The following were convicted at Sheffield, Barnsley, Rotherham and Chesterfield magistrates’ courts between Friday, February 26, and Friday, March 11.

Sheffield

All addresses Sheffield unless otherwise stated.

Assault: Neil Kerry, 43, of Thornbridge Crescent, Birley, four months’ jail suspended for two years.

Breach of community order: Peter Laking, 36, of Broomspring Lane, Sheffield, 12-month conditional discharge.

Driving while disqualified: Shahswar Sadiq, 50, of Jenkin Drive, four months’ jail suspended for 12 months, £85 costs, 12-month driving ban; Levi Farrier, 24, of Market Square, Goldthorpe, pleaded guilty, 12-month conditional discharge, 12-month driving ban.

Theft: Georgia Hitckcock, 18, of Water Slacks Close, Sheffield, community order with rehabilitation activity requirement, £64 compensation, £50 costs.

Driving without insurance: Lee Harwood-Dobie, 38, of South Street, Highfields, £120 fine, £85 costs, six penalty points on licence; Emma Oates, 25, of Springwood Road, Hoyland, £120 fine, £85 costs, six penalty points; Wayne Clarkson, 32, of Bawtry Road, Bramley, Rotherham, £660 fine,£85 costs, six penalty points on licence; Oliver Congreve, 24, of Weston View, £140 fine, £85 costs, six penalty points on licence; Hakim Rami, 54, of Lowedges Road,£660 fine, £85 costs; Jozef Mirga, 35, of Ferrars Road, £175 fine, six penalty points on licence; Liam Steven Platts, 21, of Central Avenue, Grimethorpe, Barnsley, £275 fine, £85 costs, disqualified from obtaining a licence for six months; Joseph Manasser Thompson, 31, of Bowfield Road, £660 fine, £85 costs, disqualified from obtaining a licence for six months;

Criminal damage: Abdellah Montdar, 34, of Spital Hill, Sheffield, community order with alcohol treatment requirement, £60 compensation.

Drunk and disorderly: Philip David Moore, 40, of Nicholson Road, Heeley, £150 fine, £85 costs.

Drugs possession: Ryan O’Connell, 20, of Eastern Crescent, Arbourthorne, £100 fine, £85 costs.

Stolen goods: Mahboob Shaffi, 39, of Holgate Avenue, Parson Cross, ten weeks jail suspended for 12 months.

Driving without a licence: Jason Andrew Lowe, 44, of Campsall Road, Askern, Doncaster, £80 fine, £40 costs, three penalty points on licence

Rotherham

All addresses Rotherham unless otherwise stated.

Criminal damage: Samuel Coggan, 28, of no fixed address, six-month conditional discharge; Shane Daley, 2,2 of Chapletown Road, Ecclesfield, two months’ jail, £350 compensation.

Theft: Nicky Ress, 40, of Newton Place, Thorpe Hesley, four weeks’ jail, £200 compensation, £85 costs; Richard Rollitt, 4,4 of Selborne Street, Rotherham, two weeks’ jail; Christopher Usher, 41, of Church Street, Kimberworth, community order with drug rehabilitation requirement, £105 compensation; Colin Barry Frere, 33, of no fixed address, six weeks jail.

Fraud: Alexander Robert Clarke, 33, of Instone Terrace, Askern, Doncaster, community order with rehabilitation activity requirement for a maximum of 20 days, £20 fine, £40 costs

Drink driving: Adrian Dale Beech, 47, of Stanley Terrace, Maltby, £300 fine, £85 costs, driving ban for two years; Wayne John Adams, 43, of Estate Road, Rawmarsh, £280 fine, £85 costs, driving ban for 20 months; Tin Fung Lee, 32, of London Road, Sheffield, £280 fine, £85 costs, driving ban for 12 months;

Drug production: Ricky Graves, 27, of Kimberworth Park, £480 fine, £85 costs.

Drug possession: Stephen Barry Quinn, 30, of Nidderdale Road, discharged conditionally for six mo nths, £85 costs.

Threatening behaviour:James Dean, 30, of North Road, discharged conditionally for 12 months, £85 costs; Julie Louise Stocks, 35, of Birks Holt Drive, discharged conditionally for 12 months, £85 costs,

Drunk and disorderly: Martin Andrew Eyre, 27, of Rowms Lane, Swinton, discharged conditionally for 12 months, £45 costs.

Driving while disqualified: Hasan Ordu, 21, of High Street, 100 hours unpaid work within 12 months, £85 costs, disqualified from obtaining a licence for 12 months.

Barnsley

All addresses Barnsley unless otherwise stated.

Assault: Vitor Manuel Moreira-Semedo, 33, of Commercial Street, community order with 100 hours unpaid work within the next 12 months, restraining order imposed, £50 compensation, £250 costs; Ibrahim Abalillahim Mahamoud, 38, of Pleasant Vi, Cudworth, discharged conditionally for 12 months, £200 costs.

Threatening behaviour: Tina Louise Smethhurst, 42, of St Georges Road, community order with rehabilitation activity requirement and prohibited activity requirement, restraining order imposed, £85 costs; Glen Paul Brown, 29, of no fixed address, seven weeks jail.

Offensive messages: Darryl Charles Walker, 35, of Providence Court, eightweeks jail suspended for twelve months, Rehabilitation activity requirement, 150 hours unpaid work within the next 12 months, £85 costs.

Theft: Andrew Paul Burnett, 35, of Barley Close, Worsbrough Bridge, 10 weeks jail.

Chesterfield

All addresses Chesterfield unless otherwise stated.

Drink driving: Slawek Ratajzyk, 38, of Ashlea Mill Street, Somercotes, Alfreton, £675 fine, disqualified from driving for 24 months; Justin Mark Nussey, 32, of Thickley Close, Shirebrook, community order with 150 hours’ unpaid work, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 45 months; Joe David Woolley, 20, of Brearley Street, community order with a curfew, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 24 months.

Taking a vehicle without consent: Jack Stone, 21, of Mill Hill Close, Ripley, community order with rehabilitation activity requirement, 80 hours’ unpaid work, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Making threats to harm animals: Ashley John Hadfield, 32, of Birch lane, Hollingwood, community order with a curfew, rehabilitation activity requirement, £100 compensation, £85 costs.

Breach of community order: Alan Christopher Siddall, 44, of Glumangate, £80 fine.

Theft: Daniel Jon McKay, 31, of Moorland Drive, Heath, community order with alcohol treatment requirement, curfew, rehabilitation activity requirement, £85 costs.

Assault: Paul Davies, 73, of Low Common, Renishaw, £250 fine, £85 costs, £500 compensation; Ryan Callum Simms, 23, of James Street, 14 weeks jail suspended for 18 months, restraining order, £150 costs; Justin Burroughs, 40, of Greenram Close, Newbold discharged conditionally for 12 months, £50 compensation, £100 costs.

Looking for your forever home? Then look no further than this extended four bedroom detached family home set in a delightful cul-de-sac location on this popular residential estate.

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The property itself is immaculately presented with good sized family accommodation on two levels with gas central heating and double glazing throughout and should be viewed without delay to avoid disappointment.

The ground floor comprises a lounge, kitchen/breakfast room and family room.

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* 26 Hayfield Close, Barnby Dun - £219,950, contact Whitegates on 01302 327291.

Police have issued a warning about the dangers of posting inappropriate comments to social media after a man was convicted of naming a sex offence victim on Facebook.

Shane Ward, aged 32, of Dukes Crescent, Edlington, commented on a court case on South Yorkshire Police’s Facebook page and identified the victim.

Victims of sexual offences have their anonymity protected by law for life.

Ward appeared at Doncaster Magistrates Court and admitted breaching a victim’s right to anonymity under the Sexual Offences Amendment Act 1992.

He was handed a £150 fine and made to pay £100 costs.

Following the case, a spokesperson for South Yorkshire Police warned the public that inappropriate posts will be removed and investigated by officers.

They said: “Whilst we welcome comments and we are keen to encourage them on our Facebook page, we will not tolerate anyone breaking the law or making threatening or abusive posts which are intended to intimidate people living in South Yorkshire.

“We understand that people have differing views on many issues, however we will not condone these types of post and they will be removed and where appropriate, investigated by police.”

In separate cases in 2012, nine people were prosecuted for naming on Twitter the woman who was raped by former Sheffield United footballer Ched Evans.

Evans has appealed against the conviction and his case is due to heard by the Court of Appeal on Tuesday, March 22. The referral to appeal judges follows a 10-month investigation by the Criminal Cases Review Commission.

Here’s the Rovers team YOU picked to face Peterborough United today.

4-4-2 traditional

Thorsten Stuckmann

Craig Alcock

Andy Butler

Luke McCullough

Cedric Evina

James Coppinger

Paul Keegan

Conor Grant

Cameron Stewart

Andy Williams

Nathan Tyson

A man has been arrested for drink driving, after fleeing the scene of a one-vehicle collision that occurred off a busy Doncaster road in the early hours of this morning.

The 'high impact' crash occurred in Town Moor Avenue at the junction with Thorne Road, at around 1.55am this morning.

A South Yorkshire Police spokesman confirmed that two people are believed to have fled the scene following the collision.

They said: "A man has since been detained for drink driving in relation to the high impact collision. A woman is also being interviewed by police."

Police are appealing for witnesses.

Anyone with information should call 101, quoting incident number of Saturday, March 19, 2016,

A Doncaster politician has blasted the council over its failure to tackle littering after new figures revealed the number of littering fines dished out has fallen by almost half.

Former Mayor Peter Davies said despite a plunge in the number of fines handed out, the town’s littering problem is getting ‘worse and worse.

Statistics obtained by The Free Press showed that during the 2014/15 financial year the council fined 1,116 residents, down from 1,948 in 2013/14.

The number of people fined has continued to fall significantly since 2010/11, when 3,592 people were fined. This dropped to 2,750 in 2011/12.

Mr Davies, who served as the town’s directly elected mayor until 2013, said: “It should be up there on the list of things the Mayor prioritises.

“I come into Doncaster town centre almost every day and you see fewer and fewer people around and I think it’s got to be to do with the state of the town centre.

“You can’t walk anywhere without being worried about what waste you might walk into. And everywhere you go there seems to be people sleeping in doorways, it didn’t used to be like that.”

Coun Chris McGuinness, cabinet member for environment, said: “The number of fines issued has fallen every year since 2010.

“With the government cuts to funding we cannot employ more council staff in this area, but we are determined to make Doncaster a cleaner and greener borough. That is why we have recently engaged Kingdom Security to provide additional enforcement services, including issuing fixed penalty notices for littering.

“It is just a small minority of thoughtless individuals who let the vast majority of responsible residents and businesses down by dropping litter. Ultimately, keeping Doncaster tidy is everyone’s responsibility and we will continue to take strong action against environmental crime.”

Meanwhile, Doncaster Council also confirmed it has failed to issue any fines for spitting.

A by-law passed by full council in 2013 made the habit illegal and gave the local authority the power to give out fines of up to £500 for the offence.

The Isle is set for a jobs, housing and business boost after ambitious development plans to boost the region over the next decade were given the green light.

North Lincolnshire Council has given the thumbs up to a new planning framework that will see 137 new homes built and 158 acres of land developed for business use resulting in around 1,000 new jobs being created.

The Housing and Employment Land Allocations DPD is a document that sets out the council’s aspirations for growth and development for North Lincolnshire in the next 10 years until 2026.

It sets out which sites will be used to provide new homes for existing and future residents and supports the growth and transformation of the economy.

It has been described as a bible for developers as they will be able to see at a glance exactly where they can develop, leisure, housing, shopping, and locate new business – ahead of submitting their planning applications.

The plan allocates 136 acres of land at Sandtoft Airfield for the development of a logistics park and 22 acres of land at Ealand to support the growth of local businesses and plans to improve the road infrastructure to remove HGVs from Belton and Epworth.

In addition, there are plans to build 137 homes in Crowle in the next ten years.

Baroness Liz Redfern, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: “North Lincolnshire Council is leading the way in meeting the Government’s aims and objectives for growth and environmental protection. We have continued to progress, where others have failed to do so.

“We were one of the first councils in the Yorkshire and Humber region to adopt its core strategy and subsequent housing and employment land allocations document.

“In setting out key sites for development, we are planning ahead for future generations and creating a place where people want to stay, not just visit.

“Around 1,000 jobs are expected to be created in the Isle of Axholme over the next 10 years by building over 130 new homes, the development of a logistics park and encouraging business growth. This is really exciting for the Isle.

“We have a prime location for businesses to invest. We already have some big-name companies nearby, including BAE Systems and Able UK who have recognised this and set up operations in North Lincolnshire. And we expect more to follow.

“We have so much to offer and it is important that we cater for everyone’s needs – residents, businesses and visitors by ensuring we have the right amount of houses, business, shops and leisure facilities and in the right places.

“We are a progressive council that is achieving great things. North Lincolnshire is a fantastic place. This new blueprint will set the bar for other councils to follow.”

Welcoming the plans Coun John Briggs, Axholme North Ward Member, said: “Now that sites have been earmarked it will be significant in ensuring the prosperity of the north of the Isle for future generations.

He added: “Further controlled housing development across the ward is to be welcomed and this linked with the regeneration of the Crowle Market Place, the new sports centre and swimming pool along with the cycle way and Moors Railway Schemes emphasise just what a great place Axholme North is to live and visit.”

Sandtoft

- The development of this 136 acre site at Sandtoft for a Logistics Park is ideally placed to take advantage of its proximity to the strategic road network as well as the South Humber Bank ports and nearby airports.

- It also provides an important employment opportunity for the Isle of Axholme being located close to the key Market Towns of Crowle and Epworth as well as other villages in the surrounding area.

- To help deliver this key improvements will be made to the local road network. The main access to the site from the motorway network will be via the A18 and High Levels Bank. Improvements will be needed to High Levels Bank, the existing motorway bridge over the M180 and the junctions between High Levels Bank and the A18.

Housing sites in Crowle

- The two housing sites in Crowle will provide over 130 new homes over the lifetime of the plan (up to 2026). These will help to meet the needs of existing and future residents of the town.

- The sites are located off Fieldside and Godnow Road. The site off Fieldside covers 5.8 acres and is allocated for 86 new homes, while the site at Godnow Road covers 3.3 acres and is allocated for 51 new homes

Ealand Employment Sites

- To support development outside of Scunthorpe, South Humber Bank/North Killingholme Airfield, Sandtoft Airfield and the Market Towns a number of further employment allocations have been made in locations that can help to meet local employment needs.

- The allocations to the north and south of the railway line and canal at Ealand are well located, close to the existing transport network which gives easy access to the strategic road network and surrounding communities. 22 acres is allocated in the plan.

Emergency services have closed a road in a Doncaster village this afternoon, following a road traffic collision.

Stripe Road, New Rossington is currently closed in both directions between the High Common Lane junction and the Bond Street junction, following the collision which took place earlier today.

Further details on the accident are not yet known.

More to follow.

Rovers players are set to wear black arm bands and join fans in a minutes applause before kick off today to honour the life of Steve Uttley, who died suddenly from a heart attack earlier this month.

Mr Uttley has also been honoured in today's match programme, which includes a tribute from Rovers chief executive Gavin Baldwin who describes the late club photographer as a ''brilliant guy' who did some 'great things for this club and for the footballing world'.

Commenting on the tribute due to take place during today's home game against Peterborough, Doncaster Rovers' communication manager Ryan Murrant said on Twitter: "Today we remember Steve Uttley.Players will wear black arm bands and there will be a minutes applause before KO."

Mr Uttley was a familiar face to thousands of Rovers supporters during 14 years at the club as official club photographer and media manager.

The 58-year-old, who also ran his own photography business, charted the rise of the club from the Conference to the Championship and captured some of the most remarkable moments in the club's history on camera including the League One play-off final victory over Leeds at Wembley in 2008 and the club's dramatic last gasp win over Brentford which earned the club the League One Championship.

He also took photographs of the club's Johnstone Paints Trophy win over Bristol Rovers at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff in 2007 as well as the club's run to the Carling Cup quarter finals in 2005.

Steve was also part of the Doncaster Rovers team which conquered the Inca Trail in South America, joining players James Coppinger, James O'Connor and Mark Wilson for the gruelling expedition which raised thousands of pounds for charity.

He left the club after a shake-up a few years ago and had been working for League Two club Mansfield Town in a similar capacity.

The Rovers stalwart died of a heart attack on March 6.

His funeral is due to be held at 11.30am on March 24 at Barnsley Crematorium, Doncaster Road, Ardsley, Barnsley.

The Hallam FM Hero Awards - with Morfitt Smith and Cash For Kids - celebrates the very best that South Yorkshire has to offer. These first annual awards were held this year on Thursday, March 17, raising money for Hallam FM's Cash for Kids, with thanks to SIV for their continued support.

From those who help put South Yorkshire on the map, to those who work tirelessly to make our region a great place for all to live, a spokesman for Hallam FM said the awards aim to recognise and celebrate all that South Yorkshire has to be proud of.

Amongst the winners were John Burkhill who received the Unsung Community Hero Award for his incredible fundraising for Macmillan Cancer Support. Many will have seen John dressed in his signature bright Green wig pushing his cart around the city to build awareness. He has raised over £200,00 already with a target of £1 million.

The Hallam FM Hero Award sponsored by Morfitt Smith went to the most worthy of winners, Jayne Senior who runs support for survivors and victims of child sexual exploitation at Swinton Lock.

Jayne has campaigned for the last 17 years to expose the truth of child abuse in Rotherham. She has met with the Prime Minister to share her understanding and more recently organised a conference in Leeds on the issue and has helped victims and survivors set up a panel to influence change through their own experiences.

Hallam FM daytime presenter, Simon Morykin said; "It was lovely and humbling to be part of an award ceremony where the awards actually mean something. What an incredible night to celebrate the people that live in South Yorkshire, it was a pretty emotional night!"

Full list of Award Winners:

LUCI WINDLE Teacher of the year – with thanks to Parkwood Academy

TRISTIAN DREW Young Fundraiser – with thanks to Magna Science Adventure Centre

GILLIAN GOLDSTRAW Investing in Young People – with thanks to Henry Boot

LEE BECK Emergency Services Award – with thanks to Sheffield United FC

JOHN BURKHILL Unsung Community Hero Award – with thanks to Crystal Peaks Shopping Centre

IAN WARHURST Neighbour of the year – with thanks to Morfitt Smith Estate Agents

JOAN HILL Inspirational Family Award – with thanks to SIV

JAYNE SENIOR Hallam Hero Award - with thanks to Morfitt Smith Estate Agents

First South Yorkshire is set to introduce a series of changes to its fares for routes across the region from next weekend.

From Sunday March 27, the prices of the FirstWeek Doncaster (£14) and the FirstWeek Rotherham (£14) will be held with a small 50p increase on the FirstWeek Sheffield to £13.

These tickets also remain much cheaper than previously compared to £18.50 in 2012.

Despite increases to the First4Week tickets, Doncaster £48.50 to £50, Rotherham £48.50 to £50 and Sheffield £41 to £43, these saver tickets remain cheaper than in 2012 at £65.90.

Kevin Belfield, managing director of First South Yorkshire said: “Our customers have told us how important reliability is to their journey and this price review has helped us introduce the latest measure to reduce the time the busspends at the bus stop and improve convenience for customers.

"As part of this annual review, I’m very pleased that we’ve been able to reduce and hold the prices of most fares so the majority of our customers will benefit by paying exactly the same or less for bus travel.”

“In some cases we've increased fares to reflect the fact many costs associated with operating buses are increasing and therefore we need to review our fares from time-to-time to take account of this and ensure we can continue to invest in improving services for our customers in future. These price changes will help support the extensive 7-day network of services offered across Sheffield, Rotherham and Doncaster many of which are largely dependent upon fares from customers to cover their operating costs.

“I appreciate nobody likes it when any prices go up but we have worked hard to keep any increases to a minimum. The cost of travel on a First bus still represents excellent value-for-money, and customers can continue to enjoy unlimited travel across the network for less than £1.80* per day.

“Our aim in 2016 to continue to give value-for-money to our customers and to build upon the customer growth we have delivered over the last two years working together in partnership."

The range of child and FirstDay tickets will remain unchanged and still significantly cheaper than previously for example the FirstDay in Sheffield remains at only £3.90 compared to £4.60 in 2012. The price of the increasingly popular £18 10-journey ticket is also unchanged.

Across South Yorkshire some single fares will be changed to simplify travel and make payment more convenient for customers by reducing the need for change. Many single fares will be held including the popular £1 and £1.50 fares and some will be reduced for example the £1.20 to £1 with some increases such as the £1.40 to £1.50. Customers can continue to take advantage of mobile ticketing and make travel even more convenient by pre-purchasing tickets via the First Bus App.

This year British Summer Time begins on Easter Sunday, March 27, when the official time to move your timepiece forward by an hour is at 1am.

While you will lose an hour of the longest bank holiday weekend of the year, on the upside there will be an extra hour of daylight in the evening.

Mobile phones and other devices with an internet connection should automatically change, but it is always worth double checking.

If you take a look at your time and date settings, there should be an automatic setting for daylight saving.

British Summer Time was first introduced 98 years ago to help the war effort during the summer months during the First World War. It meant agricultural work, with fewer and less experienced workers around after many farmhands joined the armed services, could go on later into the evening.

Between 1968 and 1971, the clocks were changed to BST permanently as an experiment but after complaints that it made Scotland too dark in the mornings, the Government reverted to using BST between March and October.

Darren Ferguson conceded Doncaster Rovers’ last gasp 2-1 defeat to Peterborough United was a “devastating result”.

But he says Rovers cannot allow themselves to think that the heartbreaking nature of the loss means the writing is on the wall for the club in the League One survival battle.

James Coppinger put Rovers ahead but Aaron Williams equalised on the stroke of half time before a Thorsten Stuckmann mistake allowed Ricardo Almeida Santos to tap in a stoppage time winner.

“We got a very positive performance, second half in particular,” said Ferguson.

“I would have been disappointed with a draw, so to lose the game you can imagine what the dressing room is like.

“It’s a devastating result for us, given the manner which we played.

“The start we had was a carbon copy of the many clips we showed on how Peterborough play. If you win the ball you’ll counter on them for fun because of the way they play.

“After going ahead, at times, we didn’t show enough composure and we gave the ball back to them too much in the first half.

“Both goals are awful ones to lose but now’s not the time for me to be criticising people because it’s just not the right thing to do.”

He added: “I think most people would agree that 90 per cent of the time, if you get a performance like that in the second half, you win the game. That’s what we’ve got to look at.

“A lot of people now will be thinking we could be doomed because it just looks like it’s going that way.

“But we’ve just got to take the positives out of the game.

“I couldn’t believe the decision the goalkeeper’s made for the second goal, I’ve got to be honest. But he didn’t mean to do it. No one means to make mistakes.

“It was a more positive performance though. We created a lot of chances.

“Tyson went one on one after 80 minutes. That was probably the best chance for us to win the game.”

The manager of a Doncaster town centre pub says she was forced to temporarily close the premises yesterday afternoon, as a result of problems caused by Peterborough fans visiting the town.

General manager at the Tut 'n' Shive, Jeannie Harper, said on social media that she had been forced to close the pub in the run up to yesterday's match between Doncaster Rovers and Peterborough United.

Posting in the Doncaster Rovers group on Facebook, she said: "Ended up shutting my pub in town centre for an hour today they made a right mess...just to clean up after them."

Ms Harper claims that the Peterborough fans were then escorted by police from the West Laith Gate pub to the train station, and had been prevented from watching the match as a result of the incident.

South Yorkshire Police have been contacted for comment.

A Doncaster market trader says stallholders have left ‘in droves’ following the council’s implementation of new policies and procedures.

Ann Robinson, who runs a stall on the Wednesday market, says she is unhappy with a new invoicing system which has been put in place to replace cash collections.

She also claims the new outdoor market stalls act like a wind tunnel and, due to them being on a slope, lead to many of the stallholders’ stock being damaged by water in bad weather.

She said: “Since the new stalls have been implemented and the invoicing system put in place instead of the cash collection, stallholders have left in droves. I have never seen so many empty stalls.”

She said there have also been a number of antisocial behaviour issues on the market, which make it difficult for traders to operate.

“Myself and other market traders had fought a long battle to clean up the market area of anti-social behaviour,” she said.

“We can turn up to trade and find excrement at the stall or sick over it, there could be someone sleeping on it, we don’t know who they are or what they are capable of and the stalls and the area should be fit for purpose when we arrive.

“We don’t just try and improve the market for the Wednesday traders, we are Doncaster people and want the best for all of us.”

Dave Wilkinson, assistant director of trading services and assets, said: “There have been some new policies and procedures introduced over the past year or so, this was because the majority of traders told us that they were needed.

“Unfortunately a small minority of traders have not responded well to the changes.

“We have a fantastic working relationship with the Market Traders’ Federation in Doncaster and will continue to work with all concerned to address concerns. It is vital, however, that the council runs the markets in a professional and safe way.

“Doncaster Council invested £1 million recently in a new outdoor market and public square and we are investing a further £1m in the Corn Exchange this year.

“In the current economic climate this represents a very significant investment for traders, shoppers and visitors in Doncaster.

“I am disappointed that negativity from a small minority of traders continues to damage the reputation of our award-winning markets – among the best in Britain – when the council and so many others are working hard to promote and celebrate all the good things about them locally, regionally and nationally.”

The news was announced on Twitter by the poet Ian McMillan and subsequently confirmed by a friend of the author this morning.

He said on Twitter: "Very sad news: the great writer Barry Hines, creator of Barnsley’s defining myth A Kestrel For A Knave, has died. Rest in peace.’

Barry's first novel, The Blinder, was written at Loughborough University and finished while he worked as a teacher. Published in 1966, it was followed two years later by the novel which marked the arrival of a distinctive new voice and a writer who would tell the stories of those who could not speak for themselves, A Kestrel For A Knave, which is about a young working-class boy named Billy who finds and trains a kestrel.

Ken Loach turned it into the film Kes in 1969. Barry Hines went on to write novels including The Price of Coal in 1979 and Unfinished Business in 1983. His 1984 screenplay Threads, about the aftermath of a nuclear war, saw him nominated for a second BAFTA, following a nomination for Kes.

Our sister title, The Yorkshire Post, reported that Barry had been diagnosed with Alzheimers seven years ago.

Speaking on life with the condition, Barry said in 2009: He loses his thread and wants to explain what that's like. "I lose it. We'll be talking and then suddenly it just goes. But it doesn't worry me. Ten years ago I'd have gone 'Oh I want to die,' but I just get on with it. Most things I can do. I'm okay, I'm all right."

Headline news

1. Court round-up: Latest convictions at Doncaster, Sheffield, Barnsley and Rotherham magistrates’ courts

Read more: http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/news/crime/court-round-up-latest-convictions-at-doncaster-sheffield-barnsley-and-rotherham-magistrates-courts-1-7787846#ixzz43SwbTnTD

2. Doncaster Rovers to pay tribute to club’s former media man Steve Uttley

Read more: http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/news/doncaster-rovers-to-pay-tribute-to-club-s-former-media-man-steve-uttley-during-today-s-game-1-7806639#ixzz43SwqlXq4

3. Police in social media alert after Doncaster man names sex abuse victim on Facebook

Read more: http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/news/police-in-social-media-alert-after-doncaster-man-names-sex-abuse-victim-on-facebook-1-7805130#ixzz43SwzugwS

4. Doncaster TV star Jeremy Clarkson speaks out about ‘turbulent relationship’ with BBC

Read more: http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/news/doncaster-tv-star-jeremy-clarkson-speaks-out-about-turbulant-relationship-with-bbc-1-7806842#ixzz43SxBI1Zb

5. Man arrested for drink driving after fleeing scene of Doncaster smash

Read more: http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/news/man-arrested-for-drink-driving-after-fleeing-scene-of-doncaster-smash-1-7806401#ixzz43SxThX47

A former athlete, tireless fundraiser and double amputee, Alan Rayment is beaming, after being fitted with new state-of-the-art prosthetic legs.

The 40-year-old father-of-three, of Windsor Road in Crowle, lost both legs due to complications arising from leg ulcers and MRSA in 1997, but it has never stopped him living life to the full. He said his new legs from the limb centre in Hull would help him “lead a more normal life”.

In 2001 he was given his first pair of artificial legs, but said he couldn’t use them properly and it reached a point where he stopped using them and began to use a wheelchair.

In 2002 he undertook the first of his charity work and has raised thousands of pounds for different organisations, including Cancer Research, SENSE and St Oswald’s Church.

In 2004 he completed his first London marathon in seven hours in his wheelchair, and has since cycled from Lands End to John O’Groats, also from Saigon to Vietnam and through Romania and Moldova, competed in triathlons for Team GB and carried Olympic torches in Athens and London – his sporting career ended after he suffered a burst appendix in 2012.

After receiving his new legs, Alan, gym manager at North Lindsey College in Scunthorpe, said: “The new legs are fantastic. I am now 5ft 7ins tall and wear a size eight trainer courtesy of Metres to Miles in Epworth and Vuelta Sport. I’m learning to stand, but I’ve still a lot to learn. After showing my new legs to my sons, Thomas, nine, Harry, six and Ace, three, they said they think it’s great. I’d like to think this is inspiring others.”

Last year’s double winners Chelsea will continue their defence of the SSE FA Women’s Cup after coming from behind to beat newly-promoted Doncaster Rovers Belles.

These two sides are due to meet again in the FA WSL 1 opener on Thursday night, but with a place in the quarter-finals at stake this open game was far from a mere preview.

The Belles took a sixth minute lead through Jess Sigsworth, who scored on her return to the Belles at the end of a mazy run from the wing.

Donny captain Leandra Little’s own goal drew Chelsea back level nine minutes later, with her headed clearance dropping under the crossbar.

Little made amends by clearing a Ji So-Yun shot off the line on 23 minutes, and Nicola Hobbs made a fantastic save on the stroke of half time, somehow holding Gemma Davison’s decent strike with one hand.

But Hobbs was powerless when Karen Carney sprung an offside trap and finished with a perfect lob just before the hour mark.

Ji hit the crossbar with the goal gaping shortly after but she made no mistake on 72 minutes off Carney’s back heel, and Eniola Aluko’s strike two minutes later only made the scoreline more emphatic.

Doncaster Rovers Belles (4-3-3): Nicola Hobbs; Emily Simpkins, Rhiannon Roberts, Leandra Little, Sophie Barker; Kasia Lipka, Becky Easton, Sam Tierney; Jess Sigsworth, Natasha Dowie, Courtney Sweetman-Kirk. Substitutes: Alexandra Gummer for Tierney 78, Yasmin Mosby for Easton 78.Not used: Anna Moorhouse, Carla Humphrey.

Goal: Sigsworth 6

Chelsea Ladies (4-4-2): Hedvig Lindahl; Hannah Blundell, Niamh Fahey, Millie Bright, Gilly Flaherty; Gemma Davison, Katie Chapman, Drew Spence, Karen Carney; Eniola Aluko, Ji So-Yun. Substitutes: Bethany England for Davison 75, Jade Bailey for Aluko 78, Jenna Legg for Carney 83. Not used: Frances Kitching, Laura Rafferty

Goals: Little o.g. 15, Carney 59, Ji 72, Aluko 74

Referee: Andrew Smith

Attendance: 525

* To buy tickets to an FA Women’s Super League match near you go to – http://www.ticketstores.co.uk/fawsl/

Leicester City fan, James Weller, backed the Foxes to finish the season at the top of the league back in August last year, when he was given staggering odds of 5000/1.

But before Leicester surged eight points ahead of their rivals on Saturday afternoon enough was enough, and James decided to take his money and run with seven games still to play.

If he had waited until the end of the season he could have won £50,000 from his £10 wager.

The 43-year-old says he now plans to spend his winnings on the holiday of a lifetime for his family.

James, of Meersbrook, said: “The kids can’t quite grasp it yet, but we’re off on an amazing holiday. It’s fantastic feeling knowing I’m twenty grand richer from just a tenner. I hold my hands up, I lost my nerve and bottled it.

"I’m sure we’ll still win the league, probably drop four points before the end, but it’s ours to lose now and the pressure is on Spurs massively. I just wanted the money in my back pocket ASAP!”

Of the 47 customers who placed wagers on Leicester to achieve the unthinkable at the start of the season just 24 are left holding a betting slip paying out at 5000/1.

Jessica Bridge of Ladbrokes said: “We congratulate James for holding his nerve this long and having the belief back in August to place such an audacious wager.”