WACKY costumes, pushing around cars and having pyjamas parties will be taking place across Gloucestershire in aid of Children in Need.

The annual fundraiser, which last year saw Britain cough up more than £26 million, happens today.

Monkey Puzzles Nursery, which has bases in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury, celebrated the charity appeal a day early yesterday.

Children wore their pyjamas in to nursery in order to help raise funds.

And the little tots enjoyed their chance to dress down, rolling around the floor in their onesies and making the most of their bed hair.

Celebrities, sports stars, and even royalty – will get behind the appeal, which will be on our screens tonight.

Ann Widdecombe will be returning to the Strictly Come Dancing floor with a performance, alongside another show veteran Russell Grant.

Matt Baker from The One Show and a group of young volunteers are embarking on the 2012 Rickshaw Challenge, to cycle from Llandudno in North Wales all the way down to London in aid of the cause.

And Cheryl, Kimberley, Nadine, Nicola and Sarah are together again as Girls Aloud, with their comeback singleSomething New be released in aid of Children in Need. They will be appearing live on the show tonight from 7.30pm.

YOUTH workers are to launch night-time street patrols to combat anti-social behaviour on a Cheltenham estate.

Gloucestershire police have received complaints about gangs of youths gathering in and around the large open space either side of Robert Burns Avenue in Benhall. In September, for example, there were nine incidents of anti-social behaviour either on the park or close to it.

There have been reports of youths, some under 18, drinking alcohol and using drugs.

Now two youth workers are set to patrol the area one evening a week, from January.

The street-based work will be funded by a £5,700 grant which has been awarded to the Granley Residents' Association (GRA) by Cheltenham Borough Council. It comes from its 'positive activities' fund, designed to improve the health and wellbeing of youngsters across the town.

Sue Brooks is chairman of the GRA, which covers the Granley Road and surrounding streets part of Benhall and works closely with Benhall Residents' Association.

Welcoming the scheme, she said: "The idea will be for the youth workers to engage with the youths and persuade them to do something a little more active that's not anti-social."

She said the problem was not a large one but there had been incidents, related to drink and drugs, that had been affecting the neighbourhood in recent years.

She added: "Those involved are aged between 14 and 18. It's more of a problem in the summer but it does continue in the winter.

"It's got to be tackled from one direction or another."

Part of the council funding will go towards a plan to create a graffiti wall under the bridge in Robert Burns Avenue, which cuts through the middle of the park.

The authorities are backing the street-based project as there is no youth club building in the area.

Spearheading the initiative is Chris Knight, the council-funded County Community Projects' youth services manager.

He said: "The funding is for an initial 12-month period. Two people will be street-based and we will be recruiting them for that.

"It will be one evening a week to start with for the first year.

"They will be professional people who understand what the young people are about. They will consult them about what their needs are.

"They will have information about alcohol and substance abuse. It's about engaging with them on their level."

DRINK-DRIVER Adrian Eyre panicked and led police on a "lunatic" four-minute high-speed chase through the residential streets of Cheltenham.

The 42-year-old's dangerous driving at 8.30pm on September 15 put people at risk of injury of "even worse", Gloucester Crown Court was told.

Eyre, of Salisbury Avenue, Warden Hill, had been at a wedding at the racecourse and was driving at more than one-and-a-half times the alcohol limit.

Prosecutor Lisa Hennessy said police had been alerted to his driving by concerned members of the public. A patrol car overtook him at the traffic lights in Gloucester Road and pulled in front of him with blue lights flashing.

But he then sped away in his Audi, driving through red traffic lights and going onto the wrong side of the road as he reached speeds of more than double the 30mph limit.

She showed the court CCTV taken from the pursuing police car as it followed Eyre along roads including Overton Park Road, Douro Road, Andover Road, Hatherley Road and Warden Hill Road.

The car hit a kerb, causing damage, and the CCTV showed sparks and smoke coming from it until it eventually came to a halt and Eyre was arrested after a struggle.

A breath test gave a reading of 62mcgs. The legal limit is 35mcgs.

Eyre pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to stop for police and having excess alcohol on his breath.

At the time of the offence, Eyre was on parole licence from jail following a blackmail sentence in 2008.

Sabhia Pathan, defending, said: "He was so ashamed of his behaviour that he took the car to a scrapyard afterwards."

Judge Jamie Tabor QC told Eyre that most drunken dangerous drivers who did what he did would go to jail.

Instead, he sentenced Eyre to nine months jail suspended for two years, placed him under supervision for 18 months and sent him on a drink driving course.

He also ordered Eyre to do 100 hours of unpaid work and placed him under home curfew 8pm-6am for two months. Eyre was also banned from driving for two years, fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £250 costs.

"This was lunacy and inexcusable," said the judge.

In 2008, Eyre was sentenced to five years in jail for his part in a terrifying blackmail ordeal. He was one of a group of men who met a man advertising his Mercedes car for sale.

They met in a layby where, dressed in balaclavas and gloves, they demanded £20,000 and threatened to throw acid over his girlfriend if he did not pay up. They drove the victim to his father's house for money but could not get in. They kicked and punched him and left him in the layby.

OPINION, P8

A HUSH fell over Newent as hundreds of mourners said goodbye to Lynne Downing yesterday.

The beloved grandmother passed away on November 7, aged 55, after a battle with ovarian cancer.

Traffic came to a standstill as her funeral procession made its way down the High Street just after noon.

Family and friends followed behind wearing black and red and some shops were closed as a mark of respect.

The bells tolled at St Mary's Church as the coffin was carried in to the sound of I Will Always Love You by Dolly Parton.

Inside the church it was standing room only and Reverend Simon Mason said it was a sight Newent had "never seen and probably never would again".

More than 270 cards of condolence have been sent to Lynne's family and daughter Rachael Hutchins spoke of her love of gossip and knitting.

She said her mum had died in husband Trevor's arms, surrounded by her family as she wanted.

Granddaughter Summer read Do not stand at my grave and weep but many could not help but shed a tear.

Rev Mason said Lynne was a woman who made "everyone family" and said Newent had "lost a friend".

Lynne lived with Trevor in Watery Lane, in the same house where she was born on August 6, 1957.

She also give birth there to daughters, Marie Downing, 36 and Rachael, now 30.

Rev Mason said the home was well known as having a "revolving door" with all welcome.

Lynne's younger sister Susie, who died 18 months ago, was also remembered at the service.

Psalm 23 The Lord's My Shepherd was both read and sung and Rupert Abbott, from Glebe Chapel, spoke of Lynne walking through 'the valley of the shadow of death' with courage.

Amazing Grace and Abide with Me were also sung and Eric Clapton's You Look Wonderful Tonight was played at the request of Trevor.

Lynne's coffin was carried out to C'mon Everybody by Eddie Cochran.

A private internment was held at Newent Cemetery. Donations were made to Newent District Nurses.

THE Churchdown Royal British Legion has backed calls from Paddy Ashdown to fast track the withdrawal of British troops from Afghanistan.

Lord Ashdown is urging Britain to pull troops out of the country as quickly as "decently" possible and says the campaign is "not worth the life of one more soldier".

Those thoughts are echoed by Norman Auld, a 93-year-old former soldier with the Royal Engineers who now represents the Churchdown RBL.

"The sooner our lads are out of Afghanistan the better," he said. "Lord Ashdown is right when he says too much life has been lost.

"We have tried to install democracy, but it is very difficult and the worry is the Taliban will take over again once we leave and it will be left in a right mess.

"I have been a soldier and I know what these lads and lasses are going through. They need to come home."

Lord Ashdown's calls come as Government plans are finalised to exit Afghanistan by 2014. The campaign has cost 438 British lives.

FASHION experts in Cheltenham have defended Zara Phillips' taste in clothes – but admitted she could do better.

It seems the Queen's granddaughter is better on horseback than as a clothes horse if comments by Daily Mail fashion guru and columnist Liz Jones are anything to go by.

She criticised Zara for her "questionable" attire at the 2013 Magic Millions Carnival in Australia this week. The newspaper focussed on how the 31-year-old outfits "may go down as the worst fashion shoot in history".

The article claimed Zara, who lives in Cheltenham with husband Gloucester Rugby star Mike Tindall looked "as uncomfortable and out of place as Dick Emery on the Prada catwalk".

Yesterday it went onto criticise the royal with photographs of Zara from down the years claiming she had definitely had more misses than hits when it came to fashion.

But Kate Parker, style expert for the Echo's Weekend magazine defending the Olympic silver medallist.

She said: "Fashion isn't a priority for Zara, which sometimes shows in her choices. She is a very sporty natural woman and probably finds it tough being scrutinised like this all of the time. Unfortunately, it's part and parcel of being in the public eye.

"She has a great physique and with a little professional help I think she could look great when she steps out in front of the camera."

Cheltenham-based style consultant Michelle Blake said she did not want to be too critical of Zara but agreed that not all of her outfits had looked the best on her.

She said: "Occasionally, all celebrities get given outfits that suit the occasion but don't suit them."

Michelle said it was quite nice Zara was interested in fashion and she stressed that she felt she was an attractive woman. But she said she might be falling into the same trap as other high-profile people and wearing the latest designer outfits that might not suit her body shape or personality.

"They sort of get geared up for the latest event by the latest designer but it's not necessarily their own personal style," she added.

OPINION, P8

STAFF at stricken electricals chain Comet are calling for ministers to investigate its collapse and the firm's former owners OpCapita.

Angry workers at the group, which has a branch in Tewkesbury Road, Cheltenham, have launched an online petition urging Parliament to look into the way OpCapita ran Comet, which collapsed into administration this month.

More than 1,100 people have already signed the e-petition, which wants OpCapita and its boss Henry Jackson to be questioned over money invested in the firm.

Comet's administration comes just months after it was taken over by the investment firm for a nominal £2 in February.

OpCapita said it invested £35 million in Comet after buying the group, while it also received £50 million from former parent firm Kesa. Staff at Comet want ministers to probe how this money was invested.

The petition states: "The staff of Comet deserve to know everything regarding its downfall as we are currently working under the shadow of redundancy on a day to day basis."

GENEROUS people in Tewkesbury have rallied round to help those organising the town's Christmas lights.

Volunteers from the Chamber of Commerce stage the annual display but last month warned that the £14,000 cost of this year's event would leave them with nothing left for next year's.

Since an appeal for help in the Echo, various people have donated money or equipment.

Chamber committee member Shelby Powell said: "Our target is to raise £5,000 by the end of December to ensure at least half of the funds are available to secure the 2013 Christmas lights display for the town. With generous donations, we have reached the first milestone of £1,000.

"We are still optimistic more local businesses will come forward to sponsor the lights to secure enough money for the 2013 lights display."

THE Bishop's Cleeve Christmas lights switch-on remains on hold as parish councillors once again delay their support.

Safety tests have to be carried out before the parish council will agree to letting event organisers plug in their PA system. The facilities committee agreed that organisers would have to use an external power box instead of entering the community building.

Before permission can be granted for this, the council has to carry out a risk assessment. A qualified electrician is expected to do this on Monday.

But the Chamber of Commerce is determined to go ahead with the popular festive event a week today. It yesterday vowed to save the Christmas switch-on. It comes a couple of weeks after the parish council voted against allowing the Chamber to use its gardens outside the parish offices due to health and safety concerns.

They said the overspill of people onto Church Road would be reckless and dangerous. The Chamber has since moved the event back to it former position on the top end of Tesco's car park.

A determined David Billingham, president of the Chamber, said: "The lights will be going on next Saturday. Even if the risk assessment doesn't go through, and if for some reason it is not approved, the lights will be switched on irrespectively."

On Monday, the facilities committee agreed to supply an external power source in a locked box, after the Chamber was banned from entering the community building last year.

Phil Taylor, chairman of the facilities committee, said there was a lack of communication from the Chamber. He said: "We were not made aware of what the plans are for the switch-on event. We do not know what time they want to switch the lights on. We have not heard anything from them."

But Mr Billingham hit back at his claims, saying organisers had met the parish council.

He said: "That is ridiculous. We first went to the parish council at the start of 2012, and we went some four to five weeks ago stating out what we planned to do."

The community building has been booked out by a dodgeball play group and Danceworks for dance classes during the event. A caretaker will be on duty to prevent unauthorised access.

BRIGHT Cheltenham teenager Thomas Broadbent has won a top engineering prize.

The Balcarras School pupil came out tops at a prestigious awards ceremony at the Institution of Engineering and Technology in London.

Thomas, 17, was awarded an Arkwright Scholarship by the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB), which will enable him to gain fast-tracked experience from top companies in the industry.

Thomas said: "I am over the moon to have been awarded this scholarship.

"It's amazing. I'm going to use the money I've won towards paying for a couple of engineering courses run by the Smallpeice Trust."

Nigel Spencer, spokesman for the ECITB, added: "Thomas is a fantastic example of the type of young person we are hoping to attract into the engineering construction industry."

A PROMISING law student from Cheltenham who was hit by a car in Oxford and killed was yesterday named as Vandana Singh.

The former Pate's Grammar School pupil, 21, was walking along the A40 in Headington, Oxford, just after 10.30pm on Monday when she was hit by a Ford Ka.

She was pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene.

The driver of the Ford was taken to John Radcliffe Hospital, in Oxford, following the incident where she was treated for shock.

Frances Cairncross, the Rector of Exeter College at Oxford University, paid tribute to Vandana, describing her as a "beautiful" girl and said she who would be greatly missed.

He said: "Exeter College is grieving for the loss of Vandana Singh, a third-year law student, killed in a road accident on Monday night.

"She was a lovely and beautiful girl, who was at the heart of college life and is deeply missed by everyone who knew her.

"Our hearts go out to her family and her many friends."

An inquest into the events which led to Vandana's death has been opened and adjourned at Oxfordshire Coroner's Court.

ICE cream lovers flocked to Asda in Metz Way yesterday to cash-in on The Citizen's offer of a free tub of ice cream knocked up by TV chef Heston Blumenthal.

The tasty treat was a result of his record-breaking efforts to make the world's biggest ice cream.

His four-metre cone was topped with a ton of delicious whip frozen at Wall's in Barnwood.

Kay Hansford, customer service manager at Asda, said the public response was huge after the stunt was shown on Channel 4 this week.

"We had completely sold out and got rid of all the tubs of ice cream by 2.30pm," she said.

"The only problem was dealing with disappointed customers who turned up when we had sold out."

AS fuel prices across the country hold steady, one garage in Gloucester is determined to keep dropping its rates and keep things competitive.

Sparrows Wharf Petrol Station in Bristol Road has the joint lowest price in the city, currently at 129.9 pence a litre.

And staff there have challenged its nearest competitor Sainsbury's at Gloucester Quays to beat its prices.

Owner Tom Nicholls said he saw keeping prices low as part of a public service.

"We find that the supermarket is always lowering its prices to beat us," he said.

"We are a family business and know that budgets are always stretched. We try to do our bit to keep the prices low in order to help our customers out."

But despite petrol prices having fallen across the country, drivers are still being short-changed, according to the AA.

Average petrol prices have gone down from 138.95p a litre in mid-October to 135.08p, with diesel dropping from 143.74p a litre to 141.89p.

Experts said the fall in wholesale petrol prices across Europe should have knocked UK pump prices down by 10p to 11p a litre.

The AA said that UK drivers were also suffering again from "price postcode lottery" where motorists in one area can be charged as much as 5p a litre more than drivers a few miles away.

Brian Madderson, chairman of the Petrol Retailers' Association, which represents 5,500 independent forecourts, blamed this on supermarkets and motorway service stations – something with which Mr Nichols agrees.

He said: "Where there are places with only supermarkets, the prices tend to be high. But if you have independent stations like ours then their prices have to fall to fend off the competition. We have five service stations and find we are a permanent thorn in the side of supermarkets.

"We will continue to remain competitive and look forward to the competition."

However, despite Sparrows Wharf keeping prices low in Gloucester, the cheapest petrol rate in Cheltenham is 131.9p, whereas in Stroud it is 132.7p and 134.9p in the Forest of Dean.

What's your favourite Gloucestershire day out?

A day at the races during Cheltenham Gold Cup week or walking my dogs over Crickley Hill.

And your favourite place to eat out in the county?

The Renaissance Restaurant at Gloucestershire College's Cheltenham Campus. You get great food while helping to train young people to enter a great industry.

What's the worst job you've ever had?

Stacking shelves in a supermarket after school when I was about 13. I wanted the money, but I wanted to play football more; a very difficult dilemma!

Have you got any unusual habits?

Probably not that unusual but annoying! Losing my glasses. If anyone has found a pair on Crickley Hill in the past two weeks they're mine!

Who is your hero and why?

Any of the Spurs line-up.

What book are you reading at the moment or tell us your favourite?

The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman.

What was the last film you watched?

The Hunger Games, which was okay, but I have just bought the box set of the first series of Homeland.

First record you ever bought?

Led Zeppelin 2

Facebook or Twitter?

Twitter: @peterwhite_gc

HUNDREDS of pupils from Gloucestershire belted their lungs out at the Schools Prom.

The event was held in the grand surroundings of the Royal Albert Hall on Wednesday, when 26 schools from the county performed songs accompanied by the Gloucestershire Youth Orchestra.

Catherine Perfect, from the music department at St Peter's High School, said: "It was incredible, just an amazing experience."

FOR shoppers with a sweet tooth, the latest addition to Gloucester city centre could be the icing on the cake.

Patisserie Valerie, which has numerous stores across the country including in Bath, Sheffield, and Oxford, is moving into the former Millets unit in Southgate Street.

It sells handmade cakes using fresh ingredients and traditional baking methods, as well as breakfasts, lunches, gelato, teas and coffees.

Lauren Wilcock, 17, of Stroud, who often shops in the city, said: "There are a lot of cafes but this one sounds really different and somewhere I'd go with my friends."

Gloucester City Council leader Paul James said: "I'm delighted to see this unit being brought back into use. It is in a prime location and looked in a sorry state after Millets closed.

"Patisserie Valerie will be a good addition to the city centre offer and this news will help to keep the number of empty shops in Gloucester on a downward trend."

Workers are currently in the former outdoor shop, which closed in February, fitting it out ready for the launch.

The shop is aiming to open in the middle of December.

A spokesman for Patisserie Valerie said: "We are looking forward to extending our network of shops in the city of Gloucester and are excited about our opening."

The continental cake shop was first opened in Frith Street in London's Soho in 1926 by Belgian -born Madam Valerie, and went from success to success.

The cafes have become known for their 1950s-style decor, and Toulouse-Lautrec style cartoons by Terron.

DAZZLING window displays are being celebrated in the Echo's awards for top shops.

Eye-catching designs have lit up Cheltenham in the run up to Christmas, and the Echo's Love to Shop awards has a prize for the most impressive.

The Best Window Display category is sponsored by Beechwood Shopping Centre and will be given to both a national and independent store at an awards ceremony in February.

There will also be prizes for a host of categories at the awards supported by Cheltenham Borough Council.

Debenhams in the Beechwood Shopping Centre is in the running for the national category for its display, which ties in with their Christmas TV advert.

Store manager Darren Ramsey said: "A good window display is about creating an inspiration to shop.

"Windows have to be the first thing that a customer notices, so it has to be eye-catching."

Mr Ramsey praised the Echo's awards, he added: "I think the awards will inspire shops to have better window displays across the town."

Candles and More, also in the Beechwood, is in with a chance of scooping the independent prize for its window display, which has a nature theme.

Owner Rob Cooper said: "A good window display promotes your best lines and makes people stop and want to go into the shop."

Beechwood manager Owen Acland said this category has great significance to him.

He said: "For me, the shop windows holistically add to the overall appearance and impression of the centre, so it's important that they look good."

Mr Acland believes the awards provide a real shot in the arm to the retail industry.

He said: "The awards are great for morale in local retail, because they highlight the hard work and creativity that is going on in shops in Cheltenham."

THERE is nowhere to hide for criminals hoping to target Gloucester's nightlife community.

The Registry nightclub is leading the way in revolutionising city nightlife with a £60,000 investment in state-of-the-art CCTV.

There are now 74 cameras monitoring clubbers' every move, with clear images fed through to a control room where staff look-out for customer safety and potential flash-points.

Manager Neil Joyner says his technology is a match for anything in the city and every corner of the club is now covered, along with The Pint Pot pub, Bruton Way and the front of GL1.

"Young people need to take responsibility for themselves," he said. "This is not about helping girls find a lost handbag, but helping deter against violent disorder, drug dealing, criminal damage and theft.

"You can never be 100 per cent safe when alcohol is involved, but we have the whole of The Registry covered."

The value of the system was brought into sharp focus this week after Natasha How was jailed for six years for glassing a woman in the club. A jury at Gloucester Crown Court took just half an hour to convict her.

Police licensing sergeant Liz Lovell said better quality images are helping prosecute offenders.

"Advancements in the last seven years have been immense and the expectation from the Crown Prosecution Service is so much more demanding now. If you want to persuade a jury, you have to be able to use the best evidence you've got.

"There are a lot of opportunists in clubs. It is not always about violent disorder. There are bag thieves operating and pickpockets. Clubs have a lot of dark areas, so they have to be using the technology that is available to help catch these people."

Liquid nightclub is set to follow suit, with work on upgrading its CCTV system starting this week.

FRIENDS and family of Martin Holder will tomorrow light a memorial lantern in his memory.

A group of those mourning the 16-year-old, who was found dead in his Whaddon home, will meet at The Rising Sun at 6.30pm.

They will then walk up Cleeve Hill to light the beacon for Martin.

The teenager, who had gone to Cleeve School, then left in the summer to study forensic computing at Gloucestershire College.

Martin had hoped to one day work at GCHQ.

He was well-known in Prestbury as a paperboy for the Echo for two years.

His funeral will be held at 2.30pm on Monday, November 26 at Cheltenham Crematorium. There is no set dress code.

There will be family flowers only, but funeral directors Mason and Stokes will be accepting donations towards Martin's memorial, although there are no set plans for this yet.

Afterwards all are welcome at The King's Arms pub in Prestbury, where loved ones will share memories of the young man.

SHOCKED shoppers were greeted by the sight of a stolen 4x4 inside a supermarket yesterday morning.

Between 2am and 3am, two burglars rammed a stolen vehicle into the Morrisons store, off George Street, Nailsworth.

They targeted cigarettes but police were on the scene quickly and the pair fled on foot. It is believed they left empty-handed.

Security grills were ripped off the main entrance and the Mitsubishi stood where shoppers usually pick up a basket or choose a newspaper. Despite the police cordoning off the main entrance, the store remained open and customers were directed to a side entrance.

"It's quite a sight," said one shopper, who did not wish to be named. "I heard there was a kerfuffle overnight but I did not expect this.

"I thought the store staff were really helpful and reacted well though." The incident is being linked to the thefts of two 4x4s. Between midnight and 7am on Thursday, a blue Mitsubishi Shogun was stolen from Farmhill Crescent, Stroud. And at approximately 2am on October 22 a black Subaru Forester was stolen from outside a house in France Lynch, Stroud after the property was broken into and the keys taken.