The Conservatives breathed a sigh of relief yesterday as they clung on to control of County Hall.

However, they were punished in the north of the county, where Labour made a series of gains at their expense.

One of the most high-profile casualties was Charnwood Borough Council leader David Slater. He won Loughborough South by 25 votes in 2009, but this time was soundly beaten by Labour's Robert Sharp.

Councillor Sharp said: "I'm delighted, because the Conservatives fought a very tough campaign here and David is a very big figure locally for the Conservatives."

Sean Sheahan took the Forest and Measham division from Conservative Geraint Jones and in Whitwick his Labour colleague Leon Spence ousted sitting Tory councillor and group chief whip Tony Gillard.

Heather Worman, 20, became one of the youngest county councillors in the country by taking Ibstock and Appleby from the Tories.

North West Leicestershire District Council leader Richard Blunt had vacated that ward for the safe Tory seat of Leicester Forest East and Kirby Muxloe – previously held by former Tory leader David Parsons who did not seek re-election after an expenses scandal last year.

Councillor Worman said she believed Councillor Blunt "didn't dare go out in front of the public here".

She said: "I am delighted people have put their trust in me. I will work very hard for them."

Labour group leader Max Hunt, who was re-elected in Loughborough North West with a 608 majority, said: "We have more than doubled our seats and had a 10 per cent swing from the Conservatives, so we are grateful for the trust of people in the northern part of the county.

"This will tell the Conservatives they can no longer pretend to speak for all the people of Leicestershire."

However, Tory council leader Nick Rushton, who was re-elected to Valley Division with a 457 majority over UKIP, said: "Labour will tell you they have had a good day. They haven't.

"If you combine the total votes of the centre right parties – us and UKIP – it is greater than Labour's."

Former Conservative deputy council leader David Sprason, who had defected to UKIP, held on to the Markfield, Desford and Thornton after a heated and often bitter campaign.

He said: "UKIP are now a force to be reckoned with. We are the new kids on the block and we are here to stay.

"The Tories have run a very personal campaign against me but people saw through it."

Councillor Sprason won by 67 votes after a recount.

UKIP's Lynton Yates took Glenfields from the Tories after councillor Brian Page decided not to seek re-election.

Liberal Democrat leader Simon Galton was re-elected in Launde with a majority of 855.

He praised his team for bucking the national trend and maintaining its position as the official opposition.

Senior Liberal Democrat Phil Knowles just failed to win Market Harborough West and Foxton West from Tory Blake Pain – by 18 votes after a recount.

Coun Galton said: "We shall continue to scrutinise and challenge the administration."

He said he was prepared to work with Labour, but said it was unlikely they could find common ground with the two UKIP members.

Coalville returned to Labour after it was won by ex-BNP member Graham Partner in 2009. Mr Partner polled 215 this time round.

UKIP candidate for Syston Ridgeway, Chris Scotton, was suspended by the party before the election because he had allegedly shown support for the English Defence League on his Facebook page.

He gained 569 votes, coming second to the Tories.

The turnout for the election was 29.6 per cent – down from 43 per cent in 2009.

Councillor Eynon said: "That's a shame because about 70 per cent of people seem to have been turned off by the election entirely.

"We need to look at the reasons for that."

Today, the Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Labour groups were set to hold their annual general meetings to determine leadership roles and responsibilities.

Worshippers are gathering to pray to a vegetable that looks like a Hindu god.

More than 80 people have so far visited a small temple at a catering company in Leicester where an aubergine that resembles Lord Ganesh – the elephant- headed deity – was discovered.

Praful Visram, owner of 4 Seasons Catering, in Buckland Road, Northfields, placed the vegetable in a small temple he has at work for himself and staff to pray in.

Mr Visram, 61, of Oadby, said: "One of my staff found the aubergine in a box of 20 or so we got from our wholesalers in Leicester.

"He thought it looked a bit odd, then my wife, Rekha, saw it and recognised the similarity with Ganpati Bappa – Lord Ganesh.

"We immediately placed it with reverence in the temple at work. It is a blessing for us to have this."

Ganesh is the Hindu god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune.

Mr Visram said he, members of his family and staff had been praying to the vegetable twice a day.

He said that the word has spread and other people are turning up at his workplace to pray in the temple and to see the aubergine.

Mr Visram said: "There have been at least 80 people who have come to pray at the temple and to see the aubergine. It is spreading good feeling throughout the community."

Hina Chodai, who runs a neighbouring company called Khushi Food, said the resemblance to Lord Ganesh was remarkable.

Hina, of Rushey Mead, said: "As soon as I heard about the aubergine I had to see it for myself.

"It is indeed a blessing for all of us. I am hoping it will bring prosperity to all who pray there.

"I have prayed there a few times and all of my family have come along to pray, too."

Bacash Laxman, 44, of Belgrave, who works at the catering company, said the resemblance to Lord Ganesh was remarkable.

He said: "It is very unusual indeed. there is no doubt that it looks like the God.

"I pray in the temple at work every day and it gives me a good feeling."

Mr Visram said the vegetable was deteriorating and once it got too decomposed to display he would put it in a local river in a ceremony.

He said: "That is the way things like this should be treated. It has been a blessing for us and I hope will bring us luck and prosperity.

"This has been sent to us and we shall treat this with the respect it deserves."

Conservatives held on to power at County Hall yesterday despite seeing their majority cut.

The Tories went into the election with 33 councillors and emerged with three fewer.

The UKIP challenge to the Conservatives failed to emerge in Leicestershire – as it did elsewhere in the country – but they still returned two councillors and won 13.4 per cent over the vote to the Conservatives 39.4 per cent.

Labour staged a comeback after poor results in 2009, increasing their number of councillors from four to 10.

But they failed to achieved a key aim of overtaking the Liberal Democrats as Leicestershire County Council's biggest opposition party.

The Lib Dems clung on to second place with 13 councillors – one fewer than they had before polling day.

Tory leader Nick Rushton said his party had achieved a fantastic result "in difficult circumstances".

He had to admit he had got it wrong when he predicted UKIP would "not win a damned seat" in Leicestershire.

He said: "I got that wrong. I am surprised but the electorate spoke and we have to respect what they said.

"UKIP split our vote and that is a shame.

"A majority of five is workable.

"We have a tough job. There is no money left but we need to provide the best services for the people of Leicestershire."

While Leicester City and Nottingham Forest slug it out at the City Ground, fans from both sides will have one eye on their phones, checking for news from the Reebok Stadium.

Both City and Forest need the win to keep their play-off hopes alive, but victory would count for very little, other than local pride, if Bolton beat Blackpool.

For Forest, there is also Crystal Palace's home game with Peterborough that will be of interest as they can still catch the Eagles, but for City only Bolton in sixth spot are within touching distance.

They need the Seasiders to snatch a point or better to give Nigel Pearson's men a chance.

With nothing to play for, having secured safety from relegation, Blackpool start the game as massive underdogs, but Paul Ince has vowed his side will not be going to the Reebok to wind down their season and said they owed it to City and Forest to give 100 per cent.

"The game is important for us," he said. "We can't think we are in holiday mode.

"We've done what we've set out to achieve but we won't be taking it easy.

"There will be two teams who want to play football on a good pitch. There's no pressure on us.

"We owe it to ourselves to go and get a result, but we also owe it to the teams who are trying to get into the play-offs.

"We don't want to go there and be part of a circus or a celebration. That's the last thing I want. We'll have 3,000 fans going there, maybe more, and we owe it to them to put on a show.

"We aren't going there to be involved in Bolton's celebration. We want to finish the season on a win."

Bolton boss Dougie Freedman said his side are confident of victory as they are currently on their best run of form at home for 20 years.

"Nothing is taken for granted, no stone is left unturned in our preparation, the lads are relaxed and fresh, which is crucial at this time of year," he said. "The way that we are playing at home indicates that we've got a great chance of winning the game."

When the fixtures came out last summer, today's trip to face East Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest immediately grabbed Leicester City fans' attention.

The expectations were high and City fans spoke of clinching promotion in their rivals' own backyard.

Until the end of January, that still looked like a possibility, and even after a run of just two wins in 16 league games there could still be plenty of reasons for City fans to be celebrating on the banks of the River Trent this afternoon.

But it is not the scenario they were expecting.

The game was always going to be a huge one, and the fact that both sides are desperate for the win to keep any lingering hopes of reaching the play-offs alive will ensure a barnstorming encounter that is likely to live long in the memory.

But also, ultimately, the game could count for absolutely nothing.

City need to beat Forest at the City Ground, something they have not achieved in a league game since Alan Birchenall grabbed the winner 41 years ago.

Then they need Bolton, who are enjoying their best home form for 20 years, to slip up at home to Blackpool.

A draw at the Reebok Stadium, coupled with a City victory, would see Nigel Pearson's men grab sixth spot and a place in the play-offs.

It is as straightforward as that.

For Forest, it is the same scenario, but with an added dimension.

If they beat City but Bolton beat Blackpool, they can still make the play-offs – if Crystal Palace lose at home to Peterborough. If Posh get a point, then Forest can still pip Palace but they will need to overhaul the five-goal advantage Palace have on goal difference.

Now that would be the ultimate nightmare for City fans.

For City, if they do pull it off then they will take sixth spot with the lowest points total ever to qualify for the play-offs, just 68.

The two sides, who are both managed by men enjoying their second spells with the club, may be going into this game with contrasting form, but today's game will have a cup final feel because it is potentially winner takes all, if the Trotters slip up.

It is time to believe in miracles for Leicester City fans.

Nigel Pearson's men go to arch-rivals Nottingham Forest and have to win – something they have not done since 1972 more than 40 years ago.

They then have to hope that in-form Bolton get no better than a draw at Blackpool, a team with nothing left to play for this season.

Add in a sell-out crowd of more than 30,000, a derby against Forest and City captain Wes Morgan's return to the City ground, and it could not be a much bigger game.

One City player well aware of the importance of the game is long-serving midfielder Andy King.

He said that not reaching the play-offs today will mean the season must be viewed as a failure.

King said promotion had been the target from the opening day, and he believes City can get the result they so desperately need at the City Ground.

"If things don't go our way, the season will have to be viewed as a failure," said King.

"We've always set out to get promoted this season. If that doesn't happen, we won't have reached our goal and that is something we would need to address.

"I don't think we have a fear of failure but as a player I want to be in the Premier League and as a club that is where we want to be.

"The club is geared up to be there, we have the fans and infrastructure to make it happen. It's all down to this game.

"I've seen progress this season but we need to get over the finishing line. We don't want to waste the season. Having looked so good for two-thirds, we don't want it to finish now."

Forest grabbed a point at the King Power Stadium earlier in the season and City have not forgotten the controversial penalty decision which denied them two precious points.

"We maybe owe them one for that," said King.

"The form guide goes out of the window with one game to go. It's like a cup final now, we just need to go out and give it our best like we know we can."

The Leicester Tigers ticket office will be open throughout the Bank Holiday weekend to sell places for Saturday's Aviva Premiership semi-final against Harlequins at Welford Road.

Season ticket holders will have their seats/places reserved until 5pm on Monday (May 6). Season ticket holders' prices are set at B Grade, from £24 adult seating and £18 adult terrace, and this discounted rate applies until 5pm on Monday.

Tickets are also released for general sale. There is no restriction on ticket numbers you can purchase, subject to availability.

Under-10s season ticket holders must apply for their free ticket, which will only be available if accompanied by an adult season ticket holder and if requested before 4pm on Monday.

Any additional tickets purchased by season ticket holders will be sold at general sale prices. There will be no restriction on ticket numbers you can purchase, subject to availability.

The Tigers ticket office is open for Aviva Premiership semi-final ticket sales from 11am to 5pm on Sunday and also 9am-5pm on Bank Holiday Monday.

Supporters can book in person at Welford Road or phone 0844 856 1880 (option 2). Semi-final tickets are also available online.

The new home kit and training range are now available at the Club Stores and online as well.

The Welford Road store is open 11am-5pm on Sunday and 9am-5pm on Bank Holiday Monday.

The city centre store in Market Street is also open 10.30am-4.30pm on Sunday and all day Monday. Tigers players Louis Deacon, Boris Stankovich, Marcos Ayerza and Miles Benjamin will be in store in Market Street between 1pm and 1.30pm on Monday too.

The sun finally had its hat on this weekend as families soaked up the rays with fine food and traditional May Day festivities.

Thousands of people descended on Melton's cattle market for the two-day Artisan Cheese Fair, where up to 40 producers were busy selling their wares.

Some of the finest cheeses Britain has to offer were on show in the market's exhibition halls, along with stalls selling award-winning pies, wine, bread, beer and other hearty fare.

Paul Gregory, 40, from Whitwick, said he was taken aback by the variety of cheeses and other foods on show.

"It was really good, much bigger than I expected," he said. "I went with my fiance and our baby daughter and we had a great day out.

"I'm a self-confessed foodie who loves his cheese and wine so jumped at the chance to sample so many delicious foods.

"I was so impressed and it's great to have such a prestigious event as this right on our doorstep."

The fair also featured cooking demonstrations and family entertainment.

Matthew O'Callaghan, chairman of the Melton Mowbray Food Partnership, said: "It went extremely well. This is only the third year we've organised the fair and we welcomed almost 7,000 visitors over the two days. That's 3,000 up on last year!

"It was so popular that a lot of the cheese-makers sold out entirely. Many also said it was the busiest fair they had ever been to. There was a lovely atmosphere."

Meanwhile in Leicester, May Day celebrations took over the city centre, with activities organised at museums including Newarke Houses, Leicester Castle, Jewry Wall, the Guildhall and Wygston's House.

The family fun included medieval-themed craft workshops and trails for children.

There was maypole dancing and morris men at the castle, where visitors got the chance to sit in medieval stocks, while the Guildhall hosted traditional folk music and dance, and children's crafts.

Lindsey Bruce, 28, from Eyres Monsell, Leicester, took her daughters Rachell, three, and Scarlet, six, to the Guildhall.

She said: "It was lovely and we had a great day.

"There was loads for the girls to do and they loved it.

"The weather was beautiful, too."

Parents of pupils at a primary school have joined staff in calling for its head teacher to resign following claims of poor leadership.

Employees at Uplands Junior, in Highfields, have called on education bosses to request the resignation of principal Tim Luckcock and chairman of governors Abid Matak due to an "irretrievable breakdown in the relationship with staff".

A collective grievance against Mr Luckcock, which states it is from all the staff at Uplands, was sent to Leicester City Council last month.

Despite the school having a good Ofsted rating, the grievance makes claims about Mr Luckcock's management style, frequent and "unexplained" absences, lack of communication between staff, parents and children and a decision to axe up to 10 teaching assistant posts by the end of this summer term, among others.

Concerns have also been raised separately about some posts by Mr Luckcock on Facebook, which were accompanied by a picture of him apparently wearing a turban, including one in which he stated: "Nearly gone native in Leicester."

A man who has a son and a daughter at the school said: "I believe the council needs to ask the whole of the governing body to resign – and Mr Luckcock – because they have no support from staff or parents."

The parent, who did not want to be named, said: "I think many of the parents don't even know who Mr Luckcock is because he's never seen.

"I'm also worried about the reduction in teaching assistants and what effect it will have on children."

The grievance against Mr Matak claims there is unnecessary interference in the management of the school and that budget elements have not yet been agreed.

It also claimed a one-off "discretionary payment" to Mr Luckcock was agreed by Mr Matak which had not been approved by the whole governing body.

In a letter to the Mercury, a Mr Patel, who said he was a parent at the school, said Mr Luckcock's Facebook statements were "an insult to anybody that lives in Leicester".

He said: "I believe it shows he has no respect for the people he is working with and the community he is working for.

"I am outraged that he is able to get away with this as a head teacher of a mainstream school."

Mr Patel said the statements offended all faiths. He demanded a public apology.

Mr Luckcock declined to comment on the issues and referred the Mercury to Leicester City Council.

However, he told BBC East Midlands he denied his Facebook posts had negative connotations, stating that the picture of him wearing a turban was taken during a Hindu religious festival in school to celebrate Diwali.

He said: "It's been taken completely out of context in a way that's designed to damage my reputation. It was not intended to be insensitive."

Mr Luckcock said "going native" was "a colloquial expression".

He said he was not poking fun at anyone's identity or religion and that he was Muslim.

A spokeswoman for the city council said: "We can confirm we have received a grievance from the trade unions.

"We have put a proposal to the school's governing body as to how this should be resolved, and are working with it to achieve this.

"We are not able to comment further at this stage in the grievance procedure.

"The Facebook posting understandably raises questions and the council and the governing body will be inviting Mr Luckcock to explain the circumstances around the photograph and the comments attributed to him."