Sonia Kataria
BBC News

A burglar who broke into a fast food restaurant in Nottingham city centre and stole an iPad has been jailed.

Nottinghamshire Police said Neil Lawson was arrested by officers shortly after the theft at Nando's, on Angel Row, at about 04:00 on 7 December 2020.

The 47-year-old was found nearby carrying a bag containing the stolen device and forensic evidence connected him to the scene, the force added.

Lawson, of no fixed abode, who admitted to burglary at an earlier hearing, was sentenced to six months in prison at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday. He was also ordered to pay a surcharge of £128.

Image source, Nottinghamshire Police

Stu Humber, 47, from Leicestershire, was hoping to compete in the 6633 Arctic Ultra race.

Bodycam footage captures the moment police officers break up the poker party.

Body-cam footage captures the moment officers end the party and fine 26 people for Covid breaches.

Central government should reimburse the authority for Covid-related costs, trade unions say.

BBC Weather Watchers

Although today should stay largely dry with patchy clouds and a few sunny spells, the odd light shower cannot be completely ruled out.

There will be a gentle-to-moderate wind so it might feel a little chilly at times.

BBC Weather Watcher Curly Claire was out early this morning to capture this beautiful sunrise at Holme Pierrepont, Nottinghamshire.

Image source, Curly Claire

Image source, Curly Claire

German shepherd-type dog Bella was rescued from a river after a rock was tied around her neck.

Police believe the barbers - which had tinted windows - had been taking appointments via Facebook.

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

South Derbyshire currently has the highest weekly coronavirus infection rate in England, according to latest Public Health England data.

Figures show the infection rate per 100,000 people in the week up to 4 March is 150.1, down slightly from 153.8 the previous week.

Image source, PA Media

Leicester has the fifth highest rate, at 145.1 per 100,000 people, and north west Leicestershire is sixth with a rate of 141.9.

Last year the online clothing company found there were "many failings" within its supply chain in Leicester.

Liam Barnes
BBC News

Police are appealing for witnesses after a lorry driver was assaulted on a motorway slip road.

Leicestershire Police said two vehicles were stopped at red lights on the road joining junction 22 of the southbound M1 at about 17:30 on 1 March when two people got out of a van.

The lorry driver "suffered multiple injuries", a force spokesman said, and two men aged 34 and 25 were arrested on suspicion of causing racially-aggravated actual bodily harm and have been released under investigation.

PC Eimear O'Donnell said: "This incident took place at a time when there would have been a lot of traffic on the road.

"I would like to speak to anyone who may have information or any motorists with dashcam installed in their vehicles."

Alex Regan
BBC News

Three men have been arrested after a van rammed a police patrol car in Sutton-in-Ashfield.

It happened on Sunday afternoon in Spring Road after reports a van was driving erratically, and on the wrong side of the road, Nottinghamshire Police said.

When one of the officers got out of the car to speak to the driver, the van rammed the patrol car and drove off.

Image source, Nottinghamshire Police

A police chase then ensued and officers said the van tried to ram the police vehicle again by reversing into it.

The van stopped in Nursery Avenue and three men jumped out of the back of the van.

After a search of the area three men, aged 33, 35 and 36, were arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, failing to stop and and assaulting an emergency worker.

The 35-year-old suspect was also arrested on suspicion of driving while under the influence of alcohol and the 36-year-old on failing to provide a specimen of breath.

Two officers suffered minor injuries during the chase and required treatment.

Alex Regan
BBC News

A Nottingham City Council officer who worked "tirelessly" to support children in care for more than 30 years has died after testing positive for Covid-19.

Helen Blackman, 54, passed away on Wednesday after being treated at the Queen's Medical Centre for complications caused by Covid-19.

The director of children's integrated services is the fourth member of staff at the authority to die after contracting coronavirus.

Image source, Nottingham City Council

Council leader David Mellen paid tribute to the mother-of-four.

"She was inspirational in the way she led the department and was held in the highest esteem by her staff," he said.

"She cared deeply for children and young people and was entirely focused on improving their life chances."

He added: "She is a tremendous loss to Nottingham will be missed by many people.”

Alex Regan
BBC News

Image source, RSPCA Radcliffe Animal Centre

Three more puppies, found crammed into plastic bags and in a guinea pig cage, have died, the RSPCA has said.

On Tuesday, Nottinghamshire Police discovered nearly a dozen "severely dehydrated" and "distressed" puppies in the back of a van in Carlton.

But the RSPCA Radcliffe Animal Centre, which was taking care of the puppies, said on Facebook: "Three of the little pups have lost their battle to survive over the weekend.

"We are thankful that these puppies were found by the police and not left to suffer without treatment and love."

Image source, Nottinghamshire Police

Officers believe the puppies were stolen, and a 20-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of theft and fraud.

They made the discovery after visiting a house in Apple Walk, Carlton.

They found no dogs inside but spotted the van with its windows "steamed up" nearby, and when they looked inside, saw movement in a bag in the passenger seat.

They broke in and found the puppies.

One of the puppies died from suspected parvovirus on Wednesday night.

David Pittam
BBC News Online

Kathryn Hobbs, the headteacher at David Nieper Academy in Alfreton, feels as though the first day back is going "exceptionally well".

She said: "The majority of the children are pleased to be back, it feels very busy, all the plans we put in place are working.

"It's just so lovely to see the school coming back to life."

She said there had been less anxiety about the return this time round - something she puts down to it being expected, the vaccine roll out and everyone being more used to the new way schools work.

Jodi Law
BBC East Midlands Today

Testing children before they return to school has led to lots of parents getting in touch with us at BBC East Midlands Today and there are some mixed views.

Some want the testing to be mandatory and feel it is necessary if we want to keep the pandemic under control.

Image source, Getty Images

However, a parent of a child who has autism also got in touch and said the stress of the test was too much for someone who is already anxious.

Another parent said though, it was about simply doing what was needed to get their son into school as children have missed out on a full education because of the virus.

David Pittam
BBC News Online

There are a few changes to the timetable at David Nieper Academy.

Kathryn Hobbs, headteacher, said the school had been split in two, with some year groups coming in and leaving five minutes earlier.

Lunchtime and breaks were now staggered so the two halves don't mix, and year groups have their own separate areas.

Dr Hobbs said pupils were expected to spend breaks outside where they don't have to wear masks as long as they keep 2m apart.

The school is looking to carry on the new timetabling after coronavirus because it seems to be working.

David Pittam
BBC News Online

These year 7 students have been taking coronavirus swabs for weeks and are now giving their advice to other pupils.

Darcie, 12, has done the test three times and said: "People are worried it's going to be bad or that it hurts. I've just tried to reassure them that it's OK.

"I would advise people not to worry about it, it's all over in a couple of seconds."

Martha, 12, has been in school throughout and said taking a test was "easy".

She's done so many now that she's lost count.

"As long as you know it's going to be OK, then it's OK. I was really worried too before I first had it and then boom, it's just done," she said.

David Pittam
BBC News Online

Emily Thorpe, head of design and technology, at Alfreton's David Nieper Academy, said she was "thrilled" that students were coming back.

She said: "I'm honestly really excited to see them. The buzz around the school with them all coming in is great, even if they're less excited about it.

"They've been out of the routine, give it a day and it'll be back to normal."

Ms Thorpe said she didn't feel "personally worried" about the risk of coronavirus.

"We've had the key workers' children in and had all these measures in place to stay safe throughout so it's just a matter of ramping it up," she said.

David Pittam
BBC News Online

Headteacher Kathryn Hobbs said 97% of parents had consented to their children having coronavirus tests and hoped this would increase as it became more standard.

She admitted getting the children to wear face masks would be "challenging".

"The expectation is pupils will wear them. We're working to keep people safe and the vast majority of our families are happy to support us with that," she said.

Teachers know who is exempt but it would be a "case of talking to families" if pupils were found not to be wearing one without a reason, she added.

Those not wearing masks must stay 2m from others as a social distancing measure.

Grace, 16, head girl, said they had been wearing masks before but not in lessons.

She recognised the importance of wearing a mask but added: "It's a bit distracting, a bit annoying."

Dawid, 15, said: "Some people may find the testing and masks uncomfortable but I feel it's necessary. It's not ideal but it's something we have got to get used to."