A supermarket has closed its multi-storey car park at night to stop youths gathering there to take drugs, rev cars and play music loudly into the early hours.

Asda in London Road, Oadby, is now shutting its car park from 10pm until 6am following complaints from neighbours about the anti-social behaviour.

Police have said that because the car park is lit and sheltered, youths have been travelling from across the city to meet there.

Several complaints have been made to the police, local authorities and the store manager from residents in adjacent Regent Street and opposite on Leicester Road regarding the impact the noise was having on their lives.

Complaints have centred on people racing in cars, performing wheel spins, playing stereos loudly, dealing drugs and dropping litter.

Resident Sarah Barson, who lives in Regent Street, welcomed the closure.

Ms Barson, 21, said: "It is about time they did this.

"The persistent noise and racket coming from over there until all hours has been ruining our lives.

"I have a 13-month-old daughter and she was always being kept awake or woken up by the screeching of car tyres or the loud music.

"Now we can have some peace in our lives."

Resident Betty Ellis also praised the move.

Mrs Ellis, 87, of Regent Street, said: "It is good the police and the supermarket have got together to sort this out.

"It was a real problem. The noise was awful and very inconsiderate.

"We, and other people in the street, had got really fed up with all the commotion, so this is very good news indeed."

Sergeant Vanessa Robinson, anti-social behaviour officer for the Oadby and Wigston local policing unit, said she had spoken to offenders at the scene.

"They state the location presents them with an open, lit space which is under cover and keeps them dry," she said.

"These very features encourage large groups of people to travel from across the city and use the car park as a meeting venue.

"Positive action has been taken by the police with regard to the people causing the problems, but a long-term solution was needed to solve the problem."

Asda store manager Andy Gooding said the supermarket had been working with the police to try to find a solution to the problem.

He said: "I believe we have a duty of care to our colleagues, our customers and residents to ensure we provide a safe shopping and working environment.

"Therefore, we have taken steps to close off the underground car park in the evenings between the hours of 10pm and 6am.

"We hope by taking these positive steps it will be evidence of our ability to listen to the needs of the community and respond appropriately to promote a safer community."

Leicester City assistant manager Craig Shakespeare hailed the professionalism of his players who dispatched of Ipswich in such emphatic fashion.

City showed no mercy as they thumped the Tractor Boys 6-0 at the King Power Stadium on Saturday.

Shakespeare said how everyone in the camp felt that the victory had been overdue.

"We said to the boys afterwards how that had been on the cards," said Shakespeare. "You hope that if you turn in the performances, you will get a result like that.

"During the course of the season, some of the attacking play we have produced has been outstanding. But we missed the chances.

"But once we got the first goal (against Ipswich), it settled us down. To go and score the amount of goals we did showed how professional we were from start to finish.

"It was a very accomplished performance and, at the end, it was a good dressing-room to be in.

"It was completely different to last week (after the 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest) when it felt a bit like a defeat.

"To score six was great, and the defenders and the goalkeeper are delighted to keep a clean sheet. But everyone knows it is just one game.

"It is a very tough league and we know we will probably play better and not get the result we deserve.

"For the confidence, it bodes well, but we have two tough away games now."

David Nugent continued his excellent goalscoring record against Ipswich with the first two goals, but he was then replaced because of a neck injury which had prevented him from training for most of the week.

"He got the all-important first goal with a well-taken penalty and, like all good strikers do, he followed in Martyn Waghorn's strike for the second," said Shakespeare.

"We took him off more as a precaution. He hadn't trained fully all week and declared himself fit, but we didn't want him to make his neck injury any worse.

"When you are in a nice position of being able to bring Jamie Vardy on, it was about giving him the rest.

"He (Nugent) didn't tell us that he hadn't taken a penalty before. But you naturally want to give the penalties to a striker."

Twins Jack and Lilly Shaw enjoyed the holiday of their lives this summer.

Today, the Mercury is launching our Christmas Appeal 2012 to help hundreds of youngsters just like them – whose only chance of a summer break is a trip to Leicester Children's Holiday Centre, in Mablethorpe.

We want to raise £65,000 for the centre to pay for vital upgrades to its boiler and central heating system – and we need your help to reach that target.

The centre has been providing seaside holidays for underprivileged youngsters from Leicestershire for more than a century.

Among the children to visit this year were eight-year-old Jack and Lilly, of Loughborough, who spent a week there in July after mum, Melanie, found out about the charity through the youngsters' school. Melanie, 32, said: "Money's tight for everybody at the moment, so when the chance came to send them on the holiday, we took it.

"It was the only holiday they had this year. They were both keen to go.

"They loved it. They were so bubbly, telling me what they had been doing, – they were so excited."

The youngsters came back from the trip full of confidence having enjoyed a week of playing on the beach, visiting shops and watching films at night as a treat.

Lilly said: "What I liked was going to the beach because you got to go into the sea and dig a really big hole.

"We played games and I made lots of friends. I liked the shells on the beach, the swirly ones were nice.

"I thought the holiday was really fun and we got to buy sweets."

Jack said: "I loved playing on the beach and the weather was nice. I would like to go back."

Melanie said: "They're only allowed to take a maximum of £10 spending money. Lilly bought a little dolphin snow globe for me.

"It takes pride of place in my display cabinet now. It was touching

that she spent some of the little spending money she had on me."

The charity has provided holidays for more than 54,000 children, aged seven to 11.

It costs about £130,000 a year to run the centre and send about 350 children in groups of 64 over the six weeks of the summer holidays.

However, the committee is in desperate need of cash – most importantly £65,000 to revamp the boiler and central heating system.

Chairman Jim Roberts said: "There are so many children stuck in certain lifestyles where, perhaps, their parents are poor, or one is absent or in hospital, or the youngsters themselves are carers.

"The holiday is about showing them there is something better, their life can be better in the future.

"It is critical we revamp the boiler and central heating. The weather is not always so kind to us up there, and hot water is always needed."

He urged readers to get involved, by donating or fund-raising to help the centre. He said: "If we can do little things for our children now, then they can go on to do fantastic things for us in the future."

A marketing brand launched to promote a 25-year vision to improve Leicester has been axed after four years.

The One Leicester campaign was devised by the city council in 2008 to try to attract both visitors and investment, with more than £700,000 spent on setting up and running it.

It included putting up banners on 750 lampposts across the city, however, these are now in the process of being removed.

Most have already been taken down in the city centre and only remain where they point the way to public buildings, such as the library or the Phoenix arts centre.

The One Leicester website – set up to accompany the campaign – is being decommissioned tomorrow.

The city council said the One Leicester brand was "the vision of a previous leadership" and city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby had his own vision.

It also said a grant of £612,000 from the now defunct East Midlands Development Agency – to fund the campaign – had run out.

The One Leicester idea is being replaced by Visit Leicester branding.

Councillor Ross Willmott, who lead the authority in 2008, when One Leicester was launched, said: "The mayor is now in charge and it is perfectly fine for him to have his own vision for the city, but I remember him being supportive of it at the time, when he was a back-bench MP for the city.

"It's disappointing because I do think One Leicester was successful.

"It sounds like it's being replaced by a tourism brand and One Leicester was about much more than that – it was about partnerships and getting many different groups and organisations in the city working together.

"I hope getting rid of it is not throwing the baby out with the bath water."

Sir Peter said: "There is a change of emphasis. To look on that (One Leicester) as the only thing people recognise about the city is limiting.

"Of course, I want to build on the good things from One Leicester but take a new look at how we promote the city."

Salesman Brian Lowman, 40, from Glenfield, who works in the city centre, said: "I hadn't noticed the banners had gone until it was pointed out. I guess that means they were not working that well."

Office worker Shaheena Patel, 23, from Belgrave, said: "I thought it worked quite well as a concept but the banners have been up for quite a long time and you don't really notice them any more, so perhaps it needs refreshing."

Conservative opposition city councillor Ross Grant said: "I was dubious about the whole One Leicester thing in the first place but a lot of people did buy into it.

"It's another big thing that took up a lot of resources which the mayor has scrapped on a whim.

"The banners are coming down and its gradually being erased."

The Leicester Mercury backed One Leicester when it was launched – putting the branding on its sales booths across the city centre.

The city council said it had paid £108,000 to launch One Leicester in 2008, but that it had been entirely externally funded since – from the £612,000 grant. That does not include staff costs.

A spokeswoman said there was no additional cost to removing the banners.

She said: "The One Leicester banners are being taken down.

"A wider project around signage will look at the future use of lamppost banners, with the aim of ensuring improved consistent signs around the city."

Celebrity chef Clarissa Dickson Wright was in Rutland at the weekend signing copies of her new book.

The chef was at Northfield Farm at Cold Overton, near Oakham, on Saturday – just days after Muslims had expressed upset at comments in her book about Leicester.

In her new book, the 65-year-old described a visit to the city "as one of the most frightening experiences of my life".

Ms Dickson Wright said she came off the ring road to escape a traffic jam and found herself lost in a part of the city she described as a "ghetto" where she felt like a "complete outcast".

Ibrahim Mogra, assistant secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, described her comments as hurtful.

Ms Dickson Wright, who is a friend of the owners of Northfield Farm, was signing copies of her book Clarissa's England: A Gamely Gallop through the English Counties.

The chef and author was the star attraction at the farm's Christmas fair, where stall-holders were selling goods.

Ms Dickson Wright was invited to defend her views on BBC Radio Leicester on Friday and said: "I'm not going to apologise. I'm not saying it's entirely accurate for the whole of Leicester, but I am describing an experience I went through."

One minute it was a cold, crowded Town Hall Square packed with expectant adults and children.

The next, it was sparkling winter wonderland, with dazzling lights, falling snow and smiling faces.

Thousands of people were at Town Hall Square yesterday afternoon for Leicester's official Christmas light switch-on.

The massive crowd, with scores of children on the shoulders of parents, joined in the 10-second countdown as the switch was thrown.

Adults cheered and children squealed as lights as an array of snow machines showered the scene in fake snow as the lights lit up the Clock Tower, the town hall and the Paddington Bear and Noddy tableaux.

A traditional nativity scene and a towering Christmas tree covered in tinsel, baubles and shimmering lights completed the magical picture.

Charlotte Foster, 21, of Wigston, went to the lights switch-on with her partner and baby.

She said: "It is really beautiful. Our daughter, Amelia, is only four months old, but she loves bright lights so we thought it would be great for her."

Vivienne Swatman, from Aylestone, was there with her three sons and two grandchildren. The 47-year-old said: "It is the first time I have been to the lights switch-on and I can't get over how many people are here. I think it is great.

"Everyone is in such a good mood, it's lovely."

Daniel Routledge, from Knighton, enjoyed the event, which included live music, street performers and dancers.

The 37-year-old said: "It was excellent. The council needs to be congratulated for putting on a show like that."

His six-year-old son, Mookie, said: "It was awesome. I liked the snow the best."

Nine-year-old daughter Aisling said: "I liked the dancers but I also think the snow was the best bit."

Lord Mayor of Leicester Councillor Abdul Osman, who flipped the switch, said: "This is a fantastic occasion for the city of Leicester."

Visitors to the city centre were also able to enjoy the attractions of a large winter food and craft market.

More than 200 stalls selling an array of food, drink and gifts were doing a roaring trade at Leicester Market.

Stall-holder Debbie Campbell, who was selling home-made cakes with the help of her 13-year-old son Gareth, was busy.

The 49-year-old, from Anstey, said: "We have done pretty well today.

"This festive market is a great idea and gets people into this end of town on a Sunday."

Husband and wife, Jason and Katherine Wale, had stumbled upon the market while waiting for the lights switch-on.

Katherine, 36, said: "We've got the two children with us and it was fun to wander round looking at all the lovely things on offer."

Jason, 29, said: "There is a lot of interesting work on sale."

East Midlands Property Owners (EMPO) is hosting the East Midlands Landlord Expo a FREE visitor event at the East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham on March 19th 2013.  The aim of the one day Expo is to enhance the awareness and importance of improving housing standards in the private rental sector. The Expo will provide the platform for landlords, letting agents and property investors across the East Midlands to exchange information, seek advice, network and improve on current service deals with exhibitor companies. 

WHY ATTEND THE EXPO

On the day there will be over 40 exhibitor companies and local authorities providing advice, products and service deals to help manage property businesses more effectively, a series of informative seminars, property investment speakers and a Graham Penny live property auction. The seminars will cover a wide range of content including "An Auctioneers Guide to Buying at Auction,""the current requirements for licensing," "why tenant referencing is important," "the latest advice on how to deal with issues around tenancy deposit disputes."

 So whether you are the owner of a large property portfolio including licensable houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), a letting agency, a small buy to let or accidental landlord, or are thinking of investing in the private rented sector then the East Midlands Landlord Expo 2013 is the must attend exhibition for you.

Pre-register on our dedicated Expo website to receive your FREE ticket!

www.eastmidlandslandlordexpo.co.uk

It only takes a few clicks of your computer mouse and you can help a charity that is a lifeline for families.

Yesterday, the Mercury launched its Christmas Appeal, which aims to raise £65,000 for Leicester Children's Holiday Centre, in Mablethorpe.

The charity sends hundreds of youngsters who would not normally enjoy a summer break to the seaside holiday home every year.

But it needs money to revamp its boiler and central heating system.

You can donate by filling in the form on this page and sending a cheque or giving your card details. Or donate online at:

www.justgiving.com/ Mablethorpe

Among those to have benefited from the charity are John Fuller and Alison Booth, of Eyres Monsell, Leicester, who have enjoyed stays at the centre with three of their children.

Dad John, 53, is well aware of the benefits after spending a fortnight at the centre when he was seven.

John said: "I remember going on the beach and having a good time. There were seven children in the family and mam and dad couldn't afford holidays.

"The food was nice and I made a lot of friends."

John, who is learning to read, was able to fill in the application for his sons to visit the centre with the help of a neighbour.

Eldest son Lewis, 10, has visited the centre three times, eight-year-old Mark twice and seven-year-old Reggie made his first visit there in the summer.

Younger sons Luke, six and five-year-old Aaron hope to visit in future years.

Lewis said: "I like it when we get on the beach and buying sweets."

Mark said: "It's fun. The best bits are when you go in the coach and when you play."

John said: "The boys are always full of it when they come back, telling us about going to the circus, on the rollercoaster and the train that goes on the sand.

"At home they squabble a lot, but they all stick together when they're there.

"A lot of people in Leicester can't afford holidays. If I was better off, I would give towards the charity.

"If the charity wasn't there, we'd struggle to give the kids a holiday."

Charity chairman Jim Roberts said: "Children have a right to a proper childhood.

"Many children live difficult lives for many reasons. We provide a magical week of childish fun in a safe environment by the sea."

Money has already started rolling in, with a dinner and raffle at Boboli restaurant, in Kibworth, raising more than £1,900.

Last night, Leicester Barbershop Harmony Club handed over a cheque for £250.

Reading yesterday's launch piece also prompted Mercury reader Eric Pole to offer support.

Mr Pole, 76, of St Saviour's Road, in the city, who has pledged £20, said: "It's a tremendous charity. I had a holiday there when I was 10.

"There were 13 of us in my family. I'd never had a holiday or seen the sea. There was plenty to eat. I still remember it."

The charity is also staging A Celebration of Christmas at the Guildhall, Leicester. on Thursday, December 6 at 7pm.

Tickets at £15 each to include a glass of mulled wine or soft drink, entertainment and buffet supper are available by calling Lynne on 0116 251 9863, in the morning.

A second-half double from Jacob Blyth gave Leicester City's development squad a 2-1 victory over Sheffield United – but they had to come from behind to do it.

A strong City side, which included six first-team squad members, had been in control of the first half at Belvoir Drive and had created a host of chances without taking them.

They were punished just before half time when Diego Di-Girolamo put the visitors ahead from a corner.

But Steve Beaglehole's side continued to create chances in the second period, and it was youngster Blyth who netted twice.

Marko Futacs, who scored his first league goal for City in Saturday's 6-0 demolition of Ipswich Town after coming on as a substitute, partnered Blyth in attack and was the provider for the first.

The second came from a cross from Paul Gallagher, who was given a run-out on the right of midfield, with Jesse Lingard on the left and Liam Moore demonstrating further his versatility with a midfield role alongside Matty James.

City: Logan, Pearson, Sesay, Watson, Taft, Lingard, James, Moore, Gallagher, Futacs, Blyth. Subs: Smith, Brennan, Jones, Cain, Panayiotou.

A book researcher has uncovered the lost grave of a man who died building the Great Central Railway.

Ann Smith found the unmarked plot at St Mary's Church, in Lutterworth, which is believed to contain the body of 32-year-old William Smith, who was crushed to death by train buffers in Lutterworth in 1896.

She was able to trace William's great-grandniece, who yesterday went to visit the plot.

Retired teacher Ann, who is no relation to the former navvy, said: "The story of William is an interesting one and gives us an insight into how people worked during the late 1800s and early 1900s."

Ann used archived copies of the Leicester Chronicle to find articles about William Smith's death, on March 12, 1896.

The paper reported that Smith was crushed to death by two buffers after jumping between train wagons to unhitch them.

Ann said: "It wasn't a nice way to go – quite gruesome.

"But we know it happened on a Thursday, the inquest was on the Friday and he was buried on the Sunday.

"He had more than 1,000 people at his funeral and it was held on a Sunday because they wouldn't give them time off in the week."

Ann traced the site where she believes the body was buried by checking the church's burial records.

She said William Smith, who had come originally from Grappenhall, in Cheshire, did not have a headstone as there was no one to pay for it.

"He was probably too poor," she said.

"In fact, all the navvies gave one shilling a head to pay for the funeral.

"It was called the Navvies Shilling, and they all gave it whenever anything like this happened."

In May, she found great-grandniece Caroline Gibson-Crook, 52, who lives in Warrington, Cheshire. Caroline said: "I've been studying my family history for the past 30 years, but I didn't know much about my father's side because my grandfather and great-grandfather had fallen out and they never spoke.

"This is a part of my history I never knew about so it's wonderful to finally add William's name to the family tree."

Ann's research will make up one chapter of a book detailing the history of the Great Central Railway and its impact on Lutterworth between 1890 and 1910.

The book will be available next April, from Lutterworth Museum, in Gilmorton Road.

Dozens of business people attended the launch of the Mayor of Leicester's multi-million pound plan to breath new life into the city economy.

Sir Peter Soulsby formally launched his Economic Action Plan at St Martins House in the city centre yesterday, outlining his vision for jobs and growth.

The plan includes helping create thousands of jobs; supporting six months' work experience schemes, apprenticeships, internships and graduate placements for 800 young people; helping 1,800 businesses grow and a further 800 get off the ground.

Sir Peter hopes to secure £60 million of investment to help with the masterplan.

Maxine Aldred, development manager of the Federation of Small Businesses in Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland, said: "It really is very, very important that the city looks at various initiatives and investment plans that benefit the whole of the city, not just particular areas.

"This has never happened before in Leicester but I really think that, although it is an ambitious plan, it can be delivered."

Martin Peters, chief executive of Leicester Shire Promotions, said: "From the tourism perspective the big thing now is to attract private sector investment.

"We have just come out of an era largely driven by public sector investment. So this is about creating a climate for investment and creating confidence."

As part of its own contribution, he said the council had already agreed £13.479 million of support and approved in principle a further £16.6million.

Sir Peter said: "Leicester offers a fantastic range of attractions, but we can't stand still. I believe the announcements we will be making over the next few weeks will show there are some big things about to happen in this city."

Richard Thorpe was "probably the most smug man in Leicester" after he helped Tigers defeat his former club London Irish 22-15 in the LV= Cup.

Flanker Thorpe was released by London Irish at the end of last season, despite having a year left to run on his contract, before making his way to Welford Road during the summer.

The 28-year-old said it was great to pick up the win against his former club.

"I left there in the summer and still had a year left to run on my contract, which was a disappointing end to a long time at that club," he said.

"But Leicester have welcomed me in and it's turned out to be a fantastic move, so it was great to get that win against London Irish.

"I was probably the most smug man in Leicester."

Tigers emerged victorious despite having 22 players unavailable for the game, either through injury or international duty, while Irish fielded what was arguably their full-strength side.

"We knew that Irish were going to stick out a pretty strong side, we had seen what had been released in the press by (director of rugby) Brian Smith, and knew they were coming fully loaded to win the game.

"So, with our stars out with England, and also us resting some other players, we had big job to do.

"But this sums up why Tigers are consistently a very strong outfit.

"We have a lot of strength in depth across the board, we can stick out a second XV and it will compete against a lot of Premiership starting XVs.

"It is fantastic to have that at our disposal and a great asset for (director of rugby) Richard Cockerill."

Tigers lost 38-21 at the hands of Saracens in their first match in the defence of their cup title.

But having bounced back against Irish on Sunday, Tigers are now just a point off the top despite still being bottom of the group.

"I believe this was a similar start for us last season and we ended up winning the competition," said Thorpe.

"It was frustrating (against Saracens), we finished the game very well but it was very frustrating.

"We had Fordy (George Ford) in against Irish, which is a massive difference for us – he's a quality player. We had Taity (Mathew Tait) making his second start after the Maori game. He looked confident and adds a lot to our counter-attack and our structure.

"With the quality of personnel we were able to bring in against Irish, despite still having 22 players out, it really did well for us."

A businessman caught with more than £11,000 worth of cocaine has been jailed for four-and-a-half years.

Depesh Ravalia (24) was convicted of possessing the class A drug with intent to supply by a jury at a recent trial.

Sentencing him at Leicester Crown Court yesterday, Judge Simon Hammond said Ravalia had lied during his court case, wrongly claiming the drug was for personal use.

His barrister, Nigel Mitchell, said he now accepted he was looking after the cocaine on behalf of another, as a custodian.

At the earlier hearing, the court heard how a defective brake light on his car led to him being caught, on December 29 last year.

Ravalia, who runs a hairdressing business in the city, was stopped on St George's Way, in Leicester, because of the faulty light.

Officers were suspicious and found a small amount of the class C drug BZP inside a cap in the vehicle.

It resulted in Ravalia's home, in Huggett Close, Rushey Mead, Leicester, being searched.

Three cling film wraps, totalling 68 grams of cocaine, were found in his wardrobe.

Ravalia, a graduate, claimed during his trial that he bought the cocaine for £60 as a "treat" to have over Christmas.

He said he got it from a dealer on a street near his home.

He said he was not addicted to the drug and insisted it was for personal use.

Alan Murphy, prosecuting, said the cocaine was "high grade" with 27.87 grams of it having a purity of 76 per cent, 13.81 grams at 75 per cent and 27.2 grams at 49 per cent.

The average purity of street deals were said to be between 10 and 15 per cent.

Drugs expert, Detective Constable Iain Hollis, told the jury the 68 grams were worth £3,750 wholesale.

But he said it could be mixed with a cutting agent to achieve a greater volume, with a street value of £11,920.

The officer said the amount Ravalia was found with was "beyond realistic personal use".

He said it could have lasted a regular user a year.

Ravalia admitted possessing the BZP and possessing the cocaine for own use.

After being convicted unanimously of intending to supply the cocaine, Judge Hammond said Ravalia's account of having bought the cocaine for £60 was "ridiculous".

Judge Hammond said: "You told the jury you weren't addicted to cocaine so that means you were in it for money."

A 31-year-old man accused of murdering his wife has appeared before a crown court judge.

Yacoub Rezai, of Hand Avenue, Braunstone, Leicester, is charged with the murder of 23-year-old mother-of-two Raihana Rezayi.

Her body was discovered at 2.20pm on Tuesday, November 13 in a house in Hand Avenue.

The brief Leicester Crown Court hearing yesterday was translated into Farsi by an interpreter, who stood in the dock next to Rezai.

There was no application for bail.

Judge Michael Pert QC remanded Rezai back into custody until November 30, when a preliminary hearing is due to take place.

Two of Leicester Tigers' most prized assets have signed "long-term" extended deals.

Brothers Ben, 23 and Tom Youngs, 25, have committed their future to the club after putting pen to paper on new contracts.

The news is a huge boost for Tigers, who were keen to attract the players' signatures before January 1.

After that date, other English clubs are allowed to make official approaches to any players in the last six months of their contract, like Tom and Ben.

It is likely that both men would have received some big-money offers to leave Welford Road.

Leicester Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill said they were players the club would be "built around" in the future after tying up their services.

"It is excellent news that both Tom and Ben have agreed new deals with us," he said. "They are both very important to the club.

"They have grown up in a Leicester Tigers family, their dad Nick played for the club, they know the history of this place and they have come all the way through the Academy system here before establishing themselves as key first-team players.

"It shows players can come through the Academy and get to the top of the game.

"Ben and Tom both have an excellent attitude to their work, but they also have an emotional attachment to the club.

"Any side that wants to be successful needs to have a core group of players that have an attachment to the club that is not just about the money.

"That is key for the culture of the club.

"Both Tom and Ben are the kind of players we want to build the club around for the next five or six years."

The siblings are both away on England duty and expected to play against South Africa, at Twickenham, on Saturday.

Hailing from a farm in Norfolk, Ben and Tom have worked their way through the Tigers Academy and have already made 142 appearances between them for Leicester.

Ben has been on a unstoppable rise at scrum-half since making his debut as a 17-year-old, in February 2007. He has played in four Premiership finals.

Tom, meanwhile, began his life as a big-hitting centre before he was advised by the now South Africa head coach, Heyneke Meyer, to reinvent himself as a hooker in 2009.

That began a long and winding road for Tom, who is likely to make a third start for his country on Saturday against a team coached by the very man who instructed him to begin that journey.