UPDATE WEDNESDAY 5.30PM: More details have emerged about a car which burst into flames after a crash in Long Sutton today.

The driver, an 83-year-old man from Long Sutton, had a lucky escape after the car he was driving left Bridge Road and went into a ditch when the blaze broke out.

Firemen from Long Sutton used hose reels to put out the fire which was caused by an electrical fault after the crash, but the car was virtually destroyed.

WEDNESDAY 2.30PM: An 83-year-old man from Long Sutton was taken to hospital after a car crash in Long Sutton today.

He was driving a Ford Focus when it crashed and caught fire on Bridge Road at about 10.15am.

Police, fire and ambulance crews attended the scene and the man was taken to hospital, but ism’t thought to be seriously injured.

It was like leaving family when Mervyn Lane – known as Ogy – retired from Glenside Nurseries at West Pinchbeck.

Ogy retired after 50 years at the same business, having worked with four generations of the Chappell family.

He started as a 16-year-old at a time when horses were still used on what was then an arable farm. On retiring from what became a nursery, Ogy says he has seen changes, not all for the best, such as health and safety regulations.

Ogy worked first with Harold Chappell and his son Maurice and then Maurice’s brother Bryn and, in recent years, Adrian and his son Matt.

Ogy lives very close to the nursery at Glenside South, but Adrian says: “He always came in the car. He was always very reliable and he’d do anything for anybody and has done virtually every job going on the nursery.”

A party was held for past and present employees and retirement gifts handed over.

Ogy said: “It’s like a family. I was a bit upset really because some of them I have been with for quite a while.”

Ogy plans to keep busy with fishing, clay pigeon shooting and his work at the Tulips ground.

Pictured at the retirement party are: back (from left): Nicola Chappell, Blanche Robinson, Gavin Ellerby, Denise Bradford, Matt Chappell, Ogy’s partner Bridget Croft, Thomas Bateman, Michelle Coaten, Rosalind Coupland; front – Adrian and Susan Chappell, Ogy Lane, Vera and Maurice Chappell.

Shops and supermarkets must work with growers to ensure more British fruit and veg ends up on our plates, the NFU has said.

New figures show self-sufficiency in 2012 had fallen to 56 per cent, partly due to poor weather.

Flood warnings for people across South Holland will be improved with the installation of a £5million tide gauge in The Wash off Sutton Bridge.

The Environment Agency plans to add the ‘Class A’ gauge to a network of 43 around the British coast once tests show it is working properly. It will be installed next year.

An Enviroment Agency spokesman said: “Installing a tide gauge in The Wash will allow us to monitor tide levels locally in real time and more accurately understand how they may affect tidal rivers such as the Witham/Haven, River Welland and River Nene.

“This will in turn help us to improve our flood warning service to local communities around The Wash.

“More accurate tide level observations will also develop our knowledge of coastal monitoring and how it may be affected by longer term changes in climate.”

The former Lloyds TSB Bank in West Street, Long Sutton, was re-launched this week as a TSB.

Customers in the town are among four-and-a-half million nationwide who have moved from Lloyds TSB following a ruling from the European Commission, which wanted to see more competition.

It is one of the biggest changes ever seen in UK banking.

Families are one big headache for car designers. These are groups of people with contrasting views and needs who all share the same car.

While one family member wants a vehicle to look good and drive with a little verve, another might want seats that are easy to fold down and lots of storage space.

Certain factions in the family won’t give two hoots about any of that.

They’ll be are more interested in the maximum volume of stereo system, the quantity of 12-volt charging points for games consoles, whether their bikes will fit in the boot or how long it takes to colour-in the back of the headrest with a felt tip pen.

Pleasing all of the family all of the time sounds impossible but Ford’s C-MAX MPV is up for giving it a good go. There’s nothing old fashioned about the C-MAX engine range, Ford having fitted a collection of leading edge powerplants littered with the kind of technology that the layman has no hope of understanding.

There are 1.6-litre Ti-VCT petrol units with independent variable camshaft timing and 1.6-litre EcoBoost SCTi engines that also run on unleaded but also feature a low-inertia turbocharger. The diesels are 1.6 or 2.0-litre in capacity and share Ford’s TDCi high pressure common-rail direct injection technology.

The standard C-MAX is very similar in size to the model it replaced and features a curving roofline that drops away towards the rear for a sporty look. The Grand C-MAX is fully 4,520mm long with a wheelbase increased by 140mm compared to the standard car. It’s also 40mm taller and these extended dimensions allow it to cram in that third row of seating.

The roof line is flatter and the window pillars are thinner to enhance the view out of the Grand C-MAX but the other major difference is that, while the C-MAX has conventional rear doors, the Grand C-MAX employs sliding doors on its flanks.

This creates wider apertures for improved access to the rear seats and eliminates the risk of children clouting adjacent cars when they clamber out in the car park.

The design inside the C-MAX looks slick. In line with the other modern Fords, there’s plenty of metallic detailing and the quality of fit and finish seems high.

It’s the C-MAX seats that will provoke the most interest, however, as the designers clearly did a lot of work on maximising versatility.

In the Grand C-MAX the sliding side doors mean it’s possible to access the third row without sliding or tilting the outer seats in the second row.

There’s also a clever feature where the centre seat in the second row can collapse under the right hand seat, giving a six-seater layout with walk-through access to the rear.

The five-seat models don’t miss out.

They get the same seats which tumble down individually in one motion to create a flat floor: there are just less of them.

It was clear what the Ford C-MAX needed to really make it big in the compact MPV sector and that was seven seats.

Today, the Grand C-MAX fulfils that requirement, leaving the standard model free to tread a smaller, sportier path.

The family buyers that the C-MAX is targeting are a demanding bunch but the good looks, spacious cabin and eye-opening versatility of the current range seems certain to convince a fair number of them.

Business start-ups and micro businesses in Bourne and Market Deeping will benefit from free advice in a new scheme launched by South Kesteven District Council.

The council is partnering LincolnsHire Chamber of Commerce, which will deliver business support through web-based links and a free phone number for one-to-one advice and booking meetings with a counsellor.

The district council’s portfolio holder for grow the economy, Coun Frances Cartwright said: “We have listened to small business owners and recognised their need for support.

“We are delighted that with the help of Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce we can offer this alongside our other initiatives.”

The chamber is taking support out on the streets by going to markets, Job Centres and business networking groups.

Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce chief executive Simon Beardsley said: “According to our most recent business survey, the Quarterly Economic Survey, business optimism is at its highest since 2007.

“The English Business Survey conducted by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has announced that output for this quarter is up 32 per cent, the highest since 2011, and that the East Midlands is posting the strongest performance of all regions in the UK.

“All this points towards recovery and growth for the district and Lincolnshire as a whole but, with growth, there is an ongoing need for business support and this is what Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce will be delivering with South Kesteven District Council.”

l For more information visit www.skdc4business.co.uk or speak to an adviser on 0300 300 0030

Traffic is flowing freely over Spalding’s Winsover Road level crossing following a problem with the barrier.

Shortly after 5pm, a barrier was stuck in the down position and the problem was expected to persist for several hours.

Drivers were being urged to find alternative routes.

Schools in South Holland may be forced to close on Tuesday, October 1 as teachers go on strike.

The two biggest teaching unions are walking out across the East Midlands in a row over pay, pensions, working conditions and jobs.

An all-out national strike – on a date yet to be announced in the autumn term – will follow.

Individual schools will be left to make the call on whether or not to close, but one South Holland headteacher says it’s too early to say what impact the strikes will have.

Doreen Bamford, acting head at Spalding High School, said: “We have dealt with this before when there has been strike action and what we have tried to do is keep the school open for at least a proportion of the students.”

Lincolnshire County Council school services manager David Robinson said schools sometimes won’t know until the day of the strike whether they must close.

He said: “In times of strike action it is up to individual schools to make preparations for the loss of staff and make a decision on whether there is enough cover to enable the school to stay open safely.

“The health and safety of pupils is the most important thing.

“It is not clear that union officials have to let school managers know which staff are striking and sometimes this can lead to schools having to make a decision on the day.

“However, when strike action has happened before, in nearly all cases school staff in Lincolnshire have given their schools plenty of notice that they will be taking strike action, allowing alternative plans to be put in place at an early stage.”

The NUT and NASUWT are protesting about cuts in their pensions and reforms that will see pay linked to pensions and headteachers given “greater flexibility” over salaries.

It’s easy to bake with Fairtrade ingredients, according to South Holland Fairtrade Group chairman Sarah Chadd.

She says Fairtrade ingredients are widely available in supermarkets and smaller shops.

These days, it’s possible to buy Fairtrade rice, pasta, all the different sugars, dried fruits, Golden Syrup, chocolate and other ingredients.

Sarah said: “By choosing to buy these products people know they are getting a good quality product and that the person who produces either the main ingredient or the whole thing has received a fair price for their product, and one that covers their productions costs.

“Also there is a premium on top that they can use in their communities or cooperative, because quite often these small producers come together to form cooperatives.”

South Holland Fairtrade Group holds a coffee morning each year but is holding a second on October 16 (9.30am) at the Spalding council offices.

There were no soggy bottoms in evidence when South Holland’s cooks presented their entries in the Fairtrade Chocolate Bake Off.

Fans of TV’s The Great British Bake Off will recognise the soggy bottom reference and will be familiar with another piece of baker extraordinaire Mary Berry lore: cakes are healthy too, you just eat a thin slice.

However, the willing taste testers assembled at St Mary & St Nicolas Church hall in Spalding seemed happy to overlook that particular piece of wisdom as they tucked into cookies, brownies and cakes with one thing in common – they were made using Fairtrade ingredients.

In fact, the judging – performed by this writer – was based not just on appearance, taste and suitability for serving at a coffee morning, but on the number of Fairtrade ingredients used in the recipe.

“It’s very easy,” said South Holland Fairtrade Group chairman Sarah Chadd. “You don’t have to come up with innovative recipes. It’s just looking to see where you can use Fairtrade in your favourite recipes. You can convert your own recipes just by looking at the ingredients.”

As always, judging was difficult because the entries all looked and tasted delicious.

However, the brownies made by five-year-old Noah Wadsworth, of Spalding, were judged to be the winner in the under six category.

They contained lots of Fairtrade goods and would be perfect to serve at a coffee morning – and in fact the recipe will be served at the Fairtrade coffee morning to be held at South Holland District Council’s offices in Spalding during National Chocolate Week. It’s on Wednesday, October 16 (9.30am to 11.30am) and everyone’s invited.

Joining Noah’s brownie recipe at the coffee morning will be the cookie recipe from winner in the seven to 13 group Holly Rodgers, of Moulton Chapel, and the recipe for chocolate Victoria sandwich by Janette Kenneally, of Spalding, who won the adult category.

Winners received recipe books and Fairtrade chocolate, and runners-up Amber Godfrey (nearly 8), of Gosberton Clough, and Carrie Rands (10), of Donington, received bars of Fairtrade chocolate.

South Holland Fairtrade Group secretary Kay King explained: “Baking is quite popular at the moment and there is a National Chocolate Week in October and so we came up with the idea for this Fairtrade Chocolate Bake Off.”

Changes to South Holland District Council’s waste and recycling collection have been positively received.

About 6,000 households had their collection day altered for black and/or green sacks in a move which brought about efficiency savings through route changes and the use of one less vehicle.

In another change designed to improve collection rates, the bank holiday at the end of August was the first time the council had collected on a Monday.

Previously, residents had been asked to put out their sacks two days earlier.

Coun Roger Gambba-Jones, portfolio holder for waste management, said: “These changes were brought in to make efficiency savings and increase collection rates.

“It has gone remarkably well and the result of everyone’s endeavour will be seen in due course.”

The district council carried out an extensive communications programme about the changes, including leaflet drops to households.

A council spokesman said: “We would like to thank the residents affected by the changes for making the transition so smooth.

“We did receive complaints from a very small number of residents who were unaware of the collection day change due to not receiving a leaflet, for which we apologise, but on the whole it went extremely well.”

The Christmas and New Year collections are not included in the new bank holiday collection arrangement.

Visiting and asking lots of questions is the best way to compare schools and find the most effective and suitable for your child.

Research shows that an effective school will be well-ordered, with good leadership from the head, enabling other staff both to teach well and to take part in development of the school.

The head should be accessible and accountable, and meeting him or her is key to understanding what the school is about.

Go along to as many relevant open days as you can with your child who’s due to start primary or secondary education next September.

If any aren’t convenient, make your own appointment to look round on a school day.

Some points to look out for:

l Do you get an impression of a purposeful working environment?

l Do students you meet seem secure, happy and engaged?

l Are they encouraged by praise rather than punishment?

l Is the school well-maintained?

l Is it usually over-subscribed, and does it have plans to change its size and/or structure in the future?

l How often each week do students do PE and what sporting opportunities are open to them?

l How many are there in a class or teaching group?

l How is school transport arranged?

l What out of school and lunchtime opportunities are there?

l Is there a supervised after-school club where children can go if you don’t get out of work to pick them up straight away?

l Are there good facilities for music and drama tuition?

l Are policies in place to deal with bullying and anti-social behaviour?

l How are special needs catered for?

Recycling is good, but reusing is even better, as South Holland residents will discover next Thursday.

That’s when two lively young women with innovative ideas about recycling are holding The South Holland Swish.

It’s not new, as there have been swishing events elsewhere for some years, but this is possibly the first for Spalding and it’s completely free.

Essentially, swishing is the eco-friendly way to update your wardrobe, by swapping clothes you no longer wear – or perhaps have never worn – for something you will wear.

It’s an opportunity for trousers that have become too tight, dresses that were always slightly too short or other clothing, shoes and accessories that have, for whatever reason, hung about unused, to have a second chance of life.

South Holland District Council waste and recycling support officer Laura Simpkins and engagement and monitoring officer for environmental services Sam Gibbons came up with the idea for the swish.

The district has a reasonable recycling rate at 30.1 per cent and the council has received funding to make sure the good work continues.

However, Sam said: “We want to promote not just recycling but reuse because, if anything, reuse is better than recycling. It saves the energy it takes to transform it in recycling.”

Laura and Sam recognise that charity shops are an important route for recycling clothing, and so there will also be a fashion show at The South Holland Swish compered by Tulip Radio’s Jan Whitbourn.

Models will be wearing clothing donated to the British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, Butterfly Hospice, Oxfam, St Barnabas, Sue Ryder and Sense shops.

The plan is that people take up to five articles of clothing (with hangers) or accessories to the event at 7pm and will be given a token for each in exchange.

Obviously, all items should be clean and undamaged, and this will be checked before clothing is accepted.

Laura explains: “It’s about quality clothing and prolonging the lifetime of a garment.

“We don’t want people not to donate to charity shops, that’s not the point of this. It’s just another fun way of reusing clothes.”

The fashion show and browsing time begin at 7.30pm and the important part of the evening, the swishing, is from 8pm to 9.30pm.

Clothes will be exchanged on a first come, first served basis – there will be a small changing area with mirrors.

There are free swishing bags for the first 50 people.

• The South Holland Swish is at South Holland Centre, Spalding, on September 26.

The South Holland Litter Blitz is being launched in October, according to waste and recycling support officer Laura Simpkins.

Particular litter hot spots will be tackled and the idea is that members of the community get involved to show they are prepared to do something about the problem and hopefully change the behaviour of those responsible for the litter.

There will be a couple of litter picks, but the launch event is on October 13 at Fulney Road skate park in Spalding and it is hoped that lots of families will turn out. Spike the litter mascot will be there.

Laura has already seen community spirit at work, as more than 20 people have volunteered to become litter wardens, and be properly equipped to deal with litter problems.

Several litter picks will be run during half term week in various parts of the district and anyone who wants to participate is welcome.

Laura says: “There’s a community spirit out there. I have had some really good comments from people saying they really want to make a difference because it’s their area.”

South Holland’s Co-ops banned lads’ mags from the top shelves on Monday night after publishers refused to put them in “modesty bags”.

The move means Lincolnshire Co-operative is in line with the national Co-op, which wants stores to become more family friendly and prevent children from seeing “overt sexual images”.

Gone are Zoo, Nuts, Front and the Midweek and Sunday Sports – but Loaded stays after it agreed to cover up.

The ban sparked a mixed reaction from Spalding Guardian readers, but one fan of the outlawed mags is proud dad Kevin O’Brien (46), from Holbeach, as his daughter Rosy (21) is a Page 3 girl.

Kevin said: “I quite like Zoo, to be honest, my daughter’s a model in it. She does Page 3 for the Daily Star and she’s been in Nuts.”

He says Rosy loves modelling, he doesn’t mind men looking at her pictures and there’s “far stronger stuff” on the shelves.

June Murray, from Spalding, says it’s up to the individual what they buy, but shops could be more discreet with their displays for the sake of children.

Rose O’Hara, from Holbeach, said: “Children should not be exposed to these sexual images. It’s a free country if people choose to buy these magazines, but they should be out of the way where children can’t reach.”

Pauline Seymour, from Pinchbeck, doesn’t mind the lads’ mags, but thought the Co-op’s move was a good idea so far as children are concerned.

“When you have got young children, you don’t want them seeing it,” she said.

Father of three Ben Coaten, from Spalding, supports the ban and says his son William (3) asked questions after seeing the mags.

“I told him they are magazines you shouldn’t be looking at,” he said.

Peter Slater, from Gosberton, backs the Co-op ban says the images are a “distraction”.

l Spalding News bosses Asgar Vanparekh and Abbas Laxmidhar put lads’ mags on high shelves with images of scantily clad women hidden behind other magazines.

Police are looking for two men in connection with a vehicle that was vandalised outside a house in Spalding.

The vehicle was parked on a driveway in Hoekman Drive where police say two men were seen damaging it at about 11.10pm on Monday.

They were both thought to be wearing hooded jackets and afterwards walked away from the area towards Hoekman Way and The Parkway.

Anyone with information should call police on 101, stating incident number 117 of September 10.

A storage container on a building site in Bourne was broken into by intruders this week.

It happened at Elsea Park, near The Ridings, some time overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday.

Police are also trying to find the person or people responsible for breaking into a garden shed outside a home in Folkingham.

The shed in West Street was burgled some time between 11.30pm on Monday and 7am on Tuesday.

Anyone with information should call police on 101, stating incident number 83 of September 11 and/or 151 of September 10 respectively.

Police have arrested a 25-year-old man on suspicion of burglary after a break-in at a Spalding shop.

A first-floor window was smashed at Revills shoe shop in Francis Street at about 7.15pm on Wednesday after the offender climbed onto a flat roof.

Until a full stock check can be carried out it is not known what has been stolen, but officers have been speaking to traders in the area of The Crescent to offer security advice.

Three men suspected of trying to sell goods door-to-door in the Morton and Billingborough areas have been stopped by police.

Several reports of doorstep salesmen were reported to police on Tuesday which resulted in three men having their goods seized before being reported for selling door-to-door without a pedlar’s certificate.