BBC Leicester Sport

The Leicester City manager is unsure whether or not European football next season would be good for the club in the long-run.

At the moment the club is sitting on a potential place in the Europa League.

Image source, Reuters

Brendan Rodgers said: "It could come too early for us when we're trying to create something, but it’s difficult to turn down when the opportunity is there.

"Our job is to finish as well as we can. If that takes us to seventh, then we'll embrace whatever the challenges are for next season whether that's around Europe or not."

Image source, Getty Images

Looking ahead to the Foxes' match against West Ham this weekend Rodgers said Marc Albrighton isn't ready to play 90 minutes yet.

The winger, who suffered a hamstring tear two months ago, hasn't been ruled out of starting on Saturday though.

"He's looked good in training and it's great to have him back and available," said Rodgers.

Pedestrian Jean Levers, 79, died at the scene after being hit by a vehicle.

BBC Radio Derby

A woman from Derby who went on a naked TV show has said it made a "life-changing impact" on her body confidence.

Jolie Davis flew to Greece to take part in a Channel Four programme Naked Beach. The episode she features in is on tonight.

Over four days she took part in activities while the shows hosts were naked. The aim was for her to be naked by the end of the four days - if she was or not is top secret.

The 29-year-old has a skin condition called Vitiligo, which causes light patches, and she originally felt very self-conscious.

Ms Davis said: "They're really positive people and, when you're around that 24 hours a day, it sort of rubs off on you.

"I guess the theory behind it is - if you spend time with people that are confident, your body image and your self-esteem rises."

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

A woman killed in a crash in Sandiacre yesterday has been named as 79-year-old Jean Levers.

Her family have paid tribute to her saying she was the "loveliest, kindest person you could know".

Image source, Derbyshire Police

Ms Levers, who was a pedestrian, was on Derby Road when she was hit by a vehicle shortly after 09:00. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

A 50-year-old lorry driver was arrested at the scene in connection with the crash. He's since been released while the investigation continues.

Following the crash, police made an appeal to trace the driver of a blue Toyota Aygo who may have information about what happened.

The driver has now been interviewed by police.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

Drivers in Nottingham are being advised to avoid the the Hucknall Road area while they deal with a crash at the junction with Paton Road.

Police say two cars were involved. One woman has been extricated by the fire service and taken to hospital.

The crash is also having an impact on some public transport services.

A man who drove the wrong way up a sliproad on the M62, killing two men when their vehicles collided, has been jailed.

Image source, Google

Taryl Moxam, 23, from Barlborough, was driving in the wrong direction when he smashed into another vehicle on the exit slip at Chain Bar, Bradford on 3 April 2018.

Adam Afsar and Jason Wilby from Dewsbury were killed at the scene.

Bradford Crown Court heard how Moxam was sentenced to nine years and four months in jail.

Judge David Hatton QC said it was "a grotesque piece of driving".

Atish and Jaspreet Vadher were on a trip to South America when masked robbers held up their bus.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

Churches and cathedrals across the East Midlands will ring their bells this evening as a mark of solidarity following the devastating fire at Notre-Dame on Monday.

Nick Smith
BBC News Online

Firefighters are currently damping down a large metal fire in Newark which started yesterday morning.

The blaze on Great North Road started just before midday yesterday and involved 1,000 tonnes of metal.

The A616 remains closed as firefighters continue to tackle the blaze.

Image source, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

A new 15-bed mental health facility for children and young people in Leicestershire has been approved by the Department of Health.

The purpose-built £8m unit will be on the Glenfield Hospital site. Work is expected to start next month with a view to opening in August 2020.

The current inpatient unit has been temporarily based at Coalville Hospital since 2015.

Nick Smith
BBC News Online

Nick Smith
BBC News Online

Traffic has been stopped on the M1 southbound near Lutterworth due to a crash.

Traffic officers are on the scene, close to junction 20, and long queues are forming.

Image source, Highways England

East Midlands Today

A couple from Markfield have told the BBC how their tour bus in Peru was robbed by gunmen who threatened to kill them.

Atish and Jaspreet Vadher were on a bus with 20 other tourists in the rainforest near Puerto Maldonado when six men with guns jumped out of the bushes and stopped the bus.

Image source, Atish Vadher

Atish Vadher said: "They stormed onto the bus, held us all at gunpoint and started to steal everyone's belongings.

"We were scared, we tried to keep as still as possible.

"The tour guide told us afterwards - when they entered the bus they shouted 'lets kill them all and take their stuff' but thankfully the tour guide managed to convince them 'don't kill them just take their stuff and we'll translate'".

The couple, who are in South America celebrating their their first wedding anniversary, were told to keep their heads down and do as they were told.

Image source, Atish Vadher

The robbery hasn't stopped them continuing their holiday - they're due to arrive in Machu Picchu tonight.

The tour is run by a company called G Adventures who advise travellers not to carry valuable items or large amounts of cash. It says is now rerouting some of the trips or employing a security guard.

The Foreign Office said there have been similar robberies there, and it's now reviewing its travel advice.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

There are concerns about tourism in a part of Derbyshire after part of the popular High Peak Trail was closed.

A three-mile stretch of the route has had to be closed after a bridge near Brassington was hit by a lorry.

Derbyshire County Council has said the bridge will be rebuilt but there's currently no timescale for this to happen.

Image source, Derbyshire County Council

David Brown is the owner of nearby Hoe Grange Holidays. He told the BBC: "There are an awful lot of limestone lorries coming up and down this road all day long.

"My main worry is, although the bridge will be open very shortly, the trail that goes over the top of it is very busy over the summer and at Easter and that's going to be closed for some time."

This view has been shared on the BBC East Midlands Facebook , externalpage.

Helen Pamela said: "It will certainly have an impact on the tourists cycling. Although there is also the Tissington Trail and Manifold Valley trail close by."

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

More than 900 properties worth nearly £600m have been bought by the company responsible for delivering High Speed Rail 2 (HS2).

So far in the East Midlands, about £18.5m has been spent.

Image source, HS2 handout

Derbyshire has been most affected with 44 homes, farms or pieces of land bought since 2011. The figure for Nottinghamshire sits at 25, while 11 of the same properties have been bought in Leicestershire by HS2 Limited.

The company said it has a responsibility to pay a price that is fair both for homeowners and the taxpayer.

Peter Smalley oversaw "repeated failures" at a school which Shanay Walker attended while being abused.

AFP

The owner of Olympiakos and Nottingham Forest has lashed out after being told that he and 27 others must stand trial accused of corruption in Greek football.

Evangelos Marinakis said: "You know very well that I do not bend. One can withstand when he is not afraid of anything and that I have no relationship with corruption charges.

"I have learned to be patient and at the end to justify myself with glory."

Image source, Getty Images

The Greek Supreme Court dismissed an appeal made by the accused and so Marinakis, together with former Greek football federation president Giorgos Sarris and an ex-legal adviser, will stand trial accused of forming a criminal organisation and manipulating results of matches.

In March 2018, Marinakis was charged with drug trafficking. A judiciary source told AFP then that Marinakis is also being prosecuted for "possession and trafficking of drugs" and for "associating with criminals."

Marinakis, 51, has furiously denied the charges.

He bought Notthingham Forest in May 2017 in a £50m deal.

Nick Smith
BBC News Online

Derbyshire County Council is hoping to have the B5056 reopened later today after a bridge was damaged yesterday afternoon.

The bridge, near Brassington, will need demolishing after it was hit by a lorry.

The High Peak Trail, which goes over the bridge, remains closed.

Image source, Derbyshire County Council

Nick Smith
BBC News Online

A man is due in court today after being charged with firearms and drug offences.

The 26-year-old was arrested in Penistone Road, Sheffield, yesterday morning in connection with the alleged offences in New Basford on 26 March.

He has been charged with possession of a firearm, possession of class A drugs with intent to supply and possession of a class C drug.

He is due to appear at Nottingham Magistrates' Court today.

Image source, Google

Nick Smith
BBC News Online

Three shops in Leicestershire were targeted by thieves in the early hours of Tuesday.

At 00:34 a shop in Hinckley Road, Burbage, was broken into by two men who stole cigarettes and at 01:39 three men wearing masks stole cigarettes from a shop in Sandhills Avenue, Blaby.

At around 02:00 a group of men forced their way into a supermarket in Johns Court, Blaby, threatening two members of staff before stealing a large quantity of cigarettes, believed to be worth thousands of pounds.

They are reported to have made off in a dark coloured car, possibly a Mercedes, after all three thefts.

Police believe the thefts are linked.

Image source, Google