Presenter Martin Roberts praises "complete loony" Liam Kirk, who watched the show for 25 hours.

Sonia Kataria
BBC News

If you have ever wondered what Earth would look like from space, now is your chance to get an idea.

A giant, seven-metre wide artwork, which is a complete replica of the Earth, has been installed in Leicester Cathedral.

The sculpture called Gaia was based on Nasa pictures taken from space and is actually 1.8 million times smaller than the actual Earth.

Artist Luke Jerram said: "The artwork creates an opportunity to see the Earth from a new perspective.

"It's also for people to sense that we only have one planet and we really have to look after it."

The Gaia, which took about six months to create, is installed high above visitors' heads and slowly turns throughout the day, just like the real Earth does.

The artwork is already drawing crowds. One visitor described it as "amazing and beautiful".

The 22-year-old victim, an aspiring engineer, was described as a 'shining light'.

The 20-year-old died after being stabbed in the heart outside a shopping centre, a court hears.

Alex Regan
BBC News

A swarm of bees forced the closure of a GP surgery car park in Nottingham.

Trentside Medical Practice in Netherfield closed the car park after the swarm descended at about 13:00 BST on Tuesday.

A spokesperson for the practice said: "A bee keeper turned up within the hour and it took around an hour for them to be removed."

Image source, Trentside Medical Group

The car park reopened at about 15:00 BST.

It is thought the swarm got too big for its hive and unexpectedly moved to the car park.

Bee keepers removed the bees and relocated them to a new hive.

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

The mayor of Nottingham has described a colleague, who died last week, as "as good a friend as you could get".

Toni Price first joined the city council more than 25 years ago as a play worker, and then served as a housing officer before taking on the role of Executive Officer to the Leader.

Most recently she was Head of Community Engagement.

Image source, Steff Webber

Ms Price, 63, had been fighting pancreatic cancer.

Councillor Rebecca Langton described her as "widely lovely and a respected friend and colleague".

Lord Mayor of Nottingham, Dave Trimble, said: "Toni was as good a friend as you could get.

"She worked in a wide variety of roles at the council and was massively respected and admired in all of them and achieved so much."

Amy Orton
Local Democracy Reporter

Staff at a Leicestershire care home, which had a Covid outbreak last November, changed into their uniform and PPE in a toilet, according to an inspection report.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) team has again criticised the service at Huntingdon Court, on Regent Street, in Loughborough and rated it as inadequate for the fourth consecutive time after an unannounced inspection in March.

The CQC report, external stated, the visit to the care home, which has 19 residents, some with dementia, was prompted by concerns about support offered to residents and infection control.

Image source, PA Media

Inspectors found at the latest inspection that there was "a lack of understanding by staff" when managing some residents' behaviour and their needs and said the property "put people and staff at risk of acquiring infectious disease".

Staff also admitted to inspectors that they changed into their uniform in a toilet, described by the CQC as "not an appropriate clean and hygienic area for staff to get changed and put on personal protective equipment (PPE)".

However, staffing levels, an issue raised during previous visits, had improved, inspectors said.

Leicestershire County Care Ltd, which runs the home that has had no registered manager since April 2019, has been approached for comment.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

Plans to close a call centre in Hinckley have been described as "a bolt from the blue" by the union Unison.

Staff working at the Cadent Gas operational centre on Brick Kiln Lane have been told the site will close next March.

Some employees may be given the option to work from home, while others will be offered roles at a new site nine miles away, at Ansty Business Park near Coventry.

Ed Bratt, the Unison East Midlands regional organiser, said the "hammer blow" announcement has caused anxiety levels among the workforce to go "through the roof".

He said: “Some employees may be able to work from home after Brick Kiln Lane closes, but not everyone’s jobs can be done from their living rooms and kitchens.

“Others will have no option but to move to the new site but it’s not served by public transport, and not all staff have their own cars."

Cadent Gas revealed plans of a major restructure in April, which Unison said has put 450 jobs at risk across a number of locations.

Dan Adcock, the firm's director of customer centre, said: “We are proposing this move because of our updated approach to working more flexibly, where working from home was successfully proven during the pandemic and as a result, this has given us more room at our brand-new building at Ansty.

"There are no job losses, as a consequence of this relocation proposal".

Alex Regan
BBC News

Four new cases of the Indian Covid variant have been found in Derbyshire, the county council has confirmed.

Three of the cases were discovered in the Glossop area, and another in the Derbyshire Dales.

Previously one case of the South African variant and another of the Indian variant, both variants of concern, were confirmed in Erewash.

Image source, Reuters

Derbyshire's director of public health Dean Wallace has called on residents in these areas to get tested whether they have symptoms or not.

He said: "We've come so far in our fight against this pandemic and the vaccine has been a real turning point, but this outbreak is a timely reminder that Covid hasn't gone away and we still need to take precautions to protect those we love from this illness, especially those not yet vaccinated."

Alex Regan
BBC News

Image source, Syston Town Council

A pair of postbox toppers, celebrating Leicester City's historic win in the FA Cup final at the weekend, are to be auctioned off for charity.

A secret needlesmith, who has become known as Syston's "knitting Bansky", struck again with the creations pictured here.

One appeared before the game against Chelsea on Saturday and one, showing the team with the FA Cup, appeared this week.

Proceeds from the sale of the toppers, which feature the Foxes' mascot and all 11 players, will go to the Syston Branch of the Royal British Legion, according to community newspaper Syston Town News, external.

Bids can be sent to Syston Town News by email, and the online auction will close on 15 June.

Image source, Syston Town Council

Heather Burman
BBC News

Rising coronavirus cases in a Leicestershire district are causing concern among public health officials.

Melton's coronavirus infection rate - 52.7 per 100,000 people in the week up to 13 May - is now the eighth highest in England, a 125% increase from 23.4 in the previous week.

Mike Sandys, Leicestershire's director of public health, said: "Although we're still looking at relatively small numbers – around 30 cases over a seven-day period – this is shifting Melton up the rankings."

The county council said it was most concerned about the 17 to 21-year-old age group, as rates stand at 302.9 per 100,000, the highest in the county.

Areas in Melton with the highest rates, across all age groups, include Asfordby, Frisby-on-the-Wreake, Old Dalby, Bottesford, Harby and Croxton Kerrial, the county council added.

Councillor Joe Orson, leader of Melton Borough Council, said: "While we're all eager to return to normality, we must always consider the health of those around us.

"We need to ensure we are adhering to the guidelines, particularly as restrictions begin to ease and that includes regular testing and taking up the vaccine when it is offered."

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

A 21-year-old man, arrested in connection with an assault in Leicester, has been released on bail.

He was arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm after a man in his 30s was found in Abbey Park with "significant head injuries" yesterday.

The man is continuing to receive treatment at the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham.

Part of the park has been cordoned off while officers carry out further inquiries.

Image source, Google

East Midlands Today

A Derbyshire attraction, which has been operating at a reduced capacity throughout the pandemic, has used the extra time to dig further into its history.

Calcite crystals have been uncovered in the caves at the Heights of Abraham.

Image source, Heights of Abraham

Rupert Pugh, from the attraction, said: "The lead mines were working lead mines at one point so there was lots of dust and dirt on the walls.

"We've been down there busy during lockdown cleaning off one particularly nice area with calcite crystals, which we have cleaned meticulously and re-lit.

"It looks very spectacular."

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

A man needed surgery after being left with "significant facial wounds" following an attack in Nottingham.

Nottinghamshire Police said the victim - who was assaulted with an unknown weapon - was targeted in a car park in Alfreton Road, between the Tesco Express and KFC, at about 15:30 on Sunday.

A 27-year-old man was then arrested on Monday afternoon on suspicion of wounding with intent. He remains in custody.

Image source, Google

Det Sgt Chris Berryman said: "This was a nasty incident which left the victim with significant facial wounds."

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

People seeking medical help are being urged to use the 111 service before going to A&E.

The appeal by the NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire clinical commissioning group (CCG) has been prompted by a rise in the numbers going to emergency departments in Nottinghamshire and the easing of Covid restrictions.

Image source, PA

Thilan Bartholomeuz, a GP at the Blidworth Surgery near Mansfield, said: "We are seeing a high volume of people attending our emergency departments and sometimes this isn't the right place to be seen.

"To make sure you get the help you need, in the right place and at the right time, I would urge the public to call 111 first to ensure they are then signposted to the correct place."

Dr Bartholomeuz said latest figures revealing Nottinghamshire had the lowest number of referrals from 111 to A&E in the Midlands, showed people were being directed to the most suitable service for their needs.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

A man has been taken to hospital with "significant head injuries" after being attacked in a park, police said.

Leicestershire Police were called to a report of a fight in Abbey Park, Leicester, at about 15:40 yesterday.

Image source, Google

Officers found the injured man, in his 30s, and he was taken to the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham for treatment.

A 21-year-old man was arrested in the park on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm, the force added.

Police have appealed for witnesses.

BBC Weather

Today has started sunny for many, and bright spells will continue throughout the day.

There will be some scattered showers, occasionally heavy and thundery, but they will be less widespread than the previous day.

Image source, AbbeyDale

Coach trip passengers are delighted to be setting off on their first journey in a year.

A support worker who relocated her office to her car during lockdown says she plans to stay put.

Kasper Schmeichel is helping set standards at Leicester City says club legend Andy King.