Martin Crowson looks back at five key points from the weekend's rugby action.

1 Northampton flanker Calum Clark failed to get the hostile reception he might have been expecting at Welford Road after making a return from an eight-month ban for breaking Leicester Tigers' hooker Rob Hawkins' arm last March. After the game, the 23-year-old took to Twitter to publicly apologise for his actions in the LV= Cup final at Sixways. He tweeted: "I have been to some dark places over the last 32 weeks. A lot of people have had a lot to say. I'm going to take my turn. I am ashamed and sorry for what happened. I have taken a long hard look in the mirror and blame nobody but myself. I have learnt a lot."

2 The natives are getting restless in Northampton. Saints' failure to beat top-four sides is clearly irking many of their fans judging by some of the reactions to Saturday's defeat on their official fans' forum. There is a string of negative discussion topics with the main focus on whether Northampton, as a club, are ambitious enough on and off the field to win the major trophies they are long overdue.

3 Yes, Leicester can manage with openside flanker Julian Salvi, but the win against Northampton showed you just how much better they are with him playing. It has taken an injury like the Aussie's broken hand to remind everyone what a world-class player he is. And that was on the back of five weeks on the sidelines. If Salvi stays fit – and Richard Cockerill will be praying most nights that he does – I firmly believe Wallabies boss Robbie Deans would be bonkers not to consider him for the series against the British & Irish Lions.

4 Bath's big-money fly-half Stephen Donald will be in the dog-house this week after handing London Welsh victory on a last-minute platter with a long, looping and, eventually intercepted pass, which Nick Scott returned 75 metres for a try to break a 9-9 tie. Bath boss Gary Gold called the Kiwi's risky chuck "ridiculous". If the West Country side fail to qualify for Europe by a point come May, this moment will haunt Donald as long as he lives.

5 It was great to see Tigers prop Martin Castrogiovanni back in the thick of things on Saturday. Castro has endured a tough season, with limited action behind the in-form Dan Cole. But he proved he was still very much up for the fight.

A 62-year-old partially sighted man lost £300 to thieves who used a distraction technique to steal his bank card.

The man was targeted while he was using his card at a cash machine inside a bank in Belgrave Road, Leicester, last week.

Police believe a man who began chatting to the victim as he used the bank machine did so in order to watch him enter his four-digit number.

As the machine was about to dispense money, he then distracted the older man's attention, while an accomplice rushed in to grab both the cash and bank card. The thieves were then able to use the card to withdraw £300 from the man's account at another bank machine in the same area.

The victim, who has asked to remain anonymous, said: "I was withdrawing my money and my attention was distracted by a man who spoke to me.

"While we were speaking, someone else stole my card.

"I was very upset to lose my money."

Police are treating the theft, which happened at 1.40pm last Thursday, as an isolated incident.

Previously, however, the force has seen clusters of similar thefts.

Inspector Ed McBryde-Wilding, commander of Keyham Lane police station, said there was concern the men would strike again.

He said: "It's an offence which occurs periodically, but this incident is not part of a trend.

"We are telling the public about this incident because we don't want it to become a trend."

Pc Donna Hyde, of the Belgrave Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: "This was a despicable crime in which a vulnerable, elderly man has been targeted by thieves.

"He didn't stand a chance really.

"Once they had distracted and confused him they were able to steal his card, and then withdrew his money from another bank."

Police have issued this advice when using bank machines includes:

Beware of strangers who talk to you or stand very close while you are using a cash machine.

If in doubt, withdraw your card and leave.

If you are a vulnerable person, have a friend or relative with you when you use a bank machine.

Keep your handbag or purse in a secure, zipped-up bag.

Although this offence was committed inside a bank premises, it is safer to use an ATM inside a bank than a machine in a public area.

Anyone with information about the incident should contact Pc Hyde by calling her on 101, or Crimestoppers, which is anonymous, on 0800 555 111.

Motörhead, 30 Seconds to Mars and Queens of the Stone Age will be playing at next year's Download, festival bosses confirmed last night.

Organisers broke the news to excited rock fans just after 9pm, following the announcement of the three headliners – Iron Maiden, Slipknot and Rammstein – in September.

Other acts confirmed yesterday included Gaslight Anthem, HIM, Alice In Chains and A Day To Remember.

The Leicester Mercury was given a rare interview slot with 30 Seconds to Mars frontman and Hollywood actor Jared Leto ahead of the announcement being made.

The singer, who has played at the Donington Park event twice before, said it was one of his favourite festivals in the world.

"I love playing in the UK, it's one of the best places in the world to play," he said.

"People are so connected to the music over there. Download, especially. It's mayhem, it's amazing, it's crazy and there's a lot of variety."

Fans can look forward to some of the band's biggest hits, including Kings and Queens, This Is War, Closer To The Edge and The Kill (Bury Me), as well as material from their upcoming fourth album.

"Download will be the first time in the UK that we play our new songs off the new album, so we're really looking forward to it.

"We first had the pleasure of playing the breakfast slot and worked our way up over the years, and that gives us an incredible amount of gratitude.

"The last time we headlined the second stage, so it's nice to be part of this evolution."

Download 2013 takes place at Donington Park, in Castle Donington, north west Leicestershire, from June 14 to 16.

For Queens of the Stone Age, next year's event will be their Download debut and their first UK date to be announced for next year.

For legendary rockers and Download veterans Motörhead, it will be their fourth time at the festival. For their last performance, in 2010, frontman Lemmy and the band were joined on stage by Slash – creating a mosh of thousands to classics including Stay Clean, Killed By Death and Ace of Spades.

Weekend tickets with camping are on sale now. A new deposit scheme has been set up, allowing customers who buy before the end of December to pay for tickets in three installments.

For more information, visit:

www.downloadfestival.co.uk

See The Week on Thursday for our full interview with Jared Leto.

Nigel Pearson said he has complete faith in his Leicester City players to get back on track after successive defeats.

City head to Bolton tonight looking to stop the rot after defeats against Crystal Palace and Watford, and although Pearson admits his side have underperformed recently, he said he is in no doubt they will soon return to winning ways.

Pearson admitted he is likely to make changes for the trip to the Reebok Stadium, but is more than happy with the young squad he has assembled and urged them to take confidence from their recent run which took them top of the Championship table.

"If there are psychological hindrances, there shouldn't really be," he said.

"We have played very well for the majority of the season but, that said, they are only human.

"Unfortunately, when you have a game where a number of players are having an off-day, that is very difficult to rectify during the game.

"We will bounce back because I have every faith in our group of players. There is every likelihood of there being one or two changes, but I will see how the players respond.

"The disappointment of Saturday has to be swept away pretty quickly and we have to get back to what we have been doing pretty well this season, which is playing well as a unit and getting our individuals to perform.

"We know on our day that, when we get our performance right, teams will have a problem containing us.

"We have to go into the game with the same mindset we have done in previous games.

"We have to go out there and execute our game-plan, and make it difficult for the opposition to get on top of us.

"Bolton have some good players and we have to be mindful of that. But first and foremost, after the display and result we had on Saturday, I am looking at our players to give a good reaction."

Full-back Ritchie De Laet returns after his one-game ban but central defender Zak Whitbread serves his one-match suspension for his red card on Saturday at Watford.

Striker Jamie Vardy is still expected to be absent with a calf injury and defender Sean St Ledger is not ready to return after his hamstring injury.

A licensee disappeared with thousands of pounds of cash and stock from his pub.

Landlord David Edwards had only been at the Royal Oak, in Crown Green, Rothley, for a month before he cleaned the place out.

Leicester Crown Court was told the 42-year-old had a drink problem which had spiralled out of control.

He admitted theft by an employee of £4,657 in cash and £3,966 in stock and fittings.

He was given an eight-month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months, with supervision, and ordered to complete 180 hours of unpaid work.

The court was told Edwards is now unemployed and living in a bedsit in St Marychurch Road, Torquay.

He was ordered to pay £960 towards compensating his employers, GT Pubs Ltd, at the rate of £10 a week, from his benefit money.

Jonathan Eley, prosecuting, said Edwards had worked as a barman for the company for two years, in another part of the country, before taking over as the licensee at the Royal Oak in April.

By May 15, he had missed banking the takings and GT Pubs was notified by the bank.

Mr Eley said: "They couldn't get hold of him and when they went round on May 16 they discovered he had gone.

"The money and stock had been taken and a gaming machine broken into.

"About £2,000 worth of newly-delivered stock was missing.

"He had emptied the pub of all its worth. The total lost by the business was £8,624."

Edwards forfeited a £2,000 bond he deposited with the company when he took over the pub.

Mr Eley said that by-passers had noticed things being loaded into a van the day before.

Edwards later left a remorseful phone message for his employers.

He was arrested on July 3 in Torquay, for being drunk, and it was discovered he was wanted in connection with the pub theft.

Gareth Weetman, representing Edwards, said: "It happened when his life was starting to come off the rails.

"He was drinking 24/7, bringing in cans so he didn't take it from the pumps.

"He has been devastated by the consequences of his own actions."

Sentencing, Judge Ebraham Mooncey said: "You knew you were in a high degree of trust."

Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy wants to keep Leicester City midfielder Richie Wellens at Portman Road.

However, City boss Nigel Pearson is in no rush to commit to a further loan for the player.

Wellens' one-month loan at Portman Road is due to end on November 10, but new Tractor Boys boss McCarthy said he would love to keep the 32-year-old for a longer period.

"I thought Richie was terrific," said McCarthy after their victory at Birmingham on Saturday.

"I hope I can keep him, I'll have to speak to Nigel about that."

But Pearson said Wellens still featured in his plans and had only gone out on loan to gain fitness after recovering from a knee injury.

"We have to see where we are with that when that comes around," said Pearson.

"We have not got the biggest squad and the whole idea of Richie going out was for him to get some games.

"That was the most important thing in terms of the next step in his rehabilitation."

Pearson added: "It is important that we recognise that it has been a successful loan period, and I will look at that closer to the time.

"We will see how he is towards the end of next week."

Wellens has made five starts for the Tractor Boys during his loan spell, helping the Championship basement side to a much-needed win against Birmingham as they closed the gap on second-bottom Bristol City to just one point.

A group of schoolgirls stranded in New York by Hurricane Sandy are finally due to fly home today.

After being confined in hostel rooms as fierce gales and storms battered the city last week, the Leicester High School for Girls staff and pupils were able to spend the last few days of their stay in more luxurious surroundings.

The 38 students and four teachers were told on Friday that their hostel was overbooked and they were moved, free of charge, to the five-star, 1,015-room Roosevelt Hotel, near Madison Avenue, for the last four nights of their stay.

Angela Lancini, head of sixth form at the school, who is leading the group, said: "I was sleeping in a bunk bed for seven nights, so in contrast this is amazing.

"The Roosevelt has got 24-hour doormen, luggage trollies and a big chandelier in the lobby – it's beautiful.

"When we found out we were coming here we couldn't believe it.

"We've had breakfast in the diner every morning and the hotel has given us lunches we take out with us."

The group has spent 12 days trapped in the US by the storm, which destroyed homes and caused buildings to be evacuated.

Now that the worst of the storm has passed, the girls have been exploring the sights of New York and making the most of their remaining days there.

Much of Manhattan is back to normal following the freak weather, although more than one million people in New York and New Jersey are still without power.

Mrs Lancini said evidence of the devastation can still be seen in parts of the city.

She said: "There are lots of upturned trees in Central Park – big trees just lying there which have been torn out, you can see their roots."

Four of the group were due to arrive back today while the rest will land on home soil tomorrow morning.

Five of the group were supposed to take their GCSE English Language re-sits tomorrow morning. However, the school successfully applied for the exams to be moved a day to accommodate travel plans.

School spokeswoman Anne Whitlock said: "The main issue was them flying back, then going straight into the exams with no rest."

A petition has been drafted aimed at triggering a referendum to oust city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby.

The Leicester Mercury understands a city businessman, opposed to Sir Peter's £4 million Jubilee Square plan, is behind the petition and intends to circulate it in the near future.

It calls for people to seek a vote to dismantle Leicester City Council's elected mayoral set-up and return the political system it replaced in May last year.

If 12,000 signatures – five per cent of the city's electorate – are collected, a poll will be held to ask voters if they want to return to the old council leader system.

A draft of the petition, passed to the Mercury, carries a covering letter saying it was wrong to deny people a referendum in 2010 when Labour councillors passed plans for the city to be run by an elected mayor.

It criticises Sir Peter – who was elected in May last year with 55 per cent of the vote – over his U-turn on allowing the Lancers regiment a parade through the city; proposals to pay him £100,000; Jubilee Square and the redevelopment of Market Corner.

It also says he is "imposing unwanted travellers sites" on people and describes his handling of the Thurnby Lodge Scout hut issue as a "fiasco".

Yesterday, Sir Peter Soulsby said he was unaware of the petition. He said: "It's the first I have heard of it and to be honest, it is not the sort of thing I hear when I go out and meet people on the street and do my Meet the Mayor events.

"I do not think there is a ground-swell of opinion to go back to the old system of having a council leader in charge, who is appointed rather than elected."

Sir Peter said a number of things in the covering letter with the petition were misrepresented.

He said: "For one, I never asked to be paid £100,000 and the Market Corner was a decision made before my time.

"I am not removing the funding from Navratri either."

The council is proposing to cut the funding for the annual De Montfort Hall event from £20,000 to £10,000.

Sir Peter said: "The Lancers decision is actually an example of how the mayoral system is effective.

"Under the old committee system it would have taken weeks to change that decision, but I was able to do it very quickly."

Conservative city councillor Ross Grant, who has long maintained a referendum should be held, said: "I am not surprised that, after people were deliberately denied a say on having an elected mayor, they should look to get a referendum themselves.

"I think it is realistic to get 12,000 signatures. In many ways it will probably be easier now than it would have been before because people are very upset at the way Sir Peter Soulsby has acted since he became mayor.

"We have not seen the benefits people were told they would get from the mayoral system."

A city council spokesman said the authority had not been contacted about the petition.

Leicester Chamber of Commerce chief executive Martin Traynor said he did not think the petition would succeed in changing the mayoral system.

He said: "We campaigned for an elected mayor and our position hasn't changed.

"12,000 is a lot of signatures. It is true the mayor has gone through some difficult times, but he has shown leadership and vision."

A tiny fraction of voters could name the three candidates in next week's election of Leicestershire's first police and crime commissioner.

The Leicester Mercury questioned 150 people in the city centre to assess public awareness of next week's vote.

Just eight of the 150 could name the three candidates – Sir Clive Loader, Sarah Russell and Suleman Nagdi.

Just under half of the people we spoke to could name the two candidates in the US presidential election – Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.

The survey, conducted last week, provided further evidence of the public's lack of awareness of the police commissioner election, which will take place on Thursday, November 15.

It follows a poll by the Mercury in September, which found 82 per cent of 150 respondents were then unaware of the forthcoming election.

The Electoral Reform Society has suggested just 18.5 per cent of people nationwide will vote.

Sam Bennett, 46, of Stoney Stanton said: "I know nothing about the three people who are up for election. We received the voting forms in the post the other day but without knowing what they stand for, you can't vote. It should be better publicised."

Victoria King, 34, of Spinney Hills, Leicester, said: "I will be voting and I do know who the candidates are because I've been following the stories in the Mercury.

"What I don't know is what kind of an impact the commissioner will have when he or she gets the job."

Dr James Treadwell, a criminologist at the University of Leicester, said: "I'm not surprised that so few people could name the police commissioner candidates, but you would think more people would be able to name Obama and Romney – they have been all over the news for weeks.

"It would be easy to say the police and crime commissioner election doesn't really matter, but it is potentially a very influential role."

The Home Office launched a nationwide advertising campaign to boost awareness of the election last month.

The three Leicestershire candidates are currently busy on the campaign trail, visiting towns, villages and city neighbourhoods to encourage people to vote.

Conservative candidate, former Air Chief Marshal Sir Clive Loader, said: "When I go out on the streets I still meet people who know precious little about what the police and crime commissioner is going to do.

"Things are ramping up though, as the election approaches, and of course we all want a high turnout, but that is not going to change the commitment of whoever becomes the commissioner here."

Labour candidate Sarah Russell, an assistant mayor of Leicester, said: "I'm meeting more people who know about the election than I was a few weeks ago, but there is still very little understanding of what the role is about.

"I'm not particularly surprised that very few people could name the candidates here, but it's very sad that so few people knew the names of the US election candidates.

"The presidential election will have a long-term impact on the world economy and peace and security in the world."

Leicester community worker and businessman Suleman Nagdi, who is standing as an independent, said: "The turnouts for the hustings we have had so far have been reasonably good and that is very positive.

"We have to encourage people to use their votes. It is something which people in other parts of the world aspire to and people have died for in the past."

For more information about the candidates, visit:

Leicester City are hoping to complete the loan signings of Manchester United duo Michael Keane and Jesse Lingard in time for them to make their debuts at Bolton tonight (8.0).

City boss Nigel Pearson has moved to bolster his squad ahead of the trip to the Reebok Stadium, and has again called on his contacts at Old Trafford to snap up defender Keane and midfielder Lingard, both aged 19.

Keane made the breakthrough into the United first team this season after being voted their reserve player of the year last term, and played in the Capital One Cup clash with Chelsea last week.

He represented the Republic of Ireland at under-17, 18 and under-19 level before opting for England, and can play at full-back or centre-back.

Like Keane, Lingard was a member of United's FA Youth Cup-winning side of 2011 and, although he has yet to make his first-team debut, despite being named on the substitutes' bench this season, he has established himself in the reserves where he has been playing either as wide midfielder or in his preferred position just behind the main striker.

City have until three hours before tonight's kick-off to complete the signings, and the duo join a squad which features several former United players, such as Ritchie De Laet, Danny Drinkwater, Matty James and Ben Marshall.

A scheme to help first-time buyers on to the housing ladder has approved loans totalling £4.2 million in its first six weeks.

Leicestershire County Council is lending £10 million to enable Lloyds TSB to provide affordable mortgages, through its Local Lend a Hand scheme.

Since the scheme was launched in mid-September, it has approved about 40 mortgage applications, totalling £4.2 million, and received about 200 inquiries

Council leader Nick Rushton said: "This proves that the council can make a real difference to people's lives.

"Thanks to our support, more than £4 million worth of house sales are taking place in Leicestershire, which helps people into homes and boosts the local economy.

"It's a win-win – we help to get people on the property ladder and we get the money back, with interest."

The council has loaned the bank the money from its reserves.

It allows the bank to offer mortgages of up to £142,500, reducing the size of deposit that first-time buyers have to find to five per cent.

For further details, or to apply for a mortgage, see staff at any Lloyds TSB branch in Leicestershire.

Schoolgirls stranded in New York by superstorm Sandy have arrived home safely.

The pupils from Leicester High School were greeted by relieved friends and relatives when their coach pulled up in London Road yesterday. They had flown into Heathrow early yesterday morning after being delayed for six days.

An advanced party of three pupils and a teacher had managed to get on a flight a day earlier.

Mum Fiona Jenkins, whose twin daughters Emily and Sarah were on the overnight flight, said: "We are very happy and relieved to see them both."

Father Colin said: "We communicated with them often and always knew what was going on, which helped a lot."

The group of 38 15 to 18-year-olds and four teachers managed to escape the major trauma of the storm.

Alice Marlow, whose mum Denise decorated her room for her while she was delayed, said: "When I saw mum, she started crying so it set me off."

Sorcha Whyte, 17, from Market Harborough, who sent messages back as the storm raged, was one of the three girls to come back on Monday.

She said: "It feels strange to be back and it's as if I have been away for ages."

The trip, which was meant to last seven days, ended up being a 13-day break after the storm hit Manhattan on Monday, October 29.

Headmistress Julia Burns said: "The girls' resilience and positive attitude throughout has been a fine example of fortitude to all of our girls."

Seven of the girls came close to missing English GCSEs and medical school examinations.

But the school managed to persuade the examinations board to delay the exams, ensuring the girls could recover from their jet lag.

Cases dealt with at Leicester Magistrates' Court include:

Robert Price (53), of St Nicholas Circle, Leicester, admitted driving while using a mobile phone, in Upperton Road, Leicester, on April 19.

He was fined £100, ordered to pay £60 court costs and had three penalty points put on his licence.

Stuart Nesbitt (33), of Mellion Close, Beaumont Leys, Leicester, admitted speeding in excess of 70mph on the A46 at Beaumont Leys, and dangerous driving, on February 17.

He was ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and was banned from driving for 12 months.

James Herbert (30), of St James Terrace, Stoneygate, Leicester, admitted stealing mobile phones worth a total of £250 from two men on September 19. He was given an 18-month supervision order.

Lawrence Neale (21), of Lillingstone Close, Markfield, admitted beating a man and taking his phone on July 22.

He was given an 18-month supervision order and ordered to pay £285 compensation to his victim.

Aanand Patel (21), of Lower Hastings Street, Leicester, admitted breaking a car wing mirror on July 28.

He was ordered to pay £200 compensation and was given a six-month conditional discharge.

Roxzea Todd (23), of Shirley Street, Belgrave, Leicester, admitted beating another woman on July 24.

She was given a six-month conditional discharge.

Benjamin Hubble (18), of Clarendon Park Road, Clarendon Park, Leicester, admitted stealing a case of cider from the Co-op, in Aylestone Road, Leicester, on October 1.

He was ordered to pay £12 compensation and £20 court costs.

Zakiriya Parvez (18), of East Street, Leicester, admitted stealing a bicycle worth £95 on September 17.

He was ordered to pay £88 compensation, £50 costs and do 120 hours of unpaid work.

The ruling Conservative group on Leicestershire County Council yesterday voted unanimously to kick out former leader David Parsons – despite him having quit it the day before.

Councillor Parsons resigned on Tuesday, within half an hour of being shown the findings and recommendations of an investigation by Tory whips into whether he had broken party rules.

That followed his censure earlier this year by the county council's standards committee for not promptly repaying cash owed to the authority which he had claimed for European travel expenses.

That censure forced his resignation as council leader.

Yesterday, current leader Coun Nick Rushton said: "Despite David Parsons stepping down, we have still disciplined him as strictly as possible. We want to show there is no way back for him as a Conservative.

"We are being watched by the Tory Party in London. We need to show the people of Leicestershire and the officer corps at County Hall that we are capable of dealing with our own dirty linen.

"Once he is expelled from the local group, it becomes a very serious matter.

"I won't allow him simply to resign and think he can get away with this.

"It is annoying that he can remain as an independent and continue to draw his salary for another six months, but he was elected by the people not County Hall. We can't get rid of him.

"David Parsons was sent a copy of the report at noon on Tuesday. I had his letter of resignation at 12.12pm."

Yesterday, before the Tory group meeting, Coun Parsons said of his resignation: "It won't make much difference.

"I had already told the leader I wasn't going to stand for the election next May. I did that some time ago."

He also revealed he would not seek re-election as an independent candidate.

Coun Parsons said: "There's political infighting in the Tory group at County Hall that doesn't help me serve the people of Kirby Muxloe and Leicester Forest East."

"I have told the leader he can continue to rely on my support in the chamber. I am a loyal Conservative but I do have some issues with the Tory group at County Hall.

"Leaving the Conservative group is a positive thing. The politics is venomous within the group."

He said he wanted to remain as a Tory on Blaby District Council representing Muxloe ward.

"There are two great threats to people in my area. One is lorries in Kirby Muxloe and the other is the massive development at Lubbesthorpe.

"I will continue to work hard to represent people on those matters," he said.

Coun Parsons declined to speak about the conduct report, saying: "I'm not going to comment on that as I am not in the Conservative group."

He was unavailable to comment after yesterday's Tory group meeting.

Coun Rushton denied Coun Parsons had previously informed him he would be leaving the authority in May.

He said: "That's just not true and there is no infighting. The party has never been so united."

He said he would be urging Blaby District Council's Tory group and Charnwood Conservative Association to follow his lead and expel Coun Parsons.

Blaby District Council leader Ernie White declined to comment but a senior Tory source at the council said: "There cannot be a brick wall between County Hall and Blaby.

"If the party is brought into disrepute, that cannot be ignored.

"His position will be considered."

Hanif Asmal, chairman of Charnwood Conservative Association, of which Coun Parsons is still a member, said: "I will look at the circumstances and make a judgement on it."

New Tigers signing Michael Noone already feels at home in Leicester.

The 22-year-old, 6ft 3in back-rower was brought in by Richard Cockerill on trial when news of Craig Newby's forced retirement came through.

Having left home-town club Leinster for spells at Doncaster and Rotherham, Noone has impressed so much since arriving at Welford Road that he is already receiving rave reviews from his new boss.

The former Ireland Under-18s, 19s and 20s representative is a ball-carrying No.8 who can also play on the blindside flank.

He is set to be handed his first start in Leicester colours at Saracens tomorrow night in the LV= Cup.

Noone, who comes from a rugby-playing family, says he has been relishing the ethos and environment associated with what he calls an "unbelievable club".

"I haven't looked back since Richard Cockerill gave me a call and asked if Leicester could have a look at me," said Noone. "I like to bring a lot of aggression and physicality to the game.

"Ball-carrying is a big role for me but, with back rowers these days, you cannot just rely on that part of your game.

"Everyone has to be a blindside, an openside and a No.8. but if you have an X-Factor in key areas, it helps.

"The lads here have been great. It's funny, but I feel more at home here than I did in Leinster during the past few years.

"Competition is seriously high but there is no point in going to a weak club if you want to be a better player.

"Strong clubs and competition makes you better.

"If you can prove yourself at Leicester, you are a half-decent player.

"I have been trying to be a sponge around people like Richard Blaze, Richard Cockerill, Julian Salvi, Jordan Crane, Thomas Waldrom and Steve Mafi, and I am trying to learn as much as I can.

"I am looking forward to playing and it's important that I kick on and take these chances.

"We may not be a full-strength Leicester side but there are a lot of boys here who are hungry for success."

If Noone earns an extended deal at Welford Road, he will be following in the footsteps of the likes of Geordan Murphy, Leo Cullen and Shane Jennings, who all had links to Leinster before making their name in Leicester colours.

"If I can follow guys like that and make a name for myself, I will be delighted," said Noone.

"Leicester is a superb club who focus on every aspect of strength and conditioning so that you can play rugby. That's the main difference here. It's an unbelievable set-up."

Police have urged people to take simple steps to protect their mobile phones from thieves after Leicester was named as a theft hotspot.

Insurance firm LV said 742 phones were stolen in the city's Castle ward, which includes the city centre and Clarendon Park, between April and the end of August.

It said the city centre was one of the areas with a high incidence of thefts and robberies. Others included Sheffield, Bristol and parts of London.

The firm also said children as young as nine had been caught stealing phones in the city in the past three years.

In Leicestershire as a whole between April 2009 and March 2010, the force recorded 3,887 thefts or robberies involving mobile phones.

This rose to 4,135 in the following 12 months.

So far, between April this year and the end of August, 2,656 handsets have been stolen. Police said the majority of thefts took place in the city centre's pubs and nightclubs, with phones and other valuables left unattended on tables or in bags or coats.

Inspector Chris Cockerill, commander of city centre police, said: "We've done a huge amount of crime prevention work in the pubs and clubs at night and in the city centre during the day.

"We've had good arrests and as a result thefts are falling.

"The majority of these incidents are thefts from unattended bags or coats.

"We've also had cases of people leaving them on top of parking meters, walking away and returning to find that they are gone.

"Robberies, where a phone is taken with force or the threat of force, are rare."

According to LV, thefts have risen year-on-year since 2010.

In the first eight months of this year, 264 mobile phone thefts were reported nationally each day – an increase of 7 per cent compared with 2011 figures.

The firm said it believed stolen mobiles were usually sold to unsuspecting buyers through online auction sites or exported for sale in Africa, Asia and Europe.

John O'Roarke, managing director of LV home insurance, said: "We have seen a real shift in theft claims over the past decade, with thieves preferring to target small, easily portable items such as mobile phones and gadgets.

"The latest smartphones are worth hundreds of pounds on the black market and can be easily sold on, making them particularly attractive to opportunistic thieves.

"The best way to protect yourself from theft is to use a password on your phone, keep it hidden away when you're not using it and ensure your phone is properly insured."

Pupils and staff at a fire-ravaged school are being sent elsewhere while the city council works on a permanent solution.

Catherine Junior School's gym was destroyed in a blaze last week and the rest of the building was smoke-logged, with harmful asbestos released into the air at the site in Brandon Street, Belgrave.

The blaze was started accidentally by workmen fixing the roof.

The council has now announced that from Monday the school's 380 pupils and its teaching staff will be divided between Taylor Road Primary, in St Matthew's, Rushey Mead primary and secondary schools and Soar Valley College, in Rushey Mead.

Parents were told yesterday.

Chris Hassall, head of Taylor Road, which is taking 94 pupils, said: "We have three spare classrooms at the moment which will be used by year three pupils from the school until the end of term.

"It's an awful situation for them to be in, but we're more than happy to help.

"I'd like to think that if the same ever happened to us, our neighbouring schools would step forward in the same way.

"We're staggering start and finish times so that there isn't congestion.

"Pupils from Catherine Junior will start 15 minutes later and finish 15 minutes later than Taylor Road pupils.

"It's going to be a unique experience for them and we want to make it as pleasant as possible."

Mr Hassall will be meeting parents from the junior school tomorrow morning to discuss the changes.

Pupils will remain at all four schools until the new term starts in January, when they will be relocated to temporary mobile classrooms on Abbey Community Primary's playing fields, in Belgrave.

Debra Bailey, head of Rushey Mead Primary, where 100 pupils are being sent, said: "We're lucky we have a large site and are able to turn areas into extra classrooms.

"We'll be using a teachers' work space and community room to do that and they will even have their own dedicated entrance.

"This is about ensuring the welfare of youngsters who need to continue their education."

Mel Berry, head of Soar Valley College, which will take in 98 pupils, said: "We're delighted to be helping them out. We all need to pull together."

An asbestos decontamination project will have to be carried out at the Catherine Junior School site.

Councillor Vi Dempster, the council's assistant city mayor for schools, said: "I'd like to thank head teachers, governors and pupils of all the schools for coming together and offering practical support.

"This is evidence of the strength of collaborative working here in Leicester.

"The fire itself has obviously caused significant disruption, but we have made these alternative schooling arrangements with the co-operation of all the schools involved.

"We look forward to helping ensure as best we can that the situation returns to normal and pupils can continue their lessons unaffected."

A pilot involved in a fatal mid-air plane crash might have had difficulty seeing the other aircraft due to the position of the sun.

The 48-year-old, who was flying an aerobatic Pitts Special, might also have had sighting difficulties due to the lack of contrast between the other aircraft and the surrounding countryside, accident investigators said.

The collision killed Coalville father-of-two Martin Hickin, who was piloting the other aircraft, a Taylorcraft BC12D.

The pilot and passenger in the Pitts Special were not injured in the accident, which happened on December 18 last year, close to Leicester airport.

A report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said Mr Hickin's aircraft "became uncontrollable" and crashed to the ground after the collision.

The AAIB said data checked after the accident confirmed the two aircraft were on a converging course.

At the time of the collision – 2pm – the sun was 10 degrees above the horizon.

The report said the Pitts Special was flying at 110mph, at a height of 1,000ft and almost directly into the sun, "when the pilot heard a loud bang, the aircraft 'shuddered' and the propeller stopped".

The report went on: "His initial thought was that the engine had 'exploded'.

"However, on asking his passenger, 'What was that?' the passenger replied, 'Aircraft'."

The AAIB said the pilot transmitted a mayday call and looked for a suitable place to make a forced landing following the collision.

Meanwhile, witnesses saw 55-year-old Mr Hickin's aircraft "in a near vertical dive from which it did not recover".

The Pitts Special, with debris from the other aircraft trailing from its propeller, came to rest on its left side in the middle of a Leicester airport boundary road. Both occupants got out unaided.

The AAIB report said the lack of contrast between Mr Hickin's aircraft and the surrounding countryside, compounded by the position of the sun, would have made it difficult for the other pilot to see the Taylorcraft BC12D.

The AAIB said: "The two aircraft collided because their respective pilots either did not see the other aircraft or did not see it in time to take effective action."

Shortly after the accident, Mr Hickin's family said he was an experienced pilot who had loved flying since his youth. They said he had been a civilian glider pilot instructor for the RAF in his 20s.

The family said: "We are relieved that the two people in the other plane survived this horrific mid-air collision, and know that Martin would be, too."

Pupils swapped textbooks and desks for swords, shields and imaginary horses as they learned about two famous British battles – by re-enacting them.

Youngsters at Leicester Grammar School, Great Glen, recreated the 1066 battles of Stamford Bridge and Hastings – when the army of Saxon King Harold II defeated a Viking invasion in Yorkshire only to be beaten by William the Conqueror's invading Norman on the south coast.

At 8.30am yesterday, dozens of youngsters donned home-made costumes.

They used the school grounds as their battlefield, while hundreds of their fellow students looked on.

History teacher Andrew Picknell said: "I've been looking at the hill on the school field every day while teaching about the Battle of Stamford Bridge and the Battle of Hastings to the year sevens.

"I thought it would be great to do something such as this outdoors."

Most of those involved were members of the grammar school's history society.

Eesa Davies, 12, who played a Viking soldier, said: "It was really good fun, although I died pretty much straight away.

"I got stabbed in the chest by a sword and I went down. It was quite cold but I didn't have to pretend to be dead for long."

Peter Barlev, 11, who played a leading role in putting on the production, took the plum role of William the Conqueror.

He survived until the end of the Battle of Hastings, although he did have to pretend to fall off his imaginary horse.

"I fell into the mud, which was quite upsetting because I ruined my costume," he said.

"But it was good fun. I signed up as William because I got a couple of lines and survived 'til the end."

Luke McCarthy, 12, who was also a Norman, said: "I think the audience probably thought it was pretty good because it was like a real battle.

"I survived but I did accidentally break my shield."

Charlie Greenlees, 11, said: "There were more than 800 people watching probably and they were clapping and laughing.

"When Harold died, the arrow landed near him and he took out another arrow and pretended it had hit him in the eye."

Mr Picknell said: "It was brilliant to get a good mixture of students involved and they put a lot of time and energy into their costumes and weapons, and the sixth formers did a great job on the narration. It was a great start to the day."