Well what a week.... most of the UK has been sweltering under 90F temperatures, the royal baby arrived and to top it all the first draft of economic data from the Office for National Statistics reveal that the UK economy (GDP) grew by 0.6 per cent in the second quarter of 2013.

Clients have asked me several times this week about their pension income and what, other than the fund value, can influence how much they will receive. There are three main factors affecting the amount of income that will be payable:

Life expectancy – linked to age, health and, until December 2012, gender: Annuities are a guarantee of an income for life, therefore the rates they’re based on change as life expectancy increases. The younger people are when they retire, the longer they are likely to have in retirement and the longer the annuity is likely to be payable. For this reason, a 60-year-old will generally receive a lower income than a 70-year-old. If the client or the dependant of an annuitant as a medical or lifestyle condition they may qualify for an increased income through ‘enhanced’ terms. This normally pays a higher income. Until December 2012 annuity rates could be based on gender. Generally, females received less income as they lived for longer but since then annuity rates must be on a gender neutral basis by law.

Gilt yields from government bonds: The government issues gilts to raise money and in return they pay a fixed amount of interest. Gilts are traded on the stockmarket and the demand for and supply of them will determine their value. If demand increases then prices rise so yields fall and vice versa. Annuity providers predominately buy gilts to match their annuity liabilities. Therefore, movement in yields will impact the annuity rates offered and lower yields generally means lower rates and vice versa.

Annuity options: They can be single life or joint life; guaranteed or not guaranteed; escalating or level; the frequency of payments; whether payment is in advance or in arrears; with or without overlap. The more options added the lower the income will be. Likewise, the type of option taken has an impact e.g. a ten year guaranteed annuity will pay less than a five year guaranteed annuity and a joint life annuity where there is no reduction on death would pay less than one with a 50 per cent reduction on death.

The following decisions have been made 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 here 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 – July 17

Kathryn Madine, of Balmoral Avenue, Spalding. Failed to notify change of circumstance which would affect housing and council tax benefit and making a false statement to obtain housing and council tax benefit. 12-month conditional discharge, £15 victim surcharge.

Davy Shepherd (23), of Branches Lane, Holbeach. Damaged or destroyed postal packets belonging to Royal Mail. Electronically monitored curfew for three months and 40 hours unpaid work.

July 18

Carlos Jarvis (18), of High Road, Whaplode. Damaged a car (Whaplode), stole a police sign (Whaplode), stole biscuits to the value of £3.99 and cans of Stella to the value of £20 from Tesco (Holbeach). Community order made with 50 hours unpaid work.

Grantham Magistrates’ Court – July 12

Karen Frestle (44), of High Green, Swineshead. No insurance. £600 fine, £60 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified for driving for six months.

Darren Hibbins (40), of Fulney Drove, Spalding. Failed to give driver ID. £600 fine, £60 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for six months.

July 16

Hayley Bailey (42), of Rural Avenue, West Pinchbeck. Speeding (Spalding). £95 fine, £20 v/s, £40 costs, 3pts.

Darren Boughen (34), of Church Drove, Outwell. Driving without due care and attention. £75 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 5pts. No separate penalty for railing to comply with road sign.

Zilvinas Gaigalas (25), of Bear Lane, Pinchbeck. Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence. £200 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Gerald Hilton (46), of Elizabeth Crescent, West Pinchbeck. Speeding (Swineshead). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Aivars Kazaks (30), of Spalding Road, Gosberton. Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence (Spalding). £65 fine. No insurance. £200 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts. No MOT. £65 fine.

John Lannan (49), of Causeway, Wyberton. Speeding (Sibsey). £95 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Jordan Meakins (18), of Winsover Road, Spalding. Defective tyre (Pinchbeck). £135 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts. Insecure battery and damaged tyre. £135 fine.

Perry Parnham (22), of Hardwick Estate, Kirton. No insurance (Boston). £110 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts. Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence. £35 fine.

Colin Pennington (45), of Queensway, St Helens, Merseyside. Speeding (Spalding). £35 fine, £20 v/s, 3pts.

Timothy Smith (46), of Maple Road, Boston. Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence (Deeping St Nicholas). £35 fine. No insurance, £110 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Iain Veitch (38), of Scorer Street, Lincoln. Speeding (Aslackby). £60 fine, £20 v/s, 3pts.

Becky Harvey (28), of Cuckoo Bridge Cross Roads, Spalding. Speeding (Spalding). £80 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 5pts.

Viktors Lizons (55), of Ollard Avenue, Wisbech. Speeding (Whaplode). £40 fine, £20 v/s, £25 costs, 3pts.

Borowiec Pawel (32), of Little London, Spalding. Defective tyre (Spalding). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Bryan Simpson (76), of The Wende, Spalding. Speeding (Pinchbeck). £60 fine, £20 v/s, £25 costs, 3pts.

Luke Stainer (27), of Valewood Lane, Barnes Green, West Sussex. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £150 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 5pts.

Ridley Surtees (87), of High Street, Corby Glen. Driving without due care and attention (Bourne). £500 fine, £50 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Matthew Thomas (50), of Church Terrace, Aylsham, Norwich. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £165 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

July 19

Mahtar Sohna (40), of Sandringham Court, Holbeach. Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence. £35 fine, £20 v/s, £95 costs, 3pts.

Arunas Astrauskas (33), of Argyle Road, London. Speeding (Whaplode). £330 fine, £33 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

July 22

HPM Developments Ltd, of Guildhall Drive, Pinchbeck. Used a cheque which was subsequently dishonoured to buy a vehicle tax disc. £300 fine, £17.92 back duty, £15 v/s , £90 costs.

Paul Verdegaal, of St Margarets, Quadring. Failed to notify DVLA of vehicle transfer. £200 fine, £20 v/s, £90 costs.

Jordan Amos, of Peterborough Road, Crowland. Insurance violation. £200 fine, £20 v/s, £110 costs.

Dyland Brittain, of Five Acre Park, Broad Drove, Gosberton Clough. Failed to notify DVLA of vehicle transfer. £135 fine, £20 v/s, £90 costs.

Mark Hall, of Bull Lane, Long Sutton. Failed to notify DVLA of vehicle transfer. £200 fine, £20 v/s, £90 costs.

John Harvey, of Park Close, Spalding. Failed to notify DVLA of vehicle transfer. £40 fine, £15 v/s, £90 costs.

Jim Johnson, of Spring Gardens, Spalding. Failed to notify DVLA of vehicle transfer. £135 fine, £20 v/s, £90 costs.

Jill Kent, of Pennygate, Spalding. Insurance violation. £200 fine, £20 v/s, £110 costs.

Nathan Lake, of Baulkins Drove, Sutton St James. Unlicensed vehicle. £400 fine, £73.34 back duty, £90 costs.

Philip Parker, of Station Road, Twenty. Failed to notify DVLA of vehicle transfer. £135 fine, £20 v/s, £90 costs.

Lauren Rippin, of Dean Close, Weston. Failed to notify DVLA of vehicle transfer. £200 fine, £20 v/s, £90 costs.

Michael Shailes, of Lincoln Lane, Holbeach. Insurance violation. £200 fine, £20 v/s, £110 costs.

Abbi Walker, of Delph road, Long Sutton. Unlicensed vehicle. £400 fine, £56.67 back duty, £90 costs.

Hayley Wicks, of East Elloe Avenue, Holbeach. Used a cheque which was subsequently dishonoured to buy a vehicle tax disc. £400 fine, £91.67 compensation, £40 victim surcharge , £90 costs.

Spalding’s newest PCSO, Natalie Hines, has been on patrol in Spalding for two weeks now.

The Spalding Guardian caught up with her in the town centre to see how she’s getting on.

As well as stoppping and fining cyclists in the Market Place, she has been on the hunt for street drinkers and giving advice on crime prevention.

You can follow her patrols every week on the Spalding Guardian website.

Excited members of Spalding’s main Methodist church are seeing their vision of it as a 21st century community hub turn into reality this week.

Work has started at Broad Street Methodist Church as part of a £750,000 project to bring it up to date for charities and community groups to use.

The Vision21 project is being done in six phases, starting with roof repairs, high level stonework and improvements to drainage at the church which opened in 1887.

Lu Chappell, a church leadership team member, said: “Work started on phase one of the project on Monday and we’re hoping this part of it will be finished by the beginning of November.

“Then we’ll decide what to do about the next stage which is repairs to the inside of the church.

“We’ve had pledges of about £80,000 from our members towards the work and we’ve raised additional funds of more than £330,000.”

The funds include an English Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £68,000 for roof repairs and stonework so that the church can continue to be used by groups including Age UK, Mencap, a fitness group for the over 60s and the Space4U counselling group.

Other phases of the project include a new lounge at the back of the church, replacing most of the existing pews with chairs to allow greater flexibility in hosting events, a modernised kitchen and new entrance.

Rev Margaret Mwailu, church minister, said: “One of my greatest wishes is to see the church reaching out to people because we can’t just wait for them to come to us.

“Vision21 is challenging and exciting in equal measure for me, as well as for the members of our church.”

In the wake of Britain’s succcess in this year’s Tour de France, two financial advisers from Spalding will following in Chris Froome’s cycling tracks for a mini tour of their own in aid of charity.

Scott Woods and Jon Bingham, who professionally make up Bingham-Woods IFA, will be embarking on a 311 kilometre cycle ride around France in October.

Previously the pair have put their fundraising talents to the test by doing sponsored walks and swims, but this will be the first time the pair have taken to the saddle.

And it is hoped their efforts will boost the coffers of two very good causes – the Samaritans and Pancreatic Cancer Research.

Scott said: “Somebody contacts the Samaritans every six minutes and every call costs the charity £3.83 to answer.

“They desperately need our support to continue to provide their lifesaving service.

“And each year 8,500 people in the UK are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer but it has the lowest survival rate of all cancers and that has not improved in the past 40 years.

“Yet, despite its high death rate and lack of improvement in the chances of survival, pancreatic cancer attracts little research funding in comparison with many other cancers.

“This cause has become very poignant to us at Bingham-Woods as our friend and former employee Alan Rasberry was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in May this year and we lost him six weeks later.”

Scott and Jon’s latest venture will start in the shadow of the famous Mont Ventoux and finish in the Tour de France stage host town of Nice on the Cote d’Azur.

The ride echoes the route of the 100th Tour de France and will see the two cyclists covering more than 300km in three days.

Scott added: “We will not only have the enormous distance and excruciating saddles to overcome, but it will be over mountainous alpine terrain along the way.

“We’re envisaging aching limbs and the sale of Sudocrem to rocket.”

The pair have set themselves a target of raising £1,500 for each charity.

Donations can be made ta the firm’s office in Bridge Street or via the JustGiving website.

Go to http://www.justgiving.com/Scott-Woods to help the Samaritans or http://www.justgiving.com/Scott-Woods1 to help Pancreatic Cancer Research.

Lives could be at risk in three areas of South Holland unless volunteers step forward to support the ambulance service.

A plea has been made for LIVES First Responders in Weston Parish, Holbeach and Moulton so residents calling 999 can have medical help on the scene within the eight-minute target time.

At the moment that target is impossible to achieve and could mean lives are at risk, according to recruitment development officer for South Lincolnshire Stephen Hyde.

He said: “We have responders in Spalding and South Holland but they couldn’t get to these locations within eight minutes. But we could if we can get new people.”

Volunteers will have tree hours pre-training with a local group before three days training at the headquarters in Horncastle, which can be split to fit in with other commitments.

They will then have training with a local group over eight weeks before being active in the new locations, followed by four training sessions a year to maintain skill level.

Once trained in first aid skills and the use of a defibrillator they will be part of the network of 34 groups covering South Lincolnshire.

Nigel Perry, Spalding co-ordinator, said: “Our volunteers play a vital part in the community supporting the emergency services.

“We just need people keen to help and we’ll do the rest.”

Anyone interested should call Stephen Hyde on 07876502999 or Nigel Perry on 07909223951.

Once there is enough interest an open evening will be held at St John Ambulance in Pinchbeck.

Campaigners in Spalding trying to save child heart surgeries at an East Midlands hospital have raised fresh concerns over a review into its future.

NHS England has held talks with charities, medical groups and hospitals during the last two weeks to decide how services for children and adults needing heart surgery are to be organised in England and Wales.

The review was called for by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt after a plan to end child heart surgeries at Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, and two other centres in England was thrown out last month.

But families and politicians supporting Glenfields claim they have been left out of the talks and are pressing NHS England to consult with them about the review which is due to go to the Health Secretary next week.

Francesca Larsson (32) of Stonegate, Spalding, whose daughter Sofia (three) was had surgery at Glenfield, said: “I am concerned about NHS England’s lack of communication with the people that matter - patients and their families.

“Surely it would be better for NHS England to include local support groups, organisations and charities from across the country who have a better grasp of the key issues and concerns of families.

“This would be better than just consulting national organisations who can be removed from the daily realities of living with a child who has congenital heart disease.

A man and woman were taken to hospital after a car and motorbike collided on the A16 in Crowland at the weekend.

The accident happened near the road’s junction with the B1040 Crowland to Thorney road where a Mazda 6 and BMW motorbike collided at about 12.30pm on Saturday.

A 37-year-old man from Spalding who was driving the car suffered a fractured shoulder and a woman (33), also from Spalding, was treated for grazes.

Both were taken to Peterborough City Hospital while the motorbike rider and a sidecar passenger, both from Holland, were unhurt.

The road was closed for more than three hours while emergency services cleared the scene and the road was finally reopened at 3.45pm.

NHS South Lincolnshire 
Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has been awarded full responsibility for planning and buying health services.

The groupis responsible for area including Spalding, Bourne, Market Deeping, Holbeach and Long Sutton.

It is one of four emerging NHS organisations in Lincolnshire that was assessed against 119 criteria as part of a rigorous scrutiny exercise known as authorisation.

In April 2013, NHS England was satsfied with 103 criteria and granted NHS South Lincolnshire CCG authorisation with 16 conditions.

But it has now provided evidence it has the ability to succeed and all conditions have been lifted.

Dr Miles Langdon, chairman of the CCG, said: “We are delighted to be recognised by NHS England for our performance and ability to invest in high quality health services for local people.

“Our CCG provided further evidence of strategic planning, arrangements for finance and governance and partnership working to achieve this.

“The 15 GP practices which make up our CCG will continue to work together to help the people of south Lincolnshire to live longer and healthier lives.”

Overnight road closures on the busy A17 start tonight (Monday, July 29).

Sections of the road will be closed between 8pm and 6am over the next week while Lincolnshire County Council highways carries out resurfacing work.

The areas affected include Long Sutton, Swineshead, Sutton Bridge, Fosdyke and Hoffleet Stow:

Closures are:

* A17 Long Sutton, from the B1190 roundabout to the A1101 roundabout between July 29 and 31 and August 3 and 4.

* A17 Swineshead, from the A1211 to East Heckington on July 29 to 31 and August 4;

* A17 Sutton Bridge, from the A1101 roundabout at Wisbech to Tydd Road between July 30 and August 1, and August 5 and 6;

* A17 Fosdyke, between Sutterton roudabout and Fosdyke village on July 31, August 1, 6 and 7;

* A17 between Bicker Bar and Wigtoft on July 31, August 2, 3 and 7.

On Wednesday, July 31, only three sections will be closed at one time.

Martyn Allen, network and development manager, said: “We appreciate that the A17 is a very busy road, so we will improve the road surface at these locations simultaneously to avoid us having to revisit the road in the near future and ensure that we cause the minimum amount of disruption.”

Thieves have got a way with a caravan and motorbike after separate incidents in Long Sutton over the weekend.

A white four-berth Swift Challenger 510 caravan was stolen from Seagate Road some time between 5pm on Fridat and 11am on Saturday.

Meanwhile, an 05 plated KTM motorbike was stolen from Bull Lane on Friday between 3.20pm and 3.50pm.

Anyone with information should call police on 101.

Police are asking for help from the public after three incidents in the Bourne and Market Deeping areas over the weekend.

Three men in a black Volkswagen Passat were seen acting suspiciously near farm buildings on South Fen Road, Bourne. at about 11.30am on Sunday.

The car sped off when they were seen and farmers are being advised to look out for the vehicle in the area.

Meanwhile in Aslackby, two men thought to be in their early 20s and driving a small blue van were seen in a garden and when approached someonne living there, claimed to be water board workers.

It happened at about 10.30am on Saturday and one of the men is described as being 5ft 10in tall and having a goatee beard.

The van is thought to have a registration number similar to RX10ZW.

Finally, a youth threw an object at a car window in Godsey Lane, Market Deeping, at about 6.30pm on Friday.

Police are trying to trace two people aged 17 to 18, one of whom was wearing a black baseball cap and the other had on burgundy jeans.

Anyone with information should call 101, quoting incident number 212 of July 28 (Bourne), 202 of July 27 (Aslackby) or 450 of July 26 (Market Deeping) incidents.

South Holland District Council has received European funding approval for its £3.5million Grants4Growth business support project, which focuses on competitiveness, resilience and creating the right conditions for growth.

A new business broker will work through the council and the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership to help local businesses access the grants within South Holland District, Boston Borough and the strategic

South East Lincolnshire area. The project will be delivered in partnership with Breckland Council, which already manages a similar successful scheme across much of East Anglia.

Coun Howard Johnson, the district council’s portfolio holder for economic development, welcomed news of the funding approval and said: “This project has clear, attributable economic, growth and resilience benefits for local businesses.”

David Dexter, deputy chairman of the LEP, said : “Small firms are the lifeblood of the Greater Lincolnshire economy ... the message we are hearing from them is that access to finance continues to be a barrier to growth.”

l For further information, email economicdevelopment@sholland.gov.uk

Residents linked arms around Deepings Library and read extracts from their favourite book in protest at its possible closure.


The gentle demonstration in Market Deeping came just days after protestors voiced their objections at a public consultation in Spalding.

Phil Dilks, county councillor for Deeping St James, said: “I’m proud residents refuse to be blackmailed and are making their voices heard against the unfair threat to close our award-winning Deepings Library.”

A drug user told Spalding magistrates “there’s worse things in life than a bit of weed” when he appeared before them on Thursday where he admitted possessing cannabis.

Joshua Bloodworth (22), who gave a “care of” address in Queen’s Road, was found with just half a gram of the class B drug in his possession when he was stopped by police.

They had stopped him to speak to him but smelled cannabis and Bloodworth admitted he had some in his pocket.

The court was told Bloodworth has had a cannabis habit for the past ten years and the drugs were for his own use.

He was fined £75 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

Two men who deny receiving a stolen car worth £20,000 have had their case sent to crown court for trial.

Romas Jonkas (26), of Daniels Gate, Spalding, and Virginijus Makejevas (28), of Little London, Spalding, have been released on unconditional bail until a plea and directions hearing on October 21.

Independent financial advisors Lynas Vokes Investments Ltd have moved to new, all-purpose offices in Holbeach.

The business, which has been helping clients for over 40 years, has left Church Street to set up at Trinity House in Welbourne Lane East.

All the staff have moved from two office locations to the new building, which will cater for all of the staff and client needs.

And to celebrate, South Holland and the Deepings MP John Hayes will officially open the new offices on Monday.

Lynas Vokes can help you with wealth management, wills and estate planning and mortgage planning.

A spokesman said: “Whether your inquiry is on a personal or corporate basis, the major financial decisions that you make will have significant and life-changing consequences.

“It is therefore essential that you seek professional independent financial advice from people you can trust.”

The business has evolved primarily through client recommendations and they offer a wide range of financial planning services to clients and cater for all of their financial requirements.

The company uses state of the art technology to meet all of their client’s financial needs and to achieve their objectives in the most cost effective way.

They also work in partnership with other professional advisors such as solicitors and accountants to meet all of the client financial aspirations.

Lynas Vokes offer advice on a whole range of financial services, including:

* Retirement planning

* Investing for capital growth or income

* Protection against critical illness

* Income protection

* Inheritance tax planning

* Long-term care

* Private medical insurance

* Family protection life insurance

* Tax-efficient planning and mitigation

* School fees planning

* Mortgages

They are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Contact them on the telephone by calling 01406 424950, by fax on 01406 490549, by email at info@lynasvokes.co.uk or visit the website www.lynasvokes.co.uk

Newly revised guidance on keeping children safe on farms has been released by the HSE.

The guidance replaces a withdrawn Approved Code of Practice, but the NFU says there is no change to policy or the law.

The guidance provides advice on reducing the risk of injury to youngsters under 13 and older children below minimum school leaving age.

It also identifies tasks and operations that are too hazardous for children and young people to do and includes examples of real life incidents.

The updated information is timely, with many farms gearing up for harvest when children who are old enough frequently help out.

Staff at a troubled Spalding school have begun the summer break confident they are “beginning to drive change”.

Ofsted inspectors paid a monitoring visit to check progress on improvements since the Sir John Gleed School was put into special measures earlier this year.

In a letter to the school, inspectors said: “The acting headteacher has quickly taken on the leadership of the academy with support from the associate headteacher and the senior team. Together they have set out a clear vision and are beginning to drive change.

“Behaviour has improved as a result of the review of the behaviour policy, shared and clearly understood expectations and more consistent approach to the use of sanctions and rewards.

“A new parents’ forum is providing regular opportunities to discuss the impact of the school’s actions and explore ways that parents can support the school.”

Inspectors believe that both the school’s improvement plan and CfBT Schools Trust – the academy chain responsible for the school – statement of action will address improvements needed.

Acting headteacher Will Scott said: “We are very encouraged by the feedback from Ofsted following this monitoring visit and will be working hard with the whole school community to continue to drive improvements in the next academic year.”

Anna Crispin, schools director for CfBT Schools Trust, said: “The acting headteacher, chairman of governors and senior leaders at Sir John Gleed School have pulled together with parents and the school community to make some rapid improvements.

“We cannot, however, be complacent and our focus continues to be on supporting the school to make sustainable, long-term improvement.”

Parent Naomi Evans says she has already noticed signs of change.

She said: “A lot of the children respect Mr Scott and are working with him on these changes”

Rebecca Thirkell, the parent who called in Ofsted, said: “I believe Mr Scott has the passion, drive and determination to turn things around.

“I think we are more likely to see changes starting in September with the new Year 7 intake. We have to be positive and give the school a chance as well as giving them all our support.”

A sick and frail 87-year-old says her health has improved and a “weight has been lifted off her shoulders” afterrepairs were made to her mouldy bathroom.

At the beginning of July, the Lincolnshire Free Press featured the story of Joyce Pitts, of Farrow Drive, Holbeach, whose bathroom was covered in mould, had a rusty grab rail and a shower that spouted either freezing cold or boiling hot water.

Friend Christine Crane, who lives close to Joyce’s sheltered bungalow, said she had been fighting for more than nine months to get repairs done by South Holland District Council and because the delays had been making Joyce’s health worse.

But, on the day the Lincolnshire Free Press came out Joyce’s shower was fixed and Christine said since then the mould has also been covered over.

She said: “We had a phone call the day after the council was contacted by the Lincolnshire Free Press to say they were coming to fix it and that happened on the day the paper came out.

“Joyce now has a new shower, hand rail, the ceiling’s all been done and she has a new hand basin.

“It’s all down to the Lincolnshire Free Press getting involved and Joyce is over the moon.

“Her health is a lot better because it’s a great weight off her shoulders and because she’s not living in all that mould.

“Now she can have a shower and feels a lot safer, and we had a visit from a councillor to say we can go to her if we have any more problems.

“I’m just hoping they have solved the problem rather than just covering it up.”

A spokesman for South Holland District Council said Mrs Pitt’s bathroom problems had been brought to the attention of Coun Christine Lawton, portfolio holder for Housing Landlord.

She said: “We were addressing some of these issues before the council was contacted by the Lincolnshire Free Press and the work had already been scheduled.

“We regret that there was delay in getting the job done due to some leave and that it caused some difficulties for Mrs Pitts, but we’re pleased that everything is now resolved.”