The daughter of a Spalding woman who died in a house fire which was started by an illegal cigarette is warning others of the dangers

Image source, Julie Grant/Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service

June Buffham, 71, died in April 2012 after falling asleep in her chair (pictured) while smoking a Jin Ling cigarette.

Her body was so badly burned she had to be identified through dental records.

Her daughter, Julie Grant, now 57, of Swineshead, near Boston, now campaigns against illegal tobacco and tobacco products - many of which continue to burn when left unattended.

Ms Grant said: "The fire risks are real. I find that side of things very worrying because I've been in that situation.

"My dad never forgave himself. No one ever blamed him. He just thought he was saving a little bit of money."

She added that people considering using illegal tobacco products should also "think of your health".

"They have been found to contain rat droppings, sweepings off the floor. They're full of absolute rubbish," she said.

Research by the Tobacco Manufacturers' Association, external suggests 41% of smokers in the UK purchase illegal tobacco products on a regular basis.

A woman has been jailed for five years after she admitted having a sexual relationship with her stepson.

Lincoln Crown Court heard the boy's father uncovered the relationship after hiding a recording device in their home.

He'd become suspicious when he found his partner and son in bed together a month after his 16th birthday.

Police started an investigation in 2013, but it was not pursued after the boy said he was 16 when the relationship began.

The court heard that while the age of consent is normally 16, when it applies to stepmothers the relevant age is 18.

The victim finally came forward and was interviewed by police when he was aged 20.

Now 38, the woman pleaded guilty to three charges of sexual activity with a family member.

Passing sentence, Judge Julie Warburton told the woman it was an "appalling catalogue of events".

The woman has also been placed on the sex offenders' register for life.

A convicted robber from Boston has had his jail sentence increased by almost two years after it was found to be unduly lenient.

Image source, Lincolnshire Police

Michael Holland, 31, was originally sentenced in January at Lincoln Crown Court to two years in jail.

On 30 November last year, Holland threatened a pub bartender in Boston with a large kitchen knife and told him to empty the till after he ran out of money following an afternoon drinking and gambling at an amusement arcade in the town.

He left with almost £500 cash, went back to the amusement arcade and gambled away the proceeds of the robbery.

Then, in the early hours of the next morning, Holland entered a petrol station with a meat cleaver and told the cashier to hand over cash and other goods, leaving with almost £3,500 worth of goods.

Following a referral to the Court of Appeal by the Solicitor General, Holland's sentence has been found to be unduly lenient and increased to three years and nine months.

After the appeal hearing, Solicitor General Michael Ellis QC said: “Holland’s reckless and dangerous behaviour demonstrated a complete disregard for the law.

"His sentence has rightly been increased today at the Court of Appeal.

Four teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated assault after a number of incidents in Gainsborough.

Lincolnshire Police said it deployed a helicopter, armed officers and a dog unit to the town, on Tuesday night.

It came after reports of a firearm and machete being seen, the force said.

The suspects, aged 15, 16, 16 and 18, are also being questioned in connection with a reported sexual assault and on suspicion of a firearms offence.

One person was taken to hospital with an injury to her face, the force said.

A police spokesperson said: "The incidents involved a number of local teenagers at various locations including the skate park, Heapham Road, Tennyson Street, Tower Street, Carlisle Street and North Street."

Those arrested remain in custody and officers have appealed for anyone with information to get in touch.

A pet owner from Lincolnshire has been left "devastated" after two of her cats were poisoned and later died.

Image source, Eve Johnston

Sherlock and Watson (above), owned by Eve Johnston, from Thimbleby, died within 12 hours of each other, while her third cat, Pixie, later returned home with a part-shaved tail (below).

Image source, Eve Johnston

Ms Johnston says she became suspicious after the two cats collapsed.

"It became obvious they had been poisoned. They were two healthy cats who died within 12 hours of each other," she said.

"We'd had Sherlock and Watson since they were kittens. They were my 30th birthday present from my partner and they were part of the family. I was absolutely devastated."

Ms Johnston has reported the incidents to Lincolnshire Police, whose officers have advised pet owners to be vigilant and have asked others to be mindful when using poison as vermin control.

A dog which was due to be put down after biting a Lincolnshire postman has won a reprieve after its owner challenged the order.

Magistrates in Boston had ordered the destruction eight-year-old Alsatian Pru after she bit David Reeson, a postman of 20 years.

But a judge agreed to spare Pru after Lorraine Nassau appeared at Lincoln Crown Court.

Mrs Nassau, 55, of Sea End Road, Benington near Boston, had admitted being the owner of a dangerous dog when she appeared before Magistrates in December.

She insisted Pru is a "very loving dog" who was doing her job by protecting the family who rescued her two years ago.

Recorder William Harbage QC suspended the order that Pru should be put down and imposed a series of conditions including that Pru must be on a lead at all times in public, and that both Pru and Mrs Nassau must undertake training.

Over 200 people have now been arrested as part of a campaign in Lincolnshire to clamp down on weapons such as guns and knives.

Image source, Lincolnshire Police

Over 150 weapons have also been seized since the launch of Operation Raptor, according to Lincolnshire Police.

This includes knives and firearms, with dozens more also being handed in at police stations by the public, the force says.

As part of the operation, a machete was recovered in Grantham, while three people - a woman aged 29, and two men, aged 21 and 32 – were arrested on suspicion of supplying Class A drugs.

They have all since been released on bail, police say.

Operation Raptor has been extended to all of Lincolnshire following success in the west of the county, the force says.

Some are part time, some have changed jobs, while others have moved to be near fire stations.

These are the lengths new firefighting recruits are going to in an effort to serve communities across East Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire.

It comes as unions have criticised the government for failing to fund more full-time staff.

But if you're a retained, or "on-call", firefighter, just what are the challenges?

We've met two people who've just gone through one of the toughest job training courses:

Almost £60,000 has been spent on helping to make Grimsby Town Hall more energy efficient.

Image source, David Wright

All of the fluorescent lighting in the building and archives department has been replaced with new LED lights.

It's part of North East Lincolnshire council's 'Smart Energy, Greater Lincolnshire' project to help public buildings and businesses reduce their energy bills and carbon emissions.

It's hoped the measures will reduce the buildings carbon emissions by 20 tonnes a year.

A man arrested on suspicion of manslaughter over the death of Argentinian footballer Emiliano Sala will no face no further action.

Image source, GETTY IMAGES/DAVID IBBOTSON

The striker (pictured left), who had signed with Cardiff City, was killed in plane crash along with pilot David Ibbotson (pictured right), from Crowle, in North Lincolnshire.

In June, Dorset Police arrested a 64-year-old man from North Yorkshire.

On Wednesday the force said it would "not be seeking a formal charging decision by the CPS in relation to homicide offences".

Mr Sala, 28, had been travelling from Nantes to Cardiff on 21 January 2019 when the plane he was in lost contact with air traffic control north of Guernsey.

His body was recovered in February but Mr Ibbotson's has not been found.

Lisa Gallagher
Weather presenter, BBC Look North

After a cooler start to the day we should see plenty of sunshine around this morning.

But, by early afternoon the clouds and showers will return from the west.

Temperatures will be up to about 14C in places:

Motorists will face four months of disruption at the start of next year while Pelham Bridge in Lincoln is repaired.

Image source, Google

The plans, which are set to cost £770,000, were approved at a Lincolnshire County Council highways meeting.

The bridge has not been re-proofed since it was opened by the Queen more than 60 years ago and water has been entering and damaging the structure for a while.

A number of expansion joints are also in need of replacement.

The bridge will not be completely closed while works are taking place, but lanes will be closed at various points causing congestion.