Spalding officers have been drafted in to help with a major policing operation at an anti-mosque protest in Lincoln today (Saturday).

Hundreds of protestors from a group called East Anglian Patriots, thought to be an off-shoot of the English Defence League (EDL), are set to gather in Lincoln from 1pm to protest against the mosque set to be built in Lincoln on the former site of the Boultham dairy.

A demonstration calling for “unity against racism” will also take place at the same time at Cornhill Square off Lincoln High Street, where dozens of people are expected to oppose the anti-mosque protest.

In spite of organisers intending the protests to be static and peaceful, officers from around the county have been drafted in to support city police.

The number of reported Islamophobic attacks since the Woolwich murder has continued to rise dramatically amid warnings from Muslim community leaders that the backlash which has seen attempted firebombings of mosques is being fuelled by far right groups.

As participants in an English Defence League (EDL) march in Whitehall were recorded giving Nazi-style salutes, Faith Matters, which monitors anti-Muslim hatred, said the number of incidents before the end of May had risen to 193, including ten assaults on mosques.

Lincolnshire Police has said it would deal robustly with any troublemakers.

Superintendent Paul Gibson, of Lincolnshire Police, said: “We have been planning the operation for a period. There will be a heightened police presence in the city.

“It will be a community policing operation with police officers helping shoppers about their daily business and directing protestors to the agreed places where the protests are taking place.”

Sgt Stuart Hurst, of Spalding police, said residents in the town should not be concerned in spite of some officers being in Lincoln.

He said: “It will be business as usual here with the usual numbers of officers on patrol in the town.”

Tory Government minister Nick Boles yesterday condemned an explosives attack on the Conservative Club in Bourne where he has one of his offices.

Unconfirmed reports suggest a home-made device was thrown through a window at the North Street building, although witnesses say they heard two blasts in the early hours of the morning.

Police arrested a 24-year-old local man and he was still helping officers with their inquiries yesterday.

Mr Boles, the Grantham and Stamford MP and planning minister in the Department for Communities and Local Government, said: “Obviously I deplore this act of violence.

“The incident is being investigated by the police and I know everyone will do whatever they can to support the investigation.

“In the meantime, we should all carry on doing our jobs as normal.”

No one was reported hurt in the incident.

A window was smashed but it is believed there was no structural damage to Bourne’s Stamford and Grantham Conservative Club.

Emergency services were called shortly after 1.20am.

Caroline Glithero (49), who lives nearby, said she heard two explosions.

She said: “I heard two very loud bangs and on the second one I went to see what it was and found a lot of debris and a broken window.

Darren Pullen said: “I heard two explosions about ten/15 minutes apart.

“I had a quick look for any smoke/fire but couldn’t see anything, so I thought they were just fireworks being let off.

“I don’t live too far away from Burghley Street.”

Police yesterday were not confirming what type of device was used in the attack.

A spokesman said: “All we can stress is we don’t believe it’s linked to any wider issues.”

A warning has been issued after reports of bogus taxis operating in Spalding and Long Sutton.

People looking to get a ride home after a night out are being told to double-check they are using a reputable firm to ensure they stay safe.

South Holland District Council has issued the warning after it received a number of reports of possible illegal activity by suspect taxis or private hire cars in the two towns and across the district.

These include posts on Facebook where businesses appear to have been offering lifts.

But a spokesman said neither members of the public or other legally-operating taxi drivers have been able to provide enough information about their suspicions for officers to pursue an investigation.

Coun Malcolm Chandler, portfolio holder for licensing, said: “We want the public to be vigilant and we want everyone to understand what to look for when they need a taxi or hackney carriage to take them safely home after a great night out.

“It is terrible to think that bogus taxi drivers still operate in towns and cities across the UK, especially as this will invalidate the driver’s insurance.

“However, people can be assured if they use vehicles licensed by the council, the necessary safety checks have been made.

“Because it’s a rural area, suspect drivers may think they can get away with it, but the public should be on their guard and not allow bogus operators to take advantage of them.”

Passengers should check the vehicle they plan to use has SHDC licence plates fitted.

Hackney carriages should have an illuminated taxi sign on top of the cab and a meter to calculate the fare.

The driver should also wear a licence badge and a table of fares should be displayed.

All private-hire taxis must be pre-booked and cannot be hailed from the street.

Anyone with concerns should take a note of registration number, make and model and report it to the licensing team on 01775 761161 or email licensing@sholland.gov.uk

Troublemakers will get told off via a new “voice of God” CCTV system at Memorial Park in Sutton Bridge.

The parish council has installed an £8,000-plus surveillance system to safeguard things like the children’s play equipment and the public loos day and night.

A loud speaker system at the children’s play area means troublemakers could be stopped in their tracks on the spot with a verbal warning blasted from on high.

Cameras will be monitored from a screen inside the parish office at The Curlew Centre, but key councillors will also monitor cameras from home at any time of day 24/7.

Police investigating crimes at Memorial Park will be given access to CCTV footage.

Parish councillor Vicky Hills said the camera overlooking the play area will also give added peace of mind for parents when their little ones are there.

Coun Hills said there haven’t been any incidents of children being harmed there, but there is repeated vandalism.

The cameras will also watch the front of The Curlew Centre, the car park, the playing field and the interior of the parish office.

The Curlew Centre has its own CCTV cameras inside to make it doubly secure.

Coun Hills said: “It’s the first time the parish council has had its own CCTV cameras.”

Cambridge firm Dent Security Systems Ltd are putting the finishing touches to the system.

Parish council chairman John Grimwood said: “It’s a sad state of affairs that you have got to do something like this, but it’s added security for the kids playing in the Memorial field and it’s added security for the cars.”

An elderly motorist accused of causing a fatal crash has told a jury that he was on his correct side of the road when he was involved in a collision which resulted in the death of a cyclist.

Walter Coupland denies causing death by careless driving following the collision which occurred as he turned left off Broadgate onto Parsons Lane at Whaplode Drove.

Cyclist Ken Usher (77), of Dowsdale, Crowland, died as a result of the incident in February 2012.

Coupland told the jury: “I was just my side of the centre white line when the collision occurred.

“You have to take that turning very, very steady. That was what I was doing. If you don’t do it like that then you don’t know if there is anybody coming up the road.

“I didn’t expect there would be a collision. When the collision happened my windscreen was shattered. I didn’t know what it was. It happened so quick.

“In over 50 years of driving I’ve never had a speeding ticket or an accident.

“I’m very sorry for what happened. I did take care. I came round the corner and he was right against the white line.”

The jury has heard that the collision occurred as Coupland was on his way to visit a relative at Throckenholt.

Mr Usher, a veteran cyclist, was out on his daily ride on his custom-built three wheeler.

The prosecution say the collision was caused by Coupland straying over the centre white line.

Robert Underwood , prosecuting, told the jury: “Ken Usher was blameless. The cause of the collision was the careless driving of the defendant.

“He drove his car across the centre line road markings and as a consequence he struck Ken Usher. We say his driving fell below the standard to be expected of a careful and competent driver.”

Coupland (81), of Winsover Road, Spalding, denies causing the death of Mr Usher by careless driving on February 3, last year.

The jury was continuing its deliberations on Monday afternoon after retiring on Friday to consider its verdict.

A 20-year-old man suffered a face injury after an assault at a popular Spalding nightclub at the weekend.

The man from Holbeach was injured at Loaded nightclub in Westlode Street during the early hours of Sunday morning.

Anyone with information should call police on 101, quoting incident number 126 of June 9.

Retailers in Spalding will be flying the flag on Independents’ Day in the hope of encouraging more residents to support their local shops.

On July 4 – when America celebrates Independence Day – Spalding shops will be coming together to declare the date for the public to shop at independent retailers and celebrate diversity on the high street.

Independents’ Day is a national campaign which aims to give a voice to the UK’s independent retailers.

Members of the Crescent Traders’ Association met last week for an informal discussion on whether they thought there would be enough interest in the town to make July 4 a big event.

Gavin Allmand, director of Hills department store, said: “There were about about 20 members at the meeting and the feedback was very positive.

“A number of the traders from the Crescent said they would be interested in taking part.

“We will be sending out invitations to other independent retailers in the town to see if they would like to be involved.

“It’s very much in the early stages, but we are hoping to hold a meeting with everyone who is interested in taking part to discuss how to co-ordinate activities and promotions on that day.

“We would be hoping local shops would have special offers to tempt people.

“Independents’ Day is a great opportunity to highlight the importance of the High Street.

“By supporting independent businesses, the money goes into the local economy.

“We are no more expensive, get to know our customers personally and, therefore, give a better service. Hopefully, we can get that message out on July 4.”

Two masked men who robbed a post mistress at gunpoint have been jailed for five years.

Sam Holmes (22), of The Knole, Eltham, London, and David Leadbeater (23), of no fixed abode, targeted the village store in Tydd Gote.

Jane Wright, who had been sub post mistress at the shop for 23 years, fought back after the pair brandished what appeared to be guns.

She was kicked in the shins when she refused to help the robbers who fled with just £670.

A jury at Lincoln Crown Court heard the robbers were helped by Leadbeater’s sister, Sasha Cracknell (22), who was living at The Old School House, Allenby’s Chase, Sutton Bridge.

Cracknell, who also admitted growing cannabis in her spare bedroom, was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment suspended for 18 months and ordered to carry out 200 hours’ unpaid work.

The trio had denied robbery following the raid on June 21 but were all found guilty after a trial.

Mrs Wrightsaw two men wearing balaclavas getting out of a car just before 9am. One of the men appeared to have a handgun while the other had a gun two metres in length with a wooden butt.

Mrs Wright was pushed to the floor and kicked in the ankles but refused to reveal the code for the safe.

After the incident Mrs Wright remembered a phone call the day before the robbery asking for the post office opening times. The call was later traced to Cracknell.

The court heard Holmes and Leadbeater are already serving six-year prison sentences for car crimes in Kent.

Judge Sean Morris said he would be awarding Mrs Wright £500 out of public funds for her bravery.

Lawyers fighting the closure of Spalding Magistrates’ Court and sweeping changes in the criminal justice system have won the backing of MP John Hayes.

Mr Hayes is so far the only Lincolnshire MP to agree to meet solicitors who are protesting about a proposed legal system driven by money rather than fairness.

Closure of the Spalding court would mean South Holland defendants and witnesses facing costly and time consuming journeys to other towns – and lawyers fear only three magistrates’ courts will be left to serve the county.

Government cuts in Legal Aid will see four companies awarded cut-price contracts to represent Lincolnshire clients from June next year – and those contracts could go to firms like security company G4S or even transport giant Eddie Stobart.

Leading lawyer Mike Alexander says the criminal justice system will be completely smashed apart and poorer people will be treated unfairly.

Defendants will not have a choice of legal representative – someone will be appointed for them – and all 18 of Lincolnshire’s law firms who do Legal Aid work oppose the changes.

On Friday, Mr Alexander, from Criminal Defence Associates, his colleague Rachel Stevens, and Ringrose solicitor Giles Tyas represented all of the town’s Legal Aid lawyers at a meeting with the South Holland and The Deepings MP.

Mr Alexander said: “He indicated in a very positive way that he was a supporter of all of the courts left in the county and would fight to keep all of the courts open, obviously particularly Spalding.

“As far as he could see there is no Government reason for Spalding to shut.”

Mr Alexander said Mr Hayes was “very sympathetic” to the lawyers’ position on Legal Aid.

“Obviously, he wasn’t making any promises but he said he was going to take it up,” he said. “I was very, very impressed with John Hayes. I actually thought he was very intelligent and demonstrated understanding of the position and cared – more than anything else he cared.”

Mr Hayes told the Free Press he is “absolutely determined” to ensure the Spalding court doesn’t close.

He said: “I believe in the principle of local communities exercising local justice.”

Mr Hayes has already met Lord Chancellor Chris Grayling to ask him to keep Spalding’s court open and will now take up with him issues surrounding Legal Aid, particularly concerning poorer people accessing proper legal representation.

“I personally take that very seriously,” he said. “I have a strong prejudice in favour of the disadvantaged.”

Broadgate Homes is opening up one of its care homes to the public as part of a national event aimed at changing the sector’s profile nationally.

Abbeygate Rest Home in North Street, Crowland, will be open to visitors on June 21 from 10am till 4pm to mark National Care Home Open Day.

Guests will be able to look round the home’s new en suite bedrooms and day care facility, watch residents taking part in various activities and enjoy live entertainment during the afternoon.

Ian Canham, chief executive of Abbeygate Rest Home, said: “National Care Home Open Day coincides with us opening our new first floor en suite rooms that are very spacious, with one even having a sitting room, and a new day care facility.

“We’re sending invites out to various guests, but the home will also be open to the people of Crowland to come in, have a cup of tea and a bit of cake while we show them what sort of things we do at Abbeygate.”

“The main objective of the day is to ensure that the local community is aware of the services we offer.”

The woman behind a new Holbeach fashion business is determined to change the shopping habits of women looking for that special outfit to wear forever.

Jane Rose, of The Clotheshanger Dress Agency, in Boston Road South, is on a mission to make long treks to out-of-town shopping outlets and city centre fashion houses a thing of the past with her commission sales-based business.

She is inviting women to make some money out of quality clothes and accessories they no longer wear by selling them through her agency and making money to spend on clothes they will wear.

Jane said: “If a woman has something in her wardrobe that’s of good quality and she knows she’s not going to wear it again, I can place it in my agency and sell it on a commission basis where 55 per cent of the sale goes to the client and 45 per cent to The Clotheshanger Dress Agency.

“There are dress agencies springing up now because people are more accepting of pre-loved clothes and if they can come in here and pick it up for a fraction of the original price, why shouldn’t the owner let it go and get some money for themselves to buy something they will wear?”

Jane gave up a 25-year career in the food industry to start her agency and she is passionate about making it a success.

“Something that was once an interest is now my business,” she said.

“I’ve lived here all my life and I want Holbeach to be a lovely market town again.”

This week is National Diabetes Awareness Week and mum Gemma Robinson is determined to shout the message from the rooftops.

Diabetes is an issue very close to her heart. She lives with it every minute of every day, although she’s not the one that suffers from it.

Her four-year-old daughter Faith was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was just two.

Unlike type 2 diabetes, which is often linked to lifestyle and more common in overweight people, type 1 is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic predisposition and an environmental trigger.

Gemma says there is no history of diabetes in her family or that of Faith’s dad Paul, but she believes a chest infection a few weeks before her diagnosis may have been the trigger which caused Faith’s diabetes.

She said: “She had been going to the toilet a little bit more often than usual and had a bit of a temperature.

“I couldn’t put my finger on it, I thought she might have a urinary tract infection so I took a urine sample to the doctor, expecting to be told she had a virus, but he tested it and said she had to have a finger prick test.

“They said her blood glucose was 15. I didn’t have a clue what they meant but we had to go straight to hospital, where it was confirmed she had diabetes.”

At the time, Gemma and Paul also had a ten-week-old son, but Faith’s diagnosis meant they had to spend a week in hospital learning how to manage the condition.

Now Gemma,of Elizabeth Crescent, West Pinchbeck, has to control everything which Faith eats and monitor her blood glucose level.

Faith is lucky that for the past year or so she has been fitted with a pump, which delivers insulin into her blood stream via a canular. For ten months before it was issued, Gemma had to inject her daughter with insulin.

She said: “She copes with a lot better than I do, but then she doesn’t understand the complications that can arise.

“At the moment I do everything for her so she doesn’t have to worry, but it’s always in the back of my mind and I worry all the time.”

Last October, Gemma organised a ball to raise money for – and more importantly awareness of – type 1 diabetes.

She wants parents to recognise the symptoms as the disease can occur suddenly in anyone.

And knowing the symptoms and seeking medical help quickly can be the difference between life and death.

She said: “Raising money is fantastic, but awareness is more important.

“I had no idea about the symptoms before Faith was diagnosed.

“We were lucky that she was diagnosed before she became ill, but I have heard of other families where their children have become really poorly before they have been diagnosed.

“That delay can be dangerous, or even deadly.”

Hopes are high that a new foodbank centre will open in Holbeach this year after “positive” talks in the town.

Volunteers interested in helping needy people in the town met with church leaders and councillors at All Saints’ Church on Thursday to discuss plans to set up a satellite centre to Agape Care Foodbank which already has 
bases in Spalding and Long Sutton.

The meeting was chaired by the vicar of Holbeach, the Rev Rosamund Seal, and included a presentation by foodbank co-ordinators from The Lighthouse Church in Haverfield Road, Spalding.

A venue for the new foodbank is still to be found but Mrs Seal is confident that it will be open for business in September.

She said: “I thought the meeting on Thursday was very good and everybody there wanted the foodbank to happen.

“There’s a real will to find a venue and see it happen as soon as possible, but I also think there’s a very strong possibility of providing a lunch on the day it’s open.

“We’re awaiting news of a venue but it looks like it will start running on a Friday in the middle of September.”

During Thursday’s meeting, it was revealed that more than 60 food parcels had been given out to individuals and families from the Holbeach area in the past two years, including 20 so far this year.

Mrs Seal said: “Even before I came to Holbeach as vicar, I thought the town needed a foodbank and a conversation I had at one of the primary schools in the town made it absolutely clear that this is what the town needs.”

Irene Davies, foodbank coordinator in Spalding, said: “I thought it was a really positive meeting and it was good to see so many parts of the comunity there.

“We are excited about the prospect of a new foodbank opening in Holbeach and we are looking forward to working with everybody there to help serve the people of the town.”

Coun Nick Worth, Lincolnshire County Council member for Holbeach, said: “It was nice for me to see people at the meeting who are willing to help people who find themselves in difficult situations.“

Another foodbank meeting is at All Saints’ Church, Holbeach, on July 11, at 7.30pm.

A Spalding shop owner turned up at her business to find someone had been violently over her door.

Before Denise Wales was able to sell Thursday’s edition of the Spalding Guardian from Bargain Books Plus in Station Street, she had to clear up the mess that had splattered across her entrance.

Denise said: “I contacted the council, but they said they couldn’t help because it was on my property and not on the public path.

“It isn’t the first time this has happened, but I have to say it’s not as bad as it used to be.

“I blame the drinkers – but you don’t see so many in town now.”

Local licensee Pete Williams said the reason was street drinkers had been driven elsewhere.

Pete, who owns the Punchbowl and Hole in the Wall pubs, said there was evidence down Chapel Lane where he lives that same morning.

He said: “My wife discovered it. She was coming back to the house and noticed this horrible smell. She looked down and saw this human poo with newspapers that had been used to wipe afterwards – quite a disgusting mess.

“We reported it to the council and they said they would come and clear it. Unfortunately this is not the first time this has happened.

“Drinkers move around. It’s like a floating crap game from Guys and Dolls.

“Police find out where they are and move them on again.

“Street drinking is no longer a problem outside Boots – now it’s our problem.”

Ins Jim Tyner said complaints about street drinking had significantly decreased during the past year.

He said: “We continue to deal with this because the public tell us this is an issue that gives them concern.

“A year ago we were getting a significant number of calls from the public about street drinkers. Operation Trunk is still running and I have officers committed to street and river bank patrols every day.

“In May we only had seven calls from members of the public about street drinking.

“However, I have increased the number of officers attached to Operation Trunk for the summer months and over the same period last year we dealt with 50 drinkers.

“People are still drinking, although they tend to have moved out of public view. The fact that we are receiving significantly fewer calls from the public about street-drinking would suggest our action is having an effect and street drinkers are having less impact on people going about their normal business.

“If you see street drinkers, please call 101 to let us know.”

The Vauxhall ADAM is undoubtedly one of the more interesting small car choices around.

It’s hugely customisable both inside and out and looks strong value for money.

The 1.4-litre engines aren’t that exciting but return decent fuel and emissions numbers.

The nuts and bolts first.

The ADAM rides on a cut down version of the Corsa’s chassis. It’s been extensively re-engineered to suit the demands of the shorter wheelbase but it’s quite a simple setup with a set of MacPherson struts up front while the rear end utilises a torsion beam set-up.

The ride quality is firm although low-speed manoeuvres are easy due to a CITY mode, which increases the electronic power steering system’s assistance at lower speeds.

At higher speeds the steering isn’t the most feelsome system around, but then the ADAM isn’t being targeted at those who might otherwise choose a sporty VXR model. As an urban scoot, it’s nigh-on perfect.

This is a car that’s going to sell largely on whether the styling chimes with new car buyers and Vauxhall certainly can’t be accused of going at it half-cocked.

The ADAM incorporates a ‘floating’ roof which is visually disconnected from the body and which works particularly well with two-tone colour schemes.

Can the Vauxhall ADAM compete with the likes of the Citroen DS3, the MINI and the Fiat 500 in terms of pure style?

That’s a subjective call, but even if you’re not quite convinced, there’s a lot else that could endear the ADAM to you.

The prices are reasonable and if you really want to go to town with personalisation and fun extras – and Vauxhall reckons there are over a million different combinations of options – it’s a car without parallel.

Remember, there’s something about coolness which involves taking yourself quite seriously and not everybody wants to do that with their car. Sometimes it’s fun to just be a bit goofy and not care and the ADAM fulfils that requirement perfectly with its wacky paint finishes, decals and interchangeable trim parts.

While it’s not the most exciting car to drive in its class, it’s soundly engineered and most agree that the styling job is neat and well resolved.

It’s no class leader but it might just have found the wiggle room for a new niche within a niche.

A man will be in court today charged with criminal damage with intent to endanger life following an incident at Bourne’s Grantham and Stamford Conservative Club on Monday.

Paul Leversedge (24), of Marquess Court, Bourne, has been remanded in custody to appear at Grantham Magistrates’ Court this morning.

An elderly motorist accused of causing a fatal crash has been cleared after he told a jury that he was on his correct side of the road when he was involved in a collision which resulted in the death of a cyclist.

Walter Coupland (81), of Winsover Road, Spalding, denied causing the death of cyclist Ken Usher by careless driving on February 3 last year.

The jury of six men and six women cleared him after deliberating for more than six hours at the end of a trial at Lincoln Crown Court.

The collision occurred at lunchtime as Coupland turned left off Broadgate onto Parsons Lane at Whaplode Drove.

At the time he was travelling from Spalding to visit a relative in Throckenholt.

Mr Usher (77), a veteran cyclist who lived in Dowsdale, Crowland, died within minutes of the collision.

At the time of the collision he was out on his daily cycle run riding his custom-built three-wheeler.

Coupland told the jury “I was just my side of the centre white line when the collision occurred.

“You have to take that turning very, very steady. That was what I was doing.

“If you don’t do it like that then you don’t know if there is anybody coming up the road.

“I didn’t expect there would be a collision.

“When the collision happened my windscreen was shattered.

“I didn’t know what it was. It happened so quick.

“In over 50 years of driving I’ve never had a speeding ticket or an accident.

“I’m very sorry for what happened. I did take care. I came round the corner and he was right against the white line.”

Robert Underwood , prosecuting, told the jury the fatal collision was caused by Coupland straying over the centre white line into the wrong carriageway.

He told the jury “Ken Usher was blameless. The cause of the collision was the careless driving of the defendant.

“He drove his car across the centre line road markings and as a consequence he struck Ken Usher.

“We say his driving fell below the standard to be expected of a careful and competent driver.”

A street robber who stole £20 from a woman at a cash machine was jailed for 16 months after being caught shoplifting in Spalding.

Svajunas Blazys (34), moved to South Lincolnshire to make a “fresh start” after receiving a 12 month suspended prison sentence for mugging the woman in Walthamstow High Street, East London.

But Lincoln Crown Court heard less than two months after arriving in Spalding, Blazys returned to crime and was twice caught shoplifting in the town centre.

On the first occasion Blazys stole two duvet sets valued at £36 from the B&M store in Winsover Road.

A day later on March 29 he stole cycle lamps and a set of knives in a block worth £32 from Wilkinsons.

The court heard Blazys had received a 12 month suspended sentence at Snaresbrook Crown Court on February 21 despite having a previous five-year jail term on his record in his native Lithuania.

Neil Sands, mitigating, told the court Blazys had been in work for three years but lost his way after becoming addicted to heroin.

Mr Sands said: “The items he stole in Spalding were simple shop thefts to sell for his addiction.

“Despite his record there was no struggle with a security guard or any aggravating feature.”

Blazys, of no fixed address, admitted two charges of theft and breaking a suspended sentence in March, this year.

Passing sentence Judge Sean Morris said there was no alternative to prison for breaking a court order.

At last we are beginning to see fields looking as though they are growing and will produce a crop at harvest.

It’s been a long cold winter and spring and it has taken until early summer to see any significant growth, although there is still evidence of patches of waterlogging, slug and pigeon damage in many crops. Also there are fields of totally failed crops that have had to be re-drilled.

With this surge of growth we also have the weed infestation and the curse of the cereal farmer is blackgrass. Over the last few years the control of this grass weed has become more difficult due to chemical resistance that comes about because of the usage of similar active ingredients in our armoury of chemicals. Also, last autumn’s weather very often prevented the programme of spraying being carried out as we would have wished.

With spring sown crops, we normally find that particularly grass weeds start to grow during the autumn and winter and can then be removed before we sow the crop. This year, little growth occurred during this period and so both weeds and the crop have now grown together causing a big impact of weeds competing with the crops in many fields that is now impossible to control.

The knock-on effect of this is that weed seed return to soil will be much greater than usual and, unless we see very favourable soil and weather conditions for next year’s crop, the weed pressure will be even worse.

A fire and rescue crew from Spalding was called out to a fire in a hollow tree in Station Road, Surfleet.

The alarm was raised at 9.25pm on Monday.

Firefighters used a water backpack to extinguish the blaze. 
Spalding firefighters were also in action earlier in the day when a skip was on fire in Winsover Road, Spalding. 
Firefighters used one hose reel jet to put out the fire. The time of call was 1.38pm.

Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue gave no cause for the fires.