Stolen cancer support dog reunited with ownerpublished at 17:01 British Summer Time 24 May 2021
Purdey's owners say they were "so, so happy" to have her back home in Leicestershire.
Read MoreStolen cancer support dog reunited with ownerpublished at 17:01 British Summer Time 24 May 2021
Leicester's former mayor dies after long illnesspublished at 15:31 British Summer Time 24 May 2021
Alex Regan
BBC NewsA former mayor of Leicester has died after a long illness.
John Thomas, who was also a long-serving councillor, passed away on Saturday after being "unwell for some time", a Leicester City Council spokeswoman said.
The local Labour politician was first elected to the county council in 1993, before becoming a city councillor in 1995.
Mr Thomas, who served as lord mayor between 2014 and 2015, presided over the reburial of King Richard III.
Image source, Leicester City CouncilIn 2019 he resigned as chairman of the Leicester East constituency Labour party (CLP) in protest to the leadership choosing Claudia Webbe as its parliamentary candidate.
In a letter that criticised Jeremy Corbyn, he wrote he "can no longer follow the clown that leads" the party.
Most recently Mr Thomas represented the ward of Humberstone and Hamilton.
The city council offered its "sincere condolences to his family and friends".
Pensioner seriously injured after being hit by carpublished at 14:55 British Summer Time 24 May 2021
Alex Regan
BBC NewsA pedestrian, in his 70s, has been taken to hospital with serious injuries after being hit by a car, police said.
The man was struck by a white Ford Fiesta while walking in Breedon on the Hill, Leicestershire, on Sunday night.
Officers were called to Ashby Road near the junction with Burney Lane and Nottingham Road at about 23:30.
Image source, GoogleThe pedestrian was taken to the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham, where he remains in a stable condition.
No arrests have been made and police are appealing for anyone who saw the crash, or has dashcam footage, to come forward.
Paul Smith exhibition to form part of castle reopeningpublished at 13:39 British Summer Time 24 May 2021
Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News OnlineA new exhibition highlighting the work of fashion designer Paul Smith will be part of Nottingham Castle's reopening, it has been announced.
Mr Smith, who grew up in the city, has made his name in suits and trademark thin-striped patterns.
Image source, Nottingham Castle TrustThe exhibition, called Hello, My Name is Paul Smith will contain more than 1,500 objects related to his life and work.
This includes the Paul Smith Mini and a recreation of his first 3m x 3m (10ft x10ft) shop in Nottingham.
The castle and exhibition will open on 21 June following a major refurbishment programme.
Police still on site at pro-Palestine drone factory protestpublished at 13:10 British Summer Time 24 May 2021
Liam Barnes
BBC NewsPolice officers are remaining at a drone factory as a pro-Palestine protest enters its sixth day.
Members of campaign group Palestine Action have been occupying Israeli-owned Elbit Systems subsidiary UAV Tactical Systems in Leicester since last Wednesday.
The group said its members are continuing to carry out "escalating disruption in order to further harm Elbit's profits" and stop drones being used in the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
Two activists who were arrested on Friday have been bailed, while another two have been released, but Leicestershire Police said it is "continuing to maintain an open dialogue with two people who remain on the roof of the business premises".
Elbit has not commented on the protest.
Image source, Guy SmallmanMan who fraudulently sold Big Issue magazines jailedpublished at 12:18 British Summer Time 24 May 2021
Alex Regan
BBC NewsA man who fraudulently sold Big Issue magazines has been jailed for 14 weeks.
Chris Brealey, 53, of Birkin Avenue, Hyson Green, Nottingham, admitted four counts of fraud and one of antisocial behaviour at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on 13 May, Nottinghamshire Police said.
The force also successfully applied for a criminal behaviour order, which prevents Brealey from selling magazines in Nottingham city centre for three years.
Image source, Nottinghamshire PoliceSgt Paul Whitehead said: "Rogue vending of the Big Issue undermines the hard work of legitimate vendors, whilst fraudulently taking money from members of the public, which are behaviours which must be challenged."
Man jailed for sofa sex attackpublished at 10:38 British Summer Time 24 May 2021
Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News OnlineA man has been jailed for an attack on a woman which started when she was asleep on a sofa.
The assault took place in a house in Strelley, Nottingham, earlier this year while the woman was staying as a guest.
Sihle Kunene, 26, began his attack as she slept but it continued after she woke up.
At that point, police said, the woman challenged Kunene who then got up and left.
Image source, Nottinghamshire PoliceAfter initially denying the crime, Kunene, of Cobden Street, Radford, pleaded guilty to sexual assault on the first day of his trial in March.
At Nottingham Crown Court on 14 May he was sentenced to one year and eight months in jail and will be placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years.
Det Con Simon Hary said: "Kunene cowardly sexually assaulted a young woman while she was asleep and constantly denied the offence until forensic evidence left him no choice but to plead guilty on the first day of trial.
"His continuous denial has caused even more untold physical and emotional pain for his victim."
Notts complete remarkable win over Pearspublished at 08:09 British Summer Time 24 May 2021
Notts take 14 wickets on the last day to earn an innings and 170-run win over Worcestershire and go top of Group One.
Read MoreToday's weather for the East Midlandspublished at 08:00 British Summer Time 24 May 2021
More mixed messages from May in today's weather, with a light breeze across the region and temperatures topping out at about 12C (53F) as some areas are set to experience yet more spells of hail and rain.
Today's BBC Weather Watchers picture comes from Scrappy in Kegworth.
Image source, Scrappy
