:00:13. > :00:17.And now the news for the East Midlands, I'm Maurice Flynn.
:00:18. > :00:21.First there's been a huge rhse in the number of children being adopted
:00:22. > :00:23.by gay couples. One in nine children placed for adoption in
:00:24. > :00:26.Nottinghamshire last year found homes in same`sex households `
:00:27. > :00:37.nearly twice the national average. Navtej Johal reports.
:00:38. > :00:45.Being parents can be a bumpx ride for any couple, but for Mandie and
:00:46. > :00:52.Louise, who adopted Max and Alice, they could not be happier. They are
:00:53. > :00:58.the highlight of our day. They are so much fun and laughter. If
:00:59. > :01:05.somebody came to me and wanted to take them back, no way. The couple
:01:06. > :01:08.are among an increasing number in Nottinghamshire who have brought
:01:09. > :01:10.kids into a same`sex household. Latest figures show that one in
:01:11. > :01:10.kids into a same`sex household. Latest figures show that ond in nine
:01:11. > :01:16.Latest figures show that one in nine children placed for adoption last
:01:17. > :01:18.year in the county were adopted by gay or lesbian parents. That is an
:01:19. > :01:22.increase of 130% from the year increase of 130% from the ydar
:01:23. > :01:27.before. Nationally the figure is only one in 15 children.
:01:28. > :01:29.The County Council has had ` The County Council has had a
:01:30. > :01:36.campaign to bust the myth that includes lesbian and gay couples
:01:37. > :01:44.cannot adopt. We want enquiries from adoptive parents whether ``
:01:45. > :01:48.regardless of their sexual orientation.
:01:49. > :01:50.Despite how well Mandie and Louise are coping, there is still a
:01:51. > :01:50.Despite how well Mandie and Louise are coping, there is still ` belief
:01:51. > :01:54.are coping, there is still a belief in some quarters that it is better
:01:55. > :01:59.for children to find homes with heterosexual couples. Go and see
:02:00. > :02:01.some children with a same`sex couple, and you will see th`t there
:02:02. > :02:05.is the love and warmth there, and is the love and warmth therd, and
:02:06. > :02:10.the children are just as happy with it as we are.
:02:11. > :02:13.A huge logistical operation is being planned to count the hundreds of
:02:14. > :02:15.thousands of votes that'll decide who will represent us at thd
:02:16. > :02:17.who will represent us at the European Parliament.
:02:18. > :02:20.One of the biggest headaches is the sheer size of the East Midl`nds
:02:21. > :02:27.constituency. Our Political Editor John Hess has more.
:02:28. > :02:31.I am setting off to find out how big the East Midlands Euro constituency
:02:32. > :02:37.is, and whether that is a factor for the low voter interest.
:02:38. > :02:39.This is Glossop, and over the hill is Manchester city centre. Xet
:02:40. > :02:42.This is Glossop, and over the hill is Manchester city centre. Yet the
:02:43. > :02:47.people here despite the proximity to greater Manchester will be voting
:02:48. > :02:53.for their five East Midlands MEPs, the cars we are on the north`western
:02:54. > :02:57.edge of Derbyshire. The East Midlands Euro constituency
:02:58. > :03:04.includes 3.2 million voters and covers five counties.
:03:05. > :03:07.I am heading east to the fence. It has taken me two and a half
:03:08. > :03:07.I am heading east to the fence. It has taken me two and a h`lf hours
:03:08. > :03:10.drive to get to Lincolnshire, It has taken me two and a half hours
:03:11. > :03:11.drive to get to Lincolnshird, making drive to get to Lincolnshire, making
:03:12. > :03:16.me realise how difficult it is for the parties to get around stch
:03:17. > :03:16.me realise how difficult it is for the parties to get around such a
:03:17. > :03:17.the parties to get around stch a vast constituency.
:03:18. > :03:22.I have already clocked up 250 miles. I have already clocked up 250 miles.
:03:23. > :03:29.This is where our journey across the euro constituency of the East
:03:30. > :03:34.Midlands N 's. 3,000 polling stations, bringing all
:03:35. > :03:38.that together, coordinating it and coming to some sensible resort is
:03:39. > :03:40.quite an operation. We next Sunday evening, after the
:03:41. > :03:43.We next Sunday evening, aftdr the rest of Europe has voted, we'll
:03:44. > :03:43.We next Sunday evening, after the rest of Europe has voted, wd'll find
:03:44. > :03:47.rest of Europe has voted, we'll find out the five MEPs who will represent
:03:48. > :03:50.us in the European Parliament. `` and next Sunday evening.
:03:51. > :03:54.You can see a special report on the local and European elections on the
:03:55. > :03:56.Sunday Politics. That's with Marie Ashby at 11 o'clock.
:03:57. > :03:58.Two teachers from Nottingham received national awards today for
:03:59. > :04:01.their inspirational work. Primary school teacher James Willis and head
:04:02. > :04:02.teacher Michael McKeever were presented their surprise awards
:04:03. > :04:02.teacher Michael McKeever were presented their surprise aw`rds this
:04:03. > :04:07.presented their surprise awards this morning, as Tom Brown reports.
:04:08. > :04:09.It looks like an ordinary morning Assembly, but as the childrdn
:04:10. > :04:15.arrived at Netherfield Primary arrived at Netherfield Primary
:04:16. > :04:17.School they had no idea this was a special day for one of their
:04:18. > :04:23.teachers. James Willis has no idea he has won
:04:24. > :04:30.this award, so we have said we have come to cover the Year 6 SAT exams.
:04:31. > :04:35.James Willis sat unaware watching the pupil `` pupils' rock b`nd. Then
:04:36. > :04:41.the pupil `` pupils' rock band. Then his headteacher called him forward.
:04:42. > :04:44.Mr Willis, could you come to the front. And he found out he was one
:04:45. > :04:47.of the best primary school teachers in the country.
:04:48. > :04:54.I feel very honoured to work in this school, and I genuinely lovd getting
:04:55. > :04:57.up for work every day. And love teaching these children. He
:04:58. > :04:59.used to get his guitar out dvery used to get his guitar out every
:05:00. > :05:05.morning and sing as the reghster. He morning and sing as the reghster. He
:05:06. > :05:10.is like a best friend but a teacher at the same time. They were similar
:05:11. > :05:12.scenes across the city at the Trinity Catholic School.
:05:13. > :05:15.Headteacher Michael McKeever has worked here since that, and was
:05:16. > :05:19.recognised with a silver te`ching recognised with a silver teaching
:05:20. > :05:22.award for lifetime achievemdnt. I love coming to school, and it is
:05:23. > :05:23.love coming to school, and ht is really, really knows that they have
:05:24. > :05:26.taken the time to make statements taken the time to make statdments
:05:27. > :05:28.and say nice things about me. taken the time to make statements
:05:29. > :05:30.and say nice things about md. It and say nice things about me. It
:05:31. > :05:34.means an awful lot to myself and my family. Trinity's been part of our
:05:35. > :05:36.lives and it is a lovely pl`ce to lives and it is a lovely place to
:05:37. > :05:43.be. For both teachers, a proud day. They
:05:44. > :05:49.are just 55 winners across the country, we talk down from 20,000.
:05:50. > :05:50.`` whittled down. To sport, and Leicester Tigdrs
:05:51. > :05:51.`` whittled down. To sport, and Leicester Tigers have
:05:52. > :05:52.To sport, and Leicester Tigdrs have missed out on the Premiership final
:05:53. > :05:55.missed out on the Premiershhp final after losing to Northampton.
:05:56. > :05:58.Leicester lost the lead in the last three minutes of play. Colin
:05:59. > :06:03.Hazelden was there. Sometimes things don't go according
:06:04. > :06:05.to plan, Anthony at was one of those occasions for the Tigers. They had
:06:06. > :06:14.scored in the first half, btt Saints scored in the first half, btt Saints
:06:15. > :06:17.pushed back `` Matt `` tempter `` Saints proved relentless. They found
:06:18. > :06:21.the winning score with seconds left on the clock.
:06:22. > :06:24.There will be no Tigers at Twickenham.
:06:25. > :06:27.And the new T20 season got under way this evening. At Grace Road,
:06:28. > :06:30.Leicestershire beat Derbyshhre by 27 runs. While Nottinghamshire beat
:06:31. > :06:31.Lancashire by 33 runs at Trent Bridge.
:06:32. > :06:33.That's your news and sport. I'll leave you with Sara and your
:06:34. > :06:36.weather. leave
:06:37. > :06:41.It was a lovely day today despite It was a lovely day today despite
:06:42. > :06:43.the fact it turned a little bit cloudy through parts of
:06:44. > :06:47.Nottinghamshire with the temperatures increasing. This
:06:48. > :06:52.temperatures increasing. Thhs evening we will see clear skies
:06:53. > :06:56.arriving across the northern part of the East Midlands, a little bit more
:06:57. > :06:58.across the South still, and temperatures dropping to a minimum
:06:59. > :07:02.temperatures dropping to a linimum of 12 Celsius. A good start to the
:07:03. > :07:09.day tomorrow, some early morning sunshine present. One or two showers
:07:10. > :07:11.quite close by, something to bear in mind. Hopefully though we will
:07:12. > :07:17.mind. Hopefully though we whll escape with another warm day.
:07:18. > :07:22.A decent day in store for Stnday, but there is a change on the way.
:07:23. > :07:25.This weather front will work its way in, but I think at the moment we
:07:26. > :07:33.will stay fine and dry. chance for showers next week but how
:07:34. > :07:41.far do you have to go to get proper rain? Thomas has the answer.
:07:42. > :07:45.For days now, we have been advertising some warm weather for
:07:46. > :07:50.the weekend and the forecast remains unchanged. In fact, hot sunshine on
:07:51. > :07:54.the way for many of us and talking about that, I would like to warn you
:07:55. > :08:01.how strong the Sunnis this time of year. In spring, we tend to flock to
:08:02. > :08:06.the sun and burn very easily. It is just as wrong as it is in July. Onto
:08:07. > :08:11.the forecast and for tonight, quiet weather across most parts of the
:08:12. > :08:14.country. Just the few spots of rain in the far north of the UK. A strong