Amy Orton
Local Democracy Reporter

Helping bereaved relatives process a loved one's death is difficult at the best of times, but without being able to give a knowing look or put an arm on a shoulder, a tough job is made even harder.

Arran Brudenell, of Anstey & District Funeral Services, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service about some of the challenges presented by working with those who have lost a loved one to coronavirus and what happens next.

With funerals playing "a big role in remembering people", limits on the number of attendees can mean there's "no formal recognition for the wider circle that people are gone".

Mr Brudenell said the company is "trying to put an arm around people" and respond to the changes, such as by using Skype and Zoom and instant messaging services, while the Local Resilience Forum tasked with dealing with excess deaths has designed and distributed leaflets to families to help them understand what's different and why.

Image source, Getty Images

A plan to close seven care homes is halted after a consultation and the coronavirus outbreak.

BBC Radio Derby

Tens of thousands of people on the streets in cities across the US are calling for racial equality following the death of African-American George Floyd in police custody.

Beth Hawksworth, who moved from Hilton in Derbyshire to Los Angeles with her family 11 years ago, said she demonstrated in California on Sunday.

The 21-year-old said she "wanted to stand with the black community and show my support", and said the experience was "really empowering" and "completely peaceful" with a lot of people getting "their points across".

She said she hopes the protests lead to "a change in the system".

Image source, Getty Images

Liam Barnes
BBC News

A man will appear in court next week in connection with the robbery of an 87-year-old woman outside her home.

Derbyshire Police said they received a report that the woman had two gold necklaces snatched from her neck while she was sat outside her home in Meadow Way, Chellaston.

A 33-year-old from Ilkeston has been charged with robbery and is due to appear at Derby Crown Court on 8 June.

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

Cards are continuing to arrive for Ada Daniel - the Ripley care home resident whose 105th birthday was made extra special by her carers.

An online appeal had led to 185 cards being posted to Mrs Daniel by the time she celebrated her big day on Monday.

Now staff at Codnor Park Care Home say late arriving cards have pushed the total to 210.

Image source, Ashmere Derbyshire

Mrs Daniel, who was born in Ambergate in 1915, has thanked the carers for their efforts and said she had a "lovely" birthday.

Paralympic sprinter Libby Clegg says she can no longer be tethered to her guide runner due to social distancing.

Park officials say the easing of lockdown has led to a rise in people using disposable barbecues.

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

Police say cannabis with a street value of £1.7m has been confiscated during raids in Nottinghamshire over the past month.

Officers found 400 plants at a house in Kirkby-in-Ashfield on Sunday, external, a large grow in Beeston on Monday and another worth an estimated £180,000 in Giltbrook yesterday, external.

Image source, Nottinghamshire Police

It follows the discovery of cannabis plants with a street value of £800,000 at a disused medical centre in Eastwood last month plus two more raids in Huthwaite and Selston.

The force said a number of people had been arrested during the raids and one man had been charged in connection with the grow found in Giltbrook.

BBC Weather Watchers

There's a bit of a change in conditions today with the weather turning cloudy and rainy. Some areas could see quite heavy showers.

Weather Watcher Junee shared this photo of the sun coming up in Great Glen this morning.

Image source, Junee

Reflex Sherwood Packaging calls the death "tragic" and "a sad loss of a valued employee and father".

Alex Regan
BBC News

A 64-year-old man has died after a crash on the M1.

Nottinghamshire Police said a lorry hit the central reservation of the motorway at 11:40 between junctions 25 and 24 southbound near Castle Donington in Leicestershire.

The victim of the crash had been taken to hospital with serious injuries, but died in hospital.

Both carriageways have reopened, although one lane is closed northbound and another two remain shut southbound.

No other vehicles were involved and nobody else was injured.

Image source, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue

Neil Heath
BBC News Online

A police car responding to an emergency call was inolved in a collision with another vehicle.

The crash happened at about 14:40 in Arnold Lane in Gedling, Nottinghamshire.

One of the drivers suffered a minor injury, Nottinghamshire Police said.

The section of road between the junction with Besecar Lane and Lambley Lane, has closed while the cars are recovered.

Image source, Google

Suppliers say people should be "mindful" of the amount of water they are using during lockdown.

Arboretum Primary School in Derby is being deep-cleaned as a precaution.

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

A controlled explosion has been carried out on a suspected World War Two mortar bomb, the discovery of which sparked the evacuation of about 10 homes.

Nottinghamshire Police were called to Walesby Road, Ollerton, Nottinghamshire, at about 13:30 on Monday.

The force said it believes the device, found in a garden, had been there "for some time".

It added residents were allowed to return home yesterday afternoon and the controlled blast was undertaken away from the scene.

Image source, Nottinghamshire Police

Derby County defender Curtis Davies explains what it is like for players navigating training amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Eddie Bisknell
Local Democracy Reporter

An estimated 10,000 people flocked to Dovedale's famous stepping stones over the weekend.

Images shared online also showed large amounts of rubbish left behind by visitors to the attraction on the Derbyshire and Staffordshire border - much of which was gathered by concerned residents.

Accounts from emergency services and photos on social media showed dozens of vehicles parked on both sides of the road on the Derbyshire side of the valley through the village of Thorpe.

This created significant access issues for emergency services, with traffic jams queuing from the village for three miles back to the A515.

Image source, Erwin Van Vroenhoven

Councillor Richard FitzHerbert, who represents the area for Derbyshire Dales District Council, said events at the weekend were "horrible".

He said: "It is a number of contributing factors, the releasing of lockdown, parking and good weather with people rushing to one of the prettiest places in Derbyshire.

"It is a shame that they are contributing to spoiling one of the prettiest places in Derbyshire.

"I really hope it isn't repeated again this week and this weekend. It is often busy but it has never been that busy before and it is all Covid-related.

"Emergency services couldn't get down there - it was crazy."

Shura Prince, manager at The Izaak Walton hotel, close to the stepping stones, said: "It's driving me mad. I couldn't get out of my drive yesterday to take my parents some food."

Image source, Erwin Van Vroenhoven

Neil Heath
BBC News Online

Mountain rescue volunteers said they have seen a "significant rise" in the number of call-outs in the Peak District and further afield following changes in lockdown rules in May.

The Peak District Mountain Rescue Organisation (PDMRO) said its teams were called 37 times from 18 May to 31 May, while there were only eight call-outs in the same period last year.

The PDMRO has put the rise down to announcements made on 10 May, when people were told they were allowed to drive to parks and beaches in England.

Volunteers, in partnership with emergency services, have taken part in five missing vulnerable person searches, attended to walkers with lower leg injuries and "benighted" hikers.

Image source, Peak District Mountain Rescue Organisation

There were also calls about unexploded World War Two bombs, injured mountain bikers and three climbing accidents, including one fatal.

The PDMRO added wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) makes "an already difficult job more challenging".

It has appealed for help from the public and asked people using the Peak District to limit risks, wear the right attire and to take enough provisions.

It has also warned about using barbecues and discarding cigarette ends, to avoid call-outs having to be made.

Image source, Peak District Mountain Rescue Organisation

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

A man has been taken to hospital with serious injuries after a lorry went into the central reservation of the M1.

Emergency services were called to the motorway between junctions 24 and 25 near Castle Donington at about midday.

Image source, Highways England

It is not believed any other vehicles were involved and no-one else has been injured.

Police said they were working to establish the circumstances of the crash and would keep the road closed while this was under way.

Highways England said there were likely to be long delays on roads in the area.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

A "serious accident" has closed the M1 in both directions between junctions 24 and 25.

Emergency services are currently in attendance, while Highways England has advised motorists to "plan for heavy traffic".

Image source, @LFRSC_Donington