PA Media

Thousands of Swissport baggage handling jobs are at risk at airports across the UK - including the East Midlands - following the collapse of Flybe, a union has said.

The GMB said thousands of Swissport baggage handling jobs are at risk at East Midlands, Birmingham, Cardiff, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Manchester airports following the collapse.

GMB national officer Nadine Houghton said: "This is devastating news for GMB members working for Swissport and a dangerous moment for the UK economy - our regional aviation infrastructure is now at risk.

"The collapse of Flybe is already having a domino effect on good jobs across regions, where aviation is vital for sustaining connectivity and supporting local economies.

"The government needs to urgently step in with a rescue plan for our regional airports to minimise damage and protect livelihoods. GMB is in constant contact with Swissport and will fight to safeguard our members' jobs."

Image source, Getty Images

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

Gas works taking place in Nottingham are set to finish nine weeks earlier than planned, Nottingham City Council has said.

The authority said the premature completion of maintenance and upgrade work on Sherwood Rise is down to coordinating three other utility companies to carry out their work at the same time.

Image source, Getty Images

The council said the road will reopen on 16 March and bus services in the area will return to normal.

With the gas works complete, the resurfacing of Hucknall Road can get under way between Alexandra Street and Bernard Street.

Work there will start on 22 March and is expected to take seven days.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

Lovers of literature can save a bit of cash travelling by public transport in Nottingham.

To celebrate World Book Day, Nottingham City Transport is offering free travel to passengers that present a book when boarding.

Many workers and schoolchildren are dressing up as popular characters from their favourite books for the occasion, but bus driver Jatinder Kumar (below) has stuck to his uniform. He does, however, have a book of his own with him.

Image source, Nottingham City Transport

New statistics highlight the wealthiest and poorest neighbourhoods in England and Wales.

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) has said its strand on former Leicester MP Lord Janner will go ahead.

The inquiry is due to investigate how allegations against the politician were handled by authorities.

There had been suggestions this part of the inquiry should be stopped due to an alleged victim deciding to claim their right to total anonymity, making it impossible to hold all the hearings in public.

But IICSA chairwoman Prof Alexis Jay has announced the strand will go ahead from October, with some proceedings taking place in private.

Image source, PA Media

Three police investigations into Lord Janner took place in the 1990s and 2000s, but no charges were brought.

Following a fourth inquiry, he was charged in 2015 with offences against nine alleged victims. Police say 38 people accused him of abuse.

The peer, who suffered from dementia, was ruled unfit to plead, and died aged 87 before a trial of the facts could take place.

His family have always maintained his innocence.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

Despite Flybe's collapse, flights operated by Blue Islands from the East Midlands to the Channel Islands will operate "as normal", the region's airport has confirmed.

The Lady Chatterley's Lover author wrote to his girlfriend from a guest house in Blackpool.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

Ice hockey fans hoping to see Nottingham Panthers play in Belfast later this month have had their travel plans disrupted by the collapse of the airline Flybe.

Image source, Getty Images

The Panthers are due to play Belfast Giants in two Elite League matches on the 13 and 14 March, but many have been left with no way to get there following the airline's demise.

But the club has said it has "every intention of fulfilling these fixtures", adding another coach is being arranged by Panthers Travel for affected supporters.

Neil Heath
BBC News Online

A lorry has crashed into a ditch on the M1, leaving the driver in hospital with "non life-threatening" injuries.

Leicestershire Police said it happened at 07:22 GMT on the southbound side of the motorway near junction 22.

The slip road has been closed while recovery work with a crane takes place.

Highways England said there are delays on the approach to where the crash happened back to junction 23.

No other vehicles were involved.

Image source, Highways England

Neil Heath
BBC News Online

Image source, Pete Wilson

Many passengers have seen their flights cancelled after the airline Flybe went into administration, but one family managed to find an alternative before prices "rocketed".

Pete Wilson, from Butterley, Derbyshire, was due to travel with Flybe with his wife Sarah and 13-year-old daughter Lydia, from Manchester to Paris, for a holiday at Euro Disney.

The Friday flight was cancelled and he began the "stressful" trawl for alternatives late last night.

Luckily, he managed to get one with Air France heading to Charles de Gaulle Airport from Birmingham.

"My wife and I felt sick [when the news broke] as we had it arranged last October," he said.

"Lydia was thrilled to be going and it was a first flight for her.

"I was worried and upset with the possibility of telling her that we would need to cancel the trip.

"I'm definitely going to have champagne when we arrive."

Flybe's website has advised customers to "not travel to the airport" unless they have arranged an alternative flight.

Alex Regan
BBC News

Police believe they have found the body of a man who went missing after a car crash in January.

Mohammed Ishtyaq was last seen close to Swarkestone Bridge, Derbyshire, after the car crash on 11 January.

He was thought to have been driving the vehicle at the time.

Image source, Derbyshire Police

Derbyshire Police said it had received reports of a body found near the River Trent at Weston-on-Trent at 08:00 on Wednesday.

A spokesman said the force believes it is Mr Ishtyaq's body.

Samantha Noble
BBC News Online

About 50 customers and a dozen staff were evacuated from a restaurant in Derby last night due to a kitchen fire.

Four fire crews were called to Cosmo in London Road shortly after 18:00 and the fire was out by about 19:15.

Station manager Michael Haslam said: "Everyone was evacuated before we turned up so we haven't had to make any rescues."

The road was closed while the fire was dealt with.

Tony Brien, who was abused by scout Ted Langford, said he wanted an apology from the clubs involved.

Rich Davis
BBC Weather presenter

It is going to be cloudy today with the odd shower but it will be mostly dry and chilly across the East Midlands.

Ricardo Pereira's late header sends Leicester into the FA Cup quarter-finals at the expense of Championship side Birmingham.

Leicester grind out their fourth home win of the season as they beat Worcester in a dour Premiership scrap at Welford Road.

Harris Millar
BBC Radio Leicester

Detergent has been poured into a city centre fountain in what the council is calling a "very irresponsible" act.

A Leicester City Council spokesman said it happened at the Town Hall Square water feature over the weekend but the foam was still visible earlier today.

"We have added a solution to the water to get rid of the foam, but it takes a while to take effect. We are hopeful it will be back to normal by this weekend," the spokesman said.

"What might seem like a harmless prank is actually very irresponsible, as adding foam upsets the chemical balance of the water in the fountain, which we then have to put right."

Samantha Noble
BBC News Online

Two new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Derbyshire, bringing the total number in the county to three.

Public Health England (PHE) and Derbyshire County Council said in a joint statement that the two new cases were infected in Italy and PHE is getting in touch with people who have had contact with the pair.

The first case in Derbyshire, who was a parent at Buxton Primary School, picked up the infection in Tenerife and caused the school to close for two days for a deep clean.

Image source, Getty Images

Dr Fu-Meng Khaw, from PHE East Midlands, said: “Close contacts will be given health advice about symptoms and emergency contact details to use if they become unwell in the 14 days after contact with the confirmed cases.

"This tried and tested method will ensure we are able to minimise any risk to them and the wider public.”

Dean Wallace, from Derbyshire County Council, said: “I’d like to reassure people that the risk to the general public remains low and the local authority is working with health colleagues to do everything we can to stop the virus spreading and ensure the people of Derbyshire are protected."

Sonia Kataria
BBC News

A £5m plan to protect homes which were evacuated after a mudslide in Mansfield has been put forward.

Last November, 35 homes on Stone Bank and Bank End Close, near the old Berry Hill Quarry were evacuated after 1,300 tonnes of sand and rocks slipped during heavy rain.

Mansfield Distirct Council has proposed a mesh and pegs to be pinned to the cliff face and a protective barrier to be built at the foot of the cliff.

It said the majority of works will take place within existing buffer zones at the rear of gardens.

Image source, Mansfield District Council

Mansfield Mayor Andy Abrahmas said the authority has approached the government for financial support for the works.

"We have stressed that the failure of the slope was due to climatic conditions following the wettest weather ever recorded in Nottinghamshire," he said.

The council said it is anticipated to cost up to £5m and it is aiming to appoint a contractor in May.

Prosecutors say the phone footage shows the moment 18-year-old Joshua Taylor was killed.