Sandish Shoker
BBC News

Actor Stephen Graham has given a thumbs-up to the latest knitted postbox topper, which has appeared in his home town in Leicestershire.

A mystery knitter, who usually spruces up a pillar box in nearby Syston, has now claimed responsibility for the topper, featuring some of the This is England star's most famous characters, in Ibstock.

They are McNally from BBC series Time, DS John Corbett from Line of Duty, Scrum from Pirates of the Caribbean and Marley in A Christmas Carol.

Image source, Graham family

Mr Graham visited the postbox with his wife Hannah.

The secret needlesmith, who goes by the name Syston K Banxy or Syston's Knitting Banksy, said they hope the sale of the topper can raise funds for local hospice, LOROS.

Image source, Syston K Banxy

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

A "Big Weekend" of vaccinations, where any eligible person can turn up without an appointment, is being held in part of Nottinghamshire.

From Friday to Monday, all eligible adults in Nottingham and Mansfield can get a first or second jab from 08:00 to 20:00.

Second doses will be available for anybody who had their first dose on or before 30 April.

Image source, PA Media

Anyone over 18 or who is clinically vulnerable or a carer can go to one of nine sites.

These are Gamston Community Hall, Forest Recreation Ground, King's Meadow Campus, Richard Herrod Centre, Newark Showground, Ashfield Health Village, Mansfield Wickes site, King's Mill Hospital Vaccination Hub and the Queen's Medical Centre.

All sites will be offering both Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines.

Amanda Sullivan, from NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire CCG, said: "We know the rate of infection is increasing nationally and we are seeing increases in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

"We have seen in the past that a few cases can very quickly lead to a big increase in community transmission.

"That is why it is important that we all get our vaccine and protect ourselves as soon as possible."

The £330m waste incinerator is due to be built at the Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station site.

Alex Regan
BBC News

Today is dry and fine with plenty of sunshine this morning, but we can expect some cloud to build in places this afternoon.

There will be highs of 22C and lows of 11C overnight.

Image source, AbbeyDale

Alex Hales hits an 18-ball fifty as Notts demolish Worcestershire, and there are wins for Gloucestershire and Leicestershire.

Ashley Wright is sentenced after admitting to offences against a 15-year-old boy under her care.

Heather Burman
BBC News

A man who flagged down a cyclist while impersonating a police officer is being sought by Leicestershire Police.

Officers said a man, who was driving a black Ford, put a blue light on top of his car and got out wearing a stab vest with 'police' written on it in Ethel Road, Leicester, at about 09:45 on Monday.

Image source, Google

He told the cyclist he needed a licence to use the cycle lane but left when a woman approached them.

Police have appealed for any witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to come forward.

The man is described as white, about 5ft 11in, in his late 20s with brown hair and a beard.

Liam Barnes
BBC News

Police in Derbyshire are looking to speak to a driver after a motorcyclist was left seriously injured in the road.

Officers were called to the A50 exit slip road at junction 6 near Hilton at 12:30 after members of the public reported an injured motorcyclist lying in the carriageway.

Image source, Google

Derbyshire Police said collision investigators found a piece of black plastic at the scene they believe was from the bumper of a Citroen Grand C4 Picasso.

The road is currently closed between junctions 5 and 6 on the westbound carriageway.

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

A decision on whether to hand back £15m of government funding for a new relief road around Melton Mowbray has been delayed by Leicestershire County Council.

The authority has been considering returning the money after struggling to reach an agreement with Melton Borough Council about how a £50m outlay for the project would be recouped.

Leicestershire County Council says it can’t afford to pay such a large amount upfront without financial guarantees from Melton Borough Council that developers - who want to build thousands of homes south of the town - would agree to foot the bill.

A decision on the grant had been due today but the county council said it would be working with the Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government to find a solution to the deadlock.

The move has been welcomed by the borough council, which said rejecting the grant would have "killed the road".

Melton MP Alicia Kearns said it was "good news" and urged all parties to "get on and reach an agreement".

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

A man who was seriously injured when he was hit by a car in Breedon on the Hill last month has died in hospital.

The pedestrian, who was in his 70s, was struck by a Ford Fiesta at the junction of Ashby Road, Burney Lane and Nottingham Road at about 23:30 on 23 May.

He died at the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham on Thursday.

Image source, Google

Leicestershire Police said they were continuing to investigate the crash and would like to hear from anyone who saw what happened or has dashcam footage.

Det Ch Insp Rob Widdowson was hit by a train after going on to the tracks, an inquest finds.

Jamie and Lauren McAloon first met at the rock and metal event in 2008.

Heather Burman
BBC News

Two parents have been sentenced after admitting physically abusing their son who was found with a burn mark and bruises at school.

The man and woman, who are from Leicester but cannot be named, each pleaded guilty to a charge of cruelty to a person under 16 and causing unnecessary suffering or injury at Leicester Crown Court last month.

Police said they were first contacted in 2015, when the boy was six years old, after his teacher noticed bruising to his head and face but officers were not able to establish who caused the injuries.

In 2017, the boy told teachers his dad had hit him after they found a burn mark and bruises on his arms. He was subsequently taken into care.

His dad was jailed for 28 months and his mum was given a nine-month suspended sentence at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.

Det Con Matt Gibson said: "When the first incident occurred, he was only six years old and was unable to explain what had happened to him in any detail.

"Now that he is older he has been able to describe in more detail the cause of the horrible injuries he was subjected to by his parents.

“I am pleased that the boy’s parents have admitted their actions and may now take some time to reflect on the harm they have caused to their own child.”

Police came under attack as they tried to help a stabbing victim at a party of about 300 people.

BBC Radio 4

A former Conservative chancellor has criticised the government's plans to build a new "national yacht" that could cost up to £200m.

Ken Clarke - who represented Rushcliffe for 49 years before stepping down in 2019 - said the move is "a complete waste of time" and "populist nonsense".

Citing social care as an area in need of funding, he called for "more taxes and some restraint on public spending".

Image source, Downing Street

The prime minister's official spokesman has said the yacht, which is set to be "funded through the Ministry of Defence (MoD)" would be a "national flagship which will drive investment into the economy and boost trade".

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

A woman who stole £1,300 from a vulnerable Nottingham couple and spent it on takeaways and alcohol has been jailed.

Chantay Finch used bank cards and took cash from the pair, who have dementia, after gaining entry to their Sneinton home.

Police said she was discovered in the house by a carer and the family was alerted.

Officers were called to the property in May 2020 and Finch was arrested after being seen on CCTV in the company of another elderly person.

Image source, Nottinghamshire Police

Police were able to trace transactions made in West Bridgford and Clifton and locate CCTV footage which showed Finch using the victim's bank card.

Her fingerprints were also found at the address where the money was stolen from.

The 28-year-old, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to theft, burglary and 10 counts of fraud.

She was sentenced to two years and two months in prison at Nottingham Crown Court on 8 June.

She is also subject to a 10-year restraining order.

BBC Weather

There will be some clouds this morning but we can expect to see sunny spells develop later on.

It will be cool for the time of year with highs of 18C, and tonight we can expect lows of 6C overnight.

Here's the beautiful sunrise over Grindleford in Derbyshire this morning.

Image source, Sam's House

Mel Griffiths and her dog Elsa took part in a walking challenge to raise money for charity.

Gracie Spinks, 23, was killed by a man she knew who was later found dead, police said.

Samantha Noble
BBC News Online

A convicted robber has gone on the run from an open prison in Derbyshire.

Derbyshire Police said Ben Adderson absconded from HMP Sudbury overnight last night.

The 23-year-old was jailed at Carlisle Crown Court in 2017 and has links to Carlisle, Warrington and Middlesbrough.

Image source, Derbyshire Police

Officers said anyone who spots Adderson, who is 6ft 4in tall with a cannabis leaf tattoo on his left arm, should not approach him but contact the force immediately.