09.32: There are some slow sections around Leicester's inner ring road as Christmas shoppers head into the city. Slow sections are in the areas of the John Lewis car park and St George's Retail Park. 

Christmas opening hours for supermarkets around Leicester:

All Aldi stores

Mon 22 8am - 10pm

Tue 23 8am - 10pm

Wed 24 8am - 6pm

Thu 25 - Fri 26 CLOSED

Sat 27 8am - 10pm

Sun 28 10am - 4pm

Mon 29 - Tue 30 8am - 10pm

Wed 31 8am - 6pm

Thu 01 Jan 2015 CLOSED

Fri 02 8am - 9pm

Asda Abbey Lane

Sun 21 10am - 4pm

Mon 22 7am - 11pm

Tue 23 7am - 11pm

Christmas Eve 7am - 7pm

Christmas Day Closed

Boxing Day 9am - 6pm

Sat 27 8am - 11pm

Sun 28 10am - 4pm

Mon 29 7am - 11pm

Tue 30 7am - 11pm

New Year's Eve 6am - 7pm

New Year's Day 10am - 6pm

Fri 2 8am - 11pm

Asda Fosse Park

Sun 21 11am - 5pm

Mon 22 Opens at Midnight

Tue 23 24 hours

Christmas Eve Closes at 7pm

Christmas Day Closed

Boxing Day 9am - 6pm

Sat 27 8am - 10pm

Sun 28 11am - 5pm

Mon 29 Opens at 8am

Tue 30 24 hours

New Year's Eve Closes at 7pm

New Year's Day 10am - 6pm

Fri 2 Opens at 8am

Asda Oadby

Sun 21 10am - 4pm

Mon 22 Opens at Midnight

Tue 23 24 hours

Christmas Eve Closes at 7pm

Christmas Day Closed

Boxing Day 9am - 6pm

Sat 27 8am - 10pm

Sun 28 10am - 4pm

Mon 29 Opens at 8am

Tue 30 24 hours

New Year's Eve Closes at 7pm

New Year's Day 10am - 6pm

Fri 2 Opens at 8am

Morrisons Leicester

Sun 21 1000-1700

Mon 22 0700-2300

Tues 23 0700-2300

Weds 24 0700-1700

Christmas Day Closed

Boxing Day 1000-1700

Sat 27 0800-2000

Sun 28 1100-1700

Mon 29 0800-2000

Tues 30 0800-2000

Weds 31 0800-1800

New Years Day 1000-1700

Fri 2 0700-230

Sainsbury's Grove Farm Triangle

Mon 22 0000 - 2359

Tue 23 0000 - 2359

Christmas Eve 0000 - 1830

Christmas Day Closed - Closed

Boxing Day 0830 - 2359

Sat 27 0000 - 2359

Mon 29 0000 - 2359

Tue 30 0000 - 2359

New Year's Eve 0000 - 2359

Sainsbury's Humberstone Gate

Mon 22 0700 - 2000

Tue 23 0700 - 2000

Christmas Eve 0700 - 1800

Christmas Day Closed - Closed

Boxing Day 0900 - 1700

Sat 27 0700 - 2000

Mon 29 0700 - 2000

Tue 30 0700 - 2000

New Year's Eve 0700 - 1900

Sainsbury's Oadby

Mon 22 0700 - 2200

Tue 23 0700 - 2200

Christmas Eve 0700 - 1800

Christmas Day Closed - Closed

Boxing Day 0900 - 1700

Sat 27 0800 - 2200

Mon 29 0800 - 2100

Tue 30 0800 - 2100

New Year's Eve 0800 - 1900

Sainsbury's Rushey Mead

Mon 22 0700 - 2359

Tue 23 0000 - 2359

Christmas Eve 0000 - 1800

Christmas Day Closed - Closed

Boxing Day 0900 - 1700

Sat 27 0700 - 2200

Mon 29 0700 - 2100

Tue 30 0700 - 2100

New Year's Eve 0700 - 1900

Tesco Beaumont Leys

Monday open midnight onwards

Tuesday 24 hours

Christmas Eve open until 19:00

Christmas Day closed

Boxing Day 09:00 18:00

Saturday 27 midnight to midnight

New Years Eve open until 19:00

New Years Day 09:00 18:00

Friday 2 open midnight onwards

Tesco Hamilton

Sunday 10:00 16:00

Monday open 06:00 onwards

Tuesday 24 hours

Christmas Eve open until 22:00

Christmas Day closed

Boxing Day 09:00 18:00

Saturday 27th 06:00 midnight

New Years Eve open until 19:00

New Years Day 09:00 18:00

Friday 2 open 06:00 onwards

The day should remain dry with sunny spells and light winds.

The temperatures will peak at about 8C (46F) in the middle of the afternoon and drop to a low of 5C (41F) overnight.

On Sunday it will be cloudier with a chance of rain later in the day but temperatures will begin at about 6C (43F) and rise to around 12C (54F) at 11pm, remaining mild throughout Monday.

A man was seriously injured in an attack while walking home from the pub last night.

Police said the 29-year-old man had been at the Crow's Nest pub in Glenfield Road on Friday evening, where he was involved in an "altercation".

He was at the junction of Henley Road and Fosse Road North when he was assaulted shortly before midnight.

A 28-year-old man was arrested after the assault and is in police custody.

The victim remains in a "serious" condition at the Leicester Royal Infirmary.

Detective Inspector David Swift-Rollinson, who is investigating the incident, said he was keen to speak to anyone who witnessed the assault or the altercation earlier in the evening at the Crow's Nest.

He said: "We believe the injured man was involved in an altercation in the Crow's Nest at some point during Friday evening and they that this may be linked to this assault.

"We believe that there may be a number of people who saw this altercation and assault and we are particularly keen to speak to these people.

"Anyone with information is urged to contact police as whatever they may know could assist our enquiries."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Sergeant 0683 Jim Hatton on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Keith Vaz is to raise problems over parking and concerns about street lighting around one of Leicester's Hindu temples in the House of Commons.

The Leicester East MP says he has been contacted by worshippers at the Shree Sanatan Mandir Temple, in Weymouth Street, off Catherine Street, and has started a petition which he will present to Parliament. It urges the city council to take steps to address their concerns.

Mr Vaz said: "This petition is addressing an increasingly dangerous issue.

"The parking around the temple is very poor, which coupled with poor lighting, means visitors to the temple are having to walk across fast- moving traffic in dangerous conditions.

"Now we can hopefully raise awareness of this problem, and play a positive role in urging Leicester City Council to find a solution.

"The temple is tremendously important to the community and all of Leicester – this is an opportunity to improve accessibility for its many visitors."

The city council says it has considered the matter and says it is unlikely to be able to provide extra parking.

A council spokesman said: "The temple's location – in a residential area of terraced streets – means that parking spaces are limited, but the local ward councillor has met with representatives of the temple to discuss their concerns.

"Some of their requests would require significant highway changes – which would need to be prioritised against demands for local environmental works in other wards – but there are a number of improvements that we are able to carry out now.

"Bollards will be installed outside the temple, to prevent people from parking on the pavements and blocking the entrance, and the 'keep clear' space in front of the entrance will be widened to make it easier for drivers to drop off their passengers.

"New LED lighting has already been installed in Weymouth Street and Surrey Street, and this will also be rolled out in Catherine Street by the end of March."

The council says the new LED technology will allow light levels to suit the circumstances.

He said: "We will be able to maximise the brightness in the area around the temple, to suit their requirements."

With the last big shopping weekend before Christmas now upon us, we've been out and about speaking to some of Leicester's independent shops to see what are best-selling gifts that people have been buying for their nearest and dearest.  According to shop owners, the most common themes for presents this Christmas have been recycling and 'upcycling', and items that are unique, handcrafted, rustic or period.

Here's out list of each store we visited and their most popular gifts. And if you're looking for some ideas for some last-minute Christmas shopping we've broken the list down to under £15 presents and gifts that cost more than £15 to help you with your festive budgeting.

Watch This Space, St Martins Square

Under £15: A range of handmade jewellery priced £7-15 including earrings and necklaces has proved very popular.

Over £15: Bespoke bags handmade from real leather, priced £28-30.

The Very Bazaar, Silver Street

Under £15: An incense gift set, including incense sticks, cones, holder and candle, have been flying off the shelves at £6.

Over £15: The shop's big bestseller has been their handmade mosaic Turkish lamps, priced £60-£200.

Cocoa Amore, Silver Arcade

Under £15: The basic range of bars has been selling well, priced at £4 or 3 for £10, with many customers taking advantage of the offer to get quality gifts at a decent price. Included in the range are handmade dark and milk vegan chocolate bars, Austrian chocolate bars, 6 packaged chocolates and more.

Over £15: Arising from a desire to "create a hamper but not a hamper", Cocoa Amore's £30 gift box is a great choice to indulge someone. Included inside are Austrian boleros, a homemade lolly, a 72g chocolate bar, a filled chocolate bar, bags of chocolate pearls and a box of chocolates. Their £20 version contains the above, minus the box of chocolates.

Eskimo Blue Boutique, Silver Arcade

Under £15: Handmade ceramic brooches have been snapped up, especially the very appropriate gingerbread man. Each brooch is made by hand, making each one a unique present. Priced £6-£15.

Over £15: Eskimo Blue's Christmas garlands have been so popular that people have been ringing up to make sure they'll be able to get their hands on one. Priced at £35, they make an excellent decoration for above the fire.

Mosaic, The Lanes

Under £15: Mosaic's range of bangles has been selling really well, priced at just £14.95.

Over £15: Custom made sterling silver sentiment jewellery has been a huge seller for Mosaic. The range includes rings, bangles and pendant necklaces, priced £45-£60.

Pomponette, The Lanes

Under £15: Just about making it into this category, Pomponette's duck-shaped stainless steel salt and pepper shakers have been a big hit. They come boxed, and have repeatedly sold out, coming back into stock just in time for Christmas. Priced £14.99.

Over £15: A stag pourer has been very popular with men, making it an excellent gift purchase. The pourer also comes boxed, and is made of stainless steel. Priced £24.99.

Set, High Street

Under £15: School Milk Bottles. Many adults will remember the real thing fondly, which makes them a great surprise for drinking cocktails on New Year's Eve. They are also a novel way for children to have a drink at Christmas dinner. Priced £2.99.

Over £15: With around 250 sold after its first six weeks in stock, Set's smartphone projector has been a huge hit. The projector has sold out so many times that they are being sold on ebay for over £50. Get one from the shop for £19.99.

All About Daisy, St Martins Square

Under £15: At just £3, beautiful tree decorations fashioned into the shapes of hearts and swirls from recycled Spring/Summer catalogues have been very popular.

Over £15: Bright and festive owl-shaped backpacks have been a surprise hit, priced at £16 for average orange ones and £22 for larger red ones.

Amabis, High Street

Under £15: Amabis' bestseller under £15 has to be the stainless steel Nomination bracelet, a charm bracelet costing £11 that can be personalised with links that start at £16.

Over £15: Designed and made by storeowner Josephine Bott, Prey features themes of animals of the night on necklaces, bracelets and rings. Owls, cats and moths all appear, but most popular of all is of course the fox. Prices range from £65 for a ring to £175 for a necklace.

Leaf, Highcross

Under £15: One of the most unique items on our list is Leaf's wooden ducks, available both with and without Wellington boots. The ducks are priced £5-£7.

Over £15: At £18-£20, Leaf's most popular cushions feature designs including stags in woolly winter jumpers, and colourful cats and dogs.

Last night was a busy time for the East Midlands Ambulance Service as workmates held their Christmas celebrations.

There was a mixture of calls ranging from alcohol related injuries to slips, trips and falls.

While demand wasn't as high as the weekend before, the number of calls was higher than an average Friday evening.

Between 11pm on Friday and 7am on Saturday the ambulance service received around 700 emergency calls, making a call volume of nearly 100 calls an hour.

General manager Greg Cox said: "I'd like to pay tribute to everyone who works on the frontline.

"My thanks go to all of them for their continued dedication and support.

"While most members of the public are celebrating the festivities, these people were hard at work doing a really great job in challenging circumstances.

"We expect to continue to receive significant call numbers over the next few weeks especially if the weather deteriorates."

A man from Leicester has been jailed for two years for his role in violence which flared up during an English Defence League demonstration. Shane Williams was among 2,000 supporters of the group which staged a protest which descended into violence in Birmingham city centre in July last year. Police officers were pelted with missiles and a Pakistan flag was burned in the street. West Midlands Police said 30 officers were injured in the violence. Williams, of Birds Nest Avenue, New Parks, was one of 52 people who were put before the courts charged with violent disorder or assault over the past few months. The 27-year-old was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court last week. West Midlands Police said disorder occurred in several areas of the city centre and involved English Defence League supporters from across the country. Williams was filmed by officers who were monitoring the English Defence League supporters and protestors opposed to their presence in the city. Despite the efforts of the English Defence League's stewards to contain them, a number of its supporters tried to force their way through police lines to get to the counter protesters. Williams was not arrested on the day but was later traced, arrested and charged. A number of people who were involved in the violence were traced after West Midlands Police ran an appeal, backed up by footage taken by its officers on the day, on BBC's Crimewatch programme. Following the televised appeal several suspects came forward and dozens of tip-offs were passed to officers. The last of the 52 men are due to be sentenced in the new year. He was jailed at Birmingham Crown Court last week. West Midlands Police released details of the case. However it could not confirm whether Williams pleaded guilty to the charge or had been found guilty by a jury. West Midlands Police said it would give further details and comment on the cases at the conclusion of legal proceedings at Birmingham Crown Court.

Leicester City will be bottom of the Premier League at Christmas after they fell to a 2-0 defeat at West Ham. 

Goals from Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing either side of half-time secured City's fate as Nigel Pearson's side remain without a win in 12 games and five points adrift of safety.

In the history of the Premier League, only two sides have ever survived after being bottom of the table at Christmas - Sunderland last season and West Brom in 2005, where Pearson was assistant manager to Bryan Robson.

Like so often this season, City were punished for glaring defensive errors, as Paul Konchesky's wayward back pass gifted Carroll an opening which he took with a deft dinked finish.

Downing doubled the hosts' lead just before the hour when he curled a sumptuous left-footed shot into the corner from the edge of the area.

City had chances to get back into the contest but were denied on each occasion by West Ham keeper Adrian.

The Spaniard pulled off two stunning saves late on to deny substitutes David Nugent and Leonardo Ulloa from close range as well as tipping over Riyad Mahrez's effort in the first half.

Pearson named an unchanged side from the one that suffered a 1-0 defeat to Manchester City last week, with David Nugent and Ritchie De Laet returning to the bench.

Upton Park has never been the happiest of hunting grounds for City, who had won just once there in the past 48 years. 

It was the hosts who enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges and Hammers boss Sam Allardyce would have hoped for better from in-form striker Diafra Sakho, who failed to hit the target from 10 yards out.

It did not take too long for City to find their feet, though, and went close to opening the scoring on 10 minutes when Jamie Vardy, playing as a lone striker, fired the ball across the face of the goal, just missing the oncoming Jeff Schlupp.

The formula for City's turmoil this season has been followed with startling regularity over the past 12 games as they look comfortable in open play, only to be punished severely for their own glaring defensive mistakes.

Today's game proved to be no exception.

Esteban Cambiasso had his shot blocked on the edge of the area and, when a hoofed clearance looked to be heading straight out for a City throw-in, Konchesky decided to pass it back to his goalkeeper Ben Hamer.

The full-back played the ball straight into the path of Carroll, who raced through on goal and lofted over the onrushing Hamer.

That, though, should really have been Carroll's second. The striker somehow failed to hit the target from six yards out, blazing the ball over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

City nearly levelled 10 minutes later when Mahrez fired what looked a speculative shot on goal from a tight angle, only for Adrian to tip it over the bar.

Stewart Downing made it two 11 minutes after the restart when he was given too much space on the edge of the area and duly curled in a sublime left-footed finish past the helpless Hamer.

Pearson, sat in the dugout instead of his usual place in the stands, threw caution to the wind by making a triple change. Cambiasso, Konchesky and Vardy made way for Ulloa, Nugent and Anthony Knockaert.

The substitutions produced what was a stark improvement, as Nugent had a couple of chances to score, first firing over from the edge of the area before having his side-footed volley saved incredibly by Adrian from point-blank range.

Ulloa also could not believe he had not scored when he glanced Danny Simpson's cross towards the corner, only to see the familiar sight of Adrian beating the ball away.

Teams:

West Ham: (4-3-1-2) Adrian, Jenkinson, Tomkins (Collins – 69'), Reid (c), Cresswell, Nolan (Amalfitano – 87'), Song, Kouyate, Downing, Carroll, Sakho (Valencia – 79')

Unused subs: Jaaskelainen, Zarate, O'Brien, Cole

Leicester City: (4-1-4-1) Hamer, Simpson, Morgan (c), Wasilewski, Konchesky (Knockaert – 62'), Cambiasso (Ulloa – 62'), Mahrez, Drinkwater, King, Schlupp, Vardy (Nugent – 62')

Unused subs: Smith, De Laet, Hammond, James

Yellow cards: King, Ulloa, Vardy

Referee: Martin Atkinson

Attendance: 34, 977

Northampton 23 Leicester 19

A try with just three minutes left on the clock saw Northampton win yet another compelling East Midlands derby, despite playing an hour of it with 14 men.

Jamie Elliott dived over to earn the Aviva Premiership leaders the points from a thrilling encounter which saw the lead change hands on five occasions.

The main talking point came after 17 minutes when Saints skipper Dylan Hartley was sent off for elbowing Matt Smith in the face. It was a clear red and the England man is likely to face a lengthy ban from the game with a rap sheet as long as the M1.

Saints seemed unperturbed by his absence though and three second-half tries by Alex Waller, Ben Foden and Elliott earned them a fully-deserved victory in a game painfully reminiscent of last season's Premiership semi-final.

Saints won the first kickable penalty of the game but chose against going for the posts. Kahn Fotuali'i took a quick tap penalty instead of going for the points and it nearly paid dividends as the home side marched down to the field and only lost the ball two metres short of the line.

As the home fans bayed for blood, Leicester won the scrum against the head and cleared their lines.

Tom Croft then stole a line-out and Ant Allen made a clean line break as Tigers settled well.

Ben Youngs was box-kicking well and when Tigers won a scrum penalty, they had the first chance to open the scoring with the boot only for Williams to pull a 40-metre kick wide of the mark on 13 minutes.

The first-half's big talking point arrived on 17 minutes. As three or four players from both sides grappled in midfield miles away from the play, Saints hooker Dylan Hartley elbowed Matt Smith in the face and was sent off by referee JP Doyle.

Having been sent off in the final between the two teams back in 2013, he is now likely to face a lengthy ban with plenty of previous form on his rap sheet.

Tigers won two penalties at ensuing scrums and, when the Northampton's scrum collapsed for a third time, Doyle went under the posts for a penalty try and Williams made it 7-0.

Saints beat Tigers in last season's semi-final having been reduced to 14 men so it was not a position they were unaccustomed to.

And they were the better side for the remainder of the first half as they enjoyed more possession and looked the more likely to score with ball in hand.

As it was, they had to settle for six points from the boot of Stephen Myler with penalties on 27 and 39 minutes to drag the score back to 7-6.

There was another big moment just before the break as Tom Croft was yellow-carded for a high tackle and it cost Leicester dearly as Saints shot out of the blocks in the second half.

The hosts piled forward in numbers and with Leicester's defence far too passive, Saints made inroads and finally crossed the line with prop Alex Waller on 44 minutes.

With Myler off for a concussion assessment following one of a number of huge number of hits in the game from both sides, James Wilson missed the conversion but his side led 11-7.

Northampton stayed on top and could have stretched the lead had Myler not missed a penalty on 53 minutes.

Leicester were really struggling for momentum against Saints' physicality but on 61 minutes and out of nowhere, they re-took the lead. Substitute Michele Rizzo rampaged through the Saints defence, Freddie Burns continued to make inroads and Niki Goneva ran in for a score.

The conversion was missed though and just three minutes later, Ben Foden had far too much space down the left flank to ghost in untouched for a 16-12 lead.

Saints turned down a kick at goal to go for the corner but their line-out came to nothing and Tigers marched up the other end of the field and scored through Goneva again.

It was the easiest of run-ins for the Fijian but the try was made by Miles Benjamin who bashed his way through three tackles on the right before recycled quick ball saw Goneva in acres of space on the left.

Freddie Burns landed a touchline conversion and Tigers led 19-16 with nine minutes left.

There was still time for a fifth and final lead change and with just three minutes left on the clock, Jamie Elliott found space on the left to crash over and raise the roof of Franklin's Gardens. Myler made the extras to make it 23-19 and Leicester could never get the ball back as Saints ran down the clock for a memorable victory.

For Leicester, the losing bonus point would have been little consolation.

Nigel Pearson insists there are "no quitters" in the Leicester City dressing room as they fight to become only the third side to survive after being bottom of the Premier League at Christmas.

City's 2-0 defeat at West Ham this afternoon, their 12^th game without a win, meant that Pearson's side will definitely be at the foot of the table going into their game against Tottenham on Boxing Day.

Only two sides have lifted themselves above the dotted line from that position since the beginning of the Premier League – Sunderland last season and West Brom in 2005.

Pearson, who was assistant manager to Bryan Robson at West Brom that season, said he sees in his players' eyes that they have the belief to achieve it.

"It really is about us making things happen ourselves," said Pearson, following the defeat. "If we hadn't produced performances this season I would be sitting here probably telling you one or two fibs about me believing we can rectify this.

"I look around the dressing room and we have certainly got no one who is giving up any sort of fight.

"I have not seen anyone looking like they are remotely about to quit. That is always very important.

"They are an outstanding group of people and we will keep working until we find the answer."

Like so often this season, City were looking comfortable in general play, creating chances, only to be punished for a glaring defensive error of their own.

Paul Konchesky's woeful back pass, when the ball looked to be going out for a City throw-in, playing in Andy Carroll who raced through to give West Ham the lead.

Stewart Downing double the hosts' advantage after the break before Hammers goalkeeper Adrian pulled off two stunning saves late on to deny substitutes David Nugent and Leonardo Ulloa.

"It is another day in which we have done okay in certain areas, played pretty well, created a few chances, and come away with nothing," said Pearson.

"Unfortunately at the moment, I have had to say that too many times

"Individual mistakes have been costly for us but, ultimately, you have got to score enough goals and we haven't been doing that.

"Their goalkeeper has made three really outstanding saves. We have created situations but have not been able to maximize them.

"The harsh reality is that we are being punished at both ends of the field for mistakes that we make."

A lottery win would definitely be an excellent early Christmas present.

So here are the winning numbers from last night's Lotto draw.

18, 22, 23,32, 40, 42, and the bonus ball was 28.

The jackpot was £4,983,828

In the Thunderball draw, the winning numbers are:

1,2, 12, 29, 32 and the Thunderball is 3.

The top prize was £500,000.

And in the Lotto Raffle, the winning tickets are:

Television presenter Caroline Flack and her partner Pasha Kovalev have won Strictly Come Dancing.

The pair made history by becoming the first competitors ever to get three perfect scores of 40 in the final of the show.

The Saturdays singer Frankie Bridge and Simon Webbe, of Blue, were runners-up.

TV host and former The Only Way is Essex Star Mark Wright was the first of the final four to be eliminated in the final.

After winning the competition, Caroline, who presented spin-off shows for both The X Factor and I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! said that Strictly had been  "the best experience of my whole life".

She added: "I still can't believe it's happening. It doesn't feel real in any way."

Her professional dance partner Pasha added: "I think we became real friends and I hope we will stay real friends. I could not imagine a better partner."

Caroline and Pasha impressed the judges with their freestyle dance, as well as their Cha Cha Cha and a Charleston.

The competition was decided by viewers' phone votes.

The mobile speed camera sites for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland from Monday, December 22, are: 

A563 Colchester Rd / Hungarton Blvd, Leicester

Rutland has shot up a chart that rates the best places to live in the UK.

The tiny county was ranked fourth on the Halifax quality of life survey top 50 list.

The top three were Hart in Hampshire, Elmbridge in Surrey and Winchester in Hampshire.

But last year Rutland had been in 21st place and the year before in 22nd place.

Roger Begy, leader of Rutland County Council said the pretty countryside and strong sense of community were among the most important factors behind his county's success.

He said: "I think we most certainly deserve to be at number four and there are a combination of factors that make it a great place to be.

"It's very rural with lots of pleasant countryside and while there are drawbacks for rural areas we have superfast broadband available to more than 90 per cent of homes and rising.

"Rutland has good education, good services and good roads, but more importantly a very good community.

"I think it's also a community that identifies very strongly with the name 'Rutland', too."

The people of Rutland had to fight to win back their independence as a county after 1974, when a review of local government turned it into a rural district within Leicestershire.

The battle was finally won in 1997 when, despite its low population of just 34,000, it became a unitary authority and free of any control from County Hall in Glenfield.

The population currently stands at about 40,000 and the official number of unemployed people in the county is less that 200.

The wealthy population is reflected in the low crime rates and high standard of eateries.

Councillor Begy said: "We have very good pubs and I live in a ward where we have three Michelin Bib Gourmand pubs, which is one rank below a Michelin star."

Rutland resident and local MP Alan Duncan said he was not surprised by the county's success in the poll.

He said: "We should of course be number one but going from 21 to four is heading in the right direction.

"We may be small but we punch above our weight for beauty, fun and good manners."

Other top 10 areas on the list included Chiltern in Buckinghamshire at number five, followed by Uttlesford in Essex, South Northamptonshire, Rushcliffe in Nottinghamshire, Wokingham in Berkshire and Waverley in Surrey.

The rating system is based on "desirability" factors. These include health, life span, education achievement, employment rates, crime and weather.

No Northern Irish, Welsh or Northern English areas made the list except for Hambleton in Yorkshire, which just made it on at number 50.

Hart, which has been number one for four years, has a weekly average wage of £839 and 97 per cent of residents say they are in good health.

Life expectancy there is the joint highest in the UK, with the male population typically living to the age of 83.

The list has been compiled for the past nine years.

Here is the full list of the top 50 most desirable places:

1. Hart, South East

2. Elmbridge, South East

3. Winchester, South East

4. Rutland, East Midlands

5. Chiltern, South East

6. Uttlesford, East of England

7. South Northamptonshire, East Midlands

8. Rushcliffe, East Midlands

9. Wokingham, South East

10. Waverley, South East

11. Warwick, Warwickshire

12. St Albans, East of England

13. South Cambridgeshire, East of England

14. Sevenoaks, South East

15. Richmond upon Thames, South East

16. Bracknell Forest, South East

17. Mid Sussex, South East

18. Huntingdonshire, East of England

19. Mole Valley, South East

20. Surrey Heath, South East

21. South Oxfordshire, South East

22. Stratford-on-Avon, West Midlands

23. Guildford, South East

24. Babergh, East of England

25. Chelmsford, East of England

26. Windsor and Maidenhead, South East

27. Reigate and Banstead, South East

28. East Hertfordshire, East of England

29. Basingstoke and Deane, South East

30. West Oxfordshire, South East

31. Tunbridge Wells, South East

32. North Hertfordshire, East of England

33. South Kesteven, East Midlands

34. Kensington and Chelsea, London

35. Rugby, West Midlands

36. Woking, South East

37. Bromley, London

38. Ashford, South East

39. East Cambridgeshire, East of England

40. North Kesteven, East Midlands

41. Aylesbury Vale, South East

42. Tonbridge and Malling, South East

43. Wealden, South East

44. Maidstone, South East

45. Mid Suffolk, East of England

46. Wycombe, South East

47. Orkney Islands, Scotland

48. Epsom and Ewell, South East

49. Central Bedfordshire, East of England

50. Hambleton, Yorkshire and The Humber

Temperatures are due to rise all day long today, going from around 7C (45F) in the morning to 12C (54F) by about 11pm.

They should stay at around 12C overnight and then remain in double digits until Wednesday.

Today will be cloudy but should remain dry. There's a chance of rain tomorrow afternoon.

A car rolled onto its roof in a late-night crash in Knighton.

No one is believed to have been injured in the incident but one man was arrested.

A police spokeswoman said: "Police were called to a report of a collision in Knighton Fields Road East at about 12.10am this morning.

"A 33-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incident and currently remains in custody."

Mercury reader Nathan Ingram who lives in Knighton Fields Road East said he heard a loud bang when the crash happened.

He said: "I heard a loud bang and then when my housemate returned from work 10 minutes later he said there was a police van outside.

"I then looked out of the window and saw that a car was overturned in the middle of the road.

"The police had attended the scene but there were no people who I could see in the vehicle."

A woman who recklessly endangered the lives of neighbours by setting fire to her flat when "paralytic drunk" has been jailed for 18 months.

Lynette Blair (47) started the blaze in on the first floor of a three-storey block of nine flats, in Iona Close, Beaumont Leys, at 5pm on Friday June 6.

Leicester Crown Court was told a couple who lived below the defendant heard the fire alarm and saw smoke billowing from Blair's window.

Neil Banister, prosecuting, said: "The emergency services were contacted and the couple went upstairs to see if they could offer assistance.

"They found the defendant in the corridor outside her flat lying in the recovery position.

"When the fire fighters arrived, she still appeared to be unconscious and efforts were made to revive her.

"She then came round and began screaming and was assisted outside to an ambulance, where she admitted she had set the fire in the flat."

The fire was started just inside the bedroom door, against a pile of clothing, and caused about £7,300 worth of damage to the city council property.

Blair, who suffers from mental health problems, pleaded guilty to arson being reckless as to whether life would be endangered.

After her release from hospital, Blair was interviewed and told police she could not remember the incident.

Mr Bannister said: "She said she had been 'paralytic drunk', having consumed two bottles of vodka.

In 1987 and 1995, she was prosecuted for two offences of arson, but not posing a risk to life, the court was told.

Vasanti Vaitha, mitigating, said: "She has a supportive family and they believe she needs help and support."

However, there were currently no available places at anywhere suitable, she said.

Judge Nicholas Dean QC said Blair's actions were due to long-standing alcohol and mental health problems.

Sentencing Blair, he said: "It's the third time you've been before the courts for offences of arson.

"You set fire to your own accommodation, causing a risk to others and yourself. I've no doubt your behaviour is a consequence of your alcohol problems, which are profound.

"It's clear you've had a troubled life and the assistance that could be provided to you, by way of an alternative disposal, could only be given if there was suitable accommodation.

"Despite efforts of many people, it has not been possible to find such accommodation.

"It would be inappropriate for me to risk you being released today and having nowhere to go, because the sort of help and support you require isn't available.

"I'm forced to impose a sentence of immediate imprisonment.

"However, you will have some help when you are released."

Business leaders have expressed concerns about plans to turn a town pub into a supermarket.

The owner of The Maltings, in Loughborough, said it was seeking alternative uses as the site struggled to attract punters.

Earlier this year, Central England Co-op received planning consent to build a convenience store on the car park of the edge-of-town pub.

However, owner Everards is now looking at closing the pub, in Knightthorpe Road, Thorpe Acre, and converting the whole site into a supermarket

A spokeswoman said: "We have carried out a further review of the pub and its potential for long term sustainability. This has resulted in us considering some further options for the site including conversion to a supermarket, however these are not yet firm plans."

Everards blamed the poor performance on the pub's large size, tough competition, changing social habits and the uncertain economic climate.

David Pagett-Wright is chairman of Loughborough Business Improvement District and a member of Loughborough Chamber of Trade.

"The market rules where the demand is, so if a business wants to come in and supply it, then that's fine, subject to the proper planning procedures," he said. "I'm just concerned about it detracting from the town centre."

Surinder Poonian, owner of the Spar store in Old Ashby Road, Thorpe Acre, did not think a new supermarket would affect his business, but questioned the need for another major store in the town.

"We've already got a Morrisons and Tesco nearby," he said.

The Everards spokeswoman said: "Everards is passionate about and committed to pubs, investing in and supporting licensees to run successful, individual and profitable pubs throughout the East Midlands.

"Since 2007, when lots of pubs have been closing we have been acquiring pubs, 30 in all. There are instances, however, when the location, competition or sheer size of the pub does not make it sustainable for the future."

A spokeswoman for Central England Co-op said: "We can confirm we have obtained planning permission to build a convenience store on the car park at The Maltings public house on Knightthorpe Road, Loughborough. We are in currently in discussions regarding The Maltings site and it is too early to confirm any further plans."

Everards, whose headquarters is next to Fosse Park, Braunstone, has owned The Maltings since 1973. The pub, which employs three people, is one of more than 175 owned by Everards across the Midlands.

Meanwhile, there was hope the Jack O'Lantern pub, on the corner of Nottingham Road and Clarence Street, Loughborough, which has been closed for a number of weeks, could reopen in the new year after changing ownership.