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Lubenham scarecrow show returns

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Lubenham's 14th scarecrow weekend takes place on Saturday and Sunday.

The event in the village near Market Harborough attracts thousands of visitors each year.

It also raises funds for village groups, organisations and charities.

One of the organisers Trish Woods said: "Again, there will be dozens of scarecrows on display around the village – come and vote for your favourite.

"There will be tractor-drawn trailer rides round the village, fairground rides, quad bikes, a bouncy castle and traditional games among the attractions."


Drivers warned of delays caused by large load on M1 in Leicestershire tomorrow

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Motorway drivers have been warned to expect delays when an abnormally large load makes its way through the county tomorrow.

A Class 92 railway locomotive is due begin its journey on a trailer from a service station on the M25 to Loughborough at about 5am.

The 138-ton locomotive's journey, which is estimated to take up to six hours, is due to take it along the M1 to junction 23 - the exit for Loughborough.

The locomotive arrived in Folkestone today and was being winched onto a trailer.

A spokesman for the Highways Agency said the lorry and trailer would only take up one lane but would not exceed 30mph.

The locomotive is being taken to Brush Traction rail engineers in Loughborough for a refurbishment.

A spokesman for GB Railfreight said the locomotive is used for pulling trains through the Channel Tunnel.

Drivers warned of delays caused by large load on M1 in Leicestershire tomorrow

Man taken to hospital after three-car crash in Linney Road, Leicester

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A man was taken to hospital after a three-car crash in Leicester yesterday.

The casualty was treated by paramedics at the scene of the incident in Linney Road, Beaumont Leys.

Fire crews from Birstall and Western station were called out to the crash at 4.33pm.

The man was taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary after he was helped out of a vehicle.

No-one else was hurt in the incident.

Man taken to hospital after three-car crash in Linney Road, Leicester

Inquest into death of tragic dog attack victim Lexi Branson to resume today

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An inquest into the death of four-year-old Lexi Branson who died after being attacked by a family dog will resume later today.

Lexi, of Mountsorrel, was mauled by her pet bulldog Mulan in November last year.

The youngster was at home at the time.

The animal was eventually stabbed to death by Lexi's mother, Jodi Hudson, as she battled to stop the attack.

However, Lexi died shortly after being flown to Nottingham's Queen's Medical Centre by air ambulance.

The inquest will be held at Rutland and North Leicester Coroner's Office, in Loughborough.

It is expected to last two days.

Inquest into death of tragic dog attack victim Lexi Branson to resume today

Man hurt after lorry and car crash on M69 in Leicestershire

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A man was hurt after a car and a lorry crashed on the M69 in Leicestershire.

Three fire crews were called out at 4.29pm yesterday to the incident between junction 1 and 2 on the M69.

Firefighters from Hinckley and Southern station assisted the police in making the vehicles safe.

One man was treated at the scene by paramedics but not taken to hospital.

Man hurt after lorry and car crash on M69 in Leicestershire

Police clear Redhill Way at Birstall after two-car crash

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Traffic is moving freely following delays after a two-car crash on the outer ring road in Leicester.

Traffic built up after the incident on the slip road from the A563 Redhill Way near the junction with the A6 at Birstall at about 8.20am today.

Police cleared the carriageway of the vehicles involved.

Police clear Redhill Way at Birstall after two-car crash

What time is the Switzerland v England kick off in the Euro 2016 qualifiers

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England kick off their Euro qualifying campaign against Switzerland tonight.

Roy Hodgson's men take on Switzerland at the St Jakob Park in Basel in the Euro 26 Group E qualifiers.

Kick off is at 7.45pm and the game is being aired on ITV1.

Coverage starts at 7.15pm

What time is the Switzerland v England kick off in the Euro 2016 qualifiers

Foster carer to receive award from Leicester's Lord Mayor

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Foster carer Annetta Harding is to receive an Honoured Citizen Award for her dedication to helping young teenagers catch up on their education.

She will be given the award by Leicester's Lord Mayor, Councillor John Thomas, on Thursday.

Annetta has also been nominated for a national 'First for Fostering award' to be announced later in the year.

She began fostering 25 years ago following a career as a youth worker. Annetta felt drawn to fostering as a way to help the young people she'd met who didn't seem to have reliable adults in their lives. So far she has fostered more than 50 young people – many of whom are still in touch with her by phone or letter.

Annetta said: "Since I've been fostering, I've taken up a lot of training that has really helped me. One of the first children I fostered couldn't read or write. He was the oldest of 10 and had been arrested for shoplifting. It turned out that he'd been stealing food to feed his younger brothers and sisters. He was a nice lad, but was terrified of school and embarrassed that the other kids had got so far ahead of him. Bit by bit, I got him reading and writing and helped him catch up with the education he'd missed out on. This encouraged me to see the possibilities in every child.

"Education is huge. It's just the best feeling in the world to see the delight on a boy or girl's face when they realise that they can actually achieve something.

"It's not always easy. A lot of children get suspicious and put up a brick wall, but I've got ways of chipping away at their defences.

"Annie came to stay a year ago. I could that she was vulnerable and afraid. She had fallen behind in her education mainly due to undiagnosed dyslexia. I got her to an optician and got her some specialist glasses that made an immediate difference."

Annetta said that despite hard work, you can't succeed with every child, especially if they are only with you for a short time.

But she said the good times far outweigh any disappointments."

Paul Morley from Leicester City Council's fostering and adoption centre said: "Carers like Annetta are prepared to go the extra mile for the children they look after. Older children coming into care have often had a disrupted home life where basic things like their health and education have been neglected. These children can find it hard to settle at school because they have fallen so far behind and fear that they will never catch up. Foster carers start by giving children a sense of security and then work with schools and other professionals to make sure they get the help they need. It's not an easy job, but the rewards of seeing the difference you can make to a child's future are fantastic."

More foster carers are urgently needed in the city and county to offer short term or permanent family care for children aged 10 and over. Carers are given training along with 24-hour support and nationally agreed payments.

Drop in information events are running on September 18 and October 14 between 5pm and 7pm at St Martins House, Peacock Lane, Leicester.

To find out more ring 0116 454 4500 or visit www.leicester.gov.uk/fostering

Foster carer to receive award from Leicester's Lord Mayor


Nathan Buck leaves Leicestershire CCC for Lancashire

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Leicestershire bowler Nathan Buck has turned down the offer of a three-year contract and joined Lancashire.

Buck is County's leading wicket-taker in the LV County Championship this season, taking 42 wickets in his nine appearances to date. The 23-year-old has taken 145 first-class wickets for the club at 37.40, including four five-wicket hauls.

The paceman came through the age groups and successful academy system at Grace Road and was awarded his county cap in 2010.

Buck was England Under-19s' leading wicket-taker in the World Cup in New Zealand in 2010 and played for the team in tests, ODIs and T20Is.

He represented England Lions later that year in the West Indies and also toured with the Lions in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in 2011.

Buck has also played plenty of white-ball cricket in his time at Grace Road, taking 56 wickets across both one-day competitions.

Chief executive Mike Siddall said: "We wish to thank Nathan for his contribution over the years he has played for Leicestershire and wish him well for the future."

Nathan Buck leaves Leicestershire CCC for Lancashire

Strictly Come Dancing 2014: dance partners revealed

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It's what every Strictly Come Dancing fan has been waiting for - which celeb' get's which pro'?

And after weeks of anticipation, last night's launch of the 12th series finally revealed who each of the celebrity contestants would be paired with.

For me the most shocking match was probably that of showbiz reporter Alison Hammond and professional dancer Aljaz Skorjanec - who clinched the title last year, with Abbey Clancy.

The two pairings couldn't be further apart but good on Alison, who was bursting with energy and ready to go.

Celebrity favourite, singer Frankie Bridge, of girl band The Saturdays, will be dazzling the dance floor with Kevin Clifton.

When fellow singer Pixie Lott, found out she had been paired with Trent Whiddon, she seemed a little too over excited - so much so, she let out a little squeal.

Tennis coach Judy Murray, too, seemed pleased upon finding out she would be teaming up with Anton du Beke - for me, a pair I cannot wait to see strut their stuff in the ballroom.

Heartthrob Mark Wright, a former star on reality TV series TOWIE, will be dancing with Karen Hauer - admittedly, I can't help but get a little excited about seeing Mark shaking his body on the dance floor.

Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills seemed delighted after hearing he would be dancing with Joanne Clifton and former rugby player Thom Evans was paired with Iveta Lukosiute.

Mrs Brown's Boys actress Jennifer Gibney will be dancing with Tristan McManus, while TV presenter Caroline Flack will be paired with Pasha Kovalev.

Casualty actress Sunetra Sarker was paired with Brendon Cole, while fellow soap star Jake Wood, who plays Max Branning in Eastenders, will be dancing with Janette Manrara.

Masterchef judge Greg Wallace will be dancing with Aliona Vilani while antiques expert Tim Wonnacott was matched with Natalie Lowe.

Blue singer Simon Webbe will be dancing with Kristina Rihanoff and wildlife presenter Steve Backshall will be teamed up with Ola Jordan.

This year's launch though, was an emotional one, as the show bid farewell to Sir Bruce Forsyth.

It was the end of an era, as the old-timer passed on the Strictly baton to the all-female presenting team Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.

The couples now have three weeks to train before they return to the ballroom, when they will perform live for the judges.

And returning to the judging panel for another year is Len Goodman, Craig Revel Horwood, Darcey Bussell and Bruno Tonioli.

So, the countdown begins as we wait to see whose sequins will sparkle and which of the stars will dominate the dance floor.

The series will kick-off properly on Friday, September 26.

Who's your favourite this series? Let us know by commenting on this story or tweeting us: @leicester_merc

Strictly Come Dancing 2014: dance partners revealed

Missing girl Shauntele Meade found safe in London

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A 14-year-old girl who was reported missing from home in Leicester last week has been found in London. Shauntele Meade was last seen at her home in New Parks on Wednesday and was found in the capital on Saturday night, police said this morning. Officers said the teenager had family links to the capital. In a statement, Leicestershire Police said: "Officers would like to thank everyone who assisted with their inquiries."

Missing girl Shauntele Meade found safe in London

First Person: 'We must unite to vanquish these fanatics'

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For the world, a stitch in time saves nine; ignoring Isis would mean one year's seeds, seven years' weeds. Iraq has been the land of proxy wars for many Islamic ideologies, which mainly started with the Battle of Karbala in 680. Since then, Muslims have been killing each other under different pretexts.

Other religious minorities and ethnic groups have always suffered atrocities, marking black pages in the history of Iraq. In the past 100 years, the Kurds suffered genocide three times: after the First World War, after the Second World War and under Saddam Hussein.

Now, in the past 100 days, about one-third of Iraq has been taken over by Isis. Who are they?

They are brainwashed, with no heart to feel nor ears to listen as they operate under rigid adherence to doctrine. They have gathered to fight Assad's regime in Syria from all over the world. America got it wrong, indirectly supporting Isis unknowingly, so that they found a niche within which to grow.

The regional environment was almost perfect for them to expand. Syria was in a deep civil war and Iraq was on the verge of civil war. The western world ignored and underestimated the problem. They got it wrong.

The current conflict in Iraq began with a collapse of the Iraqi army. Kurdish and other minorities were deceived in Iraq and believed Isis was defending Sunni minorities in a region suffering under Prime Minister Maliki.

Meanwhile, the rest of the world assumed it was an internal civil war in which they did not want to interfere. Again, all got it wrong. It is an international war against humankind.

In only a month they managed to defeat the Kurdish Army, an army that Saddam's military struggled to fight. The consequences were catastrophic. We all saw what happened to Yazidi and Christian minorities in Shangal, Zumar and Makhmur in the south of the Kurdistan region of Iraq.

Let's prevent the genocide which is now unfolding before the world. Put our forces behind Kurdish and Iraqi forces against Isis. This is not Afghanistan, where money for arms was in short supply.

In the past two months, Isis managed to acquire $2 billion and they will not stop there. Under their control, Iraq will be a safe haven for terrorists to attack anyone. Their seeds are growing and their proliferation is faster than ever. The scale of their cruelty is unimaginable. Isis – one year's seeds, seven years' weeds.

It's time to put our collective differences behind us and work together to vanquish Isis, otherwise they will not only be at Yazidi or Kurdish doors, they will be in London, Washington, Delhi, Beijing and Moscow.

I plead for an end to the world's indifference and for us all together to fight against Isis.

Karzan Karim is regional head, Middle East Operations, in the University of Leicester's International Office.

First Person: 'We must unite to vanquish these fanatics'

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, William and Kate expecting second child

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The Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton is pregnant with her second child, Clarence House has confirmed.

It has been announced that Kate and Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, will be welcoming baby number two next year.

The Royal couple had their first child - Prince George - in July, last year.

A statement released by Clarence House said:

"Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are very pleased to announce that The Duchess of Cambridge is expecting their second child.

"The Queen and members of both families are delighted with the news."

As with her first pregnancy, Clarence House said that Kate is suffering from Hyperemesis Gravidarum.

As such, she will no longer accompany The Duke of Cambridge on their planned engagement in Oxford today. The Duchess of Cambridge is being treated by doctors at Kensington Palace.

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, William and Kate expecting second child

Leicestershire school, Dorothy Goodman, has ambitious plans

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Dorothy Goodman School in Hinckley has ambitious plans for its site and its pupils.

The special school, which looks after youngsters aged three to 19 with severe to profound multiple learning difficulties, operates across several sites in order to accommodate its students, including an upper and lower school. It also has three satellite bases located in mainstream schools; Richmond Primary; Redmoor Academy and John Cleveland College and has just employed a fundraising manager, Liam Deacy, to help realise its future dreams.

Head teacher Janet Thompson said: "One of our main aims is to refurbish or rebuild the upper school which is looking rather worn so Liam's role is to help create fundraising streams which could realise that.

"What we really need is a building for our vocational work, which is vital to ensuring our students get the best start to life after they leave us. We're also hoping that we can find funding, such as that provided by Sport England, for a multi-purpose sports pitch. At the moment we have an old concrete tennis court which is going to waste because it's too dangerous for our pupils to use. That area would be perfect for it.

"The staff we have here are amazingly talented and hugely committed. They're doing a fantastic job, despite the lack of space in some areas.

"Our ethos aims to prepare students for the next phase of their lives so that when they turn 19, they don't just fall of a cliff edge.

"The government's new special educational needs (SEN) agenda, which aims to provide a plan for students like ours up to the age of 25, bringing education, health and other specialists together, should help with that. But we need to make sure we don't just move the cliff from 19 to 25.

"Our partnership with mainstream schools is all part of our aim to help those students who can, gain qualifications and learn to socialise in a different setting.

"They can take academic exams and thanks to a partnership with National Grid, some now have internships."

The school is also thinking about how it can help its students and their families cope better through the long summer holidays.

Ms Thompson said: "The large break this gives to our families, can in some ways be very disruptive, as many of our children are reliant on routine. It's very important to them. We need to look at how we can offer a type of provision across the whole year that bridges the gaps and that doesn't necessarily mean formal schooling."  

Does your school have a particular strength or an aspect of learning you are keen to promote?

Get in touch with education correspondent Fiona Dryden on 0116 222 4271.

Leicestershire school, Dorothy Goodman, has ambitious plans

Lexi Branson inquest: Mother describes fight to save her daughter

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An inquest into the death of four-year-old schoolgirl Lexi Branson has heard how her mother battled to save her daughter.

Tragic Lexi was killed by the family dog – a bulldog named Mulan – when it attacked her at her home in Mountsorrel, last November.

She was airlifted to the Queen's Medical Centre, in Nottingham, but was pronounced dead a short time later.

An inquest into her death, which opened at Rutland and North Leicestershire Coroner's Court shortly after the attack, has resumed today, with a number of witnesses due to give evidence this morning.

A packed court room listened first as the youngster's mother described her panicked efforts to stop the attack.

She described running into the kitchen and grabbing the biggest knife she could find after the dog went straight for the four-year-old's neck – knocking her over.

Ms Hudson said she stabbed the animal repeatedly as she battled to save her daughter.

It eventually loosened its grip and Jodi gave first aid to her daughter.

However, the youngster died from her injuries.

The inquest also heard how Ms Hudson had smacked the dog's bottom on the day of the attack, because she did not like the way it was looking at Lexi.

It was also told how Mulan, a rescue dog which had only been with the family for a short time, had attacked the dog of its previous owner and that the bulldog had had six other homes before being taken in by Jodi and Lexi.

The inquest continues...

Lexi Branson inquest: Mother describes fight to save her daughter


MP Jon Ashworth visits Palestine as conflict with Israel continues

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An MP has described how he was reduced to tears when he saw civilian victims of the Gaza conflict during a recent trip to Palestine.

Leicester South MP Jon Ashworth visited a hospital in east Jerusalem last week where some 75 people were being treated after being wounded in the struggle between the Israeli Defence Force and and Hamas fighters.

He said: "It was heartbreaking. They had been ferried out of Gaza in Red crescent ambulances and brought for treatment.

"There was a three year-old boy with his leg blown off in there with his father who was also seriously injured.

"The boy's mother was 20 miles away in hospital in Hebron with both her legs blown off.

"I was in tears.

"It was awful that this family - innocent victims had been split up like this."

Mr Ashworth said he was so moved by the family's plight he intervened on their behalf with a senior Israeli official.

Mr Ashworth said: "To his credit he said he would look into it and the family did get reunited.

"It was only a small thing but it was something I was able to do."

Mr Ashworth was part of a four-day delegation from the Labour Friends of Palestine group, funded by the Council for Arab-British Understanding.

He said: "What was very clear is that there is an urgent humanitarian need there. We heard about a three-month-old child found hanging in the branches of a tree with severe burns after the mother and father were killed.

"We have to do something about this. As a parliamentarian I can help press for negotiation and a lasting settlement to bring peace back to the region. The whole situation is complicated but the conflict has led to such loss."

Mr Ashworth met Palestinian prime minister Rami Hamdallah, UN officials, relief workers, Israeli government spokesmen as well as Palestinian farmers and small businessmen.

He said: "It is a depressing place but you have to live in hope that we we will get a just solution.

"There was a sense that the Israelis are concerned with security but use the apparatus of the state to oppress the Palestinian people.

"We went to a Palestinian school built from recycled tyres because they are forbidden to use concrete.

"There were farmers who are not allowed certain fodder because it might have derivatives for explosives. It was stifling."

When Mr Ashworth left Israel he was questioned by security officials for 40 minutes at the airport.

He said: "They didn't believe I was an MP until they googled me. They wanted to know where I had been, who I had been speaking to, what I had seen, what I would do next. They were suspicious."

The Mercury contacted the UK Israeli embassy for a comment but nobody was avalilable.

Speed cam: The teenage racing driver with his eyes on the F1 prize

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Somewhere, amid all the smoke and screeching, is Formula One's future racing champion, Cameron Twynham. As he burns round the corner and his impressive car comes into sight, you can sense the speed beneath your feet.

At just 18 years of age, Cam is one of the brightest young stars in British motorsport.

The Great Bowden boy racer is hotly-tipped for the big time and has graduated – mid-season – to the Formula Renault 3.5 Series with the Comtec Racing team.

It's a step away from Formula One. Two years racing the Renault World Series, they say, and you're ready to drive with the big boys.

But Cam's not letting it go to his head. He's got a job to do: a last-minute promotion to prove himself worthy.

And on this British track, for a "by special permission" testing, his main objective is to get acquainted with his new car. It's just the second time Cam's driven the Dallara-built, carbon fibre monocoque racing car, with 3.4 litre V8 engine.

His World Series career began in spectacular style at the Nürburgring in July. Despite starting 22nd and having never driven the car before, he came 11th – his fastest lap only 0.3 seconds off the race winner's.

So, today, pushing 170 miles per hour on the straight and a little less than 140mph on the bends, the talented teenager seems pretty at home in the powerful single-seater.

"He's so fast compared to last year," grins Cam's dad, Julian, as his son zooms past. "With this car, you need to be able to hold on to it. You want to be thinking about your lines and corners, not about physically driving it. And Cam's really working on that."

Cam's next important race is at the Hungarian circuit at Hungaroring, next Saturday. He's seen that track from every angle – even upside down.

Fortunately, the experienced young driver has got to know many of the international tracks on the racing circuit since he made his single seater car debut three seasons ago.

But now, now he's going head-to-head with Red Bull, McLaren and Lotus junior drivers, in a car more powerful than anything he's ever driven.

"I can't compare it with anything. It's something you don't understand until you're part of it, but this car, well – it makes me smile," says Cam, stepping out of the driver's seat and into the hanger.

"When you're going down the straight and being forced back into your seat, you can't imagine, there's nothing like it. You're so close to the track, you can feel the bottom of the car and every bend is a thrill.

"It's really boring driving my BMW One Series on the road now. Not that I speed, or anything," he laughs. "Losing my driving licence and not being able to race would be awful."

In the hanger, there's a screen full of graphs, showing Cam's every manoeuvre in the car and on the track.

Zig-zag lines retell his speed and gear changes, brake pressure, steering and the like.

The Comtec team seem genuinely impressed by the new boy. But then, it doesn't take an expert to realise Cam is a very good driver.

Where others might flaunt it, there's nothing arrogant or boastful about this 18-year-old. He's just enjoying the ride.

In between laps, starts and pit-stop practising, there's a lot of sitting around, says Cam, slipping out of his driving suit.

"It's part and parcel of racing. You don't spend every hour of the day on the track."

Yet, getting into the World Series is something of a blur for the youngster.

"It all happened so quickly," he says. "The opportunity was there, on the table, and there was no way we could turn it down – we had to grab it with both hands. Two days later, I was racing at the Nürburgring."

Looking back, it seems a lifetime ago that Cam first sat in a go-kart on holiday, as a five-year-old.

"My legs were too short," he laughs, all 5ft 11in of him. "They had to give me a wedge of foam so I could reach the pedals. I was not happy."

Not that it counts, he says.

Cam didn't start karting properly until many years later, when he was 13, at a track called Whilton Mill, in Northamptonshire.

"It started as a fun thing to do on the weekends with my dad, but quickly became a serious hobby," he says.

"By the end, I was attending meetings all over the country and racing as part of the Karting British Championships."

The graduation was natural. And though he wasn't yet old enough to legally hold a driving licence, Cam was 16 when he moved into racing cars.

He made his Intersteps Championships debut in 2012, driving a BMW FB02 single seater and came fourth overall that year, achieving seven podiums.

"It was a really good car to learn in," he says. "We pushed ourselves and it paid off."

The following season, just last year, Cam moved up into European Formula 3 Open Copa Class and came second overall. And he'd made a good start in this season's EuroFormula Open, before Renault 3.5 snapped him up.

Cam quit Pitsford Grammar School, in Northamptonshire, this season, to concentrate on his driving.

It was a hard decision, he says, but then, racing had become so intense, he was missing three days a week, twice a month, while he travelled around Europe.

"I'd already missed four months of school when I was 14," he admits – his tone changing slightly.

"That was when my anxiety problems began.

"It started off in a lesson one day. I felt like I was stuck, that I couldn't leave the classroom. I thought I was physically unwell, but it turned out it was actually mental illness."

It affected Cam's school-life significantly. He couldn't bring himself to go in at all, at one point.

"I would be sat outside in the car, feeling anxious and sweating. It's hard to explain what I was thinking. I would be panicked, worrying how I would get out of a classroom if I needed to leave.

"It sounds irrational, when I say that."

Cam's dad came into lessons with him, to explain to the teachers. It was a hard thing to explain.

"It felt weird at first, but as I've got older I've realised it's so important to talk about anxiety. There is a stigma surrounding mental illness and that doesn't do anything to help those experiencing it.

"I eventually saw a psychiatrist and that helped, massively.

"Everyone is triggered by different things. For me, it was school. It seemed to come from nowhere. It was hard to understand."

Today, Cam is an ambassador for Anxiety UK – a charity that promotes the relief and rehabilitation of those suffering with anxiety disorders, and their families.

"If we'd have known about Anxiety UK when my problem was at its greatest, it would have helped my family to understand and support me," he says. "We struggled along at the time."

Being at the peak of mental and physical fitness is paramount to any sport, no less racing driving.

Cam is recently back from Menorca, where he has been cycling and training with his driver coach and mentor, Ollie Millroy.

Ollie drives for BMW in the Asian Le Mans series and has been working as a stunt driver on the forthcoming Mission Impossible 5 film.

"It was important to find someone I trusted, but after a few failed coaches, it just clicked with Ollie," says Cam.

"We get on well, we have a friendship as well as a serious working relationship and, most importantly, we have a laugh."

That helps, when training is full on and frequent.

"I'm working hard right now, but you don't have to be a slave to it. I try to mix it up," says Cam.

Starting the day on a big breakfast of cereal, egg on toast and a cup of tea – "you've got to have a cup of tea" – is standard for the athlete.

Then it's a session on the climbing wall or a work-out at the gym.

Cam has a personal trainer in Market Harborough and works with sports therapists and fitness trainers – Function Jigsaw and Optimal Strength in Leicester – many times a week to build the correct strength and body weight balance for his sport.

Getting car-fit, strong and healthy is a full-time job in itself.

In terms of driving, the iZone at Silverstone circuit, plus a simulator in Italy, at the Dallara factory, is the only real practice he can get.

He has onboard videos in the car, too, to get a sense of where he needs to be on the track.

"All of this training helps with my anxiety," says Cam. "There's a lot to think about and I have to make sure my head's in the right place.

"It's a challenge to balance things, to make sure the pressure isn't too much, but just enough so I don't lose my edge."

Cam knows being on the ball is not just about racing fast, it's about being safe.

"I don't think about it, when I'm out there. It's not productive or necessary. I rolled, in Hungary, in my last F3 race. I was evacuated from the car, on a stretcher into an ambulance. I was fine. I was more bothered about scratching my helmet," he says.

"The insurance is not something I worry about either – and I don't mean that disrespectfully. I go out to be as quick as I can be.

"You come into the sport knowing it's going to cost a lot."

Safe under the Comtec Racing team wing, Cam knows he's got the next four races to prove how good he is and secure sponsorship and a team for next season.

"And that's the hardest bit," he admits. "Dad's the driving force behind all the sponsorship and getting my name out there. I wouldn't be able to race if it wasn't for him and the funding."

Comtec offered the Twynhams an enticing deal to finish this season. In an industry where it's all about how much money the driver has got, it would normally cost one million euros a year to race in the Renault World Series.

Aside from Leicester's Function Jigsaw and Optimal Strength, Cam has the support of a number of sponsors, including his father's company, Mitchell Rubber Europe; a Formula One supplier, Emkay Plastics Ltd; freight management company Geodis Wilson; Bardon-based sports nutrition company High5 and Lapizta racing watches.

The prestige of being named a British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC) Rising Star last year, following in the footsteps of both Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, and becoming a member of the Motor Sports Association (MSA) Academy, have also worked in boosting Cam's profile.

Perks of the job? It's got to be telling women you're a racing driver, right?

"Most don't believe you," he says, a little shyly. "You have to show them a picture or your name on the side of the car, which is quite cocky," and seemingly not Cam's style.

On the track, Cam rates Lewis Hamilton. Off the track, not so much, he says. "He moans constantly, and yet, he drives racing cars for a living. It's a very privileged job. Right now, I feel very lucky.

"Not in the sense I've fluked my way into being a racing driver, though. I've put in a lot of effort. I've worked hard."

So the aim is Formula One. There could be no other.

"It's very, very hard nowadays to get into that championship. But it's not impossible," he smiles.

"Many F1 drivers have come through this series. This is the best place for me to learn, even if I end up driving sports cars.

"And if I got into F1, I'd like to drive for McLaren. They're British – a classic – and one of the nicest-looking cars out there. They know what they're doing."

If ever there was a confidence boost for the youngster, it was Red Bull's recent decision to sign 16-year-old Max Verstappen to drive with Toro Rosso next year.

"I've never raced against him, but it's great for someone so young to get on in the sport.

"I'm not in a position to say I don't think he's ready. I can't. If I was in his place, if Red Bull said to me, tomorrow, 'you'll be racing for us in 2015', I'm not going to say I'm not ready.

"I think it's great. It's good for the sport. It shows everybody you can get in on talent alone."

Thankfully, talent is something Cam isn't short on.

Comtec's team manager, Phil Blow, is very pleased with his new team member's progress.

"This car is a huge step forward from what Cam's been driving before and he's doing very well. All I want to see now is steady improvement – no pressure," he says.

"That's important, the psychology of it all is a huge part. The drivers are getting younger every year – or maybe it's just that I'm getting older," he says. "It's a volatile industry, but Cam seems to be taking it all in his stride."

If he's honest, Cam couldn't wish for much more right now.

"Training is going really well and I'm working very hard to give me that edge," he says.

"I'm not really nervous, after testing. I'm confident with the car now, so I think we're going to be in a good position next weekend at Hungaroring.

"It just feels like we're getting there, that we're making the right moves towards the ultimate goal.

"I want to stay out of trouble and get on the main podium. I always want to be the best I can be."

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Speed cam: The teenage racing driver with his eyes on the F1 prize

Leicestershire weather forecast: A week of balmy, sunny weather to enjoy

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A late blast of balmy weather is forecast for Leicestershire today and for the rest of the week.

Today the Met Office says it will be a chilly start for most places with some mist around.

This will clear to leave a fine day with some good spells of sunshine.

Cloud will tend to develop during the day but with light winds it should feel pleasant. Maximum temperatures could get to 18 °C.

Tonight is forecast to be a dry night with clear periods.

Winds will continue light so mist or fog patches are likely by dawn. It will become chilly with temperatures falling into single figures in the countryside and a minimum temperature of 8 °C.

Tomorrow is looking like another cool start with some mist around the day will turn out to be fine and dry with some sunshine. Again winds will be light. Maximum temperature 19 °C.

Latest weather forecast for Leicestershire 

Leicestershire weather forecast: A week of balmy, sunny weather to enjoy

'Jack the Ripper DNA evidence needs more work,' Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys

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The University of Leicester scientist who invented DNA fingerprinting has said new claims about the identity of Jack the Ripper are not conclusive.

Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys, the man who gave the world DNA fingerprint technique 30 years ago this week, said that new evidence highlighting Polish-born barber Aaron Kosminski as the most notorious serial killer in history needs more scrutiny.

Modern techniques were used to test DNA samples from one of the only surviving pieces of evidence from the 126-year-old case - a shawl found next to the body of Catherine Eddowes, one of the Ripper's supposed victims.

The results identified Kosminski, a 23-year-old immigrant, as the gruesome killer.

Author and Ripper enthusiast Russell Edwards has announced the revelation in a new book, Naming Jack the Ripper, after collaborating with genetic expert Dr Jari Louhelainen - who carried out the sample analysis.

The declaration has hit the headlines across the world. 

But despite the huge attention, Sir Alec said there were still questions over the accuracy of the evidence.

He said: "An interesting but remarkable claim that needs to be subjected to peer review, with detailed analysis of the provenance of the shawl and the nature of the claimed DNA match with the perpetrator's descendants and its power of discrimination; no actual evidence has yet been provided."

Sir Alec added: "If I remember correctly when I visited the Black Museum at New Scotland Yard, Kosminski was long regarded as by far the most likely perpetrator."

The mysterious murders have captivated people's imaginations for the past 126 years - ever since the bloody killing spree of 1888 in London's East End.

More than 100 suspects were wrongly identified as the Ripper during the investigation - the most famous being Queen Victoria's grandson, Prince Albert Victor, the Duke of Clarence.

Jack is reported to have killed at least five women in Whitechapel's back streets; slashing their throats, removing some of their internal organs and leaving their mutilated bodies out in the open.

Kosminski, a Polish Jew, arrived in London with his family in 1881 - seven years before the grisly murders started - after fleeing his Russian-controlled homeland.

He settled in Mile End Old Town just 200-yards from where Elizabeth Stride, the Ripper's third victim, was killed.

His name was first linked to the notorious case in 1894 in Chief Inspector Donald Swanson's notes, which said an eyewitness picked him out but would not give evidence.

Kosminski was brought into Scotland Yard for questioning on at least one occasion, but was never charged.

He died in 1899, aged 53, of gangrene after being admitted to a string of lunatic asylums.

'Jack the Ripper DNA evidence needs more work,' Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys

Bakers Waste in Enderby asks for permission for changes at Granite Close site

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A waste company is seeking permission to expand its operations in Enderby.

Bakers Waste is asking for planning permission to change the way it operates at its site in Granite Close, Enderby.

Proposed changes include an increase to the approved limits on vehicle movements, changes to the site layout and more fencing and litter netting around the site.

The company is also asking Blaby District Council for permission to bail and store pre-sorted waste, store skips and containers and park more vehicles on the site.

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