Students in part of Lincolnshire whose education has been disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic are being offered an extra year at college to help them catch up on learning.

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From September, students at Franklin College in Grimsby will be able to study for an extra year, allowing them to retake exams.

The move is aimed at helping students who may have been forced to study from home or who have faced other disruptions to "maximise their academic potential", the college said.

It means students who need to retake their GCSE in English or maths can do so alongside a level two course in their first year.

They would then go on to study for another two years, with students being able to progress to go to university or other higher level education including apprenticeships.

BBC Weather

This morning, patchy cloud will clear leaving settled conditions for the afternoon with plenty of sunshine.

It'll be a little cooler than yesterday, with gentle winds.

This evening any lingering cloud will disperse and it will turn cold with a sharp frost likely:

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Local Democracy Reporting Service

People in Lincolnshire need to “blow off steam” as Covid restrictions are eased, but they need to be careful not to go “too far”, the county's health bosses have warned.

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Andy Fox, assistant director of public health at Lincolnshire County Council, said the "vast majority" of people were more compliant than he expected through the pandemic, but as restrictions are relaxed he urged people to keep to the rules.

Over the weekend both the Lincolnshire and Humberside police forces reported a number of incidents, including more than 40 people gathering in Stamford with a police officer and another person assaulted.

Large groups of youths also gathered to drink alcohol in Skegness, and several arrests were made in Cleethorpes after disorder on the high street.

Mr Fox said most people will have suffered over the past year and that people would undoubtedly want to “get out and blow off a bit of steam".

But he warned: "I understand we’ve all been cooped up inside for far too long...but I just urge you to remember, if we go too far too fast we’re likely to see infections increasing too far and too fast."

Police in Lincolnshire have thanked people in the county for "largely sticking to the rules" during the first weekend since the latest easing of coronavirus lockdown regulations.

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While the weekend - the first since bars and pubs could open to customers sitting outdoors under the new rules - was "very busy", the majority of people stuck to the new rules, according to the Lincolnshire force.

Ch Insp Andy Morrice said while the force saw a 20% rise in calls at the weekend, "this increase was to be expected as more people are out and about due to restrictions easing".

However, the force said that during the weekend a man was assaulted and one officer also suffered a minor injury after about 40 people gathered in The Meadows, Stamford.

Two youths were arrested and released and will be required to attend a voluntary interview in connection with the incident, officers added.

Meanwhile, officers also visited "several locations" in Skegness following reports of over six youths gathering and drinking alcohol.

Ch Insp Morrice said: "We would like to thank the majority of people who have stuck to the rules and we would like to reinforce that lockdown has eased and not ended.

"I would encourage people to continue to follow the guidance and ensure they meet in a group of no more than six outdoors. Gatherings indoors are not yet permitted."

BBC Weather

A chilly start with a little patchy fog near the Yorkshire coast clearing this morning. Sunny spells with patchy cloud developing allowing a few showers over the hills this afternoon.

Cloud will thicken this evening and it will stay cloudy tonight in Lincolnshire with light rain in places

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Seven people have been arrested after a man was left seriously injured in an assault in North Lincolnshire at the weekend.

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Police were called to Peveril Avenue in Scunthorpe (pictured) at about 02:30 on Sunday morning after reports a man had been attacked with a weapon.

The victim was taken to hospital for treatment where his condition is said to be "serious" but his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening, according to Humberside Police.

Seven men were subsequently arrested in connection with the assault, six of whom have since been released under investigation while a seventh remains in custody, the force adds.

Det Insp Tom Kelly says: "We have and will continue to search for other individuals believed to be connected with the assault and addresses across Scunthorpe and the wider area will be attended as our inquiries continue.

“We know an incident of this nature will understandably concern the community and officers from the local policing team remain in the area to provide reassurance."

The assault was an "isolated incident between those known to each other" and there is not believed to be a wider risk to the public, he adds.

Anyone who saw what happened, or who has information which might help the investigation, is being asked to contact Humberside Police.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Cyclists wanting to use the footpaths on the Humber Bridge will have to email bridge officials before they can cross, an MP has said.

The two footpaths across the 1.4 mile long bridge were closed on 3 April after a number of deaths in March.

Hull West and Hessle Labour MP Emma Hardy said she was told about the plans in a meeting with the board which runs the bridge.

Additional CCTV cameras were also being installed, she added.

Ms Hardy said work on the new safety measures was "progressing well".

"Contractors were on the bridge on Monday and Tuesday looking at where additional CCTV can go and where a power supply could come from," she said. "A few people asked me why only the west walkway was open and this is because contractors can only access the internal workings of the bridge on the east side and maintenance work is still going on. "The chair wanted me to communicate that they want to open for leisure users ASAP and that the closure is temporary and they will never charge cyclists or pedestrians for using the bridge." The BBC has contacted the Humber Bridge Board for a response.

If you've been affected by issues raised in this story, sources of support are available via the BBC Action Line here.

Thousands of wildflowers are set to spring up later this year thanks to a plan to brighten up a road in North Lincolnshire.

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More than 20,000 sq m of wildflower seeds will be planted alongside parts of the busy A18 over the next three days.

It comes after an army of volunteers helped clear litter and rubbish from Mortal Ash Hill, Scunthorpe, at the weekend ready for planting today.

James Todd, from North Lincolnshire Council, says it will improve the look of one of the main routes into the area.

He adds: "Wildflower species are on the decline, but they do thrive in untouched verge environments, so we thought actually it's an ideal spot to give it a go."

Similar schemes have proved popular, including miles of colour in Rotherham and wildflower verges in Kirklees (pictured above).

BBC Weather

A cold start to the day with a frost in places and patchy fog across Lincolnshire. The fog will lift by the middle of the morning and it will be dry and fine with plenty of sunshine and just small amounts of cloud at times.

A fine evening and it will stay dry and mostly clear through the first part of the night.

Some fog and low cloud will drift into coastal parts of North and East Yorkshire.

Breaking news, sport, weather and travel updates from across North, West, East and South Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.

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BBC Weather

Today it will be a mostly dry and bright day with plenty of sunshine. Chance of a few patches of cloud in the afternoon. Gentle winds.

Tonight, it will be turning clear at first, and a little chilly. A few patches of mist and fog will develop in the early hours, however.