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£10,000 reward for capture of armed robber who has hit betting shops in Leicester and across the country
App urges smokers to 'swap fags for swag' on No Smoking Day
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Police appeal after attempted knifepoint robbery in London Road, Leicester
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Richard III: Yorkshire MPs defeated in new battle over king
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Cheltenham Festival: Day two results
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Design brief for Richard III memorial revealed by Leicester Cathedral
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Driver airlifted to hospital after serious crash near South Kilworth
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Man trapped by forklift truck in Lutterworth airlifted to hospital
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Road reopened after a serious crash near South Kilworth
Arrest in Loughborough murder inquiry
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Legionnaires' disease plumber out of hospital
It is thought the man became infected with the potentially fatal bug while working at New College, in New Parks, Leicester.
A colleague, who had also fallen ill, tested negative for the disease.
Leicester City Council bosses said they were confident the disease was isolated to a disused building which staff and students had not had access to for about seven years.
A council spokesman said they were still awaiting results of tests of samples taken across the college site.
He said there was no risk to the staff or the 900 students at the college.
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Mario Bergoglio elected Pope Francis I by Cardinals at Vatican
The new pope has been revealed as Pope Francis I. Live Updates, Video, Reaction: New pope announced
A new pope has been elected at the Vatican. Pope Francis I is the first pope from the Americas, and the first from outside Europe in over a thousand years. The man chosen as pope is Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, from Argentina. The news that the Vatican Cardinals had reached a decison came as white smoke rose from the conclave in Rome. Pope Francis I will replace Pope Benedict XVI, who stepped down last month saying he was no longer strong enough to lead the Church. Crowds with umbrellas have massed in the Vatican square flying flags from around the world. "I can't explain how happy I am right now," Filipino Ben Canete told the Associated Press. UK Prime Minister David Cameron has tweeted his reaction: "A momentous day for the 1.2bn Catholics around the world as His Holiness Pope Francis I is appointed the 266th Bishop of Rome."Photo from Wikimedia under Creative Commons.
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Basketball: Leicester Riders gain revenge for Trophy defeat
Leicester Riders got instant revenge against Sheffield Sharks for the disappointment of losing the BBL Trophy Final at the weekend.
The Jelson Homes DMU-backed Riders dominated from tip-off to buzzer in this BBL Championship game in Yorkshire.
Riders cemented their place at the top of the Championship with a stunning 85-63 success, which enhanced their title prospects.
There was an air of predictability when both teams took the floor, the Sharks players trying to focus in the wake of their marvellous silverware-winning performance and the Riders players determined to make a point.
And, it panned out as most observers anticipated, as the extra urgency and determination to make amends, fuelled the Riders from the first second until the last.
They raced into a 27-14 first quarter lead to make an early statement of intent - a message being delivered in no uncertain terms by captain Drew Sullivan, ho led by example with 13 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and two blocks.
With Sharks suffering something of a Trophy hangover, Riders continued to dominate during the second quarter and by half-time, had taken their lead out to an unassailable 46-26.
Sharks weren't helped by BJ Holmes being on a stone cold shooting night until late in the game, a far cry from his MVP display in last Saturday's showpiece game in Glasgow.
The home side couldn't find any kind of telling run during the second half to even remotely threaten any kind of comeback and Riders coasted to yet another league success.
Jay Couisnard top scored for Riders with 18 points, whilst Demetrius Johnson was one of the few players anywhere near par for the losing team.
One Health Sharks Sheffield 63 (Babalola 12, Jemison 12, Holmes 10)
Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders 85 (Cousinard 18, Anderson 14, Sullivan 13)
Scan could spot bone-weakening disease earlier
A new service could help 500 patients a year get treatment for the bone-weakening disease osteoporosis.
The aim is to make sure people who suffer a fracture such as a broken wrist have a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan.
This measures bone density and can pick up if a patient has osteoporosis.
Dr Peter Sheldon, a consultant rheumatologist at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, said: "Until now, patients would have their fracture treated and several years later they might, for example, break their hip and it is then discovered they have osteoporosis.
"If the condition is picked up early enough there are treatments which mean we can reduce the likelihood of further fractures by up to 50 per cent.
"Drugs won't necessarily get as much bone density back but they will help a great deal."
The Government recently included identifying osteoporosis in the national Quality Output Framework, an incentive programme under which GPs can earn more money for improving services.
Staff in the fracture clinic now look out for adult patients who come in for treatment for broken bones in their wrist or forearm – which often happens when bones are weak.
Dr Sheldon and his team then write to the patient's GP and suggests they are referred for a DXA scan.
Dr Sheldon said: "We have been checking our records since November and so far 60 people have been identified for a scan.
"I think we could pick up about 10 people a week who have, or are at risk of developing, osteoporosis.
"To make it easier for GPs, we even fill in the referral forms so they just have to sign them."
The service, run from Leicester Royal Infirmary, is costing almost nothing.
Dr Sheldon said: "The room which contained the scanning machine was already in the space where the new fracture clinic is.
"The moving of the clinic seemed like too good an opportunity to miss to set up a service which is going to benefit patients.
"The service, which was launched on Wednesday, is being tested for the first six months to see how many GPs use the it."
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MP Jon Ashworth: I'll be a mental health champion
I recently hosted a mental health summit at the Town Hall in Leicester. Although I often disagree with the Government, I do agree with the sentiment of its strategy document No Health Without Mental Health.
The aim of this document is to improve the mental health and well-being of the nation and to improve outcomes for people with mental health problems through high-quality services.
I believe if services are to improve the lives of people suffering from mental illnesses and their carers, they have to be what are needed and wanted.
In November I held a pre-summit event which 60 mental health service users and their carers attended, along with representatives from voluntary sector organisations. A key finding was that clinical and health services alone are not enough.
There is also a need for social support, whether it is supported housing, drop-in facilities or various types of learning and educational activities.
The role of the voluntary and community sector and its relationship to the statutory sector are key to providing this.
Although the Government says it wants to improve the outcomes for people with mental health problems, its austerity programme, including its savage cuts to our city council's funding, is making it more difficult to provide the high-quality social support services needed and wanted by service users and carers.
Despite the sentiment expressed in No Health Without Mental Health, the other parts of the Government's austerity programme can lead to more people suffering from mental illnesses or the illness becoming more severe.
It is well known mental illness is associated with social exclusion, deprivation, domestic violence, low income, unemployment, poor housing and low educational attainment.
Given this context, I am therefore concerned about the effects of cuts to benefits and tax credits, cuts to the public sector and cuts to public funding to social housing, leading to less refurbished and new accommodation.
The estimated number of people in Leicester with serious and enduring mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder and other psychosis, is about 3,400.
The estimated number of people with anxiety and depression is about 30,000. Prescriptions for anti-depressant medications are increasing.
These numbers are clearly too high and may yet rise given the Government's agenda.
We must do what we can in Leicester to improve the lives of people with mental health problems through high-quality services and support.
The summit brought together representatives from the organisations making the decisions about mental health provision and they heard how the benefits of social support should not be underestimated.
The summit must have a legacy and provide the services wanted and needed by mental health service users and carers.
As a part of this legacy, I will be a local champion for mental health, raising issues with the Government, the council, the clinical commissioning group and Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust on behalf of the voluntary and community sector.
If You would like to contact Jon Ashworth MP, telephone 0116 251 1927 or e-mail him at:
jon.ashworth.mp@parliament.co.uk
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Education Secretary Michael Gove to visit Leicester's first free school
Education Secretary Michael Gove was due to officially open Leicester's first free school today.
Mr Gove pioneered the free school concept and will visit Krishna Avanti, in Spencefield Lane, Evington, to unveil a plaque at the site.
The Hindu free school, which was set up by the Avanti School's Trust in September 2011, takes pupils from all faiths but has a Hindu ethos.
Some £4.5 million was granted by the Department for Education to the trust to buy and develop the school in the grade II-listed building, formerly occupied by Leicester Grammar Juniors.
A contribution of £200,000 was also made by the trust.
Mr Gove said: "Free schools such as Krishna Avanti are helping to raise standards across the country.
"Krishna Avanti provides an inclusive education with a special Hindu ethos that is rightly popular with parents and I'm delighted to have this opportunity to meet the staff and children."
Krishna Avanti was created under the Government's new education agenda where parents, charitable groups and others can bid to set up a school, providing they demonstrate the ability to do so.
Although free schools don't have to follow the national curriculum, Krishna Avanti does.
It is funded via the local education authority in the same way as most schools, but money goes directly to the school and no cash is retained by the city council for central services.
Three free schools in London are also run by the trust.
Leicester East MP Keith Vaz will also be at the site for its official opening.
John Simpson, chairman of the trust, said: "We're pleased Michael Gove and Keith Vaz have accepted to formally open Krishna Avanti. The trust now has four schools in its family, each of which are committed to providing a distinctive high quality education."
Mr Vaz said: "I'm delighted that despite his busy schedule, Mr Gove is coming here. I want to pay tribute to Krishna Avanti, who worked long and hard to acquire this school, and for the land to remain as an education site. This is a symbol of what makes Leicester so special."
Finishing touches to the school were made at the end of last year. It now has two new classroom blocks added to the building and a worship hall which doubles up as a dining area.
A large plaza has also been created. The grade II-listed building has been repainted throughout and new carpets added.
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Police appeal after three thugs rob man for cash in Kedleston Road, Evington, Leicester
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Team of Leicester doctors in 140-mile dash to help baby Alina
A team of doctors from Leicester raced 140 miles to save the life of a dying baby in Lancashire.
Medics from the UK's only specialist mobile Ecmo – extra corporeal membrane oxygenation – unit, at Glenfield Hospital, were able to hook newly-born Alina Ahmed up to a special machine which took over the work of her failing heart and lungs.
It pumped oxygenated blood around her tiny body until she was stable enough to be taken by ambulance to hospital in Newcastle, where there is a specialist Ecmo centre.
Alina, who was born on January 15, spent nine days there before being transferred back to Burnley General Hospital, where she spent the next six weeks.
She has now recovered well enough to go home for the first time.
Her mother, Naseem Ahmed, said: "I am just so grateful to all the doctors and nurses.
"I don't know how to thank the Leicester team. If it wasn't for them I don't think I would have my daughter today.
"Alina had swallowed meconium (baby faeces) before she was born. It had stuck to her lungs and the doctors weren't sure if she would pull through."
The 25-year-old was too poorly herself to go with her daughter to Newcastle.
Naseem said: "It was awful. I could hear other mums with their babies and wondered if I would ever be able to be a proper mum."
Alina, who weighed 7lb 14oz when she was born, is now at home in Blackburn, although she still has to be fed through a nasal tube.
Dr Meera Lama, neonatal clinical director at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "The quick response and stabilisation has resulted in Alina coming through a critical period. She was very sick that night and we thought we were going to lose her."
Yesterday, the life-saving team moved another critically-ill newborn from Southampton to Newcastle for the specialist treatment.
Ecmo is specialist treatment which oxygenates the blood outside the body to help seriously-ill patients recover.
Chris Harvey, who heads the Leicester team, is also the country's only Ecmo specialist consultant.
He said: "We can treat a maximum of five patients on Ecmo at a time at Glenfield Hospital and have been fairly much at capacity since November.
"It is pretty much always like this at this time of year, but the winter does seem to have gone on a bit longer than usual. However, we haven't had any babies not able to have the Ecmo treatment when needed."
Mr Harvey and the team, which usually comprises three or four doctors and nurses, all specialists in Ecmo, has helped more than 100 children and adults since the mobile service was established in January 2011.
He said: "When we get to a patient we carry out a small operation to put pipes in the neck to provide the Ecmo treatment.
"Their condition usually becomes stable and we can move them more safely to hospital."
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Nigel Pearson will keep us calm in the run-in – Leicester City's Andy King
Nigel Pearson's ability to stay calm eases the pressure on his Leicester City players, midfielder Andy King has said.
City have just nine games to go in the race for promotion, starting at Derby County tomorrow, and the pressure will mount on all the promotion candidates.
But King said that Pearson's ability to stay cool will help City's cause.
"He is calm and instills confidence into the players," said King.
"He has the ability to step back and look at things rationally and not from a hot-headed game point of view.
"Sometimes it would be easy to come in and see things in the heat of the moment, to change things.
"But he and his staff stay cool and create a good atmosphere around the place.
"Everyone enjoys coming into training every day and that is why there is such a good team spirit and atmosphere every day."
King was given his first-team debut by Pearson and the Wales international admits that the City boss has been a massive influence on his career.
"This is the fourth season that I have played under him," King said.
"I have probably played most of my football with him and he is right up there with the managers I have played under.
"He really gave me the chance in the first place to play regular football in League One. I have a lot to thank him for.
"He did a really good job the first time (he was with City) and he is doing an even better job now.
"He will not let us become complacent with the league position we are in and if he needs to dish it out to us he will do.
"It is all about getting the team promoted and that is obviously what we all want," added King.
Striker David Nugent was also full of praise for his manager and said Pearson was one of the best managers he had played for.
"He has a number of good attributes," he added.
"His team management and player management, the way he talks to the players and gets us ready and up for a game.
"He is a good motivator and calm under pressure. He never loses his head and it is nice as a player to feel that."
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VIDEO: Leicester City legend Alan Birchenall helps launch Loros scheme
Leicester City legend and Loros patron Alan Birchenall has helped the hospice launch a new day therapy scheme.
It means terminally ill patients struggling to get to the Groby Road hospice will be able to take advantage of services at Loughborough Hospital on a Friday instead.
The Loughborough service will include physiotherapy and occupational therapy and is being run with the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust and Macmillan Cancer Support.
Ken Robert, a day therapy patient diagnosed with emphysema, said: "It was wonderful to meet Alan – we chatted about football and the old days of Leicester City Football Club.
"I really enjoy coming to Loros – the staff are amazing.
"Being here also gives my wife Helen a break and some much needed rest."
Alan also made time to visit people on the 31 bed inpatient unit at the hospice, which helps 2,500 patients a year.
He said: "It was wonderful to meet the patients and staff of this important new service."
Professor Mayur Lakhani, Chairman of the National Council for Palliative Care, said: "It is important patients, carers and their families are supported in making decisions and are well cared for in the last months, weeks and days of life. This service has been developed with the intention of adding quality of life by offering a wide range of clinical and support services."
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