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Oxjam rocked the centre of Leicester raising thousands for charity

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Leicester city centre rocked loud and proud to the Oxjam beat at the weekend.

Eighteen venues and 200 local bands took part

with everything from urban rap to karaoke making up the annual charity music festival called the Oxjam Leicester Takeover.

Busk Idol winner Kristyna Myles headed a long list of talent at the Oxfam fund-raiser which was bigger than last year's event.

The rocking was concentrated at venues in the Cultural Quarter last year but on Saturday pubs and clubs across the city also took part.

Cultural Quarter venues such as the Soundhouse, the Exchange, Manhattan, 34, the Shed and the Ale Wagon were joined by venues on the other side of the city centre, including Duffy's Bar, Firebug and the Criterion.

As usual there was an outdoor stage in Orton Square, along with market stalls that formed the hub of the festival.

Sue Lavender, owner at the Soundhouse, said the festival had been a great success.

She said: "We had 12 bands on from 1.30pm right through until 10.30pm.

"Speaking in Italics finished the day and they brought the house down.

"The place was packed most the day as lots of bands, like 8 Miles High and The Bench That Rocked, brought a lot of their own followers.

"This is a great event because it really gets the Cultural Quarter up and kicking. It also gives lots of local bands the chance to play to good audiences.

"The beauty of it is that people get to enjoy live music and have a fun and raise money for a good cause."

Firebug staged a hip-hop karaoke night and at there were DJs and rockers at the Shed.

Kevin Holyland, who owns the Shed, said they had 4 bands on the main stage from 1pm, including Smokin' the Profit and another local band, Echo Marley and the Musical Warriors.

Oxjam Leicester Takeover marketing manager Hannah Dean said this year's event had been brilliant.

She said: "This event here in Leicester just gets bigger and bigger and better and better year after year.

"There is a lot of organisation that goes into this event but it is all worthwhile when you see just how many people are having a good time and raising money for charity at the same time.

"The problem we have got now is how do we top this next year?"

Event organiser Elisabeth Barker-Carley said they had raised £13,000 last year and were hoping to break the £15,000 barrier this year.

The Oxjam Leicester Takeover was just one of 59 similar events taking place all over the country to raise money for the charity.

Oxjam rocked the centre of Leicester raising thousands for charity


Narborough Road bridge under wraps causes chaos

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A new work of art was due to be unveiled today following a facelift to the Narborough Road bridge in the city.

Network Rail engineers have been cleaning and painting the bridge, which crosses the A5460 between its junctions with Ivy Road and Winchester Avenue.

The £340,000 revamp will feature a mural designed by De Montfort University student Kieran Stott-Everett.

The road was closed over the weekend causing a few lost tempers and some traffic chaos as some drivers ignored diversion signs.

The £340,000 works are being funded by Network Rail with a £78,000 contribution from the city council.

Councillor Andy Connelly, one of the ward councillors for Westcotes, said: "I'm pleased we've been able to work with Network Rail and DMU on this project.

"The mural will be painted while these essential works are undertaken, which will minimise disruption for road users while allowing us to create a unique piece of artwork that will give a real sense of identity to the West End area."

Further work is set to be carried out on the bridge during November.

Narborough Road bridge under wraps causes chaos

F1 driver Jules Bianchi suffers severe head injury in Japanese Grand Prix

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F1 driver Jules Bianchi has suffered a severe head injury after crashing into a recovery vehicle at the Japanese Grand Prix.

The FIA said he would undergo surgery and then be moved to intensive care.

Bianchi, 25, was unconscious as he was taken to hospital today following the incident which brought the rain-affected race to an early conclusion.

The French Marussia driver lost control at the same spot at Suzuka where recovery vehicles were attending a previous crash.

In wet conditions, Sauber driver Adrian Sutil firstly spun and hit the tyre barrier as rain poured down in the latter stages of the race.

While recovery vehicles were lifting Sutil's car, Bianchi lost control of his car, travelled across the run-off area and hit the back of the tractor.

The race was red-flagged and then declared over after 44 laps.

"The driver was removed from the car, taken to the circuit medical centre and then by ambulance to Mie General Hospital," the FIA said in a statement.

"The CT scan shows that he has suffered a severe head injury and he is currently undergoing surgery. Following this he will be moved to intensive care where he will be monitored."

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton won the race ahead of team-mate Nico Rosberg.

He said: "It is obviously a real anti-climax to hear one of our colleagues is seriously injured. That is the main worry."


Sutil said: "I had aquaplaning in turn eight. The rain was increasing and the tyres were going down, the light was going down. It was hard to see.

"I was following Jules very close and had a spin and hit the wall. I was OK and then one lap later, under waved yellows, Jules was in the same trouble."

The race had earlier started under safety car conditions after a heavy downpour on Sunday morning as storms that preceded the approaching typhoon Phanfone hit Suzuka.

It was red-flagged after only two laps because of the weather, before resuming about 20 minutes later under the safety car. After a further eight laps, conditions were deemed suitable enough for racing to get under way.

Despite the conditions three-time world champion Niki Lauda, who was seriously injured in a crash at the German Grand Prix in 1976, felt they were not bad enough to warrant the race being called off.

"The rain was not the real issue," the Mercedes non-executive chairman said.

"There were safety cars put in and the race was run safe more or less to the end, so it could have been run to the end without the accident.

"I don't think the darkness was an issue here. Motor racing is dangerous. We get used to it if nothing happens and then suddenly we are all surprised.

"We always have to be aware that motor racing is very dangerous and this accident is a coming together of various difficult things. One car goes off, the truck comes out and the next car goes off. This was very unfortunate." 

F1 driver Jules Bianchi suffers severe head injury in Japanese Grand Prix

Glastonbury tickets sell out in a record 25 minutes

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If you were lucky enough to get hold of a ticket for next year's Glastonbury festival you should be getting email confirmation soon.

Glastonbury sold 135,000 tickets for next year's mud and music fest in a record-breaking 25 minutes today.

That is despite the headline acts not being known.

After just 25 minutes, all 135,000 tickets for Glastonbury 2015 have now been sold (including the 15,000 coach + ticket packages sold on Wednesday night).

A spokesman for the organisers said: "Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who's bought a ticket.

"We're humbled by the incredible numbers of people who would like to come to the Festival - and it's clear that demand once again outstripped supply this year.

"We're sorry that some of you have missed out, but there will be a resale of returned tickets in the spring (and your registration remains valid for future years).

Thank you all for your never-ending support for our Festival.

If you booked a ticket, you should receive your confirmation email soon. 

Glastonbury tickets sell out in a record 25 minutes

'Twitter troll' Brenda Leyland found dead in Leicestershire hotel room after being accused of targeting Madeleine McCann's parents, Kate and Gerry

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Brenda Leyland, the woman accused of targeting the parents of missing Madeleine McCann in abusive Twitter messages, has been found dead in a Leicestershire hotel room.

The dead body of the 63-year-old, of Burton Overy, was discovered yesterday afternoon.

A spokesman said: "Police were called at 1.45pm on Saturday, October 4, to a report of a body of a woman in a hotel room in Smith Way, Grove Park, in Enderby.

"Officers have attended the scene and a file is being prepared for the coroner. Identification of the deceased is a matter for the coroner.

"The death is not being treated as suspicious."

Her death comes after Ms Leyland was confronted by Sky News, which claimed she was one of dozens of so-called trolls - people who post abusive messages online - targeting Kate and Gerry McCann, of Rothley.

On Thursday, Sky News reporter Martin Brunt visited Ms Leyland's home and asked her why she was using her Twitter account to attack the McCanns.

The conversation was caught on camera, with Ms Leyland, who apparently used the identity Sweepyface on the social networking website, replying: "I'm entitled to."

Mr Brunt was then filmed telling Ms Leyland that she had been reported to the police, and that Scotland Yard was investigating a dossier of Twitter accounts which had apparently shown abuse against the McCanns.

Ms Leyland, who is believed to be a mother-of-two and who has lived in the village for around 15 years, replied: "That's fair enough."

Following the accusations, neighbours said they believed Ms Leyland had "fled" the village.

A resident, who did not want to be named, told the Mercury on Friday: "Somebody took a photo of her on Thursday afternoon and then she was gone.

"I haven't seen her since."

Ms Leyland's Twitter account was deleted last week.

Metropolitan Police have confirmed that they are examining a number of trolls who have posted threatening messages online about Madeleine McCann, who disappeared while on a family holiday in Portugal, in May, 2007, and targeted at her parents.

Police received a "letter and documentation" last month containing a list of the online abuse.

They are investigating a series of messages, written on Twitter, Facebook, message boards and forums.

The dossier is reported to have been 80 pages long, and to stem back over the past seven years.

It was compiled by members of the public concerned about the abuse.

'Twitter troll' Brenda Leyland found dead in Leicestershire hotel room after being accused of targeting Madeleine McCann's parents, Kate and Gerry

Richard Cockerill urges Leicester Tigers' players and supporters to 'ride the storm' after Gloucester defeat

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Leicester Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill has urged players and supporters to "ride the storm" after a third consecutive defeat.

The 33-16 reverse at Kingsholm was the first time Leicester had suffered such a run since October 2011. The visitors went in at the break 30-9 down.

With few of the club's vast injury list expected back any time soon, Tigers' upcoming games with Harlequins in the Aviva Premiership and then Ulster and Llanelli in Europe represent a huge test.

And Cockerill is determined to put an end to the lapses in concentration that have cost the club so dearly in the last three weeks.

"We will go back to work, work hard and then play Quins on Friday night which will need a big effort from us," he said.

"The club, the players and the supporters need to stick together, ride the storm and get on with it.

"We lost and didn't play as well as we should have. We did some good things but we did some bad things and they cost us dearly.

"I thought we started the game pretty well playing into a string breeze in that first half. At 9-6, it was a very even game.

"Then Mat Tait had to go off injured and we had to change things around a bit and made some poor decisions.

"We got charged down for a try and for 10 minutes, we unraveled and never recovered.

"The defence is clearly not as fluid as it could be. We conceded three soft tries. We should be better organised defensively but we had players out of position and guys like Thorn and Rizzo were playing for the first time in six months. Some things take time.

"We are going to stick together as a club and we are going to have to work through the issues. We will come out of the other side better for it. There is no other way of approaching it."

When asked if he could turn around the club's recent poor run after a big win at Exeter three weeks ago, Cockerill replied: "One hundred per cent, yes."

And while standing up to take full responsibility for the result, Cockerill did hope that the events surrounding their bad run – 19 members of his first team squad were unavailable for the trip to Kingsholm - would be taken into account by supporters.

"It's my responsibility. I am the person to blame. That's fine. But we will work through it," he said.

"If you look in and around it, you will see why that is happening. If you don't, you will draw your own conclusions. That's the world we live in. I can't do anything about that.

"I put pressure on myself. I came here 20 years as a player and I understand the pressure this club comes with.

"It's a lot easier as a player because you can do something about it. It's a different scenario. I am always under pressure for results.

"Am I under any extra pressure for results? You will have to ask the chairman."

"You have to galvanise (people around you) and use the negatives that are thrown at you to get stronger.

"We are going to have to be resilient in the new few weeks."

Cockerill said that Tait would have further tests on a "very sore" neck injury he picked up after just 16 minutes.

Seremaia Bai was a late pull out at Gloucester because his injured knee "wasn't quite right", while Tom Croft has had a bit of a reaction to his knee from playing at Bath and Tigers are "making sure that it right" before putting him back in the mix.

Manu Tuilagi is "getting better day by day" and Cockerill said he hoped his British & Irish Lion centre would fit by Friday's visit of Harlequins.

Richard Cockerill urges Leicester Tigers' players and supporters to 'ride the storm' after Gloucester defeat

Steve Walsh was a quiet lad when he arrived at Filbert Street

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INTRO: STEVE WALSH was widely recognised as the life and soul of Leicester City on and off the field during his tumultuous 14 years at Filbert Street.

But he wasn't always the boisterous, fun loving character that has since made him a lifelong hit with a generation of Foxes supporters.

As he explains in his soon-to-be-launched autobiography Walshy's 50 Shades of Blue, the young man, who first arrived at Filbert Street back in 1986 as a £100,000 signing from Wigan, was recognisable only from his early reputation as an injury-prone hard man that quickly followed him to the East Midlands.

Instead he was a shy, introverted character who initially found it difficult to adapt to moving to a First Division club and competing for a place with John O'Neill alongside former England defender Russell Osman in the heart of the City defence.

I'D LIKE to say I got goose bumps walking into Filbert Street for the first time but that honestly wasn't the case. I was coming to Leicester completely blind. I knew nothing about the club other than they were in the East Midlands and in the top division where I wanted to be. The only link I'd had was collecting a few football cards with Leicester players on – although, the great Gordon Banks apart, I didn't know too many names. Frank 'Elvis' Worthington and Keith Weller headed the list of recent legends I was to get to know, along with Birchy, but had very little knowledge of when I arrived.

I remember leaving the M6 in Bryan (Hamilton)'s Mercedes, seeing a sign saying M69 to Leicester, then driving along the long Narborough Road. I kept looking for the Filbert Street floodlights as we drove past Frank Berry scrap metal trains and feasted my eyes on the 'Statue of Liberty' monument at the top of the building on the corner. Then there was the iconic Bentley's roof, from which I later saw fans watching us in action. The ground itself was much bigger and better than I was used to although I'd had a brief taste of the big time playing at Maine Road and Wembley. Our talks were almost comical but the way most football clubs probably did their business. I was in and out of the manager's office four or five times trying to strike a deal with (Gordon) Milne. (Wigan's) Graham Barrow told me to talk to them but sleep on it for 24 hours before I made a decision. Agents were still fairly new to the game and I didn't have one, which didn't help. All I had to go on was that Wigan promised to put both David Lowe and I on the same money as the highest paid player if we signed our new deals. It was pure guesswork, but we didn't expect to get much more than £150 a week.

The way it worked was this: Milne told me what the club was prepared to offer and jotted a few figures down on a piece of paper; I said my piece and he threw the paper in the bin and started again. After a while, the bin was almost full to overflowing with useless scribbled notes. I was playing games as I'd have happily signed for nothing. I know that's easy for me to say, having later earned some good contracts as a footballer, but the financial side meant nothing at the time. I wanted to play with and against the best players in the land. My first City deal, however, was a good one. I signed for a fee of £100,000 on a four-year deal at £300 a week going up by £50 every year. I also got a £3,000 a year signing on fee and £10,000 to relocate, which was great. Checking into the Holiday Inn, I lived the high life before realising £10k would run out quickly that way. From there, I moved to the Du Val Hotel on London Road, where I stayed for most of my first year at the club, before buying a house in Barwell, Hinckley. It was a friendly place where I got to know owner Mick Navarro, a massive drinker and gambler, mad on his horse racing, along with his brother Willie. Among the other tenants was goalkeeper Paul Cooper, who joined City from Ipswich Town. He took me under his wing and became a good mate.

I'll always remember my first day at Leicester City. Our Belvoir Drive training ground was out of action and we were working at Leicester University on a really hot day. It was a fantastic feeling knowing I was a First Division player. We all went on a three mile run in the Uni grounds. Very good at sprints and hill running, I always struggled with long distance running and three miles was a *****g long way for me, believe me. Also, as the only person I really knew at the club was manager Bryan Hamilton, I felt more than a little out of my depth.

Settling into the club wasn't easy. Walking into a new dressing room for the first time is quite intimidating and certainly was for me. I could handle myself on a football pitch but was quite shy and withdrawn off it. I hated not knowing anyone and felt really embarrassed. That's just the way I am until I get to know everyone and come out of my shell. I wasn't the life and soul of the party from day one. Training was fairly simple with a lot of five-a-sides in which Hamilton and Milne sometimes took part. Milney loved a five aside and that's about all he did. That was as close as they got to being a partnership.

Steve Walsh was a quiet lad when he arrived at Filbert Street

Leicester and Leicestershire weather forecast

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Today: Wet and windy with persistent heavy rain moving eastwards through the day, accompanied by strong southeasterly winds. These winds should ease during the afternoon, especially in the west, with brighter conditions and isolated showers following behind. Maximum Temperature 12C.

Tonight: Dry for many initially and becoming cool with low cloud, mist and fog patches developing. A few heavy showers are likely overnight, especially during the early hours. Minimum Temperature 6C.

Tuesday: Rather cloudy through the first part of the morning with heavy showery rain moving northwards and lingering near northern counties. Drying up further south with some sunshine later. Light winds. Maximum Temperature 14C.

Leicester and Leicestershire weather forecast


Live: Traffic and travel updates from Leicester and Leicestershire

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7.27am: The A453 is closed in both directions between the M1 Island at Junction 24 and the Crusader Island due to accident closed for a while

For more local and national travel information and weather updates see the links below:

MOTORWAY UPDATES: For traffic updates on UK motorways and other key roads - CLICK HERE.

LIVE CAMERAS: Check the M1 through Leicestershire with our live traffic cameras - CLICK HERE.

NATIONAL RAIL: For live UK train updates - CLICK HERE.

FLIGHT INFORMATION: For East Midlands Airport visit: CLICK HERE.

WEATHER: See the latest five-day weather report for Leicester and Leicestershire

CONTACT NEWSDESK: Send us your news and pictures. Tweet us @Leicester_Merc or email newsdesk@leicestermercury.co.uk

Live: Traffic and travel updates from Leicester and Leicestershire

Leicester police warn of increase in revenge porn cases

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A growing number of young people are sending naked pictures of themselves to their partners – leaving themselves open to humiliation when the relationship breaks down, police have warned.

Leicestershire Police has reported it is investigating a growing number of cases of 'revenge pornography' – in which people maliciously post intimate pictures of their ex-partners online for the world to see.

The force issued the alert after it received 28 reports of people's 'private' photographs being posted on social media sites.

Most of those 28 cases, which were reported to the force in the 18 months to July this year, involved adult victims.

However two of the victims were 15 year-old girls.

Officers are particularly concerned about under-18s – children, in the eyes of the law – falling victim to revenge pornography.

Detective Inspector Rich Hiom said: "People have to understand that when they share images, particularly indecent ones, with anyone else, they no longer have any control over them.

"Once those images are out there on the internet they do not have a set shelf-life.

"We have had cases where young people, boys or girls, have sent naked pictures of themselves to a partner.

"Then, when the relationship breaks down, those pictures have been shared online.

"If the people involved are over 18 there is no definitive legislation, although there may be offences committed under harassment or telecommunications legislation.

"The law is not there to target kids who take selfies of themselves in indecent poses and send them to a boyfriend or girlfriend.

"But they can be committing an offence and young people need to realise that."

There is also a risk that such images could also easily be found by paedophiles who trawl the internet for indecent material.

Det Insp Hiom added: "We know of cases in the US of girls attempting suicide because their images they had taken of themselves and shared with others ended up on padeophile websites."

A study conducted by UK Safer Internet Centre and Plymouth University and supported by the NSPCC in December 2012 revealed that sharing intimate photographs – known as sexting – is considered almost routine for many 13 to 14 year olds.

David Wright, director of UK Safer Internet Centre, said: "Technology and the internet offer amazing opportunities but in some aspects have contrasting issues and threats.

"Issues that can have devastating consequences, especially for our children and young people."

Leicester police warn of  increase in revenge porn cases

Albert home with new heart

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Five-year-old Albert Tansey is on his way home to Burbage following a life-saving heart transplant operation in Newcastle.

The youngster underwent surgery at TheFreeman Hospital days after his own version of the ice bucket challenge in which he used the stuffing from bean bags promoting organ donation became an internet sensation.

His progress has been followed by nearly 3,500 on his social media Facebook page.

His post this afternoon read: "All snuggled up for the long drive......HOME !! Cannot wait, a lot has happened in the last few weeks x"

Almost immediately nearly 500 people "liked" the entry.

Last week father Adam spoke of the worry days after the operation when Albert developed a worrying number of antibodies which, if not immediately controlled, could attack his new heart.

However, Albert, who became the face of the 2011 campaign to save children's heart services at Leicester's Glenfield Hospital, pulled through.

Just a few weeks later he was deemed well enough to move off the ward to hospital accommodation.

He said: "I will mainly be eating fish, chips and ice-cream! ( pasteurised of course and not all at the same time my mummy said)

"Exciting times ahead with my new lush heart."

Albert was born with half a heart and had to have open heart surgery when was seven days old and again when he was nine months.

He was meant to have a third operation to fix his heart but when he was two he had a heart attack and in April this year doctors decided not to perform this operation and put the youngster on the transplant list.

The treatment he received inspired his parents Adam and Annita to found the charity Keep the Beat to help children born with heart problems.

They formed the charity with Francesca and Christer Larsson, from Lincolnshire whose daughter Sofia Larsson had also been born with heart defects.

Albert home with new heart

Woman knocked down and killed on the A6, in Oadby

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A pedestrian died after she was hit by a car while she was crossing a road last night. The woman was killed on the A6 Harborough Road, Oadby shortly after 9pm, Leicestershire Police said. The car, a blue Toyota Avensis, was travelling away from Leicester on the dual carriageway when the collision happened. The woman, who has not been formally identified, was declared dead at the scene. Detective Constable Kath Orr said: "We are appealing for witnesses who saw the collision to please come forward. "We would also like to speak with anyone who saw the pedestrian as she crossed the city-bound carriageway of the A6 or whilst she was on the central reservation. "In addition, we would like to speak to anyone who saw the blue Toyota as it was driven on the A6 before the incident." Contact Det Con Orr on 101 or Crimestoppers, which is anonymous, on 0800 555 111.

Woman knocked down and killed on the A6, in Oadby

Police arrest 18 suspects in burglary operation

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Police have arrested 18 people as part of a campaign to prevent a rise in burglaries as the nights get darker. The suspects were detained in the last two weeks of September as part of Leicestershire Police's ongoing crime reduction campaign, Operation Tiger. Nine of the 18 were arrested on suspicion of burglary, while the others were detained in connection with offences such as theft and criminal damage, or were wanted on warrant. The arrests came as the force launched a new phase of Operation Tiger today to head off an anticipated rise in burglaries as the nights grow darker. It is encouraging people to take basic security measures to protect their homes and to immediately report suspicious characters in their neighbourhoods. Also, officers on patrol will be looking out for homes at risk because their owners have left windows open or are in darkness and appear to be unoccupied. All burglary victims will be visited and given a crime prevention pack. The pack includes a timer which will switch lights on and off at intervals, an ultra-violet marker pen to mark property and crime prevention advice. Officers will also visit victims' neighbours to offer them similar advice. Detective Chief Inspector Rich Ward said: "Typically we do see a seasonal increase as the nights start to draw in and in particular when the clocks change. "If you are going to be out for the evening, leave a light on, or better still use a light timer. "Unfortunately we still see a number of burglary reports where a door or window had been left insecure. "We're hoping to encourage people to do a quick security check of their homes before they go out, or go to bed, to eliminate those opportunities. "I would also encourage people to call us if they see something suspicious. "I know that many people are concerned that they are wasting our time, however I would rather have us attend an incident which has been called in with good intent, than receive information about suspicious activity two or three days later. "An early call significantly increases our chances of catching those responsible." The force said it had recorded more burglaries so far this year compared to the same period last year. The crime has risen by 4.3 per cent, or 63 more offences. However, the number is 9.5 per cent, or 156 offences, fewer than the same period in 2012. During the two weeks during which the 18 suspects were arrested, burglary fell by a third, or 35 offences, compared to the same fortnight last year. Ratilal Govind, a Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator in Belgrave, Leicester. said: "It's a very simple message. "We want people to take some precautions, maybe leaving some lights or a radio on while they are out. "Making sure doors and windows are secure as well as those simple measures may be enough to deter burglars."

Police arrest 18 suspects in burglary operation

Leicester Tigers set to sign Jersey full-back Tommy Bell and Cardiff lock Lou Reed

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Leicester Tigers are looking to bolster their squad with Jersey full-back Tommy Bell and Cardiff lock Lou Reed set to join the club this week. 

Reed comes in to fill a desperate situation in the second row with Geoff Parling, Louis Deacon and Ed Slater all out. 

Bell, meanwhile, is likely to tie up some loose ends before arriving at Oval Park in time for the visit of Harlequins on Friday night. 

The 21-year-old former Wasp joined Jersey in the summer and has shown good form in the opening weeks of his side's Championship campaign, earning a place on the shortlist for the September Player of the Month award. His departure from Jersey came after a clause in his contract allowed him to leave if any interest from a Premiership club came in.

Leicester Tigers set to sign Jersey full-back Tommy Bell and Cardiff lock Lou Reed

Vaz calls public meeting after Belgrave Road revamp complaints

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Leicester East MP Keith Vaz has called a public meeting following complaints about roadworks on the city's Belgrave Road.

The area is currently undergoing a revamp following the demolition of the Belgrave Fly-over earlier this year.

Mr Vaz says he has been approached by several residents and businesses complaining about traffic delays, congestion and the lack of information provided by Leicester City Council, which is co-ordinating the work, and Sainsbury's, which is paying for it.

The supermarket giant is funding the £4 million project as a condition of being allowed to relocate from Belgrave to a larger store in Rushey Mead.

Council bosses had hoped to complete the scheme by this month but then admitted it would run on until March.

Mr Vaz's meeting will take place tomorrow night at 7.30pm at the Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre in Rothley Street.

Council officers and Sainsbury's representatives will be present.

Mr Vaz said: "Residents and businesses will have the opportunity to express their concerns over the delays in completing the new Road Work.

"They inform me that they have not been kept informed on regular basis of the development of the works and many of the businesses are losing trade as shoppers from outside are staying away due to the road works."

The issue of roadworks affecting businesses was raised by Tory Leicester East candidate Kishan Devani earlier this summer.

There were concerns the work could ruin the upcoming Diwali celebrations in the area.

The council has therefore said work will stop on October 10 for the Diwali lights switch-on, starting again on October 13.

There will be a further break from noon on October 22 until October 27 for the Diwali Day celebrations. 

Vaz calls public meeting after Belgrave Road revamp complaints


Elderly couple refused permission by church to exhume remains of their baby at Loughborough Cemetery

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An elderly couple have been refused permission to have the remains of their baby exhumed so they can take her home to Australia.

Mr Shiu-Foon Louis Sun and Mrs Frances Wai-Ling Sun have been told by a Church of England court they cannot remove the cremated remains of their three-day-old daughter which have lain buried in Loughborough cemetery for 40 years.

The couple, who live near Sydney but used to live in Wymeswold and Loughborough, have said it is their wish to be buried in Australia alongside their daughter Win-Lan Frances Sun.

The couple, who have two other children, made a pilgrimage to visit their daughter's grave last May.

They applied to the church to be allowed to exhume the remains and take them back with them to Australia.

David Rees, deputy chancellor of the Diocese of Leicester, a judge of the church's Consistory Court, has ruled that unless there are exceptional circumstances Church of England law decrees that a final resting place in consecrated ground must be just that.

He ruled that there were no exceptional circumstances in this case.

Mrs Sun told the judge: "I hardly had the chance to hold her in my arms.

"I said to my husband last year, 'No matter what there is one journey we have to make, back to Loughborough to visit Win-Lan's grave before we die.'

"Every anniversary is a reminder, I am so sad that I do not even possess anything personal of hers because when a baby died in an incubator in three days there was not even a photograph of hers."

She had described her final visit to Loughborough cemetery to the judge telling him how she and her husband wept at their daughter's graveside.

She said: "The tombstone had badly weathered and her name barely legible but it was the only thing I could hug as if I were hugging her tiny body, after half of my life time.

"To tear myself away from her grave this time was more heart wrenching than the first time when we left England in 1974.

"We are now in our mid-seventies, the likelihood of revisiting her grave will be slim indeed from our age and

resources point of view.

"This thought filled me with sorrow because it spelled out to me that it was our final visit."

Mr and Mrs Sun have reserved spaces for their own cremated remains at a cemetery in Sydney and told the judge that they wanted to have the baby's remains taken to be buried with them.

Deputy chancellor Rees said that the couple's love for their daughter and their grief at her death were plain.

He said he appreciated his likely to cause them considerable distress their plea should be refused and that they should pay the costs of the hearing.

He said: "I am not satisfied that Mrs Sun has established that this is a case for making an exception to the general principle of permanence that applies in relation to Christian burial.

"Indeed in my view the weight of evidence is clearly in favour of allowing Win-Lan's mortal remains to continue to rest in Loughborough."

A spokeswoman for the Diocese of Leicester declined to comment today 

Elderly couple refused permission by church to exhume remains of their baby at Loughborough Cemetery

Super models Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell to join Noel Gallagher in celebrity Gogglebox show

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Supermodels Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell are set to join rock star Noel Gallagher in a charity version of Channel 4's hit observational TV show Gogglebox, where viewers become the stars.

Producers have confirmed that the celebrity beauties, who rose to fame in the nineties, and the Oasis star, will feature in a one-off episode of the programme, which usually features couples, families and friends sitting in their living rooms watching weekly British television shows.

The trio, who are more renowned for hell-raising nights out on the town,  will be filmed staying in to watch TV and sharing their opinions on the shows they view for the celebrity special, due to aired on October 17, raising money for Channel 4's Stand Up To Cancer campaign.

Super models Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell to join Noel Gallagher in celebrity Gogglebox show

Sunderland coroner's office appeals for help to find relatives of Leicester man found dead in his home

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A coroner's office is appealing for relatives of a 59-year-old man with Leicester connections, who died at his home in the north east of England, to get in touch.

David Bernard Mark Anderson was found dead at his address in Washington, Tyne and Wear, on Thursday.

Neville Dixon, of the City of Sunderland coroner's office, said: "He is known to be from the Leicester area. He has two brothers living in the Leicester area, he is divorced and has three grown-up children."

Call 0191 5617842.

Car crashes into stream in Melton

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A car crashed into a stream after its driver lost control on a sweeping bend.

Firefighters were called to the scene off Thorpe Road, in Thorpe Arnold, near Melton, at its junction with Melton Spinney Road, at 4.10pm, yesterday.

A fire service spokeswoman said: "We got the call from the police, who were at the scene.

"An initial report suggested persons trapped, so we dispatched two crews from our Melton fire station.

"On arrival, they found a car which had entered a stream.

"However, the occupants, it appears, were able to free themselves from the vehicle before crews could arrive and one appliance was withdrawn."

Car crashes into stream in Melton

Casualty cut free from Belgrave crash

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One person was taken to hospital after being cut from the wreckage of a crash involving two cars.

Emergency services were called to the junction of Brandon Street and Burfield, in Belgrave, Leicester, at 6.10pm this evening.

A fire service spokesman said: "The collision involved two cars, with crews required to remove the roof of one of the vehicles to free a casualty.

"They were taken by ambulance to Leicester Royal Infirmary."

The extend of their injuries is not known.

The incident was left with the police and a stop message received by fire control at 7pm.

Casualty cut free from Belgrave crash

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