On Sunday at 2pm, a host of well-known sports stars and musicians will meet in the centre circle at Quorn FC for one minute's silence in memory of our beloved son, Joe.

We will also pause to remember all those young people who become victims of sudden cardiac death.

Until the shocking death of our fit and healthy son Joe last October we (and almost anyone we've come across since) had never heard of this lethal group of heart diseases which strike our children without any warning.

The day after Joe's death, we found out 12 young people a week – 634 a year – become SADS victims.

Reductions in obesity, drugs, smoking and alcohol intake have been a Government target.

We accept these health issues need attention but we can never accept it is not equally as important to inform and educate the public about the fact young people can be susceptible to heart diseases which can strike anyone, anywhere any time.

To reduce the risk of a young person falling victim to SADS, it is imperative people are informed about the symptoms to look out for, taught the necessary CPR skills and have access to a defibrillator.

CPR can increase survival rates by up to 50 per cent if carried out within the first vital minutes of collapse.

There is no question that every child who leaves school should have basic CPR skills and know how to save a life.

Why shouldn't defibrillators become as common place as fire extinguishers? After all, the number of deaths caused by fire are many less than those caused by cardiac arrest.

Yet we are quite rightly taught in the workplace to attend fire drills. Why aren't we taught basic CPR?

The devastating loss of our son has been real eye-opener as to the size of the challenge, but in memory of Joe and the thousands who have gone before, the public can be reassured the trust will never stop working to save young heart beats, ensuring the message is loud and clear and every child matters.

We recently took the opportunity to display the work of the trust at Leicester City clinical commissioning group.

It was a chance to ask key medical staff if they would promote the trust's message.

It would be a fitting tribute to our amazing son if we could reduce this disease and prevent another family having to face the rest of their lives without their longed-for and precious child – a sentence of suffering too awful to contemplate.

Leicester City play big-spending AS Monaco this afternoon in a prestige curtain-raiser to the new football season, which is now only seven days away. A prestige game just before the start of a new campaign is a European tradition and one that seems to have been adopted by the hierarchy at the King Power Stadium. Two years ago, of course, the stadium played host to European giants Real Madrid.

While the visit of Monaco will not surpass that occasion, it promises to be a good day out for all City fans nevertheless.

The ambitious French club are set to take their spending past the £200 million mark this summer and City fans will get to see a series of high-profile international signings.

Games, such as Monaco, do not come cheap. Although the club would never disclose the information, they have to pay for the likes of the French club to grace the King Power Stadium.

It shows the ambition of City's owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha. He took over the club in 2009 and has invested an estimated £100 million in City.

Football fans can be fickle and, when success does not come, owners often come in for criticism. There has been no criticism of City's custodians, they are the perfect owners and have the support of all City fans. The fans' only worry is that the businessman might walk away from City, something the family have consistently rejected. Mr Srivaddhanaprabha, a private man, has not only been prepared to invest a fortune in City, but is also mindful of the club's heritage.

He rarely makes public statements, but, in one a while ago, he stated: "My vision is for Leicester City to take its place as a highly respected and successful Premier League club. As a club, we should centre around the lives of the fans and the community of Leicester. We will hold the club's heritage in trust and develop the club to ensure sustainability for future generations."

We are delighted Mr Srivaddhanaprabha is the owner of Leicester City and this game tomorrow is a perfect illustration of his ambition, and we pay tribute to his support.

So let us all enjoy the Monaco game where, for once, the result does not count and we can just have a good day out.

Work on a major roadworks scheme to cut congestion at one of the county's biggest bottlenecks will start next week.

Contractors are set to move on to the site at the A46 / A50 roundabout near Glenfield on Monday.

The £1.9 million scheme will also improve links to a business park and housing development which could create 2,000 jobs when it is completed.

Traffic safety campaigner Ozzy O'Shea said: "This is something we in the Groby and Ratby area have been campaigning for many years.

"At peak times the congestion is dreadful, tailing back miles. I live three miles from Glenfield Hospital and it can take an hour to get to an appointment if I hit peak traffic in the morning.

"At this time of austerity, we are very fortunate to get funding for the project which will improve safety and encourage the creation of local jobs.

"I think the disruption we will face over the coming months will be well worth it in the long run. I urge everyone to be patient."

The work will provide new traffic signals and extra traffic lanes approaching the roundabout.

County Hall transport spokesman Peter Osborne said: "Work has been programmed to start in the school holidays when traffic is traditionally lower and weather conditions tend to be improved.

"However, some disruption to traffic is expected, particularly at peak times, and drivers who use the junction are being encouraged to plan ahead and give themselves a little more time for their journeys, or seek an alternative route if possible, while work takes place."

The work is part of highway improvements linked to a housing and office development proposed by Wilson Bowden Developments Ltd, off Kirby Road and Ratby Lane, Glenfield.

David Ward, planning director for the company, said: "The intended works will see an improved junction delivered, which will benefit all highway users on this part of the county's road network. Development on our site in Glenfield Park site is progressing well."

The roundabout scheme has been brought forward by three years thanks to money from the Government's Growing Places Fund, administered locally by the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership.

Partnership chairman Andrew Bacon, said: "Work on this important development has already started, which will deliver one million square feet of employment space, creating about 2,000 jobs and 250 homes.

"The partnership is very pleased we are able to support delivery by providing a loan investment of £1.6 million to accelerate development."

Work will be completed early next year. The roundabout will remain open to traffic during the day but there will be temporary traffic lights in operation to allow lane closures while work is carried out. There will be overnight road closures to allow for cable laying and resurfacing work.

Traffic restrictions will be reduced during December to ensure the junction is available during the Christmas shopping and holiday period.

The planned closures, and associated diversion routes will be on roadside information boards and on the county council's website:

www.leics.gov.uk/ a46_a50_junction_ improvements.

Diversion routes will be signposted.

The city council has warned that access work to the new Sainsbury's store, in Melton Road, will mean 24-hour temporary lights will be installed from tomorrow to replace the main set at the Melton Road, Troon Way and Watermead Way junction. There will also be lane restrictions for 32 days.

A Royal Navy veteran of the Second World War has been invited to attend the civic ceremonies to commemorate the Allied landings in southern Italy nearly 70 years ago.

The city council of Anzio wants Geoff Smith to take part in the anniversary celebrations to mark the invasion in January, 1944.

Geoff was one of the crew who escaped when the HMS Spartan was bombed as it lay off the beachhead.

The 5,770-ton cruiser was sunk during Operation Shingle, as Allied troops landed at the Mediterranean coastal town in a bid to outflank the main German defences and allow a push for Rome.

Geoff, now 88, was an 18-year-old electrician on board the doomed ship when it was hit by a radio-controlled bomb on January 29, 1944.

He was fished out of the freezing water after 20 minutes by the crew of an American landing craft and transferred to another British ship.

However, 70 of his crew mates perished and since then he has revisited the Italian town 15 times and led two guided tours there to pay respects to his lost shipmates.

A decade ago, as secretary of the HMS Spartan Survivors association, he attended the 60th anniversary to unveil a plaque to those who died while serving on HMS Spartan.

He had dedicated three years to raising the £1,200 to pay for the marble monument.

Over the years Geoff, of Wigston, has also been responsible for the donation of naval uniforms to the Anzio museum.

He said: "In my past visits they have made me feel very welcome and it was something I wanted to do in memory of my comrades."

Geoff, who is undergoing treatment for cancer, said: "I am very proud to have been invited by the city of Anzio to attend the 70th anniversary.

"However, I am not sure that I will get the okay from my doctor or get insurance cover. I hope I will.

"If I am allowed to go, I shall apply for a Heroes Return grant from the Big Lottery Fund. They helped to finance my last visit with my grandson two years ago.

"I am sure the commemoration in January will be the last big one as there are not many of us veterans left. If I manage to go, it will be my last visit."

"I think the 70th anniversary of the Anzio landings should be remembered both here and in Italy. I would encourage any other veterans and their relatives to try to attend."

He said people could qualify for a £1,570 grant for a veteran and a carer to attend the Anzio ceremonies by applying to The Heroes Return Lottery Fund

Tomorrow sees some of the city's oldest buildings being opened to the public.

In the latest in the series of Heritage Sundays, the 600-year-old Magazine Gateway, next to De Montfort University, in the city centre, will be among the buildings opening its doors.

The other landmark buildings opening will be the castle hall, which overlooks Castle Park, and Wygston's House near St Nicholas Place car park.

Entry to the buildings is free.

Experts from the Leicester Blue Badge Guides organisation will be leading tours, which cost £2.50 for one building or £6 for all three.

A spokesman for Leicester Shire Promotions said: "The Heritage Sundays open days are a monthly opportunity to discover hidden architectural treasures and provide access to interesting properties that are usually closed to the public."

Tours will start at 11am at The Magazine, 1pm at Castle Hall and at 3pm at Wygston's House.

Tours are not suitable for small children and suitable footwear should be worn.

To book a place on a tour, call 0116 299 4444 or e-mail:

info@visitleicester.info

Curve will be shaken by the ominous sound of a "magnificent and powerful" organ when its gruesome musical Sweeney Todd premieres next week.

The community production of the Stephen Sondheim musical will feature De Montfort Hall's 99-year-old concert organ in its opening scene as the audience witness a body being thrown into a pit.

The menacing melody, The Ballad of Sweeney Todd, was pre-recorded this week by the production's sound designer, Ben Atkinson, and will reverberate around the Curve auditorium during the macabre musical introduction.

The show artistic director, Paul Kerryson, said: "We're extremely privileged to have the magnificent organ at De Montfort Hall to record from.

"When the opening number will be played at Curve next week, the tremendous sound is going to make the theatre shake. It will be a brilliant moment in the production."

The theatre's press officer, Clair Horwood, said: "It was an obvious choice and the sound is dramatic and powerful – ideal for the complex, dark tale of Sweeney Todd.''

The solid mahogany organ, designed and built by local firm Stephen Taylor and Son, was a gift from hosiery manufacturer Alfred Corah.

It was handed over on February 19, 1914, with many of Corah's employees given time off to attend its first concert.

Antony Flint, manager of De Montfort Hall, said: "We are very pleased Curve are able to use our historic organ in their production and that it will be heard outside the hall, especially in our centenary year.

"It's thanks to a generous gift that we are able to enjoy this wonderful instrument today."

Sweeney Todd runs from Tuesday, July 30, until Sunday, August 11.

For ticket information, ring the box office on 0116 242 3595 or visit:

www.curveonline.co.uk on .

I cannot believe it was a year ago that I was watching the opening ceremony of the London Olympic Games 2012 in fascination.

As a games maker, I can remember thinking: "Wow, I am actually going to be part of this."

I volunteered on the press team for the gymnastics, at the North Greenwich Arena.

Along with assisting reporters, I helped interview athletes and even managed to meet some medal-winners, including Kristian Thomas.

Initially, I was in two minds about whether to apply but I can now say that being a volunteer was one of the most amazing times of my life, which I will never forget.

I thought that having to pay to get myself to and from London from the Midlands every day would be a nightmare, but it was worth it.

Once I set foot in the arena, full of buzzing spectators, busy reporters and nervously excited athletes, nothing else mattered.

I've always been one to help others but I had never before volunteered at such a huge event. I could not recommend it more.

Being part of British history will be something that nobody will ever be able to take from me.

The atmosphere was unreal – countries had come together patriotically, to support their team, famous faces were mingling with the crowd and journalists had flown in from all over the world to report back home.

Being a games maker has made me realise that I must grab every opportunity with both hands – experiences like that do not come around every day. One year on and it still feels like it was a dream.

The volunteer games makers were widely regarded as one of the big successes of the London Olympics.

One year on, Yasmin caught up with people from Leicestershire who donned the purple T-shirts for the Olympics to see if the experience has inspired them to volunteer further.

Most of them told her they had applied to carry out the same role at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next year.

Leicester Lions No.1 and captain Kauko Nieminen has been ruled out of the Premier League fixture against Sheffield tonight (7.30).

Nieminen injured his knee during a fall while riding for his Swedish club Rospiggarna at the beginning of July.

He further aggravated the injury seven days later at Coventry when racing for Belle Vue in an Elite League match.

"Kauko had a scan on Tuesday and has now received the results which confirm that he does not require surgery," said Lions co-promoter Alan Jones.

"It is a relief for Kauko and good news for us as we feared the worst. His absence would have left a massive void in the team in terms of his scoring and leadership qualities"

Nieminen is having a brace made to support his knee and is planning to practice in Finland before returning in time for Leicester's home fixture a week today against Scunthorpe.

There was not so good news for Alex Edberg, who also picked up an injury while competing in the Swedish League.

The free-scoring Lions reserve rider is likely to be out for a further two weeks.

Chris Schramm, who rides for Newcastle Diamonds, will be the guest replacement for Edberg, while David Howe will deputise for Nieminen.

It will be the first time that the former British Under-21 Champion has ridden for his home town club since the sport returned to Leicester in 2011.

Sheffield are also suffering a spate of injuries, which has disrupted their team planning.

The visitors are missing Simon Stead, who broke his leg during a practice session last month, and he will be replaced by Nick Morris, who last rode at Leicester for his club, the Somerset Rebels.

Morris was unbeatable that night and Somerset went on to break Leicester's long sequence of home wins that had stretched back to August 2011.

The Tigers are making one further change as their young reserve Damien Koppe is also ruled out. His place will be taken by James Sarjeant, who rides for Coventry's National League team.

Leicester City fans have seen some great players grace the field at Filbert Street and King Power Stadium over the years.

The stars of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid have all come to City in recent years and now it is the turn of French club AS Monaco to come to town.

Monaco have had a remarkable reversal of fortunes after slipping into Ligue 2 two years ago. In December 2011, two-thirds of the club was sold to an investment group led by Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev and, with former Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri at the helm, they quickly bounced back to the top flight last season.

But Rybolovlev has aspirations beyond simply returning a once-famous French club to the top tier of domestic football. With huge financial backing, Monaco are being tipped as Ligue 1 title challengers, and future Champions League contenders.

So far this summer, they have spent more than £200 million on talent, so here's a look at a few of them...

After an incredible 34 goals in just 40 appearances for Spanish side Atletico Madrid last season, the prolific Colombian became one of the hottest properties in world football with a host of clubs courting his signature. But it was Monaco who won the race, spending more than £50m to secure the 27-year-old's signature.

A clinical finisher, in his first three seasons in Europe he scored more than 100 goals and famously scored a hat-trick against Chelsea in the Super Cup final at Monaco's Stade Louis II Stadium. With pace and power, and the ability to score a variety of different types of goals, Falcao is hailed as one of the world's best strikers.

The 26-year-old Portuguese midfielder joined Monaco this summer from Porto in a double deal involving team-mate James Rodriguez for a combined fee of £60 million.

A classy and clever central midfielder, Moutinho won 12 major titles during his time with Sporting Lisbon and Porto, and has been capped by his country 59 times.

The 22-year-old attacking midfielder or winger also hails from Colombia and is nicknamed El Pibe (The Kid). He made his debut as a 16-year-old in Argentina and was captain of the Colombian under-20 team, leading them to a victory at the 2011 Toulon Tournament, where he was voted the best player.

He was rated 59th in the 100 Best Footballers in the World by The Guardian last year and is considered one of the hottest prospects in world football.

The French defender joined Monaco from Barcelona this summer. During his six years with the Catalan giants, he won two Champions League trophies and four La Liga titles, as well as two UEFA Super Club and two FIFA World Club Championships.

The 33-year-old has been capped 61 times by France and his career has now gone full circle as he spent two years with Monaco between 2000-02.

Abidal has now fully recovered from treatment for a tumour in his liver.

The 29-year-old French defensive midfielder signed for Monaco earlier this month after leaving Spanish side Malaga.

Capped 36 times by France, he has won the French title twice before with Lyon.

A great reader of the game and superb in possession, Toulalan is also as strong a character off the pitch and was suspended by the French FA for one international for joining a players' strike at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

The Portuguese defender is well known to City fans from his time with Chelsea and Real Madrid.

He was part of the star- studded Madrid side that visited the King Power Stadium two years ago.

Now 36, Carvalho has won national titles in Portugal, England and Spain. He won the Portuguese title three times with Porto, the Premier League three times with Chelsea and the La Liga title once with Real Madrid.

Capped 75 times by Portugal, Carvalho is regarded as one of the best defenders to have played in Europe over the last decade.

A woman who has lost a dozen wing mirrors to speeding motorists outside her home has had enough - and is calling for road improvements.

Maria Hickinbotham, 62, of Main Street, Lyddington, Rutland, has spent £2,500 replacing the mirrors over the past five years.

Homes in the street in the picturesque village do not have driveways, meaning residents have to park on the narrow road.

Maria says some motorists speed along the road – which has a 30mph limit – and then struggle to slow down to give way to oncoming cars.

The road is too narrow for vehicles to pass each other when there is a car parked outside the row of cottages where she lives, forcing vehicles to pull in close to the stationary vehicles.

She had her 12th wing mirror knocked off her Ford Focus on Friday, July 12. Angry and frustrated by the latest incident, she has now called a meeting between Rutland County Council, Lyddington Parish Council, police and residents to express her concerns and try to resolve the problem.

The meeting will take place outside her house in Main Street at 4pm on Wednesday.

She said: "Cars just come speeding through the village and don't realise how narrow it is, and by that time it's too late to slow down.

"They have to pull over to avoid a collision and that's when they hit my wing mirror. I'm sick to death of having to pay out for new ones.

"My car is a 2002 model and the wing mirrors don't fold in. I have heard of others losing wing mirrors, but not on this scale."

She said that the speeds at which some cars go through the village are "ludicrous", and she fears someone will one day be killed.

"I really want to highlight the problems – that's why I've called the meeting," she said.

"The situation was exacerbated when homes were built behind a stone orchard wall with an entrance built on a bend.

"We warned the county council it would cause problems and it has, with cars parking further up the street away from the entrance."

As a temporary solution, Maria has been given a cone by Lyddington Parish Council chairman Ian Canadine, which she puts next to her car to highlight it for motorists passing through.

"It's a police cone, but it's already been knocked over several times," she said.

She believes a chicane at both ends of the street would slow cars down and highlight a right-of-way priority.

Her daughter, Charlie, also had a wing mirror broken off when she was parked outside her mum's house.

A care home worker who stole almost £10,000 from an 89-year-old resident spent some of the cash paying off internet payday loans.

Mother-of-four Terrie Galvin was told by a judge she had carried out "mean and shoddy" dishonest transactions against the unsuspecting pensioner.

Galvin (33) of Snibston Court, Ashby Road, Coalville, pleaded guilty to fraud by falsely representing she was entitled to use the victim's bank card.

Leicester Crown Court was told the elderly woman victim lived at Rose Cottage care home, in Mountsorrel, where staff were not permitted to handle residents' finances.

However, those officially in charge of the pensioner's funds found nine unauthorised transactions on the bank card, involving a total loss of £9,874, between October, 2011, and March, 2012.

Victoria Rose, prosecuting, said: "Money was taken from the victim's account and transactions were made to Wonga.com, where the defendant had taken out payday loans.

"All staff members were interviewed and only the defendant knew of the existence of the victim's bank card. She admitted was she'd done, saying she took the card details.

"She paid off a loan and the vicious cycle began when she took another loan and continued using the card."

Galvin was given an eight- month jail sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid work.

Sentencing, Judge Michael Pert QC said: "You took almost £10,000 from a vulnerable old lady in your care, in a number of mean and shoddy transactions that make up this offence."

Rebecca Herbert, mitigating, said: "It was theft in breach of trust when she was employed as a care assistant. The background is one of spiralling debt and domestic difficulty."

Mrs Herbert claimed the defendant's marriage was "on the rocks" at the time, due to her partner's controlling conduct and she suffered "physical and mental abuse".

He was in charge of the family finances and kept her short of money, claimed Mrs Herbert.

She said: "The defendant says she knew it would come to light but was closing her eyes. She has no previous convictions."

Since the break-up of her relationship, when she left home in 2012, she has taken back control of her finances.

Mrs Herbert said: "She's extremely remorseful and can't believe she got herself into this state.

"She has always been a care worker and was employed by this particular firm for four years."

It was not said in court whether the victim had got any of the money back.

Lock forward Graham Kitchener thinks Leicester Tigers will be an "even bigger target" than normal this season.

The 23-year-old, who made 21 starts last season, reckons teams will be coming for the reigning Aviva Premiership champions with all guns blazing after they lifted the coveted trophy last May.

Tigers are usually a prized scalp within the league, but with the tag of 'English champions' behind them, Kitchener – fully refreshed after trips to France and Spain this summer – knows his team-mates will have to step up a notch if they are to retain their title.

"This season is going to be hard work," he said.

"We are going to be bigger targets than ever this year, especially now that we are champions.

"As ever, there are going to be some really good teams in the Premiership.

"Saracens are going to be very strong this year with the signings they have made, and so will Northampton.

"Harlequins will be as good as ever and there will be no easy games.

"We know how tough it will be but that is what we train for."

While admitting the strength of the opposition, Kitchener is also fully aware of the strengths of his own team.

And with several impressive new signings, like fellow lock Sebastien De Chaves, and a host of successful British Lions due to return from their summer break, the former Worcester man says that Tigers will be well-equipped for the battle.

"It will be nice to look around at the start of the season and see six British & Irish Lions and a host of internationals with lots of experience in the squad," he said.

"It's always confidence-building playing with the Lions guys and internationals.

"They have not been here so far this pre-season though and the guys that have been here are looking strong.

"We spend enough time without the internationals during the season, so it is up to us to win those games when they are not here.

"Sebastien De Chaves is a big lad and has fitted in well.

"He is young and really enthusiastic in training and that is what you want.

"He looks like a good athlete and someone that is willing to learn, which is good."

Leicester City will give AS Monaco a real test at King Power Stadium today, striker David Nugent has vowed.

Nugent said the French side will face a stiff test against City, especially as the players are battling to be in manager Nigel Pearson's starting line-up on the opening day of the season at Middlesbrough.

"It is a massive game," he said.

"Monaco are big spenders now. It will be decent to see the likes of Falcao at King Power Stadium.

"Everyone is looking forward to it and everyone wants to play in this game.

"If we get our strongest 11 out there, I am sure we will give them a game.

"Jerseys are up for grabs for Middlesbrough and the players know that."

New City signing Zoumana Bakayogo could make his debut after joining the club on a free transfer, and he is relishing the prospect, especially as he was born and raised in France.

"They are going to be a big team now," he said. "They have signed some really big international players.

"It is going to be really exciting to see a team like that take on Leicester.

"I hope to be involved if possible.

"French football is on the rise and we think in France that we soon will have clubs that can compete with the best teams in Europe."

One Leicester City player is looking forward to today's visit of big-spending Monaco more than most.

Frenchmen Anthony Knockaert is excited about the possibility of facing the team that has been the talk of his home country this summer.

The talented young wide-man believes the match this afternoon (4.15) will be a "fantastic occasion" and is one that City can – and will – win.

Monaco have invested heavily in their squad this summer in a bid to claim the French title this season.

More than £200 million has been spent on recruiting the likes of Radamel Falcao, Hulk, James Rodriguez, Ricardo Carvalho, Jeremy Toulalan, Eric Abidal and Joao Moutinho.

They have a squad packed with talent, but Knockaert believes City can claim a famous scalp this afternoon.

"Everybody in France has been surprised by Monaco; because they were champions of Ligue 2 last year and have gone on to buy so many good players, like Falcao and Abidal," he said.

"It should be a very good game and it's wonderful for us ahead of the first game of the season against Middlesbrough.

"It's going to be a great experience to play against players like that and I think that all of us at Leicester are looking forward to playing against this Monaco team.

"Yes, I have spoken to them (friends at Monaco) and I have told them that we will beat them.

"It should be a really good game, because they have so many good players now and that should be a great experience for us.

"With one week to go until the league starts, it's a great time to play them."

Knockaert believes French domestic football is rising fast and soon French clubs will compete consistently with Europe's very best.

"I think it's (attention and investment in clubs) very good for French football," said Knockaert, who joined City from Ligue 2 side Guangamp a year ago.

"To have two great players like Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva at Paris Saint-Germain and some great players heading to Monaco, it's great for French football.

"There are now players around the world wanting to play the game in France and I think that the French league will be very exciting next season."

The game will provide a very different test for City from the likes of those teams faced so far – Leamington Spa, Port Vale and York.

And while manager Nigel Pearson said it would be a good work-out to take on players of such technical excellence, he said the game was no more important in their pre-season preparations than those previous games .

"In all honesty, I am of the opinion that sometimes you get as much out of a game like York as you do a game like this," he said of today's showpiece, which is being screened live by Sky TV.

"When you play sides from lower divisions, they will try and get amongst you. When you play a side like Monaco, the amount of technicians they have got mean it will be a different challenge for us.

"The players are looking forward to that challenge, but it will depend on how they go about the game. Technically, they are excellent so we will have to be on our mettle."

Pearson said the most important thing was for his side to get another decent work-out as the countdown to the new season continues.

He will assess the squad after this week's two games before deciding on his team for Monaco.

"They have all played a 90 minute slot now, it is a case of managing the last two games before the start of the season."

City travel to face Northampton Town on Tuesday night in their final pre-season fixture.

A series of events will take place over the next month to mark the 90th birthday of the city's best-loved thespian, Richard Attenborough.

Lord Attenborough, who was educated in Leicester, will mark his landmark birthday on August 17.

Leicester Drama Society has dedicated a season of shows to him at The Little Theatre, where he first trod the boards as a schoolboy.

The university's Embrace Arts Centre and the Phoenix cinema have a programme of activities on his birthday.

Little Theatre manager Philip Royley said: "The society has benefited from Lord Attenborough's support for many years.

"Along with dedicating our season to him, we will have a display in our theatre bar with items connected with him, including a picture from 1937 of him performing in the society's production of Julius Caesar – his first stage appearance.

"His son Michael has kindly written a piece for our brochure to lead us into what promises to be a varied and entertaining programme."

Michael Attenborough explained in the programme how, although born in Cambridge, Leicester was unquestionably his father's home town.

He said: "He knew from an early age he wanted to act and it was in the Little Theatre that he began to flex those creative muscles.

"Not to put too fine a point on it, my grandpa was appalled but my dad was not to be deterred, so a compromise was reached – if Dad got a scholarship to the finest acting academy in the world (Rada) they he could follow that path.

"If he failed, he would go to university and that was the end of the matter.

"Needless to say, the young Richard Attenborough got that scholarship."

Michael will give a talk at 11.30am on August 17 at Embrace, while at 2pm at Phoenix an event titled Richard Attenborough – film director and actor takes place.

There will also be talks, music and photographs on show at the venue.

People will be able to record their memories of Lord Attenborough for a digital film.

As the Olympics lit up London last year, people in Leicestershire were getting involved, too.

During the two weeks of the Games they may have just been waving their flags, painting the Union Jack on their faces and celebrating every time Team GB won a medal.

But one year on, many sports clubs told the Mercury they have seen a rise in membership since the Games, which they feel inspired people, especially children, to get more involved in sport.

About 70 per cent of the clubs we spoke to said they believed the Olympics had been a positive thing for them.

Boxing was one of the sports where clubs have seen an increase in interest during the past year – especially in female members.

Michael Burgess, head coach at Waterfront boxing academy, in the city centre, said: "There has been a real rise in young members, especially girls since the success of Nicola Adams.

"We used to have a few calls but, after the Olympics, we now get four to five inquiries a week."

Coalville Boxing Club chairman Pete Lewis agreed, saying that in the past 12 months, the club had seen a rise of about 15 to 20 per cent in membership.

"There have been quite a few girls who have joined,'' he said.

"It seems that a number of clubs have benefited from the Games. I think there is a lot more understanding of minority sports."

Another sport which seems to have boomed in Leicestershire is archery.

Lutterworth Archery Club, Welland Valley Archers, in Market Harborough, Phoenix Archers, in Smeeton Westerby, near Kibworth, and Rutland Archery Club all reported an increase in membership.

Vic Simpson, of Leicester Ancient Order of Foresters Archery Club, in Countesthorpe, said the club had seen a 25 per cent increase in membership in the past year.

"Even though archery was not brilliant in the Olympics last year, the archers of the Paralympics were winners and we have seen an increase in interest from disabled people compared with the past few years," he said.

Ian Radcliffe, chairman of Leicester Masters Swimming Club, which meets at Cossington Street pool, in Belgrave, Leicester, said there had been a steady increase in the number of members as a result of the Games .

"I believe the Olympics has definitely influenced people," he said.

Karen Edwards, head coach at Coalville Gymnastics Club, said that since the Olympics its waiting list has increased from one year to 18 months.

However, some clubs said they had seen no real benefits from the Olympics.

Rutland Trampoline Club and Soar Valley Trampoline Club said they did not believe the Games had affected their membership levels.

Helen Barnet, organiser of Harborough Feathers badminton club, said: "There has been no change or impact in terms of an increase in members."

Brian Jordan, chairman of Hinckley Fencing Club, said although they had seen an initial upsurge in interest after the Games, that tailed off quite quickly.

Additional reporting by Chris Harpur and Clare Abbott.

A former justice minister has joined a senior judge in condemning "appalling" delays to serious cases at Leicester Crown Court.

Senior resident judge at Leicester, Michael Pert QC, this week hit out at cuts in court funding after being forced to adjourn a two-day fixed-date sex assault trial for eight months – because of insufficient court time.

Now, former Labour justice minister Lord Willy Bach of Lutterworth has added his weight to condemn the situation, where often only two- thirds of the courts are in operation.

Lord Bach, who served as justice minister in Gordon Brown's Government, said: "It is plainly ridiculous to have only four out of six courts sitting when there is a long backlog of cases. It is a false economy. It is an example of the coalition's curious attitude to the justice system."

Lord Bach practiced as a legal aid barrister in Leicester Crown Court for many years.

He said: "Justice delayed is often justice denied. It is especially unfortunate for the victims, who have to wait to see justice done. The delays may result in them being denied justice altogether."

He also criticised cuts to legal aid in both criminal and civil courts. He said: "It is the poorer among us that are being denied access."

This week at Leicester Crown Court, Judge Pert described as "appalling" the swingeing Government cutbacks that were causing long delays in trials going ahead.

He told the defendant in one delayed case: "The pressure under which this court is operating and the volume of work that we're expected to do with reduced resources means I have to set your trial down for March 26 next year.

"Many people, whether they're involved in this case or not, would regard such a delay in a case of this gravity as appalling and I wouldn't seek to dissuade them from that view."

Barristers in Leicester have supported Judge Pert's criticism, claiming the court listings situation has reached "crisis point".

Ishtiaq Sarwar, of Sakhi solicitors, representing the defendant in the case Judge Pert highlighted, said: "The unexpected eight-month delay has caused our client and his family huge anxiety and stress. It's tearing him apart with worry."

Barrister James House said a shortage of staff resulted in the listing officer and the court manager standing in as jury bailiffs.

Mr House said: "Another recent example is that a case due to be heard on June 6 was cancelled at the last minute and has now been fixed for April next year."

Helen Johnson, former president of the Leicestershire and Rutland branch of the Law Society, said: "Cases are being pulled at short notice, causing huge inconvenience to those involved.

"The backlog is affecting everyone – the defendants, witnesses, complainants, even family and friends attending in support.

"Cases are sometimes relocated elsewhere at very short notice. I've known of hearings being moved from Leicester to Derby Crown Court the night before, sometimes after 5pm.

"Often, people don't have transport or travelling expenses available at such short notice.

"People expect to be told a date and stick to it.

"Cases hang over people's lives."

Solicitor advocate Paul Tubb said: "Advocates don't enjoy late nights preparing for a case – sacrificing time with their children – to find their case isn't being heard the next day due to lack of court time.

"It involves having to prepare the cases again, three, four or five months down the line and still not being sure if it will go ahead.

"It's an absolute waste of time and money."

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "The Government is committed to ensuring that we continue to provide court and tribunal users with effective access to justice while seeking ways to do so at a lower cost and alongside our efforts to improve the efficiency of the justice system as a whole."

Campaigners are continuing to support a grandmother from Zimbabwe who is facing deportation.

Yesterday, friends of Evenia Mawongera presented 289 more signatures to the Border Agency, in Loughborough.

A week ago, they handed over an 800-name petition from residents in Leicester.

Evenia, 55, said: "I still don't know what's going on, it's just confusing.

"But as long as I've got my friends, I feel better."

The grandmother reported again to the agency yesterday. She had previously reported on July 18.

Evenia has been told to return to the agency on August 2.

The mother-of-two said she had also been told she must get an ARC card – an identification card – from Solihull on August 13.

Evenia, who is an outspoken critic of the Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe, had been told she would be deported after her applications for permission to remain in the UK were unsuccessful.

She has claimed it would be "the end" for her if she was sent back to Zimbabwe.

The Zimbabwe Action in Solidarity (ZAS), which has been supporting Evenia, accompanied her to Loughborough.

Its choir sung and collected signatures for the petition from residents. Ambrose Musiyiwa, a University of Leicester student, who is supporting the family, said: "Until we know for certain if Evenia will be staying, we will keep petitioning."

Ambrose said he hoped the petition had been handed to the Home Secretary Theresa May.

ZAS will continue to campaign at the Town Hall, in Leicester city centre, until Evenia is given a definite answer.

Evenia fled persecution in Zimbabwe 10 years ago and settled in Leicester, joining her two daughters who were granted leave to stay in the UK after completing their studies here.

She has told the Mercury she fears she will be killed if she returns to Zimbabwe.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "We only return individuals if both we and the courts are satisfied they do not qualify for protection and have no legal basis to remain in the country.

"All applications are considered on their individual merits.

"The onus is on the individual to provide the necessary evidence to support their application. When someone is found not to have a right to be here, we expect them to leave voluntarily. If they fail to do so, we will seek to remove them."