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CCTV appeal after Leicester attack

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Police have released a CCTV image of a man they would like to speak to in connection with an assault in Leicester city centre. The incident happened on Sunday, April 7, at around 4am outside Club Republic in Gravel Street. The 21-year-old victim came out of the club and was assaulted, resulting in him losing two teeth. PC Sarah Hogan, who is investigating the incident said: "Please take a moment to look at the image of this man. We believe he could have information which will help us with the investigation. I would ask anyone who recognises him, or if it is you, to get in touch with police as soon as possible." Anyone with information is asked to contact PC 4511 Sarah Hogan on 101 and follow the instructions to leave a message for an officer. When prompted, key in her identification number 4511. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers, which is free and anonymous, on 0800 555 111.

CCTV appeal after Leicester attack


It's the big one - Leicester Tigers v Northampton Saints

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More than 130 years of rivalry will reach boiling point today as Leicester Tigers and Northampton Saints meet in the Aviva Premiership final.

A crowd of 82,000 people will hold their breath at kick-off as two sworn enemies clash at Twickenham in the most important one of their 228 meetings.

Millions of people will also be watching on television across the world, while houses and pubs in Leicester and Northampton will be packed to the rafters.

It is going to be the most eagerly-awaited final in the competition's history.

Organisers said this week they could have sold more than 100,000 tickets for the game.

After both clubs shifted their allocation of seats, £70 tickets were selling on the internet for up to £315 each, such was the demand.

Bookies have made Leicester overwhelming favourites to lift a 10th English league title on their ninth consecutive appearance in the Premiership final.

That is on the back of seven consecutive wins over their arch-rivals, the most recent being a 36-8 hammering at Franklin's Gardens just eight weeks ago.

Saints, meanwhile, will have drawn confidence from a semi-final they entered against Saracens as big underdogs, only to come out of it with a resounding victory.

They will believe they can do the same again to Leicester.

Both sides will go into the game at virtually full strength.

In a game where set-piece dominance will be crucial, Tigers lock Geoff Parling will be a key man for his side.

The 29-year-old said: "We all realise that just getting to the final isn't good enough.

"When you win games like this, you remember those days, not just for the rest of your career, but for your life.

"When you lose those games, it's the same in reverse. These are big opportunities for all of us and you have to make the most of them."

It's all or nothing for two clubs who are separated by just 34.6 miles in distance.

There will be nothing on offer for finishing second and there will be no 'next week' to put things right.

It's the big one - Leicester Tigers v Northampton Saints

Fosse Park kidnapper is jailed

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A convicted rapist who kidnapped a shopper outside a supermarket and sexually assaulted her has been jailed for life.

The victim, a 31-year-old mother, was petrified when Paul Simon Smith leapt into the passenger seat of her car outside Asda, at Fosse Park.

He was hooded and was holding a metallic object which she believed to be a weapon.

Smith told her: "If you don't want me to hurt you, you'd better do as I say."

The incident happened at 5.45pm on November 21, after the woman had loaded shopping into her car.

"He told her to go on to Soar Valley Way towards Wigston," Avik Mukherjee, prosecuting, told Leicester Crown Court. "She was terrified, shaking, and didn't know what to do. He told her not to look at his face."

Smith directed her into Aylestone Road and asked for money.

She had spent all her cash and tried to negotiate with him.

He made her stop and get beer he had seen her load into the boot.

They continued the journey and, as he drank from a can, Smith indecently assaulted her by placing his hand on her leg.

Mr Mukherjee said: "She felt sick and was worried he was going to take her to a secluded area and rape her."

She was made to pull over in Middleton Street. They got out of the car, with Smith, of Welford Road, Blaby, holding on to her as if they were a couple.

However, when he slightly released his grip, she broke free, ran down the road, flagged down a passing car for help and the police were called.

Smith made off in her 4x4, which was involved in a crash with another vehicle at 7pm and found abandoned in Blaby at 8.30pm.

Smith (34) admitted kidnap, sexual assault, aggravated vehicle-taking and driving without insurance.

Judge Michael Pert QC said Smith would only be released from prison when the authorities were satisfied he was no longer dangerous.

He said Smith could expect to serve a minimum of three years before parole, on a life licence, would be considered.

Smith was jailed for seven years in 2003 for raping a prostitute in a car, with a screwdriver held against her neck. In 1997, he had been jailed for three years after holding a screwdriver against the throat of another prostitute while he indecently assaulted her.

He also has convictions for burglary and motoring offences.

Judge Pert told Smith: "You're a dangerous offender representing a risk of substantial harm to the public. The victim was understandably terrified that what you had in mind was rape."

Steven Newcombe, mitigating, said: "It was financially motivated. He'd lost his job and hadn't told his partner.

"He made a sexual comment and touched her leg but it went no further."

Fosse Park  kidnapper  is jailed

MATCH DAY LIVE: Leicester Tigers v Northampton Saints, Saturday, May 25, 2.45pm

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It is the biggest day in the Premiership rugby calendar – and the Leicester Mercury website will be covering it live. Leicester Tigers v Northampton Saints in the all-East Midlands Premiership play-off final is one of the most eagerly anticipated for years. Tickets for the Bank Holiday weekend clash at Twickenham in front of an 80,000 crowd are hard to come by, but we will make sure you don't miss any of the action. Matchday commentator James Sharpe will be providing details of all the action and analysis of the game. You will be able to put your questions, views and comments to James during the game through an interactive link on the match commentary or you can tweet him @TheSharpeEnd. Some of those comments and tweets will be shared with the website audience, so please keep them free of abuse. The action will start at 2.45pm on Saturday, May 25, with all the pre-match build-up.

MATCH DAY LIVE: Leicester Tigers v Northampton Saints, Saturday, May 25, 2.45pm

Outrage at Gary Glitter song

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A mum-of four has called on the producers of hit '70s musical Hot Stuff to remove a song by convicted paedophile Gary Glitter. Anne-Marie Newland contacted the Leicester Mercury about the use of I'm the Leader of the Gang after watching the show at Curve last week. She said some theatre-goers walked out after the song was performed. Hot Stuff, a home-grown Leicester musical which started at the city's Haymarket theatre in 1992, features classic '70s and '80s hits including Dancing Queen, I Will Survive, Spirit in the Sky, Fame, We are the Champions, Blame it on the Boogie and Addicted to Love. Anne-Marie, of Stoneygate, Leicester, said although she enjoyed the production, she thought the use of Glitter's song was inappropriate. "Don't get me wrong, it's a brilliant show, absolutely fantastic," she said. "It was good fun, the dancers and singers were amazing and Ceri Dupree (who plays the lead role of Lucy Fur) was absolutely brilliant. "However, they do a medley of songs including one of Gary Glitter's. I sat there feeling very uncomfortable and, really, just couldn't believe what I was hearing." She said her brother, who saw the show on a different night, walked out after Glitter's song was played. "I didn't really know what to do when it came on," she said. "I just don't think they should be playing his songs. He's a convicted paedophile, it's inappropriate. "Surely it wouldn't be that hard to just use a different song? There are many other artists from the era with songs that are just as energetic. It wouldn't be that the show couldn't go on without it. "I don't know if it's a lack of sensitivity or awareness, but I don't think it's right. Especially if he's still making royalties from it." Anne-Marie is now a yoga teacher but used to freelance as a make-up artist in London when she was younger, and was once commissioned to work with Glitter. "I was asked to work on a video shoot with him in the early 1980s," she said. "After everything came out about him afterwards, I felt uncomfortable about that, that I'd worked with him. "I just think it's something that needs to be addressed. Everyone who's seen Hot Stuff knows it's an absolutely brilliant show, but this just gave it a bad feeling. I don't think it would spoil the show if the song was changed." Hot Stuff started its run at Curve on April 20 and finishes tomorrow night. Paul Kerryson, director and co-deviser of Hot Stuff, said: "Hot Stuff is a musical set in the '70s and the musical content of the production reflects the best and worst excesses of the era. "The song in question forms a small section of a glam-rock melody, which has been in Hot Stuff for 21 years."

Outrage at Gary Glitter song

'No flats wanted in our area'

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Residents are battling plans for flats they say will upset elderly people and disturb their close community.

Abraham Property wants to build two blocks, each containing four one-bedroom flats, on land off Evelyn Road, in Braunstone Town.

So far at least 26 objections have been made to the plan – on land previously occupied by garages – submitted to Blaby District Council's planning committee.

Marretta Sutherland, 69, who lives in Evelyn Road, said people were worried about the building work, the size of the flats and potential parking problems.

She said: "We've been here for 36 years and we try to look after the older ones in the street – we're a close community.

"We're very worried for them because of the plan for two-storey blocks behind their bungalows.

"There will be all the noise and the lorries and diggers while it's being built and then afterwards we're worried there will be lots of cars."

Steven Norton, whose elderly uncle lives in Evelyn Road, has also objected on behalf of the elderly residents.

He said: "This has been objected to by a lot of residents because there's no decent access and it overlooks pensioners' homes."

People objecting on the Blaby District Council website have also raised concerns about ambulances and fire engines getting to the flats down the narrow access road.

Others said Evelyn Road already had a high volume of traffic and more flats would add to problems.

Jim Abraham, of Abraham Property, said: "The highways officers are happy with the width of the road and having eight flats instead of 25 garages means far fewer vehicle movements. The upper floors do not overlook the bungalows because they all have roof windows on that side and this is a built-up area that needs new housing.

"I used to live in the area and I had to move out because of the lack of available properties."

'No flats wanted in our area'

Kitchen fire put out by firefighters

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An unattended pan burst into flames causing damage to a city home today. The fire was reported at 11.15am and crews from Leicester's Central Fire and Rescue Station arrived at a home in Knighton Church Road, Knighton, to find the fire well alight. Two firefighters entered the kitchen in breathing masks to put the fire out. The fire caused damage to the kitchen. No one was hurt in the incident.

Kitchen fire put out by firefighters

Hundreds of children take part in cycling event in Leicester

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Hundreds of schoolchildren took part in a bike trip to Curve theatre for day of cycling fun. The children, all aged 10 or 11 years, formed a massive convoy to ride through the city centre to the theatre in Leicester's Cultural Quarter yesterday. They had come from 11 schools across the city and county, where they had recently passed their Level 2 Bikeability training - the modern equivalent of the Cycling Proficiency Test.
The children watched a display of BMX skills by Leicester's UK and European freeride champion Keelan Phillips, tried out some of the unique created by Leicester-based Cyclone Works and were entertained by comedian Tiernan Douieb. They also received their cycling certificates at the event. Piara Singh Clair, assistant city mayor responsible for culture, leisure and sport, said: "Cycling is such an essential skill for children to learn because it is such an effective and fun way to keep fit and active. "This annual schools ride is a fantastic reward for the children who recently passed their Bikeability training and a real celebration of Leicester as a cycle-friendly city. The sight of hundreds of young cyclists riding into the city centre is a wonderful thing." Almost 1,500 children from city schools and around 7,000 from county schools have taken part in Bikeability training in the past 12 months. For more information about cycle training and other cycling initiatives in Leicester visit: www.leicester.gov.uk/cycling

Hundreds of children take part in cycling event in Leicester


Tigers are Premiership champions: Leicester 37 Northampton 17

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Leicester Tigers are Aviva Premiership champions after a 37-17 play-off final victory over Northampton Saints that was full of drama. Leicester skipper Toby Flood did not last the first half because of concussion, while Northampton assistant coach Dorian West, speaking during a pitchside television interview, accused Tigers boss Richard Cockerill of "intimidating" match officials. And Saints captain Dylan Hartley's British and Irish Lions hopes appear to lie in tatters after was sent off for dissent. The England hooker was dismissed during first-half injury time by referee Wayne Barnes for appearing to swear in the official's direction. Hartley had been warned about his conduct just two minutes beforehand. The game ultimately went Tigers' way as wings Niall Morris and Vereneki Goneva, lock Graham Kitchener and Lions centre Manu Tuilagi scored tries, with Flood booting a penalty and conversion and his replacement George Ford kicking four penalties. But Northampton, despite being down to 14 men for half the contest, conjured tries as Stephen Myler, Ben Foden and Lee Dickson all collected touchdowns, with Myler adding one conversion. Leicester deservedly lifted their first Premiership title since 2010 in front of an 81,000 crowd, but it will be overshadowed by Hartley's red card and the ensuing fall-out. Leicester arrived in the final for a ninth successive season, and they paraded a starting line-up featuring six Lions. Hartley was the solitary Lion in Northampton's ranks, but Saints' impressive semi-final victory over Saracens confirmed genuine title pedigree despite finishing fourth following the 22-game regular league season. Leicester, though, flew out of the starting blocks, scoring 10 points in eight points with such authority that Northampton were left wondering what had hit them. Flood kicked a penalty, and then his defence-splitting inside pass sent Goneva clear. Centre Anthony Allen took the move on before Flood teased Saints' defence and timed his scoring pass perfectly to Morris. Flood landed the conversion, and Leicester - 36-8 conquerors of Northampton when the teams last met two months ago - were off and running. But their opponents' response was impressive, hitting back when Dickson took a quick penalty and centre Luther Burrell acted as a strong link to send Myler over. Leicester then suffered a couple of injury scares, firstly when Lions flanker Tom Croft landed on his shoulder after he was lifted in a lineout, before Flood came off second best following a crunching Courtney Lawes tackle. The Leicester coaching staff were left fuming by Lawes' hit, and Flood needed five minutes of treatment until he went off for concussion checks, with Bath-bound Ford taking over from him. Flood's departure temporarily left Leicester disorganised, and the Northampton pack camped inside Tigers' 22 through a series of scrums as it was confirmed Flood would not be returning. But Leicester soaked up the pressure and forged their way back downfield when full-back Mathew Tait sprinted clear into space, and Ford, on his final Tigers appearance, kicked Leicester 13-5 ahead. Northampton, frustrated not to have converted territorial supremacy into points, thought they had claimed a second try five minutes before half-time after Foden powered over the line, but Tigers lock Kitchener got underneath him to prevent a clear-cut touchdown. Television match official Graham Hughes took a long time deliberating before ruling in Leicester's favour, but both Foden and his watching rugby director Jim Mallinder could not believe it. But matters then disintegrated for Saints. Myler, having been told by Barnes, that he could not put a 22-metre restart into touch on the full during injury time, promptly did so and the official went back infield for a scrum. Northampton then infringed, Hartley lost his cool and he received a straight red card, trudging off as Ford kicked the penalty for a 16-5 interval advantage. Foden cut the arrears with a try early in the second half, but that was cancelled out by Kitchener's touchdown before resilient Northampton struck again when Dickson crossed and Myler converted. It was heroic stuff in adversity from Northampton, yet Leicester's numerical advantage had to tell eventually, and scores from Tuilagi and Goneva finished Saints off. Hartley could now face a minimum six-week ban. Rugby Football Union disciplinary bosses are unlikely to take a lenient view, considering he has already served three previous suspensions during his firebrand career. He can expect a disciplinary hearing early next week. The Lions leave London for Hong Kong on Monday, with Hartley currently one of three hookers among a 37-man squad. Lions head coach Warren Gatland, a strict disciplinarian, could now launch an immediate search to replace Hartley. Ireland hooker Rory Best would be favourite to join a trip that is highlighted by three Tests against Australia.

Tigers are Premiership champions: Leicester 37 Northampton 17

Tigers fans celebrate cup win

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Tigers fans in Twickenham and across Leicestershire roared in union as Leicester lifted the premiership cup after thrashing Northampton Saints 37-17. After last year's surprising cup final defeat against the Harlequins it was a easy ride this year for Tigers fans to watch their side stay in the lead from the opening minutes. The Aviva Premiership Final took place on Saturday afternoon at Twickenham in front of an 82,000 sell-out crowd. Hundreds of those who couldn't make it to the capital watched the exhilarating 80 minutes together at the Welford Road Stadium in Leicester. Among them were friends Graham Brown and Mark Marmoy of Wigston. Graham, 46, said: "This win's been a long time coming. Last year we were beaten by the Harlequins and that was hard to swallow. "I've been to Twickenham and seen two defeats in the finals so I stayed away this time but the atmosphere here has been great." Mark, 56, said: "It was a good competitive game. "The thing with the Tigers is they'll always fight for anything, which is what you want." By half-time Tigers were winning 16-5 and they were handed a bonus when Dylan Hartley of the Northampton Saints was given a red car for abusing the referee, leaving them with 14 men on the field. That didn't stop Northampton scoring the first try of the second half but Tigers had the edge and stayed ahead without any major upsets and despite failing to convert most of their tries. Richard Clancy, 55, of Oadby, said: "It was a really good match and I think Northampton made a real game of it. "We've got to give them a lot of credit, especially playing with 14 men for the second half." Leonie Siddons, 60, of Enderby, said: "I loved the whole game and I was expecting the win - what do you expect when it's the Tigers? "I've been down to Twickenham for wins before and I know the atmosphere down there will be unbelievable." Arun Kamal, 52, of Wigston, said: "I think we clearly deserved to win. "We were the stronger side and we played as a team and we played fast. "I didn't have any doubts once the team had been picked." Among the fans watching at Welford Road was former Tigers Academy player Andy Gates, 23, who trained with members of the squad including Manu Tuilagi and Sam Harrison. He said: "It was absolutely fantastic - especially when Manu scored his try. "It was a phenomenal game and they dominated all the way through without a doubt and we knew they were going to win. "I feel like getting the train to Twickenham right now. "Everyone down there will be ecstatic."

Tigers fans celebrate cup win

Leicester Tigers players tell of delight at Premiership title win

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Leicester centre Anthony Allen revealed back-to-back Aviva Premiership final defeats galvanised the Tigers to claim a 37-17 victory against Northampton at Twickenham today. In a final not lacking in controversy when Northampton captain Dylan Hartley was sent off for dissent at the end of the first half, potentially leaving his British and Irish Lions tour in tatters, Leicester overcame their East Midlands rivals to prevail in a bruising encounter. The England hooker was dismissed during first-half injury time by referee Wayne Barnes for appearing to swear in the official's direction after being warned minutes earlier, and could now face a minimum six-week ban. However, Leicester showed their experience on the big stage in what was their ninth successive Premiership final to end their losing streak in the competition's showpiece. Tries from wings Niall Morris and Vereneki Goneva, lock Graham Kitchener and centre Manu Tuilagi, with Toby Flood booting a penalty and conversion before leaving the field with concussion before his replacement George Ford kicked four penalties, sealed the win. Northampton conjured tries from Stephen Myler, Ben Foden and Lee Dickson, with Myler adding one conversion, but it was not to be enough. "It's a bit overwhelming really," Allen told ESPN following the victory. "The last two finals we have come here and lost and it's taken us 12 months to get us back to this point again. "The boys did fantastically well today and we kept fighting. "Saints played well, even with 14 men, and we struggled at times but maybe that was the difference on the day. "Those (final) losses and losses build up so to get the win today was fantastic." Allen, who was named man-of-the-match, also hailed the composure of 20-year-old fly-half George Ford, who replaced captain Flood after he left the field following a crunching tackle by Courtney Lawes. "Flood is a quality player, he's our captain. Fordy was here last year and he's an experienced campaigner now and I thought he stepped up and had a great game," Allen said. "Coming off the bench early doors is always quite tricky so fair play to Fordy, well done." Leicester hooker Tom Youngs, who will tour with brother Ben on the Lions tour to Hong Kong and Australia, said the result is a great send off to departing stalwarts, captain and full-back Geordan Murphy and prop Martin Castrogiovanni. "We work all year and grafted through pre-season so to get to the big stage here and win like that, it's massive," Youngs said. "It wasn't great at times but it was fantastic to pull through and send Geordan Murphy and Castro away like this."

Leicester Tigers players tell of delight at Premiership title win

Eleven people on bail after murder arrest

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All eleven people who have been arrested in connection with the murder of Hayley Pointon have been released on police bail. Hayley, who was 30, died after an incident at an house in Sunnydale Road, Hinckley, at 10.45pm on Sunday, February 3. A post mortem examination confirmed she died from a gun shot wound. Eleven people – 10 men and one woman - have been arrested in connection with her death and have now been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

Eleven people on bail after murder arrest

Mobile speed camera locations this week

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Mobile speed cameras will be in the following locations in Leicestershire this week: A47 Route: Billesdon - East Norton A5199 Bull Head Street, Wigston A6 Glen Road, Oadby A6 Harborough Road, Oadby A47 Uppingham Road, Houghton on the Hill A6 Loughborough Rd, Birstall / Wanlip A512 Ashby Road, Loughborough B5350 Nanpantan Road (30 & 40mph), Loughborough A563 Asquith Way, Leicester A6004 Alan Moss Rd, Loughborough A563 Attlee Way, Leicester B4114 Leicester Rd, Sharnford B581 Broughton Way / Station Rd, Broughton Astley A447 Swannington Rd / Wash Lane / Ibstock Road, Ravenstone B5006 Tamworth Road, Ashby A5199 Welford Road, Leicester Leicester Road, Ibstock B5366 Saffron Lane, Leicester A563 Lubbesthorpe Way, Braunstone A426 Aylestone Road, Leicester A47 Hinckley Road, Leicester Fullhurst Ave / Braunstone Ave, Leicester A5460 Narborough Road, Leicester A6030 Wakerley Road / Broad Avenue, Leicester A47 Uppingham Rd, Leicester (Spencefield Lane) A47 Uppingham Rd, Leicester (Peters Drive) A563 Colchester Rd / Hungarton Blvd, Leicester A607 Melton Rd, Leicester B6047 Route (Market Harborough – Melton) Swithland Lane, Rothley A607 Route (Rearsby By-pass – Melton) A6006 Ling Road, Loughborough Station Road, Glenfield

Mobile speed camera locations this week

Dylan Hartley to miss Lions tour following 11-week ban

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Northampton Saints captain Dylan Hartley will miss the British & Irish Lions tour of Australia after being found guilty of verbally abusing referee Wayne Barnes during the Aviva Premiership final against Leicester Tigers at Twickenham. The hooker was sent off on the stroke of half-time when he called Barnes a "cheat", with a preceding expletive, and has been given an 11-week ban following a hearing this morning. Hartley, who was banned for two weeks last December for striking Ulster's Rory Best, for eight weeks in the 2012 Six Nations for biting Steve Ferris and 26 weeks in 2007 for gouging, had been warned just minutes earlier by Barnes for his conduct towards the referee. At the hearing he pleaded not guilty, as he claimed that his remark was aimed at Tigers hooker Tom Youngs, but the panel found him guilty and determined that this was mid-range on the scale of seriousness. The entry point for mid-range is a suspension of twelve weeks and that was reduced by one week to reflect his good conduct at the hearing. He is suspended from today (May 26) until July 6, and from August 17 to August 31, and free to play again on September 1. The case was heard at Epsom Downs Holiday Inn by a panel of His Honour Judge Jeff Blackett, Jeremy Summers and Peter Budge. Judge Blackett said: "We cannot get around the fact that Wayne Barnes was certain that Mr Hartley's comments were directed at him. Wayne Barnes said that if he had had any doubt in his mind, then he would have given the player the benefit of the doubt. "In terms of sanction, calling a referee a cheat is an attack on his integrity and contrary to the core values of rugby and therefore we have taken a serious view and provided a serious sanction."

Leicester City youngsters win Hong Kong 7s

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Leicester City's youngsters roared to victory in the Hong Kong Football Club Citibank International Soccer Sevens with a 2-0 victory over Newcastle United in the final. In a rematch of their Group B clash, which Newcastle won 2-0, City locked horns with the Magpies following a 1-0 semi-final victory over another north-east side, Sunderland. But it was to be all so different this time around, as they surged into a 2-0 lead before half-time - Michael Cain's third-minute volley giving them an early lead before Harry Panayioutou doubled the advantage. Newcastle had no answer for City in the second half, as they saw out the 2-0 win to go one better than last year's Shield Final victory, by claiming the overall prize in impressive fashion. The team had made it out of a tricky Group B as runners-up on goal difference, having beaten Southern 2-0, sharing the points with HKFC Captain's Select in a 1-1 draw and being edged out by group winners Newcastle 2-0 on Saturday. That set up a quarter-final tie with one of the tournament favourites, Aston Villa, however City flew out of the blocks to take a stunning 3-0 lead into half-time of the seven-a-side match. Jak McCourt scored early on with an unstoppable curling effort into the corner to make it 1-0, before fellow academy prospect Panayiotou added two more strikes to give City a seemingly unassailable lead. However in keeping with the exciting football played in the world-famous seven-a-side competition, Villa came back strongly after the break to set up a grandstand finish. Jack Grealish started the fight back with two goals in two minutes, before Jerell Sellars leveled with two minutes left on the clock, sending the game into extra-time, where teams are reduced to just four players each with the 'golden goal' rule coming into play. Fortunately for City, they took just 30 seconds of extra-time to find that decisive strike, and it came through the academy's player of the season, Cain, whose neat finish sealed a sudden death victory in dramatic fashion. That result set up a tough semi-final against another one of the tournament favourites in Sunderland, but the squad of Adam Smith, Alie Sesay, Tom Hopper, Panayiotou, Cain, Eddy Samba, Jacob Blyth, George Taft, Rob Paratore, Jamie Anton and McCourt booked their spot in the final with a 1-0 win.

As others stood by, I saw what I had to do

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Hayden Beszant knows that if he had not done first aid training, he would have been just another bystander when he came across a crash between a motorcycle and car.

But instead of having to stand aside, wishing he knew what to do, the 18-year-old St John Ambulance volunteer was able to act on his instinct to help.

Hayden, a Leicester College student, and his father were driving to his sister's house when they came across the scene in Saffron Lane, Leicester, two months ago.

The motorcyclist, a takeaway delivery driver, was lying in the road.

Hayden, from Aylestone, said: "When I saw the biker lying in the road I shouted to my dad to stop.

"There were a few people gathered around him but no one else had any first aid knowledge, so I immediately took control of the situation.

"Someone asked if the car should be moved but I said to leave it where it was as it was blocking the lane from oncoming traffic and protecting me and the injured biker."

The first thing Hayden did was to check that someone had called 999 to request an ambulance.

Then the teenager, who is hoping to become a fully-trained paramedic, spoke to the motorcyclist to find out what injuries he had.

"He was complaining of back pain from top to bottom so I asked my dad to hold his head still and together we did this, as well as reassuring the patient, until emergency help arrived," said Hayden.

"Witnesses said that the biker had travelled about a metre in the air after coming off his bike.

"I feared he might have suffered spinal injuries so obviously wanted to keep his head and neck completely still until he could be checked in hospital."

A fast responder paramedic arrived and Hayden helped care for the patient until an ambulance arrived.

Hayden became a St John Ambulance volunteer in September last year, and is a member of the Southfields Unit.

He regularly provides first aid at public events including Leicester City matches, rugby matches and events in the city centre.

"As a St John Ambulance first aider I obviously wanted to use my skills to help the injured biker," he said.

"More people need to know the basics, it could mean the difference between life and death.

"On the day of the accident, there were five or six people around the patient but apart from me not one of them knew what to do. If I hadn't been there and no one had first aid knowledge the patient's condition could have deteriorated and the situation might have been very different."

Recent research by St John Ambulance shows that fewer than one in five people in Leicester knows even basic first aid.

Nick Reynolds, a paramedic with East Midlands Ambulance Service, said: "Knowing what to do in an emergency is vital.

"Hayden was aware of his surroundings and any potential new risks. He was in control and took action to prevent further injury to the motorcyclist.

"Having asked questions of those who witnessed the incident, he armed himself with important information to help our paramedics give the best possible care on scene and throughout the journey to hospital."

As others stood by, I saw what   I had to do

Work begins on city street improvement

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Work on a £250,000 revamp of a street in Leicester city centre starts this week.

Berridge Street – a short stretch that connects Pocklington's Walk with Grey Friars – is to be refurbished as part of city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby's £19 million Connecting Leicester scheme for the city centre.

The existing footways will be reconstructed with block paving, with the pavement on the west side of the street widened.

The road will be resurfaced with red asphalt, with a traditional raised kerb constructed from pink granite.

Construction materials will match those used in the refurbishment of Cank Street, Loseby Lane and Silver Street.

Work is expected to take 10 weeks. Six on-street parking spaces will be lost.

Berridge Street will be closed to traffic while work is carried out, although access will be maintained for deliveries.

Sir Peter said: "The improvements to Berridge Street are a key part of our wider plan to reconnect the city centre with Leicester's historic old town.

"By creating more attractive routes such as this, we want to help people rediscover the city's many historical and architectural treasures."

No objections to the changes were received.

Tigers triumph in game full of drama

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Leicester Tigers named an unchanged side for Saturday's final as they went in search of their 10th Aviva Premiership title.

Here is how the action unfolded.

3min: PENALTY 3-0 Tigers have the first chance to get some points. Toby Flood takes his time before striking the ball cleanly over the posts.

8min: TRY 10-0 Excellent work from Toby Flood as his inside pass to Niki Goneva sees the winger break through the Saints line. The ball is recycled and Flood makes another break before looping a delightful pass over to Niall Morris, who is in acres of space on the right and he strolls over the line. Flood makes no mistake with his kick.

16min: TRY 10-5 Saints are awarded a penalty just inside the Tigers half. They take it quickly through Jamie Elliott and catch Tigers cold. He draws his man, spins the ball out left to Stephen Myler who gets over in the left corner. His conversion drifts wide.

23min: Flood is out cold after being caught by a late tackle from Courtney Lawes. The Tigers fly-half had already made his pass when he got taken out and it looks as if his head struck Dan Cole's knee on the way down.

25min: Flood eventually gets to his feet but he is all over the place and it is Ben Youngs who will take the penalty from the 10m line. His kick finishes a good distance wide.

30min: Flood is unable to continue and leaves to field to be replaced by George Ford.

32min: PENALTY 13-5 Great break from Mathew Tait sees him charge out of his own half and deep into the Saints 22 and Tigers are awarded a penalty at the breakdown. New fly-half Ford knocks the ball over the posts.

35min: Tigers defence is left wide open as George Pisi finds Jamie Elliott, who releases the ball back inside to Ben Foden before he is taken into touch and he dives over the line. Referee Wayne Barnes checks with his TMO and, after a lengthy viewing, Foden is deemed to have been in touch before he grounded the ball. No try.

40min: RED CARD Huge, huge drama at Twickenham as Saints captain Dylan Hartley is shown a straight red card. Tigers were awarded a penalty following a scrum in front of the Saints posts and Hartley is alleged to have called Barnes a "******* cheat" and is sent off.

40min: PENALTY 16-5 Despite the crazy scenes, there is still a game going on and Ford knocks the penalty over.

H-T: Tigers 16 Saints 5

44min: TRY 16-10 It is definitely not the start to the half Tigers wanted as 14-man Saints get off to a flyer. Foden was left with a free passage to the corner. Myler misses the conversion.

48min: TRY 21-10 Great response from Tigers to hit straight back. Brilliant work from Ben Youngs, who dived on the loose ball as it was fumbled out the back of the scrum. The ball finds Graham Kitchener, who has an overlap to his right, but the lock shows off his footwork to cut inside, beat his man, and dive over the line. Ford is off-target again with his kick.

56min: PENALTY 24-10 Tigers butcher an easy chance to put another try on the board when Ford makes a brilliant break to the 5m line but they can't take advantage. The play is brought back for a late tackle earlier in the play. Ford miskicks but somehow it hits the post and goes over.

57min: TRY 24-17 Foden again is at the heart of the Saints action as he skips his way past tackle after tackle, before offloading to Lee Dickson on the 5m line who dives over. The conversion is a simple one and there are only seven points in it now.

68min: TRY 29-17 Manu Tuilagi smashes his way through a tackle more than 30 metres out and charges home to give Tigers their third try of the afternoon. Ford misses yet another conversion.

74min: TRY 34-17 Steve Mafi has been on the field less than 30 seconds and he has all but put the game to bed with his first touch as he intercepts a high ball, sprints towards the line, before off-loading to Goneva who dives over.

80min: PENALTY 37-17 A final kick from Ford from inside the Saints half finishes the game off in style as Tigers go to the final whistle with a 20-point lead to secure the Premiership trophy and confirm themselves as England's best.

F-T: Tigers 37 Saints 17

MORE PICTURES FROM TIGERS' TRIUMPH AT TWICKENHAMLeicester Tigers fans at TwickenahamLeicester Tigers v Northampton Saints - action from the matchLeicester Tigers v Northampton Saints - players celebrate

Tigers triumph in game full of drama

One of the best finals – verdict on Leicester Tigers v Northampton Saints clash

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A wonderful game on a memorable occasion soured by bitter controversy.

Tigers and director of rugby Richard Cockerill can enjoy their summer after ending a run of two consecutive defeats in Twickenham finals.

Departing duo Geordan Murphy and Martin Castrogiovanni lifted a 10th English title for Tigers on their ninth consecutive appearance in the final.

A truly incredible achievement.

The faces of the players at the final whistle were a mixture of relief and utter joy – and a huge following of fans must have felt the same way.

This was the sweetest of victories in a game against their local rivals they simply could not afford to lose. But, boy, there was some drama along the way.

Seven tries lit up a breath-taking rollercoaster ride of a contest with punch and counter-punch making for a great occasion.

But the red card given by referee Wayne Barnes to Saints' skipper Dylan Hartley on the stroke of half-time was the talking point of the game.

It dominated both club's press conferences and barely a player got by any post-match interview without being asked for his opinion on it.

Just two minutes after receiving a stern talking to by Barnes for his behaviour, Hartley was dismissed for calling the official a "cheat", prefixed by a swear word.

The hooker claimed later that he was aiming his abuse at opposite number Tom Youngs after Leicester had just won a penalty in the scrum.

But video evidence showed him look in Barnes' direction as he said it. Youngs, meanwhile, was flat on the floor out of shot.

It left Saints with 14 men for the second half and a mountain to climb.

The decision played a part in Northampton's defeat. But Tigers were leading 16-5 at half-time anyway and that would have been a big lead to drag back with 15 men.

The real tragedy of the saga was that it took attention away from one of the best finals ever witnessed at HQ.

It fizzed with passion, flowed at breakneck speed and was riddled with incident, big hits and marvellous tries.

This was two sides who were intent on playing expansive, attractive rugby and they put on a tremendous show for a full house.

Tigers were also without their skipper for most of the match after he left with concussion on 23 minutes following a big hit from Courtney Lawes.

The legality of the hit was borderline. A penalty? Probably. A yellow card? Probably not. Flood was completely knocked-out by Dan Cole's knee as he tried to jump over his captain and George Ford entered the fray.

At that stage, Saints had recovered from an early 10-0 deficit on the back of Niall Morris' finish from Flood's gorgeous long pass, to make it 10-5 after Stephen Myler's score.

Saints began to enjoy territory and possession and a Ben Foden try was ruled out by Graham Kitchener's huge hands on 34 minutes holding the ball up long enough for Foden's foot to go into touch.

It was 13-5 when Ford missed a penalty with time expired in the half and Myler bizarrely kicked the re-start dead after Barnes had told him not to.

Tigers won a penalty at the resulting scrum and Hartley's frustration boiled over. As he trudged off in disgrace, Ford made it 16-5 at the break.

A man down, Saints showed tremendous guts to win the third quarter of the game 12-8 with tries from Foden on 43 minutes and the excellent Dickson on 56. At the other end, the equally excellent Kitchener scored for Leicester and Ford hit a penalty to make it 24-17.

It was blow-for-blow and anyone's game at that stage – but Saints began to tire.

Both sides' line-outs were really struggling but, crucially, Leicester were on top in the scrum where Logovi'i Mulipola had a huge game against Brian Mujati and Cole forced Soane Tonga'uiha into numerous indiscretions.

On 66 minutes, Manu Tuilagi delivered the killer blow by handing off Tom Wood and running in from 30 metres and when Niki Goneva scored Tigers' fourth try on 73 minutes, that was that.

Tigers celebrated in style and deservedly lived for a wonderful moment.

The debate around the game's main talking point, will, however, last a lot longer.

MORE PICTURES FROM THE AVIVA PREMIERSHIP TRIUMPHLeicester Tigers fans at TwickenahamLeicester Tigers v Northampton Saints - action from the matchLeicester Tigers v Northampton Saints - players celebrate

One of the best finals –  verdict on Leicester Tigers v Northampton Saints clash

Leicester Tigers' present side are among the greats – Richard Cockerill

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Leicester Tigers are once again the pride of the country after winning a 10th English league title.

Director of rugby Richard Cockerill heaped praise on those players who have written their own chapter in the club's rich history.

Tries from Niall Morris, Graham Kitchener, Manu Tuilagi and Niki Goneva earned Tigers a thrilling 37-17 win over rivals Northampton Saints in front of a sold-out Twickenham crowd of nearly 82,000.

And Cockerill believes the players who earned that win have "no idea how good they are".

"We talk about yesteryear and all of those great players who have worn the shirt here – and so we should because that is important – but these guys are part of that now," said Cockerill.

"They are part of the history at this club because they have won the Premiership. This is one of the biggest clubs in the world and they are the club, along with the supporters.

"Sometimes, these players don't realise just how good they are.

"Winning titles doesn't just magically happen. Players have to work hard to achieve that and that was the same for me and people like Dean Richards and Peter Wheeler going back through the years.

"This team are champions of England and they have earned the right to be called that.

"I am pleased for them because the expectation here is so big that it weighs heavily on everybody's minds.

"It is great to be able to match that expectation because it is a very tough ask when you are expected to be champions every year."

On a dramatic afternoon, Leicester lost skipper Toby Flood to concussion after just 23 minutes and Saints had their skipper Dylan Hartley sent off on the stroke of half-time for calling referee Wayne Barnes a "cheat".

Hartley was suspended for 11 weeks yesterday meaning his red card has ended hopes of playing for the British & Irish Lions this summer.

Leicester Tigers' six British & Irish Lions were all passed fit to fly out with the squad later today, while lock Ed Slater will join up with the England squad and head to Argentina later this week.

MORE PICTURES FROM THE AVIVA PREMIERSHIP TRIUMPHLeicester Tigers fans at TwickenahamLeicester Tigers v Northampton Saints - action from the matchLeicester Tigers v Northampton Saints - players celebrate

Leicester Tigers' present side are among the greats – Richard Cockerill

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