Liam Barnes
BBC News

Image source, Leicestershire Wildlife Hospital

Leicestershire Wildlife Hospital has said it is "extremely saddened" after a badger cub was stolen.

The site in Kibworth Beauchamp in the county was targeted on Monday evening, and the hospital is appealing for anyone with information to get in touch.

"We would like to ask if anybody had seen anyone in the area (particularly Mill Lane in Kibworth) on or around that night that was acting suspiciously or carrying any equipment, to please let us know," a spokesman said.

"In particular, we know that wire cutters were used to get into the enclosure."

Image source, Leicestershire Wildlife Hospital

BBC Weather Watchers

Friday will be slightly cooler and less sunny than the rest of the week, with top temperatures of about 24C.

Today's BBC Weather Watchers picture comes from Smiley Sue in Chellaston.

Image source, Smiley Sue

Usman Patel suffered multiple stab wounds when he was attacked at the weekend.

Durham break records while Essex, Glamorgan, Leicestershire and Surrey also start the One-Day Cup campaign with wins.

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

Bassetlaw in Nottinghamshire has seen a sharp rise in Covid cases in the last week.

The region recorded 896 positive cases per 100,000 people in the week to 18 July.

This is up from the rate of 435 per 100,000 in the previous week - a 106% increase.

Image source, Getty Images

The area now has the 13th highest rate of cases in England.

Redcar and Cleveland has the highest rate of 1,547 per 100,000 people.

Leicester City manager Jonathan Morgan signs a new contract with the Women's Super League club.

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

A man has been arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm after three people were found with serious injuries in Leicester.

Officers were called to Ryder Road, in the New Parks area, at about 23:00 on Wednesday.

Image source, Google

The injured men were taken Leicester Royal Infirmary for treatment.

A 42-year-old man, who is from Leicester, remains in custody.

Officers remain at the scene and they have appealed for information about two men on quad bikes who were seen in the area.

Owner Shannon Surch says Bo the snake broke through a vent and escaped via an open window.

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

An investigation has begun after a car flipped on to its side, seriously injuring the driver, on a Nottinghamshire road.

Residents close to Great North Road, Weston, heard the crash at about 19:20 on Wednesday.

The road was closed until 10:00 this morning while police carried out inquiries.

Image source, Google

The driver is in a serious but stable condition in hospital.

Sgt Craig Luckett said: "We are currently working to establish how this incident came to happen and are appealing to anyone who may have any information that could help.

"If you were passing the area around the time it happened and saw anything suspicious on the roads or if you have dashcam footage, we'd be really keen to hear from you."

Alex Smith
BBC News Online

A woman has died after a two-car crash in Leicester earlier this month.

Leicestershire Police said the collision involving a Volkswagen Golf R and a Nissan Micra occurred on Hinckley Road near the roundabout with New Parks Way at about 11:30 on 3 July.

The 23-year-old woman was taken to the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham but died from her injuries.

Image source, Google

Three men, 18, 20 and 25, have been arrested over the crash.

The 18-year-old and 20-year-old have been bailed, while the 25-year-old has been released under investigation.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Nottinghamshire will have its own day of celebration next month after the county council approved plans for a new event.

The first annual Nottinghamshire Day will take place on 25 August as part of the authority's bid to boost tourism.

The Nottinghamshire flag will be flown at a ceremony at County Hall on the first celebration day.

Councillor Ben Bradley MP, Conservative leader of the authority - who brought the plans forward - said: "It's an opportunity to celebrate all that is good about our county, but in a practical sense it's a good exercise in marketing and tourism.

"It's right that we should be proud of our unique history, of the stories we can tell from Robin Hood to the Civil War, to the Pilgrim Fathers, and of course the incredible assets we have now."

The council said street parties would be considered for next year's event.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

A 25-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of cultivating cannabis after police seized about 275 plants from a house in Nottingham.

Officers raided the property on Charlbury Road in Wollaton at 07:30 on Wednesday.

Image source, Nottinghamshire Police

The plants, thought to be worth between £200,000 and £300,000, have since been destroyed.

Police said the suspect was also being sought by immigration officers after absconding following a failed asylum attempt.

Sgt Tracey Perkins, from Nottinghamshire Police, said the cannabis set-up bypassed an electricity meter and showed signs of burning.

She said it was a fire hazard that could have "endangered a number of lives".

Image source, Nottinghamshire Police

This was the second cannabis farm in the city to be shut down this week.

Officers responding to concerns about a strong smell went to a home on Denewood Crescent, Bilborough, and found about 200 cannabis plants across four areas.

No-one was found inside and inquiries are ongoing.

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

Garden waste collections have been suspended by Derby City Council due to a high number of staff needing to self-isolate.

The authority said brown bin collections were stopped on 13 July but would resume on 27 July.

Meanwhile, Erewash Borough Council has also suspended garden waste collections for the rest of this week for the same reason.

The authority said it had also been affected by a national shortage of HGV drivers and was prioritising general waste collections.

It said collections missed this week would not be picked up until the next scheduled collection date.

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

An 18-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder after a pedestrian was hit by a car.

The 19-year-old victim is in a serious condition in hospital after being struck in Mercian Way, close to the junction with Abbey Street, Derby, at about 22:00 on Monday.

Derbyshire Police said the suspect, who has not been named but comes from Burton, had been remanded in custody and will appear at Derby Crown Court on 18 August.

Image source, Google

The force says it is keen to talk to two witnesses who are believed to have seen parts of the collision.

The first is the driver of a white van that was stopped at the traffic lights at the junction of Mercian Way and Abbey Street at the time.

The second is a pedestrian, who is believed to have witnessed an altercation between a group of men before walking off in the direction of Monk Street.

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

A man has been charged with the sexual assault of a teenage girl in Nottingham.

The attack took place on Maid Marian Way, near the junction with Friar Lane, at about 20:15 on Tuesday.

Police said a suspect was arrested nearby about 15 minutes later.

Image source, Google

A 52-year-old man, of no fixed address, has been remanded into custody and will appear at Nottingham Magistrates' Court later.

Det Sgt Lloyd Goucher said: "Sexual assaults can have a lasting impact on victims and are treated with the utmost seriousness by Nottinghamshire Police.

"I am pleased we have been able to bring a charge so quickly in this case and our investigation continues."

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

A 22-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder following a stabbing in Leicester.

Officers were called to a fight in Belgrave Gate at 04:20 on Tuesday where a 21-year-old man was found with stab wounds.

He remains in hospital in a serious condition.

Image source, Google

The suspect, from Coventry, has also been charged with possession of a bladed article and possession of cannabis.

He has been remanded into custody and will appear at Leicester Magistrates' Court later.

Three other men arrested in connection with the incident have been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

BBC Weather Watchers

More sunshine is on the way today, with slight winds and temperatures reaching a high of 29C in some places.

Today's BBC Weather Watchers picture comes from Curly Claire in Holme Pierrepont.

Image source, Curly Claire

Six people have now been arrested in connection with the death of Usman Patel in Leicester.

Eddie Bisknell
Local Democracy Reporter

A Derbyshire council has unsuccessfully called on the military and fire service to help it collect bins, documents show.

Derbyshire Dales District Council has dubbed the situation an “emergency” which is “deteriorating daily”.

Driver vacancies, self-isolation, Brexit, lockdown blocking driver training and the cost of salaries have all been put forward to explain the problems with the service, which is run by private company Serco.

Image source, Getty Images

Serco says it needs 30 bin collection staff to maintain the service and allow for holiday and sick cover.

However, it currently has just 17 staff to carry out its duties, as of 19 July, the council says.

Many households have faced piled up stacks of recycling and overflowing bins due to missed collections.

A report to the council says: “The council have also recently requested support from Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service and even the military, who so far have been unable to provide the required support."

It is hoped Serco and the council sharing the cost of a pay rise and suspending garden waste collections could help reduce the backlog.

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

New talks have lead to "very positive progress" over a bypass plan which had seemed deadlocked.

After being discussed for decades, a new £50m relief road in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, was finally given the go-ahead in 2018.

But last month a row between two councils over funding had put the project - including £15m of government funding - in doubt.

Particular disagreements centred over getting money from the developers building houses on the route.

Melton MP Alicia Kearns said both Melton borough and Leicestershire county councils have "decided to come together".

"Many, many hours of negotiation dialog has gone into it," she said.

"They've decided they could work together and they could make it happen."

Joe Orson, Melton Borough Council leader, said: "Given where things were a month ago, this represents very positive progress and whilst more work is required, by working in partnership we can ensure the funding is secured and the road is delivered."

The deal involves the borough council taking on more financial risk and getting additional safeguards over developer contributions.

Both councils still need to formally approve the new terms and final funding for the road is yet to be fixed but a decision is expected in September.