Lincolnshire

Antonia Lambert intially noticed something was wrong with her daughter Delilah in March, before it was discovered in June that she had a rare and serious condition

When Antonia Lambert took her 17-month-old daughter Delilah-Rose Lambert to the opticians earlier this year, she had no idea what was about to transpire.

Antonia, 20, had noticed her daughter’s left eye shine white and wanted to find out why. After the opticians referred her to the Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby, they attended an appointment, after which they were sent home when nothing was found.

When Delilah started rubbing her left eye constantly and developed a fear of the dark just weeks later, Antonia, from South Killingholme in North Lincolnshire, was referred to Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

It was there that doctors made a tragic discovery. In June, three months after symptoms had first been noticed, Delilah was diagnosed with Retinoblastoma. According to the NHS, this is a rare type of eye cancer that can affect young children.

Following the diagnosis, which Delilah’s family believed caused her fear of the dark because she could see less, Antonia’s daughter had to have her entire left eye removed.

Although Delilah has now been given a temporary prosthetic, it will be a few more weeks before she receives a longer-lasting one. While the situation cannot be changed, hairdresser Antonia believes that, had they not been initially dismissed, her daughter might still have her left eye.

Speaking about the beginnings of their horrific ordeal, Antonia spoke about how she first came to notice something was wrong with her daughter.

She said: “We had a lamp on in our room and one of her pupils looked white. We didn’t think much of it but she started to get wobbly so we took her to get her eyes tested.

“[Before her diagnosis], she refused to settle in her room and would cry for hours until I put a light on or took her out of that room.”

Antonia also spoke about how hard it was to hear that her daughter had such a difficult diagnosis. She said: “There were so many emotions at the time and I didn’t know how to feel. I sat and cried for days.

“I think most of the frustration was with our local hospital because they decided her eye wasn’t important enough to examine at the start and it made me think that it could have been different. The tumour might have been smaller if she was seen earlier and they could have potentially saved her eye.”

Despite the heartbreak, Antonia is determined to raise awareness of retinoblastoma so that other parents know what symptoms to look for and can act quickly.

She urged: “You need to trust your gut and push as much as possible. We didn’t push enough at the start, but we kept going and going – and she ended up getting her eye removed.

“It’s not massively common. We were told 30 to 40 kids a year in the UK get diagnosed with this. You don’t think it’s going to be you – until it is.

“Opticians don’t usually test children’s eyes under four unless there are concerns, but if you spot anything unusual, you definitely need to get their sight checked.”

In a statement, a spokesperson for the NHS Humber Health Partnership said: “We are sorry to hear about the difficulties Miss Lambert and her daughter encountered at Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital earlier this year.

“We would be keen for her to contact our Patient Advice and Liaison Service team so we can discuss the issues with her in more detail and allow us to investigate fully.”

Despite its marmite reputation, a ‘rundown’ seaside town once dubbed the country’s worst has been featured in The Times’ league tables for the best UK beaches in 2025

A ‘rundown’ seaside town has surprisingly made the league tables for the best UK beaches in 2025 – despite its crumbling reputation.

Every year, around four million holidaymakers flock to Skegness, lured in by rows of flashing arcades, stomach-churning funfair rides, and a constantly lively beach. It’s long been one of the most iconic coastal resorts on the Lincolnshire coast, but has been stung with a barrage of complaints from locals and tourists alike – and was once even ranked alongside North Korea and Syria as one of the worst places in the world to visit.

Skegness recently came 16th-to-last in Which?’s annual league tables of the best UK seaside resorts – scoring a not-so-great 54 per cent overall destination score*. Travellers rated the town a respectable three stars for its beach, seafront/ pier, tourist attractions, parking availability and food and drink offerings – but gave just two stars for its shopping scene and one star for its scenery and peacefulness.

READ MORE: UK’s best beach in 2025 named and it could be anywhere in the Mediterranean

It’s a slight improvement from years gone by – but prove that Skegness’ £20 million plan to transform the area is still urgently needed. In 2023, Skegness came in at the absolute bottom on Which?’s ranking, and scored 5th last in 2024. Back then, one reviewer described the beach as ‘horrible’, arguing they had to trek 30 miles up the road to Mablethorpe instead. “Overall, it’s a terrible place with terrible people,” they said. “I will never go there again.”

Another agreed, branding the town the ‘dirtiest place in England’. “The sea has a brown froth on the top,” they fumed. “The streets are dirty [and] the roads are potholed.” Despite the heavy criticism, it’s clear Skegness boasts an unwavering popularity, and still attracts swathes of positive reviews online.

“It’s a nice old-fashioned beach experience that brought back many childhood memories,” one person hailed. “The beach itself is clean and well-maintained and there are lots of attractions around to keep kids and adults amused.” Another recent traveller said they were ‘pleasantly surprised’ by how well-maintained the area is. “The beach and town look clean and well looked after,” they wrote.

Much of Skegness’ hate can sometimes feel unfair. It’s not the place to go if you want to sip on iced oat milk matcha while chewing on £5 sourdough with poached eggs. But, if you’re looking for that classic UK seaside experience, it has your back. In fact, The Times recently featured Skegness in its best 50 UK beaches in 2025 list – hailing the town for offering ‘all round entertainment’.

“Having spent 17 years watching the crumbling of our traditional seaside resorts, I’d argue that Skeggy is the new King of seaside tat,” the publication wrote. “There are donkeys, rollercoasters, wall-to-wall chippies, arcades, a pier and the Embassy Theatre, offering much more than the tide of tribute acts that flood other seaside playhouses. As for the beach, it’s big, soft and golden, with views across the Wash to the Norfolk coast.”

Earlier this year, Skegness was selected to receive a whopping £20 million of funding and support over the next ten years as part of the government’s Plan for Neighbourhoods. This scheme focuses on three goals: thriving places, stronger communities, and taking back control – and allows local authorities to drive forward their own priorities.

Paul McCooey, Chair, Connected Coast’s Skegness Sub-Group said: “We have been awaiting further steer on this funding and now that the details have been announced, we can get to work with our communities, partners, and stakeholders to shape a plan for investment. In Skegness, we have already seen what can be achieved through partnership working through the Town Deal projects, as exemplified by projects such as the Skegness Learning Campus which is set to be an economic game changer for our area. Now, we can bring even more improvements to the town to benefit more people long into the future.”

*Which?’s results are based on an online survey of 8,952 experiences from 3,872 Which? Connect panel members conducted between January and March, 2025.

Do you think Skegness deserves the criticism it receives? Let us know in the comments section below

As the UK braces for a 32C heatwave this weekend, many Brits will be flocking to the south coast – but the highest ever temperature recorded on the mainland is actually some 200 miles north

This peaceful town surrounded by rolling countryside has surprisingly been dubbed the hottest part of Britain. The UK may be infamous for its constant drizzle and grey-cloud-weather, but the summer months are getting increasingly warmer.

In fact, temperatures in London could end up exceeding those in typically sweltering parts of Europe, including Barcelona, this weekend – as Brits brace for an early summer heatwave.

As previously reported, the mercury is set to surge above 30C for the first time in 2025 this week – with forecasters predicting the UK could soar to 32C in the south by Saturday. But, if you’re looking for truly sizzling temperatures, the micro-climate hotspots that sprawl along England’s south coast might not actually be your best shot.

READ MORE: UK seaside town once snubbed now on verge of tourist boom after £18.4m splurge

Almost three years ago, on July 18, 2022, the UK experienced temperatures of a whopping 40.3C – surpassing records dating all the way back to 1884. However, the scorching figure wasn’t documented on the golden sandy beaches of Eastbourne – or the tropical Isle of Scilly.

In fact, the intense heat was actually recorded some 200 miles north of Britain’s south coast, in the sleepy town of Coningsby. Located in the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, the civil parish is mainly known for its RAF Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) stations, which help protect UK airspace.

According to Lincolnshire Live, locals described the heat spell as ‘unbearable’ and like ‘living in the Sahara’. Shops were temporarily closed due to the scorching temperatures and people were encouraged to remain indoors.

While skeptics argued the thermometer’s reading was skewed by the nearby runway that regularly sees Typhoons taking off and ‘pumping considerable amounts of hot gas’ into the air – the Met Office confirmed the temperature had passed its quality control testing.

This includes physical inspections, as well as cross-checking of stations and sites. “These quality control measures are in accordance with the internationally-agreed World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) standards, which are required to be accepted as official records,” the Met Office added.

A spokesperson confirmed the scorching heat wasn’t just confined to RAF Coningsby, nor was it the only weather station that recorded temperatures exceeding 40C. On the day of recording, the Met Office states there were some ‘thin clouds’ around the county through the afternoon, with a south-south-westerly wind of around 16mph.

“Although Coningsby had the UK’s all-time record high temperature [in 2022], there’s no evidence to suggest it’s always the hottest place in Lincolnshire,” the Met Office added. “The meteorological conditions of a given day help determine where temperatures rise highest. Indeed, stations closer to more urban areas, such as Lincoln itself, will tend to see higher temperatures.

“Coningsby is, however, off the immediate coastline of Lincolnshire. This means it sees less influence from easterly and northeasterly sea breezes than some other stations in Lincolnshire.”

Do you have a story to share? Email us at [email protected] for a chance to be featured.

An unfairly dismissed seaside town has witnessed a huge tourist boom after unveiling ambitious plans to regenerate the area thanks to more than £18 million worth of approved investment

A ‘jewel’ in the crown of Britain’s east coast is polishing its reputation thanks to a huge £18.4 million investment.

Situated on the estuary of the Humber in North East Lincolnshire, Cleethorpes has been welcoming holidays since the 19th century, but suffered a bout of under-investment following the Benidorm boom – when Brits ditched the UK coast for cheap package holidays to Spain. Famed for its four miles of golden sandy beach, its 335ft-long pier, and 160-acre nature reserve – this tiny town really does offer something for everyone.

Of course, you’ll also find rows of flashing arcades, award-winning fish and chip shops, and souvenir shops flogging everything from flavoured rock to fridge magnets. But, in recent years – Cleethorpes has been targeted by seaside snobs who have branded the town as ‘run down’.

It’s not the place to be if you’re after iced matcha and tougher-than-wood piece of sourdough, but ambitious plans to transform the town are underway. In 2023, Cleethorpes secured more than £18.4 million of Levelling Up grant monies – spearheading a ‘masterplan’ to improve several key areas.

Pier Gardens, a stretch of public green land that runs along the seafront, is one of the first areas being rejuvenated. Construction, which started this year, will see the area turned into several overlapping zones to create a ‘focal point for recreational activities.

It will feature a huge playground with slides, a water play area, terraced seating, and a performance zone to host small concerts or theatre performances. There will also be a reflection and memorial zone set within ‘naturalistic planting schemes’.

Cleethorpe’s Market Place will also get a makeover, establishing a ‘flexible space for market and pop events to energise the area’. Improvements will be made to lighting in the area to improve safety, while a new green corridor will link St Peters Avenue and the seafront. Restaurants and cafes will be able to let diners eat alfresco, while green infrastructure will mitigate the town’s wind.

Lastly, a new three-storey landmark building is set to be constructed at the former Waves site on the corner of Sea Road and the promenade, featuring state-of-the-art public amenities and changing facilities – as well as commercially lettable space across all floors. Impressive mock-up images show the building’s sleek appearance, which sits opposite the iconic pier.

Even before the levelling-up funds were awarded to the town, Cleethorpes had been revamping itself thanks to other investments. This includes the popular shopping area of Sea View Street, the beach, and the Memorial Gate dedicated to our Armed Forces. This is a big part of Cleethorpe’s image, as the Armed Forces Weekend attracted a whopping 355,000 last year, making it one of the most popular events of its kind in the UK.

Speaking exclusively to the Mirror, Councillor Hayden Dawkins, North East Lincolnshire Council’s Portfolio Holder for Culture, Heritage and the Visitor Economy, said he was delighted with the town’s plans and can’t wait to see its transformation progress. “Cleethorpes is a jewel in the crown of Britain’s East coast,” he added.

“Successful funding bids have supported a variety of great schemes across the length of the resort and that will continue in the coming 18 months as major projects start. This, in turn, has encouraged a growing number of local people and visitors to see Cleethorpes as a destination for day trips and holidays. Major events such as Armed Forces Weekend, really do showcase the resort on a national and even international stage, which is fantastic.”

Cllr Dawkins also hailed Cleethorpe’s ‘cultural activity’ that he says demonstrates how the community is ‘involving itself and enjoying’ its growing success. “We look forward to a very bright future here in Cleethorpes – a place to work, visit, live and enjoy,” he added.

How to get to Cleethorpes

Getting to Cleethorpes will soon get a whole lot easier, after it was announced plans are afoot to bring back direct trains between the seaside town and London King’s Cross for the first time since 1992. As previously reported, rail operator Grand Central is hoping to be given permission from Network Rail to start running the services again.

In a move that is expected to bring in a whopping £30 million in economic growth, the route would connect the English capital with Cleethorpes – stopping off at Doncaster, Scunthorpe, Grimsby, Thorne South, Crowle and Althorpe. Trains running four times a day could start running from as early as December 2026, if the plans are approved. This would slash the three-hour journey ‘significantly’, and remove the need for passengers to change trains.

Until then, those wanting to visit Cleethorpes from the Big Smoke will have to transfer at Doncaster. If you’re flexible with dates, you can grab single adult fares for as little as £32.50. Alternatively, Brits can drive up the M11 and get to Cleethorpes in four hours and 15-minutes in the car.

Staying in Cleethorpes

Cleethorpes has long been a friendly destination for those on a budget, with a vast range of accommodation types. For example, a weekend’s stay (Friday, June 27-29) at the Haven Cleethorpes Beach holiday park will only set you back £195. This is based on a family of four staying in a Saver Caravan.

If you’re wanting something a little more luxurious, check out these charming apartments located right by the sea. Chicly decorated and just a four-minute walk to the beach – a one-bedroom apartment costs £550 on the exact same dates.

*Prices based on Trainline, Haven, and Booking.com listings at the time of writing.

What’s your favourite UK seaside town? Let us know in the comments section below