Katie O'Halloran
BBC Radio Lincolnshire News

A heated debate about streetlights being turned off overnight took place in Boston last night.

Campaigners and local residents put their views to the town's MP, Matt Warman, with some blaming government cutbacks for the controversial measure being introduced.  

The County Council has previously said funding cuts from central government meant the authority had to find new ways of saving money, including the streetlights switch-off.

Lincolnshire Police has said there's no evidence of an increase in crime because of the switch-off.  

Lorraine O'Connor, who organised the meeting, says she's confident the lights will go back on:

BBC Weather Watchers

In case you've not looked out of the window recently, it's still a bit grey across Lincolnshire at the moment. 

Thanks to BBC Weather Watcher SouthWithamerBaz for sending this picture in which pretty much sums it up: it's like being under the sea!

Alex Rhodes
BBC Lincolnshire Live

Personnel from two Lincolnshire RAF stations are due to take part in a joint freedom of the city parade today.

Airmen and women from RAF Scampton and RAF Waddington will march together through Lincoln. 

The parade will start at 10:45 from St Martin's Square and is expected to finish just before midday at City Square.

This is what it's looked like in previous years:

Image source, RAF

The largest collection of Bengal tigers in the country goes on show to the public right here in Lincolnshire later today.

The Lincolnshire Wildlife Park in Friskney has 11 of the big cats - one of the most endangered animals in the world - who have all come from private owners.

Here they are, shortly before they were let into the outside part of their new enclosure which has been purpose-built for these fantastic felines:

Alex Rhodes
BBC Lincolnshire Live

People are being urged not to go to A&E at Lincoln County Hospital unless it's a genuine emergency. 

It comes as the department struggles to fill its rotas because of a chronic shortage of doctors.

United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust said it was "working hard to maintain a safe service" and urged people to visit A&E for only "serious or life-threatening" conditions. 

Doctor Richard Andrews, from the trust, says he wants people to consider whether other options for treatment would be more suitable:

Abbie Dewhurst
Weather Presenter, BBC Look North

Starting chilly with mist in some areas of the county . 

It'll stay dry though with spells of sunshine developing in places. 

Feeling warm by the afternoon in most areas, but cooler near coasts where any sea breezes develop.

Corazon Garcia
BBC Radio Lincolnshire

Here are some of the top stories from across the county so far this morning:

• As Lincoln County hospital's staffing crisis continues, people are being urged to stay away from A&E unless it's a genuine emergency 
• The largest collection of Bengal tigers in the country are due to be unveiled in Friskney later 
• Last minute preparations are under way for this weekend's massive cycling event, Lincolnshire's Tour of the Wolds

BBC News Travel

Traffic is currently queuing on the A159 Ashby Road in Scunthorpe northbound from Burringham Road traffic lights to the A18.

If you're heading that way, be prepared to add an extra 10 minutes or so onto your commute.

Alex Rhodes
BBC Lincolnshire Live

Hello from Lincoln. Alex here, ready to bring you the latest from across the county. 

We'll bring you up-to-date news, travel, sport and weather updates as they happen.

Is there something you think we should know about? You can get in touch through email , Facebook, external  and Twitter, external . 

Boss Julie Sharp justified her spending by claiming she had sold gold and received PPI payments.

Three men attempted to smuggle almost a tonne of cocaine on board a fishing boat off Cornwall.

Alex Rhodes
BBC Lincolnshire Live

That's all from me today but news, sport, weather and travel updates will continue overnight.

I'll be back with more live updates from 08:00 tomorrow.

Until then I'll leave you with five things we've learned today: 

• Lincoln A&E says it's struggling provide a full service because of a staffing crisis
• The Cleethorpes MP say it's "extremely disappointing" that the health trust in charge of Scunthorpe and Grimsby Hospitals is back in special measures
• A mum who went missing with her two sons has been arrested
• BBC Radio Lincolnshire's Save A Life campaign took over Lincoln with a CPR flash mob
• 999 operators don't like it when you call an ambulance for a sick cat

Have a good evening.

BBC Look North
East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

Sharon Edwards
Political Reporter, BBC Radio Lincolnshire

The Work and Pensions Minister is defending the benefits cap after being told that more than 100 Lincolnshire families have only 50p a week left to pay their rent.

Damian Green is visiting businesses in Lincolnshire today. 

Last night's Panarama programme reported how thousands of families across the country are being hit by the changes. 

But Mr Green says the system is fair:

Paul Hudson
Weather presenter, BBC Look North

It'll be a dry evening and night with variable cloud cover and clear spells.

Here's my full forecast looking forward to the weekend:

The skipper of a drug-filled fishing boat has been jailed for 16 years for attempting to smuggle almost a tonne of cocaine into Britain.

Michael McDermott, 68, from Waterford, Ireland, was found guilty three weeks ago of his role in the plan to get the drugs into port at Falmouth, Cornwall.

Two other men, David Pleasants, 57, from Grimsby, and Gerald Van de Kooij, 27, from Amersfoort, Netherlands, have been jailed for 14 and 12 years respectively at Bristol Crown Court. 

Image source, National Crime Agency

Lizzie Musham
BBC Local Live, Lincolnshire

Businesses in a large village near Sleaford say the loss of its only bank is a blow - but not a surprise. 

Image source, Google

Lloyds has announced its branch in Heckington will shut this summer - one of 200 to close across the country .

Andrew Frank, who runs the Windmill Shop in the village, says residents knew it was coming:  

Alex Rhodes
BBC Lincolnshire Live

An outdoor swimming pool in Woodhall Spa will be open for an extra six weeks this year, it's been announced. 

Image source, Jubilee Park Woodhall Spa pool

You'll be able to visit the facility at Jubilee Park from Good Friday right through until October.  

It costs £1,000 a day for the pool to be kept running so General Manager Joe Stanhope says this year's earlier start is a risk, but one he hopes will pay off:

Alex Rhodes
BBC Lincolnshire Live

When you're a 999 operator then you must get more than your fair share of weird phone calls - but this one takes some beating. 

East Midlands Ambulance Service says inappropriate calls like this one stop them from helping people who actually need help - take a listen:

Here are some of the other bizarre reasons they've been called over the past month alone:

•  Someone was bitten by hamster
•  Someone had dandruff 
•  Someone had a sore on their nose   
•  Someone was bitten by dog – but the incident was two months ago  
•  Someone wanted somebody to do the shopping  

Some people, eh?

A woman who went missing with two boys for more than a week and was thought to have Lincolnshire connections has been arrested on suspicion of abduction . 

Image source, Nottinghamshire Police

Samantha Baldwin, 40, and her two sons, were found in a holiday home in Nottinghamshire, police have said.  

Their disappearance on 27 March sparked a Europe-wide police hunt involving more than 100 officers.  

They were found in "secluded accommodation" just outside Ollerton. 

Police had earlier said they believed they could have been in Lincolnshire.