Judges have told two burglars shot by a homeowner as they raided his Leicestershire cottage that their injuries cannot earn them a shorter prison sentence.

Daniel Mansell (33) and Joshua O'Gorman (28) were blasted by Andy Ferrie as he defended his home in Welby, near Melton, during a "terrifying and dramatic" raid last year.

They were both jailed for four years at Leicester Crown Court in October after they admitted burglary – but refused to give up their fellow raiders.

Yesterday, they appealed the jail terms with their lawyers, arguing the sentencing judge in Leicester failed to take sufficient account of their mitigation, including the injuries and trauma they suffered as a result of being fired upon.

But senior judges at London's Court of Appeal rejected the challenge, saying the pair's gunshot wounds could not justify a lighter punishment.

Lord Justice Goldring said their appeals were "wholly without merit". He said: "The fact the appellants were injured does not provide a point of mitigation.

"For Mr and Mrs Ferrie, this must have been something of a terrifying and dramatic experience."

Lord Justice Goldring told the court that Mansell, O'Gorman and two more masked men broke into the cottage just after midnight on September 2 last year, waking Mr Ferrie and his wife, Tracey, in their bed.

Mrs Ferrie handed her husband their lawfully-kept shotgun as he went downstairs to confront the intruders. He found one of the raiders, believed to be O'Gorman, reaching for a knife, the appeal judge added.

Lord Justice Goldring said: "Mr Ferrie fired the shotgun. O'Gorman was hit in the face and injured. Mansell was hit in the arm and injured."

The burglars ran off, but O'Gorman and Mansell were later arrested after seeking treatment at a hospital.

Mansell, of Harrowden Rise, Crown Hills, Leicester, told police he mistakenly believed the cottage was a drugs den from which he expected to snatch substances worth up to £170,000.

O'Gorman, of Wayne Way, Crown Hills, Leicester, denied going to the property as part of the burglary, but the pair eventually pleaded guilty.

Both men had previous convictions – Mansell for house burglary, robbery and wounding with intent, and O'Gorman for wounding with intent – and both were on licence at the time of the raid.

Lord Justice Goldring, who was sitting with Mr Justice Underhill and Judge Charles Wide QC, said: "This was a deliberate, targeted burglary of an isolated house in the country. It was a burglary at night, a significant degree of planning was involved, a group was involved.

"It is said that it was believed the house was empty. Be that as it may, face coverings of some sort were worn. Each of the men was on licence from prison, each had significant previous convictions, albeit in O'Gorman's case not for dwelling house burglary.

"Although each had expressed remorse, we observe this had not gone so far as to the naming any of the others involved.

"In our view, the sentencing judge was entirely justified in taking the starting point he did. He reduced it appropriately for the only significant mitigation – namely their early guilty pleas. In all the circumstances, we refuse these appeals."

Protestors have been assured the construction of a proposed gypsy and travellers' camp has not started before being granted planning permission.

Residents were alarmed to see concrete and water valves had been installed in recent weeks at a site earmarked for managed pitches off Red Hill Way, Leicester.

The Leicester City Council-owned site, and another at Greengate Lane, Beaumont Leys, have been controversially selected by city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby to be developed as travellers' plots, but neither have been granted planning permission.

Members of the LE4 Action group, which has campaigned against the development of both sites, noticed the work and contacted the Mercury. They feared the council had jumped the gun by starting work before the planning application for the Red Hill Way site had been considered.

The Mercury contacted water company Severn Trent, which said the valves and the replacement of a damaged fire hydrant, were completely unrelated to any travellers' pitches.

A Severn Trent spokeswoman said the work followed widespread flooding of streets in Rushey Mead in December after a water main fractured.

She said: "We are carrying out work to raise valves to make access easier to improve our response times.

"I can see how the protesters may have thought it was linked to the proposed travellers' site, but it is entirely coincidental."

The spokeswoman said the council had requested Severn Trent workmen attend the site again tomorrow, but did not say why.

Sir Peter said: "I can assure people any work there has nothing to do with our proposals."

The council's planning committee is set to discuss the plans within the next few months. Ten pitches are planned at Red Hill Way.

Traders have formed a group to oppose plans for a new £4 million public square in the city centre.

Workers in and around St Nicholas Place said the development of Jubilee Square, which would replace the car park and park-and-ride bus terminal in the area, will have a negative impact on businesses.

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby is hoping to create a plaza for families, with an area to hold markets and festivals.

Traders against the move have now formed an opposition group and said they would be sending letters to the city council objecting to the plans.

They also hope to organise a meeting with council representatives before the proposals are considered by planning bosses in April.

Group spokesman Steve Cooper, of Abel Alarms, said changes to the road network and the loss of parking spaces would not be good for business.

"A large number of businesses are very concerned about what is being proposed," he said.

"We are concerned changes to the traffic access, including a ban of left turns from Vaughan Way into the High Street, will impact on businesses."

Pam Kooner, owner of Memsaab Restaurant, in High Cross Street, said: "Our business will suffer if the plans are implemented. They want to remove car parking our customers use.

"They also want to make it two-way in High Cross Street and that will prevent taxis dropping off customers in the parking bays, which will be removed.

"That will hit our footfall and our business will be affected. We feel that we have not been properly consulted."

Steve Pateman, who runs private hire firm Circle Taxis nearby, said he would be hit badly by the removal of 47 car parking spaces.

"Nobody seems to be listening to the businesses in the area," he said. "If they remove our parking it will prevent us meeting the needs of our customers because our drivers will have drive to our offices to pick up fares. At present, we can respond immediately if someone steps in the office and wants to catch a train."

Aatin Anadkat, director of Maiyango Hotel, said: "We need to embrace change and try to encourage more visitors on the back of the Richard III discovery.

"I am in favour of improving Leicester. However, I have concerns about the policing of the new plaza at night. We do not want it to become a place for vagrants."

Sir Peter has repeatedly said he intends to find replacement parking in the vicinity, but no provision has been included in the plans submitted to city council planning officers.

He said: "The development of the plans for Jubilee Square involved extensive consultation with businesses in the area, many of which I have met with personally.

"I have listened carefully to their concerns and recognise how important it is to ensure traders have all the access they need and that businesses are not disrupted.

"Jubilee Square will help transform this area of the city centre."

Anyone wishing to comment on the scheme should do so by contacting the council before Tuesday.

People in a quiet cul-de-sac are living in fear after cars were torched outside their homes on two separate occasions.

In the latest incident in Cardinals Walk, Netherhall, Leicester, which happened at 5.30am yesterday, a Renault Clio was set alight.

The first incident happened at 4.25am on Monday, February 11, when a car stolen during a burglary in Scraptoft was torched.

Both cars were set on fire in a small parking area close to homes, trees and wooden garden fences.

The Leicester Mercury spoke to several residents, who did not want to be identified, following yesterday's fire.

One said: "The dog woke us up and then we heard all this popping and banging. The car was alight and my dad called the fire brigade.

"We were also woken up a couple of weeks ago when another car was set on fire.

"It's a bit worrying – nothing like this normally happens in this area. It's not very nice to wake up to a car on fire outside your house.

"It must be someone who knows the area."

Another resident said: "Twice in two weeks we've been woken up by bangs. It's worrying because they've not been far from our doors and windows.

"My daughter was scared to death, she screamed the house down.

"I rang the police straight away. We had a leaflet through the door saying the first car which was burned out was stolen in a burglary in Scraptoft. There's a fence behind the parking area which they can escape over.

"When the first car was burning there were really loud explosions coming from it. It's very worrying when things like this happen.

"It's a nice part of the estate, a lot of older people live round here and it's nice and quiet. Some of the people who live round here were scared to death."

Another resident said: "I can't believe it. The flames could easily have spread.

"It's a quiet area and there's never usually any trouble."

A fourth resident said: "Before the first car was burned out, my wife had been looking out the window to see if it had been snowing and she saw a car whizzing by. When she looked out again later it was on fire.

"It used to be so quiet up here."

Police confirmed the car found burned out yesterday was also stolen.

Sergeant Dwight Barker, who works in the Netherhall area, said: "I would like to reassure residents that we are doing all we can to identify and bring to justice those responsible.

"Officers investigating the two incidents are looking into the possibility that they are linked, making forensic enquiries, speaking to local residents near to where the incidents happened and carrying out other detailed inquiries."

Anyone with information about either of the incidents should call police on 101.

The Government's plans for a high-speed rail link will jeopardise efforts to develop the economy in the north west of the county, councillors have said.

Phase two of the £32 billion High Speed 2 (HS2) project, connecting Birmingham with Leeds, could cut through a swathe of North West Leicestershire.

The district council has said the proposed route will have a "negative impact" on the area's economy – particularly its tourist industry.

Councillors overwhelmingly backed a motion proposed by Councillor Alison Smith, deputy leader of the authority, when it met on Tuesday.

She said: "The second stage of the HS2 line from Birmingham to Leeds will pass right through North West Leicestershire.

"Our view is that the proposed route for the track will have significant negative impact on our businesses and our prospects for economic growth.

"It will remove two major employment sites, including the proposed Strategic Rail Freight Hub by East Midlands Airport, and two major hotels in our district."

The council reiterated calls for the line to be rerouted outside Leicestershire and a HS2 station built in Derby instead of the one proposed at Toton.

Coun Smith said: "We also feel the proposal will jeopardise our efforts to build up a viable tourism industry in the National Forest and will have a negative impact on our countryside and thousands of residential properties.

"Therefore, North West Leicestershire District Council objects to the proposed HS2 route on the basis that there is no positive impact on the district, its residents and businesses – and we urge the Secretary of State for Transport to reconsider the proposals and look again at following a route along the A38 to Derby."

Councillor Leon Spence, leader of the council's opposition Labour group, said: "The Government's plans for HS2 are a major cause of concern to residents and outline proposals will have a major effect on many homes and businesses.

"If it goes ahead then job growth will be put in jeopardy, not only with existing employers but also the potential loss of about 6,000 jobs at the proposed freight interchange to the east of Castle Donington.

"While we are waiting, potentially for many years, for construction to start, we will face a period of planning blight which will have a massively negative impact throughout the area."

The district council's formal opposition to the HS2 proposals mirrors that agreed by County Hall last week.

Sophie Churchill, chief executive of the National Forest Company, a project launched with Government backing in 1995 to encourage regeneration and tree planting across a 200sq mile area, including a large swathe of Leicestershire, said: "I think the council is right. It's not just the impact the HS2 line will have on woodland, but the whole of the forest area. It will be massively destructive."

"What I'm not so sure about is moving the line further west, which will still be in the forest area. However, whatever happens, we will cope."

Martin Peters, chief executive of LeicesterShire Promotions, a body set up to promote tourism, said: "I agree with the council. The proposed station at Toton is miles from anywhere."

The contaminated meat scandal has shocked shoppers across Britain.

Family butchers in the county have reported an increase in trade from customers wanting to know where their meat comes from since horse meat contamination was first discovered by Irish food officials in January.

Since then traces of horse have been discovered in processed beef products on sale in a number of supermarkets and shops across Britain.

The scandal has spread across Europe, involving meat processors and merchants in several countries.

Health inspectors in Leicestershire have now discovered two instances of pork contamination in beef products at a supermarket and a takeaway.

The contamination was detected by county trading standards officers.

The products are undergoing further tests to establish the level of contamination.

Eight outlets in the county have been tested and another five samples are due to have been taken by tomorrow.

No horse meat has been detected so far in Leicestershire.

Results of tests on two beef products served in county schools are also expected by tomorrow.

Yesterday, Tesco chief executive Philip Clarke announced a new testing process so that customers could be sure that what is on the label is in the packet.

He also said that, from July, all chicken meat sold at the supermarket chain would come from British farms.

Bob Larratt was back in the winner's circle when the County Alliance meeting was played at Humberstone Heights.

Kibworth's Larratt, a former European Senior Tour regular, fired level-par 70 on a bitterly cold, windy day, to win by a stroke from Lutterworth's Dan Bailey.

Larratt carded three birdies over the front nine holes but turned in two-under par after dropping a shot at the eighth.

He came back in two-over with bogeys at the 10th and 14th holes.

Scraptoft members dominated the overall Stableford, with Ken Abbott and Dennis Hewitt top with their tally of 45 points, two more than their clubmates Eric Vitols and Mark Quin-Jarvis.

Pro-am pair Nick Prentice and Sam Gamble (Park Hill) were third on 42.

Barry Gisborne, the Alliance president, and his Kibworth clubmate Terry Vasey, took the am-am section award when they notched 41 points.

John Peake had a hole-in-one in Scraptoft's opening tournament of the season.

It came at the 117-yard 11th, when he hit a wedge from the tee to achieve his second-ever ace.

Peake, who has a 15-handicap, was competing in the Captain's Texas Scramble, which was won by Dave Cort, Declan O'Reilly, Wayne Clarke and Anthony Arlott with their 57.6 net return.

Tommy Airnes, Shaun Bryan, Wayne Dignum and Ricky Bryan were second on 58 net, with Chris Fawcett, Dennis Bingham, Gregg Hulbert and Mark Quin-Jarvis third on 59.9 net.

Also high on the leaderboard were fourth-placed John Tansley, Kevin Glyn-Smith, Robert Lapworth and Paul Steggles on 60.9 net, with Stuart Gutteridge, Alan Lovatt, David Yates and David Bloxham fifth on 61.3 net, and Tom James, Oliver Booth, Ashley Thomson and James Rowe sixth on 61.4 net after a tie with two more teams on the same mark.

An am-am at Scraptoft saw Terry Peel, Stephen Elliott, John Tansley and Antony Squire take the honours on local rule on 90 points, with Karl Stinchcombe, Jimmy Martin, Louis Lord and Lee Gibbins runners-up.

Michael Carr, George Knew, Robert Turner and Nick Peplow were third on 86, with Richard Norton, Chris Beaumont, Robert Brown and Geoff Godsmark fourth on 84.

Mike Rose leads the men's Winter League at Market Harborough with his 163 aggregate.

Rich Dixon and Jonathan Peake are both on 161 as the event reaches a climax.

Other front-runners are Esteban Camps, 158, Dave Geekie, 154 and Earl Harrison, 150, from their completed rounds. Ian Freestone, with a three-round total of 127, remains well-placed to challenge the current leaders.

A group of Rotarians filled 60 bin bags with rubbish during a litter pick at Watermead Country Park.

The park, near Thurmaston, is filling up with rubbish faster than park rangers and their helpers can clear it up, due to repeated floods washing debris down the Grand Union Canal from Leicester.

Since November there have been six big floods, the most recent of which was caused by snow melting.

Members of The Rotary Club of Wreake Valley were at the park on Saturday to help.

A senior ranger at the park said: "We had about 20 volunteers down there on Saturday.

"They found stuff that had washed down from Leicester, including trolleys, TVs and golf clubs.

"Every time there's high water, rubbish gets picked up in Leicester and comes down over the weir in Thurmaston and into the park.

"This winter we've had more than 200 bags of rubbish collected and we're only scratching the surface.

"We're very glad people come down to volunteer. We have a group that comes once a month and individuals who pick rubbish up as they're walking."

A £1 million revamp of a former hosiery factory that was a near ruin a year ago has won an award.

Makers' Yard, in the cultural quarter, won Leicester Civic Society's annual award for restoration.

The 159-year-old factory – thought to be the oldest of its kind in the East Midlands – was named the winner yesterday.

The building, next to the LCB Depot in Rutland Street, has become a workspace for 10 businesses, from fashion designers to potters.

Civic society chairman Stuart Bailey said: "Some of us were in there a year ago when it was a dangerous ruin and we had to wear hard hats.

"The timber was riddled with dry rot.

"Now it is a wonderful space with a wonderful new use.

"They have gone to great lengths not to disturb the original features."

LCB marketing and social development manager Julia Hamer said: "We are thrilled to win. Not so long ago, there were pigeons in the roof and floorboards like sponges.

"Now we have a community, rather than a building."

Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: "This is a really wonderful award for Makers' Yard.

"This project has always been about bringing a historically important building back into meaningful use, so winning an award for restoration means a great deal.

"I would like to congratulate the project team."

Makers' Yard narrowly beat the recently restored Stockdale House, in Stoneygate Road, Leicester, to the prize.

A second award, for the best new building of 2012, was won by developer Jamie Lewis for his Code student flats development in Western Road.

Mr Bailey said: "We were impressed by an attractive design.

"The accommodation is to a high standard, superior to most other student residential developments we had seen.

"The building, which overlooks the Old River and Bede Park, makes a significant contribution to the regeneration of a riverside that has been traditionally ignored."

Mr Lewis said: "Our strategy was to work with our architects, RG-P Leicester, to create eye-catching buildings providing a backdrop to Bede Park and to bring new life to the waterside.

"Anything new usually divides opinion but the fact our vision of the waterside has been recognised is pleasing."

The awards will be presented at a ceremony on April 5.

Relatives of a murdered mum have made a plea for people to help trace her killer.

Hayley Pointon, 30, from Coventry, died of a single gunshot wound at a house in Sunnydale Road, Hinckley, on Sunday, February 3.

Her parents, Kerry and Alan, and brother Dean have all appealed for public help.

In a statement issued through Leicestershire Police, they said: "We are pleading with you for information to help us understand why our beautiful, beloved Hayley is now an angel up in the sky.

"She had a whole life ahead of her, a future that looked so bright.

"The hardest part is the not knowing. There are so many answers we want to try to find out.

"We know there are people out there with these answers.

"They have vital information and they know what happened that night.

"Yet these people aren't talking."

Paying tribute, her parents said: "Hayley was the loving mother of two of our beautiful grandchildren, who now have to grow up without their mother in their lives to love them.

"She will not be there to pick them up when they fall, to nurse them when they are ill, to praise them when they are good and to scold them when they are bad.

"She will not be there to teach them right from wrong, to wipe away their tears when they cry and cuddle them when they are sad.

"These two children deserve to have the people responsible for all they will miss out on brought to justice.

"If you have children of your own you will understand – imagine if this was you.

"If you know anything that could help to give these children some justice, please come forward.

"Do the right thing and show a bit of compassion."

Hayley's family has also released a new picture of her, showing her with blonde hair.

A previously released photo showed her with dark hair.

They hoped the new image would help people recognise her.

A team led by Detective Chief Inspector Tony Yarwood is to investigating Hayley's death.

Officers have arrested two men, aged 29 and 36, in connection with the incident.

They have been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

Det Chief Insp Yarwood urged witnesses who have not yet come forward to do so.

He said: "Inquiries into Hayley's death still continue to be our priority and we will not stop until we have brought those responsible to justice.

"Hayley's family are desperate for anyone with information to come forward and they, like us, believe someone out there can help.

"I cannot stress enough how important witness and community information is to an investigation like this and I hope members of the public will read this appeal and get in touch.

"We understand that it isn't always easy coming to police. Maybe some people feel that there will be repercussions if they do.

"I want to reassure those people the information they provide us will be treated confidentially and they also have the option of calling Crimestoppers anonymously."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Leicestershire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

The owner of a confectionery warehouse has been fined £4,000 after waste left outside led to a rat infestation.

Health inspectors found a colony of the rodents at Yum Yum, in Winston Avenue, Croft.

Neil James Busby, owner of the company, pleaded guilty at Leicester Magistrates' Court to four hygiene breaches.

The 42-year-old, of Glendale Avenue, Glenfield, was also ordered to pay £1,019 costs.

More than 50 photographs showing the extent of the infestation and messy conditions were shown to the court.

Ian Marriner, a senior environmental health officer at Blaby District Council, said: "There was an active infestation of rats in the warehouse, with food having been gnawed and live rats seen and heard.

"The floor was soiled with sweet debris, including spilled sweets and chocolates, making it sticky in places.

"Outside, a refuse skip was overflowing with a mixture of refuse including food waste, meaning food was readily available to the rat population.

"This population had grown and become well-established."

Yum Yum was reported to Blaby District Council in the summer, when a neighbouring business complained about problems with waste.

After the inspection that followed, it was closed for four weeks and the business was ordered to pay more than £760 in costs to the council.

During the latest hearing, the court was told the business had not been registered with the council, which was an offence.

As well as the rat infestation, the charges related to failing to prevent food on the premises becoming contaminated and failing to provide adequate bins for food waste.

The court was told that as a "prosperous" business employing 30 people, the owner should have known about his duty to deal with hygiene.

Councillor Guy Jackson, portfolio holder for regulatory and neighbourhood services at the district council, said: "Many businesses in Blaby district work extremely hard to keep within hygiene ratings, so we must take action against those which don't.

"This prosecution shows the council is prepared to take action against any business or individual putting the health and safety of the public at risk."

For more information or to check food hygiene ratings in Blaby district and across the county, visit:

www.food.gov.uk/ratings

Seventeen primary schools are to get extra classrooms to meet a demand for places under a £15 million scheme.

The work will create 380 places in Leicester – needed because of a rising birth rate, arrivals to the city and because more residents are expected to choose local schools over those in the county as results continue to improve.

Education bosses also believe fewer people will send their children to independent schools because of the cost.

They estimate 622 additional primary school places are needed in total by September 2015, on top of the 4,223 that exist.

The total cost of providing all of these is estimated at £35 million.

Decisions have yet to be taken on where the remaining places would be created or where the rest of the money would come from.

Options could include building a school.

Trevor Pringle, director of young people's services at the city council, said: "It's important to note there will no be mobile classrooms, but high-quality, permanent teaching spaces.

"Clearly, that comes at a cost and there's a limit to the funding available at present."

The work will be paid for from the Basic Need Fund, given to the authority by the Government to help it make sure there are enough school places.

It will range from a £107,000 conversion of existing space at Imperial Avenue, in Braunstone, to a £1.7 million re-modelling of Alderman Richard Hallam School, in Beaumont Leys.

Work could start at some schools as early as this summer.

Councillor Vi Dempster, assistant city mayor for schools, said a number of options were being explored to determine where the other places would come from.

"We are working on a longer-term plan to address demand in areas where converting buildings or constructing classrooms is not simple or is not an option," she said.

As well as building a school, options could include the conversion of empty council buildings, some of which are former schools.

Coun Dempster said: "I would expect to present a paper to the council on this within three months."

The council receives Basic Need Fund cash annually. The £15 million has been accumulated over several years.

Alderman Richard Hallam School will have mobile classrooms dating from the 1950s replaced. Seven classrooms will be built, allowing it to increase its annual intake by 30.

Head Jim McGowan said: "We're very excited about this. We're going to get some top-spec classrooms to replace dilapidated mobiles.

"We know parents want to send their children to good schools within walking distance of where they live. Last summer alone we had 147 applications for 90 places.

"I wouldn't want a scenario where one sibling has a place at the school, but the other can't get in."

Sally Morrison, head of Eyres Monsell Primary, said the school would have three classrooms created and two others converted.

Mrs Morrison said: "Our catchment has changed recently and now takes in Gilmorton estate.

"At the other end of the spectrum, age changes in county schools, where many of our year five pupils would go to at 10, have changed.

"It means they don't start until 11, so they're staying on for an extra year, creating a bulge at both ends of the school.

"Expansion will help and we wholeheartedly welcome it."

Jordan Thompson, 20, a student from Leicester, has a baby. She said: "I feel more reassured I'll be able to get her into a school I want.

"I've known many parents searching for something suitable after their first choice is full.

"Hopefully, if the city council puts more money into this, it will allow for greater capacity and more parents will get the school they want."

Education bosses looking at where additional places could be created have approached Martin Fitzwilliam, head of Christ the King School, in Western Park, to discuss the possibility of moving to the empty West Gate school site, in Glenfield Road.

West Gate is spread over two sites, but will move to one as part of the council's Building Schools for the Future programme.

St Mary's Fields infant, in Rowley Fields, is being asked to consider changing its age range from three to seven to three to 11.

Sikh leaders have applied to set up a free school and are waiting to hear if they have been successful.

Nigel Pearson hailed goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel after his world-class save against Blackburn helped Leicester City to a crucial win on Tuesday night.

Despite dominating the game, City could have gone behind when Morten Gamst Pedersen's speculative shot took a wicked deflection which looked destined for the back of the net – until Schmeichel somehow managed to change direction in mid-air and push the goal-bound shot over the bar.

Within minutes, Chris Wood put City in front and they went on to claim a comfortable 3-0 victory, courtesy of further strikes from Harry Kane and Andy King.

Pearson said Schmeichel's save was absolutely crucial to the outcome.

"It was a fantastic save at a key time," said the City boss.

"The first goal is always important in any game, so for him to make that save at that point was clearly important for us.

"He was going the wrong way but showed a lot of agility and reactions. It was a fantastic save.

"Kasper is having a very good season for us. Sometimes you notice goalkeepers when they make a string of saves but end up on the losing side. I would rather have a keeper who doesn't have a lot to do but, when he does have to do something, he does it well.

"He works exceptionally hard at his game. He has been a big part of our season so far. He is driven to be successful.

"It illustrates that you need a good team performance and team ethic to be successful. It was very pleasing to get back-to-back clean sheets."

Pearson said it would have been unjust for City to have gone behind at that point after taking such strong control over the game.

However, he was delighted with City's attacking display after Schmeichel's save.

"The last 25 minutes of the first half we played some really good, attacking football," he said.

"Both our wide men and full-backs produced some excellent goal-scoring opportunities and, with the strikers we have, we had aerial options. They are good players as well.

"It made for a performance which was pleasing on the eye. It would have been a bit unfair to go in level having dominated the first half.

"I am pleased for the players because they work really hard. It was a thoroughly professional performance."

A farm shop has put squirrel on the menu – and customers are going nuts for it.

Pick's Organic Farm Shop in Barkby Thorpe, said the unusual meat was flying off the shelves.

Company director Nicky Chambers said: "We first decided to make it part of our range after a couple of customers asked us for squirrel.

"I think what had prompted them to ask was one of the celebrity chefs on TV cooked a tasty menu with the meat.

"Some people are put off by the thought of eating a squirrel but many are happy to try it for a change."

The company took 15 squirrels to a farmers' market in Market Bosworth on Sunday and they were soon sold.

The animals come skinned and packed and cost £4.50 each.

Ms Chambers said people should not be put off eating squirrel meat.

"I think because they are all nice and fluffy looking then people feel bad about trying it," she said.

"It's a bit like rabbit, really, but once you can get past the fluffy image it's just a meat like any other. I tried squirrel and thought it would taste like rabbit, but I think it tastes more like duck.

"I guess you can cook it any way you like.

"Me and my family had it wrapped in bacon and roasted in the oven.

"It was delicious with vegetables.

"I know at least one of our customers who makes a squirrel curry."

Squirrel is a new addition to Pick's meat range, which includes venison, partridge and pheasant in season, rabbit, wood pigeon and wild duck.

Grey squirrels are supplied by Keythorpe Game, a company run by gamekeeper Mark Liquorish and his wife Rebecca from the Keythorpe estate in Tugby.

Rebecca said the squirrels were trapped and then killed humanely.

"Our customers give us some idea of how many squirrels they want and we try to meet that demand," she said.

"For us, providing the squirrels is really no different from providing any other game."

A spokesman for the British Association for Shooting and Conservation said squirrels were pests that needed to be controlled.

He said: "It is good that this animal can be controlled and is then eaten so the meat does not go to waste.

"I have not had it myself but hear that it has quite a nutty flavour, which is not surprising, considering the animal's diet."

Have your food buying habits changed? Page 8.