The price of fuel could drop to £1 per litre amid falling oil prices, as supermarkets head towards a potential petrol price war following Asda’s announcement to cut the price of unleaded by 2p per litre.

The retailer said it would be giving motorists a “weekend boost”, which will see its customers pay no more than 109.7p per litre across its 272 filling stations.

The move, which comes into immediate effect, means that in the last month Asda has cut the price of unleaded by 5p per litre and the price of diesel by 9p per litre.

RAC spokesman Rod Dennis said: “The reason we’ve been slower to see unleaded price cuts is because the wholesale price of petrol - the price retailers buy the fuel for - has not fallen at the same rate diesel has. Diesel has been on a steady downward path since the start of May, driven by increased capacity from Asia, but the same cannot be said for petrol.

“If the conditions stay right, we could see some even lower prices in a few weeks as people return to work after the summer and the school run begins again. And if Brent Crude were to move to the 40 US dollar per barrel mark, the prospect of some enterprising retailers selling fuel for £1 per litre will make a return.”

He added: “This latest price cut from Asda, coming just two weeks after the last, will be met with cheer from drivers of the country’s 19 million petrol cars, who will have noticed that diesel drivers have been enjoying substantially lower prices for over a month now.

“This summer has been a much cheaper one for motorists than the last. The cost of filling up an average family petrol car is now around £8 less than it was last summer, and around £12 less for a diesel car.

“Fuel is a major expense for millions of families in the UK, and these latest cuts are certainly helping to ease that burden.”

Andy Peake, Asda’s senior director for petrol, said: “We’re bringing some good news to unleaded motorists following a series of diesel price cuts.

“As we head towards the busiest bank holiday weekend of the year on our roads, this new drop means drivers across the country will pay no more than 109.7p per litre for unleaded and diesel remains at a market leading 106.7p per litre at our forecourts.”

Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, welcomed the news, adding that with oil trading at the same price as it was in January, more cuts could be expected.

He added: “Also the current retail margin on petrol is almost twice as much as the long term average which is another indicator that pump prices could fall further.

“However it is worth remembering that the biggest influence on what motorists pay at the forecourts is not the oil price but taxation.”

Soon after Asda’s announcement, Sainsbury’s said it would also be cutting the cost of unleaded by 2p per litre.

The reduced price will go live across the supermarket’s 300 forecourts on Saturday.

Morrisons will make the same cut to the price of its unleaded petrol, effective from 2pm.

It said that with the latest reduction, unleaded prices will be 15p a litre cheaper than 2014’s August Bank Holiday, making it £7.50 less to fill up a typical family car.

Jamie Winter, services director for Morrisons, said: “The current weakness in world markets is working in the favour of motorists because plummeting oil prices are combining with a strong pound to help us reduce petrol prices.”

- Find the average fuel prices near you at {http://www.petrolprices.com/|petrolprices.com|go to petrolprices.com}.

People in Bourne and the Deepings will see their rubbish collected a day later than usual because of August Bank Holiday Monday.

Rubbish should be put outside houses by 7.30am for collection.

For more details, call South Kesteven District Council on 01476 406080.

Firefighters were called to a two-car crash in Horsegate, Deeping St James, just before 8.30am on Thursday.

A crew from Market Deeping made both cars safe but no one was thought to have been trapped inside.

Earlier this week, a woman had to be helped out of a car that overturned and ended up in a ditch off Boston Road, Swineshead on Tuesday.

Fire crews from Donington and Kirton were called at about 7.30pm and iused a ladder to help the woman out of the ditch.

Key: A - art, B - biology, BS - business studies, BUS - business, C - chemistry, CA - catering, CS - computer science, D - Drama, DA - dance, DT – design technology, DTG - design technology (graphic products), DTR - design technology (resistant materials), E - English language, EL - English literature, F - French, FM - further maths, G – geography, GR - German , GS – general studies; H - history, HF - home economics (food), HC - home economics (child development), IT - information technology, L - Latin, LA - law, M - maths, MU - music, P - physics, PE - physical education, PO - Polish, POR - Portuguese, PS - psychology, R - Russian, RS - religious studies, RSS - religious studies short course, S - science double award, SC - science single award, SCA - additional science, SP - Spanish, SPT - sport.

BTEC subjects listed with subject names

* denotes grade A

** denotes grade A*

Key: A - art, B - biology, BS - business studies, BUS - business, C - chemistry, CA - catering, CS - computer science, D - Drama, DA - dance, DT – design technology, DTG - design technology (graphic products), DTR - design technology (resistant materials), E - English language, EL - English literature, F - French, FM - further maths, G – geography, GR - German , GS – general studies; H - history, HF - home economics (food), HC - home economics (child development), IT - information technology, L - Latin, LA - law, M - maths, MU - music, P - physics, PE - physical education, PO - Polish, POR - Portuguese, PS - psychology, R - Russian, RS - religious studies, RSS - religious studies short course, S - science double award, SC - science single award, SCA - additional science, SP - Spanish, SPT - sport.

BTEC subjects listed with subject names

* denotes grade A

** denotes grade A*

Adams Nisha HC E EL M G SP BTEC APP SCI BTEC SCI BTEC ICT; Agger Jake SC SCA E EL M BS IT CS; Allan Alexander SC SCA E EL M BS IT H; Allen Brooke SC SCA HF E EL M BS G; Allen Paige SC SCA HC E EL M H F RS; Allott Douglas Scarlett B C P E* EL* M A* G* F; Anzivino Matthew DTR E M G BTEC APP SCI BTEC SCI BTEC ICT RS; Athow Luke SC SCA E EL M G* IT H* RS; Aylward Tommy DTR E EL M BS PE BTEC APP SCI BTEC SCI BTEC ICT; Ayres Glen SC SCA E EL M A D G RS; Baines India B* C* P* E* EL* M* G** H* SP** RS ; Barfield Reece SC SCA DTR E EL M IT PE RS; Barnes Connor B C P DTR E EL M PE H RS; Bartlett Matthew SC SCA E EL M H F CS; Baxter Lekiesha E M CA BTEC APP SCI BTEC SCI BTEC BUS BTEC ICT; Bellamy Luke B* C* P* E EL* M G* IT GR RS; Bennett Daniel SC SCA E EL M D H RS CA; Black Alisha E EL M D H RS BTEC APP SCI BTEC BUS BTEC ICT; Blackbird Emily DA SC SCA E EL M BS G SP RS; Blades Alexander SC SCA E EL M BS IT H; Bluff Oliver SC SCA E EL M BS G H; Borst Arron B C P E EL M BS H* GR RS; Bramble Ashanti SC SCA E EL* M H* SP RS; Brent Lara DA B C P E* EL* M H F RS BTEC ART**; Brooker Kayne DTG E M D CS BTEC APP SCI BTEC SCI BTEC ICT; Brown Calderbank Ashly DTR E M BTEC APP SCI BTEC SCI BTEC ICT BTEC SPT; Buckby Lucy B C P E EL M BS G* F RS; Bullimore Georgia E EL M G PE RS BTEC APP SCI BTEC SCI BTEC BUS BTEC ICT; Bullivant Jennifer B C P E EL M A H F* RS; Burkitt Megan SC* SCA E EL* M A H* SP RS; Burrows Rosie HC E M A D BTEC APP SCI BTEC SCI; Burton Tara SC SCA HF* HC E EL M G RS; Butcher Harry SC DTG E EL M G PE; Butler Tyler SC E EL M IT CS BTEC SPT; Buttery Heather DA* B* C* P* E* EL* M* A* G* F* RS; Caldwell Alicia E EL M A G GR BTEC APP SCI BTEC SCI BTEC ICT; Cannon Matthew SC E EL M BS G SP RS; Carlisle Evangeline SC SCA HC E EL M H SP RS; Carpentier Megan SC SCA HC E EL M A BTEC ART; Carter Joseph SC SCA DTG E EL M BS H; Carter Max SC DTG E EL M A G; Caston Bradley MU SC SCA DTR E EL M IT GR RS; Chambers Jonathan B C P DTR E EL M H GR RS; Chapman Ross SC SCA E EL M IT H GR; Chappell Jake E M BS G H BTEC APP SCI BTEC SCI BTEC ICT; Clark Harwood Toby SC SCA E EL M BS G IT; Clark Georgia SC HF HC E EL M BS; Clarke Nathan SC SCA DTR E EL M PE H RS; Clayton Molly SC SCA E EL M G PE SP RS; Cleathero Parris SC E EL M IT CS BTEC BUS; Clements Megan DA MU SC E EL M D F; Cobley Chloe HC E EL M D BTEC APP SCI BTEC SCI BTEC ICT BTEC ART; Collings Corey SC DTG E EL M IT H; Coltman Emma SC SCA HC E EL M BS F; Copland Jack SC E EL M IT H F; Courton Rebecca SC SCA E EL M; Couzens Shane SC SCA E EL M D H F; Coyne Ben B C P E EL M BS H F; Crowson Jordan SC SCA E EL M A IT H; Currell Sian SC SCA E EL M A H BTEC ART; Curtis Samuel B C P E* EL M IT H** F RS; Cushen Daniel B C P E EL M G* H F; Cuthbert Darryl SC SCA HF E EL M G IT; Danielewski Kamil SC SCA DTR PO* E EL M BS PE; Darby Hannah DA SC SCA E EL M D H SP RS; Darby Joseph SC SCA DTR E EL M BS CS RS; Darbyshire Jonathan E EL M BS G PE BTEC APP SCI BTEC SCI BTEC ICT; Dawson James SC SCA DTR E EL M IT CS RS; Dickinson Lucy DA SC SCA* E* EL* M H** SP RS** BTEC ART; Draper Patrick SC SCA E EL M G IT CS RS; East Rebecca E; Eggleton Andrew SC SCA DTR E EL M IT PE; Eldred Patrick E M BTEC APP SCI BTEC SCI RSS*; Evans Christopher SC SCA DTR E EL M G CS RS; Evered William SC SCA E EL M G* H SP RS; Everton Tom SC SCA E EL M IT PE H RS; Fialkowski Rebecca HC E M A D BTEC APP SCI BTEC SCI; Fisher Hadley DTR E EL M CS BTEC ICT; Fitzjohn Lewis E EL M IT RSS; Fletcher Karl SC SCA E EL M G PE H RS; Fletcher William SC SCA DTR E EL M G CS RS; Fry Anna-Louise SC SCA E** EL* M A G* SP* RS; Gaches Sophie DA SC SCA HC E EL M G GR RS; Giddings William B C P E EL M D G GR RS; Gilbert Rachel E** A H; Gillett Mollie B C P E EL M BS* G* GR RS; Girvan Rebecca B C P E EL M H F RS BTEC ART**; Graham Holly SC SCA DTG* E* EL M G* GR RS; Green Laura SC SCA E EL M H* SP* CS RS; Gregson James B* C** P** E* EL M** G* IT* GR* RS; Griffiths Michael E M D G H BTEC APP SCI BTEC SCI BTEC ICT; Guest Thomas B C* P E EL M H GR CS RS; Hackney Kirstie HC E BTEC APP SCI BTEC SCI; Hall Tom E M BS CS BTEC APP SCI BTEC SCI BTEC ICT BTEC SPT; Harris Chloe B** C** P** E* EL** M** A** G** SP** RS**; Harrison Berri B* C P E* EL M* A* IT* PE* RS; Harvey Francesca SC SCA E EL M BS H F RS; Harvey Nicola SC SCA HF E EL M BS H; Hawes Katie E M D BTEC APP SCI BTEC SCI BTEC ICT BTEC SPT BTEC ART; Haynes Joanna B* C* P* E* EL M A* G* GR RS; Henson Jamie SC SCA DTR E EL M G GR; Herbert Austin SC SCA E* EL M G* PE* GR RS**; Herbert Niall SC SCA E EL M BS G GR; Herron Megan SC SCA E EL M A* G RS BTEC ART; Hilton Joshua SC SCA E EL M D H F; Hinks Abigail SC E EL M D BTEC BUS BTEC SPT; Hogg Georgina HC E EL M H BTEC APP SCI BTEC SCI BTEC BUS BTEC ICT; Holden Will B C P DTG E EL M G H; Holland Katie DA B C P E EL M G* IT* F RS; Holland Thomas HF E EL M D G RS BTEC APP SCI BTEC SCI BTEC ICT; Holt Kyle HF DTR E M BTEC APP SCI BTEC SCI BTEC ICT BTEC SPT; Hooker Shannon SC DTG E EL M IT BTEC SPT; Howard Joseph B C* P E EL M D H* F RS; Howsam Katie SC SCA E EL M A H GR RS; Hunns Alice SC SCA HF E EL M G RS BTEC SPT; Hymas Matthew E EL M D G BTEC APP SCI BTEC SCI BTEC ICT; Ireland Connor SC SCA DTG E EL M H CS; Ireland Emma SC SCA E EL M G H RS BTEC ART; Ironside Beatrice MU B C* P E** EL M G* F RS BTEC ART; Jacklin Ben B* C** P** E** EL* M** BS** G** GR* RS**; Jackson Ryan DTR E M G BTEC APP SCI BTEC SCI BTEC ICT BTEC SPT RS; Jibb Samuel SC SCA E EL M G H F RS RSS; Johnson Caitlin SC SCA HC E EL M RS CA BTEC ART; Johnson Harry SC SCA DTG E EL M H F; Jordan Isaac SC SCA DTR E EL M BS IT; Joyce Kaitlyn DA HC E EL M A BTEC APP SCI BTEC SCI BTEC BUS; Kamminga James SC SCA E* EL M D G GR RS; Kennedy Kimberley B* C* P E EL* M A G** SP RS; Kent Joshua B C P* E EL M* G H GR RS; Leiper Fraser SC SCA DTR E EL M G PE; Lovesey Charlie SC E EL M D H F; Lynch Connie B* C* P* E** EL* M G** GR* SP* RS; Mackey Scott SC E EL M IT F CS; Mackman Luke DTR E BTEC APP SCI BTEC ICT RS; Magness Hannah DA SC SCA E EL M A G H RS; Malton Sam SC SCA E EL M IT PE CS RS; Manders-Jones Joshua B C P* DTG E EL M H CS; Markham Dominic E M BS G PE BTEC APP SCI BTEC SCI BTEC ICT; Mayhew Aaron SC SCA E EL M IT BTEC BUS BTEC SPT; McCormack Jordon B C P E EL M BS G CS; McGuinness Kimberley E M A CA BTEC BUS BTEC ICT RSS; McLean George SC SCA E EL M G PE H RS; McManus Sian HC E EL M G RS CA BTEC APP SCI BTEC SCI BTEC ICT; Mellors Natalia SC SCA E EL M BS H BTEC ART; Mellowes Lorna SC SCA E* EL* M A BS RS BTEC ART; Moger Jade SC HC E EL M H BTEC BUS; Moore Harry SC SCA DTG E EL M G H RS; Morgan William SC SCA DTR E EL M G IT; Morris Jake SC SCA* E EL M BS PE H* RS; Moule Jake B C P E EL M A H* SP* RS; Murray Kenzee SC SCA HC E EL M G RS CA; Muspratt Adam B C* P* E EL M* BS G** SP RS; Newell Reece DTR E M H BTEC APP SCI BTEC SCI BTEC BUS BTEC ICT; Northen Stephanie DA SC SCA E* EL* M A** G* H RS; Odams Amy DA SC SCA HF HC E EL M SP; Oldfield Jasmine SC SCA E EL M PE H RS BTEC BUS*; O’Neill Emily SC SCA HF E EL M BS G RS; Osbiston Alexandria DA SC SCA E EL M PE H GR; Partner Sophie SC SCA E EL M A PE H** RS; Pearson Caleb DTR E M D BTEC APP SCI BTEC SCI BTEC ICT; Penny Jack B C P E* EL* M* G* H* SP* RS; Perry Joshua DTR E M D BTEC APP SCI BTEC SCI BTEC BUS BTEC ICT; Privett Kyle E M BS H CA BTEC APP SCI BTEC SCI BTEC ICT; Quinn Ceidin B C P E EL* M A D G; Ragless James M CA BTEC APP SCI BTEC SCI BTEC BUS BTEC ICT BTEC SPT; Reade Kelsea HC E EL M PE RS BTEC APP SCI BTEC SCI BTEC ICT BTEC ART; Reece Megan SC HC E EL M A D; Regan Lewis SC E EL M BS IT H; Reid Connor SC SCA E EL M G IT H RS; Reynolds Kyle SC SCA E EL M G IT H; Richards Tia E M A CA BTEC APP SCI BTEC BUS BTEC ICT; Richardson Jack MU B C P E EL M A BS* PE; Riley Megan SC SCA E EL M D H* F RS; Ringsell Corey SC SCA E EL M BS D IT; Rippon Ben SC SCA E EL M IT H CS; Rix Sian SC HC E EL M H BTEC ART; Roberts Joshua SC SCA DTG E EL M A IT; Rocha Rafaela DA B C P E* EL* M D H** F* POR* RS; Russell Joshua E BTEC APP SCI BTEC SCI BTEC BUS BTEC ICT BTEC SPT; Rust Hana SC SCA E EL M A* G F RS; Schelpe Eleanor B C P E EL M G H F RS; Schollar Joseph B C P DTR E EL M D* G; Sedgwick Michael B* C** P** E* EL* M** IT* H** GR* RS; Sellars Aaron SC SCA DTR E EL M H; Shafau Bronwyn E A CA BTEC APP SCI BTEC SCI BTEC ART; Sharland Joseph SC SCA E EL M A G H* RS; Sharpe Emma SC SCA HF HC E EL M H; Shilling Joshua SC SCA E EL M BS H CS; Silk Ruby B* C** P E* EL* M H* F* GR RS; Sinavskis Dmitrijs E M G PE CS BTEC APP SCI BTEC SCI BTEC ICT; Smith Annabelle SC SCA E EL M BS H F RS; Smith Leah SC SCA E EL M PE RS CA BTEC BUS; Smith Robert SC SCA E EL M BS H SP RS; Stapleton James E M BS G PE BTEC APP SCI BTEC SCI BTEC ICT; Starbuck-Peters Charlotte SC SCA E EL M A G RS; Steels Molly DA SC SCA* E EL* M* BS PE RS BTEC ART RSS; Stenson Jacob B C P E EL M H F CS RS; Stewart Callum SC SCA DTG E EL M G H RS; Stewart Danielle HC E EL M CA BTEC APP SCI BTEC SCI BTEC ICT BTEC ART RS; Stimpson Shannon DA SC SCA HC E EL M BS RS BTEC ART; Stoby India B C P E EL* M G* SP RS BTEC ART**; Stone Liam SC SCA E EL M D H GR RS; Stratton Caitlin SC SCA E EL M BS G F; Strenge Matthew SC SCA E EL M G PE GR RS; Sturman Louise SC SCA E EL M G H GR RS; Sutton Aidan SC SCA E EL M BS PE H; Sutton William SC SCA HF E EL M H SP RS; Swann Ellie DA SC SCA HC E EL M G SP RS; Thompson Ciaran B C* P E EL M IT H* GR RS RSS; Tinworth Sam SC SCA DTG E EL M BS G RS; Tomlinson Megan DA* B* C* P* E** EL* M* D** H** F* RS; Turner Jack SC SCA E EL M BS G PE RS; Varney Kingsley HF DTR E M G RS BTEC APP SCI BTEC ICT; Walker Troy E EL M G CA BTEC APP SCI BTEC SCI BTEC ICT BTEC SPT; Ward Shaun HF E EL M IT PE BTEC APP SCI BTEC SCI BTEC ICT; Watson Georgia E M G CA BTEC APP SCI BTEC SCI BTEC BUS BTEC ICT; Watson Kelly B C P E EL* M A G H RS; Webster Jack B C* P* E EL* M H** F* GR** RS; Weddup Jack SC SCA DTR E EL M G PE; Whaley Charles SC SCA DTR E EL M PE H; Wheatley Rhianna B* C** P** E* EL** M* G** IT* GR* RS**; Whincup Tristan SC SCA DTR E EL M D IT; White Bradley SC E EL M BS PE GR; White Daniel SC SCA E EL M BS H F RS; Wilson Anthony E EL M BS PE BTEC APP SCI BTEC SCI BTEC ICT; Wilson Matthew B* C* P E* EL M BS G* GR RS; Wilson Taylor E CA BTEC APP SCI BTEC SCI; Winn Bella SC SCA E EL M G PE SP RS; Winn Eleanor SC E EL M H RS BTEC ART; Wollerton Kieran HF E; Woodcock Aaron E EL M BS BTEC APP SCI BTEC SCI RS; Woolfitt Charlie SC SCA DTG E EL M BS H RS RSS; Woosnam Emily B C P E EL M G PE RS CA; Yearsley Abigail DA E M D G BTEC APP SCI BTEC SCI BTEC ICT BTEC ART RSS*; Zinkevica Olga SC SCA* E EL M* A GR CS RS.

A new Next clearance store is to open in Spalding.

The company has revealed its plans to open in the town on its careers pages.

Anyone wishing to work at the new store can now subscribe for alerts for when recruitment starts.

Rumours about Next started on the Facebook Spotted Spalding pages, claiming it would be moving into the store which has been occupied by Trespass at the Springfields Outlet Shopping Centre.

In spite of Springfields being unable to confirm anything at this time, shoppers on social media have already expressed their excitement.

Comments included “Awesome” and “Brilliant, saves going Peterborough”. One shopper said: “I’m glad it’s true to be honest. I don’t care if it’s old stock. I love Next clothes and I have a little one on the way, so I hope they have a baby section. Last year’s clothes won’t bother me if they’re a little bit cheaper and of the same quality.”

Dennis Hannant, town centre manager, also thinks a new Next store at Springfields will be good for the town.

When he took the role, he delivered a bold plan outlining how The Springfields Effect could boost business and footfall.

He said: “What is there not to like about Springfields? It has ample affordable parking, it is clean, well laid out, bright, has welcoming shop displays and well-trained staff, and excellent gardens to relax in.”

Commenting on the new Next store, he said: “I know a lot of people won’t agree but if this brings more people to the area this has got to be good news for the town.

“It would be nice to have something like this in the town centre, but Next has obviously done its research and believes it would be more successful there.”

People in Bourne and the Deepings are being warned to bin their takeaway and picnic waste - or take a hit in their pockets.

South Kesteven District Council is reminding people across the district that anyone caught dropping litter faces an on-the-spot fine of £75.

The timing of the threat comes as people in the district choose to take adventure of the warm weather by eating outdoors, leading to a rise in the amount of rubbish thrown onto the streets and out of cars.

Ian Yates, South Kesteven District Council’s executive manager for the environment, said: “When eating outdoors or when on the move, it is never acceptable to drop packaging from what you use for a meal or snack.

“We appeal for people to take extra time and responsibility to not make our neighbourhoods and public places an eyesore by discarding litter.

“You should remember that if you take your litter home, there are many items of waste you can recycle.”

TRISH TAKES FIVE: By award-winning blogger Trish Burgess

I have made a decision to try and do more exercise. If I’m involved in a SADOS production, chances are rehearsals will involve some movement and certainly the last show was very energetic. But at the moment, rehearsing for our play, Family Planning, my character, Gran, is horizontal in bed the whole time. I go along to rehearsals once a week, lie on a bed and eat Rolos in between scenes - and eating Rolos isn’t even in the script.

This sedentary life is not healthy so a couple of Sundays ago, when the sun was shining, Dougie and I decided to go for a walk. We packed water and a couple of satsumas and drove to the back of beyond or, rather, Gedney Marsh. To think we sometimes drive for an hour to reach the sea at Norfolk and yet ten minutes away we have our own stretch of coastline in The Wash.

I was advised by my energetic husband that it would be good for us to walk briskly to benefit from a decent work-out. We started walking along the sea bank and it was glorious. Just a few cow pats to avoid at first and then we were bewitched by the huge Fenland skies and the gleaming wheat fields.

We were aiming for the control tower at RAF Holbeach which we could see tantalisingly in the distance but which didn’t appear to come any closer because the path wasn’t straight.

As we approached the 
entrance to the bombing range, Dougie assured me the flag was down and we would be safe crossing the stile. 
The sign which warned against unexploded bombs and dangerous missiles made me a tad nervous but this was offset by the welcome absence of cow manure. Swings and roundabouts.

After about an hour of vigorous walking, we eventually reached the tower, devoured our satsumas and turned back. The wind was against us this time but the tide had come in so we were able to see the sea and, if my map was correct, an island called Outer Westmark Knock.

I have to say I was feeling rather smug about my level of fitness. Dougie was particularly impressed as he had expected whinging.

On the final bend we saw, right across our path, a herd of cattle. I don’t know why this surprised us, considering the number of country pancakes we had avoided on our jaunt, but it did. At this point I became anxious.

“Don’t look them in the eye!” I said.

“Isn’t that just for dogs?” Dougie replied, both of us showing our complete 
ignorance of countryside issues.

“Should we stay still or run?” I asked.

“I think that’s advice for stumbling upon bears. Why don’t we just walk slowly past them?”

We walked quietly past the cattle and exited by the gate to reach our parked car.

“I think some of them may have been bullocks,” Dougie said, as we drove home.

“How on earth could you tell?”

“I couldn’t see any udders,” he stated.

“You were looking for udders?” I exclaimed.

“Well, you said not to look them in the eye. I had to look somewhere!”

You can follow Trish on Twitter @mumsgoneto and read her blog at www.mumsgoneto.blogspot.com

Scam alert: spotting the telltale signs that someone is pulling a scam.

Q I have just opened a letter which said I had won a prize. I think this is a scam, what is the best thing to do?

A. Here are 12 telltale signs for spotting scams:

• Contacted out of the blue? – be suspicious. Don’t be rushed – resist pressure to make a decision straight away. Suspect a phone scam? Hang up, wait five minutes to clear the line or use another phone to call your bank. If you haven’t bought a ticket you can’t win it. Your bank will never phone you to ask for your PIN or your online banking password. Your bank will never ask you to transfer money to a new account for fraud reasons. Your bank will never attend your home to collect cash, your pin, card or chequebook. Genuine computer firms do not make unsolicited phone calls to help fix your computer. You shouldn’t have to pay anything to get a prize. Never send money to someone you have never met. Walk away from job ads that ask for money in advance.

CAB is running Scams Awareness Month, highlighting how scams can flourish if they go unreported. With only 5 per cent of people reporting scams, the figures are thought to be a fraction of the scams in the local area. The campaign, supported by Trading Standards, is urging people to get advice if they think they’ve been conned, and warn others to help stop more scams.

Analysis also shows different types of scam use different methods: Over a third of cold call scams reported are for professional and financial services; 2 in 5 of all postal scams are lotteries or prize draws, inviting people to claim a prize for a competition they haven’t entered; 4 out of 5 doorstep scams are to do with home improvements and household services; 2 in 5 internet scams are about personal goods and services.

If you’ve been scammed, or you’re worried about a potential scam, there are ways Citizens Advice can help – contact your local office or visit the website.

Growing numbers of Lincolnshire parents are being taken to court or handed fixed penalty fines because they allow their kids to skip school.

New figures released by the county education authority reveal 89 parents were prosecuted in 2014-15 – while the number was just 54 in 2013-14.

The 2014-15 academic year saw 860 fixed penalty notices slapped on parents – with the vast majority, 732, being for children taking unauthorised holidays during term-time.

Some 126 fixed penalties were for persistent absence and a further two for a child being in a public place while serving a period of exclusion.

In 2013-14, the fixed penalties were less than half the latest figure.

Some 333 fixed penalties were issued in that academic year with unauthorised holidays accounting for 217 – some 115 were for persistent absence while one was for a child being in a public place while serving an exclusion.

Fixed penalties sent to parents involve a £60 fine but that doubles if it’s not paid within 28 days.

The national picture for prosecutions and fixed penalties also shows a big rise in the number of parents getting caned over absences from school.

The hikes come in the wake of a major crackdown on truancy as well as the strict rules on term-time holidays introduced two years ago.

Jill Chandar-Nair, Lincolnshire County Council’s inclusion and attendance manager, said: “It’s important that children don’t miss out on their education and parents have a responsibility to ensure their children are at school.

“Fixed penalty notices are used by schools to improve school attendance.

“For those children with poor attendance, it is used as a last resort, once all other strategies have been exhausted by schools and there is still no improvement.

“Persistent absences in Lincolnshire schools continues to decrease which is evidence these strategies used by schools are working.

“In schools where they are using fines to address unauthorised term-time holidays, they are beginning to see a positive impact on their overall attendance figures.

“We continue to stress that absence from school at any age could have a significant impact on a child’s progress and attainment.”

Parenting group Netmums said that in some cases a fine or threat of jail can be enough to make a parent understand the seriousness of their child missing school, but warned that truancy is a complicated issue and families may need professional support rather than court action.

Rachel Burrows, from Netmums, said: “Long-term truancy is a complicated issue and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. In many cases, the family may be in crisis or face issues such as a parent with mental health problems or addictions.

“In these cases, fines or jail won’t help as the mum or dad needs professional support to turn their lives around and be a better parent.”

WARD’S WORLD: By John Ward

Summer brings many sport events to prominence and also into the public eye big time like it or not and the latest one in that frame has England stamped all over it as the England cricket team has won the Ashes on home ground and beat Australia bats down.

For starters I am not a cricket fan as I can never quite keep up with the sheer speed and excitement it generates but it does bring back memories of my father’s participation in the game in those heady days when it was a leisurely weekend afternoon event and people watching could drop off to sleep in their deckchairs watching but once becoming conscious could tell you everything that went on during the match – apparently.

Father played in various positions from wearing umpteen dozen jumpers around his waist standing in a milking gown or white smock and waggle his hand in the air at chosen moments to signify something or other to actually holding the bat and smacking the ball when the opportunity arose.

There were signs as to how the match had gone on his return back home as if he and the team won his bat was a trusty shaped willow weapon of the Gods, sleek in action and true as a die in operation plus a big beaming smile that I can picture even now but if he or they had lost, it was but a mere hunk of firewood with an expression of sucking a spoon full of rusty nuts and bolts.

There were other wonderful occasions that brought excitement to the game such as the now and again ‘away match’ where the team went to other venues to both entertain and amaze their counterparts in their league. One memorable time was when the team decided to use a newly formed local minibus hire company to take the team to a match twenty odd mile away and a clue that things were not going right was when the driver arrived at a central bus stop to pick them up and opened the door to allow them in and passed comment ‘It’s a fancy dress thing then?’ to which nobody bothered to enquire why he said it.

It was when he disembarked them at a horticultural show entrance that the penny dropped as meanwhile a party of gardening enthusiasts were slightly befuddled to find they had been dropped off by their minibus driver at a cricket ground with no discernable flora to see or judge apparently. Despite the rapid turn round and all aboard by the Men in White and onto the right destination they had lost the match by default.

In those days you couldn’t blame the now favourite standby of today being ‘it was the Sat Nav wot done it’ as this was just plain human error. With winning against a team from the land of the kangaroo perhaps father, now long gone back to the pavilion in the skies, would approve in 
some respects as at least they did manage to arrive in the right country if not by minibus.

A team of four have climbed the equivalent to the height of Mount Everest using church steps.

Spalding market trader Ian Johnson (52), former Spalding Homebase manager Steve Slater (56), Spalding Garth School teacher Kelly Slater (28) and John Prue (27) of Donington climbed the Stump (St Botolph’s Church in Boston) more than 200 times.

Their relay effort over the course of four days added up to the height of the famous mountain.

The team, who have a history of running marathons and other sporting events for charity, have raised more than £6,000 from sponsorship to be split between their chosen charities Macmillan, Breast Cancer Now (formerly Break-through Breast Cancer), Friends of Spalding Garth School and the Stump Restoration Fund.

Ian told the Spalding Guardian: “Completing it was a combination of being exhausted and excited at the same time. We had a lot of support from family and friends who were waiting for us at the bottom.”

The team even finished a victory lap together after bringing their total cycles to 201 times. Prior to setting off Steve told us the feat had seemed a good challenge.

He said he had tried to do a fund raising event every year.

The team prepared by doing various activities, including practice runs up and down the tower. He said, at the time, he had been looking forward to it and that the team was a ‘good bunch’ and would include a lot of ‘camaraderie’.

There was also a raffle for the chance to win £250. To enter, participants had to fill out their details along with a guess of how long the charity effort would take the team.

The answer was that it took 13 hours, 55 minutes and 36 seconds to climb the 29,000 foot height – about 83,000 steps in all.

More than 1,300 16 to 18 year olds in Lincolnshire have gone missing.

At least, they are no longer in the education system, and they are not working or being trained for work.

The reasons for the number of young people who appear to have slipped off the conventional route from school to further education or work are many and varied.

One may be that school just didn’t fit and the young person left with no qualifications, or possible stayed on and received disappointing exam results.

There are also confidence issues; for some young people, the prospect of further education or going into the workplace is just too daunting.

Thankfully, there is a way that those people – often referred to as NEETs – can gain the qualifications and confidence they need to pick up where they left off on their career paths.

It’s the Nacro Education Centre in Spalding, which offers flexible, roll on-roll off, short study programmes. Critically, each course is tailored to the individual.

Nacro trainer and designated safeguarding officer Zoe Whitmore believes there are unique features about their training methods that make them more appropriate for some young people.

It’s small – there will probably be no more than 36 learners in the building at any one time, which means tutors can be more supportive.

Zoe adds: “Each programme is bespoke to that learner. When I interview them I talk about how they have got on, any issues they have had and how they learn, so we try and tailor what we do to how they learn.

“A lot have come from mainstream school and didn’t enjoy it, whereas we try and give them that enjoyment of learning back.

“Some perhaps don’t have the confidence to go to college, but they are not ready for work and they need that bit of nurturing to get to that next stage.”

The centre offers GCSEs in Maths and English and Functional Skills, as well as coaching in personal and social development and employability, so looking at CV writing and interview techniques.

Just go to the office next to the Job Centre or ring 01775 714105 9am-5pm weekdays.

Nacro has centres at Spalding, Boston, Peterborough and Wisbech – and Wisbech and Boston offer adult provision for over 18s as well as work placements.

The centres do get referrals from careers advisors and Job Centres, schools and colleges, but parents, carers or young people themselves can make contact.

There is a discretionary bursary available for some learners to help with things like travel costs.

Trainer Zoe Whitmore says they have had “fabulous” results in the past.

She adds: “I often see ex-learners that have gone on and are now in full time jobs. We had one who achieved apprentice of the year a couple of years ago. They come to us with different needs and issues and go on to achieve fabulous things.”

A resident of Shepeau Stow fears for the lives of local children when the new term starts if trees at the village school are not cut back.

David Barfoot, of Gypsey Lane, says he has been trying for a year to get something done but feels no-one is listening.

His main concern is the view being obscured for motorists approaching the B1166 road at the Dowsdale Road junction.

He said: “In May last year, I wrote a letter to the Shepeau Stow Primary School governors asking them if they would cut back the trees as they are restricting views from both ways when coming out of Dowsdale Road junction on to the B1166, which is the main Peterborough, Spalding and Holbeach route.

“The only response I had was the trees were not the school’s responsibility.

“I wrote to the school governors again in July this year as the road is the main route for the children going to the school and also an accident is waiting to happen. Again, no response.

“I’ve also been in touch with Lincolnshire Highways but nothing has been done.

“The trees are now overhanging 10 to 15 feet.

“It’s growing time, so it will be worse when the children go back to school. Something needs to be done.”

County councillor Nigel Pepper said: “Due to the high level of complaints I have received about this matter, I have contacted the Highways department on numerous occasions and they have also received complaints.

“A Highways inspector recently carried out another inspection and his conclusion was ‘No Highways Issues were noted’.

“What they don’t see as a problem most people do. I fully support Mr Barfoot in his campaign and, hopefully, by bringing this matter out into the open, common sense will prevail and the matter will be brought to a satisfactory conclusion.”

Debra Greeves, the county council’s area highways manager, said yesterday: “The trees are on school grounds at Shepeau Stow Primary School, and it is the school’s responsibility to maintain them.

“It becomes a highways matter if the trees are overhanging the road or affecting visibility for drivers.

“We checked these trees again today and whilst they are growing onto the verge they aren’t affecting visibility at the junction.

“We will continue to monitor the situation, and if we feel that action needs to be taken, we will contact the school to remind them of their responsibility.”

I write regarding the special report in Tuesday’s Lincolnshire Free Press on the “Project that can turn tap off on drinkers in a sorry state”.

It seems confusion has set in over what the initial cause to many of the issues of this town are.

The story is set off by the headlining photo of street drinkers’ cans piled up. Then we read about the old “We’ve had enough” campaign.

It was backed by 1,800 people who stated they had had enough of street drinkers within the town.

We are now three years down the line and, in my opinion, we are seeing more of this anti-social activity.

In 2012, MP John Hayes stated that he had plans for a police crackdown on anti-social behaviour and stronger enforcement of a town centre-wide ban on drinking.

Mr Hayes also added that he wanted to see a zero-tolerance policy in terms of anti-social behaviour and would be more than happy to lead the previously mentioned campaign to eliminate it from the centre of Spalding.

That never happened, apart from the odd “operation” and the issues remained. The focus on the centre of the town alone was a huge mistake on their part as the issues are more prominent along the riverside and back alleys.

Now back to the confusion. The current story I mentioned at the top of this letter started off by mentioning street drinkers but then got side-tracked to the night-time club and pub drinkers, which was not the original cause or a link to many of the issues which the “enough is enough” campaign was about.

For Matt Clark to state that it is a national problem is maybe correct, but for him to say it is not linked to our migrant community shows just how out of touch these people who we trust in any form of power are.

Ask these communities all over the UK, and the locals are all saying the same no matter which town or city you are from.

As mentioned before by Inspector Tyner when he was here, it was admitted that the vast majority of street drinkers were migrants.

This is also backed up by court reports where it showed a higher proportion of drink-related offences. Maybe a walk around some hot spots would be beneficial to Matt.

Regarding the scheme to help treat resistant drinkers, I do question as to what these people are offering our society if they are from abroad and are repeat offenders such as I see down the alleys.

Surely common sense dictates a full ban, backed by a police presence and those who blatantly disregard our laws dealt with properly.

As for the voluntary code, I’m not sure where, or if, it is working, as I still see people drinking from a blue bag.

Someone, somewhere is still turning a blind eye to the sales and I suspect it is not just a few shops.

I fear for the town and the impact that this anti-social issue has upon it, from litter to urine, to polluted rivers. I really despair.

Mr R Garner

Spalding

An electrical short circuit has been blamed for a fire in a combine harvester at Surfleet.

The incident, at around 7.30pm yesterday evening (Saturday), saw a fire crew from Spalding turn out to the burning combine on Saltfleet Lane, Surfleet.

A fire service spokesman said the fire started in the engine compartment and the crew, wearing breathing apparatus, used two hose reels to put it out.

Shortly after, at 7.47pm, a spark from a combine harvester in a field at Oxcroft Bank, Moulton Chapel caused a stubble fire, according to Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Approximately 2,000 sq m of stubble were burned before the retained crew from Spalding could put it out using beaters.

THOUGHTS OF A FRUITCAKE: By Carolyn Aldis

So, over the last few weeks, I have been following the migrant crisis in Calais. Pictures of men climbing fences and trying to clamber onto lorries causes a mixture of feelings. On the one hand, I am annoyed they’re trying to come here, when we have our own problems with money, jobs and housing. On the other hand, I am sympathetic, feeling that they must have come from awful situations to be risking their lives to get here. Then I think, on the other hand (I know, too many hands, but you know what I’m saying) if they are in France, why not stay there? It’s not a danger zone so why keep trying to get here? And then that gets me thinking about benefits and the unfairness of it all blocks out any other feelings.

The failure of those in authority to do little more than mend a few fences causes anger and frustration. There is a lot of unfairness involved with this issue and the feeling towards migrants is hostility. You only have to look at some of the posts on Facebook to see that.

When I hear that a boat full of migrants has sunk in the Mediterranean, with lives lost, I respond in a number of ways. At first, I am sad that people have died, thinking how awful it is...then I think that at least now there are fewer people for the designated country to deal with, which I know sounds dreadful. The press play a part in this blasé thinking, with their “Oh, they’re only migrants, never mind...” mentality by always referring to them as migrants, not men, women and children.

I feel guilty for thinking such terrible thoughts and then angry that someone somewhere has orchestrated events, putting people on boats that are dangerously overcrowded and making money from this practice.

The crisis in Kos challenged my thinking …seeing pictures of children, smiling, being carried off the boats. Whenever I thought of migrants, I thought of hardened men, determined to make it, breaking laws to get somewhere...it hadn’t occurred to me that they were families just like mine

I can’t imagine what it must be like to have to flee your homeland because of persecution...as a Christian, I am privileged to live in a country where I am free to worship the God of my choice...Christians in Syria and other countries do not have this luxury and are being driven out, raped or killed. If I was them, I would want to know that there was somewhere I could go, a place of safety.

This is the real problem with migrants...that nothing is clear cut and every case is different. Some are genuinely running for their lives- the terrible irony is that these people are often sent back, denied help, while others sneak in and manage to claim benefits that they then send back to their family in their country of origin.

It’s difficult to feel compassion when people play the system...but then if the system can be used and abused in this way, then maybe the problem isn’t with migrants at all...

CABINET CALL: By Coun Christine Lawton

It is generally recognised that as a nation we are not building enough homes - about half the assessed need of 250,000 per year.

Although many people assert that we should concentrate on growth and the commercial sector as our first priority, it must be sensible to build much needed homes now.

When we as a district demonstrate that we have a viable housing market to provide homes for workers in our industries then employers will invest here.

New homes can revitalise our towns and villages. There is also the human cost in the numbers of young individuals and families who are desperate to find decent accommodation.

The government’s recent budget changes in cutting social housing rents by 1% for the next four years will impact on our finances and cost local councils £2.6 billion over the next five years.

The impact of the extension of Right to Buy to include housing associations may also be problematic unless addressed carefully.

Whilst it is right that the government keeps rents as low as possible and that housing association tenants can participate in Right to Buy, this means we must reinvest in homes because local authorities are best placed to deliver what their local residents need.

In South Holland we are addressing this demand in a variety of ways.

We are continuing to build council houses and are working to ensure that empty homes in the private sector are brought back into use.

We have also created our own housing company, Welland Homes Limited.

This important development will deliver homes of mixed tenure and type and will concentrate on good design, in areas of need.

I recognise that housing development will be controversial for some.

However, if our towns and villages are to thrive, if young people are able to buy or rent homes they can afford, 
if local authorities can increase their income to maintain front line services, then one solution to all these issues is to build homes in the right places, at the right price and at the right time.

Police in Peterborough say they are growing increasingly concerned for a missing 72-year-old man.

Officers are anxious to trace 72-year-old Sidney Enfield from Padholme Road, Peterborough, who was last seen at about 9am on Friday (August 21).

He is described as being white, 5’7”, slim, with short, straight black hair, stubble and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing red trousers, black trainers, and a dirty yellow high-visibility jacket.

He was last seen leaving his home address on his bike.

He has links to the Peterborough, Elm, Yaxley and Spalding areas. He known to have interest in trains and so may be likely to gravitate towards stations or track.

His family are concerned for his welfare as it is unusual for him not to be in contact with them for this length of time.

DCI Neil Sloan said: “We are concerned for Sidney’s welfare and want to find him as quickly as possible.

“We would ask anyone who has seen him to come forward and contact us as soon as possible.

“I also want to appeal directly to Sidney to let us know he is safe and well.”

Anyone with information should contact police on 999 quoting reference 22082015-0507.

No picture of Mr Enfield is available at this stage.

A bucket of water was all that was needed to put out a rubbish bin on fifre in Long Sutton Market Place.

Firefighters from the town were called out at 11.12am today (Sunday) to reports of flames coming from the bin.

A fire service spokesman said the fire is thought to have been started by a carelessly discarded cigarette.