Amy Woodfield
BBC News

Three homes were evacuated in Leicester overnight when the roof of a property caught alight.

Firefighters said they were called to the blaze on Rotherby Avenue in Belgrave at about 00:20.

The British Red Cross also responded to provide support to the households.

Image source, @WarrenM_ER

Leicestershire Police said everyone from the evacuated properties was accounted for.

Officers remain at the scene and a joint investigation is under way between the two emergency services.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

Ten new hotels are opening in Nottingham this week, but you'll need six legs if you want to stay the night.

The city council is installing bee hotels across the city to mark World Bee Day.

Image source, Nottingham City Council

It is hoped they will help to increase the population of the pollinating insects in Lenton, Bulwell, Mapperley, Radford, the Meadows, Sneinton and the city centre.

They have all been built by an apprentice joiner who works for Nottingham City Homes. The authority said the project has taught him skills he can later use when working on homes.

World Bee Day is aimed at raising awareness of the importance of bees and beekeeping as scientific studies have proven bees are becoming increasingly endangered.

Amy Orton
Local Democracy Reporter

It has been more than three weeks since a Covid-related death was recorded at one of Leicester's three hospitals.

The last death of a patient who had tested positive for coronavirus was on 26 April, according to the latest government data.

Image source, PA Media

Currently, there are 10 Covid patients - three of them on ventilators - being treated across Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester General Hospital and Glenfield Hospital.

Since the start of the pandemic 1,468 patients with the virus have died in Leicester's hospitals with more than 4,500 being discharged.

Image source, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

A University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust spokesperson said they were "optimistic" about the "significant" decrease but urged people to continue following government Covid guidance and getting vaccinated when called up.

BBC Weather

Overcast with outbreaks of rain this afternoon - these will be heavy and persistent in places and accompanied by strong winds.

The rain is expected to continue through the night; although it will become patchier.

Image source, Davj

The golden oriole is saved by a wildlife group after being found exhausted at a school.

An elusive golden oriole is back in the air after being nursed back to health by wildlife rescuers.

Sonia Kataria
BBC News

A man has been remanded in custody after another man was stabbed by offenders who tried to steal his dog, police have said.

Nottinghamshire Police said it's thought the victim was chased by two men carrying a kitchen knife and a cosh who then assaulted him in the Chapelgate area of Retford on the morning of 12 May.

The victim was stabbed in the back and hit with the cosh but managed to fight the men off before they ran off with his phone, the force said.

He suffered minor injuries during the attack.

The force said the offenders made an "opportunist attempt" to take the victim’s Shar Pei dog but the animal was not taken or harmed.

Ryan Wilkinson, 26, of Chapelgate, Retford, was charged with attempted grievous bodily harm with intent, two counts of possession of an offensive weapon in public and attempted theft.

He is due to appear at Nottingham Crown Court on 9 June.

Image source, Google

Det Sgt Matt Dumbrell said: “We are continuing to work hard to locate a second outstanding suspect and we are actively pursuing a number of lines of inquiry."

David Pittam
BBC News Online

An elderly man has died after his car crashed in to the side of a building in Newark.

The 82-year-old's Ford Tourneo Connect crashed in to the RSPCA building in Portland Street after leaving the ASDA car park at about 12.10 on Tuesday.

Police said they were still trying to establish how the "single-vehicle collision" happened.

Image source, Google

Sgt Mark Baker said: "This was a tragic incident and our thoughts are with the victim’s family at what we know is a very difficult time.

"Our investigation is at an early stage and we would like to speak to anybody who may have witnessed what happened – especially anyone with dashcam footage.”

David Pittam
BBC News Online

Surge vaccinations will be taking place in Leicester in a battle to stop the spread of the Indian Covid-19 variant, the Health Secretary has said.

Matt Hancock told MPs that 2,967 cases of the B1617.2 variant have been identified in the UK, up from 2,323 on Monday.

Bedford, Burnley, Hounslow, Kirklees and North Tyneside will also receive surge testing and extra vaccines, with Blackburn with Darwen and Bolton having already received additional support.

Leicester City Council later clarified it will not be carrying out surge testing, but will be stepping up its vaccination programme.

Cases of the Indian variant were first found in Leicester last month, although the council said the numbers are still "relatively low" compared to other parts of the country.

Image source, PA Media

Liam Barnes
BBC News

People in Derbyshire who refused to be evacuated when a reservoir partly collapsed put police and volunteers "at risk", the county's chief constable said.

Rachel Swann, who oversaw the evacuation of Whaley Bridge after a wall at Toddbrook Reservoir was damaged in August 2019, told a meeting of the Risk Assessment and Risk Planning Committee, external rescue workers encountered "a small handful of people" who wouldn't leave their properties, despite the risk of flooding if the reservoir failed.

Responders "repeatedly" went back to threatened homes to encourage residents to leave as a result of some people refusing requests, she said, as they could not force them to evacuate.

She said that powers to get people to leave are provided under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, external "but they've never yet been used or enacted".

Image source, Derbyshire Police

Alex Regan
BBC News

A Leicester City player has donated funds to help a football club that has been blighted by vandalism.

Since the beginning of lockdown last year, Loughborough FC's ground, The Drome, has been attacked several times, most recently in April.

Their offices have been trashed, equipment has been destroyed and seats have been broken.

Image source, Loughborough FC

Secretary John Belton said: "After the first lockdown, nobody had been on the ground so I went down to see what it was like, and I just looked at it and thought, 'it's time to pack up and go away'."

He said the club is trying to raise £10,000 to repair the ground and improve security.

More than £4,000 has been donated so far via a JustGiving page, with some of that coming from a Foxes player, who wishes to remain anonymous, Mr Belton said.

"There's no end of contributions coming from other football clubs, clubs that we've competed with over the years. Football has a family of people," he said.

Image source, Loughborough FC

Sonia Kataria
BBC News

A 21-year-old man was killed when the car he was driving crashed into a tree in Nottinghamshire.

Nottinghamshire Police said Callum Payne was fatally injured after he lost control of the Nissan Qashqai at about 23:20 on Park Lane, in Sutton Bonington, on Friday.

He died at the scene.

A man, 20, who was a front seat passenger, was also hurt but his injuries were not life-threatening.

Mr Payne's family said they were "devastated" and have asked for privacy, the force added.

Image source, Nottinghamshire Police

Sgt Mark Baker, of the force's serious collision investigation unit, said: “This was a tragic loss of a young life and our thoughts are with his family."

He said inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the crash were ongoing and appealed for witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to come forward.

Heather Burman
BBC News

A man has been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and grievous bodily harm after reports that an offender entered a property in West Bridgford by smashing a window with a shovel.

Nottinghamshire Police said officers were called to an address on Loughborough Road at about 15:45 yesterday.

The force said a 46-year-old man was arrested at the scene and inquiries were ongoing.

Liam Barnes
BBC News

A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a woman suffered serious injuries when assaulted in a garden in Bestwood.

Nottinghamshire Police said they were called to Andover Road at about 06:00 today following a disturbance, with officers attending the scene finding a woman injured outside.

The 42-year-old man was Tasered before being arrested, the force said.

Insp Gareth Harding said officers "believe this was a self-contained incident involving two people who are known to each other", and urged any witnesses or anyone with any information to get in touch.

Image source, Google

Liam Barnes
BBC News

A 37-year-old man who spent seven weeks in hospital after contracting coronavirus has urged people to carry on being cautious even as restrictions are lifted.

Aaron Shaw, who lives in Derby, recorded a positive Covid-19 test in March after he and his wife felt ill.

While his wife had minimal symptoms and made a full recovery he began to "go downhill rapidly", and after being admitted to Royal Derby Hospital on 15 March he ended up in intensive care on 4 April.

Mr Shaw's condition was so bad he was transferred to Glenfield Hospital in Leicester, where he was put on an Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) machine in their intensive care unit.

Image source, UHDB

He was taken back to Derby and finally discharged on 5 May. Now he wants to warn others of the dangers of the condition.

"This virus doesn’t just affect old or sick people, it really is just a roll of a dice as to how it affects you," he said.

"I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, I’m only 37 years old and I’ve got no underlying health conditions.

"It hit me so hard out of nowhere and nobody is quite sure why."

PA Media

Andy Murray will begin his grass-court season at the Nottingham Open, tournament organisers have confirmed.

The two-time Wimbledon champion chose not to enter the French Open as he returns from a groin injury.

Image source, EPA

The Lawn Tennis Association confirmed on social media the 34-year-old will be appearing at next month's tournament.

The event is due to take place from 5-13 June.

David Pittam
BBC News Online

An 82-year-old driver was critically injured when a van crashed into a building yesterday.

Police said the Mercedes Sprinter left the road in Portland Street, Newark, at about 12:10.

Image source, Google

The road was closed after the crash and police are appealing for witnesses.

A structural engineer was called to make the building safe.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

A man has been arrested after a woman reported being threatened with a knife and said there was an attempt to strangle her during a domestic assault.

Police were called at about 23:45 on Monday after the woman, 40, fled a flat in Bentinck Road, Nottingham and hid in a bush.

Image source, Google

She told officers a man had tried to stop her from leaving by grabbing her and pulling her back.

A 35-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault and possession of a bladed article. He is due to be questioned by officers later.

Det Sgt Nicole Milner, from Nottinghamshire Police, said: “This was a frightening incident for the victim who was extremely fearful for her life..

“We are now satisfied this was an isolated incident and there is no wider threat to the local community."

David Pittam
BBC News Online

Residents were evacuated after a man threatened to blow up his kitchen.

People were told to leave their homes in Hemlock Avenue, Stapleford, just after midnight following a report a man had barricaded himself inside and was threatening to ignite gas from his oven.

Police said he held the kitchen door closed and threatened to attack officers with knives if they approached.

Officers left when they heard a ticking noise, believed to be the ignition switch from the gas cooker.

Image source, Google

Neighbours were leaving their homes when the man left the property.

A 52-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempting to commit arson with intent to endanger life and attempted criminal damage.

BBC Weather

It's a dry, bright start to the day, but showers will develop and some could be heavy and thundery with highs of 15C (59F).

Into this evening most of the showers will fade away to leave a dry night and it will be slightly cooler with a minimum temperature of 5C (41F).

Image source, Helen Earth