Maryam Qaiser
BBC Local Live

Around 5,000 visitors are expected to descend on Southwell for a four-day music festival.

The Gate to Southwell, external, now in its 11th year, opened today.

Around 50 artists will perform, including headliners Kate Rusby and Jon Boden.

There will be poets, storytellers, workshops and food stalls, as well as a beer and cider festival and a craft fair.

This year the festival has a new front stage, and on Saturday a procession along King Street will take place with a host of dance performances.

Image source, Gate to Southwell

In the run up to the festival, gates, fences and doors across the town were decorated.

Maryam Qaiser
BBC Local Live

Traffic is building up around Chatsworth as people head to the Royal Horticultural Society's show for its second day.

Although organisers have been working with Derbyshire County Council and the police to resolve the issue, some drivers are queuing to enter the site again today.

Calum McKenzie
BBC Local Live

Mansfield Town tweets...

Maryam Qaiser
BBC Local Live

A school has apologised to parents who said they were frustrated with the lack of communication following a fire.

Holgate Primary and Nursery in Nottingham has been closed for a week after half term, since the blaze.

Although the installed sprinkler system put the fire out, it caused water damage to classrooms.

But many parents say they have been left in the dark about the incident.

Image source, Google

Executive headteacher Nicola Davies, said: "We can only apologise for the inconvenience this unforeseen closure has had on parents and carers coming directly after the half-term holidays."

Ms Davies said the fire was not related to the maintenance or construction of the school building and that they would update parents through the Parentmail system, school website, external and the Facebook page, external.

The school is expected to open on Monday

Maryam Qaiser
BBC Local Live

A bomb disposal unit was called to a block of flats in Manvers Court, Sneinton today.

Police have confirmed it was not terrorism related but they were searching for drugs.

A spokesman from Nottinghamshire Police said: "On searching the property officers believe they found equipment and materials typically used in the production of making drugs.

"Some of the materials at the property have required the attendance of Joint Services Explosive Ordinance Disposal Engineers to make sure they are safe."

Two men, a 55-year-old and a 45-year-old, have been arrested on suspicion of drugs offences and remain in police custody.

Facebook

The Tower of London poppy display going on show in Derby has certainly got you all talking over on the BBC Radio Derby Facebook page., external

Image source, Getty Images

Trisha Langlois writes: "We saw the weeping window when it was in Liverpool but this installation looks absolutely awesome."

Melanie Drewery adds: "How beautiful. Amazing how they look spectacular, fresh and stir emotions in every different venue they visit."

Maryam Qaiser
BBC Local Live

Despite an armed police presence at Download, officers say they will still pose for pictures.

Image source, Kennerdeigh Scott

Superintendent Martyn Ball, from Leicestershire Police, said armed police would help make people feel "safe and secure".

The rock music festival at Donington Park will have armed police at the site over the weekend.

About 80,000 people are expected to attend the site over the next few days.

Calum McKenzie
BBC Local Live

Shoppers at the Highcross in Leicester will be subject to "random cursory bag searches," the centre's management has said.

Image source, Google

The measures have come into force following the recent terror attacks in Manchester and London.

"We would like to make customers aware that the centre is operating random cursory bag searches and we apologise for any inconvenience this may cause," a spokesperson for Highcross said.

"It is important to note that this measure does not relate to any specific threat, but is part of our enhanced security procedures following recent events.

"The safety of our customers and colleagues remains our number one priority. Customers should remain alert but not alarmed, and should report anything suspicious to the police."

Amy Harris
BBC East Midlands Today reporter

Is this perhaps the East Midlands' most unusual polling station?

It is on a farm near Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire.

The caravan, like every other polling station in the country, opened at 07:00 this morning and will remain open until 22:00.

Calum McKenzie
BBC Local Live

Leicester Tigers will learn who they will face in next season's European Champions Cup later this afternoon.

Image source, Getty Images

"They're all very difficult groups whichever one you end up with - with the exception of [if you draw] Benneton Treviso," Tigers supporter Ian Cockerill told BBC Radio Leicester.

Ian believes the best draw for Tigers would be Scarlets, La Rochelle and Treviso.

The worst possible scenario in Ian's opinion is Clermont, Leinster or Munster and Glasgow.

The draw, which takes place in Switzerland, is incredibly complicated but you can learn more about the process here., external

Maryam Qaiser
BBC Local Live

Two colleges have merged today, in what they say is a bid to improve career prospects for young people in the city.

New College Nottingham and Central College Nottingham have merged to create Nottingham College.

It will deliver technical skills through apprenticeships and post-16 and adult education.

Image source, Central College Nottingham

Work on a new City Hub on derelict land near the Broadmarsh Centre, off Canal Street, will start in 2018 and will be home to the new college.

The new hub was meant to open in 2018 but the college said there were some delays because the merger had to be completed before the hub could open.

It will now open ready for the new school year in September 2020.

Calum McKenzie
BBC Local Live

The artist behind the famous mural depicting Leicester's Premier League-winning squad has returned to the city to see how his work has inspired others.

Leicester City Council commissioned their own murals celebrating the title win and the history of Leicester Tigers.

Last month, a number of walls in the city's cultural quarter, near the Curve Theatre, were decorated as part of a street art festival.

"It is a year to the day since I finished the mural in Kate Street and every time I come back I see more incredible artwork," Richard Wilson told BBC Radio Leicester.

"I'm just blown away. I think Leicester is probably the city in the UK with the most street art in it."

Image source, Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images

Maryam Qaiser
BBC Local Live

Have you ever wondered how many Smurfs you can fit into one van?

Well Michael White and his son Christopher have 9,330 - mainly collected from car boot sales - in theirs.

Calum McKenzie
BBC Local Live

Celebrities including Steve Coogan, Jason Manford and Fiona Phillips have all pledged their support to a campaign to help a toddler who has a rare form of cancer get treatment in the US.

Image source, Wendy Willcock

The Dollar for Dawson campaign was set up to help 20-month-old Dawson Willcock, from Sutton in Ashfield, who has been diagnosed with hepatoblastoma, a form of liver cancer.

The family has also received support from Mansfield Town boss Steve Evans and Dan Hatfield (pictured below) from Channel 4's Posh Pawnbrokers.

"Their time and popularity helps [with the campaign]," Dawson's mum Wendy Willock said.

"All the support we've had from everyone, including strangers, has been overwhelming."

They're hoping to raise enough money to send Dawson to the US for treatment or pay for a specialist drug to be brought over to the UK.

Image source, Wendy Willock

Maryam Qaiser
BBC Local Live

Here's a heartwarming update on Jean Brooks from Hucknall on Nottinghamshire, who's become an Facebook sensation thanks to her pretend speed gun (a hairdryer), external, which she claims has helped slow down traffic on her street.

Well, yesterday Jean got a special visit from a German hitchhiker who decide to pay a visit to the "local hero".

Calum McKenzie
BBC Local Live

Tower of London poppy artist Paul Cummins tweets...

Calum McKenzie
BBC Local Live

Katie Boulter (pictured left) has been knocked out in the first round of the Aegon Surbiton Trophy.

Image source, Getty Images

Boulter, 20, from Woodhouse Eaves, Leicestershire, was beaten 6-3, 7-5 by Tereza Martincova.

Derby's Jay Clarke opens his campaign later this morning, external against Romnia's Marius Copil.

Doubles specialist Jocelyn Rae, from Nottingham, begins her tournament alongside Laura Robson against Paula Kania and Anna Smith.

Maryam Qaiser
BBC Local Live

People are calling for tougher action on bus shelters being repeatedly vandalised.

Residents and passengers say vandals keep targeting shelters along Hucknall Road and Mansfield Road in Nottingham.

Callum Wright from A Wright Butchers and Sons says it's having a negative impact in the area.

He said: "Something like this does affect us... people don't want to get on and off the bus because of smashed glass there."

Charlie Slater
BBC Weather presenter

Take your umbrella out today!

Maryam Qaiser
BBC Local Live

Green fingered enthusiasts will be heading to Chatsworth for the second day of the Royal Horticultural Society's show.

It will feature more than 350 exhibitors and is expected to attract 90,000 people in the next four days.

Although the first day was a success, many drivers were caught in heavy congestion when the entrance to the site became gridlocked.

Kathryn Edwards, who visited the show yesterday, said: "It took us over three hours to travel 2.8 miles.

"We finally arrived at Chatsworth, and got parking but we did receive an apology from RHS who had organised the show, and the show stayed open an hour later than its publicised time by way of compensation."

Derbyshire County Council said changes to the parking arrangements had to be made following the poor weather on Tuesday 6 June.

Council workers and police officers said they worked with the society to resolve the problem.