Ladbrokes and Gala Coral are the UK's second and third largest retail bookmakers, behind William Hill.
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
Ladbrokes has about 2,150 outlets in Britain and 77 in Northern Ireland. Coral runs 1,850 shops in Britain.
A merger between Ladbrokes and Gala Coral would make it the UK's largest bookmaker.
Lincolnshire's PCC gives backing to plans to combine emergency services
Carla George
BBC Local Live, Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire's Police and Crime Commissioner has today given his backing for emergency services in Lincolnshire to work more closely together.
Lincolnshire policeCopyright: Lincolnshire police
Marc Jones says he supports plans which include a joint Police and Fire headquarters at South Park in Lincoln and a combined control centre at Nettleham.
BHS stores in Lincoln to close next month
Carla George
BBC Local Live, Lincolnshire
Closure dates have been confirmed for Lincoln's two BHS branches, which employ around 100 people.
GoogleCopyright: Google
A spokesman for the firm says the St Marks retail park shop will close on Wednesday 3 August, with the High Street shop shutting on Saturday 6 August.
Here are the latest headlines in Lincolnshire this afternoon
Paul Russell
BBC Radio Lincolnshire
Here's the top stories from the newsroom:
For the first time ever - Lincolnshire's Red Arrows will perform in China.
A leading Labour politician in Lincolnshire says he 'thinks' he will continue to support Jeremy Corbyn as party leader.
Grimsby Town says efforts to work with police to control disorder at last weekend's game "failed miserably".
Former Red Arrows pilot says Asia tour will be 'extremely significant'
Carla George
BBC Local Live, Lincolnshire
A former Red Arrows pilot has told BBC Radio Lincolnshire today's announcement that the team will display in Asia is 'extremely significant'.
Justin Hughes says the Reds have never been as far afield as China and the commercial impact of the visit could be huge.
BBCCopyright: BBC
He said: "The end goal will be China but going that far will generate opportunities to visit other countries where the UK has significant interest to promote the British brand."
Today's announcement was made by Defence Secretary Michael Fallon.
More Lincolnshire athletes selected for Rio
Rob Makepeace
BBC Radio Lincolnshire sport
Lincolnshire will have six athletes at the Paralympic Games in Rio.
It's after two more athletes were called up to be part of Paralympics GB today.
BBCCopyright: BBC
Sleaford's Kieran Tscherniawsky (pictured) will compete in the F33 shot put and Grantham's Sam Ruddock will be in the F31 shot put.
Unsettled weather to come with rain expected this evening.
Highs of 22 degrees.
Overnight clouds will thicken with patchy rain turning heavy towards dawn.
Magna Carta yet to return to Lincoln Castle
Carla George
BBC Local Live, Lincolnshire
Visitors to Lincoln Castle are still unable to get a glimpse of the Magna Carta as work continues to fix humidity problems in its vault.
The historic document had to be moved earlier this month because of rising humidity levels caused by a small leak.
BBCCopyright: BBC
Ron Frayne, collections manager for Lincolnshire County Council, told BBC Radio Lincolnshire work was almost complete.
He added: "I'd like to thank all our visitors for their continued patience. Magna Carta and Charter of the Forest are precious not only to us, but to the very heritage of our country which is why we took the precautionary measure of moving them to an alternative controlled environment."
Man jailed after stealing neighbour's jewellery
Carla George
BBC Local Live, Lincolnshire
A Lincolnshire man has been jailed after stealing jewellery from his neighbour in Skegness.
Lincoln Court heard how Anthony Robertson stole jewellery and other sentimental items that had belonged to the victim's deceased mother.
Prosecuting, Phil Howes, said the 25-year-old was known to the victim and had previously raided her property in 2008.
BBCCopyright: BBC
He told how the victim had been left 'devastated' by the latest burglary and was scared to be at home on her own.
Judge John Pini QC, passing sentence, told him "You deliberately targeted these premises.
"Your next door neighbour bar one had been kind to you some years previously when you were at a low point in your life.
You knew your neighbours and they knew you. They had previously tried to help you. I don't know if you appreciate the sheer misery you have caused by your criminal activities."
He was jailed for 16 months.
Here are the latest headlines from Lincolnshire
Corazon Garcia
BBC Radio Lincolnshire
Here's the top stories from the newsroom:
200 children at 5 schools in Lincoln have been given food vouchers for free meals during the holidays.
The main entrance to Lincoln County Hospital was closed last night following reports of a person with a firearm.
A leading Labour politician in Lincolnshire says he 'thinks' he will continue to support Jeremy Corbyn as party leader.
Chief constable of Lincolnshire police has his say on Twyford ravers
The man in charge of Lincolnshire police has taken to social media to express his thoughts on the sentences handed out to the Twyford ravers.
Police are appealing for witnesses after a man suffered serious head injuries in an assault in a pub car park.
It's believed the 32-year-old man was involved in a fight with a number of people at Queensway public house on Ashby Road in Scunthorpe at around 12.30am on Sunday 24 July.
BBCCopyright: BBC
The victim was taken to Hull Royal Infirmary where he remains in a stable condition.
Officers are keen to locate anyone who witnessed the incident and have released CCTV stills of three people who were walking by at the time of the altercation.
Traffic and travel: There's a bit of congestion across the county this lunchtime
BBC Travel
Watch out for some of the hot spots this lunch time....
BBCCopyright: BBC
Police called after man 'claimed' to have gun at Lincoln hospital
Carla George
BBC Local Live, Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire police have confirmed they were called to deal with a man pretending to have a firearm on him at Lincoln County Hospital.
Officers were called to the Peter Hodgkinson Centre at around 7.30pm last night after a 26-year-old man was refused access claiming to have a firearm.
BBCCopyright: BBC
The man wasn't armed but arrested and held overnight.
Hospital staff say they closed the main entrance doors as a matter of precaution.
The man has been released from police custody this morning.
BreakingReds to promote prosperity with major Asia tour
Carla George
BBC Local Live, Lincolnshire
It's been announced that the Red Arrows will perform displays for the first time ever in China to build allies across the globe.
The RAF's display team will also perform in India, Malaysia and Singapore.
BBCCopyright: BBC
Defence secretary Michael Fallon said: "Our RAF Red Arrows and Typhoons represent the best of British. The Red Arrows will fly the flag for Britain in key export markets while our RAF Typhoons will exercise with our allies."
Live Reporting
Carla George
All times stated are UK
Get involved
- For the first time ever - Lincolnshire's Red Arrows will perform in China.
- Officers say they dealt with a man who pretended to have a firearm on him at Lincoln County Hospital.
- There's support for families in Lincolnshire who can't afford to feed their children during the school holidays.
- Closure dates have been confirmed for Lincoln's two BHS branches, which employ around 100 people.
- Lincolnshire's Police and Crime Commissioner has today given his backing for emergency services in Lincolnshire to work more closely together.
View more on twitterView more on twitter BBCCopyright: BBC ReutersCopyright: Reuters Lincolnshire policeCopyright: Lincolnshire police GoogleCopyright: Google - For the first time ever - Lincolnshire's Red Arrows will perform in China.
- A leading Labour politician in Lincolnshire says he 'thinks' he will continue to support Jeremy Corbyn as party leader.
- Grimsby Town says efforts to work with police to control disorder at last weekend's game "failed miserably".
BBCCopyright: BBC BBCCopyright: BBC BBCCopyright: BBC BBCCopyright: BBC BBCCopyright: BBC - 200 children at 5 schools in Lincoln have been given food vouchers for free meals during the holidays.
- The main entrance to Lincoln County Hospital was closed last night following reports of a person with a firearm.
- A leading Labour politician in Lincolnshire says he 'thinks' he will continue to support Jeremy Corbyn as party leader.
View more on twitterView more on twitter BBCCopyright: BBC BBCCopyright: BBC BBCCopyright: BBC BBCCopyright: BBC
Latest PostOur live coverage across the day
Carla George
BBC Local Live, Lincolnshire
Local Live has finished for today. We're back from 08:00 tomorrow with more news from around the area.
In the meantime here's five things we've learnt today
WATCH: Here's Peter with tonight's headlines
BBC Look North
East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire
Dramatic sky over Bourne
Carla George
BBC Local Live, Lincolnshire
Thanks BBC weather watchers for the brilliant pictures today.
Here's one of my favourites
Could your local betting shop be sold?
The answer is maybe.
Bookmakers Ladbrokes and Gala Coral must sell about 350-400 shops in order for their £2.3bn merger to be cleared, the competition regulator has said.
The Competition and Markets Authority identified 642 local areas where it said the merger would hit competition.
Ladbrokes and Gala Coral are the UK's second and third largest retail bookmakers, behind William Hill.
Ladbrokes has about 2,150 outlets in Britain and 77 in Northern Ireland. Coral runs 1,850 shops in Britain.
A merger between Ladbrokes and Gala Coral would make it the UK's largest bookmaker.
Lincolnshire's PCC gives backing to plans to combine emergency services
Carla George
BBC Local Live, Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire's Police and Crime Commissioner has today given his backing for emergency services in Lincolnshire to work more closely together.
Marc Jones says he supports plans which include a joint Police and Fire headquarters at South Park in Lincoln and a combined control centre at Nettleham.
BHS stores in Lincoln to close next month
Carla George
BBC Local Live, Lincolnshire
Closure dates have been confirmed for Lincoln's two BHS branches, which employ around 100 people.
A spokesman for the firm says the St Marks retail park shop will close on Wednesday 3 August, with the High Street shop shutting on Saturday 6 August.
Here are the latest headlines in Lincolnshire this afternoon
Paul Russell
BBC Radio Lincolnshire
Here's the top stories from the newsroom:
Former Red Arrows pilot says Asia tour will be 'extremely significant'
Carla George
BBC Local Live, Lincolnshire
A former Red Arrows pilot has told BBC Radio Lincolnshire today's announcement that the team will display in Asia is 'extremely significant'.
Justin Hughes says the Reds have never been as far afield as China and the commercial impact of the visit could be huge.
He said: "The end goal will be China but going that far will generate opportunities to visit other countries where the UK has significant interest to promote the British brand."
Today's announcement was made by Defence Secretary Michael Fallon.
More Lincolnshire athletes selected for Rio
Rob Makepeace
BBC Radio Lincolnshire sport
Lincolnshire will have six athletes at the Paralympic Games in Rio.
It's after two more athletes were called up to be part of Paralympics GB today.
Sleaford's Kieran Tscherniawsky (pictured) will compete in the F33 shot put and Grantham's Sam Ruddock will be in the F31 shot put.
Game disorder plan 'failed miserably'
Grimsby Town says efforts to work with police in controlling disorder after a match that left two police officers injured "failed miserably".
Read moreTip closure has led to increase in fly tipping say residents
Alex Rhodes
BBC Lincolnshire Live
Residents living near Whisby tip have blamed its closure for an increase in fly-tipping in the area.
The facility was closed down by Lincolnshire County Council in March in a bid to help save the authority £275,000.
But locals say recent fly tipping proves the tip should still be open.
Figures show there were 80 incidents of fly tipping in May last year compared to 87 this year.
WATCH: Here's the latest forecast
BBC Weather
Unsettled weather to come with rain expected this evening.
Highs of 22 degrees.
Overnight clouds will thicken with patchy rain turning heavy towards dawn.
Magna Carta yet to return to Lincoln Castle
Carla George
BBC Local Live, Lincolnshire
Visitors to Lincoln Castle are still unable to get a glimpse of the Magna Carta as work continues to fix humidity problems in its vault.
The historic document had to be moved earlier this month because of rising humidity levels caused by a small leak.
Ron Frayne, collections manager for Lincolnshire County Council, told BBC Radio Lincolnshire work was almost complete.
He added: "I'd like to thank all our visitors for their continued patience. Magna Carta and Charter of the Forest are precious not only to us, but to the very heritage of our country which is why we took the precautionary measure of moving them to an alternative controlled environment."
Man jailed after stealing neighbour's jewellery
Carla George
BBC Local Live, Lincolnshire
A Lincolnshire man has been jailed after stealing jewellery from his neighbour in Skegness.
Lincoln Court heard how Anthony Robertson stole jewellery and other sentimental items that had belonged to the victim's deceased mother.
Prosecuting, Phil Howes, said the 25-year-old was known to the victim and had previously raided her property in 2008.
He told how the victim had been left 'devastated' by the latest burglary and was scared to be at home on her own.
Judge John Pini QC, passing sentence, told him "You deliberately targeted these premises.
"Your next door neighbour bar one had been kind to you some years previously when you were at a low point in your life.
You knew your neighbours and they knew you. They had previously tried to help you. I don't know if you appreciate the sheer misery you have caused by your criminal activities."
He was jailed for 16 months.
Here are the latest headlines from Lincolnshire
Corazon Garcia
BBC Radio Lincolnshire
Here's the top stories from the newsroom:
Chief constable of Lincolnshire police has his say on Twyford ravers
The man in charge of Lincolnshire police has taken to social media to express his thoughts on the sentences handed out to the Twyford ravers.
Appeal after pub car park assault
Carla George
BBC Local Live, Lincolnshire
Police are appealing for witnesses after a man suffered serious head injuries in an assault in a pub car park.
It's believed the 32-year-old man was involved in a fight with a number of people at Queensway public house on Ashby Road in Scunthorpe at around 12.30am on Sunday 24 July.
The victim was taken to Hull Royal Infirmary where he remains in a stable condition.
Officers are keen to locate anyone who witnessed the incident and have released CCTV stills of three people who were walking by at the time of the altercation.
Traffic and travel: There's a bit of congestion across the county this lunchtime
BBC Travel
Watch out for some of the hot spots this lunch time....
Police called after man 'claimed' to have gun at Lincoln hospital
Carla George
BBC Local Live, Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire police have confirmed they were called to deal with a man pretending to have a firearm on him at Lincoln County Hospital.
Officers were called to the Peter Hodgkinson Centre at around 7.30pm last night after a 26-year-old man was refused access claiming to have a firearm.
The man wasn't armed but arrested and held overnight.
Hospital staff say they closed the main entrance doors as a matter of precaution.
The man has been released from police custody this morning.
BreakingReds to promote prosperity with major Asia tour
Carla George
BBC Local Live, Lincolnshire
It's been announced that the Red Arrows will perform displays for the first time ever in China to build allies across the globe.
The RAF's display team will also perform in India, Malaysia and Singapore.
Defence secretary Michael Fallon said: "Our RAF Red Arrows and Typhoons represent the best of British. The Red Arrows will fly the flag for Britain in key export markets while our RAF Typhoons will exercise with our allies."