A campaign has been launched to try to preserve a historic college building as a seat of learning.

Leicester Civic Society has expressed "grave concern" at plans announced by the University of Leicester to withdraw from Vaughan College, which it runs, and transfer adult education courses to its main campus, from September.

The university has argued the move will give students better access to facilities closer to University Road.

However, the civic society, which acts as a heritage watchdog in the city, is set against the proposal and is urging people to get behind its campaign to save the college.

Chairman Stuart Bailey said: "We are extremely alarmed to learn of proposals by the university to close the Vaughan College building.

"The unique educational environment of the Vaughan College would be lost and this would be a major cultural loss to the city.

"The closure itself is, in our opinion, a wholly negative and retrogressive move."

Vaughan College has been in the centre of Leicester since 1862. It moved to its current location, which it shares with Jewry Wall museum, in 1967.

The building, designed by Trevor Dannatt, was purpose built for the college and is grade II-listed.

The university's adult education provision, offered through its Institute of Lifelong Learning, is split between Vaughan College site and the campus.

The civic society is also concerned at what the move would mean for the Jewry Wall museum, located next to Vaughan College.

Mr Bailey said: "The Jewry Wall museum is the only purpose-built museum in the city.

"We also understand Leicester museums and arts service is working with the Friends of Jewry Wall on refurbishment and redevelopment proposals for 2014."

However, the university said Jewry Wall would be unaffected by the move.

Mr Bailey has written to Professor Sir Robert Burgess, university vice-chancellor, and Professor Mark Thompson, manager of the transfer project, urging them to reconsider.

He is urging supporters to do the same.

A spokesperson for the university said: "We share the hope an appropriate future role for the building can be found.

"The university remains committed to adult education and will unify its provision of lifelong learning and adult education on its main campus from September."

To back the civic society campaign, visit:

www.leicestercivic society.org.uk/campaign

Lacey Smith was made to feel like a princess yesterday, after winning a bag of goodies.

The 23-month-old was the daily spot prize winner at our Baby and Toddler of the Year competition photography session, receiving a prize from designer childrenswear store, Jellyrolls.

Her mum, Jade Smith, 22, of Thurmaston, said: "She was in the finals last year, I'm hoping for a win this year."

The goody-bag included a £25 gift voucher, a bracelet, a light-up pen and a teddy bear.

Hayley Girardier, the owner of Jellyrolls, in High Street, Leicester, said: "We have so many cute kiddies coming into the store, we're really excited to be involved with the competition."

Each year, about 2,000 tots take part in our competition, and we're expecting similar numbers this year. As well as vying for cash from our £3,000 fund, including a top prize of £1,500, parents taking their youngsters to be photographed can also win one of the daily spot prizes, as Lacey did yesterday.

The studio, between H&M and Goldsmiths on the upper floor in Leicester Highcross shopping centre, is open from 9.30am to 5pm Monday to Saturday, and 11am to 4pm on Sundays.

To take part, take along one of the coupons appearing in the Leicester Mercury every day.

Entry is free and parents get the chance to pick which shot of their child is entered into the contest and can also buy the professional photographs.

The categories are: nine months and under, 10 to 18 months, 19 to 36 months and three to five years.

For more information, visit our Facebook page, leicestermercury, or see:

www.leicestermercury.co.uk/ babyoftheyear

British & Irish Lions hooker Tom Youngs has described his 2012-13 campaign as "ridiculous".

The 26-year-old Leicester Tiger fit more into last season than most players manage in a whole career.

It began with his first start in the No.2 shirt for his club, included a debut England cap, a start in a Grand Slam decider, an Aviva Premiership winners' medal and ended with starts in two of the Lions' three Tests during the victorious series in Australia.

The Norfolk farm boy's stock has taken a dramatic rise during the past 10 months and now, with his arduous season over at last, it has finally given Youngs time for reflection.

He said there are many people who played a part in what has been a dramatic transformation.

"It's been a ridiculous year and it has been difficult for it to sink in, because as you go from game to game, you don't get time to think about it," he said.

"When I get my down time, it was will sink in and I will probably say to myself, 'Yeah, that was a pretty special season'.

"Lots of people have been important in that, and have always been there for me. Glenn Delaney, at Nottingham, was great when I was playing there and learning my trade.

"Then there are the players at Tigers, like George Chuter, who was just outstanding with me, and the likes of Dan Cole and Boris Stankovich, too.

"I used to stand over their shoulders and watch them scrummage, asking them questions all of the time.

"Even if it was the most stupidest question in the world, they wouldn't laugh, they would just help me out.

"Then there is Geoff Parling, running the line-out and helping me to get an understanding of that. I have learned a lot from these guys.

"I can credit Leicester Tigers and Richard Cockerill for sticking by me, too.

"I remember when we played Harlequins at home last season and we lost three line-outs on the trot, five metres away from their line. At least two of them were my fault.

"I came off that pitch at the end of the game feeling horrendous that we had lost the game, and I thought I wouldn't play again for a while.

"But Cockers came up and said that he would be sticking with me.

"It showed a lot of character and belief in me to make that decision.

"He has been fantastic for me, stuck with me and not pulled me down.

"He has just let me get on with it and known that I will improve."

The only problem Youngs faces now is topping his previous 10 months when the 2013-14 campaign starts in September after a well-earned rest. But the son of former Tigers scrum-half Nick and brother of current scrum-half, Ben, has proved his is not shy of a challenge.

"When you look back on games like the Quins one, you enjoy those (bad) days because they test your mind and prove how strong a character you are," he said.

"It's good to take on such a big challenge and you have to learn from those experiences. There is no point in dwelling on them. I had to find out what was wrong with my technique and go and work on it.

"As a player, at whatever level, you have to learn from your mistakes."

A man who used blunt scissors to cut ducks' wings to stop them flying away has been banned from keeping birds for five years.

Jonathan Bowes was also fined £1,500 yesterday after he admitted eight charges, including two of causing unnecessary suffering to ducks.

Prosecutor Kevin McCole told Loughborough Magistrates' Court the investigation into Bowes started when wildlife officer Pc Neil Hughes bought two wigeon ducks from Bowes at Melton waterfowl market on April 12 last year, after a tip-off.

The officer took the birds to a vet, who said the adult ducks had fresh wounds and had their wings pinioned – cut to stop them flying away.

Mr McCole said Bowes, of Main Street, Knipton, near Melton, admitted he usually used a pair of blunt scissors to pinion ducks' wings and did not use an anaesthetic or consult a vet.

"The vet said it's tantamount to a small finger being cut and being removed on a person's hand," said Mr McCole.

"It would cause unnecessary suffering to the bird."

The law states the procedure must only be carried out by a veterinary surgeon. Any bird pinioned after the age of 10 days old must be properly anaesthetised.

Bowes admitted two counts of pinioning wigeon ducks without anaesthetic.

Mr McCole also told the court Bowes took £10,000 a year off two men who came to shoot at his 500 ducks sitting on a rented lake at Wildberry Farm in Landyke Lane, Holwell.

On the day of the bird sale at Melton market, Bowes had eight wigeon and four tufted ducks available to buy.

He did not have documentation proving they were captive-bred birds and not wild birds.

Mr McCole said: "It is the prosecution's case these were wild birds."

Bowes pleaded guilty to three charges of selling, or offering for sale, wild birds, and one of using a spring trap to catch wild birds, as well as the two counts of causing unnecessary suffering.

Police officers executed a warrant at the site in Landyke Lane, Holwell, on May 14 last year. They found many birds with bleeding and injured wings after being pinioned.

Max Duddles, defending, said his client did not realise he was breaking the law.

During the search warrant, officers also discovered two spring traps which Bowes had been using to catch jackdaws which tried to nest in the duck nest boxes.

The traps are designed to kill rabbits humanely but it is illegal to use them to kill birds.

Bowes admitted the traps had caught some of his own birds in the nest boxes.

His ban has been suspended for 28 days while he makes alternative arrangements for birds still in his care.

Bowes was also ordered to pay £5,000 court costs.

People have flocked to donate money in memory of a woman who died as she tried to swim the English Channel to raise money for sick and dying children.

Susan Taylor, of Barwell, was a mile from the French coast when she became ill on Sunday afternoon.

Her paramedic brother David, who was in the support boat, pulled her out of the water and battled to save her.

A French navy helicopter flew Susan to hospital in Boulogne-sur-Mer, but she was declared dead at 7pm. The 34-year-old accountant, who had set off from Dover in the early hours, was raising money for Rainbows children's hospice, in Loughborough, and Diabetes UK.

As news of Susan's death spread, her fund-raising totals for the charities soared.

Comedian and Channel swimmer David Walliams – one of Susan's inspirations – gave £1,000.

Susan's father, Arthur Wright, 68, of Barwell, said he was "devastated".

He said: "I've lost the best person in the world. She was just wonderful."

He said his daughter, whose husband and coach Stephen was on the support boat, had given up her full-time job to carry out charitable work.

She had also done wing-walking and a parachute jump.

Mr Wright last saw his daughter on Friday night. "I saw her to say I hope it goes well and gave her a kiss," he said.

A message announcing the tragic news to Susan's friends and fans was posted on her Facebook page, Create a Ripple Channel Swim.

It read: "While attempting to swim the English Channel yesterday my sister, Susan, collapsed suddenly in the water.

"She was immediately recovered from the water and treated on the support boat. She was airlifted to a hospital.

"Susan tragically passed away. Thank you for your messages of support.

"If you would like to leave a sign of respect, please feel free to donate to her fund-raising page."

Mr Walliams urged his 1.2 million Twitter followers to donate to her appeal.

Susan Taylor from Stuart Ritchie on Vimeo.

Susan had said on her fund-raising page fewer than 1,000 people had completed the 21-mile cross-Channel swim, while more than 3,000 had conquered Everest.

She said: "I've had an ambition to follow in comedian David Walliams's strokes and swim the channel since childhood.

"As a child, I did a sponsored five-mile swim and the seed of the idea of swimming the English Channel was sown then.

"Tankers and ferries are the least of my worries, as my biggest fear is jelly fish."

Rainbows chief executive Geoff Ellis said: "Susan was a wonderful woman who would do anything for anybody. She has been a much-loved ambassador at Rainbows for more than two years.

"All of the young people, families, staff and volunteers at Rainbows are devastated."

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said Susan was swimming under the guidance of the Channel Swimming Association when she got into difficulty at about 5.30pm.

The fortune of Leicester City's wealthy owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha has rocketed to just over an estimated £1billion.

That is the new estimate reported in Forbes, the acclaimed American business magazine.

It estimates Srivaddhanaprabha's wealth has risen from $240million, a year ago, to $1.6bn due mainly to increased tourism to Thailand.

Srivaddhanaprabha's duty-free airport shops and retail stores have seen massive increases in profits, under the King Power brand.

Forbes say King Power's profits rose by 35 percent last year, coupled with new information on his shareholdings, to take Srivaddhanaprabha from 37th to 11th in the rich list of the most wealthy in Thailand. The 55-year-old bought City nearly three years ago and has invested an estimated £100m in the club, including purchasing the stadium for £17m through his company K Power Holdings.

Srivaddhanaprabha, a father of four, including son and City vice-chairman Aiyawatt, has repeatedly pledged to invest in City to get the club into the Premier League, although the introduction of Financial Fair Play regulations has restricted the amount he can invest in the squad this season.

Previously known as Raksriaksorn, he was bestowed with the honorary name Srivaddhanaprabha, which means 'light of progressive glory' by the king of Thailand.

Meanwhile, manager Nigel Pearson has been putting his City side through their paces during a training camp in Austria.

The squad flew out on Sunday to the state of Styria and will be met by City players Kasper Schmeichel and Sean St Ledger, who were given additional time off after being on international duty.

David Nugent has also travelled as he continues his recovery from a calf injury he picked up early on in pre-season training, while Danny Drinkwater has also returned after missing Friday night's friendly win at Leamington for family reasons.

Striker Jermaine Beckford is not with City as he closes in on his protracted move to Bolton.

The deal had stalled but Trotters chairman Phil Gartside said the deal would be completed in a matter of days.

Today, we launch the search for the greatest ever Leicester City team of all time. It is likely to be a controversial journey as we whittle down the total of more than 1,000 who have donned the City shirt to just 11.

The first step has been to produce a shortlist of goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, strikers and managers for our team playing a 4-3-3 formation.

The criteria for selection was that, although there was no minimum number of appearances, it was the player's form while playing for City that was paramount.

Therefore, players such as Dion Dublin, Martin Keown and Roberto Mancini did not qualify for our shortlist as they were in the twilight of their careers when at City.

No current players were considered, and neither was manager Nigel Pearson. Time and another generation will judge their place in history.

There is also a skew towards the modern game as the physical demands and training have increased in the game, although some players would have been stars in any era.

It is difficult to compare players of different generations, but here goes. We'll start with the goalkeepers.

Cyclists are demanding safety improvements at a busy junction which they say is putting riders' lives at risk.

About a year ago, Leicester City Council installed contra-flow cycle lanes in Granby Street, but cyclists say they have created an unintended danger at its junction with Northampton Street.

The Leicester Cycling Campaign Group (LCCG) said motorists turning right out of Northampton Street on to the one-way Granby Street often do not expect riders to be coming the other way on the green cycle path.

LCCG spokesman Eric Ludlow said there had been a string of near misses between startled riders and drivers because of the confusing set-up and he feared a cyclist could die if it is not altered.

He said: "The contra-flow cycle lane is an excellent idea, but there is a desperate need to make changes where it crosses Northampton Street.

"Motorists are simply not expecting to see anyone approaching from their right, as they know Granby Street is one-way for motorised traffic.

"At the same time, cyclists think they are safe as they are riding in a designated cycle lane. It's an accident waiting to happen.

"We warned the council about the dangers when the cycle lane opened, but nothing has been done. I just hope it doesn't take the death of a cyclist to make change come about.

"Drivers often cruise out of that junction without stopping. If a stop sign was put up for cars exiting Northampton Street it would be much safer.

"The junction could also be altered to make the turn more 90 degrees, stopping the cars rolling out without looking."

Liam Dunphy, managing director of the Ebike Electric Cycle Centre, on the junction, said: "Since we opened, four months ago, I don't think a day has gone by without seeing a near-miss.

"Cars barely seem to slow down. The junction needs to be redesigned to force them to do so, otherwise someone is going to be killed.

"I have to say, cyclists do not help themselves sometimes because they come hurtling down the street. They think they have a clear run on a cycle lane but they are going too fast."

A city council spokesman said there have been no accidents at the junction involving cyclists in the past five years, though it was aware of concerns. He said: "We are aware of concerns about the safety of cyclists at this junction. Improved signage was installed about 12 months ago to remind motorists of their responsibility to give way.

"We are also looking at extra options to reduce speed and road danger for people travelling by foot, bicycle or car, while maintaining essential access for large vehicles."

Campaigners mounted an 11th-hour protest against a grandmother being deported to Zimbabwe.

An outspoken critic of the Mugabe regime, Evenia Mawongera fears she will be in danger if she is put on a plane to Harare tomorrow.

The 55-year-old is in detention and her lawyers are lodging an appeal against a Home Office order to remove her from Britain.

More than 1,000 people have signed a petition imploring Home Secretary Theresa May to quash the deportation order.

Yesterday, members of the Zimbabwe Association Choir sang in the Town Hall Square as supporters gave out flyers and urged people to sign the petition.

Ambrose Musiyiwa, a University of Leicester student who is supporting the family, said: "She has lived in Leicester for 10 years and is part of the community. She has told the UK Border Agency she has been outspoken against the Zimbabwe government and fears being persecuted when she returns.

"The intelligence service in Harare will know her when she steps off the plane."

The mother-of-two, who has four grandchildren and is an active member of the Methodist Church in Leicester, is in a detention centre in Bedfordshire and has been told she will be removed from the UK tomorrow.

She is hoping a last-minute appeal will win her the right to remain in the UK.

Ambrose said: "I spoke to her and she is in shock and distress because her family is about to be split up."

She fled persecution in Zimbabwe 10 years ago and settled in Leicester, joining her two daughters, who had been granted leave to stay in the UK after completing their studies here.

She had made a number of unsuccessful applications for leave to remain here.

Ambrose said: "We want Theresa May to release Evenia from the Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre and allow her to return to her family in Leicester while she fights her case."

He said additional names were due to be added to the petition after it was circulated in Leicester churches on Sunday.

Susan Skyrme, of the Leicester City of Sanctuary asylum seekers support group, said: "Evenia is a very popular member of our group. We believe she deserves to be granted asylum status because she faces very real danger if she is returned to Zimbabwe."

One of her daughters, 33-year-old Loreen Mawongera, said she and her sister were very worried about what awaits their mother should she be deported.

She said: "We want her to be allowed to come back to Leicester while we appeal against her removal."

Leicester West MP Liz Kendall said she had taken up the case with the Immigrations Minister. She said: "I am very concerned by Evenia's case, particularly the claim she would be at grave risk of arrest, persecution and serious ill-treatment if she were to be returned to Zimbabwe."

A Home Office spokesman said it only returned individuals if both it and the courts were satisfied the individual did not qualify for protection and had no legal basis to remain in the country.