The Lincolnshire-based Red Arrows will welcome the French President Emmanuel Macron to London later.

Members of the famous RAF Scampton-based aerobatic team will fly alongside their French counterparts La Patrouille de France.

The visit is to mark 80 years since Charles De Gaulle's historic speech to occupied France from London.

Charlie Jones

The family of murdered British backpacker Grace Millane have described plans to outlaw the "rough sex gone wrong" defence as "fantastic news".

Image source, Lucie Blackman Trust

Miss Millane, who studied at universty in Lincoln but was originally from Essex, was killed in New Zealand in December 2018.

Her killer said she died accidentally after asking to be strangled during sex, but his defence was rejected and he was convicted of her murder.

Minister Alex Chalk said it would be made clear in the Domestic Abuse Bill the defence was not acceptable.

The new legislation, external is due to come into force in England and Wales later this year.

You can read more here.

A statement by Lincoln's Students' Union mirrors an earlier one issued by counterparts in Essex.

A prison service worker who spent nearly nine weeks in hospital and almost died twice battling against coronavirus has thanked the staff who saved his life.

Gary Graves, 54, was admitted in March to Boston Pilgrim Hospital, where his wife Astrid works, after complaining of a sore throat, headache and cough.

But after being admitted to A&E, his condition worsened and he had to be placed into a medically-induced coma.

He spent the next nine weeks in intensive care and, at one stage, doctors gave him less than a 10% chance of survival.

The father-of-two lost four stone in weight during his hospital stay and was finally discharged late in May.

As he left the intensive care unit, he was applauded by doctors and nurses before being reunited with his wife Astrid for the first time in 62 days.

Mr Graves said: “I didn’t know what to do when they were clapping and cheering.

"The truth of the matter is, if it wasn’t for all of them I would not be here today. We can never thank them all enough."

Jason Wilsher-Mills puts up giant inflatable sculptures in the back garden of his home in Sleaford.

Vandals who destroyed a floral tribute in a Lincolnshire town to the NHS and last month's VE Day anniversary have been described as "mindless".

Image source, ELDC

The tribute, by Mablethorpe in Bloom, was torn up and littered with alcohol bottles on Monday night.

Police say they're aware of a "beach party" at the site on the same night and have appealed for people to be "grown-ups" and admit to the damage.

East Lindsey District Council posted pictures on social media, where one person commented it was "so disrespectful to destroy such a beautiful tribute".

Another said it was "disgusting" and that the culprits "should be named and shamed".

A former bin collector has been jailed for two years and nine months after being caught selling heroin and crack cocaine in Grantham.

Image source, Lincolnshire Police

Keia Hull, 25, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty earlier this year to possession and intent to supply cocaine.

He had attracted the suspicion of CCTV operators after cycling around Grantham to meet up with customers, Lincoln Crown Court was told.

He met drug users out of sight of the town's cameras, the court heard.

When approached by officers he was found to be carrying £200 of Class A drugs, including 15 wraps of heroin and five wraps of cocaine.

Lincoln Crown Court heard yesterday that Hull had been a drug user but had slipped into dealing after a break-up with his girlfriend and losing his job.

The chief executive of the University of Lincoln's Student Union says the union has "failed" black students.

Image source, University of Lincoln Student Union

Writing on the union's Twitter page, external, James Brooks said he believed that black voices had largely been "ignored" during his 20-year involvement with the Student Union (SU) movement and said the body in Lincoln would instigate a series of immediate changes.

His comments come on the back of continued worldwide anti-racism protests sparked by the death of George Floyd in the US.

Among a series of changes announced, Mr Brooks said that with immediate effect Lincoln SU would guarantee a preliminary interview to all black, Asian and minority ethnic applicants for SU posts, implement training for all SU staff to address any unconscious bias around race and introduce new procedures around the investigation of allegations of racism.

A court hears Keia Hull cycled around Grantham selling heroin and crack cocaine.

A research project has been launched in Lincoln in a bid to help scientists understand more about the city's much-loved swan population.

Image source, University of Lincoln

The birds have supposedly been a fixture on the city's Brayford Pool for centuries, with a university bar even named after them.

However, researchers at the University of Lincoln say they don't know much about their lives.

An app has now been developed so people can log sightings of the swans in and around the city.

The swans have been the cause of concern many times in recent decades, including being the victims of a mysterious bird 'bug' in 2003, having their territory invaded in 2004 by Australian swans, and even having a fake island built for them while construction work was carried out in 2013.

The app, external is designed so people can submit data and find out more about what the swans have been up to before being sighted.

Police are appealing for witnesses following the death of a cyclist near Wragby.

Image source, Google

Officers were called to Apley Manor, in Apley, at about 17:45 on Monday after receiving reports of an injured cyclist.

Lincolnshire Police said the driver of a crop sprayer vehicle, who was in the area, attempted first aid but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

The cyclist has been named as 49-year-old Christopher Taylor.

In a statement the force said: "We are appealing for any witnesses that may have seen the cyclist in Apley village or surrounding villages before this incident was reported to us.

"We would also like to hear from anyone who may have seen the crop sprayer vehicle or any other vehicles in this area at around the time of the incident or before it was reported to us."

Thousands of jobs are at risk on Lincolnshire's coast because of the coronavirus lockdown, according to a new report seen by the BBC.

Skegness draws in about four million visitors to its seaside attractions every year, including its famous Jolly Fisherman statue (pictured).

But, with pubs, restaurants and arcades closed until at least July, coastal resorts have seen a big drop in visitors.

Meanwhile, many business owners say social distancing rules could hamper trade even after that.

Now, a report by East Lindsey District council says the impact of coronavirus is "particularly pronounced on the coast".

About 90% of 7,500 people in the tourism and hospitality industry on the coast are currently on furlough due to the coronavirus lockdown, according to the report.

It also suggests thousands more could by affected in supply chains and a lack of seasonal jobs offered this year.

Mablethorpe and Skegness are among the top 10 towns affected most negatively by the economic restrictions of the coronavirus, the report says.

The council says it's now asking the government to extend its furlough scheme to help those affected in seasonal jobs, and to help businesses with rates and loans to keep them afloat.

A government u-turn on children being able to claim free school meal vouchers during the school holidays will benefit about 15,000 children in Lincolnshire.

England Footballer Marcus Rashford had earlier called on the government to provide funding for children in vulnerable families to have free school dinners:

The government had previously insisted it would not award free school meals vouchers in England outside of term time, prompting the footballer to pen an open letter to MPs asking for the decision to be reversed.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson praised Mr Rashford's "contribution to the debate around poverty".

The campaign has also been praised by Lincolnshire Conservative MP Matt Warman, who said it would benefit "deprived constituencies such as Boston and Skegness significantly".

Meanwhile, Mike Farley, who helps run the Food in School Holidays Project in Lincoln, said the football star's achievement in such a short time was "phenomenal":

Police are appealing for help identifying this man and locating his next of kin after he was found dead in Boston:

Image source, Lincolnshire Police

The man's body was found on Sibsey Road on the evening of 20 March.

His death isn't being treated as suspicious and a file has been prepared for the coroner, according to Lincolnshire Police.

However, officers say they still haven't been able to identify the man despite "extensive inquiries" so can't notify his family of his death.

Police say he was known as Mariusz Krawczyk, but officers are "unsure if this is his true identity".

He's in his 30s and has a "distinctive" tattoo on the top of his left arm depicting a skull being held in a hand, police add.

Anyone with information about the man's identity is being asked to contact the Lincolnshire force.

A senior member of the clergy in Lincolnshire says he hopes churches will be able to allow mass congregations soon.

It comes after places of worship reopened for private prayer from Monday.

The Reverend Canon John Patrick said he was "pleased to see a lot" of people come for private prayer at Lincoln Cathedral on its reopening yesterday.

He said: "We hope a little bit further down the road we'll be able to offer public worship.

"I'm sure yet again there'll be ways and protocols to put in place to make sure there's social distancing.

"But hopefully we'll able to do that fairly soon."

Tourism bosses on Lincolnshire's coast say businesses need to reopen soon as coronavirus restrictions are eased - otherwise they may never open again.

However, hospitality business owners have told the BBC they will struggle even when cafes and bars are allowed to open - which won't be until at least July - due to the 2m rule.

Jason Foster, who runs a cafe at the seaside resort of Anderby Creek (pictured), says the venue would usually cater for about 50 people.

But when it reopens, he says they'll only be allowed a third of that number of customers due to the 2m social distancing rule.

Mr Foster says the 2m rule means they will "struggle to run economically", but that if it were reduced to 1m their business would be "more viable".

Meanwhile, Colin Davie, who looks after the coastal economy for Lincolnshire County Council, agrees it will be "very difficult if we're going to have to contend with the 2m rule".

Current science, external suggests the risk of catching coronavirus is estimated to be 13% within 1m, but only 3% beyond that distance.

Two men have been jailed for 12 months after a cannabis farm in Lincolnshire capable of producing up to £500,000 worth of the drug was uncovered in a police raid.

Image source, PA Media

Lincoln Crown Court heard that police started investigating the Manor Barn at Firsby, near Spilsby, after being tipped off by electricity supplier Western Power, which raised concerns about transponder fires.

It became clear the electricity supply had been bypassed, the court was told.

Catherine Picardo, prosecuting, said there were six growing areas at the site, with 602 plants.

Gjergj Mhillaj, 25, and Alfred Smakaj, 24, both of Clough Road, Firsby, each pleaded guilty to the production of cannabis between 27 February and 14 May this year.

The court was told the two men were both Albanians who entered the UK illegally after paying to be transported in a lorry.

As well as each being jailed for 12 months, they will face deportation when they are released from custody.

Judge Simon Hirst said: "This was an operation capable of producing significant quantities of cannabis for commercial use. Plainly only a sentence of immediate custody can be imposed."

Campaigners opposed to plans to turn Grantham Hospital's A&E into an urgent treatment centre have held a protest at the site while socially distancing.

Last week, bosses at United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust approved plans to turn the hospital into a coronavirus-free site.

The proposals will see A&E patients and non-elective patients turned away from Grantham Hospital to other sites across the county.

Meanwhile, elective surgery and day cases, such as chemotherapy patients, will be taken from Boston Pilgrim and Lincoln hospitals and transferred to Grantham.

Some staff and councillors joined in the protest, with a total of about 200 people taking part.

Jody Clark, from the Fighting for Grantham Hospital campaign, said: “We stood in support of our staff, who are being moved due to the changes.

"We also oppose the level of these changes. We understand the need for a safe site for vulnerable patients but the trust's plan leaves a lot of our hospital closed.

“Grantham Hospital's site has multiple entrances and exits, so with a little investment,they could easily increase the safe capacity and still keep most of our local services."

United Lincolnshire Hospital Trust has been asked for comment.

Measures have been put in place to keep shoppers safe in Lincoln, as businesses reopen following the easing of coronavirus restrictions.

Image source, Press Association

Many non-essential shops have opened their doors today for the first time in months.

Richard Baxter, from Lincoln BIG, which promotes the city to tourists and shoppers, said lots of work had taken place over the last few weeks, including painting and cleaning.

Mr Baxter said: "The main thing is to keep the city safe. We’ve got lots of safety signs on the footpaths and on the lampposts and benches to remind people there is a 2m rule in place and to abide by that and everyone will be safe.

"The insides of shops are going to be a bit different as well. Coming in to a shop to do some shopping is far superior to pressing a few buttons on a computer and looking at a screen all day. The experience is still going to be there when you walk into a shop, but it’s just going to be a bit different.

"Please be patient with the queuing system. It looks like all this work we’ve done is going to work," he added.

Police are appealing for witnesses after a motorist was punched in the face by a man on a bike who stole his car keys in Spalding.

Lincolnshire Police say the male cyclist rode towards the victim's car as it turned into the Lidl store on Holbeach Road at about 15.45 on 24 May.

He then approached the driver’s window, punched him in the face and took his car keys before leaving the area.

The force say the man was wearing all red cycling gear and a helmet.

Anyone who saw what happened or has information should contact the force.