Category: Leicester

A number of properties have been evacuated after a house fire spread to the roof space in a row of terraces in Leicester.Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said it had been called to a house fire in Coral Street in Belgrave on Friday afternoon. The fire service said eight fire engines, including an aerial ladder platform, were at the scene.Residents have been told to close their windows and doors while motorists were warned to expect delays. The fire service added there were “no reports of casualties”.

East Midlands Railway will be operating a reduced timetable across several of our routes until Sunday 12th July, due to forecasted severe weather.East Midlands Railway (EMR) has renewed its travel advice as hot weather continues, urging passengers to travel only if their journey is essential while high temperatures affect the rail network.In an update issued on Friday 10 July, the operator said the Met Office is forecasting temperatures above the seasonal average, with highs of up to 33°C expected in London, the East Midlands and parts of southern England. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) also has an amber heat-health alert in place for the East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East and South West.EMR said customers should only travel between Wednesday 8 July and Sunday 12 July if their journey is essential.EMR said on Friday 10 July:‘The Met Office are advising that temperatures this week are expected to be above average for the time of year, with highs of 33°C anticipated in London and various areas of southern England and the East Midlands.‘The UK Health and Security Agency’s (UKHSA) has issued an amber heat alert for the East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East and South West.‘East Midlands Railway are advising customers to only travel between Wednesday 8th and Sunday 12th July if their journey is essential.’ 

Added by Love Business East Midlands | 9 July 2026

An amazing £75,000 donation from Heart Link has funded a new cryoablation console for the East Midlands Congenital Heart Centre (EMCHC).

The equipment will help the paediatric electrophysiology team at the EMCHC to treat selected children and young people with abnormal heart rhythms – including supraventricular tachycardia, also known as SVT.

SVT is a condition where the heart suddenly beats much faster than normal. This can cause palpitations, dizziness, chest discomfort, breathlessness, fainting, or repeated trips to hospital. Some children need a procedure called catheter ablation to treat the small area of heart tissue which is causing the fast rhythm.

Cryoablation is a special type of catheter ablation. Instead of using heat, it uses freezing energy. This can be helpful when the abnormal rhythm pathway is close to the heart’s normal electrical system, where extra care is needed.

The introduction of cryoablation at the EMCHC means selected children can now access this specialist treatment closer to home. This enhances patient experience by reducing travel and supporting a simpler, safer and more effective care pathway.

Consultant Paediatric Cardiologist and Electrophysiologist, Dr Haris Kotidis, said:

“This is an important development for our paediatric arrhythmia service. Cryoablation gives us another treatment option when an abnormal rhythm pathway is close to the heart’s normal electrical system.

“In the past, some children needed to have their procedure stopped in Leicester and repeated in Birmingham. This was stressful for children and families, and added pressure to both hospital services. 

“Thanks to Heart Link, more children will now be able to have their treatment safely in Leicester. We are extremely grateful for their support, which will make a real difference to children, families and to our clinical team.”

Heart Link has supported children with heart conditions and their families since 1981. The charity has raised millions of pounds to improve care and facilities for young patients at UHL.

Graeme Williams, Vice Chair and Trustee of Heart Link, said:

“We are proud and excited to have been able to fund the cryoablation equipment, making this specialist treatment available to children at the East Midlands Congenital Heart Centre.

“Investing £75,000 to bring cryoablation to Leicester was never in doubt. Now, selected children can be treated here, reducing the need for referral to other hospitals and giving a much-improved experience for young heart patients and their families when they need it most.”

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A driver has died following a crash between a tractor and a car in a village in Leicestershire.Leicestershire Police said officers were called to reports of a collision between a black Renault Laguna and a red Massey Ferguson tractor pulling a trailer in Ratcliffe Road, Thrussington, at about 22:50 BST on 26 June.The car driver and a passenger were taken to hospital with serious injuries while two further passengers in the car sustained minor injuries.The force said it had since been notified that the car driver died two days after the crash while the passenger has been discharged from hospital.It is believed the Renault was travelling in the direction of Thrussington and the tractor was travelling in the opposite direction when the crash happened, officers said.Anyone who witnessed the crash or has dashcam footage of the vehicles involved has been asked to contact the force.

About this event
Thinking about starting a Master’s in September 2026? Take the next step at our webinar for UK students and discover how a Master’s degree with the University of Leicester – a top 25 UK university* – can unlock new career opportunities. Whether you’re exploring your options or preparing to apply, you’ll get the clarity, confidence and practical guidance you need to plan your next steps.
Are you an international student? This webinar is designed for UK students, but you’ll find information, guidance and resources tailored to international applicants on our international student page.

What you’ll gain from this webinar
(Book to join live, or to watch the recording later)

Postgraduate study overview including guidance on how to apply

Careers insight

Funding information

Student Q&A

Who should attend?
Anyone in the UK considering a Master’s degree for September 2026 — whether you’re returning to study, continuing straight from your undergraduate degree, or exploring a career change.

Why join us
This session is designed to help you make an informed decision and feel confident about taking the next step: submitting your Master’s application.
*Leicester is ranked top 25 in the UK and top 200 worldwide (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026), and top 10 for student experience (The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026).

More than 800 illegally ridden e-scooters and e-bikes have been seized since the launch of a police operation to tackle the problem in Leicester.Operation Pedalfast began in January 2025 and a year and a half on, the force said it had now taken 834 vehicles off the city centre’s streets.Beat officer PC Tom Page-Brown told BBC Radio Leicester the initiative had proved to be a success and was now being rolled out to other areas around Leicestershire.Leicester City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said Operation Pedalfast was “an excellent initiative” the council was “very happy to support”.The operation began targeting vehicles that should not be ridden on public land after an email from a member of the public, said Page-Brown.He said: “It all started with with one simple email coming in from a member of the public to my sergeant that said ‘we’ve had a near-miss’.”We’ve seen quite a lot of seizures recently so obviously it is quite a big problem – not just the one email.”There’s no getting away from the fact that they aren’t useful vehicles. They’re cheap to buy, cheap to run, easy to store and easy to charge.”The police’s concern is the conflicts that happen when we’ve got people on these illegal e-vehicles coming into contact with legally wheeling and walking pedestrians in our city centres – that conflict is a real issue.”The cost of damages paid out to people injured in the UK by e-scooters and e-bikes has topped £110m, the BBC has learned.E-scooters are allowed in towns and cities where official trials are taking place, but only the vehicles which are part of the operator schemes can be ridden.Privately owned e-scooters can only legally be used on private land with the owner’s permission.While e-bikes are legal, any that have been adapted to go faster than 15.5mph (25km/h) using electricity are also not permitted on public land.Page-Brown said: “They become a motor vehicle themselves and that’s when they need insurance and that’s when we’re not happy to have them on our roads.”

7 July 2026

King Charles knighted the University of Leicester’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Nishan Canagarajah, in an investiture ceremony held at Windsor Castle today (Tuesday 7 July).
Professor Canagarajah was recognised in the 2026 King’s New Year Honours for his inestimable contribution to higher education, particularly in championing inclusion.
During the ceremony, the head of state followed tradition by touching the shoulders of the kneeling Professor Canagarajah with a sword, before formally conferring the honour.
Professor Canagarajah, who travelled to Berkshire with his wife Thabhi, said: “I am deeply honoured and grateful to receive this award from King Charles. It is a recognition of the efforts of so many others who have contributed to my success, including my dear friends and family and colleagues both past and present. 
“I also hope it will serve as an inspiration for others. As a boy from the once war-torn land of Sri Lanka, to being recognised by royalty is quite a remarkable journey. It is because of the transformative power of education and the opportunities it presents that this has been possible. That is why I remain committed to removing barriers for others so that they too can fulfil their true potential.”
 

Throughout his distinguished career, Professor Canagarajah has shown an unwavering commitment to education as a force for improving lives and creating a fairer society. As the first minority ethnic Vice-Chancellor at the University of Leicester, in the first plural city in the UK, he has used his influence to give voice to those who are so often overlooked and under-represented and has taken actions to overcome barriers and create opportunities for others.
He has led one of the most diverse universities in the country – 38% of students are from the most disadvantaged areas and 69% from minority ethnic backgrounds.
Professor Canagarajah established the first IntoUniversity centre in Leicester, securing significant philanthropic funding, and supporting 1,000 disadvantaged young people. He secured the University’s first female Chancellor – Dame Dr Maggie Aderin PhD – and created an inclusive team with two female Deputy Vice-Chancellors.
Professor Canagarajah established a Civic Universities Partnership, securing over £3m for local community projects and, as a leader of a University of Sanctuary, supported refugees and Ukrainian and Palestinian academics. His achievements are reflected in the fact that the University received three University of the Year accolades, achieving Teaching Excellence Framework Gold and top 30 in the Research Excellence Framework. He has taken on national roles to contribute to Higher Education, most recently in 2025 as Chair of UCEA. He is also the former Chair of The Conversation and a former member of the Universities UK board.
Professor Canagarajah has spearheaded efforts to ensure that the University benefits its locality and during his tenure, the University was granted Freedom of the Borough by Oadby and Wigston Council in recognition of its impact as well as a Gold Award in the Armed Forces Covenant for support of armed forces communities.
Along with his unwavering commitment to community, his has been a powerful voice for social change, enabled by national roles in tackling racial discrimination and increasing diversity.
Internationally, Professor Canagarajah has been a trailblazer for Leicester by championing new partnerships based on mutual benefits for partners as well as their localities. It led to Professor Canagarajah being invited to join the largest-ever government trade mission to India led by the Prime Minister. Partnerships have also been forged in Thailand, China, Malaysia, Vietnam, the USA and Canada. He has also overseen a new key partnership with the Apollo Hospitals Group in India.
 

Moves to open a community banking hub could soon come to fruition.Cash Access UK, which opened a banking hub in the former Lloyds branch in Oakham two years ago, has its eyes on Stamford.Banking hubs allow customers from several major banks and building societies to do their everyday banking, maintaining local access to cash and banking services in communities that have lost bank branches.A banking hub opened in Oakham in 2024At a meeting of Stamford Town Council on Monday (June 29), Coun Richard Cleaver (Ind), who represents St John’s ward on South Kesteven District Council, was able to tell members: “SKDC has been approached by the official national provider of community banking hubs, who are looking for a venue in Stamford.“We have been able to respond positively to this request and hope to agree arrangements and have this in place very shortly.”A Cash Access UK spokesperson said: “The banking hub will open before the last bank in town closes and in the short term, this may mean the hub will open in a temporary location while we continue to work to progress a suitable permanent home. “A temporary hub will offer all the same services as a permanent one, allowing customers of all major banks to visit any weekday for their everyday banking transactions. If customers have a more complex enquiry for their bank, a community banker will be there to help on the day they’re in the hub.“We look forward to providing positive news on the hub opening.”Signs like this could go up in Stamford soon – but where?Among the few bank branches left in Stamford are Santander and Nationwide in High Street, while Lloyds has announced it will leave on October 13. A Barclays Local opens inside Stamford Town Hall in St Mary’s Hill on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, there are Post Office branches with banking facilities in All Saints’ Place and Sutherland Way, and there is a Melton Building Society branch in High Street.The district council owns several sites in Stamford, including the arts centre in St Mary’s Street.

WORK to replace a cracked glazed panel that covers the original burial site of King Richard III is to get under way on Wednesday (8 July).
The king’s grave – formerly located in the choir of the long-gone Greyfriars Priory – is now part of Leicester’s award-winning King Richard III Visitor Centre and has been glazed over since the centre opened in 2014.
A specialist team of contractors will remove the damaged glass and replace it with a new triple-glazed panel, working carefully to ensure that the archaeology of the site is protected and that the integrity of the scheduled ancient monument is preserved.
While work is under way, visitors will not be able to visit the grave site, while parts of the courtyard will also be unavailable.
The rest of the visitor centre will be open as normal.
Works will take three days to complete, with the grave site fully reopening to visitors on Saturday (11 July).
Assistant city mayor Cllr Vi Dempster said: “We apologise to visitors for the inconvenience, but these essential works will ensure that the historic grave site of King Richard III continues to be protected to the very highest standards, while allowing visitors to experience this globally important heritage site.”
The glazed panel was accidentally damaged in 2024, with an insurance claim covering most of the £29,830 repair costs.
 

Access to a waterway in Bradgate Park has been closed due to a burst sewage pipe.The Bradgate Park Trust said there was no access to the river at the site in Newtown Linford due to pollution from the burst pipe nearby.Severn Trent said its teams were on site responding to a “waste water issue” and were working “quickly and safely” to resolve it.A spokesperson added: “We understand this may be concerning for local residents and visitors. We’d like to reassure everyone that getting this resolved remains our top priority.”The park trust advised children and pets be kept away from the water.The water company said it would continue to monitor the situation while carrying out any necessary repairs and clean-up work.