A Lincolnshire MP has questioned plans to make wearing face coverings in shops punishable with a fine of up to £100.

Image source, Getty Images

Wearing a face covering in shops and supermarkets in England is to become mandatory from 24 July.

Conservative MP for Gainsborough Sir Edward Leigh questioned the decision to enforce their use and the impact it would have on businesses.

Writing on Twitter, he said, external: "Forcing people to wear face masks isn't the business of Conservatives: We are not an authoritarian party. And don't we want to get people back into the shops? These proposals just don't make sense for Lincolnshire."

Sir Edward's views have received a mixed reaction on social media.

One user said, external: "I've always been a Labour voter, but thank God some MPs like you are speaking up for normal, sane people who want to be free to choose. Thank you @EdwardLeighMP"

Meanwhile, another said, external: "Lincolnshire is fine with masks. Don’t be a dinosaur."

Robbie Howie said, external: "Let’s just all wear masks for the next month or so in shops, see if it keeps the numbers falling, if there is evidence it doesn’t make any difference then review it. Cant see why people are moaning about it now."

• Coronavirus: A user's guide to wearing a face mask to the shops
• Coronavirus: Why attitudes to masks have changed around the world?

Parking facilities at Grantham Railway Station are to be improved.

Image source, LNER

The work will see the creation of more than 115 new parking spaces.

New CCTV will be installed as well as energy efficient LED street lights.

During the work, which is due to begin later this month, customers are advised to arrive slightly earlier than usual to navigate any traffic management measures in place.

Two people have died in separate crashes which happened within about an hour of each other.

Image source, Getty Images

The first collision happened at about 18:20 on Wednesday when a silver Ford Fiesta, a silver Peugeot 208 and a grey Mercedes GLA crashed on on London Road, Burwell.

Lincolnshire police say several people were injured in the incident and one person died at the scene.

The force said a man has been arrested in connection with the collisions.

The second incident happened at about 19:30 when a female motorcyclist, in her 30s, crashed on the A52 near Sedgebrook.

Offciers have appealed for anyone who witnessed either of the incidents or who may have dashcam footage to come forward.

Buzz Bingo says the coronavirus pandemic has had "an immediate and significant impact" on business.

A Lincolnshire maize maze has revealed its new design for this year and it's got an NHS theme.

Image source, Uncle Henry's Maize Maze

Uncle Henry's, off the A15 north of Lincoln, hasn't been open for the summer season so far - but is set to reopen on Saturday.

This year the pattern of the maze has been designed in tribute to the NHS, complete with a rainbow and Union flag.

The owners say they'll have a number of new safety precautions across the site, guests will have to pre-book and numbers will be limited.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A former care home which closed following a poor rating by the industry watchdog may be turned into a house.

An application has been submitted to West Lindsey District Council to turn Cheyne House, in North Carlton, back into a residential property.

Image source, Google

Globe Consultants, on behalf of applicant John O’Donoguhe, said the three-storey build would create a “meaningful, if minor contribution to the provision housing” in the district.

The former care home was labelled as “inadequate” in all but one of the Care Quality Commission’s ratings in an inspection report released in August 2017.

It was “requires improvement” under the caring rating.

Buzz Bingo has announced plans to close its Boston bingo hall and 25 others as part of restructuring plans aimed at securing the long-term future of the business.

Image source, PA Media

The company, which employs around 3,400 people, said it has earmarked sites for closure due to what it "expects will be an unsustainable operating environment for the foreseeable future".

The proposed closures will put about 573 jobs at risk.

Chris Matthews, chief executive of Buzz Bingo, said: "The ongoing pandemic has had far-reaching consequences for the entire leisure and hospitality sector and an immediate and significant impact on our business.

"The restructure will, very sadly, impact a number of our colleagues and my priority is to support all those affected and keep them fully informed as we continue with this process."

Four more police stations in Lincolnshire will reopen to the public over the coming weeks.

Image source, Lincolnshire Police

Stations at Spalding, Gainsborough, Sleaford and Louth were shut due to the coronavirus pandemic but will once again open their door with social distancing and hygiene measures in place.

The stations will open from the following dates:

• 27th July – Spalding (closed on Saturday 1st Aug)
• 3rd August – Gainsborough
• 10th August – Sleaford
• 10th August – Louth

Stations in Lincoln, Boston, Grantham and Skegness are already open.

The Boston flood barrier gate was manually closed this morning for the first time since the navigation channel was opened last month.

Image source, Environment Agency

The Environment Agency says the £100m scheme will help protect more than 14,000 properties in the area from tidal flooding.

The gate sinks into the water and can be raised and lowered automatically or manually in case of an emergency.

Image source, Environment Agency

It's designed to last for the next 100 years and was approved after the town was badly hit by flooding in 2013.

Lincolnshire's dog and cat rescue centres are worried about a possible surge of abandoned pets as lockdown eases.

RSPCA Lincolnshire say so far they've had less calls this summer than in previous years but are now worried that job losses and the impact of people returning to work mean that we could see a spike.

Jill Maughlin, who runs a rescue centre in Bourne, says they're already taking in some dogs that were bought during lockdown.

She said: "Now that people are going back to work and furlough is stopping there are more animals starting to come in.

"We've got one dog that was bought in May, right in the middle of lockdown, and he's already in with us."

BBC News Travel

The A17 is partially blocked near Sleaford because of a lorry fire on the Holdingham roundabout.

It's causing heavy traffic on the A15 Lincoln Road as well.

If you're heading that way make sure you allow plenty of time.

Police area appealing for help to trace a man who stopped to help an couple who were involved in a crash while travelling from Mablethorpe yesterday.

Image source, Getty Images

The incident happened at about 18:00 on Tuesday when the couple's grey Vauxhall Insignia crashed on Main Road at South Reston.

The couple were both injured in the collision and taken to hospital for treatment.

Lincolnshire Police say a man who witnessed the collision spoke with paramedics at the scene but his details were not recorded.

The force say the collision is not believed to be suspicious but would like to trace the man to help establish the exact circumstances involved.

Officers investigating a stabbing in Grantham have released CCTV images of two men they want to speak to.

Image source, Lincolnshire Police

The incident happened near to the Jet garage in Manthorpe Road at about 13.30 on 11 April.

Lincolnshire Police say the teenage victim has since recovered from his injuries but have appealed for help to identify the two men pictured above.

Anyone who recognises either of the men is asked to contact police.

Sharon Edwards
Political Reporter, BBC Radio Lincolnshire

A fresh row has broken out over a deal to merge the back office operations of two councils in Lincolnshire.

Image source, Google

Boston Borough Council and neighbouring East Lindsey District Council have recently agreed to merge departments and share a chief executive.

But a group of fourteen opposition councillors at Boston have written an open letter to voters claiming that the deal was struck following "secret negotiations".

They say that Boston will be the "junior partner" and could even been merged in with East Lindsey altogether.

They say they've even considered legal action over a "lack of consultation".

Boston's Conservative leader Paul Skinner has dismissed all the claims outright and says the new arrangement will save both councils millions of pounds.

BBC Sport

Lincoln City have signed defender Lewis Montsma on a three-year contract.

Image source, Getty Images

The 22-year-old was a free agent after the end of his deal at Dutch second division side FC Dordrecht.

Boss Michael Appleton told the club website: "Lewis is a very versatile defender who can play either side at centre-half. He is a physical specimen and I'm thrilled to have signed him.

"He uses the ball really well and is comfortable with both feet whilst being very aggressive out of possession."

League One side Lincoln City sign Dutch centre-half Lewis Montsma on a three-year deal contract.

The removal of a temporary bridge near Lincoln has been delayed because a nest of birds.

Image source, Lincolnshire County Council

Lincolnshire County Council installed a temporary bridge over the River Witham whilst building Lincoln's eastern bypass, to save traffic heading through the city.

The bridge was used whilst teams moved nearly a million tonnes of earth from the site of the city's new bypass.

Highways bosses say it saved 100,000 trips through the city.

But the removal of the bridge has been delayed because of a nest of swallows making it their new home.

Officers say it shouldn't delay the progress on the bypass which is still due to open at the end of this year.

Firefighters have been tackling a lorry fire on the A15 this morning.

Image source, Humberside Fire and Rescue

The incident happened on the southbound carriageway between Bonby and Barnetby and resulted in the road being closed in both directions.

Humberside Fire and Rescue shared pictures on social media , externalof the lorry, saying the fire is now out but "due to the need to ensure residue from the products is safe the road may be closed for some time".

A short time ago Humberside Police tweeted to say the northbound carriageway had reopened.

A second Lincolnshire Christmas market has been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Image source, Getty Images

Organisers of Sleaford Christmas market, which had been due to take place on 29 November, say they had made the "difficult decision" to cancel due to concerns over the health and safety of visitors and traders.

In a statement the Sleaford Christmas Market Group said: "Several thousand people attend the event and it would be impossible to adhere to the social distancing rules in the current climate.

"The event takes 11 months to organise and prepare for and we are very disappointed and saddened to have to make this decision."

On Thursday it was announced that Lincoln Christmas market, which has been running since 1982, had been cancelled over concerns about social distancing.

A sports club in Lincoln is to reopen on Wednesday after closing because of a customer who tested positive for Covid-19..

Image source, Ruston's Sports and Social Club

Ruston's Sports and Social Club closed on Saturday morning after a customer who'd been there on Friday night tested positive for the virus.

The club took the decision to close as a precaution, despite Public Health England telling them that wasn't necessary.

Since then, they've been told the customer has had subsequents tests which came back negative.

A spokesperson from the club said all staff have now had tests for coronavirus and that they plan to reopen on Wednesday.