BBC Radio Nottingham

The Covid-19 infection rate in Nottingham has fallen below the national average for the first time since September, according to the latest data.

The figures from Public Health England show the city's seven-day rate is now 269.5 per 100,000 people. The national average is 271.8.

In October, the city had the highest infection rate in England for more than a week.

Image source, Nottingham City Council

Bassetlaw currently has the highest rate in the county with 408.7 - though that has dropped since last week.

Mansfield's rate of 341.2 is also above the national average, while Ashfield has a rate of 312.7.

BBC Weather Watchers

It will be generally dry but with plenty of cloud and a brisk south-westerly wind. There will also be the odd bright spell.

Today's Weather Watchers picture is from Pete and shows a sunny moment in Melton Mowbray.

Image source, Pete

Henry Bard's family hope to raise £202,000 so their son can access a clinic trial in New York.

Alex Regan
BBC News

Four people were arrested after a street fight in the early hours in Clifton.

Nottinghamshire Police were called to Collymore Leys Lane, Clifton, at 1:30 on Sunday to reports of "two men fighting".

Image source, Google

Two men were treated in hospital for broken jaws, and a woman was also treated in hospital for "injuries".

A 37-year-old man and a 44-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of affray and released on bail.

A 41-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of affray and possession of class A drugs and was released under investigation.

Another man, 50, was arrested on suspicion of affray and also released under investigation.

David Pittam
BBC News Online

Patients were waiting for up to five hours in the back of ambulances on Friday night due to demand at Leicester Royal Infirmary.

A spokeswoman for the hospital apologised for the delay, saying the end of last week was "particularly busy".

But she added patients were continually assessed and seen "according to clinical priority".

John Wright, from East Midlands Ambulance Service, said they have seen an increase in demand, and this October had been as busy as last December.

He added: "The number of calls from patients reporting COVID-19 symptoms has increased since August; however, we are also receiving calls from people who are very poorly because of a serious injury or a different illness."

The owner of the Mustard Seed in Gedling previously cited Magna Carta as a reason to remain open.

Harry Gurney signs a new one-year white-ball contract with Nottinghamshire for the 2021 season.

Alex Regan
BBC News

A 22-year-old man told his victim he was a police officer before sexually assaulting her, according to Nottinghamshire Police.

Steven Tuckwood, of no fixed abode, groomed the girl in March 2018 at a flat in the Sneinton area of Nottingham.

Police said the sex offender had been with the girl for 10 days before officers detained him.

Image source, Nottinghamshire Police

He pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual activity with a child at Nottingham Crown Court, and was sentenced to three years in prison on Friday.

PC Liah Lane praised the victim for being "incredibly brave to report this incident".

Alex Regan
BBC News

A lorry driver has escaped jail after a road rage incident which left a man with a shattered pelvis, broken collarbones and a punctured lung.

In October 2018 Nicholas Green was driving his lorry along the A610 Kimberley bypass near Nottingham, and tried to undertake a van.

Both vehicles stopped and an argument ensued between Green and his 48-year-old victim near junction 26 of the M1.

Image source, Google

After the van driver got out of his vehicle he became pinned between the van and the lorry, resulting in life-threatening injuries.

Green, 42, of Filey Street, Bulwell, drove away from the scene but was arrested later on 31 October 2018.

He pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and was sentenced to 24 months in prison on Thursday, suspended for 18 months.

He has also been disqualified from driving.

Samantha Noble
BBC News Online

Two brothers have jailed for stealing 4,000 scratch cards, a till and cigarettes from a shop in Nottingham.

The pair pleaded guilty to burglary at Nottingham Crown Court on Wednesday, with Michael Wilson, 45, of Jacobs Court, Arnold, being jailed for 20 months and his brother John Wilson, 37, of Labray Road, in Calverton, being sentenced to eight months in prison.

Police said the brothers used bolt croppers to break into the shop in Victoria Road, Netherfield, where they stole cigarettes worth £3,000 on 22 December.

Image source, Nottinghamshire Police

They also took the whole till, containing around £250, as well as a number of bagged-up coins and a container of scratch cards worth £1,200.

Michael Wilson, who police said tried to leave the scene on a child's bike, was arrested.

Later that day, the van used in the burglary was spotted by officers but failed to stop. It was driven over two front gardens and along a pavement, causing members of the public to jump out of the way, police said.

Its driver, John Wilson, was chased on foot and then arrested.

Det Con Caroline Bailey said: "The two Wilson brothers had no regard whatsoever for the victims, or anyone who nearly got run over as they tried to leave the scene.

"It's very fortunate no-one was injured."

Image source, Nottinghamshire Police

Kit Sandeman
Local Democracy Reporter

Plans to use 20,000 rapid Covid-19 tests in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire are still being made by central and local government, the county's director of public health has said.

Speaking in a weekly briefing to the press on Friday, Jonathan Gribbin said work was being done by government, and more locally to ensure the tests are "deployed effectively".

Image source, Nottingham City Council

He said: “We’ll come forward with some plans about how we will deploy lateral flow tests for people in Nottinghamshire in a way that has a proper impact.

"We’re not in a position to come forward with that at the moment."

Last week Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced Nottingham would be one of 67 areas in England to receive the rapid testing kits.

A mass testing pilot is currently under way in Liverpool, but the number of tests available to the county and Nottingham differs significantly to those available in Merseyside.

Derby's interim coaching team, including Wayne Rooney, could be in charge for Saturday's game at Bristol City.

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

Leicester has again become the coronavirus hotspot of the East Midlands, according to latest figures.

The city, which has been under some level of restriction since June, has seen positive test rates rise to 518.6 per 100,000 in the week to 11 November.

Image source, PA Media

This is compared to 413.3 in the previous week and puts it 14th in the England table.

Neighbouring Oadby and Wigston district is close behind, in 18th place, with a rate of 492.9.

Bolsover, which had seen the highest rate in the region, is still in the top 20 with a still rising rate of 487.8.

Nottingham, which had the highest rate in the UK for more than a week, currently is placed 96, with a falling rate of 295.6.

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

Two mattresses, a suitcase, clothes and other household items were found dumped in a pile on a street in Leicester yesterday.

The local policing team said the brazen fly-tipping was just one of several examples of dumped rubbish they found in the Melton Road area while on patrol.

Image source, Leicestershire Police

Belgrave and Rushey Mead Police posted: "It isn't just one part of the Belgrave but all of it.

"When I walk down the streets and have to walk past a settee, boiler, household rubbish and a fridge freezer, that isn't right."

Residents were urged to make use of local tips and the council's bulky waste collection service.

Amy Orton
Local Democracy Reporter

Six staff at East Midlands Airport have tested positive for Covid-19.

The staff work for cargo company Swissport.

An email sent to colleagues said those who had tested positive were "feeling unwell in varying degrees, but no-one would be considered extremely unwell".

Image source, Leicestershire Police

A Swissport spokeswoman said the staff were "self-isolating in their homes" and the company had "undertaken a deep clean of all ground handling equipment".

She added: "All our staff continue to wear masks to protect themselves and passengers."

An East Midlands Airport spokesperson added: “Keeping our passengers and colleagues safe during the current pandemic is paramount.

"That is why we have introduced a range of measures across the airport, including safety screens, extra hand sanitiser stations and enhanced cleaning regimes."

BBC Weather Watchers

A blustery day but with bright spells. Cloudier skies and patchy rain may spread from the south-west later. Windy and mild night with some drizzle.

Today's Weather Watcher picture is from Bry and shows clouds and colourful trees in Ilkeston in Derbyshire.

Image source, Bry