Cases dealt with at Leicester Magistrates' Court include:

Marc Wyatt (26), of Kensington Street, Belgrave, Leicester, pleaded guilty to possessing a quantity of cannabis, a controlled class B drug, on May 1.

He was fined £100 with £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

Steven Wyatt (22), of Kensington Street, Belgrave, Leicester, pleaded guilty to possessing a quantity of cannabis or cannabis resin, a controlled class B drug, on May 1.

He was fined £100 with £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

James Amos (34), of Fred Scott Close, Thurnby Lodge, pleaded guilty to assault by beating on September 3.

He was committed to prison for four weeks and ordered to pay £80 compensation.

Daniel Vansley (30), of Kashmir Road, St Matthew's, Leicester, pleaded guilty to driving in Hinckley Road, Leicester, on July 13 with 86mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood. The maximum is 80mg.

He was fined £250 with £85 costs, a £25 victim surcharge and disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 12 months.

From Monday owners of nuisance dogs can face fines of up to £20,000.

Police and local authorities will be able to impose Community Protection Notices to tackle irresponsible dog owners.

If a complaint is made about a dog to the council or police, its owners could be ordered to do any or all of the following: attend training classes, muzzle the dog, ensure the animal is on a lead in public at all times, microchip the dog and repair fencing to prevent the pet leaving the property.

These new legal powers also mean that those who ignore the orders face a £100 on-the-spot fine or criminal prosecution - with fines of up to £20,000.

Animal welfare minister Lord de Mauley said: "Dog attacks are devastating for victims and their families which is why we are taking tough action against those who allow them to happen.

"Police and local authorities will now have more powers to demand that irresponsible dog owners take steps to prevent attacks before they occur.

"This is on top of the tougher prison sentences we introduced earlier this year for owners who allow their dogs to attack people and assistance dogs."

The new powers for authorities has also received the support of Shaun Davis, Royal Mail director of safety, health, wellbeing and sustainability.

He said: "Royal Mail campaigned for changes to the Dangerous Dog Act to ensure our postmen and women are protected when they enter private property including a customer's garden. We are pleased that these further changes will help police forces and local authorities use their new legal powers to prevent dog attacks."

Earlier this year legal changes were made to enable prosecution for a dog attack on private property and maximum prison sentences were extended to 14 years, from two years, for a fatal dog attack. For injury it was changed to five years from two years. For an attack on an assistance dog it is now three years.

A Practitioners Manual has been introduced to give police officers and other authorities guidance on how to best implement the legislative changes. 

To see the dealing with irresponsible dog ownership: practitioner's manual visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dealing...

Tens of thousands of people are expected to travel to London today to campaign for a pay rise in the UK.

Today a march called Britain Needs a Pay Rise is taking place in London.

It has been organised by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and campaigners will march through central London followed by a rally in Hyde Park.

Campaigners aim to highlight their anger and concern about economic and social policies which have seen wages slashed and a rise in poverty, homelessness and deprivation.

Hundreds of members of the largest teachers' union NASUWT from across the UK have also joined the rally.

Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT, said: "Teachers, like other ordinary workers, are angry and frustrated after four years of pay cuts.

"Recent independent reports have shown that over 50% of teachers have had to cut expenditure on essential items such as food and over 30% are living on credit and loans.

"Young teachers particularly are struggling as, on top of pay cuts and increased pension contributions, they also have to pay back student loans.

"The cuts in pay are contributing to a growing teacher recruitment and retention crisis. Resignations are up and applications for teacher training are down.

"Teachers are equally concerned about the appalling impact of economic and social policies on the children and young people they teach.

"3.7million children are now living in poverty. Over 84,000 children are homeless. Both figures are rising. Poverty and homelessness have a direct impact on educational achievement.

"Children, young people and ordinary working people and their families deserve better."

Do you support the march? Or, are you going to the rally? Let us know. 

Three cars collided in New Humberstone last night.

Two fire crews from Eastern fire station were called to the collision between Kitchener Road and Coleman Road, Leicester shortly after 11pm.

No-one was trapped or injured in the incident and the vehicles were made safe by the fire service. 

The Met Office has issued a severe weather warning for the city and county.

On Tuesday there is due to be "a period of very strong winds" which is likely to result in "significant disruption to travel and difficult driving conditions".

The East Midlands is due to experience these extreme weather conditions as the remains of Hurricane Gonzalo are expected to move into the UK on Monday night.

The yellow warning, which means be aware, was issued today. 

The warning for the East Midlands issued by the Met Office said: "A period of very strong winds is expected on Tuesday as a low pressure system tracks across northern UK from the west.

"Whilst strong winds and heavy rain are likely on Monday night the strongest winds are expected as the rain clears eastwards and winds veer northwesterly through Tuesday morning.

"The public should be aware of the potential for significant disruption to travel and difficult driving conditions."

The Met Office's chief forecaster's assessment said: "The remains of Hurricane Gonzalo will move into the Atlantic in the next few days and then run eastwards across the UK on Monday night.

"Whilst this will no longer be hurricane strength it still looks likely to bring a period of very strong winds and heavy rain to the UK with the strongest winds on Tuesday as the low pressure clears eastwards.

"With the energy in this system and the complex nature of its transition from hurricane to mid-latitude system some uncertainty remains in the track and intensity.

"However, there is the potential for some significant disruption to travel from the very strong winds on Tuesday, particularly as the strongest winds will coincide with rush hour in places. Difficult driving conditions are also expected thanks to large amounts of spray on the roads and potential for wind blown debris."

M1 junction 19 at Catthorpe, Leicestershire: Major improvement works

Between now and autumn 2016 there will be various hard shoulder, lane or carriageway closures while the new junction is built. On Sunday 19 October, Tuesday 21 October and Thursday 23 October, the M1 will be closed southbound at junction 19 from 10pm until 6am for emergency carriageway repairs. Traffic will be diverted onto the M6 northbound to junction 1, then onto the M6 southbound, re-joining the M1 southbound via the free-flow link.

M1 junction 28 to 31 and 32 to 35a, Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire/Yorkshire: Smart Motorway

Until spring 2015 there will be various restrictions in place to allow for the construction of the Smart Motorway. These include lane closures, speed restrictions, hard shoulder running and overnight slip road or carriageway closures. Delays are expected on the M1 northbound at junctions 30 and 31 from 6am on Saturday 18 October to 10am the following day due to lane closures.

A1 Elkesley, Nottinghamshire: Junction improvement

Between now and September 2015 various restrictions will be in place including lane closures, carriageway closures, narrow lanes and a 40mph speed limit

A1 Great Ponton to South Witham, Lincolnshire: Survey works

From 20 October to 1 November, there will be lane closures in both directions from 8pm to 6am.

A5 Caldecote, Warwickshire: Junction improvement

From 16 February 2014 to 31 March 2015 lane closures and two way traffic signals will be in place while the junction is improved.

A5 Kilsby to Watford Gap, Northamptonshire: drainage

From 6 October to 22 December there will be temporary traffic lights or lane closures on the A5 Kilsby Roundabout south to Ashby St Ledger from 8am to 4pm.

A14 junction 7-9 Kettering Bypass, Northamptonshire: Widening

A contra-flow system is now in place and fully operational 24 hours a day. The contra-flow system includes temporary steel barriers to protect motorists and the workforce, and reductions in lane widths. Due to safety and recovery restrictions, drivers of HGV vehicles travelling both eastbound and westbound are advised to use Lane 1 only. A free vehicle recovery service is also in place and drivers are advised to remain in their vehicle until assistance arrives. A 24-hour 40mph speed limit is being enforced by average speed cameras. The new Lane 1 on the eastbound carriageway is now in use however, please note that the 40mph speed limit will remain in place until the end of the scheme to protect road users and road workers as they complete remaining work on the westbound carriageway.

A14 J3-7, Northamptonshire: drainage work

From 13 to 18 October there will be a full closure of the eastbound carriageway and a lane closure on the westbound carriageway from 8pm to 6am.Diversions will be signed.

A38 Mickleover to Toyota, Derby: resurfacing

From 16 to October to 18 November the southbound carriageway will be closed overnight, from 8pm to 6am. Laybys will be closed 24/7. Diversions will be signed.

A43 Padbury Roundabout to Ardley Roundabout, Oxfordshire: Improvement scheme

From 20 October to 20 February 2015 there will be various overnight lane and carriageway closures in place on both carriageways from 8pm to 6am.

A43 Tove Roundabout, Northamptonshire: Improvement scheme

From 15 September to 31 January 2015 there will be various overnight lane or carriageway closures on both carriageways. There will also be 24/7 narrow lanes and a 50mph speed limit.

A45 Skew Bridge to Chowns Mill, Northamptonshire: resurfacing

From 13 to 24 October the northbound carriageway will be closed overnight from 8pm to 6am. Laybys will be closed 24/7 from midday on the 13^th. Diversions will be signed.

A45 Rushden, Northamptonshire: resurfacing

The eastbound carriageway of the A45 between Wellingborough and Rushden, Northamptonshire, will be closed over the weekend of 17 to 20 October for resurfacing.

A 1.5km section of road between the A509 Wilby Way Roundabout and the A5001 Skew Bridge Roundabout will shut at 8pm on Friday 17 October to 6am on Monday 20 October. Traffic will be diverted via the A509 northbound and the A14 eastbound.

A50 junction 24A (M1) to Sawley, Leicestershire: Resurfacing

From 25 to 27 October, there will be closures on the westbound carriageway from 8pm to 5am. Diversion route will be via M1, A5111 and A6.

A453 widening from M1 junction 24 to A52: Major improvement work

Major improvement works will continue to summer 2015.

The 40 mph speed limits between the M1 junction 24 and Mill Hill Roundabout, and 30 mph between Mill Hill Roundabout and Silverdale Junction, are enforced by speed cameras.

A 30mph speed limit has been established through Parkway Junction from Monday 11 August.

The A453 diversion onto westbound slip roads at West Leake Junction remains in place.

Traffic between Parkway and West Leake Junction was switched to the new westbound carriageway on 21 August 2014.

Traffic was switched to the new westbound carriageway between 200m east of M1 junction 24 and the canal bridge on Friday 12 September.

Traffic remains two-way on the single carriageway.

The contractor will continue to work a 6 ½ day week, finishing at 1pm on Sunday.

Unless otherwise stated, lane or carriageway closures below will take place during the following times:

Monday to Thursday 8pm to 5am (M1 Junction 24), 8pm to 5.30am (Urban section) and 8pm to 6am (rural section).

Friday 9pm to 5:30am Saturday

Saturday 8pm to 5am Sunday

Sunday 8pm to 5am Monday

Advance closure notices:

A453 between M1 Junction 24 and EM Parkway will be CLOSED overnight on Saturday 1 November. (A VMS sign will be erected on Saturday 18 October advising the public of this closure).

A453 between Mill Hill and Crusader Roundabout will be CLOSED overnight on Friday 7 November. (A VMS sign will be erected on Friday 24 October advising the public of this closure).

This week on the A453:-

In the Urban Section:

-At night-

-2 way traffic lights will be in place between the ESSO petrol station and Crusader Roundabout on Monday 20 October and Tuesday 21 October

-2 way traffic lights will be in place between the Crusader Roundabout and Mill Hill Roundabout on Wednesday 22 October

-Glapton Lane will be closed on Wednesday 22 October.

-Farnborough Road Junction eastbound lane closure from the westside of the lights to the end of the works on Thursday 23 October

-2 way traffic lights at Green Lane Junction on Thursday 23 October and Friday 24 October

-4 way traffic lights at Farnborough Junction and westbound lane closure from Silverdale on Friday 24 October

-During the day-

N/A

In the Rural section:

–At night -

-2 way traffic lights will be in place on the A453 opposite the central entrance to the power station on Wednesday 22 October

-2 way traffic lights will be in place immediately east of junction 24 from Monday 20 October to Thursday 23 October

-During the day-

N/A

M1 junction 24/A50 Approach Economy Scheme

Work to improve the capacity and traffic flows at M1 Junction 24 has now commenced.

There will be a series of closures on the approach routes to M1 junction 24 until early in 2015. Weekly updates will be given as work progresses. Diversion routes will be signed including directions for non-motorway traffic.

Customers travelling to and from East Midlands Airport should allow extra time for their journeys during this work, particularly if they have a flight to catch. For real time traffic information visit www.highways.gov.uk/traffic.

Please note the A50 eastbound carriageway will be closed for five nights a week, Monday to Friday, until 24 October between the Warren Farm Junction at junction 24A and junction 24.

The A50 westbound carriageway will be closed overnight, Monday to Friday, from Monday 27 October until the end of the year. Further details will be issued in next week's bulletin. The diversion route for traffic traveling from the south and east to the A50 westbound, will be via M1 junction 25 and junction 24A.

Carriageway and lane closures at M1 junction 24 will be 8pm to 5am Monday to Thursday and 9:15pm to 5am on Friday, unless otherwise stated.

This week at Junction 24:

- at night:-

-A453 Southbound closure between J24 and EM Airport on Sunday 19 October

-A50 Eastbound closure on Saturday 18 October and then from Monday 20 October to Friday 24 October* (open Sunday)

-A50 Westbound lane 2 closure on Saturday 18^th October and then from Monday 20 October to Friday 24 October* (open Sunday)

-Inner ring of the whole roundabout will be closed from Monday 20 October to Friday 24 October.

-East quadrant inner ring lane closure on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 October.

-South bridge lane closure on Saturday 18 October.

-South bridge closed Sunday 19 October.

-West quadrant 2 lanes closed on Saturday 18 October.

-M1 Northbound exit slip road closure from Saturday 18 October to Friday 24 October

-M1 Southbound exit slip road additional lane closure at junction Monday 20 October to Friday 24 October

There are delays on the A42 southbound in Leicestershire due to a car fire.

One lane of the dual carriageway from junction 12 to 11 southbound was closed while the fire crews and the Highways Agency dealt with the blaze. It re-opened at 1.30pm.

Firefighters were called to the fire in a lay-by of the A42 at 12.30pm today.

A family who were in the Peugeot 307 SW left the vehicle safely before the emergency services arrived.

One fire engine from Coalville station and another from Swadlincote were called to the scene.

The carriageway was closed for the first twenty minutes while fire crews tackled the blaze.

The car was completely destroyed in the blaze and it is unknown how the fire started.

A motorcycle was deliberately set alight in the early hours of this morning.

One crew from Western fire station was called to the blaze in Overseal Road, New Parks, Leicester at about 2.15am.

The vehicle was severely damaged in the blaze and it took firefighters one hour to extinguish the blaze.

3.05pm update: Club has confirmed kick-off will be at 4pm. Turnstiles to open at 3.15pm.

Leicester City's game against Newcastle United looks set to be delayed due to a problem with a big television screen at St James' Park.

Fans are not yet being allowed into the ground after one side of the large LED screen came loose.

Referee Martin Atkinson has said the game will not go ahead until the issue is fixed and, as yet, no one has done so.

Players have not started their warm-ups yet, either, as they await further instruction.

A club spokesman said: "An engineer is on site and will make a full appraisal at approximately 3pm. Further information will be available as soon as possible."

3.15pm: One lane of the A50 Field Head roundabout is closed because a cyclist has been knocked off their bike. Traffic can still pass as one lane is open, but there are delays.

1.15pm: One lane is closed on the A42 southbound from junction 12 to junction 11 due to a car fire. 

10.15am: There are temporary traffic lights on the A50 Woodgate between Dunton Street and Marshall Street. Therefore, expect delays around the Blackbird Road / Fosse junction & Frog Island.

9am: There are no incidents to report. 

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/" .

LIVE CAMERAS: Check the M1 through Leicestershire with our live traffic cameras - http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/traffic.html....

NATIONAL RAIL: For live UK train updates - http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/... .

FLIGHT INFORMATION: For East Midlands Airport visit: http://www.eastmidlandsairport.com/flightinformati....

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

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

A cyclist was taken to hospital after a collision between a car and his bicycle.

The incident happened today at the A50 Field Head roundabout, in Leicester Road, Markfield.

Emergency services were called to the scene at about 3pm.

The male cyclist was taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary but his injuries are not thought to be serious.

One lane of the roundabout was closed for about an hour after the incident happened.

Gabriel Obertan's goal 18 minutes from time condemned Leicester City to a third Premier League defeat of the season at Newcastle.

Kick-off was delayed by an hour at St James' Park due to safety fears over a problem with the new television screen inside the stadium.

The first half proved a distinctly scrappy affair with the only real chances falling to Newcastle skipper Fabio Coloccini and City's Matty James but both failed to make them count.

Neither could compare to Papiss Cisse's calamitous miss in the second half when the striker missed an open goal after taking the ball around Kasper Schmeichel.

Ironically, it was during City's most dominant spell of the game that they found themselves behind, getting caught on the break as Obertan fired into the bottom corner from outside the box.

Nearly 50,000 fans, including the 3,000 travelling City supporters, were left queuing outside the stadium until 3.15pm while workmen fixed part of the big screen inside the stadium that had come loose.

Referee Martin Atkinson, who had taken charge of the abandoned international game between Serbia and Albania, refused to let the game get under way until the problem had been fixed.

City manager Nigel Pearson, meanwhile, made three changes to the side that conceded the 96th-minute equaliser against Burnley two weeks ago.

Esteban Cambiasso, Matty James and Marc Albrighton all started in a 4-1-4-1 formation, while Dean Hammond and Jamie Vardy dropped to the bench. Riyad Mahrez was missing altogether after featuring heavily in two games for Algeria.

Newcastle looked to play on the counter and that almost paid dividends inside 10 minutes as they broke away at speed, before Moussa Sissoko found Coloccini bombing forward but the centre-back could only side-foot it wide.

It was then James's turn to squander City's best chance as, following a neat one-two with Leonardo Ulloa, he fired a weak effort straight at Tim Krul.

Krul, though, then misjudged a high ball from Albrighton that flew over the keeper and rattled the upright. 

It was then City's turn to hold their breath as Cisse's shot deflected off Liam Moore and dipped marginally wide of the post. An early second-half effort from Sissoko would do the same.

Everyone in the stadium was left scratching their heads, though, when Cisse intercepted Paul Konchesky's backpass, only to take it round Schmeichel and fire into the side-netting.

Just when City were finding their stride, they got caught on the break. Ritchie De Laet's shot was blocked into the path of Cisse, who found Obertan and the winger cut inside before firing low past Schmeichel.

Pearson's men threw everything they had at Newcastle in search of an equaliser and it so nearly came when Nugent found Vardy at the back post but the striker's attempted scorpian-like backheel failed to come off.

Ulloa, too, could not get the ball under control when it mattered, as he fluffed his first touch through one-on-one with Krul.

Drinkwater had a fierce effort from the edge of the box saved before James's shot was also deflected over. City just could not find a way through.

Teams:

Newcastle:  (4-2-3-1) Krul, Janmaat, Taylor, Coloccini, Dummett, Tiote, Colback, Obertan, Sissoko, Gouffran, Cisse

Subs: Anita, Perez, Haidara, Cabella, Elliott, Abeid, Armstrong

City: (4-1-4-1) Schmeichel, De Laet, Morgan, Moore, Konchesky, Cambiasso, Albrighton, James, Drinkwater, Schlupp, Ulloa

Subs:: Hammond, Vardy, King, Hamer, Knockaert, Wasileski, Nugent

Referee: Martin Atkinson

Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson expressed his frustration as his side fell to their third Premier League defeat of the season at Newcastle.

Gabriel Obertan scored the only goal of the game 18 minutes from time as Alan Pardew's side secured their first win of the campaign.

City had their chances, though, as Matty James spurned the best one in the first half before the visitors threw everything at the hosts late on but to no avail.

"It is disappointing to come away with nothing. That's got to be the overriding summary of the match," said Pearson, after the game at St James' Park.

"We have had enough promising situations and, at times, our quality let us down in that final third.

"We have been pretty good so far this season in that regard. If you are not creating, or taking, your chances it is important to keep a clean sheet, and we have been done on the counter-attack from what was a very promising situation ourselves.

"It's frustrating, there's no doubt about that."

The game kicked-off an hour later than planned due to safety concerns over the new big screen inside the stadium that had come loose in the wind.

Pearson, though, said the delay had no effect on his players.

"I wouldn't have thought so. Both sets of players seemed very relaxed about it. It was only an hour," said Pearson. "There is a tendency to try to put added weight on circumstances like that."

Once the game did get under way, it was a pretty scrappy affair in the first half as Pearson set out his side in a 4-1-4-1 formation. They improved in the second, following the introduction of Jamie Vardy and David Nugent.

But it was during their best spell of the game that they went behind as Obertan finished off a counter-attack, firing home from outside the box.

"Although we weren't particularly expansive in the first half, I thought we contained them pretty well and still looked relatively dangerous," said Pearson. "We felt we were just not quite able to find the rhythm we have had in previous games. Having said that, we looked pretty comfortable.

"Their best chances, in general, came from counter attacks."

Leicester Tigers 25 Ulster 18

Three tries in 15 glorious first-half minutes got Leicester Tigers' Champions Cup campaign off to a winning start on home soil.

The hosts were 3-0 down when scores from Owen Williams, Graham Kitchener and Freddie Burns between the 16^th and 31^st minutes had a vociferous Welford Road crowd rocking.

Ulster fought back manfully after the break and earned a losing bonus point thanks to Franco van der Merwe's 68^th-minute try.

But having lost major threat Manu Tuilagi to injury after just 15 minutes, along with a long list of absentees beforehand, Leicester will be delighted to have got off to a winning start.

Ulster began well and Paddy Jackson had already missed one kick at goal when he put his side 3-0 up after eight minutes.

Already though, Tigers defence was looking aggressive and well-organised and the Irish province were having to work hard for every inch of ground.

Buoyed by that, Leicester grew in confidence and put together a clinical spell of three tries in 15 minutes which completely changed the game's outlook.

Firstly, Williams – who was a man possessed throughout the opening period – barged over from close range and Freddie Burns added the extras.

On 28 minutes, Ben Youngs intercepted a pass from opposite number, Paul Marshall and fed Kitchener for a simple run-in.

Burns missed the conversion and had also snagged a penalty before the try but he revived any flagging confidence with a glorious individual try on 31 minutes.

Jinking past two or three defenders, he touched down to a huge cheer and, having relinquished kicking duties to Williams, watched as the Welshman made it 19-3 at the break.

Leicester continued their dominance in the opening exchanges of the second half and Williams extended their lead to 19 points with a penalty on 44 minutes.

Stuart McCloskey's strong run gave Ulster hope at least though as Jackson kicked a penalty over to make it 22-6 on 49 minutes.

And then, out of nowhere, the visitors showed some lovely handling down the right flank and Tommy Bowe touched down. Jackson's conversion made it 22-13 and suddenly the game was alive.

Williams made it 25-13 with 18 minutes left but any thoughts of that being the end of that were way off the mark.

Franco van der Merwe dived over a ruck to score on 67 minutes but Jamie Gibson sprinted off the line and blocked the conversion to keep the gap at seven points.

Leicester earned a penalty at the other end but chose to kick to the corner instead of going for goal and two five-metre line-outs came to nothing.

Ulster spent the last five minutes camped in the Tigers half but couldn't find a way through a determined defence and the home side made it two wins in two games to the delight of a vociferous home crowd.

Be warned. This column starts off in a typically meandering way, but it culminates with some alarming news about Peter Andre and perhaps the most scandalous concert ticket pricing you have ever seen.

It might make you physically ill. It did me. Make sure you're sitting down, eh?

Cheers, Fred.

I have a vivid memory of being 16 years old – gangly, spotty, socially awkward, questionable hair and clothes – and going to the De Montfort Hall with two mates to see my first ever concert.

It was October, 1986; 28 years ago this month, in fact, which makes me feel ancient.

It was still light when we went in at 7pm. That time of year when the night air changes from warm to cold, a faint whiff of far-off garden bonfires wafting up Regent Road.

I smell this bonfire smell every year around this time. It always reminds me of this – walking up Regent Road to the De Mont, my first gig, so feverishly excited there was a chance I might wet myself.

The place was packed. I sang and cheered and caroused so heartily I was hoarse for three days. I remember cleaning my teeth that night and it felt like the top of my head had been lifted off and someone had stuffed cotton wool in that gap between my ears.

It was like that every autumn for the next three or four years. All the big bands stopped off at the De Mont on their autumn tours. I'm not sure why autumn was always a busy time for tours, only that, every year, it was.

During the next three or four years, I went to the De Montfort Hall a lot. I saw all sorts of bands there. It was always packed. I remember walking from the venue into the cold night air, deaf but happy, the glass entrance at the front of the De Mont dripping with condensation.

I thought of this as I had a look at this autumn's gig guide at the De Mont.

I know things are different today. I know things have changed; that medium sized-venues like the De Mont can only get these bands/artists on the way up or on their slide down. I know this because I hear the people who run the De Mont trot it out at depressingly regular intervals.

Nothing illustrates this change more than this autumn's De Mont line-up, though.

I clicked idly through. There wasn't one gig I wanted to see. The Bootleg Beatles, perhaps. Maybe the Counting Crows, at a push, if someone else was paying and, even then, not really.

Tickets for the Counting Crows are £34.50, plus £3 transaction fee. Don't ask me what the £3 transaction fee covers. I don't know.

It's £27.50 to see the Bootleg Beatles, who, as good as they are – I've seen them, they're all right – are a tribute band.
And £27.50 to see Joan Armatrading. Drop the pilot, indeed.

The one from Westlife, the one who looks like a young village butcher. Shane Filan. He's coming on a solo tour with some self-penned songs. Yeah, fancy that. Just £35 for that one.

And then, on October 22 – this Wednesday, no less – it's Peter Andre.

The interesting thing here is not that Peter Andre thinks he can fill a 2,000 venue like the De Mont – can he? Really? – but it's how much he's charging his fans for the dubious privilege of seeing him live.

This is how much the tickets are:

Flat floor seating:
Row A £75
Row B £65
Row C £55
Row D £45
Remaining seats £28.50

£75. To see Peter Andre. The man has one song. One bloody song. And that was nearly 20 years ago.

And then I switch on my telly, and there's Peter Andre shopping at Iceland, saying how he can't believe how cheap the fish fingers are.

You charlatan, Andre. As if you're shopping at Iceland when you're charging £75 a ticket for your underwhelming show.

Predictably, I was banging on about this in the office and a colleague with a secret soft spot for Peter Andre reckons his follow up song to Mysterious Girl, a charming little ditty called Flava, was just as good.

She's not going to the gig, you understand. She thinks £75 is ridiculous, too. Here are some lyrics from Flava:

If ya down, throw ya hands up in the air
The mack is back with the flava of da year
Party all night, party all night, party all night.
Cos I got the wack jam
So turn the party out.

He has the elusive "wack jam", then. Maybe, if you get the £75 front row tickets, he'll personally spoon the Wack Jam to you or rub it into flesh like Royal Jelly or something. I don't know.

So, £75 to see Peter Andre at the De Mont. As we're limping out of a recession, up to our ears in debt, wack Jam or no wack Jam.
You know what that is? It's madness. Absolute madness.

More music moaning: A mate e-mailed me the other day.

He'd been to a gig. He plays bass, my mate. A long, long time ago, I played bass, too. I was never that great as a bass player, it should be noted. I had a half-decent right hand, but really good bass players have a good left hand. That's the one that does all the work. That's where the magic is. I never had that.

Anyway, my mate likes much the same music as I do. Old rock. Except this time, he'd been to see Level 42 at the De Mont.
"You should have seen it," he said. "It was stupendous." He went on and on about Mark King's bass slapping and some bass and drum rhythm workout which had all the musos in the crowd cooing and nodding in thrall to Mark King and his bass, the one with the fret board that lit up.

Meh.

I wouldn't go and see Level 42 if they were playing at the pub at the end of my road and they were giving out free beer and Susanna Reid was behind the bar, winking at me and giving me free crisps.

I hate everything they stand for. I didn't like any of their songs, mainly because all of their songs were rubbish, but also because I didn't like any of the people at school who did like them.

I never liked all that Joseph and Emily business, Mark King's face or his bass guitar with the fretboard that lit up. Especially his fretboard that lit up. That tells you all you need to know, right there.

I never went a bundle on all that slap bass guitar stuff, either. It sounds like a tin of Quality Streets falling downstairs.
You'd have liked it, my mate insisted, as if he didn't know me at all.

Trust me, I said. I wouldn't.

fredleicester@leicestermercury.co.uk

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Today: Strong, blustery winds but still quite warm in bright or sunny spells. Most parts dry for much of the day but a chance of heavy showers later, especially over the Derbyshire hills. Maximum Temperature 18C.

Tonight: Evening showers dying away then many parts dry overnight with clear spells, although a southwesterly breeze may bring further showers into western areas by morning. Minimum Temperature 10C.

Monday: Bright or sunny spells, scattered showers, perhaps heavy at times during the morning. Temperatures nearer normal but with lighter winds than on Sunday. Maximum Temperature 15C.

Showing "moderation in everything" is one of centenarian Ella Wood's secrets to a long and healthy life.

Independent Mrs Wood celebrated her 100th birthday today with a magnificent cake she had baked herself, and a family get-together at the Three Swans Hotel, in Market Harborough.

Mrs Wood's son-in-law, Brian Moore, said: "Ella is a wonderful baker, always making lovely cakes.

"She is also a very keen gardener."

Born in Syston and now living in Leicester, Mrs Wood worked as a comptometrist in the accounts department at the Wolsey hosiery company.

Her late husband, Frank, was a director of Wood and Company.

She said: "We were married on September 3,1939, the day war broke out."

Mrs Wood, a former member of the Women's Royal Voluntary Service, said she attributed her great age and still-active lifestyle to "inherited genes and moderation in everything".

Acclaimed Leicester-born director Stephen Frears has been honoured with a British Film Institute (BFI) fellowship.

Playwright David Hare presented him with the accolade at the London Film Festival Awards ceremony on Saturday night.

Mr Frears joked that the award - the highest honour the BFI can bestow - made him feel "geriatric".

He said being awarded the fellowship was "very, very nice", but added that his career was "not over yet".

The 73-year-old has worked on films including Dangerous Liaisons, High Fidelity, The Queen, with Oscar-winning Dame Helen Mirren, Philomena, starring Dame Judi Dench, and Tamara Drewe.

Born in Leicester in 1941, Mr Frears lived in Western Park up until the age of 12. He went to Dovelands Infant School before his family moved away.

His big break came in 1985 with the low-budget film My Beautiful Laundrette.

He is currently working on a biopic about disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong.

Mr Frears joins a list of distinguished BFI fellows who have been given the honour since it was inaugurated in 1983. They include Leicester-raised Richard Attenborough as well as luminaries such as Dirk Bogarde, Michael Caine, Judi Dench, Clint Eastwood, Alec Guinness, John Mills, Laurence Olivier, Vanessa Redgrave, Elizabeth Taylor, Martin Scorsese and Ridley Scott.