Local Democracy Reporting Service

Health bosses in Lincolnshire have praised a “phenomenal achievement” after a third of the county's eligible population was vaccinated against coronavirus.

Derek Ward, Lincolnshire County Council’s director of public health, said the latest good news regarding Covid-19 included around 55,000 rapid PCR tests carried out a week, as well as a further 16,000 asymptomatic tests completed so far.

The county’s infection rate also continues to fall, with Lincolnshire currently hovering around 120 cases per 100,000 people — one of the lowest in the whole of the Midlands, compared to the England average of 158.

Mr Ward said “broadly speaking” about 200,000 people had been vaccinated out of approximately 630,000 of the population aged over 60.

“It’s really positive news, getting through a third of the eligible people in the couple of months since we’ve been vaccinating, considering we were starting from scratch, is a phenomenal achievement,” he said.

The government confirmed on Monday that those over the age of 65 and the clinically vulnerable were now being offered a coronavirus vaccine.

BBC Weather

It'll be cloudy and breezy this morning, with a period of rain. Rain will clear to the east, and a dry afternoon will follow. Mild again today, with temperatures into double figures.

A few showers are expected this evening, perhaps heavy but passing through swiftly. The night will then be dry, with variable amounts of cloud. A mild night.

Two new testing centres have opened in northern Lincolnshire for key workers to get rapid coronavirus tests.

Image source, PA Media

The sites at Grimsby Town Hall and the Knoll in Cleethorpes are open to people who have to go out to work despite current lockdown restrictions, with a focus on identifying those who are asymptomatic.

A further site in Immingham could also be opened in the future, subject to demand.

Philip Jackson, Leader of North East Lincolnshire Council, said: “These tests will help us to identify coronavirus cases in those without symptoms that we wouldn’t have known about otherwise."

Becky Ellis Hamilton's mum had an alcohol problem but no-one talked about it - and this had tragic consequences.

BBC Weather

There'll be some cloud around in Lincolnshire to end the day and then a milder night compared to recently.

Here's the latest forecast:

Developers want to demolish an existing plant in Skellingthorpe and build a modern facility instead.

Charlie Smith has been nicknamed 'Car Park Charlie' by parents Harriet Hanson and Adam Smith.

Public health officials in Lincolnshire are considering using fire stations as coronavirus testing sites, it's been confirmed.

Council buildings could also be used as test sites under moves to expand asymptomatic screening for Covid-19 across Lincolnshire.

The sites will be used to test public sector workers before later being opened up to the general public.

Smoking materials caused three house fires in Lincolnshire over the weekend, the county's fire service has said.

As a result, it's renewing warnings for people to take care to put cigarettes out fully and never to smoke in bed:

Today will be a very mild day, with temperatures into double figures. It should be dry, with some brighter skies developing this afternoon.

Dry this evening, before a band of rain passes through overnight. Turning dry again later in the night, with variable amounts of cloud.

Breaking news, sport, travel and weather updates from across Lincolnshire.

Rotherham against QPR and Swansea's trip to Sheffield Wednesday are among the growing host of Saturday's EFL games called off.

Mawer subjected his teenage victims to "shockingly depraved sexual acts", a court hears.

Carl Marrows's father says information revealed at a new inquest left him "absolutely disgusted".

Grimsby Town sign midfielder Giles Coke after overcoming issues related to his registration.

Another container of chemicals has washed up on a Lincolnshire beach, the fifth since yesterday morning.

Image source, East Lindsey District Council

Officials at East Lindsey District Council say a dozen birds and other wildlife died after the first container was found on Chapel St Leonard's beach yesterday morning.

Two more have now been found at Skegness Beach, and one each at Mogg's Eye and Anderby Creek.

Officials say they "aren’t able to guess where these have come from or what damage they may have caused along the way".

A spokesperson added, "It is sad to think they have made their way into the ocean through dumping or other means and have drifted on the North Sea."

Police are investigating following the discovery of the chemicals on the Lincolnshire coast.

Another wind farm could be up and running off the Lincolnshire coast by 2030.

Image source, PA

The turbines off Lincolnshire's coast would be able to generate 1500mw of power, enough to provide energy to 1.4 million homes.

It's part of a new wave of offshore farms being planned.

Although at early stages in the planning, the wind farm would be to the east of The Wash on Lincolnshire's coast.

Emergency service workers and volunteers should be next in line to get Covid vaccines, according to Lincolnshire's police and crime commissioner.

Image source, Paul Green

Marc Jones, an elected official who scrutinises the county's police force, says "it's really important" front-line staff are prioritised "once the most vulnerable have been vaccinated".

Mr Jones said: "Often it's officers that we're asking to get called out for safety, or to visit vulnerable people or to attend incidents whether it's on the road or the home, and we absolutely rely on them to come into close contact."

Meanwhile, 96% of those aged 75 in Lincolnshire have been given their first Covid jab.

70-year-olds are now being told to request a jab if they haven't already had one.

People over 65 are now also being offered the vaccine.

But many front-line NHS workers have already been vaccinated, and there are now calls for other professions like teachers and other front-line workers to be protected.

BBC Weather

A cold day today but it is expected to be dry with plenty of sunny spells throughout the day.

A few patches of cloud around at times. Moderate easterly winds.

Tonight, it will be cold with clear spells developing for much of the night.

Easterly winds are expected to strengthen as well.