A Spalding counselling service wants to let the people of South Holland know that it is there for them.

Space 4U is a professional counselling service offered by the Spalding Covenant Churches and is based at Broad Street Methodist Church in Spalding.

A registered charity, it is open to all from 13 years old upwards, particularly those who could otherwise not access counselling.

A spokesman for the charity said: “Mental health problems are a common human experience.

“Most people know someone who has experienced a mental health problem. It can happen to anyone and it’s likely that, when you find a combination of self-care-treatment and support that works for you, you will get better.

“Experiencing a mental health problem is often upsetting and frightening, particularly at first, but help is available. Counselling gives you a chance to look at whatever problems or issues are bothering you.”

There are many reasons why people come for counselling:

• Because they are having problems with relationships;

• They feel constantly unhappy or anxious;

• They have had a sudden crisis such as somebody dying or losing their job;

• It may be less clear – a sense that they are often sad, or that life has no purpose.

• They may feel everything is spiralling out of control.

The spokesman said: “If it important to you, it is important.”

He added: “Counselling is confidential, what you say remains private. The cost is agreed according to your ability to pay and is on a donation basis to help with the cost of running the Centre.

“No one will judge, advise or criticise you. They will help you find out how you really think or feel about your situation, and how you proceed in a way which works for you.”

All counsellors are members of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy or an equivalent body.

If you would like to know more, ring the centre on 07982 467720 and leave a message with your name, phone number and times it would be convenient to call you back. Or visit their Facebook page SpaldingSpace4U or wesbite Space4Uspalding.org.UK

CABINET CALL: By Coun Anthony Casson

You may have seen last week that we announced the purchase of Moulton Park for £302,000.

Some people have questioned why we’ve spent such a large sum of money on a park at a time when councils across the country are making cuts.

Well, we’ve been actively seeking opportunities to acquire green open space and as a proactive local authority we felt this was too good a chance to turn down.

The completion of this deal is especially pleasing as it confirms our commitment to promoting wider access to open space across the district and developing stronger and healthier communities which residents can take pride in.

We can now look forward to developing a strategy for Moulton Park to provide a first-class recreational facility that people across the district can enjoy.

In the shorter term, we will be looking at installing a play area and other equipment there to meet with more local needs.

On a separate note, I’m also pleased to report that the gates at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Fields in Spalding have been refurbished to further enhance the site and we’ve already had positive feedback from members of the public.

Meanwhile, Councillors Andrew Woolf, Rodney Grocock and I have helped towards funding defibrillators, speed indicators and more from our ward budgets.

Importantly, a defibrillator is a first aid device that can be used by members of the public to treat people who’ve suffered sudden cardiac arrest.

These machines work by emitting a high energy electric shock which restores the heart’s natural rhythm.

This is part of our drive to develop safer communities and these life-saving machines will certainly provide peace of mind, although I hope they are rarely needed.

Those whom the gods wish to destroy... they first make mad (a wise old saying passed down from Greek antiquity).

It is my long standing opinion, of which I’m pleased to find is now echoed by Prime Minister David Cameron, that if we exit the EU then we must all be stark, staring, raving mad. The first and most important duty of any UK government is the fundamental defence of our nation and that is an undeniable fact. I urge the exit camp to think for a moment of a Europe breaking up economically and socially sparked by UK exit and then ask themselves; is it likely to strenghen or weaken NATO? Historically, alliances are never strenghtened by feelings of rivalry and resentment... what is likely if we leave the EU? After these questions, then perhaps the more vocal/local exit campaigners should consider the un-checked foreign policies of Mr Putin; which more and more, seemingly, aim to follow the centuries-old desire of Russia to weaken and dominate its European neighbours. Add to that the possible nightmare of a Donald Trump election victory in the US and it is not hard to imagine Europe once more becoming the bloody battlefield it has always been. Surely, we are all capable of overcoming the predjudice and dislike of ‘Johnny Foreigner’? (which,sadly, is what the current UKIP rhetoric always seems to narrow down to). Migration is in our DNA: from our knuckle-grazing ancestors and throughout man’s history we have always looked to move on to the next valley if the prospects seemed better. Migration is a good and positive thing as our island history can confirm. As for all the other arguments and doubts about excessive EU payments, trade, immigration, economic mis-management, and government/institutional mis-management, are the exit groups maintaining that these, mainly structural problems, are insoluble? And won’t they still exist and still need to be overcome when we are a tiny isolated island nation,weakened further, perhaps, by pro-EU Scottish independence? I have read all the recent pro-exit arguments and comments (inc John Hayes) in this paper and they are poorly presented, in my view. Every argument the exit groups can come up with can be countered and rectified by our continued and prominent membership of the EU. A neglected reality by the exit groups is that without the protection of the EU laws we will continue to live in a country that is without a written constitution which means once out, justice stops with us, or rather our rulers. I prefer a higher universal democratic authority which is why I welcome and embrace European unity with the UK playing a fully committed role in its correct governance. Finally, I would urge all young people interested in politics to take a good look at some of those advocating exit. I have and it seems to me that a few of them are the same ‘old brigade’ of fearful little Englanders that I remember growing up with, steeped in tribalism and local predjudice, mis-led and mis-informed, spurred on by people who, quite honestly, should know better. I do hope a resounding ‘yes’ result for continued membership, if only for the sake of future generations. In my view, Tory leader,Cameron, has been a fool and a liabilty to the in campaign in the past and only now is he speaking truthfully from the heart. Let’s support him now.

Food manufacturer Bakkavor has announced plans to recruit more than 40 apprentices this year.

The company, which has seven sites acrosss Spalding and Bourne, is looking to take on 45 apprentices.

Pippa Greenslade, Group HR director, said: “Bakkavor‘s apprenticeship schemes are a fantastic way to give young people a taste of the food industry and gain invaluable experience.

“From day one, apprentices get real responsibility and hands-on experience in the food manufacturing sector.

“Apprenticeships make good business sense and provide a great way of supporting young talent and building much needed future skills for the food industry.

“We are delighted to be doubling our intake.”

Since launching its scheme five years ago, the business has taken on 40 apprentices.

Now the company offers 14 different types of apprenticeships, including procurement, product development, human resources, food technical, engineering and manufacturing.

Sophie Bellham, an apprentice who joined Bakkavor last year and is on the procurement scheme, said: “My apprenticeship has given me genuine responsibility from the outset and the opportunity to gain first-hand experience and insight into careers within the food manufacturing sector. Without this opportunity, I would never have got my foot in the door of the food industry.”

Easter is here again - but how much do you know about the annual celebration?

For many, Easter just means that there is a bank holiday weekend coming, so an extra lie in. But there is so much history behind the season that it really is worth learning about it.

1. Easter Sunday is also known as Pasch or Resurrection Sunday, as it celebrates the day that Jesus rose from the dead.

2. The date for Easter changes every year, as the holy dates are determined by a lunar calendar. They are known as “moveable feasts” - but many are campaigning for them to be changed and fixed.

3. In Western Christianity, Easter day always falls on a Sunday between March 22, and April 25.

4. Easter eggs are traditionally given as gifts for the holiday, but the tradition was started by members of the Christian community who stained eggs red to signify Jesus’ blood after the crucifixion.

5. Before chocolate eggs were given out to children and adults as gifts, painted chicken eggs were used instead.

6. The Easter season officially begins on Ash Wednesday, which is the first day of Lent. It follows Shrove Tuesday, or Pancake Day.

7. According to Guinness World Records, the tallest chocolate Easter egg measured 10.39 m in height and was made by Tosca in Italy. It was measured at Le Acciaierie Shopping Centre, in Cortenuova, on April 16, 2011. The egg weighed 7,200kg.

8. An Easter egg hunt held in London in April 2012 took a Guinness World Record for having the most entrants. There were 12,773 people taking part.

9. The Easter Bunny starred in 2012 film Rise of the Guardians, along with Santa Claus, Jack Frost and the Tooth Fairy. The character was played by Hugh Jackman.

10. Hot cross buns are traditionally eaten on Good Friday - and folklore says that buns baked and served on this holy day will never spoil for the subsequent year.

11. The largest hot cross bun weighed 168kg and was made by the RSPB in conjunction with Greenhalghs Bakery, in Bolton, on April 5, 2012.

The average Brit spends a staggering £11,100 on rent before buying their first home, new research has shown.

They will rent on average for three years before buying their own home, spending an additional £577 on letting fees and £587 in security deposits

People on average start renting at the age of 21 after leaving home, according to a poll of 2,000 tenants and home-owners.

While 60% of people believe it is financially unwise to rent, 25% do not view renting as unwise.

The most common number of homes rented before buying is one (for 56% of people) followed by two (20%), with most people renting alone (29%) or with one other person (55%).

The research was carried out by letting agent Harry Dhaliwal of the national property group Belvoir, ahead of forthcoming changes to buy-to-let stamp duty being introduced in April.

Industry related figures show that 22% of households in the UK are now rented from private landlords, up from 9% in 1985.

The average rent in UK is £761 per month including rents in London, though excluding London the average drops to £689 per month across the rest of the UK.

The average monthly rent in London is now £1560.

Manchester-based letting agent Harry Dhaliwal who runs the city’s franchise of the Belvoir group, commented, “Sometimes the rhetoric around generation rent becomes quite exaggerated and whilst the rental market is growing so is the quality and variety of rental property.

“The findings of our survey highlight that renting across the UK is not as expensive as sometimes reported and most people get full deposits back from landlords. It remains to be seen what effect the stamp duty changes to buy-to-let purchases will have in April.”

“Whilst the struggles for first time buyers in London and high rental cost in the capital are well documented, the picture across the UK in general may not be as grey as it is sometimes depicted.

“There are superb professional opportunities in most of the UK’s main cities and in the digital age the flexibility around employment and running a business mean renting or buying outside London has probably never been more attractive.”

A rescue dog helped on the road to recovery at a Gosberton rehabilitation Centre has won a top award at Crufts.

Roland, a four-year-old Hamilton Hound, was underweight when he was taken in by a rescue centre in Cambridgeshire last year.

He was then taken on by breeder Angela Leigh (pictured), who spent five months building his health back up with quality food and hydrotherapy exercise. Such was the dog’s progress that he was awarded Best in Breed at Crufts.

Roland was very thin when the centre got him but Angela fed him on a diet of top-quality food and slowly built up his strength.

When he was well enough, she took him swimming at PAWZ hydrotherapy and rehabilitation centre in Gosberton once or twice a week, to build his muscles back up.

PAWZ owner Debbie Church said it was a ‘real honour’ to see Roland go on to glory: “When he came in he was so thin and didn’t have lot of muscle,” she said. “So it was great to see his improvement.”

Six local organisations have benefited from Lincolnshire Co-op’s Community Champions scheme.

In the scheme, every time one of the 254,000 members shops at the Co-op using their dividend card, a donation goes to a nominated local charity or community group in their area.

In the last three months, from December 15, members have raised £12,588.11 for south Lincolnshire projects.

Crowland Town Bowling Club has received £887.47 for two new benches, Gosberton and District Community Action team has been given £672.03 towards improving its new park play equipment and hosting community events. and the funds of Lincolnshire Parent Carer Forum in Wygate Park have been boosted by £1,179.56 to pay for an event for parents and carers of children with disabilities/additional needs.

Long Sutton Outreach has received £3,232.72 for its drop-in for carers, some £1,185.48 has been given to Westmere Primary School in Sutton Bridge for its performing arts project with The Young Americans and Whaplode Village Hall has been donated £1,352.26 for the electrical insulation cost of a defibrillator and an upgrade to some of the seating.

Over the next three months, members will be raising funds for Rethink Mental Illness and Headway.

Rethink is a provider of mental health services and is a voice for people affected by severe mental illness.

Headway is a registered charity that provides advice and support to people affected by brain injury, their families and carers.

Helen Doyle, locality manager for Rethink Mental Illness, Lincolnshire, said: “Mental illness is an issue which touches one in four of us in this country every year. Every donation will help us provide information, advice, local support and services to people affected by mental illness, as well as to carers and family members.”

The money raised for Headway will go towards volunteers, support groups, befriending, information, social activities for members and education and training courses for brain injury survivors and their families.

Trustee Dr Gemma Elliott said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for us to raise funds and promote the valuable support which is offered to brain injury survivors and their carers across the area.”

A Tudor inn dating back to 1599 is being rescued from being “at risk” and given a new lease of life thanks to a Heritage Enterprise grant and an entrepreneurial local charity.

The Old King’s Head, in Kirton, is Grade II listed and considered to be a significant 16th century inn with a rich history and many stories to tell.

Currently standing vacant and in urgent need of repairs, a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant of more than £2million will allow the building to be restored, brought back into use and provide jobs, trainee opportunities and a boost to local tourism.

Heritage Lincolnshire, a charity with an excellent track record in saving historic buildings for new uses, has received HLF support to secure the future of the building, which has now been purchased by the charity, and see it repaired, refurbished and revived as an artisan café and boutique bed and breakfast.

Heritage Lincolnshire also plans to explore how the building developed over the centuries.

This will involve volunteers, who will undertake a full assessment of the building fabric and documentary research and help to collect reminiscences and maybe even a few ghost stories. Heritage Lincolnshire will also look at the potential for a community archaeological dig to reveal evidence of the medieval settlement of the area and encourage residents to understand more of their local heritage and history.

Liz Bates, chief executive of Heritage Lincolnshire, said: “We’re delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund has supported this project.

“The Old King’s Head is a very important building that fell into disrepair and is now at risk from dereliction.

“We look forward to working with the local community, our volunteers and our project partners to ensure that all of the planning and fundraising for this exciting project is achieved over the next 12 months.”

Ben Greener, HLF’s historic environment policy advisor, said: “HLF introduced Heritage Enterprise to enable local people to save the buildings they love.

“But this funding was never about simply saving a building for the sake of it.

“By bringing much-loved but derelict buildings back into use as viable businesses, Heritage Enterprise projects provide an economic shot-in-the-arm for places which need it most.

“And this project is a great example of how HE investment transforms a potential eyesore into an economic asset – bringing jobs and investment to Kirton and beyond.”

Liz Bates added her thanks to all the project partners: “All of the project partners working together have helped to get us to this point.

“The Pilgrim Trust has supported us with a grant, and a loan from the Architectural Heritage Fund has enabled us to purchase the building.

“We’ve also had a great deal of support from Boston Borough Council who are a key partner. And we’re looking forward to finding an additional partner to join the project as business operator.”

A wide range of projects across the UK have benefited from over £80 million of Heritage Enterprise funding since 2013, helping to create attractive, thriving spaces for business and enterprise that people want to work and invest in.

The programme is helping to create over 620 jobs and more than 19,000 trainee opportunities.

HAYES IN THE HOUSE: By MP John Hayes

The growth in employment over recent years has been a quiet miracle, with over two million more people in work than in 2010, and 680,000 fewer workless households over the same 
period. The opportunity to gain meaningful employment has touched all kinds of lives.

Today, there are more than 3 million disabled people in work, an increase of nearly 300,000 in the last 2 years. That’s not just quantitatively significant, it’s qualitative too; it’s about people with all kinds of challenges having a chance to benefit from the advantages that come from having a job. People with disabilities deserve the chance to live independent lives, including having the opportunity to enjoy the daily interactions of the workplace and the friendships forged there.

Whilst so many of those who can work are seeing their lives transformed, those who suffer from conditions which mean they cannot work are rightly being supported. Spending on disabled people rose by £3 billion in the last 5 years. It’s the mark of a compassionate society that we devote appropriate support to those with the greatest need. Such is the responsibility of the advantaged.

This past week, it was was right to confirm so that changes to Personal Independence Payments will not go ahead. By increasing the resources from £60 million to £100 million as part of the changes to Employment and Support Allowance, the Government will help more disabled people to meet their aspiration to get a job. This year we will spend £50 billion supporting disabled people – that’s more than the entire defence budget.

Employers must play their part too, and the excellent Disability Confident campaign is doing great work to remove barriers to disabled people by highlighting the contribution they can make in the workplace.

Throughout my life in politics I’ve campaigned for disabled people, beginning 30 years ago with my work defending the interests of children with special needs. My determination to do so is shaped by a straightforward idea - that in an unfair, unequal world those with advantage should use it to fight for those in need.

Locally, being President of the Spalding Parkinson’s Society and of the Lincolnshire Brain Tumour Support Group provides me with greater understanding of a range of needs. Learning about the challenges faced by people obliged to cope with trauma or live with disability informs all I do and so I was honoured to be named the Parliamentary Disability Charity Champion a few years ago.

Disabled people know from experience what works for them and what doesn’t, which is why they should be at the very heart of a conversation about how to make support more effective. We must work with healthcare professionals and employers to ensure that everything is done to transform people’s lives and improve their life chances.

This Budget puts our next generation first

TRISH TAKES FIVE: By Trish Burgess

Good Friday was the best day of the Bank Holiday weekend so Dougie and I were determined to make the most of the fine weather. We thought a Norfolk trip might be hampered by traffic so travelled west instead to Burghley House near Stamford.

We couldn’t remember the last time we visited and realised that it must have been well over ten years, which is a shameful admission. To think, we have spent our holidays walking round Alnwick Gardens, Blenheim Palace and Chatsworth House over recent years but our own Lincolnshire gem has been sadly ignored.

Determined to stay outside on such a sunny day, we purchased garden tickets which gave us access to the Garden of Surprises and the Sculpture Gardens. The former was an absolute delight, designed to emulate the first Lord Burghley’s garden in Hertfordshire, with fountains, grottoes and obelisks. In the height of the summer this must be a huge draw for families, as little ones can jump in and out of the water features, but even on a crisp Spring day it was fascinating and fun place to spend some time.

The mirror maze flummoxed me for a while but Dougie’s superior sense of direction led us safely to the middle and out again. I was quite taken with the transforming obelisks; representing fire, earth, water and air, my favourite was the fire one which reacted to the press of a button with smoke and lights as if a sleeping dragon had just been stirred.

Neptune’s grotto, a misty moss house and a beautiful working sundial added to the charm of this secluded garden.

Nearby the Sculpture Garden was a real treat: so many cleverly designed works of art can be found in amongst the trees and near the lake. Woven willow, a turf maze, steel and wooden creations surprise you at every turn. Paths laid with bark wind their way through the garden but there’s no set route so visitors are free to wander at their leisure.

The Garden Cafe was the perfect spot for a coffee and chocolate cake fix and visitors indulged in ice-creams from the very cute turf-decorated Shed nearby.

Later in the afternoon we headed through the park where families were just enjoying the huge open space. It’s worth noting that parking is free at Burghley and so too is the park so it’s ideal for a no-cost day out too.

We headed towards the large herd of deer. We were fortunate to be there just when a tractor full of sugar beet circled the animals and peppered the ground with chopped up beet.

As we were leaving we noticed lots of strange spheres of foliage high up on many of the bare lime trees. Initially we thought they were birds’ nests until a helpful notice indicated it was mistletoe. I had no idea it grew as a parasite on other trees and shrubs.

“Fancy a smooch?” said Dougie, as we sauntered underneath them.

That’s what I call a great end to a perfect day.

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

Previously...

It’s sofa so good for this Channel 4 hit

Firefighters used cutting gear to free one person after a car crash in Wigtoft on Sunday.

Crews from Donington, Kirton and Spalding were called to Wigtoft Bank at about 3pm.

One of the casualties was freed after hydraulic cutting equipment was used to remove the car’s roof before first aid and oxygen was given to four people.

A cycle route along one of the banks of Spalding’s Coronation Channel proposed in the draft South East Lincolnshire Local Plan has been welcomed enthusiastically by Pedals – the town’s Cycle Action Group.

David Jones, chairman of Pedals, said: “This route will make it safer and much more enjoyable to cycle to and from Springfields and the nearby factories and other businesses. We have told the local authority that we support this proposal.”

Pedals has also asked for a new cycle route southwards from Spalding to be included in the final version of the Local Plan.

Called “The New River Cycleway”, it would use existing bridleways and tracks to form a traffic-free route ultimately connecting with the cycle routes in the Peterborough area.

The route has been surveyed thoroughly by Pedals member John Honnor and his wife Lesley. John explained: “The New River Cycleway could be a pleasant, safe ride for leisure cyclists of all abilities.

“Also, we expect to see more people cycling south of Little London Bridge going to work at the new Spalding Gateway development. The first stretch of this route will give them the opportunity to avoid the busy, fast B1173.

“Pedals is consulting the relevant authorities and we were advised to submit our proposal for inclusion in the new Local Plan.”

Spalding Street Pastors want church members across South Holland to help them keep the town safe at night.

The charity, which marks its third anniversary in July, needs more volunteers from churches in the area to patrol the town centre for about six hours every Friday night and monthly on Saturdays.

Pub and nightclub managers, police and South Holland District Council members are all supportive of Spalding Street Pastors.

But Pastor Chas Sandhu of The Lighthouse Church, Spalding, said: “We need more women street pastors, plus men and women prayer pastors, to be able to go out more on Saturday nights.

“We’ve noticed a change in Spalding on Fridays and we’re desperate to go out on Saturdays as well.

“But we haven’t got enough volunteers at the moment to do that.”

For more details, please call Marion Sandhu on 01775 711591.

Volunteers help town attack victim

Spalding Street Pastors mark first anniversary

‘Town is safe in our hands for Christmas’, say police

An energy cost-saving scheme is available to Lincolnshire residents and could save them hundreds of pounds on their gas and electricity bills.

The Lincolnshire Energy Switch Scheme is organised by a partnership of local authorities, including Lincolnshire County Council and South Kesteven District Council, and is run by collective switching expert iChoosr Ltd.

It is easy to register – all you need is a recent gas or electricity bill which shows your current tariff and your energy consumption.

Then visit www.lincoln
shire.gov.uk/switch to register or if you do not have internet access, a friend or family member can do this on your behalf by calling the free phone number 0800 048 8439.

The registration number is open 8am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday. 

Once households have registered their interest, energy suppliers will be invited to compete with their best offers and the supplier with the best deal will be chosen.

Lead officer for the councils Karen Lond said: “We are always keen to look at new ways to help Lincolnshire residents reduce their monthly outgoings.

“Register for the Lincolnshire Energy Switch Scheme and you could save a worthwhile amount on energy bills.

“It’s such an easy process, it just takes minutes to complete.”

The scheme is free for households to join and there is no obligation to take up the winning supplier’s tariff offer.

All can register, whether you rent your home or own it, whether you are on dual fuel, electric only, pay monthly or quarterly or have a prepayment meter.

The deadline is Monday, May 16.

Pupils at Sutton St James Primary School enjoyed a science day before the Easter break, including a visit from a planetarium.

Youngsters learnt how to make bubbles, blow up balloons, experimented with miniature parachutes and made chemical reactions.

• See Thursday’s Spalding Guardian for a page of pictures.

A manhunt has been launched for a Spalding area man wanted in connection with a number of police enquiries, including assault.

Police would like to hear from anyone who has seen Ryan Lee Brooks (22).

If you have information concerning his current whereabouts, please contact PC Tim Newell or PC Jacqueline Smith on 101, quoting crime reference 15000126313

CCTV of a woman who may be able to assist police with an assault and thefts in Spalding and Peterborough has been released.

At approx 7.15pm on Tuesday March 22, a female is alleged to have left Sainsburys in Spalding with a basket of high value items and assaulted a member of security staff by closing a door on his arm.

The suspect matches the description of a woman who is also alleged to have stolen goods from Morrisons in Spalding and Sainsburys in Peterborough the same day.

The female suspect is described as white, aged around 45 years of age, short dark hair, skinny build and wearing a small body warmer type top with a fur lined hood. She spoke good English but with a foreign accent.

She left the area as a passenger in a 5 door silver saloon vehicle, possibly a Ford Mondeo, which had a rear tail light out.

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Paul Cooper at Spalding Police Station by dialling 101 and quoting incident number 392 of 22 March 2016.

A road in Gedney had to be closed by police after strong winds brought down a power line in the village on Easter Monday.

Police cordoned off a stretch of Churchgate after a power cable was blown down at about 8pm.

The road was closed off until Western Power engineers came to fix it, although it not yet known whether homes were left without electricity for any period of time.

A cheeky request from a generous motorist earned a woman of 80 a birthday kiss from one of Crowland’s firefighters.

Watch manager Stuart Annibele said: “It made her 80th birthday and, in return, she gave us £20 for our charity.”

Firefighters, their partners and children joined forces in the car wash event to raise a fantastic £1,349.70 for the Firefighters Charity.

Nearly 80 cars were washed on the day by the firefighters, with drivers making a minimum donation of £5 a time, while home-made cakes and teas were sold by their partners as children raffled Easter eggs donated by the Co-op.

Included in the grand total were refreshment sales amounting to £280 and £70 from the Easter eggs.

Stuart said: “We started washing cars at 10 o’clock and didn’t finish until 3.30pm – and we didn’t stop in between.”

Everyone involved was delighted with the total raised and grateful for massive support shown by residents.

“That’s what you get for being a community fire station,” said Stuart. “The community gets behind you.”

• Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer firefighter is welcome to find out more about the role by attending an open day at Crowland Fire Station between 10am-2pm on Sunday, May 8.

The service is open to men and women, aged 18 or more, who must be physically fit, have functional skills in maths and English and, ideally, live five minutes from the fire station.