The Liberty Stadium will be no place for faint hearts when Leicester Tigers face the Ospreys in their penultimate Heineken Cup pool game tomorrow.

Tigers club captain Geordan Murphy already has a pretty good idea of what the atmosphere in south Wales will be like.

"Whoever handles the occasion best will win the game," he said succinctly.

Having played in so many major games for Tigers, 34-year-old Murphy is better qualified than most to put forward that view.

"It is a huge game," he said. "The Ospreys are a quality side and they showed their ability last time out when they beat Toulouse. To beat them at any stage is a fantastic result."

Having started 72 Heineken Cup games in Tigers colours, Murphy still relishes the adrenalin rush of stepping on to the European stage.

"It started building from a couple of weeks ago," he said. "The game has been at the back of everyone's minds. The press days are bigger, too, with all the Heineken Cup bunting around.

"Everyone is looking forward to the game – there is a lot resting on it. Both teams need to win. It is crucial."

Injury rules Murphy out of tomorrow's game, as it did in the first game between the sides, which Tigers won 39-22 at Welford Road in October. "That was a high-scoring game," Murphy recalled. "A couple of decisions went our way and we got a couple of good bounces and scored tries from them. The games we have played there have been tough, close-run affairs with defence one of the things people have talked about afterwards.

"Tomorrow, we will have to do all the things that we do well. We will have to be strong in the set-piece and our defence will have to be good again because they have some elusive players in their backline and play a good style of rugby."

Over the last few months, Tigers have been involved in a series of hard-fought games in Europe and the Premiership. They remain well and truly alive in both competitions, but Murphy is expecting matters to begin moving forward at even greater pace from tomorrow.

"The format of the Premiership means that games are always close-run affairs," he said. "They are always intense.

"But the level rises for European games. When I first saw the groups, I knew it would be tough. We have the French champions, the Pro12 champions and the Premiership runners up in one group. It was never going to be easy."

Are you one of the lucky few who managed to bag a ticket to see Gary Barlow at De Montfort Hall tomorrow night?

If so, we want your reviews of the show!

The Take That star, X Factor judge and national treasure created quite a buzz in Leicester when he announced in November he would be performing in the city.

De Montfort Hall's website crashed and its box office phone line was jammed as thousands battled to get tickets, which sold out within a couple of hours.

About 2,000 fans will watch the show tomorrow night, and bosses are expecting those with standing tickets to be queuing throughout the day.

We want to feature readers' reviews in the paper next week, so if you are going and would like to see your words in print, see the panel opposite for information on how to submit your piece.

While we're on the subject of one of the biggest stars in the country coming to Leicester, we thought we should quiz De Montfort Hall general manager Antony Flint on how staff were preparing for the visit.

Mr Flint told the Mercury: "The hall's got a great tradition of having big artists and it's nice they want to come here.

"We work with all sorts of artists all year round so it's relatively ordinary for staff to be meeting people in the public eye, although not always artists as big as Gary Barlow."

He's certainly a big name to kick-off 2013 – the venue's centenary year.

"I'll be around in the day, as I like to be there to make sure people are looked after, but I don't always meet the artists," he said.

Mr Flint conceded "there may be some truth" the female staff were just a little bit more excited about the star's arrival.

And fans who have got their hands on tickets are pretty fired up too.

"We've had a lot of interest and a lot of people writing in," said Mr Flint. "Lots of people have been asking if they can meet him.

"Ultimately, that's down to the artists and their management. We've passed all the requests on so it's down to them now."

Most artists who play at the hall apparently tend to arrive not long before the start of their show.

But maybe Gary might like to see the lights of Leicestershire beforehand, for example, the space centre, Bradgate Park or King Power Stadium?

"Who knows? There are some great places to go in Leicester."

And finally: Gary's rider requests?

"There's nothing unusual on it, I can tell you that. Apparently he's a very nice guy."

Leicester Tigers have their big guns primed as they head into their most important match of the season to date.

Richard Cockerill's men face the Ospreys in a massive Heineken Cup pool two clash at Swansea's Liberty Stadium tomorrow.

The side Tigers have named to face the Welshmen bears little resemblance to the XV which started the narrow Aviva Premiership win at Worcester nine days ago.

England men Dan Cole, Tom Youngs and Geoff Parling are all recalled to the pack, while Ben Youngs starts at scrum-half and another England international, Manu Tuilagi, is named in the centres alongside Anthony Allen.

Also starting in south Wales are prop Marcos Ayerza, back-row forward Julian Salvi and Jordan Crane, who is named ahead of Thomas Waldrom at No.8.

Waldrom is on the replacements bench as is Ed Slater, who was named in the England Saxons squad this week.

Matt Smith is also among the replacements offering versatility at either centre or wing.

Ospreys have named flanker Justin Tipuric in their side after he recovered from a shoulder injury. However, centre Ashley Beck has been ruled out with an ankle problem.

Tigers head the group as they prepare to travel west, but the Ospreys gave themselves a chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals when they beat Toulouse 17-6, in Wales, before Christmas.

Cockerill, Tigers' director of rugby, knows just how tough an assignment his side are facing against a team they saw off 39-22 when the pair met at Welford Road, in October.

"We go there trying to earn the right to be the best team," he said. "It was very tight at Welford Road before we ran away with it.

"We have a huge amount of respect for them. They are well coached. They have a good half-back pairing and are dangerous in the channels. Their back five is practically the Welsh back five and there is a lot to respect in that. Dan Biggar is a good goal-kicker and we have to be very disciplined."

Ospreys head coach Steve Tandy described it as a "massive" game.

He said: "Leicester will come down here confident after some good results of their own lately and we know that we are going to have to match them physically."

A city MP has declared war on thugs after a man was attacked and robbed by a gang just yards from his home.

Keith Vaz spoke out after 47-year-old Rajesh Devaliya was ambushed by four young men as he stepped into a lift in the housing block in St Mark's, Leicester, where he lives with his elderly father.

Mr Devaliya said he thought he was going to die as the men repeatedly punched and kicked him as he lay on the floor of the lift during the attack, in Southey Close, at 4pm on Monday.

Mr Vaz, who stepped into the still blood-spattered lift yesterday during a visit to Mr Devaliya's home, said: "Enough is enough. This is a line drawn in the sand. I am declaring war on thugs. We have to unite against them and protect our citizens."

Mr Devaliya, who came to Britain 10 years ago from the Gujurat area of India and does not speak English, recalled the attack with the aid of an interpreter.

"As I went through the main door to the building two young men came in after me," he said. "When I got into the lift, there were two other young men already in it.

"Before I knew what was happening they all started attacking me.

"I was knocked to the floor but they kept on punching and kicking me.

"I thought I was going to die. They took my wallet with £40 in and ripped a gold chain from around my neck which my mother had given me."

Following the attack, Mr Devaliya, bleeding heavily from a gaping head wound, staggered to the door of his apartment.

His 87-year-old father called Mr Devaliya's brother, Ashok, who lives nearby. He raced round and dialled 999.

Ashok, 50, said: "It was like the scene from a horror movie. There was blood everywhere – outside the lift, in the lift along the corridor and into my father's apartment.

"My brother was covered in his own blood and was lucky to survive. If it had been our father, I am sure he would have been dead."

The victim's head wound needed five stitches.

Leicester East member Mr Vaz said the Home Affairs Select Committee, of which he is chairman, had this week begun an inquiry into anti-social behaviour in Britain.

He said: "This attack is not just an attack on Mr Devaliya, it is an attack on all law-abiding members of our society. We must fight back and ensure the perpetrators of this terrible crime – and crimes like this – are caught and brought to justice.

"I want everyone who thinks they may have information about this crime – and any other crime – to contact the police immediately."

As well as visiting the victim yesterday, Mr Vaz spoke to residents on the estate.

Many said there was a lot of anti-social behaviour in the area, and some said they were afraid to go out at night.

The MP, whose constituency includes St Mark's, told council housing officials, who were also there for the visit, that they had 28 days to move the entrance intercom from the secluded rear of Mr Devaliya's housing block to the front, which is more public.

Mr Vaz also asked the housing officials to see if other residents in other council complexes in the city were facing similar problems.

He said: "It must be a city-wide problem and I want all of these people protected and their concerns listened to."

John Thomson, area housing manager for the city council, said: "We will speak to all the residents of this block to see if they want the intercom system moved."

Detective Constable Kaushik Pattani, said: "This was an unprovoked and nasty assault that has left the victim very shaken and upset by the ordeal.

"We have been carrying inquiries and looking at CCTV, but we are hoping that the public may be able to assist our investigation."

The attackers are about 5ft 6in. One is of slim build and the others are of medium build. All four men were wearing hats, gloves and had their faces covered. They were also wearing cream jogging bottoms and tops.

Inspector Edward McBryde-Wilding said the victim was not able to describe the attackers further because their faces were covered.

He said police were aware of a 20-strong group of youths who were known to congregate in the area.

The officer said police were applying for a dispersal order to allow them to move the group on and keep them out of St Mark's.

Anyone with information about the attackers can call police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Manager Nigel Pearson believes it is time for Leicester City to launch their challenge for an automatic promotion spot.

City are just five points off second-place Hull, and head to relegation strugglers Bristol City today after picking up seven points from their last three Championship games.

Pearson said City must now put together a concerted run to challenge the top two before time runs out.

It was in January last season that Reading won nine consecutive games to put them in the automatic-promotion picture and they eventually booked their place in the Premier League.

Pearson has urged his side to find the consistency to do likewise.

"We have to try and make a move over the next month or two, there is no doubt about that because we still have to try to aim for the top two spots," he said.

"We have had a difficult period but we have stayed in contact with the teams above us, and didn't lose too much ground, which is a positive.

"We have got some momentum at the moment but you have to work at it. The secret of success at any level is hard work and we have to continue to work hard. We know we have good players.

"We have to try and make a move on the teams above us now."

Ashton Gate has not been a happy hunting ground in recent seasons.

City have picked up just one point from their last three visits and Pearson is expecting another tough challenge from Derek McInnes' men, despite their lowly position in the table.

"I am sure they will be disappointed with the position they are in," said Pearson.

"They work exceptionally hard and it is a place we have not done particular well at before. We have to try and rectify that.

"For us, it is about trying to get our performance right for this game again and see if we can extend what has been a positive run recently.

"Maybe their win over Peterborough just after Christmas was vital, but whenever you are in a relegation dogfight it seems that when you win other teams around you win.

"It is a tough one to get out of but I am sure they will be a difficult proposition for us, so we have to make sure our performance is right."

Bristol's form at Ashton Gate has been poor of late. They won their first two Championship games at home, against Crystal Palace and Cardiff – scoring four times on each occasion – but have had little to shout about since.

The victory over Peterborough was their first on home soil since those early wins and, overall, they have lost seven out of 12 games in front of their own fans.

MP Andrew Bridgen has sparked controversy with comments he made over how much MPs should be paid.

The Conservative, who represents North West Leicestershire, took to the airwaves and gave a radio interview after a report revealed MPs felt they should be paid more than their basic salary of £65,738.

Mr Bridgen, pictured below, told the BBC's PM programme that many of his colleagues had taken a pay cut and left successful careers to serve in Parliament and that good candidates were being put off by the pay.

It followed media reports that 100 MPs, including Mr Bridgen, responded to an anonymous survey by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority on MP's pay.

Responding MPs, of all parties, on average said an appropriate salary would be £86,250.

Mr Bridgen said on the radio: "I know MPs who will say in private they are getting poorer.

"Most of my colleagues on the Government benches took a pay cut to be an MP."

Mr Bridgen, who is also paid £7,773 every month for six hours of work as non-executive chairman of his vegetable processing firm, AB Produce, said: "A man or woman who is very capable and doing well in their profession, with a family – are they going to be willing to take that pay cut and look their child in the eye when it's Christmas and say, you can't have what you normally have because mummy or daddy wants to be an MP?"

His words have led Labour politicians in the district, where the average wage is about £17,000, to label Mr Bridgen out of touch with his constituents.

Mr Bridgen told the Mercury he was one of the few MPs willing to talk publicly and honestly about MPs' pay and said Labour MPs had also wanted a raise.

He said: "I would like to state that I do not feel it would be appropriate to increase MPs' pay at the present time of public pay restraint. In the long term, however, I can foresee issues with the diversity of people looking to stand as a Member of Parliament if the issue of pay is not looked at.

"I knew what I was signing up for and have no complaints about the salary."

One of Leicester's most famous companies, Jessops, has closed all of its 187 stores with the loss of 1,370 jobs after administrators said the troubled camera chain could not be saved.

Yesterday's announcement came on a black day for Leicestershire, as it emerged 420 jobs faced the axe at the Waitrose distribution centre in Bardon, and the county council said it was looking to shed 1,100 of its posts over the next four years.

The news about Jessops came as a shock to both shoppers and business leaders, who had speculated that some stores would stay open.

It brought an end to 88 years of trading for the Leicester group, and means about 150 jobs are set to go at its headquarters in Scudamore Road, Braunstone Frith, which will close in the next few days.

Yesterday's job cuts include 27 posts at stores in Gallowtree Gate, Leicester, and Cattle Market, Loughborough.

The rest of the jobs are at shops around the UK.

Administrators from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) were brought in on Wednesday to see if the struggling business had a future, but they concluded it did not after finding a "significant" drop in trade in recent months had caused major financial problems.

Martin Traynor, chief executive of Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce, said: "Obviously, it's a huge shock and a bitter blow for Leicestershire, but clearly the state of the finances of the business have meant that PwC have had to act quickly in order to protect the interests of creditors.

"January and February are particularly quiet trading months for retail and, with the position as it was for Jessops, things could only get worse."

Professor Jim Saker, retail lecturer at Loughborough University, said the firm had been caught between trying to be a high street chain and a specialist camera supplier.

"This is basically a result of them losing the cheaper end of their market to the internet and supermarkets and the business being too big to survive as a specialist camera outlet," he said.

The administrators said that the biggest shareholder, HSBC, had put in extra funding to Jessops, but the group had been hit by a "credit squeeze" by suppliers.

It has debts of about £28 million.

Speaking yesterday, Edward Williams, joint administrator and partner at PwC, said: "Since my appointment, we have reviewed the position of the business and held extensive discussions with suppliers around their support for ongoing trading.

"It is apparent that we cannot continue to trade and, as a result, we have had to make the difficult decision to begin the closure of all 187 Jessops stores at the close of business today. This is an extremely sad day for Jessops and its employees."

Earlier this week, former Jessops executive chairman David Adams said he made a bid to save the business last summer but it was rejected by HSBC, which has controlled the company since 2009. It took a 47 per cent stake in the business after securing a deal to reduce Jessops' huge debts.

The company grew to about 300 stores after floating on the London Stock Exchange in 2004, when it was valued at £160 million.

However, demand for specialist knowledge about digital photography waned and it was forced to shut more than 100 of its stores.

It had a turnover of £236 million in the year to December 31, which had fallen from the £304 million it turned over two years previously.

Jessops was founded in Leicester in 1935 by Frank Jessop after he set up a store in Newarke Street.

Chris Wood fired in a first-half hat-trick as Leicester secured an easy 4-0 win at Ashton Gate to send Bristol City to the foot of the npower Championship.

The former Robins loanee made it nine from his last five games and six in three since joining the Foxes from West Brom.

Most of the damage was done before the break, inflicted by a combination of Ben Marshall, home goalkeeper Dean Gerken and the unstoppable Wood.

Marshall provided the ammunition for the first two goals, though Gerken will have to shoulder the blame for the second as he flapped at an 18th-minute corner.

And Gerken looked culpable again when Wood's long-range shot crept under his body four minutes before the interval, taking the striker's tally for the season to 17.

Matty James added the fourth to compound the woes of Derek McInnes, whose side now prop up the pile following Barnsley's victory over Leeds.

Nigel Pearson's charges, however, move up to third and boast a goal difference of plus 25.

It took just 11 minutes for the visitors to get off the mark. Marshall played a precise pass down the left flank, Wood controlled, cut inside and drove home.

The visitors forced a corner seven minutes later and capitalised on some poor goalkeeping from Gerken, who tried to punch it clear but failed to make sufficient contact, and Wood tapped in the loose ball.

McInnes' shellshocked side struggled to muster any meaningful response as Pearson's men continued to control proceedings.

And they were rewarded with a third goal just before half-time. Wood unleashed a shot from 20 yards and though Gerken got across his goal to cover it, the ball squirmed under his body.

Things got even worse for the hosts early in the second half. They sloppily conceded possession inside their own half, James took full advantage, advancing to within striking distance to pick out the bottom-right corner for his first goal since August.

Greg Cunningham shot just wide from distance in a rare Robins attack but the home crowd's warmest applause met the substitution of Wood minutes later, an acknowledgement of his superb display and also their relief at the fact he would not be able to add to his tally.

The hosts slowly stirred into life in the final 20 minutes, aided in no small part by Leicester's decision to sit on their four-goal advantage, eager to secure an 11th clean sheet of the Championship campaign.

Paul Anderson's powerful shot forced a good save from Kasper Schmeichel, who then showed a safe pair of hands to keep out debutant Liam Kelly's effort.

But that was as close as they came to grabbing a consolation as Leicester made it three wins on the bounce.

Leicester City made three changes to the side that made FA Cup progress at the expense of Burton Albion last week.

Danny Drinkwater came back into the midfield in place of Andy King for this vital clash against Bristol City at Ashton Gate.

French youngster Anthony Knockaert replaced Lloyd Dyer on the wing, while David Nugent partnered former Bristol loanee Chris Wood in attack.

3 min: Paul Konchesky tries his luck from long range, but the effort is high and wide.

9 min: Knockaert looks bright down the right, showing a few tricks, and he produces a clever ball to play in Ritchie De Laet on the overlap inside the box, but his shot is blocked.

11 min: GOAL 0-1 Wood cuts in off the left and beats Dean Gerken at the near post. The perfect start for City and Wood. It was Ben Marshall's superb ball down the line which found Wood.

18 min: GOAL 0-2 Bristol make a pig's ear of defending a City corner. Gerken flaps at Marshall's corner, the ball ricochets back off Liam Fontaine and Wood is the quickest to react. He stabs home the loose ball from close range.

20 min: SUBSTITUTION A blow for City as the lively Knockaert limps off and Dyer comes on.

27 min: Steven Davies' corner curls in dangerously, but Dyer clears off the line for City.

28 min: Marshall has a shot which is blocked by Fontaine. Bristol are frankly reeling.

34 min: Another good move from City and Matty James shoots from the edge of the box. The ball is goal-bound but strikes Nugent.

38 min: The Bristol fans are starting to turn on their side as they continue to give the ball back to City, who look very comfortable.

41 min: GOAL 0-3 Wood gets his hat-trick with a clinical strike from the edge of the box. Liam Kelly stood off Wood and allowed him the space to pick his spot, but Gerken should have done better. James gets the assist.

43 min: Another City break and Nugent tees up Marshall, who curls an effort just wide of the far post. The chants from the home fans of "what a load of rubbish" echo around Ashton Gate .

45 min: The home fans boo their players and manager Derek McInnes off the field. City have torn them apart in this first half.

H-T: Bristol City 0 City 3

49 min: Marshall shoots wide from Nugent's cutback as City start the second period looking for more goals.

51 min: GOAL 0-4 Wood holds the ball up and James arrives to fire home the fourth from the edge of the box into the bottom corner fof the net.

62 min: Cole Skuse drags Bristol's real first shot of the game wide of the far post.

63 min: SUBSTITUTION Martyn Waghorn comes on for hat-trick hero Wood.

67 min: Patient build-up from City ends with Marshall firing in a shot, which sails over the top corner of the goal.

68 min: Liam Kelly jinks down the left and flashes in a cross-shot, which has Kasper Schmeichel scrambling.

69 min: Great run down the centre by Drinkwater, who tees up Dyer but he shoots wide when well-placed. Should have been 5-0 up.

72 min: Michael Keane gets caught out by Wes Burns who pulls it back to Paul Anderson, but his shot is saved by Schmeichel. There are ironic cheers as that is Bristol's first shot on target.

73 min: Skuse's shot is deflected wide from the edge of the box. The Robins are showing more pride now.

74 min: SUBSTITUTION Paul Gallagher on for Marshall.

75 min: City are carved open and Kelly is through but he shoots straight at Schmeichel. More ironic jeers from the home fans.

90 min: Gallagher forces a save out of Gerken after Bristol half clear his free-kick.

90+1 min: : City have emphatically ended their poor run of results at Ashton Gate. A great performance capped by Wood's superb hat-trick.

F-T: Bristol City 0 City 4

Police have made a fresh appeal for sightings of a rapist who went on the run from prison two weeks ago.

Sean Cawthray (41) was reported missing from Leyhill prison, in Gloucestershire, on Sunday, December 30.

He was serving a sentence for kidnapping a girl in Leeds.

He had previously been jailed for raping a 20-year-old woman while he was studying art at De Montfort University in 1993 and, several years earlier, for raping a 15-year-old girl and attempting to rape another teenager in Leeds.

Detective Inspector Jill Kells, of South Gloucestershire CID, said: "We have not had any confirmed sightings so far but people must know where he is and someone may be protecting him."

Cawthray is white, 5ft 10in, of medium build, with short, brown hair and blue eyes.

Leicester Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill expects the Heineken Cup winner-takes-all showdown against Toulouse this weekend to be a "classic" match.

Leicester's 15-15 draw with the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium yesterday eliminated the Welsh region from the competition.

With Toulouse beating Treviso, it means that whoever wins the Anglo-French clash at Welford Road on Sunday will top Pool Two and progress to what is most likely to be an away quarter-final.

Toulouse won the first-round meeting in southern France 23-9, but the four-times winners have not enjoyed great form on their travels in both league and cup. Tigers, meanwhile, have only lost once at home since October 8, 2011.

Cockerill believes they are the ingredients for a day to remember.

"We are set up for a winner-takes-all game against Toulouse at Welford Road and, in a tough pool, that is where we wanted to be," said Cockerill, who received a huge boost yesterday with the news that lock-forward Geoff Parling has agreed terms on a new deal to extend his stay at the club.

"It should be a classic. We are good enough to beat anyone at home, and Toulouse have not been in the best of form.

"They are a very good side and they know how to win games, but they have not played particularly well away from home this season.

"We know they have enough class in their team to go anywhere and win, and we will be wary of that."

Cockerill admitted that his team will have to play a lot better on Sunday after they were second best in Swansea for much of the opening hour before a late fightback put them in a position to steal an unlikely win.

Tigers were 10-0 down at one stage, but tries from Ben Youngs and Niall Morris, on 67 and 73 minutes, put Leicester 15-10 ahead before Jonathan Spratt levelled the scores on 75 minutes to give both sides two points.

Leicester rode their luck, with the usually dead-eye Ospreys' fly-half Dan Biggar missing five out of seven kicks at goal, with three of those hitting the post or bar.

"We cannot be too frustrated because, to be in the lead with a few minutes to go, was an achievement," said Cockerill.

"We are disappointed that we didn't win and don't have a chance to be at home in the quarters, but this has been a tough pool.

"We have to be more accurate and a lot better next weekend, because that game was a bit like the tale of our season."

Cockerill added that both Tom Youngs and Manu Tuilagi, who hobbled off in the second half, had "tight calves" and that both would be "fine" for the Toulouse clash.

He also hailed Parling's new deal as "fantastic" news for the club, especially after speculation linking the 29-year-old with a move to Gloucester.

"Geoff has agreed terms with us and has decided that he wants to stay," said Cockerill. "He was always part of our plans going forward. I think that shows the strength of the environment we have here. It's fantastic for the club."

Leicester Riders moved from contenders to champions yesterday.

The Jelson Homes DMU-backed Riders wrestled the BBL Cup from holders Newcastle in thrilling fashion, surviving a fourth quarter onslaught to win 85-80 in front of a crowd of 7,500 at the National Indoor Arena, Birmingham.

For much of the contest, Riders were the better team, leading by as many as 14 points, but in the final five minutes Newcastle rallied and took the lead with just over a minute to go.

A huge three-pointer from Zaire Taylor and an equally important blocked shot by Drew Sullivan in the closing seconds, ensured Riders responded when under the most extreme pressure.

At the final buzzer, there were wild scenes of celebration both on and off the court, led by Rob Paternostro, whose reputation as Leicester best-ever coach now has some silverware to go with it.

The sides exchanged blows in the early stages, going score for score. Drew Sullivan was to the fore in the opening stages, he netted two three-pointers in the opening five minutes.

While Leicester were shooting well from behind the arc, their defence was throwing Newcastle out of sync. The Eagles missed all seven of their long-range attempts in the first period.

Jamell Anderson entered the fray early on and had a massive impact on the game. He netted a three-pointer which massively boosted his confidence, part of six consecutive points by the young forward.

At the end of that spell, Riders were 20-15 ahead just before the end of the first quarter.

Newcastle responded and Joe Chapman hit their first long-range effort of the game to cap a 9-2 run, which had the Eagles in front 24-22.

Sullivan, Anthony Rowe and Pavol Losonsky continued to attack the basket for Riders to great effect and Leicester were soon back in front.

Anderson came up with an important steal which he dunked back over Kareem Maddox, drawing a foul in the process, to give Riders a 32-26 lead and all the momentum. Jay Couisnard hit a highly difficult three-pointer and was followed in by Taylor from behind the arc as Leicester moved into a double-figure lead of 40-29.

Chapman got the Eagles back into the contest early in the third quarter, cutting Riders' advantage to 50-46.

Couisnard again, though, wrestled the momentum back from Newcastle. He hit two three-pointers and another basket and, with 12 minutes to go, they led 60-49.

With five minutes left, Riders were still very much in control of the game with a 10-point advantage, but the champions were refusing to lie down.

The Eagles bagged 10 consecutive points and ,with 90 seconds remaining, the game was tied at 78-78. Rowe netted a free-throw to give Leicester the lead, but Fab Flournoy put Newcastle in front with a minute to play.

Under extreme pressure, Taylor netted a vital three-pointer to give Riders an 82-80 edge. With the game on the line, Sullivan denied Smith, blocking his shot.

Jorge Calvo and Rowe then put the game beyond the Eagles.

Couisnard was given the MVP trophy for his impressive shooting and 17 points, but Rowe and Losonsky both had double-doubles and six players scored at least nine points – a true team performance.

Riders 85: Couisnard 17, Anderson 15, Rowe 15, Losonsky 13, Sullivan 12, Taylor 9, Calvo 4, Haggith, Williams, Washington, Lamble, Maynard

Eagles 80: Chapman 29, Smith 17, Huffman 13, Flournoy 12, Defoe 4, Maddox 3, Martin 2, Matthew, Madourie, Ikhinmwin

Teenage thugs have left people scared to leave their homes, police were told at a public meeting.

Residents of St Mark's and parts of Belgrave, in Leicester, said they were subjected to threats and intimidation on a daily basis.

More than 50 people attended an emergency meeting at Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre on Friday, at which residents put their concerns to police.

The meeting was arranged after 47-year-old Rajesh Devaliya was badly beaten by four masked assailants as he stepped into a lift in the St Mark's housing block, in Southey Close, last Monday.

Police are not linking the assault to a particular gang of youths but said the incident had heightened fears about anti-social behaviour.

Ward councillor Manjula Sood, who organised the meeting, said: "This was a despicable and terrifying attack.

"There are a lot of elderly and vulnerable people in Southey Close and neighbouring streets who are living in fear.

"One person I spoke to is too scared to go out of her house."

A 72-year-old resident of Southey Close, who did not want to be named, said: "I'm frightened to leave my home.

"There have been occasions where gangs of youths have been running along our main corridor kicking doors and scaring everybody.

"I've had people ringing my doorbell at 2am."

A student living in Harrison Road, which backs on to Cossington Street recreation ground, said: "These youths hang around on the street intimidating people.

"On Christmas Eve, they went on the rampage, smashing up eight cars parked in the road."

Another resident told the meeting: "Their anti-social behaviour seems to be escalating.

"They wear hoods to hide their identify and when the police do come they disappear over the park."

Mansukh Chohan, 58, a Belgrave resident and former city councillor, said: "I've lived here for many years and these problems are the worst I can remember.

"People are living in fear and something has to be done."

Coun Sood said: "Enough is enough. We all need to work together to solve this problem."

"We need better lighting around the park and gates should be locked at night.

"Fences should be raised and barbed wire added if necessary."

Friday's meeting was attended by Inspector Edward McBryde-Wilding and Pc Laura Nutt, of Latimer ward Safer Neighbourhood Team.

Insp McBryde-Wilding said the force was close to securing a dispersal order giving it powers to ban members of the gang from St Mark's, but needed support from the community to gather evidence.

A dispersal order means under-16s can be taken home to their families, while older troublemakers can be told to leave the area.

Those who ignore an order face being arrested.

Insp McBryde-Wilding said calls could be made anonymously and without the need for a visit by officers.

Speaking after the meeting, Pc Nutt said: "We are stepping up patrols in St Mark's, where youths hang around drinking and smoking, and have installed a mobile camera in Harrison Road.

"Another simple measure at flats in Brandon Street has been to move security gates back a few feet so the buzzers are more difficult to reach.

"We are determined to tackle this anti-social behaviour and hope we've been able to offer residents some reassurance."

Leicester City hat-trick hero Chris Wood vowed there is more to come from him.

Wood took his tally to six goals in three games after grabbing a first-half treble at Ashton Gate as City clinched an emphatic 4-0 victory against the Robins to move into third in the Championship.

Wood has made an incredible impact at City since joining from West Brom in a £2million deal.

He has his sights set on more goals, although he admits he does not mind who scores as long as City continue their four-game winning streak in all competitions.

"It is always nice to get the goals but the three points were the most important thing," he said.

"It is a positive start for me but it is just that, a start, and we have a long way to go. Hopefully, there will be a lot more goals to come and a lot more wins.

"I put my start down to the hard work of the team. I was just there to tap them in.

"It is nice to have such quality around me who create the opportunities for me.

"My second one was my favourite because I always like the ones where you tap it in on the line. That is what it is about. It just fell for me."

Wood was quick to praise all his team-mates for providing him with the platform to score the goals, especially strike partner David Nugent.

"He will definitely score more," said Wood.

"He is top-quality and we all know that. He is a top bloke and it is a pleasure to work with him.

"The runs he makes, his creativity and the talking he does is unbelievable. He keeps me going. It is an honour to play with him.

"As long as we get the three points, it is the most important thing. It doesn't matter who scores the goals. We are all supporting each other.

"The atmosphere is positive and everyone is upbeat. We are all looking forward to the next game."

A late Ospreys try ruined Leicester Tigers' hopes of a famous Heineken Cup victory at the Liberty Stadium.

But Jonathan Spratt's 76th-minute score could only bring the Welsh side level, and Dan Biggar's missed conversion kept the scores at 15-15 in a thrilling finish.

The result sets up a Pool Two winner-takes-all game for Leicester against French giants Toulouse on Sunday at what will be a sold-out Welford Road.

Going into the closing stages 15-10 ahead was more than Tigers might have expected as they trailed 10-0 with a minute to go in the first half.

The Ospreys were completely on top, and unforced errors ruined any hopes of Tigers getting a foothold in the game.

But they fought back tremendously well in the final quarter and, when Ben Youngs and Niall Morris both went over on 67 and 73 minutes to put Leicester ahead, it looked like they might pull off an unlikely victory until Spratt's late score.

Tigers began positively and went through a dozen phases before being pinged for holding on.

After Tom Youngs had overthrown his line-out jumper in Ospreys' territory, another Leicester move broke down as Joe Bearman hacked forward and Mat Tait had to scamper back and clear the danger.

Argentine prop Marcos Ayerza was then penalised for not binding at the first scrum, but Biggar hit the post with the penalty.

Tigers felt the wrath of Irish referee John Lacey twice more in quick succession, but Biggar missed both his kicks to keep it scoreless after the opening quarter of the game.

Leicester looked like they would open the scoring when good hands by Toby Flood and Tait set Adam Thompstone free, but he was dragged down 10 metres shy and Tigers were penalised for another ruck offence.

Tigers' ability to blow point-scoring opportunities in the opposition's 22 has been an Achilles heel all season and they were made to pay again at the Liberty Stadium.

Biggar finally nailed a penalty kick on 28 minutes to open the scoring and then the home side established the exact same 10-0 lead they had at Welford Road with a 32nd-minute try.

Morris' up-and-under bounced on halfway and nicely into the hands of Ospreys skipper Kahn Fotuali'i, who fed Bearman.

The No.8 skipped past some suspect tackling to dive over and Biggar landed the extras.

Leicester finally got on the board in the last minute of the half with a Flood penalty to make it 10-3 at the whistle.

Tigers began to show more urgency in the second period as Ben Youngs made ground from a good tap-and-go but passed straight to Biggar, who cleared.

Leicester's frustrations continued as Flood then missed touch as he went to the corner, and Manu Tuilagi was isolated and penalised for holding on.

Unforced errors were killing the visitors in a tight game but they began to get more of the ball as the Ospreys showed signs of nerves nearing the hour-mark.

Thompstone became the latest Tiger to hand possession back to the home side with a dreadful kick after taking a mark, but Tigers soon got back on the front foot and levelled the scores.

Tait and Thompstone linked up well again and quick ball put Flood through a hole and up to the Ospreys line, and Ben Youngs picked up the ball and dived over.

Flood's extras made it 10-10 with just 13 minutes to go and, when Morris dived over in the corner after Thompstone had made an initial break to make it 15-10, Flood's missed conversion did not seem to matter as a remarkable turnaround looked complete.

But, from the kick-off, Ben Youngs' box-kick saw Eli Walker launch a spectacular counter-attack, which ended with substitute Spratt diving over in the corner.

Biggar crucially missed his fifth kick of the day though, and the game finished all-square to end the Ospreys' campaign and set-up a mouth-watering clash with Toulouse at Welford Road on Sunday.

A man involved in putting false registration plates on cars after they were stolen during house burglaries has been jailed for three years and four months.

Kyle Ross arranged for three vehicles which had been taken from driveways to receive new plates.

Sentencing him at Leicester Crown Court, Recorder Keith Raynor told the 20-year-old: "You were facilitating new identities for the cars as part of a group.

"It was professional and reasonably well organised."

Ross, of Winton Avenue, off Narborough Road, Leicester, pleaded guilty to handling an Audi A3 worth £1,000 after it was taken during a burglary in Evesham Road, Leicester, on September 14, 2011.

The car keys were taken from inside the property and the vehicle driven away.

Ross also admitted involvement in a burglary in St Mary's Avenue, Braunstone Town, when two Minis, worth £11,000 and £6,500, were stolen, on September 27, 2011.

Ross further admitted possessing a prohibited item, a CS gas canister, recovered from his home when he was arrested in November 2011.

Jonathan Cox, prosecuting, said both homes were targeted because of the cars outside and were broken into while the occupants were asleep.

He said the stolen Audi and the £6,500 Mini were later found bearing false registration plates. The other Mini was not recovered.

Mr Cox said incriminating text messages were found on Ross's mobile phone, asking an associate to get false plates.

He said: "The defendant was involved in obtaining cloned identities for them."

Ross had no previous convictions, the court was told.

Louise McManus, mitigating, said Ross accepted being at a friend's home near to the scene of the St Mary's Avenue burglary and knew what others intended doing, but did not go into the house.

She said: "He was there when his friends were planning the offence and he facilitated matters by sending a text in relation to the car number plates."

The defendant's brother had been jailed a few days earlier in relation to similar offences.

Miss McManus said he was "stepping into the role" of his brother.

She said: "He felt a degree of pressure and coercion."

Recorder Raynor said that although Ross was not the ringleader "he accepts he was part of a joint enterprise."

Miss McManus said: "His involvement spanned a couple of days. He wasn't part of a regular outlet for stolen vehicles, it was a one-off episode.

"He lacked the maturity to realise the severity of his actions by facilitating the plates."

Everyone may have been talking about Fifty Shades of Grey last year.

But it seems library users in Leicester are more interested in reading about the slightly less saucy subject of the Highway Code.

The Official DSA Theory Test for Car Drivers was the most borrowed from city libraries in 2012, with the title taken out more than 1,000 times during the year.

EL James's bestseller could only manage sixth in the list of fiction and non-fiction favourites.

Bosses said the variety of books in the top 10 showed libraries were being used by people of all ages.

Sarah Russell, assistant mayor responsible for libraries and a self-confessed bookworm, said: "I think there's a really nice mix of new books and modern classics, and a range for all ages.

"People are still using libraries for fiction as well as the practical stuff.

"I don't think libraries are getting more popular but reading is becoming more widespread thanks to e-readers and book groups and libraries are maintaining their place in people's lives."

As a mum of children aged six and nine, Sarah said she had read most of the books on the top 10.

She said: "I love The Twits, by Roald Dahl, which was a book I read myself when I was young and read to my kids, too.

"They're both avid readers and my son gets through so many graphic novels we rely on the library, because if we had to buy them all it would bankrupt us."

Just outside the top 10 were books such as Life in the United Kingdom: A Journey to Citizenship, with 437 loans; Life in the UK Test, with 436 loans; and the Gujarati version of the chart-topping Official Theory Test, which was loaned out 435 times.

Dee Byrd, 44, from Saffron Lane, said: "I've read Fifty Shades of Grey and I've tried to get my husband to give it go, too. He's not having it though.

"I thought it was good – I think they call it 'mummy porn' because it's a bit fruity."

Terrance Warren, 62, from Oadby, said: "I remember reading The Twits to my children when they were young – it's nice to see it's still popular.

"I tend to go for the historical crime novels, things such as Cadfael and PD James. I don't think they'll ever go out of fashion."

Anne Swift, 53, of Aylestone, said: "I suppose it's good youngsters are actually reading the Highway Code."

Leicestershire County Council also released a list of its most-borrowed books, which is dominated by children's books about monsters and underpants. Top was The Gruffalo, by Julia Donaldson, followed by Pants, by Giles Andreae, and Aliens Love Underpants, by Claire Freedman.