Police are appealing for help after two fires and a number of thefts at an old farmhouse.

Fire crews were called to the property in Overton Road, Ibstock, on Sunday, July 20, when the abandoned house was on fire. Police believe roof tiles had been stolen, along with a corn mill in an outbuilding.

Crews returned on Sunday, August 3, to tackle a vehicle fire in an outbuilding.

A vintage tractor and flail mower had been stolen from the property earlier in July.

Pc Michael Street said: "If you know anything about the fires or have heard rumours about who may be responsible, then we need to speak to you."

Leicester's controversial new £4 million Jubilee Square is set to host its first public events on Friday.

Engineers are working to make sure the public plaza is usable for four days of entertainment to mark the finale of the City Festival.

The former car parking area in St Nicholas Circle has been a building site for about a year and has been beset by hold-ups.

Businesses in the area had been told the project would be complete by last May.

In recent days, workmen have laid lawns and a plinth is in place ready for the relocation of the 16th Century High Cross monument from the edge of the market in Cheapside.

Though the square will be opened up to the public on Friday, parts of it will then be fenced off again.

The full scheme is scheduled to be finished in November.

Friday's events start at 1pm with an afternoon of fun and stage entertainment aimed at younger visitors.

From 7pm, Showtime! will be an evening of live show tunes from popular musicals performed by young talent from Leicester Theatre Group.

Jubilee Square is also a venue for the Cosmopolitan Carnival on Saturday, from 2pm to 9pm.

That will include live music from By The Rivers, Curtis Clacey and Carol Leeming, followed by an exciting large-scale projection on to the Radio Leicester building.

On Sunday, the square will be on the route of Leicester's sixth annual Sky Ride cycling event.

On Bank Holiday Monday, Jubilee Square will be transformed into a medieval encampment for the Old Town Festival. There will be a range of medieval-theme entertainment and activities for children, sword battles from Escafeld re-enactment group, stilt walkers, jesters and a live acoustic music tent.

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: "The square is coming together and it is looking good.

"I have spoken to the officers in charge and they have assured me it will be ready to use by the end of the week.

"After that, there will be some more work such as the planting of the bigger trees.

"The commitment has always been for the summer and it is now mid-to-late-summer.

"I am also assured it will come in on or under budget."

Shopper Sally Fulton, 36, from Leicester's West End, said: "You can start to get a sense of what it looks like. I think it will be a nice space eventually.

"It will be a relief when it's done because it has felt like an eternal building site."

Opponents of the scheme have dubbed it an expensive vanity project and some traders said the loss of the 50 car parking spaces would harm trade.

Liberal Democrat opposition councillor Nigel Porter said: "I'd be amazed if it didn't finish under budget given the amount of cash the mayor committed to slabbing over a useful car park.

"Nobody but the mayor really wanted it."

Sir Peter has dropped proposals to replace the spaces at the nearby NCP car park on the other side of the ring road.

He said that was no longer necessary, given plans for a 22-space car park outside the old Phoenix arts centre in Upper Brown Street and plans for 20 further spaces in Castle Street.

An unbroken stand of 85 for the seventh wicket between Rob Taylor and Jigar Naik – plus a rogue afternoon shower – helped to guide Leicestershire to a draw on the final day of their LV County Championship match against Surrey at Grace Road.

The visitors surprised many by opting to bat on at the start of proceedings, adding 62 runs in just six overs to set Leicestershire a target of 387 in a minimum of 88 overs – a target which was never realistic.

Surrey may have cause to regret the time they took to put on those runs, particularly when a beefy shower in mid-afternoon lopped 32 overs from the day's play.

When the sides went off, Leicestershire were struggling on 140-4 and, though they lost the wickets of Dan Redfern and Niall O'Brien shortly after the resumption, Naik and Taylor played exceptionally to defy the promotion-chasing visitors, taking their side to 232-6 at close of play.

Surrey began the day 324 runs ahead, which seemed plenty given the fact that Leicestershire have not won a Championship match since September 2012.

Steven Davies and Jason Roy cracked along, however, and effectively ended any chance Leicestershire had of staging a dramatic victory.

In fact, the spectre of defeat had raised its head by the lunch break as Leicestershire staggered to 82-3.

Angus Robson was undone by the pace of Stuart Meaker and had his leg stump flattened, the Surrey quickie then removing Greg Smith as he chased a wide delivery and was caught behind. Matt Boyce was Meaker's third victim – though the left-hander looked unfortunate to have been given out caught off his arm rather than his glove as he attempted to evade a nasty short ball.

Redfern and Ned Eckersley set about repairing the damage but, with the total on 99, Leicestershire suffered another blow when Eckersley was caught at short leg from the bowling of off-spinner Gareth Batty.

Redfern and O'Brien, however, continued their good form from the first innings with half-centuries. Even so, it was something of a relief for home supporters when heavy rain rolled in. Though the downpour lasted little more than 20 minutes, it ended the action for two hours.

The resumption, with the sun having returned, saw Leicestershire with 22 overs to survive. Initially, however, they looked as though they might founder before the close. Redfern had played beautifully in making 64, which included a dozen boundaries, but he horribly mis-timed a pull off Meaker and was caught at mid-on. O'Brien, on 15, then got a beauty from Batty which was superbly taken by Roy at slip and, on 147-6 with more than 19 overs remaining, Leicestershire were staring at defeat.

However, neither Taylor nor Naik appeared to be in any great discomfort through the course of the final hour and kept the scoreboard ticking over to ensure that Surrey could not slip in any extra overs.

They were quick to punish anything loose and, with Surrey setting attacking fields, the runs came quickly, both men finding the boundary on seven occasions before shaking hands on a hard-earned draw.

A deaf man was murdered in his bed by a jealous love rival who had repeatedly threatened to kill him and his girlfriend, a jury was told.

Christopher Penman, 58, pictured below, had earlier complained to the police that he was being stalked by his girlfriend's former partner, Awat Akram.

While the girlfriend, Elaine Bourke, was placed in a safe hostel, the same protection was not given to Mr Penman, Leicester Crown Court was told.

After staying away from his home in Somerville Walk, Beaumont Leys, Leicester, for 10 days, Mr Penman "fatefully" returned home alone on the night of February 21.

He visited a neighbour's house, then called police after spotting Akram standing outside his house, at about 10pm.

Akram, who is also deaf, had left by the time officers arrived, half an hour later.

Mr Penman was safely escorted by three officers to his home at 12.42am.

Within a few hours, he was dead.

Akram (26), of Beaumanor Road, Leicester, allegedly returned to the scene with a "murderer's kit bag" and broke in some time after 3.50am to stab Mr Penman to death.

Yesterday, the court heard after allegedly fatally knifing Mr Penman, the defendant went home and watched pornography on his computer.

Mr Timothy Spencer QC, prosecuting, claimed Akram had committed the killing in "a jealous rage".

Akram was said to have started a relationship with Ms Bourke, who is deaf and in her late 40s, in 2012.

At some stage during their "stormy" relationship" they went through a religious ceremony in a mosque and Akram considered her to be his wife.

He allegedly could not accept it when she left him for her ex-partner Mr Penman, whom she had known on and off for 12 years.

Akram, an Iraqi national, denies murder.

In his opening address to the jury, Mr Spencer said: "In the early hours of February 22, Christopher Penman was stabbed to death in his own bed, in his own home.

"He was stabbed by this defendant who was consumed by a jealous rage, arising out of the relationship that both men had with the same woman."

He said he would allegedly stand outside Mr Penman's house and knock on the door demanding his "wife" return.

Repeated threats, using sign language, to stab the couple to death, and then himself, were allegedly made.

Hundreds of text messages and missed calls were sent to Mr Penman, resulting in the couple contacting the police and fleeing to stay in a hotel in Loughborough, on February 10.

On February 18, they made a detailed statement to the police describing Akram as "really, really angry" and saying how scared they were.

On February 20, Ms Bourke was moved to a "safe" hostel in Nottingham, but the rules only allowed for Mr Penman to stay one night – after which he went home.

Akram allegedly took the couple's disappearance badly, and in the 11 days leading up to the killing, made a further "barrage" of calls and texts to Mr Penman on 1,626 occasions.

The jury was shown CCTV footage plotting the alleged killer's route.

It showed a man in a hoodie pulled up to disguise his features, carrying a bag, making his way from Abbey Lane, near Akram's home, to the murder scene in Somerfield Walk, between 3.19am and 3.50am on February 22.

Mr Spencer said: "That is the killer and the important issue is, is that Awat Akram?

"The defence say it's not him.

"He has his murderer's kit with him. It has, we suggest, a knife.

"There's premeditation and the weapon had been selected. It will probably have gloves and a change of clothing.

"It's going to be a bloody murder and he will need to get rid of his clothing and there may be footwear as well.

"We see the killer walking across Leicester. The prosecution say who else can it be?"

At 3.50am, the killer is seen turning on to the path leading to the alleged victim's home.

Mr Spencer said: "Then there's exactly an hour's gap and it's within that gap we say Mr Penman was murdered.

"The house was broken into in a noisy way. The patio doors were simply smashed and it must have made a pretty loud crashing noise – but that doesn't alert a deaf man asleep.

"He must have known he was breaking into the home of a deaf man as there was no risk of alerting him."

Sign language interpreters have been translating the proceedings.

The prosecuting opening speech continues today.

An entrepreneur is seeking investors to help launch a tropical fish tank that requires no filter cleaning or water changes.

Suzy Shelley, who graduated from Loughborough University in 2011, was inspired to create the revolutionary tank by her own experiences of keeping tropical fish.

The tank, Avo, is the result of three years of research and development and 18 months of testing.

Suzy said: "A well-maintained tank is the key to healthy fish, but that means frequent water changes, cleaning smelly filters and algae build up.

"I wanted to design something that takes the stress out of keeping tropical fish, to make it a simple, beautiful and above all enjoyable experience."

Suzy said her 15-litre fish tank featured a continuously moving bed that recycles older bacteria into plant food, creating space for new bacteria to grow.

Automated LED lighting is optimised for plant photosynthesis and growth, which promotes clear and healthy water.

Suzy has launched a crowd-funding campaign on Kickstarter to raise money in order to go into mass manufacture.

Supporters can pledge £5 to contribute to the campaign, or for £200, receive an Avo fish tank and starter kit for £150 off the recommended retail price.

Cases dealt with at Leicester Magistrates' Court include:

Graham Baxter (57), of Dunslade Grove, Market Harborough, was committed to prison for four weeks after pleading guilty to stealing cider worth £2.99 from the Co-Op, Coventry Road, Market Harborough, on July 30, and a further four weeks, to run consecutively, after admitting stealing beer worth £13.99 from Emerson and West, Market Harborough, the following day. Both offences were committed while Baxter was on a community order and he asked for two other offences to be taken into consideration.

Martin Powell (33), of Aikman Avenue, New Parks, pleaded guilty to stealing washing gel and energy drinks worth £29.94 from the Stocking Farm Post Office, Marwood Road, Leicester, on June 13, 2013. He got a 12-month supervised community order including attending six months' drug dependency treatment and probation appointments and was ordered to pay £29.94 compensation.

Matthew John Greasley (18), of Fosse Road North, Leicester, pleaded guilty to stealing a bicycle worth £100 in Leicester on July 22. He was given an 18-month community order, including 120 hours' unpaid work, to be carried out within the next 12 months and attending probation appointments. Greasley was also ordered to pay a £60 victim surcharge and £40 costs.

Mary Cook (47), of Sandhurst Street, Oadby, pleaded guilty to a joint offence of stealing items worth £47.58 from Asda, Leicester Road, Oadby, on July 15. She was discharged conditionally for 12 months and ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge and £35 costs.

Alan Hobson (41), of Cheney Road, off Barkbythorpe Road, Leicester, pleaded guilty to driving in Barkbythorpe on June 1 with 92 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 milliletres of blood. The legal maximum is 80mg. He was disqualified from having a driving licence for 12 months, fined £350 and ordered to pay £85 costs with a £35 victim surcharge.

A district council has helped secure £3.7 million in government funding to help build more "affordable" homes.

Communities in north west Leicestershire will benefit from the grant, which will pay for at least 263 homes for people on modest incomes.

Up to £1 million was committed by the district council to three housing associations – East Midlands Housing (emh), Nottingham Community Housing Association and Waterloo Housing Group – to make their funding bids more competitive.

And all the schemes submitted from the district have been supported by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).

The £3.7 million was secured following a national competitive bidding process as part of the Government's 2015-18 Affordable Homes Programme.

With a combination of their own funding, the Government grant and gap funding from the district council, the housing associations will invest almost £27 million in the district.

Councillor Roger Bayliss, the council's cabinet member for housing, said it would bring employment opportunities, supporting construction jobs and sustaining businesses.

"This really is fantastic news for North West Leicestershire," he said. "By investing the councils' funds carefully we have been able to unlock a significant investment for the area for much-needed new affordable homes."

A recent county-wide housing assessment indicated that 212 affordable homes need to be provided each year in the district to meet current demand from local residents.

A running fanatic is planning to complete 10 marathons in as many days for charity.

John Stew, who works as catering manager for Leicestershire County Cricket Club, in Grace Road, began his running habit after quitting smoking in 2007.

Since then, he has completed 104 marathons and raised at least £20,000 for charities.

Now, at the age of 57, he intends to go to the Great Barrow Challenge, in Suffolk, and make the 10 days of marathons his last gruelling endeavour – although he intends to keep running for fun.

John, who lives in Aylestone, said: "I've found running is just as addictive as smoking.

"When you're doing a marathon there's no escaping pain and you're always going to suffer at some point.

"But it's about strength of mind to push through the hills, rain and wind and it's also very relaxing – it clears the brain."

John is one of about 400 British members of the 100 Marathon Club. His 100th marathon was the Leicester event in October.

His best time for running the 26 miles is three hours and 37 minutes.

The 10-marathon challenge begins on September 4 and John expects about 50 people will be taking part with him.

He will be running for the Lord's Taverners sports charity, for children with special needs.

He said: "It seemed like a very worthy cause. I've got about £250 so far. Hopefully, I can raise a couple of thousand pounds."

As well as fund-raising, John is busy with his training, running long distances and sticking to a suitable diet.

John and his partner Trudy Sharpe are members of the Roadhoggs AC Leicester running club.

John regularly competes in league events.

The Great Barrow Challenge, for walkers and runners, has four marathon routes.

The first, near Newmarket, goes across The Gallops, where horses are trained for races.

Another has a route through a country park and the other two both include Army training grounds.

John said: "When you run lots of marathons it's usually day two which is the worst.

"After that, the body adapts to running a marathon incredibly well."

To sponsor John, visit:

www.justgiving.com/ John-Stew/

Generous readers have helped raise more than £1,000 in less than two weeks to send a poorly child to see Santa.

Donations have been flooding in since we launched our Lapland Appeal at the start of the month.

We have already managed to beat the target of £900 – the amount it costs to send one child and their parent or guardian to meet Santa.

So we have decided to carry on and see if we can pay for more poorly children to visit the winter wonderland.

Children like Jack Reape, of Birstall, who was diagnosed with cancer when he was 13 months old.

On New Year's Eve 2010, Jack's parents, Maria and Paul, were told their son had a large soft muscle tumour.

"It was horrific," said Maria, 43.

"You just don't expect to hear it, it doesn't seem real. It's a complete shock."

For six months, Jack lived in hospital.

He began a stint of chemotherapy and had surgery to remove the tumour.

Jack has two brothers, Ben, who was five at the time, and Sam, who was two.

Maria said: "His brothers were brilliant. They made it easier for us.

"Their life was turned upside-down, too. It's been a tough ride for all of us."

Last year, Jack and his family were given the opportunity to go to Lapland on the annual trip organised by national charity When You Wish Upon A Star.

"The trip was amazing," said Maria. "It was fantastic to watch all my boys together, having fun and playing.

"None of us parents had to worry or think about anything – it was lovely."

Jack, who is now five and in remission, took more than 100 letters to Santa written by his school friends.

"When Santa came out, it was just magical," said Maria.

"I remember on our way home, I looked around at the kids who were fast asleep following the excitement of the day. That was emotional for me.

"They all really deserved to be on that trip."

We want to raise as much money as we can to send seriously ill children to Lapland.

Firms, as well as individuals, are welcome to make a donation – as Marks Electrical Limited, of Leicester's West End, did this week.

You can donate to the appeal by filling out the form on this page or by visiting our Justgiving page:

www.justgiving.com/ laplandappeal

For more information, e-mail:

yasminduffin@ leicestermercury.co.uk

Eighteen months ago, Matt Henshaw was stuck in a desk job and looking to do something "a bit brave".

Now, he is about to start his first tour of the UK and Europe as a singer.

Matt, of Clarendon Park, Leicester, decided to make a dramatic career change in March last year.

The 26-year-old quit his job as a research assistant at the University of Leicester.

"I wanted to do something a bit brave before I reached 30," Matt said.

"Working in an office just wasn't satisfying my creative needs, so I thought, why not go for it?"

Matt has been playing the guitar since he was nine but said music had taken a back seat until last year.

He described his music as soulful, inspired by artists such as Marvin Gaye and Sam Cooke.

"All of what I sing is heartfelt and comes from the soul," he said.

He began playing at open mic nights at venues such as The Cookie, in Leicester's High Street.

A growing fan base led to bigger gigs at Simon Says and Strawberry Fields Festival.

"I've been playing up and down the country for the past 12 months. It's gone really well," said Matt.

He has released two EPs, with a third out next month.

In July, Matt signed a publishing deal with I'm Not From London.

It will take some or all of his songs and promote them in the media and online.

He said: "This is the first big step of my music career.

"When I left my job, I just hoped that in 12 months I would be making a living by doing what I love doing – and I am. It's amazing."

On September 20, Matt will begin his first UK tour.

His first gig will be where it all began.

He will go on to perform at venues across England, Scotland and Wales.

He starts a tour of Europe in January. It will include more than 50 dates in the Netherlands, Belguim, Germany and Austria.

"Getting back into music was the best decision I've ever made," Matt said.

Tickets for the gig at The Cookie next month will be available on the door or from:

www.thecookieleicester.co.uk

A man has admitted kidnapping and sexually abusing an eight-year-old-boy.

Mohmed Bajiwala (34) also sexually assaulted a 12-year-old boy and attempted to abuse a 10-year-old.

At Leicester Crown Court, Bajiwala, of King Edward Road, Leicester, pleaded guilty to attempted sexual assault of a child under 13, between February 1 and March 31, involving the 10-year-old.

He admitted sexually assaulting a child under 13, namely a 12 years old, on March 30.

Bajiwala also pleaded guilty to kidnapping and sexually assaulting the eight-year-old on May 3.

The offences happened in Spinney Hills, Leicester.

At an earlier hearing, city magistrates heard the defendant used the same ruse to trick each of the boys into a car.

He would approach the child and tell them he could not find the keys to his car and asked them to help him search for them under the seats and footwell. The incident involving the eight-year-old was when he was driven from one location to another, and then sexually abused.

Judge Philip Head adjourned the crown court hearing for the preparation of reports.

Bajiwala is due to be sentenced on October 3. He was remanded back into custody.

A 41-year-old man who sexually abused a 15-year-old schoolgirl has been jailed for three years and seven months.

Wayne Hampson, of Arnesby Crescent, Leicester, admitted three counts of sexual activity with a child, all committed on one day in August, 2012.

The incidents happened at a house in Leicester when they were alone together on a sofa and inappropriate touching occurred, said Philip Gibbs, prosecuting.

Leicester Crown Court was told that Hampson's misconduct came to light when the victim's mother saw incriminating text messages on her daughter's phone.

Paul Prior, mitigating, said: "He acted inappropriately and admits he felt some flattery by her attention and he didn't discourage her, which was quite wrong."

Judge Philip Head said: "She initiated contact by kissing you and you took advantage of the situation.

"It appears she consented, but the whole point of these offences is they're created to protect young and impressionable girls approaching adulthood."

A sexual offences prevention order was made banning Hampson from contacting the victim or having unsupervised contact with females under 16.

A tribunal has overturned a decision to withdraw full support payments to a wheelchair-bound man who relies on morphine to relieve chronic pain.

Last autumn, Government contractor ATOS ruled Charles Foreman, who suffered a crippling back injury more than 20 years ago, was fit to work.

That was despite being signed off by his GP and being on a daily cocktail of painkilling drugs.

However, following intervention by his MP, Sir Edward Garnier, and support from his wife Karen, Mr Foreman will now have his full Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) of £97 a week restored.

He is also set to get more than £1,000 in back payments that were withheld when his full ESA was suspended last October.

The plight of the former foundry worker was first reported by the Leicester Mercury after he failed a work capability assessment carried out 12 months ago.

The doctor, employed by ATOS, judged he fell far short of the minimum eligibility standard and his £97-a-week ESA was withdrawn on October 28. It was replaced by a £70-a-week payment pending his appeal.

To qualify for ESA, Mr Foreman had to score at least 15 points in his work capability assessment but he only scored six. But his wife, Karen, said the assessment did not accurately reflect her husband's condition, which confines him to a wheelchair although he can walk short distances with a walking frame.

The U-turn comes after Charles and Karen appealed against the decision and attended a 30-minute hearing at New Walk, Leicester, on August 8.

Mr Foreman, who lives in Market Harborough, said he had contemplated suicide because of his condition.

He said: "I feel human again because the tribunal listened to what I had to say. I would love to be able to go back to work."

Karen said: "We feel fully justified and I would like to thank the Mercury for publicising our situation and Sir Edward Garnier for supporting us.

"The tribunal was totally different from the previous hearings that we have attended.

"The chairman and the doctor listened to what Charles had to say. In the past we had the impression the officials simply weren't listening to us."

The decision was sent to the couple by post the following day saying it had been taken after listening to their "cogent" arguments.

Sir Edward Garnier said: "This decision is a testament to the persistence and resilience of Mr and Mrs Foreman through a process which has caused them considerable stress. It is right that the payments have been backdated."

A Department of Work and Pensions spokesman would not comment on the details of the ruling, but said: "The work capability assessment is designed to look at what work someone can do with the right support – rather than just writing people off on sickness benefits, as happened in the past.

"The decision on entitlement is made after considering all the available evidence and people have the right to submit extra evidence or appeal as part of the process."

Belgian soldiers from the First World War who lie buried in a Leicester cemetery were honoured in a ceremony.

The eight, and a ninth whose body was later repatriated to his homeland, died mainly in the early days of the conflict as Germany swept across the Western Front.

The nine men, who were buried alongside their British, Australian and Canadian comrades at the cemetery, all died in the 5th Northern General Hospital – where the University of Leicester stands.

The nine include one unknown soldier.

On Saturday, a high-ranking Belgian consular official joined members of the Friends of Welford Road Cemetery and the Western Front Association in a ceremony to honour the fallen.

The Belgian VIP gave a brief speech, there was a minute's silence and a wreath was laid, with each soldier's resting place marked with a poppy cross.

Details of all First World War commemoration events are available at:

www.visitleicester/info

Quorn fought through to the next stage of the FA Cup with a 3-1 extra preliminary round victory against Bottesford Town.

Goals in the 11th and 20th minutes from Ash White and Dom Brennan respectively gave the Reds a two-goal advantage before the visitors pulled one back seven minutes from the break.

Quorn were guilty of squandering several chances after that and it would not have surprised the home supporters if Town had equalised.

However, late in the game, substitutes Jake Wright and Liam Turner combined for the latter to add a third.

Shepshed Dynamo were seconds away from elimination in a drab encounter at the Dovecote against MFL rivals Dunkirk.

After a first half devoid of any real goal attempts, the visitors took the lead in the 69th minute.

In the two minutes of added time, a beaten-looking Shepshed grabbed an unexpected equaliser when, following a corner, a penalty area scramble resulted in central defender Rob McCormick heading home.

Kirby Muxloe looked a class above their visitors, Wolverhampton Casuals, as they confirmed their presence in the preliminary round with a 3-0 victory.

Loughborough University travelled to Northern Counties East League side Shirebrook and, after a goalless first half, found themselves 2-0 down shortly after the break.

The Uni, however, fought back but it was not until the 93rd minute that they levelled matters and forced a replay this evening.

Blaby & Whetstone Athletic and Harborough Town have to try again after a 2-2 draw at Warwick Road, while St Andrews also face a replay after Tipton Town netted twice in the last five minutes to grab a draw at Canal Street.

Sam Taylor and Callum Earls had scored in the first half for the Andrews.

Thurnby Nirvana powered through to the preliminary round after they hammered Lincoln Moorlands Railway at Dakyn Road. Reece Morris scored twice in a 5-1 verdict, with Ash Day, Matt Melbourne and Sean Phillips completing a fine day for the Thurnby men.

Ellistown & Ibstock United secured a fine 2-0 win over Studley with Danny Quinn and Adam Johnson on target.

They now progress to face Kirby.

Kieran Foster, Adam Rideout and Graham Wells were the Holwell Sports' goalscorers in their 3-0 success over Graham St Prims.

There was no joy for Oadby Town as they crashed out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle.

The Poachers were soundly beaten 5-1 at Handsworth Parramore.

Heather St Johns also bowed out of the competition, losing 2-0 at home to Coventry Sphinx.

Kibworth set up an exciting run-in to the Everards League title race by beating leaders Loughborough Town in an epic contest.

The visitors edged home by two wickets with six balls to spare, cutting Loughborough's lead at the top of the Premier Division to nine points with four matches to go.

Sileby are also still in the running after a one-wicket home win over Leicester Ivanhoe kept them a further 16 points back in third.

Kibworth looked to be heading to victory when, chasing Loughborough's 179 all out, they reached 133-3 in the 31st over.

But, from then on, the Loughborough bowlers and fielders exerted an ever-tighter grip.

There was not a single boundary as five wickets fell, while Kibworth battled towards their target single by agonising single.

Rishi Patel caused most of the problems, bowling well-flighted looping off-spinners.

In his first over, Darren Shaw (25) fell to an outstanding leg-side catch by wicket-keeper Charlie Lowen.

Andy Smith was bowled for 21 in Patel's second over and, suddenly, the warning lights were flashing for Kibworth after they had dominated the match.

A fine diving catch by Tom Wells at short extra cover accounted for Charlie Paige-Morris and, when Lowen pouched his fourth catch to dismiss Monik Patel, Kibworth had subsided to 149-7, still 31 short of victory.

But No.9 Russell Spiers provided the ideal knock for the circumstances.

At first he played the supporting role to Fabian Taylor (17), who became Patel's fifth wicket with 14 needed, before nudging the odd single of his own.

Matt Bashford was at the other end as Spiers hit the winning run, taking his score to nine off 36 balls – a hugely important innings under extreme pressure.

Earlier, Loughborough's batting failed to fire after they were put in as paceman Luke Evans (3-37) caused a host of problems for the middle order.

Kibworth captain Matt Craven said of the title race: "That opens it up again."

He added: "We were just relieved to get over the line.

"A couple of times this season we've come up short when we've been chasing and that's cost us." It was just as exciting at Sileby, where opening bowler Imran Khan took 6-19 as the home side collapsed to 113-8 chasing Leicester Ivanhoe's 185 all out.

Matt Ellis and Phil Chamberlain (19) added 45 but the visitors still looked favourites with Sileby 158-9.

They had 30 balls at No.11 Umar Afzal but he defended stoutly, scoring just one single, while Ellis garnered the runs needed, finishing 48 not out as Sileby won with four overs to spare.

Rothley Park extended their lead in Talent Cricket Division One to 21 points thanks to a 62-run win at Houghton & Thurnby, while second-placed Barkby United drew against Countesthorpe.

Zak Ginvert gave Rothley Imps an incredible start to the season as they hammered Leicestershire Senior League champions Allexton & New Parks 5-0 on their own patch.

Ginvert helped himself to four of the goals with Marlon Byram also on target.

FC GNG were also among the goals as they won 5-2 at Dunton & Broughton Rangers.

Karum Singh Shankar scored two of the goals, with Bhurinder Aiekin, Rishi Jadav and Andresh Matharu netting the other strikes.

Birstall United were in the mix for much of last season and started well with a 2-1 success at Melton Mowbray, Jamie Reay on the scoresheet for United.

There was plenty of goalmouth action around the league on the opening day, although Houghton Rangers and Kirby Muxloe Reserves fought out a goalless draw, as did Sileby and Saffron Dynamo.

It was all square at Barlestone St Giles, too, although the home side shared six goals with Friar Lane & Epworth.

Tom Bennett cracked a hat-trick for the home side, with John Chapman hitting a couple for the Lane. Joe Clayton also netted for the visitors.

Desford and Cottesmore Amateurs drew 2-2. Sandeep Singh and Jack Spence scored for Desford, Andrea Fontoura grabbing both for Amateurs.

Caterpillar eased to three points at Earl Shilton Albion, where they picked up a 4-1 victory.

The goals were shared out among Jess Adcock, Andrew Farren, Sam Hodgkin and Dave Kendrick.

Barwell kicked off their Evo-Stik Premier Division campaign with a 0-0 draw at home to FC United of Manchester.

The Canaries, who finished mid-table last season, held last season's runners-up on the opening day of the season.

Meanwhile, in Division One South, Loughborough Dynamo were 3-1 winners at Brigg Town.

Luke Smithson could hardly have got his season off to a better start, opening the scoring inside the first minute before adding a second after the break.

Martin Bowles put the game beyond doubt just after the hour-mark before Brigg Town grabbed a consolation on 70 minutes. The result sees Dynamo sit joint-second on goal difference.

Coalville Town, who just missed out on promotion last season, got off to a winning start with a 2-1 victory at home to Romulus.

The Ravens had to come from behind after going 1-0 down after just 10 minutes.

But they levelled just after the break thanks to an own goal before securing all three points on 72 minutes through Ben Saunders.

Adventurer Sarah Outen has completed her kayak across the Pacific Ocean.

In May, she set off from the Alaskan island of Adak, about halfway across the Pacific, having rowed there from Japan in 2013.

She reached the American mainland last month and has spent the past few weeks rowing along the Alaskan coast to the town of Homer, where she will get back on her bike.

After cycling across North America, she will row back across the Atlantic, completing the round-the-world journey she began in April 2011.

She posted on her blog: "Just a quick note to say we made it.

"The longest kayak crossing of the trip to get to the peninsula – a cheeky 50 miler – followed by another 30-mile day on Thursday, then we made it to Homer and the start of the road."

www.sarahouten.com

Brian Duffy was one of Ralph Lauren's senior lieutenants. He is now the boss and part-owner of the UK's leading luxury jewellers. Deputy Business Editor Tom Pegden spoke to him

Scudamore Road trading estate, off the A47, just outside Leicester, is a far cry from the sparkling new £17 million Watches of Switzerland store in Regent Street, London.

For that matter, it's a far cry from the Goldsmiths jewellery and watch store in Leicester's Highcross centre.

But here, in the shadow of the once great British Shoe Corporation building, are the headquarters of Aurum, the holding company of luxury retail brands Watches of Switzerland, Goldsmiths and the quintessentially and elegantly English Mappin and Webb.

It's here, just past the park and ride scheme and a stone's through from the Meynell's Gorse travellers camp, that a retail empire is based.

An empire which sees Harrods and Selfridges as the competition, and which is currently planning an assault on some of the high rent shopping capitals of the world.

Brian Duffy, a friendly, relaxed and focused 60-year-old Glaswegian took over as Aurum's chief executive at the turn of the year.

In that short time, he has overseen changes which include the recently announced acquisition of the online Watch Shop business, a market leader at the fashion end of the UK watch market.

Then there was the opening last month of the 17,000sq ft, three-storey Watches of Switzerland store at 155 Regent Street with a VIP party featuring the likes of footballer's wife Abbey Clancy, Mission: Impossible star Dougray Scott and Radio 1's Nick Grimshaw.

Brian said the new store has "blown everybody away".

He's also seen a string of rebranding and marketing exercises including a stylish, Hitchcock-themed publicity and window campaign for Watches of Switzerland.

Brian started his career in 1979 as a chartered accountant with KPMG, before moving on to Polaroid and Playtex.

He ran Courtalds in Nottingham and Pretty Polly in Sutton in Ashfield, building his expertise, knowledge and reputation at home and abroad.

Along the way, he even took time out to learn guitar at the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford, Surrey.

He then had 10 years at Polo Ralph Lauren – seven in Geneva and three back in London – which saw him promoted to European, Middle East and Africa president, overseeing prestigious projects such as flagship openings in Moscow and Boulevard Saint-Germain, in Paris.

Brian said: "I was almost 10 years with Ralph Lauren. I had a great time with them, and basically my reason for leaving was all the travelling I was having to do.

"I covered an area that was a third of the globe – a huge distance, with more than 3,000 people under me.

"The business had been very successful, growing from $400 million to $1.5 billion and had elevated in all markets – a five times rise in sales and a far greater multiple in terms of profits and returns.

"But fashion is very hands-on and needed lots of relationship building and travel around the world.

"I was president of a region, and the real management and control and power was in New York, and I simply decided I wanted to do something more UK-based."

Despite the decision to leave, Brian has nothing but praise for the global clothes giant and it's legendary founder

"Ralph Lauren is inspirational – unbelievably successful with a fantastically intuitive view of business and luxury fashion," he said.

"He's tough and demanding but also very warm and personal and very family orientated, and genuinely values his key management.

"He is a great guy to have learned from and to have been challenged by."

But after years living in cities such as Paris, New York and Geneva, Brian and his wife Helen wanted to be closer to their roots, finally settling in Richmond, Surrey.

When he left in 2012, he patiently waited until the right challenge came along – and a luxury brand he could really sink his teeth into.

That challenge was Aurum, where he replaced Justin Stead.

His week is split between Leicester and Aurum's office in London's Oxford Street.

He said: "I can't believe it's been half a year. It's been great. A lot of it is very familiar for me, but the category is new.

"We had a collaborative transition with Justin and there has been a tremendous welcome and support from the people here.

"The people are very committed and loyal, and hard-working and knowledgeable about their business and many are long-serving, which is testament to the company and its values.

"When this came along it was ideal. I was approached, and there were discussions about investing and that's what happened.

"I have always loved this market and watches, and have collected a few over the years as things of beauty and technology.

"I was drawn to the three brands under Aurum and their heritage. The youngest – Watches of Switzerland – is 90 years old this year, and the other two date back to the 18th century. I had already heard there was a great team here, well regarded in the market and the private equity firm behind Aurum, called Apollo, is an attractive shareholder, with ambitions and interest in growth."

Apollo Global Management bought Aurum in 2012 for around £175 million.

Aurum's accounts for the year to February 2013 showed a turnover of £318.2 million – and profits of £2 million – compared with a turnover of £301 million the year before and £248 million in 2009-10. The Watch Shop acquisition will inevitably add to that.

But Brian is keen to push for growth across the board, while exploiting the online experience of Watchshop.com among Aurum's existing brands.

He said: "Our existing e-commerce businesses have been doing very well recently, growing at 70 per cent year-on-year, ahead of expectations.

"The internet is important to us – we are underdeveloped in the category, playing catch-up, but we have been given a huge step up.

"There have been some aggressive transitions lately with things like tablets and click-and-collect – which has obviously been ideal for someone like Next – and click-and-collect can work for us because people can buy online then come into store where our sales staff can give them advice and assurance.

"Watch Shop offers value and fashion and dominates the watch market below £250 – so effectively we are now selling watches from £100 to £1 million."

Other changes under way include a Goldsmiths relaunch, centred on the concept of people shopping there to celebrate special occasions in life, with the tagline "It all starts at Goldsmiths".

The business is also growing the number of its premium Goldmiths stores from 30 to 60, while looking at the "huge" international potential of Mappin and Webb.

Brian said: "Despite having a historical presence overseas, Mappin and Webb is currently just in the UK so I would say a renewed international move will happen in the short to medium-term.

"We are really developing Mappin and Webb's position as a luxury jewellery brand, as the epitome of English beauty and charm and that ultimate style we think nobody else does.

"It's the same company that supplied the Russian royal family and supplied earrings to Marie Antoinette.

"We are currently the Crown jeweller and have a royal warrant from both the Queen and Prince Charles as silversmiths. There is already awareness and appreciation of what it stands for."

Despite all that glitz and glamour, Brian says there are no plans to move from the Braunstone Frith offices.

"It's very functional. It's where we built up a team that is loyal and full of expertise and hard-working. We've absolutely no reason to change that."

The £345.5 million acquisition of Fosse Park by the Queen's property firm and Chinese government opens up the possibility of the shopping centre's expansion, writes Business Editor Ian Griffin.

The retail park, between Leicester and junction 21 of the M1, was jointly purchased by The Crown Estate and Chinese state-owned Gingko Tree Investment last week. The Crown Estate will manage the park.

They acquired the 560,000 sq ft site, one of the UK's largest out-of-town shopping centres, from northern Irish business Foyleside, which paid £360m for it in 2006.

It has been reported Foyleside sold the park as part of a major refinancing.

Earlier this year, it was revealed Fosse Park could expand by a third after three companies, including the owners of the out-of-the-town shopping centre, made bids to buy a key plot of land next to it.

Brewer Everards wants to sell its 13-acre Castle Acres headquarters next door, for tens of millions of pounds, and relocate to a new site close to Enderby police station.

However, negotiations had been put on hold until the sale of Fosse Park had been completed.

The Crown Estate declined to be drawn on the issue last week, while no one from Everards was available for comment.

Martin Herbert, of Enderby retail property experts Space Retail Property Consultants, said: "I would guess The Crown Estate would be looking to open discussions with Everards.

"The Crown Estate would be able to pay a premium for Castle Acres, relative to other property firms. It would just create a more significant retail destination."

Opened in 1989, Fosse Park has 40 stores and attracts eight million customers a year.

Current tenants include Marks & Spencer, GAP, New Look, Clarks, Boots, Next, River Island, Argos, DFS, Thorntons and Costa Coffee.

It was revealed by the Mercury last month that a Primark store was to open at the centre, replacing the current BHS outlet.

Mr Herbert said an expanded Fosse Park would be able to quickly fill the new space because of the huge demand from retailers looking for premier locations.

"The fact Fosse Park demands such high rents is an indication there's strong demand," he said.

"It is one of the top two or three retail parks in the UK."

Rents are thought to be as high as £85 per square foot for a 10,000 sq ft unit.

However, Mr Herbert said any expansion was likely to undergo a rigorous planning process.

"It's quite exciting, but clearly the roads around there are pretty full at the moment," he said.

"If you are going to put an extra few thousand square feet of retail park, it's going to cause a planning issue."

The Crown Estate and Gingko Tree Investment will each take a 50 per cent stake in Fosse Park.

The Crown Estate, which looks after a range of properties on behalf of the Queen, said the deal was the largest in its 1,000-year history.

James Cooksey, of The Crown Estate, said: "Fosse Park is one of the best assets of its kind, combining a prime location, with both scale and opportunities to enhance performance through active management.

"At Fosse Park we intend to bring the same vision and progressive approach to management as we are known for across our regional retail holdings and in London's West End."

The estate's portfolio includes Regent Street in London, Ascot Racecourse, both pictured, and 16 retail parks in places such as Newcastle, Merseyside, Nottingham, Swansea, and Cheshire with a total capital value of more than £1.2 billion.

Last week, the estate also announced it had joined forces with Norway's Norges Bank Investment Management to buy a majority stake in the Pollen Estate, 730,000 sq ft of property in London's West End.

The Crown Estate is one of the largest property owners in the UK, with a portfolio worth £8.1 billion.

It made an annual profit of £252.6m million in the year to March 31, 2013.

The revenue of The Crown Estate goes to the Treasury, which then pays the Queen an annual grant known as the Civil List.