Sonia Kataria
BBC News

A number of homes in Market Harborough had Christmas decorations, vehicles and garden items damaged over the weekend.

Leicestershire Police said there was a "spate of criminal damage" in the town over the weekend and believe the same person or people was responsible.

The damage, the force said, external, included wires on Christmas lights being cut, wreaths being stolen from the front doors of properties and damage to numerous vehicles.

Image source, PA Media

Sgt Darren Richardson, of Leicestershire Police, said: "People's celebrations have been ruined by needless acts of vandalism.

"There may be people living in the community that know who was responsible."

The force has appealed for witnesses.

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

Police in Leicestershire say they issued 123 fines to people for breaking Covid-19 rules during the recent month-long national lockdown.

These included £10,000 fines handed to three organisers of a party in College Street on 29 November and another person who organised a party in Beryl Avenue, Hinckley, on 20 November.

Image source, PA Media

In total the force said it had received 1,934 reports of Covid breaches between 5 November and 1 December and handed out fines totaling £64,000.

The county is now subject to tier three restrictions.

Assistant Chief Constable Julia Debenham said: "We have entered it [tier three] with hope as an approved vaccine has been announced. We have to be patient now and keep sticking to the rules

"I am also particularly saddened to see that two more officers have been assaulted by people spitting in their faces or coughing. This will not be tolerated and there will be consequences for anyone who does this."

BBC Weather

Here's a lovely misty weekend shot of Thistleton in Rutland to start off your week.

It's misty again this morning but once it lifts we're expecting a mostly fine day with plenty of crisp sunshine.

Image source, Suzanne

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

Trader Mark Whithorn says he set up the online market as so many events were cancelled this year.

James Drury, a volunteer on the Longshaw Estate, has no speech and communicates through photographs.

Staff at King’s Mill Hospital in Nottinghamshire have been tackling the second wave of Covid-19.

David Pittam
BBC News Online

Oadby and Wigston has fallen out of the top 20 most infected areas of England.

It means no areas in Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire - all currently in tier 3 - are now in the areas with the highest infections rates.

With an infection rate of 245.5 per 100,000 in the week leading up to November 30, Oadby and Wigston has dropped to 30th from 15th.

It is now below Leicester, at 23rd, which has an infection rate of 265.1 per 100,000 for the same period.

Nottingham, which at one point had the country's worst infection rate, now has a rate of 160.7 per 100,000, while Derby has 158.6.

Graham Snell's body parts were found dumped in various locations around Chesterfield.

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

Snowy conditions have started to make driving difficult in some parts of the region this afternoon.

Leicestershire and Rutland's 4x4 response team says it has been dealing with a number of stranded cars on the A607 and surrounding roads near Coston and Waltham on the Wolds.

Derbyshire County Council has said Snake Pass and Holme Moss are currently closed due to snow.

Gritters have been deployed to high routes in the Peak District to try to make conditions a little easier.

BBC Weather

Parts of the region have seen snow overnight and this morning - including high ground in Derbyshire and parts of Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire.

BBC Weather has said snow could continue in the Buxton area through the rest of the day but sleet is more likely elsewhere.

You can check the latest forecast for your area here.

Here's Buxton in Derbyshire:

Image source, Annan

Scalford, Leicestershire:

Newark in Nottinghamshire:

Image source, Linda Kirk

BBC Weather

A dark and gloomy winter picture is in store, with spots of sleet and top temperatures of just 3C on the cards.

Today's BBC Weather Watchers picture comes from Bry, who snapped a shot of the Christmas tree in Ilkeston.

Image source, Bry

A church warden says "1,000 years of history" has gone up in flames in Mackworth.

Leicestershire Police say it was a "truly harrowing and appalling attack".

The toiletries were meant for victims at a sexual assault referral centre.

Victims that reported sexual offences said the criminal justice process was insensitive and unfair.

Nottinghamshire opener Haseeb Hameed extends his contract with the county until the end of the 2022 season.

BBC Weather

It looks set to be an unsettled day with showery outbreaks of rain for many areas, becoming heavy at times.

The rain will ease later into the afternoon.

Image source, OrangePeel

David Pittam
BBC News Online

Ryan Morris, the leader of the Betel UK, said the charity "completely changed his life" by helping him recover from his addiction.

He and others have been performing Christmas carols in Leicester city centre to raise money for the charity, as they could not before the national lockdown finished.

Mr Morris, 37, from Etwall in Derbyshire, said: "The response has been great.

"It's absolutely brilliant we can be back. People have been a bit down with the whole coronavirus situation and we're lifting a few spirits."

Betel UK helps people with drug and alcohol addiction and homelessness.

Image source, Google

Neil Heath
BBC News Online

Oadby and Wigston, in Leicestershire, still has the highest infection rate in the East Midlands for the seven days up to 27 November.

It currently has the ninth highest rate in England at 328 per 100,000 people, while Leicester is 14th with a rate of 295.9.

Both areas have seen a significant drop in rate of infection since last week.

Image source, PA Media

In Derbyshire, the rates are decreasing in all areas of the county, with Amber Valley the highest with 202.9 per 100,000 people.

Meanwhile in Nottinghamshire, rates are also decreasing - Bassetlaw is the highest with 210.3 per 100,000 people.

Nottingham, which had the UK's highest infection rate in October, stands at 110th with a rate of 164.3 per 100,000 people. The national average is 157.3.

Image source, PA Media

In Rutland, the only county in the region to be under tier two restrictions, there were 52.6 cases per 100,000 people.

Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire have entered the highest level of coronavirus restrictions.