Rather cloudy at first with maybe the odd spot of drizzle but it will brighten with some sunny spells developing.

The private ambulance company that runs patient transport services across Lincolnshire will appear before health bosses to explain the action it is taking to improve its performance.

Thames Ambulance has received complaints about people missing vital appointments, and some being stranded at hospitals for hours.

Company bosses will tell the Lincolnshire Health Scrutiny Committee, external today about the action they have taken.

Boston's Geoff Moulder swimming pool complex along with the Guildhall and other facilities in the town could be run by a not-for-profit organisation in the future.

The idea is being put forward to a meeting next week.

One of the options under consideration, could see the Magna Vitae organisation take over the day-to-day running of facilities like the Geoff Moulder complex, the Guildhall and events like the Mayfair.

Magna Vitae currently runs neighbouring East Lindsey's leisure services including the Meridian complex in Louth and the Embassy Theatre in Skegness.

A report to be considered by councillors at a meeting next Monday says such new arrangements could save money and improve their leisure and cultural services and facilities.

The Humber region's growing offshore wind industry is being shown as an example for regeneration to a delegation from the United States.

A delegation from America is visiting the region hoping to learn how offshore wind power is being developed.

It comes after civic leaders in Massachusetts said they wanted to copy what's happening here.

This week's visit has been organised by the Humber Marine Alliance.

There's been a huge increase in the number of people handed on the spot fines across Boston after the introduction of private litter wardens in the town.

Image source, Getty Images

The offences range from dropping rubbish and spitting to dog fouling.

Before the new private security firm took over enforcing litter laws, the authority had handed out just seven penalty notices in the previous year.

But just over nine months later that number has shot up to 720.

The new service is being run by 3GS.

Their officers have been stopping offenders and handing out £75 fines for offences like littering, but up to £100 for not clearing up after a dog.

The council doesn't pay the Hampshire-based firm for its services and 3GS keeps all revenue it generates, but the authority says staff are salaried and not given bonuses for handing out fines.

Campaigner describes a lack of changing facilities in disabled toilets as a "public health scandal".

Leicester Children's Holiday Centre charity says the centre is not "relevant" to modern children.

The top stories from across Lincolnshire so far today include:

• Woman's death in Horncastle is "unexplained", say police
• Mablethorpe isn't considered adventurous enough for young children's holidays anymore
• There are calls for new laws on disabled loos to prevent physical and emotional harm
• A teenager is injured in a hit-and-run in Sutton-on-Sea
• Lincolnshire Fire Service is testing oxygen masks for pets

Plans to build almost 200 homes in North East Lincolnshire have been met with scores of objections.

Image source, Google

Nearly 150 people have written to the council opposed to plans for the development in Waltham.

Waltham Parish Council says the homes would have an adverse impact on road safety in the village by increasing traffic.

The developer, Cyden Homes, has proposed extra public transport measures for the development, including a zebra crossing and bus stop.

Planners will decide whether the scheme can go ahead at a meeting in Grimsby at the end of February.

An investigation is under way in Horncastle after the discovery of a woman's body.

Officers were called to a home on Steve Newton Avenue at about 08:10 this morning.

The death is being treated as unexplained, say police.

A post-mortem examination will be carred out later into the cause of the woman's death.

New out-of-hours GP services could be expanded into doctors' surgeries across the Lincolnshire Wolds if a new pilot is successful, it's emerged.

Image source, Getty Images

Yesterday it was announced that a trial scheme would begin at Louth Hospital for about 75,000 patients across the Wolds.

Now, Dr Neil Parkes, one of the GPs involved in the scheme, said if it proves successful it could be rolled out to more surgeries in the region.

A charity which has cancelled its annual holidays to Mablethorpe says children today are "looking for a little bit more adventure".

Image source, Leicester Children's Holiday Centre

The Leicester Children's Holiday Centre says it's closing its destination on the beachfront (pictured) after 120 years of sending underprivileged youngsters to the coast.

Marea Roberts, from the charity, says it's always prided itself on the "old-fashioned seaside holiday", but "some modern children are perhaps looking for a little bit more adventure".

A luxury bed maker from Leeds is investing £1.8m in a new wire drawing facility at British Steel's site in Scunthorpe.

Image source, Steve Morgan/British Steel

The facility will make fine wire used for pocket springs in Harrison Spinks mattresses.

A total of 22 new jobs will be created and the facility is expected to be up and running by April.

A Lincolnshire driving instructor who denies sexually assaulting female pupils will go on trial in April.

Keith Warner, 61, of Outgate, Leverton, near Boston, appeared at Lincoln Crown Court earlier for a pre-trial hearing.

Mr Warner spoke only to confirm his name during the 10-minute hearing.

At a previous court appearance, he pleaded not guilty to 11 charges of sexual assault involving five different women.

Judge Simon Hirst adjourned the case for trial at Lincoln Crown Court on 30 April.

Mr Warner has been bailed until then.

Stefan Pidluznyj
Local Democracy Reporter

Scrapping the role of chief executive at a Lincolnshire council will save taxpayers £90,000 each year, according to a senior councillor.

Image source, Google

Manjeet Gill, West Lindsey District Council's most recent chief executive, stepped down in the summer of 2017.

The role is still vacant and the authority voted to scrap it last month.

Councillor Giles McNeill says the authority must now cut its cloth accordingly in a climate of central government funding reductions and there "wasn't much justification" for a chief executive.

Mr McNeill says: "In the modern age, where budgets are reduced and the amount of money we have to spend is constantly being reduced by central government, we had to best look at what fitted our needs."

A teenager has been injured after a car mounted a kerb and hit him with the wing mirror.

It happened in Sutton-On-Sea yesterday afternoon at the corner of St Francis Garden and Huttoft Road in the village.

The 17-year-old had to dodge out of the way of a red Nissan which mounted the kerb while turning the corner.

The car then drove away without stopping.

Police want to speak to the driver of the car and any potential witnesses.

Disability campaigners say that the lack of changing facilities for disabled people can cause physical and emotional harm.

Image source, AVESCO LTD

Scunthorpe mum Lorna Fillingham, whose seven-year-old daughter has learning disabilities, is calling for improved toilet facilities for disabled people at Downing Street today.

Campaigners want to see more loos where disabled children and adults can be changed by their parents and carers.

This requires an adult changing bed and a hoist, which are not included in most disabled toilets.

A man's been taken to hospital after a fire at a flat in Grimsby.

Three fire engines were called to Willingham Street at around 21:20 last night.

The man was given CPR and oxygen at the scene but it is not known how badly injured he may be.

The property was left severely fire and smoke damaged, external.

It's thought the cause of the fire was an electric heater being too close to furniture.

Cats may have a reputed nine lives, but with this new innovation, dogs, ferrets and hamsters also have a fighting chance of surviving a fire.

Image source, RJ Sangosti via Getty Images

Spalding's fire and rescue team are testing oxygen masks for pets.

They can be used for large dogs all the way down to birds and mice.

The fire service says having the extra "tool in their toolbox" will help to prevent people risking their lives to save pets.

The number of child sex offences recorded by Humberside Police has risen by 20% in the past year.

Nationally, figures are at an all time high in the UK.

The NSPCC claims an offence was recorded every 8 minutes last year.

Humberside Police says it has specialist officers who work with social services to help and support victims and it has experienced teams who specialise in catching offenders who prey on children online.