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Two tons of cardboard go up in smoke after cigarette dropped into skip at recycling centre

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Two tons of cardboard went up in flames at a recycling centre after a cigarette was dropped into a skip.

A fire crew was called out the centre in Moorbarns Lane, Lutterworth, at 1.04pm yesterday , to tackle the blaze in a large impactor skip.

The crew from Lutterworth were joined by a crew from Rugby in the fight to put out the flames.

Staff at the centre assisted the firefighters by using a vehicle to move the impactor skip to a more accessible area of the yard.

The firefighters dragged the cardboard out of the skip and had put the blaze out by 3.05pm.

No-one was hurt in the incident.

A fire service spokeswoman said: "We believe the fire was caused by carelessly discarded smoking materials being dropped into the impactor skip."

Two tons of cardboard go up in smoke after cigarette dropped into skip at recycling centre


Today's racing at Leicester racecourse called off due to freezing conditions

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Today's racing at Leicester racecourse has been called off due to the freezing conditions.

The course was inspected at 8.15am and the decision was made to abandon the six-race meeting.

The meeting, the last of 2014, was due to start with the first race at 1.10pm and the last race running at 3.40pm.

Jonathan Tallis, accounts manager at the racecourse said: "It is with regret that we make this decision.

"There was snow and ice on the top end of the racing track.

"There was a shaded area which the public uses which was still quite slippy and icy.

"For health and safety reasons we had no choice but to abandon the racing.

"We are hoping to show away racing on the big screen and our restaurants are still open if people had a table reserved.

"People should see the terms and conditions page if they require a refund."

The racecourse terms and conditions page on refund information is at http://www.leicester-racecourse.co.uk/terms/

Today's racing at Leicester racecourse called off due to freezing conditions

Mobile speed camera locations in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, from Monday, December 29

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Here's where you will see mobile speed cameras in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland in the week from Monday, December 29:

B5350 Nanpantan Road (30 & 40mph), Loughborough

A563 Asquith Way, Leicester

A447 Swan'ton Rd / Wash Ln / Ibstock Rd, R'stone

A5199 Welford Road, Leicester

A512 New Ashby Road, Loughborough

A5 Route North: Dodwells - Highcross

B4666 Coventry Road, Hinckley

A447 Hinckley Rd, Cadeby

B4114 Leicester Rd, Sharnford

B581 Broughton Way / Station Rd, Broughton Astley

B4114 Leicester Road, Enderby 40mph

B4114 King Edward Ave Narborough

A512 Ashby Road, Loughborough

A563 Atlee Way, Leicester

A50 Route: Field Head - Groby

Leicester Road, Ibstock

A6 Derby Rd, Loughborough

A6004 Alan Moss Rd, Loughborough

A4304 Lubbenham Hill, Market Harborough

A563 Glenhills Way, Leicester

A4304 Kilworth Rd / High Street, Husbands Bosworth

A5199 Leicester Road, Wigston

A4304 Lutterworth Road / Station Road, N Kilworth

A6 Harborough Road, Oadby

A6 Glen Road, Oadby

A47 Clickers Way (40mph), Earl Shilton / Elmesthorpe

A47 Normandy Way (40mph), Hinckley

Markfield Road, Ratby

Bradgate Road, Anstey

A4304 Lutterworth Road, Walcote

B582 Stoughton Road, Oadby

A511 Ashby Road (50mph) Sinope, R'stone

Sacheverell Way, Groby / Ratby

Mobile speed camera locations in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, from Monday, December 29

Jilted husband 'forgot' four-month-old granddaughter was in car when he deliberately crashed into love-rival's vehicle

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A jilted husband "forgot" his four-month-old granddaughter was in his car when he deliberately crashed into his love-rival's vehicle, a court heard.

Fortunately the infant was unharmed in the incident, as furious Kevin Ward pursued his wife and her new boyfriend in another vehicle.

Ward, 55, who wanted to speak to his wife about a divorce, made the fleeing couple's VW Passat stop by using his stock-car racing skills in a collision.

Leicester Crown Court was told the Passat became pinned against a road sign and a bridge wall, in the village of Thornton, North West Leicestershire.

Neil Bannister, prosecuting, said: "The defendant got out of his Ford Mondeo and was holding a metal chain.

"He walked towards the Passat shouting and saying he would wrap it around his estranged wife's new partner.

"He struck the roof of the car with the chain.

"He told his wife to get out of the car and when she refused he grabbed hold of her."

Local residents, who heard the loud bang of the collision and then the commotion, alerted the police.

The defendant was shouting and told the neighbours to keep their "******* noses out," said Mr Bannister.

He added: "The defendant had a young baby in the rear of his Mondeo.

"In interview he said he'd forgotten his granddaughter was in the car because he was in such a rage.

"He said his 'bomber car racing' experience had taught him how to stop the other car from driving off."

Ward, of William Street, Long Eaton, Nottinghamshire, said he initially went to the home of his estranged wife and her new partner in Ellistown, Coalville, to talk to his wife about getting a divorce, on the afternoon of October 25.

They were out but arrived home in the Passat.

When his wife saw him in his car they drove off – and he followed them to Thornton, where the collision took place.

Ward admitted dangerous driving, causing an affray and common assault by grabbing hold of his wife.

He was given an eight month jail sentence, suspended for 12 months, with a three month 9pm to 7am curfew, and a three year driving ban.

Judge Nicholas Dean QC said: "I accept your offending arose because of very strong emotions caused by the breakdown of your marriage and learning about your wife's new relationship.

"You actually risked the life and health of your granddaughter and I hope that fact has brought home to you just how foolish your actions were.

"No matter how you felt about the marriage breakdown you shouldn't have put your granddaughter at risk as you did.

"You shouldn't have confronted your wife and her new partner like that."

In mitigation, the court heard Ward was sorry for his actions during emotional turmoil and was still emotionally raw.

He was married to his wife for 25 of the 32 years they had been together and have two children.

He discovered a week earlier, from his daughter, that his wife had left him, after his daughter found out via Facebook.

Ward was said to be in need of counselling and medical help for depression.

Jilted husband 'forgot' four-month-old granddaughter was in car when he deliberately crashed into love-rival’s vehicle

Large pile of rubbish deliberately set alight in disused railway arch

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Firefighters were called out to a fire in a disused railway arch in Leicester in the early hours of this morning.

Two fire crews were alerted at 3am to a large amount of rubbish on fire in an arch off Braunstone Gate in the West End area of the city.

The crews from Central put out the blaze within an hour.

A fire service spokeswoman said the blaze had been started deliberately.

Large pile of rubbish deliberately set alight in disused railway arch

Firefighters force their way into an empty flat after neighbours report smell of burning

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Firefighters had to force their way into an empty flat when neighbours reported a smell of burning.

Two fire crews were alerted at 4.50pm yesterday to the smell coming from inside a flat in Great Central Road, Loughborough.

The fire crews from Loughborough found a quantity of paper on fire inside the flat.

It is believed the fire was caused by carelessly discarded smoking materials.

There was small amount of smoke damage to the flat.

Firefighters force their way into  an empty  flat after neighbours report smell of burning

Car damaged after being set on fire in city street

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A car was damaged after being deliberately set on fire in the street.

Firefighters tackled the blaze after being alerted at 8.57pm yesterday to the incident in Middleton Street, Aylestone, Leicester.

A fire crew from Southern station put out the blaze which was inside the car.

The interior of the car was badly damaged by the fire.

Car damaged after being set on fire in city street

Christmas burglars ransack 87-year-old man's home

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An 87-year-old man came home on Christmas Eve to find intruders had ransacked his bedroom and stolen his loved ones' presents. William Warne and his partner Joyce Immings had planned to spend Christmas at Mr Warne's bungalow in Barlestone. However, when they arrived home on Wednesday evening they noticed his patio door had been smashed open. Cupboards and drawers in his bedroom had been pulled open and the contents thrown around the room. The intruder stole envelopes of cash which Mr Warne was going to give to his relatives. The burglar also opened, but did not steal, a number of presents Mr Warne had bought for 83-year-old Joyce and himself. Mr Warne said: "I don't know exactly what they have taken because they have left my home in chaos. "I know there were some envelopes which I had put some money into for my family for their Christmas presents. They're definitely not there now. "They even opened up some of the presents I'd bought for Joyce and me – a clock and a bottle of liqueur. "But they weren't interested in them, so they left them behind. "It was a bit awkward on Christmas Day because I had nothing to give to my family. But they understood why. "We were looking forward to spending Christmas Day together in my house. "But we could not do that because of the mess this person has left my home in. We went back to Leicester and spent Christmas at Joyce's house. "I had a lovely day and I am getting over it now, but the idea of someone going through your home and leaving it in chaos is upsetting, especially at Christmas." The couple, who have been together for 25 years, have been visiting the bungalow to begin tidying up the mess. Joyce said: "We were looking forward to spending Christmas together. "Then we realised he had been burgled and it was an awful shock. "These people have made a mess of his home. We haven't been in the mood to finish the tidying up, but we will when we feel better." Police believe Mr Warne's home was burgled a couple of days before Christmas Eve, possibly on Sunday night, while he was staying with Joyce in Leicester. A police spokeswoman said officers were investigating. Anyone with information is asked to call detectives on 101.

Christmas burglars ransack 87-year-old man's home


Hull 0 Leicester City 1 - Mahrez goal ends winless run - match report

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Hull City (0) 0

Leicester City  (1) 1

Mahrez (32)

Leicester City finally ended their 14-match winless run with an important 1-0 victory at fellow strugglers Hull.

A 32nd-minute strike by Riyad Mahrez won this game, although City had to cling on desperately in the finally stages as Hull laid siege to their goal.

Both sides finished with 10 men after late red cards for City's Paul Konchesky for a second yellow card and Hull's Stephen Quinn.

The Foxes were at times passengers in a low-quality contest but given their current plight this 1-0 win will taste every bit as good as their previous success - the headline-grabbing 5-3 over Manchester United in September.

Hull boss Steve Bruce had claimed the match was as big as last season's FA Cup final for his club, given the opportunity it offered to lift them nine points above City, but the result was just as crushing as the one suffered against Arsenal at Wembley.

The Tigers started nervily but regained a measure of composure as they settled in to their task. Nevertheless, the opening half-hour was a disjointed affair.

Gaston Ramirez, Hull's remaining on-loan maverick in Hatem Ben Arfa's continued exile, looked likeliest to change the game, drifting between midfield and attack and occupying a handful of Leicester bodies.

Leicester took the lead with their first serious attempt.

David Nugent drove forward but when the ball broke to Mahrez there was still plenty to do. The Algerian quickly sized up his position, cut inside to fashion an angle and whipped a low shot through the box and inside Allan McGregor's far post.

A heavy first touch from Ramirez stopped him rounding goalkeeper Ben Hamer in pursuit of a quick equaliser but the sides should have gone in level.

In added time, Quinn produced a wonderful hanging cross from the left flank, landing perfectly for Ahmed Elmohamady's arrival at the far post.

From close-range and with the full target to aim at, everything was in the Egyptian's favour until he got underneath the ball, volleying high and wide.

At half-time, Steve Bruce sent on top-scorer Nikica Jelavic for Ramirez - but within minutes there was a partial floodlight failure, though nothing serious enough to delay proceedings.

Although the light was fading, the crowd attempted to provide some vocal support and were actively willing the ball into the net when Elmohamady's right-wing cross took a wicked deflection off Wes Morgan. Despite their best efforts it crashed in to the side netting.

With an hour gone, Bruce emptied his bench - record signing Abel Hernandez replacing Sone Aluko up front and Tom Ince coming on for David Meyler.

The double switch also led to a defensive reshuffle that restored Livermore to midfield as Brady dropped to full-back.

Briefly it worked. Livermore brought some bite to the middle, Ince produced a fleet-footed dribble from left to right and Hernandez began to put himself around in the penalty box.

Livermore rattled the post in the 77th minute with a fine effort off the outside of his boot, then tried his luck again with the rebound, only for the diving Morgan to smother the shot amid cries for handball.

Five minutes later the woodwork was clattered when Hernandez won a Brady corner and stooped to send a low header against the same post.

This time the ricochet fell for Davies, whose powerful strike was blocked on the line by Marcin Wasilewski, again an arm seemingly involved.

Both sides lost men in the frantic closing moments, Konchesky for a second yellow and Quinn for a deliberate handball to deny Nugent.

Teams

Hull: (4-4-1-1) McGregor, Livermore, Bruce, Davies (c), Rosenior, Elmohamady, Meyler, Quinn, Brady, Ramirez, Aluko

Subs: Harper, Figueroa, Hernandez (for Aluko, 62min), Maguire, Jelavic (for Ramirez, half-time), Sagbo, Ince (For Meyler, 61min)

Leicester City: (4-4-2) Hamer, Simpson, Morgan (c), Wasilewski, Konchesky, Mahrez, Cambiasso, James, Schlupp, Nugent, Ulloa

Subs: Smith, De Laet (for Mahrez, 71min), Drinkwater (for Cambiasso, 71min), Hammond, Moore, Knockaert, Wood (for Ulloa, 55min)

Yellow card: Konchesky (City)

Red cards: Quinn (Hull), Konchesky (City)

Referee: Phil Dowd

Attendance:

Hull 0 Leicester City 1 - Mahrez goal ends winless run - match report

Prisoner arrested after he spent two days on the run when he jumped from a security van on way to court

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A prisoner who went on the run after he jumped out of a security van taking him to court was arrested today.

Police have apprehended Adam Herbert after he absconded last Friday as he was being transported to Leicester Magistrates' Court where he was due to face a charge of burglary.

A police spokesman said the 20-year-old had been arrested in Coalville.

A 18-year-old woman has also been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

Both remain in police custody.

An appeal was issued for Herbert after he escaped from a security van at the junction with Highcross Street and Vaughan Way in Leicester city centre.

Police thanked everyone who assisted with their enquiries.

Prisoner arrested after he spent two days on the run  when he jumped from a security van on way to court

Pedestrian critically injured in collision with car in Asfordby

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A woman is critically ill in hospital after she was knocked down by a car yesterday. The 46-year-old was seriously injured as she crossed a road in Asfordby, near Melton. She was taken to Nottingham's Queen's Medical Centre, where she remains in a critical condition. A 24-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the collision, which happened at 3.10am outside Asfordby Primary School, in Melton Road. Police have appealed for witnesses to the incident, which involved a black Vauxhall Corsa. The car was travelling from the direction of Melton and the pedestrian was crossing the road, near to the right hand bend of Asfordby Hill. The driver has since been released on police bail while officers continue their inquiries. Pc Robert Simons said: "While we realise it was the early hours of the morning, we are keen to speak to anyone who witnessed the incident or saw the vehicle beforehand as it travelled from Melton." Contact Pc Simons on 101 or Crimestoppers, which is anonymous, on 0800 555 111.

Pedestrian critically injured in collision with car in Asfordby

PHOTO: Can you help find missing man Richard Pollard?

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Police are concerned for a 58-year-old man who went missing yesterday as temperatures fell below freezing. Richard John Pollard was reported missing from his home in Grange Road, Hugglescote, near Coalville. He was last seen at 7.30am. He is white, approximately 5ft 8ins and has shoulder-length brown hair and a beard. He may be wearing a waxed brown ankle-length coat, a dark blue dressing gown, a green fleece top, light blue jeans and brown shoes. Leicestershire Police said officers and Mr Pollard's family are concerned for his health, especially because of the freezing weather. They have appealed to Mr Pollard or anyone who knows his whereabouts to contact the force urgently. The force issued a photograph of Mr Pollard. Contact Pc Stacey Swan on 101.

PHOTO: Can you help find missing man Richard Pollard?

GP warns: Medicine faces a new dark age

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Medicine is on the brink of moving back into the dark ages in which many cancer treatments might be halted along with operations such as hip replacements.

That is the stark warning from a city GP if patients continue being prescribed antibiotics at the current rate.

Dr Paul Danaher, is the "antibiotic guardian" for Leicester City clinical commissioning group (CCG).

His job is to try and cut use of the medication which is steadily becoming resistant to more infections.

He said: "There is mounting resistance in bacteria which we have been treating with antibiotics for the past 60 or 70 years.

"We have constantly been trying to keep ahead but the bacteria is evolving and changing and there has been no new antibiotic of significant impact in the last 20 years or so.

"If we carry on at this rate in 15 to 20 years we will back to before the days of penicillin."

Dr Danaher, a GP at the Groby Road Medical Centre in Newfoundpool, added: "We use heavy duty antibiotics to fight infections in people having chemotherapy because their immune system is wired out.

"If a hip or knee replacement joint becomes infected and antibiotics are not effective the joints will fall out and the alternative is amputation."

Dr Danaher warned: "People will die from illnesses such as pneumonia."

Doctors wrote a total of 241,418 prescriptions for antibiotics for city residents between April 1, 2013 and March 31, 2014, at a cost of nearly £1 million.

And in the six months from April 1, 2014, to the end of September figures show 113,291 prescriptions have been issued.

The cost to date is running at £481,440.

Dr Danaher said that it is not just patients who have helped to cause the impending crisis.

"It is also to do with the way we, as doctors, have used antibiotics.

"We have not been as cautious as we should have been.

"I think that over the years we have prescribed antibiotics for patient 'just in case its bacterial'.

"GPs are under pressure to prescribe antibiotics but we have put ourselves there.

"It is now taking a long time for patients to get used to the idea that they do not need antibiotics for viral infections and that they will not play any part in helping the person to recover."

For most people if they have a cough, sore throat and runny nose it indicates that it is a viral infection and antibiotics would have no effect.

Antibiotic drops for ailments like conjunctivitis are said to shorten the infection by just a few hours.

Dr Danaher said: "The vast majority of people can get by without antibiotics - we need to tough it out.

"It is a global, not just a local issue. By only using antibiotics when it is appropriate to do so we can slow down resistance and make sure these life-saving medicines remain effective when we need them most."

GP warns: Medicine faces a new dark age

Ridiculed £5,000 plan to give water bottles and pedometers to council staff is ditched

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Ridiculed plans to spend up to £5,000 giving council staff "a gift" of water bottles and pedometers have been ditched.

Leicester City Council had wanted to distribute 3,500 branded water bottles and 3,500 pedometers to employees to encourage them walk or cycle to work.

The proposal was initially advertised as the bottles and pedometer being "gifts" from deputy mayor councillor Rory Palmer to help staff improve their health and well-being at work.

But the move was condemned as unnecessary and inappropriate by opposition councillors.

It was pointed out that pedometer apps could be downloaded to staff's phones for free and that plastic water bottled can be reused.

Coun Palmer, who said he was unhappy with the "gift" wording of the tender advert placed online by the council, has now confirmed none of the items will be purchased.

He said: "Given that the possible idea of providing pedometers and water bottles to encourage walking and cycling has been subject to ridicule to the point that the main and important health messages would be lost, I can say none of these items will be purchased.

"No final decision had been taken to purchase water bottles or pedometers.

"The tender advert was allowing us to explore the costs of this as part of a new year workplace health campaign.

"As the Mercury has recently highlighted, a lot of important work is taking place at the city council to reduce sickness absence and workplace health initiatives have an important role to play."

He added: "Workplace health campaigns can help reduce absenteeism and improve productivity which ultimately would save the taxpayer money."

He said workplace health initiatives cost a tiny fraction of the authority's public health budget.

Tory city councillor Ross Grant, who had criticised the plan, acknowledged the importance of helping staff get fit but said the deputy mayor's idea was poorly thought out.

He said: "So the deputy mayor has bottled it after some people made fun of his idea.

"He could have had some conviction but he has shown he is a gesture politician.

"He really didn't think this through. He should have known there was going to be negative reaction to it.

"If he'd consulted more widely it would have been evident it was a poor idea and a waste of money.

"Somewhere in my loft I've got an old pedometer which I was given at a conference ages ago.

"I'd be more than happy to give it to him if he wants it."

Ridiculed £5,000 plan to give water bottles and pedometers to council staff is ditched

Shopping traffic causing long tailbacks on roads in Leicester

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Drivers are being warned about long traffic queues being caused by people waiting to get into shopping centre car parks.

Area Traffic Control has said there is a tailback on the inner ring road in Leicester with drivers waiting to get into the John Lewis car park.

Traffic is snaking back to St Nicholas Circle and back onto King Richard Road.

They have also warned that there is long queue to get into the car park at Fosse Park.

An ATC spokesman said: "People should try to avoid these car parks but if they can't then they have to be patient."

Shopping traffic causing long tailbacks on roads in Leicester


Missing man Richard Pollard has been found, say police

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A 58-year-old man who was reported missing on Sunday has been found safe and well. Richard John Pollard went missing from his home in Grange Road, Hugglescote, near Coalville. Leicestershire Police said Mr Pollard was found this afternoon. The force thanked members of the public for their assistance.

Missing man Richard Pollard has been found, say police

Teacher's thank you for life-saving treatment

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An infant school teacher who was on the brink of death has vowed to raise money for the hospital which saved her life.

Bally Sarai, from Hamilton, took a few tentative steps to deliver a heap of hampers to patients and staff at Leicester's Glenfield Hospital on Christmas Day - the start of her campaign.

She is learning to walk again after four months in hospital and there were times when doctors warned she might not pull through.

The 48-year-old's life changed forever at the end of June when she began to feel feverish.

Within three days she was seriously ill. When she arrived at the urgent care centre at Leicester Royal Infirmary her blood pressure was dangerously low.

Bally, who is married with two children, said: "I was diagnosed with severe pneumonia.

"My left lung had collapsed and the right was on the verge of collapse and I was transferred to Glenfield Hospital.

"About two days later doctors said they were going to have put me into an induced coma for two weeks - it turned out to be eight weeks.

"I was devastated because I didn't want to miss my son's graduation in London but doctors said they couldn't even wait until my family arrived.

"I just remember taking all my rings and jewellery off and being put to sleep."

While in the coma Bally was given specialist Ecmo - extra corporeal membrane oxygenation - treatment and, while her family kept a bedside vigil, she also had to have two major operations to stop bleeding in her stomach.

Bally said: "Doctors thought I wasn't going to make it - they gave me less than a five per cent chance of surviving.

"It was only after I came round and in the following weeks that I began to realise how poorly I had been.

"Doctors told they didn't know how I had managed to pull through."

Bally was finally discharged, on October 2, after 110 days in hospital.

While she has recovered from the pneumonia she is having to learn to walk again.

Bally said: "I couldn't even pick up a spoon at first but now I can wash and shower myself and walk a little round the house.

"The whole thing has completely changed my life and outlook.

"You don't know what is around the corner. People should appreciate everything they have and hold on to it."

Bally, whose husband Kulvinder and her family was constantly at her side, has now pledged to spend the next year raising money for the Ecmo team.

She said: "I am extremely grateful to all the staff at Glenfield Hospital for their amazing care.

"They saved my life. Everything was there for me and I want to make sure it is there for other people."

Bally will spend the next year fund raising for Leicester Hospitals' Charity.

She launched it by presenting hampers to staff and patients at Glenfield Hospital as well as by setting up an online donation page which has already raised more than £1,000.

Bally said: "I just want to say thank you. Events being planned include a summer picnic event, cake sales and I am planning to walk a mile, which will be a real milestone for me."

To support Bally go to www.justgiving.com/BallySarai/

Teacher's thank you for life-saving treatment

Dead cat among crazy 999 calls to ambulance service

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"My cat has died" and "the fridge door has fallen off" are just two of the crazy calls answered by controllers at East Midlands Ambulance Service this year. (2014)

Staff responsible for dispatching paramedics to life-saving incidents are having to deal with such time wasters as they cope with a record number of people needing their help.

One caller asked for help top draw their curtains, and another for help to get their TV remote control.

In another instance, a man asked for a lift as his wife had been taken to hospital by ambulance and she had the house keys.

Other people have rung the emergency service to complain about headaches, toothache and ripped toenails.

But while such calls waste the time of the emergency dispatchers, it is the calls that end up also wasting the time of the paramedics which cause the most frustration. They include call-outs to people who would not need a paramedic if they had sought help elsewhere.

Andy Swinburn, a consultant paramedic with East Midlands Ambulance Service (Emas), said the role of paramedics was to deal with life-threatening emergencies.

"We do a get a number of spurious calls, but they tend to be few and far between and we don't dispatch to those," he said.

"What is most frustrating is when the call appears to be genuine, and when you get to the person you find they either haven't given all the information or that they could quite easily have got help elsewhere.

"It is so frustrating when you see people who, if their symptoms had been better managed, would not have needed to call us.

"We want to care for our patients. The role of the ambulance service is to deal with life-threatening illness and we want to be able to do this."

Over the past few weeks, Emas has been dealing with a record number of calls.

On the Friday before Christmas there were in the region of 100 calls an hour - more than one a minute.

Mr Swinburn said: "While the number of calls to us has risen, along with the number of responses, the number of people who are being taken to hospital has not increased.

"This tells us that many people may be using 999 inappropriately.

"A lot of people could have seen their GP or gone to an urgent care centre.

"One patient called because they had woken up with a dry mouth and sore throat."

The service is also struggling to meet the national target of getting to 75 per cent of the most urgent calls within eight minutes.

Latest figures show that across Leicestershire, crews are getting to just over 65 per cent of the calls within the target time.

Mr Swinburn added: "It is difficult to understand why the numbers have gone up so much.

"I think one of the reasons maybe that everyone has a mobile phone and they want access to things instantly.

"Instead of calling 999 instantly, people should be calling the NHS 111 number. It is there 24 hours a day and someone needs an ambulance the call can immediately transferred and an ambulance sent.

"Our team of highly skilled clinicians need to be available to help people in life threatening or serious emergency."

Fire and police face bizarre calls

Bizarre calls received by the fire service switchboard this year have included a call about a feral cat someone had found in their kitchen cupboard.

Meanwhile, a parrot stuck in a tree and a lost cigarette lighter were among some of the inappropriate 999 calls received by Leicestershire Police.

Fire control station manager Ann Gale said the person who rang in about the feral cat was told the fire service was unable to help.

She said: "Fire control don't experience the high volume of irresponsible calls in comparison to our blue light partners, although we do have our fair share of malicious calls from members of the public reporting non-existent fires.

"Operators are trained to challenge individuals where it is deemed they are not reporting the true facts, and our questioning techniques have contributed greatly to reducing the number of times fire appliances have been mobilised over the last few years to malicious calls.

"While this is very much part of our working day, it does, however, put additional pressures on operators themselves because call challenging can take up a lot of time, which could be best used dealing with those who are genuinely in need of assistance from the crews."

The police control room team has even been asked for advice on how to put batteries into a remote control car.

A force spokesperson said: "It's important for people to remember that 999 is for life or death emergencies, and making an inappropriate 999 call is tying up emergency resources and putting the lives of others at risk.

"Many of these calls are not malicious, but from people who don't understand the police are not the right people to call.

"We'd ask people to think carefully before they call 999 for trivial or totally non-police related queries.

"Every minute spent on the telephone speaking to a hoax or misguided caller jeopardises our response to a genuine emergency. If your call is not an emergency but is about a police matter or a crime inquiry you can phone on 101."

Dead cat among crazy 999 calls to ambulance service

Local football: Senior League teams beat snow to close gap at the top

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Senior League title hopefuls Friar Lane & Epworth and Sileby Town both beat the snow to pick up three vital Premier Division points.

The schedule was badly hit by the weather but the Lane's game against neighbours St Andrews Reserves got the green light – and the Lane took advantage to move back into second place.

They claimed a 4-2 win over the bottom-of-the-table side, with both Nick Brett and John Chapman scoring twice, the latter taking his tally for the season to 24.

Melton Mowbray head into 2015 at the top of the chart but the title race is far from a done deal with a number of sides well in the hunt.

Sileby remain in fourth but are now on level points with third-placed Saffron Dynamo, and they hold a game in hand.

Town claimed their 14th win of the campaign when they edged out Earl Shilton Albion 1-0. Daniel Moore grabbed the only goal of the game.

It was not a good day for Blaby & Whetstone Reserves as they lost ground on the top four.

They were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Caterpillar. Ryan Shilton scored both for the home side, with Alex Coultas and Samuel Grouse replying for Caterpillar.

In contrast, struggling Dunton & Broughton Rangers picked up three very welcome points as they hammered Cottesmore Amateurs 6-1.

Luke Goddard and Harry Warren scored two apiece, with Ross Blockley and Neil Weaver completing a one-sided affair.

Thurnby Nirvana took the derby spoils in the United Counties League Premier Division clash against Oadby Town at Freeway Park.

Louis Hamilton began and ended the scoring for Oadby but in between the visitors cashed in to win 3-2.

Ash Day levelled matters with a penalty and Reece Morris' strike put Thurnby 2-1 ahead at the break.

Matt Melbourne netted a third for Thurnby to give them a cushion they needed after Hamilton's late penalty set up a tense finale.

There was no Christmas joy for Harborough Town as they remain in the lower regions of the table after a 1-0 home defeat by Desborough.

Lutterworth Town did not play in the First Division but saw the leadership snatched by Northampton Spencer, who beat ON Chenecks 3-1.

There were no games in the East Midlands Counties League on Saturday as the winter weather wiped out the entire programme

Local football: Senior League teams beat snow to close gap at the top

Student feared he would be killed when masked robbers threatened him in a park

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A university student feared he would be killed when three masked robbers, armed with a handgun and a knife, threatened him in a park.

The victim, who was left traumatised, was walking to Loughborough University's student's union building when the muggers pounced.

Two of the robbers, brothers Ricky and Macauley Worden, have been jailed for three years.

Their accomplice, Dominic Hunt, was given an 18-month detention and training sentence.

Leicester Crown Court was told the three defendants, all aged 16, emerged from behind trees as the student walked across Radmoor Park at 6pm on December 6.

Mark Knowles, prosecuting, said: "He was near the basketball court when one of the defendants (Ricky Worden) got in front of him, raised his arm in the air and pointed a gun at him, demanding he put his hands up.

"The student thought it was a real gun and he was terrified and put his hands up.

"Two others stood next to him, one of them (Hunt) was holding a knife and pointing it at him."

They demanded his wallet and mobile phone.

Mr Knowles said: "All three robbers wore dark clothing and had their faces covered with bandanas.

"The victim handed over his white iPhone and got his wallet out of his pocket."

He passed over the contents, a five pound note, a train ticket and receipts, urging them to let him keep his wallet, a 21st birthday present, which they allowed.

They demanded a PIN code, to either his bank card or mobile phone, and ordered him to lay on the ground, as he begged them to let him go.

The defendants then ran off.

Ricky Worden, of Moor Lane, Loughborough, Macauley Worden, who has since turned 17, of Westcotes Drive, Leicester, and Hunt, of Meadow Avenue, Loughborough, all admitted robbery whilst jointly in possession of an imitation firearm and a sheath knife.

Mr Knowles told the court: "The victim was crying and shaking and very scared afterwards and thought he was going to be badly hurt, especially when told to lie on the ground.

"He now feels nervous about walking in the neighbourhood."

The defendants were arrested in Moor Lane an hour-and-a-half later and Hunt was still in possession of the stolen iPhone.

Two bandanas, the knife and imitation handgun were found at Ricky Worden's nearby home.

Judge Nicholas Dean QC said: "It's very hard to overstate the terror the victim felt.

"It's the use of weapons and the extraordinary frightening experience the victim was subjected to that makes it an extremely serious robbery.

"It could hardly be more serious."

He said the brothers could have expected sentences in the region of eight years if they were adults.

Judge Dean said Hunt had no previous convictions, unlike the two brothers, who had failed to respond to assistance in the past for offences of violence, which was why their sentences were longer.

Kathryn Hirst, mitigating for all three defendants, said they accepted they went to the park to commit robbery.

She said: "The fact they yielded so little reflects what they thought a student might have, which was wide of the mark."

Miss Hirst said: "Hunt had expressed absolute horror at what he allowed himself to take part in."

Student feared he would be killed when masked robbers threatened him in a park

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