05/01/2017 East Midlands Today

Tonight a former supermarket cashier goes on trial accused

And Asda worker is accused of preparing to fight for a terrorist

group. Also tonight, Farewell of Leicester. The family-owned

department store is to close in March. We are making significant

losses, and it really doesn't make any more business sense to try and

continue. Plus the chairman of the Derbyshire -based Sports Direct

survives a second shareholder revolt.

And racing ahead, the hobby that has turned into a fully flourishing

international business. Good evening, and welcome to

the programme, with Dominic Heale, First tonight, a supermarket cashier

has gone on trial accused of preparing to fight

for a terrorist group. Ryan Counsell's a Muslim convert

who worked at an ASDA The jury heard that he bought

flights and military equipment, and downloaded

an Al-Qaeda bomb-making guide. Our Social Affairs Correspondent,

Jeremy Ball, has been following the case at Woolwich Crown Court

in South East London. We heard he was in the advanced

stages of planning to travel To join and fight for a terrorist

group who've pledged allegiance The prosecution said Ryan Counsell

had searched online for cheap He'd eventually booked

a ticket from Heathrow. And he was due to fly out only two

days after his arrest, last July. So what do we know

about Ryan Counsell? He's 28, he's a Muslim convert

and he's married with a young child. He worked here, on the tills

in ASDA at Hyson Green in Nottingham, and he lived just

a few streets away. When the police raided his home,

they found a mass of extremist material, including

Islamic State beheading videos. And an Al-Qaeda article, headed make

a bomb in the kitchen of your Mom. They also found military equipment

and clothing designed to protect Some of it was found in his child's

bedroom packed in a suitcase. Ryan Counsell told the police

that he was going to He said those extremist documents

were academic research As for that military equipment,

he said that's for a game called Airsoft that's

similar to paintballing. And he's denied four

separate terrorism charges. It's been announced today

that the department store Fenwick in Leicester is to close

with the loss of 97 jobs. The closure, expected in March,

is being blamed on falling footfall in the area of the store,

as shoppers move to newer centres Our reporter Amy Harris

is in Leicester tonight for us. It is. After more than 100 years on

this very corner it has become more than just a store, it's a much loved

Leicester landmark. Today's news hasn't just shocked and saddened

those who work here, but those who have shopped here over the years.

One user simply says on Facebook, I can't imagine going into town and

not pupping into Fenwicks. Generations have done just that

since it opened under a different name in Victorian times. A Leicester

shopping institution, priding itself on quality and reliability for over

one century. Built in 1890 Asda store Joseph Johnson and Coe limited

and taken over by Fenwicks in 1962. Today came the announcement it could

close as soon as March, a sad day for the family who run it. Over the

years, you know, we have grown to love Leicester, and the people of

Leicester, and the people who work for us, who are already dedicated.

This is a real sadness. This is one of 11 stores in a nationwide chain

and it employs 97 people. They were given the bad news this morning, use

that for some could end a career spanning decades. I have been store

director for 20 years and many members of staff have been a lot

longer than 20 years. We have tried our hardest, it's such a sad day. He

and the Fenwicks family say the rise of online shopping, I challenge

facing all high street retailers, has affected trade, but so is its

this was a thriving retail area but shopping habits have changed. Now

customers are heading to different centres like high cross and Fosse

Park on the outskirts of the city. It is, of course, not the first big

high-street casualty, leaving customers feeling a sense of loss

again. It is the breadth of stuff on the furniture in the clothing that

we mostly use so I will be sorry to see another big player in the middle

go. I think it is a great shame, it is a lovely building as well. You

don't expect someone like that to close their doors as they have, or

they are going to. Yes, it is sad and sad for this street. The

high-street is under more pressure than ever to get people through the

doors and spending. Fenwicks is now changing the way it does business

and about to provide a new online offering. In this store a new

consultation is underway but those in charge say closure is a berry

real possibility. -- a very real possibility. It is an announcement

that nobody wanted to make an day nobody wanted to see, but you get

the sense that those in charge feel that this area has been ignored and

neglected perhaps. I counted along this street behind me four empty

premises. In a statement today the City Council said they are sorry to

hear of the plans to close and the area around the store is seeing

considerable investment. They go on to say that they are confident new

uses will be found for the beautiful building and that the area will

continue to thrive. Thank you very much indeed. What a

shame. It is a real landmark in Leicester. If you value Paul Paton

because you can always find something to get.

Let's hope they find something decent to go in the building.

And if you, too, have any views on the closure

of Fenwicks in Leicester, please go to our Facebook page.

Still to come this evening: The nuts and bolts of doing business

We visit a firm that makes sports car kits.

And a month of challenges, why Derby Museum staff are joining 64 million

artists in learning to be creative. The chairman of Derbyshire-based

Sports Direct has survived a second A special meeting took place today

to vote on whether Keith Hellawell A number of independent shareholders

had demanded he stand down after the company came under fire

for its working practices In the event he was

comfortably re-elected. It was last September 's

inconclusive AGM which triggered this second chance for independent

shareholders to try and topple the chairman of Sports Direct. Then more

than half of them voted against the re-election of Keith Halliwell, seen

here on the left, when new rules -based was obliged to face another

vote today. It has been a tumultuous 18 months since dreadful working

conditions were uncovered by the BBC. A Commons committee condemned

them as appalling and accused sports Direct of not treating it staff like

humans. Many shareholders demanded swift improvements,

better governance and a new chairman. The re-election of Mr

Halliwell didn't come as a surprise. 54% of independent shareholders

voted against him but he got the backing of almost 81% of all

shareholders, including Mike Ashley who owns 55% of the company. After

the vote Mike Ashley said Keith has my full backing and the unanimous

support of the board. I know that many of those who voted against

Keith Hackett knowledge we have made positive progress since the AGM.

Shareholders have been concerned for some time that the leadership of

Sports Direct has not ensured that the Sports Direct practices are fit

for the 21st century. It is very unusual to see this level of voting

against any individual director and I think it is time that the company

really listened to what the shareholders are saying and realised

that Mike Ashley is the entrepreneur behind the brand but there are other

shareholders out there who have a voice and an opinion and are very

concerned. The 74-year-old who was a Chief Constable Matt Baggott been

chairman since 2009, had already said he would resign at this years

AGM if he fails to gain shareholder approval then.

You are watching East Midlands today and in other news:...

The RSPCA says it's investigating after the body of a horse was found

It was discovered last night by a woman walking her

dog near Watchwood car park in Calverton.

The RSPCA say it appears to have been dumped by someone and they're

asking for the public's help to find out who owns it.

A local charity, Help for Horses, is also offering a ?2,000

The company that took over S foods in Derby has created more than 2000

jobs. 300 people lost their jobs there but now the City Council says

that millions of pounds have been invested in the side that started

manufacturing again in April last year.

An operation which saw armed police patrolling parts of Leicestershire,

Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire has come to an end.

It was in response to the suspected terrorist attack on a Christmas

market in Berlin, which left 12 people dead.

The patrols here included crowded spaces, such as shopping

centres and sports venues, and lasted for two weeks.

The terror threat level to the UK remains at severe.

We're less than a week into 2017, but the New Year will bring a fresh

set of challenges for businesses in the East Midlands.

The government says that by the end of March,

Britain will have begun the process of leaving the European Union.

Companies that export will be keeping a particularly close eye

Our political reporter, Peter Saull, has spent the day at a small car

Designed and built in the Nottinghamshire countryside,

2016 saw record sales of new cars and this manufacturer is hoping

Not many people have heard of us at the minute but the brand,

We want to be seen and known world wide with some of the major

All of these cars are manufactured right here in Ollerton

and sent all over the world, so what potential problems

Will it be a comfortable ride for businesses like these?

The referendum divided the two directors here.

Our exports are up which are really keen about,

We really are showing concerns now about what will happen in Europe

in the next couple of years and I think that this is the time

that the government has to tell us what is going to happen.

Today a chance to put those concerns to the local MP who is also

What we can't do is scupper our negotiating hand so the government

has to go and get the best deal it possibly can

and at that point then, you know, we can then

go and trade not only with our European

colleagues hopefully but colleagues all over the world

so it is about getting the best deal for these companies and we can't do

that by announcing what we're trying to achieve before we go

In less than three months' time Britain will embark on the most

complex negotiations in living memory.

The chequered flag will be waved on our membership of the EU but even

the Prime Minister admits there will be bumps on the road.

A campaign's started to honour munition workers

during World War I and II, including those who

Staff at the Nottingham factory were amongst those

known as the Canary Girls because the toxic chemicals

Nearly 140 were killed in an explosion there in 1918,

The campaign is being led by Conservative MP, Bill Wiggin,

who's asking for a special veteran's badge to honour their role

A Nottinghamshire police dog has received a Crown Court Commendation

for its role in tracking a man who'd fled from officers.

Akie, who's three and a half years old, tracked the man

for more than a mile, through woods and over train tracks.

His handler, PC Mark Haywood, says he's incredibly proud

of the German Shepherd, and he'll be getting

Leicestershire's largest food manufacturer has bought

the West Cornwall Pasty Company in what's understood to be

Samworth Brothers, based in Melton Mowbrary, already

The figure for this new deal hasn't been disclosed,

but the company is reassuring workers at the factory in Truro

Now, what did you do today that was purely creative?

Well, staff at one of our museums are taking on a challenge all this

month to think outside the box for ten minutes a day.

Yes, Derby Museum is the only one in the country that's been asked

to work with a group called 64 Million Artists who want

to encourage all 64 million of us in the UK to release

We sent along our very own stick-in-the-mud

Taking on the challenge, staff at Derby Museum

replicate an early one, building a tower.

On January 1st people from the Museum and across Britain

tried their hand at challenge one from the group 64 Million Artists,

creating headlines in just ten minutes.

We are encouraging people and ourselves to think

about what we have done when we have completed the challenge,

share and reinforce and celebrate what we have been

doing as a kind of team-building exercise really.

By January 3rd they were drawing what they saw out of the window.

Christmas lights are still around and yesterday the National challenge

was to record things around you, as long as they were

The fifth text in my phone was from my friend Neal.

I messaged him on the way up to Northumberland couple of days ago

and his response was I'm so excited I might explode.

Today the challenge was to write a poem in ten minutes, using

Writing about his new dog, Tony says he wants more people

Derby Museum is the only museum as far as we know that is officially

involved the project so we very much believe that public participation

It's about doing something joyful or new and interesting

Not worrying about what the end result might be, it doesn't have

be perfect, but this is going on television of course.

Ten minutes, five minutes together in the morning to do something

like this is really setting up the day.

Day three, draw what you see out of your window.

Day five, the poetry challenge, and what will day six,

seven, eight, nine, ten, 11 bring?

They want you, one of the 64 million artists in the country to join in.

That was almost like a poem. It was a power. I wrote a poem about

Dominik before the programme but I'm not allowed to breed. Let's not go

there. And if you do want to join

in, wherever you are in the East Midlands,

then have a look at Derby Museum's On last night's programme we briefly

featured some breathtaking images of the Earth's stratosphere,

captured by physics students from the University

of Leicester using a high And they captured the attention

of many of our viewers. So, as requested, here's another

look at the Earth from on high. The students' unmanned balloon

and onboard equipment reached an altitude of more

than 23 kilometres. The flight lasted just

over an hour and a half. The students say they're relieved

that the balloon and its content returned to Earth undamaged,

and they're now busy assessing We got all the electronics that

would prove worked at that altitude and we had cameras working on

telemetry got pressure data and lovely footage and also a stepping

stone to progress to the next flight. Absolutely brilliant. Kay

mentioned last night she would have liked to go up in it but there is a

reason it was unmanned. 23 kilometres up the ambient

temperature's around And coming down would

have been a bit scary - the payload hit 100 miles an hour

as it plummeted back to Earth. She had a lucky escape really! She

may be rethinking that one. Now back down to earth with a bump.

Yes, I think Forest fans are firmly earthbound.

First, sources close to the Americans buying

Nottingham Forest want to know the reasons for a delay

The BBC understands the USA consortium led by John Jay Moores.

Was ready to finalise the deal but the money to buy the club was in the

bank and available but Jane Moores and his team are waiting from sign

off from the current owner who has been unavailable for comment.

On to Notts County, another club in flux,

and the man who has taken chargen there, for now at least.

Alan Smith the former England international,

Manchester United and Leeds star is caretaker boss at Meadow Lane

for their game against Morecambe this weekend.

It has to be one of the hottest seats in football management. 11

bosses in the last seven years have tried and failed to succeed here at

Meadow Lane. John Sheridan was sacked on Monday, paying the price

for a dreadful run of form. Nine successive defeats left the club

just one point above the drop zone. Plenty of sympathy for him from the

man who has taken over. Some people have the perception that players

don't carry the can or they don't feel like they are bothered about

what's going on or if the manager gets the sack they think it is all

right, but no one wants a manager sacked what you one of their

players. Everyone does have a tinge of regret and obviously

disappointment and feel that maybe they have let him down. Happiest in

the dressing room Smith admits he is not ready for full-time management

but is desperate to do something or anything to help. They have been

going through a rough spell for a number of seasons, not just this

season last season but we value the supported you can always see good

players always confident. No one can put a finger on it and it may not be

the right time for me to come and take over but there are people who I

respect him enough that it makes me want to do it. Here we go. The

club's new owner will decide who gets the management job long-term,

but with the club is very future in the football league hanging in the

balance, now is the time for Notts County to finally get this right.

Around our other clubs, it's all about the transfer window.

At Leicester City they haven't hung about, signing midfielder

Wilfred Ndidi from Genk two days ago.

And today manager Claudio Ranieri confirmed he's available

He is a very impressive player with a great future. He jumps very well

to the head and he moves the ball quickly and he recovers a lot of

balls. We follow him a lot and we hope he's very fast that he can

impress all of our fans. Meanwhile Derby County say

they're waiting on a reply from Nottingham Forest

to their latest bid In the meantime they've brought in

Belgian Under-21 Midfielder Julien He'll help cover the key

controlling midfield role. I know him and I watched him when I

was in Holland. The good footballer and he is used to that position. He

has got experience there and unfortunately not quite got the

games at Middlesbrough but they have kindly let us have him until the end

of the season. If you want a little bit more on our main story that

Nottingham Forest, go to their Facebook page and there is a long

discussion there I'm picking more of that detail. BBC Nottingham sport

Facebook page. It's a toy that most

children love to play with, but for one grown-up,

Scalextrics has opened Tom Hall is an artist who creates

bespoke car-racing model sets ranging from the Silverstone circuit

to Abu Dhabi landmarks. It was only meant to be

a fun pastime, but now This may look like an adult's

playroom, but it's The Silverstone racetrack is amongst

an array of bespoke Scalextric model sets in demand around

the UK and abroad. It all began when Tom made a replica

of Nottingham's Market Square This is one of our classic analogue

circuits, so it's just sort I have to say this is catching my

eye, Tom, the flashing This is based around

American stock car racing. It's a digital track

so multiple cars can be Has it taken you by surprise,

the appetite for your models? I really had no idea where it

would go and now people have been asking me to bring tracks

to their events or shows or exhibitions, weddings,

all sorts of different things. Commissions have included

the landmarks of Abu Dhabi for the Crown Prince and a replica

of the annual From design to production it takes

a month to produce one track, We have got a family having some,

having something to eat over there. We've got children pestering

an ice cream vendor. It's great, it fulfills every sort

of geeky and artistic From digital to pedal power,

Tom likes to innovate. This is a handcrafted Star Wars

model, not for commercial use, but just for the team

to unwind with. Judging by their faces,

working here is not too troubling. Wow. How incredible are they?

Stanning attention to detail. I think at Silverstone and there was

even a tiny model of the woman who used to go out with Lewis Hamilton.

Now for the weather. Here is Lucy. A lot of wintry

sunshine around today but it was feeling cold and our Weather

Watchers or around with their cameras with photos coming in from

the sunrise. This is Leicestershire with pink clouds and plenty of blue

skies. This one is the weather Watchers in Nottingham. Tomorrow

there is a bit of a change to the weather with plenty of cloud around

and outbreaks of rain to look out for in the afternoon. First of all,

through tonight there are lots of clear skies in the first part of the

night so I think we will see a widespread frost developing

with patches of freezing fog to look out for as well. Temperatures

falling below freezing and cooler in the countryside. This weather front

arrives from the north-western brings in a lot of cloud. It will

pick up the breeze as well so I don't think patches of folk will

last very long. Patchy rain into the afternoon as well. Temperature that

a maximum of five Celsius. On Saturday BC the fro nt clearing out

the south-east. It has dragged in milder air and on Saturday there is

plenty of. One or two outbreaks of showery rain to look out for but the

temperatures will creep up on temperatures stay milder. As we move

into Monday similar temperatures, what we will see something wet and

windy into the next week. Tonight the cold night on the way and a

cooler a maximum of nine Celsius and a similar story on Sunday. Plenty of

cloud around with a few breaks, but the temperatures stay milder. As we

move into Monday similar temperatures, what we will see

something wet and windy into the next week. Tonight the cold night on

the way and a cooler night, We're looking for someone

who can sing, someone who can move. Someone who can keep an audience

on the edge of their seat. Something like this

could change my life. When you're born to perform,

Let It Shine... Magical new drama...

The Worst Witch.