National News
55 beaches meet tough new standards
More than 50 English beaches have met tough new EU standards to receive Blue Flag awards for 2013.
Police force to sell unused £11m HQ
A police force that spent more than £11 million on a headquarters it has never used has announced it will sell the site after it has been empty for five years.
'World class' rocker Bolder dies
Uriah Heep and Spiders From Mars bassist Trevor Bolder has died following a battle with cancer, his band said. He was 62.
102 free school proposals approved
Education Secretary Michael Gove has approved more than 100 free school applications, which will make up around 50,000 school places.
'Failures' in tax fraud crackdown
Billions of pounds of taxpayers' money is being lost because of the failure of HM Revenue and Customs to clamp down effectively on fraud and error, MPs have warned.
'Alarming rate' of wildlife decline
UK wildlife is "in trouble", with almost 2,000 species of birds, animals, insects and plants known to have declined in the past half century, experts have warned.
Food hygiene 'a postcode lottery'
Food outlets in parts of the London borough of Bexley have the worst hygiene standards of more than 2,000 postcodes, while those in Birmingham's B35 area offer the best, according to a Which? investigation.
PM faces gay marriage Bill backlash
David Cameron is facing a fresh bout of Tory strife after the coalition's plans to introduce gay marriage cleared the Commons.
Afghan interpreters can come to UK
Around 600 Afghan interpreters are to be offered the chance to settle in Britain after an apparent coalition rethink.
Clegg dismisses coalition break-up
Nick Clegg will insist that he and David Cameron are both "absolutely committed" to governing in coalition through to 2015 as he attempts to calm speculation over the future of the power-sharing deal.
Gay marriage plan backed by MPs
The Government's plans to legalise gay marriage have cleared the House of Commons despite more Tory MPs voting against the proposals than voting in favour of them.
Harry Potter edition fetches £150k
A first edition of the first Harry Potter book, personally annotated by JK Rowling, has sold for £150,000 at auction.
Dame Judi proud of Bomber Boys role
Dame Judi Dench has described herself as being "very proud" to be the first patron of a new campaign to preserve the Bomber Command Memorial for generations to come.
Woman tries to drive into Commons
A woman has been detained by police after trying to drive through the main gates of the House of Commons.
'Strong evidence' of burnt remains
Experts found "very strong evidence" of burnt human skull remains at the home of the man accused of murdering April Jones, a jury has heard.
Patients 'harmed' by 111 service
The implementation of the new NHS non-emergency advice line has caused harm to patients, the director of patient safety at NHS England has admitted.
Seven UK child soldiers in Mid East
Britain sent seven children to fight in Afghanistan and Iraq during a four-year period, it has emerged.
Mother's pride at son's VC honour
The mother of a "supremely courageous and inspiring" British soldier who died as he protected the lives of his comrades in a battle with Taliban fighters in Afghanistan has spoken of her pride after accepting his posthumous Victoria Cross (VC).
Nicholson set to retire with £1.9m
Embattled NHS boss Sir David Nicholson plans to retire next year, with a pension pot worth almost £1.9 million.
Three jailed for fake £1 coins plot
Three forgers have been jailed for what police believe is the largest ever plot to make fake pound coins in the UK, some of which may still be in circulation.
Jail term for 'sugar daddy' conman
A heartless conman who fleeced more than £170,000 out of a string of women he met on a website for "sugar daddies" has been jailed for seven years.
Last-ditch appeal over measles jabs
Health chiefs are appealing to children still unprotected against measles to sign up to an in-school vaccination drive before it ends.
Tulisa quits X Factor judge job
Tulisa Contostavlos has finally confirmed she will not be returning as a judge to X Factor this year.
A&E units dropping four-hour target
Many hospital emergency departments have dropped the Government's four-hour target to deal with patients because of soaring demand, MPs have heard.
Deal rescues gay marriage bill
The legalisation of gay marriage is poised to be approved by MPs after surviving a Tory backbench bid to derail it.
Australians win show garden prize
An Australian team has won the best show garden prize for the first time in the Chelsea Flower Show's 100-year-history - with one of its members celebrating by stripping off and going for an impromptu swim.
Mother suspect in girl murder probe
Detectives are treating the death of a 20-month-old girl as murder and have named her mother as a suspect.
Briton in Everest triple peak coup
Britain's most successful mountaineer has become the first person to scale the three peaks of Mount Everest's Western Cwm in one climb.
Interflora wins M&S trademark case
Flower delivery network Interflora has won its long-running trademark dispute with Marks & Spencer.
Singer 'in shock' after road 'fall'
Injured singer George Michael fell from his vehicle on to the carriageway of the M1 motorway, an eyewitness has claimed.
Comedy scriptwriter Braben dies
Comedy writer Eddie Braben, the third man behind the success of Morecambe and Wise, has died at the age of 82, his manager said.
Queen 'deeply saddened' by deaths
The Queen said she was "deeply saddened" by the loss of life and devastation caused by the tornado in Oklahoma and sent her "deepest sympathies" to all those whose lives have been affected.
PM seeks to soothe local Tory anger
David Cameron has sought to smooth relations with angry local Tories, insisting he would never have anyone close to him who "sneered" at them.
Cut schools budget, says think-tank
The Government could cut schools spending without compromising standards, an independent think-tank has claimed.
Singer 'fine' after new car drama
Chart star George Michael has been airlifted to hospital for treatment to head injuries after a motorway accident - the latest car drama for the troubled singer.
Tribute to 'beautiful' daughter
The father of a 20-month-old toddler who was found dead at a house has spoken of the loss of his "uniquely beautiful" daughter who meant the world to him.
'Dismay' over Litvinenko ruling
The widow of poisoned spy Alexander Litvinenko has accused a coroner of abandoning his search for the truth about Russian state responsibility for her husband's death.
Dead children name usage 'common'
It was "common practice" for undercover police officers within Scotland Yard to use dead children's identities, an investigation has found.
Bridger's 'mental block' over body
The man accused of murdering April Jones told police he had a "mental block" about what happened to her body, a jury has heard.
McCanns 'very pleased' with review
Madeleine McCann's parents are said to be "very, very pleased" with Scotland Yard's review of their daughter's disappearance, as it emerged detectives have identified "more than a handful of people of interest" in the case.
Unhealthy packed lunch 'is abuse'
Jamie Oliver has compared unhealthy packed lunches with child abuse and said the Government should do more to improve school meals.
Cocaine found in cakes at airport
Two people have been charged with drug trafficking offences after cocaine worth up to £1 million was found hidden inside cakes at Gatwick Airport.
Le Vell denies child sex charges
Coronation Street actor Michael Le Vell denied a series of child sex offences when he appeared in court.
Family praises rescue bid soldiers
The family of a British construction worker murdered by his Islamist kidnappers just minutes after a joint UK and Nigerian rescue operation stormed their compound has praised the soldiers who tried to save him and said the Government had been right to send them.
Pair convicted of abusing patients
Two care assistants who abused severely disabled patients are guilty of "an appalling abuse of trust and a violation of what society should be able to expect from people in the care profession", prosecutors have said.
Fire services 'could save £200m'
Fire and rescue services in England could save up to £200 million a year if they were operated more efficiently, according to a report.
Sir Bruce signs up for Strictly
Sir Bruce Forsyth has ended speculation by signing up for the next series of Strictly Come Dancing.
TV baker Hollywood splits from wife
Culinary TV star Paul Hollywood has split from his wife after 15 years of marriage.
Red Arrows cleared for new displays
The RAF's Red Arrows air display team has been cleared by the Chief of the Air Staff to fly in displays this year, the RAF said.
UK man jailed for Cyprus killing
A UK tourist has been jailed for eight years for the manslaughter of a British soldier in Cyprus, the Ministry of Defence said.
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Weather for Sleaford
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 4 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 5 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: North west
