added the council only intended to build about 20,000 homes across the entire borough between now and 2027, despite the potential for up 40,500 being identified.

THOUSANDS of fans flocked to the launch of a reality television star's new hair extension line - and it was made possible by a Barnsley company.

What the screaming fans of Geordie Shore's Vicky Pattison may not have known was her 'VIP Hair' range has been created for her not in Paris, Milan or New York, but by a Barnsley business.

Sally's Glitz and Glam, which is based in Barnsley's indoor market, is loved by the stars of TV shows ranging from Coronation Street to The Only Way Is Essex and Geordie Shore.

Sally's mum started off selling wigs and hairpieces on Barnsley market in the 1970s.

Sally, 37, took on the business and, along with her brother Daniel, they have created a company that attracts customers from London to Barnsley as well as high-profile clients and fans.

Their Twitter account has nearly 40,000 followers and they sell via their website to customers the length and breadth of the country.

So when Vicky Pattison from MTV show Geordie Shore wanted to launch her own line of hair extensions, she headed straight for Barnsley.

Vicky explained: "I love my Glitz and Glam big hair - so I thought it was a great idea to approach the fantastic team at Sally's to create my own hair extension line.

"We created all my favourite pieces with that VIP twist. All the styles are designed to be easy wearing - from natural day wear to the glamorous night look."

Sally, from Wakefield Road, Staincross, still works on the market stall three days a week. Her younger brother, Daniel, who lives in Brierley, looks after their website and Twitter account.

"We thought quite a few fans might be interested in the launch of Vicky's VIP line in Manchester - but nothing prepared us for the hundreds and hundreds of people who were there," said Sally.

"Customers really do travel from London to Barnsley market to buy from us and I think that's great."

POLICE investigating an alleged distraction burglary at an 83-year-old man’s home in Barnsley are appealing for information and for witnesses to come forward.

On the morning of October 18 it's reported that a teenage boy attended an address on the Meadow Crescent area of Royston asking for sponsorship.

The homeowner, an 83-year-old man, sponsored the boy.

Later in the afternoon it's believed that the boy returned to the address and allegedly took a wallet and cash.

The suspect is described as a white male, 14-15 years old, 5 foot 5 inches tall and of slight build with short fair hair.

He was wearing a light blue or grey bomber-style jacket.

Anyone with any information or who believes they may have witnessed this alleged incident is urged to contact South Yorkshire Police on 101 quoting incident number 623 of October 18, 2013.

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

BOXING does still have a future at the Metrodome - despite a riot ruining a show there last month.

The future of the sport being promoted at the venue was in doubt after fighting broke out between two sets of fans during contest which had to be abandoned.

But this week the Metrodome's events manager, Richard Bailey, said they would conduct risk assessment with regard to future events.

The venue once worked with satellite television broadcaster Sky and both Rendall Munroe and Ryan Rhodes boxed there before challenging for world titles.

More recently it's been used for non-televised shows promoted by Newark-based Carl Greaves - who manages the majority of Barnsley's boxers.

A statement from Barnsley Premier Leisure confirmed that the venue has no plans to end its association with boxing.

A spokesman said: "The venue has hosted boxing matches for the past 15 years and will continue to do so going forward.

"BPL has always worked closely with key partners including South Yorkshire Police and The Barnsley Licensing Department - safety of all guests is paramount."

AN inquest for a Barnsley woman who died at a care home with bed sores so severe her spine bone was exposed has been postponed pending a police investigation.

A verdict was due to be given at Sheffield Medico-Legal Centre on October 29 following the death of Jean Turner, 67, at Highgrove care home, Stairfoot, in November 2010.

However, this has now been postponed pending the conclusion of an investigation into whether Mrs Turner died as a result of neglect at the home.

The inquest had previously been adjourned for records which had not been submitted at the beginning of the hearing to be presented.

Mrs Turner died of pneumonia at Barnsley Hospital, having developed grade five bed sores while at the care home, which were so severe one at the base of her spine exposed bone.

There were also sores on the back of her heels.

Medical records showed the sores had become infected, though a pathologist at the inquest said she could not be certain whether this would have made her more susceptible to pneumonia.

A contributory factor into Mrs Turner's death was a genetic muscle wasting disease which also caused her to suffer from a type of dementia affecting rational behaviour.