Calls by a Hull MP for a parliamentary debate over the future of the famous Lincolnshire-based Red Arrows aerobatic team, amid long-term concerns about team's future, have been backed by Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom.

Image source, PA

Diana Johnson pressed the government to offer assurances about the Scampton-based Royal Air Force team after BAE Systems announced plans to cut almost 2,000 jobs, including hundreds at the firm's Brough plant in East Yorkshire.

Labour had previously called for the government to consider bringing forward orders, including replacing the Red Arrows' fleet of Hawk aircraft, in a bid to provide additional work for BAE.

Ms Johnson said: "I think this is timely, in light of the announcement from BAE Systems this week, that we have this discussion about the future of the Red Arrows."

Ms Leadsom said: "We'd all pay tribute to the excellent displays put on by the Red Arrows - not least of which at the British Grand Prix in my constituency at Silverstone Circuit where they fly overhead every year.

"I think it's a fantastic sight and they do a brilliant job, so I would absolutely support the honourable lady."

East Lindsey District Council will look at how the site can be utilised on non-market days.

Cylinders of nitrous oxide, more commonly known as laughing gas, have been stolen from a hospital in Lincoln.

Image source, Google

The theft took place at about 03:30 yesterday morning when thieves forced their way inside the BMI Lincoln Hospital on Nettleham Road.

Police are warning that inhaling nitrous oxide over a prolonged period can be dangerous, leading to a drop in oxygen levels in the body, unconsciousness and even death.

Anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious is being asked to contact police.

Barbara Stimpson
BBC Radio Lincolnshire

Let's take you through the headlines this afternoon in Lincolnshire:

• A chronic shortage of GPs in lincolnshire could be eased by a new government scheme
• A man and a woman are due before magistrates after a fatal crash on the A1 yesterday
• People in Woodhall Spa will find out the scale of the contamination of local woodland with mustard gas at a meeting this evening
• The county's last livestock market has been saved
• Lincolnshire's lonely swan has finally be joined by some friends

We'll keep you up to date throughout this afternoon.

Gill Sennett
BBC Local Live

British Steel in Scunthorpe says the pace at which it's growing means it wants to strengthen its long-term future by training the next generation of steel workers.

Image source, Steve Morgan/British Steel

Steel from the Scunthorpe plant has been used in London's Crossrail project, Liverpool's Anfield stadium and at Hinkley Point Power station.

The firm says that more than 500 people have joined since it launched in 2016 and now the company produces 2.8 million tonnes of steel every year.

With 33 new starters joining the company this week, it says it's now looking for 25 new trainees to work in the manufacturing side of the business, external.

David Sykes
BBC Local Live, Lincolnshire

Lincolnshire's lonely swan has been reunited with his friends after spending the summer on his own.

Hula the whooper swan wasn't able to fly away when the rest of his group migrated to Iceland because of an injured wing.

But the swan, who captured the hearts of birdwatchers at RSPB Frampton Marsh, is now back among friends and family, with a total of about 60 swans on the way back to the marsh where they'll spend the winter:

Whooper swans - so named because of the noise they make - migrate to breeding grounds in Iceland in the spring but return to Lincolnshire later in the year.

Chris Andrews, from the RSPB, says Hula has already spent a lot of time hanging out with the new arrivals:

Following last week's discovery of mustard gas in woods near Woodhall Spa, local residents are later expected to find out more about the situation at a meeting being held by the police, military and East Lindsey District Council.

Image source, Lincolnshire Police

With that meeting happening later today, here's what we know now:

• On Sunday 1 October, police cordoned off an area in Roughton Moor woods after the discovery of what they thought was an unexploded World War Two device
• It was confirmed on Tuesday 3 October that the items were, in fact, mustard gas canisters, a weapon used in World War One
• It also emerged that the discovery had been made by two people digging for bottles, both of whom were treated in hospital for minor burns and respiratory problems
• The canisters are believed to be from an RAF station and military base which was on the site from 1942 until it closed in the late 1960s
• Mustard gas was used as a weapon during World War One and outlawed by the Geneva Protocol of 1925
• Police later widened the search to a nearby lake in Stixwould, with Royal Navy teams brought in to help with the investigation
• Water samples from the lake were taken by police helicopter to a lab for examination and police said they believed any canisters found would have been dumped recently
• Only low background levels of mustard gas were detected at the Roughton Moor site and police do not believe there is a wide contamination problem
• Police confirmed earlier this week that another 11 boxes had been found at Roughton Moor Woods which may also contain the substance
• Three people arrested last week on suspicion of possession of a noxious substance have since been released on bail

Managers at the NHS trust which runs Lincolnshire's hospitals are to spend around £200,000 recruiting five new matrons to run a new inspection programme.

It's six months since the hospitals went into special measures and it's hoped the new scheme will help drive up standards.

Two people have been charged with causing death by dangerous driving after a fatal collision on the A1 yesterday.

Two people died following the crash at about 01:00 on Wednesday morning which involved a lorry and a car near Colsterworth.

Lincolnshire police are still in the process of tracing family members.

A 36-year-old woman and a 41-year-old man are due to appear before magistrates in Lincoln later.

This is Ruby the lurcher just after she was rescued by police from a gang of hare coursers who abandoned her in south Lincolnshire.

Image source, Lincolnshire Police

Her future's been uncertain since she was found at Deeping St Nicholas in February, but now she's found a new home with a new friend:

Image source, Lincolnshire Police

Ch Supt Mark Housley, who's in charge of Lincolnshire Police's anti-hare coursing operation, says he's pleased to see a happy ending:

Lucy Parry
BBC Local Live, Lincolnshire

Newly-qualified GPs are to be offered a one-off payment of £20,000 to start their career in Lincolnshire and other areas that struggle to attract family doctors.

Image source, PA

The health secretary Jeremy Hunt will announce the new incentive later today.

Proposals have also been put forward by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine to increase the number of places for doctors starting specialist training in emergency medicine from 300 to 400.

Workforce shortages have created problems across the NHS, including the overnight closure of Grantham's A&E unit, and it's hoped these steps will go some way to address the issue.

Alex Rhodes
BBC Local Live, Lincolnshire

People in Woodhall Spa will hear the latest information from the authorities after the discovery of mustard gas nearby.

Image source, Lincolnshire Police

Canisters containing mustard gas were found in woodland at Kirkby Lane.

Police, along with the Royal Navy and Army bomb disposal teams, have been searching the Roughton Moor Woods and a lake in Stixwould.

East Lindsey District Council, the police and military will have representatives at the Petwood Hotel tonight to update residents.

David Sykes
BBC Local Live, Lincolnshire

The final decision has been made to keep Louth Livestock Market on its current site and to refurbish it.

The future of the market had been uncertain after East Lindsey District Council proposed selling the site to developers.

In a consultation of 4,131 people by East Lindsey District Council, 84% said the market should stay.

Last month, executive members of the council agreed that the site shouldn't be sold, and now the final decision has been made to keep it.

Abbie Dewhurst
Weather Presenter, BBC Look North

Morning, it's looking like a dry, bright, breezy day but there may be the odd chance of rain later.

Here's my full forecast:

David Sykes
BBC Local Live, Lincolnshire

Good morning from Lincoln.

I'll be with you throughout the day with the latest news, sport, travel and weather across Lincolnshire.

We'd love to hear from you too, so if you have anything you'd like to say or share, just send me an email, or a message on Facebook , externalor Twitter, external.

Martin Slack
BBC Local Live, Lincolnshire

That's it for Wednesday, but we'll be back with more live updates from 08.00 tomorrow and breaking news, travel and sport will appear here throughout the night.

Just before we go there's time to look back on five things we've learned during the day:

• The A1 through Lincolnshire has been closed for most of the day after a crash which killed two people
• There'll be no new Hawk jets for the Red Arrows despite job losses at BAE Systems
• A decision's due this evening on the future of Louth Livestock Market
• A restaurant's been badly damaged after a fire on the Lincolnshire coast
• Grimsby's seafood industry is a success and there's more to come say industry bosses

See you tomorrow...

Lizzie Musham
BBC Local Live, Lincolnshire

A senior RAF officer from Lincolnshire has been made a CBE at an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

Air Commodore Dawn McCafferty who is Commandant of the prestigious RAF Air Cadets received her CBE medal from HRH The Duke of Cambridge.

Image source, MOD

Based at HQ RAF Air Cadets, RAF Cranwell, Lincolnshire, she currently commands an organisation of 40,000 air cadets aged 12-19 across the UK and abroad and 15,000 adult volunteers.

Lisa Gallagher
Weather presenter, BBC Look North

Rain will clear to the southeast during the evening, with a scattering of showers to follow at first, but these will die out to leave dry conditions with clear periods, and it will become rather chilly. Here's my full forecast:

Plans for new police cells in Grimsby have been approved.

The custody suite on Birchin Way will have 36 cells as well as office space for 170 staff.

The new facilities will be in use by early 2019 and will replace the police cells in Scunthorpe and Grimsby police stations.

Martin Slack
BBC Local Live, Lincolnshire

Lincolnshire Police has just released more details about those involved in a fatal crash on the A1 in Lincolnshire at around 01.00 this morning.

Officers say two people were killed in the crash which involved a car and a lorry. A man aged 41 and a woman aged 36 who were in the lorry were arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

The police say the two arrested people remain in custody and they are still in the process of informing family members of the two people who died.

It's expected more details about the victims will be released once all the relatives have been informed.

The A1 northbound near Colsterworth, where the accident happened, has been closed for most of the day, but is now fully reopen.