A16 junction to close overnight as part of refurbishment works

We appealed today for information to help us find Mark, who was missing from Skegness.

We are pleased to report that Mark has been found and is safe. Thank you for the support for our appeal. 

Reference: Incident 388 of 28 November

One of the most famous seals at Donna Nook has returned once again to give birth to a new pup, 20 years after she was first found tangled up in rope.

Ropeneck arrived at Donna Nook on Saturday, November 20, giving birth to her new pup eight days later on Sunday morning.

She was named Ropeneck after being rescued by a warden in November 2000, some 21 years ago, after being found entangled in rope.

This caused distinctive markings to her neck but she survived the ordeal and has returned to Donna Nook once again.

The first seal pups born at Donna Nook this season were last month in late October, and more have been arriving in the recent weeks.

Ropeneck and her new seal on a wintery Sunday morning at Donna Nook. | Photo: Donna Nook Warden

As per the most recent seal update from Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, which is updated every Friday, there are now 520 bulls, 1,599 cows and 1,589 pups on the coastline.

The seal viewing area is usually packed with people each year, but was closed in 2020 due to lockdown from the coronavirus lockdown, so its return this year has brought about plenty of excitement for Lincolnshire.

Booking will not be required, but with wardens expecting it to be particularly busy after last year’s absence, people are being encouraged to try and avoid peak weekends.

You can keep up to date with the seal progress on the Donna Nook Warden Facebook page.

The time between COVID booster vaccinations should be shortened to three months and recipient eligibility expanded, according to recommendations by the government’s vaccine advisors.

A press briefing on Monday revealed the new measures as concerns increase around the new Omicron variant.

If approved by government, it will mean those aged 18-39 will be offered a booster after just three months instead of the previous six. It will be prioritised by the risk to the patient.

Some people who are severely immune-suppressed could even receive a fourth dose of the vaccine — again no less than three months from their previous.

Under the changes, children aged 12-15 will also be able to get their second vaccine dose three months after their first.

England’s deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam said: “We’ve known from outset of pandemic, variants have been inevitable.”

He said Omicron was of increased concern but added there was “far more we don’t know about Omicron yet than we do know”.

He told those present there were many mutations with some already causing “worry about a possible effect on vaccine effectiveness”.

However, he added: “This is not all doom and gloom at this stage and I do not want people to panic at this stage.”

Dr June Raine, the chief executive of the Medicines and Healthcare product Regulatory Agency (MHRA), said there was no  evidence that existing vaccines “do not work”, however, added “We are making this issue a priority.”

Professor Wei Shen Lim, from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), said advisors wanted to get ahead of any new wave of the variant.

“If we deploy a vaccine in the middle of a wave or after the peak, then the benefit from the vaccine is much lower,” he said.

“We want to provide boosters early enough such that it is before any possible wave.”

In a subsequent statement to the House of Commons, Health secretary Sajid Javid told MPs the UK was entering winter in a “strong position”.

However, he said: “We expect cases to rise over the coming days.

“In this race between the vaccines and the virus the new variant may have given the virus extra legs.”

At the weekend, the government announced new measures to prevent the spread of the Omicron variant, including making masks mandatory in shops and on public transport, and adding several countries to the UK’s Travel Red List.

Due to problems with the heating, the Boston Mass Vaccination Centre at PRSA (Princess Royal Sports Arena) had to close the site early today.