17/04/2014 East Midlands Today

in Ukraine. That is all from the BBC News at six. It is goodbye from me

This is East Midlands Today with Dominic Heale and Geeta Pendse.

Tonight, an early`morning tremor rattles our region. Did the earth

move for you this morning? If it did, you would have felt the

earthquake which rocked Leicestershire and Rutland.

Elaine's online hunt for her dad, missing since she was Abeid ``

missing since she was a baby. I only have a picture. I would love to meet

him, it means the world to me, just to meet him. How this Easter kicks

off our multi`billion pound tourism industry.

And I'm out hunting dragons and damsels in distress. Find out why

last winter the wettest one on record, is still having an impact on

our insect population. Good evening. Welcome to Thursday's

programme. Once again the East Midlands has experienced a

significant earthquake the strongest quake to hit the UK this year. There

have been several tremors the region in recent years. This one, with its

epicentre in Rutland, was among the biggest, with a magnitude of 3.2.

Hundreds of people took to social media to report that the earth had

moved at around 7am this morning. It was as Sarah Teale reports quite a

wake`up call. The peace and tranquillity of the

Rutland and Leicestershire countryside was rocked just after

7am. This was the cause. An earthquake, measuring magnitude 3.2.

Rhian Ivory and her family said it sounded like a lorry had crashed

into their bungalow at Oakham in Rutland. It felt like the war was

shaking behind me and there was a thundering in my chest. It was the

sound and vibration as well. The combination was quite a big event.

My eldest one thought it was a bomb, it was that loud. I heard

rumbling sound and it shook my bed. The epicentre was at Oakham and

originated 2.5 miles underground. Many took to social media afterwards

including former rugby union player Austin Healey, who tweeted, we've

just had an earthquake in Oakham. The house was shaking for ten

seconds. Tremors were felt up to 28 miles away. It felt like an impact,

like an explosion. But without the sound. Or something hitting the

house, rather than rumbling or shaking. A bit like a massive lorry

rumbling through the village. It was a strange feeling, a strange sound.

I knew it was not quite right. In a quiet location you never hear that

sort of thing. The last significant earthquake hit Market Rasen in 2008,

with the magnitude of 5.2. That caused damage to many houses.

Earthquakes are not that uncommon in the UK. The British Geological

Survey says it has reports of about three every year in this country and

it says it will be investigating the cause of this latest one. They

occurs as a result of the adjustments that the geological

structures make to the wider stresses that the UK experiences,

although we are not close to a neat plate boundaries we do experience a

slight squeezing as a result of mid`Atlantic Ridge. There is no

pattern to earthquakes so there is no way of predicting when the Earth

will move for East Midlands as again.

Still to come, the Bank Holiday whether. Will Sara have anything

earth`shattering to report? It might beat egg shattering rather than

earth shattering X marks the first half will be fine and dry, but if

you are planning an egg hunt, hide a few indoors!

Next tonight, new research has identified a worrying slump in the

economic recovery of one East Midlands city. There has been a big

increase in the number of businesses in Nottingham said to be in critical

financial distress. It is the construction industry that is really

struggling. Our political editor John Hess has been looking at the

figures. What has been going on? This is a real turn up. All the

recent political talk has been to talk up economic revival. Only

yesterday we were reporting an increase in unemployment in this

region. That was against the national trend. This survey that

covers the first quarter of this year shows that Nottingham's economy

may be spluttering as well. That is also against the national trend. The

problem seems to be in the city's construction sector. There has been

a 16% increase in business this facing financial problems. It is

four times higher than the rest of the Midlands. These figures come

from Begbies Traynor. Its businesses to rescue firms that go bust. Are

its findings are cause for concern? In the past the East Midlands has

been a better performer compared to the rest of the country, so any

slight weakening in that position can be over exaggerated. As we sit

at the moment I am not seeing any particular worsening compared to

everybody else, although strangely enough our figures show that

construction has been a problem. Looking at it from the point of view

of maybe being caused by bad weather. At bad weather has been bad

around the country and maybe worse down south. Is it all jammed to the

weather? Remember from last summer there was the ringing endorsement

from the lens new governor of the back of England, Mark Carney. Let's

see what he said. This is a bellwether for the UK economy. It is

in regions and `` it is in regions such as this and industries such as

those that will determine the course of the recovery. Soap is a case

bellwether or lost sheep here I should mark the organisation that is

responsible for regenerating our economy, the Local Enterprise

Partnership, it accepts that growth is not even and said that inevitably

there would be some challenges to overcome. It says it has published a

special plan on the construction industry. Let's hope it is

waterproof. Police searching for a soldier who

went missing as he tried to swim across a river in York have found a

body. 18`year`old Tyler Pearson from Nottingham was last seen in the

River Ouse a fortnight ago. It is thought he went into the river

voluntarily during a night out with a group of friends. The body has yet

to be identified. His family has been told of the discovery.

47`year`old workman has been treated hospital after falling from

scaffolding in Derby this morning. Members of the Health and Safety

Executive have been at the scene near The Spot in the city centre.

During the incident this morning the man, who has not been named, fell

about 15 feet onto a wooden platform. He suffered multiple

injuries, non`thought to be life threatening.

In Nottinghamshire woman is using social media in a desperate attempt

to find her long lost father. Adele Greenacre was 11 weeks old when her

dad went missing in Nottingham. Thousands of people have shared his

photo on Facebook. Our social affairs correspondent Jeremy Ball

reports. Adele has been searching all her

life, searching for the dad she never knew. It is 35 years since

Derek Greenacre went off to work and simply disappeared. The search was

publicised in several national papers, but Derek has never been

found. He got up one morning, kissed my mum and me goodbye like every

other day, and did not come home. There was not one sighting of him or

one phone call and I need an answer. Even if it is, I don't want to know

you, I needs an answer and to what has happened to him. Do you think it

will ever happen? Excuse me. I hope so. But hope is not enough, so now

Adele is sharing an appeal on Facebook. This old photo of Derek

has been shared more than 20,000 times. Today, another message from

someone who thinks they might have seen him. There is a bloke who fits

the description, sits on his own, drinks Guinness, he would. But the

strongest lead has come from a charity worker, who found his name

on homelessness register. It had the same date of birth and it said my

dad suffered a mental breakdown 35 years ago. The information we had

got, he was sent back to Northampton in 2011 are so I went up there and

had a wander around the pubs showing his picture and thought, if he is

about surely everybody has a local. After 35 years of searching for

Derek, you can see that Adele is determined not to give up hope. Now

she is hoping that new technology can finally solve this mystery.

Let's hope there is good news for Adele. Markets are great place to go

forth fruit and veg but market traders in one Nottinghamshire town

have told councillors to keep their hands off their stalls. Mansfield

District Council is considering moving all of them onto one site and

cutting the number of days the market runs. The council says it

wants to make the market busier and more vibrant, but some traders fear

it could spell the end of their businesses. Tom Brown has more.

We have a campaign going to support the local market. We would

appreciate it if you would sign the form. It is an issue that has got

people talking. What should happen to Mansfield's market? It runs

Monday to Saturday across two sites but the council is considering

should the stalls be moving from here on Westgate into the main

marketplace, and should be reduced from six days a week to just three

or four. We have been here for 57 years. We would be devastated to

move. It is nice. Most of shops like as here as well because had

character to the town. We will lose our business because the days they

are taking off our hour days and we want them to build on what we have

got. We are successful market town, let's stay that way. The Saturday

market attracts more than 20,000 visitors but earlier in the week and

`` it can be just half that. The council says the falling footfall

sparked the consultation under the changes could breathe fresh life

into the market. You will find it hard to find markets that are open

six days a week. Regarding moving stalls, a lot of shops, that is how

they keep people interested. There will always be a Mansfield market.

Another local councillor says the market should be made even bigger.

We are lucky in this town to have a market on six days a week. With the

industry that has gone from round here we should be announcing to

people that Mansfield is open for business. Market stalls have lights

`` lined the streets here since the 13th century and many traders have

had the businesses for generations. This town has a proud tradition and

the consultation has attracted more than 3000 responses. This photo

shows the Westgate market more than 50 years ago. Today's traders hope

that this year is not its last. The consultation ends tomorrow.

The funeral of the Leicester author Sue Townsend will take place at De

Montfort Hall on May the 2nd. The creator of the teenage character

Adrian Mole died aged 68 after a short illness. Relatives are asking

for donations to be made to the rainbows children's Hospice in

Loughborough and to the/wards of Leicester Royal Infirmary.

The Peak District is to become the first national park in the UK and

only the third in the world to have its trail is viewable on the

Internet. Walkers will soon be able to see such sites as the Derwent

Dams and Monsal Head viaduct along with some of the famous rock edges

popular with climbers. The same technology was used to record an

online tour of towpaths running along the region's canals.

People in Leicestershire are fighting hard to keep open a tourist

attraction which has an uncertain future. The county council is

considering downsizing the museum at Snibston discovery are near

Coalville. Locals are fighting the plans. They claim losing it will

cost the area millions of pounds `` Snibston Discovery Park macros

Snibston Discovery Museum. It is a busy day as the children raise a

Mini using magnets. Staff and volunteers want to raise the profile

of the museum in the hope it will not close. Leicestershire County

Council has launched a consultation on the plans. Campaigners say the

proposals are free to complete. We feel it is a sham consultation. The

decision has been made and it looks like they are determined to push it

through. Despite that we will fight on. If it is not saved a small

mining Museum will be built on the site and much of the land will be

sold off for redevelopment. Visitors are not happy. The thought of

closing it is catastrophic. We haven't been outside yet. There is

something for all ages including adults. It is fantastic. What would

you think about it, if it closed? It would be upsetting for a lot of

people. Lots of people enjoy this place. If they closed it I would be

upset because I do like this place. Campaigners are worried about the

knock`on effect for Coalville. Economically we are talking of the

loss of over ?4 million a year in terms of tourists' revenue, people

coming to the museum and spending in the local area. Leicestershire

County Council says all of its services are facing cuts and it

can't afford to spend ?900,000 a year subsidising the museum which

has falling visitor numbers. The consultation is due to finish in

June. If these proposals are proved this museum will be demolished and a

new mining museum could be up and running by as early as next year. ``

with these proposals are approved. The concern over the future of

Snibston comes as tourism chiefs predict a healthy rise in the number

of visitors coming to our region. Tourism in the East Midlands and is

worth more than ?4.5 billion and generates nearly 100,000 jobs.

Traditionally this is the weekend when tourism really gets going.

So Easter bank holiday weekend ahead. What are you going to be

doing? We are going to Nottingham Castle. Then we are going to play

minigolf. We will go to Bradgate Park for a walk. Maybe the

embankment and Wollaton Park. The push is on to get you through the

doors or into the grounds. Just how much is tourism worth here in the

East Midlands? Well, as these figures show you, it is a

multi`billion pound business, right across the region. How healthy is

tourism in Nottinghamshire at the moment? Most of our attractions seem

to be reporting excellent visitor numbers, so that can only continue,

especially when the weather is as good as it is. Here are the numbers

of jobs tourism creates. Or generates. Across our three

counties. And these are the numbers of tourists each year sampling the

attractions of the East Midlands. We are looking at local attractions to

see what there is to do. To make the most of the place we live in. And

hopefully have some good weather. And the weather is the reason

tourism bosses are expecting a 10% increase on Easter last year.

We are spoilt for choice, aren't we? Indeed we are. Beautiful spring

weather there. Still to come, was our winter too wet for waterborne

insects? Yes, a charity asks for your help to monitor the health of

countryside favourites like the dragonfly.

Another beautiful creature, a rare sighting now, like the dragonfly.

Angela is in the studio! You are sweet talker X macro

Leicester City have dismissed as laughable transfer speculation

involving the club. Nigel Pearson admits he has targets in mind for

the Premier League next season but they don't include any players being

named in the press and with four games to go there is the small

matter of the Championship title to be secured.

Promotion already secured, now they have set their sites on the title.

If results go their way, and win over QPR would see the Foxes crowned

as champions. In football it is about winning things and the players

recognise they are in a good position at the moment. It would be

nice for everybody associated with the club to finish the season at the

top. Especially for the fans to see us lifting the club at the end of

the season, it would mean a lot to them as it would to others as well.

Hopefully we can do that. A play`off spot is Derby was my aim

and victory this weekend will secure it. Easter weekend is always a big

weekend for promotion and relegation is a waffle play`offs. Two results

are probably the two two results of the season, we can cement our

position in the play`offs. Forest's hopes are fading fast. No

winning 12 and five points off the play`offs. It is an uphill task.

There is a gap now, whether there is something to play for. Every time

you walk on the pitch we owe it to the club to perform to the best of

our ability. Four games left, still everything to play for. All set`up a

cracking Easter weekend. Notts County will have midfielder

Josh Vela for their relegation battle until the end of the season.

Bolton Wanderers has said he can extend his deal at Meadow Lane.

Mansfield Town are looking for a late run for the play`offs, taking

on Accrington tomorrow, aiming for their fifth win on the trot. There

is full match commentary on what is shaping up to be a massive Easter

weekend on your BBC local radio station.

History was made at Meadow Lane last night as a crowd of more than 1500

watched Notts County Ladies play their first ever game in the Women's

Super League. It finished 1`1, quite a result as they were up against

Arsenal, the biggest name in the women was my game. Jeremy Nicholas

was there. Impressive keepy`uppy skills by the

turnstiles, but Notts'challenge is to keep up in their first season.

It's really good. To have women's football at Notts is a great step

forward for us. 1523 were there to see Notts' historic first game in

the Super League. Five Live Sports Extra listeners heard them take the

lead through Jess Clarke. The Notts fans were from a broad church,

cheering their team in the line of duty. Really enjoyed it. I'm

surprised how skilful the players were. I did not know what to expect,

but it was quite good, quite good passing. We are leading, so that is

even better. It's fantastic that the crowd also into it as much as the

men's game and nice to see a lot of the men supporters here as well,

singing the songs and getting into it. 53 minutes gone and an equaliser

for Arsenal but otherwise a great night. A big crowd, everyone happy.

Arsenal pushed hard for a win and Notts had to hang on. Their

supporters lifting the noise to see them home. So it has finished all

square, Notts County one, Arsenal one. Not a bad start to the season

for Notts. Raby playing Champions League footballer Meadow Lane. ``

may be. I got as engrossed with the game as I would any other game. They

are strong women, do you know what I mean? They are tackling, playing

just like the men would. All respect to them. The second half it was a

different game. They scored early on and got us on our heels, but we came

and drew with Arsenal and we will take that. Fantastic tonight. It was

a hard game, it always will be against Arsenal. When you get to 70

or 80 minutes, the crowd are amazing and it keeps you going. A decent

start for Notts County. My favourite moment of the night was when moment

member of the crowd shouted at the ref, "Silly boy!" You don't get

language like that in men's football!

Rugby, a big name for Tigers tomorrow night. They face Quins at

the Stoop. Leicester want to take maximum points to snatch second

spot. And secure the all`important home tie for the semifinals. We are

comfortable to go anywhere and try and win so if we have to go away, we

will go away and that is the punishment for not being as good in

the early part of the season as we should have been. That is all sport.

Here is how you can help a few damsels in distress. The Canal and

River Trust is warning that the wettest winter on record could have

a lasting impact on populations of dragonflies and damselflies. The

Trust is asking people to help monitor the insects as part of its

annual Great Nature Watch. Carol Hinds has been to the Grantham Canal

to do a bit of insects spotting. On a sunny day, it can be hard to

remember the damage caused by the winter floods. As the days get

warmer, the Canal and River Trust is examining how well species such as

dragonflies and damselflies have survived. Dragonfly nymphs, their

juvenile stage, they spend a lot of time in the water, up to two years,

so they could have been washed away during this very wet weather. The

Grantham Canal in Hickling in Leicestershire is just the sort of

place where the dragonfly and the smaller and more delicate damselfly

flourish. The Grantham Canal here is beautiful. There is lots of reeds,

which are an important habitat and that helps support the invertebrates

which live under the water. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest

along here. It really is important for wildlife. The Canal and River

Trust's Great Nature Watch is running from now until September. So

if you live near a river or canal, reservoir or even if you have a

garden pond, they need your help. Go to our website or download our app,

which we have, the Great Nature Watch app, and you can look at the

different plants and animals you can find along the canal. We want people

to record them and tell us what they have seen when they come out for the

day. Information from the survey will help the Trust to improve the

habitats of plants, animals and insects found along our waterways.

Beautiful. The sharp eyed amongst you may have noticed those pieces

were not filmed today, because it was a bit grey. Underwhelming, as we

said at lunchtime. Are things going to improve? It is nice to start off

with sunshine but it did change through the daytime and

with sunshine but it did change through the daytime we had a weak

weather front with us. If you just take a look a bit further ahead to

the coming weekend, if you have plans, and you would like to do

anything outdoors, the first couple of days, Good Friday and Saturday

will be the better days of the weekend. Remaining fine and dry with

some sunshine. As we head towards Easter Day and Easter Monday, there

is the likelihood of a fair bit of rain coming in. We have had our week

weather front sinking southwards throughout today, losing the lovely

clear skies first thing. It was the king of times to produce the odd

spot or two of rain but it has been a weakening front and it is starting

to pull away towards south. The skies have started to clear across

northern parts of the country. We will start to see the temperatures

dropping as well, turning into a chilly night tonight. Temperatures

in the towns and cities around 3`4 Celsius. In rural areas, just above

freezing. There is the chance of a slight grass frost starting to form.

We will start off with quite a bit of sunshine tomorrow morning. And I

stay in store for Good Friday. One thing you need to bear in mind, a

bit of cloud in the afternoon, a north`easterly breeze and that will

make it feel that bit cooler across the East Midlands. Daytime

temperatures down by about 2`3 degrees compared to most of this

week. 12 Celsius is the maximum for Good Friday. Temperatures start to

pick up on Saturday. Around 14 Celsius. But there is going to be a

fair bit of cloud with us and the cloud increases further into the

afternoon. Maybe a bit of brightness around. That will make it feel

slightly cooler still, despite the fact it is a dry day. For Easter

Day, if you are planning an Easter egg hunts, try to get the eggs

outdoors for the kids, it will turn wet. This is 11am. It is always to

`` it is always dangerous to say that because it is subject to

change. It is going to produce some heavy rainfall through Easter day.

Partly on Easter Monday as well. We might see brightness, although it

will stay showery at times. Make the most of the first half. And Easter

egg hunts inside as well as outside, for safety. The earthquake, Zak has

said I have just seen your report on the earthquake in oak and

surrounding areas. In Spain, where I live, we get stronger than that

10`15 times a year. Impressive that you are watching us from Spain! Have

a great bank holiday weekend. See you later. Goodbye.