MEET the winner of this year's Dandy Dog competition - Harvey a seven month-old King Charles spaniel. Owner Valda Cruise, of Coronation Drive, Bolton on Dearne was overjoyed when he was crowned Barnsley's top dog at the final on Monday.

THE Dickie Bird statue, wrapped against the weather, arrived in Barnsley on Sunday. It came on a lorry from the foundry in London and was lowered by a small crane into place on the plinth near St Mary's Parish Church.

A VICTORIAN villa has been condemned by the fire service following the latest arson attack. Twenty five fire-fighters spent over five hours tackling a fire which consumed the roof space and the main staircase at Westfield House in Victoria Road on Sunday. On Tuesday afternoon they were called out again when smoke was billowing from a window.

RONA Hurst came next to the last in a big race - but still felt like a winner. She has cerebral palsy and until 18 months ago walking was "like standing on glass." Then she had an operation and she has improved enough to compete with hundreds of competitors in the three mile Race for Life event in Sheffield, using a walking frame and finishing in one and a half hours.

A TEACHER has won a lifetime achievement award for making a 'life changing difference' to under fives. Susan Carr (Wombwell Park Street) has seen several generations of the same families come through the school in the 31 years she has been there.

SIX hundred long-term unemployed people are being promised decently paid jobs as part of a £9m scheme. Barnsley Council is bidding for nearly £4m from the government's Future Jobs Fund and putting in £3.6m itself to create 400 of the jobs, while other money is coming in from NHS Barnsley and other parties, including the fire service, Berneslai Homes and private sector, to create a further 200 positions.

EXPERIENCED defender Rob Kozluk has followed in the footsteps of Jon Macken and Steele by signing a new contract. Kozluk, 31, had been away on holiday with his family, but has now put pen to paper on a one-year deal before pre-season training gets under way later next week.