Calvin Robinson
Local Democracy Reporter - North Lincolnshire

Hospital trusts across the county have all failed to meet their waiting time targets since the start of this year.

Image source, Getty Images

According to figures collated by the BBC, the trust which runs hopitals in Lincoln, Grantham and Boston failed to meet targets for cancer care, A&E and planned operations.

It missed its target for admitting and treating patients at A&E in four hours by 25%.

The trust has failed to meet its targets for A&E and cancer care every year since 2014.

But the chief operating officer at the trust - Mark Brassington - argued that it has seen a significant increase in pressure on all of its hospitals. He said: "We have experienced increased demand in our emergency departments resulting in our inability to see, treat and admit patients as quickly as we would like."

The Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Trust also missed its targets - 83.4% of patients at A&E were seen in four hours.

The target is 95%.

What a peaceful scene in Barton-upon-Humber this morning.

Thanks to Lee Beel for these great photos of the early morning mist over the nature reserve.

Image source, Lee Beel

Image source, Lee Beel

Police are hunting three masked men who attacked a couple in their Grimsby home - leaving a man with head injuries.

Image source, Google

Humberside Police say four men wearing black and white masks threatened the couple at their home in Donnington Street at around 19:00 on Tuesday 9 March and assaulted the man.

It's thought they made off in a red Audi car.

Officers say they have arrested one man in connection with the incident, but are searching for three more.

Anyone with information is asked to call 101.

Members of a family in Skegness have been injured in what is being described as a "terrifying ordeal" in which three masked men broke into their home and stole from them.

A woman in her 50s and an 11-year-old boy were injured in the incident which happened earlier in the week.

Police are appealing for anyone who may have seen anything suspicious on Phillip Grove in the town at 20:30 on Wednesday.

A business owner in Boston has been fined £300 for illegally installing PVC windows in her shop.

Julie Simmons, who owns fancy dress shop Katmandu on 26 West Street (pictured), was fined at Boston Magistrates Court on Tuesday and ordered to pay £1,119.07 costs for "failing to comply with a legal notice" which told her to remove the plastic window frames.

Image source, Boston Borough Council

Ms Simmons pleaded not guilty to the charge and said in an appeal that "the building was not of historical importance and that the windows were urgently required".

The UPVC windows had been fitted despite the building being classed as Grade II listed.

The borough council said they had repeatedly asked for the windows to be replaced with timber frames because plastic ones "harmed the character of the building".

The council say if the plastic windows still aren't removed the owner could face further legal action.

A recycling plant in North Lincolnshire is due to reopen after being shut for more than a year.

Image source, LDRS

The waste transfer station on Midland Road in Scunthorpe, closed just a month after opening, when the company running it went in to administration in October 2016.

North Lincolnshire Council has confirmed that a new contractor has taken over the site, which collects household waste before taking it to be recycled elsewhere.

The authority says it could stop 90% of general household waste from going to landfill and could save £84,000 next year.

Earlier in the week we heard about a litter of kittens abandoned in a plastic bag in a pub toilet in Lincoln.

Good news now though, they're happy and well... and have even got some special names, take a look:

Children and parents had to be accompanied out of a school after an incident involving armed police last night.

Image source, Google

Armed officers were sent to the scene, near Bourne Academy, to deal with a man who the force believed was carrying a weapon.

They confirmed later that it wasn't a firearm.

One person was injured in what's being called a "domestic incident".

Police say that officers worked with the school and local residents to help escort the public safely away from the scene.

A man in his 50s has been arrested and is currently in custody.

There are fears that President Donald Trump's decision to impose tariffs on steel and aluminium imports to the US could hit the steel industry in Scunthorpe.

Image source, Getty Images

Tariffs of 25% are to be placed on steel and 10% on aluminium imported into the US.

The MP for Scunthorpe Nic Dakin says the move has the potential to push the UK steel industry back in to crisis and has called on the government to act:

The UK government says it will seek an exemption from the tariffs.

Trade Secretary Liam Fox says he will travel to Washington to discuss the duties next week.

The former BHS store in Grimsby is going to be taken over by a discount retailer.

Image source, Google

Poundland has confirmed that it will opening in the shop on Victoria Street, which has been empty since the closure of BHS two years ago.

The discount store will move from its current shop in Freshney Place alongside discount fashion chain PEP&Co.

Six Lincolnshire pies are in the running to win the National Pie awards this afternoon.

Image source, Redhill Farm

Pies from Handsons Butchers in Boston, Meridian Meats in Louth, Nelson's Butchers and Grasmere Farm in Stamford, Well Vale in Alford and Uncle Henry's & Redhill Farms in Gainsborough all have pies up for awards.

Have you had any? Which would you vote for?

A man in his 50s has been arrested after armed police were called to an incident near a secondary school in Bourne yesterday.

The police say a domestic incident sparked the armed response near Bourne Academy on Edinburgh Crescent in the town at around 19:00 last night.

More on this breaking story as we get it.

There were applause as the Pleasure Island carousel sold at auction for the asking price of £180,000 yesterday, but there's been a bit of a hitch.

The person who made the last minute bid says it was an accident.

The auctioneers will meet today to decide whether to hold the bidder to the £180,000 bill, plus commission.

Roadworks are to take place on the Humber Bridge this evening and will continue until May.

Restrictions will be in place overnight on weekdays until 06:00, and throughout a number of weekends until the work is complete.

Ramps with a 20mph limit will be put in place while the work to replace expansion joints is carried out.

Police are dealing with a collision on a commuter route in Lincoln.

One lane of Doddington Road is blocked which is likely to cause traffic issues and potential delays.

Police are advising people to avoid the area if possible.

There are long delays on the A180 towards Grimsby this morning.

A lorry has overturned, blocking a lane.

Image source, Humberside Police

Humberside Police say the A160 interchange is also closed.

It's thought that A-board signs in Skegness are causing issues for partially-sighted people and parents with pushchairs.

Lincolnshire County Council says signs on the streets (pictured) are becoming a nuisance.

Some roads in the town have been likened to an "obstacle course".

The authority is planning to paint lines on pavements in the town to make sure the signs don't stray too far away from buildings and cause a trip hazard.

But some businesses aren't pleased about the idea.

Warrant Officer Nathan Hunt was found at his Lincoln home after concerns were raised for his safety.

Staff felt unsupported, patients were delayed and ambulances were not roadworthy, a report says.

It is believed that Amelia Wood was walking alongside the B1200 when a passing car lost a wheel.