A mum of triplets films a video diary of them getting ready for school.

BBC Weather Watchers

It will be dull and overcast today, with showery rain in places this morning.

Later, a widespread band of blustery rain will spread. There will be fresh-to-strong winds too.

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning of wind from 21:00 until 15:00 on Thursday. It said strong winds accompanied by heavy and blustery showers may bring some disruption to some areas.

Spring is here though, these flowers in Cropwell Butler, in Nottinghamshire, were pictured by BBC Weather Watcher Helen Earth.

Image source, Helen Earth

Alex Regan
BBC News

The town of Ashby and other areas of Leicestershire have been cited by public health officials as coronavirus "hotspots".

Leicestershire County Council said Ashby, in North West Leicestershire, is a "new area of concern" as well as the villages of Donisthorpe and Blackfordby.

Last week, North West Leicestershire had the highest seven-day coronavirus infection rate in England, according to Public Health England data.

Latest figures in the week up to 5 March show the area's rate has dropped to 132.2 per 100,000 people - from 198.8 in the previous seven-day period - but it remains in the top 20 areas for high infection rates.

The director of public health for the council, Mike Sandys, said: "Ashby is definitely starting to creep up the rankings and some of that is simply down to where it is on the map. It borders areas which have high rates, including Coalville and South Derbyshire."

Council leader Nick Rushton added: "People are relaxing their guard and it's easy to think it's all over – but it clearly isn't and we can't afford to undo all the good work through complacency so I'd urge all [of] North West Leicestershire's residents to continue being vigilant."

Image source, Google

Elsewhere, a Coalville barber shop owner has been fined £1,000 after police and council officers visited on Saturday.

Police said officers found "evidence of hair cutting" at Turkish Hairlines in Ashby Road following a tip-off from members of the public.

In addition to the fine for the business owner, four customers were given £200 fixed penalty notices for the breach of lockdown rules.

Hairdressers and beauty salons will not be allowed to reopen until 12 April at the earliest, in line with the government's roadmap for lifting the lockdown.

North West Leicestershire District Council leader Richard Blunt said: "The rules are very clear, but this business owner chose to ignore them. They are now paying the price for the disregard shown for the health and welfare of their customers and the local community."

Leicestershire left-arm seamer Dieter Klein signs a one-year contract extension with the county side.

Stu Humber, 47, from Leicestershire, was hoping to compete in the 6633 Arctic Ultra race.

BBC Weather Watchers

Although today should stay largely dry with patchy clouds and a few sunny spells, the odd light shower cannot be completely ruled out.

There will be a gentle-to-moderate wind so it might feel a little chilly at times.

BBC Weather Watcher Curly Claire was out early this morning to capture this beautiful sunrise at Holme Pierrepont, Nottinghamshire.

Image source, Curly Claire

Image source, Curly Claire

German shepherd-type dog Bella was rescued from a river after a rock was tied around her neck.

Police believe the barbers - which had tinted windows - had been taking appointments via Facebook.

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

South Derbyshire currently has the highest weekly coronavirus infection rate in England, according to latest Public Health England data.

Figures show the infection rate per 100,000 people in the week up to 4 March is 150.1, down slightly from 153.8 the previous week.

Image source, PA Media

Leicester has the fifth highest rate, at 145.1 per 100,000 people, and north west Leicestershire is sixth with a rate of 141.9.

Liam Barnes
BBC News

Police are appealing for witnesses after a lorry driver was assaulted on a motorway slip road.

Leicestershire Police said two vehicles were stopped at red lights on the road joining junction 22 of the southbound M1 at about 17:30 on 1 March when two people got out of a van.

The lorry driver "suffered multiple injuries", a force spokesman said, and two men aged 34 and 25 were arrested on suspicion of causing racially-aggravated actual bodily harm and have been released under investigation.

PC Eimear O'Donnell said: "This incident took place at a time when there would have been a lot of traffic on the road.

"I would like to speak to anyone who may have information or any motorists with dashcam installed in their vehicles."

Alex Regan
BBC News

Three men have been arrested after a van rammed a police patrol car in Sutton-in-Ashfield.

It happened on Sunday afternoon in Spring Road after reports a van was driving erratically, and on the wrong side of the road, Nottinghamshire Police said.

When one of the officers got out of the car to speak to the driver, the van rammed the patrol car and drove off.

Image source, Nottinghamshire Police

A police chase then ensued and officers said the van tried to ram the police vehicle again by reversing into it.

The van stopped in Nursery Avenue and three men jumped out of the back of the van.

After a search of the area three men, aged 33, 35 and 36, were arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, failing to stop and and assaulting an emergency worker.

The 35-year-old suspect was also arrested on suspicion of driving while under the influence of alcohol and the 36-year-old on failing to provide a specimen of breath.

Two officers suffered minor injuries during the chase and required treatment.

Alex Regan
BBC News

A Nottingham City Council officer who worked "tirelessly" to support children in care for more than 30 years has died after testing positive for Covid-19.

Helen Blackman, 54, passed away on Wednesday after being treated at the Queen's Medical Centre for complications caused by Covid-19.

The director of children's integrated services is the fourth member of staff at the authority to die after contracting coronavirus.

Image source, Nottingham City Council

Council leader David Mellen paid tribute to the mother-of-four.

"She was inspirational in the way she led the department and was held in the highest esteem by her staff," he said.

"She cared deeply for children and young people and was entirely focused on improving their life chances."

He added: "She is a tremendous loss to Nottingham will be missed by many people.”

Jodi Law
BBC East Midlands Today

Testing children before they return to school has led to lots of parents getting in touch with us at BBC East Midlands Today and there are some mixed views.

Some want the testing to be mandatory and feel it is necessary if we want to keep the pandemic under control.

Image source, Getty Images

However, a parent of a child who has autism also got in touch and said the stress of the test was too much for someone who is already anxious.

Another parent said though, it was about simply doing what was needed to get their son into school as children have missed out on a full education because of the virus.

Derbyshire sign Australia fast bowler Billy Stanlake for the 2021 season, subject to final approvals.

Children across the region are heading back to school this morning after more than two months studying at home during lockdown.

Most primary schools are expected to open today, while many secondaries will have a phased return during the week, allowing pupils to take Covid tests.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has described the return as an important first step towards a "sense of normality".

Image source, Getty Images

The latest news, sport, travel and weather for the East Midlands.

BBC Weather Watchers

It'll be a sunny morning, remaining dry throughout the day, with patchy cloud but also sunny spells in places. There will be a light westerly wind.

Image source, Curly Claire

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

Covid vaccine supplies are expected to slow down temporarily in the East Midlands over the next two weeks.

In Leicestershire and Rutland, vaccination sites will be receiving fewer doses than in previous weeks due to what have been described as "low supply weeks".

A source told the Local Democracy Reporting Service this was planned as part of the national vaccination programme.

A "bumper" supply will then be delivered the week after, as efforts to vaccinate all over-50s by mid-April pick up pace.

Image source, Leicester City CCG

Caroline Trevithick, chief nurse at Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland’s CCGs, told a health scrutiny meeting the number of vaccines coming into the system with increase "tremendously" from 15 March.

She said: "That will coincide with additional cohorts being open so that we have got the people coming through as much as we have the vaccine coming in."

While the supply is low, some hospital hubs will be temporarily closing or operating at a reduced capacity.

In Nottinghamshire, health bosses say they will have to lower the number of jabs given over the next 10 days, external as a result of "reduced supply over the next week".

The CCG for the area said it anticipates supplies will then "increase significantly" over the next few weeks, meaning more appointments will be made available.

A CCG spokesperson said: "Fluctuations in vaccine supply has been planned for and factored into the planning of the vaccine rollout.

"We would advise that if there is no availability at the site you want to visit, you should keep checking back each day as new appointments are released on a regular basis."

In Derby and Derbyshire the CCG said it was preparing to receive an increase in vaccines "within the next two weeks".

It did not say if supplies would be limited next week but said some first dose appointments were not available due to staff giving second doses and vaccinating housebound patients.

Lauren Mottram was on the school run when she noticed flames coming from Muriel Heathcote's home.

BBC Weather Watchers

These geese were spotted taking a stroll in the sunshine at Bennion Pools in Leicester yesterday, and we're expecting another dry and crisp day today with prolonged sunny spells and highs of 6C (43F).

Image source, Mogjo