MOTHERWELL artist Tom Bush has teamed up with German counterpart Gesa Helms for a special new exhibition.

Entitled ‘Field/Colour’ the display in the community art space at Motherwell Heritage Centre explores the relationship between the two styles of the contributing artists.

Tom specialises in abstract coloured shapes, while Gesa produces slightly more fluid, but still abstract scenes of nature.

He said: “I first met Gesa at a practical painting course in Glasgow University, she’s actually a tutor there, and we both liked each other’s work.

“I think it is the contrast between our work that makes them work together although we both search for colour and lines so there is that connection.

“I have done life drawing and all sort of things before, but I’ve gone off that over the past year and like to have something which doesn’t occur where you think it will.

“You expect to make a pattern, but I change it so the squares don’t fall where you’d expect and they circulate but don’t have a beginning or an end.”

The exhibition is open Wednesdays to Saturdays, from 10am-5pm and admission is free.

Full story in February 22 edition of Times & Speaker

RESIDENTS are demanding action to clear the eyesore that is the former Bellshill Athletic football stadium.

The litter-strewn site off Hattonrigg Road has become a magnet for drinkers and drug users who take shelter in the derelict changing rooms of New Brandon Park.

It’s emerged that developers have dropped plans to build 80 homes on the land and now North Lanarkshire Council is under pressure to have it cleaned up and landscaped.

The stadium caused controversy when it was built nine years ago as people living in the area protested about the loss of greenspace and a network of paths popular with dog walkers.

It closed after owner and cash backer Stephen McGhee ended his association with the club in 2009.

A year ago the council received an application from Persimmon Homes to build houses, but the proposals never went before the planning committee and now Persimmon have confirmed they no longer have an interest in the site.

Bellshill councillor Harry Curran promised action. He said: “The council’s hands are tied to a certain extent given it doesn’t own the land.

“There are complaints constantly about dumping and I shall speak to our enforcement officers to see if it can at least be tidied.”

Full story in this week’s Bellshill Speaker, out now.

NEIGHBOURS were stunned to learn this week that a Carfin pensioner had been jailed for molesting four young girls.

Henry Scanlan (68), of Hatton Terrace, was locked up for 13 months and put on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years after he admitted offences involving girls aged 11 and 12.

Some of the charges dated back to 2005, but neighbours said that while they knew he was in trouble they hadn’t a clue what it was about.

One woman said: “The police were at his flat months ago and he was taken away.

“They also removed a lot of stuff and I thought it might have been a drugs raid, but while officers spoke to a neighbour about him they didn’t say what he had been charged with.”

It’s understood Scanlan lived alone and he was described as a quiet man who was seen rarely.

Another neighbour said: “There was a removal van at his place a couple of days ago. I realised he had gone, but I didn’t know where.”

Scanlan was sentenced at Hamilton Sheriff Court. He admitted indecent behaviour involving three girls aged 11 and one girl aged 12.

Full story in February 23 edition of Motherwell Times

HITMAN Henrik Ojamaa has put club before country as Motherwell eye up the ‘unbelievable’ prospect of Champions League football.

The Estonian striker turned down the chance of his first full cap in Los Angeles to concentrate on keeping up the form that has helped ‘Well take a firm grip of third place in the SPL.

Finishing in that position would be enough to get them into the Champions League qualifying stages - if second-placed Rangers are banned because of their current cash crisis.

Having won three of their last four SPL games, ‘Well are aiming for another three points against struggling Hibs at Fir Park tonight (Wednesday).

After that it’s a trip to face runaway league leaders Celtic on Saturday.

A win over Hibs would put Stuart McCall’s men just three points behind Rangers who had 10 points deducted last week because they are now in administration.

The Glasgow side have until March 31 to get out of that situation if they are to be eligible for European football next season.

Nicky Law, who scored in the 3-0 win over Hearts last Saturday, laughed as the very real prospect of top level European football was put to him.

He said: “Champions League football would be unbelievable for everyone at the club - I can’t believe we’re talking about it!”

Full story in February 23 edition of Times & Speaker

NORTH Lanarkshire Council is producing a Town Centre Framework for Motherwell, designed to help guide ‘future improvement and change’.

A public event is being held on Saturday, March 3, when council officials will give a presentation on its research into the current situation in the town centre.

There will then be workshop discussions about the town’s strengths and weaknesses, opportunities for improvements and the overall future vision for the town.

Full story in Times & Speaker, out February 22.

A VIEWPARK cat owner has slammed a cruel thug who shot her pet in the face.

Helen Connelly found cat Cookie with blood pouring from his face after he was targeted last week.

It appears the nine-month-old feline was shot around his nose by someone armed with an air gun, with the pellet still lodged in his head.

Full story in Bellshill Speaker, out February 22.

World Boxing champion Ricky Burns has been in Bellshill this week opening a new gym.

We speak to the WBO lightweight title holder in this week’s Times & Speaker, out February 22.

We also hear from Motherwell fighters Iain Butcher and Steven Banks as they prepare to defend their unbeaten records at Wishaw Sports Centre on Friday night.