David McKenna
Reporter, BBC News Online

A police team set up to combat hare coursing in Lincolnshire has said its policy of seizing dogs is helping to reduce offences.

In December, there were 324 incidents of hare coursing, compared to 413 over the same period in 2016.

Since the season started in September, Lincolnshire Police has seized 49 dogs.

Ch Supt Mark Housley said: "We have heard from other forces that hare coursers tell them they will not visit Lincolnshire because we seize dogs."

Sharon Edwards
Political Reporter, BBC Radio Lincolnshire

Work on the next phase of the Grantham Southern Relief Road, external is expected to begin within months after permission was granted this morning.

Image source, Lincolnshire County Council

The county council has authorised its officers to purchase land and make legal orders.

The £81m bypass will eventually connect the A1 with the A52.

This second phase of work is due to begin in late spring and the third section after that.

Harry Parkhill
BBC Local Live, Lincolnshire

Work on the Boston flood barrier will begin next week.

Image source, Boston Borough Council

The £100m project - which will protect 14,000 homes from tidal flooding - was given the go ahead just before Christmas.

On Monday 8 January work will start on the tidal barrier - it will feature a movable gate across the River Witham, a new control building to operate the barrier, flood defence walls and a replacement fate across the entrance to the Port of Boston wet dock.

The barrier is expected to make Boston one of the best-protected areas from flooding outside London.

A group of students in Lincoln have set up their own business in a bid to combat the amount of food being wasted by households.

Did you know that the average UK family with children throws away about £60 worth of food every month?

That's about £700 worth of food going in the bin every year, according to the government's Waste and Resources Action Programme.

Now, students from Bishop Grosseteste University say their new business will sell out-of-date food and turn wonky vegetables into soup and ready meals.

BBC Weather

It'll still be rather windy in Lincolnshire as we head into the afternoon.

It'll also be cloudy, with the odd sunny spell:

Lizzie Musham
BBC Local Live, Lincolnshire

The top stories this afternoon from our Lincolnshire newsroom include:

• More than 40 people in Lincolnshire have been charged with drink-driving over the festive period, police figures reveal
• The number of incidents of hare coursing in Lincolnshire has gone down, new figures show.
• Two men burgling a post office in a Lincolnshire village early this morning flee the scene after being interrupted by a man who lives above the premises

Two men burgling a post office in a Lincolnshire village early this morning fled the scene after being interrupted by a man who lived above the premises.

Image source, Google

The man was alerted by the alarm sounding in the Mace post office and shop in Pinchbeck at about 05:00.

He found a man standing by the cigarettes. A window had been smashed and another man was also there.

The burglars fled the scene taking cigarettes with them.

Within two hours a 24-year-old man had been arrested, while a second suspect has been identified and is currently being sought by police.

Anyone with any information is being asked to contact the Lincolnshire force.

BBC News Travel

The train service between Barton-on-Humber to Cleethorpes will re-start at about 12:55, according to National Rail.

It had been closed following a tree falling onto the line due to high winds earlier today:

BBC News Travel

Moor Lane in Martin is currently closed in both directions due to an accident near Granary Caravan Storage.

Drivers are being warned to avoid the area if possible.

Simon Clark
BBC Radio Humberside Sport

Lincolnshire racing driver Jack Harvey is all set to compete in at least six Indycar races over the coming year.

Harvey, from Bassingham, has raised more than £3.5m from commercial sponsors to compete in the events, which are the American equivalent of Formula One.

BBC News Travel

A replacement bus service is currently running instead of Northern train services between Barton-on-Humber and Cleethorpes after a tree fell on the line due to high winds.

Lucy Parry
BBC Local Live, Lincolnshire

The number of incidents of hare coursing in Lincolnshire has gone down, new figures show.

Image source, Lincolnshire Police

In the four months from September to December 2017, there were 1,014 cases of hare coursing compared to 1,216 in the same period last year.

Lincolnshire Police's Deputy Chief Constable Craig Naylor says this is "positive progress" and pledges the force will continue to work to enforce the law.

Ch Supt Mark Housley says officers have seized 49 dogs this season and believes it is a good deterrent to hare coursers.

Hope Bolger
BBC Local Live, Lincolnshire

Storm Eleanor is definitely making for a chilly day.

But this picture might just warm your heart...

Hope Bolger
BBC Local Live, Lincolnshire

There will be some disruption around Roman Bank in Skegness from today.

For the next four weeks, Cadent will be replacing a section of gas pipe in the town.

It's had a history of leaks and the gas network firm says the work is necessary to make the network safer and more reliable.

BBC News Travel

The A15 is partially blocked and there's very slow traffic on the A15 in both directions between B1205 Waddingham and A631 Caenby Corner.

It's because a lorry has come off the road and is lying in a field.

Recovery is expected to take some time.

Alex Rhodes
BBC Local Live, Lincolnshire

Just over 40 people in Lincolnshire have been charged with drink-driving over the festive period.

Image source, Thinkstock

Lincolnshire Police took the step of naming them on social media.

From 18 December until New Year's Day, 43 people were charged with drink-driving in the county.

A total of 40 of those charged were men - the oldest was 67 and the youngest 18 - and they are all due to appear before magistrates later this month.

Overall, the number of people charged in 2017 fell to 624 from 720 in 2016.

Owain Wyn Evans
Weather presenter, BBC Look North

A very windy day with some local heavy showers.

Some sunny spells breaking through later on today.

Here's my full forecast:

Hope Bolger
BBC Local Live, Lincolnshire

Good morning. Hope here, ready to bring you the latest news, sport, weather and travel updates from across the county.

What's happening near you today? I'd love to hear from you.

Get in touch by sending an email or a message on Facebook , externalor Twitter, external.

Fleetwood sign striker Paddy Madden on a two-and-half-year deal from Scunthorpe United for a "six-figure sum".

Hope Bolger
BBC Local Live, Lincolnshire

Well that's it from me today. I'll be back tomorrow with more news, sport, weather and travel from across the county as it happens.

Updates on breaking news, travel and more will continue overnight.

For now though, I'll leave you with five things we've learned today:

• Hare coursers must face tougher sentences, according to Lincolnshire Police
• A public consultation on signage in Sleaford begins today after a review found existing signs could be more clear and consistent
• Rail passengers across East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire will see an increase in rail fares from today
• There are plans to create an artificial island in the middle of the North Sea for use by the offshore wind industry
• Members of a Scunthorpe choir formed entirely of women who have had, or are having, treatment for cancer say it's helped them achieve things they never thought were possible