More than 500,000 COVID-19 vaccinations have now been administered in Lincolnshire, of which over 425,000 were first doses.

The weekly data released on Thursday shows altogether 508,280 jabs have taken place between December 8 and April 11 — a further 39,915 in the last week, but an increase on the 32,282 jabs given the week before.

The latest figures show that some 425,621 Lincolnshire residents have received their first vaccine dose and 82,659 have been given their second.

Of those over the age of 50, a total of 325,376 have received their first vaccination and another 66,321 have had their second.

Some 100,245 people aged under 50 received their first dose, with a further 16,338 receiving a second jab. This includes those aged between 16 to 64 who are clinically vulnerable and at more risk of serious symptoms of coronavirus.

Office for National Statistics estimates put the total adult Lincolnshire population at 629,926, meaning that 67.5% have now received their first jab.

In North Lincolnshire, a total of 117,501 (25,234 second doses) vaccines have been distributed and 91,541 (12,040 second doses) have received a jab in North East Lincolnshire.

This week vaccinations for over 45s have started, and people can book their appointments online.

Boston’s large COVID-19 vaccination centre will be hosting European days over the next two weekends to encourage more communities to have their first dose.

A 16-year-old girl from Bourne who works in a local care home has become one of the youngest people in the country to receive both doses of the coronavirus vaccine.

The full list of sites operating as vaccination hubs in Lincolnshire so far:

Hospital Hubs

United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust 

• Lincoln County Hospital
• Boston Pilgrim Hospital

Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust

• Diana Princess of Wales Hospital, Grimsby
• Scunthorpe General Hospital

Local community hubs

Lincolnshire

• Louth Community Hospital
• John Coupland Hospital, Gainsborough
• Meres Leisure Centre, Grantham
• Waddington Branch Surgery, South Lincoln
• St Marys Medical Practice, Stamford
• Franklin Hall, Spilsby
• Sidings Medical Practice, Boston
• Rustons Sports and Social Club, Lincoln
• Portland Medical Practice, Lincoln
• The Storehouse, Skegness
• Lincolnshire Showground, Lincoln
• Springfields, Spalding
• Marisco Medical Practice, Mablethorpe
• Princess Royal Sports Arena, Boston

North East Lincolnshire 

• Beacon Medical Practice, Cleethorpes
• Open Door, Grimsby
• Pilgrim Primary Care Centre, Immingham
• Scartho Medical Centre, Grimsby

North Lincolnshire 

• Cedar Medical Practice, Scunthorpe
• Riverside Surgery, Brigg
• South Axholme Practice, Epworth
• The Central Surgery, Barton

Councillors have rejected plans for two 5G masts in Spalding following objections from local residents.

South Holland District Council’s planning committee on Wednesday turned down Hutchison UK’s plans to build 20 metre and 18 metre masts at Wygate Park and Birch Grove respectively.

Both masts had sparked health concerns from local campaigners, including South Holland MP Sir John Hayes.

Officers had recommended the mast in Birch Grove go ahead and Wygate Park be rejected, however councillors decided to throw both out.

Objectors had raised fears including the impact on their health. Others feared the design of the masts, their visual impact, their effect on nature and the potential for vandalism.

South Holland District Council’s planning committee discussed the 5G masts on Wednesday.

Ward Member Councillor Roger Gambba-Jones said: “I’m not against the 5G network coming to South Lincolnshire and Spalding in principle — the area and our district is too often at the back of the queue when it comes to the updating and improving of our infrastructure.

“However, in the case of this particular application, the applicant appears to have shown little regard for the actual impact their installation would have on residents.”

He accused the applicant of carrying out only “cursory investigations” while other members said there was not enough information.

Councillors felt there were better, more appropriate locations for the masts, with some pointing to masts located on top of hospitals, or fire stations.

Some councillors were disappointed there were no speakers on behalf of the applicant at the meeting.

Plans for how the mast might look.

Ward member Councillor Christine Lawton said: “These giant masts will inevitably become a part of our living landscape and will surely be needed but they should be beacons not blight.”

Council leader Lord Gary Porter spoke as a member of the public during the meeting.

Following the rejection of the Wygate Park structure he called the Birch Grove erection a “Billy no mates mast”, adding it would be “premature” to approve it.

He called for a more strategic layout for the whole of South Holland, adding that with super fast broadband on the horizon, he felt the 5G masts were already on their way to becoming obsolete.

Chairman James Avery summed up one of the applications saying: “This does remind me somewhat of a song lyric from The Jam, which is “the public gets what the public wants”.

“Very much the public do want 5G in terms of their broadband connectivity and mobile communications, but there is a right location.”

A convicted killer who downloaded child abuse images after he was freed on licence is back behind bars.

Andrew Cox was given a life sentence for murder in 1994 but was later released on licence and went to live at an address in New Bolingbroke, near Boston and Spilsby.

Caroline Bradley, prosecuting, told Lincoln Crown Court on Thursday that police received information that indecent images of children were being accessed from an email address used by Cox.

He was spoken to by officers in May 2020 and his iPhone was seized.

The phone was examined and a total of 108 indecent images of children were found, including four in the most serious category. A further four prohibited images of children were also found.

Cox was later interviewed and said he had exchanged sexual photographs while conducting an online relationship.

Cox, 47, who at the time was living in Main Road, New Bolingbroke, admitted three charges of making indecent photographs of a child and a further charge of possession of a prohibited image of a child.

He was given a six-month jail sentence and placed on the sex offenders’ register for seven years. His iPhone was ordered to be destroyed.

The court was told that following his arrest Cox was recalled to prison to continue serving his life sentence and remains there.

The decision on when he is released will be made by the Parole Board.

Michael Cranmer-Brown, in mitigation, said that illegal images were among pornographic material which Cox received via Facebook groups he was involved with.

“His offending seems to be linked to his online relationships.

“Whilst he has been in custody he has been referred for mental health treatment and for the last six months or so he has been seeing a psychologist.”