Animal rights campaigners and a farmer have each blamed one another for the death of piglets at a Lincolnshire farm.

Image source, MEAT THE VICTIMS

Protesters broke into Sandilands Pig Farm in Laughterton, near Lincoln this weekend to stage a protest over the treatment of animals.

They said conditions were so cramped that piglets were crushed to death while they were there.

But farmers say the presence of the group of 100 activists caused stress to the animals which led to a pig accidentally crushing its young.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Health campaigners have called for the future plans for Lincolnshire's health services to be published as soon as possible to end uncertainty for staff and the public.

It comes after it was suggested that Grantham's A&E would be downgraded to an urgent care centre and other services would be changed.

South Kesteven District Councillor Charmagne Morgan said, at a council meeting, that she had heard about leaked plans for changes at the hospital.

Other changes she said were touted were that orthopaedic services would go, that patient resuscitation and stabilisation were to cease, and that cardiology in-patients are to be diverted to Lincoln.

Campaigners say the planned changes are "completely unacceptable".

The MP for Louth and Horncastle says the government is taking knife crime seriously, after two more teenagers were stabbed to death this weekend.

Image source, Getty Images

Victoria Atkins, who is also the crime minister, says the government is trying to intervene sooner to stop young people carrying knives.

The former head of the Metropolitan Police Lord Hogan Howe has warned Britain is in the "dark ages" when it comes to tackling the problem.

Lincolnshire's highways department has paid out £608,597 in pothole claims in the last five years, it's emerged.

Image source, Getty Images

Figures discovered by Cycling UK show that £240,199 of the compensation was paid out to just 24 cyclists.

The rest of the £368,397 was paid out to 2,021 drivers who claimed compensation because of issues relating to potholes.

Lincolnshire County Council encourages people to report potholes regularly on its website, external.

A man's been arrested in Lincoln after another man was attacked with a metal pole earlier.

Image source, Google

The assault happened at about 09:30 this morning in the Cornhill.

Police say no-one was seriously injured.

About 9,000 trees have been given to community groups across Lincolnshire to help improve tree cover in the county.

The UK has one of the lowest rates of woodland in Europe.

The Woodland Trust, which provided the trees, is funding the planting of 1m trees this season.

This morning, members of a community group in Cherry Willingham, near Lincoln, have been planting 500 trees (pictured).

Millions of pounds are to be invested in leisure facilities in South Kesteven.

Image source, South Kesteven District Council

Two new leisure centres are being built in Stamford and Market Deeping and Bourne's centre is being updated.

Meanwhile, Grantham is to get a new swimming pool and gym in the town centre as part of wider improvements.

South Kesteven District Council says it was going to have to spend large sums over the next few years to maintain existing facilities if it didn't opt for new buildings.

Bourne's Leisure Centre could cost £5m, according to the council, but an exact figure for how much the entire investment will cost hasn't been revealed.

The government says it's giving £110m worth of investment to towns in the East Midlands after the UK leaves the European Union.

£1.6bn is being invested across the country to help develop local economies and create jobs.

Lincolnshire towns are among those expected to receive cash.

The MP for Boston and Skegness has said that he's "made a strong case" for both towns in his constituency to gain investment.

Critics are accusing ministers of using the money to try to "bribe" MPs into supporting Theresa May's Brexit plan when it comes before the Commons next week.

Three lambs and a pedigree sheep were stolen from a Lincolnshire farm and slaughtered over the weekend.

Staff at Hall Farm in Messingham, North Lincolnshire, found the remains of the prize animals on their grounds at the weekend.

Those killed include an endangered Lincoln Longwool Sheep.

It's suspected that the animals were slaughtered to supply the illegal meat market.

Police have been informed, and are asking anyone with information to get in touch.

Organisers trying to preserve first-hand accounts of World War Two says "time is running out."

Image source, IBCC

The International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive, external, on Canwick Hill near Lincoln, has spent years collecting personal histories from those who served in Bomber Command during World War Two.

It says it needs £20,000 , externalto finish the job and record stories from other surviving members of Bomber Command, as well as digitising documents and photos, and identifying memorabilia.

A woman whose husband was killed by a driver using a phone has spoken about the impact the crash has had on her family.

David Kirk, 26, was killed in a crash when Samantha Ayres, who was jailed for three years, veered on to the wrong side of the road in 2016.

Katie Kirk says no call or message is so important that it should be made or answered at the wheel.

The number of people convicted of using phones while driving has dropped by two thirds since 2011 and the number of traffic officers by one third since in 10 years.

See more on Katie's story on BBC One Yorkshire and Lincolnshire Inside Out on tonight at 19.30 and on the iPlayer after broadcast.

Breaking news, sport, travel and weather updates from across Lincolnshire.

Any lingering rain or strong winds will quickly clear.

This will leave it largely dry with sunny spells for much of the day but there will be a risk of sharp showers later on.

Brisk westerly winds.