Leicester Tigers say action could be taken against the Ulster forward whose tackle saw Toby Flood knocked out in Saturday's pre-season fixture at Welford Road.

Lock Dan Tuohy was yellow-carded for a high hit on the Tigers skipper just 10 minutes into Leicester's 30-10 victory.

Flood lay motionless on the field after being knocked out cold and there was a 12-minute delay in the game as medics tended to him.

The 28-year-old was taken to a waiting ambulance in a neck brace and with an oxygen mask strapped to his face.

He spent the evening having tests and scans at Leicester Royal Infirmary on what is believed to be an injury to part of his neck or head.

Although Flood tweeted a picture of himself from his hospital bed later that day with his thumbs up and the message "how is everyone else's day going?", it is almost inconceivable that he will be fit for next Sunday's Aviva Premiership opener against Worcester.

How's everyone else's day going? pic.twitter.com/Arl6HnU8fb

— Toby Flood (@tobyflood) August 31, 2013

That will be a big blow to the club, and Tigers backs coach Paul Burke, standing in for suspended director of rugby Richard Cockerill, said they were keen for justice to be done, if the video of the incident showed serious foul play.

With no citing commissioner at the ground for the pre-season friendly, Tigers would have to instigate proceedings if they wanted to see Tuohy cited.

"The referee deemed it a yellow card so if there was anything untoward in the tackle, we would expect the citing commission to have a look at it," he said.

And in relation to Flood also being knocked unconscious in his last competitive game for the club at the Aviva Premiership final last May, Burke added: "Yet again, our chief play-maker is lying on the floor.

"We will look at the video and, hopefully, the authorities will have a look at it and the necessary action will be taken.

"It's not ideal because Floody is an important part of our team and we want the best players on the field.

"We have got a good squad this year with Ryan Lamb and Owen Williams at fly-half but, ideally, we want Toby Flood playing for Leicester.

"Hopefully, appropriate action will be taken and we will take it from there."

Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson said some of the decisions from the referee at Charlton "beggared belief".

However, the City boss said they could not blame their first defeat of the season on referee Darren Deadman.

Pearson was left perplexed by a series of decisions, including the second booking and subsequent red card for midfielder Matty James just after half-time.

"We could have a moan about a few things but I don't think it would be entirely right for us to do so," said Pearson.

"A few things that happened out there beggared belief and were really poor.

"It is a frustrating day for and, unfortunately, the person we will talk the most about is someone who doesn't play for either team. That is not very good and a shame for the game."

James was shown a second yellow card after running towards the referee following what appeared to be a foul on him inside the penalty box.

Pearson said he wasn't shown a yellow for dissent but for his "actions".

"It wasn't dissent, that is what the fourth official told us," he confirmed. "We were told it was because of his actions, whatever that means.

"I saw plenty out there which was an awful lot worse than what Matty did.

"It was a foul (on James), so that was the first thing. It was his reaction when he got up. He didn't swear at all. It is really quite puzzling.

"There were some other really bizarre happenings out there.

"I thought, in the circumstances, the players deserve credit because it was always teetering on the brink of bubbling over.

"I have a lot of sympathy for my players because they had to deal with a number of incidents which I thought were not dealt with properly.

"For the incident on Matty, it can't be any clearer I wouldn't have thought.

"I think it is now up to whoever has been assessing the officials, I will leave it to them."

Pearson admitted his side didn't perform as they could and should have defended the two corner kicks which lead to both Charlton's goals.

"It was their main threat. They played direct football from the back and tried to win set-plays.

"We weren't as comfortable as we have been dealing with that, but we were still in the game for the vast majority of the game.

"I guess it is a case of déjà vu going two goals down and coming back and almost getting something out of the game. It didn't quite fall for us."

A teenager who has beaten cancer for the third time following a life-saving transplant is urging people to sign up to the bone marrow donor register.

Beth Mickleburgh, 16, said she would not be here today if not for the complete stranger who has given her "the gift of life".

She is now talking about her experience publicly for the first time since the transplant in February last year, to raise awareness of the importance of joining the donor register.

"Having the transplant has saved my life," she said. "The chances of finding a match for me were very, very small, so I feel incredibly lucky.

"I would really like to meet the person who donated to express my gratitude. I can't even put into words how grateful I am.

"It's an unbelievable gift she's given me, a complete stranger.

"I want to raise awareness of the importance of the bone marrow register, having been through it myself.

"I feel very lucky a match was found for me and I now feel like I can look to the future in a way I wasn't able to before. But there are lots more people out there who still need to find a donor."

Beth, who lives in the Western Park area of Leicester with her parents, Jon and Veronica, and elder sister, Jemma, was three years old when she was diagnosed with leukaemia for the first time.

After two-and-a-half years of intense chemotherapy, she relapsed when she was eight.

Doctors told her family then that she would need a bone marrow transplant, but a worldwide search by blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan failed to find a match.

Beth underwent another two-and-a-half years of gruelling chemotherapy, after which she was told she was in remission.

However, Jon and Veronica always knew there was a chance the leukaemia could return again.

When it did, in October 2011, they knew they had to find a match.

Almost 2,000 people attended a recruitment day held at Leicester Tigers the following month – breaking the world record for the most people to sign up at a single event in Anthony Nolan's 40-year history.

While no match was found for Beth in Leicester, a month later she was told a "million-to-one shot" match had been found in Germany.

After weeks of treatment to prepare, she had the transplant in February 2012.

"I had never really thought about the possibility of not getting a donor," said Beth. "I never allowed myself to dwell on it.

"When I found out, I was so excited. We were told she was a woman from Germany, and her weight, but we weren't given any more information about her. I've found myself thinking about her a lot and I really hope I can meet her one day."

Despite being ill, Beth managed to keep up with her schoolwork, and even sat a GCSE chemistry module at home in the weeks before the transplant. She achieved an A.

Last month, she picked up her full GCSE results – five A*s, three As and a B.

Today, she was due to start her first day of sixth-form at St Paul's, in Evington, where she is studying chemistry, biology, history and religious studies at A-level.

There is still a small chance the leukaemia could return, but the odds have been greatly reduced by the transplant.

Once she has finished her studies, Beth said she would like to work for Anthony Nolan to help raise awareness.

"I think having the transplant has given me a perspective that is quite unique," she said. "I would love to work with Anthony Nolan and get more people on the register.

"I want to raise awareness and help other people. It's such a simple thing to do and it can save someone's life."

Kasper Schmeichel said Leicester City deserved much more than their defeat at Charlton Athletic.

The City keeper, who pulled off a wonderful save to deny former Yann Kermorgant in the second half, said City deserved a point for the way they battled valiantly with 10 men after the sending off of midfielder Matty James.

City arguably produced their best football after losing James, who was shown a second yellow card by referee Darren Deadman in the 52nd minute, and Schmeichel said all the players were left puzzled by the decision.

"We played well enough definitely to get a point, especially in the second half ," he said.

"We didn't do enough in the first half and didn't cause them enough problems.

"The second half I thought we did well and caused them a few problems.

"Obviously, with Matty going off we had to take a few more risks. We had a few chances and we could have scored an equaliser.

"We conceded two from set-pieces, we weren't good enough from set-pieces.

"They put decent delivery and we have to get tighter to our markers sometimes, but sometimes there are things out of your control."

Schmeichel said the dismissal of James wasn't the only disputed decision by Deadman, and that his stunning save means nothing after City slipped to their first defeat of the season.

"Matty is perplexed, along with the rest of us," he said. "I think it was for running at the referee, which is what I got booked for apparently.

"I have had games like it once or twice but you have to be careful what you say. I thought we deserved more, I really did. You just don't always get what you deserve.

"There was a foul before the cross which lead to the first corner. The second goal there is a massive foul as I get elbowed in the head.

"The save off Yann as a keeper that is like scoring a 30-yard screamer. But it disintegrates into nothing, especially how it turned into a corner afterwards.

"The save from Yann was a very good save and I am very happy with it."

Council bosses are set to axe funding for an alarm service that allows elderly and vulnerable people to summon help if they find themselves in distress in their homes.

Leicester City Council spends £133,000 a year providing the lifeline to about 800 people living in sheltered and supported housing.

It says it needs to cut costs and is proposing to scrap its alarm service budgets.

Landlords or the residents themselves will have the option of picking up the bill, which works out at about 46p a person per day.

Some elderly people have raised concerns about the plan.

Ruth Fraser, 74, who lives in John Woolman House, in Rawson Street, said: "This vital service is peanuts to the council but would be a great expense to people on limited incomes.

"It's penny-pinching and could leave people without a service they rely on.

"We have cords in every room and know if we get into any kind of difficulty we can get help very quickly. I am fearful of what might happen if the service is taken away."

Liz Sutherland, 67, who lives in another flat in the complex, said: "Some of us are more active than others and better able to get around but this is being thrust upon people who might be very frail and not really understand what is being proposed."

They fear residents who opt not to pay for the service could find themselves in a similar situation to a 99-year-old Derby pensioner who declined to pay his sheltered housing landlord a 42p a day charge for intercom checks in his flat.

He fell over and remained stricken on the floor for more than two days until he was discovered by his grandson.

Ruth said: "That is a terrifying prospect and it could easily happen if these changes happen."

Age UK Leicestershire executive director Tony Donovan said: "It's a great service. A lot of sheltered housing complexes would have had live-in wardens a few years ago who could check on residents but far fewer do now.

"Having this system is a great reassurance to elderly people and their relatives.

"In some cases, it is literally a lifeline because if an older person is in trouble they can use it and know help will come.

"Perhaps landlords will pick up the cost but if it is left to the older people themselves they may choose, probably unwisely, to save the money because they are part of a generation who have always been careful about what they spend.

"At the same time, the council is in a difficult position."

The city council has launched a consultation on the issue, which runs until November 20.

If a decision is taken to proceed with the cuts it would be implemented in April.

A city council spokesman said: "We are proposing to stop paying towards the cost of alarm services, as part of a wide-ranging review of housing-related support services.

"If the proposal is agreed alarm services won't stop.

"People will still continue to access their alarm service from their landlords, but the council would no longer pay.

"We are talking to landlords on more economical options in order to reduce the impact on the customers."

A teenager has been arrested after a number of houses had bricks or stones put through their front windows.

The attacks took place in several areas of Knighton, including Shanklin Drive, Ventnor Road, Link Road and Meadow Court Road.

The incidents – the latest of which happened on Friday – involved bits of rubble picked up nearby being thrown through windows.

The attacks usually happened in the early hours of the morning. In one incident, an 87-year-old woman suffered bad cuts to her feet after stepping on broken glass.

The 17-year-old was arrested on Saturday and was released on police bail pending further inquiries.

Police thanked those who had helped with their inquiries and urged any other witnesses to come forward. Call 101.

Three lifesavers are in Australia preparing to take part in an international water safety event.

Richard Thompson, 20, Louisa Herring and Paul Ellard, both 24, from Loughborough, landed in the country's capital, Canberra, on Friday, ahead of the Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships.

They are part of a 24-strong England team which will compete against hundreds of men and women from around the world in aquatic events.

The biennial competition includes squads from Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa and Wales.

Loughborough University student Richard said: "It's a remarkable experience being out here, it's my first time and I'm told the atmosphere will be great.

"We've got a strong team, its a mix of youth and experience and we should bring home some medals."

More than 300 people will travel Down Under to take part in the competition, which starts on Wednesday.

The events include an obstacle swim, simulated emergency responses, relay, line throw and mannequin carry.

England team manager, Michele Weedy, said: "Lifesavers are astonishing athletes. The events are based on potential real life scenarios – this is about challenging lifesavers in situations they could easily encounter."

The event has been organised by the Royal Life Saving Society, which was founded 1891 to provide lifesaving training in the UK.

It now operates worldwide.

Emma MacMillan, events officer for the Royal Life Saving Society, said: "When it comes to pool lifesaving as a sport, the Commonwealth Championships are the equivalent of the Commonwealth Games.

"Pool lifesavers do so much important work and this is an opportunity to shine the spotlight on them."

The competition will kick off next Wednesday with a series of short courses for the participants before the three-day competition starts on Friday.

The teams will then battle it out until the relay finals and the closing ceremony on Sunday.

For more information, visit:

www.rlsscommonwealth.org

Hooker Neil Briggs enjoyed being in unfamiliar territory on his Welford Road debut as a Leicester Tigers player.

The 28-year-old went on as a first-half replacement for Tom Youngs in the 30-10 win against Ulster and settled into his new role in a hurry.

Briggs has appeared many times at Welford Road in the past during spells at former clubs Sale and London Welsh.

But he will take fond memories from his first run-out in Leicester colours.

"It was nice to get out there in a Tigers shirt at last," he said.

"I have been out there plenty of times before in other teams' shirts, so it was good to have the crowd cheer me instead of booing me.

"It was also nice to be on the front foot at Welford Road. That was a strange experience.

"It was unfortunate that Tom picked up a knock but it was good for me to get on early, and I felt better in the second half.

"I was a bit nervous playing in front of the home crowd as a new boy with a lot to live up to.

"The Leicester crowd is a knowledgeable crowd too, so I had to be good and there was pressure on me.

"I hope I can build on that and keep progressing."

Briggs was part of an impressive Tigers display as they got a stranglehold on the Irish province midway through the first half and never let go.

"It was good," said Briggs. "Everyone knows what they are doing and that means you can get on with your own job.

"If everyone is doing their job collectively, it makes the whole thing a lot easier.

"There are no weak players in certain positions that you may have to cover for, and there is serious competition for every place in the squad.

"We could probably put three good teams out if we needed to.

"Our ambition to keep the ball alive was there and we took our chances and controlled the ball well. Our hunger is there and we made our first-up hits."

Briggs will compete with Youngs, Rob Hawkins and George Chuter for a starting shirt against Worcester on Sunday.

And the abrasive hooker knows what the visitors will bring with them.

"They have a new coach and new team," said Briggs.

"They are playing the champions and it will be like their cup final on their first game of the season.

"That was the same for me when I played for London Welsh and Sale.

"The guys here know that and know you have to work hard because everyone is trying to turn you over."

Leicester Tigers skipper Toby Flood spent only "a couple of hours" in hospital after sustaining what looked like horrific injuries during the club's pre-season win against Ulster last Saturday.

Tigers released a statement on their skipper's condition following his clash with Ulster lock Dan Tuohy at Welford Road.

Although they refused to go into any detail about the extent of their fly-half's injuries or the amount of time he may face out of the game, director of rugby Richard Cockerill confirmed that Flood, 28, had spent only a short spell at the Leicester Royal Infirmary.

While under observation, Flood tweeted a picture of himself, in a neck brace, with his thumb up and, via the club's statement yesterday, thanked well-wishers for their support.

Cockerill said: "You don't want to see any player leaving the field on a stretcher, especially with the new season just a week away.

"Toby was taken to hospital, he had all the necessary checks, then he was released after a couple of hours and we'll have to see how he recovers this week."

While that may hint at an unlikely comeback for the Aviva Premiership opener against Worcester Warriors on Sunday, it seems almost inconceivable that the England fly-half will take part in the game after leaving the Welford Road surface on a stretcher, in a neck brace and with an oxygen mask strapped on his face.

If he is ruled out, new signing Ryan Lamb is in pole position to take the No.10 shirt after an extremely impressive showing against Ulster.

Leicester were also refusing to embellish comments made by backs coach Paul Burke after the game that they may take further action against the man responsible for Flood's knock-out.

Lock-forward Tuohy was sin-binned for what looked like a high elbow and fist which saw Flood fall to the ground. Pictures of the incident have been widely circulated on the internet.

Burke said in the immediate aftermath: "We will look at the video and, hopefully, the authorities will have a look at it, and the necessary action will be taken."

But with the game being a pre-season friendly, there was no citing officer in place, meaning Tigers would have to make official representation to officials if they wanted them to discuss taking the matter further.

Tigers have always been a club which has traditionally avoided citing opposition players.

Teachers at a troubled Leicester school will not take strike action this week against staff cuts.

Ian Leaver, assistant secretary for Leicester's branch of the National Union of Teachers (NUT), has confirmed teachers at Uplands Junior School, in Highfields, will not go on strike tomorrow as previously planned.

Union members took strike action opposing plans to axe several teaching assistants before the start of the summer holidays.

Three of the assistants have now been made redundant.

The change of heart follows a decision by education watchdog, Ofsted, to uphold a warning notice issued to governors at the school by the city council.

The notice requires the governing body to deal with "a serious breakdown in the way the school is being led and managed".

Governors have now been given 15 days to comply with the notice or they could be replaced by an interim executive board.

Mr Leaver said: "In light of this, we have taken the decision not to go on strike and to give governors the opportunity to comply. If this isn't the case, then further strike action can't be ruled out."

However, about a dozen Unison and GMB members are still planning to strike tomorrow against cuts to their members.

It's unlikely this will force the school to close.

Gary Garner, Leicester Unison branch secretary, said: "The strike will go ahead. The only way it could be called off is if the teaching assistants are reinstated."

The school has been embroiled in controversy since March, when staff lodged a formal grievance against the chairman of governors, Abid Matak, and head teacher Tim Luckcock over its running.

Since then, governors have suspended four members of staff against the wishes of the council.

Councillor Vi Dempster, assistant city mayor for schools, reiterated her comments from last week.

She said: "The warning notice says there has been a serious breakdown in the way the school is led and managed."

Mr Matak declined to comment.

Martin Crowson looks back at five key points from the weekend's pre-season action.

1 Toby Flood's "thumbs up" tweet from his hospital bed on Saturday night eased immediate fears into the severity of his injury. But for 10 minutes on Saturday afternoon, during Leicester Tigers' win against Ulster, there was genuine concern about his health. It was the sight of an oxygen mask being strapped to his face that really brought home the severity of the situation. Rugby is certainly not getting any less physical.

2 Everyone associated with the club will be hoping that Flood makes a full recovery from his injuries after being knocked out. But he will now face a serious battle to get over the mental barrier of being knocked out twice in three games. The Tigers skipper has never been shy of getting his head in where it hurts in the tackle area, and his bravery has never been in question. You would forgive any man for thinking twice about how hard he gets stuck in on his return to the game after going through what Flood has endured.

3Concerns over Flood darkened a day which saw numerous impressive performances for Leicester, especially from their new boys. Ryan Lamb and David Mele were busy and notable in their decision-making, Sebastian De Chaves looked good in the second-row when he went on, and flanker Jamie Gibson put in another all-action showing that means the name of Lewis Moody will be accompanying him in paper cuttings many times this season.

4 It will have gone largely unnoticed in pre-season, but Niall Morris has scored two of the best tries you will see all year. His finishes against Montpellier and Ulster had all the trademarks of a man who is now completely at home in the Leicester set-up and full of confidence. Leicester have a track record of turning average players into superstars. Morris is another to add to the list.

5 Worcester will arrive at Welford Road on Sunday as somewhat of an unknown quantity with new boss Dean Ryan at the helm. The Warriors were dreadful in the second half of last season and Ryan has to give them the confidence to start afresh. Tigers may be missing the odd key player, but they should have too much for a new Worcester side minus the likes of Matt Kvesic (Gloucester) and Andy Goode (Wasps).

Playing in the World Cup finals in Brazil would be the highlight of his career, Leicester City captain Wes Morgan has said.

The 29-year-old could make his international debut this week after being called up to play for Jamaica in their World Cup qualifiers against Panama and Costa Rica and he described it as a dream come true.

"It's always been an ambition and something I knew was a possibility," said Morgan.

"Then they (Jamaica) approached me and I thought to myself 'why not?'

"In the back of my mind, it's always something that I've thought about, but now that they've asked if I'm available to play, I'm glad it has happened.

"It's through my grandparents that I qualify, they're from Jamaica and through them I can qualify for citizenship.

"I'm just thinking about playing for Jamaica now, winning some games and the chance of qualifying for the World Cup, which if we managed it would be the highlight of my career.

"It'll be different playing international football for me, but I think that if I can continue playing my own game like I always do then it'll show that I can cope with the international game."

City boss Nigel Pearson admits he will have his fingers crossed all his players return from international duty fighting fit.

Several of his squad will be away until the end of next week for another round of World Cup qualifiers.

As well as Morgan, goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel is with the Denmark squad for their games in Malta and Armenia, and midfielder Andy King is with Wales as they take on Macedonia away on Friday and Serbia, in Cardiff, on Tuesday night.

Pearson admits it will be an anxious wait to see how fit they are when they return ahead of City's next game at home to Wigan Athletic on September 14.

"The important thing now is we get our players who are away on international duty back fit and well, and we go again," said Pearson.

Leicester City's under-21s were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Liverpool last night.

More than 2,000 inside King Power Stadium saw Steve Beaglehole's youngsters take the lead in the 51st minute when Tom Hopper headed home Harry Panayiotou's cross, only for Joao Teixeira to equalise when he beat Conrad Logan at the near post with a curling free-kick three minutes later.

Both sides also hit the post, Joe Dodoo scraping the paint of the woodwork for City late on.

Anthony Knockaert and Zoumana Bakayogo were given run-outs, with Knockaert playing most of the second half as a lone striker.

New Leicester City signing Dean Hammond will bring vital promotion experience to the club, goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel believes.

Hammond, who has joined City for an undisclosed fee on a two-year-contract, was part of the Southampton squad which won back-to-back promotions as they rose from League One to the Championship.

Last season, he helped Brighton and Hove Albion reach the play-offs while on loan at the Amex Stadium.

Now, the 30-year-old has joined City's push for promotion and Schmeichel believes he could be a shrewd signing.

"I have played against him a few times, he is a very good player and experienced," he said.

"He will be a very good addition to our squad. Someone with his experience and the level of his football will be top drawer.

"That experience is vital because he knows what it takes to get there. We have a very young side and he comes in with good experience.

"The last three years he has experienced a lot of good things and that will stand everyone in good stead."

Schmeichel believes Hammond is coming into a City squad that is full of confidence after a good start to the campaign, despite their defeat at Charlton Athletic last weekend.

"I think we have a lot to be positive about," said Schmeichel, who is on international duty this week with Denmark.

"We haven't played particularly well yet but we have picked up points and that is a sign of a good team when you are not playing well.

"I think we have a few good gears in us which bodes well for the future.

"The mood is good. When you are winning and picking up points it is a positive mood and I think we have every reason to be.

"At Charlton, it is hard to judge because we went down to 10 men away from home.

"Even when we did, I thought we played better and got the goal, and could have got another one. It wasn't to be. I think there is plenty to be positive about.

"Generally I think we have been okay. We haven't been spectacular, we haven't been great but it is all to come now."

After 20 years of singing in pubs and clubs, X Factor star Sam Bailey says she has finally been given the lucky break she has dreamed of.

The 36-year-old got a standing ovation after her second audition at London's Wembley Arena on Sunday night and judges put her straight through to the next round of the hit show.

Sam, a prison officer at HMP Gartree, in Market Harborough, told the Mercury her time had come.

"I've never had a lucky break," she said. "It's finally here".

Sam, of Leicester Forest East, said life had been a "whirlwind" since she appeared on the show on Saturday.

"I went to Fosse Park at the weekend and people were following me about," she said. "I went to a friend's Christening at it took me 40 minutes to leave because people were asking to have photos with me and for autographs."

Yesterday, Sam appeared on ITV breakfast show Daybreak, where she told Lorraine Kelly that while she was shopping at Asda people had scrambled to get behind her in the queue.

"I'm not a glamorous person," she said. "I usually sit at home in my tracksuits and jeans. I don't ever wear heels.

"Now people are glamming me up, doing my hair and make-up – it's an absolute whirlwind."

Sam said she had sung previously, including some professional work, mainly in social clubs.

But she added: "For the past eight years, I've just sat back.

"Then last November, I thought, 'my son is starting school in September, it's time to do something for me'.

"I'm no spring chicken, I'm doing this for the older ones.

"I want to show people they can achieve their dream, no matter how old they are."

Sam said she could not believe it when she was given a standing ovation for her performance of Who's Lovin' You, by The Jacksons, on Sunday.

"When they all stood up, I was like 'oh my gosh'," she said.

"I'm my own worst critic, I pick at myself all of the time."

The mother-of-two has already attracted more than 11,600 followers on Twitter, and her X Factor auditions have been watched almost one million times on YouTube.

Sam has also won the support of many celebrities.

When X Factor judge Gary Barlow was asked on Twitter who his favourite act was, he replied: "Sam."

Boy George tweeted: "Love the prison officer, Sam, bloody beautiful. Yes, yes, yes and another yes!!"

Coleen Rooney simply posted: "Goosebumps".

Actress and TV presenter Dawn Porter said on the social networking site: "I predict this prison officer is about to blow our minds."

Despite her celebrity following, Sam insists she is "just a nobody trying to be a somebody", She said she could not believe famous people were talking about her.

"I feel like I'm in a snow globe," she said.

"I was just a nice, relaxed girl and it feels like somebody has just shaken my world. It's mental, it's crazy."

Sam said her two children, Brooke, eight and Tommy, four, were her biggest fans.

"The emotion from my kids, it's always at the back of my mind – I just want to make them proud," she said.

Her husband, Craig, 40, keeps her "grounded".

"When I returned from my first audition he gave me a pile of ironing to do," she said.

Sam has worked at HMP Gartree for three years.

She said the support from her colleagues had been "immense".

"Few people knew I was a bit of a singer," she said. "I didn't mention I was going on to the show until after I had done my first audition.

"But I'm still a professional prison officer, I can't get too excited."

Two shows in, Sam is already one of the favourites to win.

Bookmaker William Hill are offering odds of 6-1.

The next step in the competition for Sam is "boot camp". If she is successful in that round she will have the opportunity to go to one of the judges' houses.

Last week, judge Sharon Osborne revealed she would be mentoring the over-25s group of contestants, which means she could be leading Sam throughout the competition.

"If I were to get through – I'm really excited for that," said Sam.

She described her experience on the show so far as an emotional rollercoaster.

"I'm just growing and growing," she said.

"It's absolutely amazing."

If Sam makes it through to the live shows, she will also have the opportunity to perform at the Capital FM Arena, in Nottingham, next year, for this season's official X Factor tour.

A teaser on the X Factor website states the show's overall winner could already have been found.

It poses the question Is The X Factor 2013 winner in episode one? and goes on to quote judge Nicole Scherzinger saying she seems to think so.

"There's someone very special," she said on the website.

"She is where it's at. She is unbelievable, she's a prison warden and completely unassuming.

"There isn't anything she can't sing. She was the first one to bring to tears to my eyes."

The condition of Leicester holidaymaker Sian Green, who was badly injured when she was hit by a New York taxi, is said to have improved.

Ms Green, 24, who lives in Blaby, lost her left leg in the incident in Manhattan on Tuesday, August 20.

Late last week, staff at the intensive care unit at the Bellevue Hospital, where she is being treated, upgraded her condition from "serious" to "fair".

Her parents, Jason and Sonia, and boyfriend, William Lord, flew to be at her bedside and are staying at the Pennsylvania Hotel, in the city.

In a statement, Sian Green's legal representative Daniel GP Marchese said: "I am happy to report that her physicians upgraded her condition from serious to fair.

"Sian remains in the ICU at Bellevue Hospital and will remain until further notice as she starts her journey toward recovery. The family would like to express gratitude to the hundreds of people who have reached out and who have offered support, especially to the staff at Bellevue, the Pennsylvania Hotel, who has provided the family with a place to stay while overseas, and the many New Yorkers who have shown kindness and care during this difficult time.

"The Green family respectfully request privacy during this time."

Taxi driver Mohammed Fasyal Himon has blamed the crash on a cyclist, who he said pounded on his car and yelled at him. He has said he was "very sorry" for the crash and has launched a fund to help Sian, with the help of The New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers. So far, $3,000 (£1,900) had been raised. New York police have said the cyclist has not been charged.

A disabled pensioner collapsed while trying to walk home after he was refused access to a bus.

Retired lorry driver George Arbuthnot walked for two hours in the wrong direction after the driver of the number 88 First bus refused to take him when he failed to produce the correct pass.

Mr Arbuthnot, 71, had earlier caught a bus from near his home in Highfields, Leicester, to Aylestone leisure centre, where he had a physiotherapy session.

Although the pensioner had mistakenly left his valid bus pass at home and picked up an out-of-date one instead, the first driver showed some discretion and allowed him to board.

Mr Arbuthnot, who is paralysed on much of his left side following a stroke last May, said he believed the driver on the second bus should have shown the same discretion and allowed him to travel.

After being refused entry to the bus home, the disorientated pensioner, who relies on a walking stick and did not have any money with him, asked a passer-by the quickest way back to the city centre.

He set off at 3.30pm, but had been given incorrect information and walked in the wrong direction for two hours.

At about 5.30pm he found himself near Fosse Park, miles from his home near Leicester railway station.

He became tired and collapsed, injuring his shoulder and knee.

"All of a sudden I could see Currys and I knew I was lost," he said.

"I was quite frightened because I wasn't sure where I was – I knew Fosse Park was near, but I'd been walking for a very long time and it was getting late."

Luckily, a passer-by spotted Mr Arbuthnot after he collapsed and called an ambulance. He was taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary where his shoulder was strapped up.

"When I fell, it got a bit hazy and I can't remember much," he said.

"An ambulance picked me up and took me to the infirmary."

However, Mr Arbuthnot said the experience had left more of a mental than physical scar, and said he was now scared to go out by himself.

"I was frightened and I haven't got the confidence to go out like I did before," he said.

"I know I didn't have the right pass, but I think the driver should have used his discretion and let me get home."

A spokesman for First Bus said Mr Arbuthnot's situation was concerning and it was looking into the incident.

Leicestershire's Age UK chief executive Tony Donovan said: "It's a tricky one, really.

"The simplest piece of advice I can give is that elderly people should double check that they have everything they need before they leave the house.

"If they do find themselves in the position of being stranded – then we have a network of charity shops which they can call into and someone should be able to help them."

A woman has been sent for psychiatric treatment after assaulting four people in a hospital.

Michelle Jones attacked a junior doctor, two hospital workers and a fellow patient at Glenfield Hospital, in Leicester. She also assaulted two police officers in the city.

Prosecutor Chris Burdett told Leicester Magistrates' Court yesterday that the 45-year-old attacked the junior doctor as she carried out an assessment of Jones on April 11 last year. He said: "There was grabbing of the hair. There was a clump of hair that was pulled out."

Mr Burdett said Jones also threw a cup of coffee over the doctor, but it was lukewarm and did not cause any injury.

On May 23, Jones attacked a hospital worker and pulled a clump of her hair out.

Mr Burdett said after Jones had been removed and taken to a seclusion room she kicked out, causing a minor injury to the arm of another hospital worker. Four days later, Jones punched a police officer in the mouth giving him a swollen lip.

Mr Burdett said that on June 1, Jones attacked a fellow patient at Glenfield Hospital.

He said: "That again was the pulling of hair with a clump of hair being pulled out."

The next day, Jones assaulted a police officer by throwing a cup of coffee over them.

Mr Burdett said: "The officer reported that the drink caused soreness as it was warm."

Jones pleaded guilty to assaulting the doctor, the two police officers and the two hospital workers. She also admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm on the fellow patient.

Jones is from Leicester but her address was given as St Andrew's Hospital, Northampton, where she has been staying in a medium secure unit.

Zoe Lee, defending, said her client wanted to return to her home in Leicester or to a care home in the city so her family could visit her more easily.

She said: "This offending and the offences are more a cry for help. If they had any malice, it is possible the injures might have been more serious.

"She was lashing out at people in authority and presents a limited risk to the public."

District judge John Temperley said he had read reports from two psychiatrists.

He said: "I am satisfied Mrs Jones is suffering from a mental disorder and the suitable course of action is to make a hospital order under section 37 of the Mental Health Act."

The judge ordered Jones be returned to the medium secure unit. He told Mrs Jones: "It's up to the medical staff to decide when it might be safe for you to go somewhere else."