A homeless man who gave a false name to the police when arrested for shoplifting a tent to live in has been jailed.

Christopher Knight (23) admitted perverting the course of justice, by assuming another person's identity.

He also admitted theft of a £22.50 tent from Tesco, Ashby, on July 5.

Knight, who was later provided with hostel accommodation in Derby, was jailed for a total of eight months.

Sentencing at Leicester Crown Court, Judge Ebraham Mooncey said: "A store detective saw you acting suspiciously and picking up the tent.

"When confronted outside the store you gave the name of someone you knew.

"The police arrived and you persisted with the false details, including date of birth.

"You proceeded to lie about your identity when you admitted the shoplifting in interview and you were given a fixed-penalty notice."

However, his ruse was rumbled when another police officer realised the defendant was not the person he claimed to be, said Alexander Davies, prosecuting.

Judge Mooncey said: "Fortunately, the person you were masquerading as wasn't arrested.

"Perverting the course of justice strikes at the heart of the justice system and that why custodial sentences have to follow."

The court heard Knight has 28 offences on his record, including several for shoplifting.

Andrew Molloy, mitigating, said: "The tent was immediately recovered and returned.

"He gave a false name in panic and then persisted with it.

"He's very sorry for what he's done. He needs to learn a lesson and stop committing these type of offences."

A four-month-old baby was seconds away from being buried beneath mounds of plaster after a ceiling in her home collapsed.

Charlie Dudson, of Belgrave, Leicester, was lucky to escape unhurt when about 30kg of plasterboard came crashing down on top of her chair, on Monday last week.

Mum Samantha, 33, had picked Charlie up seconds earlier to change her nappy and had the youngster in her arms when the ceiling fell, throwing dust and debris everywhere.

"I hadn't even laid her down when the ceiling came crashing down," said Samantha. "She was still in my hands.

"It was so loud, I screamed. My husband came running in asking what had happened and saw the huge pile of plaster on top of her seat."

Samantha said she could not bring herself to think about what might have happened.

"I suppose it was an act of God," she said. "I don't even want to think about what could have happened if I hadn't picked her up."

Samantha and husband Jack, 20, were forced to move their children out of their bedroom as it was directly above the damaged ceiling.

The mum of four said: "The room above the collapsed ceiling is my children's room so I moved them into our room straightaway.

"It wasn't safe for them."

However, despite the couple's safety fears they are now sleeping in the youngsters' bedroom on a children's mattress while they wait for builders to repair the damage.

Cracks in the ceiling were identified about two weeks ago during a routine inspection by Haart, the estate agency which looks after the property for the landlord.

A spokesman for Haart said the company had done everything in its power to ensure the home in Wavertree Drive, off Melton Road, was safe once it found the damage.

However, it had not been able to get hold of Mrs Dudson over the past few weeks, despite trying several times.

It has hired a contractor to repair the damage.

Paul Sloan, operations manager for Haart, said: "We are very concerned to hear about this child's narrow escape and take our responsibilities for safety extremely seriously.

"We are very relieved to hear that no-one was injured."

Mr Sloan said it was not clear what caused the damage or how long the work would take.

He said: "The room affected is not below a bathroom so a leak seems unlikely."

Leicester is a true sporting city with all our teams competing at the highest levels. It is something we are all extremely proud of. One of those teams is Leicester Riders – a side that has won four major trophies in the past two seasons and is rightly recognised as one of the best basketball sides in Britain.

Unfortunately, all this has been achieved without Riders having a proper home for the past 14 years. Their last permanent venue was Granby Halls, which is long since closed and demolished.

But within the next 12 months all that should have changed.

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby has been a major driving force in plans for a new £4.2 million arena, with a capacity of 2,300, that will be built near to Leicester College's Abbey Park campus.

It is an exciting and ambitious project with a very tight timetable.

Work is expected to start by the end of the year, subject to planning permission being granted.

The former council depot, in Charter Street, will also need to be decontaminated from years of industrial use before building work can start.

It is hoped that the complex will be open in time for the next British Basketball League season, starting in September 2015.

This development will also be so much more than just an arena for Leicester Riders. The complex will also have classrooms, a fitness suite, cafe and bar and will be used for major indoor events.

The arena will also be used during term-time by the 29,000 students at Leicester College.

This joint project by Riders, the city council and the college, with financial backing from the Government and Sport England, will be a real asset to the city.

It will not only provide Riders with a new stadium and the college with badly-needed sports facilities, it will also be a huge community facility.

Riders have an impressive and growing community programme and this arena will provide a focal point for those activities.

The complex has been talked about for a long time now, but these final plans are highly impressive.

Well done to all those concerned in getting these plans off the drawing board.

Paralysed London Marathon heroine Claire Lomas is closing in on her latest target to help victims of spinal injury.

Claire, 34, of Eye Kettleby, is already close to reaching the £50,000 target she set herself for the year in support of the Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation.

She is now hoping to raise £70,000 before the year is out.

She has already raised more than £300,000 for spinal injuries charities, through her 2012 London Marathon walk in a robotic suit and a 400-mile, 22-day cycle ride around the country on a specially adapted bike.

The former event rider, who was paralysed after being thrown from her horse in 2007, has given school talks and organised fund-raising including bucking bull events.

She has also donated some of the proceeds from her autobiography, Finding My Feet.

She has now launched an online auction with 100 prizes, including the chance to take part in an indoor sky dive with Olympic, Commonwealth and European long jump champion Greg Rutherford.

Claire said: "So far, I have raised £47,000 through school talks, my book and various fund-raising events.

"I am close to the £50,000 target I set myself for the year and I am now pushing on to increase the total to £70,000."

Among the items up for auction is a methuselah of champagne signed by Badminton Horse Trials competitors in May, which will be auctioned by Bonhams of London on Thursday, September 11.

Claire said: "The support has been fantastic and there is a massive range of prizes, including days out, clothing, golf days, riding lessons and sporting activities.

"People could get them for a good price.

"I sent out a lot of e-mails and people have been very generous donating auction prizes.

"It's difficult to ask people to keep on giving, but with the auction they are getting something back."

The auction also includes two pairs of breeches, one black and one white, owned by 36-year-old model Katie Price, which currently have bids of £24 each.

Other items include a Manchester United signed shirt, an original oil painting by Laura Barber-Riley, a week's accommodation at Four Seasons, Vilamoura, Portugal, and passes for Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials.

www.claireschallenge.co.uk/ #!auction/c1x08

A man who sexually abused three girls has been warned to expect a substantial prison sentence.

Peter York (61) changed his initial denials against a series of offences to plead guilty to three counts of indecently assaulting one girl.

He also admitted three offences of indecency with a second girl and one count of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.

York, of Naseby Road, Leicester, also pleaded guilty to two counts of indecency with a third girl. The offences took place on various dates between May 1992 and 2005.

The girls were aged between six and 15 years old.

The Leicester Crown Court case was adjourned until September 25, for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

York was released on bail.

Recorder Adrian Reynolds told him: "The fact I'm granting you bail is no indication of the likely outcome.

"I'm certain you will be facing a substantial sentence for this.

"You've had the good sense to plead guilty to these allegations, on the day of trial."

Gary Lineker has been subjected to a torrent of tweets for tarnishing his clean-cut looks with a goatee beard.

The boyish smile which endeared him to Leicester City and England fans as much as his goals has been transformed by a few wisps of facial hair.

Match of the Day viewers, and pundits, have taken to Twitter to poke fun at the 53-year-old Leicester legend after he revealed his new look on Saturday night.

Simon @PhantomGoal tweeted: "Gary Lineker adds a pencil-goatee and suddenly he looks like an amateur magician."

Television host and Arsenal fan Piers Morgan tweeted: "Evening, d'Artagnan."

Meanwhile, Chris Saxon commented: "Is Gary Lineker about to audition for a part in the Three Musketeers or has he forgot to shave?"

Paul Tanner waded in with: "Has Gary Lineker lost a bet to have that goatee?"

The former Fox originally ignored the ribbing and stood by his beard.

But it only provoked an even bigger social media assault.

He had earlier declared the look was a tribute to BBC football grandees Des Lynam and Jimmy Hill as part of the MOTD 50th anniversary celebrations.

"Gary's Goatee" has gained so much notoriety it now boasts its very own Twitter account @linekersgoatee.

In one of its most recent posts, it declared: "Gary's always getting Walkers salt & vinegar crisp crumbs in me. I hate that flavour as well, I've always been more of a prawn cocktail fan."

Another said: "To all those referring to me as a beard, I'm a goatee. Me and GaryLineker are fine with how we look."

Even Gary's colleagues have joined in the fun with some gentle barracking.

Match of the Day 2 presenter Mark Chapman, posting an image of an electric razor next to a toilet bag in the MOTD studio dressing room, tweeted Gary with: "Just wondering if you want me to put the shaver into your make-up bag."

Comedian Russell Brand, however, was among those backing Gary's goatee, referring to MOTD's 50th anniversary, by tweeting: "This is a new era!"

By Saturday night, the pressure looked to be getting to Gary, who posted: "Seems like the overall verdict was great show, c**p goatee. It's going."

But not if Mrs Lineker, Danielle, has anything to do with it.

She tweeted: "Currently wrestling the razor from him. Like the Robin Hood look."

By yesterday, however, amid the excitement of football's transfer deadline day, the goatee's future remained undecided, with Gary tweeting: "Considering a substantial offer for the goatee. Time is of the essence... could be a close shave!"

It is not the first time Gary has sparked a facial hair furore.

Back in 2011, he prompted a round of light-hearted abuse by sporting a pencil moustache and chin hair combo.

A £1 million Sikh free school will not open for the first time tomorrow as planned.

Parents of 69 children expecting to send their children to Falcons Primary, in Gipsy Lane, Leicester, have now been left without a school place as the academic year got under way.

Akaal Education Trust was granted permission by the Department for Education (DfE) last year to open the school, on condition it signed a partnership agreement with Affinity Teaching School Alliance, based in Kibworth and led by Paul Stone.

In a letter to Akaal last week, Lord Nash, parliamentary under secretary for education, said funding agreements were being terminated because the trust had failed to appoint Mr Stone as a company member.

Lord Nash said the trust had "failed to secure sufficient educational expertise by not appointing Mr Stone", and there had been a "significant breakdown in the relationship between the trust, governing body, principal designate and other staff members," some of whom resigned last week.

Stephen Snelson, t he school's newly-appointed head teacher, is believed to have been signed off sick.

A DfE spokesman said: "We cannot place children in the middle of a situation like this and have no choice but to keep the school from opening.

"As well as a severe breakdown in the trust's relationship, we have been unable to determine precisely how many children were due to start.

"It was stipulated that there must be at least 90.

"However, we know there's a desire by parents for a Sikh school in the city and have already been in touch with one organisation which may be interested in taking over this project next September.

"The local authority has assured us it can find places for children who require them.

"We're extremely disappointed by what's happened, but must do what's best for the children."

Akaal trustee Harminder Jagdev disputed there had been a "significant breakdown in relations" and said that as with all projects of this size, there were issues, but nothing which could not be resolved.

He urged DfE officials to meet him and said Mr Stone had signed an "initial" agreement to become a company member and the final paperwork was waiting to be signed.

"It's very disappointing to have an agreement of this size withdrawn at such a late stage when we believed everything was in place," he said.

"Our parents have been let down, but I remain hopeful we can resolve this and I'm happy to work alongside another trust to make it happen."

Mr Stone said: "I feel very sad not to be able to open the school and although it was initially felt we could take over the whole project, there's not enough community support for this and therefore it would be inappropriate to continue."

Angry parents have launched a petition calling on Education Secretary Nicky Morgan to reinstate Akaal Trust and allow Falcons Primary to open.

About 20 parents staged a demonstration outside Leicester Town Hall yesterday.

Veena Sanghera, of Blaby, was due to send her son to Falcons.

She said: "This has been a huge shock. We want Akaal to open the school and still hope this will happen."

Mandip Kaur Grewal, from Wigston, said: "I've signed the petition and I want a Sikh school in this city. My daughter was going to start there and I'd like Akaal to be behind it."

Councillor Vi Dempster, assistant city mayor for schools, said the council was working to find new places for pupils.

She said: "This is a tragedy for young people and their parents and hugely distressing to Akaal.

"The DfE needs to come to Leicester and meet the council and members of the Sikh community to discuss the way forward.

"The department has invested £1 million so far. This shouldn't be wasted."

Shepshed Dynamo gained revenge for a recent league defeat to Quorn by knocking their local rivals out of the FA Cup.

On Bank Holiday Monday, Quorn took all three points in the Midland Football League clash with a 1-0 win.

On Saturday, though, Shepshed booked their place in the FA Cup first qualifying round with a 2-0 win at the Dovecote.

Shepshed went ahead in the 11th minute when Danny Chapman headed home a David Hind corner and should have added more as they dominated the first half.

After the break, Dynamo were forced into a rearguard action as the Reds battled hard.

However, in the 89th minute, Shepshed claimed a dramatic goal to seal the game.

It came from a Quorn free-kick with everyone in the Shepshed area, including Quorn keeper Laurie Pearson.

The ball somehow ended in the arms of Shepshed keeper Ryan Thacker, who immediately thumped it upfield where substitute Shaun Martin, under pressure from the retreating Pearson and a defender, somehow managed to hook the ball into the empty net.

Coalville Town also overcame local rivals, Jake Woolley and Jed Davies scoring in the first half to beat Loughborough Dynamo 2-0.

A last-gasp strike from Rich Lewis saw Ellistown & Ibstock United upset Kirby Muxloe 1-0, while Blaby & Whetstone Athletic also went through with a narrow victory, Aaron Preston hitting the only goal against Stratford Town at Warwick Road.

Holwell Sports eased through with an impressive 3-1 success at Retford.

They were helped on their way by an own goal before Harry Stannard and Graham Wells rounded off the success.

Thurnby Nirvana bowed out of the competition as they were beaten 3-1 at Mickleover Sports, while Loughborough University slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Clipstone.

Hinckley AFC suffered their fourth defeat of the Midland Football League season, going down 1-0 at Littleton.

Hinckley had the better of the first half against the league leaders but were to rue the missed chances when Will Gayton put the home side ahead midway through the second half.

Hinckley's Sam Arnold saved a late penalty.

Heather are still looking for their first win after losing 5-2 at home to Alvis Sporting Club in their sixth game of the season.

In Division Two, Leicester Road went down to their first defeat, beaten 3-1 by previously winless Paget Rangers.

Barwell find themselves at the foot of the NPL Premier Division after a 3-1 defeat at Matlock Town.

All three Everards League title contenders landed victories in the latest round of games with Loughborough Town probably taking most satisfaction from the day.

A maximum 30-point haul from a 63-run victory at Syston extended their advantage over Kibworth at the top of the Premier Division to nine points.

Kibworth had to settle for 25 points because they batted second in a hard-fought two-wicket success at Lutterworth.

Sileby also gained 30 points, thrashing bottom-of-the-table Broomleys by 195 runs, but they are 20 behind Loughborough with only two games left.

After being put in, a third-wicket stand of 140 between Shyam Patel (74) and Aleem Mahmood (75) gave Loughborough the edge and skipper Dips Patel added an unbeaten 56 off 34 balls before declaring on 248-8 after 45 of his side's 50 overs.

That gave his bowlers 55 overs at the home team but they needed only 46.1 as Syston were all out for 185.

Will Edwards (42) and Tom Corbett (32) guided the hosts to 71-1 before Edwards fell to left-arm spinner Paul Fisher, who went on to take 4-19. Seamer Mahmood finished the task by claiming 3-19, his victims including home captain Charlie Taylor, who was last out for 57.

The match at Sileby followed a similar course. Broomleys decided to field first on a green-looking wicket but bowled too many loose deliveries.

Mitchell Buck made the most of them, playing his trademark drives, pulls and flicks to leg, on the way to a fluent 108 before being caught at long-on the ball after he had hit a six into the trees at long-off.

Skipper Liam Kinch made 57 and Rob Moore 52 not out before Kinch declared after 45 overs on 283-4.

The home attack proved too much for Broomleys, who collapsed to 88 all out in 27 overs, seamers Alex Patterson and Matt Ellis taking 3-36 and 3-21.

It was much closer at Lutterworth where left-arm spinner Russell Spiers took 3-9 from 10 overs as Kibworth bowled out the hosts for 147 in the 49th over.

The run-chase was a tense affair. Aadil Ali hit 46 and Richard Jackson 33, but Kibworth became bogged down as wickets started to tumble. The game was in the balance when, with Adam Burton taking 3-19, they were 128-7 but Dave Whitmore's 11 not out saw them over the line in the 49th over.

Loughborough could clinch the title on Saturday if they win their home clash against Lutterworth and Kibworth (home against Market Harborough) and Sileby (away to Kegworth) slip up.

But it looks more likely that the race will go to the final round when Loughborough travel to Harborough and Sileby host Kibworth.

Young prop Fraser Balmain will play a major part in Leicester Tigers' start to the Aviva Premiership campaign.

And he looks more than ready for the challenge ahead.

With Dan Cole likely to be out until November or December as he recovers from neck surgery, Marcos Ayerza on international duty with Argentina and new signing Michele Rizzo nursing a knee injury until the end of the month, Tigers are already three props down for the opening weeks of the campaign.

Although that makes Logovi'i Mulipola's fitness absolutely crucial to their chances of making a strong start, Balmain has allayed fears of a front-row injury crisis by impressing greatly during pre-season.

Both in the scrum and the loose, the 22-year-old has performed well above his years and the groundwork he has put in during his first three years at the club are really starting to pay dividends.

"It has been good to blow the cobwebs out during pre-season," said Balmain.

"There are times in pre-season that I want to cry but my body is feeling better after getting out there.

"We practice plenty of scrums in pre-season but there is nothing like getting out there and actually doing it in a game situation.

"We just have to keep stepping up every week.

"I am hoping to get my chance when the league gets going and kick on – but there is always tough competition at prop so we will see how it goes."

Balmain heads up a group of young Tigers props who are likely to get a chance before Rizzo, Cole and Ayerza return to the fray.

Tom Bristow, 23, will try to progress after joining from London Welsh last season, while Aniseko Sio is a 21-year-old Samoan international who has just arrived at the club.

Two Italian lads, Riccardo Brugnara and Tiziano Pasquali, both 20, have been learning their trade in the academy and are both champing at the bit for some first-team action.

"There are quite a few lads coming through from the academy which is good to see," said Balmain.

A career criminal who decided on one last burglary "for the road" after being let out of prison on licence has been jailed for five years.

Michael Pope (51) carried out at least 64 break-ins causing householders' mayhem and distress' over the years, a court has heard.

Pope, of Bloomfields Road, Aylestone, Leicester, was let out of prison on licence earlier this year.

However, last month, he fell back into his old ways when he broke into a house on Slevins Lane, Hornchurch, Essex, stealing jewellery, silver and £3,000 in cash.

Snaresbrook Crown Court heard yesterday Pope committed the crime to pay off a loan shark.

Patricia Deighan, prosecuting, said: "A neighbour saw him knock on the door and then go round the side of the house. He came back, got something out of his car and went to the house again.

"He came back about 10 minutes later carrying a bag of property."

He was arrested moments later after a neighbour took down the number plate of the car Pope was driving and provided a detailed description of him to the police.

One of the family who lived in the house said in a statement: "The whole incident has been very traumatic, particularly because of the sentimental value of the jewellery."

Pope, who has 20 convictions for 64 offences dating back to the 1970s, was recently released from prison on licence after he was jailed for burglary in June last year.

Rajinder Gill, for Pope, who pleaded guilty to the burglary on August 8, said: "It was done purely for financial reasons.

"When he was released from prison he did try to get a job but it's almost impossible for a man like him to find one because of his criminal record.

"He took out a loan. He was in debt to a loan shark and he committed the burglary to pay off that loan shark."

Sentencing Pope to five years in prison, Judge Shelagh Canavan said: "You are a professional burglar. It's what you do. It's your job and you appear to be very good at it.

"I simply don't accept there's been a change since your last sentence and this burglary was going to be 'one for the road'.

"It was £3,000 which is an enormous amount of money for these people.

"I'm sure that is something that matters to you not a jot – it matters to you not a bit the mayhem and distress you cause your victims."

The arrival of defender Danny Simpson will add much-needed Premier League experience to the Leicester City squad, manager Nigel Pearson has said.

The 27-year-old joined City on Saturday and signed a three-year contract after City agreed a fee, believed to be around £2 million, with Queens Park Rangers.

Simpson graduated through the same academy system at Manchester United as his new team-mates Danny Drinkwater, Ritchie De Laet and Matty James and appeared for the Reds in the Premier League.

He has also played in the top flight while on loan at Blackburn Rovers and after his permanent move to Newcastle United in 2010.

After joining QPR last season, he played 34 times as they were promoted back to the Premier League via the play-offs and he started their opening game of this season, a 1-0 home defeat to Hull City.

Pearson said Simpson will add vital competition for De Laet's right-back spot.

"He brings competition at right-back and he is a player with Premier League experience," said Pearson.

"He is excited about playing for us. He is a good one-versus-one defender and he will give us more depth.

"As always, for the players who are in the side, their performances are important to keep their place. For the ones who are currently not in the team, they have to likewise work even harder to get back in.

"It is nice to have competition. It is good for us to have the signing of a player who has experience at this level.

"It is really good to have another player who wants to join us. That ticks the boxes for me."

Simpson wasn't eligible to face Arsenal on Sunday but will have the next two weeks to train with his new team-mates before being in contention to take on Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium on September 13.

Esteban Cambiasso could also make his debut against the Potters after being named as an unused substitute against the Gunners.

Leicester Riders have hailed a "momentous day" for the club after plans were unveiled for their new £4.2million home.

The BBL Cup winners are confident of moving into the 2,300-seat arena for the start of next season, ending their 15-year wait for a permanent home.

Work on the 2,300-seat arena, due to be built on a four-acre council-owned plot in Charter Street near Leicester College's Abbey Park campus, is due to begin at the end of the year.

Riders will play their home fixtures this season at Loughborough University ready to move into the new arena by the time it is due to be completed in September next year.

"It is a momentous day for Leicester Riders," said the club's director Kevin Routledge. "We have been talking about this for so very long. Now that we have achieved that, it is fantastic.

"People don't understand the importance of a venue that you can call home to the sustainability of basketball clubs. Where would Leicester Tigers be without Welford Road, Leicester City without Filbert Street and now the King Power Stadium?

"You need that, you need a home. People then know there is a basketball club, there is a place to play, there is a place to watch games, there is a place to follow dreams.

"I am now extremely confident about the future of Riders and its long-term sustainability, in a way that I have always had a nagging doubt because we didn't have a permanent home."

Riders have been without a permanent home since they left Granby Halls in the summer of 2000 while their stay at De Montfort University's John Sandford Centre came to an end last season.

The club had looked set for a move to Grace Road, the home of Leicestershire County Cricket Club, until a review of 10 sites, headed by city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby, decided Charter Street was the optimal location.

Riders will use the arena in partnership with Leicester College.

"It is quite frankly the ideal site," said Routledge. "We are now desperately keen to progress it.

Routledge said, as long as the remedial work on the former gas works goes to plan, he was "very confident" the arena would be completed to time and budget.

"It will be the saving of the club, meaning we will be here in 100 years," he added.

A planning application will be lodged with Leicester City Council this month and, if approved, building work will begin in December.

The city council will put in £1.5million of funding, with Riders contributing £360,000, the college £500,000, with £840,000 coming from the Government's regional growth fund.

It is understood that Sport England have also agreed, in principle, to £1m of funding subject to planning approval.

Leicester City defender Liam Moore refuses to be daunted by the star-studded names he is attempting to stop this season.

The 21-year-old has faced a Premier League baptism of fire in City's opening three games as he has had to mark the likes of Everton's Romelu Lukaku and Chelsea's Diego Costa, plus the star-studded attacking players of Arsenal.

However, Moore has taken to the Premier League like a duck to water and admits he isn't phased by the reputations of the players he is facing.

"They are just names on the back of a shirt," he said.

"Everyone is human. They all have two legs and two arms. Stuff like that doesn't get to me at all.

"It has been a very enjoyable test and I have always made it clear I want to play at the highest level against some of the world's best.

"It has been a big test but as a partnership with Wes (Morgan), I feel we are growing and as the season goes on we will find ways to nullify these teams and keep more clean sheets."

Moore admits it is a steep learning curve as the quality of the strikers he is now facing has offered him little respite.

"They are moving constantly," said Moore, who has been called into the England under-21 squad for their European U21 Championship qualifiers against Lithuania on Friday and Moldova on Tuesday.

"You can't switch off for a second. You have players drifting into positions constantly.

"I am playing against some very good players and it is a good test but it is only going to make me a better player."

It is an indication of the growing confidence within the camp that Moore feels City should have more to show for their performances against three of last season's top five.

"When you look at all three games, we could have beaten Everton, possibly got a draw at Chelsea and won this one against Arsenal," he said after Saturday's 1-1 draw with the Gunners. "That is all positive.

"I suppose we have to be happy because they are one of the best clubs in the country but I think we could have possibly taken all three points.

"We created some good chances and could have possibly got something out of the game at Chelsea as well, which is really very encouraging for us."

Seven Leicester City players will be on international duty this week as the Premier League takes an enforced break.

Kasper Schmeichel, Riyad Mahrez, Andy King, Chris Wood, Liam Moore, Jeff Schlupp and Wes Morgan have received call-ups from their respective nations.

With the European Championship qualifiers starting this weekend, Schmeichel has linked up with the Denmark squad for their friendly against Turkey, in Odense, on Wednesday and their first qualifier against Armenia on Sunday.

King is with Wales for their opening qualifier away to Andorra on Tuesday.

City captain Morgan is set for another cap for Jamaica in a friendly against Canada, in Toronto, on the same night.

After his exploits with Algeria in the Brazil World Cup, Mahrez returns to the international stage as the Desert Foxes take on Ethiopia on Saturday and then Mali a week tomorrow.

Wood is also clocking up the air miles as New Zealand take on Uzbekistan, in Pakhtahor, on Monday.

At under-21 level, Liam Moore is in Gareth Southgate's England squad for their European qualifier double header away against Lithuania and Moldova on Friday and next Tuesday.

After experiencing the Toulon Tournament with England in the summer, Moore is relishing the prospect of more international experience.

"It is always nice to be called up by your country," he said.

"I managed to get a few caps at the end of last season and I now want to add to that if I can," said Moore.

Along with the senior players, there's also a call-up for Development Squad striker Simonas Stankevicius to the full Lithuania squad.

The youngster is part of the group that will take on the United Arab Emirates, in Austria, tomorrow as a friendly warm-up for their opening qualifying game against San Marino on Monday in the same group as England.

The Leicester City Academy have also been handed yet more international call-ups in recent weeks.

Defender Ben Chilwell will link up with England under-19s, Sean Burke is away with the Republic of Ireland under-19s, while Darnell Johnson, Admiral Muskwe, Layton Ndukwu and Kairo Arlott-John all represented England at various levels in August.

A choirmaster accused of sexually abusing choirboys 40 years ago has appeared in court.

John Bellamy is charged with carrying out indecent assaults on five boys, aged between 11 and 14, when he was choirmaster at St James the Greater Church in London Road, Leicester, in the 1970s.

Bellamy, 71, got victims to strip naked during sessions at his house, allegedly designed to help the boys' breathing exercises, Worcester Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor James Thomas told how Bellamy, of Kingsmead Road, Knighton, Leicester, was arrested last year after one of his alleged victims finally told police.

Mr Thomas said: "This man felt compelled to report his experiences to the police. This report led to an investigation and the identification of other choirboys whom the defendant had also indecently assaulted."

Mr Thomas said Bellamy assaulted some of them by bending them over his knee and spanking their naked bottoms.

Bellamy is accused of six charges of indecent assault and two charges of gross indecency on boys between December 1974 and January 1979.

He denies all of the charges.

Mr Thomas said Bellamy had assaulted boys at home while his wife and children were in a different part of the building.

He said one of the attacks took place in a darkened corner of the church after choir practice.

Mr Thomas said Bellamy asked some boys to strip naked before taking photos and then assaulting them.

Mr Thomas said: "These are indecent assaults committed by the defendant which were purported to be carried out as corporal punishment for alleged disobedience, or under the pretext of breathing experiments to assist with the boys' singing technique.

"What he was doing was not lawful corporal punishment or adult correction of a child. It was indecent behaviour, exploiting his relationship with these boys for his own sexual gratification."

Mr Thomas said one boy complained to his parents at the time and another came forward after the vicar, the Rev Derek Hole, became involved.

He said there was a meeting between the parents, Mr Hole and the defendant.

Mr Thomas said: "The decision was made not to report the matter to the police (to) save the boys from court exposure and adverse publicity."

He said that after the complaint was made, Bellamy resigned as choirmaster at Easter 1978.

The trial continues.

Frequent interruptions for rain and then bad light reduced the second day of Leicestershire LV County Championship match with Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl to 10 overs.

In that time, Leicestershire went from their overnight 301-9 to 303 all out.

Hampshire then went on to reach 48 without loss before bad light forced umpires Martin Saggers and Peter Willey to call a premature halt to the day's proceedings.

At least, the Leicestershire pace bowler Charlie Shreck could claim to have been involved throughout a miserable day on the south coast.

Resuming his innings at 18 not out, Shreck took two from Matt Coles' third ball of the ball and then got out to the sixth, caught in the slips by Jimmy Adams for one of the more prolific scores of his long career as a genuine tail-ender.

Coles was to some extent flattered by figures of 4-108 from 20 overs and Leicestershire were left to reflect on their failure to build on Angus Robson's patient career-best 115, on the first day, which helped County to 249-4 at one stage before a late and dramatic collapse.

Hampshire got three balls and no runs into their response when another interruption led to two more hours being lost and, when play did eventually get under way, openers Adams and Michael Carberry were clearly anxious to make up for lost time.

Shreck and newcomer Atif Sheikh opened the Leicestershire bowling, Atif making his first-class debut for County in the injury absence of leading wicket-taker Nathan Buck. Shreck's opening five overs cost 19 but Atif struggled for length and line and was punished by Adams, who struck the former Derbyshire left-arm seamer for four boundaries in one over.

By the close, Adams had hit seven fours in his 29 and the more circumspect Carberry had scored 10 as Hampshire closed 255 behind.

Leicestershire are seeking their first win of the season and their first away since 2010.

Leicester City failed in an audacious bid to sign Jermain Defoe before the transfer window closed last night.

City were interested in signing the 31-year-old England international and submitted a bid to MLS side Toronto FC, but no agreement could be reached, the Mercury understands.

But City were able to complete the loan signing of Manchester United's highly-rated attacking midfielder Nick Powell on a season-long loan.

QPR were also in the hunt for Defoe, but Toronto were apparently unwilling to sell and rejected all offers as they are still in play-off contention.

Defoe is keen on returning to England after his move to Toronto turned sour with the sacking of manager Ryan Nelson, a former team-mate of Defoe's at Tottenham and the major reason he left the Premier League for Canada.

City boss Nigel Pearson had made bringing in another striker before the deadline his main priority, but moves for Ipswich's David McGoldrick and Spartak Moscow's Dame N'Doye fizzled out yesterday morning.

Defoe has a fantastic goalscoring record with 137 goals in 352 appearances during two periods with Spurs and has scored 19 times in 55 appearances with England.

His signing would have been seen as another big coup for City so soon after the signing of Esteban Cambiasso.

The signing of Powell has further bolstered City's attacking midfield options. The 20-year-old enjoyed a loan spell at Wigan last season, scoring 12 times in 41 appearances.

Powell was signed by United from Crewe Alexandra, in 2012, in a deal worth up to £6 million and he was touted as the "next Paul Scholes".

He enhanced that reputation by scoring on his Premier League debut in a 4-0 win over Wigan. He made his first start for United in the Champions League against Galatasaray and started for United in their defeat to MK Dons last week.

City also completed the signings of 19-year-old American midfielder Kristian Scott from Swansea and United striker Tom Lawrence on permanent deals. Both will go into the Development Squad.

Sir Peter Soulsby has been accused of delaying a decision on whether to fine motorists who drive in new bus lanes for political reasons.

Leicester's mayor is deciding whether to install enforcement cameras to catch and fine drivers who stray into the bus-only zones installed along the A426 last summer.

Nigel Porter, Liberal Democrat councillor for Aylestone, which the A426 runs through, said the £5 million A426 scheme had been hugely unpopular with motorists and residents.

He said: "Nobody really wanted the bus lanes but the council did it anyway.

"Now, the city mayor is delaying a decision to enforce the bus lanes.

"He knows it will be really unpopular and there is an election coming up in May.

"As soon as that's out of the way I reckon we'll very quickly see the enforcement start and the fines slapped on motorists.

"If he were to decide to start the enforcement before the election it would blow up in his face, so he will wait."

Labour's Sir Peter said evidence was still being collected about the actual need for enforcement along the A426 bus corridor.

He said discussions also had to be carried out with Leicestershire County Council, which was jointly responsible for the project as the road crosses the city boundary. Sir Peter said: "I have been accused of many things but avoiding unpopular decisions is not one of them.

"We are talking with the county about co-ordinating our approach to enforcement.

"If we are going to do it, we should have very clear evidence it's necessary, not just something to raise money for use.

"The issue of where we would enforce it also needs to be decided. It is a long road and we would need to see which areas have a problem that needs solving."

Sir Peter is confident the bus lanes would over time make it easier for people to swap cars for public transport when travelling into the city.

The county council has indicated it plans to enforce the bus lanes outside by putting a camera in Glen Parva. They anticipate it will catch five drivers a day at £60 a time.

More than 3,000 people have signed a petition calling on NHS England to fund the move and maintenance of a hospital's war memorial.

The plaques at Market Harborough District Hospital carry the names of nearly 1,700 people who served in the First World War and are placed in a portico at the entrance to the building.

The memorial may have to move should the hospital prove surplus to requirements when services are moved to an enlarged community hospital on the St Luke's site, in Leicester Road.

The petition was organised by three Liberal Democrat district councillors who are concerned over the future of the memorial.

Councillor Phil Knowles said the petition had been sent to NHS England CEO Simon Stevens. He has called on Mr Stevens to protect the memorial and secure its future funding.

Coun Knowles said: ''We understand the NHS England board meets in September and have taken steps to ensure the CEO has the petition in advance of that meeting.

"We have also taken the opportunity to invite Mr Stevens or any of the other board members from NHS England to visit Harborough.

"I'm sure that seeing the memorial and portico would underline to Mr Stevens and his colleagues all the reasons why it's held in such high regard by the community."

A spokeswoman for NHS Property Services said they were working with an architect to look at options for the future relocation of the memorial if the district hospital is declared surplus by NHS commissioners. She said they were also working with Harborough District Council and English Heritage.

Contractors Morgan Sindall, of Birmingham, have been appointed to build a £6.2 million extension on the St Luke's site.

But work is not scheduled to start until early next year and the community hospital will not be open until February 2016.

The health service said the business case will have go to the boards of the local clinical commissioning group, NHS England and NHS Property Services this autumn for final approval.

If given final approval, the new buildings will house a number of health services including mental health services, GP Services including minor injuries, radiography and ultrasound, outpatients facilities for rehabilitation, speech and language, as well as other specialist services.