An expanding town could see the return of its public lavatory after hundreds of residents called for its reinstatement.

Earl Shilton lost its town centre loo five years ago after it was found to be underused and run-down.

But more than 300 people have signed a petition calling on Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council to provide a new one.

Janice Richards, the borough councillor for the area, is leading the campaign because of the need to provide facilities for visitors and the increasing population.

Councillor Richards said: "The toilets were removed by the borough council in 2009 following complaints from residents due to the poor quality of the facilities and the badly-maintained structure, which did not comply with Disability Discrimination Act."

The borough council said the automated toilets in Wood Street were worn out and cost £26.26 in upkeep for each time they were used.

The council reached a temporary a deal in which people could use the toilets at the nearby Lord Nelson pub, but that agreement has long since lapsed.

Now people say the town – which now has 10,000 inhabitants – deserves a new lavatory.

"People in our town feel let down by the borough council and it is only right and fair that we get new public conveniences," said Coun Richards.

She said the borough council had saved between £100,000 and £150,000 since the Earl Shilton lavatory was closed, while it provides funding for Barwell, Market Bosworth and Hinckley toilets.

She added: "Residents of Earl Shilton have told me of disturbing experiences concerning the discomfort and worse caused by the lack public toilets in the town.

"This situation also has health and safety implications and the borough council needs to take these matters very seriously.

"I will continue pressing hard to have these vital facilities provided for the community of Earl Shilton as soon as possible."

She said traders were in favour of the campaign because they believed it would help attract shoppers to the town centre.

The borough council has agreed to investigate the issue and officers will liaise with organisations, councillors and the Earl Shilton Town Council.

Leicester City's players are determined to justify manager Nigel Pearson's faith in them by proving they can step up to the standard of the Premier League, says midfielder Dean Hammond.

Pearson is standing by the players who clinched promotion and the Championship title last season as they head into the Premier League.

Some promoted clubs in the past have made wholesale changes, but Pearson is only reinforcing his current squad with a few additions as he has faith in his current crop.

Hammond said that had made the players even more determined to show Pearson's judgement is correct.

"It is down to us players to prove the manager is right to stick by us," he said.

"It looks as though the gaffer wants to go with us. There will be new additions and you expect that.

"That will help the squad and the team. But it is down to us to prove the manager right.

"It can work either way. You see some clubs who go out and buy 10 or 12 players and sometimes that works, but sometimes it doesn't."

Hammond added: "We have a really strong team spirit at the club.

"Not only that, we have really good, quality players and we showed that last season.

"We also have a real hunger to prove that we can play in the Premier League. That is what we want to do."

Hammond said the prospect of playing in the Premier League has meant the players have been putting in more fitness work on their own during the summer.

"In your head is the thought that you need to run a bit more on the beach because this is a big step up," he said. "It is a bigger challenge and we will be facing better players in the best league in the world.

"You want to push yourself and challenge yourself against them. So you think 'maybe I will do a bit more'.

"We had our plan over the summer which we have to follow to keep fit so you can be ready for the first day of training. But it is constantly on your mind.

"You are going into the Premier League and it is what you have worked for. It is where everyone wants to be.

"Maybe you do a bit more over the summer so you don't relax as much because you want to be ready for the season."

Keeping Leicester City's prized assets is just as vital as signing new players, says manager Nigel Pearson.

Last season's top-scorer David Nugent this week committed his future to the club after helping them win the Championship title.

City have been further boosted by the news that young prospects Liam Moore and Jeff Schlupp have both signed new three-year contracts.

The academy graduates, who were about to enter the final year of their current deals, have become prize assets after cementing themselves in Pearson's first-team squad and have now committed their future to the club until 2017.

Pearson said keeping the core of that side together for this season's Premier League campaign is vital to their prospects.

Despite attention from other clubs, goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, captain Wes Morgan and midfielders Danny Drinkwater and Matty James have also signed new contracts this summer, and the only player to leave the club has been winger Lloyd Dyer.

Pearson said it was important all the squad-building work he and his staff have done during the past two-and-a-half years was not undone.

"Just from a football point of view it was important to get those contracts done," said Pearson.

"It has taken a long time to get the squad together in the sort of shape we are in.

"Sometimes that as an exercise is lost on people, how difficult it is and complex it is to try to get the squad how you want it. It is also important to us on a business level to protect our assets.

"I think we have a squad now that has a residual value. That is important.

"We have tried to protect those assets in a fair way."

Pearson added: "There has been a lot of speculation about wage ceilings and this and that, lots of really quite bizarre angles on that.

"But as far as I am concerned, we will always try to keep our business in-house and try to do business in the right way."

City had to endure plenty of speculation last season, which could have proved disruptive, about the futures of a number of players who were about to go out of contract this summer, and Pearson is keen to avoid a repeat this season.

"Around Christmas, we had the constant talk about the number of players who were in the final year of their contracts," added Pearson.

"We have to deal with that for a long period of time but now we are at a stage where we have more or less got the contract situation resolved."

"We are securing some very valuable assets to the club."

A Range Rover owner who saw his car being stolen gave chase and caught the thief's accomplice.

The owner of the £48,000 Range Rover had left it on his drive with the engine running so it could defrost, at 8.30am on December 6, 2012.

He was alerted by his daughter shouting: "Your car is reversing off the driveway."

Moments earlier, he had seen a Renault Clio pull up outside his home, in Narborough, and a male front seat passenger looking towards his driveway.

After the owner was alerted to the theft, a neighbour leaving for work gave him a lift to pursue the Range Rover and the Clio.

Neil Bannister, prosecuting, told Leicester Crown Court: "They gave chase along Narborough Road towards Sapcote."

Having lost sight of the Range Rover, they were able to drive in front of the Clio and force it to pull over.

The victim got out of his neighbour's car and removed the ignition key of the Clio, which was being driven by Marie Brown (36).

Brown was arrested at the scene but refused to name the Range Rover thief.

In court, on the day her trial was due to start, Brown, of Redmarle Road, Braunstone, Leicester, admitted theft of the £48,000 vehicle, due to her part as an accomplice by driving the thief to the scene.

She was given a six-month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months, with a requirement to attend a probation-approved specified activity programme.

She was also ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid work.

Mr Bannister said the Range Rover had a security facility which meant it could be left with the engine running after the ignition key was removed – which the owner had done.

The victim knew the thief did not have the key and that once the engine was turned off he would not be able to re-start it.

The vehicle was later found abandoned in a pub car park in Claybrooke Magna.

The court heard that Brown, who suffered from mental health problems, felt unable to accept responsibility for her part in the theft until the day of her trial, when she changed her plea to guilty.

Judge Nicholas Dean QC said it was a "serious offence" to steal high-value cars, but he accepted Brown was not the main instigator and she played a lesser role. The Range Rover thief has still not been caught by police.

The theft happened at a time when Leicestershire Police were warning motorists that thieves were exploiting the freezing weather by travelling the county looking for cars left unattended to defrost with their engines running.

The Association of British Insurers has warned such thefts are a problem and that many policies will not pay out where a driver has left the keys in their car's ignition.

If a car is left on a public highway with its engine running, the owner could be guilty of an offence.

A couple who suffered the heartbreak of losing their 12-year-old daughter are hoping to meet a woman whose life she saved with a donated organ.

After she died of a blood clot on the brain two years ago, Ashni Parmar's kidneys, pancreas and lungs were donated to three people who needed transplants.

Ashni's parents, Paresh and Kalpna, have been sent a thank you card by one of the recipients and the families have exchanged photographs.

They know little about the woman, other than that she is in her late 20s, but are hoping to meet her later this year.

Mr Parmar, 44, said: "We are looking forward to meeting one of the people who was saved by Ashni's organ donation.

"She has a part of Ashni in her and so it feels as if she is part of the family.

"Ashni, who also had epilepsy, suffered from ulcerated colitis, which flared up, and she was admitted to Leicester Royal Infirmary.

"A CT scan found a blood clot on her brain and she was transferred to the Queen's Medical Centre, in Nottingham, for an operation.

"Doctors warned us her brain had been severely damaged and she did not recover from the operation."

Mr and Mrs Parmar faced an agonising decision about whether they should consent to organ donation.

Mr Parmar said: "We were registered organ donors but the decision was still very difficult."

The couple, who also have an 18-year-old son, Shiva, decided that their daughter's organs should be donated.

Mr Parmar said: "We have since heard that three ladies have been helped by Ashni.

"Two received a kidney and one Ashni's pancreas and lungs.

"We have also heard that one man has regained the sight of one eye due to a corneal donation.

"Ashni had severe learning difficulties but she was a happy child and she loved music.

"She would be happy to think she had helped other people."

The couple have become the first ambassador family in the city promoting organ donation in minority ethnic communities.

They are hoping their story will encourage more people from the Asian community to join the donor register.

Latest figures from NHS Blood and Transport show that during 2013/14 there were 1,320 deceased donors in the country, but only 74 of them were from black, Asian or other minority ethnic communities – 38 were Asian.

The number of people on the waiting list for organs far exceeds the number of donors.

Mr Parmar, a machine operator, said: "Some people worry that their faith doesn't allow it.

"But all major religions accept that organ donation is an individual choice."

Kirit Mistry, a friend who is also working to increase organ donation in black, Asian and minority ethnic communities in the city, said: "The family don't know much detail about the recipient but are hoping to find out more.

"It is quite a long process to arrange this, but I think it will help them."

Kat Squires, a specialist nurse in organ donation at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, said: "Occasionally, the families of donors meet with someone who received an organ from their loved one, but this is not common.

"Contact between donor families and recipients is managed through a specialist nurse.

"Only if both parties wanted to develop a relationship that wasn't anonymous would this take place."

For information about how to help to raise awareness of organ donation, contact Kirit Mistry on 07940 51666 or:

k.mistry@derby.ac.uk

To join the NHS Organ Donor Register, call 0300 123 2323, text SAVE to 62323 or go to www.transplantweek.co.uk

Nigel Pearson said he is delighted with his summer transfer business so far but insists he has not finished yet.

Leicester City moved quickly to bring in Ban Hamer, Matt Upson and Marc Albrighton on free transfers and are still looking to add to the squad, especially a striker.

Brighton have rejected a fourth bid of more than £6million for Argentine striker Leonardo Ulloa, which would have broken City's transfer record.

City have also spoken to Cardiff striker Fraizer Campbell, but could not agree personal terms.

Pearson said he was pleased with the new recruits and, while he admitted there could be up to two more new faces before the transfer window shuts, said he was only looking to bring in players who could offer something different.

Both Ulloa and Campbell are different types of striker to current options David Nugent, Jamie Vardy, Chris Wood and Gary Taylor-Fletcher.

"We always try to do our business relatively early but you can't always do that for various reasons, such as availability of players and costings," he said.

"We have tried to do our business in the same way with some very important signings, in terms of players coming in and players who have signed new contracts.

"There has been a lot of business this summer so far. It has been good we have been able to retain key players and added some players who will enhance the squad, which is positive.

"We will continue to try to strengthen the squad before the season starts.

"How many? I don't know. It depends on whether we get the players we are trying to achieve at the moment. We might get a couple more in and we might not.

"When you strengthen a side it is about doing precisely that.

"Players become available and there is speculation about players people think you want to sign, but the reality is that a lot of these stories are generated by third parties."

A man has been injured after his motorbike collided with a car during rush hour traffic in Leicester's West End.

Police were called to Upperton Road, just after 7pm yesterday.

A motorbike and a car had collided near to the junction of Narborough Road.

The motorcyclist received minor injuries and took himself to Leicester Royal Infirmary.

Highly rated young Leicester City striker Harry Panayiotou has signed a new two-year contract.

The 19-year-old, who made his first team debut on the final day of the 2011-12 season and scored against Leeds United at Elland Road, will be in Steve Beaglehole's Development squad for this season as they take on the biggest clubs in the country in the newly formed elite league of the Under-21 Premier League.

Panayiotou was part of the Development squad that won the Hong Kong International Soccer Sevens in May, 2013, scoring five goals, including one in the final when City beat Newcastle United 2-0, and was named player of the tournament.

Panayiotou joins fellow development squad member Alie Sesay in signing for City until June, 2016.

The defender signed his contract on Friday.

Two long-serving Conservative Leicestershire members of parliament have left their ministerial posts in the latest reshuffle of the Government.

Rutland and Melton MP Alan Duncan has stepped down from his position as minister of state for international development.

South Leicestershire MP Andrew Robathan has left his job as a Northern Ireland minister which he has had since October.

Late last night Mr Duncan took to twitter saying: "Finishing as a Minister this eve by my own choice. Incredible 4 years at @DFID_UK - proud of all we have achieved. On to adventures new!"

Mr Duncan told the Leicester Mercury he was not sure what those adventures new might be.  

He said: "I don't know.  It was just a delphic comment.  I'm going voluntarily and I've never been happier mate, never been happier.

"I've done 17 years on the front bench and I have had four years of very intense travel.  When you are a front bencher you get trapped in your own brief a bit."

Mr Duncan confirmed he would be defending his seat in the general Election in May.

Mr Duncan, who has served as an MP since 1992, was appointed to the international development post in 2010 which has given him a remit covering the Middle East and Asia and relations with the United Nations and the EU.

Mr Robathan was also first elected in 1992 and served in the Coldstream Guards and SAS between 1974 and 1989 and also in the Gulf War in 1991.

In 2010, he became minister for defence personnel, welfare and veterans and took on and armed services role in 2012 before being moved to the Northern Ireland office.

It is anticipated Prime Minister David Cameron will look to appoint more women to top posts today.

Loughborough MP Nicky Morgan has been tipped for another promotion today.

She was last promoted in April in as mini-reshuffle after the resignation of then Culture Secretary Maria Miller.

Mrs Morgan became Financial Secretary to the Treasury minister for women.

The Conservative, who was elected in 2010, had previously served as Economic Secretary to the Treasury since 

A paramedic was assaulted while treating a casualty who was injured in a crash in Catherine Street, Leicester.

The assault happened after a crash involving a silver Mercedes C320 and a black BMW 325 and East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) was called to treat the driver of the Mercedes who received minor injuries.

It happened at about 10.55pm on Thursday, July 10.

Following the incident a 40-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault, being drunk in charge of a vehicle and failing to stop at the scene of a road traffic collision. He has since been released on bail pending further inquiries.

Detective Constable 575 Sukhvinder Obhi said: "Both vehicles were travelling county bound towards Canon Street when the collision occurred, no one was seriously injured in the collision but whilst the paramedic was treating one of the drivers she was assaulted and received significant injuries.

"If you witnessed any part of the incident whether it was the collision itself, the events leading up to it or the subsequent assault on the paramedic then we need to speak to you."

EMAS spokesman Nick Arnold said: "It's a sad reflection on society that some people who we are trying to help at incidents think it's all right to physically assault our staff and this incident is particularly distressing.

"Our paramedic colleague suffered significant injuries requiring hospital treatment. We continue to support her and are working closely with the police to ensure a successful outcome."

Anyone with information call 101, and follow the instructions to leave a message for the officer.

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The ringleader of a gang which kidnapped a young woman has been jailed for five years after police secured his extradition from India.

Kalvinder Singh Uppal (50) had fled overseas after he was linked to the abduction and sexual exploitation of a young woman in the Highfields area of Leicester four years ago.

Police said the victim had been brought from India to the UK on the understanding she would be working as a dancer in the entertainment industry.

But when she arrived in the UK, she was made to offer sexual services to strangers in return for money.

Then, in July 2010, she was kidnapped at knifepoint from her house in the Highfields area.

She escaped from the gang when they dropped her at Birmingham Airport with the intention of taking her back to India.

Seven men were later convicted of involvement in the kidnap, but police always believed Uppal was the key man.

They worked with the Indian authorities and international law enforcement bodies to secure his extradition to the UK late last year.

He appeared at Leicester Crown Court on Friday, when he was jailed for five years. Detective Inspector Tim Lindley, from Leicestershire Police, led the team which brought Uppal back to this country.

He said: "The victim was threatened with sexual violence and threatened with death.

"She is now getting on with her life, but she is still wary when she is in public, four years on."

Det Insp Lindley said of Uppal: "He was undoubtedly the lynchpin and he enjoyed the control he had over his victim. We do not allow people to evade justice, no matter where they run to.

"I would like to thank the Indian authorities for their co-operation, and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Serious Organised Crime Agency/National Crime Agency."

The seven men, who were jailed in separate hearings in 2010 and 2011, received jail sentences of between 18 months and 42 months.

Loughborough MP Nicky Morgan has been promoted to one of the most senior posts in Government - taking over from Michael Gove  as Education Secretary.

Mrs Morgan's promotion has been announced by Prime Minister David Cameron on Twitter.

Mrs Morgan had been Financial Secretary to the Treasury and minister for women since April.

Now, as well as taking over responsibility for the Department of Education, she has had the equalities portfolio added to her brief. 

Mr Gove has been appointed to the role of Commons chief whip.

Mrs Morgan was first elected in 2010 and her rise to the front bench has been rapid but she now faces the challenge of running a major Whitehall department while defending a majority of 3,744 in May's General Election.

Labour has identified Loughborough as a key target seat.

Mrs Morgan's Labour opponent Matthew O'Callaghan said: "What ever she says it is bound to take her away from Loughborough and the day-to-day needs and concerns of her constituents.

"There are lots of pitfalls in education.

"She takes over from one of the most divisive and unpopular secretaries of state ever who has left education in this country and in particular in Loughborough in a shambles. 

"As a result of the policies she has supported, Loughborough University students are being straddled with massive debts for a system that is on the point of costing more to administer than it takes in fees. 

"The Further Education sector is in a funding crisis resulting in Loughborough College having to hand out notices of potential redundancies.

"The privatisation of school education is continuing through the academy system, which is failing.

"Charnwood College, a prominent local school, is in the process of being taken over by an education business. There is a lot to sort out.

"It is quite clear she is now a career politician closely identified  with the Conservative record on welfare which has added to the cost of living crisis.

The Mercury has attempted to contact Mrs Morgan but she has been been unavailable for comment.

In a statement released by The Department of Education she said: " I know that education can be the single greatest transformer of lives. It is also a crucial part of this government's long term plan.

"I look forward immensely to working alongside parents, teachers and schools to ensure we have world class schools and the skills that will get our young people great jobs.

"This government's reforms have already delivered huge benefits to pupils and families in the East Midlands and I hope very much to build on that."

News of Mrs Morgan's promotion follows the announcement two long-serving Conservative Leicestershire members of Parliament have left their ministerial posts in the latest reshuffle of the Government.

Rutland and Melton MP Alan Duncan has stepped down from his position as minister of state for international development.

South Leicestershire MP Andrew Robathan has left his job as a Northern Ireland minister which he has had since October.

Late last night Mr Duncan took to twitter saying: "Finishing as a Minister this eve by my own choice. Incredible 4 years at @DFID_UK - proud of all we have achieved. On to adventures new!"

Mr Duncan told the Leicester Mercury he was not sure what those adventures new might be.

He said: "I don't know. It was just a delphic comment. I'm going voluntarily and I've never been happier mate, never been happier.

"I've done 17 years on the front bench and I have had four years of very intense travel. When you are a front bencher you get trapped in your own brief a bit."

Mr Duncan confirmed he would be defending his seat in the general Election in May.

Mr Duncan, who has served as an MP since 1992, was appointed to the international development post in 2010 which has given him a remit covering the Middle East and Asia and relations with the United Nations and the EU.

Mr Robathan was also first elected in 1992 and served in the Coldstream Guards and SAS between 1974 and 1989 and also in the Gulf War in 1991.

In 2010, he became minister for defence personnel, welfare and veterans and took on and armed services role in 2012 before being moved to the Northern Ireland office.

Mr Robathan was among the first to congratulate Mrs Morgan on her new role but warned she had taken on a "very tough" job. 

He said:  "It will be very hard work but I am a great fan of Nicky Morgan and she will do a very good job.  She is very able." 

On his own departure from the Norther Ireland office he said: "I have had a good run and I have enjoyed myself.  I spoke to the Prime Minister last month and there is a case to bring forward a bit of new blood.  I am perfectly happy.

"It was mutually agreed.  I am certainly not weeping into my coffee this morning."

He said he would now focus on defending his seat in May.

A scooter was completely destroyed in a fire after it was deliberately set alight in Clarendon Park Road, Leicester this morning.

One crew from Central Station was called to tackle the blaze at 4.40am.

If Leicester City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel has this stunning strike in his locker, manager Nigel Pearson might not want to buy a new striker after all.

The Dane showed off his incredible skills during a training session in Austria, as the squad prepares for life in the Premier League.

This is not the first time City fans have seen Schmeichel's eye for goal, of course. He famously 'scored' the injury-time equaliser against Yeovil last season with a bullet header - only for the goal to be officially given to Chris Wood.

Leicester Lions came back from the brink to snatch 45-44 win in the final race of their Elite League fixture against Eastbourne Eagles last night.

The visitors led 39-32 with three races to go but maximum points from Jason Doyle and Krzysztof Buczkowski in heats 13 and 15 turned the meeting around for the Rapid Solicitors Lions in front of the Sky Sports cameras, who were filming a meeting at Leicester for the first time since the club's elevation to the Elite League.

Severe weather conditions in France on Sunday meant that the FIM World Long-track meeting was postponed until Monday, and the deferment robbed Eastbourne of two key riders, their captain Cameron Woodward and Joonas Kylmakorpi.

The visitors were forced to call up Simon Gustafsson as a guest to fill one team place and the use of rider replacement.

Nevertheless, the changes did not detract from a closely-fought contest which ended with a last-heat decider.

Leicester opened with a win for Jason Doyle, who bravely maintained a wide line to pass Bjarne Pedersen along the back straight.

Simon Stead also caught up with the Eastbourne rider on the final two bends of lap one and, by the time the two reached the next turn, it was the Lions rider who held the upper hand.

The visitors were soon back on level terms when Mikkel Michelsen drew clear in heat three and, while Krzysztof Buczkowski managed to pass Gustafsson, he was unable to catch the leader.

Points were dropped on both sides when, first of all, Josh Bates fell when in third place and Daniel Halsey, following closely behind, did well to lay his machine down to avoid a more serious incident.

Heat five ended with just two riders after Buczkowski went wide on the pits bend which caused him to clip the air fence and he was thrown from his bike.

In the re-run, Lewis Blackbird fell in an almost identical position and, at the third attempt to complete the race, Doyle beat Gustafsson.

Eastbourne extended their lead in heat seven and then steadfastly clung on to their advantage.

By the end of heat 12, the Eagles were holding a nine-point lead and seemingly on their way to their first away win of the season.

Leicester hit back to reduce the arrears when Doyle and Buczkowski scored maximum points.

It was a fiercely-fought opening lap that saw the two Leicester riders and Bjarne Pedersen race wheel to wheel into the third bend, and it was the Lions pairing who came out of it ahead of Pedersen.

Nicolai Klindt then posted his second race win of the night in the penultimate heat to ensure that the points were shared, which set up a nail-biting last-heat decider.

Doyle and Buczkowski then brought the house down with their second 5-1 of the night ahead of a strong challenge from Pedersen, whose attempt to gain second place just failed to materialise.

The result secured a 45-44 win for Leicester, and it was another good performance from Stead, who celebrated his selection for Team GB in the forthcoming Speedway World Cup with nine points.

Stead would have added further points to his tally had he not been penalised with a 15-metre handicap in heat seven for failing to reach the start-line in time following problems with his machine.

"Both teams lost points through falls and exclusions and, on balance, I am sure that Eastbourne will have felt they were robbed of a win," said Lions promoter David Hemsley.

"For them to see the end in sight, only for us to pick their pockets in the last race, was heart-breaking, but we had the resolve to keep believing we could do it and we delivered.

"From where I was standing, it looked as though Bjarne Pedersen had caught Jason Doyle on the line and so too did the Eastbourne team, but on the replay I could see that there was something like nearly a bike's length difference.

"It was a wonderful advert for speedway and the feedback we received from the Sky Sports production team afterwards was that they were delighted with the whole show and how we made them feel so welcome on their first visit to the Jordan Road Surfacing Stadium.

"Let's hope that Leicester is the venue for more transmissions this season."

Matt Upson still has what it takes to be a success in the Premier League, believes Leicester City midfielder Dean Hammond.

Hammond played with Upson, who has signed a one-year contract with City this summer, at Brighton and said the England international was still a class act.

Upson, who turned 35 in April, has spent almost his entire career in the Premier League except for the last 18 months when he dropped into the Championship with Brighton.

But Hammond said he knew how determined Upson had been to return to the top flight.

"He is a top-quality player," said Hammond.

"He has had a great career. He has really good experience and is still a very good player.

"I played with him at Brighton and he is a very good centre-half, a footballing centre-half as well.

"He is a clever player and will be a great addition to the squad.

"He will settle in well because he is a good lad and he will be up for the challenge because I know he wants to play Premier League football again.

"He has played the majority of his career in the Premier League and played for England, so players can feed off that experience.

"He is a good communicator as well and he won't shy away from helping the young boys."

Upson has had his injury problems during his career but only missed a couple of games for the Seagulls last season.

Hammond said Upson was the model professional in how he looks after himself.

"He is a strong boy, a fit lad," added Hammond. "He is in great condition.

"He looks after himself on and off the pitch and he has many years left in him."

With Upson and Hammond both previous captains of clubs, City now have a wealth of leaders within the squad and Hammond said they all had a role to play.

"There are a lot of leaders in the squad," he said.

"Wes is the captain and rightly so because he is fantastic, but we all try to chip in with different things.

"Different players bring different things and there is a really good mix within the group."

Jamie Vardy has been offered a new four-year contract by Leicester City and talks over personal terms are said to be positive, the Mercury understands.

City want to secure the 27-year-old to a long-term contract after his outstanding contribution to their Championship title success, which has attracted the attention of a number of other clubs.

Vardy is coming into the final year of his current City contract and he wants to stay with the club.

Negotiations over personal terms have been opened and, although no agreement has been reached yet, both parties are hopeful a deal can be reached soon.

City have already secured a number of their other assets on long-term deals, such as Danny Drinkwater, Matt James and Kasper Schmeichel, and Vardy is equally highly rated at City.

A revised home to school transport policy has been given the green light by Leicestershire County Council's cabinet this morning.

Transport bosses were forced to go back to the drawing board when original proposals sparked almost 2,000 objections from angry parents, head teachers, and school governors earlier this year.

Those proposals would only have provided free transport to an eligible child's nearest school, whether it was in the county or not.

Campaigners argued that this would tear apart catchment areas and historical relationships between primary and secondary schools.

Among the most vocal head teachers was Hugh Howe, from Beauchamp College, in Oadby, who called them "inequitable".

However, in April, the council published revised proposals to provide free transport to a child's nearest Leicestershire with the right age range, or nearest school.

In addition, they said that where no changes had taken place to admission catchments or age ranges since May 2012, existing arrangements would continue to be provided to their catchment school.

If this changes in the future, the council will provide free transport to the child's nearest school, or nearest Leicestershire school.

Councillor Peter Osborne, Leicestershire County Council's cabinet member for highways and transport, said it was a "complex issue" but that the second consultation meant that people had been listened to and changes had been made.

He said: "The revised policy brings clarity for parents so that they can make a choice for their child's education if transport plays a part in that.

"It brings equality to all schools and I think it's the fairest way and will suit parents in the long term."

The council had said its transport policy needed updating as academies were able to alter age ranges and admission catchment areas, meaning pupils were eligible for transport to several schools.

Despite revising its policy, some 398 people responded to the second consultation, the majority of which still opposed the plans.

Comments included a lack of parental choice, with schools chosen based on transport, rather than what was best for the individual.

Others said the impact on the road network and environment had not been considered as more parents were forced to drive their children to school.

The new policy will take effect from September 2015.