VIKINGS AT THE MUSEUM

Vikings are coming to Erewash Museum this half-term! Viking Takeover Day is Saturday 28th May from 11am-3pm. Visit the Museum to see theencampment, meet a Viking and watch some incredible combat displays from the Viking re-enactment society. The day is set to be an exhilarating way to kick off the half-term week, perfect for all the family. 

Viking Week runs from Monday 30th May to Friday 3rd June from 11am-3pm. Enjoy free crafts and decode the secret message hidden in the rune themed trail during this fun filled week. Drop in on Friday to listen to some free Norse storytelling sessions such to intrigue anyone interested in the likes of the brave Thor or mischievous Loki. Tuesday and Thursday, children aged 5 and older can make their own longboat, the unique and majestic ships of the Vikings - please call the Museum on 0115 907 1141 to book a session for only £2.50 per longboat. Councillor Carol Hart, Leader of Erewash Borough Council, says:

“The Erewash Museum always hosts such wonderful events, and I know the Viking Takeover Day and Viking Week will be no different. There are so many exciting activities for everyone to participate in and enjoy – certainly an event not to be missed this half-term”

Erewash Museum is one of the borough’s hidden gems located in Ilkeston town centre, a short walk from the Market Place. Admission is free. Contact 0115 907 1141, email museum@erewash.gov.uk  or visit the Facebook page facebook.com/erewashmuseum. 

CHARITY LITTER PICK AT STRAWS BRIDGE

United Response, a charity that supports people with disabilities, is taking part in a litter pick at Straw’s Bridge in West Hallam. Up to 30 people from United Response will take part in the litter pick, including people who have a range of diverse needs and are supported by the charity. Equipment will be provided by Erewash Borough Council which owns and maintains the popular nature reserve. Councillor Garry Hickton, Lead Member for Environment at Erewash Borough Council, says:

“We are extremely grateful to United Response for choosing one of Erewash’s most popular beauty spots to carry out a litter pick. The charity does great work in supporting people with disabilities and I am sure those taking part will also enjoy the beautiful surroundings of Swan Lake.”

The litter pick will take place on Monday May 16th between 10am and 11.30am. United Response is committed to making lives better for people with disabilities. It supports people with learning disabilities, autism and mental health needs, at home and in the community.

DO YOU BUY OR SELL GOODS ONLINE

Police have been made aware of a recent scam where people have advertised items for sale on social media and the ‘buyer’ has offered to pay via bank transfer. When they arrive to collect the item, they show a screenshot of an approved transaction, and say that the money will be in the account in a few hours, however the money is never deposited. Anyone selling goods online is asked to check with their banks that any payments have cleared in their accounts before handing over goods. When buying or selling online, police advise people follow this advice:

View the person's profile- learn more about the person you are buying from/selling to. You can see if there are friends you have in common, recent activity and any ratings they may have received.

Use cash, PayPal or person-to-person payment methods. When selling an item, consider asking for full payment instead of instalments.

If you as the seller are happy to accept a bank transfer, wait for the funds to clear before handing over the goods.

Inspect the item and if possible, make sure to thoroughly test it before buying it.

Protect your personal information- we strongly advise against sharing personal information, such as your payment login and password details or bank account information. If you're selling electronics, make sure that you've cleared any personal information from the device

Report a person: selling sites such as Facebook Marketplace and eBay allow you to report a person if they go against their standards or policies.

If you believe you may have fallen victim to any kind of fraud, then you can contact Action Fraud via their website or using the following contact methods.

·  Facebook – send us a private message to our Facebook page

·  Twitter – direct message our contact centre via @DerPolContact

·  Website – We have several crime reporting tools on our website or use our online contact form

·  Phone – call us on 101

You can also anonymously contact the independent charity Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111, or by visiting the CrimeStoppers website.

SEWAGE DUMPED IN 2021

Sewer storm overflows are used to stop the sewage system from backing up and flowing back up pipes into peoples' homes. After heavy rain water utilities are allowed to release sewage into waterways. The UK Environment Agency have revealed that almost 16,000 sewage dumps occurred in Derbyshire last year.

Severn Trent manage the majority of Derbyshire's water treatment. Statistics show that most sewage dumps occurred in the river Derwent (4,931) which totalled 36,096 hours of outflow. These were by four different water companies - Severn Trent Water, Yorkshire Water, United Utilities and Northumbrian Water. Human waste was released into the River Trent 2,366 times.

Figures for local waterways are shown below:-

River Derwent - 4,931 dumps (36,096 hours)

River Trent - 2,366 (16,744 hours)

River Erewash - 1,425, an increase of 464 (15,614 hours)

Erewash Canal - 72, an increase of 7 (356 hours)  

BEWARE OF RULE 237

Drivers are being warned they could face a fine of up to £5,000 for breaking a rule in the Highway Code. Rule 237 states that your vehicle needs to be well ventilated. Tiredness at the wheel means the drowsy driver is much slower to react to road conditions and other road users. A poorly ventilated vehicle with a lack of air conditioning can lead to drowsiness, meaning a driver is not in full control of his vehicle. Motorists ignoring this rule risk a large fine in serious cases. Breaking the Highway Code could see you handed a £100 on-the-spot fine and three penalty points on your licence, and if the incident were to go to court, the fine could jump to as much as £5,000, nine penalty points and possibly a driving ban.