Sonia Kataria
BBC News

Two men have appeared in court after a cannabis grow with an estimated street value of £1m was found in a house.

Derbyshire Police said officers raided the property in Cinder Bank, Ironville, on Wednesday and found more than 1,000 plants across three floors.

Image source, Alfreton Police SNT

The men, 23 and 24, from Albania, were arrested at the house and later charged with being concerned in the production of cannabis.

The pair, of no fixed abode, appeared at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court on Thursday and were remanded in custody.

Image source, Alfreton Police SNT

Nottinghamshire opener Ben Slater agrees to extends his contract with the county until the end of the 2023 season.

BBC Weather Watchers

Here's how Chatsworth House looked at dusk yesterday.

Today we're expecting a dry and bright morning before things turn overcast in the afternoon with prolonged heavy rain in some areas.

Image source, Raquel

PA Media

A police officer who formed "improper relationships" with two women he met while on duty has been handed a final written warning.

Det Con Darryl Hart, of Leicestershire Police, was found to have breached professional standards of integrity and conduct following a disciplinary hearing organised by the force.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said the 41-year-old was investigated following allegations he formed an improper relationship with a woman he dealt with when she reported domestic abuse in 2015.

The watchdog said the relationship developed in November 2016 and continued to late 2018, when it was reported to the IOPC by the force, and further allegations were made in June 2019 that he had been involved in an inappropriate relationship with another woman who had been the victim of a sexual crime.

The IOPC said Hart "was found to have breached professional standards of integrity, authority, respect and courtesy, and discreditable conduct".

Supt Rich Ward, head of professional standards at Leicestershire Police, said the force expects officers "to maintain the highest standards of behaviour".

Two men and a woman have also been charged over the deaths of Gavin Rawson and Nathan Walker.

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

The government has published its reasons for keeping most of East Midlands in tier three for a further fortnight.

A report, uploaded to the Parliament website, provides a short summary for all areas across the country and the reasons why decisions were reached.

It said the situation in the majority of Derby and Derbyshire had "deteriorated" and the "overall picture remained concerning".

It described a "mixed" picture in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire with cases broadly increasing but case rates among the over 60s falling.

And it said Leicester's infection rate remained high, with case rates also increasing in Leicestershire.

The report also said the situation in Rutland - which is in tier two - had "deteriorated" since the start of the month.

PA Media

Leicestershire County Council's director of public health Mike Sandys said an increase in Covid-19 infection rates over the past week had been the major factor in the area's tier three status remaining unchanged.

Mr Sandys said there had been a "resigned acceptance" over the past 48 hours that the county was likely to stay in the same tier.

Image source, Charnwood Borough Council

He said: "We can't escape the fact that rates have gone up in the past few days. It's probably the news we were expecting, but it's still disappointing."

Leicester's hospitals confirmed earlier this week that more people with Covid-19 are being treated than during the first wave of the pandemic.

Nick Rushton, leader of Leicestershire County Council, said: "We know that being in tier three is very tough for residents and businesses, in particular, and we would have hoped for a different outcome when the government made its decision.

"However, there is a wider acknowledgement that rates have risen over the past few days and what we now need is a collective effort to ensure people stay safe in the run-up to Christmas and beyond."

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

The leader of Nottingham City Council has criticised the decision to keep the area in tier three restrictions.

Both city and county will remain in the highest level of risk until at least the next review, the government has confirmed.

After large falls, rates of infection in the area have been rising again - but officials said pressures on the local health and social care system were also important considerations.

Image source, PA Media

David Mellen, Nottingham City Council leader, said he had "mixed views" on the decision.

"I am disappointed for hospitality businesses which have done a lot of work to prepare and to be covid safe, it seems unfair that in places with similar levels of infection people can go and have a meal, whereas in Nottingham they can’t and that seems very unfair.

"On the other hand, we don’t want to see a rise.

"We want the slight rise that we’ve seen in the last few days to be short-lived and to continue our downward trend," he said.

Jonathan Gribbin, the director of public health for Nottinghamshire, said: "To help save lives and protect the NHS and our social care services, we must continue to observe the restrictions that apply.

"The roll-out of the vaccine to the most vulnerable groups is of course very positive news but it will be some time to come until we know how much it will impact infection rates more generally."

The next review date for the three-tier system is 30 December.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

There will be no change to Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire's tier three allocations.

It follows the latest government review of the three-tier system after officials met on Wednesday.

The three counties were put into the most restrictive tier when the national lockdown ended earlier this month.

It means pubs and restaurants in these areas will have to remain closed throughout the festive period except for deliveries and takeaways.

Households are not able to mix anywhere inside, or outside in private gardens and hospitality venues.

However, mixing rules will be relaxed over Christmas to allow people to meet a slightly wider circle of family and friends between 23 and 27 December.

Meanwhile, Rutland will remain in tier two, where hospitality venues can open but with restrictions in place.

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

An announcement is due later on whether cities and counties in the East Midlands and across England will remain in their current coronavirus tiers.

It follows a review by the government yesterday after the latest restrictions were brought in two weeks ago.

Any changes will be detailed by Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire are all in tier three - meaning they are subject to the toughest restrictions - but Rutland is in tier two.

Image source, Derby City Council

Politicians and health leaders from across the region have said they do not anticipate any change to the current tier levels at this point.

Ivan Browne, Leicester's director of public health, has also urged families in the city not to gather in large numbers when the rules are relaxed over Christmas.

"This is a Christmas that's going to be unlike any other," he said.

"With a vaccine on the horizon, I feel this is the time we should limit our contact, particularly among the vulnerable, so I'd really urge people not to congregate at Christmas."

BBC Weather Watchers

Here's how sunrise looked in Weston-on-Trent yesterday.

Today we're looking at a largely dry day with extended sunny spells, though the odd shower can't be ruled out.

Image source, Jills Camera

David Pittam
BBC News Online

Authorities are working to contain an outbreak of bird flu in South Derbyshire.

Derbyshire County Council said a 3km "protection zone" and 10km "surveillance zone" have been set up around the site.

Inside these zones there are restrictions on bird movement, and authorities will be knocking on doors to inform those who need to follow the rules.

Image source, Getty Images

Public Health England has confirmed that the risk to public health is very low.

Bird flu, properly named avian influenza, can in rare cases jump to people but this strain, H5N8, has not infected any person to date, according to the NHS, external.

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

Vandals have forced a Leicestershire fire engine off the road after its windscreen was damaged by a missile.

The service said crews from Western Fire Station were responding to reports of a motorbike on fire in Braunstone Park on Tuesday evening.

Image source, Leicestershire fire and rescue

As they approached the area a bottle was thrown which cracked the glass on the right-hand side of the windscreen.

No-one was injured but the fire engine has been taken off the road while the damage is assessed.

The fire service has asked anyone with information to call police.

Katie Crowder is jailed after being convicted of murdering her 19-month-old daughter Gracie.

Dawn Fletcher died when she was hit by Ashley Tinklin's van after a row between a group of people.

BBC Weather Watchers

There was plenty of blue sky around yesterday, as shown in this photo of Heanor.

Today looks set to be a more cloudy affair with rain expected this afternoon.

Image source, Happy Walker Heanor WG

Vera Brewer "inadvertently" lit a gas ring on a hob while left alone, a coroner finds.

The teenager, whose dog was killed in a crash, has been surprised with a new pet.

The teenager, whose dog was killed in a crash, has been surprised with a new pet.

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

Coronavirus vaccination clinics outside of hospitals have begun in the East Midlands.

Heath Lane Surgery in Earl Shilton, Leicestershire, is one of 13 GP practices in the county which are among the first to start treating patients.

Dr Will Priestman, a partner at the surgery, said: "We took delivery of the vaccine this morning and there has been a fridge waiting since then.

"We have been instructed to use the vaccine within three-and-a-half days so our plan is to vaccinate for the rest of today and into Friday."

Similar clinics will start in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire in the coming days.

Hospitals began vaccinating last week.