Jason Young took a step closer to securing a hat-trick of British Championships with another convincing performance in the fourth round of jetski races.

The defending SKI GP champion, from Ibstock, continued his rich vein of form with two first-place finishes and one runner-up spot at Crosby Marina, near Liverpool.

The 23-year-old made a blistering start, winning his first two races in style, finishing nearly half a lap clear of his nearest rival.

He missed out on the clean sweep of victories, finishing second to former champion Simon Gill, but his performance on Merseyside has built his lead at the top to 20 points with just two rounds left.

With the penultimate round of races being held at Young's home lake and training base at Rother Valley Country Park, near Sheffield, he will be confident of taking a further step closer to his third title in a row.

Bubblemania hit Beaumont Shopping Centre when the world's tallest "bubbleologist" performed four shows for shoppers.

At 6ft 10in the aptly named Tall Will entertained audiences with his repertoire of bubble tricks including giant bubbles, tiny bubbles, bubble sculptures and bubbles inside bubbles.

He ended each performance by putting children inside a giant bubble.

Tall Will has travelled all over the world including Dubai, Indonesia, Abu Dhabi, Cyprus and performed at this year's Glastonbury festival.

Will and his fellow bubbleologist, Sam, even helped train 50 volunteers to perform with him at the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony.

Beaumont Shopping Centre deputy manager Steve Goddard said: "The Buttercross has been filled with bubbles all day.

"The children have all absolutely loved the day, coming back time and time again to see the shows."

A life-sized ambulance created from dumped fridges and washing machines was erected in two town centres to raise awareness of fly-tipping.

North West Leicestershire District Council's Street Action Team built the fake ambulance using illegally dumped household items in Ashby and Coalville town centres.

The roadshow was part of a campaign highlighting the cost of cleaning up after fly-tippers in the district, where 1,000 incidents are reported each year.

The council's campaign targets hotspots and spells out the penalties for those caught.

Councillor Alison Smith, the council's deputy leader, said fly-tipping was a "blight" on the environment.

The campaign is part of the council's Green Footprints Challenge, which aims to make the district more environmentally-friendly.

Leicester Tigers flanker Julian Salvi believes the combination of new defence coach Phil Blake, along with director of rugby Richard Cockerill, could provide a formidable pairing in training.

The Australian Rugby League legend will be getting to work with the Tigers squad soon after agreeing a deal to bolster the club's coaching staff.

And fellow Aussie Salvi, 28, is expecting him and Cockerill to "ramp things up" in training.

"I have not had much to do with Phil Blake but I am looking forward to working with him," said Salvi.

"He will focus a bit more on line speed and a bit more aggressive in the tackle.

"Things will certainly be ramped up at training. If you bring him and Cockers together, you can expect things to be ramped up a bit.

"You need a defensive head to look purely at that facet of the game and it will be good for the team to bring in fresh ideas in."

Tigers leaked 41 tries last season in a defence that was ranked sixth in the league table.

A 42-year-old electrician has combined his love of 1940s US and gaming by creating an American diner in his garden, with a games room on the side.

The 24ft by 12ft shed has a pool table, bar, black and white floor tiles, seven-inch vinyl records on the wall, an acrylic Coca-Cola sign and American number plates on the wall.

Dave Mason has spent a year converting the bottom of his garden into an outdoor retreat for his family.

Dave, of Sileby, built the retreat on his own, apart from having help laying the foundations.

He said: "As soon as I came back from work, I would work on it.

"I am dead chuffed with how it has ended up. I just love the 1940s and 50s style.

"I always wanted a games room when I was a kid and, as a hobby, I build arcade machines. That is where it first started.

"Over the past year, my kids have been buying me stuff to go in it.

"It has been worth every penny because the family use it. We have had so much fun with it already. It has brought the family closer together."

To fit in with the theme, Dave also has pictures of James Dean, Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor on the wall.

To add to this, his and his partner's children dressed up as the movie stars, and their photos hang on the wall alongside the others.

Sian Mason, 19, is dressed as Audrey Hepburn, Jack Noon, 12, imitates James Dean, Leah Mason, 17, poses as Marilyn Monroe and Charlotte Noon, 21, pretends to be Elizabeth Taylor.

He plans to keep adding bits to his diner. For example, someone has given him an old-style American phone that he will hang on the wall.

In the 12ft by 4ft games room, there is a collection of old and new games consoles – from the Atari 2600, released in 1977, to PlayStations and Xboxes.

"I also managed to get an old leather car seat. You sit on it while you are playing the games," he said.

Dave's daughter Sian Mason said she thinks the diner "is amazing" with the photographs of them dressed as celebrities adding a personal touch.

She said: "In the evenings, we will all meet up to have a game of pool. I am dead proud of him. He is quite creative in that way."

Dave contacted the Leicester Mercury about his American diner after we launched a campaign asking people to contact us about their special outdoor spaces.

We want to hear from readers who have lovingly transformed their outdoors into relaxing spaces to spend time getting away from it all.

E-mail or tweet your pictures to reporter Samantha Fisher at:

samantha.fisher@leicester mercury.co.uk

@SamanthaCFisher

Leicester Riders continued their team building for the new season, with the signing of American guard Tyler Bernadini.

The 6ft 6in Californian averaged nearly 13 points a game at university, while shooting 41 per cent from the three point line in his senior year.

Bernadini will fill an EU slot for the Riders because he is entitled to an Italian passport.

Bernardini is a graduate of the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and started for four years accumulating numerous honours and records.

In his senior year, he led his team to a 20-plus win season. He also had a brief spell with Cantu in Serie A of the Italian League.

Bernadini's college honours included top 10 all-time in scoring, three-point shots made and steals at Pennsylvania, and he was Ivy League Rookie of the Year and in the All Ivy League team in the 2008 season.

Loughborough University Business School are in partnership with the Riders to bring the talented American to the BBL.

Riders head coach Rob Paternostro said: "Tyler had a great career at the university – he was a standout performer from the start of his career to the end. He can shoot the ball very well from the perimeter, but can also make plays from many places on the floor.

"He has good size and versatility which allows him to play multiple positions. We feel he will fit in very well with the roster we have assembled.

"After speaking with him at length, we were very impressed with his enthusiasm and intelligence and are looking forward to working with him this season."

Bernadini is raring to go in the BBL. "I am extremely excited to be continuing my basketball career with Leicester," he said. "I have never felt better physically so, for me, these next few years will be some of the best basketball I hope to play.

"I cannot wait to contribute to the tradition and success of the club. My fiancée and I are very thankful for the opportunity to be a part of the Leicester community and look forward to growing the profile of Riders' basketball."

Full-back Mat Tait is hoping the battle for the No.10 shirt this season will bring out the best in Owen Williams and new signing Freddie Burns.

The Welshman had a stand-out debut campaign in Leicester colours and made 16 starts having dislodged Toby Flood as first-choice fly-half after Christmas.

Burns has arrived at Oval Park after agreeing a move from Gloucester. His final season at Kingsholm saw the 24-year-old struggle for consistency as the Cherry & Whites endured a tough campaign.

Williams will have the right to the shirt after ending last season in possession. But with him being banned throughout pre-season for a "contact with the eyes'' offence in the semi-final defeat at Northampton, Burns will have three games to show his worth before the Aviva Premiership opener against Newcastle.

And that throws another spanner in the works for what looks like being a really tough selection decision for director of rugby Richard Cockerill.

"Freddie has settled in and is doing fine," said back-line team-mate Tait. "This environment is a bit different to what he is used to training-wise, compared to Gloucester. But he is enjoying himself.

"He has got a real tussle with Owen and he wants that No.10 jersey – but hopefully that battle will bring out the best of them.

"They both like to attack and both have good kicking games.

"All of the new signings have been good. And there is also Seremaia Bai as a potential fly-half. He has been great so far in pre-season.

"He has managed every session so far, which is some effort at the age of 35. He is a really nice guy, too."

Tait says he is enjoying a pre-season time that he usually views as a "necessary evil" as Tigers look to open up their playbook.

"I feel all right at the minute. The fitness guys are pushing us hard but I am enjoying it," said Tait.

"We have started rugby earlier, too, which we will hopefully see the benefits of when we start playing games. We have done two or three extra rugby sessions compared with this time last year.

"It's giving us a better understanding of what we are doing and the way we want to be playing and taking our game on. We seem to be ahead of where we were last season.

"I don't mind pre-season here. The sessions are intense but they are not long, like they are at other clubs I have been to. It's a necessary evil.

"Last year, we didn't play to our instincts at times and that has been addressed this year.

"We have been doing a lot more unstructured stuff and playing off the cuff in the extra rugby sessions we have been doing. We will add to that when we get playing.

"I enjoy that because I prefer playing instinctively, spotting mismatches and having a crack."

6.16pm: Heavy traffic on A563 eastbound in Aylestone, Leicester between the A5460 junction and the A426 Lutterworth Road junction.

5.20pm: There is heavy traffic on the A594 Vaughan Way, Leicester, both ways, at the A50 Highcross Street junction. Traffic is also busy on the A594 Waterloo Way, Leicester, both ways, between the Train Station, in London Road, and the Humberstone roundabout.

3.25pm: No new incidents or congestion to report on city and county roads. 

2.23pm: The A594 Waterloo Way, Leicester, both ways between the Train Station, in London Road, and Humberstone roundabout.

1.15pm: Emergency gas mains works mean temporary lights for a couple of days at Station Road, Pullman Road, Blaby Road junction in South Wigston. Area Traffic Control warn motorists to expect delays.

7.05am: There are currently no new incidents to report.

For more local and national travel information and weather updates see the links below:

MOTORWAY UPDATES: For traffic updates on UK motorways and other key roads - CLICK HERE.

LIVE CAMERAS: Check the M1 through Leicestershire with our live traffic cameras - CLICK HERE.

NATIONAL RAIL: For live UK train updates - CLICK HERE.

FLIGHT INFORMATION: For East Midlands Airport visit: CLICK HERE.

WEATHER: See the latest five-day weather report for Leicester and Leicestershire

CONTACT NEWSDESK: Send us your news and pictures. Tweet us @Leicester_Merc or email newsdesk@leicestermercury.co.uk

James Pearson, son of Leicester City boss Nigel, scored a stunning strike as City claimed another pre-season win last night.

City had lead through David Nugent's first half strike at MK Dons, his fourth of pre-season, when Pearson hammered home an unstoppable half-volley into the top corner.

His father scored a few goals himself during his playing career, but it is unlikely he ever scored one better.

It meant City retained their unbeaten record as they continue the build-up to the big kick-off of the Premier League.

Pearson had split his squad into two to give as many of his players a full 90 minutes of match action as possible with less than two weeks to the season opener at home to Everton.

City opted for a 4-4-2 formation with Chris Wood and David Nugent again teamed in attack, while Riyad Mahrez and Marc Albrighton were given run outs on the flanks.

Development squad players Pearson and Kieran Kennedy were also given starts in defence.

It may have been an exercise in match fitness but the individual performances were also important with competition fierce for starting berths against Everton.

City certainly dominated the first half and created some good chances with Jeff Schlupp, who is battling with Paul Konchesky for the left-back spot, testing keeper David Martin in the fifth minute after his overlapping run was picked out by Mahrez.

Albrighton, on the other flank, was also putting in some excellent crosses and it was his ball in to the box which was eventually turned into the net by Wood in the 19th minute only for the linesman's flag to rule his effort out.

City did take a deserved lead five minutes later when Nugent, who looked sharp, produced an excellent piece of skill to create space for himself. His shot from 20 yards out was deflected past Martin.

Martin was certainly the busier keeper and he was called on to stop efforts from Wood and Mahrez as City looked to increase their advantage.

The hosts finally started to threaten late on in the half and Ray Lewington's deflected shot was held by Ben Hamer, while Dele Alli went close just before the break after good work from Benik Afobe, on loan from Arsenal.

Nugent should have added another after the break when he met Mahrez's cross but he planted a free header over the bar from eight yards.

The hosts upped their game after that and almost equalised in bizarre fashion when Darren Potter sliced his cross and it beat Hamer and cannoned back off the far post to safety.

But City still looked as though they would take control again and Albrighton picked out Wood, who fluffed his volley.

Hamer has made a few errors during pre-season and he dropped a cross at the feet of Afobe, in the 66th minute, but Andy King was well placed to clear off the line.

But Pearson then smashed home his half volley from 25 yards, giving Martin no chance. Jack Barmby almost made it 3-0 just seconds after coming on but his finish was blocked on the line.

Leicester City continue their pre-season schedule tonight with a first-ever visit to The New York Stadium, home of Rotherham United.

The Millers moved into the newly-built ground two years ago after four seasons at the Don Valley Stadium, in Sheffield.

City boss Nigel Pearson will send the second half of his squad after splitting them for last night's trip to MK Dons and tonight's friendly, so he can give the majority of his players a full 90 minutes in preparation for the start of the new Premier League season in just under two weeks.

Jamie Vardy may again be missing after coming off as a precaution at Preston North End on Saturday with a tight thigh, while defender Matt Upson is also expected to remain sidelined with a foot injury.

Kasper Schmeichel, Ritchie De Laet, Marcin Wasilewski, Liam Moore, Paul Konchesky, Anthony Knockaert, Danny Drinkwater, Matty James, Gary Taylor-Fletcher and Leonardo Ulloa are all expected to be involved after missing last night's friendly at MK Dons as City boss Pearson looks to give as many of his players as possible a full 90 minutes ahead of their final friendly this Saturday against German side Werder Bremen at the King Power Stadium.

The last time City faced the Millers, who were promoted to the Championship last season, in a competitive game it was a great night for Jeff Schlupp, who scored a hat-trick in a 4-1 League Cup victory on his first senior competitive appearance.

The game is also significant as it has been chosen by the Millers to launch a special appeal to raise funds to erect a statute to Arthur Wharton, the world's first professional black player, who played for Rotherham between 1889 and 1894.

Wharton would later join Sheffield United and one of his three appearances for the Blades came against Leicester Fosse in 1894.

Kick it Out are supporting the campaign and will be present while a host of celebrities are also said to be attending to support the launch, which comes 125 years after Wharton first signed his contract with the Millers.

Children's heart operations could be moved in a bid to protect the long-term future of the surgical unit.

NHS England, which is reviewing provision nationwide, is expected to insist all children's services are on one site if hospital trusts want to carry on as a surgical centre for youngsters born with heart problems.

At the moment, children's heart surgery is at Glenfield Hospital while all other paediatric services, including the neo-natal unit, are at Leicester Royal Infirmary.

There has been concern among medics at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust that unless all the services are brought together, Leicester could miss out on heart surgery centre status in the future.

In a message to staff and campaigners yesterday, John Adler, chief executive of the trust, said there would be "an urgent assessment", including of the time and costs of moving children's heart facilities.

He said: "This would have the added benefit of resolving our split-site children's service, which we all agree is less than ideal."

Directors have also given the go-ahead for talks with Birmingham Children's Hospital to make sure the Leicester trust can meet a requirement – still in draft form – that each centre has four surgeons, all performing 125 operations a year.

Mr Adler said: "The trust board was clearly of the view that we should aim to meet the emerging standards.

"This was felt to be the best way of securing the future of children's heart services in Leicester and also, potentially, to derive the significant benefits for our children's services as a whole."

Adam Tansey, from Burbage, whose son Albert was born with half a heart, was on the panel which helped to draw up the standards.

He said: "This review recognises the need for the best national service.

"Naturally there is concern that the ethos changes if you move the service but we are constantly dealing with changes in our lives and everyone at Glenfield has shown their ability to move with the times."

The Leicestershire charity Heart Link cautiously welcomed a possible move.

Spokesman Richard French said: "Obviously, we would like the service to remain in Leicester, ideally at Glenfield, but if it has to transfer to the infirmary then so be it.

"Our priority is the children and parents who have to use the service. If it is relocated then all facilities and provisions we have supplied via our fund-raising over 33 years will be replicated on a new site."

Eric Charlesworth, chairman of the Leicester Mercury Patients' Panel, said: "I am delighted at these next steps.

"Now is the opportunity to begin to remove any issues that might hinder the continuation of this world-leading service."

Zuffar Haq, also a member of the Leicester Mercury Patients' Panel, said he would prefer a new children's hospital at Glenfield.

He said: "The move to the infirmary looks like a short-term fix."

Last year, a review, Safe and Sustainable, recommended cutting the number of children's heart surgery centres nationally from 11 to seven.

It was subsequently suspended after a High Court ruling that it was flawed.

However, Glenfield Hospital was one of the centres earmarked for closure.

Leicester City boss Nigel Pearson said competition was hotting up for starting places in his side to face Everton on the opening day.

Pearson split his squad into two for last night's win at MK Dons and tonight's trip to Rotherham United, and he said his players were now playing for their places as the season draws close.

Pearson was pleased with the performance as City won 2-0 at Stadium:MK with goals from David Nugent and his son, James, with a stunning strike.

"We saw a lot more intensity, especially from the midfield and I thought we were very good," he said.

"It was good for us to get 90 minutes for the vast majority of players and it was a good exercise. That is what this point of pre-season is all about, getting match time into the players.

"The players have to recognise themselves that they are now playing for their places.

"There were some strong performances and we certainly have plenty of competition in the squad, which is pleasing."

Pearson rubbished reports in Portugal that City had made a bid for Benfica striker Islam Slimani.

"If there has been a bid gone in I know nothing about it," he said.

"It is pretty cold, that one. In terms of hot or cold that one is freezing."

Developers have drawn up plans for a £25 million complex of flats and shops opposite Highcross shopping centre.

Disused land off Vaughan Way, next to the John Lewis multi-storey car park, is being earmarked for a 15-storey tower containing apartments, a food store and a sports shop with a rooftop pitch.

Sowden Group and William Davis have applied for planning permission for the two-acre site of the former All Saints Brewery.

They say they want to create a landmark building on a key city centre site which would have 150 flats occupied by "younger professionals".

Roy Coley, Sowden's owner and managing director, said the scheme would cost "£25 million-plus".

He said the sports store would be operated by Decathlon and the food shop offered to occupiers when the project was complete.

The firm said its scheme would bring a derelict plot back into use, provide an extension to Highcross shopping centre and kickstart the regeneration of a run-down section of the city's waterside.

However, Leicester Civic Society said it feared the structure would not be suited to the area and would overwhelm the Norman All Saints Church, which is grade I-listed.

Society chairman Stuart Bailey said: "It's too big.

"That kind of size of development would be too big anywhere, let alone in a conservation area. It's greedy to try to cram that much into such a restricted site."

The proposals have still to be considered by the council's planning committee.

Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said it was important any development respected its historic surroundings but described the project as "very exciting".

He said: "It's a major boost for Leicester and I am pleased to see the planning application in because it shows they are making progress.

"It is good because it is on the outside of the ring road.

"Since the 1960s, the ring road has been a real constraint on development. It seems we are at last jumping the ring road.

"It is right on the edge of the waterside area, a priority for regeneration, and it is very much in keeping with the plans we have as part of the waterside regeneration growth deal.

"My sporty colleagues tell me it is something of an achievement to get a Decathlon – the nearest being up the M1 near Ikea."

Sowden's planning documents said the food store was "envisaged to be a metro-style branch of one of the larger supermarkets" catering for city centre workers.

It said its larger shopping area "could be seen as an extension to the nearby Highcross shopping centre and thereby draw people across the existing access bridge and safely deliver them to a substantial retail opportunity".

A woman was gagged by burglars who broke in her home and attacked her while she slept.

Three men forced their way into a house in Holmfield Road, Stoneygate, at about 11pm, on Saturday.

They smashed a window on a side door and entered the home.

The intruders then made their way into the bedroom of a 50-year-old woman who was sleeping while the men were in her house.

One of the burglars grabbed the woman and covered her mouth while the other two searched her bedroom snatching cash and jewellery.

Police said all three were wearing dark clothes.

DC Steve Kilsby, who is investigating the incident, said: "Although the victim wasn't hurt during the incident she has understandably been left quite shocked by what happened.

"We would like to speak to anyone who saw any suspicious activity around the Holmfield Road and New Way Road area on Saturday, August 2, if you saw any vehicles or any unusual activity we need to speak to you. Any calls received will be treated in confidence."

Call police on 101.

Lights, lamps and candles around the county were put out last night to mark the beginning of the First World War.

People all over Leicestershire paid tribute to those who fought and died between 1914 and 1918 by taking part in Light Out events and a number of remembrance ceremonies at county memorials.

In the city, the Dean of Leicester Cathedral, the Very Rev David Monteith led a service and vigil at St Martin's.

One light was left lit between 10pm and 11pm to mark the start of the war.

It was part of a nationwide gesture, called Lights Out, inspired by the words of wartime Foreign Secretary Sir Edward Grey.

Speaking on the eve of the war, he said: "The lamps are going out all over Europe; we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime."

Staff at County Hall, in Glenfield, also mirrored the occasion and left one single light on.

Earlier that day, veterans had also placed personal messages on camouflage netting and watched as balloons were released in memory of the fallen.

#LightsOut@uniofleicester@EstatesLeiceste Our admin building, a WW1 hospital with symbolic central light shining pic.twitter.com/hQ5FkLuaLz

— Tim Yates (@Scaffydog) August 4, 2014

#LightsOut@uniofleicester@EstatesLeiceste Leicester's Victoria Park War Memorial looking splendid. pic.twitter.com/dy7n0Rc0Pq

— Tim Yates (@Scaffydog) August 4, 2014

#LightsOut in wigston pic.twitter.com/5IoyImTh2X

— Scott Renshaw (@scott_renshaw) August 4, 2014

#lightsout#WW1#WW1centenary In Remembrance pic.twitter.com/rdO0lhz311

— blackhorse aylestone (@BlackHorseLE2) August 4, 2014

Police escorted a group of passengers off a plane at East Midlands Airport after they argued over seating.

The captain of a Thomas Cook flight travelling to Tunisia on Sunday morning refused to transport 18 passengers, after they became disruptive over a seating dispute.

A spokeswoman from Leicestershire Police said they were called to the airport just before 6am, after reports of disruptive behaviour and language.

The passengers were removed from the aircraft and transported back to the airport.

Thomas Cook confirmed that the group of passengers were "off-loaded" from the flight.

A spokesman for the airline said: "The safety and welfare of our customers and crew is always a priority and as a result we operate a zero tolerance policy towards disruption and aggressive behaviour on board our aircraft."

No arrests were made.

It is not known whether the passengers were able to board another flight to Tunisia or not.

Officers with British Transport Police are calling on the public's help after ticket barriers were damaged at Leicester railway station.

Investigators have released CCTV images of two men they want to speak to in connection with the vandalism.

It happened just before 4.40pm on Sunday, 20 July, after two men got off a train at the station.

Pc Mike Leconte said: "The two men forced their way through the closed barriers, breaking them in the process.

"Following the incident the men ran off into the city centre."

He added: "I am certain the men pictured have information about the damage, and I call on anyone who recognises them to come forward."

Anyone with information should call 0800 40 50 40.

Leonardo Ulloa has shown he will score goals in the Premier League, Leicester City assistant manager Craig Shakespeare said after the Argentine scored twice in City's win at Rotherham United tonight.

The club record signing produced two good finishes inside ten first half minutes and could have collected his hat-trick as City ran out 3-1 winners at The New York Stadium and Shakespeare said the goals would boost Ulloa's confidence.

"We have been encouraging the wide players and the full-backs to get crosses into the box," he said.

"Leo has played a lot in the last few seasons up front on his own but we told him we want him in the box and we want crosses coming in.

"He showed tonight he can finish and he will get goals for us, and I am pleased for him."

Danny Drinkwater was also on target as City were given a good work-out by the Millers but the one negative for City was an ankle injury to Anthony Knockaert, although Shakespeare said it didn't look too serious.

"He had a little knock on it earlier but said he was okay," he said.

"We brought him off at the end as a precaution.

"He will be assessed tonight and tomorrow. We will know more tomorrow but it doesn't look serious at this stage and knowing Anthony he will want to train again straight away."

Jamie Vardy was also not risked because of a thigh strain but could return to training this week.

"From Saturday we took him out as a precaution," added Shakespeare.

"We are still monitoring him and thought it would be a risk to play him tonight.

"We are hopeful he can start training again at the end of the week."

Overall, Shakespeare said the Millers had given City a good test as they prepare for the opening day of the season against Everton.

"I thought from the off it was a good tempo game," he said.

"It was a good test for us and something we needed.

"We asked them to show a lot more intensity than they have done in the last game and I think they did that tonight. "