Samantha Noble

Eight men aged between 18 and 23 were arrested after police responded to a weapons-related fight on Winstanley Drive in Braunstone, Leicester. No serious injuries were reported. All were arrested on suspicion of affray, while some of the 18-year-olds also face allegations involving cannabis and crack cocaine supply. The men have been released on bail as Leicestershire Police continues investigating the incident and appeals for witnesses or video footage. Reassurance patrols are operating in the area.

Great Central Railway in Leicestershire has suspended steam locomotive services and temporarily switched to diesel-only trains following government wildfire warnings issued for England and Wales. The railway, which operates between Loughborough and Leicester North via several heritage stations, said it would resume steam services when conditions are safe, while continuing to welcome visitors.

A walker was rescued after falling about 70 metres down Y Gully on Mam Tor in Derbyshire. Edale and Buxton mountain rescue volunteers used a rope system to reach the casualty, who sustained significant but non-life-threatening injuries. After receiving treatment and pain relief, the person was stretchered to an ambulance and taken to hospital. The rescue team warned that Mam Tor’s Y Gully and East face are dangerous terrain traps with steep, loose ground and a risk of rockfall.

A railway bridge on the A5 Watling Street near Hinckley, previously named Britain’s most frequently struck bridge, was hit by lorries twice in two days. Network Rail found no structural damage after the second incident, but the strike caused 16 minutes of rail delays. The bridge was hit 22 times in the year to March 2025, while a planned scheme to lower the road beneath it has been delayed again.

A railway bridge on the A5 Watling Street near Hinckley was struck by lorries twice in two days, prompting road closures. Network Rail found no structural damage after the second incident, though the strikes caused 16 minutes of rail delays. The bridge was hit 22 times between April 2024 and March 2025, making it Britain's most frequently struck railway bridge, while a planned road-lowering scheme has been delayed again.

A westbound carriageway of the A38 in Derby was closed between the Heatherton junction and Toyota Island after a collision involving a car and a motorbike. Derbyshire Police confirmed the road had reopened at 19:50 BST but did not disclose the extent of any casualties. Drivers were advised to avoid the area or allow extra travel time.

Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service declared a major incident after multiple fires placed significant pressure on its operational resources and reduced pump availability. Crews tackled fires at Sherwood Pines and Strawberry Hill Heath in Rainworth, where about 36,000 square metres of woodland and undergrowth were affected. The service warned that response times to further incidents could be delayed, while urging residents not to light fires or discard cigarettes carelessly during exceptionally dry conditions. The fires are part of a wider series of outdoor blazes across Nottinghamshire during a prolonged dry spell, with July recorded as the driest month in England and Wales since Met Office records began.

Firefighters tackled a large woodland and shrubland fire at Strawberry Hill Heath in Rainworth, near Mansfield, with up to 12 crews, support from Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service, and a joint police and fire drone team. Residents were advised to avoid the area and keep doors and windows closed if affected by smoke. Crews expected to remain at the scene for many hours. The blaze was one of several outdoor fires reported in Nottinghamshire during an exceptionally dry spell, with July recorded as the driest month in England and Wales since Met Office records began.

Leicestershire Partnership Trust defended its decision to discontinue using the Oxevision digital monitoring system during testimony to the Lampard Inquiry, citing low patient consent and limited measurable benefits. Concerns raised by campaigners focused on privacy, dignity and potential over-reliance on surveillance in mental health units. Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust continues to expand the system’s use, arguing it supports patient recovery by reducing intrusive nighttime checks. Oxehealth, the system’s developer, maintains the technology improves inpatient safety, while the Information Commissioner’s Office is investigating its practices. NHS England emphasised that such monitoring must align with human rights standards and require patient consent.

Campaigners and local businesses report repeated closures, low water levels and maintenance issues on the Erewash Canal, with volunteers and users expressing frustration over communication from the Canal and River Trust. The canal has faced multiple shutdowns caused by dry weather, vandalism and lock misuse, leading to wildlife concerns and significant financial losses for operators such as Langley Mill Boatyard. The trust acknowledges communication shortcomings, highlights climate-related challenges and ongoing water management efforts, and plans improvements including new conservation locks, gate replacements and dredging.

Prolonged hot and dry weather has exposed the outline of the Great Parterre, a formal 17th Century garden beneath the south lawn at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire. Designed in 1699 for the 1st Duke of Devonshire and later replaced in the 1730s, the garden’s patterns become visible when the grass with shorter roots burns in high temperatures. Similar revelations occurred during dry spells in 2018 and 2022.

A BBC Radio Derby presenter reflects on choosing preventative double mastectomy at 24 after discovering she carried the BRCA1 mutation, following a similar decision by her mother, Wendy Watson. Both women describe the emotional and practical considerations involved, and Watson’s role in supporting others through her helpline. The 20‑year milestone coincides with BBC Radio Derby launching a hereditary cancer awareness campaign. Medical experts emphasize the importance of understanding family cancer history to guide screening and preventative options.

A New Mills homeowner reports repeated damage to his garden wall and structural issues in his terraced house caused by delivery lorries serving a neighbouring Sainsbury's Local. Despite repairs to the wall, he claims the supermarket has not addressed broader safety and structural concerns. A structural engineer warned that vehicle weight was affecting the property, and a solicitor’s letter has yet to receive a substantive response. Derbyshire County Council acknowledged the issue and plans to urge Sainsbury’s to better coordinate deliveries and improve driver awareness.

Testimony at an inquest into the death of footballer Maddy Cusack described how coach Jonathan Morgan allegedly made critical remarks about her, including calling her a "psycho," and contributed to her stress by inconsistent team selection and personal comments. Evidence detailed Cusack’s growing anxiety, changes in her behaviour, and concerns about her workload combining marketing duties with football commitments. Witnesses described her as increasingly unsettled, with altered eating habits and uncertainty about her future. The inquest continues.

Testimony at an inquest described how former Sheffield United player Maddy Cusack experienced anxiety and distress linked to comments and behaviour from coach Jonathan Morgan, including remarks about her weight, relationship and playing time. Witnesses said she struggled with stress, changes in her role, long working hours and concerns about confidentiality. She had taken sick leave, received anti-anxiety medication and expressed a desire to leave football before her death in September 2023. The inquest continues.

An inquest heard that footballer Maddy Cusack feared stigma around mental health and avoided disclosing her condition before her death in 2023. Her father testified that changes to her contract, long working hours, and the arrival of a coach she disliked contributed to her anxiety and declining well-being. He said she became demotivated and struggled to balance full-time playing with part-time marketing work for Sheffield United. The court heard she received little support from the club and avoided mental health disclosures out of fear of being ridiculed or removed from the team. Sheffield United’s internal review found no wrongdoing. The inquest continues.

Testimony at an inquest described footballer Maddy Cusack’s concerns about being stigmatised for mental‑health difficulties and her deteriorating wellbeing in the months before her death in 2023. Her father said a difficult relationship with coach Jonathan Morgan and an unfavourable new full‑time contract at Sheffield United left her anxious, demotivated and struggling to balance football with marketing work. The court heard she feared disclosing mental‑health issues and received no psychotherapy support from the club. Medical evidence confirmed she had anxiety and sleep problems but avoided a specific diagnosis on sick notes to prevent stigma. Her father asserted that those he believes responsible should be held accountable. Sheffield United’s internal investigation found no wrongdoing. The inquest continues.