PROFILE OF LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND

FACT FILE

The population of Leicestershire is around 900,000, covering Leicester City and seven district or borough councils.

Almost one third of the population live in Leicester which numbers about 270,000 of whom 36% are from minority ethnic groups.

The minority ethnic population in the county of Leicestershire (excluding the city) varies greatly from areas such as Melton with 1.2%, lower than the regional (6.5%), to Oadby and Wigston at 16%. Rutland has a minority ethnic population of 1.9%.

Rutland is the smallest county in Britain, and borders the counties of Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. Rutland's population is under 35,000. In between 1974 to 1997 Rutland was incorporated into Leicestershire.

Rutland Water is Europe's largest man-made reservoir. The project was completed in 1977. The county has two market towns, Oakham and Uppingham, which sit alongside 54 traditional rural villages.