Roads were closed and queueing traffic due to accident on A52 just before 4pm outside the Next store from Dysart Road to A607 Harlaxton Road.

Congestion to Barrowby Road for southbound traffic on Sangt Augustin Way and on to London Road northbound.

The ioncident involved a car and a pedestrian, who recived minor injuries.

All roads have since reopened.

Affecting traffic heading in and out of the town centre.

One lane of the A1 southbound is closed due to accident involving a van.

Traffic between between Valley Lane (Long Bennington / Cotham Turn Off) and A52 (Grantham North / Barrowby Turn Off) is affected but coping well.

St Barnabas Hospice and the EBP have teamed up to launch a new festive fundraiser for Christmas in the form of Rudy’s Run. 

Set up to encourage schools, organisations and the charities’ supporters to get involved and raise much-needed funding, the run is not a race, but rather a chance for families and schools to dance, prance or run around and join in with some Christmas-themed crafts.

Caroline Swindin, Fundraising Development Manager at St Barnabas Hospice, said: “Registering for Rudy’s Run means you receive a pair of antlers and a red nose along with a downloadable pack of activities – including Rudy’s special recipe for Reindeer food. You will also receive a ‘thank you’ message all the way from the North Pole for signing up and fundraising to support St Barnabas Hospice.

“With events and productions like pantomimes and festive gatherings postponed this year, we wanted to provide Lincolnshire schools, nurseries, groups and families with a ‘readymade’ Christmas event they can hold safely in their bubbles. 

“The partnership with the EBP has been instrumental in maintaining good sign-ups for schools. However, we also wanted to make sure our activity pack hit all the right notes with fun as well as including educational activities which are perfect for younger children. We want to say a huge thank you to the team at the EBP for their support and encouragement with launching this new fundraiser.”

Matthew McKeown, Head of Commercial Services at The EBP commented “We’re delighted to team up with St Barnabas on such a fun and festive project. We hope that the schools, children and families taking part will have fun taking part whilst raising money for such a worthwhile cause.”

This Christmas, a family from Wragby will take part in the run in memory of Colin Westwood. Making up the family is Colin’s wife, Linda, their daughter, Sarah, and their grandchildren, Mollie (10), Thomas (9) and Bethan (6).

Linda, Sarah and family have witnessed first-hand the care and compassion from St Barnabas Hospice when Colin was in their care in 2013. Colin was diagnosed with bowel cancer and had his first operation just three days after his granddaughter, Mollie, was born. 

Over the next few years, the cancer spread to his lymph glands and lungs.

Colin’s daughter, Sarah, said: “In Dad’s last few weeks the St Barnabas Hospice at Home team from Louth were amazing. Dad’s final wish was to die at home, and we just wouldn’t have been able to carry this out without them. He was dignified and hated to rely on others for help, but the nurses made him feel comfortable and gave him the dignity he needed.

“After a visit from his GP, Mum told us it was time to be at home with Dad as he didn’t have long left. We decided to have fish and chips in his room that week and celebrate his upcoming birthday. We read all his cards out to him and sang ‘happy birthday’. Dad died the next day in the early hours of the morning, age 81.

“Since Dad died, keeping his memory alive has been so important to us as a family. Mollie and Thomas were only young when he passed away, but we always talk about him and do things in his memory. We have taken part in On Yer Bike and Colour Dash for St Barnabas, as well as dedicating a forget me not and dragonfly in his memory. 

“Rudy’s Run stood out to us as an initiative we would love to support together. Mum joined a St Barnabas bereavement group after Dad passed away, which was invaluable to her. She made some great friends and found an outlet for her grief where she could talk to others in her position. The fact that Rudy’s Run is raising money to support the Hospice’s bereavement services means a lot to our family and we are determined to do our bit to help.”

Thomas said: “I miss when my grandad used to bounce me on the bed to make me giggle. We will be doing Rudy’s Run to help other poorly people like him.”

St Barnabas Hospice is renowned for its outstanding end of life care for adults but also provides pre and post-bereavement support for families. This invaluable support is free for anyone in Lincolnshire who is struggling with loss, and more work is being done at St Barnabas to create a specialist bereavement service for children as young as five.  

Losing a parent, sibling, or grandparent can be extremely traumatic for a child and can affect more children than many people imagine. 

Rudy’s Run has been designed to promote and raise funds for this service as well as maintaining St Barnabas Hospice’s overall mission throughout the most difficult year ‘to offer compassionate, end of life care’.

Schools, nurseries or groups are able to sign up free of charge by visiting www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/rudysrun

If you would like to access our free Bereavement support services, please contact our easy, self-referral line on 0300 303 1897 or read more on the service here: https://stbarnabashospice.co.uk/services/wellbeing-support/bereavementhelpline/ 

Local councils have joined forces to create a new regional adoption agency, to help place more children with caring families.

Family Adoption Links is a new partnership between Lincolnshire County Council, Rutland County Council, North Lincolnshire Council, Leicestershire County Council and Leicester City Council.

The innovative partnership will allow councils to work together to grow the region’s combined pool of potential adopters, meaning children can be placed with a loving family sooner.

Cllr Mrs Patricia Bradwell, executive member for children’s services at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “We’re all committed to finding loving homes for children who have had a difficult start in life.

“And by working together more closely, we’re confident that we can place more children with caring families.

“Adopting a child is fulfilling – many celebrate it as the best decision of their lives!  Whilst these young children may, at times, need extra love and support, there is nothing more rewarding than to see them grow and develop into young people who flourish.

“So if you think you can offer a child a loving and stable home, now’s the perfect time to get in touch and make a real difference to a child’s life.”

For further information on adoption, visit www.familyadoptionlinks.org.uk 

Emergency services dealt with a road collision at Belton Lane traffic lights which happened at lunchtime today.

The road is now clear.

Covid 19 has hit communities hard but none are so badly affected as those living in low income families, or, those who have recently lost their jobs as a result.

The latest government furlough scheme offer is lower than that used over the summer. Analysis by Labour has been independently validated.

Over 900,000 children in the UK are at risk of hunger this winter. Of these over 17,000 live in Lincolnshire. 

In an attempt to persuade the Conservative government to reconsider its package of help for these children both Labour opposition MPs and footballer Marcus Rashford called for the government to fund  school meals over the holidays to help feed these children.

In a late night vote in Parliament the majority of Conservative MPs failed to heed the call for help. As a result the proposal lost by 61 votes.

Chief executive of the Child Poverty Action Group Alison Garnham said: “We’ve reached a low point if in the midst of a pandemic we decide we can’t make sure children in the lowest income families have a nutritious meal in the middle of the day.”

South Kesteven District Councillor Labour Group Leader Charmaine Morgan said:  “It is utterly shameful that the 322 Conservative MPs voting against the proposals would see children go hungry this winter.

“Contrary to Government claims, our benefit safety net is inadequate to protect people from the costs or challenges brought on by changes in circumstance. The increasing number of families forced to turn to Foodbank over the last few years, prior to Covid 19, is clear evidence of this. Covid 19 and Brexit bring a risk of even worse to come for the foreseeable future. 

“Boris Johnson, rejecting earlier calls for help, said it wasn’t the government’s job to feed children.In Parliament, during the debate Conservative MPs argued parents should take full responsibility for their children, as if children are some sort of drain on our society. But children are our future.

“If our children are to stand a chance to contribute to society and reach their full potential they need food – now. And it’s hypocritical to say children should be educated as a priority when so many will be suffering such hunger pangs they cannot concentrate.

“It is also hugely shortsighted financially. Malnutrition in childhood creates consequences later in life. Public Health and our NHS bill  will become far higher than the cost of food at this crucial time. 

“The recent vote follows a trend. Since the Conservative government has been in power a quarter of a million children year on year have fallen into poverty. The UK now has one of the worst rates of child malnutrition and ‘food insecurity’ among rich nations – with one in five UK children suffering food insecurity. 

“The statements made by the Conservative Government this month, in the hour of most need, should be remembered by all. I do not believe the vast majority of people in our community would support this position. Many themselves on the brink of financial crisis. 

“Whilst UK Parliament has turned its back on those in need the Scottish, Welsh and N Ireland Parliaments are doing what they can for their children. 

“Recognition must go to the few more decent Conservative MPs who backed the call for help. They were Caroline Ansell (Eastbourne), Robert Halfon (Harlow), Jason McCartney (Colne Valley), Anne Marie Morris (Newton Abbot) and Holly Mumby-Croft (Scunthorpe).

“Gareth Davies MP was not among them. He shamefully voted to let the children in our constituency Grantham and Stamford go hungry. So did all other Conservative MPs in Lincolnshire. 

“And who will be left to pick up the pieces here?   Our schools, charities and volunteers, many of whom themselves are struggling to make ends meet. They will need all the help South Kesteven District Council and its residents can give.” 

There was a single vehicle collision, on Belton Lane, Great Gonerby, at 8am yesterday morning.

A fire crew from Grantham crew used small tools to make the vehicle safe and managed traffic at the scene until the arrival of Police.

A specialist metal furniture maker has brightened the coronavirus gloom with a new product – a cone shaped Christmas tree for outside use.

Bennington Metal Furniture has used its time-honoured artisan metal craftsmanship to produce free-standing trees in a range of sizes, all powder coated for a durable weather-proof finish in a range of colours.

Wendy Palfrey, managing director of the Long Bennington company, is confident that the metal tree will find favour in the growing trend for external festive lighting.

“We have the expertise and the craftsmanship that won our sister company Bennington Carriages a Royal Warrant, and we wanted to produce something to cheer everyone up.

“These trees are not just for Christmas, they are for every Christmas, a real heirloom that can be passed down and even adapted for year-round use.

“They can be any size, and in any colour. There are hundreds of colours in the RAL range, so people can really go to town if they want to be a little adventurous.

“They could also be re-painted for other special occasions, white for a wedding, perhaps, or a natural colour to light up the garden or on a patio.”

Standard available sizes range from six feet to 12 feet high, starting from £295, but, as with all of Bennington Metal Furniture’s products, customers can order any size for a truly bespoke product.

Lights and decorations can be fitted if provided by the customers.

Location fixing security pegs can be added, depending on where the tree will stand, and buyers can choose a dismantling option for ease of storage.

Trees will be available two weeks from ordering, with free delivery within 25 miles of Long Bennington. Customers can also collect their tree by appointment.

For more information visit www.benningtonmetalfurniture.co.uk or telephone 01400 281280

There’s no denying that this year, it’s worth going over the top to make your home look festive. On the hunt for inspiring Christmas decorating ideas? Then the Downtown Grantham Garden Centre Christmas Shop is definitely worth a visit.

Our journey begins at the store entrance, with its inspiring Christmas dining table incorporating stylish dining furniture and tableware from the Downtown Grantham store, with indoor plants, accessories and Christmas decorations from the Garden Centre.  We then follow the wide McDowntown tartan-carpeted walkway to the festive entrance with its enchanting wall of trees and then the huge array of beautifully curated displays will open up in front of your eyes providing loads of inspiration for your Christmas home – this year the Downtown exclusive themes are Nature’s Gift, Merry & Bright, Copper Chic, Enchanted Forest, and Snowscape, a subtle, sophisticated look which is inspired by frosty Lincolnshire mornings.

Through to the lights room, now you’re talking! you can’t go over the top here: literally go crazy with Christmas lights (well, you can go over the top, but we’re talking tasteful crazy). As well as hanging them around window and door frames, across the mantelpiece, around the bannisters and on the tree (obviously), you can use battery-run, LED lights to create an instant table centrepiece – and don’t forget outdoors, too. 2020 is the year to go all out and impress the neighbours with a front garden filled with a herd of illuminated deer!

And, this isn’t just about you! if you have little ones with you, they’ll enjoy stopping off for a selfie on Santa’s sledge and then meeting a cuddly old owl for a chat and Christmas song before popping into the café for a warming hot chocolate and tasty cake.

Downtown Home & Fashion Store and Downtown Garden Centre are just off the A1 at Gonerby Moor, Grantham NG32 2AB or visit https://www.oldrids.co.uk/christmas                for easy shopping for you and your home this Christmas.