WARD’S WORLD: By John Ward

I like a good film or as the process is called nowadays, the movies, but whether be it on the flat screen wonder at home or the cinema to see something worthwhile it’s worth the risk I think.

It’s interesting to note that if a trailer for a new film shortly to be released, or in some cases escape, is shown, it can tell you a lot.

One that never fails is the following: “Critics are calling this the comedy of the year” – bare bones of the matter is or could be – it died a death when it was released in the States a few weeks ago and hopefully it might, just might, make its production budget back once it opens (...and closes swiftly) over here.

Another strap line added to film titles is the old standby of ‘Based on a true story’ that is sure to get ‘bums on seats’ but some of these supposed ‘true stories’ are questionable at times, more so if you know your history.

Somebody in the trade once explained the different classes of films: epics, crowd-pleasers and clunkers.

Another theme is showing all the ‘best bits’, such as they might be, in the trailer and it’s then padded out with so much dross in the actual film, you tend to hope the trailers within this showing will yield something exciting but often such hopes are cruelly dashed.

Some films in recent times have failed to appear on a big screen near you but a few months later, they are on DVD in the local quid shop or similar bargain bazaar but at the very worse, you win it in a raffle.

One such gem I ‘won’ a little while back was quite interesting.

It had the title on the cover in English, each character on said cover was clutching a gun and so I assumed it was about pest control, as you do, but when I played it they spoke in Iranian (my Iranian is not that clever but he tries his best) with, joy of great joys, sub titles... in Hungarian.

I am led to believe it was Hungarian after a bit of minor research but regardless after about 10 minutes of this novelty, I stopped it and realised that it would not be giving the Oscar award judging panel sleepless nights, unless they turn the sound up and hear all those bullets and bombs going off with yells and screams in Iranian.

What a world of difference today as you hear people talking about a film they had seen and although they can’t remember who was in it, as basically the actors all look the same, but one recent nugget I overheard was: “The world got blew up and things and all these, like, aliens from space attacked and blew things up...”

I was half tempted to ask if the world had ‘got blew up’, what was left that was so fascinating for ‘aliens from space’ to travel to us to attack what exactly, if the world was blown up, what was there left to attack? – dust, rubble or what?

A title can at times be to blame for people not understanding what a film is about as the following incident may be a source of enlightenment from another age.

It has cult status now and rightly so in my humble opinion but when ‘The Italian Job’ starring Michael Caine about the daring gold bullion robbery was first shown in the late 1960s, it reputedly did not do great business at the box office then but regardless, myself and other like minded friends heard by word of mouth that it was a ‘caper’ film and off we went.

Before this there was a slight misunderstanding in our household as mum, she of the people for the people, welcomed my friends as they arrived one early evening and on hearing we were going to the cinema she asked what film we were going to see.

Friend Stan said “Mike Caine in the Italian Job of course, Mrs W” and mum said it would be a waste of money as what did Michael Caine know about ice cream or hairdressing for that matter to which dad looked over his copy of the ‘Candle Makers Weekly’ he was reading and the ‘It Gets on Your Wick’ advice section, and uttered those mesmeric words of advice as in: “Shut up, mother...”

Mum then raved about the best film she had ever seen Michael Caine in and when he was Cilla Black.

Yes, you read that right.

We indeed heard it collectively at the time and it brought the house into total silence, followed by dad mumbling something like ‘She has been at the Brasso again..’ and then asking, but saying first he felt he would regret asking, just what was she going on about?

Oddly I think we all thought the same as she enlightened us all, dad more so.

She pointed out he played the part of Healthy where “He talked to us a lot as we watched him on the screen” (he spoke to camera as its called in the business) and we stood there with not a word spoken and then she burst (?) into song thus: “What’s it all about, Healthy?..”

Sadly she was talking about Michael Caine in the film called ‘Alfie’ (or Healthy to my mum) and the late Cilla Black sung the film theme tune written by Burt Bacharach called, well, ‘Alfie’.

An easy enough mistake all things considered and we departed pronto to see Michael Caine not selling ice cream or doing perms but trying to rob gold bullion from Italy.

Oddly whenever this song was played on the radio afterwards, ‘our gang’ would stop and look in the mirror, if one handy, then put their tongue out to check if they were okay or take their pulse to see if they were healthy or even Alfie.

Stan used to say: “ I blame your mum for all this you know”

I related this incident to an Italian friend and he couldn’t stop laughing oddly: “Heya – yora da mudder – she a righter a comicala! – I like-a her, she-a da funnee!” and while this might be the case, she was not up for adoption although dad at times might have thought about discussions and transfer fees etc of course.

I should also point out that she thought his role in ‘Zulu’ was ‘not quite the ticket you know’ as she told a friend after she mentioned something about it to her in passing as being a ‘good film to see’.

Mum had seen it and thought that there was no need to go about generally killing all those ‘Zulu blokes’ as a better way about such matters was best solved by having a sit down and over a cup of tea discussing what the problem was and coming to an amicable agreement that did not involve chucking spears or firing rifles like they do in the film.

I hope the above has been a source of enlightenment but don’t blame me if the next time you hear Cilla Black singing ‘Alfie’ you start joining in by bursting into song and going along with her but singing ‘Healthy’. But if you do, get someone to take your pulse as you can’t be too careful nowadays.

Previously...

Heroes and visions

Holbeach firefighters extinguished a vehicle fire on Barge Road, Holbeach St Matthew on Wednesday evening.

The crew used one hose reel to extinguish the blaze, at 9.04pm, the cause of which is still under investigation.

People living on a Crowland road used by HGVs despite a 7.5tonne weight limit ban have won support from Lincolnshire Police’s top officer.

Chief Constable Bill Skelly has promised a “balanced response” to the problem of haulage firms ignoring a weight limit order in place on the B1040 Nene Terrace Road.

In a letter to Crowland county councillor Nigel Pepper, seen by the Spalding Guardian, Mr Skelly said: “Inspector Gareth Boxall (South Holland Community Policing Inspector) fully understands and sympathises with the complaints of the local residents and acknowledges that the weight limit should not be ignored.

“Inspector Boxall has instructed the local Neighbourhood Policing Team to provide a balanced response to this problem, with letters to be sent to haulier companies.

“Officers have also been tasked with patrolling the area when commitments allow.”

During Crowland Parish Council’s July meeting, Insp Boxall himself said: “One of our officers went down to Nene Terrace Road two weeks ago and spent an hour and a half there, stopping a few vehicles that had ignored the weight restriction order.

“They weren’t from the (South Holland) area and the officer has written to the hauliers concerned.”

• Meanwhile, calls for part of the A16 in Crowland to be dualled are to stay on the parish council’s agenda in the hope that it will eventually happen.

The suggestion came from parish and district councillor Bryan Alcock, who said: “We kept the A1073 on the agenda and it eventually got replaced with the A16 bypass.

“We should keep the A16 on our agenda so as to get at least half of it dualled.”

Parish councillors are also to remind drivers again not to park dangerously in two Crowland streets.

Little progress has been made since fears about cars parked in Broadway and Peterborough Road were raised at June’s parish council meeting, despite a warning about the problem published in Crowland’s town magazine.

There are also plans to put up new signs to stop parking on the town green in South Street.

Crowland’s appearance has largely been given a clean bill of health after a “walkabout” inspection by parish councillors.

The state of hanging baskets, benches, street signs, bus shelters and other items in the town centre looked after by the parish council were inspected over the past four weeks.

Among the inspection’s findings were the poor state of street signs in Kemp Street, near Cluttons Close, West Street and Albion Street, pot holes near Trinity Bridge in South Street and graffiti on one of the town’s bus shelters.

A report prepared by the parish council’s planning committee said: “Crowland town centre is considered to be well-kept overall, with few ‘grotspots’ in either public or private spaces that are visible to the general public.

“However, minor issues seen in or near our conservation area need to be addressed if our usual high standards are to be maintained.”

Coun David Kempton, planning committee chairman, said: “Generally, the Crowland Conservation Group thought the town was in pretty good order and very tidy to look at.”

• However, claims by parish councillors that two Crowland caravan sites could be in breach of planning rules appear to have been dismissed by South Holland District Council.

During Monday’s meeting, members were told that district planning officers found no evidence of any breaches at The Bridge Caravan Park in Common Drove or of a two-metre fence at Alderlands Caravan Park.

Coun Kempton said: “We were unhappy with the reply to our letter about, in our opinion, the breach of planning guidelines at the two caravan parks.”

• Spalding Cycling Club has asked parish councillors if it can hold a cyclo-cross race at Snowden Field in September.

The club was forced to look for a new site after Spalding Academy leaders suspended the use of its building and playing field by sports clubs from September 1.

On-site talks between the cycling club and parish councillors are planned soon.

Police are warning people in Bourne after two men were seen going door-to-door looking for roofing work in the town on Wednesday.

They used a white van that appeared to say “The Flat Roofing Company” which an eye-witness saw as suspicious.

Anyone with information should call 101, quoting incident number 110 of July 5.

Youngsters at Ladybirds Pre-School had the first experience of winning after the West Pinchbeck nursery staged its first-ever sports day.

Parents had the chance to show their children how it was done, but not before the toddlers made them proud with their efforts in a host of sports and games.

An obstacle course, egg and spoon race and a leavers’ sack race all took place on the Leaveslake Drove fields competition, with the winners getting their own engraved medals.

But no one went away empty-handed as certificates were given out to everyone who took part before the children got to choose which parent they wanted to join them in a final relay race.

Vicky Elderkin, deputy nursery manager, said: “The manager, Cathy Amess, wanted to have a day when all the familes could come together before we break up for the summer term.

“The whole group of staff thought it would be a good idea if the parents joined in with having fun and nearly all of them did.

“It was a good day and all the children were fantastic.”

Pupils at Lutton St Nicholas Primary School were introduced to the traditional summer sport of lacrosse as part of a national campaign to promote fitness.

Children across all age groups were put through their paces by a team of students from Peele Community College, Long Sutton, in an effort to build stronger ties between the two schools.

The sports activity day also celebrated National School Sport Week and Charlotte Hodson, PE teacher at Lutton St Nicholas Primary School, said: “The activities were part of a programme building teamwork and listening skills.

“It went really well and we’re having the same group of Peele students at our school tomorrow to help at our sports day now that links between the two schools are so strong.”

Children at William Stukeley Primary School can consider themselves to be Holbeach’s Lords of the Dance after their phenomenal effort for charity.

A “Monday Minute Madness” activity day at the town school paid rich dividends for the NSPCC as an all-day dance-a-thon raised an astonishing £2,500.

Parents played their part by making sure their children were sent to school dressed for a party and although lessons went on as normal, things were delayed as the music played and the youngsters swayed for the NSPCC fundraiser.

Toni Handson, Year 6 teacher, said: “On the day of the event, every child came to school dressed in their party clothes.

“Then on the hour, every hour throughout the day, music played for three minutes in each classroom and children stopped their learning to get up and dance.

“We are enormously proud of the total raised and are extremely grateful to parents and carers for collecting the sponsorship money.”

The event helped to promote the NSPCC’s work at the school where pupils were visited by Jean Douglas, a fundraiser for the charity, and mascot Buddy, to give them their congratulations.

More than 1,000 schools and council buildings will have been checked to see if they are a fire risk by the weekend, it has been revealed.

Lincolnshire County Council is carrying out a wide-ranging review of its properties in the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster in London last month.

So far, police have confirmed that 80 people are presumed dead while hundreds more were made homeless by the fire which broke out at the 24-storey tower block in the London borough of Kensington and Chelsea three weeks ago.

The disaster led to a nationwide review of fire safety and cladding on schools, hospitals, council buildings and residential properties to check for aluminium composite material (ACM).

Council figures confirmed to the Spalding Guardian showed that nearly 550 buildings have already been cleared as having no cladding system, while nearly 100 were found to have non-ACM cladding.

Kevin Kendall, Lincolnshire County Council’s property officer, said: “Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) asked all local authorities to identify and check any social housing above six storeys for the presence of a type of aluminium (ACM) cladding.

“Similarly, the Department for Education asked councils to identify any school buildings of four storeys or more and residential properties with ACM cladding which may require further investigation.

“There are four schools in Lincolnshire with buildings above four storeys and one with residential accommodation, all of which have been checked and do not contain ACM cladding.

“In addition, from a review of more than 360 schools, there are only a few schools, all under four storeys, where further investigations are needed to check for ACM cladding.

“From assessments of other council properties, 548 buildings have already been confirmed as having no cladding system and a further 88 with cladding have now been confirmed as not containing ACM.

“In addition, 78 remaining properties will be assessed by the end of this week.”

Coun Martin Hill, Leader of Lincolnshire County Council, said: “Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue continues to work with DCLG on the cladding testing programme, while our emergency planning teams and fire officers are working with the district councils.”

The annual Fleet Baptist Church summer fair proved a success for visitors from the village, as well as Gedney, Holbeach and Long Sutton.

Attractions included a cake stall, barbecue and games like count the marbles in the plant pot and a treasure hunt. The day raised more than £300 for the church and church member Joyce Waterfall said: “We were very pleased with the weather, the event itself and the support we had from people who came to have a look round the church.”

Two determined 12-year-olds have raised £1350 in support of a family friend who was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year.

Allison Law (40), who is mum to Jada (6) and Jet (4), was told in January that she had advanced cervical cancer. Her husband Andrew was warned that she may have just six to twelve months to live.

Since the diagnosis, the Spalding mum’s family and friends have been rallying round to support her. Family friend Ellie Lindsay and school friend Grace Groucott decided to run a 5k Race for Life at Bourne Academy on Friday (June 30) in honour of Allison. The money they raised will go to Cancer Research UK.

Thankfully, Allison has undergone what their doctor has called a “miraculous” recovery and is now on the brink of remission.

She has had intensive chemotherapy and radiotherapy and the couple, who run the Crystal Inn in Spalding, also made changes to their diet. This included juicing and taking in superfoods with antioxidants, plus tumeric. They also turned to Chinese medicine and homeopathy.

The original tumour, which had wrapped around her kidney, has shrunk from the size of an envelope to less than the size of a pea.

Allison said: “Andrew, my husband, was my rock. He made all the decisions and faced people and took the kids to school. I had the easy job as I was in hospital.

“It was devastating when I was told I had cancer. I was told it was Stage 4 which is when it is metastasising in the bones and kidneys.

“It was a tough decision to take to fight this. It is about positivity. In my head I was positive. My husband did not tell me that they said I had 6-12 months. You just look at your children...

“I knew something was wrong as I was having abnormal bleeding. At the time you think is it being unlucky? You think why me?

“Macmillan were fantastic and we’ve had so much support from people.

“There was even a What’s App group set up called Allison’s Support Group.

“When I found out the girls were doing the 5k for me I was so happy and emotional.”

Ellie’s mum Lynzey Moore said: “They wanted to do this for Allison. I am so proud of them, they did so well.”

Allison’s husband Andrew (40) said: “ We’ve had so much support from everybody. It’s been like a river of positivity flowing towards us. We have hit some real lows and you think ‘crikey’ but it makes the highs so much higher.”

Three friends from two South Holland towns are hoping that one “old banger” will take them 1,250 miles across Europe for charity this month.

James King (33) and Mark Robinson (32), both of Spalding, along with Ashley Goodale (28), of Long Sutton, have entered the annual Two Ball Banger Rally in just three weeks’ time.

The trio have converted a van into their own “road runner”, on a budget of just £567, to take on The Beach Rally from Saint-Omer, France, to Barcelona, Spain, with the aim of raising at least £500 for the East Anglian Air Ambulance.

Mark, who like Ashley lectures in motor mechanics at University Academy Holbeach, said: “Ashley was looking at doing a charity event and saw the rally online.

“When we decided to do it, we looked for a vehicle to use and because I’ve known James for quite a few years his workplace was kind enough to sponsor us in a way by allowing us to use their workshop after we found the van.

“All three of us have been ‘hands on’ to make our van stand out from the rest, taking it through an extreme makeover with left-over paint, porthole windows, megaphone, disco lights and many more ludicrous modifications.”

The Two Ball Banger Rally will take Ashley, James and Mark on a five-day trip from the UK to Saint-0mer in northern France.

Then the so-called Beach Rally sets off from Saint-Omer to Annecy, then into the Alps, Italy, Monaco, the French Pyrenees and Costa Brava, with the rally ending in Barcelona.

Mark said: “The Alps is going to be quite impressive, the Italian seaside should be a nice sight and passing through Monaco and where they hold the motor racing should be fun as well.”

To sponsor the trio, visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Ashley-Mark-James

Officers investigating an attempted burglary at a property in Pennygate, Spalding, have issued CCTV images of two men who were in the area at the time and who may be able to assist the enquiry.

The incident happened between 3.30pm and 4pm on Saturday, June 24.

DC Steve Nesbit would like to hear from you if you have any information that could assist the enquiry. There are a number of ways you can report:

• Via our non-emergency number 101, quoting incident number 372 of June 24.

• Through the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

• In an emergency always call 999

Eight members of Spalding High School staff have been baking up a storm in the annual Bake Off Challenge, ably assisted by students who entered a raffle to win a coveted helper spot.

In the space of a lunch hour staff had to bake the classic Swiss roll, watched by the sixth form judges who were able to critique using their A-Level Food Technology skills.

Staff were not told what they were 
expected to bake beforehand, thus 
ensuring no sneaky practicing!

On the whole the sixth form judges were pleased to see beautifully presented Swiss Rolls, with six contestants achieving a score of 7/10 or more.

The winner was the Science Department regaining the title, having lost it last year. Mrs Waldron (Biology) achieved a fantastic score of 9.5/10 and produced a delicious, perfect Swiss Roll.

All bakes were sold afterwards with proceeds going to Deafblind UK.

Photo (TIM WILSON): SG270617-200TW

Long Sutton Primary School children and staff took some time out from lessons to celebrate the best of South Holland agriculture this term.

The school opened its doors to visitors from Kimberley Care Village, Long Sutton, and Spalding Brass Band for a community afternoon full of fresh fruit, vegetables and salads grown in the area.

There were also songs from the school choir and a Bake a Vegetable Cake competition on a day when more than £300 was raised for the charity Brain Tumour Research.

School business manager Tracey Roscher said: “We applied to the National Lottery’s Celebrate England Fund as we wanted to acknowledge what’s good about our local area.

“The school was absolutely overwhelmed with the response we had, both from parents and the wider community as well.

“Residents from Kimberley Care Village joined us for tea and cakes as did Spalding Brass Band.

“It was nice to open the school for an afternoon to people who wouldn’t ordinarily have any contact with us.”

The people of Gedney Dawsmere did the UK’s servicemen and women proud with a day of celebration unique to South Holland.

Organisers claimed the village’s third annual Armed Forces Day as the biggest and best yet as visitors from Oxford and Sheffield were drawn to the Old School Field in Gedney Dawsmere where a host of events took place.

Classic car, tractor and motor bikes were on display, with the best in show award going to Fred Leach of Chatteris for his 1932 Austin 16/6 tourer, alongside a children’s treasure hunt and Spitfire flypast.

Organiser Sue Mitchell said: “We were absolutely delighted with how the day went as it was bigger and better that we’ve ever had before.

“More stalls, more vehicles and more visitors, as well as the hope that we raised double the amount of between £750 and £800 that we did last year for the Royal British Legion.

“Christ Church, Dawsmere, held a flower display and an exhibition by Long Sutton and District Civic Society as well.

“There were lots of comments from people who told us how nice an event it was and what a lovely part of the world we live in.

“We’re glad to have done something a bit different to capture people’s imagination.”

A drug dealer was caught after police stopped a car in Bourne, Lincoln Crown Court was told.

Officers noticed a smell of cannabis when the vehicle came to a halt and as result Calum Westley was taken to the town’s police station to be searched.

Alex Wolfson, prosecuting, said: “He was found to have a large bag of cannabis in his trousers.”

Mr Wolfson said that the bag contained 26 grammes of cannabis. Text messages found on Westley’s phone indicated he had been involved in supplying drugs to friends for a short period of time.

The search at the police station also revealed Westley had a gramme of amphetamine on him which was for his own use.

The court was told that Westley had no previous convictions.

Westley, of Westwood Drive, Bourne, admitted charges of supplying drugs and possession of drugs with intent to supply on March 19 this year. On Wednesday he was given a 12 month community order with 120 hours of unpaid work and was ordered to forfeit £180 found on him at the time of his arrest.

Neil Sands, in mitigation, said Westley has stopped taking drugs since his arrest and is working via an agency.

Recorder Paul Mann QC, passing sentence, told him: “You get this chance once so take it.”

Badminton international Anthony Clark was on hand to present certificates and awards to the school’s most outstanding performers in football, rugby, netball, cricket, trampoling, rounders and athletics.

But it was Year 10 and junior international gymnast Jake Jarman (15) who took the top prize after he was voted the first-ever Deepings School Sports Personality of the Year by students and staff.

Jake, who won the Outstanding Sporting Achievement prize at the Lincolnshire Free Press and Spalding Guardian Education Awards 2016, said: “I wasn’t sure what the result would be because it was decided on a vote by the school.

“But it’s nice to know that people appreciate what you do and I think it’s quite cool to have other people knowing who you are and what you do.”

Jake also won the Outstanding Achievement Award for Year 10, with the same prize for skier Jacob Bush (Year 7), ice hockey star Leo Markey (Year 8), swimmer Louis Metselaar (Year 9) and Tang Soo Do martial artist Tom Roberts (Year 11).

The Year 8 boys’ football squad took the Team of the Year prize, Max Rigby and Freddie Fraser shared the Sportsman of the Year Award, while athlete and swimmer Chloe Jones was named Sportswoman of the Year.

Speaking to students, staff and guests after the awards were presented, Anthony said: “I love attending sports awards and it’s amazing to see the quality of athletes you’ve got in this school.

“It’s incredible to see how good your students are and they’re on an amazing journey already.

“But it never ends until you become the world’s number one athlete and if you’re willing to go the extra mile, doing the things that other people usually wouldn’t do, you have a massive chance to become whatever you want to be.”

Steve Allen, the school’s Head of PE, said: “This was an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the successes that our students strive so hard to achieve.

“I think it’s very important to recognise their achievements as sport can have a huge impact on a young person’s life.

“We’re extremely proud of the effort and commitment of all our students in their sports and it wouldn’t be a surprise to hear of them having success on the big stage in the future.”

Richard Lord, Head Teacher at The Deepings School, said: “It’s the very first time that we’ve run the Sports Personality of the Year Award which we put out to nominations from students and staff.

“A number of students produced video clips that we shown in school time and there were a range of students across all age groups.

“We have a number of sportsmen and women who are nationally recognised here, but Jake Jarman’s achievements in winning competitions when up against students who are far older than him makes us all very proud.

“Jake has a real chance of securing international selection for British gymnastics teams in the future, but he’s very polite, unassuming, well-liked among his peers and also doing really well in his studies.

“We wish Jake all the best in continuing to be a superb role model and inspiration to other students.”

We’re challenging our readers to capture photos of scenes or features that celebrate Spalding and South Holland.

In an idea sparked by Spalding and District Civic Society, we’re asking you to send in your photos of what you think makes our area beautiful.

We’ll pick a selection and publish them both in the Spalding Guardian and on our website.

John Charlesworth, Project and Campaigns officer for Spalding and District Civic Society said: “So much of what you read in the local press is knocking the town and we thought it would be a good idea to redress the balance.

“It would be nice to see photos celebrating the area and what makes Spalding and South Holland a pleasant and interesting place to live and work in and to visit.”

The photos might be of places you pass every day but perhaps without noticing the finer details.

Or they could be focusing on a feature that is hidden away and not normally appreciated in the hustle and bustle of modern life.

To get you started we have featured three pictures here, taken by our photographer Tim Wilson.

One photograph shows one of the many fascinating details at the rear of Ayscoughfee Hall in Spalding.

Or you might have often walked or driven past ‘The Limes’ in Double Street and admired the handsome historic house pictured here.

Your photos can be taken anywhere in Spalding or around South Holland.

When submitting your pictures, please provide a short sentence about why you feel it is a nice feature of the area, or a nice view.

○ Email your photos to: jeremy.ransome@iliffepublishing.co.uk or tweet them to @spaldingeditor, share them on Facebook or send prints to ‘What Makes our Area Picture Perfect’, Spalding Guardian, Priory House, The Crescent, Spalding. PE11 1AB.

Two brothers turned on firefighters who were trying to rescue their mother from her blazing flat, Lincoln Crown Court was told today (Friday).

Jason Dodd and Simon Harrison were aggressive and threatening towards the firefighters who answered a call to deal with a fire at the property in Holyrood Walk, Spalding.

Dodd went on to produce an air pistol which he pointed at fire fighters, threatening to shoot them before he was over-powered by neighbours who came to the assistance of the fire crew.

Dodd (23), of Holyrood Walk, Spalding, admitted charges of affray and possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence as a result of the incident on April 10 this year. He was jailed for 16 months.

Harrison (24), also of Holyrood Walk, Spalding, admitted using threatening words or behaviour. He was given an 18 month community order with a 20 day rehabilitation activity requirement.

Recorder Paul Mann QC, passing sentence, told them: “You were both obviously under the influence of drugs.

“These fire officers were doing their best to deal with the fire at your mother’s flat. You were intent on stopping them doing their job and you did actually delay them from attending to a serious fire.”

Addressing Dodd, he added: “It may only have been an air pistol but it looked like a real firearm.”

Mark Watson, prosecuting, told the court: “The complainants are firefighters. They were called out to a fire in a block of flats in Spalding.

“They were trying to deal with the fire which was becoming increasingly more serious. One of the occupants was said to be still in the burning property.

“They were subjected to threats and physical violence by Dodd and his brother Simon Harrison.

“The defendants started to push at the fire officers and grab at them. They were shouting and swearing.

“One of the fire officers rescued the mother and brought her outside to give her treatment. The defendants didn’t even allow that to take place.

“They started throwing punches. One of them grabbed a fire officer around the throat as he was trying to administer treatment.

“At one point Dodd disappeared. He returned. He was brandishing the weapon. It appeared to be a real firearm.”

Mr Watson said that Dodd confronted firefighter Louise Thornton.

“The defendant was aggressive to her, getting into her face.

“She told him to go away. Dodd punched her to the nose, causing her nose to bleed.

“The fire was getting worse.

“He was six to seven feet away from her. He pointed it directly at her head. He was threatening.

“She described it as a surreal moment. She believed that it was real and that she was going to be shot.”

Mr Watson said that neither of the brothers was responsible for starting the fire in the flat.

David Eager, for Dodd, described his client as a troubled man

“He hadn’t come out of his own home for two years before this. He sits at home playing on his X Box, drinking and smoking cannabis. That is his entire life.”

Neil Sands, for Harrison, said he played a lesser role than Dodd and was not involved in the firearms incident. He said his client had no previous convictions.

Previously...

Two men charged after incident at Spalding house fire

Firefighters’ union respond to alleged attack during Spalding house blaze