Amy Woodfield
BBC News

Some leisure centre workers are helping with bin collections in Nottinghamshire during the coronavirus outbreak.

Leisure facilities were closed across the UK the last week in an effort to control the spread of Covid-19.

Image source, Gedling Borough Council

Gedling Borough Council said some of its staff members have instead volunteered their time to cover staff shortages in departments that are continuing to operate.

One of the volunteers, Mark Smith, is usually the manager at Carlton Forum Leisure Centre.

He said: “It has been challenging but very rewarding for me and the team who I must say have been really amazing.

"We are now trained up to collect the bins, mow the parks, clean the streets and we have more staff on the way to help on the frontline.”

Neil Heath
BBC News Online

UPDATE: We have removed these photos as the copyright is unclear.

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A councillor has tweeted pictures of wheelie bins overflowing with dumped food, much of it still fresh and within date.

Ajit Singh Atwal, a Liberal Democrat who represents the Stockbrook Abbey ward, believes the waste is due to "disgusting" panic buying due to the coronavirus outbreak.

He told BBC Radio Derby he thought people "need to have a hard look at themselves".

Shoppers in the UK have been told to "be responsible" and think of others such as NHS workers, after supermarket shelves were recently stripped of items.

The man, 41, who does not want to be named, says too many people are travelling to the Peak District from cities.

Kit Sandeman
Local Democracy Reporter

Nottingham City Council is expected to spend £3.6m on equipment to keep staff safe during the coronavirus outbreak.

An advertisement has gone out to suppliers, seeking personal protective equipment (PPE) on behalf of a wide range of public sector organisations in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

Image source, Getty Images

It means schools, housing associations and health bodies can quickly and more easily use the same advert to buy PPE and other equipment.

Council-owned companies, such as Robin Hood Energy and Nottingham City Transport, are also eligible to use the contract.

The availability of PPE has been a key issue in recent days and weeks, with suppliers facing significant pressure as the demand increases significantly.

Nottingham City Council has been approached for comment.

Image source, Google

Samantha Noble
BBC News Online

Five more people have died in the East Midlands after testing positive for coronavirus, NHS England's latest figures show.

Another patient has died at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, bringing the total number of coronavirus related deaths there to seven.

At the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, three more patients have died bringing its total to nine.

One patient has died at Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Image source, PA Wire

The University Hospitals of Derby and Burton previously confirmed four patients died after testing positive for coroanvirus.

The total number of coronavirus deaths in the UK is 578.

BBC Weather

It's set to be another sunny day, but a little bit chillier - and temperatures are set to drop further for the weekend.

Animal charities have had to shut shops, close centres to the public and put adoptions on hold.

After an outpouring of support for Rev Richard Coles, how are other recently bereaved people coping?

Sports Direct workers complain of unsafe working conditions at the firm's Derbyshire warehouse.

Dan Harvey noticed his bicycle was missing after treating patients with coronavirus.

Neil Heath
BBC News Online

Images have emerged showing a group of people enjoying picnics, kebabs and smoking shisha pipes during the coronavirus lockdown.

Derbyshire Police officers said they broke up the gathering at Snake Pass in the Peak District on Thursday.

People who had travelled from Manchester, Sheffield and as far as Ipswich, were "dispersed with no resistance" and reminded that they had not been practicing "social distancing" and should be at home.

Image source, Derbyshire Police

Officers have been busy in the national park as the warm weather has brought more visitors to the area.

However, they have been at pains to remind people they should be "staying at home" in line with government advice.

On Sunday, a farmer in Edale said he was attacked by a walker after he challenged him about social distancing.

Image source, Derbyshire Police

Alex Regan
BBC News

A man's body has been recovered from Nottingham Canal.

Police said they were called to part of the canal near Wilford Street at 10:25 and his death is being treated as unexplained.

A spokesperson added: "The circumstances are still being investigated."

Organisers of both events are looking to give refunds or let people keep tickets for next year.

Samantha Noble
BBC News Online

Former professional signallers in the East Midlands are being asked to return to the railways to keep the network running during the coronavirus crisis.

Network Rail is keeping signal boxes and control centres across the region open 24/7 so railway services can continue running.

Chris Gee, from Network Rail, said: “We are working hard to keep vital services in place as these get key workers to their jobs and keep food and medical supplies across the country moving.

“We are appealing for signallers who’ve retired, moved on to other careers at Network Rail or left the railway to come back and help us keep signal boxes and control centres open."

Image source, Network Rail

He said signallers were "crucial to keep the railway open" and they need former workers to provide back-up if staff can’t come to work.

"Full re-training will be given," he said.

The roles will be in the East Midlands Control Centre and at signal boxes across the region.

Neil Heath
BBC News Online

This year's Download festival will not take place following the coronavirus outbreak.

About 80,000 people usually attend the event, held at Castle Donington, in Leicestershire, and is dubbed one of the biggest rock festivals in Europe.

Organisers said they were "beyond disappointed" and apologised to those who were due to arrive at the site between 12 and 14 June.

Image source, Matt Eachus / Download

In a statement it was promised Download will return in 2021 and they will do their best to secure an "amazing line-up".

Ticket holders will be contacted over whether they want a refund or retain them for next year.

Samantha Noble
BBC News Online

The four University Hospitals of Derby and Burton patients who died after testing positive for coronavirus were aged between 47 and 80.

The patients, which were the first fatalities at the trust, were being treated at the Royal Derby Hospital.

Gavin Boyle, chief executive, said: "Our thoughts and condolences remain with the patients' families and loved ones at this difficult time."

The trust is currently treating more than 60 inpatients for Covid-19.

He added teams were working in "extraordinary ways to meet the challenge we face together".

“I want to assure all of our patients and their families that we are leaving no stone unturned as we plan for the difficult weeks and months ahead, and that we have robust plans in place and we know we can count on their support should it be needed.

“However, our ability to meet the expected demand is to a large part dependent on how well the public heeds the message to isolate. So help the NHS – stay home, save lives,” said Mr Boyle.

The trust did not say whether the patients who died had underlying health conditions.

Samantha Noble
BBC News Online

A boss at Boots said her role has been "daunting" as sales of certain products surged by 1000% as people scrambled to get their hands on must-have items.

Hand sanitisers, soap, cough and cold medication, incontinence products, paracetamol, thermometers, tissues, baby milk, hand cream, and dental and feminine care products are among the items that have been flying off the shelves.

Boots imposed limitations on these so customers could only buy a certain amount.

Tracey Clements, chief operating officer at the Nottingham-based company, said she was making the biggest decisions of her career on an hourly basis, which can be "quite daunting" but she is surrounded by a "great team".

She said customers have put up posters at some Boots stores saying, "Thank you for keeping us safe" with some staff members doing 20-hour shifts.

Boots stores remain open but beauty employees were asked to go home as the company decided they should be treated as non-essential.

Ms Clements said the company has had to recruit "a lot" of people into its warehouses, distribution centres and also its Boots.com warehouse in Burton-upon-Trent due to a significant increase in its online business.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

The Knife Angel sculpture, made from 100,000 confiscated or surrendered weapons, will no longer visit Leicester in May.

The city's cathedral, which was due to host the sculpture, said the visit has been postponed as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

Image source, PA Media

The sculpture has been called a "monument against violence and aggression" by its creator and huge numbers of visitors were expected to visit it.

Reverend Alison Adams, Sub-Dean of the cathedral said: “We are deeply disappointed to have to take this decision.

"We are hopeful that we can secure bringing the Knife Angel to Leicester in the future."

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

Four University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust patients who had tested positive for coronavirus have died.

They are the first fatalities at the trust confirmed by NHS England - details of the patient's ages have not yet been released.

Plans to charge some vehicles to enter city centres are postponed due to the impact of the virus.