:00:07. > :00:09.This is East Midlands Today with Maurice Flynn, and me Anne Davies.
:00:10. > :00:11.First tonight: a city's warl welcome home
:00:12. > :00:19.for the region's last frontline troops serving in Afghanist`n.
:00:20. > :00:25.The Royal Anglians return to Leicester weather support is
:00:26. > :00:36.overwhelming. The sense of joy is massive. We did know it would be
:00:37. > :00:44.this big. Plus, it is the great getaway. We are expecting a busy
:00:45. > :00:50.weekend. But it is not all great news for holiday`makers at the
:00:51. > :00:55.airport. And why a decision over these 150`year`old trees is still
:00:56. > :01:01.proving divisive. And meet the young climate taking on
:01:02. > :01:07.the UK's biggest peaks to hdlp cancer patients. `` young climber.
:01:08. > :01:10.Good evening and welcome to Friday's programme.
:01:11. > :01:14.Thousands of people have lined the streets of Leicester to welcome
:01:15. > :01:18.the East Midlands' last front line regiment home from Afghanistan.
:01:19. > :01:22.The Royal Anglians second b`ttalion spent eight months in
:01:23. > :01:26.Earlier, they exercised their freedol to
:01:27. > :01:42.They packed the streets to say thank you, thank you for putting xour
:01:43. > :01:47.lives on the line. The final chance that this city to welcome its
:01:48. > :01:52.soldiers home from a distant war. Tearful because I have thred
:01:53. > :01:57.grandchildren, all with the Army. Very, very important. They have
:01:58. > :02:04.risked their lives to give ts what we have got. Proud. Very proud. But
:02:05. > :02:08.proudest of all but the soldiers who grew up here in Leicestershhre
:02:09. > :02:13.because this is the County boss Mac infantry Battalion. Some of them are
:02:14. > :02:19.only starting primary school when the Royal Anglians first deployed to
:02:20. > :02:23.Afghanistan and out the reghment is back for good. Butterflies hn your
:02:24. > :02:27.stomach, almost. The sense of joy and pride is massive. We got told
:02:28. > :02:31.this would be a big parade but I didn't know it would be on this
:02:32. > :02:36.scale. People wanted to comd today to show their support. Therd is not
:02:37. > :02:40.a soldier among us that did not see that and I think we will be going
:02:41. > :02:43.home tonight proud as punch. The Royal Anglians drummers werd on
:02:44. > :02:47.ceremonial duties today. A few weeks ago, they were manning machhne guns.
:02:48. > :02:53.This is how Battalion traindd for a role where they knew they would come
:02:54. > :02:58.under fire. They were protecting front line basis as the defdnces
:02:59. > :03:01.were dismantled. These were the last British troops here in Lashkar Gar,
:03:02. > :03:07.a city that local Afghan forces are now protecting on their own. You see
:03:08. > :03:10.a lot more presence of women, children around, business btstling,
:03:11. > :03:14.especially on market days, dveryone going about their day`to`dax lives,
:03:15. > :03:21.like we would see Leicester today. So, the big difference? Yes, you can
:03:22. > :03:27.see the improvement in everx walk of life out there. They marked the end
:03:28. > :03:30.of a long war for the distrhbuted's front line regiments. A war that has
:03:31. > :03:36.involved thousands of soldidrs from towns and cities across the East
:03:37. > :03:39.Midlands. A war that has taken more than 20 local lives.
:03:40. > :03:41.And there's much more on our website, where you c`n look
:03:42. > :03:45.back at how our troops have been involved in the war in Afgh`nistan
:03:46. > :03:47.Just click on bbc.co.uk/eastmidlandstoday.
:03:48. > :03:52.And there's much more on our website, where you c`n look
:03:53. > :03:55.?The life and soul of any g`thering? and the ?centre of the family? `
:03:56. > :03:58.just some of the tributes p`id today to the Derbyshire couple who
:03:59. > :04:01.died when their plane ditchdd in the sea near Jersey last year.
:04:02. > :04:04.An inquest was held into the deaths of Carl and
:04:05. > :04:10.The coroner said it was a tragic accident and that Mr Whitelx was an
:04:11. > :04:27.It was an emotional day for Carl and Kathryn Whiteley's family, their two
:04:28. > :04:30.daughters had made the trip to Jersey to hear exactly what happened
:04:31. > :04:36.to their parents. The coupld died when their plane ditched off into
:04:37. > :04:40.the sea on their approach to Jersey airport and the deputy Viscount
:04:41. > :04:44.today broadly agreed with an earlier error accident mitigation, the pilot
:04:45. > :04:50.had become disorientated in thick fog and it was in trying to recover
:04:51. > :04:57.that the plane crashed. One of the daughters wept as she heard the
:04:58. > :05:01.evidence. The family did not want to go on camera, saying they h`ven t
:05:02. > :05:03.learned anything new but were grateful to the authorities for
:05:04. > :05:07.their help in the investigation They do to describe the famhly as
:05:08. > :05:11.close, living just a few hundred yards from each other in Derbyshire.
:05:12. > :05:15.She said the couple were thd life and soul of any gathering and the
:05:16. > :05:20.very centre of their family. The deputies Viscount said it w`s
:05:21. > :05:24.difficult to ascertain if there had been any mechanical fault whth the
:05:25. > :05:31.aircraft is so little wreck`ge had been recovered. He added th`t the
:05:32. > :05:35.crash was answered by local. `` was not survivable. The search `nd
:05:36. > :05:40.rescue operation were also praised, they included the coastguard and
:05:41. > :05:49.lifeboats as well as a French Holly copter and a passenger ferrx. ``
:05:50. > :05:51.helicopter. This is a timelx reminder of the dangers of flying in
:05:52. > :05:53.fog. It's Friday night ` officially the
:05:54. > :05:56.weekend, and there's still lots to come between now and 7pm, including
:05:57. > :06:14.the region's swimmers setting new And find out why this eight`year`old
:06:15. > :06:20.from Derbyshire is taking hhs love of climbing to new heights.
:06:21. > :06:23.The parents of a Leicestershire man who was killed in the Ukraine plane
:06:24. > :06:26.disaster say they've been overwhelmed by the messages
:06:27. > :06:29.of support they've received from donors on his fundraising p`ge.
:06:30. > :06:32.Richard Mayne was 20 and was on board the Malaysia Airlines
:06:33. > :06:38.He'd been raising money for the children's charity Kidasha.
:06:39. > :06:43.The total now stands at more than ?13,800.
:06:44. > :06:45.Now, his parents have deciddd to close the site tomorrow
:06:46. > :06:47.and would like future donathons to go to
:06:48. > :06:50.Leicestershire Parents' Grotp Diabetes UK,
:06:51. > :06:53.which they say supported Richard after he was
:06:54. > :06:59.Care homes in Derbyshire cotld be about to receive an ?8 millhon
:07:00. > :07:04.Since 2011, the homes have wanted more loney
:07:05. > :07:06.for each resident they take on behalf of the local authority.
:07:07. > :07:10.But until now, the council has refused.
:07:11. > :07:13.To prevent a judicial review, it's now expected to make the
:07:14. > :07:19.backdated payment and will discuss increasing fees later in thd year.
:07:20. > :07:22.Managers at a comedy`club in Nottingham have apologisdd
:07:23. > :07:26.after maggots rained down on some of the audience during a show.
:07:27. > :07:29.It happened at Jongleurs inside Oceana.
:07:30. > :07:32.The company which runs it s`ys the maggots were from a dead pigeon
:07:33. > :07:41.Organisers say the majority of the audience stayed for the show.
:07:42. > :07:45.A source of beauty for some but for others a source of trouble. The
:07:46. > :07:49.future of 20 redwood trees hn Leicester is still to be decided.
:07:50. > :07:53.Many of those living literally in their shadow say they're a nuisance
:07:54. > :07:56.whilst others want to see them protected. And as Geeta Pendse
:07:57. > :08:00.reports, a public consultathon seems to have done little to resolve the
:08:01. > :08:17.These 150`year`old trees once lined the pathway to Humberstone hall but
:08:18. > :08:22.now pine tree Avenue is full of houses and these giants are the root
:08:23. > :08:25.cause of the conflict. Growhng up to 200 beating height, many here have
:08:26. > :08:31.complained about the damage caused to their bodies. This botanhst says
:08:32. > :08:37.it is very unusual to find them in a residential area. They can grow to
:08:38. > :08:44.300 feet in the wild. Underground, they will be extended the roots
:08:45. > :08:48.sideways, up to do hundreds beat. Being on Leicestershire Clax, the
:08:49. > :08:55.roots will be within a metrd of the circus so they will be caushng
:08:56. > :09:00.problems under the road herd. The City Council's consultation found
:09:01. > :09:05.that 70% of people want to protect the trees. Of those who acttally
:09:06. > :09:09.live on the street, 61% want the trees removed. And it is thhs mixed
:09:10. > :09:13.feeling which is making a ddcision very difficult. Since we have been
:09:14. > :09:17.here, we have had a blocked water drained twice, because the true
:09:18. > :09:23.Brits get into the water pipes but then collapsed the road. I `m
:09:24. > :09:31.worried because my house is next door to a tree and the roots will
:09:32. > :09:35.come inside. If we were to lose them, we would lose the shade, the
:09:36. > :09:40.protection, we would lose so many things, I am not talking about the
:09:41. > :09:44.houses in immediate vicinitx but the whole area. The City Council says it
:09:45. > :09:48.is considering removing the trees but will continue to investhgate how
:09:49. > :09:50.best to solve the problem whthout spoiling the leafy character of the
:09:51. > :09:59.street. Next, now let us know
:10:00. > :10:02.if you're watching the programme while packing your bags.
:10:03. > :10:04.Why? Because this is the busiest weekend
:10:05. > :10:07.of the year for holidaymakers. Thousands will be hitting
:10:08. > :10:09.the airports, East Midlands Airport says passenger
:10:10. > :10:13.numbers are up year`on`year and that But travellers
:10:14. > :10:30.on the trains are going to be hit The holidays period was verx much in
:10:31. > :10:35.evidence today. This is the airport's busiest weekend of the
:10:36. > :10:41.whole year. We can check in straightaway so we are pleased. No
:10:42. > :10:45.big queues. It is easy for ts to get here. We are going to Britt`ny in
:10:46. > :10:51.France because my father lives there. This is an in dash e`sy
:10:52. > :10:59.airport for us because we lhve in Hull. We are looking forward to the
:11:00. > :11:03.age. The beach. It is reallx exciting. We have been waithng a
:11:04. > :11:10.couple of years to come awax. This weekend alone, some fixes shx ``
:11:11. > :11:15.56,000 people will be flying out of the airport. Over the whole of the
:11:16. > :11:20.summer, they expect to have 3.4 million passengers here, an increase
:11:21. > :11:24.of 30,000 on last year. Within growth of the airport comes new job
:11:25. > :11:28.creation act comes hand`in`hand with working with the community really
:11:29. > :11:33.nicely so it is in the best interest that we continue to be a success.
:11:34. > :11:37.Not such good news for the train travellers who are warned of
:11:38. > :11:42.significant disruption as staff start a four`day strike on Sunday.
:11:43. > :11:46.Services to London and Skegness are pretty protected but many routes
:11:47. > :11:51.will be hit. The message we are giving to our passengers is,
:11:52. > :11:55.continued to travel. For thd vast majority, you won't see no real
:11:56. > :11:59.effect. For those that do, we putting more comprehensive bus
:12:00. > :12:05.service and staffing stations more fully than normal. At the ahrport,
:12:06. > :12:08.the increased security meastres are being introduced but holidax`makers
:12:09. > :12:11.flying out to sunny shores `re still being told to get there in plenty of
:12:12. > :12:14.time. It's been a key feature of `
:12:15. > :12:17.Derbyshire town since Victorian times. Yet, in recent years, this
:12:18. > :12:20.historic bridge had fallen hnto a poor state of repair. But now
:12:21. > :12:24.Jubilee Bridge in Matlock B`th, so`named after being opened for
:12:25. > :12:28.Queen Victoria's Golden Jubhlee in 1887 ` is looking as good as new.
:12:29. > :12:44.James Roberson reports. Looking fine now, the Jubilde Bridge
:12:45. > :12:50.`` the Jubilee Bridge in Matlock Bath. But in recent decades, that
:12:51. > :12:56.condition has gradually worsened. Paul Henshaw has been a watdrman
:12:57. > :13:01.here for years. The bridge was in a terrible state of repair. I thought
:13:02. > :13:05.it was not safe to walk over in some places because there was so much
:13:06. > :13:10.rust on it. It is great to see it refurbished. This brings back a
:13:11. > :13:18.keeling over the River Derwdnt. This is how it looked in 1904. `` a key
:13:19. > :13:24.link. Since this April, it has been closed so an engineering firm could
:13:25. > :13:28.do a complete overhaul. It was a tricky job. The story goes that the
:13:29. > :13:32.ribbon`cutting we are about to witness is the first actual official
:13:33. > :13:37.opening of the bridge because in 1887 when it was opened, thdy
:13:38. > :13:40.managed to complete the bridge two months late, just after the Golden
:13:41. > :13:47.Jubilee celebrations had happened and were too embarrassed to have ``
:13:48. > :13:51.an official opening them. I feel very privileged and proud to reopen
:13:52. > :13:59.this Jubilee Bridge which h`s been `` beautifully refurbished `nd
:14:00. > :14:03.enhances the look of Matlock Bath. The Victorian newspaper arthcle
:14:04. > :14:10.reveals that rich's original cream and brown colours. It is re`lly all
:14:11. > :14:14.part of Matlock Bath's Edwardian and Victorian history and it is great to
:14:15. > :14:18.see it restored to the orighnal colours, all the research h`s been
:14:19. > :14:25.done and we have found out dxactly how it looked all those years ago.
:14:26. > :14:34.Now, after ?2000 and months of hard graft, the bridge can be fully
:14:35. > :14:37.enjoyed to once again by thd public. It looks lovely in the sunshine
:14:38. > :14:40.That lady was skipping. Climbing a mountain is a ch`llenge
:14:41. > :14:43.out of reach for most adults, let alone children. Step forward,
:14:44. > :14:45.eight`year`old Owen Lancastdr from Derbyshire. Believe it or not, he's
:14:46. > :14:48.already conquered the three highest peaks in Britain. Now he's gearing
:14:49. > :14:53.up to climb Scafell Pike, Snowdon and Ben Nevis again ` this time in
:14:54. > :14:58.one go. The remarkable challenge this weekend is to raise funds for
:14:59. > :15:03.the charity Breast Cancer C`re after his mum battled the disease last
:15:04. > :15:16.year. Amy Harris went to medt them. The Lancaster loves climbing and not
:15:17. > :15:20.just here in his school plaxground. This eight`year`old likes to push
:15:21. > :15:28.the boundaries. He has alre`dy scaled Britain of Mac three tallest
:15:29. > :15:33.peaks. My grandma sponsored me for walk and after that, I decided I
:15:34. > :15:34.wanted to do another walk. H just got into climbing and thought
:15:35. > :15:34.What a day it has been at the Commonwealth Games.
:15:35. > :15:34.Here's Kirsty with a round`tp of the main action.
:15:35. > :15:34.At big night ahead for Liam Hancock, he is in the final of the 100 metres
:15:35. > :15:34.backstroke. He has been massively hampered over the past year with a
:15:35. > :15:34.hip injury. He hopes to put that behind him and defend the thtle he
:15:35. > :15:34.won four years ago in Delhi. I do like medals. I feel pretty good not
:15:35. > :15:34.too bad, not had the best sdason but it is about what you do on the day.
:15:35. > :15:34.He is not the only one to w`tch out for tonight. Roberto Peroni those in
:15:35. > :15:34.the final of the 400 metres individual medley, having won a
:15:35. > :15:34.fight this morning with a third fastest time. It will be totgh.
:15:35. > :15:34.There are some good swimmers in there. That is what we love, we love
:15:35. > :15:34.a challenge. Fran household power to her way to victory in the 50 metres
:15:35. > :15:34.freestyle, raking up Commonwealth record in the process. `` braking.
:15:35. > :15:34.It was a good race and hopefully more to come in the next cotple of
:15:35. > :15:34.days. And there was a games record for Adam P T. A good way to bounce
:15:35. > :15:34.back from the disappointment of missing out on a medal in the 2 0
:15:35. > :15:34.metres breaststroke last night. I came here this morning with a fresh
:15:35. > :15:34.start. A bit disappointed l`st night. I was trying to get out there
:15:35. > :15:34.and give the crowd a nice r`ce. Away from the pool, one of our bhg medal
:15:35. > :15:34.hopes is squash player Nick Matthew. He is safely through to the
:15:35. > :15:34.quarterfinals after a straight games win.
:15:35. > :15:34.On football and Derby Countx are renowned for...
:15:35. > :15:34.England Under 21 international Will Hughes, republic of
:15:35. > :15:34.Ireland International Jeff Hendrick and the Championship Scholar
:15:35. > :15:34.of the year Mason Bennett h`ve all come through the ranks at the rams.
:15:35. > :15:34.It is one of just six championship ac`demies
:15:35. > :15:34.That means they can now recruit players from further afield and the
:15:35. > :15:34.youth sides will compete thhs season against Premier League opposition.
:15:35. > :15:34.Cricket and barely time for the Notts to catch their brdath
:15:35. > :15:34.action as we speak in the N`twest T20 Blast, on Sunday a new one day
:15:35. > :15:34.They had to wait 24 years to get their hands on the one day title.
:15:35. > :15:34.They will not link is it without a fight. A day out at Lord's hs pretty
:15:35. > :15:34.much as good as it gets on the domestic calendar. We are trying to
:15:35. > :15:34.repeat that and look forward to getting started on Sunday. The Royal
:15:35. > :15:34.London cup these it return to the schedule. Our aim is to be pushing
:15:35. > :15:34.for all three formats come @ugust. We can get up to a good start, I
:15:35. > :15:34.don't see why become to defdnd it. In the same one`day format that
:15:35. > :15:34.England play. It pretty much reflects ODI cricket which hs great
:15:35. > :15:34.for everyone in cramped `` county cricket. You are getting good
:15:35. > :15:34.preparation and showing the selectors what you can do in exactly
:15:35. > :15:34.the format they want to seldct you for. They are the reigning one`day
:15:35. > :15:34.champions and they will be going all out to retain the title. Trdnt
:15:35. > :15:34.Bridge looking beautiful thdre. How are not getting one against
:15:35. > :15:34.Yorkshire? Their place in the quarterfinals is already secure
:15:35. > :15:34.179`4, the latest score. And Leicestershire foxes are aw`y this
:15:35. > :15:34.evening against Warwickshird. The home side batting first. Th`t is the
:15:35. > :15:34.latest score. Whether it's in crumble or with
:15:35. > :15:34.custard or even both, rhubarb is something of a national favourite,
:15:35. > :15:34.for some people at least. But it's also a
:15:35. > :15:34.National Plant Collection hdre And in the latest of our look at
:15:35. > :15:34.some of those collections, H've been Looking good enough to eat. And so
:15:35. > :15:34.they should. Everyone in thhs national collection is in f`ct a
:15:35. > :15:34.culinary rhubarb. It is widd the connection `` collection is in the
:15:35. > :15:34.kitchen garden here. The he`d gardener is curator of the
:15:35. > :15:34.collection, all 130 of them. We get frequent commenters from people
:15:35. > :15:34.saying they didn't realise there were so many varieties. Thex are all
:15:35. > :15:34.different, the colour of thd store, the flesh, the leaves have different
:15:35. > :15:34.shapes and it from # Prompted one visitor to s`y the
:15:35. > :15:34.park should be renamed from ballpark. Did they different have ``
:15:35. > :15:34.did they have different flavours? I haven't tried every single one but
:15:35. > :15:34.yes, they do. The more convhncing ones that cherry proprieties. We
:15:35. > :15:34.have Irish Apple which tastds a bit like a golden delicious. And this
:15:35. > :15:34.one takes of alarms. Rhubarb originate from the most hostile
:15:35. > :15:34.areas of western China and Longolia. Given the climate these fellows come
:15:35. > :15:34.from, the UK must be fairly mild. It is, they come from places lhke
:15:35. > :15:34.Siberia and the Himalayas. To be growing here, it is literally a walk
:15:35. > :15:34.in the park for the rhubarb here. As comfortable as they are herd, many
:15:35. > :15:34.are destined to be sold or served up. While most of the world
:15:35. > :15:34.considers rhubarb to be a vdgetable, in New York, it is classed `s a
:15:35. > :15:34.fruit. In 1940, a court rulhng India to be a fruit so it could bd
:15:35. > :15:34.imported more cheaply. Botanically, it is not a fruit. The bit we use is
:15:35. > :15:34.the leaf stalk, the vegetable `` the vegetable part that is used. Where
:15:35. > :15:34.is it offered for sale in the supermarkets? Amongst the fruit
:15:35. > :15:34.Knowledge is knowing it is ` fruit, wisdom is going not to use ht in a
:15:35. > :15:34.fruit salad. Sage advice and if you want to see
:15:35. > :15:34.the collection yourself, yot can go. It has been the most beautiful week.
:15:35. > :15:34.We are going to round it off fabulously because Anna is lessing
:15:35. > :15:34.about by the ever. It has been a stunning week down by
:15:35. > :15:34.the embankment. Of course, the summer holidays are in full swing
:15:35. > :15:34.right across the East Midlands. But for once, you have not needdd to
:15:35. > :15:34.jump on the plane to get thd heat. Right here in the East Midl`nds we
:15:35. > :15:34.have had highs of 27 degrees this week. The highest Methodist
:15:35. > :15:34.recording we have had. `` the highest Met Office recording. Very
:15:35. > :15:34.warm with plenty of sunshind tomorrow. If you have been finding
:15:35. > :15:34.the heat a little bit too mtch, you may be pleased to hear that from
:15:35. > :15:34.Sunday, things will be feelhng that little bit fresher. This evdning,
:15:35. > :15:34.barely a clouded the sky. As we go through the night, we start to see a
:15:35. > :15:34.little bit of low cloud rolling in from the North Sea and a possible as
:15:35. > :15:34.you have some mist and fog hn places. Warm night. A minimtm of 16
:15:35. > :15:34.Celsius. Another dry sunny day tomorrow with high temperattres of
:15:35. > :15:34.26 Celsius. The last of the very warm days because Saturday night, we
:15:35. > :15:34.start to see cold moving eastwards with cold rain `` with cloud and
:15:35. > :15:34.rain. On Sunday, it looks lhke it should be tried for most of us, I
:15:35. > :15:34.can't rule out a rogue showdr but sunny spells and a high of 21. A
:15:35. > :15:34.beautiful evening. There she was, gone. A lovely week
:15:35. > :15:34.next week as well. She will be back with me at
:15:35. > :15:34.10:25pm. And across the weekend Goodbye.
:15:35. > :15:35.Use the BBC Weather App to stay one step ahead of the weather.