A BUSINESS has revealed more details about a chemical reaction incident which stopped work for the day and left hundreds of people evacuated from their Derby homes.

Nuns Street Plating, where the incident happened, said it was the result of a chemical reaction which went wrong.

The company has apologised to the public for the widespread panic it caused.

The company said engineers had been advised to mix an incorrect measure of three chemical substances which caused a reaction.

And it was the first time the business – which has been operating for 25 years – has ever had an incident like this happen.

Today  police remained outside the company, on Nuns Street, while a health and safety investigation took place.

Staff were not allowed back on the site and had to remain outside.

Jean Ditheridge, managing director at the business, said: "The three chemicals involved include two diluted acids and one soap inhibitor, and when mixed incorrectly, there is an unusual odour of fumes which an experienced plater would recognise immediately.

"Nuns Street Plating is a family run business and has served Derby's rail and engineering industries for over 25 years.

"Our team are professional qualified platers, which means we coat the components used in engineering fabrication processes.

"There is a chemical treatment involved in the plating procedure. However, as a rule this practice isn't dangerous and is highly unlikely to cause an incident."

The managing director continued: "As we work with chemicals, our team does follow a strict health and safety policy and we have all the relevant ISO accreditations for our services.

"Yesterday, for the first time, one of our engineers had been advised to mix an incorrect measure of three chemical substances which caused a reaction.

"However following our protocol, our engineer reacted immediately to diffuse the situation and make the area safe.

"As a precaution, he alerted the emergency services and when they arrived the risk was contained, and indeed no damage was caused and nobody was hurt.

"We do apologise for the huge inconvenience to local residents and thank the emergency services for their assistance."

People living on Mill Street, Bridge Street and Nuns Street were told to leave their homes while police waited for a bomb disposal team, which arrived from Chilwell Barracks at about 7.30pm last night, to assess the situation.

Those evacuated included University of Derby students who had only moved into their halls of residence hours before.

Paul Cocker, manager of Nuns Street Plating, said everybody at the factory was extremely concerned when the incident happened.

Mr Cocker said: "It was very worrying when we found out. At first, nobody knew what was happening.

"If something happens which is not quite right, we know to get out of the building as soon as possible.

"When you see all the fire engines, bomb squad and people talking about explosives then it is obviously worrying.

"We called the fire service and they arrived within five minutes.

"The incident was caused by a mistake.

"Nobody is perfect and accidents do happen. It was a miscalculation.

"But we did the right thing by calling 999. Nobody wants to see an incident like this, it's scary.

"When dealing with chemicals we have to follow a procedure when in a built-up area.

"We do a lot of business with Bombardier and people like that and they are still 100% with us. We are a vital link in their chain."

A spokeswoman for the University of Derby said: "Following the incident, it will be important that any lessons are learned by all involved, as this affected many local residents in the area around Nuns Street, including many of our students.

"We will continue to work with partners to understand any risks and try to ensure that we meet our priority for our students and staff to have a safe environment in which to live, study and work.

"I imagine the company has learned lessons from this," she added.

A police spokesman confirmed students returned to their homes at about 2.20am.

Many students who had only moved into their halls of residence hours earlier were part of the evacuation.

Daisy Giuliano, 20, is the president of the university's Student Union.

She said the students were disappointed to be held back from going out into the town, many of them arriving for their first day.

She said: "It was good bonding with people being outside in the street, especially because many have not seen each other before.

"There were no horror stories and people were safe.

"However, it was one girl's birthday and she was gutted not to be able to go out."

A spokesman for Derby City Council said: "Nuns Street Plating is situated on an industrial estate; the site has planning permission for this type of industrial process.

"The Health and Safety Executive is the enforcing authority for safety issues at such premises."

SEE what chief football writer Steve Nicholson made of Derby County's Capital One Cup third round victory over Reading.

The Rams won 2-0 at the iPro Stadium to book their place in the last 16 of the competition.

Johnny Russell broke the deadlock in the second half and Alex Pearce's own goal settled the tie in the closing stages.

WHEN fund-raiser Emma Monckton organised her first-ever World's Biggest Coffee Morning event, the most exciting prize on her tombola was a tin of beans.

Fourteen years later, she expects up to 80 people to turn up at her home over two days, has more than 70 prizes to give away in her raffle and will hold a "guess how many balloons are in the car" competition.

The 46-year-old decided to get involved with the annual fund-raiser for Macmillan Cancer Support after receiving help from the charity before her father's death.

Jim Fair, 56, died in 1999. He had been given the all-clear after being diagnosed with bladder cancer but later developed a form of bone cancer.

Emma, of Swadlincote, held her first coffee morning the following year and, since then, has gone on to raise more than £11,000 for Macmillan.

She said: "I can't really remember what we made the first year. It was possibly about £100.

"Macmillan was just so good to us when my dad was unwell. The nurses looked after him before he died and they were like angels – they are certainly special.

"I realised I wanted to do something for them and, after hearing about the World's Biggest Coffee Morning, I decided to go for that.

"My husband said: 'Why don't you just give them £50?' but I thought: 'No, I can use that £50 to raise even more money.'

"Last year was a bumper one and we raised about £2,900, so it really has gone from strength to strength."

Emma holds two events for the World's Biggest Coffee Morning, which will see thousands of coffee mornings and events held across the country on Friday.

She said, because her friends find it difficult to attend her event on the Friday itself, she will also be holding a coffee evening the night before.

Emma, of Woodward Way, said: "The event is much bigger now than it was when we first started. We had a bit of a tombola, a raffle and that was about it.

"This year, we'll have a chocolate hamper, a guess-the-calorie competition, name-the-teddy competition, a sponsored wax being done by one of my husband's friends, angel readings and so on.

"What's nice about it now is that everyone knows we do it, so the event sort of runs itself. I have a lot of help from my kids, who are 20 and 18, and people are keen to get involved.

"I just delegate now, really!"

Emma will be among thousands of people in Derbyshire who will either hold a coffee morning or attend one on Friday.

More than £190,000 was raised during the World's Biggest Coffee Morning by people in Derbyshire last year – part of a record £20 million raised nationwide.

This included about £87,500 from events in Derby.

This year, the charity is hoping that the county can raise £220,000 – with individuals, groups, schools and businesses all invited to hold a coffee morning – though it does not have to be on the day itself.

And they do not have to hold an actual coffee morning – wine-tasting events, dinner parties and fancy-dress days are among the popular alternatives.

Macmillan said funds raised in Derbyshire would go towards services at the Royal Derby Hospital and Chesterfield Royal Hospital.

To find out more about the World's Biggest Coffee Morning or to register a last-minute event, visit www.macmillan.org.uk/coffee or call 0845 6021246.

* A training adviser plans to hold her coffee morning for Macmillan at her office because her house is too small to accommodate everyone.

Jane Rice, who works for Total Hire and Sales, in Alfreton Road, Derby, approached her bosses to see if she could hold "one great big coffee morning" instead.

She was first inspired to hold an event after her sister, Dawn Ilaria, was diagnosed with breast cancer.

She has since been given the all-clear.

Jane said: "A lot of staff at Total Hire have been affected by cancer in some way. I was delighted when I found out we were able to use Total's training centre to hold one big coffee morning."

Jane's coffee morning, which will include Alfreton Road residents, Total Hire & Sales staff and her friends and family, will take place on Friday and has a fund-raising target of £1,000.

YOUR COFFEE MORNING GUIDE

Holbrook Slimming World Group, Holbrook C of E Primary School, Moorside Lane, from 5.30pm.

Moody and Woolley Solicitors, St Mary's Gate, 10am-noon.

DERBY

Aga Shop, Queen's Street, all day.

Alvaston Infant School, Elvaston Lane, from 9am.

Birches Residential Care Home, 187 Station Road, Mickleover, from 9am.

Café bar at Quad, Market Place, 10am-noon.

Can-Can, The Strand, from 10am.

Cathedral Cafe, Iron Gate, from 10am.

Co-op Travel, London Road, Alvaston, from 10am.

Derby College, Locomotive Way, 8am-11am. (plus 10.30am until noon in the Johnson Building)

D Label, Chapel Street, Spondon, from 9am.

East Midlands Trains, Derby Station – Fund-raising in the first-class lounge, ticket office and all trains between Sheffield and London and stations on that route, all day.

Ej's Pharmacy, Crayford Road, Alvaston, 9.30am-12.30pm.

Lighthouse Church, Oakside Way, Oakwood, from 10am.

Marks and Spencer Café, Intu Centre, from 10am.

Nando's Restaurant, Market Place, from 10am.

The No53 store, Sadler Gate, from 10am.

Richard Petrie Optometrists, Burton Road, Littleover, from 9.30am.

Rotadata Ltd, Bateman Street, 8am-noon.

Spondon Florists, Osmaston Road, Allenton, from 9am.

Spondon Liberal Club, Moor Street, from 10am–1pm.

Starbucks at Derby County Football Club, iPro Stadium, Pride Park, 9.30am-11am.

Tenpin Derby, Forresters Leisure Park, Sinfin Lane, from noon.

University of Derby, Kedleston Road, from 9am.

Vivid Beauty Salon, Carnaby Close, Mackworth, from 10am.

Wayfarer Café, Osmaston Road, 11am until 2pm.

Zan Fish, Burton Road, Littleover, from 9:30am.

DERBYSHIRE AND ELSEWHERE

The Albion Pub, Shobnall Road, Burton, from 9am.

Amber Sound FM, Unit 2.1, Unicorn Business Park, Wellington Street, Ripley, from 8.30am

Best Western Premier Yew Lodge Hotel, Packington Hill, Kegworth from 9.30am.

Blenheim House, 56 Main Street, Etwall, from 10am.

Boars Head Hotel, Station Road, Draycott-in-the-Clay, from 9am.

Bourne's Restaurant at Denby Pottery, Derby Road, Denby, 10am-noon.

Brick Room at Christ Church Linton and Castle Gresley, Main Street, Linton, 10am-noon.

Charlotte's Coffee and Cake, 10 Woodmand Croft, Hatton, from 11.30am.

Coffee at the Hawk, 46 Main Street, Etwall, from 10.30am.

Dale Road Methodist Church, Dale Road North, Darley Dale, from 10am.

Derby College, Pimlico, Ilkeston, 9am-1pm.

Discount Party Warehouse, Prospect Court, Nottingham Road, Ripley, from 10am.

Don Amott Leisure Kingdom, Egginton Road, Hilton, from 10.30am.

Fairways Garden Centre Café, Clifton, Ashbourne, from 10am.

Fauld House Nursing Home, Fauld Lane, Fauld, near Tutbury, from 10.30am.

Girlguiding Derbyshire, Suite 1A Business Centre, North Mill, Bridge Foot, Belper, from 10.30am.

Grouse and Claret, Old Station Close, Rowsley, from 10am.

Imagine Coffee Morning, Yeoman House, 16 The Green, Aston on Trent, from 10am.

John Varley Tripboat, run by the Chesterfield Canal Trust, will be afloat at Tapton Lock, just off the A61 roundabout, 10am-1pm.

King William Residential Home, Lowes Hill, Ripley, from 2pm.

Marehay Methodist Church, Warmwells Lane, Marehay, from 10am.

The Mews, 7 Church Street, Ripley, from 10am.

Milford Social Club, 5 Chevin Road, Milford, from 9am.

The Oak & Ivy, Wellington Street, Burton, from 11am.

Smalley Hall Residential Home, Main Street, Smalley, from 9.30am.

St John Street Gallery and Café, 50 St John Street, Ashbourne, from 9.30am.

Stretton Medical Centre, Ladywell Close, from 9.30am

Swadlincote Catholic Club, Dockland Road, 9am-1pm.

Tanks Teas Evergreen Centre, Egreaves Avenue, Loscoe, from 9.30am.

Victoria Park Leisure Centre, Manners Road, Ilkeston, from 9am.

The Waterfront at Barton Marina, Barton Under Needwood, from 10am.

The White Hart, Derby Road, Aston-on-Trent, from 10am.

Carlton Club, Station Road, Ilkeston, from 10.30am.

The George, 20 Lowes Hill, Ripley, from 10am.

Glebe Close, South Normanton, from 11am.

Mill House Pub, Derby Road, Milford, from 10am.

Phillips Florist, St Peters Street, Stapenhill, from 11am.

South Wingfield Parish Rooms, Church Lane, from 10am.

A TOURIST attraction boss says he is "gutted" the holiday season has finished because of the excellent weather this summer.

Spencer Tallis, estate manager of Hopton Hall, said he is seeing a large increase in bees and flies in the estate gardens thanks to the late summer sunshine.

And he said he was pleased with this weekend's forecast of above-average temperatures.

He said this summer was the best for five years in terms of temperature and visitor numbers.

Although he is sad to see the end of the season, he believes the good weather this summer will live in people's memories for next year.

He said: "It's been a lovely summer, and a lot milder than normal. We have had more flowers in the ground and have seen a lot of bees and flies.

"These end of season temperatures have kept it really dry and that has meant many more things have flowered."

The hall closed earlier this month, as opening and closing times are set 12 months in advance. But, Mr Tallis admitted this was a real shame.

He said: "It's a bit gutting we are not open now because this month has been a lot better than August. When you're working in an estate garden, the weather is something you have to keep an eye out for and it's been glorious at times."

A spokesman for the Met Office said the weekend looks positive.

He said: "Southern and eastern parts will start dry and fine, but becoming cloudier into the weekend. Further north and west, generally cloudier, fresher and windier with some rain at times.

"Wednesday will start with a little bit of rain, but it will soon brighten-up with a few pleasant hours of sunshine in the morning.

"By mid-morning there will be lots of sunshine and that will continue for the rest of the day.

"On Thursday, temperatures will be around 17C, which falls right in line for the average in Derbyshire at this time of the year. Both Saturday and Sunday look good, with temperatures of 18C on both days."

Looking ahead into October, the spokesman said: "The broadly northwest-southeast split in the weather conditions is showing signs of persisting into mid-October.

"This pattern would leave southern, central and eastern parts tending to see the best of the weather with conditions often fine and dry. Occasional bouts of rain should still be expected, and mist and fog patches may be a problem during morning rush hours.

"Further northwest, conditions are likely to be more unsettled with more frequent outbreaks of rain, these perhaps accompanied by strong winds. Temperatures here should be closer to average or perhaps even just below at times."

MILD temperatures are set to continue heading towards the weekend.

Tonight the sky should remain clear with a minimum temperature of 7C.

But the Met Office has said that the clouds will return tomorrow, with the whole day set to be overcast.

THERE was no mercy for sorry Leicestershire from Derbyshire's bowlers on the second day of their final LV County Championship match of the season at the 3aaa County Ground.

With three wickets from Tony Palladino and two for Ben Cotton, they reduced Division Two's bottom side to 97-7 at lunch in reply to Derbyshire's 289.

It was good seam bowling but dreadful batting from a Leicestershire side who seemingly cannot hurry along to the end of the campaign quickly enough. They are heading to a second full season without a single first-class victory.

From 25-2 overnight, Leicestershire were soon 29-4 when Ned Eckersley (4) chased a Palladino ball and steered it to second slip, then Dan Redfern marked his return to Derby by playing a Palladino ball on to his leg stump and following for nought.

Angus Robson and Tom Wells added 34 before three more wickets went down with the score on 63.

Wells was caught down the leg side off Cotton for 15, then Niall O'Brien edged a slashing cut at Cotton and was caught behind without scoring and Robson, having played and missed countless times, carved Alex Hughes' first ball to gully and went for 26.

Ben Raine (23) and Rob Taylor (9) added a little stability but Derbyshire were well on top.

LAST ditch pay talks are set to be held on Friday to avert strike action by engineering and maintenance staff at Derby train operator East Midlands Trains.

More than 80 workers, who are members of the Unite union, are threatening to walkout between 6am on Sunday and 6am on Saturday, October 4.

The dispute dates back to July when East Midlands Trains, which operates services between Derby and London, as well as other local routes, withdrew a 2.75% pay rise after engineers and maintenance staff decided to push ahead with strike action that month.

A continuous overtime ban has been place since the end of July.

But talks are set to take place on Friday to avert the latest round of strike action.

Kevin Hepworth, Unite's regional officer, said: "Our members have a right to have their legitimate grievances recognised and we hope that the company will come to the table ready to agree a fair pay deal for its loyal workforce.

"Unite will enter Friday's talks with the aim of settling this long running dispute in the best interests of our members.

"Many working people can relate to feeling undervalued at work. These members have collectively agreed to take a stand and their union fully supports them.

"We welcome Friday's talks with management and will work hard to secure a fair and equitable pay deal for our members."

East Midlands Trains has said that if talks do break down and the strike goes ahead it will try to run as normal service as possible - although some routes may be replaced with buses.

MARK Footitt's unforgettable season for Derbyshire has earned recognition from the England selectors.

The Derbyshire left-armer, who has taken 100 wickets in all cricket this season for the county, has been named in the England Performance Programme fast bowlers' camp in Potchefstroom, South Africa, this winter.

If all goes well, that could lead to Footitt playing for England Lions in South Africa early next year.

Footitt was told the news before the start of the Championship match against Leicestershire yesterday with a telephone call from England selector Mick Newell.

"It was a nice way to start the day but then I had to get my mind on to this match here because obviously we might have been bowling first," he said.

"It was like a brief 20 minutes being really excited and then put it to the back of the mind.

"I'm really looking forward to it and cannot wait to get out there to improve my game as well as having an experience out there. Hopefully, it leads on to bigger things if I do well out there.

"They want to get a group of bowlers together, the ones that have done well this year, and see what they can do and hopefully it does lead to a tour.

"It's great to be recognised with some of the best bowlers in the country. It's a massive honour for me and it will be a pleasure to go out there."

The England Performance Programme (EPP) will be led by Andy Flower and will consist of training blocks at the National Cricket Performance Centre in Loughborough before a three-week camp in Potchefstroom, South Africa.

An England Lions squad for the tour of South Africa early next year will be selected towards the end of the training blocks.

England Performance Programme fast bowlers camp in Potchefstroom, South Africa: Jack Brooks (Yorkshire), Matthew Dunn (Surrey), Mark Footitt (Derbyshire), Craig Overton (Somerset), Liam Plunkett (Yorkshire), Boyd Rankin (Warwickshire), Mark Wood (Durham).

MARK Wilson, the South Normanton Athletic manager, has left the club.

Wilson, who has previously managed Borrowash Victoria, is the new man in charge of Rocester and replaces Dave Shaw, who was relieved of his duties just two matches into the season.

Wilson said: "It's going to be hard, but my first job will be to bring some stability to the club.

"They have had a few managers over the past two season, so I am coming in to hopefully sort things out."

A ROBBER from Derby has been jailed for seven years.

Sean Slater, 34, of Northumberland Street, Normanton, pleaded guilty to the charge at Derby Crown Court.

The hearing heard how Slater assaulted and robbed his 22-year-old victim as he walked along Monk Street, Derby, on June 16.

He was arrested the following days and charged.

Slater, who appeared at in court on Friday, was also ordered to pay a £120 victim surcharge.

WEST Bromwich Albion have been linked with a move for former Derby County loan star Alberto Bueno.
The Spanish forward is in the final year of his current contract at Rayo Vallecano and Albion are reportedly monitoring his situation.
Bueno has netted four times in four games in La Liga so far this season to add to his 11 goals last term.
The 26-year-old former Real Madrid man spent the 2010-11 campaign with the Rams, scoring five goals in 29 appearances.

The Dowager Duchess of Devonshire has died, aged 94.

Deborah, who was the last of the famous Mitford sisters, passed away this morning, 

Her son, the Duke of Devonshire, confirmed her death in a statement from Chatsworth House, her stately home.

He said: "It is with great sadness that I have to inform you that Deborah Dowager Duchess of Devonshire passed away peacefully this morning."

He also said that an announcement about funeral arrangements would be made shortly.

David Blunkett, former Home Secretary,  paid tribute to the duchess, whom he said he got to know over many years living in the village of Beeley, which is part of the Chatsworth estate.

He said: "She had the incredible common touch and capacity to touch people's lives for the better. Not only did she transform the Chatsworth estate at a time when its viability was at stake, but created an inland resort which offered great pleasure and entertainment to the thousands of people visiting every year.

"But, above all, she cared about the staff and the local residents, the maintenance of a sense of community and identity and the environmental and social heritage that she treasured."

DERBYSHIRE were made to bat again – just – when they bowled sorry Leicestershire out for 141 on the second day of their final LV County Championship match of the season at the 3aaa County Ground.

Ben Cotton showed the way with an excellent 4-20 as Leicestershire made it past the follow-on target by one run in reply to Derbyshire's 289.

At tea, Derbyshire were 53-1 in their second innings for a lead of 201.

It was good seam bowling but dreadful batting from a Leicestershire side who seemingly cannot hurry along to the end of the campaign quickly enough. They are heading to a second full season without a single first-class victory.

From 25-2 overnight, Leicestershire were soon 29-4 when Ned Eckersley (4) chased a Palladino ball and steered it to second slip, then Dan Redfern marked his return to Derby by playing a Palladino ball on to his leg stump and following for nought.

Angus Robson and Tom Wells added 34 before three more wickets went down with the score on 63.

Wells was caught down the leg side off Cotton for 15, then Niall O'Brien edged a slashing cut at Cotton and was caught behind without scoring and Robson, having played and missed countless times, carved Alex Hughes' first ball to gully and went for 26.

Ben Raine and Rob Taylor added a little stability with 42 in 16 overs for the eighth wicket before Taylor played on to Footitt for 14 at 105-8.

Raine and Charlie Shreck carried their side to the brink of the follow-on target when Raine skied a drive at Cotton and was caught at cover for 34, still two runs short.

After Shreck hit a single to go on to 24, Atif Sheikh carved one just over the head of cover for two to make Derbyshire bat again, only to be bowled by Cotton off the next ball.

Derbyshire moved on to 35 in their second innings before Billy Godleman gave James Sykes the charge and was stumped for 12 but Ben Slater (31) and Wayne Madsen (6) were still there at tea.

THIS CCTV has been released by police following break-ins at businesses in Derby city centre. 

The Mediterranean Café, RND newsagents and office space above a shop, all of which are in the Morledge, were broken into.

Among the items stolen during the burglaries were tobacco from the newsagent and a Samsung television from the offices.

The offences happened between 6.30am and 9.30am on Sunday, September 7.

Police have now issued footage captured on CCTV cameras in the area of two men to whom they want to speak in connection with the burglaries.

Do you recognise either of the men in the footage? If so, contact Derbyshire police on 101, quoting crime reference 37560/14.

A PERVERT exposed himself to a couple for more than 30 minutes while high on drugs and drink on a primary school playing field.

David Weaving was spotted by the couple as they looked out of their upstairs window and on to the grounds of St John's CE School in Belper.

They called police, telling officers he was lying on his back and touching himself inappropriately, a court heard.

Then, after Weaving noticed the couple had seen him, he moved to a covered area and carried on exposing himself to them.

Police arrested him and he told them he could not remember what he was doing because he had been drinking and had taken drugs.

But he pleaded guilty when he appeared before magistrates in Derby to intentionally exposing himself.

District Judge Morris Cooper was told that Weaving, of Applewood Close, Belper, failed to appear at court for hearings relating to the offence as he "panicked over what the outcome would be".

Now he has been handed a 17-week sentence in a young offenders' institution, suspended for 18 months, for the offence.

Gillian Foxcroft, prosecuting, told Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court that the couple noticed Weaving in the school grounds shortly after 7am on March 11.

She said: "They saw the defendant lying on his back on a raised area of the ground touching himself inappropriately.

"He was in the position for some time and the lady says she thinks he noticed that they had spotted him because he got up and moved to a shaded area near to a tree.

"But she then said she saw him looking at her, continuing to touch himself.

"The whole incident lasted between 30 and 45 minutes."

Miss Foxcroft said the couple called the police and the school and officers arrived at 7.45am.

She said the school caretaker ensured that no one could get to the lower part of the school grounds where Weaving, 20, was.

Miss Foxcroft said: "It is not clear from the police report whether or not the school was open at the time, but the conclusion of the offence is that it may well have been able for children to see what the defendant was doing."

Stephanie Deane, for Weaver, said her client had no previous history of this type of offence.

She said: "This is an isolated incident that took place on an area of the school field that is away from the main building.

"It was early in the morning and it is unlikely the school was open at the time.

"There is no suggestion that he gets any form of sexual gratification from the act and he had taken drugs and drink in the early hours of that morning.

"He has no recollection of the event."

District Judge Cooper also ordered that Weaving be placed under the supervision of the probation service for 18 months, must sign the sex offenders' register for seven years, pay £200 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.

DERBYSHIRE moved into a position of absolute domination at the end of day two in their final LV County Championship match of the season against Leicestershire at the 3aaa County Ground.

They were made to bat again – just – when they bowled sorry Leicestershire out for 141 and were 162-1 at the close in their second innings for a lead of 310.

Ben Slater was 73 not out and Wayne Madsen 66 not out.

Ben Cotton showed the way with an excellent 4-20 as Leicestershire made it past the follow-on target by one run in reply to Derbyshire's 289.

It was good seam bowling but dreadful batting from a Leicestershire side who seemingly cannot hurry along to the end of the campaign quickly enough. They are heading to a second full season without a single first-class victory.

From 25-2 overnight, Leicestershire were soon 29-4 when Ned Eckersley (4) chased a Palladino ball and steered it to second slip, then Dan Redfern marked his return to Derby by playing a Palladino ball on to his leg stump and following for nought.

Angus Robson and Tom Wells added 34 before three more wickets went down with the score on 63.

Wells was caught down the leg side off Cotton for 15, then Niall O'Brien edged a slashing cut at Cotton and was caught behind without scoring and Robson, having played and missed countless times, carved Alex Hughes' first ball to gully and went for 26.

Ben Raine and Rob Taylor added a little stability with 42 in 16 overs for the eighth wicket before Taylor played on to Footitt for 14 at 105-8.

Raine and Charlie Shreck carried their side to the brink of the follow-on target when Raine skied a drive at Cotton and was caught at cover for 34, still two runs short.

After Shreck hit a single to go on to 24, Atif Sheikh carved one just over the head of cover for two to make Derbyshire bat again, only to be bowled by Cotton off the next ball.

Derbyshire moved on to 35 in their second innings before Billy Godleman gave James Sykes the charge and was stumped for 12 but Slater and Madsen took an unbroken stand of 127 into the third day to pile on the pain for Leicestershire.

POLICE in Matlock have charged one man and arrested two others on suspicion of drugs offences.

Officers executed search warrants at properties in Lime Grove Walk in Matlock and School Close in Darley Dale in connection with suspected drugs activity.

Officers discovered items including a quantity of suspected class A and class B substances, cash and drugs paraphernalia during the warrants, which were carried out early in the morning of September 18.

Alex Braund, 20, of School Close, Darley Dale, has been charged with possession of class A and B controlled drugs with intent to supply.

He is due to appear before magistrates at a later date.

Two men, both aged 18, were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of controlled drugs and have since been bailed pending further inquiries.