Latest news, weather, sport and travel from across Lincolnshire.

Fire chiefs warn about the risk of discarding cigarettes and bottles in the current dry weather.

The top stories across Lincolnshire today include:

• New ambulances will be added to fleets in our region after a £12.5m investment
• Protesters have handed over a 60,000-signature petition to Downing Street protesting the overnight closure of Grantham's A&E
• Firefighters are putting out another warning after dealing with a grass fire the size of six tennis courts in Lincoln
• A lifeguard has saved three people, including a child, who were rescued at sea in Skegness
• The roads have been gritted in Lincoln because of melting tarmac.

Updates on breaking news will continue through the weekend.

It will remain dry through tonight with some cloud at times but there will be some clear periods as well.

Rather warm.

Four crews from Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue have been at the scene of another blaze in Lincoln today.

Image source, Ruth Holland

They've been tackling a grass fire at Hartsholme Country Park.

The service is warning people to take care ahead of another dry weekend.

BBC Sport

Scunthorpe United have signed Fulham striker Steven Humphrys on a season-long loan.

Image source, BBC Sport

The 20-year-old was on loan at Rochdale in the second half of last season, making 18 appearances scoring three goals, including once against Tottenham in the FA Cup.

He could be available to face Winterton Rangers tomorrow in the Iron's first pre-season friendly.

Three people have been rescued by lifeguards in Skegness after being swept out to sea on an inflatable.

Image source, RNLI

The three, which included a child, were dragged 100 metres out to sea at 10:30 yesterday morning.

The group were shouting for help in Polish, but most of the lifeguards couldn't understand them.

Only Janusz Burda (pictured), a lifeguard who had come to work for the RNLI from Poland, understood their calls and put them at ease before towing the three back to safety on inflatables.

League One side Scunthorpe United sign Fulham striker Stephen Humphrys on a season-long loan deal.

Its just a few weeks since 103-year-old chocolate bars fetched over £3,000 at auction in Scunthorpe.

Now a lady from London has contacted the auction house that sold it to say she has even older chocolate!

Image source, Eddisons CJM Auction

So next Tuesday a 118-year-old block of chocolate that was sent by Queen Victoria, external to one of her soldiers fighting in the Boer War in South Africa is to go under the hammer.

Image source, Eddisons CJM Auction

Paul Cooper, the auctioneer at Eddisons CJM says it was part of a gift sent by Queen Victoria to cheer up her soldiers during the Boer War in 1899.

It's thought it will fetch about £200-£300.

League Two side Grimsby Town sign Luton Town defender Akin Famewo on a season-long loan deal.

You may be used to cursing under your breath at the sight of speed cameras at the side of the road, but hopefully not at these youngsters:

Students at New Leake Primary School, near Boston, have been working with police to highlight the need for safer driving.

The school is on a long straight road, where police say drivers often break the speed limit.

School kids armed with speed guns pulled over six drivers, with the help of police officers, who were exceeding the speed limit.

League Two side Lincoln City sign striker John Akinde from Barnet for an undisclosed fee.

Campaigners who want Grantham's A&E to reopen overnight have handed in a petition to Downing Street against the downgrading of the unit.

A&E services were suspended overnight in the town two years ago.

The group have the support of Labour Party members and the Conservative MP for Grantham and Stamford.

The petition attracted 60,000 signatures.

A Lincolnshire firefighter who's returned from tackling moorland blazes has described the scene as "apocalyptic".

Image source, Lancashire Fire and Rescue

Fire crews from Lincolnshire have returned home after being drafted in to help tackle wildfires near Bolton and in Greater Manchester.

The teams from Lincoln and Kirton were stood down yesterday after operations there were scaled back.

Firefighter Lee Marsh said he'd never seen anything like it.

About 20,000 ticket holders for forthcoming events will not be reimbursed, administrators say.

Two large grey cockatiels and a six-foot-tall gold cage have been stolen from a house in Louth.

Police say a large vehicle must have been involved to take the large cage.

The burglary happened on Scrub Lane on June 23.

Police officers said the birds were "much loved" family pets.

Archaeologists searching for remains of a medieval friary in Lincoln have made their first discoveries.

Archaeologists from Bishop Grosseteste University have been digging behind a house in uphill Lincoln.

The first three weeks yielded no major discoveries but they've now started uncovering pottery and animal bones at the dig.

They're thought to be remains from an important friary, which was on the site over 500 years ago.

The dig is being opened to the public to have a look tomorrow.

Its been known to conquer tourists and locals alike, but Steep Hill in Lincoln is now going to pose a challenge to some plucky fundraisers.

A dozen of them are tackling the Hill, which has a gradient of 14% and is among the steepest streets in the country, to raise money for the British Heart Foundation., external

They plan to clock up 100 miles going up and down the hill this afternoon.

Good luck to them... the temperatures are predicted to be 27C.

Temperatures show no signs of dropping, according to the latest forecast.

In Skellingthorpe, near Lincoln, the heat is already taking its toll on the tarmac and the gritters are out and about:

The Rotherham United and Grimsby Town friendly has been cancelled because South Yorkshire Police do not have enough police officers and staff for the pre-season fixture, according to Grimsby Town.

Image source, Getty Images

The match was due to be held on Friday 20 July, however Grimsby Town has said the game won't go ahead after advice from South Yorkshire Police.

South Yorkshire Police have been contacted for comment.