The City's new Lord Mayor has been presented with the chain of office at a ceremony at Leicester’s Town Hall. Cllr Kulwinder Singh Johal, who has represented Braunstone Park & Rowley Fields ward since 2015, was sworn in as the city’s first citizen at a meeting of the full council on Thursday 14 May. Picture caption: The Lord Mayor of Leicester, Cllr Kulwinder Singh Johal At the ceremony, the new Lord Mayor announced he would be supporting two charities in his mayoral year: th

The police were called in after the fire service discovered a cannabis grow operation last night. Police investigations are ongoing. A spokesperson from Leicestershire said: "Police received a call from Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) shortly after 7pm last night (Thursday 14 May) after they had discovered a cannabis grow in a building on East Park Road while attending a report of a fire. Pictures by Leicester Media Online Around 400 plants were found inside the

Fire and police are currently investigating a fire on East Park Road in Leicester tonight. A fire crews from Leicestershire Fire and Rescue service attended after reports of a fire earlier tonight, on the Third Floor of the Imperial building. Police have now cordoned off the rear to the building. It's believed the fire is now extinguished and investigation will take place shortly. More to follow.

2Funky Arts is launching an exciting paid opportunity for artists of Black, African and Caribbean heritage to be part of their acclaimed, annual And Still I Rise Midlands tour - a production for Black History Month. Ten outstanding creatives will be selected to present powerful new work - celebrating the strength, spirit and vibrancy of Black culture. Friday 23rd October- Leicester, The Y Theatre Each artist will develop an original 6–7-minute performance, exploring themes

The Great Central Railway (GCR) has announced the launch of its official Patreon page, offering supporters a new way to contribute to the preservation and development of the historic railway through affordable monthly donations. The initiative responds to a long-standing sentiment among supporters – “If everyone who loved the GCR just gave a small amount each month…” – by providing a simple and accessible platform to do exactly that. Patreon, a widely used online membership

This May will see Pirates take over the planetarium at the National Space Centre as things take a sharp turn into full swashbuckling chaos with an after-hours Pirate Party that celebrates the 30th anniversary of Muppet Treasure Islandand featuring film screenings, live music performance, treasure hunts, access to the galleries, and pirate-themed fun. Held on Friday 22 May, this special evening event transforms the Centre into a pirate’s playground, with film, live music p

Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews has announced the relaunch of a service designed to resolve crime without involving the courts to successfully rehabilitate offenders. Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews The Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland PCC has awarded a contract to community support specialist Ingeus to provide an Out of Court Resolution (OOCR) service for eligible adult offenders across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland for the next two y

A New booklet aimed at supporting men’s mental heath has been launched during Mental Health Awareness Week. The booklet brings together clear, practical guidance and information on local mental health, physical health and wellbeing services. It has been developed by Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, the city and county councils’ public health teams, clinicians and local men’s community groups. DOWNLOAD IT HERE Mens-MH-Booklet-FINAL-DIGITAL-V1-MAY-2026.pdf This week is Men

The crucial role of foster carers is in the spotlight for the UK’s biggest annual awareness-raising campaign for fostering. Foster Care Fortnight runs from 11-24 May, and as part of the campaign, Leicester City Council is encouraging people in the city to consider becoming foster carers. This year’s theme shines a light on the everyday realities of fostering, raising awareness of the profound impact foster carers have on children’s lives. Called ‘This is Fostering’, it celebr

The Jalaram temple on Leicester’s Narborough Road is the latest city building to be fitted with a community public access defibrillator, or CPAD, making it available for use at any time of the day or night. It’s one of 14 installed in Leicester this year alone, thanks in part to the support of Cllr Aldred who has chosen to raise funds for local heart charity, the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust (JHMT), during her mayoral year. Other sites include the Peepul Centre in Belgrave, t

Officers investigating incidents of fraud have issued a warning to others after two people have been targeted this week. Yesterday (Tuesday 12 May), two victims reported being contacted by someone pretending to a police officer in offences commonly known as courier fraud. Courier fraud occurs when a fraudster contacts the victim claiming to be a police officer or bank official. The fraudster, using calling by phone, sounds plausible and may confirm the victim’s name and addre

Ten years to the day since Tim Peake’s dramatic return to Earth, Britain’s most renowned astronaut will be returning to the National Space Centre to celebrate not only the milestone, but also the continuation of his inspirational legacy. Whats On Date 8th Jun 2026 Visitors can expect a truly immersive experience. Tim will meet with schoolchildren and community groups, recreate and discuss some of the education experiments he conducted aboard the International Space Station,

Grab yourself a GI and join us on the dancefloor for a jitterbug and jive, because this May the Great Central Railway is stepping straight back into the 1940s. Returning on 30–31 May 2026, the much-loved 1940s Weekend, A Celebration of Blighty, invites visitors to experience the sights, sounds and spirit of a post wartime Britain. Whats On Across the two-day event, the Great Central Railway’s period stations will be transformed into a tribute to the 1940s, with vintage train

Two brothers who spent years fabricating lies to prevent justice in a child sex offence case have been jailed - thanks to the persistence of a Leicestershire detective. John and James Siddell were sentenced at Leicester Crown Court today (Tuesday 12 May) to a total of more than 17 years after police uncovered their calculated and prolonged deception. For more than four years, the brothers went to extreme lengths to repeatedly mislead authorities about the severity of John’s h

People of all backgrounds and levels of experience are encouraged to get involved Nature lovers are being invited to get involved to help local wildlife thrive across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. 100 Indicator Species have been identified to help track the state of nature across the area, and these can show a lot about how well local habitats are working and how they’re responding to conservation efforts. Leicestershire County Council is leading the Local Nature Rec

A Man who was convicted of murder and sentenced to death in 1778, only to be saved by a royal pardon, will be ‘re-tried’ by a contemporary jury at Leicester’s Guildhall on Saturday (16 May). Members of the audience at the reenactment of The Trial of Francois Soulés will hear how John Fenton lost his life when a shot was fired at him during a scuffle on 16 May 1778. Evidence from the original trial will be presented to the ‘jury’ – selected at random from the audience – which

Congratulations to Inspector Rowan Paterson‑Bell as he takes on the role of Neighbourhood Policing Area (NPA) Commander for Melton and Rutland. Inspector Paterson‑Bell on his appointment Inspector Paterson‑Bell brings with him more than 22 years of service with Leicestershire Police, alongside a wealth of experience across operational and neighbourhood policing. He is strongly committed to maintaining and strengthening public safety while continuing the positive work already

Police officers are appealing for help to identify a man after a woman was sexually assaulted on a bus travelling from Leicester to Market Harborough. The incident happened on the X7 service just after 1pm on Friday 17 April. The man, who was sat next to the victim, touched her on her breast several times during the journey. The victim got off the bus at a stop in Market Harborough and the man remained on it when it left and is known to have got off in Market Harborough town

Calling all Dancing Queens, this is your night to say, Thank you for the Music! FRIDAY 05 JUNE 2026, 19:30 At the Curve, 60 Rutland Street, Leicester, LE1 1SB This international smash-hit tribute show brings all ABBA’s number one hits to the stage in a production like no other. The hugely popular show, now in its 22nd year, combines the unmistakable harmonies, colourful costumes, and dazzling performances by our all-star cast. Join us for the party of the year, you can dance

Fire crews are currently battling a blaze in a flat on Fosse Road North in Leicester tonight (Monday 11 May) Three fire crews from Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service attended around 9:30 p.m. Road closures are in place between Stephenson Drive and Battenberg Road. Pictures by Leicester Media Online This is affecting local bus services. The fire is now under control and residents were safely evacuated. Warning: Video Includes Flashing Lights Please avoid the area if possib

The Leicester Food Festival 2026 takes place on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th August at Abbey Park, offering a vibrant mix of food, drinks, live music, and family-friendly activities. The Leicester Food Festival is set to be one of the biggest culinary events of the year, returning to Abbey Park in Leicester for a weekend of food, entertainment, and fun for all ages. The festival is family-friendly, welcoming visitors of all ages, with only registered guide dogs permitted for s

Street security patrols will continue in Loughborough town centre following a successful first year. The patrols provide a visible presence to help tackle retail crime and anti-social behaviour. The scheme is being funded and led through Charnwood Borough Council and Love Loughborough BID. Following the introduction of the programme in 2025, the street patrols have supported 127 individual businesses directly and visited Loughborough businesses on over 3,000 occasions. Cllr J

Multi award-winning charity Circus Starr are bringing its inclusive and sensory‑friendly circus shows nationally starting in Leicester this month. They will be touring a brand new show offering unforgettable and magical experiences, specifically tailored for SEND and neurodivergent children and their families. Their performances take place in 74 locations throughout the UK and organisers strive to create a welcoming and inclusive space so that families can attend without fear

An investigation into an assault in Sweetbriar Road, Leicester, yesterday morning (Sunday 10 May), continues. The incident was reported at 11.25am, the 33-year-old victim was taken to hospital for treatment, he has since been discharged. A 51-year-old woman, who was arrested on suspicion of Section 18 Grievous Bodily Harm with intent, has since been released on bail pending further enquiries. The scene was cordoned off while enquiries were ongoing at the scene but that has