CONSERVATIONISTS in Lincolnshire have welcomed a new marine protection area, which has been created off the county's coast.

The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust is celebrating after the Government announcement it is to include in the scheme areas at the entrance to The Wash known as Inner Dowsing, North Ridge and Race Banks.

The site covers 350 square miles of sandbanks that are home to diverse communities of creatures, and living reefs created by worms who create tubes out of the sand.

Paul Learoyd, chief executive of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, said: "We welcome this designation. Now a developer will have to show there will be no adverse impact on the features."