BBC Leicester Sport

Leicester City need to find a "clinical edge", according to manager Claude Puel.

Speaking at the King Power Stadium this afternoon ahead of Saturday's home Premier League clash against Crystal Palace, Puel said: "We’ve had a lot of chances in our games against contenders for the league.

"We need more end product and to find our clinical edge.

Image source, ALLSPORT/Getty Images

"The players need strong support. We have frustrations, like our fans.

"I’m confident, I’ve seen a lot of improvement in my players."

Puel confirmed there are doubts over the fitness of James Maddison and Ben Chilwell, but Nampalys Mendy is fit.

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We've had several comments on Facebook, external about Derbyshire County Council spending more than £218,000 on award ceremonies over the past three years.

The figures were revealed after a Freedom of Information request by the TaxPayers' Alliance (TPA).

The UK total for the three-year period was £6.5m, according to the report.

Rosemary Myers said: "Don't knock this council. I have relatives in other areas and believe me DCC are... amazing compared to neighbouring authorities."

Jesse Grant wrote: "Over three years, that's not too bad I guess, having been to one of these award ceremonies in the past I can see why they cost so much to do especially a few times or at least once a year."

Andy Blount said: "Another waste of our money."

Andy Neal denies the claims and made an emotional appeal to be released from prison.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

Major plans to build a "student village" at the University of Leicester will come under the spotlight later at a public meeting.

Image source, University of Leicester

If approved, the Freemen's Common Student Village will include include residences for around 1,200 students.

There will also be a new 550-space multi-storey car park and a new four-storey teaching and learning centre.

The Grade II-listed Freemen’s Cottages will also be refurbishment and extended.

Image source, University of Leicester

The University of Leicester insists the community will benefit, but local residents are concerned.

Ian Brown from the Friends of Clarendon Park group said: "There will be an impact on the visual aspect, the sheer size and scale of the development.

"Also it's going to introduce quite an amount of traffic and congestion."

Nick Smith
BBC News Online

A Nottinghamshire police officer is due to appear in court charged with assault by beating.

The charge follows an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) looking at the use of force against a man who was detained in Caxton Road, Nottingham, on 13 July last year.

PC Matthew Thompson is due to appear at Leicester Magistrates' Court tomorrow morning.

Image source, Google

Hannah Meredith
Journalist, BBC East Midlands Today

Is spring on the way already?

At Hopton Hall in Derbyshire, visitors are enjoying a dazzling display of snowdrops following recent warm weather.

They're spread over five acres of woodland at the historic hall, which dates back to the 1400s.

East Midlands Today

The parents of a man from Nottingham, who's being detained in the United Arab Emirates after being accused of drug dealing, have told the BBC they're frightened for him.

Image source, Detained in Dubai

Andy Neal, a former soldier, was arrested in Dubai over four months ago.

His parents claim their son is innocent and has been beaten by police and forced to sign a confession. They're also angry at a lack of support from the Foreign Office.

Maurice Neal said: "We fear more now for Andrew's safety then we ever did when he was in a war zone in his 24 years of army service."

The 44-year-old moved to Dubai with his wife and two young children in 2015. He runs a dog training business and his wife is a teacher.

David Pittam
BBC News Online

A West Bridgford teenager has pleaded guilty to driving offences after a bus crashed into a house.

Brett Woodhouse, 18, of Loughborough Road, admitted he had been driving a car which hit a Trentbarton bus carrying 14 people in Radcliffe on Trent.

It happened late at night on Saturday 26 January.

He pleaded guilty to the charges of failing to stop for the police, driving without insurance or a licence and failing to stop after the crash, in which he damaged the bus and injured a woman.

He will be sentenced at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on 1 March.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

Three Leicester Tigers players have been named in the starting side for England's Six Nations clash with Wales - Ben Youngs, Manu Tuilagi and Jonny May.

Image source, Getty Images

Their team mates Ellis Genge and George Ford are also on the team sheet for the match in Cardiff on Saturday but start on the bench.

BBC Radio Nottingham

Nottinghamshire batsman Alex Hales has been named in the England T20 squad for the series against the West Indies.

The series will be played from 5-10 March in St Lucia and St Kitts and Nevis.

Image source, ALLSPORT/Getty Images

Nick Smith
BBC News Online

An air ambulance charity has opened its first superstore today.

Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance opened their new shop and café, The Hanger, this morning.

Housed in a former supermarket in Somercotes, it will sell clothing, furniture and white goods, to support their work.

Emma Peake, the charity's deputy chief executive, said: "It’s quite nice standing back and taking it all in.

"I feel really, really proud and it looks amazing."

Image source, WNDLR Air Ambulance

BBC Radio Leicester

Leicestershire Search and Rescue is training a new service dog for its team of volunteers.

BBC Radio Leicester was out today seeing how one of the service's new recruits, Geddy, is getting along.

The number of service dogs has increased from one to four in the past couple of years and search planner John Birnie explained why the new dogs are so important.

He said: "They greatly enhance our ability to search big areas quickly.

"We have foot teams and bike teams but the dogs give us a much greater capacity to search bigger areas."

Police said the driver posted the video on Facebook, which was later picked up by officers.

The father of a man who was "executed by a brutal shooting" says he will not rest until justice is done.

Leicester Mercury

Leicester City's on loan Croatian defender wants to prove himself in the Premier League after his return from Celtic.

The centre back, on loan at the Scottish champions, sees the Premier League as the next challenge for him to overcome in his career, the Leicester Mercury have reported, external.

Benkovic said: “I want to make another step at the end of the season.

"I want to show that I can play in the English Premier League."

Image source, ALLSPORT/Getty Images

Nick Smith
BBC News Online

Trains running between the East Midlands and London are being delayed for up to an hour because of emergency repairs.

East Midlands Trains is having to run at severely reduced speeds around Cricklewood, where "urgent" repairs are being carried out.

Passenger travelling northbound are being advised to go from Euston and change at Birmingham.

BBC Nottingham Sport

Mansfield Town manager David Flitcroft has said Hayden White has "had a complication" with surgery on a leg break he suffered against Colchester United last month.

Nick Smith
BBC News Online

Two boys have been arrested on suspicion of stealing a motorbike.

The 14-year-olds were arrested on 19 February in the Alvaston area of Derby.

The bike (pictured) was stolen from outside a house on Airedale Walk at about 22:00 on Sunday. It has now been returned to its owner.

The boys have been released under investigation.

Image source, Derbyshire Police

Nick Smith
BBC News Online

Two lanes on the M1 southbound were closed overnight following a crash which left debris strewn across the road.

The crash happened at around 00:00 today between Junctions 21 and 20.

The road was reopened at 04:40, following clean-up and repair work.

It is not known if there were any injuries.

Image source, Highways England

Nick Smith
BBC News Online

Former Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez turns 28 today.

The enigmatic attacker spent four-and-a-half seasons at the King Power before moving to Manchester City in the summer in a record transfer deal for both clubs.

Image source, Reuters