Latest updates: East Midlands Live Wednesday 20 February

Summary

Broxtowe MP Anna Soubry leaves Conservative Party
Firefighter diagnosed with breast cancer dies
Controversial Leicester Cathedral extension approved
Police appeal after Peak District sheep shot
Coach fire causing delays on A52
Updates for Wednesday 20 February

Live Reporting

Nick Smith, Gavin Bevis and Amy Woodfield

Brendon O'Connor tears hamstringpublished at 14:58 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2019
BBC Leicester Sport
Leicester Tigers have been dealt a blow after coach Geordan Murphy confirmed flanker Brendon O'Connor tore his hamstring.
However, there is good news as Guy Thompson, who has been out since December with a broken hand, is available for selection in this weekend's game against Worcester Warriors.
Will Spencer is also expected to return.
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Police warning ahead of Forest v Derbypublished at 14:57 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2019
Drones and dogs are being deployed by the police to keep an eye on fans attending the Nottingham Forest versus Derby County match.
Police said it was a "fantastic occasion" where passions run high but admitted that a small minority at the "biggest match of the season" sometimes turn violent.
Image source, Nottinghamshire Police
Supt Steve Cartwright said last year a phone charger plug hit a young child in the face and in total nine people were prosecuted for throwing things in the crowd.
This year, on Monday 25 February, they will again be watching fans with cameras and specialist dogs.
Calls for improvements for Lincoln-Nottingham trainspublished at 14:50 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2019
Commuters in Lincoln are calling for improvements on the rail line between Lincoln and Nottingham.
Image source, PA
Up to 80 commuters are regularly forced to stand as there are no free seats on the trains which have only two carriages.
The Department for Transport says there'll be longer trains and more services once the new East Midlands franchise starts in August.
Council tax hikes set to be approvedpublished at 14:33 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2019
Tim Parker
BBC Radio Leicester reporter
Council tax increases in Leicester and Leicestershire are set to be approved this afternoon.
The county council is expected to agree a rise of just under 4% - with the city council considering an increase of just under 3% from April.
The county meeting was scheduled to begin at 14:00 and the city meeting is set for 17:00.
Image source, Google
'Nothing has been done to heal Brexit divide'published at 14:33 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2019
BBC Politics
Anna Soubry has told the media her new political group is aiming to "appeal to everybody" - not just those who voted Remain in the 2016 referendum.
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Magnet fishers pull grenade from canalpublished at 14:18 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2019
A controlled explosion was carried near to where the grenade was discovered.
Read More
'Come and join us' - Soubrypublished at 14:17 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2019
BBC Politics
Anna Soubry has said her decision to quit the Conservatives is not just about about Brexit, but facing the "reality of British politics as it stands today".
"I'm not leaving the Conservative Party, it's left us", she said.
Image source, Getty Images
She said the Tory MPs quitting their party today are "seizing the baton" held out to them yesterday by former Labour MP Chuka Umunna and his colleagues.
"In turn, we hold it out to fellow One Nation Conservatives and like-minded Lib Dems", she said, adding: "please, come and join us".
'Awkward squad' running Tory partypublished at 14:17 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2019
BBC Politics
Anna Soubry has said the Conservative Party "has been very good to me" and she thanked those in the Tory party who helped elect her.
"You don't leave a political party that you've called home for many years" without any thought, she said.
Image source, ITN
The "awkward squad" are now running the Conservative Party "from top to toe," she stated.
Quote Message
The battle is over, the other side has won. The right wing, the hardline anti-EU awkward squad that have destroyed every leader for the last 40 years are now running the Conservative Party from top to toe. They are the Conservative Party.”
Anna Soubry
Drone no-fly zone to be widenedpublished at 14:04 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2019
BBC News
The no-fly zone for drones around airports is to be extended following the disruption at Gatwick in December, the government says.
The new exclusion zone will affect all UK airports, including East Midlands Airport, extending it from 0.6 miles to three miles.
The government also said it wants police to have new stop and search powers to tackle drone misuse.
Image source, Reuters
'Rare' gold coin found in secret drawerpublished at 13:57 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2019
The 14th Century coin was discovered inside one of three hidden drawers in a wooden bureau.
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Date set for rescheduled Rams matchpublished at 13:52 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2019
Amy Woodfield
BBC News
Derby County's Championship fixture against Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium will now take place on Wednesday 1 May with kick-off at 19:45.
Image source, Getty Images
The match was originally scheduled for next month but has been re-arranged due to Swansea’s involvement in the FA Cup Quarter Finals.
'Stab vest'-style jacket withdrawn from salepublished at 13:51 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2019
East Midlands Today
A Nottingham youth worker has persuaded a major fashion chain to stop selling a jacket because it looks like a stab vest.
Damien Henry told the BBC that teenagers could be seriously injured, because they'll try to use the "tactical wear" for protection.
The item was part of a military collection sold by the retailer Footasylum at 10 of its 70 stores for just under £60.
It's now been withdrawn from sale nationally.
Quote Message
This is a highly popular contemporary fashion item that is not intended to bear any relation to violent or criminal activity of any kind. However, in light of the misunderstanding around this product we have taken the decision to withdraw it from sale for the foreseeable future."
Footasylum, Spokesperson
Campaign to restore former theatrepublished at 13:30 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2019
Amy Woodfield
BBC News
The Derby Hippodrome Restoration Trust has begun a fundraising campaign to pay for repairs to the derelict theatre.
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It's hoped £22,500 can be raised to help prepare the project to bid for the funding it needs to eventually restore the building.
Your comments: Soubry joins breakaway grouppublished at 13:16 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2019
Facebook
Lots of our Facebook , externalfollowers have been commenting on the resignation of Broxtowe MP Anna Soubry.
The former Conservative MP is one of three to leave the party to join a breakaway group.
Image source, Reuters
Jonathan Kavanagh said: "Well done for being so brave and standing up for your beliefs instead of putting up with an increasingly right wing Tory Party."
Ryan Andrew Pugh said: "She wasn't happy that the leave has won and she finally spat her dummy out because she couldn't stand not having it her way."
Anthony Harrison said: "All 11 MPs should now call by-elections in their constituencies. They no longer represent the party manifestos they were elected upon."
Attack victim 'found naked from waist down'published at 13:02 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2019
Giles Taylor
BBC East Midlands Today reporter
The jury in the trial of a man accused of the rape and attempted murder of a woman in Leicester last August has heard from the emergency services that were first to the scene.
A police sergeant described finding the victim, who is aged in her 50s, lying on the grass covered in blood, and naked from the waist down.
Meanwhile a paramedic said she was hypothermic, and would not have survived if left for much longer.
Zakarya Etarghi, 24, denies the charges. The trial continues.
Unreturned medical equipment costing millionspublished at 12:58 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2019
East Midlands Today
Millions of pounds of council and NHS cash is being spent in the East Midlands each year because people aren't returning mobility equipment loaned to them.
Image source, Other
Last year £26m was spent on handing out more 500,000 items like crutches and walking frames - only 330,000 were returned.
Police search for missing 13-year-oldpublished at 12:54 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2019
David Pittam
BBC News Online
Police are looking for a 13-year-old who has not been seen since yesterday afternoon.
Thapelo Swain was last seen leaving his home in Littleover, Derby, at around 16:00 and was reported as missing earlier today.
Image source, Derbyshire Constabulary
He is described as black, 5ft 4ins tall, of slim build and with short black hair.
He is believed to be wearing blue jeans, royal blue Adidas trainers, a grey hoodie and a black jacket.
Fundraising mum-of-five dies of cancerpublished at 12:32 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2019
Karen Land was raising £100,000 for immunotherapy treatment when her cancer spread last year.
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Masked attackers in car park armed robberypublished at 12:27 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2019
David Pittam
BBC News Online
Three masked men armed with an air pistol, a machete and a baton attacked a 23-year-old driver in broad daylight, police said.
The victim was approached in his car in a carpark in Kirkby-in-Ashfield yesterday afternoon and punched several times before the robbers took jewellery and an iPhone.
Image source, Google
He was taken to hospital but his injuries are not life-threatening or life-altering.
Armed officers and the police helicopter were scrambled to find them but so far no-one has been arrested.
Who's in the new Independent Group?published at 12:10 Greenwich Mean Time 20 February 2019
Nick Smith
BBC News Online
Here are the 10 MPs sitting as the Independent Group, including Broxtowe's Anna Soubry and Nottingham East's Chris Leslie.
While they're not an official political party, one more defection would bring them level with the Liberal Democrats for number of representatives in the House of Commons.