A fire which destroyed a church building earmarked for a new mosque may be a racially-motivated arson attack.

The former St Matthew's Church, in Boultham Park Road, Lincoln, was severely damaged when the blaze broke out in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Muslim leaders were hoping to turn the grade II-listed premises - vacant since 2000 - into a mosque after being granted planning consent in July.

But it is now feared their plans may have been destroyed by a hate-fuelled attack by arsonists. [Link]