The city became a sea of colour today as Leicester flew it's rainbow flag in honour of this year's Pride festival.

Around 700 people met outside Curve theatre to kick off the parade at midday, before making their way through the city centre.

The streets were lined with rainbow banners as the most flamboyant parade in Leicester's social calendar reached Victoria Park.

There, more than 8,000 revellers were entertained by drag acts, DJ's and dancers.

Soap star Kieron Richardson, who plays Ste Hay in Hollyoaks, hosted part of the event.

He said: "For one day only, everyone and anyone can be who they want to be and nobody will judge them.

"Pride is our way of showing people that we are normal like everyone else and we are just fellow human-beings.

"And it's a happy, safe environment for people, where we can all have lots of fun."

Lea Martin - stage name, Cassie Dahlink - who also hosted part of the event, said that Pride was all about the "diversity" for him.

"Life is too short to judge other people, the message from me is to 'live and let live'," he said.

"The day gives a sense of self-worth to everyone and to be honest, it shouldn't be for just one day - people should feel like this every day."

Singer Ryan Joseph was part of the line-up who helped entertained the crowd throughout the day.

He said: "Pride is a celebration and a great time for everyone to experience a fun day together.

Underneath the colourful exterior though, Ryan said there was a serious message that Pride continues to promote.

"The festival is there to support those who are struggling with coming out, or being accepted.

"The motto this year is, 'one life, one love' and that's what it's all about - as well as having one big party of course."

For Beth Gould, 17, of Sileby, it was the first time she had ever experienced the event.

She said: "I've never felt so comfortable in all of my life - being here has filled me with confidence.

"For once, I can be me and not be judged, it's great."

Mark green, 19, of Loughborough, had a face-painting and hair braiding stall with his family.

"There is such a great atmosphere," he said.

"And such a good vibe, it's nice to see everyone come together."

Mike Seach, 48, of Freeman's Meadow, said: "It's very good - it's my first year I've been to Pride and it's definitely lived up to my expectations."

Ricky Northey, 35 was at the event with his boyfriend Matthew Carey, 28, both of Leicester city centre.

"I booked the day off work especially to come and it's been amazing," said Ricky.

"It's a great chance for everyone to let their hair down and have no drama."

For Cortney Henry, 22, of Wigston, it was the fourth time he had enjoyed a day at Pride.

"The day has been so nice and the dance tent is amazing.

"We have quite a small LGBT community in Leicester and we all stick together, it's great."

Sonia Goodman, 32, of Crown Hills, Leicester, said: "It's my first time but I've always wanted to come and I'm absolutely loving it.

"The entertainment has been great, it's been a really, really nice experience."

The park was dotted with various stalls, from those selling tasty food, to the Toni & Guy pop-up hairdressers.

Billy Bates & Sons also brought a selection of their favourite fun fair rides to the park, for the whole family to enjoy.

Chairman of the Pride committee, Martyn Parker, said: "What an excellent day.

"It's the busiest we've seen it and it's so bright and colourful."

Security and Safety Operations Director and Vice Chairman of the Pride committee, Craig Thorpe, said: "It takes a group of 14 people around a year to organise this event and I don't think people realise just how much hard work goes into making it happen.

"We want people to be who they are and be proud of who they are and when you see so many people having fun, it makes it all worth it."

Leicester City have completed the signing of defender Danny Simpson on a three-year contract.

The 27-year-old right back, who played 34 times for Queens Park Rangers last season as they clinched promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs, has joined City from QPR in a deal believed to be worth around £2 million.

Simpson becomes the second City player in three days to sign for City after the arrival of free agent Esteban Cambiasso on Thursday night.

"I'm really excited," Simpson said. "I've had a look around the facilities, which look fantastic, and had a good chat with the manager, who I'm really looking forward to working with.

"He told me that there's a good group of players here that demand a lot of each other and I think, from speaking to other people, he knows I'll work hard every day to fit into that. I've got a really good feeling about this."

Simpson is not eligible to face Arsenal at King Power Stadium tomorrow and it Is not yet known whether City have received international clearance for Cambiasso, although no complications are expected.

Simpson, who will wear the number 17 shirt, becomes City's sixth signing of the summer so far after the arrivals of Ben Hamer, Matt Upson, Marc Albrighton, Leonardo Ulloa and Cambiasso.

Firefighters attended a car crash in Melton Mowbray on Friday.

Crews were called to an accident involving two cars in Nottingham Road just after 4pm.

Nobody was trapped either car but two people were injured.

Both patients were dealt with at the scene by East Midlands Ambulance Service.

Fire crews attended an accident involving two cars and a caravan on the M42, in Tonge, yesterday.

Firefighters were called to a crash near to junction 14 and the M1, junction 23a, just on the Leicestershire/Derbyshire boarder at around 10am.

A caravan and two cars had been involved in a collision.

Nobody was trapped but two people were injured.

Both patients were dealt with at the scene by East Midlands Ambulance Service.

Two people were taken to hospital following a crash in Shepshed yesterday morning.

Firefighters were called to an accident involving three cars on the junction of Charley Road and Abbey Road just after 9.30am.

Nobody was trapped but two people were injured.

Both patients were taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary by East Midlands Ambulance service.

No information about the condition of either patient has been released.

A person has been taken to hospital following a car crash in Fosse Road Central, Leicester.

Firefighters was called to a crash involving two cars at the junction of King Richards Road at around 6.15 last night.

Crews released an injured person who was trapped in one of the cars.

The patients was taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary by East Midlands Ambulance Service.

The Town Hall Square was bursting with support last night (SAT) as Leicester welcomed dozens of campaigners fighting to protect the NHS.

A 300-mile People's March, involving more than 60 passionate men and women, passed through the county at the weekend, stopping off in the city centre.

Starting off on August 16, the group had walked from Jarrow, in the north east and will continue to rally as they make their way down to London, to lobby Parliament over changes to the health service.

Entering Town Hall Square on Saturday evening, they chanted "NHS, not for sale", followed by "Whose NHS? Your NHS. Whose NHS? My NHS. Whose NHS? Our NHS?" and "No 'if's', no 'buts', no NHS cuts."

The Leicester Campaign Against NHS Privatisation had organised the marcher's reception rally in Leicestershire, which was appealing against the way the NHS is being "fragmented, privatised and forced to compete".

A group of supporters held signs which read, 'NHS not trident, as they welcomed the rally to the city.

Anna Cheetham and Peter Thompson, both of Leicester city centre, were among the supporters.

Anna, 79 said: "We're here to try and protect our NHS.

"It's such a wonderful system and it is vital for us to keep it."

Peter, 89 added: "Why are we spending money on other things when the NHS is crying out for cash?

"The NHS is something that our country should be extremely proud of."

The walkers and the supporters were addressed by Labour politicians Rory Palmer, the deputy mayor of Leicester, and Liz Kendall, MP for Leicester West.

Speaking to the Mercury, Mr Palmer said: "I'm extremely concerned about what the government is doing to our NHS.

"Enough is enough now, our NHS needs to be saved."

Ms Kendall said that she was "very proud" to have welcomed the campaigners to the city.

"People are so passionate about this because the NHS is a universal service which is given to us based on our needs and not our ability to pay, unlike a lot of other countries," she told the Mercury.

"We need to show full support for the NHS."

The campaigners will pass through 23 towns in their month-long walk. They reached Loughborough on Friday and were marching to Market Harborough this morning, before heading south.

On their way through Leicester last night, the marchers were served a cooked meal at the Secular Hall, in Humberstone Gate and this morning, they had breakfast at the Methodist church, in Bishop Street, which also became a temporary hostel for many of the woman on Saturday night.

Firefighters have been attending a car fire on the M1, near Loughborough this afternoon. (SUN)

Crews were called to the M1 southbound, just prior to junction 23, Loughborough at around 1.45pm.

A car was well alight.

An engine from Loughborough and another from Castle Donington attended the incident.

One lane was closed and delays of up to half-an-hour were expected for motorists.

Crews extinguished the fire before leaving just after 2.30pm.

Nobody was injured.

The cause of the firs is not yet known.

Leonardo Ulloa claimed a deserved point for Leicester City as they more than held their own against Arsenal.

City had to come from behind, though, after Alexis Sanchez bagged his first Premier League goal in the first half.

But, as City did on the opening day of the season against Everton, they hit back in a matter of minutes, with Ulloa rising highest to meet Jeff Schlupp's delightful cross to power his header into the net.

City could even have won it, creating the better of the chances during the second half. Ulloa missed a glorious chance to win it, firing wide of the post with just goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny to beat.

Jamie Vardy, making his Premier League debut after returning to the bench following a thigh injury, was also denied by the goalkeeper as the hosts ramped up the pressure on their big-name opponents.

City were unchanged from their 2-0 defeat at Chelsea with new signing Esteban Cambiasso among the substitutes.

And he would have been impressed with City's bright start as they took the game to the Gunners.

Arsenal suffered an early blow when Laurent Koscielny clashed heads with Jeffrey Schlupp, forcing the defender off for treatment.

And while the Gunners were down to 10-man Leicester carved out their best chance. Riyad Mahrez swapped passes with David Nugent but his 25-yard effort skidded just past the post.

It was a sign of the hosts' intent but the City were undone on 20 minutes when Sanchez, making his first league start, pounced.

Neat play saw Santi Cazorla loft the ball to Yaya Sanogo and, when the striker made a hash of his effort, the ball fell to Sanchez to smash in from six yards.

The lead lasted just two minutes though as Per Mertesacker allowed Schlupp to use his incredible pace and his pinpoint cross was headed in by Ulloa from 12-yards. The goal was all City deserved for their tenacious effort.

Wes Morgan and Liam Moore were outstanding once again in the heart of defence as Sanogo hardly had a sniff, with the City defence putting their bodies on the line time after rime to deny the Gunners.

Ulloa continued to threaten after the break and should have fired Leicester ahead on 53 minutes. Schlupp's ball dissected Arsenal and when Chambers dived in the striker could only hit the side netting from eight yards.

Arsenal immediately broke but, following another lofted ball over the top, Aaron Ramsey headed straight at Kasper Schmeichel, who later denied Sanogo with a smart save, spreading himself wide to deny the striker one-on-one.

City continued to push in the closing stages and almost won it with six minutes to play. Vardy, using his extraordinary pace, broke from a corner and swapped passes with Nugent, only to be denied by Szczesny.

City have faced three of last season's top five already this season and have two points to show for their superb performances going into the international break.

Leicester City boss Nigel Pearson said he was frustrated his side have not been able to win any of their opening three games.

But the City boss said he had been greatly encouraged by his side's performances against three of last season's top five clubs.

City have now come back to draw against Everton and Arsenal on home soil while they also frustrated Chelsea for over an hour at Stamford Bridge, and Pearson said that showed his players were adapting to life in the Premier League well.

Leonardo Ulloa's header three minutes after Alexis Sanchez had put the Gunners in front at the King Power Stadium this afternoon ensured City picked up their second point and while Pearson admits they could have had more on the board, he believes his side are coming to terms with what is required in the top flight.

"It is still frustrating for us not to have managed to win one of our opening games but I have seen encouraging signs today against another very good side," Pearson said.

"I think in all three games we have played so far the sides we have played have dominated possession. That has made it very difficult for us to influence the game in a way we would like but I do think we have created a number of very good opportunities again.

"That is huge encouragement for me and the players that we feel the opponents we have played we have put under a lot of pressure. That is very encouraging.

"We could have done more with possession today. I don't think we opened them up in a way we could have done at times, but I still think it was a very good performance in many ways and we continue to show signs we are capable of adapting quickly and improving. That is really important.

"I know my players are capable and I think they have shown in the three games so far that they are.

"They have also shown a capacity to improve and good game understanding.

"Last year we dominated possession in the vast majority of games we had. This year we have had to adopt a slightly different mentality because we have had to work exceptionally hard when we have had it.

"That in itself shows a game understanding and a willingness to work as a team. That is encouraging for us."

Pearson confirmed that Ulloa limped out of the action in the second half simply through fatigue and does not have an injury.

Leicester City's director of footballer Terry Robinson has completed the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge - before nominating manager Nigel Pearson.

Robinson was nominated by striker Jamie Vardy and completed the challenge after City's 1-1 draw with Arsenal.

He nominated Pearson, the club's head of recruitment Steve Walsh and former City winger Lloyd Dyer, who is now at Watford.

A cancer nurse who cycled to Skegness to raise money for charity was devastated when thieves stole her bike.

Samantha Arnull, 28, was with a group of fund-raisers who cycled to the east coast and back in aid of cancer charity 20-20 Voice – which helps people who suffer with head and neck cancer.

The event took place on Saturday, August 23, and Samantha – a nurse at Leicester Royal Infirmary's Kinmonth Unit – managed to raise more than £500 for the cause.

However, after she had got back and locked the £800 bike in her boyfriend's shed, thieves broke in and stole it.

Samantha, of Littlethorpe, said: "When you're trying to do something good for someone and raise money it's just a kick in the teeth when something like this happens. It feels like there's no justice in the world.

"I think it's disgusting. You work so hard for things and you don't expect people to just come along and take them from under your nose."

Samantha is now asking people to call the police with information about the bike in an attempt to get it back.

It was taken from her boyfriend's home in Threadgold Close, Beaumont Leys, Leicester, between August 23 and Thursday, August 28.

The bike is a dark grey Boardman.

Samantha said: "If anyone sees it or knows where it is, please call the police."

The 20-20 Voice charity was started by Phil Johnson, who lost his voice-box to cancer in November 2010 and uses an electro-larynx to speak. He met Samantha when he was a patient at the Kinmonth Unit and the pair have raised money for the cause since.

Phil said: "We are absolutely disgusted that some low-life should attack a charity patron like this.

"Samantha has supported our charity since I set it up almost three years ago to bring awareness to the nation regarding head and neck cancers.

"We are purchasing vital equipment so as to bring diagnostics forward by as much as nine months, as our types of cancer are seldom detected without investigative surgery."

Phil said head and neck cancer has risen by more than 600 per cent in the past 10 years.

Anyone with information about the missing bike can call police on 101.

For more information about the 20-20 Voice charity, visit:

www.2020cancerappeal.org

Pioneering scientists at the University of Leicester today unveiled a new weapon in the fight against a killer superbug.

The research team say the breakthrough in the battle against C-diff should have a big impact on preventing infections in the future.

The technique means the bacterium – Clostridium difficile – can be sniffed out with an "electronic nose", using techniques developed in the university's chemistry department.

C-diff can lead to serious infections, causing stomach cramps, temperatures and diarrhoea.

It is resistant to many ordinary antibiotics and can lead to death.

In 2012, there were 1,646 deaths in the UK involving C-diff and, while the number of cases has fallen rapidly, a new strain of bacteria has emerged in recent years that tends to cause more severe infections.

Professor Paul Monks, a member of the research team, said the discovery should have a big impact on preventing infections.

The scientists can analyse patients' faeces to search for the bug and discover whether the patient has C-diff – and, if so, which variety they have.

He said: "Essentially, the different strains smell different and the ones that cause infections smell different to the ones that don't. What's really cool about it is that learning the different ways infections come about can help us find ways to prevent C-diff causing infections in the future."

The breakthrough should also lead to better ways to prevent the bug by understanding how it works.

Current tests just examine the symptoms and search the faeces for toxins suggesting C-diff is present, rather than sniffing out the bug itself.

As well as saving people's lives, better ways of treating C-diff should save the NHS money if patients are not hospitalised for so long with it.

A spokesman for Leicester's hospitals welcomed the discovery.

The hospitals trust now sees about 60 cases a year of the superbug, compared to more than 1,900 at its peak in 2007.

The spokesman said: "Battling hospital infections such as C-diff is an ongoing challenge for all hospitals.

"We have worked especially hard to reduce infection rates and were really pleased to achieve our all-time lowest C-diff figures earlier this year.

"However, combating hospital infection is not easy and a tool like this would be a fantastic asset in helping us keep rates to a minimum."

The critical discovery by the university team was working out the chemical fingerprints of various organic compounds that are associated with different strains of the bug.

Professor Monks and his colleague, Professor Andy Ellis, from the Department of Chemistry, were helped by Dr Martha Clokie, from the university's Department of Microbiology and Immunology.

She said: "Current tests for C-diff don't generally give strain information – this test could allow doctors to see what strain was causing the illness and allow doctors to tailor their treatment."

Professor Ellis said: "This work shows great promise.

"The different strains of C-diff have significantly different chemical fingerprints and, with further research, we would hope to be able to develop a reliable and almost instantaneous tool for detecting a specific strain, even if present in very small quantities."

A youngster who must not get cold because he was born with only half a heart has put his own spin on the ice bucket challenge.

Albert Tansey, five, of Burbage, has asked people to join the donor register, in his own version of the charity challenge.

Because Albert was born with half a heart, he has a lower amount of oxygen in his blood and his organs are constantly under pressure, which means getting cold could be dangerous.

People participating in the challenge, which is raising money for Motor Neurone Disease, throw a bucket of ice-cold water over their head.

Albert's father, Adam suggested his son threw bean-bag balls instead.

"It wasn't about getting the publicity at first, it was about allowing a child to do something that he couldn't do," said Adam, 40.

"But actually it sent such a powerful message and we didn't even realise it." Wanting to get involved came from Albert watching his big brother participate in the challenge.

"He really wanted to do it too," Adam said.

"So I thought we could put an interesting slant on it."

In the video, which has been viewed thousands of times on YouTube, Albert holds up signs which tell his story, before asking people to join the organ donor register.

Adam said: "It was only meant to be a bit of fun.

"We didn't want people to donate to a charity, we just wanted more people to join the donor register."

Albert had open-heart surgery when seven days old and again when aged nine months.

He was meant to have a third operation, which could have potentially extended his life expectancy.

However, at the age of two, Albert had a heart attack and doctors decided in April this year not to perform the third operation.

Albert is now on the waiting list to have a heart transplant. Adam said: "How long has Albert got? How long is a piece of string?

"Let's put it this way, it's a slippery slope and we're at the top at the moment and it's not going to get better."

Adam said he has been "overwhelmed" by the response the video has been given.

"The comments we've received have tugged at my heartstrings," he said.

"People have messaged me from all over the world telling me they have joined the register.

"The more people there are, the more chance we have of finding one for Albert.

"All you need is that trigger and in this case, it's the video."

Adam and his wife Annita set up the charity Keep The Beat, inspired by Albert. To donate visit:

www.keepthebeat.co.uk

To find out more about organ donation visit:

www.organdonation.nhs.uk

You can now keep up-to-date with Albert's journey by following Albert's Heart on Facebook

The scorching July weather may have renewed our faith in the British summer but August was the coldest in 21 years.

Average temperatures were three degrees below the average and August saw 20 hours less sunshine than normal.

It was also wetter than average, thanks to a couple of downpours and plenty of drizzle in between.

"It has been a month to forget," said Leicester Mercury weatherman Dave Mutton.

"The mean average temperatures make it the coldest August we've had since 1993.

"It's been a big shock after a July that had so much warm and dry weather."

In July, 35mm (1.4 inches) of rain fell in Leicestershire, and there were 11 consecutive days without rain.

Temperatures peaked at 30C (86F), making it one of the 10 warmest Julys since records began in 1910. We also had 122 per cent of the average sunshine.

Dave said: "We've come pretty close to a ground frost this August, with a minimum air temperature of 4C (39F) on Wednesday last week, when we had all the cold fog. That was with a ground temperature of just 2C (36F).

"On Monday last week the highest the temperature got was 14C (58F)."

The mean average temperature for August was 14.8C (58.5F) and the rainfall figures were increased by downpours on August 10 and bank holiday Monday.

In total, almost 75mm (3in) of rain fell, compared with an August average of 57mm (2.25in).

Bank holiday Monday saw several events hit hard by the downpour, including Medbourne Truck Pull, which attracted about 500 people, compared with more than 2,500 last year.

Organiser Gary Gardner said: "We had some teams assume it was cancelled and stayed away.

"We also had a lot fewer people coming to watch, which was a shame.

"The day before when we were setting up was lovely but then it poured with rain on Monday. That's how it is with the British weather."

Dave said he was optimistic there was some pleasant weather to come this month.

He said: "This week we should see things settling down and I reckon September could end up being warmer than August."

7.09am: 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

Two dealers were caught red-handed with a stash of cannabis after the police stopped one of them for using a mobile phone while driving, a court heard.

The driver, Mohamed Kagzi, a Loughborough University student, got out of the Vauxhall Corsa and unsuccessfully tried hiding a yoghurt pot containing 11 wraps of cannabis under his car.

Leicester Crown Court was told police recovered it.

Front seat passenger, Dilip Parbat, was found to have a wrap of the class B drug in his pocket and had a further one ounce of cannabis hidden in his underpants.

Neil Bannister, prosecuting, said: "Under the front passenger seat was a further one ounce of cannabis. They were both arrested and a search of Parbat's home led to a further amount being found, along with a set of scales, in a rucksack in his bedroom – which Parbat had been looking after for Kagzi.

"All the cannabis recovered amounted to 60.1 grams, worth about £1,300."

Kagzi (21), of Melbourne Road, Highfields, Leicester, and Parbat (20), of Dorset Street, Belgrave, Leicester, both admitted jointly possessing cannabis with intent to supply it on March 3.

Kagzi was jailed for six months and Parbat received a six-month detention sentence.

Both defendants were of previous good character and were drawn into offending after recently losing their jobs, the court was told. Recorder Stephen Eyre said: "You're both young men who have shown you can do well and take part in education.

"Both have the potential to be useful law-abiding members of society.

"Instead of using that potential, you chose to engage in the deliberate supply of drugs.

"It may be Kagzi was the initiator, but Parbat was happy to go along with that offending with a view to gain."

Shital Modhwadia, mitigating for Kagzi, said: "He's about to start the second year of a sports exercise and management university course.

"He became involved after he lost a job at Morrisons but has now got another job and intends to continue studying and working.

"A custodial sentence means he'd no longer be able to continue at university and would lose his job. He's never been arrested before and is assessed as having a low risk of reoffending.

"He had actually not made any money from it at the time he was stopped by the police.

"The deal was for him to take the cannabis (from a supplier) and try to sell some."

Lynsey Knott, for Parbat, said: "No transactions were completed and no money gained, although that was their intention.

"He's genuinely sorry he allowed himself to become involved and takes full responsibility for his wrongdoing."

She said Parbat had been laid off from working at a family store, which had been struggling, and was looking for work when he fell into temptation.

Miss Knott said: "He's brought shame upon his family but wants to prove it's something he bitterly regrets."