Kasabian coach deal for Leicester fans going to Hard Rock Calling
Premiership final tickets on sale for four times face value
Tickets for the sold-out Aviva Premiership final have been on sale for more than four times their original face value.
Demand to see the East Midlands derby at Twickenham on Saturday has been unprecedented in the history of England's premier competition.
The Premiership's showpiece occasion has sold out faster than any other final in its history, and a crowd of more than 82,000 people will watch Leicester Tigers hunt a ninth English title, while Northampton Saints are aiming for their first.
Both Leicester and Northampton have sold out their allocation of 7,500 tickets for the game, with Tigers getting rid of their number in just 48 hours after the semi-final win against Harlequins.
While most supporters were able to snap up the vast majority of tickets at face value – and those sent to the participating clubs were priced at £40, £50 and £60 – others are now being advertised at well over that amount.
On the buyers and sellers website Viagogo on Monday, four tickets for the middle tier of the West Terrace were selling for £315 apiece.
Another website, Stubhub, had just 18 tickets for sale yesterday lunchtime.
Organisers have said they could have sold "more than 100,000 tickets" for the game, had Twickenham had the capacity.
It is obvious that the prospect of Tigers and Saints going head to head with the league title on the line is whetting the appetite of the country's fan-base in a massive way.
Dominic Hayes, Premiership Rugby's commercial director, said the interest in the game was great news for all concerned.
"The appeal of Aviva Premiership Rugby is at an all-time high and selling out the final so quickly this year is great news for professional club rugby in England," he said.
"Saturday's game has captured the public's imagination, and the buzz around a Tigers v Saints match on domestic rugby's biggest stage is huge.
"All 12 of our Premiership clubs will also be well represented at Twickenham on Saturday."
This is the sixth consecutive year that the Premiership final has sold out.
The match will be broadcast live on ESPN, Five Live and Talksport, with an extended highlights programme on ITV4 at 11.0 on Saturday night.
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Store boss in big push for charity
A supermarket manager is preparing for a 62-mile nighttime cycle ride around London for charity.
Bruce Martin, 47, who works at Asda, in Oadby, is doing the ride for Save the Children and has already raised £1,400, thanks to his colleagues.
The event, called the Night-rider Challenge, takes place on June 8.
Bruce, who lives in Aylestone, said: "People will be cycling all through the night for lots of different charities – about 4,000 cyclists in all.
"It's my first go at it and my first time doing anything like this, really.
"I've cycled recreationally for years and I wanted to see if I could do it.
"I'm a 47-year-old fat man and if I can do it, anyone can!"
Bruce said he had set a fund-raising target of £500 but had been overwhelmed by the number of people sponsoring him.
He said: "The team at work have been fabulously generous. I'm now hoping to reach £2,000 by the time I've done the ride."
To sponsor Bruce, visit:
www.virginmoneygiving.com/ savethechildrenfund
Shopping centre's book boost for children
Beaumont Shopping Centre, in Beaumont Leys, has donated £10,000 to help hundreds of schoolchildren discover the joy of reading.
It is part of the National Literacy Trust's Young Readers programme – funded in partnership with the centre and WH Smith – and has already helped 250 children aged between seven and nine at three Leicester primary schools – Stokes Wood and Parks primary schools, both in New Parks, and Barley Croft, in Beaumont Leys.
Youngsters visited the centre this week to learn how to choose books at the right reading level that really interest them. They were invited to select three books to take home and keep.
WH Smith donated vouchers to each of the participating schools to boost their library resources.
They were also treated to a story-telling session at Beaumont Leys library.
The children then got to see behind the scenes at the shopping centre, with a tour of Tesco.
Beaumont's beat bobby Pc Lee Cannings also dropped in for a chat.
Sarah Duffin, manager of Beaumont Shopping Centre, said: "We're thrilled to take part this year in the Young Readers programme as part of our commitment to the community.
"The programme really helps children to enjoy books."
Sarah Cook, project manager at the National Literacy Trust, said: "Many of the children will have never bought a book of their own before so they will be very excited to choose three new books to keep.
"As children who become independent readers are more likely to succeed at school and later on, our programme will have a dramatic impact on the future opportunities of these children."
Scientist's prestigious accolade
A scientist has earned international recognition for his work linking the Y chromosome to heart disease.
Dr Maciej Tomaszewski, a clinical senior lecturer in cardiovascular medicine at the University of Leicester, won the European Atherosclerosis Society award for pioneering study.
His winning paper, funded by the British Heart Foundation, examined the role of the Y chromosome in determining whether someone would go on to develop heart disease.
The study, published in the Lancet and British Medical Journal, found that genetic variation within the male-specific region of the human Y chromosome plays a major role in a genetic susceptibility to coronary artery disease.
It emphasised that the Y chromosome was an essential determinant of men's health and their predisposition to disease – and raised the possibility that coronary artery disease could be passed genetically from father to son.
Each year, the European Atherosclerosis Society Scientific Committee selects the two best manuscripts published in the previous calendar year – one in basic science and one in clinical research – by scientists aged 40 or under.
Dr Tomaszewski said: "I am delighted to have been recognised by the European Atherosclerosis Society.
"This competitive award symbolises the commitment of the society to support scientists and clinicians driven to battle atherosclerosis and its complications.
"I am very grateful to European Atherosclerosis Society for this recognition and British Heart Foundation – for funding the research that led to this award.
"I would like to thank all members of my team, friends and collaborators whose outstanding support was instrumental in successful completion of the study."
'No income' benefits cheat actually banked £220,000
A man claimed more than £37,000 in benefits over four-and-a-half years by pretending to have no income.
In reality, Jalal Uddin received £220,000 in that period.
The money included rent from a property he was sub-letting while also claiming housing benefit for it.
Uddin (41), of Nottingham Road, Loughborough, appeared at Leicester Crown Court after an investigation by Charnwood Borough Council.
He admitted falsely claiming £37,590 of taxpayers' money and was given a suspended sentence.
The court heard Uddin had been claiming benefits legitimately in 2006, but between April 2007 and November 2011 he lied about his circumstances to get benefits he did not deserve.
The council began investigating Uddin after receiving a tip-off that he was sub-letting his home while claiming housing benefit.
He initially denied the allegation but later admitted he had been sub-letting.
Officers then uncovered the fact that Uddin was using different addresses and bank accounts into which a total of £220,000 had been deposited while he was claiming benefits.
Uddin pleaded guilty to two charges of failing to declare changes in circumstances.
He was given a 20-week jail sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered to do 300 hours of unpaid work.
Leicester Crown Court was told Uddin, who had no previous convictions, had been battling with a drink problem which led to him separating from his wife.
Uddin told the court that he was full of remorse, but was now back with his wife and four children and had once again become a devoted father.
The judge said that if it was not for references received from his family and the fact he was back with his wife, Uddin would have been jailed.
Councillor Jenny Bokor, of Charnwood Borough Council, said: "This prosecution is a shot across the bow of anyone who thinks they can get away with stealing from the public purse.
"Benefits are for those who are in genuine need, not those who deliberately set out to commit fraud.
"It is simply not fair on taxpayers who have to subsidise this type of crime.
"Benefit fraud is an extremely serious offence and we continue to investigate and prosecute offenders."
Soldier's 'killers' were known to security services
Two men shot by police after the horrific murder of a soldier were both known to security services.
With the suspects under armed guard in different London hospitals last night, it was understood police had also searched a Lincolnshire home formerly occupied by Michael Adebolajo.
The soldier hacked to death in Woolwich, south-east London, on Wednesday was yesterday named as father-of-one Lee Rigby.
Drummer Rigby, 25, from Crumpsall, Manchester, was from 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, attached to the Regimental Recruiting Team in London.
Sergeant Barry Ward said he was "a loving father" to his two-year-old son Jack, and had "a very bubbly character".
Drummer Rigby, who joined the Army in 2006, had served in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He had also stood outside the Royal Palaces as part of his battalion's public duties commitment.
A total of four people, including the two men shot by police, have now been arrested in connection with the soldier's murder.
Scotland Yard said a man and a woman, both 29, were being held on suspicion of conspiracy to murder and were being questioned at a police station in south London.
The two men who were shot, aged 22 and 28, have been arrested on suspicion of murder and remain in hospital in a stable condition with non life-threatening injuries.
Six residential addresses were searched yesterday as part of the investigation – three in south London, one in east London, one in north London and one in Lincolnshire.
In a statement, Scotland Yard said: "This is a large, complex and fast-moving investigation which continues to develop.
"Many lines of inquiry are being followed and the investigation is progressing well."
Officers have recovered a number of items from the murder scene and continue to appeal for witnesses to get in touch, and send in footage and photographs of what happened.
In the immediate aftermath of the killing, video footage emerged of two men clutching bloodied weapons, including a meat cleaver.
One clip showed a man with blood stained hands claiming the killing was committed in the name of Allah and ranting about the Government.
Following a meeting of the Cobra emergency response committee on Wednesday, David Cameron said: "What happened yesterday in Woolwich has sickened us all.
"On our televisions last night and in our newspapers this morning, we have all seen images that are deeply shocking."
He said the attack was "a betrayal of Islam" and that the best approach was to "go about our normal lives".
US president Barack Obama said: "The United States stands resolute with the United Kingdom, our ally and friend, against violent extremism and terror.
"There can be absolutely no justification for such acts, and our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the victim, the police and security services responding to this horrific act and the communities they serve, and the British people."
Anjem Choudary, former leader of banned Islamic group Al Muhajiroun, said he knew one of the alleged attackers but had not seen him for about two years.
He said he recognised the man who was filmed wielding a bloodied meat cleaver.
Snout like a bit of help to restore heathland at popular country park
A herd of pigs is being used to help restore heathland at a beauty spot.
Eight Welsh porkers have been drafted in to help with an environmental project at Beacon Hill Country Park, near Loughborough.
Leicestershire County Council has employed the pigs to help clear unwanted species such as bracken, sycamore and birch scrub.
The pigs have been borrowed from Brooksby Melton College and it is anticipated they will help clear about an acre.
Byron Rhodes, county council cabinet member for country parks, said: "We are delighted to have these curly-tailed helpers join our ranks.
"It is the fourth year Brooksby Melton College has helped us in this way.
"The work the pigs do helps to disturb the ground, giving the chance for the dormant seeds of heather, bilberry and gorse to germinate."
Beacon Hill park staff already use English Longhorn cattle, Highland cattle and Manx Loaghtan sheep to keep down invasive species.
There are also five alpacas which help protect the sheep from dog attacks.
www.leics.gov.uk/beacon
Paedophile fails in attempt to have sentence reduced
A paedophile who was jailed for grooming teenage girls online and sending them indecent images has been told by top judges he cannot complain about his sentence.
Craig McGuire (38) showered the girls with compliments and gifts after posing as a teenage boy on a website, and even climbed up a drainpipe to spy on one youngster.
McGuire, of The Coppice, Narborough, was given a six-year jail sentence at Birmingham Crown Court in September after admitting a string of charges.
He was also given an extra four years on his licence period, and was handed an indefinite sexual offences prevention order and ordered to keep the authorities informed of his whereabouts.
McGuire challenged his sentence at London's Criminal Appeal Court, arguing it was "over the top" for his crimes.
But his appeal was dismissed by three of the country's most senior judges, who said his continued attempts to minimise his offending showed just what a danger he posed and meant the sentence was "justified".
The court heard McGuire was first arrested in 2009 after his fingerprints were found on a drainpipe he had used to help him spy on a teenage girl as she undressed in her bedroom.
Despite being on bail for that, he continued to offend – forming online "relationships'' with girls aged 14 and 15 after posing as a teenage boy.
He showered them with gifts and compliments and sent them indecent images he had downloaded from the internet.
McGuire also sent graphic and lewd suggestions about sexual activity in messages. In one case, about 4,000 messages had been exchanged between him and one of his victims.
A search of his computer equipment and mobile phone revealed he had stored images of girls aged 10 to 16 and had also saved the details of nearly 200 teenagers. He admitted charges of attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming, causing a child to engage in sexual activity, voyeurism and making and possessing indecent images of children.
Challenging his sentence, McGuire said he was aggrieved at the lack of intervention by his lawyers when prosecuting lawyers read out the facts of the case to the crown court. He also insisted he had been on a website for over-18s, did not have a predilection for under-age girls and said there had been no physical contact between him and his victims.
Dismissing his appeal, Judge Clement Goldstone QC said there was nothing in his complaint about his lawyers and no arguable appeal against the level of his sentence.
Sitting with Lord Justice Elias and Mr Justice Openshaw, he said: "The evidence of his interest in under-age girls is overwhelming, and his denial of its existence indicates the danger that he poses."
People urged not to inundate hospital A&E
People are being urged to do their bit to avoid unnecessary pressure on A&E services at Leicester Royal Infirmary over the bank holiday weekend.
GPs running Leicester City clinical commissioning group (CCG) are urging patients to make sure they have a supply of their prescribed medication and if they do feel unwell to check whether their GP surgery is open or to seek advice from NHS Direct.
They can also get help for minor injuries from an NHS walk-in centre or the urgent care centre at the infirmary.
Dr Avi Prasad, co-chairman of the CCG, said: "I urge people to consider all the options available to them should they need to seek medical advice.
"A&E becomes incredibly busy during public holidays.
"As A&E is only intended to treat those who are seriously ill, these patients will always be treated before those who may turn up with more minor injuries or illnesses, such as coughs, colds and minor cuts.
"We recommend people are prepared by keeping a well-stocked medicine cabinet and familiarise themselves with their nearest pharmacy."
To contact NHS Direct, call 0845 4647. For more, visit:
www.leicestercityccg.nhs.uk
IN THE COURTS
Cases dealt with at Leicester Magistrates' Court include:
Paul Ward (37), of Western Road, off Narborough Road, Leicester, pleaded guilty to attempting to steal three gold bangles from a jeweller's shop on April 28. He was sent to prison for 14 days.
Peter Crawford (52), of Mere Road, Highfields, Leicester, pleaded guilty to racially aggravated threatening behaviour and breaching a restraining order by entering a shop on December 21. He also pleaded guilty to committing a racially aggravated assault on a man on March 2. He was ordered to pay the assault victim £50 with £50 costs and an £80 victim surcharge. He was also given a 16-week prison term suspended for two years.
Charmaine Clarke (28), of Bendbow Rise, Braunstone, Leicester, pleaded guilty to failing to inform the authorities about a change of circumstances affecting her income support payments between July 2010 and March 2012.
She was given an 18-week prison sentence, suspended for two years. She was also ordered to pay £50 costs.
Damien Powdrill (31), of Millers Grange, Broughton Astley, pleaded guilty to stealing perfume from a shop on March 21. He was given an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.
He also pleaded guilty to breaching a community sentence for an earlier offence.
He was given an additional four weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, and told to pay an £80 victim surcharge.
Jason Harris (22), of Narborough Road South, Leicester, and Benjamin Miller (21), of Ashthorpe Road, Braunstone, both pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly on March 24. They were conditionally discharged for six months and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge each.
Lawrence Neale (22), of Lillingstone Close, Markfield, pleaded guilty to driving without a licence or insurance on March 24. He also pleaded guilty to failing to stop for a police officer and to possessing cannabis on the same date.
He was disqualified from driving for six months and ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work in the community. He was also ordered to pay a £60 victim surcharge.