04/01/2017 East Midlands Today

You are watching East Midlands Today.

denying manslaughter, a woman accused of causing a catastrophic

injury to her baby. Smashed up, a New Year heartbreak

for pupils and staff at a vandalised Leicester school.

When the crowds melt away, photographer captures eerie scenes

of an abandoned city. Welcome to Wednesday's

programme with Anne Davies First tonight,

a Leicestershire-based holiday company has stopped trading leaving

hundreds of holidaymakers stranded and thousands

of future bookings cancelled. All Leisure Group, which is based

in Market Harborough, operates the cruise lines

Swan Hellenic and The collapse has prompted

up to 150 job losses, Well, Amy Harris is

there for us tonight. Yes, this is the headquarters

of All Leisure Holidays Limited, one of four travel companies

in a group based here It provided holidays

on two cruise ships, the Minerva and the Voyager,

under the brand names Swan Hellenic and Voyages of Discovery,

sailing around destinations like North Africa and the Far East,

with many passengers flying Its collapse has

affected 400 travellers. Luckily, most of those had

finished their cruise so flew home as scheduled,

but we understand 60 were stranded midway

through their cruise holiday. 7,000 future bookings have

also been cancelled, Clearly concerning news,

but the firm was ATOL protected, so the Civil Aviation Authority

will help to repatriate those affected and all holidaymakers

will receive refunds. The work we are doing

at the moment is to, back to the UK, and that is

happening around about now, And for

those 13,000 or so people who have arrangements for those to get a full

refund from the ATOL scheme. And how is this affecting

workers where you are? Three of the four companies

in the group have been sold by administrators,

and that's saved 200 jobs. All Leisure Holidays

workers are not so lucky. 50 people here have lost their jobs,

and 100 more who were working It's been confirmed this afternoon

that a Leicester primary school will remain shut for the rest

of this week, after dozens of windows and glass roof

panels were smashed. The police say two 11-year-old boys

have since been arrested and bailed. It will mean a very late

start to the New Year for staff and 460 pupils

at Braunstone Community Primary, Clearing up after a blitz of damage

on the school. The staff were backing today at temp two in

Leicester after dozens of glass panes in windows, doors and roof

panels were smashed and broken. It has left the staff upset at what has

happened. Safety is very important because the broken glass alone could

put people at risk. Doors and windows have been smashed as well as

the displays across to schools that have been damaged, and some of the

other rooms that have been vandalised with spray paint. It is

not just glass that has been broken. A play area specially created for

nursery aged children has also been completely vandalised. We do feel

really upset because we worked so hard last year developing the

outside area. We got donations. We needed magical put the children and

they love about here and it has just been trashed, so it is upsetting.

But there has been some good news. Local firms have rallied round. I

have just learnt that dues since have donated some Bach and some soil

for us because obviously we have had to remove that all because it had

shards of glass in it. They are coming down with that. I have had an

e-mail from a local pastor that said if we need any support, that they

are there for us to give us a hand with the clear up. That is lovely.

Leicestershire police say to 11-year-olds have been questioned

and released on bail. The School revealed this afternoon that it

won't open again until next week. A jury has been hearing how

a seven-month-old baby girl "suffered a catastrophic

and ultimately fatal injury" that, experts say, could only be caused

by excessive force . At Leicester Crown Court,

Chuan-fang Zheng, who's 30, The prosecution claim she shook

baby Phoebe "repeatedly, vigorously and aggressively"

Jo Healey reports. Chuan-fang Zheng was left in charge

of baby Braunstone Community Primary on the evening of March the 22nd the

year before last. Within 30 minutes of being left on her sole carer, the

court heard, Phoebe suffered a catastrophic and ultimately fatal

injury, with significant bleeding on her brain and behind her eye and was

unconscious. With the baby in her arms, Chuan-fang Zheng ran to the

Chinese takeaway next door where Chuan-fang temp three's mother and

father worked. They rushed the baby to hospital and there were extensive

medical efforts to separate young life, but the injuries inflicted

were so severe that the baby died four days later. She never regained

consciousness. The prosecution said it would never be possible to

establish exactly what happened behind closed doors. When she was

left, Phoebe was in good health, he said. Chuan-fang Zheng must have

caused significant and abuse of head trauma known as shaken baby and

described by an expert as being very much at the severe end of the range.

It would have been immediately apparent to Chuan-fang Zheng what

she had done, he said, but the court was told she made a concerted effort

to lie about the events which led up to it and tried to cover up her

actions. She tried to blame the mother's efforts to resuscitating BB

for causing serious injuries. Chuan-fang Zheng denies manslaughter

and the trial is continuing. Let's return now to the two

so-called garden villages approved in our region

by the Government on Monday. A critic of the idea has said today

he's not convinced the scheme near Derby meets the definition set

out by the Government. A local councillor says

the area earmarked for Infinity Garden Village isn't

a new village at all, At least 2,000 homes are planned

to be built on this land, creating what the Government has

named Infinity Garden Village. Garden villages are one of the ways

it is trying to ease This one, off the A50

between Sinfin and Stenson Fields, will be one of 14 nationally,

but one local councillor here says the Government has already failed

to meet its criteria for what a garden village

is supposed to be by All of the news houses

at the northern end will be facing, over more than a mile,

the existing houses. You are going to pretend that that

somehow is a distinct community? It doesn't meet the criteria on that

ground and it doesn't meaet the ones saying that the land should perhaps

be in public ownership, not a blade of grass

round here is in public ownership, and that it should

be brownfield land. Well, again, this has been farmed

from time immemorial. So, at first sight, this area

doesn't seem to fit the bill for a garden village,

but the Government has also said that it doesn't consider there to be

a single template for a garden village and doesn't want to impose

a set of development That responsibility lies

with the local authorities and the proposal to build

what is being described as "high-quality homes" here has

been defended as essential This commitment here is to provide

quality homes because we need to have in this area people

who are going to support the industries - they need

quality homes to live in. But the plans have received a mixed

reaction from local residents. It's just adding on to Derby

and Derby's problems. You are going to lose

all the countryside. Work on the project is expected

to begin at the end of next year. Meanwhile, 130 homes already

confirmed for this site will start Well, the other garden village

will be at Spitalgate Heath It will sit west of the A52

and consist of around 3,700 homes. Covering 224 hectares,

it will include 110,000 square metres for what's called "modern

employment space", which could provide up to 4,000 new jobs

and allow existing local South Kesteven District Council got

it all approved as a garden village and the council's leader,

Bob Adams, joins us You are planning for 3,700

homes near Grantham. So what s the difference

between a huge housing estate Well, a lot of it is to do with the

density. The densities in the garden village or be considerably less than

in a mass development. I believe it will give us a great opportunity to

build a quality players were people and families would want to raise

their families. Is a garden village just a fancy name for a big housing

estate? Well, no, not really. It will be a village insofar as not

only will there be housing but there will be housing, recreation, open

land. Schooling as well. It will be at contained village within the

parameters of that area. I am sure there are bound to be concerned

about strains on services. Are you happy that it will be complete

within itself? Yes, I am. I am completely happy. I think it is a

great thing for the area. I think it has brought together the public and

private sector to work jointly to achieve success and I think it is an

acknowledgement by government that the area is an ambitious, can do,

will deliver a place for development to take place. You are responsible

and accountable not to the government for giving them this

garden village. You are happy that that is what you will be able to

achieve? Yes, absolutely. There was a long process to go through in

terms of negotiations and planning consents of the rest of it, but I am

absolutely confident that we can deliver what the government want us

to deliver Bob Evans, thank you for speaking to us.

A person has died in a house fire in Rutland.

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue were called in the early

hours of this morning to a property in Cottesmore.

They entered to rescue someone inside who was trapped.

The cause of the fire is now being investigated by both

the Leicestershire Fire and Rescue and police.

Shares in the Leicestershire-based company Next have tumbled

after disappointing sales over Christmas.

The retailer has warned that pre-tax profits could fall by as much as 14%

It is blaming a weaker pound and people buying fewer

The company's chief executive also says prices could rise, by up to 5%.

More than 2.5 million people have watched a film about...

Still to come: An apocalyptic view of one of our cities.

A young photographer captured these images of Nottingham's abandoned

The parents of a young man who died from leukaemia are urging more sixth

form colleges to host potentially life-saving donor

They are continuing the campaign started by their son to educate

others about giving blood and bone marrow.

Parents Keith and Kay Sudbury proudly continue the campaign

started by their son, Adrian.

The journalist died from leukaemia in 2008, but he has left

His wish was beautiful in its simplicity.

He wanted every 16 to 18-year-old in the country to be taught

the facts about blood, stem cell and organ donation.

The couple, from Pinkston in Nottinghamshire, founded

'Register and Be' lifer information sessions, which are now held

Over six years, 18,000 youngsters have joined the stem cell register.

Regular sessions have been held that Bilborough College,

Three youngsters here have even become bone marrow donors.

Even if they don't all sign up, they talk about it to their friends,

they take that message off to work and university and it is the wider

effect, as well as the almost 700 students we have got

And now the drive continues, to encourage more schools

In the Midlands region, we are already in over 100 schools,

which is fantastic, but nationally, throughout the whole country,

we are now in 800 schools, which is a fantastic number

of schools, but if anyone is listening to this

who would like us to come in, then contact Anthony Nolan

The message is clear - the more people that join

the register, the more lives that will be saved.

Four men have been arrested in Derbyshire on suspicion

Two men, aged 24 and 27, were seriously injured after a fight

on King Street in Belper, outside the Green House pub.

Three men from Eastwood and one from Nottingham have all been

arrested on suspicion of attempting to murder the 27-year-old.

Police say they have been questioned and released on bail.

Families living near a new waste treatment centre say they're alarmed

at plans which could increase the amount of rubbish

Campaigners lost their fight to stop an incinerator

They say the company behind the scheme wants to take an extra

But Resource Recovery Solutions says there are no plans to receive any

extra waste and it has merely applied to update its

Now, they are voted in to make their neighbourhood,

their county or even the world a better place.

But almost as soon as they start work they face mistrust,

So why would anyone in their right mind want to be a politician

and is our disdain for politics deterring good people

Here's our Political editor, Tony Roe.

We knock it and call it the 'Westminster bubble' -

talking among themselves, hidden from the real world.

We hear that so often it harms reputations.

I think MPs across-the-board are working really hard

and they are trying to do a really good job for their constituents,

but they are facing online abuse and, actually,

I think it's particularly bad for women.

Bex Bailey used to work for Liz Kendall,

Party workers knock on doors not just when there's an election.

A lot of the abuse that is happening is targeted at women and a lot

of the stuff that people are saying is very gendered, so it's rape

threats and death threats and, actually, I am really worried that

that will put young women, in particular, off politics.

Alistair Jones is a principal lecturer in politics at de

He says social media has a lot to answer for in explaining the lack

In that respect, we are in a truly horrible place.

I mean, one of the problems is, social media is supposed to be this

vehicle to make us all more democratic and some of the things

that being said are inciting racial hatred, inciting religious

The murder of Jo Cox ushered in a period when people did

appreciate the job our politicians do, but it didn't last long.

The danger is those across the political spectrum,

especially women, who want to help people may be put off

by the nastiness and the division which has emerged since

I think, on a local level, we have been given training on how

to protect ourselves, how to watch out for

But a lot of respect actually comes, I find,

from members of the public is, even if they don't agree with you,

that they feel that you hold a strong conviction and that

if at any time that they need your help, that you will always be

It may be called a bubble, but they will be back

in their constituencies by the next weekend talking to the people

It has to be a tough job, doesn't it?

First tonight, a big blow for the Leicester Tigers.

Their star player, Manu Tuilagi, has been ruled out for six

It is the latest in a string of setbacks for the highest paid

Meanwhile, the players and acting coach have denied reports

they forced out the Director of Rugby, Richard Cockerill,

Four seasons, just 22 premiership starts. Manu Tuilagi has another

hospital appointment. It took three players to stop at the weekend and

the simple blow to the back of the right need to injure the cruciate

ligament. We are devastated for him because he has worked so hard to get

back to where he is out at the moment. Someone stole the thunder on

the day of claims of a player revolt and the coach's ultimatum to sack

Richard Cockerill were flatly denied. We don't get involved in any

of those decisions. It came as a bit of a shock. What is not disputed by

the differences between Richard Cockerill and the man of debris

charge. On a personal level we got on pretty well, we had a good

relationship. On a professional level, we just had a lot of

differences I suppose, in terms of the loss how to play the game and

how to play the game and hopefully with tree in and draw it out of the

players. Sometimes when those fundamental differences are still

far apart, it is hard to give the clarity and direction that the Group

are needed. Richard Cockerill has been back here on the training

ground to say goodbye to both Aaron Mark and the players today. Richard

Cockerill was responsible for bringing many players to the academy

here into the first-team and developing them as players. He

brought me in the middle of nowhere, a complete unknown, and everything I

have achieved has involved him and been because of him. So, will run

Marg to enough to get the job full-time, or will the choose

somebody like Johnson? Or will they bring in the big international name?

Or will they bring in the big international name?

Well, as one door closes on Richard Cockerill,

England Coach Eddie Jones has suggested there might be a place

for Cockers in the National coaching set up.

In football, a swift first move in the transfer

They've signed Belgian under-21 international Julien de Sart

The defensive midfielder is at Pride Park until the end of the season.

But on the way out is goalkeeper Lee Grant.

Already on loan at Stoke, he's now signed permanently.

Notts County have had their first attempt to bring

They had targeted Lincoln City's Danny Cowley -

a young manager who has lead Lincoln to the top of the

But the Imps have refused to allow Notts County to speak to Cowley

County sacked John Sheridan two days ago.

Leicester Speedway is under new management after being saved

from possible closure before Christmas.

David Darcy replaces David Hemsley, the man who brought speedway back

to Leicester in 2011 after an absence of 28 years.

The club are now starting contract discussions to build a team in time

I have to say, if you have not tried Speedway, it is well worth a look.

It is so exciting! Before the weather, have you ever

wondered what a city looks like if you take all the people

out of it? Tonight, we can show

you after a photographer captured on camera a series of scenes

very rarely witnessed. The eerie pictures show Nottingham's

normally busy and bustling city They were all taken by a young local

photographer on Christmas morning, Clumber Street in Nottingham,

but something is missing. Dean Saunderson is a local

photography student, but while most were just waking up

on Christmas Day, he was already in the city centre taking

pictures like this. It was quite eerie,

it was quite spooky. You can hear the buses now,

but it was just so quiet, Dean came into Nottingham to take

photographs for his college project. So, today, as you can see,

there are all the stalls around us and there are people,

but when I arrived here on Christmas Day -

absolutely no one around. There were no stalls about,

it was very, very spacious. And it wasn't just the people,

even the roads were deserted. When I came here on Christmas Day,

I realised there was absolutely no traffic in the road at all,

so I decided to get a photo right It was an incredible sight

to see no one on the road. It felt really cool just stand

there, not worrying that anyone was going to hit me at all,

it was amazing. My idea of heaven, walking around

the city with no people! The sad thing is, just so grey.

But there may be some sunshine on the way! That was very smooth!

Ordinarily, I would start with your weather watcher pictures but tonight

I would like to show you some pictures that have been taken from

the University of Leicester's students, the physics students have

taken pictures of the stratosphere. We don't have them, so you will have

to imagine them! I told you that would go wrong. Tonight, how

widespread frost. Because of the clear skies. I ever, make sure you

put your covers on because you will be scraping the windscreens tomorrow

morning. Temperatures down to -2, in the countryside you could get down

to minus six degrees. Exceptionally cold, but the beautiful star to the

day tomorrow. Cool, crisp with blue skies to start tomorrow. A great day

for getting out and about walking. The winds will stay like that will

be very cold. Temperatures will not get up about three degrees. The

sunshine, especially for the West, could get hazy as the cloud begins

to increase. That is part of the front coming through. For Friday,

and frosty start, then the rain will push on in the afternoon. High

pressure will then dominate so will turn milder for the weekend. We are

looking at temperatures round about 9 degrees. For the weekend, a lot of

usable weather with a fair amount of cloud, but for many of us it will be

dry and we lose those overnight frosts will starve so, to sun up,

tomorrow that the state, but it will be very cold indeed.

Can we have a quick look at those pictures? There you go! Gorgeous! It

is the stratosphere, it is from the weather balloon.

Lovely. That is it from us. Goodbye! as he explores Naples,

Venice and Florence. It's like we're walking through

a giant's armpit. We can follow the escape route

of Michelangelo.