Category: Leicester

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.

Police in Leicestershire are investigating after a motorbike rider in his 80s was found dead at the scene of a crash in Shepshed.Officers were called to Charley Road at around 08:50 BST on Sunday, regarding a single vehicle collision which involved red Yamaha MT07 motorcycle, Leicestershire Police said.Charley Road was closed between Abbey Road and Oaks Road while emergency services dealt with the crash, but has since reopened.Det Sgt Jack Cornick, from the force’s serious collision investigation unit, said: “If there is anyone who witnessed the collision, saw the rider beforehand or the circumstances leading up to it, we ask that you please make contact with us.”He added: “At the time of the collision, the vehicle was travelling towards Copt Oak.””Anyone who may also have dashcam footage which captured anything relating to the collision is also asked to get in touch.”

Belvoir Castle’s popular Flower and Garden Show is set to return, bigger and better than ever, this summer.Taking place on 11–12 July 2026, the event will see famous faces from the UK’s favourite gardening programmes, including BBC Gardeners’ World presenter Adam Frost and ITV’s Love Your Garden’s David Domoney, taking to the stage alongside stunning border competitions and family-friendly activities.Now in its ninth year, Belvoir Castle’s Flower and Garden Show has become one of the UK’s most anticipated shows, attracting thousands of visitors who share a passion for gardening, design, and the natural world.Celebrating the beauty and creativity of horticulture, this year’s show promises a vibrant showcase of displays, garden design inspiration, hands-on workshops, and sustainable gardening innovations.For the first time this year, a Royal Air Force (RAF) flypast commemorating the Battle of Britain is expected to wow crowds with displays featuring historic aircraft, including Spitfire, Hurricane, and Dakota planes. Subject to weather conditions, the spectacular RAF display will see the impressive aircraft soar across the sky as a living tribute to the Second World War fleet and inspire future generations.Caylee Gutsell, Events Manager at Belvoir Castle, said: “We’re honoured to welcome the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight display to this year’s very special edition of the Flower and Garden Show. Visitors to the show will have the best views of this incredible display, which promises to be a memorable addition to the day.”Adam Frost and David Domoney will be returning to the show for the second year to share design insights, gardening tips, and stories from their careers, as well as signing books for fans. These sessions are part of a jam-packed programme of events taking place across the two-day show.Throughout the two-day event, there will be a programme of unmissable events, including live demonstrations and Q&A sessions with talented horticulturalist and Chelsea Flower Show medallist Paula Routledge, and experienced garden designer and journalist Karen Gimson. In addition to the programme of events, visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy stalls selling plants, horticultural accessories, and local artisan crafts. Food stalls selling delicious, locally sourced food and beverages will be available throughout the show.Andy Tudbury, Head Gardener at Belvoir Castle, said: “Over the last nine years, the Flower and Garden Show has gone from strength to strength, and it’s been amazing to see it bloom into the full-family day out it is today. We’re so pleased that people travel from near and far to enjoy the show, whether they’re keen gardeners or just want to make precious family memories.”The Flower and Garden Show will be held on the Castle Terrace, beside the iconic Regency castle. Visitors to the show will have the opportunity to explore the impressive gardens and grounds, including the majestic Rose Garden, home to 1,000 English roses.Belvoir Castle is gaining popularity among horticulturists and garden enthusiasts due to the timeless beauty of its gardens. The Japanese Woodlands are a particular favourite for visitors, featuring magnolias, rhododendrons, and camellias sourced from the original seed collection of Charles Williams from Caerhays Castle in Cornwall and Burncoose Nurseries.Throughout the event, the Retail Village, set at the foot of the Castle, will welcome guests to browse the carefully curated boutiques and enjoy a relaxing bite to eat at the Belvoir Bistro.Tickets for the Flower and Garden Show are now available from the Belvoir Castle website, with prices starting from £18 for adults and £7 for children. Booking in advance is recommended.Book tickets here: https://www.belvoircastle.com/event/cG9zdDoxMjc=

Neil Hurst (as Edna Turnblad) in Hairspray, © Pamela Raith
Exclusive: The multi-award-winning musical Hairspray will be back on tour across the UK and Ireland next year!
This will mark the second outing for the production directed by Brenda Edwards and Paul Kerryson. Edwards, who has previously played Motormouth in three tours of Hairspray, commented: “I am so thrilled that this wonderful musical is returning to cities across the UK as it holds a very special place in my heart! I had so much fun making my directorial debut as a co-director with Paul Kerryson the first time round. The show’s story and themes continue to remain as relevant as ever, and I cannot wait to share this vibrant new production of this timeless musical with even more people.”
Hairspray is based on the 1988 film of the same name and features music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman, and book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan. It tells the story of Tracy Turnblad, who longs to dance her way onto national TV, win the heart of teen idol Link Larkin, and use her newfound fame to fight for equality in a racially segregated Baltimore.
The score features such hits as “Welcome to the 60s”, “Good Morning Baltimore” and “You Can’t Stop the Beat”.
Neil Hurst will reprise the role of Edna Turnblad for the new tour, with further casting to be announced.
The production will feature choreography by Drew McOnie, set and costume design by Takis, lighting design by Philip Gladwell, sound design by Ben Harrison, musical supervision and arrangements by Ben Atkinson, musical direction by Richard Atkinson, projection design by George Reeve, and casting by Grindrod Burton. The associate director is Juliet Gough and the associate choreographer is Shaquille Brush.
Produced by Mark Goucher, Matthew Gale, and Laurence Myers, Hairspray will open at Manchester Palace Theatre (2 July to 19 July 2027), before heading to Glasgow Kings Theatre (20 to 25 July), Edinburgh Playhouse (27 July to 1 August), Cardiff Wales Millenium Centre (3 to 7 August), Dublin Bord Gáis Energy Theatre (9 to 14 August), Belfast Grand Opera House (16 to 21 August), Southend Cliffs Pavilion (24 to 29 August), New Wimbledon Theatre (31 August to 4 September), Liverpool Empire (13 to 18 September), Bradford Alhambra Theatre (20 to 25 September), Sunderland Empire (27 September to 2 October), Milton Keynes Theatre (4 to 9 October), Malvern Theatres (11 to 16 October), Birmingham Hippodrome (25 to 30 October), York Grand Opera House (1 to 6 November), Leicester Curve (8 to 13 November), Brighton Theatre Royal (15 to 20 November), Woking Theatre (22 to 27 November) and Bristol Hippodrome (10 to 15 January 2028). Additional venues will be confirmed soon.