Rewind: Lincoln bus station evacuated over suspicious package

Lincoln City have made a statement of intent with the signing of midfielder Teddy Bishop from Ipswich Town.

The 25-year-old has been at Ipswich since he was eight, but has now left to join the Imps for an undisclosed fee.

He’s made over 100 appearances for Ipswich Town, 36 of which were in League One last season, where he got four goals from midfield.

Discussing his move to the LNER Stadium, Teddy said: “You only have to look at last season to see the club is going places and I want to be a part of that.

“I’ve had good chats with the manager and heard the fans make the LNER Stadium a rocking venue.”

Ted arrives at Lincoln with an established reputation at League One level. | Photo: Lincoln City FC

Bishop’s signature makes it seven new faces through the door already at Lincoln this transfer window, three on loan and four on permanent deals.

Lewis Fiorini and Dan Nlundulu joined on loan from Premier League sides Manchester City and Southampton, while goalkeeper Josh Griffiths arrived on loan from Championship side West Bromwich Albion.

As for permanent deals, the Imps have managed to bolster their midfield options with the signing of Lasse Sorensen from Stoke City and now Bishop from Ipswich, as well as winger Hakeeb Adelakun and forward Chris Maguire on free transfers.

Bishop admitted that he may need a bit of time to get up to speed, but has told Imps fans he is here to put a smile on their face.

He will join up with his new team-mates this week after signing his contract.

Teddy continued: “It’s been a bit of a disjointed pre-season so I need to get that fitness up to scratch over the next few weeks. I can’t wait to get going.

“I’m a creative midfielder, I like to drive with the ball and take people on – hopefully I’ll excite the fans.”

The 22-year-old man accused of murdering 46-year-old Darren Munnelly has appeared in court today for an initial hearing.

Declan Grant, of St Mary’s Street, Lincoln, was arrested and charged with murder after Darren Munnelly was found with a head injury outside a flat on Carr Street at 12.18am on Sunday, July 25.

Darren’s injury proved to be fatal as he sadly died in hospital shortly after being found by emergency services.

Darren could always be seen with a smile on his face.

The murder accused appeared at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday morning. He spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth.

He has again been remanded in custody ahead of a Lincoln Crown Court appearance at a later date.

Darren wore his Irish heritage and his love for Manchester United on his sleeve. | Photo: Ellis Karran for The Lincolnite

Floral tributes have continued to be placed at the scene of the crime, paying homage to victim Darren’s Irish roots and his love for Manchester United Football Club.

Emotional notes accompany the flowers as the Lincoln community remembers “a true westender” in the form of Darren Munnelly.

Darren was seen as “a true westender” by those who were close to him. | Photo: Ellis Karran for The Lincolnite

Some of the flowers and messages have been left by people who admit to not knowing Darren, but were touched by the powerful response and devastation after news of his death broke.

He has been described as a “legend” of the city, who regularly sang in bars and seemed to have a warm bond with everyone he knew.

Darren Munnelly was a much-loved and very well-respected member of the community in Lincoln.

The tributes are still lining the fence on Carr Street. | Photo: Ellis Karran for The Lincolnite

Read more: Tributes to Lincoln “hero” named locally after murder

Lincolnshire’s coronavirus numbers are low, and suggest natural vaccine immunity could be increasing, health bosses have said. But they warned there was a long way to go, and encouraged students and young people to get the vaccine.

According to the latest government report, despite infection rates continuing to rise, case numbers are lower than previously and the region’s authorities have mostly moved down the national tables for the past seven days.

According to the latest figures, North East Lincolnshire has remained sixth highest across England. However, its infection rate has decreased from 960.7 last year to 908.7 this year.

In Lincolnshire, Boston and Lincoln remain top of the table with infection rates of 409 and 397.8 respectively. Both have, however, dropped down the table from 163rd to 226th in Boston and 146th to 240th in Lincoln.

North Lincolnshire, with an infection rate of 408.6, has stayed near the top of the table, but has moved from 180th to 227th.

The only two districts to move up the table are South Holland District Council and North Kesteven District Council, going from 336th to 311th and 319th to 313th respectively.

Lincolnshire County Council’s Deputy Director of Public Health Andy Fox was positive about the decrease, but warned “it’s definitely too early to say this has turned a corner in any way”.

He said it had only been a week since restrictions had relaxed and that there would have been a decrease in testing due to the school holidays and other variables.

“It’s very hard to say right now exactly what is happening, whether COVID is declining in the country or whether its just an artefact of several different changes going on at once, but it is encouraging,” he said.

“It does suggest, perhaps, that the level of natural vaccine immunity we’ve got in the population is starting to slow things down at least.”

Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rates from July 15 to July 26. | Data: Gov UK / Table: Daniel Jaines for The Lincolnite

He praised the level of double-jabbed people as “fantastic”.

He said the main bracket of people testing positive for the virus continued to be the 18-25-year-olds, and rates in school children continued to rise.

However, he stopped short of agreeing with reports that the government could require university students to be double jabbed to go to classes, or stay in halls of residence.

“Of course I want all students to get the vaccine, it’s a no brainer for me. The vaccines are safe, so I would encourage all students to get it,” he said.

He said the move would “no doubt be effective from an infection prevention and control perspective” but said there were concerns about personal freedoms and choice. It was a political question, he concluded.

He also noted the economic benefit the university brought to Lincoln and Lincolnshire as a whole.

“We really do need the universities to be up and running… we’re really keen to see them thriving,” he said.

“The safest way to make sure that universities can do the in September, October, whenever they start is going to be getting vaccinated.

“My preference is that everybody just chooses to get vaccinated because that’s the best thing to do,” he added.