Families with relatives in the armed forces can get information on a new support group in the city. The Forces Family Social Group is being launched by Amanda Crowden, who is the Leicestershire representative for Support our Soldiers. She plans to set up regular meetings on weekday evenings for the parents, grandparents, siblings and children of personnel serving in the Armed Forces. A d... more.

Departing Australian Test star Lote Tuqiri declared Leicester Tigers' 35-19 win over London Irish as an "awesome way to finish" his time at Welford Road. The 30-year-old veteran of 67 caps for the Wallabies ended his fourth-month association with Tigers in thrilling fashion. He gets on a plane today to fly back to Australia and begin a new chapter in his glittering career as a Rugby League ... more.

Substitute goalkeeper Conrad Logan was a frustrated figure as Leicester City slumped to defeat at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday. The 23-year-old from County Donegal was called into the action just after the half-hour mark when first-choice keeper Chris Weale suffered a nose injury following a collision with Wednesday striker Marcus Tudgay. Logan said: "I had nothing to do and we ended up l... more.

Leicester City boss Nigel Pearson refused to criticise his players after they slumped to defeat against Sheffield Wednesday, and said he still believes his side have what it takes to make the play-offs. City's eight-game unbeaten run ended with a 2-0 defeat against Pearson's former club. But City are still well placed in the play-off frame and Pearson said he had no doubts his side would res... more.

The former Phoenix Arts Centre is to be renamed Upper Brown Street. Staff at Leicester College, which successfully bid to take over the city centre venue in November, said work on the new building was due to be completed after Easter. Bosses announced they had received £25,000 from the city's Norman Gill Charitable Trust to revamp the centre, in Upper Brown Street. The funding for refur... more.

A gardening organisation is looking for people to take a course so they can judge horticultural shows. Leicestershire Horticultural Judges' Guild wants to train people to help with shows across the county during the busiest time, from June to September. Courses are held at Knighton Parish Centre, in Church Lane, Leicester, and cost £22. Sue Green, from the organisation, said: "This is a fa... more.

AN online vacuum cleaner bag retailer that started off as a market stall is cleaning up thanks to a boost in trade from mainland Europe. Dustbag, in Sandown Road, Derby, has said it is on course to achieve a £1m turnover for the first time in its seven-year history. The company supplies bags for a range of vacuum cleaners and sells them on its website. Thanks to the weakness of the pound... more.

THE UNIVERSITY of Nottingham will strengthen the city's commercial links with China through a deal to help one of the country's biggest pharmaceutical firms. Researchers from Nottingham will help Tasly Group develop expertise in the field of natural drug discovery. The company is a world leader in creating modern drugs based on ancient natural Chinese remedies. The first in the UK to set ... more.

TOP hotels and blue-chip companies are racing to obtain sites in Nottingham. Six city-centre plots will be available when Nottingham City Council moves to a new site near the train station. The council has been surprised by the level of interest in the sites, which include the Guildhall, Lawrence House on Talbot Street, and Severns House, Weekday Cross. It is considering up to 20 serious ... more.

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