Emily Norton

Humber Llamas has helped to transform the lives of people with learning difficulties, but its future was put in doubt when thieves ransacked the charity.

“Everything was smashed to pieces”, said devastated centre owners in Barton Upon Humber, who showed reporters broken doors and windows.

Diesel had been taken, an attempt to take the generator had left a trail of damage and gates to the animal pens had been left open.

“Humber Llamas means the world to me and I was so gutted to hear about what happened. I was upset and disappointed,” one of the service users told BBC Look North.

The community has now pulled together and set up an online fundraiser, meaning activities can continue and repairs can be made.

Almost £2,000 has been raised on the JustGiving page here. 

“The messages and support we have been given is just humbling,” the charity said.

Bus services lined up to replace cancelled trains between Peterborough and Lincoln today have now been suspended.

Many East Midlands Railway services across routes to and from the city during the popular Lincoln Christmas Market weekend were cancelled due to strike action called earlier this week.

In a last-minute u-turn on December 2, RMT Union suspended planned strikes, however train providers said cancelled services could not be resumed at such short notice.

The rail company told ticket holders on the morning of Saturday, December 4 (traditionally the busiest day of the market) that replacement bus services between Peterborough and Lincoln have been suspended.

They blamed the unavailability of busses.

Those with tickets have been told they will be entitled to a full refund.

A statement on the East Midlands Railway website reads:

“We have regrettably had to suspend our rail replacement bus service between Peterborough and Lincoln today because of no availability of buses to operate. We are regularly contacting bus operators and if we are able to obtain rail replacement we will up date our website.”

To see the full list of routes affected by strike action, see the web page here.

The RMT union, which suspended strikes to work on new proposals for East Midlands Railway, warned that action could be taken later this month if disputes over safety, pay and conditions are not resolved.