Jodi Law
Presenter, BBC Radio Nottingham

There was a sense of excitement as Nottingham bars reopened for the first time this year.

One of the first customers through the doors of Roxy Ball Room, which also has a bowling alley and ping pong tables, was Katie Elnor, from Beeston.

She said: "It's good. It's bizarre. I'm not used to it. I'm used to not even being able to see my friend let alone going out."

Another was Axl Bell who said: "I've been waiting for this for a little while now.

"Getting inside pubs, restaurants, it's definitely needed to help the country out."

Jack Butlin said it was "nice and refreshing" to be meeting friends indoors.

"It's a chance to get together with work friends and just go out and have a sit down and play a bit of pong," he added.

Manager Katie Cartwright said: "We've missed everyone so much and we're looking forward to new customers coming through.

"We've got a lot more students in the city now... they haven't even had the chance to go out in town yet."

BBC Radio Nottingham

We all love a home renovation programme, but one Nottingham man has taken it a little bit further...

Liam Kirk, 31, finished a 25-hour "Homes Under the Hammerthon" this morning.

He decided to do the challenge after discovering there was a channel dedicated to showing nothing but reruns of the show.

He live-streamed the event and raised more than £1,600 for domestic abuse charity Equation.

Speaking to BBC Radio Nottingham shortly before finishing, he admitted the episodes were becoming a "blur of colour and sound".

"Martin and Lucy's enthusiasm is keeping me going," he added.

Image source, Liam Kirk

They also surprised him by putting him in touch with presenter Martin Roberts.

He said: "Congratulations, you're doing an absolutely brilliant thing."

Navtej Johal
East Midlands Today reporter

Holidaymakers have jetted off from East Midlands Airport today for the first time in months.

Some on the 17.10 to Faro in Portugal, the first flight out of the airport, were seeking sun and sea, while others were looking forward to reuniting with family.

Amy, 20, and her friend Dylan, 21, booked the flight last week.

Dylan said: "I've not been away in two years. I'm excited. I've got no worries, if we're allowed to do it we're allowed to do it."

Debbie, 25, said: "I'm going to see my family for the first time in a year so it feels amazing.

"My daughter was born in Portugal but hasn't been there since.

"I can't believe it."

Portugal is on the government's "green list", which means passengers can now visit without having to isolate when they return.

But before they travel back to England they must:

• take a Covid-19 test , externaland have proof of a negative result
• book and pay for a test for day two after their return, external
• complete a passenger locator form, external

Sonia Kataria
BBC News

It was a special day for many as lockdown restrictions eased across England, including a 90-year-old great-grandmother from Derby.

Edna Walker and three-year-old great-granddaughter Francesca shared hugs after more than a year apart.

Ms Walker said: "Lockdown has been so so hard, missing family times.

"Having little Francesca back in my home is the best gift I could wish for."

Image source, Kelly Richards

Granddaughter Kelly Richards said the "magical moment" with her grandmother and daughter was captured in this "very special photograph".

"[They were] finally reunited after a year apart," Ms Richards said.

"It’s been so hard for my grandmother and it was such a magical moment watching them hug and playing together again."

Sonia Kataria
BBC News

Health bosses in Nottingham have said they have identified a handful of new cases of the Indian variant after targeted testing in the city centre.

More than 2,000 tests will have been carried out on shared accommodation blocks, which began last week and is due to finish tomorrow.

David Johns, interim director of public health in Nottingham, said: "This has helped identify a handful of additional cases so far, who will be supported to isolate and prevent new chains of transmission."

Image source, Google

Mr Johns said testing for the variant of concern also started today at Henry Whipple Primary in the city.

"More than a quarter of pupils and parents were tested on the first morning, which is a great response," he said.

"This will continue throughout the week."

He added: “We will continue to target testing in settings linked to variants of concern in Nottingham but it is important that no-one is alarmed by the need for this testing in our city.

“There is no evidence that this variant poses any greater risk to health."

Further restrictions eased today in England, but the government has warned the Indian variant could delay full relaxation of rules in June.

Three teenage boys, two aged 13 and one aged 16, are arrested and bailed following the man's death.

Pupils wearing caps and hoodies gather outside a school in support of Ella Goodwin on Monday.

Simon Hare
BBC East Midlands

The pandemic cost Derbyshire's visitor economy more than £1bn in lost revenue last year, according to the tourist board.

Research by Marketing Peak District and Derbyshire found businesses suffered a 50% loss of income after England went into lockdown in March 2020.

Managing director Jo Dilley said she hoped a new campaign, external, aimed at promoting short breaks in the area, will help the tourism industry recover.

Lord Edward Manners, owner of The Peacock in Rowsley, Derbyshire, a hotel which reopened today, said: “In the short-term it’s going to be odd with fewer people from abroad and more from the domestic market.

"Hopefully as things settle down it will even out and get back to normal, but from our point of view bookings are solid and we’re looking forward to a really strong summer.”

Alex Regan
BBC News

The easing of restrictions across England means that many can finally hug loved ones after more than a year of social distancing.

Megan Warren, from Ruddington, Nottinghamshire, got to hug her 72-year-old granny, Sue Kirkwood, for the first time in 14 months.

Ms Warren, who turned 20 on Monday, said it was "the best birthday present ever".

"It meant everything - it was such a magical and special moment.

"We were counting down the minutes until we could hug on our WhatsApp group."

Image source, Dawn Warren

Ms Warren's mother Dawn added: "I just had a cry about it. It was very emotional - it was amazing.

"It was great for me too as I haven't been able to hug my mum since March last year."

The shadow health secretary, Jonathan Ashworth, was talking to BBC News when his daughter snuck up behind him.

Alex Regan
BBC News

Syston's anonymous knitter has struck again, this time with a postbox topper to celebrate Leicester City's FA Cup win.

The town's clandestine artist - who's previously been compared to Banksy - has turned silverware into knitware, with a depiction of all 11 players surrounding the FA Cup.

Image source, Syston Town Council

Saturday's victory at Wembley was the first time the Foxes have won the trophy in their 137-year history.

Kathryn Stanczyszyn
BBC Radio WM

Osama and Diana Masfary said they "do feel very safe" with all the Covid checks at Birmingham Airport.

The couple, from Derby, and their one-year-old daughter Gabriella are among the 118 passengers on the first flight to Portugal as lockdown in England eases.

They booked last Sunday and then had to wait until the ban on foreign holidays was lifted.

Then it was "go, get your Covid test and we are here" and the pair said what they wanted from this trip was "sun, beach, sea water, a sun tan, everything."

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

Firefighters have rescued a duckling from a drain in Croft, Leicestershire.

The fire and rescue service was called to Thurlaston Lane by the RSPCA just before 11:30 on Sunday.

Image source, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service

Crews from Hinckley Station used chimney rods to free the duckling. It was then handed to an RSPCA animal welfare officer.

Image source, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service

BBC Weather

It's a fairly cloudy start this morning with scattered showers moving in from the north west.

Some of the showers could turn heavy and thundery this afternoon with a few spells of sunshine between the downpours and highs of about 14C (57F).

The rain will steadily fizzle out through this evening, leaving a mostly dry night with clearer skies in the early hours, a few patches of cloud and lows of about 5C (41F) in rural areas.

Image source, Curly Claire