A council has been released from a Government special measures following improvements in its planning department.

Blaby District was named and shamed by Whitehall officials nearly a year ago for not hitting planning targets.

It was the only council in England to face the sanction, which partially stripped of its planning powers by permitting developers proposing major schemes to bypass it

Builders were given the option of having their applications decided by the Government's Bristol-based Planning Inspectorate.

The sanction was imposed because the council determined less than 30 per cent of planning applications within the 13-week deadline required between July 2011 and June this year.

Since then the council has implemented a programme of improvements and when it was reassessed in June 62 per cent of major applications had been determined in time over a two year period.

Lead member for planning councillor Tony Greenwood said: "When we were put in special measures we were at pains to stress that we prefer to work proactively with developers to ensure a high quality development rather than focus purely on an arbitrary Government timescale.

"The council has stuck to its principals and continues to prioritise customer service and good development over speed.

"It's now even clearer our approach is right.

"During the year of designation only one developer from approximately 50 major planning applications has chosen to apply directly to the Inspectorate rather than work with the council.

"The improvements in planning application performance combined with our up-to-date core strategy, an approved urban extension of 4,250 homes and our excellent customer relationships reinforce that Blaby is an excellent planning authority."

When the council went into special measures council leader Ernie White said the authority had been "put in special measures for not slavishly following Government-directed targets."

He said: "I plead guilty to being naive. Naive to believe that my party meant what it promised when in opposition, which was that localism would be the policy goal when in Government and that decisions taken at a local level for the right reasons would be respected, and decisions taken closer to the voting public were better than dictats from the centre."

A motorcyclist has told how he narrowly missed being injured in an accident after two cars collided just yards from him.

Arron Manchester said he felt lucky not to be seriously hurt after the two cars collided 15 yards him as he pushed his broken motorbike along a grass verge today.

Mr Manchester, of West End, Leicester, said the accident happened at about 8.35am on the A426 Leicester to Lutterworth road near Dunton Bassett.

One driver was taken to hospital by the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance with serious injures.The other was taken to hospital by a land ambulance. Both went to the University Hospital Coventry.

The 28-year-old said: "The chain on my bike broke so I was pushing it along the grass verge.

"I suddenly noticed the traffic in front of me has stopped so I looked behind me to see why and there were two cars on opposite sides of the road.

"The black car had stopped just where I had been walking ten seconds before.

"I could have been seriously hurt if the crash had happened a few seconds earlier. I know I have been very lucky indeed."

Mr Manchester said the accident happened as he made his way to work in Ullesthorpe.

He said: "There were just the drivers in each car. I do not know what happened.

"I did not even hear a collision. I had my helmet and that road is really noisy."

Fire crews from Lutterworth and Southern station were called to the accident at 8.43am.

The road was closed but re-opened at 3pm.

Anyone with any information about the incident should call the police on 101.

Sprightly 96-year-old Harold Veazey is officially the oldest athlete in the county.

Three times a week Harold pumps iron, and goes through his paces on the cycling and rowing machines.

But it wasn't until he was 90 that he first stepped into a gym after having had his knees replaced.

Doctors recommended he should go to the gym to keep active.

Harold, from Melton, clinched the oldest athlete in Leicestershire and Rutland award at a ceremony at the Link Hotel, in Loughborough on Thursday.

The grandfather-of-four said he was over-the-moon to win the award.

He said: "When you are 96 this sort of thing doesn't come along very often. But I am very grateful and pleased."

Three mornings a week Harold goes to Waterfield Leisure Gym, in Melton, where he stays for between an hour and 90 minutes.

He said: "I start off with my arms with two weights of 60kg, I do three miles cycling - that takes care of my knees, I go on to the rowing machine for 10 to 15 minutes, then a hand cycle machine for 4km before returning to the weights."

Harold, who has lived in the Melton area since he was 16, said: "It does me the world of good both physically and mentally. It is a refreshment."

After a morning of exercise, he walks around Melton Country Park.

Harold played football for Melton up until the age of 40. He then kept up walking to keep fit.

He started going to the gym when he was 90 following an operation to replace both of his knees as doctors advised him to exercise.

Harold was an engineer all his working life and helped to build Spitfires during the Second World War.

Harold says his new knees have helped him keep active and he eats hearty meals to keep his strength up.

He said: "I like good English food. I like roast meats. I like fish and I like salads and sausage, bacon and chips."

General manager at Waterfield Leisure Gym Matthew Hopkin nominated Harold for the award.

He said: "Harold comes every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8am.

"He is very committed and dedicated. He has his routine and sticks to it.

"I wanted him to get a bit of recognition. He is 96 and puts everyone to shame.

"He is genuinely a really nice guy. He will always chat to you and is really funny, and quite cheeky."

Andy Reed, Chairman of Leicester-Shire and Rutland Sport, said: "We hope this will also inspire others throughout our local communities to enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits that result from regular participation in sport and physical activity."

A motorcyclist has told how he narrowly missed being injured in an accident after two cars collided just yards from him.

The 28-year-old, who did not want to be named,  said he felt lucky not to be seriously hurt after the two cars collided 15 yards him as he pushed his broken motorbike along a grass verge yesterday. (FRI)

The biker, of West End, Leicester, said the accident happened at about 8.35am on the A426 Leicester to Lutterworth road near Dunton Bassett.

One driver was taken to hospital by the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance with serious injuries. The other was taken to hospital by a land ambulance. Both went to the University Hospital Coventry.

He said: "The chain on my bike broke so I was pushing it along the grass verge.

"I suddenly noticed the traffic in front of me has stopped so I looked behind me to see why and there were two cars on opposite sides of the road.

"The black car had stopped just where I had been walking ten seconds before.

"I could have been seriously hurt if the crash had happened a few seconds earlier. I know I have been very lucky indeed."

He said the accident happened as he made his way to work in Ullesthorpe.

He said: "There were just the drivers in each car. I do not know what happened.

"I did not even hear a collision. I had my helmet and that road is really noisy."

Fire crews from Lutterworth and Southern station were called to the accident at 8.43am.

The road was closed but re-opened at 3pm.

Anyone with any information about the incident should call the police on 101.

A kidnapper who abducted a terrified eight-year-old boy off the street, and sexually abused him in his car, was jailed for six years and four months.

Mohammed Irfan Bajiwala, a married father-of-two, also behaved indecently towards two other schoolboys, aged 10 and 12.

Judge Simon Hammond said: "What happened to these three boys is every parents' worst nightmare.

"These boys will never forget what happened."

Bajiwala (35) used the same ruse when preying on the victims during the day on Leicester's streets – by asking them to help him find 'lost' keys in his black Vauxhall Astra.

The eight-year-old was walking along Mere Road, Highfields, en route to meet his grandfather, at 1.30pm on Saturday May 3 this year.

Neil Bannister, prosecuting, told Leicester Crown Court: "The defendant called the boy over and asked him to look for keys in his car.

"He placed him in the rear of his car, where the boy recalls seeing a child's seat and a book of football stickers.

"He tried to get out but the child locks were operating and he couldn't."

Bajiwala drove off with the boy a short distance to a nearby pub car park, at the Charny Inn, Spinney Hill Road.

The defendant got out and by chance saw a man he knew and they had a brief chat.

Mr Bannister said: "The boy tried to signal for help but the man left."

Bajiwala got in the car and told the child to lie down on the back seat, before unsuccessfully trying to remove his trousers.

He then simulated sex with the clothed child, before dropping him off in the vicinity of Hartington Road, near Spinney Hill Park – and giving him the book of football stickers.

In a victim impact statement, the boy's father said his son was "frightened and upset" and is now wary of strangers and reluctant to go out.

Bajiwala left his DNA on the boy's trousers which led to his arrest.

Police linked the defendant to two similar earlier incidents.

At 1pm on Sunday March 30, a 12-year-old boy in Constance Road, north Evington, was approached by the defendant, who asked him to help him look for keys inside his car.

As the boy bent over on all fours leaning, in through a rear passenger door, the defendant exposed himself and began simulating sex, rubbing himself against the boy's buttocks.

The victim ran off..

Some days earlier, a 10-year-old making his way home from school along Mornington Street, off Uppingham Road, was also stopped and asked to help look for keys.

On this occasion the defendant had his young daughter in the back of his car, and told her to get out and she remained nearby.

As the boy bent over to search under the driver's seat he felt a "nudge-like push to his back."

He backed away and went home to tell his mother.

Sentencing, Judge Hammond said Bajiwala presented a risk of danger to the public.

He said: "He targeted young and vulnerable children because they were on the street alone.

"A significant degree of planning was involved and he used the same system."

Bajiwala, of King Edward Road, off Uppingham Road, Leicester, had an additional seven years extended onto his licence period, following his release.

The court heard that although he had no previous convictions, Bajiwala received a police caution in 2008 for common assault upon an 11-year-old boy, whilst on duty as a bus driver in London.

He got out of the cab and sat next to the boy - his only passenger - and kissed his cheek, before making an excuse to go on the top deck, where he asked the child to sit on his knee, but the boy refused.

Stephen Lowne, mitigating, said it was "a tragedy" he was not prosecuted for a sexual offence in relation to the boy in 2008, instead of being cautioned for a lesser offence, as he may have received treatment "and we might not be here today."

He said Bajiwala was a victim of sexual abuse as a child, at a boarding school in India.

Judge Hammond said Bajiwala may have been a victim as a child, but said: "It doesn't mean he has to go and do it to someone else years later."

Mr Lowne said the kidnap offence was of a short duration, no violence was used, and the boy was returned to a familiar street afterwards.

He said: "He apologises for what he's done and acknowledges he's got a problem and has done wrong.

"He's amenable to treatment to prevent anything like this happening again.

"He's ashamed and embarrassed.

"He knew what he was doing but felt unable to help himself at the time."

The defendant admitted sexual assault and kidnapping the eight-year-old, sexually assaulting the 12-year-old and attempted sexual assault of the 10-year-old.

Bajiwala will have to enlist on a sex offender register for life and was made the subject of a sexual offences prevention order, banning future unsupervised contact with children under 16.

Afterwards, Det Sgt Dave Speight said: "Understandably, these incidents left the victim's extremely upset and shaken.

"Bajiwala went out and purposely targeted young children on several occasions.

"By pleading guilty he spared the victims the ordeal of giving evidence in court.

"There is a possibility that there are other victims out there who have not come forward and spoken to police. I would encourage anyone who believes they, or a member of their family, have been a victim to come forward and contact us.

"It's not always easy to come forward and report such crimes but please be assured that your concerns will be taken seriously. We have specialist officers and access to a number of agencies who can guide and support you throughout the process."

A crowd gathered in Leicester city centre today to call on Islamic State to release its hostages.

About 40 men, women and children congregated at the Clock Tower to send a message for the release of all Islamic State captives including aid worker Alan Henning.

The vigil was organised by local teacher Riaz Khan and was attended by Leicester aid worker Majid Freeman who was with Mr Henning when he was captured.

Mr Henning, 47, of Salford, was captured while delivering aid to Syria in December.

The terror group holding him has threatened to kill him. His family said they had received a recording of him pleading for his life.

Mr Freeman said: "I would call on the people who are holding Mr Henning prisoner to look into his case and review what he has done.

"He is an innocent man and should be released immediately."

Organiser Mr Khan said he hoped the gathering would send a message to the terrorists.

He said : "Today is the day of Arafat - the holiest day in the Islamic calendar.

"This is why I organised this for today. I am appealing to them on this most special day to let Mr Henning go."

The people heard speeches, held posters and staged a one-minute silence at the Clock Tower.

Leicester South MP Jon Ashworth said: "It is fitting this is held in this city because we embrace all faiths here.

"We are here today with Muslims, non-Mulsin and people of no faith. We are joining together to express our solidarity and to call for the release of all hostages."

Suleman Nagdi, spokesman for the Federation of Muslim Organisations, said he was happy to support the vigil.

Canon Barry Naylor said: "It seems to me Mr Henning was a very decent man who needs our support and help now." 

Leicester Tigers are closing in on the loan signing of Cardiff Blues lock Lou Reed.

The 27-year-old is expected to come to Welford Road on a short-term deal.

His arrival will help the Wales international pick up some much-needed game time as he battles back from ankle and toe injuries that have hampered his progress over the last 12 months.

He made just five starts for the Blues last season.

And that will also help Tigers who are desperate for some second-row cover with Geoff Parling (head), Louis Deacon (back) and Ed Slater (knee) all ruled out with injury.

Weighing in at 6ft 6in and 19 stones, Reed came through the Pontypridd Academy before playing for Celtic Warriors.

He later joined the Llanelli Scarlets and made 109 appearances for them before joining Cardiff in 2012.

Reed was named in the Wales training squad in 2011, ahead of the Rugby World Cup, and made his international debut off the bench against Scotland in February 2012.

He went on to play against Australia in the autumn and was part of the 2013 Six Nations winning squad. He toured Japan with Wales last summer.

Disney's Frozen is the biggest selling DVD and Blu-ray of the year so far, it  has been has revealed.

According to Official Charts Company data, the animated musical - which is inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale The Snow Queen – leads the year to date best-sellers list, having racked up sales of 2.44 million.

Frozen also holds the title of the fastest-selling DVD and Blu-ray of the year so far, shifting 900,000 copies during its first week on sale back in March.

The film's signature song Let It Go, which is performed by Idina Menzel, also appears on the Official Biggest Selling Songs of 2014 so far list at Number 10, having smashed past the half million sales mark in the UK.

The Hobbit – The Desolation of Smaug takes second place on the best-sellers Top 40. The movie, which is the second instalment of the film series based on J.R.R Tolkien's novel The Hobbit was released on DVD and Blu-ray in April this year and has since sold 1.19 million copies.

The third-biggest selling DVD and Blu-ray of 2014 so far is The Hunger Games – Catching Fire. The second part of the Hunger Games series has sold 934,000 since its release in March this year.

The Lego Movie, which has been available to buy since July, places fourth on the list on 875,000.

Rounding off the Top 5 is science fiction thriller Gravity. The multi-Oscar winning film, which stars Sandra Bullock and George Clooney has shifted 791,000 DVDs and Blu-rays since its release in March.

Further down the year to date Top 40, Captain America – The Winter Solider places tenth on the list after selling 493,000 six weeks after its release, and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 – released a month ago – is a Number 13 on 389,000.

In 365 days, Leicester will be packed with excited rugby fans from across the globe.

On October 4, 2015, Argentina will take on Tonga in the first game to be played in the city as part of the Rugby World Cup.

Leicester is one of a number of host cities – the only one in the East Midlands – to welcome 20 teams from around the world all competing for the coveted Webb Ellis Cup.

The King Power stadium will be transformed into a rugby stadium from October 4, until October 11, and will also see Canada take on Romania (Oct 6) and Argentina versus Namibia (Oct 11).

To Promote Leicester's involvement in the tournament, VisitEngland has created a short video of all of the city and county's best bits and encourage people to visit.

Jeremy Brinkworth, project director of Rugby World Cup, VisitEngland, said: "With one year to go until Rugby World Cup 2015, our tongue-in-cheek short film has been designed to provide inspiration for visitors travelling to Leicester pre, during and post the tournament.

"Whether it's a visit to the National Space Centre, Richard III exhibition or indulging in a Melton Mowbray pork pie, there's plenty to see and do for all ages and interests."

Martin Peters, chief executive of Leicester Shire Promotions, added: "As a host city, Leicester is ready to give a warm welcome to Rugby World Cup 2015 visitors from the competing nations and beyond."

A singer  from the county has made it through to the regional finals of a competition.

Sophie Dangerfield, 27, from Marlborough Way, Ashby is performing in the regional finals of the Open Mic UK singing competition which is taking place today .

Sophie, who has been performing since the age of four, said: "I'm really excited to be singing in the regional finals. I would love to be able to move my singing career forward and entering competitions like Open Mic UK are great for gaining experience and musical contacts.

"I hope I do well in the competition but I am just looking forward to performing on stage."

Sophie will perform in the live showcases at NEC in Birmingham today (Saturday) at 7.30pm.

If Sophie gets through, she will go on to compete in the area finals for the chance to make it through to the grand final and compete for a top prize of £5,000.

For more information on the competition visit www.open

IS terrorists have published a video of the murder of aid volunteer Alan Henning hours after a vigil held in Leicester called for his safe release.

The event was co-organised by Leicester aid worker  Majid Freeman who was with Mr Henning when he was abducted by IS members while delivering aid in Syria in December last year.

During the vigil held at the Leicester Clock Tower Mr Freeman said: "I would call on the people who are holding Mr Henning prisoner to look into his case and review what he has done.

"He is an innocent man and should be released immediately."

The vigil included senior members of Leicester's Muslim community who  re-iterated their call for the safe release of Mr Henning and other hostages. 

Prime Minister David Cameron released a statement condemning the brutal murder.

The Prime Minister said: "The brutal murder of Alan Henning by Isil shows just how barbaric and repulsive these terrorists are.

"My thoughts and prayers tonight are with Alan's wife Barbara, their children and all those who loved him."

Colour, atmosphere, action and charm are all in this latest display of entries to our soon-to-be judged Natural World Photography Competition.

With the winners set to be announced next week, here is a selection showing some of the skills displayed by readers in capturing nature's beauty on camera.

Today, we feature a forest landscape at dawn by Michael Price and a misty atmospheric silhouette of a majestic fallow stag at Bradgate Park, taken by Mike Belson, of Sileby .

Paul Riddle, of Littlethorpe, submitted a family line-up of three owlets and their not-much-larger parent on the left – taken at Willoughby Waterleys.

Paul also snapped the colourful kingfisher with a minnow at South Wigston.

Paul Budd, of Northfields, has demonstrated his action-photography expertise at Watermead Country Park with his photograph of an angry male swan seeing off a rival.

He said: "I had spotted this activity on previous days, but was always in the wrong place... I changed location and got this."

Firefighters rescued a man perched on the edge of a 130ft drop at a Leicestershire quarry.

Working under the beam of a police helicopter searchlight in the pitch darkness, firefighters rescued the man from a tiny ledge and pulled him to safety.

The dramatic rescue at the quarry in Breedon-on-the Hill took place shortly after midnight yesterday.

Firefighter Roger Hawes, 47, was lowered 40ft to the man, who was precariously perched on a piece of solid ground the size of roof tile.

He was holding on to tiny branches to stop him slipping further down the loose shale surface towards a sheer drop and certain death.

Fire crews were called by police at 12.24am after reports of a man crying for help.

Five firefighters from Castle Donington, who were first on the scene, had to park their fire engine 100m away and ferry their rescue equipment to the scene.

Crews had to cut through tough shrubbery and get through a barbed wire fence to reach the quarry's edge.

Watch manager Adam Webster said: "When we arrived, a policeman was lying on the quarry edge talking to the casualty who had fallen down a slope of about 70 degrees.

"He was shaken and bruised but not badly injured. He was standing on a tiny ledge just before a drop of about 40m."

Firefighter Roger was lowered down to one side of the man, to avoid knocking shale or rock on to him in his precarious position.

The Leicestershire Police helicopter hovered above the scene, providing enough light for Roger to get to the man and attach a rescue strop, a wide band which fits under the arms.

Roger, a firefighter for 25 years who has carried out similar rescues, said: "He was scared when I got to him, but very happy to see me.

"He was standing on the only piece of solid ground around which was the size of a roof tile and holding on to a few twigs growing out of the quarry face.

"Everything else around him would have moved because it was all loose shale.

"I estimated that the drop below him was about 100 to 150ft as the stones I was kicking out of the way to get to him were taking a very long time to hit the ground below."

Once secured by a rope to rescuers at the top of the quarry, and with Roger behind him, the man scrambled his way back to the top on his hands and knees.

He was then placed on a spinal board as a precaution and carried by the firefighters to a waiting ambulance which took him to the Queen's Medical Centre, in Nottingham.

His condition is not known.

"I think he is one lucky guy," said Roger. "I told him he should do the lottery today!"

Watch manager Mr Webster said: "The casualty was safe and secure within 20 minutes of our arrival."

The number of centenarians in Britain has more than quadrupled in the past 30 years, according to new figures. Harold Smalley, 99, former Far East prisoner of war, retired cobbler, all-round gentleman and resident of Whitwick, celebrates his 100th birthday this month

I'm 100 on October 25. We're having a party and that's nice and all that, but I don't want a big fuss. I get up in the morning and I get on with my day and that's that. That's all I do. What's my secret? I'm not sure I have one.

I'm quite relaxed about things. I don't get het up about much, although I don't like those Islamic State terrorists beheading innocent people. Why would anyone do that? It's bloody ridiculous.

I don't drink or smoke. The local bobby caught me smoking when I was 13 and he dragged me and my mate right back to school and told the head teacher. That was the first – and last – cigarette I had. I'm pleased about that, though. Smoking is not good for you.

I broke my wrist last Christmas. We were going out for dinner at a local pub. My wife took the steps down to the pub entrance, I went down the slope. I saw her and thought: "If I get a move on, I can beat her here." Ha, ha. And what happened? I slipped, didn't I. Broke my wrist in two places. It was a bad 'un. Took the ambulance two hours to get to me. I was in agony. I'm all right now though. It's all healed. I've got my strength back.

I use a stick now, to walk about. I've done that since the fall. My family say it's safer, so I do it for them, really. I think I'd be all right without one.

I play dominoes once a week at Coalville Labour Club. I don't drink when I get there. I might have two halves. But that's it. No more than that. How do I get there? I drive there. I've got a Ford KA. I bet I've had it seven years and I've only done about 25,000 miles. I'm a good driver. Ask my wife, Val. She'd rather me drive than her.

I only want to drive around Whitwick and Coalville. I wouldn't want to drive around a big city I didn't know. I haven't driven in Leicester for years. I could probably do it, but I wouldn't like it. If I have to go anywhere like that, I use my bus pass.

I have porridge for breakfast every morning. Porridge with a bit of jam in it, or raisins. I have three good meals a day. I have a good wife to look after me, you see. That's the secret.

I have lots of fruit and veg– but not much meat. I do like a good fry-up on a Saturday morning, though. I do the fry-up. I do it all in lard. It tastes better.

I've never had any bad health. I had a bit of a growth on my chest a few years ago. I went to the hospital and they said they didn't like the look of it, so they cut it off. I went back a week later and they said: "Sorry about that Mr Smalley – we took it off, but there was nothing wrong with it.'' I've still got a scar there.

I have dodgy knees now. They let me down a bit. But I put a stretch bandage on 'em and I get out. What I really miss is doing my garden. I used to like that. It's a bit too much for me these days.

I'm one of 10 children. They're all dead now. I'm the last one. My dad was a miner. When I left school at 14 he said to me: "Don't do what I've done, son. Don't go down the pit. Get another job.''

So I went to Loughborough to make cranes and then I worked as a cobbler in Anstey. I biked it to Anstey, from Coalville, every day, there and back. I was as fit as a butcher's dog.

They called me up in 1940. I was 25. I didn't want to go, really, but what could I do? They sent us, the Leicesters, to Penang, Malaysia. We should never have been there.

We were trained to fight with bayonets. The Japs were coming down from Thailand in tanks. We came out with our little bayonets and there they were. We didn't stand a chance. It was ridiculous. We had a young officer with us. He looked terrified. "Just run," he said. "Run for your lives." I'm not a religious man but I prayed for my life that day.

I was captured in Singapore in 1942 and put in prisoner of war camp. I worked on the Burma railway. I did that all day, every day, 12, 13 hours, non-stop, barefoot, no shoes, no clothes, just a bloody napkin, that's all. They gave us two cups of rice a day. That was it. I like rice, though. I still have rice now. I like a nice curry and rice and chilli con carne.

Death was all around you. If you got poorly, that was it. It was rare anyone survived an illness or injury. I used to lie on my bamboo bed in the hut at night, and by the light of the moon I could see the Allied planes flying over to bomb Japan.

One night, one of those planes dropped a bomb on our camp. We were in the Nong Pladuk camp. It wiped out all the Dutch PoWs – and the hut next to us. Five soldiers from the Leicestershire Regiment died that night, killed by a bomb from one of our planes.

I was lucky. The debris and shrapnel from that bomb tore though our hut. But we survived.

There was no point trying to escape. Where would we go? How would we survive? Mind you, a couple of lads tried it. They were caught and had their heads chopped off. That tended to put people off, too.

They were cruel, the Japs. One of them slapped me in the face. He'd told me to clean some machinery, so I put some oil on a rag and started to clean. I shouldn't have used the oil, it turned out. So he hit me. There were days, in those camps, when you just never thought it would stop. I distinctly remember thinking, "When will this ever end? Is this it for the rest of my life?''

They marched us from railway prisoner of war camps, through Thailand, for miles and miles, to an old airport. They set us to work building a new air strip. I saw out the rest of the war there.

When they liberated us, we went out in a Japanese jeep to a bar and got blind drunk. I hadn't had an alcoholic drink for four years. I was so sick that night. And then I noticed, in a pile of vomit, was a tape worm. I'd thrown it up. If I hadn't thrown it up, it would have eaten me away. Have I been drunk since then? I don't think I have. There's no need, is there?

In the days after liberation, we had nothing. No food. No clothes. Nothing, really. The American Air Force dropped big wooden crates full of supplies for us. One of our lads – he'd survived the railways, the PoW camps, the march through the jungle to the airport, and all the work he had to do there, finally, he was a free man – ran outside when they were dropping the crates and he was hit by one. It killed him. Imagine that. It was such a waste.

I have never been as happy as the day, in 1945, when I set foot on English soil when our ship docked in Southampton. All the ships were in the harbour, parping their horns, people waving flags. I'll never forget that.

I used to have nightmares when I first came back from the war, but you can't carry on like that. You have to put it behind you. You can't let it bother you, take over your life. I was lucky to come through it. I didn't want it to ruin my life.

I came home and got a job as a cobbler in Whitwick. I didn't really speak about the war. I didn't think anyone was interested.

I only started talking about it a few years ago. Some people were interested, after all. I was a bit surprised, to be honest. I guess there aren't many of us left today. These stories are a bit rare, aren't they?

By Steve Walsh

I honestly thought I could become Leicester City's new manager, working with Tony Cottee. Some folk would take a look at my lifestyle and scoff at such a view. But I knew what I had to give and that was 100 per cent commitment to the club and the fact we would have both been totally accepted by that dressing room.

Who knows what could have been? The odds were stacked against us because of our lack of managerial experience and our lack of qualifications, which we were both more than willing to put right.

We made our pitch on the idea we could keep the dressing room together – even more vital after such a successful manager had just gone.

But even the circumstances of our meeting with board members, including chairman Martin George, told the story.

It was at Luton Airport, with George about to go on holiday, which hinted to us he was going through the motions.

Nevertheless, I think they were impressed with our professional presentation and several new signings we could put in the frame, including striker Chris Sutton.

Yes, I had my personal run-ins with him but he was a quality player and a physical force who could have done us a great job. I would have knuckled down under (Peter) Taylor. I knew no other way and my heart was still with Leicester City.

Taylor himself praised the way I worked that pre-season and could see I was injury free and ready for the new campaign.

But I never thought he was honest or up front with me.

I played in all the pre-season tour games in Holland as Gerry Taggart was injured and he gave me the very strong impression I'd done well enough to be first choice in that match against West Ham United early in the Premier League campaign.

As late as the Monday before the game, he reassured me this was still the case but come the trip to Upton Park, Taggart was restored to the starting line-up and I was only on the bench.

I came on as substitute and got one last memento to mark what turned out to be my final ever appearance for City – the shirt of future England skipper Rio Ferdinand, who shortly afterwards broke the British transfer record with his

£18 million move to Leeds United.

Things were not looking good for me, either on the training ground or on the pitch. To be honest, I found Taylor's methods too basic.

More like a school teacher than a football manager in his manner, all he could come up with were five-yard training drills, better suited to teenagers than top professionals who'd been there and won medals.

But in my mind, they were often too demanding for our new signing Ade Akinbiyi – and I'm not kidding.

I don't want to have a go at a great guy who ran his heart out for Leicester City but his

£5 million transfer from Wolves highlighted everything that started to go wrong.

Talent-wise, he wasn't in the same league as Emile Heskey, yet he wasn't the worst of Taylor's signings – I think midfielder Junior Lewis, in particular, would have struggled to get a game with many lower division sides.

When Taylor's staff weren't telling me about the next club who were supposedly interested in me, he was threatening to run me up and down the stands.

I felt he was trying to punish me, to push me out the door – something I recognised from previous managers with other players.

Some folk may think my view of Peter Taylor was sour grapes. But later events proved he was the wrong man for Leicester City.

He took over a very good side with plenty of cash in the bank and managed to squander all of it and send the club into crisis.

In all, he reportedly spent

£26 million, and bought very badly. What the fans may not know is that he also increased the wages of moderate players very dramatically.

In my view, Taylor wasn't comfortable with big personalities at the football club because he wasn't a big personality himself.

He kicked Collymore, Cottee and I into touch as fast as possible.

Okay, no harm in putting an emphasis on youth, but his team needed balance and experience, for me, in such a demanding league.

Instead, he let it slip through his fingers when we could all have added another season's value to our squad.

The penny finally dropped when Taylor announced his 18-man squad for the Uefa Cup tie against Red Star Belgrade – and I wasn't in it.

If I couldn't even make the 18 for such an important game, I had no future under this manager.

Had Taylor been a man, he would have chatted things through with me properly.

Had he argued my better days were behind me because of all the injuries, I would have accepted it.

I would have known I was valued and respected but time had caught up with me. But he did none of that.

Instead, he passed the buck to others to tell me about other clubs being interested and I believe tried to make my life as miserable as possible.

My mind was a complete mess. Even Nottingham Forest was suggested as a club that might be interested in taking me on.

How on earth could I play for them after all those years with the Blue Army?

When I went for a trial at Wolves and saw a young Joleon Lescott, later to play for England, looking impressive in training, it was yet another twist of the knife.

Here was a young guy at the beginning of his career with everything to look forward to; very suddenly, I felt I was at the end.

Today:

Rain spreading east this morning, locally heavy, should clear most places by the end of the afternoon. Drier, clearer, but noticeably cooler conditions, following from the west with isolated showers in the moderate to fresh westerly breeze. Maximum Temperature 16C.

Tonight:

Most places dry with clear spells, and with winds falling light, a significantly colder night than of late with a local grass frost possible. Minimum Temperature 4C.

Sunday:

After a chilly start, most places will have a dry day with sunny spells, although an isolated shower is possible. A freshening southerly breeze developing later. Maximum Temperature 15C.

1.47pm: Area Traffic Control are reporting long delays into Highcross John Lewis car park. they advise using alternative parking or park & ride sites at Enderby, Meynells Gorse & Birstall

8.55am: There are no reports of major problems on the county's roads. 

<b>For more local and national travel information and weather updates see the links below:</b>

MOTORWAY UPDATES: For traffic updates on UK motorways and other key roads - http://www.highways.gov.uk/traffic-information/" target="_blank">CLICK HERE.

LIVE CAMERAS: Check the M1 through Leicestershire with our live traffic cameras - http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/traffic.html... target="_blank">CLICK HERE.

NATIONAL RAIL: For live UK train updates - http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/... target="_blank">CLICK HERE.

FLIGHT INFORMATION: For East Midlands Airport visit: http://www.eastmidlandsairport.com/flightinformati... target="_blank"> CLICK HERE.

WEATHER: See the latest http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk.co.uk/weather" target="_blank">five-day weather report for Leicester and Leicestershire

CONTACT NEWSDESK: Send us your news and pictures. Tweet us http://twitter.com/Leicester_Merc" target="_blank">@Leicester_Merc or email newsdesk@leicestermercury.co.uk

Firefighters were called out after a car left the road and hit a garden wall.

A crew from Southern attended after the vehicle left Northfield Road in Blaby, hit a parked car and slammed into a wall at about 9am yesterday.

The driver of the car was taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary for a check-up after the incident.

The road was closed while the fire service made the vehicle safe and dealt with a petrol leak from the car.

No other vehicle was involved in the incident.

Firefighters attended after a van and a HGV collided on Little Glen Road in Glen Parva, near Leicester.

A fire crew from Southern was called out at 12.06pm yesterday after the two vehicles collided near the railway bridge.