The RSPCA is warning residents in South Holland not to buy sick puppies during the festive holiday period, after calls to the charity about puppy farms and trafficking rose by a staggering 21 per cent in less than a year.

More than 2,034 calls about puppy farms and trafficking were received by the RSPCA from the start of 2013 up to the end of November. This compares to 1,678 in the whole of 2012.

Lincolnshire has been placed seventh equal with Cheshire in the top ten regions for receiving 64 calls each.

The shocking rise follows a number of RSPCA investigations this year into allegations of sick puppies being sold in England and Wales after being imported from across Europe.

Calls received from Lincolnshire mainly cover concerns about puppy farms. A spokesman from the RSPCA said: “They are usually from people concerned about breeders in rural areas.”

Chief insp Ian Briggs, from the RSPCA’s special operation unit, said: “The number of calls we’ve received this year about puppy farms and puppy trafficking is truly shocking.

“We have investigated claims of puppies being bred or kept in poor conditions, before being sold to generate huge profit, for many years.

“However, the percentage rise in the calls we received since January is extremely worrying. People are making thousands of pounds off the back of breeding and importing sick puppies. There are no two ways about it – it is organised animal crime.”

Annie Farthers, of Vetsavers, breeds Oakajem Chihuahas, but never sells a pup over the holiday period.

She said: “Puppies and excited children are never a good mix.

“It’s hard to resist a pup, but they are a huge commitment and if they get sick, vet bills can be costly. Too many pups bought at Christmas end up at a rescue centre because their new owners can’t afford them.

“At the vets we always advise people take someone with them and to look at several litters before committing to buying a pup. For a healthy pup check if it has bright eyes and a wet nose, and is happy and friendly.”

Four out of five drivers involved in hit-and-run accidents in Lincolnshire are escaping prosecution.

Figures from Lincolnshire Police show there were 40 accidents where a vehicle hit someone and failed to stop between October 2010 and July this year.

But only seven drivers were charged.

Police say the fail to stop accidents will include some where the driver is completely unaware there has been a collision – and there is more the public can do to help officers track down drivers.

A Lincolnshire Police spokesman said: “Incidents where motorists fail to stop at the scene of a collision leaving a pedestrian or other motorist seriously injured are, thankfully, very rare.

“The vast majority of accidents will involve a minor injury caused by a passing wing mirror, for example, and the driver may be unaware of what has happened.

“Without the registration of the offending vehicle, or good CCTV coverage of the area where the incident occurred, it can be difficult to trace the vehicle involved.

“If the vehicle can be traced, there must be sufficient evidence to secure a successful prosecution.

“Our advice to anyone involved in a collision with a driver who fails to stop at the scene is to report the incident to police straight away and to try and provide as much information about the vehicle as possible.

“If any nearby people were witnesses to the incident, ask if they will remain at the scene until police arrive or leave their details so police can be contacted later.”

Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership spokesman John Siddle also said some drivers may not be aware there has been an accident, but others will have reasons not to stop, such as drink or failure to have insurance or a driving licence.

He said: “There’s a whole heap of reasons as to why people would make off, but certainly if they have had a collision and they have injured somebody, the only right thing to do is to stop and render assistance to that person.

“As a driver, we must always remember that we have to stop to exchange details.”

In order to help police, victims – where possible – and witnesses should note down as many details as they can about the vehicle, including its registration, make and model.

“If you get time to take a picture of it with a mobile phone, even better,” he said.

Mr Siddle said police are adept at tracking down cars where there is forensic evidence as paint is “very specific”.

Spalding Magistrates’ Court was officially mothballed today (Thursday) and cases will now be heard in Boston and Grantham.

The last case in Court Room 1 came to an end at 3.32pm – ending around 160 years of local justice unless Her Majesty’s Courts Service does an unexpected U-turn.

Presiding magistrate Richard Spinks said: “That concludes the business for the day and the year and possibly the future.

“We could say this ends a chapter in the history of this court building and a new chapter is about to open up and we don’t know what that is.”

Probation officer Angela Jones asked Mr Spinks where Spalding’s cases would be heard.

Mr Spinks replied: “Scattered to the winds, my dear, Boston and Grantham. It seems most unfortunate that the management of the courts are working to a different agenda.”

He did not continue with his remarks about the fate of the court, telling court officials: “I have been gagged.”

Mr Spinks was chairman of the bench when the court was threatened with closure in 2010 and took a leading role in helping to save it from the Government axe.

But the decision to mothball it now came from the courts service – via the local justices’ issues group.

MP John Hayes said there was no desire by the Government to see it closed and the move was being steered by the courts’ service.

The South Holland and The Deepings MP fought long and hard this year to try to keep the court open and took the case to the Lord Chancellor.

Mr Hayes also took a leading role in the successful battle to keep the court in 2010.

A man suffered a “medical episode” which led to a serious car crash on the A17 in Holbeach last night.

It involved a Ford Fiesta which crashed near the junction of Battlefields Lane at about 8.25pm and the road was closed for about three and a half hours.

The driver, a 58-year-old man from Gedney Dyke, had to cut free from his car by firemen from Holbeach and Long Sutton using hydraulic rescue equipment and other tools.

He was then taken to Pilgrim Hospital, Boston, where he is recovering today.

A Lincolnshire Police spokesman said: “The driver is believed to have suffered a medical episode at the wheel, but is now recovering well at Pilgrim Hospital.”

Meanwhile, icy road conditions have led to a series of accidents in Cowbit and other parts of Lincolnshire.

Police were called to Mill Drove, near the B1357 Stone Gate and Old Fendike Road junction, where several vehicles had left the road because of icy weather.

The road is now temporarily closed and police are advising motorists to slow down, allow more space between themselves and vehicles in front of them and to take extra care at bends in the road.

A former factory site has been given a new potentially life-saving lease of life.

Bakkavor, the owners of the old Exotic Farm Produce site in Kirton, have been loaning the site free of charge to the area’s emergency services for a training arena.

Police officers and fire services have been carrying out important training and scenario-based training, which could help them save lives in a real emergency situation.

Since April of this year, the police dog handling unit train on average once a week at the site with ten dogs and handlers, plus their instructor.

The fenced site provides a safe environment for the police to train in away from the public and has recently been officially signposted for “police training with dogs in operation”.

In addition, Boston firefighters use the site to set up scenarios through which they recreate and practice real life emergency responses.

As the local fire service is close to Bakkavor factories in Spalding and Boston, the knowledge of fire systems and plans gained from the training on site is invaluable and promotes a best practice approach to factory call outs.

The old Exotic Farm Produce site is not only used for training but is part of the contingency plan to host the fire services should their current site be damaged in any way.

Nick Morris, Watch Commander Support for Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue, said: “The team is extremely grateful to Bakkavor for allowing us to carry out our training and emergency simulation exercises on their old Exotic Farm Produce site.

“This is a great example of how local agencies can partner together for the good of the community.”

Several homes are without power after a car crashed into a telegraph pole in Gedney this morning.

A Renault Clio ran into a pole in Broadgate shortly before 8.10am, bringing down power lines and forcing police to close the road in both directions between its junction with Harford Gate and Station Road.

The driver from King’s Lynn was unhurt and a Western Power Distribution spokesman said that repairs were ongoing to restore power to three homes in the area.

Meanwhile, firemen were called to a blaze caused by a cooker that was accidentally switched on at a house on Albert Street, Spalding, yesterday.

The blaze broke out just after 9.40am and was put out by firemen from Spalding and Donington, but the house suffered some smoke damage.

A Spalding man turned to drug dealing after his benefits were slashed as a result of being sanctioned, Lincoln Crown Court was told.

Jay Smith was just £20 a week to feed himself, his pregnant partner and their small child.

He was also expected to pay his fuel bills out of the money.

His lawyer Neil Sands said that Smith had been on £190 a week benefits but was sanctioned for four weeks after missing an appointment.

Instead Smith began selling cannabis and then continued to deal in drugs after his benefits were restored.

Mr Sands said “The start of this offending is that the defendant’s benefits were sanctioned.

“He was required to go to the Job Centre and he simply failed to do that on one occasion.

“He was sanctioned for four weeks.

“Their benefit was reduced to £20 a week for that period. It was down to a level that was just unrealistic. They were not going to be able to survive.

“These offences started because of the sanctioning by the DWP.”

Mr Sands said Smith owned up after he was arrested following a police search of his home in May this year. He has since stayed out of trouble and now has hopes of getting a job early in the New Year.

Smith (22), of Hereward Road, Spalding, admitted possession of cannabis with intent to supply on May 14.

Hal Ewing, prosecuting, said that when police raided Smith’s home they found a quantity of cannabis divided into one gramme deals. A dealer’s list and £140 cash was also found and Smith’s mobile phone was found to contain messages which showed he was involved in drug dealing.

Mr Ewing said “Clearly a substantial amount of cannabis was being sold. In interview he accepted having sold cannabis for four weeks as he had lost his benefits.”

Judge Sean Morris deferred sentence to March 7 telling Smith that in the interim period he needed to try his hardest to get work.

Don’t dump it – bin it! That’s the message to revellers in South Holland this Christmas from the street cleaning teams left to clear up the mess.

More than 37,000 households will have occupants ripping off wrappers and adding to the mountain of rubbish facing the district’s small army of waste collectors.

Coun Roger Gambba-Jones, portfolio holder for waste management at South Holland District Council, said they will need all the help residents can give.

He said: “Our waste collection and street cleansing teams are always very busy, but especially so over the Christmas and New Year periods.

“The inevitable increase in waste generated from our 37,000 plus households, along with the rubbish that often litters our streets following a night of festivities, means that our teams will need all the help our residents can give them.

“Residents get very upset when they see litter and fly-tipping on our streets, as do I, and I can understand their frustrations when we sometimes seem to be taking too long to deal with it.

“Although our very small street cleansing team does its best, any significant increase in these will inevitably lead to delays in dealing with them.”

Residents can help as follows:

l Recycle as much Christmas refuse as possible making sure, of course, that the right stuff goes in the right bag.

l Check when your collection days are, as these may be different over this period and avoid putting bags out early. They not only make our streets look untidy and unwelcoming, they are also much more likely to get torn open by cats or dogs.

l If you are out partying and find yourself with an empty can or bottle, or you’ve had enough of that Christmas kebab, don’t dump it, bin it!

l Christmas trees will be taken with the black bags, but the council would prefer people to recycle them by taking them to the Household Waste Recycling Centre in West Marsh Road, Spalding.

Refuse and recycling changes are:

l If your normal collection day is Wednesday, December 25, leave waste out on Saturday, December 28. The collection that would have been on Thursday, December 26, will be on Thursday, January 2. The New Year collection day will now be on Wednesday, January 8. For more tips, visit www.sholland.gov.uk

If the people of Spalding could have quiet a word in Santa’s ear before the big day they would say: “Please don’t bring us something to wear.”

But they would also form a line to say thank you for a host of wonderful gifts that bowled them over at the time – and left them with memories they cherish to this day.

Richard Stimson (70) was out with South Holland Rotary’s Santa sleigh when we asked him about his best ever Christmas present.

He said: “It was a Hornby 00 passenger train set when I was about ten. It gave me terrific pleasure. I carried on until my teens building it up and extending it.

“The worst one is always going to be a jumper that doesn’t fit, it’s too small, and you say ‘Oh it’s lovely, isn’t it?’”

Rotary colleague and former tennis champ Tony Rowlett (66) said: “The best one was my first carbon fibre tennis racket when I was 14. I won cups and trophies with it. I can’t think of the worst present.”

Josh Grainger (18), from Surfleet, said: “My best was an off-road motorbike, a PY80, when I was about eight, and I was over the moon. I have still got it and I still ride it.

“I don’t think I have ever got a bad present. I have always been spoilt, all of us have been.”

Gemma Dye (24), from Spalding, said: “My best present was probably my first bike when I was about five or six.

“The worst is when people buy you clothes that you don’t like and you have to say you like them.”

Arturas Maciulevicius (24), from Spalding, said: “The best was a PC when I was about 13, it was like a miracle to me. I like everything I get. I like presents.”

Rebecca Richards (40), from Spalding, said: “The best was when I got my first pair of roller skates when I was probably about six. I don’t like receiving clothes at Christmas.”

Meet Gizmo, the official Spalding Guardian Star Pet of 2013.


After sending in photos earlier this year, all entrants were published in a special Star Pets feature, readers voted for their favourites, and this adorable fellow came out on top.
His owner Sian Whittaker will have his photo produced as a canvas, acrylic or aluminium print up to the value of £100, courtesy of competition sponsors www.picanova.co.uk

This Christmas and New Year many of you will be visiting friends and relatives, but just like us not all pets are good travellers.

Car sickness is more common in younger dogs than adults because parts of the inner ear involved in balance aren’t fully developed.

Puppies will often “outgrow” motion/car sickness by the time they’re about one year old.

Many adult dogs become anxious or even nauseous during travel due to a lack of car association and the overwhelming unusual stimuli associated with moving inside a vehicle.

Dogs that travel only once or twice a year (typically when visiting the vet) aren’t used to car rides and often associate the car ride with the stressful experience that follows. This causes heightened anxiety and stress, which can result in vomiting and diarrhoea.

Puppies that experience traumatic or frightening first rides may also associate future travel with that stressful event.

Helping your dog overcome the stress and anxiety of travel will mean that your pet can accompany you on trips more frequently, without sickness or diarrhoea and so result in a nice experience for both parties.

If you think your dog is going to vomit, stopping the car (in a safe place) and taking your pet for a little walk may help temporarily relieve the symptoms.

TRAVELLING TIPS

* Start by simply placing your dog in your car either in a harness or a good travel cage and sitting there without moving for a few minutes.

* The next day, repeat this process, but this time start the engine. Don’t move the car!

* Then the next day repeat the process again. Move a little distance in the car but no more than a mile. Then return.

* Be sure to praise your dog and offer a reward for good behaviour.

* Next, try a slightly longer trip.

* Gradually work your way up to riding comfortably for 20 to 30 minutes.

Another tip is to withhold food for 12 hours before travel. An empty stomach will help reduce nausea and the need for frequent toilet breaks.

Question:

Here at Vetsavers we are loving receiving your questions.

James Caborn of Spalding, is planning a party at New Year and would like to have fireworks.

He wrote: “I’d like to have fireworks party but am worried about upsetting my dog. Do you have any tips?”

ANSWER:

Whether it’s a cat or dog, it’s best to keep your pets indoors when there is likely to be fireworks nearby. Make them comfortable in their “safe area” – such as a crate or carry case.

Calming tablets and aromatherapy plug-ins are also available for extreme cases of anxiety if you pop into the vets.

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.

Spalding Magistrates’ Court

December 12

Mark Jackson (33), of NFA. Theft of three cans of cider from B&M Stores, Spalding. Sentence deemed served by time spent in custody. Breach of two conditional discharges. No action taken.

Dean Parker (53), of Stainfield Road, Bourne. Drink-driving (Bourne). Fined £400, victim surcharge £40, costs £85, disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Maris Subenieks (44), of Fulney Avenue, Spalding. Driving whilst disqualified (Surfleet). Community order with 200 hours’ unpaid work, v/s £60, costs £85, disqualified from driving for 12 months. No separate penalty for no insurance.

Oliver Thompson (18), of Jubilee Close, Spalding. Failing to comply with a community order. Order to continue, 20 additional hours of unpaid work to be added.

Raimondas Kazlauskas (23), of Kneeton Vale, Nottingham. Drink-driving (Spalding). Fined £300, v/s £30, costs £550, disqualified from driving for 20 months.

Grantham Magistrates’ Court

December 13

Michael Ashton (49), of Holme Road, Kirton Holme (Bracebridge Heath. Speeding. Fined £35, v/s £20, costs £85, 3pts.

Daniel Brooks (27), of Hincliffe, Orton Goldhay. Assault (Crowland). Community order with Building Better Relationships programme for 29 days, restraining order, £75 compensation, v/s 60, costs £200.

Christopher Chappell (49), of Farriers Court, Leverington. Assault (Gedney). Community order with a domestic abuse specified activity requirement for 12 days and a supervision requirement, v/s £60, costs £85.

Adam Price (28), of Cornfields, Holbeach. Speeding (Shepeau Stow). Fined £200, v/s £20, costs £85, 3pts.

Aleksandres Timofejevs (32), of Edinburgh Crescent, Kirton. Driving without due care and attention (Langrick). Fined £260, v/s £26, costs £85, 7pts.

Carla Bycraft (29), The Tenters, Holbeach. Driving without due care and attention (Holbeach). Fine £75, v/s £20, 3pts.

December 17

Michal Makowski (28), of Juniper Crescent, Spalding. Drink-driving (Spalding). Fined £275, v/s £27.50, costs £120, disqualified from driving for 16 months.

Lincoln Magistrates’ Court

December 16

Stuart Brunt (23), of Copes Way, Chaddesden, Derby. Trespassing in pursuit of game (West Pinchbeck). Fined £500, v/s £50, costs £250.

Gary Mulholland (49), of The Post Horn, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham. Trespassing in pursuit of game (West Pinchbeck). Fined £500, v/s £50, costs £250.

Kevin Elcock (58), of Blackburn Road, Haslingden, Lancashire. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). Fined £60, v/s £20, costs £40, 3pts.

Steven Collier (56), of Lonsdale Road, Rackheath, Norwich. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). Fined £60, v/s £20, costs £85, 3pts.

Christina Hall (47), of Pointon Road, Billingborough. Speeding (Welby). Fined £60, v/s £20, costs £85, 3pts.

Police uncovered a cannabis farm after carrying out a raid on a house , a court heard.

Officers forced entry to get into the rented property in Pipwellgate, Moulton Seas End, after receiving no answer when they arrived.

Phil Howes, prosecuting, told Lincoln Crown Court that two upstairs bedrooms had been converted to grow cannabis with irrigation and lighting systems fitted.

The windows had been blacked out and a total of 50 cannabis plants were found capable of producing a large amount of the drug for sale on the streets.

Mr Howes said “There was a clear commercial enterprise behind this. It had the hallmarks of a professional operation.

“The estimated yield was 2.51kgs. That would produce cannabis with a street value of just over £25,000.”

Police later arrested Valdas Kaubrys whose name was on the council tax register at the address.

Kaubrys’ fingerprints were found inside the property including on some of the plant pots and water bottles in the growing area.

The court was told another man alleged to have been involved has never been traced.

Kaubrys (31), of Tower Street, Boston, admitted production of cannabis in September 2011. He was jailed for two years.

Thalia Maragh, defending said Kaubrys was not responsible for setting up the operation and did not gain financially.

Miss Maragh said he was a hard working man who no previous convictions and urged that any jail sentence should be suspended.

Police are appealing for information after a van collided with a cyclist on the A151 last night.

This incident took place on Friday at around 10.30pm on the High Road,just outside Whaplode, towards Holbeach.

A white transit van collided with a 19-year-old male cyclist, who is from the local area. The cyclist is being treated for a head injury and is said to be in a serious but stable condition.

Anyone with any information can call DC Michelle Spence on 101, quoting incident number 523 of December 20.

A motorist has been warned he could face jail after admitting causing the death of a cyclist in South Lincolnshire.

Joseph Strong (50), of Burnstone Gardens, Moulton, pleaded guilty to causing the death by careless driving of David Hall.

Mr Hall, who lived in Moulton Seas End, died as a result of a collision on Seas End Road, Moulton, on February 1 this year.

Judge Michael Heath adjourned sentence for a probation report and granted bail to Strong.

But the judge warned “You can have bail but you must understand that the fact that I grant you bail today does not mean you will not go to prison.

“All options are open.”

South Holland – it’s where we all live, but some would say it’s not the same place it was years ago.

That’s not to say it’s necessarily a worse place: facilities like Spalding’s new hospital, the films, music and theatre at South Holland Centre in Spalding, improved roads and new housing have all brought advantages to the area’s residents.

Then there is the employment created by the many food processing businesses that have developed locally, the mainly good education offered to the area’s children, the improvements to the riverside to create an attractive focal point to the town, and the many food establishments offering an enormous variety of cuisine.

The district has changed in other important ways too, particularly in the people who live and work in South Holland.

The district council has studied those changes, looking at facts and figures thrown up by the 2011 census and contrasting them to the previous population survey of 2001.

Officers have compiled a report, called South Holland District Council Facts and Figures 2013, which makes interesting reading, as it picks out central themes and topics likely to be of interest.

Ten key facts about South Holland

• The total population is 88,300

• The largest town in the district is Spalding with a population of 28,722

• The district has 47 towns and villages

• There are 37,300 households

• The average household size is 2.3 people

• The average age is 43.4 years

• The district has low levels of unemployment (2.7 per cent in April 2013)

• 97.8 per cent of the population are white

• 78.1 per cent of the population are in good or very good health

• 2.7 per cent of the population are Polish and 1.6 per cent are from other Baltic states

Who are we?

• The population of south Holland grew by 15.4 per cent in the ten years to 2011, from 76,522

• 51 per cent of us are females – 49 per cent males, unsurprisingly!

• Most of us (97.8 per cent) are white

• At average age of 43.4, we are older than the average population in England and Wales, which is 39.4

• There are more residents (both male and female) in the 45-49 and the 60-64 age bands than any other.

The report states: “The trend for an ageing population is likely to continue. There is some evidence to suggest that younger people (15-19 year olds) continue to leave the district as there are fewer residents in the 20-34 year age bands.”

How do we live?

• The area has a low population density with 1.2 people per hectare (120 per km2)

• Most of us (90.4 per cent) were born in the UK. Locally, 2.7 per cent stated they were Polish (2,424 people) and 1.6 per cent said they were from other Baltic states (1,417)

• Most of us (93.3 per cent) use English as our main language

• A quarter of us don’t travel – 25.8 per cent of residents (that includes children) don’t have a passport

• Fewer of us in 2011 reported being Christians – down 10.3 per cent to 72.3 per cent of the population

• More of us said we had no religion – 19.4 per cent in 2011 against 9.7 per cent in 2001

How do we work – or not?

• Across the district there were 3,255 businesses registered for VAT in March 2011

• The percentage of full-time workers has gone down slightly, from 40.3 to 40.2 per cent in 2011

• The number of part-time workers has increased, from 11.7 to 13.2 per cent in 2011

• Slightly more of us are self-employed – 10 per cent as opposed to 9.8 per cent in 2001

• More of us were unemployed at 4 per cent in 2011 against 2.2 per cent in 2001 – but that has dropped to 2.7 per cent in 2013

• The percentage of retired people has remained fairly static at 18.6 per cent in 2011 – it was 19.2 per cent in 2001

• Fewer of us are unable to work because we are experiencing long-term sickness of disability – 3.6 per cent as against 5.2 per cent in 2001

See Thursday’s paper for housing, education, health and the jobs we do

More of us are in better health in South Holland than we were a decade ago.

That’s probably a good thing, given the current pressures on hospitals and doctors’ surgeries in the area.

There are changes in other areas too, such as the number of lone parent households with dependant children, which has risen from 1,435 in 2001 to 1,913 in 2011. Of those, the vast majority – 1,175 households – had no adults in employment in 2011.

These statistics are just some that have been revealed in the South Holland District Council Facts and Figures report, charting the changes that occurred between 2001 and the 2011 census.

How do we live?

• When it comes to housing, it seems that fewer of us have mortgages than a decade ago – down 4.8 per cent – and fewer of us rent from South Holland District Council – down 2.2 per cent.

• Slightly more (0.7 per cent) rent from some other social agency, but the biggest change (5.9 per cent) is in the number of people renting from private landlords or letting agencies – 11.2 per cent of the population in 2011.

• A lucky 39.2 per cent of homes in South Holland are owned outright, without a mortgage.

• The average household size remains unchanged from 2001 at 2.3 people.

• 701 homes (1.9 per cent) were without central heating in 2011, which is slightly lower than the number in Lincolnshire and 0.8 per cent lower than in England and Wales.

Do we drive – do we ever!

• There were 52,939 cars or vans within the households of South Holland when the census took place in 2011.

• Fewer households said they did not have a car or van – more said they had two, three, four or more cars or vans in their household.

Are we brainier?

• Fewer of us (30.8 per cent as against 38.97 in 2001) said we had NO qualifications.

• Fewer people have lower level qualifications.

• However, many more people have higher level qualifications, rising from 5.02 per cent in 2001 to 10 per cent in 2011 (up 4.98 per cent) for Level 3 and up 5.59 per cent for level 4 qualifications.

• At the time of the census there were 3,014 students aged 16-18 in education and 545 students between the ages of 18 and 74.

Are we healthy?

The 2011 census asked us if we were in “very good health”, something not asked in the questionnaire ten years earlier. However, the 40.5 per cent who reported being in that happy state, combined with the 37.6 per cent who reported being in “good health” means that 78.1 per cent of us are in good health or better, which contrasts favourably with the 64.93 per cent who said they had good health in the 2001 census.

• Fewer people (15.8 per cent instead of 25.77 per cent) said they had “fair” health but fewer people had bad health – 4.7 per cent in 2011 against 9.31 per cent in 2001.

• In 2011, 1.4 per cent had very bad health – a category not recorded in 2001.

• In the latest census, day to day activities were limited a lot by a disability by 9.5 per cent of residents and a little by 11.9 per cent of people.

• There has been little change in the percentage of residents providing unpaid care, 10.7 per cent in 2011 and 10.2 per cent in 2001.

What work are we doing?

• Fewer of us – 10.7 per cent at the last census and 13.57 per cent a decade ago – are managers, directors and senior officials.

• More of us are in professional occupations – 9.7 per cent as against 6.3 per cent – and slightly fewer in “associate professional and technical” occupations – down from 9 per cent to 8.7 per cent.

• The administrative and secretarial jobs have gone down from 11.02 to 10 per cent.

• Skilled trades and occupations have gone down slightly from 14.87 to 14.3 per cent.

• Caring, leisure and other service jobs have gone up – from 6.33 to 9.1 per cent.

• Sales and customer service work has also increased, from 6.58 to 7.5 per cent.

• Process, plant and machine operatives have changed from 15.91 to 15.1 per cent.

• Something called “elementary occupations” have gone down, from 16.34 to 14.8 per cent.

BREAKING NEWS MONDAY 8PM: A woman has been taken to hospital with serious injuries after a collision between her and a vehicle in Spalding this evening.

It happened on Holbeach Road at its junction with Queens Road, near St Paul’s Church, just after 5.30pm.

The woman was treated at the scene before being taken to Pilgrim Hospital, Boston, but her injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

Insp Gareth Boxall of Lincolnshire Police confirmed that the road is likely to be closed for “several hours,” although there is “restricted access” for people living in Queens Road.

“The accident was a serious one and the woman was quite shaken up at the scene,” Insp Boxall said.

Meanwhile, three people were hurt after a three-car collision on the A17 in Holbeach.

The road was completely blocked in both directions at its junction with Penny Hill Road, but police have confirmed that it will be clear again shortly.

A group of nine “gifted and talented” students from Spalding High have taken the concept of a school newspaper into the 21st Century.

To increase readership and match technological advances, the youngsters have released The High Quarterly as an online paper.

The paper was launched in 2010 and has since seen eight issues compiled and released by pupils past and present.

The most recent edition was released this month and can be viewed at www.spald inghigh.lincs.sch.uk/newspa per/news.asp

The newspaper is run under the administration of the school’s Gifted and Talented coordinator Amanda Rossi.

Each student is the editor of a subject-specific section which varies from film and theatre to brainteasers or Pets’ Corner.

But the paper is not aimed purely at students of Spalding High, with contemporary issues covered in the current affairs section and regular interviews with well-known public figures such as the somewhat controversial Katie Hopkins, who features in this edition’s books section.

It is the intention of the High Quarterly to expand its readership to a broader audience.

While the core editorial team mould the paper to create the final piece, articles are commissioned and interviews are recorded on a wide scale.

Students across the school often provide articles while teachers and parents also supply insightful, mature pieces.

It is this diverse background that enables the success of the paper, which is reflected by the 120 articles present in the current edition.

We aim to make the High Quarterly a truly universal triumph. There really is something for everyone.

The next edition is due for release around Easter and will feature articles covering an array of subjects including interviews with influential Parliamentary figures and more exciting competitions and news stories.

Be sure to support the endeavours of your local school by submitting an email to thehighquarterly@gmail.com, liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter.

Thursday saw the end of 170 years of local justice in Spalding as the magistrates’ court sat for the final time.

The courthouse is “de-listed” – closed in all but name – and defendants and witnesses must now go to Boston or Grantham.

Spalding solicitor Anita Toal, managing partner of Maples, fears the building will be allowed to “fall into terminal decline”.

She said: “Unfortunately today marks the end in Spalding of local justice administered for local people, handed down by local magistrates.

“I only hope that the owners of the building will take care of it to ensure it can be put to good use for the benefit of the local area or that it is preserved for a time when the Government comes to its senses and appreciates the value of the local magisterial system.

“However I am not optimistic this will happen and I fear this fabulous building will be allowed to fall into terminal decline.”

As the last case in Court One ended at 3.32pm, presiding magistrate Richard Spinks said: “That concludes the business for the day and the year and possibly the future.

“We could say this ends a chapter in the history of this court building and a new chapter is about to open up and we don’t know what that is.”

Probation officer Angela Jones asked Mr Spinks where Spalding’s cases would be heard.

He replied: “Scattered to the winds, my dear, Boston and Grantham. It seems most unfortunate that the management of the courts are working to a different agenda.”

Solicitors raised the alarm in the spring, saying the court was likely to close, but press spokesmen for Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service said no decision had been taken – and any closure would need public consultation before it could go ahead. In the end the court was de-listed, which doesn’t need consultation.

MP John Hayes fought to save the court, taking the battle to the Lord Chancellor, and said there was no pressure from “the top” to close it – the decision was made locally, steered by the courts service. The MP, magistrates and solicitors won a fight to save the court from closure in 2010.

Spalding historian Michael Elsden said The Sessions House first opened for hearings known as the midsummer quarter sessions on June 30, 1843.