Religious leaders fear families from Leicestershire could be trapped by floods in the Indian city of Haridwar.

Hundreds of people have been killed in the pilgrimage destination in northern India, following heavy monsoon rains.

Landslides and flash floods caused by the River Ganges bursting its banks have washed away at least 500 people, according to the latest reports.

The charity Action Aid said thousands of people were missing.

Many of those unaccounted for are pilgrims visiting Hindu shrines and temples.

Leicester organisation the Gujarati Hindu Association said it feared local pilgrims could be among the missing.

Spokesman Hemendra Mistry said: "This is an important pilgrimage site.

"We have heard of three tour groups from Leicester which had gone to the region on pilgrimage.

"We're trying to find out whether they were in the area at the time of the flooding.

"We are trying to gauge exactly who's been affected, but it's too early to say how many local families are involved."

The Indian government has launched a huge rescue operation.

However, the Indian Army has not yet been able to reach some of the more remote parts of the mountainous terrain.

Indian officials said that more than 33,000 pilgrims were still missing as of yesterday.

Maganbhai Patel, president of the Gujarati Hindu Association, said: "I've heard that a lot of people have been washed away and temples have been washed away, too.

"The area is devastated and it will take a long time before anything is back to normal.

"My heart goes out to the friends and families of those involved and of course they will be in our thoughts and prayers."

A Hindu temple in Leicester has organised an event to pray for the victims of the disaster.

Hundreds of people are expected to visit Shree Sanatan Mandir, in Weymouth Street, tomorrow to take part in the vigil.

Temple president Ramanbhai Barber said: "A lot of people from Leicester go to that area at this time of year because it's a very popular pilgrimage site.

"I was there last year and when I saw the recent pictures of the flood on television, I thought 'oh wow, there may be people I know there'.

"I've got a lot of friends who wanted to go and I'm not sure who is there and who isn't, but they're in my prayers that they're safe."

Manjula Sood, chairman of Leicester Council of Faiths, said: "I will be at the temple on Sunday to pray for those affected.

"It's very difficult to hear about everything that's going on, especially when we have such a strong connection to the area.

"It's a very holy place for Hindus. People even travel there to scatter the ashes of their family when they die.

"We're here for the people going though a difficult time and showing solidarity."

The flooding has been caused by some of the heaviest rains recorded in Uttarakhand in 60 years.

Scores of homes, hotels and bridges have been destroyed.

Government lawyers have met their counterparts in Portugal to discuss new leads in the case of Madeleine McCann.

London's chief crown prosecutor, Alison Saunders, and her deputy, Jenny Hopkins, flew to Portugal with Scotland Yard detectives in connection with the force's review of the case.

Madeleine, who was then nearly four, disappeared from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Algarve, on May 3, 2007.

She vanished as her parents Kate and Gerry, of Rothley, dined at a nearby tapas restaurant with friends.

A Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) spokesman said: "Prosecutors from CPS London, and investigators from the Metropolitan Police Service visited their Portuguese counterparts on April 17 and 18 to discuss possible next steps in relation to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann."

Operation Grange, conducted by Scotland Yard's Homicide and Serious Crime Command, was launched in May 2011.

Last month, Detective Chief Superintendent Hamish Campbell said the review had identified ''both investigative and forensic opportunities" and had identified "more than a handful of people of interest".

As they marked the sixth anniversary of Madeleine's disappearance last month, Mr and Mrs McCann said they were encouraged by Operation Grange.

They said police seemed "more determined than ever".

There has been a surge in the number of people being taken to court for not paying their council tax, officials say.

Leicester City Council has had to issue 7,147 people with summonses to appear before magistrates since the beginning of April – a rise of 3,225 compared with the same period last year.

The council believes the increase is, in large part, down to welfare reforms brought in by the Government in April.

It is urging people to get in touch with them at an early stage to try to arrange payment plans rather than go to court where they may face further costs on top of their outstanding bills.

The Government has stopped fully funding a benefit scheme which supports residents who need help paying their council tax bills and told councils to run their own system.

The city council saw a 10 per cent cut in the £32 million it received from the Government to meet the costs. That means it can no longer pay 100 per cent of the council tax of 25,000 claimants of working age.

They now get 80 per cent of their bill paid.

The move has seen 16,654 people receiving council tax bills for the first time.

Councillor Sarah Russell, assistant mayor for neighbourhood services, said: "The Government reform of council tax benefit is having an impact on some of the poorest people in the city.

"We have been sending out soft notices and reminder letters to people reminding them to pay but some are really struggling.

"Going to court can be very worrying for people but it is just one stage in the process.

"They probably won't be told to pay everything they owe in one go but there will be an arrangement to take a sum from their benefits."

Coun Russell urged people finding it difficult to pay to seek help. She said: "It's vital anyone having difficulty paying gets in touch so we can help.

"We have a legal duty to collect council tax, but we aim to work with residents to put together payment schedules and offer advice and support.

"There are a number of ways in which you can pay your bill, including direct debits, which can help to spread your payments."

The council established a £315,000 discretionary relief fund to help residents finding it hard to pay. So far, just over £27,000 has been paid out.

Charnwood Borough Council, Leicestershire's largest district authority, has reported a similar trend, issuing 800 summonses so far this financial year – twice the figure for the same period last year.

A council spokesman said: "The increase has been fuelled by changes to the benefits system which came into effect in April, when council tax benefit was abolished.

"About 3,600 people in Charnwood are being asked to pay council tax for the first time.

"For most, these bills are about £86 a year or £8 a month (£2 per week).

"People who do not pay could be taken to court where they may find costs of £67.50 added to their bill."

The borough council has also encouraged people to seek help.

A student is preparing for a potential court battle with the Bank of England after starting a petition against its decision to replace the only female historical figure on English banknotes with a man.

Caroline Criado-Perez, who grew up in Rutland, had no idea how big her campaign would become when she set up the online petition in April.

But it has now been signed by nearly 30,000 people and she has the support of dozens of MPs.

Bank of England governor Sir Mervyn King announced that social reformer Elizabeth Fry would be replaced by former Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill on the £5 bank note from 2016.

The decision means there will be no women represented on the British banknote, apart from the Queen.

Caroline now has a legal team representing her, which said the Bank of England was failing in its duties to eliminate gender discrimination under the Equality Act.

The 29-year-old said she was fully prepared to take her fight to court, if it came to that.

"When I started, I was just thinking I couldn't let them get away with it," said Caroline, who is studying for a masters in gender at the London School of Economics.

"I started the petition in a moment of anger and it snowballed from there. We had 22,000 signatures in the first week, it was just incredible."

Solicitors Deighton Pierce Glynn got in touch with Caroline to say it thought she had a strong case to challenge the decision. She set up a website to raise money to cover her potential legal costs two weeks ago – and has already collected more than £11,600.

"I need to raise about £13,000," said Caroline. "It's exciting in that I'm really pleased so many people can see why it's important but it's also sad we're having to go to these lengths in the first place, just to get one woman on a banknote – it's not really a big ask.

"I thought if I made enough noise, the bank might listen to reason.

"I never expected to go to court but I will if I have to because I think it's important.

"At the moment, I'm waiting for a response to a second letter. We'll see what they say."

Caroline, who runs The Women's Room, a web database of female experts, said if it was her decision, she would put British biophysicist Rosalind Franklin on the £5 note.

"She wasn't recognised for the things she did and that's exactly what we're talking about here, women being ignored," said Caroline.

A Bank of England spokeswoman said three men and a woman were considered during the selection process for the next person to feature on a banknote.

She said: "Four candidates were considered when Sir Winston Churchill was chosen as the historical character to appear on the next new banknote, and the female candidate was chosen as the contingency candidate."

Donate to Caroline's campaign by visiting:

http://www.gofundme.com/ banknotes

You can sign the petition at: www.change.org/banknotes

A proud Leicester Tigers boss Richard Cockerill believes his players can make a big impact for the British & Irish Lions in today's opening Test.

Tom Youngs and Tom Croft both start against Australia this morning, while Ben Youngs, Geoff Parling and Dan Cole are all on the bench.

The only Tigers star missing is Manu Tuilagi, who is recovering from a shoulder injury and would surely have been included in the squad if fit.

The clash in Brisbane (11.05am) will see the five join some of Tigers' greatest names on the list of Lions roll-calls.

The quintet will join the likes of Dean Richards, Tony and Rory Underwood, Martin Johnson, Neil Back, Graham Rowntree, Martin Corry, Austin Healey and Lewis Moody in the long and proud tradition of Tigers who have represented the Lions.

Cockerill said he was proud of the efforts of all his players so soon after an arduous season.

The six left for Hong Kong and Australia only hours after lifting the Premiership trophy.

"Everyone has acquitted themselves well since they got out there and they have all done a good job," said Cockerill. "Tom Croft brings things to the table that other blindside flankers can't, and I am not surprised that he is starting.

"And Tom Youngs has carried on the form that he showed in the domestic season.

"I think the guys who are on the bench will still have a part to play, and their impact in the second half could help swing things the Lions' way.

"Dan Cole's scrummaging is as good as anyone on his day and he has been impressive on this tour so far.

"It will have been a really tough decision between starting Dan or Adam Jones at tight-head prop.

"I think Ben Youngs has shown up well on tour, but his claims will not have been helped by the game against the Brumbies, where the Lions lacked structure.

"Geoff Parling makes a huge difference in the line-out and, when he has not been playing, things have not been working as well.

"His knowledge in there is second to none and his physicality has really shown up well. That will also have been a tight call between him and Alun-Wyn Jones to start."

Cockerill, who returns to work on Monday after his summer holiday, says there is still plenty of time for the Tigers boys not in today's starting XV to make the push up from the bench.

"There are still two Tests to go after this one, so there are plenty more opportunities for the lads that didn't make it this time to get in the starting XV next time," he said.

"But I think the whole series will hinge on the first Test.

"If the Lions can win it, they can go on and win 3-0 with momentum. But, if they lose it, it could be a big ask after a long season in the northern hemisphere."

All 23 of the squad will be charged with getting the Lions off to the perfect start in their bid to win a series for the first time since the 1997 tour of South Africa, 16 years ago.

Since then, the Lions lost 2-1 on their last visit to Australia in 2001, before suffering a humiliating 3-0 defeat in New Zealand in 2005.

Pride was restored in 2009 despite a 2-1 defeat from a thrilling and closely-fought series with the Springboks.

But many see this trip against the Wallabies as an ideal chance to end that losing streak.

Leicester Lions face one of their toughest meetings of the season tonight.

The Premier League leaders take on Somerset Rebels, who were tipped by many speedway pundits to win the title, at the Jordan Road Surfacing Stadium (7.30).

The visitors went within a whisker of being crowned 2012 champions, losing out to Scunthorpe in the very last race of the season.

They did, however, lift the League Cup by beating Ipswich over two legs.

"The Somerset team are always there or thereabouts in most competitions," said Alan Jones, co-promoter of the Harry Jordan Haulage-sponsored Lions.

"They have an out-and-out No.1 in Jason Doyle, and he receives strong backing from his fellow Australians Nick Morris and Josh Grajczonek. Along with a middle-order of Alex Davies and Kyle Newman, the visitors have a solid look about them."

Somerset have not had things their own way this season, though. They are mid-table and lost their proud home record two weeks ago when they were pipped by Edinburgh.

It was the first time they had been on the wrong end of a result at the Oak Tree Arena since October 2011.

"This evening's match marks the halfway stage in our fixtures and another three points are a must," said Jones.

"There have been some shocks recently and, no doubt, there are more to come.

"Who would have thought that Somerset would have surrender their unbeaten home record against Edinburgh?

"Newcastle Diamonds had a big win at Ipswich but, in the return three days later, the two teams fought out a draw, which was a huge performance from the Witches on Tyneside.

"Somerset, however, have not just turned into a non-runner as they have too many quality riders in their side, and it would be folly for us to discount them."

Lions team manager Glyn Taylor has named the same riding order that beat Glasgow two weeks ago.

Somerset are at full strength apart from their reserve, Tom Perry, who was taken ill last weekend. Perry's place will be taken by the former Lions rider Lewis Blackbird.

Three City of Leicester swimmers gained valuable experience at the prestigious Mare Nostrum long-course event in Barcelona.

There were A and B finals for most disciplines and Harriet Cooper, Harriet West and Candice Hall, all aged 15, made the B finals against competitors from around the world.

Cooper was 13th overall in the 100m backstroke heats with a time of 1min 3.44sec, and won bronze in the B final in 1.3.18. She was 12th overall in the 50m backstroke with 30.07.

Hall was 16th overall in the 400m individual medley with 5.1.49 in the heats, and went on finish eighth in the B final with a personal best of 4.56.84.

She also qualified for the 200m backstroke B final, where she finished fifth with a time of 2.19.21, just outside her personal best.

West's best display came in the B final of the 200m butterfly, where she claimed seventh place in 2.23.79.

It was a great learning curve for the trio against top-class competition, with their next challenge being the National Youth Championships in Sheffield at the end of next month.

Hosts Coalville won the annual Birley Diddy Trophy gala at the Hermitage Leisure Centre, finishing two points ahead of Market Harborough.

Double wins were recorded by Coalville's Holly Lynch, Sophie Hughes and Sam Gregory, and Market Harborough's Charlie Poole and Jay Newman.

RESULT: 1 Coalville 238; 2 Market Harborough 236; 3 Hinckley 197; Leicester Neptune 177.

Winners: Coalville girls 9yr – butterfly R Hadley 23.26; 10u – freestyle H Lynch 39.15 & butterfly 18.82; 11u – backstroke S Hughes 39.04 & freestyle 34.51, butterfly L Grice 38.64, freestyle & medley relays; 12u – freestyle relay. Boys 9yr – freestyle M Keller 19.45, butterfly S Gregory 21.11 & backstroke 22.98, freestyle relay; 10u – breaststroke N Wright 53.09; 11u – freestyle J Watson 35.08; 12u – freestyle L Eaton 33.32.

Market Harborough girls 9yr – backstroke L Bell 24.29; 10u – breaststroke E Goddard 52.00, backstroke L Moakes 50.08, freestyle & medley relays; 11u – breaststroke G Weller 47.31; 12u – medley relay. Boys 11u – backstroke B Bekavac 39.89, butterfly J Newman 38.76, freestyle & medley relays; 12u – backstroke C Poole 35.10 & butterfly 33.97, breaststroke J Newman 43.91, freestyle & medley relays, mixed 8x1 freestyle canon.

Hinckley girls 9yr – medley relay; 12u – backstroke I Fearn 39.30, butterfly C Stretton 35.96. Boys 9yr – medley relay; 10u – freestyle J Le Grice 36.10, backstroke K Bott 44.31, butterfly W Beasley 19.49, freestyle & medley relays; 11u – breaststroke C Gardner 46.82.

Leicester Neptune girls 9yr – breaststroke E Langton 25.31, freestyle D Jones 19.63, freestyle relay; 12u – breaststroke I Carroll 43.05, freestyle M Gray 33.96. Boys 9yr – breaststroke A Johns 24.96.

Leicester Riders have continued their team-building for next season by re-signing veteran centre Barry Lamble.

The 30-year-old Riders captain is the longest-serving Leicester player, having joined the club in the 2006-07 season after a year with Birmingham.

Lamble played a vital role from the bench last season, providing crucial back-up to fellow Englishman Anthony Rowe and Slovak Pavol Losonsky.

Lamble's stats suffered in the back-up role, as he averaged four points and three rebounds a game.

However, he had ample compensation, collecting three pieces of silver in Riders' best-ever season that saw them win the BBL Championship, the Cup and the Play-off final.

Lamble is delighted to be staying with the Jelson Homes DMU-backed club, and joins Drew Sullivan, Jorge Calvo, Anthony Rowe, Jamell Anderson and Connor Washington in having committed to the 2013-14.

"After the season we had, returning was always going to be a very easy decision," said Lamble.

"The club is going forward in a whole series of initiatives, and I want to be part of all of that.

"We know we will be under pressure next season, with other clubs looking to knock us off, but we should relish that challenge.

"It is important now that we do not get complacent, and everyone ups their game.

"We have a few months to work on our game on an individual basis, and I will be doing that.

"It is brilliant we are going to have so many of the team back, because we are a close-knit crew."

Riders coach Rob Paternostro is delighted to have retained the services of Lamble for next season, which starts in September.

"Barry has proved to be a great servant to the club, and he has always been more than prepared to do whatever it takes to help the team," said Paternostro.

"He is also invaluable away from the game situation as well, supporting and advising the other guys, and in assisting the new guys bond into the team.

"You cannot be successful in the BBL without guys like Lamble, who are prepared to sacrifice their own game for the good of the club."

Riders have also confirmed that Paternostro has reaffirmed his commitment to the club by signing a new long-term deal with the BBL champions.

The Leicester Lions surrendered their proud home record to the Somerset Rebels on Saturday.

It was the first occasion that the Harry Jordan Haulage-sponsored Lions have lost a Premier League fixture at home since August 2011, when Newport were the last team to succeed at the Jordan Road Surfacing Stadium.

Both teams were reduced to six riders following injuries sustained during the course of the match that was heading Leicester's way until the visitors outscored the Lions in five of the last six races, to win by the narrowest of margins, 47-46.

From the outset, the Lions moved ahead when Kauko Nieminen beat Jason Doyle, his opposite number in the Somerset team, who passed Jan Graversen for second place.

The Lions increased their lead in the reserves race after the Rebels' Stefan Nielsen fell and broke his collarbone which ruled him out of the remainder of the match.

Down to one rider in the re-run, Tom Perry split the Lions pairing of Robert Branford and Alex Edberg just metres from the finishing line.

The Lions continued to steadily build on their early lead. Kevin Doolan won an important race against Doyle in heat five and, one event later, Leicester scored maximum points through the Nieminen-Graversen partnership.

Graversen featured in the Lions second maximum advantage of the night when he teamed up with Edberg in the eighth race, which extended the home side's lead to 30-18.

When Somerset gained double points through a tactical move in heat nine, the alarm bells remained silent as Leicester still retained a healthy nine points lead with six races remaining.

There was a share of the points in heat 10 after Alex Davies retired with engine problems and, before the end, Nieminen's bike also stopped, forcing him to push his bike for half a lap to the finishing line.

The situation then began to change rapidly for Leicester when, firstly, they lost Edberg with a broken foot in heat 11 and the result ended with a 4-2 advantage for Somerset, who followed up with another identical score in the next race.

The two back-to-back double reversals were followed by another blow in the 13th heat when Magnus Karlsson fell after coming under pressure on the first turn against Josh Grajczonek.

The referee excluded Karlsson from the re-start and Nieminen was powerless to prevent the Somerset pairing of Grajczonek and Doyle from achieving their team's first maximum score of the evening. The result whittled the Lions lead down to a mere point.

Doolan and Branford arrested the decline in the penultimate heat to send the Lions into a last-heat decider.

A second place for either Leicester rider would have guaranteed a home win but Somerset's two Australians, Doyle and Nick Morris, had too much speed and finished ahead of the Lions pairing to give the Rebels the lead for the first time in the meeting – and with it the match points.

"Records are there to be broken and it is naive to think that it would go on indefinitely," said Lions co-promoter Alan Jones.

"It was going to happen sometime but we have to question ourselves after being ahead by 12 points.

"You have, however, to give credit to Somerset who kept nibbling away at our lead and, while we are disappointed to have lost in the manner we did, the standard of racing was excellent and a great advert for the Premier League."

Scores:

Leicester 46: Kauko Nieminen 8+2 bonus, Jan Graversen 9, Lasse Bjerre 6+1, Kevin Doolan 9+1, Magnus Karlsson 6, Alex Edberg 4+2, Robert Branford 4.

Somerset 47: Jason Doyle 13, Kyle Newman 2, Nick Morris 14+1, Alex Davies 2, Josh Grajczonek 11+1, Stefan Nielsen 0, Tom Perry 5.

Matthew Hoggard lit up the second day's play at Grace Road with a magnificent opening spell to put Essex on the rack in their first innings.

County's own first innings had come to an end inside the opening hour of play when they were dismissed for 302.

However, Hoggard – who had not figured for the first team since April due to injury – made rapid in-roads against an Essex batting line-up, which was coming off the back of being dismissed for just 20 by Lancashire in their previous match.

His opening burst of 4-12 in a dozen overs had the visitors struggling on 28-4 before 72 from Mark Pettini and skipper James Foster's 45 not out saw them claw their way to 196-6 at the close of a shower interrupted day.

Leicestershire's position might have been considerably stronger had they been able to take wickets regularly at the other end.

Alex Wyatt deservedly picked up two – that of Pettini five overs from stumps was a vital blow – but there was a lack of penetration elsewhere even if Jigar Naik's off-spin did offer County an element of control.

Hoggard, though, was almost unplayable in conditions which favoured the seamers.

Tom Westley was his first victim, wicketkeeper Niall O'Brien taking a fine one-handed diving catch as the former England man nipped one away from the Essex opener.

Hoggard then removed Nicholas Browne lbw with his next ball and, although Owais Shah denied Hoggard a hat-trick, the County seamer was back among the wickets just a couple of overs later when Naik grabbed a tough gully chance at the second attempt to send Jaik Mickelburgh back to the pavilion.

When Hoggard produced a beauty to clip the top of Shah's off-stump, Leicestershire had claimed four quick wickets and had the control of the game in their own hands.

They were frustrated for the next 25 overs by Pettini and Ryan ten Doeschate.

The Essex pair were to add 85 runs either side of tea before Wyatt cramped the latter for room and Joe Burns managed to hold a very good catch at first slip.

Pettini's first Championship half-century of the season kept County's attack at bay for much of the final session, Foster giving him the support he was looking for as Leicestershire struggled to engineer a late breakthrough.

It eventually came when Wyatt switched to the Bennett End and ducked one into Pettini's pads, trapping him lbw to help County reach the halfway stage of the game with their noses just in front.

The opening exchanges of the day had seen Leicestershire achieve their minimum requirement moving from 268-7 to beyond 300. They claimed a third batting point when Hoggard pulled David Masters to the midwicket boundary for four.

It was, however, Michael Thornely who had steered them to the brink of 300 as he took his overnight 37 to 53 before he was pinned leg before by Graham Napier.

The Essex seamer took all three of the remaining Leicestershire wickets to finish with career-best Championship figures of 7-90.