The next head teacher of Peele Community College, Long Sutton, has vowed to give students “the very best education which they deserve”.

Jane Moody, currently head of science at the Peele, will take over from acting head teacher Simon Gilman in September after the departure of Elizabeth Smith last month.

Mrs Moody, former assistant principal at Thomas Middlecott Academy in Kirton, has the chance to build on the progress made at the Peele since an Ofsted inspection in January 2016 found that it “requires improvement”. Speaking to the Lincolnshire Free Press on Friday, Mrs Moody said: “This is such a lovely place where the students are so welcoming, friendly and hard-working.

“The staff are very dedicated and have a passion about doing their best for the students.

“When I had a look round the school, I thought I could bring my experience and skills here.

“You’ve got to have a vision of where the school is to go, but it’s all about the students and helping them to achieve academically.”

The Peele’s most recent GCSE results give Mrs Moody cause for optimism, with 75 per cent of students having left last summer with English language grades of A*-C, 70 per cent with similar grades in maths and 76 per cent in modern languages.

Mrs Moody said: “I have lots of plans for what I want to do which are all about making sure the students in this community have the very best education which they deserve.

“I’m very keen to make sure that happens and the staff are fully behind what I want to achieve.”

Mrs Moody started her teaching career in 1996 after studying animal science at Nottingham University.

She taught in Grimsby for two years before spending nine years at Marshland High School, near Wisbech, followed by more than five years at Neale Wade Academy in March and then nearly two years at Thomas Middlecott Academy.

Mrs Moody said: “Thomas Middlecott and the Peele are such a short distance apart and yet they are very different schools.

“Having been on the Peele teaching staff for about two years, I really want to emphasise the importance of a pupil’s personal development so that they can leave the school ready for the next steps in life.

“As part of that, I’m very keen to get parents more involved because education isn’t just about the students and teachers, but it’s a three-cornered shape.

“I’m very keen to engage with parents, to get their views and to get them on board, along with going into the primary schools to make sure the links are strong by them knowing us and knowing that we have the best education to offer their children.

“I really want the Peele to have a positive profile and for the students and staff to have a school they can be proud of.”

Volunteers from Bourne and the Deepings will begin cleaning the streets of South Kesteven in August as part of a campaign to tidy the area.

Overgrown footpaths, litter, weeds, graffiti and fly-tipping are all being pinpointed by residents ahead of the Big Clean.

Individuals and groups from across the district are giving their time to the project which starts next month to help spruce up parts of their local communities and improve the cleanliness of their streets.

Coun Dr Peter Moseley, South Kesteven District Council’s cabinet member for environment, said: “People’s determination to come and help us raise the street standard is encouraging.

“We thank each and every volunteer who has come forward to help us with efforts in their part of the district when operations commence in August.

“As soon as volunteer opportunities have been finalised all will be contacted to check if they are free to join a local effort.

“But there is plenty of time for everyone to join us and come on board as a volunteer to help us on our journey in making a real environmental difference in your area.”

People living across Gedney will soon be able to shape its future by helping to produce a new Parish Plan.

Leaflets are to be delivered to homes in Gedney, Gedney Broadgate, Gedney Drove End and Gedney Dyke inviting residents to join a Parish Plan committee and sign up for the project.

Coun Andrew Parks, vice chairman of Gedney Parish Council, said: “It’s certainly not going to be easy and we’ll need to have a really good structure in place.

“I don’t think we’ve got the necessary equipment, as a parish council, and we need to get other people involved.

“We’re talking about a long-term project and I don’t think we should approach this lightly because one of the problems we’re going to face is that the emerging (South East Lincolnshire) Local Plan is going to restrict the amount of development in the area.

“So we’ll have to get the whole parish involved.”

Meanwhile, a second bid to turn a barn at Peregrine’s Rest Farm in Hallgate, Gedney, into a home has won parish council support.

South Holland District Council had turned it down as being “extensive and tantamount to the construction of a new building”.

But parish councillors believe it will see an unused building renovated, even though renovations may turn out to be significant.

Coun Parks said: “When we made our original comments, we actually said that it’s not as if it’s (the barn) capable of being changed without structural alterations.

“The renovations are going to be sizeable but we are in favour of it.”

• A series of training courses involving the use of defibrillators to save lives in Gedney are close to being finalised.

Parish councillors plan to hold the first course at Gedney Dyke Village Hall in the new few months.

It will be open to anyone who wants to learn how to use defibrillators outside village halls in Gedney, Gedney Drove End and Gedney Dyke.

• People in Gedney who rely on the South Holland Voluntary Car Scheme have received good news from parish councillors.

Another five years’ worth of funding is to be sought from the Gedney Marsh Windcluster Fund to pay for the service in the area.

Coun Ian Field, parish council chairman, said: “We support the voluntary car scheme as it provides an environmentally-friendly service.”

Gedney parish councillors have committed themselves to finding a deal on grass cutting, but without extra expense to parish taxpayers.

During Tuesday’s meeting, councillors considered an offer worth nearly £445 from South Holland District Council to provide up to seven cuts of grassed areas in Gedney and Gedny Dyke.

The district council has stepped in to offer towns and villages across South Holland additional grass cutting after Lincolnshire County Council’s decision to slash the number of roadside cuts it does from nine to two, effective from April.

Parish councillors were told that an area in need of urgent attention was Anvil Close, Gedney Dyke, where dog fouling is a regular problem.

Coun Ian Field, parish council chairman, said: “Everybody was happy with the number of cuts done by the county council as it kept the parish looking neat and tidy.

“The area causing most concern in the parish is Anvil Close but, at the end of the day, we’ve no budget in place to do the grass cutting.

“I’m not prepared to recommend that we should do more cuts than the county council did as it’s unnecessary and would be putting more of a 
financial burden on parishioners than they’ve already got at the moment.”

An annual Spalding garden party has raised a record-breaking sum for a charity helping vulnerable young women.

Karis House hosted its biggest fundraiser of the year, with a barbecue, face painting, bouncy castle, auction and games bringing families to the event.

There was also a performance by Polka Dot Dance Academy and visits from police and fire crews based in the town.

Jenny Tedbury, executive director of Karis House and parent charity The Lighthouse Project, said: “It went really well and we had our best year ever, raising £1,200 compared to £900 last year.

“We had lots of visitors who weren’t from our church (The Lighthouse) and it was good to see the day well-supported by the local community.”

The funds raised will be split between Karis House and The Lighthouse Project, a registered charity which helps young women with emotional, mental and psychological issues.

Karis House itself opened in 2012 and its first garden party was held a year later to help fund its work.

Staff member Charlotte Crane said: “It started out as a fundraising idea for Karis House.

“But it’s now turned into a nice event where people from the community can come together in a family atmosphere.”

Burglars forced their way into Langtoft home and stole goods in broad daylight.

Police believe the person or gang responsible got in through an antique window at a house in Stowe Road before taking an embroidered purse, wallet and canvas bag containing old coins.

The burglary happened between 8.15am and 6pm on Thursday.

Anyone with information should call Market Deeping Police Station on 101, quoting incident number 387 of July 13

Alternatively, you call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Plans for a £2.5million overtaking lane on the A17 between Gedney and Lutton Garnsgate are “flawed”, according to the area’s new county councillor.

The scheme, announced by Lincolnshire County Council in March, would see nearly half of a £5.4million grant from the Department for Transport to “improve journey times and reliability by reducing congestion”.

But Coun Peter Coupland, elected as county councillor for the Holbeach Rural ward, which includes Gedney, in May, claimed the money would be “ill-spent” and better used on creating a new slip road in Fleet Hargate.

During a meeting of Gedney Parish Council in Gedney Drove End last Tuesday, Coun Coupland said: “Lincolnshire County Council is looking at a scheme to make the A17 from Gedney to Lutton Garnsgate three lanes.

“I think the scheme is flawed because it’s supposed to ease congestion on a road that I travel on three times a week and don’t experience congestion.

“If any money wants spending on the A17, it’s in Fleet Hargate, where we’ve got a bottleneck near Lowgate.

“I don’t think the A17 between Gedney and Lutton Garnsgate is a congested road, so I’m most definitely going to speak against the plans to make it a three-lane road because it’s a lot of money that’s going to be ill-spent.”

A timetable for the scheme would see a detailed design completed in October, work starting in January 2018 and the new-look, one-mile section of the A17 completed next April.

In a statement, the county council said: “The Gedney 2+1 improvement scheme will provide overtaking lane sections for both directions of travel, with the north-westbound lane between the changeover and Station Road, Gedney, while the south-eastbound overtaking lane is provided between the changeover and Lutton Garnsgate.

“The improvements will provide road users with safe overtaking opportunities in both directions and increased journey time reliability.

“The Gedney 2+1 improvement scheme will cost £2.5million, funded using part of the £5.4million allocated to the authority by the Department of Transport (DfT) from its National Productivity Investment Fund.

“The money was awarded to the authority to help reduce congestion at key locations, upgrade or improve the maintenance of local highway assets, improve access to employment and housing and develop economic and job creation opportunities.”

But Coun Coupland said: “In my opinion, this stretch of road is wide and in good condition, so overtaking and congestion isn’t a serious problem.

“I feel the use of taxpayers’ money on this scheme isn’t sound and will create more congestion further along the A17 at Fleet Hargate, where the T-junction requires improvement as a matter of urgency.”

• What do you think? Email jeremy.ransome@
iliffepublishing.co.uk

Some 240 children in 20 teams from 17 local primary schools participated in the annual Primary Schools Athletics Festival.

The event was put on by the School Games organiser Rupert Gibson in conjunction with Nene Valley Harriers Athletics Club and hosted by Spalding High School.

The School Games is a Government-funded initiative to raise standards and increase participation in physical education and sport.

The event, which aims to give children a first taste of competition in athletics, is designed to foster links between local schools and one local athletics clubs in order to increase participation in community-based sport.

Activities included 400m, 150m and 80m races plus long jump, triple jump, quoit throw and javelin.

Rupert said: “The event was a marvellous display of athletic ability. Thanks to all the children, teachers, club officials and members of staff who made the day possible.

“In particular I would like to thanks the Leadership Academy pupils from Spalding High School Years 7-10 who did a fantastic job officiating the events”.

LInchfield School from Deeping St James won the large schools competition and Moulton Chapel were small schools winners. Monkshouse Spalding were second large school and Sutton St James small schools runner-up.

• Two full pages of pictures in Thursday’s Spalding Guardian.

A Spalding man who was jailed for slashing his neighbour with a knife later threatened to kill his victim when on his release from prison, Lincoln Crown Court was told today (Tuesday July 18).

Shaun Smith made the threat during a meeting in Lincoln Prison to discuss arrangements for his release at the end of his 12-month jail sentence.

Gareth Gimson, prosecuting, told a jury that Smith appeared agitated and upset when he arrived at the meeting in December last year.

Smith then began making threats that he wanted to kill John Muffett, the neighbour who was the victim of the assault that led to Smith being jailed.
Mr Gimson said “He was talking and shouting about Mr Muffett. He said he wanted to kill him and said he wanted to kill him within three or four days of his release.”

Probation officer Helen Sackfield, who was present at the meeting with Muffett, told the court: “He said he wanted to kill Mr Muffett on his release. He said he didn’t care if he went to prison for killing him.”

Smith, 38, of Hereward Road, was not present at the hearing after he was ruled unfit to plead to a charge of making a threat to kill John Muffett on 12 December 2016.

No evidence was called on his behalf and his defence team did not challenge the prosecution evidence during the short trial.

The jury subsequently delivered a verdict that Smith committed the act he was accused of.

Judge Michael Heath adjourned sentence on August 16.

Smith was originally jailed in October last year after admitting assaulting John Muffett causing him actual bodily harm and possession of a knife in a public place as a result of an incident on 18 July 2016.

At the October hearing, which was also before Lincoln Crown Court, Andrew Scott, prosecuting, said that Smith began shouting outside the home of his neighbour Mr Muffett in Hereward Road.

Mr Scott said “Mr Muffett was at home in his bedroom when all of a sudden he heard his name being shouted outside. He got up and looked out and saw that it was the defendant.”

Mr Muffett went outside and Smith approached and took a swing at him. Mr Muffett picked up a piece of wood to defend himself and there was a wrestling match between them which left Mr Muffet with a number of cuts to his fingers.

The incident ended when Smith returned to his home and barricaded himself in when police arrived.

Mr Scott said “Eventually he did appear at the doorway. He was compliant and was arrested.”

James Gray, in mitigation, told the October hearing that Smith suffers from mental health problems including paranoid schizophrenia and is currently receiving treatment.

SEE ALSO:

Spalding man sent to Crown court on knife charges

Springfields in Spalding was party central at the weekend as the sounds of fun fair rides and live music took over the grounds.

The annual bakkavor Party in the Park event again attracted thousands of visitors and the sun shone down on the event too.

It all started on saturday evening with theBakkavor’s Got Talent competition, judged by directors from the firm. There was a lot of quality on show and the winner was April Morgan, who went on to officially open the weekend as well as pocketing a cool £1,000 prize money.

Diamondz Dance Troup, Jordan Howlett and Henry Birkett then performed before the big crowd danced the night away to Radius 45 and Queen tribute act QE2. Saturday night ended with an impressive firework display.

Sunday kicked off with a dog show and there was also classic cars, Triumph bikers and Roger Tuby’s funfair.

Local police and firefighters also made an appearance and there were craft stalls and a raffle raising money for Action Medical Research.

• Two pages of pictures in Thursday’s Spalding Guardian.

In July 1917, race riots were breaking out in America, a vision of the Virgin Mary 
appeared to children in Portugal and the British Royal Family changed its name from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to Windsor.

And on the 13th of that month, Kathleen Brice was born to Robert and Rebecca Sharman in Sutterton. One hundred years later, a few miles down the road from her birthplace, Kath celebrated her 100th birthday at Stonehaven Residential Home in Quadring.

She was joined by son Terry Pell, of Pinchbeck, and daughter Margaret Harwood, of Swineshead, plus 60 guests.

Kath was the fifth of eight children and, after leaving school, went into service with Drinkhall Butchers at Donington.

She met Walter Pell and married him in 1939, the couple buying a house in Bicker Road, Donington, and running a grocery business.

Kath looked after the business while Walter went to war and when he returned, they bought a shop in Church Street. The couple had two children, Terry and Margaret.

They moved to a bungalow in Chestnut Avenue and she worked at Bank House in Gosberton as a carer for 20 years. Sadly, Walter died in 1978.

But happiness came again for Kath and she met Albert Brice and they were married in October 1981. The couple loved their holidays and also took blind people away for breaks. They also enjoyed gardening.

Albert died in August 1997 and Kath stayed at the bungalow until she had to go to hospital in April 2015 and then moved in to Stonehaven.

She is a granny to Wendy, Nigel, Sandra, Sharon and Mark and a great-granny to Emma, Vicky, Peter, Rebecca, Zoe, Joe, Aron, Ross and Ben. She is a great-great-granny to John and Freddie and also has three sister-in-laws and several nephews and nieces.

She has also belonged to the British Legion, Red Cross, Mothers Union, Women’s Fellowship and worshipped at three Methodist chapels.

A 25-year-old woman from Spalding was one of six people arrested following a “large disturbance” on a Great Northern train.

The British Transport Police and Cambridgeshire Police arrested five men and one woman on suspicion of affray after a fight broke out on a train travelling between Waterbeach and Ely on Saturday.

Police arrived at Waterbeach railway station at around 8.20pm after receiving reports of a disturbance aboard a train, and responded to the situation on the train’s arrival.

A 25-year-old man and a 26-year-old man, from Norfolk, along with a 21-year-old man, a 24-year-old man and a 25-year-old man, from Cambridgeshire, and a 25-year-old woman, from Spalding, were taken into custody following the incident.

However, they have now all been released under investigation while enquiries continue.

The British Transport Police confirmed a man who tried to intervene in the fight was taken to hospital suffering minor injuries.

Passengers were delayed for around an hour, and Great Northern have taken the opportunity to apologise for any inconvenience this caused to travellers.

Anyone with information concerning the disturbance should contact the British Transport Police on 0800 405 404.

A man with gambling debts left notes apologising for his actions before deliberately stepping into the path of a 75mph, 38-tonne diesel train at Quadring.

Kevin Taylor (56), of Georgette Gardens, Spalding, left “suicide and farewell” notes for family and friends inside his works van on Town Drove before using a foot crossing onto the railway line at about 4.45pm on March 8.

South Lincolnshire’s senior coroner Paul Cooper said: “He told friends and family (in the notes) he intended to take his own life and that’s what he did.”

East Midlands Ambulance Service paramedics declared life extinct at the scene.

A post mortem revealed Mr Taylor died from multiple injuries. Mr Taylor was formally identified through fingerprints matched to those on a glass in his kitchen.

Train driver Allan Donald blew the single coach, passenger train’s horn “in a long, constant tone” after spotting Mr Taylor in his bright red coat.

His train was one-and-a-half coach lengths away when Mr Taylor walked “deliberately forward” and stood sideways in its path, tensing himself until the impact.

Emergency brakes didn’t stop the train until it was three-quarters of a mile down the track.

Paul Simmonds, a rail fatality investigations officer with British Transport Police (BTP), explained it takes a considerable distance for a train to stop because “it’s metal wheels on metal rails” and not rubber tyres on Tarmac.

He described Mr Donald as being “in shock” but said the train driver was able to provide the first account of what happened.

Mr Simmonds read from a witness statement made by Mr Donald, who said: “The more I think about it, the more I think he was trying to time his walk onto the track.”

The inquest heard Mr Taylor had a long standing gambling addiction that led in the past to him losing his wife and his house.

Just before he died, Mr Taylor had gambled money entrusted to him by a friend, Mr Chris Edwards, to purchase items from a third party.

Mr Taylor’s daughter, Jade Taylor, made a statement saying her father was born at Town Drove and lived there for many years until his move to Spalding.

Mr Cooper said Miss Taylor described her father as someone who always had a good laugh and enjoyed socialising, spending time with family and friends.

He said there was undoubtedly a darker side to Mr Taylor due to debts and gambling.

Mr Cooper said Mr Taylor had phoned his daughter on March 7 asking for money, and she said no, and on March 8 she had received a text message from his ex-girlfriend stating she was very concerned because he was considering ending it all.

The inquest heard both Miss Taylor and Mr Edwards had tried to phone Mr Taylor on March 8 but they could not reach him.

United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust was today (Wednesday) fined £1million and ordered to pay £160,000 prosecution costs following the death of a patient at Boston’s Pilgrim Hospital.

At a trial earlier this year, the Trust was found guilty of failing to discharge a duty of care in breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act following the death of John Biggadike in April 2010.

The Trust was also ordered to pay £3,800 compensation to Mr Biggadike’s brother Keith to cover the costs of his funeral.

Mr Biggadike was impaled by a metal post that formed part of a hoist and suffered catastrophic internal injuries which resulted in his death. The post had been left exposed after staff removed a knee pad contrary to the safe way of operating the equipment.

Mr Biggadike, who lived in Spalding, was being treated for cirrhosis of the liver when he died as a result of the incident on Ward 8a at the Pilgrim Hospital.

Judge Michael Heath, passing sentence at Lincoln Crown Court, said: “I am satisfied that the staff using the hoist were not properly trained in its use. Employees were having to work out for themselves how to use the hoist.

“The practise developed of the knee pad being removed. The danger it presented was glaringly obvious.”

The judge ordered that the fine and costs should be paid at £250,000 a year because of the Trust’s financial position.

Judge Heath said he recognised that the Trust had financial problems and had significantly reduced the fine to reflect that.

He said: “I have been very much aware that every pound that I impose by way of a fine is a pound less that can be spent on patient care.”

During a three-week trial the jury heard that staff were not adequately trained in the use of the hoist and instead devised their own system of operating it which was contrary to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Adam Farrer, prosecuting, said: “The system of training and supervision prior to Mr Biggadike’s death was shambolic.

“The prosecution do not blame individuals. The prosecution say the Trust failed to train them properly and point out the obvious risks.

“That led to the staff devising their own way of using the machine. It was not intended by the manufacturer that the machine was used in that way.”

The Trust argued in its defence during the trial that Mr Biggadike’s death was not caused by failings in training but by the manufacturer for design faults and failure to provide an adequate operating manual.

Michael Spencer QC, in mitigation, said the Trust has since taken steps to rectify the issues which arose from the fatality.

He said: “We submit the Trust has a good health and safety record and has good health and safety procedures in place.”

Mr Spencer said the Trust had a deficit of £56.8million on its 2016-17 accounts and at March 31 this year had an overall deficit of £127 million which has since increased to £139 million.

Police have confirmed that a two-car crash on the A16 Crowland left a number of casualties they described as “walking wounded”.

A Vauxhall Zafira and a Ford Focus collided near the junction of the A16 with the B1166 James Road turn-off for Crowland itself and Hull’s Drove towards Shepeau Stow.

An eyewitness, who asked not to be named, said: “I didn’t see the crash but I drove past it as it was being reported at 1.50pm.

“There were two cars and one of them had a bonnet that was crushed significantly.

“Around eight people were sat on the grass verge by the side of the road.”

A spokesman for Lincolnshire police, said: “The injuries are described as ‘walking wounded’, not serious, and we’re just waiting for the vehicles to be recovered so that traffic can pass in the southbound lane which is still open. “Recovery of both vehicles and the clearing of the road should be done within the hour.”

Meanwhile, an East Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said that one person had been taken to hospital.

BREAKING NEWS WEDNESDAY 3.35PM: Two-car crash on A16 in Crowland

Emergency services are at the scene of a two-car crash at the A16/B1166 junction in Crowland today.

It happened at about 1.45pm near the so-called Radar Junction between James Road and Hull’s Drove.

An eye-witness at the scene, who asked not to be named, said: “There was a black car that looked like it had a serious dent in the front of it and I saw a lot of people sat on the grass verge at the side of the road.”

More details as soon as we have them.

A 23-year-old man has been charged with dangerous driving and failing to stop after a crash in Swineshead on Sunday night.

Ryan Luke Pike, of Holmes Road, Peterborough, is due before Boston magistrates on Wednesday, August 9 in connection with the crash near the A17/A1121 junction in Swineshead Bridge at about 10.50pm.

Pike was driving a Mini Cooper when it crashed near a junction just off Swineshead Bridge and he was taken to Boston’s Pilgrim Hospital for treatment while a fire crew from Donington used small tools to make the car safe.

A retail warehouse could open for business seven days a week at the former indoor bowls club in Long Sutton.

Lincolnshire Co-operative is seeking a change of use for the building and has applied for planning consent to South Holland District Council so an unnamed business can move in.

Co-op spokeswoman Emma Snedden told the Spalding Guardian: “We’re working towards bringing this central site in the town back into use so we’re in the last stages of negotiations with a tenant keen to bring its services to Long Sutton.

“We hope to announce more details soon.”

The Co-op runs a food store, coffee shop and filling station at the site.

When the new tenant occupies the former club building, it is expected to open from 9am-8pm Monday-Friday, 9am-6pm on Saturdays and from 10am-5pm on Sundays.

• The bowls club closed at the end of the indoor season in April, having opened in 1987.

Businessman Roy Smith was the driving force behind the club but, having reached the age of 78, he decided to retire.

He said: “I don’t feel I can take bookings for next season. Now is the time. My two sons aren’t interested in taking over .”

Lincs county competition secretary Simon Reeson added: “It is a great sadness that the club will be closing.”

Drivers heading from Sutton Bridge towards Norfolk this Sunday (July 23) are being reminded they may face delays due to a heavy load.

National Grid is transporting a new transformer, used to regulate electricity voltage, from Sutton Bridge Port to Walpole from the A17 along the A1101 and the A47. The transformer will then travel via Walton Highway through West Walton to its final destination at Walpole Substation.

The load, which weighs 177 tonnes, will be carried on a specially designed trailer which is 60 metres long and over five metres wide, and will set off from Sutton Bridge Port at 8.30am.

It is expected to be delivered to Walpole Substation by early afternoon.

The trailer is being supported by specialist haulage company Allelys Heavy Haulage Ltd.

National Grid warns there may be some delays to motorists and pedestrians during this time and road users are asked to take care when travelling along affected roads.

It said the work is being carried out to replace ageing equipment at the Walpole substation to help secure safe and reliable electricity supplies for the future.

Edward Gomersall, Project Engineer at National Grid, said: “Moving a piece of equipment this size, while keeping traffic flowing on local roads is a major logistical exercise and we have been working closely with the local authorities, the police, and our specialist partners to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible. We appreciate the community’s cooperation during this exercise.”

The move has been timed to cause least disruption to motorists. For more information on the move, contact the National Grid community relations team on 0800 093 4312 between 9am and 5pm Monday–Friday or email walpole@communitycomms.co.uk.

Holbeach firefighters put out a skip fire in the town yesterday evening.

The fire was in a garden on Battlefields Lane.

The crew used one main jet and a hose reel jet to extinguish the flames after the alarm was raised just before 7.30pm.

A national building society is to take over seven branches in market towns which a rival lender is to leave.

The Nottingham Building Society is to open hubs in Bourne, Stamford, Spalding, Huntingdon, Thetford, Dereham and Fakenham.

It is taking over the branches in November and December which are to be vacated by the Norwich & Peterborough Building Society.

The move means the Nottingham lender will have doubled its branch network to 67 over the last five years and will have taken on 19 from other banks and building societies.

Bosses at the Nottingham hope that the move will mean people can continue to access face to face services locally instead of having to travel long distances.

David Marlow, chief executive of The Nottingham said: “Around 26 per cent of the country’s bank branches have closed over the past five years and as this trend continues our proposition becomes even more appealing and our business gets stronger.

“Branch closures are leading to more people finding it difficult to access face-to-face advice and service when it comes to dealing with key financial issues in their lives.

“This is particularly true in market towns, where much of our focus is placed.

“Sadly there are now as many as 1,500 towns in the UK that used to have branches but no longer do.”

Over the four years staffing at the Nottingham Building Society has grown from 422 in 2013 to 717 today.

Customers to the branches will be able to access a range of servies including financial, insurance and mortgage advice and estate planning.

Reseearch by the building society claim that 75 per cent of people still use a branch visit to carry out their business.

It adds that less people say they are likely to visit a town if there is no building society leading to an impact on other businesses.

David Marlow said: “Expanding our branch network and widening our offering beyond that of a traditional building society is key to our success and growth.

We look forward to welcoming new customers in the seven towns where we are opening branches and for them to become members.”