Neil Heath
BBC News Online

Heavy rain has left a Nottinghamshire village's high street under water.

Andy Heath, landlord of The Frame Breakers pub in Ruddington, recorded footage of the flash flood following thunderstorms earlier.

He said: "Just what we needed on the High Street to add to the recent hardship for all the businesses.

"Hopefully no lasting damage and the community already out sweeping away from the shop fronts."

Neil Heath
BBC News Online

A ceiling at a Specsavers store has partially collapsed following heavy rain.

The firm said that nobody was hurt in the incident at the branch in Beeston, Nottinghamshire, and it was "currently assessing the damage".

The town was hit by flooding during a thunderstorm earlier.

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

A huge redwood tree in Leicestershire has been found bearing the scars of a lightning strike.

Damage could be seen down the length of the trunk after a night of storms around Barwell.

Image source, Ben Cooksey

Ben Cooksey said: "I live in the next village, Stoney Stanton, and the storm was crazy all round.

"The thunder was intense. It was rattling the house and windows. I tried to stand outside but the rain got too intense and flooded the garage so I was bailing that out too."

Image source, Ben Cooksey

Jennifer Harby
BBC News

Flooding is affecting travel in parts of the East Midlands this evening, with reports roads are blocked in Nottingham and Leicestershire.

NET says heavy rain and standing water means it's currently not operating between Beeston and Cator Lane., external

Residents reported flooding in Beeston town centre and Ruddington village centre, with one telling the BBC: "Just what we needed on the high street to add to the recent hardship for all the businesses.

"Hopefully no lasting damage and the community [are] already out sweeping away from the shop fronts."

Image source, Crystal Greenhill

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

A yellow weather warning has been issued for thunderstorms over the East Midlands.

The Met Office said: "Although some places will remain dry, slow moving heavy showers and thunderstorms may lead to disruption due to flooding."

Image source, Met Office

It added that flooding of homes and businesses could happen quickly, with damage to some buildings from flood water, lightning strikes, hail or strong winds.

The warning is in place until midnight.

The Met Office said some parts of England had nearly 50mm of rainfall over three hours.

Samantha Noble
BBC News Online

A bench featuring silhouettes of NHS workers to honour the efforts and commitment of staff during the coronavirus pandemic has been unveiled.

The bench can be found at the front of the Royal Derby Hospital's main entrance.

War Memorial Village Derby residents raised about £3,000 in partnership with Derby City Council to provide the ceremonial bench.

Image source, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust

A plaque on it reads: "This bench honours all those within the healthcare profession for their selfless commitment and diligence to protect and improve the health and well-being of the people of Derby. You represent the very best of our country."

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust chief executive Gavin Boyle said: "I'd like to thank War Memorial Village Derby for this lovely gesture, which will stand as a constant reminder to our colleagues of the public's appreciation for their courage and dedication over this difficult time."

A replica of the bench has also been installed in Memorial Square in Chellaston.

The men remain in hospital, where their injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

Conservative MP Ben Bradley has stepped down from his role in the Department for Business, Enterprise and Industrial Strategy.

Mr Bradley, who has represented Mansfield since 2017, said he wanted to spend more time with his family after 10 months as a Parliamentary Private Secretary.

Image source, Reuters

He told the BBC he had been "planning and working with the whips' office to step back from a government role for almost a month now" and this process was finished this week.

Mr Bradley added the decision was "absolutely in no way connected to anything related to government or policy".

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

A man has been arrested over claims a website featured images of women and girls used without their consent.

Derbyshire Police said they received a "substantial" number of reports about the webpage on Monday and Tuesday.

Image source, PA

It also allegedly contained inappropriate and racist comments about some of those featured, officers said.

The 33-year-old suspect was arrested on suspicion of distributing indecent images of a child, racially aggravated harassment and malicious communications on Tuesday afternoon.

He has since been released on police bail.

No further details of the suspect have been released.

Samantha Noble
BBC News Online

A bag of bones pulled out of the River Soar in Leicestershire by a magnet fisher are being investigated to determine whether they are human.

Officers were called to Meadow Lane, Loughborough, on Saturday shortly after 18:15.

The area was cordoned off and police divers have searched the water in and around the area the bag was discovered.

Leicestershire Police said if the bones are confirmed to be human, further tests will need to be carried out to establish how old they are.

Image source, Google

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

A 17-year-old girl has been found dead in a park, police have confirmed.

Officers were called to Broxtowe Country Park at about 07:00 on Wednesday to reports a body had been found.

Image source, Google

A cordon was initially set up in the area but it has since been removed.

The force said her death is not being treated as suspicious and her family has been informed.

Liam Barnes
BBC News

A doctor who messaged a 14-year-old patient after a consultation has been found guilty of misconduct.

Abdulkhaled Elmrghni Ahmed, who worked eight locum sessions at Doncaster and Bassetlaw District General Hospital from January 2015, added the girl as a Facebook friend following the session in February that year, the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service said.

A tribunal also found his contact with another girl was "sexually motivated and in pursuit of a sexual relationship".

Finding his fitness to practise is "impaired", the hearing has now adjourned until 10 August, when the tribunal is expected to consider a sanction.

Image source, Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Trust

Amy Orton
Local Democracy Reporter

The world's first coronavirus treatment drug has been used on hospital wards in Leicester this morning.

Dexamethasone has been hailed "a breakthrough" treatment by a Leicester medic who was part of the research that found it is the first drug to reduce deaths from coronavirus.

The steroid - normally used to treat asthma, chronic lung conditions and joint problems - can be given as a tablet or injection, and is already affordable and widely available.

Chris Brightling, professor of respiratory medicine at Leicester's hospitals, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "It absolutely is a breakthrough. It is the first time since this all started that I feel like we are winning this, like there is something we can do."

Leicester was name-checked by Prime Minister Boris Johnson in yesterday's daily briefing due to it recruiting more patients to a national clinical trial than any other area, with almost 500 patients signing up to take part in research.

Image source, Richard Vernalls/PA Wire

Kit Sandeman
Local Democracy Reporter

Plans for the new pedestrian area around the Broadmarsh bus station have been unveiled as part of a £160m transport package.

Although work has halted on the shopping centre, construction on the bus station, car park and library continues, and the planned road changes are expected to go ahead.

The upgrades to the pedestrian and cyclist-friendly space, at a cost of £20m, are the biggest part of wider plans for more than 50 projects throughout the city, including a cycle path to Derby, a new footbridge over the Trent, and two new park and rides.

Image source, Nottingham City Council

Preparatory work is already under way on Greyfriar Gate, but work is expected to start on the wider project in August.

Once complete, Collin Street will be closed to all traffic, Canal Street - between Middle Hill and Greyfriar Gate - will become a two-way restricted area, and the Greyfriar Gate junction will accommodate both north and southbound traffic.

Middle Hill will become two-way from Canal Street to enable access into the Lace Market.

Image source, Nottingham City Council

The work will also provide a new public space.

David Mellen, leader of Nottingham City Council, said: "These plans are radical in how they change the roads and will take a little while to get used to, but I am certain [they] will be greeted enthusiastically."

Image source, Nottingham City Council

Police are trying to identify the motorcyclist who made the obscene gesture in Derbyshire.

Mansfield defender Joe Riley signs a new one-year contract with the League Two side, keeping him at Field Mill until June 2021.

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

Two young cats have been found abandoned in a wooded area in Nottinghamshire.

A member of the public spotted the cats in a carrier along the Maun Valley Trail, just off New Mill Lane, in Mansfield Woodhouse.

The RSPCA said the cats were healthy and uninjured but were "lucky" to have been found.

Image source, RSPCA

RSPCA inspector Michael Darling said the pair were left in a remote, wooded area late at night and were not microchipped so an owner cannot be found.

"They were left without food or water and would have been extremely vulnerable," he added.

The cats are now being cared for by the charity, which has appealed for anyone with information to get in touch.

Image source, RSPCA

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

Another huge storm hit the East Midlands last night and people had their cameras on hand to capture it.

The Met Office said Market Bosworth, in Leicestershire, received the most rain on Tuesday with 49.6mm falling.

Here are just a few of the amazing photos people from Leicestershire sent to us.

Image source, Mish Keatman

Image source, Garry Woodford

Image source, Ryan Thwaites

Weather Watcher John Bradburn photographed the lightning in Buxton, Derbyshire too.

Image source, John Bradburn

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

A Nottingham takeaway has been fined £100 by the council for breaching coronavirus rules by allowing customers to eat at tables inside.

Rushcliffe Borough Council said Trent Bridge Spice in West Bridgford received the Fixed Penalty Notice on Friday, external.

Image source, Google

Food outlets have only been allowed to offer delivery and takeaway to customers since March.

A council spokesperson said: "Any breach will be taken very seriously and a blatant disregard for the rules will not be tolerated.

"We understand the current financial climate for businesses and have advised the owners in this case to draw up steps they can take to trade more safely in future."