Amy Woodfield
BBC News

Another five coronavirus vaccination centres will open in Leicestershire this week, meaning every GP practice in the city and county will be offering vaccines to high-priority patients.

The new centres are:

• Merridale Medical Centre, Leicester
• Hinckley Leisure Centre
• St Peters Health Centre, Leicester
• Peepul Centre, Leicester
• Measham Leisure Centre

Image source, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

Eligible patients will receive an invitation from their GP practice to book their vaccination.

Caroline Trevithick, from Leicestershire and Rutland clinical commissioning groups, said some patients are also being sent letters offering a vaccination at one of the mass vaccination centres - the closest being in Birmingham.

She said: "I’d like to reassure patients they do not have to accept this invitation if it’s not practical for them.

"If patients choose to wait for a vaccination more locally, they will still be contacted by their GP when it is their time to be vaccinated.”

Image source, Google

The Peepul Centre, an arts centre in Belgrave, will have 36 vaccination stations.

Nash Chhatralia, from the Peepul Enterprise, said: “It’s an honour for us to be given the opportunity to help in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Both the Peepul Centre and the NHS teams have worked very hard to get the site up ready for the vaccines."

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

More schools have confirmed they are shutting due to poor conditions caused by snow.

St Giles CE Primary in Killamarsh said it is closing early to pupils due to "worsening snow".

Park House Primary School in Chesterfield will be closed to all pupils from 13:00. It said parents can collect their children from this time.

Image source, Steve123v

In Nottinghamshire, Sherwood Forest car park has been closed due to sudden, heavy snowfall in the area.

It said there would be an update when it is safe to reopen.

A family who enjoyed their first white Christmas in Buxton were left shocked by snowfall in Spain.

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

Snow across parts of the East Midlands has closed some schools with a Met Office weather warning in place until 21:00 tonight.

It warned travel could be disrupted, especially on higher routes, with rail cancellations and untreated pavements and cycle paths becoming dangerous or impassable.

Derbyshire County Council has confirmed Immaculate Conception Catholic Primary School, Cutthorpe Primary School and Hunloke Park Primary are all to close today due to worsening conditions.

Image source, Matthew Evans

Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire, external has also closed to visitors because of snow.

The Winding Wheel will initially be used to administer vaccinations to healthcare workers.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

Police bosses in Derbyshire are calling for front-line officers and staff to be prioritised for receiving the coronavirus vaccine.

Chief Constable Rachel Swann and Police and Crime Commissioner Hardyal Dhindsa have written a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Home Secretary Priti Patel and Health Secretary Matt Hancock asking for their request to be considered.

Vaccines are currently being given to the most vulnerable first, including care home residents and people aged over 80.

Image source, Getty Images

Ms Swann said: "The role that the police do means that by necessity, officers and staff are putting themselves at risk every day.

"Policing and keeping people safe is an essential part of fighting this virus.

"While there is a regular supply [of] personal protective equipment (PPE), officers and staff are not immune from catching the virus.

"The vaccine offers additional protection and reassurance for them."

Mr Dhindsa said vaccinating front-line police workers would not only protect those individuals but the wider public they come into contact with.

He said: "It is often said that the police are those who are expected to run towards danger. Never could this be truer than with the unseen adversary we have in the Covid-19 virus."

The government has previously said first responders may be prioritised in the second phase of vaccinations alongside others at increased risk because of their occupation.

BBC Weather

Today is looking quite unsettled. This morning rain will become wintry even at lower levels and snow accumulations are likely over higher ground, but are possible elsewhere too.

It should dry out as the afternoon goes on with highs of around 4C (39F).

It will be cloudy, breezy and cold throughout this evening, with a chance of further wintry showers - but clear spells should develop overnight.

Image source, sky girl

The police watchdog is investigating after the death of the 35-year-old, who was found in a holding cell.

Police say the fine should "send out a warning" to others who break coronavirus laws.

Samantha Noble
BBC News Online

A yellow weather warning for snow and ice has been issued by the Met Office for parts of north Derbyshire, including Matlock and Bakewell, external.

It is in place from 08:00 today until 21:00 tomorrow.

The Met Office said heavy snow may affect parts of the warning area, possibly causing significant travel disruption.

Image source, Villager Jim

Liam Barnes
BBC News

The public need to carry on with social distancing measures to help stop the spread of the pandemic, health directors for Derby and Derbyshire have said, following a rise in the number of Covid-19 cases.

During the last month, the number of patients with the condition in hospital has risen by 67%, with nearly one in four hospital beds in the county occupied by people with coronavirus.

The county's Local Resilience Forum - a group involving local councils, emergency services and health organisations - said there's been "a significant increase" in pressure placed on the NHS.

Dean Wallace, director of public health for Derbyshire County Council, said any contact with people outside of each person's bubble "creates a risk of passing on the virus", while Robyn Dewis at Derby City Council said public compliance "is more essential now than ever".

The plea for support comes days after Derbyshire Police apologised to two women who were fined while out for a walk near their homes.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Weather

Unlike the sunshine we had yesterday, it's going to to be a wet one today. It will be largely overcast with spells of rain, which could be heavy especially through the morning.

There'll be a brief break in the rain this evening with highs of about 4C.

The rain is due to return and become heavier and persistent overnight, and it'll be quite windy as well.

Image source, John Bradburn

Alex Regan
BBC News

A 67-year-old woman has become the 3,000th Covid-19 patient to be discharged by a hospital trust.

Christine Cullen was admitted to the Royal Derby Hospital on Christmas Day after developing a dry cough and struggling to breathe.

After struggling to even walk to the toilet, her daughter rang NHS 111.

She was brought to the hospital and diagnosed with pneumococcal Covid-19 pneumonia.

Image source, UHDB

Upon her discharge, Mrs Cullen said: “Covid is very real; it can affect different people in different ways. It’s a hard journey. A really hard journey.

“Anyone with Covid-19 will know that anything you do is a small achievement, even breathing properly. You don’t realise until you have had Covid-19 how much it really does affect you.”

The Normanton resident praised the staff at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Trust, and requested her first meal at home be a Christmas dinner.

Rob Sissons
East Midlands Today Reporter

There are more than 150 people in King's Mill Hospital at Sutton-in-Ashfield with coronavirus and health bosses expecting that to increase.

The phrase they use is "baked in" and it is all about the lead-up time from infection rates to hospitalisation.

When someone becomes infected it can take five days to show symptoms and then seven to 10 days before hospitalisation is required.

It then could be another week or two before that person may then require intensive care.

With infection rates across the East Midlands all on the rise, hospitals are bracing themselves having to treat even more people. And all of this is coming at a time when staff are already under pressure.

A petition to prioritise teachers for the Covid-19 vaccine gains more than 460,000 signatures.

PC Maddie Hayes says the attack has made her "more determined" to help people.

Alex Regan
BBC News

A 21-year-old man who has won £10,000 a month for the next 30 years has no immediate plans to move out of his parents' house.

James Evans, a block paver from South Derbyshire, said he had completely forgotten about buying the winning Set For Life ticket for the draw on 28 December until he checked his emails the following day.

He said: "I noticed an email from The National Lottery to say I'd won a prize, but didn't think too much of it as I'd won £5 not too long ago.

"I checked the National Lottery app and saw that I had matched all of the five main numbers and the Life Ball. I couldn't believe it. I ran down to my mum to get her to check but she wasn't sure either."

Image source, PA Media

Mr Evans, who is not currently planning on moving out and still intends to work for his dad, said he was so overwhelmed he went rock climbing in the Peak District to clear his head.

Now the win has sunk in, he plans on using the money to travel.

"My first thought was a skiing trip to Canada with my family," he said.

"I would also love to go to Alaska, I will definitely take a trip of a lifetime there when it's safe to travel again."

BBC Weather

It's quite a damp start to the day with some cloud around this morning, but that'll sink away to the south fairly quickly to be replaced with lots of dry and bright conditions.

Clear skies with sunny spells are expected this afternoon and temperatures are due to be just a little bit lower than yesterday with highs of 6C to 7C.

Image source, viki spireite

Derbyshire Police apologises to two women fined £200 for driving five miles for a countryside walk.

Rob Sissons
East Midlands Today Reporter

The jab programme is being expanded, with even more vaccination sites opening across the East Midlands.

It’s the introduction of the seven big centres across England which has baffled some people, with our nearest being Birmingham.

Some people, aged 80 and over, have been given the chance to go for a vaccination at the Birmingham site, but only if they live a 45-minute drive away.

The NHS do say it is a choice to go there and if you are willing to wait, you will get the chance to get a jab at a place closer to you in due course.

The biggest concern has been the number of people missing appointments.

One clinic in Ashbourne had 11 people miss their slots. The vaccine can only be stored for so long, so staff ended up staying late to call people in and make sure it wasn’t wasted.

Image source, PA Media