Sandish Shoker
BBC News

The owner of five young bassett hounds stolen from a kennels near Lutterworth has said he "feels sick to the core".

The two male and three female puppies - named Landlord, Bashful, Lattice, Drama and Banish - who are microchipped, were taken from the kennels on Walcote Road, South Kilworth, between 17:00 on Wednesday and 07:30 on Thursday.

Bruce Langley McKim, who had bred two of the dogs, said: "I feel quite empty but there's nothing I can do now, but thank you to everyone for their kindness in getting it out there on social media."

Leicestershire Police said the culprits are believed to have gained access through a hedgerow at the back of the property.

It comes days after a cockapoo was stolen from kennels in nearby North Kilworth. Thankfully Logan was found safe and well a few days later.

Image source, Bruce Langley McKim

Mr Langley McKim said CCTV footage from a neighbouring building had been passed to police.

Sgt Paul Archer said: “This is another upsetting incident for the owners of these dogs and we are carrying out investigations to try and find them."

He urged anyone with information to come forward and reminded dog owners, and those running kennels, to keep their properties secure.

PA Media

One of the country's most senior medics has said doctors need to be able to take time off before facing a backlog of patients caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Professor Andrew Goddard, a consultant at the Royal Derby Hospital and president of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), said his colleagues had seen "truly horrific things" and warned doctors "can't go from crisis management with the pandemic to crisis management of the backlog".

Image source, PA Media

"I've cried more at work this [past] year than I have ever in my entire life," he said.

"I've had good friends and colleagues die from Covid and that will stay with me forever."

His plea comes after think tank Reform warned waiting lists for hospital treatment could more than double by April, and hit 10m in England.

A survey of doctors conducted by RCP showed 49% of physicians were not getting enough sleep.

Prof Goddard said he was concerned the pressures of the pandemic and the backlog of work could lead some doctors to leave the NHS.

He said: "I worry when I talk to some colleagues, they'll say 'well I'm not sure I can stay in the NHS for much longer after this' and those conversations are happening so we mustn't underestimate the impact that this has had on people and individuals."

Alex Regan
BBC News

A woman from Leicestershire has been charged with a number of child sex offences at a "secure training centre" in Buckinghamshire.

Metropolitan Police said Ashley Wright, 26, was accused of two counts of sexual activity with a child, two counts of sexual communication with a child, and abuse of position.

Image source, Nottinghamshire Police

The force said the alleged offences took place between 13 May 2019 and 31 January 2020.

She will appear at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court on 18 March.

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

Police have issued a warning after two cars became stuck on a popular trail in the Peak District.

Officers were called to rescue the vehicles from the Pennine Way between the Snake Pass summit and Bleaklow at about 16:45 on Wednesday.

Image source, Derbyshire Police

The force said it was still trying to locate the owners of the vehicles and making enquiries to understand the circumstances around how the cars had come to be there.

"There is a good reason why vehicles aren’t permitted along there," the Derbyshire Rural Crime Team posted on Facebook.

"Please, if you see any such antics taking place on anything other than a byway open to all traffic, report it to us straight away.

"Those involved in this recent craze are causing damage to gates, fences, walls and ecological damage to sites of special scientific interest."

Samantha Noble
BBC News Online

A police cordon has been put in place near the River Trent in Stoke Bardolph.

Nottinghamshire Police said they were called to the scene at about 07:45 and Stoke Lane is currently closed near to a pub.

Further details are expected later.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

East Midlands Railway is reporting disruption to some of its services after a person was hit by a train.

Services on the London/Derby/Sheffield and Liverpool/Nottingham/Norwich routes are affected.

The railway operator said: "Sadly, a person has been hit by a train between Chesterfield and Sheffield."

Image source, Google

Trains in both directions are being diverted, adding about 15 minutes to journeys, but they are calling at the same stations.

Some services might be altered or cancelled if trains cannot divert.

East Midlands Railway said it was expecting the line to reopen at about 12:30 and have its normal timetable running again by 14:00.

Alex Regan
BBC News

A fourth person has been arrested after a man was slashed in the neck during what police believe was a fight involving a group of people.

Police were called to Cowley Street in Basford, Nottingham, at about 15:45 and found a 16-year-old boy with a suspected broken collar bone.

Ten minutes later officers received reports a 20-year-old man had suffered slash wounds in nearby Bar Lane.

Image source, Nottinghamshire Police

He was taken to Queen's Medical Centre for surgery, but his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

On Thursday a 22-year-old man was arrested in connection with the fight.

Two men and a boy, aged between 16 and 20, had already been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm.

Det Sgt Nick Wood reassured residents that the fight was "an isolated incident that poses no threat to the wider public".

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

A woman "marooned up to her waist" in mud at Wollaton Park has been rescued by firefighters.

Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service received the emergency call on Wednesday afternoon.

A crew from Stapleford , externalwent to the grounds of the country house in Nottingham, where the woman was found "not injured but clearly distressed".

Image source, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service

The crew, supported by the park's rangers, used floating lines to help free her.

A specialist rescue team from Highfields and East Midlands Ambulance Service also attended.

In the past few weeks, a number of people have been rescued in Nottinghamshire after becoming stranded.

On 6 February, three teenagers sank to their waists in freezing sand at a quarry in Mansfield Woodhouse.

And two 11-year-old girls were rescued from the River Trent last weekend after falling through ice.

Alex Smith
BBC News Online

A man is due to appear in court next month after a car crashed into a gas station in Rothley on New Year's Day.

Leicestershire Police were called to The Ridings in the early hours of 1 January following reports of a crash involving one car.

A "small number" of residents in nearby properties were temporarily evacuated as a result.

The man, 33, from Leicester, has been charged with driving without due care and attention, being the driver of a vehicle and failing to stop at a road accident and being the driver of a vehicle and failing to report that accident, the force said.

He is on bail and due to appear at Leicester Magistrates' Court on 19 March.

Image source, Leicester Media Online

BBC Weather

This morning it will be cloudy and breezy but through the day you can expect showery spells of rain.

Downpours could be quite heavy in places and gusts will be strong.

This unsettled weather will continue into this evening and overnight although winds will be slightly lighter.

Image source, Geography Simon

Gallery owner John Brandler says he has been "gobsmacked" by the "vitriolic e-mails".

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, remains in custody.

Marion Thomas says she hopes lockdown will end in time to see her daughter Michelle Teale again.

Samantha Noble
BBC News Online

Cases of coronavirus at a category B jail in Leicestershire have been confirmed by the Prison Service.

The number of people who have tested positive for Covid-19 at HMP Gartree, in Market Harborough, has not been stated but a spokeswoman confirmed both inmates and staff were affected.

The spokeswoman added: "Our priority is to limit the spread of the virus and protect the lives of those who live and work in our prisons.

"We have taken precautionary measures at Gartree, in line with public health guidance, and will continue to closely monitor the situation."

Image source, Google

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

A former Nottingham Forest footballer and landlord has been ordered to pay back more than £8,000 in rent he received for two unlicensed properties.

Dexter Blackstock, from Papplewick, admitted 12 licensing offences at Nottingham Magistrates' Court in 2019 and was fined £24,000.

Nottingham City Council then applied for a rent repayment order, an order in which a tenant or council can ask a landlord for up to 12 months of rent, housing benefit or Universal Credit to be repaid after a landlord has been convicted over unlicensed properties.

In December, it was decided Blackstock should return the housing benefit he received on the properties, totalling £8,592.98.

Image source, Getty Images

Councillor Linda Woodings, portfolio holder for planning, housing and heritage, said: "Following this conviction, we had to recuperate the money that Mr Blackstock was not entitled to.

"This could have all been avoided if Mr Blackstock licensed his properties or engaged and worked with us."

The former striker made more than 150 appearances for Forest between 2009 and 2016.

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

Police believe an elderly man seen walking in New Tupton, Derbyshire, at 02:30 this morning has been found "safe and well" and is now with his family.

Officers from the Clay Cross police team shared a CCTV image of the man after he was seen walking past a house in the early hours.

"Thanks to everyone for sharing the post and to the gent who initially made us aware," they said. "The power of social media wins again."

The five-year transformation project would see Elvaston Castle restored and new facilities added.

BBC Radio Leicester

Councillors in Leicester and Leicestershire have approved a 5% rise in council tax.

It means bills will go up by about £5 a month - although that could rise further once the police, fire service, district and parish councils confirm how much they'll charge for their share of the bills.

The city and county councils say the impact of the pandemic and uncertainty over the future funding of services for vulnerable children and adults have caused the rise.

Conservative councillor Byron Rhodes, the lead on finances for Leicestershire, also blamed an unfair distribution of money from central government.

Bill Boulter, an opposition Liberal Democrat councillor for South and West Wigston, said: "Some of my residents, it's going to put them in a situation where they've got to feed the children, pay the council tax and pay the rent. They can't do it all. Something's got to give.

"Pushing the council tax up this amount puts a lot of those families under a great deal of mental stress."

Labour councillor Patrick Kitterick, representing Leicester's Castle ward, said: "I'm not happy with the budget that we've got tonight but what the budget does do is it caters for people's needs.

"If that means that those of us that can pay, pay towards those who are more vulnerable, then it's something we should do."

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

A new piece of graffiti has appeared on a board covering up the hole in the wall where Nottingham's Banksy artwork had been.

The artist's mural of a hula-hooping girl with a bicycle tyre was removed yesterday after it was bought by a gallery owner.

This morning a quote could be seen on the wooden board.

The Banksy artwork had attracted thousands of visitors to the corner of Rothesay Avenue, Radford since it appeared in October.

Art collector John Brandler says he hopes to feature it in a street exhibition later this year in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

Derbyshire Police have released a CCTV image of an elderly man seen walking in New Tupton at 02.30 this morning.

Officers from the Clay Cross police team said: "His actions would suggest he’s lost and not of a criminal nature... we need to know he is safe and well."

They appealed for anyone who knows him to get in touch.

Image source, Derbyshire Police