A council planning boss has said Leicester city centre would be greatly improved if the number of people living there more than triples over the next 20 years.

Councillor Patrick Kitterick, chairman of Leicester City Council's planning committee, said there are currently some 6,000 people living within the inner ring road.

He said that figure should rise to 20,000.

He was speaking at a meeting where the committee approved an eight storey block of flats on an unauthorised car park in Charles Street.

He said: "Currently, on and off, there are 6,000 living within the inner ring road. I think we would want to see, as a city, that number over the next couple of decades go up to around 20,000.

"It would change the nature of the city, it would change the feel of the city.

"It would make it a much improved city if we got up to that point.

"If we are going to provide that we are going to have to make some choices about density.

"Certainly where there is regeneration we should be looking at taller buildings, providing a decent standard and offering an option of car free living in the city centre."

Coun Kitterick said he believed future tall blocks of flats should be clustered together in what he described as a "cheese shaped wedge" between Humberstone Gate and Belgrave Gate.

He said: "You would want them in places where there are already tall buildings such as the BT Tower and Thames Tower (now called Equinox) or perhaps the St George's area.

"If we had more people living in the city centre it would be a place that doesn't die after 6pm.

"It would be a safer city centre because you would have 20,000 sets of eyes over the place."

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby there was already a move towards city centre living.

He said: "Having 20,000 people living in the city centre is a realistic target.

"At one time when the Shires was being built, some 20 years ago, there were attempts to get residential as part of the scheme but it just wasn't possible to attract developers.

"Thankfully things have changed since then and the city centre has been made a much more civilised place.

"We are getting a much wider mix of housing. Now we are getting genuine family homes and actually the re-conversion of buildings that were offices for a few decades having been housing originally."

The recession was a distant memory as Leicester enjoyed its busiest shopping weekend of the year.

The Highcross welcomed about 90,000 shoppers on Saturday and similar numbers on Sunday - up 12 per cent on last year.

And Fenwick enjoyed its busiest Sunday ever yesterday, with Christmas trade overall up 5.5 per cent on last year.

Despite the crowds, the shoppers were also happy with plenty of pre-Christmas bargains.

Jo Tallack, general manager for Highcross, said: "Customers have been coming in with their lists for Christmas shopping, realising it's only a few days until Christmas, and it's been a very busy weekend.

"We had 90,000 visitors on Saturday and on Sunday we opened our doors early and it was bursting all day.

"It's been better than last year, which was what we were expecting.

"There seemed to be a lot of gentlemen shoppers yesterday and people buying perfume, jewellery and wrapping paper.

"Everyone has lots of shopping bags."

Fenwick director David Illingworth said some of the biggest sellers were the department store's new watch department.

He said: "It's been the best Sunday ever for us and it was certainly the biggest shopping weekend of the year.

"We were a little concerned after all the shopping that was going on with Black Friday but the last three days - Friday, Saturday and Sunday - have all been super.

"I think a lot of people are worried things they buy online won't arrive until January now so they're doing some last-minute shopping."

Jo Purtill of Pomponette in Carts Lane was also pleased with pre-Christmas trade.

"Saturday was really busy," she said.

"It's been a very good season generally and it started off early in November.

"Customers have been buying lots of tablewear, Christmas decorations and things to make their homes look spectacular, but also quite a lot of furniture, too."

Claire Cassidy, who works at Jellyrolls Kidswear, said: "High Street has been looking really busy all weekend and we've had lots of people coming in to buy gifts and Christmas outfits for their children."

Shopper Rachael Fratczak, 47, of Oadby, visited the city centre on Sunday.

She said: "I got in early at about 11am to try to beat the rush and it was nice and quiet then but it got really busy later on.

"I've seen some really good bargains, too."

Surinder Singh, 74, of Oadby, was picking up a few bargains in Marks & Spencer.

He said: "There are lots of things at 50 per cent off so I've been buying things for myself, mostly!

"It's very busy and nothing like a normal Sunday. And everyone seems happy and they all have lots of shopping bags."

Narborough Road North was blocked in both directions between the A47 and the turn into the Tesco store due to a crash earlier this afternoon.

The southbound lane is now re-opened but the northbound lane remains shut.

Meanwhile, Burleys Way has re-opened after a minor collision caused one lane near St Margaret's Bus Station to be closed briefly from shortly before 2pm.

A woman who named her cancer "Brian" and took him on a pub crawl, is encouraging people to ditch the drink in January to raise charity cash.

It was two years ago that party-mad Sarah Hamblin, from Melton, spotted an unsightly lump when she put on fishnet tights to go out. Doctors agreed to remove it for cosmetic reasons but within weeks she was being wheeled into surgery not knowing whether or not she would lose her leg.

The 29-year-old had been diagnosed with a soft tissue sarcoma which doctors feared might have spread to her bone.

Sarah said: "I used to be a party animal to the extent that, when I was diagnosed with cancer, my friends drew a smiley face on my tumour, called him Brian and took him on a pub crawl downing tequila shots."

But she will be swapping the tequila for tea throughout January as part of Cancer Research UK's New Year fundraising campaign, Dryathlon.

Sarah, whose company Abstract Audio UK supplies sound systems for events, said: "Thanks to research I've been able to get back on a horse for the first time since I was diagnosed.

"There were times when I wished I'd lost my leg because the treatment was so painful and debilitating.

"But it's given me the courage to change my life for the better because I realise that you only live once."

Sarah had the tennis-ball sized tumour removed from her left shin in October 2012.

Cosmetic surgery to patch up the leg involved taking muscle and fat from both her thighs before she underwent seven weeks of radiotherapy to stop any potential spread.

Then, during her last week of radiotherapy, Sarah was given the shock news that her mum had mouth cancer.

She said: "I had seven months off work to recover but, harder than my own experience, was seeing mum go through treatment.

"She's come through it but the whole experience has really changed my outlook on life. It puts everything into perspective."

Sarah took part in Dryathlon for the first time last year.

She said: "I found it really hard

but I stuck with it and it inspired me to stop smoking.

"I know how hard people had to work to help save my life and get me back to normal so I don't ever want to put them in that position again."

Paula Young, Cancer Research UK spokesman for Leicestershire, said: "We're thrilled that Sarah is pledging her support for our Dryathlon campaign again this year.

"We hope her incredible story will inspire others in the region to take part."

People can register to take part as individuals or set up a team and get their friends, colleagues or relatives involved to motivate each other along the way.

To sponsor Sarah visit www.justgiving.com/sarahhamblindryathlete2015/ or text STIX80 £2 to 70070

To sign up for Dryathlon in January, visit www.dryathlon.org

A van driver who caused the death of two elderly men in a collision has been jailed for nine months.

Michael Lawrence, 20, was also banned from driving for three years.

He pleaded guilty to causing the deaths, by careless driving, of motorist Dennis Kenney, 86, and his passenger Charles Freckleton, 76, on the afternoon of October 5 last year.

The tragedy happened when Lawrence was travelling along Troon Way towards Hamilton.

He went through a red or amber traffic light and failed to see Mr Kenney's approaching Toyota Yaris was turning right in front of him, into Nicklaus Road.

After the collision, Lawrence, of Austin Rise, Netherhall, Leicester, fled the scene and cancelled the insurance on his Ford Transit Connect van, in an effort to "get away with it."

He then had second thoughts and went to the police station later the same day to confess.

Sentencing him at Leicester Crown Court on Friday, Judge Nicholas Dean QC said: "It's a serious case of careless driving. There's no excuse for not observing those lights and that's what caused the collision and it falls not far short of dangerous driving."

Mr Kenney, of Thomson Close, Leicester, died in hospital two days later, while Mr Freckleton, of Cromwell House, Oliver Street, Saffron Lane, passed away on October 11.

Their relatives earlier paid tribute to the two "healthy and active" pensioners, who died in the collision on their way home from visiting an art exhibition.

Both were described as caring and doting fathers and grandfathers.

Lawrence was recently on trial accused of the more serious alternative allegation of causing both deaths by dangerous driving, but was acquitted by the jury.

Sentencing him at Leicester Crown Court on Friday, Judge Nicholas Dean QC said: "It's apparent Mr Kenney and Mr Freckleton were lovely men and their loss is felt in a very deep way by their families, as one would expect.

"It's right to say their relatives have conducted themselves with great dignity."

He told the defendant: "You drove through the traffic lights when they were either on red or amber, it doesn't matter which it was, because both mean stop.

"There had been something of an earlier incident, on the A46 junction on Watermead Way, when your passenger behaved in an unpleasant and abusive way towards another driver.

"On the 500-metre stretch between that junction and the site of the collision, the incident continued to some extent – although that did not cause the collision.

"But you allowed yourself to continue to be distracted."

Glyn Samuel, mitigating, said: "He accepts he must have gone through the lights on amber. The defendant has been suffering since from depression and is still on medication.

"His family are religious and they have regularly lit candles and said prayers."

After the hearing, the defendant's mother spoke with the victims' grieving relatives, tearfully expressing her family's sorrow for their loss.

A man is critically ill in hospital after he was stabbed in the street while walking home from a pub.

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

Later, he was walking home and was at the junction of Henley Road and Fosse Road North when he was assaulted, shortly before midnight.

Yesterday, police said the victim had "sustained stab wounds" and that he was being treated at the Leicester Royal Infirmary.

A 28-year-old man has been arrested and is in police custody

Henley Road resident Rita Williams, 75, said she saw the man falling to the ground.

She said: "I saw the poor lad fall to his knees. Then he keeled over right next to the phone box.

"I didn't know whether to go out to him or what but there were other people around and two lads who seemed to be with him.

"Then the ambulance came and took him away and the police closed the road.

"I was really worried he was dead. As long as he's alive, that's a good thing. But it's very sad."

Rita said she believed the attack was connected to shouting in the nearby Fosse Recreation Ground.

She said: "The reason I'd got up was the shouting in the park. I've got a pair of binoculars because there are always things going on in the park. It's never dull around here."

On Saturday morning the area outside the recreation ground was cordoned off by police and detectives were making door- to- door inquiries.

One Henley Road resident, who did not want to be named, said on Saturday: "I got up this morning and the police had all the blue tape up and they came round asking about what had happened. It's really awful."

Detective Inspector David Swift-Rollinson 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 that this may be linked to this assault.

"We believe 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.

The final of The Apprentice tonight will see Bianca Miller and Mark Wright battling to secure a £250,000 investment from Lord Sugar.

They will team up with some of the sacked candidates from this year's series to put together their pitch hoping to impress him.

Here's our factfile on both of them. Let us know who you think will win in the comments section below

Bianca Miller

Age: 25

From: London

Occupation: Owner of personal branding company

Business plan: Bianca wants to create a hosiery brand for women with different skin tones, selling tights for £24 a pair.

The auditions: She apparently turned up with the pack of information you're supposed to bring with a picture of her and the words 'Winner of the Apprentice 2014' on the cover.

Describes herself as: Determined, ambitious, pedantic and hard on herself. She lives by the motto "It's nice to be important, but it's important to be nice"

Best points: Her business idea has impressed Lord Sugar and the interviewers in the last round.

Criticisms: Both interviewers and candidates have said she doesn't have a personality. During her interview with Ricky Martin that accusation led her to tears.

Who's on her team in the final: Lauren Riley, Daniel Lassman, Felipe Alviar-Baquero and Katie Bulmer-Cooke

Mark Wright

Age: 24

From: Lives in London, from Australia

Occupation: Sales manager: Digital marketing

Business plan: He wants to launch a digital search engine optimisation (SEO) company.

The auditions: He introduced himself to everyone as 'the winner'.

Describes himself as: A good communicator, manager and salesman

Best points: He has built up a reputation as a first-rate salesman

Criticisms: Some people have said he is arrogant - but he says he doesn't have any bad personal qualities. However, he stumbled really badly on one of the pitches in an earlier round.

Who's on his team in the final: James Hill, Sarah Dales, Sanjay Sood-Smith and Solomon Akhtar

The Apprentice final is on BBC1 tonight at 9pm.

Here is a selection of services taking place in Leicester and Leicestershire on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

If your church is holding a service and you would like us to add it to the list, please email the details to newsdesk@leicestermercury.co.uk.

Leicester

St James the Greater, 216 London Road, Leicester LE2 1NE

Christmas Eve - 6.30 pm - Christingle Service

Christmas Eve - 11.30 pm - Midnight Mass (by candlelight)

Christmas Day - 8.30 am - Holy Communion

Christmas Day - 10.30 am - Family Service

Christmas Day - 11.45 am - Holy Communion (shortened)

Christchurch, 105a Clarendon Park Road, Clarendon park LE2 3AH

Christmas Eve - 11.15pm - Midnight Communion Service

Christmas Day - 10.00am - Family Worship

Clarendon Park Congregational Church, corner of London Rd and Springfield Rd, Clarendon Park, LE2 3BB

Christmas Day - 10.00am - 45 minute service for all ages

St Guthlac Church, Holbrook Road, Knighton LE2 3WB

Christmas Eve - 4.00pm - Crib Service. An informal service, particularly suited for children.

Christmas Eve - 8.00pm - First Eucharist of Christmas

Christmas Day - 10.30am - Christmas Morning Eucharist

St John the Baptist Church, Clarendon Park Road, Clarendon Park LE2 3AD

Christmas Eve - 4pm Crib Service - 'All-age' family service with interactive nativity. Children are invited to attend in Nativity themed fancy dress

Christmas Day - 8am - Holy Communion. A traditional communion service using the Prayer Book

Christmas Day - 10:30am - Family Holy Communion. An 'all-age' family service.

St Mary Magdelene Church, Brinsmead Road, Knighton LE2 3WB

Christmas Eve - 5.00 pm - Crib Service

Christmas Eve - 11.30pm - Midnight Mass

Christmas Day - 8.00am - Holy Eucharist

Christmas Day - 10.00am - Family Eucharist

St Thomas More Church, 75 Knighton Road, Knighton LE2 3HN.

Christmas Eve - 6pm - Christmas Vigil Mass

Christmas Eve -11.15pm - Carols & Christmas Midnight Mass

Christmas Day - 10am - Christmas Day Mass

Stoneygate Baptist Church, 315 London Road, Leicester, LE2 3ND

Christmas Day - 10am - 40 minute celebration of the birth of Jesus for everyone

Holy Trinity, Turner St, Leicester LE1 6WY

Christmas Eve – 11.30pm, Midnight communion

Christmas Day – 10.30am, Family Christmas Day celebration

Leicestershire

St. Mary's Church, 10 High St, Barwell

Christmas Eve – 6pm, Christingle service

Patients are facing their second battle in two years to keep their specialist clinic.

The Oadby and Wigston Leg Club has been providing social and clinical support for people with leg problems such as ulcers and blood circulation for seven years.

But now the Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, which pays for the nurses, wants to move clinical care away from the club which meets every Tuesday in the United Reformed Church Hall in Oadby.

Two years ago the trust apologised when a notice saying the club was to close was posted.

Officials said it had happened "in error" but that a new venue was being sought.

Ben Schelts, from Wigston and a regular at the club, said: "This seems to be just another attempt by the trust to close the club.

"We were told we can carry on as a social club but that people like myself with leg ulcers will have to go various surgeries for dressings and so on - it is an insult.

"From past experience when this happens there isn't always a qualified nurse available to see you."

He added: "As well as getting help and treatment from the nurses at the club I have made some cracking friends.

"We won't let the club go without a fight."

The club, which is attended by about 30 people each week, is accredited to the Lindsay Leg Club Foundation - a national charity.

Andrew Kingsley, a tissue viability nurse and lead infection control nurse at the Northern Eastern and Western Devon clinical commissioning group, is also infection control lead for the foundation.

He said: "It is possible to provide good clinical care safely in a setting such as the Oadby and Wigston Leg Club."

A spokesman for the Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust said it was not looking to close the club just to move the clinical care.

He added: "The clinical aspect of the care will be provided by the same experienced team but carried out in a local health clinic, which meets the safe clinical guidelines we are required to follow.

"This new arrangement will allow leg club members to make appointments and for all clinical elements of the care to be provided, a service not currently available under the existing arrangements."

The spokesman said the changes were needed following recently quality reviews.

But he added: "We will continue to support the social model of care at the leg club sessions in Oadby and a nurse will continue to be available each week to provide health and wellbeing advice to members attending the club.

" We hope to be able to announce the location of where the clinical care will be provided very soon and to have the new arrangements in place early in 2015."

Health campaigner Zuffar Haq, a member of the Leicester Mercury Patients' Panel, fought to keep the club two years ago.

He said: "I met with trust officials and it was agreed to keep the club going.

"It is a unique facility and needs to be retained. Not only is it helping patients, but it is a great example of providing medical services in the community which patients value."

A 25-year-old man encouraged a 13-year-old girl to send him a nude picture of herself, a court heard.

The two met via the Twitter networking site and the victim, in her own mind, thought that Shane Wells was 16.

James Thomas, prosecuting, at Leicester Crown Court said they then exchanged phone texts, before speaking on the phone, often on a daily basis.

Mr Thomas said: "After a period of time he became aware she was 13 and at school.

"He truthfully told her he was 25.

"The nature of the messages went from friendly to sexually explicit exchanges.

"It developed to an extent where she sent him two photographs of herself, one partially clothed in underwear and the other completely naked.

"He reciprocated with pictures of himself.

"He's from the Kent area and she's from Leicestershire."

The two had also engaged in phone sex, but never met in person.

Wells, of Wakeley Road, Rainham, Kent, admitted possessing two indecent images of the girl and two counts of enciting a child to engage in sexual activity (over the phone) between February and June last year.

Now aged 26, Wells was given a 14 month jail sentence, suspended for two years, with supervision, and a requirement to attend a sex offender programme.

He will have to enlist on a sex offender register for five years.

Judge Nicholas Dean QC said, after having read the inappropriate text exchanges: "Certainly there's encouragement from the defendant, but there's no sense of reluctant participation.

"But he was 25 and she was 13 and he should have known better.

"This is a rare case of its type where it's appropriate to suspend the sentence."

Gareth Weetman, mitigating, said Wells had no previous convictions and committed the offences out of immaturity whilst still living at his mother's home.

The police seized his computer and other communication devices and found no evidence of contact with other young girls.

Mr Weetman said: "He's been suffering from depression and self-harming, cutting his wrists and forearms.

"He's someone who needs guidance and assistance as well as punishment.

"He knows he should have ceased contact when he discovered her age and is remorseful.

"He understands how damaging the behaviour was to the victim."

The offences were discovered when the girl's mother became suspicious and asked a close friend to check her daughter's mobile phone.

Residents in Evington are hoping to launch a credit union as the village loses its only bank branch.

The Santander agency branch in Downing Drive is scheduled to close by the end of the year as part of a closure programme affecting all its 139 agencies nationwide.

If the scheme is to take off, the community needs to find at least a dozen volunteers who can help to run and administer the scheme.

Evington resident Eamon Furey said: "The closure will hit a number of people who depend on the branch to carry out banking business.

"Many are elderly and do not have their own transport and are daunted by the prospect of having to travel into the city.

"Local businesses will be badly inconvenienced by the closure."

He said: "Having a facility where people can have and account and arrange loans."

He said that if the project gets the go ahead it is likely to operate under the umbrella of the locally based credit union Clockwise.

Since it was established in 2002, Clockwise has steadily grown.

A spokesman said: "We currently have over 8,200 active adult members with over £2.3 million of savings.

"We have nearly 850 Young Savers and Child Trust Fund (CTF) savings accounts with over £200,000 of savings and over 4,000 loans granted last year with a balance of £2.77 million in value."

It has a branch in St Nicholas circle in the city and branches at county towns.

Mr Furey added: "Credit unions are mutual financial co-operatives that take deposits and provide loans.

He said: "Clockwise are prepared to come to speak to us and provide training.

"We would need to have at least 12 volunteers. I am sure there are people in Evington with the requisite skills and experience to be involved."

Mr Furey has made initial soundings and is confident suitable premises could be found to operate as a base for the scheme.

The Santander branch was due to close in the summer but it was delayed by six months following the intervention of local MP Keith Vaz.

Hakim Khalifa has been running the joint Santander agency and the Post Office for 14 years and supports the idea of a credit union.

Mr Khalifa, who also owns the building, said: "We would like to see something start up as soon as possible and me and my wife would be willing to help the scheme."

Helen Pettman editor of the Evington Echo is a keen supporter of the credit union idea.

She said: "I am sure that the area would benefit from a credit union.

"I would encourage residents to think seriously if there is a need for such a credit union and if they are prepared to spare some time to help organise and run it."

People who are interested can contact Mrs Pettman by emailing evingtonecho@yahoo.co.uk or by calling 0116 220 4525.

Leicester City Council's recently revamped headquarters has been dubbed the "dull uncle at the wedding party" by a senior councillor.

The council moved it the former municipal offices in Charles Street earlier this year after quitting its condemned New Walk Centre Complex.

The 1930s building, formerly home to the Willie Thorne Snooker Centre, has undergone an £11 million refit but that did not prevent it from being gently mocked by the council's planning committee chairman councillor Patrick Kitterick.

Speaking at a recent planning meeting, where a new block of flats was approved on Charles Street,

Coun Kitterick compared the new civic HQ to some of the other significant buildings nearby.

He said: "In a city centre some buildings are the brides and some are the bridesmaids.

"Actually most buildings are bridesmaids in the city.

"You have got buildings and from my perspective the most attractive are the Foister Building, the former police station, the central baptist church and along with the Guild for the Disabled are delightfully charming buildings.

"City Hall probably sits as a bit of a dull uncle amongst that wedding party."

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby hit back at the remark.

He said: "I think it is one of the finest buildings in Leicester.

"It was built with love and pride in the 1930s to a brilliant design.

"It is clad in Portland Stone like ministry buildings in Whitehall.

"I is very much of its period and I am delighted by the way it has been brought back into use.

"It is true it has been neglected and it had been seen as little more than a snooker but I do disagree with Patrick.

"It is a very fine building."

Some 600 staff transferred over to City Hall when the New Walk Centre closed in the summer after it was declared structurally unsound.

The two 1970s-built concrete towers have been largely stripped out since then and are to be flattened in a so-called controlled implosion early next year. So far no date has been set for the demolition."

Sir Peter says that once the 1.8 acre site is cleared it will be redeveloped.

Sir Peter says he is close to choosing a preferred scheme from a shortlist of three. His decision is likely to be announced next month.

He has said he expects to see a mixed use scheme including offices which will provide employment on the site.

Volunteers and charities around the city are preparing for a rush at Leicestershire's foodbanks over the coming days.

Across the county there are about 80 charities that organise regular foodbanks supplied by Fareshare, which receives surplus items from the food industry which are sold on cheaply to the needy.

Simone Connolly, project manager for FareShare Leicester, said that while Christmas is the busiest time of the year, it was also a time when individuals and businesses were more generous than ever.

She said: "Our support always increases during December, and companies and the public also want to help at Christmas.

"We're setting ourselves the challenge of delivering more food than we have before and FareShare is well-placed to meet demand."

Among the groups distributing the Fareshare food will be Charity Link, which is based at St Martins House in Leicester city centre.

Over the past two weeks about two tonnes of food has been received by Charity Link.

Susan McEniff, marketing and fundraising director, said: "We've had huge support from the community as well as companies. It's been overwhelming. They've pumped in a significant amount of food."

She said that over Christmas and New Year there was an extra need for Charity Link because other agencies that support poor families were closed.

She said: "Christmas is always busy, particularly as you get near Christmas and New Year's Eve.

"We see a big influx when referral agencies are closed for the bank holidays.

"Food banks are hugely important. It's a tragedy that we still have a large amount of the community who can't feed themselves.

"To many people we are the last port of call."

So far this year the Hinckley Area foodbank has fed 2,372 people - an increase of about 25 per cent on last year.

Project manager Andy Cleaver said: "It's a desperate situation for many local people and I fully expect the number of people who require our support to grow next year as well."

In the run-up to Christmas there have been various food collections, including one at Tesco in Hinckley.

And staff at North West Leicestershire District Council have donated almost 200kg of food and other supplies to local food banks this month.

Sue Hallam, who co-ordinated the collection, said: "We know that lots of people locally are relying on food banks to get by and this support is more important over the Christmas period.

"We've been overwhelmed by the generosity of staff. It's really touching – when everyone is feeling the pinch they still dig deep to help those less well off."

Tim Maycock from the Coalville Food Bank, said: "It never ceases to amaze me just how generous people are and their willingness to support others."

A man has been charged with murder after a former soldier who suffered severe brain damage in an assault in 2009 died earlier this year.

Joseph Moran (28) appeared before magistrates in Leicester this morning charged with the murder of Fred Sluggett.

Mr Sluggett was assaulted outside his home in Thurnby Lodge on May 16, 2009, and sustained serious head injuries which left him brain damaged and severely disabled.

It was only the skill of surgeons that saved the 58-year-old's life.

However, Mr Sluggett died on July 25 this year.

Moran, formerly of Averil Road, Thurnby Lodge, Leicester, did not speak nor enter a plea during this morning's short hearing.

Chairman of the bench Chris Thomas remanded Moran, who was wearing a sweater and tracksuit bottoms, into custody.

Moran is due to appear at Leicester Crown Court for a preliminary hearing tomorrow.

Mr Sluggett's family have previously told the Mercury how his life had been left in ruins.

He was left with no recollection of what had happened during the attack and was in need of 24-hour care.

His friend, John Maycock, who was also set upon, suffered a broken leg, black eyes and a cut head.

Bernice Milne fought back tears as she described how her brother had been left brain-damaged and wheelchair-bound.

She said the "happy-go-lucky brother we all loved" was "replaced by a shell of a man in a wheelchair."

She added how he had little or no movement in his entire body except for a finger and thumb on his right hand.

However, he knew what was going on and had been suicidal.

Julie Milne, Mrs Milne's daughter, told how Mr Sluggett had served in the Army and done a tour of Northern Ireland.

She said: "He suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder after seeing some of his mates blown up over there during the Troubles.

"It is so cruel how he survived the bullets of Ireland only to be nearly killed near his house in Leicester.

"He was always the life and soul of the party and loved laughing. He was always my Uncle Fred who made us all laugh so much."

All work and no play? Not us. So, it's off to John Lewis for Gemma Peplow and her little helpers, who are testing out the best toys on the block this Christmas

Christmas is all about the kids, isn't it? No doubt all you organised mums and dads will have all your children's gifts neatly wrapped under the tree by now, but just in case, just to make extra sure you won't be waking up to forlorn faces on December 25, we've enlisted the help of some top toy experts to give us their guide to the best presents around. More magazine's little helpers, if you will.

Cousins Casey-Lei Green and Shyntai Samuels, both seven, and fellow expert Cora Jeangngampring, 15 months, passed our strict and extremely difficult toy-testing exams with flying colours and are now fully qualified to pass their tips on to you.

We put them to the test in John Lewis, where they spent a busy afternoon rigorously examining all the toys to ensure Mastermind-worthy knowledge of everything from cuddliness to robot-ability.

It's a tough job, they tell us, but someone's got to do it.

So listen carefully to their words of wisdom, parents. Here's what you need to know.

"I've been playing with a Ty cat," says Casey-Lei. "I like it because it's very cuddly and it's very fluffy and cute."

The best way to play with a Ty cat, Casey-Lei advises, is to put on a good voice.

"I use a different tone of voice to make it sound different," she says. "I always use a different voice for different things.

"I would call her Elsa, like Elsa from Frozen, and do a girl's voice. If I have boys stuff then I do a boy's voice. When I do that, I get a sore throat, though. I do it quite a lot and forget it hurts me."

But, as every good toy tester knows, sometimes you have to suffer for your art.

Moving on, Casey-Lei has also been looking at the Teksta cat and dinosaur robots.

"I like the cat because it makes music and goes up on its paws," she says. "It's also got a mouse to chase and to eat, which is good. Cats like fish to eat as well as mice.The dinosaur is also good because it can chuck food up."

Meanwhile, Shyntai has picked a winner in the doll section.

"I like the Baby Born doll," she says. "I like it because it can drink and you can change its bracelets and it's got a nappy."

When it comes to dolls, no-one knows their stuff more than Shyntai.

"I've got a pram at home and I do like playing with dolls," she says.

"I would call this one Annabelle, because it's my favourite name.

"It's my favourite thing here – it's what I would have for Christmas.

"I would play with her lots of times and I would feed her every day and I'd put her in my pram and take her out for walks.

"It would be good because I've got one doll I can't find and another one, but that one's arms have come off."

Shyntai is also a fan of Lego.

"I like how you can make different things out of it and there's lots of colours," she says. "I would really like to build a house out of Lego, with people in it."

Other recommendations from toy expert Shyntai include face-painting sets and the Doh Vinci door decor kit.

"I like decorating," she says. "I've got a drawer of tissue paper and stuff."

Cora, our youngest expert, spent her time evaluating all the best toys for her age group.

She passed on her thoughts to mum/toy-testing assistant, Caroline Jeangngampring Evans.

"She loved the dolls' buggy and playing with the teddies and Duplo," says Caroline. "She really enjoyed playing with a little kitchen mixer, with the whisk that went round, and a toy telephone as well."

So, there you have it. Our expert guide to all the best toys on the market.

Thanks, little helpers. You'll be graduating to Santa's grotto in no time.

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Homeless people in Leicester are being advised of help available to them over Christmas.

The city council wants people to know where and when help, food and shelter is available.

Leicester assistant city mayor for housing councillor Andy Connelly, said: "This time of year can be particularly difficult for people who sleep rough or have no fixed accommodation, and I'm glad that the city council is working with services across the city to open their doors to homeless people this Christmas.

"I'm very grateful to the voluntary sector services and other organisations who are involved in providing help for homeless people over the festive period.

"We're ensuring that information on all these services is made available widely across the city, to ensure that as many people as possible know where help, hot food and company is available."

The Dawn Centre hostel, in Conduit Street, will be open every day over Christmas to give advice, support and assistance.

The Y Support Project, also at the Dawn Centre, will also been open on various days over Christmas, offering breakfasts for rough sleepers and those of no fixed address from 8am to 9am, along with Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve and a festive brunch on Christmas Day.

The council's Homeless Outreach Team will also be out and about on various days over Christmas, helping providing advice and assistance on where rough sleepers can get help.

A number of other venues and organisations are opening their doors to help homeless people.

The Centre Project, in Alfred Place, off Granby Street, will be offering hot food on Tuesday, December 23, from midday to 3pm.

The Case Restaurant in Hotel Street will be offering its annual Christmas Day dinner to rough sleepers, sofa-surfers or other vulnerably-housed people, from 12.30pm to 2pm on December 25.

The Bridge, at the Salvation Army offices in Kildare Street, off Humberstone Gate East, will be offering hot food and drinks and a warm, friendly place for people to meet on Sunday, December 28, from 3pm to 5pm, and on Thursday, January 1, from 6pm to 8pm.

Other organisations will be offering a range of services over Christmas, with a variety of opening times and dates.

The Anchor Centre, in Dover Street, will open its door at various times over the festive period. The Homeless Healthcare Service, at the Dawn Centre, will also operate at certain times over Christmas.

St James the Greater Church, on London Road, will offer an "Eat 'n' Meet" event, offering a hot meal, drinks and activities, on Saturday, December 27, from 11am to 1.30pm.

The council's Housing Options service, which offers information and assistance on housing matters, will also be open except for weekends, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day and January 2.

www.leicester.gov.uk/your-council-services/housing/homelessness/

A large number of batteries were stolen from golf buggies parked at Market Harborough Golf Club before the weekend.

Thieves broke into the club's grounds in Great Oxendon Road south of the town between 7.40pm on Thursday, and 4.15am on Friday

The thieves also took a large quantity of lead from the roof of the clubhouse which is just over the county border in Northamptonshire.

The club has refused to comment on the incident.

But it is thought the batteries could be sold for scrap.

Witnesses, or anyone who knows anything about the incident, is asked to call Northamptonshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Students and staff wearing Christmas jumpers have raised more than £500 for needy children.

The youngsters at Ivanhoe College in Ashby raised over £500 by donating£1 to come to school wearing one.

They also collected items of food which were handed over to the Ashby Food bank to help families experiencing difficult times.

College principal Anne-Marie Blewitt said "Well done to everybody that took part in today's festivities and helped raise money for a great cause.

"Thanks also to parents and carers who donated items to the Ashby Food bank and who always support our charity events."

Save the Children said its Christmas Jumper Day had raised more than £1.6 million to date.

A traditional Christmas lunch at the school was enjoyed by a record number of 400 staff and students. A Christmas performing arts evening was staged which saw many talented students perform both musical and dramatic pieces.