A university student from Gedling has earned a highly commended award at the annual Design Innovation in Plastics (DIP) competition after creating an aid for asthmatics.

The results were announced at the final awards ceremony at Painters Hall, London, on Friday.

Louis Farnsworth, a third year Product Design student, who studies at De Montfort University, Leicester, came up with ‘Air’ a smart breathing aid for asthmatics to reduce the asthma flare up and irritation to the lungs and airway when exercising. 

He was among just five finalists from a total submission of 149 entries from all around the UK and Ireland and his success wins him a cash prize and a short placement with one of the competition sponsors: Brightworks; Innovate Product Design; PDD and RJG Technologies.

This year DIP set the students the challenging brief of ‘Healthy body – healthy world’ inviting ideas for improving health and wellbeing, with a product which could demonstrate longevity and sustainability.

Louis said: “Taking part in the competition has helped increase my knowledge of plastic design and manufacturing and to be more aware of the circular economy when designing a product.

 “In terms of my career, I love product design and the process of bringing an idea through a strategic development and into a finalised solution.  This result has boosted my confidence and I’m very grateful for the opportunity this has presented. I couldn’t be more thankful to the Design Innovation in Plastics competition.”

 DIP is the longest running student design competition of its type – inviting university students to produce a new product made primarily of plastics, while paying close attention to sustainability and recyclability. Sponsored by global polymers manufacturer, Covestro, it is organised by the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining and the Worshipful Company of Horners.

Police have issued a CCTV image of a man they want to speak to following a robbery of a Co-op store in Carrington.

The incident took place at the Co-op on Mansfield Road on June 16, 2019.

Whilst the image has no facial shot, the jacket has bright yellow drawstrings which may be recognisable.

If you know anyone that owns a jacket like the one in the image, or know anything about the incident, please call 101 quoting incident number 880 of 16 June 2019.Offence Date: 

Polive and fire crews investigating a house fire in Arnold said it is ‘not being treated as suspicious’.

Emergency services were called to the fire in Merton Close just after 8pm.

The house and two adjoining properties were evacuated as the incident was dealt with.

Sadly a body was recovered from the property. Formal identification has not yet taken place.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

A file will be prepared for the Coroner and identification of the deceased will be a matter for the Coroner.　

Two councils are set to invest £70,000 to tackle youth crime across Gedling borough

Gedling Borough Council and Nottinghamshire County Council want to fund a youth worker post to support a new project aimed at tackling youth violence in the borough.

The Gedling Youth Intervention Project, funded by £50,000 from Nottinghamshire County Council and £20,000 from Gedling Borough Council, will develop a partnership approach to dealing with young people who have been identified by Nottinghamshire Police as being involved in violence, or who are becoming caught up in risky behaviour. 

A two-pronged approach is being developed which will involve working with young people who are already known to and have been identified by the Police, as well as engaging with other groups of young people who are on the fringes of the risky behaviour, to intervene and provide alternative positive activities for them to participate in, effectively diverting them away from violence. 

Cllr Philip Owen, Chairman of Children and Young People’s Committee at Nottinghamshire County Council said: “This project is being developed to provide positive activities and support to steer young people away from involvement in violent crime.

“The additional youth work staff we hope to recruit will work with partner agencies to deliver targeted activities aimed at encouraging young people to develop interests which will lead to better outcomes and hopefully a brighter future.

“We are demonstrating our commitment to tackling this important issue by funding this project with Gedling Borough Council, at a time of increasing pressure on council budgets.”

Councillor David Ellis, Portfolio Holder for Public Protection at Gedling Borough Council said: “This programme is aimed at creating early engagement opportunities with young people who are potentially more likely to be involved in serious crimes further down the line.

“We have had incidents in Arnold last year that we don’t want to be repeated and this preventative approach will give us the chance to work with young people to reduce anti-social behaviour and also give them an opportunity to do something different which may inspire them towards a more positive path.” 

The project will run over 12 months

A report is due to go before Nottingham County Council’s Children and Young People’s Committee on July 15 for approval.