Latest updates: East Midlands Live Wednesday 27 February

Summary

Mountain climber Tom Ballard missing in Pakistan
Chris Williamson claims Labour is "too apologetic" over anti-Semitism
Boots jobs at risk in management shake-up
List reveals 10 most polluted roads
Brendan Rodgers watches Foxes beat Brighton
Damning report on mental health services
Updates for Wednesday 27 February 2019

Live Reporting

David Pittam, Amy Woodfield and Gavin Bevis

Man jailed for robbing woman, 88, in city arcadepublished at 16:18 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2019
Amy Woodfield
BBC News
A man who robbed an 88-year-old woman in Nottingham city centre has been jailed for three years and seven months.
Liam Peach, from Sovereign Court in Beeston, was sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court yesterday after pleading guilty to robbery.
Image source, Nottinghamshire Police
Police said the victim was walking through Exchange Arcade in August last year when the 27-year-old grabbed her shopping bag with her purse inside.
She fell to the floor before members of the public came to help her. She wasn’t seriously hurt but she was left very shaken.
Van driver killed in lorry crashpublished at 16:08 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2019
Gavin Bevis
BBC News
A van driver has been killed in a crash with a lorry on the A14 in Leicestershire.
Police said the man, who was in his 50s, died at the scene of the crash on the westbound side near Catthorpe Interchange yesterday afternoon, external.
A passenger in the van was treated for minor injuries. The lorry driver was unhurt.
Image source, Google
Second man arrested over Ibstock attackpublished at 16:07 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2019
Amy Woodfield
BBC News
A second man has been arrested by police investigating a burglary and "vicious attack" on an elderly woman in Ibstock.
It happened on Sunday at a house on Ashby Road. The woman went to investigate a noise upstairs when she found three men had broken in.
Image source, Google
One took her into a room and punched her causing "multiple fractures to her face". The house was also searched but its not known what, if anything, was stolen.
A 28-year-old man was arrested last night on suspicion of theft and burglary.
It follows the arrest of another 28-year-old man suspected of the same offences earlier in the day.
Labour MP demands Williamson suspensionpublished at 15:53 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2019
Gavin Bevis
BBC News
Another of Chris Wiliamson's Labour colleagues has called for his suspension following his comments on anti-Semitism.
The party has said the Derby North MP will be investigated but not suspended.
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On this day: Leicester win League Cup against Tranmerepublished at 15:50 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2019
Nick Smith
BBC News Online
On this day 19 years ago, Leicester City became the last team to win the League Cup at the old Wembley Stadium.
A brace from Matt Elliott was enough to give the Foxes a 2-1 win over Tranmere Rovers.
Image source, PA
A42 diversion following crashpublished at 15:40 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2019
Amy Woodfield
BBC News
There are problems on the A42 in Leicestershire this afternoon after a crash between J11 and J12.
A diversion will take you through Appleby Parva, Twycross and Snarestone.
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Fundraiser attempts to save Derby department storepublished at 15:28 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2019
East Midlands Today
Shoppers are being invited to contribute towards the £500,000 cost of trying to save a Derby department store.
Bennetts went into administration a fortnight ago after almost 300 years.
Young Ideas, which trades from the ground floor of the Irongate building, believes Bennetts can be saved and could be turned into a mini John Lewis.
It's set up a crowdfunding page for people to invest in the company.
Family pay tribute to 'wonderful' 80-year-old crash victimpublished at 15:22 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2019
Gavin Bevis
BBC News
The family of an 80-year-old killed in a crash in Cotmanhay have paid tribute to a "wonderful father and husband".
George Phillis, from Ilkeston, died in hospital yesterday after an Audi A3 and a Honda Civic collided in Skeavingtons Lane on Saturday morning.
Image source, Derbyshire Police/Family photo
His family said in a statement: "We are deeply saddened and upset at the loss of a wonderful father and husband who will be missed."
Derbyshire Police said a 30-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by driving dangerously had been released while investigations continue, external.
Soubry: No alternative to Northern Ireland backstoppublished at 15:22 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2019
BBC Politics
MPs are once again debating Brexit in the House of Commons.
Broxtowe MP Anna Soubry - who left the Conservatives to sit with the Independent Group last week - asked why the government is "only now" looking at alternative arrangements to the Northern Ireland backstop.
She pointed out that the Northern Ireland committee had already done "an enormous amount of work" on this and came to the conclusion that "there are no alternative arrangements".
David Lidington replied that the government has been doing plenty of work on this subject too and said that not only technological but also legal problems needed to be overcome in order to find a solution.
Boots may axe 350 head office postspublished at 15:21 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2019
Bosses said they are looking to reduce costs at its Nottinghamshire support office by 20%.
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'Mystery gas' attack leaves man struggling to breathepublished at 14:34 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2019
Gavin Bevis
BBC News
A man was left struggling to breathe after being sprayed with a mystery gas in Derby, external.
Police said the victim was targeted with the unknown substance in Warner Street at about 19:30 on Sunday 17 February.
His breathing returned to normal but police want to speak to the girls shown in this CCTV image about the attack.
Image source, Derbyshire Police
Murphy: 'We would like Manu to stay'published at 14:06 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2019
BBC Leicester Sport
Leicester Tigers coach Geordan Murphy has said that negotiations between Manu Tuilagi and Racing 92 are ongoing but he would like to keep the centre at Welford Road.
He said: "The club’s position is that we would like Manu to stay, but we simply cannot afford to match the salary demands he will have in France.
"We will put the best package we can on the table and we will speak to his agents over the next couple of weeks."
Tuilagi is currently with the England squad, preparing for next Saturday's Six Nations match against Italy at Twickenham.
Image source, ALLSPORT/Getty Images
Five-mile delays after M1 crashpublished at 14:05 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2019
Amy Woodfield
BBC News
If you're sitting in stationary traffic on the M1 in Nottinghamshire, you might be there for a while.
Image source, Highways England
Highways England is reporting delays of about 30 minutes on the northbound approach to J28 after a crash caused them to close three lanes. Two lanes have since reopened.
There are five miles of congestion with traffic back to J26.
Watch: Javid surprised by PM reaction to Costa amendmentpublished at 14:04 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2019
Gavin Bevis
BBC News
Earlier, Home Secretary Sajid Javid appeared surprised by the suggestion Theresa May did not support Alberto Costa's Brexit amendment on citizens' rights.
The South Leicestershire MP has resigned from his role as an aide in the Scotland Office due to a long-standing convention that parliamentary private secretaries (PPS) do not table amendments to government bills.
Mr Javid said there was nothing wrong with the amendment and it had the government's support.
Leicestershire MP resigns as aide after tabling amendmentpublished at 14:03 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2019
Gavin Bevis
BBC News
Conservative MP Alberto Costa has resigned from his government post over an amendment he tabled on citizens' rights after Brexit.
Downing Street announced that the member for South Leicestershire quit his unpaid role as parliamentary private secretary (PPS) in the Scotland Office today, after tabling the amendment last night.
Image source, UK Parliament
The amendment - which has gained significant cross-party backing - seeks to protect the rights of UK citizens in the EU, and vice versa, regardless of the outcome of negotiations.
A senior Number 10 source told the Press Association the prime minister did not oppose Costa's proposals, but it was the convention that members of the administration should not table amendments to government motions.
Crash blocks three motorway lanespublished at 13:30 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2019
Amy Woodfield
BBC News
Heading north on the M1? You might want to avoid this.
Our traffic service Inrix is reporting the crash involves a lorry, two cars and a motorbike.
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Guardian: No suspension for Chris Williamsonpublished at 13:16 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2019
Gavin Bevis
BBC News
The Guardian newspaper's political editor has just said this...
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Hundreds of jobs at risk in Boots management shake-uppublished at 13:15 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2019
Gavin Bevis
BBC News
Hundreds of jobs are under threat at Boots after the firm announced plans to restructure its head office.
About 800 employees at its Beeston site are being consulted about the direction of the company, with up to 330 jobs at risk.
The firm said it wanted to create "smaller and more agile teams".
It said in a statement: "This transformation will reduce decision-making time and complexity as well as improve efficiency."
Football fans arrested over 'homophobic abuse'published at 12:58 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2019
Amy Woodfield
BBC News
Three men were arrested during Leicester City's home game against Brighton last night following allegations of homophobic abuse.
Image source, Getty Images
Police have said the men, aged 20, 26 and 49 were not charged with the public order offence but have received a ban from their club.
Leicestershire Police said: "Any behaviour of this nature will not be tolerated at the King Power Stadium."
Watson: Williamson still has to gopublished at 12:56 Greenwich Mean Time 27 February 2019
Gavin Bevis
BBC News
Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson has dismissed an apology from Derby North MP Chris Williamson for claiming the party had been "too apologetic" about anti-Semitism.
Watson said in a tweet, external: "Chris Williamson has produced a long-winded and heavily caveated apology. It is not good enough. If it was in my gift I would have removed the whip from him already."
Labour backbencher Yvette Cooper has also said Williamson's apology was "not enough" and called for an immediate suspension.