The East Riding of Yorkshire, Hull, North East Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire will be moved to tier 2 - high alert - coronavirus restrictions from Saturday morning, it's been confirmed.

More to follow...

About 20,000 free breakfasts will be provided to people in need across Lincolnshire after a huge donation was made to a charity.

The Gainsborough Trinity Foundation is giving out free meals this half-term, and it has been given pallet-loads of breakfast cereal by the His Church charity.

Damon Parkinson, from the foundation, says it will make a huge difference to local children.

He says: "It's absolutely fantastic because although we've been able to do the meals, breakfast is the most important meal of the day and for a lot of children that sets them off whether they're doing holiday activities, going for walks with their families or doing some additional learning.

"It's absolutely vital and without His Church, we couldn't have offered that to the children."

Volunteers in Lincolnshire are being asked to come forward to help young people leaving the care system develop the skills they need to become independent.

Children's charity Barnardo’s runs a service called Lincolnshire Supported Lodgings, for young people aged 16 to 21-years-old who are leaving the care system and who do not have the support of a loving family.

Sally Robinson, a Senior Supported Lodgings Worker for Lincolnshire, says the organisation's currently working with 360 young people across Lincolnshire.

She says: "We’re looking for people with an interest in working with young people, introducing them into their home and offering support that they’d give their own children and who wants to help them with the practical skills around learning to become independent.

"For whatever reason in life they can’t live with their own family, they just need that bit of extra support.”

Volunteers can be from any walk of life, and they must have a spare bedroom, the charity says.

Anyone interested is being asked to contact the local team.

A Lincolnshire theatre has paid tribute to Bobby Ball, one half of the comedy double act Cannon and Ball, who's died at the age of 76.

Image source, PA Media

His death comes after the actor and comedian tested positive for Covid-19, his manager has confirmed.

Ball (pictured left) was one half of the comedy duo alongside his long-time friend and colleague Tommy Cannon.

He also starred in several sitcoms, including Not Going Out, Last of the Summer Wine and Benidorm.

They both trod the boards many times in Lincolnshire, including at the Embassy Theatre in Skegness.

Brendan Bugg, from the Embassy, says he has fond memories of the partnership.

"The last performance they did with us was back in 2018. Bobby had written a play called The Dressing Room.

"I know the term 'comedy legend' is bandied around, but it genuinely was a privilege to watch them.

"They were hugely successful and in the audience of The Dressing Room there were people of eight and 80 years - and they were lapping it up. They were loving it.

"The moment they walked on stage, they came alive. There were people in tears of laughter. They just transcended so many different generations," said Mr Bugg.

BBC Weather

Rain turning increasingly light and patchy this afternoon, before clearing away later.

It will remain windy with brisk southwesterly winds.

Rather mild this evening and overnight, under mostly cloudy skies and with brisk southwesterly winds.

It should be dry, although the odd spot of light rain is possible towards the end of the night:

Managers at Boston Pilgrim Hospital say they had no choice but to suspend patient visiting after an outbreak of coronavirus, but they understand people's frustration over the move.

Image source, Google

From tomorrow and for the next two weeks, only parents of sick children, birthing partners and those visiting end-of-life patients will be allowed onto the hospital's wards.

It comes after three wards at Boston Pilgrim were closed to new admissions following the outbreak.

United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust says it believes the cases are connected and has restricted visiting in order to contain virus transmission.

Dr Neil Hepburn, from the trust, said: "We have a duty to keep patients safe, to keep staff safe and to keep visitors safe.

"Because of that, with great reluctance we are suspending visiting to Pilgrim Hospital where there is a bigger problem."

A Special Constable from Lincolnshire says he welcomes measures put in place by the county's force to protect officers.

New figures show there are more than 400 assaults on officers and staff in Lincolnshire each year.

Special Constable Adam Brown was attending a road traffic collision when one of the people involved began to resist arrest and then spat in his face.

He says: "I felt the spit travelling down my face, my glasses, my cheek. We had to take him to the floor to apply a spit hood to prevent any further assaults to officers at the scene.

"I was just in disbelief. Then it was an emotional rollercoaster thinking about what he might have had that he could have transmitted to me."

He adds: "I believe policing is becoming more dangerous. You go out to these jobs and you're speaking with members of the public and you never know if it's going to happen."

Lincolnshire Police says it has introduced a "robust" investigative process and enhanced welfare package for officers and staff who are victims of crime.

A Lincolnshire business is warning it may have to make further job cuts unless it continues to get the same level of government support when the furlough scheme ends.

Image source, Getty Images

The original furlough scheme is due to come to an end on Saturday.

Sophie, from Hare and Beauty in Ruskington, says some staff have already been let go, but she says she fears more cuts unless the business gets sustained support.

She says: "The income isn't what it was therefore. I've been unable to keep some of our staff which is unfortunate as it was out of my control.

"Luckily we can claim through furlough but that will end this month. Depending how next month goes will determine if any more [cuts] need to be made."

Matt Warman, Conservative MP for Boston and Skegness, has defended the government after claims ministers were ignoring the pleas of businesses in areas covered by tier one coronavirus restrictions.

Fantasy Island in Ingoldmells has said it needed more support following a drop in visitors from places in areas with higher restrictions.

Mr Warman said he was working closely with the theme park: "There is a huge amount of support out there and you've seen from the Chancellor that he is someone who listens to the tourist and hospitality sector and I'm absolutely sure he will continue to do that."

Market traders in South Holland will not be charged fees until April next year after the district council granted an extension, it's been confirmed.

Image source, Reuters/Hannah McKay

The extension is aimed at giving existing traders more time to recover from the impact of coronavirus and help new traders who have joined in recent months to further establish themselves and their businesses.

Lincolnshire County Council has also confirmed that the Friday road closures to allow Long Sutton market to take place in its new location is being extended until at least January 2022.

Councillor Roger Gambba-Jones said: “This will provide traders with further invaluable support over the Christmas and News Year period and give the town centre improvement groups the opportunity to work with traders and other representatives to find a fee system that works best for everyone involved. “In the long-term, fees are an essential part of all markets, not just to cover their running costs but also to manage the quality of offer on those markets. However, with the changing and difficult impact of coronavirus still ongoing, I hope this free period can help our traders and reaffirms that markets are an integral part of our future plans and part of our ambition to encourage a vibrant and varied town centre experience in South Holland.”

There are more than 400 assaults on officers and staff each year in Lincolnshire, according to the latest figures.

Kicking, spitting and biting are among the most frequent types of attack - with more coughing and spitting incidents during the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file police officers.

One detective constable suffered a fractured skull when a car driven by a man hit her in Grantham.

Lincolnshire Police says it has introduced a "robust" investigative process and enhanced welfare package for officers and staff who are victims of crime.

Assistant Chief Officer Andrew White said: “Any attack on a police officer is not simply an assault, it’s an attack on the rule of law.

"Assaults should never be accepted as simply ‘a part of the job’ and while being a police officer is about sometimes putting yourself at risk of harm to keep the public safe, anyone who is assaulted while on duty can be assured of the full support of the force at every stage."

A meeting is due to be held today to discuss Lincoln’s rising number of coronavirus cases.

Public health officials have warned the city may face tougher restrictions if the trend continues.

Latest figures show the number of cases per 100,000 of the population for Lincoln is 234, putting it above the England average of 220.

Lincolnshire’s Outbreak Management Board will discuss the city situation today.

Lincolnshire County Council leader Martin Hill said: "Although the rates everywhere else are much lower, in Lincoln itself it has gone up recently.

"I'm not anticipating we'll be moving in to any other tiers at this stage, but it's just a report and we'll probably start meeting more regularly."

A Lincolnshire theme park says it's taking another financial battering as people living in areas under tier two and three coronavirus restrictions cancel their visits.

Image source, Google

Fantasy Island in Ingoldmells would normally welcome tourists from South Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire, both of which have been put under tighter restrictions to stop the spread of the virus.

Claire Draper, Fantasy Island finance director, says bookings are 25% down from last year and 30% of holidays have been cancelled.

She says: "Lincolnshire is still in tier one, which is excellent for the area, but the vast majority of our customers are in tier three or moving to tier three this week, so it's a difficult time for us.

"We were hoping for a really good half-term, but unfortunately it doesn't look like that's going to be the case.

"The impact is significant when taken alongside the national lockdown at the start of the year and the reduced trading capacity throughout August," she adds.

Jake Young gets a third goal in four games to guide Forest Green Rovers to victory over Grimsby and third spot in League Two.

Accrington Stanley record 19 positive Covid-19 tests while Scunthorpe's next three League Two fixtures are postponed.

More than 100 weapons have been handed in at police stations across Lincolnshire in just three weeks, the force says.

Image source, Lincolnshire Police

Kitchen knives, bowie knives, machetes and cleavers are just some of the weapons which have been handed in as part of Lincolnshire Police's weapons amnesty.

Det Insp Dave Harrop said: “This is really promising and I’m delighted so many people have taken the time to discard knives which could be used as weapons if they were to fall into the wrong hands.

“There are still just under two months to take part in our amnesty, so please do take advantage of this if you have an item that could be considered a weapon and drop it into one of our secure bins.”

The secure bins are located at police stations in Lincoln, Grantham, Boston, Skegness and Spalding until 18 December.

Some parents in Lincolnshire have spoken of their relief after community groups stepped in to help them feed their children through half-term.

Image source, Chris Radburn/PA Wire

Cafes, restaurants and charities across the county are offering free hot meals to children under 16 after the government voted against providing free meals to disadvantaged pupils during the holidays.

The Gainsborough Trinity Foundation is one place that's serving up meals.

Mum Michelle Spence, who uses the service, says it's a big weight off her mind.

"They've said we can have a free meal and at least I don't have to worry about what I'm going to feed them when I get home. It's one less thing to worry about."

Damon Parkinson, who's helping out at the Gainsborough Trinity Foundatoin, says the issue isn't a new one.

"It's just been highlighted and made worse during Covid. I think we need to work together."

Police are appealing for help identifying this man after a woman's purse was stolen out of her handbag as she shopped in a supermarket in Spalding:

Image source, Lincolnshire Police

The bag was on the victim's shoulder when it was taken at the Aldi on Winsover Road on Friday 16 October.

Police say they want to identify the man in the image above in connection with the theft.

He is described as white, of average build, with short brown hair.

He was wearing a dark bomber jacket, dark jeans, black trainers with white soles and a white face covering, officers say.

A unique hoard of collectable items has sold for more than £160,000 at an auction in Lincoln.

The treasure trove - including Beatles memorabilia, space race mementos and even pictures from the assassination of President Kennedy pictures - was built up by a man living in Nottinghamshire.

The final total won't be known for a few days.

Auctioneer Terry Woodcock said he was surprised at the level of interest: "We were having up to 1,800 people a day register worldwide to bid online. We had people as far away as Moscow, America and Australia, as well as local people. It was an incredible four days."

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Health bosses and councillors in Lincolnshire will meet tomorrow to discuss the rising cases of coronavirus in Lincoln.

Image source, Yui Mok/PA Wire

The city's infection rate has gone above the England average for the first time.

Other neighbouring areas with high numbers are being put under the toughest restrictions.

Tony McGinty, the assistant director of public health in Lincolnshire, says Lincoln could go that way if cases continue to rise.

"I think that's quite possible that we may see a position where Lincoln goes that way and other areas as well, if they see their numbers increasing and that increase is sustained.

"Either we, with our local politicians, will want to have that conversation with government, or government will may ask us to consider what we're doing around the tier that Lincoln and other areas are in."

Ipswich boss Paul Lambert is given a touchline ban for directing "abusive and insulting" language at an official after losing at Lincoln.