Summary

  • Updates for Wednesday 16 March 2016

  • News, sport, travel and weather updates resume at 08:00 Thursday

  1. Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00

    That's all our Local Live updates for today. We will be back at 08:00 tomorrow.

  2. Weather: Clear spells overnight with risk of frostpublished at 17:55

    Kaye Forster
    Weather Presenter, East Midlands Today

    It will remain dry again through the night with some clear spells at times and there may be a touch of frost, as temperatures drop to lows of 0C (32F) in rural areas.

    Weather temperatures for 6am on Thursday March 17

    A chilly but dry and bright start tomorrow and there will be some good spells of sunshine at times, with highs of 9C (48F).

  3. What lies beneath the Budget headlines?published at 17:50

    Euan Duncan
    BBC Local Live

    It's always what's in the small print that matters ... so the BBC's political editor for the East Midlands Tony Roe has been busy studying the finer details of the Budget 2016

    There's a £250m investment fund for small businesses in the Midlands Engine Investment Fund.

    And there are benefits for areas pressing ahead with devolution in the north, south, east and west, where the elected mayor "revolution is taking hold", but not in the East Midlands.

  4. Brewers hope to extend loan of Foxes' midfielderpublished at 17:40

    Nigel Cash
    BBC Radio Derby Sport

    Burton Albion manager Nigel Clough says a provisional agreement is in place with Leicester City which would see the loan of 18-year-old midfielder Hamza Choudhury extended until the end of the season.

    The 18-year-old Leicester City midfielder made his league debut for the Brewers against Fleetwood on Saturday.

  5. School support staff strike ballot likelypublished at 17:36

    As school support staff in Derby indicate they'd be willing to strike over an equal pay review, a reminder that Derby City Council says it can't afford to improve employee pay beyond the offer already on the table.

    The union Unison has held an 'indicative ballot' and says 84% of those who voted supported industrial action.

    Derby city council leader Ranjit Banwait talks to school support staff at earlier protest

    There could now be a formal ballot in a few weeks' time.

  6. School support staff willing to strikepublished at 17:22

    Chris Doidge
    BBC Radio Derby political reporter

    School support staff at Derby City Council have indicated they would be willing to take strike action over the authority's equal pay review.

    Unison's been carrying out an 'indicative ballot' to see if its members would consider strike action, or action short of a strike.

    If the review is implemented in its current form in June, it would see many school support staff lose thousands of pounds.

    School support staff in Derby at earlier protest outside Derby City Council building over pay review

    Unison says 84% of those who voted supported industrial action.

  7. Assembly Rooms: Are consultants worth the money?published at 17:06

    Facebook

    You've been reacting to our Facebook, external posts about the possible rebuilding of the Assembly Rooms in Derby, the future of which could become clearer in the summer.

    Mark Taylor posted: "So two years since the fire, five years minimum for a rebuild. Had to employ consultants to tell them that. Derby City Council you are an absolute joke."

    Assembly Rooms in Derby after car park roof fire

    And Louise Greenhoff asked: "How much did that cost the rate payer? A 'consultant' to state the obvious! More than the Darley Park concert I'd like to bet."

  8. Teenager found safepublished at 16:52

    We told you yesterday about 16-year-old Gabrielle Baker who was thought to be in the Derby area after going missing from her West Bridgford home on Monday afternoon.

    Police say she has now been found safe and well., external

  9. 'Cultural wasteland' claim over Assembly Rooms delaypublished at 16:38

    Euan Duncan
    BBC Local Live

    Derby's Conservatives say the city can't afford to wait five years for the reopening of the Assembly Rooms., external

    In a statement they say the recent announcement by the Labour council that it favours the long-term plan of demolition and rebuild will put Derby at risk of becoming a cultural wasteland.

    Assembly Rooms in Derby

    They say the council should seek a commercial partner to manage the Assembly Rooms and commit to its reopening.

  10. Latest headlines for Derbyshire and East Staffordshirepublished at 16:22

    Euan Duncan
    BBC Local Live

    Here's a reminder of the top stories we're covering this afternoon:

    • Rams add Harry Redknapp to coaching team
    • Police divers search Derbyshire marina for missing man
    • And diagnosable lung infection led to death of 12-year-old Derby girl, inquest hears
  11. Ayeeshia Jane Smith trial: Accused mum admitted being 'crap mother'published at 16:12

    Euan Duncan
    BBC Local Live

    A young woman jointly accused of murdering her one-year-old daughter in Staffordshire told a health visitor she was "a crap mother", a court has heard.

    An "upset" Kathryn Smith made the comment having had an abortion and after contact from social services to raise the prospect of taking her daughter Ayeeshia Jane Smith into care.

    The 21-month-old girl died at her home in Burton in May 2014.

    Kathryn Smith and her partner Matthew RigbyImage source, Staffordshire Police

    At Birmingham Crown Court, Ms Smith, 23, and her partner Matthew Rigby, 22, both from Nottingham, deny murder, allowing or causing a child's death and child cruelty. The trial continues.

  12. Missing man is 'family person'published at 15:48

    Euan Duncan
    BBC Local Live

    The sister of a 22-year-old man who's missing says his disappearance is out of character.

    Police divers are searching Sawley Marina near Long Eaton where Josh Cotton lives on a narrowboat.

    Abbey Lloyd said: "He's a very family person. I've got three children. He loves his nieces and nephews. He dotes on them. You can imagine the impact on them, never mind the rest of the family.

    Police diving team arrives at Sawley Marina

    "I just don't know where he is. It's so hard not knowing where he is."

  13. Lung infection led to 12-year-old girl's deathpublished at 15:15

    Euan Duncan
    BBC Local Live

    Derby Coroner's Court heard today that chances were missed to correctly diagnose Franchesca Pawson's condition before the 12-year-old died.

    Assistant coroner Louise Pinder says Franchesca died of septic shock because of a lung infection and the significance of her condition went unrecognised before her admission to the Royal Derby Hospital when it was too late.

  14. Chance missed to diagnose schoolgirl's deadly conditionpublished at 15:00

    Euan Duncan
    BBC Local Live

    An inquest into the death of a 12-year-old girl from Derby has concluded that opportunities were missed to correctly diagnose her condition before she died.

    Franchesca Pawson died suddenly on 12 January last year shortly after being admitted to the Royal Derby Hospital.

    An inquest has heard how she was taken to a walk-in centre twice in the days leading up to her death, but staff failed to spot the signs of sepsis.

  15. Redknapp one of 'most knowledgeable' figurespublished at 14:44

    Euan Duncan
    BBC Local Live

    Fair to say that it wasn't entirely unexpected that Harry Redknapp would be joining Derby County's coaching staff today.

    Rams' chairman Mel Morris said: "It is excellent news that Harry has agreed to join us. His experience spans over several decades and he is one of the most knowledgeable and informed figures in the game. 

    "When I spoke with Harry about the possibility of helping out on a short-term basis, it was evident from the start that he was excited at the prospect of joining us.

    Mel MorrisImage source, Derby County Football Club

    "I am sure he will perfectly complement Darren and the rest of our staff."

  16. Derby actor 'in frame' for Star Wars filmpublished at 14:12 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2016

    Euan Duncan
    BBC Local Live

    Given his growing Hollywood reputation perhaps it shouldn't come as a surprise that Derby's very own Jack O'Connell, external has reportedly been shortlisted to play a young Han Solo in a new Star Wars film.

    We could picture that, in fact with the help of Photoshop we have.  

    Derby actor Jack O'Connell and Chewbacca

    The news that the Derby actor is one of five contenders for the role comes soon after praise was heaped on O'Connell by actress turned director Jodie Foster for his performance in her recent movie Money Monster.

  17. Weather: Sunny spellspublished at 13:55

    Charlie Slater
    BBC Weather presenter

    It will be dry, bright and sunny this afternoon, with a cool breeze and highs of 8C (46F).

    Weather temperatures for Wednesday March 16 to Thursday 17

    Tonight it will stay dry, although cloud will build again eventually, with lows of 2C (36F).