September may have been the driest nationally since records began over a century ago in 1910, according to provisional figures released by the Met Office - but not in Leicestershire.

Mercury weatherman Dave Mutton, who started keeping his records in January, 1959, has revealed that September - which followed a super-hot summer with temperatures in the 90s - was the driest so far, with just 4.1mm (0.16ins) of rain, compared with 5.6mm (0.22ins) this September.

Dave said:"That summer, in 1959, was one of the best for years, with temperatures in the 90s, but it broke down in October, just as it looks like it's going to this year.

"In September, 1959, we had just four rain days, this year we've had six. It's been very mild this September and we've had about 136 hours of sunshine, compared with an average of 141 hours, but it's been very close.

"The average temperature for this September was 15.1C, one degree above normal. The daytime temperatures have been two and a half degrees above average."

He added: "But it looks like it's going to be more autumnal from the weekend with some wind and rain around.Temperatures will get back to normal to a high of 16C or 17C which we've been getting at night.It's becoming more unsettled and cooler."

Trevor Bishop, the Environment Agency's deputy director of water resources, said there's no danger of a dry September leading to water shortages.

"The results show a broadly positive picture and even if rainfall is below average this autumn the country will not go into drought."

A woman has told how she went to the aid of a lorry driver who was injured after his HGV crashed onto its side.

Jodie McLaughlin said she comforted the dazed driver after his vehicle had crashed on the A50 roundabout at Markfield at 3.40am on Saturday September 27.

Ms McLaughlin, of Hamilton, Leicester, said: "I was coming back from a job and a colleague was driving.

"As we came to the roundabout we could see a big lorry on it side on the other side of the road and a man on the grass nearby.

"We drove round and got as near as we could and stopped.

"I got out and went straight to the man.

"He was very dazed and clearly in shock."

The 27-year-old said other people had stopped and the emergency services had been called.

"I tried to comfort him as best I could," she said. "I put my arm on his shoulder and told him that everything would be OK.

"Another driver stopped and he had duvet and a pillow. We used that for the driver, and I stayed with him until the police arrived and took over.

"He said he was Algerian, so it was nice for me to be with him while he was hurt and in a foreign country."

Don Philips, of Glen Parva, who was driving the car in which Ms McLaughlin was travelling, said it was a shock to see the lorry on its side.

"It was a very big lorry and from the marks on the road it looked like it had slid on its side for quite a way," said the 48-year-old.

"We stopped to see if there was anything we could do to help. We did what we could and left when the emergency services arrived and took control."

Mr Philips said he checked on the condition of the driver on Sunday and was told that he had not been detained in hospital.

He said: "I don't know how the accident happened but he was lucky to get away from that without being seriously hurt.

"Someone at the scene told me they thought he had gone through the windscreen. If that is true, then he is one very, very lucky man."

A police spokeswoman said they had received a call about the accident at 3.40am.

She said: "The driver was in shock. He was not seriously injured. He was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure."

She added: "The road was closed until 1pm the next day."

There were no other vehicles involved in the incident.

The police spokeswoman appealed for any witnesses to the incident to call them on 101.

RAF jets have struck ISIS targets in Iraq for the first time today, after the Foreign Secretary insisted the UK would not be 'panicked' into action, the Mail Online reports.

Two Tornados flying out of Cyprus have hit ISIS targets, one with a Brimstone missile, another with a bomb. An ISIS heavy weapon was hit by the bomb, the missile hit a pick-up truck.

The Foreign Office confirmed details of the attack  this afternoon.

The attacks came after Philip Hammond, the foreign secretary, insisted Britain would not be 'panicked' into dropping bombs in Iraq.

He had denied the lack of any attacks since last Thursday, when parliament gave the green light for UK participation in the international military effort, was of any particular significance.

Isis has reportedly advanced to within just one mile of the Iraqi capital Baghdad - killing hundreds of highly trained and expensively equipped soldiers loyal to the country's Shia-led government in the process.

Speaking of the RAF's lack of involvement in Western bombing raids against ISIS militants in Iraq, Mr Hammond said the air force was simply gathering intelligence to ensure civilians are not mistakenly hit.

A new scheme aims to help make commuting and business travel cheaper, easier and more sustainable in a Leicestershire town.

Smartgo Loughborough will provide employers and their staff with a range of travel benefits and services to save money, improve health and enhance corporate responsibility.

The service will be launched next Tuesday at Loughborough Town Hall with a keynote speech from Education Secretary and Loughborough MP Nicky Morgan.

Smartgo also operates schemes in Leicester, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire and Stevenage, Hertfordshire. The programmes are used by 65 businesses, covering more than 69,000 staff.

Mrs Morgan said: "I've followed the development of the Smartgo Loughborough programme and am delighted to be able to support the launch event. It represents a great opportunity for local businesses and their employees to transform their approaches to business travel and commuting."

Robin Pointon, managing director of travel specialist Go Travel Solutions, of Leicester, which manages Smartgo, said: "We are bringing our expertise in sustainable travel to develop a partnership in Loughborough between local employers, travel providers and the public sector based on a low carbon economy."

Britain's supermarkets have opened a new front in their ongoing price war with Sainsbury's slashing the cost of diesel and petrol by 5p a litre today.

Tesco also cut the price of its petrol and its diesel by up to 5p a litre, while Asda responded by cutting 1p from the price of petrol and 2p from the price of diesel, putting pressure on other big retailers, the Mail Online reports.

The change in price reflects a drop in the price of wholesale crude oil, and a strengthening of the pound following a no vote in the Scottish referendum.

Brent crude is currently at a 15 month low and some analysts have suggested it could fall to as low as $80 (£50) a barrel.

RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: "The wholesale price of both petrol and diesel has been low for around three months and as a result motorists have been enjoying some of the cheapest prices for over three years, but this cut will take us to a new low, the likes of which we haven't seen since late 2010, early 2011 when the price of petrol and diesel unfortunately jumped by 10p a litre in just a few months.

Since the Scottish referendum the pound has rallied against the dollar which has created a much-appreciated downward pressure on fuel prices which are traded in dollars. It's great news for motorists that this is being swiftly passed on by responsible retailers at the pumps.'

AA spokesman Luke Bosdet said: 'A 5p cut in the price of petrol, lopping £2.50 off the cost of filling a typical fuel tank, will be particularly welcome as families get back to school runs and into their autumn routines.'

Everyone in England will have access to GP services seven days a week by 2020, Prime Minister David Cameron has promised.

The government has also promised to bring back "named GPs" - to take charge of care outside hospital, BBC Online reports.

And Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt told the Conservative Party conference people would be able to access their medical records online by next April.

Labour accused the prime minister of "broken promises" on the NHS.

Mr Cameron said: "People need to be able to see their GP at a time that suits them and their family. That's why we will ensure everyone can see a GP seven days a week by 2020.

"We will also support thousands more GP practices to stay open longer - giving millions of patients better access to their doctor."

Under a £50m pilot scheme launched at last year's Conservative conference, surgeries in nine areas of England were able to bid for money to open from 8am to 8pm seven days a week, as well as offering Skype consultations and more telephone consultations.

Practices around the country will now be invited to bid for funds for 2015/16. Extending seven day opening to all areas by 2020 will cost £400m spread over the next five years, the government said.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Cameron said this was not "some fairytale announcement", saying the pilot scheme had been "a great success".

He said the move could take pressure off accident and emergency wards, which he said were "not the right place" for "frail, elderly" people.

Radio DJ Neil 'Dr' Fox was arrested in London today by police investigating claims of historical "sex assaults".

The 53-year-old, whose full name is Neil Fox, was arrested at the studios of Magic FM in Soho, London, moments after he finished presenting his breakfast show this morning, the Mail Online reports.

The married father-of-three was today being quizzed at a police station in central London over alleged historical sex offences against two women.

Mr Fox, who has been married to wife Vicky since 1999, has presented Magic FM's More Music Breakfast Show for nine years.

The father-of-three was previously a judge on Pop Idol between 2001 and 2003 alongside Simon Cowell and Pete Waterman.

The radio host was reportedly held by Westminster Police shortly after coming off air today.

Bauer Media, which owns Magic FM, confirmed the arrest in a statement and said his show would be off air for the foreseeable future while the claims are dealt with.

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The wife of taxi driver Alan Henning, being held hostage by ISIS has made a televised plea for the militants to release her husband.

Speaking publicly about the 47-year-old's kidnap for the first time, Mrs Henning said she was 'dreadfully concerned' for his safety, adding: 'I ask Islamic State please release him, we need him back home.'

Mrs Henning also said that her husband, a former taxi driver from Salford, had been in the 'right place at the right time' when he was kidnapped last December by Islamic militants, because he had been helping the people of Syria, the Mail Online reports.

Her plea comes as RAF Torandos flying out of Cyprus dropped bombs on ISIS in Britain's first airstrikes against targets in Iraq.

Officers investigating the murder of a woman from Coventry in February 2013 have charged six men with offences connected to her death.

Hayley Pointon died following an incident at an address in Sunnydale Road, Hinckley on Sunday February 3. 

A post mortem examination confirmed she died from a single gunshot wound.

Two 24-year-old men have been charged with murder and four men, aged 22, 26, 29 and 39, have been charged with assisting an offender. 

Four of the men are from the Coventry area and the 39 year old man is from Rugby.

They are all due to appear at Leicester Magistrates' Court tomorrow. 

Engelbert Humperdinck has been comparing tongues with Kiss legend Gene Simmons.

According to the New York Post, the duo compared tongues while recording their duet "Spinning Wheel" for Engelbert's recently released album called 'Engelbert Calling'.

The NY Post reported that Engelbert was "curious" to see whether Gene's tongue was "as long as he had heard".

Apparently, Simmons said: "While Engelbert and I were posing for photos, we made jokes. The usual stuff guys do. Some [were] inappropriate for younger ears, so I'm not sharing.He was curious if my tongue was as long as he had heard. And I offered that I would normally stick my tongue out, but noticed the floor wasn't all that clean."

"Engelbert Calling" featured a duet with yours truly available now at http://t.co/sINn1mWkMQ

— Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) March 26, 2014

This is a time of intense golfing challenges for Paul Swain.

The Ratby man had played golf as a youngster with his grandfather and then returned to the game after being badly injured in Afghanistan.

He was in the winning British Battleback team of injured members of the armed forces up against USA "wounded warriors" at Walton Heath for the Captain Pietsch Trophy.

This week, Swain joined the On Course Foundation team preparing to travel to America to defend the Simpson Cup at Congressional G and CC.

Swain lost an arm and suffered other serious injuries in Helmand Province and had 29 operations as part of his long, determined fight to recover.

A revived interest in golf has played an important part in his rehabilitation.

In the Captain Pietsch Trophy, in which he was playing for the third time, he won his greensomes and fourball matches alongside Louis Smith, both by 5&4 margins.

Swain said: "In the singles, I lost on the 17th against a formidable opponent, off 26 handicap, when I had to concede several shots.

"He was hitting all the par 5s in two. So it was quite a tussle and eventually he got the better of me.

"Overall, we won the match 15.5 to 4.5, so it was a good outcome and it was enjoyable."

Just before going out to America for the Simpson Cup, Swain will take on a driving challenge at a Battleback Golf day at Worplesdon GC.

Then the Cup team meet up to practice, prepare and travel out to America this Saturday, ready to play at Congressional ahead of the main clashes.

In the last two fixtures, Swain has holed the winning putt in this Ryder Cup-style international encounter – first at TPC Sawgrass in the inaugural fixture in the USA, then last year at Royal Lytham and St Annes.

He said: "We are expecting fierce competition again this time. I have been out to Congressional a couple of times this year for promotional events and have managed to play a few holes.

"But it is one of the most famous courses in America and will provide a very strong, tough test.

"There is huge interest, so we are all looking forward to it very much indeed and aiming to bring back the trophy again.

"It should be a fantastic trip and a great atmosphere if Walton Heath was anything to go by. Everyone involved in both these encounters is absolutely tremendous and hugely supportive."

The BBL regular season is up and running and everyone in the Riders camp is pretty happy with the way we have started.

Playing back-to-back games so early in the season was always going to be a major challenge, but our guys responded to it by digging deep and doing just what needed to be done.

The two games at the weekend posed very different challenges and it was good the way the team adjusted to what was thrown at them.

On Saturday, there was some real offensive fireworks in the third quarter to build a lead and then hold the Manchester Giants at bay.

Against Cheshire Phoenix on Sunday, our defence locked down when it mattered most, even though, physically, we were under pressure.

Looking around the BBL, the other results suggest this is going to be a wide open season, with Worcester Wolves winning at Newcastle Eagles, always a major test for any team, and Manchester winning against Sheffield Sharks on Sunday. Plus, a surprising double by new boys Bristol Flyers means perhaps more than ever, and the results this season are going to be a lottery.

I thought Tyler Bernardini and Neil Watson were both excellent last weekend. Both have the ability to make plays in many different ways, and they have a chance to be a nice combination.

I also thought Jamell Anderson was exceptional on defence last weekend. On Sunday, against Cheshire, he was all over the court, and he did a great job on the glass. Barry Lamble has also had a great start to the season. He has done a nice job coming off the bench and fulfilling a real captain's role on and off the court.

Conner Washington made some very important plays on Sunday as well.

Both Anderson's and Washington's games have really matured over the past few seasons. They are a real credit to our basketball programme, and the work they have put in as individuals, particularly in the off season.

It give us lots of flexibility in terms of what we can throw at teams, and of course means we have a very long bench.

Now we don't play until October 11, and although it is a break very early in the season, it is no less welcome.

It is going to be particularly nice to have a lot of time to work on execution and conditioning, and move along what we started in pre-season.

With one thing or another our work in pre-season was somewhat truncated, and, of course, for Anthony Rowe every extra week working his way back to fitness is vital.

Big No.8 Jordan Crane epitomises the fighting spirit that will be needed by Leicester Tigers to battle their way out of an unexpected early-season slump.

Three days after the narrow defeat by London Irish, Crane is sporting nicks, bruises, a pair of black eyes and a broken nose.

It has not stopped him training though.

Reduced contact because of a broken nose, maybe.

But Crane is a flag-bearer. He never shirks a thing on the pitch and speaks about the club, its history and his team mates with a passion that reflects how much he wants their current situation to be turned around in a hurry.

He's not out for the sympathy vote because of the club's horrendous injury list.

And he doesn't buy into the fact that it is getting harder and harder for Tigers to maintain their place at the top of the pile under a salary cap that has enabled everyone else to catch up.

"We stuck at it against Irish but know ourselves that we have to be better," said Crane.

"At another club, it might have been all right – but the expectation at Leicester is a lot higher.

"When you put on that shirt, nothing is a given. Even when there are guys missing, we need to step up and win.

"Guys have done well since coming into the squad but we need to win games.

"You can sit here and make a million excuses for us because we have injuries, a new defence coach and new players but the club that we are, we don't want to make excuses. That's not us.

"We are Leicester and we need to get that winning mentality quickly. Otherwise it is going to be a long few weeks.

"We have to work hard, get better and be more critical of ourselves than anyone else.

"The competition is getting tougher in the Premiership and teams are getting close but whatever happens, we have always been near the top. We don't want to lose that."

The 28-year-old, is set for his 184th appearance for the club when Tigers travel to Gloucester on Saturday in eighth place in the Aviva Premiership table.

They will also travel without almost half of their squad, who are out injured.

But Crane says he has known tougher times.

"In my second year here, under Marcelo Loffreda, we were sat in seventh place with 10 minutes to go in the regular season," he said.

"We still made the grand final.

"We are going through a tough time but that happens to every club.

"It's the way that we deal with that, that is key and the mark of the players and club that we are.

"Gloucester are in a similar position to us with all of the new players and coaching staff that we have brought in.

"So it's a good chance for us to go there and get stuck into them.

"Kingsholm is still a good place to go and play rugby with their fans and how passionate they are.

"They are in transition and they will see us as weak – so it will be a good battle."

Nigel Pearson has spoken of his players' pride at pulling on a Leicester City shirt.

The City boss admits the perception of footballers' loyalty in the modern game has changed, although he doesn't necessarily agree with the mercenary tag players are given these days.

However, he said he could assure all City fans his players have a genuine pride in representing them and the club, and he believes that will stand them in good stead in their fight to remain in the Premier League.

"I would hope the fans enjoy the whole of the season in the knowledge they have a group of players representing their club now who are proud to play for the club," said Pearson.

"That in itself is a really good starting point.

"In this day and age, there is a lot of talk about a mercenary approach within the game. I don't necessarily think that is a fair criticism.

"I understand things have changed but we have a group of players who are focused on us, and that is the most important thing.

"We know we are going to have to deal with setbacks but we are constantly trying to improve ourselves and, regardless of who we play, the attention to detail in terms of how we approach those games will be there."

Pearson revealed yesterday Ritchie De Laet and Esteban Cambiasso will both be fit for Saturday's visit of Burnley.

The pair were both substituted during Saturday's defeat at Crystal Palace because of minor knocks but resumed training yesterday as City prepare to face the Clarets.

Matt Upson is also stepping up his return from foot surgery and trained outside yesterday.

"Ritchie and Esteban are both training so there are no problems from the weekend," Pearson said.

"Matty Upson is going outside today so he is making progress. We are pretty much injury free, apart from Zoumana Bakayogo, who had his operation on his knee. The rest of the squad are in good nick.

"Matt has been outside a couple of times now. It is promising for him and for us because it is still early days in the season and although we are pretty well off for player availability at the moment, we know from the past how quickly things can change. It is just a case of managing the situation as you go along."

The son of ironman Manjit Singh has joined his father in the record books by dragging a 13-tonne bus with his teeth today.

Jatinder, 31, bit down on a strap attached to the First bus and let out muffled screams as he leaned back and dragged the vehicle 10 metres across the car park at Braunstone Leisure Centre.

The feat, if Guinness World Records approve it, will be his first record since he broke a tile-lifting record when he was only four years old.

Manjit, 64, of Highfields, Leicester, currently holds 56 records for pulling and lifting various things with his hands, hair, teeth, eyes sockets and ears.

As Jatinder pulled the bus, dozens of youngsters at Queensmead Primary next door cheered him to the finishing line before starting up a chant of "do it again".

Speaking straight after the stunt Jatinder said: "I feel dazed.

"It hurt a lot more than I thought. I'd never tried anything like this before - me and dad practiced with cars and this was a lot harder."

The First Group bus weighed 12.7 tonnes and, if the record is approved, it will be the heaviest vehicle ever pulled using teeth.

Now Jatinder hopes to break a few more records.

He said: "My dad really encouraged me when I was young but when I was in my 20s I let myself go and things like girls and parties got in the way.

"But I want to follow my father's footsteps and hopefully this one will be the start of many."

Manjit said: "It's great to have him back in the record books with me.

"He should really have done more records by now - he's 31 already.

"But he's done very well."

Jatinder's mum Mohinder, who once made the longest wedding dress in the world with an 86ft train, said: "I was so nervous watching but I'm really happy for him."

First spokeswoman Zara Young was among those cheering Jatinder on.

She said: "It was amazing to watch. It looked painful!

"We've helped Manjit a few times in recent years so when he asked we were happy to do it again and we took the bus to get it weighed."

Jayne Henderson, manager at the leisure centre's, said she was also happy to be helping out Manjit again.

She said: "They're a lovely family and it's great to be able to support things like this and it's obviously been great entertainment for all the children at the school, too."

Manjit said he would now start thinking about what to do next.

He said: "Usually something just enters my mind and I then go and do it."