Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

A 60-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder after a stabbing in Nottinghamshire.

Police were called to Plumb Road, Hucknall, on Thursday morning.

Image source, Google

A 37-year-old man was found to have suffered a stab wound to the stomach but the injuries were not life-threatening.

The suspect, who is from the area, was arrested at the scene and is due to appear at Mansfield Magistrates' Court.

Sonia Kataria
BBC News

Charlotte Foy, who owns The White Horse, in Birstall - which is no longer in the lockdown area - said she was "thrilled" her pub could now reopen.

"We're thrilled with the announcement, but feel very sorry for the rest of Leicester and Oadby and Wigston," she said.

Image source, Google

Ms Foy said they were preparing to reopen on 4 July - the day pubs and restaurants were allowed to open across the rest of England - but was forced to remain shut.

"We've got beer still fresh and ready to go," she said. "I'm glad we did that because we can open with immediate effect."

She added staff would be trained before opening on Sunday.

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

The government has confirmed what dates the restrictions in Leicester's lockdown will change.

At yesterday's announcement Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the changes would come into effect from 24 July.

However the Department of Health and Social Care, external (DHSC) has stated lockdown restrictions will end in areas outside of Leicester city, Oadby and Wigston from tomorrow.

This includes Charnwood and Blaby and means non-essential shops, pubs, restaurants and hairdressers in those parts of Leicestershire can reopen.

However, for those still within the lockdown zone, a relaxation of restrictions will begin on 24 July with just childcare facilities and non-essential shops reopening to start with.

Image source, Reuters

Other things to note if you live within the lockdown zone:

• If you live or work in Leicester, Oadby or Wigston you should stay at home as much as you can and should only travel if it is essential.
• People are still able to meet in a group of up to six and only outdoors, provided strict social distancing is followed.
• Advice to shield remains in place until 1 August.
• Single-adult households can still form a support bubble with one other household.

David Pittam
BBC News Online

Pavel Jaros has worked as a Deliveroo rider throughout lockdown, so hasn't been greatly affected by Leicester's extended measures.

The 27-year-old, originally from the Czech Republic, said the streets were "deserted" for the first few weeks, but in the fortnight before the lockdown was extended and non-essential shops shut, the main streets were "full of people".

He said he thinks the problem has been getting the message through to all the city's different communities.

Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby says the decision to keep restrictions in place in the city is "political".

David Pittam
BBC News Online

Dina Frank, from North Evington, said she's "worried about the virus", but doesn't know why the lockdown was extended and "they had to close all the shops".

The 58-year-old said she's "excited" about the prospect of the city reopening, and can't wait to get her nails done and "get something to eat in a cafe and do some shopping".

David Pittam
BBC News Online

The sun may be shining on Leicester, but it seems luck is not.

Almost all the shops are shuttered up, with many still bearing their "welcome back signs" which they won't be able to use for a little while yet.

The streets are by no means deserted, as they reportedly were at the beginning of lockdown, but they are much quieter than before the local lockdown was imposed.

People are clearly staying away. But whereas at the start of the local lockdown the mood was largely one of acceptance that this needed to be done, many I have spoken to today seem increasingly fed up with being kept behind as the rest of the country enjoys more and more freedom.

David Pittam
BBC News Online

Emily Crawford said she supported the lockdown and "wouldn't feel comfortable" in a pub if they were open, but called for clearer messaging so residents know their limits in Leicester.

The 20-year-old nursing student said she's "still not really sure what I as an individual am allowed to do or not".

She called for fellow residents to "be careful" while the lockdown is in place.

David Pittam
BBC News Online

Maureen Moore, who lives in the Catherine Street area of Leicester, has described the "horrible" experience of being stuck in lockdown.

The 75-year-old said she wanted to go and see her sister after her husband died on Wednesday, but as she lives in Whetstone she's been unable to get out and offer her support.

She called for "one spokesperson" to tell residents what they need to do during lockdown, saying the current situation is "confusing".

Sonia Kataria
BBC News

An MP has questioned Oadby and Wigston's continued inclusion in the local lockdown, calling for an early review of the health secretary's decision announced last night.

Restrictions will remain in the borough, which has 57,000 residents, as case numbers are still above the national average while all other suburbs are due to be released on 24 July.

In a letter to Matt Hancock, Neil O'Brien - MP for Harborough, Oadby and Wigston - said he was "disappointed" the borough was included as it was a "finely balanced call".

Image source, UK Parliament

Mr O'Brien wrote: "The continuing social measures are painful for residents, and for pubs and hospitality businesses this is a major blow.

"The rate of cases in the last week remains significantly above the national average. But this rate of cases is partly driven by having the second highest rate of testing in the country.

"For Oadby and Wigston a very small difference in the number of cases makes a big difference to the rate, and so our data will inevitably be volatile."

Mr O'Brien added he would seek "additional support" from the Chancellor.

Leicestershire County Council leader Nick Rushton, and local and national public health officials were also included in the letter.

Amy Orton
Local Democracy Reporter

Six coronavirus hotspots have been published by Oadby and Wigston Borough Council.

The authority said that the six worst-affected wards are Brockshill, Grange and St Peters wards in Oadby and Meadowcourt, St Wolstan's and Wigston Fields in Wigston.

Image source, Google

Sonia Kataria
BBC News

Shadow health secretary and Leicester South MP Jonathan Ashworth has called on the government to provide "extra specific business support" for firms affected by the Leicester lockdown.

Retailers selling non-essential items in Leicester and other areas in the restricted zone can reopen from 24 July following the city's prolonged lockdown, but the government announced a new local power to close those shops if necessary.

Liam Barnes
BBC News

The leader of Leicestershire County Council has defended the authority's response to the lockdown in Leicester.

Nick Rushton said he recommended to Health Secretary Matt Hancock that all county areas "apart from Oadby and Wigston should now return to normal" after a drop in cases in the county, adding the original boundaries for the lockdown were drawn up based on Public Health England advice.

He told BBC Radio Leicester: "People have been saying some terrible things to me overnight saying what do I know about it, well actually I only know what I'm told and I only react to evidence, so when I had a meeting with the Secretary of State yesterday I had all the evidence of health professionals… and the recommendation was all areas are OK to release except for Oadby and Wigston, where the prevalence of Covid – due to testing – is too high."

BBC Radio Leicester

The continuing lockdown in Leicester is causing "loads of uncertainty" among local business owners.

Jennifer Thomas, from the Federation of Small Businesses for the East Midlands, said firms will "be incurring more costs of being open", but with many customers likely to stay away they face "a really tricky decision" on whether to begin trading again.

She said members have had "ongoing concerns for months" and have already taken "a huge hit", both financially and in terms of mental health, and while there's "disappointment" among traders who can't reopen there's "a little bit of confusion" about the best course of action for those who can.

Image source, PA Media

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

A Leicester father-of-two says he is on day 115 of lockdown in the city and life is now becoming "incredibly boring".

Andy Northcott lives in a flat with his children, aged six and eight, and said the art projects, Joe Wicks workouts and hours of playing Minecraft are no longer a novelty.

He told East Midlands Today: "I'm incredibly frustrated but also submitted to it, so what can we do?

"The longer it goes on, the harder it gets."

"We saw the strict lockdowns in Spain and China and now ours has gone on for much longer, so maybe we should have been stricter in the beginning," he added.

"Initially it was fun spending more time with your children, it was a blessing. But eventually it gets to the point [where] you are driving each other nuts."

PA Media

The mayor of Leicester has criticised the government for taking a "sledgehammer approach" to the city's lockdown after the health secretary announced a partial relaxation of local restrictions.

Sir Peter Soulsby - who previously claimed that data provided to city officials highlighted that only 10% of Leicester had shown higher transmission rates - said he was "bitterly disappointed" many of the measures put in place more than a fortnight ago will remain.

He said he is "extremely frustrated" at the approach to tackling "an issue in a very small part of the city", and accused the Conservative government of making a "party political" decision to keep city-wide restrictions.

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

An Oadby resident has said he is worried that people are not taking the lockdown seriously.

Teacher Mark Games said the extended lockdown in Oadby and Wigston as well as the city of Leicester seems a "bit of a half effort".

"There's no policing, there's no control and people are free to come and go across the border as much as they want," he added.

"It's lockdown in name but not in principle.

"There's still lots of traffic on the road, nobody's wearing masks and the parks are still really full."

Mr Games said better policing of the lockdown and borders may help the R rate in the area come down faster.

"It doesn't feel real or enforced, or that anything is different. I don't think people are taking it seriously," he added.

Alex Smith
BBC News Online

Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the Commons yesterday evening some restrictions would be lifted from 24 July - "but not all" after Leicester's prolonged lockdown.

• Leicester and Oadby and Wigston remain subject to lockdown measures due to authorities saying case numbers are still above the national average
• Restrictions on schools and nurseries will be lifted
• The hospitality sector in Leicester will stay in lockdown, including bars and restaurants
• A new local power will be used to close shops selling non-essential items where necessary
• The ban on non-essential travel and social gatherings of more than six people will remain

Alex Smith
BBC News Online

Good morning.

We'll bring you the latest following the government's announcement that some lockdown measures in Leicester and Leicestershire would be relaxed from 24 July.

Image source, PA Media

Rise in coronavirus cases in the area is a "cause for concern", says council deputy leader.