MORE than 20 people got their hands dirty collecting rubbish and clearing an area of vegetation in Cudworth.

The 25 volunteers spent three days clearing ‘Gandhi Backs’, near Snydale Road and included volunteers from the police, Barnsley Community Build (BCB) and residents.

More than 60 bags of rubbish were filled and a wall was taken down by people on community payback in addition to the removal of vegetation.

Housing enforcement officer, Chris Platts, who organised the event said: “The clean up event went really well. There was quite a lot of fly tipping which wasn’t obvious so we cleared out a mattress, tyres and timber.

“It was a rewarding event and I want to thank everyone who volunteered their time. I hope the residents will take pride and maintain it. We received a lot of compliments about how the area looked so hopefully residents will keep it up.”

A SIXTY-THREE year old who has spent more than 40 years clocking up the miles to raise money for good cause is about to take on his next challenge – running six marathons in six months.

Dave Allemby, of Wombwell, has run more than 66,000 miles since New Year’s Day in 1979 and is set to challenge himself with six marathons in six months to mark his sixth decade of running.

For this challenge, Dave, who works as a produce assistant in Tesco Barnsley, will support the store’s £6,000 fundraising target for The Children’s Hospital Charity.

“I have always supported the charities chosen by Tesco and being a small part of the team raising funds for Sheffield Children’s Hospital will keep me motivated throughout the dark winter months,” said Dave.

“I have arthritis in my knees so my training is quite limited these days, but I’m still managing to run two or three times a week. Six half marathons in six months will still be quite a challenge for me, finishing with the Sheffield Half in April.”

Dave is also encouraging novice runners to join him in fundraising for The Children’s Hospital Charity and get active in 2020.

“My advice to newcomers would be to look out for beginner walk-to-run-groups in your area, many running and athletic clubs organise them and everyone in the group will be in the same situation and at roughly the same level of fitness.

“Park runs are also great fun – 5km routes held on Saturday mornings throughout the country. There’s no pressure, no entry fee and it’s a great target to finish one for a beginner. You can join thousands of people getting out there, taking part and having fun.”

Dave has set a personal fundraising target of £200 for the challenge, which will help transform the Cancer and Leukaemia ward at Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

The ward treats children from babies through to 19-year-olds in South Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Derbyshire and even as far south as Northampton.

Rachael Thomas, events fundraising officer at The Children’s Hospital Charity added: “It’s really inspiring to hear both about Dave’s dedicated running career and his long record of fundraising.

“We’re delighted that he’s chosen to support Sheffield Children’s Hospital with his six half marathons in six months challenge and we can’t wait to welcome him to the Sheffield Half next year. We still have a limited number of charity places for you to join him, so get in touch and make a difference in 2020.”

TWO women who want to encourage teens to come off the streets and channel their inner creativeness have opened a performing arts school.

Alexandra Crellin, 27, and Danielle Robinson, 29, officially opened Lotus School of Arts on Sunday and the occasion was marked with a party.

The school, based in Thurnscoe, will be offering dance classes, singing lessons and musical theatre sessions for children and adults fro the ages of one and up. 

However the pair are determined to make it more than just a performing arts school, they want to encourage youths to stop hanging out in the street and invest their time in being creative.

Alexandra said: “Youths are bored and that’s why they misbehave.

“There is nothing to engage them and I want this school to become a hub for young people to come and get creative and in turn it will keep them off the streets.

“The building was initially a youth club but the previous owners unfortunately couldn’t keep it running so I saw an opportunity and decided to provide the best of both worlds, teach performing arts and provide a place for youths.”

Alexandra, who has been dancing professionally since 2009, is eager to ensure her school is accessible to all.

“I’ve not long moved to Thurnscoe and I am determined to make the school a community hub. 

“We have several classes on offer to suit everyone, including baby classes and exercise sessions for parents who do not have childcare so they can get out the house, socialise and be active without having to worry about childcare.

“Our prices are also competitive because I know first hand how expensive dancing can be and I want to ensure that money will not prevent people from chasing their dream. 

“We have also received funding from Active Dearne, which will allow lower income families to come compete and join in classes.”

Classes will be running Monday to Saturday, with private lessons taking place on Sunday and they begin on January 20.

• For further information, visit Lotus School of Arts on Facebook.

A MAN who stole a wallet from a town centre pub before using a debit card to buy alcohol and cigarettes via contactless payments has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Christopher Lister, of no fixed abode, entered the staff members’ area of Joseph Bramah on Market Hill and took the wallet on December 8.

The 35-year-old, who appeared at Barnsley Magistrates’ Court last week, was made the subject of a conditional discharge in November for criminal damage but committed the offences while on the six-month order.

Lister, who pleaded guilty, was given a 12-week sentence which was suspended for 12 months and told to pay £109 in compensation.

A FOUR-DAY operation which saw police flood Barnsley town centre to crack down on antisocial behaviour including drug abuse last week has been hailed a success.

Operation Barossa, an intelligence-led scheme which aimed to tackle the misuse of drugs and criminality in the town centre between Tuesday and Friday, saw a marked increase in presence and stop and searches carried out by patrolling officers.

More than 40 people were stop-searched, while dispersal orders – which ban people engaging in antisocial behaviour from entering the town centre – were handed out to more than a dozen offenders.

The recently-upgraded CCTV cameras within the town centre, now continuously monitored by operators, were cited as a key reason in why Barossa was a success.

Sgt Stephanie Coverley said: “We are committed to making Barnsley a safer, more enjoyable place to visit.

“We will continue to use our powers to send out the message that antisocial behaviour and drugs will not be tolerated.

“Over the four days, officers focused their attention on Peel Square and the pedestrianised precinct following concerns from businesses and members of the public.

“I would like to thank those who stopped to speak to our officers and thanked them for their work and what we are doing as it means a lot.”

It was the second time the operation – borne out of concerns raised by businesses and from shoppers’ surveys – took place in the town centre and more prolonged spells of presence have been promised.

Spice – a former legal high – was high on officers’ radars and one 32-year-old man was found in possession of the drug after a CCTV trawl revealed he had attempted to conceal a package.

According to police figures, just 20 incidents of spice abuse were reported in Barnsley town centre in 2017, something which grew to 136 last year, leading to a public space protection order (PSPO) to be widened and extended until 2022.

A police spokesperson added: “We focused our attention on the Peel Square areas following concerns from businesses and members of the public.

“The presence of the officers resulted in a significant reduction in antisocial behaviour.

“The CCTV cameras within the town centre have recently been upgraded and are continuously monitored by skilled operators.

“These operators feed directly into our neighbourhood team officers and this real-time information enables them to respond quickly to incidents of antisocial behaviour or suspected drug dealing.

“While a few individuals displayed their unhappiness at our officers being in the town centre by spitting at their cars, the majority of people stopped to talk to officers, thanking them and sharing their appreciation.”

• To report antisocial behaviour or crime, call 101 or 999 in an emergency. You can also report incidents by emailing safer@barnsley.gov.uk.

BARNSLEY Hospice is encouraging the people of Barnsley to make a will as part of a campaign.

Make a Will Month, which runs throughout February, is an annual initiative that helps support patient care.

Several local solicitors will be offering their time for free by waiving their fees during the month in exchange for a donation to the hospice.

Julie Watts, a healthcare assistant in the inpatient unit at Barnsley Hospice, made her will during Make a Will Month last year.

“Making a will is something you don’t really think about when everything is OK, so this campaign really prompted me to get on with it,” she said.

“Not only is it a great way to get your affairs in order, but you’ll also be supporting the hospice which relies on the generosity of local people. I would urge others thinking of making a will to sign up to the Barnsley Hospice Make a Will

Month during February. It’s a simple process which makes a real difference to you and the hospice too.”

The participating Barnsley solicitors include Best Solicitors, Ison Harrison Solicitors and Peace Legal Limited.

A PENSIONER who was repeatedly tricked into giving away thousands of pounds to criminals purporting to be from her bank has warned others to be cautious when answering calls – after being ‘too embarrassed’ to initially tell her family about being conned.

The 87-year-old, who did not wish to be named, chose to speak out as part of South Yorkshire Police’s ongoing Operation Signature, which was formed as a result of rising cases involving fraudsters targeting vulnerable residents.

The widow, from Ardsley, suffers from multiple sclerosis and was hoodwinked into believing a call from her bank, NatWest, was genuine.

Criminals tricked her into thinking there had been ‘suspicious activity’ relating to her account and, as a precaution, advised her to transfer £4,200 to another account in June last year.

“They rang to explain all this in great detail and even arranged a taxi to pick me up to take me into Barnsley town centre,” she told the Chronicle. “Luckily the bank took me to one side as they were suspicious about the withdrawal and a police officer came before it was too late.”

However, when police looked into the incident, it became clear that the pensioner had been a repeated previous target and had lost £1,500 on three separate occasions before.

“I have two sons but didn’t want to tell them at first, so I chose to stay quiet and keep it from them,” she added. “I did that because I was worried, embarrassed I’d let them take advantage of my trust.

“Trust is the biggest thing – when I got calls from someone saying they were from my bank, I had no reason to disbelieve them. They knew things about me but it’s important people just put the phone down to avoid the same as what happened to me.

“It was only on the occasion when the bank’s staff took me to one side that I knew that it wasn’t their policy to call their customers. I simply did not know beforehand and trusted what the criminals told me.”

Operation Signature has been rolled out by police across the town – focusing on protecting those deemed to be at high risk of fraud – which has seen each of Barnsley’s six neighbourhood policing teams tasked with advising vulnerable people about the potential pitfalls of fraud.

Andy Foster, protection officer for financial-related matters, admitted that fraudsters’ activity remains a ‘serious concern’ for officers in Barnsley.

“Courier fraud such as this happens when criminals telephone a potential victim, claiming to be from their bank, the police or other law enforcement agencies,” he said.

“We’re seeing hundreds of cases on a monthly basis – it’s an epidemic and it’s something forces struggle to prevent due to its nature. Money, once it’s gone, often goes from one place to another so it’s difficult to trace.

“I’ve seen in the past how shocking it can be and some people have lost their entire life savings as a result of being conned by a caller.

“In this case, the pensioner was a repeat victim who was preyed upon because she was vulnerable but we believe many victims opt against reporting costly crime simply because they’re embarrassed.

“Banks or the police will never ask anyone to withdraw cash or ask for security details so please be on your guard if you receive a call from ‘your bank’ or from someone claiming to be from the police.

“I would advise anyone receiving unsolicited calls via their home phone to contact their telephone provider and ask them if they provide a free call-blocking service.

“Alternatively, call-blocking devices and replacement telephones with call blocking software pre-installed are available to buy.”