Sandish Shoker
BBC News

A man has died after being hit by a lorry on the A1 near Blyth.

Nottinghamshire Police were called to the road just before midnight and said the man, who is from Doncaster, died at the scene.

The road was closed in both directions overnight between junction 35 (M18 Interchange) and junction 34 near Blyth, and the southbound carriageway did not reopen until after 08:00 this morning.

Collision investigator Louise Melbourne said police were keen to speak to drivers who had information or dashcam footage from around the time the accident happened.

Image source, Google

Notts County part company with manager Neal Ardley and his assistant Greg Abbott.

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

A woman has been banned from keeping animals after RSPCA inspectors found she had left her dog locked in a house starving for almost two months.

The RSPCA said the five-year-old husky cross, called Yogi, was like a "walking skeleton" and weighed just 8kg (17lbs).

Her owner Ayla Gilchrist appeared at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court earlier this month where she pleaded guilty to three animal welfare offences and admitted leaving Yogi alone at her house in Egreaves Avenue, Heanor, Derbyshire, with no food.

Gilchrist, 24, now of Gleadless Road, Sheffield, was sentenced to eight weeks in prison, suspended for 12 weeks, and banned from keeping pets.

Image source, RSPCA

The RSPCA said they were contacted after Yogi was spotted through a window by a housing officer in January last year looking underweight and among dirty nappies, litter and dog faeces.

Animal rescuer, Rachel Leafe, said: "Her stomach was so sucked in that it looked like somebody could easily wrap their hands around her waist. I could not see any food or water. I was very concerned that if the dog was to be left any longer she may not survive."

After emergency veterinary treatment, Yogi is now back to full health and has been re-homed with new owners.

Samantha Noble
BBC News Online

Two men have been charged after a mosque was damaged in Derby.

Police said they were called to the Faizan-e-Madina mosque, in Malcolm Street, in the early hours of Sunday to reports some of the building's windows had been broken.

Two men, aged 33 and 26, were charged with religiously aggravated criminal damage, and criminal damage.

They appeared at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court on Monday where they were released on bail, under the condition they do not go within 100 metres of the mosque.

They are next due to appear at the court on 16 July.

Image source, Google

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

An ambulance volunteer who died earlier this month has been described by his family as "incredibly kind, generous and would do anything for anyone".

Malcolm Kirk, 77, worked as an East Midlands Ambulance Service community first responder (CFR) for 17 years after retiring as a printer at the Newark Advertiser.

In that time, he responded to medical emergencies in the area and picked up a Heart Hero Award in 2016 for saving a man's life.

He also raised funds for seven publicly accessible defibrillators across Southwell, including the one that was used on him when he collapsed suddenly on 6 March.

Image source, East Midlands Ambulance Service

In a statement, his family said: "He was always looking out for ways to better the lives of other people.

"When Malcolm signed up to become a CFR, I don't think any of us realised the commitment he would give to the role – if he didn’t have something planned then he was always in his uniform and logged on to respond to anyone in need."

More recently, Malcolm had been supporting the Covid-19 vaccination programme.

Mario Stankovic, who co-ordinates the Southwell CFR scheme, said Malcolm was "a chirpy chap who always took the time to talk to people and make them smile".

Gloucester's Matt Banahan and Leicester's Kobus van Wyk are given bans after they were sent off on Saturday.

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

Parents, grandparents and carers in the Melton area have been invited to collect coronavirus test kits to use at home following a "worrying" rise in cases.

The borough council said the infection rate in the district had risen to 109 cases per 100,000 people - almost twice the national average.

The rapid result lateral flow tests are available to pick up from a community testing centre at Melton Mowbray's Polish Club after booking a collection time online, external.

Leicestershire County Council has made the kits available to people who live with, or are in regular contact with, young people at school or college.

Mike Sandys, Leicestershire's director of public health, said: "We’re looking at relatively small numbers but this is a worrying rise and we’re calling on Melton residents to redouble their efforts to bring cases back down."

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

Boots is opening seven new vaccination centres at some of its East Midlands stores on Saturday.

The company's pharmacists will administer the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine and the move means people will have more local options when booking their jabs.

Nick Sunderland, programme director for vaccines at Boots, said: "We are incredibly proud to be supporting the NHS to deliver COVID-19 vaccinations – our stores are conveniently located and accessible. We look forward to welcoming patients over the coming days and weeks.”

Image source, Will Johnston

The sites opening for vaccinations this weekend are:

• Nottingham Victoria Centre
• Beeston
• Newark
• Leicester Fosse Park
• Buxton
• Alfreton
• Derby Intu Shopping Centre

Eligible patients will be invited by the NHS to book vaccination appointments.

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

An operation to deal with a fire at a recycling centre in Ilkeston is likely to continue all day, the fire service has said.

At least seven crews have been tackling the blaze at Stanton Recycling, near Merlin Way, which broke out shortly before 23:00 yesterday.

Image source, Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service

The Environment Agency, Network Rail and the Canal & River Trust are also involved in the operation.

People living nearby have been advised to keep their windows and doors closed due to smoke.

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

A driver who was seriously injured in a crash in Leicester last week has died in hospital, external.

The man, who has not been named, was behind the wheel of a Vauxhall Corsa when it was involved in a crash with a Honda Civic at the junction of Abbey Park Road and Wolsey Island Way on 15 March.

Image source, Google

Leicestershire Police said he died at the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham at the weekend. No-one else was injured in the crash.

Witnesses and dashcam footage are being sought by the force.

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

A fire at a recycling centre has prompted a call to residents in parts of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire to keep their windows closed due to smoke.

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service sent eight pumps to Stanton Recycling, in Crompton Road, Ilkeston, just before 23:00 last night.

Image source, Google

Crews from Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire are also assisting.

While it has not been confirmed what materials are involved, the Environment Agency and Canal & River Trust are monitoring the situation.

The fire service said their work is continuing and the smoke plume was being monitored.

There are no reports of any injuries and no cause has yet been given.

BBC Weather

Today's weather will be largely overcast in the morning, with the possibility of some drizzle or light rain.

But the day is expected to turn drier, and cloud will clear to allow some sunny spells to develop.

There will be highs of 14C (57F) and we can expect lows of 3C (37F) overnight, with the odd patch of rain.

Image source, Stuart

Notts County keep their National League play-off bid on track as they come back from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw at Yeovil.

Samantha Noble
BBC News Online

A man has been airlifted to hospital after being stabbed in Leicester city centre.

Police said officers were called to the Gallowtree Gate area shortly after 15:30 where the man was found with serious injuries.

A cordon has been put up while inquiries are carried out. No arrests have been made.

Image source, Google

Det Insp Simon Preston said: “An investigation is ongoing to establish the full circumstances of the incident and enquiries are ongoing including speaking to a number of witnesses and checking CCTV.

“If you were in the city centre this afternoon near to Gallowtree Gate, please think back to anything you may have seen or heard which could assist our enquiries and please make contact with us.”

Dan Christian will return as T20 Blast captain for Notts Outlaws while South African Dane Paterson joins as an overseas player.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

People across the East Midlands have paused to reflect on the last year in lockdown.

This crew, based at London Road Fire Station in Nottingham, stood outside for the national minute of silence at 12:00.

Image source, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service

At the same time, in Nottingham's Old Market Square, the Council House flag was lowered to half-mast and people stood still for a minute of reflection.

Meanwhile children and staff at Smisby Day Nursery had their moment of reflection an hour earlier at 11:00.

Health bosses say they are looking at "innovative" ways to reach more people.

Facebook

Most of us have had to adapt to wearing masks, social distancing and staying at home - but for babies born in the last 12 months lockdown is all they've ever known.

Jo Howarth took this photo of her newborn son just before the first national lockdown.

She said: "I remember worrying about him being so small and getting it, worrying about the lack of formula, nappies, cleaning products and worrying how a pandemic would affect him.

"What a month/year to be born!"

Image source, Jo Howarth

Jo Powell gave birth to her son on 18 March. She said: "We were in NICU as the outside world went into lockdown."

She said he is now "doing well" after celebrating his first birthday.

Image source, Jo Powell

Amy O'Connell was six months' pregnant and enjoying a trip to the cinema on 6 March 2020.

"Now our little lady is almost 10 months old," she said.

Image source, Amy O'Connell

BBC Radio Leicester

It's been over a year since a Leicester man became one of the first known people in the UK to die from coronavirus.

Michael Gerard, 73, from Clarendon Park died on 22 March - one day before the first national lockdown began.

His daughter Sushila Moles told BBC Radio Leicester she'd spoken to him on the phone a few days earlier.

She said: "He had really bad health anyway and he was getting a bit of a cough and I remember saying to him 'are you alright? Are you sure you haven't got this virus?'".

Image source, Family photo

She said her father, a musician who performed in numerous orchestras, told her he'd spoken to doctors and was sure he didn't have Covid.

However, a few days later her mother called to say he had been taken to hospital and was in a coma.

Both were allowed to the hospital on the day that Mr Gerard died, but it was too late for them to see him alive again.

Ms Moles said: "Grief is a strange thing for everybody and you go through different phases of it, but it happening during a pandemic, when life and rules are changing all the time, you're constantly trying to find a new normal.

"We haven't managed to have any kind of celebration of his life - a memorial or anything - because we haven't been able to."

Rob Sissons
Health Correspondent, BBC East Midlands Today

Hospital bosses say the huge waiting list backlog in the NHS will need to be tackled steadily to avoid NHS staff burning out.

Across the East Midlands, the relentless pressure over the past year has left many hospital workers exhausted.

Sherwood Forest Hospitals in Nottinghamshire has discharged 1,455 patients who have had Covid, while there have been 560 deaths among patients who tested positive at the trust.

The intensity of the work has led to a backlog of patients waiting for treatment.

Medical director David Selwyn said: "When we went into the pandemic we had no patients waiting over a year for treatment... now we have over a thousand patients waiting that long."

Pacing the recovery of pre-pandemic NHS services will be key to ensuring staff have time to rest and recuperate after a year which for many will have been the most difficult of their careers.

About 40 patients with Covid-19 are currently being looked after at King’s Mill Hospital - that’s down from a January peak of 220.

The hope is the worst of the pandemic is over, but the hospital trust said it was ready for any localised flare-up of cases in the months ahead.