David Pittam
BBC News Online

A Nottingham mum has said she's "apprehensive" about homeschooling her three daughters again as schools move online in England.

Claire Glenton, who works for Boots, said she agreed with the move but the lack of time to prepare for a return to teaching her children - aged 15, eight and six - was "stressful".

Image source, Claire Glenton

She said: "My husband and I both work and we've had no time to prepare for anything.

"All the kids need different things.

"You want to make sure they're getting the best out of their education but I'm no teacher, and we don't have the tech for everyone to be on laptops at the same time.

"It was really hard the first time but it was new, we didn't know what to expect. My gut feeling last night was 'I just don't want to do this again'.

"But it's best foot forwards - me and other mums have all been having a joke about it, comforting each other."

Samantha Noble
BBC News Online

Retail, hospitality and leisure businesses will receive new grants to help support them during the third national lockdown, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has said.

All non-essential shops, leisure and entertainment venues are now closed with pubs and restaurants allowed to offer takeaway food and non-alcoholic drinks only.

The grants will be made available by local authorities and are in addition to business rates relief and the furlough scheme, which has been extended until the end of April.

The grants will be worth up to £9,000 per property, the Treasury says.

Separately, £594m will be made available to affected firms outside these sectors, Mr Sunak said.

Image source, Getty Images

David Pittam
BBC News Online

Fraudsters are sending out fake texts offering a Covid vaccine, Derbyshire Police have warned.

They said the text offers a link to an "extremely convincing" fake NHS website where fraudsters will try to take your personal or financial information.

They also said cold callers are asking people to pay for the vaccine over the phone.

Image source, Getty Images

A spokesperson for the force said: "The scam message reads 'we have identified that your are eligible to apply for your vaccine' and then prompts you to click on a link for further information or to ‘apply’ for the vaccine.

"If you receive a text or email that asks you to click on a link or for you to provide information, such as your name, credit card or bank details, it's a scam."

BBC Radio Derby

The MP for Mid-Derbyshire, Pauline Latham, has descibed the new lockdown as "regrettable" but said there was "no choice" because of the new Covid variant.

"We have to stop the transmission of it to stop the hospitals being totally overwhelmed.

"We want people to be treated adequately and until we stop the numbers getting into hospital, we are not going to do that and the only way to do that is to vaccinate."

Image source, UK Parliament

Ms Latham added: "I think we are further back then square one, sadly, because there are many more people catching the virus and there are many more people in hospital with the virus than before."

BBC Radio Nottingham

Chief Whip and Sherwood MP Mark Spencer has defended the government's lockdown timing and late-notice school closures.

Asked why the prime minister did not impose a lockdown earlier, as suggested by Labour leader Keir Starmer, the Conservative MP said Boris Johnson was responding to a "rapidly" changing situation.

He said: "We have to strike a political balance between trying to allow people to go about their lives and generate income and provide for their families but also support those who look after us.

Image source, Reuters

"Those people have childcare and if they don't have school to look after their kids they're challenged in their ability to look after us.

"Whilst we thought, three or four days ago, that the NHS would be able to cope with the numbers... yesterday the figures and scientific advice changed quite dramatically [and showed] the NHS would not cope."

He added that the government's vaccination plans were "realistic" and "there is light at the end of the tunnel".

Sonia Kataria
BBC News

The Leicester South MP and shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth told the BBC the third national lockdown was "sadly inevitable".

"We know in Leicester, where we have been in a form of restriction forever now, how difficult these lockdowns are."

"But, we cannot waste the time of this lockdown.

"[The government] has to roll-out the vaccination, they've got to fix the testing and the tracing and the support for people to isolate.

"They've got to make sure our children, who won't be in school get access to online resources.

"There's lots to do."

David Pittam
BBC News Online

A secondary head has said he is frustrated that policy changes are only shared with schools "at the last minute".

David Phillips, of Chilwell School in Nottinghamshire, said he and staff had been working through the Christmas break figuring out how to mass test pupils.

The new lockdown means the school will not now be opening to most pupils until at least the end of February half-term.

Image source, Google

Mr Phillips agreed that schools can be a "vehicle for transmission".

But he added: "I want to know why the changes in policy have always been left to the last minute before being shared with heads, who are expected to carry this out.

"We pride ourselves in communicating with our community, our children and our families as much in advance as possible - but the government has failed to do that."

David Pittam
BBC News Online

A Leicester primary school head said last-minute government changes cause "chaos".

Karl Stewart from Shaftesbury Junior School, admitted he was "one of the lucky ones" as, due to all but two of nine teachers refusing to come in, he had already planned to move online for the next week.

But he said others, including his wife, were left working late into the evening after the announcement to figure out how to deal with it.

Image source, Karl Stewart

He said: "To announce [school closures] at 8pm - it's almost like they have no regard for what schools are doing.

"An earlier decision would have helped us plan. It's the changing it at the last minute that causes chaos.

"But it is what it is - my staff are up for the challenge and are ready to get on and do it."

Sonia Kataria
BBC News

Leicester's mayor Sir Peter Soulsby has said introducing tougher measures was the right decision.

"The new variant of the virus in some parts of the country is now very much out of control," he said.

"There is a real threat that unless firm action is taken it will overwhelm the NHS."

Image source, PA Media

Sonia Kataria
BBC News

As the East Midlands wakes to new lockdown restrictions, teachers across the region are calling on the government to include them as a priority group for Covid-19 vaccinations.

Joseph Wyglendacz from the National Education Union said: "Increasing the vaccination to education workers needs to be a priority and a robust testing system needs to be in place.

"We are still there providing provision for key workers and vulnerable children and we are also attempting to teach remotely online where possible for all children."

Image source, Reuters

All schools are closed this morning - except to vulnerable children and the children of key workers.

England's third national lockdown began this morning, with Boris Johnson telling everyone to stay at home except for a few permitted reasons.

Similar to the first March lockdown, schools have shut to most pupils, and businesses - such as non-essential shops, pubs, restaurants and gyms - will stay closed.

The prime minister ordered people to stay indoors other than for limited exceptions - such as essential medical needs, food shopping, exercise and work that cannot be done at home.

We'll be bringing you all the latest from across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland.

You can read more about the national picture here.

Image source, PA Media

The Championship club said "several first-team staff and players" had tested positive.

Derby confirm "several first-team staff members and players" have tested positive for coronavirus.

Alex Regan
BBC News

More than £17,000 in fines were handed out by Nottinghamshire Police after officers broke up New Year gatherings in three houses.

The force said officers broke up a gathering of about 50 people in a house in Somersall Street, Mansfield, on Friday at 21:35 GMT.

Image source, Google

The homeowner was handed a £10,000 fine and 25 other people received £200 fixed penalty notices.

Despite Nottinghamshire being under tier four restrictions - prohibiting any mixing of households - officers were called to gatherings at two homes in Warsop Road, Mansfield Woodhouse.

The force said 13 people were fined £200 for gathering on 3 January.

Supt Kevin Broadhead said the force would penalise partygoers for "putting public health at risk by having illegal gatherings".

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

People have been warned not to approach an inmate who has gone on the run from an open prison in Derbyshire.

John Joseph Hickinbottom was serving an indeterminate sentence for public protection when he absconded from HMP Sudbury on Saturday.

Image source, Derbyshire Police

Derbyshire Police said the 54 year old has links to the West Midlands and Gloucestershire.

Anyone who spots him has been urged to contact the force, external.

Ethan Connolly-Forster
BBC News

A new multi-million pound scheme to build a hotel and apartments in Nottingham has been submitted to the city council's planning team.

Developers say the plan for the Island Quarter, which includes a 223-room hotel, 247 residential apartments, a bar and office space, "will lead the way" in terms of sustainability and engagement with nature.

Image source, Conygar

Richard Watson, of developer Conygar, said: “The Island Quarter is one of the biggest city centre regeneration schemes in the UK.

"We believe it is vital for the development to bring something outstanding to Nottingham, for which the city and the Midlands can be proud of."

If approved, developers say the scheme will create up to 350 jobs during the construction phase, and a further 550 jobs when completed and operational.

Image source, Conygar

The plan for the 40-acre site, which received outline planning approval in April 2019 has a number of different uses such as student housing, residential and office space.

Schools are facing staffing problems as unions call for delays to primary reopenings.

Maria Rico took off her oxygen mask to say goodbye - despite knowing this would hasten her death.

Samantha Noble
BBC News Online

Three people have been arrested and 12 fines were issued during a protest against Covid-19 restrictions.

Nottinghamshire Police said officers dispersed yesterday's gathering in the city centre, which was illegal under tier four restrictions, to try to prevent the virus spreading.

People gathered and marched through Nottingham from 15:00 as part of a planned protest, police said.

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Cooper said: "We have made three arrests and issued 12 fixed penalty notices so far, with the likelihood this will rise.

"The new strain of the virus is everywhere including here in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire and we need people to understand they have a responsibility to stop it spreading.

“Large gatherings should not be happening. We ask anyone thinking of attending or organising one not to do so."

He added he would like to thank the vast majority of residents who continue to adhere to the coronavirus legislation.

Under the city and county's current tier four restrictions, people can only meet one other person outdoors and households are not allowed to mix with other household bubbles indoors.

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

A cannabis farm was found at a home in Kirkby-in-Ashfield after police were called out to a report of a burglary.

Officers arrived at the address in Harcourt Street at about 04:00 on New Year's Day and discovered dozens of plants in several rooms, along with growing equipment.

Nobody was at the property and the farm has been dismantled.

Image source, Google

Ch Insp Steven O’Neil said: “Cannabis cultivation is a serious crime that can have a hugely damaging impact on individuals and the wider community.

"I am pleased this particular grow has been taken out of action."