Emergency services are dealing with a Road Traffic collision on Saffron Lane near the junction of Knighton Lane East. A car has hit several parked vehicles and ended up on its side. Members of the public assisted in righting the vehicle back onto its wheels. There are no reports of any serious injuries. The road is closed in both directions; please avoid the area if possible. Update 19:00 Recovery has now taken place; the road is now fully reopened. Pictures by Leicester Media Online

A car has ran into the wall this afternoon at Sainsbury’s Local on Moat Street in Wigston. The store will remain closed for safety reasons; a building inspection has been requested by the fire service. The car is well embedded into the brickwork, with a large piece of timber lying across the top of the roof. There are no reports of any injuries at this time. Pictures by Leicester Media Online

Leicester Mela Festival returns to Abbey Park on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 August 2026, bringing two unforgettable days of Indian arts, culture, music, food and fashion to the heart of the city. Running from 12pm–7pm each day, the festival features headline acts, an Indian circus, over 100 shopping and food stalls, live performances, workshops, funfair rides, arts and crafts, and lots of free activities for children. Tickets are just £3, with family tickets available for £10, and children under three go free. Book now and experience one of the UK's biggest South Asian celebrations. For more information and tickets click the button

We are sharing a potentially life‑saving message for anyone who may have a hidden or ‘safe’ mobile phone at home, particularly those experiencing domestic abuse. Emergency Alerts can make mobile devices produce a loud sound and vibrate. This may reveal a secret or hidden phone and put someone at risk. Emergency Alerts can be switched off in your device settings. Please share this message so others can stay safe. Follow the guidance below. 🔗 Guidance to switch alerts off https://www.gov.uk/alerts/opting-out 🔗 Domestic abuse support https://www.leics.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/daa/domestic-abuse/

‘Very high risk’ of wildfires sparks ‘severe alert’ from UK Government, and includes Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland During these heatwave conditions, even a small flame can rapidly develop into a wildfire, putting lives, homes, businesses and our emergency responders at risk. We urge the public to be extremely vigilant and to do nothing that might exacerbate this risk. Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland is covered by last tonight's 'severe alert' from the UK Government, which has been triggered by the 'very high risk' of wildfires across the region. The alert calls on all residents, landowners and visitors to avoid any activity that could start a fire, including lighting disposable barbecues, firepits and fireworks. The general public should take steps to avoid the risk of causing fires. This includes: Not starting any fires, including disposable barbecues, firepits, garden incinerators and fireworks Not starting bonfires or campfires Not using barbecues (even those which are non-disposable) unless in a safe, controlled location away from vegetation Disposing of cigarettes and other smoking materials thoroughly Not leaving rubbish in the countryside, on or near grass or vegetation - this particularly applies to glass, which can magnify heat Taking care in large gatherings to make sure activities do not heighten the risk of fires – even if attending organised events Seeking advice before taking community action to reduce fire risk, such as creating 'fire breaks' – there's a chance this may make the situation worse Callum Faint, Chief Fire Officer for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, said: "Following weeks of persistent dry weather, the risk of wildfires is now extremely high. Even a small flame can rapidly develop into a major wildfire, putting lives, homes, businesses and our emergency responders at risk. "We urge the public to be extremely vigilant and to do nothing that might exacerbate this risk." Members of the public should remain vigilant and report fires in the open as soon as possible by dialling 999 – never assume someone else has made the call. The public can also help emergency services by downloading the free app What3Words to their smartphones, which helps crews pinpoint the location of fires in remote areas. If you receive a text message alert from the government, please follow the message's instructions. You should only call 999 if you need to report an emergency. Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service is working closely with local authorities and other partnership organisations to help stop the sale of disposable barbecues, and to enforce and advise on additional fire safety measures. LFRS News - 15 Aug 2026

Millions of people receive emergency alert on phones warning over wildfires. Mobile phone users in England and Wales have received an emergency alert, warning them not to light anything that could spark a fire. The Government sent the alert on Friday evening, which began appearing on mobile devices from 7pm. It's believed to have been the most extensive emergency use of the alert system to date. A screenshot of an emergency alert warning by Leicester Media Online Issued by the UK Government There is a very high risk of wildfires nationally. Residents, landowners and visitors should not undertake any activity that could start a fire, including disposable barbecues, firepits, garden incinerators or fireworks. Even a small flame can rapidly develop into a major wildfire placing lives, homes, businesses and emergency responders at risk. Follow official updates and report signs of fire immediately by calling 999. Search gov.uk/alerts for more information. Sent by the UK government at 7:01pm on Friday 14 August 2026 This alert was sent to England and Wales. Surrounding areas might also have received the alert.

On the night of Thursday, August 14th, several fire crews responded to a fire requiring eight pumps and additional special appliances. The incident took place in Battram Village near Coalville and involved approximately 25 acres of grassland and scrubland. Firefighters exerted tremendous effort to stop the fire from spreading to nearby homes, with assistance from a group of local farmers using tractors and water bowsers.

Proactive repair work to the chimneys at Beaumanor Hall has taken place as part of a commitment to the historic Leicestershire landmark. Leicestershire County Council owns and operates the venue and recently set out a range of options for the long-term future of the hall. The repair work on 10 of the chimneys on the building is taking place to make sure that all Beaumanor’s chimneys are in top condition to ensure the Hall can continue to welcome visitors. The building will remain open for events during the works, which are expected to take place until October. Used as a former secret listening station to intercept encrypted enemy signals during World War II, Beaumanor Hall was built between 1842 and 1854 and was purchased by the County Council in 1974. The Hall and parts of the grounds are Grade II* listed. Councillor Kevin Crook, cabinet member for heritage said: "This building is incredibly important for Leicestershire’s history. We’re proud of it and we’re determined to see the full potential of this site over the coming years. “These works mean that all of the 175-year-old chimneys will be in the best condition they can be for such an old structure. The chimneys identified weren't posing immediate risk, but following guidance from multiple structural engineers, we felt the need to be proactive to avoid future issues as part of our commitment to the building.” Beaumanor Hall functions as a wedding venue, conference centre and destination for popular events such as craft fairs. It’s also a staple for many people who go to school in Leicestershire as an outdoor education centre, offering activities including archery, orienteering, climbing, abseiling, high ropes and watersports. Find out more about Beaumanor Hall’s events and offering on the Beaumanor Hall website. Leicestershire County Council News

Fire crews are currently tackling a wildfire of approximately 10 acres, off Burton Road near Melton Mowbray. Five fire crews plus a water carrier are at the scene. Please avoid the area of possible. Local residents should avoid the area and close windows and doors to avoid smoke inhalation.

Leicester city centre is set to benefit from a £4million package of improvements designed to make it more welcoming for residents, businesses and visitors. The plans include better lighting and signage at key arrival points, measures to tackle antisocial behaviour, improvements to public spaces, support for vacant shops, investment in events infrastructure and upgrades in the Market Place and Lanes area. Residents and visitors can expect cleaner streets, better-lit public spaces, improved areas around transport hubs and car parks, and more support for events and activities. The investment is also intended to boost confidence and pride in the city centre. Leicester City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: “We have made significant investment into the city centre in recent years, and this funding will allow us to do even more to make it an attractive and welcoming destination. “It will boost the work that goes on every day to make it a place that residents can be proud of, and that visitors choose to return to time and again.” Projects included in the programme are: £300,000 for city centre gateways – better lighting, signage and public spaces to improve first impressions around locations such as the railway station, bus station and car parks. £250,000 for tackling antisocial behaviour hotspots – including improved lighting, security measures and graffiti removal. £200,000 to improve vacant premises – helping bring empty shop units back into use and improve the appearance of shopping streets. £200,000 for festivals and events infrastructure – supporting more activity in city centre spaces throughout the year. £1.3million for the Market Place and the Lanes – improving buildings, shopfronts, lighting and public spaces, and providing additional market stalls. £1.75million for future Midland Street regeneration – supporting plans for future commercial development in the area. The investment will come from the remaining balance of the Government’s Growing Places Fund, which was originally established to support projects that create jobs, unlock development and boost economic growth. Leicester City Council now manages the fund following the closure of the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP). The council says £10.2 million remains available in the fund, with £4million proposed for use by Leicestershire County Council, and £4m for city centre improvements. A formal decision on the funding allocation is due to be taken by the City Mayor on 18 August. LCC News - Published on Thursday, August 13, 2026

Customers are being reminded that the RMT union has announced strike action on Saturday, 15 August. Customers are advised to only travel if their journey is essential and to check their full journey, including first and last trains, before travelling on these dates. On Saturday EMR, which is operated by Transport UK, will operate a significantly reduced timetable starting at 07:00 and finishing before 19:00 on its Intercity and Connect routes. To help maximise the number of seats available during the strike, EMR will temporarily declassify First Class on its Intercity services, allowing all customers to use the full seating capacity of each train. This temporary measure will apply only while the strike timetable is in operation. First Class customers who already have tickets or are Season Ticket holders are asked to contact EMR’s Customer Service Centre for details on how to claim a refund. Customers who purchased their tickets from another retailer should contact them directly. EMR News - 13/08/2026

Leicester College has celebrated the success of T Level students collecting their results on Thursday 13 August 2026. Leicester College T Level students achieved a 92% pass rate, including 34 Distinction and 169 Merit grades. The pass rate for BTEC courses was 89.8%. T Levels are a technical-focused qualification for students who want a vocationally-based qualification and are equivalent to three A Levels. They are a combination of classroom-based learning and hands-on experience with a mandatory industry-based placement of at least 315 hours. This is the fourth results day for T Level students and many Leicester College students have already secured job offers or a place on a university course since completing their courses in June/July 2026. As one of the first institutions selected for the government's pilot launch of T Levels, Leicester College began offering these innovative technical qualifications in September 2021. Current T Level courses at Leicester College include: Construction, Electrical installation, and Plumbing and Heating Business, Accounting, and Finance Legal services Marketing Computing and Digital Production Health and Social Care Education and Early years Manufacturing and Electrical Engineering Science Randeep Sami, the new Deputy Principal for Curriculum and Quality at Leicester College commented: "We warmly extend our congratulations to all Leicester College students receiving their T Level results. Their achievements reflect the commitment, resilience and hard work they have shown throughout their studies, supported every step of the way by our dedicated staff and industry partners. “We are proud to continue delivering T Levels at Leicester College, providing students with the knowledge, practical experience and confidence they need to progress into higher education, apprenticeships or skilled employment. We wish every student the very best as they take the next step in their education or employment journey." If you would like to know more about the T Level programmes offered by Leicester College, click button below.