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A 53% rise in COVID-19 cases in Lincolnshire last week has continued across the weekend.

The latest figures show there were 591 coronavirus cases in the seven days to Sunday  — compared to the 387 cases the previous week.

The government’s COVID-19 dashboard recorded over the weekend 75 new cases in Lincolnshire, 79 in North East Lincolnshire and 15 in North Lincolnshire.

There were no deaths reported in government figures over the weekend, however a decrease in numbers early in the week was due to residents being more accurately designated to their correct addresses.

NHS England no longer reports deaths over the weekend, however, there was one local hospital death in Greater Lincolnshire’s four health trusts last week.

A number of coronavirus restrictions were due to be lifted on Monday, but Prime Minister Boris Johnson last week confirmed a delay of four weeks to July 19 with a review of July 5.

Boris Johnson speaking on June 14.

However, weddings and wakes will have the cap of 30 guests removed, while care home residents will no longer have to quarantine for 14 days after days out.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng told Sky News on Monday morning that it was “unlikely” coronavirus restrictions would be lifted early and that he would “err on the side of caution”.

Meanwhile Health Secretary Matt Hancock has confirmed plans for an autumn booster jab programme.

Mr Hancock told BBC Breakfast that the government was waiting fro the results of clinical trials into which combinations of vaccines were most effective.

Elsewhere a million extra jabs were booked in two days after social networks such as Snapchat, YouTube, TikTok and Reddit launched campaigns encouraging young people to get theirs.

It comes as data suggests 13% of those aged 16-29 are unsure about getting the jab, the highest levels of vaccine hesitancy.

Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Sunday, June 20

61,774 cases (up 169)

• 42,714 in Lincolnshire (up 75)
• 9,869 in North Lincolnshire (up 15)
• 9,191 in North East Lincolnshire (up 79)

2,194 deaths (no change)

• 1,622 from Lincolnshire (no change)
• 302 from North Lincolnshire (no change)
• 270 from North East Lincolnshire (no change)

of which 1,312 hospital deaths (no change)

• 816 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (no change)
• 42 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)
• 1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)
• 453 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (no change)

4,630,040 UK cases, 127,976 deaths

DATA SOURCE — FIGURES CORRECT AT THE TIME OF THE LATEST UPDATE. POSTCODE DATA INCLUDES DEATHS NOT IN HEALTHCARE FACILITIES OR IN HOSPITALS OUTSIDE AUTHORITY BOUNDARIES.

A 37-year-old man has been charged with the murder of a 39-year-old woman he shared a house with.

The body of Sophie Cartlidge was found at a property on Baldwin Avenue, Bottesford at 9.10am on Friday, June 18.

No weapons were involved, but Sophie suffered fatal injuries at the house which she had shared with Andrew Grimes, 37, of Temple Road, Scunthorpe.

Grimes has been charged with murder and will appear at Grimsby Magistrates Court on Monday, June 21.

Detective Chief Inspector Grant Taylor said: “Our thoughts remain with Sophie’s family and loved ones who continue to be supported by our specialist trained officer at this sad time.

“This is an isolated incident and there is no wider risk to members of the public.

“Our neighbourhood teams will continue to support and speak to local residents, if you see our officers please come and speak them if you have any concerns.

“I want to say thank you to those who have helped with our enquiries throughout our investigation.”

“Good food doesn’t have to be dull.” That’s what Ben Jennings at Twisted Street Food told The Lincolnite when we went to try out his now famous potato skewers, as well as a brand new item on the menu.

Ben Jennings, 48, is originally from London but has lived in Lincoln for 13 years, and he has worked in and out of the hospitality sector for almost a decade.

Twisted Street Food was an idea he had around two years ago, and after COVID-19 postponed the launch, he is now up and running selling street food delights in the city since October 2020.

Ben is meticulous with his food prep. | Photo: The Lincolnite

“I just love food, I am so passionate about it and always have been,” Ben told The Lincolnite. “Street food suits me down to the ground, it’s far better than being static in a kitchen.

“For me, the experience is of equal importance to the quality of the food, so it has to be fun as well as tasty.”

Here is where you can find Twisted Street Food, outside The Victoria pub on Union Road, Lincoln. | Photo: The Lincolnite

You can find Twisted Street Food outside The Victoria pub on Union Road, as well as his monthly pop-ups at Lincoln Castle.

Ben’s big hit so far have been his twisted potato skewers, which are twice fried and served with seasoning and sauce.

The potato skewers start off pretty routinely. | Photo: The Lincolnite

He has developed sixteen different seasoned salts and offers them in batches of four to six depending on demand, varying from cajun spice to Spanish onion and Cornish salt.

“This is where the magic happens.” | Photo: The Lincolnite

Ta-da! | Photo: The Lincolnite

The potato becomes twisted with a spiral cutter, before they are fried and dosed with a choice of Twisted’s various spices and sauces.

The skewers are then fried before being seasoned and prepped for serving. | Photo: The Lincolnite

His latest invention is a wonderful chilli dog, based on a 1950s recipe from Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

Ben has added a local twist to this legendary dish, offering Lincolnshire sausages, supplied by local butcher Foster’s on Monks Road, instead of the traditional Bratwurst.

The chilli dog looks mesmerising. | Photo: The Lincolnite

The chilli dog will come with caramelised onion, nine hour slow cooked beef chilli mix, blow torched mature cheddar and then garnished with fresh chillies, spring onion and American mustard.

The gourmet burger is a sight to behold. | Photo: The Lincolnite

Adding this to the menu alongside the already popular skewers and gourmet burger is part of the next step in Ben’s development with Twisted.

With a menu this good, how can you go wrong? | Photo: The Lincolnite

Ben added: “Street food is taking off, and with table service looking to be the route forward it’s cause for me to be excited, everything is just so much more civilised.

“The uptake has been massive since we started, people seem really interested in it, I think above all else the public are just delighted to be back out and about.

The gourmet burger comes with onions, molten cheddar, lettuce, gherkins, onion rings, tomato and a prosciutto crisp. | Photo: The Lincolnite

“As for myself, I’m hoping to be able to reach the festival and events circuits soon enough, as well as doing a few private events and carrying on with the success we’ve had at The Victoria and the castle.”

The twisted potatoes will cost £3.50 with seasoning and sauce, while the gourmet burger and chilli dog cost £8.50 with French fries and sauce.

Great options at Twisted Street Food. | Photo: The Lincolnite