MANY people turned out for a family fun day in Dodworth as part of celebrations for the unveiling of the village's mining memorial.

The event took place on June 22 at the library on High Street and there were plenty of attractions to keep people busy - and even the sun made a brief appearance.

After the High Street memorial was revealed to the public, which commemorates the men killed at eight Barnsley pits between 1850 and 1987, many people then gathered on the grassed area on High Street to continue the celebrations.

Entertainment on the day included children's fair rides, various stalls, face-painting and Dodworth Colliery Band gave rousing musical renditions to get folk in the mood.

The fun day and unveiling was organised by Dodworth and District Miners' Memorial Fund. The group's secretary, Sandra Birkinshaw, said it was 'a really excellent day' and good for the community.

"While the weather may have held some people back, there was plenty of entertainment on and people had a a good time," she said.

A BARNSLEY Arctic Convoy veteran has been recognised by Russian president Vladimir Putin, during his recent trip to London.

Elsecar man Ken Burkinshaw, who served in the Second World War on board HMS Sheffield, delivered food supplies and weapons to Soviet forces in Russia.

Twenty people were presented with the Ushakov Medal on Sunday, when the Russian president visited the capital, but hundreds, including Ken, have been recognised and will receive their medal at a later date.

Ken, 89, of Cherry Tree Street, said: "The Russians have wanted to award us this for a while but our government have said that the last medal we got, the Arctic Star, was sufficient.

"Soldiers from New Zealand, Australia and all the other countries have received theirs and it's now time we got ours."

PENSIONERS in their 80s and 90s who go to a dance club are being turned out of their building to make way for a 'youth hub.'

Wombwell's Barnsley Road-based Phoenix Social Club has existed for 30 years and meets at Wombwell Community Centre.

Some members have been in the club from the start and were pupils at the old primary school in the 1920s and 1930s.

They enjoy getting together with friends at the club every Wednesday and pay £2 for two hours' dancing. About 15 members regularly attend.

But they've been hit by the bombshell that their building is earmarked to become a centralised 'youth hub' - following closure of three youth clubs in Wombwell, Darfield and Worsbrough.

Brian Steer, 82, of Aldham House Lane, Wombwell, has run the club for the last eight years. He said: "It was right out of the blue. A lady from the youth service called me in and told me. It was a bit of a shaker and she made it quite clear the decision is irrevocable. I had to tell members and they're heartbroken."

Mr Steer said there were no other places in Wombwell for the club to meet. The centre had been ideal because it was on a bus route and had parking.

He added: "One member who was a pupil at the old school in 1935 said he was enjoying himself spending his last days dancing. It looks like the last waltz for us."

A spokesman from Barnsley Council said the club would not be accommodated from September.

The spokesman said: "We're sorry that we can no longer accommodate the dance group, but unfortunately the youth service has had to make savings and we have had to concentrate our provision on one site."

CHANCELLOR George Osborne has announced a whole host of changes in his Spending Review for 2015/16. Here are the key points.

Welfare

Jobseekers face new requirements to get benefits. Non-English speaking claimants must learn the language while New Upfront Work Search system will require claimants to provide a CV, register for online job search and start looking for work before getting benefits.

Lone parents of three and four-year-olds to be required to attend job centres regularly and prepare for work.

Payment of winter fuel payments for people living abroad to be linked to a 'temperature test' from Autumn 2015 to ensure pensioners in hot countries do not get it.

Three new welfare reforms to include 'Welfare Cap' set in Budget statement annually from April 2015 for four years though state pension not included.

NHS

NHS budget rises to £110bn for 2015/16 - £4.7bn capital spending in NHS.

Education

Education budget increased to £53bn for spend on schools only. Pupil Premium extended to more children, with 180 more free schools funded.

Tax

HMRC resource budget cut by 5 per cent but extra resources provided to tackle tax evasion raising a predicted £1bn-plus.

Transport

Transport to make 9 per cent saving in day-to-day spending but it will receive the largest boost of any department to its capital budget, which rises to £9.5bn - to be repeated every year to 2020.

Investment

A massive £50bn of capital investment in 2015/16, amounting to more than £300bn for infrastructure including broadband, science and schools by 2020. Promises the largest programme of investment in roads for 50 years and in railways since the Victorian age.

Law

Savings of 10 per cent in Justice department. Police counter-terrorism budget will not be cut while there will be an Increase of 3.4 per cent in intelligence services budget.

Defence

No reduction in numbers of soldiers, sailors or airmen, but cuts in civilian workforce. Defence resource budget maintained at £24bn. Its equipment budget will be £14bn and will grow by 1 per cent in real terms in following years.

Jobs and Pay

Government workers to fall by extra 144,000 by 2015/16. Ending automatic progression pay in public sector - though Armed Forces excluded. Pay rises limited to average of up to 1 per cent.

JUNE 26 saw George Osborne's Spending Review. Here are its key points, as it happened.

1234: Chancellor George Osborne says the coalition has taken the economy back from the brink of bankruptcy.

1235: Mr Osborne promises high-quality public services at an affordable price.

1235: The chancellor says the unfairness of the "something-for-nothing culture" of welfare will end.

1238: From £157bn of annual borrowing by 2010, this year's figure will fall to £108bn, the chancellor tells MPs.

1240: An extra £11.5bn in savings is needed, the chancellor says, adding that this is "not easy".

1242: The chancellor announces that automatic annual rises up pay grades in the public sector will end. The armed forces will be excluded from this reform.

1243: Some 144,000 fewer people will work in the public sector by 2015-16, Mr Osborne says.

1244: The Cabinet Office will see its resource budget cut by 10%, Mr Osborne says.

1246: The local government department will have to make savings of 10%, Mr Osborne says.

1247: Council tax will be frozen for two years from 2014, Mr Osborne says.

1248: People's satisfaction with council services has increased under the coalition, Mr Osborne says.

1251: There will be 10% savings to the Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland offices.

1253: As previously announced, civilian Ministry of Defence staff will be cut, but military capability will not, Mr Osborne says.

1253: The defence equipment budget will increase by 1% in 2015-16.

1254: Veterans' families will be supported using fines raised from those found to have done wrong in the Libor banking scandal.

1255: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will make 8% savings in 2015-16.

1257: The Home Office will be asked to make cuts of 6%. The police budget will be reduced "by less than that", the chancellor says.

1257: The Ministry of Justice will make savings of 10% in 2015-16.

1300: The Department for Transport will have its day-to-day spending cut by 9% in 2015-16.

1303: The Department for Energy and Climate Change will have its budget cut by 8% and the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by 10%.

1303: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills will face a budget cut of 6% in 2015-16.

1304: The resource budget for science will be maintained and the capital budget increased, Mr Osborne says.

1307: The Department for Education and Skills, whose spending on schools has been ring-fenced, will see its overall budget increase to £53bn in 2015-16.

1307: Schools' spending will be allocated "in a fairer way" across the country, Mr Osborne says.

1309: The government will provide funding for 180 new free schools in 2015-16.

1310: The top fifth of the population, in terms of income, will lose the most from this spending round.

1311: The HM Revenue and Customs budget will fall by 5% in 2015-16.

1315: Mr Osborne says the NHS will provide a "proper, joined-up" service under reforms proposed by the coalition.

1317: A welfare cap will be applied from April 2015, the chancellor says, and it will be set every year in the Budget.

1317: The state pension will not be included in the welfare cap, Mr Osborne adds.

1319: The chancellor says winter fuel payments to people living abroad will be changed in autumn 2015. They will be linked to a "temperature test", removing them from people living in hot countries.

1320: The Department for Work and Pensions will have to find savings of £9.5bn in its running costs in 2015-16.

13.22: From now on, if benefit claimants cannot speak English, they will be required to take lessons until they can or face cuts in payments.

1323: There will be additional welfare savings in 2015-16 of £4bn, the chancellor says. 

1324: The Museums Association says the 10% cut to local government funding will impact negatively on services. Director Mark Taylor said: "Predictably, local government is low down the food chain and we know that local government museums or independent museums supported by them are way down the local government food chain. The result can only be less museums, opening less and providing less services."

REDS goalkeeper Luke Steele has agreed a new two-year deal.

Steele joined the Oakwell club in February 2008 on an initial loan deal before a permanent move later that year.

Just earlier this month, Barnsley boss David Flitcroft admitted he expected the goalkeeper to depart amid speculation the 28-year-old was being monitored by numerous clubs after consistent performances last season.

However, Steele has now committed himself on a contract until summer 2015.

He was clearly delighted to sign a new deal and said: "These things take time to get sorted, but now it's done I am over the moon and I’m very happy to have a new two year deal.

"I’m excited about this project and I like the whole plan that the club has to move forward. It’s the most exciting contract I’ve signed in my time at the club

"Seeing the signings of all the players that did so well last season was important to me. It gives real stability. Often at the end of a season I have been used to a lot of players going out and new ones coming in, but this year it hasn’t been the case. I think it’s very important to get that level of consistency which we have now.

"It feels like we can carry on where we left off from last season. I didn’t ever see myself leaving although other clubs were interested. There is only one club that I support and that is Barnsley.

"Everything feels so positive at the club just at the moment which is great."

THE new £4.3million Experience Barnsley museum will open its doors with a colourful public celebration.

The Town Hall building will be swathed in a giant ribbon which members of the public, including dozens of schoolchildren from local schools, will be invited to ceremonially cut.

Thousands of visitors are expected to pack the new town square outside the Town Hall which will have a free children’s carousel, musical entertainment and attractions to represent Barnsley throughout the ages.

Attractions range from an animatronic dinosaur to giant stilt walking sportsmen.

The free attraction, which spans two floors of Barnsley’s distinctive Town Hall, opens at 2pm and will then be open seven days a week.

Mayor of Barnsley, Cllr Ken Richardson will be on hand to introduce Barnsley-born Capital FM presenter Simon Hirst, who will be delivering the countdown.

Cllr Steve Houghton, Leader of Barnsley Council said: "Experience Barnsley will be great fun for the whole family. Whether you’re interested in football, fashion, our industrial story or how our stone-age ancestors lived, there will be something for everyone.

"Many of the exhibits have been kindly donated. It really is a museum for the people by the people and I’d like to invite everyone to come along and join in the launch."

Among the exhibits close to the hearts of visitors is a much-loved children’s roundabout which operated in Barnsley Market for decades. The bus from the popular ride will be placed in the museum café for children to play on while the carousel horses on poles will be suspended from the ceiling.

The roundabout has been loaned by Stewart Robinson, whose family has run Robinson’s Family Funfairs for many years.

Stewart, who is Barnsley born and bred, said: "My father James bought the roundabout in 1959 when I was seven. Before that a company called Slaters had owned so the roundabout is getting on for being 100 years old.

"When the markets reopened in the 70s after a refurbishment, we put the roundabout inside the building which helped to preserve it as most fairground rides are outside in bad weather."

The roundabout remained in the market until last year when it became difficult to make it financially viable. Stewart, aged 61, was keen for it to remain in the town.

Are you heading down to see the opening at 2pm? 

BARNSLEY has the lowest rates of sexually transmitted infections in South Yorkshire, new figures have revealed.

More than 1,400 cases were reported last year, which equates to only 637 new cases for every 100,000 people. Of those, 782 related to chlamydia.

Rotherham was the highest scoring in South Yorkshire with 949.5 new cases per 100,000 people, while Sheffield had 800.2 cases.

But in Barnsley STI diagnoses fell last year. There were 740.7 cases per 100,000 people in 2011 which was above average for Yorkshire and the Humber.

Syphilis rose in 2012 however, from 0.9 cases per 100,000 to 1.7.

Health bosses say there's been an increase nationally but the number of cases is below the national and regional average and is not a particular concern in Barnsley at the moment.

A Barnsley Council spokesman said: "Sexual health is a major public health issue and in Barnsley and we have made significant headway over recent years in improving the accessibility and quality of sexual health services."

A three-year strategy has been launched to improve the town's sexual health and cut down STIs even further.

"While these figures demonstrate we have made considerable progress, we recognise there's much more to do," the spokesman said.

A 65-YEAR-OLD bus driver has been given a suspended prison sentence for giving a 13-year-old passenger a note with 'I love you' written on it.

Stuart Ramsden, who has received a 16-week prison sentence, suspended for a year, passed the note to the schoolgirl, Barnsley Magistrates' Court was told.

Jayne Ormrod, prosecuting, said the note was in an empty pop bottle.

She said Ramsden, of Barugh Green, had made other comments to the girl.

She said the note and the remarks left the victim distressed.

Mrs Ormrod added: "After his arrest, Mr Ramsden denied ever making the comments. He said he had heard other children making similar remarks."

Gerard Casey, defending, said Ramsden had been a bus driver for 30 years and had now retired.

He said: "Mr Ramsden is distraught that this matter has come to court. It's not a pleasant offence. There has been no suggestion of repeated offending."

District Judge John Foster said: "You were in a position of trust and this was a gross breach of that trust.

"The repetitive nature of the comments made to this girl were totally and utterly unacceptable."

Ramsden, who admitted harassment without violence, was banned from contacting the girl for 12 months and ordered to pay £200 in costs.

A TIME-CONSUMING spate of deliberate fires have been causing trouble for firefighters.

A crew from Cudworth was called to Grange Lane at Cundy Cross last Wednesday night, at about 9.50pm, spent half an hour extinguishing burning bushes.

The firefighters left the scene at 10.20pm after extinguishing the blaze. A spokesman for the fire service said the incident was believed to have been deliberate.

Crews them made their way to a derelict domestic garage at Grimethorpe.

Firefighters from Cudworth were called to Old Royd Avenue at 11pm where they found a small amount of rubbish on fire in the vacant garage.

The crew stayed for about 40 minutes until the fire was extinguished.

Grassland was also set on fire in Wombwell on the same night.

Firefighters from Cudworth were called to Pearson Crescent and spent about 40 minutes tackling the blaze.

THE opening date of a planned Tesco store has been put back - for the fourth time.

The Hoyland supermarket, on Market Street, will now open in May next year - more than a year after it original planned opening date of this spring.

Little work has been done on the site, which formerly housed Market Street Primary School, since testing was done in February last year.

There had been speculation among local people that the opening had been put back to 2020, but those rumours were dismissed by a spokesperson for the supermarket chain.

More than 140 new jobs will be created when it opens after being developed for Tesco by Litton Properties.

"A developer will be on site next month," said a Tesco spokesman. "If all goes well then we're hoping that we'll be able to start work at the start of next year with a view to finishing in spring."

A FORMER Barnsley Council manager decided to transform his life at 50 - and now has his own English school in Thailand.

Andrew Fleming, an ex-manager in the council's youth service department, moved to Thailand in 2011 after working for the council for 20 years.

In 2005, he met his wife, Max, in Udon Thani and they married in the Asian country later in the year. Up until their big move, they visited Thailand every year. In order to pass time, Andrew taught English on a voluntary basis in schools around the province. 

"I thoroughly enjoyed this and found it most rewarding," he said. "Me and my wife started to realise that we made a good team when teaching together."

It was then that they both decided to open their own English school. After obtaining permits and renting a venue, the dream was quickly turning into reality.

"Overseeing a building team that spoke no English was not the easiest of tasks," joked Andrew. "At times it was quite challenging, especially plumbing in the water supply and the electrical wiring.

"I was shocked how quick the Thai team of builders worked and eventually we could see our dream school come to fruition before our eyes."

The school, named The English School of Learning, was ready for its first pupils. Opening in June 2012, it has recently celebrated its first birthday and Andrew says it is still a big success.

Andrew and his wife teach full-time at the school. It has more than forty students aged from six up to 23 years of age. The pair also teach some adults with one-to-one private tuition.

With the bonus of Thailand's climate, where temperatures range from 20 to 45°C, Andrew also has time to relax outside. "Although I home school our daughter, I still manage to find time to take a relaxing walk around a lovely park with a beautiful lake most mornings.

"I also try and have two traditional Thai massages through the week."

Does he miss Barnsley? Of course. "If you were to ask me what I miss most about Barnsley it would be my friends and family. I also miss some of my work colleagues.

"There are certain things I do not miss like the miserable weather and a large percentage of the current government’s policies."

The respect that the students give its teachers is also something that Andrew is grateful for. Students always greet him with a wai, a Thai greeting which is a mark of respect, involving a slight bow with palms pressed together in a prayer-like fashion.

"I love my new life and feel that at 51 years of age I’m living my dream," added Andrew. "Thai students are so motivated and caring it is unbelievable at times."

MARTIN Cranie has put pen to paper on a new two-year deal at Barnsley Football Club.

The 26-year-old defender, who began his career at Southampton, made 41 appearances for Barnsley last season.

Cranie’s signing comes hot off the heels of Bobby Hassell, Tomasz Cywka and Chris O’Grady committing their immediate futures to the club within the last week as well as the signing of Dale Jennings from Bayern Munich.

"I am absolutely delighted to sign a new contract at Barnsley," the former England Under-21 international said. "There was never any doubt that I would be coming back.

"The end to last season will be in everyone's minds for a long time. I don’t think you will see anything like that again. I’ve watched it back a few times and I still can’t believe it happened.

"It’s going to be a brilliant season again. It gets harder every year, there are strong Premier League teams coming down, but as you saw last year Wolves, Blackburn and Bolton all struggled in parts and of course Wolves went down again.

"I’ve still got it in my mind playing the top teams in the league last season and winning and it shows we have got nothing to fear this season from any side.

"Coming in today the lads seem very up for the season already - it’s the same sort of vibe that we ended last season. Hopefully we can get a big crowd in."

THIS year's Mayor's Parade in Barnsley is set to hail the town's heritage.

So far, 37 groups and organisations have signed up for the town centre parade on July 13.

Among floats will be those from Barnsley FC, South Yorkshire Fire Service and Woodhead Mountain Rescue.

The Northern Classic Car Club and Barnsley Hospital Charity will also have floats, as will schools including Darfield Upperwood, Littleworth Grange, Wilthorpe Primary and Wellgate Primary.

The Barnsley Chronicle Band leads the music with the Frumptarn Guggen Band and special guest band Gassafetza from twin town Schwabisch Gmund.

Businesses like Asda, Holiday Inn, The Entertainer, Barclays Bank, The Alhambra and Tyke Racing are all entering floats, walking groups and vehicles.

The parade starts at 10.30am with entry judging at Upper Courthouse car park and trophy presentations at 11.30am.

The parade moves off at 12noon from Upper Courthouse car park and ends at 1pm. Stalls will be open around Cheapside, May Day Green and Queen Street throughout.

HERE is your WAB Guide to the all-new gardens at Barnsley Town Hall.

The square and gardens redevelopment is part of considerable improvements to Barnsley town centre. Central to these is the June 27 opening of Experience Barnsley, the new museum situated inside the Town Hall.

The Experience Barnsley Museum and the outside works have been part-funded by a grant from the European Regional Development Fund. It's part of the Barnsley Cultural Infrastructure programme that secured £2.5million from Europe to also support the restoration of the Victorian conservatory and potting shed at Wentworth Castle gardens.  

This funding is part of the Yorkshire and Humber ERDF Programme 2007-13 which is investing €583m in economic development and regeneration projects in Yorkshire and The Humber.

When completed it will also boast fountains, the much-criticised Nigel Hall sculpture and leisure space.

Nigel Hall's 33ft-high sculpture, named Crossing (Vertical), was created in 2006 and was sited at Yorkshire Sculpture Park in March 2008. 

Cllr Roy Miller, said: “We're very grateful to Yorkshire Sculpture Park for the loan of a stunning contemporary artwork that complements the excellent design of the square and creates an international quality public space for the residents and visitors to Barnsley.

"Having a piece of artwork of this standard and calibre for Barnsley will bring visitors from far and wide and provide a boost to the visitor economy, which is an important part of the borough’s economic development strategy."

We've published many articles on the sculpture and the general reaction has been a negative one, with it being dubbed 'The Rusty Comb' by many locals.

Valued at £1.5million, it stands in the bottom corner of the gardens. It's cost £4,000 for its transportation and will cost a further £5,000 a year to insure, but already two people have been caught climbing it - one being arrested.

But Cllr Miller said there will be warning notice not to climb the statue, and added: "We cannot legislate against individuals who put themselves at risk. We cannot stop progress or prevent improvements just because one or two unthinking people might behave badly."

It will cost about £22,000 to run annually - a sum councillors have defended by saying improvements that make the town centre more attractive are vital to attract investment.

Here's a little fact file

- The water feature will have 30 nozzles - placed in three banks of ten nozzles - emitting 30 curved jets of water of varying diameter.

- The nozzles are programmable enabling the jets to move varying the curvature, known as a 'whip' effect.

- It will use a 50,000-litre underground tank.

- Water will be pumped through at 30,000 litres per hour. All the water will be recycled and it will be disinfected and filtered every cycle.

- That will be done by three main energy efficient pumps plus a single, smaller, recirculation pump takes over when the water feature is not operational.

- There will also be 90 LED lights illuminating the water jets. The pumps and lights will be controlled to vary the colours.

- To create the paving workers have used 850sq metres of ‘Crosland Hill’ Yorkstone paving, 250 sq metres of ‘Scoutmoor’ Yorkstone terrace paving, 600sq metres of ‘oatmeal’ granite paving and 280metres of black granite kerbs.

- Around 1,000 tonnes of excavated material have been removed from the site, processed and recycled as general fill for use on site, or used in concrete production.

Are you looking forward to its opening?

WHO said nothing comes from a blind date? A couple who met on one are celebrating 50 years of marriage.

Dorothy and Bernard Linacre were put together by friends - but it wasn't all plain sailing. Dorothy, 70, said she wasn't bowled over by her future husband when they met for the first time.

"I didn't really think much to him at first," she said.

"I thought he's okay to talk to but I don't think I would go out with him."

But Bernard, 72, said for him it was love at first sight. He persevered after being stood up on a later date and last Saturday saw the Royston pair celebrating half a century together.

They left for Mauritius on Wednesday to enjoy the sunshine and mark the big day.

Bernard said the secret to their happy marriage was letting each other do their own thing, while always coming together for meals.

"We haven't got time to fall out," he said.

THE £3.74million renovation of Wentworth Castle's Victorian conservatory is drawing to a close.

Preparatory work has now started on replicating its rare plant list. The glasshouse fell into disrepair over the years and was placed on English Heritage’s Risk Register.

After a 10-year fundraising campaign, restoration work began in 2012 and in October 2013, the glasshouse will be opened to the public.

Although the restored glasshouse will no longer be heated, conservation specialists are keen to recreate as much of the original planting as possible using detailed historic planting lists.

Internal plants have been procured from Treseders Nursery in St Austell, Cornwall, which specialises in rare temperate plants.

Plants to feature in the renovated glasshouse include Asian species gardenia augusta and lillium regale. Europe will be represented by geranium maderense (giant geranium) and aeonium arboreum (houseleak tree) and from Africa, there will be specimens of strelitzia regina and zantedeschia aethiopica.

As plant procurement continues, so too does painstaking work on restoring the conservatory's grandeur and planting up the adjacent areas.

The original iron frame, consisting of 4,000 parts, has been carefully dismantled, labelled, cleaned and re-cast where necessary. It's now being re-erected by heritage craftsmen and wider landscaping work is underway.

Wentworth Castle Trust Director Claire Herring said: "Putting the finishing touches to the plant collections is tremendously exciting. It’s a very significant step in a very long restoration journey."

BARNSLEY'S young star signing says his move to Yorkshire is 'perfect', having signed from German giants Bayern Munich last week.

Dale Jennings, 20, signed a three-year deal at Oakwell on Tuesday in a £250,000 switch.

The move back to England also comes at a time when Dale and his girlfriend are expecting their first child.

"We're having a little girl so that will make me more sensible," said Jennings, an ex-Liverpool trainee. "I had a good vibe about Barnsley."

Jennings, who shone for Tranmere Rovers when he burst onto the scene as a teenager, said his German experience was disappointing. 

"It didn't work out as well as I'd have hoped," he admitted. "I do come away from it having experienced a different kind of football and it's matured me."

On the expectations for this season, the Liverpudlian is confident of Barnsley's chances.

"I've looked at the results towards the end of the season and I honestly think we could go for the play-offs," he added.

AN infamous drug-taking shoplifter has been jailed for 26 weeks.

June Downing, 50, was becoming so notorious that she could not get away with it when she went thieving, her solicitor Sean Fritchley told Barnsley Magistrates' Court.

Mr Fritchley said Downing had kicked her drug habit once and become a drugs worker 'to put something back into the community'.

But he said she had lapsed back onto drugs after her elderly mother was disabled by a stroke.

Mr Fritchley said: "She's back to where she was many years ago. She needs help and sending her back to prison will not provide a cure. 

"She's reaching the point when she is the first name on any list of suspects. She cannot avoid being caught when she shoplifts.

"Her offending is straightforward. She walks into shops, puts items in her bag and walks out. There is never any confrontation and she poses no danger to the public."

Jayne Ormrod, prosecuting, said Downing was 'identified by several police officers' on CCTV after one of her crimes.

Downing admitted four offences of shoplifting and was given a 26-week sentence.

FRIENDS of a little girl diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour turned out on Sunday for a special fundraising motorbike ride.

Around 200 motorbikes took part in the special ride to raise money for five-year-old Darcy Burke.

They rode from Sherburn-in-Elmet to Wombwell to raise money for 'Darcy's Days', a charity for Darcy to have new experiences this summer.

She was diagnosed with pontine glioma, a rare brain stem tumour, in April after experiencing headaches for several months.

In May she began radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatments to extend her life expectancy from nine to 15 months.

In the meantime her parents Joanne Willis and Dave Burke have dedicated themselves to raising as much money as possible to give Darcy a wonderful summer.

A MAN has been jailed for 26 weeks for acting as a lookout as cars were broken into around midnight.

David Brian Osborne, 47, was seen by a mother as another man tried the handle of her daughter's car at about 12.20am, Barnsley Magistrates' Court was told.

Chantel Lowery-Green, prosecuting, said the mother shouted and the two men ran off.

"The police were called and officers, including one with a dog, tracked the two men," Mrs Lowery-Green said.

She said Osborne, of Higham Lane, Dodworth, was arrested after a noise came from some bushes.

She said a wallet taken from another car was found at the time of Osborne's arrest.

Osborne admitted vehicle interference, theft from a vehicle, possessing amphetamine and a small amount of MCAT. He had denied the charges during a previous appearance.

District Judge John Foster said a jail term was inevitable because of Osborne's 'shocking' criminal record.

BARNSLEY Football Club have announced that Bobby Hassell has signed a new one-year deal that will see him play at Oakwell for a tenth season.

With 295 appearances for the Reds under his belt, Hassell will be looking to join the elite 300 club.

Hassell, who recently became a father for the fourth time, said: "I’m really happy I’ve been able to sign a new contract. I’m happy with the deal and I’m looking forward to the start of the new season.

"This summer has been quite hectic for me. I’ve been on coaching courses and with my wife in and out of hospital with our fourth child that's the main reason it's taken time get everything sorted out with a new contract here.

"I've never had so many people stop me in the street begging me to sign a new contract which is quite humbling, but at that time I hadn’t spoken to anyone because I was more concerned about my wife’s illness and the baby."

DODWORTH will see its first cricket match in four years today when an exciting form of the game comes to the Miners’ Welfare.

The 100-year-old Dodworth Cricket Club was forced to fold in 2009 due to a lack of volunteers but the ground will play host to Barnsley Men of Steel and Tommy Treddlehoyle in the eight-a-side Last Man Stands League on Monday at 6.15pm.

Steve Maddock and Michael Heseltine, who run the Last Man Stands League in the town, were impressed by the facilities at Dodworth and said it was a tragedy that cricket was no longer being played there.

They have refurbished the astroturf pitch and are all set for the game today

Maddock, a retired policeman, said: “To be honest, it’s scandalous there hasn’t been cricket at Dodworth for four years and we wanted to do something about it.

“We’ll have the first game there on Monday but my hope is that next season it can be used most nights of the week as a base for Last Man Stands in Barnsley. It’s local to the town centre, there are bar facilities, a tea room and great changing rooms.

“We also want to get some grants and update the machinery there. It’s taken about 20 hours of work to get the pitch back up to scratch and I hope there can be a Saturday team there too in the future to take advantage of it.”

Cllr Jack Carr, who is a trustee for the Miners’ Welfare, used to play cricket at Dodworth as a youngster. He said the game had been played there since the early 1900s.

“The chairman, Herbert Wiles, and the secretary, Fred Waddington, died within a few months of each other and we couldn’t find volunteers to take it over so the club had to fold.

“Herbert and Fred did most of the work but when they died there was no one willing to take it on. We had two senior teams and four junior sides. Dodworth was always one of the best places to play cricket in Barnsley and it was sad when it closed down.

“I’m glad that the Last Man Stands form of the game is coming here and hopefully it will encourage some of the players who have gone to play for other clubs to come back and get involved.”

Last Man Stands, which is in its second season, has nine teams in Barnsley. Players wear coloured kits and the games last for two hours.

A TEAM of five bus engineers are getting off the bus and onto two wheels to pedal from Manchester to Blackpool - and then come back again on the same day.

Arriva's workshop manager Derek Gibson is heading the adventure along with four Barnsley engineers, Kevin Pyne, Kevin Briscoe, Andrew Noble and Phil Kilgariff will be pedalling away on July 14.

They have already collected more than £1,000 in sponsorship for Hollybank Trust, which runs Sheffield Road-based Oak House. It caters for adults with profound and multiple disabilities.

The 120-mile journey will mean the team having to leave at 4am to go to Manchester.

"We're all keen cyclists who got interested in cycling with the Cycle to Work scheme at Arriva," said Kevin Pyne.

"We were going to do it one way then realised we had to come back, so we will do it all in the same day. It’s going to be a long day but it’s not a race so if it takes 10 hours then that’s fine.

"We have been training most days on our bikes then going out for longer rides of up to 70 miles at the weekend."

For more information on the intrepid cyclists' attempt, click here.

BARNSLEY has raised the flag to mark the beginning of a week of events to recognise the work of the country's Armed Forces.

Servicemen and women, civic leaders and members of the public gathered at the Town Hall war memorial on Monday morning as Barnsley raised the flag in recognition of the UK’s armed forces.

Mayor Cllr Ken Richardson, who led the event for the fourth annual Armed Forces Day, said: "This short-but-important flag-raising ceremony recognised the dedication of our servicemen and women and of the wider armed forces community of families, veterans and cadets.

"It's very important the whole community shows its appreciation for their hard work and sacrifice."

The raising of the Armed Forces Day flag in Barnsley and other towns and cities across the country took place ahead of a national event in Plymouth this on June 30. 

CHICAGO Rock's future remains in doubt after it was left out of the sale of some venues owned by Atmosphere Bars and Clubs Ltd.

The Wellington Street-based bar closed on May 30 when Atmosphere went into administration and ten of firm's 24 clubs have been sold to the Chicago Group.

A spokesman for the administrator said there is no further information 'at this time' regarding any of the other venues closed during the administration.

WORKMEN are working around the clock to ensure the gardens at the side of Barnsley Town Hall are finished in time for this week's opening.

Council leader Steve Houghton said the gardens will be finished in time to coincide with the opening of Experience Barnsley, an all-new museum inside the building.

But he said the fountains would not be in use for another month to allow the stonework to dry.

"The gardens will be ready but there will still be work to be done and some things won't quite be ready. People will still be able to use it and we'll be having some events on there.

"The overwhelming majority of the work will be done."

A council spokesman confirmed people have been working on the site over the weekend and said it was always envisaged that this would be a requirement.

A BARNSLEY-BASED building firm has been appointed as the lead contractor for Barnsley Hospital's new £1.2million birthing suite.

C D Potter and Sons Ltd was made principal contractor for the development, after the hospital was awarded funding from the Department of Health earlier this year to radically transform its suite.

The hospital was one of three in South Yorkshire to receive a share of a £25million fund to improve and upgrade maternity services around the country.

The new state-of-the-art development will include three plumbed-in birthing pools, seven delivery suites, all with en-suite facilities, a dedicated bereavement suite and a room for partners to stay overnight.

Chris Barrow, director at the building firm, said: "We're delighted to have been appointed principal contractor on this scheme and look forward to continuing our excellent working relationship with Barnsley Hospital."

Work is expected to start next month and be completed in January.

REDS star Chris O'Grady says the team should be looking towards the Championship's top ten in the coming season.

The 27-year-old signed on a two-year deal for the club last week after a fruitful loan spell in the second half of last season.

"We'll be looking to get in the top ten for starters," he said. "We know we have got quality in the team and a great bond after what happened last season.

"I am in a good place and I want to show what I can do at the highest level I can."

Are you confident for next season? Where do you think we'll finish? Have your say below.

HUNDREDS protested outside Barnsley Magistrates' Court on Thursday.

The unrest echoed poll tax protests more than 20 years ago after hundreds were summonsed to the court for not paying their council tax.

Around 200 people ordered to attend waited in a queue stretching the length of the court building and down the steps outside.

As they waited, protesters chanted 'smash the bedroom tax' and waved placards.

The protesters were asked to move on by the court's security staff, but refused, and police were called, although they left soon afterwards.

Many of those waiting were summonsed for failing to pay after cuts to benefits, which meant they had to make a contribution to council tax for the first time.

Only about 12 appeared in front of a magistrate and their cases were adjourned until July, after insisting they wanted their case to be heard. The rest were dealt with by Barnsley Council officials in the court waiting room.

Fran Postlethwaite, of Barnsley Against Bedroom Tax, helped organise the demonstration.

She said in many cases those in arrears with council tax were also behind with rent payments because of the so-called 'bedroom tax'.

THE FA Cup-winning match ball from Barnsley's 1912 triumph, gargoyles from Monk Bretton Priory and a bronze bust of Dickie Bird are just some of the things on show at Barnsley's new museum.

As finishing touches are made to the £4.3million Experience Barnsley museum, we were invited to have a sneak peek at its contents on Thursday.

John Tanner, project manager, said: "It's been very busy - we've got the final items coming in from different parts of the country."

Featured on one wall are the 858-year-old gargoyles from Monk Bretton Priory.

Former test umpire Dickie Bird has loaned a bronze bust of himself and the ball used in the 1975 Cricket World Cup final between Australia and the West Indies in which he was the umpire.

Vice-chairman of the steering group, Mel Dyke, said eight years of hard work had gone into opening the museum and it was incredible to see it come to fruition.

Thousands of visitors are expected to pack the square on Thursday to cut a giant red ribbon which will swathe the Town Hall.

Barnsley-born DJ Simon Hirst will lead the countdown to the 2pm opening.

THIS year's Father's Day was a memorable one for a dad and his son - they found a bomb while out metal detecting.

John Hemsley, of Dodworth, took his 20-year-old son Jack, of Old Mill Lane, Barnsley, metal detecting for the first time on Sunday so they could spend some quality time together.

The duo went to Silverwood in Silkstone and thought they had struck it lucky when Jack's detector started to make a sound denoting that gold was beneath the ground.

They dug it, uncovering a square-shaped lump of rusty metal coated in mud. They took it home for a closer look.

Their find turned out to be part of a shell, likely to be from the Second World War.

But it was only when John sat down at his work bench and began to hammer away the rust and wipe off the muck that he realised exactly what he had brought home to South Crescent.

"I just looked at it," said the 48-year-old. "Then I swore a little bit and ran. I went inside and said to the wife 'I think we've found a bomb' and she just laughed thinking I was being daft.

"I phoned the 101 non-emergency number for a bit of advice and they said to get away from it quickly and to shut the doors."

The next thing John knew there were two police vans on the street and officers were taking a closer look at the suspected bomb, still sitting on the work bench.

Minutes later, convinced it could be a risk, the police made the decision to block the street off and warned residents to stay indoors until it was dealt with, something many people on We Are Barnsley's Facebook page commented on.

The Royal Logistics Corps bomb disposal unit was called, who arrived at about 9pm, and experts x-rayed and drilled the device before putting it in a leaded box.

A police spokesman said the device was taken away to be destroyed.

"I have to say it was one of the best Father's Day presents I have ever had," said John.

"It was lovely to bond with the lad but I won't be taking him with me for a while. The first time I do and he goes and finds a bomb."

A MAN with a string of convictions has been jailed for 26 weeks - for failing to learn from his previous errors.

Richard Michael Broughton, 33, had an 'appalling' record, his solicitor Gerard Casey told Barnsley Magistrates' Court.

Mr Casey said Broughton was arrested for driving while banned and given bail. Two days later, he was arrested again for the same thing.

Mr Casey added: "Mr Broughton said he was put under a certain amount of pressure to drive by someone to whom he once owed money.

"He drove for the second time to get himself locked up to get the person putting him under pressure off his back.

"His record is appalling. He has spent a lot of time in prison for someone so young."

Chantel Lowery-Green, prosecuting, said Broughton had been banned from driving for two years in 2012.

She said when he was arrested the first time he tried to break free and had to be restrained by police officers.

District Judge John Foster, said: "You have a shocking record. Every time you are banned you're told the consequences of driving might be jail. Yet you carry on driving. You do not learn from your mistakes."

Broughton was given another two-year driving ban and jailed for 26 weeks.

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

A61 Park Road, Barnsley

A628 Cundy Cross to Shafton Two Gates

A633 Rotherham Road, Athersley South

A633 Rotherham Road, Monk Bretton

A635 Doncaster Road, Saltersbrook Road

B6411 Houghton Road, Thurnscoe

Brierley Road, Grimethorpe

Pogmoor Road, Barnsley

A6023 Doncaster Road, Mexborough

A6022 Rowms Lane, Swinton

A633 Sandygate, Wath-upon-Dearne

Melton Green, West Melton

Pontefract Road, Brampton.

A HEARTBROKEN Bobby Knutt has spoken for the first time about how he frantically gave mouth to mouth resuscitation to his adored wife after finding her lifeless on a sun lounger in their garden.

"I knew in my head that she had gone, but my heart would just not let me believe she could have been taken like that," the actor and comedian said.

"I was giving her mouth to mouth and at the same time I was on the phone to the emergency services and I kept going, I kept on trying all the time until the ambulance people arrived and they took over.

"Everyone tried so hard, but it was no good, it was all too late - none of us could bring her back."

Olympic star Donna Hartley-Wass died suddenly aged 58 at their home in Elsecar.

She had joined Bobby to sunbathe in their garden in Saxton Close after she had finished working at Tankersley Manor gym - where she had been manager since it opened.

Bobby, 67, decided he had had enough sun and went inside. An hour later he went back outside and found Donna laying face down on a sun lounger - she was not breathing and had no pulse.

"I don't know how to deal with the memory of her just lying there," he said.

"She was my everything. I fell in love the day I met her nearly 30 years ago and that love never faded - it just got stronger and stronger.

"We never argued, we were just the best of friends and I still can't believe what has happened. She was the most thoughtful, kind, loving person in the world. She was a princess, she was my wife, she was my true love."

Donna, a 400-metre runner, won two gold medals at the Commonwealth Games in Canada in 1978 and a bronze at the 1980 Moscow Olympics. She was awarded an MBE in 1979.

After retiring from the sport in the early 1980s, she became a champion bodybuilder and won the Miss Britain Physique title.

AN axe head which is thought to be 5,000 years old will take up its place in the new Experience Barnsley museum.

The Neolithic implement was discovered when Scout Dike reservoir was built between Penistone and Ingbirchworth in the 1920s.

It was kept at Barnsley Corporation water works until it was taken home by Bob Wadsworth’s dad in the 1970s.

Bob, 69, from Dodworth, said: "My father worked at the water works and ended up with it. He brought it to our house 30 or 40 years ago and gave it to one of my sons.

"Over the years it was used as a doorstop and spent the rest of the time in the back of the garden shed.

"When I heard about the museum wanting artefacts I thought they might want to add this to the display so people could appreciate it."

Joann Fletcher, a research fellow at the University of York and who was brought up in Barnsley, is an archaeological consultant on the collection at Experience Barnsley.

"The axe head is one of many brilliant things in the Barnsley collection," she said. "It’s a fantastic representation of the treasures that are going to be on display and there are some really mind-boggling items.

“It also allows us to date Barnsley’s history back thousands of years. The history of Barnsley only dated back to early medieval times before this but we can now push it back much further than that."