Welcome to the rolling news live blog where you'll find all the latest news and traffic, travel, sport and weather updates for Burton and the surrounding area.

If it's happening, you'll hear it here first.

If it's happening in the wider world and we think you'll be interested, this is where you will find it.

We will keep you up to date on all you need to know.

We're hoping you can be our eyes and ears in your own communities so if you spot something going on you can tweet reporter Ben Waldron at editorial@burtonmail.co.uk or call us on 01283 245022.

That's all, folks

We will be back bright and early at 7am on Monday.

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Delays for drivers as another road is closed in Swadlincote for roadworks

Motorists will have to deal with a week of roadworks as a major road in Swadlincote will be closed every evening for the next week.

High Street, in Newhall, will be closed from 6.30pm until midnight on weekdays until Friday, August 25, while resurfacing work is carried out by highways authority Derbyshire County Council. The road will be closed in High Street and Union Street between the junction at Darklands Road and the junction with Bretby Road.

Read the full story here.

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Mother tells horrific tale of six-year-old son's seven weeks in hospital after falling off scooter and 'splitting his pancreas in two'

William Turner kept up his spirits throughout the seven weeks in hospital
William Turner kept up his spirits throughout the seven weeks in hospital

A mother has explained her familiy’s seven weeks of hell when her son ‘split his pancreas in two’ after falling off his scooter at Rolleston Park Farm, in Tutbury.

It has been a little under 12 months since seven-year-old William Turner fell off his scooter while on a day out with family and friends, but the resulting injuries are only now seeming to ease.

Read more here.

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TV presenter and entertainer Bruce Forsyth dies at the age of 89

Bruce Forsyth has died, aged 89
Bruce Forsyth has died, aged 89 (Image: Getty)

Television presenter and entertainer Bruce Forsyth has died aged 89. Forsyth, whose showbiz career spanned more than seven decades, had been unwell for some time and was in hospital earlier this year after a severe chest infection.

The former Strictly Come Dancing presenter started his showbusiness career at the tender age of 14 and became Britain’s best-paid television star.

Read the full story here.

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No chance for Burton's bollards despite Uttoxeter's coming back into use

Burton bollards cost £250,000
Burton bollards cost £250,000

Burton’s notorious bollards look unlikely to rise again despite another East Staffordshire town re-launching its own.

Following a row between East Staffordshire Borough and Staffordshire County councils over who was responsible for the bollards, Burton’s £250,000 bollards, in High Street, have been out of action since 2014 after thousands of pounds worth of damage was caused to vehicles unlucky enough to drive over the automatic posts.

Read the full story here.

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Spar shop in Repton raided by 'knife-wielding' raider

An armed robber carrying a knife has raided the Spar shop in Repton. A quantity of cash was taken from the store, in High Street, by the man who entered at around 3.30pm on Thursday, August 17.

A worker from the store, who was not in the shop at the time, said the employee who had the knife pointed at him was feeling shaken up by the incident.

Read more here.

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Burton-based Punch Taverns to sell more than 1,800 outlets to Dutch brewing firm Heineken

More than 1,800 pubs have been snapped up by Dutch brewing giant Heineken from Burton-based Punch Taverns.

It comes after the Competition and Markets Authority, has given the go ahead for the multi-million pound deal to take place.

Read the full story here.

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Burton student secures place on dream Medicine course following outstanding A-level results

A student from Burton was among the top achievers in her A-level results at privately-run Derby High School and has successfully secured her place to study medicine at university.

Eighteen-year-old Ashmal Quamar got an outstanding A-star in biology along with three As in chemistry, maths and French and will go on to study medicine at the University of Birmingham next month.

Read the full story here.

18-year-old Ashmal Quamar is overjoyed with her results
18-year-old Ashmal Quamar is overjoyed with her results
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Midway man admits possession of hundreds of indecent images and movies of children

A 52-year-old man has admitted possession of hundreds of indecent images and movies of children.

Michael Williams, of Midway Road, Midway, appeared at Derby Crown Court charged with possession of 179 extreme pornographic movies and 385 images which involved a person performing a sexual act on a live animal in Swadlincote between December 14, 2010, and June 6, 2016.

Read the full story here.

Derby Crown Court
Derby Crown Court
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Traffic beginning to clear on the M1

Two earlier incidents on the M1 have been cleared.

The broken down lorry between Junction 29 and Junction 28, for Chesterfield, Mansfield and Alfreton has been moved and traffic has returned to normal on the road.

Also, on the M1 southbound the earlier broken down vehicle which was causing delays has been removed and the one closed lane has reopened.

Traffic was effected between Junction 24A, for Derby, Stoke and East Midlands Airport, and Junction 25, for Brian Clough Way between Nottingham and Derby.

Traffic does remain slow, but according to traffic monitoring website, Inrix, this is because of general Friday traffic.

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Poorly children at Burton's Queen's Hospital given boost with play area revamp

Sick youngsters at Burton’s Queen’s Hospital have been given a “breath of fresh air” after generous fund-raisers who were personally helped by the hospital, raised more than £35,000 to give the children’s play area a complete revamp, full of “tender, loving, care”.

The play area was last refurbished 17 years ago by the League of Friends, but after becoming worn out, Linton resident and patient Brian Storer pledged to give the area a much-needed overhaul.

After months of fund-raising from Brian and a number of others, the woodland-themed play area has been officially opened.

Read the full story here.

A new outside play area has been installed for children visiting Burton's Queen's Hospital, following a fund-raising appeal. Pictured at the opening are James, Emma and Sam Causer
A new outside play area has been installed for children visiting Burton's Queen's Hospital, following a fund-raising appeal. Pictured at the opening are James, Emma and Sam Causer
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Even more delays on the M1 as camper van breaks down

The day of delays on the M1 are continuing, as a broken down camper van is causing long delays between Junction 25, Brian Clough Way for Nottingham and Derby, and Junction 24A, for Derby, Stoke and East Midlands Airport.

There is congestion on the southbound side of the road to Trowell Services, as one lane remains closed of the three. Travel time has been estimated at 30 minutes.

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Willington student gets top grades even though she fell asleep between two of her exams

An A-level student from Willington who had to take a nap between exams because of a rare sleep disorder has achieved top grades and is off to Cambridge University.

Beth Kemp, 18, who lives in Willington, was diagnosed with narcolepsy when she was in year 10 at Derby High School after she had been struggling to stay awake in lessons for more than a year.

She has overcome the odds and received impressive results in her A-levels, achieving A*s in biology and PE and an A in German, even though she had to take a nap between two of her exams that took place on the same morning.

Read the full story here.

Beth Kemp has battled against the odds and earned her place at Cambridge University
Beth Kemp has battled against the odds and earned her place at Cambridge University (Image: David Adcock)
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More traffic issues on the M1

There are more delays on the M1 southbound this afternoon because of a broken down lorry.

The vehicle has broken down between Junction 29, for Chesterfield and Mansfield and Junction 28, for Alfreton and Mansfield.

One lane, of the four has closed and traffic is moving slowly along the road.

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Prolific Uttoxeter burglar jailed after targeting Francesco's, Asda and DJ gear

A prolific burglar who targeted a Uttoxeter hair salon and a supermarket offered a victim £100 to lie to the police, a court has heard. Raymond Bould, 47, is now behind bars after admitting stealing hairdressers’ equipment, radiators, and a DJ’s disco set-up.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard that Bould broke into Uttoxeter’s branch of Francesco’s at 11.42pm on September 26 last year.

He swiped straighteners, curling tongs and various brushes together worth around £1,000. He then returned to steal from the same business in the early hours of October 10. The court was told he pinched various items and also caused damage this time.

Read the full story here.

Paula Parkes, owner of Francesco Group Salon, Uttoxeter, after her business was targeted by a burglar on September 27, 2016
Paula Parkes, owner of Francesco Group Salon, Uttoxeter, after her business was targeted by a burglar on September 27, 2016
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Issues on the M1 are easing

All lanes have reopened on the M1 northbound after a vehicle broke down around an hour ago.

There were many delays between Junctions 24A, A50 and Junction 25, for Brian Clough Way.

Traffic continues to queue, and traffic monitoring website Inrix has warned that long delays of around 30 minutes should be expected.

One of the lanes was closed, before being lifted at 12.30pm and all lanes are now accessible.

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Burton drivers to be hit by further road closures next week to prepare for St Peter’s Bridge repairs

Burton drivers are facing more disruption on the roads next week as a number of major routes will close overnight in preparation for a three-month closure of St Peter’s Bridge.

Staffordshire County Council will be carrying out resurfacing work from Monday night as it aims to make sure diversion routes in Burton town centre are in the “best condition possible” for when St Peter’s Bridge closes on August 29, as part of a £6.1million repair project.

The highways team has announced that resurfacing work will take place over six consecutive nights at the junction of Stapenhill Road and Ashby Road junction, the Shobnall Road/Wellington Road Island, Wellington Street/Borough Road, Horninglow Street and the junction of Horninglow Street and Guild Street.

Read the full story here.

This photograph of a life expired bearing shows the extent of the corrosion
This photograph of a life expired bearing shows the extent of the corrosion
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Pensioner, 77, fined £3,500 after making neighbours' life a misery

A pensioner has been fined £3,500 for continuing her relentless campaign of anti-social behaviour after she repeatedly ignored a court order not to harass, alarm or cause distress to her neighbours.

Kathleen Neal, 77, of Park Lane, Castle Donington, has now been made the subject of an injunction imposed by District Judge David Douce at Derby County Court. It came after a crusade of hate against her neighbours in June 2016, the hearing was told. The injunction was granted for a period of five years which the judge said “reflects the severity of the allegations”.

Read the full story here.

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Lauded author Dan Walker visiting Waterstones in Burton to inspire young readers

Children’s author Dan Walker is coming back to Burton once again to try to inspire the next generation of young writers.

The Derby-based author will be paying a visit to Waterstones, in Burton’s Coopers Square shopping centre on Saturday, August 19.

Dan will be at Waterstones between noon and 2pm, where he will greet readers and sign his newly launched book, Desert Thieves.

Read the full story here.

Dan Walker is hoping to motivate the next generation of writers
Dan Walker is hoping to motivate the next generation of writers (Image: Waterstones)
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Serious accident on the M6 this morning

A five-vehicle crash that closed a section of the M6 this morning has now reopened.

The crash happened at around 9.23am this morning and involved a lorry, a van and three cars. Traffic is backing up on the M6 southbound after the serious accident between Junction 5 and 6. Highway officers are on the scene and severe delays should be expected.

Highways England have tweeted explaining that the northbound carriageway has now reopened, but southbound remains closed.

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Burton housing development to bring 300 homes and £2 million investment into the area

Around 300 new homes are set to be built in a development project in Burton which is expected to be completed by 2020.

Henhurst Fields development is just off Henhurst Hill, the road heading out of Burton towards the National Forest, and will also see £2 million invested into the area.

Show homes have already been built at the site and are currently being furnished while the first few houses are being put up at the front of the development site.

Read the full story here.

The model home at Henhurst Fields, in Burton
The model home at Henhurst Fields, in Burton
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Flood risk and traffic increase concern for controversial Winshill housing development

Concerns have been raised over an increase in traffic as well as flood risk claims as plans for 150 homes on the edge of Winshill are submitted.

An application to develop 28 acres of agricultural land off Sales Lane and Hawfield Lane, Bretby, has already led to criticism from Burton Mail readers who also claim it will put extra pressure on doctors and schools and lead to a loss of wildlife.

As a result of concerns the applicant Summix (Burton) Developments has scaled down its proposal from 250 homes to 150.

Read the full story here.

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Moira family who went through pain of stillbirth set up Jacob's Star charity to help other grieving parents

A heartbroken couple whose baby boy was stillborn have told how they talk about him every day. They have now set up a charity to help other parents who babies are stillborn.

Becky Wykes and her partner Matt Buckley had been overjoyed when they found out they were expecting a second little boy, who they named Jacob. Already parents to Charlie, now four, the pair went through a difficult pregnancy but say they could never could have imagined the devastation that was to come.

Becky, 26, who works at Tesco in Ashby, said: “I have a blood disorder so I was always at the hospital seeing my consultant. When I found out I was pregnant with Charlie I spent a lot of time treading on eggshells because of my condition but the pregnancy was perfect with no worries whatsoever.

Read the full story here.

Becky said she will "always have two little boys"
Becky said she will "always have two little boys"
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In case you missed it...

New images for a multi-million shopping park in Burton town centre have been revealed as the latest proposals are submitted.

If the new plans are approved for the Peel Croft ground and neighbouring buildings it will help fund the town’s rugby club’s move to new facilities. The rugby club has played at Peel Croft for more than 100 years.

The proposed Burton Shopping Park is now a step closer to opening with detailed plans for the development’s layout and appearance submitted to East Staffordshire Borough Council for approval.

Read the full story here.

New image shows how Burton Shopping Park will look from its Lichfield Street entrance
New image shows how Burton Shopping Park will look from its Lichfield Street entrance
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Storm set to invade Burton and South Derbyshire this weekend as 'Hurricane Gert' hits the country

A topical storm is set to hit Burton and South Derbyshire as Hurricane Gert makes its way to British shores.

Rain and storms are expected to to spoil outdoor weekend plans, with Gert currently making its way east across the Atlantic.

The storm is set to strengthen as it picks up in speed as it heads towards the north-east.

Read the full story here.

Hurricane Gert is making its way to the United Kingdom this weekend. Illustrative picture.
Hurricane Gert is making its way to the United Kingdom this weekend. Illustrative picture.
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Congratulations to all those who collected their A-level results yesterday

Yesterday was a nail-biting day for a lot of youngsters around Burton and South Derbyshire as it was A-level results day.

We have coverage of a lot of schools in the area, see if you can see yourself in any of our pictures!

de Ferrers Academy, Burton

John Taylor High School, Barton

John Port School, Etwall

Ashby School, Ashby

Paget High School, Branston

The Pingle Academy, Swadlincote

Abbots Bromley School

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Traffic returns to normal on the M1

Traffic has now returned to normal on the M1 after the earlier broken down car.

Delays were seen between Junction 24 and Junction 25 on the M1 northbound, in Leicestershire, but traffic monitoring website, Inrix has confirmed that traffic is returning to normal.

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Friday morning traffic

There are a couple of patches of traffic beginning to appear across Burton and South Derbyshire this morning as commuters begin to head into work.

In Overseal, roadworks are causing heavy traffic on the Burton Road in both directions, particularly around Woodville Road and Lullington Road.

Similarly in Woodville, on the high street which is seeing some slow traffic begin to build in both directions due to roadworks at Hepworth Road.

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Mother tells horrific tale of six-year-old son's seven weeks in hospital after falling off scooter and 'splitting his pancreas in two'

A mother has explained her familiy’s seven weeks of hell when her son ‘split his pancreas in two’ after falling off his scooter at Rolleston Park Farm, in Tutbury.

It has been a little under 12 months since seven-year-old William Turner fell off his scooter while on a day out with family and friends, but the resulting injuries are only now seeming to ease.

William, who was six at the time, went to Rolleston Park Farm with his family, and his mum Emma, 38, said: “We had planned a picnic. We took the dogs and we were just heading off to go for a walk when I heard my boy scream from behind me. I turned around and he was on the floor; he’d fallen off his scooter.

Read the full story here.

William Turner kept up his spirits throughout the seven weeks in hospital
William Turner kept up his spirits throughout the seven weeks in hospital
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Broken down vehicle causes delays on the M1

A broken down vehicle on the M1 northbound is causing some delays on this morning’s commute.

Traffic monitoring website Inrix details that traffic is coping well, despite one lane closing near to roadworks on the road.

The first lane of the three is shut between Junction 24, A6, A50 and A453 for Kegworth and East Midlands Airport and Junction 25, A52 Brian Clough way for Nottingham and Derby.

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