School uniforms: are they good or bad? That's the eternal standby question for teachers who can't think of a better essay title to set for bored kids in detention.

So: school uniforms – good or bad? Bad, chiefly, judging from some of the pictures in our archives. 

When it came to school uniform shoots in the early 1970s, Mercury photographers seemed quite keen on using lamp posts as props. Susan Marris seems keen on the zippy uniform of South Wigston School; Susan Cross, in the Manor High School clobber, less so.

Quite a few of these photos are from schools in Oadby. Why? We haven't a clue. When it came to uniform pictures, the Mercury seemed even keener on Oadby than it was on lamp posts. Here's the splendid Jacqueline Ewen wearing the Black Watch tartan pinafore of Brocks Hill Infants (while standing like Oliver Hardy admonishing Stan).

A trio of pupils from Alderman Newton Girls smile for the camera in 1973, privately musing, perhaps, upon the wisdom of allowing Chairman Mao's tailor to design their new uniform.

Nope, not the winner of the 1968 series of The Apprentice but Nicola Short in the new Manor High School uniform: a long-sleeved shift dress in gold Crimplene, for those of you who need to know such things.

It's the summer of 1971, and things have got a little funky over at Birstall's Stonehill High School. The psychedelic shirt appears to be based upon standard issue headmaster's office wallpaper,Glasses: model's own. Possibly.

"If it means that teenagers will stop killing each other over designer jackets," Bill Clinton once said, "then our public schools should be able to require their students to require school uniforms."Just to be on the safe side, they should require them to wear the old uniform of Leicester's Alderman Newton School, too.No danger of anyone gunning you down for these clothes. Although on the other hand, there is an enhanced risk of self-harm.

Twelve-year-old Gary Davies of Manor High School meets Timothy Whitcombe, 14, of Beauchamp, in 1975.See Gary's dreary conventional uniform. See Timothy's thrilling patterned shirt and high-waisted trousers. See Timothy looking down on Gary. See Gary, suddenly feeling like a Soviet-era Muscovite, coming face-to-face with an American in Levi's, carrying a Walkman.

Leicester Tigers flanker Tom Croft has been pulled out of the squad before kick-off of their game with Wasps at Welford Road.

The 29-year-old is awaiting the birth of his first child and was withdrawn from the match-day 23.

He was replaced on the bench by Sebastian De Chaves. The big South African lock has already been involved in 10 games this season as Tigers struggled with injuries.

But those injury problems seem to be coming to an end with Tom Youngs and Dan Cole back in today's starting line-up.

Prop Marcos Ayerza and Niki Goneva were also back in the side after autumn international action with Argentina and Fiji, respectively.

Wasps included former Tigers Andy Goode and Tom Varndell in their line-up.

Leicestershire Police will take on England's national deaf rugby union team in an exhibition match at South Leicester RFC this Sunday, November 30, kicking off at 1.30pm.

Tickets for the match, which are available on the day, cost £3, with proceeds helping to support England Deaf Rugby, who are planning to tour South Africa next year, and Leicester Deaf Action Group.

England Deaf already have a Leicester connection: hooker Brett Pruce, the team's most-capped player, is a county resident and plays locally for Aylestone St James.

For more information on the match, follow @LeicPoliceRugby or @DeafRugby on Twitter.  

A dishonest practice manager stole tens of thousands of pounds from the dental surgery where she worked, a court heard.

Rachael Carvell (42) is accused of fraudulently stealing £144,298 from Fosse Dental Care, Fosse Road Central, in Leicester, which involved her altering the accounts, between January 2012 and February this year.

Carvell, of Henley Road, Leicester, pleaded guilty to fraud, on the basis the amount she took was about £50,000.

Alan Murphy, prosecuting, said the actual figure had yet to be agreed with the defence and further inquiries were being made.

The Leicester Crown Court hearing was adjourned until February, for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Releasing her on bail, Judge Simon Hammond said: "It's a serious breach of trust.

"The court will be considering a custodial sentence."

Hundreds of people enjoyed a wealth of Christmas music and craft stalls at the lights switch-on in Market Harborough on Friday evening.

Choirs and bands from three local schools along with community radio station HFM got the event in the Square off to a fine start.

After the lights were switched on local entertainer Robin Maughan entertained the crowds with a selection of songs from his worldwide tour of Let's Hang On – a tribute to Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. He was joined by Eleanor Shepherd.

He said: "The atmosphere was really good natured and it was obvious that families were having a very good time.

"It was very well organised by the Market Harborough Building Society and Harborough District Council."

He said: " It was great that there was a stage in the Square which acted as a focal point for the hundreds of people who attended the three hour event."

Other attractions included a Santa's grotto and a giant Christmas cracker pull.

Music was provided by choirs from Meadowdale school and Welland Park Academy and bands from Robert Smyth Academy.

We know that everyone is busy at this time of year. But now it's the weekend and you, hopefully, have a chance to put your feet up and relax. So here's a chance to catch up on seven of our stories from around Leicestershire this week that you may have missed.

1. Work took place earlier this week to demolish a row of shops in Leicester's Belgrave Gate to make way for the £13.5 million revamp of the Haymarket bus station.

To read the full story click here

2. A primary school is being investigated over alleged "maladministration" over this summer's Sats exams. Some of the results for year six pupils at Cossington Church of England Primary  have been "annulled", it emerged on Tuesday.

To read the full story click here

3. Leicestershire Police put a drug dealer's Bentley on eBay for £34,000. 

To read the full story clickhere

4. Jake Golding who has been left with saggy skin following a dramatic weight loss spoke to the Mercury about how he wants the NHS to pay for him to have an operation to correct the problem. He is calling for more help to be given to people in his position.

To read the full story click here

5. Grieving dad Lewis Watret told how he was selling his dead daughter's possessions at a charity sale in a church hall to raise money for a hospital.

To read the full story click here

6. Morrisons is looking to take over an empty unit in Leicester city centre that used to be a Clinton Cards store.

To red the full story click here

7. The A50 was branded the worst entrance into Leicester by a city councillor. Patrick Kitterick made the claim during a planning meeting at which a multi-million pound flats development for land near the Highcross was approved.

To read the full story click here

Leicester Tigers 18 Wasps 16

Owen Williams gave a nerveless kicking performance to see Leicester Tigers to an 18-16 Aviva Premiership win over Wasps at Welford Road.

The Welsh fly-half landed the last of his six kicks with just three minutes to go to help Leicester over the line.

It was a day dominated by the boot with Wasps' Andy Goode also on top form both from the tee and out of hand.

If was fitting on a day where defences completely dominated procedings, that the only try of the day came from a charge-down. That came just seven seconds into the second half as Alapati Leiua seized on a mistake from Tigers scrum-half David Mele.

Apart from that, it was stalemate with neither side threatening much in the opposition's 22.

Leicester took a 6-0 lead after 13 minutes with two long-range boots from Williams.

Their scrum was also on top with the arguably Tigers' strongest front-row reunited for the first time this season. Marcos Ayerza, Tom Youngs and Dan Cole won a series of early penalties.

It was Wasps, however, that looked the most dangerous with ball in hand during the opening quarter.

Former Tigers fly-half Andy Goode pulled the strings and the visitors ran some nice lines and kept the ball well.

Although Wasps never got close to crossing the line as Tigers' defence held firm, they got the points their pressure deserved as Goode made it 6-3 on 19 minutes.

Leicester finally began to get some possession and, on their first proper foray into enemy territory, Miles Benjamin looked like he had gone in for a try in the corner after a concerted spell of possession.

Referee Luke Pearce went to the TMO and a tough call went against Leicester as the winger was adjudged to have dropped the ball going over the line.

Tigers did manage to extend their advantage to 9-3 just before the break though as Williams landed a third kick of the day from five metres inside his own half.

There was an astonishing start to the second half as Wasps centre Leiua scored after just seven seconds.

Mele caught Goode's kick-off and his clearance was blocked by Leiua who picked up the bouncing ball and ran in.

Goode then made a difficult conversion and, all of a sudden, Wasps led 10-9.

It could have been worse had Goode then not snagged a penalty wide two minutes later from half-way.

Tigers were stunned and began to look nervous. With the visitors' defence looking impregnable, they made Leicester force their game and with Wasps winning the contact area, the visitors were favourites.

Two penalties in quick succession got Leicester back in front though. A scrum penalty allowed Williams to make it 12-10 and then he made it five from five with the boot to extend Tigers' lead to five points.

Wasps went straight down the other end and Goode cut the arrears to two points again. When he then gave Wasps a one-point lead with five minutes left, Leicester looked cooked.

Within 60 seconds, however, Williams was kicking for goal again and he held his nerve to land a sixth kick from six attempts to see Tigers over the line in a nerve-wracking finish.

Leicester City dropped to the bottom of the Premier League following their 3-2 defeat to QPR at Loftus Road.

Nigel Pearson's men let their early lead slip as the fell to their fifth defeat in six league games.

City had gone 500 minutes without scoring a goal before the game but Esteban Cambiasso ended the drought just four minutes into the game when he calmly slotted home from the edge of the area.

An own goal from City captain Wes Morgan levelled the scoring after 37 minutes before Leroy Fer reacted quickest to Kasper Schmeichel's smart save to send the hosts into the break in front.

Jeff Schlupp gave City hope of coming away with at least a point when his rasping shot fired the visitors back into the game just after the hour-mark.

But that hope lasted just five minutes as Charlie Austin headed home following David Nugent's goal-line clearance to lift Harry Redknapp's side off the bottom and put Leicester in their place.

For just the third time this season Pearson named an unchanged side, from the one that played out a goalless draw against Sunderland.

And that decision to stick with the side that had showed a stark improvement last weekend quickly paid dividends.

After 504 minutes without a Premier League goal, who better for the chance to fall to than the calmest head on the pitch.

When the ball fell to Cambiasso on the edge of the area, he did not panic. He avoided any temptation to thrash his effort, although that thought probably never even entered his head, as he calmly passed the ball into the corner of the net.

Somehow City failed to double their lead on 14 minutes when Jamie Vardy, a continual pest on the shoulder of the last defender, got to the byline and squared the ball back into the box towards Riyad Mahrez.

Perhaps put off by the onrushing Rob Green, the Algerian failed to hit the target from six yards out.

Despite the early lead, it was QPR who were dominated possession. The hosts looked threatening going forward while City's defence, while looking frantic at the best of times, remained firm when it mattered.

But, eventually, that pressure took its toll.

Mahrez allowed Steven Caulker was to stroll unmarked through the City half, and get on to the end of a through ball, before his squared cross was diverted into his own net by Morgan from five yards out. Kasper Schmeichel had stayed rooted to his line.

City almost hit back immediately when Vardy beat the offside trap once again but, going for power over placement, saw his fierce shot saved by Green.

And then it was two. On the stroke of half-time, Joey Barton was given space by Schlupp out wide to get a cross into the box. Schmeichel did superbly to deny Austin but it was Fer, among a mass of red shirts, who reacted quickest to smash the ball into the roof of the net.

The second half continued in the same vein with both sides creating chances. Mahrez first forced a smart save from Green before his cross was headed on to the bar by Vardy.

Just after the hour-mark, City got themselves back into the game thanks to a stunning strike from Schlupp from 20 yards.

For all the glory of the strike, Cambiasso was again key in the build up. He showed incredible calmness at the back post not to thrash at a first-time volley, but to lay the ball off for Marc Albrighton whose initial shot was blocked to Schlupp.

The emphatic celebration from Schlupp and his City team-mates showed just how important that goal could turn out to be.

But all that hope was wiped out inside five minutes as Austin scored what would turn out to be the winner.

And like the first two goals before them, it came from inside the six-yard area. After Nugent had cleared the initial shot off the line, it was a hooped shirt that responded the quickest once again.

City had one final chance to nick a point when Matty James turned on the edge of the area but as his shot dipped over the bar, so too went City's hopes of a comeback.

Teams:

QPR: (4-4-1-1) Green; Isla, Onuoha, Caulker, Suk-Young; Vargas, Barton, Henry, Fer; Kranjar, Austin

Subs: McCarthy, Hoilett, Traore, Ferdinand, Mutch, Phillips, Wright-Phillips

Leicester City: (4-4-2) Schmeichel, De Laet, Morgan, Wasilewski, Konchesky; Mahrez, Cambiasso, James, Schlupp; Vardy, Ulloa

Subs: Hamer, Moore, Drinkwater, King, Albrighton, Knockaert, Nugent

Referee: Roger East

Attendance: 18,054 (1,841 away)

Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson said he must not get "wrapped up with disappointment" after his side dropped to the bottom of the Premier League.

City's 3-2 defeat at Loftus Road, their fifth in six games, saw them drop below Burnley and QPR to the foot of the table.

Esteban Cambiasso gave City the lead after just four minutes but an own goal from Leicester captain Wes Morgan and a strike from Leroy Fer saw QPR go into the break ahead.

Jeff Schlupp levelled with a thunderous strike after the hour before Charlie Austin headed home the winner five minutes later to extend City's winless run to eight games.

"When you are going through a period like we are at the moment, it is important I don't get wrapped up in the types of disappointment that it would be very easy to," said Pearson. "I have got to look at the reasons for not winning today and try to rectify it.

"We started the game well enough and created chances throughout. Really, it is a game we should have won in many ways. The reality is that we are not winning enough games at the moment.

"Margins remain pretty small but it is not about talking about it, it is about going out and doing it and there is only us who can rectify our own results.

"We were very positive, created chances, and still could not win the game. That is frustrating for us all.

"I feel for the players because both sides tried to win it. You could not argue that it was a boring game, with two sides playing with fear, I don't think that was the case at all."

That view would certainly be backed up by the stats, which showed that both sides had a combined 51 attempts on goal – more than any Premier League match since the 2006/7 season.

Despite conceding more than two goals for only the second time this season, Pearson was quick to jump to the defence of his back four.

For QPR's first goal, Steven Caulker was allowed to stroll through the City half unmarked, latching on to a through ball before his low cross was diverted into his own net by Wes Morgan.

"I thought our defenders actually played very well, that's not the reason we conceded goals," said Pearson.

"There were some great blocks in the first half and I thought, as a defensive unit, we were fine.

"(The reasons for the goals were) players not tracking runners. Your defenders are not responsible for that."

"Their first goal is the most dangerous ball for a defender to deal with, the one that is slid across you in the six-yard box and you're facing your own goal.

"It was an unfortunate situation for Wes. But that's not the source of the goal."

The National Lottery Lotto numbers for Saturday, November 29, were: 6, 11, 18, 19, 38, 42. The bonus ball was 17.

There were two jackpot winners each winning £1,796,081.

There were 50 prizes of £20,000 to give away in the raffle. Here are the winning codes:

• • AQUA 4068 9868
  • AQUA 5764 4040
  • AQUA 7353 1206
  • AQUA 7924 5253
  • AQUA 8376 2900
  • AQUA 9965 3692
• • BLUE 1318 2959
  • BLUE 2415 8170
  • BLUE 4791 7969
• • GOLD 0114 4374
  • GOLD 8009 6785
  • GOLD 8670 1009
• • GREY 0397 1820
  • GREY 4070 0385
  • GREY 4275 8624
  • GREY 4513 2810
  • GREY 6194 3207
  • GREY 6935 4509
  • GREY 7701 9291
• • JADE 2280 0035
  • JADE 6752 8847
• • LIME 2595 4356
  • LIME 4883 3696
  • LIME 6191 7059
  • LIME 6577 5653
• • NAVY 3591 4940
  • NAVY 6785 6476
  • NAVY 8756 3084
• • PINK 0886 1733
  • PINK 0939 8881
  • PINK 1697 2569
  • PINK 1729 4250
  • PINK 2796 0622
  • PINK 3199 9874
  • PINK 4378 3761
  • PINK 4404 3272
  • PINK 5603 6949
  • PINK 7908 6521
  • PINK 8094 3804
  • PINK 8399 2070
• • PLUM 7406 0062
• • ROSE 0032 2150
  • ROSE 1023 7682
  • ROSE 7472 3266
  • ROSE 7996 0488
  • ROSE 8327 8051
• • RUBY 0704 1928
  • RUBY 9700 0196
• • TEAL 6356 4612
  • TEAL 7433 1076

The thunderball numbers were 8,10,15,24 and 31. The thunderball was 14.

One lucky person matched five numbers and the thunderball to win £500,000.

More heritage panels are to be put up around the city to tell people about Leicester's history.

About 40 of the panels were erected in August with information about key historic buildings and well-known individuals associated with Leicester.

Now, the city council wants to add more.

Potential new sites for the panels could include the site of the West Bridge station, said to be the third oldest station in the world and the terminus of the Leicester and Swannington Railway.

A panel could also be put up at the Crescent, in King Street, an elegant Georgian terrace where well-known business and professional people lived, such as Turkey Café architect Arthur Wakerley and hosiery manufacturer Richard Harris.

Other sites could include the former Odeon Cinema, now Athena, in the Cultural Quarter, and the former Palais de Danse, in Humberstone Gate.

The mile-long Glenfield Tunnel, once used to transport coal on the Leicester to Swannington railway, could also be marked with a panel.

City mayor Peter Soulsby said: "We've had lots of very positive feedback about the heritage panels we have put up recently across the city. They complement the panels and city walking tour we have created to tell the story of King Richard III's links to Leicester.

"The discovery of King Richard III kick-started interest in our city's heritage as a whole, and there is much to be proud of. As well as several buildings of historical interest, there are some fascinating tales to tell about Leicester's past inhabitants, and famous visitors to the city.

"Now we intend to extend the scheme so more places of historic interest can get the recognition they deserve.

"We'd like to see more panels going up outside the city centre, perhaps in Leicester's historic villages – Humberstone, Belgrave, Evington, Aylestone, Braunstone and Knighton."

The panels have already proved popular with visitors to the city and tell the stories of visits by Charles Dickens, Buffalo Bill and George Bernard Shaw, Britain's first traffic island, at the Clock Tower, the world's oldest secular society and one of the oldest schoolhouses in England.

They can be found in shopping centres, on medieval churches, near former warehouses and in front of landmarks such as the Clock Tower and Corn Exchange.

Stuart Bailey chairman of Leicester Civic Society, said: "I think it is a tremendous idea. There are 40 at the moment and they are absolutely marvellous. They attract attention everywhere.

"We want to attract more people into places where they don't normally venture."

The extension of the scheme depends on £70,000 of funding being made available.

A report on the issue will be discussed at the council's culture, heritage, leisure and sport scrutiny commission this week. A decision will then be made by the city mayor.

The first phase of the scheme was funded with £100,000 from the council's regeneration provision in its capital spending programme.

Mysterious loud bangs - some of which rattled windows - were heard in Leicestershire and across the country last night.

People from as far afield as Glasgow and London reported hearing the noises at about 10.30pm.

Iain Thornton tweeted: "heard many bangs earlier Leicestershire - thought it was fireworks."

While Jay Norton wrote on Twitter: "Heard in Leicestershire too. Thought it was fireworks. maybe not so it seems."

On Facebook, Laura Marlow said she had heard the noises in Birstall, while Sam Scott said he had heard them in Rushey Mead.

Amy Mould wrote: "Loud bangs heard in Melton Mowbray early hours sat morning, my neighbour asked me cus it woke her children."

The noises have been described as sounding like a loud aircraft or fireworks - and some people have suggested it could have been a sonic boom.

However the Ministry of Defence has been reported as saying it does not know what could the noises and denied that its own jets were responsible for the strange sounds.

Leicestershire Fire Rescue Service and the police say they did not receive any inquiries from people in Leicestershire wondering what the noises were.

A Met Police spokesman told the Daily Mirror, that apart from a fireworks display in Croydon, it was deailing with no ongoing incidents that could have been responsible for the bangs.

Did you hear the bangs in Leicestershire last night? Let us know in the comments section below - or tweet us as @Leicester_Merc

Leicester's Mark Selby insisted he could have no complaints following a shock second round exit in the UK Championship on Saturday.

The world champion and world No.1 went down at the York Barbican 6-4 to Irishman David Morris, a player ranked 62 places below him who nearly quit snooker altogether after dropping off the tour in 2012.

The 'Jester from Leicester' was not smiling as a series of costly errors saw Morris take an early lead, and Selby could not get back into the match after the interval.

But the 31-year-old was humble in defeat and admitted Morris deserved his moment.

"I started off badly and deserved to be 3-1 behind," he said. "After the interval I thought I played a lot better but so did David and, on the day, I think he deserved to win.

"At 4-4 I went in to the pack. If I'd landed on one there, I felt good that I was going to take the frame and, who knows, I could be sitting here with a different scoreline.

"But all credit to David for seeing out the match and good luck to him in the next round.

"I have known him for a few years now and I know he dropped off the tour, but I know his potential and he should be doing much better than he is.

"I think he showed what a great player he is out there."

The result means Selby will drop off the world No.1 spot, but he admits he is looking forward to putting away his cue for a while and spending some time with his new family.

Having won his first World Championship earlier this year and had his first daughter born on November 11, Selby looks back on 2014 with fond memories.

He added: "The year couldn't have got any better, winning the World Championship for the first time and Sofia being born a few weeks ago.

"If there are any positives then it is that I can go home and spend as much time as possible with her.

"It's always nice to be number one, but as long as you are in the top 64 everyone comes in at the same round in the majority tournaments.

"So it is doesn't matter where you are from one to 64, the standard is so high now anyone can beat you."

British Eurosport is the home of snooker, showing 19 tournaments per season including the World Championship, UK Championship the Masters and all other ranking events. Available on Sky, Virgin Media & BT TV or online/mobile via eurosportplayer.com #eurosportsnooker

A man who filmed himself molesting a schoolgirl has been jailed for eight years.

Richard Sharpe (46) was caught when two people he shared a house with became suspicious about his behaviour.

When he was on holiday in Portugal, they looked at a camera he left behind and found shocking video footage of the abuse.

The police arrested him at the airport on his return.

Sharpe, formerly of Went Road, Birstall, had groomed the innocent youngster by offering her treats and sweets.

He pleaded guilty at Leicester Crown Court to five counts of sexual assault committed earlier this year.

In a victim impact statement the victim's mother, who was in court to see Sharpe jailed, said: "He's robbed my daughter of her innocence.

"I don't think the full effects of this nightmare are over yet."

Sentencing, Judge Nicholas Dean QC said: "Thankfully your behaviour was discovered within a short time.

"You filmed quite a lot of the abuse you inflicted upon this child, which meant you had no choice but to plead guilty.

"I don't know what possessed you to behave in the way you did.

"Your mental health doesn't provide any explanation for why you did what you did.

"Having seen the footage, it's clear you behaved in a calculated manner and made her familiar with some of what you did to her, by some form of grooming process no doubt using rewards and persuasion.

"You know that what you did is unforgivable and it was highly damaging.

"It has also affected her behaviour."

The court heard that when the police spoke to the youngster, a primary school pupil, she did not remember much about what was clearly shown on the video images.

Julie Warburton, mitigating, said: "He's been on suicide watch since being remanded into custody and is self-harming on a daily basis.

"He's no explanation for what he did and mercifully it was short lived.

"He doesn't put forward any excuses and he knows he can never be forgiven and doesn't expect to be.

"He wishes to apologise."

Sharpe was shaking uncontrollably in the dock throughout the hearing.

Judge Dean said he will have to sign onto a sex offender register for life and will be automatically barred from ever working children.

An indefinite sexual offences prevention order was made, which includes a ban on having unsupervised contact with youngsters.

Parents at a Leicestershire school are being urged to use pedestrian pathways when they drop off or pick up their children.

It follows a complaint by a shopper at Waitrose, in Harborough Road, Oadby, who says parents from nearby Launde Primary are using the car park on a daily basis.

Virginia Anderson said: "The parking itself isn't a problem, but rather than walk all the way around, parents are lifting their children over barriers and letting them run loose until they've joined them.

" I nearly ran over a child on Wednesday morning for that very reason. It was extremely difficult to see them as visibility was very low and it scared me enough to go and raise the issue with the store's managers. It's an accident waiting to happen and it's not something that I want on my conscience.

"There isn't a lot of room for cars to enter and leave the car park at Waitrose, and it wouldn't take much for someone to miss a small person and knock them over."

Mrs Anderson believes all it would take would be for the store to put up netting to prevent parents lifting children over the barrier.

Inderjit Sandhu, head of Launde Primary, says she has repeatedly warned parents to take care when picking up and dropping off their children.

She said that parents were allowed to park in Waitrose under a "community agreement" with store managers, but added: "All parents have to do is take a few extra minutes to walk around. Unfortunately, a minority choose not to and we know that there have been near misses in the past, whether that's right outside the school or elsewhere.

"I urge parents in every one of the school's newsletters to take care and to park appropriately. We've seen them parking on the pavement and on our zig- zag lines at times which is clearly not what we want.

"We take our pupils' safety very seriously and are doing everything we can to ensure parents heed our warning."

A Waitrose spokesman said: "The safety of our customers and their children is paramount – the branch manager at Oadby has been in contact with Launde Primary school to advise parents to use the walkway to enter our car park, rather than use the short cut."

The Curve's Christmas production of The Sound of Music has been thrilling preview audiences in the run up to its opening on Wednesday.

On Saturday hundreds of eager people attended the matinee performance of out going artistic director Paul Kerryson's latest glittering treat.

Originally a hit Broadway and West End musical, followed by the 1965 movie version, The Sound of Music remains one of the most popular musicals of all time.

Set against the idyllic landscape of the Austrian Alps, the tale is based on a true story following spirited young nun Maria and her relationship with the Von Trapp family.

Michael French ( David Wicks form East Enders) appears in the commanding role of Captain Von Trapp.

Many of the audience leaving the Curve on Saturday evening said they could not believe how good a singer he was and said he totally eclipsed Christopher Plummer from the film version.

Other members of cast to be singled out were all the children and Laura Pitt-Pulford as Maria, the role made famous by Julie Andrews.

Other principal members of the cast are Emma Clifford as Baroness Elsa Schraeder, Emma Harrold as Liesl Von Trapp, Lucy Schaufer as Mother Abbess, and Jack Wilcox as Rolf Gruber.

The actors playing the roles of the younger children have been selected locally.

Paul Kerryson said: "It's thrilling for us to be able to offer this opportunity for aspiring young performers to appear in our Christmas musical."

His work for Curve includes Chicago, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Piaf, Hello, Dolly!, Entertaining Mr Sloane, Buried Child, Gypsy, Absurd Person Singular, The Light in the Piazza, The King and I (also UK tour), 42nd Street, The Pillowman and The Lieutenant of Inishmore.

The production opens on Wednesday and runs until 17 January.

We asked people streaming out of the preview matinee on Saturday what they felt about the production.

Diane Alderson,

Next Directory worker, Fleckney

"Absolutely fantastic. The music the was wonderful. I was really amazing.

Joe Ryan, 26,

Musician, London

"It was awesome.I thought the music went very well during the performance.

"The audience really seemed to like it a lot."

Haidee Cooper, 19

Car dealer worker, Oadby

"I thought it was wonderful. The choreography, the sets and the singing were wonderful.

" Maria really stood out for me she was tremendous."

Amy Cooper, 24

Administration worker, Wigston

"I thought the production was marvellous. The backdrop, scenery and choreography were wonderful.

"I did not know David Wicks could sing so well"

Michael Bowers, 53

Local government officer, South Knighton,

"A truly amazing production really good one of the best we have seen here. Perhaps not as good as Chicago."

Mandy Bowers,

Housewife, South Knighton.

"We have been coming here since it opened. This production was one of the best. Really good I thoroughly enjoyed it."

Alma Henshaw,

Retired, Anstey.

"It was absolutely fantastic. I was thoroughly entertained from beginning to end.

"I was really impressed with the quality of the performances. I did not fall asleep once!"

Kimbra Welch

Lawyer, Anstey

"It was much better than the film version.

"The singing, the acting and the production was wonderful.

"It was amazing."

For information or tickets visit www.curveonline.co.uk

The ticket office can also be contacted on 0116 242 3595

You've probably already seen the new teaser trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. It's created quite a buzz on the internet. 

The latest episode in the saga is not due out in cinemas until next year. It's directed by Lost creator JJ Abrams and will star familiar faces from the franchise including Harrison Ford, Carrie Fish and Mark Hamill as well as a host of new names.

But here's something else that is a little bit of fun.

Someone, who obviously has far too much time on their hands, has created their own Lego version of the trailer, featuring the typical bricks and miniature versions of the popular Star Wars characters that most parents probably find themselves treading on or sweeping up from under the sofa on a regular basis.

Have a look at the video below. It's far easier , and probably more fun, to watch this than to try to put together a Lego version of the Death Star.

And here's the original trailer....

If Black Friday hasn't wiped your finances out, then prepare for the next assault on your bank account.

Cyber Monday is set to be the busiest day of the year for online shopping with millions of pounds spent on Christmas gifts ranging from iPads to Frozen dolls, perfume and the latest literary blockbusters.

The same day last year saw 115 million visits to retail websites in the UK, and this year is expected to be even busier, adding to the £164 billion the government says will be spent online this year.

Leather satchel company Zatchels does 40 per cent of its business online, and has been gearing up for today's mad rush for weeks.

It has invested heavily in updating its website to meet everything home shoppers can throw at it.

The multi-million pound company makes the brightly coloured designer bags at its factory in Charter Street, close to Leicester city centre.

Co-owner Dean Clarke said: "We've launched a whole campaign with offers on the website and e-mails to our followers.

"People have been holding back because they know retailers will be coming in with offers and this is when Christmas really kicks off.

"We put our factory on overtime a week ago in anticipation and we have had to make sure all our shops are stocked up.

"We've predicted that Cyber Monday will be bigger than Black Friday. Monday is always the busiest day of the week anyway, probably with people umming and ahhing over the weekend then wanting to cheer themselves up when they go back to work."

De Montfort University graduate Lizzie Leary runs shoe retailer Kindred Sole out of Loughborough University's innovation centre.

She said it would be all hands on deck today.

She said: "It's quite surprising how busy we are going up to Christmas. Even wellies do really well, as do slippers, socks and the scarves that we are now shopping.

"We're offering special offers such 20 per cent off across the store for full price items plus exclusive star buy offers.

"It is going to be the busiest day of the year. Around 70 per cent of our customers who got an e-mail this day last year opened it and clicked on the site – the industry average is 16-20 per cent, so it's more than double what we would usually expect.

"We're doing loads of advertising online and social media. Web traffic will be 50 per cent up on last year because of all the activity."

Credit card company Visa speculated that some £500 million would be spent online today (1st December), the culmination of what it called a Cyber Weekend which kicked off with the Black Friday in-store bonanza.

A spokesman sad that as with Black Friday, today would see transactions peak in the evening as shoppers go online after returning from work, or increasingly shop on their smartphones on the commute home.

Dancers, singers and MC performers had the chance to impress the judges at this year's Leicester's Got Talent.

The artists aged 16 to 25 took to the stage at Leicester's Y Theatre to showcase what varied artistic skills the the city and county can offer.

Backed by the police, it was opened by Leicestershire's Chief Constable Simon Cole who tweeted: "Just opened @LeicesterGT ....they were expecting Simon Cowell!"

The five hour event was organised by Pukaar News and Anand International with the aim of giving young people an opportunity to share their passions and creativity with others while building their confidence and having their talents recognised.

The overall winner on the day was Michael Machewere for his outstanding solo dance performance. He was presented with an ipod.

His friend Kieron Simms, 18, from Evington, said: "I was very pleased for Michael as I invited him down. I was pleased with my own solo dance and the judges were very fair."

Fellow dancer Ternika Shepherd, 20, of Braunstone Town said: "Michael's performance was really beautiful, excellent."

Ternika, who has been dancing since she was six, said: "It was a really good atmosphere and it was great to mix with the all the other performers. It was my first solo so it was pretty nerve wracking.

"I hope to come back and win next time."

Category winners Jordan Anderson, Lydia Unsudimi and Realistic Crew were each received £200 worth of vouchers.

Special items included a performance by the De Montfort University Pentecost Gospel Choir.

A spokeswoman for the organisers said: "We are excited to announce that the winners of Leicester Got Talent 2014 will be given the amazing opportunity to audition for Britain's Got Talent!."

The event was funded by a number of sponsors including Leicestershire Police and Crimestoppers.

Kiran Dhanda, Crimestoppers Regional Manager for the East Midlands, said: "This is a really important event for bringing people together and for promoting the Crimestoppers charity."