Nick Smith
BBC News Online

Derbyshire Police have confirmed that a special branch operation is ongoing in Whiston Street, Derby.

A spokesman said: "Officers are in the area as part of an ongoing investigation. It's involving the East Midlands special ops unit - special branch.

"It is intelligence led and and there is no perceived immediate risk to public safety."

No further details are available at this time.

Image source, Google

The government wrongly assessed children as adults, leaving Derby City Council with extra costs.

Sonia Kataria
BBC News

There has been a "serious" crash involving three vehicles on the A38, between Alfreton and Swanwick.

Highways England said the A38 northbound between A61 and B600 is closed.

Emergency services are at the scene.

Nick Smith
BBC News Online

Meet the Leicestershire cat with something most felines don't have... thumbs.

Max is an eight-year-old who lives in Bottesford with his owners Sarah and John Lee.

He happens to be polydactyl, which means he has an extra claw on his paws which sticks out to the side.

Mrs Lee said: "He’s got extra claws which cause one of them to point out which looks like he has thumbs.

"I’ve never known another animal to have it and we were quite shocked when we got him. We showed the vet and they just said it’s another claw and it doesn’t hinder him but that it’s quite unusual."

Nick Smith
BBC News Online

Police have been granted more time to question three men arrested on suspicion of murder of a man at Forest Park and Ride in Nottingham.

The man was struck by a car at about 00:30 yesterday. He was taken to hospital but was pronounced dead.

The park and ride was closed for investigations before reopening at about 16:00.

Police applied to the courts for an extension of detention, which means the men can be questioned for another 36 hours.

One man sustained non life-threatening injuries and other residents were treated for breathing issues.

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn brought up the "gloomy" financial outlook facing Conservative-led Derby City Council at today's PMQs.

Theresa May responded to his call to provide more money to local authorities in next week's budget by saying council tax was lower in real terms now than under the most recent Labour government.

Joan Skelton named the animal after the footballer Wayne Rooney and tried to keep him calm.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

A Nottinghamshire wildlife charity is warning habitats could be lost or severely damaged if HS2 Phase 2b goes ahead.

Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust has highlighted rare floodplain grassland in the Erewash Valley and limestone grassland on the western edge of the county as areas at particular risk.

It comes less than two weeks after the Woodland Trust raised concerns, external about the potential loss of 19 ancient woods to make way for this section of the high speed railway line.

Image source, HS2 handout

Erin McDaid from the charity said: "Many Local Wildlife Sites, which are vital to sustaining local wildlife populations, would be irreparably damaged during construction.”

The charity is encouraging as many people as possible to take part in the HS2 consultation, external to highlight public concerns for wildlife and the environment.

Image source, HS2 Ltd

A lead spokesman of HS2 Ltd previously told the BBC: "We will be planting over two million new trees, resulting in there being more woodland when HS2 is completed than there is now."

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

A man needed hospital treatment after being beaten by two men as they stole his quad bike in Willington, external.

The 46-year-old told police he was attacked by the men after pulling over following a collision with a black truck that had been following close behind him in Twyford Road on 15 October.

A blow to the side of his head knocked him off the orange Quadzilla bike, which was then taken by one of the men as his accomplice left in the truck.

The victim was treated in hospital for minor injuries. Police have appealed for witnesses.

Image source, Google

Amy Orton
Local Democracy Reporter

The first in a series of behind closed doors meetings to discuss plans to scrap Leicestershire's county, district and borough councils and replace them with one authority has taken place.

Leader of the council Nick Rushton chaired the first meeting of the 10 person cross party working group tasked with scrutinising the plans at County Hall on Friday, which will continue over the coming weeks.

Image source, Google

The meetings are taking place in private and members of the press and public were not invited to attend so that "members can speak freely about their views", according to Councillor Rushton.

He added: "Local government is facing a perfect storm - the financial pressures, national funding context and growing service demands underline that now is the time to consider change."

Derbyshire Times

Staff at Sidcot Paper Mill in Chesterfield are involved in a dispute with the company over pay, external.

The firm, which produces toilet and kitchen rolls, has offered a 1.5 per cent pay increase, which has been rejected by 95 per cent of the workforce.

Nick Smith
BBC News Online

Journey times on the Nottingham to Skegness route are expected to be hit by delays on Sunday due to engineering works.

Trains will operate between Nottingham and Grantham and between Sleaford and Skegness, while replacement bus services will have to be used between Grantham and Sleaford.

Image source, PA

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

Nottinghamshire have handed their player of the season a new three-year contract, external.

Wicketkeeper Tom Moores has signed a deal that should keep him at Trent Bridge until the end of the 2021 season.

It follows a successful summer that saw the 21-year-old take 52 catches and score 1,324 runs.

Image source, Nottinghamshire CCC

He said: “I’m delighted to commit to the club after having a decent year."

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

The owner of a house that caught fire in Leicester said he tried to fight the flames with a hosepipe before realising it was too serious.

The homeowner, who didn't want to give his name, said he had only moved in two months ago and had been drinking tea with his dad downstairs when a workman alerted them to smoke.

Image source, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service

He said they originally tried to extinguish the flames themselves using a hosepipe but soon realised they needed to call the emergency services.

Firefighters have said a blaze on Homeway Road "spread very quickly" to the roof and the house next door.

Crew manager Ashley Palethorpe said: "When we pulled up there was quite a significant fire from the first floor bedroom window. Flames were visible and the window had fallen out.

"This had soon spread up to the roof and started spreading towards next door's house."

The blaze is now "under control" and an aerial platform ladder is being used to check for hot spots in the roof.

No one was hurt and the owners have had multiple offers of places to stay while they wait to find out the extent of the damage.

Sonia Kataria
BBC News

A total of four people have been arrested after a man suffered stab wounds in the Arboretum area of Nottingham.

The victim, who was taken to hospital with injuries not thought to be life-threatening, was attacked yesterday evening on Burns Street.

Image source, Google

Three men, aged 20, 21 and 32 and a woman, 24, have been arrested on suspicion of affray.

Nottinghamshire Police said a knife has been recovered.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A former bridal shop in Matlock could be converted into a gin distillery and craft beer store.

A planning application submitted for 70 Bank Road says it would also sell artisan food and house a small art gallery.

Built in 1870, the shop was used as an off-licence for more than 100 years before changing to a wedding dress shop in the 1980s. It is currently vacant.

Image source, Google

Derbyshire Dales District Council will consider the application later this year.

Sonia Kataria
BBC News

A Nottinghamshire off-duty police officer who used "unwarranted physical aggression" towards a youngster has been given a final written warning.

He was found to have breached the standards of professional behaviour by displaying discreditable conduct.

The officer attended a gross misconduct hearing at force headquarters where he was given the formal warning.

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

A man has been arrested following a fire at a residential home in Wollaton Vale that led to several people being taken to hospital, external.

Nottinghamshire Police said one man suffered non life-threatening injuries following the blaze at Woodvale, in Wollaton Vale last night, and a number of other residents were treated for breathing issues.

Residents reporting the fire had told police a man was armed. The force said a BB gun was recovered from the scene.

Image source, Google

Woodvale is described as having 48 self-contained one-bedroom flats and a terrace of five bungalows providing sheltered accommodation to people aged 55 and over, external.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

This photo shows the damage caused by a fire on Homeway Road in Leicester.

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service has confirmed "all persons are accounted for".