Thousands of tonnes of straw destroyed in fire
Taxi driver loses licence after A52 smash
New car deal boost for Toyota factory
Fracking 'overshadowing' communities
Man dies after falling ill in city centre
Window cleaner cleans road signs in spare time
Tennis: Johanna Konta confirmed for Nottingham Open
Updates for Wednesday 20 March
Gavin Bevis
BBC News
A cordon is currently in place at the bottom of Babington Lane in Derby city centre.
Derbyshire Police have said in a statement: "Babington Lane in Derby is currently closed and a cordon is in place, due to an ongoing police incident.
"Officers were made aware of an incident at 13.45 today. No further information is available at this time."
Image source, Ace Trainer LiamFormer South Africa lock Stephan Lewies, Leicester flanker Will Evans and Newcastle second-row Glen Young are to join Harlequins in the summer.
Read MoreA gang who raided a man's home "got what they came for and stabbed him", a court hears.
Read MoreIt's the first day of spring and what a glorious one it has been.
Sunshine and flowers have been seen across the East Midlands today and our keen Weather Watchers have been out capturing the action.
Maggie T Howarth sent in this snap of flowers in the sun from East Leake.
Image source, Maggie T HowarthTrees are blossoming in Chesterfield, as shown by Janice Dyson.
Image source, Janice DysonMeanwhile, in Bestwood, Steve Plew Notts sent in this lovely shot of some daffodils.
Image source, Steve Plew Notts
Nick Smith
BBC News Online
An investigation has begun to try and find the cause of straw fire which begun last night.
Fire crews were called to fields near The Butts, Saltby, at around 17:00 yesterday evening.
A Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said: "Fire crews are expected to be there for the next few days damping down the area."
Fire officers are currently at the site investigating the cause of the fire, which is believed to have been started deliberately.
Image source, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue ServiceGavin Bevis
BBC News
Two men have been arrested, external after more than 500 cannabis plants were found at a property in Carlton last night.
Nottinghamshire Police said they were called to reports of an attempted burglary in Oakdale Road at about 23:35.
Image source, GoogleFour suspects fled the scene but officers then discovered the plants.
The men, aged 24 and 25, are being questioned on suspicion of cannabis cultivation.
Rob Sissons
East Midlands Today Reporter
A inquest has been hearing how a woman died at home alone despite repeatedly calling the NHS helpline 111.
Anne Roome died from pneumonia and chronic breathing problems at her flat in Derby in 2014. She'd called the helpline 26 times but didn't get the help she needed.
Image source, Family handoutThe clinical director of 111 spoke at the inquest and accepted there had been "clinical mismanagement" of the case and that correct procedures "weren't always followed".
The 68-year-old was a frequent caller to the service and it was said this may have clouded the judgement of call handlers, who were "very distressed" by the outcome.
Image source, Family handoutIt happened five years ago and we were told lessons "have been learnt" since then.
Gavin Bevis
BBC News
A Derby cabbie has had his taxi licence taken away, external after crashing on the A52.
Azhar Iqbal, 41, originally told police a "medical episode" had made him lose control near the M1 junction in February 2018 but later changed his story to say he'd swerved to avoid an animal in the road.
Image source, Derby City CouncilIqbal, of Tintagel Close, Derby, eventually admitted dangerous driving at Nottingham Crown Court and was handed a 12 month community order, a 12-month driving ban, 50 hours of unpaid work and fines totaling £585.
PC Oli Priddle, from Derbyshire Police, said: "It was by luck rather than judgment that nobody was seriously hurt as a result of Azhar Iqbal’s actions."
The deal will not lead to extra jobs but will make the Derbyshire factory more efficient, the firm says.
Read MoreNick Smith
BBC News Online
A man has been arrested in connection with two robberies and an assault in Newark.
Yesterday morning, a 54-year-old woman was punched and had her rucksack taken soon after 05:30 in Strawberry Hall Lane.
Another woman, 54, was assaulted as she tried to stop the robbery.
Image source, GoogleAbout the same time, a 31-year-old woman had her mobile phone and cash taken on a football field near Yorke Drive.
The man is in custody and is being questioned.
Nick Smith
BBC News Online
A conservation project to protect birds of prey in the Peak District has been awarded £91,000 of National Lottery funding.
The Upland Skies project is aimed at educating people about how to protect birds such as peregrine falcons, goshawks and hen harriers.
Image source, Getty ImagesAmanda Miller, the RSPB's Conservation Manager for Northern England, said: "Birds of prey are protected by law, yet they continue to decline in numbers.
"To secure their future for generations to come we need to inform local people about the issue and inspire them to help save these birds."
The project is a collaboration between the RSPB, National Trust, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust and Peak District National Park Authority.
BBC Leicester Sport
Flanker Will Evans will join Harlequins from Leicester Tigers in the summer.
The 22-year-old Tigers academy graduate has played 11 times for Leicester this season, scoring one try, and has played for England under-20s.
Image source, ALLSPORT/Getty Images
Press Association
Fracking has created a "real shadow across the landscape" for communities affected by exploratory drilling, North East Derbyshire MP Lee Rowley has told Parliament.
The Conservative member argued a law change was needed to limit the "ability for seismic activity to take place over and above what the regulations already say".
He proposed a bill that would require operators to monitor seismic activity caused by fracking and prevent any industry move to increase the size of allowable earthquakes above the current limit of 0.5 Richters.
Image source, UK ParliamentSpeaking in the Commons, he said: "For those communities that are [affected by fracking] there is a real shadow across the landscape which is created by the implications for their local area - the roads, the loss of agricultural fields and the real industrial impact that comes in otherwise heavily rural areas.
"Fracking is controversial because it hasn't worked, because it isn't working and because in my view it won't work from both a practical perspective and a community-based perspective and it is for that reason that I seek to limit through legislation the ability for seismic activity to take place over and above what the regulations already say."
His Fracking (Seismic Activity) Bill was listed for a second reading on Friday but is unlikely to become law due to a lack of parliamentary time.
Leicester Tigers back-row forward Tommy Reffell extends his contract with the Premiership club.
Read More
Amy Woodfield
BBC News
A pedestrian who was hit by a bus in Leicester last week has died in hospital.
The woman in her 60s was in the Humberstone village area on 12 March when she was hit at the junction of Abbotts Road North and Main Street.
Image source, GoogleShe was taken to hospital in Nottingham shortly after 12:30 but died three days later.
Police investigating the crash have said inquiries are ongoing and they would like to hear from any potential witnesses.
Nick Smith
BBC News Online
This is the scene last night as 4,000 tonnes of straw burned in a fire, which is believed to have been started deliberately.
The fire also involving four tonnes of tyres, started in Saltby, near Melton Mowbray, at about 17:00 yesterday, Leicestershire Fire and Rescuse Service said.
Firefighters are expected to be at the scene for most of today and an investigation into the cause is ongoing.
Fire crews say due to quantity and materials involved in fire, it could burn for days.
Read MorePolice have appealed for help finding a 12-year-old girl who's been reported missing from the Long Eaton.
Image source, Nottinghamshire PoliceConnie Buckland vanished yesterday but was spotted at Mansfield bus station this morning, Nottinghamshire Police said.
Dozens of providers are offering an hour of free care so mothers can attend cervical screening appointments.
Read MoreAmy Woodfield
BBC News
A police dog handler in Derbyshire has said a rescue dog, who is in training with the force, is showing many positive qualities that could see him qualify.
Ted was returned twice to a dog shelter in Warwickshire for being too boisterous.
But it was this behaviour that saw him recommended to Derbyshire Police's Dog Section as a trainee search dog.
PC Claire Hopkinson said dogs like this often make a good search dog and so far Ted is showing drive, focus and energy in his training.
She said: "It's just a big game for him at the moment and we want to make it fun. I'm liking what I'm seeing."
