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A 71-year-old Newark man and his daughter-in-law aged 40 are believed to be the victims of a gas explosion in the town. Nottinghamshire Police have confirmed that they believe the bodies of Leslie Rourke, pictured, and Jeanette Rourke were retrieved from the wreckage yesterday. Mr Rourke's 42-year-old son Nick, who is Mrs Rourke's husband, was pulled from the debris of the house in Wright Street in Newark after the blast at 5.15pm on Sunday. He is seriously ill in a Nottingham hospital. Although Mr Rourke senior's body was recovered by the emergency services in the early hours of Monday, a controlled demolition had to be carried out later in the day before it was considered safe to retrieve the woman's remains. A Nottinghamshire Police spokesman said a woman and two children - a seven-year-old boy and a four-month-old girl - were taken to hospital from the next door property and later discharged. "Two children and a woman were taken to Nottingham's Queen's Medical Centre for treatment to smoke inhalation and have since been discharged," he said. Meanwhile, emergency services are still at the scene of the devastation and many of the 100-plus local residents evacuated from their homes have still to return.

Academics at the University of Lincoln are celebrating gold medal success this morning at the world's most prestigious flower show. Their unique digital garden has taken gold in the fresh garden category at the Chelsea flower Show. It responds to live Twitter activity - enabling the public to directly influence how the garden appears at any one time. Created by academics at the University of Lincoln working with award-winning Surrey-based designers Harfleet & Harfleet, the garden is divided diagonally by a panelled screen which separates the planting of two distinct zones. A tapestry of familiar plants and foliage is greeting visitors, with the partially obscured exotic planting behind the partition providing a dramatic contrast. The panelled screen responds in real-time to the buzz of excitement about the Royal Horticultural Society's centenary spectacular. Measured by activity on Twitter using the #rhschelsea tag, the inner depths of the garden are only being seen when public excitement is at its peak. The project is a collaboration between academics from the University of Lincoln's Schools of Computer Science, Psychology and Architecture, who are all involved in the development of the installation. Shaun Lawson, Professor of Social Computing at the University, said: "The garden is an opportunity to explore aspects of how we can interweave social media data with real space, as well as how it is possible to make sense of this data by creating thought-provoking visualisations. "When people tweet, the screen activates by opening various panels and permitting selected views of the concealed garden. "The planting inside represents the exotic or unknown immaterial world of the internet, moderated and revealed by our desire for knowledge and interaction." Head of Psychology at the University of Lincoln, Professor Harriet Gross, said: "I am interested in why gardens can be so important to our psychological well-being. "Gardens often provide a space where people can think about things away from their day-to-day routines. They can also be places for public celebration and to share with friends and family. "To reflect the variety of roles gardens can play in emotional and psychological well-being, our exhibit will contrast two distinct types of garden: one is familiar, available and safe. "The other is hidden and exotic. Most importantly, the experience of the garden will be determined by people's responses to it."

More than 400 people are involved in a full-scale training exercise aimed at testing Lincolnshire's response to a serious train accident. Exercise Georgiana involves a simulated derailment the village of Claypole, near Newark, and a command centre at Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue headquarters in South Park Avenue, Lincoln, where the county's response is being co-ordinated. Lincolnshire firefighters are also carrying out search and rescue operations at two specially-constructed crash sites at its training facility at RAF Waddington. Emergency services will also face a mock-up of a serious traffic accident. The exercise is expected to last two days, running between 8am and 9pm today and tomorrow. It will include more than 300 members of Lincolnshire's emergency services, plus around 100 local volunteers. Lincolnshire Police, Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue, East Midlands Ambulance Service, local authorities, the Environment Agency and health agencies, as well as voluntary and private agencies are taking part.

A homeless drug addict frightened a woman after smashing his way into her home with a brick, in broad daylight.

Lincoln Crown Court heard the woman was confronted by Paul McMahon after she was disturbed by the sound of broken glass coming from the dining room of her home in Lea Road at around 10am.

McMahon, 32, fled after the woman warned him: "I've already phoned the police," the court was told.

Andrew Scott, prosecuting, said: "This was a daytime burglary of an occupied property where there was a confrontation with one of the occupants."

Entry had been gained by McMahon throwing a brick through one of the rear windows.

Mr Scott added: "The woman had been reading a book and was so frightened that she ran upstairs while still on the phone to the police."

McMahon was spotted by police in Cromwell Road. He gave officers a false name but fragments of glass in his clothing were found to match the broken window in Lea Road.

At the time of the burglary, McMahon was wanted by the police after he failed to attend court for a drugs offence.

McMahon had been released on bail but carried out a second burglary in Gainsborough just three weeks later.

This time, officers in an unmarked patrol car spotted McMahon jumping over the wall of an unoccupied house in Parish Mews.

McMahon was arrested after police gave chase and found him to be in possession of a number of Xbox appliances stolen from the house.

After his arrest, McMahon admitted four other house burglaries and one offence of lead theft under the Operation Clean Slate scheme run by Lincolnshire Police.

Mr Scott told the court: "The offences spanned dates between 2009 and 2013 and the value of the stolen property was £2,070."

Gordon Aspden, mitigating, said McMahon had taken significant steps to combat his drugs problems after being remanded into custody.

McMahon, of no fixed address, admitted two offences of burglary on January 28 and February 19 this year and asked for five other offences to be taken in to consideration.

Passing sentence, Judge Michael Heath said there was an element of confrontation in the Lea Road burglary.

Judge Heath told McMahon: "You frightened her by your actions."

McMahon was jailed for three years.

A serial burglar who failed in a dramatic escape for his freedom during court has been jailed. Lincoln Magistrates Court was stunned when Craig Ellis squeezed out of the dock after being told he had been refused bail. The 30-year-old ran towards the exit of the court, but a quick-thinking probation officer shut the doors ending his escape bid. Ellis gave up his attempt to abscond in less than a minute and he was escorted back in to the dock. Ellis, who had 16 previous convictions for house burglary, had appeared in custody before the magistrates after being arrested for two daytime burglaries in Lincoln. The court heard Ellis stole jewellery and property valued at more than £1,800 after smashing his way into two homes close to Lincoln city centre on Sunday, November 25. The first burglary occurred in Monks Road, where the occupier returned home to find the front door ajar and an untidy search. A laptop computer worth £500, jewellery, video camera and games console were among the missing property. More jewellery including sentimental bracelets were stolen by Ellis during the second burglary in nearby Eastcliff Road. Ellis, of no fixed address, was caught after leaving behind his fingerprints at both properties. He admitted both break-ins and the escape from custody on November 30. Ellis was jailed for three years, three months.

UPDATE: The male driver involved in the crash has died in Grantham Hospital. Police are looking into the possibility that he was taken ill at the wheel. A post mortem will be carried out either today or tomorrow to confirm the cause of death. A formal identification is due to take place shortly. Police are appealing for witnesses to a crash in a Lincolnshire town where a car collided with a signpost. It happened on Barrowby Road in Grantham and the driver was taken to the town's hospital for treatment. Emergency services were called to the scene at 1.40pm yesterday, Monday, when the incident happened. The car driver was the only occupant and no other vehicles were involved. And the road was closed between the Barrowby Gate roundabout and Winchester Road for several hours. Anyone who saw the crash can contact the Lincolnshire Police collision witness hotline on 01522 558855, quoting incident 200 of May 20.

A seven-year-old is the proud owner of a rare "Mr Gold" piece of Lego. Alex Copus, from Navenby, now has one of just 5,000 figures, produced by the company to celebrate the 10th series of Lego figures. Each golden piece is numbered individually. Only a few have been registered so far and they have been sold on eBay for between £450 and £1,000.

A chicken farm could be transformed into a 239-acre nature park that will be the first of its type in Lincolnshire.

Picnic spots, an education area and a visitor centre are all part of plans for Boiling Wells Farm, near Sleaford.

Developers also want to enrich wildlife habitats, add a variety of native plants, trees and create nature trails.

The features would surround rows of solar panels put up in seven fields – an idea which has never been seen in the county before.

Kinetica Energy, based in Manchester, is behind the proposals for the land off Grantham Road close to South Rauceby.

Projects director Guy Bebbington said: "The land is currently used as an intensive chicken farm.

"But, along with the farmer, we want to create a recreational and educational facility.

"It will benefit the local community and generate enough solar energy to power up to 6,000 average UK homes, roughly equivalent to all of the homes in Sleaford.

"By the end of this decade the UK will have lost one-fifth of its current energy generating capacity.

"We need to address this shortfall, and renewable schemes like this one have a vital role to play in meeting the country's energy needs in the future."

While there are other facilities that harvest the sun's energy in the county, such as those in Stow and Conisholme, it is the first time the concept has been used as the basis of a visitor attraction.

Plans have been sent to North Kesteven District Council with a request for advice on whether an environmental impact assessment would be needed before a planning application was submitted.

The documents show a detailed layout of the eco park, which will also include wildflower meadows and wetlands to support a variety of animal life.

Kinectica Energy is now setting up meetings with local councils, residents, organisations, schools and community groups to discuss the proposals.

Mr Bebbington added the scheme was being designed to "increase access to the countryside" for people living in the area.

Oxfordshire-based planning consultancy Aspect has helped to develop the plans.

In documents sent to North Kesteven District Council, it said: "Extensive landscape proposals that link with the existing landscape infrastructure and ecological enhancements may include creating wide, robust landscaped boundaries to filter views from the surrounding areas and incorporating locally native tree, hedge and shrub species."

Electricity generated by solar farms is fed into the national grid.

The developers are then paid for the energy that they produce.

An MP has said members of the public are owed an apology after they were left waiting outside a meeting about the suspension of Lincolnshire's top cop.

The Lincolnshire Police and Crime Panel – the body set up to oversee the work Police and Crime Commissioner Alan Hardwick – called an extraordinary meeting to discuss the suspension of acting Chief Constable Neil Rhodes.

But a mix-up meant members of the public were not shown into the room for the 15-minute discussion at the East Lindsey District council offices in Manby.

Margaret Ottaway who was left waiting outside, said: "It is an absolute and utter disgrace. I know about councils and being open but the first thing you should do is apologise to the county."

James Gilbert, East Lindsey District Council spokesman, apologised for what he described as an "administrative mistake".

The chairman of Lincolnshire Police and Crime Panel, Councillor Ray Wootten, said: "I can only apologise that people did not hear the meeting and under the circumstances, I would feel exactly the same way. I can only apologise again.

Mr Hardwick and Mr Wootten were then called to a meeting of the Home Affairs Select Committee about the suspension in Westminster on Tuesday May 14.

Its chairman Keith Vaz questioned Mr Wootten about why the public had not been shown into the police and crime panel meeting. He said he felt the situation was "farcical" and people were owed an apology.

Mr Wootten said East Lindsey District Council would issue a full apology only if there was more media coverage of the incident.

Mr Vaz said: "I think the committee finds the state of affairs very unsatisfactory and I will be writing to the chief executive of East Lindsey District Council asking for a full explanation."

"We don't think it is satisfactory that you should wait to see if there's articles in newspapers before advising the public on what is a very important matter."

Mr Hardwick suspended Mr Rhodes in February amid claims the chief constable had allegedly tried to force settlement of an employment tribunal claim against another police force.

Mr Rhodes later argued he did not know enough about the claim to have an opinion on it and was merely trying to broker talks between the various parties.

A High Court judge then ruled the suspension was unlawful and quashed it, before Mr Rhodes returned to work.

It has emerged the taxpayer will be left to foot a £50,000 bill from the case.

Coun Wootten said the panel was initially told it did not have a remit to look into the suspension. This advice was then contradicted by Damien Green, the Minister of State for Policing and Criminal Justice.

Mr Hardwick told the Home Affairs Select Committee that he stood by his decision to suspend Mr Rhodes, but their working relationship remains viable.

"We are both professionals, we have a good and sound working relationship," he said.

Mr Hardwick told the committee he would apologise to Mr Rhodes if Sir Peter Fahy's investigation, expected to conclude in four weeks, found him to have been wrong over the suspension.

The Lincolnshire Police and Crime panel has set up a task group to focus on what lessons can be learnt.

Mr Wootten said: "No stone will be unturned on this. There was much concern that we as a panel were not taking any action on this issue. But we were advised legally that nothing could take place until after the judicial review and after the local elections so that none of us could be seen as gaining politically from the meeting."

An interim report will be presented on June 6 with the full report submitted on September 6.

Gary Paul King, 32, of 58 Knights Place, Lincoln, was found guilty at Lincoln Magistrates' Court for assault and pleaded guilty to theft of two electrical razors and a pair of hair straighteners to the value of £329.97 belonging to Boots. He was given a community order to carry out unpaid work for 120 hours within the next 12 months, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £60 and costs of £250. Dominic Alan Norris, 32, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty at Lincoln Magistrates' Court to theft of three bottles of wine to the value of £15.47 belonging to Spar. He was detained in the courthouse. Linas Rakauskas, 26, of 4 Spa Street, Lincoln, pleaded guilty at Lincoln Magistrates' Court to driving while disqualified from holding or obtaining a licence and without insurance. He was given a community order to carry out unpaid work for 120 hours within the next 12 months, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £60 and costs of £40. He was disqualified from holding or obtaining a licence for two years. Stephanie Sarah Connelly, 23, of 27A Willingham Road, Lea, Gainsborough, pleaded guilty at Lincoln Magistrates' Court to theft of a Panasonic razor and Ed Hardy fragrance to the value of £79.98 belonging to TK Maxx. She was given a conditional discharge for six months and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £15. Nathaniel Leonard Davies, 19, of 97 Vernon Street, Lincoln, pleaded guilty at Lincoln Magistrates' Court to being drunk of disorderly behaviour in a public place, urinating in the holding cell of custody in Lincoln police station and failing to surrender to custody. He was fined £50, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £20 and costs of £85. Adam James Howson, 19, of 83 Bawtry Close, Lincoln, pleaded guilty at Lincoln Magistrates' Court to failing to comply with a requirement specified in a notice. He was committed to a young offender institution for 12 weeks. Joshua Alec Gordon Washington, 19, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty at Lincoln Magistrates' Court to failing to comply with a requirement specified in a notice. He was committed to a young offender institution for 21 days. Crispian Jon Baker, 40, of 1 Old Poplar Farm Cottages, Kirkby Lane, Tattershall, Lincoln, case proven in absence at Lincoln Magistrates' Court for driving in excess of 30mph. He was fined £200, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £15 and costs of £85. His licence was endorsed with three points. Callum James Barnes, 18, of 36 Grange Road, Bracebridge Heath, Lincoln, pleaded guilty at Lincoln Magistrates' Court to driving a vehicle on a public road with an exhaust system with a silencer which had been altered. He was fined £45, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £15 and costs of £30. Daniel Cadd, 30, of The Cottage, Timms Lane, Waddington, Lincoln, case proven in absence at Lincoln Magistrates' Court for driving while using a hand-held mobile telephone. The case was adjournment to consider disqualified from driving. Christine Dufty, 60, of 9 Summerson Close, Donington, Spalding, case proven in absence at Lincoln Magistrates' Court for driving in excess of 30mph. She was fined £200, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £15 and costs of £85. Her licence was endorsed with three points. Ivars Labudis, 29, of 45 Scorer Street, Lincoln, case proven in absence at Lincoln Magistrates' Court for driving in excess of 30mph. They were fined £400, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £15 and costs of £85. Their licence was endorsed with four points. Ross Edward Mason, 36, of Shannon Avenue, Lincoln, case proven in absence at Lincoln Magistrates' Court for driving while not wearing an adult seatbelt. He was fined £200, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £15 and costs of £85. Artemi Pitsevitis, 33, of 2 Greyling View, Lincoln, pleaded guilty at Lincoln Magistrates' Court to driving in excess of 30mph. He was fined £60 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £15. His licence was endorsed with three points. Diana Platakyte, 21, of 46 Portland Street, Lincoln, pleaded guilty at Lincoln Magistrates' Court to driving in excess of 30mph. She was fined £60 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £15. Her licence was endorsed with three points. David Jason Robbins, 26, of 42 Goldsmith Walk, Lincoln, pleaded guilty at Lincoln Magistrates' Court to driving in excess of 30mph. He was fined £60, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £15 and costs of £35. His licence was endorsed with six points. Michael Rodgers, 44, of 68 Fenside Road, Boston, case proven in absence at Lincoln Magistrates' Court for driving while using a hand-held mobile telephone. He was fined £200, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £15 and costs of £85. His licence was endorsed with three points. Marjorie Eileen Shaheen, 54, of Modene, Blacksmith Lane, East Keal, Spilsby, pleaded guilty at Lincoln Magistrates' Court to driving in excess of 30mph. She was fined £95, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £15 and costs of £40. Her licence was endorsed with six points. Darren James Waring, 46, of 172 Cannon Street, Lincoln, pleaded guilty at Lincoln Magistrates' Court to driving in excess of 30mph. He was fined £135, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £15 and costs of £85. His licence was endorsed with three points. Clare Welton, 31, of 106 Maximus Road, North Hykeham, Lincoln, case proven in absence at Lincoln Magistrates' Court for driving in excess of 30mph. She was fined £200, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £15 and costs of £85. Her licence was endorsed with three points.

Ongoing roadworks will cause delays on the county's roasds today, but there are no reported major hold-ups. The temporary traffic lights remain on the A15 Sleaford Road in Bracebridge Heath near the Sycamore Grove junction. And on the A57 at Newton on Trent, the resurfacing work and temporary traffic lights between the High Street and the A1133 junctions are leading to peak-time congestion. Nearby, on the A57 at Drinsey Nook west of Saxilby, there are more temporary traffic lights due to resurfacing works between the Thorney crossroads and the A156 junctions. The B1202 Nocton Road in Nocton is still closed at the the railway bridge junction, because of roadworks and diversions are in place. And the B1397 in Gosberton is closed in both directions at the Risegate Road level crossing junction because of roadworks. In Lincoln, the long-term roadworks and temporary traffic lights on Boultham Park Road at the B1360 Dixon Street junction are still the cause of rush-hour delays.

Lincoln City could be set to strengthen their squad again amid speculation they are closing in on a midfielder. Hot on the heels of Waide Fairhurst's arrival on Friday, Imps boss Gary Simpson is understood to be now looking to strengthen his engine room. Currently only Mo Fofana is the only central midfield player on the books with Alan Power still considering a contract offer by the club. Elsewhere, Luton have confirmed they have considered defender Andrew Boyce as a potential summer signing, but denied a move was imminent. Boyce has been offered re-engagement terms by Lincoln meaning they are entitled to compensation because he is under 24. Luton had been linked with him but managing director Geoff Sweet said: "Any promising link between us and Bowman or Boyce is unfounded. They're just players we have considered."

Lincolnshire's Minor Counties Trophy hopes are hanging in the balance following yesterday's seven-run defeat in a low-scoring clash at Norfolk. Brett Houston's Lincs restricted Norfolk to 165 for nine in their 50 overs at Manor Park, Norwich. Matt Carter, Adam Shepherd, Matt Lineker and skipper Houston all claimed two wickets each to put the visitors in the driving seat. However, after losing openers Dan Birch and James Morgan early, leaving Lincs four for two, the innings struggled to fire. Lincs recovered with Conrad Louth (53) becoming the only player in the match to pass 50 while Lineker scored 34. However, the visitors still fell short of the target, ending their 50 overs on 158 for seven. Lincs must now beat Suffolk in their final group match, at Bracebridge Heath on June 2, to stand a chance of reaching the quarter-finals.

When 82-year-old Derek Thompson recently retired from commentating on Lincoln City FC matches for Lincoln Hospital Radio after 33 years, it did not dim of his passion for football. Dawn Hinsley chatted with Derek about his life spent loving many different sports and the people he's met along the way... The first football match Derek Thompson ever went to watched at Sincil Bank was in 1939. Since then, the players he's seen, and even played football alongside, have included Raich Carter, Tommy Taylor and Jock Dodds, and he's also cemented his love of football by becoming a referee. But football hasn't been Derek's only sporting devotion. A passion for golf even brought him face to face with Michael Douglas and Boris Becker... Funnily enough, it's the ground I remember most The first football match I ever went to at Sincil Bank was a village trophy game between Washingborough and Bardney in 1939, in which my 17-year-old brother was playing. I was born in Washingborough, but just after that we moved into Lincoln and I went to see my first Lincoln City FC game in 1940, when I was eight years old. Funnily enough, what I remember most from that very first game is the ground It's what they now call the Stacey West end. At the time it was all standing, of course, and a little wicker fence was where the wall is now. There was also a row of sleepers for improvised benching – just a railway sleeper made into something for people to sit on. But I do remember some of the players, such as Moulson in goal at that time. I even got to be on Raich Carter's side I knew I would support Lincoln for the rest of my life. But when I was 13 I even got the chance to play on the ground. I went on a coaching course run by the club with a professional player, who even played for England, called Raich Carter. At that age, as a kid, to think you had a chance to learn something from someone like him was amazing. When we played I even got to be on his side. I went on to play for Lincoln Co-op in the local Wednesday league aged 16 – in fact, I played football and cricket for them. We were playing RAF teams and army teams so, at 16, playing against grown men made it a bit difficult but I really enjoyed it. However, at 18 I was called up for National Service. Killed in the air crash as one of the Busby Babes My best memories of actually playing myself came during the army years. I was stationed in North Wales. I played with John Charles, the international Welsh player, and Tommy Taylor who at the time was playing with Barnsley. Tommy went on to play for Manchester Utd and England but was sadly killed in the air crash as one of the Busby Babes. My son became the youngest referee in the country I came out of the forces in 1953 and had tried a bit of refereeing in the army so decided to take it up locally. I enjoyed being a referee but a lot of people didn't enjoy me doing the job of course. But I've said it before ... the amount of people who you would meet on the football field and have disputes with but then walking down the street would be: 'Hi Derek how are you?' Many would also say to me 'at least when you were a referee we knew where we stood'. It must be in the blood because my son became the youngest qualified referee in the country at the age of 12. I also qualified as a referee instructor and a referee assessor, and was chairman and FA instructor for the Lincoln Referees' Association in the 1970s. I was a football referee for 33 years but had to stop because of back problems which resulted in me having two of the discs in my back removed. After that I was at a Lincoln City match one day and was sitting in the stands when I got talking to one of the hospital radio presenters, and he said he thought I would make a good presenter as well to commentate on the football. That was in 1979 and it went from there really. Back then working for hospital radio was lots of fun as the hospital had its own radio studio, so someone would be in the studio who you could talk to as you were commentating and they would play music as well and send out messages to patients. That all changed really over the years, which was a shame. We used to beat the likes of Liverpool I find it interesting when you get people making comments and whining saying things like 'we have been supporting this club for five or ten years and this is the worst we have ever seen'. I have seen 73 years of football and you get the good, the bad and the very ugly. That's the way it is. Lincoln City don't have the money or support to get to great heights at the moment but I remember the days when I used to go and there would be 23,000 in attendance. We are now struggling to get two and a half thousand. The highlights for me were the days when we were playing in higher divisions and taking on, and beating, the likes of Liverpool. I remember when I was in the army and I came home to watch Lincoln City play Crewe Alexandra and Lincoln won 11-0. On the other hand, the lowest point is probably when the club went into administration and it looked like it was going to go bust. Stanley Matthews turned out for Imps There are a number of players which really stand out to me over the years. The most outstanding I feel was Doug Wright. He was an ex-Newcastle player just after the war and came to join Lincoln. He actually got wounded during the Second World War before coming to play here and was really outstanding. Another I'll never forget is Jock Dodds, the most fantastic forward I have ever seen. He had an excellent shot on him. The first time he ever played for Lincoln was at Grimsby, a match I went to watch. There was one particular ball he played from the edge of the 18-yard area which I'll never forget. Grimsby had an outstanding goalkeeper at the time called Tweedy but Dodds hits this shot and it takes both the ball and Tweedy into the back of the net. A fantastic shot. During the war years we had international players who were stationed here at various bases in the county and played as guests. That was quite thrilling because there were guys like Neil Franklin, the Robledo brothers, who were renowned players from the north east and even Stanley Matthews, who turned out for Lincoln as wartime guest players. Who should get out but Michael Douglas and Boris Becker I love sport. Every sport. I have tried anything that is going. I have played golf, cricket, bowls, football and badminton. I feel I've had such and great life and that's what sport gives you. I thank my wife of 57 years. Her biggest complaint has been getting the green out of my whites after cricket. I also ran a fundraising tournament at Canwick Park Golf Club for five years. We raised more than £10,000 over that time. The first one was for the hospital radio and then we did several for St Barnabas and several for the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance. One time when I went to watch a big golf tournament at Carnoustie Golf Club in Scotland I even ended up going around the course with several celebrities. I'd arrived at the club to pick up my tickets when this helicopter lands and who should get out but Michael Douglas and Boris Becker. It was an event where they get stars partnered up with professional golf players for the tournament. Becker and Douglas were playing this tournament and I ended up walking around with them and, after a stray shot, found myself helping Michael Douglas search for his ball.

A naked woman who ran into the sea after drinking at a Lincolnshire resort was lucky to be alive after a rescue drama, coastguards have said. Now search and rescue services have issued a strong 'don't drink and drown' message after the 23-year-old reveller and two friends were involved in a near-tragedy. Humber Coastguard revealed that the early-hours incident at Chapel St Leonards on Saturday saw a woman 'skinny dipper' run into the waves. They received a 4am call from one of the men on the beach near to the Golden Palm Resort. He explained that the woman had stripped off her clothes and went into the cold North Sea waters. But, after 20 minutes of frantic searching, the two friends couldn't find the woman and a major rescue operation was launched. Chapel St Leonards Coastguard Rescue Team and Skegness Inshore Lifeboat were alerted, along with the search and rescue helicopter from RAF Leconfield near Beverley in East Yorkshire. And a tractor driver who was working cleaning up the beach went to the men and took over the emergency call, giving a running commentary on the situation and stopping anyone else from going into the sea. Soon after, the woman was found semi-conscius on the beach. She and her companions were given first aid by both the Coastguard Rescue Team and lifeboat crew until an ambulance arrived. "This young woman has been very lucky," said Humber Coastguard watch manager Mike Puplett. "The water temperature was only 7C and this lady had been drinking. "It is clear that drinking alcohol and going into the sea is a recipe for disaster. "The message is simple and clear - don't do it."

A cyclist has been seriously injured in a collision with an ambulance answering an emergency call. The 23-year-old Lincoln man was hurt in the incident in Greetwell Road in the city. And he was taken to the nearby Lincoln County Hospital, where he was treated for 'serious' injuries. Lincolnshire Police said the crash happened at 5.40pm on Sunday evening as the emegency response vehicle was answering a 999 call. The road was closed for nearly five hours as the collision was investigated. Police have appealed for information on the Lincolnshire roads collision witness hotline on 01522 558855, quoting incident number 367 of May 19.

UPDATE: The second body found in the rubble after a house gas explosion in Newark is a woman, police have revealed. Emergency services have still to recover the second fatality, but say it will be a priority today before the building is demolished. Original: A man's body was recovered from the wreckage of a house destroyed in a gas explosion at Newark. Nottinghamshire Police confirmed that fire crews found the man's body during an ongoing search of the rubble after the house collapsed. It happened just before 5.15pm yesterday, Sunday, at an address in Wright Street in the town. Searches were suspended while the property was made safe, but will continue later to find another person who is believed to still be in the house. More than 100 people were evacuated from their nearby homes as a precaution and a rest centre has been set up at the nearby Grove Leisure Centre. Two children and a woman were taken to Nottingham's Queen's Medical Centre for treatment to smoke inhalation and have since been discharged. A man also sustained serious injuries and smoke inhalation and remains in hospital. A number of roads are closed off in the immediate vicinity and diversions are in place. Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue crews were helping Nottinghamshire firefighters. Lincolnshire's Urban Search and Rescue team and a Brant Broughton crew were called to the scene.

A teenager who attempted to rape a woman in a quiet Lincolnshire village has been locked up.

The 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named because of a court order, approached his victim as she walked her dog across a field.

Prosecuting at Lincoln Crown Court, Mark Watson said the boy hugged the 49-year-old woman from behind.

The teenager, who did not know the woman, then apologised before grabbing hold of her and knocking her to the ground.

The boy ripped off the woman's clothes and as she struggled to get away he tried to rape her. He continued to apologise and said "Please don't tell my mum and dad".

The attack only ended when another villager walked into the field, on the outskirts of a village near Woodhall Spa, and the boy fled.

Mr Watson said the victim had been badly affected by what happened and has since had nightmares.

The boy admitted two charges of attempted rape and four charges of sexual assault as a result of the incident on October 30.

Alison Summers, defending, said the boy has since shown insight and remorse and has acknowledged the effect of what he did.

She said: "This is a boy who has never before found himself before the courts.

"He is clearly an intelligent child and has been doing well in his education."

Miss Summers said the boy had a "deeply disturbing" early childhood before being taken into care and then being fostered.

She told the court he suffered severe neglect, abuse and abandonment and only had stability in his life after going into a foster home.

He was sentenced to four years at a young offenders' institution and will be on licence for a further two years.

Judge Michael Heath said: "You engaged in an extremely serious sexual attack on a 49-year-old woman.

"The attack was sustained and you tried to rape her. I have come to the conclusion that you are dangerous."

Computer systems belonging to the CIA, the Pentagon and the NHS were hacked by a gang of cyber criminals – which included a hacker from Lincolnshire.

The gang, who boasted they were "gods", caused millions of pounds worth of damage to international businesses.

They also posted the personal details of hundreds of thousands of members of the public online.

Spalding-based Jake Davis, 20, the group's press secretary, was a 'core' member of the team, dubbed Lulzsec.

Davis, known by the alias 'Topiary', issued mocking press releases ridiculing the security of the websites that had been hacked and ran the group's official Twitter feed.

This week, Davis, of Beech Avenue, Spalding, appeared at Southwark Crown Court along with three other gang members. He was told he should expect jail.

The court heard Ryan Ackroyd, 26, posed as a 16-year-old girl called Kayla to mastermind the campaign of cyber attacks in 2011.

He was the chief hacker of the shady online outfit, which hijacked websites belonging to The Sun and the News of the World, electronics giant Sony, and film studio 20th Century Fox.

The group bragged "We are gods now" as they launched waves of attacks against Nintendo, the UK's Serious and Organised Crime Agency, and the Arizona State Police.

Ackroyd was assisted by Ryan Cleary, known as Viral, the controller of a 'botnet' which hijacked compromised computers and used their combined power to launch attacks against websites.

Cleary, 21, bragged to prosecutors that he could have seized control of up to a million computers using software he had spent more than five years building. When arrested Cleary was also caught with a stash of child pornography, it can now be reported.

Mustafa Al-Bassam, 18, an A-Level student at Deptford Green School, was in charge of publicising the personal details of hundreds of thousands of people online.

Sandip Patel, prosecuting, said: "The defendants waged what was undoubtedly a sophisticated and orchestrated campaign of online attacks between February and September 2011.

"Their target being a series of corporations, individuals, and state agencies ranging from the CIA in the USA to the Sony Corporation, and from News International to the NHS here.

"They saw themselves as latter-day pirates, scouring the internet for vulnerable computer systems.

"When they found them, they burrowed in, pillaged and stole vast quantities of sensitive data, reformatted it and published it on the internet in a variety of ways."

Mr Patel said the damage to organisations has been valued at "millions of pounds", and 750,000 pieces of personal data were recovered from Davis' computer alone.

He dubbed the four hackers as having 'advanced levels of ability and cunning', adding: "Equally striking is the relative youth of the defendants."

The name Lulzsec is a combination of 'lulz' or 'lols', meaning 'laugh out loud' and 'security', and was a direct descendant of notorious hacking group Anonymous.

Ackroyd, of Oak Road, Mexborough, Doncaster, admits one charge of conspiring to do an unauthorised act with intent, or reckless as to, impairing the operation of a computer.

Cleary, of Wickford, Essex, earlier admitted two counts of conspiracy to do an unauthorised act or acts with intent to impair, or with recklessness as to impairing, the operation of a computer or computers.

Al-Bassam, of Peckham, southeast London, admits two counts of conspiring to do an unauthorised act with intent, or reckless as to, impairing the operation of a computer.

Davis admits the same two charges.

The case continues.

A creative design agency from Lincoln has been commissioned to work on projects for a global transport and energy giant.

Ideafuel, based at Think Tank in Ruston Way, has been signed up by Alstrom, which operates in 100 countries and at 30 UK sites.

The first contract asked the business to develop a game that would engage visitors at a major trade exhibition.

Designers came up with the concept of adding a small turbine and motor to a penny farthing bicycle.

People had to use a small chimney sweeping brush to break a beam that stopped the turbine and allowed the brush to be passed through to the other side.

Ideafuel has now been invited to work on a number of other projects with Alstrom, which employs 93,000 people within its transport, power generation and electrical grid divisions.

Shaun Cole, account director at the business, said: "We are gaining a growing reputation for the quality of our creativity and this has clearly come to the attention of organisations such as Alstom.

"We're particularly proud of the contraption and all the other elements we have delivered for Alstom and it's gratifying that we have been invited to work on other projects."

Ideafuel's Dickensian penny farthing contraption was the centrepiece of Alstom's stand at a health and safety exhibition for the power industry.

The Lincoln firm also created literature for the game and winners' medals.

Alstom's UK head of marketing communications Jo Doxey said: "It made the exhibition a huge success with more than half of the footfall at the exhibition participating in the Alstom stand.

"It was a challenge, both in terms of the deadlines we were up against and the level of creativity required, and Ideafuel delivered exceptionally well on both fronts.

"The team at Ideafuel aren't frightened to come up with something different and they back this up with the reliability to deliver to tight deadlines."

Alstrom, which is helping to develop the UK's power, transmission and transport infrastructures, claims one in four of the world's light bulbs is powered by its technologies.

It reported sales of €20.3bn in 2012/2013.

Ideafuel can provide creative design, marketing and advertising services.

Simon Beardsley, chief executive of the Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce, said: "It's great to hear of one of our members realising its full potential, and working with a world leader such as Alstom.

"Through the Lincolnshire Chamber, we encourage and support businesses of all sizes across the county to look at international contracts and put themselves forward for them.

"The excellent work that IdeaFuel is doing proves that Lincoln's business community has what it takes to win competitive contracts, and I hope that this encourages more to do the same."