In the autumn of 1884, a group of friends, all living within half a mile of each other, met in a garden shed on the Fosse Road. By the end of the meeting, Leicester Fosse was born.

Over the next 130 years, the club, now Leicester City, and its fans have experienced both triumphs and disasters. There have been League Cup triumphs, FA Cup heartbreaks, 12 promotions to the top flight, play-off joy and sorrow, seven second-tier titles as well as plummeting the depths of League One and flirting with near extinction.

In his new book 'From Shed to Stadium' Leicester City club historian John Hutchinson charts the highs and lows of the football club, drawing on a huge collection of memorabilia, provided over the years by fans, and former players and directors over the past seven years.

Hutchinson, a supporter for more than half a century, covers every period of City's 130-year history, including moments fans could never forget like Steve Claridge's dramatic winner in the 1996 play-off final, to milestones supporters are probably unaware of, like the club's first ever trophy – the Leicestershire Challenge Cup in 1889-90, following a victory over Coalville.

The book contains more than 600 pictures, taking the club from its humble beginnings in the garden shed, to playing in front of 30,000 people at the King Power Stadium in the Premier League.

"It has been a real privilege to put this book together," said Hutchinson. "Hopefully, it will evoke some great memories for the fans.

"This is a picture-led run through of the great history of the club. I hope fans look at pages and think 'ooh, I had forgotten about that', 'I used to have that programme, that shirt ', 'I had forgotten he had played for us'.

"I had a phone call from former City player Howard Riley, who said he had greatly enjoyed reading because it brought back so many fond memories. That's what I have tried to do with the book."

City's club ambassador Alan Birchenall, who wrote the foreword for the book, said: "It brings back so many memories for me from my era in the 1960s and 70s, through to the present day.

"Every time I turned a page, it brought back a memory and a smile to my face. I'm sure it will for City fans too."

'From Shed to Stadium' is on sale now from the City fanstore and online at LCFC Direct, priced at £20.

Leicester City's Ritchie De Laet spent 18 months at Stoke, but Potters fans may be forgiven for not remembering it.

City's marauding right-back was signed by the Potters' former manager Tony Pulis for £100,000 from Antwerp, but it was not a happy first experience in English football for the Belgian.

De Laet did not make a single appearance for Stoke and he admits it was a frustrating time.

But he said there is no sense of proving a point today at the Britannia Stadium because the Stoke fans never saw him in action, while Pulis has now departed to be replaced by Mark Hughes.

"I was there about a year and half and it was a frustrating time," said De Laet, who soon moved on to Manchester United.

"I didn't really play, I didn't get a chance or even a look in.

"It was a tough time because Stoke were my first club in England. It was difficult.

"Pulis was the manager. He signed me but never played me.

"I remember one training session where I got the ball at right-back and ran forward and he stopped the session because he didn't like me running with the ball. 

"It is different here. We like playing football here and we like to get into the attacking third and let people produce some magic.

"I don't think I have anything to prove because I never got a chance to play. The fans don't really know me over there. 

"I want to do well against an old club but there is nothing there for me to prove myself because Pulis has left. 

"If he was still there I would have loved to have done well there and scored a goal."

Although he never played, De Laet still experienced the atmosphere inside the Britannia Stadium on a regular basis and believes City must keep the home fans quiet this afternoon.

"Everyone knows the Stoke fans are passionate and that will be a factor," he said. 

"We have to go there and keep the crowd quiet and go from there.

"Every game is difficult in the Premier League. People are saying it can only get easier now after the first three games but that isn't the case.

"We still have to go there with the same mentality and positivity we have shown in the first three games.

"We have to finish our chances, defend well as a unit and, hopefully, get the three points."

A murderer who stabbed his love rival to death in a "savage and merciless execution" will have to serve 28 years behind bars.

Awat Akram (25) was convicted unanimously by a jury of murdering granddad of five, Christopher Penman, on February 22.

The 58-year-old victim was knifed 23 times as he slept in his bed in Somerfield Walk, Beaumont Leys, Leicester.

Akram, of Beaumanor Road, near Abbey Lane, in the city, denied the charge, claiming he was asleep in his own flat at the time of the killing.

Sentencing, Judge Michael Pert QC said: "Without doubt you intended to kill Mr Penman rather than do him serious injury.

"This was a planned, savage and merciless execution.

"You waited until 3 am when you left your flat carrying a bag in which you had a knife and a change of clothing.

"You went into his bedroom and as he lay asleep under the duvet you stabbed him 23 times and he died almost immediately.

"You retraced your steps to your flat arriving at just before 5.30 am and by 6 am you were watching pornography on your computer.

"In killing Mr Penman you've deprived society of a decent, affable and a good hearted man.

"You've deprived his family of a devoted brother, father and grandfather,

"You did it because you are a jealous, selfish, manipulative and a dangerous young man."

During the four week trial the court heard that both men were in a "triangular" relationship with a woman, Elaine Bourke, in her 40's.

Akram was said to have been enraged by jealousy when Ms Bourke left him before Christmas last year, to return to Mr Penman.

Mr Bourke refused to reconcile with him and eventually the couple sought refuge in a safe house, because of threats Akram made.

However, within hours of Mr Penman returning home on his own a fortnight later he was killed.

All three were deaf and communicated by sign language, Leicester Crown Court was told.

The guilty verdict was met by tears and loud clapping by the victim's family and friends in the public gallery.

Akram, who learnt of his fate by sign language – as the proceedings were being relayed – looked ashen and adjusted the collar on his shirt.

Judge Pert said he was giving Akram some reduction in the sentence because of his profound deafness would make a long sentence more difficult.

Following today's verdict, Christopher Penman's family released the following statement:

"On February 22 our lives changed forever and will never be the same ever again. Not only did we lose a father, we lost the man we looked up to, our best friend. He was an inspirational Father-in-law, Uncle, Brother and a very special Granddad to our children.

"Dad was a good person; he would not have hurt a soul. Everyone in the deaf community will also deeply miss him. He was taken away too young and in such a horrible way. A piece of our hearts has been cruelly taken away from each one of us.

"We would like to thank our friends and family for their support and the Victim Support Service. We would like to say a special thank you to DC Helen McLoughlin who is our BSL Family Liaison officer and the investigation team for their fantastic support at this difficult time in our lives."

Nicholas Rhodes QC, mitigating, said: "The sentence will be harder for him because of his deafness.

"There's no-one for him to communicate with in prison and hasn't been since his arrest."

Det Chief Insp Shaun Orton, senior investigating officer, said: "This was a particularly challenging investigation, as not just Akram is deaf, but the majority of the witnesses are also deaf or hard of hearing.

"We're fortunate to have a number of Police Link Officers for the Deaf (PLOD) who are training in British sign language.

"Their expertise and hard work along with the assistance provided by the local deaf community have been invaluable."

Detective Inspector Shaun Orton, the senior officer investigating the murder, said: "This was a particularly challenging investigation, as not just Akram is deaf, but the majority of witnesses are also deaf or hard of hearing.

"The Murder Investigation Team worked tirelessly to piece together the events leading up to Christopher's death and today's result is a tribute to their hard work and dedication.

"We are very fortunate to have a number of Police Link Officers for the Deaf (PLOD) who are trained in British Sign Language (BSL) and who maintain this qualification in their own time. Their expertise and hard work along with the assistance provided by the local deaf community have been invaluable to the investigation since the initial incident through to the trial.

"Our experiences with the local deaf community during this investigation have helped us understand how we can improve our service to those who are Deaf, deafened, hard of hearing or speech. Some of the work we have done in this case has been ground-breaking and we will be looking to share that learning with other forces that have set-up similar groups of sign language trained officers.

"Christopher was an integral part of the local community, as represented by the number of friends and neighbours who attended the trial, and we know that this incident has a significant effect on this close tight knit community.

"Akram killed Christopher in a brutal manner. He then went on to deny his involvement in the murder and told the police several lies designed to mislead and obstruct the investigation. I know it was particularly traumatic for Christopher's family listening to the details of how he was killed whilst Akram showed no remorse in court. All I hope is that today's conviction brings them some closure that Akram has been brought to justice."

In their days as powerhouse players, Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson locked horns on many occasions with Stoke boss Mark Hughes.

Hughes was a tough, physical centre-forward while Pearson was an equally uncompromising centre-back and their battles were always keenly contested.

Now they are locking horns once more in the top flight, but as opposition managers.

However, Pearson says tomorrow's encounter at the Britannia Stadium is not a rematch from their playing days.

"There is no relevance to facing Mark at all," said Pearson. "I manage Leicester and he manages Stoke. If others want to build that up they can, but I see no relevance in that in the build-up to this game.

"It's not about us, it's about the teams. It's about Leicester versus Stoke, the players and their ability to understand and deal with the game."

There is not danger of any touchline showdown tomorrow, either.

It is almost a year to the day that Pearson was forced to watch City from the stands after picking up a touchline ban following the defeat at Charlton, and he has pretty much remained there ever since.

"Generally speaking, it has worked pretty well and I can see things in a different way in the stand," he said. 

"I am a little more detached and I trust my staff implicitly. It is about preparing for the game in the best way so they can manage situations on the field.

"It is not about necessarily being seen on the side or acting in a certain manner, which seems to be required at some stage. 

"I just see it as my role is to be supportive of the players but, when I can have a positive impact in terms of providing information on what I can see, to help the players. That is what management is all about.

"Before the technical area was introduced, everyone sat down in the dug-outs. That opened the doors for touchline prowling.

"It becomes a theatre at times, which I am not particularly interested in."

Leicester Tigers are thanking their lucky stars that lock-forward Sebastian De Chaves is a quick healer.

With an injury list already into double figures this season, Tigers are due a bit of luck.

De Chaves' rapid recovery from an ankle injury has given him the chance to show how much his game has developed after last year's rookie season at the club.

With Geoff Parling having missed all but 10 minutes of the season, Louis Deacon out with a back injury, Brad Thorn missing until October and Ed Slater out for the year with a torn ACL, De Chaves has been heavily involved in the build-up to the new Aviva Premiership campaign.

The big South African-born lock started six games last season but this time is set to feature a lot more throughout the early months.

He is keen to step up and make the most of his opportunity ahead of tomorrow's trip to Exeter.

"It has been awesome to be out there so far," said the 23-year-old, who signed from French club Mont de Marsan.

"I had an ankle injury and was expected to be out for eight or nine weeks but I got back in five.

"I rested it, did absolutely nothing and the S&C (strength and conditioning) staff here are superb.

"My first week back was the trip to play Edinburgh and the lungs were burning after that game, I can tell you.

"The ankle is perfect now, which is good because we are short in the second row and I want to make the most of my chance.

"Last season, I was still settling in and was still trying to get used to combinations. I am settled now and I know what Tigers are all about.

"I know the team, the coaches and the squad. That's a nice feeling with a house all sorted and everything in place. It makes it a lot easier.

"This year, I would definitely like to kick on and contribute more to the squad on and off the field."

If it was not already hard enough for a young lock learning his trade with the likes of Deacon, Parling and Slater to compete with, Tigers went and signed World Cup All Black Brad Thorn to swell their resources further when everyone is fit.

But far from being downcast about the new addition, De Chaves welcomes Thorn's arrival.

"Brad has not done much training yet but, when he does, it will be great to see how he does things," said De Chaves.

"I could look at it negatively because there is another lock ahead of me – but I could also think 'here is someone else to learn off' – and as a youngster, I am keen to learn.

"He has been there and done it all. He will be good for everyone in the squad, not just me.

"When you have guys like him and British & Irish Lions ahead of you, it's not necessarily a case of them teaching you, you just watch how they train and learn from them.

"You watch their work ethic and discipline and you learn from that. I always like to think of myself as a hard worker, I get my head down and see what happens after that. Everyone has the same team ethos here and I have learned a lot."

De Chaves starts tomorrow's game at Exeter from the bench and said Tigers will visit a Chiefs side who won 52-0 at London Welsh last weekend expecting the usual rough and tumble up front.

"We also like to pride ourselves on having a physical pack," he said. "So it will be a great contest for us. They started well last week but Welsh weren't very good. It will be good to pose them a real test and see how they respond."

A Leicester university has been awarded a grant of nearly £500,000 to study the impact of films going from silent movies into talking pictures.

Experts from De Montfort University are to research the cultural and economic impact of introducing talking pictures, or 'talkies', into British cinema with a £466,000 grant.

Laraine Porter, senior lecturer in film within DMU's Cinema and TV History research centre (CATH), will lead the investigation while working with prestigious organisations such as the British Film Institute and The Cinema Museum, London.

A PhD researcher will also work on the project along with Steve Chibnall, DMU's professor of British Cinema.

The research will be officially launched next month during the Pordenone Silent Film Festival in Italy.

The research will be the first of its kind to investigate how British cinema underwent a revolution, virtually overnight, with the screening of Alfred Hitchcock's "Blackmail".

Mountains of books and research have been published on the introduction of the first-ever talkie in 1927, the Hollywood-produced Jazz Singer, starring Al Jolson, which contains the famous line "You Ain't Heard Nothing Yet".

But no serious research has ever been conducted in how Britain was transformed by its own move from silent cinema to talkies in 1929 – the single greatest change in the history of the industry.

Ms Porter said: "Our three years of research is going to be watched carefully throughout Europe and across America.

"I have been asked it many times since we started looking into this project but I don't know the answer as to why this research has never been done before.

"There is no doubt however that what happened in 1928 and 1929 sealed the fate of the industry as we know it today. It was the single biggest transformation that cinema has ever known."

DMU will work on the three-year project with the University of Stirling.

The grant money was awarded to DMU by the prestigious AHRC – the Arts and Humanities Research Council.

Former Leicester Mercury sports writer Ken Widdows has died at the age of 70.

Ken began his journalistic career with his home-town newspaper, the Nuneaton Evening Tribune, which he joined straight from school.

He became sports editor at the Tribune before moving to the Coventry Evening Telegraph, where he covered the fortunes of Nuneaton Borough.

Ken progressed to become sports editor of the Telegraph before joining the Mercury in 1991 as part of the team which launched the popular all-sports edition, 'The Sporting Green'.

He retired in 2008, by which time he had covered a vast range of sport across the county.

Among the most notable events he reported was Leicester Tigers' first Heineken Cup triumph, when they defeated Stade Francais in a dramatic final at the Parc des Princes in Paris.

Ken was traditionally 'old school' in his values and the way he went about his business. Until the day he left the industry, he always maintained that the best stories were usually found "over a pint, in the pub".

He had every right to assume that, too, after being part of developments during decades in the industry. 

He loved a good story. He could write one. And he could tell one, too. The stories he shared from a lifetime in journalism got longer and longer, the more he told them, but that only made them all the more endearing.

A lifelong Manchester United supporter, he showed the same enthusiasm for a good tale whether it came from elite-level sport at the county's major clubs, or a cricket match on a local park. It was that trait which enabled him to relate to anyone he met, whatever level of sport they were involved in.

He was very well known around the Leicestershire sporting circuit and built many friendships, especially among the local cricket clubs he covered.

Ken leaves long-term partner Beryl, and daughters Heidi and Tracy.

A major Leicestershire warehouse owned by a high-profile businessman has been sold for £45.4 million following a court ruling.

Iranian-born Robert Tchenguiz owned the huge BT National Distribution Centre in Magna Park, Lutterworth.

However, the property has been sold Aberdeen Asset Management after a legal ruling.

In December, Royal Court of Guernsey said that Mr Tchenguiz's assets could be seized by receivers as part of the joint liquidators' attempts to recoup funds for creditors of Kaupthing. 

The Icelandic bank lent £1.6 billion to Mr Tchenguiz before it collapsed after the financial crisis.

The Magna Park property is more than 432,000 sq ft in size and is let to BT on a lease expiring in April 2031. It had been owned by the Tchenguiz Discretionary Trust before being placed under the control of joint receivers Helen Green and Kelvin Hudson of Saffery Champness, who appointed commercial agency DTZ to find a buyer.

Jeremy Beckett, senior director at DTZ, said: "There was significant investor demand for this prime asset due to the quality of the underlying real estate and location, along with the long secure income stream from BT and fixed monthly rental uplifts.

"This deal is another example of the strength of confidence investors have in the UK's commercial property investment markets."

A flamboyant entrepreneur, Mr Tchenguiz once dated Caprice Bourret, the lingerie model, and had a business empire worth more than £1 billion. 

The Times reported that Mr Tchenguiz's two per cent stake in department store House of Fraser had also been sold. 

The newspaper reported that other assets that could be sold include Mr Tchenguiz's interests in the Farnborough headquarters of BAE Systems, the country's biggest defence contractor, and his Mayfair office, Leconfield House — the former headquarters of MI5 — from where R20, his investment company, operates. All the assets under threat are held by four companies registered in the British Virgin Islands but held within TDT.

In a written statement, published by the Times, Mr Tchenguiz said: "I was satisfied with the price realised for Magna Park and, in light of the fact that House of Fraser is a private company, the 2 per cent stake is not an asset that the trust would have wished to continue to hold. The distribution of any funds realised through disposal of the assets is subject to an appeal in the Guernsey courts."

Every man in the Leicester Tigers squad has to be on his mettle this season.

That was evident in the 36-17 win over Newcastle Falcons last week as director of rugby Richard Cockerill was able to send on replacements without in any way weakening the 15 on the pitch.

Full-back Niall Morris said the players are well aware of the need to stay on their toes, whether it is a training session or match action that they are involved in.

The 26-year-old started at full-back against Newcastle and, like the rest of his team-mates, put in a solid showing, particularly for the first game of the season.

"The club has added strength and depth this season," he said. "All the players are quite evenly matched so it is a great challenge for all the guys.

"If you slip up you know that there is always somebody there who will be looking for an opportunity to come in and get a starting place."

The only time last weekend that Tigers looked shaky was when Newcastle forced their way back into the game with a try right at the start of the second half.

The way that Leicester responded was encouraging, however, and Niki Goneva's hat-trick showed that they possess a real cutting edge.

"After they scored we didn't dwell on what had happened," said Morris.

"We didn't make any points about errors made, it was just a case of what we were going to do to get the ball back and concentrating on what we had spoken about at half-time.

"Apart from the interception, Niki's tries were all created for him. First Manu Tuilagi made a great run, then Freddie Burns picked a really nice line and off-loaded just short of the line."

Morris likes what he has seen already from Burns, although there was never any doubt about the ability the former Gloucester man possesses.

He holds the No.10 jersey at the moment but, as Morris says, he will know better than anybody that he has to be at his best to retain it.

"Freddie has done really well in the last couple of weeks," said Morris.

"He did well in the pre-season games against Edinburgh and Cardiff and again against Newcastle.

"There is great competition between him and Owen Williams to get that starting jersey. That can only be good for the squad."

Tigers travel to Exeter tomorrow afternoon to face an in-form Chiefs side who hammered London Welsh in their first game of the campaign.

"They were excellent," said Morris. "Scoring 50 points in the Premiership is difficult to do.

"Sandy Park is quite a big pitch and Exeter throw it around a bit. We have to be ready for that and do our best to nullify their threats."

Leicester Riders head coach Rob Paternostro feels it is a little too early yet to assess how good his side might be.

With seven returning players in his squad of 11, and four new boys, the team really needs to settle in before their potential is known.

"Replacing Drew Sullivan and Jay Couisnard was always going to be very difficult – those are two top guys, and they both played a huge part in what we have achieved at Riders over the last few seasons," said Paternostro.

"Sullivan's record over his career with a number of clubs speaks for itself.

"But Jorge Calvo also played an immense part for us, and injuries aside, Anthony Downing brought some different qualities to the team.

"But I believe we have recruited very well, and then it comes down to chemistry and hard work.

"It is far too early to say who is going to do well in the BBL this season, because there have been plenty of changes going on, but you have to start with the clubs who have been at the top the last few seasons.

"As ever, Newcastle look strong, they have an experienced and talented core group of players, with good pedigrees, which means you are never going too far wrong.

"But until we see some teams in action you are just not going to know."

Paternostro and his team will get their first taste of pre-season action against a Touring USA team this weekend.

"We play these teams every September and they provide some excellent competition," he added.

"They play with a certain up-and-down athletic style, so you pretty much know what you are going to get.

"They will play hard, have big squads where they can rotate players in and out, with loads of individual talent.

"These are guys looking to impress watching scouts and maybe earn a spot with a British or European club, so they will be high energy, and the games are always fun to watch.

"Our challenge will be to work through in a game situation some of the stuff we have been practising, and get the cobwebs out of our system."

Riders will take a step into the unknown next weekend with their inaugural European Club tournament, with two teams from the top leagues in Spain and Belgium coming to Loughborough.

"Everyone in the club is really excited about that, because we know these teams are very good," said Paternostro.

"It will be a huge test for us before the start of the BBL season on September 27.

"But that is a way away for now, so our focus will be getting as much as we can out of the Team USA games."

A city centre pub is hosting a real Irish ale festival later this month.

Duffy's Bar, in Pockington's Walk, is teaming up three different breweries from the Emerald Isle including the country's oldest ale producer the Hilden Brewery, from Count Antrim.

The three-day festival takes place from Friday, September 26 to Sunday, September 28.

Hilden Brewery founder Seamus Scullion will also be at the event to answer questions about his beers.

The pub's owner Jackie Duffy said: "It's a unique opportunity to sample some real Irish ales - many of which you wouldn't find in England."

The festival will also feature live music and food.

For more information, visit: www.facebook.com/pages/Duffys-Bar

It proved to be something of a family affair when the County Union's Leicester Mercury Cups were contested for the first time at Humberstone Heights.

Louis Ferrar (Scraptoft) won the Challenge Cup with his 66 net off five handicap after he carded one-over-par 71 gross.

His father Geoff (Beedles Lake), off seven, finished in a tie for third on 68 net, while his uncle Keith (Scraptoft) was also in the field.

Luke Burrows (Cosby), a County squad golfer, lifted the Scratch Cup for the second time with his two-under 68 – he won first as a teenager in 2010 at Market Harborough.

Louis Ferrar said: "We always play in the Leicester Mercury Cup. We really love the event and are set to compete again next season already.

"I was second at Rutland County last year, so I'm delighted to go one better.

"Soon after I started to play golf, I was junior captain at Humberstone Heights so I know the course well. But it is a real thrill to win the Mercury Cup.

"I have played in it for around 10 years, my dad and uncle for 20 years now. It is a family golfing occasion for us all."

Paul D'Costa (Humberstone Heights), a 16-handicapper, was runner-up with 67 net, and his club-mate James Owen (nine) finished on 68 net along with Geoff Ferrar.

Burrows finished five strokes clear of his closest challengers for the Scratch Cup.

County first-team golfer Kevin Dandy (Longcliffe) was runner-up, edging out teenager Jevann Parmar (The Leicestershire) after both had 73 cards.

County match secretary Kevin Whitfield-Green (Stapleford Park) said: "It was a highly successful day for this popular county event, the first we have ever held here."

Hundreds of friends and family have said goodbye to Flight MH17 victim Richard Mayne, a young man who died "pursuing his dream".

He was one of 298 people killed when the Malaysian Airlines flight was shot down by a surface to air missile over Ukraine in July.

His funeral today was attended by more than 400 people whose lives had been touched by the 20-year-old of Western Park, Leicester.

Among those to pay tribute to him was his brother, William, who compared Richard to F Scott Fitzgerald's Jay Gatsby.

He said: "The Great Gatsby was one of Richards favourite novels and there was a significant similarity between Gatsby and my brother.

"Richard also followed his own personal dream in life.

"If he wanted something he would go out and get it and if he wanted to see Mount Everest with is own eyes he would go.

"Just as Gatsby's life ended in tragic circumstances pursuing his own ideal dream, so has my brother's."

Richard's other brother, Thomas, spoke of shared memories with Richard last Christmas and at the recent Kasabian concert in Victoria Park, Leicester.

He said: "It's memories like this that will always allow Richard to live on in all of us."

The service at St Anne's Parish Church in Western Park was led by Rev Stephen Burnham, who spoke about Richard as a young boy.

He said: "It was only by coincidence he shared his name and birthday with Richard the Lionheart but 'lionheart' described him well.

"With his cheeky grin he was a boy with a sense of adventure.

"His winning smile would quickly get him out of any trouble even at a young age.

"Richard was always one to ask people questions, to want to find out about them and as he grew he became a very open person, genuinely interested in people and his determination was always there from the start."

Rev Burnham also spoke of Richard's success in rugby and his love of all outdoor pursuits including skiing, sailing, surfing and bungee jumping, despite having Type 1 diabetes.

Among those to pay tribute to Richard was his paediatric consultant, who had treated him from the age of eight, describing him as a "truly lovely friend who had huge potential to make this world better".

His rugby coach spoke about Richard's sporting success and the chaplain from Leeds University, where Richard was studying maths, read a prayer.

School friends and university friends also took turns to pay their respects.

Richard's uncle David said: "His whole soul lit up when he laughed and everyone around him did too.

"His beautiful family have a hole that cannot be filled and hearts that cannot be unbroken.

"But he will stay with us as long as we're here.

"Thank you for coming today and making Rich feel the most beloved person on earth."

Richard's parents, Simon and Elizabeth have asked for donations to Leicestershire Parents' Support Group of Diabetes UK. More than £5,200 has been raised in his memory so far.

Richard did volunteer work for the charity in recent years.

To donate go to: www.justgiving.com/Richard-Mayne2

The Dogs Trust centre near Loughborough has rehomed its 2,000th dog.

The lucky pooch was eight-week old crossbreed Muffin, one of a litter of 10 puppies with Great British Bake Off-inspired names.

The new family, the Turner's, travelled from Hertfordshire to adopt Muffin.

The centre, just outside Wymeswold, opened two years ago.

Ella Tonge, from the Dogs Trust, said: "We can't believe that we've reached such a milestone. There have been many stand-out stories over the two years not just Muffin, who won all our hearts along with his sweet siblings, but many, many others."

The Dogs Trust Loughborough has up to 150 dogs looking for new homes.

A 15-year-old Polish girl who has gone missing twice in the past six months has been found safe and well again.

Ana Simeonova was reported missing by her family from her home in Thurmaston on August 22.

She was found safe and well in London earlier today.

Ana also disappeared in March but turned up later in Leicester city centre 10 days later.

Leicestershire Police thanked everyone who had helped with the latest search for the teenager.

A father-of-two who nearly died from a life threatening infection is helping to raise awareness of the condition.

Ian Hillier, from Syston, released 200 balloons to mark World Sepsis Day tomorrow (Saturday)

The 42-year-old had never heard of sepsis until June this year when he began to feel as if he might have a touch of flu.

Within 24 hours his upper left arm became painful and a short time later the pain was so intense he was admitted to Leicester Royal Infirmary.

He said: "I was given morphine and don't remember too much after that.

"I was soon drifting in and out of consciousness and my wife said that at one point it seemed touch and go as I was so ill."

Mr Hillier, an interior designer, was in hospital for two weeks and took another two off work to recover.

He said: "I had never heard of sepsis. It can be fatal if it is not diagnosed early.

"I was lucky, mine was caught and it was treated."

The cause of the infection is still not known but Mr Hillier said it could have been down a scratch of cut when he was gardening.

He added: "I didn't even realise I had a cut."

The 200 balloons released at Leicester Royal Infirmary yesterday (Friday) represented the number of lives in Leicestershire that could be saved if sepsis is detected early and properly managed.

The condition, which kills more people than breast cancer in the UK, occurs when an infection starts to overwhelm the body, and can attack key organs such as kidneys, lungs and the heart.

Early symptoms can appear to be flu or pain like a pulled muscle.

Mr Hillier said: "I was delighted to be asked to release the balloons.

"It is so important that we continue to fight this disease which can affect any of us at any time.

John Ashworth, MP for Leicester South, has also backed the balloon launch.

He said: "As sepsis is estimated to cause 37,000 deaths a year, the work of Leicester's hospitals in increasing the recognition and treatment of patients with sepsis is vital."

Leicester's hospitals have introduced a number of initiatives to improve the treatment of patients with sepsis.

The include training nearly 100 members of staff to be "sepsis champions."

Dr John Parker, a consultant anaesthetist at Leicester's hospitals, said: "Our champions will actively promote prompt recognition and treatment of sepsis and ensure it is regarded by all as a medical emergency.

"Treatment within one hour of diagnosis is vital, so clinical staff will also have access to special 'sepsis 6 boxes', which we have developed.

"They contain life saving antibiotics, intravenous fluids and blood culture bottles."

The newly introduced initiatives have already seen significant improvements in sepsis treatment at Leicester's Hospitals.

Last year (2013) 27 per cent of patients received intravenous antibiotics within one hour of developing severe sepsis. For the year so far, this figure has risen to 50 per cent.

There are tailbacks on the northbound M1 this evening after a crash involving a car and a motorbike.

The collision happened near East Midlands Airport at 3.45pm and two lanes of the carriageway have been shut.

Police said they are still on the scene and that paramedics are currently treating the motorcyclist, whose injures are not thought to be life-threatening.

Foxes archer Ruth Welsh produced another outstanding display but had to settle for fourth place in the National Series finals at Wollaton Haul.

Reaching the finals, which feature the country's top-eight archers in each category, was an astonishing achievement for Welsh, who only took up the sport in 2010 when past the age of 40, and was competing in her first National Series.

Welsh started well in her quarter-final, winning the first set convincingly and, although her more experienced opponent made her fight all the way, she claimed the match 6-4. In the semis she came up against three-time Olympian and British No.1 Naomi Folkard.

Welsh succeeded in taking two points off her opponent but eventually went down 6-2 with Folkard going through to shoot for the gold medal.

The first two ends of her bronze-medal match against Lizzie Cantopher were tied, but Cantopher then drew away to take the match 6-2 and Welsh had to settle for fourth.

After the event she said: "It was a wonderful experience. I went way further than I could ever have expected and have learned so much."

Neither of the Bowmen of Birstall duo, Rikki Bingham and Christie Ravenscroft, proceeded beyond the quarter-final stage in the compound event.

Bingham, ranked second after the qualifying tournaments, started badly but although she improved she was unable to make up the leeway.

Ravenscroft also shot well but lost by a single point.

Emma Achurch stormed to victory in the women's 10km at the annual Jim Sharlott race walk at Abbey Park.

The 17-year-old completed the course in 51min 19sec, more than seven minutes ahead of the competition.

Achurch's Leicester Walking Club team-mate Kate Donaldson was second in 58.33, with Sarah Lightman rounding off an LWC one-two-three in 66.06.

Thirteen-year-old Ben Allen won the 2km event in 11.25, while Emma's sister Laura Achurch was fastest in the under-15 girls in 12.13.

Jasmine Nicholls was quickest in the under-20 girls in a time of 10.18.