Gavin Bevis
BBC News

Nail bars, outdoor pools and beauty salons can reopen in Leicester from Wednesday in a relaxation of the local lockdown following a drop in coronavirus cases, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said.

The latest easing comes just over two weeks since bars and restaurants were allowed to reopen in the city on 3 August.

Current restrictions on gatherings in private homes and gardens will remain in place.

Image source, PA Media

Mr Hancock said: "The rate of infection has now dropped to a safe enough level to allow further businesses including beauty salons, nail bars and some outdoor venues to reopen in the area."

Leicester became the first area in the UK to have a local lockdown on 29 June.

Since then, rules have been gradually relaxed as the city's infection rates have fallen.

The city council has introduced new measures to stop crowds gathering near a row of restaurants.

David Pittam
BBC News Online

A man's body has been found in a vehicle parked on a road in Derby, police have said.

Police were called to the vehicle on Wiltshire Road in Chaddesden by the ambulance service at about 19:00 yesterday.

They do not believe the circumstances to be suspicious and are preparing a file for the coroner.

A spokeswoman added: "Our thoughts are with the man's family and friends at this sad time."

Image source, Google

Firefighters are told there was an "unwanted presence" at the house in Long Eaton.

David Pittam
BBC News Online

A 15-year-old has been taken to hospital after being stabbed in the back in a park.

Police believe the victim was approached by a group of teenagers and assaulted in Humberstone Park in Leicester at about 18:15 on Monday.

Image source, Google

He is still in hospital being treated for the wound in his lower back but his condition is described as "stable".

Three boys, aged 14, 16 and 17, have been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and remain in police custody.

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

De Montfort University (DMU) in Leicester has appointed a new vice-chancellor.

Professor Katie Normington is currently deputy principal at Royal Holloway, University of London, overseeing strategy and policy for teaching and research, and will join DMU next year.

Commenting on her new position, she said she was "honoured to serve the DMU community".

"Given the recent past of the university and the global pandemic, there is much work to do together to build an outstanding university of the 21st Century for the benefit of students, staff and the city," added Prof Normington.

Image source, DMU

Welcoming Prof Normington to the role, chairman of the board of governors Ian Squires, said she "will be a passionate advocate of the university".

"Her creativity, her deeply collaborative style and her clear vision promise great things," he added.

"Above all Katie's vision of the ways in which DMU can develop and have even greater impact on Leicester, on the region and more widely will be an inspiration."

Rain and bad light mean only 22.3 overs were possible on an entertaining second day of the Bob Willis Trophy match between Leicestershire and Durham.

Leicestershire sign Ireland all-rounder Gareth Delany as an overseas player for this season's T20 Blast.

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

Police issued an appeal last night for people to stop congregating outside restaurants on London Road in Leicester.

The Twitter warning came after the city council earlier introduced emergency powers preventing people gathering outside food outlets between the railway station and Victoria Park.

Image source, Leicester Media

The council said under the Outdoor Public Place Direction, external, anyone who has made a booking should not arrive more than 10 minutes beforehand and if they do have to queue, they should observe social distancing.

The measures came into force yesterday and will remain in place for the rest of the month.

A Leicestershire Police spokeswoman said the matter was being led by the city council and it had put out a tweet to assist with congestion.

She added: "We work in support of the council and should there be any criminality we would attend.

"In relation to Covid regulations we have always taken the engage, explain and encourage stance and would only use enforcement as a last resort."

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

Police have thanked members of the public who helped an officer who was "assaulted" as they tried to arrest a man after a car crash.

Nottinghamshire Police said a car driver "lost control" and crashed into another vehicle on Ashgate Road, Hucknall, at about 17:00 on Sunday.

An officer who was driving past stopped to check the welfare of the driver and noticed a bag behind the passenger seat which contained cannabis.

Image source, Google

The force said the officer suffered injuries trying to arrest the man and passers-by stepped in to help.

A 44-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker, possession with intent to supply drugs, dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, driving with no insurance and taking a vehicle without owner consent.

Ch Insp Steven O'Neill said the officer's injuries were minor and added: "I'd like to thank the members of the public who came to the aid of the officer who was in a difficult situation."

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

A driver has been taken to hospital with serious injures after a crash between two lorries on the M1 this morning.

Highways England said they were called just after 04:00 to the collision on the southbound carriageway between junctions 22 and 23 in Leicestershire.

One of the drivers had to be freed by firefighters, the fire service said, and has been taken to the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham with serious injuries.

The condition of the second driver is not yet known.

Highways England said the southbound carriageway has since reopened.

Image source, Highways England

Rich Davis
BBC Weather presenter

Today will see some cloud and a scattering of showers.

As the day goes on, it will become brighter but with showers turning more frequent, which will be heavy at times with a rumble of thunder possible. Maximum temperatures of 20C to 23C (68 to 73F).

Image source, Vikkiwho

Lancashire close on 127-6 at Trent Bridge after Nottinghamshire's Ben Slater is finally out for 142 - his second ton in a fortnight against the Red Rose.

Derbyshire close on 198-6, having almost avoided the threat of a follow-on after Dawid Malan's double century on his home debut for Yorkshire.

Jennifer Harby
BBC News

A free Lego exhibition saw a museum booked out on its first day of reopening since lockdown.

The Leicester Museum and Art Gallery's exhibition Brick City, which includes replicas of landmarks such as the skyscrapers of New York, the Colosseum of Rome, St Pancras Station and the London 2012 Olympic Park, saw all 200 available slots booked.

Image source, Leicester Museums

Head of arts, museums, festivals and events Jo Jones said: "After being closed for such a long time, it's brilliant to see people in the museum once again – and we look forward to welcoming many more."

Neil Heath
BBC News Online

Emergency powers have been introduced to prevent large crowds of customers queuing outside restaurants and takeaways in Leicester as part of efforts to tackle Covid-19.

The Leicester City Council direction, which came into place today, is intended to prohibit queuing, gathering or congregating outside food businesses along a section of London Road by customers who have not made a booking.

The authority said large numbers of people have been gathering in order to take advantage of the government’s month-long Eat Out To Help Out scheme.

Image source, Leicester City Council

The council said it means anyone who has made a booking should not arrive more than 10 minutes beforehand and, if they do have to queue, should do so following the requirements of safe, social distancing.

Security staff will be put in place to encourage social distancing.

Six businesses have also been told they must ensure strict systems are put in place to manage queues safely and only admit customers who have booked in advance.

Eddie Bisknell
Local Democracy Reporter

A vegan festival would pose a "significant health protection risk", says Derbyshire County Council.

The event, which could see 1,000 attendees, would take place from 25 to 26 September at Riddings Wood Caravan and Camping Park, Derbyshire.

Dean Wallace, public health director at the authority, wrote a letter in full opposition to the planned Vegan Camp Out at a campsite between Ironville and Riddings.

Image source, Google

An objection letter seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), written by Mr Wallace, said: "Based on the evidence provided we would recommend that this event is not granted licence and should not be allowed to proceed on public health grounds given the current Covid-19 situation."

His concern is that people could be travelling to the area from towns and cities with higher infection rates.

Vegan Camp Out was contacted by LDRS for comment but no-one has responded.

Mr Wallace said he is looking into whether the council can use emergency powers in the Coronavirus Act, external to get the event cancelled.

Only 8.5 overs are possible on day three of the Bob Willis Trophy match between Leicestershire and Durham because of rain.

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

This Jack Russell had a lucky escape after falling through a 15ft sinkhole which its owner said suddenly appeared in his back garden.

Chris Kyriacou, from Earl Shilton, Leicestershire, said he let his dog out just before 02:00 on Saturday but five minutes later she had disappeared.

That's when he spotted the hole in the ground.

"It just collapsed and it's quite a deep hole," he said.

"When I saw her down there I was worried. I was shaking."

The fire service was called to the property on West Street to help rescue the dog and Mr Kyriacou and his wife, along with their neighbours, were evacuated from their homes until structural engineers had assessed the buildings were safe.

Firefighter Alan Slater said: "It's not every day you let your dog out and it all of a sudden gets swallowed up by a hole in your garden.

"The owner was quite shocked. I think we were able to give him some reassurance that his house was secure."

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A new temporary school has been built next to one that was destroyed in a fire earlier this year.

Harrington Junior School, in Long Eaton, was gutted in the 28 May blaze, which started accidentally during refurbishment work.

The temporary structure is due to open for the start of the new school year next month.

A permanent replacement for the school, which has about 235 pupils, is being planned but there is no start date for the work.