Scores of mountain biking Santas braved mud and floods to raise thousands of pounds for charity.

About 100 people took to bridleways and off-road tracks in aid of a charity which helps children suffering from heart ailments and their families.

Graham Hewitt, 45, from Wigston, who took part in the event, said: "It was brilliant.

"The weather was great but the course was very muddy.

"It was for a good cause. But I am afraid my Santa outfit is a write-off because of the mud and getting caught in my bike chain."

The Keepthebeat 15-mile fun ride started and finished at Glenfield Hospital yesterday.

Each competitor had to pay £10 to enter and raise a minimum of £20 sponsorship.

Event manager Darren Earp said: "We based the ride at Glenfield Hospital because the regional congenital heart centre is there and has links to the charity.

"We are delighted that we had 100 people take part and they all had a fantastic time."

Most people completed the 15-mile route via Swithland in about two hours.

Mr Earp said: "I was riding sweeper, collecting discarded and damaged Santa suits.

"I came across one competitor who first suffered a puncture and then a ripped tyre.

"He sat patiently for us to furnish him with a replacement bike and he completed the course in four hours."

www.keepthebeat.co.uk

Leicester Riders were knocked off the top of the BBL Championship table after suffering a second defeat of the campaign.

Jelson Homes DMU-backed Riders went down 86-82 at Plymouth in their final league game of 2012.

With Newcastle winning against London Lions, the Geordies overtook them in the table, albeit courtesy of having played an extra game.

Riders' new signing Anthony Rowe received a warm welcome from the home faithful on his first return to the Pavilions yesterday afternoon.

He made an immediate impression on the game scoring eight of Leicester's first nine points.

The Raiders, though, had the upper hand on the scoreboard, leading 14-9 after just six minutes.

Riders did narrow the gap, but it was not until the second period that they took the lead for the first time, Zaire Taylor pouring in nine points in an 11-5 spell, which closed the scores to 26-25.

However, Plymouth scored the next eight points without reply to quickly establish a 33-26 advantage.

Drew Sullivan, Rowe and Taylor, though, ensured Riders were level at 42-42 just before half-time.

Consecutive three-pointers from Javarris Barnett and Jeremy Bell helped the Raiders move 61-55 clear late in the third quarter, but eight points from Taylor in the last two minutes of the period meant the sides went into the final 10 minutes level at 65-65.

Mike Ojo hit two quick triples as Plymouth scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter to open a 73-65 advantage.

Their lead reached 11 points, before Sullivan sparked a 10-2 run by Riders to make it 80-77 with 90 seconds to play.

The GB captain scored seven of the points and came up with a vital interception and score to complete the run.

But Drew Lasker put the home side six points clear, before a three-pointer, steal and two free-throws from Taylor cut the gap to 83-82 with 27 seconds left.

Matt Schneck, though, sealed the win for the home team with three foul shots in the dying seconds, as Sullivan and Taylor were both unable to add to Riders' tally.

Taylor was in excellent shooting form to lead all scorers with 29 points, while Sullivan posted a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Riders now go into a two-week break from league action and don't play again until January 5.

Raiders: Schneck 19, Bell 17, Ojo 12, Lasker 12, Barnett 10, Potter 9, O'Reilly 7,

Riders: Taylor 29, Sullivan 17, Rowe 15, Losonsky 11, Lamble 6, Couisnard 4, Haggith, Calvo, Williams, Washington, Anderson, Maynard

Secondary schools in Leicester are the best they have ever been, the council says.

A record 14 currently have higher Ofsted ratings of good or outstanding.

The remaining two – Babington, in Beaumont Leys, and Lancaster School, in Knighton – have a satisfactory rating from the education watchdog.

However, the council said both recorded their best GCSE results this summer, with Lancaster the most improved in the city.

Fifty-four per cent of students there achieved five or more A* to C grades including English and maths this summer, compared with 43 per cent in 2011.

At Babington, 45 per cent achieved good grades, including English and maths, compared with 38 per cent the year before.

Rachel Dickinson, strategic director for children's services at the city council, said: "This is a record for Leicester schools and one we're very proud of. Not only that, we're confident that if Babington and Lancaster were inspected tomorrow, they would both receive good reports.

"This summer, both schools outperformed previous years and that's something we want to keep shouting about."

The city's schools have made steady improvements since 2007 when they were deemed to be among the worst in the country and eight were either good or outstanding.

In the past month, New College, in New Parks, and Fullhurst, in Braunstone, were both rated good and showing a rapid rise in attainment.

New College head teacher, Jane Brown, said: "It's fantastic news, especially because it's under tough new Ofsted criteria and we were only given a few hours' notice."

Primary schools in the city are also improving, but Mrs Dickinson said there was "still work to do".

"We're not going to get complacent about our secondary schools and we're working hard to ensure more of our primaries have good or outstanding judgements," she said.

"We will continue our partnership work, pairing outstanding schools with those which aren't doing so well, and ensuring they get the right support."

Of the 83 primary schools in the city, 52 are good or outstanding, 26 satisfactory and five inadequate.

Figures released this week showed only three of the city's primaries had failed to reach the Government's benchmark of 60 per cent of pupils reaching level four in English and maths at age 11.

Councillor Vi Dempster, assistant city mayor for education, said: "It shows our collaborative approach really works.

"Some parents may have a misguided view of the quality of our schools.

"Whatever area you live in the city, there's a great secondary catchment school to go to."

A three-month consultation into plans to close ambulance stations and replace them with two "super stations" and stand-by points was ending today.

East Midlands Ambulance Service (Emas) said the shake-up would improve response times and ensure the right crews attended calls.

Phil Milligan, Emas chief executive, said: "We have been very clear fundamental changes are needed for Emas to improve the way it works, meets the performance standards and provides quality care and a timely response to 999 calls.

"Since the launch of our consultation, we have attended more than 150 meetings where we have presented our proposals and listened to the thoughts and views of the public.

"People have taken this opportunity and I thank them for their commitment to helping us make the right changes."

The proposals have been criticised by members of the GMB and Unison unions.

Colin Todd, GMB regional organiser, said patients would be "short changed and left without the emergency cover they deserve".

A march was held in Hinckley last weekend to call for the town's ambulance station to be retained.

A petition was due to be handed in today.

Bosworth MP David Tredinnick has called for the town to have a hub station in the new arrangement.

A meeting of the Emas trust board will be held to review a report on the consultation on Thursday, January 10, and final plans decided on Monday, January 28.

The consultation document is available at:

www.emas.nhs.uk

Comments on the proposals can be made until 5pm by e-mailing:

beingthebest@emas.nhs.uk

The closing minutes of Leicester Tigers' 18th consecutive win over Italian opposition was sheer theatre.

On a rain-sodden pitch, with a 13-7 deficit and in desperate need of the try and conversion that would put them back in the lead, Tigers camped five metres short of the Treviso line as they won penalty after penalty at scrums on their own put-in.

Each time, all eyes veered towards referee Alain Rolland to see if he would award them the penalty-try that seemed inevitable. But with the clock ticking ominously close to a famous Treviso victory, the pantomime villain refused them time and time again.

By the start of the 78th minute, Rolland was already the subject of some incandescent rage by Tigers fans for a series of baffling key decisions.

But he could not deny the visitors when another almighty surge sent the Treviso scrum into tatters again and the referee finally ran under the posts for the penalty try. George Ford converted it and, to the utter relief of a large travelling contingent, Leicester led 14-13.

It was at almost exactly the same time of the game two years ago when Alesana Tuilagi ran in for the game-winning try for another come-from-behind victory.

The Italians are getting closer and they played some excellent rugby. They just need to start believing they can actually win these games.

Rolland's deteriorating relationship with Tigers' fans began on 28 minutes after Leicester had gone 7-0 up with a try that is unlikely to be bettered all season.

Ben Youngs took a tap penalty almost on his own line and sprinted off down the right past three players before feeding Anthony Allen, who passed to Mat Tait.

The 26-year-old took the ball on and made an almost impossible offload in the tackle back to Allen, who fizzed a pass to Adam Thompstone and he ran in for his sixth try in six starts. It was sensational stuff and would not have happened but for the quick-thinking and pace of Youngs.

At 7-0, Ford had already missed a penalty and Treviso prop Michele Rizzo was in the sin-bin for stamping as Tigers took control.

But on 28 minutes, as the hosts mounted their first real attack, they rumbled a first-phase maul down towards the Leicester line when Julian Salvi pulled it down 10 metres short of the line. Rolland stunned the whole ground by awarding a penalty-try.

It was an astonishing decision. Penalty? Yes. Yellow card for Salvi? Probably. But to award a penalty-try that far out was almost unprecedented.

Alberto Di Bernardo levelled the scores and Treviso's tails were up. They took the lead on 36 minutes and Treviso led 10-7 at half-time.

Ford, who missed a penalty just before the interval, needs to show more consistency with his goal-kicking. His cross-field kicks out of hand are incredibly accurate but, on his seventh start in eight games, his 65 per cent penalty-kicking ratio needs to improve.

That miss was exacerbated when Di Bernardo made it 13-7 soon after half-time – but Tigers upped the intensity.

Several opportunities to score went begging from five-metre line-outs and five-metre scrums and then, as one scrum pushed over the line for what seemed like a score, Rolland, for some reason, blew to re-set.

It was another mesmerising decision but substitutes Geordan Murphy, Martin Castrogiovanni and Logovi'i Mulipola had given Tigers the impetus they needed and Leicester were now well on top.

Treviso centre Christian Loamanu became the second home player to see yellow for a block on Murphy and Tigers laid siege to the Treviso line before the heart-stopping climax averted defeat.

Murphy was superb after going on, while Cockerill's other substitutes, Mulipola and Castrogiovanni, changed the nature of the forwards' battle. Both men needed big games and, boy, did they deliver.

There were other plusses too. Louis Deacon's physicality was incredible. Some of his clear-out work at the ruck was fearsome. Brother Brett continues to put his hand up with a performance full of bravery and commitment.

Come late January, we will all be hoping this game has been largely forgotten. It was really ugly but incredibly important.

Leicester Tigers went to Treviso in the hope of a repeat of their result last week at Welford Road – a bonus-point win.

Here is how the action unfolded at the Stadio Comunale di Monigo, in Treviso.

5 min: George Ford has a chance to open the scoring for Leicester with a long-distance kick. It has the legs but drifts well wide.

13 min: TRY (0-7) Adam Thompstone scores Tigers' best try of the season and one that will do well to be bettered all season. Ben Youngs begins the move near his own line with a quick tap penalty and scampers into space on the right. On halfway, he passes to Anthony Allen who finds Mat Tait at pace. The 26-year-old takes it on and makes a stunning offload back to Allen. He fizzes a pass out to Thompstone, who runs in a sensational score. Fly-half Ford adds a tough conversion for Tigers.

16 min: YELLOW CARD Treviso prop Michele Rizzo is sent to the sin-bin for stamping on a Tigers player at the back of a ruck and the hosts are down to 14 men.

28 min: PENALTY-TRY (7-7) Huge controversy as Treviso take line-out ball and rumble a maul towards the Leicester line. Julian Salvi comes in and pulls the maul down and referee Alain Rolland goes straight under the posts for a penalty-try. Tigers players protest to the Irish official but it's too late and Alberto Di Bernardo levels the scores.

32 min: Di Bernardo misses the chance to put the home side ahead with a penalty.

35 min: PENALTY (10-7) The Italian fly-half makes no mistake a few minutes later and slots over a penalty which puts his side ahead for the first time in the game.

40 min: Ford misses his second penalty of the half and this is the easier one of the two. It means Tigers go in at the break behind after dominating the opening half-an-hour.

H-T: Treviso 10 Leicester 7

45 min: PENALTY (13-7) Di Bernardo extends the home side's advantage to six points as they begin the second half in positive fashion.

66 min: YELLOW CARD Treviso centre Christian Loamanu becomes the second Italian player sent to the bin after a cynical block of Geordan Murphy after the Irishman had unloaded an up-and-under.

77 min PENALTY TRY (13-14) There's more controversy in the final minutes as Treviso are penalised time and time again by Rolland at a five-metre scrum but he does not award a penalty try until it is nearly too late. Eventually, Leicester get their reward, Ford adds the extras from in front of the posts.

F-T: Treviso 13 Leicester 14

A car crashed into the front of an off-licence in the early hours of Sunday.

Police received a call shortly after 2.15am that a vehicle had smashed into the front of Oakham Wines, in the town's High Street.

The vehicle, which narrowly missed the town Christmas tree, caused severe damage to the front of the off-licence and knocked down displays inside.

The owner of the off-licence was on the scene yesterday cleaning up the debris and trying to assess the extent of the damage.

He said: "I am too busy clearing up to talk. This is a very bad time."

The fire service made the scene safe before handing the incident over to the police.

A spokeswoman for the police said officers received a call about the incident at 2.16am.

She said it was not known if anyone was injured in the incident.

No one has been arrested. She said: "Inquiries are continuing into the circumstances."

Anyone with information about the incident can ring police on 101.

A man who suffered multiple injuries in a kitesurfing accident is back home after spending months in hospital learning to walk and talk again.

Dave Coley, 52, of Leicester Forest East, was dragged 20 feet into the air by a freak gust of wind and slammed down on to the sand "like a rag doll" in Hunstanton, Norfolk, in June.

He suffered head injuries, a broken neck, two fractured shoulders, a fractured pelvis, two broken arms and five broken ribs in the accident.

He was found unconscious, face down, by chance by a lifeboat crew returning from another rescue.

Dave, a sewing machine mechanic who has been a windsurfer for 26 years and took up kitesurfing four years ago, is now getting about his bungalow using crutches or a wheeled frame.

He said: "I'm glad to be back in the comfort of my own home. I can get about and I prefer using the sticks.

"The physio comes in the early morning and I do exercises, including a bit of fast walking on the treadmill."

He said he has been able to swim again at Braunstone leisure centre and is managing about six lengths each week with the aid of a float.

Dave spent six months in four different hospitals, including three weeks in the intensive care unit at Addenbrookes Hospital, in Cambridge, and three months learning to walk and talk again in the Young Disabled Unit at Leicester General Hospital.

Wife Debbie, 52, said: "We went back to Addenbrookes to see his consultant.

He said he was "frankly amazed" by how Dave's recovered.

"He said he sees people with fewer injuries who have not made such a good recovery.

"I am surprised how well he is doing, given the extent of his neurological injuries. It's absolutely brilliant he's so determined – he will get better.

"Our younger daughter, Vicky, is very good. She's always pushing him to do the sort of things he needs to do.

"Friends who visit notice the difference and Becky, one of our daughters who comes up from her home in Watford once a week, says 'I've not seen you do that before, dad'.

"He's already exceeded everything he's supposed to be able to do, but he wants to get back as much as possible to how he was before.

"It takes the time it takes. We take each day as it comes and every day gets better."

Colleagues at Fullhurst Community College, in Braunstone, where Debbie works as a family liaison officer, have so far raised £300 for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

"Without them, he wouldn't be here," said Debbie.

"They were the ones to rescue him. We're planning to visit them to say thank you when Dave is well enough.

Dave said: "If I can windsurf again I'll be happy. I can manage to keep going for a few minutes when I walk."

Leicester City made one change from the side that drew last week with Barnsley as striker Jamie Vardy returned in place of Martyn Waghorn, who was recovering after having his appendix removed.

Millwall gave a recall to former City striker Danny N'Guessan, who partnered Chris Wood in attack.

Wood was linked with a move to the King Power Stadium last week.

10 min: A great move on the edge of the Lions penalty box and Vardy's clever flick sets up Andy King, but his shot is blocked. City have made the better start.

19 min: Wes Morgan raises his foot in a tackle and a melee ensues. He did not make contact but the referee calls both captains over and books David Nugent and Jimmy Abdou for the scuffle.

23 min: James Henry tries his luck from long range with a half-volley, which sails harmlessly wide. It is Millwall's first attempt on goal, and neither goalkeeper has had a save to make.

29 min: N'Guessan heads over the bar from six yards from an Adam Smith free-kick. It was a good chance for the Lions.

32 min: Millwall go close to scoring. A clever pass from Wood sets up Liam Trotter one-on-one with Schmeichel, but the City keeper makes a great save. It was the best chance of the game so far.

35 min: Booking Anthony Knockaert for dissent.

37 min: Millwall given a free-kick in a dangerous position, 25 yards out just left of centre, but Henry fires harmlessly wide. Wasteful.

38 min: City go close to scoring. Vardy finds Nugent at the back post with a good cross, and Nugent meets the ball on the volley but strikes David Forde's legs. He could not have struck it better but the angle was too tight.

39 min: Danny Drinkwater tries his luck with a half-volley from 20 yards out but it flies straight into the hands of Forde.

45+1 min: N'Guessan shoots from 20 yards out after finding some space and Schmeichel has to dive to his left to make the save.

H-T: Millwall 0 City 0

53 min: The second half starts even scruffier than the first finished, with possession being squandered by both sides as the ball bounces around from player to player like a pinball machine.

57 min: A great piece of skill from Knockaert on the edge of the Lions box and he tees up Drinkwater for a shot, but he balloons his strike way over the bar to the relief of the home fans.

59 min: Shane Lowry crosses and there is a mix-up between Drinkwater and Morgan, which presents Wood with a great chance but he volleys wide.

64 min: SUBSTITUTION Ben Marshall comes on for Knockaert.

65 min: Drinkwater is seeing a lot of the ball and he has another shot from the edge of the area, but Forde watches it go wide of his near post.

67 min: GOAL 1-0 City are opened up like a can of beans. Substitute Andy Keogh, who comes on for N'Guessan, plays a one-two with Trotter, who crosses for Chris Taylor to tap home from a yard out. A simple goal.

70 min: SUBSTITUTIONS Matty James on for King, and Marko Futacs on for Lloyd Dyer. City go 4-3-3.

75 min: Marshall lets fly from long range but again Forde watches it go wide of the post and was not really going to be troubled by it.

83 min: Marshall fires in a free-kick which Forde almost makes a mess of. It is City's first effort on target in the second half.

86 min: BOOKING Futacs booked for high tackle on Smith.

90 min: Nugent drags a volley wide from just inside the area. It has not been City's day in front of goal.

90+1 min: Keogh misses a free header from six yards which would have killed off City's lingering hopes of taking something from the game.

90+5 min: Last chance for City as Morgan shoots from the edge of the box after a scramble inside the Lions box. City are bombarding Millwall but there is no way through.

F-t: Millwall 1 City 0

Director of rugby Richard Cockerill admitted to being "amazed" at a penalty-try decision that nearly ended Leicester Tigers' quest for European glory.

Referee Alain Rolland awarded Treviso five points when a first-phase driving maul was pulled down by Julian Salvi a full 10 metres from the Tigers line.

With laws stating that a try must "probably have been scored" for a penalty-try to be awarded, it was a huge call from Rolland.

The decision allowed the Italians to level the scores at 7-7 after half-an-hour and could have been the difference between Tigers topping the group or being all-but out.

Rolland is no stranger to controversy after famously sending off Wales flanker Sam Warburton just 19 minutes into the World Cup semi-final against France last year.

Cockerill was not the only one critical of Rolland's latest performance as a stream of Leicester fans took to social networking sites to voice their displeasure during and after the game.

"I felt the referee was against us a fair bit. I doubt I will ever see a more bizarre penalty try against us," said Cockerill said. "I was just amazed.

"I have been playing the game for 30 years and coaching for 10 years and I have never seen anything like it in my whole life.

"It that (try) had been given for us, I would have sat there in embarrassment.

"It's all down to interpretations but what about the series of scrums at the end where we have to have several scrums to get our reward?"

Cockerill was referring to the numerous penalties Treviso conceded in the scrum late on as Tigers pushed for a game-winning score.

Eventually, Rolland awarded Leicester a penalty try – but it could have come a lot earlier.

As it was, the late score gave Tigers a four-point haul, which put them top of Pool Two after the Ospreys beat Toulouse.

Cockerill paid tribute to his team for hanging in there in wet and heavy conditions and against a Treviso side determined to end this season's win-less run in the competition.

"We are relieved to win because everything went against us and Treviso played exceptionally well," said Cockerill.

"They are a good side. They have 18 players in the Italian squad. They were committed, have a good set-piece and we were lucky to get away with the victory.

"But congratulations to our lads too for digging in and playing to the death. We didn't take lots of the opportunities we created but they were horrendous conditions.

"I would never doubt the effort of our players. But we knew if we kept playing, an opportunity would come."

Police will make a fresh wave of arrests before the end of the year under a campaign to track down people who are living off crime.

The campaign Too Much Bling? Give Us A Ring encourages the public to tell police about people who lead lavish lifestyles without apparently doing an honest day's work.

The force's economic crime unit – which has seized cars, clothes, jewellery and cash worth million of pounds in the past decade – has vowed to look into suspects' lifestyles and finances for evidence of serious crime.

The first arrest of the latest phase of the campaign came on Wednesday.

A man was arrested under the Misuse of Drugs Act after officers raided a house in Evington, Leicester.

Officers seized about £1,000 in cash. The suspect has been released on bail.

Detective Inspector David Swift-Rollinson, of the force's economic crime unit, said: "We will be taking further action during the rest of December against other suspects."

The Proceeds of Crime Act enables officers to confiscate anything paid for with criminally-obtained money and goods.

Previously, public tip-offs have led police to people who have been living on cash generated by crimes such as drug dealing, burglary, handling stolen goods and money laundering.

Det Insp Swift-Rollinson said: "We're encouraging people to think 'there's something not right about person X and I'm going to tell the police about it'.

"All they need to do is give us the basic details and we will investigate that person's background.

"It might be that this person, even though there is no evidence they have the means to afford it, changes their car every few months, have computers and other goods going into the house all the time, takes nice holidays regularly or has even had an extension built.

"We will look at what intelligence we have on these people and assess how they seem to be able to afford these things.

"We will build up a file and, if we have enough evidence, will arrest them and seize that property. We will not tolerate people profiting from crime."

Zuffar Haq, vice-chairman of Leicestershire Crimestoppers, said: "It's good news that calls are still coming in to give police the information they need."

Call Leicestershire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Leicester City were given another reminder, if one was needed, of what it is going to take to claim the promotion prize they desperately seek.

When they are on song and allowed to play their brand of attractive, passing football, there is arguably no better side in the Championship.

But opponents of the more physical and direct persuasion now realise they can knock City out of their stride and, as Leeds did just a couple of weeks ago, Millwall repeated the feat at the Den on Saturday.

Hearing opposition managers after they have claimed victories talk about City as title contenders and one of the best side's in the division must be tiring for Leicester manager Nigel Pearson. The platitudes are worthless after defeats of this manner.

This was an ugly, horrible game of football, but they are the ones that City need to start winning if they are to truly challenge for the top two spots.

Towering on the horizon of the Den, the Shard, the tallest building in the European Union, is nearing completion and some of the penthouse apartments at the summit are rumoured to be worth £50million.

The amazing view is said to be one of the reasons for such a hefty figure, but if yours comes with a view of the Den then you may wish to ask for a discount.

The football they play certainly is not for the purists and it must be tough to watch, even for some of the home fans, but it is proving effective and now they are on the heels of City in the play-off places.

In truth, although it was their only real moment of genuine quality in the game, the winner came from a sweeping move which City themselves would have been proud of, although they will not be pleased with the way they defended it.

Two substitutes, Andy Keogh and Chris Taylor, were involved and when Liam Trotter pulled the ball back for Adam Smith to tap in from close range, the Lions had something to defend, and that is their strength.

Superbly marshalled by Danny Shittu, who is a challenger to Wes Morgan for the tag of the Championship's best defender, the Lions comfortably repelled every City attack.

As City pumped high ball after high ball into the box in the closing stages, it was like spawning season as Shittu and Mark Beevers rose like salmon to gobble up every high ball.

In fact, the only real chance of note that City created came in the first half when David Nugent saw his back-post volley saved by keeper David Forde.

Nugent has been City's main attacking threat this season. He has shown he has the quality to take a good percentage of the chances that have fallen his way and opponents have wised-up.

They know if they can shackle Nugent, City struggle to find the killer touch to complement their approach play, although this area of their game was not at its best at the Den.

City are not one-dimensional, but they do need to add a couple more strings to their bow to help them come through tough, physical tests such as this.

A man has died after being discovered collapsed in the cells at Leicester Magistrates' Court.

He was found by custody staff at 10.15am on Saturday. An ambulance crew attended and the man was taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary, where he was pronounced dead.

Police are investigating the incident, which occurred as a special sitting of the court was being held.

The identity of the man has not been released and police have launched an investigation.

The incident has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

A spokesman for the police said: "Police were called to Leicester Magistrates' Court at 10.29am by East Midlands Ambulance Service after a man had been found collapsed inside the cell block of the court.

"Investigations are in the very early stages. Formal identification of the deceased has not yet taken place."

A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice, which runs the court system, said: "At approximately 10.15am, custody staff at Leicester Magistrates' Court found a man collapsed in a cell.

"Medical staff were called and he was taken to hospital but we understand he was later pronounced dead."

No one was available for comment from the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Injury-hit defender Sean St Ledger may be forced to fly to Germany to see a leading specialist in a bid to get his Leicester City career back on track.

The Republic of Ireland international has not featured for City for more than two months after picking up a hamstring injury.

He limped out of the 2-0 victory against Bristol City on October 6 and revealed he has suffered a couple of setbacks in his rehabilitation.

In a bid to solve the persistent injury, St Ledger could now jet to Munich to renowned Germany and Bayern Munich doctor, Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt.

"It is the worst injury I've ever had," said St Ledger.

"Usually with hamstrings, there's a certain amount of recovery time and then you're okay. But this one is a bit more complicated.

"I attempted to get back into training a couple of times and broke down.

"The problem is that it's bled, and that's stayed in there and is not going away.

"It was a pretty bad hamstring to begin with, so I knew I would be a long time out.

"But I never anticipated that it would be this long, even though the treatment that I've been receiving at Leicester has been first-class.

"I can't do a lot at the moment. I'm just going in every day and taking it easy.

"I might be going to Germany for a second opinion. The last option is to have surgery and have it drained, and that should heal the problem.

"It's not a procedure that happens very often but the option is there."

St Ledger admits he is growing increasingly frustrated at being sidelined but said he wanted to make sure the injury was completely healed before attempting a comeback.

"There's not really much people can say to you when you're injured," he said.

"There are not too many words that can console you.

"When will I be back? I said a few weeks ago that I thought I'd be back in a couple of weeks, and that wasn't the case.

"So this time, I wouldn't want to say. It's been so long already and I just want to take my time and make sure I'm right."

Leicester Tigers are believed to be deep in talks to bring Perpignan scrum-half David Mele to the club next season.

I understand the 27-year-old is very keen to come and play for Leicester and that both parties are working towards completing a deal.

Mele is a goal-kicking scrum-half who can also play fly-half and has all the typically pugnacious traits you associate with a No.9.

His style is reminiscent of Julien Dupuy, the Frenchman who was a huge hit at the club during the 2008-09 season, where he was trusted to take on goal-kicking duties during some big games.

Mele is an out-and-out play-maker and is flexible between the fly-half and scrum-half duties. He also has a high percentage goal-kicking ratio in the Top 14.

His potential arrival in the summer could be an early indication to the way Leicester are planning to structure their half-backs.

With Sam Harrision and Ben Youngs under contract next season, it seems that Micky Young could be on his way out of the club.

The former Newcastle man is coming to the end of a two-year deal that has been littered with frustration for him with injuries and suspensions hampering his progress at the club. It seems almost inconceivable that Tigers would be talking to Mele if they intended to keep Harrison, Young and Youngs on their books.

It could also be a step to guarantee an option in case George Ford leaves the club in the summer.

The 19-year-old's one-year deal comes to an end in June and, although he is understood to have begun negotiating with Leicester over a new deal, Tigers are clearly not hanging around to cover their tracks if he leaves to play elsewhere next year.

Should he go, Mele's goal-kicking abilities would be crucial to a squad that would have Toby Flood, Dan Bowden and Matt Cornwell as its fly-half options.

The Frenchman has been with Perpignan for the last seven years.

Firefighters rescued a man who was trapped in a flat while the shop below was on fire.
Emergency crews were called to the shop in Mill Street, Oakham, at about 4.15am today.
They rescued a man from the flat above using a ladder. He was taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.
Firefighters remained at the scene until just after 6am. The shop was badly damaged in the blaze, which was believed to have started accidentally, due to a faulty electrical appliance.