Alex Regan
BBC News

Lockdown restrictions currently in place in Leicester will remain, the government has confirmed.

The Department of Health and Social Care said bans on gatherings in households and gardens would continue in the city, alongside parts of North West England and West Yorkshire.

Image source, PA Media

Preston is one of the new areas in England to have social gatherings banned, in a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus.

Despite restrictions on gatherings remaining in place, pubs, bars and restaurants in Leicester reopened on Monday.

Drinkers have been warned not to "throw away all the hard work" by ignoring rules, as pub-goers can enjoy their first weekend of drinking in months.

Alex Regan
BBC News

A number of properties in North West Leicestershire have been evacuated after reports explosive materials were found in a garage in Blackfordby.

Leicestershire Police said the force was called at 09:15 this morning by "someone who had been clearing out the property" in North Close.

A cordon remains in place. The fire service and explosive ordnance disposal officers are also at the scene.

Image source, Google

Amy Bartlett is "relieved and delighted" to be getting a transplant after a "race" to find a match.

Scunthorpe United appoint Notts County assistant boss Neil Cox as the League Two club's new manager.

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

A Nottinghamshire teenager has been left "distraught" after his electric scooter was stolen by three men.

The victim was in Titchfield Park, Mansfield, on Monday evening when he was approached by the group.

Police said he was "kicked off" the scooter - a recent birthday present - which was described as a black Xiaomi M365.

Image source, Nottinghamshire Police

Det Sgt Mark Shaw said: "Thankfully the victim suffered no injuries, but it would have been a scary experience."

The offenders are described as aged about 25, one was about 6ft tall (1.83m) tall, skinny, with medium length dark hair.

The other two looked related, were about 5ft 7in (1.70m) tall, one with short ginger hair.

Notts County make Portuguese attacking midfielder Ruben Rodrigues their first summer signing.

Charlie Slater
East Midlands Today

Basketball team Leicester Riders may not be able to survive the coronavirus pandemic without revenue from events and matches, the team's managing director has said.

Russell Levenston said the team had enough money to continue until October, but he is concerned about whether the team will be able to play in the British Basketball League when the season returns.

He said: "The massive thing for us is events in the arena.

"We've taken three years to build up the arena to this point, and the revenue from that goes back into the basketball.

"That is a critical problem we're going to have moving forward."

He said the club has been unable to announce its season tickets "because we don't know when the season's going to start".

The managing director says the venue has done work to reduce capacity to between 50-60% to make it Covid-secure.

He said if the next BBL season did not go ahead, he did not know how they would survive without government or council support.

Derbyshire sign former England Under-19 all-rounder Ed Barnes on loan from Yorkshire for the rest of the season.

PA Media

Leicester City Council says it is not anticipating any changes to the current restrictions in the city when the government makes an announcement later.

A spokeswoman said the local authority was "at a loss" as to why they had been "tagged on" to the review of restrictions in the North West.

Image source, PA Media

She said the council had expected the city's restrictions to be reviewed every two weeks and were "surprised" when they were informed the current measures would be reviewed today.

It is not clear what time the announcement will take place.

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

A playground in Nottingham has been closed after vandals tore up safety matting and left broken glass scattered across it.

The damage to Woodfield Park in Bilborough was discovered on Thursday afternoon and the gates were padlocked shortly after.

Image source, Nottingham City Council

Local councillor Rebecca Langton said: "A local play area is now out of use for local kids at a time when it is much-needed.

"Come on Nottingham, we're better than this."

Image source, Nottingham City Council

Police said it was "sad to see the facilities that are put in place for the local community damaged by a few individuals".

Officers have appealed for information.

MK Dons sign Republic of Ireland defender Richard Keogh, nine months after his dismissal by Derby County.

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

Police have released an image of a man they want to speak to after a man and a woman were seriously injured in an assault at a property in Mapperley.

The pair remain in hospital after being attacked in Pilkington Road at about 14:00 on Wednesday.

Image source, Nottinghamshire Police

Officers want to speak to Joseph Chattaway, 25, about the assault.

On Wednesday, the force said: "We currently believe this is an isolated incident and the people involved are known to each other."

The force said anyone who sees Mr Chattaway should not approach him but call 999.

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

The government is expected to make an announcement later on the status of the remaining local lockdown measures in Leicester and extra restrictions placed on some areas in the North West.

Measures banning mixing between households were due for review yesterday, a week after being announced by Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

Image source, PA Media

The seven-day infection rate in Leicester has continued to fall, down from 62.4 per 100,000 people to 52.2, with 185 new cases.

Bars, restaurants and hair salons were allowed to reopen on Monday almost a month after similar businesses in the rest of the country were given the green light to welcome customers.

BBC Weather Watchers

It was a glorious sunrise at Shining Tor in the Peak District this morning.

Weather-wise, we're expecting a dry and sunny day with temperatures of up to 29C (84F).

Image source, Gary The Walker

People in Leicester are free to enjoy themselves after the local lockdown but told be "responsible".

Teenagers filming themselves in baby and toddler swings are warned not to waste fire crews' time.

Derbyshire's director of public health says the national Test and Trace system failed to make the link.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

A new mobile testing unit for coronavirus will open in a Nottinghamshire town on Monday following an increase in cases in the Newark and Sherwood area.

The facility will be in the lorry park behind Castle House in Newark for three days.

Nottinghamshire County Council said it will allow people with symptoms to be tested quickly and easily without having to travel to testing centres in Mansfield and Nottingham.

Image source, Reuters

Jonathan Gribbin, director of public health at the authority, said: "Rates of Covid-19 were decreasing in Nottinghamshire but that is no longer the case and it is causing us some concern."

Anyone wanting to take a test will need to make an appointment first, the council said.

Chesterfield become a community-owned club after Dave Allen completes his deal sell the National League side.

East Midlands Today

A new outdoor exercise facility - thought to be the first of its kind in the UK - has opened in Rutland, aimed at getting elderly people back into fitness following the coronavirus pandemic.

Most of those using the The Rainbow Trail will be aged over 70 so it has been designed to keep them safe from the virus, according to the company behind it, Inspire2tri.

Dr Hilary Fox, from Rutland Health Primary Care Network, said: "It's really innovative - it's a first for Rutland, probably a first for the country.

"This gives vulnerable people, who would perhaps be reticent at going into a gym, the opportunity to do gym-based exercise in a safe environment that's really controlled in terms of infection prevention."

A National Lottery Grant has helped fund the Rainbow Trail and it features motivational messages from local primary school children.

More than 100 people have already signed up to try out the new facility in Manton, which opened last month.

Robin Robson, a grandmother-of-seven, is one of those incorporating it into the exercise routine she started after developing a muscle condition.

She said: "When it was at its worst I couldn't even lift my arm up to my face but now look at me.

"I'm no gym bunny but I can do it."