Ben Carr

A railway bridge on the A5 Watling Street near Hinckley was struck by a lorry, causing a temporary road closure. The bridge has been hit by tall vehicles more than 25 times since March 2025. Mountpark had agreed to lower the road by 51cm as part of plans for a nearby logistics park, but Network Rail has not yet approved the proposal.

East Midlands Railway will restore eight weekday and four weekend Intercity services from 31 August after reducing its timetable in July because of reliability problems affecting its Aurora Class 810 and older Class 222 fleets. The operator says the reduced schedule improved stability and cut short-notice cancellations, raising service coverage from 87% to 92% of the planned timetable, including routes serving Nottingham and Sheffield. EMR and Hitachi Rail are implementing an action plan involving increased maintenance, improved component availability and additional testing capacity, while the RMT continues to raise safety concerns and conduct strike action.

Mark Crampton, 54, has been charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent after a 32-year-old man was attacked with a knife on Bembridge Drive in Bestwood near Sandy Banks Nature Reserve. The victim suffered slash injuries to his chest, back and legs and was taken to hospital. A woman and a teenage boy previously arrested in connection with the incident were released on conditional bail, while police appealed for witnesses.

A field fire in Mountsorrel, Leicestershire, was reportedly started deliberately after four small fires were lit near Granite Way. Four young people were seen acting suspiciously, and their descriptions were passed to Leicestershire Police. Fire crews brought the blaze under control, while CCTV footage from fire appliances is being provided as evidence to support the investigation.

Police patrols have been increased at Newstead and Annesley Country Park in Nottinghamshire after a woman was seriously sexually assaulted in a wooded area shortly after 11:00 BST on Tuesday. Nottinghamshire Police said investigations were continuing and described the suspect as a white man in his 30s. Detective Inspector Ed Cook said such incidents were extremely rare but concerning, and urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious behaviour.

Tom Paterson has applied for permission to redevelop the former pub and nightclub at 52 St Mary Street in Ilkeston into 10 flats through partial demolition and an extension. Erewash Borough Council previously rejected his 2025 proposal to convert the building into a 19-bedroom house in multiple occupation. The new application is expected to be decided later in 2026.

Specialist wildfire crews and fire engines responded to an outdoor blaze near Skipton Circus in Sneinton. At the height of the incident, six fire engines and two wildfire units attended. Residents affected by smoke were advised to keep doors and windows closed, and all crews had left the scene by 21:30 BST.

Ashfield District Council has approved outline planning permission for 149 homes on a 16-acre site off Alfreton Road in Selston. The development will include 465 square metres of convenience retail space, with at least 25% of the homes designated as affordable. Developer contributions will support healthcare, secondary and special educational needs provision, and local bus services.

Derbyshire County Council has accepted a £2.4 million grant from the East Midlands Combined County Authority to help host stage two of the 2027 Tour de France Femmes. The route is planned to run from Manchester to Sheffield through locations including Winnats Pass, Snake Pass, Buxton and Glossop. Funding will support traffic management, road resurfacing, safety measures and other operational costs, although final approvals and a business case are still required. Council leader Alan Graves said the event could boost tourism and encourage cycling, while acknowledging that road closures and extensive planning will be necessary.

East Midlands mayor Claire Ward is urging the government to reconsider proposals to cancel the £600m A38 improvements in Derby and the A46 Newark Bypass in Nottinghamshire to help fund higher defence spending. She argues that defence and infrastructure should not be treated as competing priorities, particularly because the region receives significantly below-average transport spending. Newark and Sherwood District Council leader Paul Peacock also supports the A46 project, citing severe congestion around Newark. Both schemes were intended to improve capacity and reduce bottlenecks, but their cancellation remains under proposal rather than a final decision.

A school uniform donation hub will return to Derby’s Derbion Community Hub from 10 to 14 August, allowing families to obtain uniforms at heavily discounted prices. Run by the Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance, the scheme supported nearly 300 children last year amid rising household expenses. Families can be referred or apply directly, while Derbion is also hosting a uniform donation box outside Sainsbury’s.

Planning permission has been granted to convert the Old Crown pub in Rothley into a combined hair salon and café that becomes a wine bar in the evenings. Planning documents describe the project as a sustainable reuse of a key village site and indicate the development will create about 14 jobs. Three off‑street parking spaces reserved for salon customers will remain as part of the redevelopment.

Fire crews in Leicestershire tackled substantial fires at Shawell Quarry and Garendon Park, prompting warnings amid an extended hot and dry spell. Both fires remain under investigation, with follow‑up inspections scheduled. The UK’s prolonged dry conditions have contributed to a rise in wildfires, including a major incident at Tintwistle Moor in Derbyshire. Authorities urge the public to exercise caution with potential fire‑starting activities and to report any fires immediately.

Farmers in Leicestershire report declining milk yields as hotter summers force herds indoors and increase demand for fans and misting systems to cool cattle. Tim Dixon notes a significant drop in milk production during heatwaves, while Amy Eggleston and others say more farmers are investing in cooling technology. Melton Mowbray Market is evaluating adaptations for warmer conditions, and RT Dairy Services highlights advancements in temperature‑monitoring and automated fan systems.

A proposal has been submitted to convert the former Wilko store and a former nightclub in Mansfield into 22 retail units and a self‑storage facility, with modifications planned for the existing car park. The site has remained vacant since Wilko’s 2023 collapse, which led to the closure of 400 stores. Mansfield District Council is reviewing the application, which aims to enhance the town centre’s retail offering through smaller subdivided units modeled on a retail park layout.

Wheeldon Brothers Ltd has applied for outline planning permission to build 160 homes, including 72 affordable units, on agricultural land north of Hungerhill Close near Breadsall Hilltop in Derbyshire. Planning documents highlight sustainable travel links and access to local amenities. The proposal, which borders the Great Northern Greenway, is expected to be reviewed by Erewash Borough Council later in the year.

Becky Measures and her mother Wendy Watson describe their decisions to undergo preventative double mastectomies after discovering they carried the BRCA1 gene mutation, sharing how family cancer diagnoses shaped their choices. Watson, founder of the National Hereditary Breast Cancer Helpline, recounts her early surgery and advocacy work, while Measures reflects on her own experience, reconstruction, and commitment to supporting others. BBC Radio Derby launches the It Starts With You campaign to raise awareness of hereditary cancers, supported by medical professionals who emphasise the importance of understanding family medical history and considering screening and preventive options.

The health secretary is seeking legal advice on whether senior clinicians who refused to contribute to the Ockenden Review of Nottingham maternity services can be compelled to give evidence under proposed accountability legislation. The review found widespread systemic failures and hundreds of potentially avoidable poor outcomes, but noted gaps due to non-cooperation by senior staff. Government plans include measures that would force NHS personnel to engage with future investigations, with penalties for refusal, alongside progress on the proposed Hillsborough Law aimed at improving transparency after major incidents.

The health secretary is seeking legal advice on whether senior clinicians who refused to participate in the Ockenden Review of Nottingham maternity services can be compelled to testify under proposed legislation. The inquiry identified widespread systemic failures and potentially avoidable harm across hundreds of cases, but key evidence was missing due to non‑cooperation from senior staff. Government plans include measures to compel NHS staff to engage with future reviews and the possible introduction of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill to strengthen transparency and accountability after major incidents. Families of affected patients continue to demand meaningful accountability and improved maternity safety.

Police arrested a man in his 40s on suspicion of attempted murder after a man in his 20s was found seriously injured in a stabbing at flats on Town Street in Sandiacre. Both men were taken to hospital, with the victim in serious but stable condition and the suspect treated for non‑life‑threatening injuries. A police cordon remains in place as inquiries continue.

Six men were jailed after police discovered a fortified warehouse in Mansfield containing nearly 5,000 cannabis plants valued at up to £3 million. Officers were alerted by a strong smell and found an extensive, sophisticated growing operation with multiple cultivation areas. The judge acknowledged the scale of the operation but accepted that the defendants played lesser roles. Sentences ranged from 22 to 36 months. Police described it as the largest cannabis seizure in the force’s history.

A grieving grandmother from Leicester says improvements to maternity services are happening too slowly following a national investigation that highlighted inconsistent and unsafe care at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust. The report, led by Baroness Valerie Amos, detailed long waits, poor triage, inadequate facilities and staff shortages, alongside concerns about whether lessons were being properly learned from previous cases of baby deaths and harm. Trust leaders apologised, acknowledging failings while citing ongoing improvements, but families and campaigners expressed frustration at the pace of change and called for stronger oversight, including a dedicated maternity and neonatal commissioner.