Vets save dog’s life after she swallowed battery

Update at 10pm from Lincolnshire Police: “Residents can now return to their homes.

“A controlled explosion was carried out on the unknown substance in a nearby field by the EOD.

“We would like to thank residents and the public for their co-operation and we would like to apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused.

“Our officers remain in the area and our investigations continue.”

6pm: Lincolnshire Police evacuated properties on Queen Street in Sturton by Stow near Lincoln on Wednesday evening after another substance was located at a property that officers have been searching since Tuesday.

This search is part of an ongoing investigation after other substances were located at the property on the evening of Tuesday, June 22.

As previously reported, two men have been arrested and two sets of chemicals have already been destroyed.

A section of the B1241 has been closed in this area also.

Superintendent Pat Coates said: “We have informed the EOD, bomb disposal team, who will ensure the substance is safe.

“It is unclear what this substance is at this stage so we are taking a precautionary measure to ensure everyone’s safety.

“There is no risk to the wider public. Our officers are in the area to assist residents.

“We will do all we can to ensure residents can return to their properties as soon as possible.

“We apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused and understand people may be concerned. We will let residents know when it safe for them to return to their homes.”

Gary Allen, 47, has been sentenced to life behind bars after being found guilty of the double murder of sex workers which spanned over two decades.

Allen, 47, was convicted of murdering sex worker Samantha Class in October 1997, a crime he had previously been acquitted of during a jury trial in 2000.

He was also convicted of the murder of Alena Grlakova in Rotherham in 2018, another sex worker, meaning his two murders were 21 years and one court trial apart.

Samantha Class (left) and Alena Grlakova (right) were murdered 21 years apart. | Photos: Humberside & South Yorkshire Police

In both instances, the bodies had been found in stretches of water, with Samantha being found by schoolchildren on the banks of the Humber Estuary and Alena in a stream in Rotherham.

Gary Allen’s eventual conviction made this the first case of double jeopardy murder in the history of the Humberside Police force.

The court had head that Allen had a deeply-rooted hatred for women, particularly sex workers, whom he called “scum” and “the lowest of the low”.

He also described women as “easy targets” and was caught on tape by an undercover police officer confessing to Samantha Class’ murder over a decade after he was first acquitted.

At his sentencing at Sheffield Crown Court on Wednesday, Justice Goose said: “You have been convicted of the murders of two women 21 years apart.

“You thought you had got away with murder, but today your past has caught up with you. This jury has, on overwhelming evidence, convicted you on both murders.

“You are an extremely dangerous man with a long-held, deep seated, warped view of women, in particular sex workers.

“It would not be an overstatement to say that what you did to those two women and the suffering to their families was wicked.”

Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance became the only service of its kind in the country to offer a second ambucopter, which will be based on Lincolnshire’s east coast ahead of a busy summer.

The helicopter will be based at Strubby Airfield near Alford, and will aim to cover east coast areas of the county which will be popular holiday destinations this year, including Skegness and Mablethorpe.

It has been leased by Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance for use until the end of August, to cope with the expected spike in summer demand on the east coast of Lincolnshire.

The striking ambucopter has been brought in ahead of a summer surge in Skegness and beyond. | Photo: The Lincolnite

The helicopter can fly at 160mph, and on its journey to Strubby Airfield on Wednesday, it took just nine minutes to arrive from RAF Waddington.

Enough room for four crew members and a patient. | Photo: The Lincolnite

Unlike the usual bright yellow colour scheme of Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance, this one will be donning white and blue colours.

HEMS Paramedic Rob Fillmer and Doctor Cosmo Scurr will be part of the crew on the helicopter. | Photo: The Lincolnite

Cosmo Scurr and Rob Fillmer are part of the medical team that will use the new ambucopter, having both worked for Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance for two years.

Cosmo told The Lincolnite: “Lincolnshire has a vast geography so the need for an extra ambucopter is greater than at other places.

“Also the fact that there are no major trauma centres in Lincolnshire means that we have further to travel here, with the closest ones being at Hull or Nottingham.”

It’s been up in the air already, and now will be sent out on calls when needed. | Photo: The Lincolnite

Rob added: “We have the equipment and facilities on board the helicopter to provide care for patients while on their way to hospital from the incident.

“Being in the air just makes the process so much quicker, particularly in this area of the county where the roads are winding and the traffic can pile up.”

Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance become the only service in the country with two ambucopters. | Photo: Ellis Karran for The Lincolnite

Karen Jobling, CEO of the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance, said she is proud to be the only air ambulance service in the country with two operational ambucopters.

“It’s obviously great for the county, the East Coast of Lincolnshire gets particularly busy over the summer months, especially now that many more people will be doing staycations in England due to COVID-19.

“We hope nobody has to use our service, but we want to assure people that we are on hand if they need us.”

The impressive machine can travel at speeds up to 160mph. | Photo: The Lincolnite

Each use of the air ambulance is believed to cost around £3,500, so fundraising and donations are more important than ever for Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance. To find out how to donate, visit their website.

In it comes to land. | Photo: The Lincolnite