Greig Watson

A whitethroat recovering at Leicestershire Wildlife Hospital after being hit by a car has been fitted with tiny handmade boots to help its curled feet regain strength and grip. Staff made the footwear from cardboard, cotton wool and micropore tape, and expect to release the bird within a few days. The hospital noted that whitethroats are summer migrants from Africa and are amber-listed because their numbers are declining.

Three people, including a 15-year-old boy, have been arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent after a 32-year-old man was attacked with a knife on Bembridge Drive in Arnold, near Sandy Banks Nature Reserve. The victim suffered multiple slash injuries to his chest, back and legs, but they are not considered life-threatening or life-altering. Nottinghamshire Police said the investigation remains ongoing and appealed for information.

Fire crews spent the night tackling a major blaze at Strawberry Hill Heath near Rainworth in Nottinghamshire. About nine acres of the nature reserve were affected, with up to 12 crews, a specialist wildfire vehicle and a police-and-fire drone team deployed. Eight appliances returned on Sunday morning after staffing was reduced overnight, and the fire service said the flames had been contained and the incident was under control. The public was advised to avoid the area, while residents affected by smoke were told to keep doors and windows closed. The fire occurred during an exceptionally dry spell and follows several other wildfires in Nottinghamshire this summer.

Fire crews returned to Strawberry Hill Heath near Rainworth after a large woodland fire affected about nine acres. The blaze was contained and under control by Sunday morning after reaching a peak of 12 crews, with residents advised to avoid the area and close windows if affected by smoke. The nature reserve, a Site of Special Scientific Interest and remnant of Sherwood Forest heathland, has experienced several wildfires this summer amid an exceptionally dry spell across England and Wales.

Four Leicestershire household waste and recycling centres—Bottesford, Lutterworth, Oadby and Shepshed—will temporarily close in August because unprecedented demand, driver shortages, industry-wide treatment delays and reduced processing capacity have created a backlog. Staff and resources will be redeployed to keep remaining sites operating safely. Lount is already closed for building work, while some centres have restrictions on the types of waste they can accept.

A 24-hour CCTV emergency help point has been installed on Angel Row in Nottingham city centre after a survey found that women and girls wanted greater security there. Funded with £20,000 approved by the Nottinghamshire police and crime commissioner, the device connects people in distress to city council CCTV operators, who can provide guidance, record evidence or call police. Officials and Tara's Angels support it as an accessible first step in addressing violence against women and girls, while acknowledging that broader preventative measures are needed.

A Sunday band concert in Leicester in 1856 became a flashpoint in Britain’s long-running dispute over strict sabbath observance. Reformers argued that public music and other “improving” entertainments offered workers an alternative to pubs and reflected individual liberty, while evangelical sabbatarians opposed Sunday recreation. Although authorities lacked a direct law banning the concert, they used a contested trespass argument to fine organizer Thomas Coltman £1. The controversy helped divide Leicester politically, contributing to the defeat of reform-minded MP Joshua Walmsley, while broader Sunday-entertainment freedoms were only introduced gradually through legislation in 1932, 1972 and 1994.

Police arrested a woman in her 30s on suspicion of attempted murder after a man was found with serious but non-life-threatening injuries in Brimington near Chesterfield. Officers sealed off a property on Cross Street and continue to investigate while the suspect remains in custody.

Emergency services responded to a field fire near the A610 in Nuthall that caused £10,000 in crop damage and was determined to have been started deliberately. Police are seeking information about a teenage boy seen in the area prior to the blaze, while praising the fire service for containing the incident. Authorities are urging the public to provide any relevant information to assist the investigation.

Firefighters are expected to continue tackling the major moorland wildfire on Tintwistle Moor into next week, with merged fires from Saddleworth and Swineshaw moors complicating the response. The Woodhead Pass remains closed, helicopters are conducting water drops, and crews are focusing on four key areas as shifting winds may push smoke toward Derbyshire communities. Emergency services urge the public to avoid the area and keep windows closed.

Harborough District Council plans to postpone the start of weekly food waste collections by six months due to delays in receiving specialist collection vehicles. Officials recommend launching the service on 1 April 2027 to align with other contract renewals and avoid the busy holiday period. Households are expected to receive indoor and kerbside bins with biodegradable liners, and cabinet members will review the proposal on 27 July. A previous BBC investigation found many councils were unlikely to meet initial national deadlines for food waste rollout.

A £100m plan to redevelop the disused Derby Assembly Rooms site has been approved, allowing demolition of the existing buildings and development of a cultural venue, hotel and office space. The council’s planning committee noted that design specifics remain undecided but said approval was needed to progress the long-delayed project. Objections included a petition opposing the cost and calls to refurbish the current structure, though demolition had already been approved separately. Officials said the redevelopment offers an opportunity to revitalise the historic city centre and marks the first stage of a lengthy process.

A 15-year-old boy was arrested after a pupil was stabbed in the leg at Saint Benedict Catholic Voluntary Academy in Derby. Police responded shortly before 14:40 BST and reported the injury as minor. The suspect was arrested on suspicion of assault and possession of an offensive weapon and later released on bail. The school stated the incident was handled quickly and according to established procedures, emphasizing student and staff safety as a priority.

Derbyshire’s A54 Cat and Fiddle road will close in two phases for major maintenance and safety upgrades, including surfacing, drainage improvements, earth bank reinforcement, and barrier repairs. The first phase runs from July to October 2026, with a second phase planned for spring 2027. Access for local properties and businesses will remain available, and a signed diversion will be provided.

A car crashed through the front of a Morrisons supermarket in Netherfield, prompting an evacuation while structural safety checks were carried out. No injuries were reported, and police asked the public to avoid the area during ongoing safety and recovery operations.

A partial building collapse in Leicester city centre caused minor injuries to one person and led to the evacuation of nearby properties. Emergency services closed several surrounding roads, treated the injured person at the scene and began assessing structural damage. Police confirmed the incident was not caused by an explosion.

Emergency services responded to a large fire affecting several fields on the Nottinghamshire–Derbyshire border, with flames and smoke visible from Mansfield and Bolsover. Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire fire crews deployed 10 engines to contain the blaze and urged the public to avoid the area and refrain from flying drones. Derbyshire’s fire service reported high demand as it continued efforts on a separate long‑running moorland wildfire at Tintwistle Moor.

Rutland County Council reaffirmed its decision not to display the 180‑million‑year‑old Rutland Sea Dragon fossil, citing rising costs that added £1m to an already planned museum renovation. A campaign led by Friends of Rutland County Museum and supported by local MP Alicia Kearns urged reconsideration, arguing the fossil was of major local significance, but councillors said funding constraints made the project unviable. The council will instead pursue a digital exhibit of the ichthyosaur and a Roman mosaic using £2m in Levelling Up funding.

A £12.4m refurbishment has expanded the endoscopy unit at Queen’s Medical Centre, increasing capacity for complex therapeutic procedures by 50% and enabling treatment of around 1,200 additional patients annually. The upgraded facility features more procedure rooms, improved patient flow, and enhanced privacy. Staff say the modernised environment will reduce pressure on operating theatres and shorten waiting times. Patients and clinicians describe the new unit as more spacious, better equipped, and capable of handling more complex cases from across the region.

The UK’s data regulator has launched an investigation into whether Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust failed to meet legal requirements when responding to families’ requests for information linked to the Nottingham maternity scandal. Families say delays lasting years have intensified their grief and distrust, while the trust has apologised for the impact and pledged improvements. The inquiry follows a major review that found extensive failings in maternity care which resulted in avoidable harm or deaths to more than 500 mothers and babies.

Two motorcycle enthusiasts are recreating Marjorie Cottle’s 1926 promotional ride from London to Edinburgh, tracing as much of her 1,177‑mile Raleigh‑shaped route as modern roads allow. Riding vintage Raleigh machines, they are replicating her schedule, carrying a letter between city officials and staying in the same towns, despite the physical strain of handling century‑old bikes. The event highlights the historical significance of early British motorcycles while raising funds for Parkinson’s UK and Shooting Stars children’s hospices.

Police in Nottingham have seized more than 60 illegal e-bikes and scooters as part of Operation Wrangel, an effort launched to address dangerous riding in pedestrianised areas. Testing found that most stopped vehicles failed to meet UK Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles regulations, with some capable of speeds over 70 mph. Dozens of offenders have been prosecuted, incurring fines and licence penalties. Alongside enforcement, officers have distributed educational materials to promote compliance. Local police leaders report improved public safety and emphasise ongoing efforts to address community concerns.

A man in his 60s died after being found injured in a ditch on Sheepy Road in Twycross, Leicestershire. Emergency services were alerted late Friday morning, and a silver Triumph Thruxton motorcycle was located nearby. Despite assistance from responders, the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Police are appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage from the area.

The chief executive of Swim England, Andy Salmon, has stepped down with immediate effect after overseeing leadership changes, safeguarding reforms, and structural reorganisation during his two-year tenure. His departure follows a review revealing a toxic culture marked by bullying, abusive training practices, and fear of victimisation within swimming in England. Swim England’s chair credited Salmon with initiating improvements and stabilising the organisation. An interim chief executive will be appointed while recruitment for a permanent successor begins.

Police are investigating links between an armed robbery at a Leicester convenience store and a similar raid at a Glenfield bookmakers. Two masked men threatened staff at the store with a suspected pistol, injured one person and fled with cash. Detectives cite similarities in method and proximity to the earlier betting shop robbery. Officers are reviewing CCTV, conducting forensic examinations and appealing for witnesses or relevant footage.

An investigation determined that a fire at Leicester’s Alexandra House was accidental, caused by an electrical fault that ignited nearby clothing. Fire crews responded to the fourth-floor blaze, which required the closure of several city centre streets. No injuries were reported, and the building’s historical significance as a Victorian warehouse formerly used by Faire Bros Ltd was noted.

An exhibition at Clumber Park explores the history of the demolished Clumber House, once home to the Dukes of Newcastle. Curated by University of Nottingham academics with the National Trust, it features records, documents and personal items spanning the estate’s construction, fires and eventual demolition. The display includes scorched archival materials, catalogues, visitor books and family drawings, offering insight into the house’s life and legacy. Running until spring 2027, the exhibition highlights the contributions of past owners and estate staff while showcasing the surviving parkland now cared for by the National Trust.

A critical incident remains active across Nottingham’s main hospitals as high patient numbers and long waits continue despite some improvements. The Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust reported sustained pressure in emergency departments, including many patients waiting to be seen and ambulances queued outside. Staff are working under challenging conditions, and the trust expects the incident to stay in place overnight. The public has been asked to help reduce strain by collecting relatives ready for discharge, using emergency services only for serious issues, and avoiding visits when experiencing flu or respiratory symptoms.

Four teenagers were arrested after a 16‑year‑old boy was stabbed on Carlton Road in Sneinton, Nottingham, sustaining serious injuries. Three 16‑year‑old boys were detained on suspicion of attempted murder, and a 14‑year‑old girl on suspicion of assisting an offender, with all remaining in custody. Police said the incident caused significant community concern and promised an increased visible presence in the area.