Vandals smashed the back window of one vehicle and scratched the entire passenger side of another parked in Deer Park Road, Langtoft.

Police are looking for witnesses to the incidents which happened overnight between Friday and Saturday.

Anyone with information should call 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111, quoting incident 148 of December 13.

Meanwhile, police are looking for a gang who broke in through the front door of a house in Woburn Close, Market Deeping, at about 6.30am on December 2.

When calling police, quote incident 62 of December 2.

Police are looking for thieves who stole a catalytic converter from a vehicle parked in Chapelgate, Sutton St James.

It happened between 8pm on Thursday and 8.45am on Friday.

Anyone with information should call 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

Meanwhile, police in Bourne are looking for vandals who damaged a vehicle parked in Elsea Park Way overnight between Wednesday, December 3 and Thursday, December 4.

Anyone with information should call PCSO Graeme Parrott on 101, extension 3727.

Also, a garden ornament was stolen from a house in Tilea Way, Bourne, overnight between Tuesday, December 2 and Wednesday, December 3.

Anyone with information can also call PCSO Parrott.

Finally, an attempted theft from a shed took place in Appian Way, Baston, sometime during the last three weeks.

Anyone calling police should quote 193 of November 30.

‘Plan, don’t panic’ is the advice to farmers facing a tax bill in a few weeks’ time.

T Charles Bryant, partner of Brown & Co, says with most arable and dairy incomes affected by poor commodity prices and relatively high input costs, the bill will be unwelcome news.

He said: “Because the bill will be based on the profit and loss account of a decent 2013/14 trading year, it could place some businesses under cash flow pressure, especially given the seasonal flow of feed, fertiliser and fuel invoices.

“The trick is to plan, not panic, and seek advice from those with an objective perspective on what working capital your business will need.”

He said that the default option is usually to seek an extension to the overdraft facility, adding: “But remember this will be a negotiation where the outcome – how much and at what margin – is informed by the strength of the recent set of farm accounts, amongst other things. It is also likely to involve an annual negotiation with the bank manager.”

He said seeking advice from someone with an objective perspective on working capital needs offered real benefit.

Long Sutton Royal British Legion Women’s Section chairman Enid Pearson has dedicated a great part of her life to the Legion.

Enid, whose late husband Ray was in the Royal Artillery, says the charity exists to help ex-servicemen and women and their families when they need assistance.

Enid said: “They help the children of service families through university and do lots of good work, especially at the moment with all these men coming back injured.”

As well as the RBL, Enid supports Marie Curie Cancer Care and runs a coffee morning every Friday at Long Sutton parish church, where she is a member of the Mothers’ Union.

She is also a member of the Red Hat Society for women of a certain age who want to “grow old disgracefully”.

Nothing is wasted as The Alpine and Grass Nursery at West Pinchbeck produces the natural greenery we like in our homes at Christmas time.

The nursery, run by Stephen and Hayley Willerton, has been producing Christmas trees on about two acres since it opened about 14 years ago.

The couple plant seedlings and have trees at various stages of growth, from young plants up to large ones. At one time customers were able to cut down their own trees, but health and safety regulations have put paid to that.

Hayley says their customers also like to have potted trees so that they can be put in the garden afterwards, and the nursery has about 3,000 potted trees of various size.

When the bottom leaves are removed from the trees, it produces unused greenery which, with surplus foliage from other shrubs in the nursery, is being put to good use.

Hayley said: “We are making the foliage into wreaths and we can make them bespoke to people’s designs, because some people like it natural with orange slices and some like their wreaths bright, with big bows. It has also become fashionable to create your own, so we can supply an 18 or 20-inch metal base and people can add their own things to it.”

Nevertheless, many people prefer to buy a ready-made wreath and Hayley and her team of four seasonal workers brought in to help each year made several hundred in preparation for the busy buying time. Other wreaths will be made as they are needed, says Hayley.

As with many nurseries, Christmas is a busy time for them, and in the warmer weather they are producing specialist drought-resistant alpines and grasses.

The couple propagate their own plants from cuttings and seed, concentrating on rare and unusual varieties where possible, and grow over 100 different varieties of alpines.

Hayley says they are also developing the mail order side of their business.

It’s been more than 30 years since a Lincoln Red team won the prestigious Duke of Norfolk Trophy at the Smithfield Festival.

But Moulton Chapel bull calf Tommy and two Lincoln Red heifers took the trophy at the East of England Showground last weekend.

Lincoln Red Cattle Society secretary Jayne Borrows says 1982 was the last time a Lincoln Red team enjoyed success against all the other breeds at the show.

Tommy, who is ten months old, is owned by Tommy Charlton, and is one of about 20 animals he has of the breed.

Mr Charlton says: “We have done nine shows this year and really finished on a high. I am proud of him.”

Tommy has had a first at a show in Norfolk, second bull at Newark as well as reserve Lincoln Red champion. At Smithfield, he was champion bull, reserve Lincoln Red as well as being part of the team that won the major trophy.

Lincoln Red Cattle Society president Alan Hargreaves said: “It was a great surprise to us. There were 12 other teams in the final made up of all the prominent breeds in the country and so it’s a wonderful achievement.

“A big well done to the breeders, the exhibitors and the handlers.

“It’s excellent and a great boost for the breed.”

The picture shows (from left) Julian Hopwood who presented the trophy; a steward; Springwood Treasure T93; Julie Evans; Auchmacoy Grace T236; Simon Coulter; Vickers Field Tommy; judge Peter Donger (back); Emma Benge; and Cowbit’s Christina Tyrrell, who shows for Tommy Charlton. Christina won the Young Farmers’ heifer handling competition at the Lincolnshire Show earlier in the year with one of Tommy Charlton’s beasts.

Servicemen and women have served this country selflessly over the years.

And there’s another group of people who have dedicated themselves to helping those former members of the armed forces and their families when they need it.

It’s the Royal British Legion (RBL), which has dozens of branches filled with members committed to raising funds to provide assistance.

One of these is the Women’s Section of the Long Sutton RBL, which recently received an impressive trophy haul at a county conference.

Branch chairman Enid Pearson said they received the runners-up certificate in the Muriel Dennis Cup for progress and efficiency; the Waltham Jubilee Cup for endeavour; and the Margaret Sleight Bowl for increased membership.

The branch has had six new members, taking the total number to around 30, aged from 60 plus to the oldest member, Dora Munson, who is 90.

One final presentation came as a great surprise though, in particular to its branch chairman.

Enid (79), a member for more than 35 years and chairman for nine or ten years, was awarded the Merit Badge in recognition of outstanding service to the Women’s Section.

She said: “That was a great honour. I have done several things during the time I have been a member – chairman, secretary and standard bearer. I am also on the county committee. I have been a widow for the past 25 years and since then I have attended most meetings.

“The merit badge came as a surprise, but the others didn’t. The merit badge is always the last thing of the day. I’d been up three times to get the other awards and when I went up for the merit badge there was a big cheer.”

Enid and the other members raise lots of money each year through cake stalls, bazaars and raffles. They also knit, and Enid says she buys dolls and knits clothes for them to sell at the town’s annual Christmas celebration.

The branch has been going since 1947 so some of the members have known each other for a long time.

Enid said: “We have lost several over the years. We know each other very well.”

The great-granny who won a legal fight against South Holland District Council (SHDC) – overturning planning consent for a controversial gasifier – is now bidding for a council seat.

Shirley Giles and fellow parish councillor Vicky Hills, who carried a coffin in one protest outside the council offices in Spalding, have been adopted as official Conservative candidates for Sutton Bridge ward.

The women will battle on against a wood-burning, biomass gasifier planned for Wingland and a proposed gas-fired power station – EDF B – on the banks of the Nene and made that clear to Conservatives bosses.

If both projects get the go-ahead, Sutton Bridge will have 17 power station chimneys – including two at the existing site.

Coun Giles said: “I am continuing my fight against the biomass incinerator as well as the proposed EDF B power station with the very valuable support and help of our MP John Hayes.”

In a letter to the Tory selection panel, Coun Giles said: “My aspiration for Sutton Bridge is to see more industry that produces jobs for the residents, not power stations or gasifiers, but proper industry.

“The power station that we have only has five Sutton Bridge people working there and that includes two that work for the contract cleaners.

“More factories would be good – proper industry.

“I will work towards letting the people of Lincolnshire know that we exist at Sutton Bridge and that we’re not just a dumping ground for everybody else’s cast offs or undesirables.”

Both women fear the village could face a huge pollution risk from the combined effect of 17 chimneys and Coun Hills made that point plain in the summer when, dressed as an undertaker, she helped carry a coffin alongside protesters wearing face masks and carrying placards.

Coun Hills is determined to make life better for all in Sutton Bridge and Wingland if elected in May.

She said: “We have been treated as the poor relation for far too long, the tail end of Lincolnshire. Well, guess what, we are the gateway to Lincolnshire and it’s my intention to continue to remind them of that at every opportunity I can.”

A number of cars parked in London Road, Long Sutton, had their number plates stolen between 4pm on Friday December 12 and 4pm on Saturday December 13.

Meanwhile, a gang damaged a window at Sweet Sensations in Angel Precinct, Bourne, before stealing a selecion of sweets.
It happened overnight between Saturday November 29 and Sunday November 30.
Anyone with information should call 101, quoting incident 88 of December 2.

There was a wonderful, happy Christmas atmosphere at the Peele Community College in Long Sutton, as 253 students and staff were treated to a delicious Christmas lunch with all the trimmings.

The children were delighted to be seated at tables which were set out like at a proper restaurant with serviettes and crackers, and then to be served with steaming plates of food by members of staff.

Christmas music played, and there was a surprise appearance by Father Christmas himself, although some people suspected this to be one of the Peele’s well-loved Maths teachers in disguise.

The students declared it to be the best lunchtime ever.

Georgina Stamp (10) from Billingborough Primary School has won a runner-up prize in East Coast’s ‘Happy Journeys’ competition.

She designed her own happy journey which was chosen out of just under 1,000 entries by author and illustrator Judith Kerr and CBeebies star Mister Maker.

Georgina’s prize is First Class family return tickets to any destination along the East Coast route, and she will also receive a signed letter of congratulations from Mister Maker and a signed copy of The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr.

The competition asked children to come up with a design which could have been inspired by a happy journey they had already been on - perhaps a trip to the seaside with the family - or a trip they wouldd like to go on, such as a city adventure with friends

On winning the competition, Georgina said: “I am very pleased I have won the prize. I haven’t decided where to go yet but I promise to take lots of photos!”

Children up and down the East Coast route from London to Edinburgh were asked to submit a picture of their own happy journey to celebrate five years of service on the line while helping to promote the train operator’s adopted charity, Railway Children.

Railway Children strives to provide protection and opportunity for children with no one to turn to and nowhere to go in the UK, India and East Africa.

Competition judge Judith said: “I loved Georgina’s choice of colours and design used to represent her happy journey, the shapes were absolutely fantastic!”

Mister Maker added: “All of the entries were great and it was very difficult to shortlist.

“I loved Georgina’s wonderful use of colour and interesting design work, it was very carefully drawn!”

The competition winner, Ava Buchan (5), from Hull, has seen her drawing replicated on a large scale model made from train parts by artist Ptolemy Elrington.

East Coast Managing Director Karen Boswell, said: “This competition has provided a great opportunity to showcase creativity and support a charity very close to our hearts.

“It was extremely hard to narrow down to the winning competitions due to the vast number of very creative and unique drawings.”

Children from Clough and Risegate Primary School have been visited by the police, lorry drivers and even an air hostess as part of their lessons this term.

The children have been learning about Top Jobs, so the school invited people from different professions in to the school to give the children a taste of what they do.

The children sampled an inflight meal thanks to their air hostess, they met policeman Danny Briginshaw and his police dogs, took a look around a lorry thanks to Turners of Donington and met a lady from the Navy who travelled on aircraft carriers, HMS Invincible and HMS Raleigh.

Pictured: Children enjoy their inflight meals.

Between 35 and 40 senior citizens tucked into an early Christmas meal at the Sir John Gleed School in Spalding .

School chef Anthony Bursey came up with the idea of entertaining elderly folk with a turkey roast.

A spokesman at the school said Anthony and his catering team were assisted by about a dozen Health and Social Care students in serving the meals and entertaining their guests.

In addition, the senior citizens were shown some of the work of pupils who belong to the school’s craft club.

The food was all donated by local individuals and businesses, as were the hampers given to everyone who attended and prizes in the raffle.

• Guest Jean Lovegrove is looked after by Sir John Gleed School pupils Kai Weston and Tom Hannam.

Photo SG041214-115TW

£1,000 donated by Masons in Lincolnshire was presented to LIVES.

The money is a collection of funds donated by all Masons.

David Wilson, charity steward at Long Sutton Lodge, said: “The money was very well received.

“The Masons pick a number of local charities each year which they want to donate to, and then collect money from the members.

“The province of Lincolnshire oversees how the money is distributed between the charities.”

LIVES was chosen due to the incredible work the first responders do across our area.

Pictured: Worshipful master Stephen Wells presents the cheque to first responder and development officer Nigel Adams from LIVES. SG021214-201TW

Intruders tried to break into two homes in Fosse Close and Main Street, Baston, over the weekend.

In the first case, intruders went in the back garden and then tried to climb through a window, but without success.
In the Main Street case, intruders tried to get in through a kitchen window between 6pm on Friday and 6pm on Sunday.
Anyone with information should call 101, quoting incident numbers 149 and 326 of December 15.

Meanwhile, A Jaguar estate had its back windscreen smashed while parked in South Street car park, Bourne, between 3pm and 3.45pm on Sunday.
Anyone with information should call 101, quoting incident 289 of December 14.

Spalding man Ron Flewett (53) is fighting alongside the British Lung Foundation (BLF) to raise awareness of the lung disease idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

Ron was diagnosed with IPF earlier this year and has since been active in south Lincolnshire, Westminster and the EU parliament, with the aim of raising awareness and improving localised services for this little-known disease.

In July, Ron joined a delegation of IPF patients and carers from around the country in Westminster for the first parliamentary meeting on the disease.

In September, he represented the BLF in Brussels, for the launch of the EU IPF patient charter, during which he was able to meet with MEPs sympathetic to the cause.

Ron also plans to bravely cycle 100 miles and compete in triathlons next year to raise funds for the BLF.

Most recently, he met with local MP John Hayes to talk about IPF service provision in the area.

Mr Hayes was inspired to take on Ron’s case and help him raise awareness of this devastating disease and has held talks with the Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt.

IPF has been on the rise in the UK for decades, and now kills around 5,000 people a year – more than conditions such as leukaemia.

However, awareness remains low, and there is no known cause or cure. As a result, the disease acts with often-devastating speed: barely half of people diagnosed with IPF are still alive three years later, and just one in five will survive five years.

Ron told the Free Press: “This is a nasty disease that so little is known about and I’m determined to change that.

“There just isn’t enough information to support patients and their carers, which is why raising awareness is vital to help generate more funds for more research.”

He added: “That’s why I’ve joined the BLF to encourage policy makers to help the UK move forward in providing better services and support for people with IPF.

“I am so glad that my MP has listened to me and is dedicated to doing what he can to help IPF patients in this area and across the UK.”

Mr Hayes said: “Before I met Ron, I knew very little about IPF but meeting him renewed my determination to do all I can to help him and others like him.

“I particularly commend the work of the BLF in their research into IPF and improving support for patients.”

Utility giant Western Power Distribution has apologised for a two-hour power cut affecting about 50 homes and businesses in Spalding.

Electricity supplies in the town fluctuated wildly during a two-hour spell from about 11.40am on Tuesday.

A Western Power Distribution spokesman blamed the fault on faulty fuses along the firm’s underground network.

The spokesman said: “There was a fault at the underground network but engineers have replaced fuses at the local station.

“About 50 customers experienced their power going on and off over a two-hour period on Tuesday but everything was done to restore power to our customers and we apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

The following planning applications have been submitted:

South Holland

District Council

Regard Partnership, Pipwell Manor, Washway Road, Saracen’s Head. Refurbishment and alterations (retrospective).

Mr S Mohamad, 14 Double Street, Spalding. Change of use of site for car washing and valeting (retrospective).

Branch Bros, former Boston Tractors, Boston Road South, Holbeach. Change of use of former Boston Tractors premises to suppliers of building materials, including minor changes to elevations, security fencing, pallet packaging and external store of materials.

ACS Building and Maintenance, Mayjon, 71 Broadgate Road, Sutton St Edmund. Details of external materials and gas protection measures.

Spalding Parish Church Day School, Clay Lake, Spalding. Kitchen, main entrance and extension of offices.

Mr and Mrs M Clark, Water Gate, Quadring Eaudyke. Demolish bars and erect two-storey agricultural dwelling.

Regard Partnership, Pipwell Manor, Washway Road, Saracen’s Head. Demolish timber framed conservatory and rebuild with uPVC (retrospective).

Mrs W Taylor, 52 Cobgate, Whaplode. Extensions.

Mr S Neal, 65 St Thomas Road, Spalding. Extension and alterations.

Mr and Mrs D Hatton, rear of 18 Edinburgh Walk, Holbeach. Residential development.

Leesons Garage Ltd, 119 Bridge Road, Sutton Bridge. Change of use of garden to car parking.

Haycroft Homes Ltd, former E J Lefley site, Station Street, Holbeach. Details of affordable housing on nine plots.

O G Chapman and Son Ltd, Garnsgate Hall Farm, Lutton Garnsgate, Long Sutton. Cold storage building.

Executors of S Grundy deceased, The Hollies Farm Yard, Back Bank, Whaplode Drove. Conversion of brick built barns into three residential units.

South Kesteven

District Council

Pelling, 49 Bramley Road, Market Deeping. Two storey dwelling and associated works.

Wells, 17 St Peters Road, Bourne. Demolish garage and build dwelling.

Broome, 9 Park road, Deeping St James, Dwelling.

One Stop Stores, Post Office and shop, 4 West End, Langtoft. Advertisement.

Fisher, Red Roofs, Spalding Road, Deeping St James. Create new vehicular access.

HSBC Corporate Real Estate, 3 North Street, Bourne. Replacement ATM.

Cliffe, 25 West Street, Bourne. Change of use of ground floor from Sui Generis tattoo parlour to A1 shop.

Boston Borough Council

P Rose, Royston, Boston Road, Sutterton. Extensions.

UKIP’s newly adopted parliamentary candidate for South Holland and The Deepings is calling for a public debate on the impact of immigration in the constituency.

David Parsons, a former Tory leader of Leicestershire County Council, says UKIP will hold public meetings and distribute a series of leaflets in the new year to allow debates and to gauge public opinion.

He says UKIP is not against immigration but wants to see the UK adopt a properly controlled points-based system with secure borders.

“This will never be the case if we remain in the EU,” said Mr Parsons.

UKIP is calling for a referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU.

When council leader in Leicestershire, Mr Parsons says he was responsible for one of the most ethnically 
diverse areas in the country.

He says: “Key to a well-
balanced community was 
everyone feeling valued in an area and an open discussion on jobs and services.

“In South Holland we need to look at the impact of immigration on local services and jobs.”

UKIP is looking for evidence of what it calls the impact of “large scale immigration” on housing, GP surgeries, hospitals, school numbers and employment prospects for young people.

Anna and Peter Mandell have established their own publishing company, Bamse Features Ltd, so they retain more control over the children’s book, Bamse Came Too.

They have an enormous Bamse character costume to help with the book’s promotion.

Anna hasn’t made that herself, but drew on the contacts she made during years of designing and making fancy dress outfits at Moulton Chapel.

They are also offsetting the ecological impact of the book by planting a 17-acre broadleaf forest, Bamse’s Wood, in Nether Wasdale in Cumbria.

The real dog was known as Sea Dog Bamse but Anna has changed that to Sea Scamp Bamse for her children’s picture book.

She says: “If this takes off I will do another book and turn it into The Adventures of Sea Scamp Bamse. I have ideas for the second book already.”

As the real Bamse was adopted by the Norwegian Navy as its mascot, there’s a good chance Anna’s children’s book will go down well in that country too.

Bamse Came Too is available from Bookmark in Spalding and other good bookshops. ISBN 978-0-9930783-0-9