BBC Radio Lincolnshire

A plan to create a so-called Business Improvement District for Grantham has been voted down by the town's business community.

A special not-for-profit company called Go Grantham had been set up to promote the idea - but it failed to get enough traction.

Go Grantham said a small levy would have been paid by every business in the town if the BID went ahead - creating a £2m pot for promoting the town.

A new wind turbine factory in Hull manufactures its first blade for an offshore wind farm.

Rob Makepeace
BBC Radio Lincolnshire sport

Here's a tweet from my colleague at BBC Radio Nottingham who's heard a name in the frame for the vacant Boston United manager's job.

Dennis Greene left the Pilgrims earlier this week - and it looks like Adam Murray, who was sacked by Mansfield Town recently, could be being lined up.

Maggie Curtis
News Editor, BBC Radio Lincolnshire

There's been a seven per cent rise in the number of Lincolnshire pupils who go to outstanding schools. 

New figures released by education watchdog Ofsted show 83% of secondaries and 93% of primaries in the county are now are top-ranked.

It means Lincolnshire is the top performing area in the East Midlands. 

Two Lincolnshire schools have jumped from requiring improvement to outstanding - The Bluecoat School in Stamford and Branston Community Academy in Branston, near Lincoln.

Rod Whiting
BBC Radio Lincolnshire

Plans to save the NHS millions of pounds a year by restricting GP prescriptions in Lincolnshire have received clinical approval. 

The recommendations will restrict short-term prescriptions for over-the-counter products such as cough medicines and painkillers.

There will also be restrictions on specialist infant formula and gluten-free products - a measure which has led to some protests from charities representing people with coeliac disease.

According to leading doctors and health professionals, who approved the measures at a meeting in Boston this morning, it could save the NHS in the county £3m a year. 

Barbara Stimpson
BBC Radio Lincolnshire

Here are the top stories from our Lincolnshire newsroom: 

• Lincolnshire's primary schools outperform those across the region
• Neurology appointments reduced after hospitals trust suffers new staff shortages
• Lincoln's 34th Christmas Market gets up and running

A stunning sunset is captured off the coast of Lincolnshire by a Grimsby fisherman.

BBC Travel

There's slow traffic on the A52 Victoria Road in Mablethorpe at the Parry Road junction. It's because of roadworks.

BBC Weather

BBC Radio Lincolnshire

This mess landed a man with an £860 bill when it was traced back to him by council officers.

Ricky Holland, of Brant Broughton, near Sleaford, said the rubbish was taken from him and dumped by someone else, but wouldn't say who that was.

Image source, North Kesteven District Council

He was found guilty of fly-tipping offences at Lincoln Magistrates court on Monday. 

The rubbish was dumped in a lane at Bassingham, near Lincoln.

Martin Slack
BBC Lincolnshire Live

Six rare sheep, including five pregnant ewes, have been stolen from a field in Brattleby near Scampton.

Police are appealing for help to find the Shetland sheep, similar to the ones pictured below, which went missing sometime between 10.00 on Monday and 10.00 yesterday.

Image source, Andrew Michaels/Wikipedia

A police spokesman said: "One is black with a white patch on its head, the others are a mottled colour beige and cream colour – one of these is a ram.  The females are all said to be in lamb.

"They are smaller than traditional-size sheep and they all have ear tags fitted with unique numbers."

Martin Slack
BBC Lincolnshire Live

Patients with neurological problems in Lincolnshire may struggle to get an appointment in the next few months. 

United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust is suspending new referrals until April because of a shortage of consultants.

Neil Ellis, the trust's deputy director of operations says the service will close to new referrals from today until April 1 next year.

It comes after Grantham's A&E department was closed at night because of a lack of qualified staff.

Here's the latest tweet from the Red Arrows - we were expecting them back in Lincolnshire today - but they're saying it will now be tomorrow.

Rob Makepeace
BBC Radio Lincolnshire sport

Centre-back Sean Raggett will miss Lincoln City's FA Cup second round clash against Oldham Athletic after being handed a three- match ban by the FA.

It comes after he was sent off against Wrexham on Tuesday evening for a "reckless" challenge in the 27th minute.

Imps manager Danny Cowley said: "His challenge was forceful and strong but he played the ball. 

"We considered an appeal but decided against it us we didn't think we had enough of a case to get it overturned."

Martin Slack
BBC Lincolnshire Live

This is an e-fit picture of a man who tricked his way into a house after asking to read the meter but slapped the occupant when he was refused cash. 

Police want to find the man, who forced his way in to the property on Glebe Close, Crowland, near Spalding, on Monday, 21 November at about 14.45.

Image source, Lincolnshire Police

He eventually left the property with some DVDs. 

He's described as white, in his mid-30s and had what police described as "an accent".

Jewellery worth £35,000 is stolen from a shop during a Christmas lights switch-on event in Lincolnshire.

Humberside Police has launched the annual Christmas purge on motorists who drink-and-drive.

If a driver is involved in a collision the police will perform a drink or drug test if they suspect that alcohol or drugs are a factor in the collision.

Casualty Reduction Officer Barry Gardner said: “At this time of year, more than any other, people are tempted to get behind the wheel when they have had a drink and all we want to do is to remind them that their driving can be seriously impaired after just one drink and we say to everyone that ‘one is too many".

A new wind turbine factory in Hull has produced its first blade for use in an offshore wind farm.

BBC Radio Lincolnshire

Last year, the Lincoln Christmas Market elf, Jingle, started tweeting, external about what was going on during the event. 

He's been quite quiet over the last few months, but this morning he's back:

Martin Slack
BBC Lincolnshire Live

Steam fans will be out in force in Lincolnshire today as the Duchess of Sutherland hauls a special Christmas Market train from London to Lincoln.

The loco will pass through Spalding, Quadring, Sleaford, Ruskington, and Metheringham before arriving in Lincoln at 13.30.

Full details of the route can be found here, external.