:00:00. > 3:59:59to be lower than average. Make sure you pack your jumpers if you are
:00:00. > :00:08.going away. This is East Midlands Today, with
:00:09. > :00:24.Anne Davies and me, Dominic Heale. We have seen the country 's biggest
:00:25. > :00:35.drop in wages. We are questioning the sustainability of any recovery.
:00:36. > :00:42.Plus Royal Crown Derby halts production to protect jobs. As the
:00:43. > :00:48.refugee crisis in Iraq continues to shock the world, we hear the views
:00:49. > :00:55.of Kurdish families here. In sport, this is what it is all about for a
:00:56. > :01:03.Leicester City this season. We are with the Premier League trophy.
:01:04. > :01:05.First tonight, what is happening to our pay packets?
:01:06. > :01:08.Earlier this week, we had great economic news in this region
:01:09. > :01:12.when the latest jobs figures showed we had had the biggest drop
:01:13. > :01:16.in the unemployment rate of any region in the UK over the last year.
:01:17. > :01:20.But other official figures show something else, too.
:01:21. > :01:23.In the same period, the East Midlands saw by far the biggest
:01:24. > :01:30.We are now, on average, ?36 pounds a week worse off than
:01:31. > :01:36.Our Political Editor John Hess has been examining whether the
:01:37. > :01:53.What ordinary people supposed to believe about the state of the East
:01:54. > :02:00.Midlands economy. It had the biggest rate unemployment dropped. The best
:02:01. > :02:05.figures we have other ones produced by the Office of National
:02:06. > :02:12.Statistics. The reliable surveys rather than employment records. What
:02:13. > :02:20.do they reveal? In our region, we had the best news and jobs, we also
:02:21. > :02:29.had the worst news on P. Average earnings in the last quarter stood
:02:30. > :02:37.at ?491. One year ago, that figure was ?527, a drop of ?36. No other
:02:38. > :02:42.region has seen such a drop. This will add fuel to the argument for
:02:43. > :02:48.those who see the new jobs being created are not as well`paid as
:02:49. > :02:53.those have lost. We have seen the sharp drop and it seems to be the
:02:54. > :03:00.likes of zero hours contracts are lowly paid jobs. We are looking for
:03:01. > :03:06.sustainability. The fight people worse off before this recovery
:03:07. > :03:13.came, we cannot sustain recovery on that. More runs a cleaning firm on
:03:14. > :03:20.the outskirts of Nottingham and pays his stuff the minimum wage. I have
:03:21. > :03:25.to keep my wages they really are, because it gives me some sort of
:03:26. > :03:32.confidence. If I increase wages, it would put more pressure on myself in
:03:33. > :03:37.the business. Our people in content with squeezed pay packets? There has
:03:38. > :03:41.been a pay freeze for about four years. We have been offered the
:03:42. > :03:52.percentage next year, but it is not enough. Obviously, as I for that, I
:03:53. > :03:57.will say yes. But he seems to say the same. It is a low wage currently
:03:58. > :04:02.that does not seem as if it will get any better. When will we start
:04:03. > :04:09.rising? The vast majority of single will be awarded pay rises up at
:04:10. > :04:17.least in line with inflation rises and some larger. Will impatience
:04:18. > :04:22.over pay dominate the political agenda?
:04:23. > :04:24.Is there then a simple correlation here?
:04:25. > :04:28.It is probably more complex than that.
:04:29. > :04:31.It might be that lower levels of pay do encourage employers to
:04:32. > :04:36.That looks like a simple enough equation that would explain this big
:04:37. > :04:45.fall in both pay and in the unemployment rate, but on the other
:04:46. > :04:49.hand, it might be that employers in this region at this particular
:04:50. > :04:52.moment in time need people at the lower end of the pay scales, not
:04:53. > :05:05.In this area, there are a lot of jobs, which tend to be in the likes
:05:06. > :05:11.of lower paid and industries. Is the issue of pay likely to cause
:05:12. > :05:23.increasing political difficulties? I think it will. We have heard
:05:24. > :05:34.arguments about the economic revival. The council will be joining
:05:35. > :05:37.with unions to complain about zero hours contracts and low pay.
:05:38. > :05:40.One of our best known pottery companies is halting production,
:05:41. > :05:43.Workers at Royal Crown Derby have voted in favour of plans
:05:44. > :05:46.which will see the factory close for three weeks from Monday.
:05:47. > :05:48.The firm is also asking for voluntary redundancies.
:05:49. > :06:07.A proud industry which has been part of Derby for hundreds of years. The
:06:08. > :06:13.demand for some products has fallen. Since 2009, workers have been only
:06:14. > :06:19.40 B contract. For three weeks on Monday, the production line will
:06:20. > :06:23.come to a halt. The union advised the workers to back this plan. They
:06:24. > :06:34.are hopeful this will protect the jobs in the long term. When the
:06:35. > :06:38.four`day week in 2012, the company said they were determined to get
:06:39. > :06:42.everyone back on to full`time work. But the unknown looking for
:06:43. > :06:49.voluntary redundancies. We had an overwhelming vote on acceptance of
:06:50. > :06:53.this. This demonstrates that our employees are on board. We do a lot
:06:54. > :06:59.of work behind the scenes to ensure that people are fully informed and
:07:00. > :07:02.that the are on board with us understand the challenges. We
:07:03. > :07:07.understand taking these measures are no will ensure the future of the
:07:08. > :07:15.company. The company is the only porcelain company country to have
:07:16. > :07:18.survived for 250 years. They are hoping that the changes will ensure
:07:19. > :07:20.that production will continue for years to come.
:07:21. > :07:30.Still to come, the return of the Foxes to football's top flight.
:07:31. > :07:36.Add 529 years since the King of England died here in battle,
:07:37. > :07:41.hundreds of people are preparing to reunite the Battle of Bosworth.
:07:42. > :07:44.Plus, I was going to see all quiet on the weather front. However, come
:07:45. > :07:57.Sunday, we may be battling the wind. Police
:07:58. > :07:58.in Nottingham have been granted more time to question three people about
:07:59. > :08:01.the death of a seven`year`old girl. Shanay Walker's body was found
:08:02. > :08:03.at a house Two women and a man were arrested
:08:04. > :08:09.on suspicion of murder yesterday. Police now have a further 12 hours
:08:10. > :08:11.to continue questioning them. Shanay's aunt Kay`Ann
:08:12. > :08:13.Morris has already been A medical student from Derbyshire
:08:14. > :08:22.who was killed in Borneo is to be Neil Dalton, from Ambergate, was on
:08:23. > :08:26.a hospital work placement in Kuching Newcastle University is honouring
:08:27. > :08:30.him with a posthumous MBBS, along with fellow student
:08:31. > :08:37.Aiden Brunger, who was also killed. Tests are to be held
:08:38. > :08:39.on wind turbines in Derby, after it was found they could affect
:08:40. > :08:42.radar at East Midlands Airport. The turbines
:08:43. > :08:44.at Spondon were built early this year for Severn Trent Water,
:08:45. > :08:47.but were put on standstill in June, However, this week they started
:08:48. > :08:55.moving again, ahead of new tests. The firm says it is working with
:08:56. > :08:58.the airport and hopes new radar Iraq is back in the headlines and
:08:59. > :09:09.so is the question of Britain's possible military involvement
:09:10. > :09:11.in the crisis there. Today, the UK government said it
:09:12. > :09:14.would consider arming the Kurds The announcement came as the Kurdish
:09:15. > :09:18.community here protested against the continuing violence
:09:19. > :09:22.in their homeland. They gathered in Nottingham to
:09:23. > :09:42.condemn the actions of the group As the statue of playing Clough
:09:43. > :09:44.looks on, the Kurdish community comes together to make a stand
:09:45. > :09:51.against the slaughter in their homeland. The United Nations see
:09:52. > :10:02.thousands of people have been driven out of northern Iraq by the
:10:03. > :10:14.self`styled Islamic State. This is making me so sad. Every night I am
:10:15. > :10:19.crying. I am playing for my people. Do you still know people rear,
:10:20. > :10:27.friends and family? Yes, I know people who are on the front line.
:10:28. > :10:35.Altogether, 25 of my relatives are no fighting. Last week, my brother
:10:36. > :10:41.was injured. The protesters here welcome the help of Britain. We are
:10:42. > :10:49.grateful that the British government is coming along to help us. It is
:10:50. > :10:54.really worrying because you need to wake up in the morning and check
:10:55. > :11:01.which city is under threat, you need to make sure, are they OK, have they
:11:02. > :11:07.got away. It is very unsettling to be here and watch this. Many people
:11:08. > :11:13.want an independent country for the cards out with Iraq.
:11:14. > :11:16.New plans for 300 homes on a disused theme park
:11:17. > :11:19.Waystone Development wants to build the houses, a retirement village
:11:20. > :11:22.and leisure facilities on the site of American Adventure,
:11:23. > :11:24.but the local parish council is concerned about access and traffic.
:11:25. > :11:27.In May, the scheme was rejected by Amber Valley Borough Council
:11:28. > :11:29.for being "too vague" about the housing types.
:11:30. > :11:37.It will consider the new proposals later this year.
:11:38. > :11:41.Drivers using the A453 will be switched to a new
:11:42. > :11:45.The route between the M1 and Nottingham is currently
:11:46. > :11:48.From 8pm on Wednesday, the existing road will be closed between West
:11:49. > :11:53.And then on Thursday, vehicles will start using
:11:54. > :12:03.A World War One memorial window has been commissioned for Southwell
:12:04. > :12:08.This design, by the artist Nicholas Mynheer, has been chosen.
:12:09. > :12:11.It shows combatants from both sides of the war seeking common ground.
:12:12. > :12:20.To a much more ancient conflict now and a battle considered one of the
:12:21. > :12:24.It left a Plantagenet king dead and heralded the dawn
:12:25. > :12:28.We are talking, of course, about the Battle of Bosworth
:12:29. > :12:34.This weekend, 529 years on, hundreds of people will re`enact it.
:12:35. > :12:37.The annual event has long attracted thousands of visitors, but
:12:38. > :12:40.organisers say this year's event could be one of their biggest, all
:12:41. > :13:06.The weapons are nearly ready. We will be hitting each other as hard
:13:07. > :13:17.as possible. Bosworth battlefield is about to welcome visitors in their
:13:18. > :13:21.thousands. We have traders all the far far side, so there will be a
:13:22. > :13:24.wide range of goods. There will be jousting over here, there will be to
:13:25. > :13:32.battle re`enactment over the weekend. The re`enactment is
:13:33. > :13:38.traditionally seen hundreds of people taking part. This group has
:13:39. > :13:46.driven all the way from Germany. I am interested in the study and it
:13:47. > :13:53.has been a great lot of fun fighting with people. Unfortunately, my side
:13:54. > :13:56.is going to lose, but that is OK! They are wanting to give the public
:13:57. > :14:04.are more accurate impression of what the battle was actually like.
:14:05. > :14:11.Cannons, swords, axes, firearms banging into each other, a lot of
:14:12. > :14:19.screaming. This year 's re`enactment could be the biggest since the 500th
:14:20. > :14:24.anniversary back in 1985. Interest in the battle has soared since the
:14:25. > :14:32.remains of Richard III refined and Leicester. You have got a big battle
:14:33. > :14:40.tomorrow, do you fancy your chances? Of course. I think the loyalty of
:14:41. > :14:47.most of my group are secured. It will be no problem at all. History
:14:48. > :14:50.tells us is confidence may be a bit misplaced, but at least he is not
:14:51. > :14:57.facing 500 years under the car park. An East Midlands charity is getting
:14:58. > :14:59.into the furniture business Age UK Leicestershire and Rutland
:15:00. > :15:03.has received so many desks, tables, sofas
:15:04. > :15:16.and chairs that they have opened They say charity begins at home, but
:15:17. > :15:23.this one helps to furnish homes and businesses. Faced with funding
:15:24. > :15:29.cuts, age UK in the region have been forced to look at new streams of
:15:30. > :15:35.income. We were trying to look at ways to generate a lot of stock that
:15:36. > :15:40.we could sell on. We could then plough this back into the charity.
:15:41. > :15:45.The offer a range of services which are often a lifeline for older
:15:46. > :15:54.people. They are hoping this will be safeguarded by the new venture. The
:15:55. > :16:01.needed to change. We know of a respite support for older people. We
:16:02. > :16:11.help people who are no longer able to look after themselves over any
:16:12. > :16:15.more and to help with these centres. The goods on offer could make a big
:16:16. > :16:23.difference for new companies starting up. For new businesses,
:16:24. > :16:30.funding is often very tight. People can get the likes of furniture for
:16:31. > :16:32.their officer very good prices. The rear house on Saint Georges Street
:16:33. > :16:39.opens to the public tomorrow. Tonight, only once place to
:16:40. > :16:51.be here at Leicester City. The Premier League trophy is here,
:16:52. > :16:57.a reminder than we are only hours way now for their first season back
:16:58. > :17:02.in the top flight for a decade. For many of the players this season,
:17:03. > :17:05.this is their big break, a chance for
:17:06. > :17:08.the first time to play in arguably But for striker David Nugent,
:17:09. > :17:15.it mean much more than that, as Natalie Jackson reports on his
:17:16. > :17:26.big season back in the big time. Last season, he was the best striker
:17:27. > :17:32.in the division. David Nugent scored 20 goals as Leicester won the title.
:17:33. > :17:38.On the eve of the new season, he still feels he has a point to prove.
:17:39. > :17:40.He has played for England, won the FA Cup, but he has unfinished
:17:41. > :17:47.business in the top division. Portsmouth arrowhead. A great strike
:17:48. > :18:01.from David Nugent. I do not think I got a good enough
:18:02. > :18:06.shot with Portsmouth in the Premier division and I am determined to take
:18:07. > :18:11.the most of it now. No 29, he feels this is the biggest season of his
:18:12. > :18:14.career. He plans to shore with Leicester that he is good enough
:18:15. > :18:23.with Leicester to score goals in the top flight. I definitely got the
:18:24. > :18:26.pleasure of when I was a lot younger. There was a lot talked
:18:27. > :18:33.about me when I was at Portsmouth, with the likes of England. But I
:18:34. > :18:39.want to prove I can play at the very top level. His manager says he has
:18:40. > :18:47.scored over 50 goals for the club in scored over 50 goals for the club in
:18:48. > :18:54.three seasons. I am ready. The fans have been excellent and they will
:18:55. > :18:59.get right behind as this season. They will be our 12th man and help
:19:00. > :19:08.us get as high as possible in the league. He is itching to walk out
:19:09. > :19:15.tomorrow against another top`flight team. I have been out of the top
:19:16. > :19:20.five for four years, so it is great to get back into the Premier League.
:19:21. > :19:24.There is a huge buzz about the place. Everton are the visitors
:19:25. > :19:41.tomorrow. We will get the few predictions. 2`1 to Leicester. I
:19:42. > :19:45.agree, 2`1 Leicester. 1` nil to Leicester. The viewer, consensus
:19:46. > :19:48.that Leicester are definitely going to win.
:19:49. > :19:51.So, those Leicester fans are out the picture as far as Forest
:19:52. > :19:53.and Derby are concerned, which will focus their rivalry even
:19:54. > :19:57.Both have their eyes on this, the Championship trophy, and both
:19:58. > :20:00.believe they have a chance of lifting it, just like Leicester did.
:20:01. > :20:02.Kirsty Edwards has been in both camps this week.
:20:03. > :20:04.Just a quick look at the other fixtures, with both Notts
:20:05. > :20:07.County and Mansfield having their first home games this weekend.
:20:08. > :20:09.At Notts County, there will be a moment?s silence
:20:10. > :20:16.Two wins out of two. The goals scored and none conceded. Whatever
:20:17. > :20:18.of the teams you support, it has been so far so good at the start of
:20:19. > :20:32.the season. For me, the attitude has been very
:20:33. > :20:41.good. They are very honest. I just hope that during the season we will
:20:42. > :20:45.get better and better. If you are doing well, it is going to be a good
:20:46. > :20:49.environment to work on, when everyone is pulling together. We
:20:50. > :20:54.want to just continue on alert. A good start for both, but no one
:20:55. > :21:02.happy to be involved in the Forest captain. This will be an emotional
:21:03. > :21:06.return after his name months out for a knee injury. I was very humbled
:21:07. > :21:12.with the reception I got. I have been here a long time and it is one
:21:13. > :21:17.of the best receptions I have heard since I have been here at the club.
:21:18. > :21:24.They go to Bolton tomorrow, Paul Darby play at Sheffield Wednesday.
:21:25. > :21:30.We want to make sure we stay in the game and after 1012 games, we are
:21:31. > :21:35.right up there. We want to go in there with the well and winning
:21:36. > :21:42.mentality. We are going there to win the game. There are tough
:21:43. > :21:46.challenges, but that is how we wanted. We have set ourselves a
:21:47. > :21:51.number of goals and we want to make sure we are ready to do what is
:21:52. > :21:56.required of the season. Two big rivals with big ambitions. Both are
:21:57. > :21:58.expected to be in the mix for promotion, although it is early
:21:59. > :22:05.days, the signs are good. Just a quick look at
:22:06. > :22:08.the other fixtures, with both Notts County and Mansfield having their
:22:09. > :22:10.first home games this weekend. At Notts County,
:22:11. > :22:12.there will be a moment?s silence and a minute?s applause for former
:22:13. > :22:15.vice chairman John Mounteney, There will also be a book
:22:16. > :22:18.of condolence. With that in mind,
:22:19. > :22:20.I would just like to apologise on behalf of all of us for showing
:22:21. > :22:23.the wrong pictures last night, Two county championship games
:22:24. > :22:28.on today. Leicestershire and title chasing
:22:29. > :22:30.Nottinghamshire both playing. Catch up with day one scorecards and
:22:31. > :22:45.reports on the BBC Sport website. Return of Leicester to the Premier
:22:46. > :22:50.League. Let us talk to a couple of ambassadors from the club. Alan,
:22:51. > :22:59.what does this mean for the club? It means everything. You can see their
:23:00. > :23:08.reaction. We have not in the beam in the top division for a decade. The
:23:09. > :23:13.place is absolutely buzzing. They have even brought the trophy for us.
:23:14. > :23:26.Maybe that is being a bit optimistic. I remember seeing him
:23:27. > :23:34.when he arrived. Of clubs which have been promoted, they probably have a
:23:35. > :23:43.better chance than most. Back in the day, they got the likes of Peter
:23:44. > :23:49.Shilton and David Nash. But we had many great players in that period.
:23:50. > :23:54.In 1996, I was much more worried about Martin O'Neill said, with a
:23:55. > :24:03.got regard to relegation. They are very much like this one. They are a
:24:04. > :24:15.very young side. But they have been building up nicely. In 2003, Mickey
:24:16. > :24:23.Adams went the opposite way, it was not a young team, it was full of old
:24:24. > :24:30.stalwarts. I do not remember last week, never mind ten years ago. The
:24:31. > :24:37.average age of that side was over factory. They certainly have not get
:24:38. > :24:42.that this time. How do you feel about the new season? Very
:24:43. > :24:50.optimistic. I think the manager has the players with them. We have got a
:24:51. > :24:56.good team from last season and have added a few, so I think we will have
:24:57. > :24:57.a good season. We shall see and we shall follow Leicester during the
:24:58. > :25:07.course of this season. Two county championship games
:25:08. > :25:09.on today. Leicestershire and title chasing
:25:10. > :25:10.Nottinghamshire both playing. Catch up with day one scorecards and
:25:11. > :25:16.reports on the BBC Sport website. Just before the weather,
:25:17. > :25:19.there is a story this week that seems to have really captured
:25:20. > :25:21.people's imaginations. These two Lancasters,
:25:22. > :25:23.flying together over the region One is ours,
:25:24. > :25:25.from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and the other has come over
:25:26. > :25:28.from Canada, so they can tour We've put some video of them
:25:29. > :25:32.in action in our skies So, if you want to see those planes
:25:33. > :25:37.again ` and hear those Merlin There is also some great air`to`air
:25:38. > :25:41.footage on our page, so fill Looking scary words as the lady to
:25:42. > :26:05.my left, but not very good news. Well, but of a mixed picture. If you
:26:06. > :26:11.are getting out and about, it does not look too bad. It will be a
:26:12. > :26:18.largely dry weekend by the day, with the few showers on Sunday. But it
:26:19. > :26:22.will become increasingly windy. For now, we had a largely dry day, but
:26:23. > :26:28.we have had some heavy rainfall pushing through during the past
:26:29. > :26:33.hour, particularly in Nottinghamshire. More heavy showers
:26:34. > :26:41.coming in the rest of the evening. They will die out overnight
:26:42. > :26:48.tonight. A tiny, with clear spells. In the towns and cities, a low of 13
:26:49. > :26:52.Celsius. A decent start to Saturday, with plenty of sunshine in
:26:53. > :26:57.the morning. It will come increasingly cloudy during the
:26:58. > :27:03.course of the day. The odd shower in the afternoon. But it will stay dry
:27:04. > :27:12.for most, with high temperatures of 19 Celsius. Saturday into Sunday, we
:27:13. > :27:16.have a cold front coming from the north and that will bring patchy
:27:17. > :27:22.light rain on Sunday morning. Behind it is when things start to change
:27:23. > :27:28.low pressure on the North Sea is going to bring in cold arctic gear,
:27:29. > :27:33.unusual for this time of the year. It will feel fresher and cool on
:27:34. > :27:39.Sunday. Sunday does look like it will be a largely dry day again,
:27:40. > :27:44.with just the odd shower. I am leaving there is the chance of snow
:27:45. > :27:47.in Scotland! You are joking!