Gavin Bevis
BBC Local Live

Police have been cleared of any wrongdoing, external after an elderly pedestrian died when he was hit by a car fleeing officers.

Barrie Arkesden, 75, was killed in April when a Vauxhall Astra being driven by Matthew Hogg crashed into him in Main Street, Hilton.

Mr Hogg, 24, from Etwall, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and was jailed for eight years.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) heard the pursuit, which was partly caught on camera, was prompted by Hogg failing to stop for officers but was abandoned after three minutes when the police driver decided it was too dangerous to continue.

Their investigation concluded the pursuit was carried out appropriately and in accordance with force policies.

Gavin Bevis
BBC Local Live

A dog found in such an emaciated state that her ribs, hips and spine could be clearly seen has made an amazing recovery after being found a new home.

The RSPCA said Coco was seriously ill and "really down" when they visited her home in Buxworth in April but said she is now a "totally different dog".

Her previous owner has received a lifetime ban from keeping animals and has been ordered to do 120 hours of unpaid work by magistrates after pleading guilty to three animal welfare offences.

Image source, RSPCA

RSPCA inspector Heather Morris said: "It is hard to believe she's the same dog I took into our care earlier this year. Back then she was so quiet and clearly suffering, but now she is so playful and happy.

"It goes to show what difference love and care makes towards a dog.”

Image source, RSPCA

Gavin Bevis
BBC Local Live

Olympic champion swimmer Adam Peaty swapped trunks for his smartest suit to be invested as MBE at Buckingham Palace today.

The former City of Derby swimmer, now with Loughborough, said he was nervous before the ceremony but found the occasion "amazing".

Maryam Qaiser
BBC Local Live

Three robin sculptures that will be part of an art trail in Nottingham have been unveiled.

The trail called Hoodwinked will run throughout the city from July to September next year.

It has been organised by Nottingham City Council and Wild in Art, external to boost the city's economic, social and cultural life and raise funds for Nottinghamshire Hospice.

One of the birds represents Robin Hood and the second bird is called Independence to celebrate Pakistan and India's Independence.

Businesses are being encouraged to sponsor the third robin, which doesn't have a theme yet.

A 13-year-old girl was also injured when they were both hit by a car in Derbyshire.

Maryam Qaiser
BBC Local Live

A 7ft-long Burmese python has been found abandoned in a plastic box on a Nottingham street.

The snake, which is one of the five largest species of its type in the world, was found by a member of the public in Kentwood Road, Sneinton.

Image source, RSPCA

It has gone to a specialist exotics vet to be cared for before it is moved to a rescue centre for rehoming.

Simon Parker, chief inspector for the RSPCA in Nottingham, said they were "rescuing hundreds of reptiles every year", including snakes.

Sarah and Jack Hawkins believe previous stillbirth inquests could have prevented their daughter's death.

Maryam Qaiser
BBC Local Live

More than 1,200 real ales will go on sale at the Robin Hood beer and cider festival.

Thousands of people are expected to flock to Nottingham Castle for the four day event which starts this afternoon.

Suzie Hale, from Grafton Brewery in Worksop, says tastes are changing all the time.

She said: "You look around and you see niches and how the market is growing but beer has fashion as well...in the summer we like to drink a lot of pale beers and in the winter we like to drink a lot of dark beers."

Gavin Bevis
BBC Local Live

Drivers in Leicestershire and Rutland are facing major delays after a fatal crash led to the closure of part of the A1 in Lincolnshire.

Police have not said how many people died in the collision, between a car and a lorry near Colsterworth at about 01:00, but two people from the lorry have been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

A stretch of the northbound carriageway will be closed until this evening to allow for emergency resurfacing, external, which has led to heavy traffic on other roads in the area, including in Oakham and Melton.

Maryam Qaiser
BBC Local Live

Officers stopped 20 vehicles in just four hours during a police operation in Leicester to tackle "travelling criminality", external.

It was part of European-wide initiative Operation Trivium and saw three people arrested and four vehicles seized in the Narborough Road area of the city.

In this vehicle officers found a package containing a large quantity of cash.

Image source, Leicestershire Police‏

Maryam Qaiser
BBC Local Live

A change in the PE GCSE syllabus means elite speed skater Kyle Ross-Waddell cannot study the sport he loves.

The 16-year-old from Bramcote will now be assessed in football and athletics instead and worries it will affect his final result.

Gavin Bevis
BBC Local Live

A 29-year-old man has been charged with drug production after police found 200 cannabis plants at a house in Codnor, external.

A 39-year-old man and a 65-year-old woman were also arrested in Ripley following the raid in Glasshouse Hill on Friday.

Image source, Derbyshire Police

Image source, Derbyshire Police

BBC Leicester Sport

Leicester Lions owner Damien Bates says he'll need convincing to carry on, external after being subjected to online abuse.

Bates, who owns Leicester and their play-off rivals Sheffield, says he was accused of fixing the result of Monday's first-leg, in which Leicester secured a huge 28-point lead.

Bates denies he's done anything wrong and says he'll listen to offers for the Lions, who he rescued from financial difficulties after the end of last season.

Image source, Leicester Lions

A statement issued by the club's management, external said: "The foul language, abuse and shocking allegations made against us are not acceptable and we will now take stock of the season in a much different light."We would remind the trolls and keyboard warriors to be extremely careful what you wish for. Without us, two clubs would have been defunct."

Gavin Bevis
BBC Local Live

Happy days for Rory Palmer - not only is he making his debut as the new Labour MEP for the East Midlands, he's also among the lucky few to have their Twitter character limit doubled from 140 to 280.

Maryam Qaiser
BBC Local Live

About 100 cannabis plants were seized from a house in Nottingham.

Police raided the home in Cedar Road, Forest Fields, yesterday to find an estimated £100,000 worth of plants.

Image source, Radford Road Police

Nottinghamshire Police said the investigation is ongoing.

Image source, Radford Road Police

Gavin Bevis
BBC Local Live

The family of an 11-year-old girl who was killed in a car crash in Duckmanton have paid tribute to their "always smiling angel".

Mia Gartland died in hospital on Monday after being hit by a car on Chesterfield Road on Thursday.

A 13-year-old girl who was also hit suffered only minor injuries.

Image source, Derbyshire Police/Family photo

In a written statement, external, Mia's family said: "God wanted heaven to have a new angel and he wanted to have the best, that’s why he took you baby girl, so you can look after the rest.

"We miss you so much and will love you always.

“Fly high, you beautiful, always smiling angel. Thank you everyone for all your support.”

BBC Derby Sport

With Derby County and Nottingham Forest preparing to lock horns once again on Sunday, former Rams striker Paul Peschisolido has been reliving one of the most famous goals in the history of the fixture.

In 2004, a back pass was on its way to Forest keeper Barry Roche when it hit a coffee cup and was diverted into the path of Peschisolido, who then scored to put the Rams 2-0 up.

The Canadian striker, now 46, described it as one of the most bizarre goals of his career.

Maryam Qaiser
BBC Local Live

A man's body has been discovered in the River Soar near a pub.

The man, thought to be in his 60s, was found in the water near The Otter pub in Kegworth on Sunday.

Image source, Google

Leicestershire Police , externalare trying to identify the man who is described as white with grey receding hair and he was wearing a gold watch and a gold square-faced sovereign ring.

Gavin Bevis
BBC Local Live

It's the end of an era - the man responsible for serving up beef cobs at Leicester Racecourse for the past 30 years is finally hanging up his carving knife.

Reg Stretton, 89, has decided now is the right time to retire from running The Angus Beef Bar at the venue.

He told BBC Radio Leicester: "I'll miss it, I'll miss the people, all the owners and trainers.

"But I've done my bit and it's coming up to winter - cold mornings, cold nights."

Maryam Qaiser
BBC Local Live

Five infant schools and a special school in Leicester have been praised for their work in improving reading and writing skills.

A report to councillors last night looked at how these schools can help others improve the city's current bottom ranking in England for child literacy.

Recent figures show only half of all five to six-year-olds in Leicester achieve a good level of development in the earliest years at school .

This ranked Leicester bottom out of 152 English authorities.

Image source, Google

Rebecca Conway, deputy headteacher of Uplands Infant School , one of the five schools, said: "We have got so many different cultures and so many different backgrounds that children are coming into school from and some children have never had any kind of education before they come into schools."