The EDL founder is being sued by a teenager who was filmed being attacked at a Huddersfield school.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Four Greater Lincolnshire districts have Covid-19 infection rates over twice the England average, it's been confirmed.

Image source, Reuters/Lee Smith

As of Sunday, North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire, South Holland and Boston all have infection rates of over 124 per 100,000 people – more than double the current England average of 57.1.

This puts all four authorities in the top 20 highest infection rates nationally, with only one Greater Lincolnshire district being below the national average – North Kesteven (55.6), and Lincoln not far behind at 65.5.

Over the past few weeks, North Lincolnshire has risen up the ranks and currently has the highest infection rate in Greater Lincolnshire.

In the authority’s Cabinet meeting on Monday morning, Stephen Pintus, the joint director of public health for North and North East Lincolnshire gave an update on the current Covid situation in North Lincolnshire.

He said: “The number of tests we’re carrying out has increased dramatically with a return to school, and that accounts for an increase in cases.

“The highest rate is in our school age children, and also high rates in our early years settings and that fortunately is coming down now.”

Mr Pintus added that there have been “school outbreaks, but also some smaller workplace outbreaks”.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

More than 90,000 people in Rotherham have now received their Covid-19 vaccinations, as the anniversary of the first lockdown comes on Tuesday.

In an update at this morning’s cabinet meeting, the council’s chief executive Sarah Norman announced the case rate has come down, but is “significantly higher” than other rates across the country.

She said: “We continue to put all our efforts in to try to reduce those rates. To be able to do that, targeted work is taking place within different parts of the borough.

"We continue to work with our NHS partners, and we’ve now seen over 90,000 vaccinations, being administered so far."

Ms Norman added: "If we were in a position to need to undertake surge testing, if new variants of concern were found, we have a plan in place which will include door-knocking and the offer of testing kits in areas identified."

As of 16 March, there were 141 Covid-19 infections per 100,000 population in Rotherham, up from 122 on 10 March.

Work's started to save the remaining sections of a Roman wall in Horncastle, Lincolnshire.

Image source, Geograph/Richard Croft

The town's Roman wall, which has been on Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register, external for decades, is thought to be the remains of a 3rd or 4th Century fort, according to the town's History and Heritage Society.

The best preserved section can be seen at Horncastle Library (pictured above), where the wall is displayed as a major feature within the building.

Dr Ian Marshman, from the Horncastle History and Heritage Society, said: "It's the best preserved Roman ruin in Lincolnshire outside of Lincoln itself.

"They're really rare, a scheduled monument. You can't get any more protected than this wall, it's a really important wall."

BBC Radio Bradford

A new web-based system is being introduced in a bid to further improve safety at Bradford's markets.

Image source, Bradford Markets

The custom-built tool will allow market staff and traders to instantly report safety concerns, such as trip hazards, via a mobile device.

Safety officials will then be able to review photos of incidents remotely and prioritise where to take action.

In the past, safety responses would take the form of site visits and time-consuming administration.

Bradford's markets service worked with the software developers to reduce the process, and it's hoped it can be rolled out across the country.

Rob Carr, who created the online tool, said: “Markets typically don’t have any web-based solutions for monitoring incidents around the site and Market Manager addresses and solves these issues.

“We hope other markets across the UK will follow Bradford’s lead and see the benefits in the performance management of their market.”

A total of 200,000 saplings have been planted in Leeds over the past year as part of the city councils climate change ambitions, it's been revealed.

Image source, Leeds City Council

The authority says it aims to increase tree cover in Leeds from 17% to 33% by working with landowners, businesses, communities and volunteers as well as the White Rose Forest partnership.

A total of 66 sites have been planted over the past year, including in East End Park, Stanningley Park, Nunroyd Park and Kippax Common.

The trees planted will be cared for by the council’s gardeners as they grow to become well established woodlands.

Councillor Mohammad Rafique, executive member for environment, said: “I am delighted to see our initiative get off to such a strong start this year.

“As well as tackling climate change, tree planting will also have huge benefits to the health and well-being of residents."

Councillor Helen Hayden, council lead on climate change, said: “Climate change presents our city with an unprecedented challenge and I am delighted communities in Leeds have had the chance to lead by example and get involved in tree planting."

"Furious" campaigners say a rape joke was written on a Lincolnshire war memorial alongside messages about women's safety.

Image source, Jessica

Dozens had contributed to the sea of chalk slogans on pavements around the monument in Lincoln.

The organisers of the awareness event said it was marred by the appearance of the "horrific" message on the memorial.

They said it was reported to Lincolnshire Police, as was verbal abuse directed at a woman in her 60s.

Jessica, who did not want to give her surname, organised the event with friend Sacha Chapman.

They'd invited women to share stories of harassment by leaving chalk messages (pictured below), near Lincoln High Street.

Image source, Jessica

Jessica, a tattoo artist, said she was "furious and upset" when the offensive message reading "Batman is here to rape you" was spotted.

"These are women who've been able to have the courage to openly admit in public that they've been sexually assaulted and to have someone make a mockery of it was really, really devastating."

Both women said the event was organised with support and advice from the local council and Lincolnshire Police to ensure it was Covid-safe.

Lincolnshire Police has been asked to comment.

An amateur astronomer has taken "one of his best" photos of the Orion Nebula from his Yorkshire garden during lockdown.

Image source, Russell Atkin

Describing his newest picture of the gas cloud, Russell Atkin, from Sheffield, said: "You can see this with your naked eye, but not in this detail."

"It's the closest region of star birth to Earth and it's about 1,350 light years away."

Image source, Russell Atkin

Mr Atkin's photographs capture light emitted from stars before William the Conqueror, Joan of Arc and before the Vikings discovered Greenland.

His photos have been shared in local Facebook groups, attracting comments from amazed viewers.

"I'm not surprised at the response because these things do wow people," he said.

A man's died and two people were taken to hospital following a car crashing into a ditch in Spalding, Lincolnshire, say police.

Image source, Google

Emergency services were called to Weston Hills Road, Low Fulney, shortly after 20:00 on Saturday, and found a silver Peugeot 207 in a ditch, according to Lincolnshire Police.

The driver of the Peugeot, a man in his 30s, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Two passengers in the car, a woman and a man, were both taken to hospital, officers added.

No other vehicles are thought to have been involved in the incident.

Anyone who saw the incident is being urged to contact police.

A pedestrian's died after being hit by a car in Bradford while crossing the road, police say.

Image source, Google

Emergency services were called just before 22:00 on Friday to Parkfield Road at the junction with Sahara Court in Manningham, after a black Volkswagen Touran hit a man crossing the road, according to West Yorkshire Police.

The pedestrian died as a result of his injuries, police said.

A spokesperson for the West Yorkshire force said: "Any witnesses to the collision or the movements of the vehicle prior to the collision and anyone with dashcam footage are asked to call police."

A warning's been issued to drivers in East Yorkshire after a rise in the number of drivers being dealt with for suspected drug-driving and speeding offences, police say.

Since the start of the year 45 people have been arrested following a positive roadside drugs test, according to Humberside Police.

The force says it's also seen an increase in speeding offences, with one driver hitting 147mph in a 50mph limit.

Ch Insp James Glansfield said: “The consequences of driving at speed or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol can be significant and go far beyond just losing your licence and receiving a fine.

“Until 29 March journeys should be essential only and we continue to have a visible presence on our roads, looking for dangerous drivers to reduce casualities.”

BBC Weather

Bright spells this morning will slowly disappear as cloud moves in to leave a dry day with gentle winds.

Tonight it will remain mostly overcast and dry with occasional light rain or drizzle:

A letter signed by 78 politicians and community and environmental groups is calling on the government to block the building of a new £150m terminal at Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA).

Image source, Press handout

The MPs and groups say they're concerned about an increase in air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

Supporters of the plans have also written to ministers, saying the new terminal will support 12,000 jobs.

Plans to expand LBA by building a new terminal were approved last month despite objections.

Objectors say the plans would facilitate climate change, while those in favour said the expansion would offer major economic benefits.

The airport has set a target of 2023 for opening the new terminal building.