The jury in the Wood Hill murder trial was to be sent out today to consider its verdicts.

Judge Mr Justice John Griffith Williams finished his summing up in the case this morning.

Eight defendants are accused of killing a family in an arson attack.

All eight deny murdering Shehnila Taufiq, 47, and her children Zainab, 19, Bilal, 17, and Jamal, 15, in a fire in Spinney Hills, Leicester, shortly after midnight on September 13 last year. The family died after petrol was thrown on the front door and fire engulfed their three-bedroom property.

A cocktail of romance and drama, Sebastian Faulks' Birdsong is a must see at Leicester's Curve. 

Marking the centenary of the First World War, Rachel Wagstaff has successfully adapted the critically-acclaimed tale into a gripping two-and-a-half hour stage production. 

Together with telling multiple stories from each of the individual soldiers, the audience spends the first half of the show watching the main character, a young English soldier called Stephen Wraysford have an affair with Isabelle Azaire, a married French woman who he is temporarily living with. 

The chemistry between the two is unmistakable and there are definitely moments within the production which allow the audience to really understand the desperate desire both characters clearly have to be with one another. 

Skipping from past to present tense – which, at first might seem difficult – is very successfully executed. Indicated by Stephen drifting into a day dream, scenes flow smoothly from one-to-another. 

After the interval, the audience watch as the couple's relationship falls apart. Credit to George Banks who plays Stephen and Carolin Stoltz as Isabelle, who really make the audience believe the heartbreak felt by both characters as their love dissolves. 

Alongside the blossoming love of Stephen and Isabelle, the audience is taken back to life on the front line, paying close attention to a group of underground tunnel workers. We were really made to feel like they are part of the story, with the tunnels conveyed in complete darkness with only a few lanterns and cigarette ends barely lighting up the stage. 

The story specifically focuses on one of the sappers Jack Firebrace. Full of emotion and heartbreak, the teary-eyed audience watch as Jack comes to terms with the death of his young son back home. Jack, played by Blue Peter's very own Peter Duncan brings some of the most powerful and emotive moments to the stage. 

Later, in a intensely traumatic scene, the soldiers face their enemy in The Battle of the Somme. It's an engaging few minutes, which captures the range of emotions felt by each soldier.

In the penultimate scene, each of the remaining alive soldiers meet their fate as the tunnel they are digging collapses. After anxiously waiting to find out who had survived, an English and German soldier hug, indicating both the end of the war and of the play. 

Let me warn those who are fans of the book - don't let the fact that the stage production is not entirely identical the paper version put you off. 

While it is intense at all times, it is full of drama, heartbreak and also at times, comic relief - I thoroughly recommended it. 

Birdsong is playing at Curve until Saturday, June 21. For more information and tickets visit: www.curveonline.co.uk

Leicester's Curve is looking for a loveable dog to star in the up-and-coming production of Annie. 

Director of the show Paul Kerryson is calling out for a pooch to play Sandy in the family-friendly tale. 

Rehearsals are under-way for the performance, which will begin at the end of July - now all that is left is to seek a canine companion for Annie.

"This is a big opportunity," said Paul. "They will even get it's own dressing room - what more can a dog want?" 

The dog needs to be of a sandy colour and be of a medium size, similar to that or a labrador. 

"They need to be extremely loveable, both on stage and off," added Paul. 

"Sandy is a really important role and has lots of scenes in the show, so we really need dogs who can put their best paw forward." 

The team is looking for three dogs in total, who will each take it in turn to play the part of Sandy on differing nights. 

"I've got every faith that we will find our Sandy - it's just the last piece of the puzzle to complete," said Paul. 

If the dog is suitable, they will then have to rehearse - playing close attention to their big scene, which will see Annie call the dog over. 

Annie will be showing at Curve from Saturday, July 26 until Sunday, August 10. If you think your dog has got what it takes to play the part of Sandy visit: www.curveonline.co.uk

New life is being breathed into empty shop and restaurant units in Leicester, with a spate of new openings.

As further proof that the city centre is on the up, seven new clothing and food outlets will open this summer.

It comes after a string of recent openings across the city.

Red Hot World Buffet is spending £2 million renovating the empty Litten Tree pub, on the corner of High Street and Highcross Street.

The company said it was probably the highest single restaurant investment Leicester had seen.

Spread across 16,000sq ft of floor space on two floors, the restaurant will open on June 30, creating 70 jobs in positions including management posts, chefs and waiting and bar staff.

Meanwhile, bosses at Highcross said new outlets were being lined up.

Among them is Urban Outfitters, due to open later in the year. The chain, which has 27 stores across the country, sells menswear, women's fashion, homeware and artwork.

The store will move into the unit vacated by fashion store USC, near the centre's Eastgates entrance.

Danish retailer Tiger is also opening a store in Highcross, selling colourful items for families and homes.

Four new restaurants are also opening in the centre – Australian juice bar Boost, Mexican restaurant Chimichanga, hamburger joint Byron and Stone Baked Pizza.

Highcross general manager Jo Tallack said: "These exciting new retailers and restaurants show just how we're responding to the increasingly savvy and adventurous shopper on the lookout for fresh taste experiences, as well as great value, choice and convenience.

"We're delighted to be welcoming the popular Mexican restaurant Chimichanga, Byron, AKA the proper hamburger restaurant, Red Hot World Buffet and Stone Baked Pizza.

"The development of these dining choices, especially in St Peter's Square, helps us attract more people to Leicester and encourages them to spend longer in the city centre – day and night – which is great news for Highcross and the city as a whole."

James Horler, chief executive of the Red Hot World Buffet group, said: "We are very excited to be moving into Leicester and with more than 1,500 people applying for 70 jobs with us, I'm sure it will be a successful investment.

"After the success of the Red Hot World Buffet in Nottingham, Liverpool and Leeds, we thought there would be a real taste for this kind of venue in Leicester."

The Queen of Bradgate bar and restaurant opened in High Street this month, while the recently revamped Turkey Cafe and Brü coffee shop have opened in Granby Street. Other new venues include Grapevine, in Belvoir Street, and Frankie & Benny's, Highcross.

Hamza Bodhaniya, who owns Brü, said Granby Street had suffered as a result of the economic downturn and competition from Highcross.

Casualties in recent years have included the Jessops and Cecil Jacobs camera shops, the former HSBC bank, Blacks, Poundstretcher, Burger King and the La Tasca restaurant.

He believes growing consumer confidence and high- quality businesses will bring life back to the area.

He said: "I think Granby Street is a beautiful road when it comes to the architecture but unfortunately, over the years, it seems like a lot of people have headed over to the other side of town and neglected it.

"I'm hoping that with us moving in, and the council moving into the old Poundstretcher building, then the area will benefit."

Lee Izzard, 40, of Western Park, Leicester, regularly eats out and shops in the city.

He said: "Urban Outfitters is good news because it's a higher end shop, which is going to get shoppers interested.

"Leicester is getting better and is competing with places such as Birmingham and Nottingham. I would much rather shop here."

We have now been living on Planet World Cup for a week, and hasn't it been fantastic?

Entertaining, attacking goal-laden games, against the vibrant backdrop of football-mad Brazil.

Wednesday was a good example of why Brazil 2014 is such a great tournament.

Holland, who beat world champions Spain five days earlier, faced no-hopers Australia in what should have been a routine win.

But five goals flew in, including an absolute cracker from Tim Cahill, and the lead changed hands twice before the Dutch managed to edge in front.

Before we had time to draw breath, we were into the pure theatre of Chile v Spain in the Maracanã.

The Spanish conquered the football world with their new brand of football – highly accurate short passing combined with instant high pressure on the rare occasions they conceded possession.

The pure geometry of tiki-taka tormented the opposition for years and saw Vicente del Bosque's great side win Euro 2008, World Cup 2010 and Euro 2012 – an unprecedented run.

But here it was, crumbling into ruins right in front of our eyes, as a young and highly-charged Chile side beat them.

Criticising ITV's football coverage is becoming something of a national pastime, and not without cause, as they never seem to get it quite right.

When Adrian Chiles & Co found themselves besieged by anti-FIFA protesters on the first night and rocks bounced off their studio windows, it wasn't long before the first Twitter comment: "They have obviously seen the coverage."

But the prize for worst piece of commentating in this World Cup to date must surely go to the BBC's Jonathan Pearce, who appeared to be almost terminally bewildered by the goal-line technology process during the France v Honduras game.

"They've changed their minds!" yelled Pearce, in Alan Partridge fashion, as the rest of the world patiently awaited the verdict from GLT computer. They hadn't.

While we were still chuckling at this, Pearce then roared "Three-nil! What a good goal!"

"Side-netting, Jonathan," Martin Keown half-whispered into his ear.

When France did actually net a third, Pearce kept quiet for a few seconds, no longer quite trusting the evidence of his own eyes... Great stuff!

Without a doubt, one of the true winners of this World Cup are Panini, as sales of their Brazil 2014 albums and stickers have gone stellar.

Their enduring appeal (the first set came out for Mexico 70 and a full album from back then can go for thousands of pounds on eBay – check your attic) seems to be ageless, with as many adults collecting as kids right across the globe.

Every media outlet from the One Show to the Economist has carried a Panini story, resulting in sales of, literally, billions of stickers.

As someone who has every album since Argentina 78, I see no reason why I should stop now, and allow myself one packet a day. And here is today's packet...

Hugo Campagnaro – Argentina; Fernando Muslera – Uruguay; Kim Shin-Wook – South Korea; Christian Bolanos – Costa Rica; Marco Reus – Germany.

No swaps, but no shinys or team groups. I have to say, I'm a little bit disappointed.

Petite powerlifter Martine George has proved her strictly vegetarian diet can move mountains.

For the former dancer from Harborough has clinched a European title by dead lifting almost 21 stone.

It is yet another success for the 30-year-old personal trainer, who only took up the sport just over a year ago.

Already, she has secured a bronze in the world championships in Prague after becoming British champion last summer.

Earlier this month, she scored a personal best when she returned to the Czech Republic for the European Championships, in Trutnov.

Competing against a tough team from Poland she carried off the title in the 56kg class.

Martine, who is 5ft 4in and weighs just over eight stone, said: "I was determined to do my best. In the squat section, I lifted 100kg, but I lifted a disappointing 50kg in the bench press.

"But I achieved a personal best of 132.5kg in the deadlift, which meant I secured a personal best combined total of 182.5kg. That was enough to secure gold."

Martine, who lives in Tur Langton, started training just eight weeks before she became British champion last summer.

Referring to her European title win she said: "I could not done have done it without my coach, Delroy McQueen.

"He competed in the same European Championship a few days after me. He got a world record squat of 360kg and a world record deadlift at 350.5kg giving him a gold, too."

Martine trained five days a week and stuck rigidly to a vegetarian diet.

She said: "A lot of people believe you need to eat steak to build the power to lift heavy weights.

"But I became vegetarian because I could not digest meat very well. I now eat plenty of lentils and beans. I eat vegetables and fruit and drink smoothies. It is a diet I would recommend to anyone."

Martine is in training for the British Championships, in August, and after that she hopes to have another crack at the world title.

Husbands Bosworth-based trainer Tony Ward, who first helped her, said: "There is no reason why she can't go on to be world champion at her weight."

A breathtaking century from Greg Smith was not enough to save Leicestershire Foxes from suffering a 24-run defeat at the hands of the Nottinghamshire Outlaws in the NatWest T20 Blast at Grace Road last night.

The odds were long on a Foxes victory after Notts had posted a mammoth 220-4 but Smith, who found the boundary on 13 occasions and cleared it on four other occasions, gave the home supporters hope with a brilliant performance.

He became the fourth Leicestershire player to reach three figures in the T20 format, after Darren Maddy, Brad Hodge and Jim Allenby.

He fell in the 17th over for 102 and the Foxes, despite a gallant effort, came up short on 196-5.

Having been put in to bat, Notts instantly went on the attack and Alex Hales dispatched the second and third balls of Jigar Naik's opening over for four and six respectively.

Ben Raine removed the immediate threat when he bowled Hales for 17 in the fourth over, but the Outlaws cracked on.

Riki Wessels cut loose in the sixth over, smashing three massive sixes off Nathan Buck, taking advantage of the short boundary towards the Meet, as 25 runs came from the over.

Naik trapped Phil Jaques lbw but the Outlaws still brought up the century inside 10 overs and the Foxes were already looking at chasing a huge total.

They did not help themselves, either, by handing Wessels a life on 36.

Raine dropped him at deep midwicket.

The batsman was in unforgiving mood, racing to his 50 from just 22 balls, and had put 66 on the board from just 31 deliveries before Raine did cling on to a second chance, off Naik's bowling, to leave the visitors on 149-3 in the 15th over.

Samit Patel was proving no slouch at the other end and the Foxes struggled to contain him as he raced past 50 from 34 balls, Notts rapidly closing in on the 200-mark.

He did fall to Josh Cobb for 63 off 37 balls but the onslaught continued and, when Chris Read launched a six over cover off Raine, Notts had their highest T20 score, beating their previous best of 215.

Chasing such a huge target, the Foxes needed to be out of the blocks smartly, looking to utilise the short boundary if given the chance.

To their credit, Leicestershire made a real contest of it, Cobb lashing 16 from a wayward second over sent down by Ajmal Shahzad.

By the end of the first six overs, the Foxes had reached 61 for the loss of Niall O'Brien, with Smith playing fluently alongside his captain.

They remained in touch, too, at the halfway stage with the total on 98-1 but a sustained assault on the visitors bowling was still required.

Leicestershire, however, were just unable to maintain the pace despite Smith's heroics.

He went to 50 from just 32 deliveries but saw Cobb and Tom Wells perish in the chase for quick runs. Cobb, having made 40, drove Shahzad down the throat of long off and Wells was easily stumped by Read having been beaten in the flight of Sam Wood's off-spin.

Smith continued to crack along at a fierce rate and a six on to the Meet roof off Harry Gurney took him to three figures from only the 52nd ball he had received. Two balls later, though, he skied to Steven Mullaney attempting a repeat and the requirement of scoring 47 from the final three overs was always going to prove too tall an order against some disciplined 'death' bowling.

Muzzy Izzet believes Leicester City have a great chance of staying in the Premier League next season.

But the former City midfielder said a good start is going to be vital to their cause.

Izzet said when he was promoted with City in 2003, they set the target that fourth-from-bottom was good enough and they knew they had to get off to a good start.

City have been handed a tough opening as they face Everton, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United in their first five fixtures, but Izzet is backing City to survive.

"I think it will be tough for Leicester and they know it will be tough," said Izzet, who made more than 300 appearances for City during his eight years with the club between 1996 and 2004. "The way to look at it, and it is how we approached it when we came up, is fourth-from-bottom is good enough.

"We always felt we needed to get off to a good start. We managed to get a few points on the board and that settled the nerves.

"We came back for pre-season really fit, which is what Leicester will do.

"We will be a bit of a surprise package and will take a few teams by surprise.

"That is the sort of thing that Leicester will be trying to achieve next season. Teams are not going to come to Leicester and sit back and invite City to try to break them down.

"They are going to come and think they can win the game.

"It is going to be a completely different scenario for the team. They know that.

"(Manager) Nigel Pearson will know how tough it is going to be."

While it will be tough against the sides City face in their opening fixtures, Izzet believes there are plenty of sides in the Premier League who they will be more than a match for. "I think they can stay up," he said. "If you look at the Premier League now, there have been some teams who have struggled for the past three or four years, like Aston Villa. They always seem to just hang on.

"West Ham will probably struggle a bit. Are Hull going to struggle next season? Burnley and QPR may also struggle.

"There are enough teams down there that you can compete against. That will be the aim and I think they can do it."

A holiday-maker who mistakenly picked up her late husband's passport got all the way to Fuerteventura after passing through security at East Midlands airport.

Widow Pauline Briggs twice handed over her husband Paul's passport at the airport – at check-in and at the boarding gate – before boarding a Ryanair flight with her family.

Staff at the airport in Castle Donington, north west Leicestershire, failed to spot that the man with short, dark hair in the passport picture was not the 64-year-old blonde woman standing in front of them.

Mrs Briggs, of Sheffield, said: "It seems to me the security checks the at the airport are a joke.

"I handed the passport over twice and no-one spotted it wasn't mine.

"It means just about anyone could do what I did and get away with it. It's not as if I look like him or am the same sex as my husband, is it?"

When Mrs Briggs, who was travelling with her granddaughter, grandson-in-law and their two children, presented the five passports at passport control in Fuerteventura, the mistake was spotted.

The security officer looked at the documents and asked where Mr Briggs was.

The grandmother-of-10 said: "The question really threw me. I said 'I'm Pauline Briggs'.

"He said, 'But where is Mr Briggs?' I said 'Well... he's dead'. He then showed me the passport and I was mortified."

Security staff on the island allowed Mrs Briggs and her family through – leaving her to buy a £120 temporary passport for the return journey a week later.

She said: "I am an innocent holiday-maker but what if I had more sinister motives – it's not very reassuring."

The retired childcare social worker and her family were going on holiday on the second anniversary of her husband's death.

Mr Briggs died in 2012, aged 55, of a rare blood cancer.

Mrs Briggs said that on the morning of the flight she had picked up both passports at her home in Sheffield and spent time talking to her husband's picture, telling him she was going on the Canary Island holiday they had dreamed of taking together.

"I left mine and took his," she said. "It was a silly mistake and one I will never make again."

A spokeswoman for East Midlands Airport said passport checks are carried out by a company called Swissport, Ryanair's third-party handling agent at the airport.

Airport spokeswoman Claire Pearson said: "When staff at the airport do their checks they only need to check boarding passes. The most important thing is the error was picked up as the traveller arrived at their country of destination – as it was."

Ryanair head of communications Robin Kiely said: "We have asked our third-party handling agent at East Midlands to investigate this matter and ensure it does not happen again."

Colin Higgins, spokesman for Swissport UK and Eire, said: "We are very disappointed it appears we fell below our usual high standards, and are writing to the passenger to express our apologies.

"We are conducting a full investigation into this incident."

Police have launched a crackdown on cyclists who ride on a busy shopping street's pavements.

Riders caught on the pavement in Queens Road, Clarendon Park, Leicester, will be told to dismount or get on to the road.

Initially, officers are not handing out £30 on-the-spot fines.

Instead, they will explain the law to offenders and direct them to the area's cycle lanes.

However, people who ignore officers' warnings to keep to the road could be fined.

Police say they launched the campaign, which will run until Tuesday, July 8, in response to complaints by residents and businesses in the Queens Road area.

Officers said the campaign will be extended to cover New Walk and Victoria Park.

Police community support officer Zahid Ahmed, who is leading the operation, said: "Residents have raised the issue of cyclists riding along the pavement, so we are targeting the area during busy periods.

"Officers are trying to educate the cyclists, offering information about alternative routes which may be safer and letting them know about the council's green routes.

"Education is the key. We've noticed that it's making a difference already.

"People we stopped have been seen heeding the advice."

Resident Jane Hall, 38, said: "I'm glad the police are putting some time into this because pavement cyclists are a menace in Queens Road.

"This is a busy area so there simply isn't room on the pavements for both cyclists and pedestrians.

"I'm a very keen cyclist myself, so I can appreciate that some people might be nervous about riding on some busy roads like Narborough Road or Belgrave Road. But Queens Road is not a dangerous place to cycle."

A Queens Road shop owner, who did not want to be named, said: "Customers are always talking about the cyclists here.

"They tend to leave the shop and look right and left before they step outside."

"You'll often see police telling cyclists to either get on the road, or dismount and push their bikes."

City councillor Patrick Kitterick, who represents the area, said: "I have seen cyclists nearly run into pedestrians, particularly at the Victoria Park end of Queens Road. There are elderly people and people with mobility issues who go to Queens Road to do their shopping. So, I welcome what the police are doing."

Wes Morgan believes Leicester City's tough start to their Premier League campaign could be a blessing in disguise.

City are set to face Everton, Chelsea, Arsenal and Man- chester United in the opening five fixtures.

But while Morgan admits that, on paper, City's start is challenging, he said they should not be daunted.

The City skipper, who is close to signing a new contract with the club, said the fact that their Championship title success is still fresh in everyone's mind may mean it is the perfect time to face the challenge.

"On paper, I'm sure people will see it as a tough start, but we're going into the new season with good momentum, so you could argue it's the ideal time to be playing those sides," he said.

"You can't look too far ahead. Ultimately, you've got to play everyone twice and there will be ups and downs throughout the season, so for me it's an exciting way for us to start.

"Hopefully, we can hit the ground running."

Morgan said the release of the fixtures has whetted his appetite again for the new season and driven home the reality of their promotion success.

"I was on a flight when the fixtures were released, so I was a bit late catching up with the news but I've seen them now and there's so much to look forward to," he said. "We've all worked hard to get to the Premier League, it's where every player wants to be, so you can't help but be excited by the names on that fixture list.

"We'll be aiming to make the most positive start we can.

"You can never guarantee that you're going to pick up points anywhere, you've just got to be positive and try to win as many points as possible.

"We'll have to prepare well, that goes without saying, so I'm sure the boys will be right at it from the start of pre-season." Meanwhile, City youngster Jak McCourt has agreed a one-year extension to his City contract.

The 18-year-old midfielder signed his first professional deal with City last summer, as a graduate of the club's highly successful Academy.

A regular in Steve Beaglehole's under-21 development squad, McCourt enjoyed a successful spell on loan with League Two side Torquay during the first half of last season, making 12 appearances before returning to the City set-up in January.

The youngest person to sit for a doctorate in the UK has started her PhD at the University of Leicester.

Fifteen-year-old Eugenie de Silva, who is completing her Masters in Liberal Arts at Harvard University, has chosen Leicester for her PhD. 

Her doctoral studies, by distance, will focus on denial and deception in World War II.

 Eugenie said: "I am extremely excited to begin my work at the University of Leicester. After learning about the University of Leicester online, I recognised that this university was truly an academic institution focused on the upholding of high educational standards for each of its students." 

She said her desire to attend the University of Leicester was further fuelled by Professor Mark Phythian being a research supervisor there. 

"During my undergraduate studies and graduate studies, I used Professor Phythian's work in my own reports hence, I knew attending this university would provide me with a unique opportunity to work under a specialist and expert in my chosen field," she said.

 Professor Phythian said he was looking forward to working with Eugenie. "This is an area of ongoing importance, and Eugenie's research is set to advance knowledge and understanding of it," he said.

 Eugenie, originally from Manchester, but currently in Harrogate, already has a Bachelor's in Intelligence Analysis and Master's in Intelligence Studies from the American Military University. 

Eugenie said she planned on visiting Leicester as many times as possible during her study.