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Erewash Borough Council,Town Hall, Wharncliffe Road, Ilkeston, Derbyshire, DE7 5RP Erewash Borough Council all Rights Reserved Conservative council leader Barry Lewis loses his seat Labour leader Joan Dixon also beaten by Reform candidate Turnout was 36.2% down from 39% at the previous election Thank you for joining us for our updates on the local council elections in Derbyshire Keep checking the BBC News website for further developments over the coming days and weeks Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingA turquoise tide has swept across the East Midlandspublished at 17:20 British Summer Time 2 May17:20 BST 2 MayPeter SaullPolitical editor Local politicians of all parties expected Reform to do well but few thought the results would be this emphatic Nigel Farage’s party now has big working majorities in both Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire – and is also comfortably the largest party in Leicestershire where at times it’s felt like a wake – because only Conservative councillors have made it in to the central results hub but as one local Tory put it to me: “Nigel Farage can’t lead all of these councils from London.” The party still doesn’t have local group leaders and it’s unclear what the process will be In Leicestershire a deal may have to be struck with the Conservatives to get things done Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingReform's big win 'was a protest vote'published at 17:09 British Summer Time 2 May17:09 BST 2 MayGeorge TorrBBC News We've also heard from Angelique Foster who was the Conservative police and crime commissioner for Derbyshire between 2021 and 2024 she won her seat of Dronfield Woodhouse and Walton with 1,749 votes She told the BBC the Conservative party's national performance had affected what had happened locally for them "People have said it is a protest vote - they are not happy with what is happening nationally and they couldn't put a cross by the Conservative name," she said "What the Conservatives have not delivered nationally has affected all local communities across Derbyshire." Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingOutgoing Labour group leader issues statementpublished at 16:44 British Summer Time 2 May16:44 BST 2 MayGeorge TorrBBC News the outgoing Labour group leader who lost her seat She said: "Derbyshire Labour has fought tooth and nail at this election for each and every vote listening to our residents and offering real solutions to the issues they face "The team that supported me have been amazing – there are too many to mention – as well as the phenomenal membership who have been committed to the campaign every step of the way." The statement continued: "Representing Bolsover South and heading up the Labour Group on Derbyshire County Council has been a massive privilege and one I am hugely grateful for "I will continue to be a champion for children with SEND as the stories of parents who have struggled to get the best outcomes for their children has left a profound impression on me "Thank you to every resident who has supported me over the years It has been an honour to serve you and serve our beautiful county." Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingWinning Reform candidate touts 'British-style DOGE'published at 16:23 British Summer Time 2 May16:23 BST 2 MayGeorge TorrBBC News We have been hearing from Derbyshire's Reform spokesman Stephen Reed He won the Clay Cross and Tupton division with 1,353 votes "People keep saying it's a protest vote I think there's no doubt people are protesting at how politics currently runs," he told our political reporter Georgia Roberts "There is an element that people want change so it's a message to other parties to say we're not happy with the way things are going "We want to audit everything and find out what the state of the council actually is He continued: "Nigel [Farage] has spoken about a British-style DOGE [the US Department of Government Efficiency] so it's not just financially but we'll be looking at processes "We know there is waste and inefficiency." Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingCouncil leader Lewis reflects on defeatpublished at 16:08 British Summer Time 2 May16:08 BST 2 MayGeorgia RobertsPolitical reporter The Conservative leader of Derbyshire County Council has been giving his response to his own defeat in Shirland and Wingerworth South as well as his party's poor showing across the county "It's something of a wipeout for us I think - nationally and locally," he said "I think it's an artefact of the difficulties we've had over a number of years a fractured party and holding a general election last year - the poor result we got there "We need to rebuild trust with our residents and voters who've lost faith with us." "The other part of this is the fact that Labour made a series of promises on the way into Parliament last year and then reneged on all those promises so public trust in politicians generally has kind of failed - so Reform the new kid on the block has come out on top as a consequence "But it's going to be a tough job ahead of them as they take over councils across the country." Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingConservatives and Labour both damagedpublished at 15:47 British Summer Time 2 May15:47 BST 2 MayGeorge TorrBBC News a final summary of sorts with Reform claiming the final seat of Ripley East Reform are the largest party securing a majority of 20 Labour are down 11 but the big losers no doubt were the incumbent Conservatives Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingFinal tally with all seats declaredpublished at 15:42 British Summer Time 2 May15:42 BST 2 MayHere is the final scoreboard from Derbyshire County Council showing the scale of Reform UK's dominance in the county She won with 2,622 votes - 57% of the total Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingOne more to go...published at 15:28 British Summer Time 2 May15:28 BST 2 MayGeorge TorrBBC News We are waiting for the final result to come in The Ripley East division in Amber Valley gets the wooden spoon (or the grand finale) But this was expected as it has one of the largest pool of voters in the county Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingResult from council leader Barry Lewis's seatpublished at 15:28 British Summer Time 2 May15:28 BST 2 MayGeorge TorrBBC News Here is the full breakdown from the Shirland and Wingerworth South division in North East Derbyshire Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingCouncil leader Barry Lewis loses his seatpublished at 15:16 British Summer Time 2 May15:16 BST 2 MayBreakingGeorge TorrBBC News the Conservative leader of Derbyshire County Council his party won 45 seats in 2021 securing a majority Frank Adlington-Stringer polled well for the Green Party finishing in third place Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingWhat about Labour?published at 15:11 British Summer Time 2 May15:11 BST 2 MayGeorge TorrBBC News Labour has won three seats with just a couple of divisions to declare Glossop South and New Mill and Hayfield won for Labour Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingReform notch win number 40published at 15:05 British Summer Time 2 May15:05 BST 2 MayHere are the latest totals from Derbyshire County Council Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingTories pip Reform in Sawleypublished at 15:04 British Summer Time 2 May15:04 BST 2 MayThe Conservatives take Sawley by 17 votes Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingGreen Party group leader re-electedpublished at 15:00 British Summer Time 2 May15:00 BST 2 MayGeorge TorrBBC News Gez Kinsella is heading back to County Hall Here's the full result for the South Belper and Holbrook division Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingTories take Bakewellpublished at 14:59 British Summer Time 2 May14:59 BST 2 MayGeorge TorrBBC News Alasdair Sutton has been elected to represent Bakewell for the Tories Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingLib Dems add anotherpublished at 14:58 British Summer Time 2 May14:58 BST 2 MayGeorge TorrBBC News Tom Snowdon has been elected to represent Walton Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingEmphatic Reform win stuns Conservatives and Labourpublished at 14:57 British Summer Time 2 May14:57 BST 2 MayGeorgia RobertsPolitical reporter Reform UK have now officially got a majority on Derbyshire County Council The casualties they’ve inflicted include Labour’s leader in Derbyshire and potentially (there’s a recount the current Conservative leader of the council Barry Lewis There’s a feeling here that Reform have managed to mobilised people that don’t normally turn out to vote in Derbyshire and this has helped them along to victory - turnout was higher than expectations But Conservatives here also say they don’t feel they could’ve fought against the strong sentiment for Reform and sympathy for their national policies Labour and the Conservative are equally hurting A year ago they were expecting to take this council riding high off the back of recent victories in district and borough councils and a clean sweep of Labour MPs in the general election One Labour figure here tells me the party now needs to do some serious soul-searching as to how things have gone “so wrong Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingCabinet member loses seatpublished at 14:52 British Summer Time 2 May14:52 BST 2 MayGeorge TorrBBC News The council's cabinet member for transport The ad-free version is ready for purchase on iOS mobile app today we couldn't find that page";var n=e.querySelector("h2");return n&&n.remove(),{staticContent:e,title:t}},d=function(e){var t=document.createElement("button");return t.innerText=e,t.classList.add("error-page-button"),t},f=function(e){var t=document.createElement("div");t.id="recirculation-404",t.classList.add("brand-hint-bg");var n="\n \n \n Tick here if you would like us to send you the author’s response and has caused extensive damage to the shop's main entrance and surrounding windows It has not been confirmed whether anyone was hurt during the incident Damage is visible to the shopfront's cladding while a window can be seen hanging over the vehicle The shop remains open with some restrictions in place for the safety of customers A Boots spokesperson said: "We can confirm that an incident took place at our Boots Long Eaton store on Friday. We are assisting the police with their investigation." It is understood that no staff members were injured A similar incident took place just two months ago, when a white Skoda drove into the McDonald's restaurant in Long Eaton The incident occurred on February 6 on Waverly Street with the car crashing into the restaurant's entrance Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right Police executed a warrant at an address in Long Eaton on Friday officers from Erewash Safer Neighbourhood Team executed a warrant on a suspected cannabis grow in a property on Tamworth Road in Long Eaton after reports of suspicious activity from members of the local community ‘Two males aged 33 and 20 were arrested and a large-scale cannabis grow consisting of approximately 140 mature plants were seized as part of the investigation ‘We would like to thank residents and members of the community who come together to help tackle crime within their area We take such reports very seriously and are determined to stamp out drug related crime and organised criminality from our neighbourhoods.’ •  Bingham: £300,000 cannabis grow found in raid after public tip off Demolition of the former Galaxy cinema and Stage One nightclub in Long Eaton will begin in April as part of a £25 million town centre redevelopment Erewash Borough Council has secured funding for the project The Galaxy Row development will feature 16 flats and construction is set to be completed by August 2026 The broader regeneration plan also includes a £10 million refurbishment of the High Street and transforming the former Stable Block into modern office space With ownership of the derelict site secured the council avoided a lengthy public inquiry ensuring the project moves forward without further delays Demolition is expected to take four months with construction beginning immediately after We offer an exciting opportunity in the East Midlands for companies to plan innovative advertising campaigns alongside consistently excellent reporting Our newsletters are sent directly chief executives managing directors and senior managers across the East Midlands with numerous companies from all sectors – from manufacturing to technology – benefiting from our mix of news and features Contact us: sales@blmgroup.co.uk By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. more information Accept The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this Close NK Motors is re-opening its Long Eaton showroom on Tamworth Road this April 25 years after NK Group chairman Nindy Kumar purchased the site the showroom had been leased to Pidcock Motorcycles NK Motors MD Sanj Kumar is ready to return to the site where he began his career as a car salesman after getting the keys back in November 2024 Kumar said: “It’s a great feeling for me personally to see the site I began my career at 25 years ago coming back into use as our latest car showroom we’ve grown from a small family business into a huge dealership particularly through our partnership with Kia “Having outgrown the Long Eaton site back in 2014 we’re so looking forward to bringing it back to its former glory as a centre for used cars The new staff are all ready and raring to go currently undergoing some intense training at our other sites in Pride Park and Chilwell.” will re-open following a £100,000 investment in refurbishment and repairs This will allow the site to provide additional stock capacity for 80 used vehicles with plans for an overflow showroom for 40 additional cars at another Long Eaton site owned by the group NK Motors – The Used Car Centre will stock cars ranging from £5,000 to £50,000 in value The NK group is offering above-market prices to sellers in order to build up stock in time for opening Tagged with: NK Motors reports sales success following £1m showroom refurb You must be logged in to post a comment a UK based car finance provider authorised and regulated by .. Wishing all our customers and connections a super successful handover day #NewRegDay Use the affordable Keytracker intelligent locker system to securely automate the drop-off and collection lockers .. renowned for their top-quality paint and fabric protection systems We are pleased to share the launch of our new partnership with live-streaming service How will you adapt to higher National Insurance and general employment costs View Results NK Motors one of the UK’s top performing car dealerships had been leased to Pidcock Motorcycles since 2014 until that firm entered administration last year The site is where NK Motors’ current managing director Sanj Kumar began his career as a car salesman 25 years ago after the property was purchased by his dad and NK Group chairman Nindy Kumar in 2000 The Long Eaton business – called ‘NK Motors – The Used Car Centre’ – will provide the group with additional stock capacity for 80 used vehicles with plans for an overflow showroom for 40 additional cars at another Long Eaton site owned by the group nearby The decision to expand the group by re-opening its former site has created seven new jobs The firm has spent around £100,000 on refurbishments and repairs of the property since getting the keys back in November 2024 NK Motors’ flagship showroom in Orient Way combined with its second site at Eldon Road Business Park is one of the country’s best-performing Kia dealerships for new car sales Sanj Kumar said: “It’s a great feeling for me personally to see the site I began my career at 25 years ago coming back into use as our latest car showroom we’re so looking forward to bringing it back to its former glory as a centre for used cars.” By submitting the form, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy Find out more Police are appealing for information after two men were robbed in the street in Long Eaton The incident happened close to the mini roundabout at the junction of Meadow Lane and Main Street at about 7.15pm on Wednesday 12 March Two men were walking down the street when a black BMW – believed to be an X3 model – pulled up close to them Two men then got out of the car and approached the victims before stealing holdalls from them containing tools The suspects then got back into the car and drove away along Main Street Officers have carried out extensive enquiries into the robbery and we are now asking for the public’s help to trace those responsible Any witnesses or anyone who has information in relation to the incident We are particularly interested in hearing from anyone who has CCTV or dashcam footage that covers the area where the incident took place and has not already spoken with officers to please come forward The suspects are described as aged in their mid-20s with a medium build and was wearing a dark beanie hat The other man had a slim build and was wearing dark clothing Anyone with information can contact us using the below method quoting incident number 25*145261 •  Developer wins appeal against council over 19 new apartments •  Beeston: Two shoplifters detained after series of offences Our free email updates are the best way to get headlines direct to your inbox Thank you for subscribing!We have more newsletters on Easter Sunday (April 20) while the item was secured and residents were asked to leave their homes The Explosives Ordnance Disposal unit of the British Army then destroyed the ammunition in a controlled explosion A video online seems to show a controlled explosion in West Park A spokesperson for Long Eaton Police's Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) said: "Officers were called to the Elm Avenue area of Sandiacre following reports that an amount of ammunition had been found "A cordon was put in place and a number of homes were evacuated while the item was safely secured yesterday evening The Explosives Ordnance Disposal unit of the Army destroyed the item in a controlled explosion "People living nearby may have heard a loud bang but we would like to reassure them that there is no reason to be alarmed Residents who were asked to temporarily leave their homes have since been allowed to return We would like to thank them for their patience whilst we dealt with the incident." Long Eaton (Image: Submitted)A man has been found dead at an address in Long Eaton after police were called to reports of concern for safety Police said a man in his 30s was found dead in Cavendish Road just after 7am on Tuesday A spokesperson for Derbyshire Police said: “Formal identification has not yet taken place but the man’s family have been made aware and our thoughts are with them at this sad time There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding the death and a file is being prepared for the coroner.” Officers from Derbyshire police sealed off Cavendish Road between Wellington Street and Bennett Street at around 9am Three marked police vehicles and an East Midlands Ambulance Service vehicle were in attendance The Samaritans run a free 24-hour phone line on 116 123 for people experiencing a range of problems, and also has a website with further details A spokesperson for Derbyshire Police said: “We received a call from East Midlands Ambulance Service at 7:05am today regarding a concern for safety of a man in Cavendish Road “Formal identification has not yet taken place but the man’s family have been made aware and our thoughts are with them at this sad time and a file is being prepared for the coroner.” which has jurisdiction over Long Eaton on the border of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire has been contacted for comment on the incident The force has yet to explain the nature of the incident which has resulted in a closure between Wellington Street to Bennett Street But it was also the site where NK Motors’ current managing director Sanj Kumar began his career as a car salesman 25 years ago after the property was purchased by his dad and NK Group chairman NindyKumar in 2000 with plans for an overflow showroom for 40 additionalcars at another Long Eaton site owned by the group nearby More than 500 candidates applied for the various roles Both current sites also sell hundreds of used vehicles every month Sanj said: “It’s a great feeling for me personally to see the site I began my career at 25 years ago coming back into use as our latest car showroom “The new staff are all ready and raring to go Sanj said that the new showroom will stock cars ranging from £5,000 to £50,000 in value The NK group is currently offering above-market prices to sellers in order to build up its stock in time for opening during the first week in April Sanj and Nindy had been looking to expand the business last year and conducted viewings of several potential sites before learning that their Long Eaton site had become available to them as an option “It was sad to see Pidcock Motorcyles go into administration,” said Sanj “but it came at the right time for our expansion “We were initially considering re-opening as a motorbike franchise but that market has faced some recent challenges recently so we decided to revert back to a dedicated used car centre.”     with sights set on a milestone £100m turnover this year The business leases more than 1,000 fleet cars to large business clients every year as well as selling around 1,000 new Kia vehicles each year and a target of 3,500 used cars in 2025 •  Funding for feasibility study for new ROAD BRIDGE over River Trent confirmed •  West Bridgford Central Avenue improvements start this week Powered by Grantham Journal, Rutland & Stamford Mercury, Spalding Guardian and Lincolnshire Free Press Home   Stamford   Sport   Article Stamford Women's Rugby have completed the first leg of a potential cup double Lincs and Derbys Women's Cup on Sunday after victory over Long Eaton in the final at Derby Rugby Club black and whites now travel to Sleaford on Sunday to take on Boston Ladies in the final of the Lincolnshire Cup (4pm) to seal a double-winning campaign Sunday's final was played on an artificial surface at Derby and the match was the most tense and unpredictable game of the season who were deserved winners of Women's NC 1 Midlands (North) this season started the match sprightly and were rewarded after nine minutes with a well taken breakaway try from their flying full back which was subsequently converted Both sides attempted forages into the opposition halves but were thwarted by great defensive displays from each team and this continued until the 23rd minute when a penalty was awarded to the purple black and whites directly in front of the Long Eaton posts Daisy Attley slotted the ball through the posts and Stamford were on the scoreboard Stamford started to up their running game and were finally rewarded with their first try after 29th minute the ball was fed by Attley to fly half Poppy Murray who kicked it towards the Long Eaton try line The ball was initially gathered by the Long Eaton centre but was fumbled and then turned over by the chasing Jorja Matchwick Stamford found themselves in the lead which lasted nine minutes before Long Eaton regained the advantage through their full back scoring in the corner Stamford were next to trouble the scoreboard when from a penalty on the Long Eaton five metre line the ball was eventually fed by Attley to the powerful Emily Russell who ran route one towards and over the try line Stamford had one final try in the first half Murray was passed the ball on the opponents 22 metre line and then proceeded to use her strength and guile to pass five defenders before placing it over the line The try was duly converted by Attley and Stamford went into the half-time break 20-12 in the lead Stamford started the second half with a spring in their step and extended their lead with a try from Catelyn Etherington From a penalty 15 metres out from the Long Eaton try line the ball was fed to Brogan Cranfield who powered towards the line and was stopped just short The ball was fed through the hands of Russell Grace Walker and Chloe Goldsmith before it reached Etherington who was well tackled as she was going over the line but still managed to place it down to get the points The game then went into a bit of a hiatus with both teams testing their opponents' defences without troubling the score Stamford then found themselves the recipients of three very well taken Long Eaton tries which gave the Derbyshire side a 31-27 lead with 30 minutes of the match to play Stamford then dug deep and showed their usual stoic selves which resulted in the purple black and whites coming back with two well taken tries of their own The first was from a Stamford line out which was gathered by Etherington and then a rolling maul allowed them a further five metre gain before Attley fed the ball to Murray Murray once again jinked her way past three defensive players and touched the ball down over the try line Stamford's last try of the match was courtesy of Cranfield the ball was once again caught by Etherington Another rolling maul towards the Long Eaton try line ensued which was initially fed to Kayna Penrose-Toms who deftly passed to Cranfield who charged towards and over the line Long Eaton were not finished and with seven minutes to go scored another well taken try to bring the difference in score to five points in favour of Stamford it was to and fro between the two evenly matched teams it was Stamford who finally were able to hear the large roar and applause from their coaches subs and travelling supporters when the referee blew for the end of the match on Thursday morning (February 6) after a white car crashed into the building The picture shows a white electric Skoda Enyaq after a collision with the northwest entrance of the McDonald's Images from the scene show extensive damage to the main entrance and surrounding windows at the restaurant The restaurant shares a large car park with the huge neighbouring Tesco Extra store in a busy corner of the town centre a Farmfoods and Tesco petrol station nearby Both McDonald's and Derbyshire police have been contacted for comment SDL Property Auctions, which is holding the auction, said the residence is "situated on an expansive plot with gated access to a spacious driveway in the highly desirable area of Long Eaton". It added: "Character is evident throughout the home, showcasing original features, exposed brickwork, and a log burner." The layout of the home includes an entrance hallway, large lounge, open-plan dining area leading to the kitchen, a cinema room, a bar room, a conservatory, an indoor pool, and a sauna. On the first floor, there is a master bedroom with an ensuite, two additional double bedrooms, one with a dressing room, a family bathroom and a single bedroom. Externally, the property offers a gated driveway with room for multiple vehicles, as well as a spacious garden with a patio area. CommentsIt boasts an enviable indoor swimming pool CommentsAnother highlight - a pool table CommentsA living room with an emphasis on the colour brown CommentsThe home has a guide price of £350,000 CommentsThe garden is primed for catching the sun CommentsThe house will go on auction in the next week described how Cleaver then "very quickly punched him with some force to his face" then continued to kick out at and push Mr Ashall before Bennett approached them with a knife and stabbed the complainant in the back The third defendant Turner, of Sandford Avenue in Long Eaton was initially seen grabbing the knifeman's arm before attempting to pull Cleaver away from the victim the 33-year-old then "became embroiled in the scuffle" and behaved aggressively towards door staff who were attempting to break up the fight A video of the incident was played to court and showed the incident initially erupting near to a punching machine with pictures of Mike Tyson emblazoned on the side before spilling onto an illuminated dancefloor Ms Daley detailed how Mr Ashall only realised he had been stabbed after subsequently retreating to the toilets at which time he was driven to hospital by a friend The 26-year-old remained an inpatient for the following six days after suffering a collapsed lung which required three blood transfusions and a chest drain He subsequently recalled that he had been "having a good time" before he was approached by Cleaver who "asked him what his problem was" and attacked him Teenager Bennett was previously sentenced to 15 months for wounding with intent as a 15-year-old in January 2021 he received a 12-month detention and training order for an unlawful wounding offence he committed when aged 14 he was handed a further 16 months in a young offenders' institute for affray in relation to an incident while he was serving time at HMYOI Werrington in Staffordshire subject a fellow inmate to a "43-second frenzied attack" by repeatedly punching him and stabbing him in the head with a makeshift weapon fashioned from a pen Cleaver meanwhile has nine previous convictions for 17 offences including for battery and public order matters He received six months in a young offenders' institute for assault occasioning actual bodily harm in 2016 before being handed 81 months for wounding with intent Turner's nine convictions for 11 offences include a nine-year stretch for wounding with intent in which Cleaver was also his co-defendant He was recalled on licence in relation to this matter following the brawl at the Fox and Goose sporting short dark hair in the dock and clad in a white t-shirt previously pleaded guilty to wounding with intent who appeared via video link to HMP Liverpool wearing a white North Face t-shirt All three defendants were due to be sentenced today although their cases had to be adjourned due to a lack of court time A bench warrant was issued for the arrest of Cleaver after he failed to attend. His counsel Paul Wood told the court: "My solicitors thought it was unlikely that he was to attend today I cannot put any proper reason as to his non-attendance before the court He has relevant convictions in any event." Cleaver and Turner will now be sentenced on Wednesday Bennett will meanwhile learn his fate in April with the judge ordering the preparation of a psychiatric report in his case Judge Brian Cummings KC said of him: "He is at risk of a life sentence It is a very serious step to be taken in anyone's case and I want the full information before making that decision." The Town Deal proposals to improve Long Eaton Town Centre are being unveiled online today • Remodelling High Street to make it a visitor attraction in its own right and features to celebrate the local furniture industry and local celebrity Dame Laura Knight • Widening the pavements along Tamworth Road and Market Place from Broad Street / Salisbury Street to Oxford Street • Providing new dedicated Blue Badge parking on the old back-market and in existing car parks and improving access from parking areas to shopping streets • Proposals to celebrate Long Eaton’s globally important upholstery industry include street furniture in the design of sofas and armchairs whilst groundbreaking war artist Dame Laura Knight and designed by leading highway engineers Galliford Try and BWB is to make the town centre a more attractive place to visit and spend time in is expected to not only improve the viability of existing town centre businesses but also help attract the new generation of high street entrepreneurs needed to serve Long Eaton into the future The blaze is thought to have been started deliberately, Derbyshire police said Investigations into the incident are currently ongoing A spokesperson for the force said: "Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service alerted us to reports of a fire at a children’s play area in Wilsthorpe Road, Long Eaton The fire is thought to have been started deliberately and investigations into the incident are ongoing." A spokesperson for Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service added: "Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service was called to attend a fire in the open at West Park The fire was in a children's play area "On call firefighters from Long Eaton Fire Station attended Crews put the fire out and left the scene at 8.18pm." According to local reports, the blaze was started after two supermarket trolleys were filled with cardboard and set on fire. The playground had only opened in November last year The cash was awarded to Erewash Borough Council from the government's Shared Prosperity Fund The construction took six months to complete Anyone with any information about the incident on Tuesday evening is asked to contact Derbyshire police A dramatic scene unfolded in Long Eaton after 27 people were exposed to "excess chlorine" at a health club's spa. There was a heavy emergency response outside the Clifford Health Club and Spa in Regent Street on Tuesday (January 7) morning after 10 of the 27 people showed symptoms relating to the exposure "27 people have been exposed to excess chlorine in the spa area of the building Ten of the 27 people were showing symptoms relating to the exposure and were treated at the scene by paramedics "Three people have been taken to hospital The Health and Safety Executive have been informed of the incident East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) also attended the scene after a caller reported a "medical emergency" EMAS says it sent two paramedics in two ambulance cars a Hazardous Area Response Team and a responder from the air ambulance It added that the patients were transported to Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham Residents were quick to send their well wishes to those involved who has lived on Regent Street for three years saying she'd "never seen anything like it before." She added: "It was so strange I remember putting something in the bin and then I saw a blue light in the corner of my eye "The street went from being normal to having countless police I’m sending my thoughts and prayers to anyone who was involved.” said: “It’s worrying that something like this could happen and - with all the sirens and police - I can only assume that it was a serious incident "I just hope no one is seriously hurt and I hope it’s just a freak accident All they were trying to do was go to the gym.” The health club lies on Regent Street a narrow road off Market Place that leads to the nearby Oxford Street both of which are home to multiple small businesses The health club issued a statement at around 1.30pm saying the "relevant authorities" have allowed the club to reopen A spokesperson for the company said: "Pool & Spa Set to reopen Following an incident this morning during normal pool maintenance the relevant authorities have now given us the ok to safely open the pool and spa "We will reopen at 2pm." The exact circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear A vacant town centre pub could be turned into 13 bedsits. The New Inn pub in Tamworth Road, Long Eaton has been closed for two years but could now be converted into an HMO (house in multiple occupation) accommodating up to 26 people A report submitted by Wilson Architects on behalf of the applicant details: “The building has been derelict for some time and is somewhat of an eyesore in Long Eaton “The property has been purchased with the intention to refurbish and convert the pub into accommodation bringing life back into the area and building on the current residential use on the upper floor whilst retaining some commercial use at ground floor level The immediate properties surrounding the site are a mix of commercial and residential properties with a number of larger properties over the years being converted into HMOs or flats “There is currently no on-site parking available there is a public car park directly behind the property The introduction of residential units on the site will reuse an existing building that is currently underutilised and in need of attention “By providing a residential scheme to the upper levels and retaining smaller commercial opportunities along Tamworth Road this will prevent potential nuisance and vandalism from the area which will improve the locality for the neighbouring residents as well as provide a varied commercial opportunity The high quality product of this proposal will result in revamping the area visually improving the street scene and making a positive contribution to the town centre “The scheme mimics what has already been approved and seen developed recently around Tamworth Road which suggests a suitable redevelopment opportunity on this site due to the larger property’s potential The development of the property aids the maintenance of the building as a whole which has grown somewhat tired over the last few years of its life the property will be provided with a new lease of life the site presents itself as a great opportunity to provide much needed high quality housing within Long Eaton.” The report details that the rooms would be geared towards “young professionals” with a communal outdoor space and communal area along with a shared kitchen for rooms that do not have kitchen facilities with some rooms being solely for sleeping while others will have wider facilities It says each room exceeds the borough council’s recommended HMO space policy standards We send out the biggest stories in an email every day. Sign up for the main Derbyshire Live newsletter here A man with a five-stone lump hanging from his abdomen to his knees thought he was going to die after he couldn't get up from the floor. Alan Bromyard, 48 and from Long Eaton has lived with the huge lymphedema that hangs down to his knees for two years And despite the severe impact it has had on his life and health, Mr Bromyard was told the removal of the lump cannot be funded through the NHS as the surgery is classed as cosmetic He has been met twice by rejection from the Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) Mr Bromyard previously spoke to Nottinghamshire Live about his condition and how it has been affecting his life hoping to get the necessary NHS funding for doctors to perform the surgery he received no update from ICB and his condition continues to deteriorate I woke up to go to the toilet and went lightheaded and fell and wasn't strong enough to get up I was there on the floor for nine hours until my mum's carers came in "I couldn't reach my phone so I was just down there waiting for God to come If the carers hadn't come or had come later I was on the floor for nine hours and just accepted it." Mr Bromyard added that he also hurt his ribs and belly while trying to get up a number of times I was getting weaker and weaker," he said He explained that the two paramedics who attended the incident couldn't lift him up and so the fire service was called Emergency services had to remove his doors in order to get him out of the house and take him to hospital Mr Bromyard then spent 13 days in ICU with sepsis at Royal Derby Hospital as a result of his condition This wasn't the first time he experienced sepsis because of the lump six of which he spent in ICU due to sepsis which he says was so severe he was a DNAR (do not attempt resuscitation) patient Mr Bromyard said: "I nearly died then and I've nearly died now I've had sepsis twice - I need help." who had to sell his herd of pedigree cows because of his condition limiting his movement added that he was also stuck in a chair on the day he was brought back home from hospital on November 8 He said: "The paramedics put me in a chair in my front room when they brought me back home the other day and I couldn't get out of it because the swelling was that big "It took me about half an hour to get the strength to get out of the chair I was in a right mess." Mr Bromyard is also a carer for his 85-year-old mother Mr Bromyard said two funding applications have been rejected despite his surgeon saying he would "thoroughly benefit from the surgery" Since the rejection in July 2023, Mr Bromyard's surgeon has submitted another funding request, which was turned down in August. Mr Bromyard says his surgeon, his GP and the head of the lymphedema clinic at Nottingham University Hospitals A spokesperson for NHS Derby and Derbyshire ICB previously said: "We cannot comment on individual cases Some treatments are not normally available on the NHS and in these circumstances people are able to request individual funding requests where a service intervention or treatment falls outside of existing service provision "The application for funding is made by the patient's clinician who is required to demonstrate that the circumstances are exceptional This decision-making process ensures that each request is considered in a fair and transparent way with decisions based on the best available evidence and in accordance with our individual funding request policy." Mr Bromyard has also started a fundraising page in the hopes of getting the money to seek private treatment. To view the fundraiser, click here A Derbyshire hotel is still being used to house asylum seekers five months after a neighbouring facility across the road was closed. The Best Western Hotel in Bostocks Lane, Long Eaton remains in use as housing asylum accommodation by the Home Office the Local Democracy Reporting Service can confirm While the Novotel Hotel facility across the road ended its use for asylum seekers in June following a confirmed planned closure in March following lobbying by former Erewash MP Maggie Throup no such date was ever and has yet to be provided for the Best Western site The facility provides temporary accommodation for people who have fled their home countries told the LDRS: “The Best Western is still operational for housing asylum seekers I understand the Home Office is currently working through the huge asylum claims backlog left by the previous government and aiming to close hotels for this purpose as soon as possible “Claims have a first stage and unsuccessful claims are often followed by a subsequent appeal which means processing does take some time and claimants stay in hotels until their case is formally closed with either a successful claim or deportation I am also aware that the unusually mild and calm period of weather through September and October resulted in more small boat crossings (across the English Channel from France to England) than expected which has exacerbated the demand on hotel use the government has hugely ramped up claim processing rates and is tackling the problem at source by smashing the criminal people smuggling gangs.” Yesterday (November 19) a Home Office spokesperson refused to confirm or deny the Best Western’s continued use due to the violent “racially motivated” protests experienced in Southport and other towns and cities in the summer – which were linked to asylum seeker accommodation along with general immigration opposition The Best Western is listed as “temporarily closed” on Google and its website does not allow bookings to be made. The combined number of people staying in the Novotel and Best Western facilities was said to be around 400 That represented 20 per cent (one in five) of the people the council has needed to support over the past year (total of 544) A borough council report detailed: “Although numbers of approaches to the council have increased many asylum seekers leaving hotel accommodation in Erewash have been able to secure accommodation themselves without needing the council’s assistance.” A Home Office spokesperson said: “This government inherited an asylum system under unprecedented strain with thousands stuck in a backlog without their claims processed We have taken immediate action to restart asylum processing and are delivering a major uplift in returns to remove people with no right to be in the UK “Over the long term this will reduce our reliance on hotels and costs of accommodation We remain absolutely committed to ending the use of hotels for asylum seekers and continue to identify a range of accommodation options to minimise their use.” Long Eaton’s derelict Galaxy cinema is set to be demolished in April to make way for its redevelopment as part of the £25 million Town Deal The former Stage One nightclub which stands next to it will also be demolished to make way for a wholesale regeneration of what is known as Galaxy Row The demolitions will see new homes and commercial units built on the Derby Road site The plan is for three business premises plus 16 flats and four townhouses The council has partnered with Mypad and Tuntum for the development scheme said: “This marks a significant milestone in our Town Deal vision for Long Eaton After considerable effort to secure these properties we’re thrilled to see demolition begin “This is the first step in transforming Galaxy Row into a vibrant hub of homes and businesses and we’re committed to keeping the community informed every step of the way We eagerly anticipate the positive impact this redevelopment will have on Long Eaton.” The demolition work is expected to take around four months with construction work set to begin straight after Pride Park-based NK Motors is opening a new showroom in Long Eaton It’s the site where NK Motors’ current managing director Sanj Kumar began his career as a car salesman 25 years ago The Long Eaton business – called NK Motors – The Used Car Centre – will provide the group with additional stock capacity for 80 used vehicles “Having outgrown the Long Eaton site back in 2014 The Kumars had been looking to expand the business last year and conducted viewings of several potential sites before learning that their Long Eaton site had become available to them as an option but that market has faced some recent challenges recently so we decided to revert back to a dedicated used car centre.” A fork-lift driver strangled his step-daughter’s partner in the street after driving to the victim’s home. Nottingham Crown Court heard how Andrew Winson punched the man and before threatening to write his car off The 41-year-old father handed himself into the police two days later saying the assault occurred over a work-related argument Now he has narrowly avoided being sent to jail Judge Steven Coupland said: “You launched an attack on your step daughter's partner and there was no good reason for doing it It was not spontaneous because you drove round to his house looking for trouble “You grabbed him by the neck and gripped for something like 40 to 50 seconds despite your step-daughter trying to get you off You also hit him several times and then left threatening to damage his car “Anybody that grabs somebody by the neck does something inherently dangerous and this was an unpleasant attack carried out by you in public in the street you are somebody with considerable responsibilities “A reference describes you as ‘a caring partner and father’ and your partner is in bad health She would suffer and find it difficult to get by on a daily basis if I were to send you immediately to custody.” Annabel Lenton, prosecuting, said the assault took place outside the victim’s home in Bonsall Street, Long Eaton She said the defendant and victim worked together at a company called Orchard and a dispute had arisen between them regarding "lack of attendance" The prosecutor said: “He drove to the address and was screaming and shouting He grabbed him by the throat with both hands leaving him unable to breathe “The defendant did not stop there and threw a punch which landed on the side of his face He eventually left the property threatening to write (the victim’s ) car off.” handed himself into the police two days later and went on to plead guilty to intentional strangulation He has four previous convictions for eight offences but nothing since 2020 and nothing since he carried out this attack in late 2023 said her client was “regretful and remorseful” for what he did She said: “His own words to me this morning were that this has been ‘a big life lesson’ for him.” the judge ordered the defendant to attend 20 rehabilitation sessions and to carry out 100 hours unpaid work He also ordered him to pay £400 towards the prosecution costs and handed him a restraining order not to contact the victim or go to Bonsall Street for the next five years Erewash Musical Society (EMS) has been at the heart of Derbyshire’s theatre scene delighting audiences and nurturing talent since 1895 As the oldest musical theatre society in the region EMS has built a legacy of storytelling through song and drama – one that continues to thrive on the stage of The Duchess Theatre in Long Eaton a powerful musical exploring the rise of Eva Perón featuring the unforgettable music of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice We caught up with members of the creative team about their vision for the production and the enduring importance of community-led performances co-director of Evita (alongside Beth Yearsley) for Erewash Musical Society the marketing officer for Erewash Musical Society and a member of the ensemble the oldest musical theatre group in Derbyshire We’re performing at The Duchess Theatre in Long Eaton and we’ve been lucky enough to perform there for years and we love having such an amazing theatre in our little Derbyshire town a soundtrack packed with Andrew Lloyd Webber classics I was already familiar with Eva Perón’s life so I was immediately intrigued by the project Then I listened to the soundtrack and fell in love and he certainly doesn’t disappoint with this show I’m thrilled to be a part of this production Kim: I love its diversity—from big dance numbers to powerful ballads While some liberties have been taken with historical accuracy the show still captures the essence of a remarkable but controversial woman who remains at the heart of Argentina’s history I hope they enjoy the show and leave having had a positive experience I’d love for people to walk away thinking about the real people behind the story Nicola: I hope the audience feels proud of our local theatre scene Being able to stage musicals like Evita in a small town like Long Eaton is such a fantastic opportunity—especially for those who live far from the West End I love that we’re making quality musical theatre accessible to all Nicola: We’re really excited to be performing Top Hat next so moving from Evita to a big dance musical felt like a natural next step and I was blown away—it felt like our vision was truly coming to life That same feeling resurfaced recently as we set the final number I got goosebumps seeing the emotions and storytelling we had crafted together Another moment that stood out was during auditions One performer had been attending our pre-audition preparation evenings practising and discussing the character with us He was incredibly nervous and unsure about auditioning he walked in as a completely transformed performer—confident and fully committed He even learned the audition song on guitar the magic happened before rehearsals even started It was the moment I saw the poster designed by the talented Abbi Oleshko It was like nothing I’d seen before for this show Our audience loved it just as much as I did but I’ll definitely be at the bar to unwind with the cast I’d love for people to stay behind and discuss the show—ask questions I’d love for Eva Perón herself to see the production I’d want to hear the real story from her and find out what she thinks about the existence of the show itself it’s all about seeing my family in the audience but my eldest and my husband will be watching on closing night Thank you for talking to us Kim and Nicola Evita plays at The Duchess Theatre, Long Eaton between 4th-8th March 2025. Further information and booking are available here An amateur production by arrangement with The Really Useful Group Ltd A bakery owner who attacked and strangled his ex-partner in a park in Long Eaton is tasting custody for the first time at the age of 33 Nottingham Crown Court heard how a couple bravely intervened when they heard the woman calling ‘help me help me’ as she was being assaulted by Al-Yassa Yusuf After grabbing her by the throat with one hand the defendant used the other to strike and slap her until the witnesses were able to stop him Jailing him for 14 months, Judge Steven Coupland said: “It may well be you were experiencing difficulties in your life when this offence was committed That may well feature in the background of what you did but that is not an excuse for doing what you did to your ex-partner “You were in the process of breaking up and you went round to her home She was sufficiently frightened that she wanted your discussion about it to take place in public you grabbed her by the throat and while you were still holding her round the neck you hit her and hit her repeatedly but you were so angry you were not listening to her When two members of the public bravely tried to intervene He was particularly brave and stopped you from doing what you were doing to (the victim) said Yusuf and the victim had been in a relationship but it had ended She said he went to her home on Long Eaton on July 23 to talk about the break-up and she suggested they went to West Park The prosecutor said: "When they were in West Park he grabbed her around the throat with one hand and then hit her repeatedly with the other hand This was witnessed by two people who were walking in the park and who saw him attack the victim “They thought it was a man and a child at first but the realised it was the defendant and a woman and they saw him slap her grab her throat and then grab her by the hair she was not retaliating and they heard her shouting ‘help me’ several times “They went over and asked him what the problem was and he turned on the male.” Miss Attenborough said the defendant got into his car and drove away but was later arrested and answered “no comment" to the questions he was asked pleaded guilty to intentional strangulation and has one driving matter on his record which post dates the Long Eaton attack said her client pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity has no relevant previous convictions and has not offended again since She said: “He clearly accepts full responsibility despite (the victim) not supporting the prosecution “At the time he was going through a bad time in his life going through stress and financial difficulties and was simply not coping “He has now launched his own business - the Daily Bread Bakery - and so has this work opportunity and has investment to assist him in making the business a success.” The judge told the hearing he was awarding the couple who intervened and helped stop the attack £250 each from the High Sheriff's fund for their bravery which was sparked when co-defendant Jacob Cleaver brutally attacked the stranger without warning during a night out The knifeman, of Fulwood Drive, has been warned that he could be locked up for life over the incident having already amassed a stack of violent convictions despite being aged only 19 meanwhile absconded ahead of his sentencing and remains at large The sentencing hearing was told how the victim - 26-year-old Reece Ashall - had been enjoying a night out in the Fox and Goose pub in Southport on October 18 last year CCTV footage captured shortly before 11.30pm showed him speaking to Cleaver beside the bar while "seeming to be either calming him down or ushering him away" described how the stranger then "very quickly punched him with some force to his face" The 27-year-old attacker then continued to kick out at and push Mr Ashall before Bennett approached the melee with a knife in his right hand and stabbed the complainant in the back A third defendant, Jamie Turner was initially seen to grab the knifeman's arm before attempting to pull Cleaver away from the victim of Sandford Avenue then "became embroiled in the scuffle" and behaved aggressively towards door staff who were attempting to break up the fight The victim remained an inpatient for the following six days after suffering a collapsed lung which required three blood transfusions and a chest drain Bennett’s past convictions include 15 months for wounding with intent as a 15-year-old in January 2021 and GBH when he was 14 He also subjected a fellow inmate to a "43-second frenzied attack" by repeatedly punching him and stabbing him in the head with a makeshift weapon fashioned from a pen when he was 16 and serving a sentence in a young offender’s institution He previously pleaded guilty to wounding with intent and will be sentenced in April with the preparation of a psychiatric report being ordered in his case Judge Cummings said of him last week: “He is at risk of a life sentence Cleaver has nine previous convictions for 17 offences He pleaded guilty to affray but he failed to attend court this week told the court: "My solicitors thought it was unlikely that he was to attend today Cleaver was handed 14 months in prison in his absence on Wednesday Judge Brian Cummings KC said the former had "started the incident directly with the victim" with his offending "committed in circumstances which had the potential to and did spark a very serious incident" He added: "The glaring aggravating factor is his previous criminal record I emphasise that I am not dealing with any bail act offence at this stage Turner's nine convictions for 11 offences include a nine-year stretch for the section 18 assault told the court: "The injury of the victim from the stab wound should not form part of this defendant's sentence the defendant actually tries to pull that defendant away from the victim.” the judge said: "You did not start that incident and you attempted at one point to pull Mr Bennett's arm away when you saw the knife you did then yourself become embroiled in the incident and were aggressive towards door staff You did not start the violence and some of your involvement was on the right side but you did go on to contribute to what was the glaring aggravating factor in your case is your previous criminal record I do take account of the fact that you have been in custody already for four months as a result of this offence." Cleaver was also handed a three-year restraining order Detectives are appealing for CCTV and dash cam footage after a robbery in Long Eaton yesterday The incident happened at around 1.30pm in Market Place on Tuesday 3 September when two motorcyclists approached a ‘cash for gold’ stall They motorcyclists are believed to have been travelling on a grey and black Yamaha FZ8 with blue front forks and a blue cylinder head cover Although this incident hasn’t been formally linked to a robbery in Upper Parliament Street, Nottingham shortly before 1.50pm yesterday Detectives are investigating the circumstances of the two incidents given that the descriptions of those involved are similar Anyone who witnessed the robbery in Long Eaton and who has dash cam CCTV or mobile phone footage of those involved is asked to contact police on 101 with reference 24*525846 Police would also like to hear from anyone in Nottingham yesterday shortly after 1.15pm as we believe a motorbike of a similar description was being ridden in the area "He has not returned home and due to the cold weather We want to hear from anyone who has seen him in the area at any point this afternoon or evening." Mick was last seen wearing a tweed flat cap with badges on it a light coloured t-shirt and black trainers Police have said anyone with information should contact them immediately through the Derbyshire Police website Sedgwick was jailed for 16 years at Derby Crown Court in 2015 after pleading guilty to rape The court heard at the time how Sedgwick raped a woman on the grounds of Long Eaton Library following a night out His sentence also included two sexual assaults committed in the months leading up to the rape He had denied these but a jury found him guilty on both counts Sedgwick, who at the time he was sentenced lived on Northcote Street, Long Eaton His death is currently being investigated by the Prison and Probation Ombudsman A Prison Service spokesperson said: "Jason Sedgwick passed away on January 25 at HMP Littlehey the Prison and Probation Ombudsman will investigate." Prisons and Probation Ombudsman Adrian Usher added: "My office is carrying out an independent investigation into the death of Mr Jason Sedgwick at HMP Littlehey on January 25 Our final report will be published on our website after the inquest concludes." HMP Littlehey is a Category C male prison that only holds those convicted of a sexual offence Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service said that three people were taken to hospital although their condition is not thought to be serious Texts sent to customers on the database said the pool and spa were closed on Wednesday (January 8) to "allow us more time [to] assess and review" the situation Customers were told an incorrect email had been sent out previously - in which the "wrong template" had been sent out In the initial email customers were told the club had been hit by vandalism overnight "Sadly overnight we have had some windows smashed which has led to a fair amount of glass falling into the swimming pool Though the team have worked incredibly hard overnight to hoover up any glass The pool needs to be totally drained to ensure there are no bits we have missed." added: "With the amount of time to drain fill up and then heat the pool up we will sadly probably need to keep the pool closed until Tuesday [January 14].. I will of course keep you updated with the progress we are making." But when Derbyshire Police were approached for comment officers said they'd had no record of any such incident DerbyshireLive also made attempt to call the health club but nobody answered The only official statement published on the club's Facebook page reads: We will keep the pool & spa closed today This will allow us more time assess and review Erewash Borough Council confirmed an investigation was underway into the incident A spokesperson said: “Erewash Borough Council’s Environmental Health team have commenced an investigation and are now working with the company to prevent any further risk to the public.” A spokesperson for Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "Emergency services were called to an incident involving a swimming pool at a commercial property on Regent Street 27 people have been exposed to excess chlorine in the spa area of the building "Ten of the 27 people were showing symptoms relating to the exposure and were treated at the scene by paramedics Shoppers have been able to pick up a bargain at the closing down sale at a town's branch of WH Smith as it was announced that the name could disappear from the high street. The company, which goes back more than 200 years, is seeking a buyer for its 500 high street stores, creating uncertainty for 5,000 staff. However, one shop already being axed is in Long Eaton's High Street The branch will close on Saturday February 1 Shelves have almost been stripped bare with up to 75 per cent off cards It is not one of the 200 stores which has a Post Office counter staffed by WH Smith employees Locals have mixed reactions. One said: "I don't know why anyone gets upset. We caused this. It's only nostalgia that gives people dreams of tons of shops on the high street. We moan as we order cheaper stuff off Amazon. The high street should belong to independents now, and rents should reflect to attract them Another said: "There will be no town soon. Please no more charity and vape shops Drop the rents and entice more trade back into our town." railway stations and hospitals account for more than 85 per cent of profits with just 15 percent coming from the high street stores He had brown hair – short at the back and sides The incident happened between 3.30pm and 4.10pm on Friday 27 September Inspector Matt Ladd from Long Eaton Safer Neighbourhood team said: “Reports such as this are always concerning for the local community and as a result you will see an increased police presence in the area in the coming days “I can say that we are treating this as an isolated incident and would encourage anyone with concerns to speak with local officers “We are very keen to hear from anyone who recognises the description of the person above or who has been driving in the area at the time and may have dash cam which will be useful to officers please contact Derbyshire Police on 101 with reference 24*578392″ •  Warning after Robin Hood Card scam circulating on social media Four men have been convicted of the murder of a 21-year-old whose body was discovered at a remote spot in Breaston in June 2023 Jack Towell, 22, from Nottingham and two men who cannot be named for legal reasons plotted together to lure Owen Fairclough to a meeting point late in the evening of 21 June Towell met him from his taxi and walked him to a remote spot where Oswald and one of the men who cannot be named (Man A) were hiding Mr Fairclough was ambushed by the three of them The three of them then hid his body next to a nearby stream where he was discovered almost two days later by a group of teenage boys The prosecution’s case was that the three who carried out the attack planned the killing because they thought Mr Fairclough was about to expose their criminal activities and had been pressing Towell about a significant debt owed to him They planned the killing together and left it to Towell All four were tried for Mr Fairclough’s murder at Derby Crown Court The CPS continued the prosecution of the others involved Oswald and Man A were found guilty on 19 November Towell was given a minimum term of 30 years Man A was given a minimum term of 29 years Oswald received a minimum term of 26 years and Man B was given a minimum term of 25 years Towell and his associates identified Owen Fairclough as a threat to their criminal activities and made up their minds that they would kill him They recruited Oswald to assist in their plan “The prosecution’s case was that the four of them planned the killing so they were each responsible for Owen’s death Whether they were part of the planning or part of the fatal ambush “I would like to offer my heartfelt sympathies to Owen’s family and loved ones as they come to terms with this sudden and tragic loss.” The task facing the prosecution was to prove that all four defendants not just the three who carried out the attack They had spent the days before making their plan and Owen Fairclough’s murder was the fulfilment of that plan Evidence from the defendants’ phones showed extensive contact between the four defendants as well as contact between each other and between Towell and Mr Fairclough Towell had claimed that he had been due to meet Mr Fairclough but that he had not turned up The phone evidence demonstrated that he had been in frequent contact with Mr Fairclough but this had stopped as soon as they had met up and Mr Fairclough had been killed had Mr Fairclough not met Towell as planned the same level of contact would have continued The reason he stopped trying to contact him before the body was discovered was that he had been involved in his death The CPS presented evidence of a photo on Man B’s phone taken at Man A’s address the night before the murder of a knife that was not recovered in the extensive searches conducted during the investigation The prosecution was able to show the three had been at the scene as they were captured on CCTV •  Patients asked to only attend QMC A&E in emergency after ‘small fire’ closed department overnight •  Look inside £6.8 million new Planetarium in Nottinghamshire open today A number of reports of fighting involving various people around Market Place were made to the force and two men have since been arrested and subsequently bailed A spokesperson for Derbyshire police said: "Officers have released a CCTV image of two men they would like to speak with about a fight in Long Eaton "At the time of the incident a number of reports of a fight involving various people were made to the force Three people sustained injuries including a broken leg and facial injuries two men aged 41 and 52 have been arrested and bailed pending further enquiries "Two other people have attended voluntary interviews in connection with the incident Officers are now keen to identify the two men pictured as they believe they may be able to assist with the investigation." the police hope someone may recognise them from the clothes they are wearing The image shows a man wearing a grey jumper with black trousers and another man wearing black trosuers Anyone with information is asked to contact the force using the below methods A man living with a huge five-stone lump hanging from his abdomen has shared his heartbreak after the NHS rejected funding for surgery to remove it twice. Alan Bromyard, 48 and from Long Eaton has lived with the large lymphedema for almost two years and says his condition 'keeps getting worse' But despite the lump gravely affecting his welfare and daily life Mr Bromyard has so far been met twice by rejection from the Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) His condition is so severe that it resulted in sepsis in mid-August putting Mr Bromyard in hospital for 14 days it's a right mess and needs to be removed They class the operation as cosmetic and say that's why I can't have the funding I can't lose it through dieting so what are they expecting me to do Mr Bromyard has had to give up the things he enjoys because of his condition "I have farmed all my adult life but I had to sell them because I couldn't work them anymore," he said "I was out fishing or shooting most weekends A nurse once told me it's cruel living like this and it really stuck with me because it is "It feels like I'm carrying a dead-weight toddler around all the time One week I had to use £176 worth of bandages because it leaks that much," he said The application letter describes the need for "an apronectomy [surgical procedure to remove skin from the lower abdomen] for this patient who has a large abdominal pannus [abnormal layer of fibrovascular or granulation tissue] that is severely affecting his mood and daily activities" A response letter from the Derby and Derbyshire ICB reads: "This request has been reviewed by our screening pair which consists of a Public Health Consultant and a representative from the Derbyshire Integrated Care Board This request has been declined by our screening panel." A spokesperson for NHS Derby and Derbyshire ICB said: "We cannot comment on individual cases The facility, along with further asylum seeker accommodation in the neighbouring Best Western Hotel, catered for around 400 people who required housing having fled their home countries Both facilities received a significant amount of negative attention from protesters which ultimately led to the Novotel facility’s closure announced in March and eventually shut in June It is understood that Best Western facility remains operational with the Home Office refusing to confirm or deny its use due to the violent “racially motivated” protests experienced in Southport and other towns and cities in the summer – which were linked to asylum seeker accommodation along with general immigration opposition The Best Western is listed as “temporarily closed” on Google and its website does not allow bookings to be made A spokesperson also did not confirm how many people were staying in the Novotel Hotel when its use as asylum seeker accommodation ended The borough council details in its annual report on homelessness that 105 people sought homelessness support after being “required to leave Home Office accommodation” – representing 20 per cent (one in five) of the people the council has needed to support over the past year (total of 544) This made it the borough’s second most common reason for requiring homelessness assistance behind “end of private rented tenancy” (117) and above “family no longer willing or able to accommodate (104) It wrote: “During the reporting period (October 2023 to September 2024) a significant increase in homelessness approaches was observed due to asylum seekers leaving contingency accommodation provided by the Home Office “This followed the introduction by the Home Office of a fast-tracked system for processing asylum claims which increased the number of asylum cases being determined During the reporting period the Novotel and Best Western Hotels were both providing accommodation for asylum seekers although the Novotel Hotel was withdrawn from the Home Office’s contingency estate when its contract term ended in June 2024 “Although numbers of approaches to the council have increased many asylum seekers leaving hotel accommodation in Erewash have been able to secure accommodation themselves without needing the council’s assistance.” A Home Office spokesperson said: “This government inherited an asylum system under unprecedented strain “We have taken immediate action to restart asylum processing and are delivering a major uplift in returns to remove people with no right to be in the UK Over the long term this will reduce our reliance on hotels and costs of accommodation “We remain absolutely committed to ending the use of hotels for asylum seekers and continue to identify a range of accommodation options to minimise their use.” Storal has acquired Long Eaton-headquartered Children 1st group Children 1st operates 24 nurseries and a training centre in the Midlands and South Yorkshire Margaret has been one of the leading lights in Early Years education for more than three decades – earning an OBE for her commitment to raising standards in Early-years education She will continue her work with children through her charity which supports children and families in her local community Speaking about her decision to sell to Storal Margaret said: “I can’t imagine it in better hands It’s been my focus for so many years and I’m delighted that it will continue to flourish under Storal’s management “I’m so proud of the amazing and experienced team who have built Children 1st alongside me for so long and I’m confident that Sarah is the right person to lead them and the business into the future with her experience and long-term commitment to delivering quality provision and team wellbeing “I also know from our discussions that Storal share our core values and has the backing and resources to move what we’ve built at Children 1st forward.” which will see 23 of the Children 1st nurseries join Storal said: “I’ve been following Children 1st for many years I’ve looked to Children 1st as one of the great pioneers of high-quality early-years education in the sector “I have enormous admiration for everything Margaret has built and believe she has created an everlasting legacy – both at Children 1st and in the wider sector and this isn’t a responsibility we take lightly “We want to create more milestones in their Magic Story and continue her pioneering work in the sector supporting and fighting for the teams of educators around the UK who deliver such vital work With the addition of Children 1st’s nurseries Storal’s enlarged group will become one of the largest nursery groups in the sector offering over 5,000 places across 56 Ofsted registered settings which they operate as 53 nurseries he is just 10 and he is trying to start up a little company offering headstone cleaning and relettering” read a post on his business' Facebook page who helped him set up the business called ‘Guardians of the Headstones’ called for support in helping Ben Weldon get customers “Everyday he asks if he has had a new booking he doesn't understand that marketing is the hardest bit He thinks it's because people won't trust him because he's only 10” Ben decided to offer free cleans to the first five customers in exchange for an honest review and some recommendations to friends The idea to start a company came while Ben was cleaning his grandmother’s headstone “He looked around and saw that the other headstones looked a bit sad So I said to him: 'Why don’t you open your own little business?'” Ben then set up his website and saw his first few requests come in he had only done a couple of cleans before we made a post on social media” The post has received hundreds of likes and shares in a short time on Facebook The family has been astounded by the response: “It has gone absolutely crazy His mother said it was really encouraging to see so many people come forward the most touching thing to see was requests to clean children’s headstones Ben recently came across the charity Stevie Stones which has dedicated itself to helping financially struggling families to afford a headstone for their child He has now decided to donate 10 per cent of his proceeds to it Michelle said: “It really went hand-in-hand very nicely” The charity was set up by Barry and Naomi Graham following the loss of their daughter Barry Graham has been overwhelmed by the kindness of the young boy coming forward and offering to donate to them It is such a selfless thing to do at 10 years old to give some of the things you earn to charity” this is a lot more than just financial contribution "We can see a bit of our daughter Stevie in him We fund most of the headstones we provide ourselves and were starting to get overwhelmed - and then Ben showed up” Barry highlighted the importance of headstones to grieving parents A headstone is a way to keep parenting your child and have a place where you can visit them I would not be upright if I did not have one for my child” As a headstone can be a large expense and some grieving families cannot afford it the charity has dedicated itself to funding them and has seen requests go from four a month to now four a day This has made them even more grateful for Ben’s help We cannot thank him and his mother enough” Anyone wanting to book Ben’s services can do so by visiting his website here. If you wish to donate to Stevie Stones, visit the website here. Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.