Retired teacher John Gill has thanked the man who saved his life by pumping his chest to the beat of the Bee Gees hit Stayin' Alive.

Shopper Mushtaq "Ali" Khan came to John's rescue when he collapsed from a heart attack in a city Tesco.

Ali reacted immediately and used hands-on CPR he had learned from a TV advertising campaign fronted by Vinnie Jones.

He pumped John's chest for a couple of minutes to bring him back to life after he had stopped breathing.

Now, months later, the two have finally been reunited after Ali read John's account of his experiences in the Leicester Mercury last week.

John, 68, of Old Humberstone, Leicester, said: "By acting so promptly, he saved my life.

"I and my family cannot thank Ali enough for what he did. I rang him shortly afterwards, but I felt he was a modest man and quite shy.

"I am glad we have managed to meet so I could shake his hand and say thank you in person. Hopefully, we will keep in touch."

Ali, who lives in North Evington, Leicester, has had no training in first aid.

He said: "I saw how to do it by watching Vinnie on the television.

"I don't normally watch ITV, but I remembered the advertisement because it was funny.

"When I saw John open his eyes and smile, it made me so happy.

"I knew that he would survive." He said his being in the Hamilton Tesco store was unusual and he believed someone was looking after John on that day.

He said: "I do not normally go shopping and the family normally shops at Asda.

"But my wife said we were both going to Tesco in Hamilton on that day.

"A man just fell down in front of me.

"He just went down and nearly dragged his wife down, too. I saw his face was turning blue.

"I leaned down and he was not breathing. I started pumping his chest.

"Nothing happened at first. I kept on pumping and he came round.

"My wife called the ambulance and John was taken away.

"I was pleased to meet John and I am so happy for him that I could help save him. My family are also very proud of what I did."

The incident, in February, occurred soon after the British Heart Foundation campaign featuring former Wimbledon and Chelsea star Vinnie as a gangster reviving a hapless victim to the Bee Gees' hit was shown on TV.

John was taken to Glenfield Hospital for treatment and had a pacemaker fitted later in the day – after he suffered a second cardiac arrest while in hospital.

The British Heart Foundation said John was one of 28 people whose lives were saved as a direct result of the campaign.

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

A section of the M1 was closed for more than six hours after an articulated lorry jackknifed and overturned.

The driver was treated in hospital for minor injuries.

The accident blocked all three lanes of the southbound carriageway and hard shoulder, causing tailbacks from Junction 22, at Markfield, all the way back to Junction 23, at Loughborough.

The road was closed from Junction 22 to Junction 21a, at Leicester Forest East.

It caused gridlock on surrounding roads, including the A511, A50, A46 and the outer Leicester ring road, as traffic was rerouted away from the stricken lorry and back on to the motorway further south.

The lorry crashed at about 11.45am, about a quarter of a mile south of Junction 22.

Leicester Mercury employee Karl Prickett was caught up in the jams.

He said: "We were stuck for two hours waiting to get off at Junction 22, on our way back from Stoke.

"It was a nightmare, even when we got off – there were people going south with no idea where they were. The A46 and ring road were chock-a-block too – it was utter chaos."

A police spokesman said: The driver was taken by ambulance to Leicester Royal Infirmary with minor injuries."

A spokeswoman for the Highways Agency said: "Traffic trapped between Junction 22 and the lorry was eventually able to file past the vehicle using part of the hard shoulder.

"The rest was rerouted along the A46 and back on to the M1."

The main event in many of my constituent's lives in the past week has been the flooding seen across Loughborough and the Soar Valley. Having your home or business flooded is devastating.

When it happens more than once in quick succession and the end result is that you have to leave your home or lose stock, the financial and emotional effects are enormous.

I would like to thank everyone who stepped in to help those affected last week.

The Environment Agency, Emergency Services and local authorities all worked around the clock last weekend.

But it is also right to recognise all the neighbours and others who stepped in to help each other and to provide food, comfort and practical help such as unblocking drains and the grilles in the brooks.

I know there is enormous frustration and anger when it is felt that at least some of the flooding could have been prevented if debris had been removed in good time.

Having spoken to the Environment Agency last weekend about the immediate help it could give, I am now speaking to it about how we try to prevent future problems.

In the Commons this week, the Secretary of State for Food and Rural Affairs said he was determined to see a deal done with the insurance industry to support those who are not able to insure their properties without assistance and also to work with local authorities on flood defence schemes.

I shall continue to speak to ministers about both issues.

I know that energy bills cause a huge amount of concern for my constituents.

I am therefore delighted that the Government is taking action to ensure people will get the lowest tariffs for their energy bills as the Government has announced plans to force energy suppliers to offer their customers the best deals.

Under these proposals, households will no longer face hundreds of tariffs, with energy companies limited to four tariffs per fuel.

Energy companies will have to make bills simpler for customers to understand and outline personalised information on the cheapest tariff they can offer.

Households will be moved on to the cheapest tariff under their supplier that suits them.

In the meantime, I would urge anyone who is concerned about staying warm to call the Home Heat Helpline on 0800 33 66 99 or visit the website at:

www.homeheathelpline.org.uk

It is a free, independent service which helps people to find out whether they are eligible for help.

About 10 per cent of households in Loughborough are entitled to some form of assistance with their fuel bills, which on average can be worth £160.

People have nothing to lose from calling the helpline and, potentially, a lot to gain.

Finally, my workload was a little lighter last Friday when I was joined by teenager Louis Bartlett for the day.

Louis, a sixth-form student at Charnwood College, shadowed me for the day as part of the Children's Commissioner Takeover Day 2012. The day started early with a meeting at Charnwood College about youth employment and careers, then moved on to meet residential students at the RNIB College, Loughborough.

Then we paid a visit to 3DX-Ray, in Sileby.

The company produces industrial and security machinery and exports around the globe.

Louis then attended a meeting at my constituency office before going to another at North Warwickshire College.

Throughout, he helped me by asking useful questions and provided insight through his own experiences. It was great to have his input.

A benefits cheat who "fleeced the public" out of £55,000 she was not entitled to has been jailed for 12 months.

Mother-of-two Rosemary Hill defrauded the state for seven years, claiming council tax and housing benefits and income support, which later became jobseeker's allowance.

Sentencing at Leicester Crown Court, Judge Simon Hammond said: "The lesson must go out that if people abuse the benefits system, they must expect a significant custodial sentence."

Hill (47), of Sturdee Road, Eyres Monsell, Leicester, failed to declare to the authorities that she was living with her partner, who was in work and paying the household bills.

James Bide-Thomas, prosecuting, said Hill initially made a legitimate claim for benefits, as a single mother, in 1996.

But she failed to notify the authorities of a change in her circumstances when her partner took up residence with her in 2004.

She dishonestly continued claiming until January 2011.

Her partner was registered at her address with his GP, bank and several employers during that period.

Hill admitted three counts of benefit fraud.

The court heard the total overpayment was £54,998.

Hill, now a carer for the elderly, has already repaid about £4,500.

Judge Hammond described Hill's actions as "deliberate and prolonged".

He said: "This defendant fleeced the public for seven years.

"Although she's sorry now, she wasn't at the time. I regard this as very serious. It was a lot of money.

"Benefits are for the needy, not the greedy."

Jagvir Sangherra, mitigating, said Hill, was the mother of two grown-up children who were living at home.

She had no previous convictions.

Mr Sangherra said: "It was an honest claim to begin with, which became dishonest by virtue of the relationship and the use of her address.

"It was an on-off relationship. There was no lavish lifestyle. The money went on household expenses.

"She thoroughly regrets everything."

The court heard that Hill intended to appeal against her sentence.

Judge Hammond refused to grant her bail pending an appeal hearing.

Leicester City's players are putting their bodies on the line in a bid to keep clean sheets, says goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.

City go into today's East Midlands derby with Derby boasting eight clean sheets from their 19 league games so far, the best record in the Championship.

Only Brighton have conceded fewer goals than City this season, and Schmeichel said it was a record all the players were proud of and keen to extend.

"That comes down to our attitude, we don't want to concede so we put our bodies on the line," he said.

"We don't want to make mistakes, but the ones we have made have been positive mistakes when we have tried to do the right things.

"If you do the right things, you will get your rewards.

"Up to now, we are happy because we have defended well. It is a good start and we have to build on it.

"The players, the back five, have all got good understanding and communication. We know what each other is going to do.

"There has only been one or two mix-ups in the 19 games we have played.

"It hasn't been a settled back four because we have had a few injuries, but that is testament to the players.

"The players who have come and filled in have done exceptionally well. That is down to the quality in the squad."

Schmeichel admits he has not been called into action as much this season as last, but said the hardest part of being a goalkeeper is remaining focused during quiet games.

"In terms of shot-stopping, there hasn't been as much to do as last season, but that isn't work to me," he said. "That is the bread and butter.

"The hard work is the focus when you haven't got that much to do.

"Some people will tell me a certain game was the easiest I have ever had in terms of action. But the most difficult thing for a goalkeeper is the decision-making, the focus you have to have when you aren't involved.

"We have been spot-on defensively on that all season."

Derby boss Nigel Clough admits the King Power Stadium has not been a happy hunting ground for the Rams in recent years.

Derby have never won in Leicester since City moved away from Filbert Street, their last victory coming in February 2002.

Clough says his current crop should have picked up more points than the eight points from nine away games they have accrued so far, but says they arrive at City still in good spirits.

"At home, Leicester are in as good form as we are at home, so it will be a tough game. They will be extremely confident," said Clough.

"It has been a difficult place for us to get anything despite playing not that badly at times, but we are in pretty good shape.

"We have had a tough run of games and we have lost only three of 12.

"Five wins and four draws is a pretty good run."

Clough believes his side must show more belief on the road to mirror their impressive home form, where they have been beaten just once.

"We have to take our home form into the away games," said Clough.

"We've been a little reluctant at times to shoot and create chances away from home. We have to get it into our heads to play like we do at Pride Park, which we have done at times."

Clough says the Rams, who play 4-4-2 at home, have struggled to find a system that has suited them on the road, but he added he was confident they could find a system to trouble City this afternoon.

"We have tried 4-4-2, 4-3-3, 4-4-1-1 or whatever, so we will see what best suits us and what can cause Leicester most problems as well," said Clough.

"It is too simplistic to go 4-4-2 every away game, we cannot afford to do that.

"We try to start with a 4-4-2 but we might change during the game, like we did against Cardiff the other night, if we think it is of benefit.

"We have not kept enough clean sheets in away games. We are taking the game to teams home and away.

"We are having the majority of possession in quite a few away games.

"It is about getting the balance between being resilient and also looking to attack."

Leicester City Council has spent £850,000 on a building it hopes to turn into a Richard III visitor centre.

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby yesterday gave the go-ahead to buy the freehold of St Martin's Place – part of the former Leicester Grammar School, in Peacock Lane.

The vacant Victorian building is a few hundred yards from the city council car park where the suspected remains of the last Plantagenet king were discovered earlier this autumn.

The building could be converted into a historic homage to Richard III if the remains are identified as his.

Sir Peter said: "It's very evident that St Martin's Place is a building that has potential to be used for a number of purposes.

"It is particularly of interest because it's immediately adjacent to the excavation site and also to our social services offices.

"Some of those offices are more suited to continue as offices than others, so I am convinced this is an investment worth making."

The 10,000sq ft neo-Gothic building was home to Leicester Grammar School until 2008 and stands next door to Leicester Cathedral, where campaigners want the remains interred if they are confirmed as those of Richard III.

University of Leicester academics are carrying out DNA tests on the skeleton.

Experts will use the results in conjunction with other clues, such as the battle scars, the burial site and facial reconstruction to determine whether or not they have unearthed the 500-year-old king, who was slain at the Battle of Bosworth.

Richard Buckley, co-director of the university's archaeology service, welcomed news of a visitors' centre.

He said: "It sounds like a really good idea which will be a fantastic resource for Leicester and it will help people learn about the city's medieval history.

"It will certainly be popular. We have been quite busy giving talks to local groups about the dig, and we've had huge crowds visiting the site itself.

"Anything which helps the public to understand the city's history will not be wasted."

Martin Traynor, chief executive of Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce, said: "My view is that this is an excellent strategic purchase

"The mayor has recognised the importance of what Richard III can do for the visitor numbers to our city, and the economic impact that can have on leisure and tourism."

The results of the DNA testing and facial reconstruction of the remains will be revealed in the new year.

Leicester Tigers welcome back four international stars for their clash against rivals Bath this afternoon (12.30).

Martin Castrogiovanni and Marcos Ayerza both return to add some much-needed experience to Tigers' front row.

They replace the young duo of Fraser Balmain and Johnny Harris, who are both included among the replacements.

England's Anthony Allen and Thomas Waldrom both return to Tigers' starting line-up, at centre and No.8 respectively.

With the injured Steve Mafi still sidelined, it gives captain Louis Deacon and brother Brett the chance to start a first-team game together for the first time since January 2010.

Mat Tait continues his run of games at full-back, while the returning Geordan Murphy brings some invaluable strength and experience to the replacements.

Toby Flood, Logovi'i Mulipola, Wessel Jooste, Vereniki Goneva, Miles Benjamin and Tom Croft are still out with injuries, while Boris Stankovich is suspended.

Tigers are also without Dan Cole, Tom and Ben Youngs, Manu Tuilagi and Geoff Parling, who are in the England squad for today's autumn international against New Zealand.

Bath welcome back former Tiger Horacio Agulla, Paul James and Francois Louw from international duty, while Tom Biggs has been released from England duty.

Former county council leader David Parsons is contesting claims he owes more than £4,000 for unpaid travel expenses.

Leicestershire County Council gave the former Tory councillor until Wednesday to pay back the outstanding amount.

However, County Hall officials were instead served with a legal letter from Coun Parsons' solicitors challenging their £4,089.84 invoice.

County Hall claims Coun Parsons was collecting travel expenses from the council for trips to Europe while also receiving allowances from the European Union.

A council spokeswoman said: "Mr Parsons had received a flat-rate travel allowance from the (European Union) Committee of the Regions.

"This had been to cover those costs he incurred in travelling to and from the point of departure in the UK.

"In most cases, such travel had been provided at the county council's expense and at no cost to Mr Parsons.

"Mr Parsons had, however, continued to receive the allowance and had therefore received a double benefit for such journeys."

Coun Parsons, who resigned from his post and was expelled from the Conservative Party following an investigation into his expenses, said he would fight efforts to reclaim the cash.

He has been invoiced for six outstanding payments.

Since January, he has paid back five – totalling £6,595 – which includes money for using the civic car to take him to and from two family weddings.

However, he disputes the sixth debt which relates to the transfers while travelling abroad.

He said: "I completely refute the invoice and my solicitors have served a letter to the county council to that effect.

"The county council has acknowledged receipt of the letter and said it would respond accordingly."

The council spokeswoman said: "A letter from solicitors acting for Mr Parsons has been received and we will be responding in due course."

In June, Coun Parsons appeared before County Hall's standards committee facing allegations he kept hold of money paid to him for trips to Europe which he should have reimbursed to the authority.

The council said that at one point he had more than £5,400 sitting in his bank account which should have been paid to the council.

The committee found he had breached five conditions of the code of conduct and strongly censured him.

A teenager has been found guilty of the manslaughter of 41-year-old father-of-two Ponnuthurai Nimalaraja.

A jury at Derby Crown Court returned their verdict on the 15-year-old from Leicester yesterday, following a five-day trial.

The youth, who cannot be identified because of his age, had denied manslaughter, claiming he punched Mr Nimalaraja in self-defence.

The shopkeeper – known as Nimal – fell backwards and hit his head on a kerb after a confrontation with a gang of youths at Leicester Stores, in Gipsy Lane, Northfields, Leicester.

He died in hospital a week later.

Mr Nimalaraja, 41, (pictured), lived nearby in Essex Road with wife Mathanika and children Diluxshan and Leyana. He was a kitchen assistant at Barnsdale Hall Hotel, Rutland, as well as working at the shop.

On Monday, a 14-year-old pleaded guilty to affray in connection with the incident. He and the 15-year-old will be sentenced on January 11.

Detective Superintendent Matt Hewson, who led the investigation, said: "The positive outcome is justice for Nimal and justice for his family left behind.

"I hope the family can now begin to rebuild their lives, moving on from the tragedy.

"This is an extremely sad case, where something that started from the misbehaviour of a group of teenagers ended up with the loss of a much-loved husband and father.

"This goes to show what damage one punch can do. Not only has this assault devastated a family, it has changed the lives of the defendants for ever."

Judge John Burgess thanked the jury and said: "This will be a very difficult case to sentence."

The confrontation which led to Mr Nimalaraja's death happened on Saturday, June 9.

Between 10.30pm and 11pm, a group of youths entered the shop. Two were asked to leave for shouting and play-fighting.

At 11pm, when Mr Nimalaraja and his friend were closing up, one youth shouted to him from across the street, demanding a fight.

Mr Nimalaraja approached the group, holding a wooden board, and was punched in the face by the 15-year-old. The impact as his head hit the ground caused him critical injuries.

The court heard before losing consciousness he opened his eyes and called "amma, amma" – the Tamil for mother.

He was taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary and later transferred to the Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, where he died on June 16.

A number of arrests were made and the two youths were charged in July.

Hundreds of members of the Tamil community from around the world travelled to Leicester to attend Mr Nimalaraja's funeral service, held in Rushey Mead.

Captain Wes Morgan said Leicester City must put right their disappointing defeat at Leeds on Tuesday when they face Derby today.

City face their East Midlands rivals at the King Power Stadium this afternoon and Morgan knows it is important they make amends for their defeat at Elland Road.

He said the game was just as important to the players as the fans, and the former Nottingham Forest defender said City were determined to show their promotion credentials to the countless others watching on television.

"We weren't at our best that day at Leeds and certainly didn't play as well as we have done in previous games," said Morgan.

"You are going to get games like that in this league, but the games come thick and fast and we just have to write that one off.

"We are looking forward to Derby now. It means a lot to the fans and we want to perform well and get the right result.

"It is a bit of a dent. We had two good wins prior to that and we wanted to add to that, but it didn't work out.

"We didn't get the breaks but we have to dust ourselves off and go again. Coming off the back of a defeat, it is important to get back to winning ways. We can do that today.

"Derby at home, the game is live on Sky – it is a good one for the fans, so we want to win it.

"It means a lot to the players as well and we want to put what happened at Leeds right.

"The fans have been great and we apologise for not getting the result at Leeds."

Leicester City boss Nigel Pearson has stressed the importance of today's clash with rivals Derby.

Pearson also warned that Nigel Clough's side will present City's sternest challenge for years in the live TV game (5.20).

City have a good record in East Midlands derbies in recent years and manager Pearson says they have shown they can rise to the big occasion.

They have done the double over Derby in the last two seasons and the Rams have not won in Leicester for 10 years.

Against fellow East Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest, City have only lost one of the last eight meetings.

"To be a success in derbies, you have to understand they are important games for the clubs, players and certainly the fans, but you have to be able to make clear decisions and keep your calm," said Pearson.

"It is normally mistakes that determine the outcome of the game.

"The players who are in better control of their emotions have a better chance of making the right decisions during the games."

Pearson believes both sides' attacking approaches will produce an entertaining encounter for the fans and the countless others watching on television.

"I have seen Derby a couple of times and they are playing some good football at a high tempo," he said.

"They have made themselves a better team. They are functioning pretty well as a side, so we have to be prepared to deal with that aspect of their game.

"It is going to be a high-tempo game because we have that approach as well, and it will be interesting to see who comes out on top in that regard.

"When you have two sides trying to play in that fashion, there will probably be a few mistakes as well.

"It will be down to which side capitalises on those mistakes who will probably win the game."

City will again be without top-scorer David Nugent, who is still recovering from a neck injury, and defender Sean St Ledger is not quite ready after a hamstring injury.

Rams boss Nigel Clough will give a late fitness test to left-back Gareth Roberts, while striker Nathan Tyson is pushing for a start after some impressive contributions from the substitutes' bench.

The mother of missing Madeleine McCann hopes the Leveson Report into the ethics and standards of the Press will mark a new era in which people in the news are treated "responsibly, with care and consideration".

Kate McCann, whose daughter went missing when the family was on holiday in Portugal in 2007, was in London yesterday for the publication of the document.

The report, the result of an inquiry by Lord Justice Leveson, said the Press should be governed by an independent regulatory body, backed by legislation.

Mrs McCann, of Rothley,who gave evidence to the inquiry, said: "I hope the Prime Minister, and all the party leaders, will embrace the report and act swiftly to ensure activation of Lord Leveson's recommendations within an acceptable and clearly defined time-scale.

"I truly hope it will lead to an historic and, more importantly, crucial achievement for all in our society."

Yesterday's report described how Mrs McCann and her husband, Gerry, although initially given favourable coverage in the media, were treated like a commodity, and "little or no regard" was given to their "personal distress".

Split over Leveson – Page 9.

City boss Nigel Pearson makes two changes to the side that was beaten at Leeds on Tuesday night.

Paul Konchesky returns at left-back in place of teenager Jeff Schlupp and Anthony Knockaert is preferred ahead of Ben Marshall on the right of midfield.

Schlupp and Marshall drop to the substitutes' bench, where they are joined by top-scorer David Nugent.

He is a surprise inclusion after Pearson had said on Thursday that he was unlikely to feature because of a neck injury.

6 min: GOAL 1-0 Martyn Waghorn delivers a great corner into the box and centre-half Zak Whitbread heads home unopposed. It is the first goal City have scored from a corner since the opening day of the season.

10 min: Waghorn bends a free-kick around the wall from 25 yards and almost catches out Adam Legzdins, who palms it around the post for a corner.

11 min: BOOKING Paul Coutts is given a yellow card for deliberate handball on the corner of the Derby box.

12 min: Waghorn takes a corner and swings it in. It deceives Legzdins and bounces off the top of the bar. Waghorn is on fire this evening.

16 min: City are totally on top and Jamie Vardy flashes a shot wide after an excellent spell of pressure from City.

18 min: A spectacular scissor-kick in mid-air from Waghorn produces a good save from the over-worked Legzdins. It came from a great cross from Lloyd Dyer.

23 min: GOAL 2-0 It was inevitable that City would score and it is Waghorn, who taps home the second after a fantastic sweeping move. Anthony Knockaert started the move with a brilliant piece of skill to beat James O'Connor and then pull it back to Vardy, who slipped Waghorn in with a clever pass.

26 min: Vardy capitalises on a Derby mistake and beats Richard Keogh but cannot beat Legzdins, who saves with his legs.

27 min: It is total one-way traffic and Derby keeper Legzdins is really earning his money. This time he has to tip a curling Knockaert shot over the bar.

33 min: Coutts tries his luck from long range but it is an easy save for Kasper Schmeichel. It is Derby's first shot on goal and is greeted by ironic cheers.

34 min: City have dropped off the pace a little and Michael Jacobs again tries to test Schmeichel from distance.

38 min: GOAL 2-1 Derby are back in this and it is Theo Robinson, who beats the City offside trap to latch on to Jacobs' great pass and fires past Schmeichel. It's the first goal City have conceded from open play since the draw with Nottingham Forest.

41 min: Conor Sammon breaks past Whitbread and has a great chance for the equaliser, but Schmeichel saves well with his feet.

45+2 min: Schmeichel is called into action again to push away a Robinson shot at full stretch after the big Rams striker is able to turn on the edge of the City box.

HALF-TIME: City 2 Derby 1. For 30 minutes, City were totally dominant and looked on their way to a comfortable victory but they have allowed Derby back into the game.

57 min: Dyer does brilliantly to stay on his feet and get a shot in that Legzdins can only palm out to Knockaert, but the ball strikes the Frenchman on the arm and the chance is gone.

62 min: Schmeichel makes a great save to deny Robinson from close range after Sammon had done well to fire in a dangerous cross. Pearson is trying to kick-start his side again as Derby have looked the more dangerous side in the second-half.

67 min: SUBSTITUTION: Nugent is on for Vardy and Marshall for Dyer.

74 min: GOAL 3-1 The two subs combine. Nugent scores with a far-post header after a great run and cross from Marshall.

80 min: SUBSTITUTION Matty James on for Knockaert.

82 min: City carve Derby open and Ritchie De Laet is in, but John Brayford does brilliantly to block his shot.

89 min: GOAL 4-1 Nugent again. City break and Danny Drinkwater has a shot blocked. It falls to Nugent who strikes his 11th of the season.

FULL-TIME: City 4 Derby 1. City had a lull in the middle of the game but have run out deserved and convincing victors.

Leicester City have been drawn at home to Burton Albion in the third round of the FA Cup.

The game will be a chance to avenge their 4-2 Capital One Cup defeat at the hands of the League Two side in August.

A much-changed City side put on their worst display of the season in front of a sparse King Power Stadium.

The game will take place on the weekend of January 5-6.

Crystal Palace v Stoke, Brighton v Newcastle, Tottenham v Coventry City, Wigan v Bournemouth, Fulham v Blackpool, Aston Villa v Ipswich, Charlton v Huddersfield, Barrow or Macclesfield v Cardiff, Barnsley v Burnley, Manchester City v Watford, Swansea v Arsenal, Millwall v Preston, Cheltenham or Hereford v Everton, Derby v Tranmere, Crawley v Reading, Aldershot v Rotherham or Notts County, Middlesbrough v Harrogate or Hastings, Accrington Stanley or Oxford v Sheffield United, Southampton v Chelsea, QPR v West Brom, Peterborough v Norwich, Lincoln or Mansfield v Liverpool, Bolton v Sunderland, Nottingham Forest v Oldham, West Ham v Manchester United, Hull v Alfreton or Leyton Orient, Blackburn v Bristol City, Leeds v Birmingham, Bury or Southend v Bradford or Brentford, Luton v Wolves, Sheffield Wednesday v MK Dons.

They might not be the favourite people of a few ill-mannered motorists, but lollipop men and women are best friends to the thousands of schoolchildren they keep safe every day.

The Mercury is asking pupils, teachers and parents at schools across the city and county to tell us why their crossing patrol officer is the bees' knees.

The call follows an article we ran last week in which 73-year-old great granddad Bob Pole spoke about the abuse he often received from rude and impatient drivers outside St Thomas More School, in Knighton, Leicester.

Bharti Manji has been a huge hit at Taylor Road Primary School, on the city's St Matthew's estate, since her appointment two years ago.

Brother and sister Amani and Zakariya Dagia, and siblings Saamia and Saahil Khalifa, explained why they were so fond of the lollipop lady they respectfully call "Miss".

"I think she's really nice," said Amani, nine. "If you're crossing the road and are only half-way across, she waits for you to get safely to the other side. She's very patient and always gives you a big smile."

Saamia, eight, said: "Miss is very helpful. She tries to remember all our names and it's nice to see her every morning."

Zakariya, seven, said: "When I cross the road I say, 'thank you Miss', and she says, 'you are welcome'.

"She's a kind lady and always makes sure you are safe."

"Miss is very polite, even to drivers in a hurry," said Saahil, nine. "Everybody likes her."

For Mrs Manji, 54, the affection is mutual. "Seeing the children on their way to school every day gives me a lift," she said. "Their safety is my priority and I love coming to work every morning."

Chris Hassall, head teacher at the 625-pupil school, said: "Bharti is a fantastic asset to the school. She is 100 per cent reliable and is there every morning and afternoon looking after the children, come rain or shine. It's a very busy road at times, with large buses and lorries whipping around the corner. Most drivers are thoughtful, but she stands her ground when she has to, and always in a respectful way.

"The children and parents are all very fond of her and she deserves credit for the great job she does."

Youngsters at St John The Baptist C of E, and Holy Cross Catholic primary schools, both in Parsonwood Hill, Whitwick, are equally fond of their lollipop lady, Sandra Flamson.

St John's pupil Hannah Gidman, 10, said: "When I come to school with my mum and other children, she often gives us a challenge or activity to complete that day. She's so nice and friendly and tells funny jokes."

Jo Marlow, whose nine-year-old son Lucas attends St John's, said: "It's a very busy village, with a lot of traffic. Sandra does a wonderful job and is a lovely person."

St John's head Christine Killip said: "Sandra is one of those really fab people. She's friendly, helpful and I can't think of a time she's not been there helping the children cross the road safely."

Leicestershire County Council employs 120 crossing patrol officers, and Leicester City Council 44.

Councillor Vi Dempster, assistant city mayor for schools, said: "Our school crossing patrol people do a fantastic job, turning out in all weathers to keep our children safe and often going way beyond what the job requires. I would encourage all schools to share their stories and get their school crossing patrol officers the recognition they deserve."

To tell us all about your lollipop man or woman, call David Owen on 0116 222 4277 or e-mail:

davidowen@ leicestermercury.co.uk

A blaze broke out in the roof of a cottage in warden-assisted accommodation.

The cottage, one of 10 run by the Hand Sisters Homes Charity Trust in Station Road, Cropston, is unoccupied and undergoing refurbishment.

Fire crews attended the incident, which happened at about 9.30pm on Saturday.

Flames were coming through the roof of the property, built in 1928 as homes for retired teachers and nurses by the charitable organisation of the Hand family, who owned slate quarries in Swithland.

A couple in a neighbouring cottage left their property while firefighters tackled the blaze.

Warden Joan Chambers, whose cottage adjoins the fire-damaged property, said: "The alarm system, which is connected to my cottage, went off and I thought it was a burglar.

"I saw the smoke and flames and went to get the residents out who live on the other side and called the fire brigade. It was all over by 11.30pm.

"They were very quick to respond and have been amazing, even coming back this morning to cover the roof with tarpaulin."

The 10 cottages, set back off Station Road, were built and endowed in memory of Sarah and Henrietta Hind, of Ibstock, the daughters of Henry Hind, owner of Brant Slate Quarries at Swithland, in 1928.

The cause is believed to have been an accidental electrical fault.

A young woman stole £14,400 of her mother's jewellery to pay off a drug debt, a court heard.

Sophie Barby (22) sold the valuables for just £1,500 at two pawn shops. None of the items were recovered.

Her distraught mother reported her daughter to the police, because she had previously stolen items from the family home.

At Leicester Crown Court, Barby admitted stealing several items of jewellery on December 31 last year.

Sentencing, Judge Michael Pert QC said: "What you did was mean and nasty.

"Whatever difficulties you got into, or whatever the reason you got into them, stealing from your mother is despicable."

The judge said that Barby's mother, father and college business-studies tutor had written letters to the court.

"I'm glad your family is coming to terms with it and things are more on an even keel," he said.

The hearing was told that after Barby moved out of the family home, to a flat in Portland Road, Clarendon Park, Leicester, her family discovered property missing.

Her mother did not press charges, but the police spoke to the defendant about it. However, in June, her mother realised her jewellery was missing. Only family memberwould have known where it was kept.

"She confronted the defendant who admitted she had taken the jewellery," said Victoria Rose, prosecuting. "At that point, the police became involved.

"She was at the end of her tether and felt she had no choice but to go to the police.

"It was sold for a fraction of its worth.

"The defendant needed to pay off a drug debt and said she owed a dealer £2,000. None of the items were recovered."

Sally Bamford, mitigating, said: "She deeply regrets her actions.

"If she could turn the clock back, or recover the items, she would.

"Her mother felt she had to take these steps because of the earlier incident and she was at a loss about what to do."

Miss Bamford said Barby was attending college and said: "She's academically able and can look forward to a good future if she stays on course.

"It appears she got into the wrong company and got completely out of her depth, but has now moved on."

Barby was given a 12-month community order with 120 hours of unpaid work.