BBC Weather

It will be a dry day in Lincolnshire.

Here's the latest forecast:

At least 300 hospital and healthcare staff are currently off work due to coronavirus across Lincolnshire, it's been revealed.

The figures included 276 staff at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (ULHT) and 34 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service.

The number includes staff who are Covid-positive as well as those who are self-isolating for shielding reasons or due to close contacts having tested positive for the virus.

In total, about 8,000 members of staff are employed by ULHT.

It's exactly 40 years since BBC Radio Lincolnshire took to the airwaves and today the station has been looking back and celebrating its history.

Looking at these archive pictures, the fashion has certainly changed a bit since those early days...

BBC Radio Lincolnshire's current station editor has praised the work of all the staff who've worked in the building since that day in 1980.

Charlie Partridge says: "Clearly those pioneers 40 years ago didn't have to deal with what we're dealing with at the moment.

"However, they had their own challenges - floods and snow - and I'm sure they would have risen to the occasion like we've risen to the occasion over the last eight months."

Police are appealing for witnesses to an assault on a 17-year-old boy in Grimsby.

Image source, PA

Officers say the victim was walking with a friend along Harold Street in the town at aroun 14:00 on Monday when there was an altercation with a number of other people.

The teenager was hit and pushed to the ground. He suffered a serious hand injury and bruising to his body and legs.

His motorcycle was also damaged.

Two people have been arrested and released as the investigation continues.

Lincoln looks set to lose some of its art and historical exhibits to Nottingham after City of Lincoln Council signed a deal to move them from the Usher Gallery.

It's after a long-running row with Lincolnshire County Council which now wants to charge the authority for storing the artefacts in the building or hand them back, so the venue can be used for weddings.

Image source, Google

The city council say they were left with no choice but to cut a deal but the leader of the County Council, Martin Hill, says its ridiculous:

BBC Radio Lincolnshire turns 40 today!

As you can see, there have been some technological changes during the years.

Thankfully, the technology is a bit more up to date these days!

One of the items on the first breakfast show was an interview with a Horncastle man who'd just set up a bomb shelter business.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Lincolnshire’s public health body will get new powers to carry out more localised test and tracing.

Image source, Google

As reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Lincolnshire County Council’s assistant director of public health Tony McGinty said work was due to start on some cases from later this week.

It means local health officials will have access to some of the systems the national programme uses.

He said it was “definitely a step forward” to further work once the trial was over.

Bosses have argued for more control over test and trace for a while.

They say this will enable them to increase the number of close contacts being reached following positive results due to the use of local knowledge and trust, which isn’t necessarily there for national systems.

Mr McGinty added that it would enable them to better manage local outbreaks due to the use of real-time data.

Lincolnshire's Health Protection Team said on Tuesday it was working with 71 schools which have had confirmed cases of coronavirus.

The figure is up from 67 on Monday.

All schools are said to be taking action to limit the potential spread of the virus, with some pupils and staff self-isolating as a precaution where necessary.

It will be a dry night in Lincolnshire. Here's the latest forecast:

Scott Dalton
Political Reporter, BBC Radio Lincolnshire

A controversial deal which has seen a private company run parts of Lincolnshire Police is to be ditched.

Image source, Google

The deal sparked a debate when confirmed eight years ago as to whether private companies should be running elements of the police.

G4S has an annual £22m contract to provide a number of behind the scenes operations such as the police force control room and firearms licencing.

The Lincolnsihre Police and Crime Commissioner Marc Jones says his decision to end the contract in 2022 is no reflection on the work of G4S or its staff, but said it was about providing the most affordable policing.

Some services could now go back to Lincolnshire Police or be provided jointly with other forces .

Another option is an off-shoot of Lincolnshire Police being set up which could also charge other forces for running some of their services.

Health bosses are using social media to remind people of the importance of getting a flu jab.

Despite the lockdown they're still available.

Lincolnshire's hospitals were left with no other option but to re-introduce car parking charges because people were taking advantage, the boss of the trust which runs the sites has said.

Image source, Google

Last week, new lower fees were brought in at Lincoln County, Boston Pilgrim and Grantham hospitals after the charges were scrapped earlier this year.

But people then started using the spaces for personal use rather than hospital business, according to United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust (ULHT).

It will be a mainly cloudy day in Lincolnshire. Here's the latest forecast:

The Lincoln Grand Prix cycling event will be back in 2021, it's been confirmed.

This year's Grand Prix was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

However, its return in 2021 has now been announced as part of the provisional British Cycling National Road Series calendar for next year.

The race is due to take place in Lincoln on 9 May.

Armed police were called to reports of several people carrying weapons in Grantham on Saturday.

BBC Weather

There'll be some rain around in Lincolnshire this evening.

Here's the latest forecast:

A Hinckley railway bridge tops the chart, which also features bridges in Staffordshire and Norfolk.

Planned work is being brought forward on the Humber Bridge.

Motorists are being warned of possible disruption from this evening:

A gas pipeline which has been built under the River Humber between East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire has made it into the Guinness Book of World Records.

Image source, National Grid

The pipeline, running between Goxhill in North Lincolnshire and Paull in East Yorkshire, has been officially named the world’s longest hydraulically inserted pipeline at 4.96km in length, external.

In July, after the successful completion of the tunnel beneath the Humber Estuary, it was flooded and the pipe was pushed through.

Once the pipeline had been inserted, it was verified by the Guinness Book of Records.

Emma Ford, head of gas construction for National Grid, says: "Delivering a project which is of such importance for the gas transmission network is a super achievement.

"To achieve a world record is the 'icing on the cake'."

The pipeline is now being connected to the network, ready for gas to begin flowing in December, securing the supply of up to 25% of Britain’s gas during the winter months, according to National Grid.

Zoe Watts appeared at Lincoln Crown Court and is to go on trial in May.