Amy Harris
Reporter, BBC East Midlands Today

A couple expecting their first baby have criticised the trust that runs hospitals in Leicester for not allowing them to collect and store blood from their baby's umbilical cord

Like a growing number of new parents, Andy and Collette Spooner want to pay a private firm to bank the blood in the hope stem cells from it could cure future illnesses in their family.

But the companies aren't allowed to operate in Leicester - even though they can at hospitals in Nottingham and Derby.

University Hospitals of Leicester Trust runs a scheme where all collected cord blood is donated to the NHS and leukaemia charity Anthony Nolan.

The trust said: "We believe the best clinical approach to using cord stem cells is to pool samples... and for the pooled stem cells to be available to those that need them."

Mr and Mrs Spooner have appealed without success and say they're "frustrated" at the lack of choice.

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

This was the scene in Thomas Drive, Countesthorpe, yesterday afternoon after a Porsche crashed into a house.

Thankfully nobody inside the car or property was hurt.

Image source, Blaby District Council

Maryam Qaiser
BBC News

A 17-year-old girl has been reported missing from her home in Derby.

Derbyshire Police said Sophie Waldram was last seen on 9 January in London Road.

Image source, Derbyshire Police

Sophie was last seen wearing a black padded jacket and she was carrying a black rucksack.

Maryam Qaiser
BBC News

More than 13,000 street lights in Mansfield will be replaced with new energy efficient LEDs from April.

It is part of Nottinghamshire County Council's aim to replace half of their 94,000 lantern-type lights.

So far 37,000 have already been converted, which according to the authority will save £1.5m in energy bills each year.

Image source, Nottinghamshire County Council

A pedestrian suffered serious injuries when he was struck by a car in Derby.

Maryam Qaiser
BBC News

An elderly man was assaulted in his own home when he confronted a burglar in his kitchen.

The 81-year-old was pushed over and cash was stolen from his wallet, Leicestershire Police said.

It happened in Montrose Road South in Eyres Monsell at about 15:30 on 29 December.

Image source, Google

The male offender was described as white, about 30 years old and approximately 5ft 7ins tall.

He was wearing a dark grey woollen hat, a black jacket, jeans and boots.

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

Grey was the most popular colour for people buying new cars in the East Midlands last year, figures have shown.

This went against the national trend, which saw black as the most popular colour choice, with grey second.

The figures, released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, external, showed almost 60% of new cars sold in the UK were either black, grey or white.

Image source, SMMT

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

A shortage of on-call volunteer firefighters is putting a strain on the fire service in Leicestershire and Rutland, bosses have said.

Uppingham is one of the worst affected stations - it currently only has nine on-call firefighters when it should have 19.

Image source, Google

Vince Howard, who helps to organise the scheme for the fire service, has said he hopes a number of 'give-it-a-go days' across the area will encourage more people to get involved.

He said: "They make a huge difference to the community - not only as an individual but in promoting team spirit."

BBC Weather Watchers

It was very misty in the Peak District this morning. Wendy Scott sent us this photo from Stanage Edge.

Image source, Wendy Scott

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

A man and a woman were taken to hospital after a report that they were sprayed with a noxious substance following an altercation in Nuthall.

Nottinghamshire Police were called to Perivale Close at 20:37 on Saturday.

Image source, Google

The man and woman's injuries are not believed to be serious or life-altering. Police say their investigation is ongoing but added their enquiries have established it was not an acid attack.

Maryam Qaiser
BBC News

An energy company set up by Nottingham City Council has lost more than £7.5m in its first full year of trading, according to the annual accounts.

Robin Hood Energy was set up to reduce energy bills for some of the poorest people in Nottingham.

It is understood council taxpayers' money has been ploughed into the company to make up the shortfall.

Image source, Thinkstock

Councillor Steve Battlemuch, who is the chairman of the Robin Hood Energy board, said: "This is what happens when you set up an energy company and any energy company of our similar size is in this situation.

"In fact, we are on course to break even far ahead of our competitors."

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

Temperatures of 0C (32F) are expected in Derby overnight.

Teenagers being taught the effects of misogynistic language say the words have lost their shock value.

BBC Radio 5 live

A school in Nottingham has put misogyny on its curriculum after being shocked by the language that pupils are exposed to.

Nottingham Free School took the steps, that include discussing the language and the impacts it can have, because the problem had become so pervasive.

Image source, Nottingham Free School

BBC 5 live was given exclusive access to speak to the young people, with permission from parents and teachers.

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

This crash looks nasty but thankfully the only injuries were minor. Police said it happened in Oakerthorpe, near Alfreton, last night.

Image source, Derbyshire Police

Maryam Qaiser
BBC News

A man has been charged in connection with a knifepoint robbery in Nottingham.

Police were called to Talbot Street at 01:50 GMT on Friday after a report of a mobile phone being stolen.

Two men were arrested, one in Waverley Street where a Taser was used. The road was then closed for several hours.

A man is due to appear at Nottingham Magistrates' Court charged with robbery and assault with intent to resist arrest.

He has also been charged with obstructing a police officer in the execution of their duty and failing to appear at court.

An 18-year-old man arrested on suspicion of robbery has been released under investigation.

Nottinghamshire Police referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct following the arrest as a man was injured after being Tasered.

An officer was also hurt and was treated for a hand injury.

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

Four rescue teams were involved in an operation to find a walker who went missing in the Peak District yesterday, external.

Kinder Mountain Rescue Team had received a panicked call from the man's family and enlisted the help of Glossop, Edale and Buxton rescue teams for the search.

After almost four hours of looking, the lost walker was eventually located in the Black Ashop Moor area of Kinder and led back to safety.

All seven platforms are open and the car park, toilet facilities and lifts are now available.

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

A man has been charged with attempted murder, external after a pedestrian was hit by a car in Normanton.

Police said a 19-year-old man suffered serious but non life-threatening injuries when he was hit by a Vauxhall Insignia near the junction of Grange Avenue and Village Street at about 22:40 on Friday.

The 25-year-old man, from Spondon, is due to appear before magistrates today.

Image source, Google

A 16-year-old girl and a 25-year-old woman, who were arrested over the weekend in connection with the crash, have been released while investigations continue.

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

Former Derby, Forest and Leicester goalkeeper Peter Shilton has added his voice to the growing number of tributes to Cyrille Regis, whose death was announced this morning.