The fines relate to two large parties held in Leicester, say police.

David Pittam
BBC News Online

On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me... seven Cadbury's Creme Eggs?

A shopper spotted these (un)seasonal treats while in a Derby Co Op this afternoon.

Last year, the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) claimed many people were "irritated" by the early arrival of Easter eggs on supermarket shelves.

However the British Retail Consortium said some people like to enjoy eggs before Easter and retailers had to cater for that demand.

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

Authorities in Nottinghamshire have reminded the public not to linger outside businesses after more than 100 people were seen congregating outside bars in West Bridgford on Christmas Eve.

Nottinghamshire Police said in many cases, people had bought food and drink but were not following rules to consume them away from the businesses and were not socially distanced.

Officers broke up the groups that had gathered.

With the county entering the toughest level of coronavirus restrictions - tier four - Rushcliffe Borough Council has reminded residents a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) is in place for West Bridgford.

It means people must give up alcohol when asked to do so by an official and failure to comply can lead to a fine or prosecution.

Image source, Rushcliffe Borough Council

Councillor Rob Inglis said: "It's great that many want to support local businesses but it's vital we all follow the rules at yet another pivotal time for this awful pandemic."

Insp Craig Berry added it is the responsibility of pub owners "to ensure that no-one's health is inadvertently put in danger due to actions they have taken".

"The pubs in Rushcliffe are in a dispersal zone and as a result no-one should be gathering at all, with or without Covid," he said. "Pubs and licensed premises need to take action to ensure this doesn't happen.

"A number of pubs and other establishments in the area have already been warned about not complying, and we would remind them of their individual responsibility to ensure they are adhering to the restrictions and that people are not congregating outside."

Jemma and Josh Copestake had been due to marry on Saturday but quickly brought the wedding forward.

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

Two senior Leicestershire police officers have been recognised in the Queen's New Years Honours list.

Deputy Chief Constable Rob Nixon and Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Jason Masters have both been awarded the Queen's Police Medal.

DCC Nixon (pictured left) has been with the force for 28 years and received the award for his service to communities.

T/ACC Masters was recognised for a 29-year career that has recently seen him involved in the operation to equip officers with personal protective equipment (PPE).

Image source, Leicestershire Police

The same honour has also been awarded to Adrian Hanstock, deputy chief constable of British Transport Police (BTP).

The former Metropolitan Police officer, from Nottinghamshire, has been credited with helping to modernise BTP during his six years in the role.

Image source, British Transport Police

Matt Hampson set up a charity in 2011 to support other young people seriously injured through sport.

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

The Confederation of British Industry East Midlands has called the tougher restrictions a "torrid end to an already tough year" for businesses.

Director, Rick Blackmore, said: “There is now a growing need to re-evaluate government support in January to ensure firms can survive through to the spring and beyond.

“While the vaccine rollout and efforts to increase mass rapid testing offer hope going into 2021, it is clear challenges will continue well into next year.

"Steadfast support should continue to help struggling firms and lay the foundations for the economic recovery.”

Image source, PA Media

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

Nottinghamshire County Council has reminded people to only spend New Year's Eve with their own household as new restrictions for the county are announced.

Dawn Jenkin, public health consultant, said: "Remember that the Christmas Bubble arrangements only applied on Christmas Day so you must only spend New Year at home with your own household or bubble.

"The rates of infection in our communities across the county are continuing to grow at a concerning rate.

"The impact this is having on our hospitals and the rate of infection in those aged over 60 are some of the key factors which determine how the government decides what tier to place each area into."

Image source, Reuters

Ms Jenkin said it was crucial for people not to let their guard down and added: “Make your New Year’s resolution to protect yourself, your family and your friends by sticking to these simple rules."

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

The leader of Derbyshire County Council said it was "disappointing" that parts of the county are being moved into the highest tier of restrictions.

Councillor Barry Lewis, tweeted: "Disappointing for significant swathes of Derbyshire that had low rates of Covid-19 and continuing blow to business and jobs.

"Especially in hospitality. With adherence to rules, rapid testing, vaccines & perseverance we can beat this and get back to normal quicker."

Image source, Barry Lewis

Lee Rowley, Conservative MP for North East Derbyshire, had a similar response and said there was "a real challenge" ahead.

He tweeted: "Disappointed with change but increase in rates locally, plus potential challenge of the new variant, is the reason.

"There is light at the end of the tunnel but, in short term, we have a real challenge."

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

As all the East Midlands, except Rutland, enters the highest tier of restrictions from midnight, there is a new set of rules:

These include:

• Residents should stay at home, unless they have a "reasonable excuse" such as work or education

• All non-essential shops must close
• Hairdressers and nail bars must close
• Indoor entertainment venues must close
• Hospitality is closed except for takeaway, drive-thru or delivery
• Gyms and indoor swimming pools, indoor sports courts and dance studios must close
• You cannot meet other people indoors, unless you live with them or they are part of your support bubble
• People should not leave tier four areas or travel abroad, except for limited reasons (including work and education)

• Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies are only allowed in exceptional circumstances

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire are to be moved up to tier four of the national coronavirus restrictions, external.

Non-essential shops, beauty salons and hairdressers will be forced to close and people will be limited to meeting in a public outdoor place with one other person or people from their own household.

Image source, PA Media

The switch was announced by Health Secretary Matt Hancock in the House of Commons.

Rutland will move up to tier three.

Mr Hancock said the new rules would come into force on Thursday.

PA Media

The East Midlands has recorded a week-on-week increase in the number of registered Covid-19 deaths.

The Office for National Statistics confirmed there were 337 deaths in the week up to 18 December, compared to 334 from the week before.

Five other regions in England recorded rises, with the greatest rise occurring in the south-east, while three regions saw the number of deaths from the illness fall.

Image source, Getty Images

Nottinghamshire Police say the teenager died after being attacked on Boxing Day.

Kit Sandeman
Local Democracy Reporter

A council has called for more investment from a water company, after it heard the flow of raw, untreated sewage into Nottinghamshire's waterways is becoming "worryingly routine".

One outlet in Sneinton discharged raw sewage into the Trent for a total of 1,010 hours last year, over 63 separate occasions, according to figures compiled by environmental charity The Rivers Trust.

The figures suggested there have been hundreds of spillages into smaller waterways and streams, as well as directly into the Rivers Trent, Leen, Maun and Erewash.

Image source, Getty Images

Richard Jackson, a Nottinghamshire county councillor for Toton, Chilwell and Attenborough, said the spills - from combined sewage outlets (CSOs), which were developed to allow the direct discharge of untreated sewage into waterways during heavy rainfall - were becoming "worryingly routine".

“Water companies were told by the government to install monitoring on these CSOs by March of this year, but by June this year 3,400 of the 10,000 outflows owned by the nine water companies still had no monitoring installed," he said.

“Most relevant to us in Nottinghamshire and the Midlands, is that having fitted monitoring devices to just 1,239 of the 2,879 inland CSOs Severn Trent monitors [they] recorded the discharge of untreated sewage 272,000 times.

“The water companies argue that such pollutants are diluted to safe levels by the time they reach major rivers, but that doesn’t alleviate my concern about the significant amount of sewage that is pouring into our smaller local waterways, damaging fish, animals and plantlife, and potentially causing a risk to human health.”

Mr Jackson made his comments in a full meeting of the council, which unanimously passed a motion calling for more investment from Severn Trent.

A Severn Trent spokeswoman said: "Our system is designed to stop customers’ homes being flooded during times of heavy rain.

"It does this by redirecting the waste water, which is mainly rainwater, to a nearby water course to stop it becoming overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of rainwater.

"This is fully agreed with the Environment Agency, and by doing this we hope to make sure no one has to suffer sewer flowing in their home, which is a terrible experience for anyone."

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

Rail services on the East Midlands mainline to London have been disrupted by a trespasser.

East Midlands Railway said the problem was at Knighton Junction between Leicester and Market Harborough, external.

Image source, Twitter

Teams from Network Rail, British Transport Police and Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service are at the scene.

Services are being diverted between Leicester and Kettering where possible, with delays of up to 90 minutes and some cancellations.

EMR said it expected the advertised timetable to resume on the affected routes by 15:00.

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

Early morning snow has arrived across parts of the East Midlands.

Image source, Ella

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for snow and ice across much of the region until 10:00.

Image source, Schuren

Some tricky driving conditions have been reported with a number of collisions in Derbyshire. Some roads have been closed, including the A6024 at Holme Moss.

Drivers across the region are being asked to take extra care.

Image source, Maggie T Howlett

Image source, Absie

Sonia Kataria
BBC News

A yellow weather warning of snow and ice has been issued for the East Midlands from the Met Office.

It has warned of icy surfaces developing in the region and a little snow in places.

Image source, Forest Distillery

Image source, David e

The white stuff has already been snapped this morning on the A54 in Buxton and in Edale, Derbyshire and at the Cat and Fiddle pub on the Derbyshire-Cheshire border.

Matthew Tiplady, from the pub, said it had been "very busy outside with people going for snowy walks".

The 21-year-old added fortunately the "roads are clear".

Image source, Louise Kowalski

Image source, Forest Distillery

Festive meals have been cooked and given to homeless and vulnerable people in the Midlands.

A Christmas Eve marriage proposal at a Peak District beauty spot.

Jim Spencer has helped sell first editions of the debut book four times in December alone.