JOHN Stones was back in Barnsley last week - just two days after making his Premier League debut in Everton's 1-0 win against Jose Mourinho's Chelsea.

Stones, from Penistone, came on late in the game then made the trip to Oakwell to watch Barnsley's under 21s win against Nottingham Forest.

While there, he was also presented with a plaque containing pictures of his debuts for the Reds and England under 19s by academy coaches Ronnie Branson and Mark Burton.

"John came to the club when he was eight, spent nine years in the academy and then six months in the first team," said Ronnie.

"He's now playing for a Premier League club and being tipped for England, so everyone who's worked with him here deserve to be very proud. It's a brilliant achievement for Barnsley."

BARNSLEY Town Hall took six months to build back in the 1930s, but this man's attempt only took 100 hours.

Skilled craftsman Tom Horsfield decided to create the scaled down version of the building as a duck house, to mark the official opening ceremony of the Barnsley Pals Centenary Square.

Tom, 28, says the ducks that live on the stream that runs through Pot House Hamlet in Silkstone are already impressed by his tribute.

"I just thought it would be a nice tribute," said Tom. "It's rather bigger than I originally planned, but I'm pleased with it and the ducks really love it."

MORE than 200 Barnsley trade unionists and bedroom tax activists have booked places on coaches to go and protest in Manchester on Sunday.

September 29 will see protesters demonstrating outside the Conservative Party conference, with coaches leaving Eldon Street at 10am.

The chairman of Barnsley Trades Council, Malcolm Clements, said: "There's growing anger at the impact Tory policies are having on ordinary people's lives.

"We cannot wait until the next election before we fight back - we have to fight back now."

BARNSLEY town centre has been awarded a prestigious gold rose award by Yorkshire in Bloom's judges.

The town was the top spot for a number of reasons, including the way the heritage of the town is being celebrated, for the safe feeling of a major underpass and the floral displays.

The judges were impressed by Experience Barnsley and say the town centre is generally very clean.

They added: "An important environmental aspect is the way the market area Alhambra Shopping Centre and adjacent underpasses are managed.

"The area projects a feeling of safety and openness, and free from any feeling of aggression.

"Throughout the town centre there are many floral displays, and well-maintained grass areas, contributing to a positive ambience."

Also awarded a gold rose in its section is Barnsley Hospice which is praised for its well cared for grounds which are described as 'bright and colourful'.

Elsecar Park and its local nature reserve also achieved a gold award in the parks section of the awards. The judges said it's obvious why they're so popular, adding: "The high levels of maintenance of what is a public park with considerable visitor numbers are to be applauded."

A DAD fears his daughter and almost 30 other children could be at risk after a bus service was axed.

The dad, of Links View, said the 496 service which took his 11-year-old daughter and other children to Darton College from Staincross had ‘disappeared’ with no warning.

He's so concerned that he does not want to be named - because he fears his daughter could be at risk from strangers if they get to know she is walking to and from school, especially as the nights draw in.

"I got a call from her on Monday last week on her mobile and she said the bus didn't turn up," he said.

"It turned out there were 27 kids down there at the bus stop and they had just been left at the side of the road."

His wife went to the bus stop in her car, picked up as many of them as she could and took them to college.

In the meantime, the dad began making frantic phone calls to try to find out what had happened to the 496 bus run by Tates Travel.

He said: "I talked to just about everyone. Darton College were very concerned, our councillor Roy Miller and the local education authority who told me they don’t have to supply school buses because we live under a three-mile range."

The family was told that children could ‘walk down the hill’ to near the old California pub on Sackup Lane where they could catch another service - the 444 - but when they tried that the next day, the bus drove straight past.

The dad added: "My daughter would struggle to do that anyway because she has asthma."

Graham Mallinson, of Tates Travel, said the 496 was withdrawn due to low passenger numbers. "We did give 56 days' legal notice and South Yorkshire Passenger Transport received a copy of the cancellation notice but it appears they failed to convey that to the school," he said.

A RETIRED army captain intends to lodge a formal complaint against the police - following attempts to prosecute him over a £7.49 neighbour dispute.

Criminal charges against Tim Hallam, who denied causing damage after cutting the top off a wooden fence post, have been dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service due to 'insufficient evidence'.

Mr Hallam, of Thurgoland Bank, Thurgoland, disagrees with a neighbour about whose land the post, which would cost £7.49 to repair, is on.

The 55-year-old, who served in Bosnia and Kosovo, said the experience had been stressful but, given some of the things he had dealt with during his military career, it was 'water off a duck's back'.

Chris Hartley, senior district crown prosecutor, said Mr Hallam was charged with criminal damage by South Yorkshire Police, not the CPS.

"We asked the police to provide us with a full file of evidence," he said. "Careful review of the file identified further lines of enquiry which were explored by the police.

"This revealed a report from a surveyor who had been instructed by the victim over the boundary issue. This report indicated that the fence post was 25cm onto Mr Hallam’s land. This meant that Mr Hallam was within his rights to take steps to remove the fence post.

"As a result of this information there was insufficient evidence and the case had to be stopped."

District Judge John Foster attacked the CPS when the case was initially taken to court last month, branding the decision to prosecute 'crackers' and 'nonsense'.

Mr Hallam said he now plans to submit a grievance against the police and the case will be subject to a civil hearing between the neighbours.

SIX patients have contracted the infection clostridium difficile while being treated at Barnsley Hospital since April.

In the first quarter of this year - from April to June - there were six recorded cases of patients contracting the infection, known as 'C Diff' - one more than the quarterly target of five.

Clostridium Difficile is a type of bacterial infection that can affect the digestive system.

Chief nurse Heather McNair said frail and elderly patients are more susceptible, along with those who need strong antibiotics. The infection causes severe diarrhoea.

She said when a patient is diagnosed, they're kept in isolation because the infection is contagious.

Heather said antibiotics were only prescribed when needed and staff and visitors are asked to use sanitising hand gel to try and prevent the infection.

She said target has come down over the last three years.

A MAN was found hanged at his home in Barnsley.

John William Turner, 47, of Limes Way, Gawber, was found dead at his home last Monday.

An inquest has been opened and adjourned pending further enquiries.

THE Metrodome has been shortlisted in the prestigious National Fitness Awards for the second year.

It's one of six finalists in the Gym of the Year North category, beating off stiff competition from hundreds of nominations nationwide.

The awards, organised by Script Media in conjunction with leading fitness magazine WorkOut, are the biggest free-to-enter awards in the gym industry and recognise excellence, innovation and hard work.

Each of the finalists will be visited by the judging team, which will meet the owners and staff, be given tours, chat with members and present a detailed report to an expert panel of judges.

Judith Halkerston, the event's director, said: "Visiting the shortlisted gyms really is one of the WorkOut team's favourite jobs of the year - it's inspiring to see all the great work that's going on in facilities, big and small, all over the country.

"All the shortlisted gyms have done really well already beating off stiff competition - it's been a tough task choosing just six as the quality of entries seems to just get better year on year.

"We believe we have made the right choices though and many congratulations to all the finalists."

Winners will be announced at a ceremony on December 6 at The Palace Hotel, Manchester, hosted by former television Gladiator and fitness expert Caroline Pearce.

Tim Wilson, BPL's chief executive, said: "We're delighted to be finalists for the National Fitness Awards once again and are proud that the Metrodome is recognised as a leading regional attraction.

"We're committed to continuously improving all of our venues and are pleased to see the results of this investment are being nationally recognised."

FIRE crews rushed to a van fire on the M1.

It happened last Wednesday at about 4.30pm and crews from Barnsley and Tankersley attended the scene, which was on the hard shoulder of the M1 southbound between junctions 37 and 36.

A spokeswoman for the fire service said the fire was logged as accidental and the two fire crews left the scene after about half an hour.

UP to £12million of problem debt has been tackled by Barnsley Citizens' Advice in the last year.

An annual report published by the advice service reveals it dealt with 21,480 problems during 2012 to 2013, increasing its advice line hours from 17.5 hours to 30 hours per week, which resulted in an increase of 20 per cent in the number of individuals supported (4,863).

It states there was a 23 percent increase in total client contacts (13,821) and a 50 per cent increase in telephone contacts (5,483).

The report shows that during this period the bureau also saw a 65 per cent increase in homelessness being averted (452 cases), a 46 per cent increase in the amount of problem debt managed (total of £12million from a total of 9,423 cases), a 34 per cent rise in relationship queries (719 cases), a 28 per cent increase in welfare benefit cases (2,779) and a 25 per cent hike in employment queries (1,021).

The main problem areas were benefits (15 per cent), debt (46 per cent), housing (four per cent) and employment (five per cent).

The top five benefit issues were employment support allowance, housing benefit, working and child tax credits, council tax benefit and jobseekers' allowance.

Unsecured personal loan debts came top in debt issues, at 17 per cent, while key housing issues included nine per cent of clients threatened with homelessness and three per cent suffering actual homelessness.

In the report CAB chief executive Pat Heath says: "In an era of austerity there is no doubt the bureau will be needed more than ever to support people who are adversely affected by the harsh economic climate that is likely to prevail for the foreseeable future.

"Whether we are able to meet those needs will depend entirely on the level of resources, both financial and human, at our disposal.

"Nevertheless, we are convinced, provided the bureau has the necessary funding, that we will continue to make a significant and positive difference to the lives of many people in Barnsley."

HUNDREDS braved the rain and dusted off their family heirlooms to see experts from the Antiques Roadshow.

Presenter Fiona Bruce and her team of antiques and fine arts specialists visited Wentworth Woodhouse on Thursday to film for the 36th series of the BBC TV show.

"Every week is different - a new location and thousands of new visitors," said Fiona. "The only constant is the pleasure of the unexpected as we never know what will turn up."

Scores of experts were on hand to offer free advice and valuations to visitors, who had raided their attics to take along their family heirlooms, household treasures and car boot bargains for inspection by the experts.

A NEW Aldi store cannot be built fast enough, according to a local councillor.

The new supermarket, on Barnsley Road, Cudworth, will create 30 jobs, as well 250 construction posts and was given the green light by the council last week.

Councillor Joe Hayward said the plans 'ticked the right boxes and provided healthy competition in the village'.

"In total it has been well received by the people of Cudworth," he added.

The store and car park would complement existing shops, it was said, and Aldi would not be selling newspapers, lottery tickets or have a deli in store.

Council planning officer Matthew Smith said 70 letters of support had been submitted to the council - with just three letters of objection.

Cllr Hayward, who has been supporting the establishment of a food bank in Cudworth which opened on Friday, said Aldi would help people who are short on cash with its lower prices.

"It's not the brand names they're looking at, it's the pennies in their pockets," he said. "They can't build it fast enough."

An Aldi spokesman said: "We're very pleased with the outcome of the planning decision to grant consent for a new Aldi food store in Cudworth town centre.

"We received overwhelming public support to re-develop the brownfield site on Barnsley Road that has remained vacant for a number of years.

"This multi-million pound development will create around 250 construction jobs and 35 permanent local jobs.

"Construction works are planned to start on site in 2014."

A CONCERNED mother made a cardboard sign warning off doggers after catching two people having sex in a car outside her home.

Mother-of-three Marie Owen, 27, put the triangular sign on a lamp post at the end of Wentworth View reading: 'This is a child-friendly area, not a doggin' spot! Have respect and, by the way, smile you're on CCTV ya filthy b******s!'

Dogging is a clandestine practice involving participants having sex in cars in secluded areas while being watched by spectators. This wasn't what Marie saw but she said she was moved to make the sign after witnessing a public sex act from her first floor flat window at about 10pm.

She said: "I've got three kids aged five, three and one and I looked out of my window because I usually have it open when I'm smoking. I saw this car there with a bloke in the driver's seat and a woman in the passenger's seat.

"You could see they were messing about and then the bloke got out and went to the passenger seat. Then I could see the car wobbling. But all it takes is for one of my children to get up for a drink or something. I can't have this outside my house."

PCSO Matt Shaughnessy, of the Wombwell Safer Neighbourhood Team, said he was aware there had been dogging going on in Wombwell but had not received any reports from Wentworth View.

"We're aware of a car park in Broomhill that's used and we pay particular attention to that but you would think people would go out of the way a bit further than Wentworth View," he said.

A 46-year-old man is in police custody in South Yorkshire having been arrested on the 23rd September in Darfield on suspicion of attempted murder.

At around 6.20pm, 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 is described as serious.

The 46-year old man was arrested in Primrose Avenue and taken into custody for questioning.

A WOMAN assaulted a police officer as she was being restrained and searched, Barnsley Magistrates' Court was told.

Katrina Anne Clarke, 24, was making a nuisance of herself at the home of a man, said Karen Mann, prosecuting.

Miss Mann said: "She was unsteady on her feet and her speech was slurred. She was shouting and swearing.

"As she was being restrained, she threw her head back and it connected with the forehead of WPC Rachel Burrows.

"Miss Clarke carried on being very abusive and she was searched for drugs.

"She kicked WPC Burrows on the leg as the officer went through the turn-ups of her jeans. Miss Clarke acted recklessly."

Clarke, who admitted assaulting a police officer, was ordered to undergo six months of supervision by the Probation Service and to attend six sessions of a group for women offenders.

She was also ordered to pay £85 in costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

THOUSANDS of council tenants in the region have been pushed into debt by the so-called 'bedroom tax', according to new figures.

Barnsley, along with Rotherham, are the worst affected in Yorkshire, with almost 2,000 people falling into arrears since the changes came in on April 1.

A staggering 43 per cent of council-owned homes in Barnsley are in the red, according to figures released by councils in response to Freedom of Information requests.

New legislation means tenants have their housing benefit reduced by up to 25 per cent if their home has a spare bedroom.

The idea is to encourage people living in larger properties to move to smaller ones, freeing up space for families who need the room.

False Economy, the campaign group which collected the data, said some families were being given help through emergency funds provided by councils but with that money rapidly drying up, they're predicting the situation is likely to get far worse.

PROBATION Service workers in Barnsley protested outside Barnsley Town Hall after a vast chunk of the service was put up for sale by the government.

Crowds gathered last Thursday to protest about the controversial reforms to privatise the service which deals with the rehabilitation of offenders, contracts were offered up to the private and voluntary sectors, attracting interest from security firms such as G4S and Serco.

The reforms means those sectors will cover the supervision of low and medium-risk offenders on a payment-by-results basis.

Sharon Price, a local member of trade union National Association of Probation Officers, said the service is facing the fight of its life - and union members strongly oppose the plans.

She said: "Although the government has stated that high risk offenders will still be managed by the Probation Service, 80 per cent of serious offences are committed by individuals thought at the time to be low or medium risk of serious harm to the public.

"It's the management of these offenders that's of concern to us as the government is planning on outsourcing this work to private security firms who, quite simply, are not trained to the same standard as qualified probation officers.

"These changes to our profession will put the public at risk."

She questioned how the government can justify companies such as Serco and G4S bidding for the work when they're under investigation for their mismanagement of other government contracts.

What do you think to the reforms? Have your say below.

A TEENAGER who took his mother's car and set it on fire has been given a suspended jail term - despite not having a licence or insurance.

Barnsley Magistrates' Court was told that on May 3, residents heard a vehicle crash in Millhouses Street, Hoyland, and called police.

Jayne Ormrod, prosecuting, said calls described three men trying to set fire to a VW Golf. One man set off running and a police officer chased and arrested Joshua Cameron, 19, of Cobcar Lane, Hoyland, who then failed a roadside breath test.

The two other men were brothers and had 'white powder around their nostrils'.

Mrs Ormrod said Cameron's mother had been working in a pub in Blacker Hill and Cameron, who works in London, was staying with her that week.

His mum had gone to bed, taking her car keys with her, but later heard her other son and nephew asking where her car was. Cameron had been out drinking and later admitted he got 'legless'.

He remembered picking the brothers up at about 11pm but could not account for how he got to where he was arrested.

Eric Bray, mitigating, said Cameron worked through the week in London as a civil engineer for Network Rail, and then returned home on Fridays.

"What on earth he was playing at goodness only knows," said Mr Bray. "He is known as a hard-working, enthusiastic and safety-conscious member of his team. He was trying on the night to be something of a good Samaritan to his two friends who were not in a fit state to get home."

Cameron admitted driving without a licence, no insurance, arson, driving over the legal alcohol limit and aggravated vehicle taking. 

He was given a 26-week suspended prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, banned from driving for 18 months and ordered to pay an £80 victim surcharge and £85 costs. 

THA waint find a better pint of ale anywhere else in Yorkshire - and it's now official. The Old No 7 has been recognised as the jewel in the crown of Barnsley's real ale watering holes after being named Yorkshire's Pub of the Year - just two years after opening.

It was given the accolade by the Campaign for Real Ale group and now the pub, on Market Hill, will be judged among 16 regional winners as finalists in CAMRA's national awards next year.

A spokesman from the group said: "This Acorn Brewery-owned bar boasts seven real ales and one cider/perry, all on handpump.

"Two further ciders/perries are usually found behind the bar, plus an extensive range of quality foreign beers.

"The attentive staff and well-run bar attract a broad clientele including circuit drinkers, football fans and beer connoisseurs, who are all made equally welcome."

The non-food pub was re-launched as a 'haven' for quality cask ale and cider in 2011.

Acorn Brewery co-founder Dave Hughes said being given the award was 'fantastic'. 

"This accolade as the top pub in Yorkshire justifies all the blood, sweat and tears we endured to open the pub in what was really a cask ale desert at the time," he added.

AN MP has won his battle to stop the government from using rip-off rate phone lines after an 18-month campaign.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) decided in the Commons last Tuesday that they would bring in 0345 numbers where they currently have 0845.

This will make calls free or considerably cheaper than the previous rate which was anything up to 41p a minute.

Mr Healey has campaigned against the use of 0845 numbers by government departments and GPs.

"The government has promised an end to high-cost lines that rip off the most vulnerable and poorest in our country," he said. "Now no one will pay more than if they were calling a local landline.

"This is a victory for all those who are put off from seeking the help they need and are entitled to because they can’t afford to spend a big chunk of their tight budget making the call.

PAC chair Margaret Hodge said it was 'shocking' that people had to call 0845 numbers to access crisis loans, victim support and bereavement services.

She said: "Well done to John Healey in winning this campaign. It's a brilliant example of what a campaigning MP can do through Parliament to get real change which will make a big difference to the everyday costs for millions of ordinary people."

A BARNSLEY man has raised over £4,500 for The Institute of Cancer Research after climbing four mountains in Ecuador.

Matt Kay, 33, of Lady Croft Lane, Hemingfield, travelled to the South American country to tackle the four peaks - culminating in a ten-hour climb of Mount Cotapaxi, the country's second highest summit.

With 86 reported eruptions, the 19,347ft Cotapaxi is also one of Ecuador's most active volcanoes.

Matt, who works in Halifax, completed the ascents with friends who he met on a climb of Mount Kilimanjaro three years ago.

"It was tougher than the Kilimanjaro climb," said Matt. "We had bad weather on the night before the Cotapaxi ascent with snow and a -20ºC wind.

"In the past I've raised money for other cancer charities, all of which have helped support people who are suffering with the disease and their families.

"My mum died of cancer when I was young. I never knew her and don't have any memories that involve her so I don't want anyone else to grow up like that, hence I'm climbing more big mountains to hopefully raise funds."  

For more information, click here.

A BARNSLEY man has been given a 10-week jail term and banned from the roads for five years for being more than three times over the drink drive limit.

Donald Edward Richards, 49, of Rochester Road, Monk Bretton, had been drinking all day, Barnsley Magistrates' Court was told.

Richards was going to leave his Peugeot 106 in a car park but made a 'wrong decision' to drive because of the amount he had had to drink, said Sean Fritchley, defending.

Mr Fritchley said Richards had since sold the car and had vowed never to drive again. He said Richards cared for his frail mother.

"Mr Richards regrets what he has done and has shown remorse. He is more concerned about what will happen to his mother than his liberty," Mr Fritchley added.

Chantel Lowery-Green, prosecuting, said Richards was stopped by police acting on information that a drunken driver was leaving a car park in the town centre. She added Richards was arrested on the spot.

District Judge John Foster said: "You have completely disregarded the drink drive laws for a long time. On this occasion, you had been drinking all day."

Richards admitted being over the drink drive limit.

A MAN was left with head injuries when crowd trouble forced a boxing match to be abandoned at the Metrodome.

A spokeswoman for South Yorkshire Police confirmed an investigation was under way and one man, 46, was taken to Barnsley Hospital with suspected head injuries. A 27-year-old man was arrested and bailed.

Fighting in the crowd broke out half way through Damon Jones's fight with Simeon Lucas.

Trouble began when visiting supporters from Leeds, who were seated in a stand, began launching missiles at a smaller group seated lower down.

The group identified themselves by singing songs associated with Leeds United Football Club and were there to support Jones.

Police have confiscated footage of the fight from Hatton Boxing TV.

The main event, featuring hometown fighter Matthew Mallin and Denaby’s Adam Jones, was not allowed to go ahead due to safety fears.

Anyone who witnessed the disturbance is asked to contact South Yorkshire Police by calling 101, quoting incident number 1,265 of September 21.

READERS can expect more stories about people peeing in bus stops when the Barnsley Chronicle welcomes its guest editor this week.

Cheeky BBC Radio Sheffield breakfast show presenter Toby Foster, 44, is stepping into the boots of editor Andrew Harrod to take the helm of Yorkshire's best-selling weekly newspaper.

"I'm looking forward to it even though I'm not sure what we're going to do," he said. "I like stories that are funny, like the ones about people weeing in bus stops."

"I'm told I'll be something like the sixth editor since the Second World War - and they were all a hearty bunch of men."

Toby is right, he will be the sixth man to take charge following editors Ronald Yates (1945-1969), Anthony Galvin (1969-1985), Don Booker (1985-1994), Robert Cockroft (1994-2011) and Andrew Harrod (2011-present).

"I'm a big fan of the Chronicle and I've always read it and we talk about it a lot on the radio," Toby added. "We're going to be doing the show live from the Chronicle on the Friday, too."

THE police have released a CCTV image of a man they would like to speak to after an assault that happened on a bus.

At around 4pm on Monday, August 5, police received reports that a 16-year-old boy had been assaulted whilst on the number 218 bus, which was travelling between Barnsley and Rawmarsh, Rotherham.

The boy suffered minor bruising following the incident.

The man in the picture is described as white, 6ft tall and of stocky build. He is aged between 30 and 40.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, or who can identify the man pictured, is urged to call South Yorkshire Police on 101 quoting incident number B/72393/13.

A BARNSLEY man who died after a head-on road collision veered across the road shortly beforehand.

An inquest into 26-year-old Craig Darren Wadsworth's death was told a work colleague, who was following him, said his driving seemed normal until he suddenly veered across the road.

Coroner David Hinchliff said the the kitchen fitter, of Stanhope Gardens, Gawber, may have suffered a 'medical event' behind the wheel before the accident on Hemsworth Road, South Kirkby, last Wednesday afternoon.

A provisional post-mortem recorded that he died of multiple injuries.

The inquest was adjourned pending enquiries.

CAMPAIGNERS against the so-called 'bedroom tax' are stepping up their fight.

Barnsley Campaign Against the Bedroom Tax members have been heartened by a number of events in recent weeks that has given them fresh hope.

The tax is a cut in the amount of housing benefit people receive if they're deemed to have a spare bedroom in their council or housing association home.

The cause of the renewed hope for campaigners comes after a meeting in Cudworth when Barnsley Council's leader, Sir Steve Houghton, told angry tenants he would argue for the council to oppose the bedroom tax.

Cllr Houghton also promised to look into whether the council could follow the example of others in promising no evictions for bedroom tax arrears.

In Scotland, a tribunal in Kirkcaldy decided the local council had to take account of how any 'spare room' was actually being used, leaving the way open for thousands of people across the UK to submit appeals.

Fran Postlethwaite, from the Barnsley Campaign Against the Bedroom Tax group, said: "The pressure that campaigns have put on all over the country is beginning to pay off.

"There are signs that we can get rid of this hated tax. Now we need to step up the pressure."

More cases of bedroom tax arrears are expected to be heard in Barnsley County Court on Tuesday when the council will be taking the next step towards eviction by seeking possession orders on a number of people who have got into arrears.

Fran said campaigners will be outside the court from 9.30am to demonstrate its opposition.

AN RSPCA inspector says she is hopeful of making an arrest this week as part of an investigation into the drowning of a dog.

Staffordshire bull terrier Bruiser, three, had heavy metal weights attached to his paws and RSPCA inspector Lynsey Harris believes he was still alive when he was thrown into the canal.

The dog's previous owners, who re-homed him last summer when they separated, said Bruiser was a gentle-natured dog.

Lynsey said they received several calls and were following them up.

Last week the Barnsley Chronicle put forward a £500 cash reward to help bring those responsible to justice.

THE Reds were crushed 5-1 at home to Watford on Saturday.

Barnsley's poor defensive record continued and are now second bottom, with just four points from eight games.

The match began frantically with three goals in the first 17 minutes as Troy Deeney fired the Hornets ahead, before Jason Scotland got his first goal of the season. It wasn't level for long though as Davide Faraoni tapped home a deflected cross by Lewis McGugan to restore Watford's advantage.

The fourth goal was always going to be crucial and Watford got it just before half-time when Deeney played Ikechi Anya in down the left of the box and he powered past Wiseman before setting up Fernando Forestieri to make it 3-1.

Barnsley were better in the first half and Manuel Almunia had to make a phenomenal one-handed save to deny Martin Cranie's header from four yards out.

However, Sean Murray finished the Reds off when he fired into the bottom left corner with an excellent 25-yard strike.

Anya then made it five on 79 minutes when he tackled David Perkins on the edge of the Watford box following a Barnsley corner and sprinted the length of the pitch before firing in.

"We've been below our standards and against a Watford team you can't even get away with 10 per cent off," said David Flitcroft. "Some players were 30 or 40 per cent off the standards they've set.

"They've let the group down and they've certainly let the fans down. I want to design a football team that wins games. It's something I'm obsessed with and, at the minute, we're not doing that."

FRIDAY night's boxing show at the Metrodome was abandoned as troubled flared up in the crowds.

Fighting in the crowd broke out half way through Damon Jones's fight with Simeon Lucas.

At least two people were cut on their heads and police have seized recorded footage.

Trouble was brewing from the moment that Jones, from Leeds, entered the ring. Fans of the two fighters started goading each other from the first bell - and things turned ugly in the third round as both sets of fans charged each other.

The Leeds lad's supporters, who were seated in a stand, allegedly began launching missiles at a smaller group on the floor.

Despite an end of the round plea from Damo for the trouble to stop, the riot continued and got worse.

The police were called to the scene but by the time they arrived the damage had been done.

The main event, featuring hometown fighter Matthew Mallin and Denaby’s Adam Jones, was not allowed to go ahead.

A THIEF has been given a year to prove she can stop committing crime and keep off drugs.

Diane Mavis Muirhead, 29, asked to be locked up when she was arrested as her life was in such a state, Barnsley Magistrates' Court was told.

Eric Bray, defending, said Muirhead had a methadone prescription and her benefits stopped and went back on heroin.

"There's hope," said Mr Bray. "During her 34 days in prison on remand, her methadone prescription gas been restored and she's managing well.

"When she is released, the prescription will continue."

Felicity Hemlin, prosecuting, said Muirhead, of Bond Street, Wombwell, targeted a branch of Poundstretcher twice. She stole almost £200 worth of bed linen.

Muirhead, who admitted two thefts, was ordered to undergo 12 months of supervision and to attend a project for women. She was also ordered to pay £194.87 in compensation, costs of £85 and a £60 victim surcharge.

THE Reds will hold on a crisis meeting on Monday to help halt the club’s misfiring start to the season.

"We have a board meeting on Monday and it will be a case of where we're at and what do we think we need," said manager David Flitcroft.

"Certainly some strategical recruitment in areas is needed now. We don't have enough points on the board and the balance is still not what I'm happy with.

"Even though the players have given us everything - the last three games have showed the players have given everything they've got - we have not amassed points from the last two games, which is disappointing.

"You have to do something about it and that’s what we will do, really fire the competition up."

BARNSLEY Hospital is to employ more nurses to make wards for elderly patients safer.

Around 13 new posts consisting of full and part-time positions will be created and it's hoped the staff will be in place on wards 19 and 20 by Christmas.

Currently, there's one matron for the two wards and each ward is managed by a senior nurse.

For ‘ideal, good quality care’, the nursing union, the Royal College of Nursing, recommends there's one registered nurse for every five patients.

The impact of the increased staff on patient safety will focus on falls and pressure ulcers and will be monitored monthly.

From April to June there were 28 falls suffered by patients on ward 19, while on ward 20 there were 53. There were five pressure ulcers on ward 19 and four on ward 20 - all suffered after the patient arrived in hospital.

Heather McNair, chief nurse at Barnsley Hospital, said staffing levels were continually reviewed.

"The Royal College of Nursing provides recommended levels of staffing and we use these as a benchmark to measure our own levels," she added.

"In order to achieve the ideal, quality care as recommended by the RCN we have committed to recruiting more nurses on our elderly care wards."

David Munday, a health officer for the Unite union, said: "Improving care means having enough staff on wards to respond to the needs of patients.

"If patients can’t get a response from a nurse quickly enough, they can sometimes try and get out of bed themselves and can end up falling if they aren't very steady on their feet. More staff will improve that."

Michelle Mitchell from Age UK said the move was good news.

"Low staffing levels on hospital wards dangerously compromise elderly patients care and dignity. Nurses need time to be able to look after, listen and respond to their older patients," she added.

A VEHICLE destroyed a section of dry stone wall outside a village primary school.

A lamp post had to be taken down for safety reasons after the incident on September 5. Witnesses said a minibus, travelling in the direction of Oxspring along Halifax Road, Thurgoland, hit a parked car, forcing it through the wall.

Max Barton, 17, who lives close to the site, near Thurgoland Primary School, said the car owner was 'devastated' by the damage.

"It was probably half an hour or so after 'going home time'," he said. "I don't think anybody was hurt."

Workers from Barnsley Council attended the scene later in the evening and removed the top part of the lamp post and fenced the area off.

A council spokesman said: "The lighting column will be replaced in the next few weeks."

A BARNSLEY nursery has been targeted by thieves.

Equipment including a computer and three digital cameras were stolen from Brierley Playmates after the break-in was discovered last Wednesday.

"It was just an awful feeling because you don't know if they're there hiding or they're watching," said manager Vicky Ray. "It's just not a nice feeling when you know people have gone through your things."

Vicky said the barrel of a lock on the door had been pushed through to gain entry.

She said the office had been rummaged through and a computer, three digital cameras, a drill and two telephones had been taken.

The nursery is now back up and running and the police have investigated. Luckily, a parent has given the nursery a digital camera and another kind parent has donated a computer.

Vicky believes the incident took place some time between August 28 and September 4.