THE developer behind the £70 million Gateway Plaza project has asked for £2.5 million of government money from a fund normally reserved for 'stalled housing developments.' Matthew Stephens, of Barnsley-based developer Quest Property, says its not stalled but still deserves the same help others have been given.

X FACTOR semi-finalist Danyl Johnson performed in the town centre as part of the late night shopping entertainment. About 150 listened to renditions of Michael Jackson's Man in the Mirror and The Beatles' With a Little Help From My Friends.

CORONATION Street star Katherine Kelly, AKA Becky McDonald, spent her 30th birthday in India meeting women of her age who have HIV and AIDS. She travelled with international development charity ActionAid to see those who had benefited from the charity's work.

BARNSLEY TV presenter and pop star Sam Nixon will be taking part in a celebrity version of the madcap BBC game show Total Wipe-out. Presented by Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond, the pre-recorded show took Sam to Argentina to compete on the 'ridiculous' obstacle course built for the show.

A BARNSLEY man is looking forward to his Christmas dinner - even though he won't be able to eat any turkey. Six weeks ago Paul Linstead, 58, had his whole stomach removed to save his life.