Quantcast
Channel: Leicester Mercury Latest Stories Feed
Viewing all 9894 articles
Browse latest View live

Vinnie ads saved my life, says Leicester heart attack survivor John Gill

0
0

Retired teacher John Gill says he owes his life to a mystery shopper who learned hands-only CPR off the telly from screen hard man Vinnie Jones.

When John collapsed in Tesco's, in Hamilton, a man simply known as Mr Khan, sprang into action.

John, 68, of Old Humberstone, Leicester, said: "I just came over dizzy and collapsed. Apparently, I was out for two or three minutes.

"The next thing I knew was I was lying on my back, feeling terribly hot and the gentleman was pumping my chest.

"There is no doubt that I owe my life to Mr Khan and the fact he was prepared to act after seeing Vinnie's advert for the British Heart Foundation.

"I and my family cannot thank him enough."

Mr Gill was taken to Glenfield Hospital for treatment and had a pacemaker fitted later in the day, but only after he suffered a second cardiac arrest while in hospital.

The campaign screened a year ago featured former Wimbledon and Chelsea star Jones as a gangster reviving a hapless victim to the Bee Gees' hit, Stayin' Alive.

The British Heart Foundation say that 28 lives, including John's, have been saved so far by the campaign

Now John is featuring in a follow-up promotion with Jones and other heart attack survivors.

The incident happened in February and John decided to contact the charity to tell them of his experience.

Eventually, he was invited to London with his wife Jane for a photo-shoot.

He said: "I was 68 on October 11 when I met Vinnie, who is really charming, despite his hard man image

"I was delighted to take part in the new advertising campaign. I have to play the hard man too, complete with cashmere coat, and I have to deliver the line 'Sweet'."

He will also appear in posters alongside Jones.

He said: "Basically, I would urge people to act quickly and not to simply hold the hand of someone who has collapsed. Pump their chest instead."

John managed to contact Mr Khan shortly after the incident, but he felt his saviour was very modest about what he did and was reluctant to be considered a hero.

He said: "I would like to talk to him again to express my gratitude."

Vinnie ads saved my life, says Leicester heart attack survivor John Gill


Leicester Tigers in 'good shape' to take sting out of Wasps, says Richard Cockerill

0
0

Leicester Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill believes his team are in "good shape" for Sunday's Aviva Premiership game at Wasps – despite missing a host of players to international duty.

Tigers return to league action in third place, just three points behind leaders Harlequins.

But with eight players in England's Elite Player Squad, and Martin Castrogiovanni (Italy), Marcos Ayerza (Argentina), Vereniki Goneva (Fiji) and Steve Mafi (Tonga) all away with their respective countries, Leicester will face what is traditionally one of the toughest trips of their season shorn of almost a full team's worth of talent.

However, the two wins against the Maori All Blacks and London Irish have proven just how strong the Leicester squad is this season, and Cockerill believes there have been some huge positives to take on board before the trip to Adams Park.

"We are in good shape for Wasps," he said.

"We rested some guys against Irish with one eye on that game.

"Julian Salvi is important to us, Louis Deacon and Graham Kitchener had a rest and Jordan Crane only went on off the bench to get some more game-time.

"We should have Ant Allen back from England too, so although we are going to be missing lots of blokes, we are still in pretty good shape.

"We have had a good five days with those two wins.

"Scrum-half Micky Young got through a game without getting cited or injured, and I thought Ed Slater ran the line-out well considering it is not something he normally does.

"Michael Noone fronted up really well against the Irish, and so did Richard Thorpe.

"I thought lots of lads did very well.

"We gave no quarter and the effort was outstanding against what was virtually a full-strength Irish side."

Wasps are likely to lose less than a handful of players for Sunday's game at Adams Park, which has produced some thrilling matches in recent times.

Wasps' in-form wingers Tom Varndell and Christian Wade are first and second in the Premiership try-scoring charts with 12 between them already this season, so Leicester are fully aware of the threats that Dai Young's new-look Wasps side will bring to the table.

Wasps won last season's corresponding fixture 35-29, thanks to a stunning hat-trick from Wade.

Leicester Tigers in 'good shape' to take sting out of Wasps, says Richard Cockerill

Rendall Munroe ready to tear into Scott Quigg on Saturday night

0
0

Rendall Munroe is ready to shake off the shackles and tear into Scott Quigg on Saturday night.

The city southpaw went face to face with Bury's unbeaten British champion at a press conference in Manchester yesterday.

The pair go head to head for the interim WBA super-bantamweight title at Manchester Arena.

"I'm ready," said Munroe, whose last crack at Quigg ended prematurely in a draw with a bad cut above his right eye following a third-round clash of heads at Manchester Velodrome.

"My trainer (Jason Shinfield) has got me on a leash at the moment, telling me to take my time! Whenever I go into the gym I am hitting the bags harder and he is telling me just to ease back.

"My training camp has been brilliant. The weight is right there and the work that I have been doing with Neil Linford has got me punching a bit harder than I had been doing.

"Jason reckons my footwork is looking better – the whole thing has been another step up."

The one worry among Munroe's followers might be that cut, which required nine stitches to repair on the night back in June. However, it has healed remarkably quickly.

"I've had no problems with it," said the former European and Commonwealth champion.

"I have been wearing a headguard in sparring but I haven't felt any soreness or anything.

"I really believe that by five past nine on Saturday night I will be the interim world champion and will be having a party."

That does not mean the Munroe camp is taking Quigg lightly – far from it. In the build-up, the Leicester man has always spoken respectfully of his opponent.

He knows what he has to do to overcome this latest challenge at a sold-out Arena, where Ricky Hatton tops the bill on his comeback to the ring in front of around 20,000 fans. "I have got to stay positive," said Munroe.

"I need to do what I am good at, put Quigg under pressure, cut down the ring, don't give him any room and make him work.

"I train to the best of my abilities, box to the best of my abilities and I think that is why the fans like me."

Munroe is now going through the final stages of his preparations.

"I'll go back to the gym and tap away at the bags for about six rounds today and I'll have my final weight check" he said.

"I'll have a Bikram yoga session in the evening to stretch out and do nothing at all tomorrow."

The atmosphere will then intensify on Friday with the 4pm weigh-in at Manchester Town Hall – and from that point there is no looking back.

Rendall Munroe ready to tear into Scott Quigg on Saturday night

Leicester City's Lloyd Dyer in the best form of his career - Craig Shakespeare

0
0

Lloyd Dyer is in the best form of his career, insists Leicester City assistant manager Craig Shakespeare.

Dyer was in scintillating form as City demolished Ipswich Town 6-0 on Saturday.

The winger earned the penalty that set the home side on their way, scored one, and set up two more as he tore apart the Tractor Boys' defence .

Shakespeare worked with the 30-year-old when they were together at West Bromwich Albion, and was reunited with Dyer when he signed for City in 2008.

He insists this is the best football Dyer has played in his career.

"I have known Lloyd since he was a young boy at West Brom and he has matured," said Shakespeare.

"Over the last few weeks, in terms of performances, he is probably playing the best football of his career.

"He has got that one thing that all defenders are frightened of – pace. I think it is all right having the pace but it is knowing when to use it.

"He caused Ipswich and Bradly Orr a lot of problems. He was quieter in the second half but the damage was done in the first half.

"You can say Ipswich didn't defend well but I would like to compliment our boys because we made the pitch big and used it intelligently, and Lloyd's movement was very good.

"It is all right knowing what people are about but stopping them is a different thing."

Striker Martyn Waghorn was also in sparkling form and capped his performance with his first goal of the season.

Shakespeare was full of praise for the 22-year-old, who has come through a year-long battle with injury.

"Over the last few weeks he has been working really hard," said Shakespeare.

"He had a horrendous time with injuries over the last year. Sometimes people forget that, when you are out of football that amount of time, it does take its toll.

"The fans were singing his name during the game and not just when he came off, and I think he will appreciate that.

"Sometimes, as a forward, you can work hard but you are ultimately judged on your goals.

"You could see by the reaction of the players when he scored what they think of him as well."

Waghorn was joined on the scoresheet by substitute Marko Futacs, who got his first league goal of the campaign after spending the majority of the season so far on the bench.

Shakespeare added: "He hasn't had a lot of game-time but, ultimately, when you ask him to come on, you are asking him to make an impact and he did.."

Meanwhile, Paul Konchesky should be fit for Saturday's trip to Sheffield Wednesday.

The defender returned to training last week after a hamstring injury but was not risked against Ipswich.

"He wasn't far away from playing," said Shakespeare.

"He joined in part of the training on Thursday but we felt he was too much of a risk."

Young Leicester City striker Jacob Blyth has joined Burton Albion on loan until January 12.

Leicester City's  Lloyd Dyer in the best form of his career - Craig Shakespeare

Video shows detail of Leicester mayor's £4m Jubilee Square plan

0
0

The first detailed designs of a controversial new £4 million public square in Leicester have been unveiled.

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby has released images of a proposed plaza, called Jubilee Square, intended for the area that is now St Nicholas' Place – the home to a 50-space car park and the city's park and ride terminal.

The architects' work, commissioned by Leicester City Council as part of a £100,000 design phase for the project, shows lawns and seating areas, mature trees as well as a paved area where it is envisaged features such as temporary ice rinks or Ferris wheels could be sited.

The scheme has been dubbed an expensive vanity project by opponents, but Sir Peter insists it will provide a welcoming area, creating civic pride in the city.

He said: "We are very short in Leicester of public space for people to relax and take a break from shopping or work and that is what I want to change.

"I want the space to be uncluttered and flexible.

"Jubilee Square sits in a part of the city that is absolutely crucial in re-linking the modern part of Leicester with its historic heart."

He said the city's "dreadful" ring road acted as a barrier to historic features such as the Roman Jewry Wall and St Mary de Castro Church.

The plans include removing a lane of traffic from the ring road and establishing so-called "super crossings" – similar to the one opposite the London Road railway station – so pedestrians can get to the historic sites more easily.

A series of large screens on the edge of the ring road will help block traffic noise.

Sir Peter said he hoped the new plans would deal with concerns raised in previous consultations.

They involve relocating the park and ride stops from the middle of the site to a lay-by on the western edge of the square, near the Holiday Inn.

Taxi ranks in the area will be moved to the corner of Highcross Street and there will be a dozen disabled parking spaces.

Discussions are also underway to find replacement short stay parking nearby, but Sir Peter said he was unable to reveal further details because of discussions with private companies.

He said he had been encouraged by a previous consultation showing the "overwhelming majority" of traders supported his designs.

Chairman of the Leicester Retail Forum Peter Wilkinson said: "Larger businesses are generally supportive of Jubilee Square with the caveat traffic can still access the Highcross.

"I like it, but it would be fair to say some smaller businesses are less enthusiastic because of the loss of parking."

Traffic access to Highcross shopping centre will still run along the northern edge of the square.

The council hopes a bid for £1.4 million from the European Regional Development Fund will succeed in providing some of the funds for the project.

When asked what would happen should the bid fail, Sir Peter said: "I am very confident. It is a very strong bid. I am not contemplating failure."

A planning application is likely to be submitted at the end of the year or early January. If that is approved, work could start in the summer and take two years to complete.

Tory opposition councillor Ross Grant said: "The mayor says very few people object to Jubilee Square, but nobody was ever offered a yes/no choice on this.

"When you tell somebody something is happening whether the like it or not, they will disengage from the process. After that, any likely consultation is only going to get answers you want."

One businessman in the area, who asked not to be named, said: "I won't be getting involved in the consultation. There's no point. By messing around with the parking down there, he is making a decision which will affect the livelihoods of a lot of people. It's a vanity project for the mayor. "

The latest consultation will involve an exhibition of the proposals at Wygston's House, Applegate, on November 26 and 28 from 4pm to 6pm, and November 27 and 29 from noon to 2pm.

www.leicester.gov.uk/connectingleicester

Video shows detail of Leicester mayor's £4m Jubilee Square plan

Leicester Mercury to be sold by Daily Mail in £50m deal

0
0
Northcliffe Media, the owner of the Leicester Mercury and thisisleicestershire, is being sold to a newly-formed media group Local World, it has been announced today. The deal was announced by the Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT) and will see it sell all 77 of its regional titles and hundreds of local websites. In return it will receive more than £50 million cash and a 39 per cent stake in Local World, which will be led by David Montgomery. DMGT will be the single largest shareholder in Local World alongside Yattendon Group, owner of Iliffe News & Media, as well as Trinity Mirror and a number of strategic financial investors. In a letter to employees this morning, Lord Rothermere said: "For everyone who works at Northcliffe, we believe Local World, with DMGT as its largest shareholder and led by Steve Auckland as Chief Executive, will be a good guardian of these assets. It is acquiring this business to expand it. The new company will also seize new opportunities in the fast-growing world of digital information". David Montgomery, one of the most experienced media executives in the UK, will be Chairman of Local World. Steve Auckland, formerly Managing Director of Metro, Yorkshire Post Newspapers and Northcliffe Media, will be Group Chief Executive. Rachel Addison, currently Chief Financial Officer of Northcliffe, will assume the same role at Local World. They will be supported by a management team drawn from Northcliffe Media and Iliffe News & Media. Announcing the new venture, David Montgomery said: "This is an entirely new type of media business. The value of Local World will lie in its people, its franchises and its IP. It will be unencumbered by the infrastructure of the industrial past such as property, printing presses and large scale distribution or any legacy issues such as high levels of debt. Local World signals the fight back in Britain's regional media industry." DMGT is to publish full-year earnings on Thursday.

Leicester Mercury to be sold by Daily Mail in £50m deal

Jobs go at crisis-hit Leicestershire firm Hallam Contracts, of Oadby

0
0

A well-known building firm which has been carrying out major projects across Leicestershire has axed more than three-quarters of its workforce after experiencing financial problems.

Letters were yesterday handed to 100 staff at Hallam Contracts, of Oadby, telling them they had been made redundant and the company was set to go into administration in the next few days. No-one from the company, which has been left with about 20 workers and has ceased trading, was available for comment yesterday.

The 90-year-old family-run business had been left reeling after a sub-contractor submitted a winding up petition which would have seen the business broken up and sold off. It is believed the sub-contractor was owed about £500,000 by Hallam.

An office worker, who was made redundant yesterday, said the company had hit problems in recent weeks because of the difficult economic climate and had been working hard to resolve them. He said the winding up petition had been "the last straw".

The 40-year-old, who has been at the firm for 10 years and did not want to be named, said: "There's only so much you can do in regard to cashflow. Some of the suppliers were willing to work with us and others weren't.

"It's a sad day, particularly for the Hallam family. However, the way the industry has been, we are not the first and won't be the last company where this happens."

It is believed about 300 businesses, including subcontractors and suppliers, are owed in the region of £4 million by Hallam, based in Leicester Road, Oadby.

Up until yesterday, Hallam had been working on about 50 projects, with 15 of them being major schemes.

It was only on Monday that the company began a major refurbishment scheme at the University of Leicester.

On the same day, it also began a student accommodation project at a former sock factory in the city's Welford Road.

Hallam was also working on student accommodation projects for Jamie Lewis Residential in the city.

For the past 10 months, the company had been working on the £12 million project to build new headquarters for Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council in Hinckley.

On Thursday, a new physics building at Loughborough Endowed Schools, built by Hallam, won Small Scheme of the Year at the Leicestershire Property and Construction (ProCon) Awards.

Martin Traynor, chief executive of Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce, said: "We are very sorry to hear about Hallam. Unfortunately, it reflects the current situation in the construction industry and many good quality firms have gone to the wall."

Pam Allardice, chairman of Leicestershire ProCon, which organises the ProCon Awards, said: "It's a sad day because it's one of the last major local contracting firms of any size."

Jobs go at crisis-hit Leicestershire firm Hallam Contracts, of Oadby

Driver cut from car after crash on A46 near Willoughby on the Wolds

0
0

A driver was cut from the wreckage of his car and taken to hospital today.
The man was released by firefighters after his car aquaplaned and rolled over on the A46 near Willoughby-on-the-Wolds at about 8.40am.
The injured man was taken by ambulance to the Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham.
One lane of the dual carriageway was closed in both directions.


Car ends up on roof after crash in St George's Way, Leicester

0
0
Two men walked away unhurt after their car ended up on its roof on a inner-city ring road. The pair were able to get themselves out of the Vauxhall Corsa they were travelling in after the accident on St George's Way near the junction with St George Street at 9.10pm yesterday. A police spokeswoman said the men called a tow truck which had removed the car by 10.15pm. The road was not closed and no ambulance was called.

Car ends up on roof after crash in St George's Way,  Leicester

Gary Barlow OBE to appear at De Montfort Hall, Leicester

0
0
Take That star Gary Barlow will be appearing at De Montfort Hall in Leicester. The 41-year-old X Factor judge tweeted "I'm delighted to announce I'm adding 8 new January shows to my tour! Tickets are on sale this Friday at 9.30am. #GaryBarlowTour "I'll be playing shows in #Glasgow, #Aberdeen, #Leicester, #Southend, #London, #Brighton, #Scarborough and #Manchester." He will be appearing in Leicester on Sunday, January 13. Barlow was in the news today as he was awarded his OBE by the Queen at Buckingham Palace. He said he was "deeply proud'' to have been given the award. Barlow has spent more than 20 years in the public eye, and was given the title for services to the entertainment industry and to charity. De Montfort Hall tweeted the news of his Leicester gig to followers: "delighted to announce that GARY BARLOW will be at De Montfort Hall for a show on Sunday 13th January. Tickets on sale on Friday at 9.30." Fans were warned that tickets will be available over the phone and online only. Tickets can be booked from 0116 233 3111 or www.demontforthall.co.uk And will also be available from See Tickets. Tickets are £35, £45 &£55 and there is a max of 4 tickets per person.

Gary Barlow OBE to appear at De Montfort Hall, Leicester

Rain causes flooding chaos in Leicestershire

0
0
Rain has caused severe flooding throughout the county today, with the rising water entering homes in some areas. At least 14 homes in the Market Harborough area have flooded, with other properties in Loughborough, Braunstone and Kirby Muxloe under threat as the rain continued into the afternoon. A couple had to be rescued from their car at Stockerston, near Uppingham, while many roads liable to flooding became impassable.Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service put out an appeal for people to only call 999 where people were genuinely at risk or where there was a fire or chemical hazard. Anyone who finds a road that is flooded with no warning signs should telephone Leicestershire County Council on 0116 305 0001 to pass on details. See the latest five-day forecast for Leicestershire.

Rain causes flooding chaos in Leicestershire

Three men guilty of murdering Leicester takeaway boss Dogan Dogan

0
0
Three men have been found guilty of murdering Leicester takeaway boss Dogan Dogan. Sarwar Gader (35) of Gleneagles Avenue, Rushey Mead, Wali Khan (32) and Naveed Naveed (28) both St Stephen's Road, Highfields, were found guilty today at Birmingham Crown Court. Naveed Naveed and Sarwar Gader were also found guilty of robbery. Wali Khan had pleaded guilty to robbery at an earlier hearing. Mr Dogan, 50, was found dead in a bed-sit above Aladdin's takeaway, in Linton Street, Evington, Leicester, on January 8. His hands and feet were tied and a towel and several layers of clothing had been tied over his face. He died of asphyxiation and also had broken ribs and a black eye. Takings of around £1,000 from both of Mr Dogan's businesses, Aladdin's and Pizzaman in Lutterworth, were also missing from the bedsit. Naveed's car was seen driving away from the scene in the early hours of January 8, and keys belonging to Mr Dogan were seen being thrown from the vehicle as it drove around Leicester. Detective Chief Inspector Tom Davies, who led the investigation, said: "I am pleased that after a lengthy trial, these three men have been convicted for the role they played in the murder of Mr Dogan. "Mr Dogan was a much loved husband and father. He sadly never got to meet his grandchild who was born shortly after he died. "I would like to thank the family, who have shown tremendous dignity and support for the police investigation throughout this case. They have understandably been left devastated and I hope that this outcome will bring them some small form of comfort that those responsible for his murder have been brought to justice." All three had denied murder. Naveed and Gader had denied robbery. They will be sentenced tomorrow afternoon.

Three men guilty of murdering Leicester takeaway boss Dogan Dogan

Leicestershire theatre stages BBC hit TV comedy The Vicar of Dibley

0
0

A theatre that hosted the world premiere of a stage version of Father Ted is to stage a production of another TV comedy.

Hit BBC series The Vicar of Dibley will grace the stage of Concordia Theatre, in Hinckley, next month.

New Theatre Players are performing four episodes of the sitcom set in an Oxfordshire village.

It revolves around the new female vicar – played by Dawn French on TV – after the Church of England allowed women to be ordained.

Director Liz Huddlestone said: "We are all finding it very hard to keep a straight face during rehearsals. It has been great fun.

"With the script being so snappy, and having four episodes, it is a lot for the cast to remember.

"When it is on TV they do a scene and then have time off and then do another – we will be doing four in a row.

"It should be really fun and a great night out."

The cast are performing four episodes – The Arrival, The Easter Bunny, The Engagement and The Nativity.

They were given permission to stage the show – which has been performed in a few theatres around the country – by scriptwriter Richard Curtis, the man also responsible for Mr Bean, Four Weddings and a Funeral and Bridget Jones's Diary.

He did not want to be paid, instead asking New Theatre Players to make a donation to Comic Relief.

Sue Williams-Lee is playing the part of Alice Tinker, the church's dippy verger.

"The episodes which have been chosen are quite good for Alice – she goes from being so shy around Hugo to being engaged to having a baby," said the 43-year-old, from Barwell.

"There are so many funny bits, but the bit that always gets me is the bit where we have to audition for parts in the nativity.

"I have to speak Hebrew and it has been hilarious getting it to sound vaguely like Hebrew.

"Then there's the three kings – let's just say they come up with something you would not expect."

As well as Father Ted, the Concordia has staged versions of hit TV series including Fawlty Towers, Dad's Army and the Darling Buds of May.

The show takes to the stage between Tuesday, December 4 and Saturday, December 8.

Tickets can be bought from Harpers Newshound, in The Borough, Hinckley, by calling 01455 615005 or 01455 613 345, or by e-mailing:

ntptickets@ntlworld.com

Leicestershire  theatre stages BBC hit TV comedy The Vicar of Dibley

Leicester students join tuition fees protest in London

0
0
Students from De Montfort University and the University of Leicester joined thousands of other protesters in London yesterday to demonstrate against coalition policies, including the increase of tuition fees to £9,000. The route of the march passed over Westminster Bridge with protesters attempting to reach Parliament Square, which witnessed violent scenes two years ago, but a heavy police presence kept protesters away from Whitehall. A student from the University of Leicester, who declined to be named, said: "I'm protesting against the rise in tuition fees which is affecting me as a first year student. I'm also protesting against the cuts to EMA which hits students at the lowest end of the spectrum the hardest, and the marketisation of higher education. It's a consumer service and no longer about the student. It's about how to get the most profit out of the university, instead of the best for the student." The rain-soaked march finished with a rally in Kennington Park. A small section of the crowd booed the President of the National Union of Students, Liam Burns, before forcing him off the stage and occupying it. Others threw eggs and fruit at him. The feeling of frustration at the NUS was felt by many in the crowd, who thought the event had been poorly organised. Others, though, directed their anger at the government. Tom Williams, the Vice President of Media Communication at De Montfort Students' Union, said: "My personal reasons for marching, to be quite frank, is that I am annoyed at the government, I am annoyed that students keep getting screwed over. I'm annoyed that 9K fees are in, I'm annoyed there's no employment, I'm annoyed that there's no hope for students. There are people graduating now that are going back to jobs they had over the summer that they didn't need a degree for in the first place, and that is their hope now."

Leicester students join tuition fees protest in London

Take That's Gary to perform at De Montfort Hall, Leicester

0
0

Take That legend Gary Barlow will perform at De Montfort Hall in January – kick-starting the venue's anniversary year.

The songwriter and X Factor judge will be on stage on Sunday, January 13, and tickets are expected to sell out fast.

The venue announced to its 4,000 followers on Twitter that the star had been booked and that tickets will go on sale tomorrow, from 9.30am.

A venue spokeswoman said: "Having such a huge act coming to De Montfort Hall will be a great way for us to kick off our centenary year and it's going to be good for Leicester.

"There's already a huge buzz about the news and it's going to be a great show.

"Tickets are going to sell out fast but we want to remind everyone that they won't be available to people coming to the box office in person.

"There's no point Gary Barlow fans queuing outside on Friday morning – they'll just get very cold for no reason."

Barlow, who collected an OBE from the Queen yesterday, also helped organise the Diamond Jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace and his jubilee single Sing, which he co-wrote with Andrew Lloyd Webber, topped the UK singles chart in the summer.

He performed in the Olympic closing ceremony just days after his daughter was delivered stillborn.

Musician Andy Stone, 24, from Blaby, a member of Little Night Terrors, said: "I think he's a great songwriter. You can't slate his abilities.

"I'm sure there will be a lot of interest and it's great for De Montfort Hall.

"I went to see The Vaccines there the other night and it's great they're getting touring bands playing there."

Josef Smadi, 29, of Wigston, half of duo Diva Fever, said: "I'm sure it's going to be a big hit with Take That fans and lots of housewives.

"Gary Barlow's done quite a few songs and he wrote a lot of good ones for Take That, so I would like to see him."

The news has been causing an outpouring of excitement on Twitter.

User Sally Hurst said: "Top booking. Let's get ready for the ticket scramble."

Another user, called Sarah, said: "OMG. GARY BARLOW! There's no way everyone is gonna get tickets for that!"

Tickets will be £35, £45 and £55 and limited to four per person. They will only be available by calling 0116 233 3111 or going to: www.gigsandtours.com See the De Montfort Hall website: www.demontforthall.co.uk

Take That's Gary to perform at   De Montfort Hall, Leicester


Boxing: Scott Quigg expecting real corker as Rendall Munroe 'steps up a gear'

0
0

British super-bantamweight champion Scott Quigg expects Rendall Munroe to step up an extra gear in their return fight for the interim WBA title in Manchester on Saturday.

A cut suffered by Munroe ended their first meeting inside three rounds back in June.

But as the pair prepare to climb through the ropes at a sold-out Manchester Arena this weekend, Quigg said: "It's going to be a cracking fight. Rendall is world-class, he's fought at world level when he boxed for the WBC world title and did so well.

"I was feeling comfortable in the first fight. I saw things that were working for me but I'm expecting a better Rendall Munroe this time, because I think he might have under-estimated me first time round."

The clash between Munroe and Bury's Quigg is one of a series of title fights on a bill topped by Ricky Hatton's return to the ring.

Quigg believes the action that he and the Leicester southpaw serve up could be the pick of a high-octane evening.

"It was frustrating what happened, that our first fight ended in a technical draw, and I'm just glad it has been made again" said Quigg.

"I can't think of anything bigger in boxing than to be on Ricky Hatton's undercard. For me to say that my fight might end up being the fight of the night is great."

Munroe believes the level he has consistently boxed at in recent years, when he has campaigned at European and world level, will stand him in good stead come that first bell.

"I do my talking in the ring and I am going to go out and do the business," he said.

"People are tipping Scott because he is younger, but look at the higher-quality opponents I have faced."

Other top fights on the bill see Martin Murray face Jorge Navarro for the interim WBA middleweight belt, Sergey Rabchenko and Cedric Vitu clashing for the European light-middleweight title, while Gary Buckland and Stephen Foster Jnr meet with the British super-featherweight title on the line.

Hatton takes on former world champion Vyacheslav Senchenko.

Richard Poxon, director of boxing at Hatton Promotions, said: "This is the best undercard we have put together and the title fights are all top-quality."

Boxing: Scott Quigg expecting real corker as Rendall Munroe  'steps up a gear'

Leicester City striker David Nugent thanks teammates for great service

0
0

David Nugent is proving to be Leicester City's match-winner with nine goals in his last 12 games, but the striker is quick to credit his team-mates for the part they have played.

The 28-year-old bagged a brace in last Saturday's demolition of Ipswich Town and scored a goal-of-the-season contender the previous week against Nottingham Forest.

Nugent, however, says the unrelenting service he is receiving is the reason why he is in such good scoring form.

In recent weeks, City have created a host of chances without taking a high percentage of them, until the 6-0 battering of Ipswich, and Nugent said it was a striker's dream to play in a side that is creating opportunities.

"Anthony (Knockaert) has put in a great ball for that goal against Forest and there are plenty of players who can deliver good crosses," said Nugent.

"There is Anthony, Ben Marshall, Lloyd Dyer and Martyn Waghorn when he plays wide.

"Lloyd has been terrific in the last few games. We are getting the chances but we have to take them.

"Our performances are great but we have to make sure we get the three points, so it is down to us strikers to convert those chances."

City's victory over the Tractor Boys was their first in five games and they showed signs of returning to the form which saw them go seven games unbeaten and hit the top of the Championship table.

Nugent believes City relaxed too much after reaching the summit, but said they were now fully focused as they head into a heavy run of crucial fixtures.

"I think when we went top of the league, we took our foot off the gas a little and perhaps we thought 'yeah, we are there now, we can chill'," he said.

"If you want to win the league you have to keep kicking on. We are coming up to a really tough period now and there are a lot of games to be played over Christmas.

"This could determine where we will be at the end of the season.

"If we have a good Christmas, then we could be up there at the end of the campaign."

The former England striker admits he feels like one of the elder statesmen in a very young squad, but believes the youthfulness of the City side will stand the club in good stead for years to come.

"There is only me, Wes Morgan, Lloyd Dyer and Zak Whitbread in the team who are over 27 so it is a pretty young squad," he added. "It is a young squad and they have blended well together. I am sure they will be together for a long time and do well for Leicester."

Leicester City  striker David Nugent  thanks teammates for great service

Leicestershire council deputy chief steps down over porn DVD find

0
0

The deputy leader of Leicestershire County Council has stepped down while an investigation takes place after it emerged a pornographic DVD was found in his council computer.

Councillor David Sprason is now to be investigated by Tory party whips.

He told the Mercury he made an "error of judgement" when he watched a movie entitled She Likes It Rough in his county council PC and voluntarily stepped down while the matter is looked into.

The DVD was found on the CD drive of Coun Sprason's computer in 2007 when he returned it to IT officers at County Hall after it broke.

The matter came to light after a copy of a confidential letter sent to Coun Sprason by former council monitoring officer Elizabeth McCalla about the DVD was passed anonymously to the Leicester Mercury.

Coun Sprason said he and his wife Sue, a Conservative councillor on Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, had watched the DVD in their bedroom but that he had forgotten to remove it before returning the laptop for repairs.

He said: "It shouldn't have been in there. It was an unfortunate error of judgement.

"The laptop crashed and I took it to get it repaired. I should have taken the film out and put it back in its box.

"I was probably rushing around the next morning and grabbed it before going in to County Hall.

"Me and the wife use things to help our relationship. That's one of the tools we use. We both enjoy them.

"It's one of those situations that shouldn't have happened."

Coun Sprason said he thought the letter had been leaked to embarrass him.

He said: "I'm not embarrassed. There was nothing dodgy about it.

"It's the kind of thing that can easily be bought in an adult shop."

Coun Sue Sprason said: "Our DVD (player) broke so we – unfortunately – used a county council laptop.

"We are a middle-aged couple who love each other as much as we did when we were in our 20s.

"When you get to middle age, you need a bit of assistance."

After the DVD was found, officers at County Hall checked Coun Sprason's internet usage from the laptop and found nothing untoward.

In her letter to Coun Sprason, Ms McCalla said the DVD had been sent to the police "to ensure it did not contain any unlawful material".

She said: "They subsequently advised me the DVD contained hardcore pornography of the type you might be able to buy in this country, but more likely to buy abroad or over the internet, but that no criminal offence had been committed."

The letter said the matter was not pursued because the DVD was watched in a private capacity.

However, Ms McCalla warned him not to view pornography on a county council computer again "otherwise I have no alternative but to pursue the matter further".

Current council leader Nick Rushton said: "David Sprason has informed me of his decision to stand down while an investigation takes place under Conservative group rules.

"That's the right decision, personally and in the interests of the council's reputation.

"I have made it clear in recent times that the Conservative group needs to be seen to be acting in accordance with the highest standards of conduct.

"I find it particularly disappointing that my predecessor (David Parsons) as leader didn't deal with this matter properly through the group rules at the time."

Coun Parsons said he did not wish to comment.

Coun Byron Rhodes has become deputy leader and Coun Dave Houseman has taken over Coun Sprason's cabinet duties.

Leicestershire council  deputy  chief steps down over porn DVD find

Leicester Tigers in SOS call to prop Michael Holford

0
0

Leicester Tigers have been forced to bring in Nottingham prop Michael Holford on loan for Sunday's Premiership trip to Wasps.

Their front-row resources have been stretched to the limit this week and the former Tiger has returned to Welford Road as cover.

Leicester return to league action without props Dan Cole (England), Martin Castrogiovanni (Italy) and Marcos Ayerza (Argentina), who are all on international duty.

Boris Stankovich will also be missing after being banned for three weeks at an RFU disciplinary hearing last night.

The 32-year-old Stankovich pleaded guilty to two charges after being red-carded in Sunday's LV= Cup win against London Irish, and being cited for "reckless use of the boot" in the same game.

They could also be without Samoan prop Logovi'i Mulipola, who is battling to recover from a knee injury.

At yesterday's club press conference, Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill was not expecting Stankovich to escape punishment, and said that the club had to act accordingly.

"Boris is unlikely to feature this weekend but Logo will hopefully be fit to start," said Cockerill.

"We have Jonny Harris, Kieran Brookes and Fraser Balmain, and we have brought Michael Holford in from Nottingham to bolster those front-row options.

"It's not perfect, but we have to trust those guys if they need to step into the breach. They will have to get on with it."

While the front-row may be a cause for concern, Cockerill has had the unexpected boost of No.8 Thomas Waldrom's return from the England camp.

The likes of Louis Deacon, Graham Kitchener and skipper Geordan Murphy are also set to return to the squad for the trip to Adams Park, where Wasps are unbeaten this season.

"I am pleasantly surprised to have Tom Waldrom back," said Cockerill. "If he plays well for us, he puts himself in the shop window for England again.

"Anthony Allen is also back from England, he is fit and good to go.

"With Dan Bowden, George Ford and Matt Smith fit, Mat Tait playing well, and Adam Thompstone, Niall Morris and Geordy all in there, it means there are certainly some good options for us in the backs."

Leicester Tigers in SOS call to prop Michael Holford

Three men guilty of murdering Leicester takeaway owner Dogan Dogan

0
0

Three men have been convicted of the murder of a businessman whose body was found in a flat above his takeaway.

Sarwar Gader (35), of Gleneagles Avenue, Rushey Mead, Leicester, and Wali Khan (32) and Naveed Naveed (28), both St Stephen's Road, Highfields, in the city, were found guilty yesterday of murdering Dogan Dogan.

The 50-year-old was found in the flat above his takeaway, Aladdin, in Linton Street, off Evington Road, Leicester, on January 8.

Mr Dogan suffocated after being tied up and gagged in a robbery. He had injuries including broken ribs and a black eye.

Takings of about £1,000 from Aladdin's and his other business, Pizzaman, in Church Street, Lutterworth, were missing.

The murder trial at Birmingham Crown Court concluded yesterday with a jury returning guilty verdicts against all three men.

Mr Dogan's family burst into tears when the unanimous verdicts were announced. The jury deliberated for less than three hours following a four-week trial.

The guilty men were due to be sentenced today.

Naveed and Gader were also found guilty of robbery. Khan had pleaded guilty to robbery at an earlier hearing.

Mr Dogan's body was found by two members of staff when they arrived for work.

His hands and feet were tied with twine. A towel and clothing had been tied over his face, which had suffocated him .

The trial heard Naveed's car was seen being driven away from the scene in the early hours of January 8.

Police were initially set on the killers' trail after they recovered a set of Mr Dogan's keys, which had been spotted being throwing from the vehicle as it drove around Leicester.

Naveed and Khan were arrested a week later and found to be in possession of Mr Dogan's phone. Gader was arrested a week after that.

The men gave conflicting accounts of their movements on the evening of the attack and tried to blame each other for the death. Detective Chief Inspector Tom Davies, who led the investigation, said: "I am pleased that, after a lengthy trial, these three men have been convicted for the role they played in the murder of Mr Dogan.

"Mr Dogan was a much-loved husband and father. Sadly, he never got to meet his grandchild, who was born shortly after he died.

"I would like to thank the family, who have shown tremendous dignity and support for the police investigation throughout this case.

"They have been left devastated and I hope this outcome will bring them some small form of comfort that those responsible for his murder have been brought to justice."

Judge Henry Globe QC had thanked the jury for their concentration "in a hearing that lasted considerably longer than estimated".

He said: "You have been here for over four weeks and I am prepared, should you wish, to ensure you are excused from jury service in the future."

Mr Dogan's family made no comment yesterday.

In a statement issued through Leicestershire Police at the time of his death, they said: "Our husband and father was a well-respected family man whose only goal in life was to secure the future of his family.

"He was very well liked and trusted within the community."

Three men guilty of murdering Leicester takeaway owner Dogan Dogan

Viewing all 9894 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images