Four council flats in the New Parks area of Leicester had to be evacuated this morning because of burst water pipe.

The flats were affected in Fairburn House in Aikman Avenue.

A fire service spokeswoman said: "We were called to the building after reports of a burst hot water pipe and flooding on the ground floor."

"Electricity supplies were isolated because of the water."

Residents were evacuated by City Council staff.

A Leicester City Council spokesman said: "We received reports of water entering flats at Fairburn House, Aikman Avenue, this morning. This affected four flats in total.

"The cause of the leak was quickly identified and fixed. "Electricity to the four properties has been turned off as a safety precaution.

"Alternative accommodation will be arranged for the affected tenants while their homes dry out and any necessary remedial work is carried out."

Leicester City will have to put their FA Cup disappointment behind them – and quickly – as they turn their attention back to Premier League survival and a trip to Everton on Sunday.

Nigel Pearson's men were dumped out of the cup at the weekend following a 2-1 defeat in their fifth-round clash at Aston Villa.

City will need to put in a better performance at Goodison Park than they did at Villa Park, although Everton have won just one game in their last nine in the Premier League.

The two sides met before on the opening day of the season, when Chris Wood scored a late equaliser in a 2-2 draw at the King Power Stadium.

If you can't get to the match, we will be covering the game live with text commentary from Goodison Park.

Sports reporter James Sharpe will be providing details of the action and analysis of the game.

You can put your questions, views and comments to James during the game using the interactive link on the match commentary or you can tweet him @TheSharpeEnd.

The action will start at 1.45pm on Sunday with the announcement of the teams and the pre-match build-up.

Live Blog Everton v Leicester City - Premier League LIVE!

A Chinese businessman has said he will invest "a few million pounds" in transforming Leicester Castle into a De Montfort University business school.

Dr Jonathan Choi, the chairman of the Hong Kong-based Sunwah Group, is funding the project to renovate the historic building.

As previously reported, the city council-owned castle is to be leased to the university in a deal that will the former courthouse, which is in a poor state of repair, restored.

Dr Choi, after whom the business school will be named, told the Mercury: "We have been working with De Montfort University for ten years already.

"We need to build on what we have already done and this project will do that.

"To me modern buildings are nothing special and we feel this castle is one of the best.

"It will be our first business school. I think it will cost a few million pounds."

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said the agreement would see greater public access to the castle, which is currently opened up only on rare occasions.

He could not say exactly what that would mean but said: "As part of the agreement I am insisting there should be increased public access and DMU has given a commitment to that.

"It will be in use every day."

The castle's great hall is a Grade I listed building and on English Heritage's Buildings at Risk register.

Sir Peter said: "It is extremely unlikely that the council would ever be able to find millions of pounds to restore the castle as a priority  yet this deal will secure much needed investment."

He said the university would get "significant concessions" in rent for the castle.

Professor Dominic Shellard, vice-chancellor of De Montfort University, said the businesses school would bring world-renowned academics and more international students to the city.

He said: "We need to speak to English Heritage about what modifications we are able to make but there are some large open, flexible areas we can use.

"It is a such a wonderful building."

He said he hoped the business school would be ready for students in September 2016.

Chairman of the Leicester Civic Society Stuart Bailey cautiously welcomed the project.

"Of course DMU can call their business school whatever they wish but with the greatest respect to the Hong Kong businessman it will stay Leicester Castle as it has been since 1107.

"I would want to know more about the increased access but if a Chinese company says "We have a 12th Century English castle and we want to open it to the public that is tremendous news."

Saturday is a landmark anniversary for Sianna Stodd.

It is exactly a year ago that she gave up smoking after six years of puffing away.

The 22-year-old began smoking as a teenager.

First it was at weekends with friends and then the habit extended into the week and even more so if Sianna was planning a night out.

She said: "I began to realise that I was addicted and I spent my time scraping together my money to go and buy cigarettes.

"I would buy about 10 a day but if I knew I was going out I would buy a packet of 20, I always smoked more when I was drinking and socialising."

Sianna, from Beaumont Leys, began to notice how her friends could afford new clothes and all her money was going on cigarettes.

She made a New Year's resolution to give up and sought advice from her GP who referred her to the Stop smoking service.

Sianna, who is studying on a sport and education course at Nottingham Trent University, said: "My partner hated my smoking and I had seen a number of people who had smoked for the majority of their lives and had breathing problems, and cancer, and I didn't want to end up like that.

"I had tried giving up before but it just hadn't worked.

"I was referred to a Stop smoking advisor Angela Yates and she suggested Champix tablets.

"The course was going to be 12 weeks."

The quitting process wasn't always easy, especially as Sianna was also trying to lose weight.

She said: "I was quite moody for about six weeks but I thought that I was halfway through and needed to keep going.

"But I don't think I could have done it without Angela.

"It made such a difference going to see her every two weeks and having her support."

Sianna is now enjoying being a non-smoker.

She said: "I feel so much better and have got my smell and taste back.

"I have much more energy now and I can afford to buy a new pair of shoes every month now that I am not wasting money on cigarettes."

Sianna has a special app on her phone which shows that by kicking the habit she has now saved £1,600 and got back 90 days of life.

After months of preparations, the concrete skeletons of Leicester City Council's crumbling former New Walk Centre headquarters will be razed to the ground on Sunday.

The two towers, one 13 storeys and one eight, will take only 10 or so seconds to disappear in a huge cloud of dust.

The buildings will be at the centre of a 150 metre exclusion zone, which will be in place from 6am to 6pm to allow for a major clean-up operation afterwards.

Some 400 nearby homes and businesses will be evacuated - before explosive charges and gravity pull down the 16,000 tonnes of concrete which are all that remain of the old council offices, after they have been stripped bare.

The high security operation, costing some £3.5 million, is being carried out by demolition firm DSM.

Experts have pre-weakened the towers and say they should collapse within their own footprint - largely into the complex's former underground car park - preventing damage to nearby premises

The nearest building to the towers is the council's Phoenix House, which stands some 15 metres away.

DSM contracts manager Billy Young said: "Our overarching aim on the day is safety.

"In 15 years I have only ever broken one window.

"I aim to keep that record up.

"There will be no big bang. There will be a series of detonations for five-and-a-half seconds.

"It will look like nothing has happened at first. That's when most people assume something has gone wrong.

"If they are taking pictures they turn away and miss it, because then, five-and-a-half seconds after that, it will start to collapse.

"All you will see after the first few floors falling is a big cloud of dust."

No specific time has been given for the demolition, but the process will be millisecond specific.

The entire operation can be aborted up to the final moment before the demolition, which can only be triggered by three DSM staff.

DSM will record the demolition with seven cameras and possibly a drone.

It is hoped the police helicopter can be used to scan the buildings with heat imaging cameras to make sure they are clear.

The cordon around the site will be manned by police and security staff to keep people out.

Should there be any cause to abort the demolition, DSM says it can reset the process within five minutes and start again.

A siren will sound five minutes before the demolition - described as a controlled implosion, or "blow down".

Officials have advised members of the public not to gather around the edges of a tightly monitored 150 metre exclusion zone around the towers.

No public viewing arrangements have been made for the event.

However it is still expected hundreds, if not thousands, of spectators will be jockeying for position to get a good view of the towers falling.

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: "I have spent a lot of time in these buildings over the years, an awful lot of time.

"I certainly won't be shedding any tears over them and I don't think anyone else will.

"It is the single largest demolition project this city has seen, and naturally there will be some excitement.

"I will be resisting the suggestions that have been made by some people that I should watch the towers come down from inside.

"There will inevitably be some disruption with an operation of this scale and we apologise for that, but the method of demolition we have chosen is the fastest."

Perimeter fencing will be in place to ensure debris and dust are largely contained within the demolition site.

The whole operation will be monitored closely by the Health and Safety Executive, which is responsible for overseeing the process and ensuring it meets stringent safety conditions.

The exact time of the demolition will be decided by contractors DSM on the day itself, once all the relevant safety checks and preparations have been carried out.

Displaced businesses people and residents in the immediate area will be invited to go to a specially set up respite area at Leicester Tigers' Welford Road ground. There they will able to watch the demolition on a specially set-up big screen feed.

THE EXCLUSION ZONE

The exclusion zone area is bordered by Upper Brown Street, Chancery Street, part of Pocklington's Walk, part of Market Street including the Fenwick store, Wellington Street, Park Street, and the bottom section of New Walk from approximately Holy Cross Church.

It will extend across New Walk to King Street at its junction with Marquis Street, before crossing Duke Street, Mill Street, and Welford Road near Bannatyne's gym.

It will continue behind buildings on the western side of Welford Road, York Road and behind Newarke Street car park, which will be closed for the demolition.

TRAFFIC

Drivers heading into Leicester this weekend have been warned there could be extensive disruption caused by the demolition operation

The exclusion zone around the demolition site will mean numerous road closures, parking restrictions and diversions for the duration of the demolition.

Parking on streets within the exclusion zone will also be suspended from 6pm tonight to ensure no cars are left there.

Some bus services will also be diverted for the duration of the demolition.

The Southgates Underpass, Newarke Street and Welford Road will be closed to all traffic for the day, along with all other roads in the exclusion zone, with southbound traffic advised to use alternative routes.

Southbound traffic using the underpass will be turned around at St Nicholas Circle and directed clockwise round the inner ring road.

Traffic bound for Welford Road will be signposted instead clockwise along Vaughan Way, Burleys Way, St Matthews Way, St Georges Way, Waterloo Way and Tigers Way.

Drivers leaving the Highcross shopping centre will not be able to use Southgates, but instead will be turned around via St Nicholas Circle and directed onto the inner ring road or Hinckley Road.

Newarke Street car park will be closed throughout the demolition, with access to the NCP car park at Duke Street via Regent Road only.

BUSES

Bus firm Arriva has published detail of how the exclusion zone will affect its services.

Arriva Services 48A, 49A, 84, 85, 86, 87 towards the city centre will go down Oxford St then Southgates, Vaughan Way, Abbey Street then to either into St Margaret's Bus Station or into city centre.

Services 47A, 49A, 84, 85, 86, 87 leaving the city centre will pass down Charles Street/Rutland Street then Charles Street, St George's Way, Waterloo Way, Regent Road, Welford Road then to their normal routes.

Arriva has apologised for any inconvenience caused to passengers.

WHAT NEXT?

Once the nearby premises have been cleaned of dust and assessed for any damage the exclusion zone has been lifted the process of removing the rubble will begin.

The site should be clear by May.

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby says the council is just weeks away from announcing what will replace the towers.

He has promised a mixed-use development, likely to be largely made up of new office accommodation.

The council moved out of New Walk in the summer with most of the 1,200 staff based there transferring to the renovated Attenborough House - now called City Hall - in Charles Street.

Others moved into smaller council complexes around the city centre.

The council had to leave the New Walk Centre, its base for more than 40 years, because structural engineers said the buildings had become unsafe.

The council's insurers therefore said there were no longer willing to cover the premises.

More information on arrangements for the demolition is available at: www.leicester.gov.uk/newwalkcentre

There is no hiding place for Leicester City as they look to end their four-game losing streak in the Premier League, manager Nigel Pearson said.

City head to Everton tomorrow with 13 games left to save their Premier League status, and Pearson said every game between now and the end of the season has become a massive game for the club.

City are bottom of the table, five points from safety, and Pearson said there was no denying his side have not found the answer to turning decent performances into victories this season, but they now have to.

"They are all big for us now," he said. "We have to find ways of winning games and at the moment it is tough.

"We have had some decent performances. We didn't play particularly well against Villa in the FA Cup but we have to make sure from here on in our performances give us the best chance to win games.

"That is the bottom line. We have to find the answers.

"It is never easy to continually be saying the same things when results haven't changed but I have a lot of faith in the players and their spirits are still high.

"We have shown with quite a few of our performances that we are capable, but we have to turn those performances into results. There is no hiding from that.

"It remains a frustration but that is how difficult it is to be a success at this level.

"Is it a must-win game, or not lose? Possibly. We are going into games trying to win them. I would argue against anyone who says we haven't but it has proved to be quite difficult at times.

"But certainly we go into this game with a very positive intent."

Everton, who have had just two days to recover after their Europa League win at BSC Young Boys in Switzerland, have not been able to recapture the form of last season when they challenged for a Champions League spot, but Pearson still thinks they are a very strong side.

"I am sure they would probably recognise that the season has not been as positive as they would have liked, but I think over the last four weeks their performances have improved somewhat," he said.

"There is no doubt when you look at some of the players they have, they have very capable players.

"Possibly they have had either players who have been a little bit out of form or unavailable through injury, which has been key for them during certain periods during the season.

"That shows the fine lines between success and failure.

"Having played them in pre-season and at the start of the season we know they have quality, but it is important that our own players perform to our maximum."

A Leicestershire beer has been refreshing the palates of MPs and their guests in the House of Commons.

Golden Duck Brewery from Appleby Magna was recently introduced to the Strangers' Bar by NW Leicestershire MP Andrew Bridgen.

They raised a glass of its popular LFB (Lunns First Brew) at the seat of Government.

Mr Bridgen said: "It has been a pleasure to bring this fine beer from my constituency to Westminster and introduce my colleagues in Westminster to a taste of North West Leicestershire.

"Golden Duck Brewery is a real asset to our constituency, brewing wonderful beers, providing jobs for local people and supporting other businesses including the pubs that are at the heart of our local communities."

The beer, which at 4.3% is a light golden beer with a delicate hoppy aroma, was enjoyed by many MPs and other parliamentarians.

Father and son team Andrew and Harry Lunn made the trip to the Strangers' Bar after first witnessing an eventful Prime Minister's Question Time.

Head brewer Harry Lunn said, "We were delighted that LFB was selected for the Strangers' Bar and grateful to Andrew Bridgen and the team at the bar for making it happen.

"It was great to hear how much everyone there was enjoying our beer."

LFB was made available in the Strangers' Bar as part of a scheme run by the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group and the Society of Independent Brewers, to which Golden Duck Brewery belongs. 

Roadworks taking place in Leicestershire and East Midlands during the week commencing Monday, February 23:

M1 junction 19 at Catthorpe, Leicestershire: Major improvement works

Between now and autumn 2016 there will be various hard shoulder, lane or carriageway closures while the new junction is built.

M1 Junction 21, Leicester: bridge construction

From 16 February to 31 March there will be overnight carriageway or lane closures on either or both carriageways from 8pm to 8am.

M1 J24-25, Leicestershire/Derbyshire: lining

From 31 January to 1 March there will be either slip road closures, carriageway closures or lane closures on the northbound carriageway overnight from 10pm to 6am.

M1 junction 15 to 19, Northamptonshire: Central reserve work

From 4 August to summer 2015 there will be various restrictions in place to allow for the construction of a reinforced concrete barrier in the central reserve. These include speed restrictions, narrow lanes and hard shoulder running.

Monday 23 February to 30 March: There will be various hardshoulder closures and overnight lane closure for resurfacing, installation of speed cameras between J15-16

Saturday 21 February will be a full overnight closure of the northbound carriageway between junctions 16 and 18 to allow for resurfacing.

M1 junction 28 to 31 and 32 to 35a, Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire/Yorkshire: Smart Motorway

Until Winter 2016 there will be various restrictions in place on the M1 between junctions 28 and 35a to allow for the construction of the Smart Motorway. These include lane closures, speed restrictions, hard shoulder running and overnight slip road or carriageway closures. Until March 2015 there will be various restrictions in place on the M18 between junction 0 and 2. These include lane closures, speed restrictions, hard shoulder running and overnight slip road or carriageway closures.

This week the following full overnight closures will be in place:

Monday 23 February: M1 J34 northbound and J30 southbound entry slip roads

Tuesday 24 February: M1 J34 northbound and J30 southbound entry slip roads

Wednesday 25 February: M1 J34 northbound and J30 southbound entry slip roads

Thursday 26 February: M1 J35 northbound and J30 southbound entry slip roads

Friday 27 February: M1 J35 northbound and J30 southbound entry slip roads

Saturday 28 February: M1 J30 northbound entry slip road

Sunday 1 March: M1 J31 northbound exit slip road

M45 between J1 and M1 J17, Northamptonshire/Warwickshire: barrier installation

From 11 December 2014 to March 2015 barrier installation will be carried out. The westbound carriageway will be closed overnight, from 8pm to 6am on 13 November. Two further closures will take place in 2015. At all other times there will be closures of lane one and the hard shoulder. Traffic will be diverted from the M1 j16 along the A45 around Daventry to rejoin the M45 at J1.

M45 Dunchurch to M1 J17, Northamptonshire: carriageway repairs

From 9 February to 20 May there will be a number of restrictions on the eastbound carriageway including overnight carriageway closures from 8pm to 6am, or 24/7 closures of the hard shoulder and lane one with a 50mph speed limit. During full closures traffic will be diverted via the A45 to Daventry and Weedon to join the M1 at J16.

A1 Elkesley, Nottinghamshire: Junction improvement

Between now and September 2015 various restrictions will be in place including lane closures, carriageway closures, narrow lanes and a 40mph speed limit

A5 Caldecote, Warwickshire: Junction improvement

From 16 February 2014 to 31 March 2015 lane closures and two way traffic signals will be in place while the junction is improved.

A14 J11 to 13, Northamptonshire: survey work

Between 26 January and 13 February there will be overnight lane closures on either or both carriageways between 8pm and 6am.

A14 junction 7-9 Kettering Bypass, Northamptonshire: Widening

A number of overnight closures will be taking place until April 2015. Please note these are provisional dates and are subject to change.

Planned closures on the westbound carriageway between J9 and J7 from 8pm Saturday 21 February until 8am Sunday 22 February.

Planned closures on the eastbound carriageway between J7 and J9 from 8pm Sunday 22 February until 6am Monday 23 February.

Drivers are asked to follow the signed diversion routes during these closures. Please do not use SatNavs when following the diversion.

A westbound contra-flow system is now in place on the eastbound carriageway and fully operational 24 hours a day. The contra-flow system includes temporary steel barriers to protect motorists and the workforce, and reductions in lane widths. Due to safety and recovery restrictions, drivers of HGV vehicles are required to uselane 1 only on both the eastbound and westbound carriageways. Any other types of through traffic not wishing to come off at junctions 7, 8 or 9 we encourage you to use the contra-flow lane to ease congestion. A free vehicle recovery service is also in place and drivers are advised to remain in their vehicle until assistance arrives. A 24-hour 40mph speed limit is being enforced by average speed cameras. The new Lane 1 on the eastbound carriageway is now in use however, please note that the 40mph speed limit will remain in place until the end of the scheme to protect road users and road workers as they complete remaining work on the westbound carriageway.

A14 J6-4, Northamptonshire: carriageway repairs

From 9 to 19 February the westbound exit and entry slip roads at junction 5 (and lane one of the main westbound carriageway will be closed overnight from 9pm to 6am. Laybys will be closed 24/7 from 9.30am on 9 February. Westbound traffic wanting to leave at junction 5 will be diverted to junction 4 where it will turn round and return to junction 5 on the eastbound carriageway. Traffic wanting to join the A14 westbound at junction 5 will instead be diverted eastbound to junction 7 where it can then join the westbound carriageway.

A38 Markeaton Island, Derby: junction improvements

Work continues on the junction improvement. 24/7 speed restrictions and overnight lane closures are in place

A43 Padbury Roundabout to Ardley Roundabout, Oxfordshire: Improvement scheme

From 27 October to 20 March 2015 there will be various overnight lane and carriageway closures in place on both carriageways from 8pm to 6am.

A45 Great Doddington, Northamptonshire: resurfacing

From 19 January to 11 February the westbound carriageway will be closed between Wilby roundabout and Earls Barton from 8pm to 6am.

A45 Wellingborough, Northamptonshire: carriageway repairs

From 9 to 15 February the southbound carriageway will be closed overnight from 8pm to 6am between Skew Bridge and Little Irchester. Traffic will be diverted along the A6 to Irthlingborouygh, the A509, A4500 and A509 to rejoin the A45 at Wilby Way.

A453 widening from M1 junction 24 to A52: Major improvement work

Only full carriageway closures requiring diversions and daytime traffic management are listed in detail. There will be various traffic light controlled lane closures throughout the remainder of the scheme.

The Sunninghill Drive-A453 access and Glapton Lane-A453 access remains closed 24/7

From Friday 13 February, for a period of 8 weeks, the Green Lane junction will become left turn in only in order to allow the contractor to carry out full depth construction works on the north side of the junction. For those wishing to turn right onto Green Lane during this time, please continue down to Farnborough Junction and return towards Green Lane on the westbound carriageway.

Urban Section closure:

23 February between 11.30pm- 5am: A453 eastbound between Farnborough Road Junction and Silverdale Roundabout will be closed

24 February between 11.30pm to 5am A453 westbound between Silverdale Roundabout and Farnborough Road Junction will be closed

Rural Section closures:

25 February to 27 February the A453 will be closed in both directions at night times between M1 Junction 24 and the East Midlands Parkway Junction.

M1 junction 24/A50 Approach Economy Scheme

Overnight between 25 February and 27 February 27February at 9:00pm both day and night; there will be some restricted traffic flow at M1 Junction 24 roundabout and its approaches.

During the daytime on Saturday 28 February and Sunday 1 March, the following will beclosed.

M1 South exit slip road

M1 North entry slip road

Junction 24 north bridge

A453 eastbound east of Junction 24 to Parkway Junction

Diversions will be in place as follows:

-A50 to Parkway Station - Junction 24A north to Junction 25 and A52 via QMC to A453 and west on A453 to Parkway.

-Northbound traffic to Parkway Station (A453 and M1) – continue on M1 to Junction 25 and A52 via QMC to A453 and west on A453 to Parkway.

-M1 southbound to the airport – leave M1 Junction 24A, take the A50 Eastbound, use the cut through and join the A453 southbound to the airport.

-M1 southbound traffic to Parkway Station– leave at Junction 25 and A52 via QMC to A453 and west on A453 to Parkway.

Customers travelling to and from East Midlands Airport should allow extra time for their journeys during this work, particularly if they have a flight to catch. 

A charity has been left with a £10,000 clean-up bill after seven "looted" safes were found among fly-tipped junk at the bottom of a 200-year-old lock in Leicester.

Engineers with the Canal & River Trust, the charity which cares for the nation's waterways, were stunned to discover the safes, along with a car engine, beer barrels, a small sunken boat in the River Soar.

The items were revealed when they drained the North Lock, at Frog Island, on Wednesday afternoon, for routine maintenance.

It was being emptied so that important repairs could be made to the lock gates and Victorian brickwork inspected.

Construction supervisor, Mark Hines said: "We were absolutely shocked. In all my experience, I've never come across anything quite like this before.

"I've seen the odd safe, but never seven of them at once and all within a few feet of each other."

He added: "The are pretty heavy duty and it looks like they have been cut open like sardine tins using some kind of power saw.

"It was immediately obvious to us that we were looking at evidence from several crimes."

The Trust will be sending a team in to clear the lock with a long-range excavator to remove the rubbish before maintenance works can get underway.

Leicestershire Police have been informed of the discovery.

A spokeswoman for the force said: "We understand that the safes will be removed at the weekend, when officers will go down and examine them.

"They will be looking for serial numbers or any other identification markings that will help establish who they belonged to, or link them to an investigation."

She added: "I understand that they are rather rusty, and the fact they have been submerged in water for some time could mean any forensic evidence available has been destroyed. We will have to wait and see."

The discovery of so much debris is a complete contrast to the renaissance of much of the city's waterways, where the cleaner water has recently attracted otters back to the city for the first time in 30 years and where kingfishers and other wildlife have become commonplace.

Darren Green, waterway manager for the Canal & River Trust, said: "That's why discoveries like this, albeit rare, are so shocking. To find this amount of rubbish in just one lock is pretty outrageous – whoever dumped the safes could at least have left some money in one to help us cover the costs!"

The police helicopter base in south Leicestershire is to close.

The aircraft currently covers three counties including Leicestershire and Northamptonshire from the base in Husbands Bosworth.

Under changes made on Thursday, one helicopter and four fixed-wing aircraft will now be based at East Midlands Airport.

The move is part of a stream-lining and cost-cutting programme

by the National Police Air Service (NPAS).

It will mean that nationally the aircraft, 19 helicopters and four planes, will operate from 15-bases.

Chief Superintendent Ian Whitehouse of NPAS, said: "NPAS needs to find further substantial financial savings with a target of 14% of revenue cuts over the next three years. This is on top of the 23% savings already made.

"Local police forces facing similar savings are looking at how they rationalise their estate and ways of operating and NPAS is no different in this regard. 

"There is no easy way of doing this and difficult decisions have to be made."

He added: "Part of the move will also see four fixed-wing aircraft form part of the fleet.

"These will be based out of the East Midlands Airport. Fixed-wing aircraft are cheaper to fly than rotary aircraft."

Leeds Force (15,34,39) 50

Anebo 18, Fetske 10, Camille, McCann 7, Mikulic 5, Bethune 5, Hylands 3, Diez 2, Holland, Wall

Leicester Riders (15, 39, 51) 76

Watson 26, Hassan 13, Losonsky 10, Washington 6, Wright 5, Anderson 5, Bernadini 4, Rowe 3,Lamble 2, Levi 2, Gamble, Williams

Leicester Riders used a strong second half to overwhelm Leeds Force on the road in the BBL Championship last night, winning comfortably 76-50.

Riders held the Force to a paltry 16 points in the second half, while guard Neil Watson turned in a virtuoso performance.

Watson finished with 26 points, including six from 10 three-pointers and four assists, while Rashad Hassan chipped in 13 points and six rebounds.

Riders were also helped by 22 points from the free-throw line as the home side got on the wrong side of the officials all night.

There was nothing in it in the early going, an early Jamell Anderson dunk tied up the scores on four points apiece and Riders used that, and some good scoring inside by Hassan to build a lead.

Armand Anebo was single-handedly keeping Leeds in the game, with 10 first quarter points.

Anthony Rowe helped Riders to a 15-12 lead, but a late three from Branimir Mikulic tied the scores on 15 at the end of the first quarter.

Riders came out with renewed impetus in the second period and fine play from Watson found openings for Pavol Losonsky, forcing Leeds to a timeout.

That stemmed the tide and as Anebo continued to score well for the home team, with the scores level on 30 points apiece midway through the second period.

But then Watson nailed two threes in a row to build a Riders six-point lead and Leeds had to take another timeout.

Once again that proved effective and Riders squandered two possessions in succession and two big offensive rebounds by Ricky Fetske helped Leeds to narrow the gap at half-time to 36-34.

Watson started the third period with two quick-fire threes and aided by big blocks by Hassan and TrayVonn Wright at the defensive end, he helped Riders quickly open a 42-34 lead. Yet another Leeds timeout stopped the rot, though neither side found it easy to score.

There was a three-minute period midway through the quarter when the defences were totally on top and both teams failed to find the basket, before Connor Washington broke the spell from the free-throw line.

Washington followed that up with a three and Riders finally got their lead into double digits.

With Leeds racking up the fouls, Riders took a 51-39 lead into the fourth quarter having held Force to just five points in the period.

Riders broke the game open at the start of the fourth quarter, sparked by two technical fouls for the home side.

Watson hit two of the three free-throws, followed it up with a three, then stole the ball and nailed another basket.

Seven points in a minute for the Riders' point-guard and Leicester had a 19-point lead. Riders racked up 11 points in a row before Force got on the scoreboard, and by then the game was up.

Late threes from Watson and Anderson provided the icing on the cake.

Leicester Riders face their 10th back-to-back weekend of the season as they play host to Durham Wildcats at Loughborough University tonight (7.30). Durham sit outside the play-off places with hopes of gate crashing the post-season party. 

Kasper Schmeichel could be set for a comeback for Leicester City in the next couple of weeks, manager Nigel Pearson has revealed.

The Denmark international goalkeeper is back in training after undergoing surgery in December for a broken metatarsal.

Pearson said Schmeichel is close to a return, although he will not be considered for Sunday's trip to face Everton.

"Kasper has stepped up his training and is coping very well," said Pearson.

"He is not ready to play just yet but he is doing very well.

"He is more or less at full tilt. He is back out there with the other keepers doing more or less what everyone else does.

"But with the type of injury, rehabilitation will be governed very much by the specialists, but he is not far away."

The return of Schmeichel will provide Pearson with plenty of options in goal.

Mark Schwarzer currently has the edge on Ben Hamer but the veteran made a costly error in the FA Cup defeat at Aston Villa last weekend.

Pearson is backing the Australian to put that mistake behind him and he believes he has three very strong goalkeepers at his disposal.

"Hopefully, our situation will be even better when Kasper is available," said the City boss.

"It is certainly good to have him back on board. Mark has come in for some criticism but he has been around the block.

"I think he said when he first came here he is his own biggest critic.

"He doesn't need me or anyone else to point out mistakes. He doesn't make many of them.

"But when goalkeepers make an error they are more likely to be costly."

City have no new injury concerns ahead of Sunday's trip to Goodison Park.

"Once again, we have the vast majority of the squad available, which is always important," said Pearson.

"I give consideration for every position and weigh up what is best for us as the club.

"We have a very competitive squad who are supportive of each other and, whatever side I choose to play, I expect them to go out and perform." 

Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson said he would "live or die" by his decisions as he looks to address his side's recent poor run of results.

Pearson said he could take the criticism that has been directed at him following City's recent run of four consecutive league defeats.

For the first time this season, there was audible unrest from the City fans as Pearson's men bowed out of the FA Cup last weekend at Aston Villa.

Some fans criticised the manager's decision to field a back five against a side with the poorest goalscoring record in the division, and also for the fact he made only one substitution.

However, Pearson, who has had to endure speculation over his position in recent weeks, said while in hindsight he may have done things differently at times this season, he stands by his decisions and is prepared for the consequences.

"Myself and my staff are not above self-analysis," he said ahead of Sunday's trip to face Everton (2.05).

"Sometimes there are decisions that, with hindsight, you might want to change, but I will live and die by the decisions I make.

"I make them for the right reasons. I am not, and never will be, in the self-preservation game. My job is to lead my staff and players in the way I think is fitting for us and our club.

"If criticism comes my way then fair enough, but what has to happen is that we stay very much behind the players.

"They are the people who have to go out on the field and hopefully get enough results to change our fortunes.

"I have never been a big believer in patting myself on the back, nor am I a big believer in worrying too much about personal criticism. It goes with the territory.

"It goes with the type of industry we are in. It is an emotional game.

"I fully understand people's frustration but I can assure them we continue to work as hard as we can to change our fortunes.

"When we do, it will be because the players have been able to go out there and perform as well as they can perform to keep us up." 

Riyad Mahrez said the Leicester City players are right behind Nigel Pearson.

The manager's position has been put into doubt in recent weeks when it emerged City had thought about making a change after they were left five points adrift of relegation safety following the home defeat to Crystal Palace, only for the board to stick by their manager.

However, Mahrez, who Pearson brought to the club a year ago from France, said the players are all playing for the manager and he is confident they can get themselves out of relegation trouble.

"The gaffer is very good for us," he said. "We have a good mood. We are all together and we are all behind him.

"He is our manager and we need him. He brought me to the club and he wanted me, and I get on well with him.

"He gives me a lot of confidence and I want to repay him for that.

"We need to win this game at Everton and stay in the Premier League for the manager, the club and everyone involved.

"I believe we will stay up. If I didn't I wouldn't play, I would stay at home."

Pearson did express his concerns Mahrez would take time to get back up to the speed of the Premier League after returning from the Africa Cup of Nations with Algeria, but he has been one of City's better performers during the last few games.

Mahrez said he did not need a rest and was feeling strong for City's final 13 games of the campaign.

"I feel good," he said. "I didn't have a rest after the Africa Cup of Nations but I don't want to rest. I want to help the team stay in the division. It is a huge challenge because we are bottom of the table but I think we can do that."

A dental practice manager stole £80,243 from her employers to prop up her own failing business, a court heard.

Rachael Carvell was given an 18-month suspended prison sentence after taking the money from Fosse Dental Care, in Leicester, to pay the bills at Oscars bar.

Carvell (43), of Henley Road, Western Park, Leicester, pleaded guilty to fraud at the dental practice between January 2012 and February last year.

Prosecutor Alan Murphy told Leicester Crown Court how Carvell took the money to prop up the bar in Hinckley Road that she and her husband had bought.

He said Carvell had hidden the money problems at Oscars from her husband, who knew nothing about the thefts.

Mr Murphy said Carvell had started at the practice in Fosse Road Central, Leicester's West End, in 1990 and had worked her way up to the position of practice manager.

He said that she became solely responsible for banking the cash that was taken from customers on the front reception desk.

He said: "She was completely trusted by the partners and was allowed to count the monies on her own in a back room."

Mr Murphy said that she began taking between £200 and £600 a week from the practice to pay the bills at the bar.

The court heard that partners at the practice noticed discrepancies between the amount of money taken at the reception and the total deposited at the bank.

When suspicion fell on the two practice managers, Carvell admitted her guilt.

Matthew Lowe, defending, said that his client was of previous good character and was full of remorse.

He said: "She is humiliated and embarrassed by what she has done. She behaved completely out of character."

Judge Nicholas Dean gave her the jail sentence, which was suspended for two years, and ordered her to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.

After the case, a tearful Carvell said: "I am very sorry for letting down everyone at the practice. I am not a bad person."

The principal dentists at Fosse Dental Care said: "It is a disappointing outcome to a disappointing situation. We never comprehended that a long-term member of staff would steal from us."

Judge Nicholas Dean told Carvell he was suspending her sentence because she had suffered enough already.

He told the court that Carvell's mother then father had died in recent years from cancer and the caring for them had fallen to her.

The judge she had had to deal with that then the failing business and had been prescribed anti-depressants but had refused to take them.

He said: "You are very far from a scheming fraudster. You felt you had reasons that required you to steal in order to help your family.

"You have suffered enough for what you did. Your degree of remorse is unusual and you have been punished already as much as if you had spent the last year in prison.

"It seems to me that you have a lot to give to your family and to society in general.

"I am sure you will never appear in this court again."

Cases heard before Leicester Magistrates' Court include:

Iqbal Sidat (53), of Horsewell Lane, Wigston, admitted speeding in a 50mph zone on July 4. He was fined £200 and ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge and £85 court costs. He had three points put on his licence.

Jignesh Dholakiya (33), of Fields Court, South Wigston, admitted speeding in a 30mph zone on June 21. He was fined £75 and ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge and £85 court costs. He had five points put on his licence.

Malgorzata Jakubik (36), of Wainwright Avenue, Hamilton, Leicester, admitted speeding in a 30mph zone on June 2. She was fined £135 and ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge and £85 court costs. She had three points put on her licence.

Ishmael Jerome Henry (34) of Lavender Road, Leicester, was found guilty of assault by beating on November 10. He was committed to prison for 10 weeks and ordered to pay an £80 victim surcharge.

There was a £37.8 million jackpot for last night's Euromillions draw.

The winning numbers were 4, 10, 14, 37,46 and the lucky star numbers were 4 and 7.

There were no UK jackpot winners. 

There was also a £1 million prize on offer for one lucky winner of the UK Millionnaire Maker.

The winning ticket was X, M, N ,9, 4, 7, 1, 6, 2

Tuesday's Euromillions draw jackpot is estimated at around £42 million.

A fire has ripped though one of the tallest residential buildings in the world - the Torch skyscraper in Dubai.

The blaze in the 79-storey building - which is 336.1m (1,105ft) hight was fanned by strong winds.

Witnesses told how debris was flying around and falling into neighbouring buildings in the city's marina district.

Hundreds of people fled the building and there are no reports of any casualties.

The blaze was thought to have started on the 50th floor and was brought under control quickly by firefighters.

It is not know what caused the fire.

The skyscraper opened in 2011.

Candidates are now being announced for the mayoral election in Leicester for May 2015. The contest will take place on the same day as the General Election – and a fascinating 24 hours it promises to be.

The latest candidate to be selected is Tim Grayson for the Greens. An interesting choice, he is the poet-in-residence at Belvoir Castle and he has announced his platform for the election campaign.

One of the issues is whether we, as a city, should have an elected mayor at all. He is calling for a referendum of the city's voters on the issue.

In 2010, the Leicester City Council's ruling Labour group of elected councillors voted to introduce the system of an elected mayor.

It was a controversial decision at the time not to give the people a say – and one this newspaper did not agree with.

However, this was all five years ago, and we now have to admit that having a mayor has been good for the city.

The system works well because it allows for faster and more decisive decisions without the need to refer back issues to a group of 50 elected councillors.

It is far more of a prime ministerial or presidential system of government, than one run by a group of committees.

It would be unfortunate if the 2015 mayoral election in Leicester became wrapped up in the issue of whether we should have a mayor at all.

That issue should be consigned to history. The election must now be about who is best to run our city for the next four years, not whether we should have a mayor at all.

This city faces far more important issues over the coming years than whether we should have a referendum on having a mayor.

Plans for the future prosperity of our city, the cuts being forced upon our council and the record of Sir Peter Soulsby's time in office are just three that spring to mind.

We look forward to the political debate in the weeks leading up to the May elections and wish all the candidates well. But let's make this election about the issues, not the job itself.