Neil Heath
BBC News Online

A seven-year-old girl has run 10 laps of the avenue where she lives in order to raise money for the NHS.

Grace Jenkins, from Chilwell, Nottinghamshire, wanted to do a 5km (3.1-mile) run as part of her daily exercise while in lockdown.

She challenged her 20-year-old sister over the distance and did it in 33 minutes, beating her sibling by 15 minutes.

Her neighbours all came out to cheer her on as her father cycled by her side.

Image source, Emma Jenkins

"Grace just loves running," said mother Emma. "Hopefully the [funding total] will grow and grow."

Grace has raised about £730, with a target of £1,000.

She said: "I wanted to raise money for the NHS and because it's also fun."

The youngster is planning on doing a 5km run every week.

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

Boots has recruited an extra 500 drivers to help it deliver prescriptions across the UK during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Nottingham-based company said it had gone from delivering 90,000 prescriptions a week to an estimated 150,000.

Image source, Boots

Throughout March, Boots said they hired an average of 80 drivers a day - up from an average of one per day over the last six months.

Along with the new employees, the pharmacy chain has added 400 new vehicles to its fleet and introduced prescription delivery in another 40 stores.

The bags dissolve on a 60C wash, says manufacturer Aquapak which has donated 46,000 so far.

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

Labour's new leader Sir Keir Starmer has used the East Midlands as an example of problems with coronavirus testing.

During Prime Minister's Questions, it was highlighted that while currently there was capacity of 40,000 tests a day, only 18,000 took place on Tuesday.

Image source, EPA

Sir Kier said care workers from Leicester were having to travel as far as Nottingham to get tested.

He said: "Not all care workers will have access to a car, because they've got symptoms or family members have got symptoms they obviously can't use public transport, so it is little wonder we're seeing these pictures of half-empty testing centres."

The government said it was "ramping up" the availability of testing.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

Dominic Raab has announced funding will be made available to help zoos forced to close during the coronavirus outbreak.

The foreign secretary was responding to concerns raised about Twycross Zoo by the Conservative MP for Hinckley and Bosworth, Dr Luke Evans.

On Monday the Leicestershire zoo warned it was facing a financial crisis as a result of being forced to shut.

Sharon Redrobe, the zoo's CEO, said they would run out of cash by June.

Image source, Twycross Zoo

Dr Evans's question was praised by Leicester's former MEP and deputy city mayor, Labour politician Rory Palmer, who said support for zoos was "crucial".

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

It's no surprise that another summer festival has been cancelled because of the coronavirus outbreak.

The organisers of Y Not Festival in Derbyshire have today confirmed it will not go ahead in July and said: "Y Not is a labour of love and being unable to share that with you this year is heartbreaking.

"But our focus should be on compassion, unity and getting through this together."

Image source, Joe Pantling

This year's event would have seen performances from Royal Blood, Richard Ashcroft, Rag'n'Bone Man and Craig David.

Organisers urged ticketholders to consider keeping hold of their ticket for the 2021 event but those who cannot attend can also ask for a refund.

British number five Jay Clarke and his brother Curtis, who happens to also be his coach, talk to BBC East Midlands Today about what it is like being in lockdown together.

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

The wife of an ambulance driver who died on Monday after contracting Covid-19 said he died "doing what he loved".

Charlie Goodwin worked for private firm First4Care for more than 20 years.

"He lived for the job, he died for the job, and that's all there is to it," Julie Goodwin, from Bilsthorpe, Nottinghamshire, said.

Image source, Goodwin family

Mrs Goodwin said her husband, a father-of-three, had been isolating from them all so he could continue working.

"I wanted him to stay off work, and I begged him, but he said it was his duty to work," Mrs Goodwin said.

"He said he had the PPE and he wanted to carry on. He loved the job, the people and it gave him the feeling he was doing something good for other people."

Neil Heath
BBC News Online

A Derby art teacher has appealed for local businesses to donate acetate sheets so he can make more visors to protect care home staff during the coronavirus outbreak.

Simon Moore, from Murray Park Community School in Mickleover, has made dozens of visors, between teaching, for local care homes and wants to make more, but raw materials are in short supply.

Image source, Simon Moore

Mr Moore said he and his team were inspired to make the visors due to the national shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) and after seeing other schools making them across the country.

He wanted to help care homes specifically as his mother-in-law had received "wonderful care" at one in Allenton before her death in January.

"I wanted one of the first batches to go there," he said.

"The homes we've helped are over the moon, a lot are struggling to get this gear and some wanted to buy the masks off us.

"They're not for sale, we want to donate them because we're doing our bit."

Anyone who can help have been asked to contact the school.

Image source, Simon Moore

Neil Heath
BBC News Online

A wildlife expert has been explaining how lockdown restrictions have been helping urban wildlife while engaging more people with nature.

Michael Walker, who is Nottinghamshire's mammal recorder, said he has had people sending him videos of "randy" hedgehogs trying to mate.

Image source, Getty Images

"Hedgehogs have become extremely active and people are noticing them more in their gardens," he said.

"I've had a video sent to me of a male pursuing a female, a few nights ago, very noisily.

"When two males are involved, it can cause quite a commotion with even more huffing."

Image source, Getty Images

Mr Walker believes it is not that there is an increase of species, but that people are experiencing wildlife more as they are at home and are taking more walks.

"I think it's down to more awareness," he said.

"But you could say with fewer cars on the roads it could be reducing hedgehog mortality.

"You usually see lots of flattened hedgehogs at this time of year."

Mr Walker, who works for Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, has appealed for help in recording wildlife during this period.

He would especially like to hear about what has been seen in the usually busy city areas.

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

Chart stars Little Mix have become the latest group to cancel a summer tour due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The quartet had been due to perform at Leicestershire Cricket Club on 17 July.

In a statement, the group said: "The health and safety of all our fans and crew is always our number one priority.

"Please stay safe and stay home."

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

Three people have been arrested after a drugs raid at a house in Derbyshire.

Officers, acting on a tip-off, searched the house on Recreation Drive, Shirebrook, on Monday.

Image source, Google

Two women, aged 48 and 20, and a 22-year-old man, all from the Shirebrook area, were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply drugs.

A quantity of suspected cannabis and amphetamine was seized, police said.

The suspects have been released under investigation while inquiries continue.

Police have released CCTV images of a man they would like to speak to about the reported assault.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

A Leicestershire bookbinding firm is making 3,000 visors a day to help protect NHS staff looking after patients with coronavirus.

Tudor Bookbinding in Wigston already had stocks of the three basic materials involved - plastic, foam and elastic.

Image source, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust

They would usually be used in various printed products but the firm has seen a fall in bookbinding orders since the lockdown began.

Ian Chamberlain, the firm's managing director, said it was just a case of tweaking existing machinery to form a production line.

Mr Chamberlain said: "It isn't the most complicated product, but it is doing exactly what they want. They wanted something simple to put on, take off, and if necessary disregard."

The visors are being supplied to two local NHS trusts.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

A "significant number of appliances" remain at the scene of a large building fire in Sandiacre.

The four-storey converted mill building on Bridge Street caught fire just before 16:30 on Tuesday.

Image source, Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service said cordons in the area are expected to remain in place "well into the morning" and diversions are signposted locally.

"We ask residents to let us continue our work and be mindful of social distancing," the service said.

The service was supported by crews from Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.

Image source, Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service

Clive Stanbrook - area manager for the Derbyshire service - said: "Thanks to the rapid and effective firefighting carried out by crews, we have been able to save at least three quarters of the building."

Derbyshire Police have also urged those living locally to keep windows closed.

Fire crews based in Stapleford said they were working to move residents of the building to a place of shelter and thanked a local pub who has been in touch.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

Trains across the East Midlands are currently delayed due to an "incident" at Beeston.

Image source, East Midlands Railway

East Midlands Railway said it is affecting their London St Pancras/Nottingham/Sheffield, Matlock/Derby/Nottingham, and Leicester/Nottingham/Lincoln routes.

CrossCountry is also reporting disruption on their services between Nottingham and Birmingham New Street/Cardiff Central.

BBC Weather

Today will see largely fine and dry conditions with plenty of sunshine through the day.

Image source, Mark Hallam

Tonight will stay mostly clear and dry, though patchy cloud may develop in places.

Mike Reid will cover 4,000 laps of his garden to raise money for a baby hospice.

Can 21st Century science learn anything from the ordeal of a plague-wracked village 350 years ago?

Oliver and James Garle have been sharing their one-liners with friends and family during the lockdown.