Legends of motorcycling will be taking to the track for Mallory Park's Bike Bonanza this weekend.

Local icon John Cooper, 15-time world champion Giacomo Agostini and 21-time Isle of Man TT champion John McGuinness and will all be present at the event for on-track parades.

Cooper and Agostini will be reunited on the circuit, 40 years after their epic tussle in the 1971 Race of the Year.

McGuinness, the fastest man on two wheels around the Mountain Course of the Isle of Man, will be reminding everyone that he is champion of the short circuits as he takes to the track aboard the Vimto Honda that powered him to the 250cc British Championship in 1999.

A host of other sporting stars will also be lining up at the event which, as well as parades, will include a display of bikes from yesteryear. For further details, visit:

www.malloryparkcircuit.com.

Marks Electrical driver Christian Kronegard followed up his Nurburgring victory with another podium finish in the third round of the 2014 Radical European Masters in Hungary.

The Swedish racer finished second for the Leicester-based team in the opening race at the Hungaroring circuit, which helped boost him into the top 10 of the overall standings.

Kronegard was forced to hold off a strong challenge from Bradley Smith to claim second, 30 seconds behind winner Tristan Viidas.

Jaap Bartels also drove solidly in the first race, securing fifth for Marks Electrical.

In the second race, Bartels retire on the first lap, while Kronegard could not match his first-race form, but still finished fifth.

A Police officer has undergone some role reversal to be on the receiving end of devastating penalties for once.

Pc Mike Green donned the goalkeeper's jersey and gloves to challenge people in Loughborough town centre to score past him before England's last World Cup group game, against Costa Rica.

The event, organised by Charnwood Borough Council and the police, was part of a national 'Know The Score' campaign designed to tackle and lessen alcohol and drug-related incidents during the World Cup.

Before the shoot-out, Pc Green said: "It's a light-hearted way of getting an important message across and I'm really looking forward to the challenge and hope as many people as possible will have a go."

As well as a makeshift goal and pitch, information was provided about the effect of alcohol and drugs on the body.

A 17th century tradition was revived at a city centre pub when Lord Mayor John Thomas and members of the Gild of Freeman joined staff at O'Neill's Irish pub, in Loseby Lane, for the damask rose ceremony.

The tradition, dating back to 1637, sees the rent of four old pennies and a damask rose paid to the Lord Mayor of Leicester by landlords. The tradition was revived in Leicester last year.

After this year's ceremony, Coun Thomas also went behind the bar to pull a pint or two of Guinness.

"I was delighted to have taken part in the ceremony," he said. "It is held on the feast of St Stephen, when a peppercorn rent of four old pennies and a damask rose was paid to the Lord Mayor of Leicester.

"It is so important we do what we can to keep these old customs and traditions alive in the city and I am very pleased O'Neill's are keen to help keep this ceremony going."

Steve Thorn, manager of O'Neill's, said the pub was also presented with a plaque explaining the history behind the ceremony.

He said: "We would like to do it every year."

Lutterworth side Meteors have become the first team to complete the double of winning both the dodgeball UK Championship and English Premier League.

The Meteors clipped the wings of the Bedford Mighty Eagles to clinch the UK Championship crown with a convincing win, beating them 8-2 in the final.

Lutterworth's international players were all on form. Brett Koenig and Simon Jones (England Lions) made some big catches and co-ordinated the attacks, while Chris Harper (Scotland Highlanders) dominated the front of the court and David Pool (Wales Dragons player-coach) made big plays throughout the day.

Meteors had dispatched local rivals Leicester Minotaurs in the semi-final following a convincing 6-2 victory over Reepham Raiders, from Norwich, in the quarter-final. That followed three convincing wins in the group stage.

Bedford had progressed to the final in similar fashion but were unable to match Meteors' power and precision in the final.

Hinckley Ladies rounded off a superb debut season by being crowned women's UK champions.

Their final, against Bedford Mighty Eagles Ladies, was a much tighter affair, the game being decided in overtime after the two sides were deadlocked at 7-7.

Hinckley captain Rebecca Cornley led the team with great all-round play, while Marie Barlow made numerous catches and Debbie Bateman produced some big hits.

Emily Nicholls' swift counter-attacks proved too much for Bedford, the reigning champions.

Hinckley had been improving all season and they showed their quality in the opening round one group match by defeating their eventual final opponents 7-3, Eagles Ladies' only defeat until the final.

The women's championship was full of quality affair.

During round one, Hinckley Ladies were beaten 6-4 by Derby Seahawks Women, who went on to take third place.

Hinckley were also taken to the last game in the quarter-finals and semi-finals by Bedfordshire Bulls Ladies and Derby Seahawks respectively, as three teams from Group A won through to the last four.

The men's tournament was also fiercely contested. For the first time in the competition's eight-year history, all home nations were represented.

Queen's University Belfast (QUB) were the Irish champions, Granite City Guerrillas (Aberdeen) were Scotland's No.1 team and Cardiff Dragons represented Wales.

QUB showed they were able to compete with the top English teams by holding 2013 champions Jammy Dodgers (Hinckley) to a 5-5 draw in round one.

In the play-offs, they defeated the oldest established club, Nottingham Balls of Steel, to secure 13th place.

Teenagers quizzed their MP about politics around the globe.

Leicester South MP Jon Ashworth visited Crown Hills Community College, in Leicester, after students invited him to answer questions about big issues.

The pupils, aged 13 and 14, discussed the Send All My Friends To School campaign run by international charities to secure education for all children across the globe.

Mr Ashworth said: "It's really important that we encourage young people to take an interest in current affairs.

"These pupils are clearly very switched on – they know what's happening in the world and they've made the effort to lobby their MP.

"They've also timed it really well, as the Send All My Friends To School campaign is really topical now."

In addition to talking about international issues, pupils questioned Mr Ashworth about his role as a member of parliament.

A restorative approach to bullying has been championed by a city and county school.

Charnwood College, in Loughborough, and Babington Community College, in Beaumont Leys, have been trialling a method which brings the perpetrators and victims together to talk frankly, reflect on behaviour and resolve the dispute.

Over the past 12 months it has led to a 30 per cent reduction in the number of "red card" detentions issued each week at Babington Community College and 38 exclusions at Charnwood College this year compared to 150 last year, representing a 75 per cent drop.

Leicestershire County Council and Leicester City Council ran the pilot with the colleges and have now launched a new, online resource pack .

Denise Newsome, head of Babington, said: "This approach has built on our successful anti-bullying policies."

Mark Sutton, principal at Charnwood, said: "We have seen a reduction in conflict between students."

Three teenagers are in the running for a video game award.

Bethany Clifford, Ben Symons and Klaudia Stanik, who go to Newbridge High School, in Coalville, are on the shortlist for a Bafta Young Game Designers prize, which will be presented at a ceremony today.

They are contenders in the Game Concept Award category, which is open to 11- to 16-year-olds.

To enter, the designers had to submit a written idea for a game app. The prize for the winners will be to get their design turned into a game.

Bethany, 14, of Hugglescote, said they were the only group in Leicestershire to be nominated.

She said: "I was really excited to find out our team was one of the final nine in the UK. It was a really big shock."

The trio designed the game Duck as part of a school IT project. In the game, a duck, Duckzilla, runs towards a giraffe, Jeffry, who has stolen one of his feathers to give to his crush, Jeffrina.

Players have to tap the phone screen for Jeffry to duck branches when running through the forest.

In later levels, Jeffry has to run across a bridge and through a jungle to get to Jeffrina.

Bethany, who is going to the awards with her parents and younger sister, said they based the idea on existing games such as Temple Run and Flappy Birds, and then thought of different characters.

Klaudia, from Bardon, said she was thrilled to be nominated. She said: "The game was really fun to design. I loved it how me, Beth and Ben got on well. We all had very good ideas."

Klaudia said she was quite nervous about the awards ceremony today.

"I hope it goes well," she said. "I have read about the other games and they seem really promising, but I think we have quite a good chance."

Bethany's dad Martin Clifford, 42, said: "I am really proud of them."

The finalists were selected by a jury of industry experts.

Speaking about the Leicestershire students' games, the judges said: "You can imagine everyone downloading it and it being very addictive. It shows a clear understanding of the social networking side of game development."

Avid Leicester Mercury reader Louisa Blankley celebrated her 100th birthday with family members who travelled from Australia.

Mrs Blankley toasted her century with champagne accompanied by her two children, grand-children and staff at the residential home where she now lives.

But it could have been so much different because she was stricken in the deadly Spanish flu epidemic when she was only four years old.

Daughter Sylvia Hollis said: "The epidemic killed millions and mum was very poorly. She was strapped into her hospital cot to stop her scratching herself while she ran a fever. They did not think she would make it. But the restraints deformed her wrist and dislocated her hip which left her disabled.

"But that did not stop her living a full life attending local schools before working in the hosiery industry."

Mrs Blankley was born on July 8, 1914, in the area of the city now covered by the expanded Leicester Royal Infirmary. Her father served in the Leicestershire Regiment in the First World War and lost his left arm.

She married in 1935 had two children Robert and Sylvia. Robert emigrated to Australia but managed to returned to Leicestershire to join the celebrations held at The Poplars, in Watling Street, Mountsorrel.

Also present were two of Sylvia's children who also live in Australia.

Sylvia said: "The Poplars laid on a celebration for mum and we provided the champagne."

Sylvia added: "Mum used to be an avid Leicester Mercury reader always reading it from cover to cover. If she could not read them immediately, she used to stockpile and then read them later."

A doctor who volunteers to treat seriously ill or injured patients on his days off has been recognised for his work.

Dr Matt Woods, who lives in the city centre, was presented with a contribution award by East Midlands Ambulance Service (Emas).

The award marks his work "above and beyond the line of duty with Emas and East Midlands Immediate Care Scheme (Emics) which is manned by volunteer doctors trained in trauma work.

The 39-year-old was nominated by three paramedics for his "calm nature" and "extreme professionalism".

Dr Woods is a senior registrar in anaesthesia and intensive care at Leicester's hospitals.

He joined Emics three years ago and was with a similar scheme in Lincolnshire for two years before that.

Dr Woods said: "It is all about giving a little bit back and doing things for the greater good.

"I have a specific skill which I can use and there is a great sense of satisfaction in being to do as much as you can for seriously-ill and injured patients."

The Emics doctors are dispatched to the most serious emergencies and incidents by Emas control centre staff .

Dr Woods has attended an average of five incidents a week. He said: "The worst cases are where there are multiple casualties or children. It can be quite hard emotionally.

"It is good to speak to colleagues to unwind.

"The best is when you feel you have turned the tide in treating a patient.

"It is not about me - it is about the team. The paramedics are a fantastic bunch of guys – it is a whole team effort."

Emics doctors are all volunteers and they are equipped with a range of specialist equipment to deal with patients involved in incidents such as industrial, road traffic or rail crashes.

The equipment is funded by the charity and can range from a defibrillator costing £2,000 to protective boots costing £80.

One Emas staff member who nominated Dr Woods said: "All of our frontline staff in Leicester are hugely appreciative of the dedication Matt gives to helping people.

"His attendance, experience and advanced skills at traumatic incidents is always invaluable to crews.

"He is always calm in his approach and always gets Emas staff fully involved in advanced techniques while explaining his decisions.

"Dr Woods also makes a point of getting in touch with crews after a particularly traumatic job and is able to explain the diagnosis of a patient after they have been admitted to hospital."

Dr Woods's award was presented to him by the interim chairman of Emas, Pauline Tagg.

For more information on Emics go to:

www.emics.org.uk

A deputy head teacher waved goodbye to her pupils for the final time yesterday.

Wendy Evans was supposed to retire seven years ago, but answered a call to go back to Buswells Lodge School, in Beaumont Leys, Leicester, because of staff shortages – and remained.

She is finally set to retire properly at the age of 69 – and after 32 years at the school.

An emotional Mrs Evans said: "The years have flown by and I can honestly say I've enjoyed every minute.

"I've stayed here so long because it's a wonderfully friendly school and everyone's become like my second family.

"I'm going to miss the children hugely but I felt now was the right time to leave before I turned 70."

Head teacher Ken Judd said: "She's going to be a huge miss because she's such a huge part of Buswells Lodge.

"She's been a very valuable member of staff and worked incredibly hard over the years.

"She started off as a trainee and stayed ever since. She's very strong, but loving and well respected by her colleagues."

The school held a goodbye assembly for her yesterday.

A TV programme documenting the journey women go through during pregnancy will feature a couple from Cosby.

She's Having A Baby, which will be aired on Sky Living on Wednesday, follows two women and their contrasting approaches to pregnancy.

One, Alice Grist, is an author from Cosby who chose to take a "spiritual" approach to having a baby.

"I'm a really spiritual person," said the 35-year-old. "My whole life is quite spiritual."

Alice said she was "aware" of her baby before she was born.

The writer, who describes herself as a hippy, said: "I knew when my baby was coming, who she was going to be and what characteristics she would have."

Alice, who practices meditation, said she could feel the spirit of her child inside of her.

"I meditated the whole way through my pregnancy," she said. "I felt like I was bonding with my baby."

Alice, an author of spiritual self-health books, is married to musician Mabbett James, a member of the band SuperEvolver.

The documentary was filmed in 2012 and the couple's daughter, Ivy-Belle James, is now two years old.

"We were filmed once a week," said Alice. "It wasn't too intense, but it was tiring."

Alice said that over the nine months the couple formed a close relationship with the film crew.

Although she was not filmed giving birth, the crew stayed with her up until just before and returned just after.

"They even brought me pizza in hospital because I didn't like any of the food there," she said.

Alice, who has seen the episode already, is pleased with the way she comes across.

"I was so nervous they were going to make us look a bit wacky but actually when you cut through all of that hippy stuff, you really get to the heart or pregnancy and giving birth," she said.

"I have no regrets – I've seen the episode and I'm happy with it.

"I'm proud of the way I stayed true to myself and what I believe in – for the first time in my life. I totally immersed myself in the experience and every moment of it.

"It's really beautiful and the whole pregnancy experience is incredible."

The programme will be a nice keepsake documentary of her pregnancy said Alice, who plans to show Ivy-Belle the programme when she is older.

She's Having A Baby will be shown on Sky Living on Wednesday, at 9pm.

Cases dealt with at Leicester Magistrates' Court include:

Marcin Kowaleski (24), of Haddenham Road, West End, pleaded guilty to driving in Winton Avenue, Leicester, on June 2 with 69mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal maximum is 35mcg. He was fined £300 with £85 costs, £30 victim surcharge and banned from driving for 18 months.

Krzysztof Michta (53), of no fixed address, was fined £75 after pleading guilty to disorderly behaviour while drunk in a public place, Ullesthrorpe Road, Bitteswell, on June 2. He was fined £75 with £55 costs and £20 victim surcharge.

Shaun Andrew Patrick Moore (24), of Kirkwall Crescent, Thurnby Lodge, was found guilty of destroying two doors and a washing basket worth £200 at Aylestone, on May.

He was given a community order including 100 hours unpaid work to be carried out within the next 12 months, and ordered to pay £100 compensation and a £600 victim surcharge.

The court made a restraining order preventing him from contacting a named person or going to a named address until June 24, 2015.

A car spun three times before landing on its roof after a collision with another vehicle.

The accident happened in Catherine Street, Leicester, shortly before 11pm on Thursday.

Nobody was injured in the incident.

Elizabeth Neal, 43, lives near the scene and saw the crash.

She said: "One car spun in the air, left the ground, skidded down the road and stopped "

Mrs Neal said she phoned for an ambulance.

Kalo Singh, 39, who also lives in Catherine Street, said the crash, which involved a silver Mercedes and another vehicle, caused a loud bang.

Head coach Rob Paternostro believes Leicester Riders is a "special place to be" and said it was an easy decision to sign a four-year contract extension.

Paternostro is the most successful coach in Riders' history and his new deal will take him up to a decade at the helm.

He has led Riders to four trophies in the last two years, including last season's BBL Cup triumph as well as the historic treble of BBL Championship, Cup and Play-off titles in the 2012-13 season.

"It wasn't a difficult decision," said Paternostro. "At this stage in my life and career, it is where I want to be.

"From the moment I arrived here, I've always felt wanted. When you look at the fans and the volunteers, this is a special place to be.

"People have come to me and said I should move, but the way I feel about this club, there was no doubt I wanted it to continue. I really like living in the area, that's important for me and my family. Leicester is like a home away from home for me."

Riders captain Barry Lamble, who has also committed his future for a ninth consecutive season, said Paternostro's decision is "great for the club".

"You can see the progress the club has made over the last few years with Rob at the helm," he said.

"We have achieved great success and you don't just get that from any old coach. He puts in the time and the effort and he's got the players playing for him."

Lamble has also been joined by Rashad Hassan, Conner Washington, Jamell Anderson, Anthony Rowe, and Levi Noel in signing new deals.

However, Drew Sullivan is yet to commit his future, with reports claiming the Great Britain captain could be set for a move to London Lions.

Riders will also welcome 6ft 4in Texan guard Derrick Roland to their back court from BC Santiago in the Chilean National League.

"Every day that we try to build the team, we are trying to bring in the best possible players we can and, during the last six years, I feel we have had some good ones," said Paternostro.

"It's all about entertainment and bringing in the good players that everyone wants to watch.

"We have a pretty good track record of that and we want it to continue."

Leicestershire Foxes suffered an 18-run defeat against Lancashire Lightning in the NatWest T20 Blast at Grace Road last night after threatening to topple the North Group pacesetters.

Lancashire were restricted to 151-7 in their 20 overs thanks to a good all-round display by the Foxes' attack backed by some sharp fielding.

They looked poised to follow up with just 43 runs needed from the final five overs of their reply and with six wickets in hand.

However, a flurry of wickets left them well short of the winning post.

Leicestershire's bowlers made a disciplined start after Lancashire had won the toss and chosen to bat.

After the six powerplay overs, Lancashire had managed a modest 38-1 on what looked a slow surface.

Ant Ireland continued his fine work from Sunday, when he took a career-best 5-22 against Derbyshire. He captured the wicket of Tom Smith, who skied to cover where Greg Smith held on to a very good running catch.

There was more excellent work in the field, too, when Ned Eckersley held a steepling catch off Karl Brown in the ninth over, bowled by Jigar Naik. At the midway stage, Leicestershire had kept the group leaders in check at just 61-2.

Naik also removed the dangerous Ashwell Prince, caught at long on for 41, and with Lancashire struggling on 78-3 Leicestershire held the upperhand.

The unorthodox shot-making of Jos Buttler threatened to loosen their grip but he undid himself miscuing an attempted reverse-sweep off Naik straight to cover.

Cobb then took a return catch off Paul Horton and, heading into the last five overs, the Foxes had reason to be satisfied with their rivals on 109-5.

That became 114-7 as Scott Styris had Steven Croft caught behind and Cobb ended Andrew Flintoff's first 20-over innings for five years when he trapped him lbw after just four balls.

As there had been when the sides met at Old Trafford, though, there was a late sting in the Lancashire innings. Kabir Ali and Jordan Clark – aided by some good fortune – added a swift unbroken 37 in the final three overs to take their side past 150.

It was a run chase that should have been within the Foxes' scope, especially after they reached the end of the powerplay with 50 runs on the board for the loss of only Niall O'Brien's wicket.

However, some tight bowling from spinners Stephen Parry and Croft tilted the balance back towards Lancashire.

Croft finished with 3-31 and Parry conceded just 16 in his four overs as Leicestershire slipped to 76-4 at the halfway stage.

With Cobb well set, though, and the experience of Styris at the other end there was still hope for the Foxes and, when the final five overs arrived, they had restored order needing 43 more runs with six wickets in hand, Cobb having reached 50 from 41 balls.

The 16th and 17th overs were critical, however, and Styris was caught for 14 at long-on off Flintoff looking for a monster maximum.

Cobb, having made a very fine 60, followed as he was caught at deep cover off Junaid Khan and Leicestershire's challenge petered out from there.

Tom Wells skied Flintoff to long off to give the former England man his third wicket of the innings leaving the Foxes' late order needing 29 from the last 12 deliveries. Not surprisingly, that was a task they fell some way short of as a game they had controlled for much of the evening got away from Leicestershire with almost indecent haste down the finishing straight.

Making an entrance is everything at the school prom.

Sports cars, limousines and stretched Hummers were among the vehicles pulling up outside Stonehill High School, in Birstall.

But nothing turned heads like a homemade contraption – powered by a gorilla and a tiger on bicycles and fitted with a bath and a toilet.

It was delivering 14-year-olds Kyle Cokayne, Tom Pallett, Daniel Phillipson and Matthew Burandt to the prom but also raising money for charity.

Kyle's dad, Ian Morris, said: "They wanted to turn up in something really wacky.

"The kids got a big round of applause when they arrived, despite pulling up at the same time as a white Lamborghini."

The vehicle, the Bathmobile, is sponsored by various Birstall businesses in a bid to raise cash for Leicestershire charity Vista, which helps people with vision problems.

So far, it has raised more than £500 for the charity.

It was built by Tom's dad, Gary, and a friend and it due to be auctioned on eBay to raise even more money for Vista.

Send your prom pictures to:

picturedesk@leicester mercury.co.uk

A woman who ran an illegal piercing parlor has been sentenced to carry out unpaid work.

Jenova Rain (26), who appeared at Leicester Magistrates' Court for sentencing, worked from her kitchen and living room, despite being warned by health officials it was unhygienic. She also faked several certificates.

City council officers first went to her home in Granary Mews, Churchgate, in July last year, when Rain was trying legitimately to register to perform procedures at her home.

Prosecutor Nicki Agalamanyi said Rain had been told it was "wholly unsuitable" to use her kitchen and living room because they were not a sterile environment.

Later that month, city council officers found Rain's Facebook page stating that she offered piercings, inserts and body modification operations to create "pixie ears".

She told the council officers she was not performing operations but just keeping the website going to keep her clients.

In September, the city council contacted her again to complain that her web page said she was fully registered to perform piercings and she was ordered to remove the claim.

A few days later, a client of Rain's got in touch with the council after a painful nose piercing operation on September 16 in Rain's kitchen.

Ms Agalamanyi said: "She reported a disturbing experience when her nose was pierced five times to get the hole straight. She said the experience was worse than childbirth.

"Miss Rain was clearly conducting a piercing operation from her home."

The following month there was a raid at Rain's home to confiscate all her equipment, and the council's health and safety team found the faked certificates that Rain had obtained from councils while working at other studios and altered using a computer.

Rain was charged with failing to register herself, failing to register her business premises and making a fraudulent certificate.

She denied the charges but was found guilty on each count earlier this month.

Rain, who now lives in Norfolk Drive, Melton, was representing herself in court.

She said: "I had plans to move to Japan but, with a permanent conviction, I can't get a visa. All I've wanted to do for the past 10 years is move."

She said she was about £14,500 in debt and that it was untrue that her client had been pierced five times.

Rain was given a 12-month community order with 150 hours' unpaid work and also ordered to pay £250 court costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

The World Cup is nearly over. The month-long spectacle of excitement, passion, controversy and predictable disappointment will reach its climax tomorrow when Argentina take on Germany in the final.

More than a billion people around the world will be watching. For Fifa assistant referee Simon Lount, though, he already has his sights set on the next one.

The 32-year-old, who grew up in Thurnby, is aiming to be a part of his country's refereeing panel in Russia in four years' time. Not for England, though, but New Zealand.

Lount, a former Leicester City season-ticket holder, made the move Down Under 10 years ago. While travelling, he met a girl, Sarah, and fell in love. He now lives in Auckland.

New Zealand currently have three officials in Brazil – referee Peter O'Leary and assistants Jan Hendrik Hintz and Mark Rule.

"It's the first time in New Zealand's history that an all-Kiwi team has gone, which is pretty exciting for a small country like us," said Lount.

"There is competition for 2018 and the referees who have gone to the current World Cup will come back as favourites.

"One may retire, though, so it should open up a slot for the rest of us.

"I think I have got a good chance. I just need to get the right games and perform on the day."

The next stepping stone will be the Under-20 World Cup, in New Zealand, next year.

Lount had his first taste of refereeing in 1996, completing a course as part of the Duke of Edinburgh award, but never pursued it any further.

It was only when his wife Sarah encouraged him to take it up again, in 2007, that it took off, progressing through the local ranks to the New Zealand National League.

"Surprising as it is, I was viewed as being a little bit old at 28 or 29," says Lount, a proud father of two young boys, Ben and Alex.

"That's when I was being talked about as a nomination as a Fifa assistant referee."

Lount has a World Cup qualifier between Vanuatu and Samoa on his international CV as well as friendlies, Oceania tournaments and the Nations Cup in the Solomon Islands in 2012.

It can be a thankless task. Every decision is scrutinised to the infinitesimal degree, slow-motion replays dissecting play from every angle.

With millions of pounds, and World Cups, at stake, the pressure to get these crucial decisions right has never been bigger.

"I get nervous before most games, I think I would be a bit worried if I didn't," said Lount. "Nerves are good. The better the level, you do raise your game.

"It is not quite as Big Brother-ish here as in the Premier League, but if you do make an error there is a good chance it will be seen, scrutinised and replayed over and over again.

"It's an extra pressure but an extra motivation as well."

Scoring a goal in a World Cup final is a striker's ultimate dream while, for a goalkeeper, it may be saving the crucial penalty in a shoot-out.

For a linesman, it is getting the big calls right.

"It's those really, really tight decisions when the commentators are hell-bent on saying it is wrong and then when they watch it in slow motion and realise the assistant has got it right," said Lount. "That's when you get the buzz.

"There are occasions when you get it wrong, that's human error.

"You have to learn from those and try not to make the same mistake twice."

Lount could be on the world's biggest stage in four years' time but officiating is still something he does for the love of the game.

"It's a complete hobby," said Lount, a national product manager for kitchen company Hafele. "Football is not professional over here so the priorities in my life are family, then work, then refereeing. I have to pay the bills.

"It takes up a lot of time and lot of commitment. That is why having an amazingly supportive wife and family, who also enjoy sport, is so important."

Plans for a "garden suburb" of almost 1,000 homes are set to be rejected by councillors next week.

Developers Jelson Homes and Davidsons want to build on 330 acres of farmland between Loughborough and Cotes.

The scheme would include 14 acres for offices and light industry.

Charnwood Borough Council's planning committee have been advised to throw out the scheme when they discuss it on Thursday.

Planning officers raised concerns about possible flooding of the River Soar and that while land has been set aside for employment use, there was no clear strategy for getting the offices built.

They also feared the development would have a negative impact on historic sites such as the Cotes abandoned medieval village.

Borough councillor for the area Jenny Bokor is opposed to the scheme. She said the development did not fit with the council's strategy to meet Government-set house building targets.

The council's core strategy directs most large-scale building towards the edge of Leicester and land west of Loughborough, near the M1, though it has yet to be accepted by the Government.

She said: "We have spent eight years and a lot of moneyon the core strategy".

"It has been suspended but only so the planning inspector can check some figures.

"What will be the point of that work if have developers ignoring it?

"In Charnwood, we have plenty of options without going into the countryside, totally changing the nature of the countryside and becoming a building site for 10 years.

"It will also take up prime agricultural land and block up the A60 with traffic again after we have just unblocked it with the Eastern Gateway scheme in Loughborough.

"There's also no guarantee the developers will provide the employment land."

Council planners receivedabout 60 letters of objection and a number of nearby parish councils opposed the plans.

Rempstone Parish Council chairman David Walker said: "My main concern is the lack of improvements to the infrastructure, particularly at the A60 into Loughborough over Cotes bridge.

"In the spring, due to severe flooding, Cotes bridge and the A60 was the only route over the Soar into Loughborough.

"This produced enormous traffic problems, with journey times in excess of an hour from Hoton to Loughborough.

"Additional traffic would only compound traffic problems and the proposed settlement destroys the character of the small hamlet of Cotes .

"It is unfortunate this proposal can be viewed as an opportunist attempt for development in the vacuum left by the lack of a published and approved core strategy plan."

A spokesman for the developers said: "Cotes provides an exciting opportunity to deliver a sustainable, high-quality mixed-use development that will contribute to delivering a comprehensive scheme,

including a living and working community integrating housing, employment and other land uses."

The proposal included a £3.5 million primary school and parkland.

A mum of two who is battling cancer has inspired people to raise more than £10,000 for research into the disease.

Amaryllis Aitken, of Kibworth, was the driving force behind Team Amy at this year's Race for Life in Victoria Park.

The 39-year-old, who has sarcoma, a rare cancer of the soft tissue, is already planning for next year's race.

Amaryllis said: "I have a fantastic group of friends and family and they have done a lot.

"I couldn't have got through without them.

"Last year, there were 73 of us and we raised £6,000.

"I couldn't believe it – I thought we might manage between £300 and £600."

This year, there were 125 people in Team Amy.

Donations are expected to reach at least £10,000 for Cancer Research UK, which runs Race for Life.

Amaryllis said: "There were so many people – friends of friends and some people that I hadn't seen for about 20 years – and I have had messages from people I haven't heard from for years.

"I am so grateful to them for all their support."

Amaryllis was diagnosed with sarcoma, which makes up just 2 per cent of cancers, on November 6, 2012 – her birthday – and told it had spread to her lungs.

She said: "It began with a small lump on my leg, which I noticed after an exercise class and thought I had pulled a muscle.

"My GP thought it could be that and said to come back if it didn't clear up.

"I did six months later and sarcoma was diagnosed."

Amaryllis has had surgery, radio and chemotherapy and while the original cancer has cleared, doctors have been unable to clear the tumours in her lungs.

They are now hoping treatment will help to freeze further growth.

Amaryllis, who has two daughters – Daisy, 17, and Scarlett, four – said: "My right lung is virtually no use and I have drugs to relax my muscles to make breathing easier but I was determined to do this year's Race For Life.

"I did the 5km route in one hour, 10 minutes, which wasn't too bad for a walk, and I hope next year's event will be even bigger and better.

"I can't exert myself as much as I used to but I take every day as it comes and want to raise awareness of sarcoma which is such a rare cancer."

Friend Alex Pilkington, who walked the route with Amaryllis, said: "Amy has been so strong and positive.

"She has provided the motivation to so many people to get involved.

"She hosts a party a week before the race and on the day it is not a solemn affair.

"We make it fun. We always take a picnic and the children and make it something of an event.

"Everyone is already looking forward to next year."

Jane Redman, spokesman for Cancer Research UK, said: "This is a truly amazing achievement and we are hugely grateful to Amaryllis and her enormous team for their support.

"We wish her all the best for the future and look forward to seeing her at next year's Race for Life."

Amaryllis' Just Giving page, which will remain open until August 24, can be found at:

www.justgiving.com/ teamamy74