Two men have been taken to hospital with serious injuries following a single-car collision in Aylestone Road, Leicester, yesterday evening (Saturday). On-duty officers came across the collision at around 11.15pm. The incident involved a blue Peugeot car which had collided into a wall between the junctions of Lansdowne Road and Saffron Lane. East Midlands Ambulance Service and Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service also attended the incident. Two men who were in the vehicle – a driver and a passenger - were taken to hospital. Both men currently remain in hospital with serious injuries. The driver - a 29-year-old man, of Leicester, has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and driving while over the legal alcohol limit. He has been released under investigation while enquiries are ongoing. Detectives are appealing for anyone with any information in relation to the collision to make contact. Detective Constable Louise McMahon said: “We are continuing to establish the full circumstances of the collision. We are appealing to anyone who was in the area of Aylestone Road yesterday evening and who witnessed the collision, or who saw the vehicle travelling beforehand, to make contact with us. “If you have any dashcam footage from the area at the time, you should also check this and get in touch with us.” If you have any information, contact police quoting incident 732 of 5 March. You can report online at www.leics.police.uk or call 101.

Councillor Nick Rushton has asked for a review of contracts, spending and pension fund investments as he looks to sever all the authority's ties with Russian firms Leicestershire County Council leader Nick Rushton says he wants to cut all financial links between the authority and Russian firms in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine. Councillor Rushton has asked senior officers to review the council’s contracts spending, and pension fund investments with a mind to cutting ties. His call follows the strict international sanctions being imposed on Russia for the illegal invasion of its neighbour. The invasion has led to widespread devastation in Ukraine, the deaths of many civilians, and an unfolding humanitarian catastrophe. So far the review has identified that the council has no contracts with Russian firms but around £10 million of its pension pot - 0.15 per cent of the total fund – is invested with Russian companies. Councillor Rushton said: “Western governments are tightening the economic stranglehold on Putin’s regime with sanctions and we want to do our part to force him to end the appalling violence and destruction he has unleashed on Ukraine. “That’s why I asked for all county council contracts to be reviewed, our pension investments examined, and our purchasing looked at so we can extract ourselves from the Russian economy and play our part, however small, in bringing further pressure to bear on the Russia’s government. “I’m pleased the council’s connections to Russia are very small indeed. “We don’t lend money to Russian banks, and never have. “I want us to do all we can to bring further pressure to bear where we are able have some influence. “That includes working, as quickly as we can with other local authorities, to remove the exposure we have through the pension fund.” I urge all local authorities, public bodies and businesses in the county to take urgent action to review any interests they may have in Russia. It’s the right and moral thing to do. The British Government has announced more than 200,000 refugees could come to the UK. The UN has said more than a million Ukrainians have already fled the violence in their country. Leicestershire County Council News

Steam toys of all shapes and sizes will take centre stage at Leicester’s Abbey Pumping Station this weekend (Sunday 6 March). The Steam Toys in Action day is one of the country’s largest gatherings of steam-powered toys, featuring 25 exhibitors and hundreds of miniature steam engines, boats and trains. Visitors will also be able to enjoy rides on the narrow gauge railway and see the pumping station’s giant beam engines in steam. As well as traditional steam toys, there will also be a visitor experience that’s bang up-to-date. Using headsets, people will be able to enjoy ‘Paint to Pixels’ – a 10-minute virtual reality show that brings the art of graffiti to life. Steam Toys in Action takes place on Sunday 6 March, from 12 noon to 4.30pm. Admission is £4 for adults and free for accompanied children, although there is a small charge – 50p – for train rides. Refreshments will be available. Please note that only cash payments can be accepted. Event Location Abbey Pumping Station Corporation Road Leicester LE4 5PX The Narrow Gauge Railway at Abbey Pumping Station Museum will be running from 12.00 to 4.00pm. Refreshments will be available. Tickets cost 50p per person for the railway. (cash only) Tickets will be issued on a 'first come' basis and there will be social distancing measures in place during rides. Passenger carriages will go through a cleaning regime before each ride. More information about the Steam Toys in Action day is available at leicestermuseums.org/SteamToysMarch22

Light Up Leicester has returned this year it’s bigger and better than ever with even more installations and impressive large-scale pieces by some of the world’s leading light-artists. The city has been transformed by these impressive artworks into a playful theatre in which to experience world-class art. 3-6 March from 6pm to 10pm Leicester City Centre For more info visit www.lightupleicester.com

Officers in Loughborough are appealing for help to locate the owner of a dog after a cyclist was bitten in Quorn. The incident happened on a footpath behind Warwick Way and Poulteney Drive just before 3pm on Tuesday 15 February. The black and white dog, believed to be a springer spaniel called Zach, chased the cyclist and bit him on the leg. PC Rebekah Harrison-Page, the investigating officer, said: “I would like to speak to the dog’s owner as I believe she may have information that can help my investigation. “If you own the dog, or you know who the dog’s owner is, then 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 22*092951. Alternatively call 101.

Thousands of children across the city will be offered places at secondary schools today (Tuesday 1 March) – with a record number of children being offered a year 7 place at a city school. Today – 1 March – is National Offer Day, when children up and down the country learn which secondary school they will attend for the 2022/23 academic year. In Leicester, 4,725 city residents applied for a secondary school place. Of those, 3,987 (84.4%) gained a place at their first-choice school. A further 367 (7.8%) got their second preference, 85 (1.8%) their third preference and 40 (0.8%) their fourth preference. In total, 94.8% were offered a place at one of their top four schools, with the remaining 5.2% offered alternative places. Every applicant who applied on time was offered a place at a school. A record number of applicants (4,358) were offered a place at a Leicester city secondary school. This is the sixth consecutive year of increasing numbers of applicants being granted places at city schools, up from 3,541 in 2016. Cllr Elly Cutkelvin, assistant city mayor for education, said: “I’m really pleased to see that the vast majority of applicants – 94.8 % – gained a place at one of their preferred schools, with most getting their first choice. “We know starting secondary school can be an anxious time for families, and we do all we can to make the applications process as straightforward as possible while meeting demand. “Despite making a record number of offers of places within city secondary schools, we have made sure that, once again, no-one who applies on time is without a place.” 90% of parents made an online application, meaning they can view their results online on offer day, rather than having to wait for a letter to be posted out to them. Leicester City Council News

The council's headquarters will be illuminated in Ukraine's national colours from Friday evening County Hall is being illuminated in yellow and blue from tonight (Friday) to show solidarity with the people of war-torn Ukraine. Leicestershire County Council’s Glenfield headquarters is being flood-lit, along with other public buildings and landmarks across the country and the world, in the colours of the Ukrainian national flag. The eastern European nation is currently under attack from Russian military forces which are assaulting its capital Kyiv. There is widespread fighting in other parts of the country with civilian casualties "There is an appalling situation unfolding in Ukraine as Russian forces continue the assault on a peaceful democratic country. It may be a small gesture but we want Ukrainians to know that they are in the thoughts of the people of Leicestershire. We can only hope that that the violence and suffering caused by this terrible and illegal invasion ends soon." County council leader Nick Rushton

There will be a vigil tomorrow night in Town Hall Square on Monday, 28th February between 6 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. The vigil will take place for all our Leicester communities to stand together in solidarity with Ukraine. This event comes after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. #StandWithUkraine

We face a dark and unpredictable threat. The people of Ukraine however face an immediate, murderous reality. Many have already died. So, so many more are fleeing their homes, some even separating from their family to defend their homeland from an invading army. All are facing a trauma and upheaval and confronting choices I know many of us can scarcely imagine. I certainly can’t. Putin’s decision to send the Russian military to invade Ukraine is entirely unjustified. The invasion and its’ accompanying warped logic and apocalyptic rhetoric is a terrifying threat to all. It can not in any way be justified or reasoned away to back up tired old tropes or more recent populism. Of course it is overdue that we embark on the arduous and complicated task of freezing the wealth plundered from the Russian people by Putin and his accomplices. However I implore the governments of Europe and the United Kingdom not to neglect the immediate needs of the people of Ukraine fleeing this humanitarian disaster. Together, we must all offer refuge to those seeking sanctuary from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Leicester, as we always have done throughout our recent history, will be ready to provide such sanctuary. For now, however, we offer our solidarity. Sir Peter Soulsby, City Mayor of Leicester How Leicester will be showing our solidarity with Ukraine Some of Leicester' most prominent public buildings and spaces are being lit blue and yellow in solidarity with Ukraine - City Hall, Town Hall, Green Dragon Square, the Hotel Ramada, our Cenotaph and Victoria Park gatehouses and pavilion. There is also to be a vigil on Town Hall Square on Monday, 28th February between 6 p.m. and 7.30 p.m.

A WORLD-CLASS ART EXPERIENCE FOR ALL AGES After the huge success and popularity of the last festival in 2020, Light Up Leicester returns this year bigger and better than ever – with even more installations and impressive large-scale pieces by some of the world’s leading light-artists. The city will be transformed by these impressive artworks into a playful theatre in which to experience world-class art. 3-6 March from 6pm to 10pm Leicester City Centre JOIN IN AND LIGHT UP LEICESTER! Video from 2020 event by Leicester Media Light Up Leicester will see the city transformed with illuminations, and we want you to join in! Here are a few ideas of how you can light up your Leicester: Bring your glow sticks with you Decorate your dog! Bling up your bicycle

A man who assaulted three Nottingham Forest players during the team’s FA Cup clash with Leicester City has been jailed. Cameron Toner, 19, of Leicester, was charged with three counts of common assault and going onto a playing area at a football match. Appearing at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court today (Thursday 24 February 2022), he was sentenced to four months in youth custody having pleaded guilty to all charges. Toner was also fined £100 for going on to the pitch and has been banned from attending matches for ten years following a football banning order being imposed. He was also ordered to pay £128 victim surcharge and £85 court costs. The incident happened in the first half of the match played at the City Ground on Sunday 6 February. Assistant Chief Constable Steve Cooper, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “True football fans are proud and passionate. "Unfortunately, Toner was intent on violence and it is right he has been sentenced in this way." "His actions were entirely unacceptable and we welcome today’s decision from court. I hope this outcome acts as a lesson to any supporter who intends to cause trouble at future matches.” PCC lead for football policing Mark Roberts, of Cheshire Constabulary said “I welcome the conviction and clear message the Judge has sent that this behaviour is utterly unacceptable. “Players have the right to go about their work without fear of being assaulted as everyone does. None of us would ever want to see fences around pitches and so it is important fans stay off the playing area and understand that those who transgress will face swift action as we have seen from Nottinghamshire Police, CPS and courts.”

Visitors will have the chance to talk to staff already doing the jobs, ask questions and get a real feel for the roles. There will be the opportunity to see how employees could progress in their chosen field and what training is on offer. More than 50 jobs are on offer at Leicestershire County Council in the authority’s highways, transport and waste management teams – and jobseekers are invited to a recruitment event to find out more. The council is seeking to recruit to a variety of posts including HGV drivers, highways workers, waste site advisors, tree surgeons and transport officers. There are also trainee and graduate schemes, apprenticeships and numerous casual vacancies waiting to be filled. Anyone interested is invited to a recruitment event at County Hall in Glenfield between 11am and 4pm on Thursday March 3. Visitors will have the chance to talk to staff already doing the jobs, ask questions and get a real feel for the roles. There will be the opportunity to see how employees could progress in their chosen field and what training is on offer. Those interested in agency work can meet the council’s recruitment partners Reed and local recruitment agencies specialising in a variety of temporary roles including driving. Free parking is available in the visitor's car park and anyone attending is asked to report to main reception on arrival. Some of the benefits of working for the Leicestershire County Council are: 24 days annual leave a year (five days extra after 5 years continuous service) 8 public holidays a year Flexible working Training and development opportunities Access to continuous professional development Working groups for LGBT staff, disabled workers, carers and a black workers group For more information, or to register your interest, call 0116 305 7723 or email ETDcentraladmin@leics.gov.uk.