Protestors gathered in Spalding Market Place today waving banners calling for ‘No More Immigration’ and ‘Jobs and Homes for British’.

About 150 people - from Holbeach, Pinchbeck and Donington as well as Skegness and Boston, but fewer than expected - heard speakers calling for action.

They claimed lack of government control on immigration was to blame for unemployment and anti-social behaviour in the town and across the country.

Among the speakers were the UKIP candidate for Spalding, Alan Jesson, and local resident Angela Cannon, who claimed she had been threatened by noisy Eastern European neighbours.

Dean Everitt, who organised a similar protest in Boston last year, said the Spalding meeting was being held 45 years to the day since the ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech by Enoch Powell that led to his controversial dismissal from the Shadow Cabinet by Conservative party leader Edward Heath.

References to lack of hospital beds, school places and neighbourhoods ‘changed beyond recognition’ were just as relevant today as then, Mr Everitt said.

Mr Everitt said he was overwhelmed with the support he was getting at the moment.

He said: “People are asking why isn’t the council doing stuff - why aren’t the police dealing with these issues.”

Other speakers included Bob McAuley, of the Boston Protest Group, and Chris Pain, UKIP candidate for Wainfleet and Burgh-le-Marsh. .

They were greeted with cheers, applause and the waving of banners.

Earlier, a Polish woman sat in the Market Place said she did not feel threatened by the protest.

She said: “I work hard in my factory and pay my taxes. I’m sat here to enjoy the sunshine and relax.”

After the protest, Insp Jim Tyner said he was pleased it had passed peacefully.

He said: “People have been able to make the points they wanted to. However, I am disappointed they said nothing was being done about anti-social behaviour.

“Responses on our Twitter account and in the local media say quite the opposite. If people think not enough is being done they should tell us so we can get the right people in the right places.”

For the full story and pictures, see Tuesday’s Lincolnshire Free Press.

A 41-year-old man from the Boston area has been arrested in connection with a double murder in the town today.

Police were called to a house in Red Lion Street where there were reports of a disturbance at about 5am when they found three people injured after an alleged assault.

A 26-year-old woman died at the scene and a man, also aged 26, was taken to Pilgrim Hospital, Boston, but died from his injuries a short time later.

Medics at the hospital are also treating a 24-year-old woman for what police said were “less serious injuries” and they also confirmed that a man who they arrested was helping them with their enquiries.

Police will be making house-to-house enquiries over the coming days to establish what happened and anyone with information should call 101 as soon as possible.

A pedestrian in his mid-20s was taken to hospital with minor injuries after an accident involving a coach in Spalding’s Double Street, Spalding, this morning (Monday).

The accident was reported to police at around 8.35am and caused minor delays for motorists.

Since moving to Moulton Katie Stanney has been encouraged in her art by Mary Brice.

Katie in turn has inspired her husband John to take up art.

Now the three of them – plus Katie’s sister Jan Bee of Swineshead – make up a group called Mixed Palettes, which is exhibiting for the whole of October in the Geest Gallery at Ayscoughfee Hall Museum in Spalding .

In the meantime, Katie is exhibiting in Handmade in Moulton, showing her specialism, which is trees.

Katie, who has always painted for pleasure, works mainly in acrylics, taking inspiration from nature, with scenes sketched, photographed or, more recently, roughed out on an iPad before being turned into a piece of art in the studio Katie and John share in their garden.

Katie also belongs to Spalding Arts & Crafts Society which exhibits and sells at Ayscoughfee Cafe in Spalding. The annual exhibition is at the Geest Gallery from May 2-29.

Handmade in Moulton is from May 3-6, from 10am to 5pm and 10am to 4pm on Monday.

Refreshments include bacon butties, treacle tart and apple pie.

Residents are being reminded to think security after a spot check by police found countless easy opportunities for burglars.

Following an increase in burglaries around Spalding, PCSO Kirsty Taylor kept count of the common mistakes residents while she was out on patrol over the weekend.

Errors which can lead to easy picking for criminals include leaving the garage door open, upstairs windows left open while residents are out and cars left with open windows or boots.

PCSO Taylor said: “The number of examples I witnessed shows many people do this, whether for just a moment or all day.

“I have seen lots of items, some expensive, which means a burglar could too.”

The health trust in charge of Spalding’s Johnson Community Hospital is looking for someone who wants to make a difference to people’s lives to become a non-executive director.

Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust is seeking someone with a high level of commitment to patients, carers and the diverse communities of Lincolnshire.

The successful candidate will have experience of working at a senior level in a large organisation and ideally have finance experience.

The trust, which manages four community hospitals and their urgen care and minor injury units, is currently working to become a Community Foundation Trust.

It also provides a range of community healthcare services – from caring for babies to giving dignified end-of-life care to people in their own homes.

Dr Don White, chairman of the trust, said: “This role is ideal for anyone who wants to make a difference to the lives of people in Lincolnshire and with an interest in healthcare.

“We are looking for a suitable candidate with strategic thinking, team working and excellent communication skills who is prepared help us in our journey to becoming a foundation trust.”

For more information go to www.appointments.org.uk. The closing date is May 8.

Lincolnshire’s Police Panel is to set up a special task group to look into the temporary suspension of the county’s chief constable.

The new task and finish group will be set up at an extraordinary meeting of the police panel.

The group will then look at the circumstances surrounding and leading up to the temporary suspension of the county’s Chief Constable Neil Rhodes by the Police and Crime Commissioner Alan Hardwick.

They also plan to establish if any lessons need to be learned from the events which led Mr Hardwick to suspend Mr Rhodes.

The meeting will be held at East Lindsey District Council offices in Manby, near Louth on May 9 at 1pm.

The number of people sent to prison by Lincolnshire Magistrates has almost doubled in five years.

Nearly 2,000 more cases have gone through Magistrates’ courts in the same period.

​A study by The Howard League shows that 619 of the 20,749 people before the courts in 2011 (three per cent) were given a custodial sentence.

This is up on the 336 (1.9 per cent) out of 18,991 cases in 2006.

Despite the significant increase, the number of people being sent to prison via Lincolnshire Magistrates’ courts is below the national average of 3.8 per cent.

Magistrates’ courts in England and Wales handed down almost 1.2million sentences to men, women and children during 2011, of which more than 46,000 were custodial.

Market Deeping girl Olivia Landin has been announced as the winner of the Miss Lincolnshire 2013 competition.

Olivia was crowned at a glittering event held at The Tokyo Club in Lincoln on Saturday night.

Olivia will now represent Lincolnshire in the grand final of Miss England on June 15 and 16 in Torquay.

Runner-up was 18-year-old Holly Chatterton from Saxby. The winner of both the popularity round of the contest and title of Miss Charity was Maryann Cunningham (17) from Scunthorpe.

Other contestants included Katherine Blake from Market Deeping.

Spalding’s final flower parade could be hit by a shortage of tulips as a result of the cold winter.

Organisers of the event, which has a theme Let’s Celebrate for its swansong, said they might have to import the flowers from France because the UK variety was still a “vista of leaves”.

Growers say they have experienced the worst conditions in living memory.

Kathleen Codd, parade manager, said: “There is very little likelihood of getting UK tulips in time for the parade.

“We are looking into the possibility of sourcing flower heads from abroad.”

She said if tulips heads could not be sourced in time other materials will be used.

The following decisions have been made recently by magistrates at court hearings. In all drink-drive cases the legal limit is 35 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, 80 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood or 107 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of urine. Addresses of defendants published in these registers are taken from the legal records held by the magistrates’ courts. The details are given to the court by the defendant – but this may be some time after the original charge and they may have moved in the meantime.

Spalding Magistrates’ Court

Kirsty Allen (25), of Cranesgate South, Holbeach St Johns. Assaulted a police officer. £55 fine, £60 competition, £20 victim surcharge, £200 costs.

Fernando Carvalho (40), of Royce Road, Spalding. In breach of community order. 18 weeks’ prison sentence suspended for 12 months.

Colin Easton (45), of Woodside, Falcon Park, Ipswich. Assault (Market Deeping). £280 fine, £28 v/s, £250 costs.

Romano White (28), of Double Street, Spalding. Failing to comply with a direction given by a police officer to leave the area (Westlode Street, Spalding). £130 fine, £20 v/s, £150 costs.

Boston Magistrates’ Court

Roy Nash (49), of Grove Avenue, New Costessey, Norwich. Speeding (Whaplode). £70 fine, £15 v/s, £100 costs, 3pts.

Grantham Magistrates’ Court

Paul Bostock (28), of HM Prison Ranby, Retford. Burglary and theft of electric cables (Surfleet). Committed to prison for eight days.

Mark Spry (33), of Britain Drive, Grantham. Burglary and theft of electric cables (Surfleet). Conditionally discharged for eight months. £85 costs.

Marek Braziuk (35), of Piccard Drive, Spalding. Speeding (Spalding). £80 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs 3pts.

Ashley Buchanan (24), of Stukeley Road, Holbeach. Driving otherwise in accordance with a licence (Holbeach). £50 fine. No insurance (Holbeach). £120 fine, £20 v/s, £43 costs, 6pts.

Grant Lawrence (23), of Benham Hill, Thatcham. Speeding (Spalding). £170 fine, £20 v/s, £43 costs, 5pts.

Michelle Bingham (29), of Chancery Lane, Holbeach. Speeding (Moulton Seas End). £265 fine, £26 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Richard Humphrey (38), of Lindens Close, Thorney. No MOT (Long Sutton). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs.

Alec Parkin (38), of Lacey Green, Balderton. Speeding (Whaplode). £150 fine, £15 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified under the totting-up procedure.

Samuel Turner (34), of Steynburg Street, Hull. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £100 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Robin Woodward (31), of West End Road, Frampton. Speeding (Welby). £80 fine, £15 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Luke Cowlen (20), of Broadgate, Weston Hills. Speeding (Crowland). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Susan Ellinor (58), of Sandringham Avenue, Wisbech. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Margaret Mace (71), of Blunts Drove, Walton Highway. Speeding (Whaplode). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

James Waxman (33), of The Tenters, Holbeach. Begging (Spalding). £50 fine, £20 v/s.

Florence Lack (20), of Churchfields Road, Folkingham. Speeding (Billingborough). £135 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 5pts.

The closure of a Spalding shop at the beginning of May will mark the end of an era and the beginning of a new one.

Electrical retailer Paul Taylors DJC Ltd in Winsover Road will close on May 2 when owner David Carroll calls it a day.

He has sold the business to Hughes Electricals, who will open their new shop in Sheepmarket, in the unit below the Gurkha Oven restaurant, on May 3.

The Paul Taylor name, which has become known for its same-day service, will live on for a short time and be displayed inside Hughes’ new shop, which is currently undergoing a massive refit.

They will continue to supply a wide range of appliances, big and small, as well as TVs – to buy or rent.

The three staff from Paul Taylor’s – Graham, Luke and Alison – will also transfer to Hughes and continue to provide a friendly welcome and sound help and advice to customers.

David has worked at Paul Taylor’s since 1982, when he was employed as shop manager.

He had previously worked for Perkins Engines in Peterborough for a short while , but before that spent 11 years at Curry’s in the days when it sold not only electrical appliances but also bikes.

He then had the opportunity to buy Paul Taylor’s in 
1994, and in his time there has seen huge technological advances.

But he has now decided it’s time to say goodbye to hundreds of loyal customers as he looks forward to “living the good life”.

In his retirement he is hoping to take on a smallholding with his partner Jane, where they are hoping to have goats, chickens and a donkey.

He’s also hoping to find somewhere big enough to store his large collection of radios, which he began when he was a teenager and sparked his interest in electricals.

He said: “I will be sad to see the shop go as it’s been a huge part of my life for a long time .

“But I was a bit poorly earlier in the year and although I’m OK now it made me re-evaluate and I’m looking forward to doing something a bit different.”

However, David is not leaving retail altogether, as he will continue to run the mobility shop next to Paul Taylor’s, which will be open from 10am to 3pm Monday to Friday.

He said: “I would just like to say a big thank you to all the lovely customers who I have met and have supported me over the years.

“I hope I will see as many as possible at the retirement sale to say goodbye.”

A garage owner who clocked a traffic enforcement officer parked for four hours in a one-hour waiting zone says he is shocked at the “double standards”.

Paul Beeken, of Westend Garage in Holbeach, said the enforcement officer in his distinctive green and blue uniform was spotted parking his car in the limited waiting zone just after 8am on Thursday morning.

He then issued parking tickets to other drivers parked illegally around the town, including a couple further along the same zone in West End, before finally driving off just after noon.

Paul said: “We couldn’t believe what we were seeing. It just seems like a case of double standards, one rule for him and one for everyone else.”

And it seems that is the case . . . with Lincolnshire County Council confirming that parking enforcement officers are legally permitted to park in a restricted area if they are carrying out their duties.

Parking services officer Matt Jones said: “The vast majority of the time our officers will not park in a place like this, but they sometimes need to if they have to visit several towns and villages in one day.”

Paul added: “If it’s the case they are legally exempt, then they should have to display a certificate like disabled drivers do.

“He could have reversed just a few yards and there are no parking restrictions outside the Red Lion, or there are plenty of other parking places close by without restrictions.”

Staff and children at Spalding’s Acorn Childcare held a party to celebrate the nursery’s latest Ofsted inspection result.

The Cross Street-based nursery was inspected in February and found to be outstanding.

Principal Kathy Holmes said: “Our fifth birthday coincided with our Ofsted inspection and we are all over the moon with our grade of outstanding.

“We waited until the school holidays to share our celebration with as many of our Little Acorns as possible, and we are delighted that so many children and parents were able to attend.

“This achievement is a result of the work of the team across the whole setting.”

The report found that:

l Children are highly motivated and very keen to learn. They show an excellent level of independence for their age, as a result of exemplary staff practice and a carefully organised learning environment.

l Staff have an excellent knowledge of how children learn, and provide a rich, varied and imaginative educational programme.

l Excellent partnerships with parents, carers and other professionals are extremely effective at ensuring children make rapid progress in their learning and development.

l Management are highly skilled and effective at monitoring and evaluating all aspects of the provision.

Headteachers say GCSE and A-level exams will go ahead as normal this summer regardless of a strike threat by the two biggest teachers’ unions

The NUT and the NAS/UWT are taking industrial action over their workload, pay and pensions and a series of localised strikes is due to begin in the north-west on June 27.

Details and dates of industrial action in Lincolnshire have not been announced.

Spalding’s Sir John Gleed School head Janet Daniels said: “We are always disappointed if strike action is felt necessary by any members of staff, but it would not disrupt our exams because teaching staff do not administer our exams in any way and obviously we would be able to continue with our exam season.

“There’s no definite details yet of what may happen.”

Spalding Grammar School head Nigel Ryan says he “totally respects the right of staff to take industrial action”, but cannot see how it will change the mind of Education Secretary Michael Gove or anyone in the Government.

Massive reforms are in the pipeline over the next two years for GCSEs and A-level examinations and the NUT believes launching the new exams at the same time will lead to an unmanageable level of change that could lead to a collapse of the system in schools teaching both levels.

Mr Ryan says: “I can’t see the system collapsing because our teachers and staff will make sure that we do what we need to do to get the best outcome for the students, but there are big changes on the horizon.”

The focus is switching from modules and ongoing assessment to single exams at the end of two years – AS levels stay for the moment, but are likely to be axed. There will be fewer chances for pupils to do resits.

Mr Ryan said the grammar school boys are committed and hardworking and will manage the changes well.

l Pupils at the grammar school who were marked down in last year’s GCSE English exam board fiasco have retaken their exams to get the higher grades they needed.

Motorists faced rush hour headaches in Holbeach this morning after a crash involving two vehicles on the A17 at its junction with the A151.

A Ford vehicle and a jeep collided at Peppermint Junction shortly before 7.30am causing the road to be blocked in both directions.

Police attended the scene to redirect traffic, but there were no reports of any injuries and the road was reopened before 10am.

A fire on the A16 near Surfleet involving a mobile trailer unit was caused by a wheel collapsing and setting the trailer’s wooden floor alight, it has been confirmed today.

Damage was caused to the trailer, which included a toilet, rest room and generator, by the fire which broke out shortly before 10.30am on Sunday.

One crew from Spalding used a hose reel to put out the fire which started when the collapsed wheel gave off sparks that ignited the wooden flooring inside the trailer.

Firemen using ladders, a hose reel and specialist equipment have dealt with a chimney blaze at a house in Quadring.

It broke out at a house in Town Drove where soot had built up in a chimney, causing the fire which was reported just before 6.30pm.

A fire crew from Donington put out the blaze which came less than a month after a countywide warning for people to clean their chimneys after a spate of incidents during March.

Local housebuilder Larkfleet Homes is giving hard-pressed homebuyers a welcome boost by offering the government’s new Help to Buy scheme on its developments in Bourne and Deeping St James.

With the new scheme, after homebuyers have provided a five per cent deposit and obtained a conventional mortgage for just 75 per cent of the purchase price, they will receive an equity loan from the government for the remaining 20 per cent (subject to approval).

The equity loan is interest free for five years and can be repaid at any time or on the sale of the home.

The Help to Buy scheme is different to other government schemes as it is not just available to first-time buyers.

Current homeowners selling to buy a new home can also benefit from the scheme. There is no cap on household income in order to be eligible and no restriction on the number of bedrooms a property may have.

The Help to Buy scheme is available on properties at Larkfleet’s Abbeyfields development in Bourne and The Coppice development in Deeping St James.

Solar photovoltatic panels will be fitted as standard to every property constructed at The Coppice, and to selected properties at Abbeyfields, so homebuyers can benefit from reduced energy bills.

Visit www.larkfleethomes.co.uk, or call 01778 391550 for more information.

There may not be many flags flying, but with the sun shining Donington residents are in the mood to celebrate St George’s Day.

Unfortunately, most of us are at work, but Malcom Mills, owner of the Black Bull, is hoping to change all that.

Malcom said: “We’re planning to lobby our MP John Hayes to change all that.

“I can understand why it’s not a Bank Holiday at the moment, because with Easter, May Day and Whit there would be four in a month.

“But one holiday could be moved - there isn’t anything from August until Christmas and people would enjoy a break.”

Anyone who would like to join in the celebrations can pop along to the pub tonight for a quiz and traditional steak pie and mash dinner.

At Corner House Flowers, partners Sam Lewis and Debbie Hood have been enjoying a double celebration with customers - their first birthday and St George’s Day.

Debbie said: “We had a really good first year and it’s been really great to celebrate our first year with cakes for our customers.

“We’re also running a competition in this week’s Lincolnshire Free Press to win a two bouquets of rainbow roses so we hope everyone enters.”

There has been plenty of support for St George’s Day becoming a Bank Holiday on our Facebook page.

Jason Puddefoot said: “Yes it should be a Bank Holiday, Ill be finishing work about 11am-12pm, getting changed and going to the pub.”

Erica Wicks said: “Yes, it should be a holiday and my daughter would be very happy too! It’s her birthday.”