A quarry firm wants to dig up a Lincolnshire field for extra limestone following unprecedented demand.

A new quarry just south of Ancaster would produce 700,000 tonnes over its 30-year life.

Goldholme Stone Limited already operates a quarry next door to the site between Sleaford and Grantham.

But it needs to move to the adjacent field to satisfy the world's appetite for Lincolnshire limestone.

Stone taken from the county's limestone seam has been used to build Cotswold villages, new homes in London's Park Lane and houses in Lincoln itself.

Restorers working at heritage sites including the Tower of London, Blenheim Palace and Belvoir Castle have worked using the stone.

It has been sent around the globe and is currently being carved into 15ft high arches for a new five star hotel at London's St Pancras train station.

Goldholme managing director Phil Kerry said: "We're getting more inquiries than we've ever had before.

"The stone underneath this new field is of the best quality.

"Going 60ft down it should yield enough to supply us for three decades."

For more on the local stone, see Monday's Echo.