Alex Regan
BBC News

People who have lost loved ones have been "forgotten" in plans to ease lockdown in England, a funeral director has said.

Matthew Lymn Rose, who runs Nottingham-based funeral directors A W Lymn, said it was "alarming" to hear pubs would reopen before restrictions are eased for funerals.

Currently up to 30 people can attend a funeral outdoors, and that number is not set to rise until at least 21 June, when a decision will be made on "whether all limits can be removed on weddings and other life events".

On 12 April non-essential retail, hairdressers, and outdoor hospitality venues can reopen. The number of people who can attend wakes will increase from six to 15 people, but the amount of mourners at a funeral will still be limited to 30 people.

Image source, A W Lymn

Mr Lymn Rose said: "It is truly alarming to hear that the bereaved are being given such little focus in the plan to reopen society.

"This disease has killed thousands of people up and down the country – almost every family has been touched in some way by Covid-19.

“And yet, despite the fact that so many people are grieving, the rule of 30 at funerals is going to be one of the last restrictions to be lifted. This really does not make sense to me.”

Mr Lymn Rose, whose company operates 27 funeral homes across the East Midlands, said although he understands the logic of restricting indoor funeral services, he does not understand why the same applies to outdoor funerals.

"It is part of what makes us human, to demonstrate our emotion for a lost loved one by coming together at a burial and sharing a silence of remembrance," he said.

"I don’t see how standing in a wide, open space – like the majority of cemeteries are – is any more of a risk than going to a supermarket or a pub."

He has called on the government to reconsider the cap on outdoor funerals to reduce "additional distress and turmoil" caused to grieving families.

A government spokesperson said: “Throughout the pandemic our priority has been to ensure the deceased are treated with dignity and respect and that the bereaved have the opportunity to mourn.

“Restrictions on funerals and commemorative events following a person's death aim to balance the needs of the bereaved, while minimising the spread of Covid-19 to mourners and staff.”

Alex Thorp
BBC News

Video has been released of the moment a fox - which was found tangled in a football net - was released into the wild.

The "very distressed" vixen was discovered "hanging by her neck" by a dog walker in Barrow-Upon-Soar, at 05:30 on Monday.

The dog walker and RSPCA inspector Richard Durrant managed to free the stricken fox, which had been in "danger of strangling herself".

The animal suffered some bruising but was found to be in good health when she was sedated and checked over by vets in Loughborough.

Mr Durrant urged people to remove netting used for sport after a game.

"Netted fencing and netting used for gardening or in sport can be really dangerous for animals," he added.

Image source, Kayleigh Taylor

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

A new rapid testing centre has opened in Rutland for people who do not have Covid symptoms but need regular tests because they have to go to work and mix with colleagues or members of the public.

The centre, based at the Oakham Enterprise Park, opened on Monday and offers lateral flow antigen tests (known as LFD).

People who cannot work from home and mix with the public are encouraged to get tested regularly to stop the spread of Covid-19.

Image source, Rutland County Council

Mike Sandys, director for public health at Rutland County Council, said the test was "quick and simple".

"This is extremely important for those who can’t work from home and might therefore be spreading the virus without knowing it," he said.

Appointments must be booked in advance online, external and anyone with coronavirus symptoms is asked not to attend the centre.

Tayabb Shah, 38, is charged with five counts of sexual assault at a hospital in Nottingham.

Sonia Kataria
BBC News

Two brothers have donated their late grandad's scooter to a terminally ill man who had his stolen in Nottinghamshire last month.

Derek Trigg, 70, a former merchant navy seaman who has cancer, said he had been housebound since the scooter was taken from outside his home in Newark in January.

Rob and James Toal's late grandfather was also called Derek and was an ex-serviceman who had cancer.

"It's quite surreal and almost a full circle moment that he now has our grandad's scooter, given the similarities between them," the brothers, from Stapleford, said.

Mr Trigg said: "I can't thank officers, Rob, James and their family enough for providing me with this scooter, which is a lifeline really.

"It was completely gutting to lose my old one and to have my independence taken away. It's been very frustrating not really being able to leave my house."

Image source, Nottinghamshire Police

Nottinghamshire Police said witnesses saw Mr Trigg's scooter being loaded on to a red hatchback car, which then drove off.

No arrests have been made.

The woman has been in an induced coma since giving birth to her son last month, a court hears.

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

A paedophile has been jailed after a survivor of his abuse saw him with another child and went to police.

Paul Dixon, of Alfreton Road, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, was sentenced to nine years in prison at Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday.

The 59-year-old was convicted of 11 counts of child abuse, including four of sexual activity with a child.

Image source, Nottinghamshire Police

Police said offences were committed against two girls, aged under 16, between June 2009 and February 2017.

Speaking after the sentencing, police said the girls were "incredibly brave".

Officers said one of them was abused in public spaces and at Dixon's flat, where he would throw money at her.

Despite being scared of Dixon, she went to police after seeing him talking to a young child on a tram.

As well as his prison sentence, Dixon was made subject of a sexual harm prevention order and must sign the sex offenders register for life.

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

A 15-year-old boy has been charged in connection with a stabbing in Bulwell.

Police were called to Charlock Close at about 17:30 on Saturday after a 16-year-old boy was assaulted.

The force said he remains in hospital.

Image source, Google

The 15-year-old, who cannot be named because of his age, has been charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent and two counts of possession of a bladed article.

He was remanded into custody after appearing at Nottingham Magistrates' Court yesterday.

The Nottinghamshire force said inquiries into the assault were continuing and the police presence in the area had been increased "to provide reassurance".

BBC Weather Watchers

Dry and fine today, with patchy cloud and spells of hazy sunshine.

Exceptionally mild but with a moderate southerly breeze.

Possible spots of rain overnight but with winds dropping.

Image source, Bob181

Dave Bartram appeals for people to "think of others" and have the vaccination.

Stockport County fail to take their chances in a goalless National League draw at home to Notts County.

Aaron Martin gets the only goal of the game as Harrogate beat Mansfield to complete their first Football League double.

Ryan Yates' strike sees Nottingham Forest edge Championship strugglers Rotherham and move 10 points clear of the drop zone.

Derby ease to victory over 10-man Huddersfield, who slip to a seventh defeat from their past 10 Championship games.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

Health bosses are warning of "concerning increases" in the number of people testing positive for coronavirus in North West Leicestershire.

The county council said cases have risen by almost a quarter in the last week and the area now has the 16th highest infection rate per 100,000 people in all of England.

The rates are highest in places surrounding Coalville - including Snibston, Hugglescote and Bardon.

Image source, EPA

Mike Sandys, director of public health, said: "There aren't any large outbreaks but we are seeing more cases related to people in their workplace than elsewhere."

Leicestershire County Council said warehousing and distribution premises have been visited by officers over the last few weeks to check coronavirus safety measures are in place.

Mr Sandys said testing is "the key to tackling a hot spot" so some people in the district should expect to receive a leaflet about taking a test.

Richard Blunt, the leader of North West Leicestershire District Council, said: "I urge everyone in the district to take this seriously."

Alex Regan
BBC News

A dog bowl, a block of butter, an apple and a pair of scissors were among the weirdest items flushed down toilets in the East Midlands this winter, Severn Trent has said.

The water company said workers were also perplexed after finding clothes pegs, a pen, and a screwdriver in its treatment works.

Image source, Severn Trent

Grant Mitchell, who manages sewer blockages at Severn Trent, said: "[I] can’t help but wonder what people were thinking.

"We can’t stress enough how important it is to only flush the three Ps (pee, poo and toilet paper) down the toilet - anything else needs to go into the bin."

He added: "Many customers may not realise they are responsible for the waste pipe running away from their home.

"Unblocking or repairing this section of pipe can be costly, but avoidable if you’re careful about what you put down your toilet or your sink."

Image source, Severn Trent

Sonia Kataria
BBC News

A female fox was found tangled and "hanging by her neck" in a goal net in Leicestershire.

Sue Fitzgerald said she came across the "very distressed" vixen at The Beacon Field, in Barrow-Upon-Soar, while walking her dog at 05:30 on Monday.

Image source, Sue Fitzgerald

"The poor little fox was so badly tangled. Its body, neck, everywhere," she said.

"It was really upsetting to see. The RSPCA officer said he was horrified by what he saw."

Image source, Sue Fitzgerald

Kayleigh Taylor, head nurse at Medivet in Loughborough, said the vixen was "terrified" and "putting up a fight" when she arrived with an RSPCA officer, who had cut the net from the goal with the fox still trapped.

"We helped to sedate the young vixen so we could cut the net and untangle her safely," she said.

"She miraculously came away with very little injury. She sustained a bad bruise and a graze to her back leg."

Image source, Kayleigh Taylor

Ms Taylor added when the female woke she was "less stressed" and was later released back into the wild.

Image source, Kayleigh Taylor

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

Two new community testing centres are to open in Derbyshire this week for people who don’t have coronavirus symptoms.

One will open at West Park Leisure Centre in Long Eaton tomorrow, with the other opening at County Hall in Matlock on Friday.

People who are still going out to work and mixing with colleagues or the public are encouraged to get tested regularly to stop the spread of Covid-19.

Image source, Google

Derbyshire County Council said more than 33,000 tests have been carried out at the county's community test centres up to 12 February, with 419 (1.3%) of people testing positive.

The authority's director of public health Dean Wallace said: “The virus is still out there and we need to make sure we are breaking the chain of transmission, especially among people who are still going out to work and mixing with colleagues and the public.

“For peace of mind, I’d urge anyone without symptoms to get tested regularly to make sure they aren’t unwittingly passing the virus on to colleagues, family or friends."

Appointments are not needed to visit a community testing centre. However anyone with coronavirus symptoms is asked not attend.

Sonia Kataria
BBC News

One person was cut free from a car and taken to hospital after being involved in a crash with another car in Leicestershire.

Emergency services attended the scene at about 09:00 at the Loughborough Road and New Road junction in Coleorton.

Image source, @LFRSCDonington

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said four people were in the vehicles and one person was trapped.

"A full roof removal was carried out to extricate one casualty," it said.

Castle Donington Fire Station tweeted, external the "low sun" was causing problems and urged motorists to take care.

Image source, @LFRSCDonington

Leicestershire Police said no serious injuries were reported.

It added the road was closed while officers attended and recovered the cars. It has since reopened.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

Five people were fined £800 each after a group of "almost 30" adults and children gathered in Potters Marston.

Leicestershire Police said on Facebook, external the crowd had travelled from Leicester on Sunday to let their children use quad bikes and motorbikes.

Image source, Leiccestershire Police

The post said: "There is currently no exemption that permits you to travel from Leicester to bring your kids on their quad bikes or motorbikes to ride on land where you have no permission.

"We know that mental health struggles are a real thing - so please don’t dangle that in an effort to make us look like we’re in the wrong - but meeting in a group of almost 30 adults and kids is currently not permitted."

Two further adults were fined £200 for breaching Covid lockdown rules.