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Kasabian coach deal for Leicester fans going to Hard Rock Calling

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Kasabian are offering fans who want to see them at Hard Rock Calling festival a discount coach package. The Leicestershire band have teamed up with Big Green Coaches to offer hometown fans a discounted ticket bundle to the festival next month. The event will see the local boys become the first band to headline the brand new Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park stadium. Kasabian headline on Saturday, June 29, followed by Bruce Springsteen on Sunday 30. Fans can purchase a Saturday ticket for Hard Rock Calling with a return Big Green Coach journey to and from the event for £49.50 (subject to booking fee) - a saving of £30 per person. To buy the ticket package, visit: http://www.biggreencoach.co.uk/hardrockcalling

Kasabian coach deal for Leicester fans going to Hard Rock Calling


Premiership final tickets on sale for four times face value

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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.

Premiership final tickets  on sale for four times face value

Seven arrests in Hayley Pointon murder inquiry

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Police have arrested seven men in connection with the fatal shooting of a mother-of-two. The men – aged 21, 23, 24, 26, two aged 28 and a 38-year-old – were today being questioned about the death of Hayley Pointon earlier this year. Hayley, 30, died following an incident in Sunnydale Road, Hinckley, at 10.45pm on February 3. A postmortem examination found she died from a single gunshot wound. Police today announced the seven arrests and confirmed the men were in custody where they were being quizzed by detectives. Last week, Hayley's mother, Kerry, issued an appeal for witnesses to come forward. She said: "We appeal for any information to help catch and convict the people or person who took Hayley away from her two young children, family and friends. "This crime cannot go unpunished as we are all suffering each day it continues while we wait for justice. "We will not rest until those responsible are caught and punished. Please come forward – this won't end until justice is done."

Seven arrests in Hayley Pointon murder inquiry

Local cricket: Run-happy Atlantis in County Cup win

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Atlantis produced a spectacular performance to beat Ibstock by 269 runs in the first round of the County Cup. The Atlantis batsmen clocked up the highest score of the round, 329, despite being bowled out in 36 overs of their 40 overs. Asfaaq Patel hit 107, Mubarak Patel 102 and Soyub Patel 65. Pace bowler Younus then took 5-16 off eight overs as Ibstock were skittled for 60. Atlantis secretary Iqbal Haidar Ali said: "We've got some batsmen in good form at the moment, Asfaaq hit about 12 sixes." They will be hoping for a repeat at Market Harborough in the second round. Shree Sanatan Centre and Maher Stars will also represent the Leicestershire League at that stage. Prakash Modha (96) and Kapil Dhabhi (53) helped SSC to 227-8 against Narborough & Littlethorpe. Badal Pandya then took three wickets as the home side were held to 201-7 despite an unbeaten 61 from Nick Cooper. Maher Stars had a walkover against Shepshed Town. But Asian Sports lost by 21 runs to Newbold Verdon of the Senior League. Ryan Wykes (73 not out) and Gareth Bell (58 off 44 deliveries) steered Newbold to 212-5. Mark Wilkinson (4-8) and Joe Cartwright (3-45) reduced Sports to 148-9 before Nimesh Patel (59) and BD Patel (22 not out) ensured a thrilling finish with a last-wicket stand of 43, but it was not quite enough. Leicester Caribbeans are the second Senior League team through after they overhauled Kirby Muxloe's 134 all out with two wickets in hand.

Local cricket: Run-happy Atlantis in County Cup win

Leicester City Council calls for halt on redundancies at primary school

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Education bosses have called for a halt to a controversial staffing restructure at a city junior school. The city council has written to trade unions to confirm it has called for proposals to axe eight teaching assistants at Uplands Junior School, in Highfields, to be put on hold while an independent investigation is carried out into concerns raised by staff and unions leaders. It has also asked governors to suspend headteacher Tim Luckcock while the investigation is carried out. The council's director of learning services, Margaret Libreri, has written to school governors and unions to confirm the council's actions, and to invite them to a meeting to discuss the appointment of an independent investigator. Margaret Libreri said: "Governors are responsible for staffing matters within their school, and we have been advising Uplands' governors for some weeks on the course of action needed. "They have recently agreed that an investigation should be carried out, but we need to ensure that all parties have full confidence in the arrangements. "For this reason we are seeking an urgent meeting with governors and unions to agree the appointment of an independent investigator, with a view to making that appointment by the beginning of next week. "We have also repeated the call we made to governors some weeks ago, to suspend the headteacher – as a neutral act – while the investigation is carried out." Councillor Vi Dempster, assistant city mayor for schools, said: "This situation has already gone on for too long and we are certainly not prepared to let it continue indefinitely. "As a council we have considerable experience and expertise in successfully addressing such situations, and I'm surprised that the governors have not as yet taken the very clear advice offered to ensure a speedy resolution." More than a dozen teachers from the NUT picketed for two hours outside the city school earlier this week, forcing the school to shut for the day. They say plans to axe teaching assistants at the end of the summer term will add to their workload and lead to lower standards. Teaching and support staff at the school launched a formal grievance against Mr Luckcock and chair of governors Abid Matak in March. It called on education bosses at the city council to request their resignation following a number of issues, including the redundancies. Mr Matak said: "It would be a premature decision to suspend any member of staff before the independent investigation has been allowed to take place. Any decision to suspend must be made after careful consideration of the facts and not as a result of pressure being placed upon the governors who must at all times act in the best interests of the school." Mr Luckcock were unavailable for comment.

Leicester City Council calls for halt on redundancies at primary school

Local cricket: Barkby in County Cup giant-killing

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Barkby United landed a first-round giant-killing. The Everards Division One side were emphatic seven-wicket winners at Premier Division Broomleys. Tom Foulds was the mainstay of the Broomleys batting but, when he had reached 71, he had to retire hurt after being hit on an arm by a straight drive while he was the non-striker. David Bates made 47 but Broomleys were restricted to 172-8 off 40 overs with teenage medium-pacer Jack Wood taking three wickets. Skipper Steve Flowers (82) and Ian Kirk (32) gave Broomleys a flying start and they won with 10 balls to spare. Sileby and Market Harborough won the two all-Premier clashes. Sileby restricted hosts Stoughton & Thurnby to 199-3 despite opener Waqas Akhter making an unbeaten 89. Rob Moore (52) and Liam Kinch (55 not out) helped Sileby home with six wickets and nearly four overs to spare. Chris Gordon smashed 123 as Harborough raced to 279-3 against Earl Shilton. Ben Collins (3-14) and his brother Max (2-2) helped to bowl out the visitors for 83. Kibworth and Loughborough Town set up an attractive second-round clash with convincing wins over Division Two sides. Tom Driver took 3-37 as Kibworth bowled out Leicester Banks for 114 and Aamir Mahmood followed up his two wickets with 47 runs as the home side galloped home with eight wickets in hand. Anish Patel scored 116 off 114 deliveries as Loughborough Town raced to 294-4 against Loughborough Carillon, who were held to 134-6 with Alex Relf hitting 42. A third-wicket stand of 103 between James Kirkham (59) and Danny Yeow (53) steered Leicester Ivanhoe to 228 all out at Electricity Sports, who were bowled out for 91 as left-arm spinner Chris Harvey claimed 5-14. An unbroken opening stand of 158 between Chris Davies (89 not out) and Craig Ashcroft (52) booked a 10-wicket victory for Kegworth at Thorpe Arnold. Ramesh Kara's century helped Barrow & Burton to an emphatic win over Enderby. Second-round draw (June 16): Leicester Ivanhoe v Syston or Cropston; Kibworth v Loughborough Town; Lutterworth v Maher Sports; Market Harborough v Atlantis; Sileby v Newbold Verdon; Barrow & Burton v Shree Sanatan Centre; Barkby United v Leicester Caribbeans; Birstall Village or Rothley Park v Kegworth.

No pork found in halal burger test

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No action will be taken against a company accused of supplying halal burgers containing pork to city schools, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has said. Leicester City Council withdrew a lamb burger supplied to 19 schools by Doncaster-based Paragon Quality Foods last month after it claimed tests showed up to 50 per cent pork in a sample burger. However, further tests of the company's products conducted by Doncaster Metropolitan Council have found no trace of pork. A spokeswoman for the FSA said: "We were notified of the findings by Leicester City Council and instructed colleagues at Doncaster Metropolitan Council to liaise with Paragon. "The local authority enforcement officer's role is to investigate whether any contamination has occurred and, if so, identify the possible causes and ways to prevent future occurrences. "We have now received the report from Doncaster and are satisfied that there are appropriate controls in place and no further action needs to be taken in this instance." Peter Dale, director of regeneration and environment at Doncaster Metropolitan Council, said: "We have carried out an extensive programme of formal sampling and so far no traces of meat other than those labelled have been detected." Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation (ESPO), in Leicester, which tested the original burger on behalf of the city council, declined to comment today. Paragon bosses are now considering legal action against Leicester City Council, saying its reputation had been "unfairly damaged". A spokesman for the company said: "The test by ESPO wasn't a formal test under controlled conditions and all other results have come back negative for any traces of pork, therefore we're seeking advice about possible legal action." Leicester City Council was understood to be carrying out further tests on the burgers, the results of which are not yet known. The burger had only been available on its school menus since January and was the only product supplied to the city council by the firm. Regular tests on school food have been carried out on behalf of the council since February, when evidence of horse meat was found in beef products across the country. The council was informed of the burger test results on April 18 and withdrew the product the following day. All other Halal products used in the council's kitchens are supplied by another company, The Punjab Kitchen Ltd, based in Tyneside. Tests have shown they are Halal compliant. Halal food conforms to Islamic dietary guidelines. The guidelines include forbidding Muslims from eating pork.

No pork found in halal burger test

East Midlands Ambulance Service told to raise standards

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More than £3 million is being invested in East Midlands Ambulance Service to help it raise standards. Bosses at Emas, as the service is known, will take on extra staff and buy more ambulances with the money. The news came as the Care Quality Commission (CQC) said that when it last inspected Emas, it found the service was failing to meet three of six key standards. It found some patients were waiting too long for treatment, staffing levels were too low and most Emas employees did not feel supported by their boss. Emas said the extra funding would help it address all of those issues. In its report, the CQC inspectors said staff at one care home had told them it had taken four hours for an ambulance to arrive. They added that an Emas employee had told them staff were "at breaking point", and another had said: "If we all worked to the rules the system would fall apart. More staff and more ambulances are needed across the board." The comments were made when the CQC inspection team spent two days, March 4 and 5, visiting ambulance stations, A&E departments and care homes, and talking to Emas patients and staff. The ambulance service has been given until tomorrow (May 24) to let inspectors know what action they will take to meet the three standards it failed to reach. Earlier this week, it emerged that Emas had suffered a £3.5 million penalty in the 2012/13 financial year for failing to meet one of its response time targets. Although it got to 75 per cent of life-threatening calls within eight minutes as required, it failed to get to 95 per cent of less urgent calls within 19 minutes as required. Despite the penalty, Emas broke even in 2012/13. Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) across the East Midlands which pay Emas have agreed to give it an extra £3.4 million this financial year to help it recruit a further 155 staff and buy more vehicles. A further £3.4million could be available from April 2014, if Emas meets performance standards. Dr Dave Briggs, of East Leicestershire and Rutland CCG, said: "It is vital that patients receive high quality care as swiftly as possible and clearly there is still work to do to ensure that Emas achieves the response standards required." He added: "All our patients can be assured that we have acted and invested to significantly uplift performance." David Farrelly, director of workforce, strategy and transformation at Emas, said a new way of working approved by the Emas board in March "already addresses the three areas which the CQC agree is where action is needed". He added: "For example, in response to needing more staff, the increase in funds from our commissioners means we are actively recruiting more people to work on our frontline so we have more resource to respond to the calls we receive – this is extra to the 140 announced in March. "Our new management structure will provide better support for staff, as will the new and more locally based training facilities and response times are already improving because of the changes we are making." Dr Mike Pepperman, from the Leicester Mercury Patients' Panel, said: "My view is that Emas has recognised areas of concern highlighted by the CQC and has been proactive in looking for solutions to them. "The restructuring that has started has already resulted in some improvements in these areas and hopefully these improvements will continue."

East Midlands Ambulance Service told to raise standards


UPDATE: Teens released after questioning about armed brawl in park

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Police investigating an armed brawl in a Leicester park have questioned three teenagers. The three 16-year-olds were released on bail today after being questioned about a fight in Leicester's Abbey Park on Bank Holiday Monday, earlier this month. Members of the public called police to the park at 6.20pm on Monday, May 6 after they saw a group of men fighting. Some of the callers suggested the men were armed with knives and, in one case, an axe. Police believe up to a dozen men were involved in the running fight Police said yesterday that the investigation into the incident was continuing. The force urged people to contact officers if they saw the incident. Detective Sergeant Ian Warner, of Beaumont Leys police station, said: "We would like to reassure the public that there will continue to be high visibility patrols in the area of Abbey Park and we would still like to speak to anyone who may have information regarding the incident." Contact Pc Richard Wightman on 101 or Crimestoppers, which is anonymous, on 0800 555 111.

UPDATE: Teens released after questioning about armed brawl in park

Golden harvest for Chelsea gardeners

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It has been another golden year for Leicestershire and Rutland's gardeners at the Chelsea Flower Show, with five of this year's crop scooping top awards. Nurseries and garden designers have been showing off their pride and joy to hundreds of thousands of visitors at the Royal Horticultural Society's centenary show, held at the Royal Hospital, in West London. The medal haul includes three gold awards, a silver medal and a silver-gilt flora award. Top of the tree was Rutland gardener Adam Frost – a former Best in Show winner – who earned his fifth Chelsea Flower Show gold medal. The 43-year-old wooed judges with Sowing the Seeds of Change, an ornamental kitchen designed for DIY retailer Homebase, in association with the Alzheimer's Society. Bringing together floral and edible plants, Adam's brief was to show how both can compliment each other and help a younger generation to understand more about the natural world. A delighted Adam, who is based at Barnsdale Gardens, in Exton, said much of his inspiration came from the late Geoff Hamilton, who created the Barnsdale Ornamental Kitchen Garden in 1990 and who Adam trained under in his early years as a gardener. "It was designed with a small family in mind," he said. "The idea was to provide them with a space to enjoy an every-day connection with their food and nature. "I've really enjoyed bringing it to life and would like to thank Homebase for its support." His garden was the setting for a fund-raising tea party for the Alzheimer's Society, at which guests included actress Lynda Bellingham, The Great British Bake Off presenter Mary Berry, TV presenter Ruth Langsford and actor Christopher Biggins. Matthew Compton, of Homebase, said: "We are hugely grateful to Adam for creating the garden with us and we hope Adam's vision and creativity will inspire even the most novice of gardeners to grow some Chelsea magic in their own gardens." It was a double celebration for Barnsdale, which won a silver medal for a display designed by owner Nick Hamilton, son of Geoff. "It's a great way to celebrate both our 30th anniversary and the flower show's centenary," said Nick, 51. The display was based on his father's ornamental kitchen garden at Barnsdale, featuring flowers mixed with organic vegetables such as purple podded peas. "The display really represents what Barnsdale is all about,' said Nick. Husband and wife team Linda and Philip Smith, of Waterside Nursery, Sharnford, also struck gold – their third gold medal in four years – for their aquatic garden, featuring flowering plans, foliage and different coloured water lilies charting the plant's history in Britain over the past 100 years. Philip, 61, who set up the family nursery 17 years ago, said: "We are more than thrilled – we're absolutely delighted! "Three golds in a row is a great achievement, especially for a small village nursery like ours. "We were also nominated for Best in Show and finished in the top five, which isn't too bad at all." A third gold medal went to Philip Tivey & Son, of Syston, for its floral marquee display of cut alstroemeria flowers. Oska Copperfield Nursery, in Birstall, scooped a silver-gilt flora award for its display of chrysanthemums.

Golden harvest for Chelsea gardeners

Man killed in London terrorist attack

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A man has died and two others have been injured in a suspected terrorist incident in London. The attack happened at 2.20pm this afternoon in Woolwich in south east London. According to BBC sources, two people armed with weapons killed a man in the street and the two attackers were then shot by police officers. The local MP Nick Raynsford has said the dead man was a soldier at Woolwich barracks. Mr Raynsford said police have removed a "substantial number of weapons" from the scene, including knives and at least one firearm. Prime minister David Cameron has said the attack was "truly shocking" and the government is reported to be treating it as a suspected terrorist incident. London Ambulance Service confirmed one man had been found dead at the scene and two men had been taken to hospital, one in a serious condition. All three men were described as being in their 20s.

Man killed in London terrorist attack

Store boss in big push for charity

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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

Store boss in big push for charity

Shopping centre's book boost for children

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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."

Shopping centre's book boost  for children

Scientist's prestigious accolade

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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

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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."

'No income' benefits cheat actually banked £220,000


Soldier's 'killers' were known to security services

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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.

Soldier's  'killers' were known to  security services

Snout like a bit of help to restore heathland at popular country park

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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

Snout like a bit of  help to restore heathland at popular country park

Paedophile fails in attempt to have sentence reduced

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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."

Paedophile fails in attempt to have sentence reduced

People urged not to inundate hospital A&E

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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

People urged not to inundate hospital A&E

IN THE COURTS

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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.

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