A group of Leicestershire cyclists have embarked on a 220-mile challenge in the hope of securing national recognition for a new long-distance cycling route that would put the county on the map for ‘bikepacking’ adventure tourism. The proposed ‘King's End’ route will link key historic sites, countryside landscapes and independent cafés across Leicester and Leicestershire, with the hope that it will be included in Cycling UK's prestigious ‘Adventure Series’ - potentially makin

New backing for businesses to protect their livelihoods and staff from crime Businesses across Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland are to benefit from extra high-tech security resources to tackle retail crime and protect their employees thanks to a new funding boost. Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews has shared £46,853 between nine local councils and Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) as part of his mission to safeguard local livelihoods and support joint sol

Family activities, expert talks and commemorative plaque unveiling mark Leicester's role in Britain's pioneering Mars mission The National Space Centre and UK Space Agency are inviting families and enthusiasts to celebrate one of the UK's most remarkable achievements in space exploration at a special Beagle 2 Celebration Day on Sunday 7 June 2026. Included with normal admission, the day will commemorate the Beagle 2 Mars mission and the vital role Leicester played in its st

A special event has been held at the Glenfield Hospital to thank a volunteer who has supported UHL’s cardiac rehabilitation (rehab) classes for 20 years. Roger Latham has been a consistent presence at classes held at the National Centre for Sports and Exercise Medicine in Loughborough and at the Glenfield Hospital since taking part in a rehab programme himself, in 2006. The cardiac rehab service at UHL supports patients in their recovery from a heart attack, heart surgery or

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL) is continuing to help more children get treatment sooner through its paediatric super week initiative, which brings together surgical teams from across multiple specialties to deliver high-volume elective procedures over the course of a week. The third super week, which took place during the May half term, saw 73 children treated, helping to reduce the paediatric waiting list by almost 12 per cent. The initiative focuses on lo

Leicester Magistrates Court has today granted an order that will allow Leicester City Council to secure the former NCP car park at Lee Circle, to prevent anti-social behaviour from taking place there. The Closure Order was granted for a period of up to three months, after which the council can apply for an extension if needed. The order means that anyone who does enter the building without the council’s or court’s permission – as set out on the order - could face a fine, impr

Leicestershire residents had the chance to try something new at an adapted cycling event held at County Hall on Tuesday (26 May), made possible through funding from Active Travel England. Adapted cycling sessions provide inclusive cycling using a variety of specialist equipment like trikes, handcycles and wheelchair carriers. The sessions have been coordinated by Leicestershire County Council’s sustainable travel team and showcase a variety of options to help people travel mo

Leader of Leicestershire County Council, Dan Harrison, is sending condolences to the family of a local Isle of Man TT competitor who tragically died during qualifying last week. Daniel Ingham, from Melton Mowbray, was a successful and experienced motorcycle rider, a husband and a father of two. "Daniel was a well-respected, popular and successful racer. I'm so very sorry to hear about what happened and my thoughts and sympathies are with his wife, children, family and friends

This is the fifth successful prosecution under Operation Hind. Two shop workers have been sentenced following a successful prosecution by Leicestershire County Council Trading Standards, after illegal tobacco products were sold from a Loughborough shop. This is the fifth successful prosecution under Operation Hind, launched to tackle the growing problem of counterfeit tobacco and non‑compliant vaping products being sold in local shops across the county. Khalid Aziz Faraj, of

There's something for everyone at Leicester’s Abbey Pumping Station this month, with three events coming up that will delight families and real ale fans alike. Flaming June gets under way with the return of the popular Railway Gala Day on Saturday (6 June). There’s free admission to the museum and its grounds – perfect for a picnic – while the café will be open for light refreshments. Rides on the narrow gauge railway with Leonard the steam locomotive are just £1. Railway Gal

Leicester City Council has successfully defended a planning decision after an appeal by the developer. The Planning Inspectorate has dismissed an appeal relating to a student block of flats at 2-4 Colton Street in the city centre, in a decision described by council officers as “a very good result”. The developer – Millrock Limited – built a two-storey rooftop extension which did not match approved plans. The extension should have been constructed using a contrasting lightweig

Leicester City Council has started legal proceedings to enable it to secure Lee Circle car park, which closed in March when NCP went into administration. The council says neither the owners, administrators or NCP have taken action to ensure the site is not accessible to members of the public, which has resulted in anti-social and criminal behaviour there. The council has today issued a legal notice to the owners of the car park, and will make an application to Leicester Magis

An investigation is taking place following a report that a firearm was discharged in Braunstone last night (Tuesday 2 June). Police were called to Cort Crescent just before 10.30pm following a report a gunshot was heard. In In the interest of public and police safety, armed officers were deployed. When they arrived, they found damage had been caused to a property which was consistent with a firearm having been discharged. No-one was injured and officers are continuing to carr

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has provided Leicestershire Police with a Restricted Airspace over the Download Festival. Specially trained Counter Drone officers will be deployed to manage any drone activity in or near the event site. Flying drones at the festival will put East Midlands Airport passengers and festival-goers at high risk. Anyone caught flying a drone without permission will be prosecuted. The festival site is within a no-fly zone (NFZ) due to being close t

Highcross Leicester is set to host a major community dance showcase at East Square on Saturday 6 June, bringing together performers from across the city for an all-day celebration of dance, culture and creativity. The free event will see a range of local dance collectives and academies go head-to-head in a live dance off, with performances taking place throughout the day featuring multiple dance styles, including street dance, break dance, Bhangra, Caribbean dance, Kathak (In

Leicester-based Purple House Clinic, a trusted name in psychological therapy and neurodiversity support, has been named Community Business of the Year at the SME Leicestershire & Rutland Business Awards. The Gold Award celebrates the clinic's exceptional positive impact both locally and nationally through accessible, high-quality mental health and neurodiversity services for adults and children. Purple House Clinic was founded in Leicestershire by husband-and-wife team Dr Kat

A man has been charged with various offences after an incident in Shepshed on Sunday. Armed police were deployed along with other emergency services ending with a 8 hour standoff. A spokesperson from Leicestershire Police said. “We can confirm that Andrew Ostromecki, 51, has been charged with intentionally/recklessly causing a public nuisance, sending communication threatening death or serious harm and using threatening/abusive/insulting words/behaviour to cause harrassment /

Leicester College has secured funding from the Department for Education (DfE) Construction Industry Placement Fund to support the practical/placement elements of Level 2/3 qualifications in construction. The Department is providing this allocation of revenue funding to facilitate construction industry placements. This is aimed at helping learners to become site-ready and transition into employment by developing industry relevant skills and improving their prospects in the con

Last night, an illegal e-bike rider collided with a drunk driver on Saffron Lane. The collision happened Saffron Lane around 9.30pm. Monday 1st June. Picture credits - South Leicester Police Thankfully, the rider did not suffer any serious injuries, although they were taken to the hospital for further assessment. The drink driver was arrested at the scene. A huge thank you to the off-duty nurse who stopped to provide immediate assistance before the ambulance arrived. This in

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service have three remaining spaces on their FREE Biker Down! course at Birstall Fire Station next Tuesday evening (9th June). What is BikerDown ? Many motorcyclists ride in groups or pairs, so it is often the case that when one is involved in an accident the first person in attendance will often be a fellow biker. BikerDown is a FREE three hour course for all bikers, giving them an awareness of the dangers at a crash scene, how to deal with a c

The £12,000 grant from Natural England will be used to buy and install 150 swift boxes A project to protect and encourage swift populations throughout Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland has been given the chance to fly again, after receiving funding for 150 new nesting boxes. Leicestershire County Council has secured £12,000 from Natural England’s Bequest Fund, which will be used to buy and install 150 swift boxes across the county. Areas where swift populations have been

The Royal College of Physicians has commended UHL’s adult allergy service as a ‘national exemplar of good practice’, after it received reaccreditation under the Improving Quality in Allergy Services (IQAS) programme. The IQAS programme works with allergy services across the UK to improve the quality of care. Meeting its standards requires a service to undergo a programme of quality improvement, before being assessed successfully against multiple standards. UHL was previously

A fire in an abandoned Islamic nursery in Leicester is believed to have been started deliberately. Leicestershire Fire and Rescue service was called last night at 5.50pm, on Sunday, May 31, to a fire at a property in Beal Street in Highfields. The fire damaged all three floors of the building and was extinguished by 10pm. Leicestershire Police said it believes the fire was started deliberately. A spokesperson from Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said: "The fire is beli

On Sunday evening, police said a 51-year-old had been arrested on suspicion of affray and remained in custody. The stand off started around 10am after police tried to make an arrest in Shepshed this morning. Armed police were deployed along with trained police negotiators. Leicestershire Police said officers attended an address in Britannia Street on Sunday morning to carry out an arrest attempt Our initial report from this morning.