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Why Martyn Waghorn is expecting more than a few Leicester City goals

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Leicester City feel they are going to score goals every time they step out at the King Power Stadium, striker Martyn Waghorn has said.

City, who have scored 10 goals in their last two homes games, entertain Barnsley on Saturday and Waghorn said City's confidence was sky-high after the 6-0 drubbing of Ipswich and last Saturday's 4-1 victory over Derby County.

City have the best goal difference in the Championship and Waghorn scored his second goal of the season on Saturday.

He celebrated by putting the match ball up his shirt and sticking his thumb in his mouth in a tribute to his pregnant girlfriend.

Waghorn said: "We are playing some good football at the minute and, at home, it seems we have a lot of confidence and are playing well," he said.

"It shows how far we have come as a team from the start of the season, when we were playing well but not getting the results.

"We fancy our chances against anyone and are playing some great stuff.

"Attacking-wise, we are fantastic going forward and we always feel like we are going to create chances and score goals.

"The confidence and team spirit has led to the good performances at home and we want to build on it.

"We are playing some great attacking football with the quality we have in attack, but we have security and quality at the back as well, which gives us confidence to attack and play some good football."

On a personal note, Waghorn could have been well on his way to double figures in recent weeks but has been frustrated by the woodwork on several occasions, but he is confident the goals will flow for him.

"I am happy with my performances but obviously I wanted a few more goals," he said.

"On Saturday, the keeper has pulled off a few saves. But as long as we get the three points that is the main thing.

"I am enjoying my football at the minute. If I can keep improving and get a couple of goals that would be good but the team is playing well.

"I think it is four times in the last five games I have hit the woodwork. It is just one of those things. But I am getting into positions and creating the chances. Hopefully, I can get a few more goals next time.

"I was pleased with the finish. I am enjoying my football and feel composed in front of goal.

"I am not a prolific goalscorer but when I get the chances, hopefully, I will get a few more goals.

"I am getting more confident with every game I play."

Why Martyn Waghorn is expecting more than a few Leicester City goals


Badgers blamed for closure of country lane, near Somerby in Leicestershire

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Badgers have been blamed for forcing the closure of a country lane by tunnelling underneath it, causing it to collapse.

Two large craters appeared in the surface of the 1.5 mile lane between Somerby and the hamlet of Newbold, making it impassable to most vehicles.

Highways engineers examined the damage on Friday and say the road will be shut for at least three weeks.

The subsidence was discovered by horse riders from the nearby Somerby Equestrian Centre.

Horse owner, Katie Jones, who keeps a pony at the centre, said: "The road collapsed just over a week ago. You can see where badgers have dug a hole next to the carriageway.

"It has collapsed and the road surface has fallen in. The same has happened on the other side of the lane."

A worker at the centre said: "The holes in the lane are on the route where we take our horses.

"One side of the road collapsed when someone from the centre was walking past.

"The other side collapsed after a vehicle drove over it."

She said the horses could negotiate the lane, and none had been spooked by the badgers, which were active in the area – and had in the past even invaded their offices.

"One even got in the office one winter and we found it curled up asleep on the floor. We had great trouble trying to get it out," she said.

Simon Galton, county councillor for the area, said: "I have never come across this sort of thing involving badgers happening before.

"Great care will have to be taken to repair the damage. "Before we can touch an active badger sett we will have to get permission from Natural England."

A spokesman for Leicestershire County Council said: "We are investigating the damage which has been caused to the road and we are in discussions with Natural England, the Government's adviser on the natural environment, as to the next course of action.

"We have to be mindful of the badgers' habitat as well as wanting to ensure the road can be reopened as quickly as possible. It is difficult to say at this stage how long the road will remain closed.

"Leicestershire County Council has granted the emergency temporary closure on Newbold Lane from the junction with Main Street, Somerby, to the junction of Newbold Lane, Newbold, near Owston."

He said the closure would be in operation for at least 21 days.

Traffic between Newbold and Somerby is being diverted through Burrough on the Hill.

Badgers blamed for closure of country lane, near Somerby in Leicestershire

Leicester Tigers star Graham Kitchener agrees new deal

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Second-row forward Graham Kitchener has committed his future to Leicester Tigers by agreeing a new contract with the club.

The 23-year-old arrived at Welford Road in the summer of 2011 and has made a big impact.

He came to the fore across the Midlands with Worcester Warriors, where he made 70 appearances.

Kitchener has now enjoyed 25 first-team outings for Tigers, including 11 starts – currently the highest number in the Leicester squad.

His latest appearance came in Saturday's 17-12 Aviva Premiership win over Bath.

Plenty more are on the cards after agreeing the new deal at Tigers, where there is tremendous competition for places in the second-row.

Louis Deacon, Geoff Parling, Ed Slater and Rob Andrew all feature at lock.

Steve Mafi can also play in that role, while young Joe Cain has made his senior debut for the club in the second-row this season.

Kitchener's qualities have helped to earn him a place in the England Saxons' squad.

He also went on England's summer tour to South Africa last year, where he played in both of the midweek fixtures.

Kitchener has already sampled plenty of the 'big-game' atmosphere at Welford Road.

He has obviously set his sights on more of that, but is also determined to continue improving his own game.

He said: "I've really enjoyed my time with Leicester Tigers so far and I'm happy to agree to stay with the club.

"I played in an Aviva Premiership final and LV= Cup final in my first season here and I've also played in the Heineken Cup.

"I think I've learned a lot in my time at Leicester and I'm looking forward to continuing to develop my game here in the future."

Tigers' director of rugby Richard Cockerill pointed to the competition for places as one of the reasons for Kitchener's progress.

"Graham is an ambitious young player and has come into a very competitive environment here because he wants to be the best player he can," said Cockerill.

"He has settled in very well here, he has taken on extra responsibility in his role in the squad and we look forward to watching his continued development in the coming years."

Leicester Tigers star  Graham Kitchener agrees new deal

Leicester residents wake up to chaos as water main bursts in Lanesborough Road, Belgrave

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A burst water main flooded homes and caused rush hour chaos on one of the city's busiest commuter routes.

The large main in Lanesborough Road, off Melton Road, Belgrave, burst early yesterday morning, flooding homes and gardens with water two feet deep in places.

One resident described the noise of the burst which ruptured the road surface as "like a bomb going off".

Two schools, Rushey Mead Secondary, in Melton Road, and Rushey Mead Primary, Gipsy Lane, closed because they had no running water.

The worst-affected roads were Lanesborough Road,Wavertree Drive, Sandringham Avenue, Berridge Lane and Clarke Street.

Subhash Vanmali, of Lanesborough Road, who lives opposite where the main burst, said: "We were woken up because it sounded like a bomb going off. We've had about an inch of water inside the house and the garden is flooded.

"The water has just got everywhere, it's a complete mess. The water was about two feet deep in the road. We have elderly neighbours either side and we have been out to help them."

Melton Road, between Watermead Way and Checketts Road, was closed to traffic in both directions from 5.30am until 8.30am.

Drivers were forced to take alternative routes into the city centre. Traffic queues built up over several miles in both directions.

The 27-inch steel pipe which burst is described by Severn Trent Water as one of the "motorways" of its pipe network.

It delivers billions of litres of water daily to the north side of Leicester and runs 10 miles from the Hallgates pumping station in Cropston.

Tankers were sent in by Severn Trent to pump away water while residents cleaned up after the burst.

City council highways staff delivered sandbags to some of the worst-affected homes.

Dahya Patel, 84, of Lanesborough Road, said: "We had water inside and the carpets need to be replaced.

"The water came up to the porch and some of it flooded inside the house and there was a lot in the garage."

Frank Rysz, 52, also of Lanesborough Road, said: "I got out of bed at about 5.30am and looked outside the window – it was like a river.

"The water has gone under the floorboards.

"We've got no electrics or central heating.

"I've lost a day's pay because I've had to stay at home to sort things out."

His 77-year-old mum, Stella, went to stay with next door neighbour Arjan Wadher, whose heating was working.

Mr Wadher, 78, said: "A neighbour rang me at about 5.30am to tell me what was happening. There's about a foot-and-a-half of water under my floorboards.

"We're looking after Frank's mum because they have no heating. There is a very good community spirit here, everybody looks after one another."

Over the road, 76-year-old Audrey Kippen, broom in hand, was sweeping the muddy remnants of the floodwater from the front of her bungalow.

She said: "The garage and back garden are under water and there's water under the floorboards, it's a terrible mess.

"I woke up just before 5.30am and heard a swishing sound. I got out of bed and was straight on the phone to the police."

A Severn Trent spokeswoman said: "We'd like to apologise to customers who were affected by the burst water pipe.

"Unfortunately, the burst has caused some damage to the road and some flooding.

"We had a tanker pumping water away from the affected area and are working closely with the police, fire service and Leicester City Council to make sure the community is safe and well.

"We are working as quickly and safely as possible to fix the damaged pipe."

Paul Wallis, the water company's regional service delivery manager for the East Midlands, said the problem may be related to the cold. He said: "At this time of year, there is a lot of movement in the ground as it expands and contracts. That can affect pipes."

A city council spokeswoman said: "We closed off Melton Road in both directions at 5am and reopened it at 8.30am.

"The worst-affected areas were Lanesborough Road, Wavertree Drive, Berridge Lane and Clarke Street.

"At one stage the flooding was two feet deep.

"Council officers delivered sand bags to residents to protect their properties."

The spokeswoman said it was hoped the two schools would reopen today.

Leicester residents wake up to chaos as water main bursts in Lanesborough Road, Belgrave

7 aside Xmas Cup

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7 aside  Xmas Cup..........On sunday 9th December @ 6pm. Limited Spaces.............So Call us now on 0116 2490555 to get your team booked in.

7 aside Xmas Cup

Leicestershire building boss Chris Beighton pleads to Chancellor George Osborne

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The boss of a leading building firm has called on the Chancellor to give the beleaguered construction sector a much-needed cash injection.

The plea comes less than two weeks after well-known business Hallam Contracts, of Oadby, was forced into administration.

Chris Beighton, managing director of Westleigh Developments, in Whetstone, said increased investment in infrastructure projects and social housing was crucial to economic growth.

He called on George Osborne for an announcement aimed at boosting the industry in tomorrow's autumn statement.

"I think the construction industry has got to lead the recovery," said Mr Beighton.

"Yes, there's got to be savings and cutbacks. But investment in social housing and infrastructure is much-needed to kick-start the economy.

"There's huge demand for housing, it's never been greater."

The construction sector has been severely hit by the tough economic climate, with annual sales falling by almost a fifth in the past four years.

There have been around 2,000 construction company failures nationally in 2012.

Hallam, which carried out many public sector contracts, became one of the latest at the end of last month when it collapsed, owing £4 million to 300 sub-contractors and suppliers.

Mr Beighton, who founded Westleigh in 1987, said some of the comments about Hallam's management following its collapse had been unfair.

"It's been very, very difficult," he said.

Westleigh, whose turnover has fallen by around a fifth since 2008, is involved in both commercial building and housing development.

Mr Beighton also called on the Government for a shake-up in planning regulations, saying inconsistencies in rules between different planning authorities was partly to blame for the slump.

Ben Delaney, Midlands operations executive at the National Federation of Builders (NFB), said Hallam's collapse highlighted the need for a change in public sector procurement policy when it came to building projects.

"The increasingly prohibitive costs of bidding for public work mean many SME contractors are unable to compete against larger companies which can devote resources to the time-consuming and costly pre-qualification process," he said.

"Our procurement survey found that 40 per cent of SMEs spend one month each year simply filling in questionnaires for local authorities.

"Long tender lists incur costs and put companies off bidding for work because they turn the process into more of a lottery than a competition.

"By trying to get the lowest price for the project, procurers miss the point – a smaller contractor is more likely to employ local workers, train a local apprentice, generate local spending that stimulates other sectors and produce a lower carbon footprint.

"Sustainable social and economic value is not always achieved with the lowest price."

John Kelly, regional managing partner at insolvency practitioner of Begbies Traynor and joint administrator of Hallam, said the building industry needed major reforms.

"The sector has been dogged by disputed accounts, poor payments and bad debts, clients get locked into endless arguments about final accounts and sub-contractors go bust because they cannot survive without being paid," said Mr Kelly.

Leicestershire building boss Chris Beighton pleads to Chancellor George Osborne

Richard III badge turns up on beach near the Tower of London

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A boar mount which could have belonged to Richard III has been discovered.

The copper-alloy mount was found in October on the Thames foreshore, near the Tower of London, by a metal detector enthusiast.

The mount shows the boar, chained, collared and wearing a crown, with a crescent above one of its legs.

Richard III took the white boar as his sign.

Badges in the form of the animal were ordered for the king's coronation in 1483. It is not known where the mount came from.

However, experts believe it might have been used as a piece of furniture or decorated an item of leather once owned by a supporter of Richard III, or possibly even the king himself.

The news comes as tests take place on a skeleton, found underneath Greyfriars car park, Leicester, to establish whether it is the remains of the monarch.

Michael Lewis, deputy head of the British Museum's department of Portable Antiquities and Treasure, said the mount was very similar to a number of boar badges which have been reported treasure over the past few years, which were made for followers of Richard III.

Mr Lewis said: "'Bore' may have also been an anagram of Ebor, the Latin for York."

Under the Treasure Act 1996, finders have a legal obligation to report all finds of potential treasure to the coroner.

Richard III badge turns up on beach near the Tower of London

Masked men raid newsagents in Leicester

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Two masked men threatened a member of staff at newsagents before forcing him to hand over cigarettes.
The thieves, both in their mid-20s, entered Martin McColl, in Hinckley Road, near to the junction with Bolton Road, Leicester, at about 6.20pm on Saturday, December 1.
They threatened the staff member before making off with a quantity of cigarettes.
The first suspect is black, slim and about 5ft 10ins.
He was wearing a black hat and a black scarf covering his nose and mouth, a shiny black puffa-style jacket, dark trousers, black canvas plimsoles with white trim around the sole and black gloves.
The second man is white, of medium build and about 5ft 8in.
He was wearing a black top with the hood up, dark trousers and a black balaclava.
Detective Constable Luke Brooks, who is investigating the robbery, said: "We are keen to speak to anyone who was in this area at around the time the incident happened and would like anyone who may have seen someone acting suspiciously before the incident took place to contact us.
"We are also keen to speak to any people or businesses that may have approached by someone selling cigarettes at a cheap suspicious price."
Call police on 101.Alternatively contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Masked men raid newsagents in Leicester


Man charged with arson after blaze at Leicester Shisha cafe

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Police have charged a 28-year-old man with arson after a blaze at a roof top shisha cafe in Leicester.
The fire tore through the Cloud 9 shisha bar, which had been built on the roof of the Curzonia Knitwear factory, in Curzon Street.Smoke from the blaze, which happened in October, and could be seen from more than 10 miles away.
More than 60 firefighters were called to the scene as factory workers were evacuated.
No one was in the shisha bar at the time.It was completely destroyed by the flames.
The man is due to appear at Leicester Magistrates' Court on January 9.

Man charged with arson after blaze at Leicester Shisha cafe

Put money in people's pockets to boost the local economy, urge Leicestershire business experts

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Business experts are hoping to see a freeze in VAT, a clampdown on tax avoidance by big overseas firms in the UK and further cuts in red tape in tomorrow's autumn statement.

They also hope Chancellor George Osborne is not too hard on high earners while cutting corporation tax for small companies and giving start-ups a year-long holiday from National Insurance contributions.

Ian Johnson, partner at accountancy firm Grant Thornton's Regent Street office in Leicester, said he felt there was little chance of any big tax announcements.

He said: "I suspect the statement will be all about growth and less about tax. A rumoured increase in VAT appears unlikely, as does cutting tax relief on pensions."

Mr Johnson also anticipated a speeding up of the timescale for doing away with personal tax for people earning £10,000 or less.

He said: "Taxing people who earn less than £10,000 is ridiculous. A faster increase in the allowance would put money in Leicestershire people's pockets which they could then spend in the local economy.

"While the economy is being rebalanced, here as elsewhere, towards manufacturing and exporting, we need rising personal consumption to fuel growth.

"To get that, people need money to spend."

Trevor Shaw, business tax director at Grant Thornton in Leicester, said he expected a swipe at global organisations avoiding tax in the UK following recent criticism of Google, Starbucks and Amazon.

He said: "The foreign-owned companies in Leicestershire will be watching what the Chancellor announces.

"Public pressure is likely to see a number of commitments from the coalition to tackle actual and perceived tax avoidance."

He also hoped to see more cuts in corporation tax, and a possible complete cut for small companies.

Chris Romans, tax partner and private business expert at PricewaterhouseCoopers' East Midlands office in Castle Donington, hoped the Chancellor would reduce tax complexity to boost business confidence.

He said: "Certainty is an important factor in determining how confident businesses feel about investing back in their businesses and hiring new staff at a time when order books are pretty static."

He said one option would be to allow start-ups to take a year-long holiday from National Insurance contributions, while increasing simplicity in the tax system and cutting red tape.

A spokesman for Haines Watts accountants, who have their head office in Hamilton Office Park, believed tax relief on the pension contributions of high earners could be under threat.

In a statement, the company said: "Mr Osborne has confirmed the richest 'will have to bear their fair share', fuelling speculation that he could announce a cut in the annual tax relief cap on pension contributions, from £50,000 to £30,000."

Put money in people's pockets to boost the local economy, urge Leicestershire business experts

Change outdated succession law before the birth of royal baby - Leicester MP Keith Vaz

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Keith Vaz has urged the Government to quickly change the law of royal succession following the announcement that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting a baby.

The Leicester East MP has submitted an early day motion calling for the law to be changed before the birth of the royal baby

It follows his Private Member's Bill to Parliament in January last year calling for the eldest child of a ruling monarch to succeed them to the throne, regardless of gender.

Under current law which the throne passes to the first-born male heir even if he has elder sisters.

Though the Mr Vaz's bill made it through the early stages of parliamentary process it was dropped as it had not become a fully-fledged law by the end of the parliamentary session.

Leaders of Commonwealth countries unanimously voted for the change in October last year.

And in May the Queen's speech outlined the intention to reform the law of succession which dates from the 17th century.

The sex of the child is not yet known.

Mr Vaz's motion has so far been signed by one other MP - Bob Russell, the Liberal Democrat MP for Colchester.

Change outdated succession law before the birth of royal baby - Leicester MP Keith Vaz

Mercury opinion: Kate baby joy! A right royal reason for a bank holiday

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We are delighted at the news that the Duchess of Cambridge is expecting a baby and send our best wishes to the royal couple. The nation has taken the Duchess to its heart. And many readers will fondly remember her visit to Leicester earlier this year as part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee tour of the UK. Kate was greeted by a huge wave of enthusiasm and warmth by the public in Leicester, as she has been everywhere.

There will be a great deal of delight and goodwill across the country at the latest news.

Unfortunately, she is suffering from a severe form of morning sickness, which requires specialist treatment.

It seems that the Palace's announcement of her pregnancy was prompted by the Duchess's medical condition.

Thankfully, this condition is unlikely to cause harm to the baby, but it will be an uncomfortable time for the Duchess and everybody will be hoping she gets better soon.

The baby will be third in the line to the throne, after Prince Charles and Prince William, helping to further secure the future of the House of Windsor.

Under the existing law, the child, if a girl, would be displaced in the line of succession in the event of the Duke and Duchess later having a son.

However, Commonwealth leaders have agreed to this law being changed so that gender will no longer play a part in succession, thus preventing any chance of such an anachronistic anomaly occurring.

We are delighted that they are taking this step and hope to see it enacted soon.

The Cabinet Office says formal consent is expected shortly and once that has been given the Government will bring forward a bill to change the law.

It only remains then for us to express the hope that the birth of the baby will be marked by a national public holiday.

The Government should seize opportunities to give the nation something to celebrate in these austere times.

As we have seen from the Diamond Jubilee and Olympics, such occasions help to bring the country together and lift the national mood.

Mercury opinion: Kate baby joy! A right royal reason for a bank holiday

15 arrests after drugs raids in Highfields, Hamilton, Oadby

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Police have arrested 15 people after drugs raids in Leicestershire and Manchester. Officers from Leicestershire Police and East Midlands Special Operations Unit searched the addresses today as part of an investigation into the supply of class A drugs. Fifteen men, aged between 17 and 40, have been arrested in connection with the inquiry and are in police custody. Police said a small amount of class A and B drugs and cash was recovered during the raids at addresses in Highfields, Hamilton, Oadby and the Oldham area of Manchester.
Detective Inspector Mark Brayfield, of East Midlands Special Operations Unit, said: "The warrants were executed as part of the Force's ongoing commitment to tackling the supply of Class A drugs. "By targeting the drugs suppliers we can hopefully address other crimes , it's a known fact that some drug users may even resort to crime, such as burglary, to find items that can be stolen and sold to others to raise money to buy more drugs. "The Force is running Operation Dynamo which is a campaign to tackle burglaries. Crimes of this nature have an enormous effect on communities and by tackling the heart of the problem we can make Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland a safer place to live, work and visit." If anyone has any information about drugs misuse they should contact Leicestershire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.

15 arrests after drugs raids in Highfields, Hamilton, Oadby

Fuel thieves risking lives by drilling into petrol tanks

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Thieves are risking lives by drilling through vehicles fuel tanks and siphoning off the fuel.
Police in Rutland have been called to 10 incidents of similar petrol and diesel thefts in the last fortnight.
They said five cars and vans parked in Cottesmore, Market Overton and Thistleton were targeted between 7pm on Monday (DEC 3) and 7am yesterday (DEC 4).
There were also two incidents in Manton and one in North Luffenham, last Wednesday (NOV 28).
Officers are urging residents to be vigilant and are asking for help to track down the thieves.
Pcso Steven Houghton said: "We are carrying out various inquiries to locate those responsible but hope that members of the public will also be able to help us. 
"While we would always suggest that people keep their cars on a private driveway where they can, we understand that isn't always possible."Officers out on patrol will be looking for anyone acting suspiciously, but we also want residents in the area to be our extra eyes and ears."
Nigel Shaw, the fire service's district station manager for Rutland, said: "There is a massive risk of sparks from a drill igniting fumes in the tank. These thieves are not only risking their lives but those of others."
Anyone with information about any of the incidents is asked to contact police on 101.

Fuel thieves risking lives by drilling into petrol tanks

Third Place for 2502 (Hamilton) Squadron Air Training Corps (Air Cadets) in Shadow Competition

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Cadets and staff of 2502 (Hamilton) Squadron were looking for a new challenge this year so two teams of cadets entered the annual Shadow event run by Nottinghamshire County Council.  Shadow is an overnight navigation and leadership event for teams of 4 or 5 young people aged between 13-19 years based in Sherwood Forest.  This was the 38th year that Shadow has been run but the first for 2502.

The teams had 6 hours in the forest to navigate around two sectors completing as many tasks as they could, picking up points on the way. Both teams started off at 1930 on their first sector. They navigated to points on the map where they had to complete tasks, gaining points for each task and extra point for completing them in a specific order.  The tasks included First Aid, team building, and mental agility exercises. The teams completed their first sector just after midnight and then went on to the second sector. 

The time ran out before either team manage had completed the second sectors but completed over three quarters of the whole event.  Overall A flight team came 13th & C flight 25th out of 38 teams with only 28 points between them. In the Out of County category A flight came 3rd in that competition.

The cadets from A flight attended a presentation evening in Mansfield where they were presented with their certificates for coming 3rd in the Out of County.

Flt Lt Andy Faulkner said "The cadets who to part in the Shadow event did an absolutely brilliant job. The staff running each stall commented how well they performed as teams. I am very proud of their efforts and achievements considering this was their first year attending."

Third Place for 2502 (Hamilton) Squadron Air Training Corps (Air Cadets) in Shadow Competition


MPs to meet health bosses to make the case for Glenfield

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Two MPs are to meet officials carrying out a review of the future of children's heart surgery at Glenfield Hospital.

Leicester West representative Liz Kendall and Nicky Morgan, MP for Loughborough, are hoping to meet Lord Ribeiro, chairman of the Independent Reconfiguration Panel.

The panel is reviewing a decision to cut the number of hospitals in England which provide surgery for children born with heart problems from 11 to seven.

Glenfield Hospital is one of those earmarked to stop the service.The meeting is expected to take place on December 13. The MPs are among 15 from across the East Midlands and two members of the House of Lords who have written in support of Glenfield Hospital.

Their letter expresses concern that three particular clinical points were not adequately considered by the decision-making body, the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts.

These include the impact of moving the specialist children's Ecmo (extra corporeal membrane oxygenation) service to Birmingham, worries over whether there is room in Birmingham to deal with more patients and the low mortality rate at Glenfield Hospital.

Ecmo is used to oxygenate blood outside the body, doing the work of the heart and lungs.

The letter, which has also been signed by Bishop Tim of Leicester and Lord Bach of Lutterworth, said: "We firmly believe that there is a strong clinical case to retain services at Glenfield Hospital and this demands a full and proper reconsideration of the evidence."

Ms Kendall said: "This is a cross-party initiative involving MPs from all parties and from all parts of the East Midlands."

Ms Morgan said: "We all pledged to continue the campaign to save children's heart surgery at Glenfield and this is the next step."

Mums-to-be sympathise with Kate's morning sickness woe

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The Duchess of Cambridge is not alone in suffering such bad morning sickness that she needs hospital treatment.

Doctors at Leicester Royal Infirmary see more than 100 women a year with hyperemesis gravidarum – acute morning sickness.

The symptoms are usually so severe it is impossible for women to keep any fluids down.

This can lead to dehydration and weight loss.

Dr Angie Doshani, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, said: "Early pregnancy is pretty much a rollercoaster ride, but women suffering from HG (hyperemesis gravidarum) should not suffer in silence.

"There is help available. Sometimes they feel as if they are a failure if they come into hospital or that something is going to go wrong.

"They shouldn't feel this. Usually by 16 weeks the vast majority of cases will settle down, although some do last right through pregnancy.

"The earlier women get help the better so we can manage the condition. It is important they are hydrated and getting the right nutrients for themselves and the developing baby."

Dr Doshani said the condition was more common in first-time mums and in those expecting twins.

Sikhathele Ngwenya, from St Matthew's, Leicester, has a daughter and a son and is 14 weeks pregnant with her third baby.

She has suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum each time.

She is hoping media coverage about the condition will help make other sufferers realise they are not alone.

The 31-year-old said: "I thought I was the freak and the only one feeling this sick but now I know this is not the case.

"I have been in hospital twice with this pregnancy and expect to be in and out as I do become dehydrated. It is really horrible and very stressful when you keep vomiting and you can't keep anything down.

"It is also very painful. I was in so much pain with my last pregnancy that doctors thought it was appendicitis.

"It was just as bad when I had my other two children and it lasted for the first seven months of the pregnancy. I am hoping I will be able to be at home to enjoy Christmas."

Hilda Chisi, from Hamilton, Leicester, has had to have three days of hospital treatment because she became so dehydrated after being sick about 10 times a day and not being able to keep anything down.

Her weight plummeted from 9st 13lb to 8st 3lb.

The 37-year-old, who is 12 weeks pregnant with her fourth baby, said: "It began when I was about four weeks pregnant. At first I just felt very tired and had no energy at all.

"Then I started being sick and became weaker and weaker."

It is the second time she has been admitted to hospital because of the condition.

Mrs Chisi said: "Having the fluids do make me feel better.

"I had this sickness with all my other pregnancies and am hoping it will stop when I get to about 20 weeks, which is what happened before.

"It is not a nice experience."

Mums-to-be sympathise with Kate's morning sickness woe

IN THE COURTS

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Cases dealt with at Leicester Magistrates' Court include:

Subash Patel(45), of Fayrhurst Road, Aylestone, Leicester, was found guilty in his absence of failing to tell police who was driving a vehicle at the time of an alleged offence on June 1. He was fined £600 and ordered to pay £85 costs.

Christian Szenes(32), of Haddon Street, Spinney Hills, Leicester, was found guilty in his absence of speeding on April 22. He was fined £200 and ordered to pay £85 costs. His licence was endorsed with three penalty points.

Robert Cain(48), of Stokes Close, Blaby, pleaded guilty to racially or religiously-aggravated harassment and harassing police officers on October 14. He was fined £150 on each of the harassment charges and ordered to pay £85 costs.

Dean Murray(18), of Tunstall Crescent, New Humberstone, Leicester, was found guilty in his absence of speeding on April 24. He was fined £400 and ordered to pay £85 costs. His licence was endorsed with four penalty points.

Devang Bharatbhai Patel (30), of Cooper Street, Belgrave, Leicester, pleaded guilty to drink-driving on October 14.

He was disqualified from driving for 20 months, fined £400 and ordered to pay £85 costs.

He also pleaded guilty to using a car without insurance or a valid licence, and was fined £200.

William Robins (23), of Knoll Street, Market Harborough, pleaded guilty to driving with 83 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – the legal limit being 35 microgrammes – on October 14.

He was disqualified from driving for 20 months, fined £300 and ordered to pay £85 costs.

Following in mum's ever-loving footsteps

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Helen Lanzetta was never short of friends to play with as a child when she lived at the Leicester Children's Holiday Centre, in Mablethorpe, with her parents who ran it.

In fact, she loved it so much that she took over the running of the centre when her mum, Maude, stepped aside and has been the centre manager since the late 1980s.

Helen said: "I moved to the centre as a child with my parents in 1969. I used to love it, I always had friends to play with."

The Mercury's Christmas Appeal aims to raise £65,000 for the centre, which gives seaside holidays to hundreds of children who would not otherwise get a break.

It needs the money to revamp its boiler and central heating system.

Helen said: "In the early years the first children would come for a month in April. They were children who hadn't been well or were under-nourished and then the rest would come for two weeks at a time in the summer.

"As I grew up I worked there while I was still at school until I took over.

"Over the years I have worked with thousands of the kids who come here. My mum was very fond of all the children who came here, they were her life. She cared deeply about the children, as I do. It wasn't a difficult transition from playing with them to looking after them. I understood what the children wanted.

"I had experienced that kind of holiday and the sort of things they like to do. I was able to look at things through their eyes when they came to the centre for the first time.

"You see their little faces when they arrive and the sadness when it's time to go home."

History is repeating itself with Helen's 12-year-old son, Luciano, playing with the youngsters who visit the home – just as she did.

She said: "My son plays with today's children, he keeps in touch with them and they sometimes pop into see him if they're on holiday here. He's always sad at the end of the season and can't wait for the next season to come along. The children who have stayed here will always have memories of those they met at Mablethorpe, they will remember them forever and the fun times they had here.

"We often get people drop by and tell us they were at the centre as kids.

"I remember meeting one lady who stayed here saying it was the only happy moment of her childhood which stayed in her heart at all times. I thought that was so sad. What I do is so rewarding.

"Where else can you get up in the morning knowing you're going to work and want to be there?"

Following in mum's ever-loving footsteps

Parents' anguish as NHS sends a letter to son who died 15 years ago

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Parents Simon and Diane Pitcher are demanding a personal apology from the health service who sent a letter addressed to their dead son.

Ryan Pitcher died 15 years ago on Monday, aged three.

He was sent the standard letter as part of a campaign to encourage screening for a sexually transmitted disease by the Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, two days before the anniversary of his death.

The trust, which has launched a review, has admitted it may have sent out nine other letters to the families of dead youngsters.

Mr Pitcher said: "Sending out this letter was deeply insensitive and should never have happened.

"Every day we remember Ryan and we received this letter on Saturday, two days before the anniversary of when he died.

"It is just another issue with the health service. We were naturally deeply upset and my wife Diane left a message on the answer phone at the number on the bottom of the letter, expressing our shock."

Ryan was among 688 children misdiagnosed with epilepsy and given the wrong treatment by Dr Andrew Holton, then a paediatric neurologist at Leicester Royal Infirmary.

In 2009, the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust admitted liability for Ryan's death and paid the family an undisclosed amount of compensation.

A report funded by the trust said one of the cocktail of drugs Ryan was given indirectly led to his death.

The letter, which arrived last Saturday, was one of 1,035 sent to young people in North West Leicestershire by the trust's families, young people and children's services department.

It was part of a pilot campaign to boost the number of people aged 15 to 24 being tested for the sexually transmitted disease chlamydia.

Mr Pitcher, 47, who lives in Heather, said: "We want an apology from the partnership trust and an undertaking that no-one else in the future will have to suffer as we have.

"However, I understand that up to nine other families could be in the same position as us.

"We could possibly understand the mistake occurring if Ryan's death had happened recently, but it is 15 years."

He said since leaving the message they had not been contacted by the Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust.

He said: "We want them to acknowledge their mistake and say what is being doing to prevent it happening again."

A spokesman for the Trust said: "We would like express our sincere apologies for the distress this has caused the Pitcher family and we will be contacting the family to offer our apologies directly.

"Our aim in sending these letters was a genuine attempt to ensure as many young people as possible are protected against the serious effects of chlamydia.

"The patient information was correctly maintained on our systems and Ryan was marked as deceased on our records, so no correspondence should have been sent to his family."

He said a review was instigated immediately to determine how it happened.

The trust had identified a further nine families with deceased children who may have been sent the letter in error.

The spokesman said: "If they have, we will be contacting the families individually as soon as possible to apologise."

Parents' anguish as NHS sends a letter to son who  died 15 years ago

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