A dozen women in a Leicester village have bared all to raise money for research into heart disease.

The Heart Racer calendar has gone on sale to raise up to £3,000 for the British Heart Foundation.

The money is being raised by mum of two Emma Drake who is taking part in the 2015 London Marathon in support of the charity.

Emma, 38, said: "Our family and friends have been affected by heart disease so I thought it was a good cause to support.

"I found out in September that I had obtained a place in the marathon with the charity.

"I needed to raise at least £2,000 to take part and a group of my friends agreed to pose for a nudie calendar."

Initially 17 women came forward but in the end 12 were brave enough to go through with the idea and appear on the calendar.

Emma, who is on the cover and features on the May page, said: "We also sold advertising which managed to cover most of the printing costs."

Three hundred were printed and went on sale before Christmas at £10 each.

She said: "We only have 10 to 15 left so we are delighted at how things have gone

Pictures for the calendar were shot in the village local The Chequers by a local photographer.

Emma, said: "He was very good and we were very pleased with the results. There is some talk about having a lads' calendar next year.

Emma, who works for Asda at Magna Park, is a keen runner having taken part in a half marathon and other charity events.

She also runs regularly during the week.

She said: "I plan to start my serious training in the next few days and will build up towards the event."

She said she would like to thank all those who have supported the project.

Pub licensee Brian Priest said: "We at the pub are fully backing Emma with a number of fund raising events.

"Emma wanted to raise at least £2,000 before she lined up for the marathon. If we sell all the calendars, that will raise close to £3,000."

He added: "We are also holding numerous events throughout the next few months to aid Emma in her fundraising, including a raffle, fancy dress rock and roll bingo and a live gig night."

A designer children's wear business was targeted on New Year's Eve by thieves who used a sledgehammer to smash open the front door and steal thousands of pounds worth of top-of-the-range clothing.

It was the second time in two months that All Things Cute, in Station Road, Quorn, had been raided.

On October 27, thieves used a vehicle to break down the front door before making off with their haul.

It is believed the same gang were responsible for the break-in in the early hours of New Year's Eve in which clothing, including girls' coats, dresses and other outfits were stolen.

The two raids have left the two sisters who run the shop facing excess insurance premiums and large bills to beef up security.

Joint owner Claire Whittington, 54, said: "They obviously know what they're doing and what they're after. The first time they ram raided the shop smashing up the door and stealing thousands of pounds worth of stock, leaving the place in a mess.

"On the latest occasion they used a sledghammer and were in and out in one or two minutes, they were all masked and very organised."

Both raids were captured on CCTV, which is in the hands of Leicestershire Police.

In the latest incident, at around 3am on Wednesday, (31) it's thought the raiders waited in a nearby pub car park for the last revellers to go home before they struck.

The thieves target high quality items by French designers such as Catimini, IKKS and Eliane et Lena as well as clothing by Joules.

Mrs Whittington added: "They've obviously got a contact somewhere to get rid of it and they've obviously made money out of it.

"Apart from the thousands of pounds worth of lost stock, we're having to spend thousands more replacing and upgrading our security.

"We're still waiting for the insurance to pay for the property damage from the first time."

She added: "It is very dispiriting, it knocks your confidence, you arrive at the shop wondering if it's going to be intact.

"It's a tough business to be in anyway. Hopefully, we'll be able to withstand these two occasions, but we couldn't if it continued.We are quite determined and wouldn't want to be beaten by something like this.

"We have a successful internet business, but the shop allows us to stock better brands such as Catimini."

She added: "We are lucky to have had very strong support from our customers and the village has been very supportive. We've had to e-mail clients whose orders were ready to go telling them they have been stolen.

"One e-mailed back to tell us to hold onto the money and replace the order when we can.

"I would urge anyone who is offered reasonably priced designer children's wear on eBay or at car boots to contact us or the authorities to try and help catch those responsible."

Anyone with information about either of the raids is asked to contact Leicestershire Police on 101.

Emergency services and hospitals were kept busy over the New Year dealing with incidents across the city and county.

Leicestershire Police dealt with almost 1,000 incidents in the 24-hour period which included New Year's Eve and the early hours of New Year's Day.

And by 10.38am today East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) had dealt with 1,362 emergency and urgent calls since midnight.

On average the service deals with 2,000 daily calls.

One call was to a young man who had got his arm stuck in a letter box in the early hours.

Many were alcohol-related calls.

Leicestershire Police handled 570 incidents up to midnight on New Year's Eve - described as "fairly average" - and a further 405 incidents reported between midnight and 7am today.

No major incidents were reported and a total of 40 prisoners were in police custody in cells at Euston Street for a variety of mainly public order incidents and assaults.

Geoff Sault, team leader in the police control room, said; "There was increased demand, and we had increased capabilities to deal with it, but I don't think it was as busy as in other years.

"Up until midnight there were 570 incidents, which is fairly average. There were quite a number of arrests and we have a lot of prisoners, in excess of 40 in custody at Euston Street for a variety of offences including affray, public order and assaults.

"There are no reports of anything major regarding crime and I would say it was quieter than the norm for a New Year's Eve."

Andy Dunn, EMAS deputy director of operations, said:"By 10.38am this morning we had already received 1,362 emergency and urgent calls since midnight. We usually average around 2,000 calls a day.

"Our call takers have been incredible and picked up 97 per cent of those calls within five seconds to start providing advice and identifying the nearest available resource to send if needed.

"Paramedics and nurses in our clinical assessment team have been providing advice to people who do not need an ambulance response and directing them to a more appropriate service.

"Frontline colleagues have worked tirelessly in very challenging and difficult environments to provide the best possible patient care.

"It's been a real team effort and enabling services, including fleet and supplies, and management teams have provided support and guidance to ensure we manage this big increase in demand effectively."

A spokesperson for Leicester's Hospitals said: "This New Year's Eve was a normal busy night in A&E - similar to a typical Friday or Saturday night.

"At New Year's people usually wait until after midnight to visit A&E, so we anticipated an increase in admissions from that time onwards and made sure extra staff were on shift to cope.

"Between midnight and 8am this morning we treated just over 80 patients."

Fines paid by drivers who flout bus lane restrictions in the centre of Leicester have topped £2 million.

Enforcement cameras in Charles Street and Causeway Lane have caught nearly 63,000 motorists entering bus and taxi-only areas since they were installed in the summer of 2012, according to latest figures from Leicester City Council.

The council says the number of fines has dramatically fallen from the first month of enforcement, in July 2012 when more than 6,000 penalties were issued.

However, on average, from January this year, more than 1,000 drivers a month have still been caught.

Most of the penalties were issued for offences in Charles Street rather than Causeway Lane by the Highcross shopping centre.

Drivers are fined £30 if they pay within 14 days, rising to £90 if they take more than a month to pay up. Hackney cabs are exempt.

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: "I am pleased that we are seeing a declining number of people breaking the rules but I am still surprised at the number of people who are being caught.

"I have been down to the sites and I just cannot understand how any motorist who has their eyes open is missing the signs saying bus only.

"I can only think they don't believe we are serious about enforcing it.

"We have to enforce it if the scheme is to achieve its aim of freeing up those areas for the buses."

The income from fines generated by the two cameras, up to the start of December, is £2,069,257.

The council says after the running costs of the scheme are paid, a surplus of £1,175,979 has entirely been reinvested in highways improvement schemes and public transport subsidies.

The costs of the scheme include paying staff to handle complaints, paying Nottingham City Council to run the scheme, computer hardware licensing costs, maintenance and legal expenses in pursuing those who do not pay.

Sir Peter said: "The success of this scheme should actually be judged not on how many tickets are issued but how few.

"I will be happy on the day we do not receive a penny in fines."

Critics of the cameras say they are being used to milk motorists for cash to fill the council coffers.

Motorist Nicky Wilson, 27, from Braunstone, said: "I can't believe people are stupid enough to get caught still. Those cameras have been there for years now. If people haven't got the message yet they deserve the fine."

Part of Leicestershire's rural pageantry filled Uppingham Market Place to get 2015 off to a rousing start.

The New Year's Day meet by the Cottesmore Hunt, was attended by 30 members on horseback, plus foot-followers, who greeted crowds of spectators and were sent on their way with a traditional stirrup cup provided by local restaurants The Falcon Hotel and Don Paddy's.

A collection was made in the market place for hunt staff.

Louise Keeley, a member of the hunt supporters committee said the meet was very much an essential ingredient in the local New Year festivities.

"We meet in Uppingham three years out of every four - on the fourth we go to Melton Mowbray."

She said this year's proceedings went smoothly without interruption from protestors or political activity of any kind.

"That is the way it should be. "The meet is an ideal way for members of the public, many of whom may not know anything about hunting, to find out about the sport from professionals who are more than willing to answer their questions.

"Hunting has been part of the Leicestershire tradition for hundreds of years and we intend for it to continue to be so."

With this year marking 10 years since the Hunting Act 2004 became law - hunting wild mammals, including foxes, deer, hare and mink, with dogs was officially banned in England and Wales on February 18 2005 - the subject has come under debate from both sides of the argument.

Louise emphasised that the Cottesmore Hunt strictly adhered to their hounds following a purposely-laid scent trail.

"What some people do not seem to realise is that what we do does not involve killing anything.

"Laying a trail enables more people, especially those who may be less-confident riders, to take part in the sport.

"We generally provide an option for novice riders to avoid jumps they would not be able to take.

"It also means that the hunt can protect certain areas, such as fields with growing crops which could be damaged.

"In the past the hounds would follow the fox wherever it went.

"This is not the case where we have a trail."

The New Year meet tradition was also followed by the rest of the county's hunts with the Atherstone gathering in The Square, Atherstone, the Belvoir at Buckminster Park, and the Quorn in Melton Mowbray Market Place.

The Vegetarian and Vegan Group in Leicestershire are encouraging people to mark the new year by trying out a new diet.

Members of the group are launching the 'Vegan Challenge' on Saturday, which will see people change their eating habits for 30 days.

Over the duration of the month, participants should eat like a vegan by completely cutting-out meat, dairy and eggs.

Member of the group Carys Bennett, who came up with the idea of the challenge, said: "I wanted to help people who wanted to be a vegan but didn't know where to start.

"People do it for so many reasons, whether that be their health, their love on animals or some people just like to challenge themselves."

Each participant will be given a mentor, who will support them throughout the month.

Regular events will also be held, including cooking demonstrations and lunches.

"There's no pressure to do it," added Carys.

"We are just there to offer people advice and free food samples."

Fellow member Amit Gokani said: "We want to give people an alternative diet they can try out in the new year.

"I know there are a lot of vegan challenges online but the difference with ours is you get that personal touch."

Over the month, each mentor will provide guidance and support for the participants.

"It's a social thing too," added Amit.

"We are like one big family.

"We want people to see just how easy it is to live a vegan lifestyle.

"These days, it's becoming so much easier to get your hands on vegan foods."

Last year 35 people took on the challenge and this year, they are hoping that number will increase to more than 50.

Amit said: "To get 50 people onboard would be fantastic.

"It was really successful last year and we hoping for the same this time round."

The group, which was launched by 14 years ago, now has around 500 members.

As such, they are campaigning to get Leicester named 'The Vegetarian capital of Europe'.

Members of the city's Vegetarian and Vegan Group are pushing for the title after seeing a huge rise in the amount of specialised restaurants in Leicester.

Members of the groups have created a 'Veggie Guide' which lists all of the vegetarian restaurants in Leicester.

"Over the past three or four years, the community has really grown," Amit said.

"If you walk around Leicester, there are vegetarian restaurants or cafes hiding in every corner - we have around 60 now."

The 30-day challenge will be launched on Saturday at a welcoming brunch, which will take place at the Friends Meeting House, in Queens Road, Leicester, from 10.30am.

For more information, e-mail: leicesterveganchallenge2015@outlook.com

Liverpool (2) 2

Gerrard pens (17,40)

Leicester (0) 2

Nugent (58), Schlupp (60)

Leicester City battled back from a two-goal deficit to earn a more than creditable draw at Liverpool, who were gifted two first-half penalties.

Referee Mike Jones ruled the ball had hit Wes Morgan's hand when it was in fact his head and Steven Gerrard converted his first penalty on 17 minutes.

Danny Simpson definitely handballed for the second spot-kick on 40 minutes, but whether he could have done anything about it is hugely debatable.

However, Liverpool become the first team to score 100 Premier League penalties as Gerrard converted his second spot-kick.

But battling Leicester hit back after the break through substitute David Nugent and Jeffrey Schlupp.

City had created the majority of the early chances as their hosts struggled to regain the fluidity they displayed in Monday's victory over Swansea.

Riyad Mahrez had three of his own in the first half-hour, two free-kicks from identical positions - one of which hit the post with goalkeeper Simon Mignolet beaten after just 66 seconds - and another from Schlupp's low left-wing cross.

The Foxes knew from their encounter at home a month ago, when they took the lead but ended up losing 3-1, they could not afford to squander opportunities.

It was Philippe Coutinho's pass to Raheem Sterling which produced the first, controversial, penalty as when the England international tried to cut the ball back it hit Morgan.

Jones ruled it was hand but television replays showed it was face. Gerrard did not waste too much time worrying about it as he tucked away the spot-kick.

Lifted from their slumber, Liverpool raised their game in the final third of the pitch with Adam Lallana directing a header wide and firing past the far post after shifting Alberto Moreno's cross from right foot to left on the edge of the area.

The second penalty was all Coutinho's doing as his weaving run saw the ball bounce up and hit Simpson's hand. Gerrard went the other side to goalkeeper Ben Hamer's right.

An indicator of confidence came when Henderson almost scored a goal of the season contender with a brilliant volley direct from Gerrard's corner.

Leicester, understandably aggrieved with the officials' performance, upped the tempo after the break and only a perfectly-timed tackle from the ever-improving Mamadou Sakho prevented Jamie Vardy taking advantage of Kolo Toure's slip.

But after Dean Hammond had missed a free-header from Matty James' flick-on at a corner there was a significant momentum change within less than two minutes.

In the 58th minute, substitute Nugent volleyed home brilliantly from Vardy's knockdown and, with Liverpool still reeling from that, Schlupp beat Mignolet from the edge of the area just 100 seconds later.

Late in the game Liverpool made a number of formation switches as Lazar Markovic and Fabio Borini - and later Rickie Lambert - were sent on in an attempt to salvage two dropped points.

Borini had a couple of attempts, one blocked by Markovic, and then proceeded to get in the way of a thunderbolt from Coutinho before a clumsy challenge on him by Morgan could have resulted in a third penalty but the referee was not in that generous a mood.

TEAMS

Liverpool (3-4-3): 22 Simon Mignolet; 17 Mamadou Sakho, 04 Kolo Toure, 23 Emre Can; 14 Jordan Henderson, 08 Steven Gerrard, 21 Lucas, 18 Alberto Moreno; 10 Philippe Coutinho, 20 Adam Lallana, 31 Raheem Sterling. 

Subs: 52 Danny Ward, 6 Dejan Lovren, 9 Rickie Lambert (for Moreno, 85min), 19 Javier Manquillo, 29 Fabio Borini (for Lallana, 55min), 50 Lazar Markovic (for Lucas, 72min), 54 Sheyo Ojo.

Leicester City (4-5-1): 12 Ben Hamer, 17 Danny Simpson, 27 Marcin Wasilewski, 5 Wes Morgan, 2 Ritchie De Laet; 26 Riyad Mahrez, 4 Danny Drinkwater, 7 Dean Hammond, 8 Matty James, 15 Jeff Schlupp: 9 Jamie Vardy.

Subs: 16 Tom Lawrence, 18 Liam Moore, 19 Esteban Cambiasso (for Drinkwater, 67min), 23 Leonardo Ulloa (for Vardy, 75min), 24 Anthony Knockaert, 31 Adam Smith, 35 David Nugent (for Drinkwater, 37min)

Yellow cards :Lucas, Gerrard (Liverpool), Wasilewski, James (City)

Referee: Mike Jones (Chester)

Attendance: 44,720

1) Making Journalists Speechless Award – Martin Castrogiovanni, Toulon.

I had just finished speaking to Richard Cockerill after Tigers' home win over Toulon in December when Castro suddenly appeared out of the changing rooms demanding an audience with the "English press" who were busy writing their copy on tight deadlines. From the first expletive, those deadlines were put on the back-burner as everyone crowded around for six minutes of an astonishing rant that left everyone open-mouthed and on the phone to their sports editors to see which swear words they were allowed to use in their copy.

2) Shortest Press Conference Award – Steve Diamond, Sale.

Sale's DoR gave mainly one and two-word answers during an 80-second press conference after watching his side blow a 15-point lead at home to Tigers on December 27. Woe betide anyone that got in his way.

3) Biggest Gaff Award – The Chicago Sun Times.

The day after the All Blacks has beaten USA 74-6 on an otherwise momentous day for the sport in America at Chicago's Soldier Field, the Chicago paper described the victors as a "legendary Aussie team". There could be few bigger insults for the World Champion Kiwis.

4) The New Move Award – Robert Barbieri v Newcastle.

As Leicester's pack surged forward towards the line, Tigers' new Italian signing stuck the ball between his feet and just bunny-hopped to the line before flopping on top of it. The Barbieri Bunny-Hop was born.

5) The Shot In The Arm For The Educated Classes Award – Jamie Gibson

The former London Irish man has been a revelation since joining the club for two reasons. Firstly, he is a very good rugby player. Secondly, having read Classics at University College, Oxford, Gibson has proven that, contrary to popular belief, clever people can succeed at Tigers too.

6) Weirdest Interview Setting Award – Anthony Allen, Medical Room, Welford Road.

"Ant's ready for you," came the call from Andy Mann, Tigers' communications officer after the Barbarians game at Welford Road in November. I was led into the medical room near the changing rooms where Ant Allen – my requested post-game interviewee – was receiving a dozen stitches in an eye wound from doctor Martyn Newey. With his eyes completely closed and with needles, plasters and blood everywhere, I interviewed him lying down on the bed. He was clear and concise too. Show off.

7) The Living Nightmare Award – Tigers at Bath, September.

Leicester were completely overwhelmed in almost every facet of the game at The Rec on their way to a 45-0 defeat at the hands of a rampant Bath side. Nothing worked. The scrum shook, the line-out wobbled, Tigers lost the physical battle and absolutely nothing went their way. Players were embarrassed. Coaches were embarrassed. The journey home must have taken forever.

8) Best Atmosphere Award – Clermont Auvergne hosting Tigers in the Heineken Cup quarter-final, April.

A rugby-mad town with a relatively tight and compact ground which was packed to the rafters, ridiculously noisy and so full of energy that the stand I was sitting in literally rocked up and down before kick-off as the home crowd reached a frenzy. It was a fantastic game too. Tigers fought back from the dead and were two metres from Clermont's line when the game ended 22-16.

Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson has urged the Premier League to utilise technology to assist with important incidents during games.

Referee Mike Jones awarded Liverpool two controversial penalties for handball in the first half of City's 2-2 draw at Anfield, which Steven Gerrard scored to put the hosts two goals up at half-time.

The first actually struck City captain Wes Morgan in the face, and not on the arm, as he slid to block Raheem Sterling's cross.

Danny Simpson could do nothing about the second, as Philippe Coutinho's shot popped up quickly and struck him on the hand.

Pearson refused to be "ultra-critical" of the officials but said he sees no reason why the Premier League cannot introduce a review system to use the technology available.

"Things happen very quickly," said Pearson. "We have got the benefit of being able to see it within a few seconds and know exactly what happened.

"It is unfortunate to have to deal with two occasions like that in the first half.

"I am not going to go down the route of being ultra-critical because at the end of the day, the game could be a lot easier by utilizing what is available to us. But we don't so we are always going to have that debate.

"This is the problem that the game has, that we expose human beings to making errors. It is not a criticism of the officials. They are there to do a job and we could make it much easier for everyone concerned if technology was utilised."

The City boss said he would advocate the use of extra assistant referees next to the goal, as used in the Champions League, but with the additional power of being able to review important decisions, such as penalties.

"We've got it," he said. "It takes a couple of seconds. Even as the whistle has gone and the players are remonstrating with officials, that could have been reviewed instantaneously.

"Certainly in the Premier League, I could understand there being a cost or expense of having another official.

"In European competitions, there have been the introductions of further assistance in the penalty area. If we don't introduce an official with the ability to review incidents, it is going to be something that keeps cropping up."

Pearson also confirmed Danny Drinkwater had come off in the first half with a groin injury, but said he did not know how long the midfielder would be out for, while Dean Hammond is also suffering from a tight calf.

A retired senior RAF officer who served three tours in Afghanistan and helped transform the lives of impoverished orphans there has returned, as a civilian, to continue his work.

Retired Air Vice Marshall Sean Bell, 52, of Harringworth, in Rutland, is now a key figure in a charity dedicated to helping Afghans – particularly women and children – rebuild their lives in a country ravaged by decades of war.

Sean was formerly commanding officer at RAF Cottesmore, then home to Joint Force Harrier which provided close support for British and allied ground troops.

He is now a board member of PARSA, a private, non-governmental organization working directly with the disadvantaged people of Afghanistan.

In 2007 he was deployed to Kabul for nine months to serve in air operations with ISAF, the International Security Assistance Force.

Orphans

He met Marnie Gustavson, the charity's executive director who inspired him to help play a part in transforming the lives of the Afghan orphans.

She was working in the Tai Masken and Alluhoddin orphanages, in the capital, where the children had to join bare wires together to turn on lights on the rare occasions they had electricity.

Sean, said: "As the equivalent of a one-star general I was not allowed out of the compound without the support of armoured vehicles which would have attracted attention.

"I didn't tell them, I slipped out of the back gate in civvies and met Marnie outside the compound and that way I went to visit both orphanages, 500 children at the boys' and 350 at the girls'.

"It was startling. The kids had little food, no running water, no sanitation, no education, no heating, no medical care, no sports facilities – they were truly the lost generation.

"It just seemed to be abstract poverty, it was just horrible, kids weren't of the size you would expect them to be, it was all a bit depressing, I had to work out what we could do."

RAF Cottesmore's small team in Afghanistan decided to raise money to help the children.

He said: "We decided one of the best ways to help would be reaching out through education and we set out to raise £1,000 to pay for books, writing materials, a couple of computers and the salaries of volunteer teachers."

He took home to Rutland boxes of Pashmina scarves from markets in Kabul which were sold through a network of volunteers.

He said: "We'd buy them for a dollar at the market in Kabul and sell them for £5, it just went mad, ladies were selling them at coffee mornings, all sorts, people couldn't get enough.

"We must have raised 150,000 dollars in total which meant we could start getting wiring and plumbing in the orphanages. It was a truly outstanding effort by the Rutland community,

"I made about five visits in the nine months I was there, each time I had to slip out, wearing my combats under my civilian clothes and generally a couple of people with me for protection.

"The main threat was from suicide bombers but they were targeting specific vehicles or convoys.

"Such was the transformation of the orphanages that it attracted the attention of President Karzai who used them as a model for other orphanages in Afghanistan, Our little initiative had a national impact."

In October, Sean returned to the orphanages and was delighted with the transformation the project had helped bring about.

He said: "I could hear kids laughing, joking, screaming, it was a vibrant, inspiring environment compared with the gloomy scenes I'd encountered before.

"The kids were dressed, neat, clean, wearing hair gel like usual teenagers with books under their arms and smiles on their faces, with ambition.

"They had a computer centre, all the kids have e-mail and Twitter accounts and sports teams.

"Kids of 16 and 18 wanted to be doctors, dentists and make a difference, it was just very liberating where previously there was no hope or ambition.

"Many of the kids were there from when I first started working there. I found it very moving and uplifting, it has made such a difference to people's lives.

"It was my first time going there on a civilian flight and the first time without a gun by my side, but I was more comfortable with the environment.

"Two of the nights I was there suicide bombers carried out attacks in the city which woke me up.

"I went to the window and checked there was no immediate threat to me and went fast asleep again.

"There is a risk with western forces leaving Afghanistan that the Taliban will remove all vestiges of western influence, but they can't easily un-invent ambition and aspiration.

"When I'm asked if it was worth the near 500 lives and billions of pounds, I'd find it very hard if I was stood in front of a widow, or a parent to console them or convince them that their sacrifice was worthwhile.

"Ultimately, it will be for history to judge, but, in my opinion, there are green shoots of recovery which bode very positively for the future.

"There are clear indications we have made a lasting difference to the country but progress will be judged in years and decades, not days and weeks."

Leicester's National Space Centre attracted a record 250,000 visitors last year.

The centre, which opened its doors to visitors in 2001, achieved its record in a year that saw a European satellite land on a speeding comet, one of the markers for life being found on Mars and NASA launching Orion spacecraft – built to take humans farther than they've ever gone before, to the Moon, Mars and beyond.

The year also saw the intense training of the first official UK astronaut, Tim Peake, prior to his launch to the International Space Station later this year, as well as India and China making positive strides in space science and exploration.

The National Space Centre has become a hub for interested families and fans to find out more.

Also last year, more than 77,000 schoolchildren took part in National Curriculum-linked visits, workshops, simulated space missions and classroom-based learning experiences – again a record number.

The space centre, a charity, said its decision in 2011 to offer free annual pass upgrades, had enabled financially struggling families to enjoy the centre's facilities.

The centre's research revealed that last year people travelled, on average, 67 miles to visit to the centre.

More than 11 per cent of those family visitors were thought to have stayed in local accommodation – boosting the city and region as a tourism destination.

Malika Andress, head of marketing at the National Space Centre, said: "People think the National Space Centre is a Leicester attraction, when the reality is that people from London, Nottingham and Birmingham are more likely to visit than those on the doorstep.

"In 2014 we saw a significant growth in visitors from the local communities and we are going to work hard to support those people to access all the resources on offer."

She added: "In 2015 we will improve the visitor experience, launch a new planetarium show in the larger Sir Patrick Moore Planetarium and we will keep shouting about how amazing and inspiring space science and exploration really is.

"In 2015 a UK astronaut will launch into space.

"It is going to be another amazing year!"

The National Space Centre is the UK's largest visitor attraction and research facility dedicated to space.

The centre opened to the public in June 2001 and has welcomed more than 2.8 million visitors, including more than 550,000 school children.

It was co-founded by The University of Leicester and Leicester City Council.

A man has been fined after admitting driving off without paying for petrol on two separate occasions.

Stephen Hunter appeared at Leicester Magistrates' Court today where he admitted the charges, committed at the Sainsbury's supermarket petrol stations in Oadby and Grove Farm Triangle, Enderby.

In the incident at Grove Farm Triangle, on August 13 last year, he bought £20 worth of fuel and then drove off.

Then on August 19 he put £50 of fuel into his car and drove off from the Oadby Sainsbury's.

Hunter (60) of Dartford Road, Aylestone, Leicester, who has previous convictions for 42 offences, represented himself in court.

He said: "There's no excuse. At that time I was going to and from Coventry.

"My mum was in hospital with motor neurone disease.

"It's madness. I don't know why I did it. I'd have paid it back if I had the means but I'm unemployed."

The magistrates ordered that Hunter pay £70 compensation, a £75 fine and a £20 victim surcharge, which will be withdrawn from his benefits.

New figures have revealed the 10 most dangerous roads in the city and county.

Statistics show the 10 worst blackspots in the city were the scene of 254 accidents over a five-year period while in the county the figure was 116.

Topping the list of city council maintained roads was the junction of Lutterworth Road, Soar Valley Way and Glenhills Way followed by Belgrave Road and Belgrave Flyover.

Both had the highest number of collisions in the city in the past five years up until December 2013, with 29 accidents.

The accidents resulted in 42 casualties at the Lutterworth Road junction and 41 people injured in the Belgrave Road and Belgrave Flyover area.

Charles Street at the Kildare Street crossing to Humberstone Gate junction is also an accident black spot in the city. There were 28 incidents there and 35 people injured in the five year period.

This is followed by the Melton Road, Troon Way and Watermead Way junction where there were 26 accidents.

A Leicester City Council spokesman said: "We'll be spending almost £700,000 this year on road safety schemes and 20mph zones in residential areas in a bid to further reduce the numbers of accidents on Leicester's roads.

"Work to address accident levels at the city's number one cluster site at the Lutterworth Road/Soar Valley Way/Glenhills Way junction, for example, was carried out as part of the A426 bus corridor scheme.

"By widening the junction to better segregate the lanes and keep turning vehicles apart, a major cause of accidents has been addressed.

"And the junction at Melton Road, Troon Way and Watermead Way has been improved, with the introduction of separate signals for those turning right and additional pedestrian and cycle crossings.

"While modifications to junctions can make a difference, many accidents are the result of driver behaviour, so it's important that we continue to work with our partners in the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Road Safety Partnership to educate motorists on the dangers of driving at excessive speed or through red lights."

Of the county council maintained roads, the Loughborough Road junction with the A6 roundabout, in Quorn, was the scene of 14 accidents over five years up until July 2014.

The county council is currently investigating this junction.

Other areas with a high number of accidents in the county included the junction of the A6 Leicester Road, in Loughborough and Southfield Road where there were 13 collisions.

At this spot there are major changes taking place as part of Loughborough inner relief road works.

At the junction of the A6 Derby Road, in Loughborough and Alan Moss Road there were also 13 in the same period. Here there has been an investigation completed by the county council, but no further action is going to be taken as it was unable to identify effective improvements.

Peter Osborne,  Leicestershire County Council cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "The latest figures show that road accidents are at their lowest level since 2000 but we must not be complacent.

"We have a Road Safety Partnership that covers the whole of Leicestershire and Rutland, and this promotes safer driving, enforces where necessary and works to improve junctions where engineering factors are shown to be relevant in traffic accidents.

"The partnership will continue to take steps to reduce casualties further but to keep them low, we need all road-users to drive safely and considerately."

City

1. Lutterworth Road, Soar Valley Way and Glenhills Way junction - 29 accidents.

2. Belgrave Road and Belgrave Flyover (length north of Belgrave Road) - 29 accidents.

3. Charles Street (Kildare Street crossing to Humberstone Gate junction) - 28 accidents.

4. Melton Road, Troon Way and Watermead Way junction - 26 accidents.

5. Groby Road, Woodgate and Fosse road North junction - 26 accidents.

6. Humberstone Road. Pembroke Street to Farringdon Street - 26 accidents

7. Junction: St Margaret's Way, Abbey Lane and Abbey Park Road - 24 accidents.

8. Narborough Road: Stuart Street to Noel Street - 24 accidents.

9. Narborough Road and Upperton Road (and Beaconsfield Road) - 22 accidents.

10. St George's Way and Charles Street junction - 20 accidents.

County

1. Loughborough Road junction with the A6 roundabout in Quorn - 14 accidents.

2. A6 Leicester Road in Loughborough junction with Southfield Road - 13 accidents.

3. A6 Derby Road, in Loughborough junction with Alan Moss Road - 13 accidents.

4. A50 roundabout junction 22, Markfield junction with Little Shaw Lane - 13 accidents.

5. A6004 Epinal Way Loughborough roundabout junction with Forest Road - 12 accidents.

6. C3308 Melton Road in Queniborough junction with private drive to Laurels Nursery - 11 accidents.

7. B5418 Aylestone Lane Wigston junction with Brails Ford Road - 11 accidents.

8. A426 Blaby bypass Whetstone roundabout junction with Enderby Road - 10 accidents.

9. High Street, Loughborough junction with Baxter Gate - 10 accidents.

10. C5117 Wood Street, Earl Shilton, outside building number 44 - 9 accidents.

Leicester South MP Jon Ashworth has been helping to spearhead an attempt to unseat Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg at the General Election in May.

Mr Ashworth, a Labour deputy campaign co-ordinator, was part of a group of MPs and activists who today travelled to Mr Clegg's Sheffield Hallam constituency.

They hope Labour candidate Oliver Coppard will be able to overturn the Liberal Democrat's 15,000 majority and claim a high-profile scalp.

Speaking from Sheffield, Mr Ashworth, who has been visiting target constituencies across the country with the so-called Labour Campaign Express, said: "It is the new year so we are up here on a campaign trying to get a Labour MP into a seat where we think we have a chance.

"Nick Clegg is really unpopular.

"He is unpopular for the same reasons the Liberal Democrats are unpopular in my own constituency.

"Leicester South was one that they held very briefly and one where they used to be strong but now they are unpopular because of the tuition fees and because of the bedroom tax.

"People who voted Liberal Democrat never expected to be part of a Tory Government supporting Tory policies that are very unpopular.

"This is not an easy seat for Labour to win but it is one we can take."

Mr Ashworth said after a short time in the constituency he had not come across any significant Lib Dem support.

He was joined in Sheffield by other prominent Labour MPs Tom Watson and Toby Perkins.

Mr Watson has previously suggested Mr Clegg is vulnerable because of his u-turn on tuition fees and the Coalition Government's cancellation of an £80 million loan to Sheffield firm Forgemasters to build parts for nuclear power stations.

Mr Clegg won a 53 per cent share of the vote in 2010's election when Labour was beaten into third place with a 16 per cent share

The Leicester Mercury contacted Mr Clegg's constituency office for a comment but nobody was available.

However The Sheffield Star newspaper reported a spokesman for Mr Clegg saying: "Other than Tom Watson ostentatiously knocking on a couple of doors in Crookes one afternoon, we haven't seen much evidence of Labour making progress in Sheffield Hallam.

"We look forward to any debate on the doorstep about the mess Labour left the country in and the Liberal Democrats' record of a stronger economy; a fairer society and tax cuts for low and middle earners in Hallam." 

Leicester City Council has been given nearly £800,000 of Government cash to head up a county-wide drive to tackle fraud

The council lead a major programme tackling fraud committed against local authorities ten local authorities in Leicestershire and Rutland.

The city council, which alone uncovered more £500,000 of benefit fraud this year, will co-ordinate he scheme, which works by cross referencing information from the different councils to help spot people who illegally claim benefits from multiple councils.

It will also look for who abuse disabled parking permits, or commit council tax or business rate fraud.

The work, which comes at a time when councils are cracking down on fraud, is estimated to save the 10 participating councils about £11million over the next five years.

The figure is an estimate of the fraud it will prevent ranging from falsely claimed discounts on council tax or business Rates, false insurance claims for personal injury, and false right to buy applications on council houses.

The cash comes from the Department for Communities and Local Government as part of a £16million national fund to fight fraud.

Leicester's successful bid was based on its two proposed projects – sharing data across councils, and working with councils to share best practice on tackling insurance fraud.

It means councils will work together to provide training and advice, and agree a standardised use of technology and resources to tackle different types of fraud.

"The project will also include a smartphone app allowing people to receive fraud alerts or report fraud via their mobile phones.

Leicester mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: "This money is very good news and comes at a time when councils across the UK are struggling against funding cuts, so cracking down on fraud is vital in insuring the money that is available is going to the people who need it.

"This work alone will save the councils in this region about £11million over the next five years, and will also help ensure councils share best practice for continuing to tackle fraud in the future."

Blaby District Council leader Ernie White said: "My own authority's internal checks are very robust and we do uncover a lot of fraud but sharing experience and information with other council will be of great benefit.

"There are people who get a few hours extra work which means they will get reduced benefits and they genuinely forget to tell us.

"Then there a people who milk the system and that really angers me because it is there for need not for greed."

Leicester Riders kick off 2015 with a tricky double-header this weekend.

They play host to Leeds Force on Saturday night (7.30) before heading to the Copper Box on Sunday afternoon for a match-up with London Lions (4.0).

"It's a difficult start to the new year," said coach Rob Paternostro.

"But we play more back-to-back games than anyone else, so I guess we're used to it.

"We were disappointed that we let that last game (an 86-82 defeat at home to Worcester on December 23) get away from us in the closing minutes, so we're looking to put that right."

Riders lost to Worcester having had the chance to put the game away in the fourth quarter, but now take on a Leeds side who gave them problems in their first meeting at Loughborough University in early November.

"People may look at their record and think they are struggling, but if you watch them play, they have been competitive this season," said Paternostro.

"They played us very well in that first meeting and, if you look at their games since then, it's been the same story.

"They've won a couple of games in that time, but they've been unlucky not to win a few more because they have pushed teams really close."

London have been something of a surprise team. Tipped by many in pre-season to be title challengers, after six defeats already their chances of winning the league have probably already gone.

They are at the end of a difficult run of games where they have played all five of the other teams in the top six, but have so far only one win in that spell.

However, their last home win was against Riders at the end of November and Paternostro knows how hard it will be.

"They have a lot of talent and they are a difficult match-up for any team in the league," he said. "When we play them people talk about Zaire (Taylor) and Drew (Sullivan) because they played for us.

"They are two top players in the BBL, the last two league MVPs, but they have plenty of other quality players we are going to have to deal with as well.

"We played really well down there for the first half and kind of ran out of steam in the second half, but credit to London, they really played well."

Riders: Williams, Bernardini, Watson, McSwiggan, Maynard, Noel, Gamble, Washington, Lamble, Anderson, Hassan, Losonsky, Rowe, Wright.

Force: McCann, Camille, Holland, Bethune, Estrada, Diez, Hall, Mikulic, Anebo, Hylands, Fetske, McNamara.

Lions: Salter, Cook, Brown, Sullivan, Freckleton, Lawson, Taylor, Irish, Roberts, Stibbins.

Nigel Pearson hopes today's FA Cup clash with Newcastle can help build momentum for his side's battle for Premier League survival.

City welcome the managerless Magpies to the King Power Stadium in the third round tomorrow (3.0) on the back of two spirited results in the Premier League.

After their rear-guard victory at Hull, which ended City's dismal run of 13 games without a win, Pearson's men came from two goals down to earn a spirited point against Liverpool at Anfield on New Year's Day.

While Pearson admits his main focus is on leading City to become only the third side to avoid relegation from the top flight having been bottom at Christmas, he said tomorrow's Cup clash is a great opportunity to keep building momentum.

"Clearly our priority is the Premier League, but we will try to win the game," said Pearson.

"To play against Newcastle at home gives us a chance to build on a couple of decent results."

City's comeback at Anfield, inspired by two wonderful strikes from David Nugent and Jeff Schlupp, showed just how much character Pearson's squad possesses, especially having been on the wrong end of two questionable penalty decisions from referee Mike Jones.

Despite the well-earned point, though, other results meant that City slipped to four points adrift of safety.

But Pearson said his side's performances, even in parts of their winless run, have shown that his squad has what it takes to compete at the top level.

"I don't think anyone would have left the ground and thought Leicester City are not a capable side with some talented players," said Pearson. "But it is about finding a way of winning games. 

"So far this season, we have not always found those answers.

"When you look at our performances, during what was a horrific run for us, our performances for the most part were very positive.

"To keep having to deal with losing matches tests everyone's self-belief and resilience.

"We played very well on Boxing Day against Tottenham and got nothing. We hung on for dear life against Hull and I think we played exceptionally well at Liverpool. 

"It gives you an example of how difficult it can be to be consistent.

"I think we have shown different types of qualities in all those games but, ultimately for a side coming up from the Championship, to deal in that shift in quality is never easy."

Flanker Jamie Gibson said the next two weeks are an ideal chance for people to start sitting up and taking notice of Leicester Tigers.

A stop-start season littered with injuries has seen Tigers spend most of this term outside the all-important top four.

Last week's come-from-behind bonus-win at Sale pushed Tigers up to fifth place in the Aviva Premiership table, however, and wins against Bath and Harlequins during the next few weeks would further improve Leicester's position.

Gibson, who was back in the starting line-up last week after missing the Northampton game to get married, admits it is a big two weeks ahead.

"We are halfway through the season now and, if we can start winning against the good sides, we can put pressure on the other good sides around us," said Gibson, who starts in the back-row for Tigers against Bath on Sunday.

"That means that people start worrying about us again.

"People have been telling us all season that we are going to drop out of the mix but every time we have needed to, we have got a result. 

"Suddenly, we are just a few points behind third and, if we can get a couple of wins against the bigger sides like Bath and Harlequins over the next fortnight, sides notice you and think you are still in the mix.

"We need a performance in every game now and we cannot afford to make the mistakes that we have been making this season.

"We need to get a run of games together."

Gibson, 24, has started 14 games already this season after a stellar 2013-14 campaign.

And while he believes his game is getting better, the blindside flanker still feels he has plenty to learn.

"I feel that I am improving but there are aspects of the game that I still need to work on," he said. "It helps to get as much game-time as possible.

"As a team, we are pretty similar. We have got better at certain things but some things have been up and down.

"It's about putting things together for 80 minutes now for the rest of the season.

"That's starts on Sunday, and Bath have a big pack and lightning-quick backs. 

"They are a side that can get momentum and put you on the back foot.

"They are strong at the breakdown, yet we feel if we can match them and push them back there, we can put some pressure on their quicker players and put them under pressure as a team."