Dave Wade
BBC News

The Friends of Straws Bridge group has sent us these photos of the blue-green algae that's bloomed on the lake.

Image source, Friends of Straws Bridge

Image source, Friends of Straws Bridge

It's after Erewash Borough Council issued a warning that it could harm dogs.

The authority has warned dog walkers not let their pets near the water at the reserve near West Hallam, Derbyshire, as it can be harmful.

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

Four men have been jailed for their part in the death of an amputee who was beaten over the head with his own prosthetic leg and stabbed during a drugs deal.

Mark Swinhoe, 38, from Long Eaton, Derbyshire died in a garage near Moira Street, Loughborough, on 14 January in what police described as a "vicious and violent encounter".

During the trial, Leicester Crown Court heard Mr Swinhoe had no intention to pay for the drugs and went with the intention of robbing the defendants.

A post-mortem examination found while a stab wound to his back had caused his death, he had also been stamped and kicked around the head and witnesses described him being hit with his own prosthetic leg.

Image source, Family handout

All four men were convicted in earlier hearings.

• Harry Matthews, 22, of Brush Drive, Loughborough, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 27 years.
• Jamie Wileman, 24, of Elm Grove, Moira, was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 12 years in prison. This also takes into account his guilty plea on supplying Class A drugs.
• Paul Anthony Williams, 38, of no fixed address, was acquitted of both murder and manslaughter but convicted of drugs charges. He was sentenced to eight years in prison.
• Christopher Cunningham-Pithouse, 24, of Park Road, Loughborough, pleaded guilty to assisting an offender and supplying class A drugs and was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Dave Wade
BBC News

Algae, which could be harmful to dogs, has been found in Derbyshire.

Image source, Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

The blue-green algae has been spotted in water at Straws Bridge, a nature reserve in West Hallam, according to Erewash Borough Council.

"It may not always be harmful but you can’t tell simply by looking, so it's best not to let your dog near the water," the council said on its Facebook page., external

The algae is always present in lakes, but the warm weather has made it bloom, giving off toxins which can be harmful to wild animals, livestock and pets.

It's reportedly killed two dogs in Scotland this summer.

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

Thousands of stones have been placed at a bandstand in Hinckley to remember seven-year-old Isla Tansey who died last week.

Isla had a rare form of spinal cancer and had asked people to decorate stones, take photos with them and hide them away.

Her parents, Simon and Katherine Tansey, said it had been "overwhelming" to see all the stones.

Dave Wade
BBC News

Richard Bacon is home.

The presenter, born in Mansfield, has been in hospital in Lewisham after contracting a double chest infection which put him in a medically induced coma for several days.

The 42-year-old former Blue Peter presenter jokingly captioned this picture on his Instagram "cured Bacon".

Dave Wade
BBC News

The Prison Officers' Association (POA) says HMP Nottingham appears to be "struggling to maintain law and order".

It's after the death of Brett Lowe, 43, who died at the Perry Road jail yesterday.

A 28-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the death.

There have been a string of fatalities at the jail, whose facilities have been heavily criticised.

Eight inmates have killed themselves since 2016, including five in a four-week period last year.

Andy Baxter, from the POA, said the prison was still suffering severe problems, pointing to seven assaults on prison staff in the last week.

He said the number and nature of violent incidents was "unacceptable" and called for a reduction in numbers at the prison "to put in place a meaningful and fully resourced violence reduction plan".

"Our members should not have to face assaults at these levels, they should be safe to go home to their families at the end of their shifts, not A&E," he added.

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

A community officer needed hospital treatment after being hit with a baton during a robbery in Sutton-in-Ashfield yesterday afternoon.

Police were called to H&T Pawnbrokers in the Idlewells Shopping Centre at about 15.30.

The force said two men went into the store and threatened an employee with a hammer and as two community protection officers (CPOs) arrived, one of them was hit in the face with a baton.

Image source, Google

Appealing for witnesses, Nottinghamshire Police said the robbers, who were wearing black biker gear and helmets, stole jewellery and watches before escaping on a motorbike.

BBC Sport

Team GB hockey player Shona McCallin has been talking about her struggle with concussion.

The former Newark Hockey Club player missed the Commonwealth Games in April - where England won bronze - and will now also miss the World Cup because of the condition.

The 26-year-old was hit in the head by an opponent's shoulder during a game against Argentina in February and said concussion "takes over your life."

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

Firefighters in Leicester have been tackling a large blaze at a waste recycling site since last night.

Ten crews were called to Ulverscroft Road just before 01.00, to a "barn storing large amounts of recycling products" on fire.

The road has been closed between the railway bridge and Catherine Street.

Image source, Google

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue said the fire had now been brought under control, but did create a large plume of smoke.

It said an investigation into the cause was being carried out.

Police say budget cuts are making it more difficult to investigate. Find out how your force is doing.

Dave Wade
BBC News

Shirebrook-based Sports Direct has reported a sharp drop in annual profits, in part due to its exposure to struggling department store chain Debenhams.

Image source, PA

Pre-tax profits fell to £77.5m in the year to 29 April, down from £281.6m the year before.

The drop was partly due to a £85.4m hit the retailer took on the value of its near-30% stake in Debenhams.

Sports Direct - which is run by founder Mike Ashley - said its UK sales were down 2% over the year to £2.2bn.

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

Nottinghamshire's Police and Crime Commissioner, Paddy Tipping, has warned a councillor to "engage his brain" after he described some of the force's priorities - such as modern slavery, hate crime and domestic violence - as "too politically correct".

Philip Owen, Conservative councillor for Nuthall and Kimberley, has said things like burglary and thefts from cars were more important to residents he represents.

He told BBC Radio Nottingham: "I don't see why there should be certain priorities particularly when significant numbers of people are being affected by burglaries and lesser numbers being affected by what's on the police priority list.

"It's politically correct and fashionable among policing circles rather than dealing with the major issues that are affecting a large number of people."

In response Mr Tipping said the force's priorities are all ones Theresa May regards as important and he will be writing to her to "have a word with this councillor".

Mr Tipping said Mr Owen had "got a touch of Trump-itis" and added: "He needs to think and engage his brain before he starts speaking."

Today Nottinghamshire Police has been praised by Her Majesty's Inspectorate for their approach to hate crime while other forces have been told they need to do more.

Dave Wade
BBC News

An 85-year-old woman was tied up by masked burglars in Derbyshire last night.

Image source, Google

It happened in Oakwood at about 19:15 as she watched The One Show, police said.

The two men, who were described as black and wearing dark clothing and masks, broke in through the front door of the house in Morley Road.

They then tied up the woman, stole items of jewellery and left in a small black car.

The former Blue Peter presenter says he is leaving hospital exactly two weeks after being admitted.

Dave Wade
BBC News

A section of a path and a car park in Nottinghamshire have been closed after bacteria which could cause vomiting and diarrhoea was found.

Mansfield District Coucil said the Maun Valley Trail has been closed from Old Mill Lane to the other side of the stone bridge over the River Maun.

Image source, Mansfield District Council

The council's environmental health team, which has been investigating reports of a water leak in the area, took water samples which have revealed bacteria consistent with the presence of sewage.

The authority said the risk of infection is low as long as people wash their hands before eating, drinking or smoking.

Deputy Mayor Mick Barton, who is councillor for Maun Valley ward, advised people to clean walking boots, bicycle and pushchair wheels and dogs' paws.

The council has not received any reports of illness in connection with this incident, but anyone who has been in that area and develops symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhoea should seek medical advice.

It's working with owners of nearby properties, the Environment Agency and Severn Trent.

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

A Bakewell pudding sent into the sky by a Derbyshire school has been retrieved after it went missing.

The pudding was attached to a balloon and launched towards space by pupils at St Anselm's School in Bakewell in June. It was found at the weekend in an asparagus field in Lincolnshire by a dog walker.

Engineer Nick McCloud, who helped the students with the technical bits said he'd "given up hope" of finding it again but was delighted to get the call.

Image source, St.Anselm's School

The pudding is still intact in its foil tray and Mr McCloud told BBC Radio Derby there was a volunteer at the school who wanted to try it.

Explaining why they initially did the launch he said: "We all do serious work for a living and sometimes you have to have a bit of fun.

"And we need more young people to come into the profession and the best way is to do projects like this, and when things go wrong, like we lose the pudding at 50,000ft, well C'est la vie."

Dave Wade
BBC News

Police have said a man has been arrested in connection with the death of a prisoner at HMP Nottingham.

The Ministry of Justice said Brett Lowe, 43, died at the Perry Road jail yesterday.

It's believed he's the same Brett Lowe, who appeared in court on Tuesday charged with three burglaries in Beeston, Stapleford and Chilwell.

Mr Lowe was remanded in custody at the hearing at Nottingham Magistrates Court.

Nottinghamshire Police said a 28-year-old man has been arrested "in connection with the death, pending the outcome of a home office post-mortem".

A spokeswoman said enquiries were ongoing.

Dave Wade
BBC News

The Mansfield-born presenter has tweeted that he's about to be discharged from hospital.

Earlier, the 42-year-old former Blue Peter presenter, who spent several days in a medically induced coma after contracting a chest infection, tweeted a picture from his hospital bed., external

He's also been praising the NHS and Lewisham Hopsital where he's been treated.

Image source, Getty Images

Dave Wade
BBC News

The much-loved Malt Cross cafe bar in Nottingham city centre closed down with immediate effect yesterday.

The Christian charity which ran it said on Twitter, external, it was due to the "tough trading environment".

The bar was the main function of the Victorian music hall which recently received £1.5m from the Heritage Lottery Fund over the last 10 years.

The charity said it's looking for new uses for the site and said the street pastors project will continue as usual.

Sharon Glasspool wrote on Facebook: "Sorry for the staff - praying they get new employment soon and for the future of this beautiful building that someone will be able to take it on as a new project."

Malt Cross former chief-executive, Jo Cox-Brown, tweeted...

The Market Bar in Hockley, also announced it will close yesterday.

A post on the Goose Gate venue's Facebook page, external said: "After almost 30 years, The Market Bar will be opening its infamous doors for the very last time this Saturday."