Lincolnshire's Covid-19 infection rate has fallen again, according to the latest figures.

Image source, Reuters/Phil Noble

All areas have shown a drop in infection rates except Boston, which has seen a rise of three cases since last week.

The figures include infections in the week up to and including 9 January.

The lowest rates are in North East Lincolnshire and East Lindsey at 154 and 160 per 100,000 people respectively.

The highest rates are in South Kesteven and Lincoln, where case rates are 354 and 348 respectively per 100,000 people.

The current average infection rate in England is 618 per 100,000 people.

North Yorkshire Police said it had issued more than 70 fines over the weekend.

The packs, containing products to help skin heal, will be given out to front-line health workers.

The signs are coming down on Oldrids department store in Boston, which is expected to close after more than two centuries of trading in the town.

Image source, Debbie Kirk

Oldrids began trading in Boston town centre in 1804 but in July 2020, the doors didn't open again after the first coronavirus lockdown.

Currently, the firm doesn't list the central Boston shop as one of its stores, despite never officially confirming it will close.

In a statement released last year, a spokesperson said the firm had begun a consultation period to close the shop and hoped to "minimise redundancies".

Oldrids still has sites on the outskirts of Boston, in Grantham and in Scunthorpe.

A woman has been fined fined for breaking the "essential travel" coronavirus lockdown rule and travelling from Lincolnshire to North Yorkshire to eat a burger with her sister, police say.

Image source, Google

Police in North Yorkshire say the woman, in her 30s, who hasn't been named, has been given a fixed penalty notice for the 100-mile journey to Scarborough.

Under current government rules, people are being asked to stay at home and only travel from their local area if it's essential.

Ch Insp Rachel Wood, from North Yorkshire Police, said: "Driving through three counties to get a burger is not classed as essential travel.

"Most people in North Yorkshire are trying really hard to stop the spread of Covid in our communities and protect the vulnerable," she added.

A Lincolnshire taxi driver has been jailed for two years and banned from driving for six years after admitting causing death by dangerous driving.

Image source, Family photo

Wendy Short, 79, from Lincoln (pictured) died, and another passenger was seriously injured, when the driver of the taxi she was in used his mobile on the A46 at Lincoln in July 2019.

Lincoln Crown Court heard Ian Penman had used his phone for over 30 seconds just before crashing into the back of a lorry.

Penman, 67, of The Burrows, in Nettleham, admitted the charges in May last year and was sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court yesterday.

He was also ordered to pass an extended retest before he can legally drive again.

Passing sentence, Judge John Pini QC said: "This case demonstrates, if proof were needed, the real dangers of using hand-held mobile phones.

"Here such use has killed one person and seriously injured another."

Mrs Short's family has appealed for drivers not to use mobile phones when driving to prevent similar accidents in the future.

In a statement, a family member said: "If you think of using your phone when driving, remember her name and the pain and loss we will feel forever. Your call can wait."

The coronavirus infection rate in Lincolnshire is less than half the rate of England's, according to the latest figures.

Image source, Danny Lawson/PA Wire

Latest figures, which reflect the week ending on 7 January, show Lincolnshire's infection rate as approximately 261 cases per 100,000 people.

The England average is currently 625 cases of infection per 100,000 people.

The highest rate nationally is in London, where 1,527 people per 100,000 in Barking and Dagenham have tested positive.

The district with the highest infection rate in Lincolnshire is South Kesteven, with 389 per 100,000 people.

Four of Lincolnshire's districts are falling or showing no change in virus rates, while three - Boston, South Holland and East Lindsey - are seeing rising numbers.

There's been an increase in people breaking coronavirus rules in Lincolnshire and those rule-breakers are putting officers at risk, one of the county's most senior police officers says.

Image source, PA

Officers say they're giving out more fines and getting more complaints about people breaking Covid rules, according to Lincolnshire Police.

The forces's Assistant Chief Constable, Kerrin Wilson, says rule-breakers should consider the families of officers they're putting at risk.

Expect a chilly day with rain later in the afternoon.

There may even be sleet mixed in as we head into the evening.

You can find the latest forecast for your local area here.

Salford climb into the League Two play-off places with a late winner at struggling Scunthorpe.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

If people do not stick by the coronavirus rules, the national lockdown could last longer than is currently thought, Lincolnshire's health bosses have warned.

Image source, Reuters/Lee Smith/File Photo

Professor Derek Ward, Lincolnshire County Council’s director for public health, says the county is currently performing better than other areas and has not seen a big rise in infection rates recently.

However, he said: “If people don’t stay at home, a legal requirement, and if people don’t stick by the rules and our rates start to go up, we start to see more pressure on the NHS - and it’s already pressured - then it’s going to potentially prolong the lockdown.

“Covid can’t come into your house unless you allow it. Equally, if you are one of those people who might have Covid but you’ve not got any symptoms, if you stay home during the lockdown period, you will clear the virus and that means you can’t pass it on to anybody," he added.

In the seven days to 9 January, Lincolnshire had a rate of 267 infections per 100,000 people and has sat between the 250-300 range for several weeks. The national average is around 629.

On Monday, the first of a series of new rapid testing sites also came online in Lincoln and carried out 60 tests on asymptomatic people in its first day - recording one positive case.

The tests, at the LNER stadium, can deliver results within an hour.

Grimsby accept a suspended fine for breaching English Football League rules after three games were postponed because of Covid-19.

BBC Weather

It will be a cold night in Lincolnshire.

Here's the latest forecast:

Several new coronavirus vaccination sites will be up and running in Lincolnshire by the end of the week, it's been confirmed.

Image source, EPA/Jacob King/Pool

The new sites will be at:

• The Storehouse, Skegness
• Lincolnshire Showground, Lincoln
• Springfields, Spalding
• John Coupland Hospital, Gainsborough
• Marisco Medical Practice, Mablethorpe

The next step for the county’s NHS to roll out the programme further is expected to be two large vaccination sites and a roving service across the county.

Almost 140 people were arrested during the Christmas crackdown on drink and drug-drivers by Lincolnshire Police, the force says.

During December, 62 people were arrested on suspicion of driving or being in charge of a vehicle while over the legal alcohol limit, according to Lincolnshire Police.

Meanwhile, 77 people were arrested on suspicion of driving while impaired through controlled drugs.

That’s a total of 139 people who were arrested over the Christmas period and who now face an investigation.

Organisers say they hoped the display would "put a smile on people's faces after a terrible year".

It's a chilly day across the county but you may see some spots of wintry sunshine.

Find your local weather forecast for today and the week ahead here.

Two cannabis factories and over 100 cannabis plants have been uncovered during raids at the weekend in Grimsby, according to Humberside Police.

The first was found at a property in Harold Street in East Marsh, where two rooms of a house were being used to grow cannabis, officers say.

The second was found in a property in Freeman Street, also in East Marsh, following reports of a suspected break-in.

Officers found four rooms had been used to grow cannabis and the growers had also tampered with the electricity supply, causing a potentially serious fire risk, according to police.

Det Insp Tom Kelly says: "I’d like to thank the members of the public who got in touch with us about these grows.

"Thanks to their vigilance we have been able to seize these plants and equipment and put measures in place to prevent further grows from being established in these properties.

"Though the number of plants recovered was relatively small, there was provision in both properties for large scale grows."

Investigations are continuing to find out who was behind the two cannabis operations, Humberside Police adds.

BBC Weather

There could be some rain around in Lincolnshire overnight.

Here's the latest forecast:

Laptops donated as part of the BBC's Make A Difference campaign are being put to use in Lincolnshire.

The appeal for donations of laptops and digital devices to help schoolchildren across the county access online classes during the coronavirus lockdown continues this week: