:00:08. > :00:12.This is East Midlands Today. Our top story tonight - the metal
:00:12. > :00:18.thieves who target the dead. Modern-day grave robbers plunder
:00:18. > :00:22.the railings around headstones. really is a sad and disgusting day
:00:22. > :00:27.when people come here and desecrate graves.
:00:27. > :00:31.Horror in a park as the swans are butchered for their meat.
:00:31. > :00:35.Plus cuts and redundancies confirmed it - the unions say
:00:35. > :00:40.council chiefs are being heartless. And same paintings, different
:00:40. > :00:50.setting - and New Look a gallery to showcase one of our best known
:00:50. > :00:58.
:00:58. > :01:04.Good evening. The metal thieves of plumbing new depths of. A cemetery
:01:04. > :01:07.has been stripped of the railings protecting a grave. It is the
:01:07. > :01:12.latest and one of the lowest examples of the crime but we also
:01:12. > :01:16.have pictures of a house wrecked by thieves ripping out cables and
:01:16. > :01:24.wires. The problem is so bad that one security firm has developed a
:01:24. > :01:29.new alarm system especially for wiring and led roofs.
:01:29. > :01:33.Nothing is sacred for the thieves who steal metal. Here at this
:01:33. > :01:43.cemetery they have taken a set of railings around this 19-year-old
:01:43. > :01:43.
:01:43. > :01:50.grave, a memorial for someone who died. -- 90-year-old. They smashed
:01:50. > :01:54.out around this grave and removed all metalwork. It has been here
:01:54. > :02:03.since 1922 and it is a sand and disgusting day when people come and
:02:03. > :02:09.desecrate graves. Simon's property rental company has been targeted by
:02:09. > :02:14.thieves are two. A lot has been cut out. The they ransacked this house
:02:14. > :02:18.only days after the tenants moved out. They have stolen cables, a
:02:19. > :02:23.metal fireplace, even the hot water tank and they have taken everything
:02:23. > :02:29.but the kitchen sink. They have ruined of the house. It is no
:02:29. > :02:33.longer occupy able. It will need up to �1,000 to bring it up to
:02:33. > :02:39.standard. They will have got away with no more than �100 worth of
:02:39. > :02:45.metal. This firm has come up with a set -- system to protect metal from
:02:45. > :02:54.thieves. It sends electric currents down cables or plates that is
:02:54. > :03:00.linked to a alarm. Her soon as the alarm goes off, it comes up on the
:03:00. > :03:07.screen and we can also have a visual representation to where
:03:07. > :03:13.there is. We will phone a contract security company he will respond
:03:13. > :03:18.directly to the alarm. They will be there in 20 minutes. For the
:03:18. > :03:25.thieves who do not get caught, metal is becoming a new counterfeit
:03:25. > :03:28.currency and it is a crime that is causing damage.
:03:28. > :03:34.Councillors have defended the cuts to Nottinghamshire County Council's
:03:34. > :03:38.budget which are being rubber- stamped this evening. More than
:03:38. > :03:44.�170 million has to be saved over four years with around 2,500 jobs
:03:44. > :03:53.are likely to go. Unions say the cuts will have a major impact on
:03:53. > :03:58.services and for the local economy. When there are cuts, there were
:03:58. > :04:01.protests and today was no exception. UNISON members demonstrated outside
:04:01. > :04:07.Nottinghamshire County Council as the cabinet insider agreed to
:04:07. > :04:13.millions of pounds of cuts to the budget. Boos rang out as they had
:04:13. > :04:16.that councillors had agreed to the controversial decision to close a
:04:16. > :04:22.show with Industries, a furniture- making factory employing disabled
:04:22. > :04:26.staff. Many of its 40 workers were at the protest. We are workers
:04:26. > :04:32.willing to work with the disability. The council is taking that away
:04:32. > :04:39.from us. What future do we hold that? It is a heartless decision.
:04:39. > :04:43.We are doubtful as to any of us can beat we employed. Four they are
:04:43. > :04:48.throwing away scores of disabled workers. Councils arrived for the
:04:48. > :04:52.meeting this morning facing the same problem which is facing dozens
:04:53. > :05:00.of other councils around the country. Where out of the Budget to
:05:00. > :05:04.find huge savings? Nottinghamshire it needs to cut �171 million over
:05:05. > :05:11.four years. In the next two years alone, savings of 63 million have
:05:11. > :05:19.to be made, �12 million more than first thought and in total, 2005
:05:19. > :05:24.French a jobs are likely to go. Across the organisation we are able
:05:24. > :05:28.to make a lot of efficiency savings and reinvest that in the front line
:05:29. > :05:32.services such as adult social care and health and children and young
:05:32. > :05:37.people and the front line of children. Unison says these cuts
:05:37. > :05:42.will affect services and it also says it for have a massive negative
:05:42. > :05:48.impact on the local economy. It says an independent report predicts
:05:48. > :05:55.the knock-on effect of the council redundancies could lead to 3,500
:05:55. > :06:01.people also losing their jobs in the private sector.
:06:01. > :06:06.Still to come: in Sport, Colin is live at Pride Park ahead of
:06:06. > :06:11.tonight's local Derby. It might be Derby County against
:06:11. > :06:16.Leicester City this evening but more important than that is the if
:06:16. > :06:19.any of these two sides are loses they can count themselves out of
:06:19. > :06:25.the play-off race. And the temperatures have been
:06:25. > :06:35.hotting up today. But spring has not sprung just yet as they are on
:06:35. > :06:39.
:06:39. > :06:44.the way down again for the weekend. They are used to being fed by
:06:44. > :06:48.people but now ates thought that someone has been killing them for
:06:48. > :06:55.food. Several swans have been found butchered in a Derby park to the
:06:55. > :07:00.horror of people who use it. The police are now investigating.
:07:00. > :07:06.They are known for their grace and beauty, but it is thought someone
:07:06. > :07:10.has been killing these swans for them the. Six have been discovered
:07:10. > :07:17.dead in Derby. Some had seemingly been butchered for their breast
:07:18. > :07:22.meat. The Rangers had found six swans over the last three weeks and
:07:22. > :07:27.they believe from the way they were found it was human intervention
:07:27. > :07:31.rather than animal that has been attacking these birds. The police
:07:31. > :07:37.have stepped up patrols in the area and they want anyone who sees
:07:37. > :07:43.anything suspicious to report it. The birds are able to come down and
:07:43. > :07:49.get fed, so they come down a lot and we have had a lot of reports
:07:49. > :07:57.from people horrified by what has been happening. I come here with
:07:57. > :08:02.the little ones that to feed the ducks. It is a nice park. But it is
:08:02. > :08:12.not a nice thing that is. It is call. There is no need to kill
:08:12. > :08:19.swans. I like all animals. It is terrible. Those I have spoken to
:08:19. > :08:23.are appalled at the butchering of these beautiful birds. They are
:08:23. > :08:29.protected by law and should not be touched. Anyone caught killing a
:08:30. > :08:39.swan and could face a �5,000 fine or six months in jail. It is hoped
:08:40. > :08:40.
:08:40. > :08:43.that could deter whoever is responsible from killing any more.
:08:43. > :08:48.A former Nottingham community protection officer has been cleared
:08:48. > :08:52.of rape and sexual assault. Richard Mundle from Bestwood was found not
:08:52. > :08:56.guilty at Derby Crown Court of three counts of rape and a sexual
:08:56. > :09:00.assault. The prosecution offered no evidence on a second sex attack but
:09:00. > :09:04.Mundle was convicted of the misuse of a computer and was given a
:09:04. > :09:09.conditional discharge for 12 months. The family of a woman and her
:09:09. > :09:13.grandson he died in a lake say they death had left a hole in their
:09:13. > :09:18.lives that they can never be filled. Dawn Mullany and Laurence Mills
:09:18. > :09:21.were discovered in the water at Holywell a week ago. In a statement
:09:21. > :09:27.their relatives said the pair could not have been closer and they
:09:27. > :09:31.shared a love of fun and laughter. Award of �25,000 is being offered
:09:31. > :09:36.for information about the theft of a cash machine from a High Street
:09:36. > :09:40.bank. The to use a tractor to crash into the Nat West in
:09:40. > :09:45.Nottinghamshire. A police spokesman said the incident caused a lot of
:09:45. > :09:52.disruption and damage to a building. Detectives are checking where they
:09:52. > :09:57.there is a link with similar robberies in Leicestershire.
:09:57. > :10:01.Just two weeks to go and tell the Queen starts her Diamond Jubilee
:10:01. > :10:05.tour and she is starting it in the East Midlands. Leicester is the
:10:05. > :10:12.first stop for the royal party on that tour of England, Wales and
:10:12. > :10:17.Scotland. Shops are already cashing in as royal fever gripped the city.
:10:17. > :10:22.The flags are up, the bunting is out and there is no shortage of
:10:22. > :10:27.more royal memorabilia. Tills are ringing ahead of the royal visit in
:10:27. > :10:31.two weeks' time. It is a good thing for Leicester and it is a busy
:10:31. > :10:37.shopping centre and it will bring focus to Leicester. We are honoured
:10:37. > :10:41.to be the first on her Jubilee tour. The brute of the royal party
:10:41. > :10:46.consisting of the Queen, Duke of Edinburgh and Duchess of Cambridge
:10:46. > :10:50.has yet to be unveiled but people are excited and think it will mean
:10:50. > :10:58.big business for the city. It will be good because everybody wants to
:10:58. > :11:04.see her. It brings prestige to the city. It highlights the city.
:11:04. > :11:10.Leicester is not really on the map. People go past it, so it is very
:11:10. > :11:14.exciting they are coming. This tour has sold out of two Billy tea-
:11:14. > :11:19.towels as demand has soared. It has caused a lot of excitement and we
:11:19. > :11:25.have been caught by surprise with the demand for the gifts that we
:11:25. > :11:30.have got. We have sold out of several things already and are on a
:11:30. > :11:37.third order. Details of the Royal fruit are expected to be revealed
:11:37. > :11:41.next break. It is hoped thousands A police detective sergeant has
:11:41. > :11:44.denied raping a woman while he was off duty. Trevor Gray, seen here at
:11:44. > :11:48.an earlier court hearing, today pleaded not guilty to charges of
:11:48. > :11:52.rape, attempted rape and sexual assault. Detective Sergeant Gray,
:11:52. > :12:02.who's 47, and of Stannier Way, at Watnall, near Nottingham - has been
:12:02. > :12:05.
:12:05. > :12:11.suspended from duty and will go on trial in May. We will roll
:12:11. > :12:14.investigators have seized more than a �300,000 from a bit of a car in
:12:14. > :12:19.Nottinghamshire. The money is believed to have been proceeds of a
:12:19. > :12:22.plot to smuggle tobacco. Three men had been arrested, and had been
:12:22. > :12:25.bailed until next month. A Nottingham charity is to receive
:12:25. > :12:35.an award from the Queen. Balls to Poverty sends footballs and rugby
:12:35. > :12:36.
:12:36. > :12:38.balls to some of the poorest parts of South Africa. So far they've
:12:38. > :12:41.sent more than 26,000 balls, helping tens of thousands of
:12:41. > :12:44.children. Now the charity's work is to be rewarded with a Queen's
:12:44. > :12:47.Anniversary Prize. Next, he may be one of the East
:12:47. > :12:51.Midlands' most famous artists - but the gallery where his pictures hang
:12:51. > :12:55.has long been in serious need of a new lick of paint. Well - more than
:12:55. > :13:00.a lick of paint really, because it's cost a �150,000 to spruce up
:13:00. > :13:09.the Joseph Wright gallery in Derby. But it was all worth it because now
:13:09. > :13:17.it's ready for the public re- opening as James Roberson reports.
:13:17. > :13:24.Admiring Joseph Wright's paintings in a 21st century setting. �150,000
:13:24. > :13:28.has gone into the revamp of the museum. The grey walls are a
:13:28. > :13:32.startling contrast to what went before. The last decoration was
:13:32. > :13:39.over 20 years ago when the painting's return from a tour of
:13:39. > :13:44.London, Paris and New York. Two decades, the style was tired. There
:13:44. > :13:51.is backing for this collection from places like the Tate Gallery and
:13:51. > :13:55.the Yale University. A told us we have a great collection. We said to
:13:55. > :14:02.them, right, we are going to need your help and backing to try and do
:14:02. > :14:07.something with this. They said they were behind that. The bicentenary
:14:07. > :14:11.Exhibition attracted 30,000 visitors from the world all over.
:14:11. > :14:16.They now hope a new environment, and the drawings will again have
:14:16. > :14:20.bring visitors to Derby. You go round and see his paintings all
:14:20. > :14:24.round at the world. We have the biggest collection, and it's going
:14:24. > :14:31.to bring the people back into Derby. They looked so lovely being
:14:31. > :14:35.displayed here. Here to open the gallery, the designer, Wayne
:14:35. > :14:42.Hemingway, he said at the museum has the right staff. It is full of
:14:42. > :14:47.wonderful things. It takes you into another space. It takes the
:14:47. > :14:51.pressure off, it makes you think, a gets your brain ticking over. That
:14:51. > :14:56.helps everybody. We've got something here that is world class,
:14:56. > :15:01.and we need to live up to that. It is a really important landmark in
:15:01. > :15:05.that journey. It is a landmark. We have a lot more to do, but it is
:15:05. > :15:15.wonderful to show them off. exhibition reopens to the public on
:15:15. > :15:15.
:15:16. > :15:19.Saturday. The paintings are wonderful, so was the paint.
:15:19. > :15:27.Still to come on the programme - after a strangely warm day what
:15:27. > :15:36.does tomorrow's weather forecast hold?
:15:36. > :15:42.I been given this, and best, to help something that will help -- to
:15:42. > :15:46.make something that will help wildlife.
:15:46. > :15:51.Time now for the sport - and its a big East Midlands football night.
:15:51. > :15:55.The sports team are at Pride Park. Yes we are, and we're here because
:15:55. > :15:59.Derby's visitors tonight are Leicester City. An all East
:15:59. > :16:05.Midlands affair. Very different attitudes to building their squads,
:16:05. > :16:08.but both mid table and both on the same number of points. Tonight,
:16:08. > :16:12.though only one can take the bragging rights. There was no
:16:12. > :16:15.dispute about who did that when the teams met at the King Power -
:16:15. > :16:25.Leicester turning in one of those performances that made you think
:16:25. > :16:25.
:16:25. > :16:30.they were going places, and winning 4-0.
:16:30. > :16:36.We have both had our ups and downs of this season, but we want to try
:16:36. > :16:42.and get three points and move up the league. We haven't done too
:16:42. > :16:52.well in the last couple of seasons against them. We suffered a 4-0, it
:16:52. > :16:53.
:16:53. > :16:59.was a bit harsh us. Sometimes forms -- form goes out the window in
:16:59. > :17:07.derby games. Hopefully we will give the fans and the manager something
:17:07. > :17:15.to shout about. That's how they're feeling about
:17:15. > :17:22.the build up. Roger Davies is a man who has a foot in both camps. Most
:17:22. > :17:29.people think you are Derby County for Renfrew? -- Derby County
:17:29. > :17:35.through and through? I had good times here. But I want both clubs
:17:35. > :17:42.to do well. What you think of the Derby side? It is a young side.
:17:42. > :17:46.They lack experience. We beat West Ham at Christmas, and whole, it was
:17:46. > :17:50.a great Christmas. You never know what this side is going to do.
:17:50. > :17:57.this game has added significance. Eight points is a long way from the
:17:57. > :18:02.play-offs. I'm not sure about this league. Everybody is beating
:18:02. > :18:06.everybody. Whoever wins tonight, that will be a help. You look at
:18:06. > :18:10.how much money Leicester have spent, and what Derby have done, it never
:18:11. > :18:14.gives you any guarantee if you spend money.
:18:14. > :18:18.Thanks Roger. Now, we presenters and pundits can bang on all we like
:18:18. > :18:21.- but its the supporters who really matter. Ange is just outside.
:18:21. > :18:28.Yes a packed house here tonight because this is after all - about
:18:28. > :18:30.East Midlands bragging rights. Hot on the heels of their FA cup
:18:30. > :18:34.victory the Foxes full of confidence but here at home Derby
:18:34. > :18:42.County will be giving it everything to make sure it's their fans who go
:18:42. > :18:48.home happy. I think we did get an upset. 2-0.
:18:48. > :18:56.They are a bogey team for you. sure. We tend to use against them.
:18:56. > :19:03.I have some little ones down here. What is your prediction? 2-1 to
:19:03. > :19:09.Derby. That sounds good. Some less the fans here. We have been
:19:10. > :19:19.inconsistent over the last few weeks. If we perform like Saturday,
:19:19. > :19:24.we will win. Let's get another quick prediction. 31 -- 3-1 to
:19:24. > :19:34.Leicester. A big game here deceiving. Also a very big game
:19:34. > :19:35.
:19:35. > :19:38.Anyone who left Meadow Lane early would have been very disappointed.
:19:38. > :19:44.Notts County grabbed a late late goal against Stevanage to get new
:19:44. > :19:47.manager Keith Curle off to the perfect start.
:19:47. > :19:52.perfect start. So nearly a dream start. This early
:19:52. > :19:55.effort only kept out by the woodwork. There were some Met
:19:55. > :20:01.Office for the defence. This mistake could have nearly led to a
:20:01. > :20:09.goal put the visitors. What they first got this would have been on
:20:09. > :20:10.loan defender Kieron Freeman. In the 91st minute this shot from Jeff
:20:10. > :20:18.the 91st minute this shot from Jeff Hughes crept in to give Keith Curle
:20:18. > :20:22.his first victory. Fantastic. If it had been a draw, it was an
:20:22. > :20:27.opportunity to put ideas in place for the players. You need to aim
:20:27. > :20:34.high, you need aspirations. If we can sneak into the play-offs, so be
:20:34. > :20:38.it. They will continue that push buggy -- push for the play-offs
:20:38. > :20:41.against Chesterfield. Leicester Tigers Manu Tuilagi is
:20:41. > :20:45.back in the England team for the game with Wales this weekend.
:20:45. > :20:48.There's a first international start for his club mate Geoff Parling.
:20:48. > :20:58.Tom Croft and Dan Cole are also in the line up with Ben Youngs and
:20:58. > :21:07.
:21:07. > :21:13.Toby Flood on the bench. Alan Young is here tonight for BBC
:21:13. > :21:19.Leicester. I pick it is vital Leicester win this game. We have to
:21:19. > :21:24.win this and the Coventry match. We have a big cup tie, and a couple of
:21:24. > :21:29.away matches. It is vitally important. Do you think this is a
:21:29. > :21:36.Leicester team that is getting it together? Yes. It is very
:21:36. > :21:40.frustrating for everyone, we know how well we can play. Thank you
:21:40. > :21:45.very much. If you want to hear Alan with Ian
:21:45. > :21:50.Stringer BBC Radio Leicester is your place to go. For the Derby
:21:50. > :21:59.point of view, BBC Radio Derby are point of view, BBC Radio Derby are
:21:59. > :22:02.And don't forget, I'll have the first report on the game in our
:22:02. > :22:06.late bulletin. Ange has an indepth look back this time tomorrow
:22:06. > :22:10.evening. We're hoping for a cracker. After the unusually spring-like day
:22:10. > :22:15.we've enjoyed, its hard to believe that only a couple of weeks ago the
:22:15. > :22:18.East Midlands was covered in snow. But that was indeed the case when
:22:18. > :22:28.Sally and the "goes Wild" team visited Rutland Water to learn a
:22:28. > :22:38.
:22:38. > :22:41.centuries-old farming tradition In order to protect our local
:22:41. > :22:47.wildlife, it is vitally important to provide them with a flourishing
:22:47. > :22:53.Habitat. One tradition which goes back centuries is laying hedges. I
:22:53. > :22:58.have come to meet a man of he will show me exactly how it is done.
:22:58. > :23:08.Martin Aspinall recently retired as a warden to a nature reserve, but
:23:08. > :23:10.
:23:10. > :23:15.he still lays some of the hedgerows. That is a billhook. Different
:23:15. > :23:21.counties use a different one. What you do, basically, is cut. You
:23:21. > :23:29.start about hair, then go down at that sort of angle. Right the way
:23:29. > :23:34.down. A he learned the craft when he was just nine years old. How
:23:34. > :23:41.long has this been here? When would it have been laid? It would have
:23:41. > :23:51.been there about 50 years ago. long have people been hedge laying?
:23:51. > :23:53.
:23:53. > :23:58.It was first written down in 56 BC. The finished height we are looking
:23:58. > :24:08.for is about this high. We do need to get this down a little bit
:24:08. > :24:16.
:24:16. > :24:22.before we put the binders on top there. About there. You get a bit
:24:22. > :24:26.of string, and tie a knot of there. Once the stakes are in a, it's time
:24:26. > :24:36.to weave the bindings are to complete the traditional raping
:24:36. > :24:41.
:24:41. > :24:48.effect. -- traditional rope effect. Back in come forward. -- that can
:24:48. > :24:53.come forward. So, is it just the birds that can benefit from this?
:24:53. > :25:00.No, insects like to be there as well. It is a good place for Robin
:25:00. > :25:04.have to nip in and nest. It is a good habitat, or round. Absolutely.
:25:04. > :25:08.If it wasn't for people like Martin of teaching people how to maintain
:25:08. > :25:13.the these natural habitats then our wonderful wildlife would have to
:25:13. > :25:17.find somewhere else to go. Next time you are driving past a
:25:17. > :25:25.hedgerow, stop and think how much work has gone into it. Believe me,
:25:25. > :25:34.I know. I'm a bit worried with her having
:25:34. > :25:36.that machete. that machete.
:25:36. > :25:46.It is really a skill. I think it looks great.
:25:46. > :25:50.
:25:50. > :25:58.We have had a picture cent in today. -- a picture cent in today. Her her
:25:58. > :26:08.this is known as an iridescent cloud. It is in the process of
:26:08. > :26:10.
:26:10. > :26:17.forming. Thank you Yvonne. Keep your pictures coming in. We have
:26:17. > :26:25.had a lovely day today. The maximum temperature was 80 my degrees at
:26:25. > :26:31.Market Bosworth. -- 18 a degrees. The night-time temperature would
:26:32. > :26:39.drop to around 9-10 degrees. Quite a breezy night. The wind or pickup.
:26:39. > :26:44.The cloud will be with us first thing tomorrow morning. That will
:26:44. > :26:50.start to work its way down from the north. It will keep us quite cloudy.
:26:50. > :26:53.It is a big enough at times to produce a small amount of rain. The
:26:53. > :27:01.further north you travel as the day goes on, the skies begin to
:27:01. > :27:06.brighten again. Quite a breezy start, but the breeze will die down.
:27:06. > :27:11.We have some high pressure building up for the weekend. That will sit
:27:11. > :27:18.across the south of the country. We wake up to a bright start on
:27:18. > :27:25.Saturday, they could be the order mist or fog patch. -- there could
:27:25. > :27:30.be. We will hold on to those clearer skies. We will see some
:27:30. > :27:32.cloud development. Temperatures cloud development. Temperatures