A 16-year-old girl injured in a collision on Friday night has died.

The teenager was a passenger in a white Renault Traffic van which crashed into the central barrier on the A14 near Kettering at 9pm.

She was taken to University Hospital Coventry, where she died on Monday evening. The identity of the girl, who comes from Rothwell, has not been released.

The driver of the van, a 17-year-old from Market Harborough, was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving and dangerous driving. He has been released on police bail.

Mark Selby made short work of his third-round clash at the UK Snooker Championship, but the title-holder knows he must keep improving.

Selby, who found himself 3-1 down in each of his opening two matches at the Barbican Centre in York, beat Stuart Carrington 6-0 yesterday to move into the last 16.

The 30-year-old Leicester star was relieved he had not forced himself into a third consecutive comeback at this year's championship.

However, with former world champion Graeme Dott lying in wait next, Selby knows a repeat performance may not be enough to keep alive his hopes of retaining his title.

"It's going to be a tough game," he said. "I have played him quite a few times and we have always had some close matches and some gruelling matches, so I am sure it will be no different.

"I've got to play better – I know that myself anyway, but knowing what to expect means I am not going in there blind.

"Unlike some of the last opponents I've played, Shane Castle and Stuart, who I've not played before, I sort of know what to expect with Graeme and I can go in with the right mindset.

"I don't mind how I play. It's always nice to play well but I also know at the same time you're not going to play well every single match."

Selby was pleased to report he is close to being back to 100 per cent fitness after illness had interrupted his preparation for this week.

He admitted neither he nor Carrington were at their best, but a break of 96 in the final frame did offer the world No.2 some encouragement as he prepares to face Dott today.

"I'm happy with the win and the result but I didn't really perform great.

"It was one of those games – when you're both struggling you seem to bring each other down, and if one of us was to perform before the interval I'm sure the other one would have raised their game as well.

"I finished off the match well after the interval, which was pleasing. But before that it was a little bit scrappy."

British Eurosport is the home of snooker, showing 19 tournaments this season including the World Championship, UK Championship, the Masters and all ranking events, available on Sky, Virgin Media & BT or online/on mobile via:

eurosportplayer.co.uk

A three-year legal battle over a parish council leaflet has ended with both sides accusing the other of wasting thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money.

In the summer of 2010, Groby Parish Council – at the time led by Peter Batty – sent out a leaflet attempting to address local panic about a site in the village that people believed was being turned into an unauthorised travellers' site.

The leaflet referred to "the alleged purchase of land within the village by the traveller community," and urged people with concerns to contact the parish council.

A member of the public, believing the leaflet referred to him, reported the parish council to the standards committee at Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, of which Councillor Batty is also a member.

At a hearing in front of an independent committee, he was found to have breached the code of conduct for councillors, which requires members to treat all races equally.

Councillor Batty was given a one-month ban from the parish council.

His appeal to the local government tribunal in London was rejected but he made a second appeal.

Nearly three-and-a-half years after the leaflet was published, the tribunal this week announced the councillor's second appeal had failed.

It blamed him for Groby Parish Council supporting local people's fears when it should have been showing leadership and acting more fairly.

The tribunal said: "Councillor Batty felt a strong need to demonstrate to residents that he was 'on their side' and 'shared their concerns'. However, his duty was to lead and not to follow."

Coun Batty, who has since become the leader of the Conservative group at Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, told the Leicester Mercury the entire episode had been a politically-motivated "witch-hunt" by the Liberal Democrat leadership of the borough council.

He said: "We were supporting the fears of the community and did what they asked us to do.

"I appealed because it was a witch-hunt and I've never been a quitter in my life. The council has its own legal department but it engaged an expensive lawyer to argue the case and that's not a good use of taxpayers money."

Coun Batty will now have to serve the month-long ban from the parish council.

Stuart Bray, the Liberal Democrat leader of the borough council, estimated the cost of the case to be several thousand pounds but denied his party was responsible for the cost.

He said: "It's disappointing that Coun Batty didn't just apologise and accept the original decision. He has wasted probably thousands in public money dragging it through two court cases."

It is five years ago to the day that the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh officially opened Leicester's iconic Curve theatre during a royal visit to the city.

Tonight, to mark the fifth anniversary, the theatre will roll out the red carpet to 800 lesser known but equally valued VIP guests for the opening night of its latest original production, Chicago.

The guest list includes builders, volunteers, actors, dancers, directors and past employees who have contributed to the Curve story.

Chief executive Fiona Allan said: "We're going to have a packed house and every seat has been given away.

"It's something we've never done before but wanted to do it as a gift to the people who have been involved with Curve since its conception, from tradesman who worked on the building to actors and, of course, our loyal customers."

Among the 800 VIPs at the champagne reception will be 200 winners of a Mercury competition.

Readers were asked to say what being there on Chicago's opening night and Curve's fifth birthday would mean to them.

Ruth Beardsley, 37, of Birstall, won a ticket for herself and partner Nigel.

She said: "It will be the first time I've had the chance to catch a show at Curve. I can't wait.

"We're both very excited. I think Leicester is very lucky to have Curve.

"It's a striking building right in the centre of a really happening cultural quarter.

"To have all these wonderful productions on our doorstep is fantastic."

Greeting guests will be Vanita Maisuria, of Belgrave, Leicester, who has worked at Curve in a variety of roles since day one.

"I've been here from the very start and remember it being built," she said.

"I was looking for something challenging and have loved every minute of it."

Vanita has worked in the bar, ticket office, as an usher, receptionist and waitress in the theatre's new Mezzanine restaurant.

"They tell you not to be star-stuck when all these famous actors and other people visit but sometimes you can't help it," she said.

"The most memorable day for me was actually when the Queen opened the theatre.

"I was on the door and had to hold it for her when she walked through."

Ms Allan said: "Vanita is one of our unsung stars, and one of the many dedicated people who have been integral to our success.

"Every single person plays their part and it's a very special environment."

Chicago is one of the latest in a line of original productions staged by Curve, which has made a name for itself as one of the country's top producing theatres.

A mixture of home-grown talent and touring shows have appeared at the theatre in the past five years, including the multi-million pound world premier of Finding Neverland, involving top Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, last year.

Curve's artistic director Paul Kerryson said: "Time flies by when you're having fun. It's been hard work but very enjoyable.

"Leicester audiences have grown to love the theatre and we're very proud of our achievements.

"But you can never stand still – you've got to keep things fresh."

A large video screen is set to replace the electronic scoreboard at the clubhouse end of Welford Road in February.

The screen will be installed thanks to a partnership between Leicester Tigers and energy solutions company GE.

It is scheduled to be in operation for the first time at the Aviva Premiership match against Gloucester on Sunday, February 16.

As well as allowing supporters to see extensive live coverage of matches, the screen will also incorporate news from the club and messages for fans during match-days, plus scoreboard and time functions.

Tigers chief executive Simon Cohen said: "We know from feedback among supporters that a big screen is seen as a top priority in enhancing the match-day experience at Welford Road.

"This is something we have been looking at fulfilling for a while."

1. Kasper Schmeichel: City's goalkeeper was beaten twice by Wednesday's Connor Wickham just inside his far post and will be disappointed. Rating: 5/10

27. Marcin Wasilewski: Beaten far too easily by Wickham for Wednesday's first goal, otherwise had another steady game for City. Rating: 6

5. Wes Morgan: Given a stern physical test by the giant duo of Wednesday strikers Wickham and Nuhui, who were a handful. Rating: 6

23. Ignasi Miquel: Learned a lot more about how physical Championship football can be. Showed some good touches. Rating: 6

3. Paul Konchesky: Was City's best attacking player and created a number of chances with some excellent long passing. Rating: 7

24. Anthony Knockaert: Scored a wonderful goal after just three minutes but was sacrificed at half-time as City changed shape. Rating: 6

4. Danny Drinkwater: The pick of City's midfield in the first half and moved into a more advanced role after the half-time change. Rating: 6

8. Matty James: Couldn't get into the game in the first half but looked much better when Dean Hammond came on at half-time. Rating: 6

11. Lloyd Dyer: One chance in the first half, but City couldn't get the in-form winger into the game enough during this game. Rating: 6

35. David Nugent: Had a very frustrating first half where literally nothing went right for him and it didn't get much better in the second. Rating: 6

9. Jamie Vardy: Got into some great positions but the final pass or shot wasn't quite good enough. A pity after the weekend double. Rating: 6

A last-lap crash at Milton Keynes cost Charlotte Broughton the chance of a fourth consecutive victory in the National Trophy cyclo-cross series.

The Countesthorpe rider, who had won the first three races of the 2013 competition, was in the thick of the action from the start of the girls' under-16 race, battling it out with RST's Jessica Roberts and Connie Hurton from the Beacon Wheelers team.

However, a slip on the final circuit, which featured some testing climbs and technically demanding descents, allowed Roberts to go clear and end the MG Décor all-rounder's perfect start in the season-long competition.

Broughton did recover to claim second place ahead of Hurton.

The riders now head for round five at Bradford's Peel Park, where the going is generally heavy, and the Talent Team rider still has a convincing lead of 24 points over Roberts, who has been her strongest challenger throughout the winter season to date.

Rich Edge claimed third place for Leicester's Naked Bikes team in the latest round of the Notts & Derby League in Derby.

The muddy conditions made life difficult for all the riders but Edge stuck to his task to finish on the podium. "I was really pleased with the result," said Edge. "I've been doing a lot of work on my mud skills, and it's paid off.

"Aside from a single fall, I managed to stay on the bike for the entire race. I enjoyed the fact there was a decent amount of running required, too.

"That's something else I've been working on but not needed until this point in the season."

Round 11 of the league, at Chesterfield this Sunday, incorporates the Midland championships.

Grace Garner took a break from her winter training regime to post a win at Glasgow's Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in the latest of the popular Revolution series.

Competing in the Future Stars section of the event, the Cosby girl showed her speed on the boards as she won the points race.

The 16-year-old RST racer has opted not to compete in cyclo-cross events for the first time this season and is concentrating largely on training for next year's road campaign, when she will step up into the junior ranks.

Garner has remained north of the border this week for an Olympic Development Programme training camp. She is back on the track in Manchester on Saturday in the Spadger six-day event.

Leicester Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill has praised new signing Jamie Gibson for "finding his feet" after a difficult start at the club.

The 23-year-old, who signed from London Irish in the summer, has started five of the club's last six games with a string of impressive performances.

Gibson is now in the mix to force his way into the side for the crucial Heineken Cup double-header with Montpellier that starts on Sunday.

Cockerill believes the run of games has brought the best out of Gibson, and said: "Jamie has played well for us recently.

"He made 28 tackles against London Irish and is finding his feet. The run of games has been really good for him.

"He has some quality because he has played for the Saxons, and you don't get into that set-up for no reason.

"Jamie has taken some time to settle but that is not unusual for any new lads who come in.

"He has stopped giving away stupid penalties, which he tended to be very good at. His discipline has been very good and he has worked very hard.

"I have been impressed that he has listened well, taken in what we want from him and he has started to put it into practice."

Tigers flanker Will Owen will start at openside for England Under-18s against Australia Schools at Harrow School today.

The junior Wallabies only tour England once every four years. The match will be streamed lived at:

www.RFU.com

Police are cracking down on scrap metal dealers to make sure they are complying with tough new laws.

Since October, scrap collectors and scrap metal yards have been required to keep detailed records of where metal comes from and all cash transactions for metal sales are now banned.

Police can assume that any metal that cannot be properly accounted for is stolen.

Scrap collectors also need licences to operate and risk £5,000 fines if they do not have them.

Pc Clive Sharman, who heads the scrap metal policing operation in Hinckley, led a day of action yesterday. He said: "We visited a scrap yard and found their books were in order but we recovered some property, which we suspect was stolen.

"We also came across a couple of scrap collectors from Warwickshire who were operating without a licence for this area."

Police commissioner Sir Clive Loader said: "Metal theft affects everyone, from people who have garden furniture stolen in the city, to people in rural communities where lead is stolen from church roofs and gates stolen from their land.

"Criminals need to know that the police are out in force to catch them."

Club captain Toby Flood has described the start of contract talks with Leicester Tigers as "very positive".

The 28-year-old will come to the end of his current three-year deal this summer.

With plenty of interest from French and Japanese clubs, the England fly-half will not be short of options when he makes his decision.

Leicester want to keep hold of their international half-back, while Flood says he will hopefully come to a decision by the end of this month or the start of January.

He added that that he would "never leave Leicester for another English club".

"I have been honest with Leicester and we said that we would make a decision in the latter part of the year," said Flood.

"We have started talking and it's been really positive.

"My decision will be based on a number of factors and I will be as open as I can.

"If I do leave, they will have to recruit and, if I stay, they will have to inform the people they have been talking to.

"I am not selfish, I know that my decision affects other people and their livelihoods, so I will make my decision as quickly and as forthrightly as I can.

"I would never leave Leicester for another English club. I love this place.

"It is a fantastic place to live and I could not ask for a better place to be.

"This could be my second-last contract. I realise that I have to make the right call.

"Nothing has been decided. I have just been thinking of trying to play rugby and then make a decision.

"My decision will be based on the club as a whole entity. What its physiotherapy and S&C are like, where I want to be and who I like hanging out with. It won't just be about the rugby."

With a home World Cup in 2015 on the horizon, Flood's position within the England squad could influence his decision to stay in England or move overseas.

He says he has spoken to England head coach Stuart Lancaster about the situation.

"Stuart has been really open with me and that is another factor for the melting pot," said Flood. "I am trying to work it out the best I can."

Flood played a straight bat to rumours suggesting a move to Heineken Cup champions Toulon.

"I have not picked up the phone and spoke to Jonny Wilkinson yet," he said.

Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill said the ball was largely in Flood's court.

"Contractually, we are speaking to him now," said Cockerill.

"Clearly, he has some decisions to make. The French market? The Japanese market? Ourselves? We all come into the melting pot.

"Money is one consideration. But if it's a lifestyle thing and he wants to go and play in France because he isn't in the England reckoning, then that may be his choice."

Tigers host Montpellier in the Heineken Cup on Sunday and will have both Ed Slater (arm) and Niki Goneva (calf) back from injury.

Two goals from Connor Wickham ensured the form book was thrown out of the window as relegation battlers Sheffield Wednesday inflicted a shock defeat on high-flying Leicester Cityat Hillsborough last night.

Anthony Knockaert had given City the perfect start after just three minutes but Wickham's impressive double left City stunned and gave Wednesday only their second league win of the campaign.

It was billed as what should have been a comfortable night for the league leaders against a side sitting second from bottom in the Championship and without a manager after the sacking of Dave Jones three days ago.

And when City took an early lead, it seemed events were going to script, especially as Wednesday had failed to keep a clean sheet all season.

Knockaert collected Paul Konchesky's cross-field ball wide on the right and turned Joe Mattock inside out before firing a shot high into the roof of the net from inside the area. It was a sublime moment of individual brilliance and Wednesday fans may have feared they were in for a long night.

However, perhaps City also thought they would have a relatively straightforward evening.

But they were left reconsidering any such assumption just six minutes later when Liam Palmer's hopeful high ball fell to Wickham on the far side of the City box. He pulled the ball down, beat Marcin Wasilewski far too easily before curling a shot past Kasper Schmeichel and just inside the far post.

If Knockaert had held centre stage in the opening minutes, it was Wickham who would be the star of the show. He almost fired the hosts into the lead in the 16th minute when Wednesday seized on a mistake by Wes Morgan and Wickham found himself in on City's goal, but this time Schmeichel saved.

City appeared to be struggling to recover from being pegged back and couldn't get going as an attacking force.

Konchesky seemed to be the architect of all of City's more dangerous attacks in the first-half and he played in Lloyd Dyer and Jamie Vardy on separate occasions, but they couldn't capitalise.

Dyer fired wildly wide from just inside the penalty area and then Vardy found himself clear on goal and only had keeper Damian Martinez to beat, but scuffed his chance.

It was a costly miss as minutes before Wickham had fired Wednesday, who had only won one league game all season, into the lead with an almost carbon copy finish of his first.

City failed to clear a corner and the Owls returned the ball into the area to Wickham, who again picked his spot just inside Schmeichel's far post.

City were badly misfiring in attack with David Nugent having a frustrating evening, while City's midfield was also struggling to get on top in central areas, and it was left to the two centre-backs, Morgan and Ignasi Miquel, to pose any sort of threat just before half-time with two efforts on goal.

City made a substitution at the break, bringing on the experience of Dean Hammond for Knockaert in a bid to gain some sort of midfield platform on which to build.

City also reverted to the formation which earned them victory at Ipswich just over a week ago.

On that occasion they mounted a second half comeback to claim the points and they should have had an equaliser two minutes after the restart when Vardy burst clear but Martinez saved at his feet and Nugent put the loose ball wide.

City certainly looked brighter and Nugent was denied by Martinez in the 58th minute when Dyer's effort rebounded to him unmarked on the edge of the box.

But the breakthrough wouldn't come and as City gambled in search of an equaliser they almost got picked off by Wickham again late on, but Schmeichel produced an excellent save to touch his shot over the bar.

Bookies have confirmed what Leicestershire already knows – that Sam Bailey really is the best X Factor contestant ever.

Ladbrokes yesterday said the 36-year-old, from Leicester Forest East, had the shortest odds to win of any of the favourites in the ITV show's 10-year history at this stage of the contest.

However, her family have urged fans to continue voting, saying no-one in the competition is safe.

Ahead of this weekend's semi-final, mother-of-two Sam has been given odds of 4/11 to get through and go on to win. So, an £11 bet would get you just £15 – the original stake, plus the £4 win. Ladbrokes spokesman Jessica Bridge said: "Sam is easily the most popular favourite in X Factor betting history.

"After every performance, punters are backing her to win – regardless of what her odds are."

This weekend, Sam will be fighting for a place in the final against Luke Friend, Nicholas McDonald and Rough Copy.

Mum Jackie Bailey has urged people to pick up the phone to vote for Sam.

"It's human nature, isn't it?" she said. "When you see someone is the favourite, you feel like you don't need to vote, because they are safe. That's not the case – it's nothing to do with the bookies, it's down to the voting. If people like Sam enough, they need to vote.''

Jackie said she and her partner had spent hours voting. "We keep on voting, on and on," she said. "It sounds silly, but I feel like, if I don't vote, she might go – and it could be my vote that makes the difference."

With less than two weeks to go until the final, Jackie said the pressure was mounting for all the contestants.

"Sam's aim is to get through this and win, but I don't think she's taking too much notice of the bookies, she tries to put it to the back of her mind.

"Fingers crossed, she gets through – she will be on cloud nine if she achieves that goal.

"As a mother, I really am proud of all the hard work she has put in. If she gets through this weekend, I might just put some money on her – although, I might get someone else to do it for me."

In a last plea to Mercury readers, Jackie said: "Just vote for my girl, please, please. Every vote counts."

To see Sam perform in the semi-finals, watch ITV at 8pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Leicester City succumbed to a shock defeat against struggling Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough last night.

Two strikes from Connor Wickham cancelled out Anthony Knockaert's excellent individual goal after just three minutes to give manager-less Wednesday only their second league win of the season.

It was a frustrating night for City and manager Nigel Pearson, who had enjoyed some of the most memorable moments of his career as a fearless captain during Wednesday's more successful days.

With his club sitting second from bottom of the Championship on goal difference, former City owner and now Wednesday supremo Milan Mandaric had sacked manager Dave Jones on Sunday.

In contrast, City went into the game three points clear at the top of the table and started the game as clear favourites.

When Knockaert jinked past former City defender Joe Mattock to fire the visitors into an early lead it looked as though another good night was on the cards for Pearson's men.

The front-three of Lloyd Dyer, Jamie Vardy and David Nugent had sparkled in previous weeks, but on this occasion they failed to take their chances.

Despite defeat, City stay top of the league due to the number of goals scored. Rivals QPR went level on points after beating Bournemouth 3-0

Now City must pick themselves up for the trip to take on Brighton on Saturday.