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Great grandmother injured in Charles Street scaffold collapse speaks of her ordeal

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A great grandmother hit by a heavy wooden plank which fell from scaffolding blown down in strong winds in Charles Street earlier this week has spoken of her ordeal.

Heather Cook, 56, of Southfields Drive, Saffron Lane, Leicester, had just dropped her three-year-old granddaughter at nursery and her one-year-old grandson at her dad's before popping into Love2Lunch to buy a baguette for her lunch.

Heather, a regular in the shop, said:"I'd just got my foot over the step into the shop when I was hit smack on top of my head.

"It knocked me off my feet and sent me flying into the shop front first. I'm just glad the glass door was open or I would have gone through it."

She said the plank which hit her was 3-4ft long, 2ft wide and 2ins thick.

She added: "The scaffolding was three storeys high and I don't know how far it fell before it hit me."

Shop manager Faisal Bashir, 29,and a colleague helped look after Heather before running out of the shop to help another woman trapped under the twisted metal.

Heather, a grandmother of 12 and great grandmother of one,added:"I heard a noise above me as I walked into the shop, but I just thought it was the workmen.

"I'm just glad I didn't look up or it would have hit me in the face. As it was, it left a lump the size of a duck egg on top of my head.

"I often go into the shop with my grandchildren. If I had been with them and one of them had been hit, it would have killed them.

"I cried for the first time yesterday when I thought about it and what could have happened."

A firefighter who was one of the first in the shop after the collapse checked her over and called for another ambulance to come and deal with her.

She was put on a spine board and in a head and neck collar before being taken too Leicester Royal Infirmary.

Heather added: "When I got to the hospital they took the collar off, asked me if I could move my head from side to side and felt my neck and spine and then told me to go home.

"I was in agony all that night.I went to see my own doctor the next morning and he couldn't believe they hadn't taken a scan or an X-ray and sent me back to the hospital.

"They were clear, but I'm suffering a loss of hearing and my doctor has referred me to the ear, nose and throat department."

Heather is due to fly to Northern Ireland tomorrow to help look after an older brother who has Parkinson's Disease, but is waiting to hear from her doctor whether she is fit to fly.

A  Leicester's Hospitals spokeswoman said: "We can confirm the correct clinical processes where followed, according to NICE guidelines, upon Heather's admittance to the emergency department and we hope she feels better soon."

Great grandmother injured in Charles Street scaffold collapse speaks of her ordeal


The Big Question: Should more effort be made to keep schools open when it snows?

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After a flurry of snow on Thursday night, several schools in Leicestershire were closed on Friday.

Do you think more effort should be made to keep schools open when it snows?

Have your say in our poll, in the right hand column on this page. The results will be published in the Mercury on Tuesday.

The Big Question: Should more effort be made to keep schools open when it snows?

Auction of Hinckley football pitches postponed for council to examine legal issues

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An auction to decide the ownership of a floodlit all-weather football pitch and training areas has been postponed.

The facilities next to the former Hinckley United stadium in Leicester Road was due to go under the hammer on Thursday.

However auctioneers Graham Penny agreed to defer the sale to allow a consortium led by Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council time to consider mounting a bid.

The consortium includes Hinckley AFC, which was formed last year following the collapse of Hinckley United FC owing £2million.

Chairman of Hinckley AFC Gary Hancox said: "The auction was postponed so that the council could go through the legal pack.

"Before a bid can be mounted the council wants to fully understand the legal issues surrounding the sale."

Mr Hancox said he did not know how long the deferment would last.

The land, which includes the all-weather and grass pitches, has been given a guide price of £50,000.

But Mr Hancox said: "I believe the final price will be higher than that."

A spokesman for the council confirmed that the sale had been postponed to enable documents to be examined in detail.

It is likely that Leicester Road Stadium Ltd, which represents Leicester Road FC, will submit a rival bid for the pitches.

Auction of Hinckley football pitches postponed for  council to examine legal issues

"Gary Lineker and Robbie Savage invested in tax break schemes that have since been investigated by HMRC" claims The Times

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Former Leicester City players Gary Lineker and Robbie Savage put money into tax break schemes that have since been investigated by HM Revenue & Customs, according to a story in The Times.

The newspaper reported that the Match of the Day presenters were among ex-players who put money in film investment schemes set up by a company called Ingenious Media Partners.

The Times said HMRC believes that the schemes, which apparently helped to finance films including Life of Pi and Avatar, constitute "contrived" tax shelters.

Ingenious Media said the schemes had actually paid hundreds of millions of pounds in taxes.

According to the Times story, Gary Lineker invested in five Ingenious partnerships between 2003 and 2007 and Robbie Savage put money in two partnerships in 2005.

It is not known how much each player invested or whether they claimed the tax relief to which they were entitled.

Robbie Savage's agent told the Mercury his client did not want to comment, and the Mercury got no response when it approached Gary Lineker's agents.

The Times said HMRC sent out demands to hundreds of members of three Ingenious schemes to pay the tax in dispute up-front — before a tribunal decides on the case next month.

Over the years a number of schemes have promised tax breaks for investing in film, property and music.

An Ingenious spokesman said: "The film partnerships run by Ingenious Media have already generated over £1 billion in taxable income for the UK Treasury, with more to come over the lifetime of the films they funded.

"HMRC has wrongly deemed legitimate commercial film arrangements to be tax schemes."

HMRC said it did not comment on individual taxpayers.

But a spokesman said: "HMRC always aims to recover the full amount owed and has a very strong track record at tribunal, winning over 80 per cent of cases.

"Before we settle a tax dispute we look at the likely outcomes of taking the case to court and we won't settle for less.

"Settlement opportunities are a long-standing part of HMRC's approach."

Snibston Discovery Museum to close on July 31

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Snibston Discovery Museum is set to close in six months' time.

Conservative-led Leicestershire County Council decided earlier this month to shut the popular Coalville attraction. 

It says it can no longer afford the £900,000-a-year cost of running the museum and has now announced Snibston will close to the public on July 31.

Council cabinet member for museums councillor Richard Blunt said: "I'm proposing that the museum, in its current form, will close on July 31.

"I wanted to announce the likely date as soon as I could, so that staff, volunteers and visitors have as much notice as possible. I know that staff have been anxious to have some firm information about the date.

"At its last meeting, cabinet asked the director of adults and communities to draw up a programme to implement the closure and the detailed work to support this is in hand.

"I appreciate that the full council is likely to debate this issue on February 18 but I wanted to give an indicative date now and I'll provide an updated statement, following the meeting."

He said he proposed date was chosen to link in with the end of the school year in Leicestershire and other parts of the Midlands.

Brian Vollar, chairman of the Friends of Snibston group which campaigned to save Snibston from the axe, said: "We are very disappointed and it is regrettable the council has chosen to announce a closure date before the February council meeting when there will be a Labour motion to give Snibston more time.

"This just adds to the impression that this has been a predetermined process all along because it is still theoretically possible the council will vote against closure.

"We will be planning a sizable public demonstration outside County Hall on the day.

"It is worth doing because both the county council leader (Nick Rushton) and the cabinet member for museums (Coun Blunt) are up for re-election to their district council seats in May."

Labour North West Leicestershire parliamentary candidate Jamie McMahon said: "We will not give up the fight to save Snibston.

"The site is too important to Coalville's future.

"If the Tory cabinet won't listen to the strong argument for saving Snibston we'll work to convince every party and every councillor at the county council."

Snibston's Century Theatre and the country park will remain open after July and the historic pithead buildings, which are a scheduled ancient monument, will continue to be maintained.

Snibston Discovery Museum to close on July 31

'Cautious optimism' over improvements in Leicester Royal Infirmary's A&E waiting times

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Health managers are "cautiously optimistic" after the figures for the past week showed improvements in A&E waiting times at Leicester Royal Infirmary.

In four out of the seven days from last Friday the Government target of seeing 95 per cent of patients within four years was met.

On Friday, January 23, a total of 97.27 per cent of patients were seen in the four hour target time.

On the three remaining days the target was only narrowly missed with more than nine out of 10 patients seen within four hours.

Toby Sanders, chairman of the urgent care task force set up to improve A&E waiting times and to cut the number emergency hospital admissions, said: "We are cautiously optimistic that the results are as a consequence of the combined impact of a whole series of small changes we have been making to improve services both in and out of hospital.

"The pressures experienced by A&E cannot be solved by the hospitals alone.

"All our NHS and social care services are now working together really well to reduce the need for people to go to the emergency department and prevent admissions.

Mr Sanders, who is also managing director of the West Leicestershire clinical commissioning group (CCG), said it was also leading to shorter hospital stays for patients.

John Adler, chief executive of Leicester's hospitals, said one of the reasons for improvements was that changes mean more patients were being discharged than admitted.

He added: "It was only a few weeks ago that we were in a very difficult position."

'Cautious optimism' over improvements in Leicester Royal Infirmary's A&E waiting  times

County gritters ready for a long winter

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As winter takes a hold, teams of gritters are poised to go out any time of day or night to make sure the roads are kept safe.

About 45 per cent of all the roads in the Leicestershire County Council area –

including all classed A and B – are on their routes.

No village is left without safe access in case of an emergency.

County council highways manager Greg Payne said: "We have 17 frontline vehicles, along with five spare, and around the county there is a total of about 18,000 tonnes of salt in storage.

"The lorries can carry enough salt to stay out for about four hours at a time and we can watch them on the computer.

"They're all fitted with GPS these days, so we know exactly where they are.

"The software also tells us when they're salting the roads and with how much salt, so the computer can always tells us when each road was last treated and how much salt was spread."

Usually, the gritters will try to go out before the nasty weather arrives so ice in unable to form. If they have to go out in thick snow, they can have snow ploughs attached.

Greg said: "We treat about 1,200 miles of road. As a proportion of the total that's more than a lot of other authorities manage.

"It's worked out strategically so every village has access and every A and B road is salted.

"There are roads where there are steep gradients or other problems that are important to salt for safety reasons.

"The list of roads we do treat doesn't change much but we are flexible if we're asked to treat any particular location."

Knowing when and how often to send out the gritters involves keeping a very close eye on the weather.

"We work with weather forecast providers and have our own weather stations so we know what's happening in at any particular time.

"We also share information with neighbouring counties.

"There are always duty officers in charge of keeping an eye on the weather and it's up to them to decide when to send the gritters out.

"Our night controllers are based at Croft and the drivers at depots around the county.

"The drivers are our own employees. The rest of the year they will be working on construction activities for county council highways."

During long spells of icy weather, duty managers have to decide how long to wait before salting each road for a second time.

If the weather allows it, the gritter teams can help out the district and borough councils with treating town centre roads.

In the worst snowfalls, farmers help out with snow ploughs attached to tractors.

A complicating factor is rain.

Gregg said: "If you send out the vehicles and it rains before it freezes it's going to wash all the salt away.

"We've got plenty to see us through to the end of winter.

"There was a lot left over after last winter and it's fine to keep for several years."

According to the Met Office, temperatures are likely to dip below zero this weekend.

The first week of February is also expected to be chilly with ground frosts.

County gritters ready for a long winter

Leicester City loan target Robert Huth of Stoke City given two game ban by the FA

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If Robert Huth agrees to sign for Leicester City on loan he will have to wait to make his debut after being handed a two-game ban by the FA.

The 30-year-old German, who is holding talks with City today about a loan switch from Stoke City, has been handed the punishment for breaching FA rules over comments he made on social media.

In a statement, the FA said: "The Stoke City defender was charged in relation to comments which were indecent and/or improper and/or brought the game into disrepute, contrary to FA Rule E3(1).

"Further to this, it was considered an "Aggravated Breach" as defined in Rule E3(2), as it included a reference to gender and/or gender reassignment.

"Huth was also fined £15,000 and ordered to complete a mandatory education course."

Stoke boss Mark Hughes has admitted this afternoon that he expects Huth to complete his loan switch.

Leicester City loan target Robert Huth of Stoke City  given two game ban by the FA


Manchester United v Leicester City: I've nothing to prove, says Ritchie De Laet

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Leicester City defender Ritchie De Laet says he has nothing to prove when he returns to Manchester United tomorrow.

The full-back was on the verge of returning to Belgium after failing to break through at Stoke when United signed him in 2009.

But in three years at Old Trafford he made just six first-team appearances and joined City in 2012.

Since then, De Laet has established himself as a first-team regular and played an instrumental part in City's Championship title success.

He feels he is a much better player now than when he first came to England eight years ago from Antwerp.

"No, I have nothing to prove going back there," said De Laet. "It was time for me to move on and I did just that.

"Leicester have given me that chance to play football week in and week out.

"I am at the same level now, playing in the Premier League, and that is where I want to be.

"I have improved. It is important to play those games and you can only learn so much from training or playing with the under-21s.

"You have to play first-team football to get the experience going.

"It has been a great couple of years for me. The first had ups and downs but the second was just a great season.

"This year, we started off well but didn't get the results in a few games but we feel we are turning the corner."

It could have been very different for De Laet when his dream of playing in English football looked to have turned sour at Stoke following his move from Antwerp as a 19-year-old.

Without his family and friends, the lack of first team prospects at the Britannia Stadium left him considering giving up.

"I was at Stoke and I didn't really get a chance there," he recalls. "I was ready to go back to Belgium. It was hard because I didn't really have any family over here, just my wife.

"It was tough not playing, so I called my agent and told him I wanted to go back to Belgium.

"He told me Manchester United were interested in taking me. I laughed about that for about 10 minutes and put the phone down, but he called me back and said it was real.

"I went there and it was a dream come true. I was in the under-21s under Warren Joyce, who was my manager at Antwerp and had given me my debut.

"He took me under his wing but it was special being there and seeing all those great players.

"Training with those kinds of players day in and day out and learning from their experience, you learn every day. Even though you aren't playing the games you are learning in training.

"It was a special time. But I couldn't play under-21s forever."

Manchester United v Leicester City: I’ve nothing to prove, says Ritchie De Laet

Leicester Mercury Carer of the Year awards 2014: All winners revealed

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Carer of the Year 2014 winner Vince Hindmarsh is so dedicated to his job that after the awards ceremony finished late yesterday afternoon, he went straight back to work and was visiting clients until 10pm.

He was then awake at 6.30am today to do the same again.

Vince, 53, of Earl Shilton, who won the Home Carer of the Year category and was crowned Carer of the Year, said he was "totally amazed" to win.

He was celebrating his achievement today by going for lunch with one of his clients.

"I am very proud, but I would not be where I am without the support and training of Pure Homecare. It is team work."

Vince's prize was a holiday worth £1,000 with £500 spending money. He was also given a trophy. The winners of each of the nine categories were given a certificate and a magical mystery bus tour.

It is the third year Carer of the Year has been held. The awards were run in conjunction with Woods Coaches, of Wigston, and Sturgess Motor Group, based in Almond Road, Leicester. There were also sponsors of each category.

The winner of Care Home of the Year was Portland House, in Kirby Muxloe.

Owner of the home Karen Stevenson said: "I am overjoyed that a small care home has been recognised.

"This is for the residents and the staff and I would like to say a big thank-you to the families who nominated us too.

"It has been really emotional."

Katie Fleetham, who manages Portland House, said: "Because it is a local thing, it means so much more."

Winner of Dementia Carer of the Year David Leader, 71, said it was the third year he had been nominated in this category, but first time he had won.

He has been caring for his wife Christine 24-hours a day since she was diagnosed with dementia about a decade ago.

He said: "It is quite a big achievement. I am happy."

David said when he was announced as winner, his daughter Tina McBrien threw her arms around him and said 'I am very proud of you, dad.'

Newly Qualified Carer of the Year winner Sarah Webb, 28, of South Wigston, said she was surprised to win the award as she has only been in the profession for a couple of months.

"I was shocked to be nominated in the first place."

Sarah said she loves caring and doing anything to make the people's lives easier.

Jeanette White, who works with Sarah and nominated her, said: "We absolutely love Sarah. She is so professional, warm, caring and enthusiastic."

Winner of the Palliative Carer of the Year category, Christine Glenister, said she cried when her name was called out.

"I thought one of the others would win. It was just strange."

She said being a carer is not like a job.

"It is rewarding and the people who I help are lovely. I just love my job."

Christine works for Housing and Care 21, in Hinckley Road, Leicester.

Linda Harris, who nominated her, said: "She is like a family friend. The care I get is excellent. I think she is wonderful and don't know how I'd cope without her."

Voluntary Sector winner Stephen Tebbutt, 56, who has been volunteering at Extracare charity shop, in Granby Street for 15 years. said: "I feel absolutely fantastic. I am very pleased."

He said he enjoys raising money to help out the elderly.

"When someone donates something you clean it, put it out, and someone buys it. It is rewarding."

Bethany Mae Foster, won the Young Carer of the Year category and was also was given a special award from Sturgess Motor Group. She works at Amberwood Care Home, in Wigston.

Bethany has been caring for others from a young age - when she was 15, she used to volunteer at Age Concern.

She said: "I am speechless and overwhelmed.

"I just think, if my parents ever need to go in a care home, I would like to think they would be well cared for. That is why I enjoy spending the extra time with the residents.

"I feel like they are all my adopted grandparents."

Marie Mitchell, 43, of Kirby Frith, won the Special Recognition award.

She said: "I was not expecting it at all because there were so many people there who deserved it. I could not believe it."

Marie has been living with her dad during the week to care for him since he was diagnosed with bowel cancer last year. She has also given up her job so she can dedicate her tine to him.

The winner of the Supporting Independence award was Christine Richardson, 60, of Wigston. She owns a care and support company called CairBairz.

She said: "It is amazing how I was picked out of everyone else."

Andy Morris who nominated her, said: "She is a hands-on boss and her and her staff deserve an award."

John Harris, 82, who was a finalist in the Special Recognition category was given a special Totally Devoted award from host Emma Jesson.

John has been caring for his wife 24-hours a day, seven days a week, for 15 years due to her medical conditions.

His son Brian, said: "We are extremely proud of him."

Awards host and ITV weather presenter Emma Jesson said: "I always enjoy this event, it brings the community together. I always meet some amazing people, people who work selflessly in the background.

"The world is a better place with them in it. They restore my faith in humanity."

To view a gallery from the awards click HERE.

If you would like to buy a picture from the awards click HERE

See a video from the awards here: 

Leicester Mercury Carer of the Year awards 2014: All winners revealed

Premier League predictions - with Leicester City historian John Hutchinson

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What is the score going to be when Leicester City head to Old Trafford to face Manchester United in the Premier League? Can they repeat the heroics of their meeting earlier this season when they came back from 3-1 down to defeat United 5-3 at the King Power Stadium? That's the question we are asking Mercury sports writer James Sharpe, who gives his prediction and also casts his eye over the weekend's action. It's 3pts for getting the correct score and just 1pt for only getting the right result. Every week, we are inviting a guest to go up against him. This week, the challenger is Leicester City historian John Hutchinson. Hutch, a City supporter for more than half a century and now the club's official historian and archivist, says he has used "a mixture of rational analysis and subjective emotion" and has backed Nigel Pearson's men to get something from the Theatre of Dreams tomorrow.
Premier LeagueScoreSharpeHutch
SATURDAY
Hull v Newcastlex-x1-01-1
C Palace v Evertonx-x1-12-1
Liverpool v West Hamx-x2-12-1
Man Utd v Leicesterx-x1-11-1
Stoke v QPRx-x0-02-0
Sunderland v Burnleyx-x1-11-1
West Brom v Tottenhamx-x1-11-2
Chelsea v Man Cityx-x1-12-1
SUNDAY
Arsenal v Aston Villax-x2-03-0
Southampton v Swanseax-x2-02-0
Man Utd v Leicester City Old Trafford, Saturday, 3pmVerdict: They couldn't, could they? Leicester have the chance to do the double over Manchester United. One thing is surely for certain – this game won't be able to live up to the sheer incredibleness of the last time these two sides met. That day in September, City came from 3-1 down to beat United 5-3 in one of the most famous victories in the club's history. I've read on United forums that the home fans are desperate for revenge, so we can expect a pretty pumped-up atmosphere inside Old Trafford tomorrow. City bounced back from their disappointing defeat to Stoke with a dramatic and spirited comeback in the FA Cup at Spurs. It was also a great chance for Andrej Kramaric to get accustomed to Premier League opposition. He looked sharp against Spurs and City fans will be hoping he continues to impress tomorrow. United have so, so many attacking options, it is a bit of a surprise that they haven't scored more goals. One of the reasons for this, is that Louis van Gaal has focussed a lot recently on making his side difficult to beat. But for all that flair up top, United have hardly impressed. Cambridge kept them out, a poor QPR side almost did the same, as did a fantastic Southampton. City certainly have it in them to get something from this, if they can produce some of the form they have shown away from home recently – Spurs, Hull and Liverpool. Let's be optimistic, shall we.Sharpe's prediction: 1-1Hutch says: 1-1
Hull v Newcastle KC Stadium, Saturday, 12.45pmVerdict: Certainly not the most inspiring of openers to the weekend's football. Steve Bruce has received a welcome boost with the news that strikers Nikica Jelavic and Abel Hernandez have returned to training. Without either of them, goals look really hard to come by for Hull. John Carver has been given the Newcastle head coach role until the end of the season and he can give all his focus to stop his side plummeting towards the bottom three. Papiss Cisse is still away at the Africa Cup of Nations and that is a huge blow for Newcastle, who find goals difficult to come by from elsewhere. But they have lost their last five on the road in all competitions and I fancy them to be edged out again here.Sharpe's prediction: 1-0Hutch says: 1-1
Crystal Palace v Everton Selhurst Park, Saturday, 3pmVerdict: These two sides could hardly come into the game in more differing form. Everton have won just one of their last 13 games in all competitions and are now, if they weren't already, looking over their shoulders more than up the table. Meanwhile, the Alan Pardew Effect is live and well at Palace, who have won all four games since he took charge. Everton really should have ended that barren spell against West Brom were it not for a missed Kevin Miralles penalty, after the Belgian took the spot kick ahead of normal taker Leighton Baines. Everton simply do not seem to have the belief in their squad to pick up all three points here but I think they can nick a point.Sharpe's prediction: 1-1Hutch says: 2-1
Liverpool v West Ham Anfield, Saturday, 3pmVerdict: Daniel Sturridge's return from injury simply cannot come quickly enough for Brendan Rodgers. Liverpool performed admirably in the Capital One Cup semi-final against Chelsea but simple lacked that genuine goalscorer up front. After a run of five games without a win (six if you include the penalty-shootout victory), Big Sam's men have now picked up back-to-back wins against Hull and Bristol City. This will provide a sterner test, though, and I think they will fall just short.Sharpe's prediction: 2-1Hutch says: 2-1
Stoke v QPR Britannia Stadium, Saturday, 3pmVerdict: Stoke were dealt a MASSIVE blow with the news that their star man Bojan, who had finally started showing his class, is out for the rest of the season. Without him, that is a huge chunk of their creativity gone, which they will struggle to replace. That should give QPR a great opportunity to pick up their very first point on the road this season. Sharpe's prediction: 0-0Hutch says: 2-0
Sunderland v Burnley Stadium of Light, Saturday, 3pmVerdict: Sunderland's issue at the moment, is a simple one. Their focus on being so resilient at the back, and difficult to break down, is having a hugely adverse effect on their potency up front. This has turned Gus Poyet's men into draw specialists with 11 so far this season. Sunderland have the worst home record, matching Burnley's second-worst away. Draw, anyone?Sharpe's prediction: 1-1Hutch says: 1-1
West Brom v Tottenham The Hawthorns, Saturday, 3pmVerdict: I know they ended up getting a point from their trip to Everton but, flipping 'eck, West Brom were so boring. That is what Tony Pulis does. You become a fortress but they had literally zero attacking potential. I really could not watch that every week. And, in reality, they would have lost, were it not for an act of treachery from Kevin Miralles. So, we know what to expect tomorrow. Spurs will find it so tough to break the hosts down. They have struggled for goals recently but, if Christian Eriksen and Harry Kane can show their class, they should be able to grind out a point here.Sharpe's prediction: 1-1Hutch says: 1-2
Chelsea v Man City Stamford Bridge, Saturday, 5.30pmVerdict: We will now see how Chelsea fare without Diego Costa, after the Spaniard was handed a three-game ban for stamping during their victory over Liverpool in the Capital One Cup. Costa has been so crucial to Chelsea, not just with his goals but also with his hold-up play and how he brings those around him into the game. To be missing him for what is such an important game, against their main title rivals, is a huge blow. City are missing Yaya Toure so badly in the centre of midfield, and that has shown over recent weeks, none less than the defeat to Middlesbrough in the FA Cup. Mourinho knows anything but defeat here will do his quest for the title no harm whatsoever, and I think he'd be happy with a point.Sharpe's prediction: 1-1Hutch says: 2-1
Arsenal v Aston Villa Emirates Stadium, Sunday, 1.30pmVerdict: The potential absence of Alexis Sanchez is a blow for Arsene Wenger, but as long as the injury is not a prolonged one, they shouldn't miss him too much. They face a goal-shy Villa side, who are now just three points above the drop zone. Santi Cazorla stole the show as Arsenal picked up a very, very impressive victory at Man City last time out and, with Sanchez likely to miss out, could be the star once again. A fifth win in a row for the Gunners.Sharpe's prediction: 2-0Hutch says: 3-0
Southampton v Swansea St Mary's Stadium, Sunday, 4pmVerdict: Swansea are now in a bit of a predicament, without their two best players so far this season. Wilfried Bony has been sold to Man City, while Gylfi Sigurdsson is suspended. That is the heartbeat of Swansea's attacking force gone. And against a Southampton side as watertight as a duck's 'Arris, they will really find it a struggle.Sharpe's prediction: 2-0Hutch says: 2-0

Premier League predictions - with Leicester City historian John Hutchinson

Manchester United v Leicester City - Premier League LIVE!

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Leicester City head to Old Trafford on Saturday hardly expecting a repeat of their last showing against Manchester United.

That ended in a thrilling 5-3 win at the King Power Stadium in September, a result which left 13-time Premier League champions United shell-shocked.

City have not hit those heights since. They have slumped to the bottom of the table, becoming embroiled in a fight for survival on their return to the top flight after 10 years.

Results have improved in recent weeks, and who would bet against pulling off another shock result this weekend?

If you can't get to the match, we will be covering the game live with text commentary from Old Trafford.

Sports reporter James Sharpe will be providing details of the action and analysis of the game.

You can put your questions, views and comments to James during the game using the interactive link on the match commentary or you can tweet him @TheSharpeEnd.

The action will start at 2.45pm on Saturday with the announcement of the teams and the pre-match build-up.

Live Blog Manchester United v Leicester City - Premier League LIVE!

 

Manchester United v Leicester City - Premier League LIVE!

Match preview: 'We've been trying to forget 5-3 victory over Manchester United', says Leicester City boss Nigel Pearson

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While the memory of Leicester City's incredible 5-3 victory over Manchester United is fresh in the minds of Foxes' fans, mention it to manager Nigel Pearson and he grimaces.

"We've been trying to forget about it ever since," he says.

It isn't that Pearson doesn't cherish that famous victory when his players announced their arrival in the Premier League by coming from 3-1 down with a four-goal burst in 21 crazy minutes.

It is just that now Pearson wants his side fully focused on the challenge ahead, rather than looking back.

After that win, City went on a 13-game run without tasting victory again and they go to Old Trafford bottom of the Premier League.

"It was great but until we beat Hull (on December 28) that was the last time we won," he said.

"That's long gone, we're looking at this game from the perspective we are at now.

"I'm sure it will be discussed but we're not going to do that. A lot has changed since then.

"I think the best thing for us to do is concentrate on what we are doing at the moment.

"I don't spend much time looking at those angles. The game at our place was a very good result for us. We had a very good second half and scored at vital times.

"But those are not the sort of events that happen every week.

"We had a frustrating spell before Christmas but the players have been admirable."

City have shown better form in recent weeks and have claimed four victories in their last six games in all competitions, including coming back to draw at Liverpool and to win at Tottenham.

Pearson said those games have given City belief they can get something out of tomorrow's game at Old Trafford.

"We've shown in recent weeks we can play some good stuff and win some games as well," he said.

"We need to show that week on week as well.

"The key to success at this level is being able to back up one win with another. We need runs of results and that's key.

"Most sides can win the odd game here and there but stringing results together is key for us.

"We will have to do it in a run of games."

City will be without keeper Kasper Schmeichel and striker Chris Wood through injury, while former United trainee Matty James misses a return to Old Trafford as he serves the last of his three-game suspension for his red card against Aston Villa.

However, Liam Moore has shaken off an ankle injury to be in contention and Dean Hammond is available again after a calf problem. Matt Upson is training fully now but Pearson has said tomorrow's game could come too soon for his City debut.

For United, Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata could return after being rested for the FA Cup tie at Cambridge United but there are question marks over defenders Jonny Evans and Chris Smalling because of knocks, while Ashley Young and Michael Carrick are definitely out.

Match preview: 'We've been trying to forget 5-3 victory over Manchester United', says Leicester City boss Nigel Pearson

Simon Amstell: 'My show is full of sex, drugs and the terrible situations I find myself in'

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The blurb for the show sounds like it has been plucked from an essay, writes Gemma Collins. "With intense vulnerability and troubling honesty, comedian Simon Amstell explores freedom, joy, love, death, adventure, art, peace, sex, regret, success, eating, suffering, dreaming, healing, forgiving and other areas."

All that's missing is "discuss".

Perhaps the man himself can shed light on the ludicrously long explanation of his latest stand-up show, To Be Free?

"Well. Okay. So. It's an attempt to be free – an attempt to transcend my own ego – which keeps me from being completely free in my life," he says.

"I still have this need to be a special and fascinating person. I'm also imprisoned by my insecurities and my fears of the culture I'm in.

"Ideally, I want to be able to say and do what I want all the time, like I can on stage. That doesn't exist off stage – it doesn't. So things happen and that causes me problems.

"The show is about that. It's about letting go of all that nonsense and coming to the place where I am."

That's very deep, Simon.

"And that's the sort of show it is," he laughs.

"It's full of all those things listed. Sex, drugs and the terrible situations I find myself in.

"I get there through poking at my ego and what happens to me as a result of that lunacy."

The stories are mainly from the past couple of years, he says – experiences accumulated since his stand-up show, Do Nothing. "Plus memories from my traumatic childhood that I bring up and exploit for comedy," he chuckles.

Like your BBC2 sitcom, Grandma's House, for instance?

"Yes. But – I've actually been doing stand-up since I was 13," he explains. "I was part of the Harlequin Theatre School's annual charity show.

"I really liked hearing the laughter and thought, 'I want to do more of this'.

"Stand-up is at the root of all things I've ended up doing. I never abandoned it. I only ever break from it when something needs to be written."

So popular has his To Be Free show been, he recently sold out residences in New York and London.

"I've just got back from New York and LA, promoting the American leg of the tour, which begins in April – once I've finished touring over here in March," he says, plugging away.

"I was in New York for two months, at Theatre 80 St Marks. It was really fun – new people coming to see me, and me being a new person on the scene to them."

Being successful in a "new place" has helped inflate Simon's ego all the more.

"It feels like I must definitely be funny, to be received there," he says. "It feels like I haven't got away with something – not that I've thought that about people coming to see me in the past."

He pauses.

"When I started this tour in London, it seemed the people who were there really understood what I am as a comedian. No-one was expecting it to be something it's not."

Something that it's not? Does he think people expect to see the Simon who made his name asking pop stars some very awkward questions on shows such as Popworld and Never Mind The Buzzcocks?

"That is what I mean, I think. They're not two people, essentially."

Simon has won two British Comedy Awards, an RTS Award, a Broadcast Award, a Chortle Award and has been nominated for a Bafta. He's well- respected, that's for sure.

"How do I feel about Buzzcocks now?" he says. "I don't think about it too much. And no, I don't watch it.

"It's generally what happens. Once I start something new, I don't know what the hell I'm doing. So I figure out what I'm doing, I get bored and then I leave," he laughs.

"That's how it goes.

"With my sitcom, I started out not knowing how to write a sitcom, not knowing how to act and not knowing why I felt so anxious around my family.

"I learned how to write, how to act and now I understand my family, I feel at ease with them. There was no need to do it any more."

It's funny to think of Simon Amstell as anything but a star. But if you cast your mind back to 2003 and the Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year competition, he was a relative unknown in the world of stand-up.

It was a line-up you'd pay big bucks to see now, including Greg Davies and Rhod Gilbert, all battling it out for the coveted prize.

A memorable occasion, you'd think.

"I was in it, was I? I must have been about 17 then. No. I was 22.

"There were so many of them and I never won any. It was a year of competitions I lost. I should have waited to do those things."

Simon, according to one of the judges, was ill-at-ease as a stand-up back then. "It's my act," he protests. "Everyone in comedy is – it's the reason you become a stand-up.

"Someone dumped me for that once, so I know this is true," he admits. "This has been rectified with a lot of therapy and healing plant medicine.

"I look relaxed now – even when I am ill-at-ease," he says.

So what does he think of Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival? "Have I been to it before?" he asks.

Well, it's a big thing here, we tell him. It's been going for 22 years and Curve theatre, that's a decent enough venue to play.

"Great," he says. "The truth is, my tour happens to be coming through at the same time.

Oh. "Will you be there to laugh at me?"

*Uncomfortable silence*

"Good luck with everything in your life," he says.


Simon Amstell plays Curve on February 10, at 8pm. For tickets, see www.comedy-festival.co.uk

He's also bringing his show to Loughborough Town Hall, on March 4. www.loughboroughtownhall.co.uk

Simon Amstell: 'My show is full of sex, drugs and the terrible situations I find myself in'

Sam Bailey thrilled by "brilliant" homecoming De Montfort Hall gig despite family A&E drama

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X-Factor queen Sam Bailey switched from diva to worried mum when a family emergency struck moments after walking off stage at De Montfort Hall.

The reality TV star was given a standing ovation from a sell-out crowd following the first of two 'homecoming' gigs in Leicester last night.

But rather than bask in the fans' adoration, the 37-year-old mum-of-three spent the next few hours in A & E after daughter Brooke fell ill.

Sam said Brooke, 10, had suffered a suspected allergic reaction.

"Being in A&E until 2am wasn't what I expected after the gig," she said. "We don't know what caused it, but luckily Brooke's fine now."

The reality TV star is touring her new album The Power of Love, with special guests Daughters of Davis, with Leicester the first date on the nationwide tour.

It was a much a much-anticipated visit for Leicestershire fans, which she was set to repeat to another packed De Montfort Hall crowd tonight.

Sam said the sentiment was mutual.

"It was brilliant," she said. "Great perform in my home town. I knew most of the audience. I reckon I've seen them all in Asda."

John Lawton, 60, from Market Bosworth, was among those who have supported Sam's rise from talent show hopeful to professional diva.

He said: "It was awesome. Absolutely brilliant! Fantastic!

"It was the first time I've seen Sam perform live and she was even better on stage than when I've seen her on TV.

"Wonderful it was."

John added: "When she sang that Power of Love song that won her X-Factor, well it blew the house down!

"I think she was having as much fun as the audience was.

"Her family and husband were there too, I think she said even her new baby was in the wings somewhere.

"And although there were hundreds of people there, it was also quite an intimate affair, with Sam chatting and sharing a few jokes with the audience.

"A marvellous occasion."

Fans also took to Twitter to sing her praises.

Lynsey Bell (@Livelylivy) wrote: "SamBailey was AMAZING tonight!! Seriously guys, You have to see her in concert! Wow what a voice!"

Kevin Brown (@kevinbrown321) added: "Just back from De Montfort Hall and a brilliant night with the amazing Sam Bailey . Thank you so much. Loved it!"

Alan David Jackson (@AlJacs1971) said: "Watching Sam Bailey at DeMontfort Hall, and I must say I am impressed."

Antony Flint, De Montfort Hall's general manager said: "I think it's great Sam's chosen to start her tour in the city, there's always that bit of something extra when there's a strong local connection between the audience and the artist.

"But more than that, it was also a really strong performance which the audience absolutely loved. "We were sold out on both nights and the atmosphere was fantastic."

Sam Bailey thrilled by


Leicester bus travellers set to get vouchers instead of change from Arriva

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Thousands of bus passengers could get vouchers instead of change under a new system being introduced on Sunday.

Arriva is offering to give change vouchers which can be redeemed later for more travel or cash.

The company said it is making the move as its drivers in Leicester often run out of change at certain times of the day blaming customers tendering notes for small fares.

Steve Smith, Arriva's area manager for Leicester said: "We have listened to feedback from our customers that highlighted a need to introduce the change voucher to our range of fare collection.

"We're sure this will ensure our driving team to continue to provide excellent service to our customers and make bus travel even easier."

But national bus pressure group Campaign for Better Transport has reservations about the scheme.

Policy analyst Andrew Allen said: "A number of bus operators across the country now use a voucher scheme."

He added: "In the short term passengers need reassurance that this won't mean they're overcharged if they don't have the exact fare."

He added: "In the longer term the

answer is smart ticketing, along the lines of London's Oyster card. "Leicestershire has made progress on this, but we'd like see a timetable for this being rolled out across the county."

An Arriva spokesman said: "Our drivers are only able to carry a limited amount of change, and at certain times of the day they often run out.

"This is because quite often we find that large numbers of customers wish to pay with notes, often for relatively small fares. In our experience however much change is carried it is often not enough."

If a driver cannot the exact change they will issue a change voucher. The voucher can be exchanged for a refund on the next trip or later in a journey, or towards payment next time the passenger boards the bus.

The voucher, which is valid for four weeks after issue, can be exchanged at the Arriva Travel Shop.

Each 'Change Voucher' is valid for 4 weeks from date of issue.

Bus user Sue Beasley, manager of the Citizens Advice Bureau in Leicester, said: "I had not heard of his system. As yet we have not had anyone approach us about it."

Leicester bus travellers set to get vouchers instead of change from Arriva

Man charged with sexually assaulting women on buses

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A 67-year-old man is to appear in court after he was charged with sexually assaulting two female bus passengers. The first assault is alleged to have happened on Monday, June 9 last year on a bus between Loughborough Road and Holderness Road, Mowmacre, in Leicester. The second allegation is that the man sexually assaulted a woman on a journey between Leicester city centre and South Wigston on Thursday, September 25. Leicestershire Police said today the suspect, who has been released on bail, was due to appear at Leicester Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, February 25.

Man charged with sexually assaulting women on buses

Curve theatre in Leicester loses out to Southampton venue at The Stage Awards 2015

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Curve has missed out in its bid to be named Regional Theatre of the Year at The Stage Awards 2015.

Southampton's Nuffield Theatre scooped the prize, which was judged by critics from The Stage, the weekly newspaper and website covering theatre and the arts.

In shortlisting Curve for the award, the judges commented on the strength of programming at the theatre in 2014, which concluded with the Sound of Music.

They also praised Curve's commitment to supporting new playwrights through the New Views mentoring scheme.

Curve theatre in Leicester loses out to Southampton venue at The Stage Awards 2015

Euromillions results for Friday, January 30

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There were two lucky winners of last night's Euromillions draw - sharing a jackpot of just over £11 million between them

Were you one of them? Are you going to be celebrating this morning?

Check out the winning numbers here.

They are: 9, 13, 15, 19, 24 with the lucky star numbers 3 and 8.

There were also 10 winners of the UK MIllionnaire Maker - with one lucky person also winning a trip aroudn the world too.

The winning tickets were:

P,K,T,3,4,7,2,0,4

Q,K,V,0,5,4,4,4,3

Q,K,V,6,5,4,3,3,9

Q,K,W,3,6,0,9,2,0

Q,K,W,3,7,0,8,6,1

Q,K,Y,3,9,7,9,9,1

Q,L,B,1,4,1,7,4,8

Q,L,B,2,0,0,9,9,9,

Q,L,D,3,7,2,3,4,2

Q,L,D,8,7,7,1,2,2

Euromillions results for Friday, January 30

Station Lane, Scraptoft, closed after crash between car and milk float

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A road was closed this morning while emergency services dealt with a crash between a car and a milk float.

The collision happened at about 6.45am in Station Road, Scraptoft.

One person was treated at the scene by paramedics. No further details of their injuries have been released.

A fire service spokesman said crews worked to make both the car and the milk float safe and that the road had been closed while this happened.

Police said they were still in attendance at 7.50am.

A force spokesman said that but because the vehicles were still at the scene there "is some impact on the traffic in the area".

Station Lane, Scraptoft, closed after crash between car and milk float

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