Officers from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit are appealing for witnesses to a fatal collision in Narborough Road South, Leicester. Police were called about 10.35pm last night (Thursday 24 September) following a report of a collision between a motorcycle and a pedestrian. The motorbike – a grey Yamaha FZ1 – was travelling on the service road on Narborough Road South, from the direction of Kirkland Road towards Turnbull Drive. The pedestrian was in the carriageway at the time of the collision. The rider of the motorbike, a 30-year-old man, was taken to hospital and died as a result of his injuries in the early hours of Friday morning (25 September). The pedestrian, a 39-year-old man, is currently in hospital with serious injuries. PC Kieran King said: “We are asking anyone who was in the area at the time of the collision, or just before, and may have any information, to make contact. “We are very keen to access any dashcam or CCTV footage of either person at the time of the collision or beforehand.” Contact can be made via police online and submit footage: Making a road traffic incident report | Leicestershire Police quoting crime number 26*575738 Or by calling 101. Leicestershire Police - Published: 15:20 25/09/2026

The offences were uncovered as part of Operation Hind to tackle the illegal tobacco trade across the county The seventh and eighth prosecutions in a countywide crackdown on illegal tobacco products have been secured by Leicestershire County Council Trading Standards. Kinga Piotrowska and Mahdy Hussein Fatah, who both worked at International Supermarket at 52 Sparrow Hill, Loughborough, separately pleaded guilty to offences relating to the sale of counterfeit and smuggled cigarettes and tobacco from the premises. They both appeared before Leicester Magistrates' Court on Friday 18 September. Piotrowska pleaded guilty to nine offences relating to the sale and possession for sale of counterfeit and smuggled cigarettes and tobacco between March and June 2026. She was sentenced to a 12-month Community Order and ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work for the benefit of the community, as well as paying a £114 victim surcharge and £86 towards prosecution costs. Fatah pleaded guilty to four offences relating to the sale of illegal tobacco products from the same shop. He was fined £80, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £32, and £86 towards prosecution costs. The offences were uncovered as part of Operation Hind, Leicestershire County Council Trading Standards' ongoing work to tackle the illegal tobacco trade across the county. The court heard that Trading Standards officers carried out five test purchases at International Supermarket between 3 March and 17 June this year. During the visits, officers were sold packets of cigarettes, a vape product and packets of rolling tobacco by either Piotrowska or Fatah. On 17 June, Trading Standards officers, supported by Leicestershire Police, searched the shop premises. Although no illicit tobacco products were found at the store, a simultaneous police search of Piotrowska's home in Loughborough uncovered 2,070 packets of cigarettes and 155 packets of rolling tobacco from the front room. The products were tested and found to be counterfeit and in breach of tobacco regulations, making them illegal for sale. In mitigation, the court heard that Piotrowska had worked part-time at the shop for four to five years and had agreed to store boxes at her home, believing the shop had limited storage space. She told the court that she did not inspect the boxes and was unaware of their contents. Piotrowska also said she had no responsibility for ordering cigarettes or tobacco products and denied any involvement in trademark or counterfeiting offences. Fatah said he did not know the cigarettes sold were illegal. He said the shop was routinely restocked overnight when he was not present and that he was not involved in ordering or sourcing tobacco products. He also stated that he had been instructed by one of the company's directors to sell certain tobacco products to customers who attended the shop with a specific number, which he understood had been arranged in advance by the business. Residents who suspect illegal tobacco or vape sales can report their concerns anonymously through the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133. Leicestershire County Council - Wednesday, 23 September, 2026

Blood pressure monitors can be borrowed by adults for free under a new council initiative launched in libraries across Leicester. The city council has made 100 devices available for loan across all city libraries, and members can borrow them free of charge for up to three weeks at a time. It is estimated up to 24,000 people living in Leicester could have high blood pressure and not know it. Around one in three adults in England are affected by the condition. High blood pressure could cause health conditions such as heart attacks, strokes and heart failure. The condition is treatable through lifestyle changes – such as eating a healthier diet or quitting smoking – or with medication. The free loan scheme aims to encourage more people to check and monitor their blood pressure levels. The equipment is quick and easy to use at home. Cllr VI Dempster, assistant city mayor for health, said: "The only way for a person to know their blood pressure is to get a blood pressure check. People with high blood pressure usually have no obvious symptoms and feel fine, but the condition is a major risk factor for serious health conditions. “Knowing your blood pressure could be the first step to reducing your risk of heart attack or stroke. This free loan scheme aims to make it as easy as possible for people to check and monitor their own levels, quickly and easily at home.” The local scheme has been developed by the city council’s public health team and libraries service to make borrowing a blood pressure monitor from a city library is as simple as borrowing a book. If you’re not already a library member joining is quick and easy too. LCC News - Published on Thursday, September 24, 2026

As thousands of students prepare to start or return to university this autumn, fraudsters and cyber criminals will be looking for opportunities to exploit the excitement and uncertainty that often comes with a new term. Moving to a new city, arranging accommodation, managing finances and building new social networks can create opportunities for criminals to target students. Whether you're a student, parent, guardian, friend or family member, understanding the risks can help prevent cyber crime and fraud. Criminals use a wide range of tactics to steal your money or obtain personal information that can be used later in a fraud attempt. They operate on websites and apps, by email, text, phone, post or in person, including on your doorstep. Students are also frequently targeted through phishing emails, text messages and social media messages. These communications may appear to come from trusted organisations such as universities, banks, delivery companies or student finance providers. Their aim is to steal personal information, passwords or banking details. What can you do to protect yourself from cyber crime and fraud? These simple steps can make a big difference: Be cautious of unexpected messages asking for personal or financial information. Secure your accounts, especially your email and bank account. Use passkeys over passwords wherever they are available. Where unavailable, use strong passwords, for example generated by a password manager and enable 2-step Verification (2SV). Keep devices updated with the latest security and software updates. Back up your important data and check your account recovery options. Cyber crime and fraud can affect anyone, but awareness remains one of the strongest forms of protection. By recognising common tactics and talking openly about potential risks, we can help students enjoy a safe and successful university experience. To support students and their families, Report Fraud has produced a practical guide packed with advice, real-world examples and simple steps that students can take to protect themselves online and offline throughout university life. Read the University Students Booklet here.

Leicester and Leicestershire are gearing up for a blockbuster autumn of events, with major exhibitions, spectacular cultural celebrations, fright-filled Halloween attractions, fantastic food and dazzling firework displays giving visitors plenty of reasons to get out and explore the city and county over the coming weeks. Black History Month events There are events running throughout the month, from a classical concert using only black composers, a rare show from the iconic Lenny Henry, live music, film screenings, a Windrush Exhibition at Leicester Museum and lots more! Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage have put together a guide to all the best events (and are running a few themselves). Check it out in our blog. A Titanic event A massive touring exhibition exploring artefacts from one of the most famous disasters of all time are going on display at Leicester Racecourse this autumn. The Titanic in 101 Objects will be at The Kube at the racecourse from 8-18 October. Come and see authentic pieces from the doomed ship and discover the real human stories behind this tragic event. Tickets on sale now! Leicestershire goes spooky for Halloween Spooky Season comes to Leicestershire with some amazing events. Halloween Farm at Cattows is the largest family friendly Halloween event in the country with pumpkin picking, circus, family entertainment and loads more. Xtreme Scream Park at Twinlakes is a multiple award-winning scare fest with the most terrifying actors making you scream through seven horrifying mazes. This is the most terrifying experience you can find in the region. Over at Twycross Zoo, fans of Julia Donaldson can explore the Room On A Broom corn maze throughout October! In the city the Leicester Monsters are back, with a FREE trail of fun inflatable critters adorning some of the city’s most famous and well-loved buildings. Follow the trail around Leicester from the 22-31 October and log your finds in the MyLeicester app. Get fed for less with Restaurant Week Running for TWO weeks from 19 October to 1 November, people in Leicester can find a wide range of amazing deals on food with Leicester Restaurant Week. Running alongside the Leicester Monster Trail, diners can get money off meals in city restaurants, cafes and pubs with deals from £5 to £30 at venues as diverse as the Grand Hotel, YO! Sushi, Dough What pizza house and Indian favourite My Delhi. Light up for Diwali Always a highlight of the calendar, this year the Diwali stage is back in Cossington Park. The lights will be up from mid-October, alongside the Wheel of Light, then the celebrations all happen on 8 November, Diwali Day. The return of cultural activities to Cossington Park will include a full stage programme, laser show, Diwali village, fun fair and there will also be amazing rangoli artworks on display in Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre. Get all the up to date info on our dedicated Diwali page. At Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre, celebrate Diwali By The Water on Saturday 31 October, 5.30 to 8pm. Enjoy stunning light displays, a live DJ, toasted marshmallows around the fire pit, and warm drinks. At the Peepul Centre on 1 November come and experience an amazing homegrown show performed by local kids. The Magical Diwali Tree weaves the epic stories of Rama, Sita, and Hanuman together with Guru Hargobind Rai’s historic release of 52 Rajas. Over in Loughborough they’ll also be celebrating Diwali with a lights switch on event at the Town Hall on 13 October. This will be followed by a special Festival of Lights show on the main stage. Tickets are available here. Firework season explodes into life Leicestershire’s skies light up for the annual bonfire night celebrations! The biggest and best value firework display can be found at the Abbey Park Bonfire and Firework Display on 7 November with a huge bonfire, kids firework show and massive spectacular main show, plus the main stage and funfair as well! Leicester Racecourse’s Firework display is another local favourite, this year in aid of Voluntary Action Leicester and featuring a live DJ set from 80’s legend Pat Sharp! Tickets available here. Further afield there will be loads of amazing displays, with some of the highlights including fireworks over the water at Stoney Cove diving centre, Bonfire and Fireworks at Mallory Park race track near Hinckley, and a two-night Family Fireworks spectacular at Conkers in the National Forest. A time for remembrance November also offers us a time for reflection as the nation stops to remember the fallen and celebrate our military and uniformed heroes. Remembrance Sunday is on 8 November, and the main Leicester event will be held at the Victoria Park war memorial with parade, speeches and cannon salute. Loughborough’s Carillion monument will be the site for their commemorations, with a parade winding its way through the town on its way to Queen’s Park. And finally if you pop to Cosby, then the yarn bombers will be creating their own knitted tributes to our heroes. From world-class exhibitions and cultural celebrations to fantastic food, family days out and spectacular nights under the autumn skies, Leicester and Leicestershire offer plenty of reasons to get out and explore over the coming weeks. Whether you’re planning a half-term adventure, an autumn weekend away or simply looking for something different to do closer to home, discover more events, inspiration and places to stay at visitleicester.info

People in Leicester are being invited to have their say on proposals that would shape the the next phase of investment in Leicester City Council's leisure centres. The council has launched a six-week public consultation on proposals for Leicester Leys Leisure Centre and New Parks Leisure Centre. The proposals include an £8million investment in Leicester Leys Leisure Centre, with the aim of transforming it into a modern leisure, learning and well being facility. The plans include a new integrated Beaumont Leys Library, upgrades to swimming facilities, the return of the centre's flumes, a larger gym, a new dance and wellbeing studio, and improved community spaces. The consultation will also seek views on the proposed closure of New Parks Leisure Centre, which requires significant maintenance investment and currently has the lowest levels of usage and income across all of the council's leisure centres. The council is keen to hear from residents, leisure centre users, clubs, schools, community organisations and library users before any decisions are made. Cllr Vi Dempster, asst city mayor for health, culture, libraries and community centres said: “We've invested heavily in our leisure centres over recent years, transforming facilities across the city and helping to increase usage to more than two million visits a year. “We now have the opportunity to make a major investment at Leicester Leys – one of our most popular centres - creating a modern leisure, library and wellbeing hub that can serve local families for many years to come.“ At the same time, we want to hear people’s thoughts on the possible closure of New Parks Leisure Centre and the challenges the site faces. No decisions have been made, and I encourage everyone with an interest to take part in the consultation and share their views.” People will be able to find out more and have their say at two open meetings to be held at New Parks Library. These will take place on Monday 28 September at 10am, and on Monday 28 September at 6.30pm. They will also be able to comment through an online survey, paper questionnaires available at leisure centres and libraries, and at sessions with clubs, schools and user groups. The consultation will run from 21 September to 2 November. It can be found on the council’s website click button below: LCC News - Published on Tuesday, September 22, 2026

A nature reserve in Charnwood is set to expand by over 13 acres thanks to a £240,000 investment to boost wildlife habitats and biodiversity. Photo shows Cllr Birgitta Worrall and Cllr Beverley Gray with Chris Hill, David Dunham, Philip Thornborow, Mark Parish and Gia Thompson of the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust at Cossington Meadows Charnwood Borough Council has awarded the funding from developer contributions to Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust to improve habitats at Cossington Meadows Nature Reserve. The reserve is already an exceptional wetland, supporting an abundance of wildlife throughout the year. Wildfowl including gadwall, tufted duck and mallard are regularly recorded, while winter brings flocks of wigeon, teal, shoveler and snipe. The funding will enable the Trust to provide long term habitat management in the reserve extension. Cllr Birgitta Worrall, the Council’s Lead Member for Planning, said: “This is an excellent example of how developer contributions can be used to deliver lasting benefits for our communities and environment. “By helping to secure additional land at Cossington Meadows, we are supporting the creation of valuable new habitats while enhancing an already outstanding nature reserve. “As Charnwood continues to grow, it is important that we balance development with meaningful investment in our natural environment.” Cllr Beverley Gray, the Council’s Lead Member for Climate Action and Net Zero, said: “Protecting and enhancing spaces for nature is a key part of tackling the climate and biodiversity challenges we face. “Cossington Meadows is one of Leicestershire’s most significant wetland sites and this expansion will create more opportunities for wildlife while strengthening the resilience of habitats for the future. “The reserve is already a wonderful place for people to enjoy and connect with nature, and this investment will help ensure it continues to flourish for generations to come.” Ben Devine, Head of Nature Recovery at Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust, said: “We are delighted to be expanding Cossington Meadows and grateful to Charnwood Borough Council for making this possible. Bringing a further 13.6 acres into the reserve will create significantly more space for nature to recover in the area, while strengthening and connecting the important habitats already found here. “Our long-term vision is to restore a connected, wildlife-rich landscape along the River Soar, where the river and its floodplain can function more naturally. This extension is an important step towards that goal, giving wildlife more room to feed, breed and move through the landscape.” The Trust says the additional land will be managed in the same way as the rest of the reserve, using extensive conservation grazing to allow natural processes to shape the landscape. Over time, this approach will encourage the development of species-rich grassland, creating valuable habitats for a wide range of wildlife. As the grassland matures, the Trust expects to see increasing biodiversity, with butterflies such as small copper, common blue and brimstone becoming more frequent. It will also provide opportunities for grass snakes, small mammals and other wildlife to colonise the area, while offering additional hunting grounds for the reserve's resident barn owls. The funding comes from Section 106 contributions from developers. These contributions are used to support local improvements to mitigate the impact of development in the area. In this case, the Council has used funding allocated for biodiversity improvements across the borough. There is national legislation now in place to support biodiversity net gain in this way, but Charnwood was ahead of the game and already had its own policies in place to support this approach to increasing biodiversity in the borough. Charnwood Borough Council News

A drug dealer arrested as part of a proactive operation has been sentenced to more than four years in prison. Samuel Omubo Dede was arrested on the morning of 30 March this year, at his home address in Limetree Grove, Loughborough. The 32-year-old was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs. At the address officers found a significant amount of cocaine and associated drug paraphernalia. Searches of the property found drugs in the defendants’ coat pocket, wrapped and ready to sell. More than £1000 in cash was also found inside Dede’s bedroom, along with his mobile phone revealing messages from people wanting to buy drugs from him. Several SIM cards were also recovered. Four bottles of incapacitant were also seized from the address. Following his arrest, Dede was charged and remanded into custody. Dede pleaded guilty at Leicester Crown Court in June and following a hearing last week (Thursday 17 September) he was sentenced for the following offences: Two counts of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs. Two counts of possessing a controlled drug with intent to supply – Class A One count of possessing a controlled drug with intent to supply – Class B Acquiring / using / possessing criminal property under the Proceeds of Crime Act He has been sentenced to four-and-a-half years’ imprisonment. The officer in the case, PC Charlie Edmondson, from the Loughborough Neighbourhood Priority Team, said: “We take drug dealing and drugs offences very seriously, and know the impact it has on our communities. “The neighbourhood priority team will act on information reported to target problem areas and work to bring those acting unlawfully to justice. “Dede receiving a custodial sentence takes him off the streets, making our community safer.” Leicestershire Police - Published: 13:20 23/09/2026

Police are appealing for witnesses following an assault in Leicester city centre. The incident happened at around 2am on Saturday 12 September on High Street between Shires Lane and Carts Lane. During the incident, the victim – a man in his 30’s - sustained a broken nose, broken eye socket and broken cheekbone after being assaulted by a group of people. Two people – a man aged 21 and a woman aged 20 - have been arrested on suspicion of assault and released on police bail pending further enquiries. We are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the assault or saw the events leading up to it, to please get in touch. You can pass on information by visiting https://www.leics.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/ and quoting reference 26*547116 Alternatively call 101. Leicestershire Police - Published: 15:33 23/09/2026

The proposed closure of New Parks Leisure Centre We at Leicester Media have received the following email from Leicester Penguins Swim Club asking for local support. Please can you help share our story on how the closure of New Parks Leisure Centre will massively impact our club and swimmers. Firstly, as a club that uses the pool for 6 hours a week, we were not informed of the proposed closure until yesterday after the consultation went live and posters were put on the front desk as we arrived for our training session. As far as I am aware, paying customers are still yet to be informed of the proposed closure. The leisure centre has put very small posters around the building which do not clearly state that the pool is closing. I believe the title is 'Have your say on the future of New Parks and Beaumont Leys Leisure Centres'. This is not informative enough, and clearly, they want no pushback from the public so that they are able to proceed with their plans of closure. The proposed closure will have a huge impact on our swim club and members as no local leisure centre has the ability to accommodate us, meaning we will have to relocate. We are not the only swim club that uses this pool; Braunstone Swim Club and City of Leicester also hold training sessions here. A lot of our swimmers live in the surrounding areas and may not have transportation in order to access a new location; this is taking away their ability to train and exercise in a sport they enjoy. Not only is this affecting swimming clubs, it is also affecting the local community. For a lot of children and families in the surrounding area, this is the only accessible way they can take part in swimming and sports. Closing the leisure centre will mean fewer opportunities for young people and potentially much longer journeys to find alternative venues. Places such as Braunstone already have limited public swimming time due to swim clubs and learn to swim, with the addition of New Parks learn to swim, this public swim time will be reduced again. Considering the number of children and adults this year that have sadly drowned, it is vital that we keep our pools open to allow people to learn to swim and develop. We are being very active on our social media with getting the news out there and encouraging as many people as possible to participate in the consultation -https://consultations.leicester.gov.uk/comms/leicester-leisure-centre-investment-programme/consultation/intro/

Leicester’s Open Streets festival is returning to the city centre with a special heritage-themed event. Taking place around the Clock Tower on Sunday 27 September, this ‘heritage edition’ of the popular mini-festival will celebrate walking and cycling as a great way to visit the city centre and explore Leicester’s culture, stories and landmarks. The free event will include heritage craft workshops, live traditional blacksmithing demonstrations, and a Hidden Histories guided tour, taking in Leicester landmarks from Roman and medieval times. Local artists’ collective Graffwerk will be offering street art workshops, and a range of adapted bikes will be available for people to try. Assistant city mayor for transport and environment, Cllr Geoff Whittle, said: “Open Streets events create a friendly atmosphere for people to gather and experience how easy and enjoyable it is to walk or cycle around our city centre. “I am pleased to see a heritage theme for Open Streets this month. These free, family-friendly events are a great reason to visit our city centre.” Open Streets takes place from 1-4pm. For full details visit: www.choosehowyoumove.co.uk/leicester-open-streets

Designs for a new walkway that would link Leicester’s Green Dragon Square with St Martin’s Square, and complete the route from Town Hall Square, have been revealed by the city council. The landscaped link would also provide a substantial new, green, open space in the city centre, which would include new trees to provide shade, bee-friendly shrubs, sensory planting and grassed areas. Children’s adventure play equipment made of natural materials would be a key feature of the new space, increasing opportunities for play in the city centre. And paved areas would provide an opportunity for temporary street food vendors to be located there. Council-owned buildings running from 12-to 20 Cank Street would be demolished to make way for the new link. Leicester City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: “This new scheme gives us a wonderful opportunity to complete the link from Town Hall Square through to St Martin’s Square and towards Leicester’s Old Town. It is also going to bring more much-needed green space to the heart of the city centre, as well as a place for families to rest and play.” The cost of the demolition, constructing new gable end walls to support the retained buildings, and creating the new landscaped walkway will be around £3.5m. Just over £1m will come from the Government funded local transport works improvement programme, with the remainder coming from funding allocated to an earlier scheme. Subject to planning permission being obtained and a formal decision being made on the project, work could begin in November, with the full scheme expected to take around 12 months to complete. LCC News - Published on Wednesday, September 23, 2026