Highways bosses have promised to investigate a junction where motorists regularly speed along a pavement.

James Moore, who has an eight-year-old son, lives on Nanpantan Road in Loughborough and his front door opens straight onto the pavement.

Cars trying to bypass queues at the junction with Woodhouse Lane regularly bump up onto the kerb and pass just inches from his front door.

He counted 17 vehicles in just one hour one morning driving on the pavement and today he fired off an email to Leicestershire County Council's chief executive, John Sinnott, demanding action.

He told the Mercury: "I've been counting the cars and taking pictures for a long time and it's got worse recently.

"A lot of people at the junction are coming out of Loughborough and have to wait to turn right to go towards the M1.

"There's no filter lane so people stuck behind wanting to go straight on just drive onto the pavement.

"One day I had two motorists actually shouting at me to get out of the way when I was standing on the pavement outside my house.

"The county council are reluctant to make it a priority because no-one's been injured yet but someone could be killed.

"All they need to do is put in a bollard, which I'm told would only cost £98."

James said there were already bollards on the pavement but they were not stopping people driving past his house.

He said: "There's a 25-metre stretch of pavement they regularly drive along and they go at about 20mph."

In his email to Mr Sinnott, James said: "I am escalating this to you personally because I have repeatedly reported to Leicestershire County Council the hazard to public safety of traffic driving on the pavement.

"Despite numerous previously reported incidents when I and my family have had to take evasive action to avoid traffic on the pavement the repeated assertion is that there is nothing that the council can do until there is an accident."

A county council spokesman said yesterday that driving on the pavement was illegal and the council would look at ways to address the problem.

He said: "We're concerned to hear about the problems experienced by Mr Moore and we sent an officer out this morning, to assess the situation.

"We will discuss the situation with all the local residents, before we can decide on the best approach to take.

"We have undertaken a number of safety measures over the past few years, including the installation of two bollards and moving the road centre-line away from the houses, to create more space on the road.

"We will need to consider whether putting another bollard on this stretch of pavement would make it too narrow for people using double-buggies or disability scooters, particularly as there is a care home nearby."

Premier Division leaders Cosby United made no mistake in booking their League Cup quarter-final spot when they defeated Division One outfit Leicester Three Lions 5-1.

Tim Glen secured the victory with a hat-trick, which was backed up by goals from Jack Deacon and George Young.

County Hall are also through to the last eight after they beat Huncote 3-0 in an all-Premier Division clash. Louis Bishop, Connor Hughes and Mitch Willot did the damage.

Thurlaston Magpies sprung a surprise by defeating in-form Division One leaders Queniborough to qualify for the quarter-finals. Jack Jepson bagged twice and Matt Turner once in the 3-1 win.

In the Premier Division, title-chasers Birstall RBL convincingly won 4-0 against Oadby RBL. Vernon Harper and Mo Khan doubles took Birstall to a point shy of leaders Cosby.

Beaumont Town moved up to third place with a 2-1 triumph over Kibworth Town, Shane Birt and Nick Lunn getting themselves on the scoresheet.

Magna 73 enjoyed a comfortable 4-1 victory over bottom side Glenfield Town. Luke Towers grabbed a brace, with Andy Herbert and Joel Mason also netting.

Glen Villa failed to close the gap at the top of Division One, suffering a 3-2 defeat to North Kilworth.

In Division Two, leaders Cosby United Reserves fell to their second successive defeat, losing 5-1 to Shoemakers Athletic.

Mark Woodman notched two for Shoemakers, with further goals coming from Christian Dyke, Phil Henderson and Marcos Mee.

Leicester Polska secured a 2-1 win over Thurlaston Magpies Reserves, Przemek Przerwa and Patryk Szczypczyk scoring the winners.

With games in hand, Broughton Astley are in title contention. They beat Narborough & Enderby 3-0 thanks to Callem Forde, Luke Marshall and Jake Reeve.

St Patricks breezed past bottom side North Kilworth Reserves 5-0. Sam Higgins' double was complemented by strikes from Craig Brennan, Ant Gallagher and Patrick Waggett.

Old Aylestone are now five games without a league win after a 3-1 defeat to Belgrave Reserves. Lloyd Murning was on target twice, with Neil Ball rounding off Belgrave's victory.

In Division Three, Birstall RBL Reserves remain second following a 3-1 success at Northfield Emerald, while Huncote Reserves thrashed Beaumont Rangers 9-1.

Queniborough Reserves narrowly beat Park End 2-1, while Forest East emphatically beat Glen Villa Reserves 7-0.

Broughton Astley Reserves picked up their first league win after beating Kibworth Town Reserves 3-1.

The Rutland-Melton CiCLE Classic enters its second decade next year in very good health indeed.

The signs are that the strongest field yet will tackle the narrow roads and lanes of East Leicestershire and Rutland, which make the race such an exacting test, on April 26.

"We have come a long way in a relatively short period of time, and certainly we have not yet seen the best," said race director Colin Clews, who has modelled the grueling 112-mile event on the famous spring classics hosted in northern Europe each year.

The race will follow the same route as in 2014, when Rapha-Condor's Tom Moses won the 10th anniversary edition in Melton town centre, while Clews is expecting an increased challenge from abroad next year.

He said: "The interest from foreign teams in being part of the race line-up in 2015 has been greater than ever before, with 10 UCI continental teams having already sought invitations, in addition to two approaches on behalf of national under-23 squads."

An additional boost for the race comes with the news that the King of the Hills competition will have a sponsor in 2015.

For several years that has not been the case, but now the Brook Whipper-in hotel in Oakham has stepped forward to support this element of the race.

Clews admits that the level of success the Classic enjoys has come as something of a surprise.

"Ten years ago we set out to organise an event which, as well as filling a gap in the domestic calendar, presented a new approach to road racing in Britain," he said.

"But I didn't envisage the popularity that the event would engender among teams, riders and the constantly growing number of followers that the race attracts each year.

"That we created a race which set a standard that many now seek to emulate, and also a character that many seek to copy, is a tribute to just how well we read what the sport in Britain wanted to see."

The county's young cyclo-cross riders found the going tough in the latest round of the National Trophy, staged at Milton Keynes 24 hours after the World Cup had scored a major success at Campbell Park.

The course was a technical test of riders' capabilities, made all the harder by cloying mud.

Welland Valley's James Garratt went into the junior race on good form but, despite making a good start, he was caught up in an early crash which wrecked his gears and left him trailing the field by the time he picked up his spare bike.

His sheer determination saw him work his way up to 24th by the finish.

Leicestershire Road Club's April Tacey claimed 11th in the under-16 girls race, one place ahead of Welland Valley's Amy Garner.

Without any ranking points to her name, Tacey started at the back of the field but, despite the large degree of running required due to the conditions, she challenged for a top-10 finish – an encouraging result as she picks up off-road experience.

Garner, who has produced some excellent West Midlands League results this year, was hampered on the first of three laps as riders tumbled around her. At one point she was forced off the course before riding to 12th.

Next up for the riders is the Midland championship at Sleaford on Tuesday.

Leicester's deputy mayor Rory Palmer has been challenged over his stance on Barclays after it emerged the city council will be using the bank in the future.

Two years ago councillor Palmer announced the authority would be withdrawing £6 million of its reserves from the bank after its staff were found to have lied to manipulate the Libor rate, which affects the cost of lending and borrowing between financial institutions and also lending rates to the public.

The bank was fined £290 million and the scandal led to the resignation of then chief executive Bob Diamond.

Coun Palmer, at the time, said he was appalled by what Barclays had done and that the council would no longer be investing cash with them.

Now the decision of the Co-op bank to withdraw from local government banking has led the council to turn to Barclays.

Opposition Tory councillor Ross Grant said: "The deputy mayor made a huge play of condemning Barclays and there was significant national publicity around what he said.

"Now we are going back to Barclays to give them our custom.

"How does that line up with the statement he made in July 2012, when we stopped using Barclays - that we have a moral responsibility, that he was appalled by what Barclays had done and that we would not be investing with them any more?

"Is it now moral to use Barclays?"

Coun Palmer said: "I am uncomfortable with the fact that Barclays will be providing our day to day banking services.

"That is different to the situation a few years ago when that was about where we hold investments.

"I stand by the comments I made at that time and the actions we took in response to the Libor scandal which has since engulfed pretty much every other major bank."

He said the city council and other local authorities had been put in a difficult situation by the Co-op and needed at find a new banker.

Coun Palmer said: "There was a full tender exercise undertaken and there were four who ultimately expressed interest.

"Barclays at the end of that process emerged as the supplier of services that would fulfil our criteria of providing an effective banking service."

"Sometimes it comes with the responsibility of being an administration that there are decision that leave a bitter taste in the mouth but you have to deploy an element of pragmatism to secure a service the council needs.

"Ultimately we cannot hold the council's day to day cash reserves in pillowcases in the cellar of City Hall."

Leicester Tigers welcome back three England internationals for the visit of European champions Toulon this weekend.

Lock Geoff Parling, flanker Tom Croft and scrum-half Ben Youngs are all expected to be involved for the first leg of the Champions Cup Pool Three double-header at Welford Road.

With Tom Youngs, Leonardo Ghiraldini and Marcos Ayerza all back from injury and international duty last week, and Jordan Crane also being passed fit after missing the Wasps game with injury, Tigers will have plenty of firepower as they welcome the might of Toulon.

Whether those players will have had enough game-time together to upset the reigning champions is another matter.

Director of rugby Richard Cockerill confirmed that Croft (knee) and Parling (concussion) would be fit but that it would probably be too early for them to start.

"Tom is fine and he would have played last week were it not for his wife having a baby," said Cockerill.

"Geoff is good to go and he has been training for the past few weeks. This is the end of the three months off we were advised to give him.

"He has been symptom-free for a few weeks now and, although he not been doing any contact, he has been doing his conditioning. 

"On the advice of the specialist, we have eased him into contact training and, over the past week or so, he has been tackling and doing live scrums too. 

"He has been feeling good for two or three weeks and has been pestering me to play. It's unlikely that either of them will start on Sunday though. 

"They have not played any rugby for months and it would probably be too soon for them."

Despite having a glut of players returning to action, Cockerill also confirmed that Manu Tuilagi and Logovi'i Mulipola would likely miss both European games and the away league fixture at Northampton Saints.

Two more big ball carriers, Seremaia Bai and Christian Loamanu, are also still missing with long-term injury.

"Manu Tuilagi will not be fit and should be back by the end of December, give or take a week or two," said Cockerill. "Logo will be the end of December too."

Tigers have topped 15,000 season-ticket holders for the 2014-15 season at Welford Road.

For a third successive year, Tigers have now raised the club record number for season tickets.

The club's chief executive Simon Cohen said the numbers involved were a "fabulous tribute" to the club and its supporters.

"This club has a fan base spread across the UK and beyond, and the Tigers family continues to grow.

"The loyalty and the passion of the Tigers support is a huge factor in what makes this such a special rugby club." 

Tigers have completed the signing of Kiwi second-row Jack Whetton. As reported in the Mercury last month, the 22-year-old was a target for the club because of a shortage of locks with Louis Deacon, Geoff Parling and Ed Slater on the long-term injury list.

Whetton joins from Aussie Super 15 outfit the Brumbies, and will be here until the end of the season.

A cyclist has been taken to hospital following an accident with a car in Dysart Way, Leicester.

The road was closed at 4.30pm today which caused delays on both the Belgrave Circle and Humberstone Road. The closure also caused delays in Catherine Street in both directions.

A male cyclist has been taken to the Leicester Royal Infirmary by ambulance. His injuries are not thought to be life threatening.

The accident between a car and a cyclist happened at about 4.15pm and Dysart Way was re-opened at 5:25pm.

Dozens of young Union J fans went to meet their favourite pop band at a single signing in Leicester today.

The 2012 X Factor contestants were at Morrisons, in Aylestone Road signing copies of their new single called You Got It All.

Daisy-May Peberdy, 18, of New Parks, went to the signing.

She said: "It was really good. They were really nice people."

She added that it was the 17th time she had met the group and the band members remembered her.

"They were really sweet and thankful."

Daisy-May added that she is partially deaf and when Union J were on their break, band member Jamie spoke to Daisy in sign-language through a window.

"He was lovely," she said.

Naomi Allen, 14, of Loughborough went along to the signing with her cousin.

"It was a really good experience. We had a conversation with all of them, had pictures taken and they signed the cds. George said 'hello gorgeous' to me.

Naomi, who goes to Charnwood College, said: "I am a very big fan. I love their music."

Union J are doing album signings around the UK next week.

Talking about their new album Union J said: "We have collaborated with some of the biggest names in music and in doing so have made an album that we are incredibly proud of. We hope that everyone loves it as much as we do."

6pm: Congestion on the outer ring road, Glenfrith Way, in Leicester, between the Groby Road and Anstey Lane roundabouts.

5pm: Traffic is busy but moving on the outer ring road in Glenhills Way, Aylestone, Leicester, between the Pork Pie roundabout and Lutterworth Road junction.

3.59pm: Congestion on the A606 Wilton Road, Melton, between the Leicester Street and Asfordby Road junctions. 

1.39pm: Bradgate Road, in Anstey, is closed in both directions between The Nook and Hollow Road junctions due to a burst water main. 

For more local and national travel information and weather updates see the links below:

MOTORWAY UPDATES: For traffic updates on UK motorways and other key roads - CLICK HERE.

LIVE CAMERAS: Check the M1 through Leicestershire with our live traffic cameras - CLICK HERE.

NATIONAL RAIL: For live UK train updates - CLICK HERE.

FLIGHT INFORMATION: For East Midlands Airport visit: CLICK HERE.

WEATHER: See the latest five-day weather report for Leicester and Leicestershire

CONTACT NEWSDESK: Send us your news and pictures. Tweet us @Leicester_Merc or email newsdesk@leicestermercury.co.uk

The Chancellor has announced tax cuts for house buyers, families and charities, funded by a crack down on global businesses who fail to pay their fair share.

As expected, George Osborne used today's autumn statement to pledge an extra £2 billion a year for frontline NHS services.

However, it was the shake-up of stamp duty – the controversial tax on house purchases – which caught the headlines.

In an unexpected announcement, Mr Osborne set out changes to the tax which will benefit 98 per cent of homebuyers and mean someone buying a £275,000 house will save £4,500.

The chancellor said the current system, where the amount owed jumps at each threshold level, would be replaced by a graduated rate, similar to income tax. The change comes in at midnight.

Mr Osborne also said Air Passenger Duty for children under 12 would be abolished next year, and for under 16s from the following year, VAT for hospices and air ambulances would be refunded

and fuel duty would be frozen.

At the same time he announced a 25 per cent diverted profits tax – often called a "Google tax" – which would be aimed at multinational companies judged not to be paying their fair share of tax.

High street traders also welcomed the chancellor's pledge to conduct a comprehensive review of the much-criticised business rates system, where firms pay tax based on the value of their premises as opposed to the amount of sales they make.

Mr Osborne said he had successfully steered the economy from crisis to stability. He said that although borrowing was set to be £91.3 billion this year – above the forecast £87 billion – the longer term outlook was rosy, with the UK "out of the red and into the black" by 2019/20.

"The deficit is falling this year and every year," Mr Osborne said.

Shadow chancellor Ed Ball said people were £1,600 a year worse off as a result of the Government's policies.

Golfers say they are furious and disappointed at the decision to close Leicester's municipal Western Park Club.

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby has confirmed the 18-hole course will shut next year.

The city council says it can no longer afford the £123,000-a-year subsidy of running it.

No firm date has been set for the 150 acre course to shut but it is likely to be October next year.

Western Park's committee member Martin Cobb said: "He's made the wrong decision. He's closing down one of the best municipal golf courses in the country

"I'm really disappointed because we know this place could be turned around and it could make money again. The council has run it down.

"The mayor has also ignored the results of consultations on this where it was clear there was support to continue.

"We're not going to go out with a whimper but a bang. We'll play our matches next season than have a big party but it will be bittersweet because this course has been open since 1910."

Sir Peter has insisted there is no plan for the golf course land once it is after the closure though he has admitted there could be some development on some parts of it.

In the short-term it will be left as publicly accessible green space and some will be permanently kept as park land.

Sir Peter said the council could not afford to run both Western Park Golf Club and the city's other municipal course at Humberstone Height which will remain open.

He said: "Very reluctantly I have decided Western Park will close. I know that will be a disappointment to the users of that course.

"We have looked long and hard at the finances involved and we simply can't continue to subsidise two golf courses as we have in the past."

Sir Peter has suggested Western Park remains open until October to allow a final season of playing but said he would be guided by users.

He said: "It is possible that with the impending closure the usage might plummet and we will have to take a view if that happens."

Sir Peter insisted the golf course land had not been valued and said he was not aware of any approaches from interested property developers.

He said: "I have been very careful not to formulate plans in advance because I did not want to prejudge the consultation.

More than 750 people responded to the consultation on the proposal to close Western Park. Nearly two thirds of people said they were against the closure.

An earlier consultation in March saw some 2,700 people share their view on the initial threat to both courses. The vast majority of them said the council should keep subsidising both courses.

The mayor said their would now be investment in Humberstone Heights - which is subsidised to the tune of £63,000 a year.

He could not say exactly how much would be spend but said: "I am thinking of investment that would run to some hundreds of thousands of pounds. It is much more than a lick of paint.

Campaigners have said the council should allow players or a professional organisation to carry on running Western Park but Sir Peter said no credible ideas had been proposed.

Campaigners say the council refused to entertain any suggestions for golf to continue at Western Park.

Western Park club secretary Steve Sibley said: "I'm totally devastated.

"The mayor has sold off a Rolls Royce and kept a Ford Cortina.

"We have older members who get their only exercise and social contact at this club.

"You don't make new friends at that age, you just lose the old ones."

Russell Brand has threatened to take legal action after a front page story in the Sun newspaper made claims about his housing arrangements.

The comic has recently been campaigning over the rising cost of homes in the UK and involved himself in a number of anti-capitalist protests.

But a Sun article makes reference to his rent and the fact that his landlord is a firm registered in the British Virgin Islands – which is considered a tax haven.

Its headline said simply, 'Hypocritye'.

Brand took to Twitter to reply to the newspaper and its owner, Ruprt Murdoch:

Hey @TheSunNewspaper, @rupertmurdoch I'm gonna sue you and give the money to #NewEraEstate and JFT96 pic.twitter.com/ouDQ5kY9lC

— Russell Brand (@rustyrockets) December 2, 2014

Leicester City are one of a number of Premier League clubs interested in Besiktas midfielder Veli Kavlak, according to his agent Max Hagmayr.

The 26-year-old Austria international is out of contract in the summer, meaning clubs outside Turkey can enter into talks with the player in January unless the Istanbul side extend his current deal.

Kavlak has made 85 appearances for Besiktas since moving from Rapid Vienna in 2011, including the two Champions League meetings with Arsenal this season.

"Southampton, Everton and Leicester City are interested from England, they are keeping tabs and could make offers depending on the situation," said Hagmayr.

"Stuttgart and Gladbach from Germany and Napoli from Italy are also monitoring the situation closely.

"Veli is a player with great club and international experience so it is natural for clubs to be interested.

"He has performed at a high level consistently for Besiktas, so it is no surprise that these clubs want to sign him."

Meanwhile, former City striker Emile Heskey's return to English football could be getting closer as he begins training with Championship side Bolton.

The 36-year-old is without a club since leaving Australian side Newcastle Jets and could join up with former City team-mate Neil Lennon on a free transfer.

A former Leicester Mercury journalist has published his second book.

David Wardale, 48, a father-of-three from Loughborough, has followed up his award winning first novel - PsiCo- with a sequel, PsiCo: Dirty Money.

Author Dave started writing fiction in his late 20s. "I stopped because I wasn't sure if it was any good," he says.

"I started again as the father of three boys. I wrote stuff for them. They're a tough crowd - they really didn't hold back if they thought what I'd written wasn't up to scratch - but, amazingly, they seemed to like it. It all grew from there."

PsiCo - Dirty Money is released this week. The book is a white knuckle thriller which follows our hero, Danny Adams. Danny has psychokinetic powers, powers that helped to save the world in Psico.

In Dirty Money, his enemies want revenge - and they're coming after him. And they'll stop at nothing to get their own back.

The book is a rip-roaring, page-turner aimed at teenagers and young adults.

There are some dark themes, says Dave, but the book has been well received by critics and bought by several schools in the city and county - including Fullhurst Community College in Braunstone, Limehurst Academy in Loughborough and De Lisle in Loughborough.

* The book is available from:

www.feedaread.com or on Kindle here: http://amzn.to/1rMzPOx

Albion claimed top spot in the Bond Street Trophies Premier Division by edging former leaders Sporting Dynamo 4-3. 

Measham notched twice, with McNally and Thompson scoring once as Albion preserved their perfect record. 

Bottom side Duke of Rutland drew 2-2 at home to Wykin. 

Richards and Moore netted for Duke, with Farran and Wiggins replying for the visitors. 

Hinckley Knight jumped above Thurlaston Magpies after defeating them 4-2. Hodgkins top-scored for Knight with a brace.

In Hardy & Draper Carpets Division One, the chasing pack all picked up points to close the gap on leaders Topps. 

Market Bosworth extended their winning run to three by beating Tin Hat 3-2. Strikes from Aylesbrook and Gumbs, plus an own-goal, secured the win. 

Daniel Smith hit four goals for Research Garage in their 6-0 victory over Barlestone St Giles. 

Ullesthorpe missed a chance to move within one point of Topps, drawing 1-1 with Dunton & Broughton Rangers. 

PWS Leicester Ltd Divison Two leaders Enderby Social dropped their 100 per cent record with a 1-1 draw at second-placed Stanton United Old Boys. Topp equalised for the hosts after Social took the lead. 

Enderby Bullets earned their third consecutive win, thrashing Athletico Green 7-1 with Portess and Spencer each on target twice. 

Flynns Park Rangers ended a run of three defeats by coming from behind to defeat Anchor Inn 4-3. 

Westfield Wanderers returned to winning ways after five straight losses with a 5-1 success at eight-man Thurlaston Magpies Reserves, Ryan Brightmore hitting a hat-trick. 

In Easy Laundry Division Three, the title-contending trio were all victorious. 

Leaders Jackie's Bar won 4-0 against AFC Flynns Reserves, Hudson netting twice. 

Second-placed Stoke Golding beat EST Lord Nelson 2-0, Tweddle and Chadwick on the scoresheet. 

Plough Inn Bruntingthorpe kept up their unbeaten record in third place with a 4-1 triumph over Topps Reserves. 

Blaby Foxes were 7-4 victors at Barn despite a first-half hat-trick from the hosts' Steve Billings. Reid top-scored for Foxes with two.
MP Steel inflicted a first defeat of the season on Chequers to move off the bottom of the table, winning 5-4. 

In Flynn's Bar Division Four, Bulls Head extended their perfect start to eight with a 5-0 beating of Wolvey. 

Lines Keogh United won 6-0 at Red Lion Earl Shilton to overtake their opponents in the standings. 

Stanton United Old Boys Reserves recovered from 2-0 down to earn a point at Newstock Rangers. 

Josh Johnson scored twice for Princes Feathers to help guide them to a 3-2 victory at EST Lord Nelson Reserves.

Jason Palmer warmed up for his full European Tour debut by taking part in The Leicestershire Winter Series. 

The Kirby Muxloe professional, who secured his 2015 Tour card a few weeks ago, finished in a tie for first place in round two of the series. 

Palmer (Crouch Logistics) fired eight birdies when he teed off from the 10th with his friend Neil Chaudhuri, a playing pro from the host club, event organiser Steve Whittle, a PGA pro at The Leicestershire, and a home member amateur Alan Fletcher. 

Palmer tied on 38 points with Lindrick pro Ben Smith and Scraptoft amateur Darren Anderson. Smith ended top on local rule. 

Palmer and Chaudhuri were county amateurs together, and it was Chaudhuri who convinced Palmer to use his now famous one-armed chipping technique that has seen him attract publicity throughout Europe and further afield in recent weeks. 

It all came about four years ago, when Palmer and Chaudhuri were both playing on the Alps Tour. 

Experiencing a tough time on the Tour, they set up a short-game practice challenge. 

Palmer was hitting the ball well from tee to green in the tournaments, but his wedge shots from within about 50 yards of the green were costing him good scores. 

He said: "I was at rock-bottom. I was playing well but I just couldn't score because every time I missed a green, I was making a bogey. 

"Neil convinced me to go one-handed – and I haven't looked back since. 

"I am happy to continue with my chipping style on the European Tour. With one hand the feel is still there, so is the touch, so I wouldn't like to change it now. 

"When I won the Alps Tour order of merit last year to get the chance to play on the European Challenge Tour, I stuck with the routine. 

"It has given me this opportunity to move up to the full Tour, so I am confident I should continue to use it there. 

"I have used the same technique for bunker shots, too, but now, depending on the shot, I use mainly two hands in sand. 

"Golf is a results-based game and all shots count, so it's crucial to score as best you can and this routine has made a huge difference to me. 

"After I won in China this autumn and secured my card when I finished runner-up a week later in Oman, I have attracted many golfing headlines as a 'one-armed bandit' and have had to do a lot of interviews demonstrating my approach shots, so it has become a huge talking point. 

"But if it's right for me I will carry on. After all, it's the total on the card that counts at the end of every round." 

In the Winter Series tournament at The Leicestershire, Palmer was two over after three holes – from the 10th in the full-field shotgun start – but got it back to one-under par for his opening half. 

Coming back, a string of birdies saw him finish with a flourish. 

Mick Wells (Scraptoft) was fourth after a six-way tie on 37 points on countback from amateurs Ray Walsh, Richard Wale, of the host club, Northamptonshire's Kyson Lloyd, another home member Steve Bradshaw and Wellingborough's Mark Davis, with a host pro Ian
Lyner completing the top 10 on 36 points.

After 12 months of 'weird weather', this year is set to be one of the hottest on record.

What started off as one of the wettest winters at the beginning of the year, has turned into some of the driest months in history.

Now, 2014 is looking to be one of the hottest years since records began, with every month measuring above average temperatures apart from August.

Leicester Mercury weatherman Dave Mutton said that every month in Leicestershire has been around two degrees higher than expected.

"This has been one of the warmest years on record over the past 20 years," he said.

"This year has been so up-and-down, it's been a weird one.

"I feel like the weather this year seems to have gone from one extreme to another.

"It's been a warm 12 months and we're expecting a similar year in 2015.

"The hotter temperatures are due to pressures coming in from across the Atlantic Ocean."

It could only be arctic-like temperatures which would stop this year from being one of the hottest yet.

Dave added: "Over the next few days it's going to be rather cold and frosty but there will be a bit of sun.

"Temperatures could drop to -2C overnight, with a maximum of 7C during the day.

"It's normal temperatures for this time of year, I just think it's a bit of a shock to the system for some people because it's been so warm over the year."

Dave said that although there will not be snow over Christmas, he is sure we will see some of the white stuff in January.

He said: "There will be one week in January, which is sure to be really cold and snowy.

"But for now, it will just be quite frosty - especially in the mornings.

"It's definitely coat, scarf, hat and gloves weather."

A weather forecast for the next five days in Leicestershire:

Tomorrow:

A cloudier day than Wednesday with little only a few bright or sunny spells.

Winds will remain light but it will feel quite cold.

Maximum temperature 6C.

Tomorrow night:

After a dry evening, the clouds are expected to fill during the night so temperatures should stay above freezing.

Minimum temperature 2C.

Friday:

After a bright start, there will be showers of rain during the afternoon. Temperatures expected to drop to below freezing throughout the night.

Maximum temperature 5C.

Minimum temperature -1C.

Saturday:

A very cold start to the day following a cold night. The day looks generally dry, with sunny spells in the morning.

Maximum temperature 6C.

Minimum temperature 0C.

Sunday:

A generally dry day, with blasts of sunshine in the morning. Temperatures set to stay consistently warmer than previous few days.

Maximum temperature 6C.

Minimum temperature 2C.

London Welsh are down – it is already a lost cause. They were down weeks ago, to be honest. Conceding 70 points to Wasps was the death knell. 

In their first five games of the campaign, they let in 52, 53, 46, 46 and 52 points. They have one point from nine games. 

When Leicester beat them 26-5 the other week, Tigers were dreadful but still totally dominated the game. 

When the Exiles score a try, we all feel happy for them that their misery has been halted for a brief moment. Commentators say they have "not stopped fighting".

It is like watching an injured mouse pitifully battling for its life against a big tabby cat. There can only be one outcome. 

The point of this sorry tale is not to mock them, however. This is a proud club with 129 years of history who are victims of circumstance. 

When Welsh finally won promotion to the Aviva Premiership on June 4, by defeating Bristol 48-28 on aggregate, the vast majority of players on the market in both the northern and southern hemisphere had already signed for a club. 

Still, Welsh recruited frantically. They even managed to sign Olly Barkley, 33, and Piri Weepu, 31, to add some international experience to the squad. 

However, the rest of a myriad of new signings just do not seem good enough. And, crucially, they have had no time to gel together. 

From the minute Welsh got promoted, to their first game in the Premiership, their coaching, marketing and ticket sales staff had 95 days to get it right. 

To comply with Premiership criteria, they are playing their home matches in Oxford, 75 miles away from their long-term home in Richmond. Thanks very much. 

Welsh were, in essence, given a death sentence the minute they were promoted. The Championship simply has to get together with the RFU to make the play-offs happen sooner. 

Ending two-legged finals and protracted play-offs would be a good place to start. 

If the RFU, Championship and Premiership genuinely want a fluid promotion/relegation system to work, they have to offer the side coming up a better chance of building a squad which can survive in the Premiership. 

That means more time on and off the pitch. 

You also hope the long-term effects on the Exiles are not as grave as they could be. Nobody wants to watch a side that concedes an average of 46 points a game for long. 

Welsh will probably admit they have made mistakes of their own. Last time they came up, in 2012-13, they almost stayed up. Perhaps they have just brought in too many players this time around. 

In reality, their cards were marked. Welsh are doomed and you feel for everyone involved at the club.

Beating Toulon in either of the two games coming up during the next fortnight will probably represent Tigers' biggest achievement of the past few years. 

The club's win over Montpellier away from home in December 2013 was probably their biggest triumph in Europe in recent times. 

Beating Toulouse in the snow at Welford Road in 2012-13 and Clermont the previous season were big victories, too. 

But missing big ball carriers like Manu Tuilagi, Logovi'i Mulipola, Ed Slater, Seremaia Bai and Christian Loamanu for a game against a team with the size and physical power of Toulon, will present those who make the squad with a Herculean task of downing the best side in Europe. 

It is going to take some performance.