Sandish Shoker
BBC News

Nottingham's annual free Bonfire Night and fireworks display has been cancelled due to the pandemic.

It was due to be staged at the Forest Recreation Ground on 5 November and normally attracts around 40,000 people over a five-hour period.

The city council's events team said they had considered possible options for the event to go ahead, but with social distancing and other Covid-safe measures in place, they said "this proved impossible".

Image source, Nottingham City Council

Councillor Dave Trimble, said: “We have to be mindful not only of people’s safety at the event, but also the wider considerations of how they would get there."

He said it was hoped the event would "return with a bang" in 2021.

People in affected areas will be allowed to look after children from outside their households.

Jeremy Ball
Social affairs correspondent, BBC East Midlands Today

Volunteers at a youth project supported by Prince Harry have been back at the centre months after it was forced to close due to coronavirus.

The Community Recording Studio, in St Ann's, Nottingham, has been teaching video and music skills to youngsters since 1991.

Image source, PA Media

The prince was a regular visitor to the studio where he supports several initiatives set up to help young people.

Trevor Rose, studio manager, said due to lockdown much of the important work they do at the hub had to move online.

"We're about engaging, we're about bridging and we're about believing in people and I think a little bit of that has been lost through Covid, which is a shame.

"I haven't seen some of our staff except online since March, that's terrible."

He added that the seclusion has led to a "loss of identity and loss of expression" among the users of the centre.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

A man has been given a suspended prison sentence after admitting indecently assaulting two teenage girls in the 1990s.

Richard Spencer, 66, admitted four charges of indecent assault on a girl aged under 14.

Nottinghamshire Police said the offences were committed in the Newark and Sherwood district.

Image source, kieferpix/Getty Images

Spencer, of Church Lane, Balderton, appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday.

He was given a 20-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

He was also made subject of a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and must sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for 10 years.

Det Con Jacqueline Sharpe said: "I’d like to commend the two victims for the strength and bravery they showed in coming forward a number of years after their ordeals."

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

A top council officer in Leicester is to leave his £140,000 role to take on a new job on the Falkland Islands.

Andy Keeling, who has worked at Leicester City Council for more than 10 years, will join the Falkland Islands Government as chief executive in April next year.

On his appointment, the Members of the Legislative Assembly chair on the island, Roger Edwards said: "His extensive experience coupled with his enthusiasm for the Islands gives me great confidence he will be a real asset to the Falkland Islands Government."

Image source, Leicester City Council

Mr Keeling said he did not "underestimate the challenges ahead" and hopes to "continue the pursuit of economic and social growth, and environmental sustainability" set by the government's current chief executive.

Leicester Tigers sign Argentina international fly-half Joaquin Diaz Bonilla for the 2020-21 Premiership season.

Leicester City sign Roma winger Cengiz Under on a season-long loan.

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

A woman has been jailed after she struck a man on a zebra crossing in Leicester in 2018 and then drove away.

Fatheha Begum Abedin, 29, of Evington Street, Leicester pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and perverting the course of justice.

She was sentenced at Leicester Crown Court to a total of 18 months and banned from driving for two years.

At the time police released this CCTV of the accident in a bid to find the driver who had failed to stop.

A 61-year-old man spent more than 10 days in hospital after he was struck by the car at the crossing on St Peter's Road.

Chay Bowskill, 19, and Rocco Sansome, 18, appeared at Leicester Magistrates' Court earlier.

Neil Heath
BBC News Online

A rare bird of prey which led to thousands of people visiting the Peak District National Park to catch a glimpse, has left the area.

'Vigo' the bearded vulture, which was larger than a golden eagle, has begun moving south after about three months in the park.

Image source, John Deakin

Tim Birch, from Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, said it was last seen in Edale, Derbyshire, on Saturday, but has since been spotted in Leicester.

"I feel quite sad [and] I just hope it stays safe," he said.

"The bird was a powerful advocate for our national parks to be wilder.

"The number of people who came to visit was incredible... it was an absolute joy for people to connect with nature."

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

A motorcyclist has died after a crash involving three vehicles - two motorbikes and a car - on the A6006 in Asfordby.

Leicestershire Police said it happened at the junction with Loughborough Road at about 10:45 on Saturday.

Image source, Google

A man in his 60s was pronounced dead at the scene.

The other motorcyclist sustained minor injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment.

Those inside a silver Toyota Avensis car were not injured.

The force's serious collision investigation unit is appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the collision or saw any of the vehicles being driven beforehand to get in contact with them.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

Police officers from Nottinghamshire have arrested a man on suspicion of a murder in Paris on 24 June.

The 64-year-old was detained on Friday in London after a European Arrest Warrant was issued by French authorities.

Sgt Tim Cuthbert, from Nottinghamshire Police, said officers will now "work with the French authorities and assist with the investigation".

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

Pupils from two year groups at a Nottingham primary school have been told to stay at home for two weeks after a staff member tested positive for Covid-19.

Greenfield Community School in The Meadows confirmed to parents in a letter on Monday there had been a positive case and therefore Year 4 pupils must self isolate until 29 September and Year 3 pupils until 25 September.

Image source, Google

“It is so sad this happened so close to the beginning of the new academic year," wrote head teacher Terry Smith. "It has been great having the children back in school again and a real shame that we have had to take these steps."

All other year groups remain open as normal.

The £150,000 Aston Martin supercar was seized because of the "manner of driving".

Up to a third of the National Trust's 300 UK houses have links to colonialism, a project found.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

A man has been arrested for spitting in the face of a police detention officer.

The 23-year-old was in custody following an altercation in a bar on Burton Street in Nottingham at 12:00 on Sunday.

Image source, PA Media

Nottinghamshire Police said the man urinated in the back of a police van while travelling to a custody suite.

When in custody, the force said he spat in an officer's face and "wrapped his arm around the officer’s neck, restricting his breathing".

He was subsequently arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker and criminal damage.

Insp Mark Stanley said: “Spitting at someone is despicable and to do so while in the middle of a global pandemic is particularly abhorrent but sadly, we have seen a number of incidents of this type."

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

A brand new supercar could be crushed after it was found being driven without insurance.

Nottinghamshire Police said they stopped the Aston Martin - thought to be worth about £150,000 - on the A60 near Ravenshead.

Image source, Nottinghamshire Police

The force said, external special constables spotted the vehicle in the early hours of this morning due to the "manner of driving".

The driver was found not to have insurance and the car was seized.

The legal owner must recover the vehicle, or risk it being crushed while the driver faces six points and a fine of up to £5,000.

BBC Weather

Any early low cloud or fog will gradually disperse leaving another largely fine day.

It will turn warm with plenty of sunshine in the afternoon.

After a fine evening, tonight will remain dry however more mist and fog will form in places.

Image source, AbbeyDale