News in Coalville

Tens of thousands of Leicestershire residents have opted to vote from home in next month's county council elections – and others wishing to apply for a postal vote have just days left to do so.

While polling stations will be Covid-secure and open as usual on May 6, postal votes are an option for all, but applications must be received by the deadline of 5pm on April 20.

Leicestershire NHS says that from this week anyone aged 45 and over can book in for their Covid-19 vaccination as the programme continues to roll out.

In addition, the NHS in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR) is continuing to urge all local residents in eligible groups that are yet to have their first dose of the vaccine to book in without delay.

North West Leiestershire Labour District Councillors have urged officers to "grasp the nettle" and press on with developing new planning policies to tackle the climate emergency.

At the council's last Local Plan Committee meeting, the three Labour members welcomed a new report which identifies a range of potential carbon reduction policies suitable for North West Leicestershire.

North West Leicestershire now has one of the lowest seven-day infection rates in the county.

From being an area of concern to health chiefs earlier this year - with Ashby identified as a Covid 'hotspot' - rates are now falling rapidly.

Thringstone is to be gifted £1,000 worth of community grants which will go to groups who want to do something to help the local community.

The Charles Booth Centre, alongside what used to be the Grace Dieu Parents' Association.

Coalville MP Andrew Bridgen has welcomed the announcement that pupils across Leicestershire have benefited from 1,870 laptops and tablets to date, as part of a Government rollout of devices to support disadvantaged young people.

More than one million laptops and tablets have now been delivered to schools and local authorities across England, as part of a £400million investment aimed at supporting schools and young people for years to come.

Pharmacies across Coalville, Ibstock and North West Leicestershire are supporting a new domestic abuse scheme which allows victims to discreetly signal that they are in danger.

North West Leicestershire District Council is working in partnership with more than 80 per cent of pharmacies across the district who have signed up to take part in the Ask for ANI (Action Needed Immediately) scheme.

Coalville MP Andrew Bridgen has written to Labour Party leader Sir Keir Stamer to complain about a Facebook post allegedly written by Thringstone councillor David Everett.

Mr Bridgen repeats a claim that originally appeared on the Order-order.com website last Friday.

A Coalville teenager who was the victim of a terrible bullying attack seen by thousands online - and left her in hospital - is now making a name for herself in the beauty industry.

Katie Morris, 18, wants to show others going through the same ordeal that, no matter what has happened to you, it is possible to focus on a successful career path.

A team of Coalville opticians are aiming to collectively cover the equivalent distance of the Atlantic ocean in just three months.

Specsavers in the Belvoir Shopping Centre are putting one foot in front of the other to walk, run or cycle a whopping 2,880 miles before June 30.