A reserve at Frampton Marsh is offering young people interested in working with wildlife the chance to take their first step on the career ladder.

The RSPB is once again running its successful internship programme with opportunities for two people to gain experience in the volunteer programme.

Those with a practical bent may be interested in the Conservation Internship, a 12-month placement split between Frampton Marsh and a second nature reserve.

Or, for those who prefer talking to people, there is the six-month Visitor Experience internship.

In addition to gaining valuable experience and training, the interns will be offered free accommodation at the reserve, plus careers guidance to help them get jobs afterwards. Roles start in March 2016 and the closing date is January 6.

Visit rspb.org.uk/joinandhelp/volunteering/internshipsaspx

The internet offers indie authors opportunities to market their books online.

With no publisher around to do the marketing for them, new writers can go on sites such as bookblogger where there is a vast database of writers and books.

The idea is that the book is brought to the attention of book bloggers – some of whom might have 100,000 followers – and they may write a review of the book.

This is all going to help sell copies and, while that won’t necessarily mean lots of money for the author, Lizzie Steel points out: “I have heard that publishers look out for the books that are doing really well in the independent sector and then approach authors. Some independent authors have gone on to be successful, such as the 50 Shades of Grey author, E L James.

“Basically, the publishing industry has changed so much, particularly in the last five years. People used to write a book and send it off to publishers, but there is much less chance of that happening.”

Despite the poor financial returns, Lizzie intends to pursue her career as an author and has already started working on her second novel.

Miss Luciele Hardy, daughter of Mr and Mrs G H Hardy, of Postland, Crowland, was serving as a nurse in France in 1915.

After training at the Spalding Johnson Hospital, she passed all her examinations in the VAD Red Cross.

Nurse Hardy had left for France in October and was working in a hospital at Versailles.

Above is Corpl G W Perkins, who had been killed in action. Before the war he worked in the Capital and Counties Bank in Spalding and was a popular local entertainer.

Pupils at Cowley’s Endowed Boys’ School at Donington heard a lesson they probably never forgot a hundred years ago.

Signaller C W Sylvester of the 5th Lincolnshire Regiment, a teacher at the school before the war, paid a visit to his old haunt.

Mr Sylvester took the opportunity of being at home recovering from wounds sustained in the trenches to visit the school.

At the suggestion of the headmaster, the old teacher took the class, and – according to the report in this newspaper – “with a piece of chalk, and the use of the blackboard, was quickly illustrating in a very vivid and interesting manner some of his own experiences in the trenches”.

It was reported that his words were listened to “with rapt attention – here was the real thing itself – and the boys’ eyes glistened with excitement and interest.”

The boys heard that their former teacher had been ordered by his commanding officer, along with two other men, to go and mend the telephone wire near the trench, which had become broken.

As they walked across to the wire, Mr Sylvester felt a piercing pain in his left arm and fell to the ground. His comrades bandaged him as best as they could until he reached hospital.

The reporter contrasted the scene at Donington with what had brought the former master home again.

The report said: “In the midst of devastating shot and shrieking shell, and all the horrors of war, now, in a quiet country school telling in a few commonplace words the story of Britain’s fight for freedom and justice for all.”

At the end of his lesson, Mr Sylvester received “a hearty vote of thanks” and the hope that he would speedily be restored to good health.

Migrant anglers are taking fish from our rivers to eat according to the ex-police detective helping to crackdown on illegal fishing in Lincolnshire.

Paul Thomas (50), the Angling Trust’s regional enforcement manager for the East of England, said: “This may be due to the migrant angler not being aware of the law in England regarding the need to purchase an Environment Agency rod licence and obtain permission to fish the water prior to fishing.

“It is also possible that they may not be aware of the laws surrounding the removal of freshwater fish, as it is perfectly natural for them to do so in their own country.

“There are byelaws in place that restrict the size and quantity of freshwater fish that can be legally removed but if the controlling club for the water in question state that no fish are to be removed from their waters, then no fish can be legally removed.

“The Angling Trust is actively engaged in the Building Bridges scheme whereby Polish and Lithuanian speaking staff are seeking to educate, rather than alienate, migrant anglers and integrate them into the ‘catch and return’ policy practiced by anglers in England.”

Paul also highlighted growing concern about organised removal of fish from lakes and rivers “on an almost commercial scale” using gill nets and baited longlines to trap fish to sell on the black market.

He said: “These gill nets and longlines are often placed in remote locations after dark and can be very inconspicuous. These are the more serious offences that demonstrate the links between fisheries crime and the wider picture of rural and wildlife crime, business crime, hate crime and organised crime.”

He says anyone who sees illegal angling should call police on 101 or, if appropriate, 999, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 111555 and the Environment Agency hotline on 0800 807060.

Previously ...

‘We won’t eat your fish’ say Spalding’s Polish anglers

Crackdown on illegal fishing over summer in south Lincolnshire

Police trawl for illegal anglers

Crackdown under way on fish thefts and illegal angling

Working as one to tackle illegal fishing

A lucky man from Bourne is upgrading Christmas and looking forward to giving his family a life-changing 2016 after he revealed a £300,000 prize on a National Lottery instant win game.

Site maintenance worker Lee Pick, 45 , was doing a night shift when he discovered life for himself, wife Clare (42) and their five children, was about to shift up a gear with a £300,000 win.

Taking a break in the wee hours of the morning Lee decided to play an Instant Win Game from National Lottery GameStore on his mobile phone. When that came up with a small win, he opted for a Cashword Red before starting work again.

A delighted Lee said: “It was just a bit of a whim to pass the time. On the Cashword Red I had to reveal various letters to make winner words, a bit like a word search. The first win was £40 and I was well chuffed, then as I carried on playing I kept getting winning words and the win started to accumulate. It took about three minutes to complete and by the end I had 12 words and was £300,000 richer!”

Although wealthier than he’d ever imagined, discovering the win at 1am had its drawbacks, Lee had to wait for seven hours before he was able to call Camelot to verify the win.

He said: “I work alone so there was nobody to share the news with at work and I didn’t want to wake Clare so I spent the rest of the shift pacing about like a headless chicken! I was convinced it was an elaborate hoax but that didn’t stop me from using the phone to look at houses, caravans and holidays that we could buy if it did actually turn out to be true.”

Once Lee arrived home and managed to convince Clare that the family fortunes had literally changed overnight he wasted no time making those ‘middle of the night dreams’ a reality.

He said:“Clare and I knew the type of house we’d like to live in so had a look online, found a perfect four-bed detached house and have already put an offer on it. If all goes to plan, the Pick family will be kicking off 2016 in a new home, a home we could once have only dreamt of. Now that’s got to be the best Christmas present a Lincolnshire lad could ask for!”

“As far as Christmas goes we had most of the shopping done but with this little dose of magic we can upgrade our Christmas plans a touch. And as I’m self-employed I can afford to take a bit more time off to spend with the family which will be the best present I could ask for!”

A Spalding pub owner says he is ‘heartbroken’ at the thought of closing earlier than other premises in the town over the Christmas period.

Pete Williams has made three Temporary Events Notices (TENS) applications at the Punchbowl in New Road to extend opening hours from 1am to 3am over the festivities.

He has hired a barrister to represent him at Friday’s meeting of South Holland District Council’s licensing committee after objections to the late opening by the council’s environmental protection team, citing noise levels.

He wants to open on Saturday, December 12, until 3am on the Sunday, and also open until 3am on December 20-21 and December 24-27.

But environmental protection have objected. They say that following a complaint of excessive noise from amplified sound they carried out noise monitoring and found it to be excessive and in breach of the premises licence on several days. On October 24 and November 8 it was also being played beyond hours specified in the licence.

“I make these applications every year and I’ve never been turned down before,” said Mr Williams, whose son Ben runs the popular pub.

“I am trying not to take this personally but I am heartbroken. We are suffering our worst year on record and January and February are always poor months – so we were relying on Christmas to bring some money in.

“All I am asking is to be able to compete with other premises in the town that will be opening to these hours.

“Bentleys, Loaded and Bounce already open later than us on a Friday and Saturday night and it’s already hard seeing people leaving our pub to go to other establishments after I’m forced to call time.”

The licensing committee – consisting of councillors Anthony Casson, Malcolm Chandler and chair Angela Harrison – meets at 10am at the Priory Road council offices.

The panel can allow the TENS to go ahead as requested, turn them down totally or allow them but with conditions.

Mr Williams added: “Christmas is the time to have a party, some late night fun, and the Punchbowl has always been about those things.

“People want to come here, let their hair down and enjoy themselves – that’s hard to do when I have to send them to other places to continue their night.

“Hopefully, by taking on a barrister, he will be able to speak for me and persuade councillors to allow these nights to go ahead.

“It’s not just me that will suffer either if I don’t get the go-ahead. A lot of people in Spalding look forward to coming here over Christmas.

“I do this to make a living – albeit a poor one at the moment.”

Two Citizens Advice groups have merged to form one organisation to cover South Lincolnshire

Following a year when the South Kesteven and South Holland Citizens Advice services shared a chief officer and a chair, both trustee boards have now agreed to formally merge, under the new name of Citizens Advice South Lincolnshire.

Covering a wide area, full advice services will be maintained locally at the current office in Spalding, Grantham and Stamford, with a number of outreach services covering Bourne, Market Deeping, Deeping St James, Holbeach, Long Sutton, Stamford Hospital, St Mary’s GP surgery Stamford, and the Curlew Centre at Sutton Bridge.

CAB say the advantages of a merger for the client will be a structure across the whole of south Lincolnshire, allowing them to access services through the route of their choice, whether that is face to face, online, or on the phone, while the wider pool of support caseworkers will be able to maintain specialist services.

The new organisation will be able to streamline accounting, training and HR services, share good practise, and report into one merged board.

The ability to bid for new funding will also be transformed by the formation of a larger organisation, something which will become even more important in the future.

The two organisations have recently been successful in winning a joint Big Lottery funding award of £250,000 to provide a new advice service for migrant workers.

“I am very pleased this decision has been taken,” said Lisa Barwell, chief officer. “It allows the new organisation to maintain the face to face service from both volunteers and specialist advisors in all our current locations, while we can make plans to develop enhanced services for the future, through working more efficiently with modern technology and developing new partnerships.”

South Kesteven and South Holland between them dealt with a total of 13,992 enquiries from 10,573 clients during the 12 months to March 31, across a wide range from consumer issues to relationships, with the highest number of concerns dealing with benefits, debt, housing and employment.

Adrian Arnold, the chair of both boards, emphasised the great efforts that have already gone into dealing with issues such as due diligence, and added, “Over the next few months our staff, volunteers and trustees will be working extremely hard to implement the decision we have just taken, and we are all confident that the new organisation will allow us to help our clients better throughout South Lincolnshire, with whatever challenges they face going forward.”

Previously...

Help and advice from South Holland CAB

Help available at Spalding CAB on unmanageable debt

£250,000 to integrate immigrants in south Lincolnshire ...

Young and old are really getting into the Christmas spirit as the big day draws ever closer.

Weston Hills Primary School hopes to raise around £1,000 from a Christmas fair organised jointly with the PTA.


Headteacher Jane Fitzgerald said pupils made decorations to sell, ran stalls and games, including a seasonal one involving throwing a bean bag down a chimney.


Mrs Fitzgerald said: “It was a fantastic event, lots of people came – parents and people from the local community. Santa’s grotto was very popular.”

Saracen’s Head Village Hall was packed for the over 60s Christmas party when guests enjoyed a fabulous meal and festive fare.

Sedge Estate Agents in Spalding had a visit from Santa Claus because the company is this year sponsoring the Rotary Club of South Holland’s sleigh that’s taking him around the district.


Sedge marketing manager Sarah Trude said the sponsorship was arranged through their director, Peter Coupland. “We are very keen to support the local community and children’s charities,” said Sarah.


Two lucky children – Oskar and Nela Gadza – were visiting the Sedge base in Double Street at the time and Santa dropped in and he very generously gave them presents.

Caring pupils from Gosberton Clough and Risegate Primary School were thinking of children less fortunate than themselves – and packing Christmas cheer into gift-filled boxes that will go abroad via the Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child Appeal.


The school collected just under 50 boxes, including some donated by Katie’s Childcare, of Gedney Dove End.

Headteacher Bev Rooney said the school has just 85 pupils – all from 50 families – and described her pupils’ efforts as “fantastic”.


She said: “They love doing this and helping other children. It’s very much about sharing and giving.”

With only three weeks to go until Christmas, Lincolnshire Trading Standards is warning consumers to shop carefully when buying children’s toys.

Colourful, interactive and musical, some toys may look like an excellent buys to parents, guaranteed to occupy kids for hours. However, sometimes, the most unsuspecting toys can actually pose a danger to children.

Senior trading standards officer at Lincolnshire County Council, Alexandra Connell, says: “Most toys sold in the UK and Europe are very safe because of laws regulating their manufacture.

“However, cheap, illegal imports are sold widely on the internet and social media shopping sites. You can also sometimes get caught out at places like local markets, temporary shops and car boot sales.”

Lincolnshire Trading Standards has put together some top tips for shopping safely:

•Always head for reputable retailers - whether on the High Street or online. They will be careful what products they stock, and you should be able to return something if there is a fault.

•Beware of counterfeit goods. They may have low prices but they are illegal and often not made to proper standards. Internet auction sites can be particularly prone to counterfeit items.

•Be wary of a “too good to be true” deal. A rule of thumb is: if something costs less than half the normal price, it’s likely to be fake.

•Make sure toys are appropriate for the child’s age. In particular, remember that babies and toddlers can choke on small or loose parts.

•Think about other possible hazards - for example, does a toy gun have the potential to cause an eye injury?

And before you buy, always check for the following:

•Name and address of the manufacturer or importer - this information is a legal requirement. Unless both the name and EU address/postcode are present - DO NOT BUY

•Type, batch, serial or model number - these must be present - if they aren’t - DO NOT BUY

•CE Mark - if only the CE Mark is present but not the above information - DO NOT BUY

•Age range of the product - toys that might be dangerous for children under three must say so and state the risks, for example: WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD

Alexandra adds: “We work closely with traders across the county to try and ensure the products they make or import are safe. This year, we’ve seized thousands of toys from markets across the East Coast, including unlicensed and unsafe “Despicable Me” Minions. If we feel a toy is unsafe, we will remove it immediately from sale. If you see a toy is unsafe, contact Citizen’s Advice on 0845 404506.”

For more information on toy safety, visit www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/tradingstandards

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. V/S means victim surcharge; C/C/C means criminal courts charge.

Grantham Magistrates’ Court

November 11

Adrian Hanga (41), of Dock road, Tilbury, Thurrock. Speeding (Deeping Common). £135 fine, £20 victim surcharge, £85 costs, 3pts.

Philip Fountain (28), of Broad Lane, Moulton. No insurance (Spalding). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts. No separate penalty for defective stop lamp.

Jemma Grooby (28), of Monarchs Road, Sutterton. Speeding (Moulton Seas End). £220 fine, £22 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Gail Murphy (45), of Horseshoe Lane, Kirton. Failed to give driver ID (Nettleham). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, £150 criminal courts charge, 6pts.

Karolina Turcinaviciute (26), of Double Street, Spalding. Failed to give driver ID (Nettleham). £250 fine, £25 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Marius Alkenas (36), of Dickens Street, Peterborough. Driving without due care and attention (Crowland). £85 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, £150 c/c/c, 4pts. No separate penalty for driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

Leslie Marshall (32), of Bridge of Dee, Castle Douglas. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £170 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Malcolm Dodd (71), of Chapel Lane, Folkingham. Defective tyre (Grantham). £440 fine, £44 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts. No separate penalty for driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

November 16

Sandra Norris (49), of Snowden Close, Crowland. Speeding (Whaplode). £65 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Martin Smalley (62), of Albert Avenue, Skegness. Speeding (Kirton Holme). £220 fine, £22 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

David Brooks (58), of Harwood Road, Norwich. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £185 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Jan Horvath (61), of Landsdowne Court, Spalding. Failed to give driver ID (Nettleham). £160 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Floricel Manole (29), of Finlay Close, Spalding. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £65 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

November 17

Robert Foster (21), of Middle Marsh Road, Holbeach St Marks. Failed to give driver ID (Boston). £260 fine, £26 v/s, £85 costs, £150 c/c/c, 6pts.

Jayne Jarvis (56), of Coronation Avenue, Deeping St Nicholas. Speeding (Spalding). £90 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Edgars Vilcins (24), of Cornfields, Holbeach. Speeding (Spalding). £220 fine, £22 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Shane Wood (43), of Elizabeth Drive, Billingborough. Failed to give driver ID (Nettleham). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, £150 c/c/c, 6pts.

Vidmantas Girzadas (40), of Alverthorpe, Wakefield. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £220 fine, £22 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Roy Bearman (51), of Havens Close, Fleet. Failed to give driver ID (Nettleham). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 6 months.

Benjamin Chapman (32), of Whitehall, Gosberton. Stole 100 litres of diesel worth £107.70 belonging to Tesco (Wyberton). 14 months conditional discharge, £107.70 compensation, £40 costs, £180 c/c/c.

Ross Gallagher (24), of Meadowbrook, Ruskington. Drink driving (Sutterton). Community order with 180 hours unpaid work, £60 v/s, £85 costs, £150 c/c/c, disqualified from driving for 26 months.

Stephen Godfrey (61), of Hurn Road, Holbeach Hurn. Drink driving (Holbeach Hurn). £350 fine, £35 v/s, £85 costs, £150 c/c/c, disqualified from driving for 19 months.

Jornas Aulasas (35), of Westlode Street, Spalding. Drink driving (Spalding). 8 weeks prison sentence, suspended for 2 years, 220 hours unpaid work, £80 v/s, £85 costs, £150 c/c/c, disqualified from driving for 36 months.

John Binney (60), of St Thomas’s Road, Spalding. Two counts of assault and criminal damage (Spalding). Community order with requirement to participate in Building Better Relationships programme, rehabilitation activity requirement, restraining order, £60 v/s, 385 costs, £150 c/c/c.

Joanne Jarvis (44), of Sefton Avenue, Wisbech. Assault (Holbeach). 16 weeks prison sentence, suspended for 24 months, £100 compensation, £80 v/s, £220 costs. Assault (Holbeach). 11 weeks prison sentence concurrent, suspended for 24 months, £100 compensation. No action taken on breach of conditional discharge.

November 19

Pauline Chamberlain (60), of Cranmore Lane, Holbeach. No TV licence. £60 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs, £150 c/c/c.

Louise Chipperfield (30), of Cranesgate North, Whaplode St Catherine. No TV without a licence. £250 fine, £25 v/s, £120 costs, £150 c/c/c.

Elvyra Jaugelaviciute (33), of Ellen Crescent, Spalding. No TV licence. £250 fine, £25 v/s, £120 costs, £150 c/c/c.

Sophie King (24), of Spalding Road, Gosberton. No TV licence. £220 fine, £22 v/s, £120 costs, £150 c/c/c.

Joseph McEwan (51), of St William Court, Holbeach. No TV licence. £220 fine, £22 v/s, £120 costs.

Vicky Murkin (30), of Bridge Road, Sutton Bridge. No TV licence. £40 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs, £150 c/c/c.

Peter Nicholls (57), of Queensway, Long Sutton. No TV licence. £80 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs, £150 c/c/c.

Lisa Osborne (23), of Commercial Road, Spalding. No TV licence. £250 fine, £25 v/s, £120 costs, £150 c/c/c.

Vicki Tebbs (40), of Edinburgh Drive, Kirton. No TV licence. £40 fine, £20 v/s, £150 c/c/c.

Brian Winter (29), of Halfleet, Market Deeping. No TV licence. £250 fine, £25 v/s, £120 costs, £150 c/c/c.

Denise Yould (30), of Laxton Gardens, Pinchbeck. No TV licence. £250 fine, £25 v/s, £120 costs, £155 c/c/c.

Georgina Halligan (45), of Minster Court, Long Sutton. No TV licence. £90 fine, £20 v/s, £150 c/c/c.

Michelle Watson (44), of Lowgate Avenue, Bicker. No TV licence. £60 fine, £20 v/s, £150 c/c/c.

Gita Zundane (23), of Ayscough Avenue, Spalding. No TV licence. £220 fine, £22 v/s, £120 cost.

Holbeach United Community Sports Academy has a new defibrillator at its Penny Hill base thanks to young footballers who did a bag pack at Tesco and the town’s charity shop, Chosen.

The players raised £600 and Chosen donated £1,000.

Academy vice chairman and trustee Stuart Clark said: “With all of the children and adults we have here at weekends, a defibrillator was one of the first things we wanted to raise money for.”

The centre, also known as King’s Academy, has trained ten people to use the machine, which can re-start a stopped heart. Pictured with Stuart (front, right) are Max Holt, Tracey Carter and players who raised the money. SG26115-103TW

Previously ...

Centre of sporting excellence for tomorrow’s stars opens officially in Holbeach

‘Showpiece’ football academy takes shape

A family donated £1,659 to St Barnabas Hospice in gratitude for home care given to a Moulton woman, Diane Harris, who passed away aged 52 in September.

Diane’s sister, Sally Cheatle, said the hospice at home care was second to none and enabled Diane to stay with her mum, Queenie Harris, until the last few hours of her life.

The bulk of the cash, £1,159, was given in donations at Diane’s funeral and the remainder was raised from a karaoke event at The Bell Inn, Weston Hills.

Pictured are landlady Kathleen Filby, St Barnabas representatives Vikki Allen and Karen Gedney, Sally Cheatle, Sophie Cheatle and Queenie Harris. SG221115-300TW

Previously ...

Spalding Lions cheque boost for St Barnabas

Hospice to host Light Up A Life celebration in Spalding

YOUR LETTERS: Hospice event in Spalding

Crowland Community Hub hopes to attract younger users now it has extended its library service opening times.

The full library service is available from 12.30pm-5pm on Tuesdays, taking the total provision to 26.5 hours a week – including 15 hours of self-service.

Crowland Community Hub chairman Paul Bywater said: “We are delighted to be able to provide these extra hours of full library service, and it demonstrates that we are able to meet requirements of users thanks to our growing team of trained volunteers.

“One of our objectives has been to attract more younger library users, and we think these extra hours will be appealing to children on the way home from school.”

The boost for library users in Crowland came on the day that Lincolnshire County Council voted on outsourcing library services across the county to an outside organisation, Greenwich Leisure Ltd.

Crowland’s hub officially opened on October 31 and has been raising funds through donations, events and a new charity shop to cover costs associated with running the library.

Mr Bywater added: “We have striven to reach this stage after two years of hard work by the Hub, and the road ahead is by no means certain. We, and the people of Crowland, are relying on Lincolnshire County Council to protect the future of the hub.”

Previously ...

Magic Halloween opening for Crowland Community Hub

The home nursing team at St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice have relocated from Stamford hospital to the purpose-built office space above the charity’s shop in Bourne.

The move to the Bourne shop is the first time that St Barnabas has used one of its 25 shops to support their care services.

Michelle Webb, director of patient care for St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice, said:

“Working in partnership with our shops department provides an innovative approach to greater joint working within the Trust. It also allows us to put our nursing expertise on the high street and will help to increase the local community focus.

“We are hoping that the convenient location will mean that our team will be able to support members of the public directly and will offer an increased choice of services including welfare and benefits advice and support from the family support services team.”

The Bourne location will also act as a ‘hot desk’ for other health and social care professionals and will support collaboration of palliative care services in the local community.

The new telephone number for the Stamford Hospice at Home team is: 01778 394324.

A buoyant Lincolnshire economy has helped power a county estate agents to some of its best sales figures in a decade.

Estate agents Pygott & Crone has just announced that its sales figures for the last two months are the highest in 10 years.

The company sold 224 homes in October and 186 in November, compared to 117 in October 2005 and 65 in November 2005 - a 91 per cent increase in October and a 186 per cent increase in November.

Senior partner Kevin Scrupps said the firm’s success came as Lincolnshire’s tourism and economy is growing, strengthening the property market and enticing buyers from within the county and beyond to invest in Lincolnshire property.

He said the hike in sales has been seen across the firm’s 11 county offices.

He added: “It is a great testament to the staff at Pygott & Crone and the business as a whole to report these fantastic record figures after a very difficult period in the housing market and the economy.

“As a business we continue to invest heavily in staff training and technology and we are now reaping the benefits of this investment which is illustrated in these figures.”

In addition to the increased sales figures, a survey has shown Pygott & Crone’s customer satisfaction rating now stands at 96 per cent.

Mr Scrupps said: “We are lucky enough to have a very loyal customer base and welcome new clients on a daily basis across our sites.

“The firm’s success is very much down to our customers and our excellent customer service.

He added: “Our new customer call centre has recently opened offering after-sales care to customers across the East Midlands, and I think this is having a real impact on client satisfaction and therefore repeat custom.”

A Moulton woman is to face trial after she denied stealing a bank card and £550 cash from a Spalding pensioner.

Maria Pridmore (35) pleaded not guilty to three charges of theft when she appeared at Lincoln Crown Court today (Friday).

Pridmore denies that she stole a bank card and pin number belonging to the senior citizen on May 28 this year.

She also pleaded not guilty to theft of £250 cash and £300 cash belonging to the OAP on May 28 and 29.

Judge Michael Heath adjourned the case for trial on a date to be fixed in the New Year.

Pridmore, of West Cobgate, Moulton, Spalding, was granted conditional bail. She is not allowed to contact the alleged victim or go to Woolram Wygate in Spalding.

Funding for the first large-scale improvements to sea banks for over 30 years is now a step closer.

The announcement from the Wash Frontage Group (WFG) coincides with the second anniversary of the December 5 2013 storm surge, when over 300 houses and 500 acres of farmland were flooded.

The planned improvements along 5km of sea bank between Leverton and Wrangle are thanks to a working partnership between the Environment Agency (EA), Witham Fourth Internal Drainage Board (WFIDB), and local farmers.

The WFG is a voluntary organisation made up of the landowners and farmers who farm the land on the coast line of The Wash from Gibraltar Point in Lincolnshire to Wolferton Creek in Norfolk.

WFG chairman Stafford Proctor said: “The second anniversary of the terrible events has come around quickly. I am pleased that steps are being taken to carry out much-needed improvement works to the sea banks which protect South Lincolnshire and beyond from flooding.

“In particular the EA, WFIDB and the coastline farmers have developed a working partnership and we are hopeful that we will hear shortly that funding has been approved for improvements to the sea bank along 5km between Leverton and Wrangle. These will be the first substantial works to the sea banks for over 30 years.

“The WFG sees these works as an important step in a process which is critical to South Lincolnshire, West Norfolk, and East Midlands as a whole.

“The Wash Shoreline Management Plan of 2010 identified the need to carry out improvements to our sea defences to keep pace with climate change. The Wash Banks Performance Review in 2012 identified the Leverton to Wrangle section as the lowest bank, and that, in parts, it was the only line of defence.

“It is vitally important that this ambition becomes a reality. I commend the works of the EA, the WFIDB and the farmers in taking a first step towards this. WFG has in the last year sought to facilitate and enable improvements to the sea defences, which will benefit the region as a whole.”

Before the local councils

South Holland

District Council

M Sargeant, Park Manor, 3 Park Lane, Donington. Works to tree in conservation area.

South Holland District Council, Ayscoughfee Hall, Church Gate, Spalding. Pavilion (re-submission).

R Seaman, 60 New Road, Sutton Bridge. Details of external materials.

A Petchell, 2 Grove Farm, Bridge Road, Long Sutton. Dwelling.

J Rawlings, New England Farm, Delgate Bank, Weston Hills. Details of windows, doors, roof lights and design and position of meter boxes, gas flues and vent pipes.

J Britton, Pinchbeck Hall, Church Street, Pinchbeck. Equine area.

A Stalioraitis, 21 Station Street, Spalding. Change of use of shop to takeaway.

Proctor Bros Long Sutton, adj 6 St James Road, Long Sutton. Four dwellings.

Halifax, 25 Bridge Street, Spalding. Extruded acrylic with internal LEDs keyline lighting.

Lloyds TSB Bank, 15 Market Place, Spalding. Extruded acrylic with internal LEDs keyline lighting.

S Phillips, 7 Russell Drive, Cowbit. Extension.

D Branton, C Branton and C Wheeler, Byron Cottage, Campains Lane, Deeping St Nicholas. Residential development.

A Pendry, 29 Flinders Road, Donington. Extension.

South Lincs Vet Group, 20 West End, Holbeach. Signage.

Castlebuild Scaffolding, Holbeach Road, Spalding. Office extension.

South Kesteven

District Council

J Murray, land rear 32-34 High Street, Billingborough. Approval of condition details.

Brudenell Playing Field, Main Street, Baston. Storage container and associated fencing.

N Turner, The Vicarage, 13 High Street, Billingborough. Remove one sycamore and one silver birch, re-shaping and crown lifting various trees.

B Benton, 2 Walnut Farm, North Drove, Twenty. Change of agricultural barns to dwelling.

M King, 31 Allen Close, Billingborough. Fell lime tree.

N Lavender, 5 South Street, Bourne. Removal of bay window and insert door opening.

Western Power Distribution, land between Bourne and West Deeping. Extend and replace overhead lines.

N Lavender, 5 South Street, Bourne. Erection of adverts.

Mr Worrall, 3 Scotts Close, Langtoft. Extension.

Boston Borough Council

Richard Reed (Builders), land adj London road/Drainside South, Kirton. 45 dwellings.

Visual Development (Sutterton), former Beridge Arms site, Station Road, Sutterton. Nine dwellings with new access and associated works (amendments to siting of pair of semi-detached dwellings on plots 8 and 9).

Intruders broke into a garage and stole electrical tools from outside a house in Burton Lane, Billingborough.

It happened on Thursday, November 19 when the garage’s back door was forced open at about 2.30am.

Police are looking for a bronze Chrysler Voyager, with part registration T558 R**, that was seen in the area around the time of the theft.

There were also reports of a man wearing a head torch who was in the area.

Anyone with information should call 101, quoting incident 323 of November 21.

Meanwhile, police are looking for the owner of a dark grey Nissan pick-up truck in connection with the theft of diesel from a building site in Bourne.

The theft was discovered when the Nissan’s alarm was heard sounding in Bath Close some time overnight between November 23 and 24.

Anyone with information should call 101.