The leader of North Lincolnshire Council has urged people to stick to social distancing rules to help stop the area being moved into the toughest tier four coronavirus restrictions.

Image source, Danny Lawson/PA Wire

Northern Lincolnshire remains in tier three - very high alert - restrictions despite neighbouring areas moving into tier four.

Council boss Rob Waltham says: "There are many smaller businesses we value going to every day that are now still able to remain open - but if we go into tier four then they have to close.

"This is exactly why we need to keep that intervention down and keep the number of people we're mixing with down, otherwise tier four is coming our way."

It's another chilly day across the county. Temperatures will be around freezing but there will be spells of wintry sunshine during the day.

You can find your local forecast here.

Jon Sass is appointed MBE for services to the restoration of UK windmills and watermills.

Grimsby Town re-appoint Paul Hurst as manager on a two-and-a-half-year deal to replace Ian Holloway.

The move to the toughest measures starts at midnight, with all non-essential shops having to close.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Lincolnshire going into the toughest tier four coronavirus restrictions from Thursday is "devastating" for small businesses in the county, it's being claimed.

Image source, Andrew Matthews/PA Wire

Tier four rules include a "stay at home" order and mean businesses such as hairdressers, gyms and all "non-essential" shops must close, along with indoor entertainment venues.

Katrina Pierce, development manager for the Federation of Small Businesses in Lincolnshire, says: "Entering a new year under the toughest restrictions after a turbulent 2020 will not only further knock morale among business owners, it will hit their accounts too."

Earlier, health secretary, Matt Hancock said: "I know that tier three and four measures place a significant burden on people, and especially on businesses affected, but I’m afraid it’s absolutely necessary because of the number of cases that we’ve seen."

The leader of Lincolnshire County Council says he is "disappointed" by the government's decision to move Lincolnshire into the highest level of coronavirus restrictions.

Councillor Martin Hill says infection rates in the county have fallen significantly in recent weeks so he is disappointed by the decision to move Lincolnshire to tier four restrictions from tomorrow.

He says he is still waiting for an explanation about why the county will be moved up to the tougest level of restrictions.

Councillor Hill says he will also be asking the government about what support will be given to businesses in Lincolnshire once they are forced to close again.

Lincolnshire is to be put into the toughest tier four coronavirus restrictions, it's just been confirmed.

Tier four rules include a "stay at home" order and mean businesses such as hairdressers and gyms must close.

More to follow...

Schools in Lincolnshire should remain closed while coronavirus infection levels remain high, according to the president of the county's branch of the National Education Union (NEU).

Image source, Reuters/Eddie Keogh

Under current plans, the majority of secondary school pupils in England are due to start term on 4 January studying remotely, to give head teachers time to implement a round of coronavirus testing for students and staff.

Primary school students will return as normal during the same week and will not be tested for Covid-19.

Those in exam years and vulnerable pupils will return in person first, with the rest expected to go back on 11 January.

Members of the armed forces are to give remote support to secondary schools and colleges in England setting up mass Covid testing as the new term begins.

Chris Thompson, president of the Lincolnshire branch of the NEU, is not convinced it's enough.

He says "I'm very sceptical it is going to work, so I would keep the schools closed. I know there is a huge amount of anxiety in schools with parents and pupils."

It's a chilly day in Lincolnshire today. Temperatures will dip below freezing from early afternoon.

You can find your local forecast here.

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

Myles Hippolyte's first English Football League goal and Mark Howard's penalty save help Scunthorpe win 2-1 at Walsall.

Grimsby pick up their first point since the departure of Ian Holloway courtesy of a 0-0 draw at home to mid-table Oldham.

Grimsby Town majority shareholder John Fenty agrees a deal to sell the League Two club to a consortium.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Six out of nine Lincolnshire districts have dropped down the Covid-19 infection rate rankings since Christmas, new figures show.

Lincoln and Boston were among the areas with the highest UK infection rates at the beginning of December, but are now out of the top 100 in the UK.

Greater Lincolnshire’s fall in ranking is not all due to a decrease in infection rates, but a rise in other parts of the country which have overtaken the region.

On 3 December, Lincoln had the ninth highest infection rate in the UK, with 385.7 per 100,000 of the population. Now, Lincoln is 119th, but with a higher infection rate of 388.7.

Boston became the hub for high infection rates on 3 December, with 547.2, placing it second nationally. Now, it is 354.8 per 100,000 people and 132nd in the country.

Areas such as North East Lincolnshire have more than halved their infection rate since the beginning of the month, with an infection rate of 223.7 on 3 December to 110.9 now, placing it 343rd in the UK.

While England has seen a rise in its rate of infection over the last few weeks, Greater Lincolnshire has started to fall gradually.

On 3 December, the average infection rate for Greater Lincolnshire was 267 per 100,000 people, but now it's 254.

Business leaders in Lincolnshire say they're hoping for a better year for the county's high streets in 2021.

Image source, Google

Some big retailers have struggled and even closed during the coronavirus pandemic, while small businesses have faced major difficulties during the lockdowns.

However, Sarah Loftus, chief executive of Lincoln's Business Improvement Group, says there is still a future for town and city centres.

Witnesses are being asked to come forward after a man was stabbed and seriously injured in Grimsby earlier this month.

Image source, Google

The attack happened in the Patrick Street underpass (pictured) between 02:45 and 03:00 on Sunday 6 December, according to Humberside Police.

The victim was attacked by two men, one described as white and wearing dark clothing, the other described as black and wearing a blue tracksuit.

The victim suffered knife wounds to his shoulder, arms and hands and needed hospital treatment, though his injuries were not life-threatening, police say.

Anyone who saw what happened or who has information about the attack is being asked to contact the Humberside force.

Police said a black Mercedes-Benz 200 and a blue Suzuki Swift crashed on the A16 Spalding bypass.

Morecambe maintain their spot in the League Two play-off places as they come from behind to beat managerless Grimsby.

Mansfield end a run of four games without a victory courtesy of a 3-2 success at fellow strugglers Scunthorpe.