BBC Radio Derby

Today marks the start of the third annual RHS Chatsworth Flower show, external.

The event runs until Sunday with 50,000 visitors expected to attend across the five days.

Today is members-only, with non-members welcome for the next four days.

Image source, PA

Nick Smith
BBC News Online

A man has been jailed for modern slavery offences after forcing two vulnerable men to work at Sports Direct and paying them just £20 a week.

Police say Denis Paczkowski, 32, of Fulwood Close, Aspley, brought two vulnerable men from Poland with the promise of work at the sports company's base in Shirebrook, but took control of their bank accounts and used the money to fund his and his partner's lifestyle.

He was jailed for three years at Nottingham Crown Court yesterday, after admitting facilitating entry into the country with intent to exploit, making a person perform forced labour and a money laundering charge.

Image source, Nottinghamshire Police

His partner, Sara Dabrowska, 30, of the same address, pleaded guilty to a money laundering charge and was handed a 10 month suspended sentence.

Paczkowski was also made subject to a 10-year Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Order.

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

Four men have been arrested on suspicion of child sexual exploitation after a taxi driver overheard two teenage girls talking about sex, drugs and alcohol as he drove them to a flat in Leicester.

The driver reported concerns after dropping the pair, thought to be about 15 or 16, at an agreed address where they were met by a man who walked inside.

Officers forced their way into the flat after being refused entry and arrested four men on suspicion of arranging or facilitating a commission of a child sex act. They have been released while investigations continue.

Det Insp Jenni Heggs, from Leicestershire Police's child sexual exploitation team, praised the taxi driver for reporting his concerns.

She said: "People who work in these industries are in a unique position to spot the signs of CSE, whether it's a taxi driver who notices all may not be right with passengers in their vehicle, hotel reception staff looking out for unusual bookings or bar staff being alert to a number of indicators and raising the alarm if necessary."

The attack happened near a lake in Chesterfield on Saturday, Derbyshire Police say.

Kit Sandeman
Local Democracy Reporter

Nottingham's trams have recorded their highest reliability rates since 2016, according to a new report.

Nottingham Express Transit (NET), which runs the trams, says the improvement is largely due to a reduction in the number of technical faults.

The latest figures, published by NET, cover February to April this year and show 98.8 percent reliability and 95.9 percent punctuality.

A NET spokesman said: "These positive figures reflect the hard work of everyone at NET to deliver the best possible service to customers.

"Although the majority of reported disruptions are the result of circumstances beyond our control, safety campaigns to reduce avoidable incidents such as road traffic collisions are clearly having a positive impact."

Nick Smith
BBC News Online

Have you seen Aya Gill?

Police are concerned for the 48-year-old's safety after he went missing from the Sneinton area of Nottingham on Tuesday.

He is described as slim, 5ft 9in tall, with black, greying hair and a beard.

Image source, Nottinghamshire Police

Eddie Bisknell
Local Democracy Reporter

Controversial plans to turn the former Birds Bakery in Melbourne into a takeaway have been approved - despite hundreds of objections from residents.

The proposals, submitted by Smart Properties UK, would see the vacant shop in Market Place reopened.

The outlet has been empty for around a year since Birds Bakery moved to a larger unit nearby.

Image source, Google

More than 600 people signed a petition objecting to another takeaway opening in the town but last night members of South Derbyshire District Council's planning committee unanimously approved the plans.

It is not known what type of cuisine the takeaway would sell but it would be allowed to open from 10:00 to 23:00 every day.

Council leader Martyn Ford said he would rather see units used than sitting empty but signage for the new takeaway should be in keeping with the town's conservation area.

However Jim Hewlett, who represents Melbourne ward, said: "The town is quickly turning from being a special place to any town, anywhere."

Nick Smith
BBC News Online

Two men have been arrested after a teenage girl was raped in Chesterfield this weekend.

The attack is believed to have happened between 16:00 and 19:00 on Saturday.

The men arrested, aged 26 and 33, have been released on police bail.

Police are looking to speak to anyone who saw two men and two teenage girls in the Walton Dam area at that time.

Image source, PA

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

Derby train maker Bombardier and Japanese firm Hitachi have released the first image of the train they hope to build for the HS2 high-speed rail-line.

The two companies said their "Great British" train, designed to reach speeds of up to 225mph, would be "the most advanced, customer-oriented train ever to run in the UK".

Bombardier and Hitachi are competing with Alstom Transport, CAF, Patentes Talgo and Siemens for the £2.75bn contract to build and maintain 54 trains.

Image source, Bombardier/Hitachi

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

A cat was lucky to avoid serious injury when he was shot with a crossbow in Leicestershire.

The black cat was discovered in Glenfield with a bow sticking out of his shoulder last month.

The RSPCA said it had not been able to trace the owner of the cat - nicknamed Robin by charity staff - so it will be looking to rehome him.

Image source, RSPCA

Inspector Karl Marston said: “This cat had a very lucky escape - it’s a miracle that no serious damage was done.

"He’d clearly been shot at deliberately with a crossbow and the bolt was lodged in his shoulder and protruding out past his cheek.

"He needed surgery to remove the large arrow and continued treatment to nurse him back to health but he’s now doing really well.”

Image source, RSPCA

Anna Panter did not know her daughter Lydia was a surviving "twin" from what is known as a molar pregnancy.

Notts County will return to the High Court on 10 July after a winding-up petition against them was adjourned for a second time.

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

A flight from Edinburgh to East Midlands Airport was diverted to Manchester this morning after a passenger fell ill.

Flybe apologised to the remaining passengers for disruption caused by the medical emergency.

Aviation news service Airlive, external has shared images of what it says is the flight landing at Manchester Airport.

Image source, Airlive

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

Police say they're concerned for the well-being of a man who's gone missing from South Normanton.

Ross Hawton-Hill was wearing grey jogging bottoms and a beige hoodie when he was last seen at about 13:00 yesterday.

Mr Hawton-Hill has several tattoos, walks with a limp and has connections to Mansfield and Watford.

Image source, Derbyshire Police

The Defence Secretary also revealed the new generation Trident submarines will be called HMS Warspite.

After Warwickshire's slow progress against tight Nottinghamshire bowling on day one and then the loss of most of two sessions on a rain-hit day two, this match is well behind the clock.

But neither coach is giving up yet on a positive result, especially if spin can play a part.

Bears first-team coach Jim Troughton told BBC Coventry & Warwickshire: "If the weather stays fair and we can get two full days cricket, who knows? We've just got to back ourselves. It's about getting as many runs as quickly as we can to put pressure on Nottinghamshire, in a position where we will have time to bring Jeetan Patel into the game and have a real crack at them."

Image source, Getty Images

"Warwickshire have set their stall to try and bat long first innings with a view that the pitch will deteriorate later on," Notts head coach Peter Moores told BBC Radio Nottingham.

"It's a good pitch at the moment and hopefully will stay like that, but it might turn more as the game goes on so we have got to be aware of that."

Leicestershire are facing an uphill battle on Merseyside this morning as, following yesterday's two lost sessions, and given the much-improved weather forecast, they launch their bid to overhaul Division Two leaders Lancashire's first-innings total of 449.

But Foxes fast bowler Chris Wright - who weighed in with two late wickets - is confident that they can respond well.

"It is a slow pitch and not easy to bowl on," he told BBC Radio Leicester. "If you're slightly off line and length it sits up to be hit. If we can play well against the new ball I expect us to get a decent score. But we need to win four or five of the sessions to get something. We certainly feel late in the game it will take some turn so hopefully you will see our spinner Callum Parkinson later on."

Image source, Rex Features

Although Lancashire have rested England Test star Jimmy Anderson this week, and are also without Saq Mahmood at Aigburth, fellow fast bowler Tom Bailey is keen to make his mark with the ball following his 57 with the bat.

"As long as the weather holds, we have the bowlers on this pitch to get 20 wickets," Bailey told BBC Radio Lancashire.

Kit Sandeman
Local Democracy Reporter

Two major buildings in West Bridgford are expected to be sold off.

The police station in Bridgford Road, is currently the borough council's contact centre where people can access council services.

The police say no final decision has been made, but Rushcliffe Borough Council says it has been given notice to vacate the building by August 2020.

Now, the Conservative-run borough council has said it is considering selling the adjacent Lutterell Hall, previously known as West Bridgford Community Hall, at the same time.

Image source, Google

Simon Robinson, Conservative leader of the council, said: "It is important that we consider the implications and to market our own adjacent site at Lutterell Hall.

"The ongoing viability of the hall remains a considerable challenge and during these cost effective times it is vital we consider how we both protect the interests of the community whilst maximising our efficiency."

But Labour's prospective parliamentary candidate for Rushcliffe, Cheryl Pidgeon, said the hall has provided a reliable and affordable location for community groups for over 40 years".

"The plans proposed by Rushcliffe Borough Council could see the loss of this vital provision without any alternatives being put in place to meet the needs of our community."

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

An 87-year-old woman was injured when two thieves forced their way into her home in Nuthall.

The pair had knocked on the door and claimed to be warning her about a nearby burglary before bursting past her and taking cash from a bedroom.

Police said the "despicable" crime happened in Drummond Drive at about 17:50 yesterday, external.

Image source, Google

Det Sgt Charlotte Henson said: "These men spared no thought for the damage, either physical or mental, that they have caused to her, and we need to catch them."

The pair are described as being in their thirties and possibly mixed race or with olive skin.

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

Birds Bakery in Derby has criticised the city council for scheduling work on the A52 slip roads and Ascot Drive at the same time.

The roadworks have caused major traffic delays since the start of the week and the firm said it had led to problems getting deliveries out from its Ascot Drive base.

Image source, Google

Mike Holling, head of retail, said: "More information would have been helpful. The closure of Ascot Drive came to us at very late notice.

"To have two major roads close at this present moment, I think it could have been planned a lot better."

The authority's deputy leader Matthew Holmes said every effort was being made to accelerate the Ascot Drive work to get it finished in about a week rather than the originally scheduled three weeks.