:00:08. > :00:12.Farmers in Lincolnshire say they're having to take the law
:00:13. > :00:16.into their own hands, to try to stop hare-coursing.
:00:17. > :00:18.They say violent criminal gangs are trespassing on their land
:00:19. > :00:21.almost daily to take part in the illegal blood sport.
:00:22. > :00:23.Our correspondent Paul Murphy has this report, which contains images
:00:24. > :00:33.Chasing and killing hares with dogs has been banned
:00:34. > :00:43.But you would not know it from looking at social media -
:00:44. > :00:46.it's awash with footage of those who continue to break the law.
:00:47. > :00:48.What's changing, though, is the level of violence hare
:00:49. > :00:55.coursers mete out to those who try to stop them.
:00:56. > :00:58.They came at me because my vehicle was blocking their exit
:00:59. > :01:01.and immediately started to throw rocks at me with me in the vehicle
:01:02. > :01:07.and hammered the side of my vehicle so they could get past and escape.
:01:08. > :01:11.These hare coursers escaped, leaving their vehicle behind,
:01:12. > :01:16.but came back later to set it alight, possibly to destroy any
:01:17. > :01:19.These actions are creating fear in this community.
:01:20. > :01:23.This woman would only talk if we did not show her face.
:01:24. > :01:31.They have become aggressive, nasty, uncontrollable and intimidating.
:01:32. > :01:39.There are people who are afraid to leave their own home.
:01:40. > :01:42.I've spoken to several farmers here on the Lincolnshire Fens today
:01:43. > :01:47.and although a lot of them have very strong opinions, none of them wanted
:01:48. > :01:49.to appear on camera, or to be identified,
:01:50. > :01:52.and that is simply because they are afraid,
:01:53. > :01:54.they are afraid of the consequences for them and for their families,
:01:55. > :02:00.the reprisals that could come from the hare coursers.
:02:01. > :02:04.We know as a police service, we have got up our game and make
:02:05. > :02:06.best use of our resources, but the farming community
:02:07. > :02:13.It needs to keep itself safe and it needs to assist proactively
:02:14. > :02:20.But hare coursing posts on social media make a mockery of the law.
:02:21. > :02:22.In fact, some coursers take a thrill from being chased themselves.
:02:23. > :02:25.The vehicle in pursuit is being driven by a land owner.
:02:26. > :02:28.It's thought the injured hare in the foot well was being taken
:02:29. > :02:38.away because it might have been used as evidence.
:02:39. > :02:44.This farmer says he is done with relying on the police.
:02:45. > :02:46.He is making police-style stingers to puncture the tyres
:02:47. > :02:50.They would kill us if they could, that sort of thing.
:02:51. > :03:00.In a police force where resources are stretched, these criminal
:03:01. > :03:08.gangs know they currently have the upper hand.
:03:09. > :03:12.It's estimated more than 150,000 people have been to events
:03:13. > :03:18.in Hull in the first days of City of Culture.
:03:19. > :03:21.A giant light and sound show called Made In Hull has drawn visitors
:03:22. > :03:25.to the city centre every night this week.
:03:26. > :03:27.Organisers say they're delighted with how it's been received.
:03:28. > :03:31.I've come all the way from Nottingham to see it,
:03:32. > :03:35.cos I used to come from Hull, and my mum was into theatre things
:03:36. > :03:38.in Hull and I know she'd be so proud of the city tonight.
:03:39. > :03:42.I'd heard about it, but I'm gobsmacked.
:03:43. > :03:49.A petition to get the last British dambuster a knighthood has been
:03:50. > :03:58.Lincolnshire-born George "Johnny" Johnson was part of 617 squadron
:03:59. > :04:00.which was formed at RAF Scampton near Lincoln in 1943.
:04:01. > :04:08.The campaign surrounding a knight hood for George "Johnny"
:04:09. > :04:13.Johnson, the last remaining British Dambuster, continues
:04:14. > :04:15.to gather momentum like a bouncing bomb itself, with campaigns
:04:16. > :04:18.complaining that he's been snubbed from this year's honours list.
:04:19. > :04:24.But what evidence is there to show he could have been snubbed,
:04:25. > :04:27.and is it that simple to be awarded a knighthood for being the last
:04:28. > :04:34.It was Wing Commander Guy Gibson who led the Dambusters raid.
:04:35. > :04:37.He was awarded the Victoria Cross in 1943 and died
:04:38. > :04:47.Aviation Engineer Barnes Wallis, the inventor of the bouncing bomb,
:04:48. > :04:50.did receive a knighthood for work and services to his country in 1968,
:04:51. > :04:55.Johnny Johnson aimed and dropped the bombs and was one of 34 awarded
:04:56. > :04:57.the distinguished flying medal for his part in the raids.
:04:58. > :05:00.The rules state you have to be active in the areas
:05:01. > :05:02.for which you're being nominated so strictly speaking,
:05:03. > :05:04.Johnny's achievements with regards to the Dambusters happened many,
:05:05. > :05:06.many years ago, but he is still active within the communtiy
:05:07. > :05:09.and doing charity work, so it depends how strictly
:05:10. > :05:19.the Cabinet Office want to enforce that rule.
:05:20. > :05:22.The time frame from nomination to award can take up to two years,
:05:23. > :05:25.campaigner Paul Walmsley, who we spoke to on Tuesday,
:05:26. > :05:28.officially nominated Mr Johnson in November 2015,
:05:29. > :05:31.an application that doesn't expire until June.
:05:32. > :05:35.But it didn't make this New Year's list So, as ambassador
:05:36. > :05:37.for the RAF Air Cadets, Carol Vordeman, who's
:05:38. > :05:39.also met Johnny Johnson, has also submitted an application
:05:40. > :05:41.and started a petition which has gained over
:05:42. > :05:56.Not only was he part of 617 squadron, he has worked
:05:57. > :05:58.tirelessly for children and charities ever since.
:05:59. > :06:01.He's one of the most charming people you could hope to meet
:06:02. > :06:04.and if anybody has given public service to this country,
:06:05. > :06:15.I shall ask with humility, Your Majesty, if I can dedicate it
:06:16. > :06:18.to the 55,573 air crews that gave their lives for their countries
:06:19. > :06:32.during the war, and that is the way I think it should go.
:06:33. > :06:37.Now the weather forecast with Keeley Donovan.
:06:38. > :06:43.A lot of usable weather to get out and about,
:06:44. > :06:45.but it will be fairly cloudy and settled because high
:06:46. > :06:50.The best chance of brightness will be tomorrow.
:06:51. > :06:53.At the moment, a lot of cloud, producing some patchy rain
:06:54. > :07:00.and drizzle, a grey night to come, but not an especially cold
:07:01. > :07:02.temperatures around four or five Celsius.
:07:03. > :07:05.Tomorrow might get off to a grey note, but I'm hopeful we should see
:07:06. > :07:07.bright and sunny spells spreading down from the north,
:07:08. > :07:10.more likely across northern parts, so at times I think it will be
:07:11. > :07:12.overcast, temperatures at seven or eight Celsius.
:07:13. > :07:14.A similar day on Sunday, fairly cloudy conditions,
:07:15. > :07:37.That's it from me. We're back tomorrow evening at 5:30pm. Bye-bye.
:07:38. > :07:43.Good evening. The weather has been turning milder and also cloudier
:07:44. > :07:44.through the course of the day.