A RETIRED council worker had half a lung removed after developing a disease caused by fungal spores which are released by rotting vegetation. Robert Stendall still gets tired easily and struggles to do physical tasks which previously were easy.

A BARNSLEY woman has landed a character role in the soap Coronation Street and will make her debut on screen on Wednesday night. Susan Mitchell, 38, of Higham Common Road, Barugh Green, has filmed only one episode so far but she is hoping her character, Tina's mum, will be back soon.

GRAHAM Ibbeson is modelling a £60,000 bronze sculpture of Lancashire comedian Les Dawson. It is expected to be completed this year and will go on display at Lytham St Annes where he lived with his wife Tracey.

MPS have warned that not enough is being done to stop a repeat of last summer's floods and have criticised a lack of clarity over who is responsible for what. A report by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee published on Wednesday states there was a total lack of awareness about vulnerability to flooding until it happened.

VISITING hours on Barnsley hospital's maternity unit have been shortened to give new mums a chance to catch up on their sleep. A two hour later start in the morning was given the go-ahead after a successful three month trial.

THE director of Wentworth Castle Trust is leaving to take charge of the Beamish Open Air Museum in County Durham. Richard Evans, 35, has been at Wentworth for five years and led phase one to rejuvenate the listed gardens and parklands. The £16m project attracted acclaim after being featured on the BBC2 series Restoration

A MAN has been charged with the murder of a 26-year-old in Darfield on Sunday. John Doran, 31, of New Street, Darfield, will appear at Barnsley magistrates' court tomorrow. He is charged with the murder of Ian Stewart, also of New Street. Mr Stewart, a gardener, was married and had a ten-month-old baby. He died from a single stab wound to the chest after an incident on New Street on Sunday.

BARNSLEY-born businessman Paul Sykes has been ranked 146th in this year's Times Rich List. Sykes, who was born in Cudworth and started his business career dismantling old buses, is listed as having a £550m fortune.

A MURDER investigation has been launched following the death of a 26-year-old in Darfield. Ian Stewart was stabbed to death following an "altercation" on New Street, Darfield, where he lived. A man, 31, has been arrested on suspicion of his murder.

A WOMBWELL street has been sealed off and police have arrested a man in connection with a murder this morning. Officers were alerted to an incident at about 7am this morning when the body of a woman was discovered on Aldham Crescent.

THE funeral of a pensioner who died eight weeks after a gas blast in her home has been delayed beacuse of a police investigation. Margaret Wilson suffered severe burns when the home she shared with her husband of 51 years exploded hours after a car fire, involving a stolen car, on the pavement outside.

Sigh of relief: Council leader Steve Houghton checks on progress at the election count at the Metrodome which saw Labour cling to power with a majority of just one seat.

Melissa Russell wrote a message, put it in a bottle and tossed it into the North Sea. And she thought that would be the last she knew of it. But two years later a postcard has arrived at her Kexborough home saying the bottle has landed - on a small Norwegian island near the Arctic Circle.

TEAM-MATES, family and friends of a Barnsley rugby player have raised almost £8,000 to help the hospital ward where he was treated. Engineer, Lee Pocklington, 24, spent three days on the N1 high dependency ward at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield earlier this year after an accident on his motorbike left him with serious head injuries.

LABOUR has clung on to control of Barnsley Council by the slenderest of margins. The Party lost two seats to the opposition Barnsley Independent Group but gained a seat in the Central ward.
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BARNSLEY'S Royal Navy Association is short of members and is looking for recruits. Geoff Stevens, the secretary of the 14-member branch, said: "We can't hold events or functions anymore due to lack of numbers. We used to hold a monthly function such as a dance but until we get more members that isn't possible

A SPORTS car was abandoned and fired near to the Monckton coke and chemical plant early on Wednesday. It is thought the Jaguar XI, which had an Isle of Man licence plate, may have been stolen.

A HULL City fan has been fined £100 for running on the Oakwell pitch after his team scored a goal. Sean Lilley, 35, of Manor Way, Anlaby, Hull was also ordered to pay £43 in costs and a £15 victim surcharge when he appeared at Barnsley magistrates' court. Lilley pleaded guilty to going onto the pitch and being in breach of a conditional discharge.

A BARNSLEY BNP candidate was thrown out of the police force in disgrace and conned an 80-year-old woman out of £1,000 as he awaited trial for perverting the course of justice. This week the Chronicle tried to ask Simon Goodricke, 45, of Darton, about his past. He was arrested on suspicion of possessing a fire arm after our photgrapher saw him brandishing what appeared to be a handgun from his front door.

QUITTING college to follow a career in music paid off for teenager Chloe Parkinson - she leaves for Spain next week to be a professional singer in a hotel. Chloe, 18, of Pontefract Road, Lundwood, signed up with an agent after dropping her A level course and next week she will be in Puerto Pollensa entertaining guests three nights a week. But it won't all be song and dance. During the day she will help organise activities and events.

A THIRD of Barnsley's primary schools and three secondary schools were closed yesterday as the NUT staged a one day stoppage over pay. More than 800 teachers and 200 college lecturers and staff were joined by PCS union members from the civil service who also have pay issues.

TERRITORIAL Army soldier James Fitchett was the best smelling squaddie in Afghanistan thanks to Chronicle readers. James, 38, of Sheffield Road, Penistone, flew to Kabul in October for a six month tour and was working with British and American squaddies to train the Afghan military.

LUNDWOOD CHURCH is looking for old photographs to include in its 75th anniversary celebrations. Parish priest, Father James McAskill is appealing for anyone to loan church pictures for a display. They will be compiled into a display and put up during the weekend of May 10 and 11 when the celebrations take place.