News

Spalding’s popular Pumpkin Festival is back for its 17th year tomorrow (Friday, October 12). Crafts, carving, fireworks, fancy dress, a parade and plenty of pumpkins will take centre-stage as the horticulture and harvest in South Holland is celebrated. The festival will run from 11am to 8pm in Spalding town centre and has an array of thing to see and do ...

Lorraine Swepson and Veronica Pryke were the big winners in Spalding Arts and Craft Society’s River Welland Painting Competition. An exhibition of all the entries has taken place at Spalding Library over recent weeks and the public was asked to vote for their favourite image of the town’s river as created by the artists. Lorraine’s work entitled Twilight Over the ...

Hospitals in Lincolnshire are taking part in Baby Loss Awareness Week to support parents and families. Volunteers have knitted or crocheted distinctive butterflies which are being used to remember a stillbirth, miscarriage or baby who died shortly after birth. Everyone who visits a hospital this week, until Monday, October 15, will be encouraged to take a butterfly from the chapel ...

Staff have been recruited by a new academy which was to open in September, but has been delayed. The Springwell Academy Trust was aiming to open a centre in Spalding for pupils excluded from elsewhere. The former post-16 centre at Matmore Gate is being converted to accommodate the students. But delays by the Department of Education mean students are being ...

South Holland is set to have more than 2,500 people living with dementia in the next 16 years. Lincolnshire County Council is working on a draft strategy for dementia and the report reveals the statistics. “Dementia profiles for Lincolnshire evidence that a number of risk factors are worse than at both national and regional levels,” the report says. Estimates put ...

Users of Spalding Station who have mobility issues will be able to reach its second platform for the first time in four years after plans for new lifts were passed. Currently a footbridge built in 1848 reached by steps is the only way to access platform two of the Grade II listed building. A previous ‘barrow’ crossing over the tracks ...

John Sharp was on point to land first place in the competitive class of Spalding Young Farmer’s annual tractor working day. As ever, Sunday’s event proved a huge success with 32 tractors in attendance at Red Cow Drove in Fosdyke. Nine people took part in the competitive class with Sharp taking the victory from second placed Russell Nicol and Michael ...

South Holland adults (aged 18-65) do the least physical activity in the East Midlands it’s been claimed. Lincolnshire County Council’s commissioning plan for an Integrated Lifestyle Support Service states that nearly a third (31.9 per cent) of adults are considered “inactive”. The national average is 22.2 per cent. The figures are taken from the Public Health Outcomes Framework. The idea ...

A man with links to Spalding is wanted by police for driving offences and a warrant has been made for his arrest. A warrant has been issued for Aleksanars Potapovs’ arrest in relation to driving while disqualified. If you know where he is, there are a number of ways you can contact the police: Email force.control@lincs.pnn.police.uk Call 101 Contact independent ...

A Spalding shop found to be selling illegal alcohol and cigarettes looks likely to lose its licence. The premises licence at the 7 Day Euro Shop, Westlode Street, has only been held by Ali Hussein Hassani since March. But Chief Constable Bill Skelly has requested a review after three visits by police which uncovered evidence of breaches. The application for ...

Roll with da Flava later this month as Peter Andre returns to Spalding later this month to switch on Springfields’ Christmas lights. The man who is famous for hits including Mysterious Girl, Insania and Flava, as well as appearances on reality television will be at the shopping outlet on Thursday, October 25. The event is free of charge and regularly ...

A drug dealer was brought to justice after he was spotted smoking cannabis  while driving, Lincoln Crown Court was told today (Thurs). Ashley Woolley was driving in Spalding earlier this year when his behaviour attracted the attention of police. Michael Cranmer-Brown, prosecuting, said: “The defendant was the only occupant of the vehicle. It was apparent that he was smoking what the ...

Could you be a hero? For the first time in five years, Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue is looking outside of the service to fill vacancies for full time firefighters. The service is seeking to appoint a number of new trainees and applicants do not need to have previous experience to apply. “First and foremost, we are seeking people with the ...

A Spalding man stole beauty gift sets from a store to give as a birthday present as he ‘wanted to be like everyone else’. Sandors Burkevics, 28, of Grange Court, Grange Drive admitted stealing £42 worth of the gift sets from Marks and Spencer in Spalding, when he appeared before magistrates in Boston. Nick Todd, prosecuting, said Burkevics was stopped by ...

A Spalding man found in possession of a lock knife after being arrested for an assault in a kebab shop has told a court he had the weapon on him by mistake. Ruslanas Kazokaitis, 37, of Wintergold Avenue, admitted assaulting Balen Zada by beating and to possession of the lock knife, when he appeared at Boston Magistrates Court. Prosecuting, Nick Todd ...

While many enjoyed a cake to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support in the last few days, one local gym looked to burn calories instead. Definitions Health and Fitness Gym in Cradge Bank, Spalding held a weight-lifting and exercise competition for the charity on Sunday September 30. And in doing so they raised at least £600 for the charity. Gym ...

Pubs and bars in Spalding will be able to test drinks to see if they have been ‘spiked’ as a new scheme is launched in the town. All ten venues within the town’s Pubwatch scheme have signed-up to the initiative which is designed to keep people safe on a night out. “The aim of Pubwatch is to keep the night ...

A pensioner who claimed many thousands in extra benefits over mobility issues was caught out after posting social media images on holiday in Australia. Ann McIntee (70), of Seas End Road, Surfleet, admitted failing to notify the Department for Work and Pensions of her improved mobility when she appeared at Boston Magistrates’ Court last week. Prosecuting, Marie Stace said Ms ...

Lincolnshire’s Chief Constable has authorised extra powers for PCSOs in the county. The additional powers are on traffic-related matters and come on top of the 20 standard powers the PCSOs already have. A review into the way the 118 PCSOs work in Lincolnshire led Ch Const Bill Skelly to take the decision. “I have decided to designate additional powers to ...

Pupils and staff at a South Holland school welcomed a very special visitor through the gates. The Bishop of Lincoln, the Rt Rev Christopher Lowsen visited South View School, Crowland, to launch a new syllabus. He was joined by his Chaplain, the Rev Jayson Rhodes and the Rev Charles Brown, of Crowland and the children were keen to meet their ...