The chief executive of Boston College says government plans to support jobs in the hospitality industry is "fantastic news" for young people.

The government has announced a number of measures to support the entertainment and hospitality industry, including a cut from 20% to 5% on VAT.

Pubs and restaurants have been particularly badly affected by the pandemic, with many operating at significantly reduced capacity because of social distancing measures.

The government is also offering a 50% discount on eating out at restaurants on Monday, Tuesdays and Wednesdays during August, to encourage people back into ailing food venues.

But many of Chancellor Rishi Sunak's measures will benefit young people, including encouraging 30,000 training schemes for young people by offering business grants to start them up, and by offering businesses an incentive to keep staff employed after furlough schemes end by giving firms a "bonus grant".

Claire Foster, the chief executive of Boston College, says the measures will be very helpful to young people who she says will be "most affected" by the economic downturn.

Residents of a care home who appealed online for pen pals get responses from across the globe.

Work on a skate park in Boston is underway after an eight-week delay because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Image source, Maverick Industries

Boston Council has been working on a games area, including outdoor table tennis tables, since the start of the year.

The authority says the park has been designed in conjunction with a panel of young people in the town.

The park is being built in the town's central park, where tennis courts and a bowling green used to be.

The skating area is expected to be finished in around two month's time.

Image source, Boston Borough Council

An equine charity says it has lost more than £300,000 after its fundraising efforts were wiped out by the coronavirus outbreak.

Image source, Bransby Horses

Bransby Horses, which re-homes and cares for hundreds of horses and donkeys, said the loss came on top of the £200,000 hit it took when its Bransby site was hit by flooding in November.

Chief Executive Jo Snell said it had been a tough time for the charity and its supporters.

"We rely heavily on public support, and don't receive any government funding, so it has hit us hard," she said.

However, the charity, which has been closed since 23 March, has today reopened it's doors to the public.

Ms Snell said: "We are so looking forward to welcoming back visitors to our Bransby site.

“There will be some changes to the normal ways of working for our employees and visitors, as is to be expected.

"And though petting of our animal residents won’t be allowed, visitors can still enjoy watching our equines at a safe distance whilst walking in the miles of beautiful countryside we have here."

Fly-tipping cases in Boston have more than doubled during the lockdown period, say council bosses

Image source, Boston Borough Council

Boston Borough Council says there were 798 cases between March and the end of June this year compared with 342 during the same period last year.

Despite tips and recycling centres reopening in May, the authority say it has remained an issue.

In June this year alone, there were 254 cases compared to 68 in June 2019.

The charity, which was also hit by flooding last year, says messages of support kept them going.

A 65-year-old man arrested after officers discovered an improvised explosive device at house in Boston remains in police custody this morning.

Image source, Getty Images

The device was found at a property in Margaret Drive when police executed a search warrant yesterday morning.

Fourteen homes had to be evacuated while the Army bomb squad was called to investigate the device, before it was taken away and destroyed in a controlled explosion.

Residents were enetually allowed to retrun home at about 21:30.

A spokesperson for Lincolnshire Police said: "Our sincere thanks go out to those affected, Boston Borough Council for their efforts to find alternative accommodation, should it have been needed, and the Tollfield Road campus of the Haven High School who provided our officers with refreshments throughout the day."

Acrobats from Morocco and performers from Brazil are without work due to lockdown restrictions.

Fourteen homes have been evacuated in Boston after police discovered an "improvised explosive device" at a property in Margaret Drive.

Image source, Getty Images

Officers found the device after carrying out a search of the address at about 08:00 this morning.

In a short statement the force said: "Fourteen homes have been evacuated as a precaution and we and the EOD [Explosive Ordnance Disposal] are working hard so people can return to their homes as soon as possible.

"We’d like to thank these residents for being exceptionally understanding."

Earlier the force tweeted to say a police cordon was in place but said it was still safe for parents to collect their children from nearby schools.

A 65-year-old man has been arrested under Section 4 of the Explosive Substance Act 1883 in connection with the incident.

Construction work on a new visitor centre at Lincoln Cathedral has been completed.

Image source, Lincoln Cathedral

The visitor centre, together with a shop, café and exhibition space, has been built as part of a £16.5m project to restore and refurbish the cathedral.

Conservation work has also been carried out on Eastgate Wall, Exchequergate Arch, and the Cathedral’s Romanesque Frieze.

The project, which has been supported by a £12.4m grant from The National Lottery, will now move in to the "internal fit" phase, with work set to be completed by Spring 2021.

Couples who want legal recognition of humanist marriages have faced family difficulties and "extremely distressing" times, the High Court has heard.

Image source, Humaists UK

Six couples, including Kate Harrison and Christopher Sanderson from Louth (pictured), are bringing legal action against the Government over rules which mean humanist marriage ceremonies in England and Wales are not legally valid.

As the landmark challenge kicked off in a remote Skype hearing on Tuesday, the couples argued they are being unlawfully discriminated against due to their beliefs and do not want "a civil marriage with humanist 'bells on"'.

The challenge, which is being heard by Mrs Justice Eady, is being opposed by the Government.

The couples are being supported in their action by Humanists UK, which has been campaigning on the issue for some years.

Humanists UK president Alice Roberts said: "I find it so extraordinary that while humanist marriages are legally recognised in Scotland and Northern Ireland, they're not in England and Wales.

"This is about human rights. This is about non-religious people being treated equally in our society."

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "We want to give couples more choice in how they celebrate their commitment to each other. That is why we asked the Law Commission to review marriage and make recommendations for a simple, fair and consistent system for all."

The hearing is expected to last two days.

Peggy Edwards worked in the operation room and was described as the "matriarch" of her home village.

The Army bomb squad is in attendance after police discovered an "improvised explosive device" during a raid on a property in Boston.

Officers found the device at about 08:00 this morning during a search of an address in Margaret Drive.

Lincolnshire Police said the raid was carried out after receiving information that "potentially explosive compounds" could be at the address, but say they are not treating the incident as terrorism related.

Supt Steve Knubley said: "On searching the address, detectives discovered what is believed to be an improvised explosive device.

"Further investigation is required, but we are not treating the incident as terrorism related at this time.

“We are now working with Explosive Ordnance Disposal to safely remove the device from the property.

“This work may require some local residents to vacate their properties as a precaution so we do apologise for any inconvenience caused."

He said a 65-year-old man has been arrested under Section 4 of the Explosive Substance Act 1883 and h taken into custody.

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of assaulting police officers following an incident in Wainfleet.

Image source, Google

Lincolnshire Police say three officers were attacked in Market Place at about 17:35 on Monday.

The force said as a result of the assault more officers were deployed to the area and two men were arrested in connection with the incident. Both men are being held in police custody.

Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to contact police.

Lincoln City sign midfielder James Jones on a three-year deal from newly promoted Crewe Alexandra.

A man had to be rescued from the sea after spending 45 minutes clinging on to his capsized vessel without a lifejacket.

Image source, James Porter/RNLI Skegness

Two RNLI lifeboats and the coastguard rescue teams were called to help the man after he got into trouble off the coast of Chapel St Leonards on Sunday.

The man was not wearing a lifejacket and had no means of calling for help but was eventually rescued after multiple 999 calls from members of the public.

He was brought back to shore by where he was given a lifejacket and assessed for any injuries.

His small inflatable vessel was later recovered and towed back to Skegness Beach.

Image source, James Porter/RNLI Skegness

Police are investigating the sudden death of a man found dead on Lincoln's High Street.

Image source, Google

The man, in his 30s, was found outside House of Fraser at 09:00 this morning.

Officers and paramedics attended but he was confirmed dead.

Lincolnshire Police say investigations into the incident are ongoing.

Two men have been charged in connection with a break-in at Lincoln City's LNER stadium, Lincolnshire Police say.

Image source, Google

Food and alcohol were stolen from the stadium during the burglary which happened overnight on 1 July.

The force say a 20-year-old man from Lincoln and a 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named due to his, have both been charged with burglary in connection with the incident.

Both have been released on bail and are due to appear at Lincoln Magistrates' Court later this month.

Lincoln Cathedral has hosted its first service of Holy Communion since March after restrictions on church services were eased.

Image source, Lincoln Cathedral

The service took place in the building's Nave on Sunday with seats spaced out to allow for social distancing guidelines to be maintained.

Under current government regulations no singing was allowed but music was provided by a cantor accompanied by the organist and members of the congregation were encouraged to download the order of service to their phones or tablet devices.

Speaking ahead of Sunday's service the Very Revd Christine Wilson, Dean of Lincoln said: “For the last two weeks we have once again been able to pray privately, and it has been extraordinary to witness the Cathedral resonating with prayerfulness and contemplation.

"Now we can once again worship together and there is a true sense of homecoming and healing as we join together to begin to make sense of the unique, strange and difficult times that we are living through."

Fantasy Island in Skegness is taking steps to make it safe for customers and staff.