A schoolboy was last night in hospital with serious injuries after being hit by a car.

The teenager, who is believed to be a pupil at Wreake Valley College, was involved in the incident at about 8.45am yesterday in Melton Road, Syston.

Sam Popple, who helps run the Males hair salon, in Melton Road, said that as she arrived at work, she heard the injured teenager scream.

Sam, 25, said: "Just as I pulled up in my car I heard the most terrifying scream.

"It was so high-pitched I thought it was a girl, but when I rushed over to where the noise came from I could see it was a young lad.

"He was lying next to the kerb outside Bargain Booze."

Sam said she and Sam Sanker, who works in the Sally Ann hair salon, in Melton Road, started to direct the traffic.

Sam Popple said: "The lad was being well looked after, so I got Sam to help me get the traffic moving sensibly.

"It was total mayhem with people trying to drive past the scene of the incident."

Sam Sanker, 41, a stylist, said: "I rushed out after I heard a lot of shouting.

"I saw the boy on the floor and he looked badly hurt. Sam was brilliant. She got me to help her get the traffic moving so the ambulance and police could get to where the lad was."

A police spokeswoman said the teenager was taken to the Queen's Medical Centre, in Nottingham, with "serous injuries".

A sacked former police inspector strangled and stabbed his wife and six-year-old daughter before plunging a knife six times into his chest.

Toby Day, 37, punched his wife Samantha, 38, in the face before strangling her and stabbing her four times in the chest with a large kitchen knife.

He then strangled and stabbed their six-year-old daughter, Genevieve, before turning the knife on himself at the family's semi-detached home in Robin Crescent, Melton, on December 8 last year.

The tragedy happened a week after he was sacked by Leicestershire Police for gross misconduct.

An inquest in Loughborough yesterday recorded verdicts that the mother and daughter were unlawfully killed and that he had killed himself.

Mr Day's two elder children, Kimberley, 16, and 14-year-old Adam – who also suffered serious stab wounds in the attack by their father – listened to the evidence.

The inquest heard the alarm had first been raised by Kimberly, who, suffering from stab wounds to her neck, ran to nearby Swallowdale Primary School just after 4.20pm to raise the alarm.

Detective Inspector Mathew Healey, of the major crime unit of the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, said armed officers were then sent to the house in the belief that a potential siege may be under way.

He said police had reason to suspect that Toby Day might be emotionally or mentally disturbed and might have been armed with a knife.

Mrs Day's sister had told police there were three family members inside the home and attempts were made by officers to negotiate with those inside.

Armed officers forced entry into the property at 5.22pm after seeing movement at a downstairs window.

Adam, then 13, was found in a downstairs living room with a serious stab wound in his chest.

Toby, Samantha and Genevieve were found in a bedroom, the mother and daughter with serious injuries on the bed, and Toby lying on the floor holding a large kitchen knife.

The three children were taken to Nottingham's Queen's Medical Centre where Genevieve was pronounced dead at 6.35pm. Toby and Samantha died at the scene.

A second knife, recovered from a dishwasher, had Samantha's blood on it.

Det Insp Healey said Mr Day had been sacked by Leicestershire Police a week earlier.

He said that on the day of the tragedy, Mr Day had received a call from an unnamed Leicestershire Police Chief Superintendent at 2.21pm telling him the press had contacted them about his dismissal.

Det Insp Healey said: "At 3.59pm, the Chief Superintendent had a missed call from Toby. He called him back at 4.07pm to tell him the press had his name, but Leicestershire Police hadn't confirmed it. After a long pause he said 'thank you' and ended the call.

"He sent a text to his mother telling her the papers were going to run a story on his sacking."

He added that, at 4.15pm, a witness reported female screams coming from the house.

Home Office Pathologist Professor Guy Rutty said Samantha had died from strangulation and stab wounds.

He said: "She had other injuries, including to her left eye, suggestive of a punch.

"The stabbing occurred in close proximity to death, either when she was unconscious and dying or already dead."

He said Genevieve died from stab wounds, with strangulation by ligature a contributory factor. Toby Day had six self-inflicted stab wounds.

Coroner Trevor Kirkman said: "No one here or in the wider community could fail to have been touched by these tragic incidents. I offer my sincere condolences to the surviving children at the enormous loss you have suffered and to the wider family."

"There has been considerable support from within the wider community, the church, school and locally and it is support no doubt which will help you to continue your journey."

Cannon Lee Francis-Dehqani, Rural Dean of Rutland, said: "I have been conscious of the resilience of the family and their deep care for one another.

"Today's inquest is one more step in coming to terms with all that has happened."

Deputy Chief Constable Simon Edens, who has responsibility for professional standards at Leicestershire Police, said: "The events of last December were truly tragic, in every sense of the word. Our thoughts are very much with Adam, Kimberley and their family."

Leicester City's French star Anthony Knockaert is destined for life in the Premier League, says Sean St Ledger.

Knockaert has set the Championship alight with his flair and outrageous tricks since arriving from Guingamp, in the second tier of French football, over the summer.

"He's an exceptional player for his age," said City's Republic of Ireland international St Ledger.

"He will definitely play in the Premier League at some point in his career as long as he keeps his feet on the floor. He's a real talent.

"Sometimes you don't know what to expect from him, and in this league when you've got someone of that ability he can win you games, like he did at Huddersfield.

"He will try things that most players would never even think about doing.

"He's an exceptional talent and we're very lucky to have him."

City have confirmed the appointment of Liu Shillai to its board of directors. The 40-year-old Chinese entrepreneur and businessman will take up the position of vice-chairman alongside Aiyawatt Raksriaksorn, son of chairman Vichai Raksriaksorn.

There will be no change to the ownership structure of the club, which remains wholly owned by King Power International.

A club spokesman said: "His appointment reflects the vision of chairman Vichai Raksriaksorn to strengthen the club's highly-valued domestic fan-base with an international following, recognising China as the largest potential fan-base in Asia."

Mr Liu said: "I am extremely proud to be joining an ambitious, progressive club."

A touching message to soldiers in Afghanistan has melted the hearts of more than 1,400 Facebook users.

Aiden Boswell, nine, wrote the letter as part of a school project at All Saints Primary School, in Coalville.

The Soldiers' Charity, which received the letter, put a copy on its Facebook page.

The letter reads: "I, and everyone else in the country are very grateful that you are protecting our country and we hope you succeed.

"I hope everything will be all right. I'm not too keen on the war, are you? Hoping for a good future, Aiden."

Aiden, who lives in Coalville, said he was thrilled to have so many people reading his letter.

He said: "I'm excited and I'm very proud, too."

His mum, Kim Spencer, said: "It's great that so many people have read his letter. I was really emotional when I first saw it and very proud of him.

"We don't have any family in the military and Aiden doesn't really like watching that sort of stuff on the news, either, but I think it's a very mature letter."

Aiden said: "My whole school were doing the letters and everybody wrote one.

"I really just put down whatever came into my head."

Aiden said he was very happy about the response the letter was having on the internet.

He said: "I feel like I'm dreaming. It does make me happy.

"I write a few letters but I'm more into drawing."

As well as about 1,430 "likes", the letter, decorated with pictures of soldiers, a helicopter and an aeroplane dropping bombs, has prompted dozens of comments from Facebook users.

Barbara Stuchfield said: "His parents must be very proud to have such a caring son."

Paul Turton said: "Excellent letter. They should have more children doing this because it lifts morale so much over there and the kids see how brave our lads are for doing the job."

Serving and former members of the Armed Forces also wrote about Aidan's letter on the Facebook page.

Jeff Scott said: "We had a few letters like this sent out to us while on tour. Very good for morale and a very well-written letter."

Robert Brown said: "What a hope he is for our youth.

"As an ex-squaddie I would have been chuffed to receive this letter. I'm not keen on the war either, bless him."

Phil Steadman said: "I would have replied and even visited after my tour had finished to say thank you."

The letter has been sent to Afghanistan by The Soldiers' Charity along with dozens of other letters from Aidan's school and elsewhere.

The charity is hoping to send one of its liaison officers into Aidan's school to thank them for the letters and talk to them about the Army. The charity helps current and former servicemen and women, and their children and families.

For more information visit:

www.soldierscharity.org

Liam Moore's England under-21 debut was a fitting reward for his superb performances for Leicester City, manager Nigel Pearson has said.

Moore was handed his first cap by England under-21 boss Stuart Pearce in their friendly victory over Northern Ireland at Blackpool on Tuesday night to cap an amazing year for the 19-year-old.

Until Pearson's return to the club from Hull a year ago, Moore had not featured for the City first team, but it was Pearson who handed him his full debut, on January 2, at Crystal Palace and he has made 12 appearances so far this season.

"He has come a long way from playing at Crystal Palace last season," said Pearson.

"He has had a very good close season and pre-season. His hard work has been rewarded with a call-up for the under-21s. I am very pleased for him. He is a proud man and he will be wanting to get back to business with us now.

"It is important for us that our young players who progress with us are also able to deal with the overall package.

"I think Liam does it exceptionally well. He is not one to get carried away with his rise in the space of six months.

"He has had a big change in fortunes. A large part of that is down to the hard work he has put in himself and I am very pleased for him."

Pearson said Moore's development and progress should give the other young players at the club the inspiration to believe they can emulate the defender, who came through the academy system.

The City boss said he never considers a player's age and the only thing that matters is how good they are.

"For me, it is a case of are they good enough," he said.

"Regardless of whether they are young or old, they have got to have a hunger to want to play and succeed.

"If you look at our recruitment policy, we have brought in a number of younger players, but they have to be good enough.

"Liam was already here and his progression within the ranks has been very good.

"That gives encouragement to the other younger players who will see the opportunity if they work hard enough."

Nigel Pearson celebrated one year in charge of Leicester City this week and admitted it had been a year of massive change at the club.

Pearson's return to City after the departure of Sven-Goran Eriksson on November 15 last year triggered a huge transition at the club.

Of the 27-man squad Pearson had for his first game back in charge at home to Crystal Palace, only 11 remain registered with the club for today's visit of Ipswich.

Of those 11, Neil Danns is out on loan at Bristol City and Sean St Ledger is sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Goalkeepers Kasper Schmeichel and Conrad Logan, defender Paul Konchesky, midfielders Andy King and Richie Wellens, plus forwards Paul Gallagher, Lloyd Dyer, Jeff Schlupp and David Nugent, are the other survivors.

Pearson has stripped down and rebuilt the squad he inherited in a short space of time and, while he admits he is satisfied with the progress he has made, he said City remain a work in progress as they strive for Premier League football.

"There has been an awful lot of change, certainly within the playing staff, but it was work that needed to be done for different reasons," he said.

"Last season was a difficult season for many reasons, but this season we have had a pretty positive first period. We have to build on that now.

"We have to keep our challenge going. I have a great deal of belief in this group and our staff that we can keep doing that. One year on, it is amazing the amount of changes there have been at this club.

"But it is always work in progress. You can never get to a point where you are totally satisfied with how things are because you always have to be looking to get that added improvement.

"That is not just changing players but working with the players you have got. We are always trying to improve what we have got and how we do things."

City's league record under Pearson reads – played 46, won 20, drawn 11, lost 15.

Leicester Tigers duo Rob Hawkins and Brett Deacon both return from injury to take their place in the starting line-up for tomorrow's LV= Cup tie against London Irish at Welford Road (3.0).

Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill has made nine changes from the side that registered a historic win against the Maori All Blacks on Tuesday.

Hooker Hawkins makes his first start of the season alongside Boris Stankovich and Fraser Balmain in the front row, while Deacon will lead the team on his return from a hand injury.

Mathew Tait, who made his return to action on Tuesday after 13 months on the sidelines through injury, makes his second start at full-back.

Andy Forsyth and Alex Lewington are brought in on the wings in place of Niall Morris and Adam Thompstone, while Rob Andrew comes in at lock for Louis Deacon.

Ed Slater moves into the second row in place of Graham Kitchener, and Michael Noone, Richard Thorpe and Brett Deacon make up the back row.

Scrum-half Micky Young starts for the first time on home soil this season, and Dan Bowden returns to the backline against his former club.

Welford Road has been named Rugby Venue of the Year at the Rugby Expo awards, while the 'Tigers Family' campaign also picked up an award for marketing innovation.

Former senior RAF chief Sir Clive Loader last night won the race to become Leicestershire and Rutland's first elected police and crime commissioner.

However, just 16 per cent, or 127,082, of those eligible to vote took part in Thursday's poll – one of the lowest turnouts ever seen in the two counties, mirroring the national trend.

Sir Clive, the Conservative candidate, was backed by 64,661 voters. The recently retired air chief marshal will now hold the force to account on its performance in fighting crime and feed back public concerns to senior officers. He will also work with the force to implement savings worth millions of pounds as a result of Government public spending cuts.

Speaking at Whitwick's Hermitage Leisure Centre, where he was declared the winner last night, Sir Clive said: "I'm delighted and really touched by the trust shown by the people who have voted for me.

"I will work for the people who did not vote for me and for the people who did not vote at all. The turnout is low. Would I have preferred more than 16 per cent of people to have voted? Yes, of course.

"But that will not make a jot of difference to the gusto and enthusiasm I will bring to the job."

Labour candidate, Leicester assistant mayor Sarah Russell, won 51,835 votes.

She said: "I'm tired but proud of the campaign we have run. All three candidates have fought good, positive campaigns. Clive is going to have a difficult task to convince people of the need for PCCs and be careful not to run away with big changes because there is such a small mandate."

Independent candidate Suleman Nagdi, who won 21,744 votes, said: "I'm sure people in the city and county have chosen the best person for the job.

"I am saddened though by the small turnout. The right to vote is to be cherished and what we have in this country is envied in some parts of the world.

"There has been apathy but there has also been widespread confusion about this new role.

"I would urge the Government to consider a more aggressive awareness campaign before the next PCC election."

More than 8,400 ballot papers were rejected because they had either been filled in incorrectly or deliberately "spoiled''.

Dr James Treadwell, a criminologist at the University of Leicester, said: "The vast majority of people have not voted, so you have to ask whether the whole process has been worth the estimated £75 million cost."

Leicestershire's chief constable Simon Cole said: "There are opportunities to continue to drive down crime and anti-social behaviour and I look forward to working with Sir Clive. Counting of the votes began in all nine local districts at midday. Within a few hours, it was announced a total of 127,082 "'first preference'' votes had been cast for the three candidates across the city and county.

But because none of them obtained the 50 per cent of votes required for outright victory, Mr Nagdi was eliminated and his voters' second preference choices were counted.

This gave both Sir Clive Loader and Sarah Russell several thousand extra votes each but did not overturn the lead Sir Clive had from the first round

Leicester City striker David Nugent is desperate to shake off his neck injury so he can continue his incredible scoring run against Ipswich.

Nugent has struck nine times in 10 games against today's visitors to the King Power Stadium (3.0) during spells with Preston, Portsmouth and City.

He has even notched a goal at Portman Road for England Under-21s.

Nugent has failed to score against Ipswich on only three occasions, and all of them were during home games, including last season's 1-1 draw at the King Power.

Nugent, who resumed training on Thursday following his neck injury, scored the winner last season at Portman Road and admits Ipswich are a team he just loves to face.

"I am hoping I will be fit but, even if I am only 90 per cent, I will be playing," he said.

"I don't want to miss any games and I enjoy playing against Ipswich.

"I have a good record against them but mainly at Portman Road. I have scored so many there it is a joke.

"Every striker has a side who they always seem to score against, and mine happens to be Ipswich."

It is nothing personal on Nugent's part. In fact, he thinks Mick McCarthy's men are a good side and has been surprised to see them struggling in the bottom three this season.

"I thought they were a decent side last season under Paul Jewell," said Nugent. "Even though we beat them at Portman Road, they played well and could have got something from that game.

"They are a tough side and have some quality players. Richie Wellens has just come back and said what a good set of lads they are.

"Whenever a side gets a new manager, they always seem to up their game so it will be tough tomorrow.

"I am sure they will be very organised and will close us down from the front, and make it hard for us, as every teams who comes to the King Power Stadium does that."

City's top scorer, Nugent has hit seven goals in the last 11 games, including a wonderful finish against Nottingham Forest last Saturday.

His confidence is sky-high, and he said: "I am delighted I am scoring a few goals for the team."

Clarissa Dickson Wright has refused to apologise for "hurtful" comments about the city's Muslim community – but says she would return to the city.

In her new book, the celebrity cook described a visit to Leicester "as one of the most frightening experiences of my life".

The 65-year-old wrote that she came off the ring road to escape a traffic jam and found herself lost in a part of the city she described as a "ghetto" where she felt like a "complete outcast and pariah".

Ms Dickson Wright was invited to defend her views by BBC Radio Leicester yesterday and said: "I'm not going to apologise. I'm not saying it's entirely accurate for the whole of Leicester, but I am describing an experience that I went through.

"I know other people who have had a similar experience, not necessarily in Leicester."

In her book, Clarissa's England: A Gamely Gallop Through the English Counties, the cook dedicated a chapter to Leicestershire's culinary and cultural merits.

"I found myself in an area where all the men were wearing Islamic clothing and all the women were wearing burkas and walking slightly behind them," she wrote.

She said none of the men would talk to her when she tried to find out where she was and how to get out of there, because she was an English women and they "would not talk to women they did not know".

"Here I was, in the heart of a city in the middle of my own country, a complete outcast and pariah," she wrote.

Ibrahim Mogra, assistant secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, described her comments as hurtful

Speaking on BBC Radio Leicester, he invited Ms Dickson Wright to come back to the city and have dinner with his family.

"I would be delighted to host her at my home and take her to meet real Leicester people," he said.

Deputy city mayor Rory Palmer also invited her to return – and apologise for her comments.

He said: "I read the comments she made in her book in the Mercury and I was lost for words – and I am rarely lost for words.

"They are unwarranted and not the Leicester I know.

"Perhaps she ought to stick to what she knows – making pies and souffles.

"I think, given the reaction to her comments, that she ought to be prepared to make an apology.

"I'm not going to be rushing off to write her a letter of invitation, but if the opportunity presents itself in the future, I am sure we will all show her the real city."

Speaking on the radio, Ms Dickson Wright said: "They want me to come back? Yeah, of course I would accept."

Nigel Pearson watched Leicester stroll to a 6-0 victory over Ipswich and halt a four-match league run without a win in style at the end of a week which marked the one-year anniversary of his return as manager.

Wednesday was 12 months to the day since Pearson came back to City, having previously been in charge between June 2008 and June 2010 before leaving to take over at npower Championship rivals Hull.

Last November, Leicester won 3-0 at home against Crystal Palace in Pearson's first game back after rejoining the club from the Tigers, and he saw his side double that tally against a poor Ipswich team.

Four goals came in the first half. David Nugent opened the scoring from the penalty spot after eight minutes and doubled Leicester's lead with his second strike 10 minutes later.

The superb Lloyd Dyer got on the scoresheet just before the half-hour mark and Anthony Knockaert netted two minutes before the break.

Martyn Waghorn scored another for the Foxes shortly after half-time and substitute Marko Futacs completed the rout in the 82nd minute.

Leicester were unchanged from the side that drew 2-2 at home with Nottingham Forest last Saturday, meaning teenage striker Jeff Schlupp continued to deputise for the injured Paul Konchesky at left-back.

Striker Jamie Vardy returned from injury to fill the place on the bench left by midfielder Neil Danns, who has joined Bristol City on loan.

Fit-again Foxes midfielder Richie Wellens, who has just returned from a loan spell at Ipswich, did not make Pearson's squad.

Lee Martin returned from suspension to replace Wellens in the Town team as one of two changes made by manager Mick McCarthy, who handed Bradley Orr his debut.

Orr, signed on loan from Blackburn on Wednesday, came in at right-back with Tommy Smith dropping to the bench and Luke Chambers switching to centre-half.

Kelly Youga was also signed by McCarthy this week on a short-term deal until January but the defender was not involved.

Ipswich made a sloppy start. Hesitancy between Stephen Henderson and Orr saw neither take command following Danny Drinkwater's throughball, resulting in the goalkeeper bringing down the alert Dyer inside the area. Nugent converted the spot-kick with aplomb.

Aaron Cresswell did well to block a goalbound shot from Andy king before Nugent struck again.

Henderson could then only parry Waghorn's fierce shot into the path of Nugent, who got his reward for following up by chesting the ball home from close range.

Leicester were playing dome lovely football and it only seemed a matter of time before they got another goal.

It was, and it arrived after 27 minutes courtesy of Dyer.

The winger gave Orr a torrid time down the left, beating him with pace before firing a powerful shot past Henderson and into the far corner of the net from 15 yards out.

Nugent was denied the chance of a hat-trick when he was replaced by Vardy after only half an hour, carrying some sort of knock.

Vardy got involved straight away, playing a one-two with Knockaert but Henderson pushed away the Frenchman's effort.

But Knockaert was not to be denied and swept home Dyer's first-time cross from 12 yards in the 43rd minute.

Luke Chambers headed over in a rare Ipswich attack at the start of the second half and Waghorn missed the target with a header at the other end.

However, the England Under-21 international striker got on the scoresheet after 53 minutes, curling the ball past Henderson after being put through by King.

King slipped another clever pass past the Ipswich defence midway through the second half but Henderson was up to the task of saving Vardy's attempted dink over him.

More brilliance from Dyer down the left saw Futacs, on as a 74th-minute replacement for Waghorn, score his first league goal for the Foxes. The Hungarian made it 6-0 with a lovely first-time finish from 12 yards out.

Ipswich thought they had a consolation goal when substitutes Michael Chopra and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas combined but Chopra's strike was ruled out by an offside flag.

Leicester Tigers have leapt to the defence of prop Boris Stankovich after he was shown a red card in the 22-15 LV= Cup win over London Irish.

The 32-year-old loose-head was dismissed in the 65th-minute for a high tackle on the Exiles' scrum-half Darren Allinson.

Allinson seemed to slip as Stankovich went to wrap his arms around him, but referee Ian Davies decided it was worth the ultimate punishment.

Any ban for the New Zealand-born prop would be bad news for Leicester with first-choice loose-head Marcos Ayerza away on international duty until December.

But Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill said he would be surprised if it went that far.

"I hope that will be the end of the matter," said Cockerill.

"If it goes to disciplinary, hopefully they will deem the sending off to be sufficient.

"Let's hope common sense prevails.

"It was harsh. I really feel for Boris because he is not a dirty player. I was disappointed with the red card, full stop.

"It was a yellow at most. Boris has gone in with his arms and a small guy slipped into him.

"I think the referee was the only person in the ground who thought it was a red card. That is very disappointing."

Tigers skipper Brett Deacon said he expected no further action while flanker Richard Thorpe was standing right next to the incident.

"Stankovich had his arm out, it wasn't malicious in the slightest," he said.

"Darren Allinson ducked into his arm. I thought it was very harsh.

"My thoughts at the time were that he may get a yellow but I certainly didn't expect a red card."

Leicester withstood the loss of Stankovich to record a win which keeps them very much in the competition they won last season.

George Ford kicked 17 points and lock Rob Andrew scored his first try for the club as Tigers overcame an early 8-0 deficit to post 19 unanswered points before Stankovich's dismissal.

The win, coupled with other results around the Anglo-Welsh Cup for Worcester, Cardiff and Sale, leaves Tigers bottom of Group C.

However, there is still plenty to play for as they are just one point off the top of the table!

Cockerill said he was more impressed with the performance than the win in a competition that is still very much third on their wanted list.

"It was about the boys who were playing showing character and showing what they could do," said Cockerill.

"Barring one or two players, that was London Irish's best team and they will be hugely disappointed with the way they played.

"It's great for our squad though. We didn't want to lose at home and that was a risk because we had only just played against the Maori.

"It was a risk that came off and the lads should be proud of the result. We showed a great attitude and our defence was outstanding again."

Leicester Tigers make nine changes from the side that defeated the Maori All Blacks on Tuesday in a bid to get their defence of the LV= Cup up and running.

Rob Hawkins and captain Brett Deacon return to the starting line-up following injury, while Mathew Tait makes his second successive start at full-back after 13 months on the sidelines.

Scrum-half Micky Young starts for the first time at Welford Road this season, and Dan Bowden returns to the back-line against his former club.

Andy Forsyth and Alex Lewington are brought in on the wings while Rob Andrew comes in at lock. Michael Noone, Richard Thorpe and Deacon make up the back row.

2 min: PENALTY (0-3) Irish get their second penalty in 150 seconds near the left-hand touch-line, just inside Tigers' 22. Ian Humphreys coolly slots his kick between the posts.

8 min: TRY (0-8) Tigers give the ball away in the Irish half and Sailosi Tagicakibau breaks down the right and off-loads inside to Anthony Watson, who dives over the line. Humphreys puts his conversion attempt wide.

13 min: A lovely pass out to the right by Bowden puts Rob Hawkins through. He off-loads to Noone, who gets over the line, but the pass is forward.

15 min: George Ford has the chance to get Tigers' points tally underway with a penalty just inside the visitors' half straight in front of the posts. But he skews his kick wide.

19 min: TRY (7-8) Matt Smith charges down a kick from Watson and the ball goes out of play on the Irish 5m line. From the line-out, Ed Slater picks it up and off-loads to Noone, who moves it to Andrew, who dives under the posts for Tigers' first points. Ford converts.

22 min: PENALTY (10-8) Irish are penalised for pushing in the line-out and Ford has a kick on the 10m line. He strikes it as clean as a whistle and it flies between the posts to give Tigers the lead for the first time.

38 min: PENALTY (13-8) Tagicakibau is penalised for holding on and Tigers have a penalty from about the same spot which Ford shanked earlier in the half. The youngster makes no mistake this time.

H-T: Tigers 13 London Irish 8

48 min: PENALTY (16-8) Irish are down to 14 men as Shane Geraghty is yellow-carded for a professional foul at the breakdown. Ford has a kick in front of the posts to get the second-half scoring under way. He takes his time and slots it home.

56 min: PENALTY (19-8) A dominant Tigers scrum forces the Irish pack to stand up and the hosts are awarded a penalty just inside the Irish half. Ford opts to go for the points and there is a huge roar as the fans see it sail between the posts.

65 min RED CARD: It's down to 14-a-side now as Boris Stankovich is shown a red card for a high tackle in midfield. It appeared that scrum-half Darren Allison slipped as he was about to be tackled.

69 min: TRY (19-15) Irish have an abundance of players on the overlap on the left-hand side. It is spun straight out to replacement wing Tom Homer, who dives right into the corner. Humphrey is successful with the conversion and there are only four points between the sides.

76 min: PENALTY (22-15) After a long period of attacking pressure from Tigers, they force the mistake and are awarded a penalty just outside the 22 straight in front of the posts. Ford takes his time while the crowd quieten down before successfully extending his side's lead.

F-T: Tigers 22 London Irish 15

A virtual Leicester Tigers second team beat a full-strength London Irish side to stay very much alive in this season's LV= Cup.

With 12 players away on international duty and numerous others being rested with one eye on Sunday's return to Aviva Premiership action at Wasps, director of rugby Richard Cockerill would have gone into the game with more hope than expectation.

But, led by Brett Deacon, Tigers put in a tremendously gutsy shift and withstood the loss of prop Boris Stankovich to a 65th-minute red card for their first win in the competition.

Leicester put together a run of 19 consecutive points after the Exiles had taken an early 8-0 lead which included South African lock Rob Andrew's first try for the club.

With fly-half George Ford kicking 17 points, Tigers seemed to be cruising until Stankovich's dismissal for a high tackle and Tom Homer's try created a unexpectedly nervous finish.

Earlier on, Tigers made their almost customary slow start to a game at Welford Road and the Exiles were 8-0 up in as many minutes.

Former Leicester fly-half Ian Humphreys converted a penalty before full-back Anthony Watson scored the first try of the game after good work by Topsy Ojo.

Tigers began to find their feet and a lovely off-load by the lively Dan Bowden, playing against his former club, almost set Rob Hawkins free.

Ford made a horrible contact with his first kick at the posts on the quarter hour mark but then made a superb jinking run past five or six players in midfield as the home side began to get on top.

It came as no surprise when they pulled it back to 8-7. Ed Slater snared overthrown Irish line-out ball, passed to Michael Noone and he fed second-rower Andrew to finish the job.

Ford added a penalty soon after to put Leicester into their first lead and his third kick of the half gave Tigers a 13-8 lead at the break.

With Ford full of confidence, Fraser Balmain matching England's loose-head prop Alex Corbisiero in the front row and Noone and Richard Thorpe helping Leicester dominate a fierce breakdown, they went into the interval on a high.

That dominance continued early in the second half with Slater setting up a threatening sortie into Irish territory with a line-out steal, followed by a trademark 20-metre rumble.

When Ford kicked Tigers 16-8 ahead on 48 minutes it gave the hosts a two-score advantage and then made it 19-8 near the hour mark, that seemed to be that.

But Micky Young was forced into a wonderful try-saving tackle on Matt Garvey two metres short of the Leicester line and then prop Stankovich was red-carded for a high tackle on Irish scrum-half Darren Allinson.

While the tackle looked more like a yellow card at most, the decision gave Irish some much-needed impetus and they soon got right back in the game when substitute Homer scored in the left-hand corner on an overlap.

Humphreys converted with a kick from the touchline and suddenly, there were just four points in it at 19-15 with 12 minutes to go.

Irish held the ascendency for the next five minutes as Tigers defended for long periods but they broke free from the shackles and, when Ford kicked his fifth penalty of the day with three minutes to go, Tigers had held on.

Leicester City bounced back to winning ways with a vengeance against Ipswich on Saturday.

After two draws and two defeats in their last four games, Nigel Pearson's men were in rampaging form as the visitors were hit for six at the King Power Stadium.

Star striker David Nugent led the way with two goals, while Lloyd Dyer, Anthony Knockaert, Martyn Waghorn and Marko Futacs also got in on the action. Here is how the match unfolded.

7 min: Penalty A mix-up between Stephen Henderson and Danny Higginbotham, and Dyer nips in to take the ball and Henderson trips Dyer. Nugent steps up to take the first penalty of his career.

8 min: GOAL 1-0 Nugent always scores against Ipswich. He side-foots his spot-kick into the top corner.

14 min: Carlos Edwards gets a shot away with Jeff Schlupp sliding in. Kasper Schmeichel saves.

17 min: GOAL 2-0 Waghorn cuts in off the right and shoots with his left. Henderson can only parry his shot straight into the path of Nugent, who walks in his second goal.

20 min: Good block from Wes Morgan to deny Lee Martin, who had raced into the City area unopposed. City cannot afford to switch off now.

27 min: GOAL 3-0 Dyer picks up the ball on the left and races at Bradley Orr. The City winger beats him and slams a left-footed strike past the hapless Henderson.

29 min: Nugent goes off, with Jamie Vardy replacing him.

35 min: Henderson touches Knockaert's strike around the post. It was a delightful one-two with Waghorn in the build-up.

44 min: GOAL 4-0 Dyer is played in by Waghorn down the left and he squares it for Knockaert, who slips it past Henderson.

45 min: Martin goes close to pulling a goal back with a half-volley from the edge of the box which has Schmeichel rooted to the spot but, luckily, is wide.

H-T: City 4 Ipswich 0

50 min: Waghorn hits the post with a downward header after more great wing play from Dyer, whose first touch from Andy King's excellent raking pass easily beat Orr.

53 min: GOAL 5-0 Waghorn finally gets his goal and it is thoroughly deserved. King does tremendously in midfield to skip past Guirane N'Daw and picks out Waghorn, who clips it around Henderson.

73 min: A great chance for Vardy but Henderson comes out and spreads himself to deny him. King is again the architect with another deft pass into Vardy's run.

82 min: GOAL 6-0 Dyer is again given plenty of space down the left and he races into the box and picks out Marko Futacs, who sweeps home his first league goal for the club and then celebrates with his mate Knockaert.

86 min: Michael Chopra has the ball in the back of the City net but he is flagged offside.

87 min: Vardy tries a twisting volley from inside the area but it sails over the bar.

88 min: City are caught out and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas helps a deep cross back into the six-yard box but it bounces too high for Chopra, who heads over.

F-T: City 6 Ipswich 0

Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy described his side's humiliation at the hands of Leicester City as "awful and abject".

McCarthy said some of his side's defending was embarrassing as City thumped the Tractor Boys for six, thanks to two goals from David Nugent and strikes from Lloyd Dyer, Anthony Knockaert, Martyn Waghorn and Marko Futacs.

"We are brittle and timid at the minute and, if you want to describe it as awful and abject, I am quite happy with that," said McCarthy.

"This was awful. There were no positives and we have to try to make sure it doesn't happen again.

"We talked about being hard to beat and not giving anything stupid away, but we're timid at the minute.

"I don't know if it's a case of getting used to being beat, but that mentality can develop. You lose one goal and then another.

"The manner of the goals we conceded was so poor.

"When it is a little bit brittle, which it is at the moment, everyone feels that way. You can almost see the players thinking 'here we go again'. We've got to get rid of that.

"I'd have taken six points from the opening four games. Did we expect to beat Crystal Palace and Leicester? Probably not. But I expected us to play better. I don't expect my sides to be humiliated the way they have been.

"It does hurt me, of course. I take pride in my teams being organised, hard to beat, tough, resolute. My two Championship-winning sides will prove I like good football too, but we've got to sort out the aforementioned first.

"We could be in-and-out of that bottom three all season. I can't do anything about this one now, we'll look at it this week, pick the bones out of it and then prepare for the game against Peterborough."

A salesman at a car dealership fiddled the books to cover up stealing money paid in to him by customers.

By the time auditors reviewed the accounts at the Peugeot dealers it appeared there was about £35,000 outstanding – all from salesman Ian Poole's customers.

Poole, of Leicester Road, Field Head, Markfield, pleaded guilty at Warwick Crown Court to seven charges of false accounting on the basis that he had stolen "no more than £2,000" from his employers.

The 50-year-old was sentenced to eight months in prison suspended for 12 months and ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid work.

Prosecutor Theresa Thorp said Poole worked as a used car salesman for Robins and Day, of Kenpas Highway, Coventry, for 12 years, until his offences were discovered in 2010.

Part of his job involved dealing with customers and taking deposits and payments from them, for which he had to issue receipts and record the payment for a particular vehicle.

However, in July 2010, the dealership's group auditor carried out a review of outstanding debts and found that there appeared to be £35,000 outstanding from various custo- mers.

The court heard it was found all of the customers who had been highlighted had paid in full for their cars – but some of their payments had been credited to different vehicles.

Every one of the affected customers had been dealt with by Poole, although Miss Thorp pointed out none of them were out of pocket as a result of his dishonesty.

Poole had been using payments made by one customer to pay off amounts apparently owed by another customer after he had taken some of the money he received for his own use, and had falsified the company's transaction records to cover that up.

Jane Hinds, in mitigation for Poole, who had no previous convictions, said: "The reason the offending began was because of significant debt problems."

Since Poole, who now works for a haulage firm, was dismissed in August 2010, he and his wife have been to a debt agency and made agreements to pay off their creditors.

Miss Hinds said: "This has been a time of extreme stress and anxiety for Mr Poole.

"He is deeply ashamed and deeply remorseful."

Leicester City striker Martyn Waghorn thanked the fans and his team-mates for the rapturous ovation he received after scoring his first goal of the season in Saturday's 6-0 demolition of Ipswich.

The England Under-21 international has produced some excellent displays recently after finally being able to regain his match-fitness following a year-long battle after a hamstring injury, but that vital first goal had eluded him.

However, he scored the fifth goal against the Tractor Boys and was mobbed by nearly every one of his team-mates. He was then given a standing ovation by the City crowd when he was substituted towards the end.

"It was really nice and I am thankful to the boys for that," said Waghorn.

"It is the team-ethic we have got. We work hard for each other and believe in each other. We give 100 per cent and that shows what a good team spirit we have got, and that will help us during the season.

"I thank the fans for that as well. It has been a hard year while I have been out, trying to get back playing, so it is nice for the fans to appreciate that. Hopefully, I can keep doing it."

Waghorn said he was relieved to finally get his first goal after going close in the last few games, but said he was always confident he would get on the scoresheet.

"It has been a long time coming," he said.

"When I hit the post in the second half I was thinking, 'oh no, not another one'. But now one has gone in and, hopefully, I can get on a bit of a roll and get a few more.

"I was never worried because I back myself to score in every game. I work hard for the team and, as long as the boys are getting the results, then that is the main thing.

"Personally, I wanted to score and, once I am off the mark, I believe in myself to go on and get a few more.

"I didn't feel cool and I was a bit nervous when the chance came. I thought I was off-side at first when Kingy (Andy King) played it through. I was waiting for the whistle, but it didn't come so I tried to take it early and catch the keeper off guard. I am happy it went in.

"If I am in front of goal, I won't shy away from having a shot just because I haven't scored. Now I want to score a few more and help the team challenge for promotion."

Five people were moved on by police when 100 protesters demonstrated outside Curve theatre against a dance company's show.

A group called Don't Dance with Israeli Apartheid organised the gathering outside Curve to protest against the one-night appearance by the Batsheva dance company from Israel.

The protestors, many carrying banners and placards, met outside the Rutland Street theatre at 6pm on Friday.

Police used metal barriers to keep the demonstrators away from members of the audience as they arrived for the evening's show.

Officers said no arrests were made, but that five people had been ejected from the protest and asked to leave the area.

Some audience members were visibly shaken at the sight and sound of the noisy protest outside the theatre.

Veena Shaunak, 40, of Great Glen, said: "I did not expect this sort of thing.

"I have to say I find it quite intimidating. I have come here tonight with my young daughter to enjoy a dance show."

Judith Weston, from Knighton, said she was appalled by the protest.

She said: "Art should be allowed to transcend politics."

Lucinda Woodward, who has friends in Leicester, had travelled down from York to see the show.

The 20-year-old said: "People do have the freedom of speech but this is too much. They are intimidating people. We have the freedom to watch a dance show if we want to."

Protestors defended their right to demonstrate against the show.

Ismail Patel, of the Friends of Al-Asqa – a Palestine solidarity group, said: "We are here to make our voice heard."

Mr Patel, of Oadby, said: "Our concern with Batsheva is not the nationality of the performers – it is the fact they receive Israeli government funding and are seen as cultural ambassadors for the state of Israel."

Curve chief executive Fiona Allan said: "Batsheva are a world-renowned company and we jumped at the chance to get them to appear in Leicester.

"We knew the protest was coming and did all we could to warn our audience in advance. Many of them said we were right to let the show go on."

Jeffrey Kaufman, former president of the Leicester Progressive Jewish Congregation and an Oadby and Wigston councillor, said he was disappointed to hear of the protest.

He said: "I don't know if Batsheva are funded by the Israeli government but it would be no different to the British government funding some arts group and them appearing abroad."

A police spokesman said: "The protest was very vocal but peaceful. Five people were ejected from the protest."

It was the latest in a series of protests against Batsheva, with demonstrations against performances in Brighton, Birmingham and Edinburgh.