New Sheffield United signing Samir Carruthers has said he is delighted to have joined the club after two spells with MK Dons. The 23-year-old whose contract at MK Dons was due to expire in the summer, has agreed a three and a half year contract with Sheffield United after completing all medical checks. Carruthers scored six goals in 137 games for MK dons. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Sheffield Royal Society for the Blind are commemorating the birth of Louis Braille on the 4th January 1809 creator of the Braille system for reading by touch. In 1829 Braille published his ‘Method of Writing Words, Music and Plain Songs by means of dots for the blind’. Braille is still commonly used around the world by blind and partially sighted people. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!
The government has confirmed funding for thousands of homes to help first-time buyers get on to the property ladder with Sheffield and Rotherham among 30 local authority partnerships selected. The investment is part of the £1.2bn “Starter Homes Land Fund” for new developments on brownfield sites. Starter Homes are new homes built exclusively for first-time buyers between 23 and 40 years old at a discount of at least 20% below market value. The first properties are due to go on sale in 2018. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Sheffield rail users voiced their anger at the latest rise in train fares at a demonstration outside Sheffield station. The protest was part of a countrywide action by commuters and other passengers following the announcement of fare rises averaging 2.3% for a single fare journey. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Olympic champion Jessica Ennis-Hill has been made a dame in the New Year Honours list. The thirty year old heptathlete received the award for her services to athletics. Dame Jessica, who won gold at London 2012 Olympics and silver four years later in the Rio Olympics announced her retirement from the sport in October. In her brilliant career she has been a three-time world champion three times, as well as European champion and Commonwealth champion. Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake takes a look back at her golden career.
Learner drivers will be allowed on to motorways for the first time if new government plans are approved. Transport minister Andrew Jones says the move would help make British roads safer. The lessons will not be mandatory and driving instructors will decide when their students are ready. The Department for Transport is also looking at trialling a target number of hours of lessons to complete before learners take their test. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!
Sheffield young and old gathered at the Sheffield City Hall ballroom for a traditional New Years Eve celebration. Traditional ball room dancing has taken place in Sheffield since the 1930s with couples quickstepping and waltzing around the art deco room and the New Years Eve tea dances remaining as popular as ever. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!
The Save Nether Edge Trees group have published results of detailed analysis into Nether Edge trees scheduled to be felled by Council contractors, Amey. There are 1095 street trees on adopted roads in the S7 area and 172 of them are threatened with felling. The area covered by the analysis is bounded by Brincliffe Edge Road, Sandford Grove Road, Marden Road, Abbeydale Road, Sharrow Lane, and Psalter Lane. The research was carried out by Paul Selby who concludes only fourteen of the trees actually require felling. Simon Thake reports for Shefield Live!
Sheffield-based furniture manufacturer Playtime Beds has been forced to stop trading as a result of a police investigation into the death of a seven month old baby. Police have questioned a 35 year old man as part of a joint investigation into the organisation launched with Trading Standards. North Yorkshire Police confirmed that the seven month old died on 3rd November at a property in Melrosegate, York. Playtime Beds of Sheffield, has issued a safety warning stating that its made-to-measure beds “could lead to risks to children such as asphyxiation or strangulation, falling, entrapment or crushing”. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!
Former teacher Brian Jackson from Greenhill, Sheffield has pledged to wear a kilt for the whole of 2017 to raise money for motor neurone disease. Brian is known as Bare Legs Brian after undertaking a similar campaign back in 2015 when he wore shorts all year round. Brian’s wife died from motor neurone disease and he is determined to raise money for this fatal disease. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!