A Lincolnshire council leader says the county could have been split into districts instead of the whole of the county facing the toughest coronavirus restrictions next week.

Image source, Reuters/Phil Noble

Lincolnshire will go into tier three - "very high alert" - restrictions on Wednesday 2 December, when the latest England-wide coronavirus lockdown ends, the government has announced.

But Lord Gary Porter, leader of South Holland District Council, says he is "very disappointed" the area will be going into tier three.

South Holland has the lowest coronavirus infection rate in the county and is also lower than the national average.

Lord Porter says: "Clearly the government has left sight of the science and just gone with using the lines on a map to sort it.

"Clearly it could have worked as districts. The whole point of having boundaries is that. We should have worked on local administration areas.

“I’m very surprised. If you’re doing a national lockdown, that’s the reason for shutting the whole country down. But as soon as you go into a tiered system, it’s supposed to be based on evidence."

Lord Porter added that local residents would be under stricter restrictions than "next door neighbour" Peterborough, "where cases are higher – and the restrictions are lower. It doesn’t make any sense."

With the news that Lincolnshire - including North and North East Lincolnshire - will go into tier three "very high alert" coronavirus restrictions from next week, what does this mean for people living in the county?

Here's an explanation:

Lincolnshire will be put into tier three "very high alert" coronavirus restrictions when the current England-wide lockdown ends next week, the government confirms.

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Thousands of military-themed magazines have been uncovered at a council bungalow in Great Gonerby.

Image source, South Kesteven District Council

The discovery was made by the housing team at South Kesteven District Council as they cleared out the home of a resident who had died.

But, rather than scrap the piles of air and ground combat magazines and manuals dating from the 1980s to the present day, they were put into storage.

Titles include Air Forces Monthly, Flypast, In Combat, Air Show and World Air Power Journals.

Now, with approval from the tenant's estate, an appeal is being made to find a charity, group of enthusiasts or an individual who will appreciate the treasure trove of military magazine memorabilia.

NHS England recorded a further 12 Covid-related deaths at Lincolnshire's hospitals in figures released yesterday.

Image source, Google

According to the official data six deaths were registered at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust and five at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole, which run hospitals in Scunthorpe and Grimsby.

One death of a patient with coronavirus was also registered by the Lincolnshire Community Health Services Trust.

It takes the death toll in Lincolnshire to 489 since the start of the pandemic.

A Lincolnshire charity is raising money so children receiving cancer treatment can still see Father Christmas this year.

Image source, Science Photo Library

George Clark set up Lincoln's Little Heroes after his three-year-old son Stanley was diagnosed with kidney cancer.

He said: "The group has been started to try and create a bit of festive magic for children in the Lincoln area who are currently undergoing cancer treatment, or have recently finished."

They want to raise enough money so Father Christmas can visit them and deliver a present, while staying socially distanced.

They are also looking for a trailer and music system to make the visits possible.

Lincolnshire Police say two of their officers have been taken to hospital following a collision on the A1 involving two HGVs and a police vehicle.

Image source, Hirurg/Getty

The collision was reported at 11:23 GMT on the A1 at Colsterworth.

The force say although both officers have been taken to hospital, their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

The driver of one of the HGVs has also been taken to hospital.

Around 10% of the entire workforce at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (ULHT) are off work for both Covid-19 and non-coronavirus reasons.

Image source, Google maps

Martin Rayson, Director of People and Organisational Development at ULHT says "We are taking a range of actions to ensure safe staffing of our services, including redeploying staff where appropriate, increasing our use of our bank and agency staff, and asking colleagues to support by helping with non-clinical roles at both Lincoln and Pilgrim hospitals.”

The trust runs Lincoln County, Boston Pilgrim, Grantham and Louth hospitals. Grantham hospital is currently operating as a 'Covid Free' site so operations and procedures can be carried out there.

Lincolnshire's new Chief Constable has been chosen for a second time, but their identity won't be revealed until next month.

Image source, Google

Paul Gibson was originally named by Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Marc Jones as the preferred candidate for the job in September.

That was meant to go before the Police and Crime Panel to be rubber-stamped, but that was then halted because of "procedural problems" and the job was re-advertised.

It's not clear if Mr Gibson, who is currently Derbyshire's Assistant Chief Constable applied a second time around.

Whoever has landed the job to take over from Bill Skelly will be on a £143,000-a-year salary and is expected to be unveiled December 18.

A quarter of all hospitals beds in Lincolnshire are being taken up by patients being treated for Covid-19.

Image source, Google

Across Lincoln County Hospital and Boston Pilgrim Hospital, 245 patients have tested positive for coronavirus.

The chief executive of United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (ULHT), Andrew Morgan, says "The numbers we are getting through are far, far larger than wave one and then that is sadly reflected in the number of deceased patients."

The MP for Boston and Skegness believes Lincolnshire will be placed in the top tier of coronavirus restrictions, when lockdown ends next month.

Image source, Google

Matt Warman has met with the Public Health Minister Jo Churchill who indicated that at least some of the county could enter tier three.

East Lindsey has the highest coronavirus infection rates in the East Midlands, Boston has the fourth highest.

Mr Warman says "We are right at the top of the worst league table to be at the top of and in all likelihood places at the top of those league tables are likely to go into the highest tiers".

An official announcement about which regions go into which tiers is expected to be made tomorrow.

The unveiling of a statue of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in her home town of Grantham has been delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic, it's been confirmed.

A plinth has been in place in the centre of Grantham since earlier this year, but there is no sign yet of the 10ft-high sculpture of the woman who became known as the "Iron Lady".

The sculpture was offered to Grantham in 2018 after the original plans for it to be erected in Parliament Square in Westminster were rejected.

A spokesperson for the Public Memorials Appeal says the installation of the statue, which was designed by sculptor Douglas Jennings, has been delayed until next year.

The statue of Baroness Thatcher, who died in 2013, will remain in storage at a secret location until it's finally unveiled.

Volunteers at a Lincolnshire wildlife rescue centre are caring for their first grey seal pup of the season after she was found injured on the coast.

Image source, Mablethorpe Seal Sanctuary

The pup was rescued from Theddlethorpe beach on Friday and was underweight, dehydrated and exhausted, staff at Mablethorpe Wildlife Rescue say.

She had several wounds on her back flippers and back and her right eye was badly injured which may mean she loses sight in that eye, volunteers add.

But just three days later, her wounds are healing and staff say she is "bright as a button".

She is also now well-hydrated and has gained 7lb in weight, they say.

Image source, Injured baby seal

Grimsby bounce back from a heavy defeat by Tranmere to beat Crawley with goals from Matt Green and Max Wright.

Bolton's climb up the League Two table continues with a hard-fought win at Scunthorpe.

Lewis Montsma's header 16 minutes from time is enough to earn high-flying Lincoln a hard-fought win at Swindon.

The mother of a "perfect" Lincolnshire teenager who died from an ecstasy overdose is warning others of the dangers of taking drugs.

Image source, Lincolnshire Police

Alex Buchan (pictured) was found dead at a property in Fleet Street, Holbeach, Lincolnshire, early in April 2019. He was found to have fatal levels of MDMA - or ecstasy - in his blood.

Two men who organised a party at which Alex died were jailed yesterday, with a judge at Lincoln Crown Court telling them they were "morally responsible".

Judge John Pini told Alastair Turner, 19, of Fleet Road, Fleet, who sold drugs at the party, and Sam King, 21, of Fleet Street, Holbeach, who hosted the event, that although there was not evidence to bring criminal charges against them for the death, it would be on their conscience for the rest of their lives.

Turner admitted possession of ecstasy with intent to supply on 5 April 2019 and a further charge of supplying ecstasy between 1 November 2018 and 7 April 2019.

King admitted being concerned in the supply of ecstasy and two charges of permitting premises to be used for the supply of drugs.

Turner was jailed for three years and eight months and King for three years after both admitted the charges.

Today, Alex's mother Lisa has said: "Nobody will understand what this has done to the family. It has destroyed us. The sentence isn't enough. It won't ever be enough.

"This will be hanging over me for the rest of my life. My son, who had a heart of gold, is never coming back. People don't understand the devastation drugs cause families."

This year's Christmas lights have been officially turned on in Lincoln City Centre.

Image source, Visit Lincoln

They were switched on last night, but there was no big celebration.

Image source, Visit Lincoln

The decision to cancel the official "switch-on" event was taken earlier this year by City of Lincoln Council.

The authority said the event draws large crowds which would make social distancing impossible.

Image source, Visit Lincoln

Police say they are "extremely concerned" for the welfare of a missing man after his coat was found near the beach in Skegness.

Image source, Lincolnshire Police

Bryan Brett was reported missing at about 05:30 on Sunday 22 November. He was last seen in the Hoylake Drive area of Skegness.

The 40-year-old is described by police as white with grey hair and facial hair.

He was last seen wearing a grey Superdry coat, blue jeans and white Adidas trainers.

He was also wearing a black puffer-style jacket which was later located at the entrance to the beach, next to the North Shore Hotel in Skegness, officers say.

Mr Brett may be in the Skegness or Ingoldmells area, although he could have travelled further afield.

Anyone who has seen him is being asked to contact Lincolnshire Police.

Coronavirus infections are beginning to drop across East Lindsey, but the area still has the fourth highest rate in the country, figures show.

Image source, Google

In the week up to 19 November, the district recorded 493 cases per 100,000 people - that's down from 539 in the previous seven days.

Public Health Lincolnshire says rates are flattening, but local residents are being warned the hard work must continue.

Professor Derek Ward, Lincolnshire's director of public health, says: "There are still some variations across different districts in the county.

"I think generally, though, over the past seven days we've seen a flattening out of the increase and we're starting to see a reduction as well."

Professor Ward adds that although people will have to wait until Thursday to find out which "tier" Lincolnshire will go into when the latest lockdown ends, he's hopeful it won't be the tightest level of restrictions.