Latest updates: East Midlands Live Monday 11 December 2017

Summary

Live updates on Monday 11 December
Birstall house explosion: Three people taken to hospital
Fire service confirm blast was gas explosion
Evacuated residents told to go to village hall
Drivers told to avoid side roads
Airport apology over passengers 'left waiting on plane for hours'
School closures across the East Midlands due to cold weather
Teenage cyclist dies after Beeston bus crash

Live Reporting

Maryam Qaiser and Calum McKenzie

'Dambusters training area' covered by snowpublished at 14:04 Greenwich Mean Time 11 December 2017
Calum McKenzie
BBC News
Derwent Reservoir looking particularly stunning...
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Weather warning for ice across East Midlandspublished at 13:47 Greenwich Mean Time 11 December 2017
Rich Davis
BBC Weather presenter
A yellow weather warning for ice is in place from 16:00 GMT this afternoon until 11:00 GMT on Tuesday.
These patches of ice and any remaining snow could lead to further travel disruption and tricky driving conditions tonight and tomorrow morning.
The situation is changing all the time, so please do keep an eye on the BBC Weather website.
Passengers 'left waiting on plane for four hours'published at 13:45 Greenwich Mean Time 11 December 2017
Maryam Qaiser
BBC News
A frustrated passenger on a flight to Lanzarote says the plane has been stuck on the runway for four hours.
James Whitfield said the Jet2 plane was meant to take-off yesterday at 10:20 but it was delayed, which meant they were put up in a hotel overnight.
He said the flight was rescheduled for 09:45 this morning but passengers have been sitting in the plane for four hours.
Image source, James Whitfield
Mr Whitfield, who has tweeted us from the plane, said: "No sign of any movement, still not de-iced the plane and likelihood is there will be no food available until we land four hours from take off."
A spokesperson for East Midlands Airport said they were "looking into this".
We have contacted the airport for a full statement.
Derby election fraud trial: Mr Fernandez took proof of materialpublished at 13:39 Greenwich Mean Time 11 December 2017
Chris Doidge
BBC Radio Derby, political reporter
Christopher Fernandez has told the court he did take petitions about the closure of the Moorways swimming pool with him as he collected election nomination signatures.
But he said they were proof of previous campaigning material.
He said the nomination form was on top of his clipboard, and the petition underneath.
He said: "I never went out with the deliberate intention to deceive people."
Mr Fernandez told Derby Crown Court how he went about collecting nomination signatures for TUSC candidates.
"The first thing I did was ask if they were on the electoral register.
"I was aware of the rules (on door-to-door canvassing). I had to make sure that they were understanding what I was saying."
Christopher Fernandez, 59, from Chaddesden has denied 14 counts related to the nomination of candidates for the city's local elections.
The trial continues.
Derby election fraud trial: Signatory felt 'misled'published at 13:01 Greenwich Mean Time 11 December 2017
Chris Doidge
BBC Radio Derby, political reporter
The trial of a Derby political activist accused of fraudulently collecting signatures to get his party's candidates on the 2016 ballot papers has heard more evidence that the signatories didn't know what they were being asked to do.
Christopher Fernandez, 59, from Chaddesden has denied 14 counts related to the nomination of candidates for the city's local elections.
In a police interview, Mr Fernandez said: "It was my first time as an election agent and I wanted to do a good job.
"For (those signatories) to say they've never heard of TUSC is quite incredible."
He told police one of the signatories had delivered leaflets for TUSC (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition).
Image source, PA
This morning, Derby Crown Court heard the evidence of John Hudson, who has died since giving his account to police.
Mr Hudson said he thought Mr Fernandez was an independent candidate.
He said he did not know the form belonged to another candidate, or that they were from the TUSC. He said he felt misled.
The case for the defence is due to begin shortly.
Dawson Willcock: Funeral to be held on Fridaypublished at 12:50 Greenwich Mean Time 11 December 2017
Maryam Qaiser
BBC News
The funeral of a two-year-old boy who died from a rare form of liver cancer will be held on Friday.
Dawson Willcock from Sutton-in-Ashfield was diagnosed earlier this year and when chemotherapy didn't work his parents Wendy and David fundraised for treatment in America.
The Dollar for Dawson campaign raised £380,000 but they were told his cancer was "too aggressive" for treatment and Dawson passed away last month.
Wendy said: "He laughed in the face of cancer, he constantly was laughing, he never cried in pain or sorrow, he never felt sorry for himself.
"He would make us laugh every single day, even in his final days."
Four-vehicle crash in Buxtonpublished at 12:27 Greenwich Mean Time 11 December 2017
Maryam Qaiser
BBC News
It may be best to avoid The Square in Buxton this afternoon.
Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service is currently dealing with a four-vehicle crash.
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Birstall explosion: EMAS praises emergency workerspublished at 12:26 Greenwich Mean Time 11 December 2017
Maryam Qaiser
BBC News
East Midlands Ambulance Service has praised the emergency services for their "teamwork" in dealing with the house explosion in Allington Drive this morning.
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Fundraising effort under way for explosion victimspublished at 12:12 Greenwich Mean Time 11 December 2017
Calum McKenzie
BBC News
A fundraising page has been set up to help those affected by this morning's gas explosion at a property in Birstall.
Image source, JustGiving
Dozens of people have already made donations totalling more than £700.
One of the people who donated, Kelly Yeomans, wrote on the page, external: "Feeling so helpless when only just down the road!
"Sending love and prayers to all that need help."
Some properties without water in Meltonpublished at 11:55 Greenwich Mean Time 11 December 2017
Maryam Qaiser
BBC News
There are reports of some properties without water in Melton this morning. Engineers are working to fix the problem.
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Supermarket robbed at knifepointpublished at 11:30 Greenwich Mean Time 11 December 2017
Maryam Qaiser
BBC News
Officers are trying to trace a man who robbed a supermarket at knifepoint in Kirby-in-Ashfield.
Nottinghamshire Police said, external the man entered the Co-op on Chapel Street at about 21:00 on Saturday where he stole some cash.
Image source, Google
Police said the offender was black, had his face covered and was wearing a dark coloured coat.
He ran towards Victoria Road.
Birstall explosion: Three people taken to hospitalpublished at 11:10 Greenwich Mean Time 11 December 2017
Maryam Qaiser
BBC News
Two people have been airlifted to hospital following this morning's house explosion in Allington Drive.
Another person will be taken to the Leicester Royal Infirmary by ambulance.
Image source, PA
Tim Hargraves, from East Midlands Ambulance Service, said: “Our Hazardous Area Response Team, a paramedic in an ambulance car, three ambulance crews, two air ambulances and the East Midlands Emergency Care Scheme have been dispatched to the scene and are working hard to provide emergency medical and trauma care and treatment."
Birstall explosion: Temporary accommodation to be providedpublished at 11:05 Greenwich Mean Time 11 December 2017
Maryam Qaiser
BBC News
Council staff and volunteers will be providing emergency temporary accommodation to residents affected by the explosion in Allington Drive in Birstall.
Image source, PA
A Charnwood Borough Council spokesman said: “We were called to support the emergency services following reports of a loud bang and a house being damaged in Allington Drive, Birstall, earlier this morning.
“We have sent a senior officer to the scene, an officer from our building control team and volunteers to help provide temporary emergency accommodation at Birstall Parish Council offices in Birstall.
“An officer is also visiting the scene in case people affected by the incident need short-term temporary accommodation in the coming days.”
Birstall explosion: Everyone accounted forpublished at 10:59 Greenwich Mean Time 11 December 2017
Maryam Qaiser
BBC News
Everyone has now been accounted for following a gas explosion in Birstall this morning, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service has said.
The fire service added three people are being treated for their injuries.
Image source, PA
Both Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance and Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance were also in attendance.
A spokeswoman confirmed they treated two patients but said they could not give further information "due to patient confidentiality".
Lane blocked after water pipe bursts in Nottinghampublished at 10:48 Greenwich Mean Time 11 December 2017
Maryam Qaiser
BBC News
One lane is currently blocked on London Road in Nottingham due to this burst water pipe.
Birstall explosion: Pictures from the scenepublished at 10:37 Greenwich Mean Time 11 December 2017
Maryam Qaiser
BBC News
This is the scene in Allington Drive after the gas explosion this morning.
Image source, PA
Image source, PA
Image source, PA
Image source, PA
Birstall explosion: Residents told to go to village hallpublished at 09:59 Greenwich Mean Time 11 December 2017
Maryam Qaiser
BBC News
Residents who've been affected by the gas explosion in Allington Drive have been told by police to go to the village hall on Birstall Road.
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Birstall explosion: Drivers told to avoid side roadspublished at 09:56 Greenwich Mean Time 11 December 2017
Maryam Qaiser
BBC News
A number of side roads have been closed near Allington Drive following this morning's gas explosion.
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Fire crews confirm blast was gas explosionpublished at 09:45 Greenwich Mean Time 11 December 2017
Maryam Qaiser
BBC News
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service has confirmed the explosion at the house in Birstall was a gas explosion.
But the service added there are no reports of a fire and there is no smell of gas at this time.
The main property has collapsed and neighbouring properties partially collapsed. Six other properties have also been partially affected.
Birstall explosion: Council officers at the scenepublished at 09:21 Greenwich Mean Time 11 December 2017
Maryam Qaiser
BBC News
Council officers from Charnwood Borough Council are at the scene of the house explosion in Allington Drive this morning.
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