More than 100 apprenticeship jobs are expected to be on offer at a fair in Crawley.

The borough and county council-backed event takes place at the Civic Hall, The Boulevard, between 2pm and 4pm on Tuesday, January 19.

Councillor Peter Lamb, Leader of Crawley Borough Council, said: “I’m delighted that we are hosting the Apprenticeship Job Fair for a fourth time. The previous three events were very successful, matching up applicants with training and job opportunities, so if you’ve recently left education, looking for a new challenge or an apprenticeship in the future come along.”

Louise Goldsmith, Leader of West Sussex County Council, said: “I would encourage anyone looking for a new career to take this opportunity to meet with local employers. Apprenticeships provide valuable practical experience and great opportunities for training and further qualifications.”

A borough council spokesman said the event aimed to match those looking for employment with training with employers looking to recruit their future workforce.

The spokesman added: “With vacancies across the central Sussex area and in a wide range of industries including construction, hospitality, business, childcare, care and engineering, there promises to be something for everyone on the day.

“Young people who have recently left school or college or are considering a new career or fresh start are particularly welcome to attend to explore the paid apprenticeship options and traineeship opportunities open to them at the event, which will see a number of training providers offering jobs with local employers.”

For further information about the event contact Rachael Howard Rachael.howard@westsussex.gov.uk

* Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at {http://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/|www.crawleyobserver.co.uk|www.crawleyobserver.co.uk}

2) Like our Facebook page at {https://www.facebook.com/crawley.observer|www.facebook.com/crawleyobserver|www.facebook.com/crawleyobserver}

3) Follow us on Twitter {https://www.facebook.com/crawley.observer|@Crawley_Obby|@Crawley_Obby}

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Crawley Observer - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.

Grimsby Town have moved swiftly to sign midfielder Conor Henderson until the end of the season after he was released by Crawley last week.

The 24-year-old former Arsenal and Hull player had spent the last month on loan with the Mariners without making a league appearance.

Despite this, he has signed a short-term deal at the National League side until May.

Henderson signed one-year deal with Reds in June 2014 and a new six month contract in June 2015.

In that time he made 20 appearances for Crawley and scored two goals - one of which was an amazing late free-kick to earn victory against Walsall in October 2014.

He had featured just for Mark Yates three times this season, before being released on December 31.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1 Make this website your homepage

2 Like our Facebook page at {https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sport-Sussex/1445133019077417?fref=ts|facebook.com/pages/Sport-Sussex|click here}

3 Follow us on Twitter @SportSussex

4 Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

A set of manuals on flying planes and outfits for a cat, were among the more unusual items left behind by Travelodge customers in Crawley.

The hotel chain has revealed some of the odder items left behind at its 506 hotels across the UK during the last 12 months.

With more than 17 million people annually staying in a Travelodge hotel, some of the most unusual booty was left in Crawley.

These included:

A set of manuals on how to fly a plane .

A suitcase of outfits for a cat.

A coffee table.

Shakila Ahmed from Travelodge said: “Our 2015 left behind register has revealed that we have become a nation obsessed with smart technology, as we have had a noticeable increase in chargers, tablets and smartphones left behind in our hotels during the last 12 months. What is becoming evident after speaking to our customers is that the pace of modern life is fast and furious. We are controlled by time and eager to get from A to B therefore valuable possessions are being forgotten.”

* Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at {http://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/|www.crawleyobserver.co.uk|www.crawleyobserver.co.uk}

2) Like our Facebook page at {https://www.facebook.com/crawley.observer|www.facebook.com/crawleyobserver|www.facebook.com/crawleyobserver}

3) Follow us on Twitter {https://www.facebook.com/crawley.observer|@Crawley_Obby|@Crawley_Obby}

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Crawley Observer - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.

A teenager has been charged as the police’s Christmas crackdown on drink and drug-driving comes to an end.

Abishai Indramoorthy, a student, of Meadowlands in Crawley, was arrested in Dower Walk, Crawley, on Friday (January 1).

The 19-year-old was charged with driving with 89mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system, driving with no licence and driving with no insurance.

He is due to appear at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on January 21.

Adam Holman, a warehouse man, of Moor Park Crescent in Crawley, was arrested in London Road, Henfield, on Saturday (January 2)

The 29-year-old was charged with driving with 43mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.

He is due to appear before Worthing Magistrates’ Court on January 21.

182 arrests have been made since Sussex and Surrey Police launched its joint campaign to crack down on drink and drug-driving, named Operation Dragonfly, on December 1.

Of these 182 a total of 27 people have been convicted, and a further 72 have been charged and are due to appear in court.

Phil Nicholas, chief inspector of the Sussex Police Roads Policing Unit, said he was disappointed that a number of people continue to break the law, putting lives at risk.

He said: “I feel the campaign has been a success in that we have arrested a large number of people who may otherwise have been involved in an accident or ended up causing fatalities on the roads in Sussex.

“However, it is extremely disappointing that some people have not taken heed of the message, as is reflected in the statistics with 21 more people being arrested for drink and drug-driving related offences in the first three days of 2016 - 10 on New Year’s Day alone.

“It shows that this campaign is not aimed solely at targeting drink and drug-drivers at Christmas; it is a year-round strategy and we will continue to bring offenders to justice.”

He added: “Drink and drug-driving is dangerous and it’s antisocial, and we are reinforcing this message by publishing the names of those who are charged and convicted. In doing so, we are discouraging antisocial behaviour and illegal activity, and we hope this acts as a deterrent to motorists.

“We have also seen those who are prepared to drink and drive across a broad range of society, from young adults to pensioners, and from the unemployed to working professionals. No one is exempt from the law.

“Ultimately, we want people to realise it’s not worth losing their job or their licence - or their life - for the sake of driving while under the influence of drink or drugs. The message is clear - drink or drive; never both.”

People in Sussex can text officers on 65999 with the details of people they suspect of drink or drug driving or visit www.operationcrackdown.co.uk.

You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 (http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org/).

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at {http://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/|www.crawleyobserver.co.uk|www.crawleyobserver.co.uk}

2) Like our Facebook page at {https://www.facebook.com/crawley.observer|www.facebook.com/crawleyobserver|www.facebook.com/crawleyobserver}

3) Follow us on Twitter {http://www.twitter.com/crawley_obby|@Crawley_Obby|@Crawley_Obby}

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Crawley Observer - always the first with your local news.

Junior doctors are set to take to industrial action after talks between the BMA and government failed.

The announcement comes after the doctor’s union agreed to cancel three strikes last month to re-enter talks with the government.

But talks between the two parties with medicator Acas have since broken down.

The British Medical Association (BMA) said the government has ‘continually failed’ to address junior doctors’ concerns, arguing government proposals to change their contracts would be ‘unsafe’ for patients and ‘unfair’ for doctors.

Doctors are arguing the changes – proposed to improve seven-day NHS services — will result in a pay cut.

The new contract proposes an 11 per cent rise in basic pay for junior doctors.

However, the number of hours during the week which are classed as ‘unsociable’ and therefore better paid – are being cut.

The government also proposes to scrap guaranteed pay increases, linked to time in the job, and replace them with a system where junior doctors progress through different stages in training.

The strike action is set to affect Surrey and Sussex Healthcare Trust (SASH) which runs East Surrey Hospital, Western Sussex NHS Foundation Trust which runs Worthing Hospital,St Richard’s Hospital and Southlands, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals Trust (BSUH) which runs the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath and Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, East Sussex Healthcare Trust which runs Conquest Hospital in Hastings and Eastbourne DGH.

The walk out is proposed for 24 hours on Tuesday, January 12, during which junior doctors will provide emergency care only.

There will be a second 48-hour period of emergency care only beginning on January 26 and a third day of action on February 10, which will see a full withdrawal labour between 8am and 5pm.

In November 98 per cent of junior doctors in England voted for industrial action.

Dr Mark Porter, BMA council chair, said: “Throughout this process the BMA has been clear that it wants to reach agreement on a contract that is good for patients, junior doctors and the NHS. This is why, despite overwhelming support for industrial action, the BMA instead sought conciliation talks with the Government, talks which were initially rejected and delayed by Jeremy Hunt.

“After weeks of further negotiations, it is clear that the Government is still not taking junior doctors’ concerns seriously. Furthermore, the Government has repeatedly dragged its feet throughout this process, initially rejecting our offer of talks and failing to make significant movement during negotiations.

“We sincerely regret the disruption that industrial action will cause, but junior doctors have been left with no option.

“It is because the Government’s proposals would be bad for patient care as well as junior doctors in the long-term that we are taking this stand.”

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage

2) Like our Facebook page

3) Follow us on Twitter

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

Always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.

Police are appealing for the public’s help to trace a missing woman who failed to meet a friend at Gatwick Airport.

Luisa Lizariturry Varela, 56, was meant to meet a friend at the airport on Sunday, 27 December but she failed to attend. Officers believe she may have been seen in Bristol that same day.

She is described as a white woman with dark coloured hair.

Anyone who has seen Luisa or knows of her whereabouts is asked to contact the Westminster Missing Persons Unit on 02073218028 quoting reference number 16MIS000281.

The appeal was released by Sussex Police on behalf of Metropolitan Police.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage

2) Like our Facebook page

3) Follow us on Twitter

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

Always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.

What do the stars of The X Factor, the neighbour’s cat, EastEnders and unexpected callers have in common?

No, they’re not guests at the strangest party you’ve ever been to, they’re among the top things which make the South-East’s dads grumpy, according to a new survey.

Lights left on in empty rooms, heating on too high, drum and bass music and being treated like a taxi service also featured on the chart of cantankerousness.

More than a quarter of dads in the South-East admit they are always cranky while another 75 per cent reckon they are becoming more so as they get older.

And it is not the privilege of old men – as dads are at their most grumpy at the age of 40.

Pollyanna Haigh, from Merlin Annual Pass, who commissioned the research, said “From our experience, Dad’s will openly admit they have a reputation for being the grumpy ones of the family, and we wanted to see if this really was the case; and the survey suggests it is!

“As we all know, everyone has grumbles from time to time – perhaps dads are just not as good at hiding their moans as others.

“However, children grow up so fast, so it’s important for families to maximise the fun times together before they grow up and become parents themselves.”

The poll of fathers in the South-East found people leaving the lights on is most likely to make them grumble, followed by traffic jams, bad drivers, general bad manners and the kids arguing.

Being treated like an ATM, their football team losing, the kids not helping with chores, having the heating on too high and the kids not saying please or thank you also wind dads up.

The biggest general reasons for grumpiness are work, while money and household chores and jobs can also cause dads to have a moan.

But these grumbles aren’t a rare occurrence with the average dad admitting to around nine a week – more than once a day.

Luckily for families though, 63 per cent reckon they are at the most grumpy during the working week, coming out of their mood in time for the weekend.

More than half of dads also believe a good night’s sleep is often all it takes to bring an end to their grumpiness with another 30 per cent saying food helps.

A family day out, a nice gesture from a partner or children and a cold beer or lager can also improve their mood.

It also emerged three-quarters of dads believe they need to make more effort to be less grumpy, with 70 per cent saying time with their family and fun days out would result in a less grumpy dad.

And if you want to catch dad at his most awesome, on holiday is the best time, followed by the evenings and weekends, and when playing with the children.

Pollyanna added: “We commissioned this research after hearing from our attraction guests that their families behave so differently when on a family day out – they are carefree and relaxed, no sight of grumpiness!

“Everyone has times where life takes over and can cause grumpiness and the survey is proof of that. To help those mums and dads out there have a year of fun with their family, our January sale has started where you can purchase the Merlin Annual Pass from just £99 each gives its holders entrance to 32 attractions across the country.

So here’s the cranky chart – which long-suffering families can either use as warning list or simply to tick off the things which they know tick off dad.

People leaving the lights on

Bad traffic

Bad drivers

General bad manners

The kids arguing

Always being asked for money/treated like an ATM

Your favourite football team losing

The kids not helping with the chores

Having the heating on too high

The kids not saying please or thank-you

Doors being slammed

The kids not eating their meal but then complaining they are hungry later on

The front or back door being left open

Not spending time with the family because of work

All the planning and cost that any family activity involves

Cold callers calling in the evening

People stomping around the house

X Factor

Not being able to snooze on the sofa

Always being the one to do the bins and recycling

Reality TV shows

Putting up Christmas decorations too early

Being told to do the hoovering/other household chores

The kids spending too much time on the internet

Lego/other toys being left lying around for you to stand on

Being seen as a taxi driver by your children

Kids playing music too loud

Having to do all the gardening

Shoes being left by the front/back door

The cost of petrol

Drum and Bass music

The television being too loud

Pop music

Dance music

Having to do washing up

Strictly Come Dancing

EastEnders

Coronation Street

Geordie Shore

People popping round to visit unexpectedly

The kids watching too much TV

Kim Kardashian

The neighbour’s cat

The kids recording every episode for The Simpsons/Friends etc and taking up all the space on the Sky+ box

The kids staying in bed too long

What your son/daughter is wearing (‘that’s a belt, not a skirt!’)

Having the TV on when eating

Always being the one to take the dog for a walk

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage

2) Like our Facebook page

3) Follow us on Twitter

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

Always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.

Train delays and cancellations on the first Monday of 2016 were ‘completely unacceptable’, according to Mid Sussex MP Nicholas Soames.

After major engineering work over Christmas and the New Year, services were supposed to return to normal on Monday.

However, signal failure at Purley left many trains delayed or cancelled.

Sir Nicholas, who criticised rail operator Southern last week, said he held Network Rail responsible for yesterday’s problems.

“It’s completely unacceptable, and indeed pathetic, that after closing the entire railway down in our area, the first thing that happens when they release it to the services again is that it breaks,” he said.

“The railway summit is coming up very shortly, with [Rail Minister] Claire Perry, and I shall certainly be berating them.

“I think it’s unbelievable, quite frankly.

“I’ve had a lot of emails from constituents today, and I’m very disappointed on their behalf.

“It’s important to remember that Network Rail do the work, it’s Southern that are the user of it.”

Network Rail carried out the £4m junction renewal programme at Purley, where tracks from Caterham, Tattenham Corner, Redhill and Gatwick all merge.

A statement from Network Rail yesterday said that trains will have to run at a temporary maximum speed of 60mph, rather than the usual 90mph.

“As with all major track renewals, a short period of bedding in will now take place, with trains running at reduced speeds. This is not expected to have a major impact on journeys,” it said.

Network Rail route managing director Alasdair Coates said: “I would like to thank passengers for their patience, and also our lineside neighbours, who will have seen and heard the huge project going on over Christmas.

“There is no good time to do this work, and I am especially conscious of the disruption we caused to passengers travelling to Gatwick and to work in London.

“However, we must continue to invest and rebuild the Brighton Main Line to keep trains running reliably for the thousands of people who rely on it every day.

“This was a massive project on one of the country’s busiest railways and the successful completion is a credit to our engineers and suppliers.”

Gatwick Express Passenger Services Director, Angie Doll said: “I would like to thank our passengers for their patience and understanding while the work took place. Our contingency plans worked extremely well and everyone was able to get to their destinations as planned. Now that this important junction has been renewed, we expect it to be more reliable, reducing the risk of disruption in the area.”

While Sir Nicholas stressed that Southern were not to blame for Monday’s problems, he still believes they should lose their franchise.

“Both Nick Herbert and I have already said that when we meet Claire Perry, we will be raising the fact that Southern are just not up to doing it,” he said.

“I’ve just seen that this endless shortage of drivers was down to the number of drivers taking holidays. What the hell are they playing at?

“What would you think if you turned up for a British Airways flight and they said: ‘Sorry, we haven’t got any pilots’?”

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage

2) Like our Facebook page

3) Follow us on Twitter

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

Always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.

One lane is blocked and traffic is being delayed, following a crash on the A23 this morning.

Reports say the accident happened on the A23 northbound, between the junction with the A281 and the B2117 near Albourne.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1 Make our website your homepage

2 Like our Facebook page

3 Follow us on Twitter

4 Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

Always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.

If, like so many people, you’ve resolved to stop doing something in the New Year then you might be surprised to learn that only about one in 20 people actually succeed by going cold turkey.

Rather than embarking on a likely doomed strategy of total self-denial, Mike Delaney, a leading authority in the treatment of addictions with over 30 years’ consultancy experience in the UK and internationally, says that you will be far more successful if you introduce substitutes instead of cutting something out altogether.

The all-or-nothing total quitting approach is particularly problematic after the inevitable excesses of the festive period.

Cognitive psychologists also don’t like it, as there is no margin between success and failure; one moment of weakness and you’ve “failed”, which can lead to the mentality – “why bother trying again?”

Mike’s top five tips to beat the vicious circle are as follows:

Don’t set your goals too high as you will be setting yourself up to fail; make your resolutions reasonable and achievable and you will have a greater chance of success

Don’t plan too many at once as this is also the road to failure, e.g. trying to stop smoking, lose weight, stop drinking and do more exercise is a huge piece of work to undertake on top of all the other challenges that a new year brings

As they say, “take it one day at a time”; stopping something for 24hrs is easier than thinking you have to do it “forever”

Use all the support you can muster! Family, friends, healthcare professionals and support groups all have a part to play if you use them; it also helps you to stay focused and strong every day

Be kind to yourself and reward success; try putting money away every day that you have managed to save by not indulging in your bad habit; at the end of every week or month that you have achieved success, buy yourself something that you have wanted, treat yourself to a spa weekend etc.

So, whether your habit is eating too much chocolate, drinking too much, or smoking, watch the video to hear Mike explain his top tips on making this year’s resolutions ones you can truly stick to.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: www.buyv2cigs.co.uk

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage

2) Like our Facebook page

3) Follow us on Twitter

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

Always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.

Once a great celebration, now mainly remembered as the date when you’re supposed to take your decorations down.

But what is it? Here’s the basics on Twelfth Night:

When is it?

Twelfth Night is today (January 5) - the night before the Twelfth Day of Christmas (Epiphany, when the Three Wise Men were said to arrive at the stable where Jesus was born).

Why is Twelfth Night not on January 6?

To our ancestors, the end of the day was when the sun came down - so the night was actually the beginning of the next day.

So for them, Christmas Day started at sunset on December 24 (Christmas Eve) and would continue until nightfall on the 25th, which began the Feast of Stephen (Boxing Day, as we now call it, which was the actual First Day of Christmas).

If you follow it along, the Twelfth Night of Christmas was the night before January 6.

So when should I take my decorations down?

Since Victorian times, the tradition has been to take decorations down on Twelfth Night. So technically, the answer is January 5.

But most people now think of January 6 as being Twelfth Night. So unless you’re majorly superstitious, you can probably leave them until then.

It’s also worth remembering that until Victorian times, our ancestors left their decorations up until Candlemas on February 2 (having not put them up until Christmas Eve).

Read more: When should you take down your decorations?

How is Twelfth Night celebrated?

Tricks

In times past, it was a big celebration, and a time to play practical jokes on your friends, family and neighbours - including hiding live birds in pies, as in the rhyme Sing a Song of Sixpence.

Twelfth Cakes

In Britain, this was a rich, heavy fruitcake, which traditionally contained a bean. If you got it, you were King or Queen of the Bean and everybody had to obey your orders, often to do ridiculous things.

It was also a time to eat spicy, gingery foods.

Wassailing

Wassail is a kind of hot mulled cider, traditionally drunk around Christmas.

Wassailing refers to singing and drinking the health of trees on Twelfth Night, to awaken apple trees and to scare away evil spirits, ensuring a good harvest in Autumn.

Mumming

Traditional Christmas plays, a kind of early pantomime, usually featuring the story of George and the Dragon.

Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night

The play is believed to have been written around 1601/02 as entertainment for close to the Christmas season, and its plot of disguises and confusions seems to fit the spirit of the occasion.

Yule Log

This was traditionally lit at the beginning of Christmas, and burned until the Twelfth Night, when its remains were kept to kindle next year’s fire - and for good luck.

Is Twelfth Night still celebrated today?

Many places throughout the UK still mark the occasion, and celebrations take place in London’s Bankside each year - though often not falling on Twelfth Night itself, but rather the weekend closest to the date.

Crawley Town midfielder Jimmy Smith could be out of action for ten weeks after the club confirmed he broke his foot during the 3-0 defeat at Portsmouth.

Smith played through the pain barrier on until half-time after suffering the injury early in the gamne.

Physio Paul Wilson said: “Jimmy has broken a bone on the side of his foot. He will be in a protective cast for six weeks so it will be eight to ten weeks before he is fit again.”

Jimmy has been a virtual ever present this season with 29 League and cup appearances.

Manager Mark Yates said: “Losing Jimmy is a blow because he has been one of our most important players.

But his absence will give others who have been waiting patiently for an opportunity and it’s up to them to take it.”

Josh Yorwerth came off during the first half with a hamstring injury which is being assessed by Paul and the medical team this week.

Striker Lee Barnard is back in training after missing the Portsmouth game with bruised ribs.

Defender Lanre Oyebanjo is also getting closer to being fit to play, having so far been out of the team all season recovering from a knee operation last summer.

Paul added: “Lanre is fit and all he needs now is to build up his match fitness which is good news.”

Joe McNerney is having a scan on his knee this week after which an assessment can be made on his likely return to action.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1 Make this website your homepage

2 Like our Facebook page at {https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sport-Sussex/1445133019077417?fref=ts|facebook.com/pages/Sport-Sussex|click here}

3 Follow us on Twitter @SportSussex

4 Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

More than seven million Brits own a celebrity fitness DVD - even though seven out of 10 don’t believe they can help them shed the pounds.

Researchers found 69 per cent don’t believe celeb DVDs are a sure-fire way to health, fitness and sustained weight loss.

One in four said they bought the DVD believing they would lose as much weight as the celebrity, while more than one in five (21 per cent) said they were seduced by the before and after pictures.

Almost a third of British women who bought a fitness DVD said it made themselves feel better.

Meanwhile men were more likely to be motivated by the TV show the celeb was in, with 41 per cent admitting it was why they picked it up.

And just one in eight women looking to buff up in front of the box (13 per cent) said they were motivated by the celeb’s show.

One in four said the DVDs lacked vital support from a nutritionist or trainer (26 per cent), while one in five (20 per cent) blamed the lack of their success from DVDs on the fact that celebs have more leisure time to spend working out.

The survey of 1,000 adults, for David Lloyd Leisure, also found that celebrity fitness DVDs are most popular with 16 to 24-year-olds.

TOWIE girls were found to be the most popular would-be personal trainers, with over a third of 16-24 year olds saying they would buy a DVD fronted by a TOWIE lady.

Meanwhile TV fitness fanatic Davina McCall and Tracy Anderson secured just under a third of the vote (30 per cent).

Geordie Shore workouts proved a little less popular than TOWIE, with just over a quarter of the age group opting for a Charlotte Crosby or Vicky Pattinson workout.

But the big spenders of Made in Chelsea proved the least appealing reality TV workout coaches, with under a quarter of young people (24 per cent) saying they’d pick them.

And when it came to the showdown of the soaps, DVDs from Hollyoaks and EastEnders actors (both 27 per cent) were more appealing than those of Emmerdale and Coronation Street actors (both 24 per cent).

When participants were asked what they would like to see as part of a fitness regime, almost a third (31 per cent) said they’d like a routine that takes their own metabolism and body type into account and more than a quarter (28 per cent) wanted a routine based solely on their own girls.

More than one in five (22 per cent) said they were looking for a routine where they could track their progress easily.

Michelle Dand, Group Health and Fitness Manager at David Lloyd Leisure, said: “Celebrity fitness DVDs can seem extremely appealing to those who want to lose weight, promising dramatic results in a short space of time.

“But reality is fads do not make you fit or help sustain weight loss in the long term.”

Residents spoke of their disgust as new flats opposite Crawley Leisure Park were approved.

Developers already have permission to convert empty office block Stoner House, on the corner of London Road and Kilnmead, into 76 flats.

But Crawley Borough Council’s Development Control Committee approved new plans for roof extensions and external alterations to the building to provide a total of 111 units.

After the meeting residents described the decision as ‘disgusting’ and expressed their disappointment.

Gillian McCann, speaking for residents in sheltered housing behind the site, said: “We understand the need for housing in Crawley but we would like to retain some privacy and peace and quiet for our residents in their later years.”

Bob Jeans, who also lives next to the site, described the access as dangerous so near to a busy roundabout, and raised concerns over privacy, and lack of adequate parking.

But Daniel Rose, agent for the scheme, described how the developers had worked closely with the council’s case officer to amend the scheme, and he felt it provided significant benefits over the permitted development. He added: “It’s a significant visual enhancement to a tired commercial building.”

Meanwhile Peter Lamb (Lab, Northgate), leader of the council but speaking as the local member, did not think a nine-storey building was in line with Crawley’s ‘new town heritage’ and argued that a decision to approve the scheme could set a precedent for high-rise developments.

He also felt the proposal breached council policies on important long-distance views.

But on balance the committee decided to approve the new plans, which include 16 affordable flats, and will mean that most units meet space standard guidelines.

Bill Ward (Lab, West Green) said: “If we turned this down we are going to get more of a shoddy scheme.

“If you go for the present application you get a much improved block of flats with better standards and in the end more flats.”

Geraint Thomas (Lab, Northgate) added: “It would be an appropriate planning solution to a difficult area between the town centre and the residential area.”

Duncan Crow (Con, Furnace Green) said: “Although I can appreciate people would not want to have a tall structure next to them, we would struggle on planning grounds to refuse this application.”

Peter Smith (Lab, Ifield), cabinet member for planning, felt the new building would improve the street scene, and described it as an improvement over the permitted development scheme.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at {http://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/|www.crawleyobserver.co.uk|www.crawleyobserver.co.uk}

2) Like our Facebook page at {https://www.facebook.com/crawley.observer|www.facebook.com/crawleyobserver|www.facebook.com/crawleyobserver}

3) Follow us on Twitter {http://www.twitter.com/crawley_obby|@Crawley_Obby|@Crawley_Obby}

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Crawley Observer - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.

More than 20,000 walkers, cyclists and riders who complete the South Downs Way every year are being asked to give something back under a new donation scheme.

Some people tackle the 160km scenic route for pleasure, others for the challenge and many to raise money for charity.

Andy Gattiker, South Downs Way manager, said, “We have around 15,000 pairs of boots, 10,000 tyres and 800 hooves travelling the length of the trail each year. That’s a lot of wear and tear.

“We’re so proud that it’s not just one of the best known trails in the country but that people use their experience of it to raise tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of pounds each year for causes ranging from reducing international poverty to beating heart disease or supporting their local hospice.

“We work hard to keep the South Downs Way in good condition and have lots of ideas for projects to improve it – for example, we’d love to install more location specific signposts, put in more drinking water taps and manage more path verges for wildflowers.

“If everyone who used the trail gave just £1 we could be even more ambitious.”

England and Wales have 15 National Trails – all free to use and managed to very high standards. Like many publicly funded initiatives resources are limited and trail managers in both countries are hoping that the new scheme will help them generate support to make the trails even better.

Donations of any size are welcome with 80 percent of money received being used to directly fund improvements to the trail. The remaining 20 per cent will be used to support the trail website, where around 140,000 people go every year to find free and independent information on how to access the trail, how to break it up into sections, where to stay and much more – this website isn’t publicly funded.

To make a donation towards the South Downs Way visit www.nationaltrail.co.uk/south-downs-way/donate

• What do you think? Should people make a donation for walking the South Downs Way?

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage

2) Like our Facebook page

3) Follow us on Twitter

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

Always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.

Olympic medal-winning gymnast and 2012 Strictly winner Louis Smith has swapped the pommel horse for man’s best friend today as he fronts the first ever celebrity fitness video for man and dog, in conjunction with a Horsham-based company.

Petsercise with Louis Smith sees the Team GB hero guide viewers through a fun and high tempo home workout – with the addition of two dogs exercising alongside him.

Created by Horsham based pet insurers MORE TH>N and Wagglepets, the 11-minute fitness video includes a mixture of simple, unique cardio, muscular and core-strengthening exercises that will see both owner and dog break into a sweat when performed together (if dogs could sweat, that is).

Each exercise Louis Smith and his canine companions perform in the video has been developed by a vet[1] and personal trainer and will ensure people following at home feel the burn - while also giving their dogs a healthy run around and supplementing the regular outdoor exercise they should get.

A few of the six exercises Louis and his four-legged fitness friends carry out in the fitness video are:

- Figure of Eights: the dog’s owner adopts a squat position and leads a dog through their legs in a figure of eight motion;

- Bicycle Crunches: the dog jumps between the owner’s alternating legs; and

- Pro Cobra: a shoulder and back workout for the owner that sees the dog chase a treat in the owner’s hands.

All of the person-and-pet exercises demonstrated by Louis and his canine workout companions can be performed at home by dog owners and their dogs with a small dog ball, toy or healthy treat.

Louis Smith said of the video: “2016 is a big year for me. The aim is to get to Rio and represent the nation on the biggest sports stage of all. It’s really important that I’m in peak physical condition, but I never forget about my dog and their need for regular exercise and a proper diet. That’s why I teamed up with MORE TH>N and Wagglepets to create this workout video: to help spread the word about the importance of a happy and healthy lifestyle for dogs everywhere.”

Petsercise with Louis Smith launches today at the peak of the celebrity fitness DVD season. While the free video will help dog owners work towards their New Year’s resolution to shift any extra Christmas pounds, it has another ambition: to combat the ongoing dog obesity crisis in the UK. Indeed, despite most dogs born with an insatiable appetite for running around, one in three (33%) canines today are nonetheless classified as overweight.

Steve Jay, Head of Innovation at MORE TH>N, said: “Unfortunately there are too many dogs today that are out of shape and overweight – and it’s an entirely man-made problem. Just like us, every dog should have the opportunity to live a happy and healthy life. However, where we can all choose to adopt healthier lifestyles, dogs can’t make such an act of self-improvement alone.”

“We understand that even the most responsible of dog owners may not always have the time to give their dogs the amount of exercise they need every day, so it’s important to find creative ways to help owners supplement their pets’ fitness. Hopefully, the fun workout video we’ve created with Louis Smith will encourage all owners to give their dogs the exercise they love, while having the added benefit of being a workout for them too.”

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage

2) Like our Facebook page

3) Follow us on Twitter

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

Always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.

A national homeware and furniture retailer has announced it will be closing all its stores across the country, including its Crawley branch.

Cargo Home will be shutting all 41 of its shops across the UK by end of this month.

The Crawley store, in County Mall Shopping Centre, has not confirmed its official closing date but said it will be closed by the end of January.

The Chichester store is also yet to confirm its closing date but the Horsham store has announced it will shut on January 30.

A spokesman for the retailer said: “Every store should be closed by the end of this month.

“However our customer service line will still be open to deal with online orders.”

The company could not confirm how many jobs will be lost.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at www.crawleyobserver.co.uk

2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/crawley.observer

3) Follow us on Twitter @Crawley_Obby

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Crawley Observer - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.

Two nurses who used to work at the scandal-hit care home Orchid View are set to answer misconduct charges at a hearing.

Orchid View in Copthorne, which was run by Southern Cross, closed its doors in 2011 after a whistle blower alerted authorities to the treatment of residents.

In 2013 West Sussex Coroner Penelope Schofield investigated the deaths of 19 residents at the care home, finding neglect contributed to the death of five people and ‘sub-optimal care’ of fourteen.

Among those who died were Wilfred Gardner, 85; John Holmes, 85; Enid Trodden, 86; Margaret Tucker, 77; and Jean Halfpenny, 77, whose medical records were found to have been falsified.

Two other nurses, Sadeo Singh and Nirmala Read, who was the manager of the home, have been struck off after misconduct charges agaist them were proved.

Two nurses who worked at the home are now set to face separate hearings by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) this month, which will determine if the nurses are fit to practise.

Samusideen Olanrewaju Ajao worked at the home between September 2010 and 2011.

He is set to attend an NMC hearing on January 6, accused of ‘failing to take appropriate action and or seek advice in relation to unattended medication found in resident B’s room when informed of this by person B’ on an unknown date in May 2011.

He is also accused, one month later, of failing to ‘promptly take appropriate action or seek advice in relation to an injury that resident B had sustained when informed of this by person B’.

Edelina Aguila was also working at Orchid View as a registered nurse in 2011 and is set to answer two misconduct charges at a hearing schedule for January 12.

She is accused of providing ‘inadequate care’ to a resident, allegedly attempting to administer only one medication patch to the resident when two were needed.

She is also accused of moving another resident using ‘inappropriate’ handling techniques including grabbing him by the hand to swing him around.

The former manager of the care home, Nirmala Read, was struck off in October 2015 for covering up a resident’s overdose and shredding evidence.

Sadeo Singh had been charged with five offences between November 2009 and April 2010.

He was charged with five offences and struck off the register in November 2015 after the panel found he was ‘reluctant’ to remediate his misconduct – pulling a resident out of a wheelchair by her wrists and ‘failing’ to help a resident in pain who he branded ‘attention seeking.

The care home has since reopened under new management.

A Serious Case Review which looked at care at the home made 30 recommendations to reduce the likelihood of any substandard care at other homes.

West Sussex County Council has introduced an online system to share information about the quality of care services, developed a system to provide information to the public when safeguarding concerns are raised and created public awareness campaigns about choosing care and how to raise concerns

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at {http://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/|www.crawleyobserver.co.uk|www.crawleyobserver.co.uk}

2) Like our Facebook page at {https://www.facebook.com/crawley.observer|www.facebook.com/crawleyobserver|www.facebook.com/crawleyobserver}

3) Follow us on Twitter {https://www.facebook.com/crawley.observer|@Crawley_Obby|@Crawley_Obby}

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Crawley Observer - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.

A mother from Haywards Heath is collecting essential supplies for the victims of flooding in Yorkshire and Cumbria.

Lorraine Chedzey-Ackland said she has had ‘fantastic’ support for her appeal, with donations and offers of help coming in from all directions.

She said they are asking for bedding, mattresses, winter coats, wellies, toiletries, brooms and cleaning products.

With the pile of contributions growing, they will need some way to transport the supplies to the North.

She was prompted to do something over Christmas, as news reports came in of families who face having to wait six months or more in emergency accommodation before their homes have even dried out enough to be redecorated.

“We were watching the news on Christmas Day,” she said. “One of my twins said: ‘I feel so guilty’.

“We were opening our presents and seeing this happening on live TV.”

Many people who were forced to abandon their homes had left their home appliances outside for the insurance assessors to see.

Last week, reports came in of unscrupulous thieves stealing them for scrap, leaving homeowners unable to claim for them on insurance.

Lorraine said she roped her friend Kelly Harris from Burgess Hill into helping, and has had great support from the community.

“St Francis Social Club in Haywards Heath donated £90 on New Year’s Eve, Burgess Hill Independent Food Pantry have offered non-perishable food, St Wilfrid’s Catholic Primary School in Burgess Hill are offering to be a drop off point for toiletries and other donations.”

St Wilfrid’s will be taking donations between 8.45am and 9.30am on Friday January 8.

The main drop off point is at My Local in America Lane, Haywards Heath.

“There’s a wonderful shop assistant there called Jon Marsland,” said Lorraine.

“His manager has said we can have their warehouse space for a drop off point, which is fantastic.”

Anyone who is able to contribute can contact Lorraine through her Facebook page at {https://www.facebook.com/CumbriaYork-Flood-Appeal-1686931784923875/|https://www.facebook.com/CumbriaYork-Flood-Appeal-1686931784923875/|Link}

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage

2) Like our Facebook page

3) Follow us on Twitter

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

Always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.

The journey to Adams Park should take just over the hour but the state of the post Christmas roads was evidenced by ours of 155 minutes on a round trip that included the Olympic Stadium, White Hart Lane and Wembley.

The kick-off was delayed and at times we wondered whether the team bus had turned up at all.

Certainly it appeared the defence had suffered as they produced a collective disaster.

Jon Ashton saved his reputation with a remarkable goalline clearance but otherwise our lack of awareness and failure to mark was cruelly exposed.

Coupled with an impotent attack, with Matt Harrold on the bench until the final 20 minutes, Reds were on a hiding to nothing.

Grit and determination was the only reason Wycombe were restricted to two goals.

Then we had the contribution of referee Darren Drysdale who attracted chants that would not look good in print.

He awarded us numerous free-kicks whilst missing the worst offences. Lee Barnard was flattened by their keeper’s challenge and required lengthy treatment.

As last man Ingram should have walked but was not even chided as the home side were given a nonsensical free-kick.

I wonder if the official collected his match fee in three bob notes.

By the time we got to Fratton Park it was plain to see that it was Crawley who were two-bob.

Portsmouth should gain promotion. They were good, but not that good. We simply let them play and suffered dreadfully from defensive frailties.

It’s all very well for the manager to praise them but he needs to concentrate on his own side’s shortcomings.

Two goals were conceded as Pompey showed they knew what they were doing but Reds were not on the same wavelength.

The late third goal was a disgrace. Every schoolboy knows you have to clear the first defender when taking a corner. Gwion Edwards didn’t and we never touched the ball again until the restart.

No less than 567 boisterous Reds fans occupied the Milton End – not many will be brave enough to make the trip to Yeovil.

I think it is time for Mark Yates and Jimmy Dack to own up. Whatever they are doing with regard to match preparation and coaching it isn’t working. If the players are not doing what they are told they had better move on. If they are then we know who is to blame. What a way to start the year!