London Olympics boss Sebastian Coe was on hand to inspire the next generation of sports stars yesterday as he visited Beauchamp College.

He was at the college, in Oadby, in his new role as an ambassador helping to raise the profile of sport to create a lasting legacy from the Games.

The school was hosting an Olympic and Paralympic roadshow which saw Lord Coe take part in a question and answer session, meet members of sports clubs and Olympic torch bearers and watch a basketball masterclass session.

Lord Coe, who was the chairman of the organising committee for the London Olympics, said: "It's great to come into a school like this where sport isn't just in the margins, but at the forefront of the curriculum."

The roadshow was organised by Leicester-Shire and Rutland Sport.

Lord Coe said he had been inspired as a youngster to join an athletics club when he attended a similar event following the 1968 Olympics in Mexico.

"If it had the desired effect then, I'm sure events like this will be even more successful today," he said.

Lord Coe studied at Loughborough University before going on to win gold in the 1,500 metres at the 1980 Moscow and 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

Lord Coe said there was a balance to be struck between academic and sporting endeavour, but often sport was a catalyst for self-belief in other subjects.

Leicester Riders basketball player Drew Sullivan, who also visited the college as part of the roadshow, agreed.

"I wasn't the best student, but when I started to train hard for basketball, I suddenly didn't find it too difficult to be disciplined in my maths and English homework and my grades shot up," he said.

Pupils James Hatton and Helena Keenan, both 16, were among the school's welcoming committee.

Both are middle distance runners.

James said: "He's a sporting hero so it's amazing to meet him.

Helena said: "It's a huge honour."

Pupils Lucas Hayward and Nia Durant, both 16, greeted him with their Olympic torches, as they carried the flame during last year's torch relay.

Lucas said: "It was so exciting to carry the torch and meeting someone such as Seb Coe, who has shown so much passion and dedication to sport, is definitely an inspiration."

Beauchamp College head teacher Hugh Howe said: "It's a huge honour to welcome Seb here. He's an inspiration to us all and his commitment to young people is highlighted through this visit."

The roadshow was the 47th of its kind which has taken place in schools and clubs across Leicestershire.

It aims to give people the chance to meet professional sportsmen and women to find out what it takes to perform at top levels and show them what is achievable.

Motorists are being warned to expect delays as the main section of work to create controversial bus lanes on the A426 starts on Monday.

The work on the £5 million project in Aylestone and Lutterworth Road from Blaby to Leicester city centre is expected to last five months.

Preparation work, including re-routing underground pipes and cables, has already been completed.

On Monday, road clearance work, including removing traffic islands between Little Glen Road and Soar Valley Way will get under way.

This will be followed by carriageway-widening to fit in a bus lane. Improvements to traffic signals at the junction of Middleton Street, Lutterworth Road and Wigston Lane will also be carried out before October.

County council assistant director for transportation Ian Drummond said: "This is an important scheme which aims to improve bus journey times and service reliability, improve safety for cyclists and ease congestion on what is a key route into the city.

"We would urge anyone using the A426 to plan their journeys and give themselves more time to get in and out of the city while this work is being carried out."

Work will be completed in stages to minimise disruption and other roadworks in nearby areas have been coordinated to reduce congestion.

More than 4,000 people signed a petition against the plans. Richard Johnson, head of the Glen Parva and Aylestone Action Group, said: "There is just no evidence car drivers will move on to buses because there are bus lanes. It is not a lack of bus lanes that stops them – it's the cost of tickets.

"This scheme will not make it cheaper to get a bus."

Former Leicester City Council chief executive Sheila Lock has a new job in Wales.

Ms Lock has been appointed the interim director of children's services at Cardiff Council.

She was made redundant from her £174,000 Leicester role in 2011 when city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby abolished the post.

Ms Lock was the city council's director of children's services from 2006 to 2008, before being promoted to chief executive.

A Cardiff Council spokeswoman said Ms Lock had been hired for six months until the permanent £120,000-a-year director of children's services is in place.

Ms Lock's salary has not been disclosed.

The council spokeswoman said: "It is intended she will be the interim director for children's services until the new permanent director and assistant director are appointed."

Ms Lock launched a judicial review challenge at the High Court last year, claiming Leicester City Council breached her human rights to a fair hearing and respect for her private life. However, in August, a senior judge rejected her claims that the dismissal was unlawful.

At the time she was made redundant, Ms Lock was off work due to the stress caused by a four-year hate mail campaign by a council worker, who was jailed for two years.

She challenged the process leading to her departure, claiming the council acted unlawfully by sending her a letter of redundancy before the full council had ratified the abolition of her role. Ms Lock also claimed by informing the media she was off sick and automatically dismissing her from her other role of head of paid service, the council breached her human rights to a fair hearing and privacy.

A drunken teenager who attacked a cabbie with three bottles during an unsuccessful attempt to rob him has been jailed for four years.

The attack by Jacob Bateman-Evans (18) left the taxi driver with head and facial injuries, including bruises and a cut that needed stitches.

The victim said he felt "grateful to be alive".

Alan Murphy, prosecuting at Leicester Crown Court, said the defendant called the private hire taxi to collect him and two others from a house in Mereworth Close, off Hastings Road, Leicester, at 2.15am on January 26.

He paid his £13 fare up front, asking to be taken home to Beaumont Road, Spinney Hills, in the city.

He sat in the front seat, having paid with a £50 note and received the correct change.

The two other passengers were dropped off at different locations.

However, in Beaumont Road the defendant claimed not to live there and told the driver to carry on.

When they got to nearby Vulcan Road, Bateman-Evans, who had a bag containing bottles of alcohol, demanded: "Give me my £50 and all of the money.

"He picked up a beer bottle and said 'Give me the money or I'll hit you'," Mr Murphy said.

"The driver began arguing with him and the defendant did exactly what he said he was going to do and hit him very hard with it."

The victim took the bottle from him, but Bateman-Evans continued to demand cash and hit him with a vodka bottle on the head.

The driver took that bottle off him and radioed control asking for the police to be called.

He got out of the taxi, followed by the defendant who struck him with another beer bottle three or four times, before delivering a flurry of punches.

The victim, who was covered in blood, tried to restrain him, but the defendant escaped and ran off empty-handed.

He was arrested the next day at the address in Beaumont Road he had originally given to the taxi driver.

Sentencing, Judge Robert Brown said two days before the offence the defendant was fined by Market Harborough magistrates for threatening behaviour.

He said: "You've nine convictions for violence and public order-related offences.

"This was a sustained and a very violent attack.

"The victim, like other taxi drivers, is entitled to be protected by the courts from this sort of violence from passengers.

"Taxi drivers are particularly vulnerable, working alone during unsocial hours."

Bateman-Evans admitted attempted robbery.

The victim spent three days off work, became depressed and no longer works nights, which has affected his income.

Mr Murphy said: "He feels it's changed his life, although he was grateful he was still alive."

Edward Barr, mitigating, said his client was the worse for drink.

He said: "It was impulsive, with the intention to rob formed outside his front door."

A widow who offered a £5,000 reward is still trying to trace the driver who caused fatal injuries to her husband as he walked along an unlit country road more than a year ago.

Dee Ware launched a fresh appeal – without the reward – after yesterday's inquest into the death of her husband, Simon, who died after being hit by two vehicles in Ashby Lane, Bitteswell, near Lutterworth, on December 19, 2011.

The hearing at Leicester Town Hall heard how Mr Ware, 44, of Broughton Astley, was knocked down by one vehicle then run over by a second.

Coroner Lydia Brown recorded a verdict of accidental death after hearing how Mr Ware died of extensive pelvic injuries caused by the first collision.

The second driver, who was commended by the coroner for stopping to help, broke one of Mr Ware's legs but this injury did not contribute to his death.

After the inquest, Mrs Ware said: "Although it has been over a year, I am utterly devastated but also extremely angry. My grief has been compounded by the fact the driver who first struck Simon then failed to stop has still not been traced.

"Somebody out there knows what happened.

"Simon was left lying injured in the road. Despite witness appeals and the offer of the substantial reward we are no closer to learning the truth."

Motorist Daniel Brown told the inquest how he ran over what he thought was an object in the road as he drove to pick up his daughter from Sharnford at about 5pm.

He said: "I didn't see anything until it was too late."

Mr Brown said he thought something was wrong so he stopped and turned back.

He said Mr Ware, who was wearing a black suit and black overcoat, was conscious and talking to people trying to help him.

Forensic pathologist Stuart Hamilton said toxicology reports showed Mr Ware had a blood alcohol level of 350 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood – nearly four-and-a-half times the drink-drive limit of 80.

His injuries were consistent with someone who had been hit by a vehicle from behind – and then run over by a second vehicle.

He said Mr Ware was taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary but suffered a catastrophic collapse and a heart attack minutes after reaching the hospital.

Detective Sergeant Adrian Keeble said: "We are either looking for a HGV driver who does not know he hit Mr Ware or a hit-and-run driver.

"We would like to be able to give this family some closure."

Anyone with any information can call DC Keeble on 101.

Leicestershire were forced to follow-on on day two of their LV= County Championship Division Two match against Hampshire.

Left-arm pace bowler James Tomlinson exploited the swinging bowling conditions with great skill as County were bowled out for just 143 in response to Hampshire's first innings total of 454-7 declared.

They will begin day three this morning 311 runs behind their hosts.

Leicestershire openers Michael Thornely and Niall O'Brien had to bat out the last two overs of the day without scoring when following on, but the damage had already been done.

Tomlinson made the ball move both ways to finish with 4-23 while another left-armer, Chris Wood took 3-30 as County collapsed from 31-0.

Earlier, Hampshire had resumed on 286-4 and had little difficulty in adding a further 168 in 39 overs.

Sean Ervine departed at 308, bowled by Matthew Hoggard, but James Vince was in imperious form, reaching his century with his 17th boundary off Shiv Thakor as Hampshire built a formidable total.

Vince and newcomer Adam Wheater added 104 for the sixth wicket in 29 overs before Vince lofted debut-making pace bowler Ollie Freckingham into the deep to Thakor.

Vince faced 236 balls for his 148 and struck 21 boundaries, but even then the punishment was not over.

Wheater, signed in the close season from Essex, blasted a rapid unbeaten 56 and Wood took advantage of a demoralised attack to make a swift 28 before being bowled by Jigar Naik to prompt the declaration.

Thornely and O'Brien gave no hint of the tribulations to come with an opening stand of 31 but when Wood had O'Brien caught at first slip by Ervine, the batting was processional.

Tomlinson's first victim was Thornely, followed in rapid succession by Ned Eckersley and Josh Cobb to make County 64-4, a position from which they never recovered.

Only captain Ramnaresh Sarwan hung around long enough to make an impression, hitting five fours in his top score of 25.

At 118 for nine, Leicestershire looked doomed but then last pair Hoggard and Alex Wyatt attempted to bring some respectability to the score with an aggressive stand of 25.

Hampshire fielders surrounded the Leicestershire openers when the follow-on was enforced but they survived to the close.

A Leicester woman has gone on trial accused of murdering her lover, whose dismembered body was found in a shallow grave.

Tara Swift (41), of West Street, off Tigers Way, is accused with ex-boyfriend Peter Healy of killing 50-year-old Kevin Kennedy.

The pair, who are on trial at Nottingham Crown Court, deny murder.

Mr Kennedy's headless and armless body was found inside a duvet cover in undergrowth on land between Rossington Road and Burrows Court, Sneinton, Nottingham, on August 8 last year.

His head and arms have never been found, the jury was told.

It is alleged Swift and Healy murdered Mr Kennedy three weeks before his remains were discovered. The court heard Mr Kennedy was last seen alive on CCTV on July 17, walking towards Rossington Road, where Swift then lived.

Timothy Spencer QC, prosecuting, said the following day, Swift told someone Healy had beaten up Mr Kennedy. She said she had saw the attack, at her home, but had been too scared to call an ambulance in case Healy had attacked her, too.

The court was told after the alleged attack, the pair left Swift's home.

Mr Spencer said there was no CCTV footage of either defendant going anywhere near Rossington Road on July 18.

He claimed the pair were "deliberately staying away" as they "knew the enormity of what had gone on the evening or night before".

Days after the attack, Swift and Healy (51), of Lord Nelson Street, Sneinton, were caught on CCTV in the Rossington Road area, the jury was told.

Healy allegedly got "rid of something" in one of the shots, prosecutors claimed.

In due course, Swift presented herself to police as a "helpless bystander" who had been unable to prevent the horrific assault by Healy on Mr Kennedy, the jury was told. When interviewed, Swift claimed she had tried to stop Healy but was punched. "Peter put a chair on to his [Mr Kennedy's] head," she said. "He was a mess. He looked like a horror movie."

The court was told the violence had begun when Swift opened the door to Healy's son, and Healy senior had rushed in and begun smashing chairs on Mr Kennedy.

Swift claimed Healy was swearing and saying to Mr Kennedy that he was having sex with his "missus". Swift said she tried to jump in, but was beaten.

It was claimed that on August 5, Swift had told two women she thought Mr Kennedy was dead as Healy had put him in a wheelie bin on bin day, "so the bin men will have collected him".

Police community support officers had been asking after him in the area, before his remains were discovered.

Jurors were presented with scientific findings suggesting Mr Kennedy was assaulted with multiple blows while sitting in an armchair.

Heavy bloodstaining on a mattress indicated Mr Kennedy had lain on a bed for some time and had been partially dismembered on or near there.

DNA from Mr Kennedy was on a chair leg, and a legless chair had a small bloodstain from Healy on it, indicating Healy had hold of the chair while bleeding himself.

"The prosecution say Healy was a jealous man," said Mr Spencer. "He was aware Tara Swift had taken up with Kevin Kennedy."

Healy and Swift are also charged with perverting the course of justice between July 17 and August 8, 2012, by concealing and/or disposing of the body and the body parts of Mr Kennedy.

The case continues on Monday.

Mathew Tait believes that Leicester Tigers fans can spur them towards a home semi-final in the Aviva Premiership.

Tigers return to Welford Road on Sunday to face Wasps having not played a home game since the 48-10 demolition of Sale Sharks on March 2.

Since then, Leicester have claimed vital Premiership victories on the road at Exeter and Northampton, while last week they bowed out of the Heineken Cup after a slender 21-15 defeat in Toulon.

Like his team-mates, Tait is relishing the return to base this weekend.

"It is always a massive boost for us to be so well supported," he said. "The atmosphere is always incredible here, and I'm sure that it will be the same on Sunday."

Defeat in France was obviously a setback for everyone involved with the club.

That said, Tigers will go into the Wasps clash in good form – it took an almighty effort from a powerful Toulon side on their own patch to pip Leicester.

"We've picked up some good wins at Exeter and Northampton Saints," said Tait.

"They are places where it is tough to go and get a result, so that is pleasing.

"In parts we have played very well and in other parts we have not done ourselves justice.

"But the second 40 minutes against Saints was the most complete 40 minutes we have put together."

Tigers will look to continue in that vein for the final three games of the regular season – after Wasps they travel to Bath before London Irish visit Welford Road.

A couple of wins from those three games could well prove enough to clinch home advantage in the last-four games.

That is not the way Tait looks at it, though, and there will be no picking and choosing matches.

"We will be going in to win all three of the games," he said. "That leaves our destiny in our own hands."

Sunday's clash is an opportunity for the Tigers' squad to flush out the disappointment of their Heineken Cup exit.

They go into the game sitting second in the table and well placed to secure a home semi-final.

"This is our only focus now," said Tait. "We have to use the disappointment from last Sunday to motivate us and drive us forward.

"The feeling in the changing room after the Toulon game was not something nice."

Tigers have a good home record against Wasps, having won 33 of the 40 matches played at Leicester.

However, Tigers are well aware of the difficulties Wasps can pose.

"They have dangerous guys all over the park," said Tait. "But it is nice to be back at Welford Road."

Police officers battle through a hail of bricks and petrol bombs as they confront a group of rioters.

The officers, who are dressed in full, head-to-toe riot gear, ward off the missiles with their shields and stride through the flames and smoke unscathed.

This is a training exercise and the bricks, blocks of wood and petrol bombs are being thrown by trained police officers.

It is an uncomfortable routine hundreds of Leicestershire officers go through once a year if they are to remain part of the force's public order unit.

In many ways, these officers are preparing for a scenario they hope they never encounter, but some have faced the real thing.

Pc Lee Robinson is based at Wigston police station and works on the beat in South Wigston.

Speaking at the end of his annual four-day refresher course – which he has completed nine times in the past nine years – he said: "It is frightening going into a situation where people are throwing bricks or petrol bombs at you.

"I did it in Northern Ireland when I was in the Army and I have been involved in policing protests where people were throwing missiles at us.

"But you don't really have time to think about it at the time. You are working as part of a team and you are looking out for the people on the left and right of you.

"This is essential training for modern policing. It gives confidence in your kit, whether it's the armour or the flameproof clothing."

More than a decade ago, Leicestershire sent officers to assist colleagues dealing with riots in Bradford, where petrol bombs were thrown at police lines. More recently, officers spent days in London and the surrounding area assisting the Metropolitan Police during the riots of summer 2011.

Some were also involved in the disturbances which broke out in Leicester city centre that summer, while others were present during the two recent city centre protests by the English Defence League.

Public order trained officers also routinely work on football match-days and during larger community events.

Chief Constable Simon Cole yesterday officially unveiled the training ground, which has been under development for a couple of years.

Now complete, it has been created at a cost of £138,000 and is helping the force save money at a time of public spending cuts.

The 600sq m area, which is constructed of old shipping containers, is suitable for scenarios including riots or hostage negotiations and can also be used for firearms and dogs training.

It is an alternative to sending officers to specialist facilities elsewhere in the country, which cost the force an estimated £50,000 a year until now.

It also expects it to bring in extra money as other forces have indicated they will pay to use it for their training.

Chief Constable Simon Cole said: "The new facility comes at a time when UK police forces are looking for opportunities to reduce overheads and become income-generating and entrepreneurial."

At least £10 million of public cash will be needed to stage a UK City of Culture programme, according to the Government.

Leicester is one of 11 areas hoping to successfully bid for the title, held by Londonderry in Northern Ireland.

City council bosses and senior arts and business figures believe Leicester being named City of Culture would boost the local economy massively through tourism and the marketing value of winning.

A report to be considered by city councillors next week has said the authority would be required to underwrite the entire cost of a programme of cultural events, should it win the bid.

However, it is anticipated private and public sector organisations would contribute to the final cost.

A city council spokeswoman said the £10 million quoted in the report was a guidance figure from the Department of Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) in its notes for bidding cities

She said: "The figure is an illustrative amount for a bidding city, not a bidding council – and it's not what we're saying Leicester's programme of events would cost.

"Our final bid – which would be submitted in September, if we were to be shortlisted after the first round of bidding – would include fully-costed proposals for Leicester's programme of events."

She said the city already had an impressive annual programme of arts and cultural events, but the calendar for 2017 would require new ideas.

"Those are still being worked on, so it's too early to comment on what Leicester's programme might include – and how much it might cost," she said.

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby, chairman of the consortium running the bid, said: "We as a city have the capacity to put these kind of resources behind the bid.

"With the support of businesses and the creative community, who have been very enthusiastic, a programme of this scale is very achievable."

He said it was standard practice for councils to underwrite such bids, adding: "It will bring tens, or hundreds, of millions of pounds into the local economy."

Geoff Rowe, a member of Leicester's bidding board, thinks the figure is based on what Londonderry had spent.

"They invested a lot in capital projects," he said.

"Leicester's bid is focused more on social regeneration and the community rather than major capital schemes."

Conservative opposition councillor Ross Grant said it had been anticipated the Special Olympics hosted by Leicester in 2009 would attract private sponsorship but, in the end, the council used £1 million of reserves to underwrite the games.

"I'd be very wary about saying 'this is great, let's do it' and jumping in only to find we can't afford it," said Coun Grant.

The DCMS guidance notes said a 2009 report suggested "that around £10 million of public funding, as a minimum, over and above a local authority's typical baseline per annum spend on culture, would be needed to prepare for and deliver a reasonable UK City of Culture programme."

The council's annual budget for arts and museums is £5.5 million. The initial bid process, to be completed by the end of the month, is costing £100,000 split between the council and its partners.

Rendall Munroe is set to make a shock comeback in Leicester next month.

The former Commonwealth and European super-bantamweight champion will box at Club Republic nightclub on Sunday, May 12.

Munroe quit the ring last December following a six-round defeat to Scott Quigg for the interim WBA super-bantamweight title and blamed the loss – only his third of a 28-fight career – on his battle with the scales and a lack of motivation.

Munroe plans to campaign at either super-featherweight or lightweight in the future, and the 32-year-old said: "I know I can still be a world champion. I've been sparring and it's definitely still there. I won't say I feel better than I used to, but I'm enjoying the training more.

"I'm still eating healthily and now I'm eating more. I had been making 8st 10lbs for a long time and I don't think keeping my weight down for all those years did me any good. I walk around at 10 stones these days – and that's a lot of weight to lose for a fight. I had got fed up with the way I was being treated as well. I had worked hard, proved I was good enough to fight at world level and ended up fighting at domestic level again. I struggled to get up for my last fight."

Since retiring, Munroe has worked at Braunstone Skills Centre and has also been a mentor for pupils at Lancaster School.

But he admits he is getting back in the ring because he cannot get his job back emptying bins.

"If they had me back on the bins, I wouldn't be thinking about boxing again," said Munroe.

"It was the perfect job for me. I was outside, exercising, seeing people and enjoying myself. I was there for eight years and only had one day off sick when they sent me home.

"We worked as a team. I was never disrespectful, did my work well and never had any disciplinary problems.

"I always said I would go back on the bins when I stopped boxing.

"I've been told they won't have me back because I've got an attitude problem, and that's rubbish."

A mum has told how her teenage daughters were "absolutely petrified" after a pervert dressed in high heels and stockings indecently exposed himself to them.

The mum said the man – who police have linked to nine such incidents since December – targeted her daughters, aged 14 and 15, on Sunday.

The girls ran away after he confronted them in Heacham Drive, Leicester.

She said it was the second time in recent weeks that the man had targeted the girls.

"On Sunday he actually chased them and then exposed himself to them," she said. "They ran away screaming 'help us', but nobody bothered to stop in their cars to ask them what was wrong.

"They were absolutely petrified and could barely breathe.

"My eldest is really upset and has had nightmares about it and has been on edge ever since.

"My other daughter was also really scared, but she has told me 'I'm not going to let this man ruin my life and stop me going out to see my friends'.

"I've told them they both need to be cautious while this man is still out there and even after he is caught. He is potentially very dangerous and he needs to be caught."

The family reported both incidents to police.

Earlier this week, police said the man exposed himself to three victims in Heacham Drive and Parker Drive, both in Beaumont Leys, on Sunday.

Officers also believe the man may have carried out six previous indecent exposures, in St Margaret's Way, Blackbird Road and Anstey Lane, in the past four months.

The man covers his face with a woolly hat and a scarf.

Officers are staging extra patrols in the area and are concerned he will go on to commit further, more serious sexual offences if not caught.

City councillor Vi Dempster, who represents the Beaumont Leys ward, urged people to contact police immediately if they believe they know the man.

She told the Mercury earlier this week: "He will be caught, but in the meantime I think people, particularly women, should be mindful of their personal safety."

Police are keen to speak to anyone who has witnessed any of these incidents, or anyone else who has also been a victim who may not yet have reported the incidents.

The man is described as white, in his 20s and is skinny. According to victims' descriptions of him, he has worn several different long coats or robes to cover his underwear.

Contact Detective Constable Caroline Burrows of the police's serious crime team on 101 or Crimestoppers, which is anonymous, on 0800 555 111.

Leicester City captain Wes Morgan has appealed to the Blue Army to keep the faith as his side attempt to get their faltering promotion challenge back on track against Birmingham tonight (7.45).

Although they have been on a poor run of form and are without a win in their last eight games, City could move back into the play-off places tonight, if they beat the Blues at the King Power Stadium.

Tonight's game is City's final Fans' Fixture of the campaign and they are hoping for a bumper crowd, despite the fixture having been switched from a Saturday.

Morgan hopes the fans still believe City are capable of getting into the play-offs.

"I would just ask the fans to keep the faith with us," he said.

"We will go out there and do our best and, if they are right behind us, I am sure we can do that.

"We have been going into games we should be winning and not getting the right results. We have been conceding last-minute goals, or things just haven't been going our way.

"It has been a frustrating time for everyone, the staff, the players and I am sure all the fans.

"We have to keep going, keep the faith and keep our heads up.

"Confidence is a big thing and, when you aren't winning games you should, heads can go down a bit. But as professionals we have to keep going."

Birmingham manager Lee Clark said his side must look to feed off any tension that they feel around the King Power Stadium tonight.

Clark said the recent form that Nigel Pearson's Leicester City side have shown might make for a nervy home crowd tonight.

The fans will know how important a win for City will be, and Clark wants his side to exploit that.

"There will be a bit of tension around the place because Leicester and Nigel will be thinking they have to win every game because it is so tight," said Clark.

"I know how he works anyway and he always goes out to win every match. We need to use that in our favour.

"We have to make sure we use that bit of tension around the place to our benefit."

Clark, who worked with Pearson when they were together at Newcastle, said he had been impressed with City when the Blues needed a late equaliser to snatch a point against them at St Andrew's earlier in the season.

"When we played them earlier in the season, I thought they were one of the best teams we had faced," said Clark.

"They had good, young players who moved the ball around quickly and they had high energy. It was a good game.

"They have had a dip in form and players at whatever level lose a bit of confidence when that happens.

"But I watched the DVD of their game at Brighton and I thought they were excellent.

"They will be kicking themselves they didn't win the game. So they may have got some confidence back.

"They have got good players and I like the way Nigel has recruited the players.

"I know quite a few of them and, if I'd had a penny or two, some of them might have been on my radar.

"They have a good squad and a very good manager, a good coach. I know he is a good coach because I have worked with him."

The Blues have been more successful on the road than at St Andrew's since the turn of the year, with just one defeat from their last eight away games, and they hammered Crystal Palace 4-0 at Selhurst Park on their last away trip.

A unit caring for adults with mental health problems is now meeting essential standards, according to inspectors from a health watchdog.

Three spot checks were carried out at the Bradgate unit, on the Glenfield Hospital site, during February.

Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) wanted to make sure improvements had been made after they discovered failings during a visit in October.

Then, the CQC team found Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust was failing to meet three out of seven key standards at the Belvoir psychiatric intensive care unit and the Aston, Kirby and Bosworth wards at the Bradgate unit.

Inspectors said improvements were needed with patient care records; more staff were necessary to help with therapeutic activities for patients and improvements were needed to systems to check and assess the quality of patient care.

In their newly-published report, inspectors said: "Patients on all the wards we visited confirmed there were sufficient staff and they had access to therapeutic activities with specialist staff.

"Patients told us they were satisfied with the delivery of care and gave only positive comments about staff on the wards we visited.

"We saw there had been significant staffing improvements, with staff employed to provide therapeutic activities.

"This had benefited patients' health and welfare. The staffing changes were new and more staff were due to start work on the wards.

"We were unable to establish whether these staffing levels would be consolidated and maintained."

Inspectors, who visited the wards on February 8, 14 and 15, said the trust had systems to regularly assess and monitor the service.

There was also an effective system to identify, assess and manage risks for patients, they reported.

However, team members suggested further improvements could be made if there was someone with delegated authority to flag up increased risks.

They said arrangements to check on the quality of care had been improved.

The inspectors' report said: "The trust had recently begun a programme of quality visits to wards. This initiative was introduced following our inspection in October."

As a result of the reviews, there had been changes on some wards and, in one instance, a change of leadership on a ward.

Paul Miller, chief operating officer with Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, said: "We are pleased with how the CQC's inspection went.

"The fact we are now fully compliant is testament to the hard work and dedication of staff towards our service users.

"The report demonstrates clear improvement and we take a lot of confidence from this. However, we must not be complacent.

"We need to continue to strive towards providing the best possible care for our service users."

Homeowners are being warned not to employ pushy door-to-door patio cleaners.

Trading Standards officers, from Leicestershire County Council, have urged people not to accept cheap deals on driveway and patio jet washes from doorstep salesmen.

They have received nine complaints since February in the Melton and Loughborough areas, where customers have paid between £80 and £5,500 for shoddy work.

David Bull, head of the county Trading Standards Service, said: "Residents should always be extremely wary of traders who cold call door-to-door.

"Our advice is to never agree to any work without getting at least three written quotes from a number of well known or local traders."

Mr Bull offered the following tips on dealing with doorstep traders:

Do not agree to have any work carried out without getting written quotations from other traders.

Say you aren't interested and don't let then into your home.

Rogue traders often give false names and addresses, so if you can, try to make checks about any trader you are thinking of employing.

If you receive information through your door advertising home improvement or other services, think carefully before you respond, as glossy, professional leaflets can be used by rogue traders to give the impression they are genuine businesses.

To report any rogue traders, e-mail:

telltradingstandards @leics.gov.uk

A £35 million solar farm said to be the biggest in Britain has been connected to the National Grid.

More than 130,000 panels have been put on 150 acres at Wymeswold Airfield.

Developer Lark Energy said the farm – built in less than eight weeks – was expected to produce emission-free energy for 25 years.

It will produce enough energy to supply 7,500 homes.

The company said it chose the site as it was relatively secluded and was not overlooked by properties.

The project received planning approval from Charnwood Borough Council in November.

Lark Energy managing director Jonathan Selwyn said: "All you can hear is the sound of bird song, there is no noise coming from the solar farm.

"There is no smoke, no emissions, it is just absorbing the sunlight and turning it into clean power and will be doing that for the next 25 years.

"As the largest solar farm in the UK, the project has not been without its challenges, both technical and weather-related. It is a testament to the teamwork of the parties involved in its development and delivery that it was completed and connected on time."

Edward Packe-Drury-Lowe, manager of Prestwold estate, on whose land the solar farm is sited, said: "The solar park will add another diversification to the estate, with energy joining food production and leisure".

Wymeswold parish councillor Shaun Bokor said: "I think it's a useful application for a piece of land you couldn't do anything else with. It generates energy in what could be described as a nice way. It's close to the ground and unobtrusive – sheep can graze under it."

Mike Herington, owner of the Windmill Inn, in the village, said: "The general feeling is it's a good use of the land.

"It's not an eyesore for the village. What can be wrong with renewable energy? We just need some sunshine."

The airfield also has a race track and an HGV training centre.

Bill Hughes, who runs Hughes HGV Driver Training, said: "It is no problem to us. It's not obtrusive. A lot of people don't even know it's gone up.

A spokesman for F1 Karting, which runs an indoor track at the airfield, said: "It hasn't impacted us at all.''