Tree campaigners are calling for more protection for urban woodlands after several trees were cut down in Lincoln.

Image source, Google

The University of Lincoln says it has felled some trees on the Brayford (pictured) because they're "structurally weak and of poor quality".

The Woodland Trust says local authorities need to be more proactive at protecting trees and wildlife in the area.

The trust's also calling for more consistency in how authorities record what trees are being chopped down - and why.

The university says it is preparing to plant 11 new healthy trees to replace the ones cut down.

New data shows that there have been 84 offences of sexual communication with a child recorded in Lincolnshire in the last year.

Image source, KERKEZ/GETTY IMAGES

New legislation around the sexual grooming of children was brought in last April.

Nationally,more than 3,000 cases have been recorded, 84 of which were in Lincolnshire.

Police say that 70% of cases included the use of social media sites Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat.

In separate research, the NSPCC says the equivalent of one child in every class room in the East Midlands has received sexual images online from an adult.

Lincoln Business Improvement Group has said it is looking forward to welcoming back the Asylum Steampunk Festival next year.

Around 100,000 people came to Lincoln over the past week to see the imaginative costumes, with some from overseas.

But organisers have said they're becoming a victim of their own success because it has grown too large for them to cover the costs of stewarding the event.

Now Lincoln BIG has said it is in discussions about its future.

Two people have been injured in a crash on the A15 in Spridlington, near Market Rasen.

Image source, Google

Two cars crashed on the stretch of road between the Ingham and Spridlington turns earlier this morning.

The road is currently closed southbound and police are at the scene.

More than 150,000 people are expected at the Burghley Horse Trials which are due to start today.

The annual event near Stamford attracts the world's top riders.

Organisers say the hot dry weather has made it more difficult to get the course ready this year.

People living in south Lincolnshire could soon be armed with their own hand-held speed cameras.

Image source, PA

A training session is being held at the Castle Sports Complex in Spalding later as part of the Speedwatch scheme.

The idea is to train small groups of volunteers so they can carry out their own roadside checks in 20mph, 30mph and 40mph areas.

Abbie Dewhurst
Weather Presenter, BBC Look North

A chilly start but then mainly dry with a lot of sunshine and a few patches of cloud.

Watch my full forecast here:

A disabled girl is to get a new wheelchair after hers was stolen while she was on a ride at a family amusement park in Skegness.

Image source, Family Photo

Twelve-year-old Amy-Louise Lowe's wheelchair was left at the entrance to a ride at Fantasy Island last Wednesday.

When Amy and her sister returned after going on the ride, the wheelchair had gone.

A spokesperson for Fantasy Island says a brand new wheelchair will be bought for Amy-Louise which will be tailored to her requirements.

"We have provided Amy-Louise and her sister Mel with complimentary wristbands to enjoy all of Fantasy Island's rides and attractions in hope of keeping their spirits high over the course of their holiday," they add.

The top stories from Lincolnshire so far today include:

• Nearly 10,000 teenage children across Lincolnshire and the East Midlands may have self-harmed in just one year.
• The trust which runs Lincolnshire's hospitals is missing its target for urgent breast cancer referrals by 70%.
• A woman in her 80s has been airlifted to hospital after a crash on the A17 at Swineshead near Boston.
• This year's Taste of Lincolnshire event next month has been cancelled.
• Lincoln Drill Hall is letting audiences pay whatever they want.

Updates on breaking news and travel will continue here through the night.

Humberside Police have released safety advice after a broken down car was struck by a car transporter yesterday on the A180 in North Lincolnshire.

Image source, Humberside Police

The car was completely destroyed and pushed up the roadside embankment (pictured) but no one was seriously injured.

The key advice is:

• If you can, drive to the next exit and leave the motorway
• Only in an emergency should you pull onto the hard shoulder, making sure you are as far left as possible
• Switch on your hazard lights
• Get out of your car from the passenger side
• Walk up the verge away from the car immediately - don't attempt any repairs yourself

• If possible use an emergency phone on the motorway as this is a free phone that connects the Highways Agency. If you do use your mobile phone make sure you know exactly where you are

You can read the full advice here, external.

A man from Lincolnshire has completed a row between the USA and Hawaii.

Image source, Ellen Hoke

Mick Dawson, who is from Boston, completed the journey alongside former Royal Marine Steve Sparkes, who is blind.

The pair began their journey in California in June and finished in Hawaii.

The row took them almost 90 days.

Prefabricated housing has to be the answer to Britain's housing crisis, according to one Lincolnshire developer.

So-called modular housing (pictured), which is made in factories and assembled on site, can cut the time it takes to build new estates.

Karl Hick, chief executive at Larkfleet Homes in Bourne, has built a prototype to demonstrate what they might look like.

Karl says the costs are still too high though and he's calling on the industry to build more to drive down costs.

Local council services won't return to pre-austerity levels for at least 30 years, according to one authority leader.

However, Gary Porter, Conservative leader for South Holland District Council and Chair of the Local Government Association says financial cuts have been good for some councils, because some were doing too much.

His authority has seen a 45% cut in funding from government over the past seven years.

Lincoln Drill Hall is letting audiences pay whatever they want when they see some performances this autumn.

From September 19 you'll book tickets for free and then pay what you think the show is worth after it's finished.

Bosses hope it will encourage people to go to performances they wouldn't normally see.

This year's Taste of Lincolnshire event, which was due to take place next month, has been cancelled.

Image source, Google

Organisers say the food event which is held at the Lincolnshire Showground has been called off "due to unforeseen circumstances", and that all ticket holders and those who had booked pitches will be refunded.

They hope to stage the event again next year.

A woman in her 80s has been airlifted to hospital after a crash on the A17 at Swineshead near Boston.

Image source, PA

Police say it happened just after 12:15pm and involved a van and a car.

Three other people sustained minor injuries.

The road is currently closed.

A multi-million pound plan to transform a North East Lincolnshire street is expected to be approved today.

Final plans to regenerate Sea View Street in Cleethorpes have been revealed.

If approved, on-street parking will be cut by two thirds and a new plaza area will be built.

The regeneration works are expected to begin in July 2019.

Motorists are being warned that the A17 is currently closed at Swineshead near Boston.

It's because of a collision and people will need to find alternative routes, police say.

Nearly 10,000 teenage children across Lincolnshire and the East Midlands may have self-harmed in just one year, according to the Children's Society.

Image source, Getty Images

A new report looking specifically at 14-year-olds found more than 5,500 girls and over 2,000 boys in the region had self-harmed.

The Children's Society has described it as a "crisis" and says early support for vulnerable children and their families is vital, but says councils don't have the funding to offer it.

If you were thinking about breaking out the jumpers and jackets now the heatwave has gone, maybe think again: