Will Jefford

Bernard Matthews Foods will close its Derby processing factory on Shaftesbury Street South by the end of 2026 after consultations with employees and unions. The company attributes the closure to significant financial losses and external economic pressures, including Brexit, Covid-19, and conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. It says affected workers may receive redeployment opportunities or assistance finding alternative employment. The closure follows an earlier planned shutdown at the company's Norfolk headquarters, while production continues at sites in Sunderland and Holton, Suffolk.

Two lapwing fledglings have been spotted at Derby’s Sanctuary Bird and Wildlife Reserve following winter habitat-restoration work by Cura Terrae and Derby City Council. The site now includes short-vegetation plots, bare ground, gravel areas, water pools and wader scrapes designed for ground-nesting and wading birds. Common snipe, wheatears and linnets have also been recorded in 2026. The project aims to address habitat loss and disturbance contributing to the UK’s 55% decline in lapwing numbers since the 1960s, while establishing Derby’s first bird reserve as an urban breeding and migratory refuge.

Richile Vangu and Oluwatobiloba Akinrinola were jailed for 11 and seven years respectively after taking part in a robbery at a party in North Kilworth, Leicestershire. The victims were threatened with a knife, forced to transfer money and perform TikTok dances, and later subjected to assaults and humiliation at student accommodation. Vangu was found to have planned the offences and posted videos of them online, while Akinrinola was described as playing an essential role. Two other defendants were acquitted.

A trial date has been scheduled for 52‑year‑old Adrian Hardy, charged with murdering his mother, Joan Hardy, who was found with fatal stab wounds at a home in Linton, Derbyshire. Hardy did not appear for a scheduled hearing at Derby Crown Court and is expected to enter a plea in October, with the trial set for January 2027. Derbyshire Police confirmed the charge and said the victim’s family is receiving specialist support.

An inquest heard that Tommy Hunter died from unsurvivable head injuries after being struck by a car while walking home in Ashby-de-la-Zouch in December 2023. Forensic evidence indicated the initial impact occurred to his leg before a fatal head injury caused by the car’s windscreen. Crash analysis estimated the vehicle, driven by Brandon Beesla, was travelling close to the 50mph speed limit, with conditions making it unlikely the driver could have stopped in time. Beesla was later fined and banned from driving for operating a vehicle in a dangerous condition.

The Big Difference Company, organiser of the Leicester Comedy Festival, has filed a serious incident report with the Charity Commission amid financial problems that left many performers unpaid and led to the repossession of its Leicester arts venue. The commission is assessing its regulatory role while Equity continues assisting unpaid performers. Former venue manager Anthony Lamb has crowdfunded funds to reopen the repossessed space under a new name.

A murder investigation was launched after 42-year-old Ashley Menzel was found dead in a caravan on the A6 in Loughborough. Police said he had previously reported an altercation, and two men arrested on suspicion of murder remain on bail. His family paid tribute, describing him as a beloved relative who had recently been recovering from difficulties.

Anthony Lamb is seeking to take over the Leicester arts venue The Big Difference after its parent charity, Big Difference Company, lost possession due to unpaid rent and insurance. His crowdfunding campaign has raised over £16,000, enabling plans for a new venue called the Forum Porcorum, which he hopes to open by year’s end. The Big Difference Company previously cited cashflow issues that left many performers unpaid.

Police are investigating reports that schoolchildren injured several swans along the Chesterfield Canal in Retford. Nottinghamshire Police said specially trained officers are making significant progress and described the behaviour as unacceptable, with assurances that those responsible will be dealt with appropriately.

Edward Vines pleaded not guilty at Nottingham Crown Court to breaching a restraining order by sending a letter to journalist Emily Maitlis from HMP Nottingham in September 2025. He argued the order was issued under an incorrect statute, but the judge ruled it valid. A further court appearance is scheduled for 14 August.

Leicestershire County Council urged homeowners and landowners to monitor ash trees for signs of ash dieback, warning that weakened trees pose safety risks. The disease, caused by a fungal infection first detected in the UK in 2012, continues to severely affect the county's landscape. Officials highlighted symptoms such as thinning canopies and bark lesions and stressed the importance of properly managing affected trees to protect the public and the environment.

Fire crews returned to a large moorland wildfire near Arnfield Farm and Tintwistle Moor amid a new heatwave in England, warning walkers to avoid closed paths due to the danger posed by helicopter water drops. The blaze, which began on 24 June and has burned about 260 hectares, has repeatedly reignited. The fire service urged the public to follow safety guidance to reduce wildfire risks, including avoiding barbecues, campfires and discarded cigarette ends.

Christopher Sanders of Hinckley was jailed for 32 months after admitting to arranging child sex offences and possessing indecent images. Investigators found he used Skype to contact abuse facilitators in the Philippines, requesting violent material and urging them to make victims cry. The National Crime Agency linked him to multiple PayPal accounts and uncovered evidence on seized devices. Authorities state his behaviour was driven by sadistic motivations and would have continued without intervention.

Karen Glossop, who married her long-term partner Stephen in a hastily arranged ceremony at Ashgate Hospice, died less than a week after the event. Her family described her as loving and generous, expressing gratitude to hospice staff and local volunteers who organised the wedding within hours. Tributes highlighted her character and the special significance of the ceremony during her final days.

Chesterfield Borough Council approved plans by ALB Chesterfield to convert the upper floors of a former Marks & Spencer store into 40 flats, offering a mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom units aimed at professionals, couples, and young families. Developers say the project will support first-time buyers and strengthen the town centre, where a Tesco Express now occupies the ground floor.

A new mural in the Highcross shopping centre celebrates notable figures linked to Leicester from fields including public health, music, literature and community service. Created with Graffwerk, the artwork features individuals such as Prof Ivan Browne, Sir David Attenborough and Serge Pizzorno. Contributors highlighted its message of diversity, identity and community pride, with organisers describing the installation as a way to bring culture into the retail space.

A Court of Appeal panel rejected an attempt by Ansreen Bukhari to reduce her murder sentence for the deaths of Saqib Hussain and Hashim Ijazuddin, ruling the original sentencing properly considered mitigating factors. Her defence argued coercive and controlling behaviour by Hussain should have reduced her term, but judges found she played a central role in the events leading to the fatal A46 crash. The case involved a plot orchestrated with her daughter, TikTok influencer Mahek Bukhari, whose own minimum sentence had previously been reduced due to her age and immaturity. Other co-defendants received varying convictions ranging from murder to manslaughter, while one was acquitted.

An appeal by Ansreen Bukhari to reduce her murder sentence for the deaths of Saqib Hussain and Hashim Ijazuddin was rejected by the Court of Appeal, which ruled the original sentence was justified. Her legal team argued coercive and controlling behaviour by Hussain should have mitigated her punishment, but judges found these factors had already been considered and that she played a central role in the plot leading to the fatal A46 car chase. Multiple co-defendants were previously convicted or cleared in related proceedings, and her daughter, Mahek Bukhari, had her minimum term reduced in an earlier appeal due to her age and immaturity.