A TEARY James Simpson-Daniel received an emotional Kingsholm send-off after he was forced to retire earlier this month.

The legendary Gloucester wing finally conceded defeat in his battle to return from a horror ankle injury.

He led the Cherry and Whites out ahead of Saturday's victory and was presented with a framed jersey at half-time.

And giving a speech during the interval, Simpson-Daniel who spent 14 years at Gloucester and is the club's leading try scorer and appearance maker, momentarily broke down.

After regaining his composure the former England international thanked the Gloucester crowd for their unwavering support over the years.

Dings Crusaders 24 Lydney 22

LYDNEY were taught a salutary lesson. Rugby has changed in many ways, but one thing that hasn't is the fact that you cannot win games without a solid scrum and lineout.

There was not much between two sides that will doubtless struggle this season but the home side took the National Two South spoils.

On another day it could have gone the way of the visitors, although they only played in patches.

The first 10 minutes was punctuated by errors from both sides, only one of which was punished when Brad Barnes kicked a penalty to give Lydney the lead after Dings had strayed offside at a ruck.

The home side gradually gained the upper hand and, with outside-half Mark Woodrow pulling the strings, they were constantly putting Lydney on the back foot. It was from another lost lineout that the visitors fell behind when openside flanker Canulli Michele powered over and Woodrow added the extras.

Lydney fell further behind when the officials failed to spot a blatant obstruction which left a yawning gap that wing James Oakley coasted through and touched down under the posts, Woodrow slotted the conversion to give the home side an 11-point cushion.

Lydney at last seemed to realise that a more aggressive approach was needed. The back row and half-backs were starting to push the home side back.

Lydney scrum-half Eamon Rees, who was having a fine game behind a pack that was going backwards, showed considerable strength and determination to force his way over near the posts.

Barnes converted and the visitors were back in the game.

Dings made a mess of the restart and, as Lydney pressed forward, they were awarded a penalty. While the home defence stood still, Rees took a quick tap and scooted over the whitewash for his second try inside four minutes.

The conversion was missed but it sent Lydney in with a slender 15-14 lead at the break.

The second half was more of the same, although, with Dings playing down the slope, their kicking game was more in evidence, Lydney spending more time in the bottom corner where the home side like to play.

After several drives had been held up and, with the visitors unable to escape from their own line, it came as no surprise when the lively Canulli scored his second try. Woodrow converted and Dings led by six.

Coach Duncan Bell rang the changes and Lydney looked more determined and aggressive – a little too much so for the referee, who awarded a penalty in front of the posts that Woodrow knocked over to give Dings a nine-point lead.

Lydney's backs, when set free, always looked dangerous. Josh Hannam and Josh Innes made powerful runs into their opponents' half, but missed passes and poor decision-making halted some promising moves. With the clock ticking down, a fine run by Hannam was stopped on the Dings line and Matt Boobyer was on hand to crash over wide out.

Barnes slotted the extras from the touchline and it was all to play for in the dying minutes.

The red shirts of the visitors surged forward, but the ball was spun wide, when keeping it tight may have been better, and the final attack was halted when Jack O'Connell was forced into touch, leaving Lydney to rue a missed opportunity – and those will be few and far between this season.

Dings Crusaders: B Bolster, J Oakley, C Gervaise, S Hunt, J Lawthom, M Woodrow, M Adams, T Harvey, A Chaplin, M Hudd, E Cheesewright, G Lloyd, T Knight, C Michele, J Holcombe. Reps: J Mahal, E Halk, T Bax, M Wright, Ollie Rayland

Lydney C Holder; J Hannam; J Innes; D Scourfield; J O'Connell; B Barnes; E Rees; A Ledner; M Wallis; S Merrit; D Bennett; B Scriven; A Wheeler; M Boobyer; L Jackson. Reps: L Foran, J Perks, J Fowke, L Kell, J O'Neill

Referee: L Haskins

Star man: Eamon Rees, Lydney

Hornets 53

Old Centralians 20

OLD Centralians were well beaten by a strong Hornets side.

Hornets, who were making their first home appearance in National Three South West, were highly motivated.

Urged on by a big crowd, the home side were faster in thought and execution and put a weak Cents side to the sword.

The Old Cents side were a shadow of the side that beat Bracknell the previous week.

Whereas Cents were strong up front, aggressive at the rucks and mauls and had a good lineout against Bracknell, on Saturday they were outmuscled by a big and young pack.

Another feature of last week's win was a strong defence, but against Hornets their weak tackling was brushed aside.

Cents were at not the races in any aspect of the match. In mitigation, a lot of the players were under the weather after being at a club wedding the day before.

However, nothing should be taken away from Hornets as they put in a thoroughly committed display and blew Cents away to win the match in style.

If they play like they played against Cents consistently they will be a team to be reckoned with, especially at home on a very good playing surface.

Hornets stormed into a 29-8 lead at half-time after scoring with their first attack of the match and then scoring at regular intervals. During the first half, Cents scored through a penalty converted by Liam Hemming plus an unconverted try scored by Michael Mathers.

Even though the Hornets dominated the first half, Cents still had try-scoring chances and if they had taken them the match might have ended closer.

Cents started the second half strongly and during this period the sides were more evenly matched.

However, after the first 15 minutes the Hornets wrestled back control of the game and put Cents away.

Cents managed two tries in the second half , one of which was converted by Liam Hemming. The try scorers were Joe Preece and Sam Attwooll on his full debut.

Drybrook 7 Wells 21

TWO tries early in the second half for Wells broke open a game dominated by the boot and though Drybrook tried hard to salvage something, they fell to their first South West One defeat of the season, writes Chris Wilson.

It was surprising that on a dry day with a firm pitch, the boot dominated from the outset.

Wells fly-half Aaron Cook put up a string of high kicks and long kicks into the difficult wind and Drybrook's outside backs struggled to read and field them.

Wells looked to keep things tight and use Cook's boot to pressure Drybrook into mistakes and the home side's counter-attacks lacked real penetration and foundered on the well-organised visiting defence.

On the back of that, most of the first half was played inside the home 10-metre line but Cook missed two of his three penalty kicks at goal to leave them ahead by only 3-0 at the break.

Drybrook had only one real chance in the first period. It came after half an hour's play when a raid down the short side got Mitch Baldwin in space but he lost the ball under pressure from the cover defence.

The home side started the second half with intent. Their opening move was a pacy attack out wide that forced a lineout in good position but the throw was poor and the danger easily cleared.

In a matter of moments, however, they found themselves 13-0 down after two unconverted tries in three minutes changed the complexion of a tight match.

Cook's smart change of direction opened up the short side and Alex Knight finished well out wide.

From the restart, Drybrook were back under pressure and when a clearing kick almost on their own line was charged down, Cook was on hand to ground the loose ball.

Drybrook now had to take the initiative and force the pace. They upped the pace but could not find a way through until just before the hour mark.

With big runners Jose Kalipe and Elliot White off the bench, Drybrook sucked defenders into a corner before spreading the ball across the field and Kristian Taft had plenty of space to score by the posts.

Alun Richards converted but, after Cook had extended the lead by slotting a penalty, he missed two inviting shots at goal that would have got his side within a score of the visitors.

They were still in the game with 10 minutes left but Gareth Holdsworth lost possession and George Willis swooped to race away and score to wrap up his side's second win of the season.

DRYBROOK: K Taft, S Reaper, B Large (capt), L Fisher, M Baldwin, A Richards, T Treherne, D Jelf, A Howells, M Renton, M Cowles, N Gibbons, L Ward, D Price, M Bourne. Reps (all

used): E White, J Kalipe, G Holdsworth

WELLS: D Wheatley, G Willis, L Jenkins, A Wright, B Saunders, A Cook, J Knight (capt), L Smith, A Hill, Tom White, A Payne, L Cohen, B Knight, T Clark; R Wiseman. Reps (all used): R Hickman, R Bowers, O Townend

REFEREE: Adam Carter (Yorkshire Society) 

Clevedon 25 Matson 21

FOR the second week running Matson slipped to a narrow defeat in South West One.

Last week they were beaten 13-12 at home by Cleve and the newly promoted side went close again to claiming their first win of the season.

Matson found themselves playing into a strong wind and they required a resolute defence for most of the first half.

It was not until the 32nd minute that a scoring opportunity presented itself for either side and then the home side fluffed a penalty kick.

On 37 minutes, Matson conceded a penalty and collected a yellow card for an infringement at the ruck. Clevedon kicked the ensuing penalty to the corner and from the lineout five yards out, Matson switched off. The home side peeled at the front to score an unconverted try that gave them a 5-0 lead.

From the restart Matson received a further yellow card for dissent and Clevedon subsequently kicked to touch inside Matson's 22.

Matson then cleared the danger to the halfway line but Clevedon infringed at the lineout and Joe Stokes, with a quick penalty, fed Jack Knight to score an excellent try, converted by Connor Gwilliam to put the visitors 7-5 up at half-time.

From the restart, Matson had good early pressure and a driving maul went into touch five metres out.

Matson again switched off at the front of the lineout and Clevedon broke out to run the length of the pitch to score an unconverted try and take the lead 10-7.

Matson then regained the lead after 57 minutes with Alfie Burn winning the lineout and good play from the backs ended with Aaron Morefield touching down under the posts, with the conversion by Connor Gwilliam.

After a further five minutes, Clevedon reduced the deficit to one point when Matson were penalised for handling in the ruck. It all went wrong in the next 10 minutes for the visitors as Matson conceded two tries in quick succession .

The first followed good work by the Clevedon pack and the second almost immediately afterwards, with the home side taking a quick tap penalty to put the home side 25-14 up.

Matson subjected Clevedon to considerable pressure in the dying minutes and were finally rewarded when, following a lineout on the home side's 22-metre line, the Matson pack drove over for a Joe Payne try converted by Connor Gwilliam to take them to within four points.

It earned them a bonus point but they were left to rue the yellow cards and two soft tries.

Brave survivors of sexual and domestic abuse are drawing strength from a growing Gloucester group just six months after it was established.

Professional help is available across the county for abuse victims, but 'Believe' group founded by Leann Huntley is offering something different.

It is a relaxed, social group where survivors can share experiences to draw strength from each other. Monthly meet-ups are tackling trauma head on to improve everyday well-being of those attending.

"Believe has been doing well," she said.

"It does get better for those that decide to start on the difficult journey of healing.

"People don't always want to go to speak with a professional. You may not need support every day, but it is good to know it is there when needed."

The group is now looking to expand. Anyone can attend, male or female. Believe hopes to tackle fears of isolation with community activities within a relaxed, social group, and workshops. It is a natural process.

Group member 'Sarah', not her real name, said her abuse left her with nowhere to turn.

"I was abused from a very young age by multiple abusers," she said.

"I grew up in domestic violence and was bullied at school. I became withdrawn and very shy. I always felt different, that reinforced the bullying. "There was little support. My dad was a compulsive gambler. When he was working, dad would get paid on a Friday, but we never knew if he would disappear for the weekend and come home with no money.

"I wasn't aware of my siblings being abused until some years later. We were all detached to help protect ourselves."

Sarah revealed her abuse after she failed to invite a family friend to an event.

"I just blurted it out that he had abused me," she said.

"The family knew he was a sex offender. 

"The abuse was brushed under the carpet and forgotten about. I think they were ashamed."

Sarah kept her experience private and became a loner, turning to substance abuse as a teenager as she went off the rails. She said her destructive behaviour was a direct result of the abuse she had suffered years before.

"With abuse, you can be going through life normally, but something will trigger a relapse in your mind of what happened," Sarah added. "It will be with me forever. When Leann told me her story, I could relate to it and it was someone I could speak to. It is about trust and a relief to have somebody to confide in."

Fundraising for the group is taking place at the Deans Walk Inn, Kingsholm with an open mic fundraiser on October 25.

To find out more about the help available, email Leann at believesoca@hotmail.com.

Gloucester C 0 AFC Fylde 2

IT WAS another afternoon of frustration for Gloucester City as two goals from Tom Hannigan sealed the victory for table-topping AFC Fylde, writes Simon Clark.

The goals either side of the half-time break saw the Lancashire outfit home and dry, the first due to a lapse of concentration seeing the defender tap home at the far post, the second a simple header in front of goal.

The Tigers saw chances go amiss throughout the contest, most notably Sam Avery's free header, which would have levelled the game, and a bevy of off-target efforts as City pushed and pushed.

Tim Harris' side started with intent as a neat cutback from Matt Groves was almost latched onto by an incoming Matt Williams.

The Vanarama Conference North's leading marksman Charlie Griffin was introduced to the game with a strong header wide after a sumptuous move.

Griffin drove a free-kick straight at Ben Hinchcliffe but the Coasters started to find their feet with former Manchester United man Michael Barnes tearing down the wing before a lacklustre shot.

Fylde had a major opportunity thwarted by the sliding Sam Avery who blocked Danny Rowe's effort en route to goal after he'd been teed up by Richard Allen.

Hinchcliffe was then called into action after Griffin produced an excellent header that had to bring the best out of the Coasters keeper followed by another powerful header, this time from Marc Richards.

Another frenetic run from Groves threatened for Gloucester as the pacy winger took on four Fylde defenders before a driven shot at Hinchcliffe.

However, Fylde broke the deadlock seconds before the break as a lapse of concentration from the City defence allowed a short corner to be fizzed into the back post, with Hannigan there to apply the finish.

The Tigers had a glaring opportunity at the beginning of the second period to level through Avery, who saw his header cannon inches over the bar after a typically floated Billy Jones delivery.

The Coasters doubled the lead on 51 minutes with a simple header in front of goal by Hannigan for his second of the game.

Liam Tomsett headered a glorious opportunity wide as City struggled to find any rhythm, symbolised by two wild efforts from Richards and Connolly that both flew high and wide.

With time running out, Harris' side began to threaten much more, firstly a sublime Jones free-kick that dipped just over the crossbar, followed by Nat Jarvis, fresh from his international stint with Antigua and Barbuda, heading off target.

Three more chances came and went as Chris Jones shot from distance, Scott Wilson smashed over the bar and Jarvis headed over from close range to sum up an afternoon of frustration.

Gloucester City: M Green, S Avery, B Jones, S Hamilton, M Williams, A Connolly, M Richards, M Green (S Wilson 76), C Griffin, A Mann (N Jarvis 56), M Groves (C Jones 61),

Subs not used: E Chamberlain, M Preece.

AFC Fylde: B Hinchcliffe, C Hughes (J Booth 69), A Sumner (L Denson 69), J Langley, T Hannigan, B Barnes, L Tomsett (D Hankin 81), M Potts, D Rowe, M Barnes, R Allen.

Subs not used: D Lloyd; D Charles.

Attendance: 396

Queen guitarist Brian May will visit Newent on Monday to protest against the second pilot badger cull in Gloucestershire.

The rock star and the Save Me Trust will visit the Gloucester cull zone on Monday arriving in Newent mid afternoon, and then be in Somerset on Tuesday to visit Camp Badger.

The visits are to show May and the Save Me Trust's support for the wounded badger patrols operating in these two areas.

A statement issued by May and the Save Me Trust ahead of their visit said "We rescue and rehabilitate wildlife at our head quarters in Surrey and know only too well of the pain badgers can suffer at the hand of humans.

"It is fantastic that these people are out at night to patrol and take care of any wounded badgers.

"Badgers are very intelligent with the same emotional level and pain capacity as our very own pet dogs. Many of the wounded will be cubs just a few months old and we wanted to say thank you to these amazing people who are protecting them.

"We spent some time down there last year to meet the night walkers who give up their sleep, work and time to care for our wildlife. Their dedication is inspiring.

A spokesman for Gloucestershire Against Badger Shooting (GABS), a member of the Team Badger coalition, said "We are delighted to welcome Brian May back to support us on patrol in the cull zone. 

"Ultimately whatever our efforts in the media and in the courts, it all comes down to boots on the ground. 

That's why we and all the other groups and individuals involved are out every night, saving every badger we can from this pointless, irrational slaughter."

Police are appealing for witnesses after a man was left seriously injured following an incident involving a van in Wotton-under-Edge last night (Saturday September 13).

Officers were called by paramedics just after 9.25pm, as they treated a 41-year-old man from Bristol on the High Street for serious injuries.

A witness reported seeing a green Volkswagen Transporter van, registration number N125 AWE,
being driven the wrong way along a one way road in the centre of Wotton-under-Edge shortly before the incident.

Officers are investigating whether the injured man was pushed out of the van.

Two men, aged 24 and 27, and both from Bristol, were arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm shortly after the incident. Another man, aged 18 and from Bristol, was arrested this afternoon (Sunday September 14) on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm in connection with the incident.

The three men remain in police custody at this time.

The injured man remains in hospital in a life threatening condition.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, or the van being driven before the incident, is urged to call 101, quoting incident 485 of September 13.

HE has graced the silver screen for half a century, starring in hit films such as The Shining and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and winning Oscars in the progress.

And now it appears Jack Nicholson has lent his support to a Gloucester charity by donning a Hollie Gazzard Trust wristband when stopped in the street by a fan in Las Vegas.

The Hollywood star seems to be the latest celebrity to throw his weight behind the cause, set up after Churchdown hairdresser Hollie was killed while working at salon Fringe Benefits in February.

In July, Brooklyn Beckham was pictured with a wristband while in Nike Town in London.

Hollie's dad Nick, who is chairman of the trust, said he was told it was As it Good it Gets star Nicholson by the fundraiser who sent him the picture.

He said it would give a big boost to the charity.

"The lady who sent it to us was in Vegas," said Nick, who said he has since found out the Hollywood A-lister was in Vegas for boxer Floyd Mayweather's world title fight.

"When you usually ask a look-like for a photo they ask for money but he didn't ask for anything."

He said the picture, and the previous one taken with David Beckham's son, were fantastic for the trust.

"It certainly helps build our profile," he said.

"I was looking at the number of posts and tweets there have been about the photo, it really helps build it up.

"We have a lot of people come to us saying 'I'm going to X, can I have a band to take with me and take Hollie there.

"We get them to take a picture and send it back to us. Even yesterday we had pictures being sent in."

Nick added: "We always wanted Hollie to travel so it's great that people do this for the trust."

So far, out of the 15,000 bands the trust has ordered, Nick said around 12,000 have been sold, raising in the region of £10,000.

The picture thought to be of Jack Nicholson gained 31 re-tweets on the charity's @HollieGazardT Twitter profile as well as 23 favourites.

On the Citizen's Facebook page, it reached almost 7,000 people.

Nigel Bee wrote: "What a great sport he is. Heart of gold that man", while Alaine Yilmaz added: "Good man, respect Hollie, nothing wrong with it."

The trust was set up in May to support young hairdressers in their educational needs as well as other causes such as Increase the Peace and the Gloucestershire Domestic Abuse Service.

For more information visit holliegazzard.org.

Confusion over right of way at a controversial crossing point has been backed-up by pedestrians, despite county councillors insisting the shared space is working well.

A consultation is open inviting people to offer support for a new pedestrian crossing at Kimbrose Triangle.

The public space at the junction with Southgate Street is a key crossing point for 'The Linkages' pedestrian route to the Docks via Kimbrose Way.

Drivers are unsure when to stop to allow people to cross, and pedestrians are equally unsure of when they can step out into the road.

Gloucestershire County Council made minor improvements in 2011, but more needs to be done according to president of Gloucester City Cycling Club Toby Wooldridge who is demanding a rethink.

"I cross this at least twice daily and it is not a good experience," he said. "The majority of traffic does not give way to pedestrians. I see people unfamiliar or not willing to step out stuck at the side of the shared space until there is a gap in traffic, or until a motorist does actually give way. 

"Traffic in the other direction does not do the same. It clearly does not work and for the county council to suggest otherwise is interesting."

Mr Wooldridge has suggested three changes. He wants to see a reduction in the speed limit from 20 to 10mph as well as the addition of two zebra crossing points. He also suggests much better signing including on the road surface and the introduction of cameras to help to police the situation.

"Aside from the cameras, the other three options are not expensive to implement," he added.

"There is no need for lights, just traffic orders and paint or signs. Shared space is a good idea but needs to be implemented properly."

The county council has drawn up proposals to consider a zebra crossing.

Councillor Vernon Smith, cabinet member for highways said: "A balance is needed for traffic to be able to flow as freely as possible and within the speed limit, whilst ensuring people feel safe and can find their way confidently through the shared area."

Consultation runs until October 6 at gloucestershire.gov.uk/kimbrosetriangle.

Forced labour is a significant problem in society with thousands thought to be trapped in a hidden hell of modern day slavery.

Police believe it to be a growing problem. But solving it requires a comprehensive strategy in which law plays a part.

April 2010 was a landmark date as the law changed, allowing courts to prosecute for the first time. Five members of the Staverton-based Connors family were found guilty in December 2012 of forcing people to work for them, providing squalid caravans as accommodation and were sentenced to a combined 18 years behind bars.

They have been told to pay back more than £2.25 million under the proceeds of crime act, or face more jail time.

Suspicion had surrounded the Connors family for years. Reports of missing persons or minor offences were traced to Beggar's Roost, the Staverton home for scores of the family's workforce. Police found them dishevelled, but unwilling to speak out against their bosses who were often standing nearby.

But once the law changed, the Connors were on borrowed time and their life of luxury soon come crashing down.

Detective Inspector Dave Sellwood said hundreds of hours of surveillance went into the investigation, the first of its kind in the UK. It has proved a landmark case.

"We didn't know what we were getting into as this level of offending behaviour was unknown to police at the time," he said.

"It was much harder than we thought. The police are more aware now of these kind of crimes."

Thames Valley police had responded to a report of people being kidnapped at their Staines property some years before.

They found Brida, some of the children and some workers. Officers found ten men living in a double garage as Billy's workforce. It was a bare double garage with mattresses in the floor.

But at the time, there was no offence for the police to follow up. The men were dishevelled, but did not want to speak out against the family.

"That is something we have learnt," added DI Sellwood.

"You will not get someone to say they are a victim of crime in that situation. Quite a number had come into contact with police in previous years. They never said they were a victim of crime."

Police knew an investigation would stand or fall on the quality of the witnesses. But many were scared to speak out.

"If we had the investigation again there are things I would change," said DI Sellwood, who has since offered advice to other police forces conducting similar investigations nationwide.

"When we did our raids the state of the caravans were awful. That was powerful evidence. We didn't know how hard it would be to get evidence from vulnerable adults who had been held captive for decades.

"There are many more potential investigations like this that could be carried out. But they are challenging."

Gloucestershire looks set to bask in balmy temperatures this week as the Indian summer across much of Britain continues.

September could end up becoming one of the driest on record, with temperatures above the seasonal average.

Warm continental air will nudge the mercury into the high 70s (25C) by Thursday, putting the south of England on a par with Turkey, Tenerife and some areas of Spain.

The Met Office said almost the entire country can look forward to a few unusually warm days.

It will remain dry today (Monday) and overnight and another fine, warm day is on the cards for the county on Tuesday, with temperatures likely to top 23C (73F). But there will be more of a risk of showers into late afternoon.

Meteorologist Kirk Waite said: "High pressure is due to move from its position over Scandinavia and draw in warm air from the Continent.

"It is going to be quite a fine and settled week.

"Most of the country can look ­forward to plenty of good spells and temperatures in the mid-20Cs."

The overall mean temperature for September is 55F with the ­average ­maximum a cool 62F.

But the sultry conditions could bring with it the occasional thunderstorm.

Intelligent, sporty and musical, nine-year-old Amelia Crane has similar dreams and ambitions as many other young girls her age.

But the youngster from Lydney has to contend with unwanted attention and finger pointing because of the way she looks.

Amelia was born with achondroplasia, or dwarfism, and suffers from the impolite attention she gets from strangers.

Her parents Adelina Donaldson and her partner Graham Crane had no knowledge anything was unusual about their baby until a planned late scan at 36 weeks.

They want to share their experiences to help highlight the issues surrounding the condition to encourage support for Jeans for Genes Day, raising money for Genetic Disorders UK on Friday.

The charity is inviting everyone to wear their jeans to work or school and make a donation to help other families in a similar situation to Adelina, Graham and Amelia.

Nine out of ten children born with dwarfism have average-size parents. It can affect anyone and Adelina's first daughter Fiona is of average height.

Mum Adelina said the public attitude to dwarfism needs rapidly turning on its head.

"I do think that people are often kinder when they see other disabilities than dwarfism," she said.

"They don't name call or point or giggle when they see someone in a wheelchair. That's probably one of the most upsetting things for Amelia."

Amelia has the classic characteristics of shortened limbs and larger head and is far smaller than her friends. She is often in pain from her legs and lower spine and her proportions can make everyday activities and personal care difficult.

Add to that her two hearing aids and slight hydrocephalus, or fluid potentially pressing on her brain, and it seems inconceivable anyone would find her condition amusing. But they seem to.

Despite all of this, Amelia is a determined youngster busily enjoying her life, school and friends.

She sings, acts, swims and works hard at school having stated her ambition to be a vet; she chose a stick insect to join the family cat and goldfish.

She loved being in Beavers where she was awarded a sleeveful of activity badges before recently moving up to Cubs.

"It wasn't always that easy achieving them all," added Adelina.

"But she did it in the end. Cubs may be even more of a challenge. She is very happy at her school where she has lots of friends and everyone loves her but she does have problems with the new younger children who start each year.

"They can stare or be hurtful. But overall school is a more positive experience than not."

At her mainstream school Amelia has a one-to-one carer. There's a provision of step stools as well as a rail in the toilets and recently a sink was installed at a height she could wash her hands.

Before that the carer had to fill a bowl of water for her and so she wasn't self-sufficient.

Adelina said: "We try not to wrap her up but get her out there. It's a question of getting the balance right.

"Her friends are great and, for example, will run a bit slower so she can join in games, but I do worry about secondary school.

"Those can be tough years and youths can be nasty. As can younger ones; on one hospital visit a younger child refused to believe she was older and called her a liar.

"She didn't know how to handle that, for example. So we're trying to build up her confidence now.

"We haven't made masses of changes at home. We've quite a number of step stools around the place, and grabbers so she can reach things she wants.

"Amelia enthusiastically bashes the light switches with sticks and sometimes I wonder, how long is that switch going to last?"

Amelia, and her family, carry cards explaining her condition that she can hand out to curious adults and children who stare at her or when she might be in a situation needing extra support.

And she is constantly learning new skills to cope as a smaller than average person.

Her dad Graham installed a bidet which she's learned to use. Fortunately he's very practical. He adapted a bicycle so that she can travel in a trailer with back support when we all go out.

She has an adapted bicycle that she rides but she couldn't keep up on a long ride with the rest fo the family.

As for the future Adelina believes academic studies will help Amelia have a fulfilling life.

"I tell her it will give her more chances in a competitive world," she said.

"And there are teachers and doctors like her. I just wish there were more positive roles for people with dwarfism in programmes and films, such as presenters or news readers."

The Restricted Growth Association is a Jeans for Genes Day 2014 grant charity.

It will receive £5,000 from funds raised on Jeans for Genes Day to fund an activity weekend for children with restricted growth and their siblings.

Sign up for a free fundraising pack at www.jeansforgenesday.org.

RUGBY fans visiting Gloucester for the World Cup next year will not be impressed by the state of the approach roads to the city if they are not cleaned up, according to a Quedgeley resident.

Irene Hine, 68, said grass verges and gutters near the Cole Avenue traffic lights into Quedgeley and the Over and Longford roundabouts in the north of the city need urgent attention before kick-off a year from now.

She said serious efforts to regenerate derelict and unused buildings in Gloucester should have started a year ago.

Earlier this month city council leader Paul James, inset, and Gloucester MP Richard Graham published a list of 20 properties which need "real progress" in the next year to get the city looking its best when hundreds of thousands of visitors are expected to descend on the city next September.

But long-time Quedgeley resident Mrs Hine said the authorities need to get the basics right before worrying about longer-term projects.

She said: "The approaches coming into Gloucester are so tatty and some of them are like a wilderness. The state of the roads at the bottom of Cole Avenue near KFC is absolutely shocking. Sometimes the weeds grow up to my height.The council must improve the city for the people who live here, not just visitors.

"The Over Roundabout will be seen by a lot of fans from Wales as they come to the city, and it wouldn't be too labour-intensive to get a roadsweeper in to clean it up."

A spokesman for Gloucestershire Highways, responsible for the Over and Longford roundabouts, said: "In order to get better value from our funding, routine grass cutting has ceased and, instead, a risk based approach has been adopted. These areas are cut as required to ensure safety of the travelling public."

Councillor Jim Porter, cabinet member for environment at Gloucester City Council, said: "We cut the grass verges on the A430 Bristol Road near the Cole Avenue junction twice each year. This takes place in June and September so the area will be cut back later this month. Next year we will schedule the cut to take place before the Rugby World Cup begins."

Greig Laidlaw admits the victory over Sale Sharks is a weight off Gloucester's collective shoulders and reckons the Cherry and Whites are turning the corner.

Gloucester kicked off their season with a record Premiership defeat at the hands of Northampton Saints and it looked like more of the same on their home turf.

But they stormed back in the second-half and the 40 minute performance has filled the Scottish scrum-half with optimism for the club's new era.

He said: "We were beaten by the champions but we have come home and bounced back so we will take a lot of confidence from that.

"It wasn't the plan to go so many points behind so the manner of the result is very pleasing

"They scored a couple of easy tries, they scored early, and the boys maybe went into their shells thinking 'here we go again'.

"We had to keep our composure, stop giving away cheap possession and penalties.

"In the first half we would do some good work but then cough up the ball or give away a silly penalty and lose 40 metres.

"But if we can cut the errors and play like we did in the second-half for 80 minutes we can start to turn the corner and become a good team."

Laidlaw controlled affairs with aplomb and on the second-half showing his partnership with James Hook is developing nicely.

But he has laid the praise on the Gloucester forward pack, who laid the foundations for the much-needed victory.

He said: "That partnership is starting to blossom and that's the way we want to go forward. But a lot of credit must go to the forwards who really put the squeeze on Sale in the second half.

"It's easy to play behind a pack going forward, we can kick early and kick on the front foot.

"Ben Morgan, Hooky, Billy (Twelvetrees) and myself had our finger on the pulse and were able to control the game.

"But I'm picking up on the appreciation of how they like rugby to be played after that penalty try!

"It's brilliant for me coming down from Scotland, being here with traditional rugby and we want to make this a hard place for people to come and win."

n Prop Nick Wood is expected to make his return to action in Gloucester United's Aviva A-League fixture against the Worcester Cavaliers at Worcester tonight.

The experienced loosehead has been sidelined with back spasms, but it set to start in Peter Buxton's side for the M5 derby.

A man has been released on police bail after being arrested for an alleged rape off London Road in Gloucester on Saturday night.

The 35-year-old was taken into police custody following the alleged incident at Hillfield Gardens which is said to have occurred at around 9.30pm.

A nearby park was cordoned off with police tape for a short period of time as officers conducted their inquiry.

The man has been bailed until October 22. 

Call 101 quoting incident number 474 of 13/09 with information.

THREE men held on suspicion of grievous bodily harm have been bailed after a man sustained life-threatening injuries in Wotton-under-Edge at the weekend.

A witness reported seeing a green Volkswagen Transporter van, registration number N125 AWE, being driven the wrong way along a one way road in the centre of Wotton-under-Edge shortly before the incident on Saturday night.

Police are investigating whether the injured 41-year-old from Bristol was pushed out of the van.

Officers were called by paramedics just after 9.25pm, as they treated the victim on the road for serious injuries and cardiac arrest, carrying out CPR at the scene.

Two men, aged 24 and 27, and both from Bristol, were arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm shortly after the incident.

Another man, aged 18 and from Bristol, was arrested yesterday on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm.

A Gloucestershire Police spokesman said: "All three have now been bailed until Monday November 10, pending further investigation."

He added that the victim remained in hospital in a life-threatening condition.

Witnesses can call 101, quoting incident 485 of September 13.

A South Western Ambulance Service spokesman said they received the call to the incident at 9.15pm, with the first ambulance arriving at 9.19pm.

Crime prevention orders will hang over the Connors family of Irish travellers to stop them repeating their forced labour crimes elsewhere in the country.

Five members of the Staverton-based family were found guilty in December 2012 of forcing people to work for them and prosecuted under new anti-slavery laws introduced in April 2010.

Prosecutors at CPS Southwest were the first to ever institute proceedings under the 2010 Coroners and Justice Act.

Combined sentences of 18 years were handed out to Billy Connors, 54, his wife Brida, 50 and their sons John, 31, James, 22, and son-in-law Miles, 25 in December 2012.

All but Billy are now out of prison, but will have to repay more than £2.25 million in six months or face further prison terms.

The Citizen understands John and Miles have since established block-paving firms in the Oxfordshire area, but both men are the subject of crime prevention orders.

Police and the Department for Work and Pensions are monitoring their activity, ensuring all workers are paid fairly. They are also banned from living on the same site as their workers under terms of the order.

Billy Connors is due for release from prison in six months.

The value of wealth estimated to have been earned by the family during years of criminal activity was gathered after a huge surveillance operation by police. It has been estimated at around £5 million.

Lead investigator Detective Inspector Dave Sellwood was invited to share his expertise with Irish broadcasters RTE for a documentary on travellers and forced labour. He has also been invited to take part in a similar programme for Channel Four.

"Travellers take in people provide them with food, drink and accommodation," he said.

"Some will use that as a defence that what they are doing is acceptable. We know that three of the Connors victims have gone back to work for travellers. They choose to be there, we don't know why.

"It is a generational thing. We know Billy's dad did it. We found photos of Johnny and Jimmy as children working on driveways with their dad.They were doing it from a young age and know nothing else."

Of the 37 workers who were known to have been taken in by the Connors, just 19 gave evidence to police.

Some have not spoken about their experiences with the family since the day they were freed during a raid on the caravan site at Beggar's Roost, Staverton.

The Ministry of Justice estimated up to 20 cases would come to court annually under the new legislation, but there have been few prosecutions to date.

Similar investigations are under way in South Wales and Bedfordshire.

DI Sellwood added: "Identifying the land and bank accounts increased the level of benefit hugely, but it would have been much more today because of the change in the law.

"We could have said all of their turnover for the past four years was as a result of their criminality. We only had a year's worth of turnover and everything else before that was calculated as non-payment of minimum wage.

"We worked out the absolute minimum amount that Billy earned in that first year after the law change was £175,000.

"In Billy's case, he has been ordered to pay back £1.7million. That is what he can afford to pay back by selling his assets.

"He will have to sell everything he has in Gloucestershire. He would be stupid not to.

"He owes £2.9 million so if he had money hidden away or decided not to sell his property, we would get another court order for him to pay more. 

"He can't sell it to his friends, it needs to be done at arms length."