Police are trying to trace a group of men after objects, including a hammer, were thrown at taxis parked in Spalding town centre.

Two taxis were damaged while parked at the junction of Red Lion Street and New Road, near The Punchbowl, when the incident happened some time after 1am on Monday.

A hammer was later recovered by police who are treating the incident as criminal damage and anyone with information should call 101, quoting incident number 7 of August 5.

Meanwhile, two vehicles had their wing mirrors damaged while parked in Westlode Street car park on Friday some time between 1.45pm and 9pm.

Anyone with information should call police, quoting incident number 510 of August 2.

Police are looking for vandals who damaged a vehicle parked in Red Lion Street, Spalding, on Saturday afternoon.

It is thought to have taken place some time between 2.30pm and 3.30pm and anyone with information should call police on 101, quoting incident number 301 of August 5.

Drivers faced rush hour delays in Market Deeping after a lorry went off the road and caused a fuel spillage on the A15 today.

It happened near the junction with the A1175 where the lorry’s fuel tank was damaged after the accident at about 8.45am this morning.

The road was closed for more than three hours while the road was cleared and it was finally reopened at 12.10pm.

No one was hurt in the accident.

Police have heralded the success of taking another burglar off Spalding’s streets – despite it taking four years to get him to court.

Mateusz Kurek was one of two men who raided the Park Road home of a disabled couple as they watched television upstairs in January 2009.

The pair stole a number of items including two mobile phones, keys, a purse, cheque books, bank cards and £40 cash.

The victims were alerted to what had happened by a neighbour and when the disabled woman checked the house, she discovered a flat screen television was missing from downstairs, as well as her handbag.

The raiders fled to an address in Winsover Road where police discovered Kurek rifling through the contents of the handbag.

Kurek (31), of Edinburgh Drive, Spalding finally appeared at Lincoln Crown Court last week, where he admitted the burglary.

The court was told that Kurek had failed to attend court in 2009 and was only arrested on a warrant in June of this year, despite continuing to live at the same address.

He also admitted failing to surrender to bail.

He was given a nine-month jail sentence suspended for 18 months with 280 hours of unpaid work.

A second man involved was given an eight-month jail term suspended for 18 months with unpaid work when he appeared at the crown court in March 2010.

Sunil Khanna, defending, said Kurek had no previous convictions either in this country or his native Poland.

He urged that Kurek should receive a similar sentence to his co-accused.

Spalding Police refused to comment on why it had taken so long to arrest Kurek on warrant after he failed to appear at the original court hearing.

Det Insp Richard Myszczyszyn said: “I am unable to comment on why Kurek was not arrested until some time later, but I would like to celebrate the court result in that it has taken another burglar off our streets.

“To reassure the public, rather than focus on the negatives of this relatively minor issue, it is still a good result.”

A call has been made for stronger action to clear Spalding’s streets of spitting.

The “truly filthy habit” has been highlighted as a major scourge in the town centre, prompting one district councillor to call for anyone caught doing it to face an on-the spot fine.

At a meeting of South Holland District Council last week, Coun Angela Newton asked if members if they would consider looking into the introduction of a new by-law, as recently adopted by other council across the country.

Recently the London Borough of Enfield had applied to the Secretary of State for Local Government Eric Pickles for provisional approval to introduce such a by-law, which would make spitting in the street a criminal offence, and received cross-party support.

A new by-law would put spitting in the same category as dog fouling and urinating in the street.

In other areas where by-laws have been introduced, people caught spitting are fined £80.

Mr Pickles said: “Spitting is a deeply anti-social and unpleasant practice.

“Spitting in Britain’s streets is not socially acceptable.”

Enfield could see its new by-law introduced as soon as next month.

It would make it an offence to spit in the street “without reasonable excuse”. It would not cover spitting into a handkerchief or tissue.

Coun Newton said: “Could we pick up on this because spitting in the street is a pretty disgusting habit.”

Portfolio holder for regulatory services Malcolm Chandler replied that by-laws are “becoming things of the past”, but said the Government was looking at replacing existing Designated Public Place Orders (DPPOs), which can restrict the consumption of alcohol, with a Community Protection Order (Public Space), which would help tackle a range of anti-social behaviour including spitting.

Following the district council meeting, Coun Gary Taylor, whose Castle ward includes the town centre, said he believed the majority of people would support taking stronger action against the problem.

He said: “Spitting in the street is a truly filthy habit.

“We should all treat our environment and streets with respect.

“It may be accepted in some cultures, but we do not tolerate graffiti, litter or spitting.

“The message needs to be sent out that you will be fined if you treat our streets like a toilet.

“Hopefully that would make certain people think again before forcing us all to suffer because of their lack of respect.”

Two fork lift trucks have been stolen from a business in West Pinchbeck overnight.

The 1.8 tonne TCM forklift vehicles were stolen from a premises in Fengate Road some time between 7.30pm on Monday and 7.15am this morning.

Both trucks are grey and yellow, with red writing, and anyone with information should call police on 101, quoting incident number 74 of August 6.

There was a strong police presence in Gosberton earlier today as a search was carried out at an address in the village.

At least three police vehicles were seen outside a house in High Street before 9am this morning when it is thought a search was being conducted in connection with an arrest of a suspect made by another police force.

There are no details of the force involved nor what the arrest was in connection with.

Dogs are having a ‘big day out’ with the latest craze in South Holland to take them along to weddings.

Man’s best friend no longer has a woof deal being left at home, but gets to walk down the aisle and even sit in the choir.

Meg, a four-and-a-half-month-old spaniel hearing dog puppy, is a regular at Crowland Abbey every Sunday and got top marks for behaviour at the wedding of teachers Peter Bellamy and Penny Marshall on Thursday.

Peter (26) said: “Meg was sat in the choir every week when we came to church for the reading of the banns and the first thing Penny did was say hello.

“She just fell in love with her and asked if she could come to the wedding.

“We left our Westie Tosh at home but he is joining us later in his bow tie.”

Choir member Rosemary Bristow, who fosters and trains Meg, said this was the dog’s first wedding.

She said: “I take Meg to church every week and she sits with me in the choir and Penny just loves her.

“She asked if Meg could come along to the wedding and the vicar agreed it would be all right.

“Taking Meg with me is all part of her socialising training.

“Everyone loves making a fuss of her and she’s very excited today – but she also has to learn basic commands and to behave.”

Duke, a 16-month-old border terrier, walked down the aisle at the wedding of Laura Brown and Jim Williams – son of Punchbowl pub owners Pete and Stephanie Williams.

The wedding took place at St Mary and St Nicolas Church in Spalding and Laura said: “We don’t have any children yet and Duke is our baby so naturally we wanted him there.

“He gave a little whimper when he saw me but he was really well behaved.

“When we signed the register he came and sat with me – we’d have had the cats there too if we thought they would have behaved.”

Laura met Jim when she was working at the Punchbowl and it was there that she first saw Duke too. She said: “A friend brought Duke into the pub and I fell in love with him.

“I kept on at Jim that I wanted him but he said we had cats and we couldn’t.

“But I went away for the weekend and Jim came to meet me he had Duke in his arms.

“It was a really romantic surprise.”

Duke now has a three-day honeymoon in Wales to look forward to. Laura said: “We couldn’t leave him.”

Couples can have Meg at their wedding or see her in the choir at Crowland Abbey for a few months yet before Rosemary hands her over to a person with a hearing disability.

Rosemary said: “She’s about to have her first assessment on basic commands such as sit, wait and heal work.

“Meg is the third hearing dog I’ve fostered and everyone loves her. People ask me how I will be able to hand her over, but I say it’s just like saying goodbye to your children when they go off to university.

“I cried for two days when I said goodbye to my last dog and I’m sure I will when it’s time to let Meg go. But then you start all over again.”

For more information on hearing dogs, call 01844 348100.

Councillors in Crowland are ready to emulate their forefathers and make bold decisions to secure the town’s future.

The challenges facing the parish council are being outlined in a special roadshow being held tomorrow (Wednesday).

In a colourful flyer to attract residents, challenges are listed as sustainability under threat, Localism and Big Society pressures, services under threat and reserves at risk.

To raise the £50,000 a year it needs, it states the council needs improved sustainable returns on investments and costs to be put under scrutiny.

Bold decisions could include entering the renewable energy market and installing a small scale wind turbine on farmland between the town and Nene Terrace, east of the A16.

Rewards are outlined as excellent value-for-money services, maintaining and enhancing green spaces for all ages, more jobs to reduce need for commuting, local burial facilities, rental accommodation for elderly and commercial land opportunities.

Ros Knight, chairman of the parish council said: “We have reserves following the sale of land for the bypass but we can’t keep chipping away at the family silver.

“We hope as many residents as possible come along to the roadshow and give us some input.”

Residents are being invited to pop along to the Hall Street Parish Rooms from 4pm to 9pm.

As open cars go, the Citroen DS3 Cabrio isn’t the most committed thing, but instead pursues compromise with some determination.

The folding fabric section of the roof leaves all of the side pillars in place so you still get the DS3’s sharky silhouette with a modicum of soft top feel.

It’ll appeal to those who think they might like a soft top sometimes. A little bit. And in e-HDi diesel form, a little sensibility is added to the mix too.

The e-HDI 90 Airdream variant we’re looking at here is currently the sole diesel DS3 Cabrio option, with a 1.6-litre HDi unit game enough to propel the car to 62mph in 12.5s.

Although the driving position may not suit everyone with its widely spaced and slightly offset pedals (and the view to the rear is heavily compromised when the roof is folded down), the DS3 Cabrio’s inherent rigidity means that it doesn’t lose a great deal to its had top sibling in terms of handling ability – and the roof adds just 25kg to its weight. Wind buffeting can usually be overcome by adjusting the position of the fabric roof slightly. It’s very flexible – in that regard at least.

Perhaps calling this car a ‘cabrio’ is going a bit far. If we were being entirely truthful, it’s a DS3 with a giant fabric sunroof that slides back into a rather ungainly concertina. Still, what it lacks in engineering boldness it makes up for in ease of use and even a degree of practicality.

The roof is easy enough to use. Just prod a button by the rear-view mirror and it’ll do its thing at speeds of up to 75mph. That’s because it just runs back in its tracks without folding like a conventional soft top. A second press of the same button will send the roof right back over the rear seats.

The Citroen DS3 Cabrio isn’t exactly rocket science. In fact, some might accuse it of being slightly lazy car design; that it’s a half-baked attempt at making an open-topped car. They would be missing the point though.

This is the sort of car that many buyers in this country want and here’s why. We don’t get to drop the tops too often in a country where it can rain for 200 days in a year. Therefore it doesn’t really make much sense lugging around a 200kg folding hard top roof for the rest of the time. The DS3 Cabrio represents an elegant solution that retains most of the character and style of the hatchback model it’s based on.

If you’re really intent on getting the full al fresco experience, it might disappoint a little. There are still door pillars to look past. If you’re okay with that and just want to feel the sun once in a while without the wobbly body or lumpen styling of most small cabriolets, this one could be a winner, an especially sensible choice in e-HDi diesel form. I’d back the DS3 Cabrio to be one of the outside successes of this year.

A 35-year-man has been cautioned by police after resisting attempts to rescue him from the River Welland in Spalding.

Water rescue specialists from Spalding and Bourne, along with firemen from Holbeach, were called to reports of a man in the river off Love Lane at about 7.45pm on Monday.

The man later climbed out of the river himself and was arrested by police for being drunk and disorderly.

A Lincolnshire Police spokeswoman said: “Officers attended at 7.45pm and ended up arresting a man for being drunk and disorderly as he was being uncooperative to rescu attempts.

“He was later released with a caution.”

A colony of 60 hungry and sick cats and kittens in Crowland are being rescued in a major operation involving a number of charities after a plea from a Lincolnshire Free Press reader.

The animals are roaming fields in Cloot Drove because their home is a filthy barn with “inadequate food and water”.

Lucy Milbank appealed to us to find help because some of the older ones were prowling the estate where her mother lives, frightening the local cats.

She said: “We have actually taken one in lately ourselves – taken it to the vets and paid for the kitten to get better. They are now looking after the poor soul.

“They are all hungry and look so ill. It’s a sad sight to see. The winter is coming and if something doesn’t get done, they will die.”

The Free Press joined Phil Newhouse, of PJ Rescue in Long Sutton, to investigate.

Inside the barn we found 13 cats and kittens, some showing signs of sickness and neglect.

Mr Newhouse said: “I can see 13 in the nest, which indicates there are probably 60 in the colony.

“There are bowls here but not a scrap of food, so some will be hunting or scavenging.

“Only the brave, frail or young stay.”

l Turn to page 8.

Mr Newhouse called the RSPC from the barn, but the line was continuously busy and so he rang PJ Rescue headquarters to report what had been found and discuss what action to take.

He said: “We’ve been hearing about a colony in Crowland for a long time but didn’t know where it was.

“In cases like this we call on the help of other cat rescue groups and plan to get as many out and neutered as we can.”

A resident out walking her dog came to see what was going on. She said: “The barn belongs to a retired farmer and the cats are fed every day.”

She directed us to the home of the owner’s sister, who lives in Crowland.

When we visited her, Mr Newhouse explained he was there to offer help and not to prosecute.

The sister said the RSPCA had visited and offered to take some away. She said: “In the end they didn’t. They are farm cats - there have always been some up there and they are fed and given water.

“But if you want to take them, then take them. Just leave the old tabby tom - he’s been there forever.”

Mr Newhouse said he was happy to return a few when they had been neutered.

The first cats and kittens were removed yesterday (Monday) and the operation is expected to take several days. If you are interested in taking on one of the cats or kittens, call Mr Newhouse on 07866 060951.

Spalding hair stylist Pep Pasqualino is following in the footsteps of Sir Tom Jones, Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra by hosting a show in Las Vegas.

Pep, owner of Image International hair salon in Red Lion Street, flew out to Sin City yesterday to take centre stage in front of about 3,500 of the world’s top hairdressers for The Gathering 2013.

The glittering two-day show at the world-famous Caesar’s Palace Hotel will see Pep and two other UK hair salon owners present a special hair collection called London’s Calling.

It will feature hair cutting, colours, styling and fashion inspired by the capital, iconic British symbols such a red telephone boxes and music legends such as The Beatles, Oasis and The Who.

Pep said: “This is the biggest thing to have happened in my career to date and it’s a huge honour to be invited to present our own collection on behalf of Paul Mitchell who is hosting the event.

“I’m one of just six hairdressers from outside America who have been invited, for the first time in the event’s history, to host our own classes and present our own collection, rather than one provided by Paul.

“It’s huge honour and I’m really looking forward to presenting the finished article.”

Hairdressers from Australia, Europe and South America are expected to attend the sell-out event which starts on Sunday and where Pep will show off his collection four times.

He said: “It’s been lovely to hear that our class has been so well-received.”

The Coastguard Rescue Station at Sutton Bridge is to have boosted communications if planners agree to an arial installation.

HM Coastguard wants to install a five-metre high aerial with a 2.7 metre VHF co-linear dipole on the building in Fleet Road Industrial Estate.

South Holland District Council will make a decision on the application by September 29.

It’s coming up fast to harvest time, so farmer is concerned that yields may not be as good as he would like given last year’s very difficult conditions.

On a global scale, we no longer have butter, wheat and sugar mountains, and given that this year’s harvest in most of the grain producing countries of the world is guessed to be at least a third down, on average, do we have enough food to feed the world or, specifically, do we have enough food to feed the United Kingdom?

Will producing “meat” using stem cells help? Will it have as much iron as red meat or maybe that doesn’t matter any more? In future will our cattle be slaughtered so that our beef burgers and mince come from stem cells? But our steaks, where will they come from?

If stem cell beef burgers hit the supermarket shelves will they contain the right nutrients and how will they be priced? (Who will benefit?)

Food banks trouble me in my day-to-day job. I work in Stamford and I work with many who are less privileged than most, and many of my families are now totally dependent on the food that they get from food banks. Is this ethical?

While farmer finds his sleep disturbed by the weather, I worry about our food production and our ability to feed people appropriately.

P.S. In my last article I raised the issue of what to do with slugs. I now have the answer: we sell them as pre-shelled snails! (Thanks Mike).

Spalding’s Ayscoughfee Hall School aims to create an outdoor learning space by improving a playground.

The school aims to install a parasol and gazebo, artificial grass and raised planters.

South Holland District Council will make a decision on a planning application by September 24.

Complaints about boozing and loud parties on Coronation Channel riverbank are being followed up by police.

A number of reports concerning people drining alcohol and causing a nuisance to residents have been received and anyone with information should call police on 101.

Spalding fuel company Rix Petroleum is running a scheme to help the district’s farmers control their costs during harvest time.

The price of fuel fluctuates daily, particularly at times of high demand such as harvest time.

For the second year running the company, based on Welland Business Park at Clay Lake, is allowing farmers to order their entire stock of diesel in one day and Rix Petroleum will store it until it’s needed.

The scheme, popular last year, means farmers are not exposed to the turmoil in the oil markets. That in turn allows them to plan costs better and avoid price hikes.

James O’Brien, a consultant with the Spalding office of property and business consultants Brown & Co, has been appointed president of the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV).

James took over the role at the CAAV’s recent annual general meeting.

James says he is looking forward to his year in office in what he believes to be exciting times, with the CAAV currently enjoying a record membership of around 2,500.

He said: “When the call came to join the presidential team two years ago, it was a complete surprise. I’ve very much enjoyed my time as junior vice-president and vice-president and feel very proud to become president. I’m honoured and privileged.

“It promises to be a very interesting year with CAP Reform very much on the agenda.”

James first came to the area in 1986, joining White & Kingston, which then merged with William H Brown. He became a partner of Brown & Co when it was founded in 1993.

Checks are to be carried on South Holland households claiming a single person’s discount on their Council Tax bill.

Residents claiming the 25 per cent reduction and whose circumstances have changed are being urged to contact South Holland District Council or they could be fined up to £70.

This is part of an ongoing review to validate legitimate claims and remove those being claimed in error or fraudulently.

The discount, worth at least £240 a year, is given to anyone who claims to be living in a property on their own – currently 11,449 people in the district.

District councillor Gary Taylor, whose portfolio includes revenues and benefits, said: “We will be contacting all those we believe to be claiming incorrectly. I would urge anyone whose circumstances have changed to contact us immediately on 01775 761161.”