Loughborough Town beat the City Cricket Academy by nine wickets to lift the ECB Under-15 National Club Championship County Cup.

Chasing 123 to win at Leicester Banks, Loughborough got home with the best part of two overs to spare and will now meet Warwickshire side Walmley at home in the next round on Sunday. They made a decent start with captain Jamie Goddard (16) and Ash Trusz putting on 23 for the first wicket, Trusz anchoring the innings brilliantly with a patient unbeaten 37, including a six.

But it was a quickfire 51 retired from James O'Kelly which swung the game Loughborough's way, the 14-year-old smacking a six and seven fours before Harvey Clarke (12no) and Trusz saw their team over the line.

Earlier, CCA had posted 122-6, thanks in the main to opener Ben Coddington (34) and wicket-keeper Joel Baker, who hit an unbeaten 41, including a six and five fours.

Hinckley and Burbage Gymnastics Club have been crowned senior regional champions after success at the Club Team Championships.

The competition at New College, Leicester, was open to all East Midlands clubs, but it was Hinckley and Burbage's gymnasts who took the title.

Due to injuries, the club were unable to field a team to defend the junior title they have won the past three years, so the pressure was on the seniors.

Their five-strong team of Amy Stuckey, Leah Perkins, Beth Childs, Molly Carey and Charlotte Law dominated the competition, producing the highest combined score in every event – bars, beam, vault and floor – to finish first on 138.350 points, nearly five clear of second-placed Nottingham.

Head coach Sharon Thomas said: "For regional gymnastics, this is the premier club event of the year.

"It is a great result for everybody. It's not just the gymnasts on the day that make this possible, it's the hard work from all the coaches.

"We hope with great results like this the younger gymnasts at the club will be inspired to continue the success."

Leicestershire showed plenty of fighting qualities before succumbing to an almost inevitable defeat against LV= County Championship leaders Worcestershire by 204 runs at New Road.

The game in many ways mirrored the first encounter between the sides three weeks ago at Grace Road, with little to choose between them on the first two days before Worcester stepped up a gear.

But bottom-placed Leicestershire kept them waiting until just before tea on the final day before being bowled out for 253 in the 76th over.

There were good contributions from Greg Smith, Josh Cobb and Niall O'Brien, plus a cameo from the tail.

The Leicestershire batsmen also coped better with Saeed Ajmal than in the first meeting – when he took six wickets in six overs on the final day – despite his seven wickets in the game.

County coach Ben Smith said: "That was the character and fight we need to see.

"We also showed real signs of belief of how to play a quality bowler (in Ajmal)."

Leicestershire resumed on 56-2 but suffered an early setback when Smith, who had batted well the previous evening, gave his wicket away.

The opener (46) had added only eight more when he pulled fiercely at Morris but only succeeded in finding the hands of Tom Fell on the midwicket boundary.

Cobb had a let-off when he edged Joe Leach, who had replaced Morris, wide of Daryl Mitchell at slip.

But Cobb and Dan Redfern were relatively untroubled for quite some time despite the probings of Ajmal.

The Pakistan star finally picked up his first wicket of the innings – and his 61st of the campaign – as Redfern (29) prodded forward and Tom Kohler-Cadmore seized the chance at second slip. In typical fashion, O'Brien greeted the entry of Jack Shantry into the attack with two boundaries.

The 50 partnership with Cobb came up in only 11 overs with O'Brien scoring 37 of them.

Leicestershire could be satisfied with losing only two wickets during the morning session as they reached 165-4 by lunch.

But four wickets in eight overs after the interval hurried the visitors towards defeat.

It was seamer Leach who broke the back of the innings with the wickets of Cobb and Jigar Naik to add to his dismissal of Ned Eckersley the previous evening.

Cobb's defiant innings of 30 was ended when he was deceived by a slower ball and gave Leach a return catch.

Then in his next over Taylor (7) nibbled at a ball outside the off-stump and nicked to Mitchell at slip.

The door was firmly open for Ajmal to bamboozle the lower order with Naik (2) caught and bowled and James Sykes (5) bowled in successive overs.

O'Brien's fine knock ended on 57 when he top-edged a pull at Morris and fell to a fine catch from Kohler-Cadmore.

There was last-wicket defiance from Nathan Buck and Charlie Shreck, who both hoisted Ajmal for six over midwicket and long on respectively.

It was the other spinner, Shaaiq Choudhry, who ended proceedings when Shreck (18) drove him straight to Leach, who took a low catch at long off to leave Buck unbeaten on 29.

Leicester Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill says that lock Ed Slater is in the "box seat" to be named club captain.

Slater took over the on-field duties in the second half of last season when fly-half Toby Flood lost his place in the side to Owen Williams.

The 25-year-old also captained England to victory on his international debut against Canterbury Crusaders in New Zealand last month.

With Flood now at Toulouse, the honour of the club captaincy is up for grabs, and Cockerill said Slater stands a very good chance of being handed the role on a permanent basis.

"Obviously, Ed Slater is in the box seat for that," said Cockerill. "He has just become a father, so he has got other things on his hands at the moment.

"I will sit with the core of the leadership group and have that discussion.

"We will see. At this point, if I was a betting man, which I'm not, Ed may well get that. But we will see where he is at and where some of the other candidates are as well."

Slater, though, is now firmly on England head coach Stuart Lancaster's radar and could well miss large parts of the season if selected to play for his country.

Cockerill said that would have no bearing on the decision.

"All our leaders potentially will be away for fair chunks of the season," said Cockerill.

"Ideally, you would want a captain who is here all year round. But the one thing about the captaincy is you've got to be in the side, and if you are not a Test player, the chances are you are probably not good enough to get in the side."

One key player Tigers will go into the season without is prop Dan Cole, who is still recovering following surgery on a compressed disc in his neck which kept him out of the final three months of last season.

Cockerill said the club had no specific timescale for his return and insisted he would take no risks in trying to get him back early.

"He is coming along well. It is just a waiting game. There is no specific target for Dan. We are hoping October, November time, but if that ends up being December or January then that's fine," Cockerill said.

"It is just about getting him right, especially in such an important part of his body there will be no risks taken there."

New Leicester Tigers hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini could not face much stiffer competition for a starting shirt this season.

The Italy international will have to battle it out with one of the best in the world in the form of British & Irish Lion Tom Youngs.

But the 29-year-old Ghiraldini, who is one of four players to have joined Tigers from Italian side Treviso this summer, said he is relishing the prospect.

"Every big club has a lot of good players. If you want to be a part of a great club, you have to challenge against big players," said Ghiraldini.

"That is why we are a big club. If you join a big club, you know that you have to work harder than at another club. But I love it. I really love to work hard."

Ghiraldini is vastly experienced, with 67 Test caps to his name, as well as numerous Heineken Cup campaigns, but he still believes he has the capacity to improve.

"Every player has to have the attitude to improve every day," he said. "Every morning when I come here, I want to improve myself in every single part of the game.

"I am quite experienced but you have to show every time that you are a good player.

"I want to be a better player so I love the challenge that there is here."

Ghiraldini is no stranger to Welford Road, with Treviso having played there during the pool stages of the last two Heineken Cups.

In fact, it was those games that made him realise what it means to play for Tigers.

"When I played against Tigers, every time I saw their passion and work, they always put in 100 per cent on the field.

"That is what I like. I am really proud to be here," he said.

After speaking to director of rugby Richard Cockerill, Ghiraldini was also given the seal of approval from former Tigers Martin Castrogiovanni and Alex Moreno.

"They spoke to me about Leicester, how the rugby here is for the people, too, for the supporters," he said.

"I saw over the past few years, the incredible crowd there is in Leicester. I am really excited to be a part of this team.

"I have been here about 10 days and we have had 10 days of sun. All the guys say to me the rain is coming soon but it is not a problem – I signed up for the rugby, not the weather."

Ghiraldini is joined by former Treviso team-mates prop Michele Rizzo and back-rower Robert Barbieri, both fellow Italy internationals, as well as utility back Christian Loamanu.

"It is good for the Italian national team to have some players at a good club like Leicester. It means we have done something," he said.

"It's nice to have some people from your country here, too, and I hope we can also help this big team to reach their important goals."

Leicester Tigers forward Louis Deacon believes this season's squad is the strongest he has ever known.

The 33-year-old lock is heading into his 15th season in the Tigers first team and has been a part of seven Aviva Premiership triumphs as well as lifting two Heineken Cups.

Deacon has played in sides boasting the likes of Martin Johnson, Neil Back and Austin Healey but he believes the current crop, combined with the club's new additions, is stronger than ever.

Director of rugby Richard Cockerill has added a wealth of international experience to his ranks, as Tigers look to bounce back from the disappointment of last season's campaign with no silverware.

Hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini, prop Michele Rizzo and back-rower Robert Barbieri have almost 120 Italy caps between them while Freddie Burns (England), Christian Loamanu (Japan), Seremaia Bai (Fiji) and Aniseko Sio (Samoa) all boast Test experience.

"It's something we probably say every year, that it's the best squad we've ever had, but this year I think it is," said Deacon.

"We have got numerous players in each position, we have made some very good signings – internationals, big physical players.

"Hopefully, that will enable us to kick on to the next level, providing we don't have the problems we had last year with injuries. Those extra guys will enable us to push on all fronts."

Ghiraldini, Rizzo, Barbieri and Loamanu all joined this summer from Italian outfit Treviso, a side Tigers know well having played them in the pool stages of the last two Heineken Cups.

"Treviso were seen as the minnows of the competition over the previous years but every time we played them, they were outstanding," said Deacon.

"They made it very tough for us. It was those guys who stood out. They will push the guys we have already got here and provide not just back-up, but also an alternative.

"We can probably rotate a little bit more."

Deacon has committed his future to Tigers after signing an 18-month contract, which will take him to halfway through the World Cup year in 2015. He will decide then if he wants to extend it for the remaining six months.

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The family of a "brilliant and fun-loving" cafe owner who was killed in a crash at the weekend have spoken of their devastation at his loss.

Gareth Carnall, who owned Fingerprints Delicafe, in Queen's Road, Clarendon Park, Leicester, died in a collision on Saturday night, as he drove home from work.

His parents, Carole and Dick Carnall, of Earl Shilton, said that since their son's death, they had been overwhelmed with messages of support from the 33-year-old's many friends, and customers at his popular cafe.

"He was fun-loving and full of life," said Dick, 61. "He had no regrets in life and loved everything he did. He loved being with people, he was a people person.

"It's unbelievable the effect this has had on everyone. I hope he knew how popular he was.

"We couldn't be more proud of him and what he's achieved."

Gareth, a qualified chef and a keen rock-climber, had owned Fingerprints Delicafe for four years, after working there for six years as an employee.

He was born in Earl Shilton, where he lived throughout his life.

Gareth was a pupil at Heathfield High School before moving on to Earl Shilton Community College.

When he was 19, Gareth spent three seasons abroad, working as a chef with Thomson Holidays.

Dick said: "The business was his life. He welcomed everyone, his door was always open. He was a huge part of the community.

Dick said the family wanted to thank everyone who had given their support.

The final details of Gareth's funeral are yet to be made. However, Dick said the cortege would pass through Clarendon Park, and past their son's cafe.

"One thing's for sure – we will be taking Gareth down Queen's Road for one last time," he said.

Gareth's company also provides outside catering, and he was driving home from such a commission at 11pm on Saturday when his van was involved in a collision with a car, in Leicester Road, Earl Shilton.

He was pronounced dead at the scene. His parents learned of the tragedy the following morning.

"We got on a knock on the door and it was two policemen," said Dick. "You know it's bad news when they won't talk to you until you're both sitting down. You never imagine burying your own child.

"You find it very difficult to understand why this has happened. If it had been just a minute earlier or later, he wouldn't have been in that position. Why was he there at that particular moment?"

Carole, 61, said: "It was just horrifying. We were devastated. He was such a brilliant son."

Gareth's sister, Jess Jones, 35, of Burbage, said: "Gareth and I were so close. Our whole family is very close.

"Everything was going so good for him and now it's all been taken away."

Gareth's best friend, James "Fat Boy" Blighton, said his pal was more like a brother to him.

"I feel empty inside, like I've lost a limb," said James, 30, of Hinckley. "I just want my best friend back."

James had known Gareth for the past 12 years, and it was thanks to the cafe owner that he met his wife, Laura.

"I could rely on him for everything," said James. "He was a big part of my family."

The crash happened moments after Gareth had dropped off cafe staff member Maisy Anderson.

She said: "I was the last person Gareth saw and although I wish it could have been his family, I feel privileged.

"We're like a little Fingerprints family at the cafe and it's never going to be the same without him.

"He put his whole heart into the business, it was his life.

"He was more like a big brother to me. He was just amazing."

Gareth's family and friends are planning to buy a memorial bench to put outside Fingerprints.

Maisy, 17, said: "The bench will be facing into the cafe, so it will be like he's watching us. We've had more than £100 donated and somebody has offered to supply a plaque."

Anybody who would like to make a donation is asked to take it into the cafe during opening hours. Money left over will be donated to Leicester's Loros hospice, a charity close to Gareth's heart.

Fingerprints will re-open tomorrow. Family and friends will carry on the business.

Leicestershire Police said investigations into the crash are ongoing. No arrests have been made.

Shaun Huggins was a comfortable winner at Dynamite Makins.

The Dynamite Baits angler won the Thursday open at Wolvey with a haul of 98lb 04oz from unfancied snake peg 23.

He caught throughout the match on meat presented in the margins on short pole, finishing ahead of Rob Matthers, 78-02, and Baz Smithson, 73-02.

The Wednesday open was won by Charlie Shaw who put an impressive 111-02 on the scales.

He caught the bulk of his fish in the latter stages from the margins on maggot bait over groundbait, and had mainly large carp.

Geoff Ringer was runner-up on 69-04, with Alan Marshall third on 43-00.

Ratby's visit to Meadowlands Fishery, near Coventry, saw a win for Dominic Lanni with 54-07 of carp into double figures.

Second was Bill Rutherford, 48-08, with Sam Collett third, 46-07

Mick Hutchings was top rod when Age UK fished a match at Peatling Lakes for the Frisby Trophy.

He weighed in with 83-12 to finish ahead of Stuart Hurst, 67-00, and Paul Danson, 56-12.

Wreake's match on the canal at Great Glen was won by Martin Lane who bagged a haul of 16-08.

Second was Derek Reeney 9-08, with Bobby Grycuk third on 9-06, Neil Halliwell fourth on 6-12 and Billy Whitehill fifth on 6-06.

Steve Kinch won the second semi-final qualifier at Shearsby Valley Lakes.

Fishing on the willow lake, he returned 126-12 to see off a close challenge from Shaun Huggins, 122-14.

Both were fishing on maggot, while Wayne O'Beirne finished in fifth spot on 55-10 to book his place in the last four.

Eben Kurtz blasted his way into the Countesthorpe record books with a spectacular seasonal debut.

The 18-year-old hit 189 in the home Everards League clash against Ashby Hastings, the highest score for the Bassett Avenue club.

The left-handed opener reached his century off 115 balls with 13 fours in the Talent Cricket Division One game – and then cut loose.

Kurtz hammered 89 runs, including seven sixes and seven fours, off his next 26 balls before being caught on the boundary.

Countesthorpe declared on 331-3 after 44 of their 45 overs and Ashby Hastings replied with 250-7 in the drawn match.

Kurtz said: "I didn't feel that good for the first 100 but, once I got there and with wickets in hand, I started to hit it around."

He has come through Countesthorpe's junior ranks and, in the first half of the season, has been playing for Loughborough Grammar School where he had an outstanding record.

In 10 innings, he scored four centuries and two half-centuries, ratting up 848 runs at an average of 106. This is a record average for the school's first team.

Kurtz scored 146 not out against the MCC, winning the match with two successive sixes.

He said: "After I finished my exams, I've been able to concentrate on cricket and I've had a lot of matches in a short space of time.

"Once I've got into form, I've capitalised on it."

Kurtz is on the Leicestershire Academy and made one appearance for the Seconds in a four-day friendly against Derbyshire last season.

He is now hoping to go university – possibly Durham, which would give him the opportunity to challenge for a spot in their MCC University squad who play first-class matches against county sides.

Leicestershire Foxes may be out of the running for a place in the quarter-finals of the NatWest T20 Blast, but tonight's game with Durham Jets at Grace Road (5.30) is still very much a live rubber.

Durham arrive at Grace Road needing a win to maintain their own hopes of qualifying for the last eight from the tough North Group.

Despite losing five of their first 11 games, the Jets can still scrape through if they win their final three group matches.

However, the Foxes will be desperate to complete a double over their rivals having won by four wickets at Chester-le-Street a month ago when Tom Wells guided them home.

A win is doubly important to Leicestershire, too, as it will round off their home campaign on a positive note after a string of disappointments.

They carried on from a good 2013 T20 showing on home turf by opening the Blast season with a convincing win over Derbyshire Falcons.

Since then, though, they have suffered four defeats, the latest last Friday's 18-run reverse against Lancashire Lightning.

That was a game that was very much there for the taking as the Foxes needed 43 from the final five overs, with skipper Josh Cobb and overseas player Scott Styris together at the crease.

Not for the first time, though, the Foxes could not get across the line when a win would have maintained their hopes of progressing to the knock-out phase.

The pitch for the Lancashire game was a good one and the visitors' score of 151-7 was below par thanks to some good bowling performances backed solidly in the field.

That is something the Foxes have improved on greatly since a sloppy performance in the field against Yorkshire at Headingley.

It is too late for this season's 20-over competition but, with a second dose of white-ball cricket, the RL50, beginning in 10 days time, it would be no bad thing for the Foxes to get their limited-overs cricket in good shape.

Leicestershire seamer Charlie Shreck has received a reprimand from the ECB after being forced out of the Foxes attack against Derbyshire Falcons at Chesterfield on July 6.

Shreck bowled a second full toss above waist height during the T20 game, and was automatically removed from the action.

Ant Ireland completed the over, taking three Falcons' wickets in four balls.

Dan Greaves already has Paralympic, world and European titles to his name, and now he feels "destined" to add Commonwealth gold to his impressive medal collection.

The 31-year-old was born during the Brisbane Games in 1982 and the Commonwealth title is the only major honour Greaves is yet to secure.

But 'Discus Dan' heads to Glasgow in the form of his life, having set a new British F44 discus record with a personal best of 60.12m at the Charnwood AC open meet in Loughborough.

His throw not only saw him break the 60m barrier for the first time in competition, but was also the furthest ever thrown by a European in his category.

Greaves thought he had broken the British record at the British Athletics Championships in May but his throw of 59.90m was ruled out by officials.

With a largely British crowd cheering him on in Glasgow, Greaves said it is a fantastic opportunity to complete his major medal haul.

"I'm getting into the right shape at the right time," said Greaves, who has a condition called talapeze feet.

"Training has been going really well and my distances have been around 61-62 metres consistently.

"I've been a lot sharper the past couple of days. I've got another week-and-a-bit to get a little bit sharper and a little bit fresher and, hopefully, another 60m throw will be in the bag."

Greaves is the huge favourite for the gold medal at the Commonwealths – which start on Wednesday – having won Paralympic silver in London.

"It's a fantastic opportunity for me because not every Paralympic event is in the Commonwealth Games," said Greaves.

"It is something that I've always felt destined to do.

"I was born when the Commonwealth Games was on in Brisbane in 1982 so it has come full circle.

"I am such a proud Englishman to be pulling on the England vest for once, rather than the Great Britain one.

"It will be tough but, once you believe in yourself and the things you have been doing, it should make a good competition and I am really looking forward to it."

Greaves heads to South Wales a month later for the PC Athletics European Championships in Swansea.

Once again, he will go there as the one to beat, with three European titles already to his name as well as being the number-one ranked thrower in Europe.

Sainsbury's is proud to support British Athletics through its involvement in the Summer Series and beyond. For more information and to purchase tickets visit:

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Spin bowling seems to be the topic on everyone's lips at the moment surrounding the England cricket team.

Firstly, it is impossible to replace Graeme Swann.

Swanny was, for a number a years, a world-class spin bowler, something England did not have for a very long time, probably since Derek Underwood.

We all knew it would take time to replace Graeme and it may take longer than expected.

Moeen Ali is a fine cricketer and batted superbly well for his hundred against Sri Lanka at Leeds, and I think he will be a top batsman for England moving forward.

But he is not a front-line spin bowler and therefore should not be judged as one.

England selected him as a batsman who was a handy spinner, and they wanted green seaming wickets which they did not get, so he should not be blamed for any losses.

I don't see any real options in the spin department for England. Monty Panesar had a difficult time off the field over the last 18 months or so.

Simon Kerrigan gets lots of wickets for Lancashire and, at county level, he is a very good bowler, but it is a huge step up to international cricket, as he found out against the Aussies at the Oval.

So where does that leave England? A batsman who is good enough to score a hundred and bowl some useful part-time offies, a troubled left-armer in Monty or give Kerrigan another crack of the whip?

At Leicester, we have three spinners and all are of different varieties.

Jigar Naik is the senior bowler and one I enjoyed keeping wicket to enormously last season until he had a bad injury.

But he has not been at his best this year and he is striving hard to find the kind of form that had him on the England selectors' radar.

His bowling in the T20 has been good and he will have a big role to play in the 50-over competition that is approaching and the remaining five Championship games.

James Sykes is our left-armer who has been prolific in the second team this season.

He has all the enthusiasm of a new pro, which is great, and he certainly has advantages with his height and self-belief is not a problem whatsoever.

He should be pushing Jigar close in all formats of the game, which in turn will create a positive competition for places.

Young Rob Sayer is someone who has been very impressive in the short time I seen him bowl. I was very impressed with his performances during the winter for England Under-19s at the World Cup.

He is tall, strong and gets nice turn and bounce on the ball, and seems to know what the game-situation needs.

He is also a strong hitter of the ball with a good technique, so should progress into a good spin-bowling all-rounder.

I would expect Rob to be pushing hard for a place in the first team, especially in white-ball cricket.

We have our last home T20 game against Durham tonight and, hopefully, we will have another strong crowd.

The fans have been great this year and cheered us on through thick and thin, and for that I am grateful.

Our performances have been mixed to say the least, so against Durham we need to sign off with a win.

Niall O'Brien's column is sponsored by Clifton Packaging.

Football fans are being encouraged to support a charity clash between the Leicester Legends and their old foes, Forest.

Gerry Taggart will lead a team of former Leicester City players, including Phil Gilchrist, Matt Piper and Carl Muggleton, against old rivals Des Walker, Steve Chettle and ex-Ajax winger Bryan Roy.

The first leg will take place at Basford United Football Club, in Nottingham, on July 27 and the return match is being played at Quorn United.

Both games will raise money for the charities Wishes 4 Kids, Wish Upon a Star and Loros.

Leicester Legends manager Tom Naughton said: "We're expecting a hard game against Forest – they're the old enemy – so we want as many Leicester fans as possible to come to both legs.

"It's for a good cause, and it would be great to raise as much money as possible for all the charities.

"Forest are flying in Bryan Roy all the way from Holland, so they definitely mean business.

"But we've got a few decent lads ourselves, so it'll be close."

The second leg at Quorn will be played on August 10.

Russell Brickett, chairman of the Wishes 4 Kids charity, said: "It's just incredible we have such fantastic support from the Legends.

"Muzzy Izzet is our patron and always does what he can to help."

The game at Old Basford kicks off at 2pm with tickets priced at £5 for adults and £2 concessions.

A celebration of the life of former South African president Nelson Mandela will be held on the Leicester park that bears his name.

The event will take place on Saturday, August 2, at Nelson Mandela Park in Welford Road, before this year's Caribbean Carnival.

This year, the carnival's theme will centre on the life of South Africa's first black president, who led the country out of apartheid.

The park was dedicated to Mr Mandela in 1980, while he was still locked up by the country's then white minority government.

Mr Mandela died in December after a long illness.

Today would have been his 96th birthday.

Steve White is arranging the event in honour of the statesman, who was also known by his tribal name Madiba.

Mr White said: "He was the greatest man ever and at a time when people were calling him an outright terrorist, people in Leicester had the foresight to recognise his qualities and name this park after him.

"It is right this should be the place where we remember him."

Mr White said the event would involve table tennis sessions from about 10am before people would be invited to take part in a Leicester freedom march to nearby Victoria Park, where the Caribbean Carnival will take place.

He said: "Madiba recognised the power of sport to unite people and that's why we are doing the table tennis.

"We want to do it again next year when the Rugby World Cup will be coming to the city, because of his association with competition.

"We are inviting as many people as possible who attended the re-dedication back for this. We'd like to get city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby back and Billy Bragg and boxer Chris Pyatt.

"It would be nice to get 100 people down there, or 500 or 1,000.

"People will be heading to the Caribbean Carnival anyway so it would be great if they came out a little bit earlier to support us."

Carnival chairman Sugar Christopher said: "It's our way of paying tribute to a great world leader.

"We are hoping to have a great carnival this year with the parade through the city and the celebration at Victoria Park."

For the first time in its 28-year history there will be a charge for people attending the Victoria Park part of the carnival.

It will be £3 for anyone between 12 and 60.

Organisers took the decision to charge because of cuts to council grants for the event.

Cases dealt with at Leicester Magistrates' Court include:

Daniel Price (21), of St Peter's Road, Highfields, pleaded guilty to activating an emergency system without reasonable cause while on the railway at Leicester on June 4 and was given a six-month conditional discharge. He was ordered to pay £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge. Price also admitted to entering on to the railway on the same date unfit because of intoxication and was conditionally discharged for 12 months.

Imran Yousuf Adam (25), of Stoughton Road, Oadby, pleaded guilty to exceeding the 70mph limit on the M1, Cosby, on April 8. He was fined £37 with £60 costs, a £20 victim surcharge and his licence endorsed with three points.

Yasin Elias (24), of Goodwood Road, Evington, pleaded guilty to using a vehicle without a valid test certificate at Maidenwell Avenue, Leicester on December 13. He was fined £85 with £60 costs plus a £20 victim surcharge.

Ionut Irinel Patrunjil (25), of Collingham Road, Rowley Fields, pleaded guilty to using a car without no valid test certificate on Narborough Road, Leicester on December 11 and was fined £100 with £60 costs plus a £20 victim surcharge. No penalty was imposed for failing to display a vehicle or trade licence on the same date.

Mark Eliffe (41), of Christ Church Mews, Coalville, pleaded guilty to exceeding the 40mph speed limit at the A512 New Ashby Road, Loughborough on January 6. He was fined £37 with £85 costs, plus a £20 victim surcharge and three penalty points were put on his driving licence.

Brendan Elliott (30), of Lansdowne Grove, Wigston, was proven guilty in absence of failing to provide information about the identity of a driver alleged to have committed an offence on March 31. He was fined £600 with £85 costs, a £60 victim surcharge and his driving licence was endorsed with six penalty points.

Leicester Lions grabbed a well-deserved consolation bonus point on their tough trip to King's Lynn Stars.

The Stars are top of the Elite League table and Wednesday's meeting was, on paper, a home banker as no team has won at the Norfolk Arena this season.

That again proved to be the case as King's Lynn won 48-42, but the Rapid Solicitors Lions certainly challenged the home side's dominance.

Retirements for two of the Stars riders when in scoring positions helped the Lions during the early races, when Nicklas Porsing and Kenneth Bjerre retired from their opening heats.

Leicester nosed ahead in heat four in what was the most exciting race of the meeting, involving Simon Lambert who was guesting in place of the injured Josh Bates.

Simon Stead forged ahead and Lambert passed Lewis Kerr, but he was not able to hold his position as his namesake, King's Lynn's Robert Lambert, caught the Lions rider at the beginning of the final lap only for Stead to regain second place on the last bend.

The Stars posted maximum points in the next race only for Leicester to retaliate through a win for Jason Doyle, who came out on top after a terrific contest with Rory Schlein.

With Krzysztof Buczkowski securing third place, the Lions drew level.

The next three races ended with the points shared, only for Leicester to concede heat 10 when Mads Korneliussen had a puncture when occupying third place behind Buczkowski.

That gave the Stars an unexpected 4-2 and they were ahead 31-29 as the two teams went into the interval.

King's Lynn came out after the break and added another four points to their total through Bjerre who collected his first win of the night and whilst Nicolai Klindt held on to second place, Doyle was unable to get the better of Schlein.

Now trailing by six points, the Lions pairing of Stead and Lambert stunned the home crowd by scoring maximum points which pulled Leicester level again with four races remaining.

Heat 13 was to prove pivotal as the Stars added another five points to their total.

Klindt won his second race of the night in the penultimate heat to keep alive Leicester's hopes of snatching a draw, but Stead and Klindt would have to finish ahead of the home pairing in the final-heat decider.

It was a tall order as the Stars had nominated their Grand Prix riders, Niels-Kristian Iversen and Kenneth Bjerre, who gathered four points to secure a win for their team.

But Stead held on to second place and earned the Lions a consolation bonus match point.

"To hold the best team in the league right through to the final heat was a marvellous achievement," said Lions team manager Norrie Allan.

"We grafted for every point and, on balance, it was the right result."

King's Lynn 48: Niels-Kristian Iversen 15, Nicklas Porsing 3+1, Rory Schlein 5, Robert Lambert 6, Kenneth Bjerre 8+2, Lewis Kerr 7+1 and Lewis Rose 4+1.

Leicester 42: Jason Doyle 5, Simon Stead 11+1, Mads Korneliussen 5+1, Nicolai Klindt 8, Krzysztof Buczkowski 5, Max Clegg 1+1 and Simon Lambert 7+2.

One of Leicester's most visible and controversial landmarks is undergoing a sophisticated makeover.

The city's imposing "Blue Tower" can be seen for miles around, and is the first thing rail visitors see on their arrival.

Its current electric blue colour scheme, dotted with garish bright yellow and red window panels, saw it nicknamed the "Connect 4 building" by critics, after the children's puzzle game.

But, as reported in the Mercury last month, the 22-storey tower's new owner, Infrastructure Investments, vowed to smarten up its image by painting it a darker shade of blue after buying it in a £6.5million deal from the Irish Government.

The changes are now under way, and nearby traders, residents and passers-by have had a glimpse of what the tower will eventually look like. One side has been painted a more sober, darker shade of blue, and the window panels repainted grey.

Zuber Omari, owner of Bling Phones and Accessories, in Granby Street, said: "I do think it looks a bit smarter but I actually like the electric blue.

"It looks like the new paint is probably of a much higher quality. I'd have been happy if they'd repainted it the same colour but done a better job."

Surinder Singh, 30, who lives in the city centre, said: "I didn't realise to be honest. I think if you live here you don't notice the building as much as people visiting the city. I suppose it looks a bit better."

Himmat Jogia, owner of Universal Time, in Granby Street, said: "The darker blue is a big improvement but it looks like it needs an extra coat.

"This is the main gateway into the city from the station and London Road so it should be attractive, clean and smart.

"People coming to Leicester should have a good impression of the city when they arrive."

The new paint job, together with repair work to the exterior concrete, will cost more than £100,000. It is expected to be completed by September.

James Boyle, of Infrastructure Investments, said: "Work is progressing well and people will notice one side of the building is now a darker blue. It's only the first coat, however, and that's why it may look a bit of a purple blue at the moment.

"When the second coat goes on it will be a much darker blue."

The tower, which has sported electric blue for the past seven years, is home to a 135-room Premier Inn hotel, which is looking to expand.

Teaching company Study Group recently signed a 25-year lease to occupy a large part of the 269ft building for teaching space and accommodation for overseas students.

The complex also contains a shisha cafe and 24 flats.

Mr Boyle hopes the dark blue overhaul will look more professional and will make the site more attractive to further organisations and investors.

"The feedback from businesses since we revealed our plans and an artist's impression has been quite positive overall," he said.

The building was last painted in 2007 when it was owned by Magnet Property Investments. The tower was repossessed by the Anglo Irish Bank in 2009, before it was taken over by the Irish government after suffering financial problems.

Leicester Tigers lock Louis Deacon insists he has no desire to take a back seat despite going into an incredible 15th season at the age of 33.

Deacon is far and away the most experienced player in the Tigers squad with 274 first-team appearances to his name.

He made his senior debut for Tigers in August 2000, aged 19, while director of rugby Richard Cockerill was still playing for the club.

There is fierce competition in the Tigers second row this season.

Deacon will be fighting it out with British & Irish Lion Geoff Parling, likely club captain Ed Slater, Graham Kitchener and South African Sebastian de Chaves for a place in the side.

Even though his last few years have been marred by injury, Deacon said he has no plans to take it easy.

"I don't think it's in my nature to sit back, I want to play every week and I will be pushing the younger guys," he said. "But I do also understand that, at my age, I probably won't play every week.

"When I don't get picked I will be frustrated. I think it would be wrong just to sit back and let things happen. That's not in my nature, I'll expect to play.

"This season, all of us will be fit as well so it will be good competition for places."

Deacon has committed his future to Tigers after signing an 18-month contract which will take him to halfway through the World Cup year in 2015, with the option of extending it for the remaining six months after that.

When he does call time on his playing days, Deacon is eyeing up a role on the other side of the white line. His brother Brett is already involved in coaching at Tigers' academy after being forced to retire with injury.

But Deacon insists he still has much more to give on the pitch before then.

"Hopefully, I have got two more years left playing but coaching is something I want to look at," he said.

"I've been at the club such a long time, I would like to think that I could stay at the club in some sort of role. All I have ever known is rugby and I would like to stay involved.

"When you don't enjoy it anymore, that's when you call it a day. I enjoy it too much to stop.

"Training is difficult but, come match-day, that's where I feel at my best and as young as I was when I was 21. There's no need to stop yet."

Keith Vaz has hit out at sports stars such as Maria Sharapova for encouraging children to eat sugary sweets.

The Leicester East MP is concerned high-profile athletes such as the 27-year-old Russian tennis player, who has her own brand of confectionery, known as Sugarpova, are promoting unhealthy eating.

Mr Vaz has tabled an early day motion (EDM) questioning whether famous and admired sportsmen and women should promote sweets.

An EDM is a means for MPs to raise awareness of an issue in the Commons. Other MPs can show their support by signing it.

So far, 14 colleagues have supported it.

Mr Vaz's own critics have labelled the move a lightweight publicity stunt, but the MP says the message he is getting across is deadly serious.

He said: "Sugar is a killer. It contributes to diabetes, which is a huge health issue.

"It is wrong of the leading stars to be encouraging young people to be eating sweets.

"Maria Sharapova is a great tennis player and I am sure she has prompted many young people to take up sports, but she should be encouraging healthy eating."

The MP, who has type two diabetes and is founder of diabetes charity Silver Star, said: "This is a gentle reminder to sportsmen and women that their products do not help in our fight against diabetes.

"They could promote water, or oranges or melons or mangos.

"I beg them to change."

Mr Vaz's EDM encourages Parliament to "recognise the importance of encouraging people to exercise regularly and to have a healthy, balanced diet to avoid health conditions such as diabetes and obesity".

It also calls on the Government "to take action to help people to lead healthier lives".

Conservative city councillor Ross Grant said he believed it was "an example of Keith Vaz attempting to publicise himself".

He said: "I didn't hear him objecting when Leicester City had Walkers sponsoring their stadium, and that is a fat-based product.

"It is an important issue and it deserves more than Keith Vaz coming up with a stunt to get his name in the papers again."

Kishan Devani, who is standing for the Tories against Mr Vaz in next year's General Election, said: "The notion is a noble one but where does it end. Do we start banning fast food outlets?"

The Leicester Mercury was unable to contact Maria Sharapova yesterday.