There were problems besetting life in this once happy street where once community spirit had been evident. There were rows about anti-social behaviour because children had nowhere to play, and the communal garden area was overgrown and strewn with litter.

Then resident John Edwards set about holding talks to find out what his neighbours wanted to make life better for everyone – and a common cause was born. They rolled up their sleeves and got digging, pruning and planting and turned the communal garden back into a place to be proud of. Now the youngsters can play happily on the grass while their parents sit back on the benches and enjoy a chat. And something remarkable has come out of all this. The rows have stopped, and so too has vandalism and litter-dropping.

There's a new sense of community spirit In Holdfield, and it's all down to the residents pulling together. Perhaps it's a blueprint others could follow.

Dose of prison for drug driving man

DRIVING a car while under the influence of drugs is a recklessly stupid thing to do. Hopefully, the jailing of Nicholas Smith, who caused the death of a young man in another car, will act as a warning to others. The last thing we need are addicts putting the rest of us at risk on the roads, and a government decision on a new "drug driving" limit can't come too soon.