A man was taken to hospital following an accident in Loughborough.

A silver Vauxhall went into a ditch on the B676, Loughborough Road this morning.

Following the incident, the driver was then taken to the Queen's Medical Centre by ambulance as a precaution.

One lane of the road was closed as well as the junction with Loughborough Road and Prestwold Lane while the emergency services dealt with the incident.

Emergency services received the call at 8.14am and the road was fully re-opened by 10.27am. The council were also called to clear debris in the road.

Police are hunting a man who assaulted a nine-year-old girl in a playground.

Officers want to trace the man who carried out the assault on the youngster as she played in a park in Paddock Way, Hinckley.

The man struck at 6pm yesterday (TUES) as the child played in the area which has swings and a slide.

Forensic officers carried out investigations in the playground which had been cordoned off.

Other officers were carrying out door-to-door enquiries to try to trace witnesses.

A specially-trained officer was talking to the victim about the assault.

A police spokesman said: "We are investigating an allegation of assault in the Applebee's Meadows area of Hinckley.

"At 6pm on Tuesday September 23 a nine-year-old child was approached by a dark skinned man aged between 16 and 35-years-old and allegedly assaulted. She was not injured.

"Investigations are in their very early stages and we would like to appeal to anyone who has any information about the incident to please contact us."

Local councillors backed the police appeal and told of their shock at the attack.

Hinckley and Bosworth borough councillor David Bill, in whose Clarendon ward the assault took place, said: "This is absolutely appalling.

"It is truly shocking to think that an assault like this can take place on a young child having fun in a playground."

Coun Bill, who has three grandchildren, said people should think back to the incident to see if they have any useful information.

He said: "If anyone has the slightest bit of information about this attack then they should call the police immediately.

"People might think it is not significant but it might help police to piece together what has happened and to locate this attacker."

Hinckley and Bosworth borough councillor Rob Mayne, who lives in the town, said he was disgusted by the assault.

He said: "Everyone in the community will be rightly disgusted by this assault.

"We must work with the police so that the attacker is apprehended as soon as possible.

"Moreover, this man needs to be caught so that he cannot strike again."

Police have appealed to anyone with any information to contact them on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

People are being warned they face prosecution for deliberately killing cats, following new cases of suspected antifreeze poisoning.

Helen O'Connell, 56, said at least two of her cats have been poisoned this month.

On September 12 her three-year-old cat O'Malley showed signs of being uncoordinated and sick, and died at home three days later.

Another pet, Oscar, developed similar symptoms the following week and was put down on September 19.

She said two other cats she owned had gone missing earlier in the month from her home in Ibstock Road, Ellistown, near Coalville.

She said: "It's so unlike them to go missing. They just don't do it.

"I think they've been poisoned, too.

"I think it's deliberate because people wouldn't be using antifreeze for their cars at this time of year."

An RSPCA spokeswoman said: "While we do not know if these incidents are deliberate or accidental we do want to remind people that deliberately poisoning an animal could mean a £20,000 fine and six months in prison under the Animal Welfare Act.

"If you are concerned that your pet may have been poisoned please contact your vet as soon as possible.

"Signs that your animal could have been poisoned vary and can include depression, lack of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, breathing difficulties, bad breath, twitching or seizures.

"If anyone has any information about this incident or any related incidents they are urged to contact the RSPCA appeal line on 0300 1234 999. Calls will be treated in confidence."

Firefighters were called to a barge blaze where a boat was completely destroyed.

The blaze happened at Sutton Wharf, in Sutton Cheney on Tuesday morning.

The fire happened on the waterside next to the towpath and was caused by an electrical fault in the battery compartment.

Four fire engines were sent to the scene after a call was received at 10.20am - the blaze was then extinguished by 11.09am. 

The fire service are investigating how the blaze started.

British Waterways also dealt with the incident because of the debris in the water.

No-one was in the barge at the time of the blaze and no-one was injured. 

Foul-mouthed celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay has cooked up a dish which will make your eyes water - and it's all thanks to a green-fingered vegetable producer from Leicestershire.

The Michelin star-winning restaurateur tackled a massive onion on the BBC's One Show on Tuesday creating some of the biggest onion rings ever made.

"Look at the size of this thing," said the television personality, as he held the over-sized vegetable in his hands.

But the culinary feat was only possible thanks to recording-breaking onion grower Tony Glover, from Moira, north west Leicestershire.

The 49-year-old has been in the spotlight since revealing his giant vegetable to world – an 18lb 11.5oz onion - at the Harrogate Flower Show, earlier this month.

His huge entry got him into the Guinness Book of Records and roused the interest of BBC producers who asked him donate an onion for Ramsay to cook up a feast with live on air.

Presenters Alex Jones and Matt Baker were stunned at the size of the finished rings, which came from Tony's second biggest offering, a 17lb onion - he had declined a request to let the chef chop up his world record-breaker.

Ramsay whipped up a batter made with flour, rice flour, salt and beer before deep frying the rings.

But Alex and Matt were also taken aback by the star chef's secret batter ingredient - gin.

"It comes from Japan," he said. "And it's an incredible way of making a beautiful batter that gives a touch of authenticity.

"You can taste the juniper berries but more importantly it gives it a really nice flavour – especially to the onion."

Ramsay also had a useful tip for the two presenters as they tucked into his culinary offering.

"Don't leave them in the deep fryer for too long," he said. "There's nothing worse than a soggy ring."

As well as featuring Tony's onion in the studio, a One Show crew also brought the mammoth vegetable back to Leicester to ask people what they would do with such a huge culinary ingredient.

Members of the public gave various suggestions including a fish curry.

But they eventually found chef Ahmed Mulla, from Bobby's restaurant, in Belgrave Road, who created onion bhajis and explained why the popular vegetable was so important in Asian cooking.

"Without onions, without garlic there is no taste in Indian food," he said.

And what is the secret of cultivating such an enormous vegetable?

"I've been trying for 30 years, said record-breaker Tony. "It's a combination of plenty of food and plenty of light."

Leicestershire will need to produce something special with the bat in their second innings if they are to salvage anything from the LV County Championship game with Derbyshire at Derby.

At stumps on day two the home side were controlling matters on 162-1 in their second dig, a huge lead of 310 heading into the third day.

The County conceded a first-innings deficit of 148 after they were shot out for just 141, only narrowly avoiding the threat of having to follow on as they responded feebly to Derbyshire's first innings 289.

At one point they had slumped to 63-7 and there was every chance of them being sent in to bat again to save the game.

However, the diligence of Ben Raine, Rob Taylor and Charlie Shreck saw the County edge just beyond the follow-on target of 140. Raine top-scored with a gritty 34, Shreck unbeaten on 24 when the innings came to a halt in the 51^st over. Ben Cotton was the pick of the Derbyshire bowlers with career-best figures of 4-20.

Derbyshire then added comfortably to their lead in the afternoon and evening, making a nonsense of the trials and tribulations the Leicestershire batsmen had gone through for much of the morning session.

Both first innings centurion Ben Slater and skipper Wayne Madsen made half centuries, the latter completing his when Dan Redfern spilled a catch on the boundary as the day simply got worse for the visitors.

The pair had added 127 for the second wicket by the close with Slater on 73 not out and Madsen unbeaten on 66, runs beginning to come freely over the closing stages as Leicestershire slipped further and further behind and lacking the inspiration needed to get back into the picture.

The owner of a Leicestershire health resort claims a proposal to turn a farm into a solar park will ruin its business and threaten hundreds of jobs should it be given planning permission.

Solstice Renewables want to produce green energy on a 75-acre farmland site near Packington, near Ashby.

The Wiltshire firm, set up by the Duchess of Cornwall's son-in-law Harry Lopes, said

the solar park, at Park Farm, will produce enough electricity to power 4,000 homes if approved.

But bosses at Champney Springs luxury hotel, which employs 300 people, said the solar panels will be a "blot on the landscape" that will destroy picturesque views and push away visitors.

Health spa owner Stephen Purdew said: "The site is the equivalent size of 72 football pitches.

"Without a doubt, this planning application threatens the hundreds of jobs which have been created her at Champneys Springs."

He added: "Part of the success of this internationally-renowned health spa, which my mother and I have worked very hard with the help of a dedicated team of local people to build up over the last 25 years, is due to its idyllic setting in the tranquillity and beauty of the Leicestershire countryside."

Mr Purdew said the spa, which has attracted sporting teams including Team GB Olympic squads and the Brazilian football side, is important to the district's tourist trade.

"We employ over 300 people and to have their job security threatened in this way is outrageous," he said.

"The proposed solar park immediately joins the Champneys Springs site and will be a blot on the landscape for both visitors and local residents.

Mr Purdew added: "Solstice Renewables' application does not include any assessment of the impact of their solar panels on jobs here.

"I'm not against renewable energy but it has to be in the right location where it doesn't threaten jobs or destroy the beauty of the English countryside."

The green energy firm said it wanted to build the solar park at Park Farm, off Measham Road, because it is close to the national grid and the land was of low agricultural value.

Under its proposals, part of the site would continue to be used for agriculture, with sheep grazing in winter and a programme of biodiversity enhancement creating a wildlife haven in spring and summer.

Solstice Renewables director Giovanni Maruca said: "We have been consulting with Champneys for several months.

"Sustainability is increasingly important for businesses, and we offered Champneys a green electricity supply direct from the solar park, which would also have saved a lot on their energy bills.

"But it seems they don't want this."

He added: "We've also put in extra hedgerow planting so the panels won't be seen from the hotel.

"The rest of the community strongly supports our plans, and will benefit from educational visits for local schools, a community fund of £175,000 over the lifetime of the solar park and the opportunity to invest directly, something the government is trying to encourage."

Packington Parish Council, whose views will be taken into consideration when North West Leicestershire District Council decides the planning application later this year, met on Tuesday to discuss the scheme.

Chairman Chris Miles said: "We have no objection to the Solar Park proposal as the site is well away from any dwellings.

"There will be additional traffic along Babelake Street during installation. But once it's up and running the volume of traffic will actually be considerably less.

"It will also be cleaner traffic than the farm vehicles and machinery we have now."

Don't miss the Ryder Cup souvenir guide e-mag. The 2014 Ryder Cup takes place at Gleneagles from September 26 to 29, and this 21-page e-mag includes Paul McGinley, Tom Watson, Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson Howard Clark's verdict, plus course guide, pen pics and five great Ryder Cups.

Click here to read the Ryder Cup souvenir guide e-mag

Deborah, Dowager Duchess of Devonshire,  the last of the famous Mitford sisters has died. The announcement of her death at the age of 94 was announced by her son.

Deborah Vivien Cavendish was the youngest of six sisters who moved in the same circles as Winston Churchill, John F Kennedy, and Evelyn Waugh, living a glamorous aristocratic life that no longer exists.

As wife of the 11th Duke of Devonshire, whom she married in 1941, Deborah Vivien Cavendish was mistress of  Chatsworth House in  Derbyshire, one of the grandest estates in England. Debo, as she was known was the youngest.

The sisters, daughters of David Freeman-Mitford, 2nd Baron Redesdale, fascinated and at times appalled society from the 1940s onwards.  Nancy was a novelist and journalist  who turned their upbringing into a series of comic novels. Diana married Oswald Mosley at Josef Goebbels' house with Hitler as a guest of honour; Unity was a devotee and close friend of Hitler's. Jessica renounced her privileged upbringing to become a lifelong communist. Pamela, lived a quiet life largely out of the public eye in the countryside.

Rail passengers are due to face cancellations, delays and overcrowded carriages when East Midlands Trains workers go on strike next week.

The Unite union has today announced that more than 80 engineering and maintenance staff will strike from 6am on Sunday, until 5.59am on Saturday, October 4.

The industrial action means a number of changes to timetables in the region including reductions to services, busier trains – due to fewer carriages than normal – and replacement buses.

In Leicester, the route between the city, Nottingham and Lincoln will be affected – and a revised timetable will be made available on Friday.

The dispute is over a pay offer made by the company to its staff, which it withdrew in July.

An agreed pay rise of 2.75 per cent was taken off the table after Unite engineers went ahead with four days of strike action in April, despite being warned by East Midlands Trains bosses that the move would result in the offer being withdrawn.

Unite also said it had issue with a continuous overtime ban, which has been place since July 2014.

Talks between union officials and rail bosses are due to take place on Friday.

Kevin Hepworth, Unite's regional officer for the East Midlands, said: "Our members have a right to have their legitimate grievances recognised and we hope that the company will come to the table ready to agree a fair pay deal for its loyal workforce.

"Unite will enter Friday's talks with the aim of settling this long running dispute in the best interests of our members.

"Many working people can relate to feeling undervalued at work, these members have collectively agreed to take a stand and their union fully supports them.

"We welcome Friday's talks with management and will work hard to secure a fair and equitable pay deal for our members."

However, East Midlands Trains has hit back and said that the action is "unnecessary" and "irresponsible" and will cost each union member around £2,000 in lost wages.

Clare Burles, human resources director for the rail provider, said: "Unite's planned action is completely unnecessary. It clearly has no thought for the impact on employees' families of losing thousands of pounds in lost wages, particularly a few months before the run up to Christmas.

"The union action is particularly irresponsible after the very fair pay offers we have made and which other staff have been happy to accept.

"We have been flexible in putting forward further reasonable offers, but they have all been rejected by the union.

"More strike action will only reduce the amount of money available to fund a pay increase and hit the people whose interests the union is supposed to put first."

The affected East Midlands services will be:

Nottingham - Mansfield/Worksop

Nottingham -Derby - Matlock

Doncaster - Peterborough via Lincoln

Newark North Gate - Cleethorpes via Lincoln.

Leicester – Nottingham – Lincoln

Nottingham – Skegness

Firefighters have rescued a trapped horse from a brook in Scraptoft.

Crews from eastern and southern stations were able to lead to animal to safety after it became stuck in the brook, in Hall Lane, at about 5.05pm today.

The owner and a vet were also on hand to help coax the horse from the water.

A technical rescue team used a harness and pulled the horse back up the bank and it was left in the care of the vet.

It is not known whether the horse had sustained any injuries.

Firefighters left the scene at about 6.35pm.

Reasons to buy the Mercury tomorrow…

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Blaby & Whetstone Athletic will be in good heart as they go into Saturday's FA Cup second round qualifying tie at home to Stourbridge.

The Warwick Road side climbed to sixth in the East Midlands Counties League in midweek with a 3-2 victory over leaders Kimberley as Tom Hill grabbed a hat-trick.

After seeing off Tipton in the previous round, Steve Orme's men will relish the chance of getting to grips with Northern Premier League outfit Stourbridge, who are seventh in the Premier Division.

Ellistown & Ibstock United also face NPL opposition in the Cup as they host Halesowen.

The memory of the way they rallied to defeat Hereford United 3-2 in the previous round will still be fresh in the memories at Terrace Road, with United having made a good start all round to the season.

Coalville Town and Barwell both have home advantage as they look to continue on the Wembley trail.

The Ravens entertain Lowestoft of Conference North, while the Canaries welcome Norwich United, who play in the Eastern Counties Premier Division.

On the EMCL front, St Andrews climbed to third on Tuesday when they pipped neighbours Aylestone Park 3-2 at Canal Street. Shay Brennan snatched the winner three minutes from time.

The Andrews travel to Borrowash Victoria on Saturday aiming to consolidate their position in the leading pack.

Park take their place in a county derby as they welcome Barrow Town to The Linwood.

Bardon Hill Sports are nicely placed in fifth with games in hand on the sides ahead of them. They entertain Radford this weekend looking for the win that will keep the pressure on the top four.

Ashby Ivanhoe are moving forward steadily and will hope to maintain that progress when they entertain South Normanton.

Life has been testing for Anstey Nomads so far this term and they were not helped in midweek when they lost 2-1 at home to Holwell Sports in the League Cup.

They return to league duty on Saturday when they entertain Holbrook, who are fourth.

Loughborough Dynamo are in action in Evo-stik Northern Premier League Division One South as they look to bounce back from a thumping 6-0 home defeat to Spalding United on Tuesday.

Despite their defeat – only their second in the league this season – Dynamo still remain a point clear at the top of the table, although the chasing sides have a game in hand.

Dynamo welcome fifth-placed Stafford Rangers on Saturday.

"I don't know any player who can run faster than the ball!"

Those 12 words sum up perfectly the footballing philosophy of Leicester City's Esteban Cambiasso.

The Argentinian has experienced the game at the highest level for more than a decade.

He has won 23 trophies with River Plate, Real Madrid and Inter Milan, making him the most decorated player in Argentinian history, eclipsing even the great Alfredo Di Stefano.

Cambiasso also played in the 2006 World Cup finals, putting the finishing touch to what is widely considered one of the greatest team goals in football history. He provided the finish to a 24-pass move during the 6-0 victory over Greece.

That goal typifies the way Cambiasso believes football should be played.

A lot is made about the higher tempo and intensity of the Premier League, but for Cambiasso it is not about how fast you can run.

"At this time, there is no player who can move faster than the ball," he said. "Perhaps in the future but not right now.

"This is football, it's the same. Watch little boys in England play, watch little boys in Argentina play in the park, or in Italy, it's the same.

"Later the coach arrives, the physical trainer, the journalist, but every player starts in the public park. It's the same for everyone then.

"I know it's quick here but I look at the pitch here and it's perfect. We played at MK Dons, which is not Premier League, but the pitch was perfect. This is important.

"If you want to play quickly you need this kind of pitch.

"With another pitch it's impossible. You play quickly but the ball goes where it wants."

That does not mean to say Cambiasso has not noticed the difference in England to Italy.

"When you put yourself in different environments you have more opportunity to learn," he said. "I played against the same kind of teams in Argentina, Spain and Italy, maybe this is an opportunity for me to learn a different style."

His arrival at City might have been seen as a coup by boss Nigel Pearson, that such a world superstar had agreed to come to the King Power Stadium. But for Cambiasso, football is not about individuals, it is the team ethic and the unassuming 34-year-old just wants to play his part.

It is not about personal reward or glory for Cambiasso, it is about fitting in and contributing.

"Without them, I can't do anything," said Cambiasso about his new team-mates. "It's the mentality in every squad.

"I like their quality. It doesn't matter what league you are in, it is never easy to win the Championship. The reason they won the title last season is because they have quality."

Cambiasso is clearly a winner and he has identified the same approach at City.

"I think Leicester City has this winning mentality," he said. "When you are promoted to the Premier League it's because you have been winning.

"Leicester City's manager and the players possess this winning mentality."

Cambiasso is fully aware that City's remit is very different this season but, judging by what he has seen so far, he believes they are more than capable of survival.

"All I have is all I give," he said. "I think we have all the requisites to stay in the Premier League. When we start the season, we have our objectives.

"With some clubs, it's to win the league. For us, it's difficult to aim for those things at the moment. I'll be happy if we arrive at our objective.

"Now I need to help Leicester stay in the Premier League. I'll give everything towards this and, if we can make it, I'll be very happy."

When I played the game, a long time ago, we used to have a very structured training week. We would work hard on Monday and Tuesday.

Then on Wednesday morning, we would play a game between the first and second team. It would nearly always end in a punch-up.

When we had finished that, we would leave the field knowing that we were ready for the weekend's game.

That was just the way it was and probably the reason why people imagine Leicester to have a brutal training regime.

I know that a few people still think we train like that and, on the odd occasion at Leicester and probably other clubs around the country, the odd flare-up still takes place.

But those days are, on the whole, long gone now.

With the intensity of the games at the weekend, you just cannot risk the guys getting injured in training.

And contrary to some popular belief during the past few weeks, we do not flog our players in between matches.

Our current injury list is horrendous and I keep wondering when our bad luck is going to end. 

About 95 per cent of the players who are out at the minute picked up their injuries playing in games or while they were away from us with their countries.

There is nothing that we can do about that. But that is not to say that we are not constantly examining the way we do things off the field as a club.

We are always evaluating the effectiveness of what we do off the field, but we have some really good people in our medical and conditioning team.

The reality is that we play an incredibly physical and tough sport, and the modern-day game is more physical than ever. Our players certainly do not over-train.

On Mondays, we do a little bit because they are recovering from match-day, then we train twice on Tuesday and then on Thursday morning.

If they trained any less, I would want to take some money off them!

If you don't do enough training, you are not good enough – but if you do too much, you are too tired.

It is just about getting that balance spot-on. 

Our guys do no more contact that any other team. It's just that we continue to pick up injuries that are beyond our control. Our blokes are well looked after, as they are at every Aviva Premiership side.

Player welfare is very big in rugby union and there are good medical set-ups at all clubs. The game is in good shape from a conditioning and medical point of view.

It is just that the game is also getting faster and players are getting bigger and stronger.

Players will get injured. That is just the way it is and, for the second year on the trot, we are suffering some seriously bad luck on that front.

We have been doing even less contact than usual this week in training because we have so few bodies available.

That said, I will be looking for a reaction after last week's game at Bath. Despite our injuries, we were not just good enough.

The boys were very quiet in the changing room after the final whistle and we have the chance to put it right in front of our own fans.

A Leicestershire singer-songwriter will be up against some of the biggest names in urban music after being nominated for a Mobo award.

Performer Kristyna Myles, 30, from Broughton Astley, is one of five acts chosen for the Best Gospel Act category at this year's event.

Tinie Tempah, Professor Green and Katy B are also in running in other categories.

The winners will be decided by public vote and revealed at a celebrity-packed awards ceremony on October 22, at the SSE Arena, Wembley.

The all-singing-all-dancing event will also be broadcast live on ITV2.

Kristyna said: "I found out on Tuesday and at first I didn't believe it.

"I got a phone call telling me and thought there had to be a mistake, but it's real. It's unbelievable."

It is the second Mobo nomination for Kristyna, who was up for the same category two-years ago with the group DTWG – Desire To Worship God.

The Leicestershire singer, who has recently released her first album, Pinch Me Quick, on her own label, said she was up against some "amazing" competition.

The five other artists in her category are Annastasia Baker, J. Vessel, Living Faith Connection Choir and Noel Robinson.

"They're all fantastic," she said. "They're all amazing gospel artists.

"Just to be in the same category as them in an honour.

"I've no idea how I'm going to do, I'm just going to have to wait and see."

Kristyna first started singing at Sutton Elms Baptist Church, in Broughton Astley, as a youngster.

But the former Lutterworth Grammar pupil took her first steps towards a career as a musician in 2005 after graduating from Salford University.

"I started busking in Manchester after university and since then I've tried to pursue a career in music.

"I wouldn't say my style was strictly gospel, I could have fitted into the jazz and soul categories as well."

She was signed by Decca - the music label which looks after the careers of Sting, Elton John and Andrea Bocelli - but the relationship broke down and she now works as an independent artist.

She said: "It's incredible to be recognised especially as I was dropped by a major record label and I've had to release my album as an independent artist."

Former Mobo winners include Amy Winehouse, Craig David, Ms Dynamite, Estelle, N-Dubz and Emeli Sandé.

The award's founder Kanya King said: "This year's nominees represent an incredible crop of artists.

"I find it particularly exciting to see so many underground artists featured, who've reached new heights over the last year and broken into the wider consciousness.

"It's testament to their talent and their determination to succeed and we are very proud to witness their successes to date.

"This year's show at Wembley is set to be nothing short of spectacular."

To vote for Kristyna, visit the Mobo website at: www.mobo.com/voting/best-gospel-act

A man has told how his pet had to be put down after it was viciously attacked by another dog.

Christopher Scotney and wife Ann, of Oadby, were on holiday in Padstow, Cornwall, when their six-year-old Pomeranian, Tye, was grabbed by the animal and thrown about.

When the couple took Tye to the vet, they were told the injuries were so severe he would have to be put to sleep.

Mr Scotney, owner of Christopher Scotney Designer Menswear, in London Road, Leicester, said: "Basically, this dog had picked Tye up and was shaking him around like a rag doll.

"Tye was screaming his head off, he was in pieces, he had literally been ripped in half.

"It was terrible."

They were walking along the beach on September 8 when a larger dog came from behind them and picked up Tye in its mouth.

Mr Scotney, 67, said he and his wife, 46, had just decided to take Tye off his lead when the incident happened.

"Tye was walking between us and then all of a sudden we heard the most awful commotion behind us," he said.

As the dog tore into Tye, "there was blood everywhere", said Mr Scotney.

"There was nothing we could do. But the dog eventually put Tye down."

Mr Scotney said the couple with the dog "just stood there and watched".

He said: "When Tye had been released, the woman who owned the dog just put it on a lead and walked off."

Mr Scotney said he asked the woman for her contact details, but he rang it as the couple were walking away and it turned out to be a false number.

"So I asked the man she was with and he too, gave me a wrong number," he said.

Mr Scotney then managed to take a photo of the dog as the couple walked away from him.

A vet tried to save Tye's life, but there was nothing that could be done for him and he was put to sleep.

"It was the most horrific and awful way to start our holiday," said Mr Scotney.

"We went back to Oadby straight away. You can't imagine how horrible that is – to get home and realise that Tye's not there.

"I haven't seen my wife cry in 10 years, yet she cried for two days solid because of this.

"He was such a lovely little dog."

The incident was reported to the police, who are now investigating the attack.

Pc Andy Spires, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said several people had volunteered information but it was vital to identify the correct dog.

Pc Spires said: "This was an horrific incident and it could quite easily have been a child that was bitten.

"People have a responsibility to keep their dogs under control and in this case the dog owner should have given accurate contact details to the victim, and maybe even contacted the police directly."

After their barn-storming victory over Manchester United, Leicester City will be expected to field the same side at Crystal Palace on Saturday.

But assistant manager Craig Shakespeare said that is not necessarily the case.

After beating Stoke two weeks ago, City made four changes for the visit of United last Sunday.

They switched from their 4-4-2 to a diamond midfield and are expected to emerge at Selhurst Park with a similar side and system.

However, while Shakespeare said that will possibly be the case, he did not rule out changes for the very different but equally difficult challenge posed by Neil Warnock's side.

"Possibly," said Shakespeare when asked about keeping the same team. That is up for discussion. What we will do is look at the strengths and weakness of the opposition and pick our team accordingly. 

"Last season, for instance, we had a settled team and picked the same 11.

"This season, I think you have to be a bit more adaptable in the Premier League and give yourself the best possible chance to win the game, but also to make sure you are not conceding it too early. We will plan and see where we go."

After Palace, City face Burnley and Shakespeare said there will be no change of approach from the one that brought them a historic 5-3 over Manchester United.

"We have to approach them in the same way and make sure we are competitive, and pick the right team to win the games," said Shakespeare.

"Palace have a new manager and had a great result on Sunday at Everton.

"Burnley have kept clean sheets and are very hard to score against. They bring different challenges and in the Premier League all the games are difficult. 

"We have to make sure we go there with the right mentality and focused. We all knew it has been a tough start but there is a lot of belief in the changing room, among the players and staff, in what we can achieve and what we are capable of.

"I think this group of players can achieve lots of things this season. We haven't set targets in terms of points. We aim to be competitive in every game. Where that takes us we don't know. We have to make sure we are ready for whatever comes."