Non-native quagga mussels, which can block pipes, have been discovered in the East Midlands.

Two police officers are injured when a lorry collides with their car on the A1 in Lincolnshire.

The government has published a summary showing the thinking behind Lincolnshire's move into tier three coronavirus restrictions next week.

Image source, Reuters/Molly Darlington

From Wednesday, Lincolnshire will be placed into "very high alert" restrictions - the highest tier - following the end of the England-wide lockdown.

The government says while there has been an "overall improvement" in the number of coronavirus infections in Lincolnshire, "case rates remain high throughout the county".

In Lincolnshire, there are currently 307 cases of coronavirus per 100,000 people - and among the over-60s, that number is 281 cases per 100,000, according to latest figures.

In its summary, the government adds: "NHS pressures in Lincolnshire remain high and show signs of increasing, particularly for the units treating the more serious cases".

BBC Weather

This afternoon will be cold and mainly cloudy with fog lingering in places or lifting to remain as low cloud.

However, locally, some brightness is possible.

Tonight will be mostly cloudy with patchy drizzle spreading from the south.

Misty at times. A touch less cold:

Matthew Thomas killed passenger James Jennings after the car he was driving hit a tree.

It "doesn't make sense" for parts of Lincolnshire to go into tier three coronavirus restrictions when infection rates in some areas are well below the national average, the leader of the county council has said.

Image source, Reuters/Carl Recine

The whole of Lincolnshire will go into "very high alert" restrictions on 2 December following today's government announcement.

Martin Hill, leader of Lincolnshire County Council, says this could badly affect the hospitality sector and more support is needed for the county’s business in addition to furlough.

Mr Hill says: “It’s very disappointing the whole of Lincolnshire has gone into tier three as we are seeing infection rates fall, especially in those few districts that were previously causing concern – and this could have a crippling effect on our hospitality sector.

“Although our figures have been high in some districts and lower elsewhere, there’s a clear levelling off and drop in the numbers as the lockdown restrictions and the considerable efforts of our residents begin to take effect.

“While some of our districts have infection rates well below the England average, why should the whole of Lincolnshire go into tier three for the sake of higher rates in some districts? It doesn’t make sense.

Mr Hill adds that Lincolnshire will be looking to move out of tier three restrictions "as soon as possible".

Lincolnshire's move into tier three "doesn't make sense" as infection rates fall, says council boss.

With the news that Lincolnshire - including North and North East Lincolnshire - will go into tier three "very high alert" coronavirus restrictions from next week, what does this mean for people living in the county?

Here's an explanation:

Lincolnshire will be put into tier three "very high alert" coronavirus restrictions when the current England-wide lockdown ends next week, the government confirms.

More to follow...

NHS England recorded a further 12 Covid-related deaths at Lincolnshire's hospitals in figures released yesterday.

Image source, Google

According to the official data six deaths were registered at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust and five at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole, which run hospitals in Scunthorpe and Grimsby.

One death of a patient with coronavirus was also registered by the Lincolnshire Community Health Services Trust.

It takes the death toll in Lincolnshire to 489 since the start of the pandemic.

The MP for Boston and Skegness believes Lincolnshire will be placed in the top tier of coronavirus restrictions, when lockdown ends next month.

Image source, Google

Matt Warman has met with the Public Health Minister Jo Churchill who indicated that at least some of the county could enter tier three.

East Lindsey has the highest coronavirus infection rates in the East Midlands, Boston has the fourth highest.

Mr Warman says "We are right at the top of the worst league table to be at the top of and in all likelihood places at the top of those league tables are likely to go into the highest tiers".

An official announcement about which regions go into which tiers is expected to be made tomorrow.

Grimsby bounce back from a heavy defeat by Tranmere to beat Crawley with goals from Matt Green and Max Wright.

BBC Weather

It will be a dry end to the day in Lincolnshire.

Here's the latest weather forecast:

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Outsourcing firm Serco, which looks after Lincolnshire County Council’s IT and finance system, is set to cut up to 10 staff from its local team.

Image source, Google

It is understood that elements of the company’s 38-strong Lincolnshire Government Partnership team, which oversees IT infrastructure and support to users, are being outsourced to Microland, based in India.

A company spokesperson said: “Serco delivers a range of services for Lincolnshire County Council including customer services, finance, HR, payroll and IT, employing 350 people.

“We have started a consultation in process with the IT infrastructure function which is likely to have an impact on less than 10 roles, when concluded.”

The county council’s partnership with Serco is worth £70m. However, the contract, which was set to end in 2020, was beset by poor performance and difficulties in configuring software.

The authority fined Serco more than £2m for poor performance.

Despite this, in October 2018 the council voted to extend the contract for the provision of IT, payroll, HR, customer services, exchequer services and adult care finance until the end of March 2022.

The weather across the county should remain fair today, with only a very small chance of rain.

The temperature won't improve much today, so it's a coat day!

You can find out your latest forecast for today and beyond here.

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

James Vaughan scores a first-half brace as Tranmere make it three League Two wins on the bounce as they put Grimsby to the sword.

The woman, 85, died and an 87-year-old man seriously injured.

The victim of a fatal crash in North Lincolnshire earlier this week has been named by police as 22-year-old Connor Watson, from Scunthorpe.

Image source, Family Photo

Mr Watson died as a result of a crash which happened on Queensway in Scunthorpe on Sunday 15 November.

Witnesses, or anyone with dashcam footage of the incident, are being asked to get in touch with Humberside Police.

Covid-19 infection rates in Lincolnshire are expected to fall in the next few days, according to the county's health bosses - but they're warning now is not the time for complacency.

The number of people who've died in Lincolnshire's hospitals since the start of the pandemic after testing positive for coronavirus stands at 431.

Meanwhile, a total 242 patients with the virus are currently being treated in the county's hospitals, it's been confirmed.

Officials say more testing is currently being carried out in the county than at any other stage of the pandemic and they're hoping the rates will begin to level out and drop.

However, Andy Fox, a consultant on Lincolnshire's public health team, says they're still dealing with cases which began before the latest lockdown came into effect: