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I helped Hollywood star Bill Murray to shine in role

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A Leicestershire man has helped Hollywood star Bill Murray prepare for his latest role as Franklin D Roosevelt by advising him on how to portray the former US president's debilitating condition.

Mike Egan, 66, who was diagnosed with polio at the age of four, is credited as an adviser on the forthcoming film Hyde Park on Hudson, released on February 1.

The movie stars 62-year-old Murray as paralysed president Roosevelt – who lost the use of both legs after contracting the virus in 1921.

To prepare for the part, Murray enlisted the help of Markfield man Mike who, like Roosevelt, depends on full-leg callipers and crutches to get about.

Mike, a trustee of the British Polio Fellowship, was chosen for the advisory role after the organisation was contacted by the film's producers in 2011.

"They wanted to get someone's advice and I was disabled by polio in a similar way to Roosevelt so I was put forward," he said.

In July 2011, he travelled to London to visit the Elstree film studios, where the film was being shot, and met Bill and director Roger Michell.

Mike said: "When I walked in to the room and met Bill for the first time he had already been fitted with full- length leg callipers – just as Roosevelt would have worn, and the same type I wear.

"I showed him how to use them and how to stand up and sit down.

"Roosevelt had no use in his legs, so it was about making Bill aware of how to move."

The trio spent hours talking and discussing how years of living with polio would have affected Roosevelt, who was in office between 1933 and 1945.

"Bill was nice guy, but I didn't really get to chat to him about anything else – it was quite an intense thing and the director was keen that we get everything right, so we just concentrated on the task."

Mike was invited to the cast and crew screening of the film in London in April last year.

He said: "I was interested to see how he had taken my advice on-board and how he portrayed living with polio.

"Bill was obviously very receptive to what I was saying.

"I thought he did very well and the film goes a long way to bringing it to people's attention and highlighting the fact that there are still thousands of people living with polio around the world."

There are about 120,000 people in the UK who suffer from the disease.

www.britishpolio.org

I helped Hollywood  star Bill Murray to shine in role


On the trail of one of Leicester's most prolific taggers

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Officials believe they are on the trail of one of Leicester's most prolific graffiti taggers – thanks to a series of tip-offs.

Four people have passed the same name to Leicester City Council, claiming that person is responsible for the tag "Kase".

The suspect is now being investigated by council officials and police.

The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act allows officials to place the suspect – or areas he may target – under covert surveillance.

The calls came in after the city council offered a £500 reward for information leading to the conviction of the people or person behind the design, which has been scrawled on hundreds of buildings, telephone kiosks, postboxes and vehicles in the past few months.

The authority is offering the same inducement for information about the city's other most widespread tag, SO 12.

Currently, no names have been put forward for SO 12.

Assistant mayor Councillor Sarah Russell said the tactic of offering a reward appeared to be working and that the council was considering repeating the offer in exchange for the names of other graffiti vandals.

She said: "The information which people have passed to us will be investigated.

"It looks like we are getting closer to the people who have been doing these tags all over the city.

"If this is successful, we will look at offering rewards for information about other vandals, because there are more of them.

"They are not as prolific as SO 12 and Kase, but we are determined to find these people too."

Both designs began appearing last summer, initially in the Saffron Lane area, but then spreading across the city.

Since then the council has spent more than £30,000 removing the tags from 2,500 locations.

It expects the clean-up bill to reach £100,000 by the summer if the culprits are not caught.

Private companies and residents are believed to have spent a similar sum.

A Narborough Road business owner said: "These vandals make the city look shabby and they have no respect for anyone else.

"If they are caught I wouldn't want them to go to prison, I want them to spend a year cleaning up their mess."

Launching the campaign – the first of its kind in the city – earlier this month, the council's environment chief Adrian Russell said the authority had mounted a number of unsuccessful surveillance operations to try to catch the taggers in the act.

Mr Russell said: "We have had days where we've come in to work and overnight there have been anything between 60 and 100 reports of these tags appearing. We really need help from the public if we are going to find these people and put them in front of the courts."

Anyone with information about the people responsible can contact the city wardens team on 0116 252 6430. All calls can be treated as confidential.

On the trail of one of Leicester's most prolific taggers

Leicester City strike partner will bring best out in me, says David Nugent

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Leicester City top-scorer David Nugent believes playing alongside Chris Wood will bring out the best in him.

Nugent is already having a great season, but he says the arrival of Wood, who has scored six goals in his first four games ahead of today's FA Cup fourth-round tie at Huddersfield Town, has eased the burden on himself.

The Terriers will be fully aware of the immediate understanding that Nugent and Wood have struck up.

The duo combined superbly for Wood's two goals on his debut in City's 6-1 hammering of Huddersfield on New Year's Day.

Wood then returned the compliment for Nugent's winner against Middlesbrough last Friday.

"We have struck up an instant understanding," said Nugent.

"We do seem to complement each other, as you saw in the game against Huddersfield.

"I set him up twice and it is nice to play with someone I can play off.

"Against Middlesbrough, I gave him a shout so he knew I was running.

"It was just about whether he could put the ball in the right spot, and it was just perfect for me to hit first time.

"He is great to play with. He is still only 21 but he has already done so much in the game.

"He has played in a World Cup and the Olympics. He has achieved a lot already but he can go on to good things.

"It is nice for someone to come in and score a few more goals, because it takes the pressure off me a bit.

"I want to keep scoring, but it is nice that we are scoring a lot of goals and more people are chipping in.

"I seem to like playing off big, strong strikers. I tend to play in and around them more than just running in behind.

"He holds the ball up well and I play off him, and try to get into the box.

"I have always played with a big man in my career and that is when I play my best football.

"I have been more of a team player lately, by setting up goals, but it was nice to get back on the goalscoring trail against Middlesbrough."

Nugent believes Huddersfield will be determined to knock City out of the cup this afternoon and exact revenge for their two defeats earlier this season, and especially the 6-1 drubbing.

"I think it will make them more dangerous because they will want payback," he said.

"They have not won in 12 league games and conceded four again on Saturday against Watford, so it is up to us to take advantage of that.

"We are in good form and, if we play to our ability, there will only be one winner.

"But there are always upsets in the FA Cup, and Hudders-field will be up for it."

Leicester City strike partner will bring best out in me, says David Nugent

Huddersfield will have plenty of bite against Leicester City

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Leicester City will face a fired up Huddersfield side today in the FA Cup fourth round after their manager Simon Grayson was sacked.

Grayson was sacked after the Terriers failed to pick up a league win in 12 games.

Caretaker-manager Mark Ellis said the players have been challenged to put the disruption of losing Grayson behind them when they face a City side that has won their last five games in all competitions.

Ellis said the pressure was off the Huddersfield players as they are considered underdogs, even though they are at home, and said a win against City could kick-start their stalling season.

"The players deserve credit for getting on with things, they put a great shift in (yesterday morning)," said Ellis.

"We have an FA Cup fourth-round game which is a very important one for the club.

"There are no points to play for, so perhaps the pressure is less, but it is an FA Cup tie with a view to getting into the fifth round.

"It's important because it's a game of football for Huddersfield.

"I've had 14 years here now as a player and now a coach. When I played here, I wasn't the best player, but I knew that if I put a shift in, the fans would get behind me, and we've challenged the players to do that.

"You don't go into a cup game with the notion that it doesn't matter – we want to win. A win could kick off a run."

But Ellis knows his side face as stern a test as they could have when City travel to the John Smith's Stadium, backed by 4,000 travelling supporters.

"Leicester are near the top of the league, they're a good outfit," he said.

"They have a good, experienced manager and have some real athletes in their team. It will be a hard game.

"We're all focused on the FA Cup tie at the moment and, as a former captain in a promotion-winning side, it will be an honour to lead the team at our stadium.

"I'll embrace that and then we'll take it from there."

City duo Neil Danns and Jermaine Beckford, who are on loan at Huddersfield until the end of the season, are ineligible to face their parent club this afternoon.

Huddersfield will have plenty of bite against Leicester City

Leicestershire Police: 'No tolerance for discrimination'

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Police have warned that there is no tolerance in Leicester for discrimination.

They spoke after Liam Ferrar (24) admitted religiously-aggravated harassment aimed at the Muslim community.

The force said Ferrar was arrested and charged within three days of the incident, in which he left a pig's head outside a community centre in Thurnby Lodge, in the city, where a Muslim group held prayers.

Superintendent Mark Newcombe said: "This was clearly a religiously- motivated offence which was directed at those using the community centre as a Muslim place of worship, who found the incident extremely upsetting and shocking.

"We have no tolerance for discrimination in Leicester, of any kind, and the majority of people in the area were left very upset by the incident."

He said he hoped that Thursday's hearing at Leicester Magistrates' Court would "send a clear message to people like Ferrar, that all those in the criminal justice system will do all they can to bring you to justice".

Judith Walker, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "Everyone has the right to practice their faith without fear of harassment.

"There is no place in our community for this kind of action that deliberately targets people on the grounds of their religion and the Crown Prosecution Service takes this kind of offending extremely seriously.

"Liam Ferrar admitted that he had left the head at the community centre and, in charging the offence, we were satisfied that his actions were motivated by hostility to cause shock and distress.

"Pigs hold a particular significance in the Muslim faith and this action was highly offensive to his victims."

The court was told that on the evening of December 25 last year, Ferrar went to Thurnby Lodge Community Centre, in Thurncourt Road, and placed the pig's head by the locked doors.

The head was facing outwards, towards the worshippers from Muslim group As Salaam, who arrived at the centre the following morning, Boxing Day.

The community centre has been the scene of regular protests since the summer over a former Scout hut nearby, which Leicester City Council was going to allow As Salaam members to use for prayers instead of the community centre.

The protesters wanted the Scout hut to be kept for use by the wider community.

Leicestershire Police: 'No tolerance for discrimination'

Bobby's restaurant, in Leicester, is among Britain's best, says Hardeep Singh Kohli

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If anyone should know a thing or two about curry, it's a man who cooks and eats one almost every night.

Journalist and TV presenter Hardeep Singh Kohli did just that last year as part of his Indian Takeaway comedy tour – so when he says Bobby's, in Belgrave, Leicester, is among the best in the country, you know it must be pretty good.

Writing for The Telegraph, Hardeep picked out his top five Indian restaurants in the country – putting Bobby's up there with places in London, Glasgow and Bradford.

Speaking yesterday, he said: "I think Leicester is really important, not just to the East Midlands but to the UK.

"Bobby's represents so much more than just the food, with all the history of the area – but the food is always really good.

"Leicester is a special place anyway and Bobby's is the perfect testament of what makes it special.

"I must have been about a dozen times, but it's not often enough.

"They do the Gujarati staples really well and the food is always really fresh."

Bobby's owner and director Enna Lakhani said she was delighted to be featured.

"We didn't know it was going in beforehand," she said. "A customer came in and told me about it.

"It's brilliant. This kind of thing really does mean a lot to us.

"A couple of people have mentioned it and I have seen a few new customers this week.

"They didn't say anything but it might be because of the article.

"January is a quiet month so you definitely notice when you get new customers. Hopefully, this will get us a lot more."

Hardeep, a finalist in TV's Celebrity Masterchef, last visited Bobby's while in Leicester following the Diwali celebrations last year.

"He was really friendly and very jolly," said Enna.

"I can't remember what he had to eat, but I know my husband picked him out some sweets to take home.

"He said we had a good variety here and that the prices were reasonable.

"I would hope he picked us for the quality of our food and the service. We pride ourselves on always doing our best."

Hardeep's Indian Takeaway show came to Curve in December. He put his curry-cooking skills to the test against chefs from nearby Chutney Ivy.

He whipped up a meal of lamb pepper curry with cabbage, leek and broccoli, as well as takha dhal with butternut squash.

Chutney Ivy served up a chef's special dish of harri massala ka gost, with lamb, spinach, mustard seeds, garlic, coriander and onions and "special" spices.

The audience had to pick their favourite. The vote ended in a draw.

Here's what Hardeep Singh Kohli had to say about Bobby's in The Telegraph:

"Run by the same family since the early 70s, this upmarket café is always full of Indian people eating. It serves very fresh vegetarian Gujarati food, which comes from north India.

"Try the bhel puri, which is a street-food dish with crispy puffed rice, fragrant coriander, sour tamarind and soft potatoes. There's also a massive Indian sweet counter."

Hardeep is not the only celebrity to notice the city's skills in the curry department.

Britain's best-known Indian chef, Madhur Jaffrey, declared the city the best in the UK for curry during an appearance on BBC's Saturday Kitchen, in October.

Speaking about curry rival Birmingham, she said: "They have a certain kind of British curry.

"But if you want an Indian one, you go straight to Leicester. Do not pass Go, do not collect £200 – go straight to Leicester.

"You will find Gujarati curries of a kind you've never seen. There are noodles and soups you don't expect from curries."

Bobby's restaurant, in Leicester, is among Britain's best, says Hardeep Singh Kohli

Carmen Hinson conned OAPs to fund her gambling

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A woman won the confidence of elderly people only to betray their trust and "milk" them of money to fund her spiralling gambling addition.

Carmen Hinson, of Eyres Monsell, Leicester, begged vulnerable pensioners to help her financially and took advantage of their kindness.

The 64-year-old was jailed for 27 months at Leicester Crown Court yesterday after pleading guilty to four counts of fraud by false representation.

Following the hearing, police released an image of Hinson in the hope that any other potential victims will come forward.

The court heard how Hinson befriended four elderly victims and convinced them to hand over a total of £6,185 in cash, cheques and bank transfers. The offences were committed over a six-year period, from June, 2006 until her arrest last November.

Her four victims, three of whom were in their 80s, lived in Wigston, Eyres Monsell and Devon, where Hinson regularly spent time visiting a friend.

Prosecutor Alan Murphy said: "She targeted vulnerable, elderly people to obtain money by deception, by preying on their good nature. She actively deceived them into believing she was short of money and had gas bills to pay, an electricity supply that needed to be reconnected, food to buy an other similar excuses, when, in fact, she was stealing their money – money they could ill afford to give her – in order to fund her gambling addiction."

The court heard how Hinson harassed and cajoled an 85-year-old Devon man into handing over £4,000. She told an 80-year-old victim, living on only £142-a-week state pension, that she needed money for medical prescriptions, even accompanying him to collect the cash from the post office.

Having successfully paid off separate pay-day loans, he ended up owing his debtors more than £4,000 because of Hinson.

Another victim was a church pastor.

Hinson was only stopped and the police called when concerned relatives discovered a news story about a previous conviction of hers via the internet.

Having pleaded guilty to the latest charges at a Leicester Magistrates' Court hearing on November 13, Hinson, of Hebden Close, yesterday also admitted a further 18 offences. At least one of the four most recent crimes occurred while she was the subject of a suspended eight-month jail sentence, from 2009, for similar crimes.

Judge Simon Hammond said: "I am left with a feeling of anger for what this defendant has done. An addiction to gambling is no excuse. She used, emotionally blackmailed and was persistent, remorseless and ruthless in the way she extracted money."

Because she has no assets, Hinson was ordered to pay only £1 in compensation, but was told any future assets would be seized to repay her victims.

She was also told to pay a £120 victim surcharge.

In mitigation, Vasanti Vaitha, defending, said Hinson committed the crimes to fund a chronic gambling addition and asked the judge to credit her frank confessions to police, early guilty plea and expressions of remorse.

She said: "It's no excuse but this defendant's addiction is gambling, an addiction that effectively spiraled out of control and took over her life."

After the sentencing, Detective Constable Tracey Horne said: "Hinson went out of her way to trick her victims into handing over their money and I believe there is every possibility that she has done it to someone else."

Anyone with information should contact Det Con Horne by dialling 101.

Carmen Hinson conned OAPs to fund her gambling

Huddersfield 1 Leicester City 1 - Wood earns City a replay

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Chris Wood earned Leicester City an FA Cup replay with his 82nd-minute goal against managerless Huddersfield in this FA Cup fourth round tie which ended 1-1.

 

The Terriers dominated for large periods and led through Lee Novak's penalty but Wood, who bagged a brace in a 6-1 win over Town on New Year's Day, ensured the sides will meet again at the King Power Stadium in 10 days.

 

Caretaker duo Mark Lillis and Steve Eyre made four changes to the Huddersfield team, with Neil Danns and Jermaine Beckford ineligible to face their parent club.

 

Jordan Sinnott made his full debut with Novak starting up front, while Oliver Norwood and Scott Arfield came in for Sean Scannell and Paul Dixon.

 

There were five changes for Leicester with Richie Wellens, Andy King, Lloyd Dyer, Jamie Vardy and Martyn Waghorn coming in for Danny Drinkwater, Matty James, Anthony Knockaert, David Nugent and Wood.

 

Huddersfield had the better of the opening exchanges without creating any real chances, but Peter Clarke should have put them ahead in the 11th minute as he got on the end of Norwood's corner but could only fire his header over the bar.

 

Waghorn had the first real chance for the visitors as he turned well and unleashed a quick shot but his effort went wide.

 

Sinnott was making a good impression in midfield and found Novak in space but the striker scuffed his shot wide.

 

The two combined again in first-half stoppage time as Sinnott linked with Novak on the edge of the box, but Ritchie De Laet's challenge prevented the striker from getting a shot away.

 

Huddersfield's dominance continued at the start of the second half as some lovely play from Jack Hunt allowed him to get a cross in, but Novak's shot was blocked behind for a corner which came to nothing.

 

Kasper Schmeichel was called into action moments later as he made a smart save from James Vaughan's overhead kick as the home side continued to press.

 

Leicester boss Nigel Pearson was clearly unhappy with his team's attacking impetus and changed his strikeforce on the hour, with Wood and Nugent replacing Vardy and Waghorn.

 

And the changes very nearly brought a quick result as Wood hit a stinging shot from the edge of the area which Alex Smithies did very well to turn around the post.

 

Scannell was brought on for Sinnott, who had enjoyed an impressive debut, and he found Hunt with a raking pass. Hunt's cross found the lively Novak in the penalty area but his downward header was well saved by Schmeichel.

 

The substitute was making a real impact and had a hand in the opener in the 73rd minute as he beat four players before finding Hunt, who was felled by Dyer in the penalty area and Anthony Taylor had no doubts in awarding the penalty.

 

Novak stepped up and sent Schmeichel the wrong way with a firm spot-kick to give the Terriers the lead.

 

Clarke then saw a header cleared off the line as Huddersfield continued to press but against the run of play Wood grabbed the equaliser.

 

De Laet found Dyer, who deceived his man out wide and found Wood, who dispatched a clinical finish past Smithies.

 

 


Leicester Tigers 34 Wasps 8 - Cup hopes still alive

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Leicester Tigers kept their hopes of retaining the LV= Cup alive with this five-try victory over Wasps at Welford Road.

The win puts Leicester, who started the day bottom of Pool Two, on nine points and still in the hunt with just one match left.

They go away to Llanelli Scarlets next week, aiming to top the group and reach the semi-finals.

Leicester's tries came through Logovi'i Mulipola, Michael Noone, Mathew Tait and Vereniki Goneva, who crossed twice, with Dan Bowden kicking a conversion and a penalty and Matt Cornwell two conversions.

Wasps, who have not won at Leicester since 2008, were outplayed for most of the game and scored a consolation try through replacement Hugo Southwell near the end to add to a penalty from Tommy Bell.

Leicester, even without 18 players on international duty, were able to field a side boasting internationals such as Tom Croft, Scott Hamilton and Goneva, while Wasps were virtually unrecognisable with five players making their debuts.

England flanker Croft was making only his second start since returning from a serious injury, which kept him out for more than eight months, but he lasted only 11 minutes before going off injured and being replaced by Noone.

Wasps dominated possession early on, so much so that it took Leicester the best part of 10 minutes to get their hands on the ball properly, although fly-half Bowden did make a horrible mess of a fifth-minute penalty from 40 metres.

Leicester took the lead in the 18th minute when Samoa prop Mulipola drove over from a line-out, with Bowden adding the touchline conversion.

Leicester suffered another injury blow on the half-hour when 19-year-old lock Tom Price, who was making his debut, was carried off after receiving almost 10 minutes of treatment for what appeared to be a neck injury suffered at a ruck. He was replaced by Harry Wells.

When play resumed, Bowden kicked a penalty to put Leicester 10-0 ahead.

Wasps flanker Tinus Du Plessis was sin-binned five minutes from half-time for a professional foul at a ruck and Leicester took full advantage of the extra man by scoring from a line-out.

They drove to the line and Bowden caught Wasps napping with a great diagonal run down the blind side to create an easy try for Noone. Bowden missed the conversion.

Bell sparked a period of pressure for Wasps at the start of the second half but they spurned a decent chance by ignoring an overlap.

Bell, however, put Wasps on the scoreboard with a 47th-minute penalty, and the visitors then repelled a promising Leicester attack by destroying their scrum.

Leicester centre Andy Forsyth created a great chance for winger Hamilton but the Kiwi's inside pass near the line was intercepted.

With the game starting to open up, Leicester's former England back Tait started to have a bigger influence and he finished off a fine Leicester move with a 20-metre dash for the line. Bowden missed the conversion.

Goneva scored Leicester's fourth try, converted by Cornwell before, with five minutes remaining, replacement Southwell salvaged some pride for Wasps with a try. Bell missed the conversion.

Goneva scored Leicester's fifth try, again converted by Cornwell.

Leicester flashmob of girls in pink knickers launches cervical screening campaign

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A GROUP of young women walking around town with their knickers tucked in their skirts may have seemed like a bad joke, but the girls were out to make a serious point yesterday. 

The cheeky 'flash mob', wearing bright pink knickers, was organised by the NHS in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and took place at the city's clock tower. 
Organiser Heidi King said: "One of the main reasons women in Leicestershire and Rutland say they don't get their cervical smear done is because they are embarrassed."
"Today we are raising awareness by suggesting that having your knickers tucked in your skirt is embarrassing, but having a cervical smear test done isn't, it's normal."
Studies show the main reasons Leicestershire women do not attend their cervical screening appointments are embarrassment, fear of pain or that they don't have enough time. 
So the campaign called "No excuses" has been launched by the NHS in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.It aims to promote cervical screening to women aged 25-29, addressing the main barriers to screening and letting them know that if caught early, cervical cancer can often easily be treated.
The flash mob also made an appearance at Coalville Clock Tower in the afternoon.Among its aims was promoting  www.noexcuses-nhs.co.uk  - where information on cervical screening can be found, including advice and frequently asked questions. 
Almost 3,400 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer in the UK each year – that's nine women every day.
It is the most common cancer in women under 35 years old.
Dr Sue Ellerby, Leicester's deputy director of public health, said: "The national target is to screen 80 per cent of eligible women. Last year three quarters of eligible Leicester women had been screened, but the response was particularly poor from those aged 25 to 29, where only 57 per cent accepted their invitation to have the test.
"These are the women who we particularly want to reach with this campaign, and they need to make sure they are registered with a GP to be invited to have the test."
Dawn Warner, an NHS social marketing manager co-ordinating the campaign, said: "We organised the flash mob to catch people's attention, raise awareness of cervical screening and to remind young women there are more embarrassing things than having a cervical screening test."
If you are female and between the ages of 25 and 64, NHS cervical screening programme staff will write to you every three to five years and ask you to go for a test at your GP surgery.
It is important that you attend these appointments, because, if caught early, treatment can often prevent cervical changes developing into cancer. 

Leicester flashmob of girls in pink knickers launches cervical screening campaign

Flood warnings for Leicestershire - Sunday, January 27 (updated 6pm)

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The Environment Agency has issued four flood warnings for Leicestershire after milder temperatures have seen snow thawing and rain has fallen across the county overnight. The agency advice is that those living near flood warning areas should take action to protect their homes. Warnings are in place at seven locations in Leicestershire: - River Wreake for mills at Hoby, Thrussington and Ratcliffe - River Wreake at East Goscote, Rearsby and Brooksby - River Wreake at Frisby-on-the-Wreake - River Soar at Cossington village, Mill and Grange Several alerts are in place where flooding is possible and people living nearby are urged to be prepared for rising water levels. Flood alerts have been issued in Leicestershire for: - River Sence and tributaries from Billesdon to the River Soar at Glen Parva - River Wreake and tributaries from Stapleford to the River Soar at Syston - River Soar including tributaries from Sharnford to the River Wreake confluence at Syston - Lower River Soar including tributaries from Cossington to Redhill at the River Trent. Flooding os possible at Slash Lane, Sileby, the Mountsorrel to Sileby Road, Cossington, Sileby, Barrow, Quorndon, Cotes, and the access road to Sileby Mill. - River Sence and tributaries from Billesdon to the River Soar at Glen Parva. Littlethorpe, Braunstone, Aylestone, Abbey Park, Birstall and Wanlip and Braunstone Lane East remain at risk. - Loughborough watercourses including Black Brook, Wood Brook, Burleigh Brook, Grace Dieu Brook and other urban watercourses in Loughborough - Rothley Brook and tributaries from Botcheston to the River Soar at Rothley. Flooding is possible at Midlands Co-Op Store car parks at Glenfield and Anstey. At higher levels, farmland in the Glenfield, Anstey, Thurcaston and Rothley areas including the B5327 at Anstey are likely to be at risk. The Met Office warned that heavy rain across, combined with rapid snow melt, was likely to lead to localised surface water and river flooding. Today will be mostly bright with sunny spells and the possibility of a few showers and mild - about 7C. Tonight will be cloudy with temperatures falling to 2C. Tomorrow will see more rain developing in the afternoon and temperatures will remain mild at about 8C during the day. More rain is forecast on Tuesday. See the five-day weather forecast for Leicester and Leicestershire here.
Call the Environment Agency's Floodline on 0845 988 1188 for up-to-date flooding information or visit www.environment-agency.gov.uk for river level and flooding information. See the Environment Agency interactive map here.

Man suffered life-threatening injuries after bus crash near Leicester Tigers ground

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A man suffered life-threatening injuries after a collision with a bus near the Leicester Tigers ground.
The incident took place in Aylestone Road, Leicester, at around 5.30pm on Saturday.
A spokeswoman for Leicestershire Police said the male pedestrian was still in hospital today.
"Basically all I can say at the moment is that the male's condition has been described as life-threatening and he is currently at Leicester Royal Infirmary," she said. "His condition is being maintained."
The road was closed until 9.30pm. The spokeswoman said: "That would have been for investigative work."

Premier League Wigan could be next for Leicester City in FA Cup

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Leicester City will face Premier League side Wigan in the FA Cup fifth round, if they win their replay.
The game would be at the King Power Stadium on the weekend of February 16-17.
However, City first have to win their fourth round replay against Huddersfield, at home on  Tuesday, February 12 (7.45).
The replay means that Leicester's trip to Cardiff City in the Championship, scheduled for the same night,  will now be rearranged.
In addition, Blackburn's progress in the FA Cup will mean their trip to King Power Stadium on February 16, will also be rescheduled, 
regardless of whether City progress into the last 16.
Fifth-round draw: Leicester City or Huddersfield v Wigan, MK Dons v Barnsley, Oldham v Everton, Luton v Millwall, Arsenal v Blackburn, Man City v Leeds, Man Utd v Reading, Middlesbrough v Brentford or Chelsea.

Belgrave families scared to leave homes because of yobs

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A teenager has told how families in her area are scared to leave their homes at night because of yobs' anti-social behaviour.

The 18-year-old student, from Belgrave, has started a petition which her councillor, Manjula Sood, presented to Leicester City Council.

The petition, which had 57 names on it in a week, is calling for more and better lighting in the streets around the Cossington Street recreation ground, in Belgrave, in a bid to deter the yobs.

The De Montfort university student, who lives in Harrison Road but does not want to be named, said: "Enough is enough.

"The situation has got so bad the residents felt something had to be done to try to get our voice heard.

"A lot of the people down here do not speak very good English so when I was asked to represent them in this way I accepted.

"We have started a petition to stand up for ourselves against these yobs who are making our lives a misery."

She said residents had had windows smashed, cars broken into and vandalised and many had been threatened with violence.

She said: "Many residents are too scared to leave their homes at night. They should not be living in terror like this."

Leicester City Council and Leicestershire Police have approved a dispersal order covering every street in both Belgrave and Latimer wards, after complaints that teenage thugs were intimidating residents.

It means police can disperse troublemakers from the area, with under-16s taken home to their families, and older people being ordered out of the two wards.

Those who ignore an order face being arrested.

Police have revealed they used the order to disperse seven teenagers – four boys and three girls – from the Belgrave and Latimer wards on Wednesday, January 23, after they were found to be behaving anti-socially.

The new order came 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, two weeks ago.

Police are not linking the assault to any particular youths, but said the incident had heightened fears.

A similar order was made in Belgrave in March last year – focusing on the Cossington Street area – but it has since expired.

Councillor Manjula Sood is backing the residents and supporting the petition.

She said: "The residents are suffering badly and it is time to listen to them and try to fight back against these horrible yobs.

"We need to let the residents know we support them and will try to deter troublemakers and arrest people who break the law."

City mayor Peter Soulsby said: "I have met with people in their homes to discuss their fears and listened to residents' concerns at the public meeting at Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre last week.

"The dispersal order I approved at that meeting will help police manage the problem of groups of youths loitering in the area, which was a big concern for many. We will be keeping a close watch on how effective that is.

"I have also given an assurance I will continue to work closely with ward councillors to explore whether other steps, such as CCTV or more street lighting, may be required."

A spokesman for the city council said the dispersal order would last for six months.

Belgrave families  scared  to leave homes because of yobs

How well-dressed wheelie-bins can raise extra cash for Leicester City Council

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Council bosses are looking to sell special covers to people who want to decorate or disguise their wheelie-bins.

The stick-on vinyl sheets – widely available on the market at a cost of about £15 – wrap around the black plastic bins.

Leicester City Council hopes to generate cash by selling them to residents who want to brighten up their bins.

Assistant city mayor for neighbourhood services Councillor Sarah Russell said: "You can get these vinyls already but people are asking us for them.

"I don't want to turn the council into a retail outlet, but if people want to buy them, they might as well get them from us.

"I don't think it will make a huge amount of money but every little bit helps.

"It's a sort of wheelie-bin camouflage.

"The bins are very functional and not everyone thinks they are very attractive.

"Some people don't think they are a very nice feature in their back gardens and want a way of making them less visible.

"You can get all different designs – from flowers to trees and bubbles. They can look really nice."

Coun Russell said the vinyl covers could also help prevent people's bins from being stolen or mixed up with their neighbours'.

The council will also look at selling stick-on numbers for people who want a simpler way of making their bins more easily identifiable.

Coun Russell said people had also asked for outdoor containers in which they could store their orange recycling bags on non-collection days.

She said: "There are really all sorts of bin accessories people want which we could provide."

Kim Stallard, 42, from Braunstone, said: "I've already seen a few bins around with patterns and animals on them and I think they look quite nice. I'm not sure I'd go to the bother of it myself though. It's a bin not a work of art."

Geoffrey Foster, 71, from Leicester's West End, said: "It's a nice idea because the bins are big, black, and ugly but these covers have been around a while so I'd have thought anyone who wanted one would have bought one by now.

"I can see the practical use of it though because it's not unknown for a wheelie-bin to go missing on collection day and that's very frustrating."

David Collins, 39, also from Leicester's West End said: "It's a waste of money. Completely. And I don't know why anyone would buy numbers when you can paint them on yourself."

How well-dressed   wheelie-bins can  raise extra cash for Leicester City Council


Youth Christopher Cunningham-Pithouse lashed out with vodka bottle at funfair in Quorn

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Violence erupted at a village funfair when a drunken teenager attacked two people with a bottle, causing head injuries.

A 19-year-old collapsed and was taken to hospital after having a vodka bottle smashed on his head. His injuries included a cut needing 10 stitches.

Christopher Cunningham-Pithouse (18), who carried out the attack at the funfair in Quorn, near Loughborough, had moments earlier struck another teenager who was on the ground.

He hit the youth, who was being attacked by someone else, on the head with the same bottle. The blow caused a cut needing three stitches.

At Leicester Crown Court, Cunningham-Pithouse, of Patrick Kelly Close, Alford, in Lincolnshire, admitted unlawful wounding and causing actual bodily harm on September 7. He was sentenced to 16 months detention.

Co-accused, Laura Connolly (18), of John Earl Road, Barrow upon Soar, admitted causing an affray.

She was said to have shouted threats while wielding another vodka bottle.

She was given a one-year community order with 100 hours of unpaid work.

Philip Gibbs, prosecuting, said: "The annual funfair was supposed to be a happy event, but on this occasion it turned ugly."

He said the defendants were with a group of friends, one of whom started brawling with someone from another group – which triggered a series of violent incidents.

Having been passed a 1.5 litre vodka bottle, Connolly threatened to "hit anyone who came near her" with it, said Mr Gibbs.

He said that when a young woman on crutches shouted to the scuffling youths to stop, Connelly raised the bottle in her direction, but no physical contract was made.

Sentencing, Judge Simon Hammond said Cunningham-Pithouse had an "atrocious criminal record" which included four assaults, attempted robbery and arson.

He said he accepted Cunningham-Pithouse did not start the violence.

However, the defendant joined in after drinking and having taken "a drug".

He said he was prepared to give Connolly a chance, as she was now in employment and determined to make "some-thing of her life".

Judge Hammond said: "Bottles can cause very grave injuries and can blind people." Daniel Bishop, mitigating for Cunningham-Pithouse, said: "The vodka bottle was taken there as a drink, not as a weapon.

"It was in his hand when the violence started and he used it in the way described.

"He had been out of trouble for 11 months before this incident, which has set him back."

Jane Hinds, for Connelly, who has no previous convictions, said: "She accepts she used aggressive language while holding a bottle she had been passed by the person who started the violence.

"She had been hanging around with the wrong crowd on that night.

"She has since turned her life around and continues to make progress.

"She is ashamed, embarrassed and aware of the hurt and disappointment she has caused her parents."

Youth  Christopher Cunningham-Pithouse lashed out with vodka bottle at funfair in Quorn

Leicester City's Richie Wellens delighted to be back

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Richie Wellens said he was delighted Leicester City secured a replay against Huddersfield Town, not just because it meant City had another chance to reach the fifth round, but it would give him more much-needed playing time.

The 32-year-old midfielder made his first start for City since damaging his cruciate knee ligament in April last year and admitted he is in desperate need of match action to get back to full fitness.

Wellens had a loan spell at Ipswich in October but damaged the cartilage in his knee on his return.

"This week in training I have felt great and I think that is why the manager has included me," said Wellens, who hopes to be included in the Development squad for their game today at Leeds.

"That goes to show you can train as much as you want but that match intensity hits you like a brick wall.

"I am just pleased to have lasted 70 minutes and got that under my belt. I am buzzing we have got a replay because I might get more game time.

"The Gaffer pulled me to one side after training and asked me how I am feeling. I said great and he said I was playing. All of sudden I didn't feel great.

"It was hard because they played a system which was tough for us in midfield and for the first 20 minutes I couldn't find my legs.

"To be thrown in to that atmosphere was great, but it was also tough. After being injured for so long, you just want to go out on the training pitch and work hard and walk off afterwards not being injured. I think I am over that now."

Wellens was replaced by Danny Drinkwater with 20 minutes remaining at the John Smith's Stadium and he admitted the substitutions made a difference and earned City a replay.

"The substitutions helped us a lot," he said.

"I think you can see that myself, Jamie Vardy and Martyn Waghorn haven't played for a long time. When we three came off, you could see in the lads who came on had been playing every week because they had that extra fitness and sharpness.

"It felt like the ball was landing just half-a-yard away from me. It was very frustrating.

"The Leicester fans have been great again and showed up in fantastic numbers. I am glad we didn't go out for them. We have a replay and a chance to go through to the next round."

Leicester City's Richie Wellens delighted to be back

England coach Rob Hunter comes to Leicester Tigers' rescue

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Leicester Tigers' second-row crisis has been eased thanks to England Under-20s head coach Rob Hunter.

Academy product Harry Wells, 19, has been allowed to stay with his club this week instead of joining the England youngsters in preparation for the start of their Six Nations campaign against Scotland.

Hunter had first call over Wells under the terms of the long-term agreement between clubs and country.

But with Tigers missing Graham Kitchener, Geoff Parling, Ed Slater and Louis Deacon to international duty, and Steve Mafi (hamstring), Tom Croft (back) and Tom Price to injury – after the latter was stretchered off during Saturday's 34-8 win over Wasps – England have told Leicester they can keep Wells for this week's final LV= Cup group game at the Llanelli Scarlets.

"That was good of Rob because he had first call and his decision really helps us out," said Tigers' director of rugby Richard Cockerill, who only has Rob Andrew left as an out-and-out second-row.

There was also good news on Price, who was taken to hospital looking badly injured.

Cockerill said tests had shown he had concussion but no major damage after what looked like an horrific neck injury.

The 20-year-old, who was making his full debut, lay prone on the pitch for nine minutes while medics stabilised his conditions and got him on to a stretcher before carrying him off the field.

At the time, there was serious worry over Price's condition with Cockerill saying it "wasn't good" and that he was "struggling".

Yesterday, however, Cockerill allayed people's worst fears and confirmed that Price was set to make a full recovery.

Flanker Tom Croft was also injured in just his second start after nine months out of the game with a neck injury.

He left the field after only nine minutes but, while that was frustrating for a man desperate for game-time, Cockerill said his injury was no more than a muscle spasm after getting a knee in the back.

"There was just a bit of bruising," said Cockerill. "He was a bit tight in the area between his hip and his spine.

"He couldn't deal with the spasm and it was too tight for him to carry on.

"It was just bad luck and one of those things. He needed to play some games but it was nothing serious and just a bang."

Tigers kept their momentum going after the five-try win over Wasps in front of nearly 20,000

Vereniki Goneva scored two tries on his comeback from a knee injury and there were also scores for Logovi'i Mulipola, Michael Noone and, the pick of the bunch, from Mat Tait.

"It was tough after last week's win over Toulouse and then having lots of guys go away on international duty," said Cockerill.

"We were a bit disjointed but some guys got to play and we go to Scarlets with half a chance of qualifying for the semi-finals."

Leicester Comedy Legends: 'The Geordie with a big heart and foul mouth'

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If the accolade is based on legwork, then Sarah Millican is in with a good shot at our first Legend of Comedy award.

She seems to have first popped up on our comedy radar during the 2006 Leicester Comedy Festival.

According to our old listings she was gigging here, there and everywhere, doing half a dozen gigs every festival for years before we gave her any real column inches.

Even when she made it to the preview show in 2008, our reviewer didn't give her a mention, instead favouring an enormous picture of Irish comic Jason Byrne eating a packet of Liquorice Allsorts.

Poor Sarah. But all is not lost, as she is now one of 20 funny men and women in the running for the inaugural Legend of Comedy award, launched to celebrate 20 years of the festival.

We got round to reviewing her in February 2009 at the Richard Attenborough Centre, in Lancaster Road. Alex Scoppie had very nice things to say about her – even if the show was under construction.

"You know a show is a work in progress when the artist wanders on-stage with notes and a pen, then runs off to get a cup of tea," he wrote.

"But in the presence of such a natural, bubbly performer as Sarah Millican, the Geordie hopeful with a big heart and a foul mouth, any concerns about amateurism melt away."

"Covering subjects from chatting to truckers using Morse code, to sharing the sea with obese children and wanting George Clooney for her bathrobe, her new act was a step forward from last year's."

There was even a bit of voluntary crowd participation.

"The equally relaxed crowd was soon drawn in to a question and answer session: "What would you do if you were the opposite sex for a day?" This got more smutty responses from the women, although one man did suggest "be a slut". "If Sarah continues to get quality filth back from the audience instead of just giving it, her future is assured."

LEGEND OF COMEDY: Vote for your favourite Sarah is one of 20 comedians we have picked who have performed at the festival over the years. We want you to vote for the one you think is most deserving of the Legend of Comedy title. The comedian with the most online and postal votes combined by the end of the festival will be crowned the winner. The award will be presented to the winner – or, if Sir Norman Wisdom takes the award, to his family – at a ceremony in March at the City Rooms, Leicester. A plaque naming the winner will be displayed in the Y Theatre – one of the comedy festival venues – in East Street, Leicester. To vote for your favourite comedian, fill in this form and send it to the address on the coupon. You can also vote online below. This year, Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival will see more than 520 shows performed at dozens of venues across the county from February 8 to 24.

Leicester Comedy Legends: 'The Geordie with a big heart and foul mouth'

Leicestershire Police sell off criminal's Nazi replica armoured car

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This Second World War replica armoured car is the latest – and most unusual – criminal asset to be auctioned off by Leicestershire Police.

The force sold the two-and-a-half tonne Nazi "Helga" for £5,205 on its online eBay shop. It is believed to have been used in Second World War re-enactment events.

It is the latest "criminal asset" to be sold through the force's auction site.

The site has generated about £684,000 through the sale of luxury cars, designer clothing, jewellery and other ill-gotten gains since it was launched three years ago.

The cash is used to fund further crime-fighting, while some is donated to good causes.

Leicestershire Police was guarded about how the Helga – believed to have been built and sold by a specialist welder in the South East several years ago – came to be on its site.

The force would only reveal it was selling it on behalf of another law enforcement agency. The handcrafted vehicle, sold on Friday night after a seven-day auction, was confiscated by a court after an investigation into its owner's background.

The seizure was made under the Proceeds of Crime Act, which allows police and other law enforcement bodies to seize goods and assets which courts conclude were paid for with criminal cash.

Detective Superintendent Matt Hewson said: "We have sold everything from luxury sports cars to toy ones, from designer clothes to skateboards.

"This replica armoured car is one of the most unusual things we have had.

"It shows the breadth of assets we can take from criminals.

"If you are living a criminal lifestyle, as well as facing prosecution, we will ask the courts to take from you money, property and other goods."

The force's ongoing campaign – Too Much Bling? Give Us a Ring – encourages the public to pass on details of people believed to be living the high life on the back of crime.

Det Supt Hewson said: "They may be living on the proceeds of burglary, money-laundering, fraud or drug dealing.

"We can take both civil and criminal action to be sure they do not benefit from these activities."

In the three years since it opened its eBay shop, the force has sold more than 1,000 items.

Bidding on a two-year-old Aston Martin DB9 Volante convertible was due to end last night. With more than a dozen bids lodged, it was set to fetch more than £55,000.

Zuffar Haq, of Crimestoppers in Leicestershire, said: "I knew the police had sold up-market cars, but I had no idea they were selling armoured cars.

"I wonder what they're going to get next – criminals will spend their money on many strange things. There is a very serious point to this and that is that there are people who enjoy good lifestyles because they are committing crime.

"If people believe they know someone who is benefiting from crime I'd urge them to call Crimestoppers in complete anonymity or go to the police."

Call Leicestershire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers, which is anonymous, on 0800 555 111.www.leics.police.uk/advice-and-information/information-zone/reclaim-your-property

Leicestershire Police sell off criminal's Nazi replica armoured car

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