Two new Covid-19 testing sites are due to open in Boston shortly.

Image source, Google

The mass testing sites are opening next week at the Haven High Site on Tollfield Road (formerly St Bedes School) and Peter Paine Performance Centre.

The aim is to encourage as many people to get tested, even if they don't have symptoms.

There's no need to book, and people should have results with an hour.

Boston had some of the highest coronavirus infection rates in the country during December.

Its rate of infection is now below half the English average.

The boss of the trust which runs Lincolnshire's biggest hospitals says staff are regularly treating hundreds of patients for Covid-19.

Image source, ULHT

Andrew Morgan (pictured), CEO of United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust, says pressure on the hospitals hasn't stopped since early November.

He adds that staff in the trust's hospitals have been treating over 200 patients for Covid every day.

Despite relatively low infection rates in Lincolnshire - with the county's infection rate below half the national average - Mr Morgan says he's urging people not to be complacent.

The Environment Agency (EA) says it's keeping a "close eye" on flood waters in the village of Swaton, near Sleaford.

Image source, Saffron Murphy

There's currently a flood warning in place for the village.

Morgan Wray, the EA's flood prevention officer, says they're "not expecting any properties to flood".

He says the ground is saturated after heavy rain, and now snow, and that Swaton is "particularly quick" to be affected by flooding.

Police officers say they're dealing with several crashes after snowfall across Lincolnshire.

Image source, Lincolnshire Police

Snow is settling across the county and police say it's particularly bad in southern parts of the county.

Forecasters say snow and rain will continue today, but that it will become warmer this afternoon.

Image source, Chris Sharman

The funeral of a 12-year-old Boston schoolboy is due to take place later.

Image source, Family Photo

The body of Roberts Buncis (pictured right, with father Edgars) was discovered in the Woodthorpe Avenue area of the town last month.

A procession is expected to take place in Boston shortly after 13:00, but people taking part are being asked not to gather in groups and to wear face masks due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A small private family funeral service is due to be held later this afternoon.

A 14-year-old boy has been charged with Roberts' murder.

A flood warning has been issued for the village of Swaton, near Sleaford.

Image source, EA

The Environment Agency (EA) says rain, and sleet have already caused some flooding on low-lying land and roads.

It says it now expects water to affect homes and low-lying properties near the Swaton Eau on West Street are most at risk.

Staff have been sent to monitor flood defences and clear blockages, according to the EA.

A Lincolnshire head teacher says school staff have had "incredibly little time" to produce food hampers for students learning from home during the current coronavirus lockdown.

Image source, Reuters/Andrew Boyers/File Photo

Children who would usually be given free meals at school are entitled to them at home during lockdown.

Katie Barry, headteacher at St George's Church of England Primary School in Gainsborough, says staff had just a few days to go from making food for children at school to arranging the assembly and delivery of 250 food parcels.

She says the school is being paid the equivalent of £8.50 per week by the government to provide five meals per child, and five members of staff have had to scour the town's supermarkets for food for the hampers.

Education secretary Gavin Williamson has said the government will "support any school that needs to take action".

Keep warm at home or wrap up if you are going out for your exercise today.

Snow is forecast for much of the county during today.

You can find the latest weather forecast for your local area here.

Lincolnshire's Covid-19 infection rate has fallen again, according to the latest figures.

Image source, Reuters/Phil Noble

All areas have shown a drop in infection rates except Boston, which has seen a rise of three cases since last week.

The figures include infections in the week up to and including 9 January.

The lowest rates are in North East Lincolnshire and East Lindsey at 154 and 160 per 100,000 people respectively.

The highest rates are in South Kesteven and Lincoln, where case rates are 354 and 348 respectively per 100,000 people.

The current average infection rate in England is 618 per 100,000 people.

A Lincoln takeaway has been shut down after "repeatedly" failing to follow coronavirus rules, police say.

Image source, Google

Officers visited USA Fried Chicken, on Corporation St, numerous times in the autumn and found it breaking coronavirus rules, according to Lincolnshire Police.

Officers say neither staff nor members of the public had been wearing face masks and customers had been let in after the 22:00 curfew on a number of occasions.

The kebab shop was offered assistance and given warnings over the rules throughout September and October, the force adds.

Sgt Kim Enderby, alcohol licensing manager for Lincolnshire Police, said this was "at a time where the spread of the virus was escalating across the county and we really needed all licensed premises to operate lawfully and responsibly.

"This premises repeatedly failed and no real explanation for that failure was offered."

The licence holder can appeal for the decision to be overturned.

North Yorkshire Police said it had issued more than 70 fines over the weekend.

The packs, containing products to help skin heal, will be given out to front-line health workers.

The signs are coming down on Oldrids department store in Boston, which is expected to close after more than two centuries of trading in the town.

Image source, Debbie Kirk

Oldrids began trading in Boston town centre in 1804 but in July 2020, the doors didn't open again after the first coronavirus lockdown.

Currently, the firm doesn't list the central Boston shop as one of its stores, despite never officially confirming it will close.

In a statement released last year, a spokesperson said the firm had begun a consultation period to close the shop and hoped to "minimise redundancies".

Oldrids still has sites on the outskirts of Boston, in Grantham and in Scunthorpe.

A woman has been fined fined for breaking the "essential travel" coronavirus lockdown rule and travelling from Lincolnshire to North Yorkshire to eat a burger with her sister, police say.

Image source, Google

Police in North Yorkshire say the woman, in her 30s, who hasn't been named, has been given a fixed penalty notice for the 100-mile journey to Scarborough.

Under current government rules, people are being asked to stay at home and only travel from their local area if it's essential.

Ch Insp Rachel Wood, from North Yorkshire Police, said: "Driving through three counties to get a burger is not classed as essential travel.

"Most people in North Yorkshire are trying really hard to stop the spread of Covid in our communities and protect the vulnerable," she added.

A Lincolnshire taxi driver has been jailed for two years and banned from driving for six years after admitting causing death by dangerous driving.

Image source, Family photo

Wendy Short, 79, from Lincoln (pictured) died, and another passenger was seriously injured, when the driver of the taxi she was in used his mobile on the A46 at Lincoln in July 2019.

Lincoln Crown Court heard Ian Penman had used his phone for over 30 seconds just before crashing into the back of a lorry.

Penman, 67, of The Burrows, in Nettleham, admitted the charges in May last year and was sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court yesterday.

He was also ordered to pass an extended retest before he can legally drive again.

Passing sentence, Judge John Pini QC said: "This case demonstrates, if proof were needed, the real dangers of using hand-held mobile phones.

"Here such use has killed one person and seriously injured another."

Mrs Short's family has appealed for drivers not to use mobile phones when driving to prevent similar accidents in the future.

In a statement, a family member said: "If you think of using your phone when driving, remember her name and the pain and loss we will feel forever. Your call can wait."

The coronavirus infection rate in Lincolnshire is less than half the rate of England's, according to the latest figures.

Image source, Danny Lawson/PA Wire

Latest figures, which reflect the week ending on 7 January, show Lincolnshire's infection rate as approximately 261 cases per 100,000 people.

The England average is currently 625 cases of infection per 100,000 people.

The highest rate nationally is in London, where 1,527 people per 100,000 in Barking and Dagenham have tested positive.

The district with the highest infection rate in Lincolnshire is South Kesteven, with 389 per 100,000 people.

Four of Lincolnshire's districts are falling or showing no change in virus rates, while three - Boston, South Holland and East Lindsey - are seeing rising numbers.

A Lincolnshire MP says he wants an end to the current national coronavirus lockdown and a return to the tier-based system.

Image source, Parliament

Sir Edward Leigh, the Conservative MP for Gainsborough, made the remark in the Commons yesterday.

It comes after figures showed the county's coronavirus rate was below half the national average in the week ending 7 January.

In response, government health minister Edward Argar said the tier system will return when pressure on the NHS has eased.

There's been an increase in people breaking coronavirus rules in Lincolnshire and those rule-breakers are putting officers at risk, one of the county's most senior police officers says.

Image source, PA

Officers say they're giving out more fines and getting more complaints about people breaking Covid rules, according to Lincolnshire Police.

The forces's Assistant Chief Constable, Kerrin Wilson, says rule-breakers should consider the families of officers they're putting at risk.

A 34-year-old man has been arrested in Lincoln under the Terrorism Act.

Image source, Google

Special branch officers from Counter Terrorism Policing East Midlands detained the man in Fairfax Street at about 06:50 GMT.

Lincolnshire Police said the arrest was part of a pre-planned warrant and the man was being held on suspicion of Encouragement of Terrorism.

Searches are taking place at the property and the man remains in custody.

Expect a chilly day with rain later in the afternoon.

There may even be sleet mixed in as we head into the evening.

You can find the latest forecast for your local area here.