NEW figures have revealed a drop in youth unemployment in Stroud.

In June the total of jobless young people dropped to 5.1 per cent, its lowest in a year.

The figure, from the Office of National Statistics, was down from 6.4 per cent on July last year.

Stroud MP Neil Carmichael said: "The numbers indicate 350 young people aged 18 to 24 were claiming Jobseekers' Allowance in Stroud during June.

"These new figures are very encouraging as an indication that our local and national economy is on the mend."

Events like November's Stroud Festival of Manufacturing and Engineering were important to encourage local firms to invest in local staff, Mr Carmichael said. The event would show there were jobs in Stroud's engineering and manufacturing sectors.

HISTORIAN Matt Spires' hobby is watching television.

Hardly unusual, until you realise his favourite programmes are re-discovered episodes of 1960s and 70s classics like Z-Cars.

Mr Spires, 38, from Bussage in Stroud, spends his spare time tracking down what's known as "lost television".

That's TV shows that were not archived, but may still be languishing on an old VHS tape or even lying in an old reel to reel can,in people's attics or sheds.

"Early video tape recorders or later cassette formats, even Betamax and VHS machines, may well have recorded programmes which exist nowhere else except forgotten in a dusty box in someone's loft," he said.

History graduate Mr Spires has worked in research and administration and was drawn into his slightly offbeat pastime through recalling how he used to watch Dr Who as a boy.

"This is the 50th anniversary of Dr Who, a show which currently has 106 episodes missing from its past," he said.

"Radio Times are running a treasure hunt for missing examples of programmes to mark Dr Who's 50th, but if we could all search at a local level as well it would help enormously," Mr Spires said.

"Even if just one film gets returned our efforts will have been worthwhile.

"The longer the films are left without being taken care of, the greater the risk of disintegration."

TV programmes were routinely destroyed before the home video revolution.

It was not until about 1990 that programme makers began saving everything.

"We just want people to go and have a look in their attics for reels of film and VHS tapes," said Mr Spires who can be contacted at mattspires1@yahool.co.uk by anyone who turns up anything.

WALKER Peter McLean spotted these horses queuing up for a cooling ice cream on Minchinhampton Common.

Retired Mr McLean said they were actually pinching licks of Winstone's finest if given half a chance.

"What was even funnier was that the donkey was there too and one person with ices was trying to avoid the horses and the donkey took some. It was actually quite funny," Mr McLean, from Stroud, said.

Winstone's Jane Vear said the company had enjoyed its "best July for years, and years, and years" because of the great summer weather.

"Blackberries and cream flavour is really popular this year. It's going mad," said Mrs Vear.

"In fact we're out of stock and are having to make some more," she said.

IT was a real family occasion at The Elms nursing home in Stonehouse on Saturday for it's summer Lark on the Lawn event.

Staff brought their pets for the Little Dog Show, entertainer Bert Lush led a singalong, Gloucestershire Fire Service brought a fire engine and also offered fire advice and stallholders from Stroud's Shambles Market also took part.

Families of the residents enjoyed the day, including relatives from Australia.

The event raised £270 which will be used for resident's activities such as day trips

"It was a lovely day and very much a family occasion," said Candice Bingham, manager of The Elms, a 45-bed nursing home.

THE inaugural meeting of a youth work network proved a huge step forward.

As a result of the Stroud District Council's youth work strategy, the first gathering involved youth and community work practitioners and various other community stakeholders, including parish, town and district councillors.

The network was to provide support for youth and community work across the area, a council spokesman said.

He added the network was a further response to the changing face of young people's services.

"It will provide a forum for discussion and information sharing on local and national issues, as well as be a source of collateral support for those involved."

The deconstruction of management and support structures which came with a universal youth service had a huge impact.

The creation of the Youth Work Network for Stroud district is aimed at going a long way to helping those involved with providing vital youth work based services for young people.

"Similar networks elsewhere have proved very successful and have helped bring about external funding for the respective districts," the spokesman said. "This is a huge step forward."

ANOTHER missing link in the restoration of the Stroud canals is being plugged.

Work has started on the £300,000 refurbishment of Dudbridge Upper and Lower Locks.

The project, that is expected to last until November, will mean the waterways will become navigable from The Ocean at Stonehouse to Lodgemore, off Cainscross Road.

The locks will be cleared out, 1950s concrete weirs removed and neglected brickwork repaired.

"This work completes another missing link in the restoration of the canals," said Coun Simon Pickering, chair of the Stroud District Council Environment Committee.

The council is leading the Cotswold Canals Project that is heading the re-opening of two canals from Stonehouse through Stroud to Bowbridge.

THE future of eyesore Tricorn House is again uncertain after the company with permission to convert it into a care home withdrew from the scheme.

Cheltenham-based Summerfield Medical revealed it was no longer going ahead with the care home project –t days after a prankster posted Tricorn for sale on e-Bay for 99p.

Managing director Keith Coghill said his company had "walked away" from Tricorn.

"We were going to lease it," he said. "We are very disappointed about it. We have put a lot of work into it, a lot of time, effort and expenditure."

A spokesman for Stroud District Council – which at one time tried to compulsorily purchase the derelict building – said since the site still had planning consent for the care home, it was possible someone else might wish to take up the scheme.

"However it does essentially look like we're back to square one," he said.

"We are disappointed for the both the local and wider communities who would like to see this eyesore removed.

"We would like to see the landowners do something proactive to deal with the problem properly and will look at options to see what we can do to move things forward," he said.

Tricorn House, that overlooks the Cainscross roundabout, was built in the 1970s as a DHSS office.

It is thought Guernsey- based Millville Ltd own Tricorn House, which has been empty for almost 20 years.

Paganhill Mark Leigh briefly posted abandoned Tricorn House as available for sale on eBaywith a previous "uncaring" owner.

The spoof had 48 people watching it, but no bids.

Mr Leigh, a DJ on Stroud FM and a former IT lecturer, said: "I think everybody is fed up with seeing it."

People who have sold properties which are not their main homes and have not told HM Revenue and Customs about any profit, have little time to make use of a disclosure opportunity.

HMRC's Property Sales Campaign is aimed at those selling second homes in the UK or abroad where Capital Gains Tax should be paid. It includes properties that were rented out and holiday homes.

Taxpayers have until Friday to tell HMRC about any unpaid tax on such property sales and until September 6 to pay the tax that they owe.

By using the campaign to come forward voluntarily, HMRC said people would receive the best possible terms, and any penalty would be lower than if HMRC approaches them first.

Marian Wilson, head of HMRC Campaigns, said: "If you have sold a second home you might not know it could attract Capital Gains Tax. If anyone has done this in the past and is unsure, they should look at HMRC's website and use our simple decision tree to find out if they might owe CGT. Telling HMRC about your tax liabilities is straightforward and help, advice and support are available."

HMRC will take a much closer look after September 6 at the tax affairs of people who have sold properties other than their main home, but who appear to have paid no CGT.

First-time landlords "are coming out of the woodwork" and investing in property as confidence fuels demand for homes in Cheltenham, according to an estate agent.

Karl Turner, Cheltenham branch manager at Andrews estate agents, said family homes were proving the most popular in the town but smaller apartments were also seeing a strong recovery, led by more first-time buyers and the return of buy-to-let investors.

Pittville, Hatherley and Benhall, and Fairview were areas performing particularly well in the market and there had been signs of improvement year-on-year since 2009, he said.

"This year is the first time we have seen all the different market sectors really start to take off and all across the area," he said.

"It is easy to get carried away but Cheltenham really does seem to be the place to be buying at the moment.

"The confidence is there and this is fuelling a high demand. As many of my clients tell me, there are a shortage of homes on the market in some of the biggest market sectors."

Karl said an example was that there was a waiting list of buyers for a three-bedroom house in the Duke Street area of Pittville and after selling several in the last few months, none were available there.

He added the market and mortgages had improved for first-time buyers over the past four years but never to such an extent as the second quarter of this year.

Lower deposits are now needed as government initiatives, such as the Help to Buy scheme, prove popular.

Help to Buy is split into two parts. The first is an equity loan available on new build homes where buyers need a five per cent deposit to qualify.

The second, which will launch in January next year, is available on all homes and again buyers will need a deposit of five per cent of the property price. They will need to secure a mortgage for the purchase and the government guarantee will encourage lenders to offer better access to low-deposit mortgages.

Karl has been an estate agent with Andrews for 10 years and always within Gloucestershire, working in Cheltenham, Bishop's Cleeve, Stroud and Leckhampton branches before taking his current post earlier this year.

A SHOW-STOPPING line-up of international riders thrilled a crowd of around 45,000 at the latest Gatcombe Park horse trials.

The Festival of British Eventing at the Princess Royal's home in Minchinhampton at the weekend made up for its rain-drenched cancellation last summer by offering sunny skies and only occasional showers this time.

Princess Anne's daughter Zara, who recently moved back to live on the estate with her husband Mike Tindall, was in the saddle despite her pregnancy.

Zara, however, rode only to set the standard for the dressage tests and not as a competitor in the cross country and other equestrian challenges.

New Zealand's Jonathan Paget won the main event on Clifton Lush, adding to the Badminton crown he won earlier this year.

BOUNCERS helped in a police drugs bust at a nightclub in Cheltenham.

The suspect was reported to staff by a member of public at Moo Moo Clubrooms in Regent Street during the late hours of Monday.

And, while police were on their way, security staff were able to detain the teenager at the venue, who they believed was carrying mephadrone.

Police arrested the 19-year-old on suspicion of possession of the crystal Class B drug, which police previously warned was becoming increasingly popular on the streets of Cheltenham.

Gloucestershire police thanked the night club bouncers for their assistance in the bust. The suspect was cautioned and later released.

A police spokeswoman said: "A 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of an illegal substance, believed to be M-Cat, and was later given a formal caution.

"We would like to thank the member of the public that reported the concern and the security staff who ascertained the information and detained the man prior to the officer's arrival at the scene."

The Echo called Moo Moo but no one was available at the time of going to press.

Nottingham-based security firm Bridgegate Security, which supplies staff for the club, was unable to comment.

It is understood the substance, which is better known as Meow Meow or M-Cat, is being sold on the streets of Cheltenham for between £8 and £15 per gram.

In 2012, police said the usage of the drug had gone up since 2010 when the drug was made illegal.

It was hoped it would reduce its impact after it was linked to a string of deaths across the UK.

Becoming popularly known as a "party drug", local police said there is evidence to suggest the use of mephedrone had become more widespread.

Specialist drugs officer PC Gav Davis said: "Mephedrone is a Class B drug. It is illegal to possess or supply it under the provisions of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

"Mephedrone is typically sold in a powder or crystal form, it has a distinct acrid smell, similar to ammonia.

"The most common method to use the drug is to snort or consume it orally.

"Users of mephedrone have reported similar effects to other drugs including amphetamine and cocaine.

"These include a sense of wellbeing, heightened state of alert, and an increase in confidence."

Teeth grinding, sweating, severe nose bleeds and increase in heart rate are other reported effects of the drug.

Anyone with concerns about mephedrone should call the drugs hotline Frank on 0800 776600 or the Nelson Trust on 01453 885633.

CHELTENHAM TOWN 4 CRAWLEY TOWN 3 (AFTER EXTRA TIME)

BYRON Harrison scored twice and won a penalty as Cheltenham Town shocked Crawley Town to progress to second round of the League Cup for the first time in five years on a night of high drama at the Abbey Business Stadium.

An enthralling tie appeared to be destined for penalties, but Harrison tucked away his third goal of the season with six minutes of extra-time remaining to take Cheltenham through and show that all is not lost after Jamie Cureton's opening day shoulder injury which will keep him out for six weeks.

The League One club made by far the brighter start, with attacking full-back James Hurst and right midfielder Mike Jones in front of him prominent.

Jones fired over from Nicky Adams' corner in the second minute and he then forced Scott Brown into a save.

Cheltenham's first effort at goal was a looping header from Troy Brown after Steve Elliott reached Matt Richards' corner from the right, but it was easily caught by Paul Jones.

Crawley took a deserved lead in the 23rd minute when Hurst's cross was nodded in by a stooping Gary Alexander.

The 33-year-old has so often been the scourge of Cheltenham in the past, netting against them for Exeter City, Hull City, Leyton Orient and Millwall since 1999.

His eighth goal past a Cheltenham goalkeeper seemed to spark Mark Yates' side into life and they almost responded immediately.

Craig Braham-Barrett's cross was met by the head of Terry Gornell at the near post and only a fingertip save from Paul Jones denied him a first goal for the club.

Gornell once again showed impressive hold-up play and battling qualities, holding onto possession effectively under considerable pressure.

Steve Elliott nodded a corner wide and Richards scuffed a long-range effort after Russ Penn's pass.

But Cheltenham levelled five minutes before half-time after Sam Deering played in Harrison.

The tall striker looked set to unleash a shot, but he turned inside and was tripped by Mat Sadler.

Richards confidently dispatched from the spot to open his account for Cheltenham, who finished the half strongly after a sluggish start.

They very nearly took the lead three minutes after the break when a poor pass from Kyle McFadzean was cut out by Penn, who worked the ball onto his left foot and crashed a shot against the bar.

The rebound fell to Gornell, who blasted just over with Crawley rattled and Deering went close after good play from Harrison.

It was all Cheltenham, but Crawley scored a fortuitous goal in the 59th minute after several missed opportunities for the home side to clear their lines.

After some sloppy play, Deering's attempted clearance hit Adams and flew past Scott Brown into the bottom left corner.

Cheltenham's impetus was lost and they conceded again in the 64th minute when the impressive Hurst linked up with Jamie Proctor to set up Adams, who showed neat footwork to cut inside his man near the edge of the six yard box and slot into an empty net.

Crawley looked to have one foot in round two, but McFadzean was bundled off the ball by Gornell.

The defender went down looking for a free-kick, but play was allowed to continue and Gornell was all alone, with only Jones to beat.

The goalkeeper blocked his first effort, but he slotted in the rebound in the 70th minute to restore hope.

Scott Brown saved well from Josh Simpson to keep Cheltenham in it and Harrison headed in Deering's corner in the 75th minute to make it 3-3.

Substitute Billy Clarke saw a shot parried and Harrison nodded across from Penn over the bar from a good position in the 84th minute as both teams searched for a winner.

Simpson was once again denied by Scott Brown's alert reactions in the final seconds as an extra 30 minutes was needed to separate the sides.

Brown blocked from Adams at his near post and Clarke smashed an effort over the bar in the first period of extra-time, which saw the introduction of one-time Robins target Luke Rooney, who has joined Crawley on loan from Swindon Town until January.

Elliott hobbled off, replaced by Keith Lowe before Zack Kotwica was sent on in place of Jermaine McGlashan on the wing, but it was Harrison's night and Cheltenham celebrated.

CHELTENHAM TOWN: S Brown; S Jombati, T Brown, S Elliott (K Lowe 104), C Braham-Barrett; J McGlashan (Z Kotwica 109), R Penn, M Richards, S Deering (A Vincent 101); B Harrison, T Gornell. Subs not used: B Jones, J Taylor, C Roberts, J Hanks

CRAWLEY TOWN: P Jones; J Hurst (L Rooney 101), K McFadzean, J Walsh M Sadler; N Adams, D Bulman (A Drury 79), J Simpson, M Jones; G Alexander, J Proctor (B Clarke 71). Subs not used: M Connolly, C Essam, S Torres, J Maddison.

REFEREE: O Langford.

ATTENDANCE: 1,562 (117 away).

STAR MAN: Terry Gornell.

Members of the public are being asked to submit sites within Gloucestershire that could be used for Gypsy, Traveller or Travelling Showpeople accommodation.  

The government's Planning Policy for Traveller Sites (2012) requires councils to identify and update annually a supply of Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople residential sites.

Following a Gloucestershire Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Accommodation Assessment carried out by independent consultants, the councils in Gloucestershire are now working to identify sites to meet the identified need.

Members of the local community, landowners and organisations are invited to put forward sites for assessment within Gloucestershire between Monday, 12 August and Friday, 20 September.

Once a site has been submitted, its potential will be assessed against specific criteria.

Importantly if a site is identified, it does not automatically imply that planning permission would be granted or that it will be allocated as a Gypsy, Traveller or Travelling Showpeople site within the area's development plan.

City Council Leader, said: "This process is something we are required to carry out by Government.  We have had a site for travelling showpeople in Gloucester for many years at Alney Island and they are an important community within the city.  We know from working with this community that finding suitable additional sites within our boundaries is very difficult.

"However, it is important that people are given the opportunity to suggest sites for inclusion in our City Plan and in the Joint Core Strategy we are working on with Cheltenham and Tewkesbury."

A submission form can be downloaded from the JCS website (www.gct-jcs.org/) and once it is filled in, it can be emailed to planningpolicyenquiries@tewkesbury.gov.uk or posted to the Planning Policy department at Tewkesbury Borough Council, Gloucester Road, Tewkesbury, GL20 5TT.

Submissions must be accompanied by an OS map, which highlights the boundaries of the site.