Liam Barnes
BBC News

A man has been charged after four police officers were assaulted and spat at in the street.

Nottinghamshire Police said a community support officer (CPO) was surrounded by a group of men who "became aggressive and argumentative towards him" at about 09:30 on Meadows Way in Nottingham on Wednesday.

After one of the groups spat at the CPO, officers were called in, a force spokesman said, and when the suspect was being arrested he bit one officer on the leg, scratched the hand of another and spat at a third.

A 37-year-old man, from Nottingham, has been charged with assaulting an emergency worker, and has been remanded in custody ahead of an appearance at Nottingham Magistrates' Court next week.

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

A pregnant mother is asking people not to come to a Derbyshire beauty spot because "it's not safe, the town is just too little".

Annie Bryan is 20 weeks pregnant and lives in Matlock Bath, which has already struggled with crowds defying coronavirus lockdown rules during fine weather.

Image source, Annie Bryan

With sun forecast at the weekend, coupled with relaxed travel guidance from the government, many residents fear an influx of visitors.

Ms Bryan said: "Many residents, including me, just don't want to go out because the pavements are full.

"Matlock Bath is still closed, if you want to go out, go somewhere with wide open spaces or risk the virus coming back."

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

The Peak District National Park Authority has reiterated its message to visitors to try and avoid the beauty spot this weekend, asking for "crucial breathing space".

The authority, which runs the park, said while government guidance had changed and open spaces were opening back up again, they asked for people to "think carefully before taking a journey into the area".

Many facilities such as toilets, visitor and information centres, cycle hire and hospitality businesses remain closed, while some car parks have reopened.

Image source, Getty Images

A spokesman from the authority said: "There are simple steps, external that those who do choose to travel can take... this includes social distancing, considering local communities and careful car parking.

"These small actions can make a big difference to those who live and work in the area."

The organisation advised visitors to use contactless card payments at car parks and to bring their own hand sanitiser during their visit.

Surgery was cancelled owing to bed shortages and the risk he faced from the virus, his family said.

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

The chief executive of University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust has admitted he is worried about lockdown restrictions being eased.

There have been more than 430 coronavirus deaths in the trust's hospitals, which is one of the highest figures outside of London.

Gavin Boyle warned despite a fall in infections, "we are not out of the woods yet".

He said: "People following the guidelines for social distancing and hand washing are still really, really important.

"My message to people is, 'Don't let your guard down'."

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

The landlord of the Tipsy Toad in Matlock, Derbyshire, has said it was "completely overwhelming" that people have donated money for him to replace his motorbike after it was stolen earlier this month.

Ben Bowler's Lexmoto bike was taken on 8 May while it was chained up on a main road.

But friends and customers soon pulled together to raise more than £4,000.

"I cried like a little girl," Mr Bowler said. "It's just unbelievable."

Image source, Ben Bowler

The theft was reported to police and the bike was later found damaged and dumped in a ditch in Stoke-on-Trent with its battery and licence plates removed.

"It was my first bike as well and I only had it for three weeks," Mr Bowler added.

"You speak to a lot of people in this job and being a small village, everyone knows you. It is amazing to know that everyone wants to help you."

He said some of the money would go towards a new bike and the rest would be donated to charity.

Image source, Leigh Pugh

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

The Royal Derby Hospital says there has been a sharp rise in the number of children suffering burns and scalds since the lockdown started.

A total of 66 children were brought to A&E with burn injuries in April - a 150% increase on the previous month.

Dr Ian Lewins, consultant paediatrician at the hospital, said the rise could be down to the fact that children are spending more time at home.

He said: "At the moment, we're seeing around five to six children each day with burns and scalds. Typically, these are happening as children are grabbing hot drinks or putting their hands on stoves or ovens that have recently been used.

"There are some very simple steps to take if your child does burn themselves that will really help, like putting the burned area under cold, running water for at least 20 minutes, rather than still water in a sink or a bath."

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

More than £800 has been raised to help a bird sanctuary in Eastwood after several rescue birds escaped from Guardian Angels Bird Sanctuary.

Rebecca Blagg, who runs the charity at her home, suspects they got out through one of several holes that had been deliberately cut in the wire of their aviary.

Image source, Guardian Angels Bird Sanctuary

She noticed four "perfectly square" holes in the cage on Wednesday evening.

A ring-necked parakeet, a Senegal parrot and a rosella are known to have escaped and are yet to return.

Mrs Blagg believes the aviary was vandalised by someone wanting to steal a bird or in protest over the noise they make.

Image source, Guardian Angels Bird Sanctuary

She said she was "absolutely devastated" by what happened and has been left unable to sleep.

Like many charities, their fundraising activities have been cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak so her son set up a Facebook fundraiser.

Mrs Blagg said the money donated to them is "amazing" and has allowed them to get started with installing CCTV and extra strength wire.

Nottinghamshire Police confirmed it is investigating the break-in, thought to have occurred between 23:25 on Monday and 23:25 the following day.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

A Leicestershire maze, which usually attracts thousands of visitors during the summer, will not open this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Wistow Maze would normally open in July until September.

However, its three miles of pathways are only 1.5m wide, making it impossible for visitors to comply with the recommended social distancing measures.

Diana Brooks, the owner of Wistow Maze, said: "We had to make the decision now, as a maze design needs to be created with all the associated expenditure that goes with it."

PA Media

JCB says up to 950 jobs are at risk of redundancy at its 10 UK plants - including one in Derbyshire - after demand for its machines fell by half as a result of the Covid-19 crisis.

The company said a 45-day consultation on a planned shake-up of its operations would start on Monday.

Graeme Macdonald said the firm, which employs 6,700 staff nationally, "had no choice but to take difficult decisions to adapt to this new economic reality".

He said: "In 2020 we had planned to sell and produce over 100,000 machines. With so much global uncertainty, that figure right now is looking more like 50,000 machines."

About 500 Guidant agency employees, who work at JCB's UK sites, are also being released from the business.

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

Queues are expected at one of Leicester's waste recycling sites as it reopens to the public next week.

The site at Gypsum Close, off Troon Way, will open on Wednesday with reduced opening hours of Wednesday to Sunday, between 09:00 and 17:00.

People planning to take a tip trip are being told to "prepare to queue" and "think very carefully about whether they need to go there".

Image source, Leicester City Council

Leicester deputy city mayor, councillor Adam Clarke, said: "At this point, you should only visit recycling centres to take waste that can't be stored safely at home."

He said staff would ensure social distancing is maintained and stay two metres away from visitors, and advised residents not to bring "excessive amounts of waste".

"People should only bring what they can carry, as staff will not be able to help carry waste," he added.

Eddie Bisknell
Local Democracy Reporter

Hundreds of temporary workers at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust hospitals have been left feeling "overlooked and disregarded" during the coronavirus outbreak.

The trust uses more than 500 "bank" staff, who fill vacant shifts but have no guarantee of hours.

But the pandemic has seen hundreds of retired staff return - along with other employees being up-skilled - which had filled many gaps.

Some bank staff said they had dropped from having 30 hours plus of work a week to zero.

In a board meeting on Tuesday, the trust said a "detailed review" of the bank had been launched to make use of their "critical skills".

Julie Skentelbery
BBC Radio Cornwall

A kayaker who drove to Cornwall from Leicester sparked a major rescue operation on Thursday when he got into trouble off Poldhu.

James Instance from Falmouth Coastguard describes what happened.

St John Ambulance volunteer Mary Strutt found herself helping Covid-19 patients on the front line.

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

A man has been arrested in connection with a reported firearm discharge in Nottingham.

Police said they received reports of shots being fired at a property in Egerton Walk, St Ann's, at about 13:00 on 2 May.

Image source, Google

No-one was injured during the incident.

The 20-year-old suspect was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

Appealing for witnesses, detectives said they are particularly keen to hear about a motorcycle leaving the area towards Woodborough Road at the time.

BBC Weather Watchers

A largely sunny day is in store, with temperatures rising slightly to an expected maximum of 15C across the region.

Today's BBC Weather Watchers picture comes from user Over the garden wall in Matlock.

Image source, Over the garden wall

The men pulled the 4.5-tonne ambulance 1,948 metres to mark the year the NHS started.

A group representing sex workers says they have to choose between earning and risking their health.

Age UK says the situation in care homes across the country is "a scandal behind closed doors".

King's Mill Hospital has improved its rating to the highest available.