Leicester City defender Liam Moore said he always knew they were capable of their historic victory over Manchester United.

City's 5-3 demolition of the former Premier League champions on Sunday may have come as a shock to many pundits, but Moore insists everyone as the club knew they could produce such a performance.

City were 3-1 down to a star-studded United side before launching a stunning fightback, which has truly announced Leicester's return to the top flight after 10 years out of the Premier League.

Moore said City never lost the belief that they could come back from such a deficit, although he admitted the victory was a surreal feeling.

"To say we have beaten United sounds great, the lads said that in the changing room afterwards," he said.

"You sit back and think, 'We've just beaten Man United.' It was something surreal but something we were capable of if we got the game-plan right.

"This is right up there (in his achievements). This is one of the biggest teams in the world we have beaten.

"They came to the KP and we really showed them what we're about."

In the build-up to the game, Moore vowed that City would take the game to United and try to put their defence under pressure, and were true to their word.

Moore believes they have shown to the rest of the Premier League that City are a side to be respected.

"I've always admired Man United and always wanted to play against them," he said.

"They are big-name players but they have to respect what we can do. 

"We did not want to draw or sit back and, in the end, it paid off, and we scored five goals.

"It's the best attack I've played against. 

"Our game-plan was to soak that up and then, when we have the ball, make sure they have to defend, which is not something attacking players like to do.

"A couple of times last season we said we needed to click, but we've done that early this season.

"We looked at the fixtures before the start of the season and thought we could do something at Chelsea.

"We've had good results against Arsenal and Everton, which we could have won."

Leicester City's incredible victory over Manchester United at the King Power Stadium will be remembered as one of the greatest in the club's history.
City's sensational fight-back from 3-1 down against the former Premier League champions with just half-an-hour left was astonishing. 

It prompted former City favourite Gary Lineker to declare it the club's greatest performance of all time.

Why it ranks so highly is because of the quality of opposition City faced.

But it is not the first time City have produced a great performance against a English football giant.

"There was another memorable City game against United, in April 1963, when Howard Riley scored a hat-trick in a 4-3 victory," said City historian John Hutchinson.

"The gates had been closed for an hour before kick-off because Filbert Street was packed and they witnessed a pulsating game in which Denis Law also scored a hat-trick for United.

"It was the same scoreline when City beat Manchester City, in February 1968, in a fourth-round FA Cup tie.

"In similar fashion to Sunday, City were 2-0 down but came back to score four times in 20 minutes.

"Then there was Keith Weller's hat-trick as City beat Liverpool 3-2, in August 1972, as again City came back from two goals down.

"Although Sunderland were not of the calibre of the other sides mentioned, City's 5-2 victory, in March 2000, was another classic.

"City fans will also remember fondly the 3-3 draw with Arsenal in August 1997, when Steve Walsh grabbed a dramatic late equaliser in the sixth minute of added time following Dennis Bergkamp's hat-trick.
"But Sunday's is up there with the best. In fact, former City midfielder Dave Gibson called me that night and said it was the best City performance he had seen for more than 50 years."

Leicester City forward Jamie Vardy can complete his meteoric rise and become an England international.

That is the view of City team-mate Liam Moore in the wake of Sunday's incredible 5-3 win against Manchester United.

Three years ago, Vardy was playing for Fleetwood in the Football Conference.

But he made his first start in the Premier League on Sunday and was man of the match as Nigel Pearson's side shocked United.

Vardy's pace and determination exposed United's defensive frailties and, as well as scoring City's fourth goal, he provided a superb cross for Leonardo Ulloa's first goal, teed up Esteban Cambiasso for City's third and earned two penalties, which were converted by David Nugent and then Ulloa.

A niggling thigh injury has delayed Vardy's appearance for City this season, but now he is fit Moore believes he will have a major impact in the Premier League and could catch the eye of England boss Roy Hodgson.

"I spoke to Vards and told him, 'It's good to have you fit as I know you will run riot'," said Moore.

"He did, and he did exactly that in the Championship last season and in non-league. It just goes to show that pace is something people struggle to handle.

"He came on, worked hard and improved himself.

"Can he be an international player? I don't see why not. Everyone has to take things one step at a time. It's important he does the same next week and then maybe people can talk about international honours."

Moore said Vardy was a popular figure within the squad and not just because of his effervescent performances.

"He's a good lad," said Moore. "He's known as 'Cannon' as he's always lively. The energy he shows on the pitch he always shows off it as well. He's always bubbling around and up to mischief, but he's great to have around the changing room."

Vardy was criticised by TV pundits for going down too easily under Rafael's challenge for the penalty that pulled City back to 3-2, but Moore believes it was the right decision by referee Mark Clattenburg.

"I think it was a penalty," said Moore. "It was a tackle from behind, he caught him and he went down. That's the laws of the game. Vards commits defenders and forces them into errors."

Former England and Leicester City striker Emile Heskey has proved he can hit a cow's backside with a banjo.

The 36-year-old, who scored 7 goals in 62 games for England and has been criticised for his strike rate, struck a man dressed up as a cow on 'Follow the Football' show on BT Sport on Friday night.

Football fans often use the phrase "he could not hit a cow's a*se with a banjo" to describe a striker who often fails to score.

Emile, who scored 40 goals in 154 games for the Foxes, was initially not keen on hitting the man in the costume, but after reassurance from the host Des Kelly, he accepted the challenge.

His first attempt was a bit too tentative and the banjo did not break.

On his second try, Emile did manage to break the banjo in half to cheers from the audience.

After the stunt, he said: "Am I going to get sued now?"

Host Des said; "No you are not going to get sued."

Emile, is without a team after leaving Australian side Newcastle Jets in the summer.

He has made more than 500 club appearances, scoring 119 goals -a ratio of 0.21 goals a game.

He signed for Liverpool for £11 million in 2000 and went on to score 39 goals for the club in 150 matches.

Two cars were involved in an accident on the A50 countybound opposite County Hall, in Glenfield this afternoon.

The road was partially blocked from 2.10pm until about 4.15pm.

The accident happened just before 2pm and a silver Ford and a black Ford were involved.

No-one was trapped and the drivers received minor injuries.

The ambulance and fire service also attended.

The first stage of a £13.5 million revamp of a city centre bus station began today.

Leicester City Council engineers have moved into the area around Abbey Street and Belgrave Gate to start work transforming the Haymarket Bus Station.

Ultimately the council intends to redevelop and modernise the 20-year-old public transport interchange creating 11 additional bus stands and a new sheltered concourse to protect waiting passengers from the weather.

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: "To say the current bus station is shabby is an understatement.

"It is hardly a great advert for public transport.

"What we will provide will be a huge improvement. It is a job that has needed doing for some time."

The council hopes the new bus station will be operational by December next year and it will be beginning large-scale work next month with the demolition of a block of shops on the corner of Charles Street and Belgrave Gate.

Sir Peter has admitted there will be inevitable disruption in the area caused by the project with road closures and the temporary relocation of bus stops.

However he has promised every effort will be made to keep the inconvenience to a minimum.

Some 50 Leicestershire jobs have been saved at seven Phones 4u shops a week after the company collapsed.

Vodafone has struck a nationwide deal to take on dozens of stores, including branches in Leicester and Leicestershire.

However the future of 30-or-so local jobs remains in doubt.

Phones 4u – which had a £1 billion turnover – went into administration after EE ended its contract with it, a few months after Vodafone had done the same.

There are 14 stores in Leicestershire.

Administrators PwC said following a court hearing today, Vodafone was granted permission to take over the branches.

It will see 14 jobs protected in Leicester, 11 in Beaumont Leys, six in Melton, four in Market Harborough and five each in Loughborough, Fosse Park and Coalville.

There was no news on the Hinckley store or which of the city's four branches had been bought.

Vodafone UK had announced on Friday that it wanted to buy 140 Phones 4u stores across the UK, saving 900 jobs.

It said: "We will start engaging with these employees and begin the rebranding of the stores to Vodafone as soon as possible."

Last week Dixons Carphone said that it hoped to protect 18 further jobs at Phones 4u outlets at its three county PC World-Curry's stores – eight at Fosse Park, four at St George's Retail Park, and six in Loughborough.

Agreements to allow Vodafone and EE to take on Phones 4u stores were drawn up yesterday.

PwC said EE had agreed to pay £2,500,000 to acquire 58 Phones 4u stores – which will be rebranded to EE - subject to yesterday's court approval which also covered the Vodafone buy-out.

The collapse put 5,596 jobs at 720 UK stores in jeopardy, and on Friday the administrators announced that 628 telesales and head office jobs were being lost at its headquarters in Newcastle Under Lyme.

The EE deal includes leaseholds and fixtures and fittings, but not stock.

Commenting on the EE move, Rob Hunt, joint administrator and PwC partner said: "We are absolutely delighted to have completed this further disposal of 58 Phones 4u stores, which will both recover value for secured creditors and save 359 jobs.

"As with the Vodafone transaction, we consider that this represents the best potential outcome for creditors in the circumstances."

A woman has told how her house has been crashed into 10 times by motorists.

The latest incident happened today when a Ford Fiesta hit Rosemary Arrowsmith's home in Main Street, Kilby, fracturing a gas pipe and damaging electricity supply cables.

The female driver had to be released from the car following the crash, which happened at about 12.45pm.

The woman was treated at the scene by paramedics and then taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary. No information about her injuries have been released.

Firefighters from Wigston turned off the gas supply to Mrs Arrowsmith's home as gas was leaking out of the damaged exterior pipe.

Engineers were called to the scene as the damaged electricity cables, which go into the house next door, were exposed and live on the outside of the house.

The road was closed while the incident was dealt with.

Mrs Arrowsmith said she was stopped by police as she tried to drive home along Main Street.

"At the top of the street I was stopped by a police officer who told me I could not go any further as a car had crashed into a house," the 62-year-old said.

"I told him it was probably my home as it had been hit many times in the past.

"He confirmed it was my house and let me through to get home."

Mrs Arrowsmith said cars had hit the house 10 times over the past 30-plus years, while she and husband Michael, 65, have lived there.

The couple have had to have structural repairs carried out five times as a result of it being hit.

The grade II-listed building, at the end of Main Street on the junction with the lane that leads to St Mary's Church, had been hit by cars turning the corner, before a serious accident resulted in Leicestershire County Council erecting concrete bollards outside in 2007.

Subsequently, a car smashed through the lounge wall, stopping feet from where the couple were sitting.

However, Mrs Arrowsmith said the situation had improved since bollards were erected.

She said: "We have been here more than 30 years and used to get cars into the house a lot, but the bollards help.

"I think people just drive into the bend and lose control."

Mrs Arrowsmith said her husband was upstairs when the latest crash happened.

"Michael said he heard a loud thud and knew instantly that it was another car hitting the house," she said.

"He went outside and saw a woman in the driver's seat of the car."

A passer-by had already called 999 and the emergency services were on their way.

A fire service spokeswoman said: "We were called at about 12.45pm by a passer-by who said a car had gone into a house.

"When fire crews arrived there was female casualty trapped in a car and there was a strong smell of gas as a gas pipe had been fractured.

"We isolated the gas supply and extricated the woman."

Police cordoned off the road from 1.05pm. The road was re-opened by 2.30pm.

An air ambulance arrived at the scene but its services were not required.

A quick-thinking broadcast journalist took a photograph of a drunken yob who deliberately smashed up a £22,000 television camera in the street.

The incident happened outside Leicester Crown Court, in Wellington Street, as Sarah Teale, was about to film a report on a murder case for the East Midlands Today programme.

The culprit, Michael Weir, 28, was arrested after Ms Teale showed the police a photograph of him, taken on her mobile phone, on June 18 last year.

Jobless Weir, of Severn Street, Highfields, Leicester, was given a six month jail sentence, suspended for two years with supervision today.

He was also ordered to undergo a six month drug rehabilitation programme.

Weir was convicted by a jury of criminal damage at a trial at the same crown court, last month.

He denied the offence claiming it was an accident.

Weir said he tripped and fell onto the camera, which was on a tripod on the pavement.

During the trial, Lynsey Knott, prosecuting, said: "A BBC camera crew were setting up a camera outside the crown court, at the bottom of the steps, at 5.30pm ready to broadcast at 6.30pm.

"While the reporter Sarah Teale was waiting with the two-man crew they saw the defendant walking down the street towards them in an intoxicated state.

"He took hold of the camera on a tripod and threw it deliberately onto the ground.

"The camera and lens smashed, causing £22,000 worth of damage.

"The crew tried to stop him leaving but the defendant became angry, aggressive and abusive towards them as he walked away.

"Reporter, Sarah Teale, photographed the defendant and the police were able to identify him."

The East Midlands Today team were at the court that day to cover the murder trial of former airline pilot, Iain Lawrence, who was accused of murdering his wife, Sally, in a car crash on Gartree Road, Oadby.

It was the day Lawrence took the stand to give evidence in his own defence.

Lawrence was later convicted of murder and received a 24-year minimum term life sentence.

When Weir was arrested at his flat on suspicion of criminal damage, he told the officers he accidentally fell and knocked over the camera.

Weir attended the first day of his trial and gave evidence, but then failed to return to court the next day.

The jury of nine women and three men rejected his account.

After deliberating for one hour and 39 minutes he was convicted unanimously in his absence.

He was later arrested on a warrant and then released on bail pending yesterday's sentencing.

In mitigation the court heard that he had long standing mental health issues as well as alcohol and drug problems.

Judge Philip Head said that Weir told to the author of his pre-sentence report, that despite the jury's verdict he still did not think he was at fault.

Judge Head said the evidence indicated otherwise.

He said a number of prosecution witnesses described how Weir "purposefully crossed the road" to where the camera was positioned.

They told the court that Weir then drunkenly took umbrage that half the pavement was blocked by the camera and had deliberately knocked it over.

Firefighters were called out after two cars collided in Groby Road, near County Hall today.

Two crews from Western station were called out at 1.53pm to the incident in Glenfield.

No-one was taken to hospital after the collision.

A young mountain biker who was hurt in an accident died from internal bleeding the day after he was declared fit to go home by Staffordshire hospital staff, an inquest has heard.

John Moore-Robinson, of Sileby, died on April 2, 2006, as a result of a ruptured spleen.

The 20-year-old had suffered the injury the previous afternoon while riding with friends at Cannock Chase, Staffordshire.

An inquest into Mr Moore-Robinson's death was held in 2007, when a narrative verdict simply setting out the circumstances was recorded.

However, in 2009 an independent inquiry revealed that hundreds of patients could have died unnecessarily at Stafford General Hospital's A&E department.

As a result, and following a campaign by Mr Moore-Robinson's parents, the High Court rule a new inquest be held. 

The new inquest began in April, this year, but was adjourned until yesterday by coroner Catherine Mason, so witnesses could be traced.

Mr Moore-Robinson died at Leicester Royal Infirmary after calling 999 from his home and collapsing in front of paramedics.

The inquest at Leicester Town Hall, today, was told the mountain bike's handlebars had twisted around in the crash, with one end hitting his abdomen with force.

He was taken by ambulance to Stafford General Hospital's A&E department, with the crew reporting his condition as "life-threatening".

Mr Moore-Robinson arrived at the hospital at 3.55pm, but did not receive treatment until 5.35pm, and was discharged later that evening after being wrongly diagnosed with bruised ribs.

Matron Jacqueline Keogh, who was not involved in Mr Moore-Robinson's care, was called in to investigate his treatment.

In her report, she said: "The ambulance report notes Mr Moore-Robinson was complaining of respiratory problems. He was pale and fully conscious.

"The crew evaluated his condition as life-threatening."

However, after nurses checked his vital signs they said he needed "intermediate" care, which is less urgent than "life-threatening".

Ms Keogh wrote: "I would have insisted Mr Moore-Robinson's priority to have been more urgent."

She added that Mr Moore-Robinson should have been allocated a more senior doctor than Dr Girish Sharma, who had only four months' experience in trauma treatment.

Giving evidence, Dr Sharma said he would have read the patient's notes, including the "life-threatening" statement about his injury.

However, apart from a physical examination of Mr Moore-Robinson's abdomen, he did not instruct scans and further investigations for internal bleeding.

He said that following an X-ray of the patient's chest which ruled out broken ribs or a punctured lung, his vital signs – including heart rate, blood pressure and respiratory rate – were "normal".

Dr Sharma said he discussed his assessment with his more senior colleague, Dr Klaus Von Pressentin, before discharging Mr Moore Robinson.

In a statement read out on behalf of Dr Von Pressentin, who has since returned to his native South Africa, the senior doctor said: "Dr Sharma thought his patient could be discharged but wanted a second opinion.

"My agreement with the discharge was based on information given to me by Dr Sharma.

"From the information given to me, I didn't consider the possibility of a ruptured spleen."

Dr Sharma told the inquest he had discussed the possibility of internal bleeding with Dr Von Pressentin, however, this was not recorded in his medical notes.

"I am not proud of my note-taking in this instance," he said.

Stafford staff nurse Mark Saville told the inquest the hospital's A&E department was understaffed.

He said: "When I started working in the trust in 2006, we were short-staffed.

"We only had three nurses in majors (patients with serious symptoms or injuries) on April 1, 2006.

"We also had a lot of very sick patients in, who, if this happened now, would be in special units in Wolverhampton or Stoke."

The inquest continues.

MP Andrew Robathan has tonight issued a statement saying he will not be standing again as the Conservative candidate in South Leicestershire. Here is his statement in full.

Statement by the Rt Hon Andrew Robathan MP for South Leicestershire

It is with very mixed feelings that I have decided not to stand again as the Conservative candidate for South Leicestershire. It has been a huge privilege representing all my constituents and I am honoured by the trust and confidence that people have shown in me. I have greatly enjoyed my role and I hope have done some good both for my constituents and for our country. However, time moves on. In July I stood down from the Front bench following 12 years and, after a great deal of soul searching, I believe it is time to let someone else represent the constituency. Next year will mark a quarter of a century since I was selected as candidate there and the Association will now have the exciting opportunity of choosing a new candidate and, DV, MP.

A 12-year-old girl has clinched an A* in GCSE Cantonese.

Joyce Cheung, of Ashby, took the GCSE this summer, when she was only in year seven.

The youngster was over-the-moon when she found out about her A* grade.

She said: "I could not believe it. I was so surprised.

"Many people said congratulations and my mum has bought me a present."

Joyce, who took this exam four years earlier than students normally sit GCSEs, spent about one year studying for the exam before taking it.

In order to prepare for the GCSE she has been attending classes at Birmingham Chinese School every Saturday for the past year.

Joyce, who goes to Ivanhoe College, said she worked hard in preparation for the exam.

"I revised everyday in the evening. I learnt lots of new things.

"The writing was the hardest part.

"But, the hard work was worth it."

The talented linguist took the GCSE at Ashby School. It was made up of two speaking exams, two written exams and a reading and listening paper.

Joyce's mother Diven Wong said: "I am very proud that at her age she has got an A*. It is a very good performance. I am happy about that.

"I felt happy when I knew she was happy."

Diven, 44, said: "She joined a Chinese group every Saturday to learn Cantonese and everyday we would speak to her at home in Cantonese so she had good practise."

Diven said her and her family have been lived in Leicester for four years and before that they lived in Hong Kong.

She added that as Joyce spends most of time talking and writing in English she was worried that Joyce would forget Cantonese, so she thought it was a good idea for her to take an exam.

"If she lives in the UK for a long time, I am worried she will forget Chinese."

She said the exam was a good was to encourage her to continue Cantonese in the UK.

"Sometimes she forgets the vocabulary, even though she remembers how to say the word she did not know how to write it."

Diven said she had to try and keep Joyce motivated to study.

"I had to explain to her that the exam was coming and that if she did not study she would not do well."

Diven said that perhaps when Joyce is a few years older she can take AS and A Level Cantonese.

Anne-Marie Blewitt, principal at Ivanhoe College, said: "Well done Joyce - this is a fantastic achievement. It's great to see so many of our students taking part in extra-curricular activities to such a high level. "

Nick Fitzpatrick, head of modern foreign languages at Ashby School, where Joyce took the GCSE, said: "Joyce must be very proud of her result. At the age of 16 an A* in any subject is a great achievement – let alone for a 12 year old student." 

A De Montfort University student has been given the opportunity to work with music icon Nile Rodgers.

Hollie Copas won a competition, which meant she spent three days in the role of social media manager, working with the multiple Grammy award-winner, as well as chart-toppers Rudimental.

The 21-year-old, of Berkshire beat more than 3,000 hopefuls to the chance of working with the two acts, while they remixed the classic track Le Freak.

The third-year media and communications student said: "It's been a crazy experience.

"It's a tough industry to break into, so to get the call telling me I've got the job was amazing.

"I was having lunch on Monday and Nile Rodgers just came up to me and put his arm around me, it has been so surreal."

For the past three days, Hollie has been tweeting from Rudimental's twitter account and working alongside professional mentors.

"I've met so many lovely people and learned so much. This is definitely something I want to pursue a career in."

The opportunity came after the world renowned artists teamed up with GoThinkBig - a work experience initiative for young people launched by O2 and Bauer media.

Nile,Rudimental and GoThinkBig have recruited 100 young people to fill job roles in support of Le Freak's re-release, nearly 40 years after it first went to number one in the US and UK charts.

Young people aged between 16 and 24 were invited to apply for a host of different roles through the GoThinkBig website.

Hollie said: "I had to send in my CV and also write why they should choose me in just 100 words - which was quite the challenge.

"What a cool work placement to have on your CV though and who knows, in the future, I might be able to work with them again."

The project was designed to offer applicants a unique opportunity to kick-start their career by landing a dream work placement.

Nile Rodgers, said: "Hollie was chosen because of her social media skills, she has spent a lot of time crafting her talents through work experiences and this showed through her application.

"I know the feeling of rejection from when I started out and for many young people it's hard to get their first career break.

"That's why I've joined forces with GoThinkBig to offer up opportunities to remix my most successful track Le Freak, and inspire young people across the UK to dream big."

The remixed collaboration between Nile and Rudiemental will be released on October 10.

Four Phones 4u shops in Leicester and Hinckley will stay permanently closed with the loss of 26 jobs, it was confirmed today.
Administrators at PwC said they had failed to find a buyer for the branches in Leicester's Gallowtree Gate, Humberstone Gate and Highcross and in Hinckley, despite finding new owners for other county branches.
Yesterday (MON) it was agreed that Vodafone would take on seven of the stricken chain's branches in the city and county, safeguarding 50 jobs.
The move – which will see the stores rebranded as Vodafone – will see 14 jobs protected at the Eastgates store in Leicester, 11 in Beaumont Leys, six in Melton, four in Market Harborough and five each in Loughborough, Fosse Park and Coalville.
Phones 4u – which had a £1 billion turnover – went into administration last week after EE and Vodafone ended their contracts with it. EE has also agreed a deal to take over some stores, though none of those are in the county.
Phones 4u had 700 shops and employed 5,596 people across the UK.
There were 14 stores in Leicestershire. Dixons Carphone has agreed a deal to protect 18 further jobs by taking on the outlets at its three PC World-Curry's stores in Fosse Park, St George's Retail Park and Loughborough.
PwC said 198 Phones 4u stores and 160 concessions would continue operating nationwide, employing more than 2,000 people, following the deals with Dixons Carphone, Vodafone and with EE.
A spokeswoman said: "Unfortunately, there is limited interest in the balance of the estate from parties considering going concern offers.
"This comprises 362 stores. Regretfully, as a result, the administrators announce that those stores will close permanently and 1,697 staff employed at these locations will be made redundant."
Rob Hunt, joint administrator and PwC partner, said: "It is with much regret that we have today made the difficult decision to close a large number of stores. It is a very sad day for the staff working at those locations and our thoughts are with them.
"We will make every effort to help the affected staff, working with the Phones 4u HR team over the coming days to support employees."

A row has erupted over the questions opposition members are tabling at Leicester City Council meetings.

Deputy mayor of Leicester Rory Palmer has accused them of misusing and abusing their right to ask questions of the authority's Labour executive.

Councillor Palmer spoke out in the wake of a boisterous and often bad-tempered four-and-a-half hour full council meeting in which councillors from all parties asked 57 questions.

It took nearly three hours to get through all the questions along with their responses.

Coun Palmer said: "It was incredibly frustrating. It wasn't an effective or enlightening display of city council democracy.

"When you look a what was being asked many questions were just about cheap political point scoring.

"It was the sort of political theatre that puts members of the public off politics and we can't blame people for being frustrated when they witness that sort of thing.

"The issue is not the quantity of questions and it's important that we do not limit them, or the time given to them, but to take an interesting example, asking how many times the Town Hall lift has broken down is not a major concern to most residents in the city."

Coun Palmer has suggested the order of future council meetings be rearranged so councillors' question come last after the authority's other business.

He said: "It is not about curtailing questions which are very important but the mechanism is being abused and misused.

"Relevance is the key thing and many of the questions we had were just about political point scoring and took up time where we could have been carrying out the substantive business of the council."

Tory opposition councillor Ross Grant accused Labour of hypocrisy.

He said: "It's quite arrogant of the executive.

"If they think they should be able to decide what questions they should answer they are missing the point of the exercise.

"It's rich of Labour to complain about this when their first question at that meeting invited the city mayor to tell us whether he would have supported The House of York or Lancaster if he were in charge in 1485. Really, what was the point of it?"

"My fellow Knighton councillor Lynn Moore asked a question about Gaza. It's an important issue but in ten years I must have missed the Palestinian residents in the ward.

"It was put just to allow the mayor to talk about his recent trip to Palestine.

"It's dog whistle politics.

"Many, but not all, Labour questions at council are planted to give the mayor a chance to say how wonderful everything is.

"Rory says the questions took up the time for the council's substantive business but what was that business?

"Some minor amendments to the constitution and a back-slapping report of scrutiny work where councillors tell themselves how well they've done in not getting to mayor to change his mind on anything."

Former Labour members Wayne Naylor and Barbara Potter, now TUSC councillors, tabled 22 questions, including the one about the town hall lift.

Coun Naylor said: "We discussed the questions in advance and they were the ones our steering committee wanted us to ask.

"You might not get such long meetings if the Labour group hadn't cut their number from eight to five.

"It's not political point scoring. It's trying to gain an understanding of the things we were not talking about when we were Labour members.

"Rory might find it frustrating but it is equally frustrating when you don't get proper answers to what you ask."

Liberal Democrat councillor Nigel Porter many of the Labour group's questions to council could easily be dealt with at its monthly internal meetings.

A teenager was punched in the face and kicked in the head while on the ground in an attempted robbery.

The 18-year-old was assaulted by two men in Beaumont Walk, in Beaumont Leys, Leicester.

Police said they approached the victim and demanded money before attacking him.

The suspects, who are both described as being white, then made off on foot.

The teenager managed to raise the alarm at a nearby address and was taken to hospital for treatment for "minor injuries".

Officers are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident to come forward.

It happened at about 8pm on Saturday, August 30, but details have only now been released.

Detective Constable Michelle Preston said: "This was a nasty assault on a lone man that has caused him injury and distress.

"There were other people in the area at the time of the incident so it may be that they witnessed part of the incident.

"We would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the incident or saw the two men acting suspiciously in the area at the time."

Anyone with information should contact the police by dialling the 101 number.

Two of the county's brightest – and fastest – young cycling stars have the chance to shine at the World Road Race Championships in Spain this weekend.

Giant-Shimano sprinter Lucy Garner has a second consecutive taste of the World Championships at senior level as she dons Great Britain colours in the elite women's road race on Saturday.

The day before the women take to the line, Dan McLay, another fast finisher, tackles the under-23 road race over 182km on Friday afternoon.

The Cropston man knows that the two climbs on the circuit are the most significant obstacles to him claiming a place on the podium.

"It's always good to be selected for the national team for a major event, especially as being part of a nation as strong as Britain, it's not easy to make the team," said the Lotto-Belisol rider.

"I really hope I have a good day and am in with a chance of winning. Having not seen the course, it's really difficult to tell but I hope I can make it over the climbs and it comes down to a sprint. In that situation, I would have a very good chance."

A recent win in the Tour de l'Avenir, coupled with some good sprint showings in the Friends Life Tour of Britain earlier this month, should have put McLay in good heart for the toughest single-day test of his career.

Garner, meanwhile, has maintained a good level of consistency in the women's professional peloton during her second season among the elite.

The Cosby racer, who turned 20 at the weekend, has become accustomed to top-10 finishes and was fifth twice in the Lotto-Belisol Belgium Tour last week, which helped rubber-stamp her place in the British team for the 127km women's race in Ponferrada.

However, the Sky Academy scholar has also developed into a reliable team rider either with Giant-Shimano on the continental circuit or on international duty, as she showed during the Commonwealth Games when she was part of the England squad that set up Lizzie Armitstead's gold medal in Glasgow.

"Last year in Italy was a fantastic experience for me," said former Countesthorpe College student Garner.

"This is a great way to round off my second senior year. I feel on form and will do as much as I can to help the team get a result, even if the course doesn't particularly suit me."

Illness wrecked Grace Garner's hopes of a high finish in the junior women's time-trial at the World Championships on Monday.

The 17-year-old was struck down late last week and was a doubt to even start Monday's 13km time-trial. However, she had recovered sufficiently to make the line and rode a steady race to finish 41st.

The Cosby teenager hopes to be fully fit, though, for Friday's road race, which has always been her primary target.

A man was assaulted following an argument over the safety of a car.

The 32-year-old victim was punched in the stomach during an altercation in Burbage.

Officers investigating the attack said the incident happened in Flamville Road.

The victim had challenged a man over the safety of his car who then proceeded to verbally abuse him.

The suspect drove away from the scene, but returned a short time later with a friend.

One of the men then assaulted the victim.

It happened on Tuesday, September 9, between 5.20pm and 5.40pm, but details have only now been released.

Pc Michelle Briggs said: "A 43-year-old man has been spoken to in connection with the incident and enquiries are ongoing.

"I would like to speak to anyone who was in the area at the time and saw the incident take place, any information you can provide may assist with our enquiries."

Anyone with information should call the police 101 number.

Leicester Riders face an anxious wait over the fitness of several key players ahead of this weekend's opening BBL Championship matches.

Riders' season gets under way against Manchester Giants at Loughborough University on Saturday, with a tough trip to Cheshire Phoenix the following day.

After last weekend's bruising games against clubs from Spain and Belgium, Conner Washington has a sore shoulder and Derrick Roland took a blow to a leg.

The two players were missing from Riders' squad for the match against Okapi on Sunday, and both are receiving treatment in a bid to be fit for the visit of the Giants.

Tyler Bernadini also picked up a groin injury on Friday night and, with Anthony Rowe only able to make a couple of cameo appearances at the weekend after his long recovery from a snapped tendon, it has left Riders a little short-handed for training this week.

Head coach Rob Paternostro said: "It is not ideal but it often happens at this time of the year.

"The Spanish game in particular was very physical, particularly off the ball, and perhaps it was a bit of a wake-up call to our guys.

"The European game is like that – big guys going at it and creating space with hard picks, and using your hands is all part of the game. We will have learned from it.

"But our focus all the time was on this weekend when we really get down to business.

"We had positives from some very good performances at the weekend, and most pleasing were the contributions we got from everyone in the squad.

"Guys like Washington, Levi Noel and Harrison Gamble are integral to what we are trying to do.

"It will be a long season, and injuries are part-and-parcel of it – it is then up to other players to step in and perform a role.

"It is no secret that I am not happy we have to face two games in the first weekend of the season. Someone who is manning the fixture computer in the BBL must not like us – but we will deal with it.

"It seems every season we end up playing more double-headers than most, but so be it.

"We've got four new players in the team and each has made a positive start to their careers with Riders.

"These games are all going to get us up a learning curve quickly."

Tickets are available for Saturday's game against the Giants by phoning 0116 2558635 or online at www.leicesterriders.co.uk

Charnwood College students Andre Arissol and Henri Langton have been named in the England Under-18 long lists, while David Issekya has been picked for the Under-17 Horizons programme.

Mark Jarram, Riders' assistant head coach, is pleased to see Arissol and this summer's recruits being named to the England squads.

"It's great for them as individuals to be recognised for their talents and potential, but it is also great for our programme," said Jarram.
"We aim to provide our student athletes with what they need in order to achieve an opportunity like this.

"Andre is continuing where he left off from last year. It's also promising for us that the new recruits, David and Henri, look to have a great two years with us. I wish them all the best with their opportunity at national team trials."