Ninety four percent of respondents to a survey on the future of XH558, the last flying Avro Vulcan, replied that they would like the aircraft to continue to deliver her spectacular displays across the country.

The survey was conducted three months into fund raising for vital work to the aircraft’s wings for which fewer than 2,000 people have so far pledged a contribution.

“We conducted the poll because the small number of pledges towards two more flying years had made us question if we really understand what people want,” explained the charity’s chief executive, Dr. Robert Pleming. “Around three million people see her fly each year and many supporters make generous donations to help us through the display season, but we are substantially behind target with our fundraising for Operation 2015, a challenging engineering programme that we must start soon if she is to fly after this season.”

The survey was conducted amongst supporters who have registered for the charity’s electronic newsletter and popular Facebook page.

Of the 12,573 unique responses, 94% voted ‘yes’ to flying on, 3.4% voted ‘undecided’ and only 2.6% voted ‘no’.

Pleming sees this is a strong indication of overwhelming support for doing everything possible to fly in 2014 and 2015.

The wing strengthening modification is needed because XH558 runs out of currently-permitted structural fatigue life at the end of this season.

The original Avro designs and tooling for the work are no longer available, so at this time last year it was thought that XH558 may have flown for the last time.

“Our engineering team and their technical partners worked hard to find a solution, and we are delighted that they have come up with a way to recreate the approved modification using a fascinating combination of very high-technology computer analysis and traditional craft skills,” explains Dr. Pleming.

To fund Operation 2015, the charity is asking those who support two more flying years to pledge their donations now, which will be collected when the £400,000 target is met.

A range of rewards are being offered, from car stickers and signed photographs to VIP days with the aircraft and her crew. Details of the technical programme and of the rewards for supporting it are at www.operation2015.org.

At the end of October, trustees of the charity will decide if the work can be commissioned or if XH558 must be prepared for ground-based duties only.

Vulcan to the Sky Trust must also raise urgent additional funding to reach this point, bridging the gap between the end of display season commercial income in September and the redemption of pledges for Operation 2015 in November.

Isle residents aged from 40 to 74 can have free health checks close to home at the end of this month.

The service is for people not being treated for pre-existing medical conditions including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stroke, kidney disease, heart problems or diabetes.

Drop-in sessions are held at handy locations such as leisure or community centres, libraries, working men’s clubs and at workplaces.

Dates are planned for Keadby and Epworth, along with Scunthorpe clinics.

A nurse will check your blood pressure, pulse, weight and height, cholesterol, waist measurements, bmi and ask a series of lifestyle questions about your activity levels and diet.

You are then given a score for your risk of developing heart disease over the next 10 years and offered advice and support for preventing this.

Vicky Smith, health checks co-ordinator, said: “By carrying out basic checks it helps us spot people who could have an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes or kidney disease. Not only do we do all the tests on the day but you get your results there and then with an explanation as to what they mean.”

The health checks nurse can refer people to services including health trainers and GPs. They can also signpost to other services that might be useful.

Councillor Rob Waltham said: “It’s important that people get checked as it could identify any potential health risks. If they then follow the advice of professionals it could improve people’s chances of living a healthier life.

“The check only takes about 30 minutes.”

Between April and June 2013, 210 people took up the chance of a free health check.

One 63-year-old woman who recently had a health check, but who wished to remain anonymous, said: “I had some initial anxiety which was soon quelled by the friendliness of the team who put me at ease and did not make me feel guilty about my lifestyle. The team made some constructive suggestions to improve my health and I came away feeling motivated to make changes.”

The sessions are on a drop-in basis from 10am to 4pm unless stated otherwise, with an appointments system planned in the near future.

Sessions are on September 27, noon to 6pm, Keadby Working Mens Club, October 1, Central Library, Scunthorpe, October 2, Forest Pines Hotel and Golf Resort, October 8, Epworth Youth Centre (10-3pm), October 15, Robert Holme Hall, Scunthorpe General Hospital.

For more information call 01724 292170.

To celebrate the fourth annual Trolleybus day, the Trolleybus museum in Sandtoft will host a weekend of activities.

Trolleybus day takes place on September 21 and activities on offer at the museum this weekend include trolley bus displays, a trolleybus “have a go” simulator, souvenir shop and refreshments, nature trails, and much more.

Doncaster is one of 26 towns and cities across Europe who will promote electric buses as an environmentally friendly and ecologically sustainable form of public transportation as part of Trolleybus day.

Daniel Steiner, President of Trolley:motion, said: “We are very proud that a grand total of 26 towns and cities are participating in this event and will use the occasion to present the environmentally friendly eatures of electric bus traction. It’s a symbolic joint effort to underline the importance of sustainability and highlight recent technological innovations.”

Admission costs £7 for adults and £5 for children. The museum is open from 11am onwards.

Visit www.sandtoft.org.uk for more details.

The owner of a Doncaster newsagent has paid tribute to his customers, after it was revealed his shop has raised over £2million for the National Lottery since it began in 1994.

The proprietor of the Paper House newsagent, Richard Huby, was presented with a certificate from the National Lottery today marking the £2,350,305 the shop has raised for the lottery.

28 percent of the money spent in National Lottery games is given to good causes.

Mr Huby said he wanted to thank his customers for helping him to raise such an ‘amazing amount’.

Buy the Free Press on Thursday (September 19) for more on this story.

A teenager posted a suicide message on Facebook before heading into a Doncaster wood to hang herself, an inquest heard.

Hayley Twigg was found the next day during an extensive police search of Sandall Beat Wood after her dad discovered her missing from their home on Montgomery Gardens, Intake, in February.

Hayley was a week away from her 20th birthday when she died but had been suffering from bouts of depression for several years and had made previous suicide attempts, the court heard.

When police accessed her Facebook page they found references to ‘Hayley Twigg’s Last Words’.

Her father, Michael Twigg, told the inquest she had been unhappy since the age of 14, was withdrawn and would spend up to 16 hours at a time in her room playing on her computer.

Mr Twigg said Hayley had taken a drugs overdose on four occasions and she had tried to hang herself in her bedroom but was found by her step-mum, Amanda Lancaster.

Her stepmum said: “She talked openly about ending her own life. She would say ‘let me go’ when I found her with tablets.”

Mr Twigg said Hayley would sometimes sleep for 18 hours at a time and he did not realise she had left the house until 5pm on February 19 this year when he found her room empty and her bed had not been slept in.

Hayley’s psychiatrist Dr Ian Aldridge said she was referred to the service after taking an overdose last summer and told staff she suffered from low self-esteem, long-standing mood instability and had little structure in her life.

Hayley admitted she could be ‘verbally vicious’ and had difficulty trusting people, which resulted in her ‘testing a relationship to destruction’.

She had missed appointments and had no contact with mental health services after October 2012.

Recording a verdict that Hayley took her own life, Assistant Coroner Geoffrey Saul said she left no handwritten note ‘but made certain comments on Facebook indicative of her intention’.

Dearne MP John Healey has pledged to take action to support 800,000 people who are living with dementia across the UK.

Mr Healey joined 200 other MPs and representatives from Alzheimer’s Society in Portcullis House, Westminster to provide a handwritten statement of planned action to support dementia sufferers and carers.

The MP promised to “back the work of families and groups who offer great support in Rotherham and Barnsley; and press ministers to make better care a higher priority in our NHS.”

He said: “One in three people over 65 will develop dementia, but the government has cut more than £1.8 billion from local council budgets and this is putting serious strain on care services for older people.”

Alzheimer’s Society campaigners were in Westminster to drum up political support for their trailblazing Dementia Friends initiative that launched in February this year.

Dementia Friends aims to help people understand what it might be like to live with dementia and to turn that understanding into action. Alzheimer’s Society aims to have one million Dementia Friends by 2015, to improve awareness and the lives of the 650,000 people who have the condition.

If you are interested in becoming a Dementia Friend or in helping create more dementia-friendly communities, go to dementiafriends.org.uk to find your nearest information session or to volunteer as a Dementia Friends Champion.

Firefighters in South Yorkshire are to go on strike next Wednesday in a national row over pensions.

The four-hour strike will take place next Wednesday, September 25, between 12noon and 4pm.

Almost 80 per cent of firefighters nationally had voted in favour of industrial action in a ballot that ended earlier this month.

Fire Brigades Union general secretary Matt Wrack said: “This initial strike is a warning shot to Government. Firefighters could not be more serious about protecting public safety and ensuring fair pensions.

“It is ludicrous to expect firefighters in their late 50s to fight fires and rescue families - the lives of the public and firefighters themselves will be endangered.

“None of us want a strike, but we cannot compromise on public and firefighter safety.”

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service Chief Fire Officer Jamie Courtney today called on the public to test their smoke alarms - as ‘the best way of making sure’ they can get out of their house if a fire starts during the strike.

“The best way people can keep themselves safe is to take care to prevent fires from happening in the first place,” he said.

“We would suggest that people now test that their smoke alarms are working. If they don’t own any, they should buy and fit them as soon as possible.”

He warned the service the brigade could provide would be ‘considerably depleted’.

“Earlier this summer we recruited and trained contingency fire crew, who are available to provide a limited level of fire cover during a strike,” he added.

“We will now consider the strike date announced today and finalise our contingency arrangements.”

Firefighters in Scotland will not strike next week, while union officials discuss the Scottish Government’s most recent proposals.

But as a settlement in Scotland has not yet been found, the union’s strike ballot could still result in industrial action there too.

A recent Government review found more than half of current firefighters between the ages of 50 and 54 are no longer able to meet fire and rescue service fitness standards for fighting fires, while two thirds of those beyond the age of 55 fail to meet the standards.

Although the Government has previously claimed that older firefighters could be moved to less physically demanding roles, the FBU said its research found only a handful of ‘redeployment’ opportunities in fire and rescue services, meaning mass sackings would be inevitable.

Firefighters already pay some of the highest pension contributions in the UK public or private sector and have seen increases for two consecutive years, the union said.

The majority of firefighters already pay almost 13 per cent of their salary in contributions with further increases due next year. That will mean some firefighters now face an increase six years in a row.

The FBU also argue that financial projections from the Government are flawed, as they are based on a prediction of a one per cent decline in pension sign-up when their own information suggests that more than 25 per cent of full-time firefighters recruited last year chose not to join.

Fire crews were called to Edlington, Doncaster, early today after reports of a wheelie bin in flames.

The bin on Staveley Street had been deliberately set alight around 3.40am, said Edlington firefighters.

Less than half an hour later they were called to Station Road, Conisbrough, where a rubbish skip had been set on fire by an arsonist. There was no damage to other property.

A teenager was attacked by a vicious gang while walking home in Rotherham.

The 19-year-old Rotherham man was allegedly assaulted by a group of unknown men on the outskirts of the town centre.

Police said he was walking alone on Princes Street, towards the underpass that runs along the side of Centenary Way, when the incident happened at 11.15pm on Saturday, September 7.

A group of about 14 men, believed to be aged in their mid to late teens and of an Eastern European appearance, were stood around just before the underpass, with the majority of them wearing dark hooded tops.

The man walked past them and continued towards the underpass, when he is alleged to have been attacked from behind.

He was pushed to the floor and repeatedly punched and kicked.

The man’s bag and his mobile phone were taken by the offenders who then fled the scene running up Princes Street and past the Prince of Wales hotel.

Police said the man sustained head and facial injuries and has been left severely shaken by the attack.

Officers are now appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the incident or anyone who may have information to come forwards.

Inspector Abdul Aziz, of the Town Centre Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “This type of incident isn’t a regular occurrence and I want to reassure the public that we are working on improving the underpasses in and around the town centre to ensure they are fit for purpose and people can feel safe using them.

“We are conducting extra patrols in the area and we are working closely with our partners to enhance the underpasses. We have installed new lighting in one, with the intention of installing in the others, and have had overgrown hedging cut back to provide a clear and well lit walk way.”

Anyone with information should call the police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111, quoting incident number 1379 of 07/09/2013.

Controversial plans for a site for gypsies and travellers at Scawthorpe were unanimously rejected yesterday.

Doncaster Council’s planning committee backed the feeling of the 521 residents who signed a petition opposed to the proposal.

Sitting at the Civic Offices at Waterdale, the committee heard that a further 167 letters of objection had also been received.

And members were in agreement that the plans for land off Jossey Lane, which included eight amenity blocks and the formation of a new access route, should be rejected on the grounds of road safety, noise nuisance and ecology.

Northern Rail had voiced concerns about the proximity of the site to the Doncaster to Leeds railway line.

After the meeting residents and local councillors welcomed the news.

Councillor Charlie Hogarth, one of three councillors from Bentley ward who spoke on the application, said: “The site was not appropriate for any sort of residential development and I am pleased the planning committee voted so resoundingly against the proposal.”

Backing his comments was Councillor Kevin Rodgers of the Great North Road ward.

He said: “The opposition to the site from the Bentley and Scawthorpe communities was crystal clear, and I have to thank the public for supporting their local councillors in putting a strong case against the application.”

Councillor Jane Nightingale, another Bentley ward councillor, said: “Special thanks should go to Ryan Morling who spoke at the committee meeting and worked with councillors and other members of the public to make the winning case.”

Scawthorpe resident Ryan, 30, said: “You’ve got to recognise that it was a well- coordinated defence, we spent a lot of time on this and people need to appreciate what we’ve done here.

“Thankfully, common sense prevailed.

“The officers’ report missed out key points, most importantly they gave no consideration to child safety.”

A Fathers4Justice campaigner from Doncaster has denied defacing a portrait of the Queen displayed in Westminster Abbey.

Tim Haries, aged 42, is alleged to have smuggled a can of spray paint into the abbey on June 13 before defacing the picture.

Appearing at London’s Southwark Crown Court, he pleaded not guilty to a charge of causing criminal damage of more than £5,000.

Haries, an electrician of Bellis Avenue, Balby, was given conditional bail to return to the court for trial on January 6.

The case is expected to last for between one and two days.

The painting, by Australian-born artist Ralph Heimans, had been on display in the abbey’s Chapter House for only a few weeks before it was vandalised with paint last year.

Eagle-eyed television viewers might have spotted the unlikely stars of a new nationwide advertisement for DIY firm B&Q – Doncaster Rovers.

The chain’s latest TV ad features a Rovers fan whose bedroom, covered in posters and other memorabilia, is given a makeover by his despairing mother.

The advert began screening last week.

A goal apiece from Corey Bacon and Shay Barron helped Crowle Colts’ u12s on their way to a 3-1 opening day win over current champions Park Tigers.

The sides battled it out to get their first points in the opening matches of the Barclays Corporate Division’s 2013-14 campaign.

And Crowle took the spoils against a side who were invicible all last season and clinched their league title. Strikes from Bacon, Barron and an own goal settled the tie.

Crowle controlled the majority of the game as they carved out chances and restricted the Tigers in their attacks.

Colts’ man of the match went to Elliot Raven-Smith for a hard-working display after beaking up Park’s attacks and using the ball well in possession.

Crowle: Jamie Goodall, Taylor Womack, Henry Walshe, Josh Ibrahim, Brandon Mcclurey, Liam Morritt, Elliot Raven-Smith, Corey Bacon, Shay Barron, Jack Smith, Brandon Marshall. Subs: Mason Hobson, Josh Tebbutt, Jack Palmer.

Colts next face a tough trip to Appleby Frodingham Saints on Saturday.

A special ceremony to mark the official start of the first phase of a £250 million 1,500 housing development will take place on Friday.

The ‘ground breaking’ ceremony, which will include representatives from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), Doncaster Borough Council, housing and regeneration specialists Keepmoat Homes, Strata and The Guinness Partnership, will be held at Carr Lodge in Doncaster.

David Curtis, Executive Director at the HCA and Dave Sheridan, Keepmoat’s CEO will be joined by other company representatives to ‘cut the sod’ to mark the start of the first phase of the project, which will see the construction of 329 new homes.

One hundred and seventy two homes will be developed by Keepmoat Homes, with a further 132 larger homes also delivered in partnership with Strata Homes, along with 25 Custom Build plots being built by Fairgrove Homes. The joint development name for the scheme is known as ‘Dominion’.

The £45m phase one development will see a mix of home ownership options including the construction of 241 homes for sale, 66 homes for affordable rent and 22 homes available to buy on a shared ownership basis, ensuring that these homes are available for local people.

All homes will be designed to the Government’s Code for Sustainable Homes level 3 and Lifetime Homes standards.

The development will include 25 custom build plots as part of the Custom Build programme, which is a Government backed initiative to encourage individuals to build their own homes, by making £30 million in loans available to support projects.

Plans for the first phase of the development, which was brought forward via the Homes and Communities Agency’s accelerated land delivery programme, were approved by the Council earlier this year and a new single carriageway spine road was completed in June.

The new road, Woodfield Way, links the A60 Tickhill Road with the A6182 White Rose Way; providing access to the Carr Lodge housing site, Tesco supermarket at Woodfield Plantation, the Holiday Inn Express, the new Morrisons supermarket and the new White Rose Way Park and Ride site just off White Rose Way.

David Curtis, Executive Director at the Homes and Communities Agency, said: “It is fantastic that the HCA has been able to ensure that new homes will be built by releasing public land and building the link road. The development starting today will protect and create jobs, and create a high quality, sustainable mixed community. The partners are offering opportunities for new homes for everyone in these times of housing difficulty helping to ensure that there will be homes to buy, rent or even build yourself.”

Dave Sheridan, CEO for Keepmoat, said: “As a national company with a head office located in Doncaster, we are delighted to see work commence on these high quality, affordable new homes. This is another major milestone in the development of Carr Lodge which will not only provide high quality new homes for local people but it will also help transform this part of the town into a thriving new community for people to live and work.

“There will be a mix of house types and styles that will appeal to many first time buyers and families and we will soon be opening a sales office for people to view plans and find out more information.”

Councillor Glyn Jones, Deputy Mayor of Doncaster Council and Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “We are delighted that work is to start on the Carr Lodge site. This is a great location for homes which are vitally needed in Doncaster to address a growing population in the town and help plug the housing shortage gap.

“We need to ensure that new developments are providing the right type of homes and the Carr Lodge development will do just that - they will be affordable and with all the features you would expect in modern homes - and with local amenities close by.”

Jim Wren, Chief Executive of Strata, said: “We are particularly pleased to be developing in Doncaster, our home town and to be selling new family homes to local people. Together with our partners we will be creating a fresh, vibrant environment that will become a much sought after place to live.

“We have been eagerly anticipating this start to the site and are genuinely excited about playing our part in the future of Carr Lodge”.

Paul Roberts, Managing Director at Guinness Northern Counties commented: “Guinness Northern Counties, a member of The Guinness Partnership, are excited to have been selected as a partner on an ambitious £6.6 million investment programme at Dominion, delivering 88 much needed affordable homes for the residents of Doncaster. The design and housing standards are outstanding and together with the wider regeneration proposals this will be a popular new community for Doncaster and its residents”.

Following on from phase one, a new main street and village square incorporating shops and a community hall will also be developed, with other community facilities such as a children’s nursery, a primary school, youth club, sports pitches, play areas and a linear park also included in the plans.

When complete, Carr Lodge will include a network of high-quality green routes, which have been designed to encourage walking and cycling and provide connections to local facilities.

This first phase of the development is expected to take three years to build. To register your interest or to find out more information about buying a new home at Carr Lodge, please visit www.keepmoat.com or call 07794 266 660.

* The ceremony takes place at 11am at Carr Lodge in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN4 8SB.

A new online map has been launched to make it easier for Dearne residents to plan their journeys on public transport.

Travel South Yorkshire’s map is designed to help users understand the various public transport planning options available to them for their specific journey.

The website will also give information about any disruptions.

David Young, deputy interim director general of the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, said: “We work hard to understand our customers’ requirements and best meet their transport needs. We know that some people find it daunting to make the initial shift from car to public transport, but by offering these online tools we are showing them just how easy it is to travel by bus, tram and train in South Yorkshire.”

To access the online journey planning tools and for more information visit travelsouthyorkshire.com/journeyplanning

Overgrown trees and shrubs are blocking paths and obscuring traffic lights in Epworth, councillors have warned

Epworth Town council has agreed on the need for action, and will now put pressure on North Lincolnshire County Council to ensure overhanging trees and shrubs are cut back.

Coun Richard Hall has already suggested asking North Lincolnshire Council for a supply of leaflets that members of the town council would be able to put through the doors of Epworth residents.

But this idea has been met with opposition by Coun Bob Fish who said Epworth Town Council does not have the authority to campaign on the issue independently.

He added: “It’s not down to us to put a letter from North Lincolnshire Council through people’s doors.”

“All we can do is ask the residents informally to take action.”

Town council vice-chairman Coun Jonathan Whitakers said he knew North Lincolnshire’s officers were busy, and couldn’t imagine that a call about an overhanging tree would be top on their list of priorities.

“I can’t see a problem with Coun Hall’s idea,” he said.

Coun Hall said he wasn’t confident that North Lincolnshire Council would be able to make much of a difference in the town council’s campaign to crack down on overhanging trees and shrubs. .

He said a tree branch was obscuring the traffic lights at the White Bear, and that Footpath 52, which ran from the town’s Station Road, was now completely impassable because it had now become completely overgrown.

He said: “I first raised that 18 months ago, and it has taken them 18 months not to attend to it.”

Coun Hall has also previously raised the issue of one Epworth Home in which a row of shrubs had been planted outside the boundary wall.

This issue was discussed at a Epworth town council meeting which took place last week.

For more information on Epworth Town Council please call 01427 872086 or visit www.epworthtowncouncil.com.

You can also contact North Lincolnshire County Council by calling 01724 296296 or visiting www.northlincs.gov.uk.

Crowle United beat New Holland Villa to progress into the next stage of the Scunthorpe Challenge Cup - as the Isle side’s manager was red carded.

It was a ‘smash and grab’ 2-1 victory in what was a game where United saw several appeals dismissed.

United took full advantage of the reserve team not playing, using the squad’s players for the trip.

John Couch started the game well after playing in an unfamiliar role up front and caused problems for the Villa back line, however, it was the home team who took an early lead through a penalty against the run of play.

The decision against Ryan Janes brought protestations from the United contingent, however, the spot-kick was awarded and dispatched for the opener.

That goal spurred Crowle on and they soon drew level.

Adi Sherwood worked hard down the right before crossing the ball with his left foot into Couch who headed home his first goal of the season.

Couch then nearly doubled his and Crowle’s tally two minutes later when he hit the bar from 10 yards out after receiving the ball from Paul Boucher.

Goalkeeper Simon Fletcher came to the rescue for United on 30 minutes with a spectacular save to his left-hand side to force a corner after the Villa striker turned defender Michael Hill in the six yard box.

Couch later managed to double his tally. Sherwood was again the provider as he dropped his shoulder and slotted the ball into the makeshift striker who smashed it low and hard past the keeper’s right.

Just before half time, United were again questioning a refereeing decision after left back Ben Simpson was penalised for a foul, despite Crowle arguing he got the ball. Following the protests, four Crowle players were booked.

Further controversy ensued as Crowle cleared the resulting free-kick, went on the counter and Couch only had the keeper to beat, however, the half time whistle was blown before the forward struck.

After the interval, Crowle looked after the ball well and began to press forward, looking dangerous on the attack.

Couch again caused problems and linked up well with midfielders Sherwood and Boucher, but nobody could kill the game off.

With Crowle questioning more decisions made against them, manager Jay Hunter made his feelings known to the referee and with that he was given his marching orders, leaving reserve manger Daniel Taylor in control for the last 20 minutes.

Several chances went begging towards the end of the game with the best coming from United substitute Scott Buttrick who glided past four defenders but scuffed his shot wide.

Crowle’s man of the match was Adi Sherwood who controlled the midfield and intelligently looked after the ball throughout, claiming two assists.

Sunday sees United travel to face Winteringham, kick-off is 3pm.

A complete overhaul of the energy market is needed to try and control rocketing energy prices that leave families across the Dearne in fuel poverty, says an MP.

Barnsley East MP Michael Dugher is urging the government to apply stricter regulations to energy companies that are pulling in £3.3 billion in profits, as households struggle to pay their bills.

Figures reveal that the average family’s energy bill has increased by more than £300 a year since the election, and over 4000 households in Barnsley East alone are in fuel poverty. But Britain’s big six energy companies have enjoyed a £3.3 billion uplift in profits.

Mr Dugher said: “People in Barnsley have been left with a £3.3 billion price tag for David Cameron’s failure to act on rip-off energy bills. While energy companies enjoy massive increases in profits, 4,048 households in Barnsley East live in fuel poverty and are struggling with soaring energy bills.

“It’s time the Government stood up to the big energy companies, stopped them ripping off thousands of families and pensioners whose living standards are already being squeezed and started implementing policies that would help hard-working people struggling to pay their bills. More needs to be done.”

An Alex Robinson hat trick helped Epworth Ladies Hockey Club retain the Thornton’s Sports Trophy following an 8-1 win over App Frod.

Despite a strong start from Epworth, who open their league defence this weekend, App Frod took the lead in the 13th minute.

However, that spurred on Epworth as Paula Tagg levelled and, after a series of determined efforts, Esther Latham struck from the top of the D to put the Isle side ahead.

The second half then rained goals as Robinson scored her first, beating a defendier and keeper, before adding her second from Nicola Blackburn’s long corner.

Tagg bagged her brace from a rebound after the keeper denied Kathryn Hewitt’s powerful strike.

Jenni Owen got her name on the scoresheet later as Robinson rattled home her third.

Epworth’s final goal came late on when Helen Lightburn made a surging run and hit the eighth in fine fashion to ensure Epworth retained the cup.

Yorkshire Five: Epworth v Barnsley, Saturday, 2.30pm, Thorne Trinity Academy, Church Balk.

A father who claims he was driven to produce cannabis after falling into debt and struggling to support his young family has escaped being sent behind bars.

Adam Potts, aged 29, was caught looking after 28 cannabis plants worth £12,600 at the home he rented on Woodlands Terrace, Edlington.

He pleaded guilty - and said he became involved in growing cannabis after ending up in a desperate situation.

Nicholas Walsh, defending Potts at Sheffield Crown Court, said: “In 2010, he started an NVQ in welding. It took him three years to qualify. While he was at college, he was working two days a week and that income supported his family. In December, he lost that employment. He sought help from the benefits agency but because he was at college he had no entitlement to job seekers’ allowance.”

Struggling to make ends meet, a friend put Potts in touch with a man who said he would lend him £2,000.

“Having cleared his debts at home he is asked to make a substantial contribution to his repayment and he is in no position to do that,” said Mr Walsh. “He becomes involved in growing cannabis.”

On May 19, police discovered two cannabis set-ups in the property.

Potts immediately admitted his part in the crime.

Mr Walsh said: “That’s the best indication of somebody who is genuinely sorry for what he has done.

“His current situation is very much a happier one than it had been. He finished his course in May, he qualified as a welder and he began employment in July. He is able now to support his partner and two young children aged seven and two.”

Sentencing Potts to an eight-month jail term, suspended for 12 months, Judge Lawler QC said: “You clearly worked hard to better yourself and gained qualifications. Your references show you are clearly highly thought-of by people who know you.”

Potts must also carry out unpaid work and pay a £100 surcharge and £340 costs.