Further sightings have been reported of a European eagle owl seen flying over the roof tops in Leicester.

The bird, which is believed to have escaped from its owner, was seen three times in the Beaumont Leys area on Sunday.

It was then spotted in the Taverners Road area of Beaumont Leys on Tuesday and again by a dog walker in the Abbey Park area later in the evening.

Andy Tasker, 40, was walking his terrier Pippy near the canal in Abbey Park at about 6.30pm.

He said: "I was going through some long grass when this large bird took off in front of me.

"It was pretty large and its wingspan was easily 6ft across. It was only 2ft away.

"It started to circle and was intrigued by the bells on Pippy's collar.

"It had bells and tether straps on its legs and responded to Pippy's bells by circling around.

"It was definitely tame as it was not phased by us at all and then it just flew off."

Mr Tasker, of Belgrave, Leicester, said: "It looked as if it was hunting."

Earlier on Tuesday, at about 3.20pm, the bird was seen perching on a roof in Taverners Road, Beaumont Leys.

A resident said: "It seemed to be pretty docile and sat on the roof for a long time." RSPB spokesman Grahame Madge said: "If at all possible, this bird should be captured and brought back into captivity, both to eliminate the risk of it causing harm to local wildlife, as well as for its own sake.

"The eagle owl is highly prized by falconers, but we should be mindful of the potential threats our native wildlife could face from invasive species.

"Eagle owls are known to kill other birds of prey and owls."

A drunken man assaulted his 64-year-old mother and knocked a door off its hinges during a row about a television programme.

Arthur Spong (43) then left her bungalow carrying a bottle of vodka and a homemade sword.

His distraught mother was crying and suffered a panic attack.

Spong, of no fixed address, was jailed for 10 months after admitting causing an affray at his mother's home in Eyres Monsell, Leicester.

Judge Simon Hammond made a restraining order banning Spong from contacting his mother either directly or indirectly until further order of the court.

Sentencing at Leicester Crown Court, the judge said: "What a horrible way to treat your mother after a petty row about the television. I hope the defendant realises his mother must have been terrified by what happened on that day."

He said Spong had an "atrocious" criminal record for offences including conspiracy to supply drugs, two assaults, possessing offensive weapons, a house burglary and possessing a firearm.

At the time of the incident with his mother, Spong was on licence from a 14-week sentence for breaching a restraining order in relation to harassment of a former partner.

Philip Gibbs, prosecuting, said Spong went to stay at his mother's home after being released from jail on November 12 last year.

Her said: "Matters progressed perfectly well until Sunday, November 18, when they had an argument about viewing of the television.

"It became quite heated and she was so upset by his attitude she told him he couldn't remain at her address and was going to phone the police and ask them to find him a hostel place instead.

"He took it badly and seized a plastic bottle of Coca-Cola and held it to her throat, before whacking her with it.

"He came at her aggressively, saying 'how could you do this to me' and, for a few seconds, put his thumbs on her throat."

Spong then backed off, but lost his temper again when he realised his mother had phoned her other son, who was on his way. Spong said his brother was going to "get it".

Mr Gibbs said the defendant left, taking some vodka and a homemade sword – a golf club minus the end, with some form of blade attached – which he had made previously for reasons unknown.

Spong was arrested nearby. The weapon was never recovered.

Mr Gibbs said: "His demeanour was strange and he was clearly intoxicated."

His mother suffered a red mark to her chest and expressed a wish to be "left alone" by the defendant in future, the court heard.

Katrina Wilson, mitigating, said Spong, a father of two, did not oppose the restraining order.

She said: "It wouldn't have happened if he hadn't been drinking, although he knows alcohol is no excuse."

Spong did not use the bladed weapon, or threaten anyone with it, and was not being prosecuted in relation to it, the court was told.

Business leaders and councillors have welcomed the news that £4.7 million is to be spent improving a major road in the county.

The Highways Agency said yesterday that the cash will be spent next year on the Dodwells and Longshoot junctions of the A5, near Hinckley.

About 2,500 new jobs are expected to be created in the area over the next few years following the designation of nearby MIRA, the motor industry research centre at Higham on the Hill, as the county's first enterprise zone.

Significant housing development proposals in nearby Barwell and Earl Shilton could also see 3,000 new homes built in the area in the next few years.

Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, Leicestershire County Council and the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LEP), which had called for improvements to the A5 to support the impact of development in the area, have welcomed the funding.

Andy Rose, enterprise and growth manager with the LEP, said: "We welcome this very much, it is something we've been pushing for over a number of years.

"The A5, which is a major trunk road, is not the easiest of roads to navigate and there have been significant congestion issues which has an impact on businesses in the area."

Work will include widening the road, new traffic signals at the Dodwells roundabout and changes to the Longshoot junction.

Hinckley and Bosworth borough councillor John Moore, said: "We have been calling for improvements to the A5 in this area for many years.

"I am sure the news of this significant amount of money being spent will be welcomed for the economic impact it will have on the area.

"The effect of current congestion on my Burbage ward is such that during most rush-hours there are one to one-and-a-half mile tailbacks, which leads to rat runs through Burbage.

"It will have a significant beneficial impact on my area."

Fellow councillor Peter Batty said: "Investment in this area is long overdue, particularly with the MIRA redevelopment.

"The announcement of the funding is extremely welcome. The road has been a nightmare and this should improve safety and traffic flow."

Other funding for Leicestershire announced yesterday included £100,000 to install two CCTV cameras on the northbound M69 approach to junction 21 of the M1 junction, £850,000 for two variable message signs on the M69 between junction 1, for Hinckley and Nuneaton, and the M1 in Leicester, and £180,000 for low bridge warning signs on the A5 in Hinckley.

Roads Minister Stephen Hammond said: "The Government is committed to cutting congestion and accelerating growth – that is why the Chancellor injected an extra £100 million into the Highways Agency pinch-point programme last autumn.

"This third round of innovative schemes has the potential to help create more than 94,000 new jobs and 61,000 new homes, while making life easier for the thousands who use these roads every day."

Extra nurses have been taken on and managers are working into the early hours of the morning to cope with the number of emergency patients coming into Leicester's hospitals.

More than 20 operations have had to be cancelled at short notice over the past few weeks.

Health bosses are urging people to stay away unless there is a real emergency.

Phil Walmsley, head of operations, said the rise could be down to a number of different factors, but that the long, cold winter had seen an increase in elderly patients who need to stay in hospital longer.

"It is not so much the numbers but it is the degree of illness with which patients are coming which has created the extra demand," he said.

"Where we would expect patients to have a hospital stay of about 5.7 days, this has gone up to 6.8 days, which does have a knock-on effect on other services.

"There is no one particular reason but it has been a much longer, colder and harder winter than usual and we are seeing more frail and elderly patients who are having to stay in hospital longer.

"Unfortunately, we have had to cancel about 20 operations in the past few weeks. We hate doing this but it has mainly been because of a lack of beds.

"We have tried to cancel the less critical operations but there have been some patients, for example waiting for cancer operations, who we have had to cancel.

"They have become our absolute priority to re-arrange."

Mr Walmsley said 92 extra nurses had been recruited and the intermediate care service – where patients are found beds in community hospitals or sent home with extra support – had been expanded.

He said doctors were struggling to meet the target of seeing and treating patients in the infirmary's A&E department within four hours. Managers are working into the night to make sure there are enough doctors on duty to ensure patient safety.

Mr Walmsley said the hospital was still safe for patients.

"It is not just Leicester which is experiencing this high demand," he said. "Our colleagues around the country are reporting the same very high levels of activity."

From Saturday to Tuesday, there were 715 emergency admissions across the city's three hospitals. This compares to 690 during the same period last year.

Jeremy Tozer, interim director of operations at Leicester's hospitals, said: "We are making every effort to reduce waiting times and increase available beds on wards."

For more health care advice, call NHS Direct on 0845 4647 or:

www.choosebetter.org

Leicester Lions can move two steps nearer to silverware with three crucial meetings in as many days.

They travel to Sheffield tonight as leaders in their League Cup group and a point at Owlerton will secure their place in the semi-final draw.

Sheffield can also qualify if they collect all three match points – but the Harry Jordan Haulage-sponsored Lions can go through with a losing bonus point.

"Let's not kid ourselves, Sheffield are almost invincible at Owlerton where they have lost just 18 Premier League matches in 16 years," said Lions team manager Glyn Taylor.

"From those statistics, you can begin to see that everyone has to be on their game.

"I believe we are riding well enough to make a real go of it and have only one thought in mind, and that is to win.

"We can afford to draw or, as a bare minimum, lose by six which will give us the bonus match point. But that is defensive talk when in fact we will be going there on the offensive."

Tomorrow, Lions journey further north to Edinburgh where they take on the Monarchs in the first leg of the Knock-out Cup, before welcoming their Scottish rivals to the Jordan Road Surfacing Stadium for the return leg on Saturday.

The Scottish club are cup specialists and are three times winners of the title.

Taylor said: "Edinburgh are another team with a very good home record and, at the very least, we need to keep in contention throughout the meeting to give ourselves a chance of outscoring them over the two-leg tie.

"The rules of the competition do not favour the away team as there are no tactical changes a team manager can make to gain double points if their side is losing."

The Lions make two positional changes to the team that gained a convincing win against Scunthorpe last Saturday, with Jan Graversen and Kevin Doolan switching places for all three fixtures.

Leicester: 1 Kauko Nieminen, 2 Jan Graversen, 3 Lasse Bjerre, 4 Kevin Doolan, 5 Magnus Karlsson, 6 Simon Nielsen, 7 Lewis Blackbird.

Sheffield: 1 Simon Stead, 2 Facundo Albin, 3 Joe Haines, 4 Richard Hall, 5 Ricky Wells, 6 Damien Koppe, 7 Jake Knight.

Edinburgh: 1 Craig Cook, 2 Derek Sneddon, 3 Theo Pijper, 4 Max Fricke, 5 Claus Vissing, 6 Marcel Helfer, 7 Jozsef Tabaka.

Leicestershire failed to build on a quickfire start to the first day of their County Championship opener against Hampshire at Southampton.

County captain Ramnaresh Sarwan decided to field first under overcast skies at the Rose Bowl, and he was rewarded with the wickets of openers Jimmy Adams and Michael Carberry in the first five overs without a run on the board from the home side.

But Australian newcomer George Bailey marked his Championship debut by making 93 as Hampshire recovered to 286-4.

Adams was bowled fifth ball by Alex Wyatt and Carberry edged defensively to new County wicketkeeper Niall O'Brien to give former skipper Matthew Hoggard an early breakthrough.

But then Bailey, the Australian T20 captain, joined Liam Dawson in a partnership of 141 for the third wicket in only 32 overs as County struggled to make the best of their promising start.

Sarwan used seven bowlers before lunch as Tasmanian Bailey dominated the stand, rapidly outscoring Dawson to help Hampshire seize the initiative.

Dawson, the more circumspect of the two, reached 46 from 83 balls before he chased a wide delivery from medium-pacer Ollie Freckingham and gave Jigar Naik a catch in the gully.

Dawson's wicket was Freckingham's first in first-class cricket and he followed it with another four runs later when Bailey was dismissed in sight of his century.

Hampshire had reached 150-3 when Bailey, who led Tasmania to Sheffield Shield glory last month, was stumped as he attacked the young County newcomer.

Bailey, fluent from the start despite only joining up with the squad recently, made light of the dank conditions by striking 14 fours in his 133-ball innings.

His exit failed to give the County attack any respite and James Vince and Sean Ervine – the hosts' fifth-wicket pair – soon got on top every bit as commandingly as the Australian had done before them. Bad light and rain eventually intruded after 71.2 overs, by which time Vince and Ervine had added a further 136 runs without being troubled or in danger of being parted.

At the premature close, Hampshire's recovery was complete at 286-4 with Vince unbeaten on 77 and Ervine, who has just signed a new contract with the county, 57 not out.

Vince, who ended last season with a century against Derbyshire, hit 14 fours from 117 balls, while Ervine struck eight boundaries in a typically pugnacious innings.

After their early successes, County's bowling fell away even though conditions were always helpful.

Freckingham finished the day with figures of 2-71 from 14 overs but, like his team-mates, struggled to contain the free-scoring Bailey.

A gang of would-be thieves posed as customs officers in an elaborate plot to steal alcohol worth hundreds of thousands of pounds from a warehouse.

Leicester man Mateusz Szymon Zajac (22) and two accomplices visited a warehouse in the guise of officials from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) last summer.

Zajac's two accomplices – Franco Domenico Molinari and Shiral Matthew Rodrigo – showed the factory owner fake identification and produced bags in which they said they were going to store evidence.

The trio also had official-looking documents which they told the owner gave them the right to confiscate bottles of spirits.

A court heard yesterday that the gang told the warehouse owner they were able to do so because, they said, duty had not been paid on the alcohol.

However, the victim became suspicious and called police, who arrested the men at the scene, in Brierley Hill, West Midlands.

The three men appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday to admit theft and the offence of impersonating a customs official in August last year.

Zajac, of Tyndale Street, West End, Leicester, admitted an offence of attempted theft and was sentenced to 12 months in jail.

Molinari (42), of Langdale Road, Bakersfield, Nottingham, was sentenced to nine months in jail after he pleaded guilty to attempted theft and impersonating a customs official.

Rodrigo (25), of Springhill Grove, Ingleby Barwick, Stockton on Tees, was sentenced to 12 months in jail for the same two offences.

The gang were investigated by HMRC and West Midlands Police. Adrian Farley, the HMRC's assistant director of criminal investigation, said: "Impersonating an HMRC officer is a serious criminal offence and we will take action against anyone found committing this crime.

"We would always urge people to check the identification of those wanting to enter their home or business.

"Any legitimate law enforcement officer or caller will not mind waiting outside while their identity is verified. If you are suspicious, call the police."

His Honour Judge Challinor said: "These types of cases damage HMRC and the identities of the officers in whom the public must be able to have confidence to carry out their duties and any sentence must be seen as a deterrent."

Wes Morgan is relishing his role of leading Leicester City's young side through the high-pressure final five games of the campaign.

City go into tomorrow's huge home clash with Birmingham on the back of a run of form which has seen them pick up just one victory from their last 12 games.

But Morgan has told his young team-mates they must remain positive with promotion still a possibility.

Morgan vowed to nurture his young colleagues for the final push, but said last week's performance at Brighton had helped restore battered confidence, despite conceding a late equaliser.

"It is the first full season we have been all together and it is a young side," he said. "We have done tremendously this season.

"Obviously we have stuttered over the last couple of months, but we just have to pick ourselves up.

"There will be ups and downs all through a season. We are on a down at the moment but we have to look at the games we have left and the points available, and the big prize at the end of it.

"It is a young side and my job as captain is to keep them going as best I can, then we will see what happens.

"It has been tough the last few weeks and we haven't picked up the points we should have.

"It has been a testing time for the whole team, but I think, as a group, we know our capabilities and know how good we can be. We just have to find that form again."

After the visit of Birmingham, City face four sides who are competing against them for promotion, but Morgan believes that will be a benefit.

"It is going to be a tough run-in looking at our fixtures but we seem to do better against the teams up there at the top," he said.

"They are also under pressure to get points."

Clothing giant Next is recalling two batches of children's T-shirts after they were found to contain harmful substances.

Parents who have bought either of the two items, part of the retailer's Young Boys collection, are being asked to return the clothes immediately.

The Enderby-based company has issued a safety announcement informing shoppers that the printed T-shirts contain a quantity of a "restricted substance" which exceeds an "acceptable level".

The Mercury asked the retailer what the substance was, but it would not say. However, the safety announcement, issued on April 3, indicated that it could cause skin irritation in young children.

The clothes are aimed at boys aged between three months and six years.

A Next spokesman said: "We test all products to ensure compliance to strict safety requirements.

"In this case, our initial tests showed the product complied. However, subsequent random testing has shown that some of the stock did not meet our strict safety requirements and we now have to take this up with the manufacturers concerned.

"While further testing is going on, we felt the best action for our customers was to remove the product from the shelves as a precaution."

Next would not say how many products were being recalled.

Business leaders said the issue would cost the company, but consumer safety had to come first.

Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce chief executive Martin Traynor said: "Obviously, a company like Next operates to the highest standards of quality and checks all its products to make sure they're safe.

"Once they find something is wrong it would be subject to an immediate recall.

"No doubt they've lost money because of this, but safety should always come first."

Facebook group Mums World, which gives advice on parenting, posted the recall on its page.

The post led to a number of concerned messages from mothers, some of whom had bought the T-shirts for their sons.

Mum Henrietta Burtinshaw said: "My little boy wore the blue one yesterday and had a rash this morning on his belly.

"I didn't connect the two until I've just seen this, will be taking it back! It was a birthday present, too."

Fellow parent Agnese Sneidere wrote: "I don't understand why the shops don't check the clothing first before they are sold."

People who return the T-shirts will get a full refund.

If you have any questions about the recall, ring Next customer services on 0844 8448911.

Richard Cockerill has described the decision by the Heineken Cup organisers not to cite Toulon lock Bakkies Botha for seriously injuring Leicester Tigers prop Marcos Ayerza as "disgraceful".

Leicester's director of rugby slammed European Rugby Cup (ERC) after the second-half incident at the Stade Felix Mayol on Sunday, which left Ayerza with a broken collar bone.

Cockerill accused ERC's disciplinary officer of "not being in touch with the modern game".

"Marcos has broken his collarbone in two," said Cockerill. "He will have surgery today to have it plated and repaired, and he will be out for three months.

"I have been told that there will be no citing of the incident.

"The citing officer put it forward as a citable offence but the gatekeeper from ERC's disciplinary section has decided that it is not worthy of a citing.

"From the footage we have seen, we felt that it was an illegal act (by Botha) of jumping into a tackle.

"It caused a lot of damage to the player and I am very disappointed in the attitude that ERC have come back to us with.

"And I am bitterly disappointed with the inconsistency at disciplinary level within ERC yet again.

"They have failed to deal with what, in my opinion, is an act of foul play.

"I am pretty sure it is against the laws of the game to hurdle into a player – and that has caused damage to our player who will now miss the rest of the season.

"For me, that is a disgraceful decision to not, at least, have a hearing to look at all of the facts.

"To lose one of the best loosehead props in the world in that fashion is disappointing.

"It leaves a sour taste in the mouth. The rule-makers are so fussy on so many things but, when something like this happens, the disciplinary panels and officers decide there is no case to answer."

Samoan Logovi'i Mulipola will be favourite to fill Ayerza's No.1 shirt against Wasps on Sunday.

Cockerill also hinted that a couple of changes could be made in the squad.

Flanker Steve Mafi is back in full training this week, while Leicester were "hopeful" that Tom Croft could also prove his fitness after a back spasm in Toulon.

A teenager accused of rape has been found not guilty by a jury, who heard he had been sleepwalking during the sexual encounter.

The relieved 19-year-old hugged his mother and sister after being cleared yesterday following a trial at Leicester Crown Court.

Afterwards, he described the "absolute hell" of waiting two years for the trial to get to court.

He said: "I'm very relieved and grateful to the jury for a fair hearing. I can now start rebuilding my life and apply to university, in the hope of pursuing a career in medicine.

"My family has been unbelievably supportive."

When asked about his thoughts towards his accuser, he said: "I've no bad feelings now. I've no idea for the reason of the allegation.

"I hope we never cross paths again. I'm grateful we have a jury system and justice has been done."

During an eight-day trial, the teenager told the jury of six men and six women he had "no recollection" of having sex with the then 15-year-old girl, who claimed he had raped her, when he was aged 17.

The court heard he had a history of sleepwalking since childhood.

Defence barrister Neil Guest said that if sex did take place as the girl claimed, the defendant was suffering from "sexomnia" at the time, and had acted involuntary, with no knowledge or intent.

Mr Guest said he was asleep and unaware of what had happened.

Giving evidence, the defendant said he could not be "100 per cent sure" if sex had taken place. But he denied raping the girl on April 26, 2011.

The prosecution alleged the sexual encounter happened in the lounge of his friend's home in Loughborough, during a sleep-over. The defendant and the complainant had been left to share the lounge.

The girl, now 17, said she fell asleep fully dressed on the sofa. She claimed she awoke to find the defendant on top of her having sex.

She alleged he then made excuses, suggesting he had been drunk or she had been dreaming.

The defendant said he had drunk five or six cans of beer and shared five or six "spliffs" with friends during the afternoon and evening. He said he drifted off to sleep on a chair across the room from her – but later woke up on the sofa and wondered how he had got there.

He said: "She was in the chair, curled up in a ball. She looked upset."

Prosecutor, Felicity Gerry asked him: "You're saying your actions were not voluntary and happened automatically in your sleep?"

"Yes," he replied.

The defendant's mother and sister described incidents of finding the defendant sleepwalking, with his eyes open, since the age of seven.

Sleep expert, Dr Chris Idzikowski, director of the Edinburgh Sleep Centre, told the court that references to sleep-related sex, or sexomnia, began appearing in medical research about 10 years ago.

He said the defendant attended his centre for two overnight sleep recordings and he was left with "little doubt" that he was a sleepwalker.

The Iron Lady will take to the stage in Curve's revival of Hot Stuff later next week – despite the death of Margaret Thatcher.

Theatre bosses are sticking to a script which features the former Prime Minister, played by a character called Lucy Fur.

In the jukebox musical, which returns to Curve from April 20 for its 21st anniversary production, actor Ceri Dupree plays the devilish Lucy Fur in a variety of guises, including a sequence as the Tory leader singing the Flying Lizards' top five hit, Money.

Paul Kerryson, Hot Stuff's director and co-deviser, said: "The Iron Lady has always appeared in Hot Stuff and is one of the best moments of the show.

"There's nothing derogatory. It's a 1970s show and Mrs Thatcher came to power at the end of the 1970s. That moment is recognised in Hot Stuff."

Mr Kerryson said he had not considered dropping the scene.

"Mrs Thatcher always used to say 'the show must go on' and in our world of theatre, I'm absolutely in agreement," he said.

Actor Ceri said: "Mrs Thatcher was the first woman I impersonated when I was at school in Swansea, at the age of 14, and I have enjoyed playing her ever since, especially in Hot Stuff.

"Love her or hate her, she was undoubtedly the most famous woman of her time and has left a lasting legacy.

"I'm looking forward to reviving her in this year's Hot Stuff. I'm sure her arrival on stage will have a big response, as it always has!"

The decision comes after another show referencing the former Prime Minister went ahead unchanged.

Just hours after the announcement of her death, the producers of Billy Elliot: The Musical asked West End audience members to vote on whether a song calling for her death should be performed or left out, as a mark of respect.

The musical, which is set in County Durham during the miners' strike of the 1980s, features a song called Merry Christmas, Maggie Thatcher, which includes the line, "We'll all celebrate today because it's one day closer to your death".

Director Stephen Daldry told the BBC: "After an explanation of the song's content and historical context from the stage, the audience voted overwhelmingly for its inclusion in the second act."

Billy Elliot is not the only West End show to be affected by the death of Lady Thatcher.

According to The Guardian, Peter Morgan's play, The Audience, which features a scene in which Margaret Thatcher meets the Queen, went ahead unchanged.

However, the playwright introduced the show before the performance at London's Gielgud theatre.

He told the audience on Monday: "Today, one of the great figures of post-war British political life and the longest-serving Prime Minister of the 20th century, and therefore the participant of the greatest number of audiences with the Queen, died. I just wanted to mark that occasion with all of you."

A mum has appealed for the return of a stolen phone which contains irreplaceable photographs of her daughter's long battle with illness.

Sajida and Chris Ansom's daughter, Sabrina, 17, was born with a rare condition called Apert's Syndrome, which affects just one in 70,000 children.

It has left her with half a skull, no palate, swollen stubs for hands and deformed feet.

She has undergone surgery 74 times to correct some of the physical effects of her condition.

Photographs of Sabrina at various points in and out of surgery over the past six months were stored on the phone.

It was stolen near the family's home in St Matthews, Leicester, last month, when Mrs Ansom left it on the roof of her car while she strapped her children into their seats. A thief snatched the handset while her attention was diverted.

Mrs Ansom, 50, said: "These photographs of Sabrina are so precious to us, we really want them back.

"We don't really want the phone back, just the SIM card and the memory card from the phone.

"There must be some way they could get those back to us.

"A lot has happened to Sabrina over the years. She has been in for surgery 74 times since she was born.

"The pictures on the phone were taken since December.

"They are no use to the person who has my phone and we just hope they see this appeal and do something to get them back to us."

The theft happened in Everest Court at 8.20am on Thursday, March 14.

Police yesterday appealed for help to trace the thief and the phone.

Pc Fitz Frank said: "The phone was a Nokia 300 and was worth very little but the pictures on it were irreplaceable.

"At the very least, the family would like the pictures back but ideally we would like to find the person responsible.

"If anyone has any information about the theft we would urge them to call us."

If you can help the police, contact Pc Frank by ringing 101, or call Crimestoppers, which is anonymous, on 0800 555 111.

Nigel Pearson believes his goal-shy strike-force will come good in Leicester City's tense promotion run-in.

City have scored just four goals in their last eight games, and two of them have come from young centre-back Michael Keane.

The others have come from midfielder Matty James and young striker Jeff Schlupp, who has predominantly been used at left-back and in midfield this season.

Top scorer David Nugent has not scored since the 2-1 home win against Wolves on January 31, while Chris Wood, who scored nine goals in his first nine appearances for City after joining on New Year's Day, has not scored in the last eight games and dropped to the substitute's bench for last weekend's draw at Brighton.

City have certainly enjoyed goalscoring hot streaks during the campaign and fired six past both Ipswich and Huddersfield earlier this season.

Pearson said he is confident that his strikers can rediscover the form they showed earlier in the season as City head into the final five games of the campaign.

"Yes, it is a concern in one sense, but I know we have quality there," said Pearson ahead of tomorrow's visit of Birmingham to the King Power Stadium.

"I am sure if we can keep creating chances like we did last weekend, then we will be okay.

"The players are keen to change our own fortunes. We know we have goals in us.

"I am confident we can start scoring, absolutely."

Pearson believes last weekend's performance at Brighton has gone a long way to restoring confidence in his troops, despite the Seagulls' late leveller which made it eight games without a win for City.

"Looking at them after last weekend's performance, I think that confidence is coming back," he said.

"The performance we got from the players last week was very good and we were unlucky not to win the game.

"It is about working hard, but certainly the willingness to play with positive possession was there for all to see."

City have no injury concerns ahead of tomorrow's game.

Leicester City must stop leaking late goals if they want to keep their Championship play-off hopes alive, says Matty James.

They were leading at Brighton on Saturday until an 88th-minute strike from Kazenga LuaLua denied them all three points.

It was the fifth time in their last 12 league matches that City have conceded goals in the final five minutes.

It has cost them vital points at a crucial stage of the season and James sees it as cause for concern.

"We have to take positives from the Brighton game because we played really well and deserved three points," said the 21-year-old midfielder.

"But we conceded very late again. We have to cut out these last-minute goals. I don't think it is a mental thing, perhaps more a lack of concentration sometimes.

"We were in control of the game and it's that one little lapse which has cost us the three points. We have to go to places like Brighton and take 1-0 wins."

That LuaLua goal came just over a week after Alan Dunne's late strike gave Millwall a 1-0 win at the King Power Stadium.

Previously, City fans will need no reminding of Rudy Gestede's last-gasp equaliser for Cardiff, David McGoldrick's winner for Ipswich or Grant McCann's 88th-minute strike to secure three points for Peterborough.

Of the other seven games in the sequence, City lost out to goals from both Charlton and Sheffield Wednesday in the 78th and 70th minutes respectively.

After suffering a knee injury in the defeat by Charlton in February, which ruled him out for seven games, James returned against Millwall and then retained his place for the trips to Barnsley and Brighton.

"It's been tough over the Easter period having to play three lots of 90 minutes. But I am happy and pleased to say the knee is fine after surgery."

A family desperate to sell their late mother's bungalow are offering the buyer 10,000 chances to win the lottery to sweeten the deal.

The £125,000 home in Eaton, near Melton, belonged to Margaret Hodgkinson, who died last May, aged 94.

Since then, her four children have been trying to sell the property.

However, with the bungalow being a leasehold in a small development for older people, they have struggled to find a buyer.

Son Alan, 64, of nearby Scalford, said he was out riding his bike when the lottery idea hit him.

He said: "The bungalow wasn't selling so I wondered what I could do.

"It occurred to me that offering the buyer a chance of winning the lottery might move things along a bit."

The plan is that, on completion of the sale, Alan will buy 10,000 lottery tickets.

The first £125,000 of any winnings will go to the new house owner.

That way, the property could appeal to someone with an optimistic streak who fancies their chances of getting something for nothing.

Alan believes the only reason they have had difficulty selling the bungalow is the small market for it, which is why he and his family do not want to bring the sale price down. He said: "The estate agents suggested reducing the price but, given prospective buyers had requested more details, I suspected it wasn't the price which prevented any follow-up.

"It was most likely due to the property being a leasehold for over-55s only, on a small retirement complex of eight bungalows in a village.

"Rather than reduce the price, I thought I'd stake the effective reduction on the lottery instead and refund all winnings, up to the value of the sale price, to the buyer.

"If there is no jackpot, the buyer is no worse off, but they could get a sizeable contribution and will still have an excellent property to sell.

"It's just a matter of time before a buyer with matching needs comes along and, in the meantime, the lease allows for the property to be let.

"It's a win-win situation."

The bungalow is being sold through estate agents Newton Fallowell, in Melton.

Managing partner Craig Stephens was impressed when Alan came up with the lottery idea.

He said: "We think it's an amazing incentive – I have never heard of anything like this before."

Thomas Erlebach, from the University of Leicester's department of computer science, said the odds of winning the lottery jackpot with 10,000 tickets was one in 14,000.

A supermarket chain is planning to create a landmark monument on the site of a former factory.

Sainsbury's is preparing to build a new superstore on the former GE Lighting site at the corner of Troon Way and Melton Road in Rushey Mead, Leicester.

And the people of Leicester are being asked to suggest their ideas for a £70,000 statue or sculpture, which will stand outside the supermarket.

MP Keith Vaz, who will be chairman of the judging panel, is hoping for something to rival the Angel of the North.

He said: "This site has been derelict for far too long and the development of the area is long overdue.

"I am delighted that Sainsbury's has agreed to provide funding for this new historic and exciting landmark.

"We want everyone to have their say in what will be a very special landmark."

Other judges will include local councillors, Sainsbury's chief executive, headteacher of the nearby Mellor Primary School, Leicester Mercury editor Richard Bettsworth and Dharmesh Lakhani, chairman of Belgrave Business Association.

Mr Lakhani, who is also a Golden Mile restaurateur, said: "I'd personally like to see something big and something that represents the cultural mix of the city.

"The old factory was a bit of an eyesore and this will make it nice and modern, as well as providing a shopping centre."

Mr Bettsworth said: "The GE Lighting factory was itself a Leicester landmark for many years, particularly at Christmas when it was lit up with festive lights.

"We welcome plans for a new monument there and look forward to seeing people's ideas.

"This is a great opportunity to create a landmark which reflects the city's bright future."

Leicester City Council's arts service will be working with schools and community groups in the area to gather ideas and themes from people of what they would like as a landmark but anyone in Leicester will be able to submit their ideas by e-mail.

People in Rushey Mead were yesterday supportive of the idea.

George Ames, 73, said: "It should be a statue of Margaret Thatcher and they can make it the size of the Angel of the North. She put this country to rights."

Maz Ewart, 67, said: "It would be lovely to have a big landmark on that corner. I've been past the Angel of the North and it's beautiful. Maybe they could have a statue of a sports star such as rugby's Martin Johnson."

Sushia Gohil, 64, said: "Some big monument would be good there. If it was up to me it would be Amitabh Bachan, my favourite actor."

The consultation will close on June 30. To submit an idea to the judging panel, e-mail:

leicesterlegacy2013@gmail.com