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There's a rather big battle of the bands taking place at London's O2 on Saturday.

It's the national Surface Unsigned 2010 final, which means after months of heats up and down the country, 12,000 acts have been whittled down to just 16.

And Leicestershire can lay claim to three of them, which is pretty impressive, we happen to think here at The Week.

County oil painting bands have done very well in the competition over the years. The Chairmen won in 2008 and last year, The Heroes and Slaine made it through to the final.

We thought it would be nice to introduce you to this year's contenders.

Great Imitation A four-piece hip-hop act from Coalville who have supported chart-toppers such as Tinchy Stryder Pixie Lott and, erm, Chesney Hawkes in the short time they've been together and they've now been asked to play with Diana Vickers as well.

A pretty impressive musical CV for a band that's just 18 months old. And their lead singer is also a stand-up comedian, so expect a riotous show.

"The live shows are pretty entertaining," says bass player Mark Connor. "It gets us noticed.

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We played Summer Sundae oil painting last year and it's pretty much snowballed from there. "When they called our name for the final, it was brilliant, I've never had a feeling like it before.

"It's weird, people keep coming up to us and buying us drinks and congratulating us, people we haven't see in ages.

"We're really looking forward to the final."

What can people expect from a Great Imitation gig? "We're kind of quite hard to describe. We call it polite crunk."

Axis Mundi If the Beetlejuice-on-acid look is anything to go by, we reckon an Axis Mundi gig would make for an interesting evening. The Hinckley five-piece, who describe themselves as "the mystic amusement melody circus," have only been together a year but they've already garnered a bit of a cult following.

"The stage show is inspired by "90s rave culture, 60s psychedelia, western occultism and bad taste," says lead singer Shaun Garner.

"Our crowd have also adopted the band's image as their own. "They're the noisy ones with the surreal costumes, air horns, mega phones and space hoppers and they're a vital and irreplaceable part of the whole Mundi experience."

The band hadn't considered winning Surface Unsigned until they made it to the final. "We did it in typical boring football fashion, taking each round as it came.

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"We were focusing on the performance and getting people down to the live shows and just thought, 'If we do well then that's great.' "But we're obviously delighted to be in the final. We've always had confidence in what we're doing as something that's genuinely different."

Charlie and the Martyrs Probably the most well-known of our three Leicestershire bands, the lovely Charlie Jones and her band of Martyrs have been together for just under two years. They play feelgood guitar pop and have gone down pretty well with Surface Unsigned judges so far in the competition, racking up an impressive 31/32 in their marks for the regional final.

"It's absolutely brilliant to be in the final, each round we've just played not expecting anything and every time our name's been called it's been a Christian Louboutin Shoes
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A GIANT cream tea is being held tomorrow at Powderham.

Organiser Jennifer Rowland said it will be the sixth annual cream tea on the village green, outside Powderham Castle back gates.

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This year proceeds will be shared between Devon Historic Churches Chanel shoes Trust and the Alzheimer's Society.

Jennifer said: "This year the cream tea will be in my mum's memory, as it is the first anniversary of her death.

" I have made pounds of delicious jam to go on top of the clotted cream, as well as cakes galore."

Over six years Jennifer's cream teas have raised more than Pounds 2,000.

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Raffle prizes this year include a bag generously donated by Cath Kidston.

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Cream teas will be served on the green from 12 to 5pm.

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MILLIONS of pounds earmarked to kick-start a major colliery redevelopment may no longer be available due to Government spending cuts.

The Homes and Communities Agency agreed in principal to give Pounds 8 million to "pump-prime" plans for 1,120 homes, industrial space and a country park at the former Gedling Colliery site.

The money was to buy land needed to build the Gedling Access Road and secure planning permission for the scheme.

Now funding has been thrown into doubt until the Government makes it clear how much money will be available to the agency.

It is also believed there is not enough private-sector interest to allow the rest of the scheme to progress without millions of pounds of public money.

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Gedling MP Vernon Coaker, who has campaigned for the scheme to get the green light, said it was "ludicrous" to consider withdrawing funding. He said: "The money Mother Of The Bride Dresses will never be made available up front because the scheme is dependent on the homes being built on the pit site with the private sector.

"The private sector won't build the houses without the access road because it won't get planning permission.

"So we need this Pounds 8 million to buy the land for the road and get it through the planning process.

It's ludicrous to pull it."

Mr Coaker said he would raise the issue in the House of Commons by asking a parliamentary question. Rick Wilson, chairman of the Gedling Village Preservation Society, said there was frustration at the lack of progress since the pit closed in 1991.

He said: "We feel abandoned. It's disappointing. Traffic is going to get worse and the colliery is going to get more of a wasteland."

A funding decision had been expected by the agency in the coalition's first Budget.

However, a spokesman said it was still unclear whether the Pounds 8 million agreement would be made legally binding, particularly in light of a lack of private-sector interest.

Margaret Allen, Homes and Communities Agency director, said the agency was working with East Midlands Development Agency (Emda) and Gedling Borough and Notts County councils to find a way to make the scheme viable.

She said: "The agency agreed to an initial Pounds 8 million to pump-prime the scheme and bring it to point of delivery.

"The current market means private sector investment is not likely and the scheme cannot be delivered without up-front public sector costs."

Councillor Bob Tait, portfolio holder for strategic planning at the borough council, said: "The Gedling Colliery site remains a priority for this council and we are very keen to see the site developed."

He said the council had two planning applications for the site from Emda, for the redevelopment and an access road. He said: "In this climate there are bound to be funding difficulties but the site is vital for us in delivering housing."

1,120 Number of homes planned for the former Gedling Colliery site

We need this Pounds 8 million to buy the land and get it through the planning process Vernon Coaker

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WITH the draconian cuts being made by this coalition Government in public services, why is it that once again any safety net is being removed for the old, the vulnerable, the sick, and the disabled? These are always the less well off in our society.

Will this coalition government be handing out millions of pounds of contracts to buy the services of yet another private medical company, to try to remove at least 20 per cent of disabled people from their rightful claims of Disability Living Allowance from 2013 onwards? This is already happening with one private medical company which is targeting people on Incapacity Benefit, or ESA as it is now known.

There is talk that they are already looking at removing 12,000 a week from this benefit.

Yes, there may be instances of fraud involving some claimants, but please let's have a level playing field when it comes to the medical to decide.

Disabled people, contrary to popular belief, do not just fill in a form and are then handed huge sums of taxpayers' money.

Checks are in place with doctors, consultants, hospitals and other health workers before the government's adjudicator for Disability Living Allowance makes a decision. This benefit is actually undersubscribed, with millions of pounds of unclaimed benefits being returned to the Treasury.

This is because of the mind-numbing forms and the amount of red tape involved, which means that many disabled people are put off claiming. The coalition prada handbags Government is now putting in place another line of medicals by a private company which is targeting the disabled.

Will there still be an appeal process, or will this company be the final medical arbiter? I hope not, because genuinely disabled people will face months of anguish and worry that the benefit they are entitled to will be taken away.

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At present, there is a four to fivemonth wait on independent appeals.

As the the winter fuel allowance for pensioners is in doubt with the spending review in October/ November, why is the government not looking to stop this payment to ex-pats who have left this country for sunnier climes? This costs the taxpayer millions.

Why are they still entitled to cold weather payments? Would removing this privilege break some European law? I look at the facts. All these cuts to the most vulnerable in our society are being made by a coalition government, which does not have a mandate from the people of this country.

The Liberal Democrat party was rejected by the electorate, yet now has the power to be in Government.

There is not a recognisable manifesto from both these parties now they are in Government compared to the ones hawked around doorsteps in the run-up to the General Election.

This situation reminds me of a quote from comedian Groucho Marx, who said: "I have principles, and if you don't like them, well, I have others."

This could be applied now to this coalition government.

I am sure people will agree with me that there are cuts to be made to bring this country back into the black, but those being planned are Draconian. If, as a country, we decide to hit the worst- off the hardest then it is both morally and financially wrong.

Many hard working families are worried and they have a real reason to be. The answer is very clear: no, we are not alChristian Louboutin Shoes
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FAMILIES who choose to buy a home at David Wilson East Midlands' Kibworth Meadows development in Kibworth Harcourt can expect an a- handbag purse maize-ing deal thanks to a special promotion the housebuilder is offering this summer.

David Wilson is giving away a free family membership to the nearby Wistow Maze to purchasers who legally complete on a property between now and the end of September.

The award-winning maze, which has been named Leicestershire's best visitor attraction, offers a fun day out for all the family and a great way of keeping fit and active this summer.

Philip Lacey, sales director at David Wilson, comments: "Wistow Maze is just a few miles from our Kibworth handbag purse Meadows development so we're offering all purchasers a free summer membership for all the family if they choose to buy a home with us.

"It's a fantastic attraction handbag purse set within eight acres of maize fields and this year, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, the maze will be in the shape of a spitfire. With this free family pass, you can visit the maze as often as you like.

"With over three miles of trails, you will never be stuck for something to do with the family during the summer holidays or even at the weekends.

"Visit the sales office to find out more."

Wistow Maze is open until Sunday, September 26.

Kibworth Meadows is on Wistow Road, on the outskirts of the village of Kibworth Harcourt.

Prices start from Pounds 229,995. For more information, visit the sales office during the opening hours of 11am to 6pm daily. Alternatively call the sales hotline on 0844 811 5544, available daily from 8am to 9pm, or log on to the website at

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LLANELLI AM Helen Mary Jones has welcomed a move to introduce a mandatory escort beijing charge of 7p for plastic shopping bags.

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The move, intended to cut the use of plastic in Wales, was announced by the One Wales Gover nment's Environment Minister, Jane Davidson.

Due to come into force in spring 2011, the escort beijing 7p charge will aim to help Wales reduce its carbon footprint and reduce the 400 million single-use carrier bags that are currently given out to Welsh shoppers each year.

Ms Jones, a Plaid party member, said: "By introducing a charge of 7p, shoppers and consumers will hopefully think twice before they buy or give away plastic bags.

"Plaid Cymru has long campaigned for the end of one-trip carrier bags in Wales, and at last it's good to see real action being taken to bring an end to our over use of plastic bags."

She added: "On a personal level, I've certainly changed my habits, and carry reusable bags when I can."

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BOVEY Tracey U13s went down by 26 runs to Exeter in the final of the Bob Bridges Cup.

The cup is the county competition for clubs at U13 level and remembers a former Exmouth player who went on to become the first chairman of the Devon Cricket League.

Exeter batted first at Bovey Tracey and totalled 126 for three in their 20 overs.

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Exeter openers Will Street (22) and Marcus Hoddinott reached 45 before Street was lbw to Jamie Bishop.

Dan Maclaurin upped the run rate, quickly catching up with Hoddinott. The pair both retired on 30.

Exeter lost two cheap wickets as Bovey Tracey stuck to their task well and reigned back the scoring, restricting Exeter to 29 from the last five overs.

Bovey were soon in trouble when opening bowler Tor Ziegler-Evans had Will Simmons smartly caught behind by Paddy Poustie.

James Vanstone (2-18) and Ziegler-Evans (2-12) had Bovey wobbling then Sam Boddington (2-20) and Marcus Hoddinott (2-30) Tiffany jewelry really turned the screw.

With Bovey's reply faltering, Ben Roberts (18) and Ben Steer set about trying to get on top of the bowling.

Steer did his level best to hit to all points before being the last wicket to fall for a gutsy 29 in Bovey's total of 100 all out.

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DAIRY farmers buying cheap cattle from the West Coast were responsible for two southern dairy herds testing positive lace wedding dress for bovine tuberculosis, according to Environment Southland.

Environment Southland biosecurity manager Richard Bowman said stock in one herd near Edendale and another at Hokonui had tested positive for Tb this year.

Staff had heard anecdotal reports of more positive tests involving ex- West Coast cattle on other farms and were waiting for confirmation of those results, he said.

Environment Southland councillor Brian Mason raised the issue as an urgent item at yesterday's council meeting. lace wedding dress

"The reason that they are coming in is because they are cheap," Cr Mason said.

Cr Ross Cockburn said he was shocked to learn about the two infected herds because he said he had been given assurances by the Southland Tb-Free Committee last month that there was minimal risk of West Coast cattle spreading bovine Tb into the south.

"They were wrong," he said.

Cr Derek Angus also expressed his disappointment. "We don't want them dumped in Southland."

Acting chairwoman Diane Wilson said because all Environment Southland ratepayers had invested a significant amount of money to fight Tb the council should be concerned about the state of its investment.

Southland was officially declared free of bovine Tb in 2008.

The council intends to write to the Southland Tb-Free Committee and the agriculture minister to demand a more stringent post- movement testing regime be instituted for West Coast cattle being brought into Southland.

However, the chairman of Tb- free Southland, Michael O'Brien, said the councillors were being a "bit mischievous".

"At the moment, we have one cattle beast confirmed with Tb," he said. "The councillors are being a wee bit mischievous."

Mr O'Brien said the row appeared to involve politics and he had not been advised of any confirmed results at Hokonui. One infected animal had been confirmed at Edendale, he said. lace wedding dress

Federated Farmers West Coast dairy chairman Richard Reynolds said dairy herds with low or clear status would have had stringent testing before being moved out of an infected region.

"We're not the only region in the country with infected herds," Mr Richards said.

The fact that two dairy herds in Southland had tested positive for the disease meant testing by the Animal Health Board was picking up infections through its testing, he said.

"The fact it is being picked up in testing is a good thing," he said.

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A RETAIL chain has defended a shop assistant's refusal to sell a puncture repair kit to a 17-year-old she feared might sniff the glue inside.

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Daniel Cottrell tried to buy the product at the 99p Store in Havant, Hampshire, but the assistant would not sell it to him handbags purses - although he was cheap designer handbags with his 41-year-old dad Simon.

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Hussain Lalani, commercial director for 99p Stores, said the shop followed advice from police and the local authority.

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