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 email reporter Rhea Turner at editorial@burtonmail.co.uk or call us on 01283 245031.
Good night all
That’s all from us for today. Make sure you log back in tomorrow for more breaking news, traffic and weather.
In case you missed them, here are a few of our top stories from Tuesday, September 5:
Super Shakes in Burton to close its doors blaming lack of shoppers in the town
Accident between car and motorcycle causing delays in Burton
Accident between car and motorcycle causing delays in Burton
An accident on Victoria Crescent, in Burton is causing heavy traffic for those attempting to get home this Tuesday evening.
The accident involved a motorcycle and a car, but further information on either is not yet known.
There is heavy traffic on Horninglow Road because of the incident, with congestion backing up all the way on Waterloo Street to Byrkley Street in Burton.
Simpler charges introduced to Burton car parks but permit holders have been hit hard in the pocket
New simpler parking charges have come into force in Burton’s town centre car parks - but some permit holders will be left hugely out of pocket.
On Friday, September 1, new tariffs came into force in six of Burton’s council-run car parks including Bond Street, Burton Library, Burton Place ground floor and rooftop, Coopers Square shopping centre, Fleet Street, High Street and Meadowside Leisure Centre.
Burton Place and Coopers Square also run the Free after 3 service which allows drivers to park for free after 3pm. However, now motorists do not need a ticket to use this service.
Opportunities were missed to weigh Ayeeshia and more needs to be done to involve fathers, report says
“Opportunities were missed to weigh Ayeeshia”, says Carolyn White, chief nurse at Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust
She spoke to the Burton Mail about the health visitors’ roles during Ayeeshia’s Jayne’s life up until she moved to Stretton in February 2014 and how they will now improve on their practices.
“The health visitor visited on a regular basis because AJ was on a child protection plan and visits were recorded in a lot of detail.
Clearly the report identifies the kind of environment that AJ was brought up in.
"We are extremely sorry, we had two opportunities to intervene", Burton hospital boss reveals over AJ
“We are extremely sorry. We had two opportunities to intervene or to do more than we do and we didn’t take those opportunities.”
So says Dr Magnus Harrison, medical director at Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, who admitted more could have been done by staff to ask the right questions.
Children's charity's reaction to devastating details that saw 20 chances missed to save Ayeeshia Smith
The unfolding events of the months leading up to the death of 21-month-old toddler AJ Smith have been laid bare in today’s serious case review report.
Children’s charity Kidscape today refused to comment on individual cases, but previously, after Ayeeshia’s death, the group’s then chief executive Claude Knights, who has since retired, released a statement blasting Derbyshire Social Services for missing more than 20 opportunities to save the young girl.
Police warning after conman gardener steals cash from elderly in Stapenhill
Police have issued a warning after a man posing as a gardener stole a “large amount” of money from the elderly in Stapenhill.
Staffordshire Police were called out at 1.30pm this afternoon after a man had been reportedly knocking on doors between Essex Road and Birchfield Road offering garden work and clearing rubbish.
Two distracted burglaries were reported to the authorities with a “large amount of money” being taken from one property.
Council chief calls for extra training for social workers as opportunities missed with AJ's dad
“We need social workers to see the whole picture to spot these inconsistencies.”
That’s the stark statement from Jane Parfrement, strategic director of children’s services at Derbyshire County Council, who was interviewed by the Burton Mail on the role social workers played in AJ’s life and what lessons must now be learnt.
Ayeeshia was failed by the system as her murdering mother's needs were put before her own, report says
A “gentle and loving little girl” murdered by her mother who stamped on her chest, causing cardiac arrest, was failed by the system, an official report has revealed.
Derbyshire County Council’s social services department says it is ‘truly sorry’ over its handling of Ayeeshia-Jayne Smith, known as AJ, as a serious case review into her death is published for the first time.
Social services should 'hang heads in shame' for failing to save Ayeeshia says MP Andrew Griffiths
The social services workers who “catastrophically failed” tragic Ayeeshia-Jane Smith should “hang their heads in shame”, Burton’s MP has said.
Andrew Griffiths spoke out after today’s serious case review into the actions of the authorities leading up to the 21-month-old’s horrific death.
Originally from Swadlincote, her mum’s young age meant Ayeeshia was under the care of Derbyshire County Council’s social services department from birth.
Serious case review asks that nine recommendations be put in place after Ayeeshia-Jayne Smith's death
The serious case review asks that nine recommendations are implemented across the agencies following toddler Ayeeshia’s murder.
Ayeeshia-Jayne Smith was failed by the system SIX times, serious case review reveals
The Serious Care Review outlined six failures of the agencies involved with Ayeeshia-Jayne Smith, known as AJ.
Super Shakes in Burton to close its doors blaming lack of shoppers in the town
A popular independent business in Burton is to close next month, blaming a lack of shoppers in the town.
Three young men opened Super Shakes, in Station Street, almost three years ago after dreaming of running their own business selling milkshakes and comic books.
However, due to a lack of custom they have decided to close next month – but will be open for Burton’s statutes fair on October 3 and 4. They have yet to announce the actual closing date.
Car and bus collide in Burton
Police and ambulance crews are in Burton’s High Street after a car collided with a bus earlier this afternoon. A spokesman for Staffordshire police said officers were called at 2.40pm and the incident is ongoing.
Reports of accident by Meadowside Leisure Centre
There are reports of an accident in High Street, Burton, near Meadowside Drive.
The incident is causing very slow traffic in and around Burton town centre.
Burton residents targeted by HMRC phone scam
People in Burton and South Derbyshire are being warned of a telephone scam which is attempting to bully them into handing over cash.
In the last 12 hours Staffordshire Police have had around 10 reports from Burton residents who have received phone calls from a man pretending to be from HM Revenue and Customs and demanding that they hand over unpaid taxes.
Claims of a helicopter spotted and shooting heard in Midway
Reports are coming via social media claiming that a shooting has been heard and a helicopter spotted in Midway, near Swadlincote.
We are currently investigating and will keep you up-to-date as and when we hear more about it.
Paedophile Michael Williams, of Midway, jailed after encouraging children to perform sex acts on internet
A 52-year-old paedophile from Midway encouraged children to perform sexual acts over the internet and was caught with more than 900 indecent images and movies of children on his computer. Read more here...
Crews now set to work day and night to complete St Peter's Bridge repairs
Council bosses are seeking to reassure residents in Burton and South Derbyshire that highways crews are making significant progress on St Peter’s Bridge as they urge the community to consider alternative ways of transport as children go back to school. Read more here...
Abnormal load in Repton
There is currently slow traffic in Repton after a caller reported that a lorry is having trouble due to narrow roads and low hanging branches. There are tailbacks at the B5008 Repton Road in both directions, between A5132 Willington and High Street / Brook End.
Serious case review published today three years after the death of Ayeeshia Smith
A serious case review looking at the handling of Ayeeshia Smith, who was murdered by her mother in Burton in May 2014, will be published today.
It will feature all services who came into contact with Ayeeshia and her mother, Kathryn Smith, in the months leading up to her death.
We will be bringing you live updates throughout the day.
Abnormal load on M1 northbound
Police are escorting an abnormal load along the M1 Northbound this morning. The move is causing heavy traffic at J23A A42 / A453.
Search is on to find suspects who rammed car into police vehicle near Ashby
A police vehicle was rammed by a car driven by the people they were sent to check out, it has been revealed.
Officers from Leicestershire Police were slightly injured in the collision, which happened in Packington, near Ashby, on Wednesday night, August 30.
Read the full story here.
Man spotted exposing himself to the public in a South Derbyshire village
A man has been seen exposing himself in a South Derbyshire village, police reports suggest. Derbyshire Police say it has received reports of a man exposing himself to members of the public on a cycle path in Etwall.
On Tuesday, August 22, at around 5.35pm, a man was seen sitting on bench exposing himself, next to the cycle path which runs between Mickleover and Hilton, off Heage Lane, in Etwall.
Read the full story here.
Drivers stuck in traffic in Overseal
The A444 for Burton Road is backed up with heavy traffic in both directions as drivers try to manoeuvre around the St Peter’s Bridge closure. There is currently slow traffic around the B5004 for Woodville Road and Lullington Road.
Lane closure causes slow traffic on A50 Eastbound
Drivers are being warned of a lane closure on the A50 Eastbound which is causing delays for early morning commuters. The lane closure is in operation at the B5030 for Ashbourne Road (Little Chef roundabout) in the roadworks area.
Traffic is building around Burton
Traffic is already building around Burton as a result of the closure of St Peter’s Bridge, one of the town’s major routes.
The A444 St Peter’s Street Northbound is very heavy with traffic between the A5189 St Peter’s Bridge and Main Street and A511 Ashby Road. There is also slow traffic at the A511 Ashby Road both ways at A444 Stapenhill Road, as drivers look to find an alternative route.
Roads are looking good but drivers reminded of St Peter's Bridge closure diversions
The roads are not looking too bad this morning, however drivers are being reminded of the closure of St Peter’s Bridge which has been causing massive disruption to commuters during the rush hour in recent days.
To find out the diversions near you, read here.
Don't leave the house without an umbrella! Heavy rain is to dampen our Tuesday!
It may be time to put on those wellies and open up those umbrellas as Tuesday gets off to a gloomy start with heavy rain hitting Burton and South Derbyshire throughout the morning.
However, things are expected to brighten up during the day to leave a drier and brighter end to the afternoon. Temperatures are expected to soar to 19C.
The clear spells will remain into the evening, with temperatures falling much lower than last night and it will be staying dry, with temperatures expected to fall to 11C.
