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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.”

Tickets are now on sale for Fever’s popular classical music series, Candlelight. Following sold out performances across multiple UK cities, Guildhall and The Athena will be home to this multi-sensory musical experience as it debuts in Leicester this December. Candlelight, a Fever Original concept, aims to create an accessible and ambient space to enjoy the works of the greatest classical composers such as Vivaldi, Mozart and Beethoven as well as modern compositions such as Bach to the Beatles, Queen, ABBA, Coldplay, Aretha Franklin, and popular movie soundtracks. Since its launch in 2019, Candlelight concerts have been performed in unique venues worldwide, from churches to libraries to mansions and other historic landmarks that form part of each city’s cultural heritage. Guildhall, the oldest building still in use in the city, will host the first series of concerts in Leicester in December. In the same month, The Athena, which combines inspiring art deco architecture and state-of-the art technology, will host Candlelight concerts. Candlelight: The Best of Hans Zimmer Venue: Guildhall Date: December 2nd Time: 5:30 PM, 7:30PM and 9:30PM Candlelight: Vivaldi's Four Seasons Venue: The Athena Leicester Date: December 13th Time: 6:00 PM Candlelight: The Best of Hans Zimmer Venue: The Athena Leicester Date: December 13th Time: 8:30PM Candlelight Christmas: Love Actually, Home Alone & More Venue: Guildhall Date: December 30th Time: 5:30PM, 7:30 PM and 9:30PM Ticket prices start from £15 for adults, anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Candlelight is brought to you by Fever, the leading global entertainment discovery platform, who work with a network of talented local musicians in each city, providing a platform for these artists and in turn bringing classical music to an entirely new demographic. With the objective of democratizing access to culture and bringing unique experiences to the masses, Fever’s platform enables its 80 million users to discover new experiences in their cities. To purchase tickets, download the Fever app on Apple Store or Google Play, or head to Fever’s marketplace.

Leicester's famous Diwali lights will light up the city’s Golden Mile from Sunday October 9 this year. The Wheel of Light, a Diwali Village and a spectacular aerial firework display will all make a welcome return to the switch-on event which attracts people from all over the city, county and UK. Leicester’s deputy city mayor for culture, leisure and sport, Cllr Piara Singh Clair, said: “Our world-famous Diwali festival is a Leicester tradition that brings our communities together to celebrate the Festival of Light. “I am delighted that the event is back for 2022 and would like to invite everyone to the Golden Mile in October to enjoy the magic of one of the largest Diwali celebrations outside of India.” This year’s event is being supported by the University of Leicester. Professor Nishan Canagarajah, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University said: “The Diwali festival shines a light for Leicester as a beacon to celebrate all that this wonderful city has to offer. “In bringing people together, this vibrant festival rejoices in our diversity and provides a platform to look to the future with hope. Diwali was my first, and memorable, introduction to Leicester and it created a lasting impression. The University is proud to support the celebrations.” The celebrations will begin On Sunday 9 October at 3pm, with the opening of the Diwali Village on Cossington Street recreation ground. Open until 9pm, the Diwali Village will include a full stage programme showcasing local talent, as well as children’s funfair rides and food stalls. Lighting up the park will be a dramatic two metre-tall fire installation called The Fire Head, which will burn brightly throughout the evening, while a trio of fire performers will light up the night sky with their spectacular show at 6.30pm and 8.30pm. Visitors will also be able to pop in to the Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre from 4pm to see the annual Mela Rangoli exhibition, with its mixture of modern and traditional Rangoli styles. The stage programme on Belgrave Road will begin at 5.30pm and will include a vibrant programme of music and dance presented by the Leicester Hindu Festival Council and Leicester City Council, supported by Curve theatre and compèred by the Leicester Hindu Festival Council with BBC Radio Leicester. Highlights include a dance piece inspired by Curve’s summer project, Finding Home, Leicester’s Ugandan Asian Story at 50, featuring community performers and the Curve Young Dance Company. There will also be a Bollywood dance extravaganza from the Aakash Odedra Company called Celebration of Light, which will get everyone in the crowd singing and dancing to celebrate Diwali. At 6.15pm and 7.15pm, the battle between good and evil will be re-enacted by two giant puppets, representing Hanuman and Ravana, with the switch-on of Leicester’s famous Diwali lights taking place at 7.30pm. The switch-on of 6,000 colourful lamps will be followed by a spectacular firework display – best viewed from Belgrave Road. Other events taking place as part of the festival include the Diwali Mela Bazaar on Humberstone Gate on Saturday October 15, which will offer arts, crafts, Indian cuisine and live entertainment, and a special session of Diwali Crafts & Stories at Belgrave Library on 18 October (1pm-4pm). Belgrave Road will be the focus once again for Leicester’s Diwali Day celebrations on Monday October 24, when the Diwali Village will return to Cossington Street recreation ground from 3pm, along with entertainment on stage from 6pm. Fireworks will round off the Diwali Day celebrations at around 8.10pm, with an aerial display created and choreographed by local company Bright Spark Fireworks producing layers of spectacular colour and sound, exploding hundreds of feet above the Belgrave Road. The Wheel of Light, a 110-foot ferris wheel that provides a glittering centrepiece to the festivities, will be on Belgrave Road from Friday October 7 to Sunday November 6. A full programme of Diwali events is available at visitleicester.info/diwali

The Leicester Cycling Awards exists to promote and celebrate everyday cycling in Leicester and recognise those in our communities who encourage and promote cycling as a way to get around for leisure and utility. 2023 is the second year of the awards, having been founded in 2022 by Northside Bikes. This year's awards are organised by a number of partners and helped made possible by our sponsors. The public are asked to nominate individuals for different award categories while organisations may self nominate. Once nominations are complete, public voting will begin for some awards while a panel of expert judges will decide on the rest. Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony in March and presented with their prizes. For more visit https://www.northsidebikes.org/awards

Leicester's Caribbean Carnival and parade will take place this weekend and motorists are being advised that there will be some temporary road closures in place. The popular annual event – which will be held on Victoria Park on Saturday 5 August – will include a colourful carnival parade starting at the park from midday, before heading into the city centre and back again. The parade route includes Granville Road, London Road, part of Waterloo Way and St George’s Way, Charles Street and onto Humberstone Gate and Gallowtree Gate, before returning to Victoria Park via Granby Street, Northampton Street and back onto London Road. Rolling road closures will be in place along the parade route from around 12.30pm until around 4pm, along with temporary parking restrictions along the route throughout the day, to allow the parade to pass safely. Events at the park will continue until 8pm, with parking and waiting restrictions nearby remaining in place throughout. The event is organised by Leicester Caribbean Carnival. To can find out more or to book tickets visit www.leicestercarnival.com

Diners evacuated after fire rips through adjoining building. Picture by Leicester Media Leicestershire Fire and rescue service attended a fire on Main Street in Cosby this morning just after 9:45. 5 Fire crews attended, Two Breathing Apparatus were in use under Rapid Deployment and 2 Hose Reel Jets were in use. Crews from the Central, Eastern, Loughborough , Lutterworth and Wigston station were dispatched to the scene. The fire is now extinguished. Pictures By Leicester Media Diners enjoying their Bank holiday breakfast treat in the adjoining cafe were evacuated, no one was injured, and the fire service remains at the scene damping down. The road closures have now been lifted. Image credit - Leicestershire Fire service The Tithe Barn had let customers know they would be open as normal on Bank Holiday Monday. However, the fire has led to the closure of the cafe. In a statement, the Tithe Barn said: "Tithe Barn will be closed for the foreseeable future due to a fire incident in the back building. "We apologise for any inconvenience caused. We will update our page in due course. Thank you for your understanding." The cause of the fire is now under investigation. #LFRS #Cosby

By LM News BREAKING NEWS. News report video by LM News Arrest made as car reportedly hits multiple pedestrians in Leicester city centre. Three people have been seriously injured. A police investigation is ongoing following a report of a collision involving a car and a number of pedestrians in De Montfort Street, Leicester, during the early hours of this morning (31 May). Police were called to the area at 12.34am. From our initial enquiries, the incident is reported to have happened following a report of a fight at the same location. Four people – two men and two women have been injured in the collision. One man had minor injuries. All remain in hospital, three people with serious injuries. A 31-year-old man, from Leicester, has been arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and causing serious injury by dangerous driving following the collision. He remains in police custody where he is being questioned by detectives. From enquiries, it is understood that the suspect and the four victims involved in the collision had all been in attendance at a private event nearby prior to the incident. The car believed to have been involved in the incident has been found in nearby Margaret Street and has been recovered as part of the investigation. Detective Inspector Jenny Tattersall said: “We understand the serious concern there will be about this incident. “Four people currently remain in hospital and an investigation is ongoing as we continue to establish the full circumstances and the events leading up to this incident. A man remains in police custody and will be questioned by officers. “A large cordon is in place in the area of De Montfort Street and will remain while enquiries, including forensic investigations, are carried out. “We do ask that people do not speculate about this incident, including on social media, in order to allow a thorough investigation to take place. “We have officers at the scene carrying out enquiries and providing reassurance. Please do speak with them regarding any information you may have or any concerns you may have. “You can also contact police on 101, quoting incident number 27 of 31 May.” #LeicsPolice #DeMontfortStreet

People from across Leicester will remember the city’s fallen service men and women at the annual Remembrance Sunday service this weekend. Watch our video of this year’s event 2024 The city’s service of remembrance will take place at the war memorial in Victoria Park on Sunday (10 November). A parade, led by the Seaforth Highlanders Pipes and Drums and comprising members of the Armed Forces, reservists, veterans and cadets, will step off from De Montfort Hall at around 10.40am and make its way to the Arch of Remembrance, ready for the service at 10.55am. The Lord Bishop of Leicester, the Right Reverend Martyn Snow, will conduct the service with support from former BBC Radio Leicester presenter, Dave Andrews. A bugler will sound the Last Post before the firing of salutes marks the beginning and the end of the two-minute silence. A piper from the Seaforth Highlanders will play a lament before the service continues. People in the area are advised that the salutes will create a loud bang, which may cause alarm or distress, particularly to young children or pets. Official wreaths will be laid by the Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire, Colonel Murray Colville, and The Lord Mayor of Leicester, Councillor Bhupen Dave, together with representatives of local emergency services, military units and faith communities. Other organisations and veterans’ associations will lay wreaths immediately after the official wreath laying, while members of the public will have an opportunity to lay their wreaths at the end of the service. The Salvation Army band will accompany hymns, supported by the City of Leicester Singers and the Leicester Cathedral Choir. Limited public seating will be available on a first come, first served basis and there will be a designated seating area for those with a disability or who are unable to stand for long periods. A returning parade will step off through the War Memorial and back onto Centenary Walk at the end of the service, returning to the front of De Montfort Hall at around 11.45am. Granville Road car park will be closed from midnight on Saturday, 9 November until around 1pm on Sunday, November 10, and vehicles should not be left overnight in the car park. A limited number of spaces for disabled guests and blue badge holders will be available in the car park, which will be accessible from London Road only. These must be requested in advance by emailing lord.mayor@leicester.gov.uk or by calling 0116 454 0020. Road closures will be in operation on both Granville Road and Regent Road from 9.30am until 12.30pm on Sunday. Access will be maintained for residents of Salisbury Road. The Lord Mayor of Leicester, Councillor Bhupen Dave, said: “Remembrance Day is a time for reflection and contemplation on the sacrifice made by the men and women of our armed forces in defence of their country and allows us to come together to remember all those whose lives have been lost in armed conflict. “I am humbled to be able to lay a wreath commemorating them on behalf of the people of Leicester.” The following day, Monday 11 November, is Remembrance Day, when the nation pauses at 11am to reflect on the sacrifices made by the country’s service men and women. Held each year on 11 November, the silence coincides with the time in 1918 when the First World War came to an end.

Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Rupert Matthews has called a meeting on 20 February to give residents in West Leicester the opportunity to share their views on crime and policing. The Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland PCC will be joined by Chief Constable Rob Nixon and local police officers for the event which will be held at New Parks Club for Young People, LE3 9SB. There will be a short presentation from both the PCC and the Chief Constable looking at the work underway to address community safety and crime prevention in the area. Residents will then be invited to ask questions and raise any concerns about safety in their area to help ensure resources are allocated to where they are needed most. Mr Matthews said: “This is a great opportunity for people in West Leicester to meet both those setting the policing priorities and those delivering them. They can ask questions of me, the Chief Constable and their local neighbourhood policing team. “I think it’s important that we tell people what we are doing to meet their policing needs and the work we are doing as part of the ongoing crime prevention strategy to make their communities safer. “One of my priorities as Commissioner is to understand people’s different challenges in their local area so we can design solutions together. It is important we get it right for everyone and you can help us make a difference by sharing your concerns.” The meeting will be held between 6.30pm and 8pm at New Parks Club for Young People, New Parks Blvd., LE3 9SB. Anyone wishing to book a space for this meeting, or who has a question that they would like answered during meeting, is asked to email opcc@leics.police.uk or call 0116 229 8980. Remaining spaces will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

Detectives are currently investigating after a report of a shooting in Mulberry Avenue, Leicester. Police received a call shortly before 11pm yesterday (Saturday 3 February) reporting a firearm had been discharged into the driver’s side of a car while it was stationary in the street. The man in the car, who is in his 30s, was not injured as a result of the incident. A scene preservation is in place while officers continue to carry out enquiries and establish the full circumstance surrounding the incident. Currently no arrests have been made. Detective Inspector George Fraser said: “Our investigation to ascertain the full circumstances surrounding this incident is still in its early stages. “Luckily no one was injured as a result of this incident but it is still being treated as a very serious offence and we currently have a team of officers dedicated to this investigation. “We currently have a scene preservation at the location and officers are carrying out house to house enquiries and offering reassurance to residents in the area. “If anyone was in the area of Mulberry Avenue last night and has any information that could assist with the investigation please get in touch.” Anyone with information is asked to call 101 or report online Report a crime | Leicestershire Police (leics.police.uk) – quoting crime reference number 24*70194. #LeicsPolice #MulberryAvenue #Leicestershooting #LMNews

Breaking News. Shocking behaviour. A 27-year-old man has been charged with six counts of attempted murder following an incident in Oxford Street, Leicester. Ako Faraji, of Oxford Street, Leicester, has also been charged with arson with intent to endanger life, one count of an offence under Section 24 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 - maliciously administering with a noxious substance intent to injure, aggrieve or annoy any other person and one count of theft. He is due to appear at Leicester Magistrates’ Court today (Monday 5 February). The theft charge relates to a report of a theft from a business premises in Wharf Street South, Leicester, during the evening of Saturday 3 February. The other charges relate to an incident at an address in Oxford Street during the early hours of Sunday 4 February in which it was reported that a liquid, believed to be petrol, was thrown at six police officers and a firefighter. Five of the police officers and the firefighter were reported to have been subsequently set alight. The flames were quickly extinguished and no injuries were reported. #LeicsPolice #OxfordStreet