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With no clear idea of when we'll be able to go on holiday abroad, you've been sharing the memories of your last "normal" trips away.

Paula Hornblow spent January 2020 on a cruise around the Caribbean.

She said: "My husband and our friend got back to the world getting ready for lockdown."

Image source, Paula Hornblow

Shannon Mee said: "We somehow managed to go to Canada and see Niagara Falls before returning home to the UK and going into lockdown."

Image source, Shannon Mee

Val Browne was one of the last people to enjoy this view in "beautiful Cyprus".

She said: "The hotel closed its doors as we left. An empty plane was sent over to bring us home. Never expected the virus to be around for so long."

Image source, Val Browne

Harvey Blount died on the M42 motorway as he travelled back to an RAF base after seeing his family.

Fly-half Freddie Burns is returning to the Premiership next season by re-joining Leicester after a spell playing in Japan.

BBC Radio Derby

A nurse at the Royal Derby Hospital, who wrote a poem to mark one year since the first national lockdown, said she has had a "massive" response from her colleagues.

"It's blown me away to be honest," said Louise Tristram.

Ms Tristram has been working at the hospital's intensive care unit (ICU) since October when she was redeployed due to the impact of the pandemic.

Image source, Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust

The poem, called One Year On, starts: "One year on and the world's a different place, what started slowly but then picked up pace.

"Crowded places became vast empty shells, on the past we once had we start to dwell.

"As a front-line worker we all stood to command, ready to start this epic fight, hand in hand."

Image source, Google

Talking about her experience of the last year, she said: "It's been tough. Very surreal to be fair.

"Working in areas that we don't normally work in and just very emotional, hard work."

She said the work was also "quite rewarding" and that the move from critical care to intensive care had been a "learning curve" that she enjoyed.

The husband of a mum of four and senior council officer has been paying tribute to his wife.

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You've been sharing your last "normal" photos taken before the UK went into lockdown a year ago.

Bev Surgey's daughter took her out for an early Mother's Day treat on 18 March 2020.

She said: "Had a lovely time. Little did we realise it would be our last meal out for over a year."

Image source, Bev Surgey

Oliver John took this photo at a restaurant on the last weekend before lockdown.

He was out celebrating a friend’s birthday and said everything was just starting to change.

"I remember tables being distanced and staff having minimal contact but who would have imagined all that has gone on over the last year," he said.

Image source, Oliver John

Navtej Johal
Reporter , BBC East Midlands Today

"Following the science" became an oft-repeated mantra among politicians over the past 12 months, and it's easy to see why: through testing, treatments and vaccines, science has been helping to lead us out of the pandemic.

In the East Midlands, our scientific and medical experts played a crucial role as part of a wider team. Like many regions, our hospitals conducted clinical trials into drugs which saved the lives of COVID-19 patients, volunteers offered themselves up to test the vaccines, and universities lent their expertise - and sometimes even their equipment - in the fight against coronavirus.

Image source, PA Media

Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited Leicester's De Montfort University in November 2020 to see a lateral flow testing pilot - a scheme to find out if the rapid tests could be scaled up across the country - which he described as a "hugely valuable weapon in our fight against coronavirus".

Since then, we've seen LFTs become widely adopted - secondary school pupils are now using the tests twice a week to help with their return to school.

When it comes to the lab-based tests offered by the NHS, our region also hosts one of the country's "lighthouse laboratories". Based in Loughborough and run by the company PerkinElmer, this facility is able to process around 50,000 coronavirus tests a day.

The East Midlands is looking ahead too. The University of Nottingham, for example, is involved in a world-first study which aims to determine the effects of using a different vaccines for the first and second doses, in addition to different intervals between doses.

If successful, it could provide increased flexibility to the UK’s vaccination programme and, in the words of Professor David Turner, the principle investigator on the study, "have huge implications in terms of easing demand".

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

A rainbow pedestrian crossing has opened at King’s Mill Hospital in support of the LGBT+ community.

Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust said the colourful crossing was the latest addition to its equality, diversity and inclusivity agenda.

The trust is part of the NHS Rainbow scheme, aimed at supporting members of the LGBT+ community to have open and honest conversations about their healthcare in an understanding and safe environment.

Image source, Sherwood Forest Hospitals Trust

David Selwyn, medical director and LGBT+ staff network executive lead, said: “The crossing is one of the many ways the trust is showing its inclusivity towards Sherwood colleagues and also towards our patients, visitors, guests and the local community.

“To be able to open this rainbow crossing, which represents the LGBT+ community and allies, as well as a symbol of the difficult 15 months we’ve all had in the NHS, is a special moment."

Alex Regan
BBC News

Derbyshire Chief Constable Rachel Swann has clarified her position after "accidentally" liking a tweet that sympathised with Kill the Bill protesters in Bristol.

On Sunday evening 21 police officers were injured during violent clashes with protesters.

That night it appeared Ms Swann had pressed the like button on a tweet from Guardian columnist Owen Jones that said the disorder had "become an inevitability" after the Metropolitan Police's response to a vigil for Sarah Everard that resulted in women being handcuffed and removed.

Ms Swann said on Monday evening she did not endorse this view and she had cancelled the like as soon as she realised her mistake.

In a subsequent tweet, she added: "No one should go to work under fear of being attacked for doing their job.

"The action of a violent few is wholly unacceptable. It’s been an important reminder to me about the impact of social media."

Amy Payne
Reporter, BBC East Midlands Today

This month most children returned to school after weeks of remote learning. It was just one of the changes and challenges faced by pupils, staff and parents over the last year as a result of coronavirus.

I visited two very different schools – a secondary in a socially diverse part of Leicester and a primary in rural Leicestershire - to find out about their specific issues and the way forward.

In both, teachers are avoiding talk of "catch-up" or “recovery” because they don’t want to discourage pupils. But after so much disruption, they admit there will be learning gaps.

Image source, PA Media

So far £1.7bn in funding has been announced for immediate recovery measures but the leaders I spoke to are calling for longer-term support, which the education secretary Gavin Williamson accepts,will be “vital.”

While the impact of Covid-19 on education will be felt for a long time - some predict three years - experts are confident children will bounce back in every way.

The Canal & River Trust is planning to grass over the concrete spillway, which nearly collapsed.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

The flag outside Nottingham's Council House is to be lowered to half mast to mark the one-year anniversary of the start of the first national lockdown.

People across the country are being asked to observe a one-minute silence at 12:00 to reflect and remember those who have died.

Nottingham City Council said over 600 of its citizens have passed away with the virus in the last year.

Image source, Nottingham City Council

Council leader David Mellen said: “The last year has been the most difficult in our recent history.

“I’m incredibly proud of the way Nottingham people have pulled together through a really challenging time – and we need to keep going."

Anyone wishing to mark the anniversary at home is being asked to light a candle in their window or door when it gets dark.

Earlier this year the council lit 500 candles on the steps of the Council House to mark the grim milestone of 500 lives lost to coronavirus in the city.

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

A woman has been left with cuts to her hand and thigh during an attempted dog theft in Derbyshire, police have said.

Just after 10:00 on Sunday, Derbyshire Police said the woman was approached in a field next to Greenwich Park, off Nottingham Road, Ripley, by a man in a balaclava who demanded her dog.

Image source, Google

Officers said he tried to cut the lead, causing the injuries to the dog owner.

It is unclear what implement he used, the force added.

The man was unsuccessful and was last seen running off across the field, in the direction of the park and main road.

A police spokesman said the woman was left "very shaken and distressed".

The suspect is described as in his 30s, white and about 5ft 10in (1.78m) tall. He was wearing dark jogging bottoms and a dark jacket with the hood up.

Police said they had increased patrols in the area as a result of the attack.

While many families have found the lockdown limitations of the past few months gruelling, for residents of Leicester a non-stop year of restrictions began 12 months ago.

BBC East Midlands has spoken to families from the city about the heartbreak of spending so long apart from their loved ones.

Image source, Sara Garner

Today, the UK is marking one year since the first coronavirus lockdown was announced.

On 23 March 2020, Boris Johnson outlined measures to stop the spread of Covid-19.

Since then, there have been tough restrictions on socialising, and closures of schools, pubs and shops. Many of those rules are still in place.

Throughout the East Midlands, people have endured tragedies and hardship, but they have also found creative ways to get through the pandemic.

BBC Weather

Today we can expect the weather to be dry and overcast, with the odd brighter spell during the day and some moderate south-westerly winds.

We can expect highs of 12C (54F) and overnight there will be lows of 6C (43F), with the prospect of a few spots of rain in the morning.

Image source, Happy Walker Heanor WG

For residents of Leicester, a non-stop year of restrictions began 12 months ago.

Dracula fans, takeaway lovers and thwarted drinkers are all counting the cost of flouting the rules.

One year on from the first UK lockdown, people have been sharing their experiences of the pandemic.

Samantha Noble
BBC News Online

A man has been arrested after a cyclist spent nearly two weeks in hospital following a suspected hit-and-run crash.

Neil Wainwright, 57, was found on the roadside of the A616 at South Muskham, Nottinghamshire, at 18:40 GMT on 7 March.

He had suffered a fractured frontal skull, neck fracture,10 broken ribs, several lower spinal fractures and a broken pelvis.

Nottinghamshire Police said a 43-year-old man was arrested in Tuxford on Wednesday on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and has been released under investigation.

A 23-year-old man was also interviewed under caution, the force said.

Image source, Nottinghamshire Police

Det Con Sarah Stables said: "After lengthy searches on local CCTV and ANPR cameras we were able to track down a vehicle in connection with the incident."

Mr Wainwright's three daughters have urged anyone who saw the incident to helpwith the investigation.

Georgina Wainwright said her dad would be in recovery for a "long time" and the whole family was "in bits".