Pie maker Henny Pinchin is making a habit of entering top food competitions at the last minute and still walking off with the honours.

In her latest most audacious 11th hour bid she took her pork pies to the world capital of pork pies, Melton Mowbray, and won the bronze award.

Henny, who runs Pinchin’s Family Farm Shop and Tea Room at Algarkirk with husband James, was without phone or internet connection due to damage to the system as the deadline loomed for the annual British Pie Awards.

At the last minute connections were restored, leaving hardly any time to enter and prepare for the event.

But she walked off with a silver award for her beef and ale pie, and bronze awards for chicken and ham and pork pie.

The competition was organised by the Melton Mowbray Pork Pie Association and attracted 983 entries in 20 classes.

Judges included top food critic Charles Campion and TV chef Rachel Green. They examined appearance, texture and the taste of both the pasty and the filling.

Henny, who made all the pies from locally-sourced ingredients, including beef from their own Dexter cattle, said: “It was all a bit of a rush –last minute as usual, so I was amazed to do so well. Winning a British Pie Award is a great honour.”

Last year James and Henny entered the Lincolnshire Poacher Competition at the last minute. They only heard about it a few days before the big event at the county showground.

But that didn’t stop them from walking off with a clutch of awards – four gold, eight silver and two bronze for their sausages, bacon, pies, burgers and Lincolnshire plum bread

All their prize-winning products are available from their farm shop in Church Lane, off the A16 near Sutterton roundabout.

Where season and supply allows all produce comes from the farm and all meat is fattened there, the Pinchins have even gone in for a little cross breeding to produce a leaner lamb and specialise in Dexter cattle. They also have pigs and ewes on their 14 acres.

The shop and tea room features work by local artists and is open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5.30pm, with openings on Sundays for special occasions.

Pupils from Spalding Primary School came face to face with rescue bats thanks to a visit by Colin and Annette Faulkner (top).

The couple, from Lincolnshire Bat Group, are regular visitors to schools.

Annette said: “The children had done a lot of work about bats already in school so they were well prepared and they had lots of questions for us.

“We showed them some of the rescue bats so they could see what they look like – they are rescue bats, we have to emphasise that you can’t keep them as pets.

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On the same day youngsters in the Wygate Foundation Nursery School were having an equally wild time with a visit from ZooLab, the UK’s original provider of live animal handling workshops.

ZooLab ranger Chris Knowles is pictured with a corn snake watched by Isobel Wilkins Colin and her classmates.

The rangers regularly show off animals like tree frogs and tarantulas during their school visits across the UK, allowing children supervised access.

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Firemen using breathing apparatus tackled a blaze involving a lorry trailer in Spalding on Monday.

The fire broke out just before 7.15pm at a premises on West Marsh Road where a refrigerated trailer unit was on a loading dock.

Crews from Spalding, Holbeach and Donington used a hose reel to out the fire which severely ddamaged the trailer unit and is thought to have been caused by an electrical fault.

Firemen were also called to a blaze at a house in Gedney where heat from a light bulb set a number of towels in an airing cupboard alight.

Crews from Long Sutton and Holbeach were called to a house on Stonegate at about 6.15pm on Sunday and made the area safe after a resident put the fire out with water.

A collision involving five vehicles in Fleet on Bank Holiday Monday has left one person injured.

It happened on Fleet Road just after 3.30pm but the person hurt was thought only to have minor injuries.

No one else was hurt in the accident.

A man has been seriously injured after his motor bike collided with a vehicle near the A16 in Wyberton on Bank Holiday Monday.

The injured man was airlifted to hospital after the accident on Causeway where his motor bike collided with a silver Land Rover Freelander at about 12.20pm.

Police closed the road in both directions at the junction with Saundergate Lane for several hours while the injured motor cyclist, who is from the Bedfordshire area, was taken to Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, where they are in a serious but stable condition.

The driver of the Land Rover, a 46-year-old man from Quadring, wasn’t injured and the road was reopened at about 3pm.

A team of experts is on standby to provide support and advice as a troubled Spalding secondary school attempts to turn its fortunes around.

The education trust which “sponsors” the Sir John Gleed School academy said everything that could be done, would be done to ensure students receive a good education.

An action plan is already being drawn up by CfBT to address issues which were identified by Ofsted after an three-day unplanned inspection last month.

The results of the inspection have not yet been made public, but the school’s management had been given a briefing by Ofsted and rumours are circulating that it has been placed in special measures.

A CfBT spokesman said: “Support has already been commissioned to provide expertise in identified areas.

“This includes consultants with specific expertise and a current headteacher of a high-quality school of similar size to support leadership.

“Governor support and expertise has already been brought in and will form an important part of the action plan.”

The trust announced last week that as well as appointing Will Scott (pictured above) as acting head until a permanent appointment is made, it has also appointed a new chairman of governors.

It confirmed that former chairman Paul Harris has resigned the position, although he will remain on the governing body.

The new chairman is David Rich, an experienced headteacher and governor.

The CfBT spokesman said: “We will ensure that the governing body is in a strong position to support the school.

“David is an extremely experienced headteacher, school improvement partner and governor and brings considerable experience to the Sir John Gleed.

“His role will be a governance one – to work with, challenge and support the acting headteacher and the governing body by driving improvements and outcomes in the school.”

The trust insisted that the school has received the support it has needed since becoming an academy in January – with experienced advisers attached to the school.

The spokesman said: “These were ex-headteachers with notable experience in dealing with schools.

“When the school has asked for support it has been provided.”

Spalding’s first “free school” is set to be ready for its first intake of pupils in September 2014.

The bilingual school, to be run by the Phoenix Family of Schools, is one of 102 new free schools to be given the green light in the latest round of Department for Education (DfE)approvals.

The school, which initially will take Reception and Year 1 pupils, will teach Spanish and English.

The DfE praised the Phoenix Family of School for its commitment, energy and vision, which will see one of the first state-funded bilingual primary schools in the country.

Phoenix Family of Schools chief executive officer Carol Clare said: “This school will enable the children of Spalding to access worlds and future employment opportunities previously denied them.

“We chose Spanish as the bilingual element since it is the third most spoken language in the world after English and Chinese Mandarin.

“It is increasingly becoming the language of business and also uses the same alphabet as English.

“Research shows learning another language also improves children’s capacity to learn in other areas of the curriculum.

“It is our aim that children who enter the school at Key Stage One will, on leaving the school at age 11, have a good degree of fluency in Spanish as well as achieving highly in all subject areas.”

The Phoenix Family of Schools says it has already made strong contacts with educational staff at the Spanish Embassy in London in preparation for the new school and is looking foward to providing an “innovative, ground-breaking” school that will equip children with the bilingual skills needed for the 21st century.

Free schools are independent of the local education authority, but are state funded and free to attend.

The Phoenix Family of Schools Academy Trust is currently made up of five schools, including Gosberton Academy.

Mrs Clare added: “The immerse children in another language to enrich and extend their social, cultural and academic world.”

Motorists are facing rush-hour chaos in West Pinchbeck after a road was closed because of a burst water main.

The A151 Dozen’s Bank has been shut causing delays in both directions between the B1180 Glenside South and Holland’s Chase junction, near the New Bridge Inn.

It is not known at this stage how long the road will be closed for or whether Anglian Water engineers are working to repair the problem.

A Spalding car lover is revelling in the success of his invention after it was unveiled at a national event.

Rich Howlett has spent more than three years designing, developing a prototype and manufacturing a “hardtop” for his beloved Lotus 7 sports car.

Rich, who has a career spanning 25 years in the road and racecar industry, came up with the design after he increasingly found the need for a hardtop for his sports car.

The new GRP hardtop has been designed to complement the existing lines of the Lotus 7, while still offering easy access to the car.

It recently went on show to prospective buyers at the National Motor Show, in Warwickshire, with overwhelming success.

Rich said: “The responses and positive feedback from the public has been outstanding.

“Our stand was constantly full and buzzing throughout the show.

“With sufficient interest to enable small batch production I will be happy to reproduce the creation for other owners of the Seven marque.”

Over the past 50 years the iconic Lotus 7 has become a firm favourite among sports car fans.

As a result there have been many “modifications” available, such as stripped down lightweight cars with data logging for motor racing purposes or show cars with full leather trim and sat nav for European touring,

Although manufacturers offer soft top options, professionally designed and manufactured hardtops have not been available.

Racecar engineer Rich, who has produced racecars for many of the great names in motor racing history such as Andretti, Fittipaldo and Rahal, believes he has changed.

For details go to www.rich howlett. co.uk

After one of the coldest spring periods on record most crops have finally started to grow.

Most of us are looking forward to harvest, though not for high yields, but for the harvesters to remove all evidence of what has been the worst two-year period I have ever seen.

With a relatively high proportion of winter crops failing, the yield potential for this harvest is poor and will probably be similar to last year’s poor harvest.

For most of us the adverse weather of 2012 has caused considerable problems with weed control (black grass), disease control (reduced efficacy of triazole fungicides against septoria tritici) and long lasting soil structure issues.

On top of this many farms are facing increased incidents of theft. There has been a spate of GPS systems stolen, high value items that are easy to remove. High value tractors are also popular for organised criminal gangs.

The main problem for police when recovering stolen plant and machinery is identifying it. There are two schemes promoted by the NFU to combat this. The CESAR vehicle marking and registration scheme and, new for 2013 (and possibly free to NFU Mutual Tractor policy holders), vehicle glass security etching. For information contact your NFU group secretary.

The AGM of the Training Association West (TTAW) is on June 18 at Downham Market, tel 01366 500050.

There have been a number of cars in Kia’s range that have impressed us in recent years, but until recently, the Carens MPV had never made that list.

This third generation version is a belter, with stylish exterior lines, a practical interior, great build quality and solid engineering. It’s an easy recommendation.

People don’t tend to buy compact MPVs for the way they drive but if Kia can differentiate the Carens in that regard as well, it has to be good for sales, right?

So instead of just offering one or two engine choices, the Carens was unveiled with three available powerplants.

Kia’s MDPS electric power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering features a combined torque/angle sensor to protect against side wind gusts.

The steering wheel is adjustable for both height and reach.

Kia’s FlexSteer system, offering three levels of weight and assistance to match customer preference, is standard.

The suspension is nothing too radical, MacPherson struts at the front and a coupled torsion beam with trailing-arms at the rear, but the brakes are up to the mark, with discs all round, anti-lock, electronic brakeforce distribution and emergency Brake Assist as well.

Most potential customers we spoke to seemed to think this Carens was one of the best-looking small MPVs on the market.

Many also detected a slight influence of Ford styling in the rear three-quarter view which is no bad thing. The front end, however, is instantly recognisable as a Kia with that distinctive ‘tiger nose’ grille.

There are LED front running lights, an all-LED tail light cluster and chrome accents around the glasshouse.

The rear of the car looks dynamic thanks to a sloping roof line which allows better views from the back than the alternative design strategy of a rising belt line, but does come at a slight penalty in terms of rear headroom.

Prior to the arrival of this third generation version, the Kia Carens had long been one of the Korean company’s lesser lights. In fact, at times it seemed desperate for a bushel to hide it under, such was the glitziness of its other models and the dourness of its compact MPV.

That’s no longer the case. The Carens now deserves its moment in the limelight.

With smart styling, a practical interior, great build quality and a range of clean, modern engines, it deserves your full attention.

Overall, Kia’s rivals are going to have their work cut out.

The South Korean brand’s buyers have high expectations these days but we suspect the Carens isn’t going to disappoint.

A woman of 79 had her bank card stolen by a man who asked her to help him with some paperwork.

Wayne Killingsworth, the partner of a young woman described as the victim’s “grandaughter-in-law”, then drew £250 from Winifred Carr’s bank account in two transactions at an ATM at Sainsbury’s.

Rebecca Ritson, prosecuting, said Killingsworth visited Mrs Carr on January 24 asking her to give him some help with paperwork.

At one point, she left Killingsworth in the living room – where her handbag was – while she went off to make some tea.

Miss Ritson said Mrs Carr discovered her bank card was missing the next day.

Mrs Carr went to her bank, HSBC, and a list of transactions showed £150 had been withdrawn at Sainsbury’s at 10.43am on January 24 and another £100 from the same ATM at 1.23pm that day.

Miss Ritson said the bank refunded the money.

She said at first Mrs Carr couldn’t believe Killingsworth would do something like that to her.

“As a result of the incident, she wants nothing more to do with her grandaughter-in-law,” Miss Ritson said.

She continued: “If she could say anything to him, she would just like to ask him why he did it because the sad thing is that if he had just asked she would have lent him the money.”

Miss Ritson said the matter was originally set down for a trial but the prosecution were notified a week before that he had changed his plea to guilty.

She asked for £150 costs, instead of the usual £85, as the crown had prepared for a trial.

Miss Ritson said Killingsworth received a 15-month prison sentence from the crown court for burglary in February 2010.

“The victim of the burglary was a man with learning difficulties who had been befriended by the defendant and so not entirely dissimilar in nature,” she said.

Killingsworth (37), of Clover Way, Spalding, pleaded guilty to fraud by dishonestly using Mrs Carr’s bank card without her permission to dishonestly obtain £250 for himself.

The court adjourned the hearing to June 13 for a full pre-sentence report from the probation service.

Killingsworth was granted conditional bail to that date.

Solicitor Carrie Simson, for Killingsworth, told the court: “Quite simply there is no mitigation for me to put forward in relation to the offence.

“I have taken instructions from him and quite simply there is no mitigation. I suspect you may want to ask for a report.”

Users of Spalding swimming pool are furious they have been barred from the sauna during school lessons for fear they are paedophiles.

It is believed the decision to make the sauna out of bounds while classes of young children are in the pool has been taken after a complaint from a teacher.

But Castle Sports Complex members have said the move is the “last straw”, after previous complaints of inconsistent water temperatures and filthy and unhygienic changing rooms.

For many years the sauna has been available from 7.30am to 10pm, but members say they have now been told they cannot use it between 9.30am and noon while school swimming lessons are in progress.

One member, who did not wish to be named, said they had been told by Leisure Connection, which is contracted by the district council to run the pool, that it had reviewed its arrangements with the schools and made an error in offering the sauna while children were on the premises.

He said: “This is the last straw. The facilities have been curtailed because of hysteria whipped up over child abuse.”

Coun Nick Worth, South Holland District Council portfolio holder for child safeguarding, said as far as he was aware there was no reason the sauna should be closed, as having adults inside was no different from allowing adults in the pool’s viewing area.

Regular pool users said news the sauna was to be closed at certain times followed a “shocking” incident in which one regular swimmer was singled out and quizzed by pool staff because he and his friends used the sauna while children were in the pool.

One said: “The teaching staff apparently objected to their presence and he was asked not to use the sauna on that morning while the complaining teacher and her children were in the pool.

“There was no objection to him using the sauna on any other weekday and none of his friends were asked not to use the sauna.

“He refused to give up his right to use the sauna as a paying member and due to his refusal the new times have been invoked.”

Another member said the men’s changing rooms often have young girls walking through and even showering naked.

He added: “It’s not good enough, yet we have to put up with it. Female members have had similar experiences of having to cover up swiftly because boys enter their changing area.

“When you complain no one listens to the members who pay good money during the year. Are we going to see a reduction in membership fees because of this?”

A spokesman for the swimming pool’s management said: “We can confirm that the sauna at Castle Swimming Pool is now closed to the public when school swimming lessons are taking place during morning sessions subject to further consultation with South Holland District Council and stakeholders.”

Police are appealing for more information about a collision which caused damage to a parked car in Sutton Bridge.

It happened on Bridge Road, near Main Road Garage, where a Mercedes van is thought to have run into a parked blue Mazda shortly before 12 noon on Friday.

A Lincolnshire Police spokesman said the car may have been forced into a fence and the van involved belonged to a firm from Darlington, County Durham.

Anyone with information should call police on 101, quoting incident number 151 of May 24.

In a climate where consumers are now counting food miles and looking for traceability in the meat they eat, keeping it local comes into it

There can’t be fewer food miles than food grown and sold on the farm or, in the case of Woodlands Farm at Kirton, delivered to the door of local customers.

Farmer Andrew Dennis says since the horse meat scandal there has been a “massive groundswell of interest” in where food comes from.

The farm supplies its own Lincoln Red beef and Lincoln Longwool sheep as well as locally grown turkeys and chickens, and Andrew says: “We are very committed to local food and have been for many years.”

Local organic food suffers from the perception it is expensive, when in fact Andrew says his price comparisons show it is “often cheaper than buying from a supermarket”.

Landlord of the Thatched Cottage at Sutterton Bob Lowrie needs no persuasion: he has tapped into a source of locally produced meat that gives him and his customers the reassurance of traceability they are looking for.

His meat is supplied by Lincolnshire Quality Beef, Pork and Lamb, a cooperative of county farmers and butchers. Bob buys carcasses that are butchered on site, the meat used in his restaurant and sold in his farm shop or online.

Bob says: “From a pure economics point of view, it was cheaper to buy meat in carcass form, but it also gives us control over quality.”

Crowland company managing director Andrew Riddington, who was appointed chairman of the East of England Agricultural Society in the spring, has reason to celebrate.

Andrew’s company, Bettaland, helped the Woodland Trust to scoop a bronze award at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Peat-free plants and compost donated by Bettaland were used to make up the display, which featured a cross-section of a tube train.

Andrew’s association with the East of England Agricultural Society began as a steward in 1982, but his family connection stretches back much further as both his grandfather and uncle were past chairmen.

Andrew said: “The society has embarked upon a bold and confident new programme, much of which was devised during my time as vice-chairman and is only now beginning to emerge from the covers. I am excited by our plans to promote and support agriculture and rural life across a broad programme.”

Owners of farm buildings can now look for valuable alternative uses for these properties following a change in planning rules.

Farm properties can be considered for several new uses subject to certain approvals, according to Elizabeth Allen, of the land agency at Spalding’s branch of Brown and Co. These include shops, financial and professional services, restaurants, business, storage and hotel and leisure.

Agricultural buildings must have been in agricultural use since July 3, 2012, and the cumulative floor space of the building must not exceed 500m2 (about 5,000sq ft).

A stock-take of the UK’s native species reveals that 60 per cent of those studied have declined over recent decades and one in ten of all the species assessed are under threat of disappearing altogether.

The NFU responded to the report by a coalition of scientists saying farming was a positive force for the environment and made a significant contribution to the countryside and British wildlife.

UK farmers will be the first in the EU to use a vaccine to help protect sheep and cattle against birth defects caused by the Schmallenberg virus.

The British Veterinary Association welcomed the announcement that a vaccine is now available.

Councillors in Sutton Bridge are taking free legal advice to see if they can win a court battle to stop a £200 million gasifier being built at Wingland.

The parish council believes South Holland’s planning committee failed to take a string of key issues into account when it granted consent to EnergyPark Sutton Bridge.

Parish councillors heard on Tuesday that four law firms had given quotes for the legal battle, which could cost an estimated £8,600.

London firm Deighton Pierce Glynn have offered an initial four hours’ free legal advice and the parish council appointed three of its members to see its lawyers to assess their case.

Councillors Vicky Hills, Gary Croxford and Shirley Giles will report back to the parish council – most likely at an extraordinary meeting – before members vote on whether to press ahead.

Councillors recently set aside a £10,000 fighting fund to help them overturn the planning committee’s decision, but clerk Suzanne England warned then that the parish council may end up paying the district’s costs, which could be up to £60,000.

On Tuesday, members learned legal steps can be taken to minimise the risk of a big costs payout.

Coun Michael Booth was not present when the fighting fund was set up and voiced concerns at this week’s meeting, saying he would not support anything that could put the parish council into “financial difficulties”.