Amy Woodfield
BBC News

Happy birthday to Highcross - the shopping centre in Leicester is 10 years old today.

This is the moment the new doors first opened.

It used to be The Shires shopping centre but in 2008 it opened as Highcross Leicester with double the retail space.

It's changed a lot over the years with different shops and restaurants moving in. A new flagship Zara store is due to open this week.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

If you spot an oddly placed yellow bike in Nottinghamshire this might explain why.

Gary Blackburn set up a tank and red telephone boxes in his garden in Germany after the Brexit vote.

Nick Smith
BBC News Online

Roxanne Pallett has stepped down from playing Cinderella at the Pomegranate Theatre in Chesterfield "in order reflect on recent events".

Ms Pallett left the Celebrity Big Brother house on Saturday, following an episode in which she said she was punched by housemate Ryan Thomas.

She has since apologised saying she "overacted". The incident on Big Brother has since received over 11,000 Ofcom complaints.

Image source, Getty Images

Mr Thomas said there was no "malice" in what happened, with some viewers arguing it was merely play-fighting.

A spokeswoman for Paul Holman Associate, producers of the pantomime, said: “Roxanne Pallett has today decided to step down from her upcoming role as Cinderella in Chesterfield, in order to take some time out and reflect on recent events.

“We wish Roxanne the best and will be announcing her replacement in due course.”

Nick Smith
BBC News Online

Councillor Jon Collins, leader of Nottingham City Council has raised more than £5,000 by walking 10 marathons in as many days.

He walked the Pennine Way, from Edale, Derbyshire to Kirk Yetholm, Scotland, which is over 267 miles and usually takes at least three weeks to complete.

Image source, Nottingham City Council

Councillor Collins said: “This challenge was seriously tough – especially trudging through the rain and mud – but it’s also been thoroughly enjoyable and the scenery has been incredible."

He planned to raise £5,340 but has surpassed his target, raising a total of £5,683.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

This NHS document featured at a health meeting in Leicester - unsurprisingly four female councillors complained about the "explanatory" reference to gynaecology.

Councillor Sarah Hill said the reference was "unprofessional" and "demeaning".

More important topics on the agenda were the closure of an intensive care unit at Leicester General Hospital and progress made by emergency and non-emergency hospital transport.

For those left in any doubt about gynaecology, the NHS describes it as being, external "the well-being and health of the female reproductive organs and the ability to reproduce."

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

A convicted burglar has gone on the run from Sudbury open prison, external.

Marcus Wingfield, originally from Ipswich, was midway through a four-and-a-half-year sentence when he failed to return to the prison on Saturday.

Derbyshire Police said the 43-year-old has a number of tattoos, including a smiley face on his lower left arm and the name Kerri-Ann on his left hand.

Image source, Derbyshire Police

Amy Orton
Local Democracy Reporter

Villages across Leicestershire may have to go without Christmas lights because of the cost of licences, according to a councillor.

Brenda Seaton made the claim after Thurmaston Parish Council was told it needs to have all structures used to hang decorations or lights tested - a process that will cost the council £4,000 - before a licence is granted.

She said: “I'm worried that this additional cost on parish councils will ultimately cancel a Christian tradition for all but large villages.

“Another £4,000 would put a real strain on budgets and I don't think it's something we could sustain.”

To erect the seasonal displays in Thurmaston already costs the parish council in the region of £10,000.

A Leicestershire County Council spokesman said: “It is standard practice for county councils to ask for applicants to ensure the structural integrity and electrical safety of any equipment that is to be installed on or above the highway, so that risks to members of the public are kept to a minimum.”

BBC Radio Nottingham

A performance at the Nottingham Playhouse came to a grinding halt last night when parts of the moving set got stuck.

Image source, Nottingham Playhouse Theatre Company

The sliding scenery refused to budge during Sweet Charity, prompting the show to be stopped while staff fixed it.

The show resumed after about 20 minutes, according to a member of the audience.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

A man, believed to have been armed with a weapon, allegedly verbally abused a man in Nottingham.

Image source, Google

Police said a man got out of a car on Alfreton Road, Bobbers Mill, and made threats to the victim before getting back into the car, which then drove off.

It happened at about 17:30 yesterday. The car was then spotted and followed by officers on the A610 early this morning.

Three men, aged 18, 33 and 35, have been arrested and remain in custody.

Police are appealing for dashcam footage.

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

A woman suffered an eye injury when a plastic bag was allegedly shaken in her face, external in Nottingham city centre.

Image source, Nottinghamshire Police

The woman said she was attacked by a man who approached her in Peel Street at about 11:20 on Tuesday 21 August.

Nottinghamshire Police have released a photo of a person they want to speak to about the assault.

Nick Smith
BBC News Online

A Jewish woman who escaped the Nazis has praised a Nottinghamshire town for taking in more Syrian refugees.

Mansfield District Council has agreed to accept up to £280,000 of government money to help settle more Syrian families, with two arriving this month.

Eve Leadbeater, 87, who settled in Gedling after escaping Nazi-controlled Czechoslovakia on the Kindertransport in 1939, believes any worries about welcoming refugees are unfounded.

“When I stopped teaching I volunteered to teach English to Pakistanis and made friends with one particular family," she said.

“They were lovely, generous. And if the Syrians are like that then they’ve got nothing at all to worry about.”

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

Police have named a man who died in a crash near the Twinlakes theme park in Melton Mowbray.

Kristian William Stobart, 37, from Hose, was driving a Fiat Punto when it hit a tree in Melton Spinney Road.

The car was discovered in a field at about 07:50 on 24 August but police said the crash may have happened several hours earlier., external.

Image source, Google

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

People are being asked to have their say on £225m of planned upgrades to the A38 in Derby this week.

Highways England wants to replace the Kingsway, Markeaton and Little Eaton roundabouts with two underpasses and a flyover respectively.

Image source, Google

It claims the project will separate long distance traffic - those travelling between Birmingham and the M1 - from those making local journeys.

The consultation is the next step in the planning process and will run from Friday 7 September until Thursday 18 October.

Twitter

We've had some reaction on Twitter , externalto our story about the noise coming from a new waste treatment plant in Sinfin.

@Jim__11 said: "Horrendous smell aswell. This is making me move out of Derby. Absolute disgrace feel sorry for the people who live closer to it must be poisoning there bodies everyday."

@jat60 said: "Whoever thought recycling plants should be built in residential areas was very mistaken. Such facilities must be built in industrial areas, under their own classification."

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

An increase in vandalism at Kirby Muxloe Castle has led to English Heritage to close some of the grounds over the coming months.

Image source, Google

English Heritage said over the past few months the castle has been broken into twice. There has also been littering and a portaloo was thrown into the moat causing chemical contamination.

Image source, English Heritage

Matt Bulford from English Heritage has said: “The remains of this fortified mansion are now closed for the season, but because of the anti-social behaviour, we unfortunately have had to take the decision to also temporarily close the pedestrian gate to stop people accessing the wider site.

"English Heritage is working closely with local residents and the police to tackle these issues.”

Ben Truslove
BBC News Online

This is the crash which closed the A515 at Buxton earlier this morning. Two people were taken to hospital with minor injuries.

It has now reopened.

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

Police are investigating after an attempt to steal a cash box from a security worker at Sainsbury's in Hamilton, Leicester, this morning.

It happened at about 06:30 but the raider left empty-handed.

The force has asked anyone who witnessed the incident or saw the suspect to call 101.

Image source, Google

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

A new waste treatment plant in Derby is attracting criticism for a constant loud noise, which is disturbing local people.

Nearby residents have said it's "ruining their lives". Here's what it sounds like.

Barbara Blackwell said: "This week has been quite horrendous - day time and in the evenings.

"Probably about 01:15 in the morning it was waking me up so I used to come downstairs, potter around, and then it got to a stage where it was going three hours at a time before I'd even contemplated going back to bed and then it was earplugs."

Image source, alan.thomas

It's not only the sound that's been causing a problem - there have been complaints about a compost-like smell plaguing the area too.

The plant isn't fully open yet - the city council said it'll start fully functioning by the end of the year.

The company that runs it has told the BBC: "RRS is aware of complaints regarding noise in the Sinfin Lane area. We are investigating the matter and are undertaking associated noise monitoring tests."

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

Plastic trays used at security checkpoints have been found to harbour the highest levels of viruses at airports, researchers have said.

Academics from the University of Nottingham worked with Finnish health experts to swab a variety of surfaces at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport in winter 2016.

They found evidence of viruses on 10% of surfaces tested and most commonly on the plastic trays that are circulated along the passenger queue at the hand luggage X-ray checkpoint.

Viruses were also found on shop payment terminals, staircase rails, passport checking counters, children’s play areas and in the air.

Image source, Getty Images

The most common virus found in the survey was rhinovirus, which causes the common cold but the swabs also picked up the influenza A virus.

Jonathan Van Tam, from the university’s School of Medicine, said: “This study supports the case for improved public awareness of how viral infections spread.

"People can help to minimise contagion by hygienic hand washing and coughing into a handkerchief, tissue or sleeve at all times but especially in public places.

"These simple precautions can help prevent pandemics and are most important in crowded areas like airports that have a high volume of people."