POLICE are growing increasingly concerned for the welfare of a 22-year-old Barnsley woman who has been missing for several weeks.

Lauren Mayes was reported missing to South Yorkshire Police on September 16 but was last seen at her home in Queens Drive, Dodworth, on May 12.

She is about 5ft 9ins tall, of medium build and has dark brown, shoulder length hair.

Police are urging Lauren, or anyone who knows her whereabouts, to call officers so they can ensure she is safe and well.

Anyone with information is urged to call South Yorkshire Police on 101, quoting reference number BX/2736/2013.

WASTE collections in Barnsley are set to drastically alter. Here's your WAB Guide on what's new.

The council said although they're 'committed' to fortnightly collections of grey bin waste, other recycling collections will change.

The way Barnsley residents have been recycling, and the feedback received, has shown that people want their garden waste collected all year round, not just in the summer.

It's also apparent that the rise in email and electronic copies of paperwork means there's less paper to recycle. In the past five years, paper collected at the kerbside in Barnsley has dropped by 1,500 tonnes.

For glass, cans and plastics, only half the bins are being put out for emptying every time.

So collections are set to be adapted to make better use of resources in light of their findings. This would see waste collected like this throughout the summer:

Week 1: garden waste, cardboard, paper

Week 2: non-recyclable grey bin waste

Week 3: garden waste, glass, cans, plastic bottles

Week 4: non-recyclable grey bin waste

One of the garden waste collections will stop during winter months (December to February) and be reinstated in March. Actual dates and week affected will be confirmed on residents’ leaflets.

To prevent mixing of different types of waste, the use of bins will also change. Residents across the borough will receive a leaflet explaining the changes and when they will start in their area. The changes will only apply from the dates on the leaflet.

Grey bins: fortnightly, non-recyclable waste

Green bins: garden waste only - fortnightly up to winter, then four-weekly

Brown bins: glass, cans, plastic bottles - four-weekly

Blue bins: cardboard only - four-weekly

White bag: a new scheme of a hard-wearing, hessian-like 55-litre bag for paper

Cllr Roy Miller, cabinet spokesperson for development, environment and culture, said: "The people of Barnsley have been fantastic in the way they have taken to recycling, taking us to a rate of 46 per cent, which seemed an unthinkable target only a few years ago.

"The changes in these services will allow them to continue recycling with minimal impact."

Switching to this system will save the council £250,000 a year. There will be a one-off £220,000 investment needed to implement the changes to the system. This includes supplying blue bins for those who don’t have one, or larger 240-litre brown or blue bins for those residents worried about their ability to cope with the increased gap between collections.

If approved by its cabinet, phase one of the changes will affect 15,000 properties covering Hoyland Common, Worsbrough, Birdwell, Kendray, Kexborough, Barugh Green, Mapplewell, Darton and Staincross.

These properties will receive their leaflets and white sacks in October, their additional bins in November and the revised service will start in December which includes the collection of garden waste throughout the year.

Phase two will cover the rest of the borough, with white sacks and leaflets being issued in December/January, additional containers in February, and revised service in March.

These residents will have garden waste suspended over the winter as in previous years and will receive a separate leaflet.

For more information, call 01226 772045, or email here.

A TEENAGER threw a house party, stole his dad's car and smashed it into a wall while his parents were away for the weekend, a court heard.

Banned joyrider Jack Keenan went for a spin but lost control of the BMW 318 and wrote if off when he smashed into a wall.

Just three days previously, Keenan, 19, had been sentenced by magistrates over another crash in which his passenger broke a leg.

Refuse worker Keenan narrowly avoided jail after he was labelled 'stupid and immature' by Recorder Nick Barker at Sheffield Crown Court.

Prosecutor Neil Coxon said Keenan was given a two-year driving ban on June 11 for careless driving and driving while unfit through a mixture of drink and drugs including ketamine.

On June 14, after his parents went to Scarborough for the weekend, he organised a party, searched the house for the car keys and took the BMW from the driveway in the early hours.

While driving from Pontefract Road to Harborough Hills Road in Barnsley town centre he lost control and hit a wall.

He fled the scene but DNA from the inflated airbag matched his and he was arrested. He told police he ran away because he knew he was a disqualified driver.

Keenan, of Lang Avenue, Lundwood, had three days earlier appeared before Barnsley magistrates for a crash on February 8.

He was driving a Ford van which collided with a parked VW Golf and caused the van to spin and hit a Vauxhall Zafira.

He tried to flee leaving his passenger Liam Jessop trapped. Mr Jessop had to be cut free and suffered a broken leg.

As well as a driving ban, Keenan was given a two-year community order.

For the most recent incident he admitted aggravated vehicle taking, driving while banned and having no insurance.

Keenan was given a six-month jail term suspended for two years, 120 hours of unpaid work, a 12-month supervision order, a four-month night time curfew and ordered to pay £500 costs.

He was also given a further two-year driving ban.

CHRIS O'Grady's equaliser in the 79th minute rescued a point for the Reds at home to Reading.

The striker struck to bring a run of four straight defeats to an end.

Reading had taken the lead early in the second half when midfielder Hal Robson-Kanu drilled the ball home from outside the penalty area.

The result pushes Reading up into fifth place, while Barnsley remain at the foot of the Championship.

"I see a team that is fighting and that is what they did," said David Flitcroft. "I was pleased with all aspects. The whole team was outstanding and there was a lot of exciting points - I'm only looking forward.

"I needed a performance, we needed to show the fans we are fighting.

"That was against Reading, they'll be in the top three all season, no doubt about that and we have made a superior team look very ordinary."

A MOTORCYCLIST has died following an accident last week.

The 36-year-old man was involved in a collision on the A628 Woodhead Pass. At around 12.45pm on September 25, a brown BMW 320D was travelling on the A628 Woodhead Pass towards Barnsley.

Outside the Dog and Partridge pub, there was a collision between the car and a grey Suzuki Bandit motorcycle that was also believed to have been travelling towards Barnsley.

The 36-year-old man riding the motorcycle was taken to hospital after the crash on Wednesday.

Police are appealing for witnesses who may have seen the motorcycle on the A628 prior to the collision or who witnessed the incident.

Anyone with information should call South Yorkshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 435 of September 25, 2013.

THE number of schoolchildren smoking has reduced significantly over the last few years according to headteachers - despite new figures revealing that almost 1,000 pupils in Barnsley start smoking every year.

Figures from Cancer Research UK show that 951 pupils, some as young as 11, take up the habit.

But headteachers at town centre secondary schools Holy Trinity and Horizon Community College said it was not a massive problem.

Simon Barber, headteacher of Holy Trinity, Athersley, said: "You’re always going to have a handful of students who smoke and you try to do as much as possible to encourage them to lead healthy lifestyles.

"But they grow up in a world outside of school where cigarettes are available.

"Cigarettes are part of life and when they start smoking outside of school they become addicted and want to smoke in school."

Paul Gallagher, co-principal at Horizon Community College, agreed the number of students who were regular smokers had reduced.

He said the school invested considerably in student health, adding: "We had a massive presentation last year when we gave all the facts about smoking."

The figures were released as part of Cancer Research UK’s ‘Setting the Standard’ campaign to discouraged young people from starting to smoke.

A spokesman for Public Health Barnsley said current data backed up the headteachers’ claims.

He said the proportion of children who smoke often or daily has decreased this year, with 6.5 per cent of boys and 13.2 per cent of girls stating that they smoke regularly, compared with 17.6 per cent of boys and 20.9 per cent of girls in 2010.

Cllr Chris Lamb, council spokesman for public health, said: "One child smoking in Barnsley is still one too many and this is a reflection of high smoking rates in the town and the efforts of the tobacco industry to recruit new smokers."

THE police are appealing for information after burglars stole cigarettes worth an estimated £6,000 from an Asda store.

Barnsley police said three men in dark clothing sawed through the Royston store's shutters at 11.30pm last Monday and made off with the cigarettes, escaping in a dark coloured saloon car.

Anyone with information is asked to contact South Yorkshire Police on 101.

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

A PIGEON cull has been denied by Barnsley Council after a police sergeant suggested a CCTV system had been damaged by an organised shooting of the birds.

Andy Bagshaw said he was willing to 'bet 10p' that cameras in Penistone's market barn had been affected by air rifle pellets after members of the public raised concerns about the equipment not working and suspicions that some wires had been cut.

Cllr Jenny Platts, cabinet spokesman, said no shootings had taken place at Penistone market.

"Following complaints from Penistone businesses regarding pigeons roosting and fouling and the large population of pigeons around the market barn, a bird handler flew a Harris hawk in the area, which acted as a natural deterrent," she said.

But Sgt Bagshaw said pigeons were killed last Wednesday.

"They were going to use hawks but some pigeons aren't afraid of hawks so they used air rifles and shot them.

"A stray air rifle pellet could have cut the wires. I’ll bet you 10p it's been done by an air rifle."

AN EX-SOLDIER who spent seven months fighting on the frontline in Afghanistan has swapped his rifle for a sponge after setting up a car wash business.

James Millard, of Longley Ings, Oxspring, left the forces last year after serving a four-year stint with the Yorkshire Regiment.

He spent time working in London before setting up a mobile car cleaning service, 24hWash, which has now found a permanent home on the old South Yorkshire Improvements site, Hoyle Mill Lane, Thurlstone.

James, 24, who is originally from Sheffield, said work has been non-stop since he opened on September 20.

"I needed to get out and do something for myself," he said. "I think that's more rewarding than always working for other people.

"The army teaches you discipline, commitment, hard work and long hours. I enjoyed it but I don't miss it and I wouldn't go back."

James initially looked to establish the business in Thurgoland but eventually settled on Thurlstone after his girlfriend spotted the site on her drive to work in Manchester.

He has already appointed an assistant, Will Waddle, and is looking to employ another person to help ease his workload.

MORE than 1,500 people turned out for the unveiling of a mining memorial in Mapplewell.

The tribute to the men, women and children who died while working at North Gawber Colliery is at the Co-op car park, Blacker Road.

It's in the shape of pit head gear and bears three plaques: one to commemorate the site, one in memory of the people who died accidentally and another to remember those who lost their lives in an explosion in September 1935.

The campaign for a memorial was spearheaded by Cllr Harry Spence, who had been asked by residents why there was no lasting memorial.

He said: "This has been three years in the making. There was nothing previously and people kept asking me why we had no memorial. Now it's a memorial with three plaques.

"It's been quite a gripping three years and quite tearful this last year with the people I've met who lost fathers and grandfathers."

Cllr Spence themed the unveiling around young people in the village, many of whom had never seen a piece of coal and did not know about North Gawber Colliery.

A parade went from Mapplewell and Staincross village hall to the memorial, which was unveiled by 93-year-old Eric Barraclough, who worked at the colliery.

The children then performed 'Remember Remember September', a song about the explosions, and a poem was read by Anne Rhodes. The names of those killed was also read out.

"It was so brilliant and I cannot explain how good it was," Cllr Spence added. "It was awesome and a really fitting tribute to those who did lose their lives."

A MAN accused of malicious wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm has been sent to Sheffield Crown Court in custody.

Anthony Tindall, 46, of Primrose Avenue, Darfield will make his first appearance on October 9.

He made no plea at Barnsley Magistrates' Court.

A DRIVER and his passenger were lucky to be alive after plunging 13ft into a pond when their car left the road.

Police and firemen were called to the back garden at Barcroft Flatt, near Huddersfield Road, Redbrook, following the crash at about 8.35pm last Sunday.

A fire service spokesman said both the driver and passenger were taken to hospital.

Police said the black Vauxhall Corsa ended upside down in the pond.

Neither men were injured, the spokesman said.

PLANS to improve a park in Barnsley are on hold after its latest arson attack caused £6,500 of damage.

Millennium Green play facility in Grimethorpe has been a target for arson over the past 12 months and the latest attack has seen damage costing an estimated £6,500 take place to the swing set.

Cllr Roy Miller said: "This damage has taken place in a community that really needs these facilities and it’s sad that people would seek to trash public areas at all, but especially in their own communities.

"Barnsley Council has invested a lot of money in these facilities and it has been subject to a lot of vandalism.

"In the current economic climate we just don’t have the cash to keep repairing or replacing damaged equipment."

Sadly, the Millennium Green play area was due to have the whole of the junior play area resurfaced but the work has had to be put on hold while officers assess the extent of the damage, which was caused by a sofa being set on fire.

There were also plans to remove old litter bins and equipment and there was a potential to replace with new bins and a small item of play kit - this is all now in question.

The aerial runway on the site has also been vandalised twice within 12 months, costing £4,000 to repair the first time damage took place. This will now have to be removed.

The council’s Parks Services department is currently in the middle of a refurbishment programme for the four play areas in the Grimethorpe/Brierley area and also looking at providing another junior play area in Grimethorpe as part of the scheme.

The funding available for the programme is coming from new housing developments in the area total approximately £165,000.

However, some of this work is also now in question.

OVER £500,000 is spent every year by Barnsley Council on services specifically for homeless people in the borough.

A Freedom of Information request shows the council commits £533,897, with money being spent on 42 units of accomodation-based support for single homeless people, 17 units for young single homeless people (aged 16-24) and 14 units for homeless families.

The FOI also shows the council received £66,500 in July 2009 to be used as a repossession prevention fund to allow it to extend small interest free loans to households at risk of homelessness through repossession or eviction.

The funding can be used to help owner occupiers, social and private sector tenants and rough sleepers.

However, in the FOI response Wendy Lowder, the council's assistant executive director for neighbourhoods, access and support, said it should avoid the 'moral hazard' of providing loans to households who could have paid their mortgage, loan or rent but chose not to.

"The guidance states the process on decisions on grant assistance to households will need to be robust and seek to support those households who genuinely cannot pay their household costs through no fault of their own," she states.

The FOI also revealed the council received a further £57,000 in February 2012 and was used to support the costs of the ongoing extension of three homelessness advisor posts.

TV star David Dickinson will be hoping to find some bobby dazzlers in Barnsley when his hit show visits the Metrodome.

Dickinson's Real Deal, which has been a big hit for ITV, is coming to the town on October 5.

Locals are invited to bring antiques or goods which they think could be valuable.

The programme's team of experts will cast their eyes over objects from 9am to 5pm.

Photographic ID and proof of address is required if you're wishing to sell or purchase items.

RONNIE O'Sullivan and the world's best snooker stars will be in Barnsley this week.

Taking place at the Metrodome on October 1-2, the for the International Championship qualifiers will feature 128 of the world's best snooker players.

Stars in attendance include Ronnie O'Sullivan, Judd Trump, John Higgins, Mark Selby, Neil Robertson, Ding Junhui, Steve Davis and Jimmy White.

Entry for spectators is free and there's no need to book - simply turn up on the day at 9.30am.

DETECTIVES investigating an incident of disorder at the Barnsley Metrodome are appealing for witnesses.

A number of people were involved in an altercation, which happened inside the leisure complex, in Queens Road, at about 10.20pm on September 20.

A 46-year-old man sustained serious head injuries and was taken to hospital where he remains in a critical but stable condition.

Officers would like to speak to anyone who was at the venue when the incident happened, or who has footage of the disorder on their mobile phone.

A 27-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder and bailed pending further enquiries.

Anyone with information is urged to call South Yorkshire Police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111, quoting incident number 1265 of September 20.

A MOTORCYCLIST is fighting for his life in hospital after a crash.

The 36-year-old's grey Suzuki Bandit collided with a brown BMW 320D on the A628 Woodhead Pass at about 12.45pm on Wednesday.

Police believe both vehicles were travelling towards the roundabout when they collided outside the Dog and Partridge pub.

Pub proprietor Andrea Punshon was on duty and heard the impact of the crash.

"The bike went one way and crashed through a dry stone wall and the rider went the other way and ended up in the hedge bottom," she said.

"The people in the car were a young couple who were moving house and had come out for a pub lunch beforehand."

Yorkshire Air Ambulance attended the scene, along with police and paramedics, and the bike rider, from Nottingham, was taken to Sheffield's Northern General Hospital after sustaining life-threatening injuries.

The BMW driver, from Manchester, and his passenger were unhurt.

The road was closed for about three hours.

Police are appealing for witnesses or people who may have seen the motorcycle prior to the collision.

Information about the crash should be reported to police on 101, quoting incident number 435 of September 25.

A BARNSLEY swimmer has spoken of the worst point of her 14 hour 49 minute crossing of the English Channel.

It took Ally Brisby, 34, three-and-a-half hours to do the final two miles because the tide turned against her.

Ally, who suffered sickness and pain in her shoulders, said: "The tide pulled me away from the shore near Calais."

She raised about £8,000 for Macmillan Nurses and did the swim because an aunt, Ivy Foster, 80, died of cancer about five years ago and because her chief bridesmaid, Amy Watson, 34, is in remission after having breast cancer.

Ally, of Cropton Road, Royston, said her husband, binman Danny, 42, offered her encouragement from an accompanying boat.

She expected to cross the Channel in between 15 and 17 hours so she was satisfied with her eventual time.

She wore a swim suit and Vaseline. She said one of the secrets of Channel swimming was to build up your tolerance to cold water.

FIREFIGHTERS were clapped by supporters when they went on strike last week.

At midday last Wednesday, Fire Brigades Union members walked out of Barnsley, Cudworth, Dearne and Tankersley fire stations as part of a national four-hour strike.

The protest was in opposition to the government's plans to make firefighters work until they're 60 for their full pension, as opposed to 55.

At the Barnsley fire station on Broadway, the firefighters were clapped out of work by their supporters from other trade unions.

To a background of applause, Brian Steele, secretary of Barnsley Trades Council, told a crowd of more than 50 people: "I hope your actions force the government to realise that we won't stand by and let them get away with attacking our pensions, and our pay and conditions any more."

The supporters later visited the picket lines at the other fire stations in the borough.

WITH the long-running works on the A61 set to continue until November, We Are Barnsley has been in touch with the council regarding compensation for businesses affected by the works.

Earlier this year Barnsley Council said the scheme would be finished in June, before unforeseen issues caused further delays, with August and then September being earmarked for its completion.

However, the council took the opportunity to bring forward resurfacing work on the troublesome road to follow on directly after the completion of the bus corridor scheme.

While the works have been a huge talking point with disgruntled road users on We Are Barnsley, business owners on the road have had a rough time as the works have affected their takings.

Iain Hulme, who runs TCS Continental Spares garage, says his business will struggle to see it to the end of the works.

He said closing one side of the road so it can be resurfaced is putting his and other businesses in jeopardy as it has resulted in a dip in passing trade.

Iain added: "We've just had our usual quiet period of six weeks because of the school holidays and I dare say the business will not last the ten weeks these roadworks will take.

"I had a customer who got to the top of Old Mill Lane to try and get to my garage and it took an hour. In my eyes, that's not on."

Iain's isn't the only business suffering. Clive Harris, 59, owns Barnsley Van Hire and said all the traders on Wakefield Road are angry about the roadworks and the few days' notice they were given.

"Only half the road is working," he said. "The concern is trade is going to suffer. We've already endured two years of roadworks and disruption.

"People are ringing up asking how to get here and I'm having to try and direct them and some are cancelling their bookings."

A KFC employee said it has seen a dip as a lot of its custom is from traffic going towards the town centre.

Motorcycle shop owner Shane Parkin said traffic had been 'carnage' since the council closed one side of the road.

He said: "There are cars turning around in the middle of the road and with the way things are, nobody is going to want to go into town. It's mayhem."

Mark Crawshaw, a landlord on the road, said his clients are struggling and the works have 'crippled' their trade.

Tony Buckley, owner of First Call Building and Garden Supplies on Peel Place, off Old Mill Lane, said traffic chaos created by the bus corridor near Wickes was dangerous and could lead to an accident.

"I think all the businesses down here should be offered compensation," he said. "No one has been out to see how it's affecting us. We all got leaflets about two weeks ago but no one said how bad it was going to be."

Cllr Roy Miller said businesses will be able to seek compensation - if they can prove their firm has lost trade because on the ongoing A61 roadworks.

He said: "There is a policy in place where if they believe they have lost trade and can show their figures for the last three years, they can apply to the highways department for compensation."

A council spokesman confirmed: "In the past, our Highways department has done its utmost to try to accommodate the concerns of individual businesses to try and compensate for the effect of road works on their businesses, for example by providing additional signs.

"If any businesses feel they are being unduly affected by the current maintenance works on the A61, they should contact Highways on 01226 773555 or by email at highways@barnsley.gov.uk where our officers will be able to better understand the issues and provide further information and advice."

A MAN has been detained under the mental health act after he was spotted sitting on train tracks.

British Transport Police received reports from a train driver about a man on the tracks at Doncaster Road bridge at Stairfoot on Wednesday evening.

A spokeswoman said: "The driver got off the train and spoke to the man. He then contacted police and the man was removed and detained under the mental health act."

She said trains on the Leeds-Barnsley-Sheffield line were stopped for a period, causing a 40-minute delay.

ONE man remains in Barnsley Hospital with serious head injuries and several more were injured as violence erupted at a professional boxing show at the Metrodome.

The violence quickly escalated from what appeared to be banter between fans to a riot with missiles being thrown - including chairs and bottles - from the stands above.

It appeared football rivalry sparked the violence, as football-related chants were shouted.

The show, on September 20, was being filmed by Hatton Television, owned by former boxing star Ricky Hatton, but the memory card has been confiscated by police.

Fighting continued throughout the building and outside and areas were still cordoned off the following

The main event, featuring Stairfoot light-middleweight Matthew Mallin and Denaby's Adam Jones, was cancelled and a fight between Leeds boxer Damon Jones and Simone Lucas, which was happening at the time of the violence, was deemed a no contest.

It appeared Jones's fans were at the centre of the trouble and he pleaded with his fans to calm down after the third round.

Newark-based promoter Carl Greaves remains upset about what happened.

"I've heard contrasting reports about what caused the trouble and it sounds like it was a bit from both sides but in the end it stems down to football.

"We had 12 security lads working the show but if it's going to go off, it's going to go off. We can't have one security for every person that's there."

This does put doubt into whether professional boxing will be allowed to continue at the venue.

Carl added: "I've spoken to the manager and with there being nothing booked in for the rest of this year we're going to let it cool off and look again later this year.

"We do have some talented boxers from Barnsley and if they don't box in their hometown then their careers are likely to suffer."

The gym and bowling alleys at the Metrodome were closed for business on Saturday morning.

Det Ch Insp Mark Wilkie said they were still trying to trace people who had been at the show.

A spokesman for the Metrodome said: "We can confirm there was an incident at the boxing event. At this time we are assisting police with their enquiries."

THE Reds slipped to the bottom of the Championship on Saturday with their seventh defeat in nine games.

Leicester's ex-England international David Nugent scored twice to inflict a 2-1 defeat on the Reds.

After promising 'surgery' to his team following the 5-1 home loss to Watford, manager David Flitcroft dropped captain Stephen Dawson, scorer Jason Scotland, Kelvin Etuhu and Tom Kennedy, although the latter came back in after Peter Ramage was injured in the warm-up.

New loan signings Jack Butland and David Fox came into the team but Jacob Mellis was left out of the squad, as was Chris Dagnall, but Mellis moved onto the bench after Ramage was withdrawn.

Nugent netted five minutes into the second half with a cool finish and doubled the hosts' lead 12 minutes later after Jamie Vardy was tripped in the box by Butland, who was yellow carded.

Jason Scotland halved the Reds' deficit in the 73rd minute but Leicester held on for the three points.

Flitcroft said: "I'm not naive enough to think I'm not under pressure, but I'm up for the fight and so are this group of players. 

"We have come away with another defeat, which is disappointing, but there was a lot of encouragement from the performance. 

"We have had a tough week trying to freshen up the squad and I want to know this group of players are fighting for the football club and for me. I believe they are."

What do you think? Has Flicker still got your confidence? Have your say below.

CYCLISTS from across Barnsley took part in a 174-mile bike ride to raise money for the hospice.

Dave Surgey, of Wath, Andy Brunton, of Cudworth, Chris Davies, of Pogmoor and Lee Gallagher, of Higham, completed the Hadrian's Wall Coast to Coast cycle with Dean Arey, Mark Levick, Gary Hurditch, Neil Haston and Steve Clarke.

The support rider was Neil Priestley, of Cudworth.

They cycled from Ravenglass to South Shields over three days and hope to have raised about £2,000.

The event was organised in memory of Dave's stepdad Frank Bond and friend Richard Gill, who have both died of cancer in the last two years.

Frank and Richard, and their families, were supported by staff at the hospice.

Click here for more information.

MUMMIFIED Roman remains were almost certainly buried in and around Barnsley almost 2,000 years ago.

Famed Barnsley-born Egyptologist Joann Fletcher says it's now obvious there was a much greater Roman presence in Barnsley than used to be believed.

Experience Barnsley's 'The Romans Are Coming' exhibition was curated by Jo and includes Roman pottery, jewellery, clothing and coins - including part of a huge haul found in Darfield and also a 300-400 AD mummy cast, which covered the embalmed, linen-wrapped body of a child.

Jo, 47, said: "There's evidence around Thurnscoe of burial pits and more work needs to be done. We’ve only just started looking to be honest, because until very recently who knew these existed?

"There's certainly evidence that there were a lot more Romans in our part of the world than used to be believed. Those Romans were embalming, mummifying and wrapping in linen their dead, according to Egyptian customs."

Jo, who presented a two-part BBC documentary Ancient Egypt: Life and Death In The Valley Of The Kings, also won a Royal Television Society Award for her part in the Channel 4 documentary Mummifying Alan: Egypt’s Last Secret.

THE Mayor of Barnsley was supposed to be the first to the top of Locke Park Tower's 78 steps - but a black Labrador pipped him to it.

Aptly-named Tower the dog certainly lived up to her name when the landmark was officially reopened to the public, more than 20 years after it was closed for safety reasons.

Tower was adopted and given her unique name by Ian Woodcock, who found her shivering and shaking and chained to a bench near the tower in the park almost eight years ago.

Ian tried tracing the dog's owners, but with no success. So having had his new friend checked out at the vet, he decided to offer her a home - and named her after the tower near where she had been found.

"She's big girl and had obviously been well looked after before being chained to that flipping bench so I'm assuming she had just got too big for her owner," said 51-year-old Ian.

Painter and decorator Ian and his girlfriend, Pauline Stephenson, regularly walk Tower to Locke Park and say they were determined to be one of the first up the tower's steps when it opened on September 14.

Ian says it may be almost eight years since that fateful day when he found a cold and frightened dog chained to a park bench - but Tower certainly hasn't forgotten.

"She will not walk near it - she refuses and always gives it a wide berth."

SOUTH Yorkshire’s former chief constable took home £45,000 in bonuses in a single year - on top of his £149,000 salary.

Med Hughes was given two bonuses in 2009/2010 as part of what has been described as an ‘advanced remuneration package’, approved by South Yorkshire Police Authority.

Mr Hughes earned the extra pay, said to reflect his expanded role, commitment to national strategy and improvements within the force, on top of an annual salary of £149,000.

The news comes following calls from leading figures for a review into payments and perks given to chief officers across the UK, made after an investigation cast doubt over whether they were legal.

It has been left up to local police and crime commissioners to decide whether payments were lawful but South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Shaun Wright, a former member of the Police Authority, has said he will not seek repayment of any bonuses.

A spokeswoman for Mr Wright said: "Commissioner Wright was not a member of the Police Authority until June 2010. The Police Authority was advised by leading counsel the payments could be made.

"Commissioner Wright is not seeking repayment of this money to the former chief constable."

Mr Hughes, who served as Chief Constable of South Yorkshire between 2004 and 2011, waived his entitlement to more payments when he retired.

A PENSIONER who was treated in hospital for pneumonia is struggling with no central heating in her council bungalow.

Lyn Roquebrun, 70, of Chapel Street, Hoyland Common, lives in one of 29 properties who haven't had any heating since August 7 and will not be able to use it until October 30 because of work being done by Berneslai Homes.

Lyn came out of Barnsley Hospital a week ago after three days' treatment, Her granddaughter Avril Squires, 25, is her carer.

She said: "My nan comes to mine at Headlands Road every day except Sundays. She comes to mine where it's warm. She's also taking 17 types of medication.

"Her bungalow looks like a bombsite with all the work going on. Last month when the weather was warm it was okay but it's not in this colder spell. Also, residents are having to continue to pay their heating bills."

A Berneslai Homes spokesman said that Parkside, Hoyland Common, was one of the schemes where it was in the process of converting heating systems to a new renewable energy system, called Ground Source Heating.

He said: "Unfortunately, it was agreed there was no other option due to the work required in the boiler house, but to turn the heating off to all properties on site. The contractor has scheduled a 12-week programme from August 7 to October 30 for these works to be completed."

He said all tenants were notified the heating would be turned off and had been provided with temporary electric fan heaters until the new system was operational.

He added: "Due to the recent drop in temperature, we have instructed our contractor to visit all properties on site to ask the tenants if they require additional electric fan heaters."

Mrs Roquebrun requested the fan heaters, which were supplied to her earlier this week.

"We will contact her to see if she requires any further assistance," said the spokesman.

DJ Simon Hirst and his on-air colleague Jo Jo Kelly will host the Proud of Barnsley 2013 awards evening.

Hirsty, who hosts Hirsty's Daily Dose on Capital Yorkshire, said he was 'unbelievably proud' to have been asked but he joked: "Do lower your expectations, as a pessimist can never be disappointed."

He said he was making Jo Jo - from Leeds - an 'honorary Barnsley-ite' for the awards evening at The Holiday Inn, Dodworth, on November 15.

He added: "She describes Barnsley as 'tarn' anyway, having worked with me and Danny Oakes (from Royston) for ten years."

He said he was not surprised there were some spectacular tales of heroism, care and courage in the award nominations.

"Seriously, I really am proud that I've been invited to host a prestigious award ceremony in my hometown. Or as we would normally say, I'm chuffed!"

MOBILE speed cameras will be 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.

A PENSIONER has hit out at what he describes as 'extortionate' charges for repairs on council-owned housing.

Anthony Coe, 72, of Park Avenue, Cudworth, saw the story about Mapplewell resident Diane Brook who was charged £91 by Berneslai Homes for replacement of a plastic light fitting.

He said he had a similar experience some years ago when he was charged £118 - for tightening up a radiator valve.

"What I want to know is why are the repair costs so high? I got the job priced up with other tradesmen and it averaged out at just £18.75," he said.

Mr Coe, who has bronchitis, said his present home in Park Avenue had suffered from rising damp and he and his wife Sylvia, 64, who is diabetic, had been moved out to temporary accommodation several times while repairs were done. On one occasion, they had been out of their home for seven months.

A Berneslai Homes spokesman said repairs to tenants were free unless the fault was caused by the tenant themselves. This was known as a re-chargeable repair.

He said: "To help the tenant decide on whether to have us do a re-chargeable repair, we have a standard list of charges for common types of work.

"We do this so they know the costs before they go ahead. Tenants are asked if they wish us to carry out the work at the quoted cost or arrange for someone else to do the repair."

Tenants signed a form to say they agreed with the charge. Charges include VAT at 20 per cent.

The spokesman added: "We have no choice but to charge VAT, which is a government tax. The cost represents call out, transport, travel time, labour and any materials used."

THE Reds have completed the signing of Norwich City midfielder David Fox on a 93-day emergency loan.

Born in Staffordshire, Fox started out with Manchester United as a youngster but departed Old Trafford without having made an appearance.

Fox helped Blackpool to promotion from League One, alongside ex-Barnsley player Robbie Williams at Wembley.

He made over 100 appearances before one season with Colchester, after which he was snapped up by Norwich City to play a vital role in their promotion charge to the Premier League.

From midfield he helped the Canaries into the top flight, where he would make 27 appearances during the 2011/12 campaign.

A TONNE of Tarmac over-ordered for the resurfacing of long-running works on Wakefield Road will be recycled for other highways so it doesn't go to waste.

The extra resurfacing material had been returned to the council's Smithies depot because it was deemed 'surplus to requirements'.

Cllr Roy Miller, cabinet spokesman, said: "This will be recycled for use in other highways schemes in the future.

"It's not uncommon where exact carriageway dimensions have yet to be determined due to varying ground conditions for a surplus of materials to be ordered.

"This approach means the reconstruction and resurfacing of a road can take place as quickly as possible to minimise delays for road users."

He said all the materials used in this scheme are within the required specification and the 'resulting performance of the finished road will be as expected'.

The resurfacing works are now in their third week and expected to last until November.

For the time being, all traffic inbound for the town centre is being diverted through Monk Bretton and Smithies, and only outbound traffic is allowed access to Wakefield Road.

The works have been heavily criticised by businesses on Wakefield Road because one side of the main road into the town centre has been shut off to traffic - leaving it deserted.

A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder - after a woman was found with serious burn injuries.

The woman, 51, remains in Sheffield’s Northern General Hospital in a serious condition.

Found by police at a property in Primrose Avenue, Darfield, at around 6.20pm on Monday, a 46-year-old man was then arrested on the street and taken into custody.

Neighbours were 'shocked' to see the women covered in thick bandages being helped into an ambulance.

A neighbour, who didn’t want to be named, said a police helicopter was at the scene on Monday.

A police spokesman said: "Police were called to a property in Primrose Avenue, Darfield, where a 51-year-old woman was found suffering from extensive burn injuries.

"She was taken to Northern General Hospital where her condition was described on Tuesday as serious."

THE Reds have signed England goalkeeper Jack Butland on loan from Stoke.

Butland, 20, made his senior England debut against Italy last year and has been signed on an emergency 93-day loan.

"I’m really excited, it’s been a tough start to the season and I’ve not played as many times as I would have liked," Butland said.

"Coming to Barnsley is the next step and a new challenge. Having spoken to the manager I got a good feeling from everyone here. I’m looking forward to help turning it around."

Butland, who signed for Stoke for a reported £3.5million in January, will go straight into the squad for Saturday’s match at Leicester with current number one Luke Steele out with a back injury.