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As a month long Think! Speed police campaign ends today new dash cam footage has been released showing the importance of the “twenty’s plenty” message often given for driving in residential streets.
The shocking video captures the moment a little boy gets hit by a van. The van was travelling at 20mph at the time of the collision. If it had been going just 10mph faster the likelihood of death would have been five times higher.
The shocking moment the boy ran out into the street captured on dash cam
The youngster - believed to be eight - charges out into the road between two parked vehicles and flies off the van’s bumper after being struck before tumbling onto the road and running off.
The van driver is completely unsighted and could do nothing to avoid the collision with the boy, who was badly bruised but otherwise unhurt.
Throughout August the county’s Road Policing Units have been out in force targeting motorists breaking the law.
The minimum penalty for speeding is a £100 fine and three penalty points added to your license however drivers across the county are warned that the speed limit is a limit not a target. In some road conditions or road layouts even driving at the speed limit could be too fast.
Speed limits are not targets
Traffic Sergeant Ian Manley said: “Those who speed put not only their own lives at risk but also the lives of others.
“The faster you drive the less time you have to react. Speed remains one of the biggest factors in fatal collisions.
“The difference of a few miles per hour can mean the difference between life and death. The faster someone is driving, the less time they have to stop if something unexpected happens.
“There will be times when you need to drive under the speed limit in order to drive correctly for the conditions or layout of the road.
“I would urge anyone who drives to help us protect road users by reducing your speed and driving to the conditions of the roads.
“If you kill someone while speeding, you will have to live with the long-term emotional consequences. Remember that speed limits are there for a reason.”
* Make sure you leave plenty of time for your journey, taking into account traffic
* Watch out for changes in the speed limit
* Drive to suit the conditions and the layout of the road
* Don’t let peer pressure encourage you to break the law
* Don’t assume it’s safe to break the speed limit because there is less traffic.
* Don’t be tempted to put your foot down because the road ahead appears clear.

GRAPHIC VIDEO: Dash cam footage of young boy being hit by van gives stark warning at end of police speed campaign


As a month long Think! Speed police campaign ends today new dash cam footage has been released showing the importance of the “twenty’s plenty” message often given for driving in residential streets.


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Fire crews attend caravan blaze in Skegness


Firefighters attended a caravan fire in Skegness this morning.


If you were asked to choose your favourite meals, your ‘Desert Island Dinners’, what would you pick? My bet is lamb of some sort would make its way on to most people’s list, writes James Waller-Davies.
British lamb is the best in the world. Our climate and geography are perfect for producing this delicious and versatile meat. There’s also possibly no other meat that reflects its region of origin in its flavour as much as lamb, be it Welsh, Cumbrian, Yorkshire, or our very own Lincolnshire.
I’ve got a natural bias for the Welsh mountain lamb of home, but the piece of Lincolnshire lamb we had for this week’s recipe was the best we’ve had in years. Meat is only as good as the feed the animals eat and this spring and summer have been perfect for grass growth and the animals have finished well.
But what to have with roasted meats in the summer, when a full roast dinner doesn’t quite fit with the weather? For me, with lamb, it has to be a ratatouille, that fantastic blend of tomatoes, courgettes, peppers, aubergines, with as much garlic and olive oil as you can manage.
Ratatouille has many variations, but this is a fairly classic version. The 200ml of olive oil is not a typo – the garlic and juices melt into the oil to make a deliciously rich sauce.
You can use any cut of lamb, from an economy piece of rolled breast, to a whole leg for something more special. At this time of year, I find a shoulder is best for roasting, as it has more flavour from a younger animal. But most of all, get it from your local butcher and ask for ‘Lincolnshire lamb’.
Roast lamb and ratatouille
Ingredients (serves 4)
½ shoulder of lamb
2 onions
2 red peppers
2 courgettes
2lbs any tomatoes
1 large aubergine
8 cloves garlic, chopped
200ml extra virgin olive oil
Basil and parsley
Method
Season the lamb and roast it how you like it – studded with rosemary and garlic is great. Time the roasting and resting so it is ready with the ratatouille.
Slice the onions and soften in a large, wide, pan. Add garlic and soften.
Cube the aubergines, slice the peppers and courgettes, and quarter the tomatoes. Add all to the pan, season, and mix gently.
Cook with a lid on a low heat on the hob for 30 minutes, or until all soft. Stir occasionally, but gently to avoid making it mushy. Add the herbs 5 minutes before the end to retain freshness.
Carve the lamb and serve. The perfect summer roast.

RECIPE COLUMN: Our lamb is the best in the world


If you were asked to choose your favourite meals, your ‘Desert Island Dinners’, what would you pick? My bet is lamb of some sort would make its way on to most people’s list, writes James Waller-Davies.


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Video footage has been shared with The Standard showing the moment water gushed into the Tesco store in Boston.
This was sent into us by reader Sharon Horry.
Screen shot from the video.
UPDATE SATURDAY 8PM: Store puts customer safety first before reopening after flooding in Wyberton Fen
Shoppers will only be able to use a superstore in Wyberton Fen when it is “safe and cleaned to our usual high standards”, after flooding today.
Tesco Superstore in New Hammond Beck Road was evacuated after torrential rain caused a water pipe to overflow and come through the roof, onto the shop floor itself.
Emergency service, including firefighters, came to the store where there was “quite a lot of water down the aisles”, according to an eye-witness.
There is quite a lot of water down the aisles, customers are being turned away and they aren’t letting anyone into the car park
A Tesco spokesman said, “Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers, so we are working hard to ensure our Boston store is safe and cleaned to our usual high standards before it is reopened.”
BREAKING NEWS: SATURDAY 4.55PM: Shoppers evacuated from flooded Tesco store in Wyberton Fen - but roof still intact
A superstore in Wyberton Fen has been evacuated after it flooded due to torrential rain in the area today.
Emergency services are currently at Tesco Superstore in New Hammond Beck Road which is currently closed while a clean-up operation takes place.
Tesco Superstore in Wyberton Fen has been temporarily closed due to flooding.
An eye-witness, who asked not to be named said: “There is quite a lot of water down the aisles and the store is flooded.
“Also, there are lots of mops and brushes but they have been abandoned.
“Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue crews are in the store, walking around, but customers are being turned away and they aren’t letting anyone into the car park.”
However, earlier reports from other media outlets that the store’s roof had collapsed were quashed by the eye-witness who added: “There’s no visible damage to the roof.”
This was confirmed by a Tesco spokesman who said that a build-up of rainwater had “come through” the roof and onto the floor of the store itself
The spokesman added: “There has been rainwater along the roof of the store and due to its volume, the pipe has overflown.
“The rainwater has come through the roof and onto the shop floor, so the store has been closed whilst that is the case.
“We are working to get the rainwater cleaned up and the store reopened as soon as possible.
“However, the roof has not collapsed and it does not appear that the store has been hit by lightning.”

UPDATE SATURDAY 9.15PM: Video footage from inside “flooded” Boston Tesco store


Video footage has been shared with The Standard showing the moment water gushed into the Tesco store in Boston.


An uncle out with his five-year-old nephew has spoken of his disgust at seeing a man having a poo in a carrier bag on a main road into Skegnes.
Jordan James posted this image on social media after walking past the man in Burgh Road about 7pm last night. He said: “What I have just seen is completely disgusting....
“I had my little nephew with me. What is this world coming to? There was a petrol station over the road with toilets in.”
The image was shared by more than 100 people with many agreeing it wasn’t something people wanted to see and others saying it was probably someone who got caught short.
Andrea Cooksey Timmins said: “No, it’s a poor man who cant make it to the loo.”
Tracyanne Faulkner also walked past the man. She said: “I saw all the rips in his jeans. Thankfully, I didn’t see him doing that. I’d have been sick. He was behind me all the way up Burgh Road.”
Mr Jordan said he believed the man might have been homeless. He said:”I do think there should be something done. This is something that the people of Skegness do not want to see.
“More should be done to help these homeless people.
“The reason I posted it was not the fact of being horrible, it’s more of the fact to warn people if travelling in that direction and to give people an idea of what sort of things go on around Skegness.”
A spokesman for Lincolnshire police said it could be a public order offence or one of outraging public decency. The spokesman said: “It was phoned in but didn’t meet the criteria of a blue light attendance and the man was no longer in the area when officers checked.”

Man caught on camera having poo in bag in Skegness


An uncle out with his five-year-old nephew has spoken of his disgust at seeing a man having a poo in a carrier bag on a main road into Skegnes.


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BOSTON SATURDAY FOOTBALL LEAGUE: Results


Filmmakers in Lincolnshire at work on a feature-length Second World War film are appealing for extras for an upcoming shoot near Boston.
Tin Hat Productions are set to bring their cameras to the Lincolnshire Heritage Aviation Centre, at East Kirkby, this autumn to record scenes for Our Shining Sword.
To realise their vision the production team need young male extras to play Second World War flight crew.
The film is inspired by the missions of Bomber Command and has won celebrity support in the form of TV personalities Stephen Fry and Carol Vorderman.
Tin Hat Productions, which is based in Sleaford, currently have about an hour and 20 minutes of finished film.
This includes sequences shot inside a replica Lancaster bomber that the small production team built for the project. Some of these can now be seen in a new teaser trailer for the film, which was released online last Monday.
The scenes at the Lincolnshire Heritage Aviation Centre will use the centre’s surviving Lancaster Bomber, Just Jane.
In making the appeal for extras, Andy Burn, from Tin Hat Productions, said: “It is a unique opportunity to see behind the scenes on a feature film shoot, which despite the limited budget, has the production quality of a major feature.
“Volunteers also get to spend time at East Kirkby, one of Lincolnshire’s most iconic aviation heritage sites and home of the beautiful Lancaster Bomber ‘Just Jane’.”
The production team are looking for men aged about 18 to 30, preferably with their own period uniform, to play the flight crew extras.
Shooting will take place in the first week in October.
Anyone who is interested can get in touch with Tin Hat Productions via www.ourshiningsword.com –where the teaser trailer is also available to view.
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Filmmakers in Lincolnshire at work on a feature-length Second World War film are appealing for extras for an upcoming shoot near Boston.


Call for extras ahead of ‘Just Jane’ filming


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Two fire crews were called out to a hedge on fire in Sandilands, Sutton on Sea yesterday morning (Tuesday).


The recent NHS England figures regarding A&E waiting times in Lincolnshire paint a worrying picture about the current state of emergency healthcare.
This is mirrored across the rest of England, with the national average coming in below the Government’s target of 95 per cent of patients being seen within four hours.
Despite the best efforts of doctors and other health care staff, their hands remain tied as the Government continually fails to match increasing demands on services with sufficient investment.
In June 2016, the United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust was well below the national average.
These figures follow a spate of recent reports that serve as a clear warning that our health service is at breaking point.
Indeed, the recent shortage of A&E staff in Lincolnshire has led to the temporary closure of Grantham’s A&E department at night.
We can see the damaging knock-on effect that bed and staff shortages are having in A&E departments leading to delays in admissions with patients sometimes admitted to an inappropriate ward or, in some cases, left waiting on trolleys.
As we currently face an unprecedented NHS crisis, these alarming figures should serve as a wake up call that more targeted investment is needed in this vital area of healthcare.
Dr Anthea Mowat
Chairman
British Medical Association

LETTER: A&E waiting times paint a worrying picture


The recent NHS England figures regarding A&E waiting times in Lincolnshire paint a worrying picture about the current state of emergency healthcare.


Students at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar, Alford, once again gained impressive GCSE results today (Thursday), with almost all students gaining 11 GCSEs at A*-C, and 98 per cent gaining 5+ A*-C including English and Maths.
Over 85 per cent of students gained the English Baccalaureate and a quarter gained at least 10 A*/A grades.
Charlie Young, Emma Gatenby and Claire Nash.
All those that took AS Accounting or Government & Politics a year early passed, with 100 per cent gaining 'A' grades in Government & Politics. Several pupils also successfully took AS Extended Project three years early, when they were in Year Nine.
Headteacher, Angie Francis, said: “We look forward to working with these students in our very successful sixth form.
"Last week’s A Level results (80% A*-B), which placed us top in the county, together with this week’s very pleasing GCSEs, sustain our tradition of excellence. Our staff and students have worked hard to achieve these results and can feel very proud.”
Three Y11 students (pictured) whose results particularly stand out are Emma Gatenby who gained 11 A*s (with maximum marks in French and German) and 2 As; Claire Nash, who gained 10 A*s (with maximum marks in English Literature) and 1 A; and Charlie Young, who gained 12 A*s (with maximum marks in DT and French) and 1 A.


Students at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar, Alford, once again gained impressive GCSE results today (Thursday), with almost all students gaining 11 GCSEs at A*-C, and 98 per cent gaining 5+ A*-C including English and Maths.


A Lincolnshire police officer has been sacked by the force after he admitted stealing a kayak and a set of paddles before selling them on eBay.
Constable Andrew Hamilton was dismissed by Lincolnshire Police for gross misconduct just months after he was awarded a Chief Constable’s commendation for saving a motorist’s life.
It comes after the officer was convicted of two counts of theft when he appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on August 8.
The thefts related to Hamilton removing a kayak and a set of paddles from Nottingham Kayak Club which belonged to two other club members. The items were then sold on internet auction site eBay.
Hamilton, who was a detective based in Grantham CID, kept the proceeds from the sale, despite knowing or believing he was not lawfully entitled to do so.
It happened between May 1 and July 9, this year.
A misconduct hearing was today (Wednesday) told Pc Hamilton, who did not attend the hearing, admitted the allegations and expected to be dismissed.
The public hearing was held at Lincolnshire Police headquarters in Nettleham and chaired by Chief Constable Neil Rhodes who himself awarded Pc Hamilton a special commendation for bravery last year.
In giving his ruling, the Chief Constable said: “I am satisfied on the balance of probabilities the officer’s conduct amounts to gross misconduct.”
He added: “There is no place in the police service for an officer who demonstrated such unequivocal dishonesty.”
In November, Pc Hamilton received a commendation from the Chief Constable for his role in saving a motorist who passed out at the wheel at 60mph.
Police constables Hamilton and Danielle Crompton were driving their marked patrol car along the A46 dual carriageway in June 2015 when they noticed that the driver of an Audi car which drove past them in the same direction was slumped at the wheel.
The car then hit the central reservation but continued driving.
Danielle, who was driving the patrol car, immediately accelerated and used the patrol car to bring the out-of-control Audi to a halt as it headed towards stationary traffic waiting at a roundabout.
The two officers immediately began first aid on the collapsed Audi driver until paramedics arrived.
It transpired that the man had suffered a seizure at the wheel and has since made a full recovery.
Chief Constable Rhodes awarded the officers commendations for their keen observational skills, outstanding professionalism and swift decisive actions which prevented serious injury to the Audi driver and other road users.

Police officer sacked after stealing kayak and paddles


A Lincolnshire police officer has been sacked by the force after he admitted stealing a kayak and a set of paddles before selling them on eBay.


Police say they are ‘concerned for the welfare’ of Kamil Szpara who has gone missing from Boston.
Kamil, 26, was last seen boarding a train at Boston station at 7.42am on Tuesday, August 23, which was heading in the direction of Nottingham. He was wearing a grey suit.
Kamil is described as approximately 5ft 8ins tall, of a slim build, has dark brown hair and is clean shaven.
Anyone with information about Kamil’s whereabouts, or who believes they have seen him, is asked to call 101 immediately.

Police ‘concerned for welfare’ of man missing from Boston


Police say they are ‘concerned for the welfare’ of Kamil Szpara who has gone missing from Boston.


What’s on guide to events around Skegness, including Bank Holiday


Neil Johnson reflects on the opening weekend of the season...
The Boston Saturday Football League has kicked off another season, with plenty of goals and even a keeper getting on the scoresheet.
East Coast, Fulbeck, Horncastle Town Reserves and two new reserve sides, Fosdyke Reserves and Boston College Reserves, have all joined the league.
Several clubs opted for a blank fixture for the opening day, while East Coast had no coach to manage the side and had to pull out of their contest, leaving nine fixtures.
In the Taylors Garages Premier Division, defending champions Wyberton Reserves came unstuck in spectacular fashion in their opening match as they began their defence of the title away at Pointon, falling to a 5-2 defeat.
Pointon striker Ian Jacquest hit an impressive hat-trick while Jamie Andrews and Casey Kemp completed the rout.
Spilsby Town thumped Heckington Millers 8-0.
The Millers remained in the game during the first half as they trailed 2-0 to a home team who were slowly clicking into gear.
A dominant second half display saw Spilsby completely overrun their opponents, and they could easily have run up double figures as several further chances went begging.
Michael Hardy and Jordan Smith both grabbed a brace, while Jordan Turner, Josh Wood, Jordan Wood and Eddie Rich made sure of a faultless start to their campaign.
There were more goals at Swineshead Institute where the home side eventually saw off the challenge of Ruskington Rovers.
The 6-2 home win was probably slightly misleading as Ruskington found themselves trailing only 3-2 for the majority of the game.
It was only a late goal blitz that finally saw Swineshead put the game to bed.
Swineshead’s match-winners were Jack Houghton (two), Richard Barker (two), Bert Snaith and Callum Simmons.
If there was glut of goals in the top flight, the opposite was evident in the Taylors Peugeot Division One, where only one goal was scored in the two games.
Freiston and Fishtoft produced a dour 0-0 draw, although Freiston went close with two efforts which struck the woodwork.
Railway started life in Division One with an away trip to FC Kirton, and the newly-promoted side were very much on top throughout.
As the game wore on Railway created chance after chance but FC Kirton Keeper Phil Mcallister kept his side in the contest with a string of important saves.
That was until the game entered the final five minutes when a Ryan Mason cross from the left wing found debutant Leon Creasey, and he headed home to seal an opening day victory.
In the Taylors Ford Division Two, Fishtoft Reserves hosted Sibsey - and the home side didn’t get off to the best of starts as they ended up empty-handed.
Sibsey enjoyed most of the possession early on and they were rewarded with the opening goal when a long throw caused panic in the Fishtoft box and the ball fell loose to a Sibsey player who tapped the ball home.
It didn’t long for the away side to double their lead as Fishtoft lost possession and Sibsey broke away and rounded the Fishtoft keeper before sliding the ball home into an empty net.
As Fishtoft tried to get back into the game, a couple of chances in quick succession went begging and Sibsey made them pay with a third from a corner due to miscommunication in the Fishtoft defence.
Fishtoft came out revitalised for the second half, knowing they had under performed in the first half and they really pushed on to try and get back in the game.
They finally got on the score-sheet when a corner was bundled home by Jack Cridland.
Fishtoft’s heads were up now and when another corner was whipped in by Liam Reece it was headed home by Ben Carter to give them a glimmer of hope.
With time running out, Sibsey were reduced to 10 men with a red card following a last-man challenge when the Fishtoft striker was through on goal, but from the following free kick, the visiting defence blocked the shot and instantly broke away on the counter to score and make the final score 4-2.
The Taylors Vauxhall Division Three saw a strong Benington Reserves side given a stern test by Holbeach Bank who, on this showing, will be looking to bounce straight back up following last season’s relegation.
The visitors created a number of good chances in the opening period, but were foiled by an inspired display from Will Newton in the Benington goal.
Benington then broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time when Ryan Lawson rifled home from the edge of the box.
Gavin Bell doubled the home side’s advantage midway through the second period when he lobbed the advancing Bank goalkeeper after being sent clear by a sublime Dean Stevens pass.
Bank halved the deficit late on from the penalty spot but, despite some sustained pressure, were unable to find an equaliser.
Spalding Harriers travelled away to Leverton Reserves where the strong wind played a major factor in the game, with the visitors struggling to push beyond the halfway line for most of the first half.
Leverton struck first when Craig Mitchell swept home from the edge of the area to put Leverton ahead.
A quick throw in then found its way to James De Lorenzo who also found the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
Leverton continued to press for a third, first hitting the crossbar and then when a stray pass from the Spalding keeper left Leverton 30 yards out with an open goal, they missed the target and it remained 2-0 at the break.
The second half saw Spalding able to use the wind to apply pressure and attempt to keep Leverton contained in their own half.
The home side defended stubbornly, but luck wasn’t on their side when a long-range effort from Regan Smalley found itself being carried goalwards before finding the far top corner.
Leverton did have chances to extend their lead but a couple of poor finishes from close range kept Spalding in the game - both efforts being fired straight at the keeper.
The Spalding goalkeeper had the final say too, when he produced a huge clearance which sailed high over the opposing keeper’s head and into the net, much to the surprise of everyone.
Leverton were therefore left cursing their luck and Spalding breathed a sigh of relief after their bizarre last minute equaliser.
Wyberton A and Boston Titans produced a very tight match at The Causeway and the visitors were thankful, once again, for the finishing prowess of striker Matt Howden, who bagged a hat-trick in a 3-3 draw.
The Titans’ Mike Mcphail was also at his creative best with two assists for his team.
Wyberton salvaged a point with goals from Jack Reeson, Logan Hare and Jason Allen.


Neil Johnson reflects on the opening weekend of the season...


An organisation bworking to help people in Lincolnshire get the best out of their local health and social care services is appealing for volunteers to come forward.
Healthwatch Lincolnshire is looking for people to take on a range of voluntary roles, including:
* ‘Community champions’, who help promote the work of Healthwatch Lincolnshire.
* ‘Enter-and-view authorised representatives’, who enter and view health and social care services to gain an understanding of people’s experiences while they are receiving them.
* ‘Mystery shoppers’, who test the patient experience of the health and social care services.
Chief executive officer Sarah Fletcher said: “Volunteering for Healthwatch Lincolnshire is richly rewarding for all involved. When you give up your time and resources, you are making a difference.”
You can find all the roles at www.healthwatchlincolnshire.co.uk/volunteers, but the organisation also says it may be able to create a role to match an individual’s skills or knowledge.
To find out more call 01205 820892 or email info@healthwatchlincolnshire.co.uk.

Lincolnshire health group’s volunteer appeal


An organisation bworking to help people in Lincolnshire get the best out of their local health and social care services is appealing for volunteers to come forward.


A recruitment firm has been named the best company in the UK for work-life balance.
Financial recruiter Goodman Masson took first place in the list by jobs site Glassdoor, based on reviews submitted to its website by current and former staff.
The company, which is based in London and also has offices in Dusseldorf, was praised by staff for its “huge investment” in staff benefits and “great” parties twice a year.
“The attention paid to the wellbeing of staff is at a level rarely matched elsewhere,” said an anonymous employee working in the London office.
In second place was technology firm Cisco Systems, and in third place was insurer HomeServe.
West Midlands-based HomeServe, which employs 1,200 people at its headquarters in Walsall and has 2.1 million customers in the UK, was commended for its attitude towards the treatment of its staff.
“The salary is very competitive and you are rewarded very generously for your hard work and just for carrying out your role. The company has a great framework for career progression and is always looking to promote people internally for job roles,” said a water supply engineer working at the firm.
Greg Reed, chief marketing officer at HomeServe, said: “We believe if you take care of your people, they will take care of your customers. This means creating a culture where people genuinely enjoy coming to work every day because they feel what they do really makes a difference in our customers’ lives.”
Temping firm LOLA and Screwfix completed the top five. Other companies in the top 20 included Apple, American Express Lloyds Banking Group, Unilever and John Lewis.
Google is known for its plush offices, but doesn’t make the top 20 companies for work-life balance. Its new London office has sleep pods so workers can take a nap, although perhaps this is an indication of long hours.
For a company to have been considered, at least 50 work-life balance ratings must have been submitted by UK-based employees in the past year.
The top 20 companies for work-life balance:
1. Goodman Masson
2. Cisco Systems
3. HomeServe UK
4. LOLA Staffing
5. Screwfix
6. American Express
7. BP
8. Peninsula Business Services
9. ARM Holdings
10. Unilever
11.Thomson Reuters
12. Kantar Worldpanel
13. Atkins
14. Téléfonica
15. Credit Suisse
16. Rolls-Royce
17. John Lewis
18. Waitrose
19. Lloyds Banking Group
20. Apple

Revealed: The top UK companies for work-life balance


A recruitment firm has been named the best company in the UK for work-life balance.


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The Boston Saturday Football League will kick off its 2016-17 campaign this weekend.


A test has been developed that could help to diagnose bacterial infections, including meningitis in minutes.
The new test, developed by a team at Imperial College London, is a major breakthrough in the rapid diagnosis of meningitis and sepsis in children. If made available through the NHS, it could allow treatment to begin much earlier, saving hundreds of lives and reducing the risk of life-changing after-effects.
The signs and symptoms of meningitis are notoriously difficult to diagnose, and can be dismissed as a cold or flu. Many young children presenting the early symptoms of the disease are initially sent home, before being rushed back to hospital a few hours later as their condition rapidly deteriorates.
Currently, doctors grow bacteria in a sample of blood, in a process which can take up to 48 hours.
Responding to the news, Liz Brown, CEO at charity Meningitis Now said: “A delay in life-saving treatment for bacterial meningitis can be a matter of life or death. We welcome this significant progress in the development of a rapid test for meningitis and sepsis.
“We would however, continue to advise people to know the signs and symptoms of meningitis and to seek immediate medical attention if they have any concerns”.
The study led by Professor Michael Levin has shown that a bacterial infection can be distinguished from other causes of fever, such as a viral infection, using a pattern of genes that are switched on or off in response to an infection.
A larger project will now begin to develop these findings into a pin-prick diagnostic test, which Professor Levin believes could be available through the NHS within five years.
14 facts about meningitis and septicaemia
Meningitis is usually caused by bacteria or viruses
Meningitis is inflammation of the membranes that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord
Septicaemia is blood poisoning
Some bacteria that cause meningitis also cause septicaemia
Meningitis and septicaemia often happen together – it is vital to know all the signs and symptoms
The early signs and symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia can be similar to ‘flu and include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting and muscle pain.
The more specific signs and symptoms include fever with cold hands and feet, drowsiness, confusion, pale blotchy skin, stiff neck, dislike of bright lights and a rash which doesn’t fade under pressure.
In babies, symptoms can also include being floppy and unresponsive, dislike of being handled, rapid breathing, an unusual, moaning cry and a bulging fontanelle (soft spot on the top of the head).
There are an estimated 3,200 cases of bacterial meningitis and septicaemia each year in the UK.
Following bacterial meningitis or septicaemia, one in ten people will die and at least a third of survivors will be left with lifelong after-effects such as hearing loss, epilepsy, limb loss or learning difficulties
Meningitis and septicaemia can affect anyone, of any age, at any time. However, babies and young children are most at risk, and young people between 15 – 24 years are also a higher risk group.
In the past 20 years, effective vaccines have been developed to give protection against SOME types of meningitis. These are offered to all babies and young children as part of the UK childhood immunisation programme. BUT there are not vaccines to protect against ALL types.
A vaccine to protect against meningococcal group B (Men B) disease, the most common cause of bacterial meningitis and septicaemia, was introduced into the UK childhood immunisation programme in September 2015.
If you suspect someone may be ill with meningitis or septicaemia, trust your instincts and get immediate medical help.
Meningitis Now aims to reduce the impact of meningitis by raising awareness and funding research into vaccine and treatment. For support and advice on meningitis call the Meningitis Now Helpline on 0808 80 10 388.
For more information or to donate visit the website at www.MeningitisNow.org

Pin-prick meningitis test could be available within five years


A test has been developed that could help to diagnose bacterial infections, including meningitis in minutes.


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What’s On guide to events in Skegness area


The Cola-Cola glass bottle has been voted as the most iconic packaging on the UK’s shelves.
A study of 1,500 Brits exploring the influence of packaging and branding on shopping habits found that one in six people thought the Coca-Cola bottle was the most identifiable in terms of packaging.
Indeed, it was deemed to be just as recognisable without its logo or the product itself.
The research, commissioned by Easyfairs, organisers of Packing Innovations and Luxury Packaging London, found the Toblerone triangular chocolate bar finished as a close runner up, with Marmite’s glass jar rated as third-best-loved product packaging.
Beauty brands, such as the Tiffany Box and the Chanel No.5 Bottle just missed out on the top ten.
Coke’s success has been attributed to its targeting younger audience, with one in five Millennials selecting the bottle as the most recognisable pack product.Pringles’ iconic cylinder tube, fourth on the overall list, was the Millennial’s second favourite.
The study also revealed barcodes as the greatest packaging invention, ahead of more traditional items such as the cardboard box (21 per cent) - although the younger generation, 18-34 years, voted for 3D printing and re-sealable zips as its top two.
Gerry Sherwood, Event Director for the Easyfairs’ Packaging Portfolio, who commissioned the survey, said: “Millennials have officially passed Baby Boomers as the largest generation in history, and are more personally connected to their favourite brands than ever before. It is therefore not surprising to see 3D printing come out top in our poll for this age group.”
Top Ten Most Recognisable Brand’s Packaging
1. Coca-Cola Bottle
2. Toblerone Triangle
3. Marmite Jar
4. Pringles Tube
5. KFC Bucket
6. Heinz Ketchup Bottle
7. Fairy Liquid Bottle
8. Apple’s iPhone Box
9. Walkers Crisp Packet
10. Amazon Box

Coca-Cola bottle ‘most iconic packaging’


The Cola-Cola glass bottle has been voted as the most iconic packaging on the UK’s shelves.


Rain sweeping across the county made the Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League a programme of one-innings matches, with three teams making it back on to the field but soon returning to the pavilion.
However those innings added two points to Bracebridge Heath’s cushion at the top and took Nettleham to within one point of Grimsby at the bottom.
The day also produced a number of highlights as Obus Pienaar took his runs total to 1452 with 58 at Skegness for whom Tom Cuthbert took five wickets - including bowling Pienaar.
Prasanna Jayawardene hit a century in Woodhall Spa’s 279 for nine against Bourne while Will Wright was unbeaten on 94 when Lindum declared on 225 for two against Grimsby who were 15 without loss when the weather intervened.
Only 36 overs were possible at Grantham who batted first against Market Deeping and were 128 for five, Ben Powell not out on 67.
Boston made 199 for seven off their 50 overs at Nettleham with Liam Sparke hitting 69.
The longest game was at Louth who were restricted to 166 for eight by Bracebridge Heath.
The leaders then lost three wickets and had 48 on the board when rain stopped play in the 14th over.
With two games to go, Bracebridge lead Grantham by 24 runs with Sleaford and Market Deeping not far behind.
At the bottom, Grimsby entertain Skegness on Saturday knowing that a win could push them above their opponents who have a 12 point advantage - but defeat could let in Nettleham if the Lincoln side pick up points at Bourne.
Results: Lindum 225-2 dec (Wright 94no), Grimsby Town 15-0; Grantham 128-5 (Powell 67no) v Market Deeping; Boston 199-7 (Sparke 69). Nettleham 15-0; Woodhall Spa 279-9 (Jayawardene 124) v Bourne; Louth 166-8, Bracebridge Heath 48-3; Sleaford 177 (Pienaar 58, Cuthbert 5-28)) v Skegness.
All abandoned.


Rain sweeping across the county made the Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League a programme of one-innings matches, with three teams making it back on to the field but soon returning to the pavilion.


A couple working to make mathematics magical for children in Lincolnshire have won national recognition.
Grahame and Tracy Cooke, from Great Hale, have been named most promising franchisees for 2016 by the educational company, Professor Poopenshtinken’s Magical Maths.
They collected the honour at the end of last month at the franchise’s annual convention, held in Birmingham’s Hilton Hotel.
Professor Poopenshtinken’s Magical Maths – or just Magical Maths – is an after-school maths club for primary schoolchildren that aims to make the learning of maths fun and exciting.
The club, for example, sees dressed-up characters visit the school, with maths genius Professor Poopenshtinken among them.
Grahame, 63, and Tracy, 46, became franchisees for the company for Lincolnshire in February and began visiting schools in April.
After giving free assemblies to five pilot schools, they had more than 100 children sign up from nine clubs.
This early success looks set to continue into the next academic year, with bookings already in place at numerous schools in the area for September and October.
Speaking of his hopes for the next year, Grahame said: “In the next 12 months we have initial expectations of working with a select 50 schools and helping over 1,000 children to enjoy their maths more.
“It’s going to be a whirlwind year and hugely exciting for the lucky students who’ll get to experience the Magical Maths extravaganza for the first time.”
Of the programme, Grahame said: “Magical Maths is all about teaching primary curriculum mathematics in a way that absolutely engages and enthuses children.
“Magical Maths is incredibly passionate about helping children to develop their skills and build a brighter future, and we believe making learning fun is the absolute best way to achieve that.”
Grahame and Tracy both left their jobs on the same day in May of this year to pursue their new venture.
Grahame had been working at RAF Cranwell, while Tracy had been a teacher at Helpringham Primary School.
Making the move was a huge decision, said Grahame, but was “something we believed in and just wanted to do”.
“The satisfaction of seeing such happy children and parents has been well worth it and I love being Professor Poopenshtinken,” he said.
If any parents or teachers would like Magical Maths to visit their school, they can call Grahame or Tracy on 01529 297150 or visit www.magicalmathsclub.co.uk

Couple making maths magical for children in Lincolnshire win national recognition


A couple working to make mathematics magical for children in Lincolnshire have won national recognition.


A charity that provides support to families and other witnesses attending inquests is appealing for volunteers to assist its work in Lincolnshire.
The Coroners’ Court Support Service has made the call, saying volunteers play an important role in its service, offering practical and emotional support to help everyone involved understand the processes and procedures at an inquest.
Volunteers are given thorough training, induction, and ongoing support through Samantha Shaw, a volunteer co-ordinator for the service.
She said: “People who find themselves attending an inquest often have no idea about what to expect and may feel thrown into an alien environment. Volunteers are crucial in helping us to support families and witnesses with what can be a daunting experience at a difficult time in their lives.
“Volunteers don’t need any prior knowledge of the legal or coronial system, or a counselling qualification. We want to hear from people with a caring, supportive nature, with excellent listening skills and who are able to empathise.”
The service is currently recruiting volunteers who are able to cover Lincolnshire. The majority of inquests are held at Lincoln, however there are also courts at Spilsby, Boston, Stamford and Spalding. A willingness to travel is essential, out of pocket travel expenses will be paid.
Barry Wantling, a volunteer, said: “Having been with the organisation for several months I enjoy meeting and providing support to families and witnesses. I believe that we can make a difference and help families when hearing the events surrounding the bereavement.”
Volunteers must be able to give at least two full days a month and to be available for quarterly team meetings and ongoing supervision.
Anyone interested needs to be able to speak and write in clear English, be punctual, and to be confident in working alongside other professionals.
For more information and an application form, email info@ccsupport.org.uk
You can also learn more about the service at www.coronerscourtsupport service.org.uk

Charity appeal for help with inquests in Lincolnshire


A charity that provides support to families and other witnesses attending inquests is appealing for volunteers to assist its work in Lincolnshire.


Police are appealing for witnesses after a bicycle was stolen from the back garden of a property in Skegness.


There will be fun for all the family at the Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Festival that is taking place between Monday August 22 and Friday August 26.
Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the festival is running a range of free events for all ages including guided walks, story-telling, stream-dipping and a clean-up day.
Jonathan Gahan, project officer, said: “The events are a great opportunity for families to get out and explore their local area.
“As well as practical activities, there are fun events for children and families, so whether you’re looking to keep the kids entertained during the holidays, or enjoy a walk through the Wolds, there’s something for everyone.”
For the full line up and to book for the events, go to www.lincswolds.org.uk/chalk-streams/lcsp-festival or call 01522 555780

Fun for all the family at FREE Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Festival


There will be fun for all the family at the Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Festival that is taking place between Monday August 22 and Friday August 26.


After a successful 23 years, Lincolnshire Heritage Open Days Festival 2016 is set to wow visitors again with more than 180 free events across the county between September 8 and 11.
Heritage Lincolnshire is urging members of the public to pick up a free brochure or download one from their website so that everyone can plan for the festival.
The charity expects to attract more than 30,000 visitors to over 180 heritage sites, talks and walks around the county.
Events are predominantly organised and managed by volunteers.
This year’s Heritage Open Days will encompass heritage sites, buildings, nature reserves, towns and villages, and will feature all five National Trust properties.
Each year the open days have a different theme, with many of this year’s events covering ‘Natural Lincolnshire’.
Events on offer range from tours of haunted Old King’s Head in Kirton (now sold out) and a new Heritage Music Microfestival to a rare opening of Dowsby Hall and Gardens.
There will be lots of guided walks and talks to choose from, such as the International Bomber Command Spire Memorial, ‘Lincolnshire’s Lost River’, Willow Tree Fen Bat Walk, plus a rare guided tour of Torksey Castle.
Children’s activities will be on offer at many venues.
The brochure will be available from Tourist Information Centres, libraries and heritage sites and it can be downloaded from www.heritagelincolnshire.org

Explore with Heritage Open days festival


After a successful 23 years, Lincolnshire Heritage Open Days Festival 2016 is set to wow visitors again with more than 180 free events across the county between September 8 and 11.


Sorry, we're having problems with our video player at the moment, but are working to fix it as soon as we can
Bird-lovers could be going quackers and flocking to Horncastle to grab a sight of a rare duck
An Australian wood duck has settled on the River Bain, just a few hundred yards from a busy Tesco supermarket.
Australian Wood Duck on the River Bain, Horncastle, Lincolnshire EMN-160824-132703001
It is happily living alongside hundreds of mallards - and the town’s ‘infamous’ swan who locals have called Cyril.
A resident contacted the Horncastle News today (Wednesday) to tell us about the duck.
She said the duck appeared camera shy and swam off...whenever she attempted to take a photograph.
However, the News contacted Horncastle-based photographer John Aron who quickly spotted the Aussie invader.
Australian Wood Duck on the River Bain, Horncastle, Lincolnshire EMN-160824-132620001
And, amazingly, the duck happily posed for photographs in the Bondhi-beach-like weather.
The duck immediately attracted a large crowd, who admitted they were surprised to see it in Horncastle.
Alan Judge (37) said: “We’ don’t get many Australian visitors here. In fact, it should have come tomorrow (Thursday) - it’s market day then and there’s a lot more to see!”
Alison Newton (28) said she would not have spotted the Australian duck among all the resident mallards.
Australian Wood Duck on the River Bain, Horncastle, Lincolnshire EMN-160824-132639001
She added: “Now it’s been pointed out to me, it is a lot different looking. Perhaps it quacks with an Australian accent!”
An RSPB spokesman confirmed the duck was likely to have escaped from a private collection.
He said he did not know of any other Australian Wood Duck in this country.
The spokesman added: “It is very common in Australia but it is unlikely to have travelled all the way to England under its own steam.
“I’m not aware of any in a private collection (in this country) so it is pretty rare.
“It’s certainly worth a tick in the old book.”
Earlier this year, Cyril The Swan hit the national headlines after town councillors raised concerns he could be a threat to young children who often feed birds at the Tesco Bridge.
Cyril went missing for several weeks but is back and happy sharing the water with his new Australian friend who has already been dubbed ‘Kylie’.
There’s just one slight snag with that....apparently the duck is a male!
Did you know:
The Australian wood duck was first described by the English ornithologist John Latham in 1801 under the binomial name Anas jubata.
The 45–51cm duck looks like a small goose, and feeds mostly by grazing in flocks. The male is grey with a dark brown head and mottled breast.The female has white stripes above and below the eye and mottled underparts.

Ay up me duck! Rare Aussie bird spotted in Horncastle


Bird-lovers could be going quackers and flocking to Horncastle to grab a sight of a rare duck


Video game escapism in its purest form.
No Man’s Sky in undeniably a work of art, but have you got time to look around the whole gallery?
No Man’s Sky launched last week after much hype and billed as quite literally the biggest video game ever made.
The self-perpetuating game, which promises to be potentially endless, was four years in the making by a tiny team in game production terms. And you can tell as it will instantly take your breath away.
Make no mistake there has never been anything like this before. As you fly ever deeper into the universe, new planets and solar systems roll silently into view – some will have been seen before, others discovered for the very first time. And you have 18 quintillion of them to choose from...
Each has its own set of flora, fauna and inhabitants. By exploring, players gain information about the planets that they can submit to The Atlas, a universal database that can be shared with other players of the game and for which they are rewarded in currency each time.
Each planet is a work of art you could spend hours studying, analysing and dissecting. These works of art are housed in an endless gallery and for art connoisseurs it will be Manna from heaven.
However, most people’s playing time will be finite.... unless you’re at university and can afford to miss the odd class here and there to squeeze in just one more exploration of a peculiar alien planet.
And that is where one of the game’s key sticking points comes in. As much as No Man’s Sky takes us to Infinity and leaves us wondering what waits beyond, there is also an almost irresistible itch which you can’t scratch because you can never truly “complete” this game in the traditional sense.
But that is very much a personal take on NMS, many people might enjoy jumping on for a couple of hours here and there, discovering lots of different things and logging it to the Atlas, if anything it could be cathartic but many people like a beginning, a middle and an end to their games.
No Mans Sky is undeniably a work of art
The care, thought, time and brilliance that has gone into this utterly original video game is mindblowing and deserves to be experienced by PlayStation gamers.
It is the purest form of video game escapism we have ever seen and should be celebrated as such.
But it will more likely go down as a cult classic than the blockbuster success it’s craft deserves.


John Spendluffe Technical College, Alford, has enjoyed consistent success on GCSE Results Day (Thursday), and once again this summer’s results are a cause for celebration.
Schools will need to wait for a confirmed Progress 8 measure from national results, however, using past national performance it is clear that John Spendluffe will be comfortably above the national average, as well as the floor target.
GCSE RESULTS: John Spendluffe Technical College.
Headteacher, Steve Beverley, said: “I would like to offer my congratulations to our students on their results.
“They should be proud of their achievements, as I certainly am. I wish them every success for the future.”
Behind these excellent overall figures there were numerous individual outstanding achievements, including the following students who secured the top GCSE grades among their A*-C passes: Giedre Vingelyte (10 GCSEs including 7 at A*-A), Ben Farmer (11 GCSEs all at A*-B), Jack Collier (11 GCSEs with 9 at A*-B), Stacey McArthur (11 GCSEs including 8 at A*-B), and Toni McCreary (11 GCSEs including 7 at A*B).

GCSE RESULTS: Consistent success at John Spendluffe Technical College


John Spendluffe Technical College, Alford, has enjoyed consistent success on GCSE Results Day (Thursday), and once again this summer’s results are a cause for celebration.


Ever-improving ex-Gossip Girl actress Blake Lively impresses as the lead in this refreshing shark attack horror-thriller, writes Gavin Miller.
The blossoming Savages and The Age of Adaline star provides a noteworthy performance as marooned surfer Nancy Adams, who gets stranded on a shallow rock face just a mere 200 yards from shore after being attacked by a great white shark.
Unfortunately the secret beach is completely secluded bar a couple of surfers also being privy to its location, who vacate the waters before ex-medical student Adams gets her leg severely lacerated, leaving her with a battle of wills against the predator before high tide engulfs her precariously safe haven.
Throw in a mother/father/sister back story which adds empathetic scope to her character’s predicament, then Lively becomes as important to the movie as the terrifyingly ‘Jaws’ sized shark that would generally be the main crowd-pleasing aspect.
A few coincidences do prove to be a bit too convenient as the movie flitters between potentially indie-esque and mainstream, but still ends up being more ‘Hollywood’ with Non-Stop director Jaume Collet-Serra at the helm – which isn’t a problem as it proves to be a satisfying slice of strong-willed woman versus deadly carcharodon carcharias entertainment.
It doesn’t overstay its welcome, offers up impressive shark effects and some imaginative sequences and with Lively as the amiable human headliner, swims far more than it sinks.
RATING: 3.5/5 stars


Ever-improving ex-Gossip Girl actress Blake Lively impresses as the lead in this refreshing shark attack horror-thriller, writes Gavin Miller.


The Boston and District Saturday Football League has been officially recognised as the best adult grassroots Football League in the country.
Having won a Silver Award in 2013, this time they have gone one better in The FA Respect & Fair Play Awards 2015-16, claiming the Gold Award in the grassroots League category along with The Sheffield and District Junior Football League.
Alistair Wilson collects his award.
The winners were announced at the FA Community Shield at Wembley Stadium, and league chairman Roger Gell received the award from David Gill, Acting Football Association chairman.
Also at the presentation were league president Ray Tinkler, league vice-chairman David Ely and league secretary Elaine Wilson.
The award was in recognition of the part that the league has played in the integration of foreign nationals into the Boston and District Saturday Football League, which has seen the participation figure doubled from three per cent to six per cent.
Mr Gell said: “I am absolutely thrilled that the Boston and District Saturday Football League has been honoured by the Football Association with a National Award.
“We won a Silver Award three years ago but, this is a step up, and to have won such a prestigious award is wonderful for our league.
“But, of course, the winning of such an award would not be possible without those involved, league officers, management committee, football clubs, club secretaries, managers, players and referees, all of whom play a part in making the Boston and District Saturday Football League what it is ,and which now has the accolade of the best adult grassroots football league in the country.”
Meanwhile, the Boston league - which has around 1,400 players registered and includes teams from areas such as Spalding, Pointon, Skegness, Coningsby, Holbeach and more - has also been honoured at the Lincolnshire FA’s fourth annual community awards evening.
Also at the county awards night, Boston’s Alistair Wilson was named as the referee of the year.
On honouring Wilson, the LFA stated: “Alistair has been officiating in the semi-professional game for the past 10 years, but in the last two years he has truly come of age.
“The Level Three referee has developed into one of the most reliable and consistent officials in the county and his excellent season saw him rewarded with a national play-off semi-final at Royston.
“Off the pitch, he is chairman of Boston Referees’ Association as well as a county assessor.
“For his all-round contribution to refereeing in Lincolnshire, he is rightly the referee of the year.”


The Boston and District Saturday Football League has been officially recognised as the best adult grassroots Football League in the country.


For anyone who has found the whole process of internet shopping too much like hard work Amazon has come up with a solution.
The online retailer today revealed that it is introducing its Amazon Dash Buttons to the UK.
The dinky little gadgets are a one-touch way to order a host of popular products without all that complicated rigmarole of actually logging onto your Amazon account and searching for them.
The Dash Buttons are literally that, small plastic boxes housing a button, which when pressed will connect via wi-fi to your Amazon account and using one-click buying order your selected products.
Each button is linked to a particular item and there are 40 brands available from launch so you can get everything from cat food to condoms and nappies to NERF ammunition delivered to your door.
Daniel Rausch, director of Amazon Dash, explained the thinking behind the devices: “We’ve all experienced the frustration of running out of something we need - Dash Button and Dash Replenishment Service are designed to make that moment a thing of the past.
“Dash Buttons offer the convenience of one-click shopping from anywhere in the home - they can be placed near those frequently used items you don’t want to run out of, and when you see supplies running low, the Dash Button makes it easier than ever to order more. Just press the button and your item is on its way.”
The £4.99 devices are only available to Amazon Prime customers, which means you’ll have to sign up to the £79-a-year service to enjoy the Dash Button’s convenience. The good news is that you’ll get £4.99 back off your first order of each product.
Alongside the buttons, Amazon also announced the UK rollout of its Dash Replenishment Service.
Like the button this links to your Amazon account but rather than having to do the ordering yourself it allows connected smart devices to order supplies themselves.
This means the likes of washing machines, dishwashers and printers from big-name brands including Bosch, Samsung, Whirlpool and Siemens can monitor your consumables usage and order more before you run out.
If they could just design a button that remotely loads the dishwasher too, they could be onto a winner.

Amazon Dash lets you order your loo roll at the touch of a button


For anyone who has found the whole process of internet shopping too much like hard work Amazon has come up with a solution.


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Cigarette blamed for marquee fire in Skegness


Firefighters were called to a marquee on fire in Skegness in the early hours of this morning.


A parenting advice website has listed the most popular baby names so far in 2016 and revealed previous favourites such as Sophia, Mia, Daniel and Harrison are on the decline.
Bounty Baby Club, a popular parenting advice site, has scaled its 100,000 visitors a month, to uncover the most popular baby names of the first half of 2016 and there are a few surprises.
A few favourites of recent years are still holding their popularity but the results reveal some new up and coming themes and trends.
The favourites
Holding onto their 2015 top spots, Alfie and Isla remain the most popular names for boys and girls. Out of the top 100 most popular names, the biggest winners have been Caleb, jumping up nine positions to 19, Jenson, rising up five places to 26 and Ellie, rising up nine positions to nine.
The biggest climber so far this year has been Arlo, previously was outside of the top 50, now cementing a top 10 position at number six. Other names you may start to hear more include Freddie, Aaron, Phoebe, Ellis and Millie.
So what names are falling out of favour this year?
Results show that for girls, Sienna, Mia, Sophia, Mila and Scarlett are on the decline in 2016. Yesterday’s news for boys’ names include Dylan, Sebastian, Daniel and Harrison which are proving less popular than they have in recent years.
There is a new trend of baby names emerging from Bounty’s findings, vowel heavy names, particularly for girls. Male names ending in a softer letter are also becoming more popular, for example names such as Alfie, Arlo, Archie and Harry.
Take a look at the top 10 for boys and girls for the first half of the year below:
Top 10 most popular baby boy names of 2016 so far:
Alfie
Oscar
Teddy
Harry
Jack
Arlo
Noah
Charlie
Jacob
Archie
Top 10 most popular baby girl names of 2016 so far:
Isla
Amelia
Ava
Freya
Evie
Olivia
Esme
Elsie
Mia
Ellie

REVEALED - the most popular baby names so far in 2016


A parenting advice website has listed the most popular baby names so far in 2016 and revealed previous favourites such as Sophia, Mia, Daniel and Harrison are on the decline.


Lincolnshire Trading Standards is reminding holidaymakers to remain vigilant when booking a last minute deal this summer.
Angela Kane, senior trading standards officer, commented: “Whether paying upfront for a family holiday or simply booking a flight, it is heartbreaking if you discover that your airline ticket or holiday does not exist and was sold to you by a bogus travel company.”
Lincolnshire Trading Standards has put together advice when booking online:
l If you’re unfamiliar with the travel company you want to book a holiday with, do research online to ensure that they are reputable. Check whether the company is a member of a recognised trade body such as ABTA.
l Don’t respond to unsolicited emails, texts or calls offering holidays at very low prices. Remember, don’t click on any links within these emails and texts, or open any attachments.
l Whenever possible, pay for your holiday by credit card as it offers increased protection over other payment methods. Always look for the ‘https’ and locked padlock icon in the address bar.
If you’ve been a victim of bogus holiday fraud, call the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506.


Lincolnshire Trading Standards is reminding holidaymakers to remain vigilant when booking a last minute deal this summer.


Getting muddy is not a bad thing for children – especially on International Mud Day! Kristina Johnson from Mon Ami Children’s Nurseries explains how and why you should let your children get muddy from time to time…
As parents our instinct is often to discourage our children from being too messy or getting mud on their clothes, hands and faces. But messy play is a really important activity which helps children develop lots of skills.
International Mud Day is becoming more and more popular, and it was celebrated around the world on 29th June this year. At Mon Ami Children’s Nurseries we made sure we didn’t miss the opportunity to get out in the garden and explore muddy play in all its glorious messiness!
It’s quite amazing what children can learn and how they can develop their play skills using simple items such as cardboard boxes and being outdoors in the mud. While it sounds messy (and yes, it can be!), there are so many benefits when children are allowed to play outdoors in a muddy patch.
Dressing your child in the right clothing is advisable, of course, to save on the washing machine use and to make sure that the children don’t get cold and wet. Wellington boots are always a good idea, as is an all-in-one splash suit, but an old coat and old pair of trousers will do just as well.
One good way to give children some resources to use outside in the mud is to get those old pots, pans and baking items out from the back of the cupboard. Together with some old spoons they will make a fantastic resource box to create a mud kitchen, but it goes without saying that these items should not be used in the kitchen again afterwards! Instead keep them aside for use as a play resource the next time you fancy letting the children loose in the mud!
A simple surface for children to use is always handy too; this gives them somewhere to mix mud in containers and transfer their creations to ‘bake’ – after all, who doesn’t love a mud pie?
Mud mixed with water can create a good mixture to make marks with and practise early writing skills; you could even encourage your child to use a twig from the garden as a pen, dipping it in the mud mixture. They can use paper, old cardboard or even a concrete path to show off all their mark-making skills, and it all helps them when they learn how to write later on.
Such simple play creates endless opportunities for language and discussion and is a truly lovely way for adults to spend quality time with their children.
If you’d like to find some more good ideas about muddy play visit www.muddyfaces.co.uk, where there are lots of lovely ideas and tips!

COLUMN: Mud, glorious mud! How and why you should let your children get muddy


Getting muddy is not a bad thing for children – especially on International Mud Day! Kristina Johnson from Mon Ami Children’s Nurseries explains how and why you should let your children get muddy from time to time…


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Promote yourself in next year’s Skegness holiday guide: Could your pic make front page?


Businesses have just weeks to get themselves featured in 2017’s Skegness, Mablethorpe and The Lincolnshire Wolds holiday guide. Those behind the guide, to be distributed across the country, are especially looking for pubs, restaurants and retailers to advertise, as well as a picture for the front cover.


Deus Ex has you spoilt for choice.
Mankind Divided and so am I when it comes to reviewing the latest Deus Ex game after its launch last week.
There is so much to rave about in DEMD and I’m still enjoying it now over a week into the game.
But there are a number of elements which do not quite sit right with me.
Let’s start with the positives, though, and there are plenty of them.
There is layer upon layer in this game all expertly crafted together and beautifully designed.
The gameplay stands up to the high standards set by previous Deus Ex games and goes beyond them in many respects.
This is a game that will suit all types of gamers too.
Looking for a quick blast for an hour, you can jump on and get enough done to enjoy the experience, looking for longer, more involved sessions on your console then the gameplay rewards your patience, curiosity and creativity.
You play augmented human Jensen who is essentially the most deadly Power Ranger on the planet. I mean this guy has everything and would even give Superman a run for his money.
There are so many options to negotiate each scenario
And this is where my first problem lies with DEMD.
Sometimes, dare I say it, there are so many options available to you, so many ways to deal with scenarios and enemies and so much in your arsenal, it actually feels a bit ... easy.
‘Ramp up the difficulty setting!’ I hear you cry.
Well yes there’s that but my point is no matter what level you are playing at, Jensen just has too much at his disposal for his enemies to trouble him.
Sometimes, dare I say it, there are so many options available to you, so many ways to deal with scenarios and enemies and so much in your arsenal, it actually feels a bit ... easy. Damien Lucas, gaming columnist
But don’t get me wrong it’s still great fun entering a room littered with foes and walking out past a pile of them without breaking a sweat.
Another thing that doesn’t quite land for me is the Apartheid type references between the humans (naturals) and the augmented race. It is a poor attempt to give the storyline resonance with real life - for example there are posters dotted around saying things like ‘Augmented Lives Matter’ and it just feels a little frivolous.
I’m being hyper critical, though, and Deus Ex will go down as one of the games of the year of that there is no doubt.
Rating: 8.5/10

Console Corner: Deus Ex Mankind Divided review


Early indications of GCSE results across Lincolnshire show continued improvements this year.
With 10 schools still to return data, provisional figures released today (Thursday) by Lincolnshire schools, including academies, indicate that the percentage of students attaining good grades in core subjects continues to rise.
The percentage of students attaining 5+ A*-C including English and maths is no longer a headline measure of school performance.
The new headline is the percentage of students attaining an A*-C grade in English and maths, which has increased by five per cent, from 58.3 per cent in 2015 to 63.2 per cent this year. An impressive 23 schools so far have achieved more than 60 per cent.
The percentage of students attaining A*-C in English is currently 73.5 per cent for 2016 and compares to 67.6 per cent last year, an increase of 5.9 per cent. Four of the 45 schools achieved 100 per cent in this measure.
The percentage of A*-C in maths is currently showing as 69.8 per cent for 2016, 1.8 per cent up on last year. Six of the 45 schools achieved 100 per cent in this measure
The government has been keen to emphasise the importance of the English Baccalaureate as this measure supports as many students as possible to achieve A*-C grades in a broad range of academic subjects. The percentage achieving the English Baccalaureate is 29.4 per cent for 2016 compared to 27.2 per cent in 2015 - an increase of 2.2 per cent on last year.
So far 24 schools have shown improvement on last year in this measure, with 12 of those schools improving by over five per cent points on last year.
Coun Patricia Bradwell, executive councillor for children’s services, said: “It’s looking like another impressive set of results this year. In particular, the percentage of students achieving the English Baccalaureate at 29.4 per cent is a significant improvement.
“Students deserve every credit for their commitment to reach their potential. Remember, if you haven’t got the results you need, don’t panic, there is plenty of advice and help out there – go to www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/teeninfolincs.”
Debbie Barnes, director of children’s services, added: “We have yet to see how the final figures will pan out, but the picture is showing that our students have done incredibly well to maintain improvements and standards. Schools continue to excel in providing the platform for students to perform to their best.
“Teachers, parents and carers deserve praise for their support and encouragement. My congratulations to all students and best wishes for your future plans.”

Continued improvements in GCSE results across Lincolnshire


Early indications of GCSE results across Lincolnshire show continued improvements this year.


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Cigarette starts fire on Ingoldmells caravan park


Firefighters were called to a caravan site at Ingoldmells overnight to a bin on fire.


Straw stubble on fire in Welton le Marsh


Firefighters were called to a field in Welton le Marsh where two acres of straw stubble caught fire.


‘Game abandoned’ was the story of the South Lincolnshire & Border League weekend, with only match getting beyond the tea interval.
The day’s big game between leaders Spalding and second placed Sleaford 2nd ended with Spalding having scored 197 for seven, Hafiz Maheed hitting 80 and Dan Milgate 57.
This gave the top team four points to Sleaford’s three and Spalding now have a 39 point advantage - but with two games in hand, Sleaford are still in with a good chance of the title.
Elsewhere, Dan Reynolds made 62 and Matthew Law 69 in Belton Park’s 215 for seven.
Belton declared in the 36th over in the hope of completing the game but after six overs of the second innings, the weather intervened.
Freiston caught up three points on Spalding 2nd at the top of Division One, their game against Baston lasting 39 overs, sufficient time for both Richard Paul and Abdul Moeed to hit 63 as the players came off with Frieston 166 for two.
Mark Elsom and Dan Nuttall made 70 and 59 respectively in Skegness 2nd’s 205 for four before the rain came in the 42nd over, but only 15 overs were played at Spalding where the leaders were taking on Timberland.
Boston 3rd and Graves Park remain locked in battle for second place in Division Two after their match was rained off with Boston on 49 for six.
Pinchbeck had made 107 for four when the game against Long Sutton 2nd was brought to a close.
Premier Division: Belton Park 215-7 dec (Reynolds 62, M Law 69), Long Sutton 6-0; Woodhall Spa 2nd 93-6 v Bourne 2nd; Boston 2nd 124-3 v Billingborough Grantham 2nd 114-8 v Market Deeping 2nd; Spalding 197-7 (Majeed 80, Milgate 57) v Sleaford 2nd.
Division One: Freiston 166-2 (Paul 63, Moeed 63no), v Baston; Skegness 2nd 205-4 (Elsom 70, Nuttall 59) v Grantham 3rd; Timberland 53-0 v Spalding 2nd; Moulton Harrox conceded to Heckington.
Divison Two: Boston 3rd 49-6 v Graves Park; Pinchbeck 107-4 v Long Sutton 2nd.
All abandoned.


‘Game abandoned’ was the story of the South Lincolnshire & Border League weekend, with only match getting beyond the tea interval.


More than half of the UK’s grandparents are planning to look after their grandchildren over the next few weeks, according to a recent survey.
A poll of more than 8,000 over-50s shows that one in eight grandparents will look after grandchildren once a week over the school summer holidays, with a further one in eight will be on childminding duties twice per week.
However, one in twenty grandparents say they will be hosting their grandchildren three days a week while school is out for the summer, according to the research by Saga Car Insurance.
And it’s not just their time that will be donated - one in five say they will spend well over £200 keeping the children occupied. Days out to the beach (77 per cent) and on shopping trips (35 per cent) are the most popular distractions, although some grandparents are even taking their grandchildren on a holiday either in the UK (14 per cent) or abroad (5 per cent).
Grandparents in the North East are the most likely to babysit grandchildren over the school summer holidays, while those in the East Midlands are least likely to.
The Scots are most likely to spend big on their grandkids, with one in four expecting to spend more than £200 during the school holiday period.
Sue Green, Head of Saga Car Insurance, commented: “It looks as though children are in for an action-packed summer which is full of adventure if nan and granddad are in charge over the next couple of weeks. Grandparents really are generous giving up their time and money to help with childcare over the summer holidays and I’m sure they are really looking forward to spending some quality time with their grandchildren.”

Grandparents to the rescue over school summer holidays


More than half of the UK’s grandparents are planning to look after their grandchildren over the next few weeks, according to a recent survey.


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Crowds have landed at the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre in East Kirkby today (Monday) for the bank holiday Props and Pistons event.
The fifth annual event saw many exotic cars ranging from Lamborghini’s to Bentley’s to Aston Martin’s. Cars and aircraft worth millions of pounds on show for the public.
Props and Pistons event at Lincs Aviation Centre. Lancaster taxi run. EMN-160829-160302001
It was set to include a variety of displays including the Lancaster Just Jane, Spitfires and Hurricanes.
Photographer David Dawson went along to get some pictures.
Have you got something to share on the story? Were you there? What do you think? - Send your pictures, videos or story and we'll publish the best × Continue the story PICTURE GALLERY: Crowds head to East Kirkby for Props and Pistons event Loading ... Add up to 3 photos or 1 videos to the story There's been a problem uploading your files. Please try again. By uploading your file you agree to our Terms and Conditions × Continue the story Sign in to contribute sign in shape the news in your area...


Crowds have landed at the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre in East Kirkby today (Monday) for the bank holiday Props and Pistons event.


PICTURE GALLERY: Crowds head to East Kirkby for Props and Pistons event


Ann Boulton rounds up this week’s Lincs ECB Premier action...
On a good day for batting that brought three centuries, Obus Pienaar hit an unbeaten 122 to break the Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League runs record, set by his predecessor at Sleaford, Tim McIntosh.
With three matches to go, the South African now has 1,394 runs for the season, with nine centuries.
Bracebridge Heath have a 22 point lead at the top, while below them Grantham head a chasing pack of four separated by just 15 points.
The top two played the bottom two and both took a gamble by declaring, only to see their opponents put up spirited performances to hang on to their wickets and earn a draw.
Bracebridge hosted Grimsby, declaring after 47 overs on 282 for five, Kit Spence unbeaten on 78 and Carl Stubbs hitting 51.
Brett Houston dismissed both Grimsby openers for 37 runs but Steve Crossley and Jack Wilson added 82.
When Crossley was out, Grimsby lost their next four wickets for 17 runs to make it 138 for seven but Hayden Tice and brother Harrison steadied the ship with a partnership of 41 and Hayden was unbeaten on 34 as the innings closed on 187 for eight, earning the visitors a valuable six points.
Nettleham fared even better at Grantham who declared after 42 overs on 253 for three.
Ross Carnelley scored his maiden century for the club in the ECB Premier League, carrying his bat with 115 while Dan Freeman made a welcome return to the batting line-up after injury to hit 55, this partnership putting on 127 for the third wicket.
Nettleham’s first wicket fell on 15 and the second on 60 but the visiting batsmen took advantage of a good batting track to score at a steady rate, Rhett Bridgens hitting 60.
From 170 for five, Jack Curtis and Connor Hawkins joined forces to bat out their 58 overs and take their side to 225 for five at the close.
This gave Nettleham nine points, closing the gap on Grimsby and both sides now have 10th placed Skegness in their sights after the seasiders suffered a heavy defeat at Bourne.
Jack Berry was once again the pick of the bowling, taking six for 45 as Skegness collapsed from 63 for one to 95 all out. Bourne lost two early wickets but an unbeaten 40 from Carl Wilson saw the home side to a six wicket win.
The closest game of the day was at Boston where Woodhall Spa’s innings closed on 223 for nine, Jack Timby making 60 and Jack Luffman 52.
Boston’s first wicket fell on eight but this brought Jonny Cheer to the crease and the chase was on as Cheer shared a third wicket stand of 81 with Liam Sparke.
Ross Dixon’s two dismissals made it 149 for five but this was to be Woodhall’s last success as Cheer and Tom Baxter pushed the total ever closer.
Going into the penultimate over, 22 were needed for victory but the batsman could make only six and eight more runs off the final over left the home side just eight short, Cheer with an unbeaten 113.
Pienaar’s century helped Sleaford to 247 for six at the close and Lindum suffered an early blow, losing two wickets for just 23 runs.
From here, Dwight Thomas brought some stability to the innings and when the West Indian was out for 89, the total had reached 170 for six.
Three more wickets fell but Lindum’s final pair dug in to take the final score to 208 for nine.
Keaton Critchell almost joined the century makers with 94 at Louth whose innings closed on 226 for nine at home to Market Deeping.
Tom Corden, who had earlier hit an unbeaten 31, then took five Deeping wickets as the visitors finished on 191 for nine, Patrick Harrington hitting 49.
Results: Skegness 95 (Berry 6-45), Bourne 99-4; Woodhall Spa 223-9 (J. Timby 60, Luffman 52), Boston 216-5 (Cheer 113no); Grantham 253-3 dec (42 overs) (Freeman 55, Carnelley 115no), Nettleham 225-5 (Bridgens 60); Sleaford 247-6 (Pienaar 122no), Lindum 208-9 (Thomas 89); Louth 226-9 (Critchell 94), Market Deeping 191-9 (Corden 5-76); Bracebridge Heath 282-5 dec (47 overs) (Spence 78no, Stubbs 51), Grimsby Town 187-8 (Crossley 68).


Ann Boulton rounds up this week’s Lincs ECB Premier action...


Alford Racing Pigeon Club released birds from Whitby this week.


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A superstore near Boston that had to be evacuated when rainwater started to pour through the roof has reopened to shoppers today.
Tesco Superstore in New Hammond Beck Road, Wyberton Fen, was closed yesterday afternoon when a build-up of rainwater on the building’s roof caused a waterpipe to overflow and a leakage onto the store roof below.
Screen shot from the video.
Emergency services joined staff at the store to carry out a clean-up operation, while customers were turned away at the car park.
Yesterday, a Tesco spokesman said: “Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers so we are working hard to ensure our Boston store is safe and cleaned to our usual high standards before it is reopened.”
SATURDAY 9.15PM: Video footage from inside “flooded” Boston Tesco store
Video footage has been shared with The Standard showing the moment water gushed into the Tesco store in Boston.
There is quite a lot of water down the aisles, customers are being turned away and they aren’t letting anyone into the car park
This was sent into us by reader Sharon Horry.
UPDATE SATURDAY 8PM: Store puts customer safety first before reopening after flooding in Wyberton Fen
Shoppers will only be able to use a superstore in Wyberton Fen when it is “safe and cleaned to our usual high standards”, after flooding today.
Tesco Superstore in New Hammond Beck Road was evacuated after torrential rain caused a water pipe to overflow and come through the roof, onto the shop floor itself.
Tesco Superstore in Wyberton Fen has been temporarily closed due to flooding.
Emergency service, including firefighters, came to the store where there was “quite a lot of water down the aisles”, according to an eye-witness.
A Tesco spokesman said, “Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers, so we are working hard to ensure our Boston store is safe and cleaned to our usual high standards before it is reopened.”
BREAKING NEWS: SATURDAY 4.55PM: Shoppers evacuated from flooded Tesco store in Wyberton Fen - but roof still intact
A superstore in Wyberton Fen has been evacuated after it flooded due to torrential rain in the area today.
Emergency services are currently at Tesco Superstore in New Hammond Beck Road which is currently closed while a clean-up operation takes place.
An eye-witness, who asked not to be named said: “There is quite a lot of water down the aisles and the store is flooded.
“Also, there are lots of mops and brushes but they have been abandoned.
“Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue crews are in the store, walking around, but customers are being turned away and they aren’t letting anyone into the car park.”
However, earlier reports from other media outlets that the store’s roof had collapsed were quashed by the eye-witness who added: “There’s no visible damage to the roof.”
This was confirmed by a Tesco spokesman who said that a build-up of rainwater had “come through” the roof and onto the floor of the store itself
The spokesman added: “There has been rainwater along the roof of the store and due to its volume, the pipe has overflown.
“The rainwater has come through the roof and onto the shop floor, so the store has been closed whilst that is the case.
“We are working to get the rainwater cleaned up and the store reopened as soon as possible.
“However, the roof has not collapsed and it does not appear that the store has been hit by lightning.”

UPDATE SUNDAY 9.50AM: Tesco store reopens near Boston after flooding drama


A superstore near Boston that had to be evacuated when rainwater started to pour through the roof has reopened to shoppers today.


Blackpool is all set for a world premier at The Grand Theatre this week – and it’s pants.
Underpants, to be exact.
Because Aliens Love Underpants. And they’re coming to The Grand to tell their zany and hilarious tale based on the best-selling children’s book of the same name.
The book is being brought to life on stage for the very first time.
Just remember: aliens love underpants of every shape and size, but there are no underpants in space so here’s a big surprise!
With stunning effects, madcap action, original music – and lots of aliens of course – this production based on the Claire Freedman and Ben Cort book should be a delight for the whole family.
The Big Wooden Horse and Nick Brooke production has a two-day run at The Grand, on Friday and Saturday.
Shows are at 1.30pm on Friday, and 11am and 2pm on Saturday.
Tickets are priced at £15 each. Call (01253) 290190 for details.

Aliens and underpants take over The Grand


Blackpool is all set for a world premier at The Grand Theatre this week – and it’s pants.


With GCSE Results Day finally upon us, hundreds of thousands of teenagers across the country will be weighing up their options for the future.
Although A-levels remain the traditional educational route after GCSEs, they are not the only option. More and more students are turning towards apprenticeships and further education as real alternatives.
Many of the teenagers picking up their results have already been in education for the best part of 12 years.
But, these days teenagers, up to the age of 18, are legally required to stay in education, training or get a job with accredited training, something the government calls 'raising the age of participation'.
Being in further education or training doesn’t mean teenagers have to stay in the same school. There are lots of options.
So, for those students who didn’t do so well in their GCSEs, or don’t find the prospect of another two years at school studying A-levels appealing, here are our top three options for life after GCSEs.
Do an apprenticeship
Apprenticeships have had some mixed press. The quality and rates of pay have been in the news, but there are lots fabulous apprenticeship opportunities out there and lots of organisations who can help, and offer you the right information; checkout The Student Room’s new Apprenticeship Hub it’s full of accurate and up-to-date information and it can even help to dispel some of those apprenticeship myths.
We found a fabulous apprenticeship scheme with national company, Be Wiser Insurance - they offer a starting salary of £14,000. There are other companies doing similar, so do your homework.
Do a traineeship
Not quite ready for an apprenticeship? Need to work on your skills? Don’t worry there are lots of opportunities for you to complete a traineeship – Have a look at what a company like EDF Energy can offer you.
Go to your local college
There are two types of college – 6th Form college and Further Education college. 6th Form Colleges are mostly geared up for students between 16 and 18 years old, and tend to concentrate on academic education. Further Education colleges are generally much bigger than 6th Form colleges and offer a wider range of subjects, including vocational education (Btecs and NVQs), and they’re not just for teenagers. Further Education colleges offer adult education and higher education too.
The GOV.UK website can help you find more information about courses offered by schools and colleges in your area if you’re between 14-19.
Have you got something to share on the story? Were you there? What do you think? - Send your pictures, videos or story and we'll publish the best × Continue the story Life after GCSEs Loading ... Add up to 3 photos or 1 videos to the story There's been a problem uploading your files. Please try again. By uploading your file you agree to our Terms and Conditions × Continue the story Sign in to contribute sign in shape the news in your area...


With GCSE Results Day finally upon us, hundreds of thousands of teenagers across the country will be weighing up their options for the future.