Lincolnshire's Just Jane Lancaster bomber might be the world's largest WWII aircraft kit - but is definitely not a toy.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A 4.98% council tax increase for 2021-22 has been approved by North East Lincolnshire Council – with 3% going towards adult social care.

Image source, PA Media

Council leaders approved their budget for the upcoming financial year in the authority’s full council meeting.

It will see a £1.52 per week increase for a Band D property – £79.04 annually.

The budget will see council tax income rise by £1.4m from £64m, with the adult social care precept rising from £6.5m to £8.8m.

Last month, North East Lincolnshire Council leaders predicted “black holes” in the authority's budget due to the impact of Covid-19 on finances.

An increase in the council tax hardship fund was also announced to provide additional support for households in some of the most vulnerable parts of the area.

Phillip Jackson, leader of North East Lincolnshire Council, said: “We’re acutely aware of the impact the pandemic is having on our residents and businesses and we’re determined to ensure the area is in the best place it can be to flourish as we hopefully come out of the challenges it has presented us all.”

BBC Weather

This evening and overnight it will remain cloudy and breezy.

It will, again, remain mostly dry but the odd spell of light rain cannot be ruled out.

Milder than last night:

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Lincolnshire is on a “downward trend” despite a Covid-19 infection rate spike in Boston, according to the county's health boss.

Image source, Reuters/Paul Childs

Boston currently has the highest infection rate in the county with 191 cases per 100,000 people as of Thursday evening - above the England average of 137.8 and ranked 56th nationally.

Up to 16 February, nearly 5,000 rapid Covid tests have been carried out in Boston, with 129 positive results in their district.

Professor Derek Ward, director of public health for Lincolnshire County Council, said people should be looking at a seven-day rolling average of infection rates for increased accuracy and, therefore, Boston isn’t currently a concern.

He said: “We’ve got to keep an eye on the general direction...If you look on a daily level, you’re always going to be seeing the numbers bounce around."

In Lincolnshire, as of 18 February, there have been around 17,700 lateral flow tests in total, and over 250 positives - a positivity rate of 1.5%.

Professor Ward added: “We are on a downward trend, but I think overall as a county, our key message is that the infection does seem to be in our working age adults."

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Nearly 203,000 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine have been administered in Lincolnshire, latest NHS figures show.

The weekly data released on Thursday shows 202,799 jabs have taken place between 8 December 8 and 14 February - up by 36,828 on the previous week.

It breaks down as 199,652 first doses and 3,147 second.

However that figure is 1,537 fewer than the previous week’s 38,365, and continues the drop from 40,206 recorded doses the previous week.

The data includes the new vaccination centre at the Lincolnshire Showground which aims to do over 1,000 doses a day.

The Showground centre is the second largest in the county, with the one at Princess Arena Sports Centre in Boston able to handle over 1,500 vaccines per day.

The figures show show 154,294 people under the age of 80 have received their first vaccination and another 1,551 have been given their second.

Some 45,358 people aged over 80 have received their first dose, with a further 1,596 receiving a second jab.

This means 97.5% of all over-80s in the county have received the first dose of a Covid vaccine.

Around of 31.7% of the Lincolnshire population in total has received a first dose of the vaccine.

BBC Weather

This morning it will become increasingly cloudy and breezy. Winds will be quite strong through the day. It will stay mostly dry, but the odd spell of rain cannot be ruled out.

This evening and overnight it will remain cloudy and breezy. It will, again, remain mostly dry but the odd spell of light rain cannot be ruled out. Milder than last night.

Through this evening, any isolated showers will die away, leaving a dry night with clearing skies and easing winds.

It will be quite chilly with a touch of frost possible in places.

Marion Thomas says she hopes lockdown will end in time to see her daughter Michelle Teale again.

BBC Sport

Lincolnshire referee Darren Drysdale will not referee Southend's game with Bolton on Saturday after being charged with improper conduct by the Football Association.

Image source, Matchday Images Ltd

He has apologised for locking heads with Ipswich player Alan Judge during Tuesday's draw against Northampton.

Drysdale moved his head towards Judge in the 90th minute and briefly appeared to square up to him.

The official has until 4 March to reply to the charge and has been replaced by Declan Bourne for the League Two match.

In a statement released by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited, Drysdale said he "did not maintain his composure" in the incident.

Lincolnshire County Council says it's disappointed the government has cut the amount of money it's getting to spend on the county's roads.

Image source, Google

The Department for Transport announced this week Lincolnshire's roads would receive £12.3m less funding this year compared to last.

The county's capital maintenance grant for 2021-22 is £38.7m compared to £51m for the previous year - that's a reduction of almost a quarter.

Councillor Richard Davies, executive member for highways, said: "For such a vitally important service to be cut so drastically is frustrating and disappointing.

"We operate as efficiently as we can, and ultimately the limit to how well we can maintain and improve our roads is based on how much money we can invest in it. This funding cut will mean less road resurfacing, fewer potholes filled."

Coronavirus infections in parts of Lincolnshire are rising, the latest figures show.

Boston, West Lindsey and Lincoln have all seen an increase.

Boston's rate is currently 188 infections per 100,000 people - which is above the national average of 137.

The number of infections in South Holland is also higher than the England average, but has seen a fall.

Meanwhile, East Lindsey continues to have the lowest rates in the county.

Here are the full details:

• Boston: 188.1 infections per 100,000 people
• South Holland: 165.2 infections per 100,000 people
• West Lindsey: 133.8 infections per 100,000 people
• North Kesteven: 124.0 infections per 100,000 people
• Lincoln: 117.8 infections per 100,000 people
• South Kesteven: 108.8 infections per 100,000 people
• East Lindsey: 71.3 infections per 100,000 people

Joel Ajewole is serving a nine-and-half year jail sentence for rape and sexual assault.

BBC Weather

This morning will be dull. Around noon a band of heavy rain will push in from the west.

However, that will quickly clear to sunshine and isolated showers in the afternoon. Feeling chillier.

Through this evening, any isolated showers will die away, leaving a dry night with clearing skies and easing winds.

It will be quite chilly with a touch of frost possible in places:

BBC Weather

This evening, showery rain will continue to push in.

Rain will clear later in the night, but it will be often cloudy.

Continuing breezy and mild:

Police say the journey was "not essential" and put people at "real risk".

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Lincolnshire Police receive around 250 Covid-related calls a week over alleged lockdown breaches, force bosses have revealed.

Image source, PA Media

Ch Supt Paul Timmins answered a question about groups of young people congregating near the River Slea, in Sleaford, and breaching lockdown during a Facebook live Q&A on Tuesday.

He said the force received around 40 calls a day for Covid-related issues and that police do “go through each and every single one”.

“Where we get reports of those sorts of activities...we do risk assess and have a proportionate response to them,” he said.

Ch Supt Timmins added this did not just mean enforcing incidents but figuring out why they occurred - for instance “family set-up issues that might mean the children feel better being outdoors.”

This included working with partners such as local authorities or Trading Standards for advice and guidance.

That way, he said: “We’re able then to provide a really decent quality service to that individual [and] can provide them with the right outcome rather than just saying, sorry it’s not our problem.”

Test and trace officers are planning to visit people in north east Lincolnshire who haven't taken up the offer of a coronavirus vaccine to find out why.

Image source, PA Media

Council officers will carry out doorstep visits to offer support to people who are self-isolating and to answer questions from those who haven't yet had the jab.

Margaret Cracknell, portfolio holder for health, wellbeing and adult social care at North East Lincolnshire Council, said: “The officers are predominantly there to make sure that those people who are self-isolating at home have got the necessary support.

"They’re also going to be contacting local residents who have been offered the vaccine but have not engaged with the NHS to book an appointment.

"This is just to make sure they are OK and to answer any questions they might have about the vaccine.

“The vaccine is our best chance at fighting off this disease and reducing the numbers of people ending up in hospital as a result of its effects.”

BBC Weather

This morning, a band of rain will push in from the west, soon clearing eastwards. This will leave the afternoon dry with sunny spells for a time, before cloud begins to build in. Breezy, but mild.

This evening, showery rain will continue to push in. Rain will clear later in the night, but it will be often cloudy. Continuing breezy and mild.

BBC Weather

It will be a dry night in Lincolnshire.

Here's the latest forecast:

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Schools in Greater Lincolnshire have lost more than £20,000 after a lettings firm went into administration.

Image source, Reuters/Carl Recine

Schools Lettings Solutions (SLS), which rents out school facilities, went into administration last year, leaving over 300 schools nationally £4m out of pocket.

They include the David Ross Education Trust, with 11 schools across Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire, which has lost out on £17,212.

A list posted to Companies House revealed the business also owed £2,474.75 to Beacon Academy in Cleethorpes, and £1,000 to Clifton Promotions, whose owners run a dance academy in Grimsby.

A spokesperson for the David Ross Education Trust said: "Like a number of academy trusts, we worked with SLS to manage our sports facilities bookings. This relationship was limited to just three of our academies.

"As soon as we had notification of the firm going into administration, we were in touch with the administrators to make a claim and that process is ongoing."

The Times reported that some schools said children were likely to go without books, trips or supplies.

When the company went into administration, it blamed the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown when schools were forced to close and team sports were banned.

Daniel Taylor, of Fortis Insolvency, which was appointed as the administrator, said at the time: “The directors initially took steps to try and protect the business and jobs by using the furlough scheme, although they have been unsuccessful in raising funds from Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme.

“With all the current uncertainties which exist, and the tapering of the furlough scheme in the coming months, there really is no option but to close the business.”