The whole of Lincolnshire is to remain in tier three - very high alert - coronavirus restrictions, the government has confirmed.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has announced the outcome of the latest review of the three-tier system, after government officials met on Wednesday.

He said the UK has "come so far" and "mustn't blow it now".

NHS bosses had earlier warned against easing restrictions "prematurely".

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It will be a dry day in Lincolnshire.

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The explosion on Sunday morning blew the house apart but the male occupant received minor injuries

The body of 12-year-old Roberts Buncis was found in the Fishtoft area of Boston on Saturday.

Three people were left seriously injured following a collision in North Lincolnshire yesterday, police say.

The crash happened on Risby Road in Appleby at about 16:30 on Tuesday and involved a red Ford Focus and a white Volkswagen Golf.

The two drivers and the passenger in the Ford Focus all suffered serious injuries, with the passenger thought to be in a potentially life-threatening condition, officers say.

Anyone who saw what happened, or who has dash camera footage from the scene, is being asked to contact Humberside Police.

BBC Weather

It will be a mainly dry night in Lincolnshire.

Here's the latest forecast:

Communities across Lincolnshire will join together this evening to sing Christmas carols on their doorsteps.

The idea has been championed by BBC Local Radio as a replacement for the lack of traditional carol services this year due to coronavirus restrictions.

Carols on the Doorstep was born in Shrewsbury by local magazine editor Katy Rink, who says she applied "a bit of 'clap for carers' thinking" to the idea of carol services.

The plan is for people to tune their radios to BBC Radio Lincolnshire at 18:00 tonight and sing along to the carols with the rest of their neighbourhood.

The Reverend Ann Lett, from The Boston Methodist Circuit, says she's enlisted nine vicars and their congregations to take part.

In Osbournby, Tracey Richardson, who's got the whole village to take part, says: "It's going to be a different Christmas this year."

She adds that this kind of community venture is "what Christmas is all about".

BBC Radio Lincolnshire's Alex Rhodes has been out with Tracey in Osbournby to hear about final preparations for Carols on the Doorstep:

Greg Halford scores on his debut as Southend secure back-to-back wins for the first time since October 2018 with victory against 10-man Grimsby.

A fundraiser set up in aid of 12-year-old Roberts Buncis' family raises more than £20,000.

The number of people in Lincolnshire claiming Universal Credit has doubled since last year, according to latest figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

Image source, Philip Toscano/PA Wire

The ON statistics show, external that 12,245 people in Lincolnshire were claiming the benefit in November last year, but that number has risen to 24,470 this year.

That's an increase equivalent to the entire population of Mablethorpe going on Universal Credit.

The numbers of claimants doubled in both men and women at almost the same rate in Lincolnshire.

There was a 4% increase in the number of men in Boston claiming compared to last year, the highest increase in the county, the ONS figures show.

Three men have been arrested on suspicion of sexually exploiting children in Scunthorpe, police say.

A 31-year-old man from Scunthorpe, a 38-year-old man from Wrawby and a 49-year-old man from Hull were arrested today and remain in custody, according to Humberside Police.

The arrests are the latest phase of a joint operation between Humberside Police and North Lincolnshire Council to target those believed to be exploiting vulnerable young people, the force says.

Det Sgt John Shepherd, from Humberside Police, said: “Our biggest priority is protecting young people and by working with our partners in this way, we can ensure they are given the care, support and guidance they need and that they are removed from dangerous situations."

Health bosses say cases at HMP Lincoln have "bumped up" the city's high virus rates.

Humberside Police say the arrests are part of a joint operation with North Lincolnshire Council.

Children across the country can count their blessings this Christmas after Brussels sprouts growers in Lincolnshire said "ideal weather conditions" during 2020 meant they would be tastier this year.

TH CLements, at Benington near Boston, is expecting to harvest 2,500 tonnes of the festive favourites in the run-up to Christmas.

Chris Gedney, one of the farmers, says it'll be a "bumper year" after "absolutely ideal growing conditions" earlier.

The brassicas have been "yielding well, quality is really good and the flavour is fantastic", Mr Gedney adds.

Farmers say they're already planning next year's crop, and workers are picking them 12 hours a day at this time of the year:

John Fenty has resigned after reports emerged of his business links to convicted fraudster Alex May.

Health officials say it's unlikely Lincolnshire will be moved into a lower tier of Covid restrictions, because of "serious difficulties" with virus numbers in parts of Lincolnshire.

Image source, Danny Lawson/PA Wire

The government says it will look at areas' tiers tomorrow and consider changing them if it is safe to do so.

Lincolnshire is in tier three - very high alert - level.

Several Lincolnshire MPs say they've had written reassurances from the government that the county's restrictions will be "looked at".

Assistant director of public health for Lincolnshire,Tony McGinty, says it's unlikely Lincolnshire will change tiers.

He says "our numbers, at a headline level, haven't settled in the way we would have wanted to."

It's a dry but cold day in Lincolnshire today with temperatures remaining low.

You can find your local forecast here.

Roberts Buncis, 12, was found dead in Lincolnshire on Saturday, two days before his birthday.

A fire at a restaurant in North Lincolnshire last week is being treated as an arson attack, police have confirmed.

Image source, Humberside Fire and Rescue Service

Emergency services were called to the scene of the fire at The Curry Leaf on High Street in Epworth at about 01:00 on Tuesday 8 December.

The building was well alight and residents nearby had to leave their properties.

No-one was injured as a result of the fire, but extensive damage was caused to the restaurant and a flat above, according to Humberside Police.

The blaze is thought to have been started deliberately and is being treated as arson, the force adds.

A police spokesman said: "We are investigating the circumstances which led to this fire. As part of this investigation, we are appealing for witnesses to the incident itself to contact us."

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