15/01/2014 East Midlands Today

That's all from us. It's goodbye from me. And on BBC

This is East Midlands Today with Anne Davies and me, Dominic Heale.

Tonight, on film ` the moment a teenager was shot dead.

How early intervention can help save secondary schools. Hopefully it will

give them a successful career when they are older. How air force pilots

are taking part in a distant war, flying drones from here in the

region. It really is rocket science. I out with the first children in

Europe whose science lessons are seriously taking off.

Good evening. Welcome to Wednesday's programme. First tonight ` A court's

heard that gang warfare led to the shooting dead of a teenager in

Nottingham. The jury was shown CCTV footage of

the moment Malakai McKenzie was killed by a gunman in a pub car

park. Today a man who it's claimed fled to Bermuda denied murder and

attempted murder. Mike O'Sullivan has this report. It was gang

warfare, said the prosecution at Nottingham Crown Court and that is

what led to a teenager being shot dead. This was the aftermath of the

killing. 19`year`old Malakai MacKenzie died when he was shot in

the early hours as he sat in a car in a pub car park in Nottingham on

April 2012. 0 in a pub car park in Nottingham on

April 2012. Today the CCTV footage capturing the moment he was killed

were shown to a jury in a murder trial. The CCTV played in court

shows four hooded men coming into the car park. They circle around it

and one goes to the side of a parked car. He fires inside killing Malakai

MacKenzie. Then the four men ran off. The prosecution say one of

those men was chef Kia Robinson. He went on trial today and denies

murdering Malakai MacKenzie and one count of attempted murder. He later

fled to Bermuda. They say was the culmination of two rival gangs from

the base that area. This man, fired the shots and is now serving life

after being convicted of murdering Malakai MacKenzie last year. There

have been several previous fights between the gangs including one

incident when Cameron was stabbed at a probation office. Mr Robinson's

trial could last for a month or more.

Next, how early learning could help save Nottingham's failing secondary

schools. It's just one idea being discussed at a national conference

being held here in the East Midlands.

It comes exactly one month after six of Nottingham's schools were put

into special measures. Eleanor Garnier reports. VO is just three

years old and he is busy showing his little sister what he gets up to at

this early learning programme at Brock Stoke's children's centre in

Nottinghamshire. They might only be toddlers but the

aim of this early work to raise children's aspirations and encourage

enthusiasm for learning. It is very important because it is the base of

their 0 important because it is the base of

their future. 0 0 important because it is the base of

their future. Everything they are doing here, they will take to

primary school and it will give them a successful career. It is vital.

Early intervention is one of the key themes at this national education

conference being held here in Nottingham. Schools in the region

have been under the spotlight recently. Derby's Al`Madinah Free

Schools labelled dysfunctional by inspectors and six secondary schools

here in Nottingham have been put in special members `` special measures

by Ofsted. One of the keynote speakers, the Shadow Education

Secretary, Tristam Hunt. Maximum is facing particular challenges. A lot

of good work has been done here on early intervention. It is a big

problem. There is problems of parenting, potential leadership, all

sorts of issues which come together. No single person is at fault but

what is good in Nottingham is people getting together to solve these

problems. Nottingham is not alone. Eight years ago, Lester was facing

similar problems. I know the parents and young people in Nottingham will

be worried and I say to them, have confidence, look at how Lester has

transformed. I have every confidence that Nottingham will do the same for

their residents as we have been able to achieve in Leicester. Parents are

convinced that early learning will help their children's futures but

education professionals are clear. These programmes are only part of

the solution to improving Nottingham's secondary schools.

Meanwhile the man behind plans for a new free school in Nottingham says

he hopes it'll become a model for outstanding education. The Central

Nottingham Free School aims to open on Hounds Gate in September next

year. It's promising strong links with local companies, a promise

welcomed by the local Chamber of Commerce. It also wants a 46 week

school year and will offer childcare from seven in the morning until

seven in the evening. Six weeks holidays is enough and it

is enough for the general population. The curriculum will be

enriched, will be stimulating and challenging and will give pupils a

time to make sense of what they are learning and apply it at a more

paced rate instead of cramming something into a shorter working

year. Plans to pedestrianise part of

Leicester city centre have been temporarily withdrawn. It's after

concerns were raised by a planning inspector. The proposals involve

removing cars from the old town part of the city, close to where Richard

III body was found. A public inquiry started yesterday to consider

objections but the hearing was brought to a close this morning.

80% of people who've responded to Nottinghamshire County Council's

budget consultation have rejected a 5% increase in council tax. The

Labour`run 0 5% increase in council tax. The

Labour`run authority is consulting on how much it should raise council

tax by in the next financial year. It will be the first increase in

four years. 45% of people have so far opted for the smallest proposed

rise of 1.99%. Still to come ` a culture change in

the countryside. Why more farmers are turning to

tourism and embracing localism. In sports, we are looking ahead to

what is going to be a huge night of European action for the Tigers.

Next tonight: Air force pilots have been telling us how they're fighting

a distant war, from a base right here in the East Midlands.

They're flying unmanned drones above Afghanistan, by remote control. But

it's extremely controversial as our Social Affairs Correspondent, Jeremy

Ball, reports. Tom is piloting missions over Afghanistan but Canon

`` but can still commute into work at Leicestershire. They are

providing vital surveillance to protect troops on the ground but

they are armed with laser`guided bombs and missiles and sometimes the

crew have to open fire. It is the same task that we did before but now

I am doing it sat on the ground rather than in the aircraft. At the

end of the day, you are going home to your family, you are not having

time to recondition yourself after being in a war zone. That must be

difficult to deal with. The supervision is there to people can

have a break between military and domestic life. Our supervisors are

aware of the issues with that. These are the control stations where they

are flying drones over Afghanistan. They are such a game changer because

they can go deep into enemy territory without risking lives. The

drone pilots have to follow strict is roles of engagement in the same

as flying a 0 is roles of engagement in the same

as flying a jet. The project has been highly controversial. It has

been the subject of an anti`war campaign. Some argue drones are

counter`productive and are creating M I believe they help to save

lives. The lives of our troops, the lives of our NATO allies `` Allies

and the lives of Afghan civilians. Some worry this is reducing war to a

video game where real people are getting killed. You have real troops

on the ground. They like to have this stuff above the head because

they know it helps to protect them. Soldiers from the region have been

using smaller drones on these operations. This footage was filmed

in Afghanistan by the reconnaissance force. We couldn't get out of the

compound. We flew this out and find out where the enemy contact aware.

It saves lives. They can pick up ie de's. Afghan estate in ``

Afghanistan operations are winding down but these drones are here to

stay. Jeremy was talking to the defence

minister, Mark for once was. Developers behind ambitious plans

for a new Robin Hood`themed tourist attraction in Nottinghamshire have

been given an ultimatum by the County Council. They now have just

over two months to prove exactly how they're going to fund it.

If they can't, they risk being kicked off the 0

If they can't, they risk being kicked off the project. With that in

mind, the Council's already drawing up alternative plans to replace the

existing Sherwood Forest visitor centre. To tell us more, Simon Hare

joins us from the centre now. Good evening. We are at Edwin Stowe,

home of the existing Sherwood Forest visitor centre. That site is going

to be returned to natural woodland so there are plans for an

alternative attraction on a nearby site. That will be called Discover

Robin Hood. A ?30 million flagship tourist attraction including things

like medieval re`enactments and providing work for around 100 local

people. Those plans were first announced 15 months ago but so far

no confirmation yet of whether funding for it is coming from. Now

the county council has told the private developers that they have to

meet a deadline at the end of March to prove how they are going to pay

for it. Just in case it doesn't come off, the authority have drawn up

plans for an alternative attraction and it is a move that has been

welcomed by representatives of the local community here. We have to

have a reasonable attraction. It doesn't have to be all singing, all

dancing but it has to be worthy of the name Robin Hood. The developers

behind it say they are committed to delivering that Robin Hood themed

attraction and they are extremely confident of meeting the council's

deadline. Thank you very much. Women aged over 50 are being urged

by doctors not to skip their smear tests. The latest figures reveal

take`up has been falling in the East Midlands.

A study by the charity Cancer Research UK says women who fail to

attend a screening after their 50th birthday are six times more likely

to end up with cervical cancer. Our Health Correspondent Rob Sissons

is here. Rob, tell us more about these figures on take up. Women aged

25 to 64 are invited for regular smears. Screening can pick up early

cell changes that can lead to cancer if left 0

cell changes that can lead to cancer if left alone. The latest concern is

about the over 50's where take up has been falling for years. In that

age group across the East Midlands one in five women didn't attend a

smear test last year. They are sad to say 4000 lives in

England. Rates of cancer have halved since screaming was `` screaming was

brought him back in 1998. Older women are at risk and experts want

more people to attend the screening. It does get uncomfortable for people

after the change of life which is about 50. That is the reason why

women stop coming if they have been coming regularly. Another reason is

when they get into their late 50s, they haven't had a new partner for a

long time and are not active any more and perhaps don't realise that

it is still necessary because they might have caught the virus that

causes the cancer, whether they were young and it sits there. As they get

older, their immune system weakens and it can resurface. At the Royal

Derby Hospital, the specialist says a third of newly diagnosed cases are

in the early 50s anti`fears any falloff in the uptake of smears will

mean more cases been detected late. Out of every 14 smears, only one of

them is abnormal and that one abnormal smear represents

precancerous changes that can be treated very effectively and very

easily before reaching the stages of survival cancer. Almost all cases of

cervical cancer are caused by the Human Papiloma Virus. In future,

cases are likely to come down as HPV vaccine is routinely offered to 12

and 13`year`olds these days. Still to come ` Anna's been working

on your weather forecast. After a mild day today, it is hard to

believe that this time last year we were talking about sledging and

snowman. Not to night. It is mostly about the rain. I will tell you more

later. Growing numbers of farmers in our

region are turning to tourism to help their businesses survive. With

farming incomes falling, a quarter of farmers are now offering farm

holidays and selling their own produce.

Tourism experts also believe the recent horse meat scandal means

people want to see exactly where their food comes from, and how it's

made. James Roberson reports from

Derbyshire. Matlock Meadows Farm is anything but traditional. Can I get

you anything else? Josh serves coffees to customers and they can

also meet the animals with the farmer. The forms still has its milk

heard that rabbits, sheep and chickens are an added attraction.

The biggest draw is Mandy's farm made ice cream. With farmers

struggling for the price they get their milk, it was do something or

die. We wanted to add value to the milk. We felt the ice cream would be

the best thing for us. We are in a good location in tourist. We thought

it would appeal to the local community. In the summer, I bring my

next`door neighbour's children, my relatives from Australia. They love

coming to see the animals and the people who run it. The farm now

fully accessible. They have invested in 0

fully accessible. They have invested in an ice cream trike for weddings

and next, a classroom. We are intending to do school visits. We

want to show children the full cycle from the cow to the milk and ice

cream. Local tourism experts say it is not surprising farmers who raise

live stock for meat also making changes. They see whether animals

are reared from farm to fork. Now they are starting to taste success

and hope ice cream will secure their day `` Derry in the future. `` dairy

in the future. Time now for the sport.

First Leicester City have completed the signing of former England

striker Kevin Phillips on a contract until the end of the season. The

prolific 40`year`old goal scorer seen here playing for Blackpool,

helped Crystal Palace get promotion to the Premier League last season.

It's another well known forward to add to table topping Leicester's

impressive strike force. But it's not just Leicester's goal

scorers attracting attention. Young talented defender, Liam Moore, is

hot property but the club say he's not for sale. It comes after reports

today linking him with a move to a Premier League club. Strong

performances from Moore, have seen him win the Football League's Young

Player of the Month award and gain an England Under 21 call`up. Today

there's been speculation Leicester have rejected a ?2 million bid for

him from Fulham. Onto rugby and Leicester Tigers are

gearing up for a huge night of European rugby this weekend. A sell

out crowd will see them take on the might of Ulster on Saturday as both

sides battle it out for a home tie in the Heineken Cup quarter finals.

It's important because the top European sides are so hard to beat

on the road. Kirsty Edwards reports. When the players step out onto the

pitch, the atmosphere is going to be electric. Make no mistake, this is

going to be a huge game. It makes a big difference and the

crowd are always tremendous. Knowing they will be there, we see it as a

fortress and I don't think they realise how important they are to us

in helping us get the results. It will be nice to reward them for all

the times they stand by us. We have had some times where we haven't

performed well in stock we can reward them with a home

quarterfinal. What is the competition for places like? It was

pretty tasty out there. You can tell it 0

pretty tasty out there. You can tell it is a big game. There is the added

extra and they are trying harder. This is why it is so big. You can

imagine the reception they got as they arrived for their quarterfinal

last year away at Toulon. They do make it pretty intimidating. It is

quite an interesting place to go and play. It was advantage for them that

he and if we win this weekend, it will be our turn to play at home

this year. A way to go yet but what will it mean to win this

competition? We have a great opportunity this weekend. The

history of the European cup is huge and something we want to be a part

of and make our own piece of history.

Cricket and six Nottinghamshire players have been named in England's

provisional squad for the World Twenty20. Along with captain Stuart

Broad are Alex Hales, Michael Lumb, Samit Patel, Harry Gurney and James

Taylor. I love Twenty20. It is an

opportunity to show what you can do and express yourself. It will be a

dream come true. Like it would be to anyone to play in a World Cup, it

would Staying in Nottingham with the Notts

County Ladies who are building a strong squad for the start of the

Women's Premier League in April. There's been a new signing today and

there's more to come. This afternoon Scottish International defender

Rachel Corsie put pen to paper on a one year deal. She is 24 and joins

from Glasgow City. Rachel is a qualified accountant but says the

move allows her to give up the day job and become a full time

professional. It is something that is really exciting for me. I have

moved from Glasgow. I felt it was an opportunity to progress my own game

and be part of something really special. And finally from me, AFC

Hinckley and Hinckley Nomads are amongst the names being considered

for a possible new football club in the town. Fans are campaigning to

form a new community team after Hinckley United in Leicestershire

was wound up last year. Tonight they are to hold a public meeting to

decide the name of the new club and to decide what colours the kit could

be. I like pink leafing mix `` I like

Hinckley Phoenix. Next, the children whose classes

really are rocket science. University space experts are working

with young pupils to bring their science lessons to life.

Jo Healey's been to Bramcote Hills Primary in Nottingham, the first

school in Europe to be working on building a satellite.

I love space because you get to be weightless and there is black holes.

It is amazing to think there is so much beyond our earth. I love space

because there is lots of different planets that you need to explore.

Betis sort them. How do you harness all that energy and interest to make

science lessons interesting? With funding from the European Space

Agency, we have put together a number of experiments designed at

creating a satellite. As a group, they decide what material they would

recommend to the space agency as the better material for building a

satellite. I chose Steele because it is magnetic. Aluminium. The question

they were asked to find out and encouraged them to have fun with

science which is what it is all about. It is the first school to

roll it out across this country and Europe and beyond. I need to learn

more about this so I can make my own satellite. When he does, it will be

out of this world. And ``. I reckon he will do it. The weather has been

very mild for January, hasn't it? This is your weather picture. This

was yesterday just before sunset. Thank you to mark for sending this

picture in. Let a scarcity back 12 months. This time last year, our

lowest temperatures were down to minus four Celsius. No real sign of

any snow in the forecast at the moment. Back to tonight, here is the

cold front that is going to push its way through over the next few hours

bringing us some rain. At the moment, it is patchy in nature but

as we head towards the end of the evening, it starts to become heavy

and intense for a time. It will clear way to the west and behind it

is a dry end to the night. A minimum night`time temperature of five

Celsius. Some bright spells around first thing tomorrow morning. One of

two showers around but as we go into the afternoon, the showers become

more frequent and heavy in nature on Thursday. We are only looking at a

top temperature of a Celsius. Not as mild as what we have had today. ``

top temperature of eight Celsius. The weekends, Saturday is looking

particularly wet. The rain will clear away to give us a decent day

on Sunday. I think five seems pretty cold. That

is it from us. Amy will be here with our late

bulletin. Goodbye.