News

A Spalding play area is to be closed throughout the summer for Anglian Water works – but will then be upgraded with all new equipment. The facility next to the junction of Pinchbeck Road and Woolram Wygate has been fenced off and will remain closed until September. The closure will allow the installation of an underground rainwater storage tank to ...

Police are appealing for anybody who recognises these man to get in touch. They would like to speak to them about the theft of a Ford Focus from M.A.R.S Recovery in Stumps Lane, Spalding. The incident happened on February 19 and police issued the appeal last Friday. A spokesman said: “The vehicle was stolen around 2.30pm and we would like to speak with the men ...

Police are appealing for witnesses following the death of a motorcyclist in Holbeach. It follows a road traffic collision on Friday between a motorbike and a tractor on the B1168 between Saturday Bridge and Hurdletree Bank. Police said on Saturday morning: “We are sad to report that a man has died following a collision on the B1168. “The rider of ...

A trusted worker at an electrical wholesale company who stole £42,000 worth of stock to fund his gambling addiction has been jailed.   Gavin Phillips set up an eBay account which he used to sell the firm’s stock and then falsified documentation to cover-up what he was doing.   Brian Outhwaite, prosecuting at Lincoln Crown Court on Friday (April 21), said ...

Lincolnshire authorities are getting smarter and more effective at fighting fraud. Having already identified more than £1m of incorrect or fraudulent payments, councils will be continuing to crack down on this crime. Lucy Pledge, audit and risk manager at Lincolnshire County Council said: “Lincolnshire councils are working together to tackle fraud by pooling resources and information, and taking a zero ...

Three of South Holland’s heritage attractions have been awarded £38,200 to explore ways to work more closely together. Chain Bridge Forge, in High Street, Spalding; Moulton Mill and Pinchbeck Pumping Museum have been awarded the grant from Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). It will allow leaders of the sites to explore opportunities to cut costs, increase efficiently and for joint marketing. ...

Lutton teacher Bernice William had to be identified by DNA after her body was found hidden under a pile of underlay in the family’s junk room, an inquest has heard.   Police took two days to find the body of the mother-of-two after her husband Lawrence (49) was discovered hanged in a stable block at the couple’s farmhouse in Colley’s Gate. ...

A long-serving cat rescue charity shop reopened at the weekend, days after fears were aired that it was closed for good. Hendrik Engelbert is a new trustee with PJ Cat Rescue, in High Street, Long Sutton, and said he is keen to steer it forward and continue its work. He said: “The shop closed in early February after the death ...

A talented Spalding student with an eye on a theatrical career has earned a coveted place at Arts Educational Schools, London. Will Silver has featured in The Voice previously for his emerging talent during his teenage years, including landing a top role in a musical at The Embassy Centre in Skegness. Will is currently at ESPA (Eastern School of Performing ...

Conservative MP John Hayes admits he was as surprised as anyone by Prime Minister Theresa May wanting a snap General Election in seven weeks’ time, on Thursday, June 8. Mr Hayes, who will be seeking a fifth re-election in the South Holland and The Deepings constituency since first taking the seat in 1997, said: “I don’t think anyone was expecting ...

The first of two free sessions in Spalding for foreign national adults wanting to learn more English takes place this weekend. Led by Hawkfield Training –  Anne Hawkridge and Martin Whitfield – who are qualified and experienced in teaching adults,. the sessions are aimed as a taster for an “English as a second language” summer project based at The Vista ...

Customers have welcomed investment in two pubs, which reopened on Good Friday.(April 14) New landlords at The Bull’s Neck in Holbeach are Neil and Lyn Spiers, while in Long Sutton, Sean Portass and Dana Garkavaya have reopened The Ship. For Neil and Lyn, who previously ran a hotel on the north-west coast, their choice of new venture was a toss-up ...

Care for new mothers and babies will be enhanced thanks to a new £71,713 training programme for midwives and doctors at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn. Increasing the number of home births and reducing the rate of caesarean sections are among the hopes for the new programme, which will start later this year. The hospital is among 136 ...

A Long Sutton woman who “catastrophically” injured her husband when she fired his shotgun was jailed for two years on Tuesday.(April 18) Mary Jane Taylor (57) left Alan Taylor (58) with a “useless” left arm when she discharged two shots from the weapon, Lincoln Crown Court heard. The court was told that Mrs Taylor could not remember what happened after ...

An inquest into the deaths of Lutton couple Lawrence and Bernice Williams is due to open on Thursday.(April 20) Police say they discovered the bodies at the couple’s home two days apart. Mr Williams (50), who had committed suicide, was found at the house in Colley’s Gate on Friday, April 7. The following day police issued an appeal for information about Mrs Williams’ whereabouts. She had not ...

Lincolnshire County Council says 94.3 per cent of children have been given a place at their primary school of choice through the admissions system this year. That figure is a rise on 2016. Along with the rest of the country, Lincolnshire has experienced high numbers of families wanting their children to start school in September. There are nearly 7,500 children ...

Police say the husband of Bernice Williams, the Lutton teacher found dead at home on Sunday (April 9), is thought to have committed suicide. Lawrence Williams’ body had been discovered at their home in Colley’s Gate on Friday – the day before police issued an appeal about Mrs Williams’ whereabouts. The cause of her death is still to be confirmed. A Lincolnshire Police statement on ...

Police want to speak to this man about an allegation that he wanted to take pictures of boys at Castle Sports Complex swimming pool in Spalding. A police statement about what they are calling a “suspicious incident” said: “After initial enquiries have failed to identify a suspect, officers are releasing the images of a man they would like to speak to in relation ...

A shooting ground run by an England and Team GB member faces an uncertain future due to noise complaints. The Priory Clay Target Centre at Sutton Bridge is owned by Long Sutton marksman Aaron Heading, who won the bronze medal at last month’s World Cup in Mexico. But his hopes of continuing to establish a popular shooting ground where adults ...

Hovenden House at Fleet is to close this summer due to “considerable” repair costs. Leonard Cheshire Disability is shutting the service which gives a range of nursing and residential care to 23 adults. The future of the 42 staff is also uncertain. A spokesperson for the charity said: “We always aim to offer the best quality service in modern accessible ...