A man has been charged with numerous offences after being arrested on suspicion of the attempted murder of a police officer yesterday, Wednesday May 19.

Lloyd Hook, 21, of Daniels Crescent, Long Sutton, has been charged with dangerous driving, driving without insurance, driving without an MOT and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

He is due to appear at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court today.

Officers were taking part in a planned road policing operation when the incident allegedly happened in Hannath Road, Tydd Gote at around 10.18am.

An unmarked vehicle went to block the vehicle when it was allegedly rammed three times.

A police officer was treated at the scene for minor injuries.

WARD’S WORLD: By John Ward

It was while driving into a car park recently and seeing how the fine old, but basic, art of reversing into a space was seemingly beyond quite a few motorists as they drove in forwards and their antics of reversing out that was so entertaining that brought back memories of my early driving days.

This brings me to this week’s offering of culture as we delve into the world of the motorist or to be precise, the initial start out that is learning to drive in the first instance. Years ago when I first started out, I chose the route of buying a ‘cheap and cheerful’ car (they are still made I believe but the colourful adverts seem to skim over that minor fact as they are advertised as the next best thing since bubbles in lemonade..) to learn to drive as opposed to taking lessons after I was somewhat disillusioned as I went along with friend Stan as he booked up his first batch of driving lessons from a local driving school with a good/ wonderful/ marvellous/ glorious reputation in the town and bearing in mind it was the only one in town, they couldn’t go far wrong in that assumption.

In we went as we were welcomed with open cash drawers as Stan showed his provisional driving licence to the school’s secretary, booking clerk, head of sales and wife of the principle as in all one person and could go into a hideous smiling mode at given times, seeing Stan sign up for the first ten lessons on the dotted line was one. The lessons were – wait for it, wait for it – five pounds an hour or ‘per lesson’ then but if you signed up for ten to start with, you got a lesson ‘free’ (bit like they sell fish fingers today as in the ‘Buy twelve for the price of fourteen’ concept).

When Stan enquired as to the ‘success’ rate of the school, he was assured thus: “Why some of our pupils have passed their driving test after only forty lessons” she said in a matter of fact, almost proud, voice that left Stan in total silence and with a sort of glazed look upon his face, as in deep shock sprung to mind, so I thanked the lady on his behalf and levered/guided him towards the door and on getting outside, he enquired if his ears were playing up as did he really hear her say f-o-r-t-y lessons?!

Yes indeedy I confirmed. He said then had he knew that to start, he might have followed his brother’s approach to the driving lark and brought a ‘cheap and cheerful’ car as indeed I did, and do it that way. In my case, I utilised the services of Stan’s cousin Tony to go out driving with as he had a full driving licence and as such was my legal supervisory driver and all went well – I passed my test after a few months driving about in the evenings and weekends and Stan eventually passed after many wallet emptying moments that I think was about twenty seven or so lessons but for all that, we both gained our driving licences but in different ways, so job sorted as they say. Perhaps on another occasion, if you feel up to it, I will relate the adventures of Tony and my car.

Some years into the future from then and some in the not so distant past, mum’s friend Marion decided she should learn to drive as she had cracked knitting, jam making, basket weaving and brass rubbing so driving was the next minor thing to tackle and mum ever so keen to offer my services, usually before asking me first, told her I would give her a sort of introduction to the art of driving – it should be pointed out that her hubby, Eric, had a bit of a breakdown about the same time as she made her objective known and it was open to interpretation as to if it was a nervous breakdown as he had a full driving licence and could have given her driving lessons anyway - or was he just playing safe?

In fairness we used Eric’s car and I will never forget him looking out of their front bay window at the time and making sign of the cross on his chest as we left on that first, and only, occasion and perhaps was the same sort of scene as bystanders waved safe voyage as The Titanic left its berth all those years ago. I drove out of his view with Marion sitting in the passenger seat with a scarf and leather gloves on and it made me wonder: A - did the heater not work? Or B - she might be more cut out for horse riding or then again, did she know something I didn’t and perhaps Eric still had recurring nightmares about?

I drove to a nearby large, empty company car park and stopped. I got out the driver’s side as Marion climbed in and I got in the passenger side. I ran through all the controls and the next thing she asked was where the light switch was kept and I pointed out it as it was a Sunday morning, and hopefully, we would be back before sundown or before the petrol ran out, whichever came first. I explained the pedal arrangement on the floor as in the clutch, brake and the go-go pedal and she asked if she could change them around as she was not that happy with the way they were, because had she known she would have put her ‘other shoes’ on (?!) and short of getting the cutting gear out, I said if it was good enough for millions of others, it should be okay for her as well.

Explaining the pressing of the clutch pedal enabled the ‘gearstick thing’ to engage with the gearbox and by slowly letting the pressure off, applying soft pressure to the go-go pedal we would proceed forward, assuming it was in a forward gear of course. After about nine tries at trying to engage said ‘gearstick thing’ without using the clutch with loud metal screaming noises, I made a mental note to get her signed up as Lead Gearbox player in Albert Murrin’s Syncopated Rhythm Movers Dance Band who performed at local clubs at odd weekends, with odd being the operative word.

As we are getting to the end of the page now, assuming you have kept up so far, I will give you a swift run down as to the ongoing saga: After an hour or so we managed to keep up a steady pace by going through the gears, did that ‘reversing thing’ a few times although I had to explain to her it was exactly the same as going backwards but spelt differently, then ‘three point turn things’ although she said she could just swing the steering wheel round and go in a circle to turn around but I tactfully pointed out they don’t like that sort of showing off in assorted High Streets and similar in real traffic situations. We got home before sunset or twenty past one in old money and Eric heaved a sigh of relief and a similar noise came from the gearbox I tend to think.

THOUGHTS OF A FRUITCAKE: By Carolyn Aldis

So, this week’s adventure began with some DIY and ended with our wedding anniversary. There was a loose bit of carpet on our stairs that had bothered us since we moved in, often the cause of a shout and a stumble as one of us slipped down it. I lifted up the boring carpet to find it was covering a lovely wooden staircase. I mentioned to my husband that I would like to take up the carpet at some point and he murmured something about me finishing the painting in the hall, so I waited until he went to work and then went for it, sounding like Big Daddy as I struggled to yank it up.

I quickly realised that this was the easy bit. There were so many nails to pull out, as well as gripper rails that seemed impossible to remove without damaging the stairs. I was keen to get the nails out before my children came home, so I used pliers to remove them. My husband then came home early from work. He took one look and said “Are you mad?”

“Probably,” I said grinning and then asked “How do I take out these gripper things?”

He recommended a chisel and hammer, showed me where to hit it and I set about removing them. It was so much easier with the right tools that I was finished in no time and though I had lost the skin off most of my knuckles, I felt proud of my achievement.

When I married my husband 19 years ago, I had no idea of the adventures we would share together…the blessings of 4 wonderful children… the misery of mental health issues…the excitement of finding God in the ordinary…the grief of losing loved ones…the joy of finding friends that share our level of weirdness…the miracle of answered prayers…and the fun of working on house projects together.

I have struggled through valleys of despair, wondering how we could have got so low and in the next heartbeat, I have enjoyed the bliss of true love, unable to remember what the arguments were about. It’s been hard work at times and wonderful at others; when one is weak the other is strong and the beauty of our marriage is the strength we get from our faith; without it, I really doubt we would have made it this far.

When my husband found out he had MS, we dealt with it like we always do…we cried, we laughed, we prayed and we adjusted our lives to make it easier for each other.

My wooden stairs serve as a reminder to me of what it costs to make something better:

Sometimes you have to dig deep to find the things of beauty…removing things that have been embedded for a long time is hard work, but they need taking out, otherwise they will cause pain to others…using the right tools make a job easier…the “tools” of love and forgiveness make a relationship work better than anger and bitterness…

My wonderful husband serves as a reminder to me of what it costs to love and be loved.

Boat owners have put police in South Holland on alert for thieves targeting the engines of vessels moored along the River Glen in Surfleet.

At least seven thefts of outboard engines from boats on the river were reported to police in April, including two occasions when the boats were taken and later left on the river after the engines were taken.

The spate of engine thefts was highlighted in the Spalding Guardian two weeks ago when Surfleet boat owner Rod Filby (74) was left with a £2,500 repair bill after his vessel was damaged and a security camera was smashed during a raid over the May Day bank holiday weekend.

Rod said: “The thieves came up the river, took my boat away and possibly went under the A16 bridge, before they cut out the electrical equipment with boltcutters and left the boat drifting on the river.

“It was the second theft in four weeks and people need to be warned because there are a lot of boats down here.

“This has been going on for years and it’s quite disturbing how they do it.”

A Lincolnshire Police spokesman said: “Since April, there have been seven thefts of outboard engines from boats moored on the River Glen at Surfleet.

“On two occasions the boats where taken, the engines removed and then set adrift before they were recovered, so we are asking all boat owners to increase checks on their boats and, if possible remove outboards, when not in use.”

A plan to build 195 new homes near the border of Holbeach and Fleet are being opposed by both parish councils.

Members of Fleet Parish Council followed their counterparts in Holbeach by voting against plans by King Brothers (Butchers) of Holbeach to build a range of one to five-bedroom homes in Damgate, Holbeach.

Parish councillors in Holbeach came out against the plans at a specially-called meeting last month at which it was claimed that the new development would effectively mean a merging of the two parishes merge.

Coun Valery Gemmell, chairman of Fleet Parish Council whose members met on Monday to discuss the plans, said: “Councillors were in total agreement with the points raised by Holbeach Parish Council regarding access to the site on a road that is totally unsuitable, parish boundaries and town infrastructure. Residents of Fleet also have evidence and practical experience of flooding in the area.”

King Bros (Butchers) claimed the homes “will make full and effective use of under-utilised land and provide a meaningful contribution towards housing needs within Holbeach.”

A number of people have been injured in a serious crash on the A17 this afternoon, Thursday May 19.

Police are advising motorists to avoid the A17 Station Road at Swineshead Bridge.

The road is closed in both directions at the Bicker Bar roundabout and at the junction with the Boardsides turnoff. Diversions are in place.

The collision appears to have involved four army trucks. Four people have been trapped inside the vehicles.

Fire crews from Donington, Kirton, Boston, Spalding and the Urban Search and Rescue team are in attendance along with police and ambulance.

RELATED:

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VIDEO: Five injured as five HGVs involved in “huge collision” on A17

Police are warning shoppers in Spalding to be vigilant after a number of fake £20 notes were found to be in circulation in the town.

Officers are warning residents and businesses in Spalding about the attempted use of a number of fake £20 notes at the Springfield shopping centre over the last few weeks.

A police spokesman said: “Please be vigilant and check all notes for authenticity. If in doubt, call 101 for advice or speak to your local Policing Team.”

Police are looking for thieves who took a white tipper van from one area of Deeping St James and left it in another.

An LDV convoy white tipper van was stolen from Linchfield Road, Deeping St James. at 2.30am on Wednesday and later found in Eastgate, Deeping St James.

Anyone with information should call police on 101, quoting incident number 19 of May 18/05/16.

Three men have been airlifted to hospital with serious injuries and a woman and man taken by ambulance following a “horrific” crash on the A17.

The crash took place at 11.58am today, Thursday May 19, on the A17 Swineshead Bridge.

It involved a lorry and four army trucks. Each of the drivers has been injured.

Three men have been airlifted to hospital - two to the Queen’s Medical Centre, in Nottingham, and one to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, in Cambridge.

A woman has been taken to Queen’s Medical Centre by land ambulance. A fourth man is being treated in Boston’s Pilgrim Hospital.

The three men airlifted to hospital are understood to have received serious injuries.

The military vehicles were being transported by civilians not military personnel.

The road remains closed.

RELATED:

A17 shut after several people injured in serious crash involving army trucks

VIDEO: Five injured as five HGVs involved in “huge collision” on A17

TRISH TAKES FIVE: By Trish Burgess

You’ll be pleased to know the occasional series “Places to visit within an hour of Holbeach” continues with a trip to the Norfolk coast. Unfortunately it took a good ten minutes to get out of Holbeach itself plus we endured the usual hideous traffic as everyone merged onto the A149 at King’s Lynn. We therefore reached Holkham Hall 15 minutes outside our target range but it was a very sunny Saturday so it was inevitable we wouldn’t be the only day-trippers on the road.

Home to the 8th Earl of Leicester - who I imagine was doing victory laps of the Marble Hall on account of their impressive Premiership title win - Holkham Hall is a member of the Treasure Houses of England, with its fine architecture, art and classical statues.

The hall itself isn’t open on Saturdays but if you plan to just explore the grounds, like we did, it is the perfect day to visit as it wasn’t at all crowded.

I will probably be taken to the Tower for saying this but the outside of this 18th century home looks better from a distance. At close quarters I thought it looked a little functional, belying the exquisite treasures within. However if you walk a little way towards the obelisk on the south lawn, then turn round, it looks far more beautiful.

The brochure we were given when we parked had a useful hand-drawn map showing where the hall is located in relation to the beach and Holkham Village. It’s not to scale, however, so doesn’t quite give you the sense of how extensive the grounds really are.

There are walking trails available but we only found them as a downloadable document from the website...when we got home. Sensible people do this research before they go or manage to spot the trails marked on signs by the paths.

If you haven’t visited Holkham Hall for a while, you won’t know about their brand new cafe and gift shop. We tested these facilities, just as we did at Burghley House and Oxburgh Hall, as I feel it is my duty to let you know if the chocolate brownies are up to the mark. They were. The cafe was stylish and the outside courtyard was very continental. They also had state of the art ‘lavatories’ (not toilets) which is always something to shout about.

Having explored much of the grounds, we sauntered down to the village, crossed the road then followed the path to the beach which is where we discovered everyone else in their cars had ended up. Even so, there was enough Norfolk sand for everyone and, in the late afternoon sunshine, it really was idyllic.

On our return walk through the grounds we passed a herd of deer; not penned in, just contentedly sharing the same space as the visitors. Before heading home we sat for a while watching a thoroughly English game of cricket which was in progress on the north lawn, beside the lake. It set the seal on a rather splendid day out.

You can follow Trish on Twitter @mumsgoneto and read her blog at www.mumsgoneto.co.uk

A Spalding woman caught a burglar red-handed after she spotted him going through the back door with her purse on Wednesday.

It happened at a house off London Road just after 1pm on Wednesday when the woman challenged the would-be burglary who gave the purse back.

The incident has led police to warn people not to leave their back doors and windows open when answering the front door, thereby avoiding a possible distraction burglary by someone getting inside the house through the back door.

Police also advise people to keep an eye out for neighbours and report any suspicious activity.

Anyone with information on the distraction burglary should call 101, quoting incident number 177 of May 18.

Bourne and the Deepings has followed South Holland in seeing a fall in unemployment greater than the county average.

Between March and April this year, 165 fewer people were claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance or Universal Credit in South Kesteven compared to the same period in 2015.

There are now 985 people registered as jobless, 14 per cent less than for the same period last year.

This compares with an average 9.1 per cent fall in those registered unemployed across Lincoolnshire over the same period.

Meanwhile, the number of 18 to 24-year-olds claimants in South Kesteven, which includes Bourne and the Deepings went down by 45 between March and April 2015 and 2016, a fall of 17 per cent.

South Holland also saw a 14 per cent fall in the number of registered unemployed over the same period, while Boston had 10 per cent fewer claimants in March and April 2016, compared to 2015.

The A17 remains closed this evening, Thursday May 17, after a serious collision between five HGVs injured five people.

Four military Bedford trucks were driving in convoy when they crashed into each other shortly before 12pm. An articulated lorry travelling behind them also went into the back of the last truck and jack-knifed into the other vehicles.

Rescue crews, including four air ambulances, four fire engines and four police cars, dashed to A17 at Swineshead Bridge near Boston, after reports of the “huge collision.”

Fire crews spent two hours cutting the drivers of the trucks and the HGV out of the wreckage.

Three men have been airlifted to hospital - two to the Queen’s Medical Centre, in Nottingham, and one to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, in Cambridge.

A woman has been taken to Queen’s Medical Centre by land ambulance. A fourth man is being treated in Boston’s Pilgrim Hospital.

The three men airlifted to hospital are understood to have received serious injuries.

The military vehicles were being transported by civilians not military personnel.

RELATED:

A17 shut after several people injured in serious crash involving army trucks

LATEST: Three airlifted to hospital after “horrific” A17 army truck crash

Police say one of two men hurt at The Anchor Inn in the early hours of Friday, May 13 has an injury regarded as serious and they are investigating the case as possible grievous bodily harm.

Three men from the West Yorkshire area have been bailed by police to July 25 following an alleged assault on two men.

Monday, May 16: Three men arrested over an alleged double assault at a pub in Sutton Bridge have been bailed to allow police inquiries to continue.

On Friday police said two men were treated in hospital for injuries sustained in a suspected assault at The Anchor Inn at Sutton Bridge in the early hours of that day.

Both men came from the local area.

Police have not released details of their injuries.

On Friday three men from West Yorkshire were in police custody being interviewed about the incident.

• At lunchtime on Friday residents reported seeing the Bridge Road pub sealed off and a lot of police activity at the scene.

A man remains in a critical condition and a second is described as being in a serious condition following the five HGV collision on the A17 yesterday, Thursday May 19.

Four military Bedford trucks were driving in convoy when they crashed into each other shortly before 12pm near Swineshead. An articulated lorry travelling behind them also went into the back of the last truck and jack-knifed into the other vehicles.

Rescue crews, including four air ambulances, four fire engines and four police cars, dashed to A17 at Swineshead Bridge near Boston, after reports of the “huge collision.”

A 56 year-old man remains critical in Queen’s Medical Centre, in Nottingham, and a 44 year-old man continues to be treated in Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge for serious injuries. Both men were drivers of the MOD vehicles and are from the South Yorkshire area.

The driver of the articulated lorry, a 23 year-old man, remains in hospital. One of the remaining MOD drivers did not require hospital treatment and the other was treated for less serious injuries.

Fire crews spent two hours cutting the drivers of the trucks and the HGV out of the wreckage.

RELATED:

A17 shut after several people injured in serious crash involving army trucks

LATEST: Three airlifted to hospital after “horrific” A17 army truck crash

VIDEO: Five injured as five HGVs involved in “huge collision” on A17

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.

Boston Magistrates’ Court

April 20

Christopher Baggaley (36), of Bridge Road, Sutton Bridge. Stole 5 adult toothbrushes, 24 miniature toothbrushes and 17 Minion stickers worth £82.21 belonging to W Boyes Ltd (Holbeach). £82.21 compensation, £85 costs. No action taken on breach of conditional discharge.

Kamil Gziut (23), of Thistle Gardens, Spalding. Entered as trespassed with intent to steal (Spalding). Community order with curfew requirement, £60 v/s, £85 costs, no action taken on breach of conditional discharge.

Steven Kilbon (26), of Anfield Road, Long Sutton. Criminal damage (Long Sutton). 12 months conditional discharge, £200 compensation, £15 v/s.

Marc Mossy (55), of Penny Gardens, Kirton. Possession of weapon designed or adapted for discharge of noxious liquid namely two cans of cs/oc pepper spray. 12 months conditional discharge, £15 v/s, £85 costs, spray to be forfeited and destroyed.

Ricky Henson (31), of Nene Meadows, Sutton Bridge. No insurance (Sutton Bridge). £350 fine, £35 v/s, £85 costs. No separate penalty for driving while disqualified. Disqualified from driving for 6 months.

Matthew Goring (39), of Middlegate Road West, Frampton. Threat to kill (Butterwick). 15 weeks prison sentence suspended for 1 years, drug rehabilitation requirement, restraining order, £80 v/s, £100 costs. Threatened damage to motor vehicle. 10 weeks prison sentence concurrent suspended for 1 years. No separate penalty for failing to surrender to custody. Threats of violence. 15 weeks prison sentence concurrent suspended for 1 year.

April 25

Ashleigh Hubbard (21), of Chestnut Avenue, Spalding. Failed to comply with community order. Order to continue, £200 fine.

Ceri Marks (44), of Aldwych Road, Spalding. Breach of non-molestation order (Pinchbeck). Community order with 50 hours unpaid work, drug rehabilitation requirement, restraining order, £60 v/s, £310 costs. No separate penalty for failed to surrender to custody.

April 27

Karl Davis (42), of Oldham Drive, Pinchbeck. Failed to comply with a rule under the Sexual Offences Act. £20 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs.

Macauley Grimwood (20), of Wignals Gate, Holbeach. Assault (Spalding). Community order with 60 hours unpaid work, rehabilitation activity requirement, £500 compensation, £60 v/s, 385 costs.

Elvijs Sopulis (21), of Queens Road, Spalding. Drink driving (Spalding). £180 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 19 months.

Adam Wilson (31), of Pentland Drive, Greylees, Sleaford. Drink driving (Wigtoft). £120 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 15 months.

Shane Smith (36), of Belchmire Lane, Gosberton. Assault (Gosberton). 2 years conditional discharge, £250 compensation, £15 v/s, £85 costs,

Grantham Magistrates’ Court

April 25

Christopher Collins (22), of Wood View, Bourne. Stole Hewlett Packard laptop worth £115 belonging to Sainsbury’s (Bourne). £75 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs.

Paul Knight (38), of Townsgate East, Market Deeping. Assault (Bourne). £85 find, £100 compensation, £20 v/s, £85 costs.

Jacqueline Lawson (47), of Dovecote Estate, Rippingale. Drink driving (Dunsby). £120 fine, £20m v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Lincoln Magistrates’ Court

April 22

Lea Cordner (23), of Viscount Close, Pinchbeck. No TV licence. £330 fine, £33 v/s, £120 costs.

Louisa Cozzi (23), of Seagate Terrace, Long Sutton. No TV licence. £220 fine, £22 v/s, £120 costs.

Robert Dent (28), of Thorpe Avenue, Moulton Chapel. No TV licence. £220 fine, £22 v/s, £120 costs.

Heidi Hill (30), of The Hollies, Holbeach. No TV licence. £220 fine, £22 v/s, £120 costs.

Sarah Odd (26), of Custom House Street, Sutton Bridge. No TV licence. £220 fine, £22 v/s, £120 costs.

Joyce Robinson (58), of Double Street, Spalding. No TV licence. £40 fine, £20 v/s, £60 costs.

Ross Williams (29), of St Andrews Road, Spalding. No TV licence. £220 fine, £22 v/s, £120 costs.

Ionut Aelinca (33), of Fleet Road, Fleet. Drink driving (Spalding). £25 fine, £25 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 12 months. No separate penalty for no insurance and failing to surrender to custody.

Marissa Young (46), of Central Avenue, Peterborough. Stole two pairs Hunter Wellington boos and bag of compost worth £73 belonging to Wyevale Garden Centre (Crowland). £100 fine, £73 compensation, £20 v/s, £40 costs. No action taken on breach of conditional discharge.

April 23

Alex Exton (21), of North Street, Bourne. Drink driving (Bourne). £240 fine, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 16 months.

Alex Exton (21), of North Street, Bourne. Drink driving (Bourne). £240 fine, £24 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 16 months.

April 25

Aleksejs Dovziks (34), of Winifred Street, Leicester. Drink driving (Spalding). £300 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 2 years. No separate penalty for driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

Dennis Barber (54), of Marsh Road, Gedney Drove End. Stole furnishings of unknown value from Keith Butters Ltd (Spalding). £300 fine, £30 v/s, £350 costs.

Sam Curry (27), of Mareham Lane, Aswarby. Two counts of criminal damage (Spalding). Restraining order, £640 compensation, £600 costs. No penalty for failing to surrender to custody.

Chief Insp Phil Vickers of Lincolnshire Police Specialist Operations (East Midlands Operational Support Service) called the figures ‘very basic’ - adding that they do not show the driving population and gave no indication of the ‘proportion of disqualified drivers’.

However, he said: “Certainly we know that across the rest of Europe, although the drink-drive limits are lower than England and Wales (they are almost all at the lower Scotland level), it is not enforced with the same commitment and the penalties for being caught are lower (driving bans tending to be shorter).”

He pointed to the partnership between the Road Safety Partnership, local policing teams and community groups to raise awareness of the UK approach, but said: “It is fair to say that we still see an issue with European migrant workers conforming to what would be normal in their country of origin.

“The truth is, that when we attend fatal and life-changing injury collisions, alcohol consumption is still one of the main contributory offences, and in our commitment to make the roads safer we enforce Drink Drive (campaign) every day.”

According to the figures Skegness has 136 disqualifed drivers - relatively low when compared to Boston. Chief Insp Vickers pointed to the fact that the town’s population ‘swells massively’ in the tourism season of April to October, and ‘a significant proportion of those arrested for drink or drug-driving offences will have home postcodes outside of the area’.

Chief Insp Vickers pointed to the fact that Boston has for many years had a roads policing base which now comes under East Midlands Operations Service and said officers spend very little time in the station.

He said: “It is where they start and finish their tour of duty, so the surrounding area benefits from their presence in that way.”

He also pointed to changes to legislation in the past 18 months which have allowed drug-drive tests to be completed by the side of the road and improved equipment.

“As a consequence I am in no doubt that the roads are safer, with more drivers who have consumed drugs being detected as a result,” he said. “Consumption of any alcohol affects your ability to drive – the speed/distance judgements required, fine motor-skills (use of accelerator, brake, clutch and steering) as well as reaction times and hazard perception – Lincolnshire Police and the EMOpSS teams remain committed to making our roads safer, through by working with communities to deliver education and enforcement.”

A Polish man has told the paper the promotion of the laws surrounding drink-driving was important and called for constant campaigns.

The man, who did not wish to be named, agreed with the link that was made between places with high levels of immigration and drink-driving, adding: “Not everyone from Boston is a drink-driver, but you have got to think about how the behaviour and responsibility of people who drink and use their car.

“If you look at the drink register [court listings] there are some Eastern European names, but there’s some English there as well.”

He said that drink-driving was policed strongly in Poland - particularly around holidays and including long weekends – and said the punishment for drink-driving was financially hefty.

According to the European Transport Safety Council’s website the Blood Alcohol Content Drink Driving Limit for normal drivers in Poland is 0.2 grammes per litre, 0.5 grammes per litre in Latvia and 0.4 grammes per litre in Lithuania. It is 0.8 grammes per litre in the UK, apart from Scotland where it is 0.5 grammes per litre.

However, the Polish community member said: “They come here, maybe they think they can do more - but I don’t think so.”

He said more needed to be done to promote the laws through local papers, radio and news sites as well - and suggested campaigns needed to be constant to remind people of the consequences of drink-driving.

He said: “It’s your decision if you drink and you get in your car and drive. That’s your choice but it’s the people you can hurt that matter - it’s about the lives of those people.”

Police say set of car number plates were taken from the The Woodlands area of Long Sutton between Monday evening and Tuesday morning.

If anyone saw anything or has any further information please contact Lincolnshire Police on the 101 number quoting incident number 38 of May 17.

Former Conservative party leader and cabinet minister Iain Duncan Smith will be leading the charge for the Vote Leave campain in Linconshire tomorrow (Saturday) as the group’s battle bus tours the county.

With five weeks to go before the EU Referendum, the MP and volunteers will be taking to Grantham, Boston and Lincoln to rally support for the Brexit camp.

According to the time-table, Mr Smith will start at 10am in Grantham’s Market Square where he will walk-about and leaflet with volunteers until 10.40.

He is then estimated to arrive in Boston Market Place at 11.40am until 12.20pm, before heading to Lincoln’s Brayford Wharf from 1.20pm until 2pm.

Vote Leave is the official campaign for a ‘leave’ vote in the EU referendum and aims to ‘take back control from the EU and negotiate a new UK-EU deal based on free trade and friendly co-operation’.