06/03/2017 East Midlands Today

You're watching East Midlands Today. the BBC's news teams where you are.

Tonight, a shocking breach of trust at a school.

A teaching assistant admits stealing money raised by families and staff.

Also tonight, a Leicestershire man who survived a ferry disaster joins

a service remembering the dead. People need to know what

happened because some didn't make it. And a farm in Leicestershire is

hoping to turn the waste from these into this beer by this summer.

Good evening and welcome to the programme with Anne Davies

A teaching assistant has been given a suspended 26-week prison sentence

after she admitted stealing almost ?3,500

46-year-old Nadine Ledwith, who was treasurer

of the school PTA, took the cash raised by families and staff

at Montrose Primary School in Leicester.

Leicester Magistrates also ordered that she pay

The school said the "community has been badly let down by her actions".

This breach of trust has shocked everyone at Montrose primary school.

The cash taken by teaching Assistant Nadine Ledwith was raised by pupils,

their families and staff at various events organised by the PTA. She was

the treasurer of the PTA, and instead of banking a total of over

?3000, she kept it for herself. In a statement the headteacher of the

school said many members of the community placed their trust in

Nadine Ledwith and were badly let down by her actions. She placed

herself first and gave no thought for others. Nadine Ledwith has

previously pleaded guilty to the charge and was today given a 26 week

prison sentence suspended for 18 months. Leicester magistrates

ordered she pay back all the money she stole.

Why did you take the money from the school? She ran off quickly and

covered her face as she left the court. The school said at a time

when all schools are suffering diminishing budgets, it is

particularly upsetting the money raised for the children in the

school has been stolen. The school relies on a large number of children

and adults giving up their time. The former teaching assistant was in

tears throughout the hearing. In defence it was said she's not

well and wants to pay all the money well and wants to pay all the money

back to the school. Still to come -

plugging into cleaner air. Work gets underway on Nottingham's

new eco-expressway giving The last man to be

rescued from the Herald of Free Enterprise has joined other

survivors at a service in Dover to mark the 30th

anniversary of the disaster. 193 people died when the ferry

capsized off the Belgian coast. Brian Gibbons from Melton Mowbray

says he still feels guilt that he survived

when so many others didn't. A memorial service held in Dover

today to remember those who died in the worst peacetime British maritime

disaster in living memory. Among the survivors at the service, Brian

Gibbons. For seven hours he didn't know if he would live or die, he was

finally rescued after divers heard him topping his watch on a pipe. I

was trying to get to sleep and it literally threw me out of my bunk.

It took up to 90 seconds for it to capsize onto one side. The Herald of

Free Enterprise capsized in 1987 after sailing with its bow doors

open. Beverly Willows' father and sister both died in the disaster.

They had taken a cut-price day trip offer from a newspaper. Beverly

remembers it like it was yesterday. I remember everyone screaming and

crying because we knew they were on their land and nearly -- in nearly

hours of the morning my brother rang to say he was safe but he thought

the others had perished, and that's how we knew then. Her father's body

was not found until eight months later, the last body to be found.

Beverly cannot forget what it was like for families waiting to hear

about their loved ones. In the hotel rooms you could hear people crying,

being distraught as well as celebrating they had found them. We

were the last ones and it was like we were still waiting to find hours,

and we had to come away with nothing really. It's been an emotional day

for Brian Gibbons too. I still feel a bit guilty because I survived, 193

didn't. But will never go away, but at the end of the day let's hope

ferry patrol is a lot safer now and let's not forget the 193 that didn't

make it. Police have increased high

visibility patrols after a member of staff at a Derby school

was assaulted outside its gates. It happened at Littleover Community

School on Friday afternoon. The man was punched in the face

and neck and pushed to the ground A 15-year-old local

boy has been arrested. Police want to hear from anyone

who may have seen the incident. Nearly three quarters of a million

pounds has been spent expanding a Nottinghamshire primary school

to meet the increasing Three additional classrooms have

been built at the Kingsway Primary The county council says it

will ensure that as many parents as possible

can get their child Stark warnings have been issued

today over the dangers It's estimated that, on average,

dirty air shortens lives in the UK Nottingham has some of the most

polluted air in the country but it's pioneering new ways

to try to tackle the problem. Sarah Teale is next to the country's

first eco-expressway. Well the idea is that one lane along

this route will be used only by public transport

and electric vehicles. As you can see, work is well under

way on creating the eco expressway. The aim is to reduce congestion

but also to improve air quality. The BBC has been looking at what can

be done to tackle air pollution. Our reporter Simon Hare has been

investigating if this eco lane will help and what we can learn

from Norway where electric cars In the past, drivers in the UK were

encouraged to buy diesel cars, but now we are being told they are

having a big impact on the quality of the air we breathe. What reaction

did you get from family and friends when you bought an electric car? Did

everyone think you would start hugging trees? Not at all but the

first office joke was you are driving around in a milk float, it

got pretty thin that particular joke but attitudes are changing. The

council is hoping this will change them even further, it is building

the UK's first so-called eco-expressway. As well as buses the

extra lane in each direction will be for ultralow emissions vehicles. We

think initiatives like this will encourage people to buy green

vehicles and that way will improve the air we breathe. In Norway they

have been encouraging electric car ownership for years. I have come to

meet the man who is the driving force behind it all and he supports

what's being done in the East Midlands. Congratulations to

Nottingham because that's a very good way to start. Actually we did

the same and it is a fantastic feeling going in from the suburbs in

the morning and driving in the lanes. Of course one electric car

will not save the world, but this is the future. It is quiet and fast,

and it's electric. Well that's certainly the view

of Nottingham City Council as well. They say they are committed to

creating a low Carbon city which gives priority to public transport

and they say it is not about being anti-car.

They're also investing in electric park and ride buses and encouraging

the city's Hackney cabs to change to electric.

Either you don't invest in this stuff, we are not going to invest in

electric low carbon transport, or you take the approach we are taking

which is to say we have got to get a grip of this, we need pollution

levels to go down, air quality levels to go up, public transport

users to go up and invest in a green Nottingham for 30 years' time, for

the people who live here now and the children growing up in the city who

will be here in 50 years. That's our responsibility and the right thing

to do. And so if this eco expressway

is successful when it it opens opens later this year,

it will form part of a wider strategy which will see other eco

expressways introduced in other key And you can see more on the efforts

to tackle air pollution in tonight Still to come on the programme

tonight, the charity initiative And all thanks to the biggest

clothes sale of its kind in the country, that this year

has made thousands. The UK's Chief Vet says bird flu

still poses a high risk and despite relaxing restrictions

in many parts of the country there are some areas

where they've been extended. For businesses caught

in these higher risk areas, One city farm in Nottingham feared

there was a risk all its birds may have to be culled because it

couldn't afford the netting Stonebridge city farm has been

giving urban dwellers a slice of country life for 40 years and

attracts thousands of visitors. Because it is close to the River

Trent, it is deemed to be in a high-risk area. Many of its 150

birds are enclosed under netting but around one third have been moved

from a barn and the charity couldn't afford the cost of the extra

netting. The reason we haven't got ?1000 is that we are charity and we

rely on donations to keep going so we don't have that money sloshing

around for this sort of project. With so many birds not enclosed on

the farm, the whole flock faced a possible cull. Bird flu is highly

contagious so if one animal gets it, they will all get it, so they would

all have to go. But then an anonymous call came in. Shortly

after your coverage we got a call to the farm, from a woman who said she

would like to donate ?1000. Absolutely gobsmacked because it

will make a massive difference to the birds and it will save them. To

be honest I welled up, I said you have juiced me to tears, and she

said I just want to help. The farmer has ordered the netting today and it

will be in place by the end of the week. The Chief vet's extended

restrictions remain in force until at least the end of next month.

A man from Melton Mowbray has been charged with a series

41-year-old Neil Gordon from New Street appeared before

He's been charged with 11 offences, including actual bodily harm,

assault and being in possession of an offensive weapon.

He was remanded into custody, and will appear at Leicester

Nottingham's Television Workshop is moving to a new building

after more than 30 years in the Lace Market.

The acting school helped to launch the careers of Samantha Morton,

Its current home on Stoney Street is being sold.

The Workshop's moving into new premises in Richmond House,

at the junction of Canal Street and Collin Street.

It's the biggest clothes sale of its kind in the country.

It's been going for more than 50 years, and on Saturday they raised

For those who support the Rutland Good and New sale it's

As I found out, the money they raise is changing

lives for the better with a unique charity initiative.

In two huge marquees in Rutland, the Rutland Good and New sale was awash

with power for all. It started in the 1960s by a group of ladies

selling country clothes at the horse show. The first sale raised ?190 so

this year's 45,000 is a triumph, and it is funding two specialist

advisers who helped hundreds of people, like Amanda. I found out I

had got cancer and I didn't know what to do. My job was very

supportive and the first thing I did was go to the Citizens Advice Bureau

everything I could help with and everything I could help with and

what I could have in the future. Amanda represents many people of

that age who get cancer. Suddenly your income is threatened which

means it can threaten your home and can lead to relationship

difficulties. Without volunteers, the charity itself, there would be

no money for advisers like Julie, and for those they help their

presence is priceless. You cannot quantify a lot of the emotional

support but in money terms we have probably accessed in the region of

1.3 million funds from benefits and savings in other ways. From young

and old, people with mental health problems and physical problems,

whatever, they can all get help. I have been in remission for a year

and a half, I am still here and life is for living.

I wish Amanda well. It's like being in a sweet shop for me but I

Still getting over the sheriff's Still getting over the sheriff's

hat, she wore that very well. Lots of questions to try and answer

in this evening's sport. The Foxes squad are spending this

week in Dubai as they prepare for next Tuesday's Champions League

game against Seville. But they've headed there in good

spirits after the second win in two games for their interim manager

Craig Shakespeare. And now many fans are asking how can

the owners not give him the job. Angela Rafferty was at

the King Power Stadium. A few remnants of the old regime

remained but for the Leicester City owners it's all about the future.

Step forward, Craig Shakespeare. So long number two, now it is his turn

in the spotlight. Leicester City taking on Hull city. Back-to-back

wins was what he wanted, the team delivered and how. Despite going

behind against Hull they came back in emphatic style. It is Christian

Fuchs who levels are taught! What a goal! Perez is back with a bang! He

has mesmerised this whole city. It is a ripper.

The header goes in! It is in the top corner top bend, back-to-back wins,

six goals in a week, the foxes are back in the Premier League. The fans

are heading home happy, their first back-to-back wins of the season and

a performance that can surely put Craig Shakespeare in the box for

this job. Claudio Ranieri, who is he? Let him carry on what he's

doing, what a result, we needed that lift. The confusion is gone, we are

back to playing how we were, a fantastic performance again. Six

goals, two conceded, team spirit and confidence. What about the job?

Shakespeare. I was told the remit was the Liverpool game, the Hull

game, and told now I'm quite comfortable with it we will have a

talk towards the end of the week. I'm pleased about the results over

the last couple of games than anything else. He did a decent job

so far. I am here for one and a half years and he is a good man, a good

coach. This decision is down to the bosses and we will see. As the crowd

sang sign him up, a thumbs up from the owners at the end, decision time

is looming. Will they put Shakespeare's centrestage?

And we will see what the answer is. The question there is, are

the play-offs still a possibility? It is a faint hope,

but it still exists thanks to a come-from-behind

win on Saturday. It happened at home to Barnsley and

had some real grit behind it, Derby made a slow start but were really

getting going when the visitors took the lead. Matty James is on loan at

Barnsley, the last time he scored was three years ago for Leicester.

The combat began within two minutes. This wasn't a spectacular goal but

it was very welcome. After that Derby were well on top, and Johnny

Russell looking for the winner. In the end David Nugent announced his

return to goal-scoring, and my how he enjoyed it. I'm searching, like I

did when I first came, for an 11 that will win consistently every

week. If they do that they will stay in the team. We have got to win.

Performance is always first so yes, I would like to give everybody, as

long as they are fit, an opportunity to win again.

At Nottingham Forest the manager says hard work is the answer

to people wondering about the club's turn in form.

Gary Brazil believes improved fitness levels

are reaping rewards - the latest, a win against promotion

There is plenty to talk about at Forest, and to start how about this

goal which gave them the lead against Brighton, but should it have

been given? The player was offside, if he headed it, his reaction said

he did. Saturday was a good result but I genuinely wasn't particularly

surprised. I know what I see on the training grounds, I know what the

players are like. I have seen them again this morning and I know what

we will get going through to the rest of the season. The second goal

at the weekend was a real howler, Stockton handing it on a plate to

Osborne. The third deep into stoppage time came from the penalty

spot, again Zak cloth the scorer. Next up, Brentwood tomorrow.

The questions in League Two are of promotion and relegation.

How disappointed should Mansfield be not to be

in the play fff places today - they couldn't beat a Cheltenham

side down to ten men for most of the match.

And are Notts County back in trouble after a crushing

They're five points above second bottom Leyton Orient.

Other news - a wonderful start to the Triathlon World Series

for Derby's Tom Bishop, a second place finish in Abu Dhabi.

Only beaten by one of the sports' superstars, Javier Gomez.

Bishop's previous best was fifth and his performance

I can't quite believe it to be honest. I had planned, I wanted to

swim as well as I could and save as much energy as I could on the bike.

I got into the run and my back was sore so I have to warm myself into

it but I had Gomez to praise me through, he was a good character to

follow so I followed him as long as I could and that me into second.

And in cricket, a big signing for Notts Outlaws T20

Young New Zealand leg spinner Ish Sodhi will be an Outlaw

He made quite the impact in Australia's Big Bash

and Notts are hoping he'll do the same for them.

And that means summer is officially on the way!

Yes, today the sky was blue, summer is on the way.

Now, to the changing taste of your traditional pint.

Purists may turn up their noses but when it comes to beers

and ciders, you can already go for cherry, strawberry and apricot

But for fans of fungi there's about to be

Yes, how do you fancy a beer made from mushroom waste?

Well, that's an idea that's brewing down on a farm in Leicestershire.

These are oyster mushrooms, we have eight different types of mushrooms

and these are one of the types we grow. They are picked daily, we

have... I will pick these ones here and show you. At this farm, Harriet

shows me how the mushrooms are grown. These are ripe for selling

but there are other varieties too that Harriet's father has grown for

30 years. We have... But inevitably from all these mushrooms there is

some waste. Now the family, Harriet's Brothers have sampled the

Belgian version, they are thinking about beer. It has an earthy flavour

to it, it is a dark coloured beer but it is yummy and we think we can

try and make something similar. And it is quite strong, isn't it? Yes,

9% so I don't know if we would go for something similar or try to

tailor it more to the UK target market. Harriet is currently

researching production methods they might start small or team up with

the local microbrewery to produce the beer.

Have you thought what you might call it? Maybe wild fungi beer, something

along those lines but we are still in the process of deciding a name.

Something quirky with a good brand I think will get it off the ground.

They are hoping that by this summer they will start turning these into

this. Cheers. That sounds really nice actually,

earthy and mushroomy. Strong an earthy, right up your

street. It was nice weather for drinking beer, it has been feeling

quite springlike and our weather watchers have been sending in photos

of signs of spring near them. We have this gorgeous photo of blossom

scent in from Nottingham, and in Derbyshire. As we move through the

rest of the week it will be unsettled with a few outbreaks of

rain but it will be totally wet, some drier intervals in the mix as

well and as we move through the week the temperatures getting that bit

milder. Here is what's going on in the bigger picture over the next few

days. We have these weather fronts coming in from the south-west

bringing outbreaks of rain, particularly by the time we get to

Wednesday. Looking at this evening and overnight we have a few showers

to look out for, particularly in the east of the region, and the west of

the region as we move through tonight, but becoming increasingly

dry. Overnight lows of three or four Celsius, some patchy cloud around.

Where we have clearer skies in the countryside you could see a touch of

frost first thing tomorrow. It's not looking too bad, I think most will

see a largely dry day with sunny spells. The sunshine could turn

hazier points with high-level cloud around, temperatures reaching a

maximum of nine Celsius. As we move into the evening we will see a band

of rain coming in from the south-west which will be with us

overnight and as we go into Wednesday. Wednesday looking where

to begin with but temperatures reaching a maximum of 11 Celsius.

The outlook shows it is quite an unsettled week as we move through

the week. It was lovely today, I thought.

Can I check what word you were searching for.

Street! I thought street. That will teach

you to add live. Goodbye.