It's a tough run-in, but we can make the play-offs – Leicester City's Andy King

April 9, 2013, 1:00 am

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Andy King has no fears about facing the Championship's big guns in the tough campaign run-in.

Leicester City have five crucial games remaining in their quest for a play-off place, culminating in clashes with Crystal Palace, Watford and Nottingham Forest.

It looks a tall order but expect a number of twists and turns in what should be an exciting but nerve-wracking final few weeks.

King is relishing the prospect and said: "We have five games to make something of our season and everyone's fully behind each other and working hard in training to do that.

"We've just got to get into the play-offs.

"Maybe earlier in the season we were pushing for second place, but we know that's gone now.

"If we can get into the play-offs then it is anyone's game and I don't think anyone will really want to meet us.

"We have some big teams to play – and that is going to suit us.

"If you're having to play catch-up, which we are doing at the moment, it is better that we play teams above us and take points off them.

"We need to put a good little run together, that is the main objective, but we are confident of beating anyone in this league."

City's performances over recent weeks have been below par, but King believes they are back on track after an encouraging display at Brighton on Saturday, where they gleaned a point.

"That draw gave us a confidence boost," said the 24-year-old Wales international.

"If we had won, which we should have done, it would have taken us up the table into the top six.

"So to go to Brighton and play the way we did was an encouraging sign."

King was full of praise for the travelling support, with a shade more than 2,000 journeying south to the Amex Stadium.

"They were outstanding, as they have been all season" he said. "Even at Barnsley (on Easter Monday) when we were poor, they stuck by us.

"They are a great credit to themselves and the club, and we really appreciate that."

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SUPER 7's Cup

April 9, 2013, 1:37 am

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Goals Leicester is holding the Monthly super 7's Cup on Sunday 14th April. Its only £35 per team, 6pm kick off.

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FOOTBALL TEAMS WANTED

April 9, 2013, 1:38 am

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Police hunt for flasher seen in Beaumont Leys, Leicester

April 9, 2013, 2:08 am

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A man indecently exposed himself to three women in Leicester at the weekend. The incidents happened in Beaumont Leys around Parker Drive and Heacham Drive. Police said these incidents could be linked to others that have happened in the Beaumont Leys area at various times since December 2012. In total 9 women have now reported similar incidents in the area around St Margaret's Way, Blackbird Road and Anstey Lane as well as the most recent around Parker Drive and Heacham Drive. The man is described as white, in his twenties, of skinny build, wearing quite distinctive clothing. Anyone with information is asked to call 101.

Floor of house removed to rescue trapped dog

April 9, 2013, 2:18 am

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Firefighters had to remove the floor of a summer house to rescue a trapped dog in South Knighton, Leicester. Crews from central station were called to a home in Kingsmead Road, at around 8.40pm last night. A spokeswoman for the fire service said: "It was a dog that was stuck under the summer house. "Excavation was done with a spade to aid the release of the dog. "They actually had to use a wrench in the end to remove the floor of the summer house." The dog was released at around 9.40pm.

'I'll fight £29k chat line bill'

April 9, 2013, 3:59 am

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A man who ran up a chat line bill of more than £90,000 is refusing to pay a reduced demand of £29,000.

Kevin Waldrum, 45, of Gladstone Avenue, Loughborough, ran up the bill after splitting with his girlfriend of two years.

He was charged £91,184 by Vodafone for calling adult entertainment services between September and November.

He told the women he called at Studio 66 TV about his heartache and they sympathised.

Unemployed Mr Waldrum continued to call even after getting a £19,333 mobile phone bill on the £2-a-minute line.

Another for £71,850 followed, but Vodafone admitted it could have alerted him earlier about the size of his bill and has cut its demand to £29,083.

He has vowed to fight to get the company to drop the rest of the bill.

He said: "I was flicking through the daytime TV channels and I saw the advert for the chat line. I just wanted to see what is was all about.

"You ring up, they ask your name and sympathise with you."

Despite the initial bill, Mr Waldrum continued to make regular calls to the chat line.

He said: "I felt unable to stop.

"They used to warn you when a call was coming to the end of the 20 minutes you were allowed, and then I'd just phone straight back.

"I lost two stone in weight through the stress of having to pay such a huge bill.

"I am so depressed, desperate and anxious about the whole situation.

"I admit I rang these numbers and it's partly my own fault but the line should have gone dead before I started to incur such high charges."

A spokesman for Vodafone said: "By his own admission, Mr Waldrum made calls to premium-rate adult entertainment services more or less continuously over a period of two months until we suspended the services on October 21, when the total debt was £91,000.

"We had previously barred a phone used by Mr Waldrum on September 11 for high usage but he got round this by requesting a replacement SIM card from a retail store, saying he had lost the original.

"He was then able to continue to build up debt.

"We cannot manage our customers' spending for them, but we will try to alert them to it if we are aware of an unusual high spending pattern.

"We could have alerted Mr Waldrum on September 18.

"It can sometimes take several days for billing to register on our system.

"By the time it did, his extreme use of premium-rate services meant his bill was already £29,083.

Since we missed the opportunity to alert him at this stage, we will waive the charges of about £61,000 incurred after this point as a gesture of goodwill. However, Mr Waldrum remains liable for charges of £29,083."

Mr Waldrum said he would continue to fight against being held liable for the remaining amount.

Former Rushey Mead School teacher banned from classrooms after allowing pupil to sleep in his home

April 9, 2013, 4:02 am

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A former teacher who allowed a pupil to sleep in his home has been banned from the classroom for at least five years. Ravinder Bhandal, who worked as an art teacher at Rushey Mead School, in Leicester, from August 2003 to November 2010, also signed a consent form for another student to have a body piercing. Education Secretary Michael Gove imposed the teaching ban on the 47-year-old after a disciplinary panel found him guilty of "unacceptable professional conduct". The Teaching Agency panel found Bhandal had "failed to maintain appropriate professional boundaries" towards the first student - known as Student A - and "behaved in an inappropriate manner" towards two others, Students B and C. The panel found that, in 2010, he gave Student A lifts in his car on more than one occasion. He once drove her back to his home and allowed her to sleep there without the consent or knowledge of her parents. "She confirmed that she stayed the night at his home," the panel found. "She slept in Mr Bhandal's bedroom and he slept on a couch in the living room. Mr Bhandal drove her to her parents' house the following day." Bhandal met Student B in Leicester city centre outside school hours and gave "parental consent" for her to have a piercing in either her stomach or her tongue. He also behaved in an inappropriate manner towards Student C on March 19, 2010, grabbing his bag and turning him round - actions which were "designed to make the pupil feel belittled and feel small," the panel said. "It may be that a number of students were behaving badly on March 19, 2010, but we have decided that his response was inappropriate towards Student C," they said. Recommending a prohibition order, the panel said Bhandal's conduct "fell significantly short of the standards expected of the teaching profession" and that he had shown little understanding of his actions upon pupils or parents, which gave "little confidence that he has learnt from this experience or that he has capacity to change in the future". However, the findings recommend that he should be allowed to seek a return to teaching after five years, adding: "Given time, Mr Bhandal may have a greater understanding of the need to demonstrate clear and unequivocal insight into the misconduct that has brought him to this panel." Backing the recommendation for a ban, Mr Gove said: "His behaviour was such that he failed to treat pupils with dignity and he failed to build relationships rooted in mutual respect. He did not observe proper boundaries. He also failed to safeguard pupils' well-being. "Mr Bhandal's conduct is a serious departure from the standard of conduct expected of a teacher. "Mr Bhandal does not appear to have shown insight into his behaviour nor remorse. His failures to respond to warnings about his behaviour mean that there is a risk that he will continue to behave in this way." The decision means that Bhandal is prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children's home in England. He may apply for the order to be set aside, but not until April 2018. If he does so he, will have to persuade a panel that he is fit to return to the classroom. He has a right of appeal to the High Court. A further allegation that Bhandal supplied cigarettes, alcohol and cannabis to students in 2010 was not proved.

Nasa's Curiosity rover reveals Red Planet's missing atmosphere

April 9, 2013, 4:09 am

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Evidence collected by the Mars rover has found that the Red Planet has lost almost all of its atmosphere. The original gases which once filled the planet have escaped into space, scientists revealed at a European geoscience meeting in Vienna, Austria, on Monday. Nasa's Curiosity rover, which has been sending back data for analysis by academics from the University of Leicester, found that up to 90 per cent of the gases had dissipated into space in Mars' 4.5-billion-year life span. It means the surface would have had a warmer, wetter, more habitable environment, said rover scientist Sushil Atreya of the University of Michigan. For the rest of April, the Nasa and University of Leicester team are unable to send commands to the one-ton robot as Mars and the Earth are on opposite sides of the Sun. The planetary positioning means that radio signals sent to the rover may be affected by solar flares and charged particles from the Sun which could scramble data. During this time, the team is presenting its latest Martian finding to the global scientific community. Dr John Bridges, from the University of Leicester, has been at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, in Houston, USA.

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VIDEO: Temple intruder caught on camera carrying out raid

April 9, 2013, 4:09 am

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An intruder has been caught on camera raiding a Hindu temple.

The unidentified man broke into the Shree Hindu temple and community centre in St Barnabas Road, Spinney Hills, Leicester, in the early hours of Sunday.

The footage, which was captured by a number of cameras both inside and outside the centre, shows the man entering through a kitchen window shortly after 2.15am.

He is then seen going from room to room, bizarrely at one point crawling on his hands and knees.

At one stage, he is filmed using a fire extinguisher to smash the building's fire alarm system. He is then seen kicking open the door to the centre's main office.

The building's owners said the cost of repairing the damage caused by the intruder was likely to run to several thousand pounds.

They also said about £1,700 in cash had gone missing.

The temple also faces a repair bill of approximately £2,500.

The footage suggests the intruder stayed inside the building for four hours.

An external CCTV camera filmed him scaling the centre's main gate shortly after 6.15am.

Members of the temple who live nearby arrived a short time later, alerted by the building's burglar alarm.

Centre manager Mayur Sisodia said: "This is a place of worship, so people are very upset someone has broken in.

"A large sum of money has been stolen and we are keen to get that back.

"We hope someone can identify this man and tell the police who he is."

Dilip Joshi, the temple's priest, said: "People are very shocked someone would break into a temple."

Sanjay Keshav, a volunteer at the centre, said: "This is a place of worship, a house of God, so you would think it would be safe.

"The money which has gone missing was collected for the benefit of the elderly and needy. The fact it has been taken has caused a lot of distress to people here."

Police have launched an investigation into the break-in.

Inspector Bill Knopp, commander of Spinney Hill Park police station, said: "The people at the temple are upset but they're being very stoical about it and getting on with things.

"We're investigating this as a burglary and we'd like people to look at the CCTV footage and contact us if they know who this man is."

Contact Sgt Jim Kroczak on 101 or Crimestoppers, which is anonymous, on 0800 555 111.

• This article has been updated to clarify the value of cash stolen and the cost of repairs.

Leicester's deputy mayor selected as a Labour Euro candidate

April 9, 2013, 4:19 am

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Leicester's deputy mayor Rory Palmer has been selected by the Labour Party to fight the next European Election. Councillor Palmer will stand as a candidate to represent the East Midlands as one of its five MEPs in Brussels when voters go to the polls in May 2014. The European Elections work on a proportional system so Coun Palmer, who represents the city's Eyres Monsell Ward, will spend the next few months campaigning across the region seeking the support of Labour party members. The members will decide in a ballot how he and three other candidates will rank on the ballot sheet next May. Labour's only current MEP for the East Midlands is Glenis Wilmott. If elected, Coun Palmer will have to stand down as from his £50,000-a-year role as Sir Peter Soulsby's deputy but he told the Leicester Mercury he would keep his various jobs in the city until that time. As well as representing Eyres Monsell he is also chairman of the city's health and wellbeing board. He said: "This is just the start a challenging process, "Through it, I will maintain my full portfolio of responsibilities here. "I am confident I can do that." When asked why he would rather be an MEP in Brussels than Leicester's deputy mayor Coun Palmer said: "I Love Leicester. It is my home but Europe plays an important part in our daily lives and its role is growing. "I believe we need a strong voice for Leicester in the European Parliament. I will continue to work on some hugely important issues such as youth unemployment and child poverty. "Leicester is a huge part of the East Midlands and I want to continue representing it." Coun Palmer, who unsuccessfully stood as Labour's candidate in for the Bosworth constituency in the 2010 General Election, would be paid a salary £81,500-a-year if elected as an MEP.

Housing tenant who believes her home is haunted by the ghost of a man called Nigel demands to be rehoused

April 9, 2013, 5:06 am

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A spooked mother is demanding a new home after becoming convinced that the terraced house is haunted by a ghost named Nigel. Stacey McGill, 29, says there is a spiritual presence that randomly flicks lights on and off, moves posters around the walls, causes the floorboards to creak and leaves a creepy feeling of cobwebs on her skin. Her chilling allegations have been supported by spiritual medium Dave Vickers. While visiting Stacey's home, Dave said he felt the ghost run through his body. He said he allowed the spirit to communicate with Stacey by writing a scrawled message – which he concluded was friendly. The property in School Street, Loughborough, is owned by East Midland Housing. Stacey lives there with her partner, Carl, 25, and 18 month-old daughter, Chelsey. She said: "I noticed that something was there when I moved in straight away. I just felt cobwebs all over my skin. I knew it wasn't right. Then Carl said that he had felt the same. "Next the microwave started going on and off by itself and posters have moved around the walls. "One morning we were woken at 3am by the sound of maintenance works. It was so loud. But there were no workmen, it was the ghost. "I contacted Dave Vickers who came out. He confirmed that there is a presence here. "We were in a flat around the corner before. We didn't have any problems there. I just want the housing association to find me somewhere to live that isn't haunted. "The last tenant did not experience anything. But some people are more susceptible to ghosts than others. I have felt paranormal presences before." Dave, from TSL Holistic Centre, in Loughborough, twice visited Stacey's home, along with Carly Adams, from the Female Paranormal Investigation Team. The pair used infrared night vision camcorders, EMF metres to measure electrical magnetic frequency and digital cameras. Dave said: "On entering the house, I was immediately aware of energy at the end of the hallway, the energy presented itself as a male, and kept saying, 'I am at the back'. "A lot of the activity occurred to the back of the property, mainly the rear bedroom. Going up the stairs, the male energy made his presence more known, cold spots were experienced. "I picked up on a man in his late thirties, however his mental age was a lot lower, he was a recluse and was kept hidden away during his younger days by his parents. "They were embarrassed due to his mental disability. "I picked up on the name 'Nigel'. He eventually turned to drink to forget his own fears of life. "This spirit energy means no harm to anyone and will not harm anyone. Further investigations into the haunting may be needed." It was during Dave's second visit that he sensed the spirit wanted to communicate. "I allowed the spirit to use me as a medium and give any messages through writing. This was carried out in the dark. I sat with paper on my lap and pen in hand in the dark while turning into spirit. "I pictured Nigel in my mind and my hand started moving the pen. "Although when we examined the writings things are hard to make out, both Carly and I felt he meant no harm. "I conveyed love and light to him and told him that he had nothing to fear and that he was free of those hurtful feelings." Dave did say the posters and creaking floor boards could be explained by natural occurrences. Graeme Stewardson, head of housing at East Midlands Housing Association, said: "We are aware of the unusual activities reported by Ms McGill and have listened to her concerns in a sensitive manner. "We understand that she has previously sought advice from specialists in this field. We will continue to offer Ms McGill our support and advice as a landlord. "There have been only three tenants, including Ms McGill, in the property in the last 13 years, and we have not had any reports of this nature before. "As far as we know, the house does not have an unusual history."

Brighton 1 Leicester City 1 - Nigel Pearson: "We were the better side"

April 9, 2013, 5:22 am

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Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson believes his side were the better team in their disappointing 1-1 draw with Brighton. With 88 minutes gone, City looked destined for all three points after Matty James had put them ahead, but Kasper Schmeichel makes a fine save in the 1-1 draw at Brighton a late strike from Kazenga Lua Lua snatched the points away from Pearson's charges. A win would have seen City climb back into the play-off places but the result sees them remain seventh in the Championship, still two points of the sixth-placed Seagulls. "I think we were the better side," said Pearson. "They will be happier with the point I'm sure but there is no point bemoaning the fact we have conceded at the end because that is how it is. "Looking back at the opportunities we had today, it was certainly a much-improved performance. "The problem for us at the moment is that we are out of the habit of winning and, unfortunately, we have conceded a late goal to deny us that elusive win. "When you come here, you have got to understand the problems they can cause you and I thought we coped very well. We were very disciplined and created some great chances. "The concentration levels today were good but we have come unstuck by their biggest threat today and I'm disappointed for the players because I think they have worked very hard today. "I've seen the goal again and Kasper was unsighted and I am sure he would have saved it if he had had a better view but it's unfortunate that we have been unable to keep that clean sheet to win us the game. "I am not despondent about it because there is a lot to be positive about in today's performance in the sense that although we are out the habit of winning, which is the biggest problem for us, we showed a lot of quality today."

Police seek three men after bus damaged in Rothley

April 9, 2013, 5:38 am

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Police have released CCTV images of three men they want to speak to about damage to a bus. The incident took place between 3.10pm and 3.30pm on Wednesday, February 27. Three passengers travelling on an Arriva bus along Hallfields Lane, Rothley, threw a drink can from the window of the upper deck which nearly hit a vehicle travelling behind the bus. One of the passengers then urinated over the back seats of the upper deck. Police Community Support Officer Harkit Sanghera said: "The actions of these passengers were extremely dangerous and could have resulted in a collision taking place with the vehicle travelling behind. "If you were travelling on this bus and witnessed the incident or know anything about the identity of those responsible please contact us. "We would also urge the people in the images to come forward so we can take this investigation forward. Any calls received will be treated in confidence." Anyone with any information is asked to contact PCSO Sanghera on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. • Read more court and crime news at www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/crime

Margaret Thatcher: Loved and loathed - Leicestershire remembers Britain's first woman Prime Minister

April 9, 2013, 6:54 am

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Margaret Thatcher, who died yesterday, aged 87, was "the ultimate Marmite politician". That description, by North West Leicestershire Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen, seemed to sum up a politician who polarised opinion like no other. "People either loved her or hated her, but it's the end of an era and she will never be forgotten," said Mr Bridgen. Reacting to her death, after a stroke, supporters remembered the Iron Lady as an outstanding leader, opponents as their worst enemy. Flags were flown at half mast in Downing Street and at Buckingham Palace yesterday. A full ceremonial funeral will be held at St Paul's Cathedral. In Leicester, city councillor Ross Grant said: "Margaret Thatcher made you feel like politics mattered in a way no other politician has since. "Politics was a battle of ideas and opinions and it was clear what she stood for. "There was an urgency and gravitas that seems lacking in modern politics. "As a country, we were looking into an abyss and she pulled us back from it and gave us the confidence to think we could do great things again. "I really believe Britain is a better, freer place now because of Margaret Thatcher." De Montfort University politics lecturer Professor Colin Copus said: "Thatcher made an impression in politics for so many different reasons. She was someone who was loved and loathed in equal measure. "Whatever you thought about her, nobody ever said 'oh, she's all right' – you got either deep loathing or reverence. "Thatcher never had the desire to be all things to all people, as so many politicians do today. "She said 'this is what I stand for – you either stand for me or against me'. In many respects, politics has lost a lot of colour since her day." Harborough MP Sir Edward Garnier said: "Without doubt Margaret Thatcher was the greatest peacetime Prime Minister of the 20th century. "Certainly controversial, and to many she was a figure of hatred, but she saved our country from decline and gave us the confidence to stand up for ourselves. "Domestically, she brought down inflation and unemployment, curbed the unaccountable powers of the trade unions, introduced privatisation, enabled council tenants to buy their homes, increased popular shareholding and reduced the role of the state." Rutland and Melton Tory MP Alan Duncan said: "She turned this country around and displayed political courage and determination both in domestic and foreign affairs. "A younger generation today should appreciate what she did for the country." UKIP East Midlands MEP Derek Clark said: "We are all the poorer for the loss of Lady Thatcher. Everyone, regardless of which side they are on the political divide, will agree she was a great patriot." Leicester South Labour MP Jon Ashworth said: "A lot of people in Leicestershire went through a terrible time as a result of the miners' strike and it obviously gave rise to very strong feelings. "But I recognise she was an extraordinary women whose impact is still being felt today."

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• RELATED CONTENT In Pictures: Margaret Thatcher in LeicestershireBREAKING: Former Prime Minister Baroness Thatcher dies Margaret Thatcher: a profile of the lady who wasn't for turning Top 10 Margaret Thatcher quotesMargaret Thatcher dies: Tributes to the Iron Lady

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Reactions to the death of Baroness Thatcher Baroness Thatcher was a divisive figure throughout her time as Prime Minister which is reflected in the reaction on Twitter following the announcement. And Lord Sugar tweeted: "Margaret Thatcher died today. A great lady she changed the face of British politics, created opportunity for anyone to succeed in the UK. RIP."BBC Business editor Robert Peston said: "For my generation, hard to imagine a world without Margaret Thatcher. We still define ourselves by whether we were for or against her." TV celebrity Stephen Fry @stephenfry said: "Was in the air when the news came in about Margaret Thatcher. Such a force in Britain through my university days through to my 30s."David Cameron expressed his thoughts on Twitter:

"It was with great sadness that l learned of Lady Thatcher's death. We've lost a great leader, a great Prime Minister and a great Briton"

— UK Prime Minister (@Number10gov) April 8, 2013

The Mayor London Boris Johnson tweeted:

Very sad to hear of death of Baroness Thatcher.Her memory will live long after the world has forgotten the grey suits of today's politics.

— Boris Johnson (@MayorofLondon) April 8, 2013

And One Direction star Harry Styles shared his thoughts:

RIP Baroness Thatcher .x

— Harry Styles (@Harry_Styles) April 8, 2013

Maggie Thatcher has died. Suppose history will judge her now...

— Joseph Barton (@Joey7Barton) April 8, 2013

Love her or hate her, few British Prime Ministers in history were so well known, or so admired, here in America. #Thatcher

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) April 8, 2013

In 1981 some Tories questioned Baroness Thatcher's policies and at the 1980 Conservative Party conference, Thatcher addressed the issue directly, with a famous speech written by the playwright Ronald Millar.

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ELECTION VICTORIES: How the Mercury reported Maggie's triumphs at the polls.In 1979...IN 1983...IN 1987...

Homes evacuated in Whetstone, after gas pipe is pierced

April 9, 2013, 7:33 am

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Twenty homes have been evacuated after a gas main was pierced in Springwell Lane, Whetsone, shortly after midday. Four fire appliances, two from Wigston, one from southern and one from Leicester's central fire station are standing by while they wait for the gas board who are working on the damaged pipe. Police are on the scene and 20 homes nearest to the incident, which is believed to have happened during construction work in the street, have been evacuated as a precaution. The Red Cross and a Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service command vehicle are also at the scene.

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Man denies setting fire to St Matthews shisha cafe

April 9, 2013, 9:29 am

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A man has denied setting fire to a rooftop shisha cafe. Imtiyas Patel (28) pleaded not guilty to arson, being reckless as to whether life was endangered, at the Cloud Nine Shisha Café, Curzon Works, Curzon Street, St Matthews, on October 25 last year. The Leicester Crown Court hearing was adjourned for a one day trial in July. Patel of Herschell Street, off London Road, Leicester, was released on bail. Around 60 fire fighters attended the blaze which destroyed the bar and smoking area on the roof of the Curzonia knitwear factory and part of the factory building's fourth floor.

Tories brand Liberal Democrats disrespectful for not suspending Leicestershire County Council election campaign after Thatcher's death

April 9, 2013, 10:05 am

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County Hall's Tories have branded their Liberal Democrat rivals disrespectful for not suspending their election campaign after the death of Margaret Thatcher. Leicestershire County Council's Conservative group ceased campaigning for next month's election after the death of the 87-year-old former Prime Minister was announced yesterday. The Conservatives say they will resume their efforts to win voters on Thursday but stop campaigning again when Baroness Thatcher's funeral is held on April 17 at St Paul's Cathedral in London. Labour candidates were yesterday instructed to halt campaigning though at least one took to the internet to complain of losing 24 hours. They have been told to carry out only "low key" campaigning, ie leafleting, until the controversial former Prime Minister's funeral. The Liberal Democrats however say they will not stop until the day of the service and will then start again as soon as it is complete. Conservative deputy county council leader Byron Rhodes said: "It's sad and disrespectful. She was the greatest Prime Minister of our lifetime and she changed the face of British politics. "We have to demonstrate that respect so we have suspended campaigning and will resume on Thursday before stopping again on the day of the funeral. After a minute's silence was held at County Hall's cabinet meeting today (Tues) Lib Dem Group leader Simon Galton said: "There was a minute's silence and certainly we will not campaign while the funeral is taking place but we are weeks away from a local election and as I have said before it will be the first for some time when no other election has taken place on the day. We need to take the chance to make people aware of it. "If Nick Clegg died tomorrow I wouldn't stop our campaign. "From my observations of Margaret Thatcher, although I don't want to second guess what she would have wanted, she had a reputation as someone who got on with things." Coun Galton pointed out that Britain's first female Prime Minister had narrowly escaped death when bombed the hotel where she was staying in Brighton in 1984. Despite five people dying in the blast and many being seriously injured, she immediately threw herself back into her work. County Hall Labour group leader coun Max Hunt said: "As a mark of respect we suspended campaigning yesterday and are restricting ourselves to low key campaigning. We are leafleting. Most candidates are observing that. "We will not be campaigning on the day of the funeral."

Dozens of homes in Whetstone evacuated after digger cuts through gas main

April 9, 2013, 11:02 am

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More than 50 homes were evacuated after a digger cut through a gas main on a housing estate earlier today. The incident happened in Springwell Lane, Whetstone, shortly after midday. Dozens of residents in the area had to leave their homes, while others arrived back from work or school to be told they could not get inside. Evacuation centres were set up at the nearby headquarters of the county FA and a local school. Four fire crews and a command support vehicle were sent to the scene by Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service. Firefighters and National Grid workers said residents had reported a strong smell of gas - with people saying it could be smelled from as far away as Cosby, almost two miles away. Holmes Park, headquarters of the Leicestershire & Rutland County FA, and nearby Badgerbrook Primary School were opened up to people who could not get into their homes. Among those taking refuge at Holmes Park was 43-year-old Leanne Johnson and her eight-year-old daughter, Lottie. Mrs Johnson, 43, of Grebe Way, said: "I came back home at about 12.30pm to find a fire engine blocking the road. A gas board man said the street had been evacuated and we had to get out. "Then we were allowed back in and I was just making a cup of tea when the fire brigade knocked on the door and said we had to get out. "There was a really strong smell of gas. You could hear it hissing out. I went to the park for an hour and I got Lottie out of school. Then we came here, but we haven't had anything to eat." Helen Jackson, of Springwell Lane, was at Holmes Park with her two children, Thomas, four, and two-year-old Lucy. She said: "I only live 20 metres away and someone came round and said we had to get out. You could smell the gas when you went outside." Friend Zoe Kirby, who was visiting from Cambridge, was there with her three-year-old daughter Gabrielle. She said: "The firemen told me I couldn't start my car which was parked on the drive, so I'm stuck here. It's not been a lot of fun with three children under the age of five." Jane Loines, who arrived home from work to find out she could not get to her house in Flamingo Drive, said: "It's a nightmare, it's not what you expect to come home to. My daughter rang from school, she was in tears." Peacock Drive resident Melissa Stewart said: "No-one knows how long it's going to be before we can get back to our homes." Incident commander Wayne Gale, of Wigston fire station, said: "It was a major gas leak which could be smelled from as far away as Cosby. "It was potentially very dangerous and we started evacuating people from their homes when we got here. Most people understood why we were doing it." A National Grid spokeswoman said: "The fire brigade left the scene at 5.15pm, the police at 6pm. "People in the 52 homes evacuated started going back into their properties by 4.45pm. "We have carried out temporary repairs to the main. It hasn't affected anyone's gas supplies in the area." It is understood the gas pipe was struck by a digger laying drains for a new development of about 10 homes in Springwell Lane, which is being built by Cadeby Homes. Contractors at the scene said they did not want to comment.

Leicester Police non-emergency number disrupted

April 9, 2013, 12:04 pm

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People trying to get through to Leicestershire Police on a non-emergency number were unable to tonight. A fault developed on the 101 and 0116 222 2222 non-emergency numbers, disrupting calls for more than an hour from just after 6pm. The force's website reported at 7.32pm that the fault had been fixed. Leicestershire Police say emergency 999 calls were received and dealt with normally throughout, and the force's front enquiry offices remained open as normal. A spokesman apologised to anyone who was affected by the disruption.

Murder trial mum-of-two in tears during police interviews

April 10, 2013, 11:30 pm

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The mother-of-two accused of murdering her boyfriend broke down on a number of occasions when she was interviewed by police following her arrest, a jury was told.

Michelle Mills, of Scalford, was detained at the cottage she shared with Eddie Miller, 20, after making a 999 call.

Later, when she was interviewed over three days, she admitted stabbing her boyfriend, telling officers she had been the victim of domestic violence at his hands.

In interviews read to the jury at Lincoln Crown Court yesterday, she was asked to explain the fact that Mr Miller had 24 knife injuries. Mills told officers: "I don't know. I only remember doing two. I was shocked. I can't remember doing that."

The jury heard Mills became upset and began to cry, telling officers: "I just wanted him to leave me alone."

She said she had been assaulted by Mr Miller earlier on the fatal night and on previous occasions.

Mills is alleged to have repeatedly stabbed her boyfriend after they returned to their home after a Bonfire Night party at the village pub.

A post-mortem examination showed Mr Miller had 24 knife wounds to his chest, abdomen, back and arms and he died as a result of stab wounds.

Mills (31), of King Street, Scalford, near Melton, denies murder on November 6. The jury has been told that she admits she was responsible for his death.

The trial continues.