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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 recorded and where conservation efforts can deliver the greatest benefit will be prioritised. More than 350 swift nesting boxes and 150 sound “callers” have already been installed across the county to provide new nesting sites for swifts under the county council’s ‘Swift Action for Swifts’ project, first launched in 2023 using Natural England funding. The huge popularity of the scheme saw a waiting list of almost 200, and volunteers played a vital role through more than 1,000 hours of volunteering, including property assessments, installations and community engagement. It also aimed to raise awareness of the plight of swifts, and to encourage members of the public to take action to help the birds. With support from the Leicestershire & Rutland Ornithological Society (LROS), properties on the waiting list will be assessed for suitability, with LROS leading both surveys and installations. The project is not taking any new applications for swift boxes. But while the scheme isn’t open to new applications due to the waiting list, residents can still support swifts by recording sightings, supporting local conservation groups or creating bird-friendly spaces in their communities. Councillor Adam Tilbury, cabinet member for the environment said: "This additional funding is a positive step for nature recovery in the county. By focusing our efforts in areas where swifts are already present, we can maximise the impact of every nesting box we install and give these remarkable birds the best possible chance to recover. This work directly supports the priorities set out in the Local Nature Recovery Strategy and shows our commitment to protecting and enhancing biodiversity for the long term. We would like to thank Natural England and LROS for their vital support." Swifts have been identified as a priority species in the Local Nature Recovery Strategy for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland (LNRS), with numbers falling by 53 per cent between 1995 and 2016. Members of the public are also encouraged to look out for swifts in their community and map their sightings using the Swift Mapper.(Link is external and opens in new window) Leicestershire County Council News - Monday, 1 June, 2026

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 accredited in 2021, and has now been reaccredited under updated IQAS standards. RCP’s Clinical Director for Patient Safety and Clinical Standards, Dr Zuzanna Sawicka, said: “IQAS accreditation is a highly sought-after mark of quality that isn’t easily won. It demands a genuine commitment to improvement and the confidence to be held to the highest standards. That’s what makes it such a meaningful signal to patients, commissioners and peers that a service is genuinely excellent. “The adult allergy service at UHL was shown to be a well-led and effective service, which in many areas is a national exemplar of good practice.” UHL’s adult allergy services are provided across each of the three hospital sites, offering care for a wide range of allergic conditions including asthma, rhinitis (hay fever), food allergies, anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction), urticaria (hives) and angioedema (swelling). In their report, assessors noted an ‘excellent’ team at UHL, with colleagues demonstrating ‘a passion for the service’ and with ‘overwhelmingly positive’ feedback received from patients. The service was praised as being ‘led with vision’, with excellence in aspects including its training and teaching programmes, primary care education initiatives, and the contribution of pharmacy and administrative colleagues in supporting the clinical team. UHL was previously accredited in 2021 and has now been reaccredited under updated IQAS standards. Consultant Adult Allergist and UHL’s IQAS Lead, Dr Nasreen Khan, said: “We are extremely proud of our achievement in meeting the new IQAS standards. This success is entirely due to the hard work, dedication and commitment of the whole team.”

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 believed to have been started deliberately." “While attending the incident, multiple road closures were put in place in the surrounding area, including Maidstone Road at the Junction with Jupiter Close and Beal Street.” Our initial News Video

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.

Armed police are currently in Shepshed supported by Leicestershire Fire and Rescue service and East Midlands ambulance service. The police drone team is also deployed. Police are currently negotiating with a man. Pictures and Video by Leicester Media Online ©️ 2026 A spokesperson from Leicestershire Police said: This morning (Sunday 31 May) officers attended an address in Britannia Street to carry out an arrest attempt. When they arrived, a man refused to leave the address. Officers remain at the property at this time and motorists are advised to avoid the area. Updated News Officers have now made an arrest after a man refused to leave a property in Shepshed. On Sunday evening, police said a 51-year-old had been arrested on suspicion of affray and remained in custody.

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue service are attending a fire on Beal Street near Maidstone Road tonight here in Leicester. The fire in the abandoned building is now under control. A local business man said "The building is a former nursery the building is in a bad state of repairs and is insecure" Road closures are in place around the area please avoid if possible. The cause of the fire has not been specified at this time. Pictures and Video by Leicester Media Online ©️ 2026 Filmed Sunday 31st May 2026

An investigation into the death of a man whose body was found in a van in Leicester has been transferred to the Metropolitan Police. Police were called to a car park in Garden Street just after 5.30pm on Wednesday (27 May) by a member of the public reporting concern about the condition of the vehicle. When officers forced entry to the van, the body of a man was found inside. Enquiries surrounding the circumstances of the man's death were undertaken by the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU), supported by officers from Leicestershire Police. Following a search at a property in Hounslow yesterday (Saturday), the Metropolitan Police has now taken primacy for the investigation. A 39-year-old woman who was arrested on suspicion of murder remains in custody and enquiries are also continuing to locate the man's next of kin. A dedicated major incident portal remains open for the public to provide information directly to the investigation team: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/33EM26I80-PO1 Alternatively you can call 101. If you are making a report by phone from outside London, please follow the prompts to speak to another force and state ‘Metropolitan Police’ when requested. Leicestershire Police News - Published: 11:30 31/05/2026

Officers searching for a missing Leicester man have located a body. Although formal identification is yet to take place, it is believed that the body of a man found in Hamilton yesterday evening (Friday 29 May) is believed to be that of Abdulahi Mohamud. Abdulahi Mohamud Abdulahi, 22, was last seen on Saturday 23 May and reported missing last Sunday. Officers are providing support to his family and a file will be prepared for HM Coroner. Leicestershire Police News - Published: 14:55 30/05/2026

The award-winning producers of Channel 4’s The Dog House, and one of the BAFTA- winning producers of First Dates, comes a brand new six-part series about friendship for BBC One and iPlayer from Five Mile Films. We all know what it feels like to try and make a friend. Whether it’s an awkward hello,turning up to a party alone, or telling a joke that doesn't quite land, the pursuit of friendship isn't always easy. Now imagine navigating all of that as a little kid. Will You Be My Friend? explores the world of friendship through children - aged 5 to 8 - who are struggling socially. Some are shy, some feel like they don’t fit in, others simply haven’t found “their tribe” yet. They want to make a friend - but don’t know where to start Enter The Friendship Centre. Here, a team of psychologists help children build the confidence and social skills to form real, lasting connections with other kids. Each child is then sensitively matched on a play date with a potential new friend from their local area. Six weeks later, we return home to see how their new-found courage has helped at school, in the playground and beyond. The series is a timely reminder that just one friend can completely change your life. And it all starts with one very simple question… “Will you be my friend?” Emma Loach, Interim Head of Commissioning, Documentaries said: "The longing to connect, to be seen, and to belong is universal. Whether you're five or fifty-five, I defy anyone to watch these children without seeing a little bit of themselves reflected. "In a world that can feel increasingly disconnected, this series shows that the simplest gestures - a smile, a shared joke, a tentative 'will you be my friend?’ - still have the power to change everything. Five Mile Films has brought us something very special, and we couldn't be prouder to give it a home on the BBC." Nick Mirsky, CEO of Five Mile Films said: "I don’t think there’s a commission I could be more thrilled to bring to Five Mile. Will You Be My Friend? will be joyful, warm and funny, but it also does something genuinely new – inviting us to look closely at the challenge and art of making friends." Will You Be My Friend?, a 6x60’ for BBC One and iPlayer, is a Five Mile Films production. The Executive Producers are Nick Mirsky, Adam Chapman and Jordan Maloy. It was commissioned by Clare Sillery, former Head of Commissioning, Documentaries and the Commissioning Editor is Beejal-Maya Patel. All3Media International acts as international partner. Filming takes place July and August, 2026. We are looking for children (aged 5 to 8) from your local area to take part. If you’d like to help your child make a new friend, please apply now at https://bemyfriend.tv

Following the incident, armed police officers were observed running into the area. Three people have been arrested after a man was stabbed during a fight in Leicester city centre. The incident happened in Town Hall Square just after 10.45pm on Thursday (May 28). The victim, a man in his 30s, was taken to hospital to be treated for injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing Officers have arrested three people in connection with the stabbing, who all remain in police custody. Inquiries are continuing, with officers from the Central Leicester Neighbourhood Policing Area carrying out proactive reassurance patrols in the area. A 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and assisting an offender. A 17-year-old was also arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of cannabis with intent to supply. A 26-year-old man also remains in custody, having been arrested on suspicion of possession of a class A drug with intent to supply. Leicestershire Police said inquiries into the incident are continuing. Picture credit - Gary Summers

A motorcyclist has died following a road traffic collision in Church Langton last night. Police received a call at 8.22pm yesterday (Thursday 28 May) regarding a collision on the B4067, Melton Road. It involved a blue Ford Ranger and a grey Honda CBR. The motorcyclist, a man in his 50s, sustained fatal injuries and sadly died at the scene. The driver of the Ranger sustained minor injuries. At the time of the collision the motorbike was travelling southbound towards Church Langton while the Ranger was exiting a farm entrance intending to travel northbound towards Tur Langton. Officers from the force’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU) are investigating the collision. Anyone who may have seen the collision or the vehicles beforehand are asked to please get in touch with us. Alternatively, if you have a dashcam which may have captured something relating to this incident, we would also like to hear from you. If you have any information, please contact police on 101 quoting 26*309665 or visit us online at www.leics.police.uk

Detectives have launched an investigation after the body of a man was found in a van parked in Leicester city centre. Police were called to a car park in Garden Street just after 5.30pm on Wednesday (27 May) by a member of the public reporting concern about the condition of the vehicle. When officers forced entry to the van, the body of a man was found inside. Enquiries are continuing to be undertaken to locate the man’s next of kin. After identifying the address of the registered keeper of the van, further enquiries have led to the arrest of a 39-year-old woman from an address in Hounslow on suspicion of murder. She remains in custody. An investigation to establish the circumstances that led to the man’s death are continuing and anyone who can help is asked to come forward. Detective Inspector Kev Hames, from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit’s (EMSOU) major crime team, said: “I’d like to speak to anyone who can help with our investigation. “The man was found in a white Ford Transit with the registration BF18 VNV. “Officers are appealing for anyone who may have seen this van in Garden Street or other parts of Leicester and Leicestershire to get in touch. “This includes anyone who may have seen the van where they live or work to get in touch. I’d like to extend this appeal to anyone who may have captured its movements on CCTV or a dashcam.” You can pass on information directly to the investigation team by through a dedicated major incident portal, which can be accessed here: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/33EM26I80-PO1 Alternatively you can call 101. If you are making a report by phone from outside Leicestershire, please follow the prompts to speak to another force and state ‘Leicestershire Police’ when requested.