A MAN has appeared at Sheffield Crown Court after a 51-year-old woman was found with extensive burns.

Anthony Tindle, 46, of Primrose Avenue, Darfield, made his first appearance at the court on a charge of wounding last week.

He did not enter a plea and was remanded in custody.

He will appear at the court again on December 11 where he is expected to make a plea.

Police were called to Primrose Avenue at 6.20pm on September 23 where they found a woman suffering burns. She was taken to Northern General Hospital, Sheffield.

KATHRIN Baldry's mum was told her little girl only had months to live when she was born, but now Kathrin, 20, has just completed a charity skydive with her!

Mum Susan, 51, was told her baby would only live for 18 months after she was diagnosed with a rare liver disease called Biliary Atresia as a baby.

Kathrin has suffered with jaundice and tiredness and says she's had her 'fair share' of hospitalisations.

She battled with her illness during her studies and had to sit her GCSE English exam at home.

Kathrin, of Norwood Drive, Barugh Green, underwent a liver transplant aged 16 and was named Barnsley College's student of the year for her grit and determination.

She is now studying for a teaching qualification at Edge Hill University.

At the end of September, she plunged 15,000ft to raise money for the Children's Liver Foundation and was joined by Susan.

"It was fast and cold and it was quite scary but we enjoyed it," Kathrin said. "When I touched the ground it was relief but you also felt like you had done a marathon because it takes the breath out of you."

Kathrin said she is feeling stronger since the transplant and the skydive was a special experience for her to share with her mum.

"I've always wanted to live a full life because my donor gave me a second chance to live my life to the best I can."

For more information, click here.

HIGH business rates are 'crippling' the town centre, according to one store owner.

Vivien Priestley plans to move when her lease is up because of the high rates. She opened her independent baby boutique on Eldon Street at the bottom of the Arcade in 2010, after trading on Barnsley's semi-open market and then in the Alhambra.

She says the boutique, which employs three staff and specialises in baby and children's clothes, is thriving and draws people from Sheffield, Leeds and Wakefield.

Business rates are taxes to help pay for local services and are charged on most non-domestic properties such as shops, offices and pubs.

Vivien said: "The rates are extremely high because they're based on the value of the property five years ago when things were very different to what they are now.

"Properties are probably worth half what they were, yet the rates are still high.

"I'm going to be moving to a premises further up the Arcade because the rates for the building are cheaper. If I wasn't moving I would have had to close probably.

"It makes a big difference moving because it means I can put more back into the business.

"The government needs to realise that instead of talking, which is cheap, they need to act, particularly in smaller towns like this because these high rates are closing the town down."

She said it's smaller, independent business that are holding town centre trade together.

A spokesman for Barnsley Council said it doesn't set property valuations or business rates.

He said the rates paid on business properties depends on its 'rateable value' which is calculated by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA).

A spokesman for the Valuation Office Agency said a review into business rates was due to take place in 2015 but this has been postponed until 2017.

He said if anyone disagrees with their valuation they can appeal to the VOA and ask them to correct the details thought to be wrong or appeal rates.

A FORMER South Yorkshire Police officer has been sentenced to six years in prison after stealing nearly £23,000 from a 94-year-old woman.

Jon Webb, 45, was given the jail term at Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday morning.

At an earlier hearing on September 10, he pleaded guilty to 11 offences of theft, fraud and forgery.

The offences took place in Sheffield between June and December 2012. Nine of the charges related to a 94-year-old woman whom Webb had befriended in August 2012 and from whom he subsequently stole nearly £23,000.

Webb, from Millhouses, Sheffield, resigned in May this year from his position as a police constable during the investigation.

Detective Superintendent Terry Mann said: "Sadly, Jonathan Webb was a former officer but I consider him a criminal who fully deserves the sentence imposed upon him.

"I know I speak for all of his former colleagues that he was an utter disgrace to the uniform. He has brought shame to the whole of South Yorkshire Police and the police service nationally.

"He preyed on a most vulnerable victim, choosing to steal her money in a most devious and deceitful way.

"I wish to publically express my thanks to the public for coming forward with information in this case."

SHOPLIFTING has become so bad at one Barnsley supermarket they've resorted to electronically tagging their joints of meat.

Since April 1, a staggering 820 shoplifting offences have been documented in the town with 71 offences alone in Cudworth and Grimethorpe - where staff at the Asda store on High Street have placed the tags on joints of pork valued at £4.

Det Chf Insp Mark Wilkie said the number of shoplifting offences had gone up and revealed that the it accounts for ten per cent of crime reported to South Yorkshire Police.

He said those stealing items such as meat were usually local people who were trying to get money to feed a drug habit by selling on the goods they have stolen.

"There are a proportion of people who steal for themselves, but it's usually alcohol or deodorants. The majority of people who stole things such as meat were often stealing it to sell on and so the argument they can't afford food doesn't ring true.

"The majority of people we arrest sell it on within hours and have spent the money within a similar amount of time on drugs."

Between June and July, Asda at Grimethorpe had the highest number of offences outside the town centre.

DCI Wilkie said it wouldn't surprise him if stores did start to electronically tag meat to make them more difficult to get out of the store.

"It's been done before. Even if the alarm went off, the thieves wouldn't be bothered - they'd just leg it when they got outside. Some joints of meat aren't cheap so anything which assists in stopping the shoplifters is a good idea."

A PREGNANT woman had a miraculous escape after a car crash in Barnsley.

Amanda Claydon, 32, from Jump, was travelling in her Citroen C3 with Aaron, her two-year-old son, on Monday morning.

Having fallen victim of the slippery conditions on Broad Carr Lane, Hoyland, after this week's persistent rain, the car ended up on its side - narrowly missing a tree.

Amanda, who is 26 weeks pregnant, said: "We have got to be proud of our emergency services - they're fantastic. I can't thank the people involved in our rescue enough.

"Thanks to an off-duty police officer, members of the public who stopped my car from rolling on its roof, the police, fire brigade, paramedics, ambulance team and the staff at Barnsley Hospital my son, bump and I walked away unscathed!"

Her husband, Adam, said Amanda had had a very lucky escape and reiterated his wife's thanks to all those who helped. 

A BROTHER and sister are all set for their 170-mile bike ride to raise funds for a charity very close to their hearts.

Rob and Lisa Fletcher are cycling for Rob's daughter, Ava Grace, who is only seven months old but has already undergone emergency open heart surgery twice in her short life.

So her dad and her aunty are to cycle from coast to coast to raise money for the unit at Leeds Children's Cardiac Unit that saved her life and whose help she may need again in the future.

Rob, 26, who is in the Royal Navy, and Lisa, 37, will cycle 170 miles from Morecambe to Bridlington starting on October 19.

Rob, from Frederick Avenue, Barnsley, hopes they will complete the gruelling ride in just two days.

"Ava has had emergency open heart surgery at Leeds General Infirmary twice in the few months she has been with us," he said.

For more information, click here.

BARNSLEY Council has finalised a proposal which will allow all 17 of the town's libraries to remain open.

In a report to be considered by its Cabinet next week, the results of the consultation are outlined, and recommendations are made for the future of Barnsley's libraries.

Feedback from residents on the strategy included:

- 66.7 per cent of respondents agreed with the proposed model of keeping all library services, but shaping them into a library network, through a reorganisation of libraries and Connects centres.

- 67 per cent of respondents, and 71 per cent of children, agreed with the proposed changes to opening hours.

- 64 per cent of respondents said they would not be affected by the proposed changes.

Cllr Jenny Platts, cabinet spokesperson for adults and communities, said: "The new opening hours have been developed according to local demand, and mean that some library opening times have increased, as well as some being reduced.

"There's no change for central library, Priory and Worsborough, and increased hours for Penistone and Grimethorpe.

"Some other libraries will see slightly reduced opening hours, but in some cases this is just two hours per week. The most reduction that any library will see is six hours per week. Overall, this is a reduction of just 3.4 per cent."

There were some concerns raised, relating to the proposed reduction in book stock, reduction of evening and Saturday opening hours, and continuation of existing groups.

The Cabinet will consider alternative late night and Saturday opening options based on the findings, to address some of the concerns raised.

If the approach is approved, the opening hours will be reviewed annually.

The future libraries strategy sets the vision for the coming three years, but the immediate recommendation is to change opening hours from November 4.

HOW about this to warm the cockles of your hearts? Ten-month-old Poppy the puppy has never had full vision in her eyes, but that's all set to change thanks to her owners and Barnsley's generous folk.

Poppy, a boxer, has cataracts on both eyes and is virtually blind. Her owners were determined to ensure she had a brighter future and have have raised the £4,010 needed to fund restorative sight surgery.

Nikki Wroe, of Falmouth Close, Monk Bretton, said: "We all love Poppy, she's such an amazing loving character and as soon as we were told how bad her vision was we were determined to try to help her."

The family organised a sponsored dog walk and other fundraising events to raise money.

Nikki says the kindness of people in Barnsley who read about Poppy's plight has overwhelmed them.

"When we set off in April £4,000 seemed an impossible amount of money to raise. We were determined, but we never thought so many people would help us so much and we're so grateful."

THE Reds' recent upturn in performances is down to the fans, says David Flitcroft.

Having been rewarded with a hard-earned point against Reading in their last home game, the manager dedicated the positive result to the fans' support.

"The fans got me this job in January and it feels like they're still backing me," he said. "They've been brilliant all season and in the last few weeks the players have really responded to that.

"Reading felt the stadium and Middlesbrough will feel it on Saturday."

Despite losing to two Charlie Austin goals in a 2-0 defeat at Loftus Road last time out before the international break, Flicker also thanked the 384 fans who made the journey south.

The next two games could be crucial to kick-start the Reds' campaign and lift them off the foot of the table, with Middlesbrough visiting Oakwell on Saturday before a South Yorkshire derby with fellow strugglers Sheffield Wednesday.

The defensive effort at QPR also saw loanee Peter Ramage sustain a thigh injury, with reports suggesting the defender could be out for up to eight weeks.

"He'll be injured for four to six weeks but it'll take another two weeks to get him back to match fitness," said Flitcroft.

"It's really disappointing for us. He had been forming a good partnership with Martin Cranie."

BARNSLEY'S oldest market stall is closing - and the owner says he's glad because the market is 'going downhill'. Do you agree?

Arnie Homer, 64, has been running Sid Tyas sweetshop for more than 28 years after taking over from former owner Sid Tyas, who started the business in 1949 and is now in his 90s.

The stall is not to be confused with Sailor Sid's in the semi-open market - although some people get mixed up as both the stall founders were named Sid.

Arnie, of Mapplewell, is retiring. He says higher car parking charges, changes in shopping habits and market management problems are killing the market.

He said: "It was a fantastic market and it's scandalous the way it's going. When I first started you couldn't move. You couldn't get away even after 5.15pm because there were so many customers.

"But now people are going to supermarkets where they don't have to pay for parking. Not many youngsters come here - they don't know how to cook so they're not going to come in for meat and veg.

"Shopping habits have changed. You only have to look at Barnsley town centre to see that."

He also complained that new traders are now taking on stalls for half the rent that well-established stall holders are paying.

Arnie said: "The market office will also not let people close early - even if they aren't making any money - because they say that's bad for trade.

"I thought at one time I would miss it, but the way the market is going it's boring and soul destroying to stand here. One stall holder who sells coats made just £50 in three days."

Do you agree with Arnie that the market's going downhill? Have your say below. 

A SCHOOL has shown promising signs since being placed into special measures by Ofsted.

'Serious weaknesses' were found at Dearne ALC in June 2013 but a recent visit by inspectors has shown the school's improvement plan is on its way to recifying the problem.

Meetings with Mrs Chris Robinson, who is the school's principal, the school's senior leaders and a telephone call with the local council were evaluated by inspectors and a better outlook was reported.

The report said: "A high number of staff left at the end of term. Eight new teachers started in September 2013 including a new vice principal.

"There is a clear vision from the principal which has been accepted enthusiastically by senior leaders, staff and governors.

"The school's improvement plan is extensive, providing a comprehensive overview of the actions to be taken linked to milestones. There are plans to improve links with the community and specifically with families of children in the school.

"The school is clear that the next steps are to improve the quality of day-to-day teaching and raise the attainment and achievement of the students."

It also stated that the governors are committed to the school and have created a strategy to monitor the improvements. Students, the report said, have also embraced the changes and are aware of the new expectations, stating the school feels 'calm and well ordered'.

"The number of incidents of disruptive behaviour has decreased significantly and there are early signs that attendance is increasing," the report concluded.

A HOST of changes are being made to bus services in Barnsley following customers' requests.

From Saturday, October 26, Stagecoach is introducing improvements to seven of its key routes in response to comments from passengers.

On service X19 (Barnsley to Doncaster and Robin Hood Airport) an additional stop will be made on Doncaster Road, Goldthorpe.

The route of service 26 (Barnsley, Grimethorpe, Wombwell and Brampton) bus will be changed in Darfield to improve connections.

In Bolton-on-Dearne, Stagecoach is also changing the route on both service 217 and 218.

The 217 will now run from Canderra Rise, along Carr Head Lane and Thurnscoe Road to Highgate Lane, while the 218 will operate from Canderra Rise, along Billingley View and Carr Field Lane to Prospect Road.

On service 219 )Barnsley, Goldthorpe and Doncaster), the last bus from Barnsley to Great Houghton will extend to Thurnscoe.

Paul Lynch, managing director of Stagecoach Yorkshire, said: "We're always looking at ways to improve our network for the benefit of passengers.

"It’s fantastic when our customers provide feedback about journeys and, where possible, we use this to shape services and routes for the future.

"The changes we're making this month have come about as a result of passenger feedback and we hope they will further improve waiting and journey times."

BARNSLEY's road surfaces have long been a touchy subject - and now a road in the town has been named one of the worst in the UK for its potholes.

The B6273 South Moor Road/Moor Lane, which runs from Great Houghton through Brierley Common and on to Hemsworth, was highlighted after data gathered from councils showed there was now one pothole for every mile of road across the country.

A Freedom of Information request by breakdown company Britannia Rescue revealed councils across the country have paid out a total of £2.5million in compensation to motorists in the past financial year for pothole damage to cars.

Cllr Roy Miller, environment spokesman for Barnsley Council, said South Moor Road/Moor Lane was inspected every month and any problems were immediately reported and repaired as soon as possible - most within 24 hours.

He added: "But over the years we're aware of potholes appearing suddenly, especially in winter, and these have been known to lead to a cluster of claims within a short space of time - often within minutes of each other - before we have had chance to undertake repairs.

"The road itself is highly-exposed to the elements, which can accelerate problems such as potholes, but these are unavoidable, not a result of lack of maintenance."

A MAN who had been in a fight the previous evening turned up to a pub with an axe.

Tom Stocks, 20, thought his rival would go after him, Barnsley Magistrates' Court was told.

Julie Grant, prosecuting, said police were called after Stocks was seen with the axe outside The Rusty Dudley in Goldthorpe.

She said Stocks, of Hope Avenue, Goldthorpe, ran off when the police arrived and dumped the axe in some bushes.

Mrs Grant added: "He had the axe for his protection. He wasn't looking for trouble but realised other members of the public would be scared when they saw him with the axe."

Gus Kennedy, defending, said the axe was rusty and blunt. Stocks said after his arrest that he thought the man he had been in a fight with would come after him.

Deputy District Judge Tim Capstick said: "This was an act of foolishness. Don't ever do this again."

Stocks admitted possessing an offensive weapon. He was ordered to do 120 hours of unpaid work, to pay £85 in costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

A MUM-OF-THREE owes £210 in Asda parking fines - just for doing her weekly shops.

Gill Bishop is angry after being told because her Saturday morning shopping trips take so long, she had outstayed her welcome in the car park at Asda in Barnsley.

She says she was unaware there were any restrictions on how long she was supposed to take to do her shopping.

"Each Saturday morning for many months I have visited Asda while my daughter is at drama group," Gill said. "I go with my two sons, aged three and 17 months.

"We go into the supermarket cafe to have breakfast then we do a food and household item shop, then a non-food shop - because Asda trollies with kids' seats aren't big enough to do it all in one run.

"Then we go back into the cafe for a drink and snack, as it's exhausting work shopping with two toddlers.

On the way out, about 2.5 hours later, I normally fill up with diesel. On average I spend £150 per visit."

But now Gill, of Bellmont Crescent, Hemsworth, has been sent three £70 parking charge notices for her last three visits in September.

She said: "The company Smart Parking want me to pay £210 for doing my weekly shopping. They say this is due to me exceeding the parking time limit. I have never seen a sign saying anything about time limits.

"They say the only way they will reconsider the charges is if I can supply receipts proving I was inside Asda shopping all that time on each of those three occasions.

"Obviously I had thrown all the receipts away in the weeks between shopping and getting the parking tickets. No-one keeps receipts for weeks on end, especially for cafes. It's simply ridiculous."

Asda have now told Gill that her parking fines have been dismissed. A spokesman said: "These parking restrictions are designed to prevent people leaving their vehicles all day whilst they go elsewhere.

"They're certainly not there to impose time restrictions on genuine Asda shoppers. We would advise anyone who has been shopping for longer than the allocated period of time to keep their receipts and if they receive a parking notice to contact the store."

What do you think to this? Has this happened to you at the town's Asda?

A PARROT who was a great comfort to a Barnsley man recovering from illness has escaped - and he wants your help to find her.

David Britton, 44, of St David's Drive, Ardsley, has had Blue the African grey parrot for five-and-a-half years since she was young.

But when David was having work done to the balcony of his home last Sunday afternoon, the patio doors were accidentally left open and she managed to fly out.

The parrot had been a great comfort to him while he was ill and David is desperate to find her.

He said: "I had a kidney transplant in March this year after being very ill. The transplant went well but unfortunately I got pneumonia and two types of flu and became critically ill. I'm now doing well and feeling a lot better.

"My pet African grey parrot has been good company, especially while I have been recovering. But Sunday afternoon Blue escaped.

"I was having some work done on my balcony and she has never attempted to escape before, but the workmen left the patio doors open and she managed to fly out.

"She is close rung, grey in colour, with a white underside and red tail feathers. She does talk but if she is scared she may not do."

David said parrots will usually fly in a two to five-mile radius of where they took off. He says Blue is quite wary of unfamiliar people so if anyone spots her or finds they should contact him on 07734 418 971.

BARNSLEY plumbing and heating installers are helping fit thousands of new boilers, free of charge, as part of a new government scheme.

YGI Ltd and Bumford Heating Ltd are among 100 installers across the UK to join the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme aiming to make households more energy efficient.

Funding will pay for energy efficiency improvements within vulnerable households, where residents receive benefits and currently spend more than 10 per cent of their income on fuel.

Noel Ferguson, managing director at YGI Ltd - based at the Burton Road Business Centre in Barnsley - said: "The ECO scheme can help people who are fuel poor and vulnerable, such as pensioners and young families.

"Rising fuel prices are a real issue for anyone on a lower income. Helping people heat their homes more efficiently will in turn reduce their heating bills."

The new scheme applies to households within the UK and supports anyone with annual incomes below £15,910 living in energy poor homes.

The scheme is restricted to private sector tenants and those living in private housing. Beneficiaries must be receiving certain benefits and tax credits, such as pension credit, child tax credit, income support or a disability premium.

UP to 44 young people in Barnsley are monitored because they're thought to be at risk of sexual exploitation.

It was revealed as part of a child sexual exploitation strategy put together by the Barnsley Safeguarding Children Board, which is responsible for keeping the borough's children safe.

Part of the strategy, which focuses on prevention, protection and prosecution, states there are 44 young people at risk of being sexually exploited.

Those young people are being monitored by the Child Sexual Exploitation and Runaways Forum which meets regularly to discuss cases and is made up of key groups such as social care, police and health teams.

Between April 2012 to March 2013 the forum monitored 36 young people, and at present the strategy says there are 44 being monitored because they're regarded as being at a significant level of risk.

Chairman of the safeguarding board, Bob Dyson, said the strategy and accompanying action plan were essential to combat the 'horrendous crime'.

Bob, who took up the post on the safeguarding board in January, said technology and the internet had played a significant part in the methods being adopted by offenders to carry out child sexual exploitation offences.

"There will always have been people who exploited young people, and in some cases for sexual reasons, so the idea of older people taking advantage of younger people has always been around," said Bob.

"During my policing career there has always been predatory people looking to take advantage of young people.

"What's changed over time is how you commit that offence and the way social media and technology are used.

"The internet is a great thing but brings information to your fingertips and brings new types of offending and child sexual exploitation has found its way into that.

"Another thing we have see is high profile cases with an organised element, with people working together, and not just lone offenders.

"What we have called for with the strategy is to show that the Barnsley Safeguarding Children Board takes child sexual exploitation seriously."

PARENTS will be able to find out more about a new free school planned for Barnsley at a public meeting.

The Wellspring Academy Trust is seeking to open the mainstream Elements Primary School to address a major shortage of primary places across the borough, particularly in the town centre around the Doncaster Road area.

Josie Thirkell, chief executive of the Trust, said it will employ specialist teachers and staff to meet the needs of families and pupils in the area.

"As a local trust we always seek what's best for Barnsley and providing a new primary school in a shortage area is why we're following this course of action," she said.

"We know that we have the expertise and local knowledge that will ensure that we can offer a school that delivers an outstanding opportunity for pupils, parents, families and the wider community.

"The bespoke curriculum offered will enhance the National Curriculum and enable pupils to improve their learning outcomes."

The school will be funded directly by the Department for Education and open to all children from three to 11-years-old. If the funding bid is successful, the school will open in September 2015.

The public meeting is at 5pm at Barnsley College on October 21.

A GROUP of Barnsley fundraisers are continuing their quest to raise as much as possible for an 18-year-old who died of a brain tumour - just hours after singing 'Happy Birthday' to her mum.

Leah Bella Pearson was like any other teenager, looking forward to her future. However in March 2013, Leah's life was transformed with the news that she had a brain tumour.

Following an MRI scan, she was put on a six-week course of radiotherapy and chemotherapy at Weston Park Hospital, Sheffield, to shrink the tumour so she could undergo surgery to remove it.

Leah made a promise to herself that once she was better she would help to raise valuable funds for the hospital's Teenage Cancer Unit, to thank them for the help and support they provided for her and her family and to help other people going through an illness.

Having completed her treatment in June, Leah suddenly passed away - just hours after celebrating her mother's birthday.

Leah's parents Nigel, 39, and Haley, 37, along with younger siblings Shelby and Corey and the family's friends took over Leah’s wish and started to raise money in her memory.

The group has so far raised over £4,000.

Their latest project is a charity calendar which they've put together in the hope of selling to raise some more funds to continue Leah's wish.

A group of 18 local people got together with a photographer and spent a couple of afternoons at a location having some photos taken for the calendar.

The photos have now been edited and formatted into a calendar and the group's efforts have been awarded with a sponsor, to help with printing costs.

Haley said: "Leah got on with it, she made everybody laugh and she turned into a little comedian. She brought laughter to a lot of people."

Nigel and Haley said Leah was a very popular girl and was a keen dancer and actress, even landing a role as an extra in BBC drama Waterloo Road.

Nigel added: "Everything she wanted in her life she achieved. Her driving test - she passed that first time. When she got diagnosed it took everything off her but she kept smiling."

VEHICLE crime has rocketed by 26 per cent in Barnsley.

Burglary and vehicle crime are both on the increase across South Yorkshire as a whole, according to new police figures.

There has been a two per cent increase in both crimes across the region between April and August - with 2,923 burglaries and 5,054 vehicle crimes reported.

In Barnsley, 557 vehicle offences were recorded alone.

Deputy Chief Constable Andy Holt said: "Everyone has a role to play in reducing burglary and vehicle crime. Officers and staff are working hard to catch offenders and conduct extra patrols in hot-spot locations but we cannot tackle these issues on our own."

A BARNSLEY mum who says the pressure of raising an autistic son ‘nearly broke her’ has launched a group that offers support to other families with special needs children.

Kerry Thompson says her seven-year-old son William’s condition got so bad that taxi drivers refused to drive him and hairdressers were reluctant to cut his hair.

Kerry, of Baden Street, Worsbrough, said: "It was horrendous, particularly when he was three or four. People would look at me like I was a bad parent or that he was a spoilt child, it nearly broke me and I couldn’t cope.

"He would go hysterical at the hairdresser's and start crying and shaking so I had to shave his head at home until he was seven. He couldn’t understand why mum and dad would take him to someone to cut his hair off so we’d have to pin him down at home.

"He’d lay on the floor at bus stops and then climb all over the seats on the bus before letting out an ear-piercing scream.

"We gave that up so started taking taxis but some of the drivers wouldn’t pick him up due to his scream, while one time he opened a taxi door whilst we were driving along Sheffield Road. We eventually had to buy a car."

Kerry, who has two other children, says there was little support for her and decided to take matters into her own hands and launched Barnsley Little Stars, a group that offers support and advice for families of special needs children.

Kerry, who is the voluntary co-chairman of the organisation, said: "William is much better now, he’s in mainstream school, at Hoyland Common Primary, and has really improved. But there are many parents out there who don’t know what to do.

"We’ve had families come in and break down crying because they can’t cope but after a few weeks they’ve got big smiles on their faces as they’ve met with like-minded people.

"We hope to launch as an official charity shortly and then we can start applying for grants."

BARNSLEY Central Library will be demolished in the coming months to make way for a new £16million sixth form college.

A Barnsley Council report has outlined proposals to build the college on Shambles Street, the preferred site of both the council and the college.

It means the library - along with a parade of shops, offices, an electricity substation and private car parking - will be flattened to make way for the new 7,000 square metre college building.

It would replace the existing sixth form on Eastgate, which, according to the report, has 'pressing health and safety, safeguarding and access deficiencies' compared with the college's main building on Old Mill Lane.

It will cost about £16million, with £5.3million in grant funding already secured. The remaining finance is being raised through asset disposal and borrowing.

The reports says a new sixth form will support Barnsley's aims to create more jobs and increase the number of A-level students from 850 to 1,100.

It means the library, built in 1973, will have to be relocated to the historic Wellington House on Market Street.

Approval for the development will go before the council's ruling Cabinet later this month, with the site expected to become available in February and demolition - costing around £250,000 - starting as soon as April.

The new college is scheduled to open in under two years' time.

Council leader Sir Steve Houghton confirmed the library's move to Wellington House was only a short-term one.

He said: "I think it's important to have a state-of-the-art library in the town centre and this redevelopment gives us the opportunity to achieve just that.

"We welcome the sixth form college, it will improve the gateway to the town centre from that end of town and increase footfall for the shops and businesses in the vicinity.

"People should be assured a library will remain in the town centre of Barnsley and we want to to be the best it can possibly be.

"The proposal indicates the college would have the potential to bring £7.7million into the local economy."

The demolition of the central library follows news that nine of the borough's 17 libraries face a reduction in their opening hours after a review into the future of libraries in Barnsley.

SOUTH Yorkshire's firefighters are to go on strike next weekend - in an ongoing dispute over pensions.

Crew members from across the county will walk out between 6.30pm and 11.30pm on Saturday, October 19.

The strike - the second in several weeks - is in response to a ‘government attack’ on firefighter pensions, said the Fire Brigades Union.

The FBU fears firefighters will lose their jobs without access to their pensions when they're no longer deemed fit enough to be on the front line, claiming there aren't enough community or office jobs for them to do anymore.

Officials claim firefighters already pay some of the highest pension contributions in the UK public or private sector and have seen increases for two consecutive years, with further increases planned.

"We had hoped our first strike was enough to show government that firefighters could not be more serious about protecting public safety and ensuring fair pensions," said Matt Wrack, the FBU's general secretary.

"No firefighter wants to strike and it's desperately disappointing that the government continues to deny reality over pensions costs and the need for a pension scheme that reflects the job firefighters do.

"Firefighters simply cannot be expected to fight fires and rescue families in their late-50s and into their 60s.

"We hope this second strike will result in them willing to discuss our full concerns. However, more strikes cannot be ruled out if that's what it takes to protect public and firefighter safety from these ludicrous attacks."

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

A BOY stabbed another Horizon Community College pupil going out with his ex-girlfriend after she goaded him into a jealous rage.

The 14-year-old hurt his victim with a penknife, but didn't cause a serious injury, Barnsley Youth Court was told.

The attacker had gone out with the girl for about six months but they broke up, said Gus Kennedy, defending.

Mr Kennedy said: "She was his first girlfriend and a blow like that can hit someone aged 14 very hard.

"It had been a bad day. There had been problems with the ex-girlfriend during the morning break. His temper was aggravated when there was a row with a teacher and he had to spend the rest of the day working alone."

Mr Kennedy said the attack happened on Shaw Lane after school.

He said the former girlfriend called the 14-year-old, from Darton, names and he 'lost it'.

The boy told police later: "I targeted her new boyfriend. There was probably a bit of jealousy because I still have feelings for her. I wanted to cause damage to the new boyfriend but not a serious injury."

Tim Warburton, prosecuting, said the penknife had a 5cm blade. He said the victim, who was also 14 at the time, felt what he thought was a tap on his shoulder. Moments later, he noticed he was bleeding.

Mr Warburton said a doctor described the wound to the victim's right shoulder as 'superficial'.

District Judge John Foster told the boy, who wants to be a journalist, he had come close to being locked up and should have walked away when he was provoked.

Mr Foster said: "This girl is not worth spending time with and is no longer a friend of yours. If you have aspirations, you need to have high self-esteem.

"That relationship with the girl was finished. That does not make you a worse person. You have got to walk through life with your head held high.

"I'm deeply concerned about the way you reacted. You deliberately stabbed a boy. You stabbed him to cause him pain but not serious injury or worse."

The boy admitted having a knife in public and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

He was given a 12-month referral order, the longest order a youth court can impose.

FINISHING touches are being made to the Victorian conservatory at Wentworth Castle.

The £3.74million project is entering its final stage ahead of its November 8 opening.

The final planting schemes are being positioned inside the elegant glasshouse which has been undergoing a major restoration scheme for the past 15 months.

The historic restoration is the culmination of a ten-year campaign which began after the glasshouse was featured on the BBC programme Restoration in 2003.

With only a few weeks until the re-opening, the structure is back to its former glory.

Claire Herring, director at Wentworth Castle Heritage Trust, said: "Although we’ve had the metal structure back on site for several months, it wasn’t until the glass was fitted and the scaffolding came down that it truly reflected its former glory.

"This has been a very long and difficult journey lasting a whole decade but the end result is spectacular."

Since last year's dismantling of the stricken conservatory, the original iron frame has been cleaned and re-cast where necessary.

External planting and landscaping took place in the spring and internal planting is now gathering pace as the countdown to its opening begins.

It's also been taken off English Heritage's 'at risk' register following its restoration.

Head gardener Michael Klemperer said: "At one stage we were concerned it may fall down. I'm very pleased to announce it's in good health and no longer at risk."

A COUPLE whose IVF treatment was paid for by the £5,000 they won in a competition on This Morning returned to celebrate the show's 25th anniversary.

Debbie and David Howarth, of Eastfield Crescent, Mapplewell, were invited to the star-studded party for This Morning's milestone in London after they won a phone competition on the ITV show in October 2005.

Now they have returned to the studio with their three daughters, all born after having IVF.

Debbie, 46, had been entering competitions hoping to win the funds to enable her to have the child the couple wanted so badly. They had tried for five years to have a baby and had already spent £1,600 on gruelling and emotionally draining infertility treatment with no success.

Debbie was also just over the age threshold to receive IVF on the NHS.

But Debbie, who works at Asda, struck gold on the TV show, answering a multiple choice question about what a five o'clock shadow is.

"Dave told me not to get my hopes up. We'd had no luck with competitions before, but this time things were different," she said.

The couple went on to spend nearly £3,000 of their winnings on IVF treatment but it worked first time and Debbie gave birth to daughter, Ellie, now six.

The remaining six embryos were frozen, and after Debbie suffered a miscarriage after Ellie was born, the couple decided to use some of the embryos and two years later twins, Millie and Grace, four, arrived.

Debbie said she and plumber David, 33, went on This Morning when she first fell pregnant.

'Phillip Schofield and Fern Britton heard about our story and invited us on the show. They were just as nice in person as on screen."

Things didn't go too smoothly for Debbie, though. She suffered for five months with hyperemesis - severe morning sickness - with Ellie and when she was pregnant with the twins, her morning sickness was so severe this time that she split her gullet.

Luckily Millie and Grace arrived safely by Caesarean section in August 2009.

"The pregnancies weren't easy but we wouldn't have changed things for the world," said Debbie.

"Even though there are two years between Ellie and the twins, they're really triplets as they were all taken from the same batch of fertilised eggs."

A BARNSLEY school has been put into special measures after a damning Ofsted report.

Springwood Primary in Hoyland, which has 138 pupils, was said to be inadequate in every key area by inspectors.

Two years ago the school was at the centre of a row as it was revealed more than £85,000 from the school budget was used to support a private nursery in its grounds.

One mum has claimed there were risks to child safety at the school and that long-serving teachers have been forced out and subjected to 'gagging clauses' because they object to the way the school is run.

She does not want to be named because, she says, other parents blame her for the outcome of the Ofsted report and are now 'victimising' her.

The mum, whose daughter attended Springwood, said: "I made serious complaints against the school in February, and when I got no satisfaction, I informed the local safeguarding children board."

The Ofsted inspectors who visited warned that 'the challenging behaviour of a small number of pupils was not managed well enough to keep all pupils safe'.

The school was inadequate in all key areas. The report highlighted maths, especially in years three and four, as being a concern.

Senior leaders and governors in the school were criticised for not taking effective action in ensuring pupils were kept safe.

The report warned that staff were not always able to intervene quickly enough to calm them before other children got hurt.

A Barnsley Council spokesman assured parents and carers the school takes all issues raised seriously and deals with them promptly on an individual basis.

"Hoyland Springwood follows local authority guidance for complaints and has procedures to ensure these are thoroughly investigated," the spokesman said.

"All parents have received copies of the complaints procedure and we encourage any parent concerned about their child to contact us."

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

A633 Rotherham Road, Monk Bretton

A628 Cundy Cross to Shafton Two Gates

B6411 Houghton Road, Thurnscoe

Brierley Road, Grimethorpe

A61 Park Road, Barnsley

Pogmoor Road, Barnsley

A633 Rotherham Road, Athersley South

A6023 Doncaster Road, Mexborough

Melton Green, West Melton

A633 Sandygate, Wath upon Dearne

A6022 Rowms Lane, Swinton.

A DEAD person's disabled parking badge has been returned to the Barnsley Council as part of a crackdown on 'blue badge' fraud.

The discovery was made by council and police officers during a two-day operation in September to tackle the misuse of blue disabled parking badges.

Parts of Barnsley town centre that were identified as being at high risk of blue badge fraud were visited by officers, including the multi-storey car park.

The exercise took place earlier this month when 51 badges were inspected by civil enforcement officers and police to ensure they were being used by the registered holder.

As a result of the operation the badge of a person who had died was returned to the council, one badge was confiscated and penalty charge notices were issued to eight vehicles displaying a disabled blue badge, despite the badge holder not being present.

Barnsley Council says abuse of the scheme deprives those in genuine need of parking spaces located close to amenities and shops.

"Parking spaces for disabled drivers are all over the town centre and, in my opinion, are largely respected," said Cllr Jenny Platts.

"However, the message from this scheme is clear - blue badges are meant to help disabled people and are not free parking passes for able-bodied drivers.

"While there are clearly cases where people have mistakenly used them incorrectly, where we find persistent misuse or fraudulent abuse of a blue badge we will take it away and may even be forced to prosecute."

THE long-awaited public consultation on proposals for the HS2 line passing through Barnsley will be held in the town centre on November 2.

HS2 is a proposed high-speed rail network providing links between London, Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester, with stations planned at East Midlands and Meadowhall.

The second phase of the project is set to travel through Barnsley.

Managers from HS2 Ltd want to hear views from people in the town on how the extra passenger capacity generated by HS2 could be used, as well as the sustainability impacts of the new network and opportunities to introduce other utilities along the route.

At the public consultation, held at Barnsley Town Hall, there will be a chance for visitors to view interactive maps, listen to sound demonstrations and speak to HS2 Ltd project officers about the proposals and the implications for the local area.

The government believes the £50billion HS2 project will improve capacity across the rail network, shorten journey times and boost the economy, delivering a 'legacy of jobs, connectivity and growth across the UK'.

Barnsley Council welcomed the connectivity the project will bring for residents, businesses and visitors, together with the benefits for the local economy, businesses, commuting residents and tourism growth in the borough.

The consultation will be open between 10am and 5pm.

AN uninsured teenager caused £3,587 of damage by crashing a woman's car - just a few hours after meeting her.

Anthony Thomas, 19, had gone back to the woman's home but was unsure where in Barnsley it was, said Jayne Ormrod, prosecuting.

Mrs Ormrod said Thomas, of Market Street, Cudworth, took the keys to the woman's Toyota after she went to bed. She said he crashed the car into a wall and gate causing substantial damage.

Philip Stables, defending, said; "Mr Thomas took the car in a moment of madness. He met the woman in the town and went back to her house."

District Judge John Foster, who adjourned the case until October 17 for a pre-sentence report, said: "You took advantage of your short-term friendship of this woman."

Thomas, who was granted unconditional bail, admitted aggravated vehicle taking, damage, driving otherwise in accordance with a licence and having no insurance.

SAINSBURY'S will unveil its plans for a new food store to the public today.

The supermarket chain, who are set to take over the B&Q store at Stairfoot, will begin its public consultation on its plans at an open exhibition today and tomorrow.

It's proposing to convert the DIY store, on Bleachcroft Way at Stairfoot Business Park, creating up to 400 jobs.

The plans will go on display at Ardsley and Stairfoot Community Centre on Doncaster Road from 11am-7pm today, and at Ardsley House Hotel on October 12, from 10am-4pm.

At present the building is restricted to the sale of DIY products, but if Barnsley Council agrees to lifting this restriction Sainsbury's would like to turn the building into a 73,500sq ft store which will also have a petrol station, car parking and a cafe.

Bruno Moore, Sainsbury's head of town planning, said: "This store will bring more choice to the town while creating up to 400 jobs for local people, but first we'd like to know what the community thinks."

COUNCILLORS are beginning the process of identifying how they can slash a further £9million from the budget.

That is bound to lead to more cuts in services and even more jobs losses.

Over the past three years council tax bills have been frozen and, at the same time, government restrictions on spending have seen £45million cut from Barnsley Council's net budget.

Now a further £9million of saving will have to be found and councillors admit all the decisions from here on are going to be more difficult than ever before.

The local authority has already cut jobs and reduced services to meet financial deadlines. Dozens of jobs are potentially still at risk after £9million of cuts were identified in July.

Now a further £9million has to be cut before the end of March.

That will mean in just four years the amount of money Barnsley Council has to spend on local people has shrunk from £246million to £183million.

Council leader Sir Steve Houghton says he's angry at what he says is the 'blatantly unfair system' which means local authorities in the south of England are proportionately being given a lot more money than places in the north.

"I'm not asking for preferential treatment for Barnsley, all I ask is for everyone to be treated the same for basic fairness, but that's not what's happening," he said.

Cllr Houghton says after so many years of cuts no service is safe and there are no easy decisions.

"The harsh facts are that whatever we decide to do will impact on local people - these are very difficult times and we're having to make difficult choices," he said.

A PUBLICAN has won £5,000 to spend on community projects after being named as a regional winner of a national competition.

Michael Davies, of the Beggar and Gentleman in Hoyland, proved there's more to a great community pub than just bricks and mortar when he won regional 'Community Hero' in the contest run by pub company Enterprise Inns.

Mr Davies, who runs four pubs including The Clothiers in Elsecar, could also win an extra £5,000 if he becomes overall winner in the finals at the end of October.

He won the regional prize for his community work including children's parties, organising and funding Hoyland Christmas festivities, coffee mornings and putting on 'value meals' for people who struggle to afford food.

He also does a 'meals on wheels' service for elderly people which is now recognised by social services.

He said: "The funding I won will go towards community initiatives over the next 12 months. We want to donate it across a number of organisations and are looking for deserving projects now."