Kit Sandeman
Local Democracy Reporter

Nottingham's two universities have been singled out for praise for their work helping the government increase the levels of testing for coronavirus.

On Sunday, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson used the daily coronavirus press conference to praise the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University.

Mr Williamson said the universities had been playing an "incredibly important" role after lending key testing equipment and mapping the virus.

"The city of Nottingham really goes to shine a light on what an important role higher education institutions play in terms of our battle with the coronavirus," he said.

From setting up machines to test 20,000 people a day to providing local food banks with fresh produce, Nottingham's universities are playing a pivotal role in tackling coronavirus.

He had originally been asked: "The lack of PPE in social carers has been a critical issue in Nottingham, as it has around the country.

"Our local resilience forum received 40% of what it was told to expect in its first delivery.

"The leader of Nottingham City Council has called the government's handling of PPE supply 'haphazard, and inadequate', and said promises made by the government had been broken.

"Do you think there's an argument that the government over-promised on the delivery of PPE?

"And secondly, when the shipment of PPE from Turkey does arrive, can you tell us how this will be allocated and distributed, and whether social care is going to be put on an equal footing to the NHS?"

Mr Williamson said: "Right at the start we recognised that local resilience forums, which Nottingham council is actually part of, and a key player as part of, are vital in making sure we get the distribution right on PPE.

"So when we're bringing more PPE into the country and when it's being manufactured in this country, we're using the local resilience forums as a key element to making sure the right type of equipment is getting into care homes, and that will certainly be the case, making sure the right equipment gets to the right places.

"Local resilience forums will play a key role in that."

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

Two suspected arson attacks in Nottinghamshire could be linked, police have said.

Nottinghamshire Police said the first fire took place in Cardale Lane, Bakersfield, just before 03:30 on Saturday, and involved a parked car.

The second also saw a parked car set on fire in Skipton Circus, Bakersfield, just after 03:40 on Sunday.

Image source, Google

While no-one is known to have been injured, police said they were keen to get more information.

Det Insp Ed Cook said: "We are keeping an open mind and pursuing all lines of enquiry, however it is possible that these two fires may be linked."

Officers stressed the fires were not linked to a car blaze in Claygate, in the Carlton area, on Saturday.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

Four people have been arrested over a burglary at the home of a paramedic.

Derbyshire Police said a mountain bike, PlayStation 4, GPS device and an NHS polo shirt were stolen from the house on Little Hallam Way, Ilkeston, between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning.

Image source, Derbyshire Police

Paramedic Samuel Clyde Jones said he had been working a 12-hour night shift at the time.

The two men and two women were arrested on suspicion of burglary on Friday. All four have been released on bail pending further inquiries.

Police are still trying to find the stolen items.

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

A city centre multi-storey car park is to shut for six months for structural repairs.

Work is to start on the Lace Market Car Park in Nottingham, beginning on Monday, and will last for about six months.

The city council said repairs had been planned for some time but a drop in use connected with the coronavirus pandemic means starting now will result in less disruption.

Officials insisted contractors will be working to government guidelines on social distancing and safe operating procedures.

Image source, Google

BBC Weather

It will be a largely fine and dry day with generous amounts of sunshine.

It will feel breezy but fairly warm with a maximum temperature of 15C (59F).

Image source, Mark Hallam