Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

Twycross Zoo has said it is facing '"extinction" as changes to coronavirus rules mean it has to stay closed indefinitely.

The government has put zoos on a list of venues which cannot reopen despite some other restrictions being relaxed.

Image source, EPA

This comes after Twycross, which costs more than £500,000 a month to maintain, found it was too big to qualify for part of a zoo support fund.

Its CEO, Dr Sharon Redrobe OBE, said: "This decision leaves us fighting for our survival as a conservation charity and zoo.

"Now is not the time to be losing vital contributors, like ourselves, to world conservation and sadly, following this decision, this is now the reality for our zoo."

Liam Barnes
BBC News

Image source, Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service

People have once again been warned to stay away from a disused quarry as emergency services double down on efforts to avoid dangerous situations.

High Peak Borough Council said it is advising people not to go to Hoffman Quarry, near Harpur Hill, and despite authorities dying the usually bright blue water black to deter visitors, hundreds of people continued to flock to the site last weekend.

Police said they issued almost 50 fines for parking offences and seized two vehicles that were "parked dangerously" last weekend.

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service added since the weekend, they have attended two separate grass fires at the quarry.

Image source, Duncg

Group manager Paul Hawker said: "We will continue to explore other ways of deterring visitors to a site that is anything but the idyllic tourist attraction that it has been described as – it now resembles a waste tip with discarded unpleasant rubbish."

High Peak borough councillor Jean Todd added: "The change in the weather will hopefully put people off coming this weekend – and even if that doesn’t, the litter and the mess that has been left behind by previous visitors should hopefully deter them from staying and adding to the problem."

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer fielded questions from people in Nottinghamshire last night as part of a virtual event branded Call Keir.

He faced questions from members of the public on a range of subjects.

It comes after every Parliamentary seat in Nottinghamshire outside of the city was won by the Conservatives.

Asked where Labour went wrong in the last election, Mr Starmer said it was a combination of the leadership, the party's position on Brexit, its "overloaded" manifesto and allegations around anti-Semitism.

"Those are the big ticket items - but obviously some of them have changed," he said.

"We've got a different leader, Leave/Remain is over - we've left the EU - the manifesto for 2024 will inevitably have to be different and I'm absolutely determined to get to grips with anti-Semitism.

"But I don't think dealing with those four things from the last election is going to do it because we've lost four elections in a row so there's something deeper about trust in the Labour Party and that's why I'm doing these listening exercises in communities."

Image source, PA Media

One caller asked how his party would have handled the reopening of schools following the Covid-19 outbreak and was told by Mr Starmer he would have sought to build more of a consensus ahead of bringing pupils back.

He said: "The prime minister should have formed a task force weeks ago with the unions, local authorities and parents groups to agree a course of action everyone could get behind.

"Parents would have had more confidence if they'd been told, 'We've road-tested the plan and we're all happy with it'.

"I think the fact that hasn't happened has been a large source of the anxiety."

The prime minister has previously said the reopening of schools had been handled in a "very cautious and safe way" based on "medical evidence considered by government scientists".

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

Police are investigating a serious assault on a canal path in Long Eaton.

Derbyshire Police said it happened at 17:20 on Thursday near Bennett Street, adding the victim has been taken to hospital with "serious injuries".

Image source, Google

Police had an increased presence in the area overnight while inquiries continued and roads were closed.

Officers would like to hear from anyone with information on the assault.

BBC Radio Leicester

A statue of the late Leicester City chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha has been conditionally approved by Leicester City Council after a consultation.

The authority said it only received one objection during the consultation period, which concluded on Wednesday.

Image source, Getty Images

The tribute is due to be installed in a prominent location near to Raw Dykes Road and Filbert Way at the front of the King Power Stadium.

Mr Vichai and four others died in a helicopter crash outside the stadium in October 2018.

Premiership Rugby hopes to resume the season on 15 August, with no games played since 8 March because of coronavirus.

BBC Weather Watchers

We're expecting a cloudy Friday with occasional showers pushing on a fresh wind that builds through the day.

Weather Watcher Scrappy shared this photo of the clouds in Kegworth early this morning.

Image source, Scrappy

A German man, 43, is being investigated on suspicion of murder over the British girl’s disappearance.

Actor and writer Mark Gatiss talks to BBC Radio 4 PM about the importance of regional theatre.

Alex Regan
BBC News

Image source, LFRS

Drivers slowing down to take pictures of a large lorry fire on Wednesday evening have been criticised by firefighters.

The fire happened on the A42 near Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, between junctions 13 and 14 at 17:34 BST on Wednesday.

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue service said the behaviour was "absolutely unbelievable" and "could cause an accident and at worse death".

Image source, LFRS

The fire was put out by crews from Ashby, Castle Donington and Loughborough.

East Midlands Ambulance Service said nobody was seriously hurt.

A spokesperson reminded drivers: "If caught, you will receive fines and points on your license or possibly a jail sentence."

Alex Regan
BBC News

Black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) people are at an increased risk of catching coronavirus, research conducted by the University of Leicester has shown.

Research also concluded that the BAME community had an increased risk of mortality when they caught Covid-19.

Image source, PA Media

It comes after a review from Public Health England showed people from ethnic minorities were more likely to die from coronavirus.

The university says it is the "first systemic review" of ethnicity and Covid-19.

Dr Manish Pareek said: “We know the vast majority of NHS staff that have died have also been BAME.

"This review sends an important message to the NHS about protecting its vulnerable staff, and the government to make this issue a priority.”

Premiership strugglers Leicester say they must make redundancies in the wake of potential £5.1m losses caused by coronavirus.

After 13 years, the hunt for the missing three year old may be a step closer to a conclusion.

David Pittam
BBC News Online

All trams around Nottingham have stopped because of a problem with the communication between them.

It was first reported shortly before 12:00 and has continued for a number of hours.

Tickets can be used on bus and train routes instead.

Image source, Getty Images

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

A man has been injured in a crash which has closed a section of one of Nottinghamshire's busiest roads.

A car and a van collided at about 14:20 on the A52 in West Bridgford, police said.

The force added the man is being treated by paramedics.

Image source, Google

The road is closed in both directions from its junction with the A606 at Wheatcroft Island to Clifton Bridge.

Diversions have been put in place but drivers have been asked to avoid the area.

Liam Barnes
BBC News

Front-line NHS staff in Derbyshire will be able to be tested to see if they have been exposed to coronavirus.

The Derbyshire Pathology Network said it has "already started to deliver against the detailed plan" after Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced new plans for antibody testing on Tuesday.

The network said it will work with NHS trusts, clinical commissioning groups and other local health organisations to "ensure there is sufficient capacity" for all staff requesting tests to receive them.

Image source, Getty Images

PA Media

A scientific adviser to the government has cast doubt over the effectiveness of a blanket quarantine for visitors to the UK.

Robert Dingwall, a professor at Nottingham Trent University and a member of a sub-group of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), told BBC Radio 4's Today programme there was a "need to get the level in this country significantly further down" to ensure quarantining travellers would be "a useful measure".

He also questioned whether resorts in Europe would be willing to welcome an influx of British visitors if the UK "hasn't fully got this virus under control".

Prof Dingwall made the comments after Home Secretary Priti Patel came under pressure from MPs over the plans, which come into force in England on Monday legally requiring most people arriving in the UK to self-isolate for 14 days.

The quarantine plans were also criticised by the travel industry, who warned mandatory isolation will deter visitors and put jobs at risk.

Image source, Getty Images

Richard Hanson, 66, believes he caught the virus on a holiday to Tenerife.

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

Piles of litter left by visitors to the Chatsworth Estate have prompted an appeal from staff.

Disposable barbecues have "ruined" picnic tables while food and drink containers were left strewn over green areas at Calton Lees.

Image source, chatsworth_park_ranger

Rangers even found a camp fire which had been left burning overnight, risking setting dry grass ablaze.

"We love to see lots of people enjoying the park but please take your rubbish home or use the bins we provide and don't have barbecues or campfires," they said.

Image source, chatsworth_park_ranger

Richard Hanson, who spent 35 days in an induced coma, was discharged on Monday.