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Leicestershire Police has carried out 11 warrants, arrested 28 people and recovered more than £100,000 of drugs and £35,000 in cash during a national week of enforcement activity to target ‘county lines’ drug dealing. The operation was part of a national County Lines Intensification Week (CLIW) (Monday 11 October to Sunday 17 October) which saw police forces up and down the country working with colleagues from a range of other agencies including children’s services, youth services, youth justice, housing providers, Community Safety Partnerships and local Violence Reduction Networks. In Leicestershire, teams from a range of agencies made 85 safeguarding visits to vulnerable young people. County lines gangs export drugs into other areas of the country, often small towns, using dedicated mobile phone lines. They also exploit children and vulnerable adults to move and store drugs and money, sometimes using coercion, intimidation and violence. Warrants were executed throughout the week. The most notable was in Coalville where officers discovered a large cannabis factory with 900 plants valued at approximately £800,000 plus £11,930 in cash. Two men were charged and remanded another man was arrested and released under investigation. At another warrant in East Leicester officers seized £200,000 of Class ‘A’ and ‘B’ drugs and £20,000 in cash and some ammunition. A man was arrested and charged and remanded into custody. Chief Inspector Emma Maxwell said: “The national County Lines Intensification Week has come just a few weeks after we arrested 43 people under Op Impose in the Hinckley area taking out an entire county line. We searched 76 addresses and recovered almost £200,000 in cash, various offensive weapons and around 6kg of heroin with a value in excess of £300,000 – which doesn’t take into account the street value. “If you add the results from the national week of action as well then we have had an incredibly successful month tackling county lines criminality across the force area. We’ve been able to take a very significant amount of drugs off our streets and prevented criminals from continuing to supply drugs. However, our operation is about more than just disrupting the supply lines, we are working with local organisations to get help for those who want it and during the national week of action we made 85 safeguarding visits to vulnerable young people.” “The police cannot tackle county lines offending alone, it can only be done in partnership with many other organisations and I’d like to thank all our partners who are as determined as we are to protect vulnerable young people and give them to support to get out or not get involved in the first place.” As well as enforcement activity a range of other operations ran across the week; Training workshops and inputs into schools The force’s Children and Young Persons Officer, Katie Hudson, and Substance Misuse Officer, James Edmondston, ran 10 county lines workshops throughout the week on Microsoft Teams. They spoke to 4736 pupils and 333 adult professionals who work with young people. The workshops are designed to help adults spot the signs of criminal exploitation in young people and warn teenagers of the dangers of getting involved in county lines. Nearly 2,500 professionals including sports coaches, teachers and youth workers have now booked on to attend an online workshop. The demand for the workshops is so high the dates are being continually extended. Are You Listening film The force launched its ‘Are you Listening?’ film and campaign in November 2020 designed to teach people who work with young people how to spot the signs of child criminal exploitation (CCE) and found out how to get support or report CCE. Since then the campaign has been viewed over 4.7 million times. The film has been shortlisted for a Royal Television Society (RTS) Award in the Best Promotional Content category. Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) An ANPR operation ran across Loughborough and West Leicester targeting vehicles that might be used to transport drugs and people resulting in 10 arrests, 2 cars being seized and 3 knives recovered. Where to go for help and advice Would you know how to spot the signs and where to go for help and support? To find out more about county lines visit: www.leics.police.uk/CountyLines There is a new website specifically for young people to get help and advice on how to stay safe in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland www.livesafe.org.uk

Proactive policing patrols are continuing today (Wednesday) following further reports of disturbance in East Leicester last night. During the course of yesterday evening, several reports of disturbance were made to police and as part of a proactive policing plan, dispersal powers under Sections 34 and 35 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 were put in place from 8pm until 6am today (Wednesday 7 September). A total of 18 people were dispersed. In addition, powers were also granted under Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, which allowed officers to stop and search anyone in a specific area without needing to have reasonable grounds. They too were in place from 8pm until 6am. A total of 131 people were subject to stop-search procedures. A 19-year-old man from Leicester was arrested on suspicion of possession of a conducted energy device (CED) A 24-year-old man from Leicester was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon A 17-year-old man from of no fixed abode was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon A 25-year-old man from Leicester was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving No significant injuries were reported. Officers will continue to carry out proactive patrols in the area today and investigators will also be speaking with witnesses and carrying out CCTV enquiries. The force currently has 24 investigators working on the investigation. Temporary Chief Constable Rob Nixon, who joined officers on patrol yesterday evening, said: “We are calling for calm and working with local communities. “Sadly, what I saw yesterday evening was a minority of people intent on causing some disturbance and despite requests into the community this small minority persisted which resulted in my team using their powers as outlined above. “Now is a time for calm heads and measured words while the police continue to take action and carry out investigations. Violence within our communities will not be tolerated. “I understand the significant concern within our communities and we will continue to work closely with community leaders to identify those responsible and bring them to justice. “A policing plan remains in place and our proactive high visibility patrols will be continuing in the local area. “I would continue to encourage anyone who believes they have information that could help with our ongoing investigations into recent incidents to come forward.” “We are also aware there is a lot of speculation on social media at this time and we continue to ask you not to get involved in this. I would like to thank everyone who is using social media to bring calm. Leicester as we know is a harmonious and proudly diverse city and we all want to pull together. Thank you.” Dispersal and stop search powers authorised in East Leicester Dispersal powers have been put in place in the areas of Belgrave, Rushey Mead and Spinney Hill following recent reports of groups gathering in the area. Incidents of violence will not be tolerated and the orders have been authorised to protect our communities and provide safety to those living in the area. Dispersal powers under Sections 34 and 35 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 have been authorised by Chief Superintendent Adam Slonecki. They allow officers to return anyone under the age of 16 to their home address. Notices can be issued for a period of up to 48 hours and anyone found breaching a notice is liable to be arrested and face further action. The orders, are in place from 8pm today (Tuesday 6 September) until 6am tomorrow (Wednesday 7 September). The maps below show where these orders are in place: Powers have also been granted by Ch Supt Slonecki under Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, which allow officers to stop and search anyone in a specific area without needing to have reasonable grounds. The powers were put in place at 8pm today and will remain in place until 6am tomorrow. The map below shows where these powers are in place:

A man has been stabbed in the City centre tonight. Pictures by Leicester Media ©️ 2024 Officers are investigating a report of a stabbing in Leicester city centre. Police received a call at 6.19pm this evening (19 January) following a report of two men fighting in Granby Street during which one of the men sustained a stab wound to his arm. The injured man has since attended hospital and his injury is not described as life threatening. The suspect left the scene before officers arrived. Our investigation remains at an early stage and anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting incident 514 of 19 January. #LeicsPolice #LivesNotKnives #HalfordStreet #GranbyStreet

One-day outdoor summer comedy festival LCF in the Park, from the team behind the Leicester Comedy Festival, is excited to announce its full 2026 line-up as it takes over Abbey Park on Sunday 14th June. Audiences can see comedy favourites including Last One Laughing favourite and stand-up sensation Lou Sanders, Taskmaster runner-up and co-host of Early Worms podcast Phil Ellis, and critically acclaimed Plebs and Friday Night Dinner actor and comedian Tom Rosenthal take the main stage. They will be joined by powerhouse Welsh comic and All Killa No Filla true crime podcast co- host Kiri Pritchard Mclean, along with satirical award-winning British-Nigerian comedian Nabil Abdulrashid, as seen on QI and 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown. Adding to the proper festival atmosphere will be local street food and bar vendors providing various options available to purchase on the day. Tickets are priced at £30 each, with funds raised going directly back into the community. Leicester Comedy Festival is run by charity Big Difference Company. Funds raised from LCF in the Park will help bring comedy programmes to local schools and libraries to improve youth cultural wellbeing and mental health, as well as supporting local emerging talent and comedians from underrepresented groups. “We are delighted to bring an ambitious new summer event to Leicester, featuring major names from stage and screen in what will be our biggest event in the city to date,” said Michael Harris-Wakelam, Chief Executive of Big Difference Company. “LCF in the Park is a development of our previous summer events and is a vital part of our continued work. We’ve been developing this project for just over a year now, so thank you to everyone who attends and helps enable our charity projects,” he said. All tickets are on sale now https://events.comedy-festival.co.uk/events/lcf-in-the-park/ LCF in the Park Date: Sunday 14th June Time: 12:00pm – 2:30pm Venue: Abbey Park, Abbey Park Rd, Leicester LE4 5AQ Prices: General admission ages 16+ £30 + booking fee.

Sir David Attenborough, whose formative years in Leicester helped shape his lifelong passion for the natural world, will celebrate his 100th birthday on Friday (8 May). Picture caption: Sir David with his portrait, Attenborough in Paradise (2016) by Bryan Organ, at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery. The broadcaster, naturalist and national treasure moved to Leicester with his family in 1932. His father, Frederick, was the second Principal of University College, which meant the family lived on what is now the University of Leicester campus. Along with his two brothers, Sir David attended the nearby Wyggeston Grammar School for Boys – now Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College – and regularly visited Leicester Museum & Art Gallery, where he also worked as a volunteer. The museum’s natural science and geological collections played a pivotal role in shaping his early passion for the natural world. Reflecting on his childhood in a 2010 interview, Sir David said: “Of course I wanted to know what [the fossils] were. So, I brought them here to the museum… The influence of this museum had a profound effect on my career.” The Attenborough family has a long and generous history of supporting Leicester’s cultural institutions. Sir David’s father served as a patron of the city’s first exhibition of German Expressionist art in 1944. Later, in 2007, Sir David’s brother and sister-in-law, Lord Richard and Lady Sheila Attenborough, donated their renowned collection of Picasso ceramics to the city’s museums. The family’s remarkable contribution to culture, education and the arts was recognised in 1989, when Sir David and his brother Richard, Lord Attenborough, were given the Honorary Freedom of the City of Leicester. To mark Sir David’s 100th birthday, Leicester Museums & Galleries have created a dedicated webpage to celebrate his long association with both the museum and the wider city. The page showcases photos and video footage from the archives that illustrate his connection to Leicester. Visitors to the museum will also be able to see a portrait of Sir David by the Leicester-born artist Bryan Organ, commissioned to mark the naturalist’s 90th birthday in 2016. City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “Sir David’s extraordinary career has inspired millions across the world, but his story began right here in Leicester. “We are immensely proud of the role our city and our museum played in nurturing his early fascination with the natural world. As he celebrates his 100th birthday, he remains one of Britain’s best loved broadcasters, and we in Leicester join the rest of the country in honouring an exceptional life dedicated to education, exploration and the protection of our planet.” David Attenborough at 100 The museum’s webpage, David Attenborough at Leicester Museums & Galleries, can be seen at leicestermuseums.org/news/david-attenborough-at-leicester-museums-galleries Organisations around the county are planning events to commemorate Sir David’s birthday. More information is available at visitleicester.info

Family friendly Diwali day celebrations are set to return to Leicester’s Cossington Recreation Ground on Sunday 8 November. Leicester City Council has announced plans for community dance, music and cultural celebrations to once again take place on stage in the park, which will also host food vendors, arts and crafts stalls and a children’s funfair. Pictures by Craig Thorpe Leicester Media Last year’s Diwali celebrations were scaled back due to safety concerns raised by the local Safety Advisory Group (SAG). The council has since been working closely with partners to find ways for some activity to safely return. Graham Callister, head of festivals, events and cultural policy at the council said: “I’m pleased to say the SAG has given its in principle approval to the proposals we’ve put forward, subject to the submission of a formal event management plan that we are currently developing.” The return of cultural activities to the park will also reduce congestion on the nearby Belgrave and Melton Roads, which were the focus of last year’s Diwali celebrations. The popular Wheel of Light will also be back on Belgrave Road, and rangoli artworks will be on display in Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre. Wheel of Light In the interest of public safety, there will be no public fireworks display, which was cited as the primary safety concern of the SAG in terms of crowd congestion. Leicester’s Diwali lights will be switched on without ceremony two weeks before Diwali Day. Councillor Vi Dempster, assistant city mayor for culture, said: “Diwali will always be a huge part of Leicester’s cultural calendar, and I am delighted that we’ve been able to safely develop this year’s event. “Reintroducing activity onto Cossington Park will allow us to bring back some of the most popular elements of the celebrations, and safely welcome the many people who want to join in Leicester’s celebrations." Full details of Leicester’s Diwali 2026 celebrations will be publicised later in the year.

Get ready for Leicester’s biggest Bonfire & Fireworks Display, at Abbey Park on November 2nd. Experience Leicester's dazzling firework extravaganza at the Abbey Park Bonfire & Firework Display! This annual event features live entertainment for all ages, a thrilling funfair, and delicious hot food stalls. Tickets are on Sale Now! Buy your Early Bird Discounted Tickets here Ticket Prices for Abbey Park Bonfire & Firework Display: Early Bird Discount: ends 15th September. Adult £7.50 Family ticket (two adults, two children) £25 Group ticket (up to four people) £25 Concessions and under 16’s £6.50 Advance Tickets: ends 1st November. Adult £10 Family ticket (two adults, two children) £28 Group ticket (up to four people) £30 Concessions and under 16’s £8 On the Day Tickets: ends 2nd November 7.00pm Adult £15 Family ticket (two adults, two children) £40 Group ticket (up to four people) £40 Concessions and under 16’s £10 Children four and under free You are encouraged to get the best deals possible by purchasing early and taking advantage of our great offers. For more and buy tickets Click below https://lccfestivals-events.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173649752

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service has two types of firefighter roles: Wholetime Firefighters and On-Call Firefighters. Credit - Leicestershire Fire service Wholetime Firefighter – this is our regular full-time Firefighter role. Wholetime Firefighters work one of our three duty systems: 2-2-4: Two day shifts (07:00-19:00), two night shifts (19:00-07:00), followed by four days off. Day Crewing: At our Day Crewing stations, Wholetime Firefighters self-roster their planned working shifts. They work day shifts (07:00-19:00) and are expected to work 149 or 152 shifts per year. They will have a minimum of 2 days off from work in every 7-day period. 1212: Another self-rostering duty system where employees work 2 x 12-hour shifts, which will be day and night shifts. Employees at a 1212 station will have a minimum of 2 days off from work in every 7-day period and are expected to work 150 or 153 shifts per year. On-Call Firefighter – this is a part-time Firefighter role open to those who live and/or work within 4-6 minutes of an On-Call station. These firefighters most often have primary occupations (such as an office job, an electrician, or any career you can think of) but commit their spare time to being an On-Call Firefighter. For example, in the evenings, the weekend, or during the daytime if they are available. On-Call Firefighters attend their fire station when their pager goes off, as well as for regular training sessions and planned duties, such as community engagement. Our list of On-Call stations can be found here. For information visit Careers | Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service

A policing operation which uncovered drug dealing gangs operating between Leicestershire and the West Midlands has led to a further eight men being jailed. Top row from left to right: Steven Merrick, Sean O’Farrell, Thomas Higginson, Michael York Bottom row from left to right: Paul Meek, Peter Tomkowicz, Damien Haswell, Daniel Barlow Steven Merrick, Sean O’Farrell, Thomas Higginson, Michael York, Paul Meek, Peter Tomkowicz, Damien Haswell and Daniel Barlow were all sentenced at Leicester Crown Court on Friday (1 May) to a total of 47 years imprisonment for conspiracy to supply class A drugs (cocaine). The sentencings follow from April last year (2025) when another eight men were sentenced to a total of more than 60 years imprisonment after all pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs in relation to the same policing operation. Evidence gathered by the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU) during the investigation, which dates back to 2023, showed Merrick, O’Farrell and Higginson to be involved in a West Midlands - largely Coventry - based group who supplied wholesale quantities of cocaine. York, Meek, Tomkowicz, Haswell and Barlow were all found to be involved in a group based in Barwell and Hinckley in Leicestershire, obtaining cocaine from the West Midlands-based group and then supplying this onto ‘customers’. Enquiries were carried out by the investigation team to fully establish the roles of those involved and to gather evidence of the offending. Merrick was found to be a courier of wholesale quantities of cocaine but was also involved in street-dealing. More than £12,000 in cash was recovered from Merrick’s address following his arrest and images of cocaine were found on his phone. The investigation also uncovered messages exchanged between Higginson and O’Farrell which discussed the supply of cocaine. Images of cocaine were found on Higginson’s phone – including wholesale quantities in the process of being broken up. Evidence of meetings between defendants was also gathered. This included evidence of a meeting in Coventry in June 2023 when O’Farrell and Higginson approached a vehicle, delivering cocaine to Meek and Tomkowicz who were inside. Meek was also found to be involved in multiple cocaine deliveries on 22 June 2023 and evidence, including phone messages, showed him being further involved in the supply of cocaine to users. Phone evidence also showed Tomkowicz as being involved in the supply of cocaine to users. York was found to be a point of contact to provide cocaine to ‘runners’ and himself delivering significant wholesale quantities of cocaine. He was found to be trusted with access to stores of cocaine and handling large amounts of cash. Images of a ‘dealer list’ and of bundles of cash were found on his phone and, on his arrest in August 2023, he was found to be in possession of £1,045 cash and 15.10g of cocaine. Haswell was found to be involved in the conspiracy on a number of dates acting as a courier, while messages showed Barlow to be involved in the collection of cash and cocaine in August 2023. Police enforcement activity took place between May 2023 and April 2024 leading to all the defendants being charged in April 2024. The sentences passed to the defendants on Friday were: Merrick, 33, formerly of Greville Road, Warwick, was sentenced to seven years and seven months imprisonment after pleading guilty in September 2024 to conspiracy to supply class A drugs. O’Farrell, 36, formerly of Lillington Road, Coventry, was sentenced to five years and three months imprisonment after pleading guilty in September 2024 to conspiracy to supply class A drugs Higginson, 31, formerly of Henley Road, Coventry, was sentenced to three years and nine months imprisonment, after pleading guilty in September 2024 to conspiracy to supply class A drugs York, 34, formerly of Devitt Way, Broughton Astley, Leicestershire, was sentenced to six years and three months imprisonment after pleading guilty in September 2024 to conspiracy to supply class A drugs. Meek, 40, formerly of Newlands Road, Barwell, Leicestershire, was sentenced to seven years imprisonment after being found guilty in February 2026 following trial of conspiracy to supply class A drugs Tomkowicz, 47, formerly of Newlands Road, Barwell, Leicestershire, was sentenced to seven years imprisonment after being found guilty in February 2026 following trial of conspiracy to supply class A drugs Haswell, 40, formerly of Kirkby Road, Barwell, Leicestershire, was sentenced to four years and 11 months imprisonment after pleading guilty in January 2026 to conspiracy to supply class A drugs Barlow, 31, formerly of Borrowdale Close, Earl Shilton, Leicestershire, was sentenced to five years and three months imprisonment after pleading guilty in August 2024 to conspiracy to supply class A drugs Detective Sergeant Chris Sewell said: “Drug offending of this kind has huge impacts on our communities. We will continue to take gather information and intelligence and to take action against those who offend in this way. The people involved here believed they could freely operate without being brought to account or to face responsibility for their actions. “My thanks do go to the investigating team involved who showed a huge amount of dedication, skill and effort in making sure that these offenders were brought before the courts. “Please do continue to report any information you have in relation to drug offending to us to help us continue to detect these crimes and to bring those responsible to justice. “You can report online at www.leics.police.uk or by calling 101. Always call 999 in an emergency.”

Leicester's Jubilee Square will be the setting for a spectacular celebration of dancing across seven decades as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in Leicestershire. The Dance for the Queen show will take place on Wednesday 1 June and will feature dancers and performers from the city and county. The dancing will begin at 19.52 (7.52pm) and continue until 20.22 (8.22pm) to acknowledge the 70 years of Her Majesty’s reign. Lord Lieutnant of Leicestershire Mike Kapur, who is the Queen’s representative in Leicestershire said: “It promises to be an entertaining evening full of singing, dancing and laughter, as we celebrate Her Majesty the Queen’s 70 years of service – and what better way to kick off the four-day Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend than with an exceptional dance party.” Lord Mayor of Leicester Cllr Deepak Bajaj said: “Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee is a time to celebrate success and longevity and to reflect on the huge commitment the Queen has made to serving her country throughout her long reign. “Dance for the Queen is our way of coming together as a community to share, celebrate and showcase the best of Leicester through dance, and I cannot think of a more positive way to mark this occasion.” The evening will begin at 6.30pm with a variety show, with performers including the Leicester, Loughborough and Broughton Astley rock choirs, Enderby brass Band and The Simpletones. Seven dance groups will then perform routines to iconic music tracks representing the seven decades of The Queen’s reign. Photographs of Her Majesty’s visits to Leicester and Leicestershire will form a backdrop to the performances, from her first visit in 1954 to her most recent in 2018. The show will be hosted live by BBC Radio Leicester and streamed online. The event is being supported by Leicester City Council, Leicestershire County Council, De Montfort University, Leicester University and Curve. More information is available at www.DanceForTheQueen.com Jubilee Square was given its name to commemorate the Queen’s 2012 visit to Leicester at the start of her Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

Santander Cycles Leicester has announced new prices to help residents and visitors make the most of the city’s e-bike scheme, with a 20-minute journey now available from as little as 60p. Just over a year on from its launch in Leicester, the joint initiative with Leicester City Council has seen over 20,000 people complete almost 53,0000 trips using the Santander Cycles Leicester e-bikes. The already popular scheme looks set to become even more so with a new pricing structure offering anyone visiting, living or working in the city the opportunity to get around by e-bike. Following feedback from riders, the new, easy-to-follow pricing structure is based on the number of minutes the bike is in use, and the addition of a virtual wallet allows users to have total control of their expenses. Under the new system, Pay As You Go users can make use of e-bikes whenever the need arises without paying an unlocking fee. After a fixed £1.20 fee for the first 20 minutes, users will only be charged for the number of minutes riding the e-bike. Regular users of the scheme, including commuters, will be rewarded with further reduced costs. They will enjoy the first 20 minutes of each ride for just 60p, followed by a reduced rate per minute the bike is in use. Monthly Membership cost just £12 and Yearly Membership £60 – student discount available – meaning regular users will reap the rewards of signing up to a subscription; a 25-minute ride on a Pay As You Go plan costs £1.70, compared to just 85p with a Membership. With a packed schedule of summer events, Leicester is the ideal city to discover by e-bike. Visitors can discover the colourful artworks of Bring the Paint Street Art Festival (23-39 May) by bike, or perhaps enjoy a leisurely cycle along Leicester’s waterways whilst taking in Riverside Festival (4-5 June). Currently, the e-bike scheme has 37 docking stations, with around 350 cycles in use across the city. New additions include stations at the University of Leicester, Braunstone Leisure Centre, County Hall and Almond Road with more planned over the coming weeks. Once complete, it will be the largest docked e-bike scheme in the country, offering 500 e-bikes across 50 stations. Both bikes and docks can be pre-booked, and users are encouraged to do so. Pre-booking guarantees users can start and end their journey at their desired stations. Dock bookings are free until 30 June. Other changes include the addition of a virtual wallet, allowing users to have total control of their expenses by adding credit to their accounts to spend on trips and bookings. The decision to update the pricing structure is in response to users’ feedback and the different ways that workers and residents are using the city since the pandemic. Miguel Vital, Ride On’s CEO commented: “Since launching the e-bike scheme last year we've been making efforts to make cycling the most convenient solution for residents and visitors. Now, with this new pricing structure, we are answering the call from our users to become an affordable, convenient and easy-to-use means of transportation in the city, especially for those signing up to long-term memberships.” “The installation of new stations in key areas is a step forward in connecting Leicester’s neighbourhoods and to help create a more sustainable city.” Start your ride today by downloading the Ride On app, or for more information visit rideonleicester.com.

Funfare rides return to Humberstone Gate tomorrow (Saturday) as the city’s schools break up for summer. Leicester’s summer funfair will be joined on Thursday (14 July) by another popular attraction: the sandy beach that brings a bit of the seaside to land-locked Leicester. Run in partnership with Billy Bates & Sons’ Funfair, the City Beach will be open daily from Thursday – and entry is free of charge. Opening hours will be 10am until 6pm, and from 11am to 5pm on Sundays. Before then, youngsters and their families can line the city centre’s streets to welcome The Queen’s Baton Relay – an event that’s part of the build-up to this month’s Commonwealth Games. From 11am until 3pm on Sunday (10 July), Leicester’s sports clubs will provide free and fun activities in Green Dragon Square and Jubilee Square to support the event. The Queen’s Baton will arrive in Green Dragon Square at 12.02pm on Sunday, before heading to Gallowtree Gate, the Clock Tower (12.05pm), High Street, Carts Lane, Loseby Lane, St Martins, the King Richard III Visitor Centre (12.10pm), Peacock Lane, Applegate and – finally – Jubilee Square, where it’s due to arrive at 12.14pm. There will be a brief opportunity to have photographs with the baton, before it leaves Leicester at 12.24pm and continues its journey to Nottingham. Tasty foods and snacks will be available from a Vegan Market at Leicester Market, which is open from 10.30am until 4pm on Sunday (10 July). From Monday (11 July) until 26 August, young children and families can enjoy free activities at Leicester’s children, young people and family centres (CYPFC). Run by the city council, Get Up & Go will include lots of outdoor fun, such as skipping, den building and giant outdoor games, as well as green-fingered fun and seed-planting – and there’ll also be plenty of opportunities to play with LEGO, bubbles, playdough and paints. Every Monday throughout the summer, there’ll be activities at St Matthews, Thurnby Lodge and Woodbridge CYPFCs; on Tuesdays the action is at the Kingfisher Youth Centre, while Beaumont Leys CYPFC is the place to go on Wednesdays; on Thursdays youngsters can get up and go at the Tudor Centre, Spinney Hill Park and the CYPFCs at Netherhall, New Parks and Belgrave; while there’s Friday fun at The Grove in Braunstone and Eyres Monsell CYPFC. Times vary at each venue so people are advised to check the timetable at families.leicester.gov.uk/getupandgo or to call their local children’s centre. Taking place every Wednesday in July will be a mini Playday in Town Hall Square, where there’ll be giant outdoor games, story-time, arts and crafts and a dedicated area for babies. The first mini Playday takes place on Wednesday (13 July), and will be repeated on 20 and 27 July from 11am-2pm. These mini events will be followed on Wednesday 3 August by the return of Leicester’s Playday. This year’s Summer Reading Challenge also gets under way next week, with free activities at Leicester’s libraries. With a theme of ‘Gadgeteers’, the challenge will invite youngsters to create the ultimate gadget – a giant robot – while they pick up their first books for the summer at their local library next week. Activities will run at Aylestone, Evington and New Parks libraries on Monday (11 July); Knighton, Beaumont Leys and Rushey Mead libraries on Tuesday (12 July); Belgrave, St Barnabas and St Matthews libraries on Wednesday (13 July); Central, Highfields, Pork Pie and Westcotes libraries on Thursday (14 July); and the Brite Centre, Fosse Centre and Hamilton libraries on Friday (15 July). All sessions run from 1pm-3pm. There’s lots going on at Leicester’s Museums too, with a small charge for special events. Abbey Pumping Station will be running its popular Railway Days on Tuesdays throughout the summer holidays, starting on 12 July. Rides on the narrow gauge railway cost 50p (cash only please), with trains running between 12 noon and 4pm every Tuesday until 23 August. Next weekend (16-17 July), there’s a chance to get close to a real-life Spitfire, thanks to the RAF Museum Midlands. The Spitfire will be in Jubilee Square on both Saturday and Sunday. There’s a Festival of Archaeology Family Fun Day at Leicester’s Guildhall on 19 July, while Belgrave Hall hosts a Teddy Bears’ Picnic on 20 July and Newarke Houses Museums celebrates Peter Rabbit’s 120thbirthday with crafts, games and storytelling on 24 July. A £3 admission charge applies for all three events. Deputy city mayor Cllr Sarah Russell said: “We’ve got lots of ideas for low-cost and no-cost activities that children will enjoy this summer. “Whether it’s playing on the Humberstone Gate beach, taking part in the Summer Reading Challenge, or joining us for a playday in Town Hall Square, there’s plenty going on from now until the end of August.”